The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is eager to celebrate its 100th anniversary. 2019 will mark a year-long celebration to increase awareness of a century of astronomical discoveries as well as to support and improve the use of astronomy as a tool for education, development and diplomacy under the central theme “Under One Sky”. The IAU 100 Years celebration in 2019 will consist of global and regional events that will reach a worldwide audience of millions of astronomers, industry leaders, educators, and more.

 

Representatives of the IAU Secretariat are present at the IAU General Assembly in Vienna, Austria where they are officially launching the first IAU100 events. This includes the Above and Beyond open-source exhibition that is commissioned in the framework of the IAU 100th anniversary celebrations and showcases some of the most significant and surprising astronomical breakthroughs that shaped science, technology and culture over the last century.

 

Also at the General Assembly, the IAU will present a special session dedicated to the 100 Years celebration. This will include music interlude, a video and reflections from IAU executives.

 

Inspiring Stars is a travelling exhibition designed to highlight, support, and promote inclusive initiatives to encourage equality of participation in outreach and teaching, and at a professional level in the field of astronomy will be inaugurated on 22 August.

 

Events to look forward to include various star-gazing and astronomy-related events and a global network of classes and clubs learning about topics such as gravitation and general relativity. Other activities will coincide with special occasions throughout the year, including the anniversaries of Einstein’s eclipse in 1919 and the moon landing in 1969, and the 2019 United Nations International Day of Women and Girls in Science.