It was 400 years ago when Galileo first looked through a telescope into the night sky, and with that viewing astronomy as we know it was born.
Now the International Year of Astronomy is celebrating with a cornerstone project called 100 Hours of Astronomy.
From April 2-5, public events will be held around the world ranging from live webcasts from prominent observatories, to local stargazing events. A key goal is to have as many people as possible look through a telescope as Galileo did for the first time 400 years ago.
The events include:
April 2
· Star party, outside both Chapters stores: 7:30 – 10pm
· Star party, Fingal: 7:30 -10pm
April 3
· Open house, Cronyn Observatory, Western: 7:30 -10pm
· Star party, children’s museum (playground outside): 7 – 9pm; if bad weather, watch a show in the atrium.
· Children’s museum: space crafts and star shows
· Star party, both Chapters: 7:30 -10pm
· Star party, Fingal: 7:30 -10pm
April 4
· Open house, Cronyn Observatory: 7:30 – 10pm
· Kids’ activities, Cronyn Observatory: afternoon
· Star party, both Chapters: 7:30 – 10pm
· Star party, Fingal: 7.30 – 10pm April 5
· Open house, Cronyn Observatory: 7:30 – 10pm
· Star party, both Chapters: 7:30 – 9pm
· Star party, Fingal: 7:30 – 10pm
In case of bad weather, star parties get cancelled.