[X] My Assistant

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

I have noticed that Unmannedspaceflight.com supports the IAU's International Year of Astronomy 2009 (recognized as such by United Nations) and I wondered which events UMSF might organise or at which events UMSF forum members might show up?

There have been some events already, especially in the Netherlands, where 400 years of telescope celebrations started in early October 2008, as Dutch glass maker Hans Lipperhey was the first to enter a patent request for the " far seeing device " telescope in October 1608
The town of Middelburg has a permanent exposition of old telescopes at the town's Museum and interesting stuff at the "Volkssterrenwacht" Lansbergen: http://www.lansbergen.net/eng/index.htm

Anyway, the largest event in the BeNeLux will take place at the Belgian coastline in Ostend, where a 3-day Astronomy/Spaceflight event on 27-28 February and 01st March 2009 (the last days of the half term or Carnaval holidays) will bring together enthusiasts from all over the world.
There's a website and I'm working on the English translation for the moment: http://www.astrolab.be/ae2009/index.php?id=20

Hope to see some UMSF forum-members during the event...

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Although BLAST! (Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Submillimeter Telescope) wasn't a spacecraft in the pure sense, it certainly was an exciting unmanned vehicle to observe the stars.
For the IYA2009, the BLAST! documentary will air on several TV stations, so do check: http://www.blastthemovie.com/