Thanks to Dr Tom O'Connor, NUI Galway for details of this lecture and apologies for the short notice: There will be a lecture tonight (March 10) at 8pm in Lismullin Conference Centre, near Tara, Navan, Co. Meath (LCC is on the N3 in the Tara-Skryne valley - the entrance is just on the Dublin side of the turn up to the Hill of Tara). "William Rowan Hamilton - a Portrait of a Prodigy" by Sean O'Donnell Ireland's scientific heritage is often not appreciated as much as our literary and archaeological heritage. Sir William Rowan Hamilton, one of our greatest scientists, was born in Dublin in 1805. He spent much of his youth at school in Trim and was appointed Professor of Astronomy in TCD at the age of 22 and lived in Dunsink Observatory. He made many important and original contributions to Mathematics and Physics but the lecture will deal more with his life, personality and special genius. Dr Sean O'Donnell is a Science graduate from Galway and Edinburgh universities who for many years contributed a weekly Science column in the Irish Press and articles on famous Irish scientists to Technology Ireland. His books include William Rowan Hamilton - a Portrait of a Prodigy (Boole Press,1983) and Future-Memory and Time (PreCall Press, 1995) He is currently researching in the Science of Pure Time, a subject promoted by Hamilton in 1833. Admission is 5euro with refreshments afterwards. Enquiries to: Brenda McGann, Lismullin Institute, 44 Westland Row, Dublin 2. Phone: (01) 676 0731 (lismullin@eircom.net). www.lismullin.org THE AURORA we alerted you to was seen from Co. Derry last weekend. Conor McDonald sent in a detailed report which will appear in our magazine. A.I.R.S. - Astronomy Ireland Radio Show - Tuesday's show went online by 9pm as promised. Download it at www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html every Tuesday at 9pm. Leo Enright presented a 30 minute show last night on BBC Radio 4 about "Project Prometheus" - a plan to use nuclear power for unmanned missions beyond the earth and eventually to Jupiter and beyond. However, you can still listen to it online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/projectprometheus.shtml Sounds very interesting. We are still seeking more staff to work in our Astronomy Shop as we expand to become one of the biggest in Europe. See details on our homepage www.astronomy.ie or email CV to info@astronomy.ie NEWSLINE - was updated on Monday as usual. To hear about rare chance to see: Mercury make a very rare pairing with the Moon, International Space Station blazing over, Bright star passing behind the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn viewing, and Comet Machholz amazingly easy to spot, call 1550-111-442