by Edna DeVore - Deputy CEO
Searching for ET involves seeking the evidence of alien technology -- radio and optical -- in the midst of the vast symphony of noise generated by the natural universe. When we look for life, we assume that ET has a habitable home -- a safe and comfy planet where food, energy and other ETs abound. Thus, searching for ET also involves understanding the origin and prevalence of planets in our universe. A good place to start is in our own solar system.
In my last column, "SETI: Searching the Visible Sky," I described how to search for planets from your own backyard. The next step is to take a look at our solar neighbors through a telescope and see with your own eyes what Galileo first observed in 1610 when he discovered that Jupiter was not a world alone, but circled by its own system of moons. Today, Jupiter's moon Europa is a prime candidate for hosting life in a watery ocean beneath an icy surface. With a small telescope, you can see Europa just as Galileo did! Even if you don't own a telescope, you can plan to see Jupiter, Saturn and other heavenly delights on April 28, Astronomy Day.
Each spring, Astronomy Day is celebrated around the world and you are invited. The brainchild of Doug Berger, the first Astronomy Day was held in 1973 in northern California. Berger wanted to bring astronomy to public places, rather than simply inviting the public to visit observatories that are often remote. Today, it's an international grass roots movement to share the joy of astronomy. On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never before looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see firsthand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited.
So, where's the party? The simplest thing to do is to plan on attending the Astronomy Day activities in your own community. The Astronomical League publishes a Web page listing of upcoming Astronomy Day events. This site depends on groups reporting their plans and may not include all events in all places. If you don't find your town listed, you might look for Astronomy Day announcements in your local newspaper or contact your town's amateur astronomy club, science museum or regional observatory. One of the easiest ways to locate these organizations is to visit the Directory of Astronomy Organizations hosted by Sky Publishing.
This well-organized directory offers links to clubs, planetariums, museums and observatories around the world. With a few mouse clicks, you'll surf your way to the group in your area. Many have Web sites where you can find out about planned Astronomy Days or Astronomy Week activities. In some locations, Astronomy Day is now celebrated as Astronomy Week with expanded events and activities both in the daytime and evening.
What will you see? It's a great opportunity to take a look through a telescope at the Moon and giant planets, along with a double-star system and a nebula or two, guided by a well-informed astronomy enthusiast. This year, you can easily view Jupiter and its moons plus the beautiful ringed planet, Saturn, in the early evening. They are a visual treat, and fun to share with friends and family. You can get a head start by looking for the planets now. Plus, this is a good time of year to enjoy the bright constellations like Orion, Taurus, Gemini and Leo. Using SPACE.com's "Starry Night" software, you can generate a custom star map for your location and get ready for Astronomy Day. By April 28, you'll be ready for an enjoyable evening of sky gazing and perhaps the beginning of a new hobby.
What if Astronomy Day isn't celebrated in your community? If you would like to organize your own event, there is a helpful guidebook. The Astronomical League and Sky Publishing have teamed up with David Levy of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 fame to publish a handbook for planning Astronomy Day Activities. The guidebook (see list of links at right) is available online and can help you to plan for this year and next.