Special Christmas Offer Events DVDs Shop 1. Astronomy Ireland TV Show This month's instalment of the Astronomy Ireland TV Show - a monthly slot dedicated to all things astronomy - will air tonight, December 15, on City Channel's 'The Evening Show' at 7pm and again 9pm. This month, Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore, will be speaking about the Winter Solstice, Mars and Jupiter in the night sky, the eclipse of the Moon on New Year's Eve, Christmas gift offers in the Astronomy Ireland Shop, and much, much more. If you don't get to see the show tonight, don't worry - the show is repeated on Wednesday, December 16 at 8am and 11am and again on December 19 at 7:30pm. City Channel is available to all Chorus/NTL customers in Dublin, Galway and Waterford and all of Munster. You can also watch it in a few days time on www.astronomy.ie/TV. 2. Huge Fireball Seen Over Ireland On Monday, December 14, at around 7:40am a fireball brighter than the Full Moon was seen all across Ireland with witnesses reporting to have seen it over Dublin, Louth and even Cork. Such a sight takes merely seconds to pass over and it can be described as an extremely bright like flame blazing across the sky. What makes this even more thrilling is that it was witnessed just before dawn, something which is almost unheard of. It is believed that this phenomenal spectacle was produced by the Geminids meteor shower which is known to generate fireballs like these. The Geminids shower peaked on Sunday night, December 13. Fireballs this bright can drop meteorites and we have already received many reports from people who saw it blazing across the evening sky. However we believe that only a tiny fraction of those that saw it have thus far reported it. If anyone saw it please fill out the online report form at www.astronomy.ie (click 'Report a Fireball' link on left hand column) as accurately and as detailed as possible. This helps us in correctly predicting its course and determining if and where it may have landed. There has been a frenzy of media interest surround the fireball since we started receiving reports yesterday morning. You can hear an interview with Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore, on RTE Radio One's 'Drivetime' programme, recorded yesterday evening, by going to www.astronomy.ie/audio. 3. Winter Solstice 2009 The Winter Solstice occurs this year on December 21st, and Astronomy Ireland will be meeting in Sean Moore Park, Sandymount, to witness the Sun rising. The James Joyce Monument in the Park is aligned with the rising Sun, echoing the ancient alignment at Newgrange. Newgrange is one of the oldest observatories in the world, and is even older than the Pyramids in Egypt. The people who built the Boyne Valley monuments based their entire society around astronomy and the path of the Sun through the sky over the year. Newgrange was aligned with the Winter Solstice sunrise, as after this date, days became warmer, symbolising rebirth and new growth of animals and crops. So, join Astronomy Ireland in Sean Moore Park on Monday, December 21st at 7:30am to witness this amazing tribute to ancient astronomy. For more information click HERE or call us on (01) 847 0777. 4. Christmas Telescope Demos This weekend, the Astronomy Ireland Shop will run telescope demonstrations in Butterly Business Park, Dublin 5. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you will get the opportunity to try out some of Ireland's most powerful telescopes. Why not consider getting a telescope this Christmas, either as a treat for yourself, or a gift for all the family to enjoy? Astronomy Ireland staff will be on hand to show you how easy it is to use these telescopes, and to show you some of the amazing sights you can see in the sky. Take a look at our Online Shop, email sales@astronomy.ie, or call (01) 847 0777 for more information on our telescopes. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop