IAU e-NEWSLETTER Vol. 2009, No. 1 Karel A. van der Hucht General Secretary 25 February 2009 ************************************************************* CONTENTS: 1. IAU XXVII GENERAL ASSEMBLY. REGISTRATION ON-LINE 2. IAU INFORMATION BULLETIN 103 ON-LINE 3. IAU HIGHLIGHTS VOL. 14, TRANSACTIONS XXVIB, AND XXVIIA ON-LINE 4. GRUBER FELLOWSHIP 2009 5. INVITATION TO HOST THE IAU XXIX GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2015 6. IYA2009. AN UPDATE. ************************************************************* 1. IAU XXVII GENERAL ASSEMBLY. REGISTRATION ON-LINE The Registration Server for the IAU XXVII General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 3-14 August 2009, is on-line. See < www.astronomy2009.com.br >. The Registration Server also gives access to the GA Accommodation Server, the GA Abstract Server (deadline extended to 15 March), the GA Travel Grant Application Server (deadline 1 March) and the CUP Server for Pre-ordering GA Proceedings and Symposium Proceedings. The deadline for Early Registration at reduced fees via the GA Registration Server has been extended to 1 May 2009. The IAU XXVII GA National Organizing Committee, chaired by Daniela Lazzaro and Beatriz Barbuy, is going to great lengths to organize a most interesting and enjoyable GA for the IAU membership, invited participants and accompanying guests. The scientific programme and practical information are published in IAU Information Bulletin 103 < www.iau.org/static/publications/IB103.pdf >. Important deadlines: Application for IAU GA Grants closes 1 March End on-line submission of abstracts (revised date) 15 March Notification of IAU GA Grants 1 April SOC programme review and completion (revised date) 1 May Notification of abstract acceptance (revised date) 1 May End early on-line registration (revised date) 1 May Start regular on-line registration (revised date) 2 May Accepted abstracts may be revised 15 May - 15 June Media accreditation on-line registration 24 July End regular on-line registration 24 July Start on-site registration 3 August ************************************************************* 2. IAU INFORMATION BULLETIN 103 ON-LINE IAU Information Bulletin 103 is online at < www.iau.org/static/publications/IB103.pdf > , containing updated information on the preparations for the upcoming IAU XXVII General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro. ************************************************************* 3. IAU HIGHLIGHTS VOL. 14, TRANSACTIONS XXVIB, AND XXVIIA ON-LINE HIGHLIGHTS OF ASTRONOMY, Volume 14 AS PRESENTED AT THE IAU XXVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY Prague, Czech Republic, 14-25 August 2006 Ed. Karel A. van der Hucht (Cambridge: CUP) ISBN: 978-0-521-89683-2, December 2007 < journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=IAU&volumeId=2&issueId=14 > Transactions of the IAU, Volume XXVIB PROCEEDINGS OF THE IAU XXVI GENERAL ASSEMBLY Prague, Czech Republic, 14-25 August 2006 Ed.: Karel A. van der Hucht (Cambridge: CUP) ISBN: 978-0-521-85606-5, November 2008 < journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=IAU&volumeId=3&issueId=T26B > Transactions of the IAU, Volume XXVIIA REPORTS ON ASTRONOMY 2006-2009 Ed. Karel A. van der Hucht (Cambridge: CUP) ISBN: 978-0-521-85605-8, January 2009 < journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=IAU&volumeId=4&issueId=T27A&iid=3578468 > Printed volumes can be ordered via < www.cambridge.org/series/sSeries.asp?code=IAUP&srt=P > ************************************************************* 4. GRUBER FELLOWSHIP 2009 The IAU solicits applications for the Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation postdoctoral Fellowship 2009. For details and application procedure, see < www.iau.org/PETER_AND_PATRICIA_GRUBER_FOUN.98.0.html >, section PPGF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME. The deadline for submitting applications to the IAU GS < k.a.van.der.hucht@sron.nl > has been extended (!) to 15 March 2009. Please bring this announcement to the attention of the younger generation. ************************************************************* 5. INVITATION TO HOST THE IAU XXIX GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 2015 The IAU Executive Committee solicits proposals for hosting the IAU XXIX General Assembly in July-August 2015. Rules and guidelines are available at: < www.iau.org/administration/meetings/hosting_ga/ >. Please send a Letter-of-Intent to Karel A. van der Hucht, IAU General Secretary, < k.a.van.der.hucht@sron.nl >, with a copy to < iau@iap.fr >. Complete bid books should reach the IAU General Secretary < K.A.van.der.Hucht@sron.nl > and the IAU Secretariat < iau@iap.fr > before the deadline of 1 April 2009. ************************************************************* 6. IYA2009. LATEST NEWS FROM THE IYA2009 SECRETARIAT The International Year of Astronomy 2009 has been launched and now has a total of 137 National Nodes. In January there were opening events in many countries around the world. The official launch of IYA2009 took place in Paris 15 January. Around 900 delegates were in attendance, including eminent scientists and prominent politicians. The 11 Cornerstone projects are progressing extremely well. Some examples: The Cosmic Diary has had more than 30,000 visitors from people in 155 countries. We are proud to have 65 bloggers, almost three times as many as originally anticipated. A new historical sub-blog, called Cosmic Diary: Greenwich 1894 is run by curators at the Greenwich Observatory using diaries and journals from a past Astronomy Royal and his assistants. 100 Hours of Astronomy, one of the IYA2009 Cornerstone Projects will take place 2-5 April < www.100hoursofastronomy.org/ >. This extravaganza will be a highlight of IYA2009, and exciting preparations for the 24 hours webcast, global sidewalk astronomy and much more are in progress. The much anticipated Galileoscope is now in production, and the web site will start taking orders on Monday 23 February: < www.galileoscope.org/ >. The From Earth to the Universe < www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org/ > exhibitions are planned in more than 50 venues and new venues are being added every week. More information about these initiatives and many more is available at: < www.astronomy2009.org/ >. *************************************************************