From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: Meteor outburst, aurora, lectures, ISS, Scope for sale, more....

Date: 9 October 2012 00:12:40 BST

Hi all,

ˆà

1. DRACONID METEORS OUTBURST: (thanks to John Flannery & Ronan Newman for this)

Ronan Newman alerts that the Draconids meteor shower, peaking tonight, are in outburst. See http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.ie/2012/10/major-draconid-shower-outburst-underway.htmlˆàfor more details.ˆà Information on the shower itself can be found at http://earthsky.org/tonight/legendary-draconids-boom-or-bust . See also: http://www.spaceweather.com

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2. Aurora: has been reported from Mayo tonight so have look if you have a clear sky.ˆàThe auroral ovalˆàis down over almost the whole country right now at http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/Europe.htmlˆà --ˆàˆàAlso http://www.spaceweather.com

ˆàˆà (Totally cloudy in Newtownabbey at the moment!)

ˆàˆà

3.ˆàQUB/IAA PUBLIC LECTURE: The next in the QUBˆàMichael West Public Astronomy Lecture Series is entitled "The Sun", andˆàwill be on October 17.ˆàIt will be given by well known astronomer Dr Lucie Green (you probably saw her on Stargazing Live on BBC, and she has previously given a lecture to the IAA in Belfast). She is a recognised expert on the Sun, and her talk is sure to be fascinating.ˆàThese lectures are held in conjunction with the IAA, and form part of our regular fortnightly programme. However, due to the larger than usual numbers expected, it will be held in the Larmor Lecture Theatre, also in the Physics building, instead. Admission is free, but places must be pre-booked. see: http://tinyurl.com/MichaelWestLectureSeries2012

ˆà

4. "Meteorites Tamed" Lecture Series, Ulster Museum, by Dr Mike Simms
Mondays at 7.30pm, 22nd October òÀÓ 26th November 2012
Free. Booking for each lecture essential: Go to www.nmni.com, Telephone 028 9044 0000
(Lines open Tue òÀÓ Sun 10am òÀÓ 6pm), Email: ulstermuseumreceptionnmni.com
SYNOPSIS: Every year visitors from Outer Space arrive on Earth. These are meteorites, messengers from beyond our planet. This series of six lectures from Dr Mike Simms will explain what meteorites are, where they come from, how they get here, and what they can tell us about the far reaches and earliest history of our Solar System.ˆà

5. The International Space Station (ISS) will commence a series of evening passes on 11 / 12 October.ˆàSee www.heavens-above.com for details for your own location.

ˆà

6. ODYSSEUS SPACE CONTEST FOR EU SCHOOLS: (From Robert Hill): This is a nice challenge for schools in Ireland, North and south. See http://www.odysseus-contest.eu/

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7. RDS Lecture: UCD graduate Sandra Delamer will give a lecture on the JWST: 'How DiD We Get Here? Pointing the James Webb Space Telescope at the distant past', on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 at 6.00pm in the RDS Concert Hall.

The lecture is free of charge and all are welcome.ˆà Booking essential.

See http://www.rds.ie/cat_event_detail.jsp?itemID=1099908

ˆà

8. School of Theoretical Physics Statutory Public Lecture 2012 in association with the School of Cosmic Physics

ˆà

"Cosmic perspectives: from planets to the multiverse" by Professor Martin Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow, O.M., F.R.S.

Mon 19 Nov 6:30pm, Theatre L, Newman Building, Arts Block, UCD. Admission free.

ˆà

ˆà

9. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ˆà

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2213257/Really-REALLY-fast--Thats-quickly-universe-expanding-according-accurate-estimate-science.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2212853/One-small-step-rover-The-amazing-footprint-Mars-left-Curiosity.htmlˆà

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2213271/The-Martian-island-silver-stunning--complete-mountain-peaks-topped-carbon-dioxide-frost.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2149928/No-place-ET-hide-Plans-unveiled-powerful-telescope-human-history--3-000-radio-dishes-spread-South-Africa-Australia-New-Zealand.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2213494/The-colossal-radio-telescope-universe-alien-life.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/nightsky/9574311/The-night-sky-in-October-2012.html

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/Amazing-Meteor-Boomerangs-Around-Earth-172332451.htmlˆà(there are conflicting views on this, BTW)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2204913/Nasa-breakthrough-suggests-Star-Treks-warp-drives-possible--practical.html. The best way to think of this is to separate the 'doughnut' into two parts: The 'dough', of which there would never be enough, and the 'nut' who might try it.

ˆà

10.ˆà TELESCOPE FOR SALE:

Tele Vue NP101 4 Element Apo Refractor; Gibraltar Mount; Sky Tour Computer; Encoder Kit; Eyepiece Caddy Set; Sky Tour Caddy Plate; Starbeam Finder; 2" Star Diagonal; Telescope Case. All in pristine condition.ˆà3,500 Euro O.N.O.,ˆàMobile 00353ˆà(0) 86 1976673. Brian Noonan.

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11. Skymaps:ˆàYou canˆàdownload currentˆàSkyMaps here: www.skymaps.com

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12. TWITTER:ˆàthe IAAˆànow has a twitter account:ˆà IaaAstro

13. BBC THINGS TO DO WEBSITE: See theˆàforthcoming IAA events on ˆà

http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo

ˆà

14. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is now even easier: This link downloads a Word document to join the IAA. http://irishastro.org.uk/iaamembership.doc. If you are a UK taxpayer, please tick the 'gift-aid' box, as that enables us to reclaim the standard rate of tax on your subscription, at no cost to you.ˆà See also www.irishastro.org.ˆà

ˆàˆà

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley