Organizers of IYA activities may apply to the IAU for an official letter of encouragement when such a letter could arguably help secure permission, funding, and/or other prerequisites for a successful effort. Here’s an outline of the process:

• • An IYA activity organizer seeking a letter of encouragement from the IAU should e-mail a request to the IYA Secretary at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , with a copy to the appropriate National Node Chair, if applicable.
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• • The request should include a short synopsis of the proposed activity, including where and when it will be held and how many participants are expected, and how it will advance the aims of the IYA. The request should also describe the organizer’s qualifications to carry out the activity and explain how official encouragement by the IAU might help ensure the activity’s success.
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• • The IYA Secretary, in collaboration with the appropriate National Node Chair, if applicable, will evaluate the request and decide whether to forward it to the IAU Officers, and if so, whether to recommend for or against encouragement.
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• • If the IAU Officers decide to provide an official letter of encouragement, that letter may not be construed as obligating the IAU to support the activity in any other way. The IAU assumes no responsibility for IYA activities that it does not organize itself, nor does it undertake any obligation to fund such activities.
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• • Any IYA activity organizer who receives an IAU letter of encouragement may write, in connection with the activity, “This activity is encouraged by the International Astronomical Union.”