From: TerryMosel@aol.com
Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 18:28:33 EDT
Subject: Eclipse, TV, Events

Hi all,

Some events for your alarm clock & diary:

1. TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: 
 15-16 May (Thurs night - Fri morning). The following times are BST:
 Start of Penumbral Phase (P1) Barely noticeable): 02h 05m 25s
 Start of Umbral Phase (U1): 03h 02m 51s
 Start of Total Phase: (U2) 04h 13m 49s
 Mid Eclipse: 04h 40m 10s
 End of Total Phase: (U3) 05h 06m 31s
 End of Umbral Phase (U4): 06h 17m 29s
 
    Duration of Totality is just 52 mt 42s, and the sky will be brightening 
 with dawn twilight towards the end of totality, especially for observers in 
 the North-east. In fact at 05.00, just before the end of totality, the Sun 
 is only 2° 47' below the horizon from Belfast, so the eclipsed moon may not 
 be visible at all in the twilight!  The Moon sets from Ireland just after 
 the end of totality, so the later umbral stages will not be visible at all. 
 The table gives the altitude & azimuth of the Moon at mid eclipse, and end 
 of totality, from various cities.
              Belfast Dublin        Cork        Limerick
 Mid Eclipse 4° 31'; 227°. 5° 21'; 227°. 7° 28'; 225°. 7° 00'; 225°
 End Totality 1° 48'; 232°. 2° 42'; 232°. 4° 38'; 230°. 4° 10'; 230°
    The Moon passes though the North edge of the Earth's umbra, so the S 
 edge of the Moon will appear darkest, although not even the S edge of the 
 Moon passes through the centre of the umbra.
    Observers in SW Ireland will have the best view, with the Moon higher 
 up, and the Sun further below the horizon, at all stages of the eclipse. 
    The Moon occults an 8m.7 magnitude star, TYC 6192-1038-1, or HD 137916, 
 at about 04.30 during the eclipse: that event may just be visible if the 
 sky is dark enough.
 
 LOOK OUT for a pass of the ISS just before Totality! Exact time will depend 
 on your location, but watch out from about 03.55 if you are in the SW of 
 Ireland, a bit later if you are in the N & E. Details from 
 www.heavens-above.com  It won't pass across the Moon from anywhere in 
 Ireland....


2. TV: Sunday 18 May, 20.00, Channel 4. "Ascent of Mars Mountain"
   A documentary that replicates conditions on Mars as closely as possible to 
   find out what it would take to climb the planet's Olympus Mons, the 
   highest-known mountain in the solar system. A five-strong team, including 
   actor Brian Blessed and climber Catherine Destivelle, spend ten days on the 
   Mars-like Reunion Island, located in the Indian Ocean, where they test space 
   suits in dangerous ascents and inhabit a pressurised space tent. The result 
   is a gruelling test of stamina and skills as well as an adventure into the 
   future of space exploration.

3. PUBLIC LECTURE:  "Mars - A Cosmic Stepping Stone" bu Kevin Nolan, The 
   Planetary Society.
   Venue: Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, College Green, Dublin 2,  8.30 PM, Friday 
   May 23rd
   Admission: 3 Euro (concessions 1.50 Euro)
   Contact:   Kevin Nolan, Tel: 087 238 6141.
  It heralds the launch of three space probes to Mars in June 2003, to arrive 
   at Mars in December and January next. It also marks the the fact that Mars 
   will be closer to Earth, this coming August, than it has been for the last 
   79,000 years [The latest figure is just under 60,000 years: T.M.].
  The three space probes will join the two probes already orbiting the 
   planet, giving a total of 5 space probes active around and on Mars as of 
   January 2004.
   Upwards of another 10 or so probes will join those 5 over the next three to 
   five years, all set on searching for present and past life on Mars, providing 
   a context for answering questions regarding the Cosmic abundance of Life.
  This lecture will include spectacular images from the most recent Mars missi
   ons, and itself heralds a more ambitious multimedia event to be run during 
   National Science Week in November.
  There is no need to book in advance, but I will reserve seats if you email 
   or ring me.
   Kevin Nolan, The Planetary Society. (ROI) Tel: 087 238 6141.

4. ISCAN MEETING: Final programme for the iSCAN Spring Meeting  (per Dr Ian 
   Elliott)
   The possibility of a planetarium for Dublin and the role of science clubs 
   will be among the topics to be discussed at the iSCAN Spring Meeting in 
   Collins Barracks on Saturday, 24 May.
   Our keynote speaker is Mario Di Maggio who is the Planetarium Staff 
   Scientist at the Glasgow Science Centre.  His visit is kindly sponsored by 
   Spitz Inc., USA.
   Theme: New Ways of Presenting Science
   Saturday, 24 May 2003; at the National Museum, Collins Barracks, Dublin 7
   10.30   Tea / Coffee
   11.00   Robert Hill, Armagh Planetarium -   "Engaging Youth in Space"
   11.30   Andrina Moore, Moore Events and Marketing -  "Marketing Science to 
   the Masses"
   12.00   Annual General Meeting
   12.30      Lunch will be available in the National Museum restaurant
   14.30      Mario Di Maggio, Planetarium Staff Scientist, Glasgow Science 
   Centre -
    "The Eternal Dome of the Sky : why planetariums are more precious than 
   ever
   in the 21st Century"
   15.30   Tea / Coffee
   16.00   Stephanie O'Neill, Manager of the Forfas STI Awareness Programme -
    "Primary Science Clubs"
   16.30   Jack Sullivan, Upward Bound -   "The Demise of Irish Science 
   Teaching: The Rise of Curious Children"
   17.00      End
    Information about the speakers is available at 
   http://www.iscan.ie/speakers.htm
   ALL WELCOME, ADMISSION FREE
   Further information is available from Annette McDonnell, RDS, Dublin 4
   Tel: (01) 240-7217 Fax: (01) 660-4014 E-mail: annette.mcdonnell@rds.ie

   Clear skies & good luck,

Terry Moseley

Last Revised: 2003 May 14th WWW contact: webmaster@arm.ac.uk

Go to HOME Page