Hi all,
(NB, all times are summer time when in force, for convenience)
1. IAA Public Lecture, Wed 29 September, 7. 30 p.m., by Zoom. "Astronomy, Ireland and UNESCO World Heritage" by Prof. Michael Burton, Director of Armagh Observatory & Planetarium.
Abstract: In 2019 UNESCO inscribed two astronomical sites for World Heritage based on their Outstanding Universal Values: Jodrell Bank & Risco Caido. Jodrell's nomination centred on its pioneering role in the development of radio astronomy and extant examples of scientific infrastructure from the discipline's origins to today.
Ireland also has outstanding astronomical astronomical heritage through the pioneering role in development of the field of astronomy played by the observatories of Birr, Dunsink and Armagh. Birr with the Leviathan, the largest telescope in the world for 69 years, providing the seeds that led to the concept of other galaxies, as well as the birth of infrared astronomy. Dunsink and Armagh Observatories represent a key step in the development of the telescope itself, when the design of the building they are housed in became central to their function. Armagh has since continuously been occupied by astronomers, with three generations of telescopes from the 19th century within that illustrate the development of clock-driven equatorial telescope over that period.
The new inscriptions of Jodrell Bank and Risco Caido to the UNESCO World Heritage list raise the question of whether Ireland's astronomical heritage may also be worthy of such recognition?
This talk will overview the astronomical history of these Irish observatories and the possibility of seeking UNESCO World Heritage listing for them, as well as some of the issues that must be considered if doing so.
ZOOM, etc, Details.
Time: Sep 29, 2021 07:15 PM London
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2. PAYMENT OF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION: PAYPAL IS WORKING AGAIN ! Subscriptions were due on September 1. We're glad to be able to keep the amount unchanged for yet another year: £20 for individual membership, £25 for family membership (only one copy of STARDUST per family).
Anyone wishing to pay by bank transfer should contact the Treasurer, Pat O'Neill (pb.oneill@ntlworld.com, or treasurer@irishastro.org) for our bank details.
3. Saturn and Jupiter are still well placed
SATURN: is still near its closest and brightest for the year, but it's very low from our latitude, so viewing conditions are not great. It's now mag 0.2, in Capricorn, with an apparent diameter of 18.2".
The angle of the ring system to Earth has been steadily decreasing recently, so the rings no longer extend beyond the poles. Aesthetically, I think this angle, and down to an angle of about 10 degrees, is the most beautiful.
Of the satellites, Titan is visible in any telescope, and Rhea is not too difficult. With the low altitude, it may be harder to see fainter Dione and Tethys, especially as they are closer to the planet. Big telescopes and good seeing are required for Enceladus and Mimas.
I've seen them all, using the 10-inch refractor at Armagh Observatory, and my own 37cm Newtonian, but when Saturn was a lot higher up, and in much less light-polluted skies!
Jupiter is also still readily visible from Ireland, after its Opposition on August 20. It's in Capricorn, mag -2.8, some 20 degrees E of Saturn, and with an apparent diameter of 48". It's a bit higher up than Saturn, and that will gradually increase over the next few years.
The four big Galilean moons are visible in even a modest telescope. This year, the Sun and Earth are almost exactly in the plane of Jupiter's equator, so the moons pass backwards and forwards almost exactly in the same plane. This means that sometimes they are so close together that they will appear as one, unless you use high magnification.
The Moon will form a nice isosceles triangle below the pair on the evening of 14 October
4. Very thin Moon, Earthshine, and Zodiacal Light, 5 October
There will be a nice photo opportunity on the morning of 5 October, when the thin waning Moon (2.3% illuminated), with prominent Earthshine, will be visible, along with the elusive Zodiacal Light, just before dawn in the E sky. The ZL is the faint cone of light along the ecliptic caused by sunlight reflecting off the myriad tiny particles concentrated in the plane of the solar system. It can be seen in spring at the end of twilight, and in autumn just as the first glimmer of dawn appears, but you'll need a very clear E horizon, and a very dark sky with no light pollution. From Belfast, look from about 05.40, although the Moon won't rise until about 05.55 BST: the further west you are, add a few minutes later for the best time.
5. ISS. The series of evening passes continues until 4 October. Details at www.heavens-above.com
6. STFC Events
Upcoming events
5 October, 19:00
World Space Week: discover the James Webb Space Telescope.
Join Professor Gillian Wright and Professor Catherine Heymans to explore the mission and science of the soon-to-launch James Webb Space Telescope.
Online. Free to attend. Click here to book.
11 October, 19:00
Online astronomy: the ESA comet interceptor mission.
