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

[Astronomy Ireland] International Space Station, Saturn Lecture, Sun Watch
by AI Secretary 29 Jun '10

29 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. International Space Station Visible The International Space Station (ISS) is visible in Irish skies until July 9th, appearing as an extremely bright star-like object gliding smoothly across the sky. This man-made object, larger than Croke Park, is the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon and is an awe inspiring sight. There are predications available on various website, however to receive a message to your mobile each day with the time the ISS will pass over, simply 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. For more information about the ISS visit www.astronomy.ie/iss. Remember to email your observations of the ISS to iss(a)astronomy.ie and we will do our best to include your report in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. 2. Magnetic Saturn and Cassini-Huygens - Excellent Public Lecture Our next Public Lecture takes place on Monday, July 12th, and will be given by Dr. Caitriona Jackman, a member of the Cassini Magnetometer Instrument Science Team at the Space and Atmospheric Physics Group at Imperial College London. In this fascinating talk Dr. Jackman will show results from the hugely successful Cassini-Huygens mission to the planet Saturn, with particular focus on data that characterises the magnetic environment around the giant planet. Dr. Jackman will elaborate on some of the stunning discoveries of the mission, including the plumes of water from the icy moon Enceladus, and the spectacular aurora on Saturn, similar to our own northern lights on Earth. For more information click HERE. This talk takes place at 8pm on Monday, July 3rd, in Trinity College Dublin. Tickets costs 7euro (5euro members rate) and can be purchased online by clicking the link below or over the phone by calling us on (01) 847 0777. There is a DVD available to pre-order online for anyone who cannot make it on the night. BOOK HERE ORDER DVD 3. Sun Watch This Weekend The Sun is currently coming out of what's known as a 'century-class minimum', where there was very little activity on the surface of our parent star. Recently, however, activity has jumped greatly, and sunspots can appear on the Sun on often a daily basis! This Saturday, July 3rd, there will be a Sun Watch at the Astronomy Ireland Headquarters in Artane, Dublin 5 (click HERE for a map). Using special equipment from our shop, guests will be able to view the disk of the Sun close up, revealing sunspots bigger than our own planet! Sunspots are regions on the Sun that are relatively cooler and darker than the surrounding material. They are linked to magnetic activity, and sometimes these regions can 'explode', sending millions of tonnes of material through space towards Earth, causing spectacular aurora, or Northern Lights. The Sun Watch will take place at 1pm on July 3rd, and this free event is open to all members of the public. For more information visit www.astronomy.ie or call us on (01) 847 0777. WARNING Looking directly at the Sun is extremely dangerous and can cause instant and permanent blindness. Only observe the Sun under the guidance of professionals with proper safety equipment. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] ISS, Comet, LRO's 1st Birthday
by AI Secretary 24 Jun '10

24 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. International Space Station - Spectacular Pass Tonight The International Space Station (ISS) is visible again in Irish skies until July 9th and will be making a spectacular pass at 11:43pm tonight. The ISS appears as an extremely bright star-like object in evening skies and is the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon. This man-made object, larger than Croke Park, is an awe inspiring sight and we urge all of you to go outside and watch as it passes over. To receive a message to your mobile each day with the time the ISS will be visible simply 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. Remember to email your observations of the ISS to iss(a)astronomy.ie and we will do our best to include your report in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. To listen to Astronomy Ireland Chairman David Moore speaking about the International Space Station on Ocean FM this morning, June 24th, visit www.astronomy.ie/audio. Check out our ISS webpage HERE for more information and to click through to the Twitter account of one of the astronauts onboard the station who is tweeting fantastic pictures of Earth taken from the Space Station. 2. Naked Eye Comet Those of you who get our magazine in the post will see from the 2 page article about Comet McNaught (2009 R1) that it is very close to the 2nd magnitude star Beta in Auriga tonight, so it will be very easy to see. This morning, June 24th, Astronomy Ireland Chairman David Moore estimated the comet at magnitude 3.4. This would be a spectacular comet if it were not for the comet being low in the north and the sky not being fully dark at this 'solstice' time of year. Despite this however, tonight represents a unique chance to see the best comet in years in the same field of view as a bright star (Beta). The comet will be just half a degree to the left of the star and easily visible in binoculars as a result. Can you see it with the naked eye? However you observed it, let us know for our magazine report by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie. See the star map on page 28 of our July magazine as Comet McNaught will be visible every night until the first week in July. Sign up for membership in order to get 8 magazines free and see the photos and reports of this comet, visit www.astronomy.ie/offer. 3. LRO's 1st Birthday Having officially reached lunar orbit on June 23rd, 2009, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has now passed the one year mark on its mission to scout the moon. Maps and datasets collected by LRO's state-of-the-art instruments will form the foundation for all future lunar exploration plans, as well as helping scientists fully understand the moon and its environment. In the last 12 months, LRO has gathered more digital information than any previous planetary mission in history. To celebrate this orbital milestone NASA have released ten "cool things" observed by LRO since its launch. Click HERE to see the images. Click HERE for more information about LRO. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] ISS, Evening Classes, Events
by AI Secretary 22 Jun '10

22 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. ISS Visible in Evening Skies The International Space Station (ISS) is visible in Irish skies from tomorrow, June 23rd until July 9th. The ISS appears as an extremely bright star-like object in evening skies and is the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon. This man-made object is a spectacular sight and we urge all of you to go outside and watch as it passes over. To receive a message to your mobile with the time the ISS will be visible simply 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. Remember to email your observations of the ISS to iss(a)astronomy.ie and we will do our best to include your report in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. For more information about the Space Station click HERE. 2. Evening Classes Autumn 2010 Our Autumn set of 'Astronomy for Beginners' classes will commence this October at locations around the country.The course is professionally developed by the Astronomy Ireland team, informal in style and aimed towards the general public. It is suitable for anyone with an interest in astronomy that wants a good grounding in this fantastic hobby without any complex mathematical content or complex data. The course is given over 8 weeks and covers topics such as: Introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, the planets and stars, the history of astronomy, telescopes, deep sky objects, and the Big Bang. This year we will have classes running in the following ten locations: Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Galway, Limerick, Letterkenny, Sligo, Tralee and Waterford. Classes take place each week from 7:30 - 9:30pm (including a 15 minute break) with the first class and registration taking place on Thursday, October 7th. Classes cost 180euro (130euro members rate) and include membership to Astronomy Ireland and a subscription to our magazine 'Astronomy & Space'. As 2010 marks our 20th anniversary when you sign up for evening classes this year you will get 20 months membership instead of 12 - that's 8 free magazines! Places must be booked in advance so don't delay - book your spot today! To enrol for the classes call us on (01) 847 0777 or click the link below to enrol online. For more information visit www.astronomy.ie/class. CLICK HERE TO ENROL 3. Events July 12 - Magnetic Saturn and the Cassini-Huygens mission (Trinity College Dublin) - BOOK HERE June 23 to July 9 - ISS Visible in Irish Evening Sky (Nationwide) October 7 - Autumn Evening Classes Commence (Nationwide) - BOOK 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] Black Holes, The LHC And The God Particle - Lecture Report
by AI Secretary 18 Jun '10

