October 2013 - astronomy@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie

[Astronomy Ireland] Moon and Jupiter Tonight, Space Chase, Win Tickets to 'Gravity' Preview, Volunteers Needed
by AI Secretary 25 Oct '13

25 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Moon and Jupiter Together in Night Sky A great Bank Holiday weekend of spectacles starts tonight with a beautiful conjunction in the night sky over Ireland! Tonight and tomorrow the giant planet Jupiter will be placed next to the Moon in the night sky. As both the Moon and Jupiter are very bright, this can be observed using only the naked eye without any special equipment. Jupiter will look like a very bright ‘star’ next to the Moon, and the best view will be tonight when they are at their closest. The best time to view is around midnight when the two celestial objects are well over the horizon. Skywatchers are asked to email their reports and photos to observe(a)astronomy.ie so that they can be included in an upcoming issue of Astronomy Ireland magazine. 2. Space Chase Next Week Following the Moon and Jupiter pairing up in the night sky, people will be able to see a space chase take place on Monday and Tuesday after the European Space Agency ATV undocks from the International Space Station to make its way back towards Earth. Observers will be able to spot the two spacecraft orbiting Earth without the need for any special equipment to see them. The times the space chase will be visible will be published each afternoon on www.astronomy.ie/iss as will the times of each daily pass of the ISS itself, which is visible in the sky until October 29th Read all the ISS sighting reports each month and internationally-renowned Irish space author Brian Harvey <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Harvey_(author)> 's monthly ISS column in our magazine, which you can order HERE <http://astronomy.ie/join> . 3. Win Tickets to a Special Gravity Preview Screening To celebrate the release of the epic space thriller Gravity, we’ve teamed up with Warner Bros. Pictures to offer you the opportunity to see this film ahead of anyone else. A special preview screening will take place at The Light House Cinema, Smithfield, Dublin 7 on Tuesday 5th November at 6.30pm and we have a limited number of exclusive tickets to give away! For more information and an exciting trailer for Gravity, and to enter this competition for a great prize, please visit www.astronomy.ie/gravity 4. Volunteers Needed Once a month we need help with a mailshot to members and packing magazines to be delivered to the newsstands. If you’re in the Dublin area (especially Dublin 15) and can spare a few hours a month to assist us, please let us know! Send an email to sec(a)astronomy.ie with a contact phone number and we’ll be in touch. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3426 / Virus Database: 3222/6780 - Release Date: 10/25/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] Space Chase Tonight, Win Tickets to 'Gravity' Preview
by AI Secretary 22 Oct '13

22 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Space Chase Tonight There will be no less than two extremely rare space chases to see in the sky over the next eight evenings, the first of which will be tonight, Oct. 22nd. NASA has been subcontracting the building of its rockets to commercial companies and Orbital Sciences has built the Cygnus commercial cargo craft to fly up to International Space Station with supplies. Once it is unloaded it is filled with rubbish and undocked from ISS to be burnt up in the Earth's atmosphere. Cygnus undocked today around noon (Irish time), so we will get to see it close to the ISS twice tonight! The first (and best) pass for the space chase is at 7:24pm, when the ISS will blaze brightly and soar high across the southern sky. A later pass will happen at 8:59pm, but this one may be a bit fainter. The next space chase takes place next Monday and Tuesday when the European Space Agency ATV will undock from the ISS. The times the ISS is visible over Ireland are published each afternoon on www.astronomy.ie/iss along with any interesting information about space chases. Remember to let us know what you see by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie Read all the ISS sighting reports each month and internationally-renowned Irish space author Brian Harvey's monthly ISS column in our magazine, which you can order HERE <http://astronomy.ie/join> . 2. Win Tickets to Gravity Preview Screening To celebrate the release of the epic space thriller Gravity, we’ve teamed up with Warner Bros. Pictures to offer you the opportunity to see this film ahead of anyone else. A special preview screening will take place at The Light House Cinema, Smithfield, Dublin 7 on Tuesday 5th November at 6.30pm and we have tickets to give away! For more information and an exciting trailer for Gravity, and to enter this competition for a great prize, please visit www.astronomy.ie/gravity Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6771 - Release Date: 10/22/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] Transit of Venus on RTE, International Space Station, 'Are the Laws of Physics Changing?'
by AI Secretary 21 Oct '13

21 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Transit of Venus on RTE In June 2012 Astronomy Ireland and a group of astronomy enthusiasts met in Skerries, Co Dublin to meet the rising Sun and to watch Venus cross its disc, an event that won’t happen again for over a century. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast, but a good crowd gathered and RTE were on hand to talk to astronomers and the public about the transit. The piece aired recently on RTE’s Nationwide, and you can watch it on our YouTube page HERE <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi7nbyCtMDU&feature=share&list=UUwJjZ4f5ouHN…> . You can read more about the Transit of Venus in the June 2012 issue of Astronomy Ireland. 2. International Space Station This is the last week to see the International Space Station in the evening skies until it comes around again in December. There are some very high passes in the next couple of days, so if you haven’t seen the ISS yet be sure to do so this week! The times the ISS will be visible will be put online each afternoon on www.astronomy.ie/iss. To get a text reminder each day the ISS is visible, text the word SPACE to 57003 (each text received costs €1; proceeds help us promote astronomy and science in Ireland). We’ve already received lots of reports from people who’ve seen the ISS to be published in our monthly magazine. You can send your report to us by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie. If you want to become a member and get our magazine in the post each month, please sign up HERE now. 3. McCrea Astronomy Lecture: Are the Laws of Physics Changing? Astronomers have investigated whether the laws and constants of physics are the same today as they were billions of years ago. This lecture will look at what these high-precision observations have been telling us and see why many physicists believe that the laws of physics may be different elsewhere in the Universe. The lecture will be delivered by Professor John D Burrow and will take place at 6pm on November 12th, 2013 in University College Cork. Admission is free, but places must be pre-booked. For details and booking, please click HERE <http://www.ria.ie/Events/Events-Listing/Biennial-McCrea-Lecture> . Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6767 - Release Date: 10/20/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] Eclipse Tonight, ISS and Planets, 'Are the Laws of Physics Changing?', 'The Life of Galileo'
by AI Secretary 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Lunar Eclipse Tonight People in Ireland and around the world will get to see a penumbral eclipse of the Moon tonight, October 18th. During this type of eclipse, observers will be able to see the Full Moon darken slightly then return to normal over the space of a few hours. For more information on the eclipse, please click HERE <http://www.astronomy.ie/lunareclipse1310.php> or see page 29 of the October issue of Astronomy Ireland <http://www.astronomy.ie/join> magazine. David Moore spoke on radio, and the interviews will appear on our website at www.astronomy.ie/audio later on. The eclipse also featured on TheJournal.ie which can be read HERE <http://www.thejournal.ie/moon-eclipse-ireland-friday-1134610-Oct2013/> . Let us know what you see this Friday by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie for inclusion in a report in an upcoming issue of the magazine! 2. International Space Station and the Planets The ISS will be visible in Ireland’s evening skies from until October 29th. The times the ISS will be visible will be put online each afternoon on www.astronomy.ie/iss. To get a text reminder each day the ISS is visible, text the word SPACE to 57003 (each text received costs €1; proceeds help us promote astronomy and science in Ireland). Venus, Jupiter, and Mars (near Regulus) are all on view in the evening sky over Ireland. For details, see Astronomy Ireland magazine (buy it in Dunnes Stores or online HERE <http://astronomy.ie/join> ). Be sure to email observe(a)astronomy.ie with your reports of what you see in the night sky! 3. McCrea Astronomy Lecture: Are the Laws of Physics Changing? Astronomers have investigated whether the laws and constants of physics are the same today as they were billions of years ago. This lecture will look at what these high-precision observations have been telling us and see why many physicists believe that the laws of physics may be different elsewhere in the Universe. The lecture will be delivered by Professor John D Burrow and will take place at 6pm on November 12th, 2013 in University College Cork. Admission is free, but places must be pre-booked. For details and booking, please click HERE <http://www.ria.ie/Events/Events-Listing/Biennial-McCrea-Lecture> . 4. Theatre at Dunsink: The Life of Galileo As part of the lead up to Science Week, Brecht's The Life of Galileo will be staged by the Greenwood Theatre Company in Dunsink Observatory in a specially adapted version by David Hare. As the observatory is over 200 years old, it seems like the perfect venue in which to set the play. Most of the performance will be staged in the Meridian Room where "Dublin Time" was kept but the audience will have the chance to move into the South Dome (with its large Victorian Grubb Telescope) and the Solar System Room for a number of scenes. Seating is very limited for the 3 performances and tickets (€15) can be booked through the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies website www.dias.ie by following the links to The Life of Galileo. The play takes place at Dunsink Observatory at 7:30pm on November 8th, 9th, and 10th. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6757 - Release Date: 10/17/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'Robots in Space', Late Registration on Evening Classes, Lunar Eclipse, 'The Life of Galileo'
by Conor Farrell AI 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Public Lecture Tonight: Robots in Space Robots are taking over space. They've already gone to the planets, and may even go to the stars without humans ever leaving Earth. One such spacecraft is the Cassini orbiter, which is currently travelling 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 robotic spacecraft remotely require years, often decades, of commitment by large numbers of highly skilled personnel. Cassini engineer Dr Leah-Nani Alconel will give Astronomy Ireland's October 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. The October Public Lecture, Robots in Space, will take place tonight (October 14th) at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin. Order tickets and DVDs of the lecture HERE <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201310.php> or by calling (01) 890 11 11 2. ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ Evening Classes – Late Registration Did you miss the first class of our ‘Astronomy Beginners’ course, but still want to attend? You can still enrol now, but because you missed the first class, you will get a €20 discount, meaning the enrolment fee is only €160! You can then repeat the classes you missed next February, when the course is on again. The classes take place in Trinity College Dublin each Thursday night and are ideal for people new to astronomy or for those who want to expand their knowledge on the subject. For details and enrolment, please see www.astronomy.ie/class or call (01) 890 11 11 3. Lunar Eclipse This Week People in Ireland and all over the world will get to see a penumbral eclipse of the Moon on the night of Friday, October 18th. During this type of eclipse, observers will be able to see the Full Moon darken slightly then return to normal over the space of a few hours. For more information on the eclipse, please click HERE <http://www.astronomy.ie/lunareclipse1310.php> or see page 29 of the October issue of Astronomy Ireland <http://www.astronomy.ie/join> magazine. Let us know what you see this Friday by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie for inclusion in a report in an upcoming issue of the magazine! 4. Theatre at Dunsink: The Life of Galileo As part of the lead up to Science Week, Brecht's The Life of Galileo will be staged by the Greenwood Theatre Company in Dunsink Observatory in a specially adapted version by David Hare. As the observatory is over 200 years old, it seems like the perfect venue in which to set the play. Most of the performance will be staged in the Meridian Room where "Dublin Time" was kept but the audience will have the chance to move into the South Dome (with its large Victorian Grubb Telescope) and the Solar System Room for a number of scenes. Seating is very limited for the 3 performances and tickets (€15) can be booked through the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies website www.dias.ie by following the links to The Life of Galileo. The play takes place at Dunsink Observatory at 7:30pm on November 8th, 9th, and 10th. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6741 - Release Date: 10/11/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'Robots in Space', Late Registration on Evening Classes
by AI Secretary 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Public Lecture: Robots in Space Robots are taking over space. They've already gone to the planets, and may even go to the stars without humans ever leaving Earth. One such spacecraft is the Cassini orbiter, which is currently travelling around Saturn: a planet with a dangerous environment full of ionised plasma created by both Saturn itself and its moons. Cassini engineer Dr Leah-Nani Alconel will give Astronomy Ireland's October 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. 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 Alconel 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 October Public Lecture, Robots in Space, will take place at 8pm next Monday, October 14th, in Trinity College Dublin. Order tickets and DVDs of the lecture HERE <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201310.php> or by calling (01) 890 11 11 2. ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ Evening Classes – Late Registration Did you miss the first class of our ‘Astronomy Beginners’ course, but still want to attend? You can still enrol now, but because you missed the first class, you will get a €20 discount, meaning the enrolment fee is only €160! You can then repeat the classes you missed next February, when the course is on again. The classes take place in Trinity College Dublin each Thursday night and are ideal for people new to astronomy or for those who want to expand their knowledge on the subject. For details and enrolment, please see www.astronomy.ie/class or call (01) 890 11 11 Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6741 - Release Date: 10/11/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] ISS in Front of Moon, 'Robots in Space', Evening Classes,
