News & Articles
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For our fiirst lectire of 2025, Dr Michael Tremmel boggled many minds by telling us about the massive galaxies and black holes discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) unexpectedly early in the universe’s history, giving an insight into how astronomers go about observing massive black holes at such early times, JWST’s ongoing discoveries in this field, and the… “read more”
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Autumn 2024 September 21 – Telescope Clinic Members are invited to bring their telescopes along for the club experts to advise on how to use or get better use of. Also for members thinking of buying a new scope. October 19 – New Members MorningYour opportunity as a new member to come along and learn about the club in… “read more”
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On Friday night, 20th Sep, Cork Astronomy Club helped MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory celebrate Culture Night. Club members set up their telescopes in the courtyard though initially we were doubtful of any observing taking place due to cloud cover, however, around 9 PM the skies cleared which allowed visitors could observe the Moon and Saturn, many doing this for the… “read more”
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Our exhibition of astrophotography on display at Douglas Library, Cork closed on 15h August. The photos were all the work Cork Astronomy Club members, and we hope to mount further exhibitions in the future. Main picture: Stephen O Flynn captured an amazing double consisting of comet Neowise with a background of rare noctilucent clouds. “read more”
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“Cats, Newts, and OGs: the world’s most important telescopes” was the title for our public lecture on Mon 9 September. We welcomed Terry Moseley, widely regarded as Ireland’s leading amateur astronomer. This was the opening of our new seasopm and Tarry got us off to a flying start. The optical telescope has been the single greatest invention in the development… “read more”
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Very few Cork Astronomy Club members saw the aurora of 10th May 2024, due to clouds. This photo was taken at 11 pm in North Cork 6 km E of Mitchelstown. Here the sky was clear for several hours. It exaggerates slightly the aurora’s depth of colour as perceived by the human eye, though the exaggeration is less pronounced, I… “read more”
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Main image is a light pollution map of Counties Cork and Kerry and part of Waterford and Tipperary. More light pollution maps available here. The link enables one to select various maps, including the satellite observations (called VIIRS in the overlay ─ see menu at top right hand corner). Prof Brian Espey (photo) cautions that these should be taken with… “read more”
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Club members Paul and Simone were in Dallas Texas on Monday 8th April to witness the total solar eclipse when for a few minutes the Moon hid the Sun. Messages going back and forth on the Club’s WhatsApp group. At 8.30pm last night Irish time, 2.30pm CDT for Dallas, Paul posted in WhatsApp “Thank you all for the support. I… “read more”
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Image credeit: Przemyslaw “Blueshade” Idzkiewicz The diagramme shows Earth at an equinox. The terminator (twilight zone dividing the daylit and night sides of a planetary body) runs through the two poles. What it is ─ The March (or vernal) equinox marks the Sun’s crossing above the Earth’s equator, moving from south to north. It marks the beginning of spring in the… “read more”
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Try viewing the Moon just after First Quarter, from 18th March, and see if you can find Plato Crater to the north of Mare Imbrium (small image, marked in red). This crater has an astonishingly smooth, dark floor within an even and circular crater ring. At 109 kilometres across, you’ll be able to spot this one with binoculars as well… “read more”