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

[Astronomy Ireland] Radio Show, Newsline, Public Lecture re Newgrange
by Astronomy Ireland 31 May '05

31 May '05

The latest Astronomy Ireland Radio Show has been uploaded: www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html get all the latest news and details of what to see FREE Or, if you prefer, call 1550-111-442 for this week's telephone Newsline (those calls cost 95c/min though). PUBLIC LECTURE: Come along to Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture for the Leinster Area on Monday June 13: "ASTRONOMY IN ANCIENT SLIGO AND MEATH" which will be given by Martin Byrne, an expert in ancient Irish sites. He will describe how NEWGRANGE in Meath links in with 300 other passage tombs stretching across Ireland as far as Sligo. Venue: Henry Grattan Building, DCU at 8pm Monday June 13. Everyone is welcome. Tickets are 5euro (3euro child,member,student,OAP,unwaged). Book places by emailing lecture(a)astronomy.ie now. A DVD will be produced for everyone around Ireland who cannot attend these monthly public lectures. -David Moore, Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Radio Show, Newsline
by Astronomy Ireland 24 May '05

24 May '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. AIRS The latest edition of Ireland's only astronomy radio show is now online. Download the May 24 edition of the Astronomy Ireland Radio Show (AIRS) now at: www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html It's a small file for rapid download. Tune in 'live' every Tuesday at 8pm on 103.2FM If you have ANY questions about anything in the universe email the show on radio(a)astronomy.ie 2. NEWSLINE If you cannot download AIRS and get all the information this week for FREE then you can still call our Newsline every week on 1550-111-442 with news and details of what to see in the sky - calls cost 60p/min (In N.Ireland/U.K. call 09001-88 1950). This weeks headlines: most distant planet ever found; see Jupiter's Great Red Spot and moon events; Saturn viewing prospects; June 13 'Newgrange' Lecture. - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland info(a)astronomy.ie Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer Tel (01) 847 0777 FREE HUBBLE DVD OFFER!!! - drop in to the Astronomy Shop and collect your FREE DVD celebrating Hubble Space Telescope's 15th anniversary (while stocks last - hundreds left at present). Or request a FREE copy with every order placed by phone for delivery anywhere in Ireland. Map at www.astronomy.ie/map.html or call (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] Aurora, Jupiter-Moon conjunction, Lecture, AIRS, Newsline
by Astronomy Ireland 18 May '05

18 May '05

1. The aurora we alerted you to last weekend was seen from other parts of the world where it was described "as the best show I have ever seen" even by those who have seen past strong displays. It seems bad weather over Ireland spoiled our views as we received no reports of sightings at all. If you did get a break in the clouds Saturday (or more likely Sunday) night please email observe(a)astronomy.ie as usual. 2. On Thursday night (May 19) the observers' highlight of the month takes place when Jupiter will be spectacularly close to the Moon. See David Grennan's write up about the event in the Sky Diary pages of the May issue of our magazine, and the diagram he produced on page 27. If you see this conjunction please email observe(a)astronomy.ie and send in any photos you get, for publication. 3. Dr Simon Jeffrey gave an excellent talk (and demo and sound effects!) on "Looking Inside the Stars" on May 9 for those in the Leinster area. This talk has now been put online at www.astronomy.ie (click "Lecture Webcasts" in the side menu at the left and download from there). Given the limits of the website and bandwidth this talk has to be highly compressed (28MB) but it looks and sounds reasonable. If you want a broadcast quality DVD of the talk that you can keep the ordering details for this are on the website also (DVD is 5euro, plus 5euro P&P). Duration 1.5 hours. 4. Also now online is last night's Astronomy Ireland Radio Show (AIRS) with all the latest news and details of that Jupiter-Moon conjunction. Download the show at www.astronomy.ie (click on "Radio Show" on the menu at the left of the page). The half hour show is compressed to 3MB. Always tune in 'live' every Tuesday at 8pm if you live in the Leinster area to 103.2 FM to hear the latest news from around the universe with Ben Emmett and guests! Or download it later that night from www.astronomy.ie 5. Our 1550-111-442 telephone Newsline has been updated also with details of the Jupiter-Moon conjunction and more. Call it every Monday for a brand new weekly message. (In N.Ireland call 09 001 88 1950). - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland info(a)astronomy.ie www.astronomy.ie Tel (01) 847 0777 Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer

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[Astronomy Ireland] Aurora Alert, Sunspots, ISS
by Astronomy Ireland 14 May '05

