News from Astronomy Ireland ***STOP PRESS*** Space Shuttle Columbia destroyed on re-entry. All 7 astronauts probably killed. No time to prepare detailed report, media are bombarding us. See http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov 1. Comet NEAT 2. Kerry Public Lecture and Branch 3. Cork Public Lecture and Mayor's Reception 4. I.S.S. now visible 5. NEW YEAR SALE - amazing offer 1. Comet C/2002 V1 (NEAT), or comet NEAT for short, is now about mag. 5! Some keen sighted observers with dark skies report being able to see it with the naked eye, faintly. There is a faint tail up to 2 degrees long. I saw it on Thursday from outside Dublin city in a Celestar 8 and could see a half a degree tail - there was still some light pollution and pesky clouds covered it until it was only 12 degrees above the horizon. Comet NEAT is easy to find with binoculars just below the Square of Pegasus, every evening soon after sunset, say from 6pm on. Use the finder chart on page 40 of the February issue of A&S. For the very best views, try to view in the next few days as the Moon will start to interfere from Tuesday onwards. Though this comet is bright enough to be seen in moonlight. Comet NEAT is set to brighten in the coming days but it will also start to get lower in the West. After about Feb. 10 it will be difficult to see, but still getting brighter. Ultimately it will pass very close to the Sun (9 million miles) on Feb. 18. One thing you won't have heard elsewhere is that Ireland is at the ideal latitude to get the last (best?) views of the comet as it dives in to the Sun's glare. When the Sun sets, the comet is DIRECTLY above the sunset point meaning the comet is as high as it can be from anywhere on the planet. Let's hope it's clear! Send your reports of what you see for our NEW "Observers Log" column to observe@astronomy.ie along with any photos or drawings. A report of early sightings will appear in the March issue of A&S due out in 2 weeks time. 2. Wed. Feb. 5 in The Intermediate School, Killorglin, Co. Kerry there will be a lecture by David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland at 8:00pm. All welcome. Admission 4euro (3euro to concessions incl. anyone carrying the latest issue of A&S!). "The Universe" is all about the planets, the stars, the galaxies in which they live and die, plus the ultimate fate of the Universe - has it got a future? Come along and find out! Booking is not necessary. You can call the school for directions etc. on 066-976 1246. This will also be a test for a planned new Kerry branch to be run by Colm Cannon and Eamonn Cregan (we have written to all 200 members in the area) so please support this event. 3. Thu. Feb. 6 Astronomy Ireland's whistle stop tour of the Southwest continues the next day with a reception by the Lord Mayor of Cork on the occasion of the Chairman of Astronomy Ireland speaking in the city that night (8pm Crawford Art Gallery). The reception is open to all but you must call AI's man in Cork Martin Lynch on 021-496 3853 or 087-240 4104. This is a great honour for the Society and we look forward to seeing as many of our Cork members there as possible in the Mayoral offices, City Hall at 4:30pm. 4. The International Space Station will be blazing across the sky every night from now until Feb. 13. Call our premium rate Newslines after 12 noon each day on 1550-111-442 (calls cost 74c/min) for a short message giving the time to see it that evening. 3 astronauts on board as you watch. It will be the brightest object in the sky so newcomers will have no trouble spotting it, just look up at the predicted time! e.g. on Saturday night I.S.S. will pass over the country at 7:04pm. 5. And finally, don't forget there is a NEW YEAR SALE on many items from our Shop including an amazing 40th anniversary deal from Celestron, the like of which we have never seen before. If you know anyone who is thinking of buying a telescope then have them do so before Feb. 28. See the leaflets at http://www.astronomy.ie/sale.html (a new page is being done up soon so check the main site and follow the "sale" link if this page does not work!) Drop in and see the amazing 2-inch accessories now being offered FREE with the NexStar 11GPS, worth 1,000euro! ===== David Moore BSc FRAS, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Editor, "Astronomy & Space" magazine. ASTRONOMY SHOP: open Mon.-Fri. 9:30am-5:30pm and Sat. noon-6pm. Tel (01) 847 0777. Fax (01) 847 0771. http://www.astronomy.ie (Subscribe FREE to AI's Events emailing list) info@astronomy.ie __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com