Hi all,
1. SUMMER SOLSTICE
The Sun will reach its most northerly point on the ecliptic, the track of its yearly passage around our sky, on June 20 at 22h 44 BST. Since it sets from Belfast at 22.04 BST, and as late as 22.20 in the NW, that means that the Sun will be setting almost as far North as it ever can from this latitude – more than 315 degrees azimuth in the extreme NW of the island. It's on the 20th because this year is a Leap Year so we had one extra day between the Winter solstice and the following Summer one.
2. REGULAR FORTNIGHTLY SPACE and ASTRONOMY WEBINAR, June 23
After a very positive reaction to our first webinar on Mars, Nick Howes and I have been asked by Space Store Live to make it a regular fortnightly feature. It will be called "Space Store Live: Nick and Terry's Astro Round-up". The first one, on Tuesday 26th, was also very well received.
They will be approximately 30 minutes long, every second Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m., covering whatever is topical in space and astronomy. The next one will be on Tuesday
23 June: youtube.com/spacestorelive
It's a Zoom webinar, and will be Live streamed to YouTube SpaceStore Live! Channel and Live streamed to Facebook Live. I'll post any last minute news via Twitter.
3. Noctilucent Clouds.
These are visible through June and at least the first 3 weeks of July, sometimes longer. Look low down in the North when the first stars are visible, for these ethereal wispy silvery very high altitude clouds. Their name means 'night-shining', and they are so high up that they are illuminated by the Sun long after ordinary clouds would be in the Earth's shadow, They are thought to be caused by the very fine particles of dust left behind when meteors burn up at high altitude. They make lovely photos too.
4. Paul Evans has produced another excellent 'Lockdown Video guide to the sky: https://youtu.be/TvxKjws-skM
5. 21 June 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse Across Africa, Asia and the Middle East
An annular solar eclipse will sweep across Africa, Asia and the Middle East on 21 June 2020. A number of our National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) are organising websites and will be hosting livestreams for the event. The OAO will be sharing these links on our Facebook and Twitter when they become available. (none of this eclipse is visible anywhere in the UK or Ireland; a partial eclipse is visible in parts of SE Europe.)
IAU OAO Facebook: www.facebook.com/iauoutreach
IAU OAO Twitter: www.twitter.com/iau_outreach
6. Asteroid Day, 30 June UPDATE. Asteroid Day was co-founded by astrophysicist and famed musician Dr. Brian May of 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).
The virtual festivities kick off with a full 34 days of Asteroid Day TV (ADTV) starting June 1st and running through July 4th. This year's ADTV will consist of asteroid-related content for all ages including academic documentaries, family learning movies, current asteroid mission highlights, origins of the planet, and much more.
From June 30th, we'll be broadcasting a brand new Asteroid Day Live from Luxembourg. (ADLIVE)—a 4-hour program featuring astronauts, asteroid experts, and other notables. Themes this year will include topics such as current missions advancing efforts to develop greater asteroid detection, tracking and deflection techniques, and space resource initiatives.
ADTV and ADLIVE Digital from Luxembourg will be available via SES signal on select local channels, online at Twitch TV, YouTube, and via the asteroidday.org. We'll be announcing details on how to tune in the last week of May.
7. July 1 250th anniversary of Comet Lexell passing 0.015 AU from Earth, approx 6 Lunar Distances, or about 1.4m miles. The coma was about 2° 23' across! This was the closest known comet pass to Earth. Perihelion was on Aug 14.
8. ISS The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 2 July, transitioning into evening passes about mid-month, which will then continue until July 30.
Full details for your location, and lots of other astronomy information, on the excellent free site www.heavens-above.com
9. Earth at aphelion, July 4, The Earth will be furthest from the Sun in its elliptical orbit on July 4 at 11 34 UT, at a geocentric distance of 1.0166942 AU. (152,095,287.5 km)
10. Partial Penumbral Lunar Eclipse at Moonset, July 5.
Most of Ireland will barely see this eclipse, in which only 35% of the Moon enters the Earth's faint outer shadow, the penumbra. The N part of the Moon will be the part that's slightly darker. The eclipse begins at 04.07 BST, and greatest eclipse occurs at 05.30 BST, after Moonset throughout Ireland. The Moon sets in Belfast at 04.49, in Dublin it sets at 04.59, and in Cork at 05.18. In Portmagee it doesn't set until 05.26, which is almost at greatest eclipse. (We have to wait until 2022 May 16 before we can see another Total Lunar Eclipse from Ireland, although it will be setting just after maximum eclipse.)
11. International Astronomical Youth Camp in Spain, 12 July – 1 August (subject to Covid-19 restrictions – check via website.)
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
12. July 14, Jupiter at opposition.
13. July 20, Saturn at opposition.
14. Perseids. August 11-12-13. Max on Aug 12 at 13h
15. IAU Meet the Astronomers Programme. This is now open to everyone, for a virtual talk. See https://www.iau.org/public/meettheiauastronomers/
16. 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.
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.
ARCHAEOASTRONOMY
Newgrange shock finding https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8431929/Irelands-ancient-kings-married-sisters-fathered-inbred-children-maintain-dynasty.html
ASTROPHYSICS
FRB traced to a magnetar. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/06/galactic-flash-points-long-sought-source-enigmatic-radio-bursts?utm_campaign=news_daily_2020-06-08&et_rid=415711678&et_cid=3357529
HST's view of stars gone haywire https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618150315.htm
A supernova in a lab https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617091005.htm
First repeating period series of FRBs discovered https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617150005.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29
Quasar jets are particle accelerators thousands of light years long https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617150027.htm
Solving the mystery whirling around a nearby BH https://www.livescience.com/black-hole-spin-calculated.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=SdQgy1iC3Hwua5qD9SJYOSeYcJFgMdS33zNpvV1RIaYtAGH6yNQE28ekNicFNWr00Ki0faXW96QriAx8XwDbHlEq2UlrSjYnwuMAYKiSS3
More on the SMBH at the centre of the galaxy https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200612172210.htm
COSMOLOGY
First direct evidence for axions, could explain Dark Matter https://www.livescience.com/first-evidence-for-axions-xenon.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=KLvdjl1BuXYFFoAjHUMg%2BauPN8J3i5JBslHgKb5JT4oMKkJBGNXc4J1hvyHuuNjfWljGcmW1vHiI5yjptWABQhLsP99KogMN0DJksEKKKM
Ultra-light particles might explain Dark Matter https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200616155946.htm
EARTH & MOON
Using a tether to avoid an asteroid impact with Earth https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618110955.htm
Mysterious blue fireball over W. Australia https://www.livescience.com/mysterious-fireball-pilbara.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=Ji6JhOfM3zLAAa7LAWFMgNK%2BBztXxd_QoQzIlnj8AChH7y1HwziJBP_t_cSulAb_ieLLZ_digYfrv5rkbMr2wLMPVcFvbFywv9EnvOJJJ4
EXOLIFE
Scientists estimate that there are 36 other alien civilizations in the Milky Way https://www.livescience.com/how-many-alien-civilizations-exist.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=PnkqBACScktK7rhHeSpQKCC5WpJ78FZaHubvop7gkTgjPY07SBFuSTfvGIqISogR%2BJzz7ayVzoBQNVoknNT37wdmEFIX9U_C_gK3MF%2BPPN and
EXOPLANETS
Up to 6 billion earth-liker planets in our galaxy? https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200616100831.htm
SOLAR SYSTEM
IBEX charts changes at the limits of our heliosphere https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617174814.htm
Citizen scientist discovers SOHO's 4000th comet https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617121504.htm
Weird green glow in the atmosphere of Mars https://www.livescience.com/mars-green-glow-exomars.html?utm_source=Selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9160&utm_content=LVS_newsletter+&utm_term=3473357&m_i=bj_X5qv69MWmIhpMkyg0q0Wj6Kyp_qe_g5vB2veM3TZhoxplgDJs4updTTyoTD2cO4OBuhqEWcrNaI40cCl91rHKIRxHdjtwuAax6c_bbA
SPACE
Reducing the risk of space debris collisions https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618110957.htm
Using sunlight to save satellites https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200617091017.htm
SUN
Understanding solar flares https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200618111005.htm
18. 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
2 comments:
It's hard to find experienced people for this subject, but you seem like you know what you're talking about! Thanks
Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic however I'd figured I'd ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa? My blog goes over a lot of the same subjects as yours and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!
Post a Comment