From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: 13 June 2007 01:55:13 Jun 2007
Subject: TV, Lecture, Imaging, ASOD, NLCs, Research posts

Hi all,

1. TV Prog on Pulsar Discoverer. Jocelyn Bell-Burnell will be the
subject of a programme called "Northern Star" on BBC1 at 10.45pm on
Wednesday 13 June.  "The life and times of Belfast-born astrophysicist
Jocelyn Bell, who helped discover radio pulsars in 1968". Some say that
Jocelyn should have shared in the Nobel Prize that was awarded for this
discovery. Should be worth watching.....

  2.  DCU: A public lecture entitled "The James Webb Space Telescope
(JWST):  A tool for the study of Planetary System Formation and
Evolution", by Dr. Mark Clampin, on Thursday, 14 June at 3 pm.     The
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large aperture (6.5 meter),
cryogenic space telescope with a suite of near and mid-infrared
instruments covering the wavelength range  of 0.6 µm to 28 µm. JWST's
primary science goal is to detect and characterize the first galaxies.
It will also study the assembly of galaxies, star formation and
protoplanetary systems, and formation of evolution of planetary systems.
We will review recent progress in the  design of JWST's observatory
architecture. In particular we will discuss the status of JWST's optical
system,  recent successes in the primary mirror fabrication effort, and
the status of key observatory elements such as the sunshield. We will
also address the current projected scientific performance of the
observatory with emphasis on its capabilities for the study of planetary
system evolution and formation, and exoplanet detection and
characterization.    It will be held in Room S209 of the Research and
Engineering, Building at Dublin City University.      Dr. Clampin is the
Observatory Project Scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope at NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center, USA.   We look forward to seeing
you: Brenda Frye and Turlough Downes, DCU.

  3. Frank Ryan images ISS + STS. Frank used his scope & ccd cam to see
if h could get a shot of Atlantis
Wikipedia Link  joining up with the
International Space Station
Wikipedia Link as they install
new sections. He wrote: "I was expecting maybe to get a blob of light...
something of an odd shape to denote that it wasn't a star... but holy
cow I got more than I bargained for! Bearing in mind now these two are
only a few hundred feet wide between 300-400 K high, orbiting at
27,700KPH!   In the photo you can see the solar panels of the station,
the shuttle was facing face on so you can see the familiar outline and
even the tail fin, but also the robotic arm is unfurled and there is
something to the bottom right of Atlantis which may be the new module...
   Its up at the moment on this site.. Spaceweather Link.
Frank Ryan JR, Shannonside Astronomy Club.    Well done Frank - an
excellent achievement

4. Deirdre Kellegher (President, IAS) gets another ASOD! She wrote "My
Saturn/Moon occultation sketch has made Astronomy Sketch of the Day on
June 8th, I guess Richard Handy likes my work :-) Link to this, you may
have to scroll back to June 8th if you open this on a later date.
Link Well done to DK also - again!

5. NLCs seen from Offaly: Seanie Morris (Secretary, TAS) reports: "Hi
Terry, I thought it might be worth noting that Noctilucent Cloud season
is here. On my way home from work between 02:40 and 3:10hrs on 11
June (between Mullingar and Daingean), I spotted Noctilucent Clouds in
the predawn southeastern sky. They were faint, but obvious. About 7 thin
silvery bands, all parallel to each other, and close together, and the
horizon. The waxing orange crescent Moon, rising low down  in the east,
added to the nice spectacle."

6. PhD Studentship, QUB:  One PhD studentship is available at Queen's
University Belfast from October 2007 for one of the following projects
(too much detail in originals to repeat here):

Project 1: Theoretical Modelling of Interstellar Ices. Supervisors: Tom
Millar & Philip Dufton

Contact: For more details contact Tom Millar - e-mail 
Tom.Millarqub.ac.uk

Application Process: Please fill out an application form on-line 
here.


Project 2: Low mass star formation. Supervisors: Tom Millar & Philip
Dufton

Contact:     For more details contact Tom Millar  - email: 
tom.millarqub.ac.uk

Application Process: Please fill out an application form on-line 
here.



7. Postdoctoral Researcher - Radio Emission of Ultra Cool Dwarfs, Centre
for Astronomy, National University of Ireland, Galway

Minimum qualifications include a Ph.D., or about to receive a Ph.D., in
astronomy or physics, and experience with radio and optical astronomical
observations, data reductions and computational modelling. Work will
commence on 1 July 2007, or as soon thereafter as possible. The initial
appointment is for two years, with renewal expected if progress is
satisfactory and funds continue to be available. The starting salary
will be at point 1 of the SFI Post- Doctorate Researcher Salary Scale.
   Please mail a short research statement, resume, list of
publications, and copies of two recent publications (pre-prints or
reprints) so that they arrive by 22 June 2007 to Dr. Aaron Golden,
Centre for Astronomy, I.T. Building, National University of Ireland,
Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway, Republic of Ireland
(aaron.goldennuigalway.ie).

  Clear skies,

Terry Moseley

Last Revised: 2007 13th June

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