NASA's International Year of Astronomy Goals

NASA International Year of Astronomy (IYA) activities support the U.S. IYA goal, "to offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in the country, nurture existing partnerships, and build new connections to sustain public interest in astronomy." Major U.S. IYA2009 program themes that support this goal are:

• Arts & Entertainment
• Research Experiences for Students, Teachers and Citizen-Scientists
• The Universe for Classrooms & Families
• Cultural Astronomy
• Dark Skies Are a Universal Resource
• Looking Through a Telescope
• New Media: Sharing the Universe Through New Technology
• Science Centers, Observatory Visitor Centers and Planetaria
• Telescope Kits & Optics

Information about these themes and associated projects may be found on the U.S. IYA website. Within the broader U.S. IYA effort, NASA’s IYA program leverages the excitement and achievements of NASA's science missions and research programs together with NASA's education and public outreach resources to achieve the following NASA IYA goals:

• To provide opportunities for youth and adults to make their own observations of the universe
• To increase awareness of astronomy, including common misconceptions
• To strengthen interest in science and science education
• To enhance collaboration across and beyond NASA

NASA IYA activities that support these goals are aligned with the above U.S. IYA2009 program themes and fall under the broad categories of professional development for educators, authentic observing experiences, and community-based events, together with supporting education and public outreach resources, as described on NASA's IYA website.

Central to these goals is a commitment to engaging new audiences, partners, and members of underserved and/or underrepresented populations, including audiences with special needs. The philosophy underlying each NASA IYA goal is as follows:

• Opportunities for youth and adults to make their own observations of the universe are intended to encompass a wide range of efforts, including naked-eye observations, in-person and on-line telescopic observations, and activities utilizing NASA data or facilities. The intent is to instill a personal sense of wonder and discovery, convey observation and exploration as an ongoing human endeavor, and/or connect ground-based and space-based astronomy for the public, as appropriate.

• Increasing awareness of astronomy includes strengthening scientific literacy in key science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics central to the sub-disciplines of astrophysics, planetary science, and heliophysics, with attention to findings from educational research concerning misconceptions and their impact on learning. In the context of IYA, the intent is to convey the human and multidisciplinary aspects of science, connecting history, culture, and science and highlighting the relationship between technology and discovery.

• Strengthening interest in science and science education involves using NASA’s past, present, and future scientific explorations of the universe to inspire and engage youth and adults in STEM disciplines and the process of science. These efforts enhance local, state, and national education reform efforts and raise awareness of the relevance and benefits of science and science education in the modern world.

• Enhancing collaboration across and beyond NASA includes strengthening existing connections between education and public outreach products and programs, and building relationships and partnerships with new audiences and partners. These activities connect NASA education and public outreach resources to each other and to related endeavors beyond NASA to increase the impact of individual products and programs.