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1. Endeavour Lands Safely

The Space Shuttle Endeavour made a rare night time landing at Kennedy Space Centre on Monday, February 21, at 10:20pm EST. The Shuttle and six-member crew were returning from a two week mission to the International Space Station (ISS) where a new node called 'Tranquility' was installed. Following the completion of 'Tranquility' the Space Station is now 90percent complete. Mission STS-130 marks the 33rd trip dedicated to the assembly, maintenance and improvement of the International Space Station, and is one of the last 5 flights of the shuttle programme which is due to be decommissioned in September. For more information on this, and future missions, visit www.nasa.gov.

2. Mars Month

We have two exciting events dedicated to Mars coming up during the month of March:

March 8 - Behold Mars - Public Lecture

On Monday, March 8, Irish Space author Kevin Nolan will give a talk entitled 'Behold Mars' in which he will discuss the evidence of life on Mars, its remarkable similarities to Earth, and the ancient waterways and oceans that once covered the planet. He will also discuss the challenges facing a manned mission to Mars and the opportunities that such a mission would present. The lecture takes place in the Fitzgerald (Physics) Building, Trinity College Dublin, on March 8 at 8pm. For more information click HERE. Tickets cost 7euro (5euro members rate) and there is a DVD available for anyone who cannot make it to the talk on the night. Click HERE to book your ticket(s) or HERE to order a DVD.

March 25 - Nationwide Mars Watch

On Thursday, March 25, we will be holding a Mars Watch at various key locations around the country. We encourage everyone to come along with friends and family, and see the planets Mars and Saturn through some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. Watches are free of charge and Astronomy Ireland staff and volunteers will be on hand to guide you around the night sky. For more information and to find your nearest Watch click HERE. Please note Watches will go ahead regardless of weather.

3. Astronomy Tips This Week

This week, Vesta, a peanut shaped asteroid, is located in the constellation Leo, and is easily seen through binoculars or a small telescope.
The Moon stands just 5degrees from Mars on the morning of Friday, February 26, and this event precedes a Full Moon on Sunday, February 28.
For more information on what to see in the night sky this week check out the Sky Diary section in the February issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine.

Don't forget to email what you see to observe@astronomy.ie and we will try to publish your pictures and observations in forthcoming issues of the magazine.

Astronomy Ireland

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