Lucie Green Lecture update, Other talks, ISS, weblinks, more

Hi all,

 

1. QUB/IAA PUBLIC LECTURE: The next QUB "Michael West Public Astronomy Lecture" is entitled "The Sun", and will be on October 17, at 7.0 p.m. 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

N.B: this lecture is at 7pm (not the usual 7.30 for IAA lectures), and it will be in the Larmor Lecture theatre, at the other end of the physics building to the Bell lecture room. Look for the signs.

 

2. "Meteorites Tamed" Lecture Series, Ulster Museum, by Dr Mike Simms: Update:
Mondays at 7.30pm, 22nd October – 26th November 2012
Free. Booking for each lecture essential: Go to www.nmni.com, NEW PHONE NUMBER is 9044 0068.
You can also use:https://www.nmni.com/Home/Ticket-Booking.aspx?EventId=569
    (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. 

 3. School of Theoretical Physics Statutory Public Lecture 2012, in association with the School of Cosmic Physics.

 "Cosmic perspectives: from planets to the multiverse" by Professor Martin Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow, O.M., F.R.S. Mon 19 Nov 6:30pm, Theatre L, Newman Building, Arts Block, UCD. Admission free

 

4. Robinson Lecture 2012, Armagh, 8 p.m., 22 November: 

 The eleventh Robinson Lecture will be held on Thursday 22nd November in The Armagh City Hotel, 2 Friary Road, Armagh. It will be delivered by Professor David Southwood, Imperial College London. Professor Southwood has recently retired from the position of Director of Science and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency and is now President of the Royal Astronomical Society.  The lecture will begin at 8.00 pm and is scheduled to end at 9.00 pm, followed by light refreshments.
   Title and abstract: "To Mars, Titan and the Universe Beyond! Europe's Arrival on the Space Frontier"
    The lecture will review how in the first decade of the 21st century the European Space Agency became an increasingly obvious presence in space science. ESA spacecraft were sent to the Moon, Venus, Mars, and a probe put down on Titan.  In a couple of years a European lander will land on a comet nucleus.  Beyond that comes a mission to Mercury.  At the same time, European missions like Herschel and Planck, looking at the evolution of the Universe from Big Bang through formation of galaxies, stars and planets, have taken a dominant position in current space astronomy. Some of the successes will be described from a personal point of view as well as some of the frustrations.  Moreover, the wider case will be made for why space science and exploration is important for a modern society.
    Attendance at the Robinson Lecture is free, but if you would like to attend, please contact the Armagh Observatory to obtain tickets.  Please write, telephone or send an e-mail to: Mrs Aileen McKee, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG; Tel: 028-3752-2928; Fax: 028-3752-7174; e-mail: ambn@arm.ac.uk.

 

5. RDS Lecture: UCD graduate Sandra Delamer will give a lecture on the JWST: 'How Did We Get Here? Pointing the James Webb Space Telescope at the distant past', on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 at 6.00pm in the RDS Concert Hall.

The lecture is free of charge and all are welcome.  Booking essential.

See http://www.rds.ie/cat_event_detail.jsp?itemID=1099908

 

6. The International Space Station (ISS) has commenced a series of evening passes. See www.heavens-above.com for details for your own location.

 

7. IAA Annual Subscriptions: All IAA members are reminded that if they have not yet renewed their subscriptions for 2012 - 2013, they should do so at once, otherwise they will not receive the next issue of STARDUST. You can do this easily online: http://irishastro.org.uk/join1.html, or via www.irishastro.org, or download a form, see Item 11 below.

 

8. INTERESTING WEBLINKS: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/15/planet-with-four-suns-discovered_n_1966960.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2218301/Star-Wars-planet-discovered-orbiting-suns-orbited-suns.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2218443/Curiosity-goes-digging-red-planet--finds-mysterious-shiny-particles.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2217889/The-sun-supplies-moon-water-potentially-base-tap-maintain-life-study-suggests.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2216640/Curiosity-rover-Mars-rock-similar-ones-Earth.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2216720/Space-Weve-got-licked-Royal-Mail-releases-set-stamps-commemorate-50th-anniversary-Britains-satellite-orbit.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