More than six years in the planning, the IYA 2009 commences around the globe ten days following the 2008 Winter Solstice
Under the overarching theme ‘Galileo Moments’, IYA2009 volunteers from all walks of life are poised to help Canadians reconnect with the heavens through personal moments of astronomical discovery, while learning about the outstanding work being done by you, Canada’s professional astronomers. Such ‘Galileo Moments’ may occur through star gazing, participation in astronomically-themed cultural events, talks and lectures, school visits, or a host of other paths that reconnect people with the cosmos.
For great ideas, visit www.astronomy2009.ca: read the Newsletters, look at the events and activities posted there, and then create and/or support activities for your communities. New education and public outreach materials are available to support you (see below). We welcome and invite every CASCA member to enrich their communities by sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm for astronomy. You don’t have to be a David Levy or Neil de Grasse Tyson to make a difference that your friends, neighbours or communities will greatly appreciate – and you’ll enjoy great personal satisfaction, too..
At www.astronomy2009.ca you will learn about the following and many more events occurring in Q1 2009:
Launching IYA: On 1 January tune in to CBC’s Radio 2 programme Tempo which starting at noon local time will broadcast music suggested by listeners nationwide as appropriate for the launch of IYA 2009!
The Canada Science and Technology Museum (CSTM) is organizing a media event on Thursday, 8 January to draw attention to IYA events throughout Canada starting on Saturday, 10 January, our day and Full-Moon night to let our friends and neighbours know that a year of fun, engaging IYA activities is beginning in Canada. We strongly encourage grass roots initiatives in your community for that day. For some great ideas, look at what Nova Scotia astronomers are planning: www.astronomynovascotia.ca/ and consult other event links at www.astronomy2009.ca.
If your community does not appear in the events listing on our national site, please post your plans there as soon as possible. Being accustomed to last-minute deadlines, as most astronomers are, you can still collaborate with your colleagues, local amateurs or others to organize a public talk, concert, science in the pub, exhibition, or to create a side walk astronomy event for 10 January. By doing so, you’ll raise awareness in your community about events occurring throughout 2009, as well as about your organizations.
Other noteworthy early 2009 events include Astronomy Fair (with the first exhibition of IYA2009 Canadian astronomy images) at the Ontario Science Centre on 10 January, the debut of astronomy themed concerts in Banff & Toronto (Tafelmusk) and Victoria (Victoria Symphony concerts for children), and the opening of major astronomy image exhibits in Victoria with accompanying public lecture (February-April).
The official IYA launch occurs at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on 15-16 January. Among those attending from Canada are two undergraduate students selected in a competitive process managed by CASCA’s Graduate Student Committee: Annemarie Pickersgill (University of Western Ontario) and Deanna Pineau (University of Victoria), who will share their experiences with students nationwide. Speaking of sharing, CASCA graduate students launch in the New Year their blogs about astronomy graduate student life.
Tracking and Enriching IYA in Canada with new EPO Materials: RASC and FAAQ volunteers have created and translated an extensive collection of new EPO materials that are being provided to clubs, universities and colleges, and other IYA partners for free distribution during IYA2009 events:
· Seven Astronomy trading cards – these include information how to register participants’ names for launch by CSA in 2010
· Mary Lou’s New Telescope – light pollution awareness children’s booklet
· Star Finders (planispheres)
· Posters you can use to publicize events in your community
· Sidewalk Astronomer’s Handbook (English only, targeted at RASC Centres)
These are described in the December Newsletter with information about their intended uses; see http://www.astronomie2009.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=116&lang=en. Information about how they can be ordered or downloaded can be found on the site, too.
In addition, there are excellent materials available for download through the international IYA and the US web sites, www.astronomy2009.org, and www.astronomy2009.us, respectively. Particularly recommended are the monthly observing activity guides on the US site.
In the past three years, the partnership between CASCA, the FAAQ and the RASC has accomplished amazing things in laying the groundwork for enjoying IYA in Canada. But we still need and welcome many more volunteers and more programming to help every Canadian enjoy a ‘Galileo Moment’ sometime during 2009.
Please join us…and Happy IYA2009!
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Jim Hesser |