IYA2009 News Round-up

10 July 2009

Galileo is the scientist that just keeps on giving. His discoveries 400 years ago inspired the International Year of Astronomy 2009, and now a new theory says that Galileo knew he found a new planet in 1613, a staggering 234 years before its official discovery date. This corker of a story is up on Science Daily and is required reading. The gist is that Galileo's notebooks show he noticed Neptune while observing Jupiter, but further analysis could reveal that he realised it was a planet. Blimey!

Still on the theme of Galileo, his telescope is still on display at the Franklin Institute, says Central Jersey. Follow that link for lots of into about the astronomer himself, and other features of the exhibition.

Black Hills Portal is a vaguely ominous name for a website, but they've come up trumps with a story about a NASA Challenger Learning Center fundraising starparty. Taking place at the Daly Ranch North of the Gillette, Wyoming Airport off Hwy (which I assume but cannot guarantee means "highway") 14 - 16, on 10 July, the proceeds will go toward building the Center. Attendees must bring blankets, chairs, binoculars, telescopes, and torches. And presumably cash, too.

More IYA2009-themed coins have been produced, this time by the Royal Canadian Mint, says Resource Investor. Called the $30 Sterling Silver International Year of Astronomy collector coin, it's being released with a playing-card one, something to do with autumn raindrops, a train one, and a pure-gold coin. I'll have the gold one please. Coin News has more details, including pictures. The astronomy one is clearly the best although "autumn showers crystal raindrop" also looks really good, but is obviously let down by the name.

Oelwein "fortunate" to get library exhibit is the headline from the Daily Register. The Daily Register separates its stories into the following sections: "news, sports, special, guestbook, services, CRIME AND COURTS." Let's hope that IYA2009 is special. So what's the story? Oelwein library (in the States) has been celebrating the arrival of a new exhibit called "Visions of the Universe; Four Centuries of Discovery", which marks IYA2009. The accompanying photo is hard to make out, but it looks like three people are cutting the ribbon. That's overkill, surely? It certainly seems like the organisers put lots of time and effort into this event, so IYA2009 formally passes on its thanks. Hopefully that makes it all worth it, citizens of Oelwein.

Here's a good opinion article, from Canada's The Globe And Mail. It's about the recurring topic of light pollution, and how IYA2009 is boosting Canada's Dark Sky Preserve Program. The article gives a very good overview of the current situation, and is an excellent introduction to anyone wanting to learn more about the evils of excessive lighting.

And finally, headline of the week: "Wet weather spoils sky watching." Times & Transcript have provided that one, along with a story about how bad the weather has been in New Brunswick of late. Fair play to the journalist, it's better than writing "it's been raining a lot."

That's your weekly dose of English-language news out of the way. Check local sources for stories in other languages, ok?

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