New Stamps on Astronomy

Date of Issue- 6 May 2009

Hi ! Here are some new awesome issues on Astronomy by Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Lithuania and Serbia. 2009 being The International Year of Astronomy, many beautiful stamps are being issued by various postal administrations. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) is a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture marks the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme "The Universe, Yours to discover". IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all nations. The Science Centres of different countries are organizing special programmes to create interest for Astronomy in all especially amongst children. For detailed check list of stamps visit http://europa-stamps.blogspot.com/ . This blog gives quick updates about all stamps issued on EUROPA 2009 theme. Here are some recent issues which I liked most. The stamp of Czech Republic depicts great astronomer Kepler. It's nice to see Kepler too, on EUROPA 2009 Theme of Astronomy stamps as he was the most renowned astronomer of all time like Galileo. Johannes Kepler was a German mathematician and astronomer who discovered that the Earth and planets travel about the sun in elliptical orbits. He gave three fundamental laws of planetary motion.The design of the Czech Republic Stamp is very appropriate, giving a clear explanation of Kepler's theory. This is the particular observation of a stamp designer that makes stamp special and different from other stamps. Today's Post is dedicated to great astronomers. This is all for today !....Till next Post....Have a Nice Time !........

Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571 – November 15, 1630)

Kepler was a German mathematician, astronomer and astrologer, and key figure in the 17th century scientific revolution. He is best known for his eponymous laws of planetary motion, codified by later astronomers based on his works Astronomia nova, Harmonices Mundi, and Epitome of Copernican Astrononomy. They also provided one of the foundations for Isaac Newton's theory of universal gravitation. He also did fundamental work in the field of optics, invented an improved version of the refracting telescope (the Keplerian Telescope), and helped to legitimize the telescopic discoveries of his contemporary Galileo Galilei.

Kepler lived in an era when there was no clear distinction between astronomy and astrology, but there was a strong division between astronomy (a branch of mathematics within the liberal arts) and physics (a branch of natural philosophy). Kepler also incorporated religious arguments and reasoning into his work, motivated by the religious conviction that God had created the world according to an intelligible plan that is accessible through the natural light of reason.Kepler described his new astronomy as "celestial physics", as "an excursion into Aristotle's Metaphysics", and as "a supplement to Aristotle's On the Heavens", transforming the ancient tradition of physical cosmology by treating astronomy as part of a universal mathematical physics.

Serbia - 5 May 2009

Azerbaijan - 13 April 2009

Galileo (15 February 1564– 8 January 1642)
To commemorate 400 years of exploring the universe using astronomical telescopes, 2009 has been designated the International Year of Astronomy. Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was the first astronomer who turned the telescope to the sky in 1609. His astronomical observations and discoveries unleashed a scientific revolution that has virtually changed our perception of the universe and our place in it. 400 years later, astronomers explore celestial bodies with modern telescopes on Earth and in space in almost all wavelengths 24 hours per day.He was a physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations, and support for Copernicanism. Galileo has been called the "father of modern observational astronomy", the "father of modern physics", the "father of science", and "the Father of Modern Science." Stephen Hawking says, "Galileo, perhaps more than any other single person, was responsible for the birth of modern science."

The motion of uniformly accelerated objects, taught in nearly all high school and introductory college physics courses, was studied by Galileo as the subject of kinematics. His contributions to observational astronomy include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter, named the Galilean moons in his honour, and the observation and analysis of sunspots. Galileo also worked in applied science and technology, improving compass design.

Lithuania- 25 April 2009