1. Public Lecture: The God Particle Explained

In July of this year a team of scientists at CERN - led by Professor Rolf Heuer who gave Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture the same month - announced the discovery of a new particle, which is widely believed to be the long-sought Higgs Boson.

In light of the immense public interest in the Higgs Boson in Ireland at that time, our October Public Lecture will be delivered by Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh who will explain what the Large Hadron Collider is, how the Higgs Boson was discovered, and what it means for our understanding of the Universe.

With the start of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, particle physics entered a new era. The LHC will provide a deeper understanding of the universe and the insights gained could change our view of the world. The LHC is expected to yield insights into the nature of dark matter and the existence of hidden extra dimensions.

The lecture, The God Particle Explained will take place on Monday, October 8th, at 8pm in Trinity College Dublin, and people are invited to bring friends and family. Tickets and DVDs of this lecture can be booked online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11.

2. 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes

Have you ever wanted to know where stars come from? How the Sun works? How far away galaxies are? How it all began?

If you have ever wondered about our Universe, then our Astronomy Classes for Beginners are for you!

Our Evening Classes begin on Thursday, October 11^thand are aimed at the beginner, covering everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe. There are eight classes in total and content covered includes an introduction to the night sky, the Sun and the Moon, planets and stars, history of astronomy, deep sky objects, the big bang and even a class on telescopes and how to use one.

The enrolment fee for the Classes is €180 and includes membership to Astronomy Ireland. The fee for members is €130.

For more information and enrolment details call us on (01) 890 11 11 or visit www.astronomy.ie/class.

3. Moon and Jupiter this Friday

On Friday, October 5th, the Moon and Jupiter will be placed right next to each other as they rise in the East in what will be a spectacular sight. This conjunction can be easily seen with the naked eye, as both Jupiter and the Moon will be the two brightest objects in the night sky. Binoculars and telescopes will reveal Jupiter's moons, its cloud belts, and amazing craters and valleys on our own Moon as they traverse the sky that night.

Be sure to let us know what you see by emailing observe@astronomy.ie with your observation reports.

For more information on the Moon and Jupiter, and for advice on photographing them, please click HERE.