IYA2009 Updates

14 August 2009

Press release: IAU General Assembly finishes with the launch of successor to the International Year of Astronomy
The XXVIIth General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) had its Closing Ceremony today in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In addition to the discussion of new scientific results one of the major outcomes of the 2009 General Assembly is the launch of a decadal global strategy with the aim of fostering education and capacity building throughout the world. Read the release here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iya0914/

Four new IAU resolutions in the framework of IYA2009 have been approved!
Four important resolution in support of IYA2009 have been approved in the IAU XXVII General Assembly:
RESOLUTION B1 on IAU Strategic Plan:Astronomy for the Developing World
RESOLUTION A1 on Implementing the IAU Strategic Plan
RESOLUTION B4 on Supporting Women in Astronomy
RESOLUTION B5 in Defence of the night sky and the right to starlight
You can find the full resolutions here: http://www.astronomy2009.com.br/08.pdf

Twitter Perseid meteorwatch took place on August 11 and 12
For details, see: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/421/

IYA2009 breaks another record
Longest canvas in the world painted at the Oceans festival in Lisbon, under the theme Oceans and Astronomy. In this creative event that was open to families, a 4.8 km long canvas was painted with the help of many enthusiastic volunteers. More information: http://www.festivaldosoceanos.com/home_en.html

NASA Celebrates IYA2009
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in partnership with the U.S. national node and the IAU/UNESCO, of which it is an Organizational Associate, has developed a rich and vibrant program for the International Year of Astronomy 2009. See http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/410/ for details. New resources useful for IYA2009 events have also been created: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/407/

2009 total solar eclipse broadcast reaches a huge audience
Organisers of a live broadcast of the recent total eclipse have announced that the event reached millions of people using their feeds. 25 clients utilised the video stream, including 10 TV stations and 14 network portals. Viewers came from all over the world, from countries including Japan, USA, Poland, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, and many others. Visit http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/409/ for more.

IYA2009 coins celebrate this special year
Learn about them here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/408/

The 300th anniversary of the airship Passarola falls within IYA2009
One of the many important anniversaries being celebrated during IYA2009 is the flight of the balloon ship Passarola in 8 August 1709. Read the fascinating story here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/392/

News from SARM, Romania
Along with its usual technical and organisational activities on astronomy (which have culminated with a "Highly Commended" astronomical festival in Targoviste for 100 Hours of Astronomy), the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy-SARM has decided to develop a creative vision on the International Year of Astronomy in its astro-humanist web portal Cosmopoetry - SARM and Friends: http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/

Here are some samples. Firstly, a dedication to the main Romanian astronomical jubilee in 2009: 150 years since the birth of Ion Otescu, the founder of Romanian astromythology, at http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/romanianastrohumanism20/ Secondly, an ample photo-chronicle with poetic valences of the IYA2009 Opening Ceremony and Symposium 260 (Paris, January 2009) at: http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/sarmatunescoiauiyagalilei/

Thirdly, an international super-project (with the participation of some leaders of international groups of astronomy, literature and science fiction), which follows the chronology of the sky in 2009 in an astronomical-photographic-artistic-philosophic-poetic manner, and includes chapters and pages dedicated to a few global IYA2009 projects: 100 Hours of Astronomy, She Is an Astronomer, Dark Skies Awareness, The Sky At Night (for which SARM organised an amazing astrophotography expedition in the Bucegi Mountains, at 2500m altitude), etc.

Astropoetry to the International Year of Astronomy: http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/astropoetrytoiya

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