1. Event Report: Astro-Expo 2009

On Saturday, November 14, Astronomy Ireland's annual exhibition the Astro-Expo took place in the prestigious Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin. The Expo this year featured a book-signing by Irish Mars author, Kevin Nolan, a specially commissioned French Space Exhibition, renowned IYA exhibition 'From Earth to the Universe', a Huge Telescope display, as well as exhibits and trade stands. The exhibition attracted many people over the course of the day and Astronomy Ireland staff and volunteers were on hand to guide guests around the exhibition, take queries and have a chat with. To read a full report of the event and see pictures taken on the day click HERE.

Astro-Expo 2009 also featured a superb line-up of speakers: This years keynote speaker, Kevin Nolan, Irish science writer and author of 'Mars, A Cosmic Stepping Stone' gave an enthralling talk about the Red Planet, as well as setting up his own display and signing copies of his book. Kevin Sweeney, prominent astro-photographer and Astronomy Ireland's own Education Officer gave a talk entitled 'Imaging The Night Sky', great for anyone interested in taking pictures of the night sky, and Dr. Ian Sanders, a meteorite expert from the Geology Department within Trinity College Dublin shared his expertise with a fascinated audience in a talk simply entitled 'Meteorites'. For anyone who couldn't make it to the Expo on the day, we have made a DVD available to order online, for more details see our special offer below.

SPECIAL OFFER:

1 X Astro-Expo Lecture DVD for 10 euro (incl. P&P) ORDER HERE

3 X Astro-Expo Lecture DVDs for 20 euro (incl. P&P) ORDER HERE

2. Atlantis docks with ISS

The space shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday night making the two conjoined crafts the biggest man-made object ever to be put into space. ISS is visible in Irish skies each night until November 26 and now with the shuttle docked with it, will appear even brighter than normal blazing across our evening skies. Atlantis' mission STS-129, is delivering various pieces of equipment to the space station and will feature 3 spacewalks, the first of which took place today. Each space walk can be viewed on the NASA website at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

For times to watch the Space Station and Shuttle, predictions are available on various websites on the internet, however to receive a text message to your phone with the predicted time it will pass over simply text SPACE to 57003. Each text costs 1 euro and proceeds help us promote astronomy in Ireland. For more information click HERE. Remember each time you see any of these exciting space events in the sky to email your report to observe@astronomy.ie, we will do our best to include it in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine.