Lectures, Star Wars Ex, IYA2009 Mural, Photo comp, Big Moon, stamps

 

Hi all,

1. Public Lectures at Tara. Organised by Clare Tuffy of Bru na Boinne (OPW), this summer's series of lectures at Hill of Tara Visitors Centre, near Navan in Co Meath, are on an astronomical theme to mark International Year of Astronomy. They are held on successive Wednesdays, at 8.0. Admission is free.

(1)  July 1: "How the Ancient Irish Viewed the Skies" by Terry Moseley, Irish Astronomical Association.

(2)  July 8: "Galileo And The Copernican Revolution", by Prof. Markus Woerner, NUI Galway

(3)  July 15:  "Irish Astronomy In The Nineteenth Century", by Prof. Trevor Weekes, Smithsonian Institution, Washington.

(4)  July 22: "Exploring The Cosmos: The View from Hubble and Beyond", by Prof. Tom Ray, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies". See www.newgrange.com/news23.htm

(No pressure on me, then....!)

2. Public Lectures by Prof. Carolyn Porco, head of the Imaging Team on the Cassini Mission to Saturn and its moons. See and hear about the latest amazing findings from this outstandingly successful mission, including the recent discovery of water on Saturn's moon Enceladus.

(1) Friday July 3, 8 p.m., Blackrock Castle Observatory, Blackrock, Co Cork. Booking essential.

(2) Wednesday July 8, 7.30 p.m., Armagh Planetarium. The tickets are free but they are
limited to one hundred seats. If anyone would like a ticket contact Neil Cullen with their home address and he will post a ticket out to you.
    Neil Cullen, Armagh Planetarium, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DB, 02837 523689, 02837 512938 (Direct Line). E: neil@armaghplanet.com

3. Astronomy Ireland Lecture: Monday, July 13 - Trinity College Dublin - "Dark Matter" Professor Gerry Gilmore speaks about the dark matter which provides the gravity holding galaxies together and built the structure we see in the universe today. Drawing on research from the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Gerry will explain how astronomy is the way to discover how Nature works on the grandest of scales.

4. GALACTIC TREASURES at Armagh Planetarium. For all Star Wars fans - see the Armagh Planetarium website, www.armaghplanet.com for details of the August “Star Wars” exhibition at Armagh Planetarium.

5. Deirdre Kelleghan (IAS) has been involved in helping school children produce a mural in Dublin city centre to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy. More details at http://www.asod.info/?p=1902

6. Astro Photo Comp: Another photography competition (for students) has an astronomy theme. The closing date for DCU’s “Eye in the Sky” contest has now been extended to 30^th September 2009. More details available from http://www.science.ie/index.cfm/section/news/page/newsPage/news_key/969

7. IYA 2009: Many events are being run throughout Ireland for the International Year of Astronomy 2009.  Next month, the National Museum of Ireland will host a Moon week. More details are at http://www.astronomy2009.ie/. Some interesting pictures of the astronomy-themed Belfast City Carnival over the weekend are already on www.astronomy2009.ie

8. LARGEST EVER MOON IMAGE: Over the last 3 months, a team of some of the world's best astro-imagers took part in an incredibly ambitious project to create the largest ground-based mosaic image of the Moon, and in doing so, entered the Guinness Book of Records. The project, which was largely conducted from the home of Sir Patrick Moore in Selsey, Sussex, required specialist astronomy cameras, top grade amateur telescopes, and  specialist software to compile and mosaic the frames. The result of this impressive project is an astonishing and brilliantly defined shot of the Moon, far surpassing any other image taken so far by ground-based astronomers.

To see the image with full zoom capacity go to www.lunarworldrecord.com.

The image is available for purchase in various dimensions, and ALL money raised will be donated to Sir Patrick Moore's chosen charity, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

9. APOLLO STAMPS: Armagh Planetarium as special commemorative stamps, marking the 40th anniversary of the first Moon Landing by Apollo 11, for sale. See the website: www.armaghplanet.com

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley

Event Updates, NLCs

 

Hi all,

Two updates: 1. Change of times at An Creagan / Beaghmore event.

2. Change of speakers at Solarfest

See updated details below.

1. SOLSTICE ASTROARCHAEOLOGY, Sunday 21 June, 14.00.

To mark the summer solstice, the Irish Astronomical Association and the Ulster Archaeological Society have organised an event at the An Creagan Centre in Co Tyrone, including an escorted visit to the nearby famous Beaghmore Stone Circles and Alignments. This is part of the UAS's public "Archaeology Days" in June, and also falls neatly into the International Year of Astronomy events.

   There will be an exhibition of the amazing IYA 2009 'From the Earth To The Universe' posters; telescopes for solar observing if the sky is clear, lectures on astroarchaeology in general, and on the Beaghmore site in particular, by Lorraine Bourke of the Environment and Heritage Service, and Terry Moseley of the IAA. This will be followed by a visit to the Beaghmore site, which is one of the most fascinating, enigmatic and beautiful of all the neolithic sites in Ireland. There are many stone circles, of various sizes; some are in pairs; some are open and some are 'filled'; some have associated cairns; and many have associated stone rows or alignments, many of which are aligned in the general direction of the Summer Solstice Sunrise.

    The site is maintained by EHS, and you won't need welly boots, but it is an exposed site, in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, so bring appropriate footwear and clothing for the expected weather conditions - whether wind, rain or sun, or all three!

   We would expect to be finished by about 5.30 or 6 p.m.

   The lectures will start at 1.30 p.m., but you are invited to join the rest of us there beforehand for lunch at the An Creagan Centre at 12.00, BUT YOU MUST LET ME KNOW BY RETURN if you want to attend that lunch, so that we can reserve a seat for you.

  The event itself is free, but you'll have to pay for your own lunch.

   The An Creagan Centre is just off the main A505 Cookstown to Omagh road, just under halfway from Cookstown to Omagh. If going from Cookstown direction it's just past Creagan crossroads (junction with the B46), on the right, and is signposted.

   If you have not yet booked, but would like to attend, please let me know by return if you intend to come:

A: for the lunch, and

B: for the event itself.

Please let me know ASAP!

2. SOLARFEST 2009, 10:30 - 17:00, 20TH JUNE

DUNSINK OBSERVATORY, CASTLEKNOCK, DUBLIN

Dunsink Observatory is just off the M50 on the N3, just on the city side of the N3/M50 roundabout.

    IFAS in conjunction with Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) http://www.dias.ie are organising a one-day event in Dublin to discuss Solar Astronomy. The event is called Solarfest 2009. IFAS is very grateful for the support of DIAS for sponsoring the event, therefore making attendance FREE to all. Speakers are Deirdre Kelleghan (IFAS), Sally Russell (RAS), Eamonn Scullion (Armagh Observatory www.arm.ac.uk), Kevin Smith (Practical Astronomer Magazine), Nick Howes (Astronomy Now Magazine) and Michael O'Connell (MAC). Weather permitting, we will have solar observing sessions also.

    A more detailed programme of the event will be available in the next few days, however, the day will commence at approx 10:30am and finish at 5pm. Spaces are limited to 60 seats so if you are interested in attending this event, please drop an e-mail to Michael  michael@astroshot.com or Deirdre Kelleghan skysketcher@gmail.com, asap so that a seat can be reserved for you at this invitation-only event.

NB: BRing your own picnic lunch!!!

Here's the latest programme:

10:30 - 11:00   Registration
11:00 - 11:30   Kevin Smith (Practical Astronomer Magazine) - "Enjoying the Splendor of Our Nearest Star"
11:30 - 12:00   Tea/Coffee + Solar Observing  
12:00 - 12:30   Deirdre Kelleghan (IFAS) - "Experiments in Solar Sketching"
12:30 - 13:00   Sally Russell (FRAS) - "Half Hours with the Sun - A Solar Sketchbook"
13:00 - 14:00   Picnic + Solar Observing
14:00 - 14:30   Observatory Tour
14:30 - 15:00   Eamon Scullion (Armagh Observatory) - "Solar Physics: Past and Present"
15:00 - 15:45   Nick Howes (Astronomy Now Magazine) - "Three Sides to the Sun - Practical Set-ups and Imaging of our Nearest Star"
15:45 - 16:15   Tea/Coffee + Solar Observing
16:15 - 16:45   Michael O'Connell (MAC) - "Eclipse of the Century"
16:45 - Closing Address 
    More info can be seen on the IFAS website here:
http://www.irishastronomy.org/cms/forum?func=view&catid=11&id=77969

3. NLCs.  Many of you saw the NLCs that were visible as I was sending out the last email alert! There have been more since, so keep your eyes peeled for clear skies along the N horizon!

Happy Solstice!

Clear Skies,

Terry Moseley

Solstice Astroarchaeology, Solarfest, Cassini, NLCs.

 

Hi all,

1. SOLSTICE ASTROARCHAEOLOGY, Sunday 21 June, 14.00.

To mark the summer solstice, the Irish Astronomical Association and the Ulster Archaeological Society have organised an event at the An Creagan Centre in Co Tyrone, including an escorted visit to the nearby famous Beaghmore Stone Circles and Alignments. This is part of the UAS's public "Archaeology Days" in June, and also falls neatly into the International Year of Astronomy events.

