S'pore Sidewalk Astronomy

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:40 pm

Dear Singastro friends,

Since this year is IYA, I would like to suggest a regular sidewalk astronomy for the general public. The objective is to create more and better public awareness of the nightsky and astronomy, and this would be a good way for us to contribute back to our local community. It is also a good opportunity for all local amatuer astronomers to meet up and interact. It need not be too elaborate or take up too much of our effort and time. For a start, we can perhaps organise it on a monthly basis, say on the last Friday of the month, for eg. on 29 May 09, from 8pm to 10pm.

Kindly feedback your ideas and contributions on this suggestion.

swimaniac · Post by **swimaniac** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:40 pm

If I am not wrong, the is the "Shell Astro Challenge" falling on 29 May and Wee Kiong is one of the organisers (????)

Anyway, I think this initiative is a very good idea. I will gladly help out if needed.

One suggestion is that we have a sidewalk astro in one area each month eg, west, east etc to let more general public have an idea what astronomy is about.

Post by **acc** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:14 pm

instead of last friday of every month, it may be better to time it such that the moon is up. this helps ensure something interesting to look at even if the sky is slightly cloudy.

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Fri May 08, 2009 11:49 am

One suggestion is that we have a sidewalk astro in one area each month eg, west, east etc to let more general public have an idea what astronomy is about.

Another option to to find a central convenient location which can become a regular place for us to meet up.

instead of last friday of every month, it may be better to time it such that the moon is up. this helps ensure something interesting to look at even if the sky is slightly cloudy.

Last friday of the month now happens to be 1st quarter moon period. Perhaps a better way to put it is to say we meet on every Friday nearest the 1st quarter moon. If the sky is cloudy, we can still meet up for coffee nearby.

swimaniac · Post by **swimaniac** » Fri May 08, 2009 12:52 pm

Question now is how are we going to publicize the sessions to the general public?

Reaching out to the various school astronomy clubs is not a problem. If we can fix thye dates, we can try to see if we can get free mileage from radio stations etc.

Post by **weixing** » Fri May 08, 2009 2:12 pm

Hi,
Hmm... sidewalk astronomy... I always do it in Tampines... although most of the people pass by are those who go to the mosque... ha ha ha

Anyway, I agree that such event are best on 1st quarter of the Moon, so that at least we can show them the Moon if the weather is not that good. Also, most area where there are people are usually very or quite bright, so may be the only object can be seen by untrained public eye easily is the Moon and the brighter planets.

Have a nice day.

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Fri May 08, 2009 4:29 pm

Rather than have one event in Tampines and for eg, another one in Chinese Garden or East Coast or Marina South, I was thinking why not we do it all together in one regular place? Like Dempsey in the past, we can have a regular monthly gathering for all amatuer astronomers, and the public can join in.

Perhaps it may not be necessary to spend money to rent a space or to publicise the sessions to the public. Lets just meet up and ob together. If we have regular monthly gatherings at one place, over some time, people will know about our regular gathering and they will know where to find us.

starfinder · Post by **starfinder** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:05 pm

rlow wrote:Rather than have one event in Tampines and for eg, another one in Chinese Garden or East Coast or Marina South, I was thinking why not we do it all together in one regular place? Like Dempsey in the past, we can have a regular monthly gathering for all amatuer astronomers, and the public can join in.

Perhaps it may not be necessary to spend money to rent a space or to publicise the sessions to the public. Lets just meet up and ob together. If we have regular monthly gatherings at one place, over some time, people will know about our regular gathering and they will know where to find us.

Sounds like a good idea!

Agree that Fri or Sat nearest 1st Quarter Moon would be best.

cataclysm · Post by **cataclysm** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:30 pm

I like this idea! [smilie=admire2.gif]

Post by **Lee** » Fri May 08, 2009 9:42 pm

swimaniac wrote:If I am not wrong, the is the "Shell Astro Challenge" falling on 29 May and Wee Kiong is one of the organisers (????)

.

Hi Vincent,

Thanks for the help!
Shell Astro Challenge is opens for all schools; I'm just one of the volunteer for my daughter school as the school wants to join in the fun.
BTW, more details up.

SingAstro

S'pore Sidewalk Astronomy

S'pore Sidewalk Astronomy

Re: S'pore Sidewalk Astronomy