Hi all,
1. IAA Lecture, Wed 1 March, 7.30 p.m, LARMOR LECTURE THEATRE, Physics Building, QUB, "Diving Deeper into the Radio Sky" - Solar, Stellar and Galactic Astronomy with the LOw Frequency ARray, by Jeremy Rigney, DIAS & AOP.
Synopsis: Radio astronomy has developed at an ever-accelerating rate in the past decade. With the construction of the Low Frequency Array, the largest and most sensitive low frequency radio telescope in the world, a new window into the universe has been opened. This has revealed jets
from distant galaxies, new stars, and massive bursts from our Sun in higher detail than ever before.
Ireland plays a large role in the LOFAR consortium, providing the most westerly station for the telescope array and further improving its sensitivity and resolution. I will talk about the science being achieved with I-LOFAR since its construction in 2017, and my own research on other stars within our galaxy and the search for other planets with the potential to host life.
Biography:
Jeremy Rigney is a Lindsay PhD Scholar at DIAS & Armagh Observatory, linked
with QUB.
Jeremy graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Physics with Astronomy and Space Science. He is currently the Eric Lindsay Phd Scholar based jointly between the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and Armagh Observatory. He is registered as a PhD researcher at Queen's University Belfast. Jeremy's research focuses on simultaneous optical and radio signatures of dwarf stars to examine the potential impact on orbiting exoplanets. He also observes the sun at radio wavelengths to compare its emission to other stars.
ADMISSION FREE, including light refreshments – All welcome!
2. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) is offering an exciting opportunity to lead education and public engagement activities at DIAS Dunsink Observatory as Education and Public Engagement Officer.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative person to develop and run educational workshops with local schools and community youth groups, and to create and deliver new education content reflecting the modern, cutting edge work of the Astronomy & Astrophysics Section. The Education Officer will also be central to efforts to develop new plans with our educational partners across the country for national collaborative projects. The role will also offer the opportunity to lead our usual public engagement offerings here, such as Public Visitor Nights and other special events throughout the year.
Applicants should submit an application through our online recruitment system by 17:00 on 2023 March 16. For more information visit https://dias.ie/dunsink-education-officer
3. OPIS is in North Down.
See: North Down | Our Place In Space
4. Spot the Zodiacal Light:
From now until about March 22 is the best time this year to spot the ZL in the evenings. Look as soon as the last signs of twilight have disappeared (about 2h after local sunset). You'll need a very dark site, and a clear view to the West horizon. See this for more information. But note that the reference to 'elliptic' should of course be to the ecliptic.
See the night sky shine with ghostly zodiacal light this month | Space
5. ISS. The International Space Station starts a new series of morning passes over Ireland on 17 March. Details on www.heavens-above.com
6. Irish Astronomy Week, 20 - 26 March – UPDATE (from Ronan Newman)
Irish Astronomy Week – The Stars For Everyone - All Ireland Venues .
Astronomy Clubs, Observatories, Universities and Public Libraries throughout the four provinces will be hosting free public indoor and outdoor events to celebrate Irish Astronomy Week.
Events will take place during the day and evenings and include exhibitions, talks, workshops and telescope observing.
All week long, Cork Astronomy club will host its astrophotographer exhibition at the old waterworks in the city.
Dunsink Observatory will hold an open night, while Armagh, Greencastle and Schull planetariums each are holding a series of Celestial events celebrating Astronomy and the hundredth anniversary since the invention of the first Planetarium projector.
There will be talks as varied as An Introduction to Astronomy, The Birth of the Solar System, Women in Astronomy, The Wonders of the Night Sky. Other talks include Planets and Asteroids, Imaging Black Holes, Astronomy and Music, The Importance of Dark Skies and Astrotourism, Return to the Moon and Beyond and many more topics.
There will be Zoom talks, astrophotography lessons and the Cosmos star party hosted by Midlands Astronomy Club near Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Several venues including libraries will host Children's Astronomy and Crafts Workshops.
Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival will host a series of astronomy-themed events on the Iveragh Peninsula. A guided dark sky walk in will take place in Mayo and much more around the country!
We welcome members of the public to come along to the many observing events where some of the largest amateur telescopes in the country will be trained on the lunar surface giving unprecedented views of it many features that have laid bare for 4 million years including lava plains, mountains, Maria "Sea's" and it's huge abundance of craters. Please keep an eye out for events in your area on our website at www.irishastronomyweek.ie and keep looking up!
7. Skellig Coast Dark Sky Festival, Co Kerry, 24 – 26 March
See: https://www.facebook.com/scdarkskyfest
8. COSMOS 2023: This has now been confirmed for Saturday 25 March. It will be great to have this annual midlands attraction back again. The new venue is a dark sky location: Midlands National Shooting Centre at Boora, County Offaly on Saturday 25th March, and there will be six speakers.
