To open 2006 Astronomy Ireland presents not one, but TWO New Year Public Lectures: ( BOTH WILL BE AVAILABLE ON DVD FOR MEMBERS LIVING OUTSIDE LEINSTER ) ( Order both at www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html next week ) 1. Monday January 9th Dublin City University 8pm "Challenger and Columbia" by Colm J. Cannon NEWSFLASH: Colm is due to speak to Pat Kenny on RTE Radio 1 on Monday Jan. 9 (10am-12pm)! It is 20 years ago this month since the first major manned spaceflight disaster when the shuttle Challenger and its crew of 7 were all lost. On Feb. 1st it will be the 3rd anniversary of the loss of Columbia and its crew of 7. Now with the space shuttle fleet still grounded, and the future of the International Space Station (the most expensive object every built) in jeopardy what is the future of the shuttle programme? Astronomy Ireland's space correspondent, broadcaster and writer, Colm J. Cannon, will look at both disasters and to the future of America in space as it relates to the shuttle programme. ALL WELCOME. Admission 5euro (3euro under16,students,members,unwaged,OAPs). Payable at the door, no tickets necessary. Doors open 7:30pm. Event begins 8pm. Venue: Dublin City University in the Henry Grattan Building, Lecture Hall CG12 on Jan. 9 Details: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0601.html 2. Thursday January 12th TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN 8pm "BIG BANG - THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE IN 60 MINUTES" by Simon Singh (U.K.) TICKETS MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE! See below... NEWSFLASH: Simon is due to speak to Pat Kenny on RTE Radio 1 on Thursday Jan. 12 (10am-12pm)! Dr Simon Singh is a brilliant public speaker (he and Richard Wiseman, who was on The Late Late Show last Friday, took to the stage in London's West End!) and he is also author of several books including "Fermat's Last Theorem" and "The Code Book". For our second New Year Lecture Dr Singh will talk about his book about the Big Bang. Watch out for electrocutions, Led Zeppelin and more! "This is one of the best lecture performances I have ever seen" - David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland. "I thoroughly recommend you round up everyone you know and get along for the experience of a lifetime!" ALL WELCOME. Admission 5euro. IMPORTANT!!!: Tickets MUST be booked in advanced - either online, or in person in our Shop online: www.astronomy.ie/lecture0602singh.html Shop: www.astronomy.ie/map.html Venue: McNeill Theatre, Hamilton Building, Trinity College Dublin, 8pm (doors open 7:30pm). 3. International Space Station visible near Moon + Mars! The International Space Station with two astronauts on board (Valery Tokarev and Bill MacArthur) is visible blazing across Irish skies every evening until January 17th inclusive. The Moon and Mars will be in the sky also so some places in Ireland will get to see I.S.S. pass in front of the Moon and Mars - an extremely rare sight. As well as giving out the exact time to see I.S.S. each evening we will tell you where in Ireland you will see it pass in front of Mars and the Moon. Of course, if you live anywhere near these places you will get to see I.S.S. pass very close to the Moon and Mars. If you see I.S.S. pass near, or across the Moon or Mars then please email a short report to observe@astronomy.ie Call our Newsline each day after 12noon (and before sunset, approx 4pm) for each daily prediction: 1550 - 111 - 442 (calls cost 95c/min) Please pass this number on to all your friends. (Revenue from this service helps us promote astronomy in Ireland and this Newsline can handle hundreds of callers simultaneously, something we could not do ourselves. And by the way, the lion's share of the 95cent per minute goes to the telecoms operators not us.) 4. ECLIPSE TRIP - HOLIDAY OF A LIFE-TIME Just a reminder that the deadline to book your place on our special DIRECT flight from Dublin to Turkey to see the spectacular Total Solar Eclipse is Monday January 16. So talk to your loved ones and friends about making this your holiday in the Sun (with a difference!) for 2006! Details and online deposits to: www.astronomy.ie/turkeyeclipse.html This will be the biggest and most spectacular event Astronomy Ireland has ever organised! 5. Mars near Moon On Sunday January 8 Mars will be extremely close to the Moon, less than one Moon diameter below it in fact. This is a rare and spectacular sight to the naked eye so don't miss it. Send sightings and photos to observe@astronomy.ie please. See the diagram on page 26 of the January issue of our magazine and the further details there. Venus, Saturn and Jupiter are all on view this coming week also. For all your viewing needs consult the Sky Diary pages of our magazine www.astronomy.ie/sub to order the current issue (only 5euro!) or subscribe for the year. Happy New Year from Astronomy Ireland - the world's largest astronomy society per capita www.astronomy.ie Call our Telescope Shop: (01) 847 0777 now open 7 days a week