Cork Astronomer to Reveal Secrets of the Night Sky

Astronomy Ireland will host an online public lecture next month exploring the work of Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork and the personal journey of its resident astronomer.

Titled From Arts to the Stars: Blackrock Castle Observatory, the lecture will be presented by Danielle Wilcox on September 8th at 7pm via Zoom. Tickets cost between €5 and €10.

Ms Wilcox will describe how she developed a passion for astronomy and turned it into a full-time career. She will also explain the equipment used at the observatory and outline the type of research carried out there.

Blackrock Castle, once a defensive fortification, is now home to an observatory and a restaurant. It is a popular visitor attraction, offering exhibitions and telescope viewing to the public.

As resident astronomer and telescope operator, Ms Wilcox uses the 16-inch Schmidt Cassegrain Meade LX200R telescope to capture images of black holes, exoplanets and other celestial objects.

These images are used to create educational resources for schools throughout Ireland. She also coordinates Space Week Ireland, an annual nationwide celebration of science and space.