November 2005 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] Einstein Lecture Today (Astro-Expo 2005)
by Astronomy Ireland 20 Nov '05

20 Nov '05

ALBERT EINSTEIN - THE GREATEST GENIUS EVER? As part of Ireland's biggest annual astronomy event, Astro-Expo 2005, there will be a public lecture about Einstein in Dublin City University today, Sunday November 20: One hundred years ago this year Albert Einstein stunned the world with his theory of relativity which explained how the universe works and even predicted the Big Bang that created it. Widely regarded as the greatest genius that ever lived, the lecture will look at his fascination with magnets as a boy that led to his curiosity about science. How he was not an exceptional academic but then exploded on to the scientific scene in 1905 (100 years ago this year which has been dubbed Einstein Year) with a series of landmark theories that rocked the scientific world. This catapulted him to international fame and Einstein was even offered the Presidency of Israel at one point. It's a fascinating life, and a story that is sure to stimulate everyone. The lecture is open to everyone and aimed at the general public. Three lectures will actually take place today at: 1pm Rockets! 3pm Galaxies 5pm Einstein all in The Student Centre, Dublin City University (Glasnevin, Dublin 9). The lecture is part of Astro-Expo a huge exhibition with displays flown in from all parts of the world, a giant telescope show and much more. Astro-Expo is open from 12 noon until 6pm today, Sunday Nov. 20. ALL WELCOME ADMISSION IS FREE More details on the society's website www.astronomy.ie or call Astro-Expo on 086 081 99 86

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[Astronomy Ireland] Answer to Life, The Universe & Everything to be revealed
by Astronomy Ireland 19 Nov '05

19 Nov '05

PRESS NOTICE November 19 Answer to Life, The Universe & Everything to be revealed in Dublin today at 3pm Ireland's answer to the world renowned physicist Prof Stephen Hawking is Dr Oisin MacConamhna (pronounced "mock on ow na") an Irishman, from Sligo, who studied under Prof Hawking until earlier this year. Oisin will give a lecture aimed at the general public, especially young people, in which he will explain "String Theory Cosmology" which has just been heralded by leading scientists as THE theory that will explain how the universe works and how it came to be created. This has been the holy grail of mankind's quest for knowledge to understand the universe that created us and now it appears it is within our grasp. Everyone is welcome to come and hear Oisin's passionate lecture about the ultimate answer to the ultimate question. The 3pm lecture is part of Astronomy Ireland's 2-day exhibition for the general public called Astro-Expo and will be held in Dublin City University in the Henry Grattan Building and "The Hub". A 1pm lecture will deal with another fascinating topic "Black Holes - the Irish Connection" More details on the society's website www.astronomy.ie (pronounced "astronomy dot I E " ) or call Astro-Expo on 086 081 99 86 Don't miss the Huge Mars Rover Bot Challenge coming over from the UK !!!! See you there: www.astronomy.ie/astroexpo2005.html

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[Astronomy Ireland] Universe Explained to General Public
by Astronomy Ireland 18 Nov '05

18 Nov '05

EXPLAINING THE UNIVERSE --- ASTRO-EXPO 2005 "Black Holes - the Irish Connection", "EINSTEIN", and a complete description of how the universe works by Prof Stephen Hawking's only Irish student will feature amongst six talks all about space and the universe in Dublin this weekend. Astro-Expo is the biggest space event in Ireland every year. Astronomy Ireland invites kids and the general public to come along to 6 fascinating talks spread over two days, Saturday and Sunday November 19 and 20 in "The Hub" in Dublin City University The event runs from 12noon to 6pm with 3 talks on each day as follows: Saturday November 19: "Black Holes - The Irish Connection" by Prof. Mike Redfern "String Theory Cosmology" by Dr. Oisin MacConamha (Stephen Hawking's student) "Comets in the Classroom and Other Tales from Texas" by Larry Barr, Texas Planetarium Director, U.S.A. Sunday November 20: "Einstein and the Cosmos" by Dr Aidan Smoker, UCD. "Selling Science" by Ash McFadden, Inishowen Planetarium, Donegal. "Galaxy Classification System" by Allan Trow, University of Glamorgan, Wales. EVERYONE IS WELCOME - BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY There will also be a huge exhibition running on the 2 days with the biggest display of telescopes ever seen in Ireland and lots more besides - see website A special feature will be the Mars RoverBot Challenge - a huge interactive display from the U.K. for kids to land a spacecraft on Mars!!! See http://case.glam.ac.uk/CASE/Projects/BCR.html for some idea of what it's all about - THIS IS A MAJOR EXHIBIT FOR IRELAND SO DO NOT MISS IT! ADMISSION TO THE EXHIBITION IS FREE AND THE TALKS ARE KIDS3EURO & ADULTS5EURO (OR DAY PASS FOR 10EURO) FULL DETAILS ON www.astronomy.ie (broadcast media: please pronounce this " ASTRONOMY DOT I E " )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Astro-Expo this weekend! Don't miss it!
by Astronomy Ireland 16 Nov '05

16 Nov '05

Astro-Expo 2005 Astro-Expo 2005 happens this week in Dublin City University. It is the Biggest Astronomy Exhibition in Ireland and is a showcase for all the Universities as well as Observatories and Planetaria. It is the highlight of the Astronomical calendar and an event not to be missed. Exhibits include telescopes, rockets, meteorites as well as imaging displays. Highlights this year will be the British Council's Solar System Exhibition and the Mars Robot Challenge. The Mars Robot Challenge is aimed at younger people and is a competition involving using your robot to save the spacecraft from the aliens. It promises to be enormous fun. Lectures this year: Saturday 19 November 1:00pm "Black Holes - The Irish Connection" by Prof. Mike Redfern NUI Galway. 3:00pm "String Theory Cosmology" by Dr. Oisin MacConamha, Imperial College, London. 5:00pm "Comets in the Classroom and Other Tales from Texas" by Larry D. Barr, Assistant Planetarium Director. Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas, U.S.A. Sunday 20 November 1:00pm "Selling Science" by Ash McFadden, Inishowen Planetarium, Donegal. 3:00pm "Galaxy Classification System" by Allan Trow, University of Glamorgan. 5:00 "Einstein and the Cosmos" by Aidan Smoker, School of Physics, UCD. Admission to the Exhibition is FREE to all!!! Lectures cost just a few euro each (or get a day pass for 10euro covering all 3 lectures) Book the Astronomy Ireland Dinner for jusy 30euro on the Saturday and come meet us and the speakers. THIS IS AI'S CHRISTMAS PARTY AFTER ALL! Bookings on www.astronomy.ie See you all there!

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[Astronomy Ireland] Lectures!!!, I.S.S. on view, Mars Offer
by Astronomy Ireland 13 Nov '05

13 Nov '05

There are lots of lectures for National Science Week, culminating in Astro-Expo on November 19 and 20. On Monday Nov. 14 Astronomy Ireland presents Brian Harvey "The Chinese Space Programme" in D.C.U. at 8pm. Details at http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0511.html On Tuesday Nov. 15 David Moore is in Dundalk Institute of Technology with "A Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" at 11:30am. On Wednesday Nov. 16 David Moore is in Sligo Institute of Technology with "A Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" at 8pm. Thursday Nov. 17 Kevin Nolan "Mars - the search for our origins" 8pm Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Fosters Place, College Green, Dublin 2. Details on knolan(a)it-tallaght.ie This lecture is also being give in Blackrock Castle in Cork City on Monday night Nov. 14. Details on 087-2386141 There is also a talk by Leo Enright in Carlow Institute of Technology during the week. Details from AI Carlow Co-Ordinator Gerry Moloney gerry.moloney(a)itcarlow.ie or 087-918 4000 And of course, book NOW for Astro-Expo 2005 - the biggest event of the year: http://www.astronomy.ie/astroexpo2005.html The International Space Station is blazing across the sky each evening over the coming week from Nov. 5 to Nov. 20. Call 1550-111-442 each after noon (before sunset!) for the exact time to go out and watch! Please send us any Mars observations you have to observe(a)astronomy.ie and see our special MARS TELESCOPE OFFER at: http://www.astronomy.ie/Mars2005offer.pdf 115euro off!!!! Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Mars Watches Tonight!
by Astronomy Ireland 04 Nov '05

04 Nov '05

Tonight (Friday Nov. 4) is the big night when we hope to give the general public the best views of Mars they will get for 13 years! Here in Dublin, skies are clearing and we expect clear skies tonight, at least partially, which will be enough to show the planet 'live' in the powerful telescopes we are assembling. Of course, there are 10 Mars Watches in total scattered all around Ireland in counties: Cork Carlow Clare Donegal Louth Mayo Roscommon Waterford Wexford Full details and contact numbers for directions are at: www.astronomy.ie/marswatchNov05.html WEBCAST! We hope to broadcast live images of Mars on our website from 8pm thanks to Vodafone who are sponsoring a high speed 3G link in to the internet. The webpage for this has been set up and the trial during the week went well. Click on www.astronomy.ie/marswatchNov05.html and follow the link from there. We will also process some of the webcam images and throw the best on to the website above as the evening progresses. The images you will see 'live' in the telescope will be much better than the webcast ones, and of course there is always the possibility of equipment failure, so do come along in person if at all possible. But if you're too far away or cannot make it to a Mars Watch then hopefully the webcast will be better than nothing. The images will be on our website for a few weeks after the event anyway. MEDIA We'll have an RTE camera crew filming for "Dustin's Daily News" at the event (transmission expected Nov. 16) 2FM's Newsbeat will do a piece about us at 7:30pm We have done lots of other local radio station interviews so the country is buzzing with Mars news! If you saw or see the Mars Watches mentioned in any newspapers can you please "reply" to this email giving: - newspaper name - date - page number - and any comments on the piece e.g. how big it is, did they mention our sponsor Vodafone? etc? We have to compile a report of publicity received and this will help enormously thanks. ALL MARS WATCHES START AT 8PM - PLEASE GET ALONG, THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING (even if it's cloudy you can have a chat, pick up free leaflets, and even buy a copy of our magazine) At 43million miles (69million km) Mars is closer than it will be until 2018!!! SHOP And don't forget if you have already bought a telescope from our Shop you should be out every clear night doing your own Mars Watch while it is so exceptionally close and high up - see the Sky Diary pages of the magazine for more info on this or call us. Need more eyepieces or filters to get closer or better views? Then call us for advice. Of course, if you haven't got a telescope yet then NOW is the time to get one - see the special Mars Offer on page 4 of the November issue with 115euro worth of goodies thrown in with an ideal telescope for Mars, and all other planet observing too. Or call (01) 847 0777 and discuss your needs Monday to Saturday. Or if you prefer, reply to this email with a daytime landline number and our Shop staff will call you with advice as there is a huge range in stock.

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[Astronomy Ireland] (no subject)
by Robert O'Halloran 04 Nov '05

04 Nov '05

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[Astronomy Ireland] Mars Watches, Mars Lectures, Webcams
by Astronomy Ireland 03 Nov '05

03 Nov '05

Mars Lectures for Science Week Ireland1. MARS WATCHES We had very little response to our call for people to help at the 9 Mars Watches around Ireland this Friday at 9pm. All you have to do is hand out leaflets for a while. Is there no one who can help? Please email tom(a)astronomy.ie if you can help at: counties: Carlow Clare Cork Donegal Dundalk Roscommon Waterford Wexford. Further Mars Watch details at www.astronomy.ie/marswatchNov05.html WEBCAST: we have teamed up with VODAFONE to use their 3G network to webcast live images of Mars from our Dublin Mars Watch (Phoenix Park, papal cross car park) on Friday November 4th. Tune in to www.astronomy.ie at 8pm if you cannot get along in person (though it has to be said the 'live' view in a telescope is an amazing experience!) Please don't forget to volunteer help now for the Watches above, thanks. 2. MARS LECTURES A public lecture titled "Mars and the search for our origins" will be presented twice during Science Week by Planetary Society member Kevin Nolan. The lecutre will examine what recent and upcoming Mars exploration can tell us about the origin of life on Earth and a cosmic context for life. The lecutre with include details and images of the latest findings from Mars, and is aimed at the non-expert. The lecture will be held twice during Science Week Ireland: 1. Black Rock Castle Observatory, Cork: Monday, November 14th at 7.30pm, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blackrock, Cork Admission is free. To reserve seats, contact Jill O'Callaghan, CIT, Cork (jocallaghanj(a)cit.it) 2. Bank of Ireland Arts Centre Thursday, November 17th at 8.00pm, Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster Place, College Green, Dublin 2. Admission: 4 Euro (Concessions 2 Euro). To reserve seats, contact Kevin Nolan, ITTD, (knolan(a)it-tallaght.ie) (Note - advanced reservation is not a requirement - all are welcome on the night) 3. WEBCAMS The shipment of Philips ToUcam webcams that many of you were waiting for has arrived. If you haven't received a call to come and collect yours please do so now or call the Shop on (01) 847 0777. Remember the latest offer included a webcam to 1.25-inch adapter for your telescope. All for 99euro. Call to order on (01) 847 0777 if you want to take the sort of incredible images of planets you seein the Gallery pages of our magazine each month. Limited stock available. www.astronomy.ie Ireland's largest astronomy society PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SHOP

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