The International Space Station (ISS) is visible again in Irish skies until July 9th and will be making a spectacular pass at 11:43pm tonight. The ISS appears as an extremely bright star-like object in evening skies and is the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon. This man-made object, larger than Croke Park, is an awe inspiring sight and we urge all of you to go outside and watch as it passes over.

To receive a message to your mobile each day with the time the ISS will be visible simply 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.

Remember to email your observations of the ISS to iss@astronomy.ie and we will do our best to include your report in a forthcoming issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine.

To listen to Astronomy Ireland Chairman David Moore speaking about the International Space Station on Ocean FM this morning, June 24th, visit www.astronomy.ie/audio.

Check out our ISS webpage HERE for more information and to click through to the Twitter account of one of the astronauts onboard the station who is tweeting fantastic pictures of Earth taken from the Space Station.

Those of you who get our magazine in the post will see from the 2 page article about Comet McNaught (2009 R1) that it is very close to the 2nd magnitude star Beta in Auriga tonight, so it will be very easy to see. This morning, June 24th, Astronomy Ireland Chairman David Moore estimated the comet at magnitude 3.4.

This would be a spectacular comet if it were not for the comet being low in the north and the sky not being fully dark at this 'solstice' time of year. Despite this however, tonight represents a unique chance to see the best comet in years in the same field of view as a bright star (Beta). The comet will be just half a degree to the left of the star and easily visible in binoculars as a result.

Can you see it with the naked eye? However you observed it, let us know for our magazine report by emailing observe@astronomy.ie. See the star map on page 28 of our July magazine as Comet McNaught will be visible every night until the first week in July. Sign up for membership in order to get 8 magazines free and see the photos and reports of this comet, visit www.astronomy.ie/offer.

Having officially reached lunar orbit on June 23rd, 2009, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has now passed the one year mark on its mission to scout the moon. Maps and datasets collected by LRO's state-of-the-art instruments will form the foundation for all future lunar exploration plans, as well as helping scientists fully understand the moon and its environment. In the last 12 months, LRO has gathered more digital information than any previous planetary mission in history. To celebrate this orbital milestone NASA have released ten "cool things" observed by LRO since its launch.