From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: STFC, CAC, ISS, New Meteors, NLCs, Free Telescope, See meteors in realtime, more

Date: 30 May 2014 18:44:16 BST

Hi all,

ƒŠƒŠƒŠ

1.ƒŠ STFC Roadshow at QUB, 17 - 24 May, This was a great success, particularly on the last day. Thanks to Prof Alan Fitzsimmons at QUB for inviting the IAA to have a stand at the exhibition, which also attracted a lot of interest, including Tony Kempston's Virtual Reality Universe headset. He even made a fan out of Prof Stephen Smart, the head of the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC).ƒŠThe event was presented jointly by the STFC and the ARC atƒŠQUB

ƒŠƒŠ Thanks to all the IAA members who helped to 'man' the IAA stand there.

ƒŠƒŠƒŠThe exhibition then moved to Armagh Planetarium for the next week.

ƒŠ

2. CAC Visit to Armagh and Belfast:

ƒŠƒŠ The Cork Astronomy Club brought a group of 28 for a weekend visit to Armagh Observatory andƒŠPlanetarium, and then on to Belfast where they visited the exhibition. It was great to see so many visiting 'Up North'. SomeƒŠIAA members joined them for a dinner in Belfast on Saturday evening.ƒŠThanks to Prof Mark Bailey & Dr Tom Mason for the excellent reception & visits at Armagh.

ƒŠ

3. ISS Returns. TheƒŠISSƒŠhas started another series of morning passes over Ireland. This series will eventually blend seamlessly into a series of evening passes in June, because of the very short summer nights, and a series of through-the-night passes will then continue until 16 June.ƒŠSee www.heavens-above.com for details for your location.

ƒŠ

4. New 'Camelopardalid'ƒŠMeteor Shower, May 23-24 - a reasonable display in USA

TheƒŠnew meteor showerƒŠwhich was predicted forƒŠthe early morning of 24 May did indeed appear, but with only modest rates of around 10 per hour, as seen from the USA. See http://www.space.com/26006-meteor-shower-photos-may-camelopardalids-comet.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠand http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638824/First-Camelopardalids-meteor-shower-lights-skies-U-S.htmlƒŠ

ƒŠƒŠƒŠƒŠ

5. Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs). We areƒŠnow enteringƒŠthe season of visibility for these ethereal high altitude clouds, visible when the sky is nearly totally dark, as they lie well above the height of ordinary clouds. They are thought to be connected with high altitude fine debris from meteors which have burned up high in our atmosphere. Look low in the Northern sky near local midnight

ƒŠ

6. Telescope available for taking away: The Irish Astronomical Association has a 12" Cassegrain optical tube assembly which was donated to us by QUB and was originally housed at theirƒŠDub Lane Observatory for a number of years. We are offering this telescope tube assembly ***FREE*** to anyone with the necessary skills to get it into operation again. What is being offered here is the basic tube assembly comprising of the main mirror cell with mirror, the tube with secondary holder and secondary mirror installed. It will require a complete refurbishment including re-aluminising and fabrication of a rear cell to house a new focuser. Tube rings, dovetail and a very substantial mount will also be required. I cannot confirm the quality of the mirror surface after a long period of neglect, but the original quality of manufacture would be of "research quality" premium grade etc **.

ƒŠƒŠ This opportunity is being offered to IAA members first. If there is no interest here, I will post an 'ad' on the IFAS forum and then onto UK Astro-Buy-Sell. Although we are offering this tube assembly free, could I suggest a very small voluntary donation to the IAA equipment fund.

ƒŠƒŠ Genuine enquiries only, collection only. Email me on david.stewart22ntlworld.comƒŠor phone on 07808736963 for more info and pics.

David Stewart.

** As I used that telescope on numerous occasions in the late Sixties & early Seventies, I can confirm that the original optical quality was indeed very good. T.M.

ƒŠ

7. Watch meteors & meteoroids impact Earth in real time: This is really fascinating. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2634962/Watch-5-000-meteoroids-bombard-Earth-day-REAL-TIME-Map-plots-comet-debris-burning-heads.html. Look out for some well-known constellations round the edges of the charts to get your bearings. It's in real time, so the position of the Moon will move noticeably from night to night.

