INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY 2009
The year 2009 is the 400th year
since 1609 when Galileo Galilei, an Italian scientist, opened a door to the
universe for the first time using an astronomical telescope. UNESCO, or the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, has designated the year 2009 as International Year of Astronomy (IYA in abbreviation),
accordingly. Across the world, people will look up at the starry night sky,
contemplating
the existence of the Earth and human beings living, in
the universe, and discover
whatever they can. That is aim of the International Year of Astronomy.
The Maxim for this year will be “THE
UNIVERSE; YOURS TO DISCOVER” Galileo made many important discoveries in the
fields of physics and astronomy. In particular, he performed significant
scientific research, directing his telescope toward the starry sky and observing
various astronomical objects. He built many telescopes of different
magnifications. Beginning from 1609, he observed the Moon, the Sun, planets of
the solar system including Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, star clusters or nebulae,
the Milky Way and other phenomena, in successfully solving enigmas of the
universe, one after another.
Above all, he discovered, through observation of Jupiter and Venus, the proof for
the heliocentric theory that concluded that the Earth like other planets orbited
around the Sun which was positioned at the center of the solar system, on idea
that aroused a tremendous sensation at the time.