1. Ireland at Forefront of Global Telescope Network

Do you love using telescopes to peer out into the Universe? Well, the latest trend is to use robotic telescopes that can be controlled from anywhere in the world by everyday people, and Irish scientists are at the forefront of these new advancements!

In a major public lecture for Astronomy Ireland, Irish professor Lorraine Hanlon will talk about this telescope network known as GLORIA: GLObal Robotic-telescopes Intelligent Array.

GLORIA will be the first free and open-access network of robotics telescopes around the world, that can be used anybody with an interest in astronomy, not just professional astronomers! As the network of robotic telescopes collects vast amounts of data, the community of users will become "citizen scientists" and play a major role in analysing images from deep space.

Professor Hanlon from the UCD Department of Physics will deliver this lecture on Monday, April 29th. She will tell guests at the lecture all about how the GLORIA network of robotic telescopes will work and how people can get involved in using the high-tech equipment.

The lecture will take place in Trinity College Dublin on Monday, April 29th, at 8pm.

For tickets and DVDs of the lecture, please click HERE or call (01) 890 11 11.

2. The International Space Station Visible Over Ireland

Lots of people have spotted the International Space Station and sent in reports of their sightings. You can get daily prediction on our website HERE of when to see biggest and most expensive spacecraft ever over Ireland.

Viewing the ISS is an unforgettable sight, and if you haven't seen it yet, you will be amazed at how brightly it glows in the evening sky as it blazes through the heavens!

Commander Chris Hadfield, currently on board the giant space station, made headlines recently when he tweeted a photo of Dublin along with the first Irish phrase sent from space: "Tá Éire fíoralainn!" The Canadian astronaut has a special link to Ireland as his daughter lives in Ireland.

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).

If you see the ISS, be sure to email us at observe@astronomy.ie so we can include your observation report in an upcoming issue of Astronomy Ireland.

3. Comet PANSTARRS Still Visible

Famous Comet PANSTARRS is now visible throughout the night. Even when it's due north it is still 20 degrees above the horizon, and inside the "W" of the constellation Cassiopeia. For a map on exactly where to see PANSTARRS, please see Astronomy Ireland magazine.

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