AIDA (Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment) is a project of a joint mission demonstration of asteroid deflection and characterisation of the kinetic impact effects. It involves the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (with support from members of NASA centers including Goddard Space Flight Center, Johnson Space Center, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and the European Space Agency (with support from members of the french CNRS/Cte dAzur Observatory and the german DLR). This assessment will be done using a binary asteroid target. AIDA consists of two independent but mutually supporting mission concepts, one of which is the asteroid kinetic impactor and the other is the characterisation spacecraft. The objective and status of the project will be presented.

The near Earth asteroid (99942) Apophis, discovered in 2004, (with a diameter of about 270 meters) will come back very close to the Earth on April 13, 2029.

The close approach of Apophis to the Earth in 2029 will present an unique opportunity for characterizing this object, serving both science and mitigation purposes. The object will be easily visible from the Earth and it can be expected that its shape and thermal properties will be well determined from ground based observations. However, the characterization of its interior will not be achievable from purely terrestrial observations. Such a characterization, beyond its high scientific value, is essential for planning any mitigation operation, should it be necessary in the future.

Near Earth objects are a precious source of information as they represent a mixture of different populations of small bodies containing fundamental information on the origin and early evolution of the solar system.

Monitoring the response of Apophis to the gravitational constraints induced by its close approach to the Earth may provide a way to access information on its internal structure.

A study to identify some affordable mission scenarii for such a mission is presently underway at CNES (the French Space Agency).

We will present the scientific and mitigation objectives of such a mission as well as the preliminary results of the mission analysis and the main system characteristics.

MarcoPolo-R is a sample return mission to a primitive Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) selected in 2011 for the Assessment Study Phase of M3-class missions in the framework of ESAs Cosmic Vision (CV) 2015-2025 programme. The phase A study started at the end of 2012 and will proceed throughout 2013. The final selection by ESA will occur in February 2014. MarcoPolo-R is a European-led mission with a possible contribution from other agencies. MarcoPolo-R will rendez-vous with the primitive NEA 2008 EV5. Before returning a unique sample to Earth, the asteroid will be scientifically characterized at multiple scales. MarcoPolo-R will provide detailed knowledge of the physical and compositional properties of a member of the population of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHA), which is an important contribution to mitigation studies.

After the PR disaster of 1997 XF11 (March 1998), we started a crash research program on impact predictions. The difficulty was the chaotic motion of Earth-crossing asteroids (orbit uncertainty increases exponentially with time); it can be solved by replacing a real asteroid with a swarm of Virtual Asteroids. In 1999 we introduced Geometric Sampling to replace Monte-Carlo methods (see Milani, Chesley & Valsecchi, A&A 346, 1999). In November 1999 the first Impact Monitoring system CLOMON was operational. From 2002 the second generation systems CLOMON2 at Pisa and SENTRY at JPL are operational: critical cases are scanned for possible impacts in the next 90–100 years.

The joint observations of space debris are conducted by NAO and SHAO. The main task of observations is precise estimation of the hazard collisions of SD with operating satellites. Observations of the near earth asteroids (NEA) on the distance of less than 0.05 AU, according to the NEODyS program, are conducted in NAO. The main task is to obtain the large number of precise observations of the NEAs during their closest approach to the Earth.

One of the goals of NEO surveys is to discover Earth impactors before they hit. How much warning time is desirable depends on the size of the impactors: for the larger ones more time is needed to mount effective mitigation measures. Initially, NEO surveys were aimed at large impactors, that can have significant global effects; however, their typical time scale is orders of magnitude larger than human lifetime. At the other extreme, monthly and annual events, liberating energies of the order of 1 to 10 kilotons, are immaterial as a threat to mankind, not justifying substantial expenditure on them. Intermediate events are of more concern: in the megatons range, timescales are of the order of centuries, and the damage can be substantial. A classical example is the Tunguska event, in which a body with a diameter of about 30 to 50 m liberated about 5 megatons in the atmosphere, devastating 2 000 square kilometers of Siberian forest.

