Around the World in 80 Telescopes A unique opportunity to visit the world’s most impressive astronomical observatories On Friday 3rd April 2009, for the first time ever, anyone on the Internet will have the opportunity to explore some of the most advanced astronomical observatories both on and off the planet, as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) initiative Around the World in 80 Telescopes begins. Around the World in 80 Telescopes is a live 24-hour webcast, starting with a broadcast from the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii at 10am BST, night time in Hawaii, moving around the globe for whistle-stop tours of the international observatories while the large telescopes are exploring night skies, observing distant galaxies, searching for extrasolar planets around other stars, or studying our own solar system. You can watch it live or after the event on the 100 Hours of Astronomy website, http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org. It starts off at the Mauna Kea peak in Hawaii, one of the best places in the world for observatories thanks to the altitude and clear air conditions and the home of UK participating telescopes like the United Kingdom Infra-Red Telescope (UKIRT) and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). These and many other observatories participating in this initiative are supported by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Viewers may be surprised and inspired by the range of telescopes used in modern astronomy. They include gravitational-wave detectors such as GEO600 which search for ripples in space-time, space-borne telescopes like SWIFT, STEREO and XMM-NEWTON, and ground-based telescopes such as the Very Large Telescope VLT at the European Southern Observatory’s site in Chile, plus the Jodrell Bank radio telescope in Cheshire. Robin Clegg, Head of Science in Society at STFC, said “Galileo’s legacy is the modern use of telescopes and detectors on Earth, in space, under the sea, and even in the Antarctic ice - studying the Universe with different wavelengths of radiation or ‘colours’ gives different and new information. Exciting astronomical discoveries and indeed the range of telescopes in use are inspirational and stimulate young people to get engaged with science and technology subjects at school1.” As the Earth turns on its axis and the sun rises on Hawaii, the webcast moves around the world, visiting the Anglo-Australian Telescope at 1pm BST, Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester at 6pm BST, the William Herschel Telescope in the Canary Islands at 12.10am BST (Saturday morning), finishing up at the Palomar Observatory in California at 09.40am BST, along with dozens of other observatories in between. Steve Owens, UK coordinator for IYA 2009, said, “As thousands of local events are being held around the country to celebrate the 400 years since Galileo made his first revolutionary observations and sketches of the Moon, Around the World in 80 Telescopes gives everyone the chance to see the amazing work that professional astronomers do, furthering the boundaries of our knowledge and helping us understand our place in the Universe.” Around the World in 80 Telescopes is happening as part of the IYA 2009's 100 Hours of Astronomy project, which runs from 2 - 5 April. In addition to the online activities, throughout the UK there will be hundreds of amateur astronomers out on the streets with their telescopes, giving people a chance to observe the Moon during Spring Moonwatch. To find out what's happening near you visit http://www.astronomy2009.co.uk. To watch the live Around the World in 80 Telescopes webcast, or see the full list of participating observatories visit http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org. ENDS CONTACTS Steve Owens UK Co-ordinator, IYA 2009 c/o Glasgow Science Centre 50 Pacific Quay Glasgow G51 1EA Tel: +44 (0)141 420 5010 x.299 Mob: +44 (0)7717 720479 E-mail: sto@roe.ac.uk Dr Robert Massey Press and Policy Officer Royal Astronomical Society Burlington House Piccadilly London W1J 0BQ Tel: +44 (0)794 124 8035, +44 (0)20 7734 4582 E-mail: rm@ras.org.uk Web: www.ras.org.uk NOTES FOR EDITORS 1 A survey of university undergraduates studying courses that included physics showed that dominant subject areas that drew many towards physics included astronomy and space research and the ‘big questions’ about the Universe. The study was made by one of STFC’s predecessor bodies, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY 2009 The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture. It is intended to stimulate worldwide interest not only in astronomy, but in science in general, with a particular slant towards young people. IYA 2009 will mark the 400th anniversary of the monumental leap forward that followed Galileo Galilei’s first use of the telescope for astronomical observations. In the UK the chair of IYA2009 is Professor Ian Robson, director of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh, and the co-ordinator for IYA 2009 activities is Steve Owens, also a UKATC employee. IYA: UK home page http://www.astronomy2009.co.uk THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. The RAS organizes scientific meetings, publishes international research and review journals, recognizes outstanding achievements by the award of medals and prizes, maintains an extensive library, supports education through grants and outreach activities and represents UK astronomy nationally and internationally. Its more than 3000 members (Fellows), a third based overseas, include scientific researchers in universities, observatories and laboratories as well as historians of astronomy and others. RAS home page http://www.ras.org.uk THE INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS The Institute of Physics (IOP) is a scientific membership organisation devoted to increasing the understanding and application of physics. It has an extensive worldwide membership (currently around 34000) and is a leading communicator of physics with all audiences from specialists through government to the general public. Its publishing company, IOP Publishing, is a world leader in scientific publishing and the electronic dissemination of physics. IOP home page http://www.iop.org THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships. The Council has a programme of public engagement to inspire students, teachers and the public with UK science. STFC has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science, It gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory. STFC is a partner in the UK space programme, coordinated by the British National Space Centre. STFC home page http://www.stfc.ac.uk