A new facility for Astronomy Education

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A new facility for Astronomy Education and
Popularization in Guanajuato, Mexico
Or, how to open a new site for Astronomy with
very low funds and many patience
H. Bravo-Alfaro K.-P. Schröder Dept. de
Astronomia, Universidad de Guanajuato
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Guanajuato City
Mexico 110 million people 150 professional
astronomers
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Astronomy Department, 5 km
Central Building Universidad de Guanajuato
Observatorio "La Azotea" (the Roof-top terrace)
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The Astronomy Department (12 years old) -10
staff members -Science and (heavy) teaching
duties -1998 Bachelors in Physics -2004 MSc
PhD in Astrophysics
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1967
July 2006 !
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Reopening November 22th, 2006.
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• 3 Preliminary steps
• Getting the funds to refurbish the site and for
  equipment (5 years)
• Carry out the refurbishment work and get new
  telescopes, computers, furniture for hall
  (5 months).
• Define an achievable program of activities
  (5 days).
  
• Getting in troubles
  (5 minutes!)

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Our Program of Public Talks in Astronomy was
held, for the first time, at La Azotea in
Spring 2007. Successful daily program of
observing activity for the wide public 5 - 40
people every day! Movie-Debate of
Science-Fiction films
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The 1st Summer School of Astronomy for Teachers
(30 hours, July
2007) The Topics -Astronomy History -The
Solar System -The sky and the telescope -The
Stars Life -The Milky Way and Galaxies
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A bonus prize 2 antique instruments
Transit-telescope of Lerebours Secretain
(Paris 1850)
Heavy mount by Negretti Zambra (London 1880).
Stripped of its gravity drive and given a modern
electric motor, it currently carries a 14"
Schmidt-Cassegrain
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• Now equipped with
• -one 14" SC
• two portable 8" SC
• one 4" refractor
• solar filters
• a lecture hall with beamer, sound, computers and
  internet-access
• a collection of astronomy books and magazines

The Near Future -Project involving local tourism
office -Founding a Society of Amateur
Astronomers -Daytime visits of school classes
(solar observations and interactive
experiments) -The 2008, 2nd Summer School for
Teachers Towards the IYA2009
Summary
Plus 3-5 professional astronomers involved, and
few students. A very big space Promoting an
Astronomy center for teachers and students.