Asteroid 2009 FV19, discovered by David Grennan

In October 2008, an IT Specialist and a Health & Safety Consultant, were doing some routine asteroid watches from an observatory in Celbridge. Dave McDonald and Dave Grennan spent a few hours looking at photographs taken of a very small region near the constellation Leo. They noticed a small moving object in some of the frames. That object was soon to be Ireland's first asteroid discovered in 160 years! At Astronomy Ireland's July Lecture, the two amateur astronomers told an audience of excited guests their story and the whirlwind of discoveries that soon followed. Filled with banter and humour, and encouraged by an animated audience, the two Davids talked about the huge rocks and minor planets in the inner Solar System. While most asteroids are located in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter (Main Belt asteroids), three more groups of asteroids - known as the Hildas, the Greeks, and the Trojans - are on the same orbit as Jupiter, located at special places known as Lagrangian Points. The asteroids discovered by Dave McDonald and Dave Grennan are Main Belt asteroids. Using telescopes bought from the Astronomy Ireland Shop they focused on parts of the sky that weren't being analysed by other asteroid surveys. By comparing two images of a field of stars it is possible to see moving objects, as it will appear in two locations in each image. This is how the Irish asteroids were found. Attendees to the lecture were treated to a number of 'discovery images', like the one on the left, and the emails sent to and from the Minor Planet Centre, submitting and confirming their discoveries.

There were plenty of questions from members of the audience who were clearly excited by the fact that amateur astronomers just like themselves succeeded in finding new worlds! Order your copy of this gripping and captivating lecture on DVD here or by calling (01) 847 0777 (alternatively post a cheque or postal order to: July 2009 DVD, Astronomy Ireland, PO. Box 2888, Dublin 5). DVDs of this and past lectures are just €7 each (add €5 for P&P for any number of DVDs).