Firstly, congratulations to Laura Murphy from TCD who gave a brilliant lecture on The First Stars in the Universe to the IAA in an overflowing Lecture theatre as part of the NI Science Festival - the biggest audience we've ever had!
1. Astronomy events at QUB, Sat 22 February.
A. "QUB Astronomy Day", 11.00 - 16.00. In the Lanyon Building..
B."Astronomy Question Time & Star Watch", 19.00 - 22.00. This will start off with a Question Time session in the Larmour Lecture Theatre, Physics building, followed by observing led by the IAA in from of the main building if clear. The IAA will also be running starshows in our Stardome mobile planetarium in the Council Chamber off the Canada Room in the main Lanyon building. This is accessed on the left of the main entrance foyer, and will be signposted. Admission free.
2. Death of Heather Couper, Heather, a well-known populariser of astronomy has died after a short illness. Heather was one of the first women in this genre, being an excellent lecturer, broadcaster, and in association with her long-time colleague Nigel Henbest, a write of many books, and producer of popular astronomy TV programs. She gave several very entertaining lectures to the IAA. I first got to know her about 30 years ago, and we always enjoyed a great chat when we met. She was a great inspiration to many starting off in astronomy, particularly girls, and she'll be sorely missed.
3. IAA Public Lecture, Wednesday March 4, 7.30 p.m., Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, QUB, Dr John Quinn, Gamma ray & optical astronomy with Veritas. More details later.
4. Venus.
You can't miss brilliant Venus in the SW twilight these evenings. Watch is it moves ever higher out of the bright twilight over the next few months.
5. Zodiacal Light is a challenging target:
For the best chance to see this very faint cone-shaped light extending above the W horizon along the line of the ecliptic in the very late evening twilight sky you'll need a clear view to the West, a very dark and transparent sky, and obviously no moonlight. Best chances this year are from now to Feb 24, and March 12 to 25.
6. ISS The International Space Station will commence a new series of morning passes on Feb 23 Full details for your location, and lots of other astronomy information, on the excellent free site www.heavens-above.com
7. BETELGEUSE fading may be slowing.
Red Supergiant star Betelgeuse has faded since October by well over 1 magnitude. Some conjecture that this is a prelude to a supernova explosion, but that is very unlikely. However, it's certainly worth watching. It's now about equal in brightness to Bellatrix, the star marking Orion's other 'shoulder'.
My latest magnitude estimate, on 17 February, made it equal to, or slightly brighter, than Bellatrix, (mag 1.6), which is the same as my estimate about a week ago.
That's still over 1 magnitude fainter than its average of +0.5 - the faintest I've ever seen it – and that's from 1963!
You can compare it with Pollux (mag 1.16), Castor (mag 1.58), Bellatrix (mag 1.64), Al Nath / Beta Tau (mag 1.68), Epsilon Ori (middle star in the Belt, mag 1.7), Zeta Ori (bottom left star in the Belt, mag 1.9), or Gamma Gem (mag 2.0). Only do it when Betelgeuse is at least 30 degrees above the horizon, and choose comparison stars at about the same altitude as it.
A recent prediction indicates that if the fading is due to the minima of several different periodic cycles co-inciding, then the star should reach its faintest about February 21, and then start to recover. We shall see!
These articles gives some good background information: VLT inmaes change of shape of Betelgeuse
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134707.htm
8. Dark Sky observing event, Cavan Burren Centre, 20 March. I've been asked to run another one of these events, in a very dark sky location, near Blacklion, just across the border from Belcoo. More details later.
9. COSMOS STAR PARTY, Athlone, 3-5 April. More details later
10. International Astronomical Youth Camp in Spain, 12 July – 1 August
The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge of astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. The IAYC is an experience unlike any other; a place for unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. During the camp, 65 young and enthusiastic participants from all corners of the world gather in a remote location in Spain to observe and learn about some of the most spectacular skies on this Earth. Applications for the 2020 camp are being accepted until 5 April 2020.
International Astronomical Youth Camp, 12 July-1 August 2020; Baños de Montemayor, Spain
More information and application are here: www.iayc.org
11. National Astronomy Week, 14 – 22 November.
National Astronomy Week (NAW) will be held in the UK from Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November, to celebrate the close approach of Mars. Amateur and professional astronomers will be holding observing events during the week. Seen through a telescope magnifying about 100 times, Mars will appear as a pale orange disc, with its markings clearly visible, at a distance of 80 million km.
Although Mars is at its closest to Earth a month earlier, by November it is well up in the sky during the early evening, allowing younger schoolchildren an opportunity to get a good view of the planet. It will not be as close again until 2033.
As well as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon will be on show during National Astronomy Week. Details of observing events will be posted on the NAW website.
12. 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
Enormous galaxy blazed with early stars, then stopped https://earthsky.org/space/mysterious-massive-galaxy-xmm-2599-early-universe
VLT images Betelgeuse https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200214134707.htm
The Sombrero Galaxy hides a turbulent history https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220135241.htm
COSMOLOGY:
How dark is Dark Matter? Illuminating the Cosmic Web: https://www.livescience.com/dark-matter-filaments-mapped.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=xugxJZb04vjfrxLLdn5qc21zAyCfyGu5iB5mBt5QC_r%2Bp85fyoOf2SILI4Jy5sGyytmlUxIubn9O8efQdEXECSPbrPkAsV7aEyfp9qxxxQ
EARTH & MOON
Rare meteorite found in Germany. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218124404.htm
https://climatenewsnetwork.net/renewable-energy-could-power-the-world-by-2050/ and
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218124404.htm
Earth formed much faster than we originally thought https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220130509.htm
Human methane emission much greater than we thought https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200219113746.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29
How to stop a planet-killer asteroid hitting Earth https://www.livescience.com/how-to-stop-asteroid-from-hitting-earth.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=xugCfeHfTivDlzgKnBqDMcStKLYcesyIHgOVM39A1GERYvoJ1WeniwIc%2BVn6pUZG6gy1XgvcuU9dKRcAZtGPff2X9cUXOxX%2Bw98aA%2BgxxQ
EXOLIFE
EXOPLANETS
New study of exoplanets using LOFAR https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218104713.htm
Sub-Neptune sized planet validated with new instrument https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220130456.htm
How new stars prepare for the birth of planets https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220130454.htm
This planet is on the Eve of Destruction! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220104045.htm
IMAGES
SETI
Breakthrough Listen releases 2 Petabytes of date from SETI survey of Milky Way https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217112739.htm
SOLAR SYSTEM
Decoding the interior of Mars https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200220104055.htm
SPACE
Simple rocket engine may permit lighter cheaper satellites. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218143706.htm
TELESCOPES, INSTRUMENTS etc
13. 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 https://irishastro.org/
The Irish Astronomical Association is registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 105858
DISCLAIMER: Any views expressed herein are mine, and do not necessarily represent those of the IAA.
Clear skies,
Terry Moseley
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