Siberian Astronomical Forum "SibAstro-2024"

The XIX Siberian Astronomy Forum was held on September 20-22, 2024. Its goal was to show the social significance of astronomy, help in the professional orientation of schoolchildren, show the younger generation how to spend their free time with interest and benefit, and discuss modern achievements of space science.

Famous astrophysicists and amateur astronomers took an active part in the work of the Forum. The reports were devoted to astronomical instruments, Martian and lunar soils, space missions, astrophotography, etc.

The honorary guests of "SibAstro-2024" were Anna Yuryevna Kikina - pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, Alexander Vladimirovich Serdyuk - leading trainer of long-term space expedition crews.

At the "meeting with an astronaut", Anna Yuryevna spoke about her first experience of flying into space, as part of the ISS-68 expedition, which lasted from September 2022 to March 2023. It was an amazing story about the arrangement of life on the International Space Station, and, of course, about scientific research.

Alexander Vladimirovich, in turn, spoke about the peculiarities of physical training on Earth and in space, and also showed by personal example several exercises that astronauts should be able to perform and invited the Forum participants to try to cope with them.

The rich program of "SibAstro-2024" included new and interesting activities. In the evening, the participants were invited to play COSMOquiz, where students of the astronomical team of SSUGT provided invaluable assistance.

And the next morning, the participants were waiting for "exercise with an astronaut". Simple physical exercises and jogging with Anna and Alexander gave a vigorous start to the final day of the Forum.

The Planetarium has its own rocket, on which cosmonauts leave autographs, this has already become a good tradition. S. Sharipov, A. Lazutkin, S. Treshchev, A. Borisenko signed the rocket, and this year A. Kikina left her wish on it.

Students of the astronomy team and employees of the Planetarium of SSUGT took an active part in the work of all the event sites, namely: registration of participants, assistance in conducting a live broadcast of scientists' speeches, master classes on astronomical observations and much more.

We express our gratitude to the Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies and the Novosibirsk Astronomical Society for the opportunity to become participants in such a large-scale astronomical holiday.

In 2025, the SibAstro forum will be held for the twentieth time. We look forward to a new meeting and an equally rich program.