Date: January 16, 2010
Title: Sidewalk Astronomy
Podcaster: Daniel Elbert Herron
Organization: Atlanta Astronomy Club: http://www.atlantaastronomy.org
Description: Daniel Herron shares his interest and experience with sidewalk astronomy and encourages others to get involved with similar events.
Bio: Daniel Herron is an amateur astronomer and member of the Atlanta Astronomy Club. Visit the club’s website at www.atlantaastronomy.org.
Today’s sponsor: This episode of “365 Days of Astronomy” is sponsored by — no one. We still need sponsors for many days in 2010, so please consider sponsoring a day or two. Just click on the “Donate” button on the lower left side of this webpage, or contact us at signup@365daysofastronomy.org.
Transcript:
Hello, Welcome to today’s podcast. My name is Daniel Herron and I am an amateur astronomer and a member of the Atlanta astronomy club.
When I was 8 years old my next door neighbor came over and asked my mom if she could show me something. She led me out into our front yard and pointed to the sky and said “you see that fuzzy bright thing right there? That is Halley’s Comet. “ She explained to me that It is a ball of icy and dust that travels through the solar system and orbits the sun once every 76 years, and that if I lived long enough I would be able to see it again when I was older. She told be about comets, what they are, where they come from and a few things about what else was out there.
I was hooked; from then on out I was an astro geek. I recently realized that that was my first experience with sidewalk astronomy and thanks to that neighbor it would not be my last.
If you want to have a fun, entertaining, enjoyable time, while learn something and sharing astronomy with others then you want to get involved in Sidewalk astronomy.
I participate in many of these events each year, at schools, churches, parks, parking lots, office buildings, and in my neighborhood. At each event we setup and invite the public to share a view through our scopes and talk to them about astronomy.
The Atlanta Astronomy Club does many events during the year. The club has what we call GASP events. GASP stand for Georgia Astronomy in State Parks. We coordinate with state parks in Georgia each year to come out setup scopes and show the night sky to the campers. The club also works with the Fernbank Science Center and the Tellus Northwest Georgia Science Museum for the annual Astronomy Day and a few other events throughout the year. As part of our educational outreach program we also give presentations and setup scopes at the request of schools, churches, and organizations such as the Boy scouts and Girl Scouts.
So, how can you participate in Sidewalk astronomy? It’s easy; you do not even need any equipment. Just go outside where there are people and start looking up. Looking up is more contagious than yawning. Within a few minutes some one will walk over to you and ask “What are you looking at”. It’s an instant conversation starter. If you do have equipment to setup all the better.
One of my favorite sidewalk events I do is in my own driveway on Halloween. I setup my scope and show kids the sky and give out Milky Way bars, Starburst, and any other astronomy named candy I can find. I suppose the kids like this, as my house has never been egged or toilet papered. ☺
Most of the events are similar. We setup the scopes just before dark and explain how they work and how they use mirror or lenses to bend and focus the light. As it gets dark we point out and explain the belt of Venus and answer any questions they may have about astronomy. We usually view the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. I also like them to show them Alberio, which is a beautiful contrasting double star in the constellation Cygnus. We like to avoid deep sky objects as they usually disappoint, but there is one exception. The Orion Nebula always amazes, it fascinates kids when you explain that it is a stellar nursery where new star are being born. Also, before you head out to an event check out www.heavens-above.com to see if there are any Iridium flares or International Space Station fly-overs visible during your event. If there are they are in for a treat as these will be the fireworks of the night! When the ISS flies over and you explain that there are people on board and that is where the shuttle goes when is launches it makes more of an impact on them when they see it with there own eyes.
You will also notice a few things as you do these events. You will learn that there are a lot of misconceptions about astronomy. Most kids think that the North Star is the brightest star in the sky, that the moon does not rotate, and that the moon is made of cheese. Ok maybe not that last one, but this is an opportunity to correct those misconceptions and teach them about astronomy.
Sidewalk astronomy events are always extremely fun and very rewarding! Not only do you get to spend time looking through your scope but you get to share that fun with others and show those who might not have otherwise have had the chance to see the night sky through a scope. Everyone who comes out to these events has a great time and we hope the take an interest in astronomy home with them. They are very thankful for us sharing the sky with them and we are always asked to come out again.
One year a teacher at Hopewell Middle school in Alpharetta, GA asked us to setup scope to show Jupiter to her gifted 6 grade class. Two club members and I showed up and were able to show 20 students and parents Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and others. The event was so popular that the next year the entire 6th grade wanted to come out. We got a few more volunteers to setup scopes and had about 100 Students, teachers and parents come out that night. The next year it was the entire school, and the next the middle and elementary school came out. It continues to be a popular event each year and one we are very proud of. I would like to share a letter one of the kids sent me after this event one year:
Dear Science Dudes,
Hey, Thank you sooo much for bringing in the three telescopes. My day, my brother, my friend, and I had a lot of fun looking at the moon and Saturn! I really enjoyed looking at Saturn because it looked so unreal!! My dad got really into it and all we heard on the ay home was how !AWESOME! it was. I just really want to thank you for taking your time to bring in the cool telescopes.
Thanks again
Alex(a girl in the 6th grade)
And Another…
Dear Atlanta Astronomy Club,
I loved the star gazing. It was really cool. I’ve always been interested in planets, and it is amazing to see them up close. My favorite thing I saw was Saturn. It was beautiful, and the rings around it were really clear. I really liked seeing the planets and moon. It is one thing to learn about planets from a book, and another to actually see them. I really appreciate that you came to let us see the planet. I really enjoyed it.
Allie
So, while I have yet to show anyone Halley’s Comet, I hope that some of these kids are affected the same way I was when I had my first sidewalk Astronomy event and saw Halley’s Comet, I hope that they will develop an interest in astronomy and begin to share that interest with others.
Thank you for listening to my podcast today. Again, my name is Daniel Herron and I am a member of the Atlanta astronomy club. Visit us at www.atlantaastronomy.org and remember to visit heavens-above.com when planning your event! Thank you and have a great year under the stars.
End of podcast:
365 Days of Astronomy
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