18 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop LHC Expert Sells Out Largest Theatre in Trinity College Order Your DVD Today! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Monday, June 14th, hundreds of people packed out the largest theatre in Trinity College Dublin to hear Dr. Cormac O' Raifeartaigh of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) speak about black holes, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the quest to uncover the elusive God Particle. In his lecture, Dr. O' Raifeartaigh explained our current understanding of the Universe, while justifying why the world's leading scientists have spent over 6 billion euro of taxpayers money on an experiment which aims to prove how the fabric of the Universe is built. The experiment which takes place at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the Swiss-French border involves smashing particles together at unfathomable speeds using equipment in a 27 mile ring weighing thousands of tonnes. As the LHC opens new avenues of research into the subtle workings of time and space, it is hoped that scientists will discover the elusive God Particle. However, there are some that are concerned with the side effects of running this experiment. It is expected that the LHC will create microscopic black holes, which will then simply fizzle out. But some people have expressed concern that the black holes will not disappear, but instead, grow and grow, eventually consuming the Earth and everything around it. In this ground record breaking lecture, Cormac discussed the myths and truths surrounding the LHC, future plans for the controversial experiment at CERN, and in doing so opened guests eyes to the wonders of the Universe around us. After the lecture, members of the audience accompanied Dr. O' Raifeartaigh to The Lombard for some refreshments. This event was a resounding success and one that will stand out in our events portfolio for years to come. To read a full report of the evening click HERE. If you missed the event of the year so far, or indeed if you were there but want to relive the experience over and over again, a DVD is available to order online for just 7euro. Click the link below or call us on (01) 847 0777. To order your copy of the DVD today visit www.astronomy.ie/dvd. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Moon-Mars Conjunction, Sun Watch, Summer Solstice, Found
by AI Secretary 17 Jun '10

17 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Moon - Mars Conjunction Tonight Tonight, June 17th, the Moon will be located next to the planet Mars in the Western Sky after sunset. As Mars moves around the sky it is moving closer to the Sun and becoming more difficult to see, so this is an excellent opportunity to see it before it disappears. Also, to the left of the Moon and Mars you will be able to see Saturn. All three objects will look spectacular when viewed through a telescope or binoculars and you may even be able to observe the large moons of Saturn. Click HERE for a graphic of what you can expect to see later. For more information on what to see in the night sky this week check out the Sky Diary section in the June 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. 2. Sun Watch This Saturday This Saturday, June 19th, Astronomy Ireland will host a very special Sun Watch to give members of the public an opportunity to get a close look at our parent star! The Sun Watch will take place at 1pm at Astronomy Ireland's offices in Butterly Business Park in Artane, Dublin 5. The Sun is emerging from a 'century-class minimum' where the Sun experienced long periods of very little activity. This year, however, the Sun's surface is beginning to have outbursts of sunspots and massive solar flares. At the Sun Watch, you will have the opportunity to observe any sunspots close up using special equipment that allows for the safe viewing of the Sun. Astronomy Ireland staff will also be at hand to answer any questions you have about the Sun, astronomy, or any of the telescopes and equipment that you will be using. This is a free event, and an ideal way to do some daytime astronomy with friends and family. For more information click HERE. 3. Summer Solstice Next Monday, June 21st, the Summer Solstice occurs. This is well-known as the longest day of the year, and as viewed in the sky, the Sun will travel along its highest path. After this date, the Sun will gradually travel lower in the sky as we approach winter. Astronomical calendrical events such as the solstices and equinoxes have been observed by civilisations for thousands of years - Stonehenge in England is aligned with the rising Sun on the Summer Solstice, while in Ireland, Newgrange is aligned with the rising Sun on the Winter Solstice. On Monday, the Sun will rise at 4:56am and set at 21:57pm; the Solstice occurs at 11:28am. The day will last 17 hours, 1 minute and 26 seconds. IAA / UAS Solstice Event The Irish Astronomical Association and the Ulster Archaeological Society, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, will be holding an event this Saturday, June 19th, to mark the summer solstice. The event will include a visit to Ballynoe Stone Circle, near Downpatrick, Co Down - the largest and most impressive and complex stone circle in Northern Ireland, and one of the biggest in Ireland. The event will begin at the stone circle at 2pm where there will be talks about the archaeology and possible astronomical connections. The activities will then proceed to the nearby beach at Minerstown for a barbecue / picnic (in the case of bad weather, there are two local pubs for refreshments). For more information and directions to Ballynoe Stone Circle email TerryMosel(a)aol.com or visit www.irishastro.org. 4. Found A pair of spectacles were found in The Lombard following our public lecture there on Monday, June 14th. Please contact sec@astronomy or call (01) 847 0777 if you think you may have misplaced a pair of glasses. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Moon-Venus Conjunction, Astronomy Tips, Dark Matter
by AI Secretary 15 Jun '10

