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

[Astronomy Ireland] Moon and Jupiter on Christmas Day, ISS Over Ireland, The End of the World?, Christmas Opening Hours
by AI Secretary 20 Dec '12

20 Dec '12

Christmas Gifts Membership DVD Shop 1. The Moon and Jupiter on Christmas Day In a beautiful celestial event, the Moon and Jupiter will be placed extremely close together on Christmas Day in what might be considered a modern day Star of Bethlehem! If you're out and about for an evening stroll on the big day be sure too look up and enjoy the view. Get more information on Jupiter and a map of the sky HERE. Be sure to let us know what you saw by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie 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 January 1st. Tonight (Thursday, December 20th) it will pass over Ireland at 6:00pm. The International Space Station is a fantastic sight for all the family, and we urge everyone to go out and see it! The coming days will also allow us to see a "space chase", as a spacecraft is currently making 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. The End of the World? Unlikely! In recent years there has been a buildup of hype surrounding tomorrow, December 21st, 2012. Many people have suggested various cataclysmic events occurring on this day, signifying the end of the world. This is, of course, untrue, and many of these stories have come around due to a misunderstanding of ancient calendars and beliefs in non-existent and mysterious new planets. You can rest assured that tomorrow will be a day just like any other! David Moore spoke on radio today about these theories, and what you can see in the sky over Christmas. Listen to the interview HERE. 4. Christmas Opening Hours The opening hours for Astronomy Ireland over the season can be viewed online HERE. We would like to wish all our friends and members a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year! Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Book Launch, Geminid Meteor Shower
by AI Secretary 12 Dec '12

12 Dec '12

Christmas Gifts Membership DVD Shop 1. Book Launch What have Bono and our own Chairman David Moore got in common? They both grew up in Finglas and feature, along with a host of others in a new book by RTE journalist Samantha Libreri and award-winning photographer Darren Kinsella (both natives of Finglas also) that will be launched this Thursday, December 13th. FINGLAS: A PEOPLE'S PORTRAIT will be launched in St. Michael's Secondary School, Wellmount Road, Finglas at 6:30pm Finglas natives Amanda Brunker, Niamh Kavanagh and a host of others feature in the book (full list HERE). The book will be on sale at the launch with a special discount for those who attend the launch. David will be there, and who knows who else. View book cover HERE. Everyone is invited to the launch and David would be delighted to see you there. Venue in Finglas: click HERE for map & directions 2. Best Meteor Shower of the Year The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks this Thursday Dec. 13 and there will be no Moon to brighten up the sky making this an ideal year to observe them. This year we have a National Geminid Watch that we want you to get all your friends involved with. All you have to do is count how many meteors you see every 15 minutes and email the counts the next day to observe(a)astronomy.ie It's as simple as that and such counts have great scientific value as they tell us how dense the swarm of meteoroid particles is as the Earth's ploughs through it. The Geminids have become the strongest shower of the year, and they are known to produce quite bright meteors meaning even those in light polluted skies should see quite a few. Full guide and more details HERE. We hope you will take part in the National Geminid Watch and see a free celestial fireworks display into the bargain. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Sir Patrick Moore, Christmas Lecture
by AI Secretary 10 Dec '12

10 Dec '12

Christmas Gifts Membership DVD Shop 1. Sir Patrick Moore Passes Away, Aged 89 This past weekend saw the loss of a great astronomer, probably the most influentional amateur astronomer in the world who inspired generations of people to look to the skies. Sir Patrick Moore passed away yesterday, December 9th, at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, surrounded by his close friends, his carers, and his cat Ptolemy. Moore was a great friend of astronomy in Ireland, and David Moore recalled his memories and experiences of the Sky at Night star. You can read these recollections HERE. Astronomy Ireland extends its deepest condolences to those close to Sir Patrick Moore. As a mark of respect, there will be a minute's silence before our Christmas Lecture tonight begins. 2. Christmas Lecture and Party In our Christmas Public Lecture, Dr Tinetti will explore the amazing science behind the discovery of new planets, and how advancements in technology will allow us to find life-supporting new Earths. So far, 853 planets around other stars have been found. The first exoplanet was found 20 years ago in 1992 orbiting a pulsar. It is expected that there are many billions of planets in the Milky Way galaxy, not only occurring around stars but also as free-floating planets without a parent star, gliding through deep space. The discovery of extrasolar planets has intensified interest in the search for extraterrestrial life. A number of planets with a mass similar to that of Earth, and planets existing in the so-called "Goldilocks Zone", have been found in recent times. Each Christmas we also invite everyone to join us for a special annual event: our annual Christmas Party in the Lombard Inn just after the special Christmas lecture. This is a Public Lecture so we want you to invite all your family and friends along too, and bring them to the Party afterwards also. VENUE: The lecture takes place in the Fitzgerald Building in Trinity College Dublin on Monday, December 10th, at 8pm. For tickets, details and DVDs, please click HERE. Before the lecture begins, there will be a minute's silence as a mark of respect for the late Sir Patrick Moore. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Christmas Lecture and Party, Next Week
by AI Secretary 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

