UCAR EO

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Starry Nights The Great World Wide Star Count

• UCAR EO
• Dennis Ward
• Kirsten Meymaris
• Sandra Henderson
• Roberta Johnson

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Overview

• Great World Wide Star Count
• Results
• Next steps
• Planning for IYA2009

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GWWSC 2008
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GWWSC Goals

• Raise public awareness of sky quality issues
  worldwide
• Collect global sky quality data
• Encourage citizen science through a hands-on
  activity

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http//www.windows.ucar.edu
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GWWSC Website Features

• 5 Easy Steps!
• Downloadable Activity Guide
• Background and Science Content
• Finder Charts and Limiting Magnitude Exemplars
• Results (Maps, Datasets, and Analysis Guides)

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Getting the Word Out

• W2U website newsletter
• UCAR Press Release
• Discovery Channel News
• Astronomical League (US)
• Royal Academy (UK)
• Iranian Astro. Soc.
• Royal Luxembourg A.S.
• RASC (Canada)

• Voice of America
• National Public Radio
• CNN Radio
• USA Today
• Detroit Free Press
• San Jose Mercury News
• Philadelphia Inquirer
• Washington Kids Post
• Science News for Kids

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Results
Mean 3.7 Median 4.0
19,394 Participants Self-reported numbers
including multiple submissions
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GWWSC 2007 6,624 Observations
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US
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Boulder
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Lessons Learned / Best Practices

• Keep instructions straightforward
• Provide all required training online

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Activity Guide in Six Languages
All translations were provided by dedicated
volunteers.

• English Spanish Portuguese Dutch Italian
  Romanian Chinese

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Protocol Consistency
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Geocoding Verification
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Special Focus Geocoding

• 63 W2U Geocoder
• 15 Online Source
• 10 GPS Unit
• 9 Other
• 3 Topo Maps

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Next Steps

• Addressing data quality
• Increasing international participation
• Planning for IYA2009

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Planning for IYA2009

• One of three IYA Dark Sky Awareness cornerstone
  projects
• 2008 event will continue to build participation
  resources in anticipation of 2009

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Join Us In October!
http//www.windows.ucar.edu/starcount
http//starcount.org