Hi all,
N.B. Subs for the coming session of the IAA are now due. See Item 24 below for details of how to pay.
1. Opening lecture of New Season: Wed 20th September: Prof Tom Ray - JWST
We're delighted to welcome back one of Ireland's leading astronomers, Professor Tom Ray of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, to give a lecture entitled "Highlights of the First Year of JWST". Tom is one of the Principal Investigators on the amazing MIRI instrument on the JWST, and has already given us a couple of talks about this fantastic telescope, before the actual science started rolling in. He is currently at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore at a conference on the latest results from JWST, at which he's presenting a paper, so we'll be getting the very latest stuff 'straight from the horse's mouth'!
Definitely not to be missed!
Larmor Lecture Theatre, Physics building, Queen's University Belfast, 7.30 p.m.
Admission free, including light refreshments. All welcome.
2. SEAC talk by Zoom, "NEWTS, CATS, SPECS & OGS". Thursday 21 September, 7.30 p.m.
I'll be giving this talk to the SE Astronomy Club (an updated version of the one that I gave at the last COSMOS). Yes, it is 100% astronomical, if you're puzzled by the title!
A Zoom link will be posted on their Facebook page http://facebook.com/seastroomy
3. Space Roundup returns, 26 September
I'll be doing the next live presentation on the latest news in space amd astronomy with the amazing Nick Howes on 26 September at 7.30 p.m. I'll give a social media link nearer to the time on Facebook and X/Twitter
4. ISS
The ISS starts another series of evening passes on 15 September. Details for your location on various sites, including www.heavens-above.com
5. SATURN still well placed.
Saturn was at Opposition on August 27 in Aquarius, at mag 0.4. The rings are now closing rapidly from our perspective, with an angle of only 9 degrees, which explains why it's no longer so bright when at opposition. The apparent diameter is 18.9" equatorial, and 16.9" polar, which shows that the disc is noticeably oblate. The rings have a diameter of 43", but only 6.7" on the minor axis. Of the satellites, Titan is very easy, and Rhea is usually visible even in a small telescope. Tethys and Dione are closer in, and fainter, and may need an aperture of 150mm to be seen. Even closer in, and fainter still, are Enceladus and Mimas, which will be easier to spot next year when the rings are almost edge-on, and thus much fainter, so their light doesn't drown out the faint inner satellites.
6. Comet Nishimura could be just visible to naked eye
Comet P1 Nishimura Could Be Bright Over the Next Few Weeks - Universe Today and
Hyperbolic Comet Nishimura | Spaceweather.com (spaceweatherarchive.com) and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/100328570137468/permalink/2079212772249028/?sfnsn=mo&ref=shareHowever, it will be quite low in the evening twilight sky, so it's difficult to say how prominent it will be.
7. AOP hosts ESOP42 - 42nd European Symposium on Occultation Projects - Armagh Observatory and Planetarium 15-19 September. Details
The conference programme is now available and can be viewed here:
https://www.armagh.space/meetings-conferences/esop42#deeplink-3
We expect some 30 onsite participants in addition to a similar number of delegates
who will join us via Zoom link. A complete list can be found here:
https://www.armagh.space/meetings-conferences/esop42#deeplink-6
8. MAYO DARK SKIES: "Under One Sky" for Culture Night – September 22nd
From 8pm at Ballycroy Visitor Centre, Wild Nephin National Park
This is specially designed audio-visual experience, exploring the meanings and values of dark skies through a series of short stories and poems from culturally diverse perspectives. We invite you to adjust your mind as well as your eyes…sit around the hearth…..the night reflected in our nearby pond…and share the appreciation and humility which the natural night sky has inspired for generations.
We are proud to collaborate with Dark-Source in this sensory audio visual fusion, a low impact installation using passive illumination, recycled seating and equipment.
This will be followed by a special talk at the Visitor Centre at 8.30pm.
Please note that Ballycroy Community Centre will also be hosting a special food event at 7pm-8pm for Culture Night. Everyone is welcome and there is time to head there first and then walk up to the Ballycroy Visitor Centre afterwards.
9. Venus is now a Morning Star. After gracing our evening skies in the Spring, Venus is now visible in the morning sky just before dawn. It's by far the brightest object in the night sky apart from the Moon, with a magnitude of -4.5.
