Seeing stars

Mayo hosts free Irish Astronomy Week events for skywatchers

The sky is the limit when it comes to people’s interest in all things astronomical, especially here in Mayo, where we are blessed with skies less hindered by the artificial-light pollution that plagues cities and more-urbanised counties. Of course Mayo is also home to Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Park, which boasts some of the darkest, most pristine skies in the world. Ironically, those dark skies mean more light – starlight that is.

And sometimes other light too. Late last month, we in Mayo were treated to a fantastic dark-sky display, courtesy of the northern lights, or aurora borealis. This jaw-dropping spectacle of colourful curtains, rays, spirals and flickers was visible in the night sky throughout many parts of the county – indeed these luminous lights were beautifully captured by Westport-based photographer András Csaplár, whose stunning photograph of the otherworldly phenomenon as seen from Bertra Beach graced the front page of this newspaper.

That spine-tingling display was closely followed by yet another celestial event, when Venus and Jupiter passed each other earlier this month, outshining all other stars in the night sky – and we in Mayo were treated to a better naked-eye view of this humbling double-planet wonder than most.

Now stargazers have even more to add to their calendars. This week marks Irish Astronomy Week – the first all-Ireland celebration of astronomy, and Mayo is hosting a glittering array of free events to get skywatchers’ blood racing. The seven-day programme of events began yesterday and runs up to and including this Sunday, March 26.

Its National Coordinator is Claremorris man Ronan Newman – who also go-funded, organised and marketed the week – explained to The Mayo News that his aim is to bring ‘the wonders astronomical learning to thousands’, with hundred of events taking place across Ireland north and south.

Here in Mayo, the week began yesterday with a ‘Solar System Tour’ with physicist Declan Holmes in Ballycroy Visitor Centre in the Wild Nephin National Park.

Tonight (Tuesday), an event entitled ‘Women in Dark Skies’ takes place at 7pm, with Teddie Hwang giving a talk on ‘Dark Sky and The Arts’.

Tomorrow night at 8pm in Pertersburg OEC, Clonbur, Co Galway, Ronan Newman will give a talk on astronomy and Mayo Dark Skies Project Manager Georgia MacMillan will give a talk on Mayo Dark Sky Tourism. This event is being held in collaboration with the Joyce Country GeoPark.

Thursday will see photographer Brian Wilson deliver a talk on astrophotography, entitled ‘The Wonders of Mayo’s Night Sky’. Held in collaboration with Newport Astronomy Club, it takes place in Hotel Newport at 8pm.

The last Mayo event takes place on Friday at 8pm, when there will be a dark-sky walk in Mayo Dark Sky Park, starting from the Brogan Carroll Bothy in Letterkeen.

For more information on these events and the full Irish Astronomy Week programme, visit www.irishastronomyweek.ie. To book a place for any of the above-mentioned events, visit www.mayodarkskies.eventrite.com, email infor@mayodarkskypark.ie or visit www.mayodarkskypark.ie.