April 2004 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] Comet Bradfield, Eclipse, Star-B-Q
by Astronomy Ireland 29 Apr '04

29 Apr '04

1. Comet Bradfield has been putting on a fine display in morning skies after surviving its fiery passage just 16 million miles from the Sun. The view on the SOHO website was spectacular and you can see a summary movie and images at: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/pickoftheweek/old/22apr2004/index.html I got my first view last Sunday morning April 25 when I saw it from a brightly lit city location in twilight in a pair of our 10x50 binoculars. There was a short bright tail. Was this the first sighting from Ireland? Martin McKenna from N.Ireland saw it on Tuesday morning April 27 and said "The comet has a bright white/green disc like central condensation with a thin outer coma sweeping back into a lovely ghostly +45' tail which pointed to the nw and sported a slim bright spine." He also used 10x50 bin and a 8" s.cass F/6.3 at 49x. I agree when he said "Lovely comet!". On the net there have been loads of nice images showing tails up to 10 degrees long. Just click on these: http://www.astrostudio.at/images/i/ivompudd.jpg http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2004/28apr04/pacholka1.jpg http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2004/28apr04/Holloway1.jpg http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2004/29apr04/Westlake1.jpg By the end of next week Comet Bradfield will have faded but Comet NEAT, an even better prospect, will become visible from Ireland for the first time. It's an evening object and could reach magnitude +1 to +3 depending on who you ask. Use the map in the May issue (order online NOW if you want to get it in time at www.astronomy.ie/sub) 2. Eclipse The May issue also has details of next Tuesday's Total Eclipse of the Moon (the last such eclipse we'll see in the 'evenings' until 2007!). For a list of nearly a dozen Astronomy Ireland Eclipse Watches see our website or use the details in the May issue and have your own Eclipse Watch! 3. STAR-B-Q tickets have been selling strong but we can cater for everyone who wants to come and look through powerful telescopes from a v ery dark sky. Details are on the website where you can also book tickets online. Star-B-Q takes place on May 7 i.e tomorrow week and you must book tickets IN ADVANCE so get clicking, or call, or drop in to the Shop. Star-B-Q is the biggest annual astronomy gathering in Ireland so don't be left out no matter where you live north or south. P.S. If you read the Sky Diary every month or call our 1550-111-442 Newsline every week you'll know tonight is the night that Jupiter gets spectacularly close to the Moon - see April issue for details and a map. Enjoy the eclipse and comet mania! ===== David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland (www.astronomy.ie) To get the May 'COMET & ECLIPSE' issue of our magazine (only 5euro) call (01) 847 0777 or visit Ireland's ONLY Astronomy Shop www.astronomy.ie/map.html (delivery nationwide)

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[Astronomy Ireland] Markree Observatory Auction May 19 for 300, 000euro, Comets
by Astronomy Ireland 21 Apr '04

21 Apr '04

1. MARKREE TO BE SOLD! On April 8 I emailed that Markree Observatory in Sligo was to be sold and that RTE had come in to our Shop to film a piece with me about its history (you can see old emails by clicking on the link at the bottom of these emails). The piece was to be aired that day but it was held over and was only transmitted at 1pm last Wednesday April 14, but it was also aired on the "Seachtain" programme last Sunday. You can watch the piece online! http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0414/1news/1news56_10a.smil It explains that the Observatory will be auctioned on May 19 in the Castle with a guide price of 300,000 euro (includes 3 acres of land). You'll also get to see what is left of the Observatory, which found the only asteroid ever discovered from Ireland. One worrying point was that the auctioneer seemed to be suggesting how the round walls of the observatory could be 'incorporated' in to a room in the house. I'd like to think it will always 'look like an observatory'. It is a very important part of Ireland's astronomical heritage. Enjoy the clip, it's only 2 minutes long. 2. COMETS Further to yesterday's email it cleared up this morning just before dawn and I was certain I'd get to see Comet Bradfield! Drove to Howth but clouds rose up on the eastern horizon at the critical time so no sighting. The invitation to tag along any morning this week still stands, just reply to this email for details. There's always Comet NEAT (featured in the May issue of our magazine, along with details of the coming Total Eclipse on May 4) which becomes visible from Ireland on May 6 or 7 just in time for our STAR-B-Q, Ireland' BIGGEST annual gathering of astronomy fans. You can now book STAR-B-Q online and get details at http://www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html However, Comet LINEAR (closest to the Sun on April 25) that you may hear about all over the net will NOT be visible from Ireland while it is bright over the coming months. ===== David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland (www.astronomy.ie) To get the May 'COMET & ECLIPSE' issue of our magazine telephone or visit Ireland's ONLY Astronomy Shop www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel (01) 847 0777 six days a week (delivery nationwide)

