Friday, 14 June 2024

Midsummer BBQ, NLCs, Thanks, Kids constellations, AOP news, DSI, Vote!, Comet, Lectures, TCrB, more

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

 

  * 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 trime 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. for the BBQ.

 * The tour of the Visitors' Centre and Observatory is booked for 4 p.m., although they may be able to take us a bit earlier, depending on the timing by a previous booking.

 * BBQ: 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. At this stage we only want an indication of how many will be attending, but later we'll be looking for payment by Paypal.

 

2. 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.

 

 

3. IAA 50th Anniversary Event, Armagh, 18 May

Thanks to Prof Michael Burton and all his staff at AOP for making this a really superb event. We had a great attendance, and extremely positive feedback. Thanks also to Professors Stefano Bagnulo, Alan Fitzsimmons, Peter Gallager and Tom Ray for their excellent lectures. It was good to welcome friends from the IAS, MAC and GAC too.  Keep the equivalent Saturday date in 2034 free for the next one!

 

4. 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!
 

5. 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:

Opportunities - Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

armagh.space

favicon.ico

The closing date for applications is Friday 21 June 2024. For further information please contact hr@armagh.ac.uk

 

6. Dark Sky Ireland Newsletter

Welcome to our Spring 2024 Newsletter (mailchi.mp)

 

7. 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!

 

8. 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!

 

9. 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 that I will be teaching, 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/

 

10, ISS. The ISS will start a new series of morning passes on 28 June. See www.heavens_above.com for details

 

11. 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 Declination25° 55′ 12.613″; R.A.15h 59m 30.1622s

 

12. 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.

 

13. 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.


14. 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:

James Webb telescope discovers most distant supernova ever seen | Live Science

NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope captures closest super star cluster to Earth (image) (msn.com)

Slow radio repeater baffles scientists https://charmingscience.com/an-unusual-space-radio-signal-that-repeats-every-hour-baffles-astronomers/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1U4wDTX0JezgEGPWH6o4KOSINtK-8giBNifHpGPolhZT8BwA8HqRLt8yo_aem_AV1ljSvSxZXxj7p-KnOm8GxiXdoO7uua1MxdRF7fH-gtj2JyOuAFF8PYmBbXjdXH2hm4JURleilzpTdoa5P4h-9p
How Supermassive Black holes grow. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/RRuQMcDLxPwmrsMG/

Spacetime defects uncouple gravity from mass in dark matter alternative (newatlas.com) Negative mass????

Plasma tornadoes in accreting wormholes  https://www.facebook.com/share/abuj9QBpJ1uUEd8B/

What "naked" singularities are revealing about quantum space-time | New Scientist

Hubble and SOFIA Probe the Secrets of HM Sagittae (msn.com)

Mysterious radio signals coming from galaxies like our own, study says (msn.com)

Evidence For a Major Kilonova Event Near Earth (3.5 Million Years Ago) | Watch (msn.com)

Milky Way's most massive stellar black hole discovered! | Watch (msn.com)

Milky Way's black hole may be spinning 'football-shaped' spacetime warp | Watch (msn.com)

How quantum entanglement really works and why we accept its weirdness | New Scientist

Swimming Through an Ocean of Dark Matter': Earth's Upper Atmosphere Believed to Hold 'Missing Piece of the Universe' (msn.com)

📡 These observations reveal unexpected dark matter behavior (msn.com)

"No Dark Times" James Webb Telescope Just Discovered 2 of the Farthest Galaxies Ever Seen! | Watch (msn.com)

See the Milky Way's Sagittarius A* black hole in an amazing polarized Event Horizon Telescope image | Watch (msn.com)

The Milky Way's last major act of galactic cannibalism was surprisingly recent | Space

Radio signal from space repeats every hour, defying explanation (newatlas.com)

Scientists find strange spinning star going shockingly slowly (msn.com)

Nasa finds the most distant galaxy in the known universe (msn.com)

The secrets of supernovas might be locked in moon dust (msn.com)

Carbon detected in galaxy observed 350m years after big bang (msn.com)

Elusive medium-size black holes may form in dense 'birthing nests' (msn.com)

Space photo of the week: James Webb telescope spots galaxy churning out stars in overtime | Live Science

Massive, magnetic stars beyond the Milky Way detected for the 1st time (msn.com)

Dark matter mystery closer to being solved thanks to new Euclid telescope images (msn.com) There could not be enough Brown Dwarfs to account for more than a tiny fraction of the so-called Dark Matter. And if they are ubiquitous, how come our Solar System doesn't have any? At least none out to about a distance of 100 AU.

Euclid Reveals a Universe of Orphan Stars (msn.com)

Mystery of universe which has baffled scientists for 100 years on brink of being solved (msn.com)

James Webb captures first direct images of galaxies born at Cosmic Dawn (newatlas.com)

Amateur astronomer finds 5 fascinating new galaxies — and they're now named after him | Space

Astronomers Discover Stars from the Universe's Beginning at the Edge of the Milky Way (msn.com)

'Orphan' stars among mind-bending finds by Europe's new space telescope (msn.com)

Right again, Einstein! Scientists find where matter 'waterfalls' into black holes (msn.com)

Churning spacetime and destroyed stars help reveal how fast supermassive black holes spin (msn.com)

AI finds hidden galactic evolution clues in over 100 galaxies. Here's how. | Space

Explosive Mysteries Of The 'Dragon's Egg' Nebula Revealed | Watch (msn.com)

James Webb Space Telescope sees Orion Nebula in a stunning new light (images) (msn.com)

Astronomers find long-missing dwarf galaxies—too many of them | Science | AAAS

Black holes might be dark stars with layers: New solution found | Watch (msn.com)

In the Milky Way, 3 intruder stars are 'on the run' — in the wrong direction | Space

Webb telescope uncovers merger of two massive black holes from early universe (msn.com)

Axions: The wonder particles that could solve more than just dark matter | New Scientist

The quantum world: A concise guide to the particles that make reality | New Scientist

Kilonova Size Explosions Are Popping Off in Empty Space | Watch (msn.com)

 

COSMOLOGY:
'We're trying to find the shape of space': scientists wonder if the universe is like a doughnut (msn.com)
Massive 'El Gordo' galaxy cluster suggests dark matter smashes into itself (msn.com)
Unifying Quantum Mechanics and Gravity (msn.com)
Two Big Bangs, One Universe! A New Study Challenging the Cosmological Standard Model! | Watch (msn.com)
Experimental Evidence of a Phenomenon That May End The Universe - False Vacuum Decay | Watch (msn.com) 
It's good to see Hamiltonians appearing even in quantum gravity theory. Quantum Gravity and Universe's Entropy: A Revealing Connection (msn.com) (I must admit that I found parts of this a little difficult)
📡 Quantum gravity: finally a testable approach explaining this great mystery of our universe (msn.com) 
Roger Penrose interview: "Consciousness must be beyond computable physics." | New Scientist
 
EARTH & MOON
An encounter with 'something outside of the solar system' may have triggered an ice age on Earth | Live Science 
Earth broke heat records 12 months straight (msn.com)
Japan's Astroscale Aiming to Clean-up Space Junk | Watch (msn.com) 
'Climate hell' exit needed as world braced for year-long breach of 1.5C by 2028 (msn.com)
Did an asteroid wipe out the dinosaurs? Computer says no (msn.com) 
Chinese probe begins journey home with samples from far side of the Moon | Watch (msn.com) 
New study finds Earth warming at record rate, but no evidence of climate change accelerating (msn.com)
Chinese spacecraft lands on far side of the Moon in growing rivalry with US (msn.com)
Sunset, and sunrise, phenomena to observe. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/RYrQoF6anob8tbib/
Something strange is happening with Earth's magnetic field tail (msn.com)
Dangerous space weather early warning satellite to be built in UK (msn.com)
 
ECLIPSE PLANNING
The Spanish city on the brink of 'becoming a desert' as temperatures soar to 30C already (msn.com) Bear this in mind when planning for somewhere to observe the next Total Solar Eclipse in August 2026. Heat in central Spain could be extremely uncomfortable, perhaps dangerous, in August. As the eclipse will be in the afternoon, the heat will probably have built up to a maximum just as the eclipse starts, and it doesn't cool significantly until totality is about to start.
 
EXOLIFE:
Seven depressing – and terrifying – reasons aliens haven't made contact (msn.com)
Perseverance rover's Mars rock sample may contain best evidence of possible ancient life (msn.com)
Scientists spot 60 stars appearing to show signs of alien power plants (msn.com) 
 
EXOPLANETS
Unusual 'Phoenix' Exoplanet Challenges Our Current Understanding of Planetary Evolution | Watch (msn.com) 
Scientists find a surprise ingredient in exoplanet cake mix — sulfur dioxide | Space 
'Cataclysmic' collision of giant asteroids is discovered by NASA (msn.com) 
NASA exoplanet hunter finds 'weird' world surviving a star's relentless bombardment — it's named Phoenix | Space 
Exoplanet parade: amazing graphic! https://www.facebook.com/share/spyUjeFPVGEwxwF1/ 
'Potentially habitable planet' discovered 40 light-years away in major breakthrough (msn.com) 
NASA detects Earth-size planet just 40 light-years away that's 'not a bad place' to hunt for life | Live Science
Huge space breakthrough as new Earth-sized planet discovered that can sustain human life (msn.com)
Spectacular Secrets Of 'Planet-Forming Discs' Uncovered By Astronomers | Watch (msn.com)
Young 'cotton candy' exoplanet the size of Jupiter may be shrinking into a super-Earth (msn.com) 
Astronomers discover potentially habitable planet (msn.com)
Stars give tiny planets a gravitational 'squeeze' to strip away their atmospheres (msn.com)
Scientists discover strange planet that's 'melting from within' (msn.com) 
Belgian astronomers discover Earth-like planet near ultracool dwarf star (msn.com)
Belgian scientists unveil 'cotton candy' exoplanet defying explanation (msn.com) 
 
IMAGES
10 'breathtaking' photos of our galaxy from the 2024 Milky Way Photographer of the Year contest (msn.com)
Absolutely amazing image of Io by the LBT. https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/05/30/with-new-sharper-optics-arizona-telescope-captures-rare-images-of-jupiters-moon-io/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0RbncL3Hok2IcukwujTsmIia1lZExYQnJ053iN-fPuRGg1uFRgZxWg8ys_aem_AdrrEOMGGmg2BHXnohGc4sO0PvL7f8s5jG26IH8QZzK_vvWz-pJcL4CfUqKP9j0B6lwhEl9Kfhhl1iQ0WFpMNQkr 
Huge new images of space revealed to help scientists understand universe (msn.com)
See the Universe like NEVER before in images from Euclid spacecraft (msn.com)
A horse-shaped nebula gets its close-up in new photos by NASA's Webb telescope (msn.com)
James Webb Space Telescope Sees Remains Of Ancient Cosmic Clash | Watch (msn.com) amazing video
Mind-bending images of stars and galaxies captured by new telescope (msn.com)
 
SOLAR SYSTEM 
The 1st 'major lunar standstill' in more than 18 years is about to occur. Here's how to see it. | Live Science
'We thought it was impossible:' Water frost on Mars discovered near Red Planet's equator | Space 
New 'Sugar World' Discovered in Kuiper Belt - Newsweek
Are 'Flat-Earthers' Right? New Research Suggests the Theory Might Not Be That Far Out (msn.com)
NASA spots movement beneath the icy crust of Europa (msn.com)
How Venus lost its water https://www.facebook.com/share/95e5VT1Ly9ecxKqG/
Mars in 4K: Curiosity Rover's Breathtaking New Release! | Watch (msn.com)
'God of Destruction' asteroid Apophis will come to Earth in 2029 — it could meet some tiny satellites | Space 
Lost photos suggest Mars' mysterious moon Phobos may be a trapped comet in disguise | Live Science 
Spacecraft looking for life on Mars beams back jaw-dropping crater images of planet (msn.com) 
NASA's Juno probe captures fascinating high-resolution images of Jupiter's icy moon Europa (msn.com)
Perseverance rover's Mars rock sample may contain best evidence of possible ancient life (msn.com)
Japanese-European spacecraft bound for Mercury weakened by thruster glitch | Space 
NASA's Mars sample return mission is in trouble. Could a single SLS megarocket be the answer? (msn.com)
NASA's Juno probe captures fascinating high-resolution images of Jupiter's icy moon Europa | Space 
 
SPACE
Astronauts face health risks—even on short trips in space | Science | AAAS 
'No emergency situation' on International Space Station, NASA says after astronaut medical drill audio causes stir | Space
Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut mission extended through June 18 | Space 
What happens to astronauts during space station reboosts? Crew demonstrates | Watch (msn.com)
SpaceX's Giant Rocket Survives Dive to Earth | Watch (msn.com) 
Starship Flight 4 aces mission with double splashdown (newatlas.com) 
Thruster glitches and helium leaks can't stop Boeing's Starliner astronaut test flight — but why are they happening? (msn.com) 
SpaceX's massive Starship rocket records first successful test flight (msn.com) 
Japan's Astroscale Aiming to Clean-up Space Junk | Watch (msn.com) 
SpaceX's mega rocket makes its fourth test flight from Texas (msn.com) 
LIFTOFF! Boeing Starliner carries 2 astronauts to space in 'final test' for NASA (watch live) | Live Science 
Europe's only vertical launch spaceport opens for business  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7202922938612731904-h3YS?utm_source=combined_share_message&utm_medium=member_desktop 
Space debris could be dealt with more cheaply than previously thought, new NASA report suggests (msn.com) 
How can space travel lead to medical breakthroughs? Veteran astronaut explains | Space 
NASA's Mars sample return mission is in trouble. Could a single SLS megarocket be the answer? (msn.com) 

 

SUN

The Deepest We Have Ever Seen Into the Sun | SDO 4K | Watch (msn.com)

Scientists discover the possible origin of the sun's magnetic field, and it's not where they thought it was | Live Science

Dangerous space weather early warning satellite to be built in UK (msn.com)

Astronomers shed new light on puzzling origins of Sun's magnetic field (msn.com)

 

TELESCOPES, EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUES

Problems with XRISM https://www.space.com/xrism-jammed-gate-door-jaxa?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=space.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3sUeFyiaw-t2tGi7wrnTcZSc2UEBSrEybMFUWYUxP0YFlvPqmSbGASKh8_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

The Hubble Space Telescope is old. Here's NASA's new plan to keep it alive through 2035 (msn.com)

HST – details, history, milestones Hubble Space Telescope: Pictures, facts & history | Space 
Mind-bending images of stars and galaxies captured by new telescope (msn.com)
https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-team-to-start-work-on-worlds-largest-telescope/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 

FINAL WORD:  

"The treasures hidden in the heavens are so rich that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment." - Johannes Kepler

 

15. 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


Thursday, 16 May 2024

Anniversary Event: Details; Astrophoto comp, AOP events, DSI, ESA, Lintott Lecture, Comet, Course at BMC, ISS, TCrB


Hi all,

Please note: send all correspondence to me only at: terrymosel@aol.com  

 

1.   IAA 50th Anniversary Event, Armagh, 18 May

This major event will celebrate the 50 years since the formation of the IAA (formerly the Belfast and Armagh Centres of the IAS). We have FOUR major speakers in the afternoon session, exclusive access to the Star-theatre with great shows all morning, tours of the observatory and Astropark and another little-known astronomy site. Lunch and snacks will be provided free on-site. There will also be an optional special anniversary dinner in the Armagh City Hotel, the cost of which includes wine.

 

NB – There are still some places available – it's not too late to book!

 

 

WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO ARMAGH OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT.

 

NB: Non-IAA members and guests are welcome  too: it will be a great day, not to be missed.

 

HIGHLIGHT SPEAKERS:

 

Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of School of Cosmic Physics, DIAS: "Flying Through the Solar Wind with Solar Orbiter"

ABSTRACT:

The Solar Orbiter missions launched in February 2020 and since then has been winding its way through the solar system into the inner heliosphere, where it is now giving us new views and measurements of the solar wind and solar transients. In this talk, I will describe the mission, the insights that Orbiter is giving us, and describe the Solar-Telescope Imaging X-rays (STIX) instrument that the team at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies is involved in. In addition, I will describe the solar and geomagnetic activity that we have had in recent weeks together with prospects for future solar activity. 

Biography: Professor Peter Gallagher is Head of Astronomy & Astrophysics and Director of Dunsink Observatory, in the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, Ireland. He was also instrumental in establishing the I-Lofar Radio Telescope Observatory in Birr Castle Demesne, which is part of the LOFAR Europe-wide network.

 

Professor Stefano Bagnulo, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
"Auroral phenomena and metal scars at the surface of white dwarfs"

Abstract: When stars like our Sun reach the end of their lives, they shrink down to Earth-sized objects called white dwarfs. Remarkably, about one in four white dwarfs possesses an incredibly strong magnetic field — often much stronger than anything we can create on Earth. Many of these white dwarfs capture remnants of their planetary systems, such as comets, asteroids, or even small planets, which fall onto their surfaces. I will describe the recent discovery of a white dwarf where the debris of an asteroid similar to Vesta in size have been funneled by the star's magnetic field, and concentrated around the magnetic poles, creating a phenomenon reminiscent or Earth's auroras. I will explain what these observations tell us about exo-solar planets, and about the atmospheres of white dwarfs. I will also describe the telescopes that enabled this discovery, and provide insight, more in general, into the modern methods used for astronomical observations.

Biography: Stefano Bagnulo studied Physics at the University of Florence in Italy, and obtained his PhD at QUB, Belfast, in 1996. He has worked at the University of Vienna, and at the Paranal Observatory in Chile, where he was a member of the Science Operations Team of the ESO Very Large Telescope. He joined Armagh Observatory in 2007.

 

Professor Tom Ray, School of Cosmic Physics, DIAS: "Building the Extremely Large Telescope: Challenges and Hopes for the Future"

Abstract: The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is over half-way to completion. Its construction will not only be a
milestone in the history of the European Southern Observatory but also for Astronomy. In my talk I will explain the challenges we have faced, the novel solutions, and the hoped-for scientific return. I will also describe the first set of instruments and what we hope they will achieve.

 Biography: Professor Tom Ray is a senior professor in the DIAS School of Cosmic Physics,

He is Co-Principal Investigator of the Mid-Infrared Instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope, and also leads a group in DIAS developing optical/near-infrared Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) for use in Astronomy. He is an ERC Advanced Grant Laureate and his other interests include ancient astronomical sites, like Newgrange, and Historical Astronomy.

Tom received his primary degree in Theoretical Physics from Trinity College Dublin in 1978, followed by an MSc and PhD from the University of Manchester while carrying out research in Radio Astronomy at Jodrell Bank. He subsequently became a research fellow at the University of Sussex, an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg and then returned to Ireland as a Lecturer in University College Dublin. He became one of the youngest professors in the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies in 1986.

Tom is the Robert Ball Professor in Trinity College Dublin, a member of the Royal Irish Academy (MRIA), a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), and a Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

 

Professor Alan Fitzsimmons, Astrophysics Research Centre, QUB "Exocomets"

 Abstract: Every year roughly 60 more comets are discovered orbiting our Sun. But for decades, astronomers have been discovering comet-like objects in other Solar systems. Slowly but surely astronomers have been uncovering their secrets. This talk will briefly review how astronomers discover and understand comets formed in other Solar systems, some light-years away and some a bit closer, and how much we understand about them at present.

Biography: Professor Alan Fitzsimmons has been an astronomer at Queen's University Belfast for almost half the orbit of Halley's Comet. His research has mainly involved finding that asteroids and comets are red, or gassy, or red and gassy. His current interests are finding marks to give in student's exam papers, and planning a holiday. (This is what Alan supplied – needless to say he is being FAR too modest, as we all know!)

 

DINNER: After the Dinner in the Armagh City Hotel, there will be a presentation by members of some historic photos,  and the recent Total Solar Eclipse in North America, and some of the best recent aurora photos.

 

COST:

Full event, including lunch and morning and afternoon light refreshments, plus evening dinner, including wine: £65 adults, £30 children

 

Day events only as above, but excluding dinner: Adults £20, children £10.

PAYMENT: Must be received NO LATER than Thursday 16 May!

 

By cheque, payable to Irish Astronomical Association, to IAA Secretary, Mary Kirwan-Mackey, 89 Old Gransha Rd, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 7HA. or

Paypal: Go to  www.irishastro.org and click the donate button or

Bank Transfer:  To; Irish Astronomical Association, Sort code 950114, Account No 20095443, or  contact secretary at: Callistoboxer@hotmail.com for advice/details

NB: IF you turn up on the day, with payment, we won't turn you away provided that there are still places available.

 

TIMETABLE:

09.30: Registration, tea coffee.

10.00: Stardome – welcome by Director of AOP, Professor Michael Burton, and IAA President Paul Bates

10.15: Stardome – Show "CapCom Go"

11.00: Stardome – Show "Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon"

11.40: Stardome – Show: Special Showcase production by AOP

12.00: Copernicus Hall: Lunch – Soup and Sandwiches

13.00: Copernicus Hall: Lecture: Prof Peter Gallagher – 'Solar Orbiter'

13.50: Copernicus Hall: Lecture: Prof Stefano Bagnulo – 'Aurorae and Metal Scars on White Dwarfs'

14.40: Copernicus Hall: Tea, Coffee, light snacks

15.00: Copernicus Hall: Lecture: Prof Tom Ray – 'Building the Extremely Large Telescope'

15.50: Copernicus Hall: Lecture: Prof Alan Fitzsimmons: "Exocomets"

16.40: Copernicus Hall: Closing comments + outline of rest of programme

17.00: All must be out of the Planetarium!

17.15: Tours of Observatory, Astropark and Hill of Infinity. (NB, the latter involves walking on grass uphill: wear suitable footwear!). Because of space limitations, only a small group can enter the main observatory building at one time, so there will be several groups, and the tours will operate in rotation.  Unfortunately, the tour inside the building, and the Hill of Infinity, are not suitable for wheelchair users, or anyone with severe mobility restrictions.

18.30 (approx). Walking visit to the Celestial Sphere, Upper English Street.

19.15 (approx) Make your way to the Armagh City Hotel: for check in, comfort breaks, relaxation

20.00 Dinner in Armagh City Hotel

Followed by presentation by members of some historic events, the recent total solar eclipse and aurora

 

2. Astrophoto competition. There's still time to enter for this year's event, sponsored by DIAS, Closing date is Friday 17 May at 5 p.m. Details at www.reachforthestars.ie

 

3. 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.

 

4. Dark Sky Ireland Newsletter

Welcome to our Spring 2024 Newsletter (mailchi.mp)

 

5.  ESA SCIENCE DIRECTORATE, Online Meeting Tuesday, 28 May, 09.30 – 12.30, CEST (NB – Not GMT or BST!): The Director of Science at the European Space Agency, Professor Carole Mundell, is delighted to invite you to join her for her first Science Directorate Town Hall.  

