With the success of its efforts in the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (IYA2009) the AAJ launched the School Astro Clubs initiative to open the Jamaican skies to students across the island. This project involves the distribution of Galileoscopes to these Clubs and training teachers and students how to use them.
A major continuing project of the AAJ is the renovation of The Stony
Hill Observatory with the help of the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF). The
observatory, housing a 21 inch (0.53m) refractor sustained some
hurricane damage, and the tracks of the mechanical sliding roof require
repair to allow viewing. The telescope itself is in fine condition and
the AAJ will encourage viewers from all corners of the planet to take
advantage of the unique view of the Jamaican sky (just as notable
astronomers of old) once rennovation is complete. The AAJ frequently visits hotels to give visiting tourists a taste of the Jamaican night sky. | 