[AstroNet] IYA2009 Update

Mon May 4 10:30:05 SAST 2009

International updates...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	IYA2009 Update
Date: 	Sat, 02 May 2009 12:16:43 +0200
From: 	Pedro Russo <prusso at eso.org>
To: 	undisclosed-recipients:;

Dear friends,

Here are some IYA2009 updates from the last week.

*INOVARTE 2009 Contest rewards Portuguese astronomy-themed craft work
*INOVARTE aims to promote traditional Minho craftwork by encouraging 
innovation and creativity, as well as the use of new technologies and 
materials. For the 2009 edition of INOVARTE the organisation teamed up 
with the Portuguese Astronomical Society and the IYA2009 National Node. 
See more: 
http://www.astronomia2009.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=154 
<http://www.astronomia2009.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=154>

*Mauna Kea brand IYA2009 trading cards*
Collect all cards and learn about astronomy! Download them here: 
http://www.naoj.org/IYA/Cards/

*The Starry Messenger
*An educational film drama to celebrate the International Year of 
Astronomy 2009, made by members of the Centre for Astrophysics Research 
at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. The official site is 
http://star.herts.ac.uk/starry-messenger/**

*The 90th anniversary of the 1919 solar eclipse
*In May 1919, astronomers launched an historic expedition to observe a 
total solar eclipse. Historians now recognise this expedition as a major 
achievement of 20th century science. Information about the upcoming 
celebration is available on the IYA2009 site: 
http://www.astronomy2009.org/globalprojects/specialprojects/1919/**

*Belgium Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy voices support for IYA2009
*The Belgium Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy has been presented with a 
low-cost telescope by Minister for Science Policy Sabine Laruelle during 
an IYA2009 event in Belgium. Read about it here: 
http://www.premier.fgov.be/fr/content/remise-dun-galil%C3%A9oscope-au-premier-ministre-0

*Galilean Nights: new IYA2009 Cornerstone Project*
Following the unprecedented success of IYA2009's 100 Hours of Astronomy, 
which featured hugely popular projects such as a Global Star Party, the 
live 24-hour webcast "Around the World in 80 Telescopes", a Science 
Centre webcast, and Sun Day, another weekend of astronomy events has 
been highlighted for 23-24 October 2009. This new IYA2009 Cornerstone 
Project is called Galilean Nights and will see amateur and professional 
astronomers around the globe taking to the streets, pointing their 
telescopes to the wonders that Galileo observed 400 years ago. Read more 
here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/251/

*Cosmic Diary features the hottest topics in astronomy
*The Cosmic Diary Cornerstone Project encourages professional 
astronomers to talk with the public about their work. The bloggers have 
each been challenged to write a feature article about their area of 
expertise, using easy-to-understand language to translate the nuts and 
bolts of their scientific research. A new feature article is released 
every two weeks! Read them here: 
http://cosmicdiary.org/features_archive.html

*IYA2009 boosts GLOBE at Night to record number of dark-skies observations
*The global citizen-science campaign GLOBE at Night 2009 recorded 80 
percent more observations of the world's dark skies than the programme's 
previous record -- including double the number of digital measurements 
-- thanks in large part to active participation and publicity from the 
network of 140 countries currently celebrating the International Year of 
Astronomy 2009. For more, visit 
http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/258/

*Vito Technology releases the new 1.5 version of Star Walk
*Vito Technology releases the new 1.5 version of the best seller 
educational application for stargazing Star Walk. With more than four 
months in the top 25 (appstore - education category) Star Walk is making 
it possible for everybody to admire the sky, to understand it better, 
and to have fun looking at the wonders of the Universe. More information 
and additional links can he found here: 
http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/257/

*From Earth To The Universe Update
*By the beginning of May 2009, two major installations of "From Earth to 
the Universe" (FETTU) will be open in the United States in two of the 
country's largest airports. On 4 May, FETTU will be unveiled at the 
Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta. Around the same time, FETTU 
will premier at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Each of these FETTUs will 
contain over 50 astronomical images prominently displayed throughout the 
airports. The FETTU Calendar can be seen here: 
http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/table_events.php

*Astronomical Chocolate
*Coinciding with the International Year of Astronomy 2009, the ninth 
edition of the International Contest of Chocolate Figures has chosen 
astronomy as its theme. The fourteen figures presented have proven that 
astronomy allows for multiple and creative representations. For 
mouth-watering details (in Spanish), click: 
http://www.pasteleria.com/noticias/view/chocolate-astronomico/01777

*UK Minister for Science, Lord Drayson: Why is Astronomy important?
*The UK Minister for Science, Lord Drayson, gave an opening address at 
the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science meeting held last week 
at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. The Minister spoke to Astronomy 
Now, an IYA2009 Media Partner, about why he thinks astronomy is 
important. See the video here: 
http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/254/

*EAAE Course on Astronomy Education*
The course will take place from 26 November  - 1 December and will be 
held in the CSIC Headquarters in Madrid. At this event several different 
kinds of activities will be presented by astronomers, university 
professors and secondary school teacher members of EAAE-WGSS. The course 
is for school teachers interested in astronomy even if they only have 
limited knowledge in this field. The course is not aimed at experts. The 
preliminary theme of this course is "Adventure in teaching Astronomy". 
The aim of the organisers is to promote very active participation and 
the exchange of ideas. General information will be available through the 
EAAE website: http://www.eaae-astro.org/

*Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future*
The 120th Anniversary Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
September 12 - 16, 2009
Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel, Millbrae, California
Registration is now open and abstracts are being accepted! You can 
submit abstracts for 90-minute sessions, 10-minute oral papers, or 
poster papers on a wide range of topics in space-science and 
Earth-science education and outreach. A proceedings volume will be 
published as part of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference 
series. For details, go to: http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html

If you need any assistance, remember that the Secretariat is always 
available for you.**

Pedro, Mariana and Lee
IYA2009 Secretariat

-- 
_________________________________________________
Pedro Russo
International Year of Astronomy 2009 Coordinator
Editor-in-Chief CAPjournal
International Astronomical Union
e. prusso at eso.org  
p. +49 (0) 89 320 06 195
f. +49 (0) 89 320 06 703
w. www.astronomy2009.org / www.capjournal.org
a. IAU IYA2009 Secretariat
ESO education and Public Outreach Department
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2
D-85748 Garching bei München
Germany

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