Stargazing in Iran

Hi everybody,



Just picked this off Yahoo.





By Christian Oliver Fri Oct 14, 8:41 AM ET

TEHRAN (Reuters) - People in the southern Iranian town of Saadat Shahr make
sure not to miss Friday prayers.


How else will they get the imam's comprehensive update on which stars,
nebulae and meteor showers will burn brightest in the following week's night
sky?

Saadat Shahr, 390 miles south of Tehran, has gone stargazing-crazy,
reflecting a national passion that has seen new members flocking to
astronomy clubs across the Islamic Republic to devour information about what
lies above.

Women in Saadat Shahr have even sold their jewelry to help science teacher
Asghar Kabiri realize his dream of building an observatory.

"School janitors and teachers all paid a small share of their salaries to
help build the observatory. Now it has become the pride of the town," Kabiri
told Reuters by telephone.

"Astronomy is a divine science and is encouraged in Islam. So in a small,
traditional community like Saadat Shahr, people contribute to our activities
just as they would chip in to build a mosque," he added.

The Koran often cites natural and celestial phenomena as proofs for the
existence of God. The imam in Saadat Shahr has tuned into the local
obsession and uses the weekly prayers to talk about what's coming up in the
skies during the days ahead.

"The townspeople even allow their daughters to stay out at night if they
know they are going stargazing," Kabiri said.

In rural

Iran, many people still respect the strict Islamic code which encourages
segregation of the sexes and obliges women to cover their hair and wear
long, loose-fitting dresses.

There is further proof of the extraordinary importance of stargazing in
Saadat Shahr: If there is some important astronomy to be done, Kabiri just
gets the authorities to cut the town's electricity -- all the better to see
the skies.

ESCAPE TO THE STARS

Babak Tafreshi, editor of the Nojum astronomy magazine, has noticed
subscriptions increasing and amateur clubs attracting more members. At the
time of eclipses and shuttle launches, Nojum will run off 10,000 copies.

Tafreshi's television show has the highest viewer figures on Iran's Channel
Four and he is sometimes approached by fans on the streets of Tehran.

"They say they like the show because it is not connected with any problems
in society, politics or religion," he said.

Nojum was deluged with telephone calls last year when panicky Tehranis,
observing the peculiar position of Venus, feared a flying saucer was
prowling overhead.

U.S. amateur astronomer Mike Simmons, a regular visitor to Iran, said
astronomy had a strong historical resonance for Iranians.

"They meet at historical sites. Iranians feel strongly connected to their
past and I have noticed they sense that connection ... through astronomy,"
he said.

Tafreshi said there was a profound sense of this continuity among amateurs
who meet at the observatory in northeastern Nishapur, home to the medieval
poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam.

But despite this fascination with the past, most of Iran's astronomers are
the faces of the futu They have an average age of 19 and are 60 percent
female, Tafreshi said, adding that the mingling of young men and women on
nocturnal outings was one of the few things that could get astronomy clubs
into trouble.

"In the United States most astronomers are middle-aged and very few are
women," Simmons said.

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

Some 30 of Iran's enthusiastic young female astronomers gathered in the
silver dome of the Zafaranieh Observatory in northern Tehran to identify
lunar craters.

Fariba Yazdani, director of the observatory, said each week up to 280 young
people would voluntarily come to observatory classes, both theoretical and
practical.

"They tend to be very gifted children," she said. "The ones for whom books
are not enough, the ones who need a glimpse of the infinite."

The girls noisily jostled for a look through the telescope. Much of their
banter hinged on the double meaning of the Persian word "moon," which also
poetically refers to a beautiful girl.

"I cannot see a thing. Where is the moon?" said one girl, squinting through
the telescope.

"I think you will find she is right here," said another haughtily,
unleashing a wave of titters.

Arezu Khani, 17, said she was addicted.

"It is about more than just observing. The more you learn about the theory
just makes you even more curious."

(Additional reporting by Alireza Ronaghi)

When the Iranian citizens decide that it isn't
an effective policy to promote Terrorism, then
I and many other American citizens will care.

Electing a fundamentalist Iranian president isn't my
idea of promoting good relations with the west it's just
the opposite.

P. Edward Murray wrote:

Electing a fundamentalist Iranian president isn't my
idea of promoting good relations with the west it's just
the opposite.

You're a funny man. I suppose your point is that achieved by
substituting Iranian-American and west-east in the above.

Back on subject - a while town agreeing to turn the lights out fr
astronomy is wonderful, ANYWHERE.

