With the backing of august bodies such as Unesco and the International Astronomical Union, it should be an auspicious year.
IYA2009's theme is The Universe, yours to discover, and the official opening ceremony will take place in Paris on January 15 and 16.
Many of the 135 participating nations will be holding their own opening ceremonies during January and February.
The IYA2009 Solar Physics Group has planned a world-wide campaign, which will see amateur stargazers set up their telescopes on pavements, while science centres will probe the universe.
South Africa was one of the countries instrumental in getting the UN to dedicate 2009 to the galaxies.
Durban's Kevin Govender, who is attached to the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town and Salt (Southern African Large Telescope) in Sutherland, made an impassioned appeal at that time, mentioning the benefits of IYA2009 for developing countries.
So it is no surprise that Sutherland, site of Africa's Giant Eye (the southern hemisphere's largest telescope), is the setting for a star-gazing bash to welcome IYA2009.
In the run-up to the event, the local community was also encouraged to participate through traditional celebrations such as reel dancing - a Khoisan cultural dance.
According to Tracey Miller, of the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, many of those who attended only went home at 8am on New Year's Day.
She said one man had used the occasion to pop a marriage proposal; while Dr Phil Charles, the director of the South African Astronomical Observatory, had ushered in the New Year with a speech and sparkling grape juice toast.
"No alcohol allowed," joked Miller.
"It was amazing to see Africa's Giant Eye opening; to a look at the instruments; meet the astronomers and ask those burning questions," she said.
"We queued, drank coffee, ate boerewors rolls, envied each other's telescopes and marvelled at the night sky."
Miller told of an elderly German man who had recently lost his wife of more than 50 years. Apparently, he decided to join the Astronomical Society in Johannesburg after promising his late wife that he would always look for her in the night sky.
Mingling with the crowds, Miller said she had overheard two people from vastly different backgrounds having a conversation about how insignificant human differences were when hit with the realisation that we are part of billions and billions of galaxies; a child trying to fathom the concept of a black hole; and indigenous astronomy - South Africa's interpretation of the constellations.
"The stuff stars are made of gives new meaning to 'from ashes to ashes - dust to dust'," said Miller.
"Lets get every person in South Africa to look up at the night sky and realise their worth."