International Year of Astronomy
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery.
Vision
Everyone should realise the impact of astronomy and other fundamental sciences on our daily lives, and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society. IYA2009 activities will take place locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. National Nodes have been formed in each country to prepare activities for 2009. These nodes will establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres and science communicators to prepare activities for 2009. Already now, 135 countries are involved and well over 140 are expected to participate eventually.
To help coordinate this huge global programme and to provide an important resource for the participating countries, the IAU has established a central Secretariat and an IYA2009 website (www.astronomy2009.org) as the principal IYA2009 resource for public, professionals and media alike. Text taken from the International Year of Astronomy.org Website
Links
Local Works
A year of astronomical nights at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History
- Cost: Free, Free, Free!
- Times: Public Lecture: 7 - 8pm, with telescopes set up outdoors for public viewing afterwards (weather permitting)
- Location: 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, Okla.
Consider yourselves invited. We have guest speakers coming the first Thursday of every month except January when we will meet on January 21st (corrected due to the national championship football game on the 8th) followed by observing sessions -weather and sky permitting! We will meet from 7-8 p.m. in the auditorium at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History. No fee to attend and parking is easy and free in the Museum parking lot! Please check back in case of changes to the schedule. Check here as well for any updates.
Mark your calendar for the following dates:
- January 21st - Galileo: From Telescope to Trial - Dr. Kerry Magruder, OU History of Science
- Feb. 5 - Globe at Night - Dr. Connie Walker, NOAO
- March 5 - Suited for Space - Lindsay Aitchison - NASA/Johnson Space Center
- April 2 - Water on Mars? - Dr. Megan Elwood-Madden, Geology, OU
- May 7 - Black Holes - Dr. Karen Leighley, OU
- June 4 - Einstein's Time - Dr. Bruce Tarwog, Physics, KU
- July 2 - Basics of Visual Astronomical Observing - Nick Lazarro
- August 6 - Lunar Eclipses - Jeff Thibodeau - Oklahoma City Astronomy Club
- Sept. 3 - Measuring the Universe with Supernovae - Dr. Eddie Baron, OU
- Oct. 8 - notice date change What's New in the Neighborhood? The Solar System? - Dr. Susan Postawko, OU, Meteorology
- Nov. 5 - The Age of the Milky Way - Dr. John Cowan, OU
- Dec. 10 - The Dark Side of the Universe - Dr. Yun Wang, OU
Sponsored by: The University of Oklahoma’s Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman Public Schools, Oklahoma City Astronomy Club, Odyssey Astronomy Club, Ten Acre Observatory, Astronomics, and R. A. Graphix.
Here are two ways to reach the Museum depending upon your familiarity with Norman: 1. Take I-35 S, exit at Lindsay Street but stay on the service road to reach the HWY 9 East exit. Go E on HWY 9 about 2 miles to Chautauqua Street. Turn left onto Chautauqua and drive about 1.2 miles to the 2nd Stop Light where you can turn right onto Stovall Drive and enter the SNMONH parking lot. 2. Another way to reach the museum is to exit I-35 & take the Lindsay Street exit E towards the OU campus, drive east until you reach Chautauqua, and then turn right and go south until you reach the museum.
