From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: 2 Astro Events, Lectures, Book Launches, Venus, ISS, Geminids, Xmas Star, S-L...

Date: 7 December 2013 01:54:11 GMT

Hi all,

ˆà

1. Supper with the Stars at Oxford Island 7 December: The IAA will be partnering the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre (LNDC)ˆàat Oxford Island, near Lurgan, to offer another one of their very successful "Supper With The Stars" evenings.

ALL IAA MEMBERS with portable telescopes are invited to bring them along for this event.

ˆàˆàˆà We'll have the usual formula: telescopes for observing if clear, and on display if cloudy. There will be a lovely crescent Moon sinking in the West (so don't be late or you'll miss it), and brilliant Jupiter with its four giant Galilean Moons rising in the East in the mid-evening.

ˆàˆàˆà As a bonus, if its clear we'll see both a transit and shadow transit of Io, the innermost Moon.

ˆàAs well, as that, there will be superb views of the Pleiades or Seven Sisters, plus glorious Orion, and lots lots more (weather permitting).ˆà

ˆàˆàˆà And we'll also have shows in the Stardome, on loan once again from Armagh Planetarium,ˆàthanks to Director Tom Mason. Plus meteorites on display, a chance to meet prospectiveˆà'Ulsternaut' Derek Heatly, andˆàlots of other attractions.ˆà

ˆà And if you, or someone you know, has a telescope that they're having trouble using, bring it along & we'll do what we can to help.

ˆàˆà The optional meal starts at 6.30, and the rest of the event at 7.15.

ˆàˆà Tickets must be booked in advance direct with LNDC. www.oxfordisland.com, E: oxford.islandcraigavon.gov.uk, Tel: (028) 3832 2205.ˆà

ˆà

2. IAA at Silent Valley, Mourne Mountains, 8 December, 6.30 pm: Then we're off to a new location: the dark and unpolluted skies on the South side of the Mourne Mountains for an evening ofˆàobserving (if clear), and talks and other activities.

ˆàˆà The treatsˆàon offer there will include VERY dark skies, and an even more spectacular Moon, although it won't be possible to have the Stardome, or Derek Heatly. Instead, there will be illustrated talks on the night sky, what you can see, and what it's all about, and all the other fascinating items mentioned in item 1, except that instead of a transit of Io, we will see it reappear from occultation behind Jupiter.

ˆà This event will start at 6.30 p.m.

ALL IAA MEMBERS with portable telescopes are invited to bring them along for this event.ˆà Free light refreshments will be available for all IAA members who bring telescopes or areˆàspeaking at this event: if you will be bringing a telescope, let me know so we can advise them of numbers.

ˆà

3. IAA LECTURE,ˆà11 December.ˆàSupernovae And The HST:ˆàBy Dr Justyn Maund,ˆàQUB.ˆà

ˆàˆà Supernovae are just aboutˆàthe biggest explosions in the universe, and certainly the biggest that we are ever likely to see. Not only that, but they create all the elements above iron in the periodic table, many of which, such as nickel, zinc, selenium, and iodine,ˆàare essential for humanˆàlife. They are also the key element in the 'distance ladder' used in large scale astrophysics and cosmology, as they are used to measure theˆàdistance to distant galaxies and galaxy clusters.

ˆàˆà And it's from studying distant supernovae that scientists now believe that the expansion of the universe is speeding up, leading to the theory of 'dark energy'. In other words, it's hard to think of any other single phenomena that's more important in modern astrophysics and cosmology.

ˆàˆà And of course it's the amazing power of theˆàHSTˆàwhich gives us the data we need on the most distant of these events. So this lecture will be a fascinating account of one of the cutting edge areas of modern astronomy.

ˆàˆàˆàˆàˆàThe lectureˆàis free and open to all, including free refreshments.ˆàVenue: the Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast, at 7.30 p.m.ˆà

ˆàˆà Thanks to the Astrophysics Research Centre, QUB, for help in hosting these lectures.

