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

[Astronomy Ireland] Reminder: Star-B-Q deal expires July 31!
by Astronomy Ireland 27 Jul '05

27 Jul '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. STAR-B-Q SPECIAL OFFER ENDS JULY 31 - SAVE 10euro Don't forget that you can only book your places for our August 26 Star-B-Q at the special price of 25euro until July 31, just a few days away. After that the price must increase by 10euro to the full price of 35euro. These are prices for adults, children's tickets (under 16s) are, and will remain, just 25euro. Ticket prices include all food, soft drinks, talks, demos and of course the use of a huge array of very powerful telescopes. HOW TO BOOK: Book online 24 hours a day at www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html (please book online if possible as this helps us cope with the huge demand each year) Or post payment to Astronomy Ireland at: P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 if paying cheque, postal order, or bank draft. Cash, cheque, or credit card payments can also be made at our Shop in Artane, Dublin 5. This year's Star-B-Q is set to be the best ever: The event will be professionally catered. Extra short introductory talks are being added. All talks will take place before it gets dark so you can get to them all. We have a new high power laser system for our masterclass pointing out the constellations for beginners. How to use Binoculars for Astronomy demonstration. And of course, unlimited use of dozens of high power telescopes like the Celestron 11-inch. Even Ireland's biggest portable telescope - the 21-inch Millennium Telescope will be there. We aim to show you the wonders of the universe from a very dark sky away from city lights. As well as entertain you with illustrated talks and demos. Plus feed you all night with simple fare from the barbecues. Everyone in Ireland is welcome and people do travel great distances to be there making Star-B-Q by far the biggest gathering of telescopes in Ireland every year. Make sure you don't miss it! And do bring friends and family as this is a fund-raising event for the Society so it is aimed at the general public, young people and telescope aficionados alike. There's something in the programme for everyone in the family. It's certainly a different and incredibly exciting night out if you've never been before. For further details, photos, and to book online please go to: www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html Remember, you only have until July 31st to book at the reduced rate of 25euros. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there on the night. ------------------------- - David Moore, Chairman (Astronomy Ireland -promoting interest in astronomy all around Ireland) Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer: SUMMER SALE NOW ON! Tel (01) 847 0777 Monday to Saturday inclusive. FREE HUBBLE DVD to every Shop visitor, and with every order by phone!

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[Astronomy Ireland] "Time Travel Illustrated" Lecture (Leinster or DVD)
by Astronomy Ireland 11 Jul '05

11 Jul '05

If you tuned in to last Tuesday's Astronomy Ireland Radio Show (AIRS) you will have heard cosmologist Brian Coleman talking about Einstein's theory of relativity and his lecture tonight "Time Travel Illustrated" This is all part of AI's contribution to Einstein Year. Brian will also speak at Astro-Expo in November (Ireland's biggest astronomy weekend) You can hear Brian's (AIRS) interview online at www.astronomy.ie/AIRS050705.MP3 Amazingly, you can get the script of the interview, packed with historical links to Ireland's involvement with Einstein's work at: http://www.astronomy.ie/BCtimeTravel.pdf Enormous thanks to Brian for providing that. RTE Radio's MORNING IRELAND show were to interview Brian this morning. Independent Network Radio News are transmitting hourly notices about the lecture today also. So it should be well attended, and rightly so, as Brian promises that if you concentrate you will understand the theory of relativity by the end of his talk! Brian has developed a new graphical way of explaining the in's and out's that he says is much easier to understand. In the process he will explain Time Travel. It should make for a very entertaining evening. You can just come along tonight Monday July 11 or you can book places by simply replying to this email. Lecture is at 8pm, doors open 7:30pm. Venue is: DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY in the Henry Grattan Building (lecture hall CG12) For maps and background details see: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0507.html EVERYONE IS WELCOME - so bring friends. For those outside Dublin a DVD will be made which you can order in a few days for just 5euro: www.astronomy.ie/sub/DVDbuy.htm All part of our special service to members all around Ireland! David Moore www.astronomy.ie (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] SN in M51, I.S.S., Morning Ireland Monday
by Astronomy Ireland 01 Jul '05

