Monday 23 July 2012

Armageddon, Curiosity, Perseids, Solar day, eclipse book, NASA-IAA, weblinks etc

Hi all,
 
1. The December 2012 'End of the World' Predictions: I will be giving a free public lecture on this topic at the visitor centre at Tara, Co Meath, on Wednesday 25 July. This is one of a series on superstitions and other irrational beliefs being organised by Clare Tuffy, head of the OPW staff at Newgrange. Due to date confusion by a previous speaker, there will in fact be two talks that evening, both free. Prof Tadgh O'Keeffe of UCD was due to speak previously on the prophesied 'End of the World on AD 1,000', but he will now give that lecture on Wednesday starting at 8 pm sharp, followed by mine, which is entitled "The End is Nigh! - Or is it? - Should you worry about Armageddon on 21 December 2012?" 
    As many of you may know, this prediction is based mainly on various calendrical and astronomical ideas, on which I shall be commenting, and giving my conclusions.
   Tara Visitors Centre lies South (SSE to be more precise) of Navan, and is signposted and easily reached via the old Dublin to Navan Road (N3, now renamed the R147), or the new M3, via the junction SE of Navan town.
   Two free lectures in one evening - good value if ever you saw it!
  

2. Curiosity Rover to Land on Mars: Nasa's most ambitious Mars mission to date will reach a crucial milestone on 6 August when the SUV sized rover is due to land on the Red Planet. This will involve the most complex landing sequence ever attempted: see http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/16jul_daring/, and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2174808/Are-Fears-Nasa-lose-touch-latest-Mars-Rover-lands-red-planet-month.html, and: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/07/17/nasa-loses-key-mars-satellite_n_1678554.html
 
3. Perseid Party, 11 August, Delamont Country Park. The Irish Astronomical Association will host another 'Perseid Party' for the maximum of the most popular of the annual meteor showers on the evening of Sat 11 August, at DCP just S of Killyleagh, Co Down. We will start off with a fry-up, or BBQ depending on your tastes, in the early evening, followed by an observing session in the nice dark skies of the country park late into the night if it stays clear. Obviously this is weather dependant, so check the IAA website (www.irishastro.org) before going, to check on the latest situation. Moon conditions this year are very favourable - see below.
  
4. PERSEID METEORS to peak on August 12. The Perseids are the best-known of the year's meteor showers, and are usually the most popular as the nights do not get as cold as the other major showers in the winter! Maximum this year is predicted for 10.00 on 12 August, which means that the night of 11-12 August should give the highest observed rates, with the night of Aug. 12-13 next best. The Moon will be only a thin waning crescent, and won't rise until late in the night, so moonlight won't interfere this year.
   The shower actually begins with a low level of activity at the end of July, building up gradually in intensity until the maximum, and then declining until it ends about 19-20 August. With Full Moon occurring on 2 August, the best period for observation will be from about 7 August onwards.
  The meteors appear to come from the constellation of Perseus, which will be rising in the NE as darkness falls, but they can be seen anywhere in the sky. The best area to look is to centre your gaze on an area of sky about 50 degrees to the left or right of the radiant (whichever is clearer and darker), and about 55 degrees above the horizon. The Perseids are tiny particles cast off by comet 109p Swift-Tuttle.
   Perseids are swift, and often bright, and in a clear dark sky you should see an average of at least one per minute, including a few spectacular fireballs. Don't miss it.
 
5. Solar day at WWT, 12 August: Rounding off a busy weekend, the IAA will be running another one of our popular Solar Days at the WWT, Castle Espie, near Comber, Co Down, on Sunday afternoon, 12 August, from 2 - 5 p.m. This will comprise viewing the Sun in visible light, H-Alpha and Calcium light, using special solar telescopes and filters, if the sky is clear. We will also have starshows in the Stardome portable planetarium (thanks to Dr Tom Mason of Armagh Planetarium), and an exhibition of amazing meteorites from outer space, space photos, memorabilia, and other items. A great day for all the family, even if it is cloudy. See: www.irishastro.org for more details.
 
