December 2009 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] Telescope Sale Now On!, Once in 353 Year Eclipse
by Astronomy Ireland 31 Dec '09

31 Dec '09

MAGAZINE OFFER EVENTS SHOP 1. Telescope Sale Now On!!! Our Telescope Shop (Ireland's Largest) re-opened on December 29th with a massive sale on all telescopes and some very special offers. For the beginners there is up to 20% off AstroMaster, NexStar SLT and SE, and Omni ranges. For the discerning amateur there is up to 1,000 euro off CPC telescopes!!! Then there are a few SPECIAL ITEMS at huge discounts. A full list of sale items is on our website, or click www.astronomy.ie/Sale2010.htm With Mars making its closest approach to Earth in over 2 years in January and February a telescope will be an extremely useful tool in 2010. 2. New Year's Eve Eclipse - First in 353 Years!!! The "big" eclipse comes tonight December 31, when the Moon will pass through the Earth's shadow roughly from 7pm to 8pm (mid eclipse being 7:22pm). We say "big" because this is the first eclipse of the Moon to occur on a New Year's Eve since 1656, that's 353 years ago! So make sure you hold an "Eclipse Party" to ring out the International Year of Astronomy and ring in the 20th Anniversary Year of Astronomy Ireland which has grown to be the world's most popular astronomy society. The media have already been calling about the eclipse with articles due in the Irish Independent, on Today FM news, 98FM news, etc and even a possible interview this society Chairman David Moore on RTE Radio 1's flagship "Morning Ireland" programme. Click here during the day to hear recordings of these: www.astronomy.ie/audio See our Eclipse webpage HERE for more information and where to send your reports for our magazine article that will report on the event. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] New Year's Eve Eclipse, Last Minute Gifts, Events
by AI Secretary 22 Dec '09

22 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop To all our Friends and Members, on behalf of all at Astronomy Ireland we would like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events in 2010 and celebrating Astronomy Ireland's 20th Anniversary with us next year. 1. New Year's Eve Eclipse On December 31, the Moon will pass through the Earth's shadow, getting darker and darker until 7:20pm, when a "chunk" of the Moon will appear black. Throughout the evening the Moon will get darker as it becomes engulfed in the Earth's shadow. This is a particularly unique lunar eclipse as it falls on a Blue Moon - a second full Moon in a single month, a rare occurrence in itself. The eclipse will be best viewed between 7pm and 8pm, when part of the Moon will appear completely black. Click HERE for more information. This New Year's Eve eclipse is particularly fortuitous as it will mark the end of the hugely successful United Nations International Year of Astronomy (IYA) and not only that, but it will also signify the beginning of Astronomy Ireland's 20th Anniversary Year. Over the coming year, we have a fantastic line-up of events to celebrate Astronomy Ireland's 20th Birthday, beginning with our Anniversary Lecture on January 25 given by none other than Professor Allan Chapman. For more information about this and the rest of our events for 2010 click HERE. 2. Last Minute Gift Ideas There's still time to pick one of our fantastic range of gifts for a loved one this Christmas: EVENING CLASSES: Beginning again on February 3, 2010, Astronomy Ireland's ever-popular Evening Classes are the perfect Christmas present for anyone interested in taking up Astronomy in the new year. SEASON TICKET: Why not give a little extra with a season lecture ticket including membership? Remember, as it's the International Year of Astronomy (IYA), that means that your friend will get 15 magazines and 15 lectures or DVDs! MEMBERSHIP: This year, 2009, marks the UN declared International Year of Astronomy (IYA) and to celebrate this Astronomy Ireland are running a special offer on membership - giving you 15 months for the price of 12. For more information or to purchase one of these great gifts visit www.astronomy.ie/gift. If you are unsure which gift to get, why not call us on (01) 847 0777 or email sec(a)astronomy.ie for more details. 3. Upcoming Events Dec 31 - Lunar Eclipse (Nationwide) Jan 25 - New Year Lecture with Professor Allan Chapman (Dublin) Jan 12 to 16 - BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (RDS Dublin) CLICK HERE FOR ALL OUR EVENTS FOR 2010 Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Christmas Lecture Report & DVD, Solstice, Fireball, Christmas Gifts
by AI Secretary 17 Dec '09

17 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop 1. Lecture Report & DVD On Monday, December 14, Astronomy Ireland's Christmas Lecture was presented by Professor Tim de Zeeuw, Director-General of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). During the lecture, Prof. de Zeeuw captivated guests with details of the biggest and most technologically advanced telescopes in the world, in particular the flagship facility of ESO - the Very Large Telescope (VLT). Prof. de Zeeuw went on to describe the proposed European Extremely Large Telescope which will have the ability to make detailed observations of habitable planets around other stars, black holes, and the beginning of the Universe itself. After the lecture, the annual Astronomy Ireland Christmas gathering was held in The Lombard, where guests were able to mingle with Prof. de Zeeuw and Astronomy Ireland staff, volunteers and members alike. To read the full report of the evening click HERE. For anyone who couldn't make it to this gripping lecture on Monday night, there is a DVD available to order online. To order your copy today click the link below. ORDER DVD HERE 2. Winter Solstice Don't forget, the Winter Solstice occurs this Monday, December 21st, and Astronomy Ireland will be meeting in Sean Moore Park, Sandymount, at 7:30am to witness the Sun rising. The James Joyce Monument in the Park is aligned with the rising Sun, echoing the ancient alignment at Newgrange -one of the oldest observatories in the world, which is perfectly aligned with the Winter Solstice Sunrise. Not only this, but Saturn will also be visible close to the Sun on Monday morning, so please join us in Sean Moore Park to see the famous ringed planet, and witness this amazing tribute to ancient astronomy. For more information click HERE or call us on (01) 847 0777. 3. Fireball Investigations continue into the fireball seen over Ireland last Monday, December 14 at around 7:40am. Although we have received over 200 reports to date, in 1999 when predicting the course of a meteorite subsequently found in Carlow, we received over 400 reports which helped us achieve this. We are urging you report your sighting to us by filling out a Fireball Report form HERE, and please ask friends who saw it to do likewise. There has been a huge amount of media interest surrounding the fireball since we started receiving reports on Monday. You can hear several radio interviews on the subject with Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore, by going to www.astronomy.ie/audio. 4. Christmas Gift Ideas EVENING CLASSES: Beginning again on February 3, 2010, Astronomy Ireland's ever-popular Evening Classes are the perfect Christmas present for anyone interested in taking up Astronomy in the new year. The topics will give the student a good grounding in the night sky, the Sun, stars and planets, galaxies, telescopes, and much more. The Classes are aimed for the complete beginner, and at only ?180 (course fee includes membership to Astronomy Ireland) they're a great gift for a friend who wants to learn more about the wonders of the Universe. For more information or to sign-up a friend or family member click HERE. SEASON TICKET: Why not give a little extra, and include a season lecture ticket along with their gift membership? For only ?100 your loved one will not only get Astronomy & Space delivered to their door each month, but will get a special ticket for entry to all of our monthly lectures, or a DVD of each of the lectures. Remember, as it's the International Year of Astronomy (IYA), that means that your friend will get 15 magazines and 15 lectures or DVDs! To buy a season ticket with membership, click HERE. MEMBERSHIP: This year, 2009, marks the UN declared International Year of Astronomy (IYA) and to celebrate this Astronomy Ireland are running a special offer on membership - giving you 15 months for the price of 12. That's THREE FREE MAGAZINES for a friend or family member when you give them a gift membership for Christmas. For more information click HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] A.I. TV Show, Geminids Fireball, Winter Solstice, Christmas Telescopes
by AI Secretary 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop 1. Astronomy Ireland TV Show This month's instalment of the Astronomy Ireland TV Show - a monthly slot dedicated to all things astronomy - will air tonight, December 15, on City Channel's 'The Evening Show' at 7pm and again 9pm. This month, Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore, will be speaking about the Winter Solstice, Mars and Jupiter in the night sky, the eclipse of the Moon on New Year's Eve, Christmas gift offers in the Astronomy Ireland Shop, and much, much more. If you don't get to see the show tonight, don't worry - the show is repeated on Wednesday, December 16 at 8am and 11am and again on December 19 at 7:30pm. City Channel is available to all Chorus/NTL customers in Dublin, Galway and Waterford and all of Munster. You can also watch it in a few days time on www.astronomy.ie/TV. 2. Huge Fireball Seen Over Ireland On Monday, December 14, at around 7:40am a fireball brighter than the Full Moon was seen all across Ireland with witnesses reporting to have seen it over Dublin, Louth and even Cork. Such a sight takes merely seconds to pass over and it can be described as an extremely bright like flame blazing across the sky. What makes this even more thrilling is that it was witnessed just before dawn, something which is almost unheard of. It is believed that this phenomenal spectacle was produced by the Geminids meteor shower which is known to generate fireballs like these. The Geminids shower peaked on Sunday night, December 13. Fireballs this bright can drop meteorites and we have already received many reports from people who saw it blazing across the evening sky. However we believe that only a tiny fraction of those that saw it have thus far reported it. If anyone saw it please fill out the online report form at www.astronomy.ie (click 'Report a Fireball' link on left hand column) as accurately and as detailed as possible. This helps us in correctly predicting its course and determining if and where it may have landed. There has been a frenzy of media interest surround the fireball since we started receiving reports yesterday morning. You can hear an interview with Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore, on RTE Radio One's 'Drivetime' programme, recorded yesterday evening, by going to www.astronomy.ie/audio. 3. Winter Solstice 2009 The Winter Solstice occurs this year on December 21st, and Astronomy Ireland will be meeting in Sean Moore Park, Sandymount, to witness the Sun rising. The James Joyce Monument in the Park is aligned with the rising Sun, echoing the ancient alignment at Newgrange. Newgrange is one of the oldest observatories in the world, and is even older than the Pyramids in Egypt. The people who built the Boyne Valley monuments based their entire society around astronomy and the path of the Sun through the sky over the year. Newgrange was aligned with the Winter Solstice sunrise, as after this date, days became warmer, symbolising rebirth and new growth of animals and crops. So, join Astronomy Ireland in Sean Moore Park on Monday, December 21st at 7:30am to witness this amazing tribute to ancient astronomy. For more information click HERE or call us on (01) 847 0777. 4. Christmas Telescope Demos This weekend, the Astronomy Ireland Shop will run telescope demonstrations in Butterly Business Park, Dublin 5. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you will get the opportunity to try out some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. Why not consider getting a telescope this Christmas, either as a treat for yourself, or a gift for all the family to enjoy? Astronomy Ireland staff will be on hand to show you how easy it is to use these telescopes, and to show you some of the amazing sights you can see in the sky. Take a look at our Online Shop, email sales(a)astronomy.ie, or call (01) 847 0777 for more information on our telescopes. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Celestial Firework Display This Weekend
by AI Secretary 12 Dec '09

12 Dec '09

*Special Christmas Offer* <http://www.astronomy.ie/gift/index.html> * Events* <http://www.astronomy.ie/events/index.html>* **DVDs*<http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html> * **Shop* <http://www.astronomy.ie/shop.html> ** *The Biggest And Most Exciting Meteor Shower Of The Year! * * * *Geminids This Weekend!* This weekend, Ireland will have the best display of meteors, or 'shooting stars' to be seen this year. Meteor showers are caused by clouds of dust and debris floating around in space, usually remnants of larger celestial bodies such as comets. When the Earth passes through a region containing large amounts of this debris, our planet's gravity pulls in these fragments (known as meteoroids) which glow very brightly as they burn up upon entering the atmosphere, appearing as streaks known as meteors. Geminid meteors are in fact tiny pieces of an unusual comet-like asteroid. Each year our planet intersects the stream of debris which is left behind by this asteroid. The Geminids have been known to produce sensational fireballs which can light up the entire night sky and observers this weekend can expect to see up to 150 meteors per hour in particularly dark areas when the shower reaches its peak. The Geminids Meteor Shower will be at its best on Saturday and Sunday nights, December 12 and 13 respectively, and into the early morning of Monday, December 14. We are urging everyone to conduct their own meteor count over the weekend as Saturday and Sunday will be the prime nights for meteor observing. Click HERE <http://www.astronomy.ie/geminids.html> for our observing tips. Remember to wrap up warm when going out to observe this weekend, and don't forget to email what you see to observe(a)astronomy.ie - we will do our best to include your reports in forthcoming issues of the magazine. ** ** *For more information and observing tips you can visit out webpage devoted to the Geminids **HERE* <http://www.astronomy.ie/meteor.html>*. Alternatively, see the Sky Diary section of the December issue of '**Astronomy & Space* <http://www.astronomy.ie/magazine.html>*' magazine.* *Astronomy Ireland <http://www.astronomy.ie/>* *The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie* ** *( subscribe / unsubscribe<http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> )* ** *Our Online Telescope Shop <http://www.astronomy.ie/shop.html>*

