From: TerryMoselaol.com

Subject: UK spaceport? STFC at Armagh, Updates: other events

Date: 3 May 2014 01:37:00 BST

Hi all,

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2. UK to Launch Rockets from home soil?ƒŠhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617763/Rockets-lift-UK-five-years-government-remote-spaceport.html

ƒŠƒŠ As I have already pointed out in an earlier bulletin, it's an unfortunate geographical fact that nowhere in the UK is well situated to launch space rockets, except those going into polar or high inclination orbits.

ƒŠLaunching from an aircraft would be slightly better than launching from the ground, but still not as good as aƒŠlower latitude site.

ƒŠƒŠ Of course, it would be OK for launches for sub-orbital hops likeƒŠSir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, which don't actually go into orbit, although our weather is not ideal for that sort of launch & landing. But it's hardly worth developing a 'Spaceport' just for that sort of launch - who would use it when they have much better sites in the USA for example?

Factors for a proper Spaceport:

1. You should be as close to the equator as possible, to take advantage of the Earth's rotation speed, launching to the East.ƒŠIn practice anywhere in or near the tropics is fine, but North of about 40 degrees it gets less and less favourable.

2. YouƒŠneed a good long clear expanse ofƒŠuninhabited and shipping-freeƒŠsea to the East, so that any rocket booster stages, or indeed aborted or failedƒŠlaunches, can fall safely into the sea. Particularly if there is any nuclear or radioactive material on board!

3. S. Cornwall would just about be acceptable on the latter aspectƒŠwith no land to the East until you get to Brittany, but you would be launching over one of the busiest shipping routes in the world - the English Channel! It's just not feasible to keep shipping clear of that area during a launch.

4. S Cornwall also fails on another aspect: it's highly populated, with no suitable large empty area for a safe launch area and surrounding exclusion zone. Goonhilly Downs comes closest, but is still not ideal.

ƒŠƒŠ But for PolarƒŠor high inclinationƒŠorbital launches, N Scotland would be fine: assuming that they are still in the UK by that time!

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3.ƒŠƒŠThe Giro dâÀÙItalia is coming to Armagh on Sunday 11 May 2014.ƒŠ In preparation for this amazing occasion Armagh Planetarium will have a fun and action packed Saturday! For lots of free events, see: www.armaghplanet.comƒŠ

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4. Major Astronomy Conference in Galway;ƒŠ Speed and Sensitivity,ƒŠExpanding Astronomical Horizons with ELTs.ƒŠNUI, Galway, 13-16 May 2014

ƒŠLed by Prof Andy Shearer: this will be a fascinating look at the future of astronomy as offered by Extremely Large Telescopes, and ever increasingly sensitive detectors. See www.astro.nuigalway.ie/speeadandsensitivityƒŠor www.htra.ie/speedandsensitivity

With reference to this, these articles may be of interest: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2580965/New-space-race-begins-Astronomers-compete-build-generation-super-telescopes-reveal-hidden-universe.htmlƒŠ It doesn't say here what the diameter of the E-ELT will be: it was originally to be 42m (the answer to the ultimate question about 'Life, The Universe, and Everything" was "42"), but it was later scaled back to a still huge 39m.ƒŠBut how can any science journalist refer to a roughly circular mirror as 'thirty meters long'?

andƒŠ http://nautil.us/issue/11/light/the-billion_dollar-telescope-race

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5. STFC Roadshow at QUB, 17 - 24 May.ƒŠThe roadshow, entitled "Seeing the Universe in all its light" features stunning science images and interactive exhibits.ƒŠThe exhibitionƒŠcovers the wholeƒŠstory of astronomy, pastƒŠand future,ƒŠfeaturing some of theƒŠcrucial moments and technical challenges along the way.

ƒŠƒŠMain highlights include the Big Telescopes,ƒŠon both ground and in space.ƒŠThese instruments coverƒŠthe full electromagnetic spectrum from Gamma Rays to radio waves.ƒŠIt explains why astronomers use different telescopes, imagersƒŠand otherƒŠdetectorsƒŠtoƒŠget a more complete picture of the universe. You can view some incredible images from the control desk, andƒŠlook at all the information onƒŠthe wall of facts.

