VOLUME 1, Nº 4
DATE: MAY 2016
Reach the Sky Bulletin THE NIGHT SKY DEFENDER Since 1982 in the Canary Islands we have the IAC (Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute). It is a public research institution that concerns itself with astrophysics, advanced scientific instrumentation, university education and the cultural dissemination of science. In fact, the IAC observatories in Tenerife (Teide Observatory) and La Palma (Roque de los Muchachos Observatory) are the European Northern Observatory (ENO) and have installed telescopes and instruments from over sixty scientific institutions from nineteen countries. The Roque de los Muchachos Observatory has the largest and most advanced optical-infrared telescope in the world, the Gran Telescopio Canarias, designed and built by the IAC. The IAC’s fight against light pollution in the night sky has been a constant, logical worry to the point that a national law was promoted, the “law of the sky”, a pioneering law in the protection of the sky in La Palma and Tenerife islands. It became the precedent for similar regulations in other planet areas. In addition, the Technical Office for the Skies Protection (OTPC) was also created, specializing in monitoring and advice
in the field. In 2007, with the participation of other organizations and national and international institutions (UNESCO, UNWTO, IAU, UNEP-CMS, COE, SCBD, MaB, EC and Ramsar Convention), the IAC promoted the “First International Starlight Conference” which, under the slogan “Starlight, a Common Heritage”, explored the need to protect the night sky on our planet from different perspectives and find ways for its enjoyment by society. The objective of this meeting was to spread the idea of the defense of the night sky among the population, considering it an outstanding, universal cultural value and a vital condition to promote and develop “astronomical tourism”, and not only a necessary condition for scientific researchers who observe and study the universe. The Starlight Foundation was created in 2009. Since then, it has been a legal entity whose main objective is the dissemination of astronomy and the coordination, management and promotion of the Starlight movement principles and
philosophy, developing all its possible dimensions in order to extend them worldwide through activities, products and services in these areas. It is a non-profit organization that, under the name Starlight, encompasses, coordinates and manages ideas, projects, people, thoughts and activities and invites society to rethink the way it values the starry sky. It also fights to protect the night sky and is aware that, in doing so, it is helping to care for a scientific and cultural heritage that belongs to everyone, while safeguarding the habitat of many species that need the dark of the night for their survival. Carlos Rodríguez Medina Spain
CANNIBALISM TRANSFORMS A STAR IN A BROWN DWARF An international astronomers team has detected a sub-stellar object that was a star before its white dwarf companion consume their mass. They have discovered by observing the weak J1433 binary system, 730 light-years away. The system consists of a low mass object - about 60 times Jupiter - moving in a very close orbit of 78 minutes around a white dwarf (the star remnant like our Sun). Due to its proximity, the white dwarf has removed about 90% of mass to its companion, transforming this old star in a brown dwarf. Most brown dwarfs are failed stars, objects that were born with so little mass that can not shine by being unable to sustain hydrogen fusion reactions in its core. However, this brown dwarf was born as a full-fledged star, but has been stripped of its mass by a stellar cannibalism for billions of years. The knowledge we had about the evolution of binary suggested that if the companion star can survive the transition, brown dwarfs should be common in this type of system. However, despite several efforts we had only met a few candidates with possible evidence of brown dwarf companions." stresses Juan Santisteban VeThe white dwarf steals mass a star that has ended in becomnancio Hernandez the lead author of the Nature journal paper.
ing brown dwarf. Credit Rene Breton.
Page 2
MEETING IN POLAND DIARY Sunday – 3rd April
Tuesday -5th April
Sunday, sunny evening, we are waiting. The bus comes and, a little bit nervous, I’m looking at the people getting out of the van. I hear my twisted name and a small, dark-haired girl throws her arms around me. We are smiling shyly and leaving for my house. Dinner together and the first exchange of information. I’m showered with gifts, which are associated with the country of my guest. We're too tired to be After the official part, we have a moment curious of new things and we decide to get take a breath, and after the guests are shown to know each other better the next day. around school, we take part in English lessons. The teacher is probably as much Monday – 4th April stressed as our guests, but we ‘survive’ forty five minutes. We go for dinner. I sit with the Turkish team, they tell me about their country, customs, they show photos, traditional costumes, food. They turn out to be different from what I expected. But stereotypes are deeply rooted in my Polish mind.