6. Eclipse Chasers book by IAA member ready for pre-order.  "Total Addiction: The life of an Eclipse Chaser".  (This is from Dr Kate Russo, edited by TM):
   I am delighted to announce that my book about eclipse chasers is now finished, and available to pre-order on Amazon with a release date of end of July. I hope all eclipse chasers will find it an enjoyable read.  It nicely bridges the gap between astronomy and psychology. But I think the book really comes alive through the interview analysis I undertook with nine eclipse chasers. Through the detailed analysis of these interviews, I have been able to tease out the key features of what we experience during totality.  I also try to explain what motivates all of us to be so passionate about chasing eclipses. 
   Many thanks to all of you who completed the survey, participated in interviews, and have contributed by way of comments, suggestions, quotes, explanations and photographs.  Special thanks to Terry Moseley, Jay Anderson, David Makepeace, James McClean, Dave Balch, and Rick Brown for participating in the interviews.  Thanks also to Glenn Schneider, Michael Zeiler, Fred Espenak, Jay Pasachoff, Daniel Lynch, Xavier Jubier, Miloslav Druckmullar for your contributions. 
   Special thanks also for contributions by Dava Sobel, Diane Ackerman, and Sir Patrick Moore who was one of the nine chasers featured.  It was a real privilege to meet with Sir Patrick, even if I did leave his house rather tipsy after several strong G&T's!  The whole project from start to finish was really quite enjoyable, and I have been touched by how supportive, friendly, open and helpful folk have been.  It is a great community to be involved with.
   If you are planning to read the book (and I hope many of you do), then I'd be really interested in your feedback.  You can do this via Amazon, or directly to me at my preferred email umbraphillia@gmail.com.  I am also in the final stages of developing a website where folk are welcome to add comments.  Details of the site will be announced when it is ready (note – I am not an IT expert, this may take a few weeks). 
   Next steps – I will be having a book launch party here in Belfast most likely in September, before I then go to Australia for six months where I plan to be involved in various outreach activities related to the eclipse, in addition to doing a little book tour in the path of totality.  Kate Russo, Eclipse chasing Psychologist.
   (IAA members had a very interesting talk by Kate last year, and some participated in the surveys for the book. I've seen the proof copy, and it really does make fascinating reading. I thought that I was addicted, but just wait until you read some of the accounts from other eclipse-chasers!)
 
7. NASA Chief meets IAA members. The new chief administrator of NASA, Col. Charles Bolden, was honoured to meet IAA members Lee Gordon, Andy McCrea, Terry Moseley and Pat O'Neill at a recent event in Trinity College Dublin, organised by the US Embassy and TCD. So much so, in fact, that he insisted on having his photo taken with the four of us! Check the IAA website and look out for the next edition of the IAA's excellent magazine STARDUST for the photo!
 
8. INTERESTING WEBLINKS: 
 (I have another dozen or so interesting space and astronomy weblinks - if anyone wants more, let me know by return!)
Finally, for any romantics among you, you might like to listen to a track called "Stargazers of the world unite: a love song for astronomers" by local artist Duke Special. It's not my style, but who am I to judge? Check: http://soundcloud.com/cannonball_pr/duke-special-stargazers-of-the
 
9. TWITTER: the IAA now has a twitter account:  @IaaAstro


10. BBC THINGS TO DO WEBSITE: See the forthcoming IAA events on  
 
11. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is now even easier: This link downloads a Word document to join the IAA. http://irishastro.org.uk/iaamembership.doc. If you are a UK taxpayer, please tick the 'gift-aid' box, as that enables us to reclaim the standard rate of tax on your subscription, at no cost to you.  See also www.irishastro.org
 
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley


26 comments:

Anonymous said...

