Category Archives: astronomy

astronomy education, astronomy research, funding

The Old Alma Mater Does It Again

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Dear Ol’ CU

It’s always nice to get good news from one’s alma mater (instead of the usual begging letters from the development foundation). Where I went to school (University of Colorado), astronomy, planetary science, and space sciences research have always been Big Things. I did my graduate studies while serving on a team that worked with an HST instrument (the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph), and also did some work on comet images under a Halley Watch grant. One of the folks who I overlapped with at CU is Alan Stern, now Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, and an old friend. At CU he worked with the Center for Space and Geoscience Policy, before leaving to work at Southwest Research Institute. A number of other missions had CU relationships, including some involving other members of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (where I worked), Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (I worked there as an undergraduate), and a variety of other research institutes at CU.

Artist concepts of a Naval Observatory Proposalinvolving CU-Boulder to place a carpet-like radio telescope on the moon to probe the earliest structures in the universe. Image courtesy CU-Boulder, NRL

Suffice to say, I was pleased to see a press release today outlining a pair of projects that NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory has selected for further funding and development that both involve people and institutions at CU. The first is for a space observatory to find Earth-like planets in distant solar systems. The other is for a unique type of low-frequency radio telescope on the far side of the Moon. Astronomers would use it to look for some of the earliest structures in the universe. Both are very worthy projects and I’m pleased to see my home university continue its winning streak in astronomy and space science. (Read more details here.)

Both projects should give undergraduate and graduate students first-hand experience in designing instruments AND doing science, something that attracted me back to graduate school in the first place (lo these many years ago). While CU isn’t the only university that gets these grants and makes opportunities available, it has been a leader for many years in this area. I can’t think of Duane Physics tower or the LASP building or the JILA towers without remembering all the really smart, really great scientists who came out of those labs and who are making solid scientific contributions today. There are whole new generations of instruments and projects waiting for new generations of student scientists. And that’s good news for science and for old alums like me.

amateur astronomy, astronomy, astronomy education, dark skies

What Are You Doing In 2009? Try Astronomy

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A Year of Astronomy

 

 

 



A hundred countries (and counting) have signed on to participate in the International Year of Astronomy, which runs throughout calendar year 2009. The IYA planners envision the year as a time when people take renewed interest in astronomy and science, from school children to members of the general public and the astronomy community (both professional and amateur).

On their web page the International Astronomical Union, which is spearheading the organization of IYA 2009, states:

The vision of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. All humans should realize the impact of astronomy and basic sciences on our daily lives, and understand better how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society.

Now, we’re a planet full of people, all with different languages, philosophies, levels of income, education, science interest, and political backgrounds. How can astronomy be something we can all appreciate? It’s pretty simple really: we all have access to the sky. There isn’t anywhere on Earth where you can’t look up and see the sky, day or night. Granted some places have hazy, light-polluted skies. But, even in the worst places, you can see a few stars at night or the Sun, or the Moon. Astronomy is universal.

And that’s the beauty of International Year of Astronomy. Anybody can do something with it, as long as it’s related to the “Cornerstone Projects” that the IAU and IYA planners have developed. What are those projects?

100 Hours of Astronomy
The Galileoscope
The Cosmic Diary
The Portal to the Universe
She is an Astronomer
Dark Skies Awareness
Astro&World Heritage
Galileo Teacher Training Program
Universe Awareness
From Earth to the Universe
Developing Astronomy Globally

You can read more about these projects the IYA home page linked above. I’m particularly interested in the Galileo scope, the Portal to the Universe, and the She is an Astronomer projects. Check out the pages and see if there isn’t a project that excites you to participate, in whatever way you can.