International Year of Astronomy (2009)
The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) was a year-long astronomy event that took place in 2009 to mark the 400th anniversaries of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova and Galileo Galilei's first documented astronomical observations using a telescope. The 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the Year. UNESCO, the UN agency in charge of affairs pertaining to education, science, and culture, supported a global plan put out by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Paris hosted the official IYA2009 opening ceremony on January 15–16, 2009. Keynote addresses by Nobel laureates and live video feeds to scientists working in distant locales were both on the schedule for the celebration. There were plans for numerous nations to host their own opening ceremonies.
2009 has seen a number of IYA2009 events and activities conducted to foster a wider understanding of astronomy. They seek to strengthen the connections between science jobs and education. Among the events and activities are:
- A unique project called "The World at Night" features more than 30 exhibitions and educational activities around the world. It includes a selection of images and time-lapse films of famous places from across the globe with the sky in the background.
- The Cosmic Diary, whose official website went live on January 1.
- 2009's 100 Hours of Astronomy will take place from April 2–5. Public engagement initiatives, such as live webcasts and event observation, are included.
- Large-scale celestial images are displayed as part of the From Earth to the Universe (FETTU) Cornerstone Project, a traveling exhibition that visits public parks and gardens, art galleries, malls, and subway stations.
2009 saw several noteworthy astronomical phenomena, including the longest solar eclipse of the twenty-first century, which occurred on July 22, 2009. The totality of the eclipse covered a small area that included China, Bangladesh, and India for more than six minutes. Mid-November 2009 is also anticipated to see a robust Leonid meteor shower, with predictions of up to 500 shooting stars per hour. Jupiter will be positioned at dusk in the northern hemisphere in mid-October.
Background
On December 20, 2007, the UN General Assembly declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. The resolution was presented in Italy, the nation of Galileo Galilei. This year marks the 400-year anniversary of Galileo's groundbreaking use of the telescope for astronomy, which marked the beginning of a scientific revolution.
The International Year of Astronomy highlights how, in accordance with the UN Charter's ideals, astronomers have collaborated for many centuries across all barriers, including those of geography, gender, age, culture, and race. In that regard, astronomy serves as an illustration of how science might help advance global collaboration. This endeavor is the work of UNESCO and the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
The prestigious astronomers from all around the world are united by the IAU, an international astronomical organization. Its goal is to foster and defend astronomy in all of its manifestations through global collaboration. The IAU is the officially acknowledged body for designating celestial bodies and the features on their surfaces.
Objectives
IYA2009's primary objectives were to:
- Raise public awareness of science;
- Encourage broad access to new information and learning opportunities;
- Empower astronomy groups in underdeveloped nations;
- Encourage and enhance both official and informal science education;
- Give a contemporary portrayal of science and scientists;
- Improve current networks while fostering new ones;
- Enhance the presence of women in science at all levels and encourage more underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in science and engineering;
- Assist in the preservation and protection of the dark skies that are a part of the world's natural and cultural legacy in areas like astronomy sites, national parks, and urban oases.
Symbols
IYA2009 stands for International Year of Astronomy. "The Universe, Yours to Discover" is the motto in use. The official motto, the event's name, and an illustration of two individuals (an adult and a child) looking at a star-studded sky in varying deeper and lighter tones of blue are included on logos, posters, business cards, and other promotional materials for the event.
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