ˆà

4. ECLIPSE BOOK LAUNCH: IAA Member Dr Kate Russo has just had her second eclipse book published! Sheˆàposted this (I have edited it a bit for space):ˆà

ˆàˆà "I have put together a souvenir book about the 2012 TSE from my home region of North Queensland. ˆàThis time, I used a blend of fantastic images of the eclipse and the region as well as a bit of storytelling from locals and visitors from all across the region. I'm delighted to announce that the book,ˆàTOTALITY: ˆàThe Total Solar Eclipse of 2012 in Far North Queenslandˆàis now out, and ready to order. ˆàThe book is available within Australia for $49 (including postage). ˆàThe ebook version can be downloaded for a reduced price for November only $8, after which the price increases to $18. ˆàInternational pricing, ordering and full book information can be found on my website link here:ˆàˆàˆàˆàˆàˆà

http://www.beingintheshadow.com/the-book-total-addiction/totality-2012/

ˆàˆà Check it out, and do feel free to give me any feedback. ˆàFeedback written on my website is especially appreciated. ˆà

ˆàˆà Thanks to all in this wonderful international community of like minded folk who contributed and shared their photos, and a special thank you to Michael Zeiler, and Terry Moseley. ˆàˆà

ˆàˆà And would you believe, I have book three now in progress: ˆàTransformed by the Shadow, which is the first time eclipse experience, written for eclipse virgins. ˆàThis will be next year's release.ˆàKate"

ˆà I can add the following totally unbiased comment - "It's a fabulous book - the pictures, often double page spreads, are amazing, and the first hand accounts really make the whole eclipse experience come alive. If you haven't already seen a TSE, you'll certainly want to do so after reading this!" TM.

ˆà

5.ˆàˆàVENUS: Visibleˆàin Evening Sky:ˆàVenus isˆànow at about its easiest to see from Ireland for this elongation.ˆà It's slowly getting higher in the evening twilight sky, but is gradually getting closer to the Sun. So it's a trade-off between altitude and its decreasing solarˆàelongation.ˆàLook low down in the bright SW evening twilight for a bright twinkling 'star'.

ˆà

6. Book Launch: Armagh Public Library, 7.30pm, 11 December: "A Mystic Dream of 4"

ˆàˆàˆà The Armagh Observatory and Armagh Public Library are co-hosting the launch of a new book "A Mystic Dream of 4" by Professor Iggy McGovern, in the Armagh Public Library, 43 Abbey Street, Armagh.

ProfˆàIggy McGovern is a poet and Emeritus Professor of Physics at Trinity College Dublin. ˆàHis previous publications include "The King of Suburbia" (Dedalus Press, 2005), and "Safe House" (Dedalus Press, 2010). ˆàHe also edited the anthology 2012 "Twenty Irish Poets Respond to Science in Twelve Lines" (Dedalus Press, 2012).

ˆàˆà "A Mystic Dream of 4" is a sonnet sequence based on the life and times of William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865), one of the foremost mathematicians of the nineteenth century and the inventor of Quaternions, a number system which extends the complex numbers. ˆàToday Hamilton's name is perpetuated in

the 'Hamilton' of Hamiltonian Dynamics and, in quantum mechanics, of the Schroedinger Equation. ˆàIggy McGovern's sonnet sequence spans the life and times of this remarkable Irishman, ranging from the aftermath of events at the end of the eighteenth century through the Great Famine and beyond. ˆàThe

sequence consists of 64 sonnets, mainly in the voices of relatives, colleagues and friends of Hamilton, who tell the story of Hamilton's life and reflect the mores of the times.

ˆàˆà For further information, please contact the Armagh Public Library by E-mail

atˆàadminarmaghpubliclibrary.co.ukˆàor by telephone at 028-3752-3142.

ˆà

ˆà

7. ISS Evening Passes. The International Space Stationˆàwill commenceˆàa newˆàseries of evening passes over Ireland on Dec 11: Details on www.heavens-above.com

ˆà

8. GEMINIDS: The Geminids, the year's richest annual meteor shower, will peak onˆàDec 13-14, but starts to become active about 8-9 Dec. Oddly, the orbit of the meteors was found to coincide with that of asteroid 3200 Phaethon, rather than a comet as in the case of other meteor showers. Now the mystery unfolds a bit more: "Asteroid comet" 3200 Phaethon has sprouted a tail, confirming that the mysterious object is indeedˆàthe source of the annual Geminid meteor shower.ˆàSee: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/27nov_rockcomet/ and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I80ZXrXucI. More details on the shower next time.