The shooting centre is less than 15 minutes from Tullamore and has a rustic feel to it, a bit like Annaharvey back in the old days. It has all the necessary facilities, and lunch will be available on site, as well as tea & coffee.
9. Possible new bright comet next year!
2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: a Bright Comet for the End of 2024? - Universe Today
10. Next Space and Astronomy Webinar Returns, Tuesday 28 March!
We'll be back, with the amazing Nick Howes, for Space Roundup from SpaceStore Live, on 28 March at 7.30 p.m. All the latest news about what's happening in space and astronomy. Totally free – don't miss it.
11. IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach - Dark and Quiet Skies
In May 2023, we plan to build off of the success of last year's celebration of the dark and quiet sky. We will strengthen our connections with our collaborators, including the Center for Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Interference (CPS) and the International Day of Light (IDL). This year, we are planning some new events, like a worldwide trivia night (with prizes!) and a light pollution pledge. In the coming months, we will announce more details about how you can participate in the fight to end light pollution!
12. First Announcement: European Society for Astronomy in Culture Conference, 6-9 September
The 30th conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC) will take place from 6-9 September 2023, in Warsaw, Poland. The theme of this SEAC conference is: Between ancient and modern astronomy. Throughout this conference, the organisers hope to commemorate two significant anniversaries related to Nicolas Copernicus: the 550th anniversary of his birth and the 480th anniversary of his death. For more information about how to contribute to this conference, see this page.
13. New Easy Teaser.
In astronomy, what have J, K, Q, W, X, Y, Z got in common?
No correct answers yet, so here's a clue. It's something that they haven't got, which they have in common.
Another clue: there's a connection to the call often given in Bingo "Two fat ladies", although maybe that's banned now!
And another clue: Back to beginnings.
14. NEW DIFFICULT TEASER:
Apart from being the world's largest telescope on an equatorial mounting, what OTHER world record does the 5m Hale telescope on Mt Palomar still hold?
No guesses yet, so here's a clue. It's something very simple.
Just one guess so far, which was that it's the largest monolithic mirror in the world, but the Russian 6-metre BTA-6 is larger.
But here's another clue – it is something to do with the mirror.
Please send all Teaser answers to me at my aol address terrymosel@aol.com
15. INTERESTING WEBLINKS (Disclaimer – leading its nameUse 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 Neutron Star That Thinks It's a Black Hole - Universe TodayStars Can Eat Their Planets...and Spit Them Back Out Again - Universe TodayHow do Black Holes Make a Shadow? - Universe TodaySome Elements Arrived on Earth by Surfing Supernova Shock Waves - Universe TodayRare galaxy with three black holes leads astronomers to the most massive objects in the universe (msn.com)Monster black hole may have killed this galaxy's star-forming power, James Webb Telescope reveals (msn.com)Weighing OJ 287 and the project MOMO (spacedaily.com)Breakthrough In Dark Energy? Here's What The Researchers Have To Say - YouTube NASA image may show first-ever 'rogue' supermassive black hole, leaving a trail of newborn stars in its wake (msn.com)
Earth's water may be older than the sun – study (msn.com)Ghostly scraps of oldest recorded supernova revealed in stunning telescope image (msn.com)A supernova may have triggered a mass extinction | Watch (msn.com)James Webb Space Telescope spots galaxy from early universe rich in star formation (msn.com) Galaxy-size shock waves found rattling the cosmic web — the largest structure in the universe (msn.com) andBlack holes may be the source of mysterious dark energy | SpaceShockwaves rocking the 'cosmic web' connecting galaxies seen for the 1st time (msn.com) andhttps://www.sciencenews.org/article/shock-waves-shaking-universe-first?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_share
X-rays reveal how 450-year-old Tycho supernova became a giant cosmic particle accelerator (msn.com)The James Webb Is Getting Closer to Finding What Ionized the Universe - Universe TodayHubble Sees an Epic Merger of Three Galaxies - Universe TodayLight antimatter particles may help find Dark Matter https://www.facebook.com/100045998303732/posts/761713842038552/?sfnsn=scwspmoAstronomers unravel formation of black holes so massive they shouldn't exist (msn.com)Astronomers discover metal-rich galaxies in early universe (spacedaily.com) https://www.facebook.com/groups/612583500682198/permalink/624868316120383/?sfnsn=scwspmo&ref=shareSupermassive Black Holes on a Collision Course - Universe TodayA mysterious, long object is flying towards the black hole at the centre of the galaxy (msn.com)Massive 'forbidden planet' orbits a tiny star only 4 times its size | SpaceRare black hole 1 billion times the mass of the sun could upend our understanding of galaxy formation (msn.com) Milky Way's monster black hole is destroying a mysterious dust cloud | SpaceNASA finds first pair of giant black holes in dwarf galaxies on collision course (msn.com) COSMOLOGYThe Universe May Have Started with a Dark Big Bang - Universe TodayMultiverse? https://www.facebook.com/100045998303732/posts/752923926250877/?sfnsn=scwspmo
Scientists think there's a hidden universe created by 'dark big bang' (msn.com)
Astronomers Were Not Expecting This (msn.com)
EARTH & MOON
Some Elements Arrived on Earth by Surfing Supernova Shock Waves - Universe TodayAstronomer catches meteorite smashing into the moon (video) | Space Nice one!Newly discovered asteroid the size of a swimming pool has a 1-in-600 chance of colliding with Earth, NASA says | Live Science If it hit, it would be the biggest one since Tunguska in 1908. Scientists call for global action to tackle space junk (msn.com)Earth's water may be older than the sun – study (msn.com) It Should be Possible to Farm on the Moon - Universe Today
A supernova may have triggered a mass extinction | Watch (msn.com)
Are Telescopes on the Moon Doomed? - Scientific American
SOFIA Makes First Detection of Heavy Oxygen in Earth's Upper Atmosphere (spacedaily.com)
'Everyone should be concerned' as Antarctic sea ice reaches record low – The Irish Times
Farming on the Moon (spacedaily.com)
Cosmic rays reveal 'hidden' 30-foot-long corridor in Egypt's Great Pyramid (msn.com)
DART's epic asteroid crash: What NASA has learned 5 months later (msn.com) and
Scientists reveal whether Earth could be saved from killer asteroid (msn.com)
ESA invites space firms to create lunar services (moondaily.com)
The moon could get its own time zone, but clocks work differently there – here's why (msn.com)
20,000-foot-tall mountain on the moon named in honor of trailblazing computer scientist Melba Roy Mouton | Live Science Excellent news.
Scientists find meteorite from fireball that exploded over Texas | Space
EXOLIFE
How aliens would be seeing the Earth now. https://www.facebook.com/groups/221618226594414/permalink/524396056316628/?sfnsn=scwspmo&ref=share
EXOPLANETS
Astronomers find missing link for water in the Solar System (spacedaily.com)
Distant star TOI-700 has two potentially habitable planets (spacedaily.com) (TOI stands for TESS Object of Interest, where TESS is the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)
Massive 'forbidden planet' orbits a tiny star only 4 times its size | Space
'Forbidden' planet whose existence violates scientific theory found orbiting dwarf star (msn.com)
IMAGES, Film, Video
Follow Perseverance on Its Mars Journey With This Two-Year Timelapse - Universe Today Astronomer catches meteorite smashing into the moon (video) | SpaceJust Dropped: New Close-up Images of Io from Juno, With More to Come - Universe TodayRussian filmmakers release trailer for first ever feature-length movie filmed in space (msn.com)Carina Nebula twinkles in gorgeous new view from Hubble (photo) (msn.com)Lagoon Nebula shines in gorgeous new Hubble image (msn.com)Hubble Sees an Epic Merger of Three Galaxies - Universe TodayShooting the sky: Meet the women astrophotographers capturing the beauty of the Milky Way in Qatar (msn.com)Cosmic Eyelashes https://www.facebook.com/1306886536/posts/10231155450092069/?sfnsn=scwspmo
HST's time-lapse of the DART impact Hubble Captures Movie of DART Asteroid Impact Debris | ESA/Hubble (esahubble.org)James Webb Space Telescope 'sees triple' with help from Einstein (photos) (msn.com)19 jaw-dropping James Webb Space Telescope images (msn.com) Sky Pollution:Hubble's Orbit Has Dropped So Far that Starlink Satellites are Photobombing its Images - Universe TodayRadio interference from satellites is threatening astronomy but there are solutions (spacedaily.com) Satellites spoiling more and more Hubble images | Science | AAASAstronomers stumble in diplomatic push to protect the night sky | Science | AAAS SOLAR SYSTEM 2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS: a Bright Comet for the End of 2024? - Universe Today
The planet that could end life on Earth (spacedaily.com) The interesting corollary to that is: what about the asteroids? Perhaps the influence of Jupiter prevented matter in that area from ever forming a substantial planet.
