Cosmic Chaos!
Blackrock Castle Observatory celebrates the International Year of Astronomy 2009
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) launched 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) under the theme, The Universe, Yours to Discover. IYA2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the first astronomical observation through a telescope by Galileo Galilei.
The Cork Institute of Technology manages Blackrock Castle Observatory and the facility is open 362 days with expected throughput of 50,000 visitors in 2009 confirming BCO as the premier public astronomy centre in the country.
Direct link to BCO's IYA2009 events: http://www.bco.ie/IYA/
FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE CASTLE MARCH 6 2009
MARS; A COSMIC STEPPING STONE
6-8pm Hands on Crafts: Design & Build a Martian Landing Craft in the Classroom. (ages 6 to 12)
8pm Lecture: òÀØMars; A Cosmic Stepping StoneòÀÙ Kevin Nolan I.T. Tallaght and author of òÀØMars: A Cosmic Stepping StoneòÀÙ. Kevin Nolan gives the first public lecture celebrating his new book òÀÜMars, A Cosmic Stepping StoneòÀÝ. The book (and lecture at BCO) reveals how current exploration of Mars may soon play a role in helping uncover the origin of life on Earth and its cosmic abundance.
6-9.30 pm Viewing: Expert astronomers at Blackrock Castle Observatory and members of the Cork Astronomy Club will have telescopes in the Courtyard and are on hand to guide visitors in observing the night sky. The exhibit Cosmos at the Castle will be open late and free to the public. Bookings are now been taken for the free First Friday events on March 6th.
Members will have priority for these and all other events at BCO. Theatre capacity is 50 and Mars Lander workshops are for max. 25 so early booking is advised. No booking is required for observing sessions
THE STARDOME AND STORY TELLING
Astronomers and Story Tellers will narrate myths and legends of the skies bringing children and teachers into contact with the idea of our shared Multiverse through the StarDome, a portable planetarium. These events take place at Grand Parade Cork City Library from March 10th as part of the Year of the Constant Reader. Bookings through Cork City Library.
Saturdays from February 28th òÀÓ April 4th 4.00-5.15pm
Astrophotography and Astronomy Theory Workshops.
Facilitated by local astronomer Dennis Walsh.
Classroom Sessions at BCO. òÂì40 for 5 weeks. Limited Capacity.
Classes will be linked to observing sessions at First Fridays at the Castle.
Remember members enjoy a 10% discount on all BCO programmes!
CORK ST PATRICK'S FESTIVAL
Cork City Council has teamed up with BCO to celebrate the United Nations International Year of Astronomy. The theme of this yearòÀÙs parade fittingly is Cosmic Chaos. Come along and join in the fun!
We are delighted to welcome back to Cork Dan Tani, NASA astronaut and Flight Engineer for the International Space Station. Dan Tani will be Grand Marshal at the Parade and will officially open the exhibit Capture the Cosmos on Saturday March 14th at Millennium Hall.
From Saturday 14 to Saturday 21 March, Capture the Cosmos, an exhibition of Cork schoolchildrenòÀÙs astronomical prints will hang in City Hall. Capture the Cosmos is a Cork City Council Arts Office & Community & Enterprise Project for the Cork St. PatrickòÀÙs Festival in partnership with Cork Printmakers and Blackrock Castle Observatory and forms a key part of CorkòÀÙs celebration of International Year of Astronomy 2009.
The Universe is a place of wonder and imagination for children. Capture the Cosmos combines the knowledge of astronomers, the creative language of artist printmakers, and the facilities of Blackrock Castle Observatory and of Cork Printmakers to allow young school children to explore the fascinating expanse of the cosmos and express this new learning through artist-led printmaking workshops.
This project has enabled children from four schools across the city to experience astronomy at Blackrock Castle Observatory and through the StarDome and to learn different printmaking processes in their classroom, facilitated by Cork Printmakers. Through their work with the artists and astronomers, the children have created their own images of the universe. Each pupil who participated in the project will have one of their artworks exhibited in City Hall during the St PatrickòÀÙs Festival celebrations 2009.
Each child donated one artwork which will be on sale with the proceeds going to UNAWE (Universal Awareness for Young Children). This is an international outreach activity that uses the beauty and grandeur of the universe to inspire very young disadvantaged children. The organization illustrates the multicultural origins of modern astronomy in an effort to broaden childrenòÀÙs minds, awaken their curiosity in science and stimulate global citizenship and tolerance.
Earth Hour - March 28 2009. 20.30hrs òÀæCan You See the Stars? www.earthhour.org
How can EarthHour inspire people to take action on climate change? For one hour, one night EarthHour asks the whole world to turn out the lights.
Already 538 cities in 75 countries which is double the number of countries that participated in 2008, are committed. With hundreds more cities expected to sign up to switch off in the coming month, Earth Hour 2009 is setting the platform for an unprecedented global mandate for action on climate change.
Blackrock Castle Observatory will host star counts and observing sessions with telescopes in the courtyard of BCO during the clear sky nights of the week preceding Earth Hour as part of the Globe at Night 2009 from 16-28 March 2009
Come and meet NASA astronaut Dan Tani our guest Star Counter during the Globe at Night events.
http://www.globe.gov/GaN/
2008 marked a monumental shift in human history when the number of people living in cities exceeded half the people on Earth. Because of the ambient light of urban landscapes, many city dwellers have never seen a sky full of stars.
Earth Hour will be the highlight celebration of the Globe at Night star count in Orion.
The restaurant will serve by candle light and there will be musical entertainment powered by alternative energy sources. Local councillors are in support of efforts to turn off the adjacent street lights.
An international exhibition of astronomical drawings, In the Footsteps of Galileo, curated by Deirdre Kelleghan, President of the Irish Astronomical Society will hang in the 16th century Castle until late June before beginning an Irish tour including shows in Birr Castle and Dunsink Observatory. It features 2 previously unseen works by the eminent astronomer, writer and TV presenter Sir Patrick Moore.
Contact
Clair McSweeney Tel 021-4357917
Facilities Manager clairmcsweeney@bco.ie
Blackrock Castle Observatory www.bco.ie
About Blackrock Castle Observatory: Cosmos at the Castle is a joint venture between Cork City Council and Cork Institute of Technology. The Castle now houses Ireland's foremost Astronomical Research Facility and a team of scientists working on new technologies for searching for planets around distant stars. The state of the art exhibition highlights recent discoveries of extreme life forms on Earth and their implications for life in space and invites interactive debate on mankind's ultimate place in the Universe. A gallery of cinema sized, high-definition, digital video screens with proximity sensors allow visitors to interact with the process of the evolution of the entire Universe and of life on Earth.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm; Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11 am to 5 pm. Admission: òÂì6 adults, òÂì4 concession, òÂì16 family ticket.