[ Thought you might all be interested in a Press Notice we dashed off for 4 events coming this month! See the May issue for more details, including the EDITORIAL which has lots of advice on books and equipment we have stocked up on so you can get the best out of these rare events. P.S. "The Sky at Night" on BBC1 tonight (1:10am Monday) is about the Transit, and the 2 eclipses also. Repeated next Saturday BBC2. P.P.S. If anyone is interested in organising a group trip (or knows of cheap flights/sailings) to Scotland for the May 31 annular eclipse then let me know! - David Moore Sunday May 4. ] ASTRONOMY IRELAND Press Notice May 3 Transit of Mercury across Sun May 7 Total Eclipse of Moon May 16 * Partial Eclipse of Sun May 31 Amazingly, no less than THREE rare and very special events take place during May and Astronomy Ireland is providing details and opportunities to see all three, from a public event to a special magazine. Given that previous eclipses have been front page stories on the major national newspapers there is sure to be great interest in these eclipses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSIT OF MERCURY MAY 7 (Wednesday) Not since 1973 has Mercury been seen to cross the face of the Sun from Ireland. Nor will the sight be visible again from here until 2016. From 6:12am until 11:32am Wednesday the planet Mercury will be visible as a small black disk crossing the Sun through specially filtered telescopes. Note: Never look directly at the Sun without suitable eye protection. Special filters for telescopes are available from Astronomy Ireland, please call the society for details, or come along to: MERCURY TRANSIT WATCH IN PHOENIX PARK Astronomy Ireland will be setting up telescopes in Dublin's Phoenix Park on Wednesday May 7 from 10am to 11:30am to show members of the public the planet Mercury crossing the Sun in safety. Everyone is welcome to come along to the car park at the Papal Cross: Event : Astronomy Ireland MERCURY TRANSIT WATCH Date : WEDNESDAY MAY 7TH from 10am to 11:30am Venue : car park at Papal Cross in PHOENIX PARK Dublin Details : Tel (01) 847 0777 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PUBLIC LECTURE MAY 12 "CANNIBALS IN SPACE" On Monday May 12 Astronomy Ireland is inviting EVERYONE to a special Public Lecture "Cannibals in Space " by Dr. Simon Jeffery, about stars that consume one another. Astronomy Ireland Chairman, David Moore, will also give details of the coming two eclipses on May 16 and May 31. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TOTAL ECLIPSE OF MOON MAY 16

From about 3am on Friday May 16, the first Total Eclipse of the Moon will occur since January 2001, two and a half years ago. This is an event which is visible to the naked eye from all parts of the country. Details from Astronomy Ireland on (01) 847 0777.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ PARTIAL ECLIPSE OF SUN MAY 31 May comes to a spectacular end with the first partial eclipse of the Sun visible from these parts since the great eclipse of August 1999. The eclipse is already in progress as the Sun rises in the East on that Saturday morning around 5am causing a rare and very eerie effect that morning until 5:40am. "Eclipse Shades" from the 1999 eclipse are all that is need to view this spectacular event. Details and supplies of "Eclipse Shades" are available from Astronomy Ireland on (01) 847 0777. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPECIAL MAGAZINE AVAILABLE THAT DETAILS ALL ABOVE A special edition of "Astronomy & Space" magazine has been produced by Astronomy Ireland and has already been distributed to thousands of astronomy fans around Ireland. Copies are available at larger newsagents or by post for 5euro donation by calling Astronomy Ireland (01) 847 0777. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ MEDIA CONTACT: For more information please contact: David Moore, Editor A&S magazine at Astronomy Ireland on (01) 8470777 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com