About the IHY

International Heliophysical Year (IHY) celebrates 50 years of space exploration and marks the 50th anniversary of International Geophysical Year (IGY). The aim of IGY in 1957 was to understand the Earth's atmosphere and oceans and it required scientists from countries all over the world to co-ordinate their efforts. It was a monumental year which saw the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, and observations that confirmed the theory of plate tectonics.

IHY expands the science of IGY out into the Solar System. Our Sun is a magnetic star and creates a gigantic magnetic bubble which surrounds all the bodies in the Solar System. The magnetic bubble is called the heliosphere and it gives its name to International Heliophysical Year.

The scientific aims of IHY are to:

understand how the planets respond to emissions from the Sun

study fundamental processes which occur throughout the heliosphere

study how the Sun and the heliosphere interact with the interstellar medium which surrounds it

For further information please contact Lucie Green