I would like to share with everyone the achievements of the Bangalore Astronomical Society (BAS) during  the Galilean Nights IYA project through sidewalk astronomy in Bangalore.

As part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 Cornerstone Project, Galilean Nights, BAS organized 30 nonstop sidewalk astronomy nights, events held at various places in Bangalore during the month of October. The Volunteers of BAS set the telescopes on the streets in most areas of Bangalore, pointing the wonders that Italian astronomer Galileo observed 400 years ago, The Moon and Jupiter.

On each and every of the thirty nights, BAS Volunteers shared their knowledge and enthusiasm for space by encouraging more than 10,200 people to look through a telescope. Of course, none of this would have been posible without the BAS Volunteers (list below) giving up their time and sharing their telescopes. The Teamwork, Passion for Astronomy and Commitment for BAS was evident !

This resulted in hundreds of people being able to look at the Moon and Jupiter through a telescope every single night and most were amazed at the view of their Universe. Everyone enjoyed the experience, for most of the people it was the first time seeing Jupiter through a telescope.

This event has been a great experience for every volunteer in learning the skills of planning, organizing, presenting and facing the general public

The 30 days non stop Sidewalk Astronomy celebrations by the voluntary group, the Bangalore Astronomical Society, seems relatively unique in the way purely voluntary efforts by a group of city based amateur astronomers spread telescope viewing to so many corners of the city in a sustained month long effort.
The activity speaks volumes for the love that the volunteers have for astronomy, and their zeal to share this love, their knowledge, and skills, with everyone they come across on the streets.

Rathnasree, Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi, India

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bangalore-will-see-stars-this-october_1293283

   2. Deccan Chronicle, September 23rd, 2009   

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/bengaluru/plan-date-stars-october-054

   3. Citizen Matters, 13 Oct 2009   

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/1418--sky-watch-bangalore--astronomical--society

   4. Citizen Matters, 10Oct 2009   

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/docs/de/citizenmatters_2009oct10-de.pdf

   5. Prajavani Kannada Daily, 26 oct 2009
   6. Sidewalk Astronomers Newsletters    

http://www.sidewalkastronomers.us/id197.html

Telescope

1. 2 inch Refractor
2. 3 inch Refractor
3. 3 inch Refractor
4. 4 inch Reflector Alt Atz mount
5. 4 inch Reflector Alt Atz mount
6. 4 inch Reflector Equ mount
7. 6 inch Reflector Dob mount
8. 6 inch Reflector Dob mount
9. 6 inch Reflector Equ Mount
10. 8 inch Reflector Equ Mount
11. 8 inch Reflector Equ Mount
12. 14 inch LX200- Meade GOTO

Places organized:

1. Forum Mall
2. Hebbal Kempapura
3. Jayanagar
4. Malleshwaram
5. Sankey Tank Lake
6. Hebbal Kempapura
7. Devaiah Park
8. Jayadeva Flyover, JP Nagar
9. Mariyappana palya Park, Malleshwaram
10. Shopper's Stop, Bannerghatta Road, J.P Nagar 3rd Phase
11. Planetarium - Know your stars
12. Purva Riverea, Marathalli
13. J P Nagar 2nd phase - Dhanavantari park
14. Shalini Ground, Jayanagar 5th Blk
15. Sahakaranagar main road.
16. R.T Nagar
17. Ram Madir Ground - Rajajinagar
18. Malleshwaram
19. P&T colony, Near R T Nagar
20. Hebbal Kempapura
21. BTM Layout (Udupi Garden junction)
22. J P Nagar 2nd Phase
23. RR Nagar complex area
24. IIAP Campus
25. Lalbagh / Galilean Nights
26. Aditi International School
27. Sampige Park, Malleshwaram
28. RajaRajeshwari Nagar park, beside Police Station
29. Pavitra College, Yeshwanthpuram
30. Vivekavardini School, Navrang.
31. Near Kadambas Hotel, opposite Maruthi Mandir, Vijayanagar
32. Adarsha College RT Nagar
33. amrrita school of engineering
34. Rajajinagar
35. Sultanpalya
36. Mantri
37. Yelhanka
38. Malleshwarm main road.
39. Jayanagar

Volunteer Participated :

1. Naveen Nanjundappa
2. Vivek Y
3. Achyut
4. Viswakeerthy
5. Keerthy kiran
6. Suma rao
7. Pravin S.
8. Alex
9. Ravi Babu
10. Shwetha Sharma.
11. Akaash
12. Shyam,
13. Shashank
14. Sharanu
15. Amar Sharma
16. Aparna
17. Madan
18. Sunil G
19. Sudarshan
20. Parag Kulkarni,
21. Sunil G R.
22. Girish Kumar
23. Gautham G Amberkar
24. Akarsh
25. Pavan K
26. Utkarsh
27. Narasimhamurthy
28. Hari
29. Inayath
30. Shiva
31. Saish
32. Mohan Kumar
33. Purushothama