1. The International Space Station will blaze across Irish skies every night this week and next week until May 5th. It looks like the brightest 'star' in the sky for the 1 or 2 minutes that it takes to cross the sky travelling, as it does at 28,000 km/hour On board I.S.S. are two astronauts, Pavel Vinogradov and Jeffrey Williams. They will stay on board for 2 months having arrived on March 31st for a 6 month tour of duty that will see them make two space walks and welcome two space shuttle flights. The time to see I.S.S. every evening until May 5th is different every night so we will update our premium rate Newsline each day with the exact time to go out and watch and other details. (Not everyone has access to the net so we still do it this way! It's only a short call and the minor proceeds we receive help us promote astronomy in Ireland anyway): Call 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95 cent per minute from landlines) each day after 12 noon for the time to watch that evening. (call 09001 88 1950 in U.K. for 60p/min) As seen from Ireland I.S.S. will pass very close to bright planets in the sky this time round and the Newsline will tell you where you need to be to see this. I.S.S. looks like an extremely bright star in the sky for just 1 or 2 minutes. It's so bright you don't need to know where to look, just go outdoors at the time given on the Newsline and you' will not miss it. See the I.S.S. page (left hand menu) on our website for background info on I.S.S. www.astronomy.ie 2. The following talk organised by Prof Petros Florides and John Stalker from Trinity College Dublin should be a very good talk. I'll be there! (Sorry it's in Dublin but that is beyond AI's control - see Cork event next!) THE EIGHTH J L SYNGE PUBLIC LECTURE entitled GRAVITATIONAL WAVES: GEOMETRY IN MOTION by Professor BERNARD SCHUTZ (Director of Astrophysical Relativity at the Albert Einstein Institute of the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Potsdam) The MacNeill Lecture Theatre 3, Hamilton Building, Trinity College, Tuesday, 2nd May, 2006, at 8.00 p.m. Petros kindly notes "Any member of Astronomy Ireland would, of course, be welcome to attend the lecture." 3. Cork Astronomy Meeting The next ASGI (Astronomical Science Group of Ireland) meeting will take place in University College Cork on May 3rd and 4th. Details at http://astro.ucc.ie/asgi2006spring/ This event will be of great interest to anyone interested in studying astronomy, especially those already at third level. While ASGI events are primarily aimed at serious researchers, amateurs such as most Astronomy Ireland members (AI is a paying member of ASGI) are welcome as long as the research nature of the event is respected (i.e. you're welcome to sit in and watch). 4. Star-B-Q The annual "barbecue under the stars" for everyone in Ireland - fun, food, talks and see the wonders of the universe up close. See the new comet first! (due to reach naked eye visibility next week - see May issue of our magazine www.astronomy.ie/sub) See Mars, Saturn and Jupiter up close in powerful telescopes. All the food and soft drinks you can eat. It's Ireland's largest annual gathering of telescopes for the general public! So don't miss it! I.S.S. will blaze over that night, passing very close to Saturn as it does! The weather forecast looks good for Friday, so remember you must book tickets in advance Joins lots of others who have already booked and go to www.astronomy.ie to book before Friday! -------------------------------------------- Astronomy Ireland (01) 847 0777 SUPPORT IRELAND'S BIGGEST TELESCOPE SHOP (open til 9pm Thurs & Fri) ( FREE delivery nationwide. FREE advice. 01-847 0777 Mon-Sat incl)