Lectures, Science festival events, Exhibition, BCO, SAN, NASA invites name, IFAS

Hi all,

 

1.  IAA LECTURE,  Wed 15 Nov, 7.30 p.m. "Astronomical Spectroscopy for Amateurs" by Dr David Lisk. Spectroscopy is probably the single most important tool available to the astronomer, allowing us to determine the composition of everything in the universe from aurorae and meteors in our upper atmosphere, through planets, moons, comets and asteroids in our Solar System, to the atmospheres of exoplanets, the stars and nebulae in our own galaxy, and out to the most distant galaxies and quasars in the far reaches of the universe. Come and discover how amateurs like ourselves can use this amazing technique to learn more about our fantastic universe

Wed 15 November 7.30 p.m., Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, QUB. Free admission, including light refreshments.  Free parking on QUB campus after 5.30 p.m.

 

2. Cavan Monaghan Science Festival, Renowned astrophotographer Tom O'Donohue from Dublin will be doing a Workshop in Monaghan on Tuesday 14th at 7pm as part of the Cavan / Monaghan Science week activities. The workshop will be on DSLR Astrophotography. He will discuss camera settings, objects to shoot, timing your photos, and tips on composition and set up. This will be followed by demos of processing images in Lightroom and Photoshop. Also, ten of his pics will be on exhibit in the Market house for two days.  See

http://www.cavanmonaghansciencefestival.ie/index.php/events-monaghan/219-astro-photography-monaghan 

 

3. Cavan Monaghan Science Festival, Nov 15; Lecture by Prof Michael Burton (AOP). Prof Burton will be giving his second lecture at this Festival, entitled "Wonders of the Cosmos - as seen by the telescopes of the European Southern Observatory".  Given the recent ROI decision to join ESO he will also talk about what ESO actually is, as well as show some of the spectacular imagery.

Wed 15 Nov: Clones 7pm  (Note there is currently the wrong date listed for this under Monaghan events in the link below, but the booking system comes up with the right date)

Details and bookings via http://www.cavanmonaghansciencefestival.ie

 

4. Cavan Monaghan Science Festival, 17 November, Observing at Cavan Burren Centre. I will be conducting an astronomy observing event for this festival at the Cavan Burren Centre, near Blacklion, Co Cavan.. I'll have a selection of telescopes and binoculars for observing,and if it's cloudy I'll be talking about choosing and using telescopes and binoculars, and I'll have some meteorites - 'actual rocks from space' - on display. Starts at 7 p.m.. See http://www.cavanmonaghansciencefestival.ie and www.cavanburrenpark.ie 

 

5. IAA Photo Exhibition, Carrickfergus Our very successful photo exhibition continues at its latest venue, Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre, until 6 January. Be sure to watch the excellent video display of some recent aurorae and other phenomena such as eclipses and conjunctions. Also on display are various antique telescopes and other astronomical equipment on loan from Armagh Observatory and Planetarium and myself, and some space items on loan from Dr Andy McCrea.

It continues there until 6 January. 

For further information please contact Carrickfergus Museum, T: 028 9335 8241 or E: carrickfergusmuseums@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

 

6. BCO  How did the Universe get so big? Nov 15, 6pm – 10pm at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork. With ESO senior astronomer, Jason Spyromilio.

CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory are celebrating the recent announcement of Ireland's membership of the European Southern Observatory with an open night during Science Week. This free night will feature family friendly workshops, a talk from Spyromilio on the most recent discoveries of the accelerating expansion of the universe (BOOKING REQUIRED FOR THE TALK) and stargazing.

6pm – 8pm    |     Telescopes vs Eyes    |    Family friendly workshop. Discover how telescopes have changed our understanding of the Universe. How did early astronomers make sense of the cosmos and how has that changed as technology has developed?

A practical, creative session for astro-enthusiasts of all ages. Drop-in sessions between 6pm and 8pm, stay for 5 minutes or for 30!

7.30pm     |    How did the Universe get so big?    |    BOOKING REQUIRED.

The size of the universe as seen through observations from antiquity until the modern era has steadily increased. We will follow our growth in understanding through the observations from Eratosthenes to the most recent discoveries of the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Jason Spyromilio is a senior astronomer at the European Southern Observatory (ESO). His research interests are focused on supernovae and their use in understanding the physics of explosions. He was a member of the high-z team that co-discovered the acceleration of the expansion of the universe (for which they were all awarded the Gruber prize, more recently the Breakthrough prize) and was a member of the ESSENCE collaboration that continued that work. He has participated in work on beta Pic, comets, brown dwarfs, planetary nebulae etc. BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

7pm    |    Stargazing. Discover the wonders of the night sky with weather dependent star gazing with the Cork Astronomy Club

 

7. "The Sky at Night" programme repeat on BBC Four on Thursday night, 16 Nov,  features the recent amazing detection of the merger of two neutron stars in the optical band, to which astronomers at QUB and DIAS made major contributions

 

8. ISS The ISS ends its series of morning passes over Ireland on Nov 15. A new series of evening passes will commence on Nov 30.  Details as usual on the excellent free site www.heavens-above.com.

