Register now for the SAC starparty!

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
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.

Sounds good Frank, I like your club's approach to the event this year. Something not done enough in Ireland. I only hope it won't be negatively impacted by weather. Fingers crossed guys!

Seanie.

One night deal now available!
Logues Lodge, Ballyvaughan, are offering one night B&B + dinner deal of 55 euro per person sharing and 75 euro single.
Contact Carmel Clancy - (Mention the Starparty Deal)
065-7077003

Also,
If you are staying elsewhere and want to sit for the early evening dinner then ring the above number to reserve a seat!

Seanie,
Thanks for the good wishes.
It's the chance you take with any starparty in this cloudy part of the world eh!
Last year I was pleasently surprised to see so many people coming from so far afield in the hope of some good weather..
There was a brief break in the clouds and I recall a 'speedy' set up of the club 10'' with enough time for a small group of us to glimpse a lovely view of Jupiter.

Hi Seanie,
The weather is pot luck, but we tried having it in the indian summer we usually get in early September,
If the weather is bad, we have good speakers anyway and we're in a great place for good craic in the pubs, so it'll be good either way.

BTW...
When we say 'Register' we mean
Buy your ticket!
Again,
we have limited seats and we expect to sell out so do book yours early to avoid missing out.

The prizes for this years SAC starparty are:


A Signed Print of Comet Hale-Bopp by Dr. Thomas Bopp.

One year subscription to The Sky at Night Magazine.

Red dot view finder from Ian King Imaging.
www.iankingimaging.com/show_magnified.php?id=1003

Pair of binoculars from Telescope Service.

Ronchi Eyepiece from Gerd Newmann.
www.gerdneumann.net/v2/english/eng_ronchi_eyepiece.html

hopefully, more to follow....