15 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Venus-Moon Conjunction Tonight, Tuesday, June 15th, the Moon and Venus will be located very close to each other in the western sky just after sunset. They are both the brightest to objects in the night sky and the view tonight will be simply breathtaking! Venus is known as Earth's 'sister' planet, and is approximately the same size. However, it has experienced extreme climate change and is the hottest planet in the Solar System. Its thick clouds of noxious gas reflect sunlight very well, making it extremely bright to observers here on Earth. To see the conjunction, simply look to the south after sunset, at around 10:30pm tonight, June 15th. The Moon will be beautifully thin crescent shape, with the brilliantly white Venus blazing to its right. For more astronomy tips for the rest of the week check out our section below. Don't forget to send your observation reports to observe(a)astronomy.ie for inclusion in Astronomy Ireland's monthly magazine, Astronomy & Space. 2. Astronomy Tips This Week Although the evenings remain bright until quite late, there is still some excellent planetary observing to do. Check out our tips below for the next few nights: a.. Venus and the Moon are 9 degrees apart tonight, June 15th (see above). b.. On Thursday, June 17th, Mars and minor planet Vesta are 6 degrees apart. c.. The following night on Friday, June 18th, Saturn and the Moon will be just 9 degrees apart. d.. Monday, June 21st, marks the Summer Solstice at 12:28pm with the Sun directly above the 'Tropic of Cancer'. e.. For more information on what to see in the night sky this week check out the Sky Diary section in the June 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. 3. Dark Matter May Not Exist According to a groundbreaking study, the mysterious forces thought to make up to 96 per cent of the universe - dark matter and energy - may not exist at all. British scientists at Durham University have claimed that the method use to calculate the make-up of the universe may be wrong. With stars, planets, asteroids, gas and other recognisable components making up just 4 per cent of the universe, mysterious dark matter and dark energy have been the primary candidates in the supposed composition of the other 96 per cent. However, physicists at Durham University now claim that this standard model and the physics upon which it is based could be flawed, raising the possibility that this "dark side" of the cosmos does not exist, which could mean that the universe is expanding less quickly than previously thought. Last July, Professor Gerry Gilmore of Cambridge University gave Astronomy Ireland members and guests a fascinating lecture on the existence of dark matter at our monthly public lecture. To read more about this news story click HERE. To order a DVD or Prof. Gilmore's talk on the subject 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] LHC Lecture, Solarfest 2010, Jupiter Impact
by AI Secretary 11 Jun '10

11 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. LHC Lecture Nearly Sold Out Don't forget to book your tickets for our Public Lecture this Monday, June 14th, entitled 'Black Holes, The Large Hadron Collider and The God Particle', by Dr. Cormac O' Raifeartaigh. This lecture has been moved to a larger venue due to demand (Ed Burke Theatre, Arts Building, TCD) and is now almost sold out. In this lecture Dr. O' Raifeartaigh will explain our current understanding of the universe to you while justifying why the World's leading scientists have spent over 6 billion euro of taxpayers money on an experiment which aims to prove how the fabric of the universe is built. The experiment which takes place at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on the Swiss-French border involves smashing particles together at unfathomable speeds using equipment in a 27 mile ring weighing thousands of tonnes. The LHC has evoked untold controversy since its inception, so why not come along this Monday, June 14th, at 8pm and see what all the fuss is about. A DVD is available to pre order online for anyone who cannot make it on the night. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 2. Solar Fest 2010 Solarfest 2010 is a one day event about solar astronomy taking place at Dunsink Observatory this Saturday, June 12th. Organised by the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies with support from the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS) the event will include speakers from Trinity College Dublin, leading members of Ireland's amateur astronomy community, an international speaker and of course, solar observing and imaging sessions. There will also be a tour of the observatory and a chance to see the dome and the famous 12" Grubb refractor. T At 8pm the Evening Public Lecture will be presented by Dr. David Williams of the Mullar Space Science Laboratory and this lecture is open to members of the public so please contact the organisers to let them know if you want to attend at places will be limited. This event is free and registration will take place from 10:45 - 11:15am at Dunsink Observatory. There is a full run down of the programme events available HERE. For more information click HERE or contact Michael O' Connell at michael(a)astroshot.com. 3. ANOTHER Jupiter Impact! Australian amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley has observed his second 'once-in-a-lifetime' event in less than a year - an impact in the atmosphere of Jupiter. In July 2009 Wesley observed what was thought to have been the immediate aftermath of a comet impacting the Jovian atmosphere. While this was a rare observational treat and one not likely to be repeated, at 20:31 UT last Thursday, June 3rd, when observing Jupiter, Wesley once again witnessed something hitting the atmosphere of Jupiter, generating a huge fireball. It appeared near the terminator limb, at roughly the position where the Southern Equatorial Belt used to be, until its recent disappearance. Amateur astronomy, Christopher Go, was quick to confirm Wesley's observation posting an impressive video of the 2 second flash in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. To see Anthony's photo click HERE. To see Christopher's video click HERE. This story will be covered extensively in the July issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine so be sure to get your copy today! Subscribe online at www.astronomy.ie/offer. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Explaining The Universe With LHC - Summer Lecture Selling Out Fast!
by AI Secretary 09 Jun '10

