From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: Lecture, ISS, Near-Miss update, IAA @ Bangor, Astro-course, Galileo, COSMOS

Date: 4 February 2013 20:56:37 GMT

Hi all,

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1.Òš IAA LECTURE: The next IAA public lecture will be on WednesdayÒš6 February, at 7.30 p.m. It will be givenÒšbyÒšProf Lorraine Hanlon, of UCD. Title "The Gloria Project". GLORIA stands for ò??GLObalÒšRobotic-telescopes Intelligent Arrayò??.ÒšGLORIA will be the first free and open-access network of robotic telescopes in the world. It will be a Web 2.0 environment where users can do research in astronomy by observing with robotic telescopes, and/or by analysing data that other users have acquired with GLORIA, or from other free access databases, like the European Virtual Observatory (http://www.euro-vo.org). The community is the most important part of GLORIA. Access will be free to everybody who has an InternetÒšconnection and a web browser. Therefore it will be open, not only to professional astronomers, but also to anyoneÒšwith an interest in astronomy. See: www.gloria-project.eu

ÒšAdmission is free,Òšincluding light refreshments, and all are welcome.

This lecture will as usualÒšbe in theÒšBell Lecture theatre, Physics building, main QUB Campus.

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2. ISS. The International Space StationÒšwill commenceÒšanother series of evening passes over Ireland on 9 February. Details as usual on the excellent and free site: www.heavens-above.com

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3. Asteroid Very Near Miss: IMPORTANT UPDATE: Note: Heavens-Above.com now provides details for the pass of this object, including a sky map, for your own location.ÒšAndÒšsee at the end of this item.Òš

Òš On Feb 15 we will have a very near miss from a ò??Near Earth Asteroidò??, which will come so close to Earth that it will passÒšinside the orbits of the geostationary satellites! Asteroid 2012 DA14, which is about 50m (165 feet) in diameter will pass about 21,000 miles from the centre of the Earth, or about 17,000 miles above the surface. There is no risk of a collision, but if an object of this size did hit the Earth, the damage would be very significant. 17,000 miles seems like a significant distance, but think of it this way: Itò??s just over twice the diameter of the Earth. If a bullet was to miss your head by just twice your head's diameter, you would think that you had been very very lucky! It will be travelling at 7.8km/sec.

ÒšÒš Closest approach will be at about 18.00, and the object should be visible in binoculars as it speeds past the Earth, with a maximum magnitude of between 7 and 7.5. Since it will be so close, and moving so fast, predictions need to be based on your own location, not geocentric. Iò??m very grateful to Dr Tolis Christou of Armagh Observatory who has generated an ephemeris for Belfast, giving the RA, Dec, Azimuth, Elevation and magnitude of 2012 DA14 from BelfastÒš(Òš54.6000ÒÀ N, 5.9167ÒÀ W)Òšfor the night of the 15th to the 16th of February 2013Òševery 5 min. The asteroid rises at 20:00 UT in Virgo, and will move rapidly Northwards through Coma, Canes Venatici, Ursa Major and Draco during its period of best visibility from here. It will remain brighter than mag 10 until 22:20 UT. At that time its altitude is 53 deg.

ÒšÒš This ephemeris is too long and detailed to include here, but I will forward the details to anyone on request. It should be possible to record its motion with a time exposure on a digital camera with a reasonable zoom lens, and set to a high ISO setting.

ÒšÒšÒšThis will be the brightest-ever NEO to be observed approaching the vicinity of our planet (<0.1 AU).ÒšItÒšis predicted to beÒš30 timesÒšbrighter and more than 150 times more massive than the next largest knownÒšobject to approach as close or closer to our planet in recent years: that one was 2012 MD.Òš

Òš (Newly added info regarding using Heavens-above.)ÒšSince theÒšasteroid is moving so fast,Òšthe H-A siteÒšonly gives detailsÒšof the positionÒševery half-hour on Feb 15. But you can easily interpolate from those positions. The easiest way to find it will be to pick an easily identifiableÒšspot in the sky, using a good star chart, through which the asteroid will pass when it is still fairly bright. Note when it will pass through that region of the sky. Train your binoculars or wide-field telescope on that area a few minutes before it is due, preferably while you are in a comfortable position to avoid strain, and then wait for the asteroid to appear as a moving point of light. It will be moving almost straight upwards whenÒšit first appears above our EasternÒšhorizon, so you are unlikely to confuse it with anything else.ÒšIf you can mount your binoculars on a tripod which allows you to pan smoothly upwards, that would be handy. But remember if you 'lose' the object for more than a minute in your field of view, you will find it hard to pick it up again!

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4. IAA Event at Bangor, 16 February - UPDATE. The IAA will be running another of its very popular astronomy evenings, this time at a new venue: the North Down Heritage Centre near Bangor Castle, Co Down. This is not a dark sky location, but we have chosen an evening when both Jupiter and a nice 6-day old Moon will be visible, so there will be spectacular sights for public viewing. There will also be a good pass of the ISS, which should please anyone who hasn't seen it before.

