Friday, 29 August 2014

Rosetta, Andor visit, IAA Lecture, WSW, Newgrange Trip, Comet@Mars, Paul's prize

Hi all,
   
1.  
ROSETTA now orbiting Comet. The Rosetta spacecraft is now in a sort of 'orbit' round Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, sending back some jawdropping photos. After studying the 'binary' surface in more detail, it will land a probe on the surface. Watch out for some amazing photos.  See http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/24jul_rosetta/
This will be the topic for the IAA's opening lecture of the new season, by the incomparable Leo Enright.
 See below:
 
2. EXCLUSIVE: Visit to Andor Technology Camera Facility, 13 September: The IAA has arranged a special visit to the Andor Technology Camera manufacturing facility in Belfast. As many of you will know, Andor make some of the best - in many cases the best - high-end digital cameras in the world. They are used in every scientific application imaginable, including of course astronomy, and they can be found in many of the world's top observatories, and in spacecraft. They are also moving into the range of amateur astronomers, having recently acquired Apogee Instruments. Thanks to Dr Andy McCrea we have arranged a free special visit for IAA members, and friends, to this facility, on Saturday 13 September.
Programme:
1200 Meet in Andor Reception
Introductory welcome and short talk
Lunch (Free, provided by Andor) in their canteen
Tour of the Clean Room and factory assembly floor
Talks on the range of cameras and their applications
Talk on solar astronomy imaging using Andor cameras by Prof Mihalis Mathioudakis of the Astrophysics Research Centre in QUB (link from QUB/ Professor Smart)
Q&A Discussion
Finish - say 1530
  This is an exceptional opportunity to see and learn all about the latest developments and future plans for top class astronomical imaging equipment. Andor will also be interested in feedback from expert amateur users of digital imagers, so this is your opportunity to let them know what YOU would like to see available.
   Spaces are limited, so you must register your intention to attend. Please send your name and contact details to Dr Andy McCrea (of North Down Telescopes: email s.mccrea980@btinternet.com) to ensure that you get a place, and mark your diaries now!
 
3. IAA New Season Opening Lecture 24 Sep: Latest Science Results from Rosetta, by Leo Enright
 This talk by Ireland's leading science broadcaster and journalist, will reveal the latest findings from the fantastic Rosetta spacecraft at Comet C-G. As you can see from some of the images (see item 1, above), the comet is weird - absolutely unlike anything we've seen before. And Leo usually updates his talk from the Internet just about 10 minutes before he's due to start, so it will be the VERY latest information. Not to be missed!
The lecture is free and open to all, including free refreshments. Venue: the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast, at 7.30 p.m. 
   Thanks to the Astrophysics Research Centre, QUB, for help in hosting these lectures.
 
4. World Space Week: October 4 to 11; UK Launch in N. Ireland!
 More news on this excellent coup by Robert Hill in the next bulletin.
 
5. ASTROARCHAEOLOGY TRIP TO NEWGRANGE and KNOWTH: Following the success of last years' trip, Stranmillis University College Institute of LifeLong Learning have asked to run another one, on 11 October, but this time including a visit to the Knowth Tomb as well. It has the largest collection of Megalithic art anywhere in Europe in one single site, some of which is reckoned to be astronomical. Booking for thus very popular, non-technical trip, is via the Stranmillis website www.stran.ac.uk, or go direct to http://www.stran.ac.uk/media/media,456138,en.pdf and scroll down to p. 23, or pick up a brochure from Reception.
 

6. COMET NEAR-MISS WITH MARS, Oct 19:

Comet Siding Spring will pass 134,000 kilometres from Mars on October 19. The neutral-gas coma of the comet, which extends for more than 100,000 kilometres in all directions from the nucleus, may well interact with the atmosphere of the planet. Ions may extend away than that, and the tail is millions of kilometres long. As a precaution, the orbits of the Martian orbiters have been altered to place them on the safe side of the planet during the most dangerous part of the encounter, which will occur when Mars' path through the comet's tail reaches the region of highest dust density, about 100 minutes after closest approach.

 Nevertheless, every effort will be made to get good observations from the comet from all the spacecraft on or near the Red Planet. Siding Spring is a long-period comet on its first visit to the inner Solar System and spacecraft designed to study Mars up-close are not idea for good observations of the tiny comet nucleus much further away. 

   The comet's coma of dust and ice particles are the main hazard for the orbiters, but will not affect the rovers on the surface which will be protected by Mars' atmosphere. Even though it's much thinner than ours, the tiny particles in the coma will burn up without reaching the ground.

Each spacecraft will observe the comet as best as possible using its respective instruments. Most attention will be on the comet's coma -- its size, composition, the size of the particles, how it varies with time, and the jets from the nucleus. They will also study the comet's effect on the Martian atmosphere. And one spacecraft may possibly be able to image the tiny nucleus of the comet, only 1-2 kilometres across, as it passes by at the challenging relative speed of 57 km/s. But most instruments will be able to see the coma or the coma's effects on the atmosphere.

The spacecraft involved are: 1. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Has 3 cameras plus an imaging spectrometer and a radar sounder. 2. Mars Express. Will use HRSC camera and ultraviolet/infrared atmospheric spectrometer. 3. Mars Odyssey. Will use THEMIS thermal emission imaging system. 4. MAVEN, arriving 2014. Has a suite of instruments devoted to Mars' upper atmosphere, but no camera. 5. Mars Orbiter Mission, arriving 2014. Has a varied instrument suite but not sure if it will be performing Siding Spring observations.

 
7. Feedback on IAA event at BWCO at UAFP, Omagh:
It's nice to get some positive feedback. This is an excerpt from an email from Tim McCann, event organiser at RSPB:
   It was a great event and the feedback has been amazing...The stardome and stargazing as always has proved to be the most popular.
   You guys as always were simply amazing and as you say everybody that got to gaze through the 'scopes and got into the stardome simply loved it.
   So a huge thank you from as all at RSPB for yet again making our event a huge success.
 
8. Paul Evans wins IFAS Astrophotography Prize:
IAA Past President Paul Evans won a pair of Celestron 15x70s in the IFAS Astrophotography Competition with his NLC photo taken on 20th June. Well done Paul, that was a superb photo.
 
9. INTERNATIONAL METEOR CONFERENCE, 2014  Thursday September 18 till Sunday 21 September 2014, Giron, France. Giron is a small village located in the south of the Jura Mountains close to Geneva. The region is easily reachable by air (Geneva or Lyon airport), by train (TGV high speed train from Paris and InterCity trains from Geneva railway station) and by car (highway A40 Lyon-Chamonix). Part of the attraction for this event is that a free visit to CERN is included in the price! See http://www.imo.net/imc2014.
 After 30 June you will not be able to book extra nights before or after the IMC via the LOC. After 30 June extra nights should be booked on your own behalf.
 
 
10. NB The Special IAA Event at Newgrange for Heritage Week, 31 August: This is now fully booked.
 
 
11. NEXT YEAR'S STAR PARTIES:  
Galway Astrofest: Feb 21, 2015, Theme: "New Worlds - New Horizons" Excellent speaker line-up already!  See http://galwayastronomyclub.ie/
 COSMOS: April 17th to 19th 2015, Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.
 
12. INTERESTING WEBLINKS: 
 
Interesting, and it seems plausible. But yet another erroneous illustration - asteroids do not start 'burning up' UNTIL they hit the Earth's atmosphere, at a height of about 100km above the surface - not tens of thousands of km as shown here.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140827163443.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29 The reference to "the Americas" is odd, as that implies both N & S America. Yet climatically, it's not so likely to have affected S America. And indeed the text seems to imply that it was mainly N. America, Europe & near Asia that were affected. Incidentally, meteorite & geology expert Dr Mike Simms is sceptical about this theory.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/21/thigh-bone-mars_n_5697180.html?ir=UK+Tech Obviously it's not a thigh bone! - It's an upper arm bone, or humerus..... (sorry!). See also
That needs a qualification - if it travels at 3,500 mph, then it can only reach somewhere within 3,500 miles of its launch site within one hour. So to be able to reach anywhere on Earth within one hour it would need multiple launch sites, not just ones in the USA and its dependencies.
Interesting & quite feasible - the only problem will be getting them to the exoplanet in the first place! With current technology that would take about 100,000 years. But long before that we'll have much quicker ways of getting there, and much more advanced ways of surveying them.
NASA's Pluto-bound New Horizons spacecraft has traversed the orbit of Neptune. This is its last major crossing en route to becoming the first probe to make a close encounter with distant Pluto on July 14, 2015. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/25aug_newhorizons/ 
 
 
13. TWITTER: Follow the IAA on Twitter: The account is now operational again as before: @IaaAstro.

  
14. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is easy: 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 www.irishastro.org. 
  
Finally, in tribute to the late great John Dobson, a quote from him which is typical of the man, and very appropriate:  "If you figure something out for yourself, it doesn't make no never-mind who figured it out first, it's yours."
 
