Websites (Nov 2009)

The World At Night (TWAN)
     
The World At Night (TWAN) is a program 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. TWAN is 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. Those involved in global programs learn to see humanity as a family living together on a single planet amidst the vast ocean of our Universe. This global perspective motivates us to work for a better, more peaceful planet for all the world’s inhabitants. Astronomers Without Borders was created to work toward this goal. TWAN is an innovative new approach to expanding this global perspective.     

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) have designated TWAN as a Special Project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. The project began to make global exposure during the year of astronomy and continues to grow further beyond. TWAN photographs are being taken by the best night sky photographers around the world. The resulting collection is presented in an international traveling exhibition and in a virtual exhibition on the TWAN web site.   Books and DVDs of the images will also be published.  Time-lapse digital photographs of the night sky that are being created at particular locations will be used in a high-quality documentary film of celestial motion over the planet's most important sites.  TWAN is bringing together photographers, astronomers and organizations worldwide to create a new international team.  That team fulfils TWAN's primary goal of bringing to the public a new way of seeing the wonders of our planet by portraying Earth’s people as one family and our world as a living planet we must care for.

Wars are fought over boundaries that have been created in the name of politics, religion, race or beliefs. But the view from space reveals the true nature of our cosmic home – a border-less planet divided only into land and sea.  While few will experience that view first-hand, the same is also true in reverse; the night sky above us – a view that is accessible to everyone on the planet – also has no visible borders. This common view is a bridge that connects us, creating understanding and friendship. When borders vanish, political and cultural differences become irrelevant. The beauty of brilliant Venus might be seen in Texas just hours after it is seen by sky gazers in Tehran. The famous stars of the Big Dipper might be viewed over the Vatican while Buddhists in China share the same celestial view over their temples. The magnificent Milky Way might be viewed over the Grand Canyon while people in Nepal are awed by the same celestial view over the Himalaya. We all live under the same eternally peaceful sky.  And the Earth we inhabit under it belongs to us all.
 
Material released by TWAN will include photographs, descriptions of the subject sites, the site’s historical, cultural or environmental significance, how TWAN was conducted, how TWAN affected participating photographers and any further relevant issues of global importance such as peace, ecology and light pollution.

TWAN material will be distributed by the following methods:
· Photo exhibitions, slide shows and seminars in many different countries, with initial emphasis on countries that contributed to the collection.
· A virtual exhibition on an interactive web site with links from the web sites of hundreds of Affiliates of Astronomers Without Borders.
· A documentary film of time-lapse digital photographs from selected sites suitable for large screen presentation.
· A book of photographs and information titled "The World At Night."
· A multimedia DVD of photographs and information titled "The World At Night."
· Post cards and posters based on project photographs.
· Television programs based on time-lapse and video images transmitted via local networks and satellite.
· TWAN tours in conjunction with the AWB astro-tours program taking photographers, astronomers and others involved in TWAN to the sites pictured in the photographic collection.  Tours will be lead by TWAN project leaders and local TWAN photographers.

TWAN began in the autumn of 2007 with the creation of the web site, site selection, photographer selection and the creation of an image database.  Acquisition of new images began in late 2007 while imaging and compilation of existing images continues through all phases of the project. image acquisition continues.  The first exhibition took place in the autumn of 2008, while TWAN exhibitions will reach to over 20 countries by the end of 2009 and continue further.

IJHC-WHR Observations

This site is very strongly resonant with the WHR and IJHC. Beautiful images of our universe, with contemplations on our place in this Cosmos.