Tonight, at 7.28pm, the spectacular International Space Station (ISS), the largest and most expensive man made object ever put into space, will blaze sensationally across Irish skies. This pass is set to be one of the brightest of the month and it will be very high up in the sky ensuring even those in heavily built up areas will get a glimpse as it zooms across the sky.

This pass heralds Astronomy Ireland's huge Book Launch and Talk tonight in Dublin. To celebrate there will be an ISS Watch just before the event, where, Ireland's best known Astronomer, David Moore, will be on hand to show everyone exactly where to look to witness this amazing sight.

The ISS will appear as an extremely bright star like object in evening skies between March 5 and March 19 and can be depicted as the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon. To receive daily predictions of the times ISS will pass over straight to your mobile phone, text SPACE to 57003 (reply STOP to unsubscribe). Each text costs 1euro, and only one message will be sent per day. Proceeds help to promote interest in astronomy across Ireland.

Kevin Nolan, Ireland's leading expert on the Red Planet will be exciting guests with everything they ever wanted to know about Mars, hear about recent discoveries as well as why this planet is one of the most important aspects of space exploration during the "Behold Mars" lecture. Nolan, whose extremely successful new book 'Mars: A Cosmic Stepping Stone' is being launched at tonight's event will also be available for book signing after the Lecture.

The event takes place at 8pm tonight (March 8) in the Mac Neil Theatre, Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin (click here for a map). For more information visit our webpage HERE. For anyone who can't make it on the night there is a DVD available to purchase online. Places are limited so please book early. Copies of the book will be available to purchase at the event.

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2. Exclusive Astronomy Open Day at Worth Library

Tomorrow (Tuesday), from 10:30am-12:30pm and 2:00pm-4:00pm, there will be a special Open Day taking place in the Worth Library, Dr Steevens's Hospital, Dublin 8, exclusively for Friends and Members of Astronomy Ireland.

Dr Edward Worth was a physician in 18th Century Dublin. While his library is largely devoted to medicinal works, Dr Worth collected a number of works on astronomy. On display at the Worth Library will be a number of important astronomical documents, including the 1651 Grimaldi map of the Moon, and Tycho Brahe's Astronomia instaurata mechanica. The accompanying web exhibition has two sections: 'Astronomy and Astronomers' explores the history of astronomy from ancient to early modern times, and 'The Solar System' looks at early modern theories about the Sun, Moon, Jupiter's moons, Saturn's rings and comets. There are also webpages devoted to 'Astronomical Instruments', 'Astronomy and Medicine' and 'Life on Other Planets'. Please visit http://astronomy.edwardworthlibrary.ie/Home to see this part of the exhibition.

Dr Steevens's Hospital is located opposite Heuston Station and is easily reached by the Luas Red Line. Be sure to pay a visit to this extremely fascinating and educational exhibition, as it's one not to be missed!