Throughout the Hot Week, Emails were sent to all participants with an Internet address, by means of a mass-emailing procedure. They served to keep the groups updated about various developements at regular intervals.
For the benefit of those groups who for one reason or another were unable to receive these mailings (we estimate about 100 out of the 720 participating), we reproduce here the complete text of the messages.
This will also serve as a record of this part of the Astronomy On-Line project. This file will be updated at the end of Friday, November 22, with the mailings sent during that day.
All files were in simple ASCII to facilitate transmission and are reproduced in orginal below.
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, You may be surprised to receive this email, but since we have a list with email addresses of all participating groups, we decided to send this message in order to inform you about a few things which are going to happen on Astronomy On-line within the next day. At the same time, this will also help us to test if the email addresses stored in the Astronomy On-line database are correct. At this moment, we are slightly behind schedule due to some computer problems at ESO, but we hope to catch up within the next hours. The most recent major addition was the information about the Final Event in which we hope all groups will decide to participate. It is about the determination of geographical latitude, and you will find interesting and amusing information about how you can determine the altitude of the Polar Star. For those groups which live south of the equator and who can therefore not make such a measurement, there are other ways described. Please be sure to check on the Final Event. You may access it directly from the front page. By the way, did you like the new design? Next follows a number of interesting links which will be announced in a Newspaper article later this evening. The "Light Pollution" Collaborative Project will be activated tomorrow, November 19, and we hope that also here, many groups will participate. It will be a quite simple project, and we think that also rather inexperienced observers will be able to make good measurements. We will send you another email tomorrow with the continuation, including new projects within "Try Your Skills". We hope you enjoy Astronomy On-line. International Steering Committee, Astronomy On-line
Dear participants, we are now closing after a hectic day here at ESO. We will be back tomorrow morning and hope that you will find time to look at the various new items on the Astronomy On-Line pages. Please note that: - more Observing Programmes are displayed - it is expected that the first will be carried out tonight - you may find more information tomorrow - fine auroral images now coming from Svalbard (Newspaper no. 11) - many more Professionals in several countries are ready to talk to you - Final Event is available - 26 email addresses were found to be faulty during the first mass e-mailing. We will try to fix them, as far as possible. Those which cannot be easily fixed will be displayed tomorrow in the Newspaper in the hope that those groups let us know the correct email addresses Kind regards, Richard West and Michael Naumann
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, At the beginning of the second day in the "Hot Week", we should like to inform you about the present activities. First of all, you will be happy to learn that we have now placed the Collaborative Project on Light Pollution on the Web. We very much hope that all groups will find an opportunity to make the indicated observations although the weather in Europe at this moment may not be too good in many places. For this reason, please note that the deadline of submitting the observational data (the faintest magnitude which your group is able to see with the unaided eye) is Thursday, November 21, 20:00 UT. Following this, we shall compile the data and will present the provisional result on the last day of the "Hot Week" that is Friday, November 22. A total of 27 observing proposals have been accepted until now and have been allocated to various telescopes. All of this is indicated on the corresponding page (schedule).The observations will start at several telescopes tonight and we hope to be able to show all groups the first images obtained during the Astronomy On-line observations by tomorrow. You will also note that many professional astronomers and teachers in several countries have agreed to be available within "Talk to the Professionals". We strongly recommend that this opportunity to learn more about the subjects of your interest directly from those involved. Do not forget to look at the articles in today's Newspaper which will appear later this evening. There will be several interesting news and links to interesting places. With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Newspaper no. 12 is now available on the Web with four articles. Two more will follow a little later this evening, with interesting links and information about Occultation Observations (and with a suggestion that your group becomes active in this field, also after the current phase of Astronomy On-Line is over). We have also just placed another "Try Your Skills" in the easy (basic) category on the Web. Have fun! With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, The next two articles for Newspaper no. 12 are now available on the Web. And there are more names in the "Talk to the Astronomers" Shop! Have fun! With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Here are a few remarks, just after the end of the six-hour period on Day 2 of the Hot Week. The observations have started. From Wendelstein we have received a report that the weather is not so good and the windspeed is too high, but it may improve later on. The weather in Chile should be good. We hope to display the first images tomorrow when we have learned about the results at the participating observatories. Note that one more "Try Your Skills" is available (precession of the Earth's axis). And a last feature of today - try to access: http://login.dknet.dk/~ags/hb01.html to see some nice pictures of Comet Hale-Bopp! We meet again tomorrow. With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, before we start the 3rd Day, we would like to inform you that observations were made at several observatories. Unfortunately, there were clouds over others. You will see a full report in about 2 hours' time in today's issue of the Newspaper. Meanwhile, if you want to see some images from Slovenia, try the two URL addresses indicated in this message from Herman Mikuz: "We obtained some data early this evening during the 1-hour gap in clouds. Full information and data files are available at: http://www.fiz.uni-lj.si/astro/comets/aol/propos.html The main page of AOL-Crni Vrh Observatory, located at http://www.fiz.uni-lj.si/astro/comets/aol/index.html was also updated." With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, a full report about the observations last night, with the links to the sites with the images, has now been published in today's Newspaper. There are 6 articles available at this moment - more will follow! Note also the very impressive file with results from the 3-D method applied to the solar eclipse observations, described in another article. Do not forget to read about the running projects and the associated deadlines! And don't miss them! With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, we have just put this night's observing programmes on-line, for each of the participating observatories. You will find them under "Observation" and then "Schedule". Images from last night will become available later on the ESO Website. Meanwhile, please use the links to the observatories indicated in the Newspaper article today (13-01) or directly from the "Schedule" page. With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Images from last night are now available on the ESO Website. They may be accessed from article no. 7 in Newspaper no. 13 of today. Beware that these GIF-files are rather big, about 400 kbyte. With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Images from last night are now available on the ESO Website. They may be accessed from article no. 7 in Newspaper no. 13 of today. We now also have these files as JPEG; they are about 40-60k and therefore much easier to access! Two new `Try your Skills' are available - see Newspaper article no. 8. We also have a new link to images at the COAA observatory in Portugal: http://www.algarvenet.pt/coaa/results.htm With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Are you still there? The main period of Day 3 has ended and we have the impression that there have been many activities today by Astronomy On-Line groups. This is particularly felt by the large number of questions posed to the 'professionals' in many countries. We hope that there will be new and fine observations to report tomorrow morning. By the way, do you know this Web address: http://www.cs.vu.nl/%7Egerben/news.html This is the gateway to the Websites of the world's leading newspapers. Maybe you will find the electronic version of your favorite newspaper - in your own language - there? With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Hello and Good Morning (to those of you who are located in Europe)! Are you ready for the continuing activities of Astronomy On-Line? Today we enter the 3rd and most intense phase! Be prepared! You will be glad to hear that also this night, observations were performed for Astronomy On-Line. We have published a provisional report by the astronomer-observer at at the La Silla observatory in Chile, James Brewer, in today's Newspaper. More details about the observations, including sample images, will become available in a few hours on the Web. With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, The Newspaper of today has just been published and contains a lot of interesting information from the most diverse areas of astronomy and other subjects! Read about the observations which were obtained last night and also a letter from one of the observers. There are many new links indicated, in particular about books and earthquakes! Don't forget to send in your opinion about Astronomy On-line - the evaluation has just started! Explore two new ways of communicating with other participants, the Hypernews and the Whiteboard. And finally: think about contributing to the Newsletter issue of tomorrow, the last day during the 'Hot Week'! With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, You will now find information about the latest observing proposals to be accepted at the ESO Website. It may take a little time before they will be mirrored to the other Astronomy On-Line Websites in other countries. The observing schedule for tonight is also ready - please note that not all telescopes are available anymore. Here is also an overview of the status of the individual programmes. We must now close for new proposals. The Observing Programmes Committee, headed by ESO-astronomer Fernando Comeron, has done a great job and we have been lucky that many of the programmes could be carried out, despite the rather bad weather at many observatories. The observers have greatly contributed to this success and we would like to thank them for their very dedicated efforts! Images from last night will become available within the next hour. Remember that the results for the `Final Event' must soon be received - the deadline is in just some minutes! But don't worry - we will include your results, even if they come a little later this evening... With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, some of us have started to talk to each other via the Whiteboard in the Communication's Shop. We are in the Talk to Astronomers' room. Do join us if you are able to! With kind regards, Richard West (ESO) Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, you will now find images from La Silla obtained last night on the ESO site: http://www.eso.org/astronomyonline/market/newspaper/news1410.html We have also received this interesting news from Portugal: I think our server has started to work again, so your customers for P9 can get our efforts at astrometric images of the asteroids. Just for fun, I put movies of each asteroid on the page. Regards, Bev M Ewen-Smith - C O A A Centro de Observacao Astronomica no Algarve, Poio, 8500 Portimao, Portugal N 37 11 29.1 W 008 35 57.1 Tel:082 471180 Intl:00 351 82 471180 Fax:082 471516 Intl:00 351 82 471516 Email:coaa@mail.telepac.pt WWW http://www.algarvenet.pt/coaa/ With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, Today is the last day of the Hot Week and some of the Astronomy On-Line activities will be concerned with the `winding-up' of various projects. We shall keep you informed via Mass Emailings, but please also have a look at the Websites at regular intervals to see if something nes has appeared. The first four articles of Newspaper 15 have appeared at the ESO site. Please note, in particular, that we expect to announce the outcome of these projects, as follows: Final Event Friday November 22, at 16:00 UT Best Website Friday November 22, at 17:00 UT Light Pollution Friday November 22, at 18:00 UT Note also the possibility to chat via the Whiteboard. We hope to meet some of you there later tonight. The Newspaper will be updated regularly as we receive reports from the various groups this evening. So enjoy this last day of the Hot Week! You may read more about the continuation of Astronomy On-Line in the EAAE President's address and also another article in this issue of the Newspaper. With kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, It is there! Have a look on the results from the Final Event, now described in an article in Newspaper no. 15. Next to come: Best Website Friday November 22, at 17:00 UT Light Pollution Friday November 22, at 18:00 UT The Newspaper will be updated regularly as we receive reports from the various groups this evening; the first four are in place - from Luxembourg, Denmark and Bulgaria. Many more images from La Silla are about to go online. You will access them from another Newspaper article in 30 minutes. International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, And now you may learn which groups had the best Homepages! Take a look at the article in Newspaper no. 15 and see if you won! Next to come this evening: Light Pollution Friday November 22, at 18:00 UT Astronomy On-Line Certificate will be ready for you: Friday November 22, at 19:30 UT The images from La Silla are now online. Minor planes and Saturn. Check the Newspaper. New information about the Leonid Meteors will also follow soon (with picture!). International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, The report about Light Pollution has been put on the Web. Look at the Newspaper. Within 30 minutes from now, we also expect to put more reports from the groups on the Web. There are two with nice images from Varna in Bulgaria. Soon , the Astronomy On-Line Certificate will be ready for you. New information about the Leonid Meteors will also follow soon (with picture!). Later this evening, you will hear about the immediate continuation of some of the areas of Astronomy On-Line. Kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, More items of today's Newspaper: Two new fine reports from Bulgaria about Observing Programmes nos. 6 (Solar Activity) and 21 (Hale-Bopp). Each with two images. New information about the Leonid Meteors is available with splendid photo of bright fireball (bolide)! Soon, the Astronomy On-Line Certificate will be ready for you to take. Later this evening, you will hear about the immediate continuation of some of the areas of Astronomy On-Line. Kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants, More items of today's Newspaper (now there are 13; one more to come): The Astronomy On-Line Certificate is ready: http://www.eso.org/astronomyonline/market/newspaper/news1512.html About the continuation of Astronomy On-Line: http://www.eso.org/astronomyonline/market/newspaper/news1502.html Goodbye from ESO: http://www.eso.org/astronomyonline/market/newspaper/news1503.html There will be one more Mass Mailing within the next hour. And that will be the last one. Kind regards, International Steering Committee Astronomy On-line
Dear Astronomy On-line participants,
This is it - the Hot Week of Astronomy On-Line is over and we are
closing down for today.
It was a great feeling to be with you, to answer your questions and to
sense your interest. We hope you enjoyed it and we look forward to see
you again on the Web in the coming weeks and months. As you see from
the Newspaper article, some activities will carry on and you are of
course welcome to use the Astronomy On-Line material as much as you
like.
Together we have carried through a unique project. It will now be very
interesting to learn about the results from the Questionnaire. Do not
forget to send in your own evaluation before November 26!
Do not forget to get your Certificate.
All the best, to all the 5000 of you!
Kind regards,
International Steering Committee
Astronomy On-line
PS. A final item has been added to the Newspaper ("Impressions").
ESO