On 14 Oct 2005 23:14:22 -0700, P. Edward Murray wrote:

When the Iranian citizens decide that it isn't
an effective policy to promote Terrorism, then
I and many other American citizens will care.

I have been to Iran many times and met thousands of Iranians (including a
meeting with outgoing president Khatami last month in Tehran). I have
never met an Iranian citizen who promotes, supports or condones terrorism.
And I know "many other American citizens" who do care.

Electing a fundamentalist Iranian president isn't my
idea of promoting good relations with the west it's just
the opposite.

The leaders of the governments in many of our allies are far more
fundamentalist, both Muslim and Jewish. And the US re-elected a
fundamentalist Christian president. Is depth of religious belief the
proper criterion for judgement? Note that the reformist Khatami was a
cleric but the current president is not. He is, however, a strong
nationalist, which is what got him elected. Again, a trait he has in
common with the current US president.

I don't think you're familiar with the polcies of the new president. There
aren't just two categories -- reform or fundamentalist. While Ahmedinejad
is not the reformist that Khatami was, he's not close to the fundamentalist
level of many other candidates who ran and lost. Or those who served
before Khatami did. His election was largely a nationalist backlash to
western countries' unfair policies towards Iran. Besides, whatever polcies
the government may have regarding supporting organizations that engage in
terrorism will not change with the change of president. He's not the one
making those decisions; it's the unelected government out of the spotlight
that would make those decisions. That's something the Iranian voters know
so their vote doesn't reflect their feelings about those policies.

Mike Simmons

"P. Edward Murray" wrote in message oups.com...
When the Iranian citizens decide that it isn't
an effective policy to promote Terrorism, then
I and many other American citizens will care.

Electing a fundamentalist Iranian president isn't my
idea of promoting good relations with the west it's just
the opposite.

I normally don't like to promote OT by responding to
this kind of alt.*.politics post but ...
The President of the U.S. is an Evangelical;
a fundementalist form of Protestantism.

So I guess you're right. He's done plenty to promote
strained relations with the west if you think of the
west as Europe, Canada and parts of Latin America.

--
Hilton Evans
---------------------------------------------------------------
Lon -71° 04' 35.3"
Lat +42° 11' 06.7"
---------------------------------------------------------------
Webcam Astroimaging
http://home.earthlink.net/~hiltoneva...troimaging.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
ChemPen Chemical Structure Software
http://www.chempensoftware.com

"In the United States most astronomers are middle-aged and very few are
women," Simmons said.


The fact that amateur astronomy, at least in the US, is dominated by
middle-aged men continues to disappointing me. At our club's public events,
it is most often women who hang around the longest and who seem to enjoy
observing and talking about whatever we are looking at. I have also noticed
that it is most often women who want to know how it is that we find stuff,
and enjoy being shown with the laser where, for instance, M13 is and how to
navigate to it. However, these encounters don't translate into members, and
with a few exceptions our club's meetings are attended by the same aging
males.

My two sons are the only regularly attending young folks, and they are
greatly enjoyed at least in part because they are young and different. A
dozen - or how about one - young women would be tremendous, but I don't know
what it would take to make it happen where we are. Wouldn't it be great to
observe with these young Iranian women?

Dennis

Interesting, this for me this always brings back painful and bitter
memories.
I am Armenian, born in Iran, educated in Teheran University, came to
Houston in 1963 to go to college, became a citizen and of course stayed
here.
Unless someone can prove otherwise, I consider myself the first amateur
astronomer from that country, made a 6" reflector but my preferred
instrument was a 2.125" refractor that I assembled with a Jeagers
doublet objective.
Without getting into politics, the region had an immensly rich
astronomy heritage prior to the arrival of Islam, when Islam became the
official religion a black veil was pulled over everything including
astronomy.
I was always faced with great deal of suspicion every time that I was
seen with that refractor, what is that guy doing? is he watching our
women? is he spying? Why is he pointing that thing toward that
building? Is he trying to read some secret documents thru that window
and give it to our enemies?
This effectively forced me to curtail my activities in the field of
astronomy, or shall I say put it on the back burner until I came to US,
and I shall thank the Lord for helping me get out of that place.

Thanks,
Vahe

Mike Simmons wrote:
I have
never met an Iranian citizen who promotes, supports or condones terrorism.

same here.

And I know "many other American citizens" who do care.
..
The leaders of the governments in many of our allies are far more
fundamentalist, both Muslim and Jewish. And the US re-elected a
fundamentalist Christian president. Is depth of religious belief the
proper criterion for judgement?
..
He is, however, a strong
nationalist, which is what got him elected. Again, a trait he has in
common with the current US president.
..
He's not the one
making those decisions; it's the unelected government out of the spotlight
that would make those decisions.

