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A solar eclipse crowned the International Year of Astronomy China in 2009. Beside this, a dedicated medal was also issued featuring the IYA 2009.

On the obverse of the 100 mm diameter, huge and heavy bronze medal the official logo of International Year of Astronomy 2009 is visible. The English text "THE UNIVERSE" and "YOURS TO DISCOVER" is repeated in Chinese right below it. On the right the portrait of Galileo Galilei is visible, above him the Moon is depicted. On the left the Saturn is visible. The medal has an irregular shape, and its meaning can be clearly seen when it is turned to the reverse side.

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The reverse shows a human hand holding a refracting telescope. In its objective a human eye is reflected, as he observes the universe, the stars and the clouds with it. An awesome, mind blowing design.

China celebrated the event, and the eclipse that crossed the country in the same year by issuing another 70 mm medal. On the obverse the dragon is at work, striving to devour the Sun. In the background the map of Earth overlaid by the eclipse phases is displayed and how the eclipse can be seen from different points of the Earth's surface. Below the inscription "July 22 Solar Eclipse, International Year of Astronomy 2009" not only commemorates the solar eclipse, but also that this was occurred in the IYA, 2009. On the reverse the year 2009 is displayed, with a in the bird first zero, a frog in the second, while in the stem of the overgrown number 9 the artist drew a group of eclipse viewing people. In the head of number 9 the solar corona can be seen. Between the two different phases of the eclipse were placed.

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The path of totality through China during the total solar eclipse 22 July 2009