In The Footsteps of Galileo Exhibit Sept 18th 2009 at Birr

Hi all,

Birr Castle was in touch and offered an invite to the Official Launch of the IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GALILEO exhibitions, taking place from September 18th at the Exhibition Centre in Birr Castle.

An exhibition showcasing some of the best and most interesting 20th and 21st century Astronomical Drawings on the planet.

In the Exhibition Gallery, Ireland’s Historic Science Centre, Birr Castle Demesne on Friday 18th September 2009 at 18.00hrs.

For queries contact:
jacquie@birrcastle.com or call 057 9120336

Clear Skies,

Seanie.

Thanks to Seanie for posting the invite information for this exhibition.
Here is the poster for the launch , hope to see many of you there that evening.
The exhibition will remain in Birr Castle Science Centre till November 2nd .

Dr Carolina Odman International Program Manager for UNAWE ie Universe Awareness for Young Children will open the exhibition for me and give a talk on the outreach work done by UNAWE all over the world.

Moon drawings created by Irish, American, and many many more children will be on display alongside the Lunar , Solar, Planetary, and Deep Sky sketches of Sir Patrick Moore , Sally Russell, Jeremey Perez, Sue French , Dan Davis , Jeff Young and many many more ....


So a date for your diary then



See ye in Birr

Deirdre Kelleghan

Outreach Coordinator IFAS
www.irishastronomy.org/
www.deirdrekelleghan.com/
twitter.com/skysketcher

A few words from Guy Consolmagno about the exhibition. I feel very honored that he
took the time to write about it shortly after his visit to BCO in Cork.

Back in the days when professional astronomers observed primarily with their own eyes at the telescope, one would talk about the "personal equation" of each astronomer. Deirdre Kelleghan's exhibit, collecting amateur astronomical sketches, has re-introduced the "personal" into the equation.

The person at the eyepiece, drawing by hand, unites the beautiful whispers of light from the sky with their own soul and spirit, their own unique human choice of what they draw and how they draw it. Even drawings of the same object, such as lunar craters (or, in one example shown here, a faint nebula) will be as different as the artists who draw them.

And this exercise in drawing, like the ability to look through a telescope in the first place, is not limited merely to the expert. A number of these drawings show that wonderful representations of things seen in a telescope can be produced even by people with little or no formal training. Astronomy is for everyone; so is drawing the objects that astronomy shows us.

At a time when a lot of effort, amateur as well as professional, is put into the recording of astronomical objects with the latest CCD and computer equipment, this exhibit reminds us of the person who is still the center of astronomy done for the love of the sky.

Guy Consolmagno SJ


Deirdre Kelleghan

Outreach Coordinator IFAS
www.irishastronomy.org/
www.deirdrekelleghan.com/
twitter.com/skysketcher

Best of luck with the launch Dee!

I've seen a couple of the pieces and they are simply amazing!! Well worth going to Birr to see!

Great to see that Br. Guy enjoyed them too!

Michael.

Hi there

Just like to thank the IFAS members who came along to Dr Carolina Odman's talk in Dunsink Observatory last night. Dr Odman spoke about the work UNAWE does in this world to promote the awe and wonder of the universe in young children.

In Birr Dr Odman will give a short version of her talk and formally open the exhibition.


Hope to see you all down there at 6pm in Birr Castle Science Centre.

Deirdre Kelleghan
IFAS Outreach
www.deirdrekelleghan.com
skysketcher@gmail.com

Dee - it was great lecture - very interesting and very different. I found it very inspiring too! Carolina's enthusiasm is very obvious!

Unfortunately we can't make the opening night in Birr but we will absolutely make a point of getting there before November.

Cheers
Dave

p.s. I meant to say thanks to Carolina but tiredness took over (complements of Ryanair - a sad tale for the next night we meet )