Developing Basic Space Science World-Wide: A Decade of UN/ESA Workshops

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? J. Andersen Niels Bohr Institute for Astronomy Physics and Geophysics Astronomical Observatory Copenhagen [email protected] The development of astronomy worldwide begins at the roots: Already from childhood, humans of all nations and civilizations seem to share an innate fascination with the sky. Yet, people in different regions of the world have vastly different possibilities for pursuing this interest. In wealthy, industrialised societies the way is open to a school or higher education in science, possibly leading to a career in astronomy or basic or applied space science for the benefit of the country as well as the individual. In other regions, neither the financial nor the trained human resources are sufficient to offer that avenue to the future of the young generation, or those intellectual resources to the development of their country. This book addresses ways and means by which these obstacles can be, if not fully overcome, then at least significantly reduced. The UN/ESA Workshops on Basic Space Science in the Developing Countries....Pages 3-8 The International Astronomical Union....Pages 9-15 The International Astronomical Union: Historial Perspective....Pages 17-21 Astronomy Around the World....Pages 23-30 Research and Education in Basic Space Science....Pages 31-37 Indian Space Programme....Pages 41-48 Astronomy in the Philippines....Pages 49-54 The Present Status of Astronomy in Sri Lanka....Pages 55-60 A Short History of Astronomy in Indonesia....Pages 61-76 Space Astronomy in China....Pages 77-93 Astronomy in Korea....Pages 95-97 The Astronomical Observatory of Honduras: A Project of International Cooperation....Pages 101-111 The Gem Project: An International Collaboration to Survey Galactic Radiation Emission....Pages 113-122 The Galactic Emission Mapping (GEM) Project: Summary and Results....Pages 123-129 A Centre of Astronomy for Paraguay: A Quest for a Moderate-Sized Telescope....Pages 131-136 The Uruguayan Automated and Robotic Telescope “BUSCA”....Pages 137-150 Astronomy at the Universidad de Sonora....Pages 151-157 Space Sciences in Latin America....Pages 159-175 Astronomy in South Africa....Pages 179-181 The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT): A 10 Metre Class Spectroscopic Survey Telescope....Pages 183-194 An Inter-African Astronomical Observatory and Science Park on the Gamsberg in Namibia?....Pages 195-201 Current Developments in Basic Space Science in Nigeria....Pages 203-209 Towards Introducing Space Science in Uganda....Pages 211-218 Space Science & Technology in Mauritius Current Status and Future Opportunities....Pages 219-234 Kottamia Telescope Upgrading....Pages 237-240 The Marskhod Egyptian Drill Project....Pages 241-249 Small Astronomical Telescopes for Research and Education at Helwan, Egypt....Pages 251-259 Astronomy in Saudi Arabia: The Challenges....Pages 261-266 The Status of the Network of Oriental Robotic Telescopes Project....Pages 267-271 Basic Space Sciences in Jordan....Pages 273-289 The Role of Public Observatories in Astronomical Observations....Pages 293-298 Small Telescopes in Research and Education....Pages 299-305 Networking of Small Astronomical Telescope Facilities in Education and Research Programmes on Subjects Such as Variable Stars and Near-Earth Objects....Pages 307-318 Single-Site and Multi-Site Photometric Research Programmes for Small Telescopes....Pages 319-330 “Hands-on Astrophysics” and Beyond....Pages 331-337 CCD Photometry of KZ Hya from the AAO (Paraguay)....Pages 339-344 Chasing the Dream....Pages 347-350 Provision of Astronomical Equipment for Developing Countries Through ODA of the Government of Japan....Pages 351-353 The Astronomy Digital Library....Pages 355-361 The Changing Role of the Telescope in Astronomy....Pages 363-371 The World Space Observatory/Ultraviolet (WSO/UV) Project....Pages 373-387 Introduction....Pages 391-397 Mechanics: Orbits and Kepler’s Third Law....Pages 399-421 More Mechanics of the Solar System....Pages 423-436 More Mechanics: Neutron Stars and Clusters of Galaxies....Pages 437-447 Thermal Radiation....Pages 449-457 The Lives of Stars....Pages 459-476 Cosmic Magnetic Fields....Pages 477-488 High-Energy Astrophysics, Electromagnetic Radiation....Pages 489-499 Mathematical Proofs....Pages 501-502