1.  STAR-B-Q:  Note that March 31 is the last date to book tickets at the Astronomy Ireland STAR-B-Q (April 29) at the reduced rate of 25euro per person. This is the biggest gathering of astronomy fans in Ireland every year and will take place at a dark sky site near Roundwood, Co. Wicklow. We'll have the biggest portable telescopes in Ireland to show you the wonders of the universe and especially the planet Jupiter up-close. Tickets include food and soft drinks as always with proceeds going to Astronomy Ireland, a non-profit group. More details, pictures and that all important booking form have just been updated at:  www.astronomy.ie/sbqApril2005.html  More photos are due soon.  BOOK ONLINE NOW or call number below when we're open. See you there!
 
 
2.  PLANET X LECTURE   and   A.I. Radio Show NOW ONLINE
Our March Leinster Area Public Lecture by Eamonn Ansbro is now online at www.astronomy.ie - click "lecture webcasts" in the menu on the left, then either watch online or save the 40MB file and watch it later. A much higher quality DVD version is available for 10euro (cash/cheque/postal order/or call Shop with credit/laser card) which includes postage anywhere in Ireland.
The latest A.I.Radio Show went out at 8pm Tuesday as usual. Packed full of news, events and what to see it can be download at our website too (any time from 9pm on Tuesdays) - only 3MB (60second download on 512kbps broadband).
 
 
3.  LECTURES:
Fri. April 1 at 7.30pm, The High School, Rathgar, Dublin 6: Prof. Jocelyn Burnell (Irishwoman who discovered Pulsars) will give a public lecture on 'Faith, Hope and Outcomes'.  See www.quakers-in-ireland.org/
Mon. April 4:  UCD Lecture: "Statistics in Astronomy: some Current Trends in the Era of the Virtual Observatory" by Prof. Fionn Murtagh, Dept of Computer Science, Royal Holloway, University of London and Astronomical Observatory at Strasbourg, France. Venue: Room D112, Newman Building, UCD, Belfield. Time 4pm sharp. Tea / coffee available from 3.30pm. All welcome.
 
Fri. April 8 EINSTEIN DAY: The TCD Physics Department celebrates the International Year of Physics with EINSTEIN DAY in the Schrödinger Theatre. Some background in physics is necessary to understand these lectures.  See http://www.tcd.ie/Physics/seminars.php
    11.15 Introduction, Prof. Dennis Weaire
    11.30 'The Photoelectric Effect - a 21st century experiment', Prof. Iggy McGovern
    13.30 'Brownian Motion - proving the existence of molecules', Dr S Hutzler
    15.00 'Did Einstein deserve a Nobel Prize for Special Relativity?', Dr S McMurry

Mon. April 11 A.I. Leinster Area Public Lecture about the life of "Einstein" BOOKED OUT until larger venue can be found in D.C.U. Watch this space!
www.astronomy.ie/lecture0504.html and read the cover story in the April issue of A&S magazine out now: www.astronomy.ie/currentissue.html
 
Thu. April 14 R.I.A. PUBLIC LECTURE: 'The Big Bang and its Aftermath' by Prof. Malcolm Longair, Director, Cavendish Laboratory. 6.30pm, Burke Theatre, TCD. See www.ria.ie/events/index.asp
 
4.  NEWSLINES UPDATED:  Mars is near the Moon,  Jupiter is closest to Earth and nights+times to see its Great Red Spot,  Saturn,  Comet just above the North Star.  Call 1550-111-442 (or 09001 88 1950 for the longest running space Newslines in the U.K.). New 3 minute message every Monday.
 
 
- David Moore (Chairman, Astronomy Ireland: www.astronomy.ie )
 
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Tel: (01) 847 0777. Open 6 days a week Mon.-Sat. to 5:30pm.
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