TWAN:   
The World At Night

The World At Night (TWAN) is a program to create and exhibit a collection of stunning photographs and time-lapse videos of the world’s most beautiful and historic sites against a nighttime backdrop of stars, planets and celestial events. TWAN is a bridge between art, humanity, and science. The eternally peaceful sky looks the same above all the landmarks and symbols of different nations and regions, attesting to the truly unified nature of Earth as a planet rather than an amalgam of human-designated territories. Those involved in global programs learn to see humanity as a family living together on a single planet amidst the vast ocean of our Universe. This global perspective motivates them to work for a better, more peaceful planet for all the world’s inhabitants. Astronomers Without Borders was created to work toward this goal. TWAN is an innovative new approach to expanding this global perspective.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) have designated TWAN as a Special Project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. The project began to make global exposure during the year of astronomy and continues to grow further beyond. TWAN photographs are being taken by the best night sky photographers around the world. The resulting collection is presented in an international traveling exhibition and in a virtual exhibition on the TWAN web site. Books and DVDs of the images will also be published. Time-lapse digital photographs of the night sky that are being created at particular locations will be used in a high-quality documentary film of celestial motion over the planet's most important sites. TWAN is bringing together photographers, astronomers and organizations worldwide to create a new international team. That team fulfils TWAN's primary goal of bringing to the public a new way of seeing the wonders of our planet by portraying Earth’s people as one family and our world as a living planet we must care for.

TWAN began in the autumn of 2007 with the creation of the web site, site selection, photographer selection and the creation of an image database. Acquisition of new images began in late 2007 while imaging and compilation of existing images continues through all phases of the project. image acquisition continues. The first exhibition took place in the autumn of 2008, while TWAN exhibitions will reach to over 20 countries by the end of 2009 and continue further.

TWAN - The World at Night