THE country's largest working telescope can be used by the public at a "star-b-q" in Co Wicklow tonight, organised by Astronomy Ireland.
Those who attend and stay after 2 a.m. will be among the first in Ireland to view the comet Hale-Bopp - 10,000 times the size of the comet Hyakutake which passed across our skies late last month.
Hale-Bopp is 400 million miles from Earth but because it is 25 miles wide, it is visible at night. Hyakutake was a mere 9.5 million miles away.
Astronomy Ireland is hoping that up to 100 people will attend the barbecue, five miles south of Enniskerry. "There is just a small glow to the north from Dublin and the rest of the sky is gloriously dark," said organiser Mr David Moore.
The biggest telescope in operation in Ireland is owned by Mr Tom O'Sullivan, an engineer with Telecom Eireann and a founder of Astronomy Ireland.
The biggest telescope in Ireland, built in 1844 and normally at Birr Castle, Co Offaly, is being restored. It is not yet known if it can be made operational, said Mr Moore.
Mr O'Sullivan's telescope is 10 feet tall and collects 5,000 times more light than the human eye. A further five telescopes and sets of binoculars will also be available at the barbecue so those attending can feast their eyes on such sights as the planet Venus, the Whirlpool galaxy or the beehive star cluster.
Guided tours of the night sky will be on offer and Mr Moore will give a slide show on such topics as the origin of the universe.
Hale-Bopp will be visible over Ireland from 2 a.m. until 4 a.m., when the sky brightens. It will be visible with binoculars. By August it should be visible to the eye and by next spring it will be brighter than any star.
Barbecue tickets at £10 should be booked by telephoning (01) 459 8883. Those attending should gather at the carpark, Mountain View House, Stepaside, Co Dublin, at 8 p.m.
