Bandar Seri Begawan – In conjunction with Language Month in Brunei Darussalam – every July, this initiative explores the profound relationship between Malay cultural wisdom and the celestial phenomena that have long inspired it.

Some Malay peribahasa (proverbs) rooted in the imagery of the moon, sun, and stars reveal how deeply our ancestors observed the natural world and translated those observations into guidance, values, and reflections on human experience. By interpreting these expressions through astronomical contexts, we gain a clearer appreciation of the intellectual depth and environmental awareness embedded within the Malay views.

The curated collection of astronomical scenes – ranging from the full moon and solar eclipse to counting the lunar cycle – serves as a visual framework for understanding proverbs such as Bagai bulan empat belas, Matahari tengah gerhana, Berkandilkan bulan, Bulan naik matahari naik, and others.

Each pairing demonstrates how natural phenomena illuminate the cultural meaning of these expressions, whether describing beauty, sorrow, displacement, hope, or futility. Through this interpretive approach, the sky becomes a cultural text, allowing us to see how metaphor, observation, and lived experience converge in Malay linguistic heritage.

By presenting these proverbs alongside authentic astronomical imagery, this effort reinforces the relevance of traditional expressions in contemporary society while encouraging a deeper engagement with scientific literacy. It highlights how cultural identity and cosmic awareness have long been intertwined, and how both continue to shape our understanding of the world:

All astronomy-related entities – whether school-based, youth-led, community-driven, or formally constituted – are cordially invited to register. The directory which will be hosted on BruneiAstronomy domain welcomes submissions from active, inactive, or newly formed groups, acknowledging that every contribution plays a meaningful role in fostering scientific curiosity and public engagement.

The objectives of this initiative include:

• Consolidating information on astronomy clubs and groups nationwide
• Facilitating collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders
• Promoting Brunei’s astronomical heritage and outreach efforts

Groups are encouraged to submit their details via the official online form available at www.bruneiastronomy.org/club

By contributing to this directory, clubs and groups will be part of a collective effort to strengthen Brunei’s astronomy ecosystem, enhance visibility, and inspire future generations of stargazers.

For further information or assistance, please contact the Secretary-General at pabd@bruneiastronomy.org.

The 13th SEAAN meeting provides an opportunity for astronomers from Southeast Asia and around the world to come together to share their latest research and discuss the future of radio astronomy in the region.

For more information, https://indico.narit.or.th/event/196/

Visit: www.bruneiastronomy.org/timoreclipse

This year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education focuses on the role of astronomy in the core regions of formal, primary and secondary, education: How do we teach astronomy as its own subject? What is the role of astronomy in teaching physics or chemistry – or in communicating such a central future topic as climate change?

In sessions marked with a * we aim to hear specifically from teachers. We also address the question of how to approach those who set the framework for teaching: How can you get your administration, or at a much higher level: your education ministry, to listen to you? Last but not least we look at how to bridge the divide between the fundamentals that are commonly taught in school and results from cutting-edge research, which tend to be fascinating to students and the general public alike.

1. Teaching astronomy in primary schools: How, why, and in what context*
2. Teaching astronomy as its own subject in secondary schools*
3. Teaching astronomy as part of physics, chemistry, geography (and others) in secondary schools – astronomy as a “gateway science”*
4. Teaching astronomy as part of non-STEM subjects in secondary schools: art, music, philosophy and beyond*
5. Students in a changing climate: how can astronomy help?*
6. Astronomy education research on the role of astronomy in schools
7. Student interest in astronomy and other subjects: research and practical experience
8. Astronomy in schools: how do you get your administration and your ministry to listen?
9. How to develop an astronomy curriculum
10. Gravitational waves, black hole shadows and exoplanets: Can we make a place for cutting-edge results in schools?

Registration and abstract submission is live. Please check the website!

Source: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/

Distributed by: National Astronomy Education Coordinator of Brunei Darussalam, IAU Office of Astronomy Education

Why solstices and equinoxes?
Equinoxes and solstices are not only has astronomical significance around the world, they are also important phenomena in the history of science, and are connected to cultural events in various regions, making them suitable subjects for educational practice that combines science, history, culture, and STEAM education incorporating measurement and calculation activities.

Who are the organizer?
ADiS is organised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Comission C1 on Astronomy Education and Development. The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers.

How Can I Join?

• Register for the event to highlight your contribution through the ADiS registration page
• Submit video recordings of no more than a few minutes. If possible, please provide a transcription. This will allow viewers to translate the video into various languages and add subtitles.

What is the Format of the Activities?
You can decide what kind of activities to organize. Some suggestions include lectures, workshops, but you can also be creative, and suggest other kinds of activities. The resources section on the ADiS website may also provide you with some ideas.

Does it have to be Organised exactly on the date of the Equinoxes and Solstices?
No. It is flexible.

What will the collected videos be used for?

• The collected videos will be used during live streaming program by IAU.
• The collected materials will be summarized in an e-Book which is currently in development by the organiser.
• The materials will contribute to the improvement of teaching and learning around the world and help promote communication and friendship across borders.

