Here's the news many astronomers have been waiting for since November – As Comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko has moved closer to The Sun, the solar panels on the Philae Lander have been able to generate enough electricity to wake the lander up! We await further news with bated breath!
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2015 Royal Irish Academy McCrea Lecture at QUB
Membership now open for 2015/16 season
New Memberships bought from now onwards are valid until 31st August 2016 so join now and get the Summer Events and an additional Stardust magazine included – 15 Months for the price of 12! Join here……
Membership of the IAA costs £20 (€25) per year for Individual Membership or £25 (€30) per year for Family Membership (all members of a family at one address) from September to August and entitles members to attend all IAA events including our regular speaker programme. Also, there are four issues of the IAA magazine "Stardust" produced annually and these will be delivered to your home address.
AGM 2015, New Council Elected, Fitzgerald Award
Following a successful AGM we now have a New Council in place for the coming year – see here………
Following the deliberations of a sub-committee of the council, the decision was made to award the Aidan P Fitzgerald Memorial Medal this year.
The Aidan P. Fitzgerald Memorial Medal is the prestigious award of the Irish Astronomical Association, and is named in memory of one of its leading members back in the 40's and 50's. It is presented not more than once per year for "Outstanding Service to the Association" to someone usually, but not necessarily in a Council post.
The sub-committee had a difficult task as there were a number of members who have contributed outstanding work over the past year, and indeed years, but there could be only one award, so congratulations are due to Tony Kempston!
Tony mentioned in his acceptance speech that this award is of course for his family whose contribution to the Association is immense, so congratulations to all of the Kempston family!
Many Thanks are also due to outgoing President Terry Moseley BEM – it will be a long time before a President retires after his 10th year again!
Incoming President Paul Evans said "I'd like to thank Terry for an excellent year and I'm looking forward to taking up the challenge again for my third year leading the best organisation for astronomers in the country! We'll be organsing a summer programme as well as another top lineup of speakers for the new season, and perhaps more new events too!"
Annual General Meeting – Weds 15th April
IAA Outreach Event at Cullyhanna, Co Armagh Saturday 11th April
IAA public lecture: 1st April 7.30 p.m.- Kate Russo, Andy McCrea and IAA Members: “The Great Solar Eclipse of 20th March”
Friday 27th March – “Night at the Museum – Moon, Venus, and Jupiter at Bangor Castle”
http://www.northdownmuseum.com/What-s-On/Stars-and-Mars,-Moon-and-Jupitar-@-Night-at-the-Mu
Solar Eclipse 20th March 2015 – Observing Events
On the morning of 20th March 2015 the North Atlantic Ocean will experience a Solar Eclipse. Along a narrow path through the ocean, making landfall in only two places, The Faroe Islands and Svalbard, the eclipse will be Total. Throughout the UK and Ireland there will be a Deep Partial Eclipse of the Sun peaking at around 09:30. At this time approximately 93.1% of the Sun will be obscured in Belfast, and a little more, 94.4%, will be obscured on the North Coast.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
At no time during a partial eclipse is it safe to look at the Sun directly – viewing even 7% or even less of the Sun will cause serious eye damage!
Here are three guides to safe Solar viewing….
British Astronomical Association
Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies
IAA Events
We will be holding a number of events around the Eclipse, timed to tie in with BBC Stargazing Live 2015
Firstly, our regular lecture on Weds 18th March will feature Amateur Astronomer, Photographer and Eclipse Chaser Paul Evans. Being a veteran of three totalities and a 97% partial Paul will explain what is happening, what to see and how to see it safely. This will be held, as usual, in the Bell Theatre, QUB at 19:30 sharp.
Secondly, on the Friday morning, 20th March, we will have teams assembled at four locations to show members of the general public the eclipse. These will be (click for map) Portballintrae, Larne, Scrabo Tower and Queen's University, Belfast.
Details of the eclipse timings and an animation can be found at Time and Date here….
Thirdly, on the evening of Friday 20th, for those who want more astronomy we will, jointly with the astronomers from QUB Astrophysics Research Centre, have a Jupiter Watch outside Queen's University, Belfast.
Lecture: 18th March 7:30pm QUB – Paul Evans – “The Deep Partial Solar Eclipse of 20th March 2015”
Past President of the IAA Paul Evans is a veteran of three Total Solar Eclipses, a failed observation of an Annular Eclipse and has observed a good number of Partial Eclipses including a 97% one. Here he'll explain how it all works, what we'll be seeing and how to go about seeing as much as possible as safely as possible!
The lecture is free and open to all, including free refreshments. Venue: Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast, at 7.30 p.m.