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley


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Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Perseids, Public lecture, ISS, Rosetta @ comet, INAM, Sun at WWT, Newgrange, etc

Hi all,
   
1.  PERSEID METEOR SHOWER NEARS MAXIMUM.
The Perseids are one of the best, and usually the most popular, of the annual meteor showers. The shower got underway at the beginning of August, and peaks on Aug 12 or 13: this year it's at 0h on the 13th. Normally that would give us ideal observing conditions, but this year the view will be spoiled by a bright 'SuperMoon', just past Full.  But on the night of maximum it will still be worth looking, even though all but the brighter meteors will be drowned out by the moonlight - try to get a view of the sky where the Moon is hidden by trees or a building etc.
   The radiant will be high in the sky late in the night, near the famous Double Cluster in Perseus, but you can see the meteors in any part of the sky. Usually it's best to look at an area about 50 degrees above the horizon, and about 50-60 degrees from the radiant - avoiding direct moonlight if you can.
  The shower persists to about August 16/17, but with gradually declining rates. On the succeeding nights (13/14, 14/15 and 15/16) it would be worth looking in the brief but lengthening interval between the end of twilight, and Moonrise.
   TM on Radio Ulster, "Good Morning Ulster": I was interviewed at home this evening by Megan McKay about the Supermoon, ISS and Perseids, which should go out on Monday morning at about 07.50. We got a lovely view of the 'Supermoon'; then the ISS, preceded by the ATV-5 Supply Craft about 6 degrees in front of it. We didn't wait for the sky to get dark enough for any Perseids, but that was pretty good seeing that it had rained hard all day up until about sunset!
 
2. Free Public Lecture in TCD: Prof Paul Roche
Attendance is free, but you must register to attend.
ASGI is pleased to announce that Professor Paul Roche (University of South Wales) will give a public lecture at 7.30pm on Thursday August 14th in the Joly Lecture Theatre in the Hamilton Building of Trinity College Dublin: "Seeing stars: Science and Education with big telescopes"
    Prof. Paul Roche has spent over 20 years researching massive stars, neutron stars and black holes, as well as working in astronomy education, outreach and science communication. He has presented a number of TV programs including BBC2's 'Final Frontier' and 'All Night Star Party'. Professor Roche is the Director of the Faulkes Telescope Project that provides school access to astronomical telescopes. He is space ambassador for Wales and the 'UK National Schools' Astronomer. His talk will address discoveries at the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
  The event is free and open to the public and doors open at 7:00 pm
 The venue has limited seating so if you are planning to attend the public lecture we ask you to please register online using the following form: http://inam2014.com/public-lecture/ 
3. ISS VISIBLE AGAIN: The ISS is now visible in evening and morning skies, until mid-August. From then, it will be visible in evening skies until 21 August.
 
4.  ROSETTA NOW AT Comet C-G. The Rosetta spacecraft has now rendezvoused with Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. After studying the 'binary' surface in more detail, it will land a probe on the surface. Watch out for some amazing photos. 
  For the latest up-to-date news as it is released, see http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/ 
  See also recent stories: http://www.space.com/26716-rosetta-spacecraft-comet-orbit-arrival-explained.html?cmpid=558122 But it's not Comet Wednesday, it's Comet Churyumov Gerasimenko.... Would it really be too much trouble to put in that little preposition "on"? 
 
5. Major astronomy event in Dublin, INAM: 13-15 August: REGISTER NOW:
You should register even if you only want to attend the public lecture.
Details: This year the ASGI is proud to announce the first Irish National Astronomical Meeting (INAM:2014), celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ASGI, and spanning 3 days. This will represent the new format of the future ASGI meetings, with more focused sessions, chosen by the Irish Astronomical community, aimed at developing meaningful and long-lasting collaborations and friendships. 
* We invite you to join us at the Hamilton Conference Centre on the main Trinity College Dublin campus, between August 13th – 15th.
* Full details are at the meeting website www.inam2014.com, but we highlight some key points here:
* Deadline for registration is 13th July 2014. There is no registration fee.
* Abstract submission and registration are handled on the website.
* The website provides information on travel and accommodation options.
* The ASGI intends on awarding a number of small grants of approximately €100 (or equivalent in GBP) to help support travel/accommodation costs of PhD students and young researchers from outside the immediate Dublin area.
* In addition to the scientific programme of 5 thematic sessions, the meeting will also feature an evening public lecture by Professor Paul Roche (University of South Wales) (see above), a conference dinner, and the inaugural INAM football tournament!
Register at http://inam2014.com
   NB: This is a professional level event (apart from the public lecture), so be prepared from some fairly advanced maths and physics! T.M.
 
