National Astronomy Week
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National Astronomy Week ("NAW") is a British event which is held every few years or so to promote public awareness of astronomy by celebrating remarkable 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.
The next NAW will run from 1st to 8th March 2014 and has the subtitle "Target Jupiter". Jupiter will be at its highest in UK skies for many years to come, and to
celebrate the event UK astronomers will be holding another National Astronomy Week, from Saturday 1st to Saturday 8th March. It should be possible take some of the best photos ever of Jupiter in 2014, and the event will provide a great opportunity to promote interest in Astronomy amongst school children and the public at large.
National Astronomy Week is sponsored (and funded) by some of the most significant astronomical organisations in the UK, including the Scientific and Technical Research Council, the Royal Astronomical Society and others.
About the week
During the week, Astronomical organisations from all over the UK will be organising interesting events. These will be listed on the National Astronomy Week website, and also communicated to Schools, Universities, and other organisations such as Scouts and Guides.
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 setup in 1980. Since then a total of six events have run as listed below, and a seventh event is planned for March 2014.
- The first NAW was held in 1981 and commemorated the 200 anniversary of the discovery of Uranus.
- The second in 1985 was for the return of Halley’s Comet.
- The third in 1990 was held to commemorate the centenary of the BAA.
- The fourth in 1996 commemorated the 150th anniversary of the discovery of Neptune.
- 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.
- 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 Thomas Harriot's first use of the telescope for astronomical purposes.
- The seventh planned NAW in 2014 is to celebrate Jupiter attaining its highest possible point in the northern hemisphere night skies for 12 years.
References
- National Astronomy Week Website
- The Telescope 400 Website (celebrating 400 years of the use of the telescope in Astronomy)