Astronomy Day
Encyclopedia
Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy
enthusiasts, groups and professionals.
This event was started in 1973 by Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California
. His intent was to set up various telescope
s in busy urban locations so that passersby could enjoys views of the heavens. Since then the event has expanded and is now sponsored by a number of organizations associated with astronomy.
Astronomy Day also forms part of Astronomy Week, which begins on the preceding Monday.
Astronomy Day occurs on a Saturday between mid-April and mid-May, and is scheduled so as to occur at or just before the first quarter Moon
. This means that the event happens on a different date each year, rather than a set calendar date. The table below shows the dates for Astronomy Day:
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
enthusiasts, groups and professionals.
This event was started in 1973 by Doug Berger, the president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. His intent was to set up various telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s in busy urban locations so that passersby could enjoys views of the heavens. Since then the event has expanded and is now sponsored by a number of organizations associated with astronomy.
Astronomy Day also forms part of Astronomy Week, which begins on the preceding Monday.
Astronomy Day occurs on a Saturday between mid-April and mid-May, and is scheduled so as to occur at or just before the first quarter Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. This means that the event happens on a different date each year, rather than a set calendar date. The table below shows the dates for Astronomy Day:
| Year | Astronomy Day |
First Quarter Moon |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 in science The year 2005 in science and technology involved some significant events.-Astronomy:* April 8 – Total solar eclipse*February 23 – Astronomers announce the discovery of a galaxy, VIRGOHI21, that consists almost entirely of dark matter... |
April 16th | April 16th |
| 2006 2006 in science The year 2006 in science and technology involved some significant events.-Astronomy:*January 25 - The discovery of the planet OGLE-2005-BLG-390Lb through gravitational microlensing is announced by PLANET/RoboNet, OGLE and MOA... |
May 6th | May 5th |
| 2007 2007 in science The year 2007 in science and technology involved many significant events.-Astronomy and space exploration:* January 12 - Comet C/2006 P1 reaches perihelion and becomes visible during daylight.... |
April 21st | April 24th |
| 2008 2008 in science The year 2008 in science and technology involved some significant events and discoveries, some of which are listed below.-Events and discoveries:... |
May 10th | May 12th |
| 2009 2009 in science The year 2009 in science and technology involved numerous significant events and discoveries, some of which are listed below. 2009 was designated the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations.-Events and discoveries:... |
May 2nd | May 1st |
| 2010 2010 in science The year 2010 in science and technology involved numerous significant events and discoveries, some of which are listed below. The United Nations declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity.- January :... |
April 24th | April 21st |
| 2011 2011 in science The year 2011 in science and technology involves many significant events and discoveries, some of which are listed below. 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests and Chemistry by the United Nations.- January :... |
May 7th | May 10th |
| 2012 | April 28th |
Astronomy
- Night skyNight skyThe term night sky refers to the sky as seen at night. The term is usually associated with astronomy, with reference to views of celestial bodies such as stars, the Moon, and planets that become visible on a clear night after the Sun has set. Natural light sources in a night sky include moonlight,...
- Sky brightnessSky brightnessThe fact that the sky is not completely dark at night can be easily observed. Were the sky absolutely dark, one would not be able to see the silhouette of an object against the sky....
- Amateur astronomyAmateur astronomyAmateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
- Apparent magnitudeApparent magnitudeThe apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
- Sky & TelescopeSky & TelescopeSky & Telescope is a monthly American magazine covering all aspects of amateur astronomy, including the following:*current events in astronomy and space exploration;*events in the amateur astronomy community;...
(S&T) - Bortle Dark-Sky ScaleBortle Dark-Sky ScaleThe Bortle Dark-Sky Scale is a nine-level numeric scale that measures the night sky's and stars' brightness of a particular location. It quantifies the astronomical observability of celestial objects and the interference caused by light pollution and skyglow. John E...
Environment
- Light pollutionLight pollutionLight pollution, also known as photopollution or luminous pollution, is excessive or obtrusive artificial light.The International Dark-Sky Association defines light pollution as:...
- SkyglowSkyglowSkyglow is the illumination of the night sky or parts of it. The most common cause of skyglow is artificial light that emits light pollution, which accumulates into a vast glow that can be seen from miles away and from high in the sky...
- Over-illuminationOver-illuminationOver-illumination is the presence of lighting intensity beyond that required for a specified activity. Over-illumination was commonly ignored between 1950 and 1995, especially in office and retail environments; only since then has the interior design community begun to reconsider this practice.The...
- Dark-sky movementDark-sky movementThe dark-sky movement is a campaign by people who want to reduce light pollution so people can see the stars, to reduce the effects of unnatural lighting on the environment, and to cut down on energy usage....
- Dark-sky preserve
- International Dark-Sky AssociationInternational Dark-Sky AssociationThe International Dark-Sky Association is a U.S.-based non-profit organization incorporated in 1988 by founders Dr. David Crawford, a professional astronomer, and Dr. Timothy Hunter, a medical doctor/amateur astronomer...
(IDA)
Events
- Earth HourEarth HourEarth Hour is a global event organized by WWF and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change...
- Earth DayEarth DayEarth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. The name and concept of Earth Day was allegedly pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco. The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the...
- Earth Week
- 100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA)
- National Dark-Sky Week (NDSW)