National Astronomy Week
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| National Astronomy Week (NAW) | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Astronomy-related events and competitions |
| Frequency | As per notable events; Duration: 1 Week |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Years active | 33 |
| Inaugurated | 1981 |
| Previous event | 2009 |
| Next event | 2014 |
| Participants | Observed by Astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts |
| Website | astronomyweek |
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.
Activities
|
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.
Events
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.
| Sr. | Year | Notes | Reference |
| 1 | 1981 | To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Uranus. | |
| 2 | 1985 | Return of Halley’s Comet. | |
| 3 | 1990 | To commemorate the centenary of the British Astronomical Association. | |
| 4 | 1996 | To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the discovery of Neptune. | |
| 5 | 2003 | To coincide with arguable the closest approach of Mars for 60,000 years. | |
| 6 | 2009 | To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Thomas Harriot's reputed first use of the telescope for astronomical purposes. It was during the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 as a major event organised by the steering committee at Syon House |
[1] |
| 7 | 2014 | To celebrate Jupiter attaining its highest possible point in the northern hemisphere night skies for 12 years. | [2] |
National Astronomy Week 2014 (NAW 2014)
The seventh event is planned for March 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. The events that will be run are listed on the National Astronomy Week website[2] and also communicated to schools, universities, and other organisations such as Scouts and Guides. The event has already been widely announced in the UK, for example in Astronomy & Geophysics magazine.[3] and there is also information on the NAW Twitter page[4] and on Facebook.[5]
Sponsorship and funding
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.
See also
- Earth Hour
- Earth Day/Earth Week
- 100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA)
- National Dark-Sky Week (NDSW)
- Astronomy Day
References
- ^ "Syon Park: Sunday 26th July 2009". telescope400.org.uk. National Astronomy Week. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Coming! 1st to 8th March 2014". astronomyweek.org.uk. NAW. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Target Jupiter: National Astronomy Week 2014". A&G (2013). 54 (2). astrogeo.oxfordjournals: 2. doi:10.1093/astrogeo/att006. Retrieved December 24, 2013.
- ^ NAW2014 on Twitter
- ^ NAW2014 on Facebook