World Space Week
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World Space Week is the largest public space event on Earth. It is celebrated in over 55 nations every October 4th–10th. CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory is the Irish national coordinator for World Space Week 2010. As this year’s Science Week, which takes place in Ireland from the 7th–14th November, has a Space theme, we know some of you budding astronomers and Space enthusiasts will be getting excited about many events happening over the coming months!
The theme for World Space Week 2010 is “Mysteries of the Cosmos”. Throughout history, humans have looked to the heavens and wondered about the universe and our place within it. Today, we are learning much about our universe, but with each answer comes more questions. Not only do the questions deal with the nature of the galaxies and stars, but the nature of life itself. This year, World Space Week is a time to probe what we know, what it means, and what we have yet to learn about the mysteries of the cosmos.
To date over 12 different Irish events are taking place at venues in Galway, Cork, Bray, Tyrone and Dublin to celebrate World Space Week. Robert Hill, Director of the Northern Ireland Space Office, will launch World Space Week in Ireland on Friday October 1st, giving a lecture demonstration entitled, “From Galileo to the Cosmos” in Alexandra College Dublin. Regina Mundi College in Douglas, Cork launches their new astronomy club and website, astromundi.ie, on Monday October 4th, with the announcement of greater numbers studying physics at the school as a result of enhanced engagement with astronomy at the school. Several other lectures will be given around the country throughout the week, addressing a wide audience from Brownies and Ladybirds, who can discover their special Place in Space with Deirdre Kelleghan in Dublin on Monday October 4th, to amateur astronomers, who can find out What Astronomy is – A Cosmic Journey, in a lecture given by Tom Bonner of the Cork Astronomy Club, followed by guided stargazing facilitated by the club at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork on the Amateur Space Night, Friday October 8th.
Also during World Space Week, Frances McCarthy, CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory’s in-house astronomer, will be on the road in Cork to Cook up a Comet with her accredited workshop and will bring the StarDome, BCO’s portable planetarium to schools and libraries. Discover how you can ‘capture the cosmos’ using astrophotography.
Closing the Irish events for World Space Week, Denis Walsh will give a tour of his photography exhibition Astronomical Use of Cameras and a workshop on astrophotography at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory on Saturday October 9th from 3:00–4:30pm. Admission €5.
World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4th–10th.
Teachers Guides
- The WSW 2005 guide has an especially good set of all age activities.
- ESA education kit on the International Space Station is an excellent second level activity guide.
- There is also a downloadable version of the ESA education kit available.
For more information, contact Clair McSweeney, Facilities Manager, Blackrock Castle Observatory
Phone: 0214357917
Email: clairmcsweeney@bco.ie
