Telescope Reviews: The World at Night exhibits at shopping centers

Subject: IYA: The World at Night exhibits at shopping centers

Contact:
Douglas Isbell
U.S. Single-Point-of-Contact for IYA2009
Phone: 520-991-0380
Email: disbell@astronomy2009.us

USIYA09-06

August 17, 2009

Shopping Centers Across the U.S. to Experience “The World At Night”

An exhibit of stunning photographs of the night sky as viewed over many of
the most beautiful natural, historic and cultural landmarks in the world
is being shown at 24 shopping centers across the United States from now
through November 8.

Known as “The World At Night,” the exhibit is a special project of the
International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), an ongoing global
celebration of the science of astronomy and its contributions to society
over the 400 years since Galileo’s first use of the telescope.

Among the well-known sites featured in “The World at Night” (TWAN) are
Yellowstone National Park in the United States, the Parthenon in Greece,
and magnificent monuments across Asia, all set against the grandeur of the
starry sky. Supported by Developers Diversified Realty for the properties
it manages, this exhibition is the largest showing of TWAN mounted in the
United States during IYA2009, according to the organizers. More than 30
countries have hosted TWAN exhibits this year.

“We have found that TWAN images not only capture the public’s imagination,
but also bring educational value,” says Project Director Babak Tafreshi.
Each of the shopping centers hosting a TWAN exhibit will add localized
educational elements such as contests, family workshops in astronomy,
“Dancing Under the Stars” or “Movies Under the Stars,” and the
participation of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts working toward their astronomy
merit badges.

TWAN is collaborating with a variety of venues around the world to hold
major exhibitions and educational events during IYA2009 and beyond. These
exhibitions are meant to enhance the offerings of any museum or public
space with eye-catching photographs produced by the TWAN team of
specialized photographers. The exhibitions are designed to be shown
either indoors or outdoors, and can be organized either as standalone
exhibits or in conjunction with other IYA2009 exhibits or cultural or
educational activities.

TWAN exhibitions will take place in a variety of U.S. cities, large and
small:

August 1 – August 16:
Aspen Grove, Littleton, CO
Buena Park Downtown, Buena Park, CA
Deer Park Town Center, Deer Park, IL
Prairie Hills Mall, Dickinson, ND
Berlin Mall, Berlin, VT
Quincy Place Mall, Ottumwa, IA

August 22 – September 6:
Tamarac Square, Denver, CO
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, Long Beach, CA
Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL
Paul Bunyan Mall, Bemidji, MN
The Waterfront, Homestead, PA
Copper Country Mall, Houghton, MI

September 12 – September 27:
Town Center Plaza, Leawood, KS
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena, CA
Village at Stone Oak, San Antonio, TX
Westgate Mall, Brainerd, MN
Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville, VA
Tiffin Mall, Tiffin, OH

October 3 – October 18:
Great Northern Plaza, North Olmsted, OH
Christown Spectrum Mall, Phoenix, AZ
The Shops at Midtown Miami, Miami, FL
Birkdale Village, Huntersville, NC
Tri-County Mall, Cincinnati, OH

October 25 – November 8:
Watertown Mall, Watertown, SD

Sample Images:
The exhibition in Prairie Hills Mall, Dickinson, North Dakota
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/news/6035-1.jpg

The exhibition in Buena Park Downtown Shopping Center, California
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/news/6035-4.jpg
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/news/6035-7.jpg

The global map of locations for the TWAN-US exhibition
http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/news/6035-2.jpg

The World at Night logo
http://www.twanight.org/newtwan/Resource/TWAN-black.jpg

TWAN description poster:
http://www.astronomy2009.org/static/archives/posters/large/iya2009_twan_poster.jpg

TWAN promotional image (in high resolution):
http://www.twanight.org/hr/OnePeople-OneSky.jpg
Photographer copyright: Babak Tafreshi/The World at Night

Background:
The World At Night (TWAN) is an international program by Astronomers
Without Borders to create and exhibit a collection of stunning photographs
and time-lapse videos of the world’s most beautiful and historic sites
against a nighttime backdrop of stars, planets and celestial events. More
than 40 of the best landscape photographers, coordinators and consultants
in 25 countries have contributed to TWAN.

TWAN aims to be a bridge between art, humanity, and science. “The
eternally peaceful sky looks the same above all the landmarks and symbols
of different nations and regions, attesting to the truly unified nature of
Earth as a planet rather than an amalgam of human-designated territories,”
says Project Director Babak Tafreshi. “We are all one family under one
sky.”

See more than 1,500 images from TWAN: http://www.twanight.org.
International Year of Astronomy 2009: http://www.astronomy2009.org
Astronomers Without Borders: http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org
Stars Over Developers Diversified Realty program: http://www.starsoverddr.com
IYA2009 U.S. Web site: http://astronomy2009.us

For Further Information:
Babak Tafreshi
TWAN Director
Email: btafreshi@twanight.org

Mike Simmons
President
Astronomers Without Borders
26500 West Agoura Road
Suite 102-618
Calabasas, CA 91302
Phone: 818-597-0223
Email: twan@astronomerswithoutborders.org

Lisa Wieting
Stars Over Developers Diversified Realty
Phone: 303-839-1415
Email: Lisa@CohnMarketing.com