20 Months Membership Offer <http://www.astronomy.ie/20anniversary.php> 2010 Events <http://www.astronomy.ie/Events2010.php> DVDs <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> Shop <http://astronomy.ie/shop/> 1. Christmas Lecture On Monday, December 13th, Dr. Ian Corbett, General Secretary, International Astronomical Union, Paris, will delve into the aspects of astronomy that have particular influence in our everyday lives and show why we cannot just simply decide to ignore our universe around us. Dr. Ian Corbett will answer such questions as . Does Astronomy matter? . Is it any use to the world? . Could we just forget about astronomy totally and get on with our lives without it? The lecture takes place in the <http://www.tcd.ie/Maps/assets/pdf/tcd-main-campus.pdf> Ed Burke Theatre (Arts Building), Trinity College Dublin, on Monday, December 13th. Tickets cost 7euro (5euro member's rate) and there is a DVD available for anyone who cannot make it to the talk on the night. After the lecture there will be a party in The Lombard. All our welcome to attend and you will have the opportunity to chat with Dr Corbett, other guests, and Astronomy Ireland staff and volunteers. BOOK TICKETS <https://astro1.securesites.com/sub/201012lectickets.htm> ORDER DVD <http://www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.php> 2. Sunday Opening Hours and Workshops "Choosing a Telescope" "Photographing the Night Sky" BBC Sky At Night star Carl O'Beirnes will give workshops each Sunday between now and Christmas at the Astronomy Ireland Shop in Artane. Carl featured in The Sun newspaper <http://www.astronomy.ie/images/carlsun.jpg> during the week as his space photographs are renowned not only in Ireland but around the world. We are lucky to have Carl at the Shop to share his knowledge so please come along for some excellent advice on telescopes and techniques! The Shop opens from 10am to 6pm each Sunday. Remember each time you see this exciting space event email your report to <mailto:observe@astronomy.ie> observe@astronomy.ie, we will do our best to include it in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' <http://www.astronomy.ie/magazine.php> magazine. 3. NASA Discovers New Life NASA have announced that a new kind of life was found in a poisonous lake in California. The DNA of this bacteria is based on arsenic - poisonous to other life - as opposed to phosphorous. Scientists had believed that all life should be based on the same six elements, but this discovery shows that life can evolve depending on its environment. This opens up a lot of implications for the search for extraterrestrial life, as it means that life in the Universe could potentially take on a whole host of different forms! This will be covered in an upcoming issue of <http://www.astronomy.ie/magazine.php> Astronomy & Space magazine. Astronomy Ireland <http://www.astronomy.ie/> The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie (subscribe/unsubscribe <http://lists.redbrick.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/astronomy> )