IYA2009 Updates

5 June 2009

IYA2009 and Web 2.0

Astronomy is a science which embraces modern technology, so it is no surprise to see IYA2009 represented on the most popular Web 2.0 sites. The problem is that with such a dazzling array of websites, where is the best place to start? This short guide to the English-speaking web 2.0 sites will help you decide which are best for you. http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/304/

Telescope per school in Slovenia
The Ministry of Education and Sport in Slovenia has enabled all primary and secondary schools in Slovenia to purchase a telescope and other astronomical equipment of their choice to value of 550 EUR per school. From 2009 on, all Slovenian pupils should therefore have a chance to observe the sky through a telescope! Read all about it here: http://www.astronomija2009.si/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=58&Itemid=90

Interview with IAU President
Catherine Cesarsky, President of the International Astronomical Union, has been interviewed on the JAXA website: http://www.jaxa.jp/article/interview/vol46/index_e.html

Ceremony celebrates the 1919 eclipse at Príncipe
In May 1919, the famous astronomer, Sir Arthur Eddington, the Royal Astronomical Society and the Geographical Society of Lisbon launched an historic expedition to observe a total solar eclipse. Historians now recognise this as a major achievement of 20th Century science. To commemorate the 90th anniversary, IYA2009 has given Special Project status to the Celebrating the 1919 Eclipse at Príncipe initiative and endorsed a ceremony that took place on the island. To read more about the historical expedition and recent ceremony, visit: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/305/

Astronomy haiku competition: winner announced!
Readers of the weekly news round-ups may remember a story about the UK IYA2009 contingent running a competition to celebrate the launch of full-dome digital planetarium show "We are Astronomers". To win four tickets to the show, followers of the Astronomy 2009 UK Twitter feed had to write their own astro-themed haiku! Now the competition is over, and the winning entry has been announced. Congratulations to @MazP who produced this haiku:

Archer's bow stretched tight
Sirius and Orion
hunt the night sky down

For more information and the two runner-up entries, go to: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/303/

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