International Year of Astronomy

The IYA2009 logo
International Year of Astronomy commemorative coin

The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) was a year-long celebration of astronomy that took place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei and the publication of Johannes Kepler's Astronomia nova in the 17th century.[1] The Year was declared by the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations.[2][3] A global scheme, laid out by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), was also endorsed by UNESCO, the UN body responsible for educational, scientific, and cultural matters.[4]

The IAU coordinated the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. This initiative was an opportunity for the citizens of Earth to gain a deeper insight into astronomy's role in enriching all human cultures. Moreover, served as a platform for informing the public about the latest astronomical discoveries while emphasizing the essential role of astronomy in science education. IYA2009 was sponsored by Celestron and Thales Alenia Space.

  1. ^ "Johannes Kepler: His Life, His Laws and Times". NASA: Kepler Mission. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. ^ "2009 to be International Year of Astronomy, UN declares". CBC News. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2009.
  3. ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 62 Verbatim Report 78. A/62/PV.78 page 18. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  4. ^ "International Year of Astronomy 2009". Sky & Telescope. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2009.