Last week, we announced the Santa Barbara Astronomy Unit as the winner of Astronomy magazine’s 2010 Out-of-this-world Award for public outreach. They’re a great group, but as Astronomy Editor David J. Eicher said, it was a struggle to choose the winner, and I wanted to shine a spotlight on some of the other fantastic groups who reached our final round and made the decision so hard.
The Albuquerque Astronomical Society
For more than 60 years, The Albuquerque Astronomical Society has brought astronomy into the lives of its community, and for the past 25, it’s engaged in the “School Star Party Program,” specifically targeting public schools. Once or twice a month, the group camps out at a nearby school and offers a star party of carnival-like proportions, where everyone has fun and leaves with some kind of space-based souvenir. The program is so successful, interested schools now face a waiting list of more than a year!
John J. McCarthy Observatory
Since the turn of the (21st) century, the John J. McCarthy Observatory in New Milford, Connecticut, has sought to advance science literacy and critical thinking. For 10 years and more than 15,000 visitors — mostly scheduled visits by students, clubs, scouts, and other groups, though unexpected visitors are always welcome — this facility has provided a forum to explain and appreciate meteor showers, eclipses, the solar system, and the everyday brilliance of the night sky.
Lake County Astronomical Society
Tucked away in northeast Illinois, the Lake County Astronomical Society has taught its community about the night sky for almost 30 years. Members have spoken at schools, scout troops, charity events, and even weddings! After a quarter-century of pleasant, reactive outreach (responding to invitations to speak), though, the group kicked it up a notch in 2008, starting the proactive “Astronomy Under the City Lights” program. So far, it’s provided more than 3,000 people with their first view of the Moon and planets, and this initiative shows no sign of slowing down.
MAČ o.s.
A Czech civil association of amateur astronomers, MAČ o.s. translates into English as “Micro-Astro-Tea,” and is nearly impossible to find via a simple Google search (thanks a lot, Apple)! Regardless, this group's weekly meetings in the center of Prague have inspired public interest in astronomy for years, and the association has run the second biggest star party in the country and co-organized the biggest.
Southern California Desert Video Astronomers
The Southern California Desert Video Astronomers focus, naturally enough, on the dark skies of the California desert and ensuring they stay that way in the future. They share their knowledge of the universe through a variety of media, in addition to one-on-one star parties and various talks, including video projections and Internet broadcasts.