365 Days of Astronomy

In 2008, astronomer Pamela Gay initiated brainstorming via e-mail on possible "new media" programs for 2009, the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). The discussion included Michael Koppelman from Slacker Astronomy, Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy, and others involved in the IYA. Their ideas were distilled down into the 365 Days Of Astronomy podcast. The podcast was to publish one episode per day over the entire year of 2009 and was originally planned to only run for that year.{{cite web|title=Cosmic Revelers Ring in 2009|url=http://www.photonics.com/Article.aspx?AID=35873|publisher=Photonics Media|access-date=12 September 2012}}{{cite web|title=365 Days of Astronomy: About|date=12 September 2008 |url=http://365daysofastronomy.org/about/|publisher=365 Days of Astronomy|access-date=12 September 2012}}{{cite web|last=Gay|first=Pamela|author-link=Pamela L. Gay|title=365 Days of Astronomy to Continue in 2010!|url=http://365daysofastronomy.org/2009/12/04/365-days-of-astronomy-to-continue-in-2010/|publisher=365 Days of Astronomy|access-date=28 May 2010|author2=Nancy Atkinson|date=December 4, 2010}}{{cite web|title=365 Days of Astronomy Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/365daysofAstro|access-date=29 Feb 2012}}

In 2009, 365 Days of Astronomy released an episode with Ray Bradbury as a guest. During the podcast he spoke about one of his books, The Martian Chronicles, and said "We didn't think we could do it, and we did it! It was quite amazing" referring to the crewed moon launches.{{Cite web|date=6 June 2012|author=Clara Moskowitz|author-link=Clara Moskowitz|title=Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction Icon and Author, Dies at 91|url=https://www.space.com/16029-ray-bradbury-science-fiction-icon-obit.html|access-date=2021-05-14|website=Space.com |language=en}}

In 2013, the show evolved to add video. In 2015, it joined the UNESCO International Year of Light.{{cite web | url=https://cosmoquest.org/x/for-press/the-365-days-of-astronomy-podcast-celebrates-the-international-year-of-light-2015/ | title=The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast Celebrates the International Year of Light 2015! | publisher=CosmoQuest | date=April 4, 2014 | access-date=March 22, 2018}}

In 2017, 365 Days of Astronomy became a production of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, when the CosmoQuest grant moved to the ASP and Pamela Gay became the Director of Technology and Citizen Science at the ASP.{{cite web | url=https://www.astrosociety.org/about-us/asp-staff-bios/#pamela | title=Pamela Gay, Director of Technology & Citizen Science, CosmoQuest, St. Louis | date=March 5, 2017 | access-date=March 22, 2018}}{{cite web | url=https://cosmoquest.org/x/partner-institutions/ | title=Partner Institutions | publisher=CosmoQuest | date=December 7, 2017 | access-date=March 22, 2018}}

The intention is for individuals, schools, companies, and other organizations to record 5 to 10 minutes of audio for each episode. Contributors sign up for a particular day or for up to twelve episodes: one per month.{{cite journal | bibcode=2009AAS...21346507K | title=The IYA 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast | author=Koppelman, Michael | journal=Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society | year=2009 | volume=41 | pages=412}} Contributors include both professional and amateur astronomers as well as other scientists, historians, and others with an interest in astronomy. In the first three years of the project, contributors from every continent except Antarctica submitted episodes. Each episode has a common intro and outro that ties it to the overall theme. Avivah Yamani, project manager through 2012, was based in southeast Asia and expressed desire to encourage more diverse participants.{{cite web | url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35398 | title=365 Days of Astronomy Podcast to Continue in 2012 | publisher=SpaceRef Interactive Inc. | date=November 30, 2011 | access-date=August 6, 2012}}

The podcast's theme song, "Far", was written and recorded by George Hrab.{{cite web | url=http://www.csicop.org/sb/show/tripping_on_the_trebuchet_an_interview_with_george_hrab/ | title=Tripping on the Trebuchet: An Interview with George Hrab | publisher=Committee for Skeptical INquiry | work=Skeptical Briefs | date=Spring 2011 | access-date=August 6, 2012}} A longer version of the song is available on his album Trebuchet, which was released in June 2010.

Contributors have included:

• Astronomy Cast
• Slacker Astronomy
• Awesome Astronomy
• Columbia University Astronomy
• Doug Ellison of Unmannedspaceflight.com
• Stuart Lowe of the Jodcast
• Ed Sunder of Flintstone Stargazing
• Tavi Greiner and Rob Keown of A Sky Full of Stars
• The Planetary Society's Planetary Radio{{cite web|title=Watching science on the Web|url=http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2009/06/02/4350826-watching-science-on-the-web|work=Cosmic Log|publisher=NBCNews.com|access-date=12 September 2012}}

All of the episodes are archived and can be accessed at any time. The variety of astronomy-related topics and 5 to 10-minute run-time makes the podcast an excellent learning and outreach resource for various venues including star parties, classrooms, home-school, drive-time, or while working at the computer. Topics range from "Why Stargazing is Cool" to "Dark Matter and Dark Energy" to "Will the World End in 2012?".

In 2009, the 365 Days of Astronomy won a Parsec Award for Best Infotainment Podcast. It was one of five finalists and 50 nominees for the award that year.{{cite web|last=Atkinson|first=Nancy|title=365 Days of Astronomy Podcast Wins Award|date=8 September 2009 |url=http://www.universetoday.com/39540/365-days-astronomy-podcast-wins-award/|publisher=Universe Today|access-date=12 September 2012}} The award was accepted by George Hrab at the 2009 Dragon*Con convention.{{cite press release | url=http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/454/ | title=365 Days of Astronomy Podcast Wins Prestigious Parsec Award | publisher=The International Year of Astronomy | date=September 9, 2009 | access-date=August 6, 2012}}

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• {{Official website|http://365daysofastronomy.org/}}

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Category:Audio podcasts

Category:Science podcasts

Category:Works about astronomy

Category:2009 podcast debuts

Category:2009 establishments in Illinois

Category:American podcasts