Report from Dara †У Maoildhia (IFAS), Inis Mor
"We had 21 participants and used the telescope which we have on loan from Deirdre Kelleghan (a four and a half inch reflector). We also had two pairs of binoculars.
We gathered in the carpark of Ost†бn †Бrann, the Kilronan hotel at 9 pm. The proprietor Stewart very kindly agreed to switch off the outside lights for the duration.
People gathered quickly and we found ourselves a bit overwhelmed trying to get the telescope focused on the moon and give everybody a chance to see it. The crowd included lots of young people from the island тАУ the makings of a strong astronomy club for the future.
Later we tried focusing on Saturn and Orion, but this proved too difficult a task for amateur astronomers who donтАЩt have all the tricks of those who have been at it for a long time. However, we are learning! Next time, we will know how to do it.
We were surprised to find a group of three young French people in the crowd wanting to participate. Only one of them could speak good English. But it turned out they were working in Dublin and had come to Aran for the weekend with THE SPECIFIC INTENTION OF LOOKING AT THE STARS!!! How about that for serendipity? They even brought with them three printouts in full colour on A3 paper (really big) the star chart for that night! They gave us one to keep as a memento. Did you know that Saturn is Saturne in French and Moon is Lune?
We finished up at 10.30, fairly frozen but happy that our evening had been a success."
