IYA2009 Updates
The new web site of the 100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project is now online.
Jan 3, 2009
The new web site of the 100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project is now online. This new site has new content and features. More importantly, the new site provides the capability for many new features as IYA2009 begins and we all prepare for the 100 Hours of Astronomy in April.
There is new information on each of the global events, including the opening event, the live science center webcast, the live 24-hour research observatory webcast and the 24-hour global star party. Much more will be added as planning continues.
A new Resources section has the latest information pack, logos of various types for your use, five new posters that can downloaded and printed small as handouts or large as posters with spaces for information on your event and seven how-to guides for planning and conducting public star parties. The information pack will be updated as planning continues, new posters will be created and many more how-to guides will be added to encourage everyone with a telescope to hold a public observing event during the 24-hour global star party. More types of resources will be added as well.
While we are very pleased to have the new web site available, this is just the beginning. Within the next week some essential features will become active. Registration of events and several methods to search the events database and display the results. A new forum will become active allowing you to ask questions and provide feedback, discuss similar types of events with other participants around the world and find collaborators for your projects. An FAQ will also be available within the week.
More information, features and resources will continue to be added for some time. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about what the site should include please feel free to write to the project coordinator Jennie McCormick at farmcoveobs@xtra.co.nz. Feel free to write to me as well at the address below concerning any other issues.
Each significant addition to the site will be announced on this mailing list as it becomes available. Jennie McCormick's newsletter will also continue at greater intervals.
IYA2009 is now one day old in most of the world. The celebration is just beginning, and excitement is building toward the 100 Hours of Astronomy. To see how those of us on the 100HA team feel visit our new web site to see the great (and real; no Photoshop!) image captured by Paul Moss of New Zealand. It's going to be a grand worldwide party!
More information: www.100hoursofastronomy.org
Welcome to IYA2009
Jan 3, 2009
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 has officially begun! It literally started with a bang for residents of the Brazilian city Rio de Janeiro, as a grand fireworks display was held in honour of the year, with explosions in the shapes of stars, comets, and even planets! But astronomy-themed events haven't been limited to any one location. IYA2009 is a global endeavour, and activities already occurring reflect that.
The Dawn of IYA2009 ensured that the general public were in no doubt as to the theme of the year. Countless astronomers around the world took to the streets, allowing people to safely observe the Sun, and also learn about IYA2009. The Cornerstone Project Cosmic Diary also launched on New Year's Day. Over 50 professional astronomers, including those from well-known institutions such as NASA, ESO, ESA and JAXA have begun blogging, letting the public see what life as a scientist is really like. And the eagerly anticipated 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast project has begun in earnest, with the first show already on the site.
The wider media has been quick to pick up on IYA2009, with articles appearing in all kinds of publications and blogs. For example, the very popular site Astronomy Picture of the Day adopted the IYA2009 logo as its emblem for 1 January, and the latest issue of Nature journal is dedicated to IYA2009.
This is just a small selection of events held on the very first day of IYA2009. As an indication of things to come, the remaining days will be a great success!
Pope on the International Year of Astronomy 2009 - The Official Speech
Jan 1, 2009
BENEDICT XVI
ANGELUS
St Peter's Square
Fourth Sunday of Advent, 21 December 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The Gospel of this Fourth Sunday of Advent proposes to us the account of
the Annunciation (Lk 1: 26-38), the mystery to which we return every day
in reciting the Angelus. This prayer makes us relive the decisive moment
at which God knocked at Mary's heart and, having received her "yes",
began to take flesh, in her and from her. The Collect of today's Mass is
the same as the one we recite at the end of the Angelus that in Italian,
says: "Infondi nel nostro spirito la tua grazia, O Padre. Tu che
all'annunzio dell'Angelo ci hai rivelato l'incarnazione del tuo Figlio,
per la sua passione e la sua croce guidaci alla gloria della
risurrezione" [Fill our hearts with your love, and as you revealed to us
by an angel the coming of your Son as man, so lead us through his
suffering and death to the glory of his Resurrection]. With only a few
days until the Feast of Christmas, we are invited to fix our gaze on the
ineffable mystery that Mary treasured for nine months in her virginal
womb: the mystery of God who is made man. This is the first foundation
of the redemption. The second is the death and Resurrection of Jesus and
these two inseparable aspects express a single divine plan: to save
humanity and its history, assuming them fully by taking on the entire
burden of all the evil that oppresses it.
Beyond its historical dimension, this mystery of salvation also has a
cosmic dimension: Christ is the sun of grace who, with his life,
"transfigures and enflames the expectant universe" (cf. Liturgy). The
Christmas festivity is placed within and linked to the winter solstice
when, in the northern hemisphere, the days begin once again to lengthen.
In this regard perhaps not everyone knows that in St Peter's Square
there is also a meridian; in fact, the great obelisk casts its shadow in
a line that runs along the paving stones toward the fountain beneath
this window and in these days, the shadow is at its longest of the year.
This reminds us of the role of astronomy in setting the times of prayer.
The Angelus, for example, is recited in the morning, at noon and in the
evening, and clocks were regulated by the meridian which in ancient
times made it possible to know the "exact midday".
The fact that the winter solstice occurs exactly today, 21 December, and
at this very time, offers me the opportunity to greet all those who will
be taking part in various capacities in the initiatives for the World
Year of Astronomy, 2009, established on the fourth centenary of Galileo
Galilei's first observations by telescope. Among my Predecessors of
venerable memory there were some who studied this science, such as
Sylvester II who taught it, Gregory XIII to whom we owe our calendar,
and St Pius X who knew how to build sundials. If the heavens, according
to the Psalmist's beautiful words, "are telling the glory of God" (Ps
19[18]: 1), the laws of nature which over the course of centuries many
men and women of science have enabled us to understand better are a
great incentive to contemplate the works of the Lord with gratitude.
Let us now turn our gaze again to Mary and Joseph who were awaiting the
birth of Jesus and learn from them the secret of reflection in order to
taste the joy of Christmas. Let us prepare ourselves to welcome with
faith the Redeemer who comes to be with us, the Word of God's love for
humanity of every epoch.
Astronomy Picture of the Day: 1st January 2009
Jan 1, 2009
Astronomy Picture of the Day: 1st January 2009
Nature: A Big Year for Astronomy
Jan 1, 2009
The latest issue of Nature is dedicated to the big year for astronomy, the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Check the latest issue: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v457/n7225/
New Year Message by Valérie Pécresse (French Minister of Higher Education and Research)
Dec 23, 2008
Every second counts
Dec 23, 2008
There is good news for IYA2009 supporters racing to finish preparations before the new year. On 31 December, a "leap second" will be added to the world's clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This marks the 24th leap second to be added to UTC, since 1972.
These extra seconds are needed because the Earth's rotation is gradually slowing down. The happy side-effect this year is that it provides an extra moment to organise activities for IYA2009!
More information: http://www.usno.navy.mil/pao/press/2008_Leap_Second_Release.pdf
Search IYA2009 Updates
National Nodes: 135
Organisational Nodes: 32
National Websites: 87
Cornerstone Projects: 11
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:6