It's very far South of the ecliptic, and in fact it lies about halfway between Regulus and Procyon. On the morning of the 11th, we'll see an interesting effect, as the Moon, which then lies quite a bit North of the ecliptic, will pass above Venus with a difference in Declination of almost 12 degrees! So the 'rule' that the Moon and planets follow the ecliptic is a generalisation, which sometimes is not really true.
10. Mercury is also now visible in the morning sky
These details are for about 40 minutes before sunrise; but you should start looking low in the East about 20-25 minutes before local sunrise, with binoculars at first. But never do this after sunrise!
Date Mag Ph % Elong Diam
Sep 15 1.4 16.9 14.2º 8.9"
Sep 18 0.5 29.1 16.6º 8.1"
Sep 21 -0.2 42.8 17.8º 7.4"
Sep 24 -0.6 56.6 17.7º 6.7"
Sep 27 -0.8 69.1 16.7º 6.2"
Sep 30 -1.0 78.3 15.0º 5.8"
11. Ireland takes 2 of top 5 places for Dark Sky Observing in Lonely Planet Guide!
Ireland has taken not one, but two coveted spots on the Lonely Planet's guide to the top five places for stargazing in the world.
This is a huge achievement for Mayo Dark Skies at Wild Nephin National Park - Páirc Náisiúnta Néifinne Fiáine and Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve
12. ASTROPHOGRAPHY COMPETITION – SHORTLIST OF 34 IMAGES. Night sky shines in 15th Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist (newatlas.com) There's one image from Ireland, by Brendan Alexander, of an aurora from Co. Donegal.
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13. RGO ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR. Outta this world: Winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023 (newatlas.com) Some very nice ones. But 19 is very odd. It's obviously a composite, but what's it meant to be? Is the black disc meant to be Venus in transit across the Sun? But why the various filaments etc overlying it, but only around the edge? The part of the Sun that we can see is OK, but the overlying material round the edge of the black disc does not represent any possible astronomical event. |
14. Registration for the International Observe the Moon Night is Now Open!
Saturday, 21 October, is International Observe the Moon Night! This is a day each year that everyone on Earth is invited to observe, learn about, and honour our cultural and personal connections to the Moon. It's a time to catch up on what's been happening in lunar science and exploration, celebrate the Moon in arts and culture, and connect with lunar enthusiasts around the world.
You can participate in International Observe the Moon Night from wherever you are.
* Attend or host a virtual or in-person event at your institution or in your community, or observe the Moon with your family, friends or on your own.
* Register your participation in IOMN to add your event, or yourself, to the map of lunar observers worldwide.
* Connect with lunar enthusiasts around the world and share your experience participating through the IOMN Flickr group or elsewhere on social media using the hashtag #ObserveTheMoon.
Find hands-on activities about the Moon, IOMN shareable graphics, custom Moon Maps (available in both northern and southern hemisphere versions), and more information and resources on moon.nasa.gov/observe.
15. Mayo Dark Sky Festival, 3-5 Nov.
Launch of Mayo Dark Sky Festival Programme - news to follow, but keep the festival dates marked in your calendar: 3rd to 5th November!
16. Next McCrea Lecture, RIA, Dublin, November 14 (date to be confirmed.)
More details later
17. The UK Space Conference 2023 will be hosted in Belfast at the ICC/Waterfront 21-23rd November. See https://brayleino.swoogo.com/ukspaceconference2023
18. 5th Annual Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, 29 Nov – 1 Dec.
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) is pleased to announce that registration, abstract submission, and speaker suggestions are open for the 5th Shaw–IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education (the deadline for all but registration is 26 August 2023). This fully virtual event will take place on 29 November – 1 December 2023 and is being organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE), with generous funding from the Shaw Prize Foundation.
19. The Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) Conference is the only large-scale international conference for astronomy communication. The next CAP conference will be held in hybrid mode from 24 – 28 June 2024, in-person at Cité de l'espace, Toulouse, France and online.
20. EASY TEASER ANSWERED
What well-known large solar system object is almost exactly twice the diameter of another well-known large solar system object? (the difference between A and 2xB is only 2.03%). (Large = at least 1,000km diameter). No answers yet, so here's a clue: One of them is a planet.
