From: TerryMoselaol.com

Date: 19 June 2009 02:22:26 BST

Subject: Event Updates, NLCs

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Hi all,

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Two updates: 1. Change of times at An Creagan / Beaghmore event.

2. Change of speakers at Solarfest

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See updated details below.

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1. SOLSTICE ASTROARCHAEOLOGY, Sunday 21 June, 14.00.

To mark the summer solstice, the Irish Astronomical Association and the Ulster Archaeological Society have organised an event at the An Creagan Centre in Co Tyrone,á including an escorted visit to the nearbyá famous Beaghmore Stone Circles and Alignments. This is part of the UAS's public "Archaeology Days" in June, and also falls neatly into the International Year of Astronomy events.

á á  There will be an exhibition of the amazing IYA 2009á 'From the Earth To The Universe' posters; telescopes for solar observing if the sky is clear,á lectures on astroarchaeology in general, and on the Beaghmore site in particular, by Lorraine Bourke of the Environment and Heritage Service, and Terry Moseley of the IAA. This will be followed by a visit to the Beaghmore site, which is one of the most fascinating, enigmatic and beautiful of all the neolithic sites in Ireland. There are many stone circles, of various sizes; some are in pairs; some are open and some areá 'filled'; some have associated cairns; and many have associated stone rows or alignments, many of which are aligned in the general direction of the Summer Solstice Sunrise.

á á á  The site is maintained by EHS, and you won't need welly boots, but it is an exposed site, in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, soá bring appropriate footwear andá clothing for the expectedá weather conditions - whether wind, rain or sun, or all three!

á á  We would expect to be finished by about 5.30 or 6 p.m.

á á  The lectures will start atá 1.30 p.m., but you are invited to join the rest of us there beforehandá for lunch at the An Creagan Centre at 12.00, BUT YOU MUST LET ME KNOW BYá RETURN if you want to attend that lunch, so that we can reserve aá seat for you.

á  The event itself is free, but you'll have to pay for your own lunch.

á á  The An Creagan Centre isá just offá the main A505 Cookstown to Omagh road, just under halfway from Cookstown to Omagh. If going from Cookstown direction it's just past Creagan crossroads (junction with the B46), on the right, and is signposted.

á á á If you have not yet booked, but would like to attend, please let me know by return if you intend to come:

A: for the lunch, and

B: for the event itself.

Please let me know ASAP!

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2.á SOLARFEST 2009, 10:30 - 17:00, 20TH JUNE

DUNSINK OBSERVATORY, CASTLEKNOCK, DUBLIN

Dunsink Observatory is just off the M50 on the N3, just on the city side of the N3/M50 roundabout.

á á á  IFAS in conjunction with Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) http://www.dias.ie are organising a one-day event in Dublin to discuss Solar Astronomy. The event is called Solarfest 2009. IFAS is very grateful for the support of DIAS for sponsoring the event, therefore making attendance FREE to all. Speakers are Deirdre Kelleghan (IFAS), Sally Russell (RAS),á Eamonn Scullioná (Armagh Observatory www.arm.ac.uk), Kevin Smith (Practical Astronomer Magazine), Nick Howes (Astronomy Now Magazine) and Michael O'Connell (MAC). Weather permitting, we will have solar observing sessions also.

á á á  A more detailed programme of the event will be available in the next few days, however, the day will commence at approx 10:30am and finish at 5pm. Spaces are limited to 60 seats so if you are interested in attending this event, please drop an e-mail to Michaelá  michaelastroshot.com or Deirdre Kelleghan skysketchergmail.com, asap so that a seat can be reserved for you at this invitation-only event.

NB: BRing your own picnic lunch!!!

Here's the latest programme:

10:30 - 11:00 á  Registration

11:00 - 11:30 á  Kevin Smith (Practical Astronomer Magazine) - "Enjoying the Splendor of Our Nearest Star"

11:30 - 12:00á á  Tea/Coffee + Solar Observingá á á 

12:00 - 12:30á á  Deirdre Kelleghan (IFAS) - "Experiments in Solar Sketching"

12:30 - 13:00á á  Sally Russell (FRAS) - "Half Hours with the Sun - A Solar Sketchbook"

13:00 - 14:00 á  Picnic + Solar Observing

14:00 - 14:30á á  Observatory Tour

14:30 - 15:00á á  Eamon Scullion (Armagh Observatory) - "Solar Physics: Past and Present"

15:00 - 15:45á á  Nick Howes (Astronomy Now Magazine) - "Three Sides to the Sun - Practical Set-ups and Imaging of our Nearest Star"

15:45 - 16:15á á  Tea/Coffee + Solar Observing

16:15 - 16:45á á  Michael O'Connell (MAC) - "Eclipse of the Century"

16:45 - Closing Addressá 

á á á  More info can be seen on the IFAS website here:

http://www.irishastronomy.org/cms/forum?func=view&catid=11&id=77969

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3. NLCs. á Many of you saw the NLCs that were visible as I was sending out the last email alert! There have been more since, so keep your eyes peeled for clear skies along the N horizon!

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Happy Solstice!

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Clear Skies,