ƒŠƒŠ The exhibition includes an 8 metre interactive wall and replica telescopes, including ALMA,ƒŠlocated 5000 metres above sea level in the Atacama Desert - the driest place on Earth.

ƒŠCheck the `Seeing the Universe in All its LightâÀÙ webpage at:www.stfc.ac.uk/2740ƒŠ

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6. And STFCƒŠthenƒŠgoes toƒŠArmagh Planetarium:

The STFC showƒŠwill then move to Armagh Planetarium for the following week: The Science and Technology Facilities Council are bringing their wonderful "Seeing the Universe in all its Light" interactive exhibition to Armagh Planetarium!ƒŠ The exhibition showcases the story of astronomy, from the past to the future and highlights some of the key inspirational moments and technical challenges along the way.

ƒŠƒŠ Seeing the Universe will open on Monday 26 May and will run until Saturday 31 May from 10am until 5pm and admission is FREE. ƒŠThe exhibition is suitable for all ages. ƒŠWe would also encourage visits from schools but please contact us first if you plan to bring a group of 20 or more on 02837 523689.

ƒŠ Dates: Monday 26 âÀÓ Saturday 31 May 2014, Time: 10am - 5pm, Price: Free

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7.ƒŠStatutory Public Lecture of the School of Theoretical Physics,ƒŠ19 May.ƒŠ

ƒŠƒŠThe 2014 Statutory Public Lecture of the DIAS School of Theoretical Physics will take place on Monday 19th May (time tbc) in UCD. The lecture entitled âÀÜAre Brains Analog or Digital?âÀÝ will be given by Professor Freeman Dyson, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton.

ƒŠƒŠ This FREE lecture is not strictly astronomical, but Prof Dyson is well known in the field of cosmology and fundamental physics. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_Dyson.

ƒŠƒŠ ABSTRACT: We know that creatures like us have two separate systems for processing information, the genome and the brain. We know that the genome is digital, and we can accurately transcribe our genomes onto digital machines. We cannot transcribe our brains, and the processing of information in our brains is still a great mystery. I will be talking about real brains and real people, asking a question that will have practical consequences when we are able to answer it. I am not able to answer it now. All I can do is to examine the evidence and explain why I consider it probable that the answer will be that brains are analog.

ƒŠƒŠƒŠ Location: Theatre D, UCD Science Hub, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4. Building 64 on map: http://www.ucd.ie/maps/2013/UCD_Map_August_2013.pdf

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8. 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

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9. ƒŠINTERNATIONAL 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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10: 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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11. INTERESTING WEBLINKS:ƒŠ

More on Dave Grennan's supernova discovery: http://on.aol.co.uk/video/amateur-astronomer-discovers-supernova-518212565?playlist=160757&icid=hpaolon

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2614899/Aliens-want-steal-soul-British-woman-reveals-shes-abducted-reptilian-extraterrestrials-numerous-occasions.html.ƒŠ But why do they keep bringing her back? Actually, there's no need to answer that!

http://www.space.com/24036-asteroid-vesta-images-dawn-spacecraft.html

Spring events at Blackrock Castle Observatory: see www.bco.ie

http://www.space.com/25716-alien-life-hotter-stars.html?cmpid=557583

http://www.space.com/25710-mars-size-planet-formation-theories.html?cmpid=557583

http://www.space.com/25720-jupiter-moon-ganymede-ocean-life.html?cmpid=557583

http://www.space.com/25729-albert-einstein-before-after-relativity.html?cmpid=557583

http://www.space.com/25725-solar-tornado-video-nasa-spacecraft.html?cmpid=557583

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/02may_superstorm/ƒŠ

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ukQhycKOFwƒŠSCARY!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617054/Race-red-planet-Russia-says-YES-building-super-rocket-rival-Nasas-designs-hopes-getting-Mars-2030.htmlƒŠWell, it is the 'red' Planet!

