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

[Astronomy Ireland] International Space Station, European Space Expo, Asteroid Passes Tonight, The Sky at Night
by AI Secretary 31 May '13

31 May '13

Membership DVD Shop 1. International Space Station Over Ireland The biggest and most expensive spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), will be visible in our evening skies from next Tuesday, and will continue to be visible until June 16th. 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). 2. European Space Expo The European Space Expo takes place in Trinity College Dublin from June 4th to 9th. The interactive expo will feature a dome in which visitors can learn about space exploration and how it benefits society. Each day, there will be a number of 'Soap-Box Talks' in which some of Ireland's well-known scientists will deliver a talk on their field of expertise. Visitors will have an opportunity to control a telescope on the Canary Islands and to take photos of the Sun. Admission to the European Space Expo is free, and more information can be found at www.spaceexpo.ie 2. Asteroid 1998 QE2 Passes Earth Tonight The 2.7km-wide asteroid, 1998 QE2, and its newly-discovered moon will pass Earth later this evening. While there is no risk of impact (it will be more than 15 times further away than the Moon), the massive object will be close enough for astronomers to study its surface and to improve information on its orbit around the Sun. A number of websites will broadcast video of this 'close encounter' online. Find out more about the asteroid and where to watch it online HERE. 3. The Sky at Night The Sky at Night team will look at 'The Lives of Stars' in their upcoming episode. The first broadcast will be on BBC One Northern Ireland at 11:40pm on Sunday (and BBC One HD). A full list of repeats and extended shows will be sent out on this newsletter on Tuesday. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Public Lecture: Meteorites, Trip to Norway, Asteroid to Pass Earth
by AI Secretary 30 May '13

30 May '13

Membership DVD Shop 1. Public Lecture: Meteorites: Myth, Mystery, and Marvel Meteorites are meteors that originate in outer space and eventually fall to earth. They have always been the subject of fascination right throughout history. Some become very visible in the form of fireballs before they hit Earth, as was the case with the recent Chelabinsk meteorite in Russia, which injured many people and damaged buildings. It is a widely held theory that a large meteorite wiped out the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period. It has recently been discovered that some relics from Ancient Egypt were made from iron that came from meteorites. Until now, archaeologists couldn't explain why iron was found in artefacts that dated thousands of years before iron smelting took place in Egypt. Iron from meteorites was likely to be considered a gift from the gods, and the metal was associated with royalty and power. Astronomy Ireland's June Public Lecture will seek to examine the myths and legends, and the fact and fiction, behind these invaders from outer space. Meteorites: Myth, Mystery, and Marvel will be delivered by Dr Caroline Smith, Curator of Meteorites at the Natural History Museum in London. The lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin on June 10th at 8pm. For tickets and DVDs, please click HERE or call Astronomy Ireland on (01) 890 11 11. 2. Northern Lights Voyage in Norway Astronomy Ireland is delighted to announce that we are running our third trip to Norway this December in conjunction with Project Travel. a special trip to the Artic to give you a unique and memorable experience in astronomy. We'll be spending all five nights above the Arctic Circle in Norway, thereby maximising our chances of seeing the mysterious Northern Lights. This trip also includes a three-day cruise along the beautiful Norwegian coast. Life on board the MS Nordlys is very relaxed and informal and you'll have plenty of time to take in the wonderful views from the ship's Panoramic Lounge. We'll have our own special guest lecturer travelling with us who will give us a private lecture on an astronomy-related theme every day on board and who will guide us around the night sky from the deck. The trip takes place from December 1st to 6th, and is only €1879 per person sharing. For full details on booking and the itinerary, please visit www.astronomy.ie/norway or contact Project Travel at (01) 210 8391. 2. Asteroid 1998 QE2 to Pass Earth Tomorrow Following in the vein of meteorites and fireballs, a 1.7 mile wide asteroid will pass near Earth tomorrow, May 31st. While there is no risk of impact (it will be more than 15 times further away than the Moon), the massive object will be close enough for astronomers to study its surface and to improve information on its orbit around the Sun. This asteroid will likely attract media attention over the coming days, so be sure to listen out for our interviews on radio! You can listen to radio interviews about this asteroid and everything about astronomy on our website at www.astronomy.ie/audio Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Planet Trio Conjunction Tonight, Astronomy Summer School
by AI Secretary 28 May '13

