“During this period, people from around the globe will share the experience and wonders of observing the sky. For many, it will be their first glimpse of the marvels of the heavens through a telescope. For others, it is the perfect opportunity to impart their knowledge and excitement, helping unveil the cosmos to fresh and eager eyes.
A live 24-hour video webcast called "
Around the World in 80 Telescopes" will take place from 3 April 09:00 UT to 4 April 09:00 UT, following day and night around the globe to some of the most advanced observatories on and off the planet. Viewers can find out what is happening at a research observatory in their home country or on the other side of the planet, send in questions and messages, see new images from the cosmos, and discover what astronomers are doing right now!
Participating telescopes include the Hawaii-based telescopes Gemini North and Keck, the Anglo-Australian Telescope, telescopes in the Canary Islands, the Southern African Large Telescope, Chilean observatories such as ESO's Very Large Telescope, space-based telescopes such as the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, ESA XMM-Newton and Integral, and many more.
In fact, "Around the World in 80 Telescopes" will take viewers to every continent, including Antarctica! The webcast itself will be hosted at the European Southern Observatory's headquarters in Munich, Germany with live streaming by Ustream.tv.
Anyone with a web browser supporting Flash will be able to follow the show via the 100HA website and be a part of the project. TV stations, web portals, and science centres can also use the high quality feed, and the video player can be embedded on websites. Representatives of the media who wish to report from the "front-line" and interview the team should get in touch.
The featured programme "
Global Star Party", commencing at sunset on 4 April, is set to be an all-encompassing event of extraordinary scope. Amateur astronomers, clubs and other groups will be setting up telescopes in public places to allow as many people as possible to look at the heavens.
Traditional star party locations such as busy streets and shopping centres will be covered, as well as less conventional places including rest homes and military bases. Enthusiasts have been working hard to ensure that an incredible number of people will be able to look through a telescope during the
Global Star Party.
These two headline initiatives are being supported by many more activities like the "
Sun Day" (April 5) and "
100 Hour of Astronomy Junior" and several "1
00 Hours of Astronomy Opening Events" around the world.
All this is, of course, in addition to the thousands of local events being planned by science facilities and astronomy enthusiasts around the world, including telescope observing sessions, exhibitions, special shows and more.
100 Hours of Astronomy is a venture of breathtaking scope that will involve people from all walks of life around the globe. Get involved, and be part of a record-breaking worldwide event!”
'100 Hours of Astronomy' live webcasts
♥ 1 de Abril 2009
