1. AURORA ON THURSDAY? We have received an alert about a possible aurora coming tonight and tomorrow. A recent solar flare and other events lead aurora experts to believe that at 3am tonight (Jan. 22) there could be a display of the aurora. The time of start of the aurora could be out by "several hours" but it should last long enough to see after sunset on Jan. 22 as well. So watch before dawn and after sunset on Thursday Jan. 22. As usual, if you see anything text your name and location to 086-081 99 86 or email a short report to observe@astronomy.ie 2. MARS NEWS As NASA's first rover "Spirit" starts trundling across the surface of Mars they are busily preparing to land the second identical rover "Opportunity" on Sunday morning at 5am our time (and not "Saturday afternoon" as one pundit announced recently). Meanwhile the British Beagle 2 team have decided to delay trying to contacting Beagle for a couple of days longer than the 10 days planned. This would guarantee it would reset itself into a new communications mode if it is still functioning. This means they will try to make contact this Saturday Jan. 24 - keep up-to-date via there website (see the 3 Mars links we recommend on our website www.astronomy.ie). Those of you who met some of the Beagle team at Astro-Expo last November, or met David Southwood at our New Year Lecture Jan. 12 will wish them luck. On a different note entirely, Michael Lennon provides the following interesting comparison :-) NASA Sprit: * Earth to Mars: Approx. 77 Million kms * NASA Spirit Cost: Approx. 321 Million * Launched: 10-06-2003 * Landed: Jan 2004 * Status: Working Luas: * Length of first two lines: Approx. 25kms * Luas cost so far: Approx. 675 million * Construction of Line A, commenced in September 1999. * Status: Not working 3. DESK-TOP PUBLISHING If you're good with a computer you may be interested in helping to produce our magazine each month for a little extra pocket-money! If so email me at info@astronomy.ie (or just reply to this email now) for details. Earn thousands of euro a year! 4. VENUS + MOON You can hardly have missed the planet Venus blazing in the southwest for a couple of hours each evening after sunset over the past few weeks. Every time it's clear we get phone calls, and sign up a few new members - thanks Venus! On Saturday though there will be a beautiful spectacle to behold with the naked eye when a thin crescent Moon will lie just below Venus. There is a diagram on page 27 of the January issue of our magazine showing the scene. Warn everyone you know to go out after sunset and look above the horizon where the Sun went down for an amazing sight. Around 6pm should be a good time. The dark side of the Moon should be faintly visible due to Earthshine so do take a close up look in binoculars too. Let us know what you see (observe@astronomy.ie) and send in any photos too. The International Space Station will be visible next week. More then. SPECIAL OFFER: buy any Celestron telescope from our huge Astronomy Shop before March 31 and get 750euro worth of eyepieces and accessories for just 299euro! Delivery anywhere in Ireland. Call (01) 847 0777 Monday to Saturday inclusive. Please get others to join Astronomy Ireland and support our Irish astronomy magazine: www.astronomy.ie/sub ===== David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open until 6pm Mon.-Sat. Tel (01) 847 0777. Fax (01) 847 0771. www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's emailing list) Email: info@astronomy.ie