From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: Free lecture, Rosetta, IAA Solar day, IAA @ Newgrange, Archaeo-ast trip, more

Date: 13 August 2014 01:08:18 BST

Hi all,

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1.ˆàˆàFree Public Lecture in TCD, 14 August: Prof Paul Roche

Attendance is free, butˆàyou must register to attend.

ASGIˆàis pleased to announce that Professor Paul Roche (University of South Wales) will give a public lecture at 7.30pm onˆàThursday August 14th in the Joly Lecture Theatre in the Hamilton Building of Trinity College Dublin: "Seeing stars: Science and Education with big telescopes"

ˆàˆàˆà Prof. Paul Roche has spent over 20 years researching massive stars, neutron stars and black holes, as well as working in astronomy education, outreach and science communication. He has presented a number of TV programs including BBC2's 'Final Frontier' and 'All Night Star Party'. Professor Roche is the Director of the Faulkes Telescope Project that provides school access to astronomical telescopes. He is space ambassador for Wales and the 'UK National Schools' Astronomer. His talk will address discoveries at the European Southern Observatory (ESO).

ˆà The event is free and open to the public and doors open at 7:00 pm

ˆàThe venue has limited seating so if you are planning to attend the public lecture we ask you to please register online using the followingˆàform: http://inam2014.com/public-lecture/ˆà

ˆà

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2. ˆàROSETTAˆàNOWˆàAT Comet C-G.ˆàThe Rosetta spacecraft has now rendezvousedˆàwithˆàComet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. After studying the 'binary' surface in more detail, it will land a probe on the surface. Watch out for some amazing photos.ˆà

ˆà For the latest up-to-date news as it is released, see http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/ˆà

ˆàˆàSeeˆàalso recent stories:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/07/rosetta-comet-pictures_n_5657299.htmlˆàIt's the headline writer who's insane, not the pics!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2721752/The-face-Rosettas-comet-Eerily-human-features-spotted-67P-icy-rock-hurtles-deep-space.htmlˆàThey call that a face?

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3. IAA Solar Day, WWT, Castle Espie. We will be holding another one of these very popular events on Sunday afternoon, 17 August, from 2.00 to 5.00.ˆàWe will have solar observing (if clear), telescope displays, exhibition, meteorites, and of course the ever-popular starshows in the mobile stardome, courtesy of Armagh Planetarium. Book your attendance at the starshows at the WWT website.

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4.ˆàSpecial IAA Event at Newgrange for Heritage Week, 31 August: The IAA is privileged to have been invited to run a unique observing event at Newgrange World Heritage Site to mark the end of Heritage Week in Ireland. We will have telescopes at the actual Newgrange Mound to observe the sky, which as far as is known has never been done before. In the event of bad weather, visitors will be given a special tour inside the Newgrange Mound. Details and booking must be made direct with Bru Na Boinne, at http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/visitor-information/ˆà See also http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageSites/Newgrange/

ˆàMore details on times, access etc, in next bulletin.

ˆà

5. ASTROARCHAEOLOGY TRIP TO NEWGRANGE and KNOWTH: Following the success of last years' trip,ˆàStranmillis UniversityˆàCollege Institute of LifeLong Learning haveˆàasked to run another one, on 11 October, but this time including a visit to the Knowth Tomb as well. It has the largest collection of Megalithic art anywhere in Europe in one single site, some of which is reckoned to be astronomical. Booking for thus very popular, non-technical trip, is via the Stranmillis website www.stran.ac.uk, or go direct to http://www.stran.ac.uk/media/media,456138,en.pdfˆàand scroll down to p. 23, or pick up a brochure from Reception.

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6. The Skelligs Star Party 2014, Taking place from Skelligs Lodge, Ballinskelligs Co Kerry on Aug 22nd to Aug 24th. Chosen as it is within the Kerry Dark Sky site. ˆàMeeting Friday 22nd Aug at Skelligs Lodge from 7pm.òÀæ Here is the link to Skellig Lodge: http://www.skelliglodge.com/

We will have a few speakers and workshops on Saturday 23rd Aug from 1pm.òÀæ

Stephen Kershaw of Ktec Telescopes plus Carl O'Beirnes of Scopes and Space

Will be bringing a few astronomy goodies for us all to drool over.

I have set up a few events pages here are the links: https://www.facebook.com/events/892995947383034/?fref=ts

http://kerrydarksky.com/ballinskelligs.htm

Kind Regards, Roy Stewart

ˆà

7. EXCLUSIVE: Visit to Andor Technology Camera Facility, 13 September: The IAA has arranged a special visit to the Andor Technology Camera manufacturing facility in Belfast. As many of you will know, Andor make some of the best - inˆàmany cases the best - high-end digital cameras in the world. They are used in every scientific application imaginable, including of course astronomy, and they can be found in many of the world's top observatories, and in spacecraft. They are also moving into the range of amateur astronomers, having recently acquired Apogee Instruments. Thanks to Dr Andy McCrea we have arranged a free special visit for IAA members, and friends, to this facility, on Saturday 13 September.

Provisional Programme:

1200 Meet in Andor Reception

Introductory welcome and short talk

Lunch (Free, provided by Andor) in their canteen

Tour of the Clean Room and factory assembly floor

Talks on the range of cameras and their applications

Talk on solar astronomy imaging using Andor camerasˆàby Prof Mihalis Mathioudakis of the Astrophysics Research Centre inˆàQUBˆà(link from QUB/ Professor Smart)

Q&A Discussion

Finish - say 1530

ˆà This is an exceptional opportunity to see and learn all about the latest developments and future plans for top class astronomical imaging equipment. Andor will also be interested in feedback from expert amateur users of digital imagers, so this is your opportunity to let them know what YOU would like to see available.

ˆàˆà Spaces are limited, so you must register your intention to attend. Please send your name and contact details to Dr Andy McCrea (of North Down Telescopes: email s.mccrea980btinternet.com) to ensure that you get a place, and mark your diaries now!

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8. IAA ASTRONOMY VISITS - PLANS: As part of our 40th Anniversary celebrations, we are planning at least one astronomical trip to either GB or Paris. This is a preliminary enquiry to assess where the main interest would be. The options are broadly as follows: They would be in the form of a long weekend trip (Friday - Sunday, orˆàSaturday to a BH Monday, or possible Friday to Monday)

1. GB Trip A: Visit to Jodrell Bank, The National Space Centre at Leicester, and possibly either the Spaceguard Centre in Wales or the astronomy centre at Cambridge.

2. GB Trip B: Visit to the historicˆàGreenwich Observatory, Science Centre and Planetarium in London + a visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory site and Science Centre at Herstmonceux in Sussex,ˆà+ a visit to the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester (headed by Dr John Mason)

3. Trip to Paris: Visit to Paris to see the historic and still functioningˆàParis Observatory (made famous by Flammarion & others), and the Meudon Observatoryˆànear Versailles, just outside Paris: this hosts the famous 33" 'Grand Lunette' Refractor, the 3rd largest refractor in the world, and the largest outside the USA.

ˆàˆà If you are interested in any of these trips, please let me know by return, indicatingˆàthem inˆàorder of preference.

ˆà

9. INTERNATIONAL METEOR CONFERENCE, 2014ˆà Thursday September 18 till Sunday 21 September 2014, Giron, France.ˆàGiron is a small village located in the south of the Jura Mountains close to Geneva. The region is easily reachable by air (Geneva or Lyon airport), by train (TGV high speed train from Paris and InterCity trains from Geneva railway station) and by car (highway A40 Lyon-Chamonix). Part of the attraction for this event is that a free visit to CERN is included in the price!ˆàSee http://www.imo.net/imc2014.

ˆàAfter 30 June you will not be able to book extra nights before or after the IMC via the LOC. After 30 June extra nights should be booked on your own behalf.

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10. NEXT YEAR'S STAR PARTIES:ˆàˆà

Galway Astrofest: Feb 21, 2015, Theme: "New Worlds - New Horizons" Excellent speaker line-up already!ˆà See http://galwayastronomyclub.ie/

ˆàCOSMOS: April 17th to 19th 2015, Shamrock Lodge Hotel, Athlone.

ˆà

11. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ˆà

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/12aug_marscomet/

https://www.ras.org.uk/news-and-press/2497-nasa-s-nustar-sees-rare-blurring-of-black-hole-light

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-28667892

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/11/china-moon-mission_n_5667471.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2721773/Massive-storms-erupting-Uranus-monstrous-jet-streams-huge-seen-Earth.htmlˆàPlease, no jokes about winds erupting from Uranus....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2721925/Blackouts-electrical-failure-travel-chaos-Electromagnetic-pulses-cost-trillions-affect-millions-scientist-warns.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2721202/Jaw-dropping-Photos-reveal-supermoon-outshining-Perseid-shower-fireball-champion-meteors-reaches-moon-Sunday-night.htmlˆàThis makes me think ofˆàan interesting question: do astronauts experience the Moon Illusion from space, i.e. does it look bigger when close to the horizon than when high up?

ˆàˆà And another - did the Apollo astronauts notice an 'Earth Illusion', i.e. did it appear larger when seen close to the lunar horizon than when high up? Does anyone know?

ˆàˆà http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2722747/WATCH-Amazing-footage-lets-ride-Nasas-space-saucer-zooms-180-000ft-Earth-FOUR-times-speed-sound.html

ˆàˆà http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140811125151.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

ˆàˆà http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140811124824.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ˆàˆàBut surely once the BH mass exceeded aboutˆà100 solar masses, it would not have been 'thrown around by other stars'; instead they would have been flung around by it, and the more massive it got, the less it would have moved around.

ˆàˆà http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140811151125.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

ˆàˆà http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140811170243.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

ˆàˆà http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28322095

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12. TWITTER:ˆàFollow theˆàIAAˆàon Twitter: The account is now operational again as before: IaaAstro.

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13. 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

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Finally,ˆàin tribute to the late great John Dobson, a quote from him which is typical of the man, and very appropriate:ˆà "If you figure something out for yourself, it doesn't make no never-mind who figured it out first, it's yours."

ˆà

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

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