1. 100 Hours of Astronomy

From April 2nd to 5th, the International Year of Astronomy is running 100 Hours of Astronomy, a Cornerstone Project for IYA2009. This is the biggest event of IYA for us amateurs. (Paid up members: see the IYA booklet posted with your last Astronomy & Space magazine).

140 countries are taking part and Astronomy Ireland will set up telescopes all over the country to celebrate this global event. We want everyone to attend their local watch and see some of the most amazing sights in the Universe with us! For more details of your local branch, please see HERE. VOLUNTEERS We need volunteers to support our Branch coordinators for this huge event, e.g. to hand out leaflets and the like. Or, do you have a larger telescope you could bring? If you can help out in any way in your area, please email us at sec@astronomy.ie or call us on (01) 847 0777 and let's get a Branch going in your area for IYA. 2. David Southwood Lecture Report and DVD With nobody leading NASA at present, Professor David Southwood - the "Trillion Dollar Man" and Director of Science at the European Space Agency - is possibly the most important person in space exploration on the planet. He proved he is the man for the job when he gave an astounding St Patrick's Eve Lecture in Trinity College Dublin, treating guests to breathtaking videos of the surface of Mars. Professor Southwood outlined missions already undertaken by ESA (Hubble Space Telescope, Cassini-Huygens, International Space Station), and missions that are taking place now and in the future, including Planck (to look for shockwaves from the Big Bang), Herschel Space Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope and much more. A fascinating summary of space exploration in the 21st Century from a man who knows! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED If you were not able to attend David Southwood's lecture on March 16, you can order a DVD of the lecture HERE at a cost of 7euro (plus p&p). Read the report HERE. 4. Earth Hour Report Telescope nights for Earth Hour took place in several locations all over Ireland. Clear skies were reported over most of the country, including Dublin, where 400 people came to Phoenix Park to see amazing sights in the sky. Read more and see photos HERE. 3. "New Views of the Red Planet" - Cork Lecture Tonight - UCC and Cork Astronomy Club Leo Enright will present an illustrated talk on Mars, with the latest data from recent missions. The lecture will take place tonight, March 31, in University College Cork in the Geography Dept lecture theatre GG_LT and will begin at 8pm. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club AND Ireland's Only Astronomy Magazine www.astronomy.ie Call Our Telescope Shop Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat ( subscribe / unsubscribe here )