Young Astronomy Photographer of the Year
Calling all Astrophotographers! The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England is yet again hosting the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition. This free competition and exhibition is open to all interested, and by entering your images you could win £1000, along with your images being published and viewed by thousands!
For those aspiring astronomers, there is a competition category for under 16. This is a great chance for any young photographer to get recognition in the astronomy field (along with winning some prize money).
The competition itself was started as an International Year of Astronomy event, but has now continued to this year. If you are interested in entering be sure to do so now, the competition ends Friday, July 16th.
More information on the contest can be obtained at its website, http://www.nmm.ac.uk/astrophoto
July 11th 2010 – A Day to Remember
On the 11th of July the Sun, Moon and Earth will come together to create a spectacular display – A total solar eclipse. The three celestial bodies will be in just the right positions in space to allow the moon to completely block out the sun allowing for day to become night.
These rare events really are spectacular and allow ground based observers to get rare glimpses into the sun’s outer atmosphere called the corona.
The path of the eclipse Credit: NASA
Before anybody gets too excited, the path of the eclipse this time is rather remote. It begins in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean before tracking eastwards. Those of you lucky enough to be going on holiday to the tropical island of Tahiti at the time will be able to enjoy a near total eclipse (one where the moon does not quite cover the whole of the sun’s disk). However despite the majority of the path of totality (the area of total eclipse) being over the ocean, Easter Island sits slap bang in the middle. Those lucky enough to be on the island at the time will get to view the sight in all its full glory. Towards the end of the day the eclipse will make landfall in southern South America with the majority of the south west coast being able to enjoy at least a partial eclipse.
The next total eclipse occurs on November 13, 2012. Whilst this also occurs in the Pacific Ocean the region of the eclipse includes parts of Australia and New Zealand so perhaps if you won’t be able to see the eclipse this year maybe, 2012’s will prove easier to watch.
An example of a total solar eclipse Credit: ESO
If you are lucky to be able to see an eclipse please make sure you use a pinhole camera or a special solar filter or glasses to watch the eclipse as even in its dimmed sate the sun is still capable of causing drastic damage to your site especially as totality ends and it brightens once more.
Happy viewing!
2010 – Goodbye IYA2009
Happy New Years Everyone!
Credit: Paul Moss
Though this the end of the grand International Year of Astronomy (IYA) we still celebrate what is to come! You must remember the IYA2009 was never meant to be a event for one year, but a means to creating structures for collaboration, lasting self-sustaining activities and innovative concepts for the communication of astronomy. We must notice the connections people have made this year, the new projects that have been established, and the growth of the online astronomical community. In no way is all the astronomy fun of the IYA “over”, just the official celebration, we will still continue with all of your favorite projects, and surely the astronomical community will continue to grow!
One event example is the 100 Hours of Astronomy, it was a HUGE success and many wanted more! That’s when the AWB (Astronomers Without Borders, http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/) decided to create a Global Astronomy Month! The entire month of April will be dedicated to the communication of astronomy, including some of your favorite events of the 100HA. Though this is a grassroots effort, meaning it can only be a success if local astronomers participate. This will take place the month of April and more information is available at, http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/index.php/projects/global-astronomy-month-2010.html (and of course we will too provide more information once the launch of our website)
Lastly, there is the exciting news about our website! This project was conceived mid-2009, and was finally provided web hosting in August by the Astronomical League. The site started off on Drupal, with nothing done, but early December we changed to WordPress and eventually started getting some parts of the site completed. Many new faces have joined our team since the transition, and now there are five of us! We are already working hard on getting the site up and running and hope to be done within the next few months! A “soft opening” will occur most likely mid-February, and if your interested in being part of the group reviewing the site please e-mail ejordan77515 [at] gmail [dot] com.
So from all of us at the Young Astronomers Committee we wish you a Very Happy New Year!