We're going to Krakow today, so we have to wake up two hours earlier. I feel as if dead but I have to wake up Afra. We get dressed and eat breakfast quickly. On the bus the teams sit together according to nationality: Polish students together, Spanish students together. On site we visit Krakow with a guide. We are sidelines, because who hasn’t been to the Main Market Square? We have a lot of free time, so I ask Afra what she wants to do, but the Turks want to go alone. We spend time together and when we get to the meeting point, I make sure that my guest is there. They all arrived, so we go to the Youth Astronomical Observatory in Niepolomice. We listen to lectures, watch a presentation about the stars, observe the Sun through special telescopes. We're return to our homes exhausted. Fortunately, the next day we have to be at school only at 10.00
The first morning together, first breakfast, first trip to school. We’re afraid of the unknown, but in the next six days we won’t be anymore. I see that she’s impressed by Kromer school building, I think I had the same feelings when I first came here. We put things in my locker and go to room 23. A few nice words of welcome for foreign guests, presentation with information about Poland and our region, even though it doesn’t reflect our true Polish character. Now we’re going through the crowds of people to the gym, where there will be the official welcome meeting. I think there are all my schoolmates, and foreigners are a little bit confused, but despite the stress, they like performances of our students. Guests show up and they seem excited about the visit. Who wouldn’t be - new country, new culture, new school.
When we’re full, we come back to school, where street game will start. We are divided into teams and get folders with the tasks. In the group I’m with another Pole, my Turkish guest, a shy Romanian guy and a cheerful Spanish one. The first four tasks are in the school, and I am learning some new things about its history. We leave school and see that we are the last. We should probably use the map, but I know Gorlice. We do tasks and on the way we overtake another group. For the last task we come first and go back to school. We get 86 points, but the others are Wednesday – 6th April better than us. We wake up rested and we get ready for school. Headmaster Jan Drozdz and project coordinator Marzena Wojtowicz greet invited guests and the first lecture starts. Mr Janusz Nicewicz talks about astrotourism in Malopolska Province, and Mr Robert Bury talks about light pollution and the dark sky zones. I think that in our region, fortunately, it is not a big problem, and we can still observe the sky with a naked eye. After the official announcement of the results of the game, we decide to go to a billiards club together. Four Turkish, two Spanish, one Slovenian, and seven Polish students. I think that was a good evening. A little more integrated, we return to our homes, and we're getting ready for another day full of new experiences.
VOLUME 1, Nº 4
PAGE 3
After the lectures we have the after- we hope that this evening will be great, denoon off. I hear that a large group organ- spite bad weather. Fortunately, it turns out izes a meeting, but Afra wants to stay at that the weather is better than in Gorlice. home. Finally, we have time for each other. It turns out that we share the passion for music and we spend a long time playing and singing. My mother calls us for dinner. We spend the rest of the day talking about our lives, friends, family, hobbies. In the end, almost at the same time, we fall asleep. Thursday – 7th April Mornings together have become a ritual and every single one looks the same. When we get to school, Mr Barszcz starts a lecture about astrophotography and I must admit that it is extremely interesting - his photos are breathtaking. Inconspicuous person hides an incredible passion. I think that every person in the room thought about trying their hand in it. Then Mr. Bogdan Wszołek talks about astrotourism in our region and his private observatory in Rzepiennik Biskupi. At the same time, Mr Barszcz and Mr Góra put out equipment for observing the Sun in the school yard. Everyone has a chance to check the activity of the Sun and take a photo of it. After observations we go home for dinner. A few days ago spending time with Afra was very embarrassing but today we are glad we have time to talk.
We are divided into international groups and some people go to play games while the others observe the Sun's activity, build a sundial or make the Solar System. We spend the rest of the evening roasting sausages, talking and playing games. We return home tired but happy and immediately go to sleep.
