Saturday 20 June 2020

Solstice, Webinar, NLCs, Skyguide, ASE, Asteroid Day, Comet anniversary, ISS, more

Hi all,

 

1. SUMMER SOLSTICE

The Sun will reach its most northerly point on the ecliptic, the track of its yearly passage around our sky, on June 20 at 22h 44 BST. Since it sets from Belfast at 22.04 BST, and as late as 22.20 in the NW, that means that the Sun will be setting almost as far North as it ever can from this latitude – more than 315 degrees azimuth in the extreme NW of the island. It's on the 20th because this year is a Leap Year so we had one extra day between the Winter solstice and the following Summer one.

 

2. REGULAR FORTNIGHTLY SPACE and ASTRONOMY WEBINAR, June 23

After a very positive reaction to our first webinar on Mars, Nick Howes and I have been asked by Space Store Live to make it a regular fortnightly feature. It will be called "Space Store Live: Nick and Terry's Astro Round-up". The first one, on Tuesday 26th, was also very well received.

They will be approximately 30 minutes long, every second Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m., covering whatever is topical in space and astronomy. The next one will be on Tuesday

23 June: youtube.com/spacestorelive

   It's a Zoom webinar, and will be Live streamed to YouTube SpaceStore Live! Channel and Live streamed to Facebook Live. I'll post any last minute news via Twitter.

 

3. Noctilucent Clouds.

These are visible through June and at least the first 3 weeks of July, sometimes longer. Look low down in the North when the first stars are visible, for these ethereal wispy silvery very high altitude clouds. Their name means 'night-shining', and they are so high up that they are illuminated by the Sun long after ordinary clouds would be in the Earth's shadow, They are thought to be caused by the very fine particles of dust left behind when meteors burn up at high altitude. They make lovely photos too.

 

4. Paul Evans has produced another excellent 'Lockdown Video guide to the sky: https://youtu.be/TvxKjws-skM

 

5. 21 June 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse Across Africa, Asia and the Middle East

An annular solar eclipse will sweep across Africa, Asia and the Middle East on 21 June 2020. A number of our National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) are organising websites and will be hosting livestreams for the event. The OAO will be sharing these links on our Facebook and Twitter when they become available. (none of this eclipse is visible anywhere in the UK or Ireland; a partial eclipse is visible in parts of SE Europe.)
IAU OAO Facebook:
www.facebook.com/iauoutreach
IAU OAO Twitter:
www.twitter.com/iau_outreach

 

6. Asteroid Day, 30 June UPDATE.  Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr. Brian May of  QUEEN; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 President Danica Remy, to promote awareness and provide knowledge to the general public about the importance of asteroids in our solar system history, and the role they play in our solar system today. Events are scheduled leading up to 30 June, the date of the largest asteroid impact of Earth in recorded history (Tunguska).

The virtual festivities kick off with a full 34 days of Asteroid Day TV (ADTV) starting June 1st and running through July 4th. This year's ADTV will consist of asteroid-related content for all ages including academic  documentaries, family learning movies, current asteroid mission highlights, origins of the planet, and much more.

From June 30th, we'll be broadcasting a brand new Asteroid Day Live from Luxembourg. (ADLIVE)—a 4-hour program featuring astronauts, asteroid experts, and other notables.  Themes this year will include topics such as current missions advancing efforts to develop greater asteroid detection, tracking and deflection techniques, and space resource initiatives.

ADTV and ADLIVE Digital from Luxembourg will be available via SES signal on select local channels, online at Twitch TV, YouTube, and via the asteroidday.org. We'll be announcing details on how to tune in the last week of May.

 

7. July 1 250th anniversary of Comet Lexell passing 0.015 AU from Earth, approx 6 Lunar Distances, or about 1.4m miles. The coma was about 2° 23' across! This was the closest known comet pass to Earth. Perihelion was on Aug 14.

 

8. ISS The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 2 July, transitioning into evening passes about mid-month, which will then continue until July 30.

