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Sirius Astronmy Association Salon 2008
 
The 7th National Fair in Popular Astronomy ... 30 October-1Nov 2008, Constantine, Algeria... World Space Week 2008 ... International Year of Astronomy 2009 .... Popular Science in Action   

Diaporama Salon 2008 - Part I
& Part II
(Pictures taken by Mustapha Mouatsi, Rayyane Mimouni, Ammi Ali, and the AJST)

The Seventh Salon and its Opening
Constantine's Sun

Sirius - SAF
The Participants
The Activities
The Lectures & the Round Table
The SAF & the G & C. Flammarion Prize
The Theatre & the Chorale
The Competition for the Eclipse 2009 trip to China
The Closing Ceremony
The Trip to the Guelma région

More on the previous Fairs at:

The Salon & Its Opening
(Many pictures are clickable)



astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth
The Seventh National Fair in Popular Astronomy was true to its calling, a popular event through and through indeed. Large participation, a record number of visitors, great lecturers from all over the World. In addition two premieres: the TWAN astrophotography exposition from Iran and other countries of the World, and the Antikythera one from Greece.

astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youthIt took place as usual at the Malek Haddad "Palais de la Culture", close to center city.

As usual, the young Sirius shock team was mobilized to do part of the advertisement. It was commando action working at night, at the border line of legality. They literally covered centre city with posters.


Here Younès (Left) and Mustapha in the middle of the action.


Hanging up banderols and spacecraft models. Here the Spoutnik model standing up proudly.

Setting up the Sirius aisle.

Getting the main auditorium ready.

 

astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth Boussouf
The opening visit by the City Mayor (Dr.Chibane, with eyeglasses) and at his right Prof.R.Boussouf, the head of the Wilaya Executive branch (PAPW).

astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth Dallal Chibane
Here with the Bahreini Astronomy Society welcomed by Prof. Shawki Dallal, its President and also Vice President of the Arab Union of Astronomy and Space Sciences.
Antikythera exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth Boussouf
Prof.X.Moussas from Athena University presenting to the Mayor the Antikythera exhibition.
exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth Anbar
Here with Ms. Mona Anbar from the Kuwaiti Science Club.
exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth
Stopping at the Association Sirius des Astronomes Amateurs (ASAA) from Béjaia.
exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth ChibaneOut of space creatures?

exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth
No, just the Mayor and his vice president having outer space visions at the AAJAA stand from Algiers.
exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth AAJAA
The AAJAA stand was indeed a well visited one

Chatting with some students of the Graduate Study Program in Astrophysics (EDA) at Mentouri University.

 


Getting some explanations on the Scientific Concours Cirta-Science II which will be held again this year across the various High Schools of the Wilaya. The three laureats will be offered a trip to sight the July 22, 2009 total solar eclipse.

exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth
T he Salon official opening ceremony at the end of the tour.

exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth
Each one giving a small speech, including the heads of the foreign delegations.

The Participants

Jeunes Science Tunis et Djerba in Force

First and foremost, kudos to the Tunisians who participated in force this year with a large and active delegation.


Headed by Dr..Jaidane from Tunis University, the Association Jeunes-Science comprised young amateurs from the various parts of Tunisia, notably Tunis, Djerba, Nabeul, Bizerte, Kairaouan...


More on the SAF participation

exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth SAF Algérie Philippe Morel
Philippe Morel, the SAF president, setting up the PST coupled to a CCD camera for solar viewing..
exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth Mona Anbar
Mona Anbar explaining the astronomy activities of the Kuwaiti Science Club.
exhibition  astronomy Algeria Constantine Malek Haddad amateurs youth Dallal Shaouki AUASS
Likewise with the amateur activities in Bahrein with Prof.S. Dallal

The Antikythera Display
from Athena University

The Antikythera Display
A handsome set of panels on the Antikythera device discovered in the early XXth century.

The Antikythera Display



Her the Mayor with Prof X.Moussas from Athena University who has worked extensively on the Antikythera mechanism.

