On October 11^th, the annual Iwate Galaxy Fest 2025 was held in Oshu. A few years ago, this had been a summer event, but due to concerns about extreme heat, it was moved to October last year. This year, unfortunately, it rained on the day and so the stargazing portion of the festival had to be canceled. Even in these circumstances, it was well attended by families and local people of all ages, which speaks to the popularity of this event. We’ve mentioned it in passing before – check out the recent article on the Z term, for example – but this time, I’d like to talk about it in more depth.

Who Makes This Festival Possible?

The short answer is that cooperation from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Mizusawa, and the Oshu Space and Astronomy Museum, along with participation from Oshu’s Organizing Committee, makes this event a reality. Far from being an isolated ivory tower, the Observatory is a frequent collaborator with the Museum when it comes to activities that promote scientific education to the community.

I also want to say that a large part of the reason why events like this are possible is that local people tend to take an interest in the goings-on at the Observatory, and have a sense of collective accomplishment when breakthroughs are made. In some ways, one could say that learning while having fun at the Observatory is a part of enjoying the local culture of Oshu.

Why Have a Galaxy Fest?

Astronomical research and discoveries have been a part of Oshu’s fabric for quite some time – starting with the establishment of the latitude observatory in the late 19^th century, and, more recently, assisting with the first photograph of a black hole in 2019. In other words, astronomy is a part of Oshu’s past and present.

It’s easy to see the impact of the Observatory around Oshu: from the main auditorium called Z Hall and the city bus called Z Bus, to black hole themed treats at confectionary shops, to the Observatory’s 20m radio telescope frequently showing up as part of the backdrop in images of Oshu’s scenery. It makes me think that, if the ILC were to come to Oshu, local people would be interested to learn all about it, and ensure their children knew about it too.

When the Observatory and the Museum team up to have educational events, they often aim to communicate about their activities, but they also plan for ways to get children and families to enjoy learning about scientific ideas more generally. For instance, this festival featured a slime-making booth, a VR experience, and similar.

I think harnessing children’s natural curiosity about the world is an excellent way to make science accessible for them, and this is especially true for the complex world of astronomy. The particulars of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) or exactly how a supercomputer works will almost certainly be too confusing, but nearly every child has looked up at the night sky and wondered about the stars. By creating a space where children can learn by experiencing, both the Observatory and the Museum serve as valuable resources for the community.

About This Year’s Theme

The slogan for this year was “The Role of Computers: From the Earth to Space.” It’s fitting, given that the supercomputer Aterui III was open to be viewed by the public for the first time, and proved to be a big draw for attendees. Named for a leader who lived about 1200 years ago, the idea is that this supercomputer will lead the way in helping us understand more about the universe. And by the way, the name “Aterui”, like the Z term, shows up all around town to this day.

Earlier, I mentioned that astronomy is a part of Oshu’s past and present. With the continuous efforts of the Observatory and the Museum in both research and science communication, and the possibility of the ILC, I think astronomy will be a part of Oshu’s future as well.