iya0919 — News Release
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Closing Ceremony: Save the Date
17 December 2009, Paris
On 9 and 10 January 2010 the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) will be brought to an official close with a ceremony to be held in Padova, Italy, in the Aula Magna of the University of Padova, where Galileo taught experimental physics and astronomy. The final event of this global celebration of astronomy and its contribution to society and culture will be attended by the key figures behind IYA2009 as well as prominent astronomers. The press is invited to attend.
IYA2009 was launched by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO under the theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”. IYA2009 marked the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei’s first astronomical observation through a telescope in 1609, an event that changed the world forever. Many thousands of individuals in over 148 countries around the world have been involved, forming the world’s largest ever astronomy network. IYA2009 has shown astronomy as a truly 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 IYA2009 Closing Ceremony concludes one the world’s grandest science popularisation ventures, but also hails the beginning of a new era: Beyond IYA2009. The IYA2009 legacy programme, which will be launched during the IYA2009 Closing Ceremony, will foster continued cooperation and will aim to sustain the enduring network, activities and innovative concepts for education and public outreach in astronomy which have been shown to be successful in IYA2009.
Several initiatives have been planned in parallel with the IYA2009 Closing Ceremony, including a 4 days event (from 7 to 10 January) celebrating the exact 400 years anniversary of Galileo’s groundbreaking observations of Jupiter and its moons and a magnificent exhibit with one of the original Galileo’s telescope.
A strong media presence is anticipated at the IYA2009 Closing Ceremony, given the importance of the event to modern astronomy.
Phone and e-mail interviews can be arranged with some of the key speakers. For media accreditation, requests for interviews and more information please contact Mariana Barrosa, IYA2009 Coordination Assistant.
Notes
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Closing Ceremony is hosted by the University of Padova, organised by INAF (National Institute for Astrophysics), IAU and UNESCO, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy and several Italian institutions and academies, particularly the Accademia dei Lincei of which Galileo was one of the first members.
Links
- IYA2009 Closing Ceremony website: http://www.beyond2009.org/
- IYA2009 website: http://www.astronomy2009.org/
Media accreditation
Mariana Barrosa
IYA2009 Coordination Assistant
Tel: +49 89 320 06 965
Fax: +49 89 320 23 62
E-mail: iya2009@eso.org
For more information:
Pedro Russo
IYA2009 Coordinator
ESO ePODKarl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2
D-85748 Garching bei München
Germany
Tel: +49 89 320 06 195
Cellular: +4917661100211/ +351962854775
Fax: +49 89 320 23 62
E-mail: prusso@eso.org
Further contacts
Leopoldo Benacchio
Chair of the Local Organising Committee
INAF / Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova
Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5
IT-35122 Padova
Italy
Phone: +39 049 829 3484 / +39 347 230 265
Fax: +39 049 875 9840
E-mail: benacchio@inaf.it
Robert Williams
IAU President
Space Telescope Science Institute
3700 San Martin Drive
US Baltimore MD 21218-2410
United States
Phone: +1 410 338 4963
Fax: +1 410 338 2617
Email: wms@stsci.edu
Yolanda Berenguer
UNESCO Focal Point for the International Year of Astronomy 2009
UNESCO HQ, Paris
Tel: +33-1-45684171
E-mail: y.berenguer@unesco.org
Ian Corbett
IAU General Secretary
International Astronomical Union
98 bis boulevard Arago,
75014 Paris, France
Tel: +33 143 258 358
Cellular: +44 7919 888 942
E-mail: icorbett@eso.org
Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
ESO ePOD, Garching, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6761
Cellular: +49-173-3872-621
E-mail: lars@eso.org
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