Launch of Web of Stars
  
Greetings from San Francisco Bay Area
 Ben Burress pictured during his talk live from Chabot Space & Science Center.

A capacity crowd turned out for the launch of the Web of Stars, remote astronomy project, at October 2nd’s First Fridays at the Castle event. Ben Burress delivered a highly informative lecture on the history of observing at Chabot Space & Science Center illustrated by many amazing astronomy images taken by the telescopes at Chabot. Cork school children will begin taking their own images of the San Francisco Bay Area night sky this month from these same telescopes. Watch this Space! www.bco.ie/webofstars


FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE CASTLE – ALL WELCOME
Oct 2nd 2009 – Web of Stars

People are welcome to the launch this Friday [OCTOBER 2nd] of the Cork San Francisco Sister Project, Web of Stars, with a unique family programme under a Full Moon at Cork Institute of Technology’s Blackrock Castle Observatory.

From 6 – 8pm there will be hands on workshops: Telescopes as Time Machines (every half hour for children aged 9-12). At 8pm Cllr Laura McGonigle, Cork City Council will officiate, and welcome, Chabot staff astronomer Ben Burress, live from the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California. Visitors will learn about Chabot's magnificent telescopes and view their collection of astrophotographs taken by these instruments. Ben is also remotely launching the Cork San Francisco Sister project “Web of Stars”.

9.30pm will bring an opportunity to observe the stars under a full moon and enjoy a guided laser pointed show with professional astronomers. (This is clear sky dependant.)


Photograph By Denis Dineen, Cork Sister City Committee. San Francisco


left to right: Ben Burress, Chabot Space & Science Center, Diarmuid Philpott, Chair Cork Sister City Committee, San Francisco, Barry O' Brien, Vice Consul of Ireland in San Francisco, Alex Zwissler, Executive Director Chabot Space & Science Center, Clair McSweeney, Facilities Manager, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Niall Smith, Head of Research, Cork Institute of Technology, Alan Giltinan, Systems Supervisor, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Frances McCarthy, Education Officer, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Olivia Scanlon, Office of Supervisor Elsbernd, San Francisco City Hall.

CIT’s Blackrock Castle Observatory’s partnership with Chabot Space & Science Center for Web of Stars, is a unique pilot remote astronomy project, designed to teach astronomy using a live link. Astronomers at Chabot will observe the sky at night, delivering real-time astronomical images to students in Ireland in order to discuss their properties and share information about the night sky. This project was conceived to celebrate 25 years of twinning between San Francisco and Cork and 2009, the International Year of Astronomy.

The sister city initiative was spearheaded by US Senator, Dianne Feinstein, during her tenure as Mayor of San Francisco. Diarmuid Philpott, Chair of Cork Sister City committee at San Francisco City Hall, and Supervisor Sean Elsbernd, Cork sister City Committee, have been instrumental in developing the local educational and political ties. This enables progress of the unique teaching exercise which takes advantage of the time difference between the two cities allowing the live link to take place.

"This educational opportunity is an extraordinary way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of San Francisco and Cork becoming sister cities," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "The telescopes at Chabot Space & Science Center will provide inspirational science education to students in Cork. The two cities will continue to strengthen the links between them and explore possibilities for further commercial, tourism, cultural and educational contacts."

BCO hosts open nights on the first Friday of the month with astro-related activities for visitors of all ages: lectures by visiting scholars, Star Parties, night observing & star counts and activities for children. Visit www.bco.ie/webofstars for more details.
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