Документ взят из кэша поисковой машины. Адрес оригинального документа : http://www.armaghplanet.com/pdf/Administration/2009-2010-Full-Accounts-Final-07-Sep-2010-NoSignatures-Web.pdf Дата изменения: Tue Sep 20 18:48:03 2011 Дата индексирования: Tue Oct 2 01:01:08 2012 Кодировка: Поисковые слова: m 101

The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010 Year Ended 31 March 2010


The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010, Year Ended 31 March 2010
The Accounting Officers authorized these financial statements for issue on 25 August 2010

Laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure under clause 8 of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 as amended by Schedule 1, clause 6 of the Audit and Accountability (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 23 September 2010


© Crown Copyright 2010 The text in this document (excluding the Royal Arms and organisation logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Any enquiries relating to the copyright in this document should be addressed to the Office of Public Sector Information, Information Policy Team, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU. E-mail: licensing@opsi.gov.uk


The Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010, Year Ended 31 March 2010
Pages Management Commentary Remuneration Reports Statement of the Responsibilities of the Governors and Accounting Officers Statement of Disclosure of Information to the Auditors Statement on Internal Control ­ Armagh Observatory Statement on Internal Control ­ Armagh Planetarium The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to The Northern Ireland Assembly 1 25 27 27 28 29 30 ­ 31

ARMAGH OBSERVATORY Statement of financial activities Statement of recognised gains and losses Balance sheet Cash flow statement Notes to the financial statements 32 32 33 34 35 ­ 48

ARMAGH PLANETARIUM Statement of financial activities Statement of recognised gains and losses Balance sheet Cash flow statement Notes to the financial statements 49 49 50 51 52 ­ 63


Management Commentary
Background
The Armagh Observatory and the Armagh Planetarium are distinct institutions, part of a single statutory corporation and arms-length body `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 Insolvency (Disqualification from Office: General) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008 and a number of other amendments. The Armagh Observatory is also a recognized charity, having been granted charitable status for tax purposes by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) under Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988; the HMRC reference number is XN 46022. The principal function of the Observatory, founded in 1789 as part of Archbishop Richard Robinson's dream to see the creation of a university in the City of Armagh, is to undertake original research of a world-class academic standard that broadens and expands our understanding of astronomy and related sciences. The Armagh Planetarium, which is also a recognized charity (HMRC reference number XN 48022), was founded by Dr Eric Mervyn Lindsay, the seventh director of the Armagh Observatory, and was officially opened on 1st May 1968. The Planetarium's primary function is to disseminate knowledge of a wide range of science and to promote public understanding of astronomy and science through its programme of educational services for schools and the wider public. The two sides of the corporation operate under two directors and receive core funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. There is a total complement of on average 39 staff and students excluding academic visitors and affiliated academic staff and students, 29 in the Observatory and 10 in the Planetarium.

Aims and Objectives
The aim of the corporation 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.

Principal Activities
The principal function of the Armagh Observatory is to undertake original research of a world-class academic standard that broadens and expands our understanding of astronomy and related sciences. The Observatory carries out front-line astronomical research in three key areas of astrophysics, namely: Solar-System Science, Solar Physics, and Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics. These fields encompass the dynamical structure, evolution and origin of objects in the inner and outer solar system; comparative planetology and meteor physics; the use of spacecraft such as SoHO, TRACE and Hinode, to study fundamental questions such as how the Sun's outer atmosphere is heated, what drives the solar wind and the Sun's variable magnetic activity (and its effect on climate); and a very wide range of detailed investigations into the formation and evolution of stars, taking into account factors such as mass loss through stellar winds, stellar oscillations, stellar magnetic fields, extreme chemical abundances, and the impact of binarity (two stars orbiting closely around one another) on our understanding of the evolution of stars and galaxies. In particular, our multi-strand multi-wavelength approach to the discovery of ultra-compact binaries will provide crucial input for understanding the first detected gravitational wave events. In addition, the Armagh Observatory undertakes an active programme of Science in the Community encompassing education, lifelong learning and public understanding of science. In the past, projects have included construction of the Human Orrery (the first such exhibit in the world to be laid out with precision) and the creation of the first International Phenology Garden in Northern Ireland, which is closely linked to European and Cross-Border phenology projects and to the Observatory's own unique climate record. The Observatory has also played a leadership role in the Armagh Visitor Education Committee (AVEC), particularly in arrangements for the second Armagh Heritage Day "Robinson's Legacy to Armagh", and editing the proceedings of this and the previous year's heritage day into a book "Border Heritage: Tracing the Heritage of the City of Armagh and Monaghan County" that was launched and published in June 2008 by TSO (The Stationery Office; see http://www.tsoshop.co.uk/). During 2009, the Observatory significantly expanded its programmes of Science in the Community by playing a leading role in the International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009) and contributing to the all-Ireland IYA 2009-Ireland programme as well as the corresponding British programme. This expanded outreach activity included the provision of additional guided tours of the Observatory and its Grounds, Astropark and Human Orrery, the organization of special public lectures and exhibitions, the delivery of an outreach programme to schools, and supervision of school children and undergraduates on work-experience programmes and summer research projects. The programmes of Science in the Community highlight the strength of international astronomical expertise in Armagh and help to explain to a wider audience the very active research programmes in astronomy and related sciences that are and have been undertaken in Armagh. The Observatory is an international research institute that makes a major contribution to promoting the City of Armagh

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010

1


and Northern Ireland on the world stage. It attracts a high level of media interest (e.g. in recent years more than 400 mass-media citations to its work per year); its web-sites attract nearly a million distinct e-visitors (DEVs) annually from around the world; and approximately 50,000 people visit the landscaped Grounds and Astropark every year, a unique inner-city parkland designed to enrich the lives of residents and visitors to Armagh alike. In addition to this primary research role the Observatory maintains a unique nearly 215-year long meteorological record and databank (http://climate.arm.ac.uk/), believed to be the longest daily climate series in the UK and Ireland from a single site. The climate station has been continuously maintained since 1795, with readings currently taken every day at 09:00 (GMT). Calibration of these data has enabled researchers and government agencies to use the Armagh series for reports and research into global warming. This is a subject of strategic importance for Northern Ireland as we move into an era of rapid climate change. The Armagh Observatory's climate record provides a long historical baseline against which to judge how Northern Ireland's climate is responding to climate change world-wide. The Observatory also 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 220 years of continuous astronomical activity in Armagh. The main historic buildings of the Observatory have unique architectural features and house a valuable library, archives and museum collection that contains a growing collection of historic books and manuscripts and a wide range of astronomical images and photographic plates, scientific instruments, clocks and other artefacts concerning the development of astronomy at Armagh over more than two hundred years. The Observatory's heritage policy is to progressively restore the historic buildings and scientific instruments in its possession, where possible placing the restored material close to its original location in the main Grade A listed building. The objective has been to maintain the integrity of the Library and Archives as a coherent entity for future generations in the City of Armagh and to preserve this historic material and improve the security and environment in which it is held. The Observatory also seeks to widen access to this material so that visitors, or visitors to the Observatory's web-sites and researchers and others who may use the Observatory's facilities will be able to appreciate more clearly the context in which the now historic material was first used. This helps to maintain a rich educational, scientific and cultural resource, highlighting the Observatory's position as Northern Ireland's oldest scientific institution. During the past 25 years a number of important heritage projects have been completed with support from government and other funding agencies. More recent work completed in the last decade has included digitization of the meteorological and climate archive for scientific use, a programme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the Irish Sailors and Soldiers Land Trust; and a project to conserve and restore the remaining historic telescopes and telescope domes and to restore the windows and other features of the historic main building. It is planned to progress another phase of this programme of restoration and conservation, namely the construction of a new Library, Archives and Historic Scientific Instruments building, to house and provide exhibition space for the Museum, Library and Archives collections and to provide additional space for the academic staff. A further project is to improve the quality of conservation and collections management of the material held in the Library and Archives. The Armagh Planetarium is a leading educational establishment whose primary function is to disseminate knowledge of a wide range of science and to promote the public understanding of astronomy and science through its programme of educational services for schools and the wider public. Staff deliver interactive presentations using the latest projection and information technology to all age groups and abilities on a wide range of astronomical and scientific topics, including meteorite impacts, the planets, current astronomical phenomena and Earth sciences. The Planetarium, also through the large number of visitors coming through its doors, plays an important role in promoting and enhancing tourism within Armagh City and District.

Equal Opportunities Policy
The corporation is an equal opportunities employer, committed to ensuring that the talents and resources of all members of the corporation are utilised to the full. The corporation does not discriminate directly or indirectly on the grounds of religious belief, political opinion, trade union membership, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, colour or ethnic origin, against any member of staff, full-time or part-time, or job applicant, actual or potential, in any aspect of the corporation's activities, including matters of recruitment, training, promotion, appointment, nomination or selection for any position, job transfer or redundancy.

Policy on Payment of Suppliers
The corporation is committed to the payment of all invoices not in dispute within agreed contractual terms. The corporation also recognizes the importance of paying invoices received as soon as possible and does everything practically possible to meet the 10-day prompt payment target in the Accounting Officer guidance DAO 12/08 issued by the Department of Finance and Personnel. In the seven month period from 1 September 2009 to 31 March 2010, the latest available dataset, the average time taken to pay invoices not in dispute was 12.1 days.

Auditors
Under the Audit and Accountability (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, responsibility for the audit of the accounts of the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium has been vested in the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010

2


Employee Information and Consultation
The corporation takes every opportunity to inform and consult with all members of the organisation on the corporation's activities and plans for the future through the dissemination of annual reports and operational plans, the provision of the latest information on research, educational and other activities through the web-sites, regular formal and informal briefing and discussion meetings, and consultations with staff representatives on employment-related and operational policies and procedures. Further information on the Observatory is available at http://star.arm.ac.uk/ and http://climate.arm.ac.uk/, and on the Planetarium at http://www.armaghplanet.com.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010

3


Corporate Governance
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 (9 persons), 1 DCAL nominee, 1 Queen's University Belfast (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 A.E.T. Harper, The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland The Dean: The Very Reverend Dean P.W. Rooke, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh The Precentor: The Reverend Canon T. Scott, also Rector of Magherafelt The Chancellor: The Reverend Canon C.F. Moore, also Rector of Newtownhamilton, Ballymoyer and Belleek The Treasurer: The Reverend Canon J.W. McKegney, also Rector of St. Mark's Parish, Armagh The Archdeacon: The Venerable R.G. Hoey, also Rector of Camlough and Mullaglass The Prebendary of Mullabrack: The Reverend Canon W.J.A. Dawson, also Bishop's Curate of Pomeroy The Prebendary of Ballymore: The Reverend Canon R.J.N. Porteus, also Rector of Derryloran Parish (Cookstown) The Prebendary of Loughgall: The Reverend Canon J.N.T. Campbell, also Rector of St. Mark's Parish, Portadown The Prebendary of Tynan: The Reverend Canon W.M. Adair, also Rector of St. Columba's Parish, Portadown Councillor W. Gardiner-Watson (DCAL Nominee) Professor A. Hibbert, Queens University Belfast (QUB Nominee) 1 The Right Honourable the Lord Ballyedmond, Ballyedmond Castle, Rostrevor (Board of Governors Nominee) Dr R.D. Oudmaijer, University of Leeds (Board of Governors Nominee)

Management Committee
The Management Committee comprises the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh or his nominee (Chairman), 3 Nominees from the Board of Governors, 6 DCAL nominees, 1 QUB nominee, 1 Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) nominee, 1 Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS) nominee, and currently 2 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 A.E.T. Harper, The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland Deputy Chairman: Dr F.N. Byrne (Co-opted, Board of Governors) Professor A. Hibbert, Queens University Belfast (Co-opted, Board of Governors) 2 The Venerable Archdeacon R.G. Hoey, Camlough and Mullaglass (Board of Governors Nominee) Dr R.D. Oudmaijer, University of Leeds (Board of Governors Nominee) Mr E.P. Donnelly (DCAL Nominee) Dr E.M. (а.) Downey (DCAL Nominee) 3 Mrs S. Hogg (DCAL Nominee) Mr A. Peoples (DCAL Nominee) Mr J.I. (S.) Shields (DCAL Nominee) Mrs P.E. Wilson (DCAL Nominee) Professor P.L. Dufton, Queens University Belfast (QUB Nominee) Professor M.R. Merrifield, University of Nottingham (STFC Nominee) Professor T.P. Ray, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS Nominee)

Audit and Risk Management Committee
The Internal Audit Committee, a sub-committee of the Management Committee, comprises Dr F.N. Byrne (Chairman), Dr E.M. (а.) Downey4, Professor P.L. Dufton, Professor A. Hibbert, Mrs S. Hogg, and Mr A Peoples5.

Directors and Secretary
Professor M.E. Bailey MBE MRIA -- Director, Armagh Observatory Dr T.R. Mason MBE -- Director, Armagh Planetarium Mr L.F. Young -- Secretary
1 2 3 4 5

To 30 September 2009 From 1 October 2009 To 22 October 2009 To 22 October 2009 To 25 September 2009

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010

4


The Armagh Observatory -- Operating Review 2009/2010
The following research results, performance indicators for 2009/2010, and objectives for 2010/2011 Observatory Annual Report for Calendar Year 2009 (Financial Year 2009/2010), which contains an of the Observatory's principal research and other activities during 2009. The full report is available by contacting the Administrator at the Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DG, tel. info@arm.ac.uk. are extracted from the Armagh extensive summary of the whole at http://star.arm.ac.uk/annrep/ or +44-28-3752-2928; e-mail:

Alignment with Northern Ireland Government Objectives
Astronomy is part of world heritage and an important part of the shared heritage of people living on the island of Ireland. The Armagh Observatory is Northern Ireland's oldest scientific institution, and Northern Ireland government support for astronomy at Armagh is central to the mission of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) "to protect, nurture and grow Northern Ireland's Cultural Capital for today and tomorrow." In return, astronomers at Armagh make distinctive contributions to major strands of government policy and project a key part of Northern Ireland's cultural and scientific heritage to millions of people world-wide. Shared Heritage There is a very significant public interest in astronomy and space science, and related fields. The interest is mirrored by the Observatory's academic focus and addressed by its very active programmes of public outreach and public understanding of science. Astronomical research makes a fundamental contribution to knowledge, and helps to attract people -- both young and old -- towards science and into a more scientific way of thinking. Science, in Carl Sagan's phrase, is "a candle in the dark"; and astronomy -- foremost amongst sciences -- helps people to make sense of their place in the world and the wider world around us. The International Year of Astronomy 2009, supported by the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Astronomical Union (IAU), provided an opportunity to showcase many important discoveries of astronomy. It also served to stimulate even greater public interest in astronomy and its scientific and cultural impact, and especially highlighted the role of astronomy as a component of world heritage. It is noteworthy that the IAU and UNESCO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and expand these thematic links between astronomy and world culture as part of the UNESCO's World Heritage Initiative (see http://whc.unesco.org/en/astronomy). In the same way the heritage of astronomy within Northern Ireland, stretching back thousands of years, provides important thematic links to core functions of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). These links highlight the importance of maintaining the momentum of the Observatory's programmes of Science in the Community during 2009, and of building on the success of IYA 2009. We particularly draw attention to the growing interest, nationally and internationally, in identifying ways to reduce light pollution: partly to avoid the waste of energy used to illuminate outer space (e.g. through sky glow, light trespass and light waste), but also, irrespective of the energy argument, because it is recognized that light pollution has many other adverse environmental consequences. Furthermore, people's responses, even today, to an uninterrupted view of a really clear, dark night sky, illustrate the impact of astronomy on culture and underline the powerful astronomical influences that have affected -- equally up to now -- the development of every civilization and society on Earth. Astronomy is a key part of the shared heritage of people who live on the island of Ireland and a central element of culture: in the words of Jean Perrin (1870­1942), "What would human thought have achieved if we could not see the stars?" Research Staff at the Armagh Observatory have maintained a high level of research activity and other outputs during the year, producing 41 publications in refereed scientific journals during 2009 as well as many other scientific papers and attracting a record 442 identified mass-media citations to the Armagh Observatory, its staff and their work. Electronic access to the Armagh Observatory has also remained at a very high level. During 2009 there were more than 900,000 Distinct e-Visitors (DEVs) to the Observatory's principal web-sites (http://star.arm.ac.uk/, http://climate.arm.ac.uk/ and http://arpc65.arm.ac.uk/~spm/), 15.5 million `hits', and a record 7.8 TB (1 TB = 1 million Megabytes) of data were exported from the Armagh Observatory to users of astronomical information elsewhere. In addition, the web-site http://astronomy2009.ie/ set up and maintained by Miruna Popescu to provide a separate record of all-Ireland International Year of Astronomy activities during 2009 received 92,000 DEVs, 2.8 million `hits' and exported 67 GB of data to users elsewhere from 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2009. During 2009, Armagh Observatory staff delivered approximately 115 scientific papers and general public talks at meetings both locally and abroad, and maintained an active programme of in-house training including 37 internal seminars and colloquia, most of which were delivered by external visiting speakers. Total external grant receipts and other income during 2009/2010 amounted to ё356,654 (2008/2009: ё254,279), of which ё346,733 (2008/2009: ё242,772) was attributable to external grant receipts. This figure, which exceeded the anticipated figure in the 2009/2010 Business Plan (ё273,400), highlights the success of Armagh Observatory staff in proactively obtaining externally funded, peerreviewed research grants in a difficult financial climate. Presenting Northern Ireland on the International Stage The Armagh Observatory provides a strong, positive image of Northern Ireland on the international stage. Members of staff play a full role in the international astronomical community, for example assessing grant and research proposals on behalf of external funding agencies; reviewing scientific papers; editing international academic journals; and serving on the committees of bodies such as the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Irish Academy. During 2009, staff at the Armagh Observatory significantly expanded the Observatory's programme of Science in the Community in response to the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA 2009) by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Annual Report and Accounts for 2009/2010 5


providing additional guided tours of the Observatory and Astropark, holding special public lectures and exhibitions, delivering an outreach programme to schools, and supervising school children and undergraduates on work-experience programmes and summer research projects. The Observatory Grounds, Astropark and Human Orrery were also developed as a unique facility to enrich the lives of visitors to Armagh and residents alike. Partly as a result of this activity, the number of visitors to the Astropark increased during 2009: the counter at the entrance to the `Solar System' part of the Astropark registered approximately 55,000 visitors, some 10,000 more than the 2008 figure of around 45,000. Research Environment The Observatory's computer facilities are used primarily for numerical analysis, computer modelling and data reduction; the computers and peripherals are largely funded by the DCAL, but occasionally by external research grants, for example those funded by the STFC or PRTLI. Staff have access to a number of iMac workstations, approximately 40 Linux workstations and peripherals, a number of portable computers, and a computer cluster comprising 25 dual-processor work nodes and one master node with a total of 50 GB of memory. This is used for computationally intensive research projects in observational and theoretical astrophysics (including data reduction and modelling) in areas such as solar physics, stellar atmospheres, stellar winds, radiation hydrodynamics, 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 dedicated 100 Mbps link provided through the Observatory's participation in the Northern Ireland Regional Area Network (NIRAN). The Armagh Observatory has access to high-performance supercomputing at the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) as well as advanced training programmes. The Observatory's suite of technical equipment is complemented by a Library and Archives that is one of the premier specialist collections of its kind in the UK and Ireland. The library, archives and museum collection together contain a unique and growing collection of historic books and manuscripts, as well as images, photographic plates, scientific instruments, clocks and other artefacts concerning the development of astronomy in the UK and Ireland over more than two hundred years. The meteorological archive contains the longest continuous daily climate series from a single site in the UK and Ireland. The climate station has been continuously maintained since 1795, with readings currently taken every day at 09:00 (GMT). Calibration of these data has enabled researchers and government agencies to use the Armagh series for reports and research into global warming. This is a subject of strategic importance for Northern Ireland as we move into an era of rapid climate change. The Armagh Observatory's climate record provides a long historical baseline against which to judge how Northern Ireland's climate is responding to climate change world-wide. Armagh Observatory staff also have access to world-class international facilities that are provided through STFC and UK Government subscriptions or bilateral agreements and collaborations involving individual Armagh Observatory research staff. Observatory staff regularly obtain telescope time on national and international facilities such as the ESO Very Large Telescope (http://www.eso.org/outreach/ut1fl/) and various spacecraft missions (such as SoHO, TRACE, Hinode, XMM-Newton, and the Hubble Space Telescope). They obtain research grants from a wide range of grant awarding bodies (e.g. the STFC, the Royal Society, the Leverhulme Trust, British Council etc.), and through the Observatory's membership of the UK SALT Consortium (UKSC) have access to the 11-metre diameter Southern African Large Telescope (SALT; see http://star.arm.ac.uk/SALT/), located at the Sutherland Observatory, South Africa. Complementing these international facilities, restoration of the Observatory's historic telescopes has brought opportunities to reintroduce some visual observing from Armagh, while new computer and camera technology has enabled a variety of new automatic observational programmes to be introduced from Armagh, recording data autonomously whenever the sky is clear.

Principal Achievements During 2009 and 2009/2010
Advances in Astronomy and Astrophysics Meteor Astronomy Apostolos Christou and Simon Jeffery report that the Observatory's meteor patrol cameras and the Polar Bear Survey Telescope both recorded a bright fireball around 00:57 (UT) on the morning of 22 November 2009. The meteor's speed was estimated as approximately 25 km s-1 and its size before atmospheric entry is believed to have been about the size of a small apple. The object's speed and the way that it fragmented as it finally burned up in the Earth's upper atmosphere are suggestive of a cometary source. The image of the fireball obtained by the Polar Bear Survey Telescope is one of the best such images ever recorded, showing detail with an effective resolution at the height of the fireball of approximately 50 metres. It is likely that additional serendipitous codetections of meteors await discovery in the meteor patrol and Polar Bear archives, providing a unique opportunity to study at high spatial resolution the evolution and final fate of meteoric material deposited in the upper atmosphere. Mutual Events of the Satellites of Jupiter Apostolos Christou reports his ongoing analysis of three eclipses of the small Jovian satellite Amalthea by the Galilean satellites of Jupiter. He also notes that he and John McFarland observed an occultation of Galilean satellites of Jupiter using telescopes at the Observatory between 19:45 and 20:00 (UT) on the evening of 30 November 2009. In this case, Europa occulted (i.e. passed in front of) Io. The technique of