Let us make October the Month of Spectroscopy

[Southskyscience (Team)]

Hi, Greetings to all the experienced and the new explorers,

An idea has been proposed that October 2016 be dedicated as the Month of Spectroscopy, in raising the awareness and interest in this technique, from the basic level to Pro-Am contributions, for all amateur or field observers.

This can be in Australia and NZ, but it is applicable anywhere else and encouraged –especially in the southern hemisphere.

Is there something you or your organisation can do during October? Please share the news or ideas here.

Current examples are:

Astrofest Siding Spring Observatory starts the month, on the 1st, with two talks on Astronomical Spectroscopy by Prof Andy Sheinis (AAO). Snake Valley Astrocamp spectroscopy workshop would probably have preceded this, at the end of Sep.
A small local workshop is being planned, TBC, for interested members of the ASV, MPAS and Mt. Burnett (Vic) and any others who get in touch. Another at a planning stage is in NSW.
Following 2 introductory articles “Colour Codes from the Stars”, Part 3 will be submitted to Astronomy Societies in Australia and NZ as a shared resource for their newsletters.

10 ideas to please consider:

1. Can you view and show other members and the public star spectra, visually? Perhaps supplement these with a poster or a real-time graphical display. Would you explain to them how spectra are used in astronomy (share the explanation on IIS perhaps like for wikipedia)? Will this very basic foundation to astronomy be a regular feature for members, outreach and group viewings?
2. Would you include ‘Spectral Targets’ in your ‘Sky for the Month’ and in your sky tours?
3. Would you give or organise a practical demonstration or workshop or a videoconference or a screening of videos? Can you advertise widely? Can you include neighbouring astronomy societies and non-members?
4. Can you arrange for a speaker (-remember your skilled members)? Or can you give a talk? Would you post a link to your presentation slides? Can you write and submit an article?
5. Will you make an instrument or accessory –for own use, for sale, or sharing how to?
6. If you’re a supplier, an award giver, a philanthropist, or mass media can you support in some ways?
7. If you have a venue, can you make it available for a workshop or a videoconference?
8. Can you make some artistic form with spectra and submit for publication or competition?
   (Example ideas in http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=147392)
9. Can you create some sharable or purchasable resources e.g. posters, webpages, audio-visuals, a sorted list with short descriptions of southern sky targets?
10. If not already, would you explore the technique? Can you take spectral images and share out for (trial) processing? Can you process and share results? This can be as a team’s joint effort for learning or for real.

Please start something. Any activity or availability please tell us about it, or suggest here what else could be considered.

(For why we should do this please see, as examples
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=148507
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=148692
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=148731
Pro-Am Spectroscopy in the Southern hemisphere http://nacaa.org.au/2016/event/1484 )

It is hoped that we as a community will enjoy a colourful and scientific October!

Team Southskyscience
(field astronomer volunteers in Australia)
Anyone who can help or wish to enquire off-line please pm.

[Southskyscience (Team)]

Hi All,

Some of the ideas from last Oct have been taken up. Please see 'Talk & Spectroscopy Gratings NSW 3-Feb-2017' in the Clubs and Community Events forum and please help spread the word.

Thank You!
Team

[Rob_K]

Nice ideas, missed this when it was first put up.

But who are the Southskyscience team? Astronomy volunteers across Australia maybe but it would be great if you could identify yourselves or at least give some organisational details (membership, what your volunteers do, what your major projects are, web page etc) so we know who or what we're communicating with! Although it's possible I missed a heap of stuff last year so apologies if that's the case. Thanks.

Cheers -

[Southskyscience (Team)]

Hi Rob_K, and everyone,

A reply, delayed to give the spotlight to someone’s post “I have just got a Star…”.

Short(er) answer:

It’s more of a desirable outcome and a call to action, not an organisation.

Anyone can pitch in, no need to be any member –enough organizations and forums already. And IIS is great.

Communicate, here –or for any who can help in a more involved way an invitation to pm has been offered, then emails where more effective.

