The
International Heliophysical Year is a
UN-sponsored scientifically driven international program of scientific collaboration to understand external drivers of planetary environments and universal processes in
solar-terrestrial-
planetary-
heliospheric physics. The IHY will focus on advancements in all aspects of the
heliosphere and its interaction with the
interstellar medium. This effort culminates in the "International Heliophysical Year" (IHY) in 2007-2008. The IHY concluded in February, 2009, but was largely continued via the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI)