New Delhi: Sky has always fascinated earthlings and 400 years of the first use of telescope by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei certainly calls for a celebration.

In a fitting tribute, the UN has declared 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy and over 7,000 astronomy clubs across the country have lined up sky watching programmes, workshops and discussions to encourage youngsters to the subject.

Pune-based Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) has been designated as the nodal centre for India to coordinate the year-long celebrations, which will take place in almost all the countries world over.

About 200 scientists pursuing frontline research in astronomy and astrophysics in various institutes across the country are expected to participate in the event.

"We are in touch with all the science organisations in the country along with science centres, museums, planetariums and observatory. We will have sky watching programmes, resource materials, workshops, project lectures, demonstrations," Samir Durde, member of science popularisation programme IUCAA told PTI.

"Laymen have a lot of interest in astronomy, we have 7,000 astronomical clubs all over the country," said Kinkini Misra, scientist at Vigyan Prasar, the science popularisation arm of the Department of Science and Technology.

National Science Centre, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Space Research Organisation, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Nainital Observatory and Nehru Planetarium will play a major role in the astronomy popularisation, Durde said.