1. Comet PANSTARRS This comet has at last been seen with the naked eye from Ireland and photographs are coming in. Check out our provisional webpage with my own first photo: www.astronomy.ie/cometpanstarrs.php There is a full article and star map to locate the comet in the March issue of Astronomy Ireland magazine (tip: look to the lower left of the Moon in the coming days and you should see the comet just above the horizon in strong twilight around 7pm). Subscribe to our magazine www.astronomy.ie/join and you will get all the information and the historical record of all the Irish photos we get of this rare naked eye comet! VIEWING: Our normal Friday night Telescope Night is being held one hour earlier than normal at 7pm March 15th to allow viewing of the comet from our Telescope Shop near Dublin airport www.astronomy.ie/map We will plan other viewing events as the comet gets higher, stay tuned! Telescope Night details are always posted here after 2pm each Friday (as they are weather dependent): www.astronomy.ie/scopenight 2. Northern Lights This Weekend As if a naked eye comet were not enough to celebrate St Patrick's Day weekend there was a huge explosion on the Sun and displays of the Northern Lights (Aurora) are possible tonight (Friday) and Saturday. Most auora are green on photographs (the eye often sees them as 'white' though, if they are faint) so how appropriate for St. Patrick's Day weekend! 3. Send your sightings! Remember, Astronomy Ireland's magazine ( www.astronomy.ie/join ) is the record of Irish astronomy. It is filed in libraries around the world and the Irish National Library so we want to document everything seen in Irish skies, as well as bringing you exciting reports and photos each month, so, please tell us if you observe (or photograph) any of the above, or anything else interesting, all year round: Please always email your observations to: observe@astronomy.ie for publication in Astronomy Ireland magazine. Thank you! Wishing you all clear skies, David Moore, Editor & Chairman. Magazine: www.astronomy.ie/join Shop: www.astronomy.ie/shop Map: www.astronomy.ie/map Tel: (01) 890 11 11 _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2904 / Virus Database: 2641/6172 - Release Date: 03/13/13