Launch Conference of the International Year of Astronomy
UNESCO, Paris, France, January 15-16 2009
2009 has been declared International Year of Astronomy by the General Assembly of the UN (United Nations Organization).
The Opening ceremony of the International Year of Astronomy will take place in Paris, January 15-16, 2009, under the aegis of the UN, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), the IAU (International Astronomical Union). It is also supported by a number of sponsors including French and international organizations and institutions .
About 600 participants are expected, among them eminent scientists (including Nobel Prize winners), and also about 200 young students from over 100 countries, participating to the International Year IYA2009. Attendance is on invitation only.
Comets for both morning and evening
January lets us do an end run around the Moon's bright glare. When it washes out the sky near one interplanetary fuzzball, a second one comes into view on the sky's other side. Newcomer C/2007 N3 (Lulin) glides in the Moon-free morning skies during January's first 2 weeks, then the returning Comet 85P/Boethin becomes a prime evening target after midmonth.
Lulin tips the scales of Libra, between ruddy Antares and blue-white Spica. Glowing at 8th magnitude, this primordial snowball hails from the distant Oort Cloud. The comet makes its closest approach to the Sun January 10, but it will continue to brighten as it approaches Earth. It's destined never to return to the inner solar system. You'll need an 8-inch telescope to spy this comet from the suburbs, but a 4-inch will reveal it under a dark sky
