Hi all,
1. IAA LECTURE Wednesday 15 October, 7.30 p.m. Larmor Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, QUB: "Masters of Light and Iron: The Rise and Legacy of the Grubb Telescope Company" by Dr Donnacha O'Driscoll, UCD
ABSTRACT
This presentation explores the pivotal yet often underappreciated role of the Grubb Telescope Company in the advancement of astronomical instrumentation during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Founded in Dublin by Thomas Grubb and later expanded by his son Howard, the firm emerged from a tradition of precision engineering to become a world-leading manufacturer of large-scale refracting and reflecting telescopes.
I will trace the company's early commissions for Irish observatories to its international acclaim, supplying major instruments across the British Empire and beyond, such as the magnificent 27" Vienna refractor and the great Greenwich Equatorial telescope. The Grubb's key innovations in telescope mount design, clock drives, and optical fabrication, set new standards for stability, precision, and ease of use. These technological breakthroughs not only enabled groundbreaking astronomical discoveries but also cemented the company's reputation for unparalleled craftsmanship.
Finally, I will address the challenges they faced, including increased competition and financial pressures, which ultimately led to the company's transition into the renowned Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons & Co. By examining the company's origins, triumphs, and eventual decline, I will argue that the Grubb Telescope Company was a fundamental catalyst in the professionalization of astronomy, bridging the gap between the era of the gifted amateur and the dawn of modern astrophysics.
Brief Bio:
Dr. Donnacha O'Driscoll received a BSc in UCC in 1987, a PhD in UCD in 1991 and an MBA in DCU in 2000. He is the General Manager of the Science Foundation Ireland research centre 'Insight' in UCD. Although professionally he has worked in the biotechnology and data analytical sectors, his passion is in astronomy and in particular Lunar astronomy. He has been an active observer of the Moon for over 40 years and has presented many talks on the subject in that time. He established and runs the outreach website www.themoon.ie. Donnacha was recently elected president of the Irish Astronomical Society where he also leads the Lunar Observation Group.
2, Death of former Director of Armagh Observatory, Dr Mart de Groot.
I sadly have to report the death of Dr Mart de Groot, Director of Armagh Observatory from 1976 to 1994. After the death of Dr Eric Lindsay (who graciously gave me permission to use the 10" Grubb refractor at the observatory any time I wanted), there was a short period when Dr Ernst Opik was acting Director, before Mart was appointed.
Mart served on the Council of the IAA for many years during his term as Director, and gave us several interesting lectures.
His particular interest was P Cygni, a Luminous Blue Variable hypergiant. With a visual mag of about 4.8, it is one of the most distant stars visible to the naked eye, at a distance of 6,500LY.
Sincere condolences to his family and friends.
3. Launch of Starship, October 13.
Starship's 11th test flight, is scheduled for Monday Oct. 13 at 2315 GMT (24.15 BST/IST). You'll be able to watch the action live, courtesy of SpaceX.
4. What People See and Feel During a Total Solar Eclipse | Watch
If you haven't already planned or booked for the total solar eclipses of August 2026 and 2027, this may persuade you to do so. But nothing, I repeat, nothing prepares you for the actual experience of totality, in a clear sky.
5. SATURN JUST PAST OPPOSITION:
The second biggest planet in our system is still well-placed for observing after its opposition on Sep 21.
Both the Sun and the Earth are now on the South side of the ring plane, but the rings present to us at a very narrow angle of just over 1 degree, and they will close even further as Saturn retrogrades, due to Earth's orbital motion.
Now is a good time to look for the fainter inner satellites, as the rings are much less bright than when fully open. The current magnitudes (outwards from Mimas) are: Mimas 13.0, Enceladus 11,8, Tethys 10.3, Dione 10.5, Rhea 9.8, Titan 8.4. `
By 31 Oct Saturn will have faded slightly to mag 0.9, diameter 18.9"
6. IAA SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE DUE, 1 September
After many many years of keeping the subs constant at £20 we have reluctantly had to raise the amount to £25, to cover rising costs. Student membership is only £10. Details on the IAA website https://irishastro.org/
Please amend your payment details accordingly. If you have already paid at the old rate, please add an extra £5 via Paypal or whatever is convenient.
