Global Astronomy Month (GAM), organised each April by Astronomers Without Borders, is the world’s largest annual global celebration of astronomy. Each GAM brings new ideas and new opportunities, and GAM 2016 is no exception, once again bringing enthusiasts together worldwide to celebrate Astronomers Without Borders’ motto: One People, One Sky.
Dozens of programs fill the month of April, with highlighted events worldwide including:
- OPTICKS: a Cosmic Mail Art, transmits images to the Moon and back as radio signals in real time.
- Faces of Astronomy: Astronomers Without Borders is nothing without its community. With the launch of Faces of Astronomy on April 18 we’re sharing the stories of people worldwide, highlighting differences and similarities of everyone in the AWB global astronomy community. Stories of astronomy as hobby and science, inspiration and hope, culture and tradition will be shared with the world, and the AWB Facebook page will highlight one new photo and story every day.
- Thousands will view the heavens through telescopes provided by amateur astronomers and science centers during the Global Star Party, SunDay, and other observing events.
- Online observing with popular astronomer Gianluca Masi will feature live interaction with a worldwide audience in the hugely popular Online Messier Marathon. The Virtual Telescope Project will offer a tour of the brightest star clusters, nebulae and galaxies in the sky in one night.
- AWB’s wide-ranging AstroArts program connects art and culture with astronomy in exciting ways with blog posts and special live webcasts, including the annual Cosmic Concert with original music composed and performed by Giovanni Renzo.
- Partner programs bring new audiences and participants: Measuring light pollution worldwide in Globe at Night, classrooms discovering asteroids in the International Asteroid Search Campaign, and more.
The GAM 2016 website is the hub of all activities, with galleries, articles, and fresh content continuously posted. GAM participants will be adding their reports and photos about their local GAM events and program from all parts of the world.
Here is the schedule of GAM happenings to date:
1-30 April: Children’s AstroArt Contest
1-30 April: The Undiscovered Universe (Observing Challenge)
1-30 April: Lunar Explorations (Observing Challenge)
1-30 April: Shoot for the Moon (Observing Challenge)
4 April: Online Messier Marathon (Online Observing Event)
4-10 April: International Dark Sky Week 2016
9 April: OPTICKS
10-11 April: The Moon ploughs through the Hyades (Observing Challenge)
10-24 April: Mars the Wanderer (Observing Challenge)
16 April: Global Star Party for GAM 2016
18-24 April: Diverse Universe Week
18 April: Faces of Astronomy
19 April: Astrophotography: The quest for the perfect picture (Live Hangout)
24 April: SunDay
28 April: Cosmic Concert for GAM 2016
29 April-8 May: Globe at Night
9 May: Transit of Mercury
