For anyone who has ever looked to the stars and dreamed, there was always a starting point where those dreams began. Space Week 2023 runs from 4-10 October and we want to inpsire all the future atronauts and scientists out there.
Ireland is getting ready to join the international celebrations of all things space with an out of this world week-long festival celebrating the theme Our Planet, Our Space, Our Time.
Space Week is an annual celebration that takes place globally. In Ireland, Space Week is coordinated by MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory with funding support from Science Foundation Ireland and is a nationwide festival celebrating space and science.
Over the week, schools, businesses, community groups, astronomy clubs, and members of the public are invited to come together with the space community to celebrate all things space.
Check out the latest updates on www.spaceweek.ie and read on to find out more.
The programme of public events across the country will include talks, tours, astronomy events, an astrophotography exhibition, space art, and even a space careers roadshow. There will also be hands-on workshops on rocket making, investigations into the origins of the solar system, and satellite communication. Or learn about hosting a Stargazing Party at home with family and friends!
Larger scale public events to look forward to including the NASA International Space Apps Challenges in Athlone and Dublin and an MTU Space Open Day in Cork. The Open Day, which takes place on Saturday, 7 October at MTU Cork School of Music, features a pop-up planetarium dome, mini rovers and robots, musical performances, talks and panel discussions hosted by special guest MC Robin Ince of BBC Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage.
Space Week Ireland 2023 is proud to also launch Space Week TV, with a selection of shows on everything from space art sessions to night sky guides, fun follow-along workshops and expert discussions of the latest cool space science all hosted on the Blackrock Castle Observatory YouTube account. To ensure you don’t miss out on Space Week TV content, make sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel to get notified of upcoming livestreams and new videos!
Schools will also be participating, with whole school activities relating to Space Week and in classroom activations. Additionally there is an impressive suite of Space Week teaching prompts available for teachers to download for free from the Space Week Ireland website to help bring the Universe to life in the classrooms.
Rob O’ Sullivan, National Outreach Coordinator for Space Week says "Irish people have a keen interest in space and science, and Space Week is the perfect opportunity to engage that curiosity. Our connection to the stars is as old as Newgrange, and it’s still going strong today. I encourage everyone to use Space Week as an opportunity to explore that connection.
Reach out to a local astronomy club, attend a talk by Irish space researchers, or even visit one of our gold tier dark sky sites. There are so many ways to start your own exploration of Space. Get started with one small step this Space Week."
The program of events continues to grow daily with out of this world events for Space enthusiasts of all ages. For a quick flavour of events in your region see this roundup:
Leinster
A ‘Kids Space Workshop’ will take place at the Rediscovery Centre, the NASA International Space Apps challenge in Dublin, and an evening of astrophysics talks at Maynooth University that includes a speaker who worked on the famous James Webb Space Telescope!
Connaught/ Midlands
A Satellite Communication workshop at Birr Library, NASA International Space Apps challenge in Athlone, and a Space Weekend at Galway Atlantaquaria exploring life on Earth and how it may evolve on other planets!
Munster
A public ‘Watch and Talk’ with South East Astronomy at the Copper Coast Geopark Centre, a Space Adventure Storytime and Crafts at Tralee Library, and an MTU Space Open Day in Cork City hosted by Robin Ince of BBC Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage. There and Back Again a Universe’s Tale.
Check out the latest updates on www.spaceweek.ie
The website also features a resources section for anyone who wishes to organise and register their own event, learn more about Space or try Space themed activities at home.