7. Two New Comets visible very soon.
Keep an Eye Out for Newly Discovered Comets in October - CNET https://share.google/ZSjsej2lHef4LLCid
And How to find Comet Lemmon in the night sky as it brightens this October | Space https://share.google/TZh0lkSubicO3sVXn
And Comet Tracker For Friday: When And Where To See The Two Green Comets https://share.google/pluZJ2U7tF9wq63NG
The surprising and serendipitous discovery of Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) continues to intrigue astronomers and imagers, while Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) may grow even brighter as it passes through the northern evening sky. Bob King has an update on the position and visibility of these two promising comets.
Astrophotographers capture dazzling new views of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) as it brightens for October skies | Space https://share.google/yLYu8mUyjFnFPsmw9
8. INTERSTELLAR COMET, 3I/ATLAS
(Prof Alan Fitzsimmons' superb talk on 1 October has whetted our interest in this object even more!)
1st known interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua is an 'exo-Pluto' — a completely new class of object, scientists say | Space https://share.google/vGHZM6kvulUiGnPMb
Avi never gives up ! Harvard Astronomer Claims "Major Anomaly" As Interstellar Object 3I/Atlas Measured Over 33 Billion Tons | IFLScience https://share.google/myii6Cwb2dxXQxRyr
It's official! An interstellar object is visiting our solar system
With an absolute magnitude of about 12, it will be interesting to see how much it brightens as it nears perihelion. We may get our best view as it moves out from the solar glare in December, and gets closest to Earth, although even then it will be about 1.6 AU away.
Please ignore all the media speculation about this being an alien artefact: just Avi Loeb off on his favourite hobby-horse again. - As Prof Chris Lintott told me recently 'It's nonsense on stilts!'
And NASA has just released the following NASA responds to claim that mystery space object is potential alien spacecraft
Since this is the first chance any of us will have had to see a non-stellar object from outside our solar system, I'm giving the following details for initial planning. No doubt more accurate details will be available in due course:
Epoch = 2025 Oct. 12.0 TT
T = 2025 Oct. 29.41062 TT Peri. = 127.93850
e = 6.1801697 Node = 322.18759 2000.0
q = 1.3620397 AU Incl. = 175.11382
(Note that the inclination is much more than 90 degrees – almost 180, in fact. This means that it is travelling round the Sun in almost the opposite direction to all the planets. Which also means that if it were to hit us, it would be quite a bang!)
The following ephemeris is from the above orbital elements, and uses photometric power-law parameters H = 9.5 and 2.5n = 8 for the magnitudes. (Delta is distance from Earth, and r (Radius Vector) is distance from the Sun, both in AUs). Elong is angular elongation from the Sun.
it is now too close to the Sun for easy observation, but may be visible by 21 November, much better placed for Northern observers.
I wonder who in Ireland will be first to image it? And I hope to be able to see it visually, although I no longer have my own 37cm reflector!
Date TT R. A. (2000) Decl. Delta r Elong. Phase Mag.
