1. E.S.A. on 2FM Gerry Ryan Show Prof. David Southwood (E.S.A. Science Director) has arrived safely in Ireland and will give our Public Lecture Monday night (see below). He is scheduled to appear on 2FM just after Monday's 10am news on the Gerry Ryan Show. Gerry is a bit of a space fan as you may know so it should be a good show. You can listen on 90Mhz-92Mhz or online 'live' at www.rte.ie/smiltest/2fm_new.smil If you miss the show you can hear it online for the next week at www.rte.ie/2fm/ryanshow/audio.html 2. Dublin Lecture "European Space Agency Explores the Cosmos" You can still get tickets to come to Prof David Southwood's lecture on Monday night (or order the DVD if you can't get to Dublin - see below) in Trinity College Dublin at 8pm. There are still tickets left as we have booked a larger Theatre than normal (Joly Theatre, Hamilton Building). See maps and directions at: www.tcd.ie/Maps/tcd_east.html www.tcd.ie/Maps/tcd_directions.html If you heard Prof. Southwood's interview on the A.I.Radio Show last Tuesday (listen here: www.astronomy.ie/AIRS/AIRS060905.mp3 ) you'll know it's about his spacecraft orbiting Venus, Mars, Earth, Saturn, the Sun, worth billions, and his plans for future exploration of the cosmos. After NASA, he is probably the most important 'space explorer' on the planet. Book tickets online at www.astronomy.ie or take your chances at the door on the night Date/Time: 8pm, Monday, September 11 Venue: Joly Theatre, Hamilton Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2 Admission: 5euro (3euro children/students) LIVING OUTSIDE DUBLIN? Order the DVD of this lecture now at www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html 3. Cork Lecture - Space Shuttle Launch Reminder: Don't forget Astronomy Ireland member John McCarthy will give a lecture in Cork on Thursday: Date/Time: 8pm, Thursday, September 14 Venue: Fortwilliam House, Silversprings Hotel, Cork Admission: 5euro (3euro children/students) No advance-booking needed for this event 4. The Examiner "Planets" Supplement Wednesday On Wednesday The Examiner newspaper will run a 16 page supplement about the planets. That's a major piece of work! A.I. Chairman David Moore was invited to write the introduction and Leo Enright wrote the section on Mars. There will be a poster in Thursday's edition as well. Should be a collector's item so watch out for it. Oh, check out the competition in the supplement to win a superb Celestron Firstscope 70EQ telescope supplied by our Shop (and even if you don't win we'll give you 100euro off the old 399euro price now! Just call our Shop at the number below) 5. Eclipse Reports The partial eclipse last Thursday was a fantastic site. Astronomy Ireland Chairman David Moore saw it from the 5th floor of the Guinness Storehouse as it rose over the Dublin skyline under perfect conditions. He narrowly missed showing it to Justice Minister Michael McDowell (our next Tanaiste!) who had just given a speech, but the Minister left only minutes before the Moon rose - it obviously wasn't a bad omen for him! Now, you don't have to have an unusual story like that to tell, but we do want you to email us for a special Eclipse report in our magazine telling us if you saw the eclipse, what you thought of it and where in Ireland you were. Please email us now at observe@astronomy.ie ASTRONOMY IRELAND - for telescopes and information www.astronomy.ie or call (01) 847 0777