Limerick Astronomy Club monthly offering takes a look back at space exploration

AUGUST brings with it the majestic Perseid meteor shower, a celestial spectacle that reminds us of the vastness beyond our world. While the peak on August 12th might be affected by the Moon's phase this year, the shower's long duration, from mid-July to late August, offers ample opportunity to catch a glimpse of these "shooting stars," which are remnants of Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
This month also offers a chance to reflect on the human ingenuity that pushes the boundaries of space exploration. It was in August 1877 that American astronomer Asaph Hall made a groundbreaking discovery at the US Naval Observatory in Washington D.C.: the two small, irregular moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos. These intriguing celestial bodies, possibly captured asteroids, continue to fascinate scientists with their unique orbits and characteristics.
Fast forward to the modern era, and we celebrate the enduring legacy of NASA's Voyager program. On August 25, 2012, Voyager 1, launched in 1977, made history by crossing the heliopause and entering interstellar space, a staggering 18 billion kilometres from Earth. This incredible journey, which began with exploring the outer gas giants, saw Voyager 1 capture the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image of Earth from 6 billion kilometres away on February 14, 1990. As Carl Sagan eloquently described, our entire world was just 12 percent of a single pixel in that profound image.

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While Voyager 1 continues its solitary journey, still within the gravitational influence of our Sun for tens of thousands of years to come, its mission highlights humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge and exploration.
The Limerick Astronomy Club meets next on the first Thursday in September, in Mary Immaculate College, Room 202 at 8pm. We'd love to welcome you and embark on this cosmic journey together. Reach out to us at limerickastronomyclub@gmail.com for more info.