28 May '13

Membership DVD Shop 1. Planet Trio Conjunction Tonight! After sunset tonight, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury will be placed very close together in the Western sky, just above the horizon, in a spectacular and beautiful conjunction. It's estimated that only 1% of people in the world have every seen Mercury, so now is your chance to spot the elusive planet while you still can! David Moore of Astronomy Ireland last night captured a photo of the trio when they weren't quite as close as they will be tonight. View the image HERE (you can get a full-size version HERE). We want YOU to go outside tonight after sunset at try to spot the three planets, at approximately 10pm as it gets dark (but try to observe between sunset at 11pm). Venus will be the bright object to the right of the group with Jupiter to the left. Mercury will be at the top, above the other two planets. Let Astronomy Ireland know what you saw by sending your reports and photographs to observe(a)astronomy.ie for publication in an upcoming issue of Astronomy Ireland magazine. 2. Astronomy Summer School Understanding the Universe is a brand new set of astronomy classes to help stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts understand how the Universe works. Designed for people who know their way around the sky, the course will give students a chance to learn about modern observing techniques, how radio telescopes work, modern cosmology, star formation and structure, space exploration, and lots more! Understanding the Universe will introduce you to concepts in physics and technology to help you understand what goes on inside stars to make them shine, how we can observe the Universe using x-rays and radio waves, how robotics and space travel have opened up new ways for us to study space, and how the Universe itself came into being. The new course will take place in Trinity College Dublin, and commences on July 17th. It will take place each Wednesday over eight weeks. The course fee is €180 which will include membership to Astronomy Ireland (€130 for people who are already members). For more information and enrolment, please visit www.astronomy.ie/summerschool Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Fireball, Lunar Eclipse
by AI Secretary 24 May '13

24 May '13

Membership DVD Shop 1. Fireball Spotted Over Ireland A massive fireball was spotted blazing across the Irish sky on Wednesday night by thousands of people across the country. We have received reports from people from all over Ireland who saw the spectacle on Wednesday, at approximately 10:45pm. This exceptionally big and bright meteor is known as a fireball, and can in some cases contain as much energy as an atomic bomb. Fireballs are often big enough to survive the fall through Earth's atmosphere, and can sometimes drop fragments of space rock down to Earth's surface. The fireball is likely to be a piece of a comet or asteroid that passed near Earth's orbit sometime in the past, or the result of debris floating in space left over from when the Solar System and the planets formed billions of years ago. If you saw the meteor, please send in your report HERE. We will gather reports and perform an analysis over the coming week. With enough results, it will be possible to determine where any meteorites may have landed! 2. Lunar Eclipse Tomorrow Morning On May 25th, the very edge of the Moon will pass through Earth's penumbral shadow. So, while an eclipse will take place, it will be effectively "invisible" to observers on the ground. However, if you do manage to get any photos with special photographic techniques, please let us know by emailing observe(a)astronomy.ie. The time of greatest eclipse will be at 5:10am Irish time on Saturday morning. You can find out more about the eclipse and the Moon's path through Earth's shadow HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Astronomy Summer School
by AI Secretary 23 May '13

23 May '13

Membership DVD Shop Astronomy Summer School Understanding the Universe is a brand new set of intermediate astronomy classes to help stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts understand how the Universe works. Designed as a "next step" for people who have done our regular beginner's evening classes, or for those who are already familiar with the sky, the course will give students a chance to learn about modern observing techniques, how radio telescopes work, modern cosmology, star formation and structure, space exploration, and lots more! Understanding the Universe will introduce you to concepts in physics and technology to help you understand what goes on inside stars to make them shine, how we can observe the Universe using x-rays and radio waves, how robotics and space travel have opened up new ways for us to study space, and how the Universe itself came into being. The new course will take place in Trinity College Dublin, and commences on July 17th. It will take place each Wednesday over eight weeks. The course fee is €180 which will include membership to Astronomy Ireland (€130 for people who are already members). For more information and enrolment, please visit www.astronomy.ie/summerschool Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Public Lecture, Near-Earth Asteroid, Lunar Eclipse
by AI Secretary 22 May '13

