Dear Friends,
I have written an article about a possible suggestion for World Astronomy Day 2005. Please take a look and we could get a discussion going..
Yours,
Chris
Word Astronomy Day 2005
Word Astronomy Day 2005
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Hi!
This is a repost for those who can't open the word file.
Anyway, this is just a suggestion. Please take a look and offer your comments.
Cheers,
Chris
World Astronomy Day 2005
I would like to begin by suggesting an idea for the Singastro community to pick up as an event for promoting astronomy in Singapore. The event will not be as major as Singastrofest 2004, but will use the occasion of World Astronomy Day to coordinate and send out small teams of people to busy areas around Singapore to share our love of astronomy with the public.
The Basic Idea
To use small teams set up in busy areas around Singapore on International Astronomy Day on 16th April to promote astronomy. Each team should have about 3 people, one telescope (preferably with tracking), and one easel to display photos and information. Photos, information display and pamphlets will be prepared by volunteers from the Singastro community. We will show views of the moon and Saturn (and more if the weather permits) to interested people and especially children, answer questions, explain things, and share with them about astronomy in general. We will also try to pique their interest by showing them beautiful photos and distributing informational pamphlets.
The Date
The date – April 16th 2005, is ideal because it is a weekend and the moon and Saturn will be visible early in the evening as long as it is not completely overcast. These are suitably impressive and easy targets for the public to go “Wow!” over, and can be viewed even in bright areas. This is important areas with more people also mean more lights. However, if the weather is bad, one good thing about small separate teams is that the team can decide to have it on Friday, or Sunday, or even the week after instead.
The Venue
Some possible venues are:
1. Around Tampines interchange
2. The square outside Toa Payoh library
3. Along Orchard Road
a. Takashimaya square
b. Outside Borders
c. Istana park
d. Outside Plaza Singapura
4. At the Suntec City fountain
5. Opposite Raffles City
6. Within Chijmes
7. Raffles MRT
I am sure many, many other places can be thought of. As Singastro is not an official organisation, and because of the small size of the teams, the problem of obtaining licences is reduced. All each team has to do is decide on a favourable venue and approach the relevant neighbourhood police post to register their intention. As Samuel Ng has shared, they usually don’t mind as long as there is no obstruction to the public and there is no crowding. Of course, other spots might prove trickier, but be adventurous and inventive! You never know what might be possible until you try. I think there are many suitable spots on the island that are convenient, have a high volume of traffic, and are agreeable to the authorities. Worse comes to worse, you can even choose to operate like ‘guerrillas’ .
The Team
An ideal size appears to be a team of 3 people. The smaller size makes it easy to plan, coordinate and move, but big enough to handle the public and the equipment. One could man the telescope, while the other two answer questions and give out pamphlets.
Equipment
The equipment will be as basic as possible, to facilitate easy movement:
Item Comments
1. Telescope
2. Poster with photos and information
3. Easel to put up poster
4. Pamphlets
5. Chair for kids to stand on and view; preferably height-adjustable
The Goal
I think we could aim to interest at least ten adults and twenty children. If someone takes a look at the moon or Saturn and goes “Wow!” and asks you questions about astronomy, I think we can count it as one more person that has been introduced to the marvels of this universe. I believe 30 adults and children over the course of one night will be both a realistic and fulfilling target.
The Poster
A standard display could be prepared by a few volunteers to display astrophotos taken by our own astronomers. It would be great to feature pictures taken exclusively in Singapore ; this will really show that great astronomy can be done right here. We can showcase the great works of such people as, but not limited to Jean-Yves, TG Tan, Matthew and Tan Wei Leong . The poster will also have information about astronomy in Singapore and Singastro.
Pamphlets
Some helpful informational pamphlets for the public have been prepared before by the SP astronomers for various activities, including SingastroFest2004, so this job can be more of compilation rather than research from scratch. A few volunteers will be needed to compile and print the pamphlets.
Here are some suggestions for more pamphlets that can be prepared. It is my intention that the information compiled on these topics can be put on the Singastro website as webpages for the benefit of newcomers to astronomy.
Topic Description
Astronomy in Singapore “Astronomy, in Singapore??” – An introduction to astronomy in Singapore and the region. Best viewing spots in Singapore and in the region. List of clubs, websites, and dealers in Singapore and the region.
Favourite Websites A list of great informational and interesting astronomy websites for newbies, including websites of our own astronomers.
What can be seen in Singapore and how to see it Brief introduction to constellations, planets, deep sky objects, and equipment. Explanation on what can be seen in Singapore and the equipment needed.
How to buy astronomy equipment On binoculars, and How to buy a telescope in Singapore.
Basic Astronomy Basic explanations on the sun, planets, moon, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, milky way, comets, meteors, etc. You’ll be surprised that most people don’t know these things!
(for website only)
Singapore Skymap Could develop an equatorial skymap for use in Singapore showing constellations and bright DSOs.
Astrophotography Introduction to how to take astrophotos – equipment and techniques.
Etc.
Funding
Should we decide to go ahead, I hope the whole community can come together to support this endeavour. Those who cannot volunteer the time can offer their monetary support. The money will be collected and publicly accounted for (we will need a treasurer), and will be used to pay for the poster boards, printing costs for the pamphlets and photos, and a token meal for those who helped with the preparation. The remainder will be handed over to Yongquan and used for the upkeep of the Singastro website.
This is a repost for those who can't open the word file.
Anyway, this is just a suggestion. Please take a look and offer your comments.
Cheers,
Chris
World Astronomy Day 2005
I would like to begin by suggesting an idea for the Singastro community to pick up as an event for promoting astronomy in Singapore. The event will not be as major as Singastrofest 2004, but will use the occasion of World Astronomy Day to coordinate and send out small teams of people to busy areas around Singapore to share our love of astronomy with the public.