by Conor Farrell AI 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. ISS in Front of the Moon People living along the line from Dublin to Bantry will have a lucky opportunity to see the International Space Station tonight (Thursday) as it passes in front of the Moon! This will occur as the ISS rises in the west at 8:54pm and glides towards the Moon. Seeing the ISS pass in front of the Moon is a very rare event, so we urge everyone to go outside this evening to see it! For more details and a map of Ireland showing its path, please click HERE <http://astronomy.ie/mooniss1310.php> . People 16km either side of this path will also be able to see the ISS in front of the Moon, so even if you’re not located exactly on the line you can still see the amazing spectacle! Let us know what you see by emailing your reports and photos to observe(a)astronomy.ie The ISS will be visible in Ireland’s evening skies from until October 26th. The times the ISS will be visible will be put online each afternoon on www.astronomy.ie/iss. To get a text reminder each day the ISS is visible, text the word SPACE to 57003 (each text received costs €1; proceeds help us promote astronomy and science in Ireland). 2. Public Lecture: Robots in Space Cassini engineer Dr Leah-Nani Alconel will give Astronomy Ireland's October 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. The October Public Lecture, Robots in Space, will take place at 8pm on Monday, October 14th, in Trinity College Dublin. Order tickets and DVDs of the lecture HERE <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201310.php> or by calling (01) 890 11 11 3. ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ Evening Classes Astronomy Ireland’s ever-popular ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ evening classes begin tonight in Trinity College Dublin. The fee is only €180 and the course will cover all you need to know about astronomy when you’re starting out. This also includes a year’s membership to Astronomy Ireland. For details and enrolment, please see www.astronomy.ie/class or call (01) 890 11 11 Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6735 - Release Date: 10/09/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'Robots in Space', ISS in Front of Moon, Evening Classes, Aurora Alert
by AI Secretary 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Public Lecture: Robots in Space 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 travelling around Saturn: a planet with a dangerous environment full of ionised plasma created by both Saturn itself and its moons. Cassini engineer Dr Leah-Nani Alconel will give Astronomy Ireland's October 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. 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 Alconel 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 October Public Lecture, Robots in Space, will take place at 8pm on Monday, October 16th, in Trinity College Dublin. Order tickets and DVDs of the lecture HERE <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201310.php> or by calling (01) 890 11 11 2. ISS in front of the Moon People living along the line from Dublin to Bantry will have a lucky opportunity to see the International Space Station tomorrow night (Thursday) as it passes in front of the Moon! This will occur as the ISS rises in the west at 8:54pm before gliding towards the Moon. Let us know what you see by emailing your reports and photos to observe(a)astronomy.ie For more details and a map of Ireland showing its path, please click HERE <http://astronomy.ie/mooniss1310.php> . The ISS will be visible in Ireland’s evening skies from until October 26th. The times the ISS will be visible will be put online each afternoon on www.astronomy.ie/iss. To get a text reminder each day the ISS is visible, text the word SPACE to 57003 (each text received costs €1; proceeds help us promote astronomy and science in Ireland). 3. ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ Evening Classes Astronomy Ireland’s ever-popular ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ evening classes commence tomorrow night in Trinity College Dublin. The fee is only €180 and the course will cover all you need to know about astronomy when you’re starting out. This also includes a year’s membership to Astronomy Ireland. For details and enrolment, please see www.astronomy.ie/class or call (01) 890 11 11 4. Aurora Alert A geomagnetic storm is currently taking place with auroral activity expected to continue all day. Due to the strength of the storm, there may be a chance to see northern lights over Ireland tonight, particularly from the northern half of the island. There is no particular good place too view the aurora: simply find any place away from streetlights with a clear northern horizon if at all possible. Let us know what you see by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie so that we can publish your report in our magazine. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6735 - Release Date: 10/09/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] Moon and Venus Tonight, Evening Classes, 'Robots in Space', BBC The Sky at Night
