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

[Astronomy Ireland] Sunspots, Star-B-Q, Columbia Lecture, NAM2003, I.S.S.
by David Moore 29 Mar '03

29 Mar '03

1. Large number of sunspots have appeared. Use AstroSolar filter material (available from our Shop) to view them in safety. Watch our for aurora this week as the spots cross the Sun. 2. Remember, Monday is the last chance to book for Star-B-Q (Friday April 25) - IRELAND'S BIGGEST ANNUAL GATHERING OF AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS. Nearly all the tickets had been sold by the close of business on Saturday so hurry. Full price (20euro) applies from Tuesday onwards also. Call the number below. See http://www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html 3. Monday April 14 will see space author Brian Harvey giving a lecture "The last voyage of Columbia" in Dublin City University. See http://www.astronomy.ie/events.html under April 14. Book places in advance on the number below. If you don't live in Leinster area you can see the talk on our website a few days later http://www.astronomy.ie/webcast.html 4. And don't forget the National Astronomy Meeting takes place in Dublin Castle week after next. See Society News page 44 April issue of Astronomy & Space magazine (or http://star.arm.ac.uk/nam2003/) Although a record setting 500 PROFESSIONAL astronomers are due to converge on Dublin April 7-11, the Director of the Hubble Space Telescope is due to give an evening PUBLIC LECTURE (see website and email NAM2003 organisers for details not me!). Enjoy those sunspots, and I'll see you at one or all of the above events! 5. P.S. Almost forgot to mention, The INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION is flying over every night until April 8. I've seen it twice so far this week. Call 1550-111-442 every day after 12 noon for exact time to see it. Please pass number along to friends also. 6. P.P.S. Thanks to the dozens of you who replied to my last message about helping to proof read the magazine each month. A notice about how to do it is being prepared and will be sent out this weekend. (If you didn't reply that time but DO want to help proof read the magazine please send an email with "proof reading" in the subject line to info(a)astronomy.ie) Thanks again. ===== 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: http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) Email: info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland]Aurora March 25 and 26, proof readers wanted
by David Moore 25 Mar '03

25 Mar '03

There is a chance of seeing an Aurora tonight (Tuesday) and tomorrow night (Wednesday). See below. Keep an eye on the northern sky all night and let us know if you see anything (send a text message by mobile phone to 087 245 8003 if you like, stating where you are located and what time you saw any activity and what type - rays, just a general glow, colours, etc) If you do see anything over the next 2 nights don't forget to jot down your impressions and send them to observe(a)astronomy.ie for our "OBSERVERS LOG" column. Wishing you clear skies. 2. The May issue of "Astronomy & Space" magazine is going to press. If you are interested in helping by proof reading some pages every month please email info(a)astronomy.ie now. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to download the low-res PDFs we prepare but it's a free package that most computers have and you can download it off the net easily. No great knowledge of astronomy is needed, we're looking for typos and spelling mistakes. --- "SpaceWeather.com" <swlist(a)spaceweather.com> wrote: > Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2003 11:27:17 -0600 > Subject: Aurora Watch: March 25 and 26, 2003 > To: SpaceWeather.com <swlist(a)spaceweather.com> > From: SpaceWeather.com <swlist(a)spaceweather.com> > > Space Weather News for March 25, 2003 > http://www.spaceweather.com > > Earth is heading for a solar wind stream flowing from a coronal hole on > the Sun. Geomagnetic activity is possible on March 25th or > 26th--especially during the hours when our planet first encounters the > stream. Sky watchers should be alert for auroras after local nightfall on > both dates. The best viewing sites will be at high-latitudes: e.g., New > Zealand, southern Australia, Canada, northern Europe, Alaska and northern > continental US states like Michigan and Wisconsin. Stay tuned to > spaceweather.com for updates and images. ===== 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: http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) Email: info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! http://platinum.yahoo.com

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[Astronomy Ireland]Columbia Disaster Documentary
by TerryMosel＠aol.com 14 Mar '03

14 Mar '03

Hi all, I have just got these further details from Nigel Henbest & Heather Couper: "Just to let you know that our instant documentary on the Space Shuttle is airing on Saturday, 15th March, at 8.00 pm on Channel 4. Heather is narrating the programme, in a collaboration with her old TV company Pioneer Productions. Nigel, wearing his Pioneer hat, is script-writer. And we apologise for the title (Space Shuttle: the Human Time-Bomb?). It was devised by Channel 4, and forced on us despite our vigorous protestations!! As you'll guess (or may have gathered from the TV trailers or Radio Times), it's an investigation into not just the Columbia tragedy, but the basic design faults in the Shuttle system, forced on NASA way back in Richard Nixon's day, by the US military and the White House. Hard hitting, and deeply upsetting for us to make (Heather was on the road in the US, interviewing astronauts who knew the Columbia crew as friends, and also the inhabitants of the town of Nacogdoches, where much of the debris fell). But we hope it will raise questions that will help to lead to a safer launch system for future astronauts. N&H" Terry

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[Astronomy Ireland] Big Sunspots, Comet J-H, Write for A&S, Observation, Lecture
by David Moore 09 Mar '03

09 Mar '03

1. There are two huge sunspots, one on either side of the Sun, and both very similar in size and shape. It's quite a remarkable sight! If you have our AstroSolar filters, even just for your binoculars, you can see what I mean 'live'. WARNING: NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. NOT WITH THE NAKED EYE, NOR BINOCULARS, AND CERTAINLY NOT TELESCOPES. Use only safe filters and secure them to the front of your instrument. Call Astronomy Ireland for advice if uncertain. If you're online you can look at the latest image from Big Bear solar observatory at: http://www.bbso.njit.edu/Images/daily/images/wfullb.jpg 2. Don't forget Comet C/2002 Y1 Juels-Holvorcem. It's about magnitude 7 and cicumpolar so you can see it all night. Though with the Moon in the evening sky rural observers will get best views around 5am when the comet is high in the East, but do look each evening. Anthony Murphy (Drogheda) has seen it several times and recommends you go out and observe it. Send your reports to observe(a)astronomy.ie (info http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html ) 3. We are seeking more people to help write the News section of the magazine. If you fancy yourself as a writer email info(a)astronomy.ie 4. AN OBSERVATION: Finally, wasn't the Moon a lovely sight tonight (Sunday March 9) next to the Pleiades star cluster as seen in binoculars (as predicted in the Sky Diary Highlights for March)? The Moon was stunning close-up in a telescope but I just missed the magntiude 6 lunar occultation as clouds rolled across the Moon just at he moment of occultation! Still there's several more occultations this coming week (see magazine page 23) and just look at what's in store this coming week in the Highlights section of this month's Sky Diary! Don't forget to send reports of every one of these events that you see to observe(a)astronomy.ie 5. For those of you living in the Leinster area, don't forget Eamonn Ansbro shows the first results from his giant 36-inch reflector (in Roscommon) at our public lecture on Monday March 10 at 8pm in Dublin City University. See http://www.astronomy.ie for more details of how to get there. ===== 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: http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) Email: info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/

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[Astronomy Ireland] PUBLIC LECTURE: Ireland's Most Powerful Eye on the Universe
by Astronomy Ireland PR 07 Mar '03

