Hi there, welcome to my website, in here you will find out a little      bit about me, a little bit about astronomy and art together.           You can contact me at skysketcher@gmail.com  to ask a question or      to invite me to give a talk or workshop like Deadly Moons for your group.           Click on the link to see a selection of beautiful moons drawn by children from      Dublin, parts of Cork and Wicklow this summer.      Deadly Moons is part of Science Week at Dublin City Libraries                Deirdre
	The Whats Up video series has become a Silver Award Winner in the 2008 W3 Awards competition. The award  honors creative excellence on the Internet. Congratulations to Jane Houston Jones and her team Here is Octobers Whats Up The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do. Galileo Galilei
	Science Week Public Star Party at the Martello Tower Car Park Sandymount Dublin November 7th and 8th 8pm - 10pm All welcome Free event. Weather permitting
	Solar Prominence Animation of five sketches by Deirdre Kelleghan May 15th 2008 10:15 UT - 19:50 UT PST 40X Soft Pastels Animated by Sally Russell
	Pencil sketch Aotolycus, Aristillus , Cassini,Vallis Alpes
	12/05/08 23:05 UT - 00:15 UT Seeing 2 Lunation 7.22 days 254 X - 20 inch truss dob
	I had a loan of Philip Lardners wonderful 20 inch scope for a few weeks but only had three clear nights to sketch with it, this pencil sketch was my second effort.
	Philip's scope ,thanks I enjoyed it !!
	Seven June Jupiters Jupiter and the Galilean moons , IO , Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto drawing made with the human camera - June 2006 Binocular drawing

Jupiter  June 4th , 5th  , 6th  2006 - 8 inch dob,/ 10 mm eyepiece
The essence of drawing is the line  exploring space -  Andy Goldsworthy
Here is a slide show of some of the moons drawn by Irish children who participated in Deadly Moons. A lot of children who look at the moon through my telescope say That's Deadly, so thats where Deadly Moons comes from. It is a fast, fun , vocal exciting drawing workshop where children learn a little bit about our moon and other interesting moons.

UNAWE is an international outreach activity that inspires young disadvantaged children with the beauty and grandeur of the universe. Universe Awareness illustrates the multicultural origins of modern astronomy in an effort to broaden children's minds, awaken their curiosity in science and stimulate global citizenship and tolerance. Deadly Moons in now part of UNAWE ppt and pdf download will be available soon Deadly Moons is a art/science workshop for children. We take a look at some unusual moons, we choose the deadliest moon. Then we draw that moon with energy and attention to detail. Its a lot of fun.
Click in here now to see wonderful drawings of Titan	Click in here now to see wonderful drawings of Callisto	Click  here now to see photos of Deadly Moons being made
Titan is a Deadly Moon for Delganey Brownies	Callisto is a  Deadly  Moon for  Delganey Brownies	Delganey Brownie Troop made Deadly Moons

Having fun at the Deadly Moon
workshop in Clondalkin
The refugees and migrants
group who live  in the village

Jupiter's moon IO by Erene from the Clondalkin Refugees and Migrants group

First quarter moon by Ryan age 4 Swords Summer Project	Our  moon in a lunar eclipse by Mark age 8 Swords Summer Project
Jupiter's moon IO by Dylan Donovan Dylan is 6 he was at Finglas West summer project. Dylan  loves space he is autistic, great work !!!	Saturn's  moon Titan  by  Arvyde  age 13 She did a great job, lovely work from a girl of special needs. Finglas West produced lovely moon drawings More here soon

"Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day.
But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of stars in their circular course,my feet no longer touch the Earth"  Ptolemy

I enjoy educational outreach

















Dee in St Joseph's Primary School Navan, Co Meath
Solar System and Cassini Talk April 18th

Photos from Lets Go See Planets and Moons in the Park
Saturn Observation Night February 16th 2008

I enjoy sketching the sun, moon, and stars.
It is the best way to get to
know them in detail and to appreciate their structure and beauty. 

Saturn Occultation an A focal image
May 22nd 2007
click on to see more lucky shots from
that evening. Canon Powershot

Saturn Occultation pastel sketch
May 22nd 2007
Click on image to see more
Lunar Folder runs as a slide show











Sally Russell and Deirdre Kelleghan Rhapsody in Blue May 22nd 2007
I was not expecting to catch a glimpse of Saturn in a daylight sky. Nothing could have prepared me for that amazing vision. In my first look there was the white ringed planet right in front of me, in a blue blue sky heading into the invisible limb of the moon. I just had to try to capture it, in some way, so I drew it quickly on black paper and then watched and waited until she began to vanish into nothing!!

I set up my easel and I began to sketch the moon through wispy cloud while I waited for Saturn to emerge from behind the lunar sphere.  As she reappeared one hour or so later there was a wonderful change in her color against the darker sky.  She was so tangerine, she was so beautiful. Saturn and her invisible icy orbs appeared to be flying along as our moon moved and glided out of her majestic way.   When Sally showed me her stunning photographs later that  week I was delighted to relive those moments through these images of a view we shared many miles apart.   Deirdre Kelleghan Bray, Co Wicklow Ireland 200mm Reflector/10mm eyepiece – 120X 19:01UT 200mm Reflector/ Binoviewer 20mm eyepieces/2X Barlow – 120X 20:09 UT 300gm paper/Soft Pastels/Quiling Needle

Saturn Occultation May 22nd 2007 a spliced image
sketch by Deirdre Kelleghan and photo by Sally Russell

Pencil sketch from 2006

Click on Holmes here for more comet sketches
Comet folder runs as a slide show




















Comet 17/P Holmes 28th October 2007 18:40 UT Mag 2
1200mm/8mm/150X Pastel/ Conte/ Black Paper

“Life begins with the process of star formation. We are made of stardust. Every atom of every element in your body except for hydrogen has been manufactured inside stars, scattered across the Universe in great stellar explosions, and recycled to become part of you.”
John Gribbin

Solar Flare and Proms
Pastel and Conte

13:09 UT 07/0707 PST 40/8mm TVP/50X
Schminke Pastels/300gm paper
Heavy rain ended my fun
Click on image to see more
Solar folder runs as a slide show

M42 in Orion
Click on image to see more
Messiers and NGC sketches
Folder runs as a slide show