Start: Jul 20, ‘08
End: Aug 9, ‘08
Location: Sayda, Germany
The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge on astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. Every year the IAYC takes place somewhere in Europe. About seventy people from many different countries live together for three weeks. They are between 16 and 24 years old and share a common interest: astronomy.
The IAYC is different from most astronomical camps for two reasons: the international character and the fact that you carry out your own small research project. You will not just accept facts, but you will discover them yourself, or together with people with whom you will work together. The IAYC is therefore not like staying in a hotel and following a summer school or an astronomy course.
Every participant, with his or her own cultural background, forms an important piece in the complex puzzle of IAYC camp life. As a participant, the success of the camp depends on your contribution.
The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) 2008 will take place in Sayda, located in the East South-Eastern part of Germany. The camp house is located about 3 km outside the small city of Sayda in the Saxonian part of the Ore Mountains. It lies approximately 580 m above sea level. The climate is of a semi-continental type. The average temperature for July is 10-15°C. The yearly precipitation sum reaches 750-1500 mm. The bigger german cities close to the region are Dresden (50 km), Leipzig (100 km), Chemnitz (40 km) and Freiberg (25 km). The Czech border is really close, and lies only 10 km from the camp site. The closer cities on the Czech side of the border are Chomutov (30 km), Most (30 km), Teplice (30 km) and Litvinov (20 km).
The camp house is a German youth hostel and offers plenty of space. There are bedrooms with up to six beds, a dining room for the whole group, a party room and rooms for the working groups. There is a building and a field that can be used for the Non-Astronomical Program (NAP). Sports facilities like a basketball court are available. A small fountain will be waiting for us filled with water. The observation field is a short walk away from the camp house. No light pollution should disturb our observations.
