Category Archives: Astronomy outreach

astronomy, astronomy education, Astronomy outreach, Planetarium, science museums

Want to Learn Astronomy?

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Where Do You Go?

Venus against a starry backdrop. Courtesy CoolCosmos.

I often write on these pages about “stepping out” and checking out the stars and planets. That accessibility to the elements of astronomy is what makes this science so approachable. You really DO only have to step outside and look up, provided of course that you have a good safe place to view from and you’re not terribly plagued with light pollution. I’ve found in my experiences in many big cities that a few stars are usually visible, along with whatever bright planet there is. And, of course, it’s tough to miss the Moon.

But, what if you don’t have regular access to a safe viewing area?  Where do you go if you’re into astronomy and want to learn more? I would hope that astronomy is still a subject being taught in the schools, and if so, that’s a good place to start if you’re still a student.

The Web, of course, is a good place to surf for astro-info.  Sky&Telescope and Astronomy.com are good places to start online. (If you’re looking for magazines and periodicals, this site has a good list to get you started.)  There are plenty of scientifically accurate sources (including this page) on the Web, many of which are listed in my blog links at left. So, if you’re stuck inside doing your astronomy research, these are good places to start.

There are also many good books — I’ve listed some here and here. You can, as I have done much of my life, cruise the cosmos through the pages of many an astronomy tome. The beauty of that approach is that you can do it anytime, and it’s ideal for those cloudy, cold nights when stepping outside isn’t much of an option.

But, there are many other good places to actually GO and learn about astronomy.  If you live in (or visit) Los Angeles, there’s always the venerable Griffith Observatory. It has been bringing people to astronomy (and vice versa) for 77 years.  At the other end of the U.S., there’s the Rose Center for Earth and Space, in New York City.  It’s part of the American Museum of Natural History and another historically significant place to learn astronomy.

Many cities around the world have their science centers and museums and planetariums, ranging from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich (near London) in the United Kingdom to the Sydney Observatory in Australia, the Beijing Planetarium in China, and many, many other places where you can take in a planetarium show, see astronomy exhibits, and even take classes.  There are, in fact, thousands of these institutions to learn astronomy in the world. Step out…or in… or wherever you can… to learn more about the cosmos through the science of astronomy.

'Casts, astronomy, Astronomy outreach, astronomy research, astrophysics, physics, space exploration

Take a Journey into Outer Space

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Or, Listen to Eminent Scientists Talk about It

I just got a note about a very cool-sounding event that will be taking place on March 16, 2011. It’s called “A Journey into Outer Space” and presents a slate of names many folks have heard of, talking about their science and the future in space. The event features the BBC’s Professor Brian Cox, who will speak about the Large Hadron Collider and dark matter; Charles Simonyi will describe exactly what it’s like to be aboard the International Space Station; Colin Pillinger (of Beagle 2 fame) will ask if there’s anyone else out there; the inimitable Richard Holmes will chart the history of humanity’s fascination with space; Astronomer Royal Lord Martin Rees will talk about everything Big Bang-related; and Rick Stroud will chair. The event is being put on by a group called IntelligenceSquared.

Now, if you were attending this event in person, there’d be a cover charge — and a pretty reasonable one at that, of only £30.00 for regular admission or £15.00 for students. (About $48.00 USD, or €34.00. Go here to convert that to your local currency.)  I think that would be well worth it, if I lived in the area. However, I don’t and so don’t lots of other people. But, the folks at IntelligenceSquared have solved that problem.

For those unable to attend the event in London in person, the organizers have a live stream available, which offers a fantastic interactive alternative for viewerers. Watching live online is free for everybody. You simply have to  create a free account with your email and a password, and then enjoy the event. All the details are on their web site, linked above. Note that the time of the event is given in London time, so be sure and figure out what time that will be in YOUR time zone (and remember, some of us go on Daylight Savings Time this next weekend, so don’t forget to take THAT into account, too).

During the event, live-stream viewers will also be able to discuss the questions raised using our comment tool (including Facebook and Twitter), and vote on the motion if it’s a debate. The IntelligenceSquared folk will forward the best comments on Rick Stroud, who will then ask the panellists to answer the questions.

The organizers have a Twitter account and hashtag, so check out their tweets at:  #iq2space

Many of the panelists are well known to folks in the blogosphere, and it should be an interesting time. And who knows, you might find yourself asking the Astronomy Royal or Professor Brian Cox (or any of the other panelists) a question of your own.