 Full details for your location, and lots of other astronomy information, on the excellent free site www.heavens-above.com

 

9. Earth at aphelion, July 4,  The Earth will be furthest from the Sun in its elliptical orbit on July 4 at 11 34 UT, at a geocentric distance of 1.0166942 AU. (152,095,287.5 km)

 

10. Partial Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at Moonset, July 5.

Most of Ireland will barely see this eclipse, in which only 35% of the Moon enters the Earth's faint outer shadow, the penumbra. The N part of the Moon will be the part that's slightly darker. The eclipse begins at 04.07 BST, and greatest eclipse occurs at 05.30 BST, after Moonset throughout Ireland. The Moon sets in Belfast at 04.49, in Dublin it sets at 04.59, and in Cork at 05.18. In Portmagee it doesn't set until 05.26, which is almost at greatest eclipse. (We have to wait until 2022 May 16 before we can see another Total Lunar Eclipse from Ireland, although it will be setting just after maximum eclipse.)

 

11.  International Astronomical Youth Camp in Spain, 12 July – 1 August (subject to Covid-19 restrictions – check via website.)
The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge of astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. The IAYC is an experience unlike any other; a place for unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. During the camp, 65 young and enthusiastic participants from all corners of the world gather in a remote location in Spain to observe and learn about some of the most spectacular skies on this Earth. Applications for the 2020 camp are being accepted until 5 April 2020.
   International Astronomical Youth Camp, 12 July-1 August 2020;  Baños de Montemayor, Spain
More information and application are here: 
www.iayc.org

 

12. July 14, Jupiter at opposition.

 

13. July 20, Saturn at opposition.

 

14.  Perseids. August 11-12-13.  Max on Aug 12 at 13h

 

15. IAU Meet the Astronomers Programme. This is now open to everyone, for a virtual talk. See https://www.iau.org/public/meettheiauastronomers/

 

16. National Astronomy Week, 14 – 22 November.

 National Astronomy Week (NAW) will be held in the UK from Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November, to celebrate the close approach of Mars. Amateur and professional astronomers will be holding observing events during the week. Seen through a telescope magnifying about 100 times, Mars will appear as a pale orange disc, with its markings clearly visible, at a distance of 80 million km.

    Although Mars is at its closest to Earth a month earlier, by November it is well up in the sky during the early evening, allowing younger schoolchildren an opportunity to get a good view of the planet. It will not be as close again until 2033.  As well as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon will be on show during National Astronomy Week. Details of observing events will be posted on the NAW website.

 

17. INTERESTING WEBLINKS (Disclaimer - Use of material herein from various sources does not imply approval or otherwise of the opinions, political or otherwise, of those sources).  NB: If the title in the weblink does not indicate the subject matter, I give a brief simple intro before the link. I may also comment about the link afterwards.

 

ARCHAEOASTRONOMY

Newgrange shock finding https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8431929/Irelands-ancient-kings-married-sisters-fathered-inbred-children-maintain-dynasty.html

 

ASTROPHYSICS

FRB traced to a magnetar. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/galactic-flash-points-long-sought-source-enigmatic-radio-bursts?utm_campaign=news_daily_2020-06-08&et_rid=415711678&et_cid=3357529

   https://newatlas.com/space/nasa-esa-youngest-magnetar/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=d596aaff47-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_06_19_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-d596aaff47-92786061

HST's view of stars gone haywire https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618150315.htm

  A supernova in a lab https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617091005.htm

First repeating period series of FRBs discovered https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617150005.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

  Quasar jets are particle accelerators thousands of light years long https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617150027.htm

   Solving the mystery whirling around a nearby BH https://www.livescience.com/black-hole-spin-calculated.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=SdQgy1iC3Hwua5qD9SJYOSeYcJFgMdS33zNpvV1RIaYtAGH6yNQE28ekNicFNWr00Ki0faXW96QriAx8XwDbHlEq2UlrSjYnwuMAYKiSS3

  More on the SMBH at the centre of the galaxy https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200612172210.htm

 

COSMOLOGY

First direct evidence for axions, could explain Dark Matter https://www.livescience.com/first-evidence-for-axions-xenon.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=KLvdjl1BuXYFFoAjHUMg%2BauPN8J3i5JBslHgKb5JT4oMKkJBGNXc4J1hvyHuuNjfWljGcmW1vHiI5yjptWABQhLsP99KogMN0DJksEKKKM

   Ultra-light particles might explain Dark Matter https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200616155946.htm

 

EARTH & MOON

Using a tether to avoid an asteroid impact with Earth https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618110955.htm

Mysterious blue fireball over W. Australia https://www.livescience.com/mysterious-fireball-pilbara.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=Ji6JhOfM3zLAAa7LAWFMgNK%2BBztXxd_QoQzIlnj8AChH7y1HwziJBP_t_cSulAb_ieLLZ_digYfrv5rkbMr2wLMPVcFvbFywv9EnvOJJJ4

 

EXOLIFE

Scientists estimate that there are 36 other alien civilizations in the Milky Way https://www.livescience.com/how-many-alien-civilizations-exist.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=PnkqBACScktK7rhHeSpQKCC5WpJ78FZaHubvop7gkTgjPY07SBFuSTfvGIqISogR%2BJzz7ayVzoBQNVoknNT37wdmEFIX9U_C_gK3MF%2BPPN and

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200615092753.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

 

 

EXOPLANETS

Up to 6 billion earth-liker planets in our galaxy? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200616100831.htm

 

SOLAR SYSTEM

 IBEX charts changes at the limits of our heliosphere https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617174814.htm

   Citizen scientist discovers SOHO's 4000th comet https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617121504.htm

  Weird green glow in the atmosphere of Mars https://www.livescience.com/mars-green-glow-exomars.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=bj_X5qv69MWmIhpMkyg0q0Wj6Kyp_qe_g5vB2veM3TZhoxplgDJs4updTTyoTD2cO4OBuhqEWcrNaI40cCl91rHKIRxHdjtwuAax6c_bbA

   https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/06/nasa-will-fly-billion-dollar-quadcopter-titan-saturn-s-methane-rich-moon

 

SPACE

Reducing the risk of space debris collisions https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618110957.htm

Using sunlight to save satellites https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617091017.htm

   https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/06/nasa-will-fly-billion-dollar-quadcopter-titan-saturn-s-methane-rich-moon

 

SUN

Understanding solar flares https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618111005.htm

 

18. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION. This link downloads a Word document to join the IAA. http://documents.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. You can also make a donation via Paypal if you wish: just click on the 'Donate' button. See also
https://irishastro.org/  

 

The Irish Astronomical Association is registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 105858

 

DISCLAIMER: Any views expressed herein are mine, and do not necessarily represent those of the IAA.

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley



Virus-free. www.avast.com

Tuesday 9 June 2020

Webinar, USA launch success, NLCs, Lockdown video, Moon occults Venus, Solstice, Eclipse, Asteroid Day, more,


Hi all,

 

1. REGULAR FORTNIGHTLY SPACE and ASTRONOMY WEBINAR

After a very positive reaction to our first webinar on Mars, Nick Howes and I have been asked by Space Store Live to make it a regular fortnightly feature. It will be called "Space Store Live: Nick and Terry's Astro Round-up". The first one, on Tuesday 26th, was also very well received.

They will be approximately 30 minutes long, every second Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m., covering whatever is topical in space and astronomy. The next one will be on Tuesday 9 June: youtube.com/spacestorelive

   It's a Zoom webinar, and will be Live streamed to YouTube SpaceStore Live! Channel and Live streamed to Facebook Live. I'll post any last minute news via Twitter.

Details  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1115892260445/WN_6Mz_vJB9RKO-Och_ERsauA.

Live Link – Youtube https://youtu.be/1ovldPW29hg

 

2. USA launches astronauts again,

After Wednesday's postponement because of weather, NASA again launched American astronauts to orbit on an American rocket from American soil! With SpaceX partners, It was a flawless launch, and the first stage recovery was successful also. The duration of the mission is yet to be agreed, but there seems to be no reason to cut it short

 

3. Noctilucent Clouds.

These are visible through June and at least the first 3 weeks of July, sometimes longer. Look low down in the North when the first stars are visible, for these ethereal wispy silvery very high altitude clouds. Their name means 'night-shining', and they are so high up that they are illuminated by the Sun long after ordinary clouds would be in the Earth's shadow, They are thought to be caused by the very fine particles of dust left behind when meteors burn up at high altitude. They make lovely photos too.

 

4. Paul Evans has produced another excellent 'Lockdown Video guide to the sky: https://youtu.be/TvxKjws-skM

 

5. Waning Crescent Moon occults Venus, June 19, At 08h 36m 58s BST (from Belfast), the 4% waning crescent Moon will start to occult the disc of Venus. But Venus is also a thin crescent, and it's the dark side of the disc which will be covered first, so we won't notice anything at that time. It's not until about 08h 37m 45s when it starts to cover the N cusp of Venus that we'll start to see any change. More and more of the Venus crescent will be covered until the last bit of the fattest part disappears at 08h 38m 51s. Thus the complete event lasts for 1m 58s, but what we can actually see will last for only about half that time.

