LUNAA Journeys seeks to make the island of Saint Lucia the astronomy hub of the Caribbean.
Wherever I’m on the planet, I at all times love to hunt out native astronomy golf equipment. I typically subscribe to the ‘journey gentle’ mantra, which additionally implies that I carry little or no with me by way of astronomical gear. This in flip implies that whereas I could be someplace wonderful to watch, I even have little greater than binoculars and a smartphone.
Making contact with an area membership is a superb answer. Not solely do they typically have entry to some severe ‘scopes, however they are usually intimately acquainted with the native sky, and would possibly simply know the place to seek out these close by secret darkish sky websites.
A current group I met in Saint Lucia named LUNAA Journeys guarantees to deliver astronomy to a brand new technology within the Caribbean and past.
LUNAA Journeys (St. Lucia Nationwide Astronomy Affiliation) is trying to deal with an all too frequent downside within the world astronomical group. Too typically, participation in astronomy is seen as cost-prohibitive, the only pursuit of huge universities or organizations that may afford to construct a big trendy observatory, or launch the Hubble House Telescope. That is unlucky, as there’s by no means been an period of extra readily accessible data on the market by way of astronomy and skywatching. Additionally, I at all times discover there’s an enormous quantity of curiosity within the topic, wherever I’m going.
Based by astronomer and Saint Lucia native Cheyenne Polius, LUNAA Journeys is on a mission to deliver astronomy to the lots. Past simply the standard mission of astronomy outreach and sidewalk stargazing, LUNAA Journeys is trying to host a Stargazing Coaching Program that may give youth the talents in sensible astronomy, one thing that may enable them to develop into their very own careers within the area as they share this means with others.
LUNAA Journeys’ Origin Story
LUNAA Journeys started its life because the Saint Lucia Nationwide Astronomy Affiliation in 2018. The group has now developed right into a social enterprise to satisfy the rising demand for astro-tourism in Saint Lucia. LUNAA Journeys is way more than your common ‘astronomy membership.’
“Whereas we maintain an area (pun meant) for astronomy lovers to attach, we’re additionally increasing the Caribbean’s astro-tourism, providing and revolutionizing house schooling within the area,” Polius says within the group’s mission statement. “Our objective is to domesticate a inhabitants with love for the attractive skies above us and an appreciation of how house exploration and know-how improves life on the bottom.”
Cheyenne is an astrophysicist at the moment finding out in London. Her group is working to deliver house and astronomy alternatives to her dwelling island nation of Saint Lucia and the Caribbean. From encouraging skywatching to picking your first telescope, Cheyenne is a tireless promoter of astronomy.
Astronomy outreach and schooling could be a difficult however rewarding pursuit. Volunteers at star events aren’t any strangers to fielding questions on all the pieces from life within the Universe to ‘can you actually see the U.S. flag on the Moon with that factor? Spoiler: you’ll be able to’t… however NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in low lunar orbit can.
Coaching expert observers can actually take issues to the subsequent degree. To this finish, LUNAA Journeys has a brand new, 4-Week Stargazing Facilitator Coaching workshop beginning this July. This is not going to solely give members hands-on coaching, however put them in contact with a community of astronomy and skywatching specialists.
LUNAA Journeys in motion. Credit score: LUNAA Journeys.
There’s a real public curiosity within the sky, and a longing to know our reference to our place in time and house. Usually, I discover that resorts and trip spots wish to have an astronomy program… however don’t fairly know how you can go about implementing one. Telescopes fall into disrepair, leaving little institutional reminiscence available to advertise skywatching. What LUNAA Journeys is doing might help to develop a thriving grassroots astronomical group.
I’ve seen this kind of factor take root earlier than, in locations like Namibia or the Maldives Islands the place astronomy packages thrive and skywatching occasions are routine as half of a bigger, outreach platform devoted to exploring nature. Construct it and they’re going to come, be it seasoned astrophotographers or those that are merely ‘astronomy curious.’
Saint Lucia’s Privileged Location
Areas reminiscent of The Landings close to Pigeon Island on the north of the island and Ladera to the south close to the spectacular Pitons have enviable darkish skies overhead. Situated at slightly below 14 levels north of the equator—about the identical latitude as Hawaii, one other widespread astronomy spot—Saint Lucia has an excellent view spanning deep into the southern hemisphere.
The Southern Cross rising over the Pitons. Credit score: Dave Dickinson
The Southern Cross, Coalsack, Omega Centauri and extra are key southern sky highlights, together with the Small Magellanic and Massive Magellanic Clouds, which skim the southern horizon within the winter months.
Omega Centauri, shot with a Dwarf3 smartscope from Saint Lucia. Credit score: Dave Dickinson
Although the perfect skies in Saint Lucia are within the wintertime throughout dry season, the area hosts tons to see within the sky any time of the 12 months… and the near the equator locale ensures lengthy, star-filled nights.
Saint Lucia skies additionally host one other distinctive phenomenon of the trendy House Age as properly. Launches off the Florida House Coast typically head to the southeast after liftoff, proper over the Caribbean. These are largely because of SpaceX, as they proceed including satellites to their massive Starlink mega-constellation. These at the moment are changing into a well-known sight over Caribbean island skies together with Saint Lucia as they cross the daybreak or nightfall skies.
The creator with LUNAA Journeys members. Credit score: Dave Dickinson
The sky is not the restrict for LUNAA Journeys, as they put Saint Lucia on the skywatching map. You should definitely comply with and take a look at LUNAA Journeys as they work to advertise astronomy and Saint Lucia as the recent spot for Caribbean astronomy.
