December 2011 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] "Big Five", RTE Radio 1, International Space Station, Opening Hours, Merry Christmas
by AI Secretary 23 Dec '11

23 Dec '11

Christmas Gifts DVD Membership Shop 1. "The Big Five" Free Telescope Watches Astronomy Ireland has selected five sights we think you should see over Christmas, which we've dubbed "The Big Five"! a.. Venus, blazing low in the south for a couple of hours after sunset b.. Jupiter, very bright and high in the south all winter, an amazing sight up close in a telescope c.. Mars which rises in the East at 11pm and is making its closest approach in 2 years d.. The International Space Station, extremely bright, 6 astronauts on board and visible every evening until January 5th e.. Comet Garradd, which needs binoculars and star map to locate but is one of the biggest comets to approach Earth in decades Astronomy Ireland is encouraging people to go out and take a close up look at objects in the sky over Christmas, and is also hosting some FREE Telescope Watches to allow you to use some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. These Watches will take place throughout the rest of December and into the beginning of January at Astronomy Ireland's headquarters at Airside Enterprise Centre in Swords, Co Dublin. For details on the dates and times of the Big Five Watches, please click HERE. No matter where you are around the country, make sure you tell us what you see by emailing us at observe(a)astronomy.ie. 2. We're on RTE Radio 1 Tomorrow Chairman of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore, will appear on the Documentary at One on RTE Radio 1 at 1:30pm tomorrow, Christmas Eve. In this fascinating documentary produced over the last year David will explain how that on Christmas of last year he noticed that Santa was missing a reindeer as he flew over Wexford! After investigating, David discovered that Santa placed an injured Blitzen in the care of the Mulready family, becoming the only outsider to be allowed know about this extremely important secret! You can listen to the show on RTE Radio 1 live tomorrow at www.rte.ie/radio. If you miss this show - or have missed any of our other radio appearances - recordings will be made available on www.astronomy.ie/audio. 3. International Space Station The Soyuz spacecraft successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS) today, and the combined craft now carry a total of six crew. The ISS is currently passing over Ireland each night and will continue to do so until January 3rd. There are websites that will allow you to figure out the time the ISS will pass over, but to receive a message to your mobile each day with the time to see it already worked out simply: text SPACE to 57003 Each text costs 1euro, and only one message will be sent per day. Proceeds help to promote interest in astronomy across Ireland. Text STOP to unsubscribe. 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. 4. Opening Hours for Christmas and the New Year Astronomy Ireland will be open until 6pm on Christmas Eve, and will reopen on Wednesday, December 28th. Over the New Year festivities, we will close at 6pm on December 31st, and reopen again as normal on January 3rd. You can contact us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit us at Unit A8, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin. Click HERE for a map. 5. Merry Christmas! Everyone at Astronomy Ireland would like to thank you all for your support throughout the last year, and to wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. - The Astronomy Ireland Team Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Astronomy Ireland on Newstalk, Winter Solstice Watch, ISS and Space Chase
by AI Secretary 21 Dec '11

21 Dec '11

Christmas Gifts DVD Membership Shop 1. We're on National Radio Tonight In a two hour show on Newstalk tonight, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland, David Moore, will talk about the Winter Solstice, what it is, and how it affected astronomy through the ages. On Coleman at Large between 10pm and midnight, David will also speak about current affairs as part of a panel including a singing politician and many others. So be sure to tune in to 106-108FM or online at www.newstalk.ie. OTHER SHOWS Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1:30pm: RTE Radio 1 - Documentary on One - In this fascinating documentary produced over the last year David will explain how that on Christmas of last year he noticed that Santa was missing a reindeer as he flew over Wexford! Friday, December 30th, 1:30pm: Newstalk - Moncrieff - David will speak about current affairs, what happened throughout 2011, and what he expects 2012 to bring. If you miss any of these shows, recordings will be available on www.astronomy.ie/audio. 2. Winter Solstice Watch This evening, Wednesday, December 21st, Astronomy Ireland will host a special Solstice Watch at its premises in Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin at 4pm. As the Sun sets the longest night of the year will begin, and we will have some powerful telescopes set up to let people see some of the amazing sights of the Universe. The highlight of the evening will be the gas giant Jupiter, the biggest planet in the Solar System. Through the telescopes you will easily see its vast cloud belts and storms, as well as its biggest moons as they orbit the planet. Seeing Jupiter through a telescope is a sight you won't forget! This is a free event and a great opportunity for friends and family to get together and try some astronomy this Christmas. The Watch will run from 4pm to 6pm. 3. International Space Station and Space Chase! As the Soyuz spacecraft launches today carrying three astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), skywatchers in Ireland should be able to see a space chase tonight and tomorrow. The ISS is currently passing over Ireland each night and will continue to do so until January 3rd. There are websites that will allow you to figure out the time the ISS will pass over, but to receive a message to your mobile each day with the time to see it already worked out simply: text SPACE to 57003 Each text costs 1euro, and only one message will be sent per day. Proceeds help to promote interest in astronomy across Ireland. Text STOP to unsubscribe. 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. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Why Is Pluto Not A Planet? - Lecture Report
by AI Secretary 15 Dec '11

