Astronomy
Today marks a very important anniversary for the International Year of Astronomy 2009. As you may know, the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is being celebrated to promote astronomy on the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations of the sky with a telescope and the publication of Kepler's Astronomica Nova.
On August 25, 1609, Galileo conducted what is now considered the first astronomical outreach activity. He invited the Venetian Republic's lawmakers and policy makers to the St. Mark's Square bell tower, and showed off his simple but revolutionary telescope design. The telescope only gave a magnification of eight times, but that ability was still very invaluable. The visitors marveled at what the telescope allowed them to see, and rewarded Galileo with a life tenure at the University of Padua and a double in his salary (making him become one of the highest paid at the university).
The astronomical outreach event was a very important event for astronomy. Not only did Galileo promote the telescope's technology, but astronomy as well. In the same way, astronomical outreach events today help promote astronomy to the public, and this is one of the goals of the International Year of Astronomy.
Additionally, Google has made a Google Doodle for their homepage to honor today's important anniversary.
More information is available at the International Year of Astronomy 2009's website, while a film, 400 Years of the Telescope, details Galileo's telescope among other astronomical topics in a wonderful documentary.
Image (Galileo): IYA2009; Image (Google Doodle): Google
Astronomy and Space Celebrates International Year of Astronomy 2009.
- Galileo Astronomy
Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy in the late 1500's. He first became a math teacher even though he had no degree in the subject, and here he began his path to greatness. A baby step towards Galileo Galilei astronomy was when he demonstrated to students...
- Astronomy - It Really Is A High
Astronomy and space is all about lust for learning. Did you know that astronomy is one of humanity's oldest sciences? In fact, astronomy is one of the earliest sciences that humanity has ever pursued. So the study of our universe is not new but you...
- 2009 Going Into 2010
As the year ends, I wanted to go over some of the most important posts on the blog in 2009, and some previews about what I'm going to cover in 2010. You may have noticed the text at the bottom of all the posts on the blog this year. What made 2009...
- 100 Hours Of Astronomy
One of the most important parts of IYA 2009 is the 100 Hours of Astronomy. Starting on April 2, 2009, and lasting until April 5, 2009, this global program to promote astronomy consists of numerous events to get people all across the world to enjoy astronomy....
- Aas 213th Meeting: Iya Opening
Tonight, I went to the opening reception for the IYA kick-off in the US. They gave out free beer: Sierra Nevada Galileo's Astronomical Ale. "Theoretically the best beer in the universe." I got one just so I could keep the bottle. There were speeches...
Astronomy
400 Years of Astronomical Outreach
Today marks a very important anniversary for the International Year of Astronomy 2009. As you may know, the International Year of Astronomy 2009 is being celebrated to promote astronomy on the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations of the sky with a telescope and the publication of Kepler's Astronomica Nova.
On August 25, 1609, Galileo conducted what is now considered the first astronomical outreach activity. He invited the Venetian Republic's lawmakers and policy makers to the St. Mark's Square bell tower, and showed off his simple but revolutionary telescope design. The telescope only gave a magnification of eight times, but that ability was still very invaluable. The visitors marveled at what the telescope allowed them to see, and rewarded Galileo with a life tenure at the University of Padua and a double in his salary (making him become one of the highest paid at the university).
The astronomical outreach event was a very important event for astronomy. Not only did Galileo promote the telescope's technology, but astronomy as well. In the same way, astronomical outreach events today help promote astronomy to the public, and this is one of the goals of the International Year of Astronomy.
Additionally, Google has made a Google Doodle for their homepage to honor today's important anniversary.
More information is available at the International Year of Astronomy 2009's website, while a film, 400 Years of the Telescope, details Galileo's telescope among other astronomical topics in a wonderful documentary.
Image (Galileo): IYA2009; Image (Google Doodle): Google
Astronomy and Space Celebrates International Year of Astronomy 2009.
- Galileo Astronomy
Galileo was born in Pisa, Italy in the late 1500's. He first became a math teacher even though he had no degree in the subject, and here he began his path to greatness. A baby step towards Galileo Galilei astronomy was when he demonstrated to students...
- Astronomy - It Really Is A High
Astronomy and space is all about lust for learning. Did you know that astronomy is one of humanity's oldest sciences? In fact, astronomy is one of the earliest sciences that humanity has ever pursued. So the study of our universe is not new but you...
- 2009 Going Into 2010
As the year ends, I wanted to go over some of the most important posts on the blog in 2009, and some previews about what I'm going to cover in 2010. You may have noticed the text at the bottom of all the posts on the blog this year. What made 2009...
- 100 Hours Of Astronomy
One of the most important parts of IYA 2009 is the 100 Hours of Astronomy. Starting on April 2, 2009, and lasting until April 5, 2009, this global program to promote astronomy consists of numerous events to get people all across the world to enjoy astronomy....
- Aas 213th Meeting: Iya Opening
Tonight, I went to the opening reception for the IYA kick-off in the US. They gave out free beer: Sierra Nevada Galileo's Astronomical Ale. "Theoretically the best beer in the universe." I got one just so I could keep the bottle. There were speeches...