International Year of Astronomy 2009, United States Node

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Ring of Hot Blue Stars Pinwheels Around Yellow Nucleus of Hoag's Object Galaxy
NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

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Welcome To IYA

In the year 2009, the world celebrated the International Year of Astronomy as it commemorated the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of a telescope to study the skies, and Kepler's publication of Astronomia Nova. 2009 was also the anniversary of many other historic events in science, including Huygen's 1659 publication of Systema Saturnium. This is modern astronomy's quadricentennial, and the 2009 Year of Astronomy is be an international celebration of numerous astronomical and scientific milestones. Events are still being planned, and you are invited to tell us how you want to celebrate. This page is a product of the U.S. 2009 IYA team, and we want to help you make 2009 a year long celebration to remember.

Spread the word: the Universe is yours to discover. Celebrate IYA 2009.

Many International Year of Astronomy Programs Continuing

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is closing with a full moon, a "Blue Moon" that seems a fitting conclusion to such an event-filled year.

We would like to thank everyone for the many hours of dedicated volunteer time that went into making IYA2009 such a huge success! Although IYA2009 is coming to an end, many programs and events will be continuing. Please download a listing of the Continuing Programs as well as a Calendar of Astronomy Events that are coming up in 2010 and beyond.

Apr 12th, 2009

Now Showing: 400 Years of Astronomy

The International Year of Astronomy celebrates the evolution of the telescope and the perspective it has given us on the cosmos. Join producers Kris Koenig and Dan Koehler as they take us on a journey of discovery. Kris and his team interviewed over 70 astronomers, cosmologists and historians from the WIYN Observatory, SETI Institute, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Harvard-Smithsonian, the Vatican Observatory, and the Chile’s famous CTIO high up in the Andes mountains. Due to run time restrictions, the team was able to use only a fraction of the interviews in the 55-minute documentary. “Astronomy is a subject so complex and rich in history, there’s no way to do it justice, even in a six-hour mini-series,” admits Kris, noting that all 70 hours of interviews of the world’s foremost astronomers and cosmologists are available online. Interview clips are searchable by keywords so anyone interested in astronomy or telescopes can do future research.

Apr 9th, 2009

A Symphonic 3-D Space Odyssey

Get your tickets Now! Boldly going where no orchestra has ventured before, the California Symphony will take audiences on a virtual space odyssey, when it presents the world’s first live symphonic concert in 3-D on May 3 and 5, 2009. Commissioned by trailblazing Music Director Barry Jekowsky, the unprecedented event will feature Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition performed to a suite of high-definition videos created by noted astronomer and visualizer Dr. José Francisco Salgado of the prestigious Adler Planetarium in Chicago. The world premiere of “Astronomical Pictures at an Exhibition” on May 3 and 5 coincides with the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, designated by the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations. Among the historic milestones being commemorated around the world this year are the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the skies, and Kepler’s publication of Astronomia Nova. DATES: Sunday, May 3, 2009, at 4 pm and Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 7:30 pm. WHERE: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596 TICKETS: $39 – $59. Call (925) 943-SHOW or purchase online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org MORE INFORMATION: www.CaliforniaSymphony.org

Apr 9th, 2009

Congratulations to 100 Hours of Astronomy!

Between April 2 and April 4 nearly 1,000,000 people participated in 1500 events in 130 different nations around the globe. These individuals participated in science, making 2.6 million classifications of galaxies at Galaxy Zoo, the followed webcasts through Around the World in 80 Telescopes, and they got involved in remote observing and face to face [...]

Apr 2nd, 2009

Around the World in 80 Telescopes

Apr 1st, 2009

100 Hours of Astronomy: Digital Version

Bad weather? Bright skies? Just don’t want to go outside?

Want to contribute to science and still be a part of 100 Hours of Astronomy?

Join in digitally! The Galaxy Zoo project encourages you to help be a part of classifying 1 million galaxies over the course of 100 Hours of Astronomy. Join in and see all [...]

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