The Third All-Russia Conference The Sky and the Earth dedicated to the 80th anniversary of astronomical observatory of the Irkutsk State University was held on November 22-24. The conference was attended by representatives of scientific institutions of Russia and Mongolia, and Russian Geographical Society.

A representative of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal Dmitry Semyonov made a presentation on the progress of construction of the Museum of Noosphere. His speech gave rise to numerous questions and approving remarks regarding a planetarium and an observatory being part of the museum. After the presentation the participants visited the construction site.