 

9. NASA invites names for next New Horizons target body.

https://www.aol.co.uk/video/nasa-is-asking-you-to-help-name-an-icy-world-far-far-away-5a0345ec46bd1e7ab2c26196/. I have already suggested, tongue-in-cheek, that after visiting Pluto, the next target has to be called Goofy!

   But seriously, how about a campaign from all Irish astronomers to have it named 'Edgeworth', after Kenneth Edgeworth of Streete, Co Westmeath, who predicted the existence of the large group of small bodies in the outer solar system, of which this body is one. The accepted name for this band of smallish bodies is the Kuiper Belt, named after the Dutch-American astronomer who later gave it more publicity. However many local astronomers refer to it as the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt. We are unlikely to get the accepted name for the KB changed, but naming this particular object after Edgeworth would give some long-overdue recognition to a noted local astronomer. So if you agree, vote Edgeworth, and pass it on!

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Edgeworth and  http://www.solstation.com/stars/kuiper.htm 

 

10. Subscription Reminder IAA membership renewal was due on 01 September. If you have renewed your subscription, thank you. If not your membership will lapse, and you will not get the next issue of Stardust, nor invitations to other IAA events. We have managed to avoid increasing the subscription for many years now, in spite of increasing costs, so it's even better value!  Details of how you can pay are on the website, www.irishastro.org.

 

11. IFAS Calendars The 2018 edition of these excellent calendars, featuring astronomical photos by Irish amateurs, is now available. It also includes details of all the known astronomical events during 2018. To avoid having to pay postage costs to N.I., if any local members want a copy I can collect them at an event in Dunsink on 15 December and bring them to the next IAA meeting in early January. They cost €6 each, so if you want me to get you one you MUST pay me either €6 or £5.30,  in advance, at any IAA meeting before 15 Jan. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY RETURN IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, so I can pre-order the required number from Michael Murphy.

 

12. Ulster Museum Autumn Science Free Lecture Series, Thu 16 November,

19.00 - 20.30. Pioneers of Science:

Thursday 16^th November                    https://www.nmni.com/whats-on/pioneers-of-science-william-thomson-lord-kelvin

Thursday 23^rd November                  https://www.nmni.com/whats-on/pioneers-of-science-the-other-thomson

Thursday 30^th November                  https://www.nmni.com/whats-on/pioneers-of-science-josiah-wedgewood

 

13. Robinson Lecture, Armagh, 22 November. The next in this top-flight series - the 2018 Robinson Lecture, will be given by Professor Louise Harra of University College London.  Her topic is about the Solar Orbiter, a new spacecraft to be launched to study the Sun. It will be held in the Archbishop's Palace in Armagh on Wednesday 22 November, 2017, starting at 7pm.  Tickets are available via the Visit Armagh website.

 

14. Archaeoastronomy lecture, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, 7 December. "Facing the Sun". This talk asks (and answers) the intriguing question - why were solstitial and, in a few cases, orientations close to sunrise and sunset near the equinoxes incorporated into passage tomb architecture? This will be given by the well-known authority on this topic, Dr Frank Prendergast. The talk is based on a major article in the forthcoming winter issue of Archaeology Ireland by Frank Prendergast and colleagues. www.archaeologyireland.ie 

Facing the Sun: understanding the significance of the

winter solstice in passage tomb architecture.

 December 2017 marks fifty years since M. J. O' Kelly first investigated the winter solstice at Newgrange. O'Kelly subsequently recorded direct sunlight entering Newgrange through the 'especially contrived slit which lies under the roof-box at the outer end of the passage roof'  on 21 December 1969.

    The discovery of this prehistoric phenomenon at Newgrange, dating back over 5000 years, captured the public interest and imagination at that time and ever since.

    In a major article in the forthcoming Winter 2017 Archaeology Ireland (publication 4 December), leading experts in this field, Frank Prendergast, Muiris O'Sullivan, Ken Williams and Gabriel Cooney, ask (and answer)

Why were solstitial and, in a few cases, orientations close to sunrise and sunset near the equinoxes incorporated into passage tomb architecture?

 Examining positional astronomy and solar alignments, the changing skyscape through the year and the sun at solstice, the authors consider solstitial alignments in Irish Passage Tombs, including Newgrange, Dowth, Loughcrew (Co. Meath) and Townley Hall (Co. Louth) passage tombs and draw specifically on evidence from a number of other sites, such as Slieve Gullion (Co. Armagh); Thomastown (Co. Meath) and Knockroe (Co. Kilkenny).

    This major article features stunning images from renowned photographer Ken Williams and provides a major introduction to the fascinating area of Archaeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy.

 

15. Global Science Opera, 13 December 2017; Moon Village — new PR movie
On Dec. 13th, 2017 at 2:00 PM GMT, the Global Science Opera will livestream the opera "Moon Village". This science opera will be performed around the planet as result of a year-long creative inquiry shared by schools, universities, and art institutions in 25 countries. It will communicate the process, science and technology of the European Space Agency's Moon Village. The "Moon Village" Global Science Opera is the first opera initiative to produce and perform operas as a global community and is a cooperation organized by a vast network of institutions. The opera may be viewed online on Dec. 13th, 2017 at 2:00 PM GMT here: https://hnytt.no/se-tvh-live/ 
Find out more at http://globalscienceopera.com/productions/moon-village-2017/

 

16. DIAS PUBLIC LECTURE, 15 Dec; "The Physics and Astrophysics of Merging Neutron-Star Binaries" Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies – School of Theoretical Physics Statutory Public Lecture 2017. Friday 15th December 2017 at 6.00 p.m. By: Prof. Dr. Luciano Rezzolla (Goethe University of Frankfurt).

Edmund Burke Theatre (Room 1008), Arts Building, Trinity College Dublin.

Admission by ticket only, via DIAS website.

Abstract: I will argue that if black holes represent one the most fascinating implications of Einstein's theory of gravity, neutron stars in binary system are arguably its richest laboratory, where gravity blends with astrophysics and particle physics. I will discuss the rapid recent progress made in modelling these systems and show how the inspiral and merger of a binary system of neutron stars is more than a strong source of gravitational waves. Indeed, while the gravitational signal can provide tight constraints on the equation of state for matter at nuclear densities, the formation of a black-hole–torus system can explain much of the phenomenology of short gamma-ray bursts, while the ejection of matter during the merger can shed light on the chemical enrichment of the universe.

 Prof. Dr. Luciano Rezzolla is presently the Chair of Theoretical (Relativistic) Astrophysics and Director at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (ITP) of the Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany. He is also Senior Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies (FIAS).

 

17. FUTURE EVENTS ALERT

* IAA New Year Party: 6 January 2018, Comber, Co Down. More details later.

* Galway Astrofest: Saturday 27 January 2018. More details later.

* International Day of Light, 16 May 2018.    Plan ahead and register your event in the official International Day of Light 2018 calendar! Following the highly successful International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies in 2015, May 16th, the International Day of Light, will provide an annual focal point for the continued appreciation of the central role that light plays in the lives of the citizens of the world. The broad theme of light allows many different sectors of society to participate in activities to raise awareness of science and technology, art and culture, and their importance in achieving the goals of UNESCO — education, equality and peace. 

   A good opportunity to highlight (!) light-pollution! And promote Earth Hour as well.

Register your event by filling out the form: http://bit.ly/2xLvvDK

* International Planetarium Society,  1–6 July 2018, Toulouse, France. More Information: http://www.ips-planetarium.org/page/IPS2018Toulouse  
* Robotic Telescopes, Student Research and Education (RTSRE) & InterNational Astronomy Teaching Summit Conferences, 23-27 July 2018. The 2nd annual Conference on Robotic Telescopes, Student Research and Education (RTSRE) will be held in Hilo, Hawai'i from July 23-25, 2018. This conference series focuses on building a sustainable community around the educational, technical, and student research uses of robotic telescopes. The conference will be co-located with the interNational Astronomy Teaching Summit (iNATS) from July 25-27, 2018 providing worldwide networking opportunities and hands-on workshops designed to expand educators' teaching strategy toolkit designed for innovative astronomy professors, teachers, and outreach professionals.  Find more information here: http://rtsre.net/ 

 

18. 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

Winds blowing off a dying star carry elements for life https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171110084310.htm 

Light echo spotted round expanding supernova shell https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171109141053.htm 

The star that would not die https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171108131839.htm

 

Earth & Moon  

Site of 'dinosaur killer' asteroid impact was crucial https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171110113950.htm 

Dawn spacecraft reveals secrets of interior of Ceres https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171109135703.htm 

https://www.aol.co.uk/video/stephen-hawking-says-humanity-will-burn-in-a-ball-of-fire-5a0773c54db5ff42c35780b7/

 

Exoplanets

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5069785/Mysterious-planet-13-times-size-Jupiter-discovered.html 

 

Solar System

http://earthsky.org/space/images-junos-8th-science-flyby-of-jupiter?mc_cid=859e237850&mc_eid=dca371d595 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5077457/Nasa-Juno-spacecraft-captures-STUNNING-image-Jupiter.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5058963/NASA-seeks-nickname-tiny-icy-world-solar-edge.html 

 

SPACE

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5071389/NASA-reveals-plan-spectacular-2019-Orion-abort-test.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5078425/Dream-Chaser-mini-spaceplane-soars-Mojave-Desert.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5063937/SpaceX-rocket-explodes-testing.html 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5064229/NASA-says-SLS-megarocket-launch-Dec-2019.html 

 

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

 

20. 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