Armagh Observatory, 16th March 2009: A major new exhibition, featuring some of the best astronomical images ever taken, is currently on display in St. PatrickтАЩs Trian, Armagh. The exhibition, called тАЬFrom Earth to the Universe (FETTU)тАЭ, is one of the Armagh ObservatoryтАЩs contributions to the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009), designated by the United Nations to celebrate the four-hundredth anniversary of GalileoтАЩs first use of a telescope for astronomical observations.
The exhibition was opened on Saturday 14th March in the presence of Professor David Southwood, Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency, at a joint public lecture organized by the Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society. FETTU is an international outreach programme designed to provide high-quality, high-resolution images specifically for outdoor and travelling astronomical exhibitions, and is one of the cornerstone outreach projects of IYA2009.
One of the largest amateur astronomy societies in Ireland, the Irish Astronomical Association, is working together with Armagh Observatory and the UK and Ireland Node for IYA2009 to display the exhibition at various locations in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Dr Miruna Popescu of Armagh Observatory, who put together the images for the exhibition, said: тАЬI am so pleased that St. PatrickтАЩs Trian, Armagh, is the first place in Northern Ireland to display this exhibition. Not only is it a great advert for astronomers worldwide, but it helps to explain what the astronomers here in Armagh are up to. The exhibition opens your eyes to the vastness of the Universe тАУ but apart from all the philosophical thoughts it might bring to mind тАУ the images are simply so beautiful!тАЭ
Major contributors to IYA2009 activities throughout the island of Ireland include IrelandтАЩs science promotion programme Discover Science and Engineering, the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Northern Ireland Space Office at Armagh Planetarium, the European Southern Observatory, the Armagh Observatory and NUI Galway. For more information about the programme of activities organised for the International Year of Astronomy on the island of Ireland, or to book the travelling FETTU exhibition for your venue, please contact the Armagh Observatory or check http://astronomy2009.ie.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Miruna Popescu at the Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG; Tel.: 028-3752-2928; mdp@arm.ac.uk.