20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Nationwide Moon, Mars & Saturn Watch This Thursday, April 22, there will be Nationwide Moon, Mars & Saturn Watches taking place at locations around the country. These Watches are being held with the Moon, and the planets Mars and Saturn in mind, as these are all particularly well placed for observation on this night. On the night, Mars will be visible just above and to the right of the Moon, in the constellation of Cancer. This promises to be a breathtaking sight when viewed through the powerful telescopes which will be set up for you. Not only this, Saturn will also be visible, and those in attendance will be given the opportunity to see this ringed planet, as well as some of it's larger moons. All these great astronomical bodies are a spectacular sight through a telescope for established astronomers, amateurs and complete beginners alike and we urge you all to go to your nearest Watch see these cosmic wonders through some of Ireland's largest and most powerful telescopes. This is an entirely free event and everyone is welcome to come along. Watches will begin at locations nationwide at 9pm. CONFIRMED LOCATIONS The locations of currently confirmed Watches are; Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Kerry, Limerick, Sligo, and Waterford, however please keep checking our website before Thursday as more locations may be added. FREE COMPETITION There will be a draw for everyone who attends the Watches at locations nationwide. Entry is completely free and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of binoculars from our Shop. FREE DOWNLOAD To download a Sky Diary Map showing all the constellations and planets visible this month click HERE. The map is dated for 9pm on Thursday the 22nd of April, but it can still be used to easily find Mars throughout April. MORE INFORMATION For more information about Nationwide Moon and Mars Watch and to check the location of your nearest Watch click HERE. Alternatively email sec@astronomy.ie or call us on (01) 847 0777. 2. NEAR fm Astronomy Ireland Chairman was interviewed on NEAR fm (90.3fm) where he spoke about the upcoming Watches taking place at locations around the country on Thursday. If you missed this interview you can listen to it now on our website at www.astronomy.ie/audio. 3. Discover Touches Down The Space Shuttle Discovery has touched down safely in Florida today, April 20. Mission STS-131 ended with a flawless landing at the Shuttle Landing Facility. "It was a great mission," Discovery Commander Alan Poindexter radioed after the shuttle came to a stop on the runway. "We are glad that the International Space Station is stocked up again.". STS-131 carried a host of experiments, supplies and equipment to the orbiting laboratory complex. With this mission completed, Discovery has one more flight on its agenda, STS-133, currently slated as the last mission of the space shuttle program. To read the landing blog click HERE. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop