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

[Astronomy Ireland] See if media can explain Hawking's new theory, Aurora
by Astronomy Ireland 21 Jul '04

21 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy club, magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. HAWKING'S DUBLIN PAPER Just back from the Stephen Hawking presentation at the International GR17 conference in Dublin's RDS. Just as I thought the lecture was very technical, given that it was for an audience of 700 of his fellow scientists. Even John Preskill, to whom Hawking concede his bet and handed over a encyclopaedia to, said he did not fully understand it. It was fun to see the media trying to grapple with what happened today also. TV3 at 5:30pm didn't say what the theory was about. RTE SixOne News suggested it was a lot more than it actually is and did not tell us what Hawking was basically saying (see www.rte.ie/news/6news.html ) Most don't even understand the issue that Hawking was addressing "The Black Hole Information Paradox" let alone his resolution of the same. So when you've done watching the TV or reading the newspaper reports ask yourself did they explain it? All they had to do was ask us! Astronomy Ireland CAN explain what the problem was and what Hawking's new explanation to the Information Paradox is, and we'll explain just what really happened today in an article being written for the next magazine, along with a feature article all about black holes. We're putting up a webpage with some details soon also. We also videotaped: Hawking's lecture, the bet being conceded, the prize presentation, and the press conference but we are awaiting copyright permission before these can go on our website. We also have a transcript of the lecture but again it can't go on to our website until they give us permission. We'll let you know. In the meantime I've been reading practically every book in our Shop about black holes and can recommend some good reading on this subject if you email me. It's fascinating stuff and some of the books are very good at explaining it. If you're in the Dublin area why not drop in and look at some of them in the Shop: www.astronomy.ie/map.html In the meantime here's proof that Hawking was there (this is my second time to be in his presence!) www.astronomy.ie/dm/DMSHJPKT.jpg Taken by Eamonn O'Fearchain, the characters are (from left to right): David Moore, Stephen Hawking, John Preskill, Kip Thorne More details of all this and lots of other Irish angles on black holes will be in the September issue of our magazine out in a week's time (www.astronomy.ie/sub if you're not already getting it). 2. AURORA A coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading toward Earth, and it could cause an aurora when it arrives probably after nightfall on July 22. Please TEXT 086 081 9986 if you see anything giving your name, town and county. And don't forget tonight is Jupiter near the Moon and, as it says on today's Newsline (call 1550-111-442) ISS will pass in front of the Moon along a line from county Wicklow to county Clare tonight. Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] Stephen Hawking News, Giant Sunspot, What to see, Newslines
by Astronomy Ireland 21 Jul '04

21 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy club, magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. STEPHEN HAWKING IN NEWS TODAY Later today (Wednesday July 21 - co-incidentally the 35th anniversary of the first manned Moon landing) Prof Stephen Hawking will present his paper to a conference of 700 scientists from around the world in Dublin. There will then be a press conference about his work which resolves the Information Paradox for black holes - a paradox created by Hawking's own work in 1976 and about which it appears he now admits he is saying he was wrong. Be sure to watch the news tomorrow evening. I'm not sure if any of the 24 hour news channels will be covering it live but do check the likes of Sky News. Even yours truly has been drafted in to try to explain what black holes are and this information paradox. I've done a number of interviews already and will be talking to David McWilliams on Newstalk 106 around 8:40am in the morning (www.newstalk106.ie if you're not in the Dublin area and you read this in time). I'm sure we'll be doing other interviews too! RTE's weekly science radio show "Future Tense" did a piece on the subject last night. Click www.rte.ie/radio1/futuretense and click on "hear the latest show" Or just click www.rte.ie/rams/radio/latest/rte-futuretense.smil The piece begins 22 minutes 30 seconds in if you want to 'seek to' it quickly. NOTE: Hawking's presentation and the press conference are NOT open to the public the organisers (see www.gr17.com) have asked us to point out. There is NO 'public' lecture by Hawking in Dublin. The organisers WERE however, gracious enough to arrange two PUBLIC lectures by eminent scientists attending the conference: On Monday Kip Thorne gave a thorough and utterly excellent overview of gravitational wave astronomy covering black holes and the big bang. On Friday Roger Penrose (Stephen Hawking was one of Penrose's students) will give the second public lecture "Fashion, Faith and Fantasy in Modern Physical Theories" but I am told that bookings have now closed (see our previous emails) but that if you wish you may be able to get tickets at the door, but there is no guarantee. AI member Declan Duke asked Kip Thorne if copies of his talk are online and some notes are online he reports: www.its.caltech.edu/~kip/scripts/lectures.html So watch the news on Wednesday evening to find out what Hawking had to say! Don't forget that 'the Irish astronomy magazine' (i.e. us!) will be at the press conference covering the story for Astronomy & Space magazine and we'll not just have the details but a full background article on black holes in the next issue. It's the least we can do considering Hawking chose our home town to present his findings. www.astronomy.ie/sub if you want to get a 'souvenir' copy for just 5euro (if you only want that one issue select 'current issue' and in comments box just say "Hawking issue") 2. GIANT SUNSPOT There are incredible goings-on on the Sun right now. One of the biggest sunspots I've ever seen has rotated in to view. It's as big as the planet Jupiter and looks as big as Venus did when it transited the Sun on June 8! Use your AstroSolar filter that many of you got from our Shop for the Venus Transit (AstroSolar still available - call) and you're in for a treat - NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITHOUT ASTROSOLAR FILTERS. There is an increased risk of aurora caused by this and another large sunspot group in the coming week so check your email regularly as we only get 1 to 2 days warning of aurora at best. Dave Gradwell from Co. Tipperary sent this excellent image already which he took over the weekend as the spot came in to view using his 11-inch Celestron and ToUcam webcam: www.astronomy.ie/dm/DG2004July.jpg 3. WHAT TO SEE It's clear over a lot of Ireland for tonight's asteroid occultation of 31 Piscium. I'm off to set up equipment to observe it soon (see previous email). The International Space Station continues to blaze across the sky every evening this week until Saturday inclusive. I saw it tonight right on schedule. Call our Newsline each afternoon for the time to see it after sunset that evening: 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95c/min), in U.K. dial 09001-88-1950 (calls cost 60p/min). On Wednesday you'll probably see Jupiter for the last time this year low in the West but very close to a lovely crescent Moon - see page 23 of the July issue of our magazine for a diagram showing what it will look like - it should be a superb sight to the naked-eye for a short time after sunset so do send us your photos for the magazine. 4. NEWSLINE HEADLINES THIS WEEK This week's headlines on our 4-minute premium rate Newslines are: Stephen Hawking in Dublin to retract Black Hole theory; Jupiter near the Moon one last time; Cassini-Huygens probe designer to speak in Dublin; I.S.S. visible this week and onboard news; and, Star-B-Q August 13th. 1550-111-442 and 09001-88-1950 IRELAND U.K. 95c/min 60p/min (call costs from mobiles may vary) FAXBACK SERVICE: Use your fax (or modem and fax software) to get a printed copy the weekly script I write (Ireland only) on 1580-111-767 (calls cost 240c/min but are much shorter than voice service). Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] Asteroid occults bright star, Naked-eye sunsopt, News
by Astronomy Ireland 17 Jul '04

