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International Year of Astronomy 2009

Regional Leader for IYA 2009!Regional Leader for IYA 2009!
Get Ready. Get Set. Explore! Join us for on going and regional events.
This is the 400th Anniversary of Galileo's telescope. What an incredible opportunity to review Science through the contributions of this extraordinary man. Space Science for Schools will provide a year long program to explore science through themed events, star parties, special topics. We invite you to explore and enjoy science history through the incredible Lens of Astronomy.

Mission
The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of IYA is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among youth, in astronomy and science under the central theme:

"The Universe: Yours to Discover"





Celebration Calendar of Events
Click here for the full list of IYA events for 2009.

  • January 2009 Telescopes and Space Probes: Today's Starry Messengers
  • February 2009 Our Solar System
  • March 2009 Observing at Night...and in the Day
  • April 2009 Galaxies and the Distant Universe
  • May 2009 Our Sun
  • June 2009 Clusters of Stars
  • July 2009 Black Holes
  • August 2009 Rocks and Ice in the Solar System
  • September 2009 Planets and Moons
  • October 2009 What is the Fate of the Universe?
  • November 2009 The Lives of Stars
  • December 2009 Discovering New Worlds


Celebrate With Us!Celebrate With Us!
Check out the Planning Sites for global activities! Astronomy 2009


GalileoScopes are available through SS4S for $25 or free wtih a $100 Family membership donation for 2009. Get your Galileoscope in time for the “Globe at Night” http://astronomy2009.us/

Arts and Culture, Society
  1. 400 Years of the Telescope: Hi Def TV Documentary; http://astronomy2009.us/a_and_e/400-years-of-the-telescope/
  2. From the Earth to the Universe: Hi Res on-line feed: http://www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/rss.xml
  3. Astronomy Inspired Music: Andrew Fraknoi’s list of IYA music, http://astronomy2009.us/a_and_e/music-inspired-by-astronomy/
  4. Oral Sky Stories: as part of the 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast series: Email newmedia@astronomy2009.us.
  5. 365 Days of Astronomy: Daily Podcasts project http://365daysofastronomy.org/
  6. Social Networking: active sites, MySpace, YouTube, FaceBook: http://astronomy2009.us/newmedia/besocial/
  7. Space Carnival: Huge index of Astronomical Blog sites; http://astronomy2009.us/newmedia/space-carnival/
  8. Earth Hour: Turned off lights 3/29/08, let’s do it again! http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/lights-out-america/
  9. IYA Newspaper Supplement; Terrific information on how to put IYA supplements into our local newspapers, TV, Radio! This is a Primer with specific examples and help files including “a Beautiful Universe”. http://astronomy2009.us/epo_centers/iya-newspaper-supplement/
  10. The Artist’s Universe: Previews our upcoming traveling exhibit from 1AAA! http://astronomy2009.us/a_and_e/the-artists-universe/
Education
  1. 6-minute Video: IDA project pending funding http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/6-minute-video/
  2. Astronomy Nights in the National Parks: check this out! http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/astronomy-nights-in-the-national-parks...
  3. Dark Skies Discovery Sites: I have applied for DSDS site status for NSP Sand Harbor from the Astronomical League. This designation will be helpful in reducing light pollution in the Lake Basin and help establish an observatory on the site later on.
  4. GLOBE at Night: We will be a contributing site in this global assessment during the second half of March 2009 http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/globe-at-night/
  5. GalileoScope: We will be a prime site for rolling out the GalileoScope experience in 2009. It will be the cornerstone of our summer 2009 star party experience on the Lake. http://astronomy2009.us/
  6. Planetarium Programs: We need to apply for use of the WCSD inflatable dome for presenting “Let There Be Night” and other full dome presentations. I have been in contact with SkySkan products for several years and may be able to get help from them for IYA 2009. We own a small portable observatory dome and projection dome already. http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/planetarium-programs/
  7. The Great Switch Out: A program we can collaborate with Nevada Energy on IDA approved lighting fixtures and energy saving programs. Larry Rackley of NE is my contact and will sponsor exhibits and programs for IYA 2009. http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/the-great-switch-out/
  8. Traveling Exhibits: I have contacted IDA about their traveling exhibit and programs for 2009. http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do
  9. Space Science Institute: SS4S is an affiliated member and can access a huge library of activities, software for kiosks, download materials for events, games, guides are free. http://www.spacescience.org
Observing and Citizen Science
  1. Epsilon Aurigae: World wide photometry monitoring of this famous eclipsing binary is an excellent study point for student activity and star party event in Summer of 2009
  2. Astro Twitter: Connects many observatories on short message blogs that tell what is being observed now, supported by direct RSS feeds. It will engage the public closer to the Astronomer
  3. GalileoScope: See above Great opportunity to hold workshops in conjunction with Star Parties to see what Galileo saw.
  4. Sidewalk Astronomy: Informal settings to deliver public spontaneous astronomy. Become an official observer of the 3nd. International Sidewalk Astronomy Nights starting April 2 to April 5, 2009 (100 hour observing marathons are going to staged around the country.

