Space Forum / Astronomy / October 2006

IAU0606: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://www.iau.org/iau0606_IYA.408.0.html

The International Astronomical Union announces the International
Year of Astronomy 2009

27-October-2006, Munich: The International Astronomical Union will be
coordinating the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. This
initiative is an opportunity for the citizens of Earth to gain a deeper
insight
into astronomy's role in enriching all human cultures.  Moreover, it will
serve as a platform for informing the public about the latest astronomy
discoveries while emphasizing the essential role of astronomy in
science education.

In 1609, Galileo Galilei first turned one of his telescopes to the
night sky and made astounding discoveries that changed mankind's conception
of the world forever: mountains and craters on the Moon, a plethora of
stars invisible to the naked eye and moons around Jupiter. Astronomical
observatories around the world promise to reveal how planets and
stars are formed, how galaxies assemble and evolve, and what the
structure and shape of our Universe actually are. Today, humans are in the
middle
of a new age of discovery, one as profound as the one Galileo ushered in
when he turned his telescope on those glorious star-filled nights 400 years
ago.

Astronomy, the oldest 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, enhancing
our knowledge by delivering breathtaking discoveries almost on a weekly
basis. 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. The IYA2009 is
deemed to 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.

The vast majority of IYA2009 activities will span local, regional and
national levels. Several countries have already formed National Nodes
to work on the planning and preparation of activities for 2009. These
committees are collaborations between professional and amateur
astronomers, science centres and science communicators. Individual
countries will be undertaking their own initiatives as well as
assessing their own national needs, while the IAU will be acting as the
event's
coordinator and catalyst on a global scale. The IAU plans to liaise
with, and involve, as many as possible of the ongoing outreach and education
efforts throughout the world, including those organized by amateur
astronomers.

Despite the IYA2009 being still in its early planning stages, a number
of very exciting ideas have already been put forward. One of the core
ideas is to bring Astronomy closer to all citizens of planet Earth by giving
them the opportunity to interact with amateur and professional
astronomers, as well as to participate in "sidewalk astronomy" events
in planetariums and public observatories where several different
activities, such as looking through a telescope and observing our Universe,
will be
held.

As important an objective is to ensure that less well-established
organizations from the developing world can become involved with larger
organizations and deliver their contributions, linked via a huge global
network. Aiming at awakening the public awareness of astronomy and
science in the developing countries, the IYA will, based on a resolution
adopted by the UNESCO General Conference in 2005, be launching the
Universe Awareness (UNAWE) program in 2009. Such a scheme has been
designed to broaden the minds of economically disadvantaged young
children across the globe, enhance their understanding of the world and
demonstrate the power of rational thought.

The IYA2009 is, first and foremost, an activity for the citizens of
Planet Earth, which will convey the excitement of personal discovery, the
pleasure of sharing fundamental knowledge about the Universe and our
place in it and ultimately, the value of the scientific culture.

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Notes for editors

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings
together almost 10,000 distinguished astronomers from all nations of
the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy
in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU also serves
as the internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to
celestial bodies and any surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the
IAU is the worlds largest professional body for astronomers. The IAU
General Assembly is held every three years and is one of the largest
and most diverse meetings on the astronomical communitys calendar.

Contact
Catherine Cesarsky
IAU President
European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany
Tel: +49-89-32-00-62-27
E-mail: ikreutle@eso.org

Karel A. van der Hucht
IAU General Secretary
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
tel: +31-30-2535729/5600
E-mail: K.A.van.der.Hucht@SRON.nl

PIO and 2009 International Year of Astronomy contact
Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
ESA/Hubble, Garching, Germany
Tel: +49-89-32-00-63-06
Cellular: +49-173-3872-621
E-mail: lars@eso.org