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June 2005

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[Astronomy Ireland] Noctilucent Clouds, Triple Conjunction, Lecture+AIRS online
by Astronomy Ireland 25 Jun '05

25 Jun '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. NLCs On Thursday morning just after 2:30am Leo Enright called to alert us to what appeared to be a strong display of the aurora visible from O'Connell bridge in Dublin City Centre! A quick check of the northern sky revealed it was in fact a very strong display of Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs) lighting up the northern sky like dawn. There were 'rays' in the cloud, particularly to the East (right) that did indeed make it look like an aurora. Daniel Lynch in Dundrum spotted it too and sent in this photo he snapped with his Canon D20: www.astronomy.ie/NLCdlynch.jpg NLCs are clouds at very high altitudes (85km) and are thought to be composed of ice crystals, though their exact origin is uncertain. At this height they are still lit up by the Sun and so appear bright in the North when it is dark down here on the ground. See http://lasp.colorado.edu/noctilucent_clouds for more details. You should keep an eye on the North sky every clear night this summer for more displays. Please send reports and photos to observe(a)astronomy.ie 2. Triple Planet Conjunction On Monday Venus and Mercury will be extremely close, low in the West to Northwest sky - just 5' apart! Saturn will be 2 degrees below this (see page 23 June issue A&S) . All this weekend, and early next week, the trio will be visible in the same binocular field of view. Look soon after sunset though. I saw them on Wednesday evening and although Venus could be seen with the naked eye, Mercury and Saturn definitely need binoculars, especially Saturn. There are full details in the Sky Diary pages of the June issue of our magazine along with the diagram showing just how close Mercury and Venus will be on Monday (subscribe now at www.astronomy.ie/sub and be ready for future events!). Please send reports and photos to observe(a)astronomy.ie 3. Lecture & Radio Show Our Leinster Area Public Lecture for June "Astronomy in Ancient Sligo and Meath" by Martin Byrne drew a large crowd of over 100 people. It can now be viewed/downloaded on our website www.astronomy.ie (click on menu "lecture webcasts"). A higher quality DVD version is available for 5euro - order on the same webpage. Lecture details at: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0506.html Our next Public Lecture is about Time Travel - see www.astronomy.ie for details and to reserve places. Our weekly Radio Show was online 30 minutes after it was broadcast - tune in live every Tuesday at 8pm on 103.2FM. Special guest in studio was Kevin Nolan from the Planetary Society talking about the imminent launch of its Solar Sail "Cosmos 1". There were launch problems, get the latest at http://planetary.org/solarsailblog Kevin's interview was brilliant - download the show in seconds at www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html for this and all the latest news by Christy Creely and Ben Emmett, and what to see in the sky, including the Triple Planet Alignment this weekend! Or call our Newsline on 1550-111-442 (95c/min) - new message every Monday. - David Moore, Chairman (Astronomy Ireland -promoting interest in astronomy all around Ireland) info(a)astronomy.ie Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer: Tel (01) 847 0777 Monday to Saturday inclusive. FREE HUBBLE DVD to every visitor and with every order by phone!

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[Astronomy Ireland] Sunspots, Sky At Night, Public Lecture June 13, ...
by Astronomy Ireland 10 Jun '05

10 Jun '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. Sunspots Several large groups of sunspots have appeared on the Sun's face this week. See http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mdi_igr/512/ View them for yourself in safety with inexpensive AstroSolar filter (from our Shop) fitted to your binoculars or telescope. Delivery anywhere in Ireland for 5euro. Watch our for aurora in the north this week and next in case these spots cause any solar storms. If you see aurora please TEXT your name and location to 086 081 99 86 immediately (store in your phone now!) and then email a brief report when you stop viewing to observe(a)astronomy.ie for our magazine report. 2. TELEVISION ** The Sky at Night ** · Saturday 11 June, 12:45pm BBC Two Patrick Moore meets scientists who look safely into the Sun. Very appropriate given the item above, and our last Public Lecture (now available on DVD for 5euro - call and see http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0505.html for details)! 3. PUBLIC LECTURE JUNE 13 Astronomy Ireland's June Public Lecture for the Leinster area (DVD for everyone else in Ireland) will be given by Martin Byrne on: "Astronomy in Ancient Sligo and Meath" at 8pm in Dublin City University (Henry Grattan Building). Newgrange is the most famous ancient site for its astronomical alignment but there are many other sites from Co. Meath right across Ireland to Co. Sligo. http://www.astronomy.ie/lecture0506.html for details and map. ALL WELCOME. Admission is 5euro (3euro A.I.member,student,child,OAP,unwaged) Reserve place(s) now by emailing lecture(a)astronomy.ie then pay at the door on the night. FREE HUBBLE DVD to everyone coming to this lecture (or ordering the DVD of the talk)! 4. AIRS Download the latest Astronomy Ireland Radio Show (AIRS) at: www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html INCLUDING AN ADVANCE INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN BYRNE (see "3" above)! Tune in 'live' every Tuesday at 8pm on 103.2FM and email your astronomy questions to radio(a)astronomy.ie 5. NEWSLINE If you cannot download AIRS to 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 95c/min). (In N.Ireland/U.K. call 09001-88 1950 for 60p/min) - David Moore, Chairman (Astronomy Ireland -promoting interest in astronomy all around Ireland) info(a)astronomy.ie Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer: Tel (01) 847 0777 Monday to Saturday inclusive. FREE HUBBLE DVD to every visitor and with every order by phone!

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