Fastest spinning planet: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140430132859.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29, and

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2616968/The-REAL-8-hour-day-Scientists-calculate-rate-exoplanets-spin-time-rotates-dizzying-62-000-mph.htmlƒŠHere's a little puzzle for the mathematicians: Given the details in the link, work out what you would weigh on the equator of that planet, vs at its poles, allowing for the 'centrifugal force' (OK, purists, I know, I know....).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617004/Is-Chinese-space-programme-cover-anti-satellite-technology-Expert-says-wary-missiles-launched.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617111/Could-American-astronauts-left-STRANDED-International-Space-Station-Space-row-intensifies-Russian-officials-warn-Nasa-transport-astronauts-trampoline.htmlƒŠ(They would need to time their bounces well.....)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617265/Nasa-reveals-Tron-spacesuit-heading-orbit-public-vote-choose-new-design.htmlƒŠI'd prefer my spacesuit designƒŠto beƒŠchosen by experts, rather than public opinion!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617681/Is-dark-matter-tiny-BLACK-HOLES-Elusive-substance-lurking-universes-mass-hiding.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2617759/Could-solar-farm-SPACE-power-future-Japan-plans-beam-1GW-energy-satellite-Tokyo-2040.htmlƒŠIf the system is to beam power to Japan, why is it shown beaming down over N America?

http://www.space.com/25289-asteroid-retrieval-mission-incredible-technology.html, and

http://www.space.com/20591-nasa-asteroid-capture-mission-feasibility.html, and

http://www.space.com/20606-nasa-asteroid-capture-mission-images.htmlƒŠƒŠI have a feeling that the main driver for this sort of mission is to move towards asteroid mining for profit, rather than as a stepping stone to Mars.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2616642/How-man-land-Mars-Nasa-video-reveals-steps-needed-transport-humans-Mars-2030s.htmlƒŠand

http://www.space.com/25690-nasa-asteroid-redirect-mission-mars.html?cmpid=557171

I'm still no wiser about how the plan to lasso a tiny asteroid & drag it into lunar orbit fits in with the plan to get to Mars!

http://www.space.com/25695-sedna-dwarf-planet.html?cmpid=557171

http://www.space.com/34-image-day.html?cmpid=557171

http://www.space.com/25685-dark-matter-dark-energy-neutron-science.html?cmpid=557171

http://www.livescience.com/45243-no-lack-holes-at-atom-smasher.html?cmpid=557212

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2612074/Nasas-Mad-Men-How-agency-sold-Apollo-missions-thr-public-inspired-golden-age-space-exploration.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2615032/A-view-drill-Curiosity-eyes-site-Mars-Mount-Remarkable-provide-clues-life-red-planet.html

http://money.aol.co.uk/2014/04/08/new-street-lights-dazzle-homeowners/

Entire star cluster thrown out of galaxy:ƒŠhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140430121112.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠQuote: The newly discovered cluster, which astronomers named HVGC-1, is now on a fast journey to nowhere. Its fate: to drift through the void between the galaxies for all time. Not true:ƒŠit could eventually be captured by another galaxy.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140430132904.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

When did the universe emerge from its dark ages? ƒŠhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140430132906.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

Getting rid of space junk: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140430082724.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

Mature galaxies in early universe? http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140429183654.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29ƒŠOr could it be that these galaxies are not as young as we think? If the remote cosmic distance scale is wrong by a small but significant amount, then they are not as far away and as young as we think.

Cosmic Web Imager images dim matter: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140429185005.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

Search for ET may be difficult: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140429185000.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

How jets form in space:ƒŠhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140429105156.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Fspace_time+%28Space+%26+Time+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

First gravitationally lensed Type 1A Supernova: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501132518.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+Science+News%29

Nearby 'Fossil' galaxy: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501132632.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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12. TWITTER:ƒŠFollow theƒŠIAAƒŠon 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

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."

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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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