Between October 2 and 5, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) will hold the event series called 100 Hours of Astronomy, in which the Svábhegy Observatory will participate with several programs.
The aim of the program is to draw public attention to the value of the starry sky and the importance of astronomy, according to a statement issued by the Svábhegy Observatory on Tuesday.
This year, the IAU, in collaboration with the International Planetarium Society (IPS), places particular emphasis on planetarium shows, marking 100 years since the world’s first planetarium opened in Munich. The event series aims to demonstrate how planetariums can make the exploration of the night sky engaging and experiential through projected constellations and modern dome films about space.
The astronomy community considers it especially important to highlight the role of planetariums in science education and to show how these venues can make discovering the sky an immersive experience.
This week, special attention is given to the Moon, as October 4 marks Observe the Moon Night, organized worldwide by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, and numerous universities, observatories, museums, libraries, schools, and amateur astronomers. The program focuses on allowing participants to experience the Moon’s surface details firsthand, whether with the naked eye, binoculars, a telescope, or via online streaming.
The Svábhegy Observatory will join the international initiative with three programs: on October 3, The Moon’s Most Contrasting Crater Pair: Aristarchus and Herodotus; on October 4, observation of the Moon’s giant craters, Schickard and Schiller, through telescopes; and on October 5, the conjunction of the Moon and Saturn will be visible at the observatory.
More information about the IAU initiative can be found on the Svábhegy Observatory’s blog, Universe News.
(MTI)
Picture: illustration.