17 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy club, magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. Terry Moseley provides the following information about an asteroid passing in front of the star 31 Piscium (mag. 6.4) as seen from most of Ireland on the night of July 20/21 (Tuesday night). This is an extremely rare event and so well worth watching. The star will appear to vanish for just a few seconds as viewed in anything from a pair of binoculars or even a small telescope. The star is 30 degrees up in the East and the Sun is 16 degrees below the horizon so morning twilight will barely have begun. 31 Piscium is only 7 degrees (one field of view of our 10x50 binoculars) to the lower right of Algenib (the bottom left star in the Square of Pegasus) so any good star map will show it. And do try, even if you only have binoculars. Even video camera owners may be able to zoom in enough to show the star. There is a map showing the expected track at: www.asteroidoccultation.com/2004_07/0721_773_1842_MapE.gif but everyone in Ireland should watch in case the track is slightly off but also because satellites of asteroids have been found in this way. To this end even if you do not see the star disappear at the appointed time then this fact is very important and the start and end time of your watch should be reported. This would be an ideal project for those of you who have bought Philips ToUcam webcams from us recently. You can get exact time signals from the speaking clock by dialling 1191 (in the Republic of Ireland) even on your mobile phone and record it on to the sound track with your webcam for analysis later. Here are Terry's comments: > 1. Further to last email, the asteroid (773 Irmintraud) is moving from SSE to > NNW, so the track actually enters Ireland at the SE Coast, and exits at > Sligo/Mayo. > > The exact predicted central track over Ireland is as follows, with times in > UT. Add 1 hour for BST ! ! ! > > Longitude Latitude Time (UT) > Long. 5 deg 0m 0s W; Lat. 51 deg 14m 03s N; 01h 19m 03s. > Long. 6 deg 0m 0s W; Lat. 52 deg 03m 33s N; 01h 19m 11s. > Long. 7 deg 0m 0s W; Lat. 52 deg 49m 54s N; 01h 19m 19s. > Long. 8 deg 0m 0s W; Lat. 53 deg 33m 23s N; 01h 19m 25s. > Long. 9 deg 0m 0s W; Lat. 54 deg 14m 14s N; 01h 19m 32s. > > The nominal track width is 112km, with an uncertainty (1 sigma) of about 40km > either side of the track. > > The following towns are near the centre of the track (SE to NW): Wexford, > Enniscorthy, Carlow, Tullamore, Moate, Roscommon, Charlestown, & Ballycastle > (Mayo). > > Dungarvan & Galway lie just W of the predicted limit, and Dublin & Sligo lie > just E of the predicted limit, but all four cities are within the uncertainty > limits, so it's still worth observing from there. > > For those of you who have never observed a similar event (which is most of > you!), you WON'T see the asteroid at all, unless you have a very big telescope, > or CCD imaging - it's magnitude 13.8, and the sky isn't totally dark at that > time! So it will be an 'invisible' object, moving across the sky, which will, > if predictions are correct, pass in front of a 6m.3 magnitude star, making it > disappear. If you are on the centre of the track, the star will suddenly > disappear for up to 10 seconds (if our assumptions of the diameter of Irmintraud are > correct). If you are off centre, the duration will be less, down to just a > fraction of a second if you are right on the edge of the track. > > So you just keep observing, or imaging, the star, starting preferably 10 > minutes before the predicted time, and observe/image continuously until 10 minutes > after the predicted time. If you can't manage that length of time, > concentrate on the predicted time +/- 5 minutes. > > Record the time of disappearance & re-appearance as accurately as possible. > Be prepared for the possibility of a 'double disappearance & re-appearance', > which could happen if the asteroid is a close binary, or even hour-glass shaped > and you lie a bit off the centre of the track. This is where continuous > imaging is best - it will record all fluctuations in light. If you just have one > stopwatch, you can only record 2 times (use the 'stop' & the 'elapsed' or 'lap' > time functions - and practice beforehand!). > > If we get a series of accurate timing from various locations we can determine > the size & shape of the asteroid to a high degree of accuracy. Do have a go - > after all, the star will be visible even in binoculars! If you are using > binocs, it will be MUCH easier if you mount them on a tripod. The star is also > designated 31 Piscium, and it lies 0.5 deg N of 32 Psc (mag 5m.7), which itself > lies 1.8 deg NNE of Omega Psc (mag 4). > > REMEMBER - it's at about 02.19 BST. Be ready to observe no later than 02.10 > BST! See www.asteroidoccultation.com for more details also, and do email us if you try to watch, even if cloudy! 2. NAKED-EYE SUNSPOT Seamus Bonner in Dublin reports seeing 4 large sunspot groups today (Saturday) with one of our Celestron Firstscope 80EQ telescopes fitted with AstroSolar filter. The new 4th sunspot is huge and has just rotated in to view. If it's clear take a look - this sunspot is sure to be big enough to be seen with the naked-eye (protected by AstroSolar filter that is! NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN OTHERWISE) as it rotates more in to view in the coming days. If it's cloudy check it out on the SOHO website: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mdi_igr/512/ and click on the image for an even bigger image. This sunspot should be on view for 2 weeks so if you want to view it by eye, binoculars or telescope call the Shop to order your AstroSolar filter. 3. MISCELLANEOUS I.S.S. continues to blaze across the sky for the coming week. The times to see it on Saturday night are 10:46pm and 12:21am. For the times to see it every night until July 24 call our Newsline on 1550-111-442 after 12noon each day for the time to see it that night. Virtually all of the GR17 Public Lecture 'FREE tickets for young people (including students)' have been allocated. There are only 4 left for Monday and 1 for Friday if you know anyone interested who qualifies? Our thanks to the organisers. Everyone else can book tickets on www.gr17.com where you'll also find details of the July 19 & 23 talks. Note that Stephen Hawking's paper about black holes (correcting his 1976 work) is on Wednesday and with literally hundreds of media reports already on the net (do a search!) it's likely to make the news that day as the great man speaks in Dublin. (Note that this paper is part of the professional scientists' conference and not a public lecture by Hawking but there is an abstract of his paper at www.gr17.com if you can understand the jargon). While Lecture mania sweeps Ireland I note that very few of you have BOOKED for the next Public Lecture in Dublin, that by Alan Fitzsimmons who designed parts of the Cassini-Huygens probe now in orbit about Saturn and due to start its historic landing on Titan on Christmas Day. "TITAN BLINKS" is on August 9 in Dublin City University and IS organised by Astronomy Ireland. We are very lucky to get someone who has 'touched' the probe that is now at Saturn so go to www.astronomy.ie/lecture0408.html and click the link to reserve your seats NOW (then pay at the door on the night, only 5euro, that's 4 times less than the GR17 talks so bring a few friends!). Don't miss this one! Click today! Star-B-Q, the highlight of our Summer Programme is on Friday August 13. Details and online booking for Ireland's biggest annual viewing event at: www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] FREE tickets to GR17 public lectures, Sunspots, ISS
by Astronomy Ireland 16 Jul '04

16 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy club, magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. FREE GR17 PUBLIC LECTURE TICKETS FREE TO YOUNG PEOPLE The organisers of the prestigious "17th International Conference on General Relativity and Gravitation" that takes place in Dublin next week have kindly given us FREE tickets for Kip Thorne and Roger Penrose Public Lectures next week in the RDS. Prof Petros Florides (GR17 Local Committee Chairman, at TCD) is impressed by the work that Astronomy Ireland does to bring our subject to the attention of young people and he wants the tickets to go to such young people. A noble gesture for which we are most grateful. If you are a student or young person with an interest in black holes, relativity, gravitation or modern physics you will find the talks by these leading world experts fascinating. The first talk is on Monday (July 19) at 8pm: Prof. Kip Thorne - "Probing the Universe and Black Holes with Gravitational Waves" The second talk is on Friday (July 23) at 8pm: Prof. Sir Roger Penrose - "Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in Modern Physical Theories" Both talks are in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4 at 8pm. Given the short time please email if you would like one of the FREE tickets. The supply is limited so tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis. You can then pick up the tickets at our Astronomy Shop in Dublin today until 5:30pm, Saturday 12pm-6pm or Monday 9:30am-5:30pm (contact me early if you need to make other arrangements e.g. if you live far from Dublin). Map and directions: www.astronomy.ie/map.html "Non young people" can still buy tickets to the event (they are reported to be selling well) at www.gr17.com priced 20euros each. It should be one of the lecture highlights of the year. HAWKING You may have heard in the news that Stephen Hawking is a last minute addition to the programme for the professional conference running all week. He is apparently to admit that he was wrong about his 1976 theory on how information can be lost in a black hole and will thus loose a bet he and Kip Thorne made with another American astrophysicist the prize being an encyclopaedia. While Hawking's new theory will not be publicly released (in Dublin) until next week (July 21 I believe) details have leaked out and even yours truly has been interviewed on radio about it! I found 150 articles(!) about it today by searching www.google.ie with "black hole theory wrong 2004", here's a few links: http://science.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=25891 http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996151 http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996151 It is a credit to the local organising committee for GR17 that with a major event to organise for 500 scientists around the world that they still found time to avail of the services of two world renowned figures and gave the general public a chance to hear them explain their work. Also, congratulations on bringing such a prestigious international conference to Ireland, we have a proud heritage in this area, Fitzgerald in TCD a hundred years ago, J.L. Synge (whom I have heard Hawking refer to), come to mind immediately. 2. SUNSPOTS Several groups of nice sunspots are now visible on the Sun - for those of you who equipped yourself for solar viewing for the June 8 Venus Transit. No aurora alerts yet for night time skies, but keep an eye on the northern sky just in case. NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITH BINOCULARS OR TELESCOPES - fit them securely with AstroSolar filters available from our Shop. Do send in any photos for the Gallery Pages of our magazine. 3. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON VIEW We still have until July 24 to see ISS blaze across the sky each evening. I've only seen it twice so far since July 9 due to cloud, but I know others have had more luck. Tonight's time is 11:53pm. Call the Newslines every day after 12noon for the time to see it that night: 1550-111-442 Background details of ISS at www.astronomy.ie/iss.html Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] 4 Lectures, Magazine Help, Newslines, I.S.S., Star-B-Q last chance
by Astronomy Ireland 12 Jul '04

