October 2012 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] Free Weekly Telescope Nights Begin This Friday
by AI Secretary 31 Oct '12

31 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop Free Weekly Telescope Nights Begin This Friday Astronomy Ireland's weekly free telescope nights are beginning again, and will take place each Friday night at 8pm at the Astronomy Ireland Shop in Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin. Members of the public are invited to come along, regardless of age or previous experience, making the telescope nights a fantastic evening out for all the family! Visitors will get to use some of the country's largest telescopes for themselves with the help of experienced astronomers. You will get to see planets, galaxies, nebulae, clusters, double stars, and more! You will also be able to enjoy some tea and coffee on the night. For details and a map to the Astronomy Ireland Shop, visit www.astronomy.ie/scopenights/ Note that these telescope nights are weather-dependent so be sure to check this webpage each Friday afternoon for a weather update and to find out whether the telescope night will go ahead that evening. This Friday, November 2nd, we hope to see the Moon, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune. Jupiter will be a particularly exciting target on Friday, with its moon Io crossing in front of the planet, and the famous Great Red Spot on view through our telescopes! For more details please visit www.astronomy.ie/scopenights/ or call (01) 890 11 11, and we look forward to seeing you on Friday night. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Moon and Jupiter this Thursday, 'Gaia: Mapping the Milky Way', Get Ready for Christmas!, Northern Lights Tour to Norway
by AI Secretary 30 Oct '12

30 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. Moon and Jupiter this Thursday On Thursday, November 1st, the Moon and Jupiter will be placed right next to each other as they rise in the East in what will be a spectacular sight. This conjunction can be easily seen with the naked eye, as both Jupiter and the Moon will be the two brightest objects in the night sky. Binoculars and telescopes will reveal Jupiter's moons, its cloud belts, and amazing craters and valleys on our own Moon as they traverse the sky that night. Be sure to let us know what you see by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie with your observation reports. For more information on the Moon and Jupiter, and for advice on photographing them, please click HERE. 2. Public Lecture & DVD: Gaia: Mapping the Milky Way Gaia is a mission undertaken by the European Space Agency to accurately map one thousand million stars in 3D in our own Galaxy and beyond. Due to launch in 2013, Gaia is an enormous undertaking and comes on the back of ESA's Hipparchos mission to accurately map, measure distances and brightness of objects in our galaxy and nearby universe. Dr Nicholas Walton of Cambridge University will deliver Astronomy Ireland's November Public Lecture in Trinity College Dublin on November 12th at 8pm. For tickets and DVDs, please click HERE or call (01) 890 11 11 3. Get Ready for Christmas! The Astronomy Ireland Shop has a number of excellent special offers on telescopes for the run up to Christmas, including the Astromaster 130EQ for €199 (was €229) and the NexStar 8SE with a free Power Tank for €1649 (was €1848). For more details click HERE or call the Shop on (01) 890 11 11. Astronomy Ireland is now also taking orders for gift memberships, season lecture/DVD tickets, and more, making ideal gifts for a loved one with an interest in astronomy and space. To find out about our Christmas gifts for as little as €40 click HERE. 4. Northern Lights Tour to Norway - Still Places Left! Following this year's successful trip to Norway to see the northern lights, we have teamed up with Project Travel again to give you another opportunity to see this fantastic natural phenomenon! There is still just time to book a place on Astronomy Ireland's Northern Lights Tour to Norway from February 17th to 21st next year. Non-members are welcome to join the special Tromsø-based package which includes a full programme of Northern Lights related tours, flights and accommodation. On the trip we will visit Tromsø to explore its surroundings, its history, and of course, the northern lights. Travellers will have the opportunity to visit the Science Centre & Planetarium, to go dog-sledding, to take an aurora photography workshop, and much, much more! For more details, a full itinerary, and booking details, please visit www.astronomy.ie/norway Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'Gaia: Mapping the Milky Way', ISS and Space Chase, Northern Lights Tour in Norway
by AI Secretary 23 Oct '12