22 May '13

Membership DVD Shop 1. Public Lecture: Meteorites: Myth, Mystery, and Marvel Meteorites are meteors that originate in outer space and eventually fall to earth. They have always been the subject of fascination right throughout history. Some become very visible in the form of fireballs before they hit Earth, as was the case with the recent Chelabinsk meteorite in Russia, which injured many people and damaged buildings. It is a widely held theory that a large meteorite wiped out the dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period. Astronomy Ireland's June Public Lecture will seek to examine fact and fiction behind these invaders from outer space. Meteorites: Myth, Mystery, and Marvel will be delivered by Dr Caroline Smith, Curator of Meteorites at the Natural History Museum in London. The lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin on June 10th at 8pm. For tickets and DVDs, please click HERE. 2. Asteroid 1998 QE2 to Pass Close to Earth Following in the vein of meteorites and fireballs, a 1.7 mile wide asteroid will pass near Earth on May 31st. While there is no risk of impact (it will be more than 15 times further away than the Moon), the massive object will be close enough for astronomers to study its surface and to improve information on its orbit around the Sun. Undoubtedly, this asteroid will attract media attention over the coming fortnight, so be sure to listen out for our interviews on radio! You can listen to radio interviews on our website at www.astronomy.ie/audio 3. Minor Lunar Eclipse On May 25th, the very edge of the Moon will pass through Earth's penumbral shadow. So, while an eclipse will take place, it will be effectively "invisible" to observers on the ground. You can find out more about the eclipse and the Moon's path through Earth's shadow HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] RTE News, Evening Herald, Cormac O'Raifeartaigh
by AI Secretary 14 May '13

14 May '13

Summer Sale Membership DVD Shop 1. A.I. on RTE TV News David Moore of Astronomy Ireland was today interviewed by Will Goodbody of RTE News about the return to Earth of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield and two others of the Expedition 35 crew, Roman Romanenko and Tom Marshburn. Hadfield has shot to fame thanks to his interaction with people over the Internet throughout his mission, and he gained a special following by Irish people when he tweeted the first Irish words from space, and sang 'Danny Boy' on St Patrick's Day. David's RTE interview will be broadcast this evening on the Six One News. If you miss it, be sure to check www.youtube.ie/astronomyireland where we will have it saved after it is broadcast. We plan to invite Commander Hadfield to speak in Dublin in the future - stay tuned! 2. A.I. in the Evening Herald Astronomy Ireland's Conor Farrell was in last Friday's Evening Herald talking about the fireball spotted over the UK and the east of Ireland. Conor gave his explanation as to where the fireball may have come from, and gave advice on how to best watch out for meteors in the sky. You can read the piece online HERE. If you have a copy of that issue of the Evening Herald, we would be grateful if you could post us that page to the address on www.astronomy.ie/map so that we can save it in our scrapbook for posterity! If you or anyone you know say the fireball, please send us a report at www.astronomy.ie/fireball 3. Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh in The Irish Times Astronomy Ireland regular speaker Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh features in today's Irish Times, where he gives an account of a week in his life. Dr O'Raifeartaigh is a renowned Irish physicist based in Waterford IT, who has given several extremely popular lectures for Astronomy Ireland where he explained everything from the Big Bang and the origins of the Universe right up to modern physics at CERN and the likely discovery of the famous Higgs Boson. Order DVDs of his lectures on www.astronomy.ie/DVD You can read the piece in the Irish Times either in print or online HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] International Speaker: 'The Billion Euro Telescope', Astrophotography Exhibition in West Cork, Dr Brian May in Irish Times
by AI Secretary 10 May '13

10 May '13

Summer Sale Membership DVD Shop 2. International Speaker for Lecture & DVD: The Billion Euro Telescope Astronomy Ireland welcomes an international speaker for its May Public Lecture about a billion euro telescope, the ALMA Project in Chile! Dr John Richer from the University of Cambridge is the UK Project Scientist for ALMA, and he will explain in this lecture how the facility will allow astronomers to peer deep inside star-forming regions of galaxies, otherwise invisible to telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope. It will enable transformational research into the physics of the cold Universe, probe the first stars and galaxies, and directly image the formation of planets. ALMA - short for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array - is an extremely important project in science and when completed it can effectively configure its 50 individual telescopes to act as a single large telescope 16km across! It is the biggest and most expensive ground-based astronomical project being built at over a billion euro already. The lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin next Monday, May 13th, at 8pm. To book tickets or to order DVDs, please click HERE or call (01) 890 11 11. 2. Astrophotography Exhibition Opens Tonight Astronomy Ireland member and Cork Coordinator Denis Walsh opens his exhibition called Astrophotography & Cosmotography in Beara Dark Sky tonight, Friday, May 10th, at 9pm. The exhibition will feature some of Denis's breathtaking shots of the night sky, and it will take place in the Allihies Copper Mine Museum in Beara, West Cork. All are welcome to attend. For information on the museum's activities please visit www.acmm.ie 3. Dr Brian May in The Irish Times Astrophysicist and world-renowned musician was interviewed by journalist and Astronomy Ireland member Ronan McGreevy in yesterday's Irish Times. Dr May talked about his recent return to astronomy to complete his doctorate thesis that he began in the 1970s before he shot to fame with Queen, and how his love for astronomy was supported by his friend, the late Sir Patrick Moore. If you missed the print edition of the Irish Times yesterday, you can read the article online HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Watch Eclipse of the Sun Online, Public Lecture: The Billion Euro Telescope
by AI Secretary 09 May '13