ˆà

ˆà

9.ˆàˆàMYSTERY OF THE CHRISTMAS STAR, Armagh Planetarium: Monday òÀÓ Friday at 2pm, Saturday at 12noon, 2pm and 4pm

Evening shows every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3-19 December at 7:30pm.ˆàFor more information on show times please visit the website at www.armaghplanet.com. Tel - 028 3752 3689

ˆà

10. STARGAZING LIVEˆàreturns on 7 - 9 January 2014, at Cultra. The IAA has once again been asked to be principal partner with the BBC for this prestigious event. The main local event will be at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra.ˆàMark your diaries now.ˆàThe IAAˆàhas nowˆàformally presentedˆàits programme for the events to the BBC, and we are finalising arrangements with them.

ˆà

11. TYRONE ASTRONOMY EVENT, Stewartstown,ˆà10 January.ˆà"Journey through Space"ˆàwill be held in St Patrick's Church,ˆàBallyclog, 125 Coagh Road, Stewartstown, Co Tyrone. Dr Patrick Harkness is an IAA memberˆàwho lecturers in Space Systems at the Univ. of Glasgow.ˆàThe central theme of his talk is "Gravity" and it will be accessible rocket science. We are trying to stimulate interest in science and technology in the local community. Details and bookingˆàat: <ballyclog.spacegmail.com>

ˆà

12. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ˆà

http://www.space.com/23818-blue-origin-rocket-engine-test-video.html?cmpid=556066

http://www.space.com/23816-axe-apollo-space-academy-astronaut-training.html?cmpid=556066

http://www.space.com/23819-x37b-space-plane-one-year-orbit.html?cmpid=556066

http://www.space.com/18790-habitable-exoplanets-catalog-photos.html

http://www.space.com/23760-nasa-kepler-spacecraft-k2-planets-mission.html

http://www.space.com/23840-alien-life-search-technology-congress.html?cmpid=556067

http://www.space.com/23850-giant-sun-spirals-plasma-cells.html?cmpid=556067

http://www.space.com/23848-new-sunspot-spits-geysers-of-fire-video.html?cmpid=556067

http://www.space.com/79-distances-driven-on-other-worlds.htmlˆàOpportunity may soon break the record.

http://www.space.com/23855-how-china-change3-moon-rover-works-infographic.html?cmpid=556067

http://www.space.com/23851-mars-rover-curiosity-laser-100000th-shot.html?cmpid=556067

http://spaceflightnow.com/china/change3/131201launch/

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1312/02cosmicvision/

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/007/131203launch/

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24635-cosmic-neutrino-muppets-open-unique-window-on-universe.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24668-mathematical-crimefighter-helps-hunt-for-alien-worlds.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24678?cmpid=NLC%7CNSNS%7C2013-1205-GLOBAL&utm_medium=NLC&utm_source=NSNS&

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24696-alienhunting-equation-revamped-for-mining-asteroids.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24711-astrophile-dancing-black-holes-near-their-grand-finale.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21929323.200-double-blasts-may-have-birthed-exotic-quark-stars.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22029460.700?cmpid=NLC%7CNSNS%7C2013-1205-GLOBAL&utm_medium=NLC&utm_source=NSNS&

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2518665/Does-China-want-turn-moon-DEATH-STAR.html?ico=sciencetech^headlinesˆà

This is rubbish - missiles would take days to make the journey from Moon to Earth, giving plenty of time to intercept them.

ˆàˆà And a laser would be very dispersed andˆàdissipated by the time it travelled that distance. Also,ˆàa laserˆàcould only be used to hit aˆàtarget whileˆàthe Moonˆàwas fairly high above the horizon as seen from the target, which would only happen for betweenˆà2 and 8 hours per day, depending on the latitude of the target and the declination of the Moon.

ˆàˆà In fact for some of the American missile & aircraftˆàbases in the Arctic region, there are times when the Moon never rises above the horizon at all for several days at a time. And then there's the problem of cloud....

