Iran has made a strong showing at the global 2025 “100 Hours of Astronomy” celebration, ranking second worldwide in the number of registered activities, according to the International Astronomical Union’s Office for Astronomy Outreach.
With more than 30 astronomy events officially recorded, Iran placed just behind Romania and ahead of countries such as the United States, Mexico, and Italy. This year’s edition of the event brought together participants from over 60 countries across the globe.
“100 Hours of Astronomy” is an annual international initiative designed to bring the wonders of the night sky closer to the public. Each year, hundreds of astronomy groups, scientific institutions, educational centers, and planetariums host public programs over a dedicated time span. The initiative was first launched during the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 and quickly gained popularity among Iranian astronomy enthusiasts.
After being revived in 2019 to mark the 100th anniversary of the International Astronomical Union, the event has continued to grow as a yearly global celebration of astronomy.
The 2025 program took place from October 2 to 5, and Iran once again played a prominent role thanks to coordinated efforts by the IAU Outreach Office in Iran, the Amateur Committee of the Astronomical Society of Iran, and a wide network of amateur astronomers nationwide. More than 30 diverse activities were organized by astronomy clubs, community groups, scientific centers, and planetariums, all registered through the IAU’s official platform.
Data published by the IAU Outreach Office show that out of 327 events held worldwide, over 30 were hosted in Iran — the second-highest total for any single country. This level of participation reflects both the vitality of Iran’s amateur astronomy community and its growing capacity for science outreach.
Another highlight of Iran’s contribution was the wide geographical spread of its activities. In addition to major cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Shiraz, events were held in many smaller cities, bringing astronomy outreach to diverse regions across the country.
The 2025 celebration also coincided with the centennial of planetariums, placing special emphasis on their educational and cultural role. Iran took part in the event’s 24-hour global live broadcast, featuring a segment dedicated to the Mina Dome Planetarium and its work.
Organizers from the Astronomical Society of Iran have expressed hope that this strong and visible presence in the “100 Hours of Astronomy” initiative will encourage greater institutional support for science outreach and inspire wider public interest in astronomy and the night sky.
