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13 BILLION LIGHT YEARS FROM BIRR

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13,000,000,000 Light Years from Birr

Long-line:

 13,000,000,000 Light Years from Birr.  Ireland’s return to the centre of the Astronomical Universe

Brief Synopsis

This is a documentary where great feats of engineering meet space exploration, where Irish ingenuity from the past meets Irish innovation for the future, to produce a cutting-edge technological adventure film set in rural Ireland. 13,000,000,000 Light Years from Birr shows how the Irish now unlock some of the universe’s most important secrets.

[Preview copy available on request]

Synopsis

Great feats of engineering meet space exploration, where Irish ingenuity from the past meets Irish innovation for the future, to produce a cutting-edge technological adventure film set in rural Ireland in the company of presenter Jonathan McCrea and professor Peter Gallagher of Trinity College Dublin.

 

13 Billion Light Years from Birr is the story of how one of the world’s most advanced telescopes will arrive in Ireland, it shows how this next-generation radio technology will unlock clues to one of the earliest phases of cosmic history, and how these astronomers are part of a distinguished Irish heritage in reaching for the stars. Jonathan is a seasoned science communicator and educator, having provided training and workshops for organisations such as The British Council, Science Foundation Ireland and Teagasc.

 

13 Billion Light Years From Birr follows the construction of the I-LOFAR telescope on the grounds of Birr Castle, which, once completed, will be the most westerly part of a network stretching from Ireland to the town of Bałdy, in eastern Poland, composed of six partner countries and 50 antenna stations spread across the continent.

The network the Irish telescope is now joining will be able to research the origin of the first galaxies, black holes and gas clouds seen at the birth of our universe when the first stars formed – an era beyond the reach of even the biggest optical telescopes. It also opens up the possibility that if there is anybody out there, the first messages may be picked up on an antenna in County Offaly.

Featuring contributions from a stellar cast of Irish and International world of Astronomy.

Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell   Discoverer of Pulsars

Professor George Miley        Inventor of LOFAR

Professor Peter Gallagher     Trinity College

Professor Mike Garrett           SETI (Search for extraterrestrial intelligence)

The astronomers of 2017 will explain the immense impact of LOFAR on a wide range of astrophysical topics; how it will revolutionize studies into transient stars and galaxies; conduct the first studies into the early universe after the Big Bang, complete the most extensive surveys of galaxies at low frequencies; and provide a new insight into the Sun-Earth connection. Featuring lavish imagery generated by the LOFAR telescope, 3D models, GPS, laser scanning and drones, 13 Billion Light Years from Birr will capture the excitement and sheer scale of this 21st-century journey into the unknown and it will also look at how LOFAR marks Ireland’s return to the big leagues of astrophysics in Europe.

The one hour documentary is made by Midas Productions, and funded by RTÉ and the BAI through the Sound and Vision scheme.