International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009

This is an exciting year for the astronomy community. It is the 400th anniversary of the year when Galileo first pointed a telescope to the sky. The IYA team has planned a whole slew of events year round, for young and old alike. The goal is to teach people more about astronomy and to raise awareness about the night sky and the world we live in. My thesis adviser is the person in charge of designing, manufacturing, setting up the business plan for, and finding funding for the Galileoscope project which aims to provide low cost, decent telescopes that can be built and used by anyone. I have smaller ambitions, but I hope I can make some small impact at least.

For my part in this world wide IYA festival, I will be giving my usual planetarium shows to boyscouts, children, and college students in our astronomy and discovery courses. I am also planning to do a few star shows when it gets warmer. Perhaps I will throw a small graduation party for myself and drag all my telescopes out for a special star show. I also want to finish that draft of my get-rid-of-your-light-pollution-producing-lights proposal aimed at my college and a draft aimed at any town I may be moving to for grad school.

If you are an astronomer, amateur or professional, what are your plans for IYA 2009?

If you are not familiar with astronomy, but would like to learn more: look for a local astronomy club, star party, planetarium, or class. Pull out those old binoculars and look up! Every clear night, make it a point to look up for a few minutes. Let your eyes adjust and look at the stars and the patterns they make. Maybe take note of where the moon is and what phase it’s in.

Check out my links to the right. There you will find the U.S. site for IYA 2009.