To highlight discovery selection effects, we consider four NEA subpopulations:

1. (a) “Taurid asteroids”, the Apollos with orbits similar to those of 2P/Encke and of the Taurid meteoroid complex;

2. (b) Atens, to which we add the Inner Earth Objects;

3. (c) non-Taurid Apollos;

4. (d) Amors.

\begin{displaymath} D=\sqrt{\left(\frac{a-2.1}{3}\right)^2+(e-0.82)^2+\left(2\sin{\frac{i-4^\circ}{2}}\right)^2}\leq0.25. \end{displaymath}

Our understanding of the orbital distribution of NEAs is influenced by discovery selection effects, so that it is likely that the orbital distribution of known NEAs differs from the true distribution. In fact, our ability to reconstruct the true distribution critically depends on the removal of discovery biases from the known population.

Star-formation is one of the main processes that shape galaxies, and together with black-hole accretion activity the two agents of energy production in galaxies. It is important on a range of scales from star clusters/OB associations to galaxy-wide and even group/cluster scales. Recently, studies of star-formation in sub-galactic and galaxy-wide scales have met significant advances owing to: (a) developments in the theory of stellar evolution, stellar atmospheres, and radiative transfer in the interstellar medium; (b) the availability of more sensitive and higher resolution data; and (c) observations in previously poorly charted wavebands (e.g. Ultraviolet, Infrared, and X-rays). These data allow us to study more galaxies at ever-increasing distances and nearby galaxies in greater detail, and different modes of star formation activity such as massive star formation and low level continuous star formation in a variety of environments. In this contribution we summarize recent results in the fields of multi-wavelength calibrations of star-formation rate indicators, the Stellar Initial Mass function, and radiative transfer and modeling of the Spectrale Energy Disrtributions of galaxies.

No contribution was received from this Joint Discussion.

No contribution was received from this Joint Discussion.

The purpose of this Special Session 11 was to bring together the many individuals from around the world who are active in realising the spirit of the IAU strategic plan. Appropriately entitled IAU Strategic Plan and the Global Office of Astronomy for Development, this special session invited contributions relating to: (i) IAU Strategic Plan, (ii) The IAU Global Office of Astronomy for Development, (iii) Regional nodes for “Astronomy for Development” activities, (iv) Sector Task Forces, and (v) Volunteers and volunteer opportunities.

I shall review the content of the IAU Strategic Plan (SP) to use astronomy as a tool for stimulating development globally during the decade 2010 - 2020. Considerable progress has been made in its implementation since the Plan was ratified at the last General Assembly.

The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)†, established in March 2011 as part of the implementation of the IAU Strategic Plan, is currently located in South Africa and serves as a global coordinating centre for astronomy-for-development activities. In terms of structure the OAD is required to establish regional nodes (similar offices in different parts of the world which focus on a particular geographic or cultural region) and three task forces: (i) Astronomy for Universities and Research, (ii) Astronomy for Children and Schools, and (iii) Astronomy for the Public. This paper will describe the progress of the OAD towards the realisation of the vision ‘Astronomy for a better world’.

There is data abundant to show a positive correlation between a nation's investment in science, engineering and technology and the economic prosperity of that nation. Yet, there remain many countries in the world, particularly in developing countries, where little, if any, serious investment in science, engineering and technology is evident. Even in these countries, policy documents speak positively about the positive correlation between investment in science, engineering and technology and national development and prosperity. Unfortunately these positive policy statements rarely get converted into real investment. When the National Research Foundation was founded in Post-Apartheid South Africa it set out to “. . .contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all people. . .” and its inspiring vision was to achieve “A prosperous South Africa and African continent steeped in a knowledge culture, free of widespread diseases and poverty, and proud contributors to the well-being of humanity." This organisation, with its altruistic vision, succeeded in convincing the emerging government to invest in and support the construction of the Southern African Large Telescope as one of its flagship projects. This decision was subsequently followed by a high level national decision to leverage South Africa's geographical advantage to host major global astronomy facilities such as the Square Kilometer Array. This presentation highlighted the reasons for such decisions and how we went about motivating government organs that investing in astronomy would contribute to addressing societal challenges by stimulating the science and technology landscape.