The TWAN Exhibition at Constantine
TWAN Algeria Tafreshi
The other great display was the TWAN exposition set in an adjacent room. Here Babrak Tafreshi the Director of TWAN and his wife.
TWAN Algeria Tafreshi
Various cosmic visions were offered to the visitors as shot by some of the best known astro photographers worldwide. TWAN is a cornestone program of IYA2009 and we were proud indeed that it was displayed as a primeur in Constantine, a first such exhibition in the African continent.
 astronomie
Here the AMNIR Astronomy Club from Beni Isguen in the Mzab valley.
The TWAN Exhibition at Constantine AAJAA
The AAJAA represented by his President R.Lassoued from the Algiers governorate put up a great high tech display made of 3-D planetary scenes.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
Hocine Fahiss from the El-Bouzdjani Astronomy Club at Médéa is a faithful participant to the Popular Astronomy Salons ever since its inception in 2002.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
The Smarties Club of the Hamiz Scientific Middle School at Algiers headed by Mustapha Derradji, the former Sirius president (Sitting amidst his students).

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit The Sirius Club from Béjaia. Their elaborated display emphasized the astronomical heritage of the region, in particular during the Hammadites rule.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
Bilal from Sirius - Constantine posing in front of the Sirius -Béjaia stand.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
The CRAAG as usual was present to the Salon with a large delegation. We see Nassim here talking with his colleagues from ASAL.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  CRAAG
The CRAAG, unlike the other years, has a neat display of large panels animated by

The Agence Spatiale Algérienne (ASAL) too was present with two scientists from the CTS at Arzew, Dr Abrouche and Dr.Boudjemai

Here their stand
set at a strategic intersection.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
The ENNA was there too. Here the head of the delegation talking to the Mayor of Constantine and his adjoint.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
We were happy to welcome the Suha astronomy Club from Sétif a usual participant to our Salons since their inception. Here showing to the visitors their skymap software.

The Najm A-Thakeb Astronomy Association from Mostaghanem from Western Algeria displaying their handiwork.

 

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
Bringing the hearts and minds together is one great bonus of the Popular Astronomy Fairs.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Mzab
The Qutb Astronomy Club from Ghardaia.


ThAstronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sedrata
The Birouni Astronomy Association from Sedrata from the Tebessa Wilaya displaying their work.


The Angham El-Hayat Astronomy Association from Guerara in the Mzab Valley receiving some young visitors.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Oum El Bouaghi
The Ibn Haitham Astronomy Club from Ain-Fakroun, Oum El-Bouaghi, with Zinou his dynamical president at right. In the middle Hocinr Fihis from Albouzjani association from Medea.

The ENNA is also a traditional participant to our Salons. They go to great length to provide the public with technical information on the state of the art in the air navigation techniques.


It might be seen as a bit out of place in an astronomy Salon, yet it fulfill a useful public function in informing. On the other hand it might be seen as "ultralow altitude" astronomy! Here an engineer from ENNA with Ammi Ali.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  EDA astrophysics
Some EDA (Ecole Doctorale d'Astrophysique) students at their stand.

 


They provided astrophysics background information to inquiring visitors of all ages: stellar evolution, Black Holes and the like...

The Activities


Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
The welcoming desk of Sirius was always neat and friendly.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
The Sirius boutique was also attractive with helpful Sirius members

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
The display of realisations by Sirius members was always a strong point of focus for the visitors, especially the youngsters.



Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
Zinou explaining


Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit
Fateh breaking down a telescope to its basic components.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
Hocine Fahiss from Médéa at his best: explaining basic astronomy to the public.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  CRAAG
The CRAAG was well represented this year with the head of the public relations office.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius Asma Mimouni
Handling the kids and their curiosity: Asma.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Aicha Houki
Khaled explaining model building of ancient observatories. They were actually built by Aicha Houki, our Sirius general secretary.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
Mustapha obliging with a young visitor who insisted in looking through a telescope despite day time conditions.

 

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
Imène, at work with Fatima (A left) and Taqi. Asma at right.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
The AAJAA stand
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
Mustapha with some students of the new scientific Middle School from Hamiz, Algiers
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
The display of realisations by Sirius members was always a strong point of focus for the visitors, especially the youngsters.

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius TWANThe TWAN exposition. (Picture courtesy B.Tafreshi-TWAN).

Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius SAF and Antikythera
The Antikythera exposition at right
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius
A sighting night was organized during the Fair at the 10 km Scout Camp at the outskirts of Constantine. Redhouane in the middle of the picture brought his 300 mm Dobsonian for that night.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  SiriusHere Hicham peering through, while Aisha is standing by.
Astronomie Algérie amateurs association Festival exhibit  Sirius telescope

 

Here the Tunisian team going after the PST at the Malek Haddad plaza. Manel Boudjelouah in the background



The PST coupled to the Philips CCD camera enables us to get nice pictures of some solar protuberances with the expert advice of Philippe Morel . Here a raw picture of part of the solar disk.
... and here a slightly processed and colored one.

 

Although weather conditions where less than ideals, some pictures were taken from the Malek Haddad Plaza of the rapprochement of the crescent Moon and Venus


The Constantine corniche at night going towards the coast (Pict-AJST).

Shoe throwing?
But no Bush at sight.


Just virtually aiming at stars with the MySky device graciously offered to Sirius by Mike Simmons from Astronomers Without Borders during the previous Fair in 2007.


The Gadget Age: Seeing without seeing.
astronome Algerie Sirius science
The Tunisian corner was always quite animated.
astronome Algerie Sirius science Tunisia SAT
On duty at the Tunisian desk with smile.

Groups of scouts from far away places visiting the Fair

Do I look like this bunch of nails?
Farès

A trip to town and a flight over the city in the cableway (téléphérique). Click on the picture for another shot

Spacecraft models on display

The Lectures & the Round Table

astronome Algerie Sirius science Ferlet
R.Ferlet, the exoplanet specialist from l'Institut Astrophysique de Paris and former SAF president, lecturing.

astronome Algerie Sirius science Mezaoui
Dr.Mezaoui Abderahmane from Bab-Ezzouar University. He lectured on radioastronomy and the quasars.

astronome Algerie Sirius science Boudjemai ASAL
Dr.S.Boudjemai from the CTS/ASAL talking on small satellites The other lecturer from Arzew was Dr.S.Abrouche.
astronome Algerie Sirius science Dallal Bahrein
Prof.S.Dallal from Bahrein University lecturing on the "Fate of the Universe".


Moslem Nakhli from the AJST of Kairouan during the Q& A session.

astronome Algerie Sirius science Babak Tafreishi TWAN
Babak.Tafreshi lecturing on Astronomy in Iran, the Messier marathon, and TWAN.


Djounai Baba-Aissa from the CRAAG on direct imaging of exoplanets.

A happy and attentive audience
The Round Table on
the Intl.Year of Astronomy 2009
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009
Sirius organized, in coordination with the National Committee of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in Algeria, a round table on how to go about the celebrations. The presence of many of the effective astronomy associations all over Algeria allowed to do some planning and sort out some potential organizational problems.
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009
The AJS, the SAF and other partners participated in the discussions along with the national associations.
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009

The SAF participation
& the Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion Medal Granting



astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 SAF
The SAF (La Société Astronomique de France) as usual, marked strongly the Salon with its participation both quantitatively and qualitatively. Five high powered participants were there manipulating, lecturing, entertaining.... They certainly added a note of distinction to the Salon.

astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 SAF
Their stand was most of the time filled with eager visitors...

Here Patrick FUENTES, head of the SAF History Commission explaining to some journalists from the APS the working of the astrolabe




astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009


astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal.
Taking turn to the PST
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal.
The recipiendaire of the Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion prize for 2008 was the President of Sirius for his effort in popularizing astronomy. Here Prof.Roger Ferlet, past SAF President awarding the medal in presence of Philippe Morel its actual President.

astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal.
Acceptance speech by the Sirius President


Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal. Click on the picture to see the verso.
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal.
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal. Ahmed Djarri
Ahmed Djarri handing out the particiaption certificate to Dr..Jaidane from Tunis University
astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal. Mona Anbar
Mona Anbar from the Kuwaiti Astronomical Society

 

astronome Algerie Sirius science  IYA 2009 Tthe Gabrielle and Camille Flammarion medal. Algeria

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Design: C. MOUATSI / Sirius Astronomy Association (August 2008)