12 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy club, magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. LECTURE REMINDERS (note our Aug 9 speaker) JULY 12 (MON) ASTRONOMY IRELAND PUBLIC LECTURE "Internet Telescopes In Education" by Bart Busschots 8pm Dublin City University (Henry Grattan Building next to THE HELIX). Details and map: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0407.html Admission 5euro (3euro concessions: child,student,OAP,AImember) JULY 19 (MON) GR17 PUBLIC LECTURE "Probing the Universe and Black Holes with Gravitational Waves" by Prof Kip Thorne 8pm RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4. Book online www.gr17.com Admission 20euro (10euro students) JULY 23 (FRI) GR17 PUBLIC LECTURE "Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in Modern Physical Theories" by Prof. Sir Roger Penrose 8pm RDS Concert Hall, Dublin 4. Book online www.gr17.com Admission 20euro (10euro students) AUGUST 9 (MON) ASTRONOMY IRELAND PUBLIC LECTURE "Titan Blinks" by Dr Alan Fitzsimmons who designed some of the instruments on the Cassini Huygens lander due to land on Titan! 8pm Dublin City University (Henry Grattan Building next to THE HELIX). Details and map: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0408.html Admission 5euro (3euro concessions: child,student,OAP,AImember) 2. MAGAZINE HELP Have you got an hour or two to spare tomorrow night (any time Tuesday 10am-10pm)? If so, we have thousands of magazines to pack in to envelopes to go out all around the country. Just drop out to Shop any time from 10am to 10pm (email info(a)astronomy.ie?subject=MagPacking to let us know approx when to expect you). Don't know your way to our Shop in Artane, Dublin 5? See http://www.astronomy.ie/map.html Thanks in anticipation 3. NEWSLINES THIS WEEK As well as daily I.S.S. predictions, this week's headlines are: First Titan Flyby; Cassini-Huygens probe designer to speak in Dublin; Sir Patrick Moore ill; I.S.S. visible this week; Famous Speakers for July Relativity Lectures next week; and, last chance for reduced rate Star-B-Q tickets. 1550-111-442 and 09001-88-1950 IRELAND U.K. 95c/min 60p/min (call costs from mobiles may vary) FAXBACK SERVICE: Use your fax (or modem and fax software) to get a printed copy the weekly script I write (Ireland only) on 1580-111-767 (calls cost 240c/min but are much shorter than voice service). 4. International Space Station visible all week I saw I.S.S. twice over the weekend, just as bright and brilliant as ever. On board are Gennady Padalka and Mike Fincke. It is the biggest man-made object in space (200 tonnes) and the only MANNED vessel at present. It's about ten times brighter than any of the stars in the sky. Each afternoon our Newslines (above) are updated with the latest prediction of the exact minute to go out and watch that night. Read all about what's going on aboard I.S.S. in our magazine every month as well. Get the whole family out space watch this week and next week (until July 24). I'll see those of you in the Leinster area later tonight at the D.C.U. lecture and don't forget tonight is the last chance to book tickets at the August 13th Star-B-Q at the reduced rate (though we will accept your booking tomorrow, Tuesday if you say you saw this message). www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html for 24 hour online secure booking, postal form, and details. Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] Sky at Night, I.S.S., NLC photos, Star-B-Q offer, Lecture Monday
by Astronomy Ireland 09 Jul '04

09 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy club, magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. SKY AT NIGHT (BBC2 12:45pm SAT.) Patrick Moore's monthly television show will be going out on BBC 2 on Saturday (July 10) at 12:45pm. This month's subject is the Cassini mission to Saturn. You'll be able to watch it online soon also at www.bbc.co.uk/skyatnight 2. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION I.S.S. will be visible every night starting tonight Friday July 9th until July 24th. It looks like a VERY bright star, up to 10 times brighter than the brightest stars in the sky, so it's plainly visible to the naked-eye. On board are two astronauts, Gennady Padalka and Mike Fincke. Read the I.S.S. column in our magazine every month to find out what they do on I.S.S. This is the only manned space ship and, at 200 tonnes, the biggest man-made object in space. It's not yet finished and will be worth about 100 billion euro! You can see it for 1 or 2 minutes crossing the sky, but at a DIFFERENT time each evening. So, call our NEWSLINEs (any time after 12noon each day) to get the exact time to watch that evening: Call 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95c/min), or in the U.K. call 09001-88-1950 (calls cost 60p/min) It's an amazing sight so please pass this number on to everyone you know and let's get the whole country out watching the night sky! There are some background details on our website at www.astronomy.ie/iss.html 3. NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS James Adamson (near Ballina, Co. Mayo) and John Fahy (near Headford, Co. Galway) both sent in photos they took of Noctilucent clouds on July 7. These will appear in the magazine in due course, but for a sneak preview click: www.astronomy.ie/JamesAdamsonMayoJuly7NLC1.jpg www.astronomy.ie/JamesAdamsonMayoJuly7NLC2.jpg www.astronomy.ie/JohnFahyGalwayJuly7NLC1.jpg NLCs are clouds at extremely high altitude, about 85 km, that literally (as the name suggests) shine at night. They form in the cold, summer polar mesopause and are believed to be ice crystals. Because of their high altitude, in a very dry part of the atmosphere, noctilucent clouds are rather an enigma and are being studied by a number of people around the world. (I got that description from http://lasp.colorado.edu/noctilucent_clouds check it out for more details) If you snap any NLCs do send them in for publication to observe(a)astronomy.ie Or email any reports of sightings also. 4. STAR-B-Q OFFER ENDS TUESDAY Quite a few more of you availed of the offer for 5euro off adult ticket price for our August 13 Star-B-Q. As I may not email again before next Tuesday this may be the last reminder you have to get this offer. See www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html for details, SECURE online bookings, and a postal booking form. Don't miss Ireland's BIGGEST annual viewing event on August 13 (Perseid Meteor Shower is the special attraction this year). 5. "INTERNET TELESCOPES" Don't forget to get along to our July Public Lecture by Bart Busschots next Monday: Details and map at www.astronomy.ie/lecture0407.html Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 open SATURDAYs 12-6pm!

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[Astronomy Ireland] AI Radio Show, AI Lecture "Internet Telescopes...", Star-B-Q offer ends soon, Jupiter, Celestron
by Astronomy Ireland 07 Jul '04

07 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (Ireland's national astronomy society and magazine) --------------------------------------------------- 1. ASTRONOMY IRELAND RADIO SHOW We have been invited to put on a radio show every week for a trial run of 13 episodes. We envisage it being a 'magazine' style show, similar to our own printed magazine - i.e. news, features, interviews, what to see, events etc. If you would like to contribute to one or more shows, or help run the entire series, or just suggest ideas please reply to this email (info(a)astronomy.ie) Details of the airing of the shows will be announced here in a few weeks. 2. AI PUBLIC LECTURE, MONDAY JULY 12 (in D.C.U.) "INTERNET TELESCOPES IN EDUCATION" is Astronomy Ireland's July Public Lecture. It will be given by Bart Busschots from NUI Maynooth who is working on the VTIE (Virtual Telescopes in Education) project with schools around Ireland that will be able to use telescopes around the world from their classrooms. It's an exciting, very new, and fascinating concept that can also have amateur input so do come along and hear the talk. ALL WELCOME. 8pm in The Henry Grattan Building (next to THE HELIX) in Dublin City University, Collins Ave, Dublin 9 on July 12 (next Monday). Admission 5euro (3euro concessions) Details and map at: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0407.html 3. AUGUST STAR-B-Q OFFER EXPIRES NEXT TUESDAY Lots of people have already taken up the offer of reduced price tickets for early bookings to Astronomy Ireland's fund-raising barbecue under the stars "Star-B-Q" on Aug. 13. Star-B-Q has become the biggest annual viewing event in Ireland, aimed at amateurs and the general public. This year's Star-B-Q will be held on Friday August 13 to specially coincide with the Perseid Meteor Shower - one of the best of the year. The wonders of universe will also be on show in some of the biggest telescopes in Ireland - the Ring Nebula, Whirlpool and Andromeda Galaxies, Hercules Globular Star Cluster, and lots more. PLUS there should be 2 or more comets within reach of the telescopes. Then there's the barbecue providing all the food you can eat until late in to the night and free soft drinks (alcohol not recommended) There'll be talks on the universe, how to 'learn the naked-eye star patterns', guide to binocular viewing, and celestial fireworks courtesy of the Perseids all night long. So this promises to be an extremely memorable and active Star-B-Q. The venue is near Roundwood, Co. Wicklow where the skies are very dark, yet easy to get to from Dublin (though people come from all around Ireland, north and south). NOTE: You MUST purchase tickets in advance. Normal price is 25euro for adults (20euro for under 16s). SPECIAL OFFER: However, until July 13 ONLY, tickets are reduced to 20euro for adults, and you can book as many tickets as you like. Tickets include all food and drinks and everyone in Ireland is invited. To book, use our SECURE online booking system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html (there's a printable form there too if posting payment) where you will also find details of the event and pictures from past Star-B-Qs. It's the biggest annual viewing event in Ireland, and great fun too, so bring friends and family for a 'different night out' at the very least. You'll be amazed at what you see if you've never looked through a large telescope in a dark sky before. Book now 4. Jupiter has an 'extra moon' on Thursday night. In fact it's the magnitude 4.7 star Chi (in Leo) that will be very close to Jupiter and is about as bright as its 4 main moons. I was looking at the star near Jupiter last night. It'll be closer tonight; closest Thursday; and near Jupiter for the rest of the weekend. See the July issue of our magazine for more details of this and lots of other sights to see this month. Order it securely online at www.astronomy.ie/sub And finally, the Shop has just received the latest shipment from Celestron, including the all new NexStar 130GT, C10-N, and C-8NGT. Those of you who have had items on order should expect a call in the next 24 hours. Viewing of the new models will take place in our Shop in Dublin 5 from Thursday on - please drop in any time (Mon-Sat), no appointment necessary. Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] Newsline this week
by Astronomy Ireland 05 Jul '04

05 Jul '04

My premium rate telephone Newslines in Ireland and the U.K. are updated every Monday (usually by noon). They have been running for over 10 years now and have proved quite popular, especially when the International Space Station is blazing across the sky, as happens from this Friday for 2 weeks. This week's headlines are: Cassini arrives safely at Saturn; I.S.S. visible this week after space walk last week; Jupiter near star; and, last week to get reduce rate Star-B-Q tickets. 1550-111-442 and 09001-88-1950 IRELAND U.K. 95c/min 60p/min (call costs from mobiles may vary) FAXBACK SERVICE: Use your fax (or modem and fax software) to get a printed copy the weekly script I write (Ireland only) on 1580-111-767 (calls cost 240c/min but are much shorter than voice service). Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] Cassini made it!
by Astronomy Ireland 01 Jul '04

01 Jul '04

ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (Ireland's national astronomy society and magazine) --------------------------------------------------- Astronomy Ireland member and space author Brian Harvey from Dublin was on Morning Ireland (RTE Radio 1) this morning giving an excellent account of the mission and announcing that Cassini has successfully gone in to orbit about Saturn. You can hear his 3 minute interview at http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0701/morningireland/morningireland9a.smil You can see some recordings of the overnight coverage of the event from ESA at: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Cassini-Huygens/index.html click on the "SOI event" in the top left column of that page. (or go direct to http://esa.capcave.com/esa/cassinihuygens/) You may want to bookmark the main websites for this mission that is going to produce stunning results (see our August issue out next week for instance for the first pictures) for the next 4 years: http://saturn.esa.int/ http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/ Looks like the Irish did their job well on the software! Congratulations to all at Captec in Malahide. First pictures of what Cassini saw as it swooped over the planet and its rings are due to be released around 1pm today our time. See the links above if you want to watch them on web TV on the net! It's sure to be on the TV news this evening - watch to see if they mention the Irish angle or just regurgitate what comes in over the international news services :-) I'm already booked to do a number of radio interviews today! Make sure you read all about this mission in the cover story of our July issue (order at www.astronomy.ie/sub if you don't yet have a copy!) ===== David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open until 6pm Mon.-Sat. Tel (01) 847 0777 www.astronomy.ie Newslines (new message every Monday): 1550-111-442 Ireland 09001-88-1950 U.K.

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