A sky feast took place in Erzurum at the foot of the Eastern Anatolia Observatory (DAG), where the largest telescope of Europe and Turkey is located. During the Erzurum Sky Observation Event, which lasted for three days, approximately 10 thousand people stood by the telescopes and watched the sky.
The participants, who had the opportunity to examine the stars at the 3 thousand 170 altitude Karakaya Summit, explored the unknowns of space despite the cold weather.
ORGANIZED BY TUBITAK COORDINATION
Erzurum Sky Observation Event was organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the coordination of TÜBİTAK with the contributions of Erzurum Governorship, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, Atatürk University and North East Anatolian Development Agency (KUDAKA). Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, who made space observations with young people, made statements at DAG, which will host Europe's largest telescope when completed. Minister Varank stated that the installation of the mirror, which is 4 meters in diameter and weighs 4 tons, will be completed within this year, and said, “With the different technologies we have added to this telescope, it will be possible to get higher resolution images than you can get from the Hubble Telescope. It will be able to observe infrared, like the James Webb Telescope. The next space exploration may come from this telescope, Erzurum.” said.
500 TENT, 10 THOUSAND VISITORS
Aiming to increase the interest of young people in space with the vision of the National Space Program, 71 people from 800 provinces applied for participation in the Erzurum Observation Event, and 600 participants were selected by lot. Nearly 500 camping tents were set up in the observation area. During the event, approximately 10 thousand people entered the area. As in the previous Diyarbakir and Van events, students, young people, families and women showed great interest in the public section in Erzurum. Participants from all over Turkey explored the depths of space for three days, despite the cold temperatures below zero at night in a time of record heat throughout the country. Moon, sun, planets and stars were observed in 30 telescopes and 5 different observation stations established by TÜBİTAK's expert teams. More than 3 celestial objects were viewed during 2 days and 20 nights, and over 10 hours of sky narration was given.
ACADEMIC SOHBETFROM THE KITES TO THE KITE FESTIVAL
In the event tent, which was set up as a conference hall, the scientists introduced the TUG (TÜBİTAK National Observatory) in Antalya and the DAG, which is still being installed in Erzurum. During the observation activity, various workshops, academic sohbetDifferent activities such as telescope observations, experiments were carried out. On the other hand, marbling and calligraphy art, music, street theater, kite festival and book reading activities were held at the stands set up in the event area in Konaklı Ski Center. Sports activities such as arm wrestling, fluor curling, darts, traditional archery and forgotten children's games were also held.
LAST STOP WILL BE ANTALYA
The Ministry of Industry and Technology brings together sky enthusiasts of all ages by spreading the TÜBİTAK National Sky Observation Event, which was first initiated by TÜBİTAK Science and Technical Journal in 1998 and held in Antalya Saklıkent, to different cities of Anatolia. Inspired by Turgut Uyar's poem, the sky observation events organized with the motto “Looking at the Sky Stop” will make their finals in Antalya on August 18-21, after Diyarbakır, Van and Erzurum.
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