astronomy

Download

astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

June 2008

2 participants
2 discussions

[Astronomy Ireland] Cork and Dublin Book Launch and Lecture : A History of Astronomy
by AI Secretary 20 Jun '08

20 Jun '08

"From Babylon to the Big Bang - a History of Astronomy" by best selling authors and TV producers Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest *PUBLIC LECTURE* Monday July 14 at 8:00pm Trinity College, Dublin Tuesday July 15 at 8:00pm Jury's Hotel, Cork Admission: ?7 (Consessions ?5) Copies of the book available at ?40 each on the night. Heather and Nigel will be appearing on the Pat Kenny Show on July 14th and the Astronomy Ireland Radio Show on Dublin City FM on 8th July. They will also be speaking on East Coast FM and Phantom FM on July 14th. In the coming weeks we expect them to appear on many other radio shows and we also hope for a Television appearance. Heather and Nigel will be signing copies of their book at both public lectures. As places are limited we advise you to book your place at the public lectures in advance at www.astronomy.ie For those of you who unfortunately cannot make our events, there will be a DVD of the lecture made available. ORDER DVD HERE A review of their book is due to appear in the August issue of Astronomy & Space magazine. Reviews have also appeared in other international publications and are also planned to be published in some of the national daily newspapers. This extraordinary book traces the stories of humans interacting, beginning with the earliest superstitions and continuing through to the birth and development of the science of astronomy. Areas covered include: a.. Australian Aborigines, Stonehenge, Polynesian navigators b.. Egyptian, Chinese and Babylonian astronomers, the Star of Bethlehem c.. Greek astronomers, Galileo and Copernicus d.. The Solar System and the movements of the planets e.. Newton, gravity, Halley f.. What stars are made of and why they shine g.. Hubble, the Cosmos, new galaxies, the Big Bang h.. Pulsars, quasars and black holes i.. Are we alone? About the Authors Heather Couper is an astrophysicist. She ran the Greenwich Planetarium and was president of the British Astronomical Association. A professor of astronomy, she produced the TV programs Universe and Electric Skies. Heather is often regarded as the female version of Sir Patrick Moore. On 2 June 1999 the International Astronomical Union named asteroid number 3922 "Heather" in her honour. Nigel Henbest is a consultant to both the Royal Greenwich Observatory and New Scientist magazine. He is also an internationally acclaimed science populariser specialising in astronomy and space. His 36 books and over 1000 articles have been translated into 27 languages, while his TV productions have gained awards both in Britain and in the US. Arthur C. Clarke (Foreword) is among the world's most famous science fiction authors. His more than 70 books include 2001: A Space Odyssey. Supported by: ALL WELCOME Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club ( To subscribe/unsubscribe click here ) Ireland's Only Astronomy Magazine www.astronomy.ie Call Our Telescope Shop Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat Delivery Nationwide

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Dark Matter Lecture, Graphic designer, Dan Tani in Cork&RTE, Cork&Dublin July Lecture
by AI Chairman 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

1. June Lecture (and DVD) "Dark Matter" We are flying in Prof Tim Sumner from London to give our June 9 Public Lecture, "Direct Dark Matter Searches" which we will record on DVD for everyone in Ireland. Prof Sumner is a leading world authority on Dark Matter, that mysterious substance that makes up most of the matter in the universe but about which we know almost nothing. Tim Sumner is Professor in Experimental Astrophysics of the High Energy Physics Group, Imperial College London. He is a member of the UK Dark Matter Collaboration, and he investigates evidence to prove the existence of galactic dark matter formally known as "Weakly Interacting Massive Particles". The Collaboration is one of four groups around the world looking for WIMPs. There is a huge effort worldwide to make direct detection of a new form of particle thought to make up the dark matter in the Milky Way. Experiments are carried out in deep underground sites looking for tiny signals from these particles as they very very occasionally hit target atoms in the detectors. A positive detection would be a 'double whammy' of astounding importance for science as it would not only confirm the nature of dark matter but would also confirm supersymmetry as the way forward for unifying gravity with quantum mechanics. The scientific evidence for dark matter will be reviewed followed by a summary of experimental activity around the world and finally focussing on ICL's own experiment, ZEPLIN-III, being carried out 1km underground near Whitby in Yorkshire. For more information on this lecture see our website www.astronomy.ie/lecture200806.html Details: Monday June 9, Trinity College Dublin, Physics Building at 8pm. All welcome. Admission 5euro (or order DVD for 5euro). If you cannot get to the lecture in TCD you can order a DVD (which you can keep) of the lecture for the same price as a seat at the lecture: To book your tickets for this lecture click HERE To order the DVD of this lecture click HERE 2. Graphic Designer / DTP Person Required Astronomy Ireland are currently seeking a graphic designer to help produce our monthly magazine Astronomy & Space. If you are experienced in graphic design or desktop publishing please contact info(a)astronomy.ie 3. Astronaut Touches Down In Ireland Astronaut Dan Tani has landed in Ireland and plans to stay for a whole month. Dan's wife is from Kinsale and he will be based in Cork for the duration of his stay and has a full schedule of activities lined up. These activities include lots of school visits, talks and workshops for children. In February, Dan returned from a six month stay on the International Space Station. For more information on Dan's activities, please contact Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork on (021) 435 7917 or visit www.bco.ie (Workshop details at www.bco.ie/workshop.htm) STOP PRESS: We have just heard that Dan Tani will also be on the Marian Finucane show on Saturday morning (June 7th). Tune in to RTE Radio 1 from 11am-1pm Or check our Media Archive www.astronomy.ie/mediaarchive.html as we hope to have the interview online before Monday. 4. July Lecture- Dublin and Cork Astronomy Ireland have decided to treat everyone this July with two extra special lectures in Dublin and Cork. "From Babylon to the Big Bang - a History of Astronomy" by best selling authors and TV producers Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest. Heather, who was awarded a CBE in 2007, along with Nigel, are two internationally renowned popular science authors and media personalities. Heather will present 'Cosmic Quest', a BBC 4 thirty part series in Summer 2008. This lecture will promote their new book "From Babylon to the Big Bang - a History of Astronomy" www.astronomy.ie/lecture200807.html To book tickets for this lecture click HERE To order the DVD of this lecture click HERE Astronomy Ireland ( To subscribe/unsubscribe click here ) The world's most popular astronomy club and Ireland's Only Astronomy Magazine www.astronomy.ie Call Our Telescope Shop Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat Delivery Nationwide order online here

1 0