Right now there are 10 people in space as the latest Space Shuttle mission to re-wire the International Space Station comes to a close. Last night (Tuesday at 10pm) the Shuttle Discovery undocked from I.S.S. It will land on Friday night around 9pm. This is perfect timing for Ireland as I.S.S. starts a 15 day series of evening passes across our sky tonight (Wed.)! Both craft will be visible to the naked eye as extremely bright star-like objects crossing the sky in a couple of minutes for at least the next three nights, and the weekend if the Shuttle landing is delayed as can often happen due to poor weather at the Florida landing site. On board the Space Shuttle are 7 astronauts, while on board I.S.S. are 2 men and 1 woman who will spend all of Christmas and New Years in space hurtling around the Earth every 90 minutes at nearly 30,000 km per hour. Tonight, Wednesday Dec. 20, Astronomy Ireland is predicting that the "space chase" will take place in Irish skies, for all to see at 5:19pm. On this first pass you will have to look very low in the southeast but it will be higher up on the following nights. Once Discovery lands the even bigger I.S.S. will still be visible every night until Jan. 3rd and, what is more, we predict that it will pass in front of the Moon for some of you. The "space chase" itself is a rare and spectacular sight, a passage in front of the Moon is extremely rare - we know of only one sighting from Ireland in the past, ever. Daily predictions will be available from the society on a special telephone Newsline on 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95cent per minute). In N.Ireland dial 09001 88 19 50 (60p/min). See past emails as to why we still use a premium rate number (it's less than a euro to get the prediction after all and proceeds help promote astronomy in Ireland, other reasons too). By 12 noon each day this Newsline will give the exact time to see the Space Station every evening until January 3rd, plus news of the landing, the space chase and where to see I.S.S. pass in front of the Moon. Astronomy Ireland is urging everyone in Ireland to go outdoors each evening until Jan. 3rd and see this brilliant spectacle, so please tell everyone you know. Here is some background to the current mission: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6188359.stm And our own I.S.S. page is at: `www.astronomy.ie/iss.html BRIEF OTHER NEWS: New Year Lecture by Scotland's Astronomer Royal www.astronomy.ie Geminid meteors - several brilliant fireballs seen, report on www.astronomy.ie Pat Kenny Show - Geminids, Christmas Telescope Advice. We gave him our 10x50 binoculars as a Christmas Present See www.astronomy.ie and listen to the 7 minute interview. Giant sunspot last week spawned aurora sightings around the world, mostly cloudy here. On Christmas Day aim your new scope at Uranus just above the Moon (see our December magazine) and Saturn rising at 9pm. More details on this week's A.I. Radio Show at www.astronomy.ie/AIRS - download the MP3 GIFT IDEAS: - Beginners Evening Classes enrolling now for Jan. 31 start - Give a Gift Subscription to A.I.'s magazine (40euro) - Telescopes for Christmas - beware inferior models, order from A.I. Details of all the above on www.astronomy.ie ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and information www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 0777