My brother suggested I might like this web site. He was totally right.
This post actually made my day. You cann't imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

Feel free to surf to my blog post ... tumblr

Anonymous said...

I have been browsing on-line more than 3 hours today, yet I never discovered any
fascinating article like yours. It is lovely value sufficient for me.
In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent
content material as you did, the web will be much more helpful than ever before.


Also visit my page :: high pr backlinks

Anonymous said...

Personal opinion is generally exhibited in various
types of editorial writings. Clearly, however, newspapers need
to try harder to take advantage of new technologies to tell their stories in ways that
attract and involve readers, young or old. Hindi Samachar is entertaining millions of people
with incredible reports, events, information and gossips.
Newspaper companies should be seeking to have subscribers to
their service where breaking news can be emailed and send to
blackberries and cell-phones. This also means that you trust those who have already used the products
and know how they are used.

my web page :: click here

Anonymous said...

If some one wishes expert view concerning blogging after that
i suggest him/her to pay a quick visit this website,
Keep up the pleasant work.

Here is my web site :: kostenlos book of raw spielen

Anonymous said...

If you are like me and love garlic, you are already too late.

When you're preparing your planting area, just mix the soil with about three inches of organic compost. Try these top five organic garden weed controls that actually work.

my blog :: pig

Anonymous said...

It is said that the celebrations will greatly add to Egypt flights from
other African countries as well as western countries with dense Christian population.

The particular classy aspect along with self-assurance which Hermes Birkins purses supply most women
position these individuals the most sough immediately after
manufacturers for most girls getting databases. The cache of mummies of high priests
of Amun at Deir el-Bahri has also yielded a large number of private coffins of
the 21st Dynasty (1069 945 BC). God gets all buddy-buddy with Satan and in fact hires Satan to cause our hero all
sorts of misfortunes and calamities. 8 At the dinner
table always sit next to a member of the same sex, unless your host or hostess suggests otherwise, likewise in cafes and restaurants.


Also visit my web page: egyptian newspapers

Anonymous said...

In contrast, the non-organic gardener is more likely to use chemically created fertilizers.
Blotches or tunnels usually mean your plant has leaf miners.
Try these top five organic garden weed controls that
actually work.

my site :: moorland

Anonymous said...

Djelloul: The Mafia has been portrayed in many ways in books and movies, and I don't have a quarrel with these portrayals, because the Mafia is a work of many facets. If you are a reader of local language newspapers it might get difficult for you to find your desired language newspaper any where else. He becomes a different person once he dons his uniform to the sound of the orchestra warming up. But Punjabi news paper has the upper hand because almost population speaks Punjabi, the official language of Punjab. Until I was five I lived with my mother's
younger sister Dorothy and my grandmother, who told me before she died that my mother
had received letters from my father for some years after
bringing me to New York.

my web page ... click here

Anonymous said...

For instance, they may select a type of lettuce that
has purple coloring in it as well as green. They don't control every bad bug, but it will help you have better success gardening. In some cases, the quantity of materials for making compost in the amounts desired (an annual layer 2 inches deep across the garden) cannot be obtained.

My web page: specialize

Anonymous said...

After application the hair is simply dried, either naturally or
using a drier. s Therapy Treatment line, which is a lightweight replenishing treatment that protects and maintains hair condition.
Generally, these products are more expensive than their watered-down counterparts, but you can
find a few affordable pure silicone hair products (see below).

Anonymous said...

Luckily, there are many methods in safely removing unwanted hair.
Likewise, using imported shampoos and conditioners from a tropical country when your climate is
cold and temperate is not such a good idea. Generally, these products are more
expensive than their watered-down counterparts, but you can find a few affordable pure silicone hair products (see below).

Anonymous said...

And while investigators say the murder victim is linked to a "feud," they are not sharing the details about that part of the investigation.
Blistering heat and bitter freezing cold can crack the toughest of concrete.

Flawless Flooring's polished concrete floor product boasts durability and decorative seamless surfaces made mainly from epoxy and polyurethane materials.

Anonymous said...

Most of these senior citizens are not comfortable with the use of internet or are incapable of
visiting the State Comptrollers office and thus for them newspaper
listings does the job. Purchasing used press will also save you considerable amount of money.
Information regarding different websites that contain large chunk of databases
of unclaimed properties and money are also provided in different newspapers.
Thus, by putting the price, you get targeted customers who are very interested in what you are offering; in other words, you get hot leads.
This is why various newspapers are now helping to find unclaimed property owners by listing their
names.

Feel free to surf to my blog post click here

Anonymous said...

Make sure to evenly cover your hair, especially the tips.
It can also be left in the hair as a conditioner but it may be hard to explain the tomatoes.

Once you have determined what kind of texture your hair has,
you can then start using one of the techniques described below to improve it.

Yet, lack of moisture can also cause breakage, split-ends and brittle hair.

As a hair growth stimulant, you can add 10 drops of rosemary oil, 10 drops of sandalwood oil and 10 drops of lavender oil to 50ml of carrier oil and massage it into your scalp.


Feel free to surf to my web page :: olive oil for hair

Anonymous said...

The Regional Animal Hospital in Yorba Linda is well equipped to handle the emergencies.
There are approximately 17 million people in the US that suffer from some type of yeast
infection. Company Name: Fayette Chiropractic Center Address: 126 New
Hope Road, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214 Contact Telephone Number: (770)
461-2225 Fax Telephone Number: (770) 461-0186 Email: info@fayettechiropractic.

If you suspect that your method has become infected there are a number of points you can do
yourself to try to get rid of the offending application.

Members of the press and/or other interested parties may obtain more information about this practice and/or the
content of this press release by contacting the following: Fayette Chiropractic Center Dr.


My page: noncathartic

Anonymous said...

I appreciate, lead to I discovered exactly what
I used to be having a look for. You have ended my 4 day long hunt!
God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye

my blog; novoline automaten kaufen gebraucht

Anonymous said...

you are truly a excellent webmaster. The website loading pace is incredible.

It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick.

Moreover, The contents are masterpiece. you've done a great activity on this subject!

My web blog ... book auf ra kostenlos spielen

Anonymous said...

Amazing! Its actually awesome piece of writing, I have got much clear idea
about from this piece of writing.

Feel free to visit my homepage ... book of ra online spielen um echtes geld

Anonymous said...

I really like what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and coverage!

Keep up the awesome works guys I've added you guys to my own blogroll.

Also visit my web blog :: sizzling hot games

Anonymous said...

Hmm it appears like your website ate my first comment (it was
super long) so I guess I'll just sum it up what I had written and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog writer but I'm still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips and hints for newbie blog writers? I'd definitely appreciate it.


Here is my page book of ra kostenlos spielen ohne anmeldung mybet

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I do think your website could be having web browser compatibility issues.

Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks
fine however, if opening in I.E., it has some overlapping issues.
I simply wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Aside from that, great site!

Here is my web blog ... novoline app gratis

Anonymous said...

I enjoy what you guys tend to be up too. Such clever work and coverage!

Keep up the superb works guys I've added you guys to my personal blogroll.

Also visit my blog; ZorPorno

Anonymous said...

My brother suggested I might like this website. He was totally right.

This post truly made my day. You cann't imagine just how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

my website - books of ra

Anonymous said...

Wow, incredible weblog layout! How lengthy have you
ever been running a blog for? you made blogging look easy.

The overall glance of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!


Also visit my web blog ... book of raw online spielen

Anonymous said...

Hi there, constantly i used to check blog posts here early in the break of day, since i like to find out more and more.


Here is my web page books of ra gratis

Anonymous said...

Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site thus i came to “return the favor”.
I am attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some
of your ideas!!

My page - novoline app iphone ()