IYA2009 Updates
Galileo relics rediscovered: two fingers and a tooth
23 November 2009
Three exceptional Galilean relics, deemed lost for over a century, have been found again by chance by a collector.
Their story begins on 12 March 1737. The remains of Galileo were being moved from a secret storage room where they had first been laid to the monumental tomb in Santa Croce, opposite that of Michelangelo, where they still remain today. Some present decided to take "souvenirs", and removed parts of Galileo's corpse. One finger has been on display in the Florence Museum, and a bone in Padua. However, two fingers and a tooth went missing in 1905, leading many to believe they had been permanently lost.
These relics were rediscovered at a recent auction, where they were part of a mysterious lot consisting of a wooden case of unusual shape fabricated in the 19th century, surmounted by a wooden bust of Galileo. Inside it was an 18th century blown-glass vase containing two fingers and a tooth. A collector (who has asked to remain anonymous) realised that these items held additional interest. He purchased them and then followed the trail that led to their true nature being unveiled. The Soprintendente al Polo Museale Fiorentino, Cristina Acidini, and the Director of the Museo di Storia della Scienza, Paolo Galluzzi have confirmed the authenticity of these finds.
The relics will be displayed to the public for the first time in spring 2010 on the occasion of the reopening of the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza di Firenze, which will then assume the name of Museo Galileo. More information about the Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza: http://www.imss.fi.it/
Festival of astronomy in London celebrates IYA2009
23 November 2009
The University College London is running a festival of astronomy for schools, families, and the general public. The aim is to celebrate IYA2009, and all events are free of charge.
Activities include a spherical projection device, 14-metre timeline, handling ancient rocks, building scale Solar Systems, using telescopes, talking to astronomers about their work, Stars r'us (an interactive exhibit to show how stars are born, live and die) and much more.
Pre-booked school groups: November 25th, 26th and 27th
Families and the general public (first come first served): Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November from 11:00 to 19:00
Venue: University College London, Gower street WC1E 6BT (please use the main UCL gate in Gower Street, nearest tube Euston Square)
For school booking and general information, please contact Dr Francisco Diego: fd@star.ucl.ac.uk
UCL Your Universe website: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/youruniverse/
IYA2009 Update
22 November 2009
Official Closing of the International Year of the Planet Earth in Lisbon
From 20 to 22 November 2009, a worldwide event will be held to highlight main results of the International Year of the Planet Earth (IYPE) and to launch new initiatives building on the IYPE legacy. Invited by the Government of Portugal, the Planet Earth Lisbon Event 2009 (PEL2009) is being organised by IYPE, the Portuguese National Committee for IYPE and Bombazine, a professional event organising company. More information: http://www.planetearthlisbon2009.org/
Romanian IYA2009 enthusiasts release new web pages
The Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy (SARM) has launched five new web pages in its international super-project (led by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe coordinator, Valentin Grigore SARM President, and Florin Stancu web designer), continuing the sky chronology of 2009 through astrophotography, artworks, astronomical poetry, journalism, mini-dramas, humorous debates, and essays, including framing pages, pillar pages and special pages. See these pages via http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/astropoetrytoiya/
Scotland's Galloway Forest awarded Dark Sky status
Galloway Forest Park is the first place in the UK landscape where dark skies are now safeguarded for people to experience for themselves after being awarded Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark-Sky Association. This marks a new high in the growing interest in the UK's dark skies. http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/617/
Meteoroid explosion inspires Sudanese IYA2009 activities
On 7 October 2008 a meteoroid exploded in the atmosphere 37 km above Sudan's Nubian Desert. More information is available here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/616/
Stunning new photos and time-lapse videos on TWAN website
There are new stunning photos and time-lapse videos on TWAN website, featuring starry nights of the planet's landmarks from across the world. http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/615/
Telecommunication conference now registering attendees
The conference "Wireless, Telecommunication, Spare: Frontier Research from Marconi to the Future" will be held in Brussels on 3 December 2009. Organised by the Embassy of Italy, it will celebrate the first centenary of the award of the Nobel Prize for Physics to Guglielmo Marconi.
