Arcturus

From South Dublin Astronomical Society

Arcturus

Arcturus is the FREE magazine of the Irish Federation of Astronomical Societies that you can download as a pdf. There have been no new issues for some time now but right-click on the links below (and then "Save As") to get each copy in the archive.

November and December 2006. Emmet Mourdant (Astronomy Ireland) has a fine article on the 1006 supernova in Lepus while Trevor O'Donoghue (Kerry Astronomy Club) explores the mysteries of Dark Matter. On the observing front, we've got the usual sky notes as well as an article by Cassini Mission Senior Outreach Manager Jane Houston Jones on viewing the Rosse lunar crater (940k download)

May and June 2006 Dave McDonald tells us about J65, and how its become the new name for his observatory. Martin McKenna shows how to record your observations. Pam Frost Gorder, Ohio State University, has an article on the geology of the Moon and the effects of impacts. No skynotes in this issue, but be sure to look out for Summer phenomena such as noctilucent clouds on these bright nights. (690k download)

March and April 2006 The current issue of Arcturus has articles on Sir Robert Ball by Stuart Williams FRAS, Secretary of the Society for the History of Astronomy, the constellation Perseus by Michael O'Connell, and an introduction to weather lore by Jerry Wilson. We also include comprehensive skynotes for the two month period covered by the magazine along with our regular news notes column. (700k download)

January and February 2006 This edition has an article on Amateur Spectroscopy by Albert White, Chairperson of IFAS; monitoring Near-Earth Asteroids by Seanie Morris; the great star-naming debate by Shane Culleton; and Deirdre Kelleghan's essay on humankind's place in the Cosmos. (850k download)

November and December 2005 A supernova special that celebrates Dave McDonald's amazing success in helping professional astronomers confirm a recent supernova discovery. Also included in this issue are articles on how to observe supernovae by Eamonn Ansbro; the Year in Space in 2006; and a review of the book "Galileo's Daughter". (1Mb download)

September October 2005 Featured is an interview with Guy Consolmagno and Dan Davis, co-authors of "Turn Left at Orion". Guy will also be a speaker at this year's Whirlpool Star Party. Kevin Berwick has written an article on the plans to site a radio telescope in Birr while Deirdre Kelleghan's account of tackling the Novice Observing Challenge (written by Seanie) will hopefully encourage more people outside and looking up. (900k download)

January and February 2005 Albert White has contributed a great article on how he computed the Hubble Constant using techniques he is learning on a correspondence course hosted by Swinbourne University in Australia. Angela O'Connell and Brian Keane write about their visit to Marsh's Library in Dublin which is hosting an exhibition of astronomically-themed books. Seanie Morris encourages us to get outside and observe with his article on some binocular objects he tracked down in the Winter sky, while we wrap up this edition of YOUR magazine with a historic article on the long running hunt for Planet X. (1.2Mb download)

November and December 2004 This issue is a 24-page special devoted to the Moon with the main highlight an interview with lunar expert and Sky and Telescope columnist Charles Wood. We also have articles by Shane Culleton on observing the Apollo landing sites; Deirdre Kelleghan on remembering the Apollo 11 landing; a sampler of lunar observing projects; and a brief trawl through the vast store of voyages to the Moon in science fiction literature before the twentieth century. A quick look at celestial highlights in Orion by Seanie Morris rounds off the feature articles. (1Mb download)

September and October 2004 Articles include; the Genesis mission by Deirdre Kellegan; the Pleiades with the unaided eye by Shane Culleton; an interview with well known amateur astronomer Terry Moseley; discovering the age of the Milky Way; launch of the IFAS observing challenges handbooks, and an account of a trip to the RTMC Astro Expo star party in California. (1Mb download)

July and August 2004 this 24-page issue features an interview with world-renowned observer David Levy; a comprehensive account of the June 8th transit of Venus as seen by people around Ireland; double stars of the season (an article by Shane Culleton); sky notes for the two months; and much more. (610k download)

May and June 2004 Articles include . . . observing the transit of Venus; an interview with Phil Harrington; double stars in the Spring sky; the problem with solar neutrinos; and a history of comets. (390k download)

March and April 2004 Articles include . . . double stars of the Winter sky; Iridium flare photography; the particle Universe; the 2003 solar eclipse over Antarctica; and a history of comets (295k download)

January and February 2004 This issue contains articles by Givan McKay of TAS, Kevin Berwick on buying a telescope, accounts of the recent total solar eclipse over Antarctica, and a write-up on the recent aurora display. The special 24-page edition also includes details of June's transit of Venus, a round-up of space missions in 2004, and all the celestial highlights of the year ahead. (435k download)

November and December 2003 Articles include . . . Earth's "second" moon; the seasons in ancient Irish; lunar eclipses; and a binocular tour of Perseus (225k download)

July and August 2003 Articles include . . . seasons on other planets; exploring Alpha Centauri; and a binocular tour of Aquila (155k download) Note: The missing last few pages are a legacy from the time we used to distribute a printed copy of the magazine to clubs. The Jack Newton article was written up and manually stapled by a different person involved in the production of the magazine.

May and June 2003 Articles include . . . astrophotography with a webcam; a binocular tour of Ophiuchus; glimpsing the curve of the Earth; and the search for an intra-mercurial planet (271k download)

March and April 2003 Articles include . . . Process Physics; the Cracks in Relativity; and Daramona Observatory (73k download)

January and February 2003 ... (first issue) Articles include . . . a binocular tour of Cancer and the discovery of the solar corona (135k download)