Hi all,
(NB, all times are summer time when in force, for convenience)
1. IAA Lecture, Wed 13 October "Habitability beyond our solar system", by Professor Chris Watson, Deputy Head of the School of Mathematics and Physics,
Astrophysics Research Centre, QUB
Synopsis:
What do we mean by 'habitability' and 'habitable'? How do we define it? Do we even know what 'habitable' looks like? What's the problems with determining whether something is habitable? Why are we looking in the places we're currently looking? Actually, are we even looking in the right places? I'll talk about the current scientific thoughts surrounding these fundamental questions, what is driving these thoughts, and why it's so difficult for an astrophysicist like myself to answer these questions.
Professor Chris Watson
Details
https://irishastro.org/2021/10/06/iaa-lecture-weds-13th-october-1930/
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85214388350?pwd=a09KU2h5Z2NmcE45QW9sK0RJbkVLUT09
Meeting ID: 852 1438 8350
Passcode: 376019
2. STFC Events
Upcoming events
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.
3. 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.
4. Series of astronomy lectures by Gresham College.
A series of 6 lectures from now to June 2022, at 6 p.m.. See: Cosmic Revolutions (gresham.ac.uk)
5. PAYMENT OF IAA 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.
6. Catch Saturn and Jupiter while they are still well placed
SATURN: is still fairly close and bright, 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 UK & 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
7. IAA is Go for International Observe the Moon Night, October 16, at Delamont Country Park, near Killyleagh, Co Down, 7.30 p.m.
Meet in the main car park. We will provide some telescopes, but bring your own, or binoculars, if you can. We will be providing sanitising wipes for eyepieces and hand controls etc, and these will be wiped clean between users. We strongly advise that only those who are double-vaccinated, or who have had covid and recovered and with at least one vaccination, should attend.
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.
8. 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 9. Halloween Events at Armagh Planetarium Pre-booking essential, at www.armagh.space
10. ISS: The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 23 October. Full details for your location on www.heavens-above.com
11. New 'Easy' Teaser.
In a telescope without a drive, which First Magnitude star would move quickest through the field of view of any eyepiece?
A CLUE – no suggestions for this one yet, so here's a clue. Think about this - Conversely, which bright star (about 2nd mag), would move most slowly in the field of view of a telescope without a drive?
12. New Difficult Teaser: OK, No more Mr Nice Guy (Who said: Were you ever?!). From now on it's war with all you Smart Alecs (and Alices) out there!
Q: What's the connection between: a novena, a tax, and the last?
Please send all answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
13. 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
The oldest gamma-ray burst ever discovered was just a piece of space junk | Space Science at its best. (1) If you get it wrong, admit it. (2) Accept the most likely hypothesis, not the headline-grabbing most controversial or popular one. (3) Avoid selection bias.
ALMA animation of circling twin young stars -- ScienceDaily
COSMOLOGY
A better black hole laser may prove a circuitous 'Theory of Everything' -- ScienceDaily
EARTH & MOON
People have long claimed to hear the northern lights. Are the reports true? | Live Science
South Pole froze over in coldest winter on record | Live Science It froze over? – It's always frozen there, even in the summer!
Nasa to crash spacecraft into asteroid in 'Armageddon' test of defences (msn.com)
Moon rocks brought to Earth by Chinese mission fill key gaps in solar system history | Space
EXOPLANETS
It's good to see Ernst de Mooij of QUB as one of the researchers on this Extreme exoplanet even more exotic than originally thought -- ScienceDaily
Scientists discover stars blasting out radio waves (aol.co.uk)
SOLAR SYSTEM
Scientists confirm decrease in Pluto's atmospheric density -- ScienceDaily
Nasa to crash spacecraft into asteroid in 'Armageddon' test of defences (msn.com)
Perseverance rover confirms existence of ancient Mars lake and river delta | Space
NOW I know why there's no advanced life on Mars at the moment – The Martian Noah didn't get his ark built on time! NASA's Perseverance Rover Finds Signs of Epic Ancient Floods on Mars - Scientific American
Dwarf planet Vesta a window to the early solar system -- ScienceDaily Vesta is not a Dwarf Planet. It's an Asteroid, or Minor Planet.
Mars' surface shaped by fast and furious floods from overflowing craters -- ScienceDaily
Highly porous rocks responsible for Bennu's surprisingly craggy surface -- ScienceDaily
Dwarf planet Vesta a window to the early solar system -- ScienceDaily
SPACE
Russian actors blast off to attempt a world first: a movie in space (msn.com)
United Arab Emirates to launch bold asteroid mission in 2028 | Space
Russian Crew Arrives at Space Station for a Historic Film Shoot - Scientific American
Axiom Space Names First Private Crew to Visit Space Station - Scientific American
Space Sustainability https://www.facebook.com/551070831/posts/10160246751310832/?sfnsn=scwspmo
3 years after tiny spacecraft made Mars history, where are all their successors? | Space
Not all Mars spacecraft might need such deep cleaning, scientists find | Space
The oldest gamma-ray burst ever discovered was just a piece of space junk | Space Science at its best. (1) If you get it wrong, admit it. (2) Accept the most likely hypothesis, not the headline-grabbing most controversial or popular one. (3) Avoid selection bias.
Is conflict in space inevitable? | TheHill
Telescopes, Instruments, Techniques.
Process leading to supernova explosions and cosmic radio bursts unearthed -- ScienceDaily
New measurement method promises spectacular insights into the interior of planets -- ScienceDaily
14. 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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