Mark Langtry (left) public outreach officer from Science Gallery Dublin, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and Ray Butler (right) astronomer from NUI Galway with the Grubb Telescope in the South Dome. (Credit: Qi Qi Kennedy)
The Night Sky Over Ireland was an event held at DIAS Dunsink Observatory in partnership with Science Gallery Dublin (TCD) on Saturday the 1st September 2018 to a full to capacity Meridian Room. Science Gallery Dublin (TCD) was created in 2008 and focuses on where science and art collide. This nonprofit gallery has held 43 exhibitions. Similarly to Dunsink Observatory, the Science Gallery Dublin promotes Citizen Science. The main talk was given by Ray Butler, an astronomy lecturer at NUI Galway (NUIG) who promotes astronomy through public outreach talks and events. A further talk was given by John Flannery of the Irish Astronomical Society (IAS) to our guests of the evening who also learned about the Grubb Coelostat and the South Dome which houses the 150 year old Grubb Telescope.
John Flannery (IAS) in the South Dome talking about the history of the Grubb Telescope. (Credit: Qi Qi Kennedy)
Our guests began the evening in the Meridian Room of the Main Observatory House. Where Mark Langtry of Science Gallery Dublin (TCD) welcomed our guests and spoke about how the event was run in line with the current gallery exhibition called “Life at the Edges“. He spoke about how living in extreme conditions ignites passion for discovery. He recalled how when he was younger his love of science came from the sky and always looking up, which led to him tripping over regularly. He also remembered wanting to have a deeper understanding of the Irish sky because when he was out with his friends he was expected to know what was in the night sky. John Flannery (IAS) then talked about the history of Dunsink Observatory which dates back to the 1783. John spoke to our guests about how Dunsink Observatory was set up and later came under the jurisdiction of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) in 1947. He talked about Irish Astronomy’s past, present and future.
Ray Butler (NUIG) talking about The Night Sky Over Ireland in the historical Meridian Room. (Credit: Qi Qi Kennedy)
Ray Butler (NUIG) then began his talk about The Night Sky Over Ireland. He talked about the three factors that affect what we see in the sky: the Season, our Location on Earth and the Time of Night. His talk was sprinkled with stunning astrophotographs he had taken. He spoke about the comets, globular clusters and galaxies which will be visible later in the calendar year. He also spoke about night sky darkness, a topic he is passionate about in conjunction with Brian Espey, astrophysics professor in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Ray Butler compared two images, one he had taken from the centre of Galway City and the other from Connemara which showed the extreme effect of night light pollution. Following that he showed different types of software to help people along their path of taking astronomy as a hobby and how to view the night sky.
Mark Langtry then informed our guests about the upcoming Science Gallery Dublin Events. He also spoke about a new science television show which will be shown on RTE One in Autumn and aimed at young children, he will be the host, the programme is called “Let’s Find Out”.
Mike Foylan (IAS) in the Solar Room talking about Meteors. (Credit: Qi Qi Kennedy)
Our guests were then divided into two groups with one half visiting the Solar Room to learn about the Coelostat and Meteors from Mike Foylan (IAS) and the second half visited the South Dome with John Flannery (IAS) to learn about the historic 150 year old Grubb Telescope. Once each group was finished they swapped over.
The event ended in the South Dome with an open discussion about the night sky, Ray Butler (NUIG) and John Flannery (IAS) answered the many diverse and interesting questions from our visitors while seated around the 150 year old Grubb Telescope.
We would to thank all our guests for joining us at this event and our many other events in the past. To join us in the future keep an eye on our website and social media for further events. Looking forward to seeing and making new friends in our new Public Outreach Season starting from now through to 2019.
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Posted: October 2, 2018 by Jonathan Mackey
The Night Sky Over Ireland
The Night Sky Over Ireland was an event held at DIAS Dunsink Observatory in partnership with Science Gallery Dublin (TCD) on Saturday the 1st September 2018 to a full to capacity Meridian Room. Science Gallery Dublin (TCD) was created in 2008 and focuses on where science and art collide. This nonprofit gallery has held 43 exhibitions. Similarly to Dunsink Observatory, the Science Gallery Dublin promotes Citizen Science. The main talk was given by Ray Butler, an astronomy lecturer at NUI Galway (NUIG) who promotes astronomy through public outreach talks and events. A further talk was given by John Flannery of the Irish Astronomical Society (IAS) to our guests of the evening who also learned about the Grubb Coelostat and the South Dome which houses the 150 year old Grubb Telescope.
Our guests began the evening in the Meridian Room of the Main Observatory House. Where Mark Langtry of Science Gallery Dublin (TCD) welcomed our guests and spoke about how the event was run in line with the current gallery exhibition called “Life at the Edges“. He spoke about how living in extreme conditions ignites passion for discovery. He recalled how when he was younger his love of science came from the sky and always looking up, which led to him tripping over regularly. He also remembered wanting to have a deeper understanding of the Irish sky because when he was out with his friends he was expected to know what was in the night sky. John Flannery (IAS) then talked about the history of Dunsink Observatory which dates back to the 1783. John spoke to our guests about how Dunsink Observatory was set up and later came under the jurisdiction of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) in 1947. He talked about Irish Astronomy’s past, present and future.
Ray Butler (NUIG) then began his talk about The Night Sky Over Ireland. He talked about the three factors that affect what we see in the sky: the Season, our Location on Earth and the Time of Night. His talk was sprinkled with stunning astrophotographs he had taken. He spoke about the comets, globular clusters and galaxies which will be visible later in the calendar year. He also spoke about night sky darkness, a topic he is passionate about in conjunction with Brian Espey, astrophysics professor in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Ray Butler compared two images, one he had taken from the centre of Galway City and the other from Connemara which showed the extreme effect of night light pollution. Following that he showed different types of software to help people along their path of taking astronomy as a hobby and how to view the night sky.
Mark Langtry then informed our guests about the upcoming Science Gallery Dublin Events. He also spoke about a new science television show which will be shown on RTE One in Autumn and aimed at young children, he will be the host, the programme is called “Let’s Find Out”.
Our guests were then divided into two groups with one half visiting the Solar Room to learn about the Coelostat and Meteors from Mike Foylan (IAS) and the second half visited the South Dome with John Flannery (IAS) to learn about the historic 150 year old Grubb Telescope. Once each group was finished they swapped over.
The event ended in the South Dome with an open discussion about the night sky, Ray Butler (NUIG) and John Flannery (IAS) answered the many diverse and interesting questions from our visitors while seated around the 150 year old Grubb Telescope.
We would to thank all our guests for joining us at this event and our many other events in the past. To join us in the future keep an eye on our website and social media for further events. Looking forward to seeing and making new friends in our new Public Outreach Season starting from now through to 2019.
Reported by our volunteer blogger Qi Qi Kennedy of DCU.
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