International Year of Astronomy

IYA2009 | Astronomical anniversaries | Cosmic Diary 1894 | 
Programme of events and activities

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International year of Astronomy (IYA2009)

Enceladus, a moon of Saturn, taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Image copyright: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteOn Wednesday 18 February 2009, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich hosted the UK launch of International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009).

IYA2009 is a year-long global celebration of astronomy and its contribution to society and culture. A hundred and forty countries worldwide are participating, with events taking place nationally, regionally and globally throughout the year. The programme is organised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and endorsed by UNESCO, the UN body responsible for Educational, Scientific and Cultural matters.

Astronomical anniversaries

2009 marks a number of major astronomical anniversaries:

• 400 years since the first recorded astronomical observations were made using a telescope by Galileo Galilei
• 125 years in October since Greenwich was selected as the Prime Meridian
• 120 years in November since the birth of Edwin Hubble
• 40 years in June since the first Moon landing in Apollo 11.

Cosmic Diary: Greenwich 1894

Cosmic Diary 1894 is a blog based on the 1894 working Journals of the Astronomer Royal and Chief Assistant of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. The writers are William Henry Mahony Christie (Astronomer Royal), Herbert Hall Turner (Chief Assistant 1881-94) and Frank Watson Dyson (Chief Assistant 1894-1905).

IYA2009 programme

As a leading contributor to IYA2009 the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, one of the world’s oldest and most famous scientific sites, presents a varied programme of astronomy-related events throughout the year. See current IYA events listing.

The programme includes space-themed family days, the launch of new planetarium shows and exhibitions and the chance to meet leading scientists and hear them talk about the latest discoveries in astronomy and space science.

Worldwide, the International Year of Astronomy aims to get 10 million people to take their first look through a telescope in 2009. To help meet this target the Royal Observatory will also be providing a range of opportunities for visitors to gaze at the sky through its historic telescopes.

Highlights of the Royal Observatory’s programme include:

• Swan nebula: NASA, ESA and J.Hester (ASU) The launch of the UK’s first Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Entries to this year's competition are now closed, and an exhibition of the winning photographs launched at the Observatory on 10 September.

The Moon photographed by the crew of Apollo 17 in December 1972

• The Royal Observatory launched an exhibition of photographs sent back by the Cassini spacecraft, showcasing the beauty of Saturn’s clouds, rings and moons. In June the international team of scientists behind NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn visited the Observatory to present the latest discoveries in a series of evening talks.
• We are Astronomers – Find out how cutting-edge technology and sheer dedication combine to answer some of the most exciting questions in the universe in this new planetarium show for IYA2009. Narrated by David Tennant.
• Oktoberfest Sci-Fi-Universe – Sci-Fi London Oktoberfest 2009 teamed up with the Observatory in October to create a brand-new Planetarium show: Sci-Fi Universe, a look at the night sky from a sci-fi perspective.
• In October and November the Festival of Time and Space explores the ways in which astronomy and the arts continue to influence each other. Highlights include Harmony of the Spheres, an after-hours journey through the Royal Observatory, inspired by the Pleiades constellation; and the Greenwich Time Symposium, in which relationships between the concepts and perceptions of time and space in science and the arts will be discussed. 
• Evenings with the stars take place in November, with an opportunity to see a planetarium show, and to look at the Moon through the Observatory's 28-inch telescope. There will also be a chance to take in the incredible view from the Prime Meridian after dark, with small telescopes for further stargazing.
• In November the Royal Observatory will present White Noise performing An Electric Storm in Space, a new, live performance of White Noise music mixed with astronomical sound sources: plus Supernova, a space fantasy with computer graphic imagery.
• Seasonal activities for all the family will take place in December, including the Christmas Stars planetarium show, and a chance to stargaze at star clusters and double stars through the Observatory's historical 28-inch refracting telescope.
• There will also be an opportunity in December to hear Professor Colin Pillinger, one of the UK's best-known space scientists discuss Christmas connections across the solar system, and to mark the 250th anniversary of the first predicted return of Halley's comet, there will be a day of talks and discussion exploring the history and science of comets. 

Dr Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich says:

The theme for the International Year of Astronomy is 'The Universe – yours to discover'. Here in Greenwich we want to give everyone the opportunity to do just that, both by coming to look at the stars for themselves and by meeting some of the pioneering scientists who are continuing to expand our understanding of the Universe and our place within it.

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