Year of astronomy opens up new vista

Things will be looking up for astronomers next year given 2009's designation as the United Nations International Year of Astronomy.

Its organisers hope the year will help tempt more students into the sciences, increase scientific awareness and empower astronomical communities in developing countries.

The announcement came late last month from the 62nd general assembly of the UN and already astronomers here are busy preparing for the year (IYA2009).

"The year was selected because it commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first telescopic observations," explains NUI Galway's Prof Michael Redfern. He has been selected as the all-Ireland co-ordinator for our IYA2009 activities.

"I am what they call the single point of contact," says Prof Redfern, who is director of the centre for astronomy in NUI Galway's School of Physics. "The international organisation can only deal with one person per country or chaos will reign."

He views it as significant that the general assembly designated the year, given that many of the UN's themed "years" are announced by the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Italy proposed the year to the assembly and Ireland was one of the co-sponsors.

A committee involving university astronomers, research funders, amateur astronomy groups and others will decide what events should be staged here. The search for sponsorship is also underway, Prof Redfern says.

In designating the year, the UN wanted in particular to promote a better public understanding of science, he says. "The goal is to encourage people to appreciate the wonders of science and the wonders of the universe." While the events will focus on things astronomical, the whole scientific community should benefit, he believes.

Astronomy is a science that is generally appealing to the wider public because of its accessibility. "It is absolutely crucial the year should make an impact on the public. We have got to make an impact with school children and an impact with the public."

The Irish IYA2009 committee has just begun considering the events to be included, but Prof Redfern expects to see a major schools competition that will allow students have direct access to remote world-class telescopes. He would also like to see what the North Americans call "sidewalk astronomy" whereby as many people as possible will have direct use of telescopes. The Canadians are making plans to have up to 10 million people observing planets and stars during the year. The international activities should also feed into the Irish events, he believes.

IYA2009 aims to support science education and improve the gender-balanced view of science and scientists, he says. With this in mind it will seek to provide a more modern image of scientists, one free from the requirement to wear a white coat, thick glasses and sport a wild hairstyle.

The IYA will also highlight how astronomy encourages "global co-operation for peaceful purposes," he suggests. "In that sense, astronomy is a classic example of how science can contribute towards furthering international co-operation."

For more information on IYA2009, see www.astronomy2009.org