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September 2008

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[Astronomy Ireland] Evening Classes, Galway Planet Search, Shop Job, Book Launch, AMSAT talk, I.S.S. Visible
by AI Secretary 24 Sep '08

24 Sep '08

1. Nationwide Evening Classes - New Venues The Astronomy Ireland evening classes for beginners commence on Thursday 9th October in Athlone, Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Letterkenny, Limerick and Tralee. There are a limited number of places available and you can book your place for any of the venues online at www.astronomy.ie/class or by calling (01) 847 0777. This eight week course is designed with the beginner in mind. You do not need to own a telescope and no knowledge of astronomy or maths is required. This is an opportunity to meet with fellow enthusiasts and learn a little about the Sun, Planets, Telescopes, History of Astronomy, Cosmology and much much more. BOOK HERE 2. Public Lecture & DVD: "Searching for Planets Around Other Stars - >From Galway" On Monday 13 October, Astronomy Ireland will presents its Colm J. Cannon Memorial Lecture in the Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin at 8pm. The existence of over 300 planets outside our own Solar System has been confirmed since the first extra-solar planet was discovered only 14 years ago. The techniques used to detect these planets requires the use of very sensitive and expensive equipment. Some astronomers have recently claimed to have photographed one of these planets directly. Now, Gregg Hallinan, an astronomer based in Galway, is using a technique based on what happens during "The Northern Lights" to detect billion watt beacons beaming powerful radio beams into space from these far away planets. With the latest generation of powerful radio telescopes we can now begin to search for these kind of radio waves from planets in orbit around other stars. For those who cannot make it to the venue on the night a DVD will be available for 7euro Event: Astronomy Ireland Colm J. Cannon Memorial Lecture Title: "Searching for Planets Around Other Stars - From Galway" Date: 8pm October 13 (Monday) Venue: Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin. Admission: 7 Euro, Tickets are available at the door, or call (01) 847 0777, or online at: Book your ticket HERE and order the DVD HERE 3. Saturday Job in our Telescope Shop As you know we run Ireland's biggest telescope shop, supplying beginners and experts alike all across Ireland. We have a vacancy for someone to help in the Shop on Saturday with everything from supporting sales staff, packing orders for delivery, stock takes, tidying up, etc. Apply to sales(a)astronomy.ie 4. Book Launch Anthony Murphy (journalist & A.I. member) and Richard Moore (artist) will be launching the revised and updated edition of their book "Island of the Setting Sun": Thursday September 25th in The Portrait Gallery, Dublin Castle from 6pm to 8pm. Special Guest of Honour will be Composer, Michael Holohan ((Member of Aosdána). The first edition of Anthony & Richard's book was favourably reviewed in Astronomy Ireland's magazine so everyone is welcome to come along to the launch of the second edition. See you there. 5. Amateur Radio Satellite Lecture The Centre for Telecommunications Value-Chain Research at Trinity College Dublin invites you to a presentation by: Dr. Robert McGwier N4HY (Center for Communications Research in Princeton, N.J. USA) Friday September 26th, 2008 at 2.30pm in Lloyd Institute LB01 lecture theatre, TCD (map) Bob is a highly-engaging speaker and is currently working on the AMSAT Eagle project on several software-defined radio transponders, the AMSAT-DL Phase 3 Express Project. Bob is currently the AMSAT Vice President for Engineering. He was a designer and builder on the AMSAT Microsat's and participated in the Amsat-Oscar 13 and Amsat-Oscar 40 projects. Well known as N4HY, he has been an amateur radio operator since 1964. Bob's presentation will cover his software-defined radio, networking, and AMSAT work. All are welcome. Further information from Keith Nolan (TCD) on 01-8968443 or keithnolan(a)mee.tcd.ie 6. I.S.S. Visible in Evening Skies The International Space Station will blaze across the sky every from now until October 8th. On board since early April are 3 astronauts Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko, Greg Chamitoff. When I.S.S. flies over it is the brightest star-like object in the sky, an amazing sight. It will pass near Jupiter, and also the Moon. Details about I.S.S. are at www.astronomy.ie/iss The time to see I.S.S. is different each evening and you will only see it at its best, high up, for a minute or so. There are websites that give automated predictions but check them regularly in case I.S.S. is moved in its orbit which can throw the predictions out. For this reason, and for those who want the very latest and most accurate predictions we set up a text service to send the exact time to your mobile about 2 hours before I.S.S. flies over. Simply, text SPACE to 57003 each text costs 1euro (we surveyed 9,000 people and this was the rate suggested) and proceeds help us promote interest in astronomy in Ireland so please tell your friends. You can also get predictions on our Newsline each afternoon: call 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95cent/min) or in U.K. call 09001-88-1950 (calls cost 60p/min) Every time you spot I.S.S. please email observe(a)astronomy.ie and we'll include you in our monthly magazine report Astronomy Ireland 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 ( subscribe / unsubscribe here )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Light Pollution, Star-B-Q Report, July & August DVD, BAA in Dublin, Galway - Kerry - Leitrim - Eclipse Events
by AI Secretary 05 Sep '08

