TÜBİTAK

TÜBİTAK's 4-day, 3-night Sky Observation Event, which brings together sky enthusiasts of all ages, concluded in Antalya Saklıkent with the opening ceremony performed by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak. Participants, numbering over a thousand, engaged in daytime solar observations, intriguing activities, and explored the depths of space at night, making the most of the 24-hour day.

"We place young people at the center of all of TÜBİTAK's scientific and societal activities"

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, who opened the event, conveyed the message to the youth, saying, "You truly hold a very special importance for us. Because it is you who will gift our country with achievements that go beyond our dreams." He added, "With this belief, together with our Minister of Youth and Sports, we are establishing general technology workshops throughout Türkiye. With this belief, for the past six years, we have been organizing the world's largest technology festivals in this country. We place young people at the center of all of TÜBİTAK's scientific and societal activities. With this belief, we are expanding this sky observation event year by year, and striving to host even more young people."

Visit to Bakırlıtepe

First organized in 1998 in Antalya Saklıkent, the Sky Observation Event was held for the 25th time, coordinated by TÜBİTAK and with contributions from the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Hosted at Antalya Saklıkent, situated at an altitude of approximately 2000 meters, astronomy enthusiasts had the opportunity to explore the night sky under the guidance of experts. They also had the chance to visit the TÜBİTAK National Observatory Campus (TUG), home to Türkiye's largest observatory and its most advanced telescopes. Visitors were transported to the TUG located at Bakırlıtepe, at an altitude of 2500 meters, where they thoroughly examined the RTT150 telescope. Participants were able to enjoy both the telescopic observations and the stunning panoramic view.

TÜBİTAK President was with the visitors throughout the day

TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal was present at Bakırlıtepe alongside the visitors during the event. Mandal emphasized the importance of this year's event, marking the 100th anniversary of the Republic and the 60th anniversary of TÜBİTAK. He encouraged participants to ask questions, stating, "Do not hesitate to ask even the simplest, most challenging, or even funniest questions."

Mandal also highlighted that throughout the day, there were seminars, workshops, and activities covering the span from children to experts. He thanked all the guests who participated in the event and believed in TÜBİTAK's mission.

Workshops and Activities Attracted Intense Interest

Various workshops, experiments, and competitions were held with the contributions of TÜBİTAK units.

Activities at the TÜBİTAK Activity Tent included the Metaverse Activity, Popular Science Contest, Age Determination Using Carbon-14 Analysis, Application of Different Materials under the Microscope, Carbon Footprint Measurement, CO2 Sources and Sinks, Making Wooden Models of Eskişehir 5000, Rocket Models, VR Virtual Reality Experience and TÜRKSAT 6A Model, Self-Assessment Activity, Rocket Circuit, and Virtual Reality activities. Participants, especially children, showed great interest in these activities. The TÜBİTAK Popular Science Publications stand also saw a steady stream of visitors throughout the day.

At the Antalya Science Center Tent, participants enjoyed the Sky Puzzle; at the Bilim Üsküdar Tent, they made Paper Model Airplanes; at the Konya Science Center Tent, they became Anatomy Detectives; at the Gaziantep Science Center Tent, they conducted Light Diffraction Experiments; at the GUHEM Tent, they assembled Wooden Model Airplanes; and at the Deneyap Türkiye Tent, they took part in Nature Power Plant activities.

Shedding Light on the Unknown Through Seminars

Throughout the morning, Kadir Uluç, Director of the TÜBİTAK National Observatory, provided a general overview of the event. Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Faruk Soydugan gave a presentation titled "Stars in the Mirrors." The past, present, and future of space research were discussed by Dr. Korhan Yelkenci. Prof. Dr. Ethem Derman delved into astronomy for all ages, while Prof. Dr. Talat Saygaç answered questions such as "Why Astronomy?" and "What Does Sky Observation and Space Sciences Offer Us?" Prof. Dr. Cahit Yeşilyaprak introduced the Eastern Anatolia Observatory. Prof. Dr. Zeynel Tunca gave a detailed presentation on introducing the sky. In the evening, all the speakers came together for the "Ask an Astronomer" panel, where experts answered questions from participants. Dr. Tuncay Özışık conducted a two-day experiment to measure a full rotation of the Earth around its axis using a star as a reference, followed by a panel that captured intense interest from participants.