01 Jul '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. SUPERNOVA IN M51 - FIRST PHOTO FROM IRELAND! (SN 2005cs) A new supernova has exploded in to view in the famous M51 or "Whirlpool Galaxy" (named by Irish astronomer Lord Rosse) which is just off the end of the 'handle' in the Plough. When discovered from Germany on the night of June 28/29 it was about magnitude 13 meaning you'll need at least an 8-inch telescope to see it, although the galaxy itself at 8th magnitude can be glimpsed in 10x50 binoculars. SN 2005cs as it has been designated does not seem to be brightening substantially, but reports this early are very sketchy. The last supernova in M51 in 1994 (SN 1994I) reached 11th to 12th magnitude. Last night I alerted some of our more expert photographers and Kevin Sweeney in Co. Meath managed to secure what must be the FIRST image taken from Ireland: http://www.sweeneysite.com/new_page_5.htm This photo will appear in our magazine in due course. Congratulations Kevin! The supernova is about 80 arc seconds south of the nucleus of the galaxy for those of you with telescopes good enough to show it (8-inch, maybe 6-inch in a dark sky?). Smaller instruments can photograph it of course, if you have a suitable camera - call the Astronomy Shop staff in Artane for advice. Richard Miles of the B.A.A. also sent me this image taken last night after I 'bumped into him' on the net: http://www.astronomy.ie/SN2005csMiles.jpg Here's a few other early images I found: http://nekita.no-ip.com/~ice/Stellar%20images/2005-07-01%20--%20M51%20--%20R GB%2030-45%20sec%20stacked.jpg http://astron.berkeley.edu/~bait/2005/sn2005-m51.gif http://ukastroimaging.co.uk/forums/files/m51_supernova.jpg Try here as well: http://www.astrosurf.com/snweb2/2005/05cs/05csHome.htm Please send us your observations and images to observe(a)astronomy.ie 2. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON VIEW UNTIL JULY 10! I managed to see I.S.S. on both of the last two nights and it was extremely bright. Even after years of watching ISS and Mir I was still transfixed by its brilliance on both evenings. Astronauts currently on board are: Sergei Krikalev and John Philips. I.S.S. is visible in our skies until July 10. Next Shuttle launch is due July 13. For those of you who don't have regular access to the net or want more info about this and everything else to see call our Newsline each afternoon and it will give the time to watch out for I.S.S. that night: 1550-111-442 (95cent/minute, or in U.K. dial 09001-88 1950 at 60p/min) 3. MORNING IRELAND - DEEP IMPACT, JULY 4 I have been invited on RTE Radio's premier news programme on Monday morning to talk about the Deep Impact probe slamming in to Comet Tempel 1 and the Comet Crash Watches we are running all around Ireland that night. Tune in to Radio 1 between 7am and 9am (I haven't been given the exact time yet). I've already done loads of ISS and DI interviews this week for newspapers and local radio stations. For details of the DI mission and the venues for the Watches see our website www.astronomy.ie Don't miss it no matter what you do - there is even a chance the comet (which is too faint for binoculars right now) could flare up to become easily visible to the naked eye! Magnitude 0 is the most optimistic I have heard from a DI scientist but most expect a bit fainter than that - but no one really knows. Practically every telescope in the world seems to have been commandeered for the event - including Hubble. Impact is at 6:52am our time, expect to see the first pictures within an hour - while you're eating your cornflakes! The website to link to is on our website so start there; BBC 2 TV are running a special show and I'm sure it'll be all over CNN, Sky News, etc and on the net. Then that evening drive how ever far it takes to get to your nearest AI Comet Crash Watch. And bring a few euro to buy a copy of our magazine with details of the mission and how to spot the comet for the rest of the month, and lots more! More details on this week's Astronomy Radio Show, download at www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html (next Tuesday's show will be a real humdinger with our July Lecturer Brian Coleman in studio to explain Time Travel and Relativity for Einstein Year 2005!). The Triple Planet Conjunction is still on until next week - see magazine, and if you saw it please email observe(a)astronomy.ie for our report. - 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. HUBBLE DVD FREE to every visitor, and with every order by phone!

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