January 2007 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] David Moore on TV, AIRS, Fireball, Classes
by Astronomy Ireland 31 Jan '07

31 Jan '07

1. TELEVISION This Saturday Feb. 3rd tune in to RTE 2 Television for the young people's programme "Sattitude" at 10am (www.rte.ie/tv/theden//sattitude) and you will see Astronomy Ireland Chairman David Moore. He will be interviewed about the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence in response to a recently published Irish book on UFOs. Set your video! Two more TV appearances are scheduled for Astronomy Ireland by the way: On Mon Feb 12 "Seoige & O'Shea" RTE 1 TV at 4:30pm, John Gribbin will talk about his new book 'The Universe: A Biography', and the public lecture (www.astronomy.ie/lecture200702.html) he is giving for us that night in TCD. Then later in February David Moore will be back talking about Ireland in space. 2. AIRS - the Astronomy Ireland Radio Show This week's AIRS is now online at www.astronomy.ie/AIRS for everyone all around Ireland to download (why not do this every week!). Find out all about cosmology, the Hubble Space Telescope break down, and Saturn passing extremely close to the Moon on Friday. 3. FIREBALL A brilliant fireball (extremely bright meteor) was seen from all over Ireland last Wed January 24th around 7:30am. If you saw it please fill out the form on our website while it's still fresh in your memory. Go to www.astronomy.ie and click on "report a fireball" in the menu on the left. 4. EVENING CLASSES Don't forget our beginner's Astronomy Classes start tonight (Jan 31) in Trinity College Dublin (Physics Building). You can still register online at www.astronomy.ie or come along early on the night (7pm at the latest). There are 10 classes, every Wednesday evening. If you cannot make the first class you can still register and start next week (Feb. 7) which many people often do. For those living too far from Dublin we are looking in to organising classes in other cities. Email sec(a)astronomy.ie if you are interested in attending or giving (training will be provided) classes in your area. ASTRONOMY IRELAND - the world's most popular astronomy society ( visit Ireland's BIGGEST telescope showroom when next in Dublin www.astronomy.ie/map.html )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Last Chance to Book Astronomy Ireland Evening Class Places - Classes Start next Wednesday
by AI Exec Secretary 25 Jan '07

25 Jan '07

Last Chance to Book Evening Class Places Astronomy Ireland’s highly regarded evening classes will start again on Wednesday 31 January 2007. The classes are designed and taught by Emmet Mordaunt, news editor of Astronomy & Space magazine. All Welcome! Prior booking is essential. Numbers are limited, but some places are still available, so book early to avoid disappointment. To book your place visit our website – www.astronomy.ie - where we have an online booking form. Alternatively you can call us on (01) 847 07 77. This course is suitable for the general public and no knowledge of maths is required. The style will be informal and questions are very much encouraged. Each class lasts for two hours with a 10-15 minute break. There is no exam, and no need to buy anything. Just bring you brain! Topics covered include planets, stars, telescopes and cosmology. The course runs for 10 weeks, with classes lasting two hours from 19:30 to 21:30. Schedule: 7:30-9:30pm, Wednesday 31 January, and each Wednesday thereafter Venue: Schrödinger Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin 2 Admission: €80 for members (€120 for non-members price includes year's subscription to Astronomy & Space) For more information or to book places, visit www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 0777 ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and information www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 0777

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[Astronomy Ireland] UPCOMING NATIONWIDE EVENTS
by Secretary AI 17 Jan '07

17 Jan '07

FRIDAY 26 JAN - ARMAGH: To mark the centenary of the birth of Armagh Planetarium's founder Dr E.M. Lindsay (1907-1974), a one-day conference is being held at The Rotunda, St. Patrick's Trian, 40 English St., Armagh on Friday 26th January That evening astronomer, writer and broadcaster Dr Alan Chapman, will give a PUBLIC LECTURE at 7:30pm entitled "Robert Ball: Ireland's Astronomical Muse". Tickets can be obtained by contacting Aileen McKee, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG - Phone 048 3752 2928 - email ambn(a)arm.ac.uk For further details go to http://star.arm.ac.uk/lindsay FRIDAY 19 JAN - TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN: If you can't wait for that, then this Friday (Jan. 19) the Trinity College Physical Society (Physoc) is playing host to Dr. C. Alex Young, NASA Senior Scientist. Dr. Young will be giving a talk entitled "The Golden Age of Solar Physics: SOHO and Beyond" At 7.30pm in the Schrödinger lecture theatre in the Fitzgerald building in TCD. Dr. Young is involved in many Solar Physics missions such as SOHO, STEREO, SDO and HINODE/SOLAR-B. He will give an introduction to the Sun and proceed to talk about the future of Solar Spacecraft - of particular interest as 2007 has been designated the International Heliophysical Year. Entrance is free, but all those interested should email me at rafteryc(a)tcd.ie before 6pm on Friday. THURSDAY 18 JAN - TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN: Sooner still is Trinity Astronomical and Space Society's (TASS) public lecture by Professor Lynden-Bell, Professor of Astrophysics, Cambridge University on Thursday January 18th at 7:30pm in the Physics Building, T.C.D. Same venue as Astronomy Ireland's monthly meetings (www.astronomy.ie/events) The lecture is entitled "Flat disks and narrow jets in Astronomy". This is a very rare opportunity to hear such an eminent speaker, so TASS would like to extend an invitation to you all to attend as guests of theirs. Admission is free courtesy of TASS so to advise of numbers could you email gillesjb(a)tcd.ie to say how many of you are going. REST OF IRELAND: As a service to all our subscribers in every part of Ireland we have made a DVD of our "sell out" New Year Lecture by the Astronomer Royal of Scotland "Black Holes & White Rabbits". To cover costs it's only 5euro. Prof John Brown (the 10th Astronomer Royal) gave a superb talk about Black Holes and performed several magic tricks to a packed hall in TCD on Jan 8. There was standing room only and, unfortunately we had to turn a large number of people away (we're organising a larger hall in TCD for Dr John Gribbin's Feb 12 lecture and book launch "The Universe - a Biography" so book places here www.astronomy.ie/lecture200702.html) You can order the New Year Lecture DVD online at www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html NEWS WRITER WANTED: Fancy writing the news for Astronomy & Space magazine? A person to write the monthly news section is required. No expertise or writing experience is necessary, just an interest in astronomy, and a desire to share your enthusiasm with our readers. The job can be done from home, and is open to anyone. If you're interested contact David Moore on (01) 847 07 77, or email info(a)astronomy.ie Details and information on www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 07 77 ASTRONOMY IRELAND - the world's most popular astronomy society

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[Astronomy Ireland] BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, TASS lecture, Comet seen, Beginners Classes, DVD
by Secretary AI 12 Jan '07

12 Jan '07

1. 40,000 people are expected to throng to the RDS in Dublin for the annual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition Jan. 11-13. See the back page of our January magazine. Astronomy Ireland has a stand at the event so do go along and say hello. There are special offers on membership and our magazine, and you can win a superb pair of our 10x50 binoculars in our FREE competition, plus lots more besides. The Exhibition has over 500 stands with projects from young people all around Ireland, including some on astronomy (which will be featured in a coming issue of our magazine). There are many science technology exhibitors to visit also. So it's well worth a visit every year. Admission is 10euro for adults, 5euro for students/children and senior citizens, 25euro family (2 adult, 3 children). 2. Trinity Astronomy & Space Society (TASS) invite you all to attend a lecture by Professor Lynden-Bell, Professor of Astrophysics, Cambridge University on Thursday January 18th at 7:30pm in the Physics Building, T.C.D. Same venue as Astronomy Ireland's monthly meetings (www.astronomy.ie/events) The lecture is entitled " Flat disks and narrow jets in Astronomy". This is a very rare opportunity to hear such an eminent speaker, so TASS would like to extend an invitation to you all to attend as guests of theirs. Admission is free courtesy of TASS so to advise of numbers could you email gillesjb(a)tcd.ie to say how many of you are going. 3. We saw Comet McNaught from the Astronomy Ireland Shop again tonight (Friday). It was picked up in seconds around sunset looking out of the window with Celestron 15x70mm binoculars through breaks in the clouds. Venus could not be seen due to the clouds and the comet was very easy to spot, perhaps as easy as Venus (magnitude -4)! Comet McNaught is now visible in SOHO's cameras http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/hotshots The comet will be visible just above the Sun the moment the Sun sets tomorrow, Saturday, but do not sweep the sky above the Sun with binoculars or telescopes until the Sun sets or you may be blinded by the Sun! For more details see our January magazine page 26, or the list of links given in the last email, or download this weeks AIRS (Astronomy Ireland Radio Show) and listen to David Moore's weekly round up of what to see in Irish skies at www.astronomy.ie/AIRS (or set the show up as a podcast and get the latest news EVERY week). Email the show at radio(a)astronomy.ie Please send photos and sighting reports to observe(a)astronomy.ie for what has become the brightest comet in over 3 decades and may be the brightest you will ever see. 4. Don't forget our Astronomy Evening Classes, aimed at beginners, start soon (January 31st). So please enrol now. Details and online bookings are at www.astronomy.ie/eveningclassjan2007.html or call (01) 847 0777 Monday to Saturday. 5. Our New Year Lecture on January 8 was packed solid with over 200 people trying to get in. Sadly a few had to be turned away due to last minute publicity on RTE Radio 1 WARNING: our next speaker is ALREADY booked for a TV appearance so book online for John Gribbin "The Universe - a Biography" (the title of his new book out later this month) at: www.astronomy.ie/lecture200702.html now! For the thousands of you living outside Dublin, or who were not able to get in on the night, the DVD of our New Year Lecture can be ordered at: www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html This is an important service for everyone outside Dublin and the cost is very low. It takes a lot of effort by volunteers to bring you these DVDs so please do avail of this service. (You can even order the Feb. 12 DVD now if you wish, at the same webpage! ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and information call (01) 847 0777 www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Comet McNaught seen in Daylight from Ireland!
by Astronomy Ireland 11 Jan '07

