ASTRO-EXPO SAT & SUN NOV 13 & 14 D.C.U. (12noon-6pm) Astronomy Ireland's annual gathering of people from all around Ireland interested in space starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 12noon with a brief opening ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Europe's top Astronaut at 12noon. It's important that as many of you as possible come along to show public officials and the media that Astronomy is something worth spending public funds to promote. The Astronaut will then give the first lecture of Astro-Expo at 1pm. You can meet him in person and ask questions at the Expo also! TELESCOPE PRICES SLASHED AT ASTRO-EXPO To celebrate the event our Astronomy Shop is slashing the price of telescopes ordered at the event: NexStar 60GT, 80GT, 114GT, and 4GT all 40% off! NexStar 11GPS and 8GPS are 25% off! (save up to 1,700euro!) 20% off all Firstscopes, and HD range of Celestron's too (see back cover of magazine for list). Christmas Deposits will be accepted and will secure these special prices. Not only this, but we will deliver them anywhere in Ireland FREE as a thank you for supporting Astronomy Ireland's annual gathering. There'll be loads more bargains (many at HALF PRICE!) too numerous to list here! Don't miss this super sale! LECTURES As well as the exhibition running for 2 days from 12-6pm there will be three brilliant lectures each day at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Full details are on www.astronomy.ie and our keynote speakers like Sir Isaac Newton, the Astronaut and Oisin MacConamhna (the Irish student who when on to study under Prof Stephen Hawking) would be worth travelling from the far end of the country to hear on their own, let alone 3 in one day! SATURDAY DINNER There are still tickets left for the A.I. Annual Dinner which is being open to everyone in Ireland. It's at 8pm on Saturday in the nearby Regency Hotel. A very special rate of just 25euro has been secured (an incredible offer for a Dublin Hotel and not to be missed I'm sure you'll agree). So we are hoping as many of you will take up the offer to meet the Astronaut, chat with our speakers, and say hello to some of the people who help run Astronomy Ireland, both at the Dinner and the 'socialising' afterwards. ADMISSION PRICES We have kept the prices deliberately low (or FREE!) so as many of you can attend as possible: Exhibition only: 3euro (FREE to students and children under 16!) Lectures: 5euro each Dinner: 25euro (book early as we have to tell Hotel the numbers) Planetarium shows: FREE! (There are also Day Passes available for 10euro which covers admission to ALL 3 Lectures that day AND the Exhibition - save 8euro) This is the biggest event we have ever organised so do please make the effort to get along, even if you have a busy schedule and can only spend a few minutes in the Exhibition (or just want to avail of the Shop discounts). You'll be glad you came along. NOTE: This event is aimed at members ALL AROUND Ireland, not just those living in Dublin and Leinster. The venue, D.C.U., is just ONE turn off the M50 and also well served by public transport. If you need accommodation to stay overnight there is a list on the Astro-Expo page on our website www.astronomy.ie I look forward to seeing you all there. Let's have fun! David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. Tel (01) 847 0777