----------------------------------------------------- ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (Ireland's National Astronomy Club, Magazine and Shop) ----------------3,000 members paid-up---------------- The Winter Solstice takes place on Tuesday (December 21) at 12:42pm and I have been invited on to the Gerry Ryan Show on 2FM radio to talk about it, and the Star of Bethlehem Mystery. Each winter solstice a few members gather at the James Joyce Sundial on Sandymount strand in Dublin each year in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Sun rising over the aligned stones at 8:22am. I've been there a couple of times myself. Newgrange had 24,000 applications this year from visitors to the Bru na Boinne centre to see the winter solstice sunrise from inside the chamber at Newgrange (Co. Meath). Armagh Observatory/Planetarium has modern day stones aligned with the Solstices also, in the AstroPark. If you know of any other solstice alignments in Ireland let me know, these are just off the top of my head. I think Gerry Ryan also wants to know about the Star of Bethlehem, and what it might have been if it were an astronomical phenomenon. I have strong views on this and cling to the belief that Christ was born on Tuesday evening 15 September 7 B.C. He certainly was not born on December 25 and certainly not in the year 1 A.D. And that is NOT heresy! The Church agrees. Tune in and find out why. The GR Show is on from 9am-12pm and I will probably be on between 10am and 11am. If you miss the show you should be able to hear it later that day at http://www.rte.ie/rams/radio/latest/tue/rte-thegerryryanshow.smil (any of you hacker's out there know how to download the entire show from that link?) Goodness knows what else we might talk about? The JUNKSCOPE ("525x magnification"!) advertised as a "Reader Offer" in the Irish Times? The new naked eye comet (see page 45-46 of our January issue) on view for the next couple of months? The Huygens probe being released on Christmas Day to land on Saturn? The food shortage on I.S.S. that may result in the crew abandoning it!? The Shuttle returning to flight next year? 2005 being Hamilton Year (our New Year lecture in Dunsink is SOLD OUT!) Next year's eclipse? Who knows with Gerry! A.I.R.S. - every Tues at 8pm And speaking of radio shows, the ASTRONOMY IRELAND RADIO SHOW goes out on Anna Livia radio every Tuesday at 8pm and is repeated Thursdays at 11am. Tune in to 103.2FM in the Leinster area or go to http://www.astronomy.ie/radioshow.html if you live anywhere else. Last week's show is already online. We'll be covering the Star of Bethlehem on AIRS in detail too tomorrow night. You can compare our own Ben Emmett's interview technique to the great Gerry Ryan and let us know what you think at radio@astronomy.ie or if you have any questions about the Christmas Star or anything else in the universe email them right now. - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SHOP THIS CHRISTMAS - ASK ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS TELESCOPE DISCOUNTS (up to 40%!) Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm Dec. 20-24 inclusive www.astronomy.ie/map.html