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

[Astronomy Ireland] Office Wanted, Volunteer Now
by AI Secretary 28 Jun '13

28 Jun '13

Summer School Membership DVD 1. Office Space Wanted for A.I. Astronomy Ireland is seeking a small office in the Dublin area. Anything from 200 square feet up would suffice, to house two desks, filing cabinets, and usual office equipment. We are a non-profit organisation, and we do not require a large amount of space. If you can help us search for premises or know of any suitable offices, please get in touch immediately. If you know of any company that could accommodate Astronomy Ireland as sponsorship or at no charge, we would love to hear from you. Also, if you're free during the day or evening to help us pack or move (including transport), let us know. We may also want to store some archive material, so please let us know if you have storage space available. This move will not affect any services, such as our magazine, lectures/DVDs, Summer School, Star-B-Q, etc., which are all on schedule. 2. Volunteers Wanted Do you have any spare time to devote to promoting interest in astronomy with Astronomy Ireland. If so, we are seeking volunteers to join our committee and help expand the organisation to deliver better services to members and the general public across all 32 counties of Ireland. Please email us at sec(a)astronomy.ie if you can help! Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] RTE's Pat Kenny, Summer School, Summer Lecture, Free Magazines and Telescope Tubes
by AI Secretary 27 Jun '13

27 Jun '13

Summer School Membership DVD Shop 1. Astronomy on RTE's Pat Kenny Show Astronomy Ireland Chairman and magazine editor, David Moore, will be interviewed for his regular spot on Today with Pat Kenny on Monday morning (July 1st) to talk about all things astronomy! The piece will be broadcast between 10am and 12pm on RTE Radio One. If you miss it, you can listen back to the show on our audio archive at www.astronomy.ie/audio We hope to cover a list of great topics on the show. Get a sneak preview HERE. Please reply to this email after the show with your comments. 2. Astronomy Summer School Our new set of Evening Classes commences on July 17th in Trinity College Dublin, and will run for eight weeks. Lots of people have booked already, and we expect a huge influx when it's featured on national radio on Monday! For further information and enrolment, please visit www.astronomy.ie/summerschool 3. Summer Lecture: Are We Alone? Following RTE's Nine News on Tuesday (see HERE) our special Summer Lecture couldn't have been better timed! No expense is being spared flying in a world expert from Cambridge University in the UK. The habitable zone of a nearby star is filled to the brim with planets that could support alien life. The three planets are in the star's "Goldilocks Zone" - the temperature region around the star where liquid water - and also life - could exist. This makes us wonder if there are planets out there that are home to intelligent civilisations. Our Summer Public Lecture on July 8th will be delivered by an international speaker who is an expert on exoplanets and will explore the possibility of alien life existing elsewhere in our galaxy, and whether humankind will ever get to meet it. This lecture is aimed at the general public, and we want everyone to bring their family and friends. Are We Alone? takes place in Trinity College Dublin July 8th at 8pm. To book tickets or order DVDs, please click HERE. 4. Free Magazines and Telescope Tubes €100,000 worth of Astronomy Ireland magazines is being given away free of charge this week, and Friday is your last chance to collect thousands of exciting articles, especially with space news of an Irish slant. We also have some telescope tubes from the days when we used to manufacture telescopes, also worth thousands of euro. These tubes are ideal for anyone interested in building their own telescope, and come in a range of diameters from 6" up. Come and collect as many as you want for personal use, clubs, school libraries, etc., before they are all recycled! You can find us at Unit A8, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords. Click HERE for a map and directions. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Free Magazines and Telescope Tubes!!!
by AI Secretary 24 Jun '13

24 Jun '13

Summer School Membership DVD Shop Free Magazines and Telescope Tubes We are clearing our warehouse of old items and now have a number of things to give away free of charge to anyone interested. Items will be available to pick up from tomorrow, Tuesday, June 25th, for a day or two, from 10am to 10pm. BACK ISSUES OF MAGAZINE We have thousands of back issues of our magazines - Astronomy Ireland and Astronomy & Space - going back several years, free to pick up. These magazines are ideal for collectors and those interested in historical news of Irish astronomy. They would also make a fantastic addition to a school library! FREE TUBES FOR TELESCOPE BUILDERS We also have an assortment of free telescope tubes which would suit people building their own telescopes. Sizes range from 6" up to 20", but hurry, as we only have a small number of these worth hundreds of euro! Astronomy Ireland is located at Unit A8, Airside Enterprise Centre, Swords. You can view a map of the location at www.astronomy.ie/map Links and Events Join Astronomy Ireland and get our magazine here: www.astronomy.ie/join Book our international speaker lecture (or order a DVD) HERE Book Summer School places HERE Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Moon and Saturn Tonight, Prof Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Northern Lights Voyage
by AI Secretary 19 Jun '13

19 Jun '13

Summer School Membership DVD Shop 1. The Moon and Saturn in the Sky Tonight Tonight, Wednesday, June 19th, a spectacular celestial event known as a conjunction will take place where the Moon and the ringed-planet Saturn will be placed next to each other. Conjunctions like this can be rare and we are urging everyone to go outside and use the Moon as a 'signpost' to find Saturn to the upper right of the Moon. Not only will Saturn be placed to the left of the Moon, but the bright star Spica will also be in the region, forming a beautiful trio in the night sky! Saturn and the Moon will be close together all night until they set in the west, so you will be able to see the conjunction as soon as it gets dark. The celestial pair will at their highest in the sky around 10:30pm, and may be easiest to see around then. Astronomy Ireland asks people who see the Moon and Saturn tonight to email their observation reports to observe(a)astronomy.ie to be included in an upcoming issue of the organisation's monthly magazine, Astronomy Ireland. 2. An Audience With Jocelyn Bell Burnell Friends of Astronomy Ireland on this email newsletter are invited by the European Parliament Information Office and Women in Technology and Science to attend a special afternoon with Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, renowned astronomer and discoverer of pulsars. Ms Bell Burnell has been President of the Royal Astronomical Society, the Institute of Physics and was recently elected Pro-Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin and is currently visiting Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University. The event will conclude with an interview covering Ms Bell Burnell's work over her long and distinguished career. The event will take place on Thursday, June 20th, at 12:00pm noon at 43 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Please RSVP to book your place by emailing epdublin(a)ep.europa.eu or phoning (01) 605 7900. 3. 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. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Treat Your Dad This Father's Day, An Audience With Jocelyn Bell Burnell
by AI Secretary 12 Jun '13

12 Jun '13

----- Original Message ----- From: AI Secretary To: all(a)astronomy.ie Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 4:53 PM Subject: Treat Your Dad This Father's Day, An Audience With Jocelyn Bell Burnell Summer School Membership DVD Shop 1. Treat Your Dad This Father's Day Does your dad like to spend hours outside looking into space? Does he like to read up on all things astronomy? Does he avidly watch the weather forecast to find out when he can next bring out his telescope? If your dad is a fan of space and astronomy, why not help him bring his knowledge "out of this world" in our Understanding the Universe Astronomy Evening Classes, beginning next month! Understanding the Universe will introduce the space enthusiast 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. Of course, our new Astronomy Classes aren't just for dads: we want everyone who wants to know more about the Universe to come along! The 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 2. An Audience With Jocelyn Bell Burnell Friends of Astronomy Ireland on this email newsletter are invited by the European Parliament Information Office and Women in Technology and Science to attend a special afternoon with Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, renowned astronomer and discoverer of pulsars. Ms Bell Burnell has been President of the Royal Astronomical Society, the Institute of Physics and was recently elected Pro-Chancellor of Trinity College Dublin and is currently visiting Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University. The event will conclude with an interview covering Ms Bell Burnell's work over her long and distinguished career. The event will take place on Thursday, June 20th, at 12:00pm noon at 43 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. Please RSVP to book your place by emailing epdublin(a)ep.europa.eu or phoning (01) 605 7900. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Summer Public Lecture, European Space Expo, Astronomy Summer School
by AI Secretary 07 Jun '13

07 Jun '13

Membership DVD Shop SUMMER PUBLIC LECTURE MONDAY JUNE 10 AT 8PM Following the huge explosion over Russia earlier this year (Feb. 15) that injured over 1,000 people we are delighted to announce that the curator of one of the best collections of rocks from space at the Natural History Museum in London will give Astronomy Ireland's Summer Public Lecture on June 10th in Dublin. This talk will also be made available on DVD for everyone in the country. Dr Caroline Smith is a world authority on meteorites and she has won awards for her research into analysing. She is currently planning to send a spacecraft to Mars to bring rock samples back to Earth for analysis. She has been interviewed many time by the media and is a brilliant speaker. After the record close approach of that other asteroid (2012 DA14), the similar explosion to the Russian one that occurred in Argentina more recently, and the huge 3km wide 1998 QE2 that sailed past Earth last week, it's clear that we live on a planet in a veritable cosmic shooting gallery. Vast numbers of species have been wiped out in the past by big impacts, not just the dinosaurs, and about two meteorites per year land on Ireland and many more fireballs brighter than the Moon are reported to Astronomy Ireland every year. So, I hope you will join me to hear a world authority talk about this fascinating subject. Remember, you are more likely to be killed by a meteorite impact than in a plane crash! For tickets and DVDs, please visit www.astronomy.ie David Moore Chairman, Astronomy Ireland 2. European Space Expo The European Space Expo is underway in Trinity College Dublin and will continue until June 9th. Admission to the European Space Expo is free, and you can view the programme of events online at www.spaceexpo.ie/programme 3. 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. The new course will take place in Trinity College Dublin, and commences on July 17th. For more information and enrolment, please visit www.astronomy.ie/summerschool 4. International Space Station The ISS is visible over Ireland in our evening and early morning skies at the moment. For the times to see the Space Station (plus other interesting info about planets it passes, etc.) visit www.astronomy.ie/iss Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] European Space Expo Underway, International Space Station at 10:47pm
by AI Secretary 05 Jun '13

05 Jun '13

Membership DVD Shop 1. European Space Expo The European Space Expo is underway in Trinity College Dublin and will continue until June 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. The Space Expo featured on RTE News yesterday, which can be viewed HERE. Admission to the European Space Expo is free, and you can view the programme of events online at www.spaceexpo.ie/programme 2. International Space Station at 10:47pm The biggest and most expensive spacecraft ever put in orbit, the International Space Station (ISS), will be visible over Ireland tonight at 10:47pm, where it will pass close to Saturn in the south. 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). Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )

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[Astronomy Ireland] Public Lecture: Meteorites, International Space Station, Trip to Norway, The Sky at Night
by AI Secretary 04 Jun '13

04 Jun '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. 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 tonight, and will continue to be visible until June 16th. The launch of a resupply ATV later this week means we may even get to see a space chase! Each afternoon Astronomy Ireland will publish the times the ISS will be visible at www.astronomy.ie/iss and you can also receive daily reminders of this time by texting the word SPACE to 57003 (subscription service; one message will be sent each day the ISS is visible and it costs €1 per message received). 3. 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. 4. BBC's The Sky at Night Lives of the Stars: Lucie Green and Chris Lintott discuss stars and what happens to them when they die. TSAN JUNE 2013 Sun June 02 at 11:40pm BBC 1 Northern Ireland Sun June 02 at 11:40pm BBC One HD Thu June 06 at 07:30pm BBC FOUR Fri June 07 at 01:30am BBC FOUR Sat June 08 at 08:40am BBC 2 Northern Ireland Sat June 08 at 08:40am BBC Two HD 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 )

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