For more information please visit http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/613/
Limburg among the stars during IYA2009
Europlanetarium in Genk, Belgium, has done something particularly special. Noting that there are about 55 constellations visible from the northern hemisphere and there are exactly 44 cities/communities in the province of Limburg, Belgium, they asked every area to "adopt" their own constellation. The aim was to place the province of Limburg in between the stars! Every city/community in Limburg gladly accepted and all 44 now have their own constellation in the sky. http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/612/
40 years of Space Age & Beyond celebrated in Sri Lanka
In support of IYA2009, the Royal College Astronomical Society has organised an innovative programme called "40 years of Space Age & Beyond". This is the largest school-based IYA2009 programme in Sri Lanka and it consists of a workshop, science fiction competition and an exhibition of Apollo 11 Moon rocks which will be held from 8 to 9 December 2009. http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/611/
Pakistan celebrates World Space Week in style
As a part of IYA2009, Pakistan fully embraced World Space Week during 5-10 October. Many activities pertaining to space awareness were carried out during the week. Students and teachers from various schools participated fully in the entire event. For details please visit: http://www.suparco.gov.pk/pages/wsw.asp?wswlinkid=2
Video interview with Fiami, author of The Lives of Galileo
Talented artist and author Fiami has been interviewed for a Swiss Italian channel. His comic "The Lives of Galileo" shows that the history of science is about sharing knowledge across the Earth over the centuries. The sky and astronomy have no owners; we belong to the sky and not the other way around. "The Lives of Galileo" shows this in a humorous yet educational way. See the video here: http://info.rsi.ch/it/home/networks/la1/telegiornale.html?po=6c0f5869-e5e6-486d-bc42-0d6d33e3dd36&pos=d23e09b8-52bd-4311-ae9d-1d21515f55c3&date=&stream=low#tabEdition
New Russian IYA2009 resources help to promote space science
A pair of new websites containing Russian-language resources are proving to be popular.
Astronomical blog Nebula Cast: http://www.nebulacast.com/
Accompanying YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/bizbur08
These feature a monthly vodcast "Pulse of the Live! Universe" devoted to most important astronomical news. There are almost no Russian speaking analogues to this available on the internet. The YouTube channel is currently averaging 1200 visits per day, impressive statistics which demonstrate the potential in digital media.
BLAST! educational DVD now for sale
BLAST!, a spectacular and suspenseful story of space exploration and IYA2009 Special project, is now available on DVD in a double disc set, specially designed for the educational and institutional markets. Five-time Emmy winner Paul Devlin follows his brother Mark Devlin, PhD to five continents, from the Arctic to the Antarctic to launch a revolutionary new telescope on a NASA high altitude balloon to reveal a hidden Universe. From catastrophic failure to transcendent triumph, their adventure reveals the real life of scientists. To buy the DVD, please visit: http://www.blastthemovie.com/buy.html
News round-up, 20 November 2009
20 November 2009
Have you heard the rumour? Have you have you have you? It's the talk of the town: the IYA2009 news round-up is here!
Well done Galloway Forest Park, for achieving Dark Sky status. BBC Online has commendable coverage, including a video. You know the publicity machine is doing its job when BBC Online includes a video. It features an interview with Steve Owens, from the UK IYA2009 effort. Says Steve, "you step out of your car on a dark night and the car just vanishes behind you." Sounds like thieves are making use of the darkness, too. The Galloway story even inspired an article for BBC Magazine. Steve Owens gets quotes in that, too. All hail Steve, the Media Machine! Alas he doesn't feature in the Daily Mail Online story. Next time aim for the hat trick, mate.
To The American Association for the Advancement of Science next, as they're making the world aware of their Caribbean Division's conference. Public engagement was a strong theme so it's only fair that they gave talks on IYA2009. I wonder if these were more or less popular than the "flashing colorful slides of Martians".
India is a good place to be now as an IYA2009-inspired astro-fortnight is kicking off. Press Trust of India has the details, but here's a synopsis: it had a scintillating start (good word, must use more often), Galileo is the main theme, and there are exhibitions and concerts.
Still in that part of the world, Indian Express reports that Punjab University is organising astronomy and astrophysics workshops, happening NOW. Speakers are delivering lectures on observational astronomy, star formation and evolution, galaxies, and practical astronomy. Run along to it if you're close by.
Star Bulletin was star struck this week as they've been investigating amateur astronomy in Hawaii. They've obviously taken it seriously, as it's a lengthy article and has two photos taken specially. Read it all and show that you appreciate the effort. A bit like what you should be doing with these round-ups.
STORY OF THE WEEK! "The planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College is featured in an episode of Cake Boss to be aired on Monday, Nov. 23 at 10:30 p.m. on the cable television network TLC. In the episode, ‘Cake Boss' Buddy Valastro and his team create a space-themed cake at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken for a celebration of the International Year of Astronomy at the RVCC planetarium." Thanks to nj.com for that gem.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to find out how to become a "cake boss". Until the next scintillating round-up, keep checking local sources for stories in your own language.
Romanian IYA2009 enthusiasts release new web pages
20 November 2009
The Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy (SARM) has launched five new web pages in its international super-project (led by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe coordinator, Valentin Grigore SARM President, and Florin Stancu web designer), continuing the sky chronology of 2009 through astrophotography, artworks, astronomical poetry, journalism, mini-dramas, humorous debates, and essays, including framing pages, pillar pages and special pages.
Astronomers and writers from all over the world have contributed to this project (still open for the 4th Quarter issue page), which also contains:
- Pages or chapters about activities and dedications for official IYA2009 projects: The World At Night, Dark Skies Awareness, 100 Hours of Astronomy, Galilean Nights, She Is An Astronomer, Cosmic Diary, Universe Awareness, From Earth to the Universe, Galilean Satellites, Star Peace.
- Chapters dedicated to great astronomers and international astronomical organisations.
- Pages about the most important international events of astronomical poetry in 2009, conceived around the International Meteor Conference of the International Meteor Organization in Porec (Croatia), and SARM's Galilean Nights festival of astronomy in Targoviste (Romania).
See these pages via http://www.cosmopoetry.ro/astropoetrytoiya/
IYA2009 retro-style posters now for sale
20 November 2009
A series of stunning IYA2009 posters, designed by talented graphic designer Simon Page, are now available to purchase. There are nine to choose from and they can be delivered internationally. See and buy them here: http://simoncpage.inprnt.com/
Simon's work is the latest in a series of products by graphic designers inspired by IYA2009. For example, James White has created a pair of posters:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalnoiseart/3146784205/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/signalnoiseart/3267520692/
The famous web designer Joshua Davis used the concept of IYA2009 and "space" in a presentation available here: http://workshop.joshuadavis.com/presentation_2009.zip
The IYA2009 team congratulates Simon, James, Joshua, and all designers who have helped popularise astronomy through their art.
Meteoroid explosion inspires Sudanese IYA2009 activities
20 November 2009
On 7 October 2008 a meteoroid exploded in the atmosphere 37 km above Sudan's Nubian Desert. More information is available here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_TC3
Linking this exciting event with IYA2009, Sudanese astronomers have organised outreach events to reach a large number of people:
The University of Khartoum organised three trips to the Nubian Desert to recover the fragments of the meteoroid: http://asima.seti.org/2008TC3/
A one day symposium was run on 21 June 2009 with the help of the Ministry Higher Education.
A conference was held from 17 to 19 November 2009, with help from the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Science (AUASS): http://www.auass.com/
Students implemented a week-long show about astronomy.
Another conference will be held later in the year, from 5 to 15 December: http://asima.seti.org/2008TC3/workshop2008TC3.html
Stunning new photos and time-lapse videos on TWAN website
19 November 2009
There are new stunning photos and time-lapse videos on TWAN website, featuring starry nights of the planet's landmarks from across the world.