23 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. Public Lecture & DVD: Gaia: Mapping the Milky Way Gaia is a mission undertaken by the European Space Agency to accurately map one thousand million stars in 3D in our own Galaxy and beyond. Due to launch in 2013, Gaia is an enormous undertaking and comes on the back of ESA's Hipparchos mission to accurately map, measure distances and brightness of objects in our galaxy and nearby universe. Dr Nicholas Walton of Cambridge University will deliver Astronomy Ireland's November Public Lecture in Trinity College Dublin on November 12th at 8pm. For tickets and DVDs, please click HERE or call (01) 890 11 11 2. International Space Station and Space Chase The biggest and most expensive spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), is currently visible in our night and early morning skies, and will continue to be visible until October 30th. Tonight (Tuesday, October 23rd) it will pass over Ireland at 7:52pm. Not only that, but today the Soyuz spacecraft successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and is currently making its way to the International Space Station. Watch the sky several minutes before and after the time for the ISS and you may spot the fainter Soyuz capsule travelling west to east in a special 'space chase'! The International Space Station is a fantastic sight for all the family, and we urge everyone to go out and see it! Each afternoon Astronomy Ireland will publish the times the ISS will be visible at www.astronomy.ie/iss and you can also receive daily reminders of this time by texting the word SPACE to 57003 (subscription service; one message will be sent each day the ISS is visible and it costs €1 per message received). 3. Northern Lights Tour to Norway - Still Places Left! Following this year's successful trip to Norway to see the northern lights, we have teamed up with Project Travel again to give you another opportunity to see this fantastic natural phenomenon! There is still just time to book a place on Astronomy Ireland's Northern Lights Tour to Norway from February 17th to 21st next year. Non-members are welcome to join the special Tromsø-based package which includes a full programme of Northern Lights related tours, flights and accommodation. On the trip we will visit Tromsø to explore its surroundings, its history, and of course, the northern lights. Travellers will have the opportunity to visit the Science Centre & Planetarium, to go dog-sledding, to take an aurora photography workshop, and much, much more! For more details, a full itinerary, and booking details, please visit www.astronomy.ie/norway Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Orionid Meteor Watch, International Space Station, Evening Classes, 'Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins'
by AI Secretary 19 Oct '12

19 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. Orionid Meteor Shower This Weekend This weekend sees the Orionid Meteor Shower, which is due to peak between Sunday night (October 21st) and Monday morning (October 22nd), but meteors will be visible in the sky for several nights around this date, and we recommend viewing on Saturday and Sunday night. Meteor watching is a fun activity that does not need any special equipment. Not only that, but as meteors appear all over the sky, you don't have to worry about looking in the 'wrong place'! Astronomy Ireland is holding a Nationwide Orionid Watch, where we want everyone to go outside over the coming two weeks, count the number of meteors seen in 15-minute blocks, and let us know the counts by emailing meteor(a)astronomy.ie. Visit www.astronomy.ie to get more details and a map of the sky to help you with your observations. Listen to David Moore on radio speaking about the upcoming Orionid Meteor Shower at www.astronomy.ie/audio 2. International Space Station Over Ireland The biggest and most expensive spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), is currently visible in our night and early morning skies, and will continue to be visible until October 30th. Tonight (Wednesday, October 17th) it will pass over Ireland at 7:57pm. The International Space Station is a fantastic sight for all the family, and we urge everyone to go out and see it! The next two weeks will also see amazing 'space chases', as two spacecraft make the voyage to the giant station. Each afternoon Astronomy Ireland will publish the times the ISS will be visible at www.astronomy.ie/iss and you can also receive daily reminders of this time by texting the word SPACE to 57003 (subscription service; one message will be sent each day the ISS is visible and it costs €1 per message received). 3. Evening Class Late Enrolment: Sign Up for Only €99! Did you miss the first two classes in our popular Astronomy Classes for Beginners? Don't worry! You can sign up now for the remaining classes taking place on Thursday evenings for only €99! Not only that, but you can repeat the course for free next February to catch up on anything you missed! Our Evening Classes began last week and will continue each Thursday from 7:30pm in Trinity College Dublin. The classes are aimed at the beginner, covering everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe. There are eight classes in total and content covered includes an introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, planets and stars, history of astronomy, deep sky objects, the Big Bang and even a class on telescopes and how to use one. For more information and enrolment details call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class 4. The Mars Science Laboratory ‘Curiosity’ – In Search of Origins The Planetary Society, in association with the School of Physics NUI Galway, Galway Astronomical Club and CIT/Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork will present a public lecture, in both Galway and Cork, during Science Week 2012 titled “The Mars Science Laboratory ‘Curiosity’ – In Search of Origins”. The talk will describe how the mission is currently proceeding, show the latest images, outline the geography of Mars for those attending to become more familiar with the planet itself and invite discussion from the audience on topical matters of space exploration and its value to society. Galway Talk: 8.00pm, Wednesday, November 14th, 2012, O'Tnuathail Theatre, NUI Galway Cork Talk: 8.00pm, Friday, November 16th, 2012, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blackrock, Cork Admission: Free Places allocated on a first come first served basis - simply turn up on the night! Suitable for the general public and expert alike, and for children of about eight years and older. The presenter is Kevin Nolan, Coordinator to Ireland for The Planetary Society and author of the book “Mars, A Cosmic Stepping Stone”. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Evening Class Late Enrolment Offer, International Space Station, Norway Aurora Tour, Orionid Meteor Shower
by AI Secretary 17 Oct '12

