Astronomical Day Excursion?

Can any one think of a good place in Ireland for an astronomical day excursion, other than Armagh, Newgrange,Birr, greencastle or Schull.

Ronan Newman GAC

Can any one think of a good place in Ireland for an astronomical day excursion, other than Armagh, Newgrange,Birr, greencastle or Schull.

Dunsink? Not sure if there are day long type events there normally.

Cheers,
~Al

Thats just it... there's not much else apart from the few, more well known destinations... You do have Kingsland in Roscommon (c/o Eamonn Ansboro) to add to the list too.

Is this for a GAC daytrip Ronan?

You know, an idea has just spun itself round in my puny little brain...

Can an Astronomy Day (and the like) be organised under the auspices of IFAS and Member Clubs? Read on before you close your mind to the idea...

I mean, plan something for September/October, when (as Shane Culleton mentioned in another thread about Astronomy in Education) teachers can get on board with their students? As he said, Second Level kids have to know about the Moon landing in 1969 aspart of their curriculum.
With VTIE (Virtual Telescopes in Education) almost in operation in NUI Maynooth and 10 experimetal schools, and with an almost 100% success rate in that programme, maybe schools and education bodies will sit up and take notice of the fastly growing interest in Astronomy and allied subjects, realizing that you don't even need a telescope to get started... soon, just the internet and a trained teacher, and you'll be able to use other online telescopes around the world... then the little buggers can save their pocket money and buy their own scopes!

Seriously, in my opinion, it is something that does not take alot of money and resources to get off the ground - sure the foundations are already laid! e.g. 3 annual Star Parties, countless amateur Astronomy clubs, some Universities with Astronomy as part of a graduate curriculum, and Space Sciences Inc, where Ireland has played a roll in the ESA, on some of its missions... and don't forget, the Young Scientists Exhibition - how many young kids, every year, just setup their own displays on something astronomical? More than you might think actually!

I tell you this, if IFAS and/or member clubs want to be serious about making Astronomy more known, and even more popular (than even AI would have us believe), then we have to sit up ourselves and take notice just how easy it could actually be.

Its not that hard!



Seanie.