From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: Major Lecture News! Galway talk, Solstice @ NIEAˆà (+ brief recap on other items)

Date: 9 December 2013 17:19:31 GMT

Hi all,

ˆà

1. IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION: Famous TVˆàSpace Expertˆàto lecture in Belfast on Wednesday 11 December.

ˆà

Leo Enright: "Making History:ˆàa guide to the next four days,ˆàas China lands on the Moon".ˆà

ˆà

China has announced major plans for a lunar base and further exploration of the Moon. Right now,ˆàtheir advanced LunarˆàRover is on its way there, due to land on Saturday.

ˆà

TheˆàIrish Astronomical Association is delighted to announced that renowned space expert, writer and broadcaster, Leo Enright, will give aˆàspecial publicˆàlecture in Queen's University on Wednesday 11 December.ˆà

ˆà

Leo is well known as an expert on all matters relating to space,ˆàwith extensive contacts will all the big national space agencies, and is equally well-known for his inimitable lecturing style.

ˆà

Leo Enright will take us step by step through the historic landing of China's moon rover (Yutu, or Jade Rabbit)ˆà- the first soft-landing on the Moon in almost 40 years. ˆàHe will reveal the likely landing site and take us minute-by-minute through the landing sequence,ˆàwhich is to culminate in a touchdown at 15:35 on Saturday next,ˆàDecember 14th.

This lecture will be the most comprehensive briefing yet offered to a public audience anywhere. The lecture isˆàin theˆàBellˆàLecture Theatre, Physics Building, Queen's University, Belfast. ADMISSION IS FREE, but this talk is sure to be very popular, so come early. Everyone is welcome!

ˆà

Dateˆàand time: Wed 11 December, 7.30 p.m.

Venue: Bell Lecture Theatre, Physics Building, QUB

Admission: Free, including light refreshments afterwards

ˆà

ˆàLeo Enright has been writing, lecturing and broadcasting about space exploration for almost 5 decades. He is a regular contributor to RTE, BBC, UTV, and all the major and local radio stations throughout the island of Ireland, and further afield. He is a member of the Royal Irish Academy.

(This lecture replaces the one on the IAA programme, as Dr Maund has had to cancel at the last minute.)

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

ˆà

2.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

3. GEOMAGNETIC STORM:ˆà A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 7th, sparking an unexpected geomagnetic storm and Northern Lights over numerous US states.ˆà NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of additional storms on Dec. 8th and 9th.ˆà Auroras alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

ˆà

4.ˆàECLIPSE BOOK LAUNCH: IAA Member Dr Kate Russo has just had her second eclipse book published! See: http://www.beingintheshadow.com/the-book-total-addiction/totality-2012/

ˆà

5. 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.

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

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

ˆà

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

ˆà

7. 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

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

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

9. Special Christmas Talk on Comets hosted by the Galway Astronomy Club and NUIG Astronomy Society,ˆà17 th of December.ˆàˆà Dr Jacqueline Keaneˆàwill giveˆàa special Christmas talk entitled "2013: The Year of the Long-haired Stars". The talk will take place in IT 250, IT Building, NUI Galway at 7.30pm.

ˆàˆà In ancient times, "long-haired stars" inspired terror because of their sudden appearance, potentially great brightness, and large tails. Comets, long considered harbingers of doom, have been blamed for some of history's darkest times. About once a decade, a truly spectacular comet is visible even through the bright city lights. In 2013, it was predicted that we would see two "great" comets of the century, L4-PANSTARRS and ISON. Though these two comets did not disappoint scientists, they were not as bright as first predicted and were not visible to the general public. But what makes a comet "great" anyway? Come along and find out. This public talk will discuss what comets are and how comets help us understand the formation of the Solar System. A summary of the exciting world-wide Comet ISON observing campaign will be presented, with a special focus on the University of Hawaii campaign using numerous 10-meter telescopes at 14000 feet on the summit of Mauna Kea. The prospects of viewing comets in 2014 will also be discussed.

ˆàˆà Jacqueline Keane is an assistant astronomer at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy. After studying for a B.Sc. in Physics and a Masters in Astronomy at the NUIG, Jacqueline earned a PhD in Astrophysics at Groningen University (the Netherlands) working with Infrared Space Observatory observations of interstellar ice features and their formation via grain-surface reactions. After her PhD, Jacqueline moved to California to work at the NASA Ames Research Center where her work concentrated on understanding the composition of cold material in star-forming molecular clouds using the Spitzer space-based telescope. Jacqueline currently specialises in ground-based observations of comets and how they can be used to understand the conditions in the early Solar System.

ˆà

10. NIEA SOLSTICE EVENT: The Northern Ireland Environment Agency will hold this year's traditional Winter Solstice Event on Fri 20 December, from 1.00 - 2.00 p.m., at Waterman house, 5b - 33 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LA.

A talk entitled "Marking Time Through The Millennia" will be givenˆàby Lynne Williams and Boyd Rankin of Irish Arms. This illustrated talk will look at how astronomical events such as solstices and equinoxes were a vital part of the agricultural year. Were stone circles and alignments built as calendars as well as ritual places?

Admission Free, including Seasonal refreshments.

ˆà

11. 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

12. 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

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.ˆàDemand for this is already high, so book now if you are interested. There is a maximum number allowed on the trip, due to space restrictions within the Newgrange Mound. Booking is through Stranmillis College.

ˆà

14. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ˆà

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

A possible explanation that occurs to me - two young/proto stars passed so close to each other when their protoplanetary discs were still forming that the discs interacted, causing a large accumulation of matter in the outer part of the more massiveˆàdisc. When the other less massive star moved on out of range, the large clump left behind formed this planet.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2519361/Nasa-begins-search-Ison-fragments-close-encounter-sun.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2520562/Delight-Northumberland-International-Dark-Sky-Park-Europes-biggest.htmlˆà(it's time we had at least one of these here, both North and South!)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2520656/Did-life-begin-underground-Microbes-MILES-surface-similar-lived-3-5-billion-years-ago.html?ico=sciencetech^headlines

ˆà

15. 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. More details later, but mark your diaries now.

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

ˆà

16. TWITTER:ˆàFollow theˆàIAAˆàon Twitter:ˆà IaaAstro

ˆàˆà

17. 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