Wicklow News Ireland

Astronomy Ireland are now taking enrolments for their beginners classes plus they have a vacancy for a saturday job in their telescope shop. see below for details:

Plus now I know that what I saw the other night was not a spaceship or satellite but the The International Space Station which has 3 astronauts Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko, Greg Chamitoff nboard- I wonder if they could see little me and skippy watching them blaze across the star studded night?…

1. Nationwide Evening Classes – New Venues The Astronomy Ireland evening classes for beginners commence on Thursday 9th October in Athlone, Belfast, Cork, Dublin, Letterkenny, Limerick and Tralee. There are a limited number of places available and you can book your place for any of the venues online at www.astronomy.ie/class or by calling (01) 847 0777. This eight week course is designed with the beginner in mind. You do not need to own a telescope and no knowledge of astronomy or maths is required. This is an opportunity to meet with fellow enthusiasts and learn a little about the Sun, Planets, Telescopes, History of Astronomy, Cosmology and much much more. BOOK HERE

2. Public Lecture & DVD: “Searching for Planets Around Other Stars – From Galway“ On Monday 13 October, Astronomy Ireland will presents its Colm J. Cannon Memorial Lecture in the Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin at 8pm. The existence of over 300 planets outside our own Solar System has been confirmed since the first extra-solar planet was discovered only 14 years ago. The techniques used to detect these planets requires the use of very sensitive and expensive equipment. Some astronomers have recently claimed to have photographed one of these planets directly. Now, Gregg Hallinan, an astronomer based in Galway, is using a technique based on what happens during “The Northern Lights” to detect billion watt beacons beaming powerful radio beams into space from these far away planets. With the latest generation of powerful radio telescopes we can now begin to search for these kind of radio waves from planets in orbit around other stars. For those who cannot make it to the venue on the night a DVD will be available for 7euro Event: Astronomy Ireland Colm J. Cannon Memorial Lecture Title: “Searching for Planets Around Other Stars – From Galway” Date: 8pm October 13 (Monday) Venue: Physics Building, Trinity College Dublin. Admission: 7 Euro, Tickets are available at the door, or call (01) 847 0777, or online at: Book your ticket HERE and order the DVD HERE

3. Saturday Job in our Telescope Shop As you know we run Ireland’s biggest telescope shop, supplying beginners and experts alike all across Ireland. We have a vacancy for someone to help in the Shop on Saturday with everything from supporting sales staff, packing orders for delivery, stock takes, tidying up, etc. Apply to sales@astronomy.ie

4. Book Launch Anthony Murphy (journalist & A.I. member) and Richard Moore (artist) will be launching the revised and updated edition of their book “Island of the Setting Sun“: Thursday September 25th in The Portrait Gallery, Dublin Castle from 6pm to 8pm. Special Guest of Honour will be Composer, Michael Holohan ((Member of Aosdána). The first edition of Anthony & Richard’s book was favourably reviewed in Astronomy Ireland’s magazine so everyone is welcome to come along to the launch of the second edition. See you there.

5. Amateur Radio Satellite Lecture The Centre for Telecommunications Value-Chain Research at Trinity College Dublin invites you to a presentation by: Dr. Robert McGwier N4HY (Center for Communications Research in Princeton, N.J. USA)
Friday September 26th, 2008 at 2.30pm in Lloyd Institute LB01 lecture theatre, TCD (map) Bob is a highly-engaging speaker and is currently working on the AMSAT Eagle project on several software-defined radio transponders, the AMSAT-DL Phase 3 Express Project. Bob is currently the AMSAT Vice President for Engineering. He was a designer and builder on the AMSAT Microsat’s and participated in the Amsat-Oscar 13 and Amsat-Oscar 40 projects. Well known as N4HY, he has been an amateur radio operator since 1964. Bob’s presentation will cover his software-defined radio, networking, and AMSAT work. All are welcome. Further information from Keith Nolan (TCD) on 01-8968443 or keithnolan@mee.tcd.ie

6. I.S.S. Visible in Evening Skies The International Space Station will blaze across the sky every from now until October 8th. On board since early April are 3 astronauts Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko, Greg Chamitoff. When I.S.S. flies over it is the brightest star-like object in the sky, an amazing sight. It will pass near Jupiter, and also the Moon. Details about I.S.S. are at www.astronomy.ie/iss The time to see I.S.S. is different each evening and you will only see it at its best, high up, for a minute or so. There are websites that give automated predictions but check them regularly in case I.S.S. is moved in its orbit which can throw the predictions out. For this reason, and for those who want the very latest and most accurate predictions we set up a text service to send the exact time to your mobile about 2 hours before I.S.S. flies over.

Simply, text SPACE to 57003 each text costs 1euro (we surveyed 9,000 people and this was the rate suggested) and proceeds help us promote interest in astronomy in Ireland so please tell your friends. You can also get predictions on our Newsline each afternoon: call 1550-111-442 (calls cost 95cent/min) or in U.K. call 09001-88-1950 (calls cost 60p/min)

Every time you spot I.S.S. please email observe@astronomy.ie and we’ll include you in our monthly magazine report Astronomy Ireland The world’s most popular astronomy club and Ireland’s Only Astronomy Magazine www.astronomy.ie Call Our Telescope Shop Tel (01) 847 0777 Mon-Sat