Ireland is set to become the epicentre of astronomical wonder and scientific innovation once again as Space Week Ireland returns from 4th-10th October 2024.
Space Week Ireland is part of the global annual celebration of space, designed to promote space science, technology, and exploration. Coordinated by MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory the festival aims to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts, foster collaboration within the aerospace community, and showcase Ireland’s growing footprint in the global space industry
A fun way for everyone to get involved in this year’s Space Week has just been launched- the #NovaHunter photography competition.
A star system 3,000 lightyears away is set to become visible to the naked eye very soon. This is termed a Nova which is the latin for new, as for us on Earth it seems like there is a new star in the night sky when this occurs. This particular Nova, located in the Corona Borealis constellation, is a recurring event caused by a physical interaction between two stars in the binary system, material builds up over time resulting in a thermonuclear detonation which vastly increases the star’s apparent brightness making it, for a period of time, visible to the naked eye. The last time this happened was 1946 almost 80 years ago so this is considered a once in a lifetime event!
MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory will host the #NovaHunter competition on Instagram as part of Space Week 2024. The winner will receive a family pass to Blackrock Castle Observatory and a prize pack filled with Space Week goodies. The goal of the contest is to encourage people to look to the skies and hopefully get to experience a once in a lifetime event, a visible Nova, the sudden appearance of a bright “new” star which is expected to last for just a few days! The constellation you need to look out for is pretty simple to find in the night sky, and the Nova when it happens will be easy to spot as it is really bright! Space Week Ireland has even compiled a youtube instructional video (linked here) guiding you step by step on how to find it.
This is a super accessible and fun Space Week activity as in order to participate no fancy equipment is required—just your phone! To enter, capture an image of the Corona Borealis constellation between October 1st and 15th, and upload it to Instagram with the hashtag #NovaHunt. Tag @blackrockcastleobservatory, and don’t forget to include your location and who you’re sharing the experience with.
Find more details on the competition and a helpful guide to locating the constellation at www.spaceweek.ie/events/
Space Week Ireland 2024 promises an exhilarating blend of education, exploration, and entertainment with events throughout the country for all ages. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer, a curious student, or simply someone who marvels at the night sky, this year’s program has something extraordinary in store.
Get involved in other Space Week Events
There’s still plenty of time to participate in Space Week! If you, your school, astronomy club, or community group would like to host your own event, you can easily register it on the Space Week Ireland website. Whether your event is large or small, public or private, Space Week Ireland will help promote it if you sign up early.
To find out more information or to submit your own Space Week Ireland event visit the official Space Week Ireland website at www.spaceweek.ie