6. IAA Solar Day, WWT, Castle Espie. We will be holding another one of these very popular events on Sunday afternoon, 17 August, from 2.00 to 5.00. We will have solar observing (if clear), telescope displays, exhibition, meteorites, and of course the ever-popular starshows in the mobile stardome, courtesy of Armagh Planetarium. Book your attendance at the starshows at the WWT website.
 
7. Special IAA Event at Newgrange for Heritage Week, 31 August: The IAA is privileged to have been invited to run a unique observing event at Newgrange World Heritage Site to mark the end of Heritage Week in Ireland. We will have telescopes at the actual Newgrange Mound to observe the sky, which as far as is known has never been done before. In the event of bad weather, visitors will be given a special tour inside the Newgrange Mound. Details and booking must be made direct with Bru Na Boinne, at http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/visitor-information/  See also http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageSites/Newgrange/
 More details on times, access etc, in next bulletin.
 
8. ASTROARCHAEOLOGY TRIP TO NEWGRANGE and KNOWTH: Following the success of last years' trip, Stranmillis University College Institute of LifeLong Learning have asked to run another one, on 11 October, but this time including a visit to the Knowth Tomb as well. It has the largest collection of Megalithic art anywhere in Europe in one single site, some of which is reckoned to be astronomical. Booking for thus very popular, non-technical trip, is via the Stranmillis website www.stran.ac.uk, or go direct to http://www.stran.ac.uk/media/media,456138,en.pdf and scroll down to p. 23, or pick up a brochure from Reception.
 
9. The Skelligs Star Party 2014, Taking place from Skelligs Lodge, Ballinskelligs Co Kerry on Aug 22nd to Aug 24th. Chosen as it is within the Kerry Dark Sky site.  Meeting Friday 22nd Aug at Skelligs Lodge from 7pm.… Here is the link to Skellig Lodge: http://www.skelliglodge.com/
We will have a few speakers and workshops on Saturday 23rd Aug from 1pm.…
Stephen Kershaw of Ktec Telescopes plus Carl O'Beirnes of Scopes and Space
Will be bringing a few astronomy goodies for us all to drool over.
I have set up a few events pages here are the links: https://www.facebook.com/events/892995947383034/?fref=ts
Kind Regards, Roy Stewart
 
10. EXCLUSIVE: Visit to Andor Technology Camera Facility, 13 September: The IAA has arranged a special visit to the Andor Technology Camera manufacturing facility in Belfast. As many of you will know, Andor make some of the best - in many cases the best - high-end digital cameras in the world. They are used in every scientific application imaginable, including of course astronomy, and they can be found in many of the world's top observatories, and in spacecraft. They are also moving into the range of amateur astronomers, having recently acquired Apogee Instruments. Thanks to Dr Andy McCrea we have arranged a free special visit for IAA members, and friends, to this facility, on Saturday 13 September.
Provisional Programme:
1200 Meet in Andor Reception
Introductory welcome and short talk
Lunch (Free, provided by Andor) in their canteen
Tour of the Clean Room and factory assembly floor
Talks on the range of cameras and their applications
Talk on solar astronomy imaging using Andor cameras by Prof Mihalis Mathioudakis of the Astrophysics Research Centre in QUB (link from QUB/ Professor Smart)
Q&A Discussion
Finish - say 1530
  This is an exceptional opportunity to see and learn all about the latest developments and future plans for top class astronomical imaging equipment. Andor will also be interested in feedback from expert amateur users of digital imagers, so this is your opportunity to let them know what YOU would like to see available.
   Spaces are limited, so you must register your intention to attend. Please send your name and contact details to Dr Andy McCrea (of North Down Telescopes: email s.mccrea980@btinternet.com) to ensure that you get a place, and mark your diaries now!
 
