GLOBAL ASTRONOMY MONTH

Inaugurating a New Annual Celebration of the

Universe

Thilina Heenatigala

Ricardo Reis

Astronomers Without Borders

JENAM2010 – SPS7Lisbon, Portugal

IYA2009 and next?

• DAWN, 100HA, Galilean Nights, TWAN exhibitions, etc…

Keeping the momentum alive…

Global Astronomy Month

One People, One Sky…

Global Astronomy Month

• GAM is an annual worldwide celebration of astronomy in all its forms.

• captured the energy of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 and refocused it as a celebration of the Universe.

• GAM 2010 saw professional and amateur astronomers, educators and astronomy enthusiasts from around the globe participating together in the spirit of IYA2009

• provided a global stage for established programs and a framework for partnerships.

GAM Programs

Collaborative Programs

• 30 Nights of StarPeace• Yuri’s Night• Citizen Sky• Naming X• Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena (UAP)• Solar Week• International Dark Sky Week• The World Night in Defence of the

Starlight

• “Online Messier Marathon” -  5/6 April 2010 6500 participants, 100 different countries.

• “Is There Anybody Out There?” – 7 April 2010 1500 participants, 80 different countries.

• “Here Comes the Sun” – 11 April 2010 500 participants, 60 different countries.

• “Walking on the Moon” – 21 April 2010 2200 participants, 70 different countries.

• “Cosmic Depths” – 30 April 2010 1900 participants, 60 different countries.

During GAM…

• Over 32 000 visitors, from 120 different countries connected to the Virtual Telescope webpage.

• Groups from over 80 countries participated.

Continuing Programs

• One Star (at a time)• Global Star Party• Lunar Week• Sun Day• Astropoetry Blog

Inaugurating a New Annual Celebration of the Universe

• The outstanding public participation experienced in GAM has led Astronomers Without Borders and its partners to declare Global Astronomy Month an annual event to take place each April.

• Several global projects launched during GAM 2010 will continue throughout the year as ongoing Astronomers Without Borders programs.

Let's Continue the Celebration of the Universe!

Thank you.

One People, One Sky…

Thilina HeenatigalaAstronomers Without Borders

thilina@astronomerswithoutborders.org

www.astronomerswithoutborders.org