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Here are the events that are planned for this year:
Following the unprecedented success of IYA2009's 100 Hours of Astronomy, which featured hugely popular projects such as a Global Star Party, the live 24-hour webcast "Around the World in 80 Telescopes", a Science Centre webcast, and Sun Day, another weekend of astronomy events has been highlighted for 23-24 October 2009. This new IYA2009 Cornerstone Project is called Galilean Nights and will see amateur and professional astronomers around the globe taking to the streets, pointing their telescopes to the wonders that Galileo observed 400 years ago. The project's focus is sidewalk observations of gas giant Jupiter and its moons and members of the public will as also be able to observe the Sun, our own Moon and many more celestial marvels with the own eyes, much like Galileo did 400 years ago. The KAO will make available a number of 50mm refractor kits. With instruction from KAO members, the end result will be a real working telescope like the one Galileo used 400 years ago to discover craters on the Moon, the moons of Jupiter, and more. Stay tuned for more information on participating in a Galileoscope building session. IYA2009 will be supported by an unprecedented amount of publicity and media support. Among other things, there will be a documentary on the 400-year history of the telescope itself, airing in America on PBS and on other outlets around the world. The International Astronomical Union is also producing their own DVD and coffee-table book on the history of telescopic discovery in astronomy. As these become available to the KAO, we will offer screenings at our public events for IYA2009. See www.400years.org for more information.
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The year 2009 has been designated the International Year of Astronomy by the International Astronomical Union and the United Nations.
The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a world-wide celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture,
highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people,
in astronomy and science under the central theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”. IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all nations.
These activities will take place locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. National Nodes have been formed in each country (including the United States) to prepare activities for 2009. Today, 135 countries are involved!
The KAO will be an active participant in IYA2009. Watch this space as IYA2009 events are added to our schedule, supporting the events for the USA and allowing our local communities to participate in a truly global experience.
