1. DUNDALK LECTURE "Nanotechnology and Space" On Thursday March 11 Dr David Jarvis of the European Space Agency will give the above Public Lecture in Fairways Hotel & Conference Centre, Dundalk. The "1ST INTERNATIONAL NANOFABRICATION SYMPOSIUM" is being held in Dundalk 10-12 March and this lecture is open to the public to mark the event. "Delegates from around the world will explore the role of nanoscience in the design, manufacture and characterization of emerging technologies" Doors open 6:30pm and the talk starts at 7pm. The full conference details are at: www.nanofabrication.ie and you can find links to the Fairways Hotel there also if you need directions. Admission is free and about 600 are expected to attend. I'll be there. 2. A large sunspot has appeared on the Sun. It should cross the centre of the Sun Thursday or Friday and remain on view for a week after that. There is an increased chance of aurorae this weekend therefore. NEVER look directly at the Sun. Use AstroSolar filters for safe viewing, which you can get from our Shop. 3. Patrick Moore presented his Sky at Night TV programme last Sunday night. You can watch it again on Saturday March 13 at 12:45pm on BBC 2. He talks to Prof David Southwood about Europe's space missions and has the latest news from Mars. Prof Southwood gave Astronomy Ireland's New Year Public Lecture in D.C.U. in January, remember. He had just come back from China at the time, and you may have seen him on TG4 on Leo Enright's excellent coverage of the Rosetta launch last week. He sure gets around! You can also watch the show online: www.bbc.co.uk/skyatnight has all the details. Book your tickets now for our EASTER MONDAY public lecture when Susan McKenna-Lawlor will make a rare public appearance to talk about her past, present and future space missions: "Ireland in Space" is on April 12 at 8pm in D.C.U. All welcome. Admission 5euro (3euro to members). Send SAE with payment to P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 5. Or drop in to the Shop in Artane. Please get others to join Astronomy Ireland online and support our Irish astronomy magazine: www.astronomy.ie/sub (now secure!) ===== David Moore BSc FRAS, at Ireland's BIGGEST Telescope Shop. Tel (01) 847 0777. www.astronomy.ie info@astronomy.ie