www.langitselatan.comRigel Kentaurus, INDONESIARigel Kentaurus, INDONESIA

A. Yamani, Aldino. A.B, Dewi Pramesti

avivah@langitselatan.com

Langit Selatan Langit Selatan (southern sky) Blog,(southern sky) Blog, a Window for Popularizing Astronomy a Window for Popularizing Astronomy

in Indonesiain Indonesia

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Latitude: 6° 57' S. Longitude: 107° 34' W Indonesia is a tropical country with 17,508 island With a population over 234 million people

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

BackgroundBackground

Lack of astronomy information and media in Indonesia language

False conception about certain celestial issued

False information among the people about certain events

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

HistoryHistory

2004, five young astronomer start their dream about astronomy media in Indonesian language and they start a group name Rigel Kentaurus

At the same year, Rigel kentaurus start it first online media name http://centaurusonline.com

2007, we change our service into blogging and change our name to langitselatan (southern sky). http://langitselatan.com

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

VisionVision

Being an astronomy media in Indonesia. Giving astronomy education to

Indonesia public. Building awareness of astronomy in

Indonesia.

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

langitselatan.com langitselatan.com

langitselatan forum

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Sharing resources and information with the public

Facilitate collaboration and sharing between users

Interactive communication with the readers

Building communities

Why blog?

AdvantageAdvantage Reach all the people throughout the

country with low cost for the users (Indonesia is the largest archipelagic state)Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11

October 2007

Statistic of Internet users in IndonesiaStatistic of Internet users in Indonesia

16.000.0002005

20.000.0002007

11.226.1432004

8.080.5342003

4.500.0002002

4.200.0002001

1.900.0002000

1.000.0001999

512.0001998

UsersYear Internet Users in Indonesia

0

5.000.000

10.000.000

15.000.000

20.000.000

25.000.000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

source : www.apjii.or.id

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Statistic of blogs in IndonesiaStatistic of blogs in Indonesia

 440

8Total

3.65 %

161Education / Career

1.84 %

81Kitchen

2.63 %

116Popular Science

9.01 %

397Opinion

1.54 %

68Travel

2.75 %

121Entertainment

1.79 %

79News

1.32 %

58Photo Blog

5.74 %

253IT

70.51 %

3108

Personal

Number of Blog per CategoryPersonal70.51%

Information Technology

5.74%Photo Blog

1.32 %

News1.79%

Entertainment2.75%

Travel1.54%

Opinion9.01% Popular

Science2.63%

Kitchen1.84%

Education / Career

3.65%

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Total of registered blog in http://www.blog-indonesia.com/ : 4408 Unregistered blog : more than 10 000

Total of registered blog in http://www.blog-indonesia.com/ : 4408 Unregistered blog : more than 10 000

Source : http://www.blog-indonesia.com/, October 4th 2007

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Astronomy online mediaAstronomy online media

30 weblog (registered and unregistered) about astronomy in specifics topic :

20 private blogs 4 community blogs

6 institution web 1 media and forum

(langitselatan.com) 0.68% of all registered blog

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

October 10th 2007

Impacts to langitselatan.comImpacts to langitselatan.com

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

With top post :With top post : Heliocentric vs Geocentric Mars Hoax Total moon Eclipse Star Party Moon Hoax Lunar Calendar Habitable Planet Pluto

In Indonesia, astronomy is the most search topic on the internet for false exposition in some particular

event, e.g. Mars Hoax, or conundrum of heliocentric/geocentric, which are still hot topics

until recent time.Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11

October 2007

Social Impacts from the Social Impacts from the blog….blog….

Science Camp Salman ITB (Moeslem Mosque Children Group in Bandung Institute of Technology)

Rooftop Star Party at Mitra Hotel (7/7/07)

From langitselatan blog, rigel kentaurus also grow as an event organizer of :

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Astronomical Gathering : Southern Sky Star Party 2007 cooperate with student body of Astronomy ITB and Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN). (http://www.langitselatan.com/starparty)

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Birthday star party Star party goes to school and Aidil Fitri

camp cooperate with Indonesia UNAWE

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Langitselatan on mediaLangitselatan on media

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Challenge and problemChallenge and problem Funding Human Resource Instruments Find the best methods to share

knowledge to the children. Make all fields and topics of astronomy

as an interesting topic for the people

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Result Result Langitselatan.com adjust misconception and

hoax (heliocentric vs geocentric, mars hoax) A reference for beginner. A resource of astronomy news and public

education to the public. An aggregator for astronomy blog and

resources. (http://langitselatan.com/aggregator)

Since April 2007, forum langitselatan.com become a community with 84 members. (October 3rd)

Give inspiration to build community in several province.

Being astronomy educator Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11

October 2007

Future WorkFuture Work Astrokids Club Mobile Planetarium Community builder in all province throughout

the country Astronomy Magazine and Newsletter in

Indonesia Collaboration with Indonesia Universe

Awareness Telescope training Annual Astronomical Gathering :

Southern Sky Star Party IYA2009 Star Party cooperate with

Bosscha ObservatoryCommunicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007

Thank youThank youTo organizers who for giving me chance to come to To organizers who for giving me chance to come to this meeting to present my paperthis meeting to present my paper

To the audience for your participationTo the audience for your participation

our RSS : http://langitselatan.com/feeds our RSS : http://langitselatan.com/feeds

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007, Athens, Greece 8 - 11 October 2007