ƒŠ

8. See where all the space probes are now: This is really good: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2633796/From-sun-edge-interstellar-space-See-location-active-spacecraft-solar-fantastic-graphica.htmlƒŠBut it doesn't show the spacecraft on the surface of the Moon, Mars etc

ƒŠ

9. BCO, Cork:ƒŠEvents:

Junior Space Camp on Sun 1ƒŠJune @ 12 is all about COMETS!

Junior Space Camp is our space-tastic science workshop for 5-7 year olds with an intergalactic twist!ƒŠ

Space Adventurers pay âÂ?10, Parents have fun for FREE!ƒŠ More details of this and other eventsƒŠon www.bco.ie

ƒŠ

10: IAA Solar Day, WWT, Castle Espie. We will be holding another one of these very popular events on Sunday afternoon, 17 August. More details later.

ƒŠ

11. SOLARFEST, DUNSINK Observatory:

Solarfest 2014 is now confirmed for Saturday 21st June. Further details will be posted here in due course:

http://www.irishastronomy.org/index.php/kunena?view=topic&catid=11&id=99787

ƒŠ

12. 30 June âÀÓ 4 July: European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS), Geneva, Switzerland. The annual European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) conference will take place in Geneva from 30 June to 4 July. Bringing together astronomers and space scientists from across Europe, EWASS sessions cover topics from star formation in galaxies to the origin of cosmic dust and astronomy using the SKA and ALMA observatories. See http://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2014/ƒŠContact:ƒŠConference Secretariat, ewass2014ch.kuoni.com

ƒŠ

13. INTERNATIONAL METEOR CONFERENCE, 2014ƒŠ Thursday September 18 till Sunday 21 September 2014, Giron, France.ƒŠGiron 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!ƒŠSee http://www.imo.net/imc2014.

ƒŠ

14. NEXT YEAR'S STAR PARTIES:ƒŠƒŠ

Galway Astrofest: Feb 21, 2015

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

ƒŠ

15. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ƒŠ

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/27/alien-bowl-mars_n_5396190.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+TechƒŠAnd if you look carefully in the bigger picture, you can see a spoon and a milk jug too. Not to mention that I'm sure I can see the back end of a cow (for the milk of course) jutting out from behind a rock in the distance. Can anyone find the remains of a cereal packet? Corny Flakes, I suppose! - and

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/20/mars-alien-skull_n_5356198.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopularƒŠYou couldn't make it up!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/27/cnn-asteroid-hoax_n_5397656.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+Tech

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2639614/All-aboard-vomit-comet-Swiss-company-launch-ZeroG-experience-2015-rival-Bransons-Virgin-Galactic.htmlƒŠƒŠ The second para in the info box is totally wrong - quote: "WHAT ARE ZERO GRAVITY FLIGHTS?ƒŠ Zero gravity results in a sense of weightlessness, allowing bodies and materials to move completely freely. It can be achieved by going into deep space, far from any gravitational body such as planets and stars.ƒŠ"

ƒŠƒŠ Of course, it's not distance from any "gravitational body" which causes weightlessness, it's being in 'free-fall' relative to it. You could experience weightlessness in orbit a few km above a massive neutron star because you would be in free-fall around it, and there's no atmosphere there to slow you down!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/21/nasa-archaeology-anthropology-interstellar-communications_n_5362813.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopularƒŠ This again is a headline which is aƒŠgross distortion of what's actually written in the book. And I repeat, if an advanced alien civilisation was here in prehistoric times, and the best they could do to leave a sign of their visit was to roughlyƒŠcarve some simple geometric shapes into rocks, they get 0.1 out of 10 for effort!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640019/Masterpieces-moon-Nasa-reveals-five-best-pictures-lunar-surface-asks-public-pick-favourite.htmlƒŠThe photo of 'Tycho Crater' in fact shows only the central peak. Dramatic, nonetheless.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/27/us-congress-aliens_n_5395759.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+Tech

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640497/The-Google-Maps-SPACE-Skywatch-app-lets-witness-supernovas-comets-real-time.html

http://www.space.com/25999-alien-life-search-tools-luck.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640529/Space-isnt-lonely-anymore-Leeds-company-designs-astronaut-suit-gives-hugs-friends-family-Earth.html

http://www.space.com/25985-restoring-sciences-place-in-society-will-help-us-resolve-the-big-debates.html?cmpid=557593

http://www.space.com/26000-alien-life-prediction-congress-hearing.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠƒŠ

http://www.space.com/26008-best-space-photos-of-the-week-may-25-2014.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠ

http://www.space.com/13809-photos-space-holidays-astronauts-christmas.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642978/Could-space-sandals-save-astronauts-skeletons-ForceShoe-sent-ISS-monitor-microgravity-damages-human-body.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2643793/First-contact-zombie-spacecraft-Amateur-astronomers-successfully-revive-36-year-old-probe-passes-Earth.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2643186/Elon-Musk-unveils-spacecraft-ferry-astronauts.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2640728/Truth-consequences-Virgin-Galactic-New-Mexico-desert-final-countdown-begins-opening-212-million-Spaceport-America.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642917/Virgin-FAA-sign-agreement-Spaceport-flights.htmlƒŠ

Next step: check in your baggage and print your boarding passes!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2643332/Beam-Scientists-sat-teleportation-possible-transfer-atoms.html: wait 'til Ryanair get in on this act - they'll charge per atom!

http://on.aol.co.uk/video/spacex-unveils-new-dragon-v2-manned-spacecraft-518250115?playlist=160757&icid=hpaolon

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642038/Spaceship-3-man-crew-docks-space-station.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642739/Jade-Rabbit-hanging-Chinese-moon-rover-alive-weak-claim-reports.htmlƒŠJaded?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2642749/Mother-filmed-lights-home-says-shes-sure-spotted-UFO.htmlƒŠChinese lanterns, anyone?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640809/ISS-robot-performs-self-repair-orbit-Multi-limbed-Dextre-spell-end-dangerous-human-spacewalks.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640056/Strange-flashing-lights-radiation-risks-The-bermuda-triangle-space-revealed-unprecedented-detail.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2634037/The-Mars-mission-GO-Nasa-drill-deep-beneath-red-planets-crust-time-reveal-hidden-secrets.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636397/Could-wormholes-allow-TIME-TRAVEL-Collapsing-tunnels-used-send-messages-future-claims-physicist.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636195/We-alien-life-20-years-Leading-astronomers-say-bizarre-universe.htmlƒŠ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636655/Now-THATS-impressive-selfie-Nasa-reveals-incredible-3-2-gigapixel-image-built-36-000-pictures-taken-Earth-Day.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636351/From-reusable-Dyna-Soar-plane-Mars-bound-Nerva-engine-Vintage-space-agency-images-reveal-amazing-rockets-NEVER-took-off.html

Chelyabinsk meteorite's violent past http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2637547/Chelyabinsk-asteroids-violent-history-revealed-Fireball-smashed-space-rock-290-million-years-ago-claim-scientists.htmlƒŠ

Dark matter protects galaxy: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140523145137.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Mars mineral link to microbes http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140520100529.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fearth_climate+%28Earth+%26+Climate+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

New crater on Mars: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522162926.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

No black hole doughnuts! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522162314.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Broadband link to Moon http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522104949.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Very distant galaxy cluster http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521133712.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Violent stellar explosion http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521133520.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

A complex binary: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094749.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Ultralight satellites: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094515.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Star cluster in Carina's wake: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094459.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Diamond planets: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527220554.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠ

Hazy sunsets on Titan: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527180741.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠ

Habitable environment on Martian volcano? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527154748.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠ

Where have Earth's craters gone? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527154715.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fearth_climate+%28Earth+%26+Climate+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

NASA rocket to study stellar birth: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527151751.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Googleglass universe for deaf students http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527124140.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Magnetic moment of proton http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528132800.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Clumping of galaxies: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528093750.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Moon's own tides: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529142540.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29

Water in Moon rocks: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528105408.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Space-X returns samples http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528085948.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29

4 Billion year old rocks reveal early Earth history http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529112057.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

ƒŠ

16. TWITTER:ƒŠFollow theƒŠIAAƒŠon Twitter: The account is now operational again as before: IaaAstro.

ƒŠƒŠ

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

ƒŠƒŠ ƒŠIf 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.ƒŠYou can also make aƒŠdonation via Paypal if you wish: just click on the 'Donate' button.ƒŠƒŠSee also www.irishastro.org.ƒŠ

ƒŠƒŠ

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

ƒŠ

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

ƒŠ

From: TerryMosel@aol.com

Subject: STFC, CAC, ISS, New Meteors, NLCs, Free Telescope, See meteors in realtime, more