15 Dec '11

Why Is Pluto Not A Planet? Lecture Report and DVD On Monday, December 12th, Astronomy Ireland hosted an eye-opening lecture about why Pluto is no longer considered a planet. The lecture was delivered by the world-renowned astronomer, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell. As well as famously discovering pulsars in the 1960s, Bell Burnell is also known for officiating at the International Astronomical Union in 2006 that decided on a new definition of a planet. Professor Bell Burnell explained that while the "demotion" of Pluto as a result of that meeting may have been controversial, there was very good reason to do it. As telescopes got bigger and better, more and more objects were being found in the Solar System. If astronomers kept the old definition of a planet, our planet list would be much longer than nine planets, and would include other objects such as Sedna, Makemake, Quaoar, and Eris (which is even bigger than Pluto!). So many people were looking forward to this year's Christmas Lecture for months, and we were honoured to meet such an esteemed and influential astronomer. A full report and photos of the event are available HERE. If you were unable to make it to the lecture, or would like a souvenir, you can order a copy of the lecture on DVD, for only €7 plus P&P. Remember you can order as many DVDs of our previous lectures as you like for the same postage cost of €5. Order your DVD HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Christmas Planet Watch, Higgs Boson Found?, Geminids Meteor Shower, David Moore on TV and Radio
by AI Secretary 13 Dec '11

13 Dec '11

Christmas Gifts <http://astronomy.ie/gifts.html> <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. Christmas Planet Watch! This Thursday the Astronomy Ireland Shop will be holding a special Christmas Telescope watch in our new premises in Swords. This will be a great opportunity to get your hands on our telescopes and try them out before Christmas. Our expert shop staff will be on hand to answer any questions that you might have. Our main attraction of the evening will be Jupiter. When seen through one of our large telescopes you will be able to incredible detail in the upper atmosphere. The Great Red Spot, a huge storm that has been raging on the surface of Jupiter for over 300 years will be visible from 5.30pm onwards. This will be a perfect opportunity to see this rare sight through a huge 11” telescope. Time: 4pm-6pm Venue: The Astronomy Ireland Shop <http://www.astronomy.ie/map/> Price: FREE! 2. Higgs Boson Found? CERN held a seminar today regarding the Higgs Boson, sometimes called the 'God Particle'. Recent results from the Large Hadron Collider - the most expensive experiment ever undertaken - have suggested that there may be a signal in the data that corresponds to a signal that would theoretically come from the elusive Higgs Boson. While the results certainly point to something significant present in the collisions, CERN scientists cannot claim a discovery just yet. More data will be collected over the coming months and further results are expected in 2012. If the signal that has been found is from the Higgs Boson, it would mean that the particle weighs 130 times that of a proton - a tiny particle that is found in the nucleus of an atom. 3. Geminids Meteor Shower The Geminid Meteor Shower <http://www.astronomy.ie/geminids2011.html> will peak tonight, December 13th; meteors will be visible this evening and well into tomorrow morning, December 14th. The bright moonlight will reduce visibility during the peak of the meteor shower, but observers can still expect to see many brighter meteors. The Geminids are unusual in that they are caused by dust and debris left over from an asteroid and not a comet, asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Astronomy Ireland is urging everyone to go outside over the next few nights and count how many shooting stars they see, as the Geminid Meteor Shower takes place. To take part in Astronomy Ireland's Nationwide Meteor Watch, simply count the number of meteors you see every 15 minutes (starting on the hour, or quarter past), and email your report along with your name and location to meteor(a)astronomy.ie. Remember, no special equipment is needed, and this is a great way to get friends and family to do some astronomy with you! 4. David Moore on TV and Radio David Moore will be on RTE2 TV tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4pm to talk about Kepler-22b, the new Earth-like planet. He's also recording a drama for RTE Radio 1, which will go out on the airwaves on Christmas Eve at 1pm in his first ever acting role! <http://www.astronomy.ie/> Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club <http://www.astronomy.ie/> www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> )