09 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop The Universe Explained! On Monday, June 14th, we're going to explain our current understanding of the universe to you at our Summer Public Lecture by Dr. Cormac O' Raifeartaigh of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). The World's leading scientists have spent over 6 billion euro of taxpayers money on an experiment which aims to prove how the fabric of the universe is built. The experiment is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN on the Swiss-French border. During this controversial experiment, particles will be smashed together at speeds that the universe hasn't seen since the Big Bang, using equipment in a 27 mile ring weighing thousands of tonnes. Our lecture on Monday, entitled 'Black Holes, The Large Hadron Collider and The God Particle', will investigate the facts and the fiction behind the Large Hadron Collider, including the expected outcomes and the possible threats. Dr O' Raifeartaigh is one of Ireland's leading scientists, and his work has brought the Universe, black holes, and CERN into the public eye. He is a regular contributor to the Irish Times, and runs his own blog, Antimatter. Indeed Cormac's last lecture for Astronomy Ireland ('The Big Bang') had to be moved to a larger theatre due to popular demand, and such is the case for this lecture also. Advance ticket sales for this talk have already exceeded the capacity of our regular venue in Trinity College Dublin so we have now secured the largest theatre in Trinity - Ed Burke Theatre (Arts Building) - to accommodate the surge in ticket bookings. The LHC is believed by some to be a danger to humanity as new avenues of research into the subtle workings of time and space are explored. It is hoped that scientists will discover the elusive God Particle, however there are some that are concerned with the side effects of running this experiment. Find out everything you need to know on this fascinating topic at Cormac's lecture this Monday, June 14th. Please book your tickets now, be a part of this fascinating lecture, and bring all your family and friends along (check out our group discount below). Remember, if you cannot get to Dublin you can pre-order a copy of the DVD of the lecture (Check out Brian Cox's April 2008 lecture on a similar subject, and Dr. O' Raifeartaigh's sell out lecture in November 2009). Making DVDs of all our lectures is a very important service that we provide for all our highly valued members nationwide so please avail of it all year round as well at www.astronomy.ie/dvd. For more information about this fascinating lecture click HERE. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** Non-Members Special Offer *** Order 5 tickets or more and get them all at the members rate of 5euro instead of our regular non-members rate of 7euro. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] LHC Lecture Selling Out Fast
by AI Secretary 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop God Particle Lecture Needs Larger Venue! Advance ticket sales for our major Summer Public Lecture have already exceeded the capacity of our regular venue in Trinity College Dublin so we have now secured the largest theatre in Trinity - the Ed Burke Theatre (Arts Building) - to accommodate the surge in ticket bookings. On Monday, June 14th at 8pm in the Ed Burke Theatre (TCD), Dr. Cormac O' Raifeartaigh of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) will present our Summer Public Lecture entitled 'Black Holes, The Large Hadron Collider and The God Particle'. In his talk, Dr O' Raifeartaigh will investigate the facts and the fiction behind the Large Hadron Collider, including the expected outcomes and the possible threats. Dr O' Raifeartaigh is one of Ireland's leading scientists, and his work has brought the Universe, black holes, and CERN into the public eye. He is a regular contributor to the Irish Times, and runs his own blog, Antimatter. The Large Hadron Collider at CERN is believed by some to be a danger to humanity as new avenues of research into the subtle workings of time and space are explored. It is hoped that scientists will discover the elusive God Particle, however there are some that are concerned with the side effects of running this experiment. It is expected that the LHC will create microscopic black holes, which will then simply fizzle out. But some people have expressed concern that the black holes will not disappear, but instead, grow and grow, eventually consuming the Earth and everything around it. Find out everything you need to know on this fascinating topic at Cormac's lecture on June 14th. For more information about this fascinating lecture click HERE. This is going to be the event of the summer (until Star-B-Q on Sept 4th, of course!) so make sure you get a ticket for you and all your friends and find out why 6 billion euro of tax payers money is being spent by scientists on smashing atoms together, some would say, at the risk of ending the universe! As this is promising to be one of our biggest talks to date this year, pre-booking is advisable to avoid disappointment. For those of you who can't make it on the night a DVD is available to order online and you can pre-order your copy today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **NON-MEMBERS SPECIAL OFFER** Order 5 tickets or more and get them all at the members rate of 5euro instead of our regular non-members rate of 7euro. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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[Astronomy Ireland] Solstice Public Lecture, Irish Lunar Website, Events
by AI Secretary 01 Jun '10