by AI Secretary 08 Oct '13

08 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. The Moon and Venus Tonight The Moon and Venus will be located next to each other in the south-west sky as the Sun sets. This is a spectacular sight and we urge everyone to go out and see it! Please see page 22 of the October issue of Astronomy Ireland <http://www.astronomy.ie/join> magazine for more details (and while you’re at it, see page 29 for details of the October 18th lunar eclipse!). Send your observation reports and photos to observe(a)astronomy.ie for publication in our magazine. 2. Astronomy Evening Classes Thousands of you have taken our ever-popular ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ evening classes to date, and the demand for them is as strong as ever! The evening classes commence again this week on Thursday, October 10th, and take place in Trinity College Dublin. In the ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ classes you will learn about finding your way around the night sky, how telescopes work, the Sun and planets in the Solar System, and much more! Everyone should do these classes, is they will help you keep up to date with the exciting celestial events taking place over the coming year, including Comet ISON, northern lights, Chinese spacecraft going to the Moon, and more! The classes are only €180 and are suitable for people starting out in astronomy. Enrol online at www.astronomy.ie/class or call (01) 890 11 11. Listen to David Moore speak on NEAR FM about the evening classes and upcoming celestial events HERE <http://astronomy.ie/audio/NearFM_131008.mp3> . 3. Public Lecture: Robots in Space 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 will be a very risky business. The October Public Lecture, Robots in Space, will take place at 8pm on Monday, October 14th, in Trinity College Dublin. Order tickets and DVDs of the lecture HERE <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201310.php> or by calling (01) 890 11 11 4. BBC The Sky at Night In this episode the team are at a star party to answer questions about astronomy and telescopes. TSAN OCTOBER 2013 Thu Oct. 10 at 7:30pm BBC Four Fri Oct. 11 at 1:30am BBC Four Sat Oct. 12 at 9:50am BBC Two Sun Oct. 13 at 12:55am BBC Four Note that the BBC1 and BBC2 programmes are shorter versions (20 minutes). Try to watch BBC FOUR transmissions (30 minutes) All of the Sky At Night team have now given public lectures to Astronomy Ireland, all of which you can get on DVD by post at www.astronomy.ie/dvd Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6729 - Release Date: 10/07/13

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'Robots in Space', World Space Week, Aurora Over Ireland, The Sky at Night
by AI Secretary 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

Classes <http://astronomy.ie/class/> Membership <http://www.astronomy.ie/sub/index.html> DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 1. Public Lecture: Robots in Space Cassini engineer Dr Leah-Nani Alconel will give Astronomy Ireland's October 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 travelling 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 Alconel 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 October Public Lecture, Robots in Space, will take place at 8pm on Monday, October 14th, in Trinity College Dublin. Order tickets and DVDs of the lecture HERE <http://astronomy.ie/lecture201310.php> or by calling (01) 890 11 11 2. World Space Week: October 4th to 10th Today marks the beginning of World Space Week, and there is a fantastic series of events taking place in Trinity College Dublin. On Saturday, October 5th, Leo Enright (who is giving talks on our Northern Lights Cruise later this year) will interview Dr Paul Byrne, a NASA scientist working on the Messenger mission to Mercury. On Friday, October 11th, Astronomy Ireland member and science author Kevin Nolan will deliver a fascinating talk called Exploring Mars, Discovering Earth. For more information on the talks and events taking place during world space week, please visit www.spaceweek.ie 3. Aurora Over Ireland A couple of days ago a coronal mass ejection from the Sun triggered a display of northern lights. Unexpectedly, the aurora even appeared over Ireland! If you saw the display or managed to get a photograph, please let us know by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie so that we can publish your report in an upcoming issue of Astronomy Ireland magazine. 4. BBC The Sky at Night The next episode of The Sky at Night is on BBC One NI at 11:45pm on Sunday, where the team are at a star party to answer questions about astronomy and telescopes. The rest of the week’s repeats will follow in the next email. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> ) _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.3408 / Virus Database: 3222/6722 - Release Date: 10/04/13

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