ARTstronomy at Draiocht If you are out Christmas shopping in Blanchardstown drop into Draiocht Arts Centre to see Deadly Moons and Spacemen This beautiful expression of work by local school children will really impress. Draiocht is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6pm admission is free A video about this community art project is here below.
"I learned that Science and Art can mix"
A sentence written by one of the young children taking part. Many thanks to Sarah Beirne and staff at Draiocht for the very professional manor in which the work is displayed.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Deadly Moons Art Astronomy workshop at Draiocht Arts Centre
One of the many beautiful images created in Draiocht Arts Centre just prior to Science Week . Scoil Oilibheir , St Frances Xivier NS , Scoil Bhirde Cailini in Blanchardstown took part .
This drawing of Atlas with its mother planet Saturn as a backdrop was drawn by a young child who attended my Deadly Moon workshop.
Using soft pastels this child reproduced with great visual intuitiveness one of Cassini's many images. Over 80 individual drawings were produced during the workshops. The same children had an opportunity to visit Dunsink Observatory during Science Week. Then they had a follow up series of arts visits by Anne Kelly who helped them produce 3D works based on the whole experience.
Feel free to visit this unique exhibition at Draiocht between Dec 14th and Jan 14th. The launch is at 7:30 pm on Monday Dec 14th all welcome . 01 8852622 http://www.draiocht.ie/index.php
What's Up for December 2009 Many thanks to Jane Houston Jones for these little gems throughout the year. The beautiful Orion Nebula features .
Our Moon in False color by a four year old from Rathfarnham Educate Together Junior School. A lot of color and energy in small children's work, they get on with the drawings and are delighted to produce something. Most children taking part in my workshops were between 8 and 12 years old.
November 9th to November 15th was Science Week 2009. I offered my drawing workshops and talks. Hundreds of children took part in my drawing events in various venues mostly libraries, in Dublin City ,Dunsink Observatory, Monaghan , Drogheda ,Bunclody, New Ross,Malahide, Ballyfermot, Rathfarnham ,Blanchardstown,Oldcastle and Navan.
Here are just a few exceptional drawings that I would like to share with you. They are wonderful for several reasons either the child was very young or was particularly interested and produced a great piece on the day. In both workshops Deadly Moons or Rapid Rockets & Wicked Robots the children only have half an hour for the drawing section. Apollo 11 Splashdown by an 8 yr old in Malahide Library during Science Week
All drawings in pastel on black paper. We share drawing methods fun and learning together.
We shared our colors We share our ideas We share paper We share our knowledge
A lot of children under 12 knew Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon.
A few knew Buzz Aldrin and two children named Michael Collins , amazing !!!
We talk about Apollo We talk about LCROSS We talk about ice on the moon. We talk about future moon bases and vehicles. We talk about viewing Jupiter We talk about The European Space Agency We talk about Our Sun , Our Moon , Our Solar System We talk about Our beautiful Earth
A young child draws the Huygens Probe landing on Saturn's moon Titan at a session in Drogheda Library.I was really impressed by the attention to detail some children gave in the short time frame available.
Most children had never heard of Cassini or Huygens.
Most children were not aware that there are robots on Mars.
It is important to share space exploration as it is happening .
One or two children knew about LCROSS Most children knew about Galileo but most had never heard of International Year of Astronomy 2009 . They have now.
Dr Brian O'Halloran was interviewed by Deirdre Kelleghan at Dunsink Observatory.Dr O'Halloran was the IAS guest speaker on October 19th 2009, he kindly agreed to this interview a few minutes before he delivered his presentation.
The interview was recorded with a mobile phone so turn up the sound for best hearing.
The interview will be broadcast on Phoenix 92.5FM October 31st Saturday at 3:15 pm. The station broadcasts to Dublin 15. Irish Astronomical Society Events coming up
October 30th Free Public Observing at the Martello Tower Car Park Sandymount 8pm - 10pm. Someone will be there to talk to you no matter what the weather is like. Telephone 0876398143
November 16th Telescope workshop in Dunsink Observatory 8pm. If you want to get the best out of your scope or have a new scope and would like to get to know how to use it , come along and we will help you out.
The ESO education and Public Outreach Department The Jewel Box Star Cluster.
The combination of images taken by three exceptional telescopes, the ESO Very Large Telescope on Cerro Paranal , the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO’s La Silla observatory and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, has allowed the stunning Jewel Box star cluster to be seen in a whole new light.