Date: 30 May 2014 18:42:15 BST

To: iaa2000@btinternet.com

Hi all,

ƒŠƒŠƒŠ

1.ƒŠ STFC Roadshow at QUB, 17 - 24 May, This was a great success, particularly on the last day. Thanks to Prof Alan Fitzsimmons at QUB for inviting the IAA to have a stand at the exhibition, which also attracted a lot of interest, including Tony Kempston's Virtual Reality Universe headset. He even made a fan out of Prof Stephen Smart, the head of the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC).ƒŠThe event was presented jointly by the STFC and the ARC atƒŠQUB

ƒŠƒŠ Thanks to all the IAA members who helped to 'man' the IAA stand there.

ƒŠƒŠƒŠThe exhibition then moved to Armagh Planetarium for the next week.

ƒŠ

2. CAC Visit to Armagh and Belfast:

ƒŠƒŠ The Cork Astronomy Club brought a group of 28 for a weekend visit to Armagh Observatory andƒŠPlanetarium, and then on to Belfast where they visited the exhibition. It was great to see so many visiting 'Up North'. SomeƒŠIAA members joined them for a dinner in Belfast on Saturday evening.ƒŠThanks to Prof Mark Bailey & Dr Tom Mason for the excellent reception & visits at Armagh.

ƒŠ

3. ISS Returns. TheƒŠISSƒŠhas started another series of morning passes over Ireland. This series will eventually blend seamlessly into a series of evening passes in June, because of the very short summer nights, and a series of through-the-night passes will then continue until 16 June.ƒŠSee www.heavens-above.com for details for your location.

ƒŠ

4. New 'Camelopardalid'ƒŠMeteor Shower, May 23-24 - a reasonable display in USA

TheƒŠnew meteor showerƒŠwhich was predicted forƒŠthe early morning of 24 May did indeed appear, but with only modest rates of around 10 per hour, as seen from the USA. See http://www.space.com/26006-meteor-shower-photos-may-camelopardalids-comet.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠand http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638824/First-Camelopardalids-meteor-shower-lights-skies-U-S.htmlƒŠ

ƒŠƒŠƒŠƒŠ

5. Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs). We areƒŠnow enteringƒŠthe season of visibility for these ethereal high altitude clouds, visible when the sky is nearly totally dark, as they lie well above the height of ordinary clouds. They are thought to be connected with high altitude fine debris from meteors which have burned up high in our atmosphere. Look low in the Northern sky near local midnight

ƒŠ

6. Telescope available for taking away: The Irish Astronomical Association has a 12" Cassegrain optical tube assembly which was donated to us by QUB and was originally housed at theirƒŠDub Lane Observatory for a number of years. We are offering this telescope tube assembly ***FREE*** to anyone with the necessary skills to get it into operation again. What is being offered here is the basic tube assembly comprising of the main mirror cell with mirror, the tube with secondary holder and secondary mirror installed. It will require a complete refurbishment including re-aluminising and fabrication of a rear cell to house a new focuser. Tube rings, dovetail and a very substantial mount will also be required. I cannot confirm the quality of the mirror surface after a long period of neglect, but the original quality of manufacture would be of "research quality" premium grade etc **.

ƒŠƒŠ This opportunity is being offered to IAA members first. If there is no interest here, I will post an 'ad' on the IFAS forum and then onto UK Astro-Buy-Sell. Although we are offering this tube assembly free, could I suggest a very small voluntary donation to the IAA equipment fund.

ƒŠƒŠ Genuine enquiries only, collection only. Email me on david.stewart22@ntlworld.comƒŠor phone on 07808736963 for more info and pics.

David Stewart.

** As I used that telescope on numerous occasions in the late Sixties & early Seventies, I can confirm that the original optical quality was indeed very good. T.M.

ƒŠ

7. Watch meteors & meteoroids impact Earth in real time: This is really fascinating. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2634962/Watch-5-000-meteoroids-bombard-Earth-day-REAL-TIME-Map-plots-comet-debris-burning-heads.html. Look out for some well-known constellations round the edges of the charts to get your bearings. It's in real time, so the position of the Moon will move noticeably from night to night.

