Classes    Membership    DVD

1.  Kerry Dark Sky Reserve

A 700km-square region in South West Kerry has become the first gold standard dark sky reserve in the Northern Hemisphere. This was awarded by the International Dark Sky Association following hard work undertaken by the Kerry Dark Sky Group and the Kerry Astronomy Club. It is hoped that this will now attract astronomers from around the world and help to kick-start the region’s ‘astro-tourism’.

David Moore of Astronomy Ireland was recently in Kerry to film a special programme for TV3 about dark skies, which will be broadcast in the coming weeks, and he took a photo of the Kerry sky to compare it to that of Dublin. The photo appeared in Astronomy Ireland magazine and really shows the excellent quality of the Kerry sky without light pollution! David has also done a number of radio interviews over the last couple of days about this fantastic achievement, and you can listen to them online at www.astronomy.ie/audio

2.  Astronomy Evening Classes

Our popular astronomy evening classes commence again next week on Wednesday, February 5^th.

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:

·         Solar maximum has just passed so we can expect more northern lights displays

·         Mars will be at its closest to Earth early this year

·         The Rosetta spacecraft will place a lander on a comet

·         Jupiter is blazing brightly in the evening sky

·         And maybe we’ll even have our first Irish astronaut!

Enrolling on the evening classes also includes a year’s membership to Astronomy Ireland with a 12-month subscription to our magazine. So, with the classes, you’ll be able to follow all the latest news and events in space and astronomy!

Enrol on ‘Astronomy for Beginners’ and find out more by clicking on www.astronomy.ie/class

These classes are a great activity to get you started in astronomy, so be sure to bring family and friends, too!

3.  Public Lecture: Our Dynamic Sun

The Sun should now be finishing the peak of its activity cycle, but strangely, this whole cycle has been relatively quiet compared to previous ones. However, over the past few years, astronomers have been monitoring the Sun like never before, with several observatories in space watching our nearest star: SoHO, SDO, Stereo, and others.

In our Public Lecture on February 10^th, Dr Helen Mason from Cambridge University will deliver a roundup of the last solar maximum now that we have passed the peak in a fascinating talk about what we have learned about the Sun so far, including the solar cycle, solar flares, and how the star causes ‘space weather’ and affects us on Earth.

Our Dynamic Sun takes place on Monday, February 10^th at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin. For more information and to book tickets or order DVDs, please click HERE.

3.  Galway Astronomy Festival

This weekend sees the return of the Galway Astronomy Festival, which takes place in the Westwood House Hotel in Galway City on Saturday, February 1^st.

"City of Stars" is the theme for this year’s event with an emphasis on how our exploration of the Cosmos has inspired communities and cultures in Galway that would not otherwise do so, to think about the Universe. The gathering for amateur astronomers will have talks, exhibitions, trade stands, fine food and observing in Connemara under some of the darkest skies in Europe. Everyone is welcome to attend in friendship, to exchange information, successful stargazing and mutual progress.

For more information about the Astronomy Festival, please visit the Galway Astronomy Club website at www.galwayastronomyclub.ie

Astronomy Ireland

The world's most popular astronomy club

www.astronomy.ie

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