2009 - a Year in Review at IceInSpace!

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all

With 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, drawing to a close, I thought it's now a perfect time to reflect upon the past year and highlight some of the more popular events, topics and statistics here on IceInSpace.

As a common trend, showcase astronomical events always bring the most visitors to IceInSpace - particularly the general public, and especially if the media grabs hold of it and reports about it on the various media outlets. The four most popular astronomical events in 2009 were:

• Anthony Wesley (forum member "bird") discovered an impact strike on Jupiter
• Total Solar Eclipse, 22nd July 2009
• 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landings
• Conjunctions, transits and eclipses

Some of the most popular topics and threads on the IceInSpace Forum are often the ones in General Chat where we get to know each other a bit more. This is reflected again in the stats below, showing some of the most popular topics in 2009:

• Jupiter impact confirmed by JPL
• A Day of Devastation
• Is spelling old fashioned?
• What are you reading?
• I have a confession to make...

Other popular threads were Star Party threads, particularly the ones about IIASC2009, Qld Astrofest and the SPSP.

During 2009, we passed some significant milestones, including:

• Passing 6,000 registered members (almost 7,000 now!)
• Turning 5 years old in September
• Passing 50,000 threads and 500,000 posts!
• Launching our first IceInSpace Compendium
• Launching the IceInSpace Facebook Page.
• Holding our 4th IceInSpace AstroCamp (IISAC2009)

Some other interesting IceInSpace statistics for 2009 include:

• Over 2,000 new member registrations (a little more than 2008)
• Over 140,000 new posts (over 30% more than 2008)
• Almost 8,000,000 page views (over 30% more than 2008)
• Over 1,600 sets of items have been bought and sold through the IceTrade Classifieds (almost 50% more than 2008! What GFC!?)
• Apart from the IceInSpace Forum, the most popular pages on IceInSpace were the homepage, the Projects and Articles page, the Reviews page, the Moon Phase page and the Links page
• 47% of people are still browsing IceInSpace using Internet Explorer (55% last year). 2nd is Firefox with 39% (37% last year). Safari and Chrome make up almost 10%.

I'm really looking forward to what 2010 will bring, for astronomy and for IceInSpace.

On behalf of IceInspace, Terry and I would like to thank everyone for being part of a fantastic year and a fantastic community. We wish everyone a safe and happy christmas and we'll be back with more in 2010!

All the best to you and your families.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Cheers, Mike and Terry. It's been a pretty good year. Here's to next year!

Let's hope something spectacular happens in Carina or we get a comet like McNaught come visit.

Regards,
Humayun

[Ric]

Yep its been a pretty amazing year for astronomy related events that's for sure.

A big thanks to Mike and Terry as well, if it wasn't for IIS I probably wouldn't know about half the things that went on this year. It's a great service to Australian amateur astronomy.

Have a great Christmas guys.

Cheers

[Vartigy]

Originally Posted by Ric

Yep its been a pretty amazing year for astronomy related events that's for sure.

A big thanks to Mike and Terry as well, if it wasn't for IIS I probably wouldn't know about half the things that went on this year. It's a great service to Australian amateur astronomy.

Have a great Christmas guys.

Cheers

Ditto'ed.
Where else can us noobs learn in a user friendly environment.

Thanks.

[Benno85 (Ben)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Hi all

• Over 1,600 sets of items have been bought and sold through the IceTrade Classifieds (almost 50% more than 2008! What GFC!?)

I'll vouch for this.....although I have to admit to being a bit one-sided in the Classifieds by only buying and not selling

A top year all round, here's to 2010!!

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

An exciting year no doubt...I look forward to 2010 with great hopes for a pleasant year!

[Jen]

well i have sinned good and proper havnt i ?
My confession thread has made quite an impact on the IIS community



Exciting year for me too i went to my first astro camp and met an awsome bunch of blokes thanks to IIS

Bring on 2010

Thanks guys for an awsome site (I LOVE IT)

Hope you all have a great Christmas and a happy new year cheers

Jen

[rogerg (Roger)]

Thanks Mike for keeping the site on track throughout the year And thanks to Terry and the moderators too Hope you all have a good break over Christmas

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Yes - a big thank-you to yourself Mike, and Terry for a great year. The site has been humming along really well, and we've all learned tons from it. Keep well, and a merry Christmas and hapy New Year to you and your family.

I'd just like to thank Nettie again for planting the seed which grew into the Compendium. Thanks JJJ - hugs

Here's to a great year next year!

[Dennis]

Hi Mike

A very impressive array of statistics – did you or Terry ever imagine this run away success, even in your wildest dreams?

Thanks again for the time, energy, work and personal resources that you, Terry and the Moderators put into Ice In Space – you’ve certainly found the right formula for meeting the needs of the Australian and world wide astronomy community.

I love the Christmassy touches to the site – top stuff.

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. Oh…and clear skies of course…and also lots an’ lotsa astro goodies!

Cheers

Dennis

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

Thanks Terry, Mike and all who have played on this site / forum. It is a great place to share what you are up to individually and equally satisfying to see what other enthusiasts are up to too.
I am very please for all for the success of IIS.
Merry Christmas if you are that way inclined and happy New Year!

[bennybsyd]

Wow! Congrats Iceman.

From an old friend

[iceman (Mike)]

haha Hey Benny! There's a blast from the past!

Still playing online games?