ASTRO-EXPO 2006
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| Claus Madsen ESO with
the Lord Mayor and David Moore Credit:
Eamonn O'Fearchain |
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ASTRO-EXPO 2006
Several hundred people attended this year's Astro Expo 2006 which
was held in the HUB, DCU.
The event this year was formally opened by the Lord Mayor of
Dublin, Councillor Vincent Jackson. Having read the
magazine when invited he decided to honour us by opening the
event. He arrived at 12pm to the event and straight away
proceeded to work his way around the venue talking to all the
exhibitors. He expressed great interest in astronomy and was
fascinated by the efforts that people had put into their exhibits.
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| Lord Mayor being
shown around Cr:Eamonn
O'Fearchain |
Finer points of a
telescope Cr: E. O'Fearchain |
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| ESO Telescope Model
Cr: E O'Fearchain |
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The key exhibitor this year was the European Southern Observatory
based in Germany. ESO provide access to Telescopes in the
Southern Hemisphere for researchers here in Europe - an invaluable
resource. They provided a spectacular exhibit combining
audio-visual with static display panels. Claus Madsen of ESO
spoke at the opening and also gave a lecture on ESO and the advantages
for Ireland in becoming a member. Other exhibitors included, DCU Astrophysics,
UCD Physics with
Astronomy and Space Science, NUI Galway Astrophysics Dept.,
NUI Maynooth Physics with
Astrophysics, Astronomy Shop, Astronomy Ireland, Brownstown Observatory,
Astrosoc,
Astronomy Ireland Junior Section, Eamonn O'Fearchain and Nature's
Treasures.
Astro-Expo 2006 was
run in association with DCU Astrosoc and the Discover Science and Engineering project.
The annual Astronomy Ireland dinner was held in the Regency Airport
Hotel later on and a great night was had by all
Later at the Dinner in the Regency:
Timetable of events
Saturday 02 December
10:00 am Doors Open.
10:30 am "Future far-infrared astronomy projects and
prospects" by Dr. Neil Trappe of NUI Maynooth.
12:00 pm Official Opening of Astro-Expo by the Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Councillor Vincent Jackson.
1:00 pm "Island of the Setting Sun - In Search of Ireland's
Ancient Astronomers" by Anthony Murphy, Mythical Ireland.
2:30 pm "European Southern Observatory" by Claus Madsen of ESO (Germany).
4:00 pm "Reaching out to ET" by Dr Martin Griffiths of the
NASA Astrobiology Institute, Glamorgan University.
6:00 pm Doors Close.
8 pm Annual Astronomy Ireland Dinner in the Regency Hotel.
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