From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 17:50:55 EST
Subject: Fireballs, ISS, Mars watch, Calendars, NEO's on the OU

Hi all,
 
1. FIREBALLS: There are many reports from various parts of the world of  some 
very bright fireballs, which seem to be part of the Taurid meteor  complex.  
Dr David Asher of Armgah Observatory predicted several years  ago that we 
would see very bright Taurid fireballs in late October &  the first half of 
November in 2005, and it seems to be happening! They are not  frequent, and indeed 
the ordinary Taurid meteors themselves are not a  particularly rich shower, but 
there is certainly a higher incidence of really  bright fireballs than usual, 
at the present time. The radiant lies roughly  between the Pleiades and the 
Hyades. If you see any, let me know.
 
2. The ISS is now starting another series of evening passes over Ireland.  
Details from the excellent www.heavens-above.com.
 
3. Another reminder about the IAA Mars Watches this W/E, on Friday &  
saturday nights, if clear, at the lower car park, Ulster Folk & Transport  Museum, 
Cultra, Holywood, Co Down, starting at 8 p.m. Admission free. I''ll be  away 
(see below), so check the IAA website www.irishastronomicalassociation.com for latest details
 
4. If you're thinking of buying a calendar for an Xmas prezzie, be aware of  
the following:
A. There's a very nice looking calendar called "Moons", by a photographer  
called Judd. Just be aware that all, or almost all, of the photos are faked!  
Faked in the sense that there's a telephoto shot of the moon superimposed on a  
nice landscape shot. You can have great fun spotting the inconsistencies (moon 
 lit from one side, landscape lit from the other, for example!), but buy it 
only  if you like the pretty pics.
B. The National Geographic Calendar called "Galaxies" features, wait for it  
- NO shots of galaxies, but 12 shots of Solar System objects! Some of them are 
 old hat, or a least well-known, such as a shot of Hale-Bopp. You would spot 
that  for yourself if buying it in a shop, but not if you were getting it by  
mail-order.
 
5. The Material World, Radio  4: Live  Recording in the Berrill Lecture 
Theatre on  NEO's
 
 
On  Tuesday 22nd November, Radio 4's The Material World programme is to be 
recorded  in the Berrill Lecture Theatre on the OU campus, as part of a series 
of  programmes produced jointly by the Open Broadcasting Unit and BBC Radio 
Science  Unit, linked with the forthcoming OU S250  Science in Context course.  
This  programme will be on Near-Earth objects - just how worried  ought we to 
be about the potential hazard that comets and asteroids which  have  passed  
close to the Earth may pose to life on Earth? The  probability of any such 
impact occurring in our lifetime is low but how should  scientists and society at 
large respond to what is still a potentially  catastrophic hazard? What have 
the scientists learnt from evidence of previous  impacts that may help us in 
the future?  
Quentin  Cooper will be chairing a panel and taking questions from a live 
audience. The  panellists are Professors Simon Kelly and John Zarneki of the OU's 
Planetary and  Space Sciences Research Institute; and Benny Peiser who is an 
expert on the  social implications of Near-Earth Objects at Liverpool John 
Moores University.  
Recording with start  at 2.00 pm, audience members  are asked to be there at 
1.30 pm.   If you  are interested in a FREE ticket for the event please e-mail 
the programme at Material.Worldbbc.co.uk, with  
TICKET in the title. The programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 
on Thursday 6th January  2006 at 4.30pm. 
For more information  about this and other programmes produced by The Open 
University go to www.open2.net.   

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I'm off to Turkey for a few days to check out observing locations for the  
IFAS eclipse trip next March, so I won't be replying to any emails before next  
Wednesday.
 
Clear Skies,
 
Terry Moseley

Last Revised: 2005 November 4th WWW contact:webmaster@arm.ac.uk

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