01 Jun '10

20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. 'Angels & Demons' Theme At Solstice Public Lecture In Dan Brown's novel, Angels & Demons, the world-famous centre of science, CERN, featured as a haven for scientists who gathered to explore the wonders of the Universe, in particular, a miraculous new material called antimatter which was created and then stolen by a religious cult in attempt to destroy the Vatican. In reality, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is believed by some to be a danger much more deadly than antimatter. As new avenues of research into the subtle workings of time and space are explored, it is hoped that scientists will discover the elusive God Particle. There are some, however, that are concerned with the side effects of running this experiment. It is expected that the LHC will create microscopic black holes, which will then simply fizzle out. But some people have expressed concern that the black holes will not disappear, but instead, grow and grow, eventually consuming the Earth and everything around it. At 8pm on Monday, June 14th, in Trinity College Dublin, Dr. Cormac O' Raifeartaigh of Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) will present our Summer Public Lecture entitled 'Black Holes, The Large Hadron Collider and The God Particle'. In his talk, Dr O'Raifeartaigh will investigate the facts and the fiction behind the Large Hadron Collider, including the expected outcomes and the possible threats. Dr O' Raifeartaigh is one of Ireland's leading scientists, and his work has brought the Universe, black holes, and CERN into the public eye. He is a regular contributor to the Irish Times, and runs his own blog, Antimatter. This is promising to be one of our biggest talks to date this year and pre-booking is advisable to avoid disappointment. For more information about this fascinating lecture click HERE. To book tickets simply click the link below or call us on (01) 847 0777. A DVD is available to order online and you can pre-order today. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 2. Irish Lunar Dedicated Website Irish amateur astronomer and Moon enthusiast Donnacha O' Driscoll has set up his own website - www.celticskys.ie - dedicated to his observations of the Moon and all things Lunar related. With some wonderful photographs and excellent information about Moon observation and mapping, this website is an great base for beginners and weathered astronomers alike. Donnacha also has an excellent 'Useful Links' page which connects his site to other astronomical bodies such as the BBC's Sky at Night website and the Armagh Observatory. To check out Donnacha's website visit www.celticskys.ie. 3. Events June 14th - Black Holes, the LHC and the God Particle Public Lecture (Dublin) October 10th - 'Astronomy For Beginners' Evening Classes (Nationwide) July to August - Space Camp 2010 (Blackrock Castle Observatory) Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop

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