Italy 2009 A Progress Report Leopoldo

Italy & 2009 – A Progress Report Leopoldo Benacchio INAF Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 1

2009: An Important Year for Italy Celebration of the 4 th Centenary of Galilei “perspicillum” 2009: International Year of Astronomy Celebration of the “ 250 Years” - Torino Observatory Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 2

2009: Professional A&A in Italy INAF = National Institutes for Astrophysics 12 Astronomical Observatories 7 Institutes for Radio & Space Astrophyiscs + All the Researchers and Professors of Universities “associated” to INAF Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 3

Galileo Cannocchiale: 1609 -2009 Mainly in Pisa, Padova, Firenze : the Galilei cities A Committee has been appointed by the Central Administration ( Ministry of Culture ) : Universities, Mayors, INAF etc. Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 4

Galileo Cannocchiale II What are they discussing? Celebrations, meetings, statues, books etc. An accademical approach, mainly but not only “astronomical” Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 5

Within this framework An important Firenze Project - The “Torre delle Stelle” Museum - The “Il Gioiello” villa Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 6

The “Torre delle Stelle” An ancient building in the Arcetri hill, very close to Observatory and to il Gioiello (Galileo last house) Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 7

The Torre delle Stelle Project A Museum of modern and contemporary Astrophysics Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 8

The Torre delle Stelle Project II Feasibility study : ok Several local Institutions interested in Waiting for money … Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 9

The Il Gioiello Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting The splendid Galileo Villa has been perfectly restored and will be used by Observatory (INAF) , University & Florence Museo 10 Della Scienza

The 2009 I(NAF)YA initiatives Several “local” initiatives discussed in important “astronomical” areas: Torino is a Focus point because of the 250° anniversary of the foundation in 2009 Bologna, Palermo, Catania, Milano, Padova Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 11

Milano 2009: the Brera Observatory Actions with schools: laboratories & several other initiatives Collaboration with the “Accademia” of Brera: Art & Astronomy (already running, will end in 2009) An “astronomical” pièce with a local teather Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 12

Padova 2009 A (local but) international Prize for A&A (city of Padova+INAF+University) Working on “Street Science” Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 13

PADOVA – (VERY) POPULAR ASTRONOMY They are working on a new concept: To Approach & Interact with plenty of people in the big (mostrous … ) shopping centers Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 14

A new or an heretical approach ? Street food Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 15

A new (or an heretical) approach? Street art Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 16

A new or an heretical approach ? Why not street science ? Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 17

A proposal of an “outsider” SENDING GALILEO TO THE MOON a proposal of Paolo Amoroso, Science scholar & writer Sending to the Moon a tiny fragment of an object owned or used by Galileo. The fragment might be stored in a small container, installed with minimal modifications on an unmanned space probe already scheduled for launch. Examples of fragment sources: • needle-like, few mm long wood fragment of the floor or furniture of a place where Galileo lived • tiny piece of paper from one of Galileo's manuscripts or books (e. g. square with a side a few mm long) Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 18

A proposal of an “outsider” - II SENDING GALILEO TO THE MOON Container weight: a few tens of grams at most Container volume: a few cm^3 Possible lunar probe: LRO - Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (NASA), scheduled for launch in late 2008 Prior art: - ashes of planetary scientist Gene Shoekamer brought to the Moon on Lunar Prospector (NASA); protests from religious groups – - sample of red Ferrari paint sent to Mars on board Mars Express (ESA) Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 19

A proposal of an “outsider” - summary SENDING GALILEO TO THE MOON + 1 sq mm Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 20

Proposal as a National Institute • We are discussing concepts on IYA 2009 • What we want to communicate with the initiatives ? • What the public, especially young people, want to know about or from us ? • Schools as “privileged public” Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 21

Alla Scoperta del Cielo! We presently manage a network of 800 classrooms each year connected via the Internet, web & radio Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 22

What we are proud to offer Starting or ending of the IYA 2009 ! An example : Where ? In “Prato della Valle” Square Why ? Very close to Galileo house & “observing site” (300 m. ) Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 23

Prato della Valle is VERY big … 90. 000 sq. m. Marien. Platz 5. 000 sq. m. Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 24

Prato della Valle is VERY big … 90. 000 sq. m. Trafalgar Square 12. 000 sq m. Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 25

Prato della Valle is VERY big … 90. 000 sq. m. Piazza San Pietro 30. 000 sq. m. Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 26

Prato della Valle is VERY big … 90. 000 sq. m. Place de la Concorde 40. 000 sq. m. Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 27

Prato della Valle is beautiful Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 28

Designing the happening… We have to think to a fresh, young, interesting, modern astronomical “event” Especially focused on kids: one child from each World nation They will “observe” the moon, Jupiter and the milky way in the same way of Galileo Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 29

Designing the happening II Other more obvious activities : remote observing on megascreen, conferences, star party etc. Cost : . 4 -. 5 M € To be discussed with the city administration for funding, no lights for a night, organization etc. Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 30

Galileo is already in looking at the sky Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 31

Really? An international Year of Astronomy! Garching bei Muenchen March 3 - IYA 2009 meeting 32