ASTRONOMY IRELAND MAILING LIST - www.astronomy.ie (The all-Ireland astronomy Club, Magazine and Shop) --------------------------------------------------- 1. AURORA AGAIN Just a quick report to keep you posted. There is another aurora predicted for tonight (Wed.). An explosion at 00:30 Wednesday is headed towards Earth. Last night very good displays were seen (where it was clear) until about 8pm. Then it died away to just a band of light in the north (see AI member Anthony Murphy's website that already has his photos online http://www.mythicalireland.com/astronomy/astrophotos/aurora2004.html). Monday was mostly clouded out but we had one positive sighting from Co. Cork. Lots of reports of a great show on Sunday night. Martin McKenna in Derry has seen the aurora all three nights in a row! So let's hope for more clear skies. After tonight, aurora are still likely for the rest of the week don't forget. See the link on our website to the NOAA site that shows the auroral activity over the north pole: www.astronomy.ie If you see or have seen the aurora make sure you send a brief report of what you saw to observe@astronomy.ie 2. SLIGO & DEANSGRANGE LECTURE "THE UNIVERSE" As it's National Science Week I'll be giving my slide show lecture "The Universe" around the country. I was at Presentation School in Clonmel Tuesday and on Thursday I'll be in the Institute of Technology in Sligo town at 7pm. I have 70 slides of the best spacecraft and telescope pictures with which to explain the entire universe in less than 60 minutes! It's a whistle stop tour of the Universe aimed at the general public. Come along and say hello and bring family and friends. It's free! I'll be giving the same talk in Deansgrange Library in Dublin tonight (Wed.) at 7:30pm. Sorry for the late notice it's been hectic here getting ready for Astro-Expo with all the bookings coming in from around the country even with the extra staff we have this week. 3. ASTRO-EXPO TELESCOPE GIVEAWAY For 2 days only, at Astro-Expo this weekend, we're slashing the prices on some of our telescopes. Celestron NexStar telescopes are reduced by up to 40% for example! Most Books and Slides are at HALF PRICE. Loads of other bargains too! ASTRO-EXPO this Saturday and Sunday 12pm-6pm in Dublin City University - very easy to get to from the M50 www.astronomy.ie/astroexpo2004.html By the way, if you got the Astro-Expo brochure in the post this week with the December issue of our magazine note that we forgot to put in the times of the lectures on Saturday and Sunday. From top to bottom they are at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm on each day. Sorry! See you there, and remember you MUST book the evening dinner (Saturday 8pm) IN ADVANCE if you want the special reduced rate of 25euro. I will be glad to introduce you to the astronaut, Oisin MacConamhna "Hawking's AI student", and Sir Isaac Newton at the dinner, so bring a camera if you want a photo! Everyone in Ireland will be travelling to Dublin for one or both days so make sure you don't miss it, and do come up to me and say hello. - David Moore -----------------------------------------