Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal

ISSUE 4 - September 2008

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Harry Potter and the Upcoming Venus–Jupiter Conjunction: A Unique Outreach Opportunity (page 16)
Kristine Larsen

Summary
As we prepare for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), we should be on the lookout for celestial events which we can use not only to popularise the IYA2009 and practise our outreach skills, but which also have natural connections to popular culture. The Venus–Jupiter conjunction this autumn is such an opportunity, given several direct connections to the use of astronomy in J. K. Rowling’s famous Harry Potter universe.

Comments about this article

Robert Victor
03 Nov 2008, 16:11

To encourage sky watchers to follow the progress of the two planets, Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University has put its November 2008 Sky Calendar online. The calendar features illustrations of Venus and Jupiter and surrounding stars in the southwestern sky for several evenings in November, right up to the planets' spectacular compact gathering with the Moon on December 1.

The web address for downloading the November 2008 Sky Calendar is:

http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/skycalendar

Also accessible on that page are links to an evening sky map for November, and to a summary of sky events for unaided eye and telescope during the rest of 2008 and the International Year of Astronomy 2009.

Kristine Larsen
01 Oct 2008, 18:08

Unfortunately the studio has now pushed the release until next summer, but everything in the article holds except the conjunction for the new release date. Having a Jupiter sidewalk starparty at the movie theaters will also hold then, although obviously later in the evening. I will still be holding a HP star party in November/December, perhaps as a consolation prize for the disappointed fans (there is even a Facebook group protesting the change in release date).

Ken Brandt
25 Sep 2008, 20:06

What a great idea! I especially like the conferring of 'Owls' upon the successful viewing of both Venus and Jupiter at a movie-theater sidewalk astro session.