As heard on RTE 2FM this morning and local radio all across Ireland, Astronomy Ireland will be setting up telescopes in Cork, Dublin, Dundalk & Letterkenny tonight to show you the planet Jupiter up close. Even if you cannot get along you will still see Jupiter with the naked eye as the brilliant 'star' just above the Moon (with Antares just to its upper left).

In the telescopes you'll be able to see Jupiter as a disk with its cloud belts and three of its four main moons (the 4th one is behind the planet tonight until 11:14pm). Moon details are in your magazine (August issue page 26 www.astronomy.ie/sub)

By the way, there are loads of Jupiter moon events to watch in even the smallest telescope each week (see magazine page 26 for list). These are fascinating so don't waste any clear spells in the coming weeks if you have a telescopes, and if you don't have a telescope yet just call (01) 847 0777 or download the catalogue at the top of webpage www.astronomy.ie/shop.html

Admission is free but we will be asking for a small donation of 2euro to help raise funds for the society, and everyone is welcome - please tell all your friends to come along.

For tonight's "Jupiter Watch" no ticket is needed - just wrap up warm and get yourself along to one of the following at 9:00pm -

Astronomy Ireland's Education Officer, Emmet Mordaunt, spoke on this morning's Gerry Ryan Show presented by Marty Whelan on 2FM. "Global Warming - it's Not the Sun" is the cover story on our September magazine (get a copy posted to you for 5euro at www.astronomy.ie/sub). Emmet and Marty pondered if Global Warming was "real", what are the causes and what, if anything, can be done about it. Emmet also compared Earth with the atmospheres and Global Warming on Venus and Mars.

As well as the Jupiter Watches Emmet announced the Evening Classes (enrol now at www.astronomy.ie/eveningclass.html) and that space journalist and broadcaster Leo Enright will give the Key Note Address, a 3-D lecture about Mars, to open the biggest Star-B-Q in history - details will be posted on www.astronomy.ie/sbq soon but you can book tickets there right now, hundreds of you have done so already - bring all your friends, we now have a fantastic line up of speakers, events, demos and a quarter-of-a-million euro worth of telescopes for you to view through on September 8th, at the highest village in Ireland - Roundwood, Co. Wicklow.

Astronomy Ireland

www.astronomy.ie

Telescopes & Advice Monday to Saturday:

Tel (01) 847 0777

Star-B-Q (Sept. 8) - Ireland's biggest telescope event. Everyone in Ireland welcome.

Bring friends. Book now: www.astronomy.ie/sbq