Äîêóìåíò âçÿò èç êýøà ïîèñêîâîé ìàøèíû. Àäðåñ îðèãèíàëüíîãî äîêóìåíòà : http://star.arm.ac.uk/annrep/annrep2005/annrep2005.pdf Äàòà èçìåíåíèÿ: Thu Apr 13 14:49:10 2006 Äàòà èíäåêñèðîâàíèÿ: Tue Oct 2 05:53:09 2012 Êîäèðîâêà: Ïîèñêîâûå ñëîâà: total solar eclipse

The Armagh Observatory Annual Rep ort Calendar Year 2005 and Financial Year 2005/2006
Prepared by the Director and Staff M.E. Bailey

2006 April 12


Cover: The Dome of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). The Armagh Observatory, which is a member of the UK SALT Consortium, has a share in the observing time of this important new instrument. The 10-metre class telescope was officially unveiled on 2005 November 10 by the South African President, Thabo Mbeki. SALT is the largest single optical telescope in the southern hemisphere, and provides a new window on the realms of planets around other stars, the origins of galaxies and many other branches of astrophysics. The inauguration ceremony was held at the Sutherland Observatory, in the Northern Cape, South Africa. Image courtesy of John Butler. i


Contents
0 Executive Summary 0.1 Ob jectives for 2006/2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Intro duction 1.1 Organizational Structure . . 1.2 Research Environment . . . 1.3 Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 New TSN Action Plan . . . 1.5 Key Performance Indicators 2 Review of Financial Year 2.1 Lack of Core Funding . 2.2 Performance . . . . . . . 2.3 Ob jectives for Financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv iv 1 2 3 4 6 7 11 11 11 12 13 13 13 13 15 16 16 16 16 17 18 19 20 23 26 27 27 27 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 33 33 35 35 35 36 36 37 39 39 39 40 ii

2005/2006 ..................................... ..................................... Year 2006/2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 Research 3.1 Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1.1 Stellar Physics . . . . 3.1.2 Planetary Science . . . 3.1.3 Solar Physics . . . . . 3.1.4 Climate . . . . . . . . 3.1.5 Technical Equipment . 3.2 Technical Research Summaries 3.2.1 D.J. Asher . . . . . . 3.2.2 M.E. Bailey . . . . . . 3.2.3 C.J. Butler . . . . . . 3.2.4 A.A. Christou . . . . . 3.2.5 J.G. Doyle . . . . . . 3.2.6 C.S. Jeffery . . . . . . 3.2.7 M.D. Smith . . . . . .

4 Education and Public Outreach 4.1 Widening Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.1 Public Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.2 Web-Site and Internet Access . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.3 Media Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.4 Student Work Experience Programme . . . . . . 4.1.5 Tours and Visits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1.6 Principal Research and Other Visitors . . . . . . 4.2 Science in the Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2.1 Ards Event: `Ob jects to Fire the Imagination' . 4.2.2 Collaboration with Schools and Universities . . . 4.2.3 Collaboration with Local Groups and Societies . 4.2.4 Pat Corvan Event and New Minor Planet Names 5 Buildings, Grounds, Library and Archives 5.1 Heritage Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 Buildings, Telescopes and Telescope Domes Pro ject . 5.3 Library, Archives and Historic Scientific Instruments 5.4 Phenology Garden, Astropark and Human Orrery . . 6 Summary and Conclusion

..... ..... Building .....

A Board of Governors and Management Committee 2005 A.1 Board of Governors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A.2 Management Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B Armagh Observatory Staff 2005


C Refereed Journal Publications 2005 D Presentations by Armagh Observatory Staff 2005 E Armagh Observatory Seminars 2005 F Identified Media Mentions 2005 G New TSN Action Plan 2006 H President Thab o Mb eki's Sp eech at the SALT Inauguration H.1 Presidential Speech . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

41 43 46 47 56 59 59

iii


0

Executive Summary

This report provides information about the Armagh Observatory, its staff and organization, and reviews the principal achievements during Calendar Year 2005. All financial matters refer to the financial year running from 1 April to 31 March. At the time of writing, figures for the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 are unaudited and therefore may differ slightly from those published in the final audited accounts. 1. The Armagh Observatory has achieved considerable success during the past year. Staff have produced a record 46 publications in refereed scientific journals during the year, and both the number of identified media citations (348) and the number of Distinct e-Visitors to the Observatory web-sites (http://star.arm.ac.uk/, http://climate.arm.ac.uk/ and http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/spm/), namely 1,012,000, are also record figures. The number of refereed scientific journal publications represents just a fraction of the Observatory's total scientific output. 2. Staff at the Observatory have also obtained external grants and other income totalling approximately ¸221,000 during the period (¸207,947 in external grant receipts), maintaining the current high levels of external, non-DCAL support for astronomy at Armagh. These have averaged in excess of ¸250,000 per year over the past decade, nearly 40% of the present level (¸666,500) of total DCAL core funding to the Observatory. The associated high level of astronomical activity at Armagh demonstrates an extremely good return per unit of core DCAL funding. 3. In the same period, Armagh Observatory staff have delivered 82 talks and other scientific contributions at meetings both locally and abroad, slightly less than the number (93) in 2004, and have expanded its currently very active programme of formal seminars and internal colloquia at the Observatory (30 such talks, more than in previous years). 4. A notable milestone was the inauguration of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), on 10 November 2005. The management and staff of the SALT pro ject, and also those at the South African Astronomical Observatory, are to be congratulated for their achievement in bringing such a complex astronomical pro ject to fruition just five years after the ground-breaking ceremony in September 2000. 5. In addition to pursuing front-line astronomical research, the Observatory continues to present a strong, positive image of Armagh and Northern Ireland on the national and world stage. Members of staff edit academic international journals and serve on various national and international committees for bodies such as the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council, the Royal Astronomical Society, the Royal Irish Academy etc. The Observatory's three principal web-sites, namely http://star.arm.ac.uk/, http://climate.arm.ac.uk/ and http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/spm/, have attracted growing interest by members of the general public, evidenced by the record number of recorded `hits' and Distinct e-Visitors (DEVs), and by the growing amount of data transferred from the web-site to external users. During 2005 these key indicators of web-site activity were recorded as 12.6 million hits, 1.012 million DEVs, and 1.84 TB data exported (1 TB = 1,000 GB). Table 1 shows the yearly trend of various performance indicators. Staff at the Armagh Observatory have produced a high level of scientific and other output during the year and maintained an exceptionally high public profile at regional, national and international level. These activities reflect not just the strength of public interest in astronomy and space science, but also the wide range of research interests of Observatory staff and the activities of its core funding agency, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), presenting all in a very positive light. The Armagh Observatory makes a unique contribution to pro jecting a positive image of Armagh City and District -- and of Northern Ireland -- on the world stage.

0.1

Ob jectives for 2006/2007

The Armagh Observatory is a modern astronomical research institute with a rich heritage, the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland. Its principal function is to carry out front-line scientific research in astronomy and related sciences; an important secondary activity is to pursue a high-profile and high value-for-money programme of education and public outreach. The Observatory's principal ob jectives during 2006 and the coming Financial Year 2006/2007 are to: · maintain existing high-quality research programmes; · obtain grants and additional external funding to support new research pro jects; iv


· strengthen the Observatory's research capability in solar system and stellar astrophysics in readiness for the next Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008; census date 31 October 2007); · enhance the Observatory's use of research infrastructure such as CosmoGrid, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), and the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network (NIRAN); · promote use of the Armagh Observatory Grounds and Astropark, and widen access to astronomy at Armagh by continuing to develop the Observatory's Education and Public Outreach (EPO) programme; and · progress plans for a new Library, Archives and Historic Scientific Instruments Building. Targets for these ob jectives, which together span the Observatory's principal areas of activity (research, education and public outreach, and heritage), are indicated in Table 1. The key task for the year is to obtain a sustainable level of core funding and to identify additional funding to increase the number of senior research staff. This is to maintain the heritage of front-line astronomy at Armagh, to lay a strong foundation for the forthcoming Research Assessment Exercise, and to ensure that the Observatory's ability to obtain external research grants is not undermined. Appended to this report for Calendar Year 2005 (Financial Year 2005/2006) are lists covering (A) Membership of the Management Committee and Board of Governors, (B) Staff Members, (C) Refereed Journal Publications, (D) Presentations by Observatory Staff, (E) Seminars held at the Armagh Observatory, and (F) Identified Media Citations. A further Appendix G summarizes the Armagh Observatory's New TSN Action Plan 2006, which can also be viewed at http://star.arm.ac.uk./TSN.html. The final Appendix H comprises a copy of the speech made by the President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, at the formal inauguration of the SALT.

v


Calendar Year (¸000s) Additional Funding Total 457.3 445.0 425.6 468.5 480.0 11 14 47 4 473.2 443.0 458.5 538.5 713.5 200 200 200 30 30 30 100 100 200 275.0 195.0 293.0 212.0 221.3 42 43 32 31 32 66 80 134 174 318 109 147 238 235 302 35.0 58.0 172.0 264.0 13 22 19 45 14 4 Actual Target Actual Target Actual Target Actual Target Actual Actual 0 0 22.5 0 0 7.5 0 0 80.0 240.0

DCAL Grant-in-Aid

External Grant Income (¸000s)

Refereed Scientific Journal Publications

Distinct e-Visitors (000s)

Identified Media Citations

RAE Grade

Days Absence Per Person Per Year

Core Resource

Core Capital

Target

1992

374.0

83.3

1993 1994 1995 1996

399.0 369.5 412.5 424.0

46.0 33.6 56.0 56.0

0.4

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

428.0 418.0 452.0 452.0 466.0

37.7 25.0 6.5 6.5 7.5

100 100 100

4

3.8 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.8

Table 1: Trends of key performance indicators (PIs) versus calendar year.

vi
110.0 776.5 200 40

2002 2003 2004 2005 1200

616.0 660.0 660.0 660.0

7.5 6.5 6.0 6.5

110.0 115.0 218.0 125.0

733.5 781.5 884.0 791.5

305.7 270.4 239.4 207.9

230 250 250 200

33 34 41 46

32 32 32 35

354 470 576 1012

350 370 500 400

267 226 284 348

200 200 200 200 200

0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4

13 12

2006

660.0

6.5

Notes to Table of Key Performance Indicators: 1. Financial figures refer to the corresponding financial year, so that Core Resource funding for 2005 refers to the core resource funding received in cash terms during 2005/2006 and so on. All other figures are per calendar year.

2. Total DCAL grant-in-aid received in cash terms during each financial year is broken down into Core Resource, Core Capital and Additional Funding (both Resource and Capital). The latter represents additional funding provided by the DCAL in response to competitive bids from the Observatory to support specific in-year pro jects and other activities.

3. At the request of the government, the Table includes a statement of the Sickness Record for Armagh Observatory staff, defined as the ratio S/N , where S is the total number of days lost due to staff sickness per calendar year, and N is the total number of staff in post at the end of the corresponding year. It is noteworthy that the results under this heading are many times better than the best recorded in any government department or higher education institution (these figures range between 3 and 17 days per person per year). The results reflect the strong motivation and commitment of Armagh Observatory staff to their work. For comparison, the DCAL sickness targets for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, which refer to the percentage of working days lost, are 5.8%, 5.3% and 5.0%. Assuming 220 working days in a year, the corresponding DCAL targets are respectively S/N = 12.8, 11.7 and 11.0.

4. Targets for calendar year 2006 (or financial year 2006/2007), including the Additional Funding (¸110,000) required from the DCAL, are expressed in round figures.


1

Intro duction

The Armagh Observatory (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/) is a modern astronomical research institute, the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland. Founded by Archbishop Richard Robinson in 1790 as part of his dream to see the creation of a university in the City of Armagh, the Observatory stands close to the centre of the City of Armagh together with the Armagh Planetarium in approximately 14 acres of attractive, landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark. The Observatory Grounds and Astropark include scale models of the Solar System and the Universe, two sundials and two historic telescopes, as well as telescope domes and other outdoor exhibits (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/astropark/). A new public outreach facility, the Armagh Human Orrery (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/orrery/), is located close to the historic main building of the modern Observatory. The Observatory's Library and Archives, and its specialist collection of scientific instruments and artefacts associated with the development of modern astronomy over more than two hundred years, rank amongst the leading collections of their kind in the UK and Ireland. The principal function of the Armagh Observatory, which is a third-level institution funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), is to undertake original research of a world-class academic standard that broadens and expands our understanding of astronomy and related sciences. In recent years key programmes have focused on Stellar Astrophysics, the Sun, Solar System astronomy, and Solar System ­ Earth relationships including the Sun's influence on climate and the impact of interplanetary dust, comets and asteroids on the Earth. The Observatory also maintains a unique 210-year long meteorological record and data-bank (http://climate.arm.ac.uk/), the longest in the UK and Ireland from a single site, and plays a key role together with the Armagh Planetarium in promoting the public understanding of astronomy and related sciences. Senior research staff at the Observatory are employed as Research Astronomers on a scale equivalent to the NICS Grade 7, which is roughly equivalent to the level of a university senior lecturer, reader or professor. Postgraduate students are registered at various UK and other European universities, but they are normally registered at the Queen's University of Belfast (QUB), which has recognized the Observatory as an approved institution for the supervision of PhD and MPhil. students. There is currently a fluctuating population of around 20 research staff including students, who are supported by a pool of 2 technical (computer-related) staff, 1 librarian, 1 group secretary, 1 finance officer, and a senior administrator shared (50%) with the Armagh Planetarium. The 14 acres of landscaped grounds and the Armagh Astropark are maintained by a grounds/meteorological support officer, who is also responsible for taking the daily meteorological readings, and an assistant groundsman. Research interests of Observatory staff currently focus on (i) Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics (including brown dwarfs, hot stars, helium stars), (ii) the Sun (the dynamic solar atmosphere, chromosphere and corona), and (iii) Solar System Astronomy (including celestial mechanics, planetary science, the interrelationships between comets, asteroids, meteoroids and interplanetary dust, and NEOs). In addition, Observatory staff participate in an active programme of education and public outreach via lectures, popular astronomy articles and interviews with the press, radio and television. Further details concerning the research interests of the Observatory staff may be obtained from the Observatory web-site at: http://star.arm.ac.uk/. The Armagh Observatory participates in the UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), held in 1992, 1996, and 2001. This gives external partners, such as UK charities and the research councils, information upon which to base their funding allocations. Staff at the Observatory achieved a Grade 4 in the Physics Unit of Assessment in each of the 1992, 1996, and 2001 RAEs, corresponding to "Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the research activity submitted, showing some evidence of international excellence." The census date for the next RAE, called "RAE 2008", is 31 October 2007. In addition to the institution's primary research role, the Observatory has an important responsibility to maintain and preserve the fabric of the historic buildings, the library, historic books and archives, and the collection of scientific instruments and other artefacts built up over more than 215 years of continuous astronomical activity in Armagh. The main historic buildings of the Observatory have unique architectural features and together house some of the most valuable collections of scientific books, instruments and archives in Northern Ireland. The scientific and architectural heritage provided by astronomy at Armagh is a highly significant asset for the region, and the entire collection of artefacts, scientific instruments and historic telescopes spans virtually every aspect of modern astronomy. In many cases, the reasons for the particular developments of astronomy at a given time can be explained with reference to discoveries at Armagh, or to artefacts and other items held within the Library and Archives. This provides the astronomers at Armagh with 1


a unique opportunity to explain the development of astronomy and related sciences over more than two hundred years and the context in which modern research is carried out. In short, the Armagh Observatory is a modern astronomical research institute with a rich heritage. It provides a high-quality research environment and diverse opportunities for education and public outreach. The Observatory is well placed to contribute to fundamental discoveries in astronomy on the national and international stage, and to a broader appreciation locally of the importance of scholarship and research in the past and future developments of the City of Armagh and the region.

Vision
The Vision of the Armagh Observatory is: "To maintain and build on its position as a thriving astronomical research institute, and to continue to expand our understanding of the Universe and of humanity's place in it." The Mission is: "To advance the knowledge and understanding of astronomy and related sciences through the execution, promotion and dissemination of astronomical research nationally and internationally in order to enrich the intellectual, economic, social and cultural life of the community."

1.1

Organizational Structure

The Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium are distinctive organizations, part of a single corporate entity "The Governors of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium" described in the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Northern Ireland) Order 1995. This superseded the original 1791 Act of the Irish Parliament entitled "An Act for Settling and Preserving a Public Observatory and Museum in the City of Armagh For Ever", and an Amendment of 1938 ("The University and Collegiate and Scientific Institutions Act [Northern Ireland], 1938"). The Northern Ireland Order 1995 has since been amended by the Audit and Accountability (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. The Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium operate under two separate directors and receive core funding from the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. The total staff complement is approximately 40: roughly 30 in the Observatory and 10 in the Planetarium. The Observatory Director has periodic meetings with the DCAL and reports to a Management Committee which usually meets twice a year, and (annually) to the Board of Governors. The Management Committee (15 members) and Board of Governors (15 members) together comprise representatives from a wide range of parties, including the Church of Ireland, the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), the Queen's University of Belfast (QUB), the UK astronomical community (e.g. members of UK universities and the Astronomer Royal for England), the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the DCAL, and other bodies. Core funding is provided by grant-in-aid from the DCAL, while variable amounts of additional funding are obtained from bodies such as the PPARC, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), the British Council, the Leverhulme Trust, the European Union (EU), and other grant awarding organizations. Members of the Management Committee and the Board of Governors are listed in Appendix A, while the approximately 30 staff members of the Observatory at 31 December 2005 are listed in Appendix B. Armagh Planetarium Full details concerning the Armagh Planetarium are available from its website (see http://www.armaghplanet.com/). The Planetarium is a multifaceted organization dedicated to astronomy education from nursery-age to retirement. Founded in 1968 by the seventh director of the Armagh Observatory, Dr Eric Mervyn Lindsay, to complement the research work of Armagh Observatory, its principal function is to disseminate knowledge and understanding of astronomy and related sciences to people of all backgrounds and all ages. Since its inception the Planetarium has operated as an independent institution, the first and perhaps the best known director being the writer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore. The present Director of the Planetarium is Dr Tom Mason. Whereas the Armagh Observatory is primarily an astronomical research institute, with an organization geared to maintaining its position as an internationally recognized centre of research excellence, the Armagh Planetarium is a leading educational establishment, seeking to attract visitors to Armagh and to educate and inform people of all age groups. The Planetarium plays an important role both in public understanding of science and as a visitor attraction to promote and enhance tourism within Armagh City 2


and District. It helps to make Armagh one of the best known tourist destinations in Northern Ireland and presents astronomy in Armagh as an important part of the City of Armagh's heritage. Senior responsibility for both branches of the organization, namely the Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium, rests with the Management Committee and ultimately the Board of Governors. The two organizations share a joint administrator.

1.2

Research Environment

Technical equipment at Armagh, which is used primarily for numerical analysis, computer modelling and data reduction, is funded by the PPARC, PRTLI, and the DCAL. Facilities presently comprise several iMac workstations, approximately 40 Linux workstations and peripherals, and a computer cluster comprising 25 dual-processor work nodes and one master node with a total of 50 GB memory. These are used mainly for computationally intensive research pro jects in areas such as solar physics, stellar atmospheres, numerical magneto-hydrodynamics, and solar system dynamics. The internal network is a 1 Gbps backbone ethernet linked with switched hubs. The external network is connected to the Joint Academic Network (JANET) through a 10 Mbps link provided through the Observatory's participation in the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network (NIRAN). The increase in the Observatory's network capacity together with a continuing programme of equipment upgrades will enable the Observatory to participate in important new developments such as the Virtual Observatory, the UK AstroGRID, the European Grid of Solar Observatories, the ESA SpaceGRID, and GRID Ireland. Access to Grid technology is currently provided via CosmoGrid (http://www.cosmogrid.ie/). This will provide access to three high-performance supercomputer clusters, each comprising 128â1 GHz PCs, one in Galway and two in Dublin (DIAS and UCD). Armagh Observatory staff regularly receive awards of telescope time on national and international facilities, and research grants from various grant awarding bodies. The Observatory is also a member of the UK SALT Consortium (UKSC), providing access to the 10-metre class SALT telescope (the Southern African Large Telescope, see http://star.arm.ac.uk/SALT/), located at the Sutherland Observatory, South Africa. Restoration of the Observatory's historic telescopes has brought opportunities to reintroduce professional observing from Armagh, both for research and student training, and particularly through the use of the 18-inch Calver reflector equipped with a new CCD camera and by the establishment of a new video system systematically to record meteors. The Southern African Large Telescop e The SALT pro ject is an international collaboration between the following parties: · The National Research Council of South Africa; · The Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences; · The Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) Founding Institutions (The University of Texas at Austin, The Pennsylvania State University; Stanford University; The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit¨ Munchen; at ¨ and The Georg-August-Universit¨ G¨ at ottingen); · Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, USA; · The Georg-August-Universit¨ G¨ at ottingen, Germany; · The University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA; · The Carnegie Mellon University at Pittsburgh, USA; · The University of Canterbury, New Zealand; · The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA; · Dartmouth College, Hanover, USA; and · The UK SALT Consortium (The Armagh Observatory, The University of Central Lancashire; The University of Keele; The University of Nottingham; The Open University; and The University of Southampton). The SALT was inaugurated on 2005 November 10, just five years after the ground-breaking ceremony. It is expected to come into full scientific operations during 2006. 3


Figure 1: Members of Armagh Observatory staff and visitors, July 2005. From left to right are: Shane Kelly, ChiaHsien Lin, Miruna Popescu, David Asher, Lidong Xia, John McFarland, Babulakshmanan Ramachandran, Alex Rosen, Michael Smith, Anthony Moraghan, Gerry Doyle, Simon Jeffery, Bernard Toner, Antoaneta Antonova, Natalie Behara, Apostolos Christou, Lawrence Young, Barry O'Connell, Eoghan O'Shea, Amir Ahmad, Jonathan McAuliffe, John Butler, Youra Taroyan, Mark Bailey, Aileen McKee, Geoff Coxhead, Alison Neve, Timur Sahin, ¸ Ana Maria Garc´ Su´ ia arez, Elizabeth Skogvoll, and Martin Murphy. Among those missing from this image are: Bebe Ishak and Christopher Winter.

1.3

Staff

The staff position at the Armagh Observatory on 31 December 2005 is shown in Appendix B. Individuals are identified by their 3-letter (sometimes 2 or 4) `Starlink' computer username (full e-mail address: xxx@arm.ac.uk), together with a brief job-title and an indication of their position and principal role in the Observatory. It is noteworthy that a very high proportion of Observatory staff are involved in core research and support activities, the entire operation being supported by just three administrative staff (ambn, asn, lfy), one of whom (lfy) is shared equally both in time and cost with the Planetarium. Figure 1 shows members of staff and visitors present for the staff photograph in July 2005, while Table 2 shows the number of Observatory staff present in various categories at the end of each calendar year. Staff Movements and Other Notes 1. Bernard Toner (Assistant Groundsman) continued to work with Shane Kelly (Grounds and Meteorological Officer) under a placement administered by Rutledge Training. Following Pat Corvan's retirement from the Planetarium in March 2005, Shane Kelly took back the principal responsibility for opening and closing the Observatory at appropriate times during weekdays. 2. Mrs Aileen McKee began a part-time Level 4 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) course in Administration at the East Tyrone College of Further and Higher Education. This Level 4 qualification is intended for individuals who are working at a senior level with considerable responsibility for the management of systems and resources, and working with an extensive degree of autonomy. 4


Year

Research Astronomers

Other Academic Research Staff

Core Research Support

Core Grounds and Admin.

External/Visitors and Others

Total

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

5 5 5 6 5 5 5 3

17 18 16 14 14 14 18 16

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

5 4 4 4 5 5 5 5

4 4 5 4 3 3 4 3

34 34 33 31 30 30 35 30

Table 2: The number of Armagh Observatory staff present in various categories at the end of each calendar year.

Figure 2: Margaret Cherry on the occasion of her retirement party on 17 January 2005. Image courtesy of Miruna Popescu.

3. Margaret Cherry, the Observatory Accounts Officers, retired on 31 service lasting more than 47 years. Of particular interest were her meteorological data at various times and her initial appointment, in `computer'. This illustrates the many changes in astronomy, and in have taken place during this period. Figure 2 shows Margaret on party on 17 January 2005.

