International Astronomy Day
About International Astronomy Day
Date When Celebrated: International Astronomy Day is always observed on April 28
Grab your telescope, look for a dark place and pray for no clouds, as Astronomy Day is upon us. This September 28 holiday is a stellar event. Tonight is a time to look up to the stars. It was established to promote astronomy to the general public. Astronomy clubs and groups use this day and night to help teach people about the stars, and other celestial bodies in the universe. These groups take advantage of this day to offer people a view of the stars through a telescope, if possible.
There is also an Astronomy Week. It begins the Monday before Astronomy Day.
Today is truly an Astronomical day!
How to Celebrate International Astronomy Day
Hopefully, you had a good night’s sleep last night, as you’re going to be up late searching the sky for all that you can see. And, make sure to find a place for viewing that is away from artificial lights that would dim your view of the sky.
- First and foremost, look to the heavens. View the nighttime sky, preferably with a telescope or a pair of binoculars. The moon is always the first thing we see. Under magnification, you can see a lot of the lunar landscape. Then, turn to the planets. How many of these heavenly orbs can you see? Is the telescope big enough to see the rings of Saturn?
- Look in the sky tonight and find the Big Dipper (see image above).
- See how many constellations you can identify in the night sky.
- Go to your local planetarium to see a show. It’s out of this world!
- Go to NASA’s website to see if the International Space Station (ISS) will go over your area today. If so, look for it.
- Also, you can attend an astronomy lecture or class during the day.
This Day in History
Here are some things that happened on this day:
- Mutiny on the HMS Bounty, the most famous naval mutiny in history. (1789)
- Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the army and is stripped of his world heavyweight title. (1967)
- Penelope Cruz, an Oscar-winning actress is born. (1974)
Today's Quote
“Astronomy compels the soul to look upwards and leads us from this world to another.” – – Plato
History and Origin of International Astronomy Day
Astronomy Day was created in 1973. It was started by Doug Berger, president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. His reason for creating this day is to promote greater education and understanding of the wonders of the universe.
More About Today
What happened on this Day? This Day in History
Recipe of the Day: Spinach and Mushroom Salad
Flower of the Day: Alliums
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