IAA President Brian Beesley does the introduction and Webmaster Paul Evans gives a guide to the September Sky. Enjoy!
Monthly Archives: September 2018
Lecture Weds 19th September – Prof Frank Prendergast, Dublin Institute of Technology – “From Neolithic to Iron Age—three case studies in Irish archaeoastronomy”
For the season opener we are very pleased to welcome Prof Frank Prendergast from Dublin.
In his presentation, Frank will focus on contrasting prehistoric monuments where he has made significant discoveries.
- The Iron Age post enclosure at Lismullin, Co. Meath, discovered by top-soil stripping associated with the recent development of the M3 motorway, was an extraordinary ceremonial and ritual complex. It is now ranked as one of the most important Irish archaeological discoveries in recent years. The timber structure was the embodiment of structural perfection and symmetry and had an important astronomical alignment, indicative of its importance to the community that built it around 455 BC.
- The Neolithic passage tomb at Slieve Gullion, Co. Armagh is now known to be aligned on the setting sun at the winter solstice and is annually celebrated as a cultural heritage event of growing importance. The survey methodology used to make this discovery will be described, as will the broader cultural context and symbolism of the phenomenon.
- The third case study will present the author's findings relating to Ireland's largest stone circle located at Grange in Co. Limerick. This Neolithic monument was built around 2,900 BC and embodies all the hallmarks of a ceremonial complex. But was it used as a calendrical device as is popularly believed? The speaker will confront those questions head on!
Doors open about 7.15pm. There is free parking available on the campus in the evenings. Admission Free, including light refreshments. We are located in the Bell Theatre, Department of Mathematics and Physics, QUB – details here……
With thanks to the Astrophysics Research Centre, QUB, for assistance with this event.
IAA Lecture Programme 2018-19
Subscriptions are now open and renewals due for the New Lecture Season which is almost complete – see below…….
You can join us here……… Membership has been held at £20 individual and £25 family – this has been the case for several years now and represents fantastic value!
Meetings are held at the Bell Theatre in Queen's University Belfast – see here for directions……. The proceedngs begin at 19:30 sharp and begin with the President's Welcome and a warm-up talk by one of our experienced astronomers, followed by the main talk, usually given by a Professional Astronomer. Tea, coffee, biscuits and chat is available after the meeting with proceedings usuall closing around 21:30.
We also run Observing evenings, usually at Delamont Country Park in County Down – details here……….http://irishastro.org/observing
During the course of the year we run a number of outreach sessions at various venues some of which will include the IAA's very popular Stardome Planetarium. Details will appear on this website.
Sep 19th – Dr Frank Prendergast, DIT: "From Neolithic to Iron Age – Case Studies in Irish Archaeoastronomy"
Oct 3rd – Prof Luke Drury: Prof Emeritus, DIAS: "The Dawn of Multi-Messenger Astronomy".
Oct 17th – Prof Gerry Doyle, AOP: "The Probability of a Doomsday Solar Superflare: Fact or Fiction?"
Oct 31st – Dr Wes Fraser, QUB: tbc
Nov 14th – Michael O'Connell. "Amateur Observations of Meteors"
Nov 28th – Prof Stephen Smartt, ARC, QUB, "Kilonovae"
Dec 12th – Paul Evans "Apollo 8 – Christmas Around the Moon"
Jan 5th 2019 – New Year Party
Jan 9th – tbc
Jan 23rd – Dr Neale Gibson, ARC, QUB – “Exploring Alien Worlds: How to find life in the Universe”
Feb 6th – Dr Kate Maguire, ARC, QUB, "Gravitational Waves – Ripples in Spcetime"
Feb 20th – Dr Norah Patten Inspire Space, Scientist-Astronaut candidate with Project PoSSUM. "From Mayo to Space"
Mar 6th – Prof Peter Gallagher, (ex TCD, new head of DIAS) tbc, prob on Parker solar Probe and I-Lofar
Mar 20th – tbc
Apr 3rd – Prof Alan Fitzsimmons, tbc
Apr 17th – AGM