IYA2009 Update

25 September 2009

Galilean Nights - The Galileo Experience

Wind the clock back 400 years and follow in the footsteps of a giant - it amazed Galileo in 1609, now everyone can experience it in 2009! On 22-24 October 2009, the International Year of Astronomy 2009 Cornerstone project, Galilean Nights, will see amateur and professional astronomers, enthusiasts and the public taking to the streets all around the globe, pointing their telescopes to the wonders that Italian astronomer Galileo observed 400 years ago. See the full update here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/477/

Wanted: your IYA2009 photographs!
IYA2009 is a great opportunity to take amazing pictures of the night sky, star parties, exhibitions, school activities, talks, and other events. The IYA2009 Secretariat invites you all to submit your pictures to be used in products such as like press releases, brochures, and the final report. Find out how to do this here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/465/

The biggest Sri Lankan IYA2009 event is here!
Sri Lanka is geared up and ready for its largest astronomy event of the year: Star Party, a competition for students from different parts of the island. The main topics of discussion will be observation, rocketry, cosmology, and astrophysics. More information is available online: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/475/

Become an astronomy researcher for a night
Launched in 1995, Researchers' Night is an annual Europe-wide event where the public at large have the opportunity to discover the magical work of science. Dozens of laboratories, universities, enterprises, and foundations open their doors and unveil their secrets. This year it falls on 25 September. Interested individuals and groups can freely enter and become scientists for a night, working on fascinating experiments using cutting-edge instruments. To learn more about this "Researchers in Europe" initiative, and to find events in your country, please visit: http://ec.europa.eu/research/researchersineurope/events/researchersnight09/index_en.htm

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2010: Call for Registration
The "Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2010" (CAP2010) conference will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 15 to 19 March, 2010. Initial information is now online: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/472/

Celebrate UN-declared World Space Week 2009
World Space Week - established by the United Nations in 1999 - is taking place every year between 4-10 October. It is the best occasion to use space to excite students! During UN-declared World Space Week a large number of public events and educational programmes are held simultaneously all around the world, on the Internet, even in outer space! As the theme of World Space Week 2009 is "Space for Education" we encourage in particular the participation of educational establishments to join us in celebrating our 10th Anniversary. See more details: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/471/

International Day of Peace
21 September is called the International Day of Peace by the United Nations. As some of you may know, Star Peace is an IYA2009 project, and its main goal is to promote peace. To celebrate the International Day of Peace, the amateur astronomers are invited to hold Star Parties and draw a Peace Line on Earth. To further read about this event, and to join Star Peace group and respect a world without war with them, visit: http://starpeace.org/En/News/45/Default.aspx

Europe-wide education event with ESA astronaut Frank De Winne
A Europe-wide education event today links ESA astronaut Frank De Winne on the International Space Station with hundreds of schoolchildren in several European cities. In a live link-up with the ISS, De Winne will perform a simple experiment in space to demonstrate the effects of freefall. More information: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM98SQXQZF_index_0.html

Israeli Sci-Fi and Fantasy Festival celebrates IYA2009
Every year in October, the ICON Sc-Fi and Fantasy Festival descends upon Tel Aviv, Israel. A highly respected event, ICON receives widespread positive media coverage and enjoys good standing within the world's science fiction and fantasy communities. To honour 2009, the upcoming ICON Festival is set to include an academic conference about astronomy. Speakers will include Prof. Avshalom Elitzur, Prof. Elia Leibowitz, and Dr. Yigal Patel, chairman of the Israeli Astronomical Association. To see more, please visit: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/468/

400 Years of the Telescope Newsletter
Read it here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/467/

"She Is An Astronomer" 2010 Calendar
The "She Is An Astronomer" IYA2009 Cornerstone project has produced a colourful calendar for 2010 featuring accomplished women astronomers from around the world. The illustrated calendar can be downloaded from: http://www.sheisanastronomer.org/index.php/downloads/calendar

Quantum to Cosmos Festival is Online and Around the World
With only one month to go until launch, Perimeter Institute's Quantum to Cosmos Festival is gaining interest - on-site, online and on TVO. Read all about it: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/474/

Astronomy study abroad - Ghana
Winter Session: December 28, 2009 - January 8, 2010
In celebration of IYA2009, the University of Arizona's Office of Study Abroad & Student Exchange is offering a unique faculty-led winter session program in Ghana. This program is designed for students interested in astronomy and anthropology, particularly in an African context. See more details: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/466/

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