1. OPENING HOURS Astronomy Ireland and the Shop is open Sunday December 23rd and Monday December 24th on both days 10am to 6pm. We will re-open on Thursday December 27th, Friday 28th, Saturday 29th and Monday 31st with opening times of 10am to 6pm. The office and Shop will be open as usual, and we will be running a full mail order service for your orders as usual. Staff levels will be reduced on the 27, 28th and 29th and 31st so please be patient when telephoning and allow extra time for orders to be packed. Just to re-cap: Sun Dec 23 open 10am-6pm (nationwide pre-Christmas delivery still possible) Mon Dec 24 open 10am-6pm (nationwide pre-Christmas delivery still possible) Tue Dec 25 closed Wed Dec 26 closed Thu Dec 27 open 10am-6pm Fri Dec 28 open 10am-6pm Sat Dec 29 open 10am-6pm Sun Dec 30 closed Mon Dec 31 open 10am-6pm Tue Jan 1 closed Then Wed January 2nd onwards we're open 9:30am-5:30pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays 10am-6pm as normal May I take this opportunity on behalf of everyone at Astronomy Ireland to wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. Thank you for your support during 2007 and with an exciting programme of events due in the New Year I am positive that 2008 will be even better. Please do not hesitate to contact us again should you have any questions. David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. www.astronomy.ie (01) 847 0777 2. THINGS TO SEE Report: As highlighted in our December magazine (page 26) The Seven Sisters Star Cluster next to the Moon last night was quite spectacular with stars being 'occulted' by the Moon every few minutes. Email observe@astronomy.ie and tell us what you saw for our magazine report. Solstice: See the sunrise recorded at Newgrange online: www.heritageireland.ie/en/Solstice2007 ***Amazing***: On Sunday night (Dec. 23) the Moon moves closer to Mars until 3:30am Monday morning when Mars will be the brilliant 'star' stuck on the edge of the Moon - an amazing sight - see page 26 of our December magazine or page 12 of Saturday's Irish Independent - they interviewed us about this event, it should be on radio too! Email observe@astronomy.ie when you see it please. Mars at opposition on Dec. 24 (i.e. Sun-Earth-Mars lined up). Mars is now at its closest until 2016. Good quality telescopes are showing polar caps and surface detail. Call for advice if you're not seeing this - it's the best telescopic sight of the winter! International Space Station makes one last pass across the sky. Text SPACE to 57003 for predictions (1euro each) or call 1550-111-442 (95cent/min). Venus blazing in morning skies (not the Christmas Star returning as some think!) with Saturn well to its upper right (Moon near Saturn on night of Dec. 28/29 - see December magazine). View Venus before dawn say 8am. Saturn rises after 10pm and is then on view until dawn. Loads more events coming in January (and Total Moon Eclipse in February!) S see our magazine's Sky Diary pages every month for more details and more sights to see. Only 4euro a month: www.astronomy.ie/sub Don't miss an issue and support A.I. Gift subs welcome too. Astronomy Ireland www.astronomy.ie Christmas Telescope Advice: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat