From: TerryMosel@aol.com
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2003 20:14:25 EDT
Subject: Solstice BBQ, Glasgow Science Centre, NLCs

Hi all,

Don't forget the Irish Astronomical Association 'Summer Solstice Barbecue', 
at Amagh Observatory, 3.30 p.m., Saturday 21 June.

Admission is free, but you bring your own food, drinks, plates, cutlery, 
glasses etc. We provide the cooking facility on a large purpose-built BBQ, and we 
have a large 'Gazebo' shelter in case the weather is poor - although we have 
never needed it yet!

If you want to sit, bring a rug or folding chair etc, and if you really want 
to be civilised, a small folding table will come in handy too.

There will be a guided tour of the observatory for anyone who has not been 
there before, and we will have other entertainment too.

All IAA members, their guests, staff of the Observatory & Planetarium & their 
guests will be welcome. 

This is always a good fun event, and we haven't been rained off yet! Since 
the actual solstice occurs that evening, you can try to observe the Solstice 
Sunset from the 'Stone Circle' on top of the Observatory Hill, and check the 
orientation! And there will be a prize for anyone who stays up/gets up & 
successfully photographs next morning's Solstice Sunrise from that Circle! Hope to see 
lots of you there.

If any of you are going to Glasgow this summer, or indeed any time, DON'T 
MISS the fantastic Glasgow Science Centre & Planetarium. I called there on my way 
to John 0' Groans for the Annular Eclipse, and was royally treated by Mario 
di Maggio, head of the Planetarium - thanks again Mario, much appreciated! You 
may well remember his excellent & very enthusiastic presentations & talks 
while he was based at Armagh.

The Science Centre is really aimed at kids, of all ages, but I certainly 
enjoyed all of it too. But for me the highlight was the Planetarium itself. It's 
literally 'state of the art', with a fantastic projector, an incredibly 
realistic sky, and a good, live, presentation from a real live astronomer! It has 
good unidirectional seating, & the projector rises & sinks from the floor. Bring 
binoculars if you have them, and you'll see that there are more stars 
projected on the dome than you can readily see with the unaided eye! It's by far the 
best Planetarium sky I have ever seen. 
   You should also go to see the Space film showing daily at the Imax Cinema 
in the Centre - mindblowing is the only word for it!
   Allow a whole day if you want to do it justice, i.e, the Science Centre 
itself, which is huge, the Planetarium, & the Imax.

No sign of any Noctilucent Clouds yet, but keep checking the low Northern sky 
for an hour or two around local midnight to check.

Clear Skies,

Terry Moseley

Last Revised: 2003 June 18th WWW contact: webmaster@arm.ac.uk

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