International Year of Astronomy 2009
Astronomy,
the first science in history, has played an important role in most, if not
all, cultures over the ages. Thanks to advanced telescopes and space probes,
astronomy continues to be a trailblazer, extending our knowledge by delivering
breathtaking discoveries almost on a weekly basis.
In 1609 Galileo Galilei first turned one of his telescopes to the night sky and made remarkable discoveries that changed the world forever: mountains and craters on the Moon, a plethora of stars invisible to the naked eye, moons around Jupiter.
Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei, the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, stimulating worldwide interest not only in astronomy, but in science in general, with a particular slant towards young people.
IYA2009 will mark the monumental leap forward that followed Galileo's first use of the telescope for astronomical observations, and portray astronomy as a peaceful global scientific endeavour that unites astronomers in an international, multicultural family of scientists working together to find answers to some of the most fundamental questions that humankind has ever asked. IYA2009 is, first and foremost, an activity for the citizens of Planet Earth. It aims to convey the excitement of personal discovery, the pleasure of sharing fundamental knowledge about the Universe and our place in it and the value of the scientific culture.
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 website is www.astronomy2009.org
An information brochure on the International Year of Astronomy can be found at:
- http://www.spacetelescope.org/about/further_information/brochures/pdf/iya.pdf (High-Res PDF - 3.8MB)
- http://www.spacetelescope.org/about/further_information/brochures/pdfsm/iya.pdf (Low-Res PDF - 646kB)