January 2005 after a period of contributions to recording the part, as the Observatory's first the Armagh Observatory, that the occasion of her retirement

It is also noteworthy that Margaret Cherry was honoured by the receipt of an MBE in the June 2005 Birthday Honours list. The citation reads "cherry, Margaret, Mrs., lately Accounts Officer, Armagh Observatory. For services to Astronomy." A more extensive article in the News Letter (11 June 2005) noted that ". . . Margaret Cherry dedicated 47 years to Armagh Observatory and retired in January. She had held various posts and was at the observatory for roughly a quarter of its existence. Mrs Cherry was deputy meteorological officer from 1963 to 1974, but she worked primarily in accounts and as a clerical officer . . . ". 4. Following interviews for Margaret's replacement as Accounts and General Administrative Officer on 29 April 2005, Ms Alison Neve (e-mail: asn@arm.ac.uk) began work at the Observatory with effect from 1 June 2005. She has subsequently obtained a qualification as a St. John's Ambulance 5


First Aider, providing additional Health and Safety support during working hours. 5. Research Astronomer Michael Smith tendered his resignation with effect from 31 October 2005 in order to take up a new position as Professor of Astronomy in the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Kent. Michael has been a very important element of the Armagh Observatory team for approximately seven years, during which time he made many significant contributions to the Observatory's research output. 6. Research Astronomer John Butler also formally left the employment of the Observatory with effect from 31 October 2005, this time to retirement. John has been involved with Armagh for more than 30 years, and has also made many significant contributions to the Observatory and to the wider community within the City of Armagh during this period. As an emeritus research fellow he will maintain his research links with astronomers in Armagh and farther afield. 7. Two PDRAs left the Observatory during the year, namely the CosmoGrid PDRA, Dr Chia-Hsien Lin (who left in mid-September 2005 for a new appointment at Yale University, USA); and the PPARC-funded PDRA, Dr Youra Taroyan (who left at the end of September 2005 for a new PDRA position at the University of Sheffield). 8. Several PhD students passed their oral examinations during 2005, namely: · Peter Nick Sleep (Open University PhD oral examination on 23 February 2005); thesis topic: " `Earths' in Exoplanetary Systems". · Barry O'Connell (Trinity College Dublin PhD oral examination on 31 March 2005); thesis topic: "The Impact of Protostellar Jets on their Environment." · Ana Maria Garc´ Su´ ia arez (QUB PhD oral examination on 3 May 2005); thesis topic: "The Influence of Climatic Variables on Tree-Ring Widths of Different Species". · Babulakshmanan Ramachandran (QUB PhD oral examination on 27 October 2005); thesis topic: "Modes of Oscillation in Stars and Stellar Environments". 9. Four new PhD students arrived in late September and early October 2005, namely Mr Prakash Atreya (atr@arm.ac.uk), from the International University, Bremen, Germany; Ms Caroline Pereira (cap@arm.ac.uk), from the Department of Physics, University of Montreal, Canada; Mr David P´ erez-Su´ arez (dps@arm.ac.uk), from the University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; and Mr Patrick McCafferty (pmc@arm.ac.uk), from Queen's University Belfast (QUB). The first three are working at Armagh on pro jects respectively involving meteor astronomy, stellar astrophysics and solar physics, under the primary supervision of Apostolos Christou, Simon Jeffery and Gerry Doyle, respectively. The fourth is undertaking an interdisciplinary research pro ject in the Department of Irish ´ and Celtic Studies (QUB) under the primary supervision of Professor D´ onall P. O Baoill, together with Mark Bailey and David Asher (Armagh), aimed at interpreting (if possible) the sequence of celestial events described in Irish (and other) mythologies in terms of our current understanding of solar system astronomy. 10. The three PhD students selected in 2004, namely Antoaneta Antonova (QUB PhD topic: "Discovering the Source of Radio Activity in Brown Dwarfs", primary supervisor Gerry Doyle); Timur Sahin ¸ (QUB PhD topic: "Stellar Evolution Beyond the Giant Branch", primary supervisor Simon Jeffery); and Anthony Moraghan (TCD PhD topic: "Simulations of Protostellar Jets: Mass-Velocity Relations", primary supervisor Michael Smith) passed their respective differentiation examinations on 22 September 2005 (QUB students) and 4 November 2005 (TCD student), and were recommended to continue on to the full PhD programme.

1.4

New TSN Action Plan

In recent years New Targeting Social Need (TSN) has been an overarching government policy with the aim of tackling social need and social exclusion. Although under review during 2005, recent TSN Action Plans have tended to roll forward from previous years pending agreement on the new format and focus for a revised New TSN Policy. Targeting Social Need is intended as a long-term programme to mitigate problems arising from social need, focusing particularly on issues of unemployment and ways to increase employability; on inequality in fields such as health, education and housing; and on factors that contribute to social exclusion which need a cross-departmental approach. 6


It is important to note that New TSN is not a spending programme, but a theme which runs through spending programmes and which requires resources to be redirected within such programmes towards areas shown ob jectively to be in greatest need. Following a decision by the DCAL in 2003 to consolidate the TSN policies of the agencies, NDPBs and Statutory Bodies that it currently supports, the Armagh Observatory and Armagh Planetarium policies on New Targeting Social Need have been incorporated into an overarching DCAL policy. For convenience we have continued to make the Armagh Observatory's New TSN policy available on the internet and in hard copy on request. The New TSN Policy for 2006, which was most recently reviewed in February 2006, is available on the internet at http://star.arm.ac.uk/TSN.html and is appended to this Annual Report as Appendix G.

1.5

Key Performance Indicators

Whereas the Armagh Observatory's principal function is to carry out front-line scientific research in astronomy and related sciences, it also has a very wide range of secondary responsibilities, for example to preserve and restore Northern Ireland's scientific, cultural and built heritage, to widen access to all parts of the Observatory Estate, to promote public understanding of science, and to disseminate to as wide an audience as possible the fruits of astronomical research. The following performance indicators span all of these ob jectives: External Grant Income; Refereed Scientific Journal Publications; Distinct e-Visitors to the Observatory's web-sites; and Identified Media Citations in the press, digital media and on radio and television. Data referring to each of these measures have been collected systematically over several years, and so their interpretation (and the analysis of any resulting trends) is relatively straightforward. Moreover, each item is a good proxy for one or other of the Observatory's main areas of activity, and so the results can be used to skew resources as necessary. The figures also have the merit that they are straightforward to collect and can be independently audited if required. Further information on each of these key performance indicators is provided below. 1. External Grant Income This primary research indicator is a proxy for (1) the success of Armagh Observatory staff in attracting external (i.e. non-DCAL) income to support their work, (2) the quality of their proposed pro ject work in a highly competitive third-level environment, and (3) their ability to contribute added value to core funding provided by the DCAL. External grant income frequently represents additional funding brought into Northern Ireland from outside, for example from UK Research Councils, the European Union, and the Republic of Ireland. 2. Refereed Scientific Journal Publications This primary research indicator highlights the volume of high-quality scientific articles published by Observatory staff during each calendar year. The number of publications in refereed scientific journals per year is a subset of the Observatory's entire research output, but the focus on refereed scientific journals helps to identify contributions that are likely to figure in the periodic Research Assessment Exercise. 3. Distinct e-Visitors (DEVs) This Education and Public Outreach indicator measures the success of the Armagh Observatory in attracting visitors to Armagh. It is important for any research organization to reach out to its neighbours and the wider community on whose support it ultimately depends for the resources necessary to carry out fundamental research. In round figures, the Armagh Observatory accommodates approximately 1,000 visitors every year on guided tours of the main building, and about 20,000 visitors every year on self-guided tours of the Observatory Grounds and Astropark. However, rather than seek arbitrarily to increase the number of these physical visitors to the Observatory Demesne, the primary focus is on developing the Observatory's rich and extensive web-site. Electronic or `e-visitors' can access information about astronomy and the Armagh Observatory at any time and from anywhere in the world. The number of Distinct eVisitors (DEVs), which is measured in millions, is therefore a proxy for the total number of visitors of all types to the Armagh Observatory and to the Observatory Grounds and Astropark. 4. Identified Media Citations By contrast, this Education and Public Outreach indicator measures the success of Observatory staff in reaching out to the general public. The figures have been collected on the same basis for at least a decade, and so provide a good measure of the Observatory's success in providing information to the general public through the mass media about astronomy, the work of the astronomers at Armagh, and Armagh's astronomical, meteorological and built heritage. The figure is also a proxy for the Observatory's significant contributions to lifelong learning and to promoting better public understanding of science. The Observatory does not have a clippings service, and so the number of identified media citations is a firm lower limit to the total number of such citations received world-wide. 7


5. RAE Grade A fifth key performance indicator is the outcome of the Observatory's participation in the periodic Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). This is decoupled from the annual indicators, but the Observatory's participation in the RAE allows the quality of research and the research environment in the Armagh Observatory to be compared with that in UK university physics departments. The Observatory has participated in the RAE since 1992, during which time it has maintained a Quality Research (QR) rating of Grade 4. In 2001 this grade corresponded to: "Quality that equates to attainable levels of national excellence in virtually all of the research activity submitted, showing some evidence of international excellence." It should be noted that this performance has been achieved in a relatively difficult environment and without the benefit of any resonant RAE funding. 6. Sickness Record This new key performance indicator has been recorded systematically since 1996. It is often used by commentators as a proxy for a variety of personnel issues and as an indicator of the commitment and motivation of staff. The figures are presented here for the first time at the request of the government. In addition to these key performance indicators, various other data are recorded for statistical or internal management purposes, some of which are routinely presented in tabular or narrative form in each year's Annual Report (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/annrep/). The trends of such data can be extracted, if required, but they add little to conclusions drawn from the six key performance indicators described above. Results for each of these performance indicators, and the prior-year business plan targets against which each should be compared, are listed in Table 3. All items refer to calendar year, with the exception of financial matters (i.e. external grant income for 2005 refers to the financial year 2005/2006 and so on). Important factors to be considered in interpreting these results are the number of senior research staff available to attract external grants and to direct research pro jects, and the amount of core funding provided by the sponsor government department. There is a need to provide sufficient baseline funding to facilitate the smooth running of the Armagh Observatory's core operations. Moreover, opportunities to bid for additional research and development funds are often a small organization's only way to develop new areas of activity or to become involved in ma jor new pro jects. The Table demonstrates that the DCAL has recently been extremely generous in providing the Observatory with additional development funds. However, the current level of core funding is now insufficient. The trends in the total number of senior research staff employed by the Observatory and the total number of staff employed overall are given in Table 2. This shows that during 2005 the number of Research Astronomers fell to its lowest level for many years, effectively the result of three successive years of flat-cash core funding. An important ob jective during 2006 is to increase the number of Research Astronomers, both to maintain the present high level of research activity and to lay a strong foundation for the RAE.

8


Figure 3: Histograms showing various performance indicators for the Armagh Observatory during the past decade. The different panels show the variation of External Grant Income (¸000s) per financial year, the number of Refereed Journal Publications, the number of Identified Media Citations and the number of Distinct e-Visitors, all per calendar year. Solid lines denote actuals; dotted lines, prior-year Business Plan targets. The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March, so external grant income for 2005 corresponds to the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 and so on.

9


Calendar Year (¸000s) Additional Funding Total 457.3 445.0 425.6 468.5 480.0 11 14 47 4 473.2 443.0 458.5 538.5 713.5 200 200 200 30 30 30 100 100 200 275.0 195.0 293.0 212.0 221.3 42 43 32 31 32 66 80 134 174 318 109 147 238 235 302 35.0 58.0 172.0 264.0 13 22 19 45 14 4 Actual Target Actual Target Actual Target Actual Target Actual Actual 0 0 22.5 0 0 7.5 0 0 80.0 240.0

DCAL Grant-in-Aid

External Grant Income (¸000s)

Refereed Scientific Journal Publications

Distinct e-Visitors (000s)

Identified Media Citations

RAE Grade

Days Absence Per Person Per Year

Core Resource

Core Capital

Target

1992

374.0

83.3

1993 1994 1995 1996

399.0 369.5 412.5 424.0

46.0 33.6 56.0 56.0

0.4

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

428.0 418.0 452.0 452.0 466.0

37.7 25.0 6.5 6.5 7.5

100 100 100

4

3.8 0.3 0.5 0.3 1.8

Table 3: Trends of key performance indicators (PIs) versus calendar year.

10
110.0 776.5 200 40

2002 2003 2004 2005 1200

616.0 660.0 660.0 660.0

7.5 6.5 6.0 6.5

110.0 115.0 218.0 125.0

733.5 781.5 884.0 791.5

305.7 270.4 239.4 207.9

230 250 250 200

33 34 41 46

32 32 32 35

354 470 576 1012

350 370 500 400

267 226 284 348

200 200 200 200 200

0.2 0.4 0.4 0.4

13 12

2006

660.0

6.5

Notes to Table of Key Performance Indicators: 1. Financial figures refer to the corresponding financial year, so that Core Resource funding for 2005 refers to the core resource funding received in cash terms during 2005/2006 and so on. All other figures are per calendar year.

2. Total DCAL grant-in-aid received in cash terms during each financial year is broken down into Core Resource, Core Capital and Additional Funding (both Resource and Capital). The latter represents additional funding provided by the DCAL in response to competitive bids from the Observatory to support specific in-year pro jects and other activities.

3. At the request of the government, the Table includes a statement of the Sickness Record for Armagh Observatory staff, defined as the ratio S/N , where S is the total number of days lost due to staff sickness per calendar year, and N is the total number of staff in post at the end of the corresponding year. It is noteworthy that the results under this heading are many times better than the best recorded in any government department or higher education institution (these figures range between 3 and 17 days per person per year). The results reflect the strong motivation and commitment of Armagh Observatory staff to their work. For comparison, the DCAL sickness targets for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, which refer to the percentage of working days lost, are 5.8%, 5.3% and 5.0%. Assuming 220 working days in a year, the corresponding DCAL targets are respectively S/N = 12.8, 11.7 and 11.0.

4. Targets for calendar year 2006 (or financial year 2006/2007), including the Additional Funding (¸110,000) required from the DCAL, are expressed in round figures.


2

Review of Financial Year 2005/2006
· maintain existing high-quality research programmes ­ done in part; · obtain grants and additional external funding to support new research pro jects ­ done; · strengthen the Observatory's research capability in solar system and stellar astrophysics in readiness for the next Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008; census date 31 October 2007) ­ not done; · enhance the Observatory's access to and use of necessary research infrastructure, such as CosmoGrid, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), and the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network (NIRAN) ­ done; · widen access to the heritage material in its possession ­ done; and · progress plans for a new Library, Archive and Historic Scientific Instruments Building ­ done in part.

The principal ob jectives for 2005/2006 were to:

The corresponding key performance indicators and targets for these ob jectives, which together span the Observatory's principal areas of activity (research, education and public outreach, and heritage), are indicated in Table 3. The key task for the year was to obtain a stable level of core funding and to gain access to additional funds for the recruitment of additional research staff. This was primarily (1) to maintain and strengthen the Observatory's current research activity, and (2) to lay a strong foundation for the forthcoming Research Assessment Exercise (2002­2007), which has a census date 31 October 2007. This task was not achieved, the lack of sufficient core funding in turn having a detrimental effect on the achievement of the Observatory's principal ob jectives in 2005/2006.

2.1

Lack of Core Funding

It is unfortunate to record that no additional funding could be obtained in-year either for new staff positions or to replace senior research staff who were due to retire in-year. During 2005/2006 the effects of the uncertainty surrounding this core funding regime led to a delay in filling the two vacancies that arose in 2005 among the Observatory's five senior Research Astronomer positions. However, the current (2006/2007) Business Plan envisages replacing these senior research staff halfway through the year. It is important to note that in recent years additional funding has been provided by the DCAL in each of the past several years so as to avoid the Observatory incurring a deficit. What is needed in order to improve the Observatory's forward planning is for the same amount of additional funding, which is not large in government terms, to be provided as part of the Observatory's core funding determined at the beginning of the financial year. The Observatory recognizes, of course, that it is not an `ivory tower' and that it must operate within the same tight financial constraints that affect most of the public sector. However, front-line astronomical research is not an activity that can be easily turned on or off, nor can high-quality research staff easily be identified and attracted to work in Northern Ireland. A stable level of core funding is an essential element of the Observatory's business, both to attract senior research staff to work in Armagh and to support their work over the medium to long time-scales that their individual research pro jects, and the teams that they lead, require to develop and mature. The record of the Observatory's past performance demonstrates that on average every year, each Research Astronomer brings into Armagh an amount of external grant income that is equal to or greater than their gross DCAL-funded salary cost, so expanding astronomical activity at Armagh in a highly cost-effective manner.

2.2

Performance

As described in Section 1.5, the Observatory adopts four principal key performance indicators, which taken together span all of the Observatory's main areas of activity (research, education and public outreach, and heritage). These are: (1) External Grant Income (per financial year); (2) the number of Publications in Refereed Scientific Journals (per calendar year); (3) the number of Identified Media Citations (per calendar year); and (4) the number of Distinct e-Visitors (DEVs) to its web-sites (per calendar year). Other data are recorded for internal management and statistical purposes (e.g. numbers of presentations, seminars and invited talks), and many of these are presented under relevant headings in this Report. 11


The total external grant income during 2005/2006, namely ¸207,947, was above the target figure of ¸200,000 set in April 2005, with most of this figure attributable to external research grants. The typically five Research Astronomers at Armagh have continued to bring into the Observatory more external funding in terms of non-DCAL grant income than their gross DCAL-funded salary costs, a remarkable achievement. This statistic alone demonstrates the potential for resonant growth of this primary activity through the recruitment of additional research staff. The target for external grant income for 2006/2007 has again been set at ¸200,000, although considering the slightly reduced number of Research Astronomers and the presently highly competitive environment for obtaining external research grants, this remains a challenging goal. The number of refereed journal publications has again increased compared with the levels achieved in the past few years. This is a highly commendable result, especially considering that the total number of research staff (see Table 2) has hardly changed. Similarly, the number of identified media citations has remained at a high level, resulting in a record figure of 348, substantially above the target of 200 per year. The number of DEVs continues to grow at a significant rate, also reaching a record figure (1.012 million) in 2005. In summary, these results demonstrate a very satisfactory performance by Observatory staff during 2005, both in their research output and external impact. The agreed performance measures (Table 3 and Figure 3) show that the Observatory has maintained a very high level of research activity and has continued to obtain substantial amounts of external income to support its work whilst maintaining an exceptionally high public profile. For such a small research group, the frequency with which members of staff appear in or are quoted in newspapers and other media is probably second to none.

2.3

Ob jectives for Financial Year 2006/2007

The announced parliamentary grant-in-aid for 2006/2007 is ¸666,500, comprising ¸660,000 Resource Funding and ¸6,500 Capital, substantially less than that required to maintain current levels of activity in the long term. The amount is the same in cash terms as in 2003/2004, and the effective year-on-year cut in the Observatory's core funding makes it extremely difficult to plan strategically and for the long term. This difficulty and the associated uncertainty whether in-year bids for additional funds may or may not be successful now represent the highest perceived business risks faced by the organization. In particular, a large fraction of the Observatory's overall annual cost is related to core running costs such as salaries and essential fixed items such as heat, light, power, insurance etc. It is inevitable that the announced funding for 2006/2007, if not augmented by additional funds, will put a severe strain on the Observatory's ability to sustain its planned programmes of research, outreach and public understanding of science beyond 2006/2007. The allocated funds will be directed towards achieving the following principal ob jectives during 2006/2007, namely to: · maintain existing high-quality research programmes; · obtain grants and additional external funding to support new research pro jects; · strengthen the Observatory's research capability in solar system and stellar astrophysics in readiness for the next Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008; census date 31 October 2007); · enhance the Observatory's use of research infrastructure such as CosmoGrid, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), and the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network (NIRAN); · promote use of the Armagh Observatory Grounds and Astropark, and widen access to astronomy at Armagh by continuing to develop the Observatory's Education and Public Outreach (EPO) programme; and · progress plans for a new Library, Archives and Historic Scientific Instruments Building. Targets for these ob jectives, which together span the Observatory's principal areas of activity (research, education and public outreach, and heritage), are indicated in Table 3. The key task for the year is to obtain a sustainable level of core funding and to identify additional funding to increase the number of senior research staff. This is to maintain the heritage of front-line astronomy at Armagh, to lay a strong foundation for the forthcoming RAE, and to ensure that the Observatory's ability to obtain external research grants is not undermined. 12


3
3.1
3.1.1

Research
Highlights
Stellar Physics

ultracam Observations of Sub dwarf B Stars Subdwarf B (sdB) stars are highly evolved stars which vibrate with many different frequencies. Such vibrations enable astronomers to establish the structure of a star with unusual precision. Simon Jeffery has been involved in a series of campaigns to use a phenomenal high-speed camera on the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) in La Palma, and in 2005 -- for the first time -- on one of the 8 m units of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile. At the VLT, Simon Jeffery teamed up with Conny Aerts (Nijmegen and Leuven) to observe subdwarf B star PG 1336­018. This is a short-period variable which is alternately eclipsed and reflected by an unseen binary companion every 2 1 hours (see Figure 4). In August, together with PDRA Amir Ahmad, 2 he again teamed up with Aerts, and also with Gilles Fontaine (Montreal) and St´ ephane Charpinet (Observatoire Midi-Pyr´ ´ enees) to observe the bright subdwarf B star Balloon 090100001. This star pulsates simultaneously in short-period pressure modes and long-period gravity modes. The observing campaign combined the light-gathering power of the WHT with that of the 4 m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope and the 2 m Himalaya Chandra Telescope to obtain data around the clock for 6 days.

Figure 4: The pulsating sdB star PG 1336­018.

The goal of these observations is to disentangle the different frequencies present and to compare the amplitude of each oscillation in red, green and ultraviolet light. This enables the spherical degree (or shape) of each oscillation to be identified, and thus assists a comparison with theoretical pulsation models. This is the process of asteroseismology , the science of probing a star's interior by studying oscillations on its surface. 3.1.2 Planetary Science

Faulkes Telescop e Observations of the New `Planet' 2003 UB313 . In July 2005, Elizabeth Connolly (Loreto Grammar School, Omagh), a Nuffield bursary student using Faulkes Telescope North, made an impromptu observation of a newly announced minor planet -- labelled 2003 UB313 (Figure 5). Assisted by Simon Jeffery and David Asher, this was the first observation from the island of Ireland of the solar system's most significant addition in over 70 years. More recent observations have shown `Planet X' to be significantly larger than Pluto. As a result, Elizabeth was interviewed on UTV Live, she was selected to speak on behalf of all Northern Ireland Nuffield bursary students at the Nuffield awards ceremony, and also selected by the President of Ireland to talk about her pro ject and the Observatory during the latter's visit to Loreto school in 2006 January. 13


Figure 5: Left: Old image of sky with predicted position of the new planet (cross). Right: Same patch of sky imaged with the Faulkes Telescope on 2005 August 5. The new `planet' 2003 UB313 is marked with a circle.

Figure 6: Hubble Space Telescope image of Uranus, taken on 1997 July 28, showing the inner satellites and ringsystems of Uranus. Illustration courtesy of NASA; image created by Erich Karkoschka (University of Arizona). As Uranus moves around its orbit the satellite system will appear, for a short time, nearly edge-on as viewed from the Earth, allowing the possibility of `mutual events' (eclipses and occultations) between the ma jor satellites.

Mutual Events Between Planetary Satellites Building on our initial experience with observing the mutual eclipses and occultations between Jupiter's satellites during the 2002/2003 season, Apostolos Christou has generated predictions for 320 similar events occurring among the five ma jor Uranian satellites (Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon and Miranda) from 2006 to 2009, of which about half should be detectable from different longitudes around the world. A world-wide campaign of photometric observations of these events will yield significant new information on the Uranian satellite system. These Uranian mutual events are extremely rare, occurring once every 42 years (half a Uranian orbital period). Since Uranus will not be visited by spacecraft in the foreseeable future, the events represent an excellent, and perhaps the only, opportunity to bring our level of knowledge of the satellites' orbits up to that of the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. Predictions were published in Icarus in November 2005 and also presented at the 2005 DPS meeting in Cambridge. In December 2005, Christou was invited to join the Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) for a three-day workshop (see http://www.imcce.fr/paris2006/) themed on the Uranian satellite mutual events and organized by the Institut de M´ ecanique C´ eleste et ´ emerides (IMCCE) to be held in Paris, France, in November 2006. Test observations de Calcul des Eph´ ´ 14


of the Uranian satellite system have also been made using the Faulkes Telescope North in Hawaii, in collaboration with Fraser Lewis at the University of Cardiff. Provisional arrangements have been made to observe the first batch of mutual events using the Faulkes Telescope South in 2006. 3.1.3 Solar Physics

Over the past decade there have been significant developments in solar physics, leading to a better understanding of many of the solar activity phenomena. Based on observational facts about their physical origin, we are able to build more precise models aimed at describing these phenomena. A great deal of observational effort has been directed towards the problem of understanding coronal heating mechanisms based on large-scale magnetic loops. However, these occupy only 10% of the solar surface. Less attention has been paid to the remaining 90%, where the magnetic fields are concentrated into small-scale magnetic flux tubes. When observed with high spatial and temporal resolution, the `quiet' Sun is anything but quiet showing its dynamic nature through quasi-periodic fluctuations in the intensity and Doppler shift of spectral lines emitted in the solar chromosphere, transition region and corona. The dynamics of the solar atmosphere is displayed through transient phenomena such as spicules and macrospicules (jet-like structures) seen in chromospheric and transition region lines, UV (ultra-violet) brightenings, transitionregion blinkers (a term introduced to describe an enhancement in the intensity of transition region lines), UV bi-directional jets (known as explosive events), and coronal UV and X-ray bright points. The main thrust of our work is to understand the interrelationships between these features and their connection to the heating in the upper atmosphere.

Figure 7: An image of the solar corona (top) with spicule activity in the transition region N iv line at a temperature T = 14, 000 K (bottom). Our time series (Xia et al. 2005) gave us the chance to see the EUV spicules with a clarity and a duration that had never been seen before.

