Mr. Speaker, on January 15, UNESCO launched the International Year of Astronomy. This year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations using a telescope.
With the theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”, UNESCO hopes to make this year a real opportunity for all people to learn more about the latest astronomical discoveries and inventions, as well as about the universe and our place in it.
Quebec has long shown an interest in astronomy, and this is reflected in such facilities as the Montreal Planetarium, the ASTROLab in Mont-Mégantic, the astronomy observatory at the CÉGEP de Trois-Rivières and the Club d'astronomie le ciel étoilé in Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud.
I hope that Quebeckers will take advantage of this year of astronomy to discover the wonders of our universe.