Aurora Cruise Evening Classes Membership Shop 1. Public Lecture: The Births and Deaths of Stars For billions of years the Sun provided energy to Earth, bathing it in a constant glow of light and warmth creating the ideal conditions for life - and ultimately humans - to thrive. Day in, day out, it has hung in the skies over the heads of humanity for millions of years as something we take for granted. And some day, it will die. Astronomy Ireland's Public Lecture on November 14th, Dr Gareth Murphy - one of Ireland's top astrophysicists - will explore the births, lives, and deaths of stars, including our own Sun, to the general public in Trinity College Dublin. Stellar evolution is an amazing aspect of astronomy that is extremely interesting, yet it happens over such huge lengths of time that we often don't realise what's happening when we step outside at night and see stars in the sky. Tickets for the lecture are only €7 (€5 members rate), and can be ordered online at www.astronomy.ie or by calling (01) 890 11 11. The lecture takes place in Trinity College Dublin, on Monday, November 14th at 8pm. There will be a social reception afterwards in The Lombard Inn with complimentary food. BOOK TICKETS ORDER DVD 2. International Space Station The International Space Station (ISS) is currently passing over Ireland each night and will continue to do so until early November. The ISS appears as an extremely bright star-like object in evening skies and is the brightest object in the sky apart from the Moon. This man-made object, larger than Croke Park, is an awe inspiring sight and we urge all of you to go outside and watch as it passes over. There are websites that will allow you to figure out the time the ISS will pass over, but to receive a message to your mobile each day with the time to see it already worked out simply text SPACE to 57003 (reply STOP to unsubscribe). Each text costs 1euro, and only one message will be sent per day. Proceeds help to promote interest in astronomy across Ireland. Remember to email your observations of the ISS to iss@astronomy.ie and we will do our best to include your report in a forthcoming issue of Astronomy & Space magazine. 3. Galileo Drawing Competition 2011 Astronomy Ireland is currently promoting the Galileo Drawing Competition: a European art competition with an out-of–this-world prize! One very lucky Irish child will have one of the new European Galileo satellites named after them. The competition is open to children age 9 – 12 years in each of the 27 EU member states. Each child must submit a piece of artwork based on the theme ‘space and aeronautics’. Entrants can use any drawing, painting and colouring material and techniques they wish to. But HURRY! To be in with a chance of winning this truly once in a lifetime prize you must submit your entry by 15th November 2011. To find out more about the competition log on to www.astronomy.ie The first two of the Galileo satellites were launched last Friday, and were named 'Thijs' and 'Natalia', after two winning children in Belgium and Bulgaria. The Galileo Project is Europe's answer to the GPS system, where a constellation of spacecraft will allow for more detailed coordinates and guidance systems on the ground. 4. Norwegian Astronomy Voyage We are delighted to announce that our upcoming Northern Lights Cruise has been extremely popular! In January, twenty people will travel to Norway to take part in an ocean cruise along the countries coast, where northerly dark skies give unrivalled views of the aurora borealis. Not only that, but the voyagers will enjoy guided tours of picturesque towns, snowmobiling, and special astronomy talks given by Dr John Mason, who is a science broadcaster and a regular on the BBC's The Sky at Night alongside Sir Patrick Moore. If you missed the opportunity to join the voyage earlier, don't worry! There is still a small number of cabins still available, but please note that an extra surcharge may apply. To get more details and to book your place, please contact Project Travel on (01) 210 8391. Astronomy Ireland The world's most popular Astronomy Club www.astronomy.ie ( subscribe / unsubscribe )