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Astronomy Day 2009
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It is that time of the year again for the springtime Astronomy Day, but it will be a little different this year.
Astronomy Day was the idea of amateur astronomer Doug Berger and was first held in California in 1973. The concept is to bring telescopes to public areas to let people see things in the sky they may have only seen pictures of in the past. Within a few years the idea had not only spread across the United States, but became an international event as well. Every year the event is scheduled between mid-April and mid-May and coincides with the Saturday closest to the first quarter moon. That date in 2009 is May 2.
But 2009 happens to also be the International Year of Astronomy. Many clubs have been holding public events at least once a month. Subsequently, this year's Astronomy Day will be low key compared to past years, at least in the St. Louis area.
The St. Louis Astronomical Society is teaming up with the St. Louis Science Center from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on May 2. They plan to have telescopes set up to enable people to safely look at the sun. There will also be a guest speaker and, as always, members will be available to answer your questions. Although they are planning no coordinated effort to offer nighttime viewing for the public, the science center's planetarium will have a telescope night on May 1.
The Central Missouri Astronomical Association is participating in two separate events on May 2. The first is the Katfish Katy Event that will be held from 7:00-9:00 pm. Members will have telescopes available at this campground near Huntsdale, Missouri, along the Katy Trail. The second event is actually promoted as the International Year of Astronomy event at Rock Bridge Planetarium, in Columbia, Missouri, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
No coordinated efforts will be held by the River Bend Astronomy Club, the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri, and the Eastern Missouri Dark Sky Observers.
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