Wicklow News Ireland

Lunar eclipse. Star watch, Understanding the Universe …

1) President of Royal Astronomical Society to explain Universe
On Monday next , August 11 at 8:00pm, Professor Michael Rowan-Roinson, will deliver a Public Summer Lecture “The Key to Understanding the Universe“. This lecture is presented in association with The Irish Times and an article by Dick Ahlstrom on the lecture and Prof. Rowan-Robinsonwill feature in today’s (Thursday 7th) Irish Times. Demand for tickets is already heavy and this extra publicity is sure to ensure a full house so book your ticket asap on www.astronomy.ie/lecture200808.html The venue is The Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin.
For everyone who cannot make it to the lecture in Dublin you can order a copy of the DVD for €7(plus P&P) at www.astronomy.ie/lectureDVD.html

2) Perseid Meteor Shower
The best meteor shower of the year peaks on Tuesday 12 August. David Grennan, the writer of the Sky Diary section of our magazine, Astronomy & Space has also written some excellent guidelines for meteor watching on www.astronomy.ie/perseids08/index.html We want you all to go outside to watch it and to please report your sightings in our Nationwide Watch.

3) Lunar Eclipse
The Full Moon of Saturday August 16th also coincides with an almost Total Lunar Eclipse. The Moon will be partially eclipsed as it rises and mid eclipse will occur at approximately 10:10pm. Astronomy Ireland has organised Eclipse Watches in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Limerick and Mayo. Further details are available at www.astronomy.ie/lunareclipse0808.html and in the August “Eclipse Issue” of our magazine available for €5