Sunday 17 January 2010

Galway Astrofest, 12-13 Feb‏

Hi all,

Ronan Newman and the Galway Astronomy Club have put together an excellent programme of lectures and observing for the 2010 Galway Astrofest. They look forward to seeing many of you there.

PROGRAMME:

Friday Feb 12th 7.30pm, two talks (free admission)

Philip Walsh: “The Drake Equation”

Professor Paul Mohr: “Cassini, Meridani nodding Ecliptic”

Will be an extensive account of astronomical work based on meridian instruments constructed in five European cathedrals, Santa Maria Novella and the Duomo in Florence, San Petronio in Bologna, Santa Maria degli Angeli in Rome, and Saint Sulplice in Paris. Measurements of the resulting solar images were useful to Cassini in enabling him to distinguish between the Ptolemaic and Keplerian systems. An additional bonus was the detection and accurate quantification of secular decline in the obliquity of the ecliptic

Observing afterwards at our Dark sky site 12 miles north of Hotel, Brigit's Garden Park see www.galwaygarden.com/
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Saturday February 13th

Dr Aaron Golden NUI Galway: “Has Earth Contaminated the Solar System? – the Case for Life on Mars”

Brian Harvey: “The Asian Space Race”

Alastair Mc Kinstry NUI Galway: "Extra Solar Planets: Climates and Atmospheres"

Dr Deidre Coffey DIAS: “Investigating Protostellar Jets with the Hubble Space Telescope after Service Mission 4”

Dr Vitaly Neustroev NUI Galway: "Amateur Astronomers and Cataclysmic Variables"

Dr Neal Trappe NUI Maynooth: "ALMA: Exploring the Cool Universe" Title TBC

Professor Alan Smith, Director of Mullard Space Science Lab, University College London UK: “Space Science: The Next 20 Years”

After Dinner talk presented by Terry Moseley IAA: "Adventures with Heavenly Bodies"

Observing again at Brigit's Garden and tour of NUI Galway Observatory and facilities.

Contact: Ronan Newman

GAC Secretary & Co-ordinator Galway AstroFest 2010

http://galwayastronomyclub.ie/
http://galwayastronomyclub.blogspot.com/

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley

ISS, BT YSE,

Hi all,

1. ISS: The International Space Station is now making another set of excellent early evening passes over Ireland. It now often appears brighter than Jupiter, so you can't miss it if it's passing over in a clear sky. Full details for your location are on the free website www.heavens-above.com, along with other information such as Iridium flares, again specific to your own location.

2. Fantastic Galactic Imagery and a Celestial Extravaganza at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2010, RDS, Dublin.
In its 46th year the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is much more than a competition; it is an unforgettable experience of a lifetime for the students who take part. The exhibition itself is the final stage in the competition which is open to all second level students from Ireland, both North and South. As well as the 500 student projects on display, there are a further four exhibition halls filled with science and technology based exhibits and entertainment, making it a thrilling event for those who enter and for general visitors too.

At this year’s event, astronomy and space science once again has star billing with the spectacular GigaGalaxyZoom images on display and a 3D Celestial Extravaganza. The European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) GigaGalaxy Zoom project connects the sky as seen by the unaided eye with that seen by amateur and professional astronomers. The project reveals three amazing, ultra-high-resolution images of the night sky that stargazers can explore in an incredible level of detail.

The GigaGalaxy Zoom project is true to the vision of International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), which is to help people rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky.

The Celestial Extravaganza show merges gaming technology with the latest 3D stereo animations from the European Southern Observatory to create a cosmic voyage of discovery. Along the way the audience visit the planets of the Solar System, a myriad of beautiful and mysterious objects in the Milky Way galaxy and travel through space and back in time to observe the sheer scale and size of the universe.

The show is produced by the Northern Ireland Space Office and LearnIT3d Ltd with support from BT, the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies and the European Southern Observatory.


The BT Young Scientist and technology Exhibition takes place at the RDS Arena and showgrounds and will be launched on Wednesday 13th January and open to primary schools on 14th, Secondary schools on 15th and the general public on the 16th. More information on the exhibition can be found at http://www.btyoungscientist.com

Clear Skies,

Terry Moseley