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

[Astronomy Ireland] AURORA ALERT: Potential activity for Tuesday, Feb 28th, AI on Radio and TV
by AI Secretary 28 Feb '12

28 Feb '12

New Year Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. Aurora Alert On Sunday evening, a coronal mass ejection (CME) at Earth from the Sun, and triggered a geomagnetic storm. Last night (Monday) northern lights were spotted in northern countries, but a faint display was also seen from northern counties of Ireland. As the geomagnetic storm continues, there may be a chance of seeing the northern lights again over Ireland tonight. When to View There is a small chance that the aurora borealis (northern lights) will be visible from Ireland. We suggest keeping an eye on the northern sky throughout Tuesday evening and into Wednesday evening. If it appears, the aurora will have a faint glow and if the activity is particularly strong it may have a green and/or red colour. The aurora will most likely be visible just over the northern horizon. Where to View Ideally it is best to watch the aurorae from a location as far north as possible, but depending on the strength of the CME from the Sun, they can be visible further south. We recommend picking anywhere that has a dark sky with a clear northern horizon. This can be a location just outside a town or city, or a dark parkland area. Report Your Observation If you see the aurora borealis, please let us know what you saw by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie. We will aim to include reports and photographs in an upcoming issue of Astronomy & Space. 2. Astronomy Ireland on Radio and TV Astronomy Ireland's David Moore spoke on Inishowen Community Radio about the organisation's upcoming trip to Beijing, China to see the Transit of Venus in June. He also spoke about things to see in the sky, including the International Space Station and the planets. Listen to this interview (and previous interviews) on our website at www.astronomy.ie/audio David will appear on RTE's Elev8 at 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday, February 29th) to chat about space and things to see in the sky. If you don't catch the broadcast at that time, we will have the piece online soon after on www.astronomy.ie/tv Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Public Lecture, Magazine Offer, Engineers Week, See Mercury in Alignment, Armagh Observatory Lectures & Tours
by AI Secretary 27 Feb '12

27 Feb '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. Public Lecture “Solar Storms and Northern Lights: Observing the Sun from Ireland” Energy from the Sun drives our climate, forces ever-changing weather patterns, and ultimately provides the heat and light responsible that makes life possible on Earth. Despite this, the Sun can have more sinister effects due to its ejection of huge clouds of hot gas into space. While these solar storms can produce spectacular auroral displays, they can sometimes cause dropouts in telecommunications systems, failures of satellites, interruptions in electrical power supply networks, and errors in GPS signals. Dr Peter Gallagher of Trinity College Dublin is heading the Irish section of a European-wide telescope project called LOFAR, in which Ireland will get its own specialised radio telescope, allowing us to see solar storms - and the rest of the Universe - in a way never before possible. At Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture on March 12th, Dr Gallagher will describe the source of solar storms, how these can effect the technologies that we rely on as part of our every-day lives, and how Irish scientists are using cutting-edge scientific instruments, such as the LOFAR radio telescope, to better forecast the effects of solar storms on Earth. The March Lecture, Seeing Solar Storms from Ireland, will take place at 8pm on Monday, March 12th, in Trinity College Dublin. A social reception will take place after the lecture in the nearby Lombard Inn where lecture attendees can meet Dr Gallagher and other astronomy enthusiasts. Details of the March Lecture and tickets for it be found at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD . 2. Astronomy & Space Magazine Offer Get the March issue of Astronomy & Space now for only €5. It's packed full of astronomy news from Ireland and around the world, with feature articles about a new map of the Moon, our place in the Milky Way, and more! That's 48 full-colour pages of Irish astronomy for only €5, including postage. As a special offer we also have the January and February issues on sale for only €1 each if you order them at the same time as the March issue! Simply click HERE to order, and select "One issue only" from the dropdown list. If you want the January or February issues, just let us know how many of each you would like in the comments box at the bottom of the form. 3. Engineers Week Engineers Week has started and we are already making a ‘Buzz’ with our specially designed – “The Real Buzz Lightyear – The life of an Astronaut” talks for primary schools. A big thank-you to ESERO, our sponsor, who have enabled us to provide the talks FREE to 10 primary schools in Dublin this year. There are tonnes of events happening over the week and many are free to the general public, so don’t miss out on the fun. Log on to www.engineersweek.ie NOW, for further details. 4. Join the 1% Club and See Mercury! Tomorrow night (Tuesday, February 28th) the planets Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury will form an alignment with the Moon in the evening sky at approximately 6:30pm. Venus and Jupiter are moving ever closer together over the coming weeks, and if you draw an imaginary line through them and the Moon down towards the horizon, you may see Mercury resting over the horizon. It's thought that less than 1% of people have ever seen Mercury, so make sure you check out this spectacular celestial sight and join that exclusive club! For a map of the sky and further details, please click HERE. Email observe(a)astronomy.ie with your observation reports of the alignment. 5. Armagh Observatory Free Public Lectures and Tours, Saint Patrick's Day 2012 Armagh Observatory is presenting two free public lectures, guided tours of the Observatory Grounds and Astropark, and an exhibition and tour of the historic main building as its contribution to Armagh City and District’s Saint Patrick’s Day festivities on Saturday, 17th March 2012. The programme of fascinating astronomical talks, "Discovering the Universe", begins with light refreshments at 10:30am in St. Patrick’s Trian, Armagh. Two public lectures are being provided, one on the risk to Earth posed by comet and asteroid impacts with our planet, the other a review of efforts during the eighteenth century to measure the size of our solar system and the role played by very rare planetary transits across the face of our Sun. The next Transit of Venus, the last for more than a hundred years, will be visible from Europe on 6th June this year. The free public lectures will take place in the Rotunda Theatre, St. Patrick’s Trian, Armagh, beginning at 11:00am, and each lasting an hour with time for questions, ending at 1:00pm. Everyone is welcome to these events. Free tickets for the "Discovering the Universe" presentations are available from Mrs Aileen McKee, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh; Tel.: 028-3752-2928; E-mail: ambn(a)arm.ac.uk. No booking is necessary to join the guided tour "Bringing Heaven Down to Earth" or the Observatory tour and exhibition. Meet outside the Observatory at 2.30pm and 4.00pm respectively. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: John McFarland at the Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG. Tel.: 028-3752-2928; FAX: 028-3752-7174 jmf(a)arm.ac.uk. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Trip to Beijing, Astronomer Required for T.V. Role, Astronomy Tips
by AI Secretary 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

