January 2003 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] 100 billion dollar craft to blaze over Ireland!
by Astronomy Ireland PR 31 Jan '03

31 Jan '03

31 January ASTRONOMY IRELAND Press Notice Ireland's Biggest Space Interests Group World's most expensive object expected to visit our skies See $100 billion International Space Station blazing overhead The most expensive object ever built, the International Space Station, will blaze across the sky every evening until February 13th and Astronomy Ireland is urging everyone to go outside and watch it. I.S.S. crosses the sky each night for only one or two minutes and can be seen by anyone with ordinary eyesight as a very bright star-like object high overhead. It can be up to 100 times BRIGHTER than the brightest stars in the sky, so it is a wonderful sight. On board at present are 3 astronauts, who have been in space on ISS since late November. They will stay in space for 6 months. So, one is actually looking at a "manned spaceship"! ISS is also THE most expensive object every built by mankind. When complete in a couple of years time it will have cost an estimated 100 billion dollars! So this is a unique object to go out and watch each evening. The time to see ISS is different every evening so Astronomy Ireland has set up a special Newsline to give accurate times to go out and watch. Call 1550-111-442 each afternoon, before sunset. Calls cost 74c per minute. In the U.K. call 09001 88 1950 (calls cost 60p/min). Call between noon and sunset and then go outside that evening, a few minutes before the predicted time, and simply look up and you will see a brilliant 'star' blazing overhead across the sky for 1 or 2 minutes. Anyone interested in I.S.S. or any aspect of space can call Astronomy Ireland for further information, books and articles on (01) 847 0777. BACKGROUND DETAILS The first section of the International Space Station was launched on 20 November 1998. The first crew were launched to station on 31 Octber 2000. Each crew performs experiments in the weightlessness of space for scientists on the ground in the areas of medicine, materials, and astronomy. Roughly 40 Space Shuttle missions (each costing US$500 million) will be required to bring up more modules to complete the Station by 2005. When complete I.S.S. will have a mass of nearly 500 tonnes and cover over 100 metres by 90 metres, with 2,500 square metres of solar panels. This will make it the brightest object ever built in space also. I.S.S. orbits the Earth every hour and a half at a speed of over 17,000 mph, 250 miles above the Earth. I.S.S. can be seen from everywhere in Ireland and U.K. at the same time You can easily see I.S.S. from brightly lit city conditions (in dark rural locations it is an absolutely stunning sight!) ---------------------------------------ends--------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now

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[Astronomy Ireland] NEAT comet! (and New Year Sale)
by David Moore 23 Jan '03

23 Jan '03

Anthony, Very busy here at Astronomy Ireland HQ at present but just quick note to say I saw Comet NEAT last night and it's an impressive little comet from floodlit Butterly Business Park in a Celestron 8-inch SCT! Mag 7.0 approx and 3 arcmin wide. Nicely condensed unlike a couple of weeks ago when I last saw it. There's a finder chart in the February issue of A&S showing where to find it in the West after sunset just below the Square of Pegasus. Those in rural locations will no doubt be getting fine views in binoculars. Let's hope it stays clear this Friday and/or Saturday so we can have a members' telescope night (don't call before 4pm remember, and not after 5:30pm!). Haven't been out in ages! Here's an extract from my personal log (it's my raw format, not meant for publication but I encourage everyone who looks at the sky to keep a file on their PC where they can just jot down notes the next day after those all too rare clear nights!): ----- 2003 Jan 22d 20:40UT-20:50UT saw comet neat in west just below sq. of Pegasus from window of u75 bbp. very XP but quite a lot of light pollution at comets 18deg alt. second time I�ve seen it and it is much brighter and condensed than first time I saw it. it's a nice comet from bbp in c8 so would be a fine sight in non light polluted sky. used c8 with NexStar plossl 40mm giving 50x and made it about half way between Sao 128272(mag7.3) and 128269(mag6.9) i.e. 7.1. then used 20x80B and made it same as the brighter star i.e. mag 6.9. was predicted to be 6.0 but my skies don�t do it justice I�m sure. coma size in both c8 and 20x80 approx 3' +/-1'. ----- We've got 2 or 3 more weeks to see it! P.S. I've CC'd this to Astronomy Ireland emailing list. If you want to report your observations of comets, or anything else, please email to observe(a)astronomy.ie and Anthony Murphy will include them in his new monthly report, starting in the March issue. Make a note of that email address for the future! Note we have a NEW YEAR SALE on at present! Only while stocks last: e.g. �1,000 off some items, 50% off others, Celestron's "Eye-Opening" offer of eyepieces and filters in a case: See http://www.astronomy.ie/sale.html (soon!) or email info(a)astronomy.ie and we'll send 2 small leaflets with details, put "NEW YEAR SALE" in the subject line. ===== David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-5:30pm and Sat. noon-6pm. Tel (01) 847 0777. Fax (01) 847 0771. http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland] test - apologies
by David Moore 11 Jan '03

11 Jan '03

David Moore here: Please ignore this message. It is just a test for administrative purposes. My apologies if you get it. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland] 2 days left to hear AI's first major on-air interview of 2003
by David Moore 08 Jan '03

08 Jan '03

If you want to hear David Moore's interview on 2FM last Friday Jan. 3 (with Gareth O'Callaghan on the Gerry Ryan Show) you can still do so (until the morning of Jan. 10 when it will be overwritten) click on http://www.rte.ie/rams/ecs/radio_weekly/fri/ryanshow.ram then click on "play", then click "seek" and start at 2 hours 15 minutes 25 seconds Warning! Includes Astrology-bashing (a noble pursuit), Star of Bethlehem (including probable birth date of Christ), Junkscopes, the Moon hoax, etc! 24 minutes of prime-time broadcasting! ------------------------ To subscribe / unsubscribe to the Astronomy Ireland Email Events List go to to our website below and click on the "Mailing List Subscriber Page" at the bottom. Contact Astronomy Ireland Office/Shop at: Tel (01) 847 0777 (Monday to Saturday up to 6pm) Fax (01) 847 0771 info(a)astronomy.ie http://www.astronomy.ie Post: P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland] NewYearLecture + RDS + Help? + Cork Talk & Lord Mayor's Reception!
by David Moore 08 Jan '03

08 Jan '03

1. Astronomy Ireland's 2003 NEW YEAR PUBLIC LECTURE "VOYAGER AT 25 - FROM EARTH TO INTERSTELLAR SPACE" will be given by Kevin Nolan (Ireland Co-Ordinator for the Planetary Society) on Monday January 13th at 8pm in Dublin City University (main lecture hall, Henry Grattan Building). Everyone is welcome (seats CAN be pre-booked by calling 01-847 0777) Admission 5euro (3euro for students,unwaged,under18,over65,members) All proceeds go to Astronomy Ireland - a non-profit body Kevin promises us a visual treat using new spectacular images rarely seen of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, along with their moons, all of which were scrutinised in detail by the two Voyager probes launched from Earth 25 years ago. (for details of this and other events go to http://www.astronomy.ie and click on "club events") 2. Come visit Astronomy Ireland's stand at the Esat BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2003 in the Royal Dublin Society main hall from Thursday Jan 9 to Saturday Jan 11 Doors open from 9:30am to 5:30pm The Esat YS&T Exhibition is a fantastic event that attracts 30,000 visitors over 3 days each year. At our stand this year we will be giving away free copies of our magazine and offering a special extended membership to those who join on the day to get our magazine. There'll be telescopes, binoculars, DVDs, CD-ROMs, posters and more to see (and buy!) Admission to the Exhibition is 8euro for adults (4euro child, 20euro family). Payable to Esat not AI. (for details of the RDS, including maps see http://www.rds.ie, and for details of the Young Scientists Exhibition see http://www.esatys.com/) 3. As Astronomy Ireland is run by volunteers we are seeking your help to staff our stand in the RDS. We already have some volunteers signed up but to give them a break we could use more help. All you have to do is give out information, free magazines, etc. It's very simple. If you'd like to assist one of our seasoned volunteers. Can you do a half day (9am-2pm or 1pm-6pm) on Thursday, Firday or Saturday? If so, please call Sean Quinn on (01) 288 0966 as he organising the roster. 4. Enough of the Dublin events, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore will give a lecture "The Universe" in Cork city on Thursday February 6th to the Cork Literary & Scientific Society (founded 1820) in the Crawford Art Gallery (Emmet Place, near the Opera House) at 8pm. Prior to the talk, the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. John Kelleher, will host a reception in the Mayoral Chambers in City Hall at 4:30pm. All members of Astronomy Ireland in the Cork area are invited to attend this reception. The City Hall is also located on Emmet Place, adjacent to the Opera House. To attend the reception or talk, please contact Astronomy Ireland�s Cork Branch Co-Ordinator Martin Lynch at 087-2404104 or 021-963853 as soon as possible. David is also hoping to speak in schools on the morning. If you are involved in a school in Cork city, please contact the office on 01-847 0777 to arrange a school lecture. --------------------- To subscribe / unsubscribe to the Astronomy Ireland Email Events List go to to our website below and click on the "Mailing List Subscriber Page" at the bottom. Contact Astronomy Ireland Office/Shop at: Tel (01) 847 0777 (Monday to Saturday up to 6pm) Fax (01) 847 0771 mailto:info@astronomy.ie http://www.astronomy.ie Post: P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 ===== David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-5:30pm and Sat. noon-6pm. Tel (01) 847 0777. Fax (01) 847 0771. http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland] AI Chairman on 2FM re Star of Bethlehem (and news)
by David Moore 03 Jan '03

