Hi all,
(NB, all times are summer time when in force, for convenience)
1. Large Partial Lunar Eclipse, tonight, 19 November.
A very large Partial Lunar Eclipse (mag 0.978) will occur on Nov 19, but maximum occurs after local moonset, so only part of the partial phase will be visible, as the Moon sets. The following details, for Belfast and Galway, show that the further West you are, the deeper the Moon will be into the eclipse before it sets.
Moon enters Penumbra 06h 00m 01s. Altitude at Belfast = 14.9º Altitude at Galway = 16.5º
Moon enters Umbra 07h 18m 03s Altitude at Belfast = 04.8º Altitude at Galway = 05.9º
Maximum eclipse 09h 02m 34s Altitude at Belfast = -7.0º Altitude at Galway = - 6.7º
For the very far west of the Island, the Moon will be almost halfway through the eclipse as it sets.
Also, remember that as the Moon is getting very low in the NW, the Sun will be about to rise in the SE, so the sky will become increasingly brighter. Not easy to see, and a challenge to image the deeper umbral phases.
2. IAA Lecture, Wed 24 November, 19.30. "The Active Sun - Observations of our Closest Star", by Dr Laura Hayes, TCD.
We live in the presence of an active star - our Sun. During times of high solar magnetic activity, large explosions called 'solar flares' occur on the Sun. Solar flares are the most powerful and energetic phenomenon in our solar system, and they can have significant space-weather impacts on the near-Earth environment. In particular, they cause disruptions to telecommunications, and our technological infrastructure. Hence, building a better understanding of how the physical processes that drive these solar explosions are of major importance in modern society. In this talk, I will present an introduction to our active Sun, how we observe and study it from both space- and ground-based observatories and how new data from ESA's Solar Orbiter mission that was launched last year will provide new clues to solar flare energy release.
Biography:
Laura is a solar physicist who currently works as a research fellow at the European Space Agency (ESA) at ESTEC in the Netherlands. She received an undergraduate degree in theoretical physics from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and soon after joined the astrophysics research group at Trinity to complete her PhD in solar flare physics. Following her PhD, she joined NASA Goddard Space Flight Center as a postdoctoral fellow for two years where she continued to work on solar flares with a focus on X-ray observations. Her research makes use of both space- and ground-based observations of the Sun in multiple wavelengths to help build a better understanding of the physical processes that underpin solar flare energy release. In particular, she is involved with ESA's Solar Orbiter mission which launched in 2020 which is now providing new and unique observations of the Sun.
DETAILS
Join Zoom Meeting
Time: Nov 24, 2021 07:15 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81395684573?pwd=dzVyRWNxVXBQdDhFa0FQYkVMNFF0QT09
Meeting ID: 813 9568 4573
Passcode: 986079
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
3. STFC events
22 November, 19:00
Missions to Near Earth Asteroids.
Online. Click here to book.
23 November, 18:00
Talking Science: The Science of Dr Who by Karl Byrne.
Online. Age recommendation for audience 12+. Click here to book.
4. Join Globe at Night (GaN) for the Last Campaigns in 2021!
Globe at Night is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure night-sky brightness and submit their observations. The last dates for the 2021 campaign are November 25–December 4, 2021.
Read more: https://www.globeatnight.org/6-steps.php
5. Catch Saturn and Jupiter while you can.
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 -2.6, 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.
6. ISS: The ISS will start a new series of evening passes on 21 November. Full details for your location on www.heavens-above.com 7
7. For Sale: Pulsar Observatory
Due to the unfortunate death of an IAA member, there is a rare chance to purchase a second hand 2.2m Pulsar Observatory. The observatory is absolutely brand new (only delivered earlier in the year), and it has automated shutter and dome rotation kits complete. It is expected that the price will be around £3999. Delivery can be arranged. Anyone interested, contact Andy McCrea, who is acting on behalf of the widow: Email s.mccrea980@btinternet.com
8. Next Space and Astronomy Webinar, with your truly and Nick Howes. Spacestore.co. Tue 30 November, 7.30 p.m.
9. '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? if you know that, apply the opposite parameters, and then use a star atlas to find the answer.
(This one has been answered, but by someone who's not eligible for the 'Easy' category) so I'll leave it here for a while longer
10. NEW DIFFICULT TEASER + an extra hint
ZZUB.
Yes, folks – that was it!
HINT: No-one has come even close yet, so here's a hint. - Part of the clue is in the nature of a joke.
NB: I've had several suggestions along the lines that ZZUB backwards would be BUZZ Aldrin, or BUZZ LightYear), and leading on from those. That's partly the right way of thinking, but it's neither of those. Again, think of a joke, sort of a schoolkid joke….
Please send all answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
11. 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.
12. 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.
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 giant black hole of galaxy M87 shoots jets at nearly light speed | Space
Gravitational wave treasure trove shows black holes, neutron stars colliding | Space
Astronomers spot small black hole beyond the Milky Way in milestone discovery | Space
Black hole found hiding in star cluster outside our galaxy -- ScienceDaily
Wormholes may be stable after all, new theory suggests | Live Science
Galaxy Collisions Preview Milky Way's Fate - Scientific American Very good article on galaxy mergers in general. But I wonder why the Andromeda galaxy is shown as spinning round its disc axis, as well as rotating about its central axis, whereas the Milky Way is not?
COSMOLOGY
Black holes may be growing as the universe expands | Space
EARTH & MOON
Earth's 1st continents arose hundreds of millions of years earlier than thought | Live Science
Near Earth asteroid might be a lost fragment of the Moon
https://www.facebook.com/groups/100328570137468/permalink/1615588681944775/?sfnsn=scwspmo&ref=share andA 'quasi-moon' asteroid companion of Earth that may actually be a moon relic | Space
The moon's top layer alone has enough oxygen to sustain 8 billion people for 100,000 years | Space
Europe is warming faster than the rest of the world and scientists are puzzled | Space It gets worse and worse – follow the links about the Arctic!
Satellites discover huge amounts of undeclared methane emissions | Space#
EXOLIFE
Interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua wasn't a nitrogen iceberg, Harvard astrophysicists say | Live Science Loeb is still promoting his 'alien spacecraft' hypothesis, although indirectly, and with Siraj as first author, to deflect the reaction of most astronomers to seeing his name on yet another paper about this object!
Life on Mars search could be misled by false fossils, study says -- ScienceDaily
EXOPLANETS
New method to detect Tatooine-like planets validated -- ScienceDaily
Tread lightly: 'Eggshell planets' possible around other stars -- ScienceDaily
Simulations provide clue to missing planets mystery -- ScienceDaily
SETI.
Why are we still searching for intelligent alien life? | Space
SOLAR SYSTEM
Mars helicopter Ingenuity aces 15th Red Planet flight | Space
Lucy's mission to the Trojan asteroids NASA's Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids is on its way - Asteroid Day
Space rocks keep hitting Jupiter. What's the deal with that? | Space
Interstellar visitor 'Oumuamua wasn't a nitrogen iceberg, Harvard astrophysicists say | Live Science Loeb is still promoting his 'alien spacecraft' hypothesis, although indirectly, and with Siraj as first author, to deflect the reaction of most astronomers to seeing his name on a paper about this object!
NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars just collected its 3rd sample of the Red Planet (photos) | Space
SPACE
Space station to dodge Chinese space junk before SpaceX Crew-3 astronaut launch | Space
SpaceX Dragon capsule with Crew-2 astronauts splashes down in Gulf of Mexico | Space
https://www.aol.com/spacex-aims-night-crew-launch-211022569-131731442.html Startup SpinLaunch completes first test flight with wild rocket-flinging launch system | Space This is a bit different! It's the same principle as a slingshot. But the rocket and its payload would be subject to huge centrifugal G-forces - they don't say what the release speed is, but it seems to be supersonic. And I don't know what degree of vacuum they have in the spin chamber, but it can't be that great, as the tube is sealed just by some sort of plastic sheeting, unless there's an inner flap or door which retracts just before ejection.
See also SpinLaunch's rocket-free kinetic launch system conducts first test flight (newatlas.com)
China's first Shenzhou 13 spacewalk sees 2 astronauts test suits, robotic arm | Space
SpaceX launches Crew-3 astronauts to space station for NASA in nighttime liftoff | Space
Tour SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endurance with its Crew-3 astronauts in this NASA video | Space
SpaceX fires up Starship SN20 prototype in key 6-engine test (video) | Space
Space debris forces astronauts on space station to take shelter in return ships | Space
China is building a new ship for sea launches to space | Space
Court Turns Down Blue Origin's Attempt to Prevent SpaceX's Lander Contract - Universe Today
NASA's Target for First Artemis Moon Landing Slips to 2025 (universetoday.com)
This is old, but still relevant Who's going to fix the space junk problem? | Space
And see Space debris from Russian anti-satellite missile test spotted in telescope images and video | Space
War in space began on Sunday. Here's why the superpowers are on red alert (msn.com)
'Space vandals': West fumes as Russia hails satellite strike's 'razor-sharp precision' (msn.com)
SUN
Telescopes, Instruments, Techniques.
New era of 'Great Observatories' may be coming for NASA | Space Space telescopes may be the future for optical and near-optical astronomy, given the increasing number of satellites planned to be launched. But those instruments simply could not cope with the demands for observing time.
HST fixes continue https://www.facebook.com/100044501376615/posts/430914861735223/?sfnsn=scwspmo
https://scitechdaily.com/sending-a-tiny-telescope-past-saturn-could-solve-some-of-the-biggest-mysteries-of-the-universe/
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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