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[Astronomy Ireland] Christmas Party, Christmas Gift Ideas, Free Calendar
by AI Secretary 10 Dec '09

10 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop 1. Astronomy Ireland Christmas Party Next Monday, December 14, Astronomy Ireland will host its annual Christmas social gathering in The Lombard (corner of Pearse Street and Westland Row) and we will be there at around 9:30pm. All are welcome to attend and we encourage you to come along and mix with Astronomy Ireland staff, volunteers and other members as we celebrate Christmas and reflect on the fantastic year that has been the International Year of Astronomy. The party takes place after our Christmas Lecture which will be delivered by Professor Tim de Zeeuw, director of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Prof. de Zeeuw is the man in charge of the world's largest and most powerful telescopes, and his lecture promises to be one of the highlights of our 2009 Lecture Programme. The lecture takes place in the Hamilton Building, TCD, at 8pm. For more information about the lecture or to book your tickets click HERE, alternatively you can call us on (01) 847 0777. We look forward to seeing you at our annual Christmas Party! 2. Christmas Gift Ideas - Evening Classes 2010 Astronomy Ireland's ever-popular Evening Classes start up again on February 3rd, 2010 and are the perfect Christmas present for anyone interested in taking up Astronomy in the new year. The topics will give the student a good grounding in the night sky, the Sun, stars and planets, galaxies, telescopes, and much more. The Classes are aimed for the complete beginner, and at only ?180 (course fee includes membership to Astronomy Ireland) they're a great gift for a friend who wants to learn more about the wonders of the Universe. For more information or to sign-up a friend or family member click HERE. Know someone interested in Astronomy but not sure what to get them for Christmas? For even more great gift ideas from Astronomy Ireland go to www.astronomy.ie/gift. 3. FREE NASA 2010 Calendar To celebrate the 10th anniversary of continuous residence aboard the International Space Station, NASA has released a special 2010 calendars for members of the public. The calendar contains unique images and highlights historic space exploration milestones as well as facts about the international laboratory. Each month has its own theme and offers a glimpse into topics such as a typical day in the life of a crew member, the staff that supports the station, and the massive dimensions of the orbiting research facility. The calendar is available for free download HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Astronomy Ireland's Major Christmas Lecture
by AI Secretary 08 Dec '09

08 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop "Life is what passes you by when you're making plans..." - John Lennon So take a break this Christmas and come to Astronomy Ireland's Special Lecture, which will inspire you for life! For a very special Christmas Lecture, Astronomy Ireland have enlisted the Director-General of the European Space Observatory (ESO), Professor Tim de Zeeuw, to enthral and excite guests with details of some of the world's largest telescopes, over which he has control. The ESO is clearly the world leader in astronomy and telescope facilities and it is astonishing and overwhelming that Astronomy Ireland have a man of his calibre giving our most exciting talk of the year. Although ESO has 14 members, Ireland is not one of them. Several prominent astronomers and astronomy groups in Ireland have expressed their views that Ireland should join, arguing that it would allow the growing number of astronomy graduates in Ireland to continue their work, and would also attract into the Irish economy the expertise required to sustain and develop the technology demanded by ESO facilities. Astronomy Ireland's Christmas Lecture will prove to be thought-provoking and will raise awareness of the benefits of a smart economy. Astronomy Ireland's Major Christmas talk takes place next Monday, December 14, at 8pm in the Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin. For more information and to book your places click HERE. If you can't make it to the event there will be a DVD available to order. BOOK YOUR TICKET(S) HERE After the lecture there will be a social reception in The Lombard and we encourage all of you to come along and have a chat with Professor de Zeeuw. All are welcome to attend and food will be kindly provided by The Lombard. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Telescope Watches at A.I. Shop, Christmas Gift Ideas, Events
by AI Secretary 04 Dec '09

