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

[Astronomy Ireland] Star-B-Q going ahead - last minute bookings
by Astronomy Ireland 26 Aug '05

26 Aug '05

The Star-B-Q is going ahead as planned as good clear periods are forecast by Met Eireann forecasters we spoke to. You can still book online at www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html but hurry! There will be loads to see and do! See above webpage for details and map of how to get there. See you there! David Moore

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[Astronomy Ireland] Aurora tonight, Perseids, Mars+Moon, Radio Show, Events
by Astronomy Ireland 24 Aug '05

24 Aug '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. AURORA TONIGHT! A display of the aurora borealis ("northern lights") is likely to be seen tonight (Wednesday). On Monday big sunspot 798 exploded twice hurling a pair of coronal mass ejections toward Earth. The first sparked major activity this morning around 8am our time so let's hope it lasts until night falls this evening (Wednesday). There is a chance of an aurora tomorrow night also, and even on Star-B-Q night (www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html) on Friday - wouldn't that be wonderful! If you see any activity, be it a small glow in the north from a dark rural sky, or the entire sky lit up with rays of red and green from suburbia please TEXT us on 086 081 99 86 with your name and location. Then afterwards please email a short description of what you saw to observe(a)astronomy.ie for the report we will publish in our magazine. Want to know more? Order the DVD of this month's lecture by Dr Peter Gallagher (NASA + UCD) who works on the SOHO spacecraft that saw the 2 explosions on the Sun on Monday. DVD is only 5euro. You can preview a low resolution version of the DVD on our website www.astronomy.ie/webcast/webcast.html or order the full quality DVD at www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html 2. PERSEIDS The Perseid meteor shower has just ended. A few of you have already emailed to say you saw them. Could anyone who saw even one Perseid please email observe(a)astronomy.ie to briefly say what you saw (give your location and date and time if known) for the report for our magazine. Thanks. 3. MARS BELOW MOON, NEAR PLEIADES ALL ON A.I. RADIO SHOW See page 28 of our August magazine for a diagram of what Mars will look like just below the Moon tonight (as you're out aurora watching!). Then on Thursday night the Moon will be near the Pleiades star cluster - see same page of magazine also. You can get full details of this and much more for FREE on the A.I. Radio Show (every Tuesday at 8pm on 103.2FM in Leinster and at 9pm for the rest of the world on www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html Or you can listen to our Newsline every week on 1550-111-442 (95c/min or in U.K. dial 09001-88-1950 for 60p/min), new 3 minute message every Monday. 4. MAJOR EVENTS THIS MONTH: Aug. 26 Star-B-Q Ireland's biggest annual telescope festival: www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html ALL WELCOME. Book now. Sep. 06 THE UNIVERSE lecture by David Moore to B.A. Festival of Science: www.astronomy.ie ALL WELCOME. Tickets FREE. Sep. 12 Lecture/DVD Armagh's newly restored telescopes/instruments www.astronomy.ie/lecture0509.html ALL WELCOME. Book now. HOPING TO MEET YOU ALL AT OUR FUND-RAISING STAR-B-Q ON FRIDAY, PLEASE BRING A FRIEND! ------------------------- - David Moore, Chairman (Astronomy Ireland -promoting interest in astronomy all around Ireland SOCIETY · MAGAZINE · SHOP

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[Astronomy Ireland] Star-B-Q this weekend
by Astronomy Ireland 23 Aug '05

