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live events and observation sessions direct to homes. Most of the talks and observation sessions were run by the
National Astronomy Week organising team, and these events were all recorded and can still be viewed. An index to the recordings can be found on the NAW website or they can be viewed via the NAW YouTube Channel. The NAW Team Events can be seen by clicking NAW Events in the menu; talks and events run by other societies and science centres are under "Events". In the event the week was not a good one for observing, with cloud for much of the week. Fortunately, the use of streaming meant observations could take place from wherever had clear skies, for example Northumberland and Cyprus.
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The need for
National Astronomy Week (NAW) was first defined in the late 1970s. A group of both professional and amateur astronomers as well as teachers and educators was formed to define and run the first ever event. NAW was proposed in 1979 and a steering committee was set up in 1980. Since then a
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The seventh event, named "Target
Jupiter", ran from 1–8 March 2014. Jupiter was at a very high position in the sky, the best that will be achieved for many years. Observing conditions were generally well above average. More than 200 events were run across the UK. Participating organisations included
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which took place the following month. Initially the week was planned to be a conventional series of viewing sessions and talks across the UK. But the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic meant that conventional events could not be run, so instead the week was run "virtually" and involved streaming
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During the week, astronomy societies, planetaria, schools, universities and other organisations from all over the UK organise events to promote interest in, and knowledge of, astronomy. The organisers promote the week using extensive contacts with the media and all the major UK astronomical
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organisations, many of whom provide funding. Events range from talks, visits and in particular the opportunity for children and adults alike to observe the sky through a range of equipment. Increasing use is being made of "virtual" events with talks and observations being streamed.
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The eighth event, named "Mars
Encounter", ran from 14 to 22 November 2020. Mars made a very close approach to Earth, and will not be as close again until 2035. Saturn and Jupiter were in an excellent position as they approached the
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astronomy societies, schools, universities, and Scouts/Guides. The details of the 2014 NAW are still available on the
National Astronomy Week website. The event was widely announced in the UK, for example in
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during
National Astronomy Week (and the week preceding), between 7.060 MHz and 7.200 MHz LSB (Lower Side Band) during daylight hours and between 3.600 MHz and 3.800 MHz LSB after dusk.
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to promote public awareness of astronomy by celebrating notable astronomical events. The last NAW, Mars
Encounter, was run during the week of 14–22 November 2020.
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magazine, and there is also information on the NAW Twitter page and on
Facebook. A special event radio station, call sign GB1NAW, transmitted from
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National
Astronomy Week is sponsored (and funded) by a number of UK astronomy societies and actively supported by the
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475:"Telescope400 - celebrating Thomas Harriot's first ever use of the Telescope in Astronomy"
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attaining its highest possible point in the northern-hemisphere night skies for 12 years.
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To celebrate a lineup of Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn in the evening sky
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To coincide with arguable the closest approach of Mars for 60,000 years.
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To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the discovery of
Neptune.
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To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Uranus.
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in 2009 as a major event organised by the steering committee at
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159:total of eight events have run as listed below.
449:"National Astronomy Week 2020 - Mars Encounter"
577:"Target Jupiter: National Astronomy Week 2014"
642:Science & Technologies Facilities Council
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386:Science & Technology Facilities Council
555:"National Astronomy Week You Tube Channel"
137:) is an event held every few years in the
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37:Astronomy-related events and competitions
320:this had to be run as a "virtual" week.
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587:(2). astrogeo.oxfordjournals: 2. 2013.
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316:- the closest until 2035. Due to the
269:To celebrate the 400th anniversary of
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226:To commemorate the centenary of the
312:To celebrate the close approach of
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508:jupiter2014.astronomyweek.org.uk
228:British Astronomical Association
754:Astronomy in the United Kingdom
277:International Year of Astronomy
530:"National Astronomy Week 2025"
504:"National Astronomy Week 2014"
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21:National Astronomy Week (NAW)
425:White House Astronomy Night
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749:Astronomy education events
647:Royal Astronomical Society
581:Astronomy & Geophysics
382:Royal Astronomical Society
364:Astronomy & Geophysics
557:. National Astronomy Week
481:. National Astronomy Week
455:. National Astronomy Week
369:Lockyer Technology Centre
108:and astronomy enthusiasts
534:www.astronomyweek.org.uk
594:10.1093/astrogeo/att006
376:Sponsorship and funding
163:Timeline of NAW events
131:National Astronomy Week
45:As per notable events;
419:National Dark-Sky Week
403:100 Hours of Astronomy
453:astronomyweek.org.uk
479:telescope400.org.uk
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275:It ran during the
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349:Great Conjunction
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318:COVID-19 pandemic
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47:Duration: 1 Week
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733:Solar System
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559:. Retrieved
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537:. Retrieved
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483:. Retrieved
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104:Observed by
101:Participants
62:Years active
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721:Outer space
709:Spaceflight
561:29 December
514:28 December
485:28 December
459:28 December
106:Astronomers
70:Inaugurated
743:Categories
431:References
409:Earth Hour
281:Syon House
209:Return of
145:Activities
93:Next event
685:Astronomy
673:Education
414:Earth Day
184:Reference
42:Frequency
392:See also
659:Portals
539:13 July
405:(100HA)
297:Jupiter
154:History
113:Website
75: (
52:Country
421:(NDSW)
29:Active
26:Status
697:Stars
510:. NAW
330:2025
309:2020
292:2014
266:2009
253:2003
240:1996
223:1990
206:1985
193:1981
179:Notes
34:Genre
563:2020
541:2024
516:2020
487:2020
461:2020
356:2014
342:2020
314:Mars
174:Year
120:.org
96:2025
88:2020
77:1981
73:1981
589:doi
169:Sr.
135:NAW
122:.uk
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.