Welcome to 2009,the year of astronomy

摘要

Welcome to 2009,proclaimed by the United Nations as the International Year for Astronomy,with a vision to"help people rediscover their place in the universe through the sky".The year-long celebration of astronomy marks 400 years since the first astronomical observations through a telescope by Galileo Galilei.Up to 140 countries are expected to join in the celebrations,potentially reaching 97 per cent of the world's population.