Qeshm StarFest
As I boarded a plane in Tehran, I couldn't help but think of the location of my destination, Qeshm Island . There were several reasons Qeshm was chosen as the site of the annual star party I would attend, including remoteness that offered relatively dark skies (with some important caveats described below), easy access from around this large country, and its status as a free zone that would allow future international participants to attend without the need to obtain a visa. It's a great place for nature tourism, too. It was Qeshm's setting in the Persian Gulf, though, that was...
Astronomy Class in Tehran
Internet connections and other issues continue to keep me from posting in a timely manner I’ll get them online slowly but surely! After my Tabriz excursion I returned to the congestion and pollution of Tehran. The weather was pleasant enough but the congested traffic of Tehran makes Los Angeles freeways feel empty by comparison. There’s only one rule of the road in Tehran – “There are no rules.” I have always though a video game named “Tehran Taxi” would be the scariest game ever if it’s anything like the real thing. What pollution did form the next was just enough...
Conference in Tabriz
This blog post has been delayed for a variety of reasons, all to be expected during some travels including a very busy schedule, poor internet connections, and some jet lag. The following is about my activities in Iran on 7 and 8 December. The province of Azerbaijan is one of the many ethnic regions in Iran’s tapestry of cultures. Located in in Iran’s northwest abutting Turkey, Armenia, Iraq, and the separate country of Azerbaijan, the predominant language is Azeri, a dialect of Turkish. The culture reflects its Turkish roots but, as throughout Iran, it melds with the Persian culture to...
Return to Iran
I just arrived in Iran and I'm really excited about it. But not all my American friends understand. Some question the timing of a trip to the Middle East. Others question my sanity in traveling to someplace that's an "enemy" of my own country, the United States. But it's just those questions, born of ignorance of a country I really enjoy, that forms part of my reason for going. It's an answer and a demonstration of the principles of Astronomers Without Borders. That and my desire to return to a country I've been to many times and have always loved...
