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Important notices


The International Year of Astronomy is a year-long celebration of astronomy, taking place in 2009 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the first recorded astronomical observations with a telescope by Galileo Galilei. The Year was declared by the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nation. A global scheme, laid out by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), has also been endorsed by UNESCO - the UN body responsible for Educational, Scientific and Cultural matters.

The International Astronomical Union will be coordinating the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (IYA2009). The IYA2009 will happen at all levels: international, national, regional and local. Most of the events will be organized locally and will rely on local amateur and professional astronomers. This initiative is an opportunity for
the citizens of Earth to gain a deeper insight into astronomy's role in enriching all human cultures. Moreover, it will serve as a platform for informing the public about the latest astronomical discoveries while emphasizing the essential role of astronomy in science education.

The success of the IYA2009 in Hong Kong relies on your support and participation.
If you are¡K

If you are a beginner and would like to get some advice, you can check out the IYA2009 HK website and join the various activities they organized, or you can contact the astronomical societies you are familiar with.

If you are an astronomy enthusiast or amateur astronomer, you can volunteer in their activities, or you can bring along your equipments to join the activities, share experience and have fun.

If you are an educator, you can find inspiration for activities and get assistance with relevant and exciting lesson plans that will take your students to another Universe.

If you are a medium worker, you can report more astronomical news and activities, or you can contact them for more updated information on the IYA2009.

If you have any suggestions or new ideas, you can organize some activities to celebrate the IYA2009, or you can contact them or the astronomical societies you are familiar with to propose your ideas.


Activities of IYA 2009 Hong Kong

¡§I am Galileo¡¨ Observation Programme

This programme encourages participants to experience the observations that Galileo did 400 years ago, including the observation of the Moon, the Sun, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn etc. A certificate will be presented to those who have completed the worksheet.

100 Hours of Astronomy

This is one of the ¡§International Year of Astronomy 2009¡¨ global cornerstone projects. More than 100
countries will participate and organise activities from April 2 to April 5 non-stop across the globe. In Hong Kong, various activities like lectures, stargazing activities, visits, camps, sidewalk astronomy, webcast and competitions will be held (see below for details). The IYA2009 Hong Kong League welcomes different organisations to support this function by organising all sorts of astronomical activity, and register the events at www.astronomy2009.hk.

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Date / Period

 Day Night

2.4.2009 
(Thu)

∙ ¡§I am Galileo¡¨ Observation
∙ HKUST Lecture ¡V ¡§Star Dust: The Cosmic Seeds of Life¡¨

∙ Visit to Ho Koon Nature Education
Programme Kickoff cum Astronomical Centre
∙ Space Museum Lecture ¡V Astronomy and Physics

3.4.2009 
(Fri)

∙ Global Live Science

∙ CUHK Lecture ¡V ¡§Stars, where do they
Centres Webcast come from and how are they gone?¡¨
∙ CUHK stargazing activity

4.4.2009 
(Sat)

∙ Global Live 24-hour Research Observatory Webcast
∙ IYA monthly lecture ¡V ¡§In Galileo¡¦s Footsteps¡¨

∙ 18 District Sidewalk ¡V Tuen Mun
∙ SOHK Astronomy Camp
∙ Starrix Astronomy Camp

5.4.2009
 (Sun)

∙ Starrix Astronomy Camp 
∙ SOHK Astronomy Camp
∙ Sun Day

∙ Visit HKAS Shui Hau Observatory


¡§6 ¡P 21 Dim-it¡¨ Campaign

This campaign will take place on 21 June, asking everyone to turn off the light from 8 -10 p.m. for 2 hours to arouse public awareness on light pollution. In the meantime, sidewalk astronomy will be held at the Avenue of Stars, to witness the starry sky over the Victoria Harbour.

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¡§The World At Night¡¨ and ¡§From Earth to the Universe¡¨ Exhibitions

Both exhibitions fall into the ¡§International Year of Astronomy 2009¡¨ global projects. The exhibits will show the starry night photos from the world and beautiful images captured in the Universe. The exhibitions will firstly be circulated in secondary schools. Interested parties please kindly contact the IYA Secretariat at 2413-7122 for detailed arrangement.

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Other Activities:
Date  Event
4.4.2009

¡P Monthly IYA Lecture ¡V In Galileo¡¦s Footsteps
¡P 18 District Sidewalk Astronomy ¡V Tuen Mun Promenade
1.5.2009

 ¡P 18 District Sidewalk Astronomy ¡V Tai Po Waterfront Park
2.5.2009

¡P Monthly IYA Lecture ¡V The Science of Asteroids
13.6.2009

¡P Monthly IYA Lecture ¡V Light Pollution in Hong Kong and Dark Skies Awareness
¡P Light Pollution Tour
21.6.2009

¡P 18 District Sidewalk Astronomy ¡V TST Avenue of Stars
4.7.2009

 ¡P 18 District Sidewalk Astronomy ¡V Victoria Park

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For more details, please refer to the webpage of the ¡§International Year of Astronomy 2009 Hong Kong Node¡¨www.astronomy2009.hk