The International Year of Astronomy (IYA)

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 IYA2009 activities will take place locally, regionally and nationally.

National nodes in each country have been formed to prepare activities for 2009. These nodes establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres and science communicators.