09 May '13

Summer Sale Membership DVD Shop 1. Watch Eclipse of the Sun Online While not visible from Ireland, people in Australia and the South Pacific will get to see a Solar Eclipse later on. However, people in Ireland and elsewhere can watch the eclipse live from 10pm Irish time via a live broadcast from the Coca-Cola Space Science Center in Australia. You can watch the broadcast HERE. QUIRKY FACT: The next total eclipse of the Sun visible from Ireland is not until the afternoon of Saturday, September 23rd in 2090. But even then it is total only from the extreme southwest of Ireland. The rest of the country will have to wait until just after sunrise on the morning of Monday, May 5th, 2600! We'll be organising eclipse trips out of Ireland before then, though, just like our highly successful trips to Bulgaria in 1999 and Turkey in 2006! 2. Public Lecture: The Billion Euro Telescope Astronomy Ireland welcomes an international speaker for its May Public Lecture about a billion euro telescope, the ALMA Project in Chile! Dr John Richer from the University of Cambridge is the UK Project Scientist for ALMA, and he will explain in this lecture how the facility will allow astronomers to peer deep inside star-forming regions of galaxies, otherwise invisible to telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope. It will enable transformational research into the physics of the cold Universe, probe the first stars and galaxies, and directly image the formation of planets. ALMA - short for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array - is an extremely important project in science and when completed it can effectively configure its 50 individual telescopes to act as a single large telescope 16km across! It is the biggest and most expensive ground-based astronomical project being built at over a billion euro already. The lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin next Monday, May 13th, at 8pm. To book tickets or to order DVDs, please click HERE or call (01) 890 11 11. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] 'The Billion Euro Telescope', The Sky at Night, Saturn Watch
by AI Secretary 07 May '13

07 May '13

Spring Sale Membership DVD Shop 1. Public Lecture: The Billion Euro Telescope Astronomy Ireland welcomes an international speaker for its May Public Lecture about a billion euro telescope, the ALMA Project in Chile! Dr John Richer from the University of Cambridge is the UK Project Scientist for ALMA, and he will explain in this lecture how the facility will allow astronomers to peer deep inside star-forming regions of galaxies, otherwise invisible to telescopes such as the Hubble Space Telescope. It will enable transformational research into the physics of the cold Universe, probe the first stars and galaxies, and directly image the formation of planets. ALMA - short for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array - is an extremely important project in science and when completed it can effectively configure its 50 individual telescopes to act as a single large telescope 16km across! It is the biggest and most expensive ground-based astronomical project being built at over a billion euro already. The lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin next Monday, May 13th, at 8pm. To book tickets or to order DVDs, please click HERE or call (01) 890 11 11. 2. "The Sky at Night" BBC May 2013 Stunning Saturn: With Saturn in our evening skies, the team investigate the storm that is still raging in the planet's atmosphere, and illustrate Saturn's 'opposition effect'. TSAN MAY 2013 Mon May 06 at 12:05am BBC 1 Northern Ireland Mon May 06 at 12:05am BBC One HD Thu May 09 at 07:30pm BBC FOUR Fri May 10 at 01:50am BBC FOUR Sat May 11 at 11:10am BBC 2 Northern Ireland Sat May 11 at 11:10am BBC Two HD Sun May 12 at 01:05am 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 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. Saturn Watch Saturn is now in evening skies and a truly spectacular sight in a powerful telescope. Would you like us to organise a Saturn Watch at our Telescope Shop in Airside Enterprise Centre (next to Dublin Airport)? If so, what day of the week do you prefer and can you help us organise and run it? Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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