ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy Club, Magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. DUNSINK OBSERVATORY TO BE CLOSED? During the week we received information from highly regarded sources that our national observatory at Dunsink on Dublin's northside might be closed by the end of the year. We were told that a meeting of the Board that governs the state-run Dunsink Observatory (part of DIAS - see www.dias.ie) was to be advised at its next meeting to immediately move all staff to city centre offices. There seemed to be no provision for what to do with the buildings, the extensive library and other treasures. With security threatened by squatters who already occupy some of the land at the Observatory, leaving it vacant would almost certainly see the buildings vandalised. Astronomy Ireland immediately called an emergency meeting of our more active volunteers. However, we have investigated the matter and members of the Board have told AI that whereas a report advising the Board to move staff may have been produced, the Board had not yet met and any report that caused Dunsink to close would not be met with a favourable response. I was told it would be "...total madness..." by one Board member. We were also told that there was "no intention of walking away from Dunsink Observatory". Indeed, we were told that more public events are planned for next year as 2005 is Hamilton Year, celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of one of Dunsink's most significant Directors. See http://www.hamilton2005.ie/ We will of course continue to monitor the situation but we were told "Please rest assured that DIAS remains committed to Dunsink as a public asset for promoting science and to protecting it as a historical national treasure." which is very reassuring. Hopefully, all that has happened is that a report has been produced that will make recommendations that no one will vote to implement due to the consequences for the Observatory. The very existence of this report is just what is concerning people. However, we will monitor the situation and keep you posted. Should future emergency AI meetings be necessary let me know if you want to be included in any such meetings. I wanted to issue this statement in case you heard any rumours elsewhere and to share the explanation that we have received to date, and to let you know that we would keep you appraised of any developments. It seems we have little to worry about at present. 2. ASTRONOMY IRELAND RADIO SHOW ON ANNA LIVIA 103.2FM Due to problems at Anna Livia the planned first broadcast of the Astronomy Ireland Radio Show (AIRS) did not go ahead last Tuesday as planned. The first show is now planned for transmission at 8pm on next Tuesday October 5. Tune in to 103.2 FM. Soon thereafter we hope to put the show online at our website www.astronomy.ie for the majority of you who do not live in the Dublin area (we'll email this list when it is online). AIRS is produced and presented by Ben Emmett. 3. UPCOMING LECTURES/EVENTS Tue. Oct. 5 AIRS on Anna Livia 103.2 FM Wed. Oct. 6 James Randi to speak in RDS http://www.irishskeptics.net/ Thu. Oct. 7 Astronomy EVENING CLASSES begin (book in advance at www.astronomy.ie/eveningclass.html ) Mon. Oct. 11 B.A.A. President Guy Hurst to speak in Ireland "HUNTING FOR EXPLODING STARS" www.astronomy.ie/lecture0410.html 4. VENUS NEAR REGULUS I had a lovely view of Venus just 1.6 degrees above Regulus this morning (Saturday) at 6:40am. Did anyone else set their alarm clock for this conjunction? As the diagram on page 27 of the October issue shows, they are closest Sunday morning (0.5 degree) and not much farther apart on Monday morning (0.7 degree). In hindsight I'd have looked out a bit earlier, say 6am, as many of the fainter stars in Leo were being swamped by morning twilight when I viewed. Email your reports for publication in the OBSERVERS LOG column of our magazine to observe@astronomy.ie 5. NEWSLINE HEADLINES THIS WEEK: VENUS PASSES VERY CLOSE TO REGULUS HARVEST MOON NEAR SEVEN SISTERS STAR CLUSTER AND THEN OCCULTS A STAR AND, NEW ASTRONOMY IRELAND RADIO SHOW Please call 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95c/min, in UK dial 09001-88-1950 at 60p/min) for full details. 6. HALF PRICE BOOK SALE Remember http://www.astronomy.ie/dm/booksale.rtf for almost any book you ever wanted at HALF PRICE! Less than trade price! Lots of people were in the Shop today but there's still plenty of books left! For example: DAVID LEVY'S GUIDE TO THE NIGHT SKY was 29.95 now only 14.98 DEEP SKY WONDERS (STEPHEN O'MEARA) was 43.81 now only 21.91 DEEP SKY, AN INTRO (PHILIP HARRINGTON) was 37.14 now only 18.57 DICTIONARY OF ASTRONOMY (MARTIN INCE) was 20.25 now only 10.13 DICTIONARY OF MINOR PLANET NAMES was 149.95 now only 74.98 DISCOVERING ASTRONOMY (INCL. ACTIVITIES BOOKS) was 49.52 now only 24.76 DOBSONIAN TELESCOPE, THE (KRIEGE & BERRY) was 43.81 now only 21.91 EASY P.C. ASTRONOMY was 41.50 now only 20.75 ECLIPSE! (HARRINGTON) was 20.50 now only 10.25 especially note that last book with the last total lunar eclipse for over 2 years coming up on October 27/28!!! (see October issue of our magazine for details) Drop in to Ireland's biggest Astronomy Shop from Monday to Saturday up to 5:30pm: www.astronomy.ie/map.html Or call number below for low cost delivery anywhere in Ireland. Regards and clear skies, David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland / Editor "Astronomy & Space" magazine. www.astronomy.ie Astronomy Shop: Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat