[meteorite-list] Galileo Block Party in Hilo

[Gary Fujihara]

Aloha Metlist members,

I'd like to share some information about a great outreach event that  
took place over the weekend.  As a feature of the International Year  
of Astronomy, the Galileo Block Party was held on astronomy row in the  
University Park of Science and Technology on the campus of the  
University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (UHH) on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.   
Most of the observatories on Mauna Kea, UHH Physics and Astronomy  
Dept, and amateur astronomy groups participated by engaging in  
interactive outreach with thousands of visitors during the five hour  
event.

Dr Bobby Bus, NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and I represented the  
University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy with a meteorite  
exhibit.  Bobbyʻs research in spectroscopic properties of asteroid  
families and their population distribution complemented my exhibit of  
complete individual and full slice specimens of over three dozen fall  
and find locations wonderfully.  It was fun to see the many familiar  
faces of students, teachers, parents, community leaders, colleagues  
and members of the astronomy community during the event.  In addition,  
it was fulfilling to be able to share with my community, my passion  
for these rocks from space, and what they provide to the body of  
knowledge in science (not to mention the wonderful stories many of  
these stones had to tell).

Meteorites are great to find, collect, cherish and admire.  But what a  
lonely existence should they only languish in an unseen private  
collection.  I urge members to share your collections with your  
respective communities.  Its as much fun as finding your own fresh,  
fully crusted chondrite.  Okay I lied, not that much fun, but very  
fulfilling and who knows?  Maybe an opportunity to inspire others to  
pursue this hobby/obsession/business.

http://astroday.net/images/_GalileoBlockParty2.jpg
http://www.naoj.org/IYA/Blockparty/

Gary Fujihara
AstroDay Institute
105 Puhili Place, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 640-9161, fujmon at mac.com
http://astroday.net