Astronomy: A Heritage Of The Mankind

The Astronomy and astrology had remained fascinating and distinct achievements of the mankind form the time immemorial. Ever since the days of Aryabhata, Indian astronomers been remained in the fore front in the world, who could predict the lunar eclipse as well as the solar eclipse with an accuracy of a few hours. The solar eclipse fair at Kurukshetra (Haryana State, India) has been held from the days of Mahabharta with an accurate prediction of the day of the solar eclipse year after year. The United Nations has declared the year 2009 as the International year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the astronomical use of telescope by Galileo Galilei, the inventor of the telescope. However the history of science for the chance invention of the telescope goes in favor of a Dutch spectacle maker, Hans Lippershey who in 1608, by chance combined a convex and a concave lens and noticed the magnification of the image of an object. Hans Lippershey failed to get his product patented well in time. International Astronomical Union shall be celebrating IAY 2009 throughout the world with its strong team of over 1000 astronomers. There is a great enthusiasm among the astronomers the world over. The event would provide an opportunity to the young astronomers to learn the scientific revelations of the parallel universes. Over 100 nations are probably going to participate in the mega events of the 400^th anniversary of the astronomical use of telescope, the IYA 2009.