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[Astronomy Ireland] A message from David Moore
by AI Secretary 09 Dec '11

09 Dec '11

A message from David Moore The woman who officiated at a pivotal meeting in 2006 that resulted in Pluto's demotion as a planet is coming to Dublin to give Astronomy Ireland's Christmas Lecture. That woman is Irish. Many believe she was cheated out of what would have been the seventh Irish Nobel Prize for her discovery of pulsars! She is, of course, Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, and she is going to explain what happened at the meeting and why Pluto is no longer considered a planet. In fact, we're even asking you to take part in our Facebook poll to find if you'd like to see Pluto being given back its status as a planet! You can take part in that poll HERE. The Christmas Lecture takes place on Monday, December 12th, at 8pm in the Ed Burke Theatre in Trinity College Dublin. We invite you to come along to the lecture, or if you are unable to make it to Dublin, order a DVD so you can enjoy what's going to be a fantastic lecture! After the lecture, there will be a Christmas party in the nearby Lombard Inn with some complimentary food where you can socialise with other attendees and with Professor Dame Bell Burnell. It would be great if you could come along to the Astronomy Ireland Christmas party after the lecture to say hello, even just once a year! I look forward to seeing you on Monday night! - David Moore Chairman, Astronomy Ireland Book Tickets Order DVDs Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Why Is Pluto Not A Planet?, Lunar Eclipse This Saturday, The Sky at Night, RIA Lecture
by AI Secretary 08 Dec '11

08 Dec '11

Christmas Gifts <http://astronomy.ie/gifts.html> <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. Why Is Pluto Not A Planet? In 2006 a meeting was held among members of the International Astronomical Union, who are responsible for naming planets. At this point in time it was becoming clear that our Solar System was populated by many more objects than just the usual nine planets. Many of these were much bigger than Mercury and Pluto, yet still they weren't considered a planet. Astronomers at the meeting rewrote the definition of a planet, and as a result, Pluto was 'demoted' from being a planet to a mere dwarf planet. The voting that took place was overseen by, a world-famous astronomer from Belfast, who will deliver Astronomy Ireland's Christmas Lecture on December 12th to explain to the general public just why Pluto is no longer a planet. Tickets for the lecture are only €7 (€5 members rate), and can be ordered online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. The lecture takes place in Trinity College Dublin <http://www.tcd.ie/Maps/map.php> , on Monday, December 12th at 8pm. After the lecture there will be a Christmas party in The Lombard. All are welcome to attend. BOOK TICKETS <https://astro1.securesites.com/sub/201112lectickets.htm> ORDER DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 2. Lunar Eclipse this Weekend This Saturday, December 10th the last stages of a lunar eclipse will be visible from Ireland at sunset. There will not be another eclipse of the Moon visible from Irish soil for nearly 4 years (September 28th, 2015) so Astronomy Ireland is urging everyone to take a break from their Christmas Shopping and watch the sky for 1 hour from 4pm to 5pm on Saturday. Astronomy Ireland will hold a FREE public Eclipse Watch at its premises in Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin at 4pm on Saturday. Everyone is invited to join us and use some of the most powerful telescopes in Ireland to view the eclipse. For more information on this eclipse click HERE <http://www.astronomy.ie/lunareclipse1212.php> . 3. The Sky at Night In the latest episode, Sir Patrick Moore will explore the great ice giants, Uranus and Neptune. . This episode will be broadcast on: December 8th, 7:30pm - BBC Four, BBC HD December 8th, 11:55pm - BBC Four December 11th, 01:50am - BBC Four 4. RIA Biennial McCrea Lecture The Royal Irish Academy biennial lecture will be held on Friday, December 9th. The guest lecture will be Professor Luke Drury, who will give a talk entitled ‘The Hundred Year Mystery of Cosmic Rays’, where Professor Drury will outline the history of Cosmic Ray Astronomy and then focus on recent developments as well as the future projects that are being discussed at the moment. Admission to the lecture is free, but booking is essential. You can your tickets HERE. <http://www.ria.ie/events/events-listing/royal-irish-academy-biennial-mccrea…> The lecture will take place in the Schrodinger Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin, on Friday, December 9 at 6pm. For more information contact the Royal Irish Academy on (01) 6762570 <http://www.astronomy.ie/> Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club <http://www.astronomy.ie/> www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Why is Pluto Not A Planet, Sunday Opening, RIA Lecture, School Speakers Needed, Astronomy Tips
by AI Secretary 01 Dec '11