The Basic Idea
To use small teams set up in busy areas around Singapore on International Astronomy Day on 16th April to promote astronomy. Each team should have about 3 people, one telescope (preferably with tracking), and one easel to display photos and information. Photos, information display and pamphlets will be prepared by volunteers from the Singastro community. We will show views of the moon and Saturn (and more if the weather permits) to interested people and especially children, answer questions, explain things, and share with them about astronomy in general. We will also try to pique their interest by showing them beautiful photos and distributing informational pamphlets.
The Date
The date – April 16th 2005, is ideal because it is a weekend and the moon and Saturn will be visible early in the evening as long as it is not completely overcast. These are suitably impressive and easy targets for the public to go “Wow!” over, and can be viewed even in bright areas. This is important areas with more people also mean more lights. However, if the weather is bad, one good thing about small separate teams is that the team can decide to have it on Friday, or Sunday, or even the week after instead.
The Venue
Some possible venues are:
1. Around Tampines interchange
2. The square outside Toa Payoh library
3. Along Orchard Road
a. Takashimaya square
b. Outside Borders
c. Istana park
d. Outside Plaza Singapura
4. At the Suntec City fountain
5. Opposite Raffles City
6. Within Chijmes
7. Raffles MRT
I am sure many, many other places can be thought of. As Singastro is not an official organisation, and because of the small size of the teams, the problem of obtaining licences is reduced. All each team has to do is decide on a favourable venue and approach the relevant neighbourhood police post to register their intention. As Samuel Ng has shared, they usually don’t mind as long as there is no obstruction to the public and there is no crowding. Of course, other spots might prove trickier, but be adventurous and inventive! You never know what might be possible until you try. I think there are many suitable spots on the island that are convenient, have a high volume of traffic, and are agreeable to the authorities. Worse comes to worse, you can even choose to operate like ‘guerrillas’ .
The Team
An ideal size appears to be a team of 3 people. The smaller size makes it easy to plan, coordinate and move, but big enough to handle the public and the equipment. One could man the telescope, while the other two answer questions and give out pamphlets.
Equipment
The equipment will be as basic as possible, to facilitate easy movement:
Item Comments
1. Telescope
2. Poster with photos and information
3. Easel to put up poster
4. Pamphlets
5. Chair for kids to stand on and view; preferably height-adjustable
The Goal
I think we could aim to interest at least ten adults and twenty children. If someone takes a look at the moon or Saturn and goes “Wow!” and asks you questions about astronomy, I think we can count it as one more person that has been introduced to the marvels of this universe. I believe 30 adults and children over the course of one night will be both a realistic and fulfilling target.
The Poster
A standard display could be prepared by a few volunteers to display astrophotos taken by our own astronomers. It would be great to feature pictures taken exclusively in Singapore ; this will really show that great astronomy can be done right here. We can showcase the great works of such people as, but not limited to Jean-Yves, TG Tan, Matthew and Tan Wei Leong . The poster will also have information about astronomy in Singapore and Singastro.
Pamphlets
Some helpful informational pamphlets for the public have been prepared before by the SP astronomers for various activities, including SingastroFest2004, so this job can be more of compilation rather than research from scratch. A few volunteers will be needed to compile and print the pamphlets.
Here are some suggestions for more pamphlets that can be prepared. It is my intention that the information compiled on these topics can be put on the Singastro website as webpages for the benefit of newcomers to astronomy.
Topic Description
Astronomy in Singapore “Astronomy, in Singapore??” – An introduction to astronomy in Singapore and the region. Best viewing spots in Singapore and in the region. List of clubs, websites, and dealers in Singapore and the region.
Favourite Websites A list of great informational and interesting astronomy websites for newbies, including websites of our own astronomers.
What can be seen in Singapore and how to see it Brief introduction to constellations, planets, deep sky objects, and equipment. Explanation on what can be seen in Singapore and the equipment needed.
How to buy astronomy equipment On binoculars, and How to buy a telescope in Singapore.
Basic Astronomy Basic explanations on the sun, planets, moon, clusters, nebulae, galaxies, milky way, comets, meteors, etc. You’ll be surprised that most people don’t know these things!
(for website only)
Singapore Skymap Could develop an equatorial skymap for use in Singapore showing constellations and bright DSOs.
Astrophotography Introduction to how to take astrophotos – equipment and techniques.
Etc.
Funding
Should we decide to go ahead, I hope the whole community can come together to support this endeavour. Those who cannot volunteer the time can offer their monetary support. The money will be collected and publicly accounted for (we will need a treasurer), and will be used to pay for the poster boards, printing costs for the pamphlets and photos, and a token meal for those who helped with the preparation. The remainder will be handed over to Yongquan and used for the upkeep of the Singastro website.
Dear Arief, Kay Heem, MMI,
Thank you all for your interest and comments. From the "overwelming" response, it looks to me that this possible project will just remain that - a possiblity.
I hope that at least this idea can be kept in mind and maybe be attempted or built upon in the future.
On a personal note, Arief, maybe you and I might just want to go ahead and set up a scope that weekend. Think about it, yah? Weixing?
Yours,
Chris
Thank you all for your interest and comments. From the "overwelming" response, it looks to me that this possible project will just remain that - a possiblity.
I hope that at least this idea can be kept in mind and maybe be attempted or built upon in the future.On a personal note, Arief, maybe you and I might just want to go ahead and set up a scope that weekend. Think about it, yah? Weixing?
Yours,
Chris
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jack_mav88
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 9:18 pm
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