Individual volunteers’ personal privacy has to be respected (this great IIS has a large number of readers worldwide). The aim is to promote science (URGENCY on spectroscopy). We don’t aim to promote us. We like to be quiet backyard observers. We don’t care for names.

A name like southskyscience is only a convenient shorthand for a topic.

The concept and call is “More people do more science, spectroscopy now, south celestial sky focus.”

3 articles introducing spectroscopy have been submitted since Jul 2016 with contact address to all Aust. & NZ Astronomical Societies. Some have published them. Experts and peers have helped, all acknowledged there by names with permission.

A website, being constructed by time-strapped volunteers, has an Acknowledgement page listing contributors.

(Rob-K…… So pleased to hear from you. Yes, it took nearly a year since coo-eee’s to you from an ASV team member who gave email address and details to you -because of NACAA papers. Must have got lost in the ether.)

[Rob_K]

Originally Posted by Southskyscience

(Rob-K…… So pleased to hear from you. Yes, it took nearly a year since coo-eee’s to you from an ASV team member who gave email address and details to you -because of NACAA papers. Must have got lost in the ether.)

LOL it wasn't lost in the ether, more a case of me being lost in the outback! I had six months away last year, without internet connection for much of the time. I eventually found your email after a few searches. I don't have a problem with anyone using any of my work or pics as long as they don't claim them as their own original work!

However the mystery of who you are remains unsolved. I'm not sure if anyone else on IIS identifies themselves as an organisation but even if they do I don't think it's an appropriate approach. If you're Fred (username or whatever) passing on news from the Southskyscience team, that would be OK. Even the forwarded email is from "the team"!

So.... up to you mate!

Cheers -

[Southskyscience (Team)]

Hi All,

As part of an Outreach in Victoria last night, Fri 3 Feb 2017 –the same night as the talk at ASNSW, a simple show-and-tell of spectroscopy had members of the public exclaim

‘Oh Wow!’

(you know... like when they see Saturn,
snapping successfully with mobile phones –to show to friends),
followed by excited engaging questions and seemingly-rapt attention to “This technique is how astronomers know so much about the universe, how supernovae are confirmed, and how……. currently …… exoplanets are being discovered”. (And see, there! that way is Proxima Centauri…. with ‘the’ b)

This visual show-and-tell is becoming a regular feature there (see thread Vic Public Viewing Friday Nights), a member's ‘station’ showing spectral profiles also feature sometimes, with a talk on spectroscopy scheduled for 15-Feb-2017, during which
the “SKY for the MONTH” will include spectroscopic objects!

Some things that started last year with conversations and ideas have taken time to eventuate.

Can you do something for the National Science Week in Aug?
Can you do something by October 2017?

Faithfully,
Team


(Rob_K, Thanks :-) You were away in dark-sky heaven indeed while history was being made such as by Cloud Free Night….. whose team member communicates here as cfn. Similarly to other names, that is not Fred, like Wavytone Outbackmanyep, obiwan, and Rob_K, the name is Team. (Lucky it wasn’t ‘O’King….) you could greet with Hi Team, Hey Team, Team….mate, or Team.
BTW IMHO Cloud Free Night is the best of best ever, so far.)

[Rob_K]

Originally Posted by Southskyscience

(Rob_K, Thanks :-) You were away in dark-sky heaven indeed while history was being made such as by Cloud Free Night….. whose team member communicates here as cfn. Similarly to other names, that is not Fred, like Wavytone Outbackmanyep, obiwan, and Rob_K, the name is Team. (Lucky it wasn’t ‘O’King….) you could greet with Hi Team, Hey Team, Team….mate, or Team.
BTW IMHO Cloud Free Night is the best of best ever, so far.)

Yeah well don't bother asking to use any of my stuff "team", even your email didn't give a name. Never seen that before. You've said quite enough anyway, know exactly where you're coming from. Communication ends here, get a life mate...

Rob