11.  PhD studentship at NUIM: Funded PhD Studentship: Technology development for the next generation CMB and Far IR space satellites
   Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the Terahertz Space Optics group of NUI Maynooth to work on the development of efficient antennas for the next generation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) Experiments and far IR astronomical receivers, funded through a European Space Agency programme.
   The Terahertz Space Optics group at NUI Maynooth (Experimental Physics Department) undertakes research in the area of millimetre‐wave and terahertz optics for astronomical instrumentation. The group is involved in both space and ground‐based projects with research focussed on optical design and electromagnetic analysis techniques for CMB and far IR science missions.
   Applicants should normally hold, or expect to obtain, a good undergraduate degree in Physics, and have a high level of proficiency in programming and a good knowledge of optics and electromagnetism.
   More information on the research carried out in the Experimental Physics Department of NUI Maynooth can be found at: https://www.nuim.ie/experimental-
 
12. IAA ASTRONOMY VISITS - PLANS: As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations, we are planning at least one astronomical trip to either GB or Paris. This is a preliminary enquiry to assess where the main interest would be. The options are broadly as follows: They would be in the form of a long weekend trip (Friday - Sunday, or Saturday to a BH Monday, or possible Friday to Monday)
1. GB Trip A: Visit to Jodrell Bank, The National Space Centre at Leicester, and possibly either the Spaceguard Centre in Wales or the astronomy centre at Cambridge.
2. GB Trip B: Visit to the historic Greenwich Observatory, Science Centre and Planetarium in London + a visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory site and Science Centre at Herstmonceux in Sussex, + a visit to the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester (headed by Dr John Mason)
3. Trip to Paris: Visit to Paris to see the historic and still functioning Paris Observatory (made famous by Flammarion & others), and the Meudon Observatory near Versailles, just outside Paris: this hosts the famous 33" 'Grand Lunette' Refractor, the 3rd largest refractor in the world, and the largest outside the USA.
   If you are interested in any of these trips, please let me know by return, indicating them in order of preference.
 
13. INTERNATIONAL METEOR CONFERENCE, 2014  Thursday September 18 till Sunday 21 September 2014, Giron, France. Giron is a small village located in the south of the Jura Mountains close to Geneva. The region is easily reachable by air (Geneva or Lyon airport), by train (TGV high speed train from Paris and InterCity trains from Geneva railway station) and by car (highway A40 Lyon-Chamonix). Part of the attraction for this event is that a free visit to CERN is included in the price! See http://www.imo.net/imc2014.
 After 30 June you will not be able to book extra nights before or after the IMC via the LOC. After 30 June extra nights should be booked on your own behalf.
 
 
14. NEXT YEAR'S STAR PARTIES:  
Galway Astrofest: Feb 21, 2015, Theme: "New Worlds - New Horizons" Excellent speaker line-up already!  See http://galwayastronomyclub.ie/
 COSMOS: April 17th to 19th 2015, Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.
 
15. INTERESTING WEBLINKS: 
 
 
16. TWITTER: Follow the IAA on Twitter: The account is now operational again as before: @IaaAstro.

  
17. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is easy: 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 www.irishastro.org. 
  
Finally, in tribute to the late great John Dobson, a quote from him which is typical of the man, and very appropriate:  "If you figure something out for yourself, it doesn't make no never-mind who figured it out first, it's yours."
 
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley


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Saturday, 2 August 2014

Perseids, ISS, Supermoon, AP, Rosetta, INAM, Solar Day @ WWT, 2 Newgrange events

Hi all,
   
1.  PERSEID METEOR SHOWER HAS STARTED.
The Perseids are one of the best, and usually the most popular, of the annual meteor showers. The shower gets underway at the beginning of August, and peaks on Aug 12 or 13: this year it's at 0h on the 13th. Normally that would give us ideal observing conditions, but this year the view will be spoiled by a bright Moon, just past Full (it will actually be a 'SuperMoon', see below. So some of the best views may be over the next few days, before the waxing crescent Moon gets too bright - First Quarter will be on 4 Aug at 01.50.
  But on the night of maximum it will still be worth looking, even though all but the brighter meteors will be drowned out by the moonlight - try to get a view of the sky where the Moon is hidden by trees or a building etc.
   The radiant will be high in the sky late in the night, near the famous Double Cluster in Perseus, but you can see the meteors in any part of the sky. Usually it's best to look at an area about 50 degrees above the horizon, and about 50-60 degrees from the radiant - avoiding direct moonlight if you can.
  The shower persists to about August 16/17, but with gradually declining rates. On the succeeding nights (13/14, 14/15 and 15/16) it would be worth looking in the brief but lengthening interval between the end of twilight, and Moonrise.
 
2. ISS VISIBLE AGAIN: The ISS is now visible in morning skies, until 3 August, from when the passes will be visible both before and after midnight until mid-August. From then, it will be visible in evening skies until 21 August.
 
3. BEST SUPERMOON, August 10:
This phenomenon has caught the attention of the media in recent years, although the visual effect has been greatly overhyped by them. Still, you might as well be informed. A Supermoon occurs when Full Moon occurs at, or very close to, the Moon's perihelion, i.e. when it's close to Earth in its elliptical orbit (eccentricity of 0.0549). The Full Moon will therefore appear a bit bigger and brighter than usual.
  The variation in distance can be quite significant: at its closest to Earth the distance is only 356,410km; at max it can be 406,697km, a difference of 50,287km.

   That means that its apparent size as seen from Earth varies from 33' 31" to 29' 22". That's a difference of 30% in apparent area, or that it's almost 205 square arcminutes bigger when at extreme perigee than at extreme apogee. And of course the brightness will increase by even more than that since the brightness varies with the inverse square of the distance. 

   The experts will know that there are actually five astronomical definitions of a month (as well as the civil ones). The two of interest to us are the -

1. Anomalistic: (apse to apse, or perigee to perigee): 27d.55455. This can vary in length by several days.

2. Synodic: (New Moon to New Moon) = 29d.53059. This can currently vary by up to 7 hours.  

  If the anomalistic and synodic months were the same length, then we would have perigee at the same phase of the month each time, at least on average. But because of the average difference of 1.97604 days, the date and time of perigee moves backward through successive months at an average of just under 2 days per synodic month. E.g. forthcoming perigees are: Aug 10d 17h 42m; Sep 8d 03h 00m; Oct 6d 09h 38m, Nov 3d 00h 28m. 

  So what gives us our Supermoons? Remember, we're looking for a perigee to occur as close as possible to the date and time of Full Moon. There's no standard definition, but the popular websites, magazines, etc, seem to agree that if they occur on the same date then that's a Supermoon. But you could have perigee at 00h 00m, and Full Moon on 23h 59m, giving a gap of almost a full day. Alternatively, you could have Perigee on, say, May 31d 23h 59m, and Full Moon on June 01d 00h 01m, giving a Supermoon even though the two events occur on different days, indeed in different months, although the time difference is only 2 minutes! So I would use a working definition of a separation in time by no more than 12h, irrespective of the dates.

   But of course, not all perigees are equal. For example, in 2014, the least close perigee occurs on Nov 27 at a distance of 369,827km. That's 12,932km more distant than the perigee on 10 August. So for a really super Supermoon, we want a really close perigee, and for it to occur as close as possible to Full Moon.

   And for us to see it at its best, it also needs to happen when the Moon is above our horizon, otherwise the distance will have increased a bit (and the Moon will no longer be exactly 'Full') by the time the Moon rises. 

   Ideally, it should occur at the time the Moon is highest in our sky, i.e. transiting the S meridian. And for the absolute best circumstances, it should occur when the Moon is overhead for the observer. If the Moon is overhead, you are about an Earth radius closer to it than when it is on your horizon: that's about 6370km.

BEST IRISH SUPERMOON?

   The one on August 10 this year is quite good: it's the closest perigee of the year, at 356,895km. And it occurs only 27 minutes before Full Moon. But FM occurs at 19.09 BST, which is 1h 22m before Moonrise in Belfast, at 20.31 BST. That is not too bad, but it means that by the time the Moon transits here at 01.39 next morning, it will be a little further away, at 356,977km from the centre of the Earth. But the reduced distance from us here in Ireland as it transits, will more than make up for that. However, it will also be even more past Full.

   Still, it will give us near perfect conditions to see a Supermoon combined with the Moon Illusion, which makes the Moon appear much larger when it's close to the horizon. It's only a psychological effect, but a very powerful one. So the rising moon on the evening of 10 August should appear really big.

   I've done an article for the next issue of STARDUST going into this all in more detail, but to summarise, the one on 10 August will be roughly equalled by one on 2016 Nov 15, but it won't be bettered until 2018 Jan 1. 

 
4. August events at Armagh Planetarium:
Including: 6 starshows daily; The Great Balloon Race, Sat 2 & Sun 3 August; Make your own Pinhole Camera, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 Aug; Astronaut sculpting classes, Sat 23 & Sun 24; Force Academy Training, Sat 30, Sun 31. See their website for full details
 
5. ROSETTA nears Comet. The Rosetta spacecraft is rapidly (well, actually slowly!) closing in on Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko, which it will start to orbit on August 6. After studying the 'binary' surface in more detail, it will land a probe on the surface. Watch out for some amazing photos.  See http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/24jul_rosetta/
 
