The International Year of Astronomy in Germany: The Role of Planetaria CAP 2007 Athens October 8 th,...
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Transcript of The International Year of Astronomy in Germany: The Role of Planetaria CAP 2007 Athens October 8 th,...
The International Year ofAstronomy in Germany:The Role of Planetaria
CAP 2007Athens
October 8th, 2007
Susanne Hüttemeister
Planetarium Bochumand
Astronomical Institute, Bochum University
The Structure of German Astronomy
Rat deutscher Sternwarten (RdS)- Council of German Observatories
Professional Astronomy
37 member institutes (voting members: directors) - Universities - Max-Planck-Institutes - State observatories Current president: Prof. Dieter Reimers, Hamburg
Astronomische Gesellschaft (AG)- Astronomical SocietyAbout 800 individual members, most Germanprofessional astronomers, a few teachers/amateursCurrent president: Prof. Gerhard Hensler, Vienna
Complicated structure, responsibilities not always clear,e.g.: AG has no budget to finance any IYA activity, is not entirely a German organisation…
The amateursCurrent registry (probably incomplete): 148 astronomy clubs and public observatories in Germany
Umbrella organisation
Vereinigung der Sternfreunde‚Association of Friends of Astronomy‘~ 4000 individual and institutional membersin principle excellent resources
Activities● 18 sections, some very active e.g. meteors, comets, deep sky, planets, sun, spectroscopy, stellar occultations, variables…● A journal● Organisation of national ‚Astronomy Day‘ … with very mixed success
Problem: Without exceptions volunteers with other obligations
The IYA 2009: PreparationsMany ideas and plans in various states of completeness
● Astronomical Society: - Only coordinating role is possible - Idea (Committee for the Teaching of Astronomy): Encourage all professional institutes to approach local schools and do ‚Astronomy weeks‘, use schools as addtitional multipliers (see poster Scorza for great examples)
● RdS – appointed ‚Single Point of Contact‘ resigned – - Replacement will be found very soon (urgently needed)
● VdS (amateurs) are acknowlegded as very important partners by the professionals, but may lack coordination
● Popular Astronomy Journals (three major ones exist) may be important partners
● Planetaria : Joint effort planned
National Structure?
Federal Ministry of Education and Researchdeclares national ‚Scince Years‘
International Year ofPhysics 2005in Germany ‚Einstein Year‘ was a verysuccessful example
Joint planetarium programm 2005:Trial run for the IAY 2009?
2009 may be ‚Year of Light‘(probably not ‚Year of Astronomy‘),but subject is related: Inclusionin infrastructure (and financialsupport) seems possible and ishighly desirable (SPC)
Planetaria in Germany
Stuttgart
Bochum
Hamburg
Berlin -Archenhold
Jena
Mannheim
Yet another council:RdP ‚Rat deutscher Planetarien‘- Council of German planetaria
24 members (3 in Austria)- at least one full-time staff member- at least 10000 visitors/year
LocationsOperated by:● most often cities, directly or indirectly● sometimes astronomy clubs● rarely universites● sometimes museumsCommercial operationusually not possible, Public financial supportneededNo ‚standard‘ structure
About as many non-RdPsmall planetaria (often in the former GDR)Often in difficult financialsituation
VisitorsRdP-Planetaria:Roughly 2 million vistors per year (1.6 – 1.95 Millionen 2002 – 2006)Fairly constant● Hamburg (~ 340000) to● Cottbus (~ 19000)
By far the most visited locations of astronomical outreach and education
Bochum
Obvious important participant in IAY 2007
Heterogeneous Technology…
Optomechanical Projektors
Full Dome Video Systems(plus optomechanical projectors)
So far: 4 RdP planetaria
So far: The vast majorityThis will change in thenext 10 years, but nottill 2009
A joint programm must work on both systems!Possible, but requires flexibility and ‚good will‘
… and Philosophy
Large planetarium(20m-dome, 200 – 300 seats, 8 in Germany)
- Often preproduced shows- Technically advanced- (Sometimes) truly immersive- But perceived as ‚movies‘ by visitors, no ‚personal‘ touch
Small planetaria(~ 60 seats)
- Many live programmes- ‚charming‘ and individual, but limited capabilities
Plans for a IYA cooperationGoal: A joint planetarium show for all German language planetaria
Joint nationwide promotion very high visibility
Spring 2007:
European Space Agency approaches RdP
Intent: ● Production (by ESA) of planetarium show for IYA ● ESA missions featured, but no ‚ESA commercial‘ ● Advancing consciousness of European astronomy ● Emotional impact, spirit of discovery ● Almost all RdP planetaria signal interest● Working groups (content / visualisation) constituted● Content group met several times – storyboard developped
The Show: From Galileo…
…to Multiwavelength Space Astronomy
Focus: Missions Herschel and PlanckThe depth of time and space
… and Planetary Exploration
Focus onpresent and future
Teaching material and an exhibition
Leader of the exhibition part of the project:Planetarium Laupheim(experienced in designing exhibitions)
Material for schools anda travelling exhibition should accompany theshow.
Teaching material: ESA
Will it happen?
Potential problem(s)
● Individualistic nature of German planetaria (and large number of different internal structures) makes cooperation difficult
● ESA requires significant financial contribution from all participating planetaria
Crucial RdP meeting:November 5th,Committment requiredshortly thereafter
An additional focus: Light pollution
German initiative ledby Andreas Hänel (Planetarium and science museumOsnabrück)
● Museum-quality exhibition● Public events
Light pollution map of central Europe
Think global – act local?
IYA in Germany
Success will verylikely depend onmany local activities- Professional institutes- Planetaria- Schools- Astronomy clubs- Individuals
Despite (hopefully)common planetariumshow
National umbrella probably limitedto information / coordination