Spring Sale <http://astronomy.ie/springoffers.php> <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. Astronomy Ireland Transit of Venus Trip to Beijing If you miss this year's Transit of Venus across the sun on June 6th you'll have a long wait for the next one... 105 years to be exact. That’s why Astronomy Ireland hopes to maximise the viewing time for this year's event by arranging a group tour to Beijing where it should be visible for almost seven hours. When Venus passes directly between the earth and the Sun, the distant planet is seen as a small dot gliding slowly across the face of the sun. Historically, this rare alignment is how we measured the size of our Solar System. Since this will be the last transit of Venus to occur in our lifetime Astronomy Ireland, in association with Project Travel, has put together a six night tour to the city of Beijing. As well as the chance of seeing the Transit, you will also get to experience the amazing history and culture of this stunning city with a visit to Beijing’s Ancient Observatory plus tours to The Forbidden City, The Great Wall of China and the Summer Palace. The six day fully guided tour, which is also open to non-members of Astronomy Ireland, is from June 3rd to 9th and must be booked by 4th April. The €1795 pp sharing price (single supplement €325) includes return flights from Dublin, B&B accommodation in a 4* hotel within walking distance of The Forbidden City and central shopping districts, all transfers and tours in China including an English speaking guide, entry fees as well as some meals and entertainment. Further details and booking forms are available on <http://www.astronomy.ie> www.astronomy.ie, or by calling Project Travel on (01) 210 8391. 2. Astronomer Required for T.V. Role Monster Animation is currently producing a fun cartoon show that aims to introduce young children (age 3-5) to the planets of our Solar System. They are looking to cast an astronomer to give the main character, Cosmo, information on the planets in a short 40 second segment each episode. This astronomer is seen as a real live-action person, and would love is a genuine, honest to goodness astronomer! The role requires: · Enthusiasm, passion. · Someone really friendly that children can relate to. · Someone who isn't shy in front of a camera and can take direction. · Good lively performance. · Someone fun with loads of charisma. All other elements are open – male, female, any age (although often children can relate easier to younger people). To apply: Send a short 30-60 second video of you talking about a planet, any planet. This can be shot on a mobile phone or anything that gives you an easy video file. Quality doesn't hugely matter – it's about the performance. Have fun with it. Send to lean(a)monsteranimation.ie before Friday 9th March and you will be contacted soon after that! 3. Astronomy Tips The evening sky during twilight is dominated by Venus and Jupiter, two very bright planets located in the west and southwest. These are easily spotted with the naked eye, and can be identified easily: Venus is brighter and closer to the horizon, while Jupiter is slightly dimmer and much higher up in the sky. Jupiter in particular is an excellent sight through a telescope, which will reveal its clouds belts, the Great Red Spot, and its moons. Later on in the night Mars rises in the east, and can be seen as a star-like object with an orange tinge. Larger telescopes will show you the Red Planet's polar ice caps, as well as revealing planet-wide dust storms! <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> )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Evening Classes, ISS, Engineers Week, The Sky at Night
by AI Secretary 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

<http://www.astronomy.ie/christmaskids2011.php> New Year Sale <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop This Saturday, February 18th we are inviting you to our Astronomy Ireland Shop to sign Sir Patrick Moore’s birthday card. 1. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes Our extremely popular Evening Classes <http://www.astronomy.ie/class/class1011.php> begin this Wednesday, February 15th in Dundalk. The classes are aimed at the beginner and cover 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. Remember, it's not too late to enrol for the Evening Classes, if you are unable to attend any of the classes you can allow a friend to attend in your place. DUBLIN EVENING CLASS SPECIAL OFFER – 10% OFF Our Dublin Evening Classes began last week, but don’t worry it is still not too late to register for this location. If you sign up for this week you can avail of our evening class special offer, receive a 10% late registration discount on the original class fee. You can still enrol now and you can do the whole course again in October for FREE! For more information call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class. 2. ISS Visible The International Space Station ( <http://astronomy.ie/iss/> ISS) will be visible in Irish evening skies from tomorrow, February 15th until February 28th. The Space Station appears as an extremely bright star moving across the sky and is an event not to be missed each evening it is visible. For times to watch the Space Station, predictions are available on various websites on the internet, however to receive a text message to your phone with the predicted time it will pass over simply text SPACE to 57003. Each text costs 1euro and proceeds help us promote astronomy in Ireland. For more information click <http://astronomy.ie/iss/> HERE. Remember each time you see any of these exciting space events in the sky to email your report to <mailto:observe@astronomy.ie> observe(a)astronomy.ie, we will do our best to include it in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' <http://www.astronomy.ie/magazine.html> magazine. 3. Engineers Week This weekend why not take a trip out to Astronomy Ireland’s Headquarters to learn about the fascinating science behind some of the most advanced telescopes in Ireland! Recent advances in the way mirrors, lenses and telescopes are produced have driven down the cost of high performance optics to the point where telescopes that were previously only affordable by professional astronomers and colleges are now within reach of novices. On Saturday 3rd of March, staff at the Astronomy Ireland Shop will be giving Telescope demonstrations throughout the day and using some of the high-tech computerised telescopes to catch a glimpse of the gas giant Jupiter in broad daylight. Staff will also be on hand throughout the day to answer any questions you may have about how you can see such fantastic images of other worlds form your back garden! Throughout the day there will also be talks given by one of Ireland’s Leading Astrophotographer Carl O’Beirnes about how he uses the latest technology to capture incredible images of Planets, Galaxies and Nebulas. These talks are great for anyone who ever thought to try their hand at photographing the sky or those interested in photography and image processing in general. This is a free event and suitable for the whole family. It will run all day from 12pm to 5.45pm and demonstrations and talks will take place on the hour. Venue: Astronomy Ireland HQ, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin ( <http://www.astronomy.ie/map> www.astronomy.ie/map) Cost: Free Time: 12.00pm - 5.45pm 4. The Sky at Night In the latest episode Sir Patrick Moore will discuss the hidden delights of the infrared, while Dr Chris North, Astronomy Ireland’s May 2011 Speaker, talks about NASA's infrared WISE telescope. This episode will be broadcast on: February 16th, 00:40am - BBC One (Northern Ireland Only) February 16th, 19:30pm - BBC Four February 17th, 01:05am - BBC Four, BBC HD February 18th, 12:00pm - BBC Two (except Northern Ireland) February 19th, 01:10am - BBC Four If you would like to order a copy of Astronomy Ireland’s May 2011 Lecture, "Herschel: The Biggest Ever Space Telescope" by Dr Chris North’s you can do so online by clicking HERE <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> . <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> )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Public Lecture Change: Mars Science Laboratory - In Search of Origins
by AI Secretary 13 Feb '12

13 Feb '12

Reminder of Lecture Change New February Lecture: “Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins” This is a final reminder that Dr Alconcel's lecture “Robots in Space” has been moved to a later date, in its place, Kevin Nolan of the Planetary Society will deliver Astronomy Ireland's February Public Lecture: “ <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201202.php> Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins.” In 2011, space exploration and the hunt for extraterrestrial life changed with the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory. The car-sized robot is currently on its way to the Red Planet, where it will investigate the origins of life. Did life ever exist on Mars? Did Mars's weather and geology allow for life to evolve? Will humans be able to travel to Mars in a second step to the stars? Kevin Nolan, Irish coordinator of the Planetary Society, renowned Irish science author, and a leading expert on the exploration of Mars will deliver Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture tomorrow night (Monday), February 13th, in Trinity College Dublin. Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins promises to deliver not only an overview of the primary objectives of the daring mission, but a highly visual and a stunning representation of what the Mars Science Laboratory will do and hope to achieve in the coming months and years. Tickets for the lecture are only €7 (€5 members rate), and can be ordered online at <http://www.astronomy.ie> www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. The lecture takes place in <http://www.tcd.ie/Maps/map.php> Trinity College Dublin, tonight at 8pm. After the lecture there will be a social reception in The Lombard. All are welcome to attend. BOOK TICKETS <https://astro1.securesites.com/sub/201202lectickets.htm> ORDER DVD <http://astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the last-minute change in lecture. If you have already booked your ticket to the original lecture, your lecture ticket will be automatically transferred to the new lecture. If you would like to transfer it to a different lecture later on this year, please contact us on (01) 890 11 11 or email sec(a)astronomy.ie to make arrangements. <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> )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Public Lecture Change: Mars Science Laboratory - In Search of Origins
by AI Secretary 12 Feb '12

12 Feb '12

*New February Lecture:* *Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins* Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dr Alconcel's lecture *Robots in Space* will take place at a later date. However, in its place, we are delighted to announce that Kevin Nolan of the Planetary Society will deliver *Astronomy Ireland's February Public Lecture: Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins*. In 2011, space exploration and the hunt for extraterrestrial life changed with the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory. The car-sized robot is currently on its way to the Red Planet, where it will investigate the origins of life. Did life ever exist on Mars? Did Mars's weather and geology allow for life to evolve? Will humans be able to travel to Mars in a second step to the stars? Kevin Nolan, Irish coordinator of the Planetary Society, renowned Irish science author, and a leading expert on the exploration of Mars will deliver Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture tomorrow night (Monday), February 13th, in Trinity College Dublin. *Mars Science Laboratory: In Search of Origins* promises to deliver not only an overview of the primary objectives of the daring mission, but a highly visual and a stunning representation of what the Mars Science Laboratory will do and hope to achieve in the coming months and years. *Book tickets here*<https://astro1.securesites.com/sub/201202lectickets.htm> * * *Order DVDs here* <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the last-minute change in lecture. If you have already booked your ticket to the original lecture, your lecture ticket will be automatically transferred to the new lecture. If you would like to transfer it to a different lecture later on this year, please contact us on (01) 890 11 11 or email sec(a)astronomy.ie to make arrangements. ** ** ** ** ** Astronomy Ireland <http://www.astronomy.ie/>**** *The world's most popular Astronomy Club* *www.astronomy.ie***** ** ** *( subscribe / unsubscribe<http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy>) *

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Evening Classes, Public Lecture
by AI Secretary 10 Feb '12