17 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. Evening Class Late Enrolment: Sign Up for Only €99! Did you miss the first class in our popular Astronomy Classes for Beginners? Don't worry! You can sign up now for the remaining classes taking place on Thursday evenings for only €99! Not only that, but you can repeat the course for free next February to catch up on anything you missed! Our Evening Classes began last week and will continue each Thursday from 7:30pm in Trinity College Dublin. The classes are aimed at the beginner, covering everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe. There are eight classes in total and content covered includes an introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, planets and stars, history of astronomy, deep sky objects, the Big Bang and even a class on telescopes and how to use one. For more information and enrolment details call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class 2. International Space Station Over Ireland The biggest and most expensive spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), is currently visible in our night and early morning skies, and will continue to be visible until October 30th. Tonight (Wednesday, October 17th) it will pass over Ireland at 7:57pm. The International Space Station is a fantastic sight for all the family, and we urge everyone to go out and see it! The next two weeks will also see amazing 'space chases', as two spacecraft make the voyage to the giant station. Each afternoon Astronomy Ireland will publish the times the ISS will be visible at www.astronomy.ie/iss and you can also receive daily reminders of this time by texting the word SPACE to 57003 (subscription service; one message will be sent each day the ISS is visible and it costs €1 per message received). 3. Northern Lights Tour to Norway Following this year's successful trip to Norway to see the northern lights, we have teamed up with Project Travel again to give you another opportunity to see this fantastic natural phenomenon! In February 2013 we will visit Tromsø to explore its surroundings, its history, and of course, the northern lights. Travellers will have the opportunity to visit the Science Centre & Planetarium, to go dog-sledding, to take an aurora photography workshop, and much, much more! For more details, a full itinerary, and booking details, please visit www.astronomy.ie/norway 4. Orionid Meteor Shower This weekend sees the Orionid Meteor Shower, which is due to peak between Sunday night (October 21st) and Monday morning (October 22nd), but meteors will be visible in the sky for several nights around this date. Meteor watching is a fun activity that does not need any special equipment. Not only that, but as meteors appear all over the sky, you don't have to worry about looking in the 'wrong place'! Astronomy Ireland is holding a Nationwide Orionid Watch, where we want everyone to go outside over the coming two weeks, count the number of meteors seen in 15-minute blocks, and let us know the counts by emailing meteor(a)astronomy.ie. With enough data, it's possible to identify any variations in the meteor shower, and to find out just how many meteors were visible, contributing to the science behind meteor showers. Visit www.astronomy.ie to get more details and a map of the sky to help you with your observations. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'God Particle' DVD, Astronomy Evening Classes, The Sky at Night
by AI Secretary 08 Oct '12

