October 2017

The second Mayo Dark Sky Festival will take place from Friday 27th October to Sunday 29th October 2017 at various locations around Newport, Mulranny and Ballycroy. All astronomy lovers will enjoy this unique weekend of the three-day feast of talks, workshops, walks and stargazing celebrating all aspects of Mayo’s dark sky history.

On Friday night, after the kick off at 7 pm, there will be a guided walk to Burrishoole Abbey for stargazing.

On Saturday many talks will take place such as “The effect of light pollution on moths and pollination by Callum Macgregor”,  “A Career in Science by Aoibhinn ní Shúilleabháin”, “Ireland and the birth of Astrophysics by Professor Michael Burton”, “Salmon and Eels: throwing light on their dark secrets!, by the Marine Institute”, “Why things are the way they are - Science in Astrophotography by Antonio Martin-Carrillo”, “Light pollution and the living world by Jon Bennie”, “What did we learn thus far from the Rosetta Mission and its Lander Philae by Susan McKenna Lawlor”, “The Importance of Night-time preservation by Duncan Stewart”.

On the day there will also be some children activities including Planetarium Shows and Planet Zebunar Children's Workshop with Norah Patten and for all stars passionates the astonish workshop: Spectacular Cassini at Saturn - a drawing workshop with Deirdre Kelleghan and Pauline McSorley and the Moongazing celebrating International Observe the Moon Night.

On Sunday the event will end with the following talks: “Measuring the Heavens with Derek Dempsey”, “Introduction to Astronomy with Blackrock Castle Observatory”, “The Cultural Importance and Meaning of Dark Sky with Dr. Frank Prendergast”, “The Harvard Computers with Emer O Boyle”, “From Mayo to Space: Becoming a scientist-astronaut with Norah Patten”, “From the night sky to the Higgs boson ... and back with Dr. Luis Flores Castillo” and “My Place in Space with Dr. Niamh Shaw”.

Family friend events will include Planetarium Shows, Space Workshop with Science Ireland, Solar Walk, Parent and Child Model Rocket Workshop with Eric Stenzel of Irish Rocketry Society and Model Rocket Launch.

Visitors will appreciate Mayo’s pristine night-time skies.