On Saturday evening (19 January) the Moon will sidle up to Mars in the night sky making the pair appear spectacularly close with less than one Moon diameter appearing to separate the two bodies. Beginners: If you are not sure as to which bright star-like object in the sky is Mars then make the most of this alignment to help you identify the Red Planet. Email observe@astronomy.ie and tell us when you think the Moon is closest to Mars? See the diagram on page 23 of our January magazine and the write up for this event in the Sky Diary pages. If you don't get our magazine yet then sign up now as the February issue is just out with details of the Total Eclipse of the Moon in February, the last one we will see from Ireland for nearly 8 years! Subscribe at www.astronomy.ie/sub or post 48euro to P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5 for 12 issues, which is only 4 euro a month!

2. Mars Watches Nationwide

To celebrate Mars being closer to us this month than it will be until 2016 Astronomy Ireland members are setting up powerful telescopes all around Ireland on Wednesday January 23rd at 8pm. Counties: Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Louth and Tipperary already have Mars Watches set up but if you would like to run a Mars Watch in your area please reply to this email or call the number below. The date for the Mars Watch has been chosen as Mars is still very close to Earth, Mars will be high in the sky, and the best surface marking (the triangular shaped Syrtis Major) will be on the side of Mars facing us so you should be able to see what 19th century astronomers saw when they thought the dark patches might be plant life on the surface of Mars and some even thought they saw canals leading to all the stories of little green men from Mars. It should be great fun and information on telescopes will be available on the night at each venue including free telescope catalogues from our Shop. We hope to run more of these Watches during the year and with next year being International Year of Astronomy we hope to run 1,000 Watches in 2009 so get in touch now if you want to try a Watch in your area! Details of all venues for Mars Watches are on our website, see link below.

Our ever-popular evening Classes in Astronomy for Beginners begin again shortly. We are delighted that this time around the course is available in Cork and Athlone in addition to the usual Dublin venue. Advance booking is essential and you only have just over one week left to register. The classes begin on Wednesday 30 January. Booking and further details can be obtained at www.astronomy.ie/eveningclass.html

5. Help Produce Our Magazine

In "Astronomy & Space" magazine every month Astronomy Ireland documents everything that happens in Irish skies, your sightings and photos, tells thousands of people what to see in Irish skies, and reports on all the latest discoveries from around the universe. We have a large team of people who help to produce our magazine and we are looking for more people who want to get involved in the magazine of the largest astronomy club in the world relative to population. We particularly need a new production editor to oversee the magazine each month as Kevin Sheahan who has been doing the job for several years is stepping down. We thank Kevin for all his hard work over the years. If you want to get involved just reply to this email or call for details. If there is anything else you would like to do for the magazine please get in touch also.

Astronomy Ireland www.astronomy.ie

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