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<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Dear
Friends,<br>
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">The IYA2009 newsletter for this
week:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Organisational
Matters<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">IYA2009 is still growing! We
would like to welcome</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Albania and
Afghanistan, our latest National Nodes who bring the total
to an impressive 129.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Official
IYA2009 On-line Forum</span></b><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">Cloudy Nights Forums are the official
forums of the IYA2009. Keep in touch: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat">http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?Cat</a>=<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">IYA2009
Brochure available in Arabic<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">The IYA 2009 Brochure v.3 is
now available in Arabic: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/brochures/detail/brochure03_ara/">http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/brochures/detail/brochure03_ara/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">Kindly translated by Abdelkader
Oueslati (<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:Abdelkader.Oueslati@cst.rnu.tn">Abdelkader.Oueslati@cst.rnu.tn</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Media Partners<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">In order to promote our
activities, the IYA2009 Secretariat is establishing a network of media
partners
that will write and report on IYA2009 activities around the world.
Please check
our current media partners: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.astronomy2009.org/organisation/structure/partners/media/">http://www.astronomy2009.org/organisation/structure/partners/media/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Projects/Activities<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">The 365 Days
of Astronomy Podcast</span></b><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB"> is a project
that will publish one podcast per day, 5 to 10 minutes in
duration, for all 365 days of 2009. The podcast will be made available
through
an RSS feed. The podcast episodes will be written, recorded and
produced by
people around the world. <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://365daysofastronomy.org/">http://365daysofastronomy.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">A message from Helen Sim (SPoC
in Australia and Chair of I the YA2009 New Year's Eve Events):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Dear all,<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">In Australia,
we intend to mark the beginning of IYA using a pulsar as a
clock to count down to the moment of midnight on 31 December.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">I'm writing to
ask for expressions of interest in receiving a video feed
of this event, as described below.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Sydney
Observatory is an old historical observatory, now a museum of
astronomy, situated on the edge of Sydney Harbour, Australia. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">About 300 km
inland is the Parkes radio telescope. We now have a regular
program in which high-school students can control the telescope over
the
internet and take meaningful data.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">On 9 December,
we will start a symbolic countdown to midnight 31
December at Sydney Observatory, using a display of a specific pulsar's
pulse
train. (The pulsar has been chosen.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">On the 31
December, we will have students who have previously used the
Parkes telescope control it from Sydney Observatory. They will observe
the
pulsar that has been "counting down" through December.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">From Parkes we
would send an audio and video feed of the astronomers in
the control room and the pulsar's signal. This would go to Sydney
Observatory,
where it would be combined with a feed from Sydney Observatory.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">At the moment
of midnight, following the pulsar countdown, the time ball
at Sydney Observatory will be dropped. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">At the same
time, the fireworks on Sydney Harbour will start.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">We expect to
be able to make the video signal of the countdown and the
timeball dropping available at standard videoconferencing resolution,
to up to
ten other countries: to access it, you would dial into an mcu unit as
if you
were running a videoconference.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">We would also
be able to provide access for foreign media organisations
at both Sydney Observatory and the Parkes Observatory.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">If you are
interested in either of those possibilities, could you let me
know within days? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Because the
videoconferencing is limited to ten countries, we'll be able
to give access only to the first ten countries that reply.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Best wishes
for your respective plans for IYA -<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Helen<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Public
Relations and Media Liaison<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">CSIRO
Australia Telescope National Facility (email: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Helen.Sim@csiro.au">Helen.Sim@csiro.au</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">and<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Anglo-Australian
Observatory (email: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:hsim@aao.gov.au">hsim@aao.gov.au</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Tel:
+61-2-9372-4251<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">Mob:
+61-419-635-905<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span
style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">IYA2009 EVENTS</span></b><span
style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol;"
lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span
style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">IYA2009
Opening Event, 15-16 January 2008 - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.astronomy2009.fr/opening">http://www.astronomy2009.fr/opening</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Symbol;"
lang="EN-GB"><span style="">·<span
style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">International
Astronomical Union Symposium 260: "The Rôle of Astronomy in Society and
Culture" UNESCO, Paris 19-23 January 2009 - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://iaus260.obspm.fr/index.php">http://iaus260.obspm.fr/index.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span
style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;" lang="EN-GB">This
conference will bring together many individuals who strive to ensure
that astronomy is present at all levels in education, society and
culture
worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">Summary from the Education and
Popularisation of Astronomy Session in 10th APRIM, the 10th
Asian-Pacific
Regional IAU Meeting, held from 3-6 August 2008Report by Avivah Yamani:
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/documents/detail/documents_aprim2008/">http://www.astronomy2009.org/resources/documents/detail/documents_aprim2008/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">As always, if you have any
questions then please don’t hesitate to contact us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">Pedro and Mariana<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"
lang="EN-GB">IYA2009 Secretariat</span><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
_________________________________________________
Pedro Russo
International Year of Astronomy 2009 Coordinator
International Astronomical Union
e. <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:prusso@eso.org">prusso@eso.org</a>
p. +49 (0) 89 320 06 195
f. +49 (0) 89 320 06 703
w. <a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="http://www.astronomy2009.org">www.astronomy2009.org</a>
a. IAU IYA2009 Secretariat
ESO education and Public Outreach Department
Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2
D-85748 Garching bei München
Germany
</pre>
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