SEED Magazine: Kepler's Years
The International Year of Astronomy is a global celebration commemorating Galileo's first telescopic explorations of night sky and Kepler's publishing of Astronomia Nova. More than 135 countries will be participating in 2009, hosting events that seek to reconnect people around the world with the unique sense of discovery felt by Galileo and Kepler four centuries ago:
The driving force behind the development of astronomy was the question of humanity's place in the universe, particularly whether or not other worlds exist outside our own, worlds like ours where sunlight-stirred wind, water, and earth somehow gave rise to flourishing life and intelligence.
From Earth to the Universe
A slideshow of awe-inspiring astronomical snapshots. From Earth to the Universe is a collection of images curated by the American Astronomical Society set to display in public parks, airports, and art centers in over 30 countries throughout the year. View the slideshow to see Seed's favorites. Learn more.
The Kepler Mission, a space telescope named after the 17th-century pioneering astronomer and set to launch in March 2009, will likely bring us closer to knowing that answer than all other accumulated events thus far in human history.
The US celebration kicks off on January 6 during the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society at the Long Beach Convention Center in California. There will be a virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony that commences when light emitted 400 years ago from a distant star reaches Earth. The event, which is open to the public, will be broadcast live on the web.
In the UK, the Society for Popular Astronomy, Royal Astronomical Society and Science and Technology Facilities Council will be providing 1,000 secondary schools with free telescopes.
More information about International Year of Astronomy celebrations around the world can be found here.
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