Solarfest 2010 is a one-day event about solar astronomy. It is being organised by the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies with support from Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
Admission is free, and the event will include speakers from Trinity College Dublin, leading members of Ireland’s amateur astronomy community and an international speaker.
Weather permitting, the organisers also hope to have solar observing and imaging sessions. A tour of the observatory will take place for a chance to see the dome and the 12″ Grubb refractor.
The following is the programme of the day:
10:45 – Registration
11:15 – “The Sun-Earth Connection” – Dr. Peter Gallagher (TCD)
12:00 – Tea/Coffee
12:15 – “The Sun in Time” – Dr Graham Harper (TCD)
13:00 – Lunch: Bring your own Picnic. Tea/Coffee will be provided.
13:45 – Solar Observing
14:30 – Tour of the South Dome and Grubb Telescope
15:00 – “3D Sun” NASA DVD
15:30 – Solar Imaging Workshop – Dave Gradwell (IFAS)
16:00 – Tea/Coffee
16:15 – “Introduction to Solar Filters” – Michael O’Connell (IFAS)
16:45 – “Solar Stellar Outreach” – Deirdre Kelleghan (IFAS)
17:15 – Q/A Session
Dinner: The Twelfth Lock
20:00 – Evening Public Lecture – “The Power of the Sun” – Dr David Williams (UCL, MSSL)
The event is informal and, weather permitting, is hoped to generate plenty solar observing, sketching, imaging and healthy discussion. If you have appropriate solar equipment, please feel free to bring it along – the more the better.
At the end of the afternoon session, activities switch to The Twelfth Lock Bar nearby for an informal dinner which can be paid for individually at the bar.
If you plan to stay for dinner, please let the organisers know so that they can give approximate numbers to the bar (you can change your mind on the day of course).
At 8pm, the Evening Public Lecture will be presented by Dr David Williams of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London who is flying over for the event.
As this special lecture is also open to members of the public, the organisers need to know exact numbers of those attending the evening lecture.
Contact Michael O’Connell michael[at]astroshot[dot]com for more information, or check out the federation’s website at IrishAstronomy.org