01 Dec '11

Christmas Gifts <http://astronomy.ie/gifts.html> Evening Classes <http://www.astronomy.ie/class/class1011.php> <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. Why Is Pluto Not A Planet? In 2006 a meeting was held among members of the International Astronomical Union, who are responsible for naming planets. At this point in time it was becoming clear that our Solar System was populated by many more objects than just the usual nine planets. Many of these were much bigger than Mercury and Pluto, yet still they weren't considered a planet. Astronomers at the meeting rewrote the definition of a planet, and as a result, Pluto was 'demoted' from being a planet to a mere dwarf planet. The voting that took place was overseen by, a world-famous astronomer from Belfast, who will deliver Astronomy Ireland's Christmas Lecture on December 12th to explain to the general public just why Pluto is no longer a planet. Tickets for the lecture are only €7 (€5 members rate), and can be ordered online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. The lecture takes place in Trinity College Dublin <http://www.tcd.ie/Maps/map.php> , on Monday, December 12th at 8pm. There will be a social reception afterwards in The Lombard Inn with complimentary food. BOOK TICKETS <https://astro1.securesites.com/sub/201112lectickets.htm> ORDER DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 2. Sunday Opening Hours To celebrate Astronomy Ireland’s first Christmas at our new location, in Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, the Astronomy Ireland Shop <http://astronomy.ie/shop/> will be open from 10am to 6pm this and every Sunday until Christmas. The Astronomy Ireland Shop will offer a FREE one year membership to Astronomy Ireland with all telescopes purchased between now and Christmas. Click HERE <http://www.astronomy.ie/christmaskids2011.php> for more information. 3. RIA Biennial McCrea Lecture The Royal Irish Academy biennial lecture will be held on Friday, December 9th. The guest lecture will be Professor Luke Drury, who will give a talk entitled ‘The Hundred Year Mystery of Cosmic Rays’, where Professor Drury will outline the history of Cosmic Ray Astronomy and then focus on recent developments as well as the future projects that are being discussed at the moment. Admission to the lecture is free, but booking is essential. You can your tickets HERE. <http://www.ria.ie/events/events-listing/royal-irish-academy-biennial-mccrea…> The lecture will take place in the Schrodinger Lecture Theatre, Trinity College Dublin, on Friday, December 9 at 6pm. For more information contact the Royal Irish Academy on (01) 6762570 4. New School Speakers Needed for Waterford/Wexford and Dublin Area Astronomy Ireland needs Dublin Education Officers, and an Education officer to cover the Waterford/Wexford area. If you have a background in science, a good knowledge of astronomy and teaching experience then we would like to hear from you. Education officers will travel to schools in their area and deliver high-quality presentations to the students. We are looking for people with creative ideas for teaching astronomy. We are looking for passionate speakers who will bring astronomy to life for children. We believe astronomy can be used as a tool to excite children about science and result in a greater uptake of science and maths at second and third level education. We are particularly interested in hearing from Irish speakers and people living in the Dublin/Wicklow, and Waterford/Wexford area Application is by C.V. Closing date for submissions are Friday 9th December 2011. Please send C.V. to cliona(a)astronomy.ie Successful applicants will be required to attend an interview and present a PowerPoint presentation. 5. Astronomy Tips · Mars is up high in the south at 6:30am before sunrise, perfect for early risers. · Venus visible just before sunset hovering just above the south-western horizon. · Jupiter is still blazing brightly in the evening skies, moving from east to west throughout the night. · For more information on what to see in the night sky this week check out the Sky Diary section in the November issue of <http://www.astronomy.ie/magazine.php> 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. Don't forget to email what you see to <mailto:observe@astronomy.ie> observe(a)astronomy.ie and we will try to publish your pictures and observations in forthcoming issues of the magazine. <http://www.astronomy.ie/> Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club <http://www.astronomy.ie/> www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> )

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