Hi all,
(NB, all times are summer time when in force, for convenience)
1. IAA Zoom Lecture, Wed 28 April, 7.30 p.m .
Prof Alan Fitzsimmons "Meteorites - Revealing the history and evolution of our Solar system."
Abstract:
The recent fall of the Winchcombe meteorite reminded everyone that meteors and meteorites are exciting to see. Studies of meteorites have revealed the history of our Solar system, while telescopic studies have helped understand their sources. Combined, they have shown us evolutionary processes currently happening to asteroids. In this talk I will describe the main types of meteorite, and how they allow us to date the origin of our Solar system. I will show how telescopic studies have revealed their origins, and how scientists have uncovered processes affecting them today. I will conclude with a brief discussion of the current golden age of asteroid exploration - the source of most meteorites - and mysteries still to be solved.
Alan Fitzsimmons is a Professor in the Astrophysics Research Centre in QUB, and a renowned expert on all the small solar system bodies: comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, moons, EKBOs etc. He has given us so many excellent lectures that I've lost count, and this one promises to be just the same.
ZOOM Details
Topic: Prof Alan Fitzsimmons
Time: Apr 28, 2021 07:15 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81554740686?pwd=dkc2THEwYzlvODFEOEhCRnBnTHZ6UT09
Meeting ID: 815 5474 0686
Passcode: 932867
The room will open around 19:15 to allow for a prompt start
This talk will also be Simulcast on our YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/irishastronomy/videos
2. ISS. The ISS, currently with 9 astronauts on board, will start a new series of morning passes on 30 April. These will gradually transition to evening passes, which will then continue until 29 May, so we'll get over 4 weeks on continuous passes!
3. SPACE and ASTRONOMY WEBINAR – Next is May 4
NB: Note platform change. Since most people have been watching on YouTube, we are ceasing the presentation via Zoom, and it will now be streamed live on both YouTube and Facebook. This will also give us lots of added features in the presentation.
After a year of presentations, we're taking a break for April, and we'll be back on 'Star Wars Day' – May the Fourth be with you!
Presented by me and the amazing Nick Howes, they are approximately 45 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 4 May: youtube.com/spacestorelive
NB – So, from now on it will be Live streamed to YouTube SpaceStore Live! Channel and Live streamed to Facebook Live. I'll post any last minute news via Twitter.
Or else, just go to dias.ie, the host website, and you should see it flagged in the announcements.
4. Connemara Ast Club Quiz, 4 May. To celebrate Star Wars Day, 4th May @ 8 pm we're going to have a quiz! There will be prizes and best of all it'll be great craic. All you need to do is download Kahoot! App to your phone - https://kahoot.com/home/mobile-app/.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85953528722?pwd=dHpOQ0d6YU5HRjNWaFpnU2NwdlVuUT09
Meeting ID: 859 5352 8722
Passcode: 860777
5. Space for Art Foundation Requesting Space Art from Children, deadline 1 May
The Space for Art Foundation invites children from anywhere in the world to contribute artwork to their next project: a space suit called BEYOND. Submissions can be emailed to the foundation or posted to the foundation's Facebook page. Entries should be submitted by 1 May 2021.
Learn more here: https://www.spaceforartfoundation.org/projects
6. Astrobiololgy Lecture, 6 May BHLS: Astrobiology 2021 - Prof. Karen Olsson-Francis Tickets, Thu 6 May 2021 at 12:00 | Eventbrite
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8. International Day of Light, 16 May
Join the IAU OAO for the International Day of Light
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is a partner for the annual International Day of Light on 16 May 2021 and the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (IAU OAO) and the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) will participate in various events in and around this day. The day honours the role of light in our lives and the IAU OAO will use the day to raise awareness on dark and quiet skies. In 2021, we also welcome people to participate in activities that promote scientific thinking in our lives.
Learn more here: https://www.iau.org/public/darkskiesawareness/
9. Public Lecture, by Prof Katherine Blundell, 19 May, at 13.00, Cosmic Vision: Space-Quakes (gresham.ac.uk)
10. Registration Reminder for the CAP Conference, 24 – 27 May
Registration for the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Conference (CAP Conference) closes on 15 May 2021. The CAP Conference brings together individuals working or interested in the communication, informal teaching and outreach of astronomy to exchange ideas and discuss best practices. The virtual conference is free to registrants and will be held 24-27 May 2021.
Register here: https://www.communicatingastronomy.org/cap2021/
11. TEASERS
Easy Teaser – Answered at last!:
Q. Of the 12 official zodiacal constellations, what record is held by Scorpius? The answer is that Scorpius has the shortest length of the ecliptic passing through it, and therefore the Sun spends less time in Scorpius than in any other Zodiacal Constellation.
Two 'experts' answered it (Brian Beesley and Peter Millar), but the only correct answer from an eligible candidate was from Ross Currie, at his first attempt! Well done Ross!
New HARD TEASER:
No answers yet, so I've added one more clue, added to the list below:
What connects – the Queen's Fiancetto, The Ark, Oscar, Lancaster, and an old British coin?
Please send all answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
12. June 8-11: Institutions of Extraterrestrial Liberty, hosted by U of Edinburgh. 4 days of webinars on Human Exploration of Mars.
13. European Astronomical Society Annual Meeting
Location: Virtual
Date: 28 June–2 July 2021
Website: https://eas.unige.ch/EAS_meeting/
14. Davagh Dark Sky Park and Observatory closed until further notice. I hope to have some news on this soon.
See https://www.midulstercouncil.org/visitor/things-to-do/star-gazing/davagh-dark-sky-observatory , and https://www.facebook.com/omdarksky/ I'll post any updates here. Or phone 03000 132 132 for changing Covid-19 advice.
15. 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
Surprise twist suggests stars grow competitively -- ScienceDaily
EARTH & MOON
Meteorite that landed in Botswana tracked to its birthplace in the asteroid belt | Live Science
EXOPLANETS
A new super-Earth detected orbiting a red dwarf star -- ScienceDaily
Amounts of organic molecules in planetary systems differ from early on -- ScienceDaily
EXOLIFE
Study warns of 'oxygen false positives' in search for signs of life on other planets -- ScienceDaily
SOLAR SYSTEM
Icy clouds could have kept early Mars warm enough for rivers and lakes -- ScienceDaily Interesting. But why would the high icy clouds not have also reflected sunlight away from the planet?
Seismicity on Mars full of surprises, in first continuous year of data -- ScienceDaily
What Would Raindrops be Like on Other Worlds? - Universe Today
SPACE
See amazing video of Mars helicopter Ingenuity's boundary-stretching 3rd flight | Space Ingenuity helicopter makes first controlled horizontal flight on Mars (newatlas.com)
TELESCOPES, INSTRUMENTS, TECHNIQUES
Quantum Astronomy Could Create Telescopes Hundreds of Kilometers Wide - Scientific American
16. 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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