Welcome to the integrated web portal for UNESCO’s Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative, supported by the International Working Group on Astronomy and World Heritage and by the International Astronomical Union through its Astronomy and World Heritage Working Group. We encourage professional users to register and log in in order to view detailed information on preparing a nomination dossier, and to trial the on-line forum facilities.
UNESCO–IAU co-operation renewed
The formal Memorandum of Agreement between UNESCO and the IAU, under which the two organisations commit to work together to implement the Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative, has been renewed for a further three-year period following a ceremony at the World Heritage Centre, Paris, on 30 April 2013.
Recently appeared...
Paris Observatory. A short case study is now available (in English and French), with a full-length version to follow (in French only).
Sydney Observatory has been proposed as a case study and is now open for discussion in the forum. Two further proposals for discussion are imminent.
Introducing....
...our content manager, Doris Vickers. Anyone wishing to upload a new case study (entity) or to participate in the forum is encouraged to contact Doris.
...our media manager. Alun Salt. Anyone wishing to inform us about external sites to which we might link is invited to contact Alun.
Extended case studies
Nine full-length “extended case studies”, more detailed than the majority of (short) case studies currently available on the portal, were prepared by the International Astronomical Union in the run-up to its General Assembly in 2012. They are now gradually being made available here, prior to the release of a self-contained electronic publication. Available to date are:
and 
Astronomy and world heritage
UNESCO’s Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative exists to help identify, safeguard and promote cultural properties connected with astronomy.
Register and log in to see detailed information on preparing a nomination dossier for the World Heritage List.
Regional and national resources
We are developing a list of astronomical heritage resources at the regional or national level that are available on other internet sites. If you have items that you would like added to this list, please contact Doris or Alun.
Thematic Study
The ICOMOS–IAU Thematic Study on the Heritage Sites of Astronomy, published in 2010, forms the starting point for much of the content of this portal.
