2009 - The International Year of Astronomy

It is the UNESCO International Year of Astronomy this year as it is 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. Science teachers need to get on board and lift the profile of astronomy.


There are events happening all over the globe... but so far things look a bit sparse in South Australia. However don't despair!

To get into the spirit of the year-

• Download Stellarium, an easy to use planetarium simulation that makes astronomy a snap.

• Have a look at the way Stellarium can be used to achieve the SACSA objectives or look at a powerpoint by Velma Beaglehole to put the night sky into an indigenous context.

• Get your students into it by utilising your school computer room, your data projector or students laptop and even if you don't have astronomy in your curriculum early in the year, spend a lesson showing the students how they can use this software and easily run it at home.
  

100 Hours of Astronomy will take place from 2–5 April. The Moon is at first quarter on 2 April, so it is at a good phase for early evening observing over this period.
This event consists of two parts:

1. Live observatory webcasts, observing events and other activities connecting large observatories around the world, coordinated by the European Southern Observatory(ESO).
   
   
2. A 100-hour “sidewalk” observing event to allow as many people as possible to look through a telescope, and see what Galileo saw, managed by Astronomers Without Borders (AWB).