In commemoration of the 400th year anniversary of Galileo Galilei using a telescope for astronomical purposes, the International Astronomical Union and the United Nations created the International Year of Astronomy 2009. The year-long event is an effort to bring together professional astronomers, hobby astronomers, astronomy educators, planetariums, and science museums, to inspire and educate the entire world about astronomy and space science. IYA at the University of Texas Arlington will be your source for International Year of Astronomy events here in our state.