With
nobody leading NASA at present, Professor David Southwood - the "Trillion Dollar
Man" and Director of Science at the European Space Agency - is possibly the
most important person in space exploration on the planet. He proved he is the
man for the job when he gave an astounding St Patrick's Eve Lecture in Trinity
College Dublin, treating guests to breathtaking videos of the surface of
Mars.
Professor
Southwood outlined missions already undertaken by ESA (Hubble Space
Telescope, Cassini-Huygens, International Space Station), and missions
that are taking place now and in the future, including Planck (to look for
shockwaves from the Big Bang), Herschel Space Observatory and the James
Webb Space Telescope and much more. A fascinating summary of space exploration
in the 21st Century from a man who knows!
HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED
If
you were not able to attend David Southwood's lecture on March 16, you
can order a DVD of the lecture HERE at a cost of 7euro (plus
p&p). Read the report HERE.
4. Earth Hour Report
Telescope nights for Earth Hour took place in several
locations all over Ireland. Clear skies were reported over most of the country,
including Dublin, where 400 people came to Phoenix Park to see amazing sights in
the sky. Read more and see photos HERE.
3. "New Views of the Red Planet" - Cork
Lecture Tonight - UCC and Cork Astronomy Club
Leo Enright will present an illustrated talk on
Mars, with the latest data from recent missions. The lecture will take place
tonight, March 31, in University College Cork in the Geography Dept lecture
theatre GG_LT and will begin at 8pm.