Astronomy around the world
When the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly shuttered the world a year ago , I and so many others found solace in the stars . As stay-athome mandates and other distancing measures physically separated us , the open night sky emerged as a place to connect . Star parties are a staple of amateur astronomy . They are places where beginners can mingle with lifelong by Scott W . astronomers to trade tips , tell stories Roberts and share their eyepieces . In some ways , they are the lifeblood of the astronomy hobby , but the pandemic brought all traditional star parties to a sudden halt . To fill the void , the Explore Alliance held its first “ Virtual Star Party ” on Aug . 4 , 2020 . This livestream event was inherently different from the star parties we all knew and loved , but it had the most important component – connection . One of the benefits of taking the star party to a virtual platform was the ability to draw in people from everywhere as presenters , hosts and viewers . With this new format , participants were not confined to a single latitude , longitude or hemisphere . The events quickly transitioned to “ Global Star Parties ,” and our viewership grew astoundingly . In fact , in aggregate , we have reached over a million people from around the world since the weekly broadcast program got underway . John Briggs , a legendary figure in professional and amateur astronomy , compares the short , informal style of the Global Star Party presentations to the evening gatherings at events like Stellafane , where in an evening you can learn from experts and novice alike . The difference is that Stellafane happens once a year in Springfield , Vermont , and the Global Star Party happens once a week from anywhere with an internet connection . Since its inception , the Global Star Party has focused on many different aspects of astronomy from scientific application , to youth in astronomy to women and girls in astronomy . There have also been special edition events with astronomers and astrophotographers across Asia , Europe , and the Americas in both hemispheres . Each Global Star Party has brought the international astronomy community together . Last night , I conducted the 41st Global Star Party . I have served as producer and host for most of the more than 40 events , but I have been lucky enough to persuade many amazing astronomers , scientists and explorers to join in
the effort either as contributors or co-hosts or both . The following is just a partial list of the more than 100 amazing people and groups that have participated in and made what the Global Star Party is today : Abigail Bollenbach – Infinity and Beyond Alberto Levy – Astrophotographer Bob Denny – Technologist Cameron Gillis – Astrophotographer Carroll Iorg of the Astronomical League Cesar Brollo - Optica Saracco Christopher Go – Planetary Astrophotographer Chuck Allen of the Astronomical League Chuck Lewis – NASA Engineer – SkyLab David Eicher – Astronomy Magazine Deepti Gautam – Young Astronomer Dr . Alan Stern – PI New Horizons Mission Dr . David Levy – Jarnac Observatory Dr . Marcelo Souza – Cosmologist , Educator Dr . Rosaly Lopes – JPL Scientist Dr . Stella Kafka – Director of the AAVSO Dustin Gibson – OPT Gary Palmer- Gary Palmer Astronomy J . Kelly Beatty – Sky and Telescope Magazine Jack Newton – Astrophotographer Jerry Hubbell – MSRO Astronomer and Scientist John Briggs – Telescope Engineer John Goss of the Astronomical League John Johnson – Nebraska Star Party Kelsey Poor – Novaspace Libby in the Stars – Young Astronomer Mike Weasner – Astrophotographer Molly Wakeling – Astrophotographer Normand Fullum – Optiques Fullum Pekka Hautala - Astrophotograper Pranvera Hyseni – Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo Richard Grace - Astrophotographer Rodrigo Zelada – North Optics Steve Mallia – Ontario Telescope Terry Mann of the Astronomical League The Entire Editorial Staff of Astronomy Magazine The Night Sky Network The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada The Team of the Mark Slade Remote Observatory Tom Meneghini and the Team of Mt . Wilson Observatory Vivian White – Director of the Night Sky Network While it ’ s noted that you can ’ t truly replace meeting and interacting with any of these people in person , many around the world would never have the opportunity . The Global Star Party has changed all of that , and that is something worth celebrating .
n n n Scott W . Roberts is the founder and president of Explore Scientific in Springdale , Ark . He is an avid amateur astronomer who has spent more than 30 years in the astronomy optics industry .
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