Membership DVD Shop 1. Planet Trio Conjunction Tonight! After sunset tonight, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury will be placed very close together in the Western sky, just above the horizon, in a spectacular and beautiful conjunction. It's estimated that only 1% of people in the world have every seen Mercury, so now is your chance to spot the elusive planet while you still can! David Moore of Astronomy Ireland last night captured a photo of the trio when they weren't quite as close as they will be tonight. View the image HERE (you can get a full-size version HERE). We want YOU to go outside tonight after sunset at try to spot the three planets, at approximately 10pm as it gets dark (but try to observe between sunset at 11pm). Venus will be the bright object to the right of the group with Jupiter to the left. Mercury will be at the top, above the other two planets. Let Astronomy Ireland know what you saw by sending your reports and photographs to observe@astronomy.ie for publication in an upcoming issue of Astronomy Ireland magazine. 2. Astronomy Summer School Understanding the Universe is a brand new set of astronomy classes to help stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts understand how the Universe works. Designed for people who know their way around the sky, the course will give students a chance to learn about modern observing techniques, how radio telescopes work, modern cosmology, star formation and structure, space exploration, and lots more! Understanding the Universe will introduce you to concepts in physics and technology to help you understand what goes on inside stars to make them shine, how we can observe the Universe using x-rays and radio waves, how robotics and space travel have opened up new ways for us to study space, and how the Universe itself came into being. The new course will take place in Trinity College Dublin, and commences on July 17th. It will take place each Wednesday over eight weeks. The course fee is €180 which will include membership to Astronomy Ireland (€130 for people who are already members). For more information and enrolment, please visit www.astronomy.ie/summerschool Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular astronomy club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )