December 4th, 2009

365 Days of Astronomy to Continue in 2010!

Here's the official Press Release: The award-winning 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is proud to announce the project will continue for another 365 days, and is now accepting sign-ups for participants for 2010. This is a legacy project of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). In 2009, the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast was a major project of the IYA, publishing 1 podcast for every day of the year. The podcast episodes are written, recorded and produced by people all around the world. "This podcast gives a voice to everyone in astronomy – professionals, amateurs, and those who just enjoy the amazing discoveries and images of our Universe," said Dr. Pamela Gay, chair for the IYA's New Media Group. The continuation of the project was officially announced at the .Astronomy (dot Astronomy) conference in Leiden, The Netherlands on Friday. The 365 Days of Astronomy podcast is now looking for individuals, schools, companies and clubs to submit 5 - 10 minutes of audio for our daily podcast. The 365 Days of Astronomy has gained a wide audience, and each podcast is heard by 5,000 - 10,000 listeners. The project was awarded a Parsec Award for “The Best Info-tainment” podcast of 2009. Participants can sign up to do just 1 episode or up to 12 episodes (one per month, subject to editorial discretion). The 365 Days of Astronomy team encourages people to sign up for a particular day (or days) of 2010. A calendar of astronomical events is available on the project's website to provide ideas but the podcasts can be about virtually any astronomical topic. "We are seeking a wide range of contributions, from simple concepts or how-tos to more in-depth discussions of complex concepts," said Dr. Gay. "In 2009, we received a wide range of contributions, from simple at-home first-time podcasts to highly polished and professional recordings. We expect the same for 2010 and are looking to sign up a wide range of participants, from graduate students in astronomy to science bloggers to big media companies." The project is also asking individuals and organizations for financial support. The podcast team also invites people and organizations to sponsor the podcast by donating $30 to support 1 day of the podcast, with your dedication appearing at the start of the show. For just $360, it is possible to sponsor 1 episode per month. Alternatively, you can also have a dedication message at the end of the show for a week, for a donation at the $100 level. These donations will help pay for editing, and posting of the podcasts. For more information visit http://365DaysOfAstronomy.org. CONTACT Pamela Gay Nancy Atkinson "The Universe is a big place - but the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast brings a little piece of it down to Earth each day." – Chris Lintott, BBC Sky at Night