RARE CHANCE TO SEE URANUS EASILY!
 
For our last Telescope Event on Nov. 1 we had perfectly clear skies and hundreds of people came along to see Comet SWAN. We're hoping for the same luck next Tuesday Nov. 28 when the Moon will be close to Uranus making it extremely easy to spot as I'll explain.
 
Many of you have gone hunting for the elusive planet Mercury which, it has been estimated has been seen by less than 1% of the Earth's population, despite being easy to see with the naked eye if you bother to look for it. In fact, Mercury is in morning skies all this week and next week as you will read in the November issue of our magazine (sold out!). I saw Mercury last Sunday morning when it made its rare close passage to the Moon (see November magazine and we also told you about this on AIRS last week).
 
Uranus has been seen by even less people than Mercury - but all this could change next Tuesday. Uranus' problem is that it is faint. Only experts can locate it with the naked eye as a very dim star on the edge of visibility to the naked eye under good conditions. However, that means it is EASY to see in binoculars and thousands of you have bought our special 10x50s over the years so you are well equipped for Tuesday, but any pair will do.
 
All you have to do is point your binoculars at the Moon on Tuesday night and to its right, in the same field of view, you will see a fairly bright star (it's called Lambda and it's in the constellation of Aquarius). Now, just to the lower right of Lambda is another 'star' which is in fact the planet Uranus!
 
Of course it's only a line of sight effect, at 2,990 million km Uranus is 8,000 times further away than the Moon (370,500 km distant). Also, Uranus is 52,000 km wide, 15 times wider than the Moon (3,500km).
 
We want to hear from every one of you that attempts this sighting. Get the whole family out. Call all your friends and tell them to borrow binoculars if they have to. Send this email on to everyone you know. Hold a street party! Whatever it takes! The keen sighted amongst you can even try to see Uranus with the naked eye, but the nearby bright Moon won't help, still you never know. Try taking a photograph too?
 
There is a diagram showing how to locate Uranus and more details on www.astronomy.ie then click on the Uranus & Moon Watch link for Nov. 28.
 
Please tell us what you see by emailing observe@astronomy.ie
 
 
TELESCOPE SHOWS COUNTRYWIDE
 
This is such a unique event that no less than 8 groups from Astronomy Ireland will set up telescopes to view the Moon and the planet Uranus. All events start at 8pm on November 28.
 
In Dublin (car park at the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park) we will have a lot of very powerful telescopes for a special Show given that Christmas is coming and many of you are thinking of buying a telescope. Our Shop staff will be on hand to answer questions and give demonstrations - as they do in our Dublin Shop 6 days a week , call (01) 847 0777 for advice.
 
Remember, A TELESCOPE IS FOR LIFE, NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS!
 
PRICE NOTE:  You can get telescopes at similar sometimes lower price from Astronomy Ireland as you can from department stores and camera shops but buying from us will mean you can get service under warranty for years to come and we are not selling off discontinued ranges for which parts will be difficult to get, only brand new top quality models that will last. We will match or beat any price!
 
For details of other Uranus Watches in counties Carlow, Clare, Cork, Louth, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford see www.astronomy.ie
 
 
VENUE:  TELESCOPES will be set up in Dublin's Phoenix Park at Papal Cross car park (and around Ireland see www.astronomy.ie)
 
TIME:  Tuesday November 28th at 8pm
 
LASER: A giant laser beam (Dublin only) will be aimed toward the sky to point out the position of Uranus
 
BRING YOUR BINOCULARS if you have them.
Free delivery nationwide is included in price.
 
 
 
 
 
 
ASTRONOMY IRELAND  -  for telescopes and information
 
call  (01) 847 0777