SkyNews, Canada's astronomy magazine, has launched new IYA pages on its website: www.skynews.ca/pages/IYA.html.  Through these web pages, we are sharing the excitement of the IYA with all Canadians. There, you will find links to IYA-related websites and media coverage, and a blog highlighting IYA activities happening across Canada.  You can also submit pictures and reports (in English or French) from Canadian IYA activities. We will feature these submissions on our web pages, and we will award a prize of a Celestron NexStar 80 telescope to the individual, club, or school that sends us a report and pictures of the best IYA event!

March 23, 2009: RASC Halifax Centre member Dave Chapman, active in outreach for IYA2009 in Nova Scotia, published his first-ever internet podcast today on the site www.365daysofastronomy.org  The topic was "Venus Moves from the Evening Sky to the Morning Sky".   Dave has been interested in this topic since he observed Venus near Inferior Conjunction in 1985, being able to observe the planet both in the evening and in the morning on the same day.  The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is a project that will publish one podcast per day, for all 365 days of 2009.   The podcast episodes are written, recorded, and produced by professionals and amateurs around the world.

Canadian Parks Council http://www.parks-parcs.ca/english/index.php  is forming a relationship with all Astronomy Clubs (RASC, FAAQ and other astronomy clubs) across Canada.  Canadian Parks Council, which includes the National Federal parks, provincial, municipal and private parks, is bringing IYA into the parks and with the help from all Astronomy clubs hopes to promote IYA to its visitors.

There are already strong relationships with some Parks across Canada now, but we are hoping that with the contact information here, Parks Interpreters and Astronomy groups will make contact to bring IYA to the public, and build on their relationships for future events which will promote a legacy effect. Below are the listings for Parks across Canada and the RASC, FAAQ and Astronomy clubs. These are the contacts that each group can use to help the Parks with IYA events for 2009 and beyond, or to give a helping hand for Parks Day.

January 27th, 2009 (Sydney, NS): A traditional Mi’kmaq sky story has been brought to life in a celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, blending modern technology with the oral teachings of First Nations Elders.

An animated version of the Mi'kmaq sky story, Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters, is now available in English, French and Mi’kmaq to people around the world in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). The Mi'kmaq version, with an English introduction, can be viewed here.