11 Jan '07

If you have been studying page 26 of our January magazine you will know all about the new bright Comet McNaught which has been visible in evening skies over the past week. The Comet has turned out to be even brighter than was predicted in our magazine where it was estimated it would reach magnitude +2 or +3 making it one of the brightest comets in years. However, the comet should become about 100 times brighter than this and yesterday David Moore, David Grennan and Robert Lord saw it in daylight from the Astronomy Ireland Shop in Dublin using a Celestron 80ED refractor. Previously, David Moore became the first person in Ireland (and the U.K. we believe) to spot the comet when he saw it on the evening of Jan. 1st. He also saw it for the first time with the naked eye on Jan. 5th. All from Dublin as city lights do not matter since the comet has to be viewed in strong twilight anyway so a dark sky is not important. Comet McNaught is now a spectacular object in the early evening twilight with one telephone caller (a non-astronomer) calling to ask what that peculiar looking object is in the West earlier this week. The Comet is currently (Jan. 11) about magnitude -2 (about as bright as Jupiter) and could become brighter than Venus (magnitude -4). The reason for its brightness is that the comet is passing very close to the Sun. It will be just 25 million km from the Sun on Friday (Jan. 12). That's 6 times closer than Earth and only half of Mercury's distance. So the comet is being roasted. It may disintegrate. Other comets have. This would increase its brightness further. The only problem is how close the comet is to the Sun, about 10 degrees today Jan. 11 and dropping to just 6 degrees at the weekend. So you need to view the comet as the Sun sets, and not much later. Sunset is around 4:30pm. You can also see the comet in the morning sky (sunrise around 8:30pm). In both cases look just to the upper left of the Sun. If you do attempt to see the comet in daylight, with the Sun above the horizon, be extremely careful not to look at the Sun you will damage your eyesight, especially with binoculars and telescopes. Friday evening will be the last good chance to see the Comet, with the Sun below the horizon. After that the comet must be tracked down in broad daylight from this country as it becomes a southern hemisphere object. But you can also follow it on the internet via the SOHO observatory in space over the weekend: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/realtime-update.html Comet McNaught has been seen through gaps in the cloud so make an effort even if the weather prospects look poor. This is a rare opportunity to see a very bright comet, perhaps the brightest in 30 years and maybe the brightest for a long time to come. As well as the details published last month in our magazine, check out these websites below for photos and more information, and please send any sightings to observe(a)astronomy.ie and any photos too. http://cometography.com/lcomets/2006p1.html http://www.fototime.com:80/A19F44F5F9125C8/orig.jpg http://vidar.grense.no/objekter/kometer/McNaught/Bilder.htm http://www.kometarium.com:80/2006p1_anim.html http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/data/ins_data/secchi/L0/a/img/hi_1/ http://folk.uio.no/hdahle/DSC_0765s.JPG http://folk.uio.no/hdahle/DSC_0788_crop.JPG http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070109.html http://kometen.fg-vds.de/pix/2006P1/2006P1_2_07012007.htm http://kometen.fg-vds.de/pix/2006P1/2006P1_05012007.htm ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and information call (01) 847 0777 www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Grainne Seoige to interview Astronomer Royal & David Moore
by Secretary AI 05 Jan '07

05 Jan '07

New Year public lecture and Magic Show Available now to order on DVD "Black Holes and White Rabbits" STOP PRESS: Since announcing our New Year lecture, RTE have booked Scotland's Astronomer Royal and our Chairman to appear on TV on Monday. The interview will air on Seoige & O'Shea, 4:30pm, RTE 1. Prof. Brown will be giving a foretaste of his conjuring tricks on the show, to whet your appetite for the main attraction: his lecture is at 8pm in Trinity College, and on DVD for all of you around Ireland LECTURE DETAILS - In 2007 Astronomy Ireland has lined up a stellar cast for its monthly lecture programme. Our speakers include rock star turned astrophysicist Brian May (formerly of Queen), Stephen Hawking’s only Irish student Oisín MacConamhna, and co-presenter of BBC television's Sky at Night, Chris Lintott. The first talk of the programme is the New Year Public Lecture on Monday 8 January, at 8pm, in the Physics Building in Trinity College Dublin. Astronomy Ireland is bringing to Ireland Prof. John Brown, Astronomer Royal of Scotland, Regius Professor of Astronomy at the University of Glasgow and Honorary Professor of Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. Prof. Brown has been Scotland’s Astronomer Royal since 1995. This post involves giving frequent planetarium shows and talks to schools, the public, and amateur societies. In these he uses conjuring and other art forms to promote interest in science, and his lecture in Trinity College Dublin on Monday night promises to be highly entertaining. Professor Brown’s lecture is entitled - "Black Holes and White Rabbits". He explains the title as follows - “Studying astronomy is like a magic show with the cosmos as performer, and using magic is a great way to illustrate and excite interest in astronomy. For example, as they evolve stars perform astonishing chemistry tricks, transmuting the elements like an alchemists dream. Supreme in cosmic stellar magic, however, are black holes, most of which are the corpses of exploded massive stars. Black holes distort space-time in weird ways and may even be implicated in the birth of universes and of laws of physics. These properties are impossible and too dangerous to bring into the lecture room, but can be illustrated by means of man-made magic.” OUTSIDE DUBLIN? TO serve the 70% of our members who live outside Dublin, you can watch the a DVD of the lecture in the comfort of your own home. To pre-order the DVD of this,or any previous talk go to www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html IN DUBLIN? The Physics building is very close to the Pearse St entrance of TCD, right across the road from the DART station. Parking is available close to the venue at Lombard St. East, or the Setanta Car Park (see www.astronomy.ie/lecture200701.html for details on parking). Speaker Professor John Campbell Brown Title “Black Holes and White Rabbits” Venue Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin. Date Monday 8 January , 8:00pm Admission €5 (€3 for concessions) Details and information on www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 07 77 ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and information call (01) 847 0777 www.astronomy.ie

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[Astronomy Ireland] Astronomer Royal to Speak in Ireland
by Astronomy Ireland 03 Jan '07

03 Jan '07

For the 2007 New Year Public Lecture we have been very lucky to get Scotland's Astronomer Royal, Prof John Brown to speak about "BLACK HOLES & WHITE RABBITS" Prof Brown is a magician as well as an astronomer, and he will include spectacular magic tricks in to his talk so it should be an incredibly informative and entertaining evening. So we want to get you all to come along, and we will record on DVD for you it if you're outside Dublin To order the DVD go to www.astronomy.ie now. Why not bring friends, and the whole family? You can book tickets or just come on the night as there will be plenty of seats. DETAILS: 8pm, Monday Jan. 8 in Trinity College (Physics Building, near the Pearse St Dart Station so ideal for public transport or ample parking in nearby streets or Setanta Car Park). Admission (or DVD) only 5euro. Our New Year Lecture is aimed at the general public so ALL WELCOME

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