In order to investigate these events, we use a combination of high-quality spectral data from spectrometers onboard SoHO, imagers onboard SoHO and TRACE, ground and space-based magnetogram data, plus MHD and HD modelling, in combination with high-quality atomic physics input to investigate the line formation process and to produce model line profiles for comparison with observations. Determining in detail the observational signatures of magnetic reconnection and/or propagating waves, and finding out which of the many proposed regimes of reconnection or which type of waves are operating, 15


has fundamental significance for understanding the chain of heating processes that generates and sustains the million degrees hot solar corona. An example of some of the data sets we use is provided in Figure 7, which shows the Sun with a high-resolution zoom close to its southern pole, representing the dynamics of the ultraviolet spicules. These data revealed the short lifetime of solar ultraviolet spicules (about 5 minutes), as well as many other important dynamical characteristics of these structures, some of which had never been observed before. For more information, see http://star.arm.ac.uk/mdp-front.html. Over the past 7­8 years, many authors have suggested that these small features are unrelated. However, new simultaneous spectral and imaging data and its interpretation suggest that it is time to look again. Misinterpretation can and has resulted from single frequency observations. The picture emerging from our work suggests a sequence of events beginning with cancellation of photospheric magnetic fields, which pass through shock formation, resulting in transition region jets or micro-flares. Hence, starting from the collision of flux tubes, if the angle between the resulting shocks is head-on then no flows are produced (i.e. only a brightening, termed a blinker). If the shocks have the correct angle, then flows are produced (i.e. explosive events jets); and if the interacting flux tubes collide in the vicinity of a vertical magnetic field, then perhaps this is the starting point of the fast solar wind. With the pending launch of Solar-B, coupled with SoHO and TRACE missions, the Sun is accessible to highly-detailed remote-sensing observations which should lead to an improved understanding of these basic physical processes in the solar atmosphere. The suite of pro jects currently under investigation is extensive and requires people with experience in the reduction of multi-instrument data, e.g. high spectral resolution data, imaging, and atomic physics knowledge, if we are to address all of them. 3.1.4 Climate

Together with Ana Maria Garc´ Su´ ia arez and others, John Butler has published a further six volumes in the Armagh Climate Series. Printed versions of these papers have been deposited in several UK and Irish climate archives for long-term storage. All these climate data sets are now available for historical and scientific research and to the general public via the Observatory's Climate web-site (see http://climate.arm.ac.uk/). 3.1.5 Technical Equipment

The Observatory has bought its first Apple computers for more than 15 years (an early Apple II had been used to control a photographic plate measuring system in the 1980s). Two iMac G5 systems and an iMac Powerbook were purchased in order to explore the usefulness of these innovative systems and how they would integrate into the Observatory's existing ICT infrastructure. Impressions, so far, have been positive. Martin Murphy and Jonathan McAuliffe have set up an Observatory Wiki, an on-line interactive system descended from the bulletin boards of the early Internet. It enables groups of people to work collaboratively on common pro jects. In the case of the Observatory Wiki (see http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/wiki/) it is being used to build an on-line source of information about the Observatory, its facilities and its local environment which will be of use to newcomers at the Observatory. As part of our policy of maintaining our computer facilities at a standard appropriate for an international research institute, 10 existing workstations were upgraded to the latest models and the last of the old CRT monitors were replaced with LCD flat screens. 1 colour and 4 monochrome laser printers were purchased. Geoff Coxhead and Apostolos Christou have designed and constructed an automatic meteor detection system (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/meteor-cam/) which was installed on the roof of the main building and has now been fully operational since June 2005. The system has already accumulated many gigabytes of data which will be analyzed by a PhD student (Prakash Atreya) as part of his thesis pro ject. Geoff Coxhead also designed and constructed (with assistance from Bertie McClure) the drive control electronics and a mechanical linkage for the restored Calver telescope.

3.2
3.2.1

Technical Research Summaries
D.J. Asher

Centaurs from the Oort Cloud David Asher and Mark Bailey continued their collaboration with Vacheslav Emel'yanenko (South Ural University, Russia) on the populations of comet-like ob jects in the solar system. Centaurs are bodies of a cometary nature whose orbits are in the region of the giant planets 16


and which are therefore dynamically unstable. The orbital distributions of Centaurs provide important constraints on the possible outer solar system source regions of cometary ob jects. Emel'yanenko, Asher and Bailey showed that there are two separate, but overlapping dynamical classes of Centaurs, one originating from the Oort cometary cloud and the other from the class of ob jects on highly eccentric orbits that approach the orbit of Neptune. They also found that the two source regions produce roughly similar contributions to the observed Jupiter family of comets. Irregular Satellites All four giant planets possess irregular satellite systems. Sometimes one satellite will make a moderately close approach to another satellite orbiting the same planet. Apostolos Christou and David Asher are investigating the possibility that the gravitational deflection induced on one satellite by the other could cause an orbital change that is measurable on a useful timescale (i.e., within a couple of decades or so from the present). This would allow the mass of the deflecting satellite to be estimated. Knowledge of the masses of planetary satellites is valuable as it can be used to constrain their densities and thus their origin and collisional history by proxy. Christou and Asher have identified some potentially interesting close approach possibilities. Options for studying these observationally will be evaluated in detail. Meteors In 2005 David Asher published a review paper on meteor shower forecasting, and also made results on Taurids, Leonids and other meteor showers (based on computational models done previously) available to interested parties. This year there was particular interest in the higher than normal Taurid fireball activity that had been previously predicted by Asher and Victor Clube (Oxford University). Impact Hazard With Vacheslav Emel'yanenko (South Ural University) and Bill Napier (Cardiff University), David Asher and Mark Bailey wrote a short paper demonstrating inconsistencies between currently widely believed assessments of the impact hazard and the number of near-Earth ob jects observed to have actually approached the Earth. There is evidence that current assessments underestimate the impact hazard and that a substantial population of rather dark (and hence not easily observed at large distances) ob jects populate interplanetary space. Near-Earth Asteroids Apostolos Christou and David Asher continue to make occasional reports of asteroid astrometry (positional measurements) to the international Minor Planet Center. The asteroids are observed in Armagh or with the remotely controlled Faulkes Telescope in Hawaii. This work is sometimes joined with work experience pro jects so that young people can learn about this aspect of astronomy. Other Work Asher remains a member of the Scientific Organizing Committee of IAU Commission 22 (Meteors, Meteorites and Interplanetary Dust), the IAU Working Group on Near-Earth Ob jects, the Council of the IMO (International Meteor Organization) and the Editorial Board of WGN, the IMO's journal. 3.2.2 M.E. Bailey

Research As described above, Mark Bailey has continued to work with David Asher and Vacheslav Emel'yanenko on dynamical questions related to the origin of comets, whether from the Oort cloud or the high-eccentricity trans-Neptunian region. A numerical study of an ensemble of orbits, based on observed ob jects in the Near-Neptune High-Eccentricity (NNHE) region with perihelion distances q in the range 28 < q < 35.5 AU and semi-ma jor axes a in the range 60 < a < 1000 AU, was used to predict the orbital distribution of Centaurs (5 < q < 28 AU) for comparison with observations after correcting for discovery biases. The ma jority of Centaurs produced in this way were found to have a < 60 AU. However, the intrinsic number of observed Centaurs is dominated by longer period ob jects, the number with a > 60 AU being roughly an order of magnitude greater than that for a < 60 AU, and therefore inconsistent with a source in the NNHE region. It was also found that the observed distribution of Centaurs with a < 60 AU was somewhat inconsistent with this source, although it is conceivable that the discrepancies might be explained by factors such as out-gassing, splitting or varying albedo not included in the numerical model. Thus, although Centaurs can be produced from the NNHE region, their numbers and orbital distributions are not consistent with this region being the dominant source for all Centaurs. This work therefore concluded that there must be another source flux, particularly to explain the longer period, intrinsically more populous group of Centaurs, and suggested that the most likely source for these ob jects is the Oort cloud. In this way, the work re-opened the question of the dominant source 17


of Jupiter-family comets: whether from the Oort cloud, a possibly somewhat flattened inner core of the Oort cloud, or a flattened, near-Neptune trans-Neptunian disc; and predicted that there should be at least two different sources for observed Jupiter-family comets. In other work, with David Asher and Apostolos Christou, Mark Bailey prepared two ma jor review articles on the Armagh Human Orrery. Furthermore, with John Butler and John McFarland, he published a semi-popular historical account of the first observations with the great 72-inch reflector, the `Leviathan of Parsonstown'. These were made in early 1845 by William Parsons, the Third Earl of Rosse, Sir James South and the Revd Thomas Romney Robinson, and concerned a class of ob jects then known simply as `nebulae', some of which were later recognized as extragalactic spiral nebulae -- galaxies like our own -- in their own right. Although no-one seriously doubts Lord Rosse's discovery of spirality in the galaxy Messier 51 in April 1845, it is possible that both he and the other two could have seen spiral structure in that galaxy earlier in 1845, when the Birr telescope was first used, yet did not appreciate its significance. Finally, drawing on the excellent astronomical imaging now provided by amateur astronomers, Mark Bailey together with IAA member David Stewart and EAAS member Mark Stronge noted that an unusual `square' shadow of the planet Saturn on its rings could be explained by essentially the same mechanism as that which causes the elusive `black drop' phenomenon sometimes seen during transits of Mercury and Venus across the Sun. Other Activities In the past two years, Mark Bailey has attended a number of courses and training sessions in relation to his management responsibilities, including Freedom of Information training and awareness, Accountability training and awareness (Budget, Corporate Plans, Risk Management), Equality issues, and Recruitment and Selection. He also assisted with the local organization of the Armagh Visitor Education Committee (AVEC) Disaster Response Planning Workshop, which was held at the Observatory in September 2005. Among academic activities, he has continued to work with David Asher and Apostolos Christou (and occasional work-experience students) to develop a Human Orrery activities book. This summarizes some of the often simple, but sometimes more searching questions and activities that are directed at various visiting groups who now increasingly use the Human Orrery as an educational tool. As can be seen from the list of identified media citations (Appendix F), Mark Bailey has also made many other contributions to the Observatory's programme of education and public outreach. Scientific Administration During the year, Mark Bailey was elected to serve on the Council of the Royal Astronomical Society, and has continued to serve on the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) Committee for Astronomy and Space Research and -- as a representative of that committee -- on the RIA Geosciences Committee. For part of the year he was also a member of the Governing Board of the DIAS School of Cosmic Physics, and he has continued to serve on scientific working groups of the International Astronomical Union. He currently serves as a member of the Editorial Board of the international journal New Astronomy Reviews, and as Editor-in-Chief of Earth, Moon, and Planets. 3.2.3 C.J. Butler

John Butler continued to work primarily on completing the largely HLF-funded Telescopes and Telescopes Domes Pro ject, on calibrating and compiling the meteorological data series, and on establishing the Observatory's new phenology garden. Meteorology and Climate Plans for a new automatic weather station were finalized, specifications drawn up, and quotations received from suppliers. The new system will provide a more accurate monitoring of current weather conditions than the present utility system but it is not intended to replace the daily manual readings which must continue with the traditional instruments and exposure in order to maintain the accuracy and continuity of the Observatory's long and important climate record. The new system will include one additional climate parameter not previously recorded at Armagh, namely the total solar radiation received at ground level. Installation of the new system is expected to be completed during 2006, after which comparisons can begin to be made between the automatic measurement of climate variables and those recorded by the traditional manual methods. It is also intended to add further equipment for monitoring cosmic radiation. Dendro chronology Ana Maria Garc´ Su´ ia arez presented her thesis entitled "The Influence of Climate Variables on Tree-Rings of Different Species" to Queen's University Belfast, in February 2005, and was awarded a PhD. The principal conclusions of this work were: (1) that ash and beech were more sensitive 18


Figure 8: The figure shows two meteors recorded at Armagh during November and December 2005. The left image shows a zero-magnitude Taurid meteor recorded at 21:48 UT on 2005 November 20. The bright star at lower right of centre, almost drowned out by moonlight, is Capella in the constellation of Auriga. The constellation at top right is Perseus. The right image shows a sporadic meteor crossing through the constellation of Cassiopeia at 21:56 UT on 2005 December 27. These images are recorded with a time-resolution of 1/30 second.

to climate variability than oak or pine; (2) that both ash and beech were more strongly affected by early summer rainfall than by other climatic parameters such as temperature or sunshine; (3) that both summer rainfall and the Palmer Drought Severity Index could be reconstructed from tree-ring chronologies from Armagh; (4) that a combination of species (e.g. ash plus beech plus oak plus pine) is better able to reconstruct climate that a single species; (5) there is some indication that the sensitivity of some species (e.g. beech) to climate has changed during the 20th century. This could conceivably be due to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration.

3.2.4

A.A. Christou

Meteors in Planetary Atmospheres This year has seen the inauguration of the Armagh Observatory's meteor observing camera system, made possible with innovative use of inexpensive, commercially available low-light-sensitive video cameras. The cameras have been operating every night since June 2006 with only a handful of missed nights due to power outages at the Observatory. By the end of the year, 700 individual meteors had been recorded, including some 300 meteors observed simultaneously by the Armagh station and a similar system operated by Robert Cobain in Bangor. 2005 highlights include a number of bright fireballs (up to visual magnitude -6) and good coverage of the 2005 Taurids, Orionids, Leonids and Geminids between October and December 2005 respectively. An example of a Taurid is shown in Figure 8. A new PhD student, Prakash Atreya, has been working since October on software intended to analyse these observations. The ultimate goal is to produce calibrated data products such as annual curves of sporadic activity as well as minor and ma jor meteor showers in order to detect year-to-year variations as well as outburst-type activity. The double station dataset will enable us to calculate absolute meteor heights and speeds, as well as the orbits of meteoroid streams around the Sun. On the theoretical modelling front, Jonathan McAuliffe reached the final part of his PhD on the physics of meteors in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus. Work covered this year included large-scale simulations of showers in the atmospheres of Mars and Venus using statistical generation of meteoroid initial conditions and ablating each particle using Jonathan's existing numerical code. This work was presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society (DPS 2005) in Cambridge, England, in September 2005. A paper analyzing the Venus simulations was published in early 2006. In November, Christou served as chair of the Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) for a 1­2 day workshop (http://europlanet.oeaw.ac.at/N3 Workshop Overview.html) held in Graz, Austria, under the auspices of Europlanet N3 Network activities. The aim of the workshop was to bring together the community working on the different aspects of the interaction between meteoroids and planetary bodies, such as impacts, meteors, ionospheric/exospheric effects etc, to formulate the ma jor scientific questions that currently occupy the field, and to set out a roadmap for providing the data required to resolve these questions using coordinated ground-based and space-borne instrumentation. He is currently compiling a position paper based on community input from that workshop. 19


Dynamics of Co orbital Satellites Collaborative work on the dynamics of coorbitals of the Saturnian moons has continued throughout the year, with Fathi Namouni (Observatoire de la C^ d'Azur, Nice, ote France) and Maria Helena Moreira Morais (Observat´ orio Astron´ omico de Coimbra, Santa Clara, Portugal). In October 2005, Christou visited Helena Morais to consult on setting up numerical simulations involving tides. As capture into resonance under tidal evolution is not a time-reversible process, one needs to use extreme caution when attempting to extrapolate the satellites' current orbital configuration back to its initial state. The main outcome of this visit was a decision to split up the work in two modules. The first module covers the analysis of simulations without tides as well as simulations with a model that includes tides but starting from the present configuration and integrating into the future. Our main goal here is to determine the efficiency and causes of particle escapes from the coorbital regions as the system evolves. These simulations were completed in early 2006 and data analysis is currently in progress. In the second module we will carry out the more complicated task of backtracking the current system to its most likely initial configuration(s) to be used as starting conditions for a new set of simulations. 3.2.5 J.G. Doyle

Co ol Stars Gerry Doyle reports that the cool stars group comprises himself together with PhD student Antoaneta Antonova, the main research topic being brown dwarfs. The means by which a dwarf star such as the Sun develops and maintains a highly ionized layer known as the corona in its outermost atmosphere remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the presence of a corona is intimately linked to the existence of the magnetic field. We know that magnetic activity is common amongst late-type stars, in particular, M-type dwarfs, with the frequency and strength of the quiescent H emission indicating the presence of a hot chromosphere. For cooler stars, including ultra-cool late-type M, L and T dwarfs, H emission declines rapidly both in strength and frequency of detection, so that few field ob jects later than L5 exhibit any detectable optical emission. Similar trends are found for the quiescent X-ray emission. Below the stellar mass limit ( 0.075M ) the realm of brown dwarfs has attracted immense attention since such ob jects were first conclusively identified in 1995. Below this mass limit the stellar cores are no longer able to reach the temperatures necessary for sustained hydrogen fusion, although deuterium burning can last for a short time. The reduction in both chromospheric and coronal emission is in broad agreement with theoretical models: i.e. the cool, dense atmosphere implies low ionization fractions and thus high electrical resistivities, leading to decoupling of the lines of magnetic force from the gaseous motions in the star's upper atmosphere. As a result, the available free magnetic energy for support of a chromosphere and corona becomes smaller with later spectral type. Nevertheless, the occurrence of flare activity does not drop off as rapidly as the quiescent emission, as ob jects as late as L5 have been observed in outburst. Hence, the presence of flares (in H and X-rays) from these very late-type dwarfs provides strong evidence that magnetic fields are still present, although how these are transmitted through the largely neutral atmosphere is unclear. Given these considerations, it was expected that non-thermal radio emission from brown dwarfs should be weak or absent in accordance with empirical correlations involving a range of late-type ob jects. However, in recent years a number of confirmed radio detections have now been made at and below the sub-stellar boundary, violating this relation by up to four orders of magnitude. This suggests that highenergy electrons are present somewhere in the vicinity of ultra-cool dwarfs, although their chromospheric and thermal coronal emission is suppressed. The question, then, is what is the source of the radio-emitting plasma in these ultra-cool dwarfs? Over the next few years the brown dwarf group plans to study this question using four principal lines of investigation: (1) new VLA and e-MERLIN observations of ultra-cool field dwarfs; (2) EVN observations of selected dwarf stars; (3) modelling; and (4) a limited amount of optical observations of ultra-cool dwarfs in young star clusters, showing H in emission. During 2005 we obtained new VLA data of an ultra-cool dwarf at the sub-stellar boundary which shows a periodicity in this emission. We are currently investigating the implications of this periodicity. Solar Physics Gerry Doyle reports that during 2005 the solar physics group largely comprised PhD students Bebe Ishak, David P´ erez-Su´ arez, and Miruna Popescu; and post-doctoral research fellows ChiaHsien Lin, Eoghan O'Shea, Youra Taroyan. 20


Time-Series Study of EUV Spicules Here we study the dynamic properties of EUV spicules seen at the solar limb. The selected data were obtained as time series in polar coronal holes by SUMER/SoHO. The short exposure time and the almost fixed position of the spectrometer's slit allow the analysis of spicule properties such as occurrence, lifetime and Doppler velocity. Our data reveal that spicules occur repeatedly at the same location with a birth rate of around 0.16/min as estimated at 10 arcsec above the limb and a lifetime ranging from 15 down to 3 min. We are able to see some spicules showing a process of `falling after rising' indicated by the sudden change of the Doppler velocity sign. A periodicity of 5 min is sometimes discernible in their occurrence. Most spicules have a height between 10 and 20 arcsec above the limb. Some can stretch up to 40 arcsec; these `long macro-spicules' seem to be comprised of a group of high spicules. Some of them have an obvious periodicity in the radiance of 5 min. Blinker/Macro-Spicule Activity in an Off-Limb Polar Region Using measurements of O v 629.73 ° from the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on board SOHO we report on blinker activity A in off-limb regions above the Northern pole of the Sun. The blinkers are found to be occurring above a region showing strong dynamic activity, with evidence for evacuation of plasma. The presence of blinkers is discussed in terms of the heating of spicular material. ° Widths and Ratios of Mg x 609.79 A and 624.94 ° Lines in Polar Off-Limb Regions A Using measurements of Mg x 609.78 and 624.94 ° lines from the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) A on board SOHO, we seek to examine the variation of line width and line ratio in regions far off-limb at the Northern pole of the Sun. It is found that above 1150 arcsec the ratio of the two coronal Mg x resonance lines reduces to values that might be expected for a more radiatively dominant excitation mode. A comparison of the line widths with these ratios indicates that the line widths start to show a decrease in their values at the location where the dominant excitation changes from being collisionally to radiatively dominant, that is, at 1150 arcsec. We suggest that the decrease in the line widths above 1150 arcsec is likely to be due to a reduction in the non-thermal component of the line widths caused by a damping of upwardly propagating Alfv´ waves. en Electron Densities in EUV Coronal Bright Points Electron density measurements of six coronal bright points (BP) were obtained using line ratio diagnostics of four ions in the temperature range 1.3­2.0 â106 K. The results suggest that BP plasma has more similarities to active region plasma than to quiet Sun plasma. Nevertheless, they do not show the exact same behaviour: the increase of electron density at temperatures over log Te 6.2, observed in the core of active regions, has not been detected. The Fe xii results based on new atomic data, although in better agreement, are still in some instances higher than those from Si x. This could be the consequence of the inhomogeneity of the plasma in the observed volume. New measurements with a better constraint of the volumetric properties seem necessary to rule out the influence of other factors and confirm whether there is an inconsistency between the ions, perhaps due to line blending problems in the Fe xii lines. Coronal Oscillations in the Vicinity of a Sunsp ot In this study, we present results from a time series analysis of data from the Grazing Incidence Spectrometer (GIS), onboard SoHO. Our observations were concentrated at the boundary between the quiet Sun and an active region, close to a sunspot plume. The dominant oscillations in all the lines studied are of periods longer than 5 min. Although our observations were not taken directly above the sunspot, the 3-min oscillations, which are normally associated with the umbra, are seen in several spectral lines, suggesting some leakage perhaps via plume structures. The oscillations of coronal lines form wavepackets, and are intermittent with no obvious decay. The average time scale of the intermittence is of the order of 20 min, which would correspond to a source size of 2 arcsec. Determining the Source of Line Broadening of EUV Lines Across the Solar Limb Spectral lines formed in the solar transition region show an increase in the line width, peaking at 10,000 km above the limb. Looking at a region off-limb with no obvious spicules, the non-spicule region has a significantly smaller line width above 6,000 km compared those taken in a spicule region. We suggest that this increase in line broadening is not due to small scale random motions but rather to unresolved line shifts due to spicules and/or macro-spicules activity. The Effect of Metastable Level Populations on the Ionization Fraction of Li-Like Ions Lines from Li-like ions have been known to produce theoretical intensities under-estimated compared 21


to lines of a similar formation temperature. Here we investigate this anomalous behaviour whereby the ionization fractions are calculated using the ADAS code considering the electron density dependence of dielectronic recombination coupled with collisional ionization from metastable levels. For the lines investigated, the line contribution functions show a clear dependence with increasing electron density. For example, C iv 1548 ° shows over a factor of three enhancement for Ne = 1012 cm-3 . The increase in A the higher temperature lines is lower, but are still in the range of 30 to 60%. Furthermore, all the lines have their peak contribution shifted to lower temperature. Calculating the total radiative power output at an electron density of 1011 cm-3 , we find that the difference in the transition region is 10­15%, while above 106 K the difference is around 30% compared to the low density value. Fo ot-Point Excitation of Standing Acoustic Waves in Coronal Lo ops A new theoretical model for the study of slow standing sausage mode oscillations in hot (T > 6 MK) active region coronal loops is presented. These oscillations are observed by the SUMER spectrometer on board the SoHO satellite. The model contains the transition region and the upper chromosphere which enables us to study the entire process of hot loop oscillations: from the impulsive footpoint excitation phase to the rapid damping phase. It is shown that standing acoustic waves can be excited by an impulsive heat deposition at the chromospheric footpoint of a loop if the duration of the pulse matches the fundamental mode period. The pulse is immediately followed by a standing wave consistent with the SUMER observations in hot loops. The amount of released energy determines the oscillation amplitude. The combined effects of thermal conduction and radiation on the behaviour of the standing acoustic waves in hot gravitationally stratified loops are investigated. In addition to damping, these effects lead to downflows which are superimposed on the oscillations. The implications of the results in coronal seismology are discussed. Evidence for Explosive Event Activity Originating in the Chromosphere We report on a joint SUMER, CDS, TRACE study, concentrating on a region which shows prolonged EUV explosive event (EE) activity in the transition region line N v 1238 ° yet little evidence of such activity in another A, transition region line O v 629 ° (formed at a similar temperature) which was observed simultaneously. A A possible explanation for the lack of ma jor activity in the O v line in several explosive events could be that they originate in the lower chromosphere. This is consistent with the enhancements in the C i 1249 ° line and with the findings of another study which reported time delays between the chromoA spheric and transition region lines in some EE's using high cadence observations (10 s exposure time) obtained with the SUMER spectrometer in H i Ly 6 (20,000 K) and S vi (200,000 K). Using the generalized collisional-radiative picture, including the population of metastable levels, we derive the density dependent contribution function for both N v 1238 ° and O v 629 ° for four values of the electron denA A sity: 106 cm-3 , representing the low density limit; 109 cm-3 , for a typical quiet Sun electron density; and 1011 cm-3 and 1012 cm-3 for an active region. These calculations show that with increasing electron density, both lines shift to slightly lower temperatures. However, the ma jor difference is in the relative increase in the line flux with increasing density. For Nv, increasing the density to 1011 cm-3 results in a 60% increase in the line flux, while O v shows a 30% decrease. Increasing the electron density to 1012 cm-3 results in a factor of two decrease in the O v flux, thus making it difficult to detect explosive event activity in this line if the event is formed in the chromosphere. Other explosive events which show simultaneous activity in both lines are probably formed in the transition region. In one such event, activity is observed in both N v and O v, yet nothing in C i. In this event we also observe an increase in the TRACE 173 emission, delayed by 40 s compared to the transition region lines. The Extent of 3-min Oscillations in Regions Other than Sunsp ot Plumes The active region, AR0554, was observed with NIS/CDS on board SoHO to examine the extent and range of oscillations from a range of features. Among all the NIS spectral lines analysed, significant oscillations were found in Si xii 520 ° Mg x 625 ° O v 629 ° and He i 522 ° The periods of the strongest oscillations A, A, A, A. in these lines were 10­20 min. After the dominant 10­20 min oscillations were filtered out from these lines, only O v 629 ° showed significant (i.e. above the 95% significance level) shorter-period oscillations. A Specifically, we found that weak but significant 3-min oscillations are not confined to the umbra/plume but can be seen in many bright locations. The duration of these non-umbral 3-min oscillations is mostly 20 min. In contrast, the 3-min oscillations within the umbra are strong and stable for longer than 50 min. The duration could be related to the size of the oscillating source region, rather than the lifetime of the oscillation. To find the possible sources of these 3-min oscillations outside of the umbra, we compared the oscillations of single pixels in different regions. The results of our comparison indicate a possible connection between the magnetic fields and the oscillations. Therefore, we suggest that 3-min oscillations may exist in many magnetic structures, but are often too weak to be seen in an unfiltered signal. 22


Optical and EUV Observations of Solar Flare Kernels We present high-resolution spectral observations, covering the entire optical region (3800-9000 ° of a solar flare observed during a multiA), wavelength campaign. The flare, recorded on 2002 January 11, was a medium solar flare event (GOES class C7.5). The spectral observations were carried out using the Hamilton echelle spectrograph on the coude auxiliary telescope at Lick Observatory and with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on board SoHO. The high signal-to-noise optical spectra are analysed using the same techniques as we applied to stellar flare data. H images obtained at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO), plus magnetograms obtained with the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on board SoHO and Transition Region And Coronal Explorer (TRACE) 1600 ° were used in the flare analysis. We observe stellar-like behaviour in the main A solar chromospheric activity indicators, which show either filling-in or emission during the flare. We find that the Balmer and Ca ii lines show asymmetric profiles, with red-shifted wings and blue-shifted cores. This behaviour could be explained by material expanding. During the flare, the Mg i and Fe i lines show a filling-in of the line profile indicating that the flare affected the lower atmosphere. There is some evidence for pre-flare heating as seen in Fe xix 592 ° Furthermore, O v 629 ° shows an increase in flux A. A some 10 min. before the coronal lines, perhaps indicating particle beam heating in the initial stages of the flare. We have also determined the main physical parameters at flare maximum. The electron densities and electron temperatures found for the flare imply that the Balmer emitting plasma originates in the chromosphere. The physical parameters obtained for the modelled flare are consistent with previously derived values for solar flares. Very Long Period Activity at the Base of Solar Wind Streams Using time series data of spectral lines originating from a wide range of temperatures in the solar transition region, above a polar coronal hole, from SUMER (Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation) on SoHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), we report on the detection of very long (170 min) periodic intensity fluctuations, above the limb. Our data also reveal long periodicities (10­90 min), previously observed with other SoHO instruments. With the acoustic cut-off frequency implying a maximum allowable period of 90 min, it is unclear whether these intensity fluctuations are due to waves or are the result of a recurrent magnetic reconnection process. Electron Density Variation Along a Coronal Lo op The analysis of a coronal loop observed by CDS and EIT on board SOHO is presented. The loop was situated above the North-East limb at a latitude of 48 , being clearly visible in the hottest lines of the dataset, Fe xvi 360.76 ° i.e. greater than A 2,000,000 K. The cooler lines in the sample (i.e. O v 629.73 ° and He i 584.35 ° showed only a brightening A A) at the footpoints location. Based on the Fe xiv 353.84/334.17 line ratio, the electron density along the loop was determined following three different approaches for the background subtraction. No differences, within the error bars, can be found between the three methods. At the apex, the density is 0.9 â 109 cm-3 , while at the footpoint it is 50% greater, i.e. 1.4 â 109 cm-3 . The inferred filling factor values along the loop, at the formation temperature of the lines, are in the range 0.2­0.9. One-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling of the loop along a given field line, gravity neglected, was performed. A minimum 2 analysis results in a best-fit case where the total energy input is directed preferentially to the loop footpoint (the heating rate is three times larger at the base than at the apex). An isochoric solution can not be ruled out completely. The exercise illustrates the necessity of accurate spectral diagnostics in order to derive definite conclusions from theoretical models and suggests the need for simultaneous density and temperature diagnostics. 3.2.6 C.S. Jeffery

Stars come in an enormous variety of colours, sizes and chemical compositions. The stellar physics group, led by Simon Jeffery, studies the processes that generate such variety and which make stars work, in particular the physics that controls their structure, their evolution, and their pulsation. At the core of our research lie two sets of software, nearly all of which has been developed within the group. The first provides theoretical models which are used to generate predicted properties for a wide range of stellar types. The second provides analytic tools for deriving the properties of real stars from observations. These tools are currently used in wide-ranging studies of highly evolved stars, that is, stars which have exhausted their primary fuel -- hydrogen -- and are now either burning helium or are on their way to become white dwarfs. We address questions such as "What sort of nuclear chemistry goes on inside stars?"; "Why do some stars vibrate and others do not?"; and "What happens after two stars coalesce?" 23


Research Simon Jeffery leads a research group which, during 2005, included PDRA Amir Ahmad, PhD students Chris Winter, Natalie Behara, Timur Sahin, and Caroline Pereira. David Morgan (University ¸ of Surrey) was a 10-month placement student. Professor Wolf-Rainer Hamann (Universit¨ Potsdam) at and Dr Christian Karl (Universit¨ Erlangen-Nurnberg) were PPARC-funded visiting fellows. Kostas at ¨ Gourgouliatos (Cambridge University) was an Observatory-funded summer student. Elizabeth Connolly (Loreto Grammar School, Omagh) was a Nuffield science bursary summer student. The group holds a weekly meeting where individuals present brief research reports and tuition is provided on key topics relevant to most group members, and strategic issues are discussed. Jeffery made research visits to the University of Leuven (Belgium) and Tohoku University, Sendai (Japan), and attended a Lorentz workshop on "Nucleosynthesis in Binary Stars" held in Leiden (Netherlands). In June, Jeffery, Ahmad, Winter and Behara attended the "2nd International Workshop on Subdwarf B Stars" in Santa Cruz de La Palma (Spain). Winter was awarded first prize for a short poster presentation by a student, Behara won third prize for a long presentation by a student. Jeffery gave seminars in Cambridge (IoA), Leuven, Cape Town (SAAO), Preston (UCLan), and Sendai, and conference presentations in Leiden (3) and La Palma (2). He gave a multimedia presentation entitled "Inside the Stars" to Astronomy Ireland in Dublin. Under the auspices of CosmoGrid, Jeffery also organized a 2-day course on IDL which was held in Galway in April 2005. Ahmad was one of the course lecturers. Jeffery observed with the SAAO 1 m telescope in June 2005, Ahmad observed with the Himalaya Chandra telescope in August 2005, and Ahmad and Sahin observed with the Anglo-Australian telescope, ¸ also in August 2005. Subluminous B Stars Hot subluminous stars (or subdwarfs) are low-mass stars that are less luminous than massive main-sequence stars of a similar temperature. They are all evolved stars, most being about 0.5 M with helium-burning cores. We are concerned with questions about their origin and study the physics of their interiors. 1. Surveys and Classification Winter and Jeffery completed a scheme for the automatic classification and parameterization of hot subdwarfs. These build on a scheme developed previously by Drilling and Jeffery. Morgan extracted spectra of 3500 sdB stars and blue horizontal-branch stars from the Sloan Digital Sky survey. These have been sifted using the tools described. A reliable subset of 282 ob jects was extracted, classified and parameterized. The results indicate a number of distinct subgroups present in the sample and provide very clear confirmation, for example, of the existence of the 2nd Newell gap for field horizontal branch stars. It seems that this gap represents a division between stars which partly retain their hydrogen envelope following evolution as single stars on the giant branch, and stars which have lost nearly all their hydrogen envelope following common-envelope binary star evolution or white dwarf coalescence. 2. Helium-rich sdB Stars Ahmad and Jeffery made follow-up observations of the unique helium-rich hot subdwarf binary PG 1544+488 with the William Herschel Telescope and the Himalaya Chandra Telescope, observations from two longitudes being necessary to characterize the orbit which has a period of almost precisely 12 hours. They also continued their photometric survey of southern helium-rich subdwarfs from the South African Astronomical Observatory, confirming their previous discovery of a multi-periodic pulsator. 3. Binary Stars The spectra of about one third of sdB stars are contaminated by a contribution from a relatively bright cool companion. Such companions are probably blue stragglers, stars which have had their main-sequence life prolonged by accreting material from the star which is now a hot subdwarf. In principle it is possible to measure the properties of both stars, including their relative radii and masses, from a single spectrum. Karl and Jeffery are studying a significant sample of sdB binaries observed with the VLT in an effort to understand the mass transfer process which produces these systems. 4. Asteroseismology Jeffery, Aerts (Leuven), Dhillon (Sheffield), and Marsh (Warwick) completed analysis of their ultracam observations of sdB star PG 0014+067, limiting its principal pulsation modes to l < 3 and demonstrating its rotation period to be 5 d. They also extended the known frequency spectrum of the pulsating sdB star SDSS J171722.08+58055.8. They proceeded to make new observations of the pulsating sdB star PG 1336­018, a short-period eclipsing binary which shows a reflection effect. These observations combine high-speed ´ helle ec spectroscopy (UVES) and photometry (ultracam) from the ESO Very Large Telescope and are 24


being analyzed mainly in Leuven. They also teamed up with Fontaine (Montreal), Charpinet (MidiPyr´ ´ enees) and Ahmad to observe another pulsating sdB, Balloon 090100001, using four telescopes -- namely the William Herschel, the Canada-France-Hawaii, the Himalaya Chandra, and Faulkes North. Nuffield Bursary student Connolly carried out and analyzed the Faulkes Telescope observations. Pereira joined the team in October 2005 to assist with the ultracam data reduction and analysis. Extreme Helium and Post-AGB Stars Following core-helium burning, a low-mass star expands to become a giant as it consumes its final reserves of nuclear fuel and, subsequently a white dwarf. A final pulse of nuclear burning, or a merger between two white dwarfs can cause the star to expand as a giant. Our research on extreme helium stars and other post-AGB stars is directed towards understanding these processes and towards developing models of stellar evolution that fit the observations. 1. Extreme Helium Stars A study of elemental abundances in several extreme helium stars carried out by Pandey (Indian Institute of Astrophysics), Lambert (McDonald Observatory, University of Texas) Jeffery and Rao (Indian Institute of Astrophysics) was completed. Jeffery had earlier derived a simple recipe for relating the chemistry of the merged star's surface to the chemical structure of its constituent white dwarfs. The new results followed the recipe almost perfectly, giving continued strong support to the merger theory as the origin of these stars. There was one exception. The recipe predicts that nearly all surface oxygen should have been converted to nitrogen in the hydrogenburning CNO cycle. However, in eight out of ten cases, oxygen has an observed abundance close to the value expected if it had not participated in any nucleosynthesis. This remains a challenge. 2. Post-AGB Stars Sahin continued his studies of other types of post-AGB star, completing the ¸ initial reduction stages for a set of ´ helle spectra obtained with the AAT. He has been studying ec the tricky problem of rectifying ´ helle spectra so as to preserve continuity in the order overlap and ec to avoid serious distortions to the profiles of absorption lines which may span more than one ´ helle ec order. With Ahmad, during 2005 he obtained additional ´ helle spectra of helium-rich subdwarf ec B stars and post-AGB stars at the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT). These will be analyzed in order to compare the abundances of s-process elements in conventional post-AGB stars with the abundances measured in extreme helium stars. Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics There is a close relationship between the observational studies described above, theoretical models used to both predict and derive properties of stars, and the computational tools required to deal with large quantities of astronomical data. 1. Mo del Atmospheres A new treatment of continuous and line opacities in the Armagh model atmosphere code sterne was completed by Behara and Jeffery. This code now includes Opacity Pro ject photo-ionization cross-sections and opacity sampling for 107 bound-bound transitions. The Observatory's high-performance computer cluster ("The Beehive") was used to construct extensive grids of models. For extreme helium stars, the results indicate a substantial shift in the predicted distribution of energy from the ultraviolet to longer wavelengths, and a significant increase in temperature of those layers of the atmosphere at which absorption lines are formed. The consequence is that stellar effective temperatures measured from ionization equilibria will be lower and hence closer to those measured from flux distributions, resolving a long-standing discrepancy. In a collaboration with Przybilla and Heber (both Bamberg), a further discrepancy between predicted and measured profiles for some absorption lines has been resolved by taking into account departures from local thermodynamic equilibrium in the level populations of hydrogen and neutral helium. Behara has begun further development of the model atmosphere code to simulate the chemical stratification which results from differential radiative levitation. This is particularly important and relevant for our studies of subluminous B stars, and also for other chemically peculiar stars including the Ap and Bp stars. 2. Pulsation Theory Many evolved stars show pulsations over a range of frequencies, but only in particular "instability zones". In B stars, such zones correspond to excitation by the iron-bump opacity mechanism, but there are discrepancies between the predicted and observed zones. Jeffery and Saio (Sendai) set out to review pulsation properties in many types of low-mass B star, and 25


including radial and non-radial oscillations, pressure modes and gravity modes. This review provides many new insights into the "Fe-bump" instability, including the importance of chemical composition and structure. 3. Angular Momentum Evolution in Merging White Dwarfs and Their Progeny In considering how binary white dwarfs merge and what the resulting star looks like, the question of what happens to the original angular momentum and how it is distributed has not been considered in detail. Gourgouliatos and Jeffery commenced a study using analytical models and both conservative and non-conservative assumptions. The question boils down to the evolution of angular momentum in the disk that forms as the less massive white dwarf is disrupted. This work continues. 4. Automatic Analysis of Astronomical Sp ectra Winter and Jeffery have been engaged in development of software for automatic classification and parameterization of stellar spectra. Briefly stated, the problem is to extract the maximum amount of information from very large numbers of stellar spectra as obtained, for example, from large-scale surveys. Winter has provided a new tool using "principal components analysis" to identify those samples from a survey which are likely to be of most interest. These samples are then classified using a static neural network which has been trained on a set of spectroscopic standards. Atmospheric parameters (effective temperature, surface gravity, helium abundance) are obtained by least-squares minimization in a grid of model atmospheres. Winter has developed an approach which allows this model grid to be non-uniform (and non-rectangular), a problem which has caused significant difficulties until now. These tools have been applied in the analysis of hot subdwarfs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey described above. This work is an e-science pro ject funded by the PRTLI CosmoGrid pro ject (http://www.cosmogrid.ie/). 5. Auto do c Morgan developed a tool to generate web-based documentation for our extensive collection of Fortran subroutine libraries using existing header information. A web page is generated for each subroutine, together with an index for the entire library. 3.2.7 M.D. Smith

The star formation group (Michael Smith, PhD students Babulakshmanan Ramachandran and Anthony Moraghan, and visiting research fellows) at Armagh Observatory is currently studying Protostellar Jets -- outflows of material from young stars -- which play a key role in the star formation process. Having previously concentrated on the dynamics of the ejected material, the group is now investigating the influence of the environment on the observable characteristics and evolution of the jets. Specifically, we are studying how non-uniform external media influence the propagation of the outflow. We do so through computer simulations and modelling, using a numerical hydrodynamics code incorporating magnetohydrodynamics and molecular cooling functions; these are now known to contain the essential physics within star formation regions. Recent observations provide the model constraints. A velocity study of axisymmetric protostellar jets is nearing publication. A detailed examination of the Rosette Molecular Cloud took place during the extended visit of Jinzeng Li (Beijing). Li and Smith analyzed infrared data from the 2 Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) archives. They determined the distributions of embedded stars using infrared colours and were able to distinguish the Rosette Molecular Cloud stars from the dominant foreground and background populations. The appearance of widespread formation of stars throughout the cluster led to four publications. The general result is now being confirmed using Spitzer space telescope data which is penetrating deeper into the star-forming clouds. Shock waves play an increasingly significant role in astrophysical interpretations, often being the means through which energy is transformed (thermalised) into a form which can be observed (i.e. radiation). However, radiative shocks are complex structures, and have long been known to be variable. Babulakshmanan Ramachandran and Smith have been working on extensions to previous results which have applied to the evolution of shock waves in atomic gas. In fact, infrared observations have permitted us to study molecular shocks in some detail. Therefore, a theoretical analysis of the stability of molecular shocks was undertaken and it was first demonstrated that molecular shocks are relatively stable against large oscillations but prone to short-term jittering effects. The study was then successfully extended to determine the extent of magnetic cushioning of the instability and the effects of varying the shock strength. 26


4

Education and Public Outreach

The scientific, cultural and architectural heritage provided by astronomy at Armagh is a highly significant asset for the whole of Northern Ireland. The Observatory's collection of scientific artefacts, instruments and historic telescopes spans virtually every aspect of modern astronomy, while its Grounds and Astropark provide a unique addition to the `Gardens of Armagh' as well as an opportunity for visitors to tour a scale model of the solar system and the wider Universe. In many cases, the underlying motivation and reasons for the developments in astronomy at a particular time can be explained with reference to discoveries at Armagh, or to material held within the Library and Archives. These facilities provide astronomers at Armagh with a unique opportunity to explain the development of astronomy and related sciences over more than two hundred years and the context in which modern research is carried out. The Armagh Observatory thus has important responsibilities to (a) maintain and preserve the fabric of the historic buildings, the library, historic books and archives, and the collection of scientific instruments and other artefacts built up over more than two hundred years of astronomical activity in Armagh, and (b) advance public understanding of science, and of astronomy in particular. These responsibilities lead to the important secondary ob jectives for the Observatory to contribute to lifelong learning and to promote a broader public understanding of astronomy and related sciences. This is achieved in a variety of ways, for example by: 1. attracting visitors to Armagh, primarily to the Armagh Observatory Grounds and Astropark, and to the Human Orrery and Phenology Garden; 2. disseminating knowledge of the Observatory's unique meteorological record, the longest in the UK and Ireland from a single site, and maintaining and extending it in the long term; 3. widening knowledge of the Observatory's cultural heritage, for example its listed buildings, library, archives and historic scientific instruments, the telescopes and telescope domes, and the historical development of the Observatory's landscaped Grounds and Astropark; 4. providing talks and presentations to individuals and groups encompassing people of all ages and from all backgrounds; 5. developing links with institutions and organizations having similar public education ob jectives to those of the Armagh Observatory, for example the Astronomical Science Group of Ireland, the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society, the Armagh Visitor Education Committee, the Irish Astronomical Association and other astronomy organizations, and university research groups and research institutes; 6. ensuring that technical questions from members of the public about astronomy can be answered, and that the results of astronomical research are disseminated widely to the press, radio and television; and 7. maintaining and developing the Observatory's web-site as a rich and versatile educational resource with the facility to widen access to the latest research findings on astronomy and related sciences and to the Armagh Observatory's history and heritage.

4.1
4.1.1

Widening Access
Public Engagement

As part of this programme of education and public outreach the Observatory issues a variety of leaflets and information sheets for the general public, as well as press information sheets on recent developments in astronomy and on research carried out at Armagh. Available leaflets include those on the Human Orrery, the history of the Observatory, the Observatory Grounds and Astropark, and the question of light pollution. During 2005, the Observatory issued 35 separate press releases covering various meteorological or astronomical topics, slightly fewer than the previous year (37). However, a remarkably high fraction (33/35) of these were published in one form or another, underlining the very high level of public and media interest in astronomy generally, and demonstrating an exceptionally high `hit' rate for stories about astronomy and related sciences. The record 348 identified media citations referring to the Observatory, its staff or their work, was well above the target of 200 set at the beginning of the year. The Librarian, together with other staff, frequently answers questions from members of the public on different aspects of astronomy and what is visible or has been seen in the night sky. In addition, he writes 27


a monthly column for the Belfast Telegraph. The recorded list of public enquiries for 2005, which is undoubtedly incomplete, covers more than 120 separate responses. Many such requests (especially those that are answered by students or other research staff ) are received during weekends or outside normal working hours.

Server

Performance Measure DEVs Hits Data Exported (thousands) (millions) (Giga-Bytes) 825 124 63 1,012 10.3 1.6 0.7 12.6 1,745 24 68 1,837

star: http://star.arm.ac.uk/ climate: http://climate.arm.ac.uk/ arpc65: http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/spm/ Total:

Table 4: Breakdown of Armagh Observatory web-site statistics for 2005. For star and arpc65 the busiest months were November and June respectively.

4.1.2

Web-Site and Internet Access

The Armagh Observatory web-sites now include a substantial amount of weather and related meteorological information. This provides e-access to a variety of meteorological and climate data, including the Observatory's 210-year archive of weather records at Armagh. The astronomers, particularly Apostolos Christou, John McFarland and students, together with the Computer Systems Manager are increasingly making available the results of astronomical observations carried out at Armagh, for example images of meteorological or space-weather events such as aurorae (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/images/aurora-2003Oct/), and of transient astronomical events such as transits (e.g. http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/venustransit/), occultations and eclipses. The adopted key performance indicator in this area of the Observatory's activities is the annual number of distinct e-Visitors (DEVs), in fact the number of distinct hosts served by the Observatory's web-site. This is a lower limit to the number of e-Visitors, owing to caching by big servers and sharing or repeat visits from the same IP number. A second possible measure would be the number of `hits', i.e. the number of successful page requests; and a third, arguably the most useful, is the amount of data transferred from the site, or `exported', to external users. All of these measures are currently on ascending tra jectories. For the Observatory's three principal web-sites (star, climate and arpc65), the breakdown of these figures for 2005 is shown in Table 4 (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/stats.html). The trend in the adopted number of distinct e-Visitors for each web-site is shown in Table 5.

Year
http://star.arm.ac.uk/

Number of Distinct e-Visitors (DEVs)
http://climate.arm.ac.uk/ http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/spm/

Total 80,000 134,000 174,000 318,000 354,000 335,000 576,000 1,012,000

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

80,000 134,000 174,000 317,000 322,000 190,000 408,000 825,000

-- -- -- 1,000 5,000 49,000 96,000 124,000

-- -- -- -- 27,000 96,000 72,000 63,000

Table 5: The number of distinct e-Visitors (DEVs) to the Armagh Observatory web-site. Detailed information on the precision of these figures prior to 2005 is provided in the caption to the corresponding Table in the 2004 Armagh Observatory Annual Report (Table 4, p.26).

28


Programme or Medium 2001 UK and Republic of Ireland local newspapers UK national newspapers excluding Northern Ireland Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland national newspapers Popular astronomy and specialist magazines UK local radio and Republic of Ireland radio UK national radio UK and Republic of Ireland national television Northern Ireland and UK local television Foreign newspapers Foreign radio Foreign television Miscellaneous items Total 82 16 18 63 17 3 17 6 17 5 7 51 302

Identified Citations 2002 2003 2004 92 8 18 52 26 0 4 11 1 0 2 53 267 80 3 21 39 19 1 5 13 1 1 2 41 226 73 2 32 44 10 0 8 4 0 1 1 109 284

2005 50 9 24 69 14 1 1 5 3 2 1 169 348

Table 6: Breakdown of known media citations during the past five years. The 348 identified citations for 2005 include 17 reports in the Belfast Telegraph, including the monthly column written by the Librarian, as well as 3 in the News Letter, 3 in the Irish News; and 14 reports on UK and Ireland local radio stations. The known citations in foreign newspapers and on foreign television are obviously extreme lower limits due to under-reporting.

4.1.3

Media Coverage

The Observatory is a principal point of contact for astronomy amongst the mass media (press, radio and television), and it plays a ma jor role in outreach and the promotion of astronomy both regionally (i.e. within Armagh City and District and Northern Ireland) and farther afield. Astronomers at Armagh receive (and deal with) numerous questions from the general public, and are frequently invited by the national and international media to provide expert advice on recent research results or discoveries. These contacts lead to articles or citations in the national and international press, and to sound-bites and media clips on radio and television. The number of identified mentions of the Armagh Observatory and its staff in various mass-media has increased rapidly during the past decade, from about 10 in 1994 to more than 230 in 1999 and 2000. During the past five years the number has averaged in excess of 250 per year, substantially above the current target figure of 200. It should be emphasized that this is an extremely high figure for a small research group, and the target of 200 is regarded as ample. The breakdown of known media citations versus types of publication is shown in Table 6. Many of the newspapers and radio or television programmes that mention astronomy at Armagh reach millions of people simultaneously, and it is clear that every year many tens of millions of people are being exposed to information about the Armagh Observatory or its research. The record number of known media citations in 2005, namely 348, comfortably exceeds the target of 200. 4.1.4 Student Work Exp erience Programme

The Observatory currently accepts typically 6­12 school students per year for periods of work experience or work shadowing lasting from days up to a week or more at a time. During the three-year period 1998­2000 an average of 9 students were accepted each year. These came from an average of 8 different schools, and involved Observatory staff in an average of 61 contact days per year. During the following three-year period (2001­2003) an average of 12 students were taken per year, coming from an average of 11 different schools, and involving Observatory staff in an average of 78 contact days per year. The figures for 2004 were generally higher than these values, but 2005 showed a significant drop. The reasons are rather difficult to quantify exactly, although a ma jor cause of the decrease in 2005 can be attributed to the funding difficulties faced by the Observatory at this time, and to the loss of two senior astronomers (40% of the complement) during the year. Nevertheless, the work-experience programme is ongoing, and students from schools throughout Northern Ireland will continue to be accommodated where possible, and supervised by the available staff. Quantitative results under this heading are summarized in Table 7. The principal performance mea29


Calendar Year 1998 1999 2000 Baseline: 2001 2002 2003 New Baseline: 2004 2005

Total Days D 50 84 49 61 76 50 109 78 141 63

Total Children Children 7 7 12 9 10 11 15 12 9 8

No. Distinct Schools Schools 6 7 11 8 9 10 14 11 8 8

Actual Wi = Fi D 391 574 484 483 983 621 909 837 1716 440

i

W

t,i

Target = F0 Di 1210 2032 1185 1476 1838 1210 2637 1895 3411 1524

Ratio R 0.32 0.28 0.41 0.34 0.53 0.51 0.34 0.46 0.50 0.29

Table 7: Analysis of Armagh Observatory school work-experience programme. The ob jective is "to improve opportunities for individuals and disadvantaged groups to experience scientific research and learning in a hightechnology environment." The principal performance indicators are the total number of days work experience provided, the total number of children served, the number of distinct schools, and the FSM-weighted ratio of the number of days work experience supervised compared with the corresponding target value, a higher ratio indicating improved performance.

sures are (1) the total number of days work experience provided per calendar year; (2) the total number of children served; and (3) the total number of distinct schools. There is an assumption, following the Observatory's New TSN policy, that resources in this area of the Observatory's activity will be skewed where possible towards socially or scientifically disadvantaged groups, which in the school context is measured by a Free School Meals (FSM) index, F . It is then straightforward to compute the sum S = Fi Di , where Fi denotes the FSM-index for the i-th school and Di denotes the number of days work experience provided to children from that school. This can be compared with a target figure, T , computed in the same way, except that the FSM-index is the average figure F0 for all Northern Ireland secondary schools, i.e. T = F0 Di . The ratio R = S/T is then evaluated for each year. 4.1.5 Tours and Visits

The Observatory has continued to encourage visits both to the historic main building and to the Observatory Grounds, Human Orrery and Astropark in line with its policies on Education and Public Outreach and New Targeting Social Need. During 2005 such visits have included school groups from as far afield as Dublin, as well as groups of retired people, extra-mural classes, members of special-interest groups, historical societies and foreign students. In addition, the Observatory opened its doors to the general public on a number of special occasions, including events surrounding the Armagh City and District Visitor Attraction Open Day, and the DoE/EHS organized European Heritage Open Days, in September. A selection from the list of group visits to the Observatory during 2005 is provided in Table 8. Considering that 635 people signed the Visitors Book during 2005, these figures suggest that approximately 1,000 people were accompanied on tours of the Observatory by staff and students during the year. It is noteworthy that such visitors originated from more than a dozen different countries, highlighting the Observatory's role in attracting international visitors to Armagh. The number of visitors using the Armagh Observatory Astropark has continued to be recorded throughout 2005. With data for 282 days (owing to intermittent instrumental failure), the final recorded number of visitors for the year was approximately 17,000, corresponding to an annual total in excess of 20,000. This significant figure demonstrates the value of the facility provided by the Armagh Observatory Grounds and Astropark to people of all ages and from all sections of the community, including local residents and visitors. 4.1.6 Principal Research and Other Visitors

Research visitors during 2005 have included: Vacheslav Emel'yanenko (University of South Urals, Chelyabinsk, Russia) 31 January to 20 February 2005; Christian Karl (Dr Remeis Sternwarte University, Bamberg, Germany) 1 February to 31 March 2005; Barry O'Connell (TCD), 1 February to 31 March 30


Group AC&DC Regeneration and Development Committee QUB Extramural First Group QUB Extramural Second Group Malahide School, Dublin UCD Astronomy Evening Class St. Patrick's School Dungannon Banbridge Old Vehicle Club TCD Association (Antrim and Derry Branch) Armagh County Museum `Walk and Talk' Group Visit AC&DC Visitor Attraction Free Open Day Dungannon Health Action Zone Visit Friends of the Armagh County Museum Down Museum Historical Society Armagh County Club Group Visit Irish Astronomical Association Summer BBQ Armagh Visitor Education Committee Tour Jaguar Enthusiast's Club Polish Students Visit East Antrim Astronomical Society and P. Corvan Event European Heritage Open Day Bangor Workers Education Association Visit Friends of Museums in Northern Ireland

Date 8 February 2005 21 Feb 2005 24 Feb 2005 5 Mar 2005 5 March 2005 17 March 2005 2 April 2005 5 May 2005 10 May 2005 21 May 2005 26 May 2005 4 June 2005 11 June 2005 14 June 2005 18 June 2005 27 June 2005 20 August 2005 27 August 2005 30 August 2005 10 September 2005 22 September 2005 29 October 2005

Approximate Number 12 25 20 21 40 12 120 20 4 30 25 35 37 12 35 5 16 9 28 120 35 15

Table 8: Selected list of Group visits and tours around the Armagh Observatory during 2005.

2005; Wolf-Rainer Hamann (Department of Astrophysics, University of Potsdam, Germany) 20 to 26 February 2005; Ulrich Heber (Dr Remeis Sternwarte University, Bamberg, Germany) 2 to 3 March 2005; Roland Gredel (Calar Alto Observatory, Spain) 31 March to 7 April 2005; Giorgi Pavlovski (University of Southampton) 10 to 16 April 2005; Alex Rosen (Dublin City University, Dublin) 12 to 14 April 2005; Maria Madjarska-Theissen (Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels) 30 May to 3 June 2005; Tigran Khanzadyan (MPIA, Heidelberg, Germany) 6 to 30 June 2005; Professor Bill Napier (University of Cardiff ) 20 to 21 June 2005 and 22 to 23 September 2005; Dr Alex Rosen (Dublin City University, Ireland) 28 June to 1 September 2005; Dr Lidong Xia (School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Hefei, Anhui, China) 11 to 24 July 2005; Dr Dipankar Banerjee (Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India) 20 August to 11 September 2005; Professor Michael A'Hearn (University of Maryland, USA, Principal Investigator on the Deep Impact mission to Comet 9P/Tempel) 17 September 2005; Professor N. Chandra Wickramasinghe (University of Cardiff ), who delivered the opening lecture of the Irish Astronomical Association in Belfast on 21 September 2005 and a seminar at the Observatory on 22 September 2005; Dr Mohsen Shadmehri (Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran) 15 September to 15 October 2005; and Dr Maria Madjarska-Theissen (Royal Observatory Belgium, Brussels, Belgium) 9 to 15 November 2005. In addition to these research visitors, Mr Pat Colgan (Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body) made a short visit to the Observatory on 24 May 2005; Mr Mick Cory (Director, Sports, Museums and Recreation Division, DCAL) visited on 3 June 2005; and Ms Briony Crozier (Assistant Director, Northern Ireland Museums Council) visited on 22 June 2005. This list of senior research visitors demonstrates the Observatory's high standing and activity on the international stage.

4.2
4.2.1

Science in the Community
Ards Event: `Ob jects to Fire the Imagination'

PhD student Miruna Popescu attended a whole-day event at the Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards, on Saturday 19 February 2005, at the invitation of Dr Tom Mason (Director, Armagh Planetarium). The aim of the event was to show how ob jects in the sky can be a source of artistic inspiration, examples being Miruna's own astronomy-inspired pastel drawings. The event gave a concrete example of the well known `spin-off ' from astronomy and related sciences into other fields of cultural endeavour, particularly the Arts, many of which fall under the remit of the DCAL. 31


Figure 9: Three `astro-drawings' by PhD student Miruna Popescu: "Aurora at the Armagh Observatory", "Genesis", and "Roses and the Planetary System".

4.2.2

Collab oration with Scho ols and Universities

1. As a result of the nearby Armstrong Primary School's involvement in the launch of the Human Orrery in 2004, the school decided to name their new school `Houses' after four of the five outer planets, namely Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto. Mark Bailey was invited to launch the new House system on 16 May 2005, at a ceremony involving the whole school. 2. PhD student Jonathan McAuliffe and Mark Bailey each assisted the Queen's University Belfast Graduate School of Education in delivering the PPARC-funded public understanding of science pro ject `Making Science Making News'. As part of the pro ject they respectively visited and delivered 32


talks to classes of students at St. Pious X School, Magherafelt, and Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry. 3. Jonathan McAuliffe also participated in the `Researchers in Residence' scheme, funded by Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust and managed by the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University. Jonathan discussed astronomy, planetary science, and space exploration with approximately 300 school students, divided into a dozen different groups, in St. Patrick's Academy, Dungannon, on 21­22 June 2005. He was also involved as a Scientific Assistant at the Belfast-based W5 science fair `Express Yourself ', on 17 June 2005. 4. PDRA Amir Ahmad and Jonathan McAuliffe assisted the University of Ulster Sentinus programme, by acting for a second year as judges of school pro jects at the Seagate Young Innovators conference, Sentinus's flagship event, held at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast, on 23 June 2005. 5. In addition to these activities, senior Observatory staff supervised school work-experience students on summer programme research pro jects, under the Nuffield/Sentinus Science Bursaries for Schools and Colleges scheme, and students from various universities including the Dublin City University, the University of Oslo, and the University of Cambridge. 4.2.3 Collab oration with Lo cal Groups and So cieties

1. Professor David Williams, a former member of the Observatory Management Committee, delivered a public lecture (`Lessons from Joseph Priestley') in the Armagh County Museum on 24 February 2005, in association with the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society. 2. The Friends of the Armagh County Museum held their annual summer event in the Observatory Grounds on 4 June 2005. The event, which was held together with the Royal School Armagh, involved a lecture (`The History of Gardens in Ireland') by the noted author and garden expert Mr Patrick Bowe (Dublin), followed by tours of the Observatory, and the Observatory Grounds, Gardens and Astropark. 3. The Observatory hosted a Disaster Response Planning workshop on 28 September 2005 in association with other members of the Armagh Visitor Education Committee (AVEC), and attended by representatives from the Armagh City Library, the Armagh County Museum, the Armagh Public Library, the Cardinal Tom´ O Fiaich Memorial Library and Archive, the Irish and Local Studas ´ ies Library, the Royal Irish Fusiliers Museum, as well as the Armagh Observatory and Armagh Planetarium. 4. Approximately 35 members of the Irish Astronomical Association (IAA) visited the Observatory on the afternoon and evening of 18 June 2005 as part of the IAA's annual Summer Solstice BBQ. Astronomical activities included telescopic views of two ma jor, complex sunspot groups, a simple astronomy quiz organized by Terry Moseley, and an instructive `competition' based on activities associated with the new Human Orrery exhibit. 4.2.4 Pat Corvan Event and New Minor Planet Names

1. Members of the East Antrim Astronomical Society (EAAS), the Irish Astronomical Association (IAA) and others visited the Observatory on the evening of 2005 August 30 to celebrate the naming of minor planet (8515) Corvan after the former caretaker of the Armagh Planetarium. Guests included former members of staff of the Armagh Observatory, and friends and family of Mr Corvan encompassing his more than 50-year association with astronomy at Armagh. Patrick Corvan's association with the Armagh Observatory started over half a century ago when he became acquainted with the then Director, Dr Eric Mervyn Lindsay, during his second Observatory visit on the evening of 1953 April 21. Eric Lindsay, a keen popularizer of astronomy, introduced Patrick to the Observatory's 10-inch Grubb refractor on that public Open Night. As a result of listening to Lindsay describe the Moon, Saturn and its rings, and a double star system in Gemini, Patrick, aged thirteen, started on a life-long study of astronomy, especially historical astronomy. Patrick gradually acquired an understanding of the development of astronomy from earliest times to present day research. In 1954, Patrick received a telescope mirror-making kit from Patrick Moore, and with the approval and encouragement of Lindsay, he was permitted to use the Observatory workshop to begin work 33


Figure 10: Some of the participants at the AVEC-organized Disaster Prevention and Planning workshop, held at the Armagh Observatory on 28 September 2005.

Figure 11: Pat Corvan, James Finnegan, Terry Moseley (IAA), Kathleen Corvan and others in the Observatory Library during the celebration of the naming of minor planet (8515) Corvan. Image courtesy of Chia-Hsien Lin.

on his first mirror with guidance from a visiting Harvard graduate student, Franklin E. Kameny. ¨ Patrick received the praises of Lindsay and Dr Ernst Opik upon completion of the pro ject. Lindsay gave Patrick tuition in the operation and use of the Observatory's 10-inch refractor and he has been using the instrument ever since. In the mid-1960s, he used the telescope for planetary observations with Patrick Moore (then Director of the new Armagh Planetarium) and Terry Moseley. During the 1965­1966 opposition of Jupiter, they used the 10-inch telescope and several 34


instruments at Patrick Moore's private observatory to obtain transit timings of certain of Jupiter's atmospheric features and some satellite events. Patrick was appointed to the staff of the Armagh Planetarium on 1975 December 1. He became involved in conducting the monthly public viewing sessions with the Planetarium's 16-inch Cassegrain reflector. His services were much in demand in answering questions on astronomy from the general public throughout his career at the Planetarium. Patrick retired from the Armagh Planetarium on 2005 March 17 after almost thirty years in post. The citation for the asteroid (8515) Corvan, published in Minor Planet Circular No. 54173, reads: "(8515) Corvan = 1991 RJ" Discovered 1991 Sept. 4 by R.H. McNaught at Siding Spring. Patrick G. Corvan (b.1940) has links with Armagh Observatory dating back to his school days. He is an avid observer whose enthusiasm for astronomy is readily communicated to others. His book and slide collections, as well as stories about the astronomers who have worked at or visited Armagh, are in much demand. (MPC 54173) 2. At the same time a second asteroid, (9084) Achristou, was named after Research Astronomer Apostolos Christou. This citation, also published in Minor Planet Circular No. 54173, reads: "(9084) Achristou = 1995 CS1" Discovered 1995 Feb. 3 by D.J. Asher at Siding Spring. Apostolos Christou (b.1968), research astronomer at Armagh Observatory, is a gifted dynamicist, programmer and observer. His interests include minor planets co-orbital with Venus, the earth and (1) Ceres; meteors on Venus, the earth and Mars; NEA mission design; and the irregular satellite families of the outer planets. (MPC 54173) 3. Following his retirement at the end of October 2005, John Butler's astronomical contributions were also recognized by the naming of an asteroid. The citation, published in Minor Planet Circular No. 55723, reads: "(26891) Johnbutler = 1995 CC2 " Discovered 1995 Feb. 7 by D. J. Asher at Siding Spring. Christopher John Butler (b.1940) has worked on cool stars, the effects of solar variability on climate, and preserving Armagh Observatory's scientific heritage for future generations. He is well known for his active involvement in the community of Armagh and for discovering an exceptional flare on HD 6090 ("Butler's star"). (MPC 55723)

5
5.1

Buildings, Grounds, Library and Archives
Heritage Policy

The Observatory's heritage policy is to maintain and preserve the historic buildings, telescopes, telescope domes, scientific instruments and other material in its care, to place restored instruments and artefacts in their original locations in the building so far as possible, and to add to and maintain the integrity of the historic Library and Archives as a coherent, growing collection in the City of Armagh for future generations. In this way, members of the public, researchers and others who visit the Observatory will be able to appreciate more clearly the conjunction of the `old' and the `new' at Armagh, and to comprehend the development of modern astronomy in the context of the historical development of astronomy as a whole.

5.2

Buildings, Telescopes and Telescop e Domes Pro ject

John Butler reports that the restored Calver Telescope was returned to Armagh Observatory in May 2005 and re-erected in its new dome with the assistance of Mr Bertie McClure. A new stepper-motor drive has been fitted by Geoff Coxhead and is currently undergoing trials. Alignment tests with the original Calver Mirror, conducted in December 2005 to January 2006, gave reasonable quality images of around 4 arc sec diameter. The new primary mirror by Sinden arrived in February 2006 and is currently undergoing optical quality tests. 35


Figure 12: Some of the fauna seen in the Observatory Grounds and Astropark during June 2005. The left image (courtesy of Miruna Popescu) shows a rare red-legged partridge, a species that has been introduced to Northern Ireland primarily by shooters. The right image, showing a squirrel, was taken by Chia-Hsien Lin.

5.3

Library, Archives and Historic Scientific Instruments Building

It has unfortunately not been possible to progress an HLF application to support funding for a new Library, Archives and Historic Scientific Instruments building, as during 2005 the DCAL was unable, due to financial constraints, to make any firm commitment to the matching funding (approximately ¸1.5M) that would potentially be required in order to support the pro ject and to progress the application to the stage of a formal approach to the HLF. Following discussions with the DCAL in January 2006, it is hoped that progress towards resolving this difficulty can be made during 2006/2007.

5.4

Phenology Garden, Astropark and Human Orrery

Phenology John Butler and Shane Kelly report that an additional five species were supplied in April 2005 by the International Phenology Gardens (IPG) Central Coordinating Laboratory at the Humboldt University of Berlin to supplement the seven specimens that had survived from the previous allocation. Regrettably, one of the original specimens, forsythia, died during the year, but the remaining plants are thriving. Shane Kelly has successfully recorded the `Spring Leafing', the `Autumn Colouring' and `Autumn Leaf Fall' phases for 2005 and the resulting data have been forwarded to Valentia Observatory, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry, from where the information will be sent to the Humboldt University where it is checked and stored in the IPG database. Spring observations for 2006 have already begun. Astropark and Grounds Shane Kelly reports that the recent resurfacing of the gravel areas in the Astropark with 20 mm Amber gravel has proved successful, not only aesthetically but also practically from a low-maintenance perspective. Also, the drainage that used to be a problem in these areas has improved considerably with the redressing. New railings and seating were installed at various points for the convenience of visitors. In calendar year 2005 the total number of visitors recorded using the Observatory Grounds and Astropark was approximately 22,100. The Grounds are constantly maintained to provide an enjoyable and relaxing facility for the many visitors to the Astropark who wish to examine the scale models of the Solar System and Universe, the Human Orrery, and the historic telescopes and telescope domes. Conservation management with attention to current best practice for sustaining the natural environment of the Observatory Demesne is a continuing important part of the maintenance programme. The success of this environmental policy is evident in the increase in the diversity of species that is still occurring. Human Orrery The Armagh Human Orrery is the first outdoor exhibit in the world to show with precision the elliptical orbits and changing positions of the main bodies in the solar system. This is reflected in the publicity and subsequent interest in the exhibit that has been shown by scientists, educators and the general public world-wide. Completion of the first phase of construction of the Human 36


Orrery was marked by a public `launch' of the orrery on 2004 November 26, an event attended by senior representatives of the DCAL as well as the Deputy Mayor of Armagh City and District Council and the PPARC. Completion of the second phase of construction, namely installation of the two outer rings describing the thirteen ecliptic constellations through which the Sun passes in the course of a year and directions to more distant Galactic and extragalactic ob jects, was achieved towards the end of 2005. It just remains to complete the top surface of the Human Orrery within the two outer rings, and to install the thirteen ecliptic constellation markers and two public information plaques explaining the history of the orrery and how to use the exhibit. The key ob jectives of the Human Orrery pro ject were first to engage visitors to Armagh in a thoughtprovoking and inspiring open-air exhibit; secondly, to introduce fundamental ideas about the Earth's position in space to new audiences through the medium of accompanying leaflets and activity sheets; and thirdly, to explain and promote solar system astronomy, particularly time-dependent phenomena, whilst providing pointers also to Galactic and extragalactic ob jects. These initial ob jectives have now all been achieved, notably providing a range of Human Orrery leaflets and activity sheets, and developing -- primarily under the guidance and control of David Asher -- a rich and interesting Human Orrery web-site (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/orrery/). The leaflets, and much other educational material, can be obtained from the web-site. By the end of 2005, almost 75% of the initial print run of 10,000 leaflets had been distributed to visitors and other interested parties. In addition, since its launch the Human Orrery has attracted substantial publicity on the national and international stage, and has been the source of numerous citations on the world-wide web. Simply typing "Armagh Human Orrery", or "Human Orrery" into the Google search engine immediately elicits dozens of citations to articles or reviews that describe or refer to the Armagh Human Orrery. A number of academic publications describing the Armagh Human Orrery were completed during 2005, including:
· The Human Orrery: Putting the Solar System in Perspective. (M.E. Bailey, D.J. Asher and A.A. Christou.) Sky and Telescope, 109, No. 5 (May) 107­111, 2005. · The Human Orrery: Ground-based astronomy for all. (M.E. Bailey, D.J. Asher & A.A. Christou.) Astronomy and Geophysics, 46, No. 3 (June), 3.31­3.35, 2005. · The Human Orrery. (M.E. Bailey, A.A. Christou & D.J. Asher.) Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 37, No. 3 (Oral Paper 12.01), 634, 2005. (See http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/v37n3/dps2005/348.htm) · The Armagh Observatory Human Orrery. (M.E. Bailey, D.J. Asher & A.A. Christou.) The Irish Scientist Year Book 2005, No. 13, p.39. Oldbury Publishing, Co. Dublin, 2005.

Other short articles will be published in 2006 or are in press. Future Human Orrery activities will be devoted to the creation and eventual publication of further leaflets and public information sheets on the Human Orrery, focusing on additional features and educational activities associated with the exhibit; the promotion of the Human Orrery through the medium of talks and by further developments of the web-site; and encouraging visitors of all ages and backgrounds to use the exhibit as a new, outdoor educational resource.

6

Summary and Conclusion

Section 3 of this report and the publication record of staff at the Armagh Observatory demonstrate the completion of a wide range of individual research pro jects and other contributions to astronomy during 2005 in addition to the activities described in Sections 4 and 5 of this Annual Report. The astronomers at Armagh have also brought significant amounts of external funding into the City as well as students, visitors and research staff, and have played an influential role in the advancement both of professional astronomy and public understanding of science and education. In recent years -- as shown in Table 1 (p.vi) -- the Observatory has successfully obtained substantial levels of non-DCAL funding to support its research, maintaining a high level of activity throughout this period and an exceptionally high public profile. During the past five years alone, astronomers at Armagh have averaged more than 35 publications per year in refereed scientific journals, and have appeared in or been quoted in newspapers and other media an average of at least 280 times per year. In short, the Armagh Observatory is a flourishing astronomical research institute which continues to play an influential role both in professional astronomy and in public understanding of science and education. With sufficient resources to carry out its work, the Observatory remains in a strong position to continue this activity and to play an influential role in both UK and international astronomy for years to 37


come. However, the organization's capacity to plan strategically is increasingly being put at risk by the lack of a secure core funding line, and this is interfering with the Observatory's strategic aim to position itself strongly for the next Research Assessment Exercise. There is a risk that more than a decade of improved performance in virtually every aspect of the Observatory's activities could be undermined. In order to avoid this risk, the Observatory must obtain a stable level of core funding adequate for its needs and sufficient to support a reasonable number of senior research-active staff. In 2001 there were 6 Research Astronomers in post, but in 2005 this fell to half this figure. Although we expect to replace these staff by the recruitment of two new Research Astronomers in 2006, there remains a need to appoint further senior research staff (preferably 3 or 4 more), who must be highly motivated, promising research scientists, of high stature on the national and international scene. The Observatory is the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland, the longest continuously operating astronomical research institute in the UK and Ireland. It remains a viable and successful research institute. In addition to its scientific research, which generates new knowledge and increases Northern Ireland's cultural capital, the Observatory presents a vibrant, positive image of Armagh City and District -- and of Northern Ireland -- on the national and world stage. It makes a significant contribution both to DCAL departmental ob jectives and to the wider initiatives of the Northern Ireland Programme for Government. This report has shown what can be achieved. The key task for 2006/2007 is to continue to work with the DCAL to obtain a sufficient level of funding to maintain and expand existing levels of research activity.

38


A
A.1

Board of Governors and Management Committee 2005
Board of Governors

The Board of Governors comprises the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh (Chairman), the Dean and Chapter of the Church of Ireland Cathedral of Armagh, 1 DCAL nominee, 1 QUB nominee, and up to 3 additional members nominated by the Board of Governors. Nominees normally serve for an initial period of 5 years with the possibility of extension.
· Chairman: His Grace, The Most Reverend Dr R.H.A. Eames, The Lord Archbishop of Armagh · The Very Reverend Dean H. Cassidy1 , St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh · The Venerable Archdeacon R.G. Hoey, Camlough · The Reverend Canon J.M. Barton, Acton · The Reverend Canon W.J.A. Dawson, Pomeroy · The Reverend Canon J.W. McKegney, Armagh · The Reverend Canon C.F. Moore, Newtownhamilton · The Reverend Canon H.J.W. Moore, Ballinderry · The Reverend Canon R.J.N. Porteus, Derryloran · The Reverend Canon F.D. Swann, Drumglass · Councillor W. Gardiner-Watson (DCAL Nominee) · Professor A. Hibbert, Queens University Belfast (QUB Nominee) · Lord Ballyedmond, Ballyedmond Castle, Rostrevor (Board of Governors Nominee) · Professor J.E. Dyson2 , University of Leeds (Board of Governors Nominee)

A.2

Management Committee

The Management Committee comprises the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh or his nominee (Chairman), 3 Nominees from the Board of Governors, 4 DCAL nominees, 1 QUB nominee, 1 PPARC nominee, 1 DIAS nominee, and up to 4 additional members co-opted by the Board of Governors. Nominees and those co-opted by the Governors normally serve for an initial period of 3­5 years with the possibility of extension.
· Chairman: His Grace The Most Reverend Dr R.H.A. Eames, The Lord Archbishop of Armagh · Deputy Chairman: Dr F.N. Byrne (Co-opted, Board of Governors) · The Venerable Archdeacon R.G. Hoey, Camlough (Board of Governors Nominee) · Professor J.E. Dyson3 , University of Leeds (Board of Governors Nominee) · Professor A. Hibbert4 , Queens University Belfast (Board of Governors Nominee) ´ · Dr E.M. (A.) Downey (DCAL Nominee) · Mrs S. Hogg (DCAL Nominee) · Mrs M. Cruickshank (DCAL Nominee) · Professor P.L. Dufton, Queens University Belfast (QUB Nominee) · Professor M.R. Merrifield, University of Nottingham (PPARC Nominee) · Professor L. Drury, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS Nominee) · Sir Kenneth Bloomfield (Co-opted, Board of Governors)

1 2 3 4

To 31 From From From

January 2006 May 2005 May 2005 March 2005

39


B

Armagh Observatory Staff 2005
Title, Name and Computer Username Position Notes Base Cost Centre OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS Self OBS OBS OBS OBS Rutledge OBS OBS OBS/PLA OBS OBS Self OBS OBS OBS Self OBS OBS QUB OBS/DIAS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS

1 2 3 4 5

Professor Mark E. Bailey Dr Apostolos Christou Professor J. Gerry Doyle Dr C. Simon Jeffery Dr David J. Asher Dr C. John Butler

meb aac jgd csj dja cjb hmm gc jmf stk ambn asn lfy amir eos tan atr ntb bbk jma pmc ajm cap dps mdp tsa cwr

Director Research Astronomer Research Astronomer Research Astronomer Research Fellow Emeritus Research Fellow Computer Systems Manager Software/Hardware Support Librarian/PRO/Archivist Grounds/Meteorological Officer Assistant Groundsman Director's PA and Observatory Secretary Accounts and General Administrative Officer Joint Administrator Postdoctoral Research Assistant Postdoctoral Research Assistant Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Research Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student Student (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) (PhD) PPARC CosmoGrid P/T OU F/T QUB F/T QUB F/T QUB Athens F/T QUB F/T QUB F/T QUB F/T TCD F/T QUB F/T QUB F/T QUB F/T QUB F/T QUB

OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS/PLA OBS OBS Home OBS OBS OBS Athens OBS OBS QUB OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Mr H. Martin Murphy Mr Geoff Coxhead Mr John McFarland Mr Shane T. Kelly Mr Bernard Toner Mrs Aileen McKee Ms Alison Neve Mr Lawrence F. Young Dr Amir Ahmad Dr Eoghan O'Shea Mr Ms Mr Ms Mr Ms Mr Mr Mr Ms Mr Ms Mr Mr Eamonn Ansbro Antoaneta Antonova Prakash Atreya Natalie Behara John Giannikakis Hayati Bebe Hajra Ishak Jonathan McAuliffe Patrick McCafferty Anthony Moraghan Caroline Pereira David P´ erez-Su´ arez Miruna Popescu Timur Sahin ¸ Christopher Winter

Armagh Observatory staff position at 2005 December 31. Temporary staff such as summer students are not shown, nor are Margaret Cherry (who retired on 31 January 2005), Michael Smith (who left on 31 October 2005), the PDRAs Chia-Hsien Lin (who left on 15 September 2005) and Youra Taroyan (who left on 30 September 2005); four former PhD Students: Ignacio Ugarte Urra (who left on 31 March 2005), Barry O'Connell (who left on 31 March 2005), Ana Maria Garc´ Su´ ia arez (who left on 31 May 2005), and Babulakshmanan Ramachandran (who left on 31 October 2005; and an undergraduate placement student from the University of Surrey, David Morgan (who left on 30 June 2005).

