Galway Astronomy Festival 2010

Hi

A full list of talk Abstracts and speaker profiles for the 2010 Astronomy Festival
are now available on our GAC blog at galwayastronomyclub.blogspot.com/2009/11...y-festival-2010.html

Accom details to follow after Xmas

Hope to see you there

Ronan Newman
Secretary
Galway Astronomy Festival

Hi

In relation to the Galway Astronomy Fest on February 12/13 the full Provisional Timetable is available on our club blog at galwayastronomyclub.blogspot.com/ (club website being revamped)

For anyone looking for accommodation early booking is advisable as it's Valentines weekend. So if you fancy a Valentines weekend away,Come to Galway, drop the girls off at the shops:) or visa versaB) at the gaget shop and be at the Westwood Hotel for 10 am start with first talk by the well known Dr Aaron Golden.

Accommodation near Hotel, also booking early is advisable as is also Valentines weekend

N.B. If driving westwards on the N6, after you cross the new Quincentennial Bridge over the Corrib, there's a 'No Right Turn' at the first junction onto the N59 Upper Newcastle Road towards the Westwood Hotel (signposted for Clifden). You have to go on to the next roundabout (Browne Round about), and turn right there, onto Thomas Hynes Road (also called the N59 at that point. The Westwood Hotel is on the left at the end of that road (about 2km from the roundabout), where it joins the main N59 Upper Newcastle Road.


Corrib Haven 3*, AA 4-diamond rating , 107 Upper Newcastle, Galway City

€45 (single) & €65 pps (double or twin) for one night

If staying for 2 nights there is a small discount of €5 p/p p/night
€40 (single) & €60 pps (double or twin) for two nights or more

All rooms are ensuite, power showers, posture sprung beds, cable TV, direct dial phones. Bedrooms beautifully appointed with tv, dd phones, hairdryers, complimentary wifi , alarm clock radio ,arm chairs, all rooms ensuite, guest lounge is open 24hrs for guests to relax. www.corribhaven.net

Kilbree House, Circular Road, Dangan Upper, Galway

€50 (single) & €30 pps (double or twin)

Has six clean and spacious en suite bedrooms, with TV , Wi_Fi, Hairdryer, and Hospitality Tray. Offer of a third night free for Galway Astronomy Festival attdendee’s www.kilbree.com



De Sota 54 Newcastle Road, Galway Co. Galway 091-585064 or 091-526900


Desota House offers free Wi-Fi and on-site parking.It has comfortable en-suite rooms with flat-screen TVs with cable channels. All of the rooms have personal safes, tea/coffee, mini fridges and complimentary toiletries. Continental-style buffet breakfasts and full traditional cooked Irish breakfasts are available each day. There is a computer and printer, which all guests can use free of charge.


Abbey House, 113 Upper Newcastle Galway City, 091-524394 homepage.eircom.net/~johndarby/

“Coolavalla”, 22 Newcastle Rd., Galway 091-522415


“Villa Nova”, 40 Newcastle Rd., Galway 091-524849

Hazel Villa, 20 Hazel Park, Newcastle, Galway, tel: +353 91 523326

"Hazel Lodge", Newcastle Upper, Galway, tel: +353 91 524738

We have also confirmed a major exhibition to be displayed on the day, being done in conjunction with the French Embassy entitled "The Universe: Our Next Steps"

Ronan Newman
Co-ordinator Galway AstroFest 2010

(Topic made as a sticky)

Thanks Seanie

One point that might be a sticky for some people is the entry fee, we have had to raise it by €5 this year to €30, I personally was not in favour of this, but the hotel has raised our room hire by over 50% for the 2010 event and as Seanie and Frank know these events can seriously damage the funding resources to a small club if they dont go to plan. But all said with the talks I have organised I do think its good value for money.

Can I just say if coming to Galway, Hotels are quite expensive probably the most expensive in Ireland and I would avoid, Guest Houses and B&B's are very affordable.

Finally if you have a telescope, bigger the better, please bring, the sundial where the observing will take place has 360 degree views of the night sky, Mars will be very prominent by then.

Ronan Newman
Co-ordinator Galway AstroFest 2010

Hi

I just have two photos of our Observing Sundial for the Galway AstroFest/Starparty being held next month. The park is situated 12 miles north, about a 15 minute drive from the hotel in a country wooded area. It has 360 degree views of the night sky with observing timed to co-inside with the New Moon. We would like to see some big scopes. Hot Tea/coffee will also be served.

Having trying to load up the image,link is here

www.flickr.com/photos/galwayastronomyclub/4272243485/sizes/o/

www.flickr.com/photos/galwayastronomyclub/4272990296/sizes/l/

Ronan Newman

Hi

Unfortunately Deirdre Coffey has had to pull out of this year's Astrofest with her talk about Protostellar Jets with the HST and has agreed to talk next year.

In her place and with the help of our good friend Terry we have got a new speaker, Dr Don Pollacco, from Queen’s University Belfast with a talk "Super WASP — The Hunt for the Earth Analogue” title TBC. He is astronomer who has led the team which designed and built Super WASP and spoke at the Whirlpool SP a few years back .see www.superwasp.org/ & www.superwasp.org/waspsouth.htm

The astronomers involved are surveying millions of stars from robotic observatories in the Canary Islands and in South Africa. Each observatory uses eight wide-angle cameras, with a field of view 2000 times greater than a conventional astronomical telescope. The goal is to detect the faint dimming of starlight that flags a planetary transit, visible in the ‘light curve’ of stars with a clear transit. Already they have discovered 18 Exoplanets.

Alastair Mckinstry will be talking earlier in the day about Exoplanetary Climates and athmospheres.

Ronan Newman
GAF 2010 Orgainser