The incredible Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera took the image
What can I say about this image ? it shouts out a story, it seeks and deserves our attention , it brings focus to our spirit , and helps us wrap ourselves in the fabric and the beauty of the surface of this awesome planet.
If you are up early in the morning ( Oct 16th) Venus , Saturn and Mercury will join a lovely crescent moon on the eastern horizon 07:00 enjoy
Don't forget Monday October 19th in Dunsink, e mail John Murphy to reserve a seat . johnmurphy474@gmail.com
See you there
Deirdre
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Competition
WOW !! A really cool competition open to all students in Ireland
(11 to 18 years).
Just 500 words on why Cassini should image either Saturn and its Rings, Tethy's and Saturns Rings or Titan Saturn's largest moon.
So if you are a teacher , have a good read and a good look at the video's and requirements.
Perhaps you have a budding scientist sitting in your class room ? Feel free to pass on this information to a teacher or a pupil you know .
Prizes include vouchers for Amazon, a trip to London and, if you’re specific target is chosen, Cassini itself will take an image of your chosen subject!
The Cassini Mission to Saturn and Titan is one of the greatest exploration missions of our time.
This is your chance to be part of this wonderful science experience.
Deadline for submission in Ireland is 30th Oct Good Luck Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies - Statutory Lecture 2009Oct 12th 2009 8pm UCD
All from Nothing: the structuring of our UniverseTelescopes are time-machines. They allow us to see into the distant past. Our deepest images show the Universe not as it is today, but as it was just 400,000 years after the Big Bang. At that time there were no galaxies, no stars, no planets, no people, no familiar elements other than hydrogen and helium. The cosmos contained nothing but weak sound waves in a near-uniform fog. Spercomputers can compress thirteen billion years of cosmic evolution into a few months of calculation to show how these sound waves developed into the rich structure we see around us today. A study of their harmonic content gives clues to their origin. They appear to be an echo of quantum zero-point fluctuations occurring a tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang. Thusour entire world may be a consequence of the nature of this early vacuum. In a very real sense, everything may have come from nothing.
Lecture Theater C005 Health Sciences Building University College Dublin October 12th 2009 8 p.m. Professor Simon D.M. White Director at the Max Plank Institute for Astrophysics
Irish Astronomical Society October Talk - All welcome its free click on the image see it large
Lets DO It in the Park again October 22nd - Wicklow Mountains National Park - 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm- Upper Lake Car Park
A call for telescopes and their people to help show our moon , Jupiter's moons and the lovely Jupiter to the public in the park .
Our last major public outreach event 100 Hours of Astronomy brought amateur astronomers in this country together to share the night sky with the public. What an incredible amount of public service astronomy went on that week in April .
We all learned from that very positive experience , and now we have the opportunity to to do it again and build on what we learned.
Let me know asap if you are taking part and what you intend to do in your area. No need to get complicated , just share the sky in your neighbourhood . Watch the IFAS forum for updates http://www.irishastronomy.org/cms/
The Exhibition Gallery at Birr Castle Science Centre Images by Bernard Kelleghan
In the Footsteps of Galileo an exhibition of astronomical sketches has opened in Birr Castle Science Centre Co Offaly.
The exhibition displays 51 observational sketches by astronomers from all over the world, and over 100 children's moon drawings .
A lovely mixed audience of astronomers, artists , educators , children and the general public attended the launch .
Dr Carolina Odman International Program Manager for UNAWE ie Universe Awareness for Young Children opened the exhibition for me, and gave a talk on UNAWE's teachings to young children about the scale and beauty of the universe.
The Seventh Earl of Rosse spoke about the uniqueness of the exhibition and said "it's a pleasure to see In the Footsteps of Galileo in the shadow of the Leviathan."
I said a few words on behalf of the contributors and also spoke about astronomical drawing , why we do it , the learning through observation experience, that brings the subject to the page.
Sir Patrick Moore who has donated six sketches to the display sent a message of good will with regrets for been unable to attend himself.
To my great delight Lord Rosse framed four original sketches from his ancestor The 3rd Earl of Rosse . These sketches include the world famous Whirlpool Galaxy and the Crab Nebula sketched using the Leviathan.
The Seventh Earl of Rosse on his knees before the Whirlpool Galaxy sketched by his ancestor The Third Earl . Deirdre Kelleghan , Dr Carolina Odman and Lady Rosse look on
Children's moon drawings from Dublin, Louth, Cork, Offaly New York and elsewhere add to the International flavor
The Exhibition runs till November 1st 2009 and is open everyday from 9 am - 6 pm
