1. LEONIDS FIREWORKS THIS
WEEKEND!
This weekend will see the Leonid meteor shower reach its peak.
The 'normal' maximum is expected on Friday night Nov. 17 with a ZHR (zenithal
hourly rate - the number you would see if the radiant, in Leo, were at the
zenith and you had very dark skies with magnitude 6.5 stars visible overhead).
This is down on a few years ago when "storms" were predicted due to the return
of the comet that causes this shower, but since this comet only returns every 33
years no exceptional activity was expected.
However, David Asher at Armagh Observatory and his colleague
Rob McNaught have predicted that debris shed by the comet when it returned in
1932 should collide with Earth on Sunday morning for a brief period around
4:45am give or take 10 minutes. Activity could be twice as high as the August
Perseids, one of the strongest showers of the year.
Astronomy Ireland has set up a webpage for the Leonids giving
more details and telling you how to best observe these meteors and where to send
your reports. There is also a link to the work by Asher & McNaught so check
out
So make plans to stay up late on Saturday night at least and tell us what
you see of what could be a fantastic celestial fireworks
display?
2. OTHER NEWS:
It's National Science Week this week, see www.science.ie
for 400 events running around Ireland.
There is a naked eye sunspot at present (NEVER view the Sun
without suitable protection like the AstroSolar filters from Astronomy Ireland's
Shop).
Comet SWAN remains on view in binoculars high in the West each
evening around magnitude 6 and with 2 tails - see November magazine for
details
Mercury is 6 degrees to the upper left of a thin crescent Moon
on Sunday morning, low in the East just as dawn breaks after the Leonids
outburst. Rare event!
On November 28 the Moon will be incredibly close to the dim
planet Uranus so almost anyone can see this rarely glimpsed planet in humble
binoculars!
Astronomy Ireland will set up telescopes all around Ireland,
effectively a Christmas Telescope Show too - see www.astronomy.ie
3. ASTRO-EXPO 2006
Astro-Expo on Dec. 2nd is barely 2 weeks away and will have a
HUGE exhibit from the European Southern Observatory, perhaps the most amazing
telescopes on the planet! And lots more besides.
The ESO exhibit will be perhaps the most incredible that has
ever come to Ireland!!!
Everyone in Ireland should travel to Dublin once a year to
visit Astro-Expo OUR BIGGEST ANNUAL EVENT - be there on Saturday December
2nd
4. CHRISTMAS TELESCOPES
With a guarantee of top quality, keenest prices guaranteed,
and advice + LIFETIME support, most members of the public in Ireland now buy
their telescopes from Astronomy Ireland.
Christmas offers were posted with the December magazine this
week but anyone in Ireland can call to get advice and place an order from now
until Christmas from Ireland's biggest telescope shop.
Free delivery nationwide is included in price.
ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and
information
call (01) 847
0777