   Although the total brightness of the Moon will be -6.2, compared with Venus at -4.3, the crescent disc of Venus will appear brighter, because it's a much smaller surface area. So with a telescope it should be possible to see the occultation occuring, and if the sky is really transparent, to image it too.

   The times given above are for Belfast – they will vary by several minutes depending where you are in Ireland. For example, in Cork the occultation begins at about 08h 30m 43s, and in Galway at 08h 32m 25s.

   As a rough guide of where to look, from Belfast the altitude of the Moon will be 45º, and the azimuth about 115º - that's about ESE in compass terms.

 

6. Summer Solstice, June 20 at 22.44 BST

 

7. 21 June 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse Across Africa, Asia and the Middle East

An annular solar eclipse will sweep across Africa, Asia and the Middle East on 21 June 2020. A number of our National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) are organising websites and will be hosting livestreams for the event. The OAO will be sharing these links on our Facebook and Twitter when they become available. (none of this eclipse is visible anywhere in the UK or Ireland; a partial eclipse is visible in parts of SE Europe.)
IAU OAO Facebook:
www.facebook.com/iauoutreach
IAU OAO Twitter:
www.twitter.com/iau_outreach

 

8. Asteroid Day, 30 June UPDATE.  Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr. Brian May of  QUEEN; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 President Danica Remy, to promote awareness and provide knowledge to the general public about the importance of asteroids in our solar system history, and the role they play in our solar system today. Events are scheduled leading up to 30 June, the date of the largest asteroid impact of Earth in recorded history (Tunguska).

The virtual festivities kick off with a full 34 days of Asteroid Day TV (ADTV) starting June 1st and running through July 4th. This year's ADTV will consist of asteroid-related content for all ages including academic  documentaries, family learning movies, current asteroid mission highlights, origins of the planet, and much more.

From June 30th, we'll be broadcasting a brand new Asteroid Day Live from Luxembourg. (ADLIVE)—a 4-hour program featuring astronauts, asteroid experts, and other notables.  Themes this year will include topics such as current missions advancing efforts to develop greater asteroid detection, tracking and deflection techniques, and space resource initiatives.

ADTV and ADLIVE Digital from Luxembourg will be available via SES signal on select local channels, online at Twitch TV, YouTube, and via the asteroidday.org. We'll be announcing details on how to tune in the last week of May.

 

9. July 1 250th anniversary of Comet Lexell passing 0.015 AU from Earth, approx 6 Lunar Distances, or about 1.4m miles. The coma was about 2° 23' across! This was the closest known comet pass to Earth. Perihelion was on Aug 14.

 

10. ISS The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 2 July, transitioning into evening passes about mid-month, which will then continue until July 30.

 Full details for your location, and lots of other astronomy information, on the excellent free site www.heavens-above.com

 

11. Earth at aphelion, July 4,  The Earth will be furthest from the Sun in its elliptical orbit on July 4 at 11 34 UT, at a geocentric distance of 1.0166942 AU. (152,095,287.5 km)

 

12. Partial Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at Moonset, July 5.

Most of Ireland will barely see this eclipse, in which only 35% of the Moon enters the Earth's faint outer shadow, the penumbra. The N part of the Moon will be the part that's slightly darker. The eclipse begins at 04.07 BST, and greatest eclipse occurs at 05.30 BST, after Moonset throughout Ireland. The Moon sets in Belfast at 04.49, in Dublin it sets at 04.59, and in Cork at 05.18. In Portmagee it doesn't set until 05.26, which is almost at greatest eclipse. (We have to wait until 2022 May 16 before we can see another Total Lunar Eclipse from Ireland, although it will be setting just after maximum eclipse.)

 

13 TEASER ANSWERED:   

Danny Collins sent me this regarding his teaser:

   IAA member Michael McNeill sent in the correct details some time ago, closely followed by fellow IAA member Ken Doyle today. The answer is as follows: -

    The aircraft involved, B29Bs of the USAAF 315th Bomb Wing, some 76 aircraft in four bomb groups, were able to carry out this raid with some precision and at night, because they were the first to be fitted with a new electronic radar, the APQ-7 Eagle system. This was in a 'vane' that projected out sideways from each side of the fuslelage, underneath and parallel to the main wings. It gave the operator a much crisper image of the ground in front of the aircraft, being capable of picking up larger individual buildings.

   Here's the thing, the radar system was designed by teams at MIT and Bell Telephone labs, under the leadership of none other than.....

Professor Luis W. Alvarez.

    Prof. Alvarez went on of course to win the Nobel prize for Physics in 1968, and in 1980 assisting his son, Professor of Geology and Geophysics Walter Alvarez, and nuclear chemists Frank Asaro and Helen Michel, in investigating and formulating the impact theory as a cause for the K-T Boundary extinction of the dinosaurs, published in their paper "Extraterrestrial cause for the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction", Science, v. 208, p. 1995-1108, 1980.

 

Prof. Alvarez Sr can truly be said to have been in on the demise of two empires, both the Imperial Japanese, and Cretaceous Saurian.

   So congratulations to Michael and Ken, and thanks again to Brian Beesley, whose book led to this teaser.

 

14.  International Astronomical Youth Camp in Spain, 12 July – 1 August (subject to Covid-19 restrictions – check via website.)
The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge of astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. The IAYC is an experience unlike any other; a place for unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. During the camp, 65 young and enthusiastic participants from all corners of the world gather in a remote location in Spain to observe and learn about some of the most spectacular skies on this Earth. Applications for the 2020 camp are being accepted until 5 April 2020.
   International Astronomical Youth Camp, 12 July-1 August 2020;  Baños de Montemayor, Spain
More information and application are here: 
www.iayc.org

 

15. July 14, Jupiter at opposition.

 

16. July 20, Saturn at opposition.

 

17.  Perseids. August 11-12-13.  Max on Aug 12 at 13h

 

18. IAU Meet the Astronomers Programme. This is now open to everyone, for a virtual talk. See https://www.iau.org/public/meettheiauastronomers/

 

19. National Astronomy Week, 14 – 22 November.

 National Astronomy Week (NAW) will be held in the UK from Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November, to celebrate the close approach of Mars. Amateur and professional astronomers will be holding observing events during the week. Seen through a telescope magnifying about 100 times, Mars will appear as a pale orange disc, with its markings clearly visible, at a distance of 80 million km.

    Although Mars is at its closest to Earth a month earlier, by November it is well up in the sky during the early evening, allowing younger schoolchildren an opportunity to get a good view of the planet. It will not be as close again until 2033.  As well as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon will be on show during National Astronomy Week. Details of observing events will be posted on the NAW website.

 

20. INTERESTING WEBLINKS (Disclaimer - Use of material herein from various sources does not imply approval or otherwise of the opinions, political or otherwise, of those sources).  NB: If the title in the weblink does not indicate the subject matter, I give a brief simple intro before the link. I may also comment about the link afterwards.

 

ASTROPHYSICS

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/astronomers-solve-mystery-of-strange-object-that-sent-unexplained-blast-through-the-universe/ar-BB14CAg3?ocid=spartandhp

The missing mass of ordinary matter has been found  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-28/astronomers-find-universe-missing-matter/12291788?utm_source=abc_news&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_content=mail&utm_campaign=abc_news

   New class of stellar explosions https://newatlas.com/space/cow-koala-fast-blue-optical-transients/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=a71794eeb3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_27_08_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-a71794eeb3-92786061

   https://stfc.ukri.org/news/scientists-improve-our-understanding-of-the-way-that-stars-evolve/?utm_source=STFC+communications&utm_campaign=1e40ab6316-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_24_01_17_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_996d2e3807-1e40ab6316-9202371

   Cosmic Ring of Fire https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200525115657.htm

The MW's mysterious Fermi Bubbles may have come from the SM Black Hole in the centre https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/mysterious-fermi-bubbles-may-be-the-result-of-black-hole-indigestion-6-million-years-ago/ar-BB14SV5V?ocid=spartandhp

A.I. unlocks the secrets of star and planet formation https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603194438.htm

HST finds stars and galaxies formed earlier than we thought https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603194415.htm

The galaxy's brightest explosions originate with pairs of neuron stars https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/galaxy-s-brightest-explosions-go-nuclear-unexpected-trigger-pairs-dead-stars?utm_campaign=news_daily_2020-06-04&et_rid=415711678&et_cid=3352343

A new ultra-bright x-ray source between the Magellanic Clouds https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603120534.htm

Astronomers capture the full process of a pulsar powering up https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603104549.htm     

How they found a cosmic golden needle in a haystack ! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200601104601.htm

Citizen scientists spot closest brown dwarf disc yet https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200602151318.htm

 

COSMOLOGY

New test of Dark Energy and Expansion https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603120551.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

 

EARTH & MOON

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/asteroid-which-killed-dinosaurs-hit-earth-at-deadliest-possible-angle/ar-BB14CTNH?ocid=spartandhp

  New theory on Tunguska impactor  https://www.livescience.com/tunguska-impact-explained.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=RD%2BcZUuHBuJUTFJgNJcaBP7gIfZOohyumagIiryBv8c7zM0mvyPGuAWVtfAVqTSBEC31n5ap7vkpB5Pe4ErbcDBKGcsJVfaoGo7eqD%2BRRR and

https://www.livescience.com/tunguska-impact-explained.html

   https://climatenewsnetwork.net/siberia-dries-out-as-forests-burn-and-climate-heats/

The Moon is not as dry as we thought https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/our-moon-not-dry-we-thought?utm_campaign=news_daily_2020-06-04&et_rid=415711678&et_cid=3352343

 

EXOLIFE

https://www.livescience.com/intelligent-life-rare-or-common-on-Earth.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=HvLQtDFqqJkGPv8ZANd_WNOzWtHUxAIgP4q%2Bj58BfzjbF5iVRFAcgBKCED1zbtAR34bWUSg_I%2Bk_oazoScs2W7l3dSRKtzYUepA_z9LHHN

 

EXOPLANETS

Better chances of finding young earthlike planets https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200605094947.htm

 

LOCKDOWN ACTIVITY

Research at home using the JWST https://us13.campaign-archive.com/?e=%5bUNIQID%5d&u=adc1442ef1a86ff5375e1329f&id=4d506aa4d0&utm_source=STFC+communications&utm_campaign=1e40ab6316-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_24_01_17_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_996d2e3807-1e40ab6316-9202371

   Deep Space Diary, for KS2, ready for use, with the JWST https://discoverydiaries.org/diary/deep-space-diary/?utm_source=STFC+communications&utm_campaign=1e40ab6316-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_24_01_17_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_996d2e3807-1e40ab6316-9202371

 

SOLAR SYSTEM

 https://www.livescience.com/marsquake-study-could-shatter-mars-formation-theories.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=CFoQrhuhUxTzKWqPigUHxbaaAr0NWsiJ1fkD_Umi1ArT343JQJ1LTskl5t7Q7cAKnxXM3gWcguCKfpuvlVIEv9vWLQPz8lUDfGfAsIZCCV

'Oumuamua may have been a hydrogen iceberg, with more on the way: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8377245/Interstellar-visitor-Oumuamua-900ft-long-hydrogen-iceberg.html

   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8376265/Bizarre-asteroid-TAIL-gas-spotted-orbiting-Sun-simple-comet.html

   https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8383717/Marss-moon-Phobos-ring-rubble-Red-Planet.html Many of the moons in the solar system do not orbit exactly in the plane of their planet's equator! That doesn't mean that they or their neighbours were once rubble rings. Examples include Mimas (1.53º), Tethys (1.86º), Iapetus 14.72º), and Miranda (4.22º).

   Odyssey photos throw new light on Phobos https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603100456.htm

 

SPACE

ESA's new reusable rocket https://newatlas.com/space/esa-prometheus-methane-reuasble-rocket-engine/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=acce02cba1-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_06_05_08_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-acce02cba1-92786061

                 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8387129/Elon-Musks-SpaceX-launches-60-Starlink-satellites-orbit.html  

 

SUN

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8376125/Sun-unleashes-biggest-flare-2017-suggesting-finally-waking-up.html

   Eclipse data reveals secrets of solar corona https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200605165915.htm

 

Telescopes and Techniques

Developing a new instrument for the ELT https://stfc.ukri.org/news-events-and-publications/whats-happening/from-tiny-flex-pivots-to-extra-solar-gas-giants/?utm_source=STFC+communications&utm_campaign=1e40ab6316-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_24_01_17_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_996d2e3807-1e40ab6316-9202371

 

21. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION. This link downloads a Word document to join the IAA. http://documents.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. You can also make a donation via Paypal if you wish: just click on the 'Donate' button. See also
https://irishastro.org/  

 

The Irish Astronomical Association is registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 105858

 

DISCLAIMER: Any views expressed herein are mine, and do not necessarily represent those of the IAA.

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley