Sun Lecture in TCD, AOP news, Exhib & space events, NLCs, Juno @ GRS, Sunflower

Hi all,

 

STOP PRESS! TV tonight, Wed 5 Jul, Behind the Science, NVTV, 20:15-20:45
Dr Wesley Fraser discusses his research which focuses on the Kuiper belt, and the possibility of the hypothetical Planet Nine. Dr Fraser gave us an excellent lecture on this subject in Belfast last session. (Thanks to Peter Millar for alert)

 

1. NEW: " Our Sun: friend or Foe?", Monday 10 July, 8 p.m:  Public Lecture, Astronomy Ireland, Physics Building, TCD, Dublin, by Terry Moseley. I was forgetting to publicise my own lecture - apologies! The Sun is both life-giver, and potential life-destroyer. This talk will look at all the benefits, and all the hazards, associated with our nearest star. NB: A.I. are offering a reduced 5-euro rate for IAA members.

Update: The 5-euro offer will also apply to members of all the astronomy societies in Ireland and they will also record the lecture and it can be ordered online at www.astronomy.ie/dvd

 

2. New. Summer Events at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. 

We have a packed schedule of events that has something for everyone!

• Brand New Shows – Secrets of Gravity for Kids and Asteroid: Mission Extreme (Narrated by Sigourney Weaver) for Adults – Pre-booking required by calling 02837523689
• The Emerald Garrison's Force Academy on 8^th July
• Minecraft on 13^th, 14^th and 15^th July – booking required via www.armagh.co.uk/science/
• Jurassic Week from  17^th – 22^nd July with a special guest appearance of Rex the Dinosaur on the 22^nd July!
• Heroes and Legends returns to Armagh Planetarium on Saturday 5^th August and Sunday 6^th of August (exceptional Sunday opening!)
• Astronaut Sculpting Week  from 21^st - 25^th August
• The Micro Zoo are visiting on  26^th August
• Evenings with an Astronomer on 5^th & 26^th July and 16^th & 30^th August. – Pre-booking required by calling 02837523689
• As well as all these amazing events, our famous water rocket workshop and space arts and crafts will be running throughout the whole of the summer and 6 digital theatre shows will be running daily!

 3. IAA Photo Exhibition "Heavens Above" & public outreach event, Bangor.  On 3rd July the Irish Astronomical Association (IAA) launched "Heavens Above", an exhibition of astonishing photographs of the sky taken exclusively by members of the Association, in the Bangor Carnegie Library. The exhibition will run to 29^th July. http://www.visitardsandnorthdown.com/events/heavens-above

 

4. "Inspire Space" events in Dublin: Inspire Space summer events:

Apollo 13 on Thursday July 13th, Science Gallery Dublin

July 15th: NASA astronaut Dan Tani and ESA EUROCOM Andrea Boyd join Rick O'Shea for an interactive discussion. Ground Control to Astronaut Dan. Ed Burke Theatre, Trinity College Dublin tickets available through www.inspirespace.com 

The Martian on the anniversary of the first moon-landing, Thursday July 20th, Dundrum Cinema

Details on how to book for all events can be found on Inspire Space's Facebook page and web site: Facebook page is here ;  and twitter address is @inspirespace, and  web site :

https://www.inspirespace.com
(Thanks to Dr Norah Patten and Kevin Nolan for this info)

 

5. Saturn at Opposition. Our celestial showpiece, and undoubtedly the most beautiful sight in our solar system, if not the entire sky, was directly opposite the Sun in the sky, and so visible all night, on 15 June. It's also at its closest to Earth at present, so it's the best time to observe it. BUT - it's also almost as far South in the sky as it can be, so it's poorly placed for observing from our latitudes. Not only is it always quite low down in the sky, with atmospheric absorption and poor seeing, it's above the horizon only for a fairly short time (pace the comment above - think about it; this is when the nights are shortest!). Nevertheless, it's always worth a look just to see those glorious rings!

 And the amazing Cassini spacecraft exploring Saturn and its system, continues its series of amazing and hazardous dives through the gap between Saturn and its rings. Watch out for more amazing images coming back.

   IAA members will have full details of how to observe and what to see in the current issue of STARDUST

 

6.  "Space:Out Of This World": this exhibition continues at Belfast Central Library, and is supported by the IAA with the loan of various exhibits, mainly from Andy McCrea.

 

7. NLCs At last! Some good displays have been visible here recently. This is the season to see these beautiful and mysterious high-altitude Noctilucent Clouds, thought to be caused by meteoric dust high in our atmosphere. . Look low down in the Northern sky, just as the brightest stars become visible.

And see this beauty from Slovakia:

 

8. Juno to give close up of Great Red Spot: See http://earthsky.org/space/juno-close-pass-jupiter-great-red-spot-july-10-2017?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=ce719a62c8-EarthSky_News&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-ce719a62c8-394571661&mc_cid=ce719a62c8&mc_eid=dca371d595

 

9. Sunflowerfest, Tubby's farm, Hillsborough, 28-30 July. We are delighted to be partnering with the NI Science Festival in bringing some astronomy to this event. The theme this year is "A Parallel Universe", which sounds interesting! We'll be doing solar observing during the day, and planet- and star-gazing at night, if clear. The farm is at 31 Cabra Road, Hillsborough, Co Down. Full details at https://sunflowerfest.co.uk/ 

 

10. Summer of Space at BCO. CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory in association with Cork County Council has just officially launched the Summer of Space programme to celebrate the International Space University's 2017 Space Studies Program (SSP17) running in Cork until August 25 this year.

   The Summer of Space comprises over fifty public events taking place across Cork City and County and the island of Ireland. Most of the events are free and aimed at people of all ages and interests.

   For more information about the Summer of Space please see the official press release attached and our website - www.bco.ie/events

 

11. Blackrock Castle Observatory Space Camps, July 10 - 21

Book your space camper in for a fun filled week of space and science activities.
Join us each day from 9:30 to 12:30.
Week 1 | July 10 - 14 | suitable for ages 7 to 9
Week 2 | July 17 - 21 | suitable for ages 10 to 12

The cost for each Space Camper is €95 per child which includes 1 week of Space Camp, Space Camp t-shirt & all activity materials.

Payment must be paid before your chosen Space Camp begins. 10% Discounts apply for members and siblings attending.

Please call us on 021 4326120 or email info@bco.ie to book. For more information see www.bco.ie

 

12.  IAA Solar Day, 6 August, WWT, Castle Espie, 2 - 5 p.m. More details later.

 

13. New: Skellig Star Party, Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry, 18-21 August. See www.skelligstarparty.com, Facebook: Skellig Star Party, Twitter @SkelligStarParty, E: info@skelligstarparty.com. In the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve.

 

14. AstroCamp 2017 The European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto (CAUP) are collaborating to support AstroCamp 2017, an astronomy-focused summer academic programme for secondary school students. The Summer AstroCamp 2017 will be held from 6 to 20 August in northern Portugal, at the Centre for Environmental Education and Interpretation of the Corno de Bico Protected Landscape. The applicant with the best application from one of ESO's Member States who is eligible to apply will win a bursary offered by ESO that will cover the camp fee.
Read more http://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/announcements/ann17006/?lang

 

15. Backyard Worlds: Planet Nine. Backyard Worlds is hoping to discover a large planet at the fringes of our solar system — a world astronomers call Planet Nine. But Backyard Worlds need your help! Finding such dim objects requires combing through images by eye, to distinguish moving celestial bodies from ghosts and other artifacts. So come and join the search — there are many images to look through. In the end you might discover a rogue world that's even nearer to the Sun than Proxima Centauri! Discover more about the project and how to contribute here: https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/marckuchner/backyard-worlds-planet-9

 

16: FUTURE EVENTS ALERT:

Astronomy Museums, Visitor Centres, & Public Observatories Workshop, 27-29 September 2017, Leiden, the Netherlands. See: https://www.communicatingastronomy.org/visitorexperience/  
World Space Week 2017: 4–10 October 2017, Location: All around the world. More Information: http://www.worldspaceweek.org/theme/ 
International Observe the Moon Night: 28 October 2017, Location: All around the world, More Information: http://observethemoonnight.org/ 

* NEXT LECTURE: The first lecture of the new IAA season will be on Wed 20 September 7.30 p.m., Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, QUB. Free admission.  Free parking on QUB campus after 5.30 p.m. http://irishastro.org.uk/lecture

* 36th International Meteor Conference, in Petnica, Serbia, from September 21 to 24, 2017. For details contact the Local Organizing Committee at imc2017@imo.net 

* International Observe the Moon Night, 28 October 2017. More Information: http://observethemoonnight.org/ 

 

17. 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

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4665024/Fastest-stars-runaways-galaxies.html 

'Shocking case of indigestion in Supermassive Black Hole' https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170704093914.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29 - the gastronomy of astronomy! When will the eating analogies cease???

"Little Cub" illustrates galaxy demise https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170704093624.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29 

Problems with pulsars https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703121136.htm 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4665644/Little-cub-galaxy-reveal-secrets-universe.html 

Cosmology

What happened before the Big Bang? https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/07/02/what-existed-before-the-big-bang/23012729/ The idea of an endlessly recycling universe goes back at least as far as "The Oscillating Universe" by Prof Ernst Opik, originally written in 1956, then astronomer at Armagh Observatory. (My Revised Ed pub in 1960, Mentor Books, Library of Congress Catalog 60-9595).

Gravitational waves - or not? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4662434/Controversy-gravitational-wave-discovery.html 

Earth & Moon  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4655328/NASA-craft-crash-asteroid-knock-course.html 

Exoplanets:

Limits of habitability of exoplanets https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703083308.htm 

Solar System:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4662022/Juno-set-fly-Jupiter-s-great-red-spot.html Biggest storm in the universe? It's probably not even the biggest in the galaxy!

Methanol found in Enceladus's plumes https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170704094140.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29 

Comet 174/P Echeclus's odd behaviour https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170630105003.htm

Jupiter in unprecedented detail in I-R https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703083231.htm 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4634256/NASA-image-shows-area-experts-say-lake.html (on Mars)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4627804/Mysterious-rock-circle-spotted-Mars.html It would help if they gave the dimensions!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4634132/NASA-releases-incredible-image-white-cliffs-Mars.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4641108/Dawn-Saturn-NASA-releases-new-stunning-image.html 

SPACE:

Protecting astronauts from radiation in space https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170703121030.htm 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4659182/China-heavy-lift-carrier-rocket-launch-fails-state-media.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4662582/Spot-Dragon-Astronaut-spots-SpaceX-s-recycled-capsule.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4664434/Lunar-robots-test-Sicilys-Mount-Etna.html Neat!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4664228/A-satellite-falling-apart-Mexico.html Probably hit by a meteoroid.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4586512/NASA-reveals-DIY-projects-launch-Orion-mission.html 

SUN

The music of the Sun! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170704093626.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29 

Solar flares & jets mystery solved? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170701081726.htm 

https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/sciencecasts/solar-minimum-is-coming 

Telescopes, instruments, techniques etc.

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2017/20170623-starshade-helping-space-telescopes.html 

New measure of Planck's Constant https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170701103514.htm 

 

18. TWITTER Follow the IAA on Twitter: @IaaAstro.

 

19. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION: 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.

 

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley