----------------------------------------------------- ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (Ireland's National Astronomy Club, Magazine and Shop) --------------3,000 members and growing-------------- 1. COMET WATCHES NATION-WIDE As announced in previous emails TONIGHT (Jan 7) we have our COMET WATCH aimed at introducing the general public to our new visitor Comet Machholz, and hopefully the hobby of astronomy also! Counties: CARLOW, CLARE, CORK, DONEGAL, DUBLIN, LOUTH, ROSCOMMON, TIPPERARY, and WATERFORD will all have events tonight Jan. 7 and/or Jan. 13 (email tom@astronomy.ie if you want to organise an Astronomy Ireland Comet Watch in your area). I'll be at the Dublin Comet Watch in the Phoenix Park (regardless of weather). All Comet Watches are at 8pm so do get along at that time. Full list of venues around the country are on our website www.astronomy.ie COMET SIGHTINGS Several of you have emailed observe@astronomy.ie to report seeing the Comet. The chart on page 45 has been helping you say, as has the close up at http://astronomy.ie/dm/m45mach.jpg Those of you with dark skies report seeing the faint tails up to several degrees long with some streamers embedded. Greenish and bluish hues to the comet have also been reported. Even some of you in cities can see the Comet with the naked eye though of course it is much better in binoculars. My last sighting was last night when the Comet (mag. 3.8) was just 3 degrees from the Pleiades star cluster - I will never forget the sight of the Comet and the cluster in the same binocular field of view for as long as I live! The January issue of our magazine is now all but sold out but a continuation of the chart in that issue and great photos from around Ireland (and a few from the rest of the world) will be in the February and future issues of our magazine, which you can order now at www.astronomy.ie/sub Here's an amazing recent photo sent to us from Austria to whet your appetite: http://www.astrostudio.at/common/images/fullFormat/LRGB3.jpg If you wanted a printed copy of this and many more photos make sure you sign up now! Comet Machholz is now about magnitude 3.5 (brighter than M31 several of you commented) and the size of the Full Moon. Please send us an email every time you view the comet to observe@astronomy.ie so we can mention as many of you as possible in the magazine report we are compiling. WE NEED YOUR REPORTS NOW PLEASE and keep them coming daily. For those of you who want to really get in to comet observing I've written a quick guide to how to make detailed observations of comets at http://www.astronomy.ie/dm/observingcomets.rtf AND FINALLY Don't forget our JANUARY SALE starts tomorrow Saturday January 8 at 12noon in The Astronomy Shop Unit 75, Butterly Business Park, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5. Map & bus routes: http://www.astronomy.ie/map.html - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland - your national astronomy club & magazine. Astronomy Ireland is a non-profit club for EVERYONE interested in space. www.astronomy.ie/sub to join AI and get our magazine.