Press Releases

Also see our press releases on eso.org, iau.org, spacetelescope.org.

iya0908 — News Release

100 Hours of Astronomy: worldwide astronomy marathon set to break records

30 March 2009: The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Cornerstone project, 100 Hours of Astronomy, is on track to be the largest single science public outreach event ever. More than 1500 events have been registered in over 130 countries and this number is increasing every day. 100 Hours of Astronomy is a truly global project; an event on a scale never attempted before, with more than one million people expected to participate!

iya0907 — News Release

IAU Vice-President receives L’ORÉAL–UNESCO award

5 March 2009: Beatriz Barbuy, Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) today receives a L’ORÉAL–UNESCO award for exceptional women scientists. The 2009 Laureates will each receive $100 000.

iya0906 — News Release

Galileoscope in production: The IYA2009 telescope is now available!

4 March 2009: The Galileoscope — a high quality, easy-to-assemble and easy-to-use telescope at an unprecedentedly low price — is now available to order. A Cornerstone project of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), the Galileoscope was developed by a team of leading astronomers, optical engineers and science educators to make the wonders of the night sky more accessible to everyone. Orders can now be placed through www.galileoscope.org for delivery beginning in late April.

iya0905 — News Release

Global launch for From Earth to the Universe project

25 February 2009: Worldwide exhibitions of large-scale astronomical images are being launched in over 40 countries around the world. The IYA2009 Cornerstone project, From Earth to the Universe (FETTU), is designed to bring the undeniable beauty of astronomy to the general public in a series of free showings across the world.

iya0904 — News Release

100 Hours of Astronomy project kicks off!

10 February 2009: The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) is about to reach new heights as the Global Cornerstone Project, 100 Hours of Astronomy, scheduled to take place from 2–5 April 2009, ramps up. The project invites amateur astronomers, educators, professional astronomers, planetaria, science centres and more to arrange events around the world during this 4-day period and to publicise them now on the project website. For those wishing to visit the frontiers of astronomy from their home, a 24-hour webcast from the largest telescopes on the planet will take a unique look behind the scenes at state of the art research facilities.

iya0903 — News Release

IAU releases milestone book and movie celebrating the telescope

23 January 2009: One of the International Astronomical Union's contributions to the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is the new book and movie Eyes on the Skies — 400 Years of Telescopic Discovery, telling the fascinating story of the telescope, from its invention to the modern day. Review copies of the book, published by Wiley, and documentary movie are available for the press.

iya0902 — News Release

Kick-off for the International Year of Astronomy 2009

15 January 2009: Astronomers from around the world have gathered in Paris for the start of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), the largest network ever for sharing the wonders of the Universe with the public.

iya0901 — News Release

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Opening Ceremony: Invitation to the Media

9 January 2009: The grand Opening Ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is just around the corner. It will be held at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, 15 and 16 January 2009, and promises to be a spectacular event. Hundreds of attendees are expected, including members of royal families, ministers, Nobel Prize winners, scientists from around the globe, and young astronomy undergraduate students from more than 100 countries. The media are invited to attend, and see firsthand how 2009 will make the Universe yours to discover. A webcast feed will be available.

iya0805 — News Release

The Universe is yours to discover during the International Year of Astronomy 2009

29 December 2008: With 2009 just over the horizon, stargazers around the world are busy preparing for the International Year of Astronomy. A staggering 135 nations are collaborating to bring the Universe closer to Earth. Events and activities will take place over the coming 365 days and beyond, in a spectacle of cosmic proportions.

iya0804 — News Release

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Opening Ceremony: Save the Date

21 November 2008: With just six weeks to go before 2009, the International Year of Astronomy project is getting ready for its grand Opening Ceremony. This promises to be a spectacular event, held at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Headquarters in Paris, 15 and 16 January 2009. Hundreds of attendees are expected, including members of royal families, government ministers, Nobel Prize winners and other eminent scientists. The press is invited to attend and to “save the date” in the calendar.

iya0803 — News Release

UNESCO and the IAU sign key agreement on Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative

30 October 2008: A Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed today, 30 October 2008, between UNESCO and the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU will be integrally involved in the process of developing UNESCO's Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative, helping to promote astronomical sites of "Outstanding Universal Value".

iya0802 — News Release

The first IYA2009 Cornerstone Project brings the stars to Liverpool

5 June 2008: A prototype exhibit of astronomy images called From Earth to the Universe is a precursor of the wide range of events planned in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. The dazzling display of images will take viewers deep into the Universe from 7-29 June 2008 and will be held at the Albert Dock in Liverpool, UK.

iya0801 — News Release

The IYA2009 welcomes the 100th participating country

17 January 2008: The organisers of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO, welcomed this week the 100th participating country to the growing ranks of participating countries and organisations for this worldwide astronomy project. This milestone is reached only four weeks after the official Proclamation of IYA2009 by the United Nations.

iya0701 — News Release

The UN declares 2009 the International Year of Astronomy

20 December 2007: Early this morning (CET) the United Nations (UN) 62nd General Assembly proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Astronomy. The Resolution was submitted by Italy, Galileo Galilei's home country. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is an initiative of the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO.

iya0602 — News Release

IYA2009 web page public, National Node chairs appointed

21 December 2006: The web page for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) http://www.astronomy2009.org/
has just gone public. The page is the main starting point for the global and local IYA2009 events and everyone interested in IYA2009 can use this page to get in contact with their local IYA2009 National Node. The Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Conference (CAP2007) held in Athens (October 2007) will have IYA2009 as the main theme.

iya0601 — News Release

The IAU announces the IYA

26 October 2006: 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.

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Showing 21 to 36 of 36

National Nodes: 148
Organisational Nodes: 40
Organisational Associates:33
National Websites: 111
Cornerstone Projects: 12
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:16
Official Products:8
Media Partners:22

Global Sponsors

IYA2009 Patron

Organisational Associates:

ESO

AAS

INSU

CAS

STRW

NOVA

STFC

SCNAT

SPA

NRC

MEC

CNES

DLR

ESA

JAXA

NAOJ

APL

ESF

ISRO

ICRAN

NLSI

NOT

U Cluster

NASA

EAS

AUI

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is endorsed by the United Nations and the International Council of Science.