Clue: they are very far apart!.
Congrats to Chris McCambridge who cracked this one. The answer is Mercury and Pluto: Mercury = 4879km, 2x Pluto= 4780 km, difference = 2.03%
(The second closest pair in that category is: Mars and the Moon. (Mars = 6797 km, 2x Moon = 6948km, difference = 4.6%).
21. NEW EASY TEASER:
What well-known celestial object currently (as of 16 Sep 2023) has a Right Ascension of 3h 02m 58.27"s
22. NEW DIFFICULT TEASER:
What does the quantity 1224.288 represent? I'm feeling generous, so here's a free starter clue: it relates to time. NB: not all sources will include the decimal figures, nevertheless that is the most accurate figure available.
No answers yet, so here's a clue: the units are seconds.
Still no answers, so another clue – it's a difference
Please send all Teaser answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
23. INTERESTING WEBLINKS (Disclaimer – leading its nameUse 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:
Stunning James Webb Space Telescope image shows young star blasting supersonic jets | Space
James Webb Space Telescope deepens major debate over universe's expansion rate | Space
Strange radio signals three billion light years away 'could come from aliens' (msn.com) That's very unlikely. It would imply that a very advanced civilisation had developed elsewhere in the universe at least 3 billion years ago. Given what we know about stellar and planetary and biological evolution, it's unlikely that a planet enriched with the abundances of the metals for advanced technology would have formed in time for the long process of the evolution of life to a highly advanced stage. Not impossible, but unlikely.
Scientists find 'missing link' of how black holes disrupt orbiting stars (msn.com)
Astronomers may have discovered the closest black holes to Earth (msn.com)
Stellar jets https://www.facebook.com/100001372845989/posts/6537179346337762/?sfnsn=scwspmo Billion-light-year-wide bubble of galaxies could be a fossil of the Big Bang | Space
Cosmic explosion brighter than billions of suns spotted in red galaxy (msn.com) and
Rare and dazzling cosmic explosion spotted by researchers (msn.com)
Congrats to the astronomers at the ARC in QUB for this fascinating work!
Wobbly jets be be evidence of supermassive black hole pairings | Space
Furthest ever detection of a galaxy's magnetic field – study (msn.com)
Supermassive black hole accretion disk seen 'on the edge' for 1st time | Space
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/gravity-doesnt-happen-instantly/ Black holes keep 'burping up' stars they destroyed years earlier (msn.com)
Black Holes in the Hyades star cluster? Does the Hyades Star Cluster Harbor Black Holes? - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope (skyandtelescope.org) There's an interesting connection here: It was an observation of a total solar eclipse in 1919 when the Sun appeared in the Hyades, which confirmed Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It would have been a fantastic coincidence if there was a Black Hole, also predicted by that theory, in the background!
Scientists find explanation for 'impossible' blast of light that hit Earth (msn.com)
COSMOLOGY
The universe is slowing down https://www.facebook.com/100063922471046/posts/744428804364529/?sfnsn=scwspmo James Webb Space Telescope deepens major debate over universe's expansion rate | Space
EARTH & MOON
Two nights ago, near the northernmost point of Iceland, the night sky exploded with the northern lights and a spectacular fireball, above the Arctic Henge monument, when a tennis-ball sized space rock entered the earth atmosphere and burned at an altitude of 60-90 km, becoming as bright as the full moon for a moment. Such meteors are very rare to witness. Credits: Babak Tafreshi
Putin announces new space mission after being left humiliated by Luna crash (msn.com)Humanity deep in the danger zone of planetary boundaries: study (msn.com) Mysterious moonquake traced to Apollo 17 lunar lander base | SpaceThis was the hottest summer ever recorded on Earth | Live Science what's really worrying are the temperatures in the polar regions!India's Moon lander just detected movement below the lunar surface (msn.com) Those pesky Clangers again!India's Chandrayaan-3 moon lander spotted from lunar orbit (photo) | Space Crystal-studded space rock found in the Sahara may rewrite the history of the early solar system (msn.com) https://www.aol.com/metallic-spheres-found-pacific-floor-114916122.htmlAvi Loeb's team's findings may not say whether the metallic spheres are artificial or natural in origin, but they are unmatched in our solar system.India's moon rover detects sulphur and other elements near lunar south pole (msn.com) Oldest meteorite ever found sheds light on early solar system (msn.com)
EXOLIFE
James Webb Space Telescope discovers possible signs of life on distant planet (msn.com)
Nasa just discovered the strongest evidence yet for alien life (msn.com)
First ever 'alien' objects found on Earth - fragments confirmed to be not of this world (msn.com) But this is still to be independently confirmed, and they are probably NOT artefacts
NASA scientist's claim about possible life on Venus fuels alien-life theories (msn.com)
Nasa scientist says alien life 'absolutely' exists – and in a surprising place (msn.com)
EXOPLANETS
Webb discovers methane, carbon dioxide in atmosphere of K2-18 b (spacedaily.com)
NASA Scientists Believe There Are Trillions of Replicas of Earth in Outer Space (msn.com)
Nasa says distant exoplanet could have rare water ocean and possible hint of life (msn.com)
IMAGES, Film, Video
great amateur image of M31! https://www.facebook.com/1728339851/posts/10211103519460384/?sfnsn=scwspmoSuperb video of Comet Nishimura https://twitter.com/i/status/1698382658139480198 Amazing image of Bubble Nebula https://www.facebook.com/1728339851/posts/10211057380666943/?sfnsn=scwspmoJames Webb captures fascinating image of famous spiral galaxy (msn.com) SOLAR SYSTEM Scientists give verdict on Harvard professor's claim of finding materials in sea from outside Solar System (msn.com) Well said, Monica Grady (and I'm not just saying that because ehe's a friend!). As soon as Avi Loeb made his initial claim, I made the point that it would require independent analysis by several other experts before any firm conclusions can be reached. Avi Loeb has an obsession with extra-terrestrial materials, starting with his claim that 'Omuamua was an interstellar artefact. And he has books to sell....Asteroid that collided with NASA spacecraft is behaving unexpectedly, high school class discovers | Live Science Mysterious Earth-sized planet could be hiding in plain sight in our Solar System (msn.com)Oldest meteorite ever found sheds light on early solar system (msn.com)NASA scientist's claim about possible life on Venus fuels alien-life theories (msn.com)Lucy captures its first images of Asteroid Dinkinesh (spacedaily.com)
SPACE
Tim Peake: 'We're going to be living on Mars in seven years – and universe is teeming with intelligent life!' (msn.com) "Living" on Mars by 2030 is being optimistic! It depends on what you mean by 'living' – did the Apollo astronauts 'live' on the Moon, or did they just visit? If you mean living there for 6 months or more, I don't think that will happen by 2030!Panel calls for giant boost to space station research | Science | AAAS 1 year after launch failure, Blue Origin's New Shepard remains grounded | Space A faulty Russian rocket left an astronaut stranded in space. Now he is a record breaker (msn.com) US astronaut sets record for stint in space (spacedaily.com) NASA manages to produce oxygen on Mars (msn.com) andPerseverance rover: NASA manages to produce oxygen on Mars to sustain an astronaut for three hours (msn.com)Japan launches historic mission for 'precision landing' on lunar surface along with 'Moon sniper' satellite (msn.com)Sex between space tourists will happen eventually. Are we ready for babies conceived off Earth? | Space One thing is certain – the Earth won't move for them!Putin's Moon ambitions crashed to the ground – and Nasa has just found where (msn.com)Japan prepares shape-shifting Moon rover for launch after Indian success (msn.com)'It's like doing an Arctic expedition with German scientists in 1943': life on the International Space Station at a time of war (msn.com)New crew for the space station launches with 4 astronauts from 4 countries (msn.com)
SUN
Newly discovered Sun "nanoflares" could be source of solar wind (newatlas.com)
UFOs, Aliens, etc
'This is complete nonsense': Scientists rail against 'alien' bodies shown before Mexican congress | Live Science As anyone with a milligram of common sense already knew!
24. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION. This link gives options to join the IAA.
https://irishastro.org/join-the-iaa/ If you are a UK taxpayer, please select 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