05 Sep '08

1. Astronomy Ireland Light Pollution Lecture & DVD This month's Public lecture (available on DVD nationwide) takes place next Monday evening, 8th September at 8pm, in The Physics Building Trinity College Dublin. The talk is titled "Light Pollution in Ireland" and will be given by Mr. Albert White of the Irish Light Pollution Awareness Campaign (ILPAC). Albert will tell us about the financial, environmental and astronomical cost of badly designed public lighting. More information HERE where you can also book tickets and order the DVD. Listen to Albert talk on "Mooney Goes Wild" about Light Pollution HERE 2. Star-B-Q Success - Report & Photos Skies cleared for Astronomy Ireland's annual fund-raising barbecue under the stars last Saturday. Hundreds of people came from all around Ireland for Star-B-Q which is now firmly established as Ireland's biggest annual Star Party. Sandra Dempsey won the superb NexStar 8 SE telescope worth nearly 1,500euro donated by Celestron and Jamie Conroy from Offaly won the award winning Celestron SkyScout. Our NASA scientist James McAteer gave a superb talk about the Sun and its influence. The Fire Juggler, new this year, put on an amazing performance. Twin high powered lasers pointed our constellations and binocular highlights as telescopes showed a host of objects. A full report with loads of photos (check out the Fire Juggler!) is at www.astronomy.ie/sbqrep08.html Mark Saturday August 22nd, 2009 for our next Star-B-Q! 3. July Lecture and DVD World renowned broadcasters and authors Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest gave Astronomy Ireland's July public lecture. The lecture was based on their latest book "The History of Astronomy" For a full report on the lecture and an opportunity to purchase the DVD of the lecture or a copy of the book go to www.astronomy.ie/lecturerepo0708.html 4. August Lecture & DVD Astronomy Ireland's August lecture was delivered by outgoing President of The Royal Astronomical Society Prof. Michael Rowan-Robinson. Whether or not you were one of the many people we had to turn away, due to the large numbers who wanted to attend, you can obtain a DVD of the lecture, "Measuring the Universe, the Cosmological Distance Ladder" at www.astronomy.ie/lecture200808.html A report of the lecture can be found HERE 5. DVD Offer Why not order the three DVDs together (July, August and September) and beat the postage. The three DVDs will be posted to you for €7 each and only €5 P&P. Details HERE 6. B.A.A. Meeting in Dublin The British Astronomical Association is holding a rare meeting in Dublin this weekend. Everyone is welcome to go along to University College Dublin on Saturday September 6th. Pre-booking is no longer necessary, you can just pay at the door. So, why not go along and to hear and meet some of the great British astronomers whose books you have probably read. A programme for the day is here. 7. Galway Lecture The next Galway Astronomy Club (GAC) talk takes place at Claddagh Hall, Nimmos Pier on Monday Sept 29th at 8pm when Dr. John Mc Donald B.Sc of the Computational Astrophysics Lab, Centre for Astronomy, NUI Galway will give a lecture entitled "The Fascinating Universe, Probing Problems in Pulsars & Plasma using PIC" PIC is an acronym for the "Particle-In-Cell" approach, a computational methodology for the numerical modelling of plasmas. All Welcome 8. Kerry Meeting The next Kerry Astronomy Club meeting takes place on Tuesday 9th September in the ITT Tralee. Room T118 at 7.30pm where you can catch up on all the latest on the Mars Probes and what to see in the sky. All Welcome 9. UFO Conference The Fifth Irish International UFO Conference will take place on the 27th/28th September in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co.Leitrim with speakers from Australia and America. Further details from Betty Meyler on 071 966 2844 or email - ufosocietyireland(a)hotmail.com. All Welcome. 10. Eclipse Lecture The South Dublin Astronomical Society (SDAS) meet again on Thursday Sept 11th at 8pm in Gonzaga college, Ranelagh.The main subject of discussion will be the total Solar Eclipse of 01 August as experienced from China. All Welcome. Astronomy Ireland 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 ( subscribe / unsubscribe here )

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