Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
In 1956, the National Science Foundation selected the rural town of Green Bank to be home to a National Radio Astronomy Observatory facility.
Across the span of the next six decades, the NRAO was home to multiple discoveries, suffered the loss of the 300-foot telescope and became world famous for the Green Bank Telescope – the largest, fully-steerable radio telescope in the world.
Now, in 2016, the times once again are a changin’.
On October 8, the facility will usher in a new era by becoming an independent entity named the Green Bank Observatory.
As it prepares for the change, the observatory wants to involve the community in the event and have them answer the question “What does the observatory mean to you?”
Whether you were a student who discovered a love for astronomy or an adult who has always loved telescopes and the night sky, the observatory wants to know. Individuals and groups are invited to submit a video, less than 90 second long, and share their love for the observatory.
Videos will be entered into a contest. Prizes include, $25 for third place, $50 for second place and the grand prize winner will receive $100 and VIP entry to the Green Bank Observatory inaugural celebration.
The grand prize winner will also receive up to four tickets to the ceremony scheduled for Saturday, October 8. The winner will be invited to attend a VIP Green Bank Telescope tour, including a trip to the top of the telescope, weather permitting and the grand opening ceremony which will feature screenings of winning videos, science talks and a VIP dinner with live music.
To enter the contest, individuals or teams may create a video and fill out the contest entry form found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/gbovideocontest and upload the video to vimeo.com or the observatory Dropbox account.
Contest Rules
• All entrants must submit a completed entry form no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, September 12. Winners will be announced Friday, September 16. Videos will be judged on originality, impact and message.
• Video format must be accepted by Vimeo.com
• Duration must be less than 90 seconds.
• Video content/message must be the entrant’s original idea and all content must be wholly owned by the entrant(s).
• Material/content must be suitable for a general audience.
• Entrants under 18 years of age will need parental permission to submit a video.
• Material/content should in no way infringe upon copyright or property of any third party.
• Videos may be submitted as a single entrant or as a team effort.
• Contestants must agree that Green Bank Observatory may use any entry for promotional or public awareness purposes on social, video or web media or for any other promotional means.
• Contest entrants will be disqualified from voting on the winner(s).
For more information on the contest, contact Sherry McCarty at 304-456-2150 or at smccarty@nrao.edu