Well said Mike,

Esmail

All the stars named in that region over the millenia should always
remind one of our collective heritage as a species on earth. wonderful
article. thanks. clear seeing to all of us. the skies are universal.






Steven L. Dodds wrote:
Hi everybody,



Just picked this off Yahoo.





By Christian Oliver Fri Oct 14, 8:41 AM ET

TEHRAN (Reuters) - People in the southern Iranian town of Saadat Shahr make
sure not to miss Friday prayers.


How else will they get the imam's comprehensive update on which stars,
nebulae and meteor showers will burn brightest in the following week's night
sky?

Saadat Shahr, 390 miles south of Tehran, has gone stargazing-crazy,
reflecting a national passion that has seen new members flocking to
astronomy clubs across the Islamic Republic to devour information about what
lies above.

Women in Saadat Shahr have even sold their jewelry to help science teacher
Asghar Kabiri realize his dream of building an observatory.

"School janitors and teachers all paid a small share of their salaries to
help build the observatory. Now it has become the pride of the town," Kabiri
told Reuters by telephone.

"Astronomy is a divine science and is encouraged in Islam. So in a small,
traditional community like Saadat Shahr, people contribute to our activities
just as they would chip in to build a mosque," he added.

The Koran often cites natural and celestial phenomena as proofs for the
existence of God. The imam in Saadat Shahr has tuned into the local
obsession and uses the weekly prayers to talk about what's coming up in the
skies during the days ahead.

"The townspeople even allow their daughters to stay out at night if they
know they are going stargazing," Kabiri said.

In rural

Iran, many people still respect the strict Islamic code which encourages
segregation of the sexes and obliges women to cover their hair and wear
long, loose-fitting dresses.

There is further proof of the extraordinary importance of stargazing in
Saadat Shahr: If there is some important astronomy to be done, Kabiri just
gets the authorities to cut the town's electricity -- all the better to see
the skies.

ESCAPE TO THE STARS

Babak Tafreshi, editor of the Nojum astronomy magazine, has noticed
subscriptions increasing and amateur clubs attracting more members. At the
time of eclipses and shuttle launches, Nojum will run off 10,000 copies.

Tafreshi's television show has the highest viewer figures on Iran's Channel
Four and he is sometimes approached by fans on the streets of Tehran.

"They say they like the show because it is not connected with any problems
in society, politics or religion," he said.

Nojum was deluged with telephone calls last year when panicky Tehranis,
observing the peculiar position of Venus, feared a flying saucer was
prowling overhead.

U.S. amateur astronomer Mike Simmons, a regular visitor to Iran, said
astronomy had a strong historical resonance for Iranians.

"They meet at historical sites. Iranians feel strongly connected to their
past and I have noticed they sense that connection ... through astronomy,"
he said.

Tafreshi said there was a profound sense of this continuity among amateurs
who meet at the observatory in northeastern Nishapur, home to the medieval
poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam.

But despite this fascination with the past, most of Iran's astronomers are
the faces of the futu They have an average age of 19 and are 60 percent
female, Tafreshi said, adding that the mingling of young men and women on
nocturnal outings was one of the few things that could get astronomy clubs
into trouble.

"In the United States most astronomers are middle-aged and very few are
women," Simmons said.

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT

Some 30 of Iran's enthusiastic young female astronomers gathered in the
silver dome of the Zafaranieh Observatory in northern Tehran to identify
lunar craters.

Fariba Yazdani, director of the observatory, said each week up to 280 young
people would voluntarily come to observatory classes, both theoretical and
practical.

"They tend to be very gifted children," she said. "The ones for whom books
are not enough, the ones who need a glimpse of the infinite."

The girls noisily jostled for a look through the telescope. Much of their
banter hinged on the double meaning of the Persian word "moon," which also
poetically refers to a beautiful girl.

"I cannot see a thing. Where is the moon?" said one girl, squinting through
the telescope.

"I think you will find she is right here," said another haughtily,
unleashing a wave of titters.

Arezu Khani, 17, said she was addicted.

"It is about more than just observing. The more you learn about the theory
just makes you even more curious."

(Additional reporting by Alireza Ronaghi)




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Vahe,

Thank you for your comments.

When the people of Iran decide to overthrow all the hardliners for
a government that is equally fair to all it's citizens and does not
promote or
tolerate terrorists, and that also wishes to live in peace with the
West,
all of us will live in a safer more humane world that is also
safe for Astronomy.