Hi all,
Please note: send all correspondence to me only at: terrymosel@aol.com
1. Midsummer BBQ and Visit to OM /Davagh Observatory, 22 June
NB – NOTE CHANGE OF TIMING
* This is the first Dark Sky Park and public observatory in N. Ireland. It's set in a hollow in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, just inside Davagh Forest Park. Ewe had a very successful visit there this time last year.
* Because of our association with them and help in designing the observatory, we're getting a special price for the visit and tour. This will be only £4 per person, and at that rate we can't offer any further concession discounts. That will also include the BBQ facilities, but you BYO food etc!
* Partners & friends are also always welcome, and non-members too,
* Provisional timetable: Arrive about 2 p.m. .
NEW * The tour of the Visitors' Centre and Observatory is now booked for 2.30 p.m., The BBQ will follow after the tour which lasts about 40 mts
* BBQ: - About 3.30 p.m . There are several purpose built BBQ areas at the far end of the car park. But there may not be enough seating for everyone, so if you have folding camping chairs or stools, and folding tables for your items, bring them.
* We will provide at least enough BBQ cooking area for most people, but if you have a portable BBQ, you can bring it to be safe, even if you don't need to use it.
* NB: All guests must bring their own consumables (food, drink, sauces etc), cutlery, plates, plastic cups/glasses etc.
* Solar observing: OM/Davagh have at least one Coronado solar scope, but we will also have our own solar observing equipment, and you're welcome to bring your own if you wish, if the weather is suitable.
* The other local attraction is the nearby Beaghmore Stone Circle complex, which may have an astronomical alignment. There's a proper walkway from the Observatory/VC to Beaghmore, with a scale model of the SS along the way. That takes about 40 minutes to walk each way, and it takes about 30 mts to see the site, so there would hardly be time for most people to walk there and back.
* So the if there is interest, we can arrange an optional trip there by cars after we have finished at OM. I can do a guided tour there, as I have done at their request about half a dozen times at the solstice. That would be on the way home for most people, so it would make sense to travel there from OM in your own transport.
* Weather: Obviously unpredictable at this stage but there's some shelter from the trees at the BBQ site if there's a shower. The VC has a snack area with tea, coffee, soft drinks confectionary etc, but no hot food. There's limited indoor seating for consuming those, and they would turn a blind eye if we ate our own sandwiches there, as long as we bought a drink and, say, a snack bar, from them as well.
* You may wish to bring insect repellent, in case the midges are active!
* Getting there: allow about 90 minutes from Belfast going via M1, Dungannon and Cookstown. For anyone on the N side of Belfast, the best route is via the M2 to the Castledawson Roundabout, then Tobermore and Draperstown; or Castledawson Rbt, Magherafelt, Desertmartin and Draperstown. It's signposted from Draperstown onwards.
* For those coming from elsewhere, you can approach it from either Cookstown or Omagh or Magherafelt. Once you're off the main roads, it's twisty hilly mountain roads, so allow about 20 minutes from each of those towns. It's well signposted (brown tourist signs) in the area.
* The car park is at: N 54.71977, W -6.91674
* The point at which all the access roads converge is: N 54.71902, W -6.94807, so that's where you have to aim for.
* The Beaghmore Stone Circles are at N 54. 70147, W – 6.93672
* PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY RETURN if you are planning to attend, and how many will be in your group. If you have not already paid, you can pay on the day.
2. Summer Solstice, June 20, 21.51, BST /IST
AN UNUSUALLY EARLY START TO SUMMER: This Summer Solstice marked the earliest start to the summer season in 228 years! In 1796, the solstice also occurred on June 20th, but at 18:41 Greenwich Time -- two hours and 10 minutes earlier than this year.
During the 20th century, the solstice usually occurred on June 21st or very occasionally, the 22nd. Because the year 2000 was a century year equally divisible by 400, it was observed as a leap year, thus causing the date of the solstice to occur one day earlier compared to previous years.
But it's mainly an artefact of our calendar system, which tries to compensate for the fact that there's not an exact number of days in a year. And it's not even exactly 365.25. It's 365.24219, or 365d 5h 48m 45.216s.
And then there's the sidereal year, which is 365.25636 days long....
If I had been designing the Solar System I'd have done things a bit more accurately!
See https://www.iflscience.com/why-the-2024-summer-solstice-will-be-the-earliest-for-228-years-74695?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00VxWf51cMyE3zm-1r7EB9W2GswTkG_nn5a_ZQ10xo6SjiCB82i3P8Ew4_aem_ae4UIruWaOu8W_8cVlUX3Q
3. NLCs
The season for seeing this beautiful, ethereal, high level atmospheric phenomena has started. There have been a few sightings of faint displays of these silvery 'night-shining' clouds recently. They can be seen occasionally into mid – to late July, around local midnight. Look low in the North when the sky has got dark: quite often they will be seen in the region of Capella. They are caused by the Sun shining on very high altitude particles resulting from meteoric dust in the upper atmosphere. They are visible when the Sun is too far below the horizon to shine on ordinary 'tropospheric clouds'. Any smartphone should capture nice images of them, but obviously proper photographic equipment is even better.
4. Asteroid Day, 30 June
5. KIDS IAU Collaborates with LEGO on Funstellation Campaign
From 23 May to 31 July, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and LEGO Group are joining forces to encourage kids all over the world to reimagine the night sky.
Throughout history, constellations have been defined by explorers, calendar makers, and cultures that imprinted their traditions on the stars. Today, astronomers officially recognise 88 constellations in the Northern and Southern hemispheres that have evolved from different culture's interpretations of the night sky. Constellations tell stories: they are used to represent rituals, mythologies, historical events and important aspects of everyday life.
Along with the IAU, LEGO Group encourages children worldwide to bring their unique creative lens to our view of the stars. To celebrate children's curiosity about the future of space, both the IAU and the LEGO Group are asking them to reimagine the night sky with their Funstellations: fun constellations they design as they look up.
Didac Phi, Associate Master Builder at the LEGO House, believes in the power of children's creativity to understand our Universe: "Children are our inspiration for play and creativity. With so much of the Universe yet to be explored, there's no science to say that what they create isn't possible or doesn't exist already." Through their Funstellations, children are encouraged to probe their understanding of our Universe and explore the cosmos from the comfort of their own minds.
Tomorrow's astronomers and explorers can download a sky map at LEGO.com/Space and join the dots together to show what object or shape they can see in the stars – maybe it's a pizza cowboy, a dancing dinosaur, or perhaps a giant mushroom holding a teacup. As they look up at the night sky, kids can imagine their own story through their new Funstellation and submit their creations to LEGO.com/Space. All entrants will be awarded a certificate of participation, and some Funstellations will be highlighted through the IAU's social media accounts.
Debra Elmegreen, President of the International Astronomical Union, says, "We are excited to tap the unbridled creativity of children through this collaboration by encouraging them to look up at the night sky and think about the stars. The next generation of scientists and space explorers will shape how we understand and interact with the Universe. With this project, we hope to give them a head start."
This project reminds us of the importance of protecting our dark skies from light pollution. Recent research using data collected from citizen scientists has shown that the night sky is brightening at an alarming rate; if light pollution is left unabated, future generations may not have access to a starry night sky. Through this collaboration, the IAU and LEGO hope to demonstrate the importance of preserving an astronomical legacy for generations to come, driven by the curiosity and creativity of today's children.
Head to the LEGO Space website for more information about how to participate!
6. NEWS FROM ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM:
New Dome Show: Our Night Sky, 2pm Tues - Sun
Have you ever looked up into the night sky and wondered 'what is that star called?' or 'how many constellations are there?' Created and produced by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, this interactive show will showcase the best of our night sky! It will showcase all our seasonal skies offer and let you ask all your stargazing questions.
Our World From Space
One Saturday a Month
Embark on a captivating journey through the wonders of our home planet, as seen from space, at our family Our World from Space Club.
Learn together with your child (perfect for KS2 children) in this fun and interesting club at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium!