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[Astronomy Ireland] Comet Brafield, Sunspot, Golf Outing
by Astronomy Ireland 20 Apr '04

20 Apr '04

1. SEE COMET BRADFIELD ON THE NET & IN THE SKY Comet Bradfield was an amazing sight over the last few days in the "LASCO C3" camera on board the SOHO spacecraft. It is just beginning to leave the camera's field of view today (Tuesday April 20), though it's unexpected large (though faint) dust tail could linger a little longer. SOHO astronomers promise to produce a special movie so watch the website closely http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov Comet Bradfield will emerge in to morning skies this week. It was so bright when it passed the Sun (perhaps magnitude -3) that some observers tried to spot it in daylight, without success however as it was dangerously close to the Sun for Earthbound observation. However, over the next few mornings the comet could be seen low in the East just before dawn, perhaps with the naked-eye. It rises about 5am BST slightly North of due East. The comet will fade rapidly and could even disintegrate. Here is a daily ephemeris of the Comet's position (at 1am BST on each date note): Date R.A. (2000) Dec. R r Elong Mag. Motion h m o ' (AU) (AU) o "/hr P.A. 2004 Apr 21.00 1 18.31 +16 56.5 0.841 0.234 10.5 3.3 444 333 22.00 1 13.18 +19 26.5 0.858 0.261 13.3 3.8 395 335 23.00 1 9.02 +21 42.2 0.878 0.290 15.9 4.3 349 338 24.00 1 5.71 +23 44.3 0.900 0.319 18.2 4.8 309 341 25.00 1 3.09 +25 34.5 0.924 0.348 20.2 5.2 274 343 26.00 1 1.07 +27 14.1 0.948 0.378 22.0 5.7 246 346 27.00 0 59.52 +28 44.5 0.973 0.407 23.6 6.0 221 348 28.00 0 58.38 +30 7.1 0.998 0.436 25.1 6.4 201 351 29.00 0 57.56 +31 22.9 1.023 0.464 26.4 6.7 184 353 30.00 0 57.02 +32 32.9 1.048 0.492 27.6 7.0 169 355 2004 May 1.00 0 56.70 +33 37.7 1.073 0.520 28.7 7.3 157 357 2.00 0 56.58 +34 38.1 1.097 0.547 29.8 7.6 146 359 3.00 0 56.62 +35 34.6 1.121 0.575 30.7 7.8 137 1 4.00 0 56.79 +36 27.6 1.145 0.601 31.6 8.1 129 3 If you do spot it let us know immediately! Try to estimate it's brightness, size of the coma, any tail and its length. If it clears up I intend going to Howth head in Dublin to look out over the sea for the comet rising at around 5am any morning this week. Anyone in Dublin interested tagging along should reply to this email and I'll give you details of the arrangements. 2. NEW SUNSPOT A nice medium-to-large new sunspot has rotated in to view on the Sun, and appears to be growing. Large sunspots can end up causing displays of the aurora (we'll email you if one is predicted) so keep an eye on the northern sky each evening. Remember, if you want to view the Sun in safety you must fit AstroSolar filters over the front of your binoculars or telescope - this you can buy at moderate cost from our Shop (call the number below for details). 3. GOLF AND ASTRONOMY The First Annual Astronomy Ireland Golf Outing and Astronomy Evening will be held on Friday April 23rd in Killerig Castle Golf Club, Killerig, Carlow between 6pm and 8pm (so you won't have to take the whole day off work). A 9-hole stableford competition is proposed for the golf event at 10euro per entry. This will be followed by an Astronomy evening with Ireland's largest mobile telescope (Astronomy Ireland's 21-inch Millennium reflector!) along with several others. Several planets and galaxies will be on view. The club house facilities will be open to all and a mini-barbeque will be on offer. For entry to the golf competition contact Astronomy Ireland's Carlow Branch Co-ordinator Gerry Moloney on 087-9184000. Leave a message if Gerry cannot answer and he promises to get back to you. http://www.astronomy.ie/Golf.html ===== David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland (www.astronomy.ie) Please support your national astronomy society and ONLY buy your Telescopes, Books, CD-ROMs etc. from OUR Astronomy Shop www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel (01) 847 0777 six days a week (delivery nationwide)

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[Astronomy Ireland] Comet Bradfield on SOHO, Comet NEAT, Eclipse coming, Nova, Double shadow transit
by Astronomy Ireland 16 Apr '04

16 Apr '04

Comet Bradfield is a fine sight right now in the cameras of the SOHO spacecraft. To see the latest images from SOHO click http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-images.html then click on the "LASCO C3" picture (or one of the links below it if you want a bigger or smaller picture). In yesterday's email I predicted it would become visible at the bottom of the LASCO C3 camera's image around 6pm Thursday. In fact it was about 9pm (I forgot to add the hour for summer time so the prediction was really only 2 hours out, not bad as the comet moves only a tiny amount in 2 hours). I am still predicting 8am Tuesday April 20 for the head of the comet to disappear from the LASCO C3 camera's field of view. There is now a nice animation of the predicted path of Comet Bradfield as it will be seen by SOHO at: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/pickoftheweek/ and run the movie! Note how the comet's tail will swing wildly around so that it always points away from the Sun. Mercury is in inferior conjunction (April 17 at 2am BST) so it's not as easy to see as the animation suggests. A slight curve can already be seen in the comet's tail (as at 2pm BST Friday), and the tail is by no means fully in to the camera's field of view yet. Our contacts on the SOHO team tell us they are taking special exposures and will make a special movie once the fly past of the Sun is over. You can see 'standard movies' already at: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mpeg/ Early risers may be able to see the Comet on the limit of naked-eye visibility from the morning of April 23 next week, but the rest of us can marvel at the SOHO pictures as they unfold. 2. COMET NEAT & MOON ECLIPSE MAY 4 Another comet, Comet NEAT (C/2001 Q4) is on its way. It's a much bigger comet and should easily be visible to the naked-eye from the date of our Star-B-Q (May 7) onwards, and in EVENING skies too. There is an article and star map showing its position in the May issue of our colour monthly magazine "Astronomy & Space" that is going in the post to members today - all others should go to www.astronomy.ie/sub and subscribe or post 5euro to P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 (or call if using credit card) and ask for the "May issue", which also has full details of the last evening Total eclipse of the Moon (on May 4 just 3 days before Star-B-Q) until 2007! Please order your copy TODAY and be ready for two treats in May - comet NEAT *may* rival Comet Hale-Bopp! 3. A nova has been discovered in Ophiuchus that can be seen from Ireland 12 degrees up in the south before dawn (4am BST is best time to look). It is just half a degree above the 9th magnitude globular star cluster NGC 6401. At only mag. 10.2 so far so it's perhaps one for the more advanced observers amongst you, details can be forwarded on request or see chart: http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/searchcharts3.pl?name=N%20OPH%2004 4. A DOUBLE SHADOW TRANSIT of Jupiter's moons Io and Europe is visible from Ireland tonight from approx 9:50pm to 10:02pm BST. You'll need a telescope to see this, and you have a vast selection to choose from at our Shop don't forget (we're open tomorrow and every Saturday don't forget). See page 29 for details of this shadow transit event and others like it every month that you can see once you get one of our telescopes. --- David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland (www.astronomy.ie) Please support your national astronomy society and ONLY buy your Telescopes, Books, CD-ROMs etc. from OUR Astronomy Shop www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel (01) 847 0777 six days a week (delivery nationwide)

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[Astronomy Ireland] Comet Bradfield on SOHO website
by Astronomy Ireland 15 Apr '04

15 Apr '04

Comet Bradfield is too close to the Sun to be seen by ordinary means over the next few days. However, that means that the SOHO spacecraft (which continuously monitors the Sun from space) can see it well. By my calculations it will be visible in the wide angle "LASCO C3" camera (which has about a 17 degree field of view) from approx 6pm this evening (Thursday April 15) until about 8am Tuesday morning April 20. To see the latest images from SOHO click http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-images.html then click on the "LASCO C3" picture (or one of the links below it if you want a bigger or smaller picture). The comet will first appear right at the bottom of the image and then track towards the upper right over the 4.5 days it will be visible. Remember, the tail always points away from the Sun. You can also get movies (MPEG, animated GIF, etc. formats) - see the links at the bottom of the above page. SOHO is a wonderful spacecraft and the website has lots more information, images and movies. You may remember in June 2002 Dr. Peter Gallagher (an Irishman working with SOHO for NASA in the U.S.A.) gave Astronomy Ireland a lecture (to a huge audience) in D.C.U. about the Sun using exquisite SOHO images. CORRECTION: In the last email I said we'd only be able to see this comet in evening skies at the end of April, but in fact it is easier to see in morning skies, and a little sooner. Comet Bradfield will be low in the East from perhaps as early as April 23 i.e. 1 week's time. However, keep an eye on the SOHO website as some pundits think the comet will be destroyed by its 16 million mile approach to the Sun on April 18. --- David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland (www.astronomy.ie) Please support your national astronomy society and ONLY buy your Telescopes, Books, CD-ROMs etc. from OUR Astronomy Shop www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel (01) 847 0777 six days a week (delivery nationwide)

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[Astronomy Ireland] Hawking, Comet Bradfield, Star-B-Q last chance
by Astronomy Ireland 13 Apr '04

13 Apr '04

1. At 9pm tonight (April 13) BBC2 will screen the much heralded documentary about the life of Professor Stephen Hawking, who now holds Sir Isaac Newton's position at Cambridge University. The programme synopsis reads "Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disorder (MND) at the age of 22, his theories on the universe have revolutionised the cosmological world. BBC Drama and BBC Science present a one-off special on the remarkable life of Stephen Hawking" http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/hawking/ BBC: "Read the Stephen Hawking biography, find out more about the scientists and theories that were part of Stephen's life, and visit our Multimedia Tribute." http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/spaceguide/hawking/ Hawking's own website is at http://www.hawking.org.uk/ Our Astronomy Shop has all of Hawking's books in stock don't forget, ready for same day despatch to you, or call in and collect. 2. Veteran comet hunter William Bradfield (age 76) has discovered his 18th comet (C/2004 F4). It's only a dozen degrees from the Sun by the time you get this and it will close to 2.6 degrees on April 18 reaching perhaps 1st magnitude which means it should be visible at the SOHO site around that time: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime-images.html After this it pulls away from the Sun and will become visible in our evening skies at the end of April perhaps at 6th magnitude. The only problem with this comet is that it reaches its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) on April 17 and it will be just 16 million miles from the Sun, much closer than Mercury. Comet Bradfield is a relatively small comet so there is a good chance that the comet will NOT survive perihelion, something you can watch day by day on the SOHO website above. If Comet Bradfield does survive perihelion we could have 2 comets to see at our Star-B-Q in May (the other being Comet NEAT, a BIG comet that should put on a fine display as you will read in the May issue of our magazine which is being posted out to members at the end of this week - call to order a copy for 5euro if you don't subscribe). Here is a preliminary ephemeris for our more advanced readers: COMET BRADFIELD, C/2004 F4 2004 RA (2000) Dec Delta r Elong Mag Const OpLat h m o ' au au o o Apr 12 2 08.0 -00 41 1.046 0.265 15 3.8 Cet 40S Apr 13 2 06.6 -00 07 1.005 0.237 14 3.3 Cet 43S Apr 14 2 04.1 +00 41 0.963 0.212 12 2.9 Cet 46S Apr 15 2 00.3 +01 52 0.923 0.190 10 2.4 Cet 50S Apr 16 1 54.9 +03 31 0.886 0.175 8 2.1 Psc 57S Apr 17 1 48.0 +05 43 0.856 0.169 5 1.9 Psc 70S Apr 18 1 40.2 +08 23 0.837 0.173 3 1.9 Psc 64S Apr 19 1 32.3 +11 18 0.830 0.186 4 2.1 Psc 02S Apr 20 1 25.0 +14 12 0.833 0.206 7 2.5 Psc 17N Apr 21 1 18.9 +16 57 0.845 0.231 10 2.9 Psc 24N Apr 22 1 13.8 +19 28 0.862 0.258 13 3.3 Psc 28N Apr 23 1 09.7 +21 44 0.883 0.287 16 3.7 Psc 30N Apr 24 1 06.5 +23 47 0.905 0.316 18 4.0 Psc 31N Apr 25 1 04.0 +25 37 0.930 0.346 20 4.4 Psc 32N Apr 26 1 02.1 +27 16 0.955 0.375 22 4.7 Psc 33N Apr 27 1 00.6 +28 46 0.980 0.405 24 5.0 Psc 33N Apr 28 0 59.6 +30 08 1.005 0.434 25 5.3 Psc 34N Apr 29 0 58.9 +31 24 1.031 0.462 26 5.6 Psc 34N Apr 30 0 58.4 +32 33 1.056 0.491 27 5.8 Psc 34N May 01 0 58.2 +33 37 1.081 0.519 28 6.0 Psc 35N May 02 0 58.2 +34 37 1.106 0.546 30 6.2 And 35N May 03 0 58.3 +35 33 1.130 0.573 30 6.5 And 35N (If the columns of the table don't line up properly, switch to a fixed-space font like Courier.) 3. STAR-B-Q - Ireland's biggest annual astronomy gathering May 7 is the date for our annual get together with telescopes, talks, guides to the night sky by eye and binoculars PLUS our fund-raising barbecue under the stars. Today (April 13) is the last day to book at the slightly reduced rate of 20euro (see insert in your April issue of the magazine and at http://www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html where you can book online and get more details or download a booking form for friends and family). David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland: JOIN ONLINE: www.astronomy.ie/sub Ireland's only telescope shop: www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel: (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] RTE News: Markree Castle Observatory to be sold
by Astronomy Ireland 08 Apr '04

