The Traveler

Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Lana Hazel UA senior Josh Biddulph works at a computer in the astronomy lab Monday, March 30. 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, and UA organizations are taking part in the celebrations.

In honor of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's telescope, scientists have created a series of events for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Celebrations of astronomy are taking place in 140 countries, including global events such as 100 Hours of Astronomy, Around the World in 80 Telescopes, How Many Stars Contest and the National Dark Sky Week.

The UA hosted lectures in conjunction with the International Year of Astronomy as a way for students to focus on astronomy and cosmology. These included "New Methods For Determining The Dark Matter Content Of Spiral Galaxies" and "Conflict in the Cosmos - The Life and the Science of Sir Fred Hoyle." Most recently, on Thursday, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Joseph Taylor presented "Binary Pulsars and Relativistic Gravity."

"Probably the most fun and inspiring way to participate in the IYA would be to get involved with our campus astronomy group," said Daniel Kennefick, a UA physics professor.

The Student Astronomical Society hosts astronomy-related activities not only with students, but also with the general public. SAS President Chris Sharp said the group's events provide a good opportunity to connect kids and their families with the cosmos.

"We host several star parties each semester where attendees

get a chance to play with telescopes and giant binoculars while enjoying the hidden views in the night sky," he said.

This year, National Dark Sky Week is April 20 through April 26. The week was established to raise awareness of light pollution, initiate a time for people to enjoy the beauty of the cosmos without the intrusion of city lights and eliminate or improve the energy-wasting outside lights that prevent a clear view of the night sky.

The National Dark Sky Week Web site suggests that citizens turn out their porch lights or sidewalk lights and use a red-tinted flashlight for necessary visibility before observing the stars, as the flashlight won't disrupt nighttime vision. An example of outdoor light improvement would be reducing the amount of light reflected upward away from usable space.

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