Are excuses for academic parties getting thinner or is it just me?

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The discussion centers around the innovative use of disco balls in astronomical observations, particularly for engaging educational purposes at observatories. Successful observations of the Moon phases, especially during the full moon on December 7, 2022, were reported. A portable disco ball was tested at a university observatory from March to May 2023, attracting visitors of all ages. The paper highlights the effectiveness of disco balls for safe solar projections, noting that while observing sunspots can be difficult, the solar disk and its changes during eclipses are easily observable and enjoyable. The conversation also touches on the potential for using other unconventional tools, like jukeboxes and roller skates, to teach scientific concepts. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the creative and engaging approaches to astronomy education.
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(arXiv, physics.ed-ph): Why every observatory needs a disco ball

"We tried on a number of occasions to observe different phases of the Moon using disco balls. We were successful with the full moon on 2022 December 7 [...]"

"During the period March-May 2023 we tested a portable disco ball as part of a permanent exhibition at a university observatory, receiving visitors in groups of all ages. [...]"

I mean: just send out invites like normal people darn it! :P

(Sorry for the thin joke. If nothing else the paper gets a little publicity. Whether that's merited I'll leave to you to decide.)

EDIT: Oh, this should of course have gone in the "Lame Jokes" thread. Feel free to move it. My bad.
 
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Science news on Phys.org
Commercial disco balls provide a safe, effective and instructive way of observing the Sun. We explore the optics of solar projections with disco balls, and find that while sunspot observations are challenging, the solar disk and its changes during eclipses are easy and fun to observe. We explore the disco ball's potential for observing the moon and other bright astronomical phenomena.
A clever topic and well if not completely serious, I agree, a little light publicity on the subject may not be a bad thing.
 
Coming soon: The benefits of jukeboxes and roller skates for teaching sound transmission and classical mechanics
 
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