Irish Astronomical Association News: September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Mountaineering on Mars, Dunsink, Moon, ISS, Meteorites, Sun Talk, Space contest

Hi all,

1. IAA LECTURE: "MOUNTAINEERING ON MARS", Wed 19 Sep.

The opening lecture of the IAA's new season will be given by none other than the renowned space expert, broadcaster, lecturer, journalist & character, Leo Enright. It's entitled "Mountaineering on Mars". Leo will take us into the canyon-lands of Gale Crater on Mars, to scale the summit of a mountain taller than Mont Blanc. Using the latest pictures from the Curiosity rover, he will guide us through the most breathtaking scenery ever witnessed on the surface of another planet. We expect that some of the pictures for this talk will have arrived on Earth just minutes before Leo speaks, so this will truly be the latest news from the surface of Mars.

ECLIPSE CHASING BOOK: For those of you who missed the launch of 'Total Addiction' at QFT last Saturday, the author, Dr Kate Russo, will; bring along some copies of the book to this meeting, and will autograph them for purchasers on the night.

VENUE: Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Main campus, Queens' University, Malone Road, Belfast. Time: 7.30 p.m. Doors open from about 7.10. Admission Free, including light refreshments. All welcome.

2. Dublin City Cultures Evening in Dunsink Observatory, Dunsink Lane, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on FRIDAY 21st SEPTEMBER, as part of their public outreach program.

The evening will be run as a meet and talk evening event throughout the whole evening. There will be an exhibition in each of the rooms on the ground floor plus the South Dome out in the grounds.
There will be three talks on the evening @ 19.00/20.00/21.00 hrs in The Meridian Room on different topics within the area of Astronomy.

Admission free, but you must pre-book a place:

Date: FRIDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2012. Time: 17.00 - 23.00 hrs. (doors open from 16.30). Free Parking. Telephone ++353 1 66 21 333 or E-Mail: hod@cp.dias.ie

Please note there has been a lot of MAJOR ROAD WORKS in the area in relation to the restructuring of the Blanchardstown Roundabout, (J6) on the M50, and surrounding area, so allow extra travel time for the journey. Also, please note that there is very little signage in the area at the moment.
DIRECTIONS: We are situated just off the M50 at the Main Blanchardstown (J6) Roundabout / Intersection situated over the M50 itself.
Come off that roundabout heading in the direction of the City Center, Going towards the NEW Main Auburn/Navan Road INTERSECTION, Dunsink Lane which is situated beyond the NEW RIVER ROAD beside The Travel Lodge Motel (now a traffic light junction), off the NEW Main Auburn intersection. SIGNPOSTED FINGLAS/DUNSINK, which appears very soon when coming off the Main Blanchardstown Roundabout over the M50.

Please note that on Dunsink Lane it says that the lane is closed to through traffic, though Dunsink Obs is up that lane just before where the lane itself is blocked off.
PLEASE ONLY APPROACH DUNSINK OBS ON DUNSINK LANE FROM THE NAVAN ROAD END

3. International Observe the Moon Night, Sep 22:

Saturday, September 22^nd, is when telescopes world-wide will be pointed at our lovely space neighbour for members of the public to observe the Moon. More details later.

4. The International Space Station (ISS) commenced another series of 'Morning Passes' over Ireland today. See www.heavens-above.com for details.

5. "Meteorites Tamed" Lecture Series, Ulster Museum, by Dr Mike Simms
Mondays at 7.30pm, 22nd October – 26th November 2012
Free. Booking for each lecture essential: Go to www.nmni.com, Telephone 028 9044 0000
(Lines open Tue – Sun 10am – 6pm), Email: ulstermuseumreception@nmni.com
SYNOPSIS: Every year visitors from Outer Space arrive on Earth. These are meteorites, messengers from beyond our planet. This series of six lectures from Dr Mike Simms will explain what meteorites are, where they come from, how they get here, and what they can tell us about the far reaches and earliest history of our Solar System.

6. QUB/IAA PUBLIC LECTURE: The next in the QUB Michael West Public Astronomy Lecture Series is entitled "The Sun", and will be on October 17. It will be given by well known astronomer Dr Lucie Green (you probably saw her on Stargazing Live on BBC, and she has previously given a lecture to the IAA in Belfast). She is a recognised expert on the Sun, and her talk is sure to be fascinating. These lectures are held in conjunction with the IAA, and form part of our regular fortnightly programme. However, due to the larger than usual numbers expected, it will be held in the Larmor Lecture Theatre, also in the Physics building, instead. Admission is free, but places must be pre-booked. see: http://tinyurl.com/MichaelWestLectureSeries2012

7. ODYSSEUS SPACE CONTEST FOR EU SCHOOLS: (From Robert Hill): This is a nice challenge for schools in Ireland, North and south. See

http://www.odysseus-contest.eu/

8. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:

