Introduction

The objective of this work is to make known the astronomical activities in the region of Campinas, the process of developing municipal cooperation and the general conclusions that reflect this process.

This research has been done by means of interviews with people related to the creation of astronomical centers in the region of the city of Campinas that is located in the state of São Paulo in Brasil (Fig. 1 and 2).

The conditions studied are related with this region but many ideas could be used in developing countries or others.

Nowadays there are works in the areas of research, teaching and popularization in many institutions besides the individual efforts of teachers and amateur astronomers in general. At two local universities (Unicamp and Puccamp) the discipline of astronomy at the graduate level is still optional. There are no groups or departments of astronomy but various students have obtained the MSc degree in areas such as black holes, active galactic nuclei, cosmology and teaching of astronomy. There is also a small planetarium, a naked eye observatory, some astronomy clubs as well as various amateur astronomers who contribute with systematic observations of the sky in many fields such as Sun, planets, occultations, comets, astrophotography, CCD astronomy and even with the use of spectroheliograph, coronograph and a Schmidt camera. Some teachers conduct astronomical activities in many schools of the region within disciplines like sciences or physics as well as lectures, exhibits and observations of the sky. There are six municipal observatories (Campinas, Americana, Itapira, Piracicaba, Diadema and Amparo), with continuing activities of observational programs, public observation, exhibits, and other activities directed to students.