National Astronomy Week

National Astronomy Week (NAW) is a British event which is held every few years to promote public awareness of astronomy by celebrating notable astronomical events.
Previous NAWs have marked the return of Halley’s Comet, the closest approach of Mars to Earth for 60,000 years and, most recently, the 400th anniversary of the first astronomical use of the telescope.
NAW 2014, subtitled Target Jupiter, will run from 1 to 8 March 2014 when Jupiter will be at its highest in UK skies for many years to come. It should be possible to take some of the best photos ever of Jupiter from the UK, and the event will provide an opportunity to promote interest in Astronomy among school children and the public at large.
National Astronomy Week is sponsored (and funded) by some of the most significant science organisations in the UK, including the Science & Technology Facilities Council and the Royal Astronomical Society.

About the week

During the week, astronomy societies, planetaria, schools, universities and other organisations from all over the UK organise events to promote interest in, and knowledge of, astronomy. The organisers promote the week using extensive contacts with the media and all the major UK astronomical organisations, many of whom provide funding. Events range from talks, visits and in particular the opportunity for children and adults alike to observe the sky through a range of equipment. NAW is held at intervals of from 4 to 6 years, timed for major opportunities to see something special. For the next week in March 2014, the events that will be run are listed on the National Astronomy Week website , and also communicated to schools, universities, and other organisations such as Scouts and Guides.
NAW 2014 has already been widely announced in the UK, for example in Astronomy & Geophysics magazine. and there is also information on the NAW Twitter page and on Facebook.

History

The need for National Astronomy Week (NAW) was first defined in the late 1970s. A group of both professional and amateur astronomers as well as teachers and educators was formed to define and run the first ever event. NAW was proposed in 1979 and a steering committee was set up in 1980. Since then a total of six events have run as listed below, and a seventh event is planned for March 2014.

1. The first NAW was held in 1981 and commemorated the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Uranus.
2. The second in 1985 was for the return of Halley’s Comet.
3. The third in 1990 was held to commemorate the centenary of the British Astronomical Association.
4. The fourth in 1996 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the discovery of Neptune.
5. The fifth in 2003 was held to coincide with arguable the closest approach of Mars for 60,000 years. The website for this event can still be viewed.
6. The sixth during the first International Year of Astronomy in 2009 was a major event organised by the steering committee at Syon House to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Thomas Harriot's reputed first use of the telescope for astronomical purposes.
7. The seventh planned NAW in 2014 is to celebrate Jupiter attaining its highest possible point in the northern hemisphere night skies for 12 years.