Registration, Video Submission & More Info about ADiS:
The official website of the ADiS: https://adis.narit.or.th/

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) – Imagine you’ve stumbled into an open clearing. It’s well past sunset, and the Moon is new – what do you see when you look up at the sky? Are there city lights? Stars? Can you spot any planets? The Milky Way? What do these views mean to you?

In alignment with UNESCO’s International Day of Light on 16 May, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach is dedicating the entire month of May to Dark and Quiet Skies Awareness. The project raises awareness about the need to preserve dark and quiet skies, their importance for human culture, heritage, and health, as well as their use for astronomy research.

Using any medium you’d like, create a piece of art that describes what dark skies mean to you and your community. Three submissions will be randomly selected to win a BRESSER NANO AR-70/700 AZ Telescope, courtesy of Sterren Schitteren Voor Iedereen (Stars Shine For Everyone – SSVI). Winners will also have the chance to share their artwork during One Home, One Sky: A Seminar for the Protection of Dark and Quiet Skies (more details below).

The deadline to send in artwork is 24 May 2022 via this form. Winners will be randomly selected and contacted via email.

You can read more about the contest’s eligibility, terms and conditions in this document.

Source: https://www.iau.org/public/darkskiesawareness/

The Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) is pleased to announce the second round of its astrophotography contest, in a joint endeavour with OAE Center Italy as co-sponsor. Following the success of the first contest, held in 2021, the OAE aims to increase its foundational collection of high-quality educational resources available to astronomy educators around the world.

• An international contest organised by IAU Office of Astronomy for Education
• Competition theme focuses on still images of celestial patterns, and time-lapse videos of celestial patterns
• Cash prizes €750, €500 and €250 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners respectively, plus €250 prize awarded to 30 entries for still image category.
• Deadline 12 June 2022
• Submit your photos via online form on OAE website (https://astro4edu.org/oae-astrophoto-contest-2022/)

Astronomy is a powerful tool for engaging students and the general public in science thanks to its multidisciplinary characteristics and the relevant discussions it triggers, such as our cosmic origins and Earth as our home planet. It is therefore a potential gateway to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM subjects).

Are you an astrophotographer with an enthusiasm for astronomy education? If so, this contest is for you. Participants can submit images and videos in the following categories: still images of celestial patterns, and time-lapse videos of celestial patterns. The images and videos should be of patterns in the night sky that have cultural significance associated with them. Still images and videos should picture large scale celestial patterns visible by the naked eye, captured in a wide angle (wide field) image. These patterns are of many types and can include asterisms, constellations, dark constellations, dark spots, bright diffuse patterns, and single stars. You are free to consider both the constellations officially recognized by the IAU and also non-IAU-constellations. We particularly encourage you to submit photographs of both ancient and contemporary indigenous celestial patterns, from different cultures all over the world.

This year’s contest will run until 12 June 2022 at noon CET. Submissions will be evaluated by an international panel of astrophotographers and astronomy educators who will consider not only the aesthetic and technical qualities of the images, but also the educational value of each entry in the context of primary and secondary school teaching. In the educational context, it helps to present a constellation in a wide field with other nearby bright stars or constellations visible for reference. A picture may show more than one constellation and other celestial patterns.

The winning participants will receive cash prizes and their images will be made available as Open Educational Resources for teachers and learners worldwide. There will be three winning entries for the category of time-lapse videos of celestial patterns. Cash prizes of €750, €500 and €250 will be awarded for the first-, second-, and third-place entries respectively. For the category of still images of celestial patterns, up to 30 entries will be awarded a prize of €250 each. All winning entries will be published in the OAE’s astronomy education resources collection and the IAU Image Archive under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 International Licence (note that the photographers will still retain the copyright to their images). Moreover, participants are encouraged to allow us to publish their images and videos under a Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 licence even if they don’t receive a prize, as long as the images and videos are considered by the jury to be of high educational value.

• Before submitting your entries, please read carefully the competition rules for the 2022 edition, which you can find here.
• You can submit your entries here.
• For any queries regarding the competition, please contact astrophoto​atastro4edu.org
• Results from the astrophotography contest 2021 edition can be found here.
• For more information about the contest rules and the submission process, please check the contest webpage.

Source: https://www.astro4edu.org/news/K7906Jp/

The first All Brunei Darussalam Asteroid Search Campaign will run from February 28 until March 24, 2022, offering opportunity for people in Brunei to discover new asteroids and participate in hands-on astronomy. The campaign is organized by the Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD) and managed by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC).

A total of 46 participants from 6 groups of higher education institutions namely the Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB Galileo, UTB Ptolemy, UTB Kepler & UTB Brahe) and Kolej IGS (KIGS Astronomers 1 & KIGS Astronomers 2), together with 7 citizen science groups (Kaus, Semaun, Serbang, Gandi, Gagatar, Panding & PABD).

The one-month campaign enables participants to make astronomical observations for faint detections in the Main Belt Asteroid region based on real time images provided by the Pan Starrs telescope, located in Hawaii, USA.

A 2-day training “Hunting for Asteroid” on February 25 and 26 was facilitated by trained PABD members to motivate and guide participants through the asteroid-hunting process.

The programme offers an opportunity to make original astronomical discoveries and participate in hands-on astronomy.

For more information, visit www.bruneiastronomy.org/asteroidsearch

Register now! https://forms.gle/DRqRjtWs5957jsCp9