The document summarizes Astronomers Without Borders' (AWB) involvement in the 2012 European Week of Astronomy and Space Science and Global Astronomy Month (GAM). AWB promotes sharing astronomy resources internationally to foster understanding. In 2012, GAM included over 30 global programs in 90 countries, receiving over 2.8 million website visits and 150,000 social media views. Programs included observing, art, music, poetry and remote observing events across Europe.

1. Thilina Heenatigala
Project Coordinator – Astronomers Without Borders
European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) 2012
July 1-6, Rome, Italy

2. Astronomers Without Borders (AWB):
Astronomers Without Borders fosters understanding and goodwill across
national and cultural boundaries by creating relationships through the
universal appeal of astronomy.
Astronomers Without Borders projects promote sharing. Sharing
resources. Sharing knowledge. Sharing inspiration. All through a
common interest in something basic and universal. Sharing the sky.
“Boundaries vanish when “One People, One Sky”
we look skyward”

3. Astronomers Without Borders (AWB):
Incorporated July 2007 as charitable corporation in California, USA
National Coordinators – 44 Countries
Affiliate groups in more than 100 countries

4. One People, One Sky:

5. AWB programs:
• The World At Night (TWAN) • Donate a Telescope
• One Star At a Time • Living Legend Series
• Remote Observing Project • The Moon and Culture
• Sharing Telescopes And • Seasons without Borders
Resources (STAR) • Beauty without Borders
• Astropoetry Blog • Eclipses without Borders
• Transit of Venus • Meteors without Borders
• Global Astronomy Month

6. 100 Hours of Astronomy:

7. Global Astronomy Month (GAM):
30+ global programs
90+ countries
2.5 million web hits
150k + views on social media
*Average data for years 2010, 2011, and 2012.

8. Global Astronomy Month (GAM):

9. Global Astronomy Month (GAM) 2012:
31 programs global programs
~90 countries
2.8 million web hits
150k + views on social media

10. GAM 2012: International Asteroid Search Campaign
• 82 NEO observations
• 9 NEO confirmations
• 17 MBA preliminary
discoveries
• 3 MBA provisional
discoveries

11. GAM Programs:
• Observing
• Educational
• Online
• Lunar
• AstroArt
• Dark Skies Awareness

12. GAM and Europe:
Poetry Art
Remote Observing
Music

13. GAM and Europe: Astropoetry
Upward-facing lights
fog our starry nights.
Replacing nature’s creations
with urban constellations.
Shed light on light pollution.
Be part of the solution.
-- Connie Walker
Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy (SARM) www.cosmopoetry.ro/gam
2012/

14. GAM and Europe: AstroMusic
Cosmic Concert performed by Giovanni Renzo (Italy)

15. GAM and Europe: AstroMusic
Zinta & The Zoots (UK) Cassiopeia A

16. GAM and Europe: AstroArt
Daniela de Paulis (Italy)

17. GAM and Europe: AstroArt
In the Interstices of Life by Thomas Riess (Austria)

18. GAM and Europe: AstroArt
•‘Connect the Dots and See the
Unseen’ at the MACRO museum
in Rome.
•Curate by Elena Abbiatici and
Valentina G.Levy.
•this.astro and Come in Cielo
Così in Terra

19. GAM and Europe: Remote Observing Programs
Gianluca Masi (Italy) at Bellatrix Observatory in Ceccano, Italy

20. GAM and Europe: Remote Observing Programs

21. GAM partners:

22. GAM sponsors:

23. GAM Executive Committee:
• Mike Simmons (USA) • Peggy Walker (USA) • Audrey Fischer (USA)
• Thilina Heenatigala (Sri Lanka) • Ricardo Ries (Portugal) • Valentina Romeo
• Connie Walker (USA) • Daniela De Paulis (Italy) (Italy)
• Rosa Doran (Portugal) • Deirdre Kelleghan (Ireland) • Bob Eklund (USA)
• Lina Canas (Portugal) •Christopher Phillips (USA) • Marcelo Souza (Brazil)
• Gianluca Masi (Italy) •Avivah Yamani (Indonesia) • Manoj Pai (India)
• Amelia Ortiz Gil (Spain) • Raven Yu (Philippines) •Jessi Kingan (USA)
• Kenneth Frank (USA) • Pierre Paquette (Canada) • Arif Solmaz (Turkey)
• Oana Sandu (Romania) • Sotira Trifourki (UK) • Donna Smith (USA)
• Valentin Grigore (Romania) • Jennie McCormick (New

24. “GAM has everything”

25. Thank you!
Thilina Heenatigala
Project Coordinator – Astronomers Without Borders
http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/
thilina@astronomerswithoutborders.org