I returned recently from a trip to Florida to experience the launch of the Space Shuttle. While there, I was made welcome by members of the Brevard Astronomical Society as well as the staff of the Brevard Community College Planetarium.

The day after the shuttle launch, the good folk of the Brevard Astronomical Society and Melbourne Astronomical Society were engaged in a public event to share views of the sun and other celestial objects. They are wonderful people who really do a great job of bringing the wonder and excitement of astronomy to people of all ages. It was a pleasure to speak with the individual members -we’ll have it all in an upcoming installment of “News In Space”. Of course, we shot some great video at the BCC Planetarium as well. They run many good programs and exhibits from their beautiful location on the Brevard Community College Campus.

We are working on four new episodes of “News In Space” which focus on Florida’s Spacecoast, including the BAS, BCC Planetarium and of course the Kennedy Space Center. I think you’ll enjoy them. If you are visiting that part of Florida, check them out.

I want to thank all the wonderful people from around the world who submitted pictures they took on International Sidewalk Astronomy Night.  AstroShorts is putting them together into a slide show on behalf of the ISAN organizers so everyone can see them.   There are A LOT of pictures so please be patient.  We will have them very soon!   Also, we’ve received a few video entries and I have to say how happy I am to see them.  Please take a moment to visit these entries from Mexico and Australia.   It’s important that we bring astronomy to the public and do so on a regular basis.  Public events like the International Sidewalk Astronomy Night tap into the natural curiosity that people have.  You don’t have to burden people with facts and figures.  Just let them experience it.  Those who dismiss astronomy as a pastime for eggheads are usually the first to be amazed and delighted when they actually see Saturn or Jupiter in a telescope for the first time.  Do you remember your first time?  That’s what need to do more of -give people the chance to experience the cosmos in their own way.  We need to break down the barriers so people can appreciate astronomy and to do this we need to share more often.  This is crucial if we want to attract new people to the hobby and to the science.

Why not upload your own video related to the idea of attracting new people to astronomy?   Our IPOD contest is still on but you need to act soon.  Perhaps you have some ideas for public events and they’ve worked well with your club.  Maybe you have some great video on you last public event or have made an animation that teaches an astronomical concept.  It’s up to you.  It doesn’t have to be a Hollywood production.   Produce it with a web-cam, a handy-cam -whatever!  Don’t be shy.  Contest closes June 23rd.  The winning entry as judged by the AstroShorts community receives an IPOD.

Come on now -be a STAR for the STARS!