Evening Classes 2010 Events DVDs Shop 1. Massive Fireball Heralds 'Astronomy for Beginners' Evening Classes Astronomy Ireland's Evening Classes began in three locations around Ireland yesterday: Cork, Sligo and Tralee. These extremely popular classes are aimed at the beginner and cover everything you ever wanted to know about the Universe! If you missed the first class, don't worry, because you can still enrol and enjoy the upcoming classes. a.. Evening Classes in Athlone, Galway and Limerick will begin next Tuesday, February 9. b.. In Dublin, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Waterford they will begin on Wednesday, February 10. Just before the Classes started, a huge fireball was seen over Irish skies! This spectacular event has led to hundreds of fireball reports and phone calls, and a huge number of media interviews - including RTE Radio 1, Newstalk, and Today FM - with David Moore, Chairman of Astronomy Ireland. These fireballs are caused by the leftover debris from the creation of the Solar System billions of years ago. Yesterday evening, a piece of debris - possibly the size of a car - entered Earth's atmosphere and began to burn up. In fact, the creation of the Solar System and the origin of meteors and fireballs are some of the many topics that you will learn about at our hugely successful Evening Classes! To read more about the spectacular fireball go to www.astronomy.ie and if you were lucky enough to witness it please fill out a fireball report on the Astronomy Ireland website. Classes cost 180euro (130euro members rate) and include a very special 20 months membership to Astronomy Ireland to celebrate our 20th Year. Please be advised that places must be booked in advance. Every person who enrols will receive a FREE ASTRONOMY PACK upon registration. Please note that our website www.astronomy.ie is under significant strain at the moment due to the surge in visits following the fireball, so if you can't get to the website to enrol please keep trying. ENROL HERE or call us on (01) 847 0777. 2. Public Lecture: What's It Like To Live Inside A Star? Imagine a planet that was so close to its parent star that it was effectively inside its atmosphere, pummelled by radiation as it orbited the nuclear orb. Believe it or not, you are living on such a planet: Earth. Our home planet is hammered by charged particles from solar winds in the furthest reaches of the Sun's atmosphere. This can result in spectacular aurora, but severe solar storms can cause electrical and telecommunication blackouts on the ground and on spacecraft in orbit. Dr Chris Davis, from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK, is giving Astronomy Ireland's February Lecture. A leading expert on the Sun, Dr Davis will tell lecture attendees all about solar storms, how it affects life on Earth, and how it will affect astronauts of the future travelling to the Moon and Mars. For more information on the talk/DVD click HERE. There will be a social reception in The Lombard afterwards, all are welcome to join us for a chat with Dr Davis, as well as Astronomy Ireland members and staff. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 3. Upcoming Events February 9 - Evening Classes Commence (Athlone, Galway, Limerick) February 8 - Living With A Star - Public Lecture by Dr. Chris Davis February 9 - Evening Classes Commence (Athlone, Galway, Limerick) February 10 - Evening Classes Commence (Dublin, Dundalk, Letterkenny, Waterford) Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe ) Our Online Telescope Shop