1. 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
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
2. 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
3. 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 0.3, in Capricorn, with an apparent diameter of 18".
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 -2.5, some 20 degrees E of Saturn, and with an apparent diameter of 46". 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.
4. ISS: The ISS started a new series of evening passes on 21 November. Full details for your location on www.heavens-above.com
5. 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
6. Comet 2021/A1 (Leonard) is brightening! It looks like we're going to get another moderately bright comet, probably visible to the naked eye, and certainly in binoculars. It will be visible in the morning sky from UK/Ireland during the end of November and the first half of December, with the main peak around Dec 9 perhaps at mag 4, maybe mag 3.5. But there may then be an extra peak a few days later, on December 12, when it might reach mag 2, due to a forward scattering effect.
It will then start to move too far south in the sky to be seen from here, as it moves towards perihelion on January 3rd 2022, exactly a year after its discovery.
Last Quarter is on Nov 27, so after that there'll be no interference from moonlight until it starts to get bright again at FQ on Dec 11, and it will be full on Dec 19.
The website www.heavens-above.com gives finder charts and latest magnitude estimates, as well as lots of other observing information.
7. IAS lecture, 29 November, 7.30 p.m. via Zoom, free. The title of the main talk is "The James Webb Space Telescope: Beginnings" and will be given by Kevin Nolan. Details of this interesting talk are given below.
A few minutes before the start time just click and join the Zoom Meeting on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82615600989?pwd=SWZMSmUxV3BiWGk4ZFVpdXdRRk1lQT09
Meeting ID: 826 1560 0989
Passcode: 195985
This free on-line public talk by Kevin Nolan looks at how the James Webb Space Telescope due to be launched on the 18th December will provide unprecedented insights into the beginning of the Universe itself, on how the first stars and galaxies arose and on how new stars and planets form.
Kevin Nolan is lecturer in physics at TU Dublin, Tallaght Campus. Kevin's first popular science book was published in 2008, titled "Mars, a Cosmic Stepping Stone". He is a volunteer for The Planetary Society and in this outreach capacity delivers talks, writes articles, offers occasional analysis on matters of space exploration to RTE TV and Radio.
8. Next Space and Astronomy Webinar, with your truly and Nick Howes. Spacestore.co. Tue 30 November, 7.30 p.m.
9. 'Easy' Teaser – the answer.
Q. In a telescope without a drive, which First Magnitude star would move quickest through the field of view of any eyepiece?
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.
OKAY - No-one in the 'beginners' category has answered this, but Paul Evans did eventually give the correct answer.
The answer is Procyon, because it's the First magnitude star which is closest to the celestial equator. I thought that the clue would have helped – since the stars move due to the daily rotation of the Earth, the stars near the celestial poles move slowest. Indeed, Polaris would stay in the view of a low power eyepiece for a complete 24 hour rotation!
Conversely, which stars appear to move fastest? – Obviously, those furthest from the poles, i.e. nearest the celestial equator. And a quick check would have shown that Procyon is the closest, at
Lat ~ +6 deg. Next = Betelgeuse, + 7 deg 24'; then Rigel, - 8 deg 12'; then Altair, ~ +9 deg.
New 'Easy Teaser' in the next bulletin.
10. DIFFICULT TEASER + another extra hint
ZZUB.
Yes, folks – that was it!
No-one has come close yet, so here are the hints -
HINT 1. Part of the clue is in the nature of a joke.
HINT 2. Again, think of a joke, sort of a schoolkid joke….
HINT 3. You are looking for a lead to the name of an astronomer
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.
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
One in five galaxies in the early universe could still be hidden behind cosmic dust -- ScienceDaily
High-speed propeller star is fastest spinning white dwarf -- ScienceDaily
Mini Black Holes may have smashed into the Moon https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/moon-black-holes.html
EARTH & MOON
Earth is the Solar System's densest planet. It shouldn't be. - Big Think
NASA's DART Mission Could Help Cancel an Asteroid Apocalypse - Scientific American
A new era of planetary exploration: what we discovered on the far side of the Moon | Space
Scientist reveals cause of lost magnetism at meteorite site -- ScienceDaily
Mini Black Holes may have smashed into the Moon https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/sci/moon-black-holes.html
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2298442-astronomers-have-found-a-second-trojan-asteroid-sharing-earths-orbit/
EXOLIFE
Life on Mars search could be misled by false fossils, study says -- ScienceDaily
Alien organisms – hitchhikers of the galaxy? -- ScienceDaily
IMAGES
Stunning snaps from Hubble's latest grand tour of the outer solar system (newatlas.com)
https://www.sciencealert.com/the-dramatic-birth-of-a-baby-star-has-been-captured-by-hubble
SOLAR SYSTEM
Life on Mars search could be misled by false fossils, study says -- ScienceDaily
Earth is the Solar System's densest planet. It shouldn't be. - Big Think
Watch Ingenuity Mars helicopter soar in amazing new videos from Perseverance rover | Space
Spacecraft will crash into asteroid to test [Video] (aol.co.uk)
SPACE
https://www.sciencealert.com/iodine-spacecraft-propulsion-has-been-tested-in-orbit
Orbital Launch in January? Elon Musk Updates His Vision for SpaceX's Starship - Universe Today
Watch Ingenuity Mars helicopter soar in amazing new videos from Perseverance rover | Space
Space station astronauts resume normal operations after Russian anti-satellite missile test | Space
NASA wants to smash a spacecraft into an asteroid, but don't worry. Earth isn't at risk. | Space
LightSail 2 solar sail is still soaring above Earth more than two years after launch | Space
What we learned from living for a simulated year on Mars - https://www.facebook.com/111184950457867/posts/419447856298240/?sfnsn=scwspmoSpacecraft will crash into asteroid to test [Video] (aol.co.uk) Private space startup Astra reaches orbit for the first time (newatlas.com)
Telescopes, Instruments, Techniques.
The Just Wait Space Telescope lunch delayed to Dec 22…. James Webb Space Telescope launch delayed to Dec. 22 | Space
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
No comments:
Post a Comment