1. Summer Public
Lecture: Are We Alone?
Following RTE's Nine News on
Tuesday of last week (see HERE)
our special Summer Public Lecture couldn't have been better timed! No expense is
being spared flying in a world expert, Dr Robin Catchpole, from Cambridge
University in the UK.
In this latest discovery, the habitable zone of a
nearby star is filled to the brim with planets that could support alien life.
Three planets are in the star's "Goldilocks Zone" - the temperature region
around the star where liquid water - and also life - could exist. This makes us
wonder if there are planets out there that are home to intelligent
civilisations.
Our Summer Public Lecture on Monday, July 8th, will
be delivered by an international speaker who is an expert on exoplanets and will
explore the possibility of alien life existing elsewhere in our galaxy, and
whether humankind will ever get to meet it.
This lecture is aimed at the general public, and we
are asking all of you to bring their family and friends.
Are We Alone? takes place in Trinity
College Dublin on Monday, July 8th, at 8pm.
To book tickets or order DVDs, please
click:
2. Our Regular Astronomy Spot on RTE
Radio
In his regular roundup
David Moore of Astronomy Ireland
featured on RTE's
Today with Pat Kenny on Monday morning to talk about
all things astronomy and the latest news in space. David was invited on to the
show to talk about hot topics such as Chris Hadfield and his links to Ireland,
the recent Supermoon, new alien planets that may harbour life, and Astronomy
Ireland's
brand new
set of Evening Classes, which will cover everything you wanted to know about
the Universe!
If you missed the show on Monday, you can listen back to the interview (and
lots more) at
www.astronomy.ie/audio
3. Astronomy Summer School
Understanding the Universe is a
brand new set of astronomy classes that featured on Astronomy Ireland's
recent appearance on Today with Pat Kenny on RTE. The classes
will 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).