07 Mar '03

ASTRONOMY IRELAND Press Notice March 7 p u b l i c l e c t u r e "FIRST RESULTS FROM IRELAND'S MOST POWERFUL TELESCOPE" 8pm Monday March 10 Dublin City University Astronomy Ireland invites everyone to a public lecture it is organising in Dublin City University on Monday March 10th at 8:00pm. The speaker will be Eamonn Ansbro, member no. 1 of Astronomy Ireland, who has invested 500,000 euro in building the most advanced observatory in Ireland, housing one of the most powerful telescopes in private hands anywhere in the world. Eamonn has spent the past couple of years setting up his 36-inch diameter telescope, and others, at Kingsland, Co. Roscommon, near Boyle. Last year construction was completed and the first pictures through the giant telescope will be released to the public for the first time at the lecture on Monday night. Not since the great Lord Rosse in the nineteenth century has Ireland seen such a major facility. Eamonn is very much following in the footsteps of the great Lord Rosse, who built what was then the largest telescope in the world at Birr in Co. Offaly. This time however, the telescopes have the advantage of the latest super-sensitive digital cameras and computers to remotely control the operation of the entire observatory. This will allow the Kingsland Observatory to see objects 1,000 times fainter. Lord Rosse would have been impressed. Everyone is welcome to come along and see the latest pictures from Ireland's new and most powerful eye on the universe: Event : Astronomy Ireland Public Lecture Title : "FIRST RESULTS FROM IRELAND'S MOST POWERFUL TELESCOPE" Date : Monday 10th March at 8:00pm Speaker : Eamonn Ansbro, Kingsland Observatory Director Venue : main lecture hall, Henry Grattan Building, DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY (Glasnevin, Dublin 9) Admission : All welcome (5 euro adults, 3 euro children/student) Bookings : Astronomy Ireland on (01) 847 0777 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, and more

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[Astronomy Ireland] Sky at Night on BBC; Patrick Moore is 80; March 10 Lecture; STAR-B-Q; Comet!
by David Moore 03 Mar '03

03 Mar '03

1. BBC 1 TV broadcasts Sir Patrick Moore's next SKY AT NIGHT on the subject of "Dark Matter" on Sunday night March 2/3 (technically Monday morning) at 1:45am so you may have missed it by the time you read this. However, you can watch the repeat this Saturday March 8 at 12:45pm on BBC 2. Here's advance notice for you: the next Sky at Night is on Sunday night March 30/31 on BBC 1 (no doubt at some time around midnight). 2. Sir Patrick, an honorary life member of Astronomy Ireland, celebrates his 80th birthday on Tuesday March 4th. We sent him a card on your behalf. We have also set up a page on our website to celebrate his birthday this week. There is an excellent biography of the great man. Go to http://www.astronomy.ie and click on the link at the top of the page now, you may see a familiar face (how young we were). 3. The next meeting of Astronomy Ireland in Dublin is coming up soon on Monday March 10th when Eamonn Ansbro presents the first results from his 36-inch telescope and observatories at Kingsland, Co. Roscommon. Eamonn has invested a reputed 500,000 Euro on the facilities at Kingsland and I have already seen some impressive planetary images. So do come along to: The Main Lecture Hall (CG86) in the Henry Grattan Building Dublin City University (map on our website) at 8:00pm Monday March 10 for "First Results from the Kingsland Observatories" by Eamonn Ansbro. All welcome - bring a friend! For members who cannot get to Dublin we videotape these talks and make them available on our website a few days later. Check out the "webcasts" on the sidebar of our homepage at http://www.astronomy.ie (Advance notice: Our April 14 meeting will be given by Brian Harvey on "The last voyage of Columbia) 4. STAR-B-Q, Ireland's biggest annual gathering of amateur astronomers, takes place on April 25 this year, but remember you can get tickets at the reduced rate of just 15 Euro until March 31st. Assuming there are any left that is because booking has been heavier than ever before following the booking form enclosed with the March issue of Astronomy & Space magazine that went out in mid February. See page 44 of the March issue for details. We should have a webpage about STAR-B-Q up soon, but don't wait for that, book this week if you can, by post or telephone our Shop staff. 5. And finally, in observing news, yet another decent comet is brightening in evening skies - C/2002 Y1 Juels-Holvorcem. It's brighter than expected at about magnitude 7.0. This week is moves from Cepheus into Lacerta, so it's about 15 degrees from Deneb. Details will be in the April issue of A&S out in 2 weeks time. The Moon will become a problem in the coming week so view over the next few nights if you can. (You can get details at http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/ in the meantime). Don't forget to send any observations in to observe(a)astronomy.ie for our new "Observers Log" column edited by Anthony Murphy (see page 33 of the March issue). Click on http://www.astronomy.ie/pmoore.html 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: http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) Email: info(a)astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/

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