Alachua Astronomy Club: IYA 2009

International Year of Astronomy 2009

OUR BIG ANNUAL IYA 2009 EVENT ARRIVES SEPTEMBER 25

[ CALENDAR BELOW ]

From the IYA Web Site

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery.

Events held around the world in 2009 will be used to raise public awareness of the importance of astronomy and basic sciences, to support scientific literacy, and to help stimulate long-term increases in student enrollment in the fields of science and technology.

The AAC, the Department of Astronomy at the University of Florida, and Santa Fe College including its Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, will also hold events throughout 2009 in celebration of the IYA 2009.

Calendars

AAC Calendar Local IYA 2009 events (as they become known) incl. UF's (below)

UF Schedule IYA 2009 lectures sponsored by UF's Dept. of Astronomy are posted on their IYA 2009 Public Lecture Page

CALENDAR

Jan 29 Feb 14 Feb 27 Mar 20 Apr 3 May 2 May 8 Jun 7 Jul 21 Aug 28 Sep 25 Oct 23 Nov 20 Dec 11

— UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, LECTURES IN NEW PHYSICS BUILDING (NPB), RM. 1002 —
Location of NPB [ Map 1 ] [ Map 2 ] [ Map 3 ]

— TELESCOPE VIEWING AT UF'S TEACHING OBSERVATORY AFTER FRIDAY LECTURES —
(Weather Permitting)
Location of Teaching Observatory [ MAP #1 ] [ MAP #2 ]

	DATE	DAY	TIME	LOCATION	EVENT
•	Jan. 29	(Thu)	7:20 p.m. ET	Room 170 Pugh Hall Univ. of Florida Gainesville, FL (Location changed from previously announced)	*Origins of the Earth: Clues from our Solar System and from Distant Worlds* Dr. Andrew Youdin, Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (First Local IYA Public Talk) Also see Poster (pdf file)
•	Feb. 14	(Sat)	3:00 p.m. ET Also see times on right	Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, Santa Fe College 3000 NW 83 St. Gainesville, FL Map	*Kika Silva Pla Planetarium Kicks Off IYA Activities* Official Unveiling Site of NASA Great Observatories Photo Release of M101 *Galileo: The Father of Modern Astronomy* Special planetarium show celebrating Galileo's birthday (1564 Feb. 15), produced by Kristin Fiaccato, Planetarium Assist. Times: 4, 5, 6 & 7 p.m. ET (Normal admission applies) Space Art Exhibit by Tim Malles Hands on Activities for Kids & Adults Solar viewing with solar telescope during afternoon; telescope observing in evening by AAC members
•	Feb. 27	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	NPB, Rm. 1002	*The Moon's Dark Secrets: Its Violent Birth and Chaotic Youth* by Prof. Charles Telesco, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida Synopsis
•	Mar. 20	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	NPB, Rm. 1002	*The Dark Matter Puzzle* by Prof. Pierre Sikivie, Dept. of Physics, Univeristy of Florida
•	Apr. 3	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET 6:30 p.m. ET 8:20 p.m. ET	Lecture (NPB) Telescope Clinic (NPB Lobby) Telescope Clinic & Observing (Teaching Observ.)	Celebrating 100 Hours of Astronomy (Apr. 2–5) *Unlocking the Mysteries of the Heavens: From Galileo's Telescope to the Future Generation of Giant Observatories* Prof. Professors Elizabeth Lada & Rafael Guzman, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida Public Viewing at Teaching Observatory Telescope Clinic (public invited to bring own scopes; learn how to setup/use)
•	May 2	(Sat)	3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET	Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, Santa Fe College 3000 NW 83 St. Gainesville, FL Map	*Celebrating Astronomy Day 2009* A series of events, including Space Art Exhibit by Tim Malles. See planetarium web site for more details.
•	May 8	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	NPB, Rm. 1002	*The Songs of Distant Earths: Our continuing quest for planetary systems beyond our own* by Dr. Suvarath Mahadevan, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida
•	June 7	(Sun)	1:30 p.m. ET	Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, Santa Fe College 3000 NW 83 St. Gainesville, FL Map	*What Are Comets?* by Dr. Elizabeth Lada, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida (Specially aimed for elementary & middle school ages; followed by planetarium show for kids at 3:00 p.m. — normal admission charges apply)
•	July 21	(Wed)	——	India, China & Pacific Ocean	Longest Total Solar Eclipse of 21st Century and in Your Lifetime Not a Gainesville event but a great way to celebrate the IYA 2009! Eclipse occurs mid-morning, July 22 in E. China. In Gainesville time will be mid-evening, July 21. Only USA location where visible is Hawaii (slight partial eclipse—12%). But see it live on the Internet! More info on eclipse here. And read article, "When the Sun Goes Dark," by AAC member Howard Cohen (Senior Times Magazine, May 2009, pp. 27).
•	Aug 28	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	NPB, Rm. 1002	*Solar System* by Prof. Bo Gustafson, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida
•	Sep. 25 THIS OUR BIG EVENT!	(Fri)	5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET	Powell Hall Florida Museum of Natural History Univ. of Florida Cultural Plaza Univ. of Florida Gainesville, FL	*Starry Night at the Florida Museum of Natural History* A Celebration of the IYA 2009 It's Going to be Out of this World! Free for All Ages • Door Prizes and Giveaways! Lots of indoor/outdoor presentations & activities. Talks by Astronaut. Build a Telescope — Galileoscope giveaways for children (age 10 and up). Telescope viewing with AAC scopes from late afternoon (view Sun) to late evening (Moon, Jupiter & more). Space aged arts and crafts. Picnic under the stars. Portable planetarium. 3-D Astro Wall. Space art exhibit by Tim Malles Note: This event will replace the usual Friday night public observing sessions at UF's Teaching Observatory. Posters to Download (pdf documents): 8.5x11 Starry Night Poster 11x17 Starry Night Poster See also Starry Night FLMNH Web Site: Starry Night at the FLMNH Sponsors: University of Florida, Florida Museum of Natural History, UF Department of Astronomy, Florida Space Grant Consortium, Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc., GE Foundation, Santa Fe College, SwampSat and Gainesville Chamber Orchestra
•	Oct 23	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	NPB, Rm. 1002	*Making the First Big Objects in the Universe: Galaxies, Quasars and Super-Massive Black Holes* by Dr. Fred Hamman, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida
•	Nov 20	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	Location TBA	*Epoch of Re-ionization—End of the Astronomical Dark Ages* by Dr. Lincoln Greenhill, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
•	Dec 11	(Fri)	7:20 p.m. ET	NPB, Rm. 1001	*Black Holes* by Prof. Stephen Eikenberry, Dept. of Astronomy, University of Florida

	Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc.	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	IYA 2009	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
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