We discuss the IAU Commission 46 and Office for Astronomy Development (OAD) programs that support advancing Astronomy education and research primarily in universities in developing countries. The bulk of these operational activities will be coordinated through the OAD's newly installed Task Force 1. We outline current (and future) IAU/OAD Task Force-1 programs that promote the development of University-level Astronomy at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Among current programs discussed are the past and future expanded activities of the International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) and the Teaching Astronomy for Development (TAD) programs. The primary role of the ISYA program is the organization of a three week School for students for typically M.Sc. and Ph.D students. The ISYA is a very successful program that will now be offered more frequently through the generous support of the Kavli Foundation. The IAU/TAD program provides aid and resources for the development of teaching, education and research in Astronomy. The TAD program is dedicated to assist countries that have little or no astronomical activity, but that wish to develop or enhance Astronomy education. Over the last ten years, the ISYA and TAD programs have supported programs in Africa, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, South East and West Asia, and South America. Several examples are given.

Several new programs being considered by OAD Task Force-1 are also discussed. Other possible programs being considered are the introduction of modular Astronomy courses into the university curricula (or improve present courses) as well as providing access to “remote learning“ courses and Virtual Astronomy labs in developing countries. Another possible new program would support visits of astronomers from technically advanced countries to spend their sabbatical leaves teaching and advising University Astronomy programs in developing countries. Suggestions for new Task Force -1 programs are also welcomed. Useful information about the participation of IAU members and volunteers in these programs will be discussed and practical information will be provided.

It is very difficult to start from scratch a new Astrophysics program in a country with very little or no researchers in the field. In 2007, we began to set-up an Astrophysics program by TWINNING the Université de Ouagadougou with the Université de Montréal in Canada, the Université de Provence in France and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Already, courses are given at the undergraduate and Master levels and a teaching Observatory has been built. A 1m research telescope was also moved from the La Silla Observatory in Chile to Burkina Faso and the infrastructure is being built at the moment on mount Djaogari in the north-eastern part of the country. In the meantime, 6 students are doing their PhD in Astrophysics overseas (Canada, France and South Africa) and will become the core of the research group at the Université de Ouagadougou. An engineer is also doing his PhD in Astronomical Instrumentation to help with the maintenance of the equipment on the Research Telescope.

We astronomy outreachers are passionate about sharing astronomy widely—but many astronomy outreach activities are designed more by how we hope things will work than in a careful intentional way. We also rarely evaluate how well our activities are achieving our goals. As a result, many educational activities must be significantly less effective than they could be. Fortunately, there is a large body of education research on how people learn. If we are serious about sharing astronomy widely and effectively, we must treat our teaching like research: (1) Have clear goals for our outreach, evaluate how well we are achieving our goals, and revise our strategies in light of what we learn; and (2) Use appropriate teaching techniques supported by education research wherever possible.

Until 2009, astronomy was undeveloped in Rwanda, without astronomy courses at universities and schools, astronomical facilities, or any outreach programmes. With the international year of astronomy in 2009, Dr. Pheneas Nkundabakura and Dr. Jean Uwamahoro from the KIE Maths-Physics department, both graduates from the South African NASSP Programme (http://www.star.ac.za), started a program of implementing the astronomical knowledge at schools and universities. During the same year 2009, IAU donated 100 galileoscopes for the secondary schools, and several astronomy workshops were organised for the teachers. IAU donated also 5 laptops to help students and lecturers to learn and use astronomy software. With this, KIE students have now a possibility to choose astronomy/space science for their undergraduate final year research projects. Moreover, there is an ongoing effort to look for further collaboration towards establishing the first astronomical facility (observatory) in the country.

The main mission of the IAU OAD Task Force on Children and School Education is to support the implementation of the pre-tertiary education part of the IAU Strategic Plan ‘Astronomy for Development’. In this presentation we will give an overview of the role and programme of the task force as well as a general discussion about the past, present and future IAU education activities and programmes.