To promote the DVD of his October 13 Public Lecture to Astronomy Ireland, Gregg Hallinan (from the Centre for Astronomy at NUI Galway) will be interviewed by Gerry Ryan (a keen space fan) on Friday morning October 31st. The show goes our on 2FM from 9am to noon so tune in as Gregg promises to play weird and wonderful sounds recorded through radio telescopes of cosmic phenomena. We hope to have a recording of Gregg's interview here later that day.

Gregg's Public Lecture was all about finding planets around other stars using radio telescopes to detect the radio emissions caused by aurorae on these planets. You can order the DVD of Gregg's Lecture from Astronomy Ireland here at modest cost.

P.S. check out our homepage over the next few days - it's not often you'll see well known names like Gerry Ryan and Boyzone on www.astronomy.ie !

2. A.I. Chairman to Open National Museum Space Exhibition (Castlebar)

The National Museum of Ireland is launching a major exhibition of its rarely seen collection of meteorites, extremely valuable actual Moon rocks, and an Irish flag that was flown in space in a major exhibition that will run from November until next year. Check out this link www.museum.ie/en/intro/country-life.aspx
The NMI have kindly asked Astronomy Ireland's Chairman, David Moore, to perform a special opening ceremony on Monday November 3rd at 6:30pm and you are hereby cordially invited to come and preview the exhibition at this ceremony. This is a major honour for us all so please do try to come along and bring family and friends.
We are also using this event to re-launch our Mayo Branch, which has been ably run over the past few years by Paul Gannon your Astronomy Ireland Mayo Branch Coordinator. We have already planned the next major Mayo event for January 30th, which will also take place at the National Museum at Turlough Park just outside Castlebar. This will be the first of many events as 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy and Astronomy Ireland has major plans for events all around Ireland and to raise the profile of the society even higher.

3. Other Events

Now: Mercury Don't forget this elusive naked eye planet is still visible in morning skies, see last email or check our October magazine (see Jupiter, Venus & Saturn too!). observe@astronomy.ie if you see any of these planets?

Nov. 8: Astro-Expo Have you made your travel plans to come from all parts of Ireland to our annual exhibition & lectures. Details and Book places here now!

Nov. 10: "Smoking Stars" Lecture Book seats or order the DVD of our next exciting lecture here.

Christmas: We are appointing Telescopes Dealers all around Ireland. If you know any Shop in Ireland that sells telescopes please email sales@astronomy.ie or call Lar Keogh at our Shop (01) 847 0777

Nov. 20: Robinson Lecture see previous emails or click here