from the April 2013 issue
Peter Michaud, Maria Antonieta García, and Janice Harvey
Giving Back
Dignitaries cut a
ceremonial ribbon to
officially open AstroDay
Chile 2013. This year 17
institutions participated
in the program, including
Association of Universities
for Research in Astronomy
(AURA) facilities, Cerro
Tololo Inter-American
Observatory, and the
Southern Astrophysical
Research Telescope. Other
participants came from
as far away as Santiago,
as well as a number of
public observatories in
the La Serena/Coquimbo
area (Region 4).
Gemini’s guiding principle, “Exploring the Universe, Sharing its Wonders,” has rarely been
more apparent than in the first few months of 2013.
During this period, two of Gemini’s flagship annual outreach programs — AstroDay Chile
(held in January), and Hawai‘i’s Journey through the Universe (held in March) — inspired
thousands of students and residents in our host communities of La Serena and Hilo, respectively. For staff and others who participated, these programs offered excellent opportunities for them to share their passion for the stars with the public who support us. They also
got to inspire local students who may become our next generation of scientific explorers.
The images that follow strive to capture the essence of exploration that drives both of
these programs.
AstroDay Chile
An estimated 2700 visitors descended upon the Outreach Center at the University of La
Serena on Saturday, January 12, 2013, for Gemini’s annual celebration of AstroDay Chile.
Because Gemini South hosted it this year during the peak summer season, both visitors and
local residents experienced the thrill of exploring the universe from a Chilean point of view.
The head of the university,
Nibaldo Avilés, stated the
importance of astronomy to the university. “Responding to a community
request and obvious need,
the University of La Serena
is offering the Bachelor in
Astronomy degree for the
first time. We hope to continue creating stronger ties
in the area of scientific research but also contributing to tourism.”
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GeminiFocus 2013 Year in Review
January2014