   There will be an exhibition of the amazing IYA 2009 'From  the Earth To The Universe' posters; lectures on astroarchaeology in general, and on the Beaghmore site in particular, by Lorraine Bourke of the Environment and Heritage Service, and Terry Moseley of the IAA. This will be followed by a visit to the Beaghmore site, which is one of the most fascinating, enigmatic and beautiful of all the neolithic sites in Ireland. There are many stone circles, of various sizes; some are in pairs; some are open and some are 'filled'; some have associated cairns; and many have associated stone rows or alignments, many of which are aligned in the general direction of the Summer Solstice Sunrise.

    The site is maintained by EHS, and you won't need welly boots, but it is an exposed site, in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, so bring appropriate footwear and clothing for the expected weather conditions - whether wind, rain or sun, or all three!

   We would expect to be finished by about 5.30 or 6 p.m.

   The lectures will start at 2 p.m., but you are invited to join the rest of us there beforehand for lunch at the An Creagan Centre at 12.00, BUT YOU MUST LET ME KNOW BY THURSDAY 18 June if you want to attend that lunch, so that we can reserve a seat for you.

  The event itself is free, but you'll have to pay for your own lunch.

   The An Creagan Centre is just off the main A505 Cookstown to Omagh road, just under halfway from Cookstown to Omagh. If going from Cookstown direction it's just past Creagan crossroads (junction with the B46), on the right, and is signposted.

    Some of you have already indicated that you will attend, but please CONFIRM/UPDATE that so that I have an accurate idea of numbers -

A: for the lunch, and

B: for the event itself.

Please let me know ASAP.

2. SOLARFEST 2009, 10:30 - 17:00, 20TH JUNE

DUNSINK OBSERVATORY, CASTLEKNOCK, DUBLIN

Dunsink Observatory is just off the M50 on the N3, just on the city side of the N3/M50 roundabout.

    IFAS in conjunction with Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) http://www.dias.ie are organising a one-day event in Dublin to discuss Solar Astronomy. The event is called Solarfest 2009. IFAS is very grateful for the support of DIAS for sponsoring the event, therefore making attendance FREE to all. Speakers are Deirdre Kelleghan (IFAS), Sally Russell (RAS), Miruna Popescu (Armagh Observatory www.arm.ac.uk), Kevin Smith (Practical Astronomer Magazine), Nick Howes (Astronomy Now Magazine) and Michael O'Connell (MAC). Weather permitting, we will have solar observing sessions also.

    A more detailed programme of the event will be available in the next few days, however, the day will commence at approx 10:30am and finish at 5pm. Spaces are limited to 60 seats so if you are interested in attending this event, please drop an e-mail to Michael  michael@astroshot.com or Deirdre Kelleghan skysketcher@gmail.com, asap so that a seat can be reserved for you at this invitation-only event.
    More info can be seen on the IFAS website here:
http://www.irishastronomy.org/cms/forum?func=view&catid=11&id=77969

3. DR. CAROLYN PORCO (Cassini Imaging Science Team), 20:00, 30th JUNE

DUNSINK OBSERVATORY, CASTLEKNOCK, DUBLIN

Organised by DIAS, Blackrock Castle Observatory and Armagh Planetarium.

E-tickets are yet to be released for Carolyn Porco. You will receive notice when they are available.

  Note that this event, although FREE, is also by ticket only.

4. NLC's: Noctilucent Clouds occur in the Earth's high upper atmosphere and can only be seen for about a month on either side of the Summer Solstice. They can be seen when the light from the Sun illuminates these very high altitude clouds long after it is too far below the local horizon to illuminate ordinary low altitude or 'tropospheric' clouds, i.e. in late twilight.

    They are believed to form when ice crystals develop on tiny dust particles, perhaps from meteors, and they vary from year to year, perhaps tied in with the Solar Cycle. (What Solar Cycle? sez you! Well, latest forecasts are for a slow build up to a low maximum in 2014 or so!)

    They lie around 70 to 85 kilometers or more above Earth's surface. Keep an eye along the Northern horizon within 15 - 20 degrees altitude for around 1.5 to 2 hours after local sunset, to the same time before local sunrise.

   They look like irregular wisps of silvery white light, shining brighter than the last of the remaining twilight. If there are any ordinary tropospheric clouds in the same direction, they will appear dark in silhouette. A good guide is the visibility of Capella, which lies low down near the N horizon approaching local midnight at this time of year. If the sky is still too bright to see Capella, you probably won't see any NLCs, unless they are exceptionally bright. And if there are any NLCs it often can be seen twinkling among them.

   They make a nice photographic target, so be ready! Send any shots you get to www.irishastro.org.

Clear Skies, and HAPPY SOLSTICE!

Terry Moseley