20 Months Membership Offer 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Mission STS-131 - Shuttle Launch Successful The Space Shuttle Discovery was successfully launched into space yesterday, April 5th, from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 06:21EDT. The primary payload is a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module loaded with supplies and equipment for the International Space Station (ISS). The mission will also remove and replace an ammonia tank assembly outside the station and return a Lightweight Adapter Plate Assembly (LWAPA) plate, located on the Columbus module. STS-131 is the 33rd shuttle mission to the International Space Station and marks the 4th last mission of the Space Shuttle before the fleet is decommissioned later this year. For more information about Mission STS-131 click HERE. 2. Women Take Over Outer Space. Of the 7 astronauts on board the Discovery Shuttle 3 are women; former high school teacher Dorothy "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger, robotic arm expert Stephanie Wilson and the second Japanese woman ever to reach space Naoko Yamazaki. These three female crew members, along with Space Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson who is already at the International Space Station (ISS) now hold the record of the first time that four women have been in space at one time! The four female space flyers will meet up on Wednesday when Discovery docks with the Space Station, to form the largest gathering of women in space in history. For more information about these remarkable women click HERE. 3. Astronomy Tips a.. Mercury is well placed for viewing in the evening skies. On April 7 Venus will be placed just 3degrees from Mercury, visible in the West just after sunset. Join the 1% club and be a part of the small percentage of the world's population that have observed the planet Mercury! b.. The planet Saturn continues to be visible reasonably high in the South-East, well placed near the galaxy clusters in Virgo. c.. Mars is visible also high in the South. d.. For more information on what to see in the night sky this week check out the Sky Diary section in the March issue of 'Astronomy & Space' magazine. Don't forget to email what you see to observe@astronomy.ie and we will try to publish your pictures and observations in forthcoming issues of the magazine. 4. Events April 12 - 'Mercury - New Insights' Public Lecture by Dr. Dave Rothery (TCD) April 22 - Telescope Watches (Nationwide) More information to follow. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop