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

[Astronomy Ireland] Venus, and online shop
by Astronomy Ireland 31 May '04

31 May '04

You have only got 3 last days if you want to equip yourself for observing next week's historic Venus Transit on June 8 (6:19am-12:24pm from Ireland). Astronomy Ireland is recommending that AstroSolar Filter material SECURELY fitted over the FRONT of your binoculars (or telescope) is the safest way to view the event. AstroSolar is produced by the prestigious German Baader Planetarium, is used worldwide (including companies like Celestron), and carries the CE mark to show it conforms to E.U. directives. Our Shop is the only place in Ireland where you can get AstroSolar. Projection is the second best method but be careful of people, especially children, trying to look in to your telescope which we found was a BIG PROBLEM when we have run public Sun Watches in the past. Also, larger telescopes can be damaged by the intense light and heat passing through their optics, especially over the 6 hours of the Transit. We've seen melted eyepieces in the past! To facilitate your observation of this historic event we have put a small 'Online Venus Transit Shop' offering the key items: AstroSolar sheets, Eclipse Shades, our exclusive 10x50 binoculars, etc. It is on a secure website so you can use your credit card online to order goods, but please do so BEFORE Wednesday afternoon to guarantee that your order will arrive by Friday (Monday is a Bank Holiday remember). After Wednesday we have a more expensive next-day courier service and you can always call in to our Shop in Dublin 5 until 6pm on Saturday (NOTE: Our Shop will be closed on Transit Day June 8 until 2pm as we are re-locating to the Phoenix Park for our Transit Watch!). Order as soon as possible so you can practice solar observing in safety using AstroSolar filter material. For FULL DETAILS of the Transit see the June issue of our magazine which includes the article by Sir Patrick Moore - surely a collector's issue! You can order that online too! To see the 'Secure Online Venus Transit Shop' go to www.astronomy.ie and click on the link on the top line about the Transit. Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] I.S.S. blazing over; Comet NEAT and other things to see
by Astronomy Ireland 18 May '04

18 May '04

1. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION I saw the most expensive object ever built twice last night and we've had a few calls from people who have seen ISS accidentally and wonder what it was, it was that bright! When I saw ISS it was brighter than Jupiter, a fantastic sight as usual. On board at present are Gennady Padalka (Commander) and Mike Fincke (Flight Engineer). They arrived last month and will stay on board until October. As well as their duties running the experiments on board for scientists on the ground (I.S.S. is a giant laboratory in space) and maintaining the space station, they have 3 space walks planned. Next week they are due to undock one Progress unmanned re-supply vessel and another will dock with I.S.S. We may get to see some of this and so there could be a "space chase" afoot. I'll keep you posted at the weekend. You can see I.S.S. at a different time each evening until May 25 (next Tuesday). If you've never seen it before ISS looks like a very bright 'star' crossing the sky from West (roughly where Sun sets) to East (sunrise) but it usually passes almost overhead and it is so bright that all you have to do is go out and look up! It takes ISS just a couple of minutes to pass over, but it does so at a different time each evening so you can call our premium rate Newsline: Each day by 12noon we update it with the exact time that ISS will be seen that night (we do this because they fire the rocket motors to boost the orbit every now and then and this can result in ISS flying over at a completely different time). ISS will fly over after sunset i.e. between 10pm and midnight. Do call the Newsline each afternoon if it looks like it's going to be clear after sunset. The Newsline number is 1550-111-442 (or 09001-88 1950 from N.Ireland/Britain) calls cost 95c/min (60p/min in UK) We have an ISS page at http://www.astronomy.ie/iss.html You can also read about what's happening on ISS every month in our magazine: www.astronomy.ie/sub 2. Comet NEAT The comet is faintly visible to the naked-eye in the West each evening. It seems to have peaked at magnitude 3.0 last week, a bit down on the 1.0 we had hoped for. Still I have seen a tail several degrees long in even the hazy skies we've been having recently. By the weekend the Moon will enter evening skies, and the comet is now moving away from the Sun and Earth so it should begin to fade. Try here for a few recent photos showing the two tails (both of which I could see in a pair of our giant 25x100 binoculars!): http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/index.html Again, as above, for more details refer to our magazine for a map of where to find it and full details of everything to look out for. Either subscribe or order the June issue (featuring Sir Patrick Moore's Venus Transit article) at www.astronomy.ie/sub We produced this magazine for you, at modest cost, so do avail of it! Subscribers will read of the daylight Venus occultation on Friday (we'll be viewing from our Shop in Artane - email if you intend coming to watch) and the conjunction of Saturn and Mars this weekend plus the Moon approaching them on Saturn - see all the notes and diagrams in the magazine. P.S. there are loads of news sunspots this week, great for practicing for the June 8 Venus Transit using your AstroSolar filters (from our Shop). Have you got yours yet? Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Comet NEAT
by Astronomy Ireland 14 May '04

