2009, the INTERNATIONAL YEAR
OF ASTRONOMY 

This year's celebration of astronomy is more than a traditional observance of Astronomy Day and Week. It is a year-long celebration of international scope, as the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2009 as the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY. The year 2009 was selected for the celebration because it is the 400th anniversary of two major events in the history of astronomy. In 1609, Galileo first turned one of his telescopes to the night sky and made astounding discoveries that changed mankind's understanding of our position in the Universe. And in 1609, Johannes Kepler published Astronomia Nova, in which he described the fundamental laws of planetary motions.

Astronomy Day will still have its special day in 2009. In the United States, it will be celebrated on May 2 -- according to the traditional selection of the day that falls between mid-April and mid-May, on the Saturday that is closest to the first-quarter Moon (which occurs this year on May 1). And Astronomy Week will still have its own celebration week in 2009 -- from April 27 through May 3 -- in the typical pattern of being held  the Monday preceding Astronomy Day and continuing through  the following Sunday.

The 2009 year-long international celebration of astronomy is an invitation and an opportunity to explore more of our universe. Broward County Library has many materials about astronomy in its collection -- in various formats and in various degrees of focus, ranging from light and entertaining books, DVDs, and multimedia to materials of "heavy" content -- that are available for check-out by individuals who enjoy the adventure of exploration of the cosmos. The link below connects to a 10-page .pdf flyer about astronomy that contains general information as well as a bibliography of select library materials; links have been embedded in the online flyer that will handily connect to the place-hold pages for the featured items. Enjoy your celebration and exploration of our Universe. 

Click here to view the .pdf (1.76 MB)