Space Science for Schools- Practical Telescope Clinics Many people have bought dept store telescopes that they have been too intimidated to use. Outstanding opportunity to bring these dusty living room ornaments outdoors. “Telescope Amnesty Program” theme to make a bad investment into a good astronomy experience.

  1. Zoo’niverse: Give workshops on how to access the wealth of data on the internet. Unleash the Virtual Telescope that hides on every internet connected computer.
  2. Getting Involved
  3. Use IYA to pull teachers, students and parents of our communities into forming science and astronomy clubs. The TERC center is an ideal nucleus for this.
  4. Create theme events that challenge the community to learn and participate fully in science literacy. Library themes and story telling are great ways to engage children in science.

Hubble Science BriefingsCheck it out at http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/
  • Monthly telecoms via NASA Museum Alliance. I have applied in SS4S name for the TERC/SS4S partnership be enrolled into the NASA Museum Alliance. Once approved we will have access to the alliance provided materials for Astrobiology, Solar, Planetary, and Universe materials and exhibits.
  • Webb Space Telescope Resources: 13 minute Video on “Web Space Telescope: “The Next Great Observatory” http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/trade/projects/entry/current/webb-epo/inde... this is an access to the high res. Quicktime video at 1.11 gigabytes download
  • Black Holes: Gravity’s Relentless Pull: Journey to a Black Hole web site This is an excellent interactive web based program that can run as a simple kiosk with a laptop connected to the web. Superb graphics and sound track
  • Sky Watch: Similar to our current ViewSpace exhibit with different content. May be able to run in our ViewSpace environment or another large screen system. http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/exhibits/self-update/skywatch/
  • Hubble Servicing Mission 4 Briefings: Hubble will be serviced next May or June and the internet feed will be available for self-updating exhibits including our ViewSpace. This is already on line and needs no intervention.
  • Hubble Traveling exhibit: This is a spectacular exhibit that may be available so I applied for it during the July-August time frame. Slim possibility but worth a go see. Here is the URL: http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/exhibits/traveling/index_02.php
  • Full Hi-Res Files of Hubble Images: These images are available for large print making for any exhibit. http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/sources/illustrations/
  • Videos, DVDs, Downloadable MPEG format: Huge library of items available: http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/exhibits/videos/ http://hubblesource.stsci.edu/exhibits/videos/

Year of Astronomy Guides
http://www.astrosociety.org/iya/guides.html
ASP has created a master list and monthly program guide for members of the ASP site leaders and the public. I suggest that we adopt this outline for our programs during the upcoming year.
Additional resources are linked to the NASA Night Sky Network that SS4S is a key member. Check this out:
http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-search.cfm


  • IYA related Audio files from the June 2008 meeting of the AAS and the ASP
  • IYA Plenary Session Audio (9.5 MB)
  • Yin Radio program 6/8/08, "The Astronomy Report." A collection of segments from the conference.
  • Yin Radio program 6/15/08, "The Father of the Telescope". Segments from Dava Sobel, Kris Koenig, and Sandi Billings.
  • All audio courtesy of Sandi Billings and Sandi Billings' Internet Radio program "Yin Radio" on radio4all.net.
  • The ASP is pleased to be part of the 400 Years of the Telescope project as part of IYA 2009

  • Download the ASP's IYA Case Statement document (pdf)
  • Galileo: The Man and His Science
  • A Resource Guide to Materials in English (pdf)