Dunsink SolarFest Restrospective

July 27, 2009

While checking the memory card on my camera, I found a photos I took out in Dunsink on June 20th (2009) that I’d forgotten about. SolarFest, organised by the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, ran that day and consisted of a series of talks about Sun-related topics and an exhibition about the Sun.

It’s been a few years snce I was out at Dunsink and the observatory building (above) looks run down from the outside. While the inside is fine, the outside could use a little TLC and a new coat of paint, as could the doors. Better care should be taken of it but a paint job probably isn’t high on the budget agenda.

Unfortunately, as luck would have it on the day, the clouds ruined any real opportunities for using the solar ‘scopes that people had brought along to see the Sun in H-alpha and CaK light. Still, it was an enjoyable day and an opportunity to meet up with old faces.

The telescope dome was also opened for those attending and a short talk on its history was given.

A Few Dunsink Facts:

The observatory was built in 1783-1785 for the first Andrews’ Professor of Astronomy in Trinity College Dublin.

It is Ireland’s oldest scientific institution.

Sir William Rowan Hamilton, the discoverer of quaternion mathematics and eminent 19th Century mathematician and physicist, is a former director of the Observatory.

It was involved in investigations of subtle variations in the orbit of Halleyâ€™s Comet that were important in the Giotto mission of 1985 â€“ 1986.

Dunsink’s claim to fame includes involvement in the first Irish space experiment aboard the shuttle Challenger in 1988.

You can see the Dunsink timeline for more information or Check out the current weather at Dunsink.

All pictures in this post are copyright to me.

Open Nights

These are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month during the winter months (October-March). Weather permitting, visitors can view celestial objects through the historic Grubb Telescope and two smaller telescopes. Visitors can also attend audio-visual presentations and lectures on a wide variety of topics in astronomy. There is also a question and answer session on all your astronomy related queries. Open nights are free of charge.

If you wish to attend the Open Nights, please contact Hilary O’Donnell,
E-mail: hod at cp dot dias dot ie

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