Each session will involve learning in our digital theatre, an indoor activity and an outdoor activity.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is seeking an ICT Officer to work with the ICT Manager to support a broad range of ICT operations at AOP. Further information is available at:
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The closing date for applications is Friday 21 June 2024. For further information please contact hr@armagh.ac.uk
7. Connemara AC Trip to Blackrock Castle Observatory in Cork
CAC are super excited about their upcoming day trip to Blackrock Castle Observatory on the 19th July.
If you would like to come or know anyone who would like to go, please email them at connemaraastronomyclub@gmail.com
If they have the numbers they will get a bus.
Blackrock Castle Observatory, TBC https://www.bco.ie/
8. Vote for your favourite astrophoto in DIAS competition
The shortlisted images have now been posted at this link, and you can vote for your favourite one at.
www.reachforthestars.ie. Half a dozen of my friends are among the shortlisted entries, but I can't say who I voted for!
9. Congratulations to Dr Norah Patton who will be the first Irish person in space
I'm delighted that my good friend Norah has been selected as one of 3 crew to fly on a science flight with the new Virgin Galactic craft in 2026. The International Institute for Astronautical Sciences team will do various experiments, including bio-medicine, on the sub-orbital flight. Norah is originally from Ballina in Mayo, but is now living and working in Dublin.
10. COMET
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is currently around 10th magnitude in Virgo, moving slowly towards Leo, but may become as bright as first magnitude in the autumn. But as we all know, predicting comet magnitudes is notoriously difficult!
11. Paul Bates' Astronomy & Physics Lectures at BMC
Class enrolments are now open at the Belfast Met for the evening classes in GCSE Astronomy and GCSE Physics, beginning in September 2024.
The Physics course contains a limited amount of astronomy content whereas the Astronomy course spends the entire academic year delving into the details of the subject.
Website URLs link to the course enrolment website.
GCSE Physics (Tuesday evening 6pm to 8:30pm, September 2024 to June 2025)
https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/course/p00371-aa/gcse-physics-ccea-evening/
GCSE Astronomy (Thursday evening 6pm to 8:30pm, September 2024 to June 2025)
https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk/course/p00700-aa/pearson-edexcel-gcse-in-astronomy/
12, ISS. The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 28 June. See www.heavens_above.com for details
13. Recurrent Nova T Corona Borealis.
You may have read in some social media in early March that T CrB was due to explode again in the next week or two: I stuck my neck out, and said that we couldn't predict the next outburst with that degree of accuracy. That period has now passed, so I was right.
There have now been several more reports, saying much the same thing. The position remains the same - It could explode tomorrow – or not for another year or more! It's normally around magnitude 10, but at outburst it reaches mag 2.0 or 2.5.
The first outburst was discovered by Irish astronomer John Birmingham in Tuam, Co Galway, in May 1866. Earlier archive observations indicate a possible previous outburst in about 1787. It erupted again in February 1946, indicating an approximate 80 year period. BUT you can't assume a period from only 2 intervals ! However, in the year before the 1946 outburst, it dimmed to magnitude 12.3, and this has happened again recently, suggesting a possible outburst is imminent. BUT, once again, you can't predict from a single event!
So it's certainly well worth keeping an eye on it - comparison charts can be found on the websites of the BAA Variable Star Section, or the AAVSO.
(BTW, don't confuse it with the other nearby famous variable star, R CrB, which does the opposite – it stays normally around 6th magnitude, but occasionally dims to as faint as magnitude 14 or 15!)
(And for comparison, the other not quite so well-known recurrent nova, RS Oph, was seen, or is thought to have, erupted 9 times since 1898 – with intervals of approximately 9, 26, 12, 13, 9, 18, 21 and 18 years; so its period is by no means constant.)
Anyway, do keep an eye out – T CrB lies just outside the East side of the circle of the 'Crown', about a degree from Epsilon CrB, but you really do need charts to observe it properly. It's rising in the NE as the bright twilight ends, about 25 degrees to the left of Arcturus. It's at Declination: 25° 55′ 12.613″; R.A.: 15h 59m 30.1622s
14. NEW DIFFICULT TEASER
What's next in this sequence: 81, 770, 4200, …?
No correct answers yet, so I'll give a clue: It's astronomical rather than mathematical.
Another clue – it's a ratio.
And another clue – the first figure, a ratio, is fairly well known – so take it from there!
15. NEW EASY TEASER
What's next in this sequence: Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter….?
Clue: It's not something to do with the actual physical nature of the planets themselves.
Another clue: Don't be going round in circles trying to find the answer.
Remember, only send answers to me at my aol address: terrymosel@aol.com.
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:
Most distant and intense FRB https://www.facebook.com/share/wbM84GraKmNnpj6q/Astronomers witness ravenous black hole lighting up the center of a galaxy | Science | AAASBipolar jets https://www.facebook.com/share/p/cCYEQatkuA55cxw2/ Scientists spot mysterious object at the center of our Milky Way (msn.com)
The inner MW is thinner than it should be https://www.facebook.com/share/ttG75BVYhRw4xNX7/The Sun's sister https://www.facebook.com/share/7zm4K7gV4KKyD9SL/JWST finds lots of early supernovae https://www.facebook.com/share/uYgB9jJzU6jUQ6ea/
COSMOLOGY:A quantum explanation of cosmology? https://www.iflscience.com/is-reality-a-game-of-quantum-mirrors-a-new-theory-suggests-it-might-be-60375?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1C73HOYCOZUE0ksIPCb-VaFRS38ebAKZnvs5UCd1AENBndPwEB8CRIDcs_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw If this theory explains quantum entanglement, it gets my vote!
EARTH & MOONEarth's water is older than the Sun https://www.facebook.com/share/Ce2hgfXGGbXzafhR/Quantum measurement of Earth's spin https://www.iflscience.com/quantum-entanglement-used-to-measure-earths-rotation-for-the-first-time-74696?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0wEKCksf8ZtqTyG_Qv_bJL2_8uWkCrQrRegbA-AOq0LeJBAGZyPrbSDVI_aem_M374T4Pzcd27QIW5v8b-wQApophis close miss – latest: https://www.facebook.com/share/TwKxpk8USKii2ZQB/Scientists discover gigantic 'structure' under the surface of the Moon (msn.com)NASA will put a 'new star' in the sky by the end of the decade in 1st-of-its-kind mission (msn.com) Earth's rotating inner core is starting to slow down — and it could alter the length of our days | Live Science EXOLIFE:Is there life on one of Saturn's moons? Scientists plan a mission to find out (msn.com) SOLAR SYSTEM Video: "Impossible" frost found on Martian mountains (newatlas.com) Planet Nine: Is the search for this elusive world nearly over? | Live SciencewNASA's Perseverance Mars rover enters new Red Planet territory — 'Bright Angel' | SpaceSecrets of Jupiter's Great Red Spot revealed. Secrets of Jupiter's Great Red Spot Revealed - Newsweek'1st of its kind': NASA spots unusually light-colored boulder on Mars that may reveal clues of the planet's past (msn.com)Thousands of tonnes of water frost discovered on Mars (msn.com) Is there life on one of Saturn's moons? Scientists plan a mission to find out (msn.com)The 1st 'major lunar standstill' in more than 18 years is about to occur. Here's how to see it. | Live Science
SPACEVoyager 1 Is Back! NASA Spacecraft Safely Resumes All Science Observations | Scientific AmericanNASA, Boeing delay Starliner astronaut landing to June 26 amid thruster issues | SpaceSpaceX will attempt to 'catch' Starship rocket at next launch (msn.com)
TELESCOPES, EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUES
Vera C. Rubin Observatory: The groundbreaking mission to make a 10-year, time-lapse movie of the universe | Live Science and https://www.facebook.com/share/Ruo3h8qCXdpAMv9u/
FINAL WORD:
"The treasures hidden in the heavens are so rich that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment." - Johannes Kepler
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 http://www.irishastro.org/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