08 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. Order Your DVD: The God Particle Explained Due to very high interest for this extremely popular lecture tickets have sold out. However, we are recording the lecture so you can order a copy of the DVD to watch at your own convenience! In light of the immense public interest in the Higgs Boson in Ireland in the summer, our October Public Lecture will be delivered by Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh who will explain what the Large Hadron Collider is, how the Higgs Boson was discovered, and what it means for our understanding of the Universe. With the start of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, particle physics entered a new era. The LHC will provide a deeper understanding of the universe and the insights gained could change our view of the world. The LHC is expected to yield insights into the nature of dark matter and the existence of hidden extra dimensions. Order your DVD of The God Particle Explained at www.astronomy.ie/DVD HIGGS BOSON TRILOGY DEAL Why not order three God Particle lecture DVDs for only €20 (including P&P)? In this package you will get: a.. The God Particle Explained - Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh b.. Understanding Our Universe with the Large Hadron Collider - Prof Rolf Heuer, Director-General of CERN c.. Searching for New Particles at CERN - Prof Peter Watkins, University of Birmingham You can order them as normal on www.astronomy.ie/DVD and the discount will be applied when your card is charged. Alternatively, call us on (01) 890 11 11 and we can take your DVD order over the phone. 2. Astronomy Evening Classes Begin This Week Have you ever wanted to know where stars come from? How the Sun works? How far away galaxies are? How it all began? If you have ever wondered about our Universe, then our Astronomy Classes for Beginners are for you! Our Evening Classes begin this Thursday, October 11th and are aimed at the beginner, covering everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe. There are eight classes in total and content covered includes an introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, planets and stars, history of astronomy, deep sky objects, the big bang and even a class on telescopes and how to use one. The enrolment fee for the Classes is €180 and includes membership to Astronomy Ireland. The fee for members is €130. Hurry, don't miss out! For more information and enrolment details call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class. 3. The Sky at Night - BBC October 2012 "Moore Winter Marathon" is this month's subject on the world's longest running TV astronomy show "THE SKY AT NIGHT" with: - Sir Patrick Moore - Pete Lawrence - Dr Chris Lintott - Dr Chris North - Paul Abel all of whom have now given Public Lectures for Astronomy Ireland. Pete Lawrence was the latest The Sky at Night guest of ours when he spoke at STAR-B-Q 2012 last month in a brilliant lecture about The Aurora. You can get his (and other) Star-B-Q Lectures at www.astronomy.ie/dvd THE SKY AT NIGHT OCTOBER 2012 Mon Oct 08 at 01:15am BBC 1 Northern Ireland Thu Oct 11 at 07:30pm BBC FOUR Sat Oct 13 at 12:10pm BBC 2 Northern Ireland Sat Oct 13 at 11:30pm BBC HD Sun Oct 14 at 01:20am BBC FOUR Note that the BBC1 and BBC2 programmes are shorter versions (20 minutes). Try to watch BBC FOUR or BBC HD transmissions (30 minutes) For advice on telescopes to view the objects in this programme call Ireland's biggest telescope shop at Astronomy Ireland: www.astronomy.ie/shop or call (01) 890 11 11 six days a week Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'God Particle' - Bigger Venue, Moon and Jupiter Tonight
by AI Secretary 05 Oct '12