40


C

Refereed Journal Publications 2005
1. Ahmad, A., Jeffery, C.S., 2005, "Discovery of pulsation in a helium-rich subdwarf B star", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 437, L51­L54. 2. Asher, D.J., Bailey, M.E., Emel'yanenko, V.V., Napier, W.M., 2005, "Earth in the Cosmic Shooting Gallery", Observatory, 125, 319­322. 3. Asher, D.J., 2005, "The dynamical structure of meteor streams and meteor shower predictions", IAU Colloq., 197, 375­382. 4. Bailey, M.E., Stewart, D., Stronge, M., 2005, "Extending the Black Drop to Saturn", Astronomy and Geophysics, 46, No. 1 (February) 1.7, 2005. 5. Bailey, M.E., Asher, D.J., Christou, A.A., 2005a, "The Human Orrery: Putting the solar system in perspective", Sky and Telescope, 109, No. 5 (May) 107­111, 2005. 6. Bailey, M.E., Asher, D.J., Christou, A.A., 2005b, "The Human Orrery: Ground-based astronomy for all", Astronomy and Geophysics, 46, No. 3 (June) 3.31­3.35, 2005. 7. Bailey, M.E., Butler, C.J., McFarland, J., 2005, "Unwinding the discovery of spiral nebulae", Astronomy and Geophysics, 46, No. 2 (April) 2.26­2.28, 2005. 8. Butler, C.J., Garc´ Su´ ia arez, A.M., Coughlin, A.D.S., Morrell, C., 2005, "Air temperatures at Armagh Observatory, Northern Ireland, from 1796 to 2002", International Journal of Climatology, 25, 1055­1079. 9. Christou, A.A., 2005, "Gravitational scattering within the Himalia group of jovian prograde irregular satellites", Icarus, 174, 215­229.

10. Christou, A.A., 2005, "Mutual events of the Uranian satellites 2006­2010, Icarus, 178, 171­178. 11. Christou, A.A., Bailey, M.E., 2005, "Negative report of occultation by the D-type asteroid (773) Irmintraud", Observatory, 125, 23­24. 12. Davis, C.J., Smith, M.D., Gledhill, R.M., Varricatt, W.P., 2005, "Near-infrared echelle spectroscopy of protoplanetary nebulae: Probing the fast wind in H2 ", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 360, 104­118. 13. Doyle, J.G., Giannikakis, J., Xia, L.D., Madjarska, M.S., 2005, "Line broadening of EUV lines across the solar limb: A spicule contribution?", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 431, L17­L20. 14. Doyle, J.G., Ishak, B., Ugarte-Urra, I., Bryans, P., Summers, H.P., 2005, "Evidence for explosive event activity originating in the chromosphere", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 439, 1183­1189. 15. Doyle, J.G., Summers, H.P., Bryans, P., 2005, "The effect of metastable level populations on the ionization fraction of Li-like ions", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 430, L29­L32. 16. Emel'yanenko, V.V., Asher, D.J., Bailey, M.E., 2005, "Centaurs from the Oort cloud and the origin of Jupiter-family comets", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 361, 1345­1351. 17. Garc´ Alvarez, D., Johns-Krull, C.M., Doyle, J.G., Ugarte-Urra, I., Madjarska, M.S., Butler, C.J., ia 2005. "Optical and EUV observations of solar flare kernels", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 444, 593­603. 18. Jeffery, C.S., 2005, "Pulsations in Subdwarf B stars", Journal Astrophysics and Astronomy, 26, 261­271. 19. Jeffery, C.S., Aerts, C., Dhillon, V.S., Marsh, T.R., G¨ ansicke, B.T., 2005, "Multicolour high-speed photometry of the subdwarf B star PG 0014+067 with ultracam", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 362, 66­78. 20. Li, J.Z., Smith, M.D., 2005a, "Discovery of multiseeded multimode formation of embedded clusters in the Rosette Molecular Complex", Astrophysical Journal, 620, 816­822. 21. Li, J.Z., Smith, M.D., 2005b, "Multi-seeded multi-mode formation of embedded clusters in the RMC: Clusters formed in swept-up shells", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 431, 925­931. 22. Li, J.Z., Smith, M.D., 2005c, "Multi-seeded multi-mode formation of embedded clusters in the RMC: Structure in star formation toward the southeastern boundary", Astronomical Journal, 130, 2757­2765. 23. Li, J.Z., Smith, M.D., 2005d, "The newly hatched rich massive cluster in the Ridge of the Rosette Molecular Cloud", Astronomical Journal, 130, 721­729. 24. Lin, C.-H., Banerjee, D., Doyle, J.G., O'Shea, E., Foley, C.R., 2005, "Coronal oscillations in the vicinity of a sunspot as observed by GIS/CDS", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 434, 751­759. 25. Lin, C.-H., Banerjee, D., Doyle, J.G., O'Shea, E., 2005, "The extent of 3-min oscillations in regions other than sunspot plumes", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 444, 585­592. 26. Lin, C.-H., D¨ en, W., 2005, "The chemical composition and equation of state of the Sun inferred from app seismic models through an inversion procedure", Astrophysical Journal, 623, 556­570. 27. O'Connell, B., Smith, M.D., Froebrich, D., Davis, C.J., Eisl¨ offel, J., 2005, "The near-infrared excitation of the HH 211 protostellar flow", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 431, 223­234.

41


28. Ogle, N., Turney, C.S.M., Kalin, R.M., O'Donnell, L., Butler, C.J., 2005, "Palaeovolcanic forcing of shortterm dendroisotopic depletion: The effect of decreased solar intensity on Irish oak", Geophysical Research Letters, 32, L04708. 29. O'Shea, E., Banerjee, D., Doyle, J.G., 2005, "Blinker/macro-spicule activity in an off-limb polar region", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 436, L43­L46. 30. O'Shea, E., Banerjee, D., Doyle, J.G., 2005, "On the widths and ratios of Mg x 609.79 and 624.94 ° A lines in polar off-limb regions", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 436, L35­L38. 31. O'Toole, S.J., Heber, U., Jeffery, C.S., Dreizler, S., Schuh, S.L., Wo olf, V.M., Falter, S., Green, E.M., For, B.-Q., Hyde, E.A., Kjeldsen, H., Mauch, T., White, B.A., 2005, "The MultiSite Spectroscopic Telescope campaign: 2 m spectroscopy of the V361 Hya variable PG 1605+072", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 440, 667­674. 32. Pereira, C., Bergeron, P., Wesemael, F., 2005, "Discovery of spectroscopic variations in the DAB white dwarf GD 323, Astrophysical Journal, 623, 1076­1082. 33. Pop escu, M.D., Banerjee, D., O'Shea, E., Doyle, J.G., Xia, L.D., 2005, "Very long period activity at the base of solar wind streams", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 442, 1087­1090. 34. Pop escu, M.D., Doyle, J.G., 2005, "Searching for the origins of the fast solar wind", Astronomy and Astrophysics Space Science Library, 320, 235­238. 35. Preibisch, T., Beuther, H., Hofmann, K.-H., Meyer, M., Schertl, D., Smith, M.D., Weigelt, G., Young, E.T., 2005, "Bispectrum speckle interferometry of the massive protostellar outflow source IRAS 23151+5912", Astronomische Nachrichten, 326, 570. 36. Przybilla, N., Butler, K., Heber, U., Jeffery, C.S., 2005, "Extreme helium stars: non-LTE matters. Helium and hydrogen spectra of the unique ob jects V652 Her and HD 144941", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 443, L25­L28. 37. Ramachandran, B., Smith, M.D., 2005a, "On the linear analysis of unstable radiative shocks", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 357, 707­721. 38. Ramachandran, B., Smith, M.D., 2005b, "A stability analysis of radiative shocks in the presence of a transverse magnetic field", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 362, 1353­1362. 39. Smith, M.D., Rosen, A., 2005a, "Hydrodynamic simulations of molecular outflows driven by slowprecessing protostellar jets", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 357, 579­589. 40. Smith, M.D., Rosen, A., 2005b, "Synthetic Spitzer Infrared Array Camera band maps from simulations of protostellar jets", Monthly Notices Royal Astronomical Society, 357, 1370­1376. 41. Solano, E., Catala, C., Garrido, R., Poretti, E., Janot-Pacheco, E., Guti´ errez, R., Gonz´ alez, R., Mantegazza, L., Neiner, C., Fremat, Y., Charpinet, S., Weiss, W., Amado, P.J., Rainer, M., Tsymbal, V., Lyashko, D., Ballereau, D., Bouret, J.C., Hua, T., Katz, D., Ligni` eres, F., L¨ ftinger, T., Mittermayer, P., Nesvacil, N., Soubiran, C., van't Veer-Menneret, C., Goupil, M.J., Costa, V., Rolland, A., Antonello, E., Bossi, M., Buzzoni, A., Rodrigo, C., Aerts, C., Butler, C.J., Guenther, E., Hatzes, A., 2005, "GAUDI: A preparatory archive for the COROT Mission", Astronomical Journal, 129, 547­553. 42. Taroyan, Y., Erd´ elyi, R., Doyle, J.G., Bradshaw, S.J., 2005, "Footpoint excitation of standing acoustic waves in coronal loops", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 438, 713­720. 43. Ugarte-Urra, I., Doyle, J.G., Walsh, R.W., Madjarska, M.S., 2005, "Electron density along a coronal loop observed with CDS/SOHO", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 439, 351­359. 44. Ugarte-Urra, I., Doyle, J.G., Del Zanna, G., 2005, "Electron densities in EUV coronal bright points", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 435, 1169­1172. 45. Wesemael, F., Pereira, C., Bergeron, P., 2005, Journal Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 99, 145. 46. Xia, L.D., Pop escu, M.D., Doyle, J.G., Giannikakis, J., 2005, "Time series study of EUV spicules observed by SUMER/SoHO", Astronomy and Astrophysics, 438, 1115­1122.

42


D

Date

Speaker

Location

Title

Wed 12 Jan 2005 Mon 17 Jan 2005

C.S. Jeffery B. Ishak

Wed 19 Jan 2005 Thu 27 Jan 2005

E. O'Shea C.S. Jeffery

Evolved Binary Stars Comparison Between Explosive Events of Two Transition Region Lines of Similar Temperatures An Investigation of Solar Plumes Observations and Theory of Pulsations in sdB Stars

Thu Sat Mon Mon Thu Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat Mon Thu Irish Phenology Meeting, Trinity College Dublin Irish Astronomical Society, Ely House, Dublin RAS/NAM/UKSP Meeting, Birmingham

17 19 21 21 24 4 5 5 5 5 7 10

Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005

M.E. Bailey M.D. Popescu M.E. Bailey A. Ahmad A. Ahmad M.D. Popescu M.D. Popescu M.E. Bailey A. Ahmad A. Ahmad M.D. Popescu A.A. Christou

Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge British-Romanian-Hungarian N+N+N Workshop for Young Researchers, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Cosmogrid Meeting, University College Dublin Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium Armagh Observatory Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory East Antrim Astronomical Society, Ballyrob ert Astronomy Unit Seminar , Queen Mary University of London

Mon 14 Mar 2005

C.J. Butler

Presentations by Armagh Observatory Staff 2005

43
in Binary Stars, in Binary Stars, in Binary Stars, to IDL, NUI Galto IDL, NUI GalRAS/NAM/UKSP Meeting, Birmingham Lorentz Workshop on Nucleosynthesis Lorentz Centre, Leiden Lorentz Workshop on Nucleosynthesis Lorentz Centre, Leiden Lorentz Workshop on Nucleosynthesis Lorentz Centre, Leiden Armagh Observatory Cosmogrid/ASGI Workshop: Introduction way Cosmogrid/ASGI Workshop: Introduction way ASGI Meeting, NUI Galway ASGI meeting, NUI Galway Armagh Observatory

Mon 21 Mar 2005 Wed 6 Apr 2005

C.J. Butler Y. Taroyan

Fri 8 Apr 2005 Mon 11 Apr 2005

M.D. Popescu C.S. Jeffery

New Insights into the Origin of Comets Ob jects that Fire the Imagination Armagh Observatory: Astronomy, History and Current Activities Music of the Spheres Looking Inside Stars Solar Mysteries Revealed A (Colourful) Introduction to Solar Physics Armagh Observatory: Astronomy, History and Current Activities Looking at the Life of Stars The Interior of Stars Solar Mysteries Revealed Himalia Jostles its Children: The Story of an Irregular Satellite Family of Jupiter Armagh Phenology Garden and Website for Irish Phenology Network Charles Mason and the Transit of Venus Nanoflare Heating of Coronal Loops: Study of Emission-Line Profiles Long Time Periods ab ove Coronal Holes Observations of Exotic Binaries White Dwarf Mergers Conference Summary: I. Earth in the Cosmic Shooting Gallery An Introduction to IDL Widgets Handling Files in IDL

Thu 14 Apr 2005

C.S. Jeffery

Fri

15 Apr 2005

C.S. Jeffery

Tue 19 Apr 2005 Wed 20 Apr 2005

M.E. Bailey E. O'Shea

Wed 20 Apr 2005

A. Ahmad

Thu 21 Apr 2005 Thu 21 Apr 2005

M.E. Bailey Y. Taroyan

Wed 27 Apr 2005

H.M. Murphy

Earth in the Cosmic Shooting Gallery Observational Consequences of Nanoflare Heating of Coronal Loops Introduction to iMac and MAC OS X

Presentations by Armagh Observatory staff, 2005 January 1 to 2005 April 30.


Date
Shannonside Astronomy Club, Limerick Irish Geographers Conference, NUI Galway Irish Geographers Conference, NUI Galway Astronomy Ireland, Dublin City University Armstrong Primary School, Armagh Armagh Observatory PPARC, Swindon

Speaker

Location

Title

Thu Sat Sat

5 May 2005 7 May 2005 7 May 2005

M.E. Bailey C.J. Butler A.M. Garc´ Su´ ia arez

Mon Mon Sat Wed

9 16 21 1

May May May Jun

2005 2005 2005 2005

C.S. Jeffery M.E. Bailey Y. Taroyan M.E. Bailey

Thu Thu Tue

2 Jun 2005 2 Jun 2005 7 Jun 2005

N.T. Behara C. Winter N.T. Behara

The Origin of Comets and the Oort Cloud Air Temperatures at Armagh Observatory from 1796­2002 Are Climate Reconstructions from Tree-Ring Widths Possible in Ireland? Looking Inside the Stars The Astropark and the Planets The Solar-Terrestrial Environment The Armagh Observatory: History; Current Research; Future Plans New Model Atmospheres with New Opacities Automatic Analysis of Stellar Spectra New Model Atmospheres for Chemically-Peculiar Sub dwarfs Chemical Abundances of Helium-Rich Subdwarf B Stars Spectral Analysis of sdB-He Stars from the SDSS ultracam Photometry of Pulsating Subdwarf B Stars Photometry of LS IV -14 116

Tue

7 Jun 2005

A. Ahmad

Tue

7 Jun 2005

A. Ahmad

Thu

9 Jun 2005

C.S. Jeffery

44
Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory CfA, University of Central Lancashire, Preston General Assembly, IAMAS, Beijing, China Anglo-Australian Observatory, Sydney, Australia

Thu

9 Jun 2005

A. Ahmad

Fri

10 June 2005

C.S. Jeffery

Tue 14 Jun 2005 Tue 21 Jun 2005 Wed 22 Jun 2005

J.P. McAuliffe J.P. McAuliffe C.S. Jeffery

Multisite Spectroscopic Telescope: 4 m Spectroscopy of PG 1605+072 The Jovian System A Brief History of Everything White Dwarf Mergers and their Progeny

Wed 22 Jun 2005 Fri 24 Jun 2005

J.P. McAuliffe A.M. Garc´ Su´ ia arez

Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory 2nd Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Ob jects, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain 2nd Meeting on Hot Sub dwarf Stars and Related Ob jects, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain 2nd Meeting on Hot Sub dwarf Stars and Related Ob jects, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain 2nd Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Ob jects, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain 2nd Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Ob jects, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain 2nd Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related Ob jects, Santa Cruz de la Palma, Spain Saint Pious X Secondary School, Magherafelt Saint Patrick's Secondary School, Dungannon South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa Saint Patrick's Secondary School, Dungannon Armagh Observatory

Thu Fri Mon Mon

30 1 1 15

Jun Jul Aug Aug

2005 2005 2005 2005

A.A. A.A. C.S. C.J.

Christou Christou Jeffery Butler

Wed 31 Aug 2005

A. Ahmad

A Brief History of Everything Are Climate Reconstructions from Tree-Ring Widths Possible in Ireland? Basics of Solar System Dynamics. Part I Basics of Solar System Dynamics. Part II Extreme Helium Stars and the Progeny of White Dwarf Mergers Tree-Ring Chronologies of Different Species and their use as Climate Proxies in Northern Ireland Studies of Chemically Peculiar Hot Sub dwarfs

Presentations by Armagh Observatory staff, 2005 May 1 to 2005 August 31.


Date
Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory AAS DPS Meeting 2005, Cambridge AAS DPS Meeting 2005, Cambridge AAS DPS Meeting 2005, Cambridge Astronomy Ireland, Dublin Europ ean SPM 11, Leuven, Belgium Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory IMC 2005, Oostmalle, Belgium

Speaker

Location

Title

Thu Thu Mon Tue Thu Mon Tue Fri Fri Fri Sun

1 1 5 6 8 12 13 14 14 14 18

Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep Sep

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005

M.E. Bailey M.E. Bailey M.E. Bailey J.P. McAuliffe M.E. Bailey C.J. Butler Y. Taroyan A. Antonova C.-H. Lin T. Sahin ¸ J.P. McAuliffe

45

Sun Mon Wed Thu Fri Fri Fri Fri Tue Tue Thu

18 3 5 6 7 7 7 7 11 3 17

Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005

J.P. McAuliffe M.E. Bailey P. McCafferty M.E. Bailey A.A. Christou M.E. Bailey M.D. Popescu M.E. Bailey M.E. Bailey N.T. Behara P. McCafferty

The Human Orrery Origin of Jupiter-Family Comets The Armagh Observatory Human Orrery Simulating Meteor Showers in the Martian Atmosphere Sources of Centaurs and Jupiter-Family Comets The Historic Telescopes at Armagh Observatory Study of a Transient Siphon Flow in a Cold Lo op Discovering the Source of Radio Activity in Brown Dwarfs Multi-Wavelength Study of Waves and Jets ab ove Active Regions Stellar Evolution Beyond Asymptotic Giant Branch The Armagh Observatory's Automated Meteor Monitoring System Simulating Meteor Showers in the Martian Atmosphere The Origin of Comets and the Oort Cloud Comets in Irish Mythology Seeing Stars from Armagh Mutual Events of the Uranian Satellites in 2006­2010 Sources of Centaurs and Jupiter-Family Comets Different Views of Macro-Spicules The Armagh Observatory Human Orrery The Origin of Comets and the Oort Cloud LTE Model Atmospheres with New Opacities Comets in Irish Mythology: the Implications for Archaeology What Solar Explosive Events? Spectroscopic Studies of Compact and Evolved Stars Dynamical Evolution of Halley-Type Comets Lessons from the Dynamical Evolution of Halley's Comet LTE Model Atmospheres with New Opacities The 18th Century Transits of Venus, Charles Mason's Observations in Donegal and Irish Astronomy in the 18th and 19th Centuries

Mon Thu Tue Fri Thu Thu

21 1 6 9 15 15

Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec

2005 2005 2005 2005 2005 2005

B. Ishak C. Pereira M.E. Bailey M.E. Bailey N.T. Behara C.J. Butler

IMC 2005, Oostmalle, Belgium East Antrim Astronomical Society, Ballyclare Irish Astronomical Association, Belfast Our Lady's Grammar School, Newry ASGI Meeting, Dublin City University ASGI Meeting, Dublin City University ASGI Meeting, Dublin City University, Dublin ASGI Meeting, Dublin City University, Dublin Astro2 Society, NUI Maynooth Armagh Observatory Archaeology Evening Seminar, Archaeology Museum, QUB, Belfast Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Royal Astronomical Society, London Armagh Observatory East Antrim Astronomical Society, Ballyrobert

Presentations by Armagh Observatory staff, 2005 September 1 to 2005 December 31.


E

Date
University of Surrey

Speaker

Affiliation

Title

Thu

3 Feb 2005

P. Sellin

Tue 22 Feb 2005 Fri 25 Feb 2005 Thu 3 Mar 2005

W.-R. Hamann D.A. Williams U. Heb er

Physics of Current X-Ray Imaging Detectors and their Applications to Astronomy Wolf-Rayet Stars Perinatal Events in Astronomy Sup ernovae and their Progenitors

Thu 10 Mar 2005

C. Karl

Universiteit Potsdam University College London Dr Remeis Sternwarte, University of Erlangen Nurenb erg Astronomisches Institut der Universit¨ Bamb erg at,

Wed 27 Apr 2005 Wed 1 Jun 2005 Thu 2 Jun 2005 Thu 8 Jun 2005 Heidelb erg,

H.M. Murphy A. Hibb ert N. Behara T. Khanzadyan

White Dwarfs and Hot Sub dwarf Binaries as Possible Progenitors of Typ e 1a Sup ernovae Introduction to iMac and Mac OS X Atomic Physics for Astrophysics at QUB New Model Atmospheres with New Opacities Star Formation in Cygnus

Thu Fri

2 Jun 2005 24 Jun 2005

C. Winter A.M. Garc´ Su´ ia arez

Armagh Queen's University Belfast Armagh Max-Planck Institut fur Astronomie, ¨ Germany Armagh Armagh

Wed 29 Jun 2005

D. Mullan

Automatic Analysis of Stellar Spectra Are Climate Reconstructions from Tree-Ring Widths Possible in Ireland? Magnetic Fields on Hot Stars

Armagh Observatory Seminars 2005

46
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India The Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology, Cardiff University, Wales Ferdowsi University, Iran Ferdowsi University, Iran Armagh Armagh Armagh Armagh Scho ol of Computing and Information Engineering, University of Ulster Armagh

Thu 30 Jun 2005 Fri 1 Jul 2005 Fri 22 Jul 2005

A. Christou A. Christou Li-Dong Xia

Basics of Solar System Dynamics: Part I. Basics of Solar System Dynamics: Part II. Solar Wind Origin in Coronal Funnels Space Weather Explorer: the KuaFu Mission

Fri

22 Jul 2005

Li-Dong Xia

Thu Wed Wed Wed

11 14 14 14

Aug Sep Sep Sep

2005 2005 2005 2005

M. Dimitrijevic A. Antonova T. Sahin ¸ C.-H. Lin

Bartol Research Institute, University of Delaware, USA Armagh Armagh CAS Key Lab oratory of Basic Plasma Physics, University of Science and Technology of China CAS Key Lab oratory of Basic Plasma Physics, University of Science and Technology of China Belgrade Astronomical Observatory, Serbia Armagh Armagh Armagh

Mon 19 Sep 2005 Thu 22 Sep 2005

D. Banerjee C. Wickramasinghe

Thu 29 Sep 2005

M. Shadmehri

Thu

6 Oct 2005

F. Kha jenabi

Thu 3 Nov 2005 Mon 21 Nov 2005 Thu 1 Dec 2005 Tue 6 Dec 2005 Wed 7 Dec 2005

N. Behara B. Ishak C. Pereira M.E. Bailey C. Peoples

Thu

15 Dec 2005

N. Behara

Astronomy in Serbia Discovering the Source of Radio Activity in Brown Dwarfs Stellar Evolution Beyond the Asymptotic Giant Branch Multi-Wavelength Study of Waves and Jets Ab ove Active Regions Dynamics of the Polar Coronal Hole Region From Interstellar Matter to Deep Impact . . . and Life The Formation and Structure of Star-Forming Clouds Self-similar Structure of Magnetized RadiationDominated Accretion Discs LTE Model Atmospheres with New Opacities What Are the Solar Features Known as Explosive Events? Spectroscopic Studies of Compact and Evolved Stars Lessons from the Dynamical Evolution of Halley's Comet Space-IP: Q0S Provisioning in Long-Distance Delay-Sensitive Proto cols LTE Mo del Atmospheres with New Opacities

Seminars at Armagh Observatory, calendar year 2005. Organized by J.G. Doyle.


F

Identified Media Mentions 2005
Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.

