From 2 to 5 October 2024, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach is teaming up with the International Planetarium Society (IPS) to continue the legacy of 100 Hours of Astronomy and celebrate 100 Years of the Planetarium!
In 1923, the first planetarium projector was invented in Jena, Germany, and two years later, the first planetarium opened its doors in Munich. Between 2023 and 2025, the world celebrates the centennial of the planetarium and the countless ways they have impacted our society.
The IAU is the international astronomical organization that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers.
With the increasing levels of light pollution worldwide, it is impossible to experience a truly dark sky in many places. Planetariums are then dark sky oases: sanctuaries for night sky enthusiasts, exposing the public to the Universe. Even in locations where skies are protected from city lights, planetariums are still powerful educational tools for understanding the Universe and our place within it. This year, we encourage everyone to visit their local planetarium – be it small, large, mobile or stationary – and be immersed in the wonders of our Universe.
The OAO and IPS hope to activate planetariums around the world to participate in this programme! Getting involved is easy:
- Plan a special event during the time frame of 100 Hours of Astronomy, or identify some pre-existing shows you’d like to highlight during this time.
- Download the media kit.
- Promote your event alongside 100 Hours of Astronomy and try to bring as broad a public as you can under the dome!
While the 2024 100 Hours of Astronomy theme is 100 Years of the Planetarium, the spirit of this programme is to bring people together through the awe astronomy inspires within us all. We hope that people worldwide will spread their love for astronomy – be it under the dome or under our skies!
Global Calendar of Events
To highlight all the amazing activities happening around the globe, we will promote a calendar of events displayed on a world map. We encourage you to share your events and participate in this year’s 100 Hours of Astronomy! If your event is open to the public, be sure to leave enough information for people to get involved – both in person and online! Be safe, be inclusive, and share your event with the world! Add your event at this link.
The first 50 planetariums to enter their information in our calendar will receive printed copies of the two special edition issues of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal dedicated to the centennial of the planetarium.
Activity ideas
Do you need some ideas for your astronomy outreach event? Look through the community-driven ideas in our Office for Astronomy Outreach Toolkit. If you have developed or know of any exciting astronomy outreach activity format, please share it with the community. Additionally, you can look through last year’s events at the 100 Hours of Astronomy 2023 page.