Launching in 2029, find out more about a mission that will meet a yet-to-be-discovered comet as it enters the inner Solar System for the first time.
Online. Free to attend. Click here to book.
25 October, 19:00
Online astronomy: in pursuit of darkness.
The elements that affect astronomical viewing and their impact on the selection of sites to build modern telescopes.
Online. Free to attend. Click here to book.
7. Davagh Dark Sky Park and Observatory now open, with pre-booking, and some restrictions.
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.
8. Series of astronomy lectures by Gresham College.
A series of 6 lectures from 29 September to June 2022, at 6 p.m.. See: Cosmic Revolutions (gresham.ac.uk)
9. 100 Hours of Astronomy, 1-4 October.
From 1-4 October 2021, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach will continue the legacy of celebrating 100 Hours of Astronomy. This year's event will be themed "Together Under One Sky" drawing inspiration from how our community has come together during a time where physical contact wasn't - and in many places still isn't - possible. We encourage our global community to host or participate in events over these 100 hours. There are numerous creative possibilities for activities during 100 Hours of Astronomy! Be safe, be inclusive and share your event in our IAU Global Outreach Event Calendar!
We welcome astronomy projects involving everyone from young children to senior citizens! We encourage you to include professional-amateur astronomers meet-ups; activities instigating critical thinking, citizenship and global collaborations; dark and quiet skies awareness through virtual tours; astronomy talks; sky observations, lectures, art projects and more!
The 10 activities that best connect communities will win a telescope kindly donated by our SSVI & Leiden University partners, in a special edition of the Telescopes for All programme.
The first 100 events registered for 100 Hours of Astronomy will receive IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach goodies, including printed versions of Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal.
For your event to be eligible, you need to register it in our IAU Global Outreach Event Calendar and implement it during the 100 Hours of Astronomy from 1 to 4 October 2021.
To help provide ideas for your event we invite you to check our list of online global resources. If you wish to become more inclusive in your engagement initiatives go to our IAU Inclusive Outreach page.
Read more: https://www.iau.org/public/oao/100-hours-of-astronomy/
Check out the over 100 initiatives in 47 countries and find an event near you on our IAU Outreach Event Calendar:
https://www.iau.org/public/oao-events/
Stay tuned to our networks and channels as we release more information in the upcoming weeks. 100 Hours of Astronomy | IAU
10. ESERO Ireland Space Education Confluence (newsweaver.com), SAT 2 October
11. Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Workshop II, 3-7 October
Location: Virtual / La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
Date: 3-7 October 2021
Website: http://research.iac.es/congreso/quietdarksky2021/pages/home.php
12. World Space Week, 4 – 11 October. Lots of events, including -
See Space Week 2021: 4-10 October (newsweaver.com)
And Daily Astro Challenge (newsweaver.com)
And Space Week Competition! (newsweaver.com)
And Space Image Lesson Plan (newsweaver.com)
And Sustainable Space - Oct 9th (newsweaver.com)
And ESERO Space Careers Roadshow - Oct 12th (newsweaver.com)
13. My fortnightly webinar with Nick Howes for Space Store Live on Tue 5 October will feature a special section on women in space and astronomy.
14. GoSpaceWatch online lecture: The NASA Lucy Mission to the Trojan Asteroids by Dr Cathy Olkin, Wednesday 6 October 2021 at 19:30. Open to all. Everyone Welcome.. Register soon. Just £3.00 pp.
15. Virtual Sustainable Space Event - Saturday, Oct 9th
The Rediscovery Centre's free, virtual Sustainable Space Event will be on Saturday, October 9th. The event's first half is geared towards kids and families, with multiple fun and interactive presentations, including one led by Dr. Niamh Shaw! The second half of the event is aimed at teens and adults, and the different speakers will investigate how we can guarantee the long-term sustainability of space as well as how space can help further sustainability at home on Earth.
Kids and Families
11.30-12.30: Rediscovery Centre Sensational Space Workshop
12:30-13:10: Armagh Planetarium Space Junk Talk
13:30-14:00: Dr. Niamh Shaw Interactive Space Talk
Teens and Adults
14:00-14:45: Dr. Niall Smith Head of Blackrock Castle Observatory - Q&A with Dr. Niamh Shaw at the end
15:00-15:45: ILOFAR and Dunsink Observatory Panel Discussion with Dr. Peter Gallagher of DIAS, second panellist TBD, moderated by Áine Flood
16:00-16:30: Dr. Peter Martinez Executive Director of the Secure World Foundation
You can learn more about the event and register for your free ticket on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustainable-space-tickets-169456313395?keep_tld=1
16. International Observe the Moon Night, October 16
On October 16, everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honour cultural and personal connections to the Moon. Attend or host a virtual or in-person event, or join in from wherever you are as an individual observer. Registration is now open.
