2011 Events Membership DVD Shop
1. Observing Guide
Over the next month there are some amazing sights to be seen in the night sky over Ireland. We have put together a special page HERE outlining what you can see, including:
The Moon, Saturn, and Spica form a celestial triangle tonight, Friday 13th
The Sun is increasing in activity, and vast sunspots are visible almost daily
A huge storm is raging on Saturn, the ringed planet
Four planets pose a special challenge for avid morning-time astronomers
This is the perfect time for you to dust off your telescope and binoculars and get some amazing astronomy done!
2. Endeavour Due to Launch Monday
Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch on Monday, May 16 from the Kennedy Space Centre.
The penultimate Shuttle mission was originally scheduled for the end of April but had to be postponed due to problems with a heater circuit. Endeavour’s STS-134 mission will take a crew of 6 on a 16-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a state-of-the-art particle physics detector which will increase our understanding of the universe’s origin.
The launch is set to take place at 1:56pm Irish time. Unfortunately we won't get to see the orbiter and its fuel tank in Irish skies this time around, but the launch can be watched live at www.astronomy.ie/nasatv
3. Moon Month
On the evening of June 15th the Moon will rise fully eclipsed by the Earth’s shadow as seen from the eastern and southern parts of the country. People in the west and north will see the Moon almost completely enshrouded in darkness, as though a bite had been taken off!
Now is the time to get your own telescope and avoid the disappointment of missing this event. The total eclipse of the Moon is only a few short weeks away and Astronomy Ireland have prepared special Moon-Watching Packs to help you begin your exploration of our celestial neighbour. This will be the last total lunar eclipse viewable from Ireland for over 4 years! Call a member of the Astronomy Ireland Shop now for advice on the best way to capture this Event.
The world's most popular Astronomy Club
www.astronomy.ie