14 May '05

1. AURORA PREDICTED Following a major explosion on the Sun on Friday there is a strong possibility of an aurora tonight and/or tomorrow night (that's Saturday and Sunday nights). It could be strong, it could be a few weak surges, or nothing at all might materialise, but keep an eye on the north sky all night long if you can, both nights. If you see anything please immediately TEXT your name and location to 086 081 9986 and after you finish watching it please email a short report of what you saw to observe(a)astronomy.ie and we'll include it in our report. 2. SUNSPOTS There are several groups of sunspots on the Sun for the past few days. One of them caused the explosion that could give us the aurora this weekend. Be careful when solar viewing. NEVER LOOK THROUGH A TELESCOPE OR BINOCULARS. Instead, project an image (small apertures only) or get a sheet of the inexpensive AstroSolar filter material from our Shop (tel 01-847 0777) 3. ISS The International Space Station has been very popular this week to say the least! We've had lots of media coverage and hundreds of calls to our Newslines! On the Newsline we've been telling you where you can see ISS pass in front of Jupiter and near the Moon all week. So far no one has been in the right place at the right time, like Martin Brady was (see page 37 of the May issue of our magazine!). Keep calling 1550-111-442 (it costs less than a euro and proceeds help us promote interest in astronomy so please pass this number on). You have 2 days left! (In N.Ireland call 09 001 88 1950). - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland info(a)astronomy.ie www.astronomy.ie Tel (01) 847 0777 Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer

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[Astronomy Ireland] Star-B-Q report, Lecture tonight, I.S.S.
by Astronomy Ireland 09 May '05

09 May '05

1. Our Star-B-Q was held on Saturday May 7 under incredibly dark skies in the Wicklow mountains - I had forgotten just how dark the sky was down there! Skies were almost perfectly cloud-free. As well as Jupiter and Saturn we got to see all the targets expected - galaxies, star clusters, the comet, and more. The International Space Station flew over (twice!). Hot food was served from the barbecue all night long with tea, coffee and soft drinks. Emlyn Jones and I gave talks in the Hall. Eamonn O'Fearchain did a live webcam demo on a big projector screen. Tony Ryan gave his naked eye guide to the night sky. We had about a dozen BIG scopes (mostly 11-inch Celestrons - all bought from our Shop) brought along by their owners from several counties around Ireland. Everyone got their FREE Hubble Space Telescope DVD and a special leaflet by David Grennan about what to see in the sky. A report with photos will appear in the magazine in due course. If you were there, please reply to this email with your comments. Tell us what you liked or anything you think we should do? Thanks to all the volunteers from AI who helped make the event a great success. The next Star-B-Q is on August 26 and you can book at the special rate of 30euro (25euro for under 16s) this month. Prices will rise thereafter as we expect large crowds in August so please book online here: www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html 2. Everyone is welcome to come to "Looking Inside the Stars" our Public Lecture tonight (Mon May 9) in Dublin City University (Henry Grattan Building, Lecture hall CG12) at 8pm. Dr. Simon Jeffrey will travel down from Armagh Observatory to explain how it is possible to listen to stars 'ringing' in space and how this allows us to actually look inside stars! His last talk was brilliantly illustrated so I for one am looking forward to tonight's talk eagerly. For AI members outside the Leinster area who cannot get to the to the lectures a DVD will be made available by the end of the week for 5euro (plus 5euro post and packing). Admission to the lecture is 5euro which you can pay at the door (3euro to members who bring the May issue of our magazine with them). Even more details at www.astronomy.ie/lecture0505.html 3. The International Space Station will be visible crossing the sky every night this week (until Sunday May 15). On board are Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips who arrived late last month for their 6 month tour of duty. If you haven't seen ISS before it is extremely bright, and passes over in just a couple of minutes, but at a different time each evening. So there's no mistaking it if you go out at the right time and look high in the South. To get the time to see ISS call our Newsline after 12 noon each day for the time to watch that evening: 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95c/min, in U.K. dial 09001-88-1950 at 60p/min) - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland info(a)astronomy.ie www.astronomy.ie Tel (01) 847 0777 Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer

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[Astronomy Ireland] Lecture, Star-B-Q, See I.S.S., Radio Show
by Astronomy Ireland 05 May '05

05 May '05

1. Dr. Simon Jeffrey is coming to Dublin from Armagh Observatory next Monday May 9th to give our Public Lecture "LOOKING INSIDE THE STARS". By effectively listening to stars 'ringing' astronomers can tell what is happening INSIDE stars. So what does this tell us about the searing cauldron at millions of degrees inside every star? Come along and find out on Monday at 8pm in the Henry Grattan Building in D.C.U. (lecture hall CG12). Dr Jeffrey's last talk was brilliantly illustrated with movies of neutron stars and black holes colliding so we are delighted he has agreed to give another Lecture - don't miss it. This Lecture is open to the general public and everyone is welcome. Admission is 5euro (3euro to members and concessions). To reserve places email lecture(a)astronomy.ie or just turn up on the night. As a service to those outside the Leinster are who cannot attend, a DVD of this lecture will be made available (and a lower resolution copy will be put on our website). 2. STAR-B-Q tickets can still be booked (up until 2pm on the day) for this weekend's (Friday May 6th or Saturday May 7th) 'barbecue under the stars' with the biggest array of portable telescopes ever seen in Ireland. This event is open to the general public and everyone is welcome. Tickets include all food, drinks (hot and cold), talks, demos, telescope use (see www.astronomy.ie for more details) and cost 30euro per adult, 25euro under 16s. You can book online at www.astronomy.ie or call our Shop on (01) 847 0777 up to 5:30pm. The venue is Roundwood, Co. Wicklow where the skies are extremely dark. People travel from all parts of Ireland (even Britain!) for each Star-B-Q Don't miss Ireland's biggest annual telescope gathering - special targets this year: Jupiter, Saturn, Comet, and the wonders of the universe. New talks and demos are being added this year too! Book now and get a FREE copy of the new DVD about the Hubble Space Telescope! 3. If you have been reading our magazine you'll know that The International Space Station is going to fly over Ireland (and U.K.) every evening from now until May 15th. It looks like a very bright 'star' and is unmistakable to the naked eye, as long as you go out at the right moment to see it as it only takes a couple of minutes to pass over. On board are the only two people in space at present Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips. Their work and the ISS status are described in the magazine every month and on the Newsline this week. The time to watch is different every evening so call our Newsline service every day after 12noon for the exact minute to watch that evening. This is a premium rate Newsline but it will cost less than a euro to get the prediction each day and we keep a much closer eye on ISS than any of the automated internet sites do, and, proceeds help us to promote astronomy in Ireland don't forget. Call 1550-111-442 in Republic of Ireland and 09001 88 19 50 in U.K. every day after 12 noon 4. The A.I. Radio Show went out in the Leinster Area on Tuesday at 8pm on 103.2FM as usual, so by now you know everything that happened in space and anything due to happen this week. Unfortunately our 'same night' recording system failed and those of you outside the Leinster area have noticed our website version is not yet online. We do have a special 'studio' version that is being converted and should be online by the end of the week. Go to www.astronomy.ie and click on "Radio Show" in the left hand menu and you'll see when it's online. Apologies for the delay this week. Hope to see you all at the Star-B-Q this weekend (and the lecture on Monday if you're in Leinster) Clear Skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie Call or visit our Telescope Shop in Artane, Dublin 5 - see one of the biggest telescope showrooms in Europe! Tel (01) 847 0777 Monday to Saturday inclusive.

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[Astronomy Ireland] Star-B-Q, Sky at Night, Giant sunspot
by Astronomy Ireland 01 May '05

01 May '05

1. Star-B-Q was postponed both Friday and Saturday night due to poor weather forecast. It will now go ahead on Friday May 6 so if you haven't yet got your tickets for Ireland's biggest annual gathering of telescopes please go to our NEWLY UPDATED webpage and book online now: http://www.astronomy.ie/sbq.html 2. THE SKY AT NIGHT is on BBC 1 TV tonight at 1:25am (Monday morning) about the exciting 15th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope. Remember EVERYONE who comes to the Star-B-Q gets a FREE copy of the HST 15th anniversary DVD that Armagh Planetarium are selling for £6.99 sterling! 3. Several of you have reported watching the new giant sunspot that has appeared on the Sun. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. Use the inexpensive AstroSolar filter material that many of you have already bought from our Shop. Call (01) 847 0777 to have a sheet posted to you on Tuesday when the Shop re-opens if not. There is a chance of aurora in the next few nights, activity has already increased noticeably. TEXT 086 081 99 86 if you see any and email observe(a)astronomy.ie with a full report afterwards please. Our latest Radio Show is online at http://www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html remember And our Newslines on 1550-111-442 give all the latest weekly news. I hope to see you all at the Star-B-Q next weekend! Clear skies, David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open until 5:30pm Mon.-Sat. Tel (01) 847 0777. Fax (01) 847 0771. www.astronomy.ie info(a)astronomy.ie

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