This is envisaged to be a round-the-clock, round-the-globe event, including 24 hours of live webcasts, observing events and other activities connecting large observatories around the world. One of the key goals is to allow as many people as possible to look through a telescope, as Galileo first did 400 years ago, promoting observational astronomy.

The 100 hours of astronomy will take place in the weekend of Thursday, April 2nd, through Sunday, April 5th. The Moon is at first quarter on the 2nd, so it is at a good phase for early-evening observing that whole weekend.

Objectives

This is a round-the-clock, round-the-globe event, consisting of two parts:

I) 24 hours of live observatory webcasts, observing events and other activities connecting large observatories around the world, to be coordinated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO);

II) A 100 hours “sidewalk” observing event to allow as many people as possible to look through a telescope, and see what Galileo saw when he pointed a telescope to the sky for the first time, to be managed by Astronomers Without Borders (AWB).

Deliverables

1. Products 

i. Website (in collaboration with the main IYA2009 website)

ii. Webcast (linking the professional telescopes around the world)(I)

iii. Guide for Research Observatories participating in the webcast (I)

iv. List of Amateur Astronomers groups (II)

v. List of large observatories (II)

vi. List of Science Centres (II/I)

vii. List of Planetariums (II/I)

vii. List of “Professional” and “Sidewalk” Events (What, Where, When)

viii. Guide to Sidewalk Astronomy (Talks, exhibitions, hands-on-activities, open doors and list of sky objects to observe during the event, etc.)

ix. Educational materials (II/I)

x. Promotional material (II/I)

2. Events

i. AWB Global Star Party (II)

ii. Schools events (II)

ii. Science Centres/Planetariums events (II)

Task Group

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  (UK, ESO) – Co-Chair

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   (USA, AWB) - Co-Chair

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   (Canada, Gemini Observatory)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   (Spain, Calar Alto)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  (UK, ROE)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   (Indonesia, Langitselatan)

Manoj Pai (India)

Scott Roberts (USA, Astronomy Outreach Network)

Donna Smith (USA, Sidewalk Astronomers/ISAN)

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (USA, Association of Science-Technology Centers)