I am often asked about the identity of unusually bright lights that people have spotted in the sky. More often than not, it is one of the bright planets Venus or Jupiter, or the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. However, sometimes the culprit is not stationary, but a star-like light that moves across the sky, or a point of light that spectacularly flares up to become exceptionally bright before gradually fading again.
Of all the sights visible in a telescope, there is none so breathtaking as the planet Saturn. Simply put, it is magnificent. Saturn is surrounded by a series of icy rings that circle the planet, making it look like a lolo ball. Unfortunately a telescope is needed to see the rings. Even a small telescope of decent quality will do, and now is the perfect time to see the planet.
The past week has seen my phone emit a flurry of chirps, beeps and flashing LEDs. They have been alerts from Twitter or from an Aurora Watch UK app. Most of the them have been yellow alerts with the occasional amber alert, letting me know that there is a slim possibility of seeing the aurora or Northern Lights.
In May 2017, Astronomy Ireland magazine featured an article I wrote on the Trappist 1 system. Down load the article here or click read more below
Turn on, tune in, drop out. The rallying cry of the counterculture and hippie movement of the late 60s and early 70s, when LSD and other psychedelic drugs were perceived as being a shortcut to spiritual Nirvana and an essential tool in opening minds to new experiences. Research on the effects of psychedelics was in vogue, and for a time it was hoped that they would offer a panacea for many ills. Too many bad trips and the decline of the hippie culture saw the research quietly shelved and forgotten about. However, that is gradually changing and there seems to be a renewed interest in the medicinal effects of these drugs.