10 Feb '12

<http://www.astronomy.ie/christmaskids2011.php> New Year Sale <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes Our extremely popular Evening Classes <http://www.astronomy.ie/class/class1011.php> begin this Wednesday, February 15th in Dundalk, Cork, Sligo, Letterkenny, and Waterford. The classes are aimed at the beginner and cover 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 call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class. Remember, it's not too late to enrol for the Evening Classes, if you are unable to attend any of classes you allow a friend to attend in your place. DUBLIN EVENING CLASS SPECIAL OFFER Our Dublin evening classes began last week, but don’t worry it is still not too late to register for this location. If you sign up for this week you can avail of our evening class special offer, You can still enrol now and you can do the whole course again in October for FREE! 2. Public Lecture “Robots in Space” Cassini engineer Dr Leah-Nani Alconcel will give Astronomy Ireland's February Public Lecture “Robots in Space”, in which she will explain how robot spacecraft can provide important scientific data without risking the lives of human astronauts and at much lower cost. Robots are taking over space. They've already gone to the planets, and may even go to the stars without humans ever leaving Earth. On Earth we are protected by the planet's magnetic field, but in outer space astronauts can be exposed to cosmic rays and radiation from the Sun. With big risks of damaged DNA and cancer, future human space travel to other planets very risky business. But robots can do this dangerous exploration for us. Not only can spacecraft be protected from radiation much easier, but they are cheaper to put into space, and can survive decades travelling to other worlds in that extreme environment. One such spacecraft is the Cassini orbiter, which is currently traveling around Saturn: a planet with a dangerous environment full of ionised plasma created by both Saturn itself and its moons. The challenges of designing, constructing and operating them remotely require years, often decades, of commitment by large numbers of highly skilled personnel. In this talk, Dr Alconcel will examine the process of overcoming these challenges from historical and personal perspectives to try to understand the abilities and limitations of robotic exploration. The February Lecture, “Robots in Space”, will take place at 8pm on Monday, February 13th, in Trinity College Dublin. A social reception will take place after the lecture in the nearby Lombard Inn where lecture attendees can meet Dr Alconcel and other astronomy enthusiasts. Details of the February Lecture and tickets for it be found at www.astronomy.ie <http://www.astronomy.ie/> or by calling (01) 890 11 11. <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> )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Evening Classes, Beijing Trip, School Speakers Needed
by AI Secretary 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

<http://www.astronomy.ie/christmaskids2011.php> New Year Sale <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Commence Tomorrow Night Our extremely popular Evening Classes <http://www.astronomy.ie/class/class1011.php> begin tomorrow, February 8th in Dublin. In all other locations nationwide they will begin next week, on Wednesday, February 15th. The classes are aimed at the beginner and cover 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. · Wednesday, February 8th – Dublin Evening Classes · Wednesday, February 15th – Cork, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Sligo and Waterford Evening Classes For more information call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class. Remember, it's not too late to enrol for the Evening Classes! 2. Beijing Trip - Expressions of Interest Following the success of our recent trip to Norway, we are currently working on a trip to Beijing, China, for the transit of Venus in June of this year. As well as the transit of Venus, which is the highlight of the trip, we will visit the Great Wall of China, Tianenmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. Keeping in line with the astronomical theme, we will also pay a visit to Beijing's Ancient Observatory, which was built between 1279 and 1316. It is expected that the trip will last five nights, excluding travelling. The guideline price is €1,800 pps, including flights, hotel, transfers, various meals, and tours. While the above details may change, this is a rough idea of what we have so far. Before we finalise the details we are looking for expressions of interest in the trip. Would a trip like this to Beijing to see the transit of Venus interest you? Please email your response to sec(a)astronomy.ie 3. School Speakers Needed Astronomy Ireland is currently recruiting Education Officers for our successful primary schools programme. If you have a passion for astronomy, primary-level teaching experience and a background in science then we would like to hear from you. Our speakers travel to schools in their areas and deliver fun and engaging lessons in astronomy for kids. We are looking for people with creative ideas for teaching astronomy. We are looking for passionate speakers who will bring the subject to life for children. We are also interested in hearing from Irish speakers. All applicants must hold a full, clean driving licence. Applications are ongoing. Please send C.V. to <mailto:cliona@astronomy.ie> cliona(a)astronomy.ie Successful applicants will be required to attend an interview and training day at our premises in Swords, Co. Dublin. <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> )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Jupiter Watch Report & Photos, Evening Classes, Astronomy Tips
by AI Secretary 03 Feb '12