08 Apr '04

Just had a TV news crew in our Shop filming for a report on the sale of the Observatory at Markree Castle just outside Sligo town. You should be able to see the story on the TV News on RTE 1 at 6pm, and check out the 9pm News also. Network 2 news at 11:25pm may also carry it. For those of you not up on Ireland's proud astronomical heritage, in 1830 Edward Cooper of Markree Castle acquired a 13.5-inch lens and had it mounted in a huge telescope in an observatory in the grounds of the Castle. It was then the biggest refractor IN THE WORLD. He added other instruments including a 4-inch 'comet seeker' in a little tower attached to the side of the main telescope enclosure. In 1851 the annual meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society recorded Markree as the "most richly furnished private observatory in the world". In 1848 the only asteroid ever found from Ireland, 9 Metis, was discovered by Cooper's able assistant Andrew Graham. Cooper died in 1863 but the observatory remained in use until 1902. The 14-inch was sold to Hong Kong in the 1930's and survives to this day in Manila in the Philippines Islands. Curiously I was invited to give a dinner-lecture in Markree Castle (now a Hotel) a couple of weeks ago and visited the remains of the observatory while there. It has been converted into a private residence and this is presumably how it is to be sold. Also co-incidentally, our Easter Monday speaker Prof Susan McKenna-Lawlor wrote a history of astronomy in Ireland (now sadly out of print) so we might ask her about all the famous observatories that sprung up in 19th-century Ireland. And of course, the tradition continues today with excellent astronomical research being done in universities and institutes the length and breadth of Ireland (witness the ASGI/IOPI astronomy weekend in Armagh last weekend), and Astronomy Ireland is the biggest astronomy club in the world relative to population, so there must be something astronomical in Irish genes! After all, Ireland did 'invent' astronomy - Newgrange predates the pyramids at Giza by 600 years. Enjoy the news report and hopefully we'll see you all at the Easter Monday lecture in D.C.U. which, by the way, takes place at 8pm in case I didn't make that clear in the last email. See http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0404.html for details. By the way, that aurora predicted for last night or today does not seem to have started (as at 3pm today). The ejection from the Sun may miss Earth completely but check the sky tonight just in case. Don't forget to TEXT your NAME and LOCATION to 086-081 99 86 as soon as you see anything, and email a report to observe(a)astronomy.ie P.S. Patrick Moore's SKY AT NIGHT television show is repeated this Saturday 10 April, at 12.45pm, on BBC Two. It's about the Mars rovers and orbiters. Or watch online at www.bbc.co.uk/skyatnight David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland: JOIN ONLINE: www.astronomy.ie/sub Ireland's only telescope shop: www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel: (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] Aurora tonight?, special EASTER MONDAY Lecture
by Astronomy Ireland 07 Apr '04