03 Jan '03

Tune in the to Gerry Ryan Show on 2FM (hosted by Gareth O'Callaghan this week) to hear David Moore being interviewed about the Star of Bethlehem and the real birth date of Christ (probably 15 Sept 7 BC) You can listen on the net, just click on http://www.2fm.ie and click "live stream" Once the show is over you'll be able to listen to a recording. We'll post another message after the show saying where to hear the recording. Happy New Year P.S. Remember the Quadrantids meteor shower makes a rare favourable maximum for us tonight. See the Sky Diary pages of the January issue for the details. Come see our stand at the Esat BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition next Thurs,Fri,Sat Jan. 9,10,11 in the RDS, Dublin. We're in the RoboWars building. Don't forget to call (or email info(a)astronomy.ie) and book your tickets for our New Year Lecture on Mon Jan 13 (see http://www.astronomy.ie) Plus, we still have some scopes left after Christmas for our January Sale, with up to �107 off scopes like the highly recommended Firstscope 70EQ - Get ready for Mars in the summer making one of its closest every approaches and 2 lunar eclipses this year! P.P.S. Saturn is about to pass in front of the Crab Nebula this weekend! See the January issue Sky Diary pages! tune in to 2FM now.... ===== David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-5:30pm and Sat. noon-6pm. Tel (01) 847 0777. Fax (01) 847 0771. www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland] Comets, Quadrantids, JMSE, Party
by astronomy-admin＠lists.redbrick.dcu.ie 01 Jan '03

01 Jan '03

Hi all, Happy New Year to one and all! Let's hope for some better weather: apparently December was the cloudiest (in NI at least) for 16 years!). 2003 hasn't got off to a good start in Glengormley, where I've had rain all day from a cloudbase just a few feet above my roof! But it's better elsewhere, and I've just had a t/c report from Martin Eagle in Eyeries in the Beara peninsula in West Cork that he saw Kudo-Fujikawa earlier this evening in 10x50 binocs, looking like a fainter version of M13 (no tail). So there's hope yet. He also reported a faint greenish glow along the N horizon on the evening of 30/12, which sounds like an aurora, and pretty rare for that latitude! No reports of obseravtions of the other new comet, NEAT, details of which were in the last email. Friday evening (3 Jan) sees the maximum of the Quadrantid Meteors, usually the 3rd best annual shower: the max rate can approach 100 per hour in good conditions, but the peak is brief, and if it occurs in daylight, or if it's cloudy for the best few hours, or there's moonlight, then hard luck! Conditions this year are fair, with the maximum predicted for 22h that evening, as the radiant is just past lower culmination, and starting to climb in the NNE sky. It's not high up until the small hours of next morning, but at least there's no moonlight. For once Northern observers are best favoured, with the radiant higher here at any given hour of the night than for Southerners. The radiant actually lies in N. Bootes (the shower is named after the now defunct constellation of Quadrans, which is now in Bootes), at R.A. 15h 28m, Dec + 50 deg. It lies about midway between the end of the Plough and the Head of Draco. You might see 40-50 per hour in good conditions; maybe 60-80 per hour if the maximum is a little late, and therefore occurring when the radiant is higher. Observations anytime from evening twilight all through the night will be useful! If it's clear tonight, loook out for a very rare event if you have a reasonable-sized telescope: It's a Jupiter Mutual Satellite Event (JMSE): in this case a partial occultation of Io by Ganymede. What makes it even more interesting is that Io & Ganymede will be in transit across the disc of Jupiter at the time! And as Europa is in eclipse/occultation by Jupiter itself at that time, only one (Callisto) of the usual 4 moons will be visible off the disc! The details are: Jan 2: Gannymede occults Io: start: 01h 50m 10s; end: 02h 04m 32s; magnitude: 27%. Configuration, as seen in an inverting telescope, Left to Right: Callisto, Jupiter/Ganymede/Io. Europa enters eclipse by Jupiter at 23.19 on Jan 2, emerging from occultation at 03.37. Full observing details are in STARDUST for those of you lucky & wise enough to be IAA members! Good Luck! LAST CALL! IAA XMAS /NEW YEAR PARTY: Don't forget to book your ticket(s) for the social event of the year, on Saturday 4 January, 7.30 p.m., at the Tudor Private Cinema, Comber. The film is 'Space Cowboys', and a great selection of buffet food & drinks are included in the price. Full details were sent out with STARDUST: if you've lost them, or didn't get them, contact me immediately by return, or John Hall, tel 9084 3109, or email at < jimmyaquarius(a)btinternet.com>. Great fun, and great value, with various family tickets available. Terry Moseley

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