Asteroid 2009 FV19, discovered by David Grennan

On the evening of 25 April 1848, Andrew Graham compared images of the night sky as viewed through a telescope at Markree Observatory in Sligo. After checking and double-checking, he noticed a moving object against a background of stars. This object he found was, in fact, a large, metallic piece of rock measuring over 200km across. This object is known as Metis and as well as being the ninth to ever be discovered, it was the only asteroid ever to be discovered from Ireland for 160 years. On 7 October 2008 David McDonald was analysing images at his observatory in Celbridge when he saw a moving object in a sequence of the images. With the help of Andreas Doppler and David Grennan he prepared a report for the IAU Minor Planet Centre. After a short wait, it was confirmed via email that the object was a previously undiscovered asteroid, and was to be thereafter known as 2008 TM9. David had just found Ireland's second asteroid. Two weeks later, on 21 October, David Grennan was conducting an asteroid survey from Raheny Observatory. In his images he noted another moving object. Following a report to the Minor Planet Centre it was confirmed that the object was undiscovered and was then to be known as 2008 US3. It doesn't end there: in the following weeks and months both Davids discovered three more asteroids, bringing their total to 5, and 6 to be discovered from Irish soil.

David McDonald and David Grennan are members of Astronomy Ireland and the country's top asteroid discoverers. They will give the first of Astronomy Ireland's June lectures and will tell guests their story, how Ireland is doing its part in monitoring dangerous objects, and how you, too, could become a planet hunter.

Book seats HERE

Order DVD HERE

The lecture takes place in:
Fitzgerald Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2.
And can be accessed by the Westland Row or Lincoln Place entrances.