Astronomers find missing link for water in the Solar System (spacedaily.com)
Astronomers Find a Group of Water-rich Asteroids - Universe Today
Can a Venus Lander Survive Longer Than a Few Minutes? - Universe Today
Layering history shows how water and carbon dioxide have moved across Mars (marsdaily.com)
The big reveal: What's ahead in returning samples from Mars? (msn.com)
Comet which hasn't been seen for 80,000 years 'could outshine the stars' (aol.co.uk)
Mars helicopter Ingenuity soars between Red Planet airfields on 46th flight (msn.com)
NASA IBEX spacecraft not responding after computer glitch | Space
Venus grade: NASA seeks a lander battery tough enough to survive Earth's evil twin (msn.com)
DART's epic asteroid crash: What NASA has learned 5 months later (msn.com) and
Voyager 1 still going strong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTZvjSeRjH8
Scientists reveal whether Earth could be saved from killer asteroid (msn.com)
Amateur astronomers make 'major breakthrough' in saving Earth from asteroids (msn.com)
Hubble Video Shows Surprising Aftermath of NASA DART Asteroid Impact (msn.com)
Got Rock Sample: Sol 3755 (marsdaily.com)
NASA rover snaps photos of ancient 'waves' carved into Mars mountainside | Live Science
China's Zhurong rover reveals complex layers beneath the surface of Mars (msn.com)
Asteroid Ryugu rich in molecules that can be building blocks of life | Space
How deep-sea silica ends up in Saturn moon Enceladus' famous geysers (msn.com)
Asteroid Ryugu rich in organic molecules, first sample analysis reveals (msn.com)
Venus's 'squishy' outer shell may be resurfacing the planet, study finds (msn.com)
New discovery on Mars may change everything we know about the Red Planet (msn.com)
Uranus up close: What NASA 'ice giant' mission would teach us | Space
Titan's icy crust creates tides in the moon's subsurface ocean | Space
SPACE
Look out, Starship! China is Building a Massive Reusable Rocket! - Universe Today
International Space Station fires thrusters to avoid satellite | Space
Trailblazing women in space - a gallery of firsts (msn.com)
NASA to reveal Artemis 2 moon astronauts on April 3 | Space
Scientists call for global action to tackle space junk (msn.com)
The ISS hotel – but it will cost you! http://bit.ly/2WUZuZC
Russian filmmakers release trailer for first ever feature-length movie filmed in space (msn.com)
Watch Relativity Space launch Terran 1, world's 1st 3D-printed rocket in first attempt | Space
NASA's Artemis 1 Orion spacecraft aced moon mission despite heat shield issue (msn.com)
Russians will fly on SpaceX's Crew-7, Crew-8 astronaut missions: report (msn.com)
SpaceX CRS-27 delivers truck load of research projects to ISS (spacedaily.com)
NASA's IBEX spacecraft bounces back from glitch to study edge of solar system (msn.com)
Russia's war on Ukraine damaged international space cooperation | Space
Japan's new H3 rocket fails 1st test flight, satellite lost | Space
NASA uses AI to design hardware that is "three times better in performance" (msn.com)
See SpaceX Crew-6's approach to space station in time-lapse video | Space
End 'colonial' approach to space exploration, scientists urge (msn.com)
China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts perform 2nd spacewalk and 1st 'fire in space' test (video) (msn.com)
SpaceX capsule delivers latest four-member crew to International Space Station (msn.com)
Europe shoots for the moon with role in NASA program (moondaily.com)
ESA invites space firms to create lunar services (moondaily.com)
Chinese spacecraft has been eyeing US satellites high above Earth | Space
NASA's SpaceX Crew-6 mission blasts off into space for astronaut rotation (msn.com)
The 24 scariest spaceflight moments show dangers in orbit and beyond (msn.com)
Future rocket launches from British soil at risk as Europe primed to pull ahead (msn.com)
Virgin Galactic's carrier plane flies back to New Mexico spaceport (msn.com)
Russia's replacement Soyuz spacecraft arrives at space station | Space
The 24 scariest spaceflight moments show dangers in orbit and beyond (msn.com)
SUN
Flare 10 TIMES the size of Earth explodes from our sun | Watch (msn.com)
Sun unleashes powerful X2-class flare (video) (msn.com)
Scientists baffled by 'heartbeat' detected inside the Sun beating every 20 seconds (msn.com)
TELESCOPES, EQUIPMENT, TECHNIQUES Etc.
Quantum detector achieves world-leading milestone (spacedaily.com) This has applications in astronomy, where data streams are getting unbelievably large. But just be totally amazed by the performance and the technology!
Are Telescopes on the Moon Doomed? - Scientific American
China to install new optical telescope on Pamirs (spacedaily.com)
Amateur astronomers make 'major breakthrough' in saving Earth from asteroids (msn.com)
The largest 2D map of the sky over Earth just got even bigger (msn.com)
16. 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
