JoinEditor’s Roundtable: International Year of Astronomy
2009 has been designated the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) because it marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s telescopic observations of the Moon and other bodies in the solar system, which challenged, and subsequently changed, the prevailing geocentric view of the universe. IYA organizers place a strong emphasis on education and the involvement of young people, for whom their goal is to provide “a year of rich astronomical experiences.” This issue of Science Scope is dedicated to helping IYA achieve that purpose.