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

[Astronomy Ireland] 'The Science of Armageddon', Sun Show, Northern Lights
by AI Secretary 25 Apr '12

25 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. Public Lecture: The Science of Armageddon Our planet has been hit several times in the past by asteroids from space. It will happen again, but is humanity prepared for such an incident? Jay Tate of the Spaceguard Centre in the UK will deliver Astronomy Ireland's May Public Lecture, where he will explain the threats to Earth from space, and what technologies might be available to us now and in the future to help us avoid a global catastrophe. The lecture will take place on Monday, May 14th, at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin. Book tickets and order DVDs HERE. 2. Sun Show on Saturday Each Saturday from 1pm we will hold a Sun Show at the Astronomy Ireland Shop, allowing the general public to view the Sun in safety to see magnificent solar flares and planet-sized sunspots. This is an excellent opportunity to try out some daytime astronomy with the help of experienced astronomers. Get more information on the Sun Shows HERE. 3. Northern Lights Spotted Over Ireland In recent nights the famous aurora borealis - or northern lights - were spotted over Ireland. As the Sun is currently displaying several sunspots, further auroral displays may be visible over the coming days and weeks. We will feature some of the photographs we were sent of the recent display in an upcoming issue of Astronomy & Space. If you saw the northern lights, or if you saw anything interesting while out stargazing, please let us know by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie with your reports and photos. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Lyrid Meteor Shower, Space Chase
by AI Secretary 20 Apr '12

20 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. Nationwide Lyrid Meteor Watch This Saturday (April 21st) sees the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower, which will be unaffected by the Moon to give us good viewing conditions to observe the shower. Astronomy Ireland invites members of the public to take part in an easy meteor count on the days before and after the peak as well as on Saturday night itself. To find out how to take part, and to learn more about the Lyrid meteors, please click HERE. 2. International Space Station and Space Chase The biggest spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), is currently visible in our evening skies, and will continue to be visible until April 25th. Progress 47 today launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:50pm Irish Time, and it is due to dock with the International Space Station on Sunday afternoon. Keen-eyed observers may be able to see a 'space chase' as Progress 47 appears several minutes before the ISS as it makes its way into orbit and towards the Space Station. If you succeed in seeing the space chase, please let us know by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie 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). Astronomy Ireland speaks about ISS on radio David Moore and long-time member of Astronomy Ireland, Eamonn Ó Fearcháin, spoke about the International Space Station today on Phoenix FM and on RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta. You can listen to these interviews at www.astronomy.ie/audio Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] International Space Station, Lyrid Meteor Watch, Saturday Staff, Astronomy Ireland Online
by AI Secretary 17 Apr '12

17 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. International Space Station Visible in the Evening Sky The biggest spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), is currently visible in our evening skies, and will continue to be visible until April 25th. Progress 47 is due to launch later this week which means that a 'space chase' could be visible from Ireland this weekend! 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). Astronomy Ireland speaks about ISS on radio David Moore and long-time member of Astronomy Ireland, Eamonn Ó Fearcháin, spoke about the International Space Station today on Phoenix FM and on RTE Raidió na Gaeltachta. You can listen to these interviews at www.astronomy.ie/audio 2. Nationwide Lyrid Meteor Watch This Saturday (April 21st) sees the peak of the Lyrid Meteor Shower, which will be unaffected by the Moon to give us good viewing conditions to observe the shower. Astronomy Ireland invites members of the public to take part in an easy meteor count on the days before and after the peak as well as on Saturday night itself. To find out how to take part, and to learn more about the Lyrid meteors, please click HERE. 3. Saturday Staff Wanted The Astronomy Ireland Shop is looking for part time weekend staff. Since our move to bigger and better premises we have seen the need for more staff to help with cleaning, dispatch, preparation of orders and general shop work. The successful would ideally have some sales experience but this is not essential as full training will be provided. If you would like to apply for this position, please send a CV along with a covering letter to jamal(a)astronomy.ie. Please note that the above position is based out of Astronomy Ireland’s new premises in Swords Co. Dublin. Please feel free to pass information about this opportunity to anyone you may feel would be interested. 4. Follow Astronomy Ireland Online Don't forget to follow our news and events at our website www.astronomy.ie. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AstronomyIRL and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AstronomyIRL Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Lecture and DVD: "Telescopes for the 21st Century"
by AI Secretary 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop Public Lecture and DVD Telescopes for the 21st Century Giant telescopes are coming, both in space and on the ground. For our April Public Lecture we are flying in an international expert to explain the developments in technology that took place in the 20th Century and the huge leaps that are about to take place in the 21st Century. In the 1940s the biggest telescope in the world was only 5 metres in diameter. Even today 70 years later the biggest telescopes are only twice as wide. Why was progress so slow, and why, in the next decade or two are telescopes to leap in size by a factor of 4 so quickly? And what is the purpose of the new 10 billion dollar James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that is so powerful it cannot be used near the Earth like its predecessor the Hubble Space Telescope, which it will dwarf in power by a factor of 7? If you're interested in telescopes you will be fascinated by this lecture by Professor Michael Merrifield who is flying in especially from the University of Nottingham to tell you all about it, so we hope if you're in the Leinster area that you will make the relatively short trip to come and hear him, or order the DVD if you can't make it to Dublin (www.astronomy.ie/dvd) Free food will be provided at a social reception after the lecture so please bring family and friends as the talk is open to everyone in Ireland and is aimed at the general public. Book tickets HERE or come along early on the night! EVENT DETAILS · Date: Monday, April 16th · Venue: Fitzgerald Building, Trinity College Dublin · Time: 8pm · Tickets: €7 (€5 for members of Astronomy Ireland) Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] David Moore on LMFM Radio
by AI Secretary 11 Apr '12

