Position of the Sun and shape of Earth, on 24 April 2009
Professor Udo Backhaus, a professor for didactics of physics at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany), is organising two observing projects. Here is what he writes about them:
My working group on physics education and myself are organizing and coordinating two international observing projects which have been designated to motivate people all around the world to be aware of the Sun's motion above the local horizon (and, perhaps, its variation during weeks) and, respectively, the celestial motion of the moon and its varying shape. The ultimate goal of these projects is a worldwide cooperation in order to make visible (and measurable) the Earth's shape and the moon's distance.
Please have a look at the projects sites which are quite preliminary, up to now.
- The position of the Sun and the shape of the Earth, as observed on 24 April 2009.
As it is essential for the success of the projects I'd like to ask you to announce them via your national IYA2009-site and to link our project sites to your national site.
Participants from your country would be valuable for the projects - and being part of an international cooperation will be a great experience for people of your country!
Prof. Dr. Udo Backhaus
Fb Physik der Universität Duisburg-Essen
Campus Essen
Didaktik der Physik
45117 Essen
Tel.: 0049-201-183-2464 (Frau Hager), 2459 (direkt)
Fax: 0049-201-183-2466
email:
http://www.didaktik.physik.uni-duisburg-essen.de/~backhaus/
If you are interested in participating, please send us a mail as well. Thanks!