As announced in ASTROFAX, December 2007, the United Nations has declared 2009 to be the International Year of Astronomy. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is an initiative of the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO.
For a complete description of this IYA2009 project please refer to ASTROFAX Volume 20, Issue 4 published December 2007. In it Michael Howell, your Editor gives a very comprehensive account of the events leading to IYA2009, its global aims especially among young people with the goal of stimulating greater interest in astronomy and science, and he includes the UN 62nd General Assembly IYA2009 Resolution (62/200) text.
As of the present time 129 nations have signed on to this endeavor, and a number have already indicated they will be issuing commemorative stamps. In a few cases we have been privy to the design of these future issues. There is a Special Task Group for philately which will create and maintain a checklist of postal releases in celebration of IYA2009. Michael Howell is the chairman of this task group, and I am co-chairman.
