Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2009, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (2): 100-104.

• History of Natural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Course of 90 Years for the International Astronomical Union

 FU Cheng-Qi   

  1. Professor, Shanghai Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200030, China
  • Received:2008-07-27 Revised:2008-07-27 Online:2009-04-20 Published:2009-04-20

Abstract: In order to promote the popularization and education in astronomy over the world,the Project for International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (IYA2009) has been suggested by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and authorized by the United Nations and the UNESCO. In this paper the objects, organizations, and scientific bodies of the Union and its scientific activities are mainly introduced. Also, the history of adhering to, withdrawing from and returning to the Union for our Mainland China is reviewed in outline.

Key words: IYA2009, IAU, organization, Chinese membership