1. Gerry Ryan 1956 -
2010
It was with great shock that we heard the news of
Gerry Ryan's untimely passing last Friday, April 30th. Gerry Ryan and all his team at the Gerry Ryan Show have been a
great friend to Astronomy Ireland over the past two
decades, helping us to get our message out to huge audiences. Our
deepest sympathies go to his family, friends and colleagues at this very
sad time.
Our last contact with Gerry was on April 1st when
we played an April Fools Day joke on the nation. Over the years our
Chairman, David Moore, has
been interviewed on the GRS many times, David even did his first (and only!)
screen kiss on one of Gerry's early TV shows, don't ask! As well as this, a
whole string of our Public Lecturers from home and abroad have been interviewed
by Gerry who had a great personal interest in space science. When asked what
three people he would most like to have interviewed he included Neil Armstrong
in his list.
The response we had from interviews on the
Gerry Ryan Show was always phenomenal. There are lots
of Gerry's interviews on our website in the media archive. They are
all MP3s so you can easily download them and play them at your leisure,
something we recommend you do. Visit www.astronomy.ie/audio and search
for "Gerry Ryan".
We will remember Gerry Ryan
fondly. We have lost a great broadcaster, but his memory will live
on.
2. ISS Exceptionally Bright - 10:13pm
Tonight
The International Space
Station (ISS) is visible in Irish
skies until May 14. The ISS appears as an extremely bright
star-like object in evening skies and is the brightest object in the sky
apart from the Moon. This man-made object is a spectacular sight and we
urge all of you to go outside and watch as it passes over.
Tonight, the
International Space Station will be visible at 10:13pm
and will be seen to pass on front of Saturn and Mars from different parts of
Ireland - a remarkable sight to
behold!
These locations will be
issued on our text service this evening and will read something similar to the
text message sent on May 1st which read "See ISS high in South at
10:33pm, passing in front of Saturn for those along a line from Ennis to Dublin
Airport!!!".
To receive a message to
your mobile with these ISS details simply text SPACE to 57003
(reply STOP to unsubscribe). Each text costs 1euro, and only one message will be
sent per day. Proceeds help to promote interest in astronomy across Ireland.
Remember to email your
observations of the ISS to iss@astronomy.ie and we will do our best to
include your report in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space'
magazine.
For more information
about the Space Station click HERE.
3. Hubble Space Telescope Operator Speaking in Dublin (DVD
Available Also)
Getting time on the most expensive telescope ever
built is a rare privilege that Irishman Dr. Brian Espey has
managed to achieve. Come along to our Summer Public Lecture next Monday, May
10th, where he will tell you how he used the 5 billion euro telescope to
probe Red Giant stars.
The lecture begins
at 8pm sharp on Monday, May 10th, in Trinity College Dublin. All
are welcome to attend. For anyone who can't
make it on the night, a DVD of the talk is available to order
online. For more information, to purchase your tickets or order a copy
of the DVD, click HERE.