How to Use a Sky Atlas? How Can We Identify Stars?

Astronomer Dr. Tuncay Özışık explained how to use a star map:

" The purpose of this star atlas is to help you understand the visibility of the 88 constellations across the celestial sphere during different seasons, months, and hours. It's a kind of map. There's a circle on the edge of the map with the months. There's also a segment with the hours. This segment is movable. At any given moment, when you adjust this map according to your current location in the open sky and the current time, if you raise the circle above your head and look in the direction where you are standing, the circle's center will align downwards. This will allow you to directly identify the constellations you see above you using this star atlas.”

Traditional Group Photo

During the event, a traditional group photo was taken, capturing all sky enthusiasts from the youngest to the most experienced in a single frame.

Introduction to the Sky

As the sky darkened, participants gathered around the telescopes to explore the depths of the sky. Constellations were introduced to the naked eye, and stars like Mizar, Polaris, Antares, Vega, star clusters like Ülker and Hercules, celestial objects like the Ring Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy, planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and the Moon were observed through telescopes. Presentations about the messages of stars and the chemistry of meteors were also organized.

Perseid Meteor Shower Observed

The awaited day arrived for the Perseid meteor shower, which can produce up to 200 meteors per hour thanks to the gravitational pull of the giant planet Jupiter. This meteor shower, observed every August, reached its peak on Saturday midnight. Those who wanted to witness this unique event flocked to Saklıkent, causing long lines of vehicles at the entrance. People lying on pillows and blankets watched the meteor shower in the open air, creating interesting scenes, and the Perseid meteor shower left its observers spellbound.

"We didn't expect it to be this beautiful"

Participants expressed their satisfaction with the event. Those who were fortunate enough to attend the event through a lottery among 12,500 applicants shared how lucky they felt.

"We looked at the sunspots"

"I didn't expect it to be this beautiful. We observed the sun. We looked at the sunspots. Normally, sunspots appear very small to our eyes, but considering the size of the sun, it's fascinating and beautiful that they are bigger than Earth."

"My son grew up with TÜBİTAK"

"I've been applying for ten years, and this year, it finally happened. I came here with my son. He's currently building the IMECE satellite. My son grew up with TÜBİTAK. It all started with 'Curious Little One,' and he's been doing all the books, puzzles, jigsaw puzzles for children."

"We saw Türkiye's largest telescope"

"Currently, we saw Türkiye's largest telescope. We're at a high altitude. We're above the clouds. It's really, truly important for us. Because sometimes you need special permission to come here, but we came here as guests. I'm very happy because I learned a lot and had the chance to see and ask about the things I was curious about."

"It's not just about dreaming; you have to live it"

"It's not just about dreaming; you have to live it. The fact that these opportunities are provided by the government is a significant opportunity. Especially encouraging for future generations and opening the way for families to bring their children is wonderful."

"We came to broaden children's horizons"

"We observed Saturn. It was a completely different experience for us. Seeing things that we've previously only seen on TV and in the media come to life here is a unique experience. We came specifically for children. We wanted to broaden their horizons and provide them with a different experience, to increase their awareness. We wanted to have this experience. I recommend it to everyone."

"It increased my sense of curiosity"

"The event can cater to all age groups, from seven to seventy, and it can significantly elevate the sense of curiosity, especially among young people. For example, when I came here, I was initially curious about the telescopes I saw. Then we started observing through all of them. I saw planets. I'm curious about how planets form. What did they go through? Right now, I'm curious about them. Of course, we can't see them here, but I will research as much as technology allows. If it also increased the curiosity of the thousand people here, it will take us a step forward, I believe."

"Our interest in astronomy has increased even more"

"Saturn was very impressive. Our interest in astronomy was already there, but it has increased even more since we're here. It's a fantastic event. I recommend it to everyone, especially young people. It truly lives up to what people have said. Right now, we're looking at a real star map."