Claudia Mignone is an astronomy outreach and communication specialist at INAF.
“The discussion held at EPSC2022 and in the follow-up Zoom session highlighted the need for an online platform to strengthen the network, share materials, and host conversations to support the live streaming of astronomy events worldwide,” says Dr. Mignone.
One of the key discussions within the forum will be how online events can be linked to the offline activities of astronomy clubs and other groups that work with the general public.
“The pandemic triggered renewed interest in the night sky, drawing large audiences towards live online events,” explains Dr. Mignone.
“Nothing beats the experience of visitors peering through a telescope eyepiece for the first time. In many cases, however, an in-person visit to a local observatory is simply not possible, so live-streaming does open up new public engagement opportunities across space and time.”
If you’d like more information on the Astronomy Live-Streaming community, please send an email to Graham Jones, or sign up to AWB to find out more.