From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: 30 October 2007 23:16:30 Oct 2007
Subject: Two Lectures, Sky at Night, Comet P/Holmes, Taurids

Hi all,

1. A final reminder about the next IAA public lecture, on Wednesday 31
October, when the far from ghostly Dr Andy McCrea will give a talk
entitled "Andy's Amazing American Astronomical Adventures!" Andy visited
many of the great observatories on America's West Coast, saw the Total
Lunar Eclipse, and the brief but intense display of the Aurigid meteors.
Not to mention other adventures which I would be too ashamed to recount,
but I know that Andy is less reticent! A very enjoyable evening awaits
us, I'm sure. Admission free as always, including light refreshments.   
NB: some people had trouble accessing the lift last time, but I am told
that this problem has now been resolved. VENUE: Bell Lecture Theatre,
Physics Building, Main Campus, QUB. Start PROMPTLY at 7.30 p.m.    All
welcome. NB 2: Since QUB Festival is on, parking may be at a premium in
the area. To be safe, come early if you want to park in the main QUB
campus (access from University Square as usual), even if you have to sit
in the car for a while, though we will try to get the doors to the
Physics building open as early as possible.

2. The next monthly meeting of the East Antrim Astronomical Society will
take place on Monday 5th November in the Lecture Theatre at Ballyclare
High School, George Avenue (off Rashee Road), Ballyclare, Co. Antrim,
commencing at 8PM. Main Speaker- Dr Miruna Popescu (Armagh Observatory)
(website) Lecture - The Sun: an exciting
introduction 3. "THE SKY AT NIGHT": Sunday 4 Nov. "The Grand
Collision"   BBC4   7.30pm.- 8.00pm. And: Sun/Mon 5 Nov.   BBC1   1.00am
- 1.25am.      Repeat: Sat. Nov. 10  4. Comet Holmes continues to amaze
& puzzle everyone! It is still almost the second brightest object in
Perseus, after Alpha (Mirfak); the comet lies closely to the East of
Mirfak. It's still well above 3rd magnitude, and the 'fuzziness' is now
apparent to the unaided eye. In binoculars you can see the bright
'nucleus' offset from the centre of the coma, and a telescope reveals
more detail in the coma itself. The actual size of the coma is now
bigger than the planet Jupiter! There is still no sign of a tail, which
is not surprising, as if there is one, it would be pointing almost
directly away from us. Charts available nightly on
www.heavens-above.com, or www.spaceweather.com. See photos on
www.irishastro.org.

5. The Taurid meteors reach their long gradual peak of activity on 3-4
November. Rates are never very high (maybe 10-15 per hour at best), but
there are a fair number of long slow bright meteors and fireballs, which
are good targets for photography. There is a double radiant, in the
general direction of the Pleiades.

Clear skies

Terry Moseley

Last Revised: 2007 October 31st

Go to HOME Page