03 Feb '12

New Year Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. Jupiter Watch Report and Photos While it was cold, it was also a cloudless night all over the country, and people came out in droves to visit Astronomy Ireland's Jupiter Watches at locations around the country. The nationwide event was well-attended by families, with adults and children alike enjoying the wonders of the Universe. For many people, this was the first time they had seen through a telescope, let alone see some of the amazing sights that were on offer that night. People simply could not believe that they were seeing Jupiter, its storms, and its moons with their own eyes! Some of the spectacles that were seen included: Jupiter, the Moon, Venus, the Pleiades, the Orion Nebula, and the Whirlpool Galaxy. Our Public Watches could not take place without the help of Astronomy Ireland Branch Coordinators and Volunteers, and we thank them for all their hard work! To read individual Branch reports and to see some photographs, check out the Jupiter Watch Report webpage HERE. 2. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes This week's Nationwide Jupiter Watch ran advance of the 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes, which begin on February 8th and February 15th at locations around the country. At the Evening Classes people will get to learn their way around the night sky, where stars and planets come from, how telescopes work, the history of astronomy, cosmology, and much, much more! The course is designed for beginners and no complex mathematics or physics concepts, and it will take place in locations around the country. Thanks to our "Repeat for Free" offer, you don't have to worry about missing a class, as you can repeat the entire course again when it runs next! The enrolment fee is €130 for members and €180 for non-members. You can enrol online at www.astronomy.ie/class or by calling (01) 890 11 11. Please call us for details of group rates if you would like to attend with friends or family. 3. Astronomy Tips Jupiter is still a prime target in our evening skies, and is visible high in the south from twilight. This is a great sight through binoculars which will reveal its four largest moons, and through a telescope, which will show off its colourful cloud bands and storms. See the Sky Diary in this month's Astronomy & Space for a table of when to see the famous Great Red Spot. Accompanying Jupiter at twilight is Venus, blazing extremely brightly in the west as it rests above the horizon. Also known as the Evening Star, Venus shows phases that change as it orbits the Sun, similar to how our Moon changes as it orbits Earth. Mars, the Red Planet, sits over the eastern horizon from 9pm. Mars is easily recognised as a brighter star-like object with a reddish-orange tinge, and rises for better viewing later on in the night. Remember to send your observation reports to observe(a)astronomy.ie so that we can include them in our magazine, Astronomy & Space. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Jupiter Watches Tonight, Astronomy Ireland Evening Classes
by AI Secretary 01 Feb '12

01 Feb '12

<http://www.astronomy.ie/christmaskids2011.php> New Year Sale <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> DVD <http://astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> Membership <http://astronomy.ie/shop/CPC/index.html> Shop 1. Nationwide Jupiter Watches Tonight Tonight, February 1st Astronomy Ireland will be hosting a number of Nationwide Jupiter Watches beginning at 8pm. These Watches are being held to launch our spring set of ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ Evening Classes, <http://www.astronomy.ie/class/class1202.php> which will begin on Wednesday, February 8th at locations nationwide. Jupiter is an amazing sight in a good quality telescope and we encourage everyone to come along with friends and family to these free events and see Jupiter through some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. For more information and to check your nearest Watch click HERE <http://astronomy.ie/jupwatchfeb11.php> . Please note Watches will go ahead regardless of weather. Due to some major road works that are happening in the Phoenix Park over the coming weeks, there will be some disruptions to traffic for the Dublin Watch, please click HERE <http://www.phoenixpark.ie/media/25%201%2012%20map%20of%20final%20phase2.pdf> for details on the diversions. 2. Astronomy for Beginners Evening Classes Our extremely popular Evening Classes <http://www.astronomy.ie/class/class1011.php> begin in Dublin, Dundalk, Waterford, and Cork on Wednesday, February 8th with Sligo and Letterkenny beginning on Wednesday, February 15th. The classes are aimed at the beginner and cover everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe. There are 8 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. Classes will take place in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Sligo, and Waterford. Wednesday, February 8th – Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, and Waterford Wednesday, February 15th – Letterkenny and Sligo For more information call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class. <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> )

1 0