 
6. Major astronomy event in Dublin, INAM: 13-15 August: REGISTER NOW:
You should register even if you only want to attend the public lecture.
Details: This year the ASGI is proud to announce the first Irish National Astronomical Meeting (INAM:2014), celebrating the 40th anniversary of the ASGI, and spanning 3 days. This will represent the new format of the future ASGI meetings, with more focused sessions, chosen by the Irish Astronomical community, aimed at developing meaningful and long-lasting collaborations and friendships. 
* We invite you to join us at the Hamilton Conference Centre on the main Trinity College Dublin campus, between August 13th – 15th.
* Full details are at the meeting website www.inam2014.com, but we highlight some key points here:
* Deadline for registration is 13th July 2014. There is no registration fee.
* Abstract submission and registration are handled on the website.
* The website provides information on travel and accommodation options.
* The ASGI intends on awarding a number of small grants of approximately €100 (or equivalent in GBP) to help support travel/accommodation costs of PhD students and young researchers from outside the immediate Dublin area.
* In addition to the scientific programme of 5 thematic sessions, the meeting will also feature an evening public lecture by Professor Paul Roche (University of South Wales), a conference dinner, and the inaugural INAM football tournament!
Register at http://inam2014.com
   NB: This is a professional level event (apart from the public lecture), so be prepared from some fairly advanced maths and physics! T.M.
 
7. IAA Solar Day, WWT, Castle Espie. We will be holding another one of these very popular events on Sunday afternoon, 17 August, from 2.00 to 5.00. We will have solar observing (if clear), telescope displays, exhibition, meteorites, and of course the ever-popular starshows in the mobile stardome, courtesy of Armagh Planetarium. Book your attendance at the starshows at the WWT website.
 
8. Special IAA Event at Newgrange for Heritage Week, 31 August: The IAA is privileged to have been invited to run a unique observing event at Newgrange World Heritage Site to mark the end of Heritage Week in Ireland. We will have telescopes at the actual Newgrange Mound to observe the sky, which as far as is known has never been done before. In the event of bad weather, visitors will be given a special tour inside the Newgrange Mound. Details and booking must be made direct with Bru Na Boinne, at http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/visitor-information/  See also http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageSites/Newgrange/
 More details on times, access etc, in next bulletin.
 
9. ASTROARCHAEOLOGY TRIP TO NEWGRANGE and KNOWTH: Following the success of last years' trip, Stranmillis University College Institute of LifeLong Learning have asked to run another one, on 11 October, but this time including a visit to the Knowth Tomb as well. It has the largest collection of Megalithic art anywhere in Europe in one single site, some of which is reckoned to be astronomical. Booking for thus very popular, non-technical trip, is via the Stranmillis website www.stran.ac.uk, or go direct to http://www.stran.ac.uk/media/media,456138,en.pdf and scroll down to p. 23, or pick up a brochure from Reception.
 
10. The Skelligs Star Party 2014, Taking place from Skelligs Lodge, Ballinskelligs Co Kerry on Aug 22nd to Aug 24th. Chosen as it is within the Kerry Dark Sky site.  Meeting Friday 22nd Aug at Skelligs Lodge from 7pm.… Here is the link to Skellig Lodge: http://www.skelliglodge.com/
We will have a few speakers and workshops on Saturday 23rd Aug from 1pm.…
Stephen Kershaw of Ktec Telescopes plus Carl O'Beirnes of Scopes and Space
Will be bringing a few astronomy goodies for us all to drool over.
I have set up a few events pages here are the links: https://www.facebook.com/events/892995947383034/?fref=ts
Kind Regards, Roy Stewart
 
11. EXCLUSIVE: Visit to Andor Technology Camera Facility, 13 September: The IAA has arranged a special visit to the Andor Technology Camera manufacturing facility in Belfast. As many of you will know, Andor make some of the best - in many cases the best - high-end digital cameras in the world. They are used in every scientific application imaginable, including of course astronomy, and they can be found in many of the world's top observatories, and in spacecraft. They are also moving into the range of amateur astronomers, having recently acquired Apogee Instruments. Thanks to Dr Andy McCrea we have arranged a free special visit for IAA members, and friends, to this facility, on Saturday 13 September.
Provisional Programme:
1200 Meet in Andor Reception
Introductory welcome and short talk
Lunch (Free, provided by Andor) in their canteen
Tour of the Clean Room and factory assembly floor
Talks on the range of cameras and their applications
Talk on solar astronomy imaging using Andor cameras by Prof Mihalis Mathioudakis of the Astrophysics Research Centre in QUB (link from QUB/ Professor Smart)
Q&A Discussion
Finish - say 1530
  This is an exceptional opportunity to see and learn all about the latest developments and future plans for top class astronomical imaging equipment. Andor will also be interested in feedback from expert amateur users of digital imagers, so this is your opportunity to let them know what YOU would like to see available.
   Spaces are limited, so you must register your intention to attend. Please send your name and contact details to Dr Andy McCrea (of North Down Telescopes: email s.mccrea980@btinternet.com) to ensure that you get a place, and mark your diaries now!
 
 
12. IAA ASTRONOMY VISITS - PLANS: As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations, we are planning at least one astronomical trip to either GB or Paris. This is a preliminary enquiry to assess where the main interest would be. The options are broadly as follows: They would be in the form of a long weekend trip (Friday - Sunday, or Saturday to a BH Monday, or possible Friday to Monday)
1. GB Trip A: Visit to Jodrell Bank, The National Space Centre at Leicester, and possibly either the Spaceguard Centre in Wales or the astronomy centre at Cambridge.
2. GB Trip B: Visit to the historic Greenwich Observatory, Science Centre and Planetarium in London + a visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory site and Science Centre at Herstmonceux in Sussex, + a visit to the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester (headed by Dr John Mason)
3. Trip to Paris: Visit to Paris to see the historic and still functioning Paris Observatory (made famous by Flammarion & others), and the Meudon Observatory near Versailles, just outside Paris: this hosts the famous 33" 'Grand Lunette' Refractor, the 3rd largest refractor in the world, and the largest outside the USA.
   If you are interested in any of these trips, please let me know by return, indicating them in order of preference.
 
13. INTERNATIONAL METEOR CONFERENCE, 2014  Thursday September 18 till Sunday 21 September 2014, Giron, France. Giron is a small village located in the south of the Jura Mountains close to Geneva. The region is easily reachable by air (Geneva or Lyon airport), by train (TGV high speed train from Paris and InterCity trains from Geneva railway station) and by car (highway A40 Lyon-Chamonix). Part of the attraction for this event is that a free visit to CERN is included in the price! See http://www.imo.net/imc2014.
 After 30 June you will not be able to book extra nights before or after the IMC via the LOC. After 30 June extra nights should be booked on your own behalf.
 
 
14. New Scientist Live Lecture, London: How the universe began - 19 November, with: Prof Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal, Emeritus Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics, University of Cambridge.
A second speaker to be confirmed.
   The recent discovery that the cosmic microwave background also bears the scars of gravitational waves - the squeezing and stretching of space time itself - is enabling us to build an increasingly detailed picture of the birth of the universe.
(A very limited number of tickets are available for this lecture) If you are going to be in London then, this might be worth attending
 
 
15. NEXT YEAR'S STAR PARTIES:  
Galway Astrofest: Feb 21, 2015, Theme: "New Worlds - New Horizons" Excellent speaker line-up already!  See http://galwayastronomyclub.ie/
 COSMOS: April 17th to 19th 2015, Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.
 
16. INTERESTING WEBLINKS: 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2709287/Fossils-Earth-discovered-moon-Experts-say-lunar-rock-contain-microscopic-evidence-ancient-life.html 
The chances of finding anything are VERY remote. And as for that illustration, (1) it's an asteroid, not an Earth-origin meteorite. (2) That one would never make it to the Moon anyway - since either E or W is to the right (shown by the sunlight on the Moon), that one is going in the wrong direction.
http://www.space.com/26645-hubble-space-telescope-lego-model.html?cmpid=557887 (I hope they don't make the same mistake with the mirror as NASA did....)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2705934/Atlast-literally-Nasa-build-worlds-powerful-telescope-key-finding-alien-life.html This won't really be a quantum leap forward: it will only have 50% more light grasp than the JWST. It will probably have better instrumentation, however.
30-metre telescope stars construction http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140728113131.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29 Thirty metres! When I started in astronomy, the second largest telescope in the world was 3 metres in diameter (the 120" reflector at Lick Obs), and the largest was 5 metres (the 200" at Palomar). And site work for the 39-metre E-ELT is underway in Chile.
 
 
17. TWITTER: Follow the IAA on Twitter: The account is now operational again as before: @IaaAstro.

  
18. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is easy: 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 www.irishastro.org. 
  
Finally, in tribute to the late great John Dobson, a quote from him which is typical of the man, and very appropriate:  "If you figure something out for yourself, it doesn't make no never-mind who figured it out first, it's yours."
 
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley


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