11 Apr '12

If you're thinking of bringing friends and family to the Mars Watch this evening you might like to hear David Moore talk about Mars on Radio this morning HERE. Clear skies! Astronomy Ireland

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Last Chance to See Mars Close Up for Two Years
by AI Secretary 10 Apr '12

10 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop Last Chance to See Mars Close Up for Two Years This month is the last good month for seeing the planet Mars which it is at its closest to Earth. In powerful telescopes you can see ice caps and dark markings that were once thought to be canals on Mars. At 8:30pm on Wednesday April 11th Astronomy Ireland will set up very powerful telescopes at its headquarters in Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin to show the Red Planet like most people in the world have never seen it. "We want everyone to bring all their friends and family for a literally out of this world experience as very few people have access to really powerful telescopes to see Mars at its best, and this is their last chance for two years." said Mr Moore. Mars can be seen with the naked eye as a brilliant 'star' with a definite red colour. But in the powerful telescopes it will be possible to see surface features like the white north polar ice cap and the dark markings that many thought were canals about 100 years ago when Mars came even closer to Earth. These sparked all the stories of intelligent Martians which are now such a prominent feature of science fiction stories about aliens. For more information on the event, and a simulation of what you should be able to see through a telescope at the Mars Watch, please visit www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 890 11 11. EVENT DETAILS · Date: Wednesday, April 11th · Venue: Unit A8, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords, Co Dublin · Time: 8:30pm · Tickets: Not necessary, just come along on the night TELESCOPE VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS WANTED We already have several large telescopes for our Nationwide Mars Watch but if you have a medium to large telescope (at least 6-inch, preferably 8-inch or larger) why not bring it along to one of the Watches and share the excitement of the general public as they are amazed by views of Mars? If you want to get involved call us on (01) 890 11 11 or email sec(a)astronomy.ie. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Pat Kenny, Mars Watch, Public Lecture, Trip to Beijing, Sun Show
by AI Secretary 04 Apr '12

04 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. The Mad Hatter's Tea Party We've been given a free stand at the above event in Phoenix Park this Easter Saturday from noon to 4pm and we are looking for volunteers to help us hand out information leaflets. See www.phoenixpark.ie for more information. Sorry for the short notice but we really do need your help if you can spare a few hours! If you can help out, please reply to this email or call us on (01) 890 11 11 2. Astronomy Ireland on National Radio In the biggest media interview of the past seven years David Moore spoke on RTE's top rating radio show Today With Pat Kenny for 20 minutes about everything under the Sun and beyond! Listen to the interview at www.astronomy.ie/audio and check the April 3rd entry (PS: Listen to the previous major interview with Pat Kenny on February 1st, 2005) 3. Mars Watch Next Week Following huge crowds at the Dublin Mars Watch last week, we are holding a second Mars Watch while Mars is still close to earth, this time at the Astronomy Ireland Shop in Airside Enterprise Centre (view a map here). The event will begin at 8:30pm on Wednesday next, April 11th. For more information, click HERE. 4. Public Lecture: "Telescopes for the 21st Century" If you haven't yet booked your place on the trip to Beijing to see the Transit of Venus in June, the deadline for bookings has been extended to Wednesday, April 11th. Get the full itinerary and booking forms HERE. 5. Trip to Beijing A huge revolution in telescopes is coming, with giant instruments such as the European Extremely Large Telescope both already funded and on the drawing board. Professor Michael Merrifield will explain what kinds of telescopes we can expect to be built over the coming decades at the April Public Lecture on Monday, April 16th at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin. For more information, ticket bookings, and DVD orders, click HERE. 6. Sun Show on Saturday Each Saturday from 1pm we will hold a Sun Show at the Astronomy Ireland Shop, allowing the general public to view the Sun in safety to see magnificent solar flares and planet-sized sunspots. Get more information on the Sun Shows HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0

[Astronomy Ireland] Astronomy Ireland on RTE, The Sky at Night, Mars Watch Report
by AI Secretary 02 Apr '12

02 Apr '12

Spring Sale DVD Membership Shop 1. Astronomy Ireland on Today With Pat Kenny In a major 20 minute interview with Pat Kenny on RTE Radio 1 tomorrow (Tuesday, April 3rd), our Chairman, David Moore, will talk about the latest Earth-like planets just announced and loads of other stories from around the Universe. Be sure to tune in, listen online, or check our own archive later that day on www.astronomy.ie/audio 2. The Sky at Night Celebrating 55 years of The Sky at Night, Sir Patrick Moore and the team go on a journey to the end of the known universe. Mon 11:35pm BBC 1 Northern Ireland Thu 07:30pm BBC FOUR Fri 12:00am BBC FOUR Fri 12:00am BBC HD Sat 12:00pm BBC 2 Northern Ireland Sun 12:45am 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). 3. Nationwide Mars Watch Report During some excellent weather conditions last week, Astronomy Ireland held a Nationwide Mars Watch at locations around the country. At the Watches, thousands of members of the general public got to see Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon through some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. For individual branch reports and photos, please click HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

1 0