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The 2010 Shannonside Astronomy Club Burren Starparty
with sponsorship kindly from Shannon Development.

Saturday 11th September 2010 Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare.

MORNING - AFTERNOON: Astronomy talks 
Logues Lodge Hotel (
065-7077003)
(Please note that this is a change of venue from last year!!)


EVENING - NIGHT TIME: Nights sky talk* 
The Caherconnell Stone Fort Visitors Center
followed by Observing at the Poulnabrone Car Park across the road.

*
PLEASE NOTE THIS TALK AND OBSERVING IS WEATHER PERMITTING
if the weather is not good we will abondon the observing 
and go back to Logues Lodge where a Ceile band will be playing.

Adults €20  -  College Student  €10 - Secondary Student €5 - Primary Students Free

Event Start Time:  10AM SHARP!

Doors open at 9.30 

LIMITED SEATING! - PLEASE COME EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT


With kind help and prize sponsorship also from:

        

                




MAIN VENUE:

Logues Lodge, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare. (065-7077003)

(Please note that this is a change of venue from last year!!)


Parking is at the rear of the hotel and along the sea strand.
View Google Map


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SATURDAY LINEUP

 

10:00 AM

Mike Hinchey (IRL) 

Director of NASA’s software engineering lab. 
He has been appointed as professor of software engineering 
at University of Limerick (UL) and co-directs the nationwide Lero project.
Michael will talk about the development of Mars robotic 
systems and future missions which will use them.

 

11:30 AM

Robin Scagell (UK)

Astronomy author, Sky News contributor
Public Speaker & GalaxyPix website creator. 
Robin will give an in-depth talk on observational astronomy.
 

 LUNCH - 12:30 - 1:00 PM



2:00 PM

Thomas Bopp (USA)


Co-discoverer of comet Hale-Bopp which blazed across the sky in 1997
Thomas will recount the fascinating story of his discovery accompanied
by a personal selection of images from the NASA archives

 

3:00 PM

Prize Draw (See Below for prizes!)

 

5:00PM

Evening meal, you must book this at hotel reception on the day yourself !

 

7:00PM

Frank Ryan Jr (Chairman, Shannonside Astronomy Club)
Night's Sky Talk at Caherconnell Fort
followed by Observing Session at Car park.
Talk Location: Caherconnell Ring Fort, The Burren, Co. Clare.




View Larger Map

 

8:00PM onwards

Observing
*PLEASE NOTE THIS TALK AND OBSERVING AFTER IS WEATHER PERMITTING
Observing Location: Poulnabrone Dolmen Car Park.
If the weather is not good, we will abondon the observing 
and go back to Logues Lodge where a Ceile band will be playing

View Larger Map

If you have your own scope or binoculars please bring them along.
There will be designated parking and areas for scopes.
Please follow our direction with regards to this for health & safety.
Click the thumbnails below for the layout.

Dolmen Car Park Overview.jpg (89138 bytes)      Dolmen Car Park.jpg (305834 bytes)

Dolmen Car Park.jpg (305834 bytes)

Dolmen Car Park.jpg (305834 bytes)

Observing site, lit up by a winter full moon.

If the weather is good on Friday evening/night, a number of  club members will be 
observing at the site so if you are in the area, please do drop in. 

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Prize Draw
This year we have some mouth watering prizes up for grabs for our prize draw.
The winning ticket holders will get to choose one prize of their choice from whet's on offer,
so make sure you are in the room when the draw takes place! 



 Large scale print of comet Hale-Bopp

autographed by Thomas Bopp, co-discoverer.




One year subscription to The Sky at Night Magazine 
have kindly sponsored A years subscription for our prize draw.
The magazine is an excellent companion for any budding or intermediate astronomer.

    



Ronchi Eyepiece
Well know in the astronomy community as one of the friendliest and most helpful
sellers, GERD NEUMANN JR has kindly offered an Ronchi eyepiece 
This eyepiece is used for judging the quality of a telescopes mirror.


     



Red dot view finder
Ian King has kindly sponsored us a high quality red dot view finder.
Ian stocks and supplies a wide range of imaging products and also has many years experience
 in the use of a wide variety of instrumentation and telescopes and will be delighted to assist and provide general advice.



Binoculars
Telescope Services has very kindly sponsored us a set of binoculars.
Telescope Services is a widely known supplier of telescopes, binoculars and astronomy related accessories across Europe, and are always available to give advice on equipment requirements.



 

 


Shannonside Astronomy Club  ran the (Whirlpool) Starparty for many years and
we have been very lucky to have played host to some wonderful speakers & guests including,
John Dobson, Nick Szymanek, David Levy, Sir Patrick Moore, Dr. John Mason,
Cor Berrevoets, Dr. Chris Lintott, Ian Ridpath, Wil Tirion to name but a few!

We like to take this opportunity to say that it is not without some considerable
committee discussions and debate that the decision to change the format and location
of our yearly starparty, which has become so very well established and connected with Birr was taken.
The committee would like to thank Lord Rosse for his patronage and use of the castle
grounds for the observing nights and also the Birr office of Shannon Development for 
their support over the years.

With that in mind and in the spirit of good will, the SAC committee have decided to gift
the name of our starparty to the  Birr Castle Demesne and if his Lordship sees fit to continue to allow
star party's under the name 'Whirlpool' and without any affiliation to SAC to be run
in Birr and his castle grounds as before, then we sincerely wish his good self  and any
future organizers of any such event the very best of luck and success.

 

CLICK HERE to see info on previous years starparties 

 

 


Other accommodation in Ballyvaughan 

(please note that prices are subject to change)

 

Hylands Burren Hotel

info@hylandsburren.com

www.hylandsburren.com

065-7077037 

They have 30 rooms and have agreed a special rate for the BSP .
You must mention BSP when making a booking. 

2 nights B&B plus one dinner for €90 per person sharing (pps) 
for an ordinary room and €119 for a superior room

1 night B&B for €39 pps ordinary room

single occupancy incurs a €20 surcharge 
 
______________________________________________________________

Burren Walking Lodge 
(10 minutes walk from the village-book through Hylands hotel)

www.burrenwalkinglodge.com

info@www.burrenwalkinglodge. com

065-7077037 

€70 per room per night (not pps) 
 
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Rusheen Lodge  
(9 rooms about 10 minutes walk to the village
must mention attendance at BSP to get a 10% discount) 

www.rusheenlodge.com

065-7077092 
 

Double / twin   €45 pps

Single  €70 
 
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Some B&Bs in the town 

Teach Na Coillte

Ballyvaughan Lodge

The Soda Parlour B&B

Oceanville B&B 

Some B&Bs about 10 minutes walk to the hotel 

Burren View B&B

Cappabhaile B&B 
 
 

It is also possible to rent a cottage for a group. They are all beside the Burren Coast Hotel.

Rent an Irish Cottage

info@rentacottage.ie

061-411109