   During this Town Hall, we will provide an introduction to ESA's world leading Science Programme, which is co-developed in a bottom-up approach from within the Member States.  This will be followed by a presentation about the role of the Directorate's Advisory Structure, the status of the Cosmic Vision programme, including LISA and NewAthena, and the status of and plans for Voyage 2050. 

   The Town Hall will provide an opportunity for direct exchange between the Directorate's Executive and the broader scientific community, including current and future users of ESA's missions. In introducing the long-term vision of ESA's Science Programme and preparations for future funding, the event will provide a channel to hear the views and ambitions of the scientific community.

   The event will be held fully online to ensure maximum accessibility. All members of the scientific community, independent of their career stage or affiliation, are invited to attend. There will be opportunity to learn about ways in which community members of different career levels can benefit from and engage with the Science Programme, with ample time for Q&A with the Director of Science, her leadership team, and key members of the Advisory Structure.

The meeting will be run as a virtual event. Visit the web page: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/dsci_townhall_2024/home

 

6. Online  & Live: Lecture, Conway Hall, Wednesday, 29 May 2024 - 19:00 First light: Revealing the Early Universe

By Professor Chris Lintott,  Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Oxford, and a Research Fellow at New College. Chris was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

No Registration Required:  https://app.sli.do/event/9UHpm5FESC2KPM6nBcGJcj

The final lecture in the series returns to the theme of how insight is derived from observations, considering the cosmic microwave background.

This oldest light in the Universe, emitted just 400,000 years after the Big Bang, contains the seeds of the structures we see around us, and tells us about conditions at the Universe's beginning. It will also consider how measurements of the Universe's expansion, made using the CMB, are leading to unexpected results, creating tension in modern cosmology.

 

7. 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!

 

8. 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 that I will be teaching, 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/

 

9, ISS. The ISS continues its series of evening passes, until 25 May. See www.heavens_above.com for details

 

10. 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. It erupted again in February 1946, indicating an approximate 80 year period. BUT you can't estimate a period from only 2 events! 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', but you really do need charts to observe it properly. It's rising in the NE as the twilight ends, about 25 degrees to the left of Arcturus.

 

11. 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/

 

12. 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.

 

 Remember, only send answers to me at my aol address: terrymosel@aol.com.


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:

Scientists prove that plunging regions exist around black holes in space (msn.com)

Giant 'rogue waves' of invisible matter might be disrupting the orbits of stars, new study hints | Space

Giant structure found in deep space throws our understanding of the universe into doubt (msn.com)

 

COSMOLOGY:
Expansion Rate: The Hubble Tension | Watch (msn.com) 
Giant structure found in deep space throws our understanding of the universe into doubt (msn.com)
 
EXOPLANETS
New Earth-sized planet discovered next to star that will outlive the Sun (msn.com) 
The surface of this volcanic exoplanet is hotter than some stars | Space
 
SOLAR SYSTEM 
Jupiter's elusive 5th moon caught crossing the Great Red Spot in new NASA images (msn.com)
 
SPACE
Blue Origin targeting May 19 for next crewed spaceflight | Space
Artemis 2 astronauts simulated a day in the life on their moon mission. Here's what they learned (exclusive) | Space

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13411251/Get-ready-flights-space-1-4bn-Dream-Chaser-plane-cargo-eventually-humans-orbit-passing-final-tests.html?ito=email_share_article-top 

Helium leak delays Boeing's 1st Starliner astronaut launch to May 21 | Space 
How SpaceX's private Polaris Dawn astronauts will attempt the 1st-ever 'all-civilian' spacewalk | Space
The $1,400,000,000 Dream Chaser plane that will take humans to space (msn.com)

 

SUN

Sun launches strongest solar flare of current cycle in monster X8.7-class eruption | Live Science

 

TELESCOPES, EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUES

https://www.ukri.org/news/uk-team-to-start-work-on-worlds-largest-telescope/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 

FINAL WORD:  

"The treasures hidden in the heavens are so rich that the human mind shall never be lacking in fresh nourishment." - Johannes Kepler

 

14. 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