We’re members of the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program
(ACEAP). This summer we visited several large telescopes in Chile
including Gemini, SOAR, CTIO, and ALMA. We’d like to talk about ongoing
astronomy in Chile.
Abstract
We’re members of ACEAP, which is a collaboration between The National
Radio Astronomy Observatory, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory,
and the National Science Foundation. It brings together amateur
astronomers, planetarium personnel, and astronomy educators. As part of
the program we traveled to Chile to get a behind the scenes look at
large optical and radio telescopes in Chile. We survived injuries, spent
a day without power on Cerro Tololo, and journeyed to an elevation of
16,500 feet to see the highest radio telescope in the world. Ask us
about astronomy in Chile, viewing the dark southern skies, and how to
make pisco sours! ACEAP Team: Shannon Schmoll - Director of Abrams
Planetarium Brian Koberlein - Astrophysicist, Rochester Institute of
Technology Tim Spuck - AUI STEM Education Development Officer at NRAO
Sarah Komperud - Planetarium Educator, Bell Museum of Natural History
Peter Detterline - Planetarium Director at Boyertown Planetarium Renae
Kerrigan - Planetarium Curator at Peoria Riverfront Museum Michael
Prokosch - Huntsville Amateur Astronomy Society, SHSU Planetarium Edit:
Thanks for all the great questions! It’s been fun. If you’d like to
continue following the project, you can find us at:
https://www.facebook.com/AstronomyAmbassadorsProgram