05 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. God Particle Explained - Lecture Moved to Bigger Venue! Due to huge demand for tickets, our October Public Lecture, The God Particle Explained, has been moved to the nearby Hamilton Building in Trinity College Dublin! See map on the website booking page HERE. In light of the immense public interest in the Higgs Boson in Ireland following the announcement in July that it was likely to have been found, our October Public Lecture will be delivered by Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh who will explain what the Large Hadron Collider is, how the Higgs Boson was discovered, and what it means for our understanding of the Universe. Astronomy Ireland wants to explain, once and for all, what the Higgs Boson is, why it is so important it will almost certainly result in one if not two groups getting Nobel Prizes. We had the Director General of CERN itself, Rolf Heuer, and the BBC's rock-star astrophysicist Brian Cox both come to Ireland to give talks and now we have secured one of Ireland's leading science communicators Cormac O'Raifeartaigh who writes for the Irish Times and teaches this subject in Waterford I.T. to give an overall view of where we are on the latest theory of how the building blocks of the universe work now that this final 'particle' has been found exactly as theory predicts. Now that we have the biggest theatre in TCD booked there are loads of extra seats for Monday's talk so please tell your friends and book as early as possible. If you can't make it then please order the DVD at www.astronomy.ie/dvd where you can also order Heuer and Cox's talks (see 13 July 2012, and April 2008 on that page) The LHC is expected to yield insights into the nature of dark matter and the existence of hidden extra dimensions. The lecture, The God Particle Explained will take place on Monday, October 8th, at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin, and people are invited to bring friends and family. Tickets and DVDs of this lecture can be booked online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. STOP PRESS: Listen to David Moore speak on radio today about the lecture and other events HERE. 2. Jupiter Close to Moon Tonight Tonight, Friday, October 5th, the Moon and the massive planet Jupiter will blaze spectacularly close together all night after they rise at 9:30pm. Why not get the whole family out and please send us your comments and any photos you manage to take. Jupiter will look like a brilliant 'star' blazing just above the Moon and very close to it (see our diagram). This conjunction can be easily seen with the naked eye, as both Jupiter and the Moon will be the two brightest objects in the night sky. It should be very spectacular! This breathtaking sight will grab the attention of people all over the country (and indeed the world!) as the two celestial bodies will be placed extremely close together!. Jupiter is an evening object until April next year so call our Telescope Shop Staff for advice on choosing a telescope for the upcoming season or for any advice using the telescope you already have. Binoculars and telescopes will reveal Jupiter's moons, its cloud belts, and amazing craters and valleys on our own Moon as they traverse the sky that night. Be sure to let us know what you see by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie with your observation reports. For a diagram and more information on the Moon and Jupiter, and for advice on photographing them, please click HERE. 3. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes Our Evening Classes begin on Thursday, October 11th and are aimed at the beginner, covering everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe, including an introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, planets and stars, and much more! For more information and enrolment details call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'The God Particle Explained', Astronomy Evening Classes, Moon and Jupiter this Friday
by AI Secretary 02 Oct '12

02 Oct '12

Aurora Trip Membership DVD Shop 1. Public Lecture: The God Particle Explained In July of this year a team of scientists at CERN - led by Professor Rolf Heuer who gave Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture the same month - announced the discovery of a new particle, which is widely believed to be the long-sought Higgs Boson. In light of the immense public interest in the Higgs Boson in Ireland at that time, our October Public Lecture will be delivered by Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh who will explain what the Large Hadron Collider is, how the Higgs Boson was discovered, and what it means for our understanding of the Universe. With the start of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, particle physics entered a new era. The LHC will provide a deeper understanding of the universe and the insights gained could change our view of the world. The LHC is expected to yield insights into the nature of dark matter and the existence of hidden extra dimensions. The lecture, The God Particle Explained will take place on Monday, October 8th, at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin, and people are invited to bring friends and family. Tickets and DVDs of this lecture can be booked online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. 2. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes Have you ever wanted to know where stars come from? How the Sun works? How far away galaxies are? How it all began? If you have ever wondered about our Universe, then our Astronomy Classes for Beginners are for you! Our Evening Classes begin on Thursday, October 11th and are aimed at the beginner, covering everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe. There are eight classes in total and content covered includes an introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, planets and stars, history of astronomy, deep sky objects, the big bang and even a class on telescopes and how to use one. The enrolment fee for the Classes is €180 and includes membership to Astronomy Ireland. The fee for members is €130. For more information and enrolment details call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class. 3. Moon and Jupiter this Friday On Friday, October 5th, the Moon and Jupiter will be placed right next to each other as they rise in the East in what will be a spectacular sight. This conjunction can be easily seen with the naked eye, as both Jupiter and the Moon will be the two brightest objects in the night sky. Binoculars and telescopes will reveal Jupiter's moons, its cloud belts, and amazing craters and valleys on our own Moon as they traverse the sky that night. Be sure to let us know what you see by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie with your observation reports. For more information on the Moon and Jupiter, and for advice on photographing them, please click HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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