NOAO-S EPO Programs

NOAO-S EPO Program

Besides the programs mentioned before: CADIAS [1], Dark Sky Education [2], Teaching with Galileoscopes [3], Visitor Center [4], Robotic Telescope [5], Media Relations [6] and Astro Chile [7]; there are Collaboration Projects, Intern students collaboration and Public Outreach.

Collaboration Projects

Many projects are carried out with collaboration of local and national institutions, such as Explora from CONICYT, the University of La Serena. Some examples are the National School Astronomy Congress and the International Amateur Astronomy Congress in 2009, each with the participation of 200 students, teaches and general public.

Intern students collaboration

The observatory recieves professional interns in differents areas each year, which offers the opportunity of their collaboration in activities organized by EPO. During the summer 2009-2010, there were 27 interns, who participated in 2 star parties, one organized by NOAO EPO team and another by Gemini.

Public Outreach

NOAO EPO, presented a project to make CADIAS the official insttution to train astronomical tourism guides in the region.

EPO/CADIAS participates in seminar and meetings. During 2007 it took part of 22 community events. In 2008, 25 events. In 2009, 31 events...

CADIAS

Mobile Planetarium NOAO-S

School Astronomy Program

Astronomical Observation Program

Astrophotograpy Program

Astro Chile

(in progress)

Astro Chile is an EPO project, that began in 2002, result of the collaboration of Tucson and La Serena teachers and astronomers, that promote the development of methological innovations in the teaching of Astronomy, throgh videoconferences.

In 2008, the activities included 2 videoconference workshops of 50 students and a lab session for 6 schools in Chile and 6 in United States.

In 2009-2010, 2 GAN (Globe At Night) videoconferences were performed with Tucson and La Serena school students.

Visit the Astro Chile page in NOAO site [8]

Dark Sky Education

Dark Sky Education (in progress) Is an EPO Program.

It runs Globe at Night [9], an annual program to measure the sky quality with SQM (Sky Quality Meter) or naked eye, with the participation of students, teachers and general public. It has been developed in the Coquimbo Region for 3 years.

During the campaign of 2010, there were 67 schools participating with 83 teachers involved in training throughout the region. We also had the very special participation of teachers from Copiapó (3rd Region) and Antofagasta (2nd Region) from the north of Chile.

An introduction to Dark Skies/ Light Pollution [10]

Oficina de Proteccion de la Calidad del Cielo del Norte de Chile, OPCC [11] is the Northern Chile Skies Quality Protection Office

Teaching with Galileoscopes

This EPO NOAO-South program is based on the "Teaching with Telescopes" program in NOAO-N.

Its goal is the training -which consist on the assembly of the galileoscope and an observing plan- and delivery of 500 Galileoscopes to local students community and staff.

It started in March 2010 with the NOAO-S staff, and it will continue with the Coquimbo region selected schools in September, October and November 2010.

teaching with galileoscopes

by Leonor Opazo

The Robotic Hugo E. Schwarz Telescope

(in progress)

Robotic Telescope Hugo E. Schwarz is an EPO NOAO-South project, whose goal is the refurbishing and updating the mount and dome of the Robotic Telescope donated by Las Campanas Observatory.

It began in 2008? in collaboration of the Universidad de la Serena (ULS) mechanical, electronical and physics students and voluntary participants of CTIO astronomers and engineers.

In 2008, 9 ULS students participated, divided in 2 teams: the first in the development of a new electronic drive system for the mount, and the second, dedicate to re-design the dome mechanism.

In 2009-2010, 3 students participated in this project's development.

[12] [13]
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