Yesterday, the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Astronomy, with the aim of increasing awareness among the public of the importance of astronomical sciences and of promoting widespread access to new knowledge and experiences of astronomical observation.
The year 2009 is chosen to commemorate the 400 years since renowned scientist Galileo Galilei pointed a telescope towards the sky. This led him to discover, among other things, the four major satellites of Jupiter, the mountains and craters on the Moon, as well as sunspots. More importantly perhaps, Galileo's use of the telescope substantiated Copernicus' heliocentric model of our Solar System, paving the way for modern science, and for four hundred years of amazing discoveries in astronomy.
Nowadays, telescopes on the ground and in space explore the Universe, 24 hours a day, across the whole electromagnetic spectrum. And indeed, today, astronomy stands out as one of the most modern and dynamic sciences, using some of the most advanced technologies and sophisticated techniques available to scientists.
The United Nations Resolution was submitted by Italy, Galileo Galilei's home country, gaining full support of the General Assembly's Second Committee. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) is an initiative by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO.
"This is an important step in furthering the interest of the public in what is arguably the oldest of all sciences: astronomy," says Tim de Zeeuw, the ESO Director General. "I am very proud because ESO and its member states have been actively working together with the IAU and UNESCO to help achieve this result."
In addition to a wide array of activities planned both at the local and international level, ESO is also hosting the IYA 2009 Secretariat at its Headquarters in Garching.
At the IAU General Assembly held in July 2003 in Sydney (Australia), the IAU proposed to designate 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy. Based on the initiative of Italy, the 2005 General Conference of UNESCO recommended that the UN General Assembly should declare the year 2009 the International Year of Astronomy.
The UN has designated "the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the lead agency and focal point for the Year, and invites it to organize, in this capacity, activities to be realized during the Year, in collaboration with other relevant entities of the United Nations system, the International Astronomical Union, the European Southern Observatory and astronomical societies and groups throughout the world."
For more information about the International Year of Astronomy 2009, please visit its website at http://www.astronomy2009.org/
The associated IAU Press Release is at http://www.iau.org/....
National contacts for the media:
Belgium - Dr. Rodrigo Alvarez +32-2-474 70 50 rodrigo.alvarez@oma.be
Czech Republic - Pavel Suchan +420 267 103 040 suchan@astro.cz
Finland - Ms. Tiina Raivo +358 9 7748 8369 tiina.raivo@aka.fi
Denmark - Dr. Michael Linden-Vørnle +45-33-18 19 97 mykal@tycho.dk
France - Dr. Daniel Kunth +33-1-44 32 80 85 kunth@iap.fr
Germany - Dr. Jakob Staude +49-6221-528229 staude@mpia.de
Italy - Dr. Leopoldo Benacchio +39-347-230 26 51 benacchio@inaf.it
The Netherlands - Ms. Marieke Baan +31-20-525 74 80 mbaan@science.uva.nl
Portugal - Prof. Teresa Lago +351-22-089 833 mtlago@astro.up.pt
Spain - Dr. Miguel Mas-Hesse +34918131196 mm@laeff.inta.es
Sweden - Dr. Jesper Sollerman +46-8-55 37 85 54 jesper@astro.su.se
Switzerland - Dr. Martin Steinacher +41-31-324 23 82 martin.steinacher@sbf.admin.ch
United Kingdom - Mr. Peter Barratt +44-1793-44 20 25 peter.barratt@stfc.ac.uk
USA - Dr. Paola Rebusco +1-617-308-2397 prebusco@eso.org
The year 2009 is chosen to commemorate the 400 years since renowned scientist Galileo Galilei pointed a telescope towards the sky. This led him to discover, among other things, the four major satellites of Jupiter, the mountains and craters on the Moon, as well as sunspots. More importantly perhaps, Galileo's use of the telescope substantiated Copernicus' heliocentric model of our Solar System, paving the way for modern science, and for four hundred years of amazing discoveries in astronomy.
Nowadays, telescopes on the ground and in space explore the Universe, 24 hours a day, across the whole electromagnetic spectrum. And indeed, today, astronomy stands out as one of the most modern and dynamic sciences, using some of the most advanced technologies and sophisticated techniques available to scientists.
The United Nations Resolution was submitted by Italy, Galileo Galilei's home country, gaining full support of the General Assembly's Second Committee. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) is an initiative by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO.
"This is an important step in furthering the interest of the public in what is arguably the oldest of all sciences: astronomy," says Tim de Zeeuw, the ESO Director General. "I am very proud because ESO and its member states have been actively working together with the IAU and UNESCO to help achieve this result."
In addition to a wide array of activities planned both at the local and international level, ESO is also hosting the IYA 2009 Secretariat at its Headquarters in Garching.
At the IAU General Assembly held in July 2003 in Sydney (Australia), the IAU proposed to designate 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy. Based on the initiative of Italy, the 2005 General Conference of UNESCO recommended that the UN General Assembly should declare the year 2009 the International Year of Astronomy.
The UN has designated "the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as the lead agency and focal point for the Year, and invites it to organize, in this capacity, activities to be realized during the Year, in collaboration with other relevant entities of the United Nations system, the International Astronomical Union, the European Southern Observatory and astronomical societies and groups throughout the world."
For more information about the International Year of Astronomy 2009, please visit its website at http://www.astronomy2009.org/
The associated IAU Press Release is at http://www.iau.org/....
National contacts for the media:
Belgium - Dr. Rodrigo Alvarez +32-2-474 70 50 rodrigo.alvarez@oma.be
Czech Republic - Pavel Suchan +420 267 103 040 suchan@astro.cz
Finland - Ms. Tiina Raivo +358 9 7748 8369 tiina.raivo@aka.fi
Denmark - Dr. Michael Linden-Vørnle +45-33-18 19 97 mykal@tycho.dk
France - Dr. Daniel Kunth +33-1-44 32 80 85 kunth@iap.fr
Germany - Dr. Jakob Staude +49-6221-528229 staude@mpia.de
Italy - Dr. Leopoldo Benacchio +39-347-230 26 51 benacchio@inaf.it
The Netherlands - Ms. Marieke Baan +31-20-525 74 80 mbaan@science.uva.nl
Portugal - Prof. Teresa Lago +351-22-089 833 mtlago@astro.up.pt
Spain - Dr. Miguel Mas-Hesse +34918131196 mm@laeff.inta.es
Sweden - Dr. Jesper Sollerman +46-8-55 37 85 54 jesper@astro.su.se
Switzerland - Dr. Martin Steinacher +41-31-324 23 82 martin.steinacher@sbf.admin.ch
United Kingdom - Mr. Peter Barratt +44-1793-44 20 25 peter.barratt@stfc.ac.uk
USA - Dr. Paola Rebusco +1-617-308-2397 prebusco@eso.org