Christmas Gifts Membership DVD Shop 1. Christmas Lecture and Party EXOPLANETS - Discovering New Earths Are you excited yet about our Christmas Lecture and Party? Listen to our Chairman, David Moore, excitedly describing it on two radio interviews HERE and HERE (check for new interviews HERE). Each year we invite everyone in Ireland to join us for a special annual event: our annual Christmas Party preceded by a very special lecture for Christmas. This year we are delighted that the star of the BBC Sky At Night show that was all about EXOPLANETS (planets around other stars) earlier this year, Dr Giovanna Tinetti from University College London, will give our CHRISTMAS LECTURE. This is a fascinating topic that one day will yield the discovery of life on other planets. The first step is to find planets like the Earth from amongst the trillion or so thought to lie in our own Milky Way Galaxy. All your family and friends should enjoy this topic and there will be free food at the Party in the nearby Lombard Inn after the talk with Dr Tinetti as our guest. LECTURE DETAILS In our Christmas Public Lecture, Dr Tinetti will explore the amazing science behind the discovery of new planets, and how advancements in technology will allow us to find life-supporting new Earths. So far, 853 planets around other stars have been found. The first exoplanet was found 20 years ago in 1992 orbiting a pulsar. It is expected that there are many billions of planets in the Milky Way galaxy, not only occurring around stars but also as free-floating planets without a parent star, gliding through deep space. The discovery of extrasolar planets has intensified interest in the search for extraterrestrial life. A number of planets with a mass similar to that of Earth, and planets existing in the so-called "Goldilocks Zone", have been found in recent times. VENUE: The lecture takes place in the Fitzgerald Building in Trinity College Dublin on Monday, December 10th, at 8pm. For tickets, details and DVDs, please click HERE. 2. Next Week There are quite a few exciting events coming up in the next seven days: Saturday, Sun Show at our Telescopes Shop; Christmas Lecture on Monday; Geminid meteor shower on Thursday; Telescope Night next Friday (if clear), which is the same day the ISS starts two weeks of evening flyovers. More details next week! Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Christmas Lecture & PARTY, Sky At Night, JL Synge Lecture
by AI Secretary 04 Dec '12

04 Dec '12

Christmas Gifts Membership DVD Shop 1. Christmas Lecture and Party EXOPLANETS - Discovering New Earths Each year we invite everyone in Ireland to join us for a special annual event: our annual Christmas Party preceded by a very special lecture for Christmas. This is a Public Lecture so we want you to invite all your family and friends along too, and bring them to the Party afterwards also. This year we are delighted that the star of the BBC Sky At Night show that was all about EXOPLANETS (planets around other stars) earlier this year, Dr Giovanna Tinetti from University College London, will give our CHRISTMAS LECTURE. This is a fascinating topic that one day will yield the discovery of life on other planets. The first step is to find planets like the Earth from amongst the trillion or so thought to lie in our own Milky Way Galaxy. All your family and friends should enjoy this topic and there will be free food at the Party in the nearby Lombard Inn after the talk with Dr Tinetti as our guest. LECTURE DETAILS (to whet your appetite!) In our Christmas Public Lecture, Dr Tinetti will explore the amazing science behind the discovery of new planets, and how advancements in technology will allow us to find life-supporting new Earths. So far, 853 planets around other stars have been found. The first exoplanet was found 20 years ago in 1992 orbiting a pulsar. It is expected that there are many billions of planets in the Milky Way galaxy, not only occurring around stars but also as free-floating planets without a parent star, gliding through deep space. The discovery of extrasolar planets has intensified interest in the search for extraterrestrial life. A number of planets with a mass similar to that of Earth, and planets existing in the so-called "Goldilocks Zone", have been found in recent times. VENUE: The lecture takes place in Trinity College Dublin on Monday, December 10th, at 8pm. For tickets, details and DVDs, please click HERE. 3. The Sky at Night "Mercury and the Moon" is this month's subject on the world's longest running TV astronomy show "THE SKY AT NIGHT" with: - Sir Patrick Moore - Paul Abel - Pete Lawrence - Dr Chris Lintott - Dr Chris North All of whom have now given Public Lectures for Astronomy Ireland: To watch their lectures search for their names at www.astronomy.ie/DVD This month they talk about the latest news from Messenger, the spacecraft over Mercury. Chris Lintott looks at the legacy of the last moon mission, Apollo 17 which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month. TSAN DECEMBER 2012 Mon Dec 03 at 12:00am BBC 1 Northern Ireland Thu Dec 06 at 07:30pm BBC FOUR Fri Dec 07 at 01:00am BBC FOUR Fri Dec 07 at 11:50pm BBC HD Sat Dec 08 at 12:00pm BBC 2 Northern Ireland Sun Dec 09 at 12:30am 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. 3. JL Synge Public Lecture The Maths Dept of Trinity College Dublin (www.maths.tcd.ie) presents the 11th JL Synge Public Lecture From Here To Infinity: Gravity and the Cosmos by Professor Lord Martin J. Rees at 8pm on Friday December 7th in the Hamilton Building, TCD. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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