If you see a good movie, you recommend it. Find a good restaurant, you can’t wait to spread the word. It’s human nature to share things we enjoy. That’s at the root of Starry Messengers. We have a passion for astronomy and want to share it with others.
Each year, the TAAA’s extensive outreach program puts our members in contact with about 10,000 people at schools, churches, parks, and community centers. And, still more people are reached during the week-long Grand Canyon Star Party which is coordinated by the TAAA annually.
There are three levels of engagement as a Starry Messenger.
SMSIG Planning Team
The Planning Team has the awesome responsibility of directing the TAAA outreach program. We decide the details of key TAAA outreach events. We also provide training to volunteers participating in those events. Any TAAA member interested in outreach is welcome to become a member of the SMSIG Leadership team.
Activity Guides
The success of our outreach program depends on volunteers. In addition to members bringing their telescopes to our outreach events, our Activity Guides bring hands-on projects which assist the public in understanding astronomical concepts. It’s very satisfying when someone comes to understand astronomical concepts on their own using our hands-on activities. When they suddenly see the light, faces brighten and they can’t help but smile. You’ve given them a personal experience of something greater than themselves.
Library Telescope Program
The Library Telescope Program is described elsewhere, but this program requires volunteers to keep it going. The County Librarians take care of loaning the telescopes and checking them on their return. The TAAA remains the experts when the telescopes need maintenance. As telescopes are added to the program, we make all the modifications to make them ready for public use. We also conduct training programs for the librarians when a telescope is added to a collection, and we host library events to encourage the use of the telescopes.
Interested in more information about our outreach program? Contact us at smsig [at] tucsonastronomy [dot] org.