Hi all,
1. IAA AGM: The AGM of the Irish Astronomical Association will be on Wednesday 21 April. As usual it will be held in the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast. There will also be the usual short talk on the night sky. It will be followed by a 'Bring and Buy' sale. All are welcome to attend, but only paid up members of the IAA may take part in any official business.
Admission free, including light refreshments. See www.irishastro.org for full details.
2. Public Lecture, St. Patrick's Trian, Armagh, 8.00pm Thursday 13 May.
Martin Hendry (Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow): "Did We Really Land on the Moon?"
More than 40 years after Apollo 11 there are a surprising number of theories around --- in books, documentary programmes and the internet --- that Neil Armstrong's famous "One small step" was an elaborate hoax, filmed in secret here on Earth. Conspiracy theorists point to a range of "evidence" to support their claim, including waving flags, strange shadows, no stars in the sky and deadly solar radiation. In this talk, using real Apollo video footage and a
series of simple demonstrations, we will take a closer look at the science behind "moon hoax" claims, and ask whether we really did land on the Moon.
The public lecture is free of charge and open to all. To obtain a ticket, please contact Mrs Aileen McKee, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh; Tel: 028-3752-2928; E-mail: ambn@arm.ac.uk.
3. Armagh Heritage Day 2010: FROM EARTH TO SKY: REFLECTING ON ARMAGH'S
HERITAGE THROUGH TIME, organized by the Armagh Visitor Education Committee
(AVEC) at the Navan Centre, Killylea Road, Armagh, from 10:00am to 4.00pm on Wednesday 19th May.
This is the fifth heritage day organized by AVEC to promote the wealth of Armagh City and District's cultural heritage. This year the event, which will be opened by Councillor Thomas O'Hanlon, Mayor of Armagh City and District, will trace the historical development of Armagh from pre-Christian times right up to the present day.
The principal speaker is Professor Jim Mallory (Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology, Queen's University Belfast), who will provide an introduction to Navan - Emain Mhacha - and the Celts. Local speakers drawn from the membership of AVEC are Dr Greer Ramsey (Armagh County Museum), who will provide a view of Armagh through time using information and artefacts contained in the Armagh County Museum, and Professor Mark Bailey (Armagh Observatory) who will highlight how the results of modern astronomical research are providing a new framework for interpreting prehistory and Earth's place in space. There will also be guided tours of the Navan Centre and information and displays about the work of AVEC and its more than a dozen individual members, all of whom are working together to promote better cooperation, communication and partnership amongst the visitor attractions and education and lifelong learning institutions in the City of Armagh.
Admission to the event is free of charge and open to all. To obtain a ticket, please contact Mrs Aileen McKee, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh; Tel: 028-3752-2928; E-mail: ambn@arm.ac.uk. The full programme as well as further information about the AVEC institutions can be accessed from the AVEC website http://scholars.arm.ac.uk/avec/.
4. MAC Moonwatch: Saturday 24 April sees the Midlands Astronomy Club take to Athy to host a Moon Watch. The location will be the VTOS Learning Centre, map and directions will be given via email later. If you're interested in coming along, you're more than welcome to do so. Declan Molloy, MAC Chairperson, will begin from around 8:00pm and would love if you could join him. Bring your telescope or binoculars, Declan will have his 16" Dobsonian for you to view the Moon and other deep space wonders.
If the weather is bad we will move the event indoors where a few short talks will be presented by MAC committee members and a show of how to best use your telescope or binoculars.
Admission is free, make sure you wrap up warm (it still gets cold at night this time of year), and we hope to see you there!
More details from: Seanie Morris, Secretary, Midlands Astronomy Club (formerly Tullamore Astronomical Society). www.midlandsastronomy.com. Tel: 087 6825910
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
IAA News by Terry Moseley
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Lecture, AGM, TV, COSMOS, ISS + Shuttle, Thinktank Planetarium
Hi all,
1. IAA PUBLIC LECTURE, WED 7 APRIL: The next Irish Astronomical Association public lecture will be given by Dr Chris Watson of QUB.
His talk is entitled "Exoplanets and Extraterrestrial life". Chris is well-known as an expert in this field, and was the principal organiser of the recent ASGI meeting at Queens, which covered this topic. This is sure to be a fascinating talk, on a fascinating subject: there are now well over 300 known exoplanets! It's on WEDNESDAY 7 April, at 7.30 p.m., in the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast. ADMISSION IS FREE, as always, and includes light refreshments. Everyone is welcome! Full details of the rest of the programme are on the website: www.irishastro.org
2. IAA AGM: The AGM of the Irish Astronomical Association will be on Wednesday 21 April. Nomination forms for Council positions are being issued with STARDUST, but as there has been an unavoidable delay in posting these, the deadline for the return of nominations has been extended to Tues. 13th April.
3. TV PROGRAMMES: Wednesday 7 April, BBC4 "Sky at Night" 8-9pm. extended repeat. Followed by: BBC4 "Beautiful Minds" (series) 9-10pm, on Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, the local woman (from Co Armagh) who discovered pulsars. This series starts with the story of Jocelyn and her pulsar discovery. One of the winning entries for the IAA IYA2009 Astronomy competition tells a story about Jocelyn, too. For those attending the IAA lecture in QUB, set your recorders! See
http://star.arm.ac.uk/IYA-beyond/news/jocelyn_apr10.html
4. COSMOS 2010, 9 - 11 April: The annual COSMOS spring star party / astrofest will be held as usual at Annaharvey Farm, just outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. This is always an enjoyable event, with good talks, good fun, and a good record of at least some clear skies for observing each time. It's hosted by the Midlands Astronomy Club (formerly Tullamore A.S.) See: http://www.tullamoreastronomy.com/cosmos2010.html
5. SHUTTLE +ISS: Space shuttle Discovery is now docked to the ISS, and the pair can be seen over Irish skies from 10 or 11 April (though not separately, except with a telescope and special tracking programmes). We may see the undocking and start of the return to Earth of the Shuttle at the end of its mission, depending on timing.
6. THINKTANK PLANETARIUM: Mario di Maggio, whom some of you may remember from his time at Armagh Planetarium, sent me this link to Birmingham's Thinktank Planetarium's booming Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/ThinktankPlanet.
It is proving extremely popular, with lots of fun astronomy bits and pieces being shared all the time, including regular competitions. You'll notice that recently the Thinktank Planetarium even appeared as a setting in the BBC1 drama series DOCTORS
If you have received this email in error, and wish to be removed from the mailing list, please reply saying 'Unsubscribe'.
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley
1. IAA PUBLIC LECTURE, WED 7 APRIL: The next Irish Astronomical Association public lecture will be given by Dr Chris Watson of QUB.
His talk is entitled "Exoplanets and Extraterrestrial life". Chris is well-known as an expert in this field, and was the principal organiser of the recent ASGI meeting at Queens, which covered this topic. This is sure to be a fascinating talk, on a fascinating subject: there are now well over 300 known exoplanets! It's on WEDNESDAY 7 April, at 7.30 p.m., in the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast. ADMISSION IS FREE, as always, and includes light refreshments. Everyone is welcome! Full details of the rest of the programme are on the website: www.irishastro.org
2. IAA AGM: The AGM of the Irish Astronomical Association will be on Wednesday 21 April. Nomination forms for Council positions are being issued with STARDUST, but as there has been an unavoidable delay in posting these, the deadline for the return of nominations has been extended to Tues. 13th April.
3. TV PROGRAMMES: Wednesday 7 April, BBC4 "Sky at Night" 8-9pm. extended repeat. Followed by: BBC4 "Beautiful Minds" (series) 9-10pm, on Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell, the local woman (from Co Armagh) who discovered pulsars. This series starts with the story of Jocelyn and her pulsar discovery. One of the winning entries for the IAA IYA2009 Astronomy competition tells a story about Jocelyn, too. For those attending the IAA lecture in QUB, set your recorders! See
http://star.arm.ac.uk/IYA-beyond/news/jocelyn_apr10.html
4. COSMOS 2010, 9 - 11 April: The annual COSMOS spring star party / astrofest will be held as usual at Annaharvey Farm, just outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. This is always an enjoyable event, with good talks, good fun, and a good record of at least some clear skies for observing each time. It's hosted by the Midlands Astronomy Club (formerly Tullamore A.S.) See: http://www.tullamoreastronomy.com/cosmos2010.html
5. SHUTTLE +ISS: Space shuttle Discovery is now docked to the ISS, and the pair can be seen over Irish skies from 10 or 11 April (though not separately, except with a telescope and special tracking programmes). We may see the undocking and start of the return to Earth of the Shuttle at the end of its mission, depending on timing.
6. THINKTANK PLANETARIUM: Mario di Maggio, whom some of you may remember from his time at Armagh Planetarium, sent me this link to Birmingham's Thinktank Planetarium's booming Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/ThinktankPlanet.
It is proving extremely popular, with lots of fun astronomy bits and pieces being shared all the time, including regular competitions. You'll notice that recently the Thinktank Planetarium even appeared as a setting in the BBC1 drama series DOCTORS
If you have received this email in error, and wish to be removed from the mailing list, please reply saying 'Unsubscribe'.
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley
Friday, 2 April 2010
Mercury+Venus, IAA Lecture, BCO Astronomy, COSMOS, Shuttle + ISS
Hi all,
1. MERCURY + VENUS: Mercury continues its favourable evening elongation, close to bigger and brighter big sister Venus.
On the evening of 2 April Mercury will lie only 3° just below and right of Venus. Mercury slowly gets closer to Venus, approaching from the right as we look at it, and about level above the horizon with Venus. The separations about 30 mts after local sunset are:
2 Apr: 3° 4’; 3 Apr: 2° 59’; 4 Apr: 3°; 5 Apr: 3° 3’; 6 Apr: 3° 8’; 7 Apr: 3° 16’; 8 Apr 3° 27’.
Mercury's magnitude fades from -0.1 to +0.6 over this period, so the difference in brightness between it and Venus will become even more pronounced.
By 15 April Mercury will have moved back to about 7° below right of Venus, and faded to mag +1.1, but on that evening you have a rare chance to see the Moon closer to the Sun in the sky than Mercury! In mid twilight, the very thin crescent Moon will lie 1° 40’ below and right of Mercury. Mercury may be the hardest to see – if you see the Moon, draw an imaginary line from it to Venus, and Mercury will lie just slightly below and left of a point 1/5 of the way along that line.
2. IAA PUBLIC LECTURE: The next of the Irish Astronomical Association's public lectures will be given by Dr Chris Watson of QUB.
His talk is entitled "Exoplanets and Extraterrestrial life". Chris is well-known as an expert in this field, and was the principal organiser of the recent ASGI meeting at Queens, which covered this topic. This is sure to be a fascinating talk, on a fascinating subject: there are now well over 300 known exoplanets! It's on WEDNESDAY 7 April, at 7.30 p.m., in the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast. ADMISSION IS FREE, as always, and includes light refreshments. Everyone is welcome! Full details of the rest of the programme are on the website: www.irishastro.org
3. Events at Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork:
Monday March 29 – Sunday April 11: Easter Holidays - Children's Workshops Strange New Planet. Daily 1-2.30pm €5.00 No booking required. Ages 6-10. Accompanied children welcomed. Theme: ‘Who might live on Strange New Planets?’
Friday April 2: First Fridays at the Castle. Blackrock Castle Observatory hosts open nights on the first Friday of every month with inspired activities for visitors of all ages.
