‘Astronomy 2009′ island signed up to be an SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) launch party hub, joining in the live Tweet-up event and watching together the live launch coverage on the NASA live tv Public Channel.

Under our blue skydome amphitheater we set up an interactive sculpture of the Sun that contained images of the Sun included in the From Earth to the Universe exhibit. Around the dome were panels from an SDO provided presentation on the science that the SDO team has planned. Avatar t-shirts were made (SOHO Sun Image, Solar Spectrum, SDO Logo) for a give-away, and the NASA TV Public Channel was set for the media screen. Adrienne Gauthier (SL: Ourania Fizgig) and Pamela Gay (SL: Pamela Gondwana) were following and posting to the #sdoisgo Twitter event, including a question by none other than our virtual Galileo!

Blue dome star studded amphitheater

Co-hosts Ourania Fizgig (RL: Adrienne Gauthier) and Pamela Gondwana (RL: Pamela Gay) with mascot Virtual Camilla.

Wed Feb 10th 2010: Launch date!  We gathered early at 7am SLT to watch the launch of SDO, getting to T-3:59 when the launch was scrubbed for wind conditions.  No matter – we had fun waiting…and Virtual Camilla kept up entertained!

Waiting for the launch on Wed Feb 10th

Virtual Camilla waits in excitement for Little SDO to launch

The Wednesday Group Photo

Thu Feb 11th 2010: Launch rescheduled! Once again, we showed up at 7am SLT hoping for a successful launch!  We had many returning from Wed, and some new faces!  Sending out a T-4 and counting last minute announcement to the Science Center and Astronomy 2009 lists brought in some last minute visitors.

Waiting for the launch!

Lift off! w00t!

Watching a successful launch!

What would Galileo think if he could see this today? Watching here is virtual Galileo.

Virtual world guests watching a virtual simulation of a real life live rocket.

Watching the launch recaps from alternate camera angles.

Comments are closed