March 2010 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] ISS Heralds Book Launch, Open Day at Worth Library
by AI Secretary 08 Mar '10

08 Mar '10

"Behold Mars" Open Day at Worth Library 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. ISS Heralds 'Mars Book Launch' Tonight Tonight, at 7.28pm, the spectacular International Space Station (ISS), the largest and most expensive man made object ever put into space, will blaze sensationally across Irish skies. This pass is set to be one of the brightest of the month and it will be very high up in the sky ensuring even those in heavily built up areas will get a glimpse as it zooms across the sky. This pass heralds Astronomy Ireland's huge Book Launch and Talk tonight in Dublin. To celebrate there will be an ISS Watch just before the event, where, Ireland's best known Astronomer, David Moore, will be on hand to show everyone exactly where to look to witness this amazing sight. The ISS will appear as an extremely bright star like object in evening skies between March 5 and March 19 and can be depicted as the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon. To receive daily predictions of the times ISS will pass over straight to your mobile phone, text SPACE to 57003 (reply STOP to unsubscribe). Each text costs 1euro, and only one message will be sent per day. Proceeds help to promote interest in astronomy across Ireland. Kevin Nolan, Ireland's leading expert on the Red Planet will be exciting guests with everything they ever wanted to know about Mars, hear about recent discoveries as well as why this planet is one of the most important aspects of space exploration during the "Behold Mars" lecture. Nolan, whose extremely successful new book 'Mars: A Cosmic Stepping Stone' is being launched at tonight's event will also be available for book signing after the Lecture. The event takes place at 8pm tonight (March 8) in the Mac Neil Theatre, Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin (click here for a map). For more information visit our webpage HERE. For anyone who can't make it on the night there is a DVD available to purchase online. Places are limited so please book early. Copies of the book will be available to purchase at the event. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 2. Exclusive Astronomy Open Day at Worth Library Tomorrow (Tuesday), from 10:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm, there will be a special Open Day taking place in the Worth Library, Dr Steevens's Hospital, Dublin 8, exclusively for Friends and Members of Astronomy Ireland. Dr Edward Worth was a physician in 18th Century Dublin. While his library is largely devoted to medicinal works, Dr Worth collected a number of works on astronomy. On display at the Worth Library will be a number of important astronomical documents, including the 1651 Grimaldi map of the Moon, and Tycho Brahe's Astronomia instaurata mechanica. The accompanying web exhibition has two sections: 'Astronomy and Astronomers' explores the history of astronomy from ancient to early modern times, and 'The Solar System' looks at early modern theories about the Sun, Moon, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and comets. There are also webpages devoted to 'Astronomical Instruments', 'Astronomy and Medicine' and 'Life on Other Planets'. Please visit http://astronomy.edwardworthlibrary.ie/Home to see this part of the exhibition. Dr Steevens's Hospital is located opposite Heuston Station and is easily reached by the Luas Red Line. Be sure to pay a visit to this extremely fascinating and educational exhibition, as it's one not to be missed! Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Mars Book Launch & Lecture Kicking Off Mars Month
by AI Secretary 05 Mar '10

05 Mar '10

"Behold Mars" 2010 Events DVDs Shop Mars Book Launch & Lecture Kicking off Mars Month Celebrations Ireland's Leading Expert On 'The Red Planet' is launching the Mars Month of festivities in Dublin this coming Monday night (March 8) with a very special Lecture "Behold Mars", and we want you, our Members and Friends, to come along and join in the fun while also supporting your society! Tickets are selling fast so why not book you tickets to "Behold Mars" now by clicking HERE. Astronomy Ireland are hosting the festivities to celebrate March being named after the famous red planet, Mars. Click HERE to see what exciting plans we have for Mars Month and download your free Mars Factsheets and Sky Diary. Nolan is the one man in the country who knows everything there is to know about Mars, Kevin is a brilliant public speaker and he knows the surface of Mars like a taximan knows the streets of Dublin! Kevin's talks have proved to be extremely successful in the past and have received rave reviews from Astronomy Ireland members, and the general public. He will be available on the night to sign a copy of his book "Mars: A Cosmic Stepping Stone" both before and after the lecture. Copies of his book will be available to purchase at the event. On the night, Irish space author Kevin Nolan will be giving a very special talk all about the famous Red Planet. In his talk, Nolan investigates whether or not evidence of life exists on Mars, the planets similarities to Earth, ancient waterways and oceans that once covered the planet, and the challenges and opportunities presented for manned missions to the Red Planet. Read more about the event and fascinating facts about the planet Mars HERE. Nolan has sensationally predicted in his new book being launched on Monday night that a woman will be the first person to land on Mars. However, Barack Obama has just cancelled his country's plans to land that woman on Mars in 2033 and he threw away 10 billion dollars that had already been spent on the project. A controversial move sure to set the world of science into uproar! We look forward to seeing you at the event and perhaps you can bring some friends or family along with you and get them involved in this fantastic hobby also. We would urge you to come along and support Astronomy Ireland, particularly during our 20th year. For anyone who can't make it along to the talk and for our many Members who are based outside of Dublin we have DVD's available to order of the Lecture 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 Kevin. All are welcome to attend and food will be kindly provided by The Lombard. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Behold Mars" Book Launch & Lecture · Date: Monday, March 8 · Venue: Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin · Time: 8pm · Tickets: €7 (€5 concessions available) Book tickets online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 847 0777 or HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] 'Behold Mars' Lecture & DVD, Sir Patrick Moore, Astronomy Tips
by AI Secretary 04 Mar '10

04 Mar '10

Mars Month 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Ireland's Leading Expert On 'The Red Planet' Speaking In Dublin This Monday There is one man in Ireland who knows everything there is to know about Mars and he will be opening Astronomy Ireland's highly anticipated Mars Month celebrations this Monday, March 8. Irish space author Kevin Nolan will be giving a very special talk all about the famous Red Planet. In his talk, Nolan investigates whether or not evidence of life exists on Mars, the planets similarities to Earth, ancient waterways and oceans that once covered the planet, and the challenges and opportunities presented for manned missions to the Red Planet. Read more about the event and fascinating facts about the planet Mars HERE. Kevin's talks have proved to be extremely successful in the past and have received rave reviews from Astronomy Ireland members, and the general public. He will be available on the night to sign a copy of his book "Mars: A Cosmic Stepping Stone" both before and after the lecture. Copies of his book will be available to purchase at the event. The lecture takes place at 8pm this Monday, March 8, in the Mac Neil Theatre, Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin (click here for a map). For more information visit our webpage HERE. For anyone who can't make it on the night there is a DVD available to purchase online. After the lecture there will be a social reception in The Lombard (corner of Pearse St. and Westland Row) where all are welcome to join us. Come along for a chat with Kevin, other lecture-goers, and Astronomy Ireland members, volunteers and staff. Food will be kindly provided by The Lombard. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 2. Happy Birthday Sir Patrick! Today, March 4, marks Sir Patrick Moore's 87th birthday. Presenter of the long-running BBC television series The Sky at Night, and author of over 70 books on astronomy, he continues to be an avid and enthusiastic ambassador for popular astronomy all over the world, and we wish him a very Happy Birthday. 3. Astronomy Tips This Week a.. Mars is very high in the South, and can be found as a bright orange 'star' located to the left of the constellation Orion. A telescope will reveal its ice caps, which are changing in size due to the changing seasons on the Red Planet. b.. Saturn is visible again and is nicely placed for observation in the South-East after about 10pm each evening. c.. There was an impressive Moon Halo visible around the almost full Moon last Saturday, February 27, which can be 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, caused by refracted moonlight from ice crystals in the Earth's upper atmosphere. More information on Moon Halos HERE. d.. For more information on what to see in the night sky this week check out the Sky Diary section in the March issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. Don't forget to email what you see to observe(a)astronomy.ie and we will try to publish your pictures and observations in forthcoming issues of the magazine. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Mars Month, Website, Events
by AI Secretary 02 Mar '10

