Just confirmed:
Solarfest 2015 takes place at Dunsink Observatory on Saturday 20th June.
More details to follow soon!
Michael

Looking forward to it, see ye there.

Cheers Roy
#ClearSkies

I'm delighted to announce that Solarfest 2015 is now extended to a weekend event 19-21 June. Big thanks to Kevin Smith and Meath Astronomy Club who have now come aboard to throw their support behind the event.
More details may be seen on our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Solarfest/223930147635707
Please like and share.
The event combines the best of solar astronomy lectures with observing and solar imaging.
Further details about the event, including how to reserve seats, will be posted shortly.

Love the idea! I think the more astronomy 'festivals' this little country can produce, the better! Independently, the big events that bring Astronomy to the public on a wider scale:

Galway Astrofest (February)
COSMOS Star Party (April)
SolarFest (June)
Skelligs Star Party (August)
Burren Star Party (September)

and who knows what else that might pop up! Sure, rumour has it the International Meteor Conference is coming back to Ireland/Northern Ireland in the not too distant future.

Anyone want to fill in any of the other vacant months?

Seanie.

Hi Michael,

I have been getting enquiries fom IAS members about booking places to attend.

Do you have a page to book tickets setup?

Thanks,

Michael.

Not yet Michael.
DIAS are sorting this out.
Hopefully they will have it up and running shortly.
Michael.

Hi all,

I was talking to Hilary at the Year of Light event in UCD today and she mentioned tickets for Solarfest can now be booked at the DIAS web site.

See payments.dias.ie/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=44

You can book for the Public Open Night on Friday (I think Terry Moseley is the guest speaker) and/or the main event on Saturday. Tea & coffee available throughout the day but bring sandwiches, etc for your lunch. It is about 10 mins drive to the Halfway House pub at the Ashtown roundabout on the Navan Road if you fancy something a bit more substantial during the lunch break

Many thanks to Michael, Kevin, Hilary, and the many others involved in organising the event.

It would be nice to remember Dr Ian Elliott during the day and I hope to say a few words in his memory.

Hope to see you there.

John

Full details of the SolarFest 2015 weekend are now online on our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Solarfest/223930147635707

As always, the event is completely free. Only the talks need to be booked for seating purposes. All are welcome to the observing & picnic (tea/coffee provided, bring you own lunch) at Dunsink and the observing at Rathbeggan - no need to book tickets.
For free tickets to the talks:
payments.dias.ie/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=44
Thanks & Clear Skies,
Michael.

Competition Announcement:

Hi All

SolarFest 2015 is drawing near and a little sunshine is starting to tease so lets be optimistic and hope for the best on the 19th, 20th & 21st.

Partnering with Irelands premier Astronomy supplier and proud sponsor Ktec Telescopes we are pleased to announce a couple of Astrophotography competitions to warm things up even further.

Please see SolarFest 2015 Facebook Page for more details.

Directions to Dunsink Observatory ...

The pdf below will give you directions to Dunsink if you have not been there before.

www.dropbox.com/s/pnulo9td9pdg1dg/Dunsin...yDirections.pdf?dl=1

John

Slight change to Saturday's running order:
Eamonn Scullion will now speak at 11:15 while Peter Gallagher takes the final talk of the day @ 4pm.

All tickets now gone for the Friday night and Saturday lectures.
However, no tickets required for the observing sessions so please come along.

Can't wait to meet up with you
all again, roll on Saturday.

Cheers Roy

My first Solarfest ever, have to say really looking forward to Saturday and meeting up.

After another successful Solarfest, big thanks are due to the following people for without their help and support the event would not be possible:

- All the speakers for taking the time to prepare their excellent talks. Thank you all;

- Kevin Smith & Meath Astronomy Club for coming on-board to co-organise the event and make it a weekend solar festival. Thanks Kevin!;

- Dunsink Observatory (DIAS) Astronomy & Astrophysics Group – Hilary O’Donnell in particular has always been very supportive;

- Trinity College Dublin Astrophysics Research Group - Dr. Peter Gallagher once again gave his support to the event and delivered a great talk. Thanks Peter!;

- Irish Astronomical Society - John Flannery, Val Dunne, Robin Moore and Deirdre Kelleghan for helping promote Solarfest and for their help on the day;

- KTEC Telescopes www.ktectelescopes.ie/ for providing prizes for our solar-themed astrophotography event. There is still time to enter ‪#‎KTECSOLAR‬ and ‪#‎KTECSMART‬ - see our Facebook page for more details;

- Michael Murphy and John McKeon for helping with the astrophotography talk on Saturday and sharing their solar equipment;

- Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project www.charliebates.org/ for providing the solar glasses;

- And of course the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies (IFAS) for supporting the event as always.

Regards,
Michael OConnell.

Hi everyone,

Well done on organising another great Solarfest and extending the event to a full weekend's celebration of our nearest star. I missed Terry's talk on Friday night due to some things I was setting up for the Meetup group members I brought up to Dunsink on the night but they were thrilled to visit the Observatory and enjoyed the outing.

Just got to hear some of the afternoon talks on the Saturday but it was fascinating learn the history of the Marconi station at Clifden, as well as the nail-biting efforts Peter Gallagher and his team went through to intercept the March 20th eclipse track off the Irish coast.

Sorry I missed the Sunday viewing at Rathbeggan Lakes. Hope it all went well.

John

Many thanks to all concerned for a great SolarFest 2015, especially to Michael and Kevin, great line-up of speakers too; I missed Friday evening unfortunately but heard it was great despite the weather. Had a wonderful time, learnt a lot and always great meeting up with people with similar interests and the visit to Dunsink Observatory is always special. On the Sunday I meet up with Kevin at Rathbeggan Lakes in the afternoon, the sun gods allowed breaks between the clouds to view the Sun, Moon and planets on show, a big thanks to Kevin. Roll-on SolarFest 2016!

Best wishes and clear skies
Mike