The 2010 Shannonside Astronomy Club Burren Starparty

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Frank Ryan
Posts: 2980
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:45 am
Location: Ballycasey, Co. Clare

The 2010 Shannonside Astronomy Club Burren Starparty

Post by Frank Ryan » Wed May 12, 2010 1:03 am

Hi all.
Well, it's only a few months away from this years
Shannonside Astronomy Club Burren Starparty.

Following on from last year we are still determined to make our event
a 'starparty' in the true sense of the word rather than another 'lecture' led event, something we feel is sorely lacking in this country.

We are, as always, at the mercy of the weather but here's hoping for clear skies in Clare for that weekend!
But! Not to disappoint the traditionalists,
the Saturday speakers for this year can now be confirmed as;



Thomas J. Bopp

Image

Thomas Bopp, co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp in 1995.
Arguably the most widely observed comet of the twentieth century and
one of the brightest seen for many decades.
It was visible to the naked eye for a record 18 months,
twice as long as the previous record holder, the Great Comet of 1811.
Thomas will recount the fascinating story of his discovery accompanied
by a personal selection of images from the NASA archives.








Prof. Michael G. Hinchey

Image

Limerick native Michael is a computer scientist and
Co-Director at the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre Lero, at the University of Limerick.

Michael was until recently the Director of the Software Engineering Lab at
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre
where he spearheaded a project that developed systems which use the
concept of a swarm where thousands of devices co-ordinate and work
together on missions such as upcoming Mars exploration missions.

''Instead of sending just two rover machines, the idea is to send
hundreds of tiny robots — on the ground and in the air — that would
scatter over a wide distance. If a few get lost, it won’t affect the success
of the mission. There is often a 20-minute delay on signals from
spacecraft or rovers back to mission control so if these devices can fix
the problem on the spot because they have autonomic properties — which
means they can self-heal and repair each other — it would ensure better
success for a mission.''
Michael received his PhD in Computer Science from University of
Cambridge, UK, and an MSc in Computation from University of Oxford.
He is a Fellow of the IEE, Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications,
Chartered Mathematician, Chartered Professional Engineer, Visiting
Professor at The Queen's University of Belfast. and Senior Member of the IEEE.

While in the US Michael was also a Research Professor at Virginia Tech,
and the founding editor-in-chief of the NASA journal
Innovations in Systems and Software Engineering.

Michael will talk about the development of these robitic systems and future missions which will use them.





Robin Scagell

Image

Robin is a writer of several Philips stargazing guides and night sky atlases.
He is a broadcaster on astronomy who runs Galaxy Picture Library,
which is devoted to photographs of astronomy and space.
Robin’s background includes working at the Kodak Research Laboratory
as a research assistant, Manchester University as an observer and
photographer, and for publisher Marshall Cavendish.
Robin is currently the Vice President of the well renowned
Society for Popular Astronomy.

Robin will give an in-depth talk on opservational astronomy.


There is one other speaker (unconfirmed as of today)
but I will announce their taking part either way very soon.

Looking forward to meeting you all again down Clare way in the Autumn!

Frank Ryan
Posts: 2980
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:45 am
Location: Ballycasey, Co. Clare

Post by Frank Ryan » Tue Jul 13, 2010 1:43 am

REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR SEAT

Our starparty this year will be take place on Friday 10th & Saturday 11th of September
at the the Dolmen carpark in The Burren, Co. Clare.
Setup at 8PM on both evenings.
The local community will again be helping out by going 'lights out'.
We are discussing the possibility of using a second more remote location although
nothing has been decided on yet. We will keep you posted if there is a change!

We're placing a strong emphases again on making this very much a starparty in the
true sense of the word so please, if you've got a scope - Bring it! - Use it!
This area has some of the best skies in Europe and if the weather is good you will not be disappointed!

We will also be running three talks during the day on Saturday at Louges Lodge.
REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR SEAT as places are limited so early booking is advisable.
please contact our treasurer Dave Lillis, his e-mail address can be found here:
www.shannonsideastronomyclub.com/how_to_join.htm


Entry fee for the talks are:
Adults € 20 / College Student (with valid ID) €15 / Secondary Student € 10

(The slight increase from last year is to offset the government cuts in funding
this year to Shannon Development.)


Event Running Order:

Friday 10th
20:00 - Observing at designated site.


Saturday 11th
09.55 - Opening

10.00 - 10.45 - Prof. Michael G. Hinchey
10.45 - 11.00 - Q&A

11:00 - 11:20 - Break

11.30 - 12:15 - Robin Scagell
12:15 - 12.30 - Q&A

12:30 - 14:00 - Lunch

14:00 - 14:45 - Dr. Thomas J. Bopp
14:45 - 15:00 - Q&A

18:00 - Dinner at Logues (book direct at Logues)

20:00 - Observing at designated site / 20:00 - 20:30 - Beginners observing talk at Caherconnell Stone Fort Media Centre.




Logues Lodge (www.logueslodge.ie) are running a special offer for Starparty attendees:

2 nights bed & breakfast for Fiday 10th and Saturday 11th Sept with Dinner on Saturday.
€ 90 Per Person Sharing / € 130 Single.

Contact Carmel Clancy - (Mention the Starparty Deal)
Logue's Lodge
Main Street,
Ballyvaughan,
Co. Clare,
Ireland.
Tel: +353-65-7077003 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +353-65-7077003 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
E-mail: kieran@logueslodge.ie



***** PLEASE NOTE! *****

ACCOMMODATION & 'DINNER'
There is plenty of alternative great value accommodation nearby but we recommend Logues
as it is venue for the talks and will be our meeting place if the weather turns bad.
The Saturday evening early 'Dinner' will be a casual affair and you are welcome to join
regardless of where you are staying.

TALKS:
This year we will be running a strict timetable.
The doors into the talks area will be closed until the speaker is finished and
you will not be allowed entry once the talk has begun.
SO PLEASE be on time!!
If there are any changes to the above timetable we will announce in good
time on the SAC website.

OBSERVING:
There will be designated scope / car areas at the observing site.
Please follow our stewards (wearing visi-vests) instruction regarding parking,
set up, entry & exit to the site.

The pathway to the Dolmen and area outside the carpark is strictly out of bounds
for starparty attendees as in the dark is extremely dangerous to walk.
Also please bear in mind the Burren is a protected area.


Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Frank.

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