Read more: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/
With the Moon as a very large gibbous phase, this is an odd date to choose. I have no idea why that date was picked, but there we are.
17. RAS Lecture, Tues 19 October, at 13,00. "What's in a Shadow? The past, present and future of Black Hole Imaging". By Prof Heino Falcke By Zoom, must be booked.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4696985820313589&id=100000066530698&sfnsn=scwspmo
18. New 'Easy' Teaser.
In a telescope without a drive, which First Magnitude star would move quickest through the field of view of any eyepiece?
19. Difficult Teaser answered: Peter Denman (again) cracked this one
Q. What links: a flightless bird, a man with a heavy load, a brand of jewelry, a rocket, and an American bird? Answer: They are all names of moons of Saturn.
Flightless bird = Rhea; Man with heavy load = Atlas; Brand of Jewellery = Pandora; Rocket = Titan; American bird = Phoebe (a flycatcher).
Well done again, Peter.
20: New Difficult Teaser:
What rare event happened in October 1862 and September 1988?
Please send all answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
21. 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
Scientists pinpoint age of molten 'Einstein ring' | Live Science I don't see in what sense it is 'molten'
How neutron star collisions flooded Earth with gold and other precious metals | Space
This is what it looks like when a black hole snacks on a star: Astronomers documented a fatal encounter between an unlucky star and an intermediate-mass black hole -- ScienceDaily
Gamma rays and neutrinos from mellow supermassive black holes -- ScienceDaily
Finally an Answer to why Gamma Rays are Coming From Seemingly Empty Space - Universe Today
Using Quasars as Standard Candles to Measure Distance (universetoday.com)
Astronomers Discover an Intermediate-Mass Black Hole as it Destroys a Star - Universe Today
EARTH & MOON
How neutron star collisions flooded Earth with gold and other precious metals | Space
In photos: NASA launches Landsat 9 Earth observation satellite | Space
Chinese commercial satellite has been spotting meteors and aurora | Space
Louisiana's missing moon rock found in Florida thanks to broken gun | Space
32,000 mph fireball spotted soaring over North Carolina | Live Science Fireballs only appear as such when they enter our atmosphere! Out in space, as in the headline image, they are just small cold lumps of rock and/or ice, as there's nothing there to make them 'burn up against'. That image is ridiculously misleading.
Brilliant dashcam fireball videos help scientists find 3 meteorites in Slovenia | Live Science
The Moon was Pummeled Even Harder by Asteroids Than it Looks - Universe Today
NASA's VIPER Rover Will Hunt for Water Near Nobile Crater at Moon's South Pole - Universe Today
3,600 Years ago, a 50-Meter-Wide Meteor Exploded in the Sky and Destroyed a City Near the Dead Sea - Universe Today (there's some controversy about this…)
Peering into the Moon's shadows with AI -- ScienceDaily
World's biggest clean energy project to power Singapore from Australia (newatlas.com) One way to save the planet. So why not from also from the Sahara to Europe? From Arizona to Los Angeles? Etc, etc.
EXOPLANETS
Astronomers reveal strange clouds on 'fluffy' alien planet | Space
Astronomers See Carbon-Rich Nebulae Where Planets are Forming - Universe Today
IMAGES:
https://www.space.com/14526-dead-mars-spacecraft-photos-spirit-phoenix.html
LIGHT POLLLUTION
How Could we Light our Cities and Still See the Night Sky? - Universe Today
SOLAR SYSTEM
Mars on the cheap: Scientists working to revolutionize access to the Red Planet | Space
Jupiter's winds of change show increased storm speeds in Great Red Spot | Space
Astronomers Thrill at Giant Comet Flying into Our Solar System - Scientific American
Accurately Forecasting the Weather on Mars and Titan - Universe Today
SPACE
Congress to NASA: What comes after the International Space Station? | Live Science
Blue Origin sets date for next crewed space trip, names 2 passengers | Space
William Shatner releases new album, may reach space with Blue Origin | Space
Do space tourists really understand the risk they're taking? | Space
Russian film crew set to launch to International Space Station next week | Space
3 astronauts move Soyuz to new space station dock ahead of film crew arrival | Space
Mars on the cheap: Scientists working to revolutionize access to the Red Planet | Space
Louisiana's missing moon rock found in Florida thanks to broken gun | Space
22. 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