2025 11 21 12 34.09 -02 22.3 2.040 1.593 49.8 28.3 12.7
2025 11 26 12 18.72 -01 01.8 1.978 1.694 58.9 29.9 12.8
2025 12 01 12 01.83 +00 27.9 1.920 1.808 68.4 30.5 13.0
2025 12 06 11 43.30 +02 06.8 1.871 1.932 78.4 30.0 13.1
2025 12 11 11 23.10 +03 54.3 1.833 2.063 88.8 28.5 13.3
2025 12 16 11 01.34 +05 48.4 1.811 2.202 99.7 26.1 13.5
2025 12 21 10 38.31 +07 45.8 1.808 2.345 110.8 23.1 13.7
2025 12 26 10 14.50 +09 42.1 1.828 2.493 122.1 19.5 14.0
2025 12 31 09 50.52 +11 32.4 1.872 2.645 133.3 15.7 14.2
2026 01 05 09 27.06 +13 12.7 1.941 2.799 144.3 11.8 14.5
2026 01 10 09 04.75 +14 40.1 2.035 2.956 155.0 8.1 14.8
2026 01 15 08 44.07 +15 53.7 2.153 3.114 165.1 4.6 15.1
2026 01 20 08 25.34 +16 53.8 2.293 3.274 174.5 1.7 15.4
2026 01 25 08 08.70 +17 41.8 2.454 3.436 175.2 1.4 15.7
2026 01 30 07 54.15 +18 19.6 2.632 3.599 167.0 3.5 16.1
See also section on this comet under 'weblinks' at the end.
9 VENUS and JUPITER VISIBLE IN MORNING SKY
Our sister planet is still visible low in morning twilight, but it's now getting very close to the Sun. Jupiter is higher up in Gemini.
10. WhatsApp Group for alerts on Observing Nights.
The IAA have set up a WhatsApp Group for updates on Observing Nights. If you would like to be included in this group, please e-mail Mary at callistoboxers@hotmail.com with your full name & mobile telephone number.
No discussions about anything other than Observing Nights will be posted on this group.
11. IAA 50th Anniversary History booklet
All IAA members should have received a free copy of this history of the IAA with their latest Stardust. It would be good to have some feedback, so any comments are welcome.
Did you find it interesting or useful?
Any major omissions or errors that you are aware of? Any memories that it brought back for you?
12, 2025 Hamilton Lecture: 'My romance with the warped side of our universe' - Royal Irish Academy, 16 October, by Nobel Laureate Prof Kip Thorne,
13. ISS
The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 17 October. Details for your location are available on www,heavens-above.com
14. ALAN 2025, 28 – 30 October 2025, Westport, Co.Mayo.
Preparations are nearly complete for the 9th Scientific Conference on Artificial Light At Night, ALAN2025, from October 28-30, 2025, in Westport, Ireland. Our host will be Dark Sky Ireland. The invited speakers will be revealed soon, but we can already promise you interesting talks about science, governance, dark sky outreach, and lighting design.
The conference offers a platform for interdisciplinary networking and exchange on the topics Biology & Ecology, Governance & Regulations, Health, Measurements & Modelling, Social Sciences & Humanities, Technology & Design.
We welcome researchers, lighting professionals, policy makers, light pollution activists, and everybody who is interested in the effects of artificial light at night. The conference aims to present new findings, exchange experiences and ideas, network, and discuss hoe artificial light can be used with less negative impacts.
I'm on the organising committee for this event, so I'll keep you posted regarding the programme.
For more information check out our website at artificiallightatnight.org .
This event will be followed immediately by the European LP event, and then that will be followed immediately by the wonderful Mayo Dark Sky Festival in nearby Newport –
15. Mayo Dark Sky Festival, 31 October – 2 November. Another amazing programme, with a wide variety of events. One of the highlights of the year.. Details and tickets at https://www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie/?utm_campaign=756da2e1-b561-4d4d-9587-9fe4dd8cee87&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=deca6829-6eef-4150-952e-f2ca19b05911
16. ISS 25th Anniversary Event at AOP, 2 November
Public Talk – 25th Anniversary of Continuous Human Presence Aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Join Paul Evans from the IAA in a special talk "25 years of The International Space Station - How it came to be" to celebrate a quarter century of uninterrupted human occupancy aboard the ISS.
Talk start times: 12:45pm and 2:45pm lasting 45mins each with time for Q&A afterwards.
*Tickets include access to our exhibition area.
*If you decide to add a dome show, the talk ticket will be free. This will be automatically applied at checkout. Book Dome Show Tickets Here
See https://armaghobservatoryplanetarium.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173662915
17: HEADS UP – Advance notice. IFAS Convention, Saturday 12 September 2026.
"From Ancient Stones to Distant Stars". Birr Castle, Co Offaly. This event, being organised by Ronan Newman, chair of IFAS, is the first event of its kind. It will be an all-day event, with a possible optional dinner in the evening, and possibly observing if clear. Top speakers are being invited, and there will also be major contribution from IFAS clubs. Details still being arranged, but mark the date in your diaries.
18. 2026 Eclipse planning.
This may be of interest to those planning observing locations for the total solar eclipses in 2026 and 2027
Global risk map reveals the most dangerous countries and cities
And weather prospects for the coming eclipses such as the one in Spain in 2026, and N. Africa in 2027, are on www.eclipsophile.com . The discussions there will help you pick a site for the eclipse, as weather is one of the important factors to consider.
19: Recurrent Nova T Corona Borealis – We're still waiting!
UPDATE: Wondering why that 'new star' never appeared? Astronomers may have discovered why the Blaze Star hasn't blown | BBC Sky at Night Magazine https://share.google/eP2DLEDZrFD4PtfLo
It's well over a year and a half now since the first predictions of an 'imminent' outburst! But, it could explode any time, so, keep an eye on it - comparison charts can be found on the websites of the BAA Variable Star Section, or the AAVSO. The current magnitude is around 10, so you'll need a good telescope to see it now.
(BTW, don't confuse it with the other nearby famous variable star, R CrB, which does the opposite – it stays normally around 6th magnitude, but occasionally dims to as faint as magnitude 14 or 15!)
Anyway, do keep an eye out – T CrB lies just outside the East side of the circle of the 'Crown', about a degree from Epsilon CrB, but you really do need charts to observe it properly. It's now visible in the sky each night.
It's at Declination: 25° 55′ 12.613″; R.A.: 15h 59m 30.1622s)
20: NEW EASY TEASER:
What's the next (and last) one in this sequence A, A, D, M, M, M ?
Clue: No answers yet, so: If there's one more in the sequence, how many in total?
Another clue: What's in a name?
21. DIFFICULT TEASER ANSWERED:
Yep, it's that man again – Peter Denman has cracked it.
What is significant about the dates 3 April and 5 October, in 2025?
Clue: No answers yet, So: Avoid circular thinking.
ANSWER: those are the dates when the Earth was exactly halfway between its greatest (aphelion) distance and least (perihelion) distance, from the Sun. In other words, it was at exactly 1 Astronomical Unit from the Sun on those dates, in that year.
Congratulations again to Peter!
22. NEW DIFFICULT TEASER
What's the significance of the number 30.436849?
Remember, send answers to me only at my aol address: terrymosel@aol.com.
23. 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:
Webb glimpses doomed star before its explosion
JWST May Have Discovered a New Kind of Star Powered by Dark Matter https://share.google/qAoo9yFkWhZLpMHRj
Astronomers discover the most 'pristine' star in the known universe https://share.google/VQvjGtGbhBMVHEYMl
Missing wind from Milky Way's giant black hole finally found | Science | AAAS https://share.google/e2y5GWrLP2NEceG5e
Astronomers detect lowest mass dark object ever measured using gravitational lensing https://share.google/1GpNOk7ddJV9tKtB5
Discovery of binary stars the first step in creating 'movie of the universe' https://share.google/7IFFFQqkljgAYY1es
The Most Metal-Free Star Ever Observed is Found In Our Own Backyard - Universe Today
A 'Great Wave' is rippling through our galaxy, pushing thousands of stars out of place
JWST spots dust-cloaked 'red supergiant' star just before it went supernova | Space https://share.google/Lvp7j7Gs79lZs42M3
Astronomers discover a 'Triple Galaxy', which is a Galaxy within a Galaxy within a Galaxy, located 600 million light-years from Earth. Nobody knows why or how it even exists. https://search.app/JqYbg
"Black Holes Regulate Galaxies": Frontier Supercomputer Simulation Exposes Fiery Jets And Filaments Reaching 180 Million °F Across Cosmic Clusters https://share.google/Dpl9uqfYmOU7euY6M
Missing wind from Milky Way's giant black hole finally found | Science | AAAS
"The Great Wave": There Is A Massive Ripple Across The Milky Way Shifting Stars By Hundreds Of Light-Years | IFLScience https://share.google/yDcytQG4L9BJmLBkj
Strange rings of light appear to link together in space in new discovery | Mashable
We Finally Know How The Lights Switched on at The Dawn of Time : ScienceAlert https://share.google/a3KkZDce2NfQd2Mdl
A Newly Discovered 'Einstein's Cross' Reveals the Existence of a Giant Dark Matter Halo | WIRED https://www.wired.com/story/a-newly-discovered-einsteins-cross-reveals-the-existence-of-a-giant-dark-matter-halo/
Two Quasars From the Early Universe Provide Clues About Galactic Evolution - Universe Today https://share.google/lPu4TXwlwV6Pyu0XN
Exceptional star is the most pristine object known in the universe | New Scientist https://share.google/yNGrgDK7ie0IPGJz7
Euclid: Space professor reflects on success of satellite - BBC News https://share.google/j9rEC0PoLOfbpgkFN
Stunning Double Ring System Is The Most Powerful Odd Radio Circle Found So Far : ScienceAlert https://share.google/bufARLZBdHHAH352G
Astronomers discover a 'Great Wave' spreading across the Milky Way in new map of thousands of stars | Live Science https://share.google/F4faPw9rzRrMRbOF6
Do black holes exist and, if not, what have we really been looking at? | New Scientist
Dedicated Amateur Discovers Supernova in Remote Galaxy - Universe Today https://share.google/7pZZGp0yaezF2e8Kb
JWST peers into the Crystal Ball Nebula to unveil a stellar finale https://share.google/8oItdUbcKEuaOiZ4f
Infrared data from the James Webb Telescope reveals more structural details of M87's black hole jet https://share.google/D8fNSxGQ5nvgj2WjC
Astronomers find 2 galaxies linked by a huge gas bridge
Modeling quark star merger ejecta: Study reveals three possible outcomes https://share.google/OLP0lamEM9r4AclE6
Gaia telescope discovers our galaxy's great wave https://share.google/Tj7rQOmDnMNohT4yE
Kepler Reveals the True Source of the Signal Coming From KOI-1755 - Universe Today https://share.google/T9JgJHU1tlEoP6nWN
COMET I3/ATLAS (I3 stands for 'Interstellar 3', i.e. the 3rd known interstellar object)
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS may come from the mysterious frontier of the early Milky Way, new study hints | Live Science
Astronomers confirm the presence of water on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS - The Brighter Side of News https://share.google/TMrFJll9BjPQYabw8
3I/ATLAS is a mad topic surrounded by speculations about aliens and other controversial takes. But there's a lot of real science about this fascinating objects. So, in this video we put together all the major discoveries and scientific papers about 3I/ATLAS.Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hZWKAxFeNp8
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS may come from the mysterious frontier of the early Milky Way, new study hints | Live Science
'Interstellar visitor' 3I/ATLAS could be the oldest comet ever seen — and could grow a spectacular tail later this year | Live Science https://www.livescience.com/space/comets/interstellar-visitor-3i-atlas-could-be-the-oldest-comet-ever-seen-and-could-grow-a-spectacular-tail-later-this-year
More nonsense from Avi Loeb! Why is the Orbital Plane of 3I/ATLAS Inclined by 5 degrees Relative to the Ecliptic Plane? | by Avi Loeb | Oct, 2025 | Medium https://share.google/Phe2lDCDH9Bip7oAj
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will be eyed by Mars and Jupiter probes as it zooms past the sun this month | Space
COSMOLOGYNew data indicates that the universe will "end in a big crunch" - Earth.com https://share.google/sheS6idFJYN0k3zp4
As outlined by Dr Ernst Opik at Armagh Observatory in the mid Sixties, in his book "The Oscillating Universe", which I still have!Once every 500 billion years — The universe could be looping around a hidden "something" https://share.google/pQ6eBW9rKsZEiJSpm
There is an odd streak in the universe – and we still don't know why | New Scientist https://share.google/Qd7nSJ4MnamBjawbE
Meet BOSS, the largest discovered structure in the universe so far, a wall of galaxies at over a billion light-years across. https://search.app/Yvrb2
What if the Universe Remembers Everything? New Theory Rewrites the Rules of Physics https://share.google/NOGg8bUnofP2w7qpO
Dark matter and dark energy may only be a cosmic illusion https://share.google/InO7YuRSK5rUzA2dH
New Cosmology theory https://search.app/nCQ5f
Data from dark-energy observatories indicate universe may 'end in a big crunch' at 33 billion years old https://share.google/UULooacZd7U7Y33YB
EARTH & MOONNASA Says Earth Is Getting Darker—Here's What That Means for the Future https://share.google/WolqCUBSusjHyHwaZ
Scientists discover why Moon's far side is colder
Strange glass reveals evidence of 'missing' asteroid strike that melted Earth's surface
Moon could have craters with vast amount of platinum, scientists find
NASA Could Use Blue Origin's Lander for Artemis III if Starship Fails | Extremetech https://share.google/zZN0E4lzxEa58G5vU
Rock Samples From the Far Side of the Moon Reveal a Chilling Mystery - The Debrief
Sand-Sized Stones Unlock the Secret History of Earth's First Life https://scitechdaily.com/sand-sized-stones-unlock-the-secret-history-of-earths-first-life/
18 Years Ago, Earth's Gravity Glitched. The Answer Was Underground. https://share.google/2v9u7ErYaejZWcepT
Nearly invisible asteroids around Venus could threaten Earth — but don't worry, not for a while | Space https://share.google/1GJRBIa9auHoJtUmz
"University of Bern study shows Earth acquired life-essential elements—water, carbon compounds, sulfur—via a later dramatic arrival, not during initial formation. Isotope analysis of manganese-53 and chromium-53 in meteorites and Earth rocks indicates Earth's core composition https://t.co/qKqhAeAcY4" / X https://share.google/1SrV6GEyZWeXh5SV4
Lasers show how much land Earth is losing land to the seas - Earth.com https://share.google/vC7Ld1D8BfYKZN1Hv
EXOLIFE:The discovery of new complex organic molecules at Saturn's #Enceladus enhances the likelihood that the moon is habitable. On Earth, these molecules are involved in chemical reaction chains that lead to the more complex molecules essential for life..Read more https://esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/Cassini_proves_complex_chemistry_in_Enceladus_ocean https://search.app/ki8Yc
EXOPLANETSMoon-forming dust disk discovered around a massive planet - Earth.com https://share.google/QZclasTdZ5qcqzBYE
Earth May Not Be So Special After All, New Study Finds https://share.google/mvQhTM3PfgAmJ6fHg
Record-Smashing Rogue Planet Caught Growing at 6 Billion Tons Per Second : ScienceAlert https://share.google/zcQYlwmBfsfOUBj6U
Two Neptune-sized exoplanets discovered around a young sun-like star https://share.google/u4tNMT4uxnwMOu4pT
James Webb telescope spies a 'farting' dwarf planet with fluorescent gas in the outer solar system | Live Science https://share.google/L5sQj0LqBvV8AOvGm (Another U.... OK, I won't say it!)
IMAGESHubble captured the heart of the Trifid Nebula. This is a star-forming region within our own Milky Way Galaxy, at a distance of about 9,000 light-years. A group of recently formed, massive, bright stars is easily visible near the center. Image credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI); Acknowledgment: F. Yusef-Zadeh (Northwestern Univ.) https://search.app/HzZ85
NGC 3314: When Galaxies http://overlap.no/ visible gravitational lensing from the foreground galaxy on the background one, as both are nearby, making the angular shift smaller than the galaxies' sizes. Hubble's image captures two aligned spirals: face-on NGC 3314a with bright star clusters, and NGC 3314b showing dark dust lanes. Both edge the Hydra Cluster, ~200M ly away. Lensing is clearer with distant, smaller lenses; future high-res telescopes might detect brief flashes from foreground stars magnifying background ones.
NASA. https://search.app/yb1gw
Cosmic baboon rampages through deep space in gorgeous new nebula photo | Space
Hubble's WFC3 captures the dense core of Omega Centauri, a massive globular cluster with 100,000 stars. Installed in May 2009 during Servicing Mission 4, WFC3 provides sharp multi-wavelength images. It shows stars in various stages: yellow-white hydrogen-fusers, aging orange giants, blue helium-fusers, faint blue white dwarfs, and "blue stragglers" rejuvenated by collisions. The core's stars, just a third of a light-year apart, challenge age notions, hinting at a disrupted galaxy's remnants. Credits: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team https://search.app/gikej
Astronaut Don Pettit Shares Image Of The "Belt Of Venus" From The International Space Station | IFLScience https://share.google/SkCEKXoz9PO3FGd7k
Webb captures detailed image of galaxy M87's black hole jet - Earth.com https://www.earth.com/news/webb-captures-incredibly-detailed-image-of-galaxy-m87s-black-hole-jet/
The sombrero Galaxy in incredible detail by Hubble Space Telescope https://search.app/SEbAH
Telescopes scan the skies over the Atacama Desert photo of the day for Sept. 30, 2025 | Space https://share.google/Ih5r14nluYgX3Lbja
It may look like these comets are racing, but they are not. Comets C/2025 K1 ATLAS (left) and C/2025 R2 SWAN (right) appeared near each other by chance last week in the featured image taken from France's Reunion Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Fainter Comet ATLAS is approaching our Sun and will reach its closest approach in early October when it is also expected to be its brightest -- although still only likely visible with long exposures on a camera. The brighter comet, nicknamed SWAN25B, is now headed away from our Sun, although its closest approach to Earth is expected in mid-October, when optimistic estimates have it becoming bright enough to see with the unaided eye. Each comet has a greenish coma of expelled gas and an ion tail pointing away from the Sun.Image Credit & Copyright: Luc Perrot (TWAN) https://search.app/NRZSV
LIGHT & SATELLITE SKY POLLUTION1 to 2 Starlink satellites are falling back to Earth each day https://share.google/jLDSmPFpIhXG8oEv8
SOLAR SYSTEM Longstanding "Ice Giant" Classification of Uranus and Neptune Might Be Conflicted - Universe Today https://share.google/aBEpQMZBhOldBl6hw
Saturn's moon Mimas may have an ocean — and a future spacecraft could find it | Space Mimas is the smallest, faintest and closest-in of the Saturnian satellites that I have actually observed. At mag 12.9 at opposition, and only 185,000 km from the centre of Saturn, it's very difficult to see in most amateur telescopes except when the rings are edge-on, and therefore not obtrusively bright.
'The metal detector has gone off': Perseverance rover's find is a shiny new clue in the search for life on Mars
Scientists track 'dust devils' bouncing around on surface of Mars | The Independent https://share.google/ATaMgtal9fpEv6Kkb
Another moon in our solar system may have a deep hidden ocean - Earth.com https://share.google/g8SUEDQsklTqqKlmu
Curiosity Rover Just Landed on a New Spot on Mars—And Made an Unprecedented Discovery https://share.google/LWLwlIkYJoWQBsmQr
50-Year-Old Data Reveals Venus's Clouds Are Mostly Water : ScienceAlert https://www.sciencealert.com/50-year-old-data-reveals-venuss-clouds-are-mostly-water
Planet Y? Astronomers find fresh clues of hidden world in our solar system | CNN https://share.google/ZjehRkYl11jf8GCKO
Scientists Discover First Evidence of Lava Tubes on Venus - Universe Today
Saturn's moon Enceladus is shooting out organic molecules that could help create life | Space https://share.google/rixlCKpbiaDWW739U
"Very Strange" – Saturn's Moon Titan Is Behaving Unusually https://share.google/PNFyOpcMUN9a3JDrC
Our solar system's asteroid belt is slowly disappearing | Live Science https://share.google/WA9sSuJ88uItSyH78
Gaia solves mystery of tumbling asteroids and finds new way to probe their interiors https://share.google/URSuMWOFDqsoKkcJi
A hidden ocean may have once existed on Uranus' moon Ariel | Space https://share.google/NgrvBKCVWAKn8JZWm
Fresh Evidence of Complex Chemistry Found in The Alien Ocean of Saturn's Moon : ScienceAlert https://share.google/zBCBtwi0eS9YbJUaG
An actual mountain on Jupiter's moon Io created using real data from NASA Juno during a flyby Estimated at 7 km (4.3 miles) tall https://search.app/Rm9Dk
Mysterious crown-like features on Venus may finally have an explanation | Space
This dwarf planet has gas: Makemake's methane surprises scientists | Space
SPACEBlue Origin rolls out powerful New Glenn rocket for testing ahead of Mars launch (video) | Space
NASA Announced A Date For The First Crewed Mission To The Moon In 50 Years https://share.google/jifKkB1wiENHLaHuY
NASA to send people to Moon in months in first crewed mission in 50 years
NASA Could Use Blue Origin's Lander for Artemis III if Starship Fails | Extremetech https://share.google/zZN0E4lzxEa58G5vU
Relive the pioneering days of Gemini and Mercury in this gorgeous new coffee-table photo book (exclusive) | Space https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-books/relive-the-pioneering-days-of-gemini-and-mercury-in-this-gorgeous-new-coffee-table-photo-book-exclusive
Sierra Space and NASA revise Dream Chaser contract https://share.google/q0er0RndosjuQ4nFG
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin Wins Contract to Take NASA Rover to the Moon | WIRED https://share.google/DSjvkL2nTKGaCvwFa
Europe teams with Japan on asteroid mission, beefs up space cooperation with South Korea | Space https://share.google/YHWUjg5fiaJ4gO7Be
NASA's Artemis 2 Astronauts Say They're Fully Ready for Historic Flight to the Moon https://share.google/LzU0HgUmsnr9ueMWp
SpaceX has a few tricks up its sleeve for the last Starship flight of the year - Ars Technica https://share.google/Qah1ZtfjTqP8Gbozz
TELESCOPES, INSTRUMENTS, TECHNIQUES
Astronomers detect lowest mass dark object ever measured using gravitational lensing https://share.google/1GpNOk7ddJV9tKtB5
Museum of Flight to Screen NASA Documentary "Cosmic Dawn: The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope" - Vintage Aviation News https://share.google/fR4anKryru7n7aqMt
The Rubin Observatory's upcoming images may stack up to space telescope ones. Here's how
Polishing a telescope mirror to perfection photo of the day for Oct. 6, 2025 | Space https://www.space.com/astronomy/polishing-a-telescope-mirror-to-perfection-space-photo-of-the-day-for-oct-6-2025
Tiny satellite tracks star collisions while advancing space telescope design https://share.google/zTRUKSsMbEF5cwld1
MIT joins in constructing the Giant Magellan Telescope | MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology https://share.google/hioT3J7D9wkUuaAJP
https://niaas.co.uk/william-edward-wilson-and-the-story-of-daramona/
Moon Missions Could Finally Reveal the Secrets of Dark Matter - Universe Today https://share.google/rAiT6CbGD4bfYvK3i
This telescope just levelled up, and will soon start hunting ancient stars that exist only in theory | BBC Sky at Night Magazine https://share.google/K5bP5AEcSgMiIRPFi
The New Vaonis Vespera II X_Edition Smart Telescope Looks Stellar | PetaPixel https://share.google/Vx8sPREwSHw2ZeNri
FINAL WORD:
"The treasures hidden in the heavens are so rich that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment." - Johannes Kepler
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
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