An extremely rare event will take place this weekend: The Space Shuttle Discovery is due to be launched Saturday (July 1) at 8:49pm (Irish time) to the International Space Station. Some 20 minutes after launch Discovery should fly over Ireland and could be seen, especially from the South of Ireland, low in the South but in daylight as the Sun will be still above the horizon. On the next pass of the I.S.S. at 10:31pm you may see the Shuttle chasing it across the sky, though there may be a delay of up to 10 minutes between the two. It all depends on the launch of the Shuttle, which can often be delayed or postponed due to weather or technical difficulties. Watch the launch on NASA TV available here: www.nasa.gov/ntv We will be updating our 1550-111-442 Newsline by 12 noon tomorrow with the latest prediction AND NEWS, and also later again that day if news warrants so do give it a call. We'll also be able to keep you updated via the Newsline with the even closer "space chase" of these two huge objects on Sunday when we should be able to see both in a dark sky. Please call each day after 12noon. It should be an amazing spectacle so let's hope for an on-time launch and clear skies. Please email observe@astronomy.ie telling us what you see (and your location) for the report we'll do for our magazine. Please pass on the 1550-111-422 newsline to everyone you know as we have not had time to release this story to the media yet. Astronomy Ireland Visit our Shop - open Saturday 12noon to 6pm remember. Tel (01) 847 0777 www.astronomy.ie/shop July 10 - Next Public Lecture available on DVD nationwide: www.astronomy.ie August 26 - "Star-B-Q" Ireland's biggest annual telescope event. Book now at www.astronomy.ie