It has been 400 hundred years since telescopes were first pointed to the night sky. In 1609, Galileo discovered mountains on the Moon.
It has been 40 years since man hesitantly stepped out onto the Moon. In 1969, Armstrong said the famous words, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."

Although we have come a long way, in 2009 we still feel that the most breathtaking discoveries are yet to come. "Our entire Galaxy is teeming with planets, our Sun experiences tumultuous eruptions, our Universe has moved into another gear aided by a mysterious dark energy and, despite the Big Bang and inflation, the entire enterprise is held together by dark matter of unknown origin," asserted Professor Michael Smith, Director of the Kent Astronomy Centre. "So, let's forget the Crunch, Collapse and even the Crumble, and celebrate something awesome," he added.

The United Nation's International Year of Astronomy Year is to be celebrated in Kent with a series of events. The list below is not complete but will be regularly updated.

If you would like to observe through telescopes, assisted by astronomers to help you navigate between spectacular manifestations, this may be your chance.

Here is a copy of the Kent IYA2009 press release . Many astronomical images are also available.The international website contains more information.

All events open to the public, some require pre-registration. Ask for directions at College Reception Desks. Organisers include members and volunteers from the Kent Physics Centre, SEKAS , BAA , CAPS , SPS , Kent Student Space Society, University of Kent Observatory and the University of Kent Space School Team.

2009 date	event	time	location	notes	.......
20 January	A VOYAGE THROUGH THE SOLAR SYSTEM	19:30	Keynes College lecture theatre KLT6	Dr Cyril Isenberg,University of Kent	+ observing
27 January	THE WORLD OF RADIOACTIVE POLONIUM-210	19:30	Brabourne Lecture Theatre, Keynes College	Dr Patrick Regan, University of Surrey
31 January	Back to Basics Workshop	All Day	Darwin College	New to astronomy? BAA/SEKAS, Regist. deadline 21 Jan	+ SEKAS observing
03 February	THE SUN AS A TYPICAL STAR	19:30	Keynes College lecture theatre KLT6	Dr Kaz Krynicki, University of Kent	+ observing
17 February	LIFE IN SPACE	19:30	Keynes College lecture theatre KLT6	Professor Mark Burchell, University of Kent	+ observing
24 February	THE CASSINI - HUYGEN MISSION TO SATURN AND TITAN	19:30	Rutherford Lecture Theatre	Dr Caitriona Jackman, Imperial College London
14 March	KENT ASTRONOMY ISSUES AND DEBATES	19:30	SEKAS, Bridge Village Hall, Canterbury	Professor Michael Smith, University of Kent
17 March	OUR UNIVERSE AND OTHERS	19:30	Rutherford Lecture Theatre	Professor John Barrow, University of Cambridge
24 March	OUR UNIVERSE, OUR ORIGIN AND OUR FUTURE	19:30	Keynes College lecture theatre KLT6	Professor Michael Smith, University of Kent	+ observing
25 March	SPACE SOCIETY OBSERVING: Faulkes telescope session	14:15	Keynes College KS16	Howard Phillips, University of Kent	+ observing
31 March	STAR FORMATION	19:30	Keynes College lecture theatre KLT6	Dr Dirk Froebrich, University of Kent	+ observing
07 April	THE CONTRIBUTION OF AMATEURS TO ASTRONOMY	19:30	Keynes College lecture theatre KLT6	Dr John Kemp, Journal Editor, SEKAS	+ observing
01-02 August	SPACE SCHOOL	All weekend	Ingram Building	Registration required	+ observing
08-09 August	SPACE SCHOOL	All weekend	Ingram Building	Registration required	+ observing

The Kent Skies - what you can see over Kent tonight Contact: Michael D. Smith , Professor of Astronomy Ingram Building Room 101 Telephone: 01227 827654 Fax: 01227 827558 Email: M.D.Smith (@kent.ac.uk) School of Physical Sciences University of Kent Canterbury CT2 7NH U.K. , , January 2009