IYA2009 Update

2 May 2009

INOVARTE 2009 Contest rewards Portuguese astronomy-themed craft work

INOVARTE aims to promote traditional Minho craftwork by encouraging innovation and creativity, as well as the use of new technologies and materials. For the 2009 edition of INOVARTE the organisation teamed up with the Portuguese Astronomical Society and the IYA2009 National Node. See more: http://www.astronomia2009.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=154

Mauna Kea brand IYA2009 trading cards
Collect all cards and learn about astronomy! Download them here: http://www.naoj.org/IYA/Cards/

The Starry Messenger
An educational film drama to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009, made by members of the Centre for Astrophysics Research at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. The official site is http://star.herts.ac.uk/starry-messenger/

The 90th anniversary of the 1919 solar eclipse
In May 1919, astronomers launched an historic expedition to observe a total solar eclipse. Historians now recognise this expedition as a major achievement of 20th century science. Information about the upcoming celebration is available on the IYA2009 site: http://www.astronomy2009.org/globalprojects/specialprojects/1919/

Belgium Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy voices support for IYA2009
The Belgium Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been presented with a low-cost telescope by Minister for Science Policy Sabine Laruelle during an IYA2009 event in Belgium. Read about it here: http://www.premier.fgov.be/fr/content/remise-dun-galil%C3%A9oscope-au-premier-ministre-0

Galilean Nights: new IYA2009 Cornerstone Project
Following the unprecedented success of IYA2009's 100 Hours of Astronomy, which featured hugely popular projects such as a Global Star Party, the live 24-hour webcast "Around the World in 80 Telescopes", a Science Centre webcast, and Sun Day, another weekend of astronomy events has been highlighted for 23-24 October 2009. This new IYA2009 Cornerstone Project is called Galilean Nights and will see amateur and professional astronomers around the globe taking to the streets, pointing their telescopes to the wonders that Galileo observed 400 years ago. Read more here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/251/

Cosmic Diary features the hottest topics in astronomy
The Cosmic Diary Cornerstone Project encourages professional astronomers to talk with the public about their work. The bloggers have each been challenged to write a feature article about their area of expertise, using easy-to-understand language to translate the nuts and bolts of their scientific research. A new feature article is released every two weeks! Read them here: http://cosmicdiary.org/features_archive.html

IYA2009 boosts GLOBE at Night to record number of dark-skies observations
The global citizen-science campaign GLOBE at Night 2009 recorded 80 percent more observations of the world's dark skies than the programme's previous record -- including double the number of digital measurements -- thanks in large part to active participation and publicity from the network of 140 countries currently celebrating the International Year of Astronomy 2009. For more, visit http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/258/

Vito Technology releases the new 1.5 version of Star Walk
Vito Technology releases the new 1.5 version of the best seller educational application for stargazing Star Walk. With more than four months in the top 25 (appstore - education category) Star Walk is making it possible for everybody to admire the sky, to understand it better, and to have fun looking at the wonders of the Universe. More information and additional links can he found here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/257/

From Earth To The Universe Update
By the beginning of May 2009, two major installations of "From Earth to the Universe" (FETTU) will be open in the United States in two of the country's largest airports. On 4 May, FETTU will be unveiled at the Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta. Around the same time, FETTU will premier at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Each of these FETTUs will contain over 50 astronomical images prominently displayed throughout the airports. The FETTU Calendar can be seen here: http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/table_events.php

Astronomical Chocolate
Coinciding with the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the ninth edition of the International Contest of Chocolate Figures has chosen astronomy as its theme. The fourteen figures presented have proven that astronomy allows for multiple and creative representations. For mouth-watering details (in Spanish), click: http://www.pasteleria.com/noticias/view/chocolate-astronomico/01777

UK Minister for Science, Lord Drayson: Why is Astronomy important?
The UK Minister for Science, Lord Drayson, gave an opening address at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science meeting held last week at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. The Minister spoke to Astronomy Now, an IYA2009 Media Partner, about why he thinks astronomy is important. See the video here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/254/

EAAE Course on Astronomy Education
The course will take place from 26 November - 1 December and will be held in the CSIC Headquarters in Madrid. At this event several different kinds of activities will be presented by astronomers, university professors and secondary school teacher members of EAAE-WGSS. The course is for school teachers interested in astronomy even if they only have limited knowledge in this field. The course is not aimed at experts. The preliminary theme of this course is "Adventure in teaching Astronomy". The aim of the organisers is to promote very active participation and the exchange of ideas. General information will be available through the EAAE website: http://www.eaae-astro.org/

Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future
The 120th Anniversary Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
September 12 - 16, 2009
Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel, Millbrae, California
Registration is now open and abstracts are being accepted! You can submit abstracts for 90-minute sessions, 10-minute oral papers, or poster papers on a wide range of topics in space-science and Earth-science education and outreach. A proceedings volume will be published as part of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference series. For details, go to: http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html

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