Europe
France
- Planets in Brittany by Laurent Laveder
- Moon and Venus in Brittany by Laurent Laveder
- Planets Meet in Harbour by Laurent Laveder
- Young Astronomers by Laurent Laveder
- Brittany from Horizon to Horizon by Laurent Laveder
Sweden
- Nature Scene by P-M Heden
- Moonset Milky Way by P-M Heden
- Gotland Starry Night by P-M Heden
Spain
Caparra Startrails by Juan Carlos Casado
Hungary
- Winter Moonrise in Hungary by Tamas Ladanyi
- Milky Way Lake by Tamas Ladanyi
Africa
Algeria
- Milky Way from the End of the World by Babak A. Tafreshi
Asia and Middle East
Iran
- Desert View by Babak A. Tafreshi
- Bizzare Sky View by Babak A. Tafreshi
- The Color of Fall by Oshin D. Zakarian
- Shrine View by Oshin D. Zakarian
- Silk Road Night by Oshin D. Zakarian
China
- Eclipsed Landscape by Juan Carlos Casado
- Pingyao Circumpolar Stars by Juan Carlos Casado
- Milky Way over Pagoda by Juan Carlos Casado
Australia and Pacific
Chile (Easter Island)
- Moonbow above Moais by Stephane Guisard
- Moais at Dark by Stephane Guisard
- Moonlit Night of South Pacific by Stephane Guisard
Guest Gallery is a well-received section on TWAN website to feature selected outstanding Earth and sky photos by non-TWAN creative photographers from around the globe. If you have such remarkable photos to share with TWAN Guest Gallery, please contact us. There are new featured photos on the Guest Gallery:
- Zodiacal Light over Chile (Chile) by Yuri Beletsky
- Moon at Qutb Minar (India) by Atish
- Old Moon at Perigee (Italy) by Stefano De Rosa
- Moon and Jupiter over Bahai Gardens (Israel) by Dimitry Rotstein
- Vienna Star Trails (Austria) by Peter Wienerroither
- Jupiter and Shadowed Photographers (Iran) by Soroush Sotoudeh
- Space Shuttle over Italy (Italy) by Marco Meniero
- Steps to the Moon (Portugal) by Miguel Claro
- Milky Way CARMA (USA) by Tom Lowe
- Starry Night over Korosh Tomb (Iran) by Mostafa Kazemipour
- Setting Moon Panorama (Hungary) by Monika Landy-Gyebnar
- Night at Torremocha (Spain) by Vicente Aupi
- Cape Crescent Moon (Turkey) by Hakan Buyuktuncay
- Solar Eclipse Evolution (Turkey) by Cristina Tinta-Vass
- ISS over McDonald Observatory (USA) by Bryan R. Tobias
Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), a NASA's world-known website, has featured new TWAN photos:
- Moon and Planets in the Morning by Stefan Seip
- TWAN is featuring six special galleries:
Latest Images
Dark Skies Importance
Cosmic Motions
World Heritage Sites
TWAN APODs
TWAN Podcast
TWAN is a global program of Astronomers Without Borders (www.astrowb.org) and a Special Project of International Year of Astronomy 2009, an initiative by IAU and UNESCO. The World at Night is to produce and present a collection of stunning photographs of the world's most beautiful and historic sites against the nighttime backdrop of stars, planets and celestial events. The eternally peaceful sky looks the same above all symbols of different nations and regions, attesting to the truly unified nature of Earth as a planet rather than an amalgam of human-designated territories.
Building bridges through the sky
The World at Night
www.twanight.org
Official Closing of the International Year of the Planet Earth starts tomorrow in Lisbon
19 November 2009
From 20 to 22 November 2009, a worldwide event will be held to highlight main results of the International Year of the Planet Earth (IYPE) and to launch new initiatives building on the IYPE legacy. Invited by the Government of Portugal, the Planet Earth Lisbon Event 2009 (PEL2009) is being organized by IYPE, the Portuguese National Committee for IYPE and Bombazine, a professional event organizing company.
More information: http://www.planetearthlisbon2009.org/
Telecommunication conference now registering attendees
18 November 2009
The conference "Wireless, Telecommunication, Spare: Frontier Research from Marconi to the Future" will be held in Brussels on 3 December 2009. Organised by the Embassy of Italy, it will celebrate the first centenary of the award of the Nobel Prize for Physics to Guglielmo Marconi.
The conference is multidisciplinary and will touch upon the fields of research related to Marconi's inventions and their further developments. It will start with telecommunications and proceed into astronomy and space research.
The speakers are farsighted scientists and managers, including the President of the Italian National Research Council and the Secretaries General of the Belgian FRS and FWO; scientists from academia; and the most important European companies in the sector of telecommunication and space research.
For more information and to register, please e-mail: scientifico.ambbruxelles@esteri.it
Search IYA2009 Updates
National Nodes: 148
Organisational Nodes: 40
Organisational Associates:33
National Websites: 111
Cornerstone Projects: 12
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:16
Official Products:8
Media Partners:22
IYA2009 Patron