ˆàˆà Whoever wrote this has been reading too much SF.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2518026/Is-evidence-life-Earth-Hubble-telescope-discovers-water-giant-planets-trillions-miles-away.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2518030/From-sunspots-solar-eruptions-Amateur-astronomer-captures-incredible-images-sun-using-basic-camera-equipment.htmlˆàFantastic quality images!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2518673/Saturns-storm-action-Scientists-create-incredible-animations-hexagonal-tempest-using-photos-taken-Cassini-probe.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/03/comet-ison-video-last-moments_n_4376025.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2519328/The-secret-structure-sun-Nasa-maps-enormous-swirling-plasma-flows-reveal-inner-workings-star.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2519418/The-planet-shouldnt-exist-Bizarre-world-orbiting-star-staggering-distance-leaves-astronomers-baffled.htmlˆàand

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/06/impossible-planet_n_4397167.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/05/space-station-stuck-chris-hadfield_n_4389898.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+TechˆàThey should each carry a little battery operated fan for this eventuality.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/06/comet-ison-video-remains_n_4398156.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech

ˆà

ˆà

13. Advance Notice: Trip to Newgrange: Mar 29, 2014: 09.30 òÀÓ 17.00: I will be leading an astronomy /archaeoastronomy tripˆàto Newgrange, as part of the StranmillisˆàAdult Learning programme. A day long coach trip, with full commentary.ˆàMore details later, but mark the date now if you are interested. Booking is through Stranmillis College.

ˆà

14. Advance Notice: STFC Roadshow at QUB, 19 - 25 May. The roadshow, entitled "Seeing the Universe in all its light" features stunning science images and interactive exhibits, including:

• A replica model of English astronomer Thomas Harriot's first telescope
• A 1:4 scale model of ESOòÀÙs Very Large Telescope (VLT)
• A 1:12 scale model of an Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) antenna
• A 1:20 scale model of theˆàJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
• A 1:10 scale model of Herschel Space Observatory
• 'Hands-on' exhibits including 'seeing the invisible', 'adaptive optics' and 'micro autonomous robots'
• An interactive control desk, providing details on the full spectra of wavelengths used by astronomers
• Historical science papers from the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) & the Thomas Harriot trust
• An 8 metre interactiveˆàwall featuring an òÀØastronomical wow factsòÀÙ screen, interactive touchscreen and a large 3D screen.
• Interactive apps, websites and resources
• Non-slip floormats of telescopes from around the world

The Science & Technology Facilities Council'sˆàlatest touring exhibition is encouraging everyone to see the Universe in all its light òÀÓ showcasing the Big Telescopes family in all their glory and focusing on both the UKòÀÙs scientific expertise and the economic benefits that astronomy can deliver.

ˆàˆà The roadshow features stunning science images alongside a range of interactive exhibits. Visitors will be able to experience a replica of English astronomer Thomas Harriot's first telescope, as well as a range of historical scientific papers from the Royal Astronomy Society and the Thomas Harriot Trust.

ˆàˆà There will be young scientists on hand from UK university astronomy departments to enthuse about the work they do and answer questions on any aspect of astronomy. They'll be able to guide visitors around scale models of the Big Telescopes òÀÓ ESOòÀÙs Very Large Telescope, the Atacama Large Millimetre Array, the Herschel Space Observatory and the forthcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

ˆàˆà Hands-on exhibits aim to explain the importance of building telescopes across the whole range of wavelengths, so that we really can see the Universe in all its light. An interactive control desk provides details on the full spectra of wavelengths used by astronomers, and visitors will be able to learn more about seeing the invisible, micro autonomous robots and the adaptive optics that are essential for telescopes but are also proving invaluable in more down-to-earth applications such as cancer screening.

ˆàˆàCheck the `Seeing the Universe in All its LightòÀÙ webpage at:www.stfc.ac.uk/2740ˆà

ˆà

15. TWITTER:ˆàFollow theˆàIAAˆàon Twitter:ˆà IaaAstro

ˆàˆà

16. NEW LINK! JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is easy: This link downloads a Word document to join the IAA. http://documents.irishastro.org.uk/iaamembership.doc

ˆàˆà ˆàIf 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.ˆàYou can also make aˆàdonation via Paypal if you wish: just click on the 'Donate' button.ˆàˆàSee also www.irishastro.org.ˆà

ˆàˆà

Clear skies,

Terry Moseley

mob: (0044) (0) 7979 300842

I'm now back on Twitter (occasionally - I don't have enough time!), after some temporary hiccups: terrymoseley2

ˆà