1. IAA AGM, Wed 13 April, 7.30 p.m. + "Our Moon and Others" I will also be giving a short talk on the above topic after the business part is over. Since we had an excellent talk by Donnacha O'Driscoll on the Moon recently, I'll be concentrating on some of the interesting moons around other planets.
ZOOM Details to follow, or they will be on the IAA website before the event.
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. Let's Keep Yuri's Day, 12 April.
https://www.facebook.com/551070831/posts/10160585076945832/?sfnsn=mo
3. Mercury starts good evening apparition.
This will be the best evening elongation of Mercury this year. The best will be in the third week of April, but here are details of the first few days of visibility. Look low in the W to WNW about 30 mts after sunset.
Date mag phase elong diam.
Apr 13 -1.3 87.4% 11.7 º 5.6"
Apr 16 -1.1 78.9% 14.6 º 5.8"
4. Next IAA Observing Session opportunities are on 22-23 |April – 20:30 onwards at Delamont Country Park
The Council has decided that the Observing Programme can now be brought back into being following the Covid-19 pandemic. We are being very careful to make sure we work within the restrictions currently in place in order to enable some socially distanced observing, however be aware that the safety of our members is paramount.
Details on https://irishastro.org/observing-programme/
5. International Dark Sky Week: 22-30 April
More details later.
6. ISS:
The ISS will start a new series of morning passed on 28 April. Full details for your location on www.heavens-above.com, and on various Smartphone Apps.
7. DIAS Astrophotography competition returns. Entry Deadline: 5pm, Sat, 30th April.
The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) astrophotography competition 'Reach for the Stars' is back for its second year and is calling on people with an interest in photography and astronomy to submit their images.
The competition, which opened for entries on 03.03.22, is seeking the best astro-photographs taken in Ireland over the period 1st April 2021 to 30th April 2022. It is calling for submissions under two distinct categories:
- : Images depicting scenes / features or elements of astronomical interest. For example, deep space images or images of the solar system.
- : Astro-landscape images that depict a feature or element of astronomical interest and capture elements such as nature, cityscapes, buildings or monuments, land, or water.
Launching the competition, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said: "DIAS is delighted to launch the 2022 'Reach for the Stars' competition. Following on from the huge success of last year's competition, we are excited to see what entries will be submitted this year, what creativity people bring, and what images they have captured. Last year we received hundreds of entries from people right across the country, and this year we hope to see even more. The competition is open to everyone – whether they are a seasoned professional or amateur with a love for astronomy. We just asked that they follow the competition guidelines carefully when making the submission to ensure their images are eligible."
Also commenting, Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS and member of the judging panel, said: "As a member of the judging panel, we were blown away by submissions to the competition last year. From images that captured very complex astronomical features and others that captured the night-sky perfectly against beautiful Irish landscape – we had such a range of entries making our job as judges very difficult.
"As part of the competition, it was great to have the shortlisted entries printed for our outdoor exhibition at DIAS last year. Seeing them in large format really brings them to life and we hope to do the same again with this year's shortlisted entries.
"This year DIAS marks the 75th anniversary of the School of Cosmic Physics and we will be launching a full programme of events later in the month. As part of these celebrations, we will be awarding a special spot prize to a photograph that is entered into the competition that depicts the work of one or more of the research areas carried out at the School. These research areas include everything from solar and stellar physics and space weather to planetary science and star formation.
Competition Details. Entrants may submit up to two images per category to the competition. The deadline for entries is 5pm on Saturday, 30th April.
All entries to the competition will be screened by a shortlisting panel to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. The shortlisted images in each category will then go forward for consideration by the judging panel and for an online public vote.
Full details here DIAS's astrophotography competition returns for a second year – DIAS
8. Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition. Reach for the stars! Enter the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition for a chance to win £10,000 and be part of a major London exhibition. See
https://www.facebook.com/100140416703461/posts/4940918395958948/?sfnsn=mo
9. IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference
The IAU Centre for the Protection of Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (cps.iau.org) will begin operations in April. As a lead up to their grand opening, the Centre is planning a series of listening sessions on policy, industry and technology, community engagement, and more. The sessions have already started, but you still have time to join in on the conversation!
For more information about the Centre, please see their press conference here. And register for one or more of the listening sessions here.
10. Our Place in Space Project: In conjunction with QUB's ARC and the NI Science Festival
The Our Place In Space project is coming to N. Ireland for three long spells this year: in Derry from 22nd April to 22nd May, on Divis mountain 11th June to 10th July & at the Folk & Transport Museum from 17th Sept to 1 October.
Details are on the website – www.ourplaceinspace.earth with a nice video of Stephen Smartt and Oliver Jeffers.
The IAA has been asked to provide accompanying stargazing events, and details of these will be announced shortly. Watch this space!
11. International Day of Light, 16 May 2022
The International Day of Light (IDL) is a global initiative by UNESCO celebrated annually on the 16th of May, focusing on the significance of light and its role in science, art, technology, culture, education, and sustainable development in diverse fields, that help achieve UNESCO's goals – education, equality, and peace. This year IDL also focuses on the UN International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development 2022 & UN International Year Of Glass, the success of the James Webb Space Telescope and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
To learn more and register your event: https://www.lightday.org
12. History And Philosophy of Physics: ONE-DAY CONFERENCE: "The Nature of Light" - IN PERSON AND LIVESTREAMED ONLINE, on Saturday 11th June from 10.30 am - 5.00 pm BST
Visible light is the most pervasive feature of the observable Universe to humans, so its explanation has assumed a pre-eminent role in our attempts to understand the physical world around us. This conference will start with an examination of light and its properties with the formulation of the classical theory of optics by Newton, Huygens and others, and then move on to the theory of colours which involved not only natural philosophers, but artists and writers.
The understanding of electricity and magnetism in the 19th century led ultimately to the formulation of the electromagnetic theory of light summarised in Maxwell's equations which underpin the vast range of technologies still in daily use. In the 20th century, the role of the speed of light became very important in relativity and quantum theory.
The conference will examine the steps in our understanding of light to illuminate its history in our culture and in the technological developments over the past few decades.
Registration to attend this conference is free but booking is required to attend the conference with all
the details and the weblinks to register for the conference to attend in person or online given on the
webpage: https://stx.web.ox.ac.uk/event/the-nature-of-light
(This is the College and body where I was honoured to be asked to give a talk on solar eclipses about 5 years ago; It's usually very good!)
13. EASY TEASER: And another clue: What do Centaurus, Crux and Orion, and only they, have in common?
Here are the clues:
(1) It's to do with what they contain.
(2) What's the origin of our word 'Alphabet'?
(3) It's in the stars
(4) It takes two to tango.
14. DIFFICULT TEASER: And yet another! clue –
A T C G f P e M b J S What's the astronomical connection? Note, the ATCG has nothing to do with the 4 DNA bases Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine – it's just coincidence.
No answers yet: So here are the clues so far:
(1) The lower case letters are deliberate, and distinguish those bits from the rest.
(2) The lower case 'e' could also be an 'a', although it's an 'e' in the original.
(3) There's a connection with a famous astronomer.
(4) All the letters are the first letters of words.
And another one -
(5) The 'e' is for 'et'; in English it would obviously be 'and'. The 'b' is for 'by'.
Please send all Teaser answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
15. Davagh Dark Sky Park and Observatory is 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.
16. 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:
Hubble spots most distant single star ever seen, near dawn of universe (newatlas.com)
Supermassive Black Holes Could Have Formed Directly in the Early Universe - Universe Today
Part of the Milky Way Is Much Older Than Previously Believed - Universe Today
Strange 'reverse shock wave' supernova is exploding in the wrong direction | Live Science
Motions of stars in neighboring Large Magellanic Cloud shed light on galaxy formation (msn.com)
Rare 'black widow' star system could help unlock the secrets of space-time (msn.com)
Record broken: Hubble spots farthest star ever seen -- ScienceDaily
Astronomers just discovered the farthest object in the known universe — but what is it? (msn.com)
Pew, pew! Scientists detect record-breaking 'megamaser' 5 billion light-years away. (msn.com)
Galactic bones inside Milky Way's skeleton are a magnetic mess | Live Science
Hunting for gravitational waves from monster black holes -- ScienceDaily
https://www.space.com/high-school-gravitational-waves-science-neutron-stars
Remarkably stable 'black widow' pulsar could help detect gravitational waves | Live Science
Scientists observe mysterious death of a star emitting six rings -- ScienceDaily
COSMOLOGY:
Oddly heavy particle may have just broken the reigning model of particle physics | Live Science
EARTH & MOON
Rare primordial gas may be leaking out of Earth's core | Live Science
NASA downgrades a large asteroid's risk of impact in 2880 | Space
Uncovering Secrets of Earth's Shadow - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope (skyandtelescope.org)
Scientists find dinosaur fossil from the day that asteroid hit the Earth and made them extinct (msn.com) and Dinosaur leg might be from the day the asteroid struck, scientists claim | Live Science
Spinning orb of blue light streaks across sky above Alaska | Live Science
Next China moon mission will need precision landing to target ice at south pole | Space
Microscopic particles from first Apollo 11 lunar sample head to auction | Space
EXOLIFE
Methane holds the key to finding alien life, claim scientists (msn.com)
Astronomers Come up With a New Message to let the Aliens Know we're Here - Universe Today
Is it time to send another message to intelligent aliens? Some scientists think so. | Live Science
Methane could be the first detectable indication of life beyond Earth -- ScienceDaily
'Chaos' regions of Jupiter moon Europa may increase chance for life | Space
EXOPLANETS
Hubble spots young gas giant forming in an 'intense and violent' way | Space
'Dead' telescope discovers Jupiter's twin from beyond the grave (msn.com)
Hubble probes extreme weather on ultra-hot Jupiters -- ScienceDaily
'Prenatal' protoplanet upends planet formation models -- ScienceDaily
Jupiter-size exoplanet caught in the act of being born | Science | AAAS
Hubble Space Telescope spots extreme weather on strange alien worlds (msn.com)
IMAGES
See NASA's Artemis 1 moon rocket, SpaceX's Ax-1 astronaut mission on the launch pad (photos) | Space
LIGHT POLLUTION
Study finds car thefts decrease when street lights are turned off (newatlas.com)
SETI
Scientists want to broadcast Earth's location to aliens despite Stephen Hawking's warning (msn.com)
Researchers Made a New Message for Extraterrestrials News and Research - Scientific American
SOLAR SYSTEM
Ice volcanoes on Pluto may still be erupting (msn.com) and Giant ice volcanoes may have recently changed the face of Pluto (newatlas.com)
This is Where the Mars Sample Return Mission Could be Landing - Universe Today
Icy volcanoes on Pluto could be sign of underground ocean | Science | AAAS
Mars crater complex shows layers of ice in stunning spacecraft photos | Space
Mercury has magnetic storms -- ScienceDaily
'Chaos' regions of Jupiter moon Europa may increase chance for life | Space
Europe fights to keep Mars rover alive after split with Russia | Science | AAAS
SPACE
SpaceX and NASA Send Four Private Astronauts to Space Station | Watch (msn.com)
Orion spacecraft: NASA's next-gen capsule to take astronauts beyond Earth orbit (msn.com)
Starship Could be Ready for an Orbital Flight in May - Universe Today
Russia Will End Cooperation on International Space Station Citing Sanctions (newsweek.com) I'm sure that there are other ways to boost it to a higher orbit when required – if all else fails, attach a strong tether to it and tow it to a new orbit with one of Musk's rockets.
Blue Origin space tourist carries Ukrainian flag to final frontier | Space
NASA astronaut comes home to Houston after record-setting 355-day space mission | Space
Lightning strikes NASA's Artemis 1 moon megarocket launch pad during test | Space
Russia threatens to leave International Space Station program (again) | Space
Astronaut's moon rock award moved from Disney's Epcot to museum | Space
SpaceX, NASA delay launch of private Ax-1 astronaut mission to April 8 | Space
Stuck valve stalls NASA's 2nd attempt to fuel giant Artemis 1 moon rocket | Space
SpaceX rolls Falcon 9 rocket, Dragon capsule out to pad for Ax-1 astronaut launch (photos) | Space
NASA delays Artemis 1 moon mission test until after Friday SpaceX astronaut launch | Space
Ax-1: Why the private mission to the International Space Station is a gamechanger (msn.com)
NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei reflects on record 355 days in space | Space
Project Kuiper: Amazon signs deals to launch broadband satellites in bid to rival Elon Musk's Starlink (msn.com) More space pollution. Now getting ever closer to a Kessler catastrophe.
Axiom-1 mission all-private crew to make and carry history on space station | Space
Why NASA's Annoyed About Elon Musk's Giant Rocket | Space
Record-breaking US astronaut, Russian cosmonauts land on Soyuz | Space
The space industry has a big, ugly sexual harassment problem | Space This is very disappointing!
SUN:
https://mailchi.mp/spaceweather/solar-cycle-update-the-gap-is-growing
TELESCOPES, INSTRUMENTS, TECHNIQUES.
https://phys.org/news/2022-04-webb-telescope-multi-instrument-alignment.html'Ears' for rover Perseverance's exploration of Mars -- ScienceDaily
Trying to stay ahead of competition, U.S. pares down troubled $3 billion neutrino experiment | Science | AAAS
17. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION. This link gives options to join the IAA.
https://irishastro.org/join-the-iaa/ If you are a UK taxpayer, please select 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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