Running Total

Approximate Date

Main Subject, Author, and Other Details

Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

1 2 3 4 5 6 OBS 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

01-Jan-2005 Charles Mason and 18th Century Irish Astronomy (John Butler) 01-Jan-2005 Solar Mysteries Revealed (Miruna Popescu) 01-Jan-2005 "Human Orrery" at Armagh Observatory 01-Jan-2005 Armagh's star attraction set to reopen 01-Jan-2005 Flashback: Patrick Moore's high altitude date with a comet, October 1965 01-Jan-2005 January Night Sky (jmf ) 01-Jan-2005 Human Orrery launched 01-Jan-2005 Human Orrery Launched 01-Jan-2005 IAA Committee Member, Terry Moseley Elected to RIA 'Astronomy and Space' Board 01-Jan-2005 Launch of Armagh Observatory's Human Orrery Exhibit 01-Jan-2005 Letters and Emails 01-Jan-2005 IAA Council, Ex-Officio Members 01-Jan-2005 Two prominent IAA members scoop the 2003-2004 FitzGerald Award (Andy McCrea) 18-Jan-2005 Heavy snowfall hits schools and roads (Richard Burden) 19-Jan-2005 Weather records for Armagh Observatory (Ian Rippey) 25-Jan-2005 Aurora from Armagh 25-Jan-2005 Things to do in Armagh

Arcturus Arcturus Astronomy and Space Astronomy Now Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph Frontiers http://www.pparc.ac.uk/frontiers/current/ sands.asp Stardust Stardust Stardust Stardust Stardust Ulster Gazette Ian Rippey's e-Bulletin EAAS: http://www.eaas.co.uk/ gallery/aurora/20050122 aurora armagh.html Tripadvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ Attractions-g186474-ActivitiesArmagh County Armagh Northern Ireland.html Belfast Telegraph Online Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Space Astronomy Now WGN, The Journal of the IMO Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph Online East Antrim Astronomical Society Newsletter

18 19

31-Jan-2005 Broadband project links up HE centres 01-Feb-2005 Extending the black drop to Saturn (M E Bailey, D Stewart and M Stronge) 20 01-Feb-2005 Inside the Stars (Simon Jeffery) 21 01-Feb-2005 Society News: Irish Eyes on the Sky 22 01-Feb-2005 Editorial ­ which magnitude? 23 OBS 05-Feb-2005 February Night Sky: Discovering Spiral Galaxies (jmf ) 24 OBS 05-Feb-2005 February Night Sky: Discovering Spiral Galaxies (jmf ) 25 07-Feb-2005 Discovery by UCSD poses a cosmic puzzle: Can a 'distant' quasar lie within a nearby galaxy? (Kim McDonald) 26 09-Feb-2005 Armagh Observatory

27 OBS 10-Feb-2005 28 11-Feb-2005 29 15-Feb-2005 30 15-Feb-2005 31 32

Weather in January (jmf ) New Event: Lessons from Joseph Priestly Lessons from Joseph Priestly (David Williams) A lucky break on Friday the 13th 2029: giant asteroid will narrowly miss earth (Steve Connor) 15-Feb-2005 2004 MN4 16-Feb-2005 2004 MN4

Royal Astronomical Society: http://www.ras.org.uk/index.php? option=content&task=view&id=154 Ulster Gazette Terry Moseley's e-bulletin eaas@yahoogroups.com The Independent University of Sheffield Internal Radio Station 'Bumerang' Romanian newspaper: http://bumerang.ro/articles.php ?id=2487&channel id=24 'Ultima ora' (The Last Day) Romanian newspap er: http://www.ultima-ora.ro/16.htm eaas@yahoogroups.com Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ news/features/story.jsp?story=611979 Ulster Gazette

33 34 35 36 37

16-Feb-2005 2004 MN4 16-Feb-2005 16-Feb-2005 17-Feb-2005 17-Feb-2005 2004 MN4 2004 MN4 The Knight watchman (Judith Cole) The Knight watchman (Judith Cole)

38 OBS 17-Feb-2005 Top astronomer to give public lecture on Joseph Priestly (meb)

47


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

18-Feb-2005 Giant asteroid set to pass Earth by a proverbial whisker 18-Feb-2005 2004 MN4 19-Feb-2005 Anemometer (Wikipedia) 19-Feb-2005 Armagh (Wikipedia) 19-Feb-2005 Ernst Opik (Wikipedia) 19-Feb-2005 John Dreyer (Wikipedia) 19-Feb-2005 John Thomas Romney Robinson (Wikip edia) 19-Feb-2005 Southern African Large Telescope (Wikipedia) 19-Feb-2005 LECTURES: Lessons from Joseph Priestly (D Williams) 19-Feb-2005 Armagh Observatory 21-Feb-2005 Orreries and Tellurians 21-Feb-2005 Climate Change Indicators for Northern Ireland (Barry McAuley) 22-Feb-2005 Armagh Observatory 23-Feb-2005 2004 MN4 23-Feb-2005 Solar Mysteries Revealed (Miruna Popescu) 24-Feb-2005 More than a light show

The Mercury Newspaper (Durban, South Africa) WGN Radio Chicago, USA http://www.answers.com/topic/ anemometer ?hl=armagh&hl=observatory http://www.answers.com/topic/armagh1?hl=armagh&hl=observatory http://www.answers.com/topic/ernstpik?hl=armagh&hl=observatory http://www.answers.com/topic/johndreyer?hl=armagh&hl=observatory http://www.answers.com/topic/john-thomasromney-robinson?hl=armagh&hl=observatory http://www.answers.com/topic/southern-africanlarge-telescope?hl=armagh&hl=observatory iSCAN Bulletin No.76 Wikipedia http://www.answers.com/topic/armaghobservatory Caelum (Ehrenfried Kluckert) ISBN 3-933284-14-7 Environment and Heritage Service (DoE) http://www.nbu.ac.uk/iccuk/ Hansard: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ wrans/?id=2005-02-22.211932.h 'Crisana' Romanian newspaper: http://www.crisana.ro/stiri/stiri.php?id new=1284 EAAS web site: http://www.eaas.co.uk/ news/20050307 meeting press release.html Popular Mechanics: http://www.popularmechanics.com/ science/space/1282581.html The Week Astronomy and Space Astronomy Ireland Astronomy Now Astronomy Now Astronomy Now Astronomy Now Online East Antrim Gazette THE ASTRONOMER e-circular BBC Radio Ulster BBC Radio Ulster Belfast Telegraph EAAS e-bulletin T. Moseley's e-bulletin East Antrim Astronomical Society Newsletter http://www.nationmaster.com/ encyclopedia/Armagh-Observatory http://www.ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/ thisweek/2005/mar/03 07 award.asp Armagh County Museum NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day The Irish Times Campaign for Dark Skies (BAA) Armagh: Events Guide April-August 2005 Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Space http://www.armaghlive.com/ general/ArmaghLive.com.asp

55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62

26-Feb-2005 01-Mar-2005 01-Mar-2005 01-Mar-2005 01-Mar-2005 01-Mar-2005 01-Mar-2005 02-Mar-2005

63 03-Mar-2005 64 05-Mar-2005 65 05-Mar-2005 66 OBS 05-Mar-2005 67 05-Mar-2005 68 05-Mar-2005 69 07-Mar-2005 70 07-Mar-2005 71

An asteroid like an express train Inside the Stars (Simon Jeffery) Event Calendar 2005 Solar Mysteries Revealed (Miruna Popescu) The catastrophic case of Velikovsky (Hywel Jones) The human orrery (Richard Pearson) Contents of March 2005 issue: The human orrery (Richard Pearson) Solar mysteries to be revealed at astronomical meeting Saturn XXXII Voyage Of Discovery Voyage Of Discovery The March night sky (jmf ) Next meeting, Radio, S@N, MM, Mercury Rosetta, Armagh, Sky at night, ISS, RRS Solar Mysteries Revealed (Miruna Popescu) Encyclopedia: Armagh Observatory

07-Mar-2005 Physics Professors Geoffrey and Margaret Burbidge Win Gold Medal (Kim McDonald) 72 18-Mar-2005 Walks and Talks Spring 2005 73 19-Mar-2005 NGC 2266: Old Cluster in the New General Catalog (Credner and Kohle) 74 19-Mar-2005 Blackthorn blossom to climate warming (Michael Viney) 75 20-Mar-2005 Armagh Observatory reports encouraging progress in its dark-sky campaign (jmf, meb, aac) 76 01-Apr-2005 Garden Party and Lecture `The Gardens of Ireland' (Patrick Bowe) 77 OBS 01-Apr-2005 Unwinding the discovery of spiral nebulae (meb, cjb, jmf ) 78 01-Apr-2005 Inside the Stars (Simon Jeffery) 79 01-Apr-2005 About Armagh

48


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

80 81

01-Apr-2005 Human solar system for observatory 01-Apr-2005 Launch of Human Orrery Next issue: Putting the Solar System in Perspective The April night sky (jmf ) Janus's Armagh Connection Star Performance!

82 01-Apr-2005 83 OBS 02-Apr-2005 84 04-Apr-2005 85 04-Apr-2005

86 87

07-Apr-2005 Sites of Irish Interest: Armagh Observatory 07-Apr-2005 Robotic Telescopes

88 OBS 07-Apr-2005 Dull mild March (jmf ) 89 08-Apr-2005 Armagh restoration wins design excellence award 90 91 12-Apr-2005 County Armagh 18-Apr-2005 Armagh Observatory

92 93 94 95 96 97 OBS 98 99 OBS 100 OBS 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 OBS 125 OBS 126

24-Apr-2005 Meteors: Fire in the Sky 28-Apr-2005 Hubble 15th Anniversary 01-May-2005 September Lecture: Ancient telescopes of Armagh Observatory (cjb) 01-May-2005 May Lecture: Lo oking inside the Stars (csj) 01-May-2005 Meteors 01-May-2005 The Human Orrery: Putting the Solar System in Perspective (meb, dja and aac) 04-May-2005 Armagh Observatory History, Instruments and Architecture 05-May-2005 Weather in April (jmf ) 07-May-2005 The May night sky (jmf ) 09-May-2005 Looking Inside the Stars (Simon Jeffery) 12-May-2005 Armagh Photographic Comp etition 12-May-2005 Winners announced in annual photographic competition 12-May-2005 Visitor Attractions Open Day 19-May-2005 Visitor Attractions Open Day 19-May-2005 Armstrong launches house system 21-May-2005 Visitor Attractions Open Day poster 29-May-2005 Asteroid Corvan (Terry Moseley) 01-Jun-2005 Stepping stones to Mars: The asteroid option (T.D. Jones) 01-Jun-2005 The Human Orrery: Ground-based astronomy for all (meb, dja and aac) 01-Jun-2005 A star is born how, exactly (Derek WardThompson) 01-Jun-2005 Peter Alan Sweet 1921-2005 (J.C. Brown) 01-Jun-2005 Towards the future ­ Birmingham UKSP 2005 (Bill Chaplin and R. Erdelyi) 01-Jun-2005 New Fellows (of the RAS) 01-Jun-2005 Astronomy Ireland Events 2005: Looking Inside the Stars (Simon Jeffery) 01-Jun-2005 Astronomy Ireland Events 2005: Ancient Telescopes of Armagh Observatory (John Butler) 01-Jun-2005 Irish Scho ol Observatory Dome 01-Jun-2005 List of Members 01-Jun-2005 Clyde Tombaugh's Rich Legacy (David Levy) 01-Jun-2005 (10369) Sinden = 1995 CE2 02-Jun-2005 Professor at school launch 02-Jun-2005 Asteroid Movies by Scott Manley (Duncan Steel) 02-Jun-2005 Summer Solstice Barbecue (Terry Moseley) 03-Jun-2005 Restored Victorian Telescope returns to Armagh Observatory (jmf ) 04-Jun-2005 June Night Sky (jmf ) 04-Jun-2005 The History of Gardens in Ireland (Patrick Bowe)

http://www.armaghlive.com/ news/article.asp?NID=85111&NCID=13 http://www.innovations-report.com/print/ print en01.php3?id=36625&ctyp=1 Sky and Telescope Belfast Telegraph East Antrim Astronomical Society Newsletter Northern Builder Online: http://www.northernbuilder.co.uk/ images/pdf/observatory.pdf Dublin Night Sky Observer: http://indigo.ie/ gnugent/dnso/links.htm The Morien Institute: http://www.morieninstitute.org/spaceguarduk.html Ulster Gazette 4NI: http://www.4ni.co.uk/ industrynews.asp?id=39313 Northern Ireland Visitors Journal 2005 http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction Reviewg186474-d212211-Reviews-Armagh ObservatoryArmagh County Armagh Northern Ireland.html The History Channel Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany) Astronomy and Space Astronomy and Space History TV Channel Sky and Telescope http://www.sciencecentral.com/site/510309 Ulster Gazette Belfast Telegraph Astronomy Ireland e-bulletin Armagh Observer Ulster Gazette Ulster Gazette Armagh Observer Ulster Gazette Armagh City and District Council Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Aerospace America Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy and Space Astronomy and Space Astronomy Now Scientific Instrument Society Sky and Telescope The Astronomer Armagh Observer CCNet Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Ulster Gazette Belfast Telegraph Friends of the Armagh County Museum

49


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

127

07-Jun-2005 120 Year Old Telescope Returns Home (John McConnell) 128 OBS 08-Jun-2005 Weather in May (jmf ) 129 OBS 09-Jun-2005 Restored Victorian Telescope returns to Armagh Observatory (jmf ) 130 OBS 09-Jun-2005 Weather in May (jmf ) 131 11-Jun-2005 Queen's Birthday Honours 132 11-Jun-2005 Queen's Birthday Honours

http://www.eaas.co.uk/ news/20050531 calver returns.html Tyrone Courier Armagh Observer Ulster Gazette Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ news/story.jsp?story=646103 News Letter The Daily Telegraph The Guardian The Independent: http://news.independent.co.uk/ uk/this britain/story.jsp?story=645797 The Times http://www.4ni.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=41459 Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Tyrone Courier Tyrone Courier Ulster Gazette Ulster Gazette Terry Moseley's e-bulletin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Southern African Large Telescope Dorset Echo (Tel.: 013-0583-0972) Radio Ulster: Talkback The Irish News Northern Ireland Visitors Journal NISCHA: www.nischa.com Armagh, Ireland's Oldest City Armagh: Visitor Guide Visitor Attractions 2005: Stop and Visit Astronomy and Space Astronomy and Space Astronomy Now Focus Stardust Stardust Stardust Stardust Stardust Stardust Times Higher Education Supplement Belfast Telegraph Daily Mail Tyrone Courier Armagh Observer Ulster Gazette BBC TV Newsline The Irish News Ulster Gazette http://whyfiles.org/011comets/index.php?g=5.txt Kingdoms of Down Office John Hinde

133 134 135 136 137 138

11-Jun-2005 11-Jun-2005 11-Jun-2005 11-Jun-2005

Queen's Queen's Queen's Queen's

Birthday Birthday Birthday Birthday

Honours Honours Honours Honours

11-Jun-2005 Queen's Birthday Honours 13-Jun-2005 The 2005 Birthday Honours List for Northern Ireland 139 15-Jun-2005 IAA Summer BBQ 140 OBS 16-Jun-2005 Restored Victorian Telescope returns to Armagh Observatory (jmf ) 141 16-Jun-2005 Queen's Birthday Honours 142 16-Jun-2005 Queen's Honour for Margaret 143 16-Jun-2005 Restored Victorian Telescope returns to Armagh Observatory (jmf ) 144 19-Jun-2005 IAA Summer BBQ 145 22-Jun-2005 Southern African Large Telescope 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 23-Jun-2005 23-Jun-2005 23-Jun-2005 24-Jun-2005 29-Jun-2005 30-Jun-2005 30-Jun-2005 30-Jun-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 01-Jul-2005 02-Jul-2005 02-Jul-2005 06-Jul-2005 07-Jul-2005 07-Jul-2005 11-Jul-2005 12-Jul-2005 21-Jul-2005 28-Jul-2005 28-Jul-2005 30-Jul-2005 Over the Mo on Moon illusion Low moon is sky highlight (Suzanne McGonagle) County Armagh Self-catering Holiday Homes Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory Armagh Observatory So ciety News: Lo oking Inside the Stars (Simon Jeffery) So ciety News: Ancient telescopes of Armagh Observatory (cjb) Making an Impression (David Powell) What fell from the sky at Tunguska (Robert Matthews) IAA Council Members An Realtlann - 'A Collection of Stars' (Stephen Grew) Terry Moseley receives the IAA Opik Award (Andy McCrea) Plaque to mark the Grubb Telescope works (Andy McCrea) Asteroid Honour for Pat Corvan at the Planetarium (Terry Moseley) Letter re Opik Award ­ from Terry M. SA speeds up in space race (Karen MacGregor) July Night Sky (jmf ) Mission Incredible (Michael Hanlon) Dry dull June (jmf ) Dry dull June (jmf ) Dry dull June (jmf ) Hottest day of year (jmf ) North basks in unusually high temperatures (William Scholes) Hottest day of year (jmf ) Comets: The universal recipe? (Comets in history) Kingdoms of Down: Visitor Attractions Armagh Observatory postcard

OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS

172 OBS 173 174 175

50


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

176 177

31-Jul-2005 31-Jul-2005

Planet casts new light on solar system (Robert Matthews) Planet casts new light on solar system (Robert Matthews)

Sunday Telegraph Telegraph online: http://www.telegraph. co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/07/31/ nstar31.xml&Ssheet=/NEWS/2005/07/31/ixhome.html Astronomy and Space Astronomy and Space Journal of the British Astronomical Asso ciation BBC News Online News Talk Radio (Dublin) Telegraph online: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml ?xml=/connected/2005/08/03/ecnstar03.xml ?sSheet=/connected/2005/08/03/ixconn.html Irelandclick.com: http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/ Irelandclick/arts2005/aug4 Divis unblinking eye Livingstone.php Ulster Gazette Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph Online: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ news/features/story.jsp?story=655457 IAESTE Annual Review 2005 Mathaba News Network, Africa: http://mathaba.net/0 index.shtml?x=297455 South West News Service, Bristol Northern Ireland Tourist Board UTV Life UTV Lunchtime News EAAS: http://eaas.proboards31.com/index.cgi ?board=general&action=display&thread=1123118504 Northern Ireland Visitors Journal 2005 Environment and Heritage Service Tyrone Courier Tyrone Constitution Ulster Gazette http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html Portadown Times Ulster Herald East Antrim Astronomical Society: http://www.eaas.co.uk/ Ingram trade magazine Terry Moseley's e-bulletin EAAS Programme 2005/2006 Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Advance Magazine Astronomy and Space EAAS: http://eaas.proboards31.com/index.cgi ?board=general&action=display&thread=1125515886 EAAS: http://eaas.proboards31.com/index.cgi ?board=general&action=display&thread=1125534274 Faulkes Telescope: http://www.faulkestelescope.com/ news/septdec05/ftn newplanet.shtml

178 179 180 181 182 183

01-Aug-2005 Asteroids for Three NI Astronomers 01-Aug-2005 Astronomy Ireland Events 2005: Ancient Telescopes of Armagh Observatory (John Butler) 01-Aug-2005 Transit tales from history (Terry Moseley) 02-Aug-2005 Farewell Pluto? (Alexis Akwagyiram) 02-Aug-2005 New `planet' 2003 UB313 03-Aug-2005 Planet casts new light on solar system (Robert Matthews)

184

04-Aug-2005 Divis's unblinking eye (Robin Livingstone)

185 OBS 04-Aug-2005 Weather in July (jmf ) 186 OBS 05-Aug-2005 August Night sky (jmf ) 187 OBS 05-Aug-2005 August Night sky (jmf )

188 05-Aug-2005 Participating Employers 189 OBS 07-Aug-2005 August Night sky (jmf ) 190 191 192 OBS 193 OBS 194 OBS 195 196 197 OBS 198 OBS 199 OBS 200 201 OBS 202 OBS 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 09-Aug-2005 Perseids 11-Aug-2005 Survey of Visitor Attractions 2004: Armagh Observatory and Astro Park 15-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 15-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 16-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 16-Aug-2005 Armagh City and County 17-Aug-2005 European Heritage Open Day (10 and 11 September 2005) 17-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 18-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 18-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 19-Aug-2005 Astronomy Picture of the Day: NGC1 and NGC2 19-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 19-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj) 23-Aug-2005 EAAS visit to Armagh Observatory on Tuesday 30th August (John McConnell) 23-Aug-2005 Solving Histories Mysteries (Amy Cox Williams) 23-Aug-2005 Pat Corvan event (Terry Moseley) 25-Aug-2005 Lectures by Armagh Observatory staff 28-Aug-2005 Armagh Observatory event (Terry Moseley) 01-Sep-2005 Bill Napier: A Hidden-History Sleuth, on his U.S. Debut 01-Sep-2005 Ancient Telescopes of Armagh Observatory (John Butler) 01-Sep-2005 Armagh event (John McConnell) 01-Sep-2005 David Sinden dies (John McConnell)

212 OBS 01-Sep-2005 Armagh Observatory Summer Student snaps new planet (csj)

51


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

213 OBS 02-Sep-2005 Septemb er Night sky (jmf ) 214 02-Sep-2005 First-light for Africa's giant eye (SALT consortium) 215 02-Sep-2005 First-light for Africa's giant eye (University of Central Lancashire) 216 217 218 219 220 221 02-Sep-2005 Stars' baby pictures 03-Sep-2005 First-light for Africa's giant eye: First Color Images from SALT (SALT consortium) 04-Sep-2005 Death of D. Sinden (Terry Moseley) 05-Sep-2005 Photographic competition: Your view of the world: 13 to 19 August 05-Sep-2005 The Origin of Comets and the Oort Cloud (Mark Bailey) 05-Sep-2005 Running in Circles

Belfast Telegraph I-Newswire.com innovations report: http://www.innovationsreport.com/html/reports/physics astronomy/report48584.html Times Higher Education Supplement ScienceDaily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2005/09/050901070832.htm Terry Moseley's e-bulletin BBC News Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in pictures/4173782.stm EAAS Newsletter news@nature.com http://www.nature.com/news/2005/0509055 pf.html Tyrone Courier Armagh Observer Ulster Gazette Ulster Gazette Ulster Gazette BBC News Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/in pictures/4225928.stm http://www.donzelli-kluckert-verlag.de/ verlag/CAELUM/Caelum1/body caelum1.html Portadown Times Astronomy Ireland The Guardian coasttocoastam.com Cosmos Magazine: http://www.freewebs.com/ cosmosmagazine/organisationsdatabase.htm Emigrant Online: http://www.emigrant.ie/ article.asp?iCategoryID=63&iArticleID=38456 American Astronomical Soc: DPS Meeting, Cambridge 4-9 Sep 2005, http://www.aas.org/publications/baas/ v37n3/dps2005/348.htm Northern Ireland tourist Board/Failte Ireland Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

222

07-Sep-2005 Tyrone and Armagh Heritage attractions to host Open Days 223 08-Sep-2005 Treasures Unlo cked For 2 days only 224 OBS 08-Sep-2005 Local amateur astronomer honoured (jmf ) 225 OBS 08-Sep-2005 August cooler and drier (jmf ) 226 OBS 08-Sep-2005 European Heritage Open Day (jmf ) 227 09-Sep-2005 Your perspective on the world: 3-9 September 228 09-Sep-2005 Was ist ein Orrery?

229 OBS 09-Sep-2005 European Heritage Open Day (jmf ) 230 12-Sep-2005 Ancient Telescopes of Armagh Observatory (John Butler) 231 13-Sep-2005 Probe to raid asteroid to unlock solar system secrets (Ian Sample) 232 16-Sep-2005 EKBOs and Comets 233 19-Sep-2005 Armagh Observatory 234 235 19-Sep-2005 Armagh: Human solar system for observatory 20-Sep-2005 The Human Orrery (meb, aac, dja)

236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252

23-Sep-2005 Ireland of Ireland: Visitor Attractions 23-Sep-2005 Earnshaw, Thomas (1749-1829) (Jonathan Betts) 23-Sep-2005 Stokes, Sir George Gabriel, first baronet (18191903) (David B. Wilson) 23-Sep-2005 Adams, John Couch (1819-1892) (Roger Hutchins) 23-Sep-2005 Ellery, Rob ert Lewis John (1827-1908) (Julian Holland) 23-Sep-2005 Parsons, William, third earl of Rosse (1800-1867) (J. A. Bennett) 23-Sep-2005 Lindsay, Eric Mervyn (1907-1974) (J. A. Bennett) 23-Sep-2005 Robinson, (John) Thomas Romney (1793-1882) (J. A. Bennett) 23-Sep-2005 Dreyer, John Louis Emil (1852-1926) (F. W. Dyson/Roger Hutchins) 23-Sep-2005 Hamilton, James Archibald (1748-1815) (J. A. Bennett) 23-Sep-2005 Graham, Andrew (1815-1908) (Roger Hutchins) 23-Sep-2005 Grubb, Thomas (1800-1878) (John Burnett) 23-Sep-2005 Huggins, Sir William (1824-1910) (Barbara J. Becker) 23-Sep-2005 Johnston, Francis (1760/61-1829) (L.H. Cust/Kaye Bagshaw) 23-Sep-2005 Jones, Thomas (1775-1853) (Anita McConnell) 23-Sep-2005 Kater, Henry (1777-1835) (Julian Holland) 23-Sep-2005 Rambaut, Arthur Alco ck (1859-1923) (P.A. Wayman)

52


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

253 254 255 256 257

23-Sep-2005 Robinson, Richard, first Baron Rokeby (1709-1794) (G.Le G. Norgate/Eoin Magennis) 27-Sep-2005 Night Life : Lembit Opik 27-Sep-2005 Aurora drawing 28-Sep-2005 Climate Variability in Northern Ireland, 1796-2002 (C J Butler et al.) 28-Sep-2005 Two Hundred Years of Air Temperature Measurements from Northern Ireland (CO2 Science Magazine) 28-Sep-2005 Genesis pastel drawing (Miruna Popescu) 28-Sep-2005 Genesis pastel drawing (Miruna Popescu) 29-Sep-2005 Solar eclipse 01-Oct-2005 Ancient Telescopes of Armagh Observatory (John Butler) 01-Oct-2005 The Universe according to Patrick Moore 03-Oct-2005 October Night sky (jmf ) 03-Oct-2005 EAAS visit to Armagh Observatory (John McConnell) 03-Oct-2005 Lecture: The Origins of Comets and the Oort Cloud (Mark Bailey) 03-Oct-2005 Northern Ireland: Awards, Grants 03-Oct-2005 Lecture: The Origins of Comets and the Oort Cloud (Mark Bailey) 03-Oct-2005 The Origin of Comets and the Oort Cloud (Mark Bailey) 03-Oct-2005 Solar eclipse 04-Oct-2005 Meetings, Eclipse, webcast and future observing (Mark Stronge) 06-Oct-2005 Cool September (jmf ) 06-Oct-2005 "Disastrous" Meeting at Armagh Observatory (meb) 06-Oct-2005 Cool September (jmf ) 07-Oct-2005 Cool September (jmf ) 10-Oct-2005 Northern Ireland: Do it yourself familiarisation programme October 05 - April 06 14-Oct-2005 The Summer Milky Way 2005 (Martin Campbell)

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography BBC Sky at Night Magazine Nancy's Educational Technology Resources: http://home.att.net/ tisnancy/solar.html CCNet CO2 Science Magazine

258 259 260 261 262 263 OBS 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 OBS 272 OBS 273 OBS 274 OBS 275 276

http://www.maths.monash.edu.au/ adonea/ http://www.maths.monash.edu.au/ adonea/MIRUNA/index.html The Irish News Astronomy and Space BBC Sky at Night Magazine Belfast Telegraph EAAS Newsletter EAAS Newsletter Heritage Lottery Fund http://www.eaas.co.uk/ http://www.eaas.co.uk/meetings/200510.html Radio: Today FM (Dublin) eaas@yahoogroups.com Armagh Observer Armagh Observer Ulster Gazette Portadown Times Northern Ireland Tourist Board http://www.eaas.co.uk/gallery/wide/ 200508 alps campbell.html IAESTE UK Northern Ireland Ulster Gazette BBC Radio Ulster: Your Place and Mine Arcturus, IFAS Astronomy and Space The Astronomer The Irish Scientist The Irish Scientist Astronomy (International Specialist Magazine) Gekkan Temmon (Japanese Specialist Magazine) BBC 2 TV: SRL News Letter The Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/ science/oregonian/index.ssf ?/base/science/ 1130844669122320.xml&coll=7 Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/groups/ ParanormalGhostSociety/browse thread/ thread/57150c52bc020f62/aa9534fc3142bd7d %3Fq%3DArmagh%2BObservatory%26rnum %eD1#aa9534fc3142bd7d

277 18-Oct-2005 Trainee of the Year Award 2005 278 OBS 20-Oct-2005 "Disastrous" Meeting at Armagh Observatory (meb) 279 22-Oct-2005 "Disastrous" Meeting at Armagh Observatory (meb) 280 01-Nov-2005 Club Meetings: Charles Mason and the transit of Venus in 1769 (John Butler) 281 01-Nov-2005 Historic Telescopes of Armagh Observatory (John Butler) 282 01-Nov-2005 Royal Astronomical So ciety Award Ceremony (Guy Hurst) 283 01-Nov-2005 The Reconstruction of climate in Ireland from treerings (A.M. Garc´ Su´ ia arez) 284 01-Nov-2005 The Armagh Observatory Human Orrery (meb, dja, aac) 285 01-Nov-2005 Taurid meteor rates expected due to meteoroid swarm 286 01-Nov-2005 Taurid fireballs (Kiyoshi Izumi) 287 02-Nov-2005 Armagh Mythology (Patrick McCafferty) 288 OBS 02-Nov-2005 October wetter and duller (jmf ) 289 02-Nov-2005 Meteors, Mars on show in Novemb er sky (Bob Duke) 290 03-Nov-2005 Fireball Sightings

53


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

291 292 293 294 295

03-Nov-2005 Fireball Sightings on the Rise (Tony Phillips) 03-Nov-2005 Fireball Sightings (Tony Phillips) 03-Nov-2005 Fireballs (Terry Moseley) 04-Nov-2005 Meteor showers may account for UFO sightings (Reuters) 04-Nov-2005 Unusual Fireballs Brighten Night, Likely Meteor Shower (Victoria Gilman) 07-Nov-2005 Fireballs spark UFO speculation 08-Nov-2005 Club Meetings: Charles Mason and the transit of Venus in 1769 (John Butler) 08-Nov-2005 A Tenth Planet in Our Solar System? 10-Nov-2005 Africa's Giant Eye' Officially Opened in South Africa (jmf/c.theobald) 10-Nov-2005 October wetter and duller (jmf ) 10-Nov-2005 November Night Sky (jmf ) 10-Nov-2005 `Africa's Giant Eye' Officially Opened in South Africa (jmf/c.theobald)

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/051103 taurid fireballs.html Science@NASA: http://science.nasa.gov/ headlines/y2005/03nov taurids.htm?list203450 Terry Moseley's e-bulletin MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn/id/9923316/ National Geographic News: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2005/11/1104 fireballs.html http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/ 0,2106,3469631a4560,00.html Arcturus, IFAS, http://www.irishastronomy.org/ user resources/viewFiles.php?folder id=3 Guide to Science Week AlphaGalileo: http://www.alphagalileo.org/ index.cfm?fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=508833 Armagh Observer Belfast Telegraph Royal Astronomical So c.: http://www.ras.org.uk/ index.php?option=com content &task=view&id=865&Itemid=2 Ulster Gazette Innovations Report: http://www.innovationsreport.com/html/reports/physics astronomy/report51542.html Innovations Report: http://www.innovationsreport.com/html/reports/physics astronomy/report51563.html Materials World magazine Terry Moseley's e-bulletin BBC News Online http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/in pictures/4472970.stm Astronomy and Geophysics Astronomy Now Ulster Gazette BBC Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/hi/in pictures/4484352.stm East Antrim Astronomical Society

296 297 298 299 OBS 300 OBS 301 OBS 302 OBS

303 OBS 10-Nov-2005 October wetter and duller (jmf ) 304 OBS 11-Nov-2005 Africa's `Giant Eye' Officially Opened in South Africa (jmf/c.theobald) 305 11-Nov-2005 Giant Eye to shed light on the secrets of the universe (University of Nottingham) 11-Nov-2005 SALT 23-Nov-2005 Fireball 26-Nov-2005 Winter weather (Miruna Popescu)

306 307 308

309 01-Dec-2005 Giant eye opens in Namibia 310 01-Dec-2005 The Transit of Venus 1769 (John Butler) 311 OBS 01-Dec-2005 `Africa's Giant Eye' Officially Opened in South Africa (jmf/c.theobald) 312 02-Dec-2005 Your persp ective on the world: 26 Nov to 2 Dec 313 04-Dec-2005 The Transit of Venus 1769, Charles Mason in Donegal, and the Development of Astronomy in Ireland in the 18th Century (John Butler) 05-Dec-2005 The Transit of Venus in 1769 (John Butler) 07-Dec-2005 Astrophotography 08-Dec-2005 November drier and sunnier (jmf ) 08-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 08-Dec-2005 Science and the religion of global warming 08-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 08-Dec-2005 Lectures 08-Dec-2005 November drier and sunnier (jmf ) 12-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 12-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 12-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 12-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 12-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 12-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf )

314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327

OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS OBS

328 OBS 13-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 329 14-Dec-2005 Forest Parks and Gardens 330 14-Dec-2005 Forest Parks and Gardens

331 OBS 14-Dec-2005 Bright Geminid meteors (jmf ) 332 14-Dec-2005 The Transit of Venus in 1769, (John Butler) 333 15-Dec-2005 (26891) Johnbutler = 1995 CC2

EAAS Newsletter BBC 1: Inside Out Armagh Observer Armagh Observer http://www.qando.net/details.aspx?Entry=3056 RTE 1 Radio: Quantum Leap Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Ulster Gazette 7FM Radio Beat 102/103 Radio: B-talk (South East Ireland) Belfast Telegraph Downtown Radio News Letter The Scotsman: http://news.scotsman.com/ scitech.cfm?id=238762205 BBC Radio: Evening Extra Armagh Down Tourism Partnership Armagh Down Tourism Partnership: http://www.armaghanddown.com/ Search/tabid/118/RequiredAttributes/ 15693/BaseTypeID/15587/LocationD/0/tAct/ Search/tNam/armagh%20observatory/Default.aspx Daily Express Terry Moseley's e-bulletin Minor Planet Center

54


Armagh Observatory Media Mentions: Calendar Year 2005. Observatory-authored items indicated by `OBS'.
Running Total Approximate Date Main Subject, Author, and Other Details Newspaper, Radio, TV Programme etc.

334 15-Dec-2005 335 19-Dec-2005 336 OBS 22-Dec-2005 337 22-Dec-2005

(37678) McClure = 1995 CR1 The Transit of Venus in 1769, (John Butler) New Year to Arrive One Second Late (meb/jmf ) Comets: Nature, Dynamics, Origin, and their Cosmogonical Relevance (J.A. Fernandez) 338 23-Dec-2005 Setting up a meteor observing station (Robert Cobain) 339 OBS 28-Dec-2005 Observatory Astronomer Honoured by the International Astronomical Union (jmf ) 340 OBS 29-Dec-2005 New Year to Arrive One Second Late (meb/jmf )

Minor Planet Center EAAS: http://www.eaas.co.uk/ BBC Radio Ulster: Evening Extra Springer: Astrophysics & Space Science Lib., 328 EAAS: http://www.eaas.co.uk/ news/meteorlogni.html Tyrone Courier National Geographic News: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/ news/2005/12/1229 051229 leap second.html Ulster Gazette Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ news/story.jsp?story=674183 Kazakh Information Agency: http://www.inform.kz/ txt/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=138835 A Tarde (Brazil) BBC Radio Five Live Belfast Telegraph Belfast Telegraph: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ news/features/story.jsp?story=674225

341 OBS 29-Dec-2005 Observatory Astronomer Honoured by the International Astronomical Union (jmf ) 342 OBS 30-Dec-2005 Observatory Astronomer Honoured by the International Astronomical Union (jmf ) 343 OBS 30-Dec-2005 Observatory Astronomer Honoured by the International Astronomical Union (jmf ) 344 OBS 30-Dec-2005 New Year to Arrive One Second Late (meb/jmf )

345 346 347 348

OBS OBS OBS OBS

31-Dec-2005 31-Dec-2005 31-Dec-2005 31-Dec-2005

New Year to Arrive New Year to Arrive January Night Sky January Night Sky

One Second Late (meb/jmf ) One Second Late (meb/jmf ) (jmf ) (jmf )

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G

New TSN Action Plan 2006
"To maintain and build on its position as a thriving astronomical research institute, and to continue to expand our understanding of the Universe and of humanity's place in it."

The Vision of the Armagh Observatory is:

The Mission is: "To advance the knowledge and understanding of astronomy and related sciences through the execution, promotion and dissemination of astronomical research nationally and internationally in order to enrich the intellectual, economic, social and cultural life of the community."

Who We Are
The Armagh Observatory (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/) is a modern astronomical research institute, the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland. Founded by Archbishop Richard Robinson in 1790 as part of his dream to see the creation of a university in the City of Armagh, the Observatory stands close to the centre of the City of Armagh together with the Armagh Planetarium in approximately 14 acres of attractive, landscaped grounds known as the Armagh Astropark. The Observatory Grounds and Astropark include scale models of the Solar System and the Universe, two sundials and two historic telescopes, as well as telescope domes and other outdoor exhibits (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/astropark/). A new public outreach facility, the Armagh Human Orrery (see http://star.arm.ac.uk/orrery/), is located close to the historic main building of the modern Observatory. The Observatory's Library and Archives, and its specialist collection of scientific instruments and artefacts associated with the development of modern astronomy over more than two hundred years, rank amongst the leading collections of their kind in the UK and Ireland. The principal function of the Armagh Observatory, which is a third-level institution funded by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), is to undertake original research of a world-class academic standard that broadens and expands our understanding of astronomy and related sciences. In recent years key programmes have focused on Stellar Astrophysics, the Sun, Solar System astronomy, and Solar System ­ Earth relationships including the Sun's influence on climate and the impact of interplanetary dust, comets and asteroids on the Earth. The Observatory also maintains a unique 210-year long meteorological record and data-bank (http://climate.arm.ac.uk/), the longest in the UK and Ireland from a single site, and it plays a key role together with the Armagh Planetarium in promoting the public understanding of astronomy and related sciences. In addition to the institution's primary research role, the Observatory has an important responsibility to maintain and preserve the fabric of the historic buildings, the library, historic books and archives, and the collection of scientific instruments and other artefacts built up over more than 215 years of continuous astronomical activity in Armagh. The main historic buildings of the Observatory have unique architectural features and together house some of the most valuable collections of scientific books, instruments and archives in Northern Ireland.

What We Do
Astronomy provides a singular perspective on our place in the Universe, addressing fundamental questions such as the origin of the Earth, the origin of Life, and `Are we Alone?'. Curiosity-driven research is important in its own right and attracts the most able people into physics and astronomy. It also provides the foundation for the improvements in the quality of life and wealth creation that lie at the heart of a knowledge-based society. As our society becomes increasingly technological, the understanding of basic physical concepts becomes an integral part of our culture. Widening knowledge of these scientific concepts to other fields is therefore an increasingly important part of the role of a research scientist. Research into astronomy at Armagh Observatory brings important indirect benefits, for example by · attracting and maintaining the interest of young people in science, and towards a scientific way of thinking; · contributing to a better understanding of global environmental change, for example global warming; · predicting the effects of asteroid impacts, and the effects of space debris and meteoroids on artificial satellites. 56


The astronomical research interests of Observatory staff currently focus on (i) Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics (including brown dwarfs, hot stars, helium stars), (ii) the Sun (the dynamic solar atmosphere, chromosphere and corona), and (iii) Solar System Astronomy (including celestial mechanics, planetary science, the interrelationships between comets, asteroids, meteoroids and interplanetary dust, and NEOs). In addition, Observatory staff participate in an active programme of education and public outreach via lectures, popular astronomy articles and interviews with the press, radio and television. Further details concerning the research interests of the Observatory staff may be obtained from the Observatory web-site at: http://star.arm.ac.uk/. Astronomy is a highly creative cultural activity. It enjoys a strong public profile, particularly in the printed and electronic media, and in books and film, for example in Hollywood classics such as 2001: a Space Odyssey and blockbusters such as Armageddon and Deep Impact. The fruits of astronomy have inspired artists and musicians, poets and authors, as well as scientists, engineers and philosophers. They have often provided the inspiration for works of art, musical compositions, and theatrical performances. In summary, astronomy provides an invaluable resource for education, entertainment and leisure, being featured in film, television documentaries, books and magazines that are seen or read by millions worldwide.

How We Contribute to New TSN
Astronomy is an involving, inspirational activity with the capacity to attract people, especially the young, towards science, engineering and information technology. The Armagh Observatory seeks to strengthen this interest by promoting wider access to scientific knowledge amongst all sections of the community, and disseminating the results of its scientific research through a high-profile programme of education and public outreach. The principal elements of this policy include: · attracting visitors to Armagh, primarily to the Armagh Astropark, the Observatory Grounds and Phenology Garden, and the new Human Orrery; · maintaining and extending the Observatory's unique meteorological record, the longest in the UK and Ireland from a single site; · maintaining and preserving for future generations the Observatory's cultural heritage, for example its listed buildings, library and archives, historic scientific instruments, telescopes and telescope domes, and the landscaped grounds and Astropark; · providing lectures and presentations to interested individuals and groups that together include people of all ages and from all backgrounds; · partnership with institutions and organizations having similar public education ob jectives to those of the Armagh Observatory, for example the Astronomical Science Group of Ireland, the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society, amateur astronomy organizations, and university research groups; · answering technical questions about astronomy from members of the public and disseminating astronomical results to the press, radio and television; · maintaining and developing a web-site to facilitate access to the latest research findings on astronomy and related sciences; The Armagh Observatory is fully committed to the New TSN Policy, and encourages an institutional culture in which resources in appropriate areas of its activities and interactions with the public are targeted so far as possible on individuals, groups, agencies, and geographical areas that have greatest social need. In this way, the Observatory contributes directly to Northern Ireland's Programme for Government, especially in enhancing access to science, and providing wider choice in education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

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Armagh Observatory New TSN Action Table 2006

Business Area:
So cial Need to b e Tackled: Desired Outcome:

Astronomy and Related Sciences
Access to Scientific Knowledge Increased scientific knowledge, promotion of lifelong learning opp ortunities for individuals and disadvantaged groups, improved science skills for all Targets or Actions and Time-Scales:

New TSN Ob jectives:
Ob jective 1 Improve opportunities for individuals and disadvantaged groups to experience scientific research and learning in a high-technology environment, by:

(a) facilitating an ongoing work experience programme for a person with disabilities; and (b) monitoring participation on school and summer programme placements with reference to New TSN.

Ob jective 2 Improve access to Northern Ireland's scientific and cultural heritage, by: (a) promoting e-access to astronomical and meteorological information; and (b) encouraging visits to the Observatory, and the Observatory Grounds and Astropark, by people from socially disadvantaged areas or scientifically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Armagh Observatory February 2006

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H

President Thab o Mb eki's Sp eech at the SALT Inauguration

The President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, delivered the following speech on 10 November 2005 to celebrate the official opening of the Southern African Large Telescope at the Sutherland Observatory, Northern Cape, South Africa. More information on the opening ceremony can be obtained from the SALT web-site, at: http://www.salt.ac.za/inauguration/.

H.1

Presidential Sp eech

Director of Ceremonies, Dr Rob Adam; Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena and Deputy Minister Derek Hanekom; Honourable Premier of the Northern Cape, Dipuo Peters; Chairp erson of the Board of SALT, Dr Khotso Mokhele; Our distinguished foreign guests, Board Members and Shareholders of SALT; Distinguished participants at this important ceremony. I am honoured to welcome on this historic o ccasion the partners who combined to create this magnificent instrument of learning, the Southern African Large Telescope we commission today. I am especially pleased that so many of our international partners could join us here to day. I am also very glad that we have among us a distinguished galaxy of astronomers and other professionals who are an integral part of the global pool of brainp ower without which this large telescope would never have been born. To you all, on behalf of our government and people, I am privileged to extend a very warm welcome to this ceremony organized officially to inaugurate SALT, the Southern African Large Telescope. At the same time, I must extend our humble thanks to the Premier, the provincial government and the people of the Northern Cape and Sutherland for their co-operation in transforming our collective national dream into reality, by supporting the establishment of this unique facility. On 25 November 1999, our then Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Dr Ben Ngubane, gave the `green light' for the construction of the SALT, the Southern African Large Telescope we are inaugurating today. The sod turning ceremony to ok place the following year, on 1 September 2000. Even those of us who know nothing about astronomy have awaited this day with great anticipation, feeling, perhaps instinctively, that this giant eye in the Karoo would tell us as yet unknown and exciting things ab out ourselves. We have felt our heartb eats quicken as we were told that SALT would have the power to tackle fundamental questions about the Universe, such as: · what was the universe like when the first stars and galaxies were forming? · what kind of worlds orbit other suns? · how are the stars in nearby galaxies different from those in the solar neighbourhood? · what can these stars tells us about the scale and age of the universe? · how do quasars and gamma rays outshine trillions of stars like the sun? In truth, we have also felt a sense of national fulfillment as again we were told that this multi-national scientific venture would, among other things, provide all humanity with the largest and most modern single optical-infrared telescop e in the Southern Hemisphere, while enabling our country and continent to remain among the front ranks of those involved in astronomy. We remain very hopeful that, together with our partner African countries, we will be given the opportunity to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope. We are convinced that the global scientific community and humanity itself would benefit greatly from the establishment of a complex of astronomical establishments in Southern Africa and Africa that would include the already established SALT, the existing high energy stereoscopic system (HESS) gamma ray telescope in Namibia, the planned scientifically ground-breaking demonstration Karoo Array Telescope (KAT), and the SKA radio telescope. Our government and people are determined to provide everything necessary to create the optimal environmental and other conditions to support and facilitate the research efforts of the world's astronomers, including the most up-to-date information and communication technological infrastructure. This observatory is a place dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. Its sole purpose is the discovery of the unknown, and therefore the further liberation of humanity from blind action informed by superstition that derives from failure to fathom the regularities and imp eratives of the infinite natural world. Hopefully, the daily voyages of discovery into outer space that will be undertaken from this place of scientific inquiry will help millions in our country, our continent and the world to repudiate the fear of knowledge that the Englishman, Thomas Gray, an Old Etonian, sought to celebrate when he said, in his "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College", To each his sufferings: all are men, Condemned alike to groan, The tender for another's pain; The unfeeling for his own. Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes to o late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise. Out of this place, enveloped by the quiet p eace of the Karoo and its starlit skies, must and will come the message that thought is humanity's stepladder out of Hades -- that ignorance is nothing but condemnation to live for eternity in the world inhabited by the souls of the dead. By communicating to all humanity the evolving and ever-changing truths about the universe, this observatory, empowered by cutting edge science, engineering and technology, and staffed by the most excellent and daring inquiring minds,

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must help to free us from the seductive grip of the astrologers and the false consciousness that wears the fine apparel of pernicious common sense. Thus would we gain further mastery over our actions as human beings, as did Edmund, son of the Duke of Gloucester born out of wedlock, when, in Shakespeare's `King Lear', repudiating the falsification of the influence of the universe of the stars on his fate, he said: "This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune -- often the surfeit of our own behaviour -- we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains by necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers, by an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on: an admirable evasion of whore master man, to lay his goatish disposition to the charge of a star! My father compounded with my mother under the dragon's tail; and my nativity was under Ursa ma jor; so that it follows, I am rough and lecherous. Tut, I should have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardising." About a month from now, we will participate in the inauguration of yet another new and exciting architectural feature on our national landscape. This is the Cradle of Humankind Interpretation Centre attached to the renowned Cradle of Humanity World Heritage Site at Sterkfontein. The Centre will facilitate access to knowledge about the evolution of humanity from its distant past, relying on hominid fossils found in the irreplaceable Valley of Ancestors centred on the Sterkfontein caves. Several of the world's most famous and imp ortant hominid fossils have been discovered here, including Mrs Ples (now believed to be Master Ples), dating back 2.5 million years, and Little Foot, an almost complete ape-human skeleton that is 3.3 million years old. To date, a further 500 hominid fossils and over 9 000 stone tools have been excavated in the area. Three million years of human activity have taken place in and around the caves at the Cradle of Humanity, including humankind's earliest-known mastery of fire. Forty percent (40%) of all the world's human ancestor fossils have been found here. The great minds gathered here today to inaugurate the Southern African Large Telescope have the possibility to peer into ordinarily unimaginable vistas of time and space, to discover what the universe was like, when the first stars and galaxies were forming. You will therefore not find it difficult to understand our excitement that even as we probe outer space from here, elsewhere in our country, the host of SALT, we also have the possibility to continue investigating what happened on the tiny planet we call the earth, relevant to the formation and evolution of plant, animal and human life as we have come to know them. Let me illustrate what I am talking about. Fossils of some of the oldest organisms on earth have been found in the Barberton sequence, towards our North East, dated at approximately 3 billion years. In the p eriod before some of the worlds first dinosaurs walked the earth, there was already abundant plant and animal life in the same Karoo basin where SALT stands, leaving behind an unsurpassed record of the ancestry of mammals. The largest collection of synapsids (mammal-like reptiles) are to be found in the Karoo succession, documenting step by step, over a period of 50 million years, the origin of mammals from primitive reptilian stock. 250 million years ago during the late Permian age, this area consisted of an inland sea surrounded by a vast alluvial plain. At the time, several Mississippi-sized rivers flowed northwards out of a mountain range some 1,000 km to the South. The most common animals living on the flo od plains during this period were therapid reptiles, more commonly known as mammal-like reptiles. Fossils found here and South America have provided evidence to substantiate the hypothesis of continental drift, and therefore the existence in the distant past of the so-called super-continent of Gondwanaland. Three million years ago, South Africa was also home to a vulnerable new line of primates, the Australopithecines, which eventually gave rise to humans. Adding to the long list of South African hominids, which include fossils of Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, Homo habilis and Homo sapiens, the oldest identifiable Homo sapiens fossils in the world (dated at approximately 110,000 years) have been found here. It is on the basis of this vast palaeontological storehouse, supported by additional evidence from elsewhere on our continent, that scientists have come to the firm conclusion that our country is the Cradle of Humanity. It therefore seemed right, and a perfect expression of the discovered symmetry of the evolution of nature, that this extraordinary construct of the human intellect, the Southern African Large Telescope, constructed to probe the formation of our Universe, should be based here, the domicile of so much that represents what constitutes historical and living reality of all life on Planet Earth, itself the product of billions of years of the evolution of the Universe. To us, as South Africans, it has seemed right that for us as human beings to continue the search for the origins of the infinite beginnings of the universe, we should lo cate that inquiry, as represented by SALT, in the very geographic space that gave birth to homo sapiens. We have said this to ourselves knowing that the outward journey of homo sapiens from Africa into the rest of our planet, though resulting in the formation of a diverse human family, has nevertheless never subtracted from the fact that the Cradle of Humanity remains, still, the home of all humanity, as demonstrated by the population inflows since our liberation in 1994. Shakespeare's Hamlet was outraged to discover the cold disloyalty of his mother, who would not give even limited time to mourn the death of her husband and Hamlet's father, the King of Denmark, before entering into an amorous relationship with the King's brother, Hamlet's uncle. These goings-on seemed as unnatural as they were unconscionable. Seeking to escape from this confirmed but painful and unbearable knowledge, Hamlet cried out: O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely.

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The scientific journey on which we will embark from today onwards at this Large Telescope will take us far beyond a world that presents itself as an unweeded garden that grows to seed, populated by things rank and gross in nature. It will not give birth to images that suggest that the uses of the universe are but weary, stale, flat and unprofitable. Surely, this new journey will speak of a world made exciting by the rapid progression away from everything that is weary, stale, flat and unprofitable in human knowledge, the lifting of the dark and menacing shadows of ignorance and prejudice about the origin of the universe, that circumscribe our very ability to eat, live and think. I am especially privileged to command the Southern African Large Telescope to b egin its work and focus its eye on the infinite and vibrant depths of outer space and time past. Let the work begin!

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