A series of posters detailing everything you need to know about space will be on offer for Belfast Telegraph readers next week.

To mark the International Year of Astronomy, the Belfast Telegraph has teamed up with experts from Armagh Planetarium to produce a series of educational posters that cover facts about the stars, sun, moon, planets, galaxies and black holes, finishing on Saturday with a Northern hemisphere star chart.

The Belfast Telegraph’s Space Odyssey 2009 series provides an ideal introduction for anyone who wants to find out more about the universe, while taking part in a global celebration of astronomy. A staggering 135 nations are collaborating to bring the universe closer to earth — with events and activities taking place across the world over the coming year.

People across Northern Ireland will be able to get involved in some of the events and projects being held throughout the next 12 months.

The aim of the International Year of Astronomy is to encourage and help people throughout the world rediscover their place in the universe through the day and night-time sky — and engage a personal sense of wonder.

From Monday, Belfast Telegraph readers will be able to collect six posters, each one including facts and figures and graphics to provide a useful guide to the universe.

Colin Johnston, science communicator at Armagh Planetarium, who worked with Robert Hill, manager of the Northern Ireland Space Office, on the production of the posters, said: “I am very proud to be associated with the series and I hope that people find it very interesting.”

Martin Lindsay, editor of the Belfast Telegraph, said: “The posters are a wonderful resource which will be of interest to a range of our readers and I am sure they will prove an indispensable aid for anyone wanting to find out more about the skies above us. The Space Odyssey 2009 series is the latest initiative from the Belfast Telegraph which aims to educate readers in an interesting and exciting way.”