The biggest astronomical outreach event ever has just got underway. From 11 am this morning and for the next 24 hours, 130 countries will participate in "Around the world in 80 telescopes" , which will consist of a live broadcast of the images of the Universe captured from the most advanced telescopes on the planet. It is the central project of the "100 Hours of Astronomy" initiative conceived to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. In Spain, both the Teide Observatory (OT) and the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM) will disseminate the science that is done from the Canary Islands to the whole world.
Participants, from anywhere on the planet, will share the experience and observation of the wonders of the sky through a webcast, a kind of television program designed to be transmitted over the Internet. It will be based at the European Southern Observatory, in Munich, Germany.
In addition, until April 5 there will be multiple activities dedicated entirely to stimulating the interest of the public, especially the youngest, in Astronomy and science in general. "Own creation of telescopes, observation sessions, exhibitions, shows, in addition to the thousands of local events planned by museums and scientific centers are just some examples that will lead citizens to look at the sky with different eyes", points out Alfred Rosenberg, coordinator of activity at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
