Global Projects

  1. International Observe the Moon Night
  2. 100 Hours of Astronomy
  3. Meet the IAU Astronomers
  4. Dark & Quiet Skies Awareness
  5. Inclusive Programs

International Observe the Moon Night

International Observe the Moon Night is an annual event that encourages people around the world to spend an evening observing the moon. This year’s event on 16 October 2021 encourages both virtual and physical meet-ups that adhere to local laws and safety guidelines.

International Observe the Moon Night is sponsored by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and the Solar System Exploration Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center , with many contributors.

Learn more here: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night

100 Hours of Astronomy

The 100 Hours of Astronomy is a global event composed of a broad range of activities aimed at involving the public. Amateur and professional astronomers, astronomy enthusiasts and the general public are all invited to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for space by taking part in a scheduled activity or to organize one their own as part of the 100 Hours of Astronomy event.

All around the world events will take place over four days and nights.This year it will take place October 1-4, 2021. The events are being organized and can take place at any time, for any duration, throughout this 100-hour period.

Meet the IAU Astronomers

As the world struggles to contain the spread of COVID-19 we are adapting many IAU outreach programs to a fully online framework, doing whatever we can to help tackle this pandemic as well as its collateral effects on society. As many of us turn online to stay connected with our communities through astronomy, astronomers have a wide range of expertise which could help the current situation.

With "Meet the IAU Astronomers!" we encourage teachers, informal educators, amateur astronomers, to organize a virtual meetup with an IAU Astronomer to talk to students, parents and the general public about astronomy, the importance of astronomy for society, and choosing astronomy as a career.

For Applicants
If you are interested in hosting a Meet the IAU Astronomers! talk or meetup please visit: https://www.iau.org/public/meettheiauastronomers/

Note:If you have any issues accessing the form, or prefer an alternative way of submitting your information to us, please contact us and we will provide you with an alternative.

For IAU Astronomers
If you are interested in participating in the Meet the IAU Astronomers! program please visit: https://www.iau.org/public/meettheiauastronomers/.

Note: If you have any issues accessing the form, or prefer an alternative way of submitting your information to us, please contact us and we will provide you with an alternative.
Contact us
IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO)
meet.astronomers [at] oao.iau.org
Subject: Meet the IAU Astronomers!

Dark & Quiet Skies Awareness: IAU Endorsed Programs

Dark & Quiet Skies are IAU endorsed programs designed to raise awareness of the importance dark and quiet skies. The Dark Skies Ambassadors and the Dark Skies Rangers are agents of change in crucial topics for dark skies advocacy, such as satellite constellation awareness, and natural right to view the sky, in addition to promoting independent events by astronomy communicators related to dark and quiet skies.

Globe at Night Program

Globe at Night is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure & submit their night sky brightness observations. It's easy to get involved - all you need is computer or smart phone. The public is encouraged to participate in the Globe at Night program. For more information visit https://globeatnight.org .

Dark Skies Rangers Program

Dark Skies Rangers is an awareness program aimed at students of all ages to stimulate them to make an audit of light pollution in their cities. Students evaluate the level of light pollution, how much energy is being wasted, and produce a report to be delivered to the local authorities. Along the way, the students also carry light pollution awareness campaigns in their local communities.

Dark Skies Rangers (DSR) is a joint collaboration between the National Optical Astronomy Observatory of the USA (NOAO) and the Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP). Fore more information visit https://www.noao.edu/education/dsr.php

Dark Skies Ambassadors Program

The IAU Dark Skies Ambassadors is a program that invites keen enthusiasts worldwide to be dark sky advocates. The IAU Dark Skies Ambassadors organize actions in their communities. Joining the program creates a peer-supporting environment and provide visibility of your efforts internationally. For more information visit https://darkskies4all.org.

International Day of Light

The IAU supports the celebration on May 16 of the International Day of Light as proclaimed by UNESCO: "The International Day of Light is a global initiative that provides a platform for the continued appreciation of light and the role it plays in science, culture and art, education and sustainable development, and in fields as diverse as medicine, communications and energy. The broad theme of light will allow many different sectors of society worldwide to participate in activities that demonstrates how science, technology, art and culture can help achieve the goals of UNESCO – education, equality and peace".

Inclusive Programs

Women and Girls in Astronomy

This Program encourages gender balance and promotes best practices for achieving parity for all. It coordinates activities and events from February 11 to March 8 to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11) and the International Women's Day (March 8). The goal is to promote full access and equal participation in science for women and girls. For more information visit https://www.inclusiveastronomy.org/women-girls-in-astronomy

Inspiring Stars Program

“Inspiring Stars” is an itinerant international exhibition promoted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to highlight world initiatives that address the concept of “inclusion” in outreach, education and careers, using astronomy. For more information visit https://sites.google.com/oao.iau.org/inspiringstars.

Chandra Observatory Resources for the Visually Impaired

Chandra Observatory Education Office offers materials that are accessible to both visually impaired and sighted readers, with materials presenting celestial objects as they appear through visible-light telescopes and in different spectral regions that are invisible to the naked eye. For more information visit https://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/misc/visually_impaired.html.