the guests fill in questionnaires about their stay in Poland. Discreetly, I look over my new friend’s shoulder and I see that apart from a little bit too long conference, there is nothing to complain about, and she's happy about her time in Poland. When students finish, they are given certificates of attendance. These are the last moments together, because tonight, the team from Slovenia is leaving. I think everyone thinks this week was really amazing. At 10:30 we have to be by the hotel where the bus will take us to Krynica. Unfortunately, not all of the Polish team can go and I won't, either. I have the afternoon free. :) At about 8.00 we all meet at the hotel and we decide to spend this evening together. We go to one of the pizza places in Gorlice. We try to stop the time, but it is impossible. In the last moments we look back at what was happening this week. Saturday – 9th April
After three hours we're to Radocyna, Friday – 8th April where there will be a bonfire as well as Today we wake up sad. It is than 24 observations and integration games. We're hours we can spend together. At school all afraid, because it has started to rain, but
At about 5.00 I hear the alarm clock, I get up and go into the next room to wake up Afra. It is so early that we aren't able to think that in an hour we will have to part. All of the Turkish team comes to the hotel where the teachers are staying. There are tears and hugs and the promises of the next meeting, invitations for holidays and the assurance of staying in touch. I hug Afra for the last time before they get on the bus and I keep waving until she disap-
I go home with a distinct feeling of emptiness. I immediately go to bed, but I can't sleep. I think about the past week and what it changed in my life. Last Saturday I was scared about the arrival of a Turkish girl to my house. I considered myself to be a tolerant and open person, and yet I was afraid of who she will be, I was afraid of this completely different culture, and in my mind I had a lot of stereotypes, which only intensified my fear. Now I see how wrong I was. Foreigners turned out to be normal teenagers whose problems are the same as ours, and their appearance, country, language or habits, sometimes so different from ours, make it even more amazing the fact that inside we are all the same. This week was supposed to be only an alternative for the lessons, we were to make our English better, we just wanted to have a nice time, and it turned out that we got a lot more - great memories and friendships that I hope will be with us forever. Zosia Grądalska, Poland
VOLUME 1, Nº 4
PAGE 4
THE MOON´S IMPORTANCE IN ISLAM The Moon is an important element in the Arab-Muslim culture. Present in the life origins on earth it makes its, so far, perennial orbit around Earth. The great Muslim thinkers chose this celestial body as an inspiration in their reflections. In addition, its vision reminds the human being the sublime of Creation, the transient life and ineluctable return to the Creator. To the Muslim world, the Moon is one of the authentic creation symbols, perfect and inconceivable. It is known that it is a circular body orbiting Earth, partially cold and dark, but ideal sunlight transmitter. In fact, it is known that the moon has a special bearing on the time chronology, on the 4 seasons diversity, on
the days succession, on the nights and the tides, on the orientation and the terrestrial flora and faunas acclimatization, on the underwater life and as a key element in the globe biodiversity evolution until today, with wanes produced by the human action and demographic development. The Moon facilitates counting months and the seasons succession. The months of the lunar year are appreciated by the gift of the One God (to the present days and from the Hegira), in the beginning, middle and end days of the fasting month (Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar year, 29 or 30 days depending on the orbits).
In sum, our existence is based on a constant balance between the celestial bodies (including the Moon) and other forces present in our system or, perhaps, present in other worlds and interrelated with ours. Ahmed Embarec Mohamed School Council Member. Spain
COUNTRY CURIOSITY ARTICLE: WHISTLED LANGUAGE OF THE ISLAND OF LA GOMERA (CANARY ISLANDS), SILBO GOMERO The island of La Gomera is one of the 7 Canary Islands, a mountainous territory with large ravines and sloping valleys . The Canary Islands are probably better known for their incredible marine life, carnivals and partying; however, the islands are also home to the highly distinctive Silbo Gomero language found on the island of La Gomera. What sets this language apart from all others is that Silbo Gomero is whistled. Although little remains of the pre-Spanish La Gomera language native to the Canary Islands before the arrival of Spanish settlers, the whistled language was adapted to Castilian Spanish. Its use developed out of practicality: the deep gullies and mountain passages of the island mean travel is difficult, but the higher pitched sound whistling can be easily heard. The language came near to extinction at the end of the twentieth century. In order to help protect Silbo Gomero, it has been taught in schools since 1999 and in 2009 was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. Thus whilst globally other whistled languages exist, Silbo Gomero (meaning Gomeran Whistle) is the only one that is fully developed and ‘spoken’ by a large community. More than 22 000 Gomerans practise the language. It continues, in fact, to be a language used for the community in general, to announce public news, celebrations and religious events. Adrián Hernández. Spain
If you want to know how it sounds see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgEmSb0cKBg SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST http://www.reachthesky.eu/ http://kromer-gorlice.pl/zwyciezcy-konkursu-na-grafike-zgas-swiatlo-oszczedzaj-prad/ http://reach-the-sky.splet.arnes.si/category/notices/ http://reachthesky.es/en_GB/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1649151051965368/?fref=ts