Starring... Canada

Canada is one of 140 countries participating in the International Year of Astronomy, launched by the International Astronomical Union and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The official opening ceremony is in Paris on Thursday, but Canada's celebrations begin today, with events planned in Vancouver, Victoria, Sechelt, B.C., Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, London, Kingston, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax. Activities include astronomy talks, children's programs, planetarium shows and public telescope viewings of the full moon and other celestial sights.

Details on all IYA Canada events can be found at

http://www.astronomy2009.ca and http://www.astronomie2009.ca.

Radio-Canada.ca — Les activités canadiennes de l'Année internationale de l'astronomie ont été lancées, jeudi, au Musée des sciences et de la technologie du Canada à Ottawa. Cette célébration de l'astronomie et de ses contributions a été proclamée par l'Organisation des Nations unies (ONU) pour souligner le 400e anniversaire des premières observations astronomiques de Galilée au moyen d'un télescope.

There might be heavenly bodies on the TTC, but they don't belong to transit riders. To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, the University of Toronto is placing 3,000 colourful ads on buses, subways and streetcars.

The campaign is designed to incorporate the science of astronomy into everyday life.

"For 30 seconds, they'll learn some interesting links between people and the cosmos, (which is an orderly or harmonious system)," said U of T astronomy professor Ray Jayawardhana, who would not reveal the cost of the project. "We're trying to make science accessible and fun."

THE MOONLIT snow crunches under your feet as you brave the chill of this early evening in January 1609. The first-quarter moon that lights your way hangs high in the south. Above the moon, the bright beacon of Jupiter catches your eye.

  Low in the west shines a striking reddish orb, the planet Mars. Completing this celestial panorama, the familiar, majes­tic figure of Orion has risen in the east. The three stars that mark the Hunter’s belt glitter through the suspended fog of your breath on this bitter night. Across the sea, in the warmer climes of Italy, history is being made. A scientist, Galileo Gali­lei, is using the newly invented telescope to probe the heavens.

  His observations of our moon and Jupiter’s satellites will change our understanding of the universe.