02 Mar '10

Evening Classes 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Mars Month - March 2010 This month Astronomy Ireland are celebrating Mars by devoting the entire month of March to the Red Planet. See below for a list of the fantastic Mars themed celebrations which we have lined up: 'Behold Mars' - Public Lecture & Book Signing on March 8 On Monday, March 8, Irish Space author Kevin Nolan will give a talk - 'Behold Mars' - in which he will discuss the evidence of life on Mars, its remarkable similarities to Earth, and the ancient waterways and oceans that once covered the planet. He will also discuss the challenges facing a manned mission to Mars and the opportunities that such a mission would present. There will also be a book signing for Kevin's book, 'Mars: A Cosmic Stepping Stone', which will be on sale on the night. The lecture takes place in the Fitzgerald (Physics) Building, Trinity College Dublin, on March 8 at 8pm. For more information click HERE. Tickets cost 7euro (5euro members rate) and there is a DVD available for anyone who cannot make it to the talk on the night. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD Mars & Saturn - Nationwide Watches on March 25 On Thursday, March 25, we will be holding a Mars and Saturn Watch at various key locations around the country. Make sure to come along and see the planets Mars and Saturn through some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. For more information and to find your nearest Watch click HERE. A SKY DIARY for the night of the Watch is available to download HERE. Free Downloads To celebrate the prominence of Mars in the sky this month we have free FACTSHEETS, DESKTOP BACKGROUNDS and even a 3-D SCREENSAVER for you to download on our website. Visit our Mars Month webpage HERE and start downloading! For more fun facts about Mars and to watch a short video from the Discovery Channel click HERE. Mars Express On Wednesday, March 3, ESA's Mars Express will skim the surface of Mars' largest moon Phobos in its closest fly-by yet. Passing by at an altitude of 67km, precise radio tracking will allow researchers to peer inside the mysterious moon. The event is very important, as it will allow astronomers to collect a wealth of completely new data on the Martian moon, which is not very large, but poses a number of very interesting questions - experts are still unsure as to whether it was produced around the Red Planet, or whether it was a space rock wandering through space, which got caught up by the planet's gravitational pull. For more information and to see an animated simulation of the fly-by click HERE. 2. Astronomy Ireland Website - Bigger, Better & Bursting with Info! Astronomy Ireland are currently working on making our website www.astronomy.ie bigger, better and more informative. If you log on to the website you will see that there is more content, and the pages are more detailed, with lots of downloads and factsheets for you to enjoy. Keeping a website current takes a lot of time, work and resources but we are committed to continuously updating the website so you can enjoy it's content and come back regularly to see what is happening in the world of astronomy. Why not have a look for yourself HERE. There are lots more changes still to happen, this is simply the beginning. We hope to have the Junior section fully updated shortly and we will have an interactive section where young astronomers can download information and learn about the night sky with updates regularly. Also, you will be able to keep a close eye on events happening in the future with our new 'Coming Soon...' section which features at the bottom of the homepage, this way you can pencil the dates of your favourite events into your diary and will never miss a thing! Please bear with us as we make these changes and ensure www.astronomy.ie becomes a more user-friendly, enjoyable and educational site for you to use. Don't forget to 'Bookmark' the website or 'Add it to your favourites'. 3. Events March 3 - 'The Big Bang, the Large Hadron Collider and the God Particle' Public Lecture by Cormac O' Raifeartaigh (University College Cork) March 8 - 'Behold Mars' Public Lecture by Kevin Nolan (Trinity College Dublin) March 25 - Mars and Saturn Watch (Nationwide) Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

1 0