14 May '04

James Adamson from Co. Mayo was the first person in Ireland to report seeing Comet NEAT (C/2001 Q4) as it entered our skies. On Saturday May 8 he spotted it low down on the Western horizon using 10x50 binoculars. Others have since reported seeing it too. The comet has rushed in to evening skies and is now an easy target and will soon become circumpolar (i.e. visible all night). I didn't get my first sighting until last night (May 13) and I was quite impressed even though it didn't clear up until quite late by which time the comet was only 10 degrees up in the West. From a site near Ashbourne (13km from Dublin city centre where skies are dark, but still a bit compromised by the lights of the capital) I could see a 3 degree long tail and a huge head (admittedly in a pair of our 25x100 giant binoculars!) It was a nice sight too in our 10x50 wide angle binoculars with the Beehive star cluster (M44) above the comet, both in the same field of view (6 degrees apart last night, but only 3 degrees tonight! - see map on page 33 of May issue). Darker skies will improve the view of the comet even more. Internationally the comet is reported (in dark skies) at magnitude 3.0 and has a head 20' wide with two tails, 7 degrees and 2 degrees long. The comet was too low by the time I saw it to see it with the naked-eye but others in Ireland, viewing earlier in reasonably dark skies should now be able to see it with the naked-eye. Let us know, especially as it lies near the Beehive this weekend (if you have a telescope or binoculars note how close the comet gets to the star Delta in Cancer tonight at 11pm!). Please keep sending those observations to observe(a)astronomy.ie and check out all the details in the May issue article. ===== David Moore, Astronomy Ireland (your club and magazine). Tel (01) 847 0777 www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie VISIT IRELAND'S ONLY ASTRONOMY SHOP THIS WEEKEND and stock up for the Venus Transit and Comet watching www.astronomy.ie/map.html

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[Astronomy Ireland] Volunteer?
by Astronomy Ireland 13 May '04

13 May '04

Unusually, almost none of our regular group of volunteers who help to pack the magazine each month are available this week. If you can spare an hour or more to come in to our offices/shop on Friday (May 14) any time between 10am and 10pm please reply immediately, or call 847 0777, or even send a TEXT message to 086 081 9986 It's simple work, putting magazines inside envelopes and sticky labels on to the envelopes. Any help at all this month will be greatly appreciated. Feel free to bring friends or family too. Thank you. David Moore, Chairman. www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Venus Transit Lecture
by Astronomy Ireland 10 May '04

10 May '04

Tonight Dr. Ed Barnett will describe the upcoming Transit of Venus that happens on June 8 for the first time in 122 years. The next time Ireland will get to see a Transit as good as this will be in 243 years time! This is why we are advising you all to book one days holidays from work on June 8 - what's the sense is getting 20+ days holidays a year if you don't use them for historic occasions after all! HISTORIC EVENT The planet Venus passes in front of the Sun on Tues, 8 June, 6:19am - 12:23pm It will be visible to millions across the world including Ireland PUBLIC LECTURE - ALL WELCOME On Monday May 10 Dr Ed Barnett (Space Encounters) will give the Astronomy Ireland Public Lecture which will explain everything about this historic event: o Past Transits (Captain Cook discovered Australia as a by-product of a Venus Transit) o When and how to observe this year's event IN SAFETY to avoid being blinded o How Transits occur and why they are so rare Bring a friend along to the Henry Grattan Building, Dublin City University at 8pm May 10. See http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0405.html for more details (including map of DCU campus) BOOKS: We will have copies for sale of Eli Maor's new book (see May issue 'rave' review on page 32) and also Patrick Moore's book on Transits at 19.50 and 34.92 euros respectively. SIR PATRICK MOORE has written an article for our magazine "Astronomy & Space" June issue giving his guide to viewing the Transit. We also have a major feature article about the Transit by Emmet Mordaunt. All this is in the JUNE issue which will be out at the end of the week. If you do not subscribe yet, you can order this JUNE 'Venus Transit' special issue online at www.astronomy.ie/sub (select "current issue" and in the comments box just say "June issue"). It only costs 5euro including post & packing. Give yourself several weeks to practice safe solar viewing, especially if you intend photography or drawing. Please order now as we expect a huge last minute rush like we had for the August 1999 eclipse. Our Shop also has stocked up on AstroSolar filters (safe to use for naked-eye, BINOCULARS, and telescopes) and small refractors that are ideal for viewing the Sun in general all year round and the Transit in particular - see the special offer in the June issue out on Friday, or call the Shop now (01) 847 0777. See you at the lecture tonight. David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie Tel (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] Star-B-Q on, Sale!!!, Transit Lecture Monday
by Astronomy Ireland 07 May '04

