Countrywide Comet Watch Reports

     
Credit NASA (The moment of impact)
       

On the 4th July Independence Day NASA's Spacecraft Deep Impact crashed a probe onto the surface of Comet Tempel 1.  The purpose of this mission was to analyse the core of the comet.  Astronomy Ireland organised watches (areas listed below) all over Ireland to see this once in a lifetime event.

Alas the weather was not kind to us on this occasion and while there were breaks in the clouds in some areas no one reported seeing the comet.
               

Part of the crowd of several hundred in Phoenix Park (Cr. Tom Finnegan)

Clare

Kilmihil, Angus Sealy reported total cloud cover in County Clare and was unable to see the comet.

Cork

Martin Lynch and JJ Keating organised the Cork, Comet Watch in Ballyphehane Community Centre.  About 20 people showed up.  However it was cloudy all over, eventually turning to rain.

Carlow

A small group of people came to Kilerig Golf Club in Carlow where Gerry Moloney had organised a watch in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive comet.  However it was very cloudy with few breaks.

Donegal

A few people turned up in Donegal where Seamus Byron had organised a watch.  However it was very cloudy and they didn't get to see the comet.

Dublin

A large crowd of several hundred came to the Phoenix Park in the hope of seeing the elusive comet.  The skies earlier on were largely clear.  However the important part to South east stubornly refused to clear.  However people did get a good look at other night sky objects.  Astronomy Ireland's Eamonn O'Fearchain set up an Audio Visual Display on a big screen with images of the comet.  This went down very well with the assembled crowd.

Looking for the comet at the Phoenix Park (Cr. T. Finnegan)

Dundalk

Derek Watters the louth co-ordinator had a crowd of over 25 people at his viewing site not far from Blackrock.  While there were clouds around they did have a good evening getting to Jupiter earlier on.  Derek gave a talk on Comets, their origin and the deep impact mission.  They also did lots of satellite spotting.  So all in all it was a very enjoyable evening.

Waterford

Liam Walshe, Waterford co-ordinator held a watch at Waterpark National School.  He reported total cloud cover with some rain.  So no joy there either.

Not the comet but a view of Eamonn O'Fearchain's audio visual dispay  (Cr. T. Finnegan)     

Read the full story in this month magazine

Areas where comet watches were organised

Dublin - Phoenix Park, car park at Papal Cross - Tom Finnegan 

Co. Clare - Kilmihil - Angus Sealy 

Co. Donegal, Letterkenny, Kilpeak Graveyard, Glenswilly - Seamus Byron 

Cork, Ballyphehane Community Ctre - Martin Lynch 

Carlow - Killerig Golf Club - Gerry Moloney  

Dundalk - Blackrock, Derek Watters 

Waterford, Waterpark National School, Liam Walshe