1. Comet Bradfield has been putting on a fine display in morning skies after surviving its fiery passage just 16 million miles from the Sun. The view on the SOHO website was spectacular and you can see a summary movie and images at: http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/pickoftheweek/old/22apr2004/index.html I got my first view last Sunday morning April 25 when I saw it from a brightly lit city location in twilight in a pair of our 10x50 binoculars. There was a short bright tail. Was this the first sighting from Ireland? Martin McKenna from N.Ireland saw it on Tuesday morning April 27 and said "The comet has a bright white/green disc like central condensation with a thin outer coma sweeping back into a lovely ghostly +45' tail which pointed to the nw and sported a slim bright spine." He also used 10x50 bin and a 8" s.cass F/6.3 at 49x. I agree when he said "Lovely comet!". On the net there have been loads of nice images showing tails up to 10 degrees long. Just click on these: http://www.astrostudio.at/images/i/ivompudd.jpg http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2004/28apr04/pacholka1.jpg http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2004/28apr04/Holloway1.jpg http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2004/29apr04/Westlake1.jpg By the end of next week Comet Bradfield will have faded but Comet NEAT, an even better prospect, will become visible from Ireland for the first time. It's an evening object and could reach magnitude +1 to +3 depending on who you ask. Use the map in the May issue (order online NOW if you want to get it in time at www.astronomy.ie/sub). 2. Eclipse The May issue also has details of next Tuesday's Total Eclipse of the Moon (the last such eclipse we'll see in the 'evenings' until 2007!). For a list of nearly a dozen Astronomy Ireland Eclipse Watches see our website or use the details in the May issue and have your own Eclipse Watch! 3. STAR-B-Q tickets have been selling strong but we can cater for everyone who wants to come and look through powerful telescopes from a v ery dark sky. Details are on the website where you can also book tickets online. Star-B-Q takes place on May 7 i.e tomorrow week and you must book tickets IN ADVANCE so get clicking, or call, or drop in to the Shop. Star-B-Q is the biggest annual astronomy gathering in Ireland so don't be left out no matter where you live north or south. P.S. If you read the Sky Diary every month or call our 1550-111-442 Newsline every week you'll know tonight is the night that Jupiter gets spectacularly close to the Moon - see April issue for details and a map. Enjoy the eclipse and comet mania! ===== David Moore, Chairman, Astronomy Ireland (www.astronomy.ie) To get the May 'COMET & ECLIPSE' issue of our magazine (only 5euro) call (01) 847 0777 or visit Ireland's ONLY Astronomy Shop www.astronomy.ie/map.html (delivery nationwide)