04 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop 1. Christmas Telescope Demonstrations at A.I. Shop - now on Sundays! Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from now until Christmas, there will be telescope demonstrations in the huge FREE carpark at the A.I. shop in Artane (www.astronomy.ie/map) from 5 - 6pm. Visible through the powerful telescopes which will be set up, will be Jupiter and its moons, the Moon and many other features of the night sky, such as star clusters, galaxies and much more. We encourage everyone to come along with friends and family, and see Jupiter and the Moon through some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. Staff will be on hand to answer questions, give demonstrations, and offer expert advice on telescopes for Christmas. For more information visit out webpage HERE, call the shop on (01) 847 0777 or email sales(a)astronomy.ie. There will be tea/coffee available and a FREE Hubble DVD available to everyone who comes! SUNDAY TRADING The A.I. shop is now open for business from 12 - 6pm each Sunday from now until Christmas. For more information call (01) 847 0777 or email sales(a)astronomy.ie. Visit our website at www.astronomy.ie/shop. PART-TIME CHRISTMAS JOBS Astronomy Ireland runs the biggest telescope shop in Ireland (www.astronomy.ie/shop) and we are seeking part-time Christmas workers (weekends and weekdays) to help cope with the hugely increased demand at this time of year. For more information or to apply send your CV to sales(a)astronomy.ie or call Lee on (01) 847 0777. 2. Christmas Gift Ideas From Astronomy Ireland It's the time of year again to start thinking about Christmas presents, and what better gift to give someone than a membership to Astronomy Ireland, the gift that keeps on giving? This year, 2009, marks the UN declared International Year of Astronomy (IYA) and to celebrate this Astronomy Ireland are running a special offer on membership - giving you 15 months for the price of 12. That's THREE FREE MAGAZINES for a friend or family member when you give them a gift membership for Christmas. For more information click HERE. Why not give a little extra, and include a season lecture ticket along with their gift membership? For only ?100 your loved one will not only get Astronomy & Space delivered to their door each month, but will get a special ticket for entry to all of our monthly lectures, or a DVD of each of the lectures. Remember, as it's the International Year of Astronomy, that means that your friend will get 15 magazines and 15 lectures or DVDs! To buy a season ticket with membership, click HERE. 3. Upcoming Events December - Telescope Watches (5 - 6pm each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at A.I. Shop from now until Christmas) December 14 - Director of ESO speaks at our Christmas Lecture (Dublin) Coming Soon - Geminid Meteor Shower, BT Young Scientist Exhibition, New Year Lecture Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop or Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat

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[Astronomy Ireland] Christmas Lecture, Christmas Gift Ideas, Full Moon
by AI Secretary 01 Dec '09

01 Dec '09

Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop 1. Christmas Lecture and DVD Did you know that Europe is building the world's biggest telescope - twice as big as anything that US astronomers plan to build? Did you know that the man in charge - the most important astronomer in the world - is coming to Ireland to give Astronomy Ireland's Christmas Lecture? On December 14, Professor Tim de Zeeuw, Director General of the European Southern Observatory, will talk about his amazing telescope facilities - the envy of scientists worldwide - which are famous globally for being the best skywatching machines on the planet. These telescopes have discovered supermassive black holes, Earth-like planets, and the most distant explosions in the Universe. At our Christmas Lecture Tim de Zeeuw will talk about all these things as well as tell the audience of his experience as keeper of the world's largest telescopes. This amazing lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin, on December 14, at 8pm. For more information click HERE. For anyone who cannot make it to the lecture on the night there is a DVD available to order online. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 2. Christmas Gift Idea - Membership Incl. Season Ticket Why not give a little extra to a friend of family member this Christmas, and include a season lecture ticket along with a gift membership? For only ?100 your loved one will not only get Astronomy & Space delivered to their door each month, but will get a special ticket for entry to all of our monthly lectures, or for a copy of each Lecture DVD. Remember, as it's the International Year of Astronomy, that means that your friend will get 15 magazines and 15 lectures or DVDs! To buy a season ticket with membership, click HERE. 3. Full Moon This Week There will be a Full Moon visible tomorrow night, December 3. There have been several reports of Moon Halos over the last few nights, attributed to the cold weather we have been experiencing. A Moon Halo is an optical phenomenon that appears as a wide, bright ring around the Moon in the night sky. They are caused by refracted moonlight from ice crystals in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The shape of the ice crystals focuses the refracted light, thus forming it into a ring-like structure around the moon. They are particularly prevalent in and around Full Moons and we encourage all of you to go outside over the next few nights and look for them. For more information there is a good article HERE. Remember to email your reports and pictures to observe(a)astronomy.ie and we will try to include your observation in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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