23 Aug '05

"Star-B-Q" Friday August 26 Ireland's biggest annual telescope gathering takes place this weekend and everyone in Ireland is invited! It takes place in the extremely dark skies at Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, just a short drive from Dublin city. MARS is already a great sight in late evening skies and it will be a special attraction at the Star-B-Q as this year it comes closer to Earth than it will until 2018! (note: Mars is near the Moon this Wednesday - see page 28 of our August magazine for details or tune in, or download, this week's A.I. Radio Show) There will be talks aimed at beginners to kick the Star-B-Q off - or you can start with food from the barbecue, or watch the telescopes being assembled on the playing fields. Food will be served all night until midnight by professional caterers. But the main attraction will be the huge array of telescopes pointing at all manner of objects like: - star clusters - galaxies - stars in their death throes - stars being born - and of course the planet Mars on which you will see surface features Very few people in the world have ever seen the wonders of the universe from such a dark sky in such large telescopes. But we will also teach you how to find the constellations with the naked eye, pointing out them out with the most powerful hand held laser in Ireland We'll show you how to use binoculars to find fascinating objects that you cannot see with the naked eye! Get a demo of CCD cameras taking images and throwing them on to a large screen. It's a great night out for all the family, and friends so please get as many people to come as possible. Admission is 35euro for adults and 25euro for Under 16s which includes all food and drinks, talks, demos and unlimited viewing through Ireland's biggest telescopes Venue is GAA grounds, Roundwood (directions including interactive map on the website, or call). There will be loads to see and do so don't miss Star-B-Q this year, book online (secure) as soon as possible: PLEASE BOOK NOW AT www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html Or call (01) 847 0777 up to 5:30pm This is Astronomy Ireland's main fund-raising event of the year and proceeds help us to promote interest in astronomy so please forward this notice on to everyone you know. - David Moore, Chairman. Astronomy Ireland -promoting interest in astronomy all around Ireland)

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[Astronomy Ireland] Perseids, Lecture DVD, Junior Section, Summer Sale
by Astronomy Ireland 12 Aug '05

12 Aug '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. PERSEIDS One of the two best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids, peaks today so rates should be highest tonight. Remember though that you can see Perseids for several weeks either side of the maximum night. On Wednesday night I measured a ZHR (see "Jargon Buster" page 23 August issue of Astronomy&Space magazine) of 35 (tonight's peak may only be double that). We have put some more details on our website www.astronomy.ie (including how to report your sightings) but see David Grennan's piece starting on page 23 of the August issue of Astronomy&Space magazine. 2. LECTURE DVD NASA scientist Dr Peter Gallagher gave a superb lecture "Our Dynamic Sun" last Monday to one of the biggest crowds in the society's history. If you missed it (or want a souvenir!) one of our members will be happy to burn a DVD of the talk at minimal cost which you can order online at: www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html Highly recommended. 3. RADIO SHOW JUNIOR SECTION Last Tuesday the special 'in studio' guest on the Astronomy Ireland Radio Show was Amy Farrar who has started the Junior Section of Astronomy Ireland (see website and new magazine pages from the September issue onwards). I thought she gave a brilliant performance and so did many others, especially for such a young person. If you missed it, download the show at: http://www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html Tune in every Tuesday at 8pm on 103.2 FM (or download it from 9pm onwards). MAJOR EVENTS THIS MONTH: Aug. 12 Perseids Meteor Shower peaks - see our magazine Aug. 26 Star-B-Q Ireland's biggest annual telescope festival: www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html ALL WELCOME. Book now. Sep. 12 Lecture/DVD Armagh's newly restored telescopes/instruments www.astronomy.ie/lecture0509.html ALL WELCOME. Book now. ------------------------- - David Moore, Chairman (Astronomy Ireland -promoting interest in astronomy all around Ireland) ------------------------- SUMMER SALE THIS WEEKEND! Visit our Shop to see huge range of telescopes on offer (up to 40% off, and 50% off books!) Tel (01) 847 0777 Open Saturday 12noon to 6pm NEED DIRECTIONS: www.astronomy.ie/map.html Support our Shop and support astronomy in Ireland. FREE HUBBLE DVD (worth 10euro) to every Shop visitor, and with every order by phone!

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[Astronomy Ireland] NASA scientist to speak in Dublin August 8
by Astronomy Ireland 04 Aug '05

04 Aug '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. NASA PUBLIC LECTURE IN DUBLIN (plus TV3 and A.I.R.S.!) Astronomy Ireland is proud to announce that Dr Peter Gallagher from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (USA) will give our August Public Lecture on: "Our Dynamic Sun" at 8pm on Monday August 8 in Dublin City University (Henry Grattan Building) Dr Gallagher works with the billion euro NASA (and ESA!) SOHO spacecraft - a space telescope 1 million miles from Earth with a permanent view of the Sun. There is an excellent fact sheet here http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/mission/SOHO_Fact_Sheet.pdf He will show stunning images and time lapse movies showing the vast upheavals and explosions on the Sun taken by SOHO and explain all that we know about our nearest star and giver of life on planet Earth. It is a highly visual treat that will delight all and sundry so do bring as many friends as you can. ALL WELCOME. TICKETS: You can reserve seats in advance if you wish by emailing lecture(a)astronomy.ie or call the Shop number below during opening hours. Or just come along on the night. Tickets are 5euro each (3euro to student,child,OAP,unwaged, & AI members). ALL WELCOME. Or drop in to our Shop in Artane for tickets and avoid queuing on the night - open Saturdays from noon to 6pm remember, and get a FREE Hubble DVD while you're there! TELEVISION: TV3's "Ireland AM" show have already booked Dr. Gallagher in for an appearance on the morning of his lecture (possibly around 8:20am but time is not certain). RADIO: The Astronomy Ireland Radio Show (A.I.R.S.) interviewed Dr. Gallagher last Tuesday (Aug. 2). Download this from our website now: www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html DVD: As the vast majority of members of the society live outside Dublin a DVD of this lecture will be available a few days after the event. Order at www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html or call our Shop (price 5euro). Or download a low resolution version FREE at www.astronomy.ie/webcast/webcast.html But give us a few days to prepare all this. Further lecture & speaker details at: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0508.html 2. STAR-B-Q There was a huge rush to avail of tickets at the 'early bird rate' that applied up to July 31 for Ireland's biggest annual astronomical event "Star-B-Q", due to take place August 26. The Irish Times will be running a feature on the event in their magazine on August 13 so do try to book before then in case the event is sold out. If you have a medium to large sized telescope (6-inch up) and would like to bring it along to the event we can arrange free tickets for you and a friend - please 'reply' to this email. It looks like this year's Star-B-Q is going to break the record for attendance and this year it will be significantly improved with a new laser show to point out constellations, more talks, earlier start, professional catering, and more telescopes than ever! Please tell your friends to book on www.astronomy.ie and support Astronomy Ireland. Thank you! ------------------------- - 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] Einstein Lecture, 10th Planet?, 386
by Astronomy Ireland 02 Aug '05

02 Aug '05

Astronomy Ireland · www.astronomy.ie · (01) 847 0777 · info(a)astronomy.ie 1. EINSTEIN LECTURE On Wednesday August 3rd at 6:00pm, in the Larkin Theatre, Dublin City University: Prof. Anders Barany will give a lecture on 'Einstein's Nobel Prize'. The fascinating story behind the award. To reserve places email ncpst(a)dcu.ie or call (01) 700 5382 2. TENTH PLANET By now I'm sure you've all heard about the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt Object announced last weekend by NASA as being the Sun's 10th planet. A full report will appear in our magazine of course. We've been doing interviews all weekend so we'll fill you in on all details via the magazine in due course. The very latest news will be on our Radio Show tonight at 8pm or download it from www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html 3. 80386SX COMPUTER After being in almost continuous daily use for over 10 years the oldest computer in Astronomy Ireland was finally retired last month - a 16MHz 80386SX with 5MB RAM! Still in use until now on the basis of "if it ain't broke don't fix it!" it seems a shame to toss it in a skip after all those faithful years of good service (still has the original 40MB hard disk). If anyone knows a good use or home for it let me know. It belongs in a museum. (And don't worry, AI has been mainly running 2GHz Pentiums for several years!) MAJOR EVENTS THIS MONTH: Aug. 08 NASA scientist to speak in Dublin: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0508.html ALL WELCOME. Book now. Aug. 12 Perseids Meteor Shower peaks - see our magazine Aug. 26 Star-B-Q, Ireland's biggest annual telescope festival: www.astronomy.ie/sbqaug05.html ALL WELCOME. Book now. ------------------------- - 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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