07 May '04

1. Star-B-Q, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, Friday 5pm: Ireland's biggest annual astronomy event Star-B-Q, our fund-raising barbecue under the stars IS going ahead tonight with clear skies forecast. Tickets will be available at the gate for 30euro each. Venue: Roundwood GAA grounds (500m out of Roundwood village on the road to Glendalough, on the left hand side) Gates open 9pm, event begins at 9:30pm with a hunt for Comet NEAT, Venus viewing and the introductory slide show. Thereafter, the wonders of the universe: galaxies, clusters, nebulae, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn! Tickets include all the food you can eat and soft drinks All proceeds go to Astronomy Ireland your national astronomy club. Online booking has closed but see our website for details of the Star-B-Q if you wish www.astronomy.ie Sorry for late notice but most people have booked their places already and we have been busily preparing the event. 2. ASTRONOMY SHOP SALE! A special 'Star-B-Q' sale will be held for one day only tomorrow Saturday May 8th from 12noon to 6pm in our Astronomy Shop (Ireland's biggest telescope shop) in Artane, Dublin 5. 10% off all Celestron Firstscope, HD, and most other telescopes. 10% off most accessories, all books and many other items too! For map see http://www.astronomy.ie/map.html 3. VENUS TRANSIT LECTURE MON MAY 10 Witness an event no one has seen for 122 years! Venus crosses the Sun on Tues, 8 June, 6:19am - 12:23pm Visible to millions across the world including Ireland On Monday May 10 Dr Ed Barnett (Space Encounters) will give a lecture to Astronomy Ireland which is open to the public all about this historic event. Past Transits, and when and how to observe this year's event, will all be covered. Astronomy Ireland is advising every one to book a days holidays from work on June 8 for this historic event so make sure you do not miss this lecture!!! 8pm, Henry Grattan Building, Dublin City University. See http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0405.html for more details. Tickets can be booked by simply replying to this email or email tickets(a)astronomy.ie Say how many places you want and give your name. Please reply now if you are coming and bring as many people as possible. Astronomy Ireland, your club, magazine and Shop. www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie Tel (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] Eclipse News
by Astronomy Ireland 04 May '04

04 May '04

10 radio interviews done so far today, and counting (including Pat Kenny on Radio 1 this morning), did a few yesterday also. Sky News are sending a satellite van to our Phoenix Park Eclipse Watch for a live link up tonight! There's a phenomenal interest in this eclipse! And also the bright comet NEAT that is coming this weekend, and the Venus Transit (about which Sir Patrick Moore has written an article for us that is going in to the June issue, out next week). If you see/hear any news reports (especially in the newspapers) please let me know date, newspaper, page number and big a piece they ran? It helps me gauge how effective our publicity is. Send us your reports of the eclipse too as soon as you can, especially any photos. And remember my advice about the weather - stand outside from Moonrise (9pm) until the eclipse ends at 11:12pm and wait for even a tiny break in the clouds - that's what we did last November and we got to see the eclipse a few times for a few brief seconds. Enjoy the eclipse and don't forget to come to the Star-B-Q this Friday - we hope to be the first in Ireland to see Comet NEAT, not just 4 bright planets and the wonders of the universe! It's Ireland's biggest annual astronomy event and we aimed it at everyone on this mailing list so we hope to see you all there. Details on the website, and please support astronomy in Ireland by ordering the May (comet+eclipse) issue of our magazine at www.astronomy.ie/sub David Moore, Chairman Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Sky At Night, Eclipse Tuesday, Star-B-Q Friday
by Astronomy Ireland 02 May '04

02 May '04

1. TV Patrick Moore presents The Sky at Night on BBC 1 tonight (Sunday May 2) at 12:00am midnight, discussing how stars are created from the clouds and dust we call nebulae. The programme will be repeated on Saturday May 8 on BBC 2. You can also watch it online at: www.bbc.co.uk/skyatnight P.S. Sir Patrick has just written an article for our magazine about viewing the upcoming historic Transit of Venus on June 8. Subscribe now at www.astronomy.ie/sub 2. ECLIPSE TUESDAY For the Eclipse (and Planet) Watch nearest you see: http://www.astronomy.ie/lunareclipse.html Details of the Total Eclipse of the Moon which starts at sunset on Tuesday are in our magazine (May issue). Order a copy for 5euro or subscribe annually (40euro) and support Astronomy Ireland at: www.astronomy.ie/sub 3. STAR-B-Q Ireland's biggest annual astronomy event takes place this coming Friday May 7 when Astronomy Ireland runs its annual fund-raising barbecue under the stars. If you haven't already booked your place at Star-B-Q 2004 do so now and don't be left out at: http://www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html where you will also find details and pictures of what goes on. Suitable for families and aimed at the general public, just come along and look through powerful telescopes in a truly dark sky at planets, the wonders of the universe and hopefully even Comet NEAT which is set to be the Great Comet of 2004. ===== 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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