ƒŠ

8. See where all the space probes are now: This is really good: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2633796/From-sun-edge-interstellar-space-See-location-active-spacecraft-solar-fantastic-graphica.htmlƒŠBut it doesn't show the spacecraft on the surface of the Moon, Mars etc

ƒŠ

9. BCO, Cork:ƒŠEvents:

Junior Space Camp on Sun 1ƒŠJune @ 12 is all about COMETS!

Junior Space Camp is our space-tastic science workshop for 5-7 year olds with an intergalactic twist!ƒŠ

Space Adventurers pay âÂ?10, Parents have fun for FREE!ƒŠ More details of this and other eventsƒŠon www.bco.ie

ƒŠ

10: IAA Solar Day, WWT, Castle Espie. We will be holding another one of these very popular events on Sunday afternoon, 17 August. More details later.

ƒŠ

11. SOLARFEST, DUNSINK Observatory:

Solarfest 2014 is now confirmed for Saturday 21st June. Further details will be posted here in due course:

http://www.irishastronomy.org/index.php/kunena?view=topic&catid=11&id=99787

ƒŠ

12. 30 June âÀÓ 4 July: European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS), Geneva, Switzerland. The annual European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS) conference will take place in Geneva from 30 June to 4 July. Bringing together astronomers and space scientists from across Europe, EWASS sessions cover topics from star formation in galaxies to the origin of cosmic dust and astronomy using the SKA and ALMA observatories. See http://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2014/ƒŠContact:ƒŠConference Secretariat, ewass2014@ch.kuoni.com

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13. INTERNATIONAL METEOR CONFERENCE, 2014ƒŠ Thursday September 18 till Sunday 21 September 2014, Giron, France.ƒŠGiron 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!ƒŠSee http://www.imo.net/imc2014.

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14. NEXT YEAR'S STAR PARTIES:ƒŠƒŠ

Galway Astrofest: Feb 21, 2015

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

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15. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ƒŠ

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/27/alien-bowl-mars_n_5396190.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+TechƒŠAnd if you look carefully in the bigger picture, you can see a spoon and a milk jug too. Not to mention that I'm sure I can see the back end of a cow (for the milk of course) jutting out from behind a rock in the distance. Can anyone find the remains of a cereal packet? Corny Flakes, I suppose! - and

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/20/mars-alien-skull_n_5356198.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopularƒŠYou couldn't make it up!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/27/cnn-asteroid-hoax_n_5397656.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+Tech

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2639614/All-aboard-vomit-comet-Swiss-company-launch-ZeroG-experience-2015-rival-Bransons-Virgin-Galactic.htmlƒŠƒŠ The second para in the info box is totally wrong - quote: "WHAT ARE ZERO GRAVITY FLIGHTS?ƒŠ Zero gravity results in a sense of weightlessness, allowing bodies and materials to move completely freely. It can be achieved by going into deep space, far from any gravitational body such as planets and stars.ƒŠ"

ƒŠƒŠ Of course, it's not distance from any "gravitational body" which causes weightlessness, it's being in 'free-fall' relative to it. You could experience weightlessness in orbit a few km above a massive neutron star because you would be in free-fall around it, and there's no atmosphere there to slow you down!

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/21/nasa-archaeology-anthropology-interstellar-communications_n_5362813.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopularƒŠ This again is a headline which is aƒŠgross distortion of what's actually written in the book. And I repeat, if an advanced alien civilisation was here in prehistoric times, and the best they could do to leave a sign of their visit was to roughlyƒŠcarve some simple geometric shapes into rocks, they get 0.1 out of 10 for effort!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640019/Masterpieces-moon-Nasa-reveals-five-best-pictures-lunar-surface-asks-public-pick-favourite.htmlƒŠThe photo of 'Tycho Crater' in fact shows only the central peak. Dramatic, nonetheless.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/27/us-congress-aliens_n_5395759.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-tech&ir=UK+Tech

