Raising Awareness in Society on Space at Bosscha Observatory
Abstract
S.D. Wiramihardja C. Kunjaya M. Raharto T. Hidayat Bosscha Observatory Department of Astronomy Institut Teknologi Bandung
Beside main tasks in researches and teaching astronomy we at the Bosscha Observatory are obliged to bring astronomy to the society by giving public lectures to people in an organized program. Due to miscellanious education backgrounds of those visiting Bosscha Observatory observing assistants advanced year students are involved in the activities as well. The program mainly consists of popular astronomical lectures using slide or computer display with question-answer session and inspection to the main Zeiss 60cm-double refractor telescope. In dry season in the period of April-September a session to observe stars planets and moon with smaller telescopes is offered to the visitors two nights (no later than 8 pm) in a month. This session helps the visitors accomodating their curiosity how stars planets and moon may look like through the telescope. This is one of the ways to apply scientific approach to understand nature. Hopefully in the long run this program can raise an awareness of the community about space and will enhance their appreciation to science especially astronomy which is usually put in the low priority in developing countries like Indonesia- Publication:
-
IAU Special Session
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003IAUSS...4E..13W