2009 marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first look through a telescope.  To celebrate this illustrious occasion, the International Astronomical Union has decreed that 2009 will be the International Year of Astronomy.  In their own words, the event should be "first and foremost, an activity for the citizens of Planet Earth."  IYA events will take many forms but one goal is to enable as many people as possible to experience the excitement of personal discovery that Galileo felt when he first looked through a telescope at the lunar craters and the moons of Jupiter...

The Northamptonshire Natural History will obviously be hosting a number of events during the year so bookmark this page now to keep up to date with future events.  Plans are already underway to not only revamp our current observatory but to also consider relocating it and installing some new cutting edge equipment!!  Further details will be added to this page shortly.  Meanwhile if you would like to get more involved or simply would like a look through a telescope to see the clouds on Jupiter or the rings of Saturn, feel free to contact Nick Hewitt or Michael Finney for further information.