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640497/The-Google-Maps-SPACE-Skywatch-app-lets-witness-supernovas-comets-real-time.html

http://www.space.com/25999-alien-life-search-tools-luck.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640529/Space-isnt-lonely-anymore-Leeds-company-designs-astronaut-suit-gives-hugs-friends-family-Earth.html

http://www.space.com/25985-restoring-sciences-place-in-society-will-help-us-resolve-the-big-debates.html?cmpid=557593

http://www.space.com/26000-alien-life-prediction-congress-hearing.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠƒŠ

http://www.space.com/26008-best-space-photos-of-the-week-may-25-2014.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠ

http://www.space.com/13809-photos-space-holidays-astronauts-christmas.html?cmpid=557593ƒŠ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642978/Could-space-sandals-save-astronauts-skeletons-ForceShoe-sent-ISS-monitor-microgravity-damages-human-body.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2643793/First-contact-zombie-spacecraft-Amateur-astronomers-successfully-revive-36-year-old-probe-passes-Earth.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2643186/Elon-Musk-unveils-spacecraft-ferry-astronauts.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2640728/Truth-consequences-Virgin-Galactic-New-Mexico-desert-final-countdown-begins-opening-212-million-Spaceport-America.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642917/Virgin-FAA-sign-agreement-Spaceport-flights.htmlƒŠ

Next step: check in your baggage and print your boarding passes!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2643332/Beam-Scientists-sat-teleportation-possible-transfer-atoms.html: wait 'til Ryanair get in on this act - they'll charge per atom!

http://on.aol.co.uk/video/spacex-unveils-new-dragon-v2-manned-spacecraft-518250115?playlist=160757&icid=hpaolon

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642038/Spaceship-3-man-crew-docks-space-station.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2642739/Jade-Rabbit-hanging-Chinese-moon-rover-alive-weak-claim-reports.htmlƒŠJaded?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2642749/Mother-filmed-lights-home-says-shes-sure-spotted-UFO.htmlƒŠChinese lanterns, anyone?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640809/ISS-robot-performs-self-repair-orbit-Multi-limbed-Dextre-spell-end-dangerous-human-spacewalks.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2640056/Strange-flashing-lights-radiation-risks-The-bermuda-triangle-space-revealed-unprecedented-detail.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2634037/The-Mars-mission-GO-Nasa-drill-deep-beneath-red-planets-crust-time-reveal-hidden-secrets.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636397/Could-wormholes-allow-TIME-TRAVEL-Collapsing-tunnels-used-send-messages-future-claims-physicist.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636195/We-alien-life-20-years-Leading-astronomers-say-bizarre-universe.htmlƒŠ

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636655/Now-THATS-impressive-selfie-Nasa-reveals-incredible-3-2-gigapixel-image-built-36-000-pictures-taken-Earth-Day.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2636351/From-reusable-Dyna-Soar-plane-Mars-bound-Nerva-engine-Vintage-space-agency-images-reveal-amazing-rockets-NEVER-took-off.html

Chelyabinsk meteorite's violent past http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2637547/Chelyabinsk-asteroids-violent-history-revealed-Fireball-smashed-space-rock-290-million-years-ago-claim-scientists.htmlƒŠ

Dark matter protects galaxy: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140523145137.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Mars mineral link to microbes http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140520100529.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fearth_climate+%28Earth+%26+Climate+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

New crater on Mars: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522162926.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

No black hole doughnuts! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522162314.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Broadband link to Moon http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522104949.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Very distant galaxy cluster http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521133712.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Violent stellar explosion http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521133520.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

A complex binary: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094749.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Ultralight satellites: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094515.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Star cluster in Carina's wake: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140521094459.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Diamond planets: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527220554.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠ

Hazy sunsets on Titan: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527180741.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠ

Habitable environment on Martian volcano? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527154748.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠ

Where have Earth's craters gone? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527154715.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fearth_climate+%28Earth+%26+Climate+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

NASA rocket to study stellar birth: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527151751.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29ƒŠ

Googleglass universe for deaf students http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140527124140.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Magnetic moment of proton http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528132800.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Clumping of galaxies: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528093750.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Moon's own tides: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529142540.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29

Water in Moon rocks: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528105408.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29ƒŠ

Space-X returns samples http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528085948.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_technology+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Technology+News%29

4 Billion year old rocks reveal early Earth history http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140529112057.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

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16. TWITTER:ƒŠFollow theƒŠIAAƒŠon Twitter: The account is now operational again as before: @IaaAstro.

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

ƒŠƒŠ ƒŠIf 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.ƒŠYou can also make aƒŠdonation via Paypal if you wish: just click on the 'Donate' button.ƒŠƒŠSee also www.irishastro.org.ƒŠ

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

ƒŠ

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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