6-8pm Cosmic Calendars 4 half hour family friendly workshops
7.00pm Cork Science Café Open discussions on Time and Risk Perception led by Dr Dylan Evans
8.00pm Tony O’ Hanlon - 2012 - Is it really the end? Tony’s talk discusses Mayan astronomy and their calendar, what the astronomical situation will be on Dec 21st 2012 and finishes with what the really long term outcome of our planet might be.
9.00pm-10.30pm April is Global Astronomy Month. Explore the theme One people One Sky as we observe Mars and Saturn.
The award-winning interactive astronomy exhibit Cosmos at the Castle is open until 9.00pm and is free to the public
CORK SCIENCE CAFÉ
Cork Science Cafe is a place where anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology and their impact on our culture. Meetings take place monthly in the relaxed surrounds of the Castle Bar and Trattoria before the headline speaker at Blackrock Castle Observatory’s First Fridays at the Castle.
Saturday April 3
10.00pm-01.00am PULSE presents Circo Scientifico
Blackrock Castle Observatory presents Circo Scientifico. An evening of Illusion, Aerial Dance, Clowning, Film and Music is promised for all from a wide range of local and international performers and scientists. Be prepared to be amazed, awe-struck and enthralled as the mysteries of science are explored through the elements of circus.
Experience
– the illusory theatricals of Fernando
– science mysteries on 4 screens
– the revelry of the Circo Castello performers
– the grace and beauty of Chloe de Buyl-Pisco’s Dance
– the voodoo jazz and vaudeville vibes of DJ Dr Fiasco
PULSE at Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO), is a renaissance showcase where art, science and technology come to play together in the space age multimedia environment of the centuries old Castle. Admission: Tickets €10.00 per person (Right of Admission Reserved)
Every Saturday and Sunday. 3pm-4pm That's Why! A new science club for kids aged 9-12. €5 drop in admission fee. Let your kids join in an hour of fun filled discussion, exploring exciting themes in science, technology and astronomy. The theme for April is Astrobiology, the study of potential alien life. See: www.bco.ie or call on 00 - 353 - 21- 4357917.
4. COSMOS 2010, 9 - 11 April: The annual COSMOS spring star party / astrofest will be held as usual at Annaharvey Farm, just outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. this is always an enjoyable event, with good talks, good fun, and a good record of at least some clear skies for observing each time. It's hosted by the Midlands Astronomy Club (formerly Tullamore A.S.) See: http://www.tullamoreastronomy.com/cosmos2010.html
5. NEXT SHUTTLE LAUNCH: Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to begin a 13-day flight to the International Space Station with launch at 11:21 a.m. BST on April 5. The ISS will not become visible again from Irish skies until about April 11, by which time the Shuttle will be docked to it (if all happens on time), but we may see the undocking and start of the return to Earth of the Shuttle at the end of its mission.
If you have received this email in error, and wish to be removed from the mailing list, please reply saying 'Unsubscribe'.
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley
1. MERCURY + VENUS: Mercury continues its favourable evening elongation, close to bigger and brighter big sister Venus.
On the evening of 2 April Mercury will lie only 3° just below and right of Venus. Mercury slowly gets closer to Venus, approaching from the right as we look at it, and about level above the horizon with Venus. The separations about 30 mts after local sunset are:
2 Apr: 3° 4’; 3 Apr: 2° 59’; 4 Apr: 3°; 5 Apr: 3° 3’; 6 Apr: 3° 8’; 7 Apr: 3° 16’; 8 Apr 3° 27’.
Mercury's magnitude fades from -0.1 to +0.6 over this period, so the difference in brightness between it and Venus will become even more pronounced.
By 15 April Mercury will have moved back to about 7° below right of Venus, and faded to mag +1.1, but on that evening you have a rare chance to see the Moon closer to the Sun in the sky than Mercury! In mid twilight, the very thin crescent Moon will lie 1° 40’ below and right of Mercury. Mercury may be the hardest to see – if you see the Moon, draw an imaginary line from it to Venus, and Mercury will lie just slightly below and left of a point 1/5 of the way along that line.
2. IAA PUBLIC LECTURE: The next of the Irish Astronomical Association's public lectures will be given by Dr Chris Watson of QUB.
His talk is entitled "Exoplanets and Extraterrestrial life". Chris is well-known as an expert in this field, and was the principal organiser of the recent ASGI meeting at Queens, which covered this topic. This is sure to be a fascinating talk, on a fascinating subject: there are now well over 300 known exoplanets! It's on WEDNESDAY 7 April, at 7.30 p.m., in the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast. ADMISSION IS FREE, as always, and includes light refreshments. Everyone is welcome! Full details of the rest of the programme are on the website: www.irishastro.org
3. Events at Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork:
Monday March 29 – Sunday April 11: Easter Holidays - Children's Workshops Strange New Planet. Daily 1-2.30pm €5.00 No booking required. Ages 6-10. Accompanied children welcomed. Theme: ‘Who might live on Strange New Planets?’
Friday April 2: First Fridays at the Castle. Blackrock Castle Observatory hosts open nights on the first Friday of every month with inspired activities for visitors of all ages.
6-8pm Cosmic Calendars 4 half hour family friendly workshops
7.00pm Cork Science Café Open discussions on Time and Risk Perception led by Dr Dylan Evans
8.00pm Tony O’ Hanlon - 2012 - Is it really the end? Tony’s talk discusses Mayan astronomy and their calendar, what the astronomical situation will be on Dec 21st 2012 and finishes with what the really long term outcome of our planet might be.
9.00pm-10.30pm April is Global Astronomy Month. Explore the theme One people One Sky as we observe Mars and Saturn.
The award-winning interactive astronomy exhibit Cosmos at the Castle is open until 9.00pm and is free to the public
CORK SCIENCE CAFÉ
Cork Science Cafe is a place where anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology and their impact on our culture. Meetings take place monthly in the relaxed surrounds of the Castle Bar and Trattoria before the headline speaker at Blackrock Castle Observatory’s First Fridays at the Castle.
Saturday April 3
10.00pm-01.00am PULSE presents Circo Scientifico
Blackrock Castle Observatory presents Circo Scientifico. An evening of Illusion, Aerial Dance, Clowning, Film and Music is promised for all from a wide range of local and international performers and scientists. Be prepared to be amazed, awe-struck and enthralled as the mysteries of science are explored through the elements of circus.
Experience
– the illusory theatricals of Fernando
– science mysteries on 4 screens
– the revelry of the Circo Castello performers
– the grace and beauty of Chloe de Buyl-Pisco’s Dance
– the voodoo jazz and vaudeville vibes of DJ Dr Fiasco
PULSE at Blackrock Castle Observatory (BCO), is a renaissance showcase where art, science and technology come to play together in the space age multimedia environment of the centuries old Castle. Admission: Tickets €10.00 per person (Right of Admission Reserved)
Every Saturday and Sunday. 3pm-4pm That's Why! A new science club for kids aged 9-12. €5 drop in admission fee. Let your kids join in an hour of fun filled discussion, exploring exciting themes in science, technology and astronomy. The theme for April is Astrobiology, the study of potential alien life. See: www.bco.ie or call on 00 - 353 - 21- 4357917.
4. COSMOS 2010, 9 - 11 April: The annual COSMOS spring star party / astrofest will be held as usual at Annaharvey Farm, just outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. this is always an enjoyable event, with good talks, good fun, and a good record of at least some clear skies for observing each time. It's hosted by the Midlands Astronomy Club (formerly Tullamore A.S.) See: http://www.tullamoreastronomy.com/cosmos2010.html
5. NEXT SHUTTLE LAUNCH: Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to begin a 13-day flight to the International Space Station with launch at 11:21 a.m. BST on April 5. The ISS will not become visible again from Irish skies until about April 11, by which time the Shuttle will be docked to it (if all happens on time), but we may see the undocking and start of the return to Earth of the Shuttle at the end of its mission.
If you have received this email in error, and wish to be removed from the mailing list, please reply saying 'Unsubscribe'.
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley
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