07 Apr '04

1. AURORA There is a chance of an aurora tonight (Wednesday April 7/8) after an explosion on the Sun on Tuesday April 6 at 2:25pm BST hurled material towards the Earth. It may not materialise until after midnight but start checking from dusk onwards just in case it arrives early (which has happened before). The nearly Full Moon rises around 11:30pm so it would suit us if the aurora happened sooner rather than later. There's always a chance the aurora will be visible tomorrow night (April 8/9) too. As usual, if you see anything please TEXT your NAME and LOCATION to 086-081 99 86, and email a short report to observe(a)astronomy.ie to be included in a report like that in the April issue of our magazine page 13. Get the latest news on this event at www.spacew.com and www.spaceweather.com 2. EASTER MONDAY PUBLIC LECTURE One of the most fascinating ladies in Irish space science (Irish science in general?) is Prof Susan McKenna-Lawlor from Maynooth University. She now runs her own company Space Technology Ireland which builds and launches equipment into space. Apart from having sent experiments to planets and comets already (including Halley's comet in 1986) she is currently involved in: ESA's SMART-1 Mission to the Moon Mars Express Venus Express Rosetta Comet Mission & its Lander Philae NASA's Relativity Mission China's Double Star Mission That's one very busy lady so you can see why we are delighted she has been able to find the time to give a rare public lecture on all of this work: "IRELAND IN SPACE" It will take place on Easter Monday (April 12 next week that is!) and it would be an unwise person who does not plan to be there for a special holiday treat. Tickets are normally available by post, but with the recent dispute you can buy them at the door for 5euro. Or drop in to our Shop in Artane and pick them up. This promises to be one of the highlights of our 2004 public lecture programme so I hope to see you there: 8pm Dublin City University (Henry Grattan Building, lecture theatre CG12) Please tell friends and bring as many people as you can. Details and map: http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0404.html David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland: JOIN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST ASTRONOMY CLUB RELATIVE TO POPULATION: www.astronomy.ie/sub and come visit us at Ireland's only telescope shop: www.astronomy.ie/map.html Tel: (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] Jupiter+Moon, Venus+Pleiades, Birr, RTE, Armagh Weekend, Easter Monday Lecture
by Astronomy Ireland 02 Apr '04

02 Apr '04

1. SPECTACULAR SIGHTS Just a reminder that Jupiter is spectacularly close to the nearly Full Moon tonight (2.5degrees apart). Also, Venus crosses the edge of the Pleiades tonight and tomorrow night! All details and diagrams are in the Sky Diary pages of the April issue. Read up on both events now as we should at least get some BREAKS in the clouds and that's all you need. Let us know what you see at observe(a)astronomy.ie Did anyone see the Moon near (or occulting!) Mars last week? We received no reports though I did see the Moon breaking out of the clouds for a few seconds in Dublin while on way home from ARTI launch (announced here previously, great website at www.arti.ie) but it clouded in by the time I got there and grabbed binoculars. Clouds were too thick to see Mars. Anyone else have better luck? 2. DEEP SPACE ART AT BIRR on RTE RADIO 1 The launch of David Malin's photos in Birr last Wednesday was well worth the trip. To see the globular star cluster 47 Tucanae towering 10 feet above you with every star pin sharp is something else. What I didn't know is that after circling the globe 3 times the photos have been DONATED to Birr by the British Council as their permanent home. No good news on the 72-inch which still remains out of order and probably will remain so until next year. Members of the ARTI team were spotted eyeing up sites for a 32-metre radio dish! The Malin photos make a visit to Birr well worth while and don't forget you can buy the photos on slide from our Shop. Peter Mooney from RTE Radio 1 was there and you can hear his show "Future Tense" do a report next Tuesday at 7:30pm on Radio 1. To subscribe to their newsletter email science(a)rte.ie 3. ARMAGH WEEKEND The Astronomy & Astrophysics Weekend in Armagh kicked off last night with an excellent talk by Irishman Michael McKay who controls ESA's spacecraft Mars Express, SMART-1 (to the Moon) and others. Some spectacular shots and animations were shown as well as an April Fool prank (I was interviewed twice on radio yesterday to set up April Fools pranks as per previous email, some people actually called us!). We'll have to get him to talk down south some time soon. In the meantime there is a full set of talks today, tomorrow and Sunday. I hope to make it back to Armagh tomorrow and Sunday. See http://ireland.iop.org/weekend.html for details 4. SUSAN MC KENNA-LAWLOR TO SPEAK IN DUBLIN Astronomy Ireland is holding a special Public Lecture on Easter Monday (April 12) "IRELAND IN SPACE". In a rare public appearance Ireland's most famous space scientist Prof Susan McKenna-Lawlor, who has flown missions to the planets and comets as well as being asked by NASA to advise the first astronauts about the hazards of space, will talk about the half a dozen or so space probe missions that she is involved in building and that keep her so busy - everything from comets to relativity! Details are at http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0404.html We are asking that you buy tickets in advance, from our Shop or by sending a SAE to P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 as soon as possible. This is going to be one talk not to be missed. David Moore, Astronomy Ireland: JOIN THE WORLD'S BIGGEST ASTRONOMY CLUB RELATIVE TO POPULATION: www.astronomy.ie/sub and come visit us at Ireland's only telescope shop (map on website) Tel (01) 847 0777

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