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iceman
25-11-2008, 01:51 PM
Hi all

2009 is going to be a special year for us amateur astronomers and for everyone who has a love and an interest in looking at the night sky. It's the International Year of Astronomy, or IYA2009 for short, and is a celebration of astronomy and a great chance to popularise, promote and teach astronomy to people of all ages.

http://www.astronomy2009.org.au/ is the official IYA2009 Australia website, and describes the year as follows:



IceInSpace plans to play an integral part in IYA2009 by hosting local, national and worldwide IYA2009 events and activities, as well as helping individuals, astronomy clubs and societies promote their own local activites.

We are well-placed as a community to make the most out of this year and use it as a fabulous opportunity to reach the masses - to take our hobby to the 99% of the population who have probably never looked through a telescope. To show them why we love this hobby so much and to hopefully give them the chance to look up at a dark, moonless sky with wonder and delight.

This new forum has been created to announce, discuss and report on all IYA2009 related activities and events. Whether you're an individual and want to do something in your local community, or a club who is planning a number of local events, you can promote and discuss your ideas here. If you've got questions or you want to get involved, here's the place to ask. And when you've got reports or pictures from any IYA2009 events, here's the place to post them.

As a community, IceInSpace is planning to organise a number of activities and events, and so to help with ideas, planning and execution, I've started to assemble an IceInSpace IYA2009 Committee who will work behind the scenes to get things moving. If you want to be actively involved and help out with the organisation of these events during 2009, then please contact me. I'll need a large group of people from geographically diverse locations to reach as far and wide as possible.

We plan to work closely with Astronomy Clubs and Societies for the benefit of everyone, especially the general public who we will be aiming to reach. So even if your club is already planning IYA2009 activities (which most already are), please get in touch with me to see how we can work together to make them even bigger and better.

I'm very excited about what 2009 will bring! I wonder if we can request another bright comet or wide-reaching astronomical event? :)

Omaroo
25-11-2008, 02:27 PM
Excellent Mike. I've just created a new forum section under our own MAS website to alert members to discussions here.

Have a great IYA2009 everyone! :hi:

Outbackmanyep
25-11-2008, 03:52 PM
I would like to add that UNENTAS is planning events in the New England Tablelands NSW and has registered with IYA 2009 Australia.

It's gonna be BIG!

Cheers!

Ric
25-11-2008, 04:30 PM
I'm really looking forward to 2009 in Astronomy terms as well.

I know the society that I'm a member of has a few events planned during the year as well as the regular school outings that they do as well.

Cheers

AlexN
26-11-2008, 08:10 PM
I read somewhere in America or Europe they are partitioning to the government to have reduced city/suburban night lighting to encourage astronomy...

Wouldn't that be nice.. Even if it was only only 1 weekend a month for the year... (Better coincide with new moon!!)

gaa_ian
27-11-2008, 12:40 AM
I too am looking forward to IYA2009 and have several roles to play in IYA for the NT.
I look forward to making this Forum a focal point for IYA2009 activities.
It is going to be a big year for Amateurs the world over.
We have a key role to play in raising awareness of the importance of Astronomy to science, the community, our kids, Indigenous People and why we need to preserve our night skies.

mabsj2
26-01-2009, 08:14 PM
Great. IYA2009 will encourage more kids and adults to be more interested in Astronomy.

mabsj2
26-01-2009, 08:16 PM
that's great. i think it should be done more than one weekend. we are missing out alot because we can't see clearly.