Hi all,
CORONAVIRUS
This hardly needs saying, but if you have been exposed, or think you may have been exposed to the virus or anyone carrying it, or if you have recently been to a risk region, please do not attend the next meeting. Thank you.
1. IAA Public Lecture, Wednesday March 4, 7.30 p.m., Gamma-ray and Optical Astronomy with VERITAS, Dr John Quinn, UCD: Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, QUB,
Gamma-rays are the most energetic form of electro-magnetic radiation, produced by some of the most violent events in the universe, such as supernovas remnants and relativistic jets from supermassive Black Holes. It's only recently that we've developed instruments capable of studying them. The very highest energy rays (in the Tera electron Volt (TeV) range) produce showers of secondary emissions, called Cherenkov radiation, when they stroke our atmosphere.
VERITAS (Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) in Arizona is one of only 3 state of the art TeV observatories which can study this phenomenon, and this talk will describe how it works and the science it produces.
The Veritas Collaboration is now also using the telescope for optical astronomy, such fast transients and interferometry, and the talk will also cover this new work.
2. The Impact of Satellite Constellations on Astronomy: IAU press release
https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau2001/
3. Astronomy Stamps. A new set of stamps has been issued in the UK, with the theme Visions Of The Universe, marking the 200th anniversary of the RAS. Various sets are available, or you can just buy them singly.
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 as it approaches its rendezvous with the Pleiades on 3 April..
5. ISS The International Space Station commenced 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
6. BETELGEUSE is brightening again.
As my observations indicated last week, Betelgeuse reached a minimum magnitude of about mag 1.6, and is now slowly brightening again: it's about 1.4 at the moment. It seems that the unusually deep minimum was caused by the minima of at least two separate cycles coinciding round about Feb 22. Another theory is that it was due to the shedding of dust from its outer atmosphere, which has now thinned out enough for it to become more transparent.
Watch it for as long as you can – into early April, at a stretch - to see how much it brightens again. You can compare it with Procyon (mag 0.4), Aldebaran (mag 0.87, but slightly variable itself), Pollux (mag 1.16), Castor (mag 1.58), Bellatrix (mag 1.64). Only do it when Betelgeuse is at least 30 degrees above the horizon, and choose comparison stars at about the same altitude as it.
7. 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.
8. COSMOS STAR PARTY, Athlone, 3-5 April. More details later
9. Asteroid Day, 30 June.
Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr. Brian May of the rock group QUEEN; Apollo 9 Astronaut Rusty Schweickart; Filmmaker Grig Richters; and B612 President Danica Remy, to promote awareness and provide knowledge to the general public about the importance of asteroids in our solar system history, and the role they play in our solar system today. Events are scheduled leading up to 30 June, the date of the largest asteroid impact of Earth in recorded history (Tunguska).
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
Neutron stars have weird strong nuclear force https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226131310.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29
How Betelgeuse could go Supernova https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142009.htm
Two stars merged to form a massive White Dwarf https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200302113300.htm
A massive star's dying breaths (not Betelgeuse, yet!) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142009.htm
The most powerful explosion in the universe https://newatlas.com/space/astronomers-most-powerful-explosion-universe/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=b5f9903f26-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_28_09_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-b5f9903f26-92786061
Our kinky Milky Way https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8068993/Kink-Milky-Ways-disc-created-ongoing-collision.html
Students find a flaring Black Hole https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8067115/NASA-shares-gif-new-black-hole-30-000-light-years-away-seen-students-studying-asteroid.html
COSMOLOGY
Why is there any matter in the universe? – We still don't know! https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142022.htm
EARTH & MOON
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8048845/Chinese-investigate-dark-moon-finds-three-distinct-layers.html The Mail's writers STILL don't know that it's the Moon's Far side, not its Dark side. It doesn't have a dark side, any more than the Earth has. The whole Moon has alternate day & night just like the Earth.
What lies on the far side of the Moon? https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/chinas-change-probe-discovers-whats-lurking-beneath-moons-far-side/ar-BB10rwcQ?ocid=spartandhp
Earth has a new mini-Moon https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/earth-might-have-caught-a-new-moon-and-its-super-tiny/ar-BB10s6Ts?ocid=spartandhp
The Earth & Moon image obviously a fake/collage. Footprints are FAR too big in relation to crater size. Sunlight on Moon coming from left, but on the Earth it's coming from above.
Asteroid impact enriched certain elements in seawater https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228102204.htm
Earlier warning of space weather storms https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200302153600.htm
Extra-terrestrial protein discovered in meteorite https://newatlas.com/space/extraterrestrial-protein-meteorite/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=8dda56c400-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_02_09_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-8dda56c400-92786061 But why does the illustration show a comet, rather than a meteorite?
Earth's new Mini-Moon may be just space junk https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8057585/Earths-new-mini-moon-seen-color-experts-questioning-asteroid-space-junk.html
UK-wide camera network to locate falling meteorites https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8065063/Camera-network-created-track-meteorites-heading-UK.html
EXOPLANETS
Have we already detected exoplanet ring systems? https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/superpuff-alien-worlds-could-be-ringed-giant-planets-just-like-saturn/ar-BB10tfAX?ocid=spartandhp
Super-Earth covered in water inside the habitable zone https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/large-rocky-planet-124-light-years-away-from-earth-appears-to-be-covered-in-water-and-could-have-right-conditions-to-sustain-alien-life/ar-BB10rMXJ?ocid=spartandhp
Candy-floss planets may actually have rings https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200302153606.htm
Evolution of a planetary system in a tilted binary star pair https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200302103749.htm
Astronomy student discovers 17 new planets https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228073146.htm
Super-Earth could have right conditions for life https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226212008.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29
SOLAR SYSTEM
Why is Mars humming? https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/spotlight/mars-is-humming-scientists-arent-sure-why/ar-BB10sNco?ocid=spartandhp
Earth crater could give information about Mars. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226142146.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29
NASA wants you to design part of its next Venus Rover https://newatlas.com/space/nasa-venus-rover-design-competition/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=988c833dd2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_27_09_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-988c833dd2-92786061
Turbulent history of asteroid Vesta https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226095512.htm
Studying Ice Giants Uranus and Neptune https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142006.htm
Asteroid Itokawa is covered with iron whiskers https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228105220.htm
Life on Titan not so likely https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200302113336.htm
JWST will probe Uranus and Neptune https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200228142006.htm
Moving Martian sand dunes https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8057229/Scientists-create-stunning-gifs-Mars-sand-dunes-understand-conditions-impact-them.html
SPACE
NASA wants you to design part of its next Venus Rover https://newatlas.com/space/nasa-venus-rover-design-competition/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=988c833dd2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_27_09_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-988c833dd2-92786061
Revitalising old satellites https://newatlas.com/space/northrop-grumman-docks-commercial-satellites-first-mev-1/?utm_source=New+Atlas+Subscribers&utm_campaign=988c833dd2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_27_09_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-988c833dd2-92786061
New way to stabilise and rotate satellites https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200226130529.htm
Boeing: 737Max, and now this! Would anyone want to fly in anything made by Boeing under its current management? https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8052487/Boeing-skipped-software-test-Starliner-aborted-launch-December.html
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/techandscience/critical-rocket-escape-system-motor-for-nasas-orion-spacecrafy-aces-final-test/ar-BB10waRa?ocid=spartandhp It seems nothing ever passes a test any more – it has to "ace" it.
Telescopes, Instruments, Techniques
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
No comments:
Post a Comment