SIGNS POINT TO INTERSTELLAR SPACE FOR VOYAGER 1 PROBE: More than 35 years after launching from Earth and now at the frontier of the solar system, NASA's Voyager 1 probe may be tasting interstellar space for the first time, according to scientists analysing fresh data from the distant explorer. See: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1209/16voyager/

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/14/nasa-testing-heat-shields_n_1883282.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/17/mars-rover-opportunity-iron-spheres_n_1889344.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2201997/Dark-energy-mystery-solved-Researchers-claim-99-996-sure-real.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2205020/Is-best-self-portrait-ISS-astronaut-gazes-Earth-planet-reflected-visor.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2121475/Habitable-planets-orbiting-red-dwarf-stars-galaxy--billions-including-100-door-solar-system.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2121808/Far-The-amazing-image-billion-stars-Milky-Way-took-astronomers-decade-capture.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2122034/EPFL-rocket-thruster-travel-moon-1-10th-litre-fuel.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2122616/Einstein-proved-right-universe-General-theory-relativity-correctly-measures-rapid-expansion-space-driven-mysterious-dark-energy.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1389206/Dark-energy-DOES-exist-increasingly-driving-universe-apart-scientists-claim.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2201997/Dark-energy-mystery-solved-Researchers-claim-99-996-sure-real.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2203313/CERN-starts-cracking-particles-plasma-soup-existed-second-Big-Bang.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204476/Photographer-Texas-reveals-stunning-image-eclipse-stunned-America-May.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204417/The-DIY-space-project-set-send-1-000-school-experiments-marriage-proposals-edge-space-ping-pong-balls.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204596/Starlight-BILLION-years-ago-First-images-received-worlds-powerful-digital-camera.html

9. TWITTER: the IAA now has a twitter account: @IaaAstro

10. BBC THINGS TO DO WEBSITE: See the forthcoming IAA events on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo

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

Friday, 14 September 2012

Lecture, Jup. Impact, Book launch, IAA Obs Night, Dunsink, Moon, ISS, Meteorites

Hi all,

1. IAA LECTURE: "MOUNTAINEERING ON MARS", Wed 19 Sep.

2. Another Impact on Jupiter: This one was detected by an amateur astronomer. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

3. IAA MEMBER'S ECLIPSE BOOK LAUNCH IN BELFAST, 15 Sep. Remember the official launch of "TOTAL ADDICTION: The Life of an Eclipse Chaser" by IAA member Dr Kate Russo, at 3 p.m. on Sat 15 September, at the Queen's Film Theatre, University Square, Belfast.

Kate is both a clinical psychologist and a highly enthusiastic eclipse chaser, and she has combined the two in this fascinating book about what drives people to travel halfway round the world to see a Total Eclipse of the Sun. The simple answer is of course that it's probably the most amazing, incredible, mind-blowing, emotional spectacle that anyone will ever see. But there's much more to it than that, with lots of different motivations for seeing one, and an even greater range of reactions to the event.

The event is free, with a documentary being shown in the film theatre, followed by some presentations by Kate and others - even including myself - followed by refreshments and a chance to get a signed copy, chat to Kate, and mingle with other astronomers and eclipse chasers. And some psychologists to, but don't let that put you off - they won't be analysing anybody!

Everyone is welcome to attend. Details at - www.beingintheshadow.com and look under events.

4. IAA OBSERVING NIGHT: The first IAA observing session for this season will be on 14th-15th Sept, at Delamont Country Park, weather permitting. See the IAA website www.irishastro.org for details, and check it just before the relevant date to check whether it is cancelled because of poor weather.

5. Dublin City Cultures Evening in Dunsink Observatory, Dunsink Lane, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on FRIDAY 21st SEPTEMBER, as part of their public outreach program.

Admission free, but you must pre-book a place:

Date: FRIDAY 21st SEPTEMBER 2012. Time: 17.00 - 23.00 hrs. (doors open from 16.30). Free Parking. Telephone ++353 1 66 21 333 or E-Mail: hod@cp.dias.ie

Saturday, September 22^nd, is when telescopes world-wide will be pointed at our lovely space neighbour for members of the public to observe the Moon. More details later.

7. The International Space Station (ISS) will commence another series of 'Morning Passes' over Ireland on September 18. See www.heavens-above.com for details.

8. "Meteorites Tamed" Lecture Series, Ulster Museum, by Dr Mike Simms
Mondays at 7.30pm, 22nd October – 26th November 2012
Free. Booking for each lecture essential: Go to www.nmni.com, Telephone 028 9044 0000
(Lines open Tue – Sun 10am – 6pm), Email: ulstermuseumreception@nmni.com
SYNOPSIS: Every year visitors from Outer Space arrive on Earth. These are meteorites, messengers from beyond our planet. This series of six lectures from Dr Mike Simms will explain what meteorites are, where they come from, how they get here, and what they can tell us about the far reaches and earliest history of our Solar System.

9. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2202681/The-witchs-broom-space-actually-remains-cosmic-explosion-11-000-years-ago.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2202788/NASA-believes-Mars-place-solar-carbon-dioxide-snow.html

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/12sep_weirdplanets/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2202075/Britains-biggest-meteorite-weighing-200lb-enters-museum-80-years-family-heirloom.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1217333/Pictured-Hubble-Telescope-captures-galaxies-stripping.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1217426/Mysterious-Mercury-reveals-secrets-surface-Messenger-spacecraft.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1217666/Turbulent-Milky-Way-revealed-new-light-using-British-space-camera.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2084795/Nasa-spacecraft-captures-Saturns-rings-slicing-moons.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2085185/Milky-Way-pure-white-like-snowflake-say-astronomers-seeking-true-colour-galaxy.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2202057/A-difficult-start-How-planets-form-centre-Milky-Way.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2201503/You-look-Scientists-boost-odds-finding-alien-life-hunting-planets-containing-vast-underground-reservoirs.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2201534/Oxford-University-web-project-lets-write-stars---help-categorise-universe-pair-eyes-view-distant-galaxies.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2201689/Up-close-giant-asteroid-Stunning-images-Vesta-passing-Nasa-spacecraft.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2201628/Lets-hope-DONT-water-Mars-If-Curiosity-finds-H20-end-contaminating-planet-microbes-survive.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/11/adam-cudworth-takes-amazing-pictures-of-earth_n_1873295.html

'Dark Energy is Real', it is claimed: See http://arxiv.org

10. TWITTER: the IAA now has a twitter account: @IaaAstro

11. BBC THINGS TO DO WEBSITE: See the forthcoming IAA events on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo

12. 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

Friday, 7 September 2012

Lectures, Book Launch, astrophot workshop, BCO, NEO pass, Moon, Meteorites

Hi all,

1. IAA LECTURE: MOUNTAINEERING ON MARS, 19 Sep.

2. Cork Astronomy Club Lecture, 10 Sep: "First Steps in Astronomy" An introduction for beginners. By Terry Moseley. 8 p.m. Civil Engineering Building, UCC, College Road. The opening lecture of the new season will describe what you need to know to get started in astronomy, from learning the basics, finding your way around the sky, getting equipment, etc.

3. Astrophotography workshop Sep 10: (see last bulletin: these further details from John Flannery) Tom O'Donoghue's astrophotography exhibition opened last night with images that are simply stunning in their beauty. A number of the portraits have more than 50 hours camera exposure time, never mind the processing.

Tom mentioned that he is holding a workshop/talk from 7pm to 9pm in the Centre for Creative Practices in Pembroke Street Lower, Dublin next Monday, September 10th. You can register for this via Tom's e-mail address which is at the bottom of his web site http://www.astrophotography.ie/default.htm

The Centre for Creative Practices is at number 15, Pembroke Street Lower, not far from the corner with Baggot Street on the same side of the road as F.X. Buckley's restaurant. You go down a set of stairs beside the main entrance to #15. See http://www.cfcp.ie

4. Events at Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork: See the website www.bco.ie for details, including the following talk on meteorites:

If you've ever wanted to see what a meteorite looks like then Friday 7 Sep is your chance! Dr. Matthew Parkes from the Natural History Museum will bring a selection of meteorites to incorporate into his talk, allowing you to see and feel what meteorites are like close-up. Free event from 18:00 open to all, includes family-friendly workshops and Cosmos at the Castle

5. Newly discovered NEO to make a close pass to Earth (Adapted from a BAA e-circular, with thanks).

NEO 2012 QG42 was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey on Aug 26, and this relatively large
near-Earth asteroid will be readily observable for Irish/UK observers between September 4-14 during which time it will exceed magnitude 15.0.  It is probably between 200-500 m diameter. It will be brightest around September 10-12 when it will reach visual magnitude 13.6 on average. It passes closest to us around 05h UT on Sep 14 at a range of about 7.4 lunar-distances (0.019 AU).
   2012 QG42 is a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA) and is unusual in that it passes very close to the opposition point on September 7. The circumstances of this close approach therefore makes it a good target for photometry (using a V, R or r' filter if possible) as well as other physical studies. An ephemeris with visibility details for UK observers is available at:
http://www.britastro.org/~rmiles/Documents/2012QG42_MPC_J77.txt
   If you are planning to observe this target then please consult the Minor Planet Center ephemeris service:
http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/MPEph/MPEph.html to obtain exact positions for an observatory location near to your site at the time you require.

This object should be within easy reach of many readers with modern CCD imaging equipment.

6. IAA MEMBER'S ECLIPSE BOOK LAUNCH IN BELFAST, 15 Sep. Remember the official launch of "TOTAL ADDICTION: The Life of an Eclipse Chaser" by IAA member Dr Kate Russo, at 3 p.m. on Sat 15 September, at the Queen's Film Theatre, University Square, Belfast.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Details at - www.beingintheshadow.com and look under events.

7. International Observe the Moon Night, Sep 22:

Saturday, September 22^nd, is when telescopes worldwide will be pointed at our lovely space neighbour for members of the public to observe the Moon. More details later.