Antalya Saklıkent was the last stop of this year's Sky Observation Events, where TÜBİTAK brought together sky enthusiasts of all ages. Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank opened the event, which started at the TUBITAK National Observatory (TUG), Turkey's largest active observatory and equipped with the most equipped telescopes.
Stating that a Turkish citizen to be selected will go to the International Space Station to carry out scientific activities, Minister Varank said, "Let's see who will proudly represent our country at the international space station, who will carry our flag to the International Space Station first? Hopefully, before the end of this year, we will share with the public our first citizen who will go into space."
Minister Varank noted that they will open the Togg factory on October 29, and that they will unload the first mass production vehicles from the production line, “We are getting ready to make history with Togg in the automotive industry. We are firmly on our way to becoming a new center in the changing and transforming automotive industry with this innately electric technological vehicle.” he said.
IN TUBITAK COORDINATION
The Sky Observation Event, which was first organized by Bilim Teknik Magazine in Antalya Saklıkent in 1998, is being held this year under the auspices of the ministries of Industry and Technology, Youth and Sports, Culture and Tourism, under the coordination of TÜBİTAK.
THIS YEAR'S 4TH STOP
The 9th of the sky observation events held in Zerzevan Castle / Diyarbakır on 12-3 June, in Van on 5-22 July and in Erzurum on 24-4 July, will be held in Antalya Saklıkent, Antalya Governorship, Kepez Municipality. , Akdeniz University, Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), Antalya OIZ, Adana Haci Sabanci OIZ, Gaziantep OIZ, Mersin Tarsus OIZ, PAKOP Plastik Specialized OIZ and Covered İkitelli 2 OIZ Association and ECA – SEREL.
At the opening of the event, besides Minister Varank, Antalya Governor Ersin Yazıcı, AK Party Antalya MPs Atay Uslu, Kemal Çelik and Tuba Vural Çokal, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of Akdeniz University Prof. Dr. Missing Özkan, Kepez Mayor Hakan Tütüncü and many guests took part.
WE MISSED SAKLIKENT
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Varank reminded that the observation event could not be held for 2 years due to the pandemic and forest fires, and said, “I understand from the enthusiasm and excitement I saw, in fact, we all missed looking at the sky in Saklıkent. This is a very special place that hosted the first observing event in our country. The science and technology torch you lit here with sky enthusiasts has now spread to many cities of Anatolia.”
TELESCOPIC INSTEAD OF KALASHNIKOF
Emphasizing that after the sky observation event in Diyarbakir, they held a sky observation event in Van, in the place used by the terrorist organization to recruit personnel for the mountain, Minister Varank said, “While someone hands the youth with Kalashnikovs and send them to death on the mountain, we direct our children to space and science by giving them telescopes. I know that these words of mine make some people quite uncomfortable. But I will continue to say and shout this truth everywhere. Because we will eradicate all traces of terrorism from everywhere, just as we have eradicated terrorism. Those regions will no longer be remembered with blood and tears, but with science and technology.”
EUROPE'S LARGEST TELESCOPE
Minister Varank stated that the third of the observation activities after Van was held in Erzurum this year, and said, “The name of Erzurum will be heard more often in space studies in the near future. Because with a huge investment we have made, we are installing Europe's largest telescope in its field at the Eastern Anatolia Observatory, which we built in Erzurum. It will be a telescope that can compete with the Hubble telescope with its high resolution and technology. Thus, hopefully, works that will make a worldwide impact will be signed in Erzurum.”
CLOSE TO 500 PROJECTS
Emphasizing that more than 30 thousand people attended the sky observation events held in Diyarbakır, Van and Erzurum, Minister Varank said, regarding the events in Antalya, “We have 4 fully automatic optical telescopes, two of which are robotic, in the observatory. Many discoveries were made here with nearly 500 national and international observation projects. You will be able to visit these telescopes. You will be able to examine the telescope in which we examine the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter and Sun. We have events that continue throughout the day, not just at night. 4 days full of space and astronomy are waiting for you.” he said.
FULL INDEPENDENT TURKEY
Underlining that a country's independence is equivalent to its technological and economic independence, Varank said, "At this point, we have put forward our vision of a national technology move under the leadership of our President to build a fully independent Turkey. This vision is a step towards making Turkey a global base in technology production. It is the whole of the policies we put forward from the defense industry to the automotive industry, from space science to software technologies.”
IT IS COMING OFF THE PRODUCTION BELT ON OCTOBER 29
Stating that Turkey's achievements in the defense industry are known, Varank said, “We are now able to develop many critical technologies, from Bayraktar to TCG Anadolu ship and national combat aircraft, with our domestic and national resources. The UAVs we produce have already begun to change the fate of wars. We are getting ready to make history with Togg in the automotive industry. We are firmly on the way to become a new center in the changing and transforming automotive industry with this innately electric technological vehicle. On October 29, we will open the Togg factory and bring the first mass production vehicles off the production line. By realizing a 100-year-old dream on the anniversary of the foundation of our Republic, we will once again show the whole world what our people can achieve when they actually believe.” he said.
WHO WILL GO TO SPACE?
Explaining that the National Space Program continues without slowing down and that the national observation satellite IMECE will be launched into its orbit at the beginning of 2023, Varank said, “We will send a Turkish citizen to be selected to the International Space Station for 10 days to carry out scientific activities. The selection process here continues with great care and there are volunteers in this community who want to go there with all their heart. Let's see who will proudly represent our country on the International Space Station, who will carry our flag to the International Space Station first? We follow these processes with enthusiasm. Hopefully, before the end of this period, we will share with the public our first citizen who will go into space."
2023 WILL BE THE YEAR OF SPACE
TÜBİTAK President Mandal stated that two satellites will be launched into space under the coordination of TÜBİTAK on the 100th anniversary of the Republic and said, “Our observation satellite İMECE, which is realized under our domestic and national coordination, and our communication satellite TÜRKSAT 6A. We are entering the year 2023 very prepared. The year 2023 will be a year in which Turkey says I am now in space.” At the opening ceremony, Antalya Governor Ersin Yazıcı and Kepez Mayor Hakan Tütüncü gave speeches.
30 TELESCOPES AND 5 OBSERVATION STATIONS
Astronomy enthusiasts from all over Turkey will have the opportunity to watch the sky under the guidance of 21 telescopes and 2 astronomers at 500 observation stations established in Saklıkent, at an altitude of 5 meters, until August 30.
BUY YOUR TENT AND COME
Kepez Municipality has invited space enthusiasts to the program with the slogan "Take your tent and come too" as of August 19th. The event will be open to the public from the second day.
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