1. David Southwood: "European Space Science And Exploration" On Monday we're bringing the Trillion Dollar Man to Ireland for you - will you be there? Perhaps the most important person we have ever brought to Ireland will be giving a Public Lecture on March 16 in TCD. David Southwood is the Director of Science at the European Space Agency and as such is responsible for finding out the age of the universe, was Einstein right, is there life on Mars, where in the Universe is the next planet that has life on it, and much, much more. The ESA has successfully landed on other worlds, flown through Halley's Comet, launched giant space telescopes, shares the Hubble Space Telescope and the ISS with NASA, and more. Its plans for the future are even more ambitious and the man at the top of all this space exploration will give a talk in Ireland that we want each and everyone of you to attend. Some of his missions include: a.. Hubble Space Telescope b.. The James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble's successor c.. ExoMars d.. Rosetta e.. Mars Express f.. Venus Express g.. Cassini-Huygens ...to name but a few! This lecture is a hugely anticipated event and promises guests a fantastic and enthralling insight into the work of the European Space Agency, how it has developed and where it will go in the 21st Century. "We are exceptionally lucky to have secured such an important speaker as Professor David Southwood during IYA to explain how Europe is forging its place in space exploration," said David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland. You can hear Prof. Southwood speak at 7:50am Friday March 13 on 4FM (94FM / 104FM). You can listen online at www.4fm.ie. The lecture takes place at 7:30pm, Monday March 16 in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Arts Building (note new bigger venue), Trinity College Dublin. Tickets cost 5euro for members and 7euro for non-members and are available online at www.astronomy.ie/lecture200903.html or by calling us on (01) 847 0777. BOOK HERE before tickets sell out! 2. DVD For Everyone In Ireland We are delighted to make the DVD of the David Southwood lecture available to everyone in Ireland to make this a truly national event. For those who cannot make it to Trinity College on the night, the DVD costs just 7euro (plus p&p), the same price as a ticket, and can be ordered online at www.astronomy.ie//lectureDVD.html or by calling (01) 847 0777. 3. Limerick Evening Classes Do you know how the Universe was born? Did you know that you are made of almost 50% comet juice? Did you know that the Zinc in your body, which you need to live, was created by an exploding star? The Astronomy Ireland Evening Classes will answer all these questions and more and begin in Limerick on March 19 at 7:30pm. These classes are suitable for people of all ages and abilities. There is no complex mathematics involved or any other educational requirement for these classes. Learn about the pioneers of astronomy and their painful history, the mysterious world of dark energy, dark matter and black holes, how our Solar System was formed, how a telescope works and much, much more. The classes cost 180euro and includes membership to Astronomy Ireland and an annual subscription to our full-colour magazine, Astronomy & Space. Our monthly magazine gives all the latest national and international news, and is packed full of features, photos and a diary of spectacular celestial events that everyone can see for the coming month. Fully paid up members get 50euro discount on the evening classes, costing only 130euro. Be sure to book online now at www.astronomy.ie/class/limerick.html or over the phone on (01) 847 0777, as bookings cannot be taken on the night! 4. Astronomy Ireland Member Discovers Second Asteroid Astronomy Ireland member, David Grennan has made history by becoming the first Irish person to discover 2 asteroids. David made the remarkable discovery on Sunday, March 1. The asteroid is over quarter of a million times fainter than the human eye can see (mag. 19.6) and is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, over twice as far from the Sun as Earth. It measures approximately 3 - 4 km in diameter and is provisionally named 2009 EN1. David will get to name the new asteroid in the near future. David discovered his first asteroid in October 2008, which was one of the first asteroids discovered from Ireland in 160 years. Full details will appear in our magazine and you can see the discovery images HERE. Congratulations David! 5. Venus Bows Out, And FREE Venus Watch The planet Venus is visible in the night sky for the next week only, after which it will drop off rapidly below the horizon. Venus is visible as a huge crescent in the evening sky around sunset.This twilight phenomenon is not to be missed. Astronomy Ireland urge you to take out your telescope or binoculars to view this remarkable celestial sight, as you will not see Venus as such a huge evening crescent for another 3 years! On Thursday and Friday this week (March 12 & 13), Astronomy Ireland will hold FREE Venus Watches for everyone at our Telescope Shop in Butterly Business Park, Kilmore Road, Artane, Dublin 5. See the huge Crescent Venus for yourself, from 5 - 7pm at our premises each evening, in some of the most powerful telescopes in Ireland. If you can't get to Dublin but would like to get your own telescope to view Venus, or indeed the rest of the universe, you can contact our shop staff for advice, 6 days a week, by emailing sales@astronomy.ie, or by calling (01) 847 0777. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club AND Ireland's Only Astronomy Magazine www.astronomy.ie Call Our Telescope Shop Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat ( subscribe / unsubscribe here )