episode 2, part 1

Before we get into the nitty gritty of the shownotes, i would like to point out that this is the first of THREE sections to this episode. so dont worry when the file unexpectedly stops. Download the next section in a few days time.
Also, i have a few lovely jubbly bookmarks for he IAS event. since there is NO chance i can ship on out to you for the event its self, i am gonna give them away based on the amazing artwork on the front. if you would like one, please email your name and address to [e-mail] and if you are one of the lucky people, i shall send you one. Of course, i am only willing to spend 1 euro on Postage, so if you dont live in Ireland, i will still take the entries, but we may have to figure out how you can pay the postage.
Remember that if you dont live in Ireland, there is a good chance that you will be the only person in your country to own one of these.

Now, lets get on to the shownotes, Taken form www.southdublinastronomy.org.


Supernovae and Asteroids: Meeting on Thursday, October 5th

At our October meeting Dave McDonald gave probably the most fascinating talk we have had to date when he spoke about the role the amateur astronomer can play in supporting the professional community and also how there are so many facets of the hobby we can be involved in.

I was thinking afterwards that whenever my interest in astronomy wanes a little I normally thumb through a few chapters of Tim Ferris' "Seeing in the Dark" -- a brilliant book that conveys what it is like to do amateur astronomy and also be at the cutting edge of amateur-professional collaborations.

To this I'd now add Dave's talk. A couple of people said the talk really encouraged them to go outside and look up at the sky afresh. A great discussion on the IFAS Advanced Observing Program ensued too and more details on this project can be found at http://www.irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?p=33829

Many thanks Dave and Fíona for dropping by and linking up with SDAS.


Observing nights

The SDAS will host club observing nights on the following dates between October 2006 and December 2006. The fact we are at the whim Irish weather means it is often difficult to find a night where are guaranteed clear skies but to set definite dates means people know well in advance that a group of us will be down at our current site in the car park at Cloon Wood (on the Enniskerry to Glencree Road -- OS Sheet 56).

The arrangement each night is to ring John Flannery on 086-8181931 between 4pm and 6pm on the Friday evening to see if the observing night will go ahead (just in case there's a hurricane sweeping through the Dublin area!) If the observing session has a green light, then we'll meet up at the Monument in Enniskerry village at 8pm and drive up to Cloon from there (if you know the way, then just go direct to Cloon Wood). If Friday night is cloudy then the same arrangements apply for Saturday night. Members often arrange other observing nights between themselves so turn up at a meeting and scope out the possibility of linking up with other observers. Here's hoping for clear skies! Many thanks to those people who braved the elements on our first observing night in September; skies were cloudy, it was wet, but we saw a few nice deep-sky objects.

The dates for the rest of the year are;

  Friday, October 20th 2006 (Orionid meteor shower peaks the following night).
  Friday, November 17th 2006 (Leonid meteor shower peaks in the early hours of Friday).
  Friday, December 15th 2006 (we'll meet the night of the Geminid maximum on Dec 13/14 too).


IAS meeting on October 18th

The next IAS meeting is an open invite for us all to attend a lecture on the Cassini-Huygens mission at Saturn . The lecture will be given by Dr Caitriona Jackman, a Cassini mission scientist based at Imperial College London, and the talk will be at 7:30pm on Monday, October 16th in the Arts Block of UCD, Belfield (Theatre N). Admission tickets (actually, Cassini mission bookmarks) can be got from the Student's Union at UCD or at the door on the night.


Other events of interest

Octocon , the famed Science Fiction convention, is on this year in the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth, Co. Kildare on October 14th and 15th. Details at http://www.octocon.com/2006/


Seanie Morris in Tullamore Astronomical Society has circulated details of the Second Annual TAS Art Competition . The event is sponsored by Byrne's World of Wonder toy stores and there was a phenomenal amount of entries in 2005. I went down to the prize-giving last year and the standard of work was very high. The twelve winning pictures are used in a calendar put together by TAS members which also contains details of astronomical phenomena for the year ahead. A very worthwhile venture to support. More details at http://www.irishastronomy.org/boards/viewtopic.php?t=4820

The show-notes were written by John Flannary.

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