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Posts tagged ‘New Years’

1
Jan

2010 – Goodbye IYA2009

Happy New Years Everyone!

Telescopes foreground a beautiful Firework Display.

Credit: Paul Moss

Though this the end of the grand International Year of Astronomy (IYA) we still celebrate what is to come! You must remember the IYA2009 was never meant to be a event for one year, but a means to creating structures for collaboration, lasting self-sustaining activities and innovative concepts for the communication of astronomy. We must notice the connections people have made this year, the new projects that have been established, and the growth of the online astronomical community. In no way is all the astronomy fun of the IYA “over”, just the official celebration, we will still continue with all of your favorite projects, and surely the astronomical community will continue to grow!

One event example is the 100 Hours of Astronomy, it was a HUGE success and many wanted more! That’s when the AWB (Astronomers Without Borders, http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/) decided to create a Global Astronomy Month! The entire month of April will be dedicated to the communication of astronomy, including some of your favorite events of the 100HA. Though this is a grassroots effort, meaning it can only be a success if local astronomers participate. This will take place the month of April and more information is available at, http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/index.php/projects/global-astronomy-month-2010.html (and of course we will too provide more information once the launch of our website)

Lastly, there is the exciting news about our website! This project was conceived mid-2009, and was finally provided web hosting in August by the Astronomical League. The site started off on Drupal, with nothing done, but early December we changed to WordPress and eventually started getting some parts of the site completed. Many new faces have joined our team since the transition, and now there are five of us! We are already working hard on getting the site up and running and hope to be done within the next few months! A “soft opening” will occur most likely mid-February, and if your interested in being part of the group reviewing the site please e-mail ejordan77515 [at] gmail [dot] com.

So from all of us at the Young Astronomers Committee we wish you a Very Happy New Year!