Icom UK Support International Year of Astronomy Special Event Station GB400IYA

UNESCO, NASA and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) have designated 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009), an exciting global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture. The Norman Lockyer Observatory in Sidmouth, Devon is celebrating the year with Icom supported Special Event Station, GB400IYA.

OFCOM have granted special permission for the GB400IYA callsign to be used from the Observatory throughout the year and the station will be on air every Saturday and/or Sunday until the 31st of December. A special QSL Card will be available to contacts and SWLs.

With the participation of 140 countries worldwide and with events taking place nationally, regionally and globally throughout the year, IYA2009 is allowing people to observe first hand some of the amazing celestial bodies that make up our Universe by providing a wide variety of events and projects, from touring astronomy exhibitions to virtual blog interactions with practising astronomers.

Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first glimpses through a telescope and the birth of modern astronomy, it gives people all over the world the chance to be involved in this fascinating science and experience the wonders of the night time sky.

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk