The RAS National Astronomy Meeting 2008

Monday 31^st March, 18:00-20:00, Canada Room, Council Chambers, Black and White Hall and Naughton Gallery

All delegates are invited to attend a buffet and drinks reception on the ground and first floors of the Lanyon Building. The delegates will be officially welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Jim Rodgers. This part of the University houses the Naughton Gallery, one of the premier art galleries in Northern Ireland. Entrance is through the main doors of the Lanyon building.

There is no charge to conference delegates for attending this event.

The Conference Dinner will be held on Wednesday 2^nd April in the Great Hall at Galgorm Manor, about 30 minutes from Belfast City Centre. Coaches will depart from Queen's at 18:00 and 18:30.

The cost of attending the Conference Dinner will be £30 per person. Delegates may register to bring a guest with them.

Menu
Regular	Vegetarian
Starter
Terrine of chicken and barbary duck breast with seasonal salad and shallot vinaigrette	Deep Fried Brie with Cumberland Sauce
Soup
Butternutsquash and pumpkin soup with paprika croutons (seasonal)
Main course
Seared sirloin steak and crispy onions with a whiskey sauce	Pancake Cannelloni with spinach, wild mushrooms and garlic cream
Dessert
Individual Manor-made banoffi pie

Tea, coffee, and wine will be available. Both menus include the following potato and vegetable side orders:

• Oven roasted potatoes
• Traditional irish champ
• Cauliflower and broccoli florets tossed with lightly buttered carrots

The traditional 5-a-side football tournament will be held in the QUB PE Centre on Tuesday 1^st April, 19:00-22:00.

Dave Jess will be organizing the tournament, in collaboration with well known QUB Astronomers Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, and Ronaldinho. Team manager will be our new PDRA, Jose Mourinho.

To register your team for the competition, please consult the dedicated web pages.

Remember, it's not a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that!

Northern Ireland is home to some of the most spectacular and dramatic scenery in the UK, including Carrick-a-Rede and the famous Giant's Causeway.

As taking in these sights takes a whole day, we are unable to organise a trip during the main business days of NAM2008. However, we are offering one-day guided tours on Monday 31^st March and Saturday 5^th April. The Coach will leave Queen's at 09:30 and return at 18:00 (in time for the Welcome Reception on the Monday).

The current cost is £14.00 per person, not including lunch and coffee/tea (available for purchase at the various stopping points). Currently there are 50 places on each of these tours that will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. As of 28th February the Monday tour is getting full, the Saturday tour still has ample places available.

If you wish to go on either of these tours, please sign up on the registration page. We will inform you of the final cost for the tour before the conference via e-mail, and will ask you to pay at the registration desk at NAM2008.