10 lucky Cape Town learners will get to ask a NASA astronaut on the International Space Station some questions, during a live radio link on the 9th of August, from the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly is taking place this week.
Cape Town learners speak to the International Space Station
They will get an opportunity to engage with NASA astronaut and Boeing Starliner Pilot, Sunitha Williams, who is on the ISS.
Starliner Pilot, Sunitha Williams, a question during a live radio link with the
International Space Station on 9 August. Image credit: NASA.
Over 2,000 professional astronomers from 82 countries will be in Cape Town this week. They will attend the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly (GA) 2024. The event will be held from 6 to 15 August.
James Webb Space Telescope. Image credit: NASA.
Over 2,000 professional astronomers from 82 countries
The IAU GA is the world’s largest international meeting of astronomers. This is the first time in the Union’s 105-year history, that the event is being held on the African continent.
in space, will make several appearances during public events during the IAU
General Assembly. Image credit: NASA.
Another first is that the IAU will open certain General Assembly sessions to the public. People with internet access can also watch pre-recorded or live sessions on YouTube.
Another first
The IAU is a global organisation with more than 12,000 members. They’re all active professional astronomers from over 100 countries promoting astronomy in all aspects. This includes in research, communication, education and development. They also work together on an international level.
MORE ABOUT: Homepage – IAU General Assembly 2024 – Cape Town
A breathtaking image of the Pillars of Creation as captured by NASA’s
James Webb Space Telescope. Image credit: NASA. The body is also the recognised authority that classifies and names celestial or astronomical bodies, from the largest objects in space such as the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall to asteroids such as 2024 MK which flew between Earth and its moon on 29 June.
It names celestial or astronomical bodies
The Assembly brings astronomers together to share their work in diverse fields, including how the history of the universe is being rewritten using images from the James Webb Space Telescope.
SALT and MeerKAT telescopes will be screened at Iziko Planetarium, Cape
Town at various times each day during the IAU General Assembly. Image
credit: NRF|SAAO.
They also look at new methods for predicting and discovering planets outside our solar system, efforts to protect dark skies against light pollution and the use of astronomy around the world to drive development.
READ MORE: NASA’s Webb telescope captures stunning image of star on cusp of dying
