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Astronomy Ireland Public Watch Report
The Moon, Mars and Saturn
25 March 2010
Locations Nationwide
On 25 March 2010, Astronomy Ireland set up very powerful telescopes for a Nationwide Moon, Mars and Saturn Watch.
Hundreds of people from all over the country attended their own local Watches. Reports from the various watches are below, with more being added as we receive them
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Mars image taken from Naas,
Co. Kildare by Astronomy Ireland member Frank Butler using a
Celestron 11-inch telescope on January 22nd. Solis Lacus are visible
on the right. See magazine for guide to
viewing detail on Mars or call our Shop for the inexpensive book we
recommend.
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Locations
Carlow, Carpark opposite Garda Station
Despite the heavy rain, I set up in Carlow for the Watch in the hope that the weather may change.
I was joined by six others who braved the weather with the same hope. Unfortunately the weather showed
no sign of improving but that's the nature of the hobby. The attendees took some leaflets, including a Sky Map that could
help them find Mars on a clearer night this weekend, and a few enetered the competition to win a pair of binoculars.
Hopefully the skies will be clearer at the next watch and we can see Mars in all its glory
- Dermot Gannon
Clare, St. Michael's School, Kilmihil
Report coming soon!
Cork, JFK Park
The Cork event was nearly a wash-out but for the few hardy optimists
who turned up at 8pm to see the clouds grow thin and finally part, it was worth the wait. We had
two telescopes, tripods, binoculars and even a laser pointer. The waxing
gibbous Moon dominated the scene, the Twins of Gemini: Castor and Pollux were to the
north, and Mars between. It enabled the scale and perspective of the scene
to be percived, as we traveled through the Cosmos by imagining how far
each one was. For example the yellow star Capella to the west of overhead,
is the same size and hue as the Sun. So by night, if you were there, you
would see our Sun as similar (but planet Earth would be lost in it's
golden blaze). Mars itself was smaller and it's surface features were mottled but with a
distinct polar cap. This was the North Pole we saw, so it's spring there too!
- Denis Walsh
Dublin, Papal Cross Car Park, Phoenix Park
Astronomy Ireland staff and volunteers arrived at Phoenix Park in the pouring rain but hopeful that the
weather would improve. We set up a stall with leaflets about Mars, information about Astronomy Ireland and copies of the
magazine. No sooner had we set up than a few brave souls joined us in the hope that the clouds would part. Eventually we
were joined by about 30 people and while the rain did stop the clouds didn't lift. Astronomy Ireland chairman David Moore
entertained the attendees with tales of the history of Mars and how people had been fascinated by Mars and possible
Martians for centuries.
Some of the attendees entered a free draw to win a pair of binoculars and we welcomed some new members to the Astronomy
Ireland family. Shortly before 9 we decided to call it a night with the promise of another watch were the skies will hopefully
be clearer
- Simon Reynolds
Photos from the Papal Cross Car Park, Phoenix Park
Louth, Seabank, Castlebellingham
Although most the day was clear and sunny, high cloud began to move in from about 5pm. For the next hour or so the skies
were hazy and some viewing would still have been possible. However by 6.30pm very dark cloud had approached from the south
and a check on the internet at 7pm showed heavy rain moving swiftly north towards our location. A number of people joined
the watch and although the rain did indeed arrive shortly after 8pm there was still a lot of interest in a future watch and
some entries for the binocular competition.
- Derek Watters
Sligo, Sligo IT Car Park
We had a fairly cloudy night but we still got some lovely views of the moon,
and we could see the orange disc of Mars but the sky was hazy so there wasn't much detail.
The moon was excellent however, and I went on to show people some pictures I had taken of
Saturn and the Orion nebula. We had two scopes with a good gathering of 17 people at one point,
with a few more coming and going. A good night was had by all and we're already looking forward to the next one.
- Derek Davey
Some of the attendees who enjoyed the Sligo watch
Click to see full size
Waterford, People's Park
Report coming soon!
The Lunar Eclipse of March 3rd 2007
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Mars as viewed by the hubble Space Telescope
Image courtesy of NASA |
Here
is a rotating image of Mars taken with Celestron telescopes like those we
sell in our Shop and that will be used at our Mars Watches nationwide (courtesy
Pete Lawrence, UK)
Click HERE to see a list of other exciting Astronomy Ireland Events coming soon.
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