ÒšÒšÒš We will of course have the Stardome shows, which will run whether it's cloudy or clear, and the usual exhibition of telescopes, binoculars, meteoritesÒšand other items. Our own local Ulsternaut, Derek Heatly, will be giving an update on the latest details for his flight into space with Virgin Galactic.

ÒšÒš NB: To guarantee a place for one of the Starshows you must book in advance with the ND Heritage Centre.

ÒšÒš Location: Bangor Castle, Castle Park. The Heritage Centre is just behind (South of) the Castle. Access is via Castlepark Avenue and Castlepark Road, or on foot via the Castle grounds by continuing along Castlepark Avenue. GPS: 54deg 39' 21" N; 5 deg 40' 09" W. Tel. 028 9127 1200.

ÒšÒš Start time is now confirmed asÒš6.30 p.m.Òš

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5. ASTRONOMY COURSE at STRANMILLIS COLLEGE, BELFAST. I will be delivering a two part course, introduction to astronomy, as follows:

Astronomy:Òš Our place in the Universe

Looking to the sky for the first time you may feel overwhelmed and confused by the spectacle of thousands of stars above your head.Òš Astronomy is a great gateway science that can inspire you to do great things!Òš Participants will gain enjoyment from exploring the wonders of the night sky.Òš The topics covered include Greek mythology, Egyptian and Babylonian cosmology, Astrobiology, Quantum Physics, Terrestrial and Jovian planets and Solar System to help us understand our place in the cosmos.Òš This is a great way for the community to come together and take a fresh look at our night sky.....it belongs to us all.Òš No experience necessary and questions encouraged!Òš

Tutor:ÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšTerry Moseley, Time: ÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒš 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Session 1: ÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒš Tuesdays, 5 weeks; dates: ÒšÒšÒšÒš 19^th February 2013 ò?? 19^th March 2013Òš

Location:ÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒš Central Building.

Session 2: ÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒš Tuesdays, 5 weeks. Time:Òš7.00pm - 9.00pm. Dates: ÒšÒšÒšÒš 9^th April 2013 ò?? 7^th May 2013.ÒšÒšÒšLocation:ÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒšÒš Central Building

There will also be a daytime visit to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, provisionally onÒš17 May.

Full details and booking at:Òš http://www.stran.ac.uk/informationabout/courses/professionaldevelopmentlifelonglearning/

6. GALILEO AT ARMAGH OBSERVATORY: THE LIFE OF GALILEO", by Bertolt Brecht, Performed in the ArmaghÒšObservatory.

ÒšÒš The Greenwood Players and the Armagh Observatory are presenting in the Armagh Observatory from 22nd to 24th February 2013 the first performance on the island of Ireland of the play "The Life of Galileo" by Bertolt Brecht in a new version by David Hare.

ÒšÒš The story of the Life of Galileo and its central drama of the conflict between science, religion and authority is one that resonates today. As remarked by Ian McDonald, author and Executive Producer with the Greenwood Players, "The Life of Galileo" is a story that needs retelling every generation, especially in a 21st century when we seem to be moving away from science to an authority and belief-based worldview.

ÒšÒš There will be five performances of the play: two matinees at 2.00pm on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th February, and three evening performances at 7.00pm on each of 22nd, 23rd and 24th February. ÒšTickets, which are strictly limited, cost 12 pounds and are available from 14th January 2013 atÒšhttp://galileoattheobservatory.eventbrite.co.uk/.

For more information, see:Òšhttp://star.arm.ac.uk/press/2013/galileo/Òš

7. COSMOS 2013: Advance notice: The next COSMOS star party will be held at Tullamore on 12-14 April. More details later

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8. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:Òš

Òšhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2272863/YouTube-video-shows-astronauts-defy-gravity-wash-hands.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2272284/Incredible-images-capture-moment-Saturns-biggest-storm-began-consuming-head-slammed-tail.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2270553/How-scientists-use-reflected-starlight-create-maps-alien-worlds-thousands-light-years-away.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2270791/Asian-space-race-heats-South-Korea-launches-140ton-rocket-carrying-spy-satellite.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2270889/Alien-planet-hunters-redefine-habitable-zone--Earth-right-edge.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2272028/European-Space-Agency-unveils-plans-mankinds-habitable-MOON-BASE.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2273163/A-miss-good-mile--asteroid-close-shave.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/close-encounters-of-the-asteroid-kind-130000-ton-asteroid-to-make-closest-ever-flyby-of-earth-8480449.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/revealed-first-image-of-a-new-planet-being-formed-with-star-dust-8435785.html

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9. TWITTER:ÒšFollow theÒšIAAÒšon Twitter:Òš IaaAstro

10. BBC THINGS TO DO WEBSITE: See theÒšforthcoming IAA events on Òš

http://www.bbc.co.uk/thingstodo. Look under 'Countryfile'.

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11. JOINING the IRISH ASTRONOMICAL ASSOCIATION is easy: This link downloads a Word document to join the IAA. http://irishastro.org.uk/iaamembership.doc. If 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.Òš See also www.irishastro.org.Òš

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Clear skies,

Terry Moseley

mob: (0044) (0) 7979 300842

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