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May 2019 Newsletter

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Volume24, Issue 9 NWASNEWS May 2019 Newsletter for the Wiltshire, Swindon, Beckington Black Holes, Good Water and NASA Moon plans Astronomical Societies and Salisbury Plain Observing Group April was a good news month for con- of M87 in Virgo. A big lenticular gal- firming a lot of common-sense guess- axy not too far away that can be seen Wiltshire Society Page 2 es with information coming from the spitting out material from its core (easily images when I was in Spain), Swindon Stargazers 3 science bodies. contains a big black hole that became Beckington AS 4 The asteroid material collection mis- the target for a huge base interferom- sion Hayabusat has already revealed etry linked radio telescopes across NASA Space Place 5 a lot about the water on the asteroids May Viewing the Earth. The detail gained enabled and its resemblance to the water here the team to image the event horizon Space News 6-21 on Earth begins to square the problem activity around the black hole. Hayabusat Samples show Earth- of where Earth’s water come from af- like water on asteroid ter the discovery of comet water not Meanwhile NASA has been working Musk’s Starlink 220 low Earth on the figures to match the presiden- orbit system looking like the likely source. At the Hubble’s 265,00 galaxy picture same time it was shown that asteroids tial aim for putting America on the Mars Dust Storm could show us have a lot of water available. The old Moon again in 2024, a few years after how the water disappeared. divide between comets and asteroids the 50th anniversary of the last land- Earth/Moon impact when Earth ing there. However the budget to do it was molten as ice and rock is laid to rest. InSight detects first Marsquake is encountering a few problems and Also in this month closer examination the government based programme Meteorites from other stars of some meteorites found here on Earliest Molecule seen in Space needs help from private investors. First Image of a Black Hole Earth have also come up with a new How much hasn’t been revealed, but NASA Outlines 2024 Moon Land- but logical theory. A small but signifi- ing mission certainly the lander could be in pri- cant number of meteorites have their vate hands. beginnings around stars other than our Members Logs 21-24 Sun (which is 4th generation material What’s Up May 2019 25 anyway). Tonight we welcome our friend from over the border, Mark Radice who will Constellation of the Month 26-28 The same storm that finished Oppor- Virgo tunity on Mars does give us infor- be giving us some practical observing mation that may explain where the tips for our own Solar System. Space Station Timings 29-30 water went on ancient Mars. Clear Skies Andy IMAGES, VIEWING SESSIONS 31 Big news of the early month was the and OUTREACH imaging of a Black Hole in the centre Looking ahead for most of us, this is the early summer Milky Way as seen at 3:30am in Spain on the 26th April. This will be the phase visible at 2:00am in the UK late May, Midnight mid June. There is an extra exten- sion of 17º to the south below the pipe nebula seen here. 24mm on zoom lens 20 seconds, 1600 ISO. Z7 full frame Nikon mirror- less camera. The white lights are from a town to the east of the high viewing point. Page 2 Volume21, Issue8 Wiltshire Society Page Membership Meeting nights £1.00 for members £3 for visitors Wiltshire Astronomical Society Wiltshire AS Contacts Web site: www.wasnet.org.uk Keith Bruton Chair, [email protected] Facebook members page: https://www.facebook.com/ Vice chair: Andy Burns and newsletter editor. groups/wiltshire.astro.society/ Email [email protected] Meetings 2018/2019Season. Bob Johnston (Treasurer) Debbie Croker (vice Treasurer) NEW VENUE the Pavilion, Rusty Lane, Seend Philip Proven (Hall coordinator) Dave Buckle (Teas) Meet 7.30 for 8.00pm start Peter Chappell (Speaker secretary) Date Speaker Title Nick Howes (Technical Guru) 2019 7 May Mark Radice: Observing the Solar System. Observing Sessions coordinators: Jon Gale, Tony Vale 4 Jun Owen Brazell Observing Planetary Nebulae Web coordinator: Sam Franklin Contact via the web site details. Rusty Lane, Pavilion Mark Radice Mark is a very accomplished practical viewer, building his own telescope, binocular viewing platform, an excellent Astro sketch- er, and now getting into imaging. Observing Sessions He is a qualified pilot and lives in Hampshire now The Wiltshire Astronomical Society’s observing sessions PLEASE see our proposed are open, and we welcome changes to the observing visitors from other societies sessions, contacting and as well as members of the other details. Back Page public to join us. We will help you set up Note this year we have equipment (as often as you moved away from the ‘4th need this help), and let you Friday of the month’ routine test anything we have to help to get away from nights when you in your choice of future the Moon is too bright to view astronomy purchases. other objects, so may be 1st Please treat the lights and Friday of month... return to full working order before leaving. With enough care shown we may get the National Trust to do some- thing with them! Page 3 Swindon’s own astronomy group or whether it will be cancelled because of cloud etc. May Meeting: Mark Woodland FRAS We are a small keen group and I would ask you to note that you DO NOT have to own a telescope to He will be speaking on 'Exoplanents and the Charter- take part, just turn up and have a great evening look- house Exoplanet Project' ing through other people's scopes. We are out there to share an interest and the hobby. There's nothing better than practical astronomy in the great cold Brit- ish winter! And hot drinks are often available, you can also bring your own. Members of the Wiltshire Astronomical Society al- ways welcome! Meetings at Liddington Village Hall, Church Road, Liddington, SN4 0HB – 7.30pm onwards The hall has easy access from Junction 15 of the M4, a map and directions can be found on our website at: http://www.swindonstargazers.com/clubdiary/ directions01.htm Meeting Dates for 2019 Friday 17 May 2019 Programme: Mark Woodland FRAS: Exoplanents and the Charterhouse Exoplanet Project Friday 21 June 2019 Programme: Peter Chappell: My Aurora Adventure July & August: Summer break Mark is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and committee member of the Friday 20 September 2019 Wells & Mendip Astronomers group. Programme: Dr. Lilian Hobbs: How Astronomy Has Changed He is an Astrophysics undergraduate with the Open University an works as an IT specialist in the NHS. Friday 18 October 2019 Since December 2014 he has been heading up the Charterhouse Exoplanet Project with the aim Programme: Robert Slack: The Grand Tour of bringing research astronomy to the public and con- Friday 15 November 2019 necting with universities in the UK & USA to verify Programme: TBA KEPLER data. Ad-hoc viewing sessions Friday 13 December 2019 Programme: TBA Regular stargazing evenings are being organised near Swindon. To join these events please visit our website for further information. Website: Lately we have been stargazing at Blakehill Farm Na- http://www.swindonstargazers.com ture Reserve near Cricklade, a very good spot with no distractions from car headlights. Chairman: Robin Wilkey We often meet regularly at a lay-by just outside the Tel No: 07808 775630 village of Uffcott, near Wroughton. Directions are also Email: [email protected] shown on the website link below. Address: 61 Northern Road Swindon, SN2 1PD Information about our evenings and viewing spots can be found here: Secretary: Hilary Wilkey http://www.swindonstargazers.com/noticeboard/ noticeboard06.htm Tel No: 01793 574403 Email: [email protected] If you think you might be interested email the organiser Address: 61 Northern Road Robin Wilkey (see below). With this you will then be Swindon, SN2 1PD emailed regarding the event, whether it is going ahead Page 4 STAR QUEST ASTRONOMY CLUB BECKINGTON ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY This young astronomy club meets at the Society Details & Speakers programme can be found on Sutton Veny Village Hall. our Website www.beckingtonas.org Second Thursday of the Month. General enquiries about the Society can be emailed to [email protected]. Our Committee for 2016/2017 is Chairman: Steve Hill (email [email protected]) Treasurer: John Ball Secretary: Sandy Whitton Ordinary Member: Mike Witt People can find out more about us at www.beckingtonas.org Meetings take place in Beckington Baptist Church Hall in Beckington Village near Frome. See the location page for details of how to find us on our website………… Post Code for Sat Nav is BA11 6TB. Our start time is 7.30pm. 17th May The Herschel 400 Jonathan Gale 21st June Annual General Meeting Member Talks Page 8 Watching the Late Spring Skies By David Prosper You can catch up on all of NASA’s current and future Late spring brings warmer missions at nasa.gov nights, making it more comforta- ble to observe a good showing of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower. Skywatchers can also look for the delicate Coma Star Cluster, and spot the Moon on the anniversary of Apollo 10’s “test run” prior to the Moon landing in 1969. The Eta Aquarids meteor shower should make a good showing this year, peaking the morning of May 6. This meteor shower has an unusual “soft peak,” meaning that many meteors can be spotted several days before and after the 6th; many may find it convenient to schedule meteor watching for the weekend, a night or two before the peak.
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  • And Ecclesiastical Cosmology

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  • Clustering of Local Group Distances: Publication Bias Or Correlated Measurements? VI

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  • ESO Annual Report 2004 ESO Annual Report 2004 Presented to the Council by the Director General Dr

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  • Events: No General Meeting in April

    Events: No General Meeting in April

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  • The Messier Catalog

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  • 190 Index of Names

    190 Index of Names

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    9 X13.5 Doublelines.P65

    Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-62062-8 - The Multiwavelength Atlas of Galaxies Glen Mackie Table of Contents More information Contents Preface page ix 2.4.6 Submillimeter 40 Acknowledgements xi 2.4.7 Radio 41 2.5 Caveat #1: Mass versus light and dark matter 43 2.6 Caveat #2: Looking back to the beginning 45 Galaxies 1 1 2.7 Caveat #3: Observational bias 48 1.1 Prehistory of galaxies 2 2.8 Galaxy research and multiwavelength 49 1.2 “It is worthy of notice” 5 observations 2.8.1 A unified scheme of active galaxies 49 1.3 Multiwavelength laboratories in space 6 2.8.2 The far-IR radio correlation 50 1.4 The atlas galaxy sample 9 2.8.3 A non-universal IMF 51 1.5 Atlas galaxy categories 9 2.8.4 Gamma ray bursts 51 1.5.1 Normal galaxies 9 2.8.5 Magnetic fields in galaxies 51 1.5.2 Interacting galaxies 9 2.9 Additional reading 53 1.5.3 Merging galaxies 11 1.5.4 Starburst galaxies 11 1.5.5 Active galaxies 12 3 A view from the inside: The Galaxy 55 1.6 Properties of the atlas sample 16 ∗ 1.6.1 Galaxy nomenclature 16 3.1 Quiet monster – Sagittarius A 55 1.6.2 Galaxy morphology 16 3.2 All-sky maps of the Galaxy 58 1.6.3 Distances and luminosities 22 3.2.1 Gamma ray – >100 MeV 58 1.6.4 Multiple classifications 23 3.2.2 Gamma ray – 1.8 MeV 58 1.7 Epoch of formation and galaxy ages 25 3.2.3 Soft X-ray 60 3.2.4 Optical 60 1.8 Additional reading 27 3.2.5 Optical – Hα at 6563 A˚ 60 3.2.6 Near-infrared 60 Observing the electromagnetic 3.2.7 Mid- and far-infrared 60 spectrum 29 2 3.2.8 Radio – molecular hydrogen 65 2.1 Earth’s atmosphere and extraneous
  • Deep Sky Explorer Atlas

    Deep Sky Explorer Atlas

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  • Charles Messier (1730-1817) Was an Observational Astronomer Working

    Charles Messier (1730-1817) Was an Observational Astronomer Working

    Charles Messier (1730-1817) was an observational Catalogue (NGC) which was being compiled at the same astronomer working from Paris in the eighteenth century. time as Messier's observations but using much larger tele­ He discovered between 15 and 21 comets and observed scopes, probably explains its modern popularity. It is a many more. During his observations he encountered neb­ challenging but achievable task for most amateur astron­ ulous objects that were not comets. Some of these objects omers to observe all the Messier objects. At «star parties" were his own discoveries, while others had been known and within astronomy clubs, going for the maximum before. In 1774 he published a list of 45 of these nebulous number of Messier objects observed is a popular competi­ objects. His purpose in publishing the list was so that tion. Indeed at some times of the year it is just about poss­ other comet-hunters should not confuse the nebulae with ible to observe most of them in a single night. comets. Over the following decades he published supple­ Messier observed from Paris and therefore the most ments which increased the number of objects in his cata­ southerly object in his list is M7 in Scorpius with a decli­ logue to 103 though objects M101 and M102 were in fact nation of -35°. He also missed several objects from his list the same. Later other astronomers added a replacement such as h and X Per and the Hyades which most observers for M102 and objects 104 to 110. It is now thought proba­ would feel should have been included.
  • The Universe Contents 3 HD 149026 B

    The Universe Contents 3 HD 149026 B

    History . 64 Antarctica . 136 Utopia Planitia . 209 Umbriel . 286 Comets . 338 In Popular Culture . 66 Great Barrier Reef . 138 Vastitas Borealis . 210 Oberon . 287 Borrelly . 340 The Amazon Rainforest . 140 Titania . 288 C/1861 G1 Thatcher . 341 Universe Mercury . 68 Ngorongoro Conservation Jupiter . 212 Shepherd Moons . 289 Churyamov- Orientation . 72 Area . 142 Orientation . 216 Gerasimenko . 342 Contents Magnetosphere . 73 Great Wall of China . 144 Atmosphere . .217 Neptune . 290 Hale-Bopp . 343 History . 74 History . 218 Orientation . 294 y Halle . 344 BepiColombo Mission . 76 The Moon . 146 Great Red Spot . 222 Magnetosphere . 295 Hartley 2 . 345 In Popular Culture . 77 Orientation . 150 Ring System . 224 History . 296 ONIS . 346 Caloris Planitia . 79 History . 152 Surface . 225 In Popular Culture . 299 ’Oumuamua . 347 In Popular Culture . 156 Shoemaker-Levy 9 . 348 Foreword . 6 Pantheon Fossae . 80 Clouds . 226 Surface/Atmosphere 301 Raditladi Basin . 81 Apollo 11 . 158 Oceans . 227 s Ring . 302 Swift-Tuttle . 349 Orbital Gateway . 160 Tempel 1 . 350 Introduction to the Rachmaninoff Crater . 82 Magnetosphere . 228 Proteus . 303 Universe . 8 Caloris Montes . 83 Lunar Eclipses . .161 Juno Mission . 230 Triton . 304 Tempel-Tuttle . 351 Scale of the Universe . 10 Sea of Tranquility . 163 Io . 232 Nereid . 306 Wild 2 . 352 Modern Observing Venus . 84 South Pole-Aitken Europa . 234 Other Moons . 308 Crater . 164 Methods . .12 Orientation . 88 Ganymede . 236 Oort Cloud . 353 Copernicus Crater . 165 Today’s Telescopes . 14. Atmosphere . 90 Callisto . 238 Non-Planetary Solar System Montes Apenninus . 166 How to Use This Book 16 History . 91 Objects . 310 Exoplanets . 354 Oceanus Procellarum .167 Naming Conventions . 18 In Popular Culture .
  • Messier 1 Messier 2

    Messier 1 Messier 2

    Messier 1 { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/nebula.html" } M1 (NGC 1952) in { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/map/Tau.html" } Crab Nebula { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/Jpg/m1.jpg" } Right Ascension 05 : 34.5 (h:m) Declination +22 : 01 (deg:m) Distance 6.3 (kly) Visual Brightness 8.4 (mag) Apparent Dimension 6x4 (arc min) Messier 2 { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/cluster.html" } M2 (NGC 7089) , class II, in { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/map/Aqr.html" } { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/Jpg/m2.jpg" } Right Ascension 21 : 33.5 (h:m) Declination -00 : 49 (deg:m) Distance 37.5 (kly) Visual Brightness 6.5 (mag) Apparent Dimension 16.0 (arc min) Messier 3 { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/cluster.html" } M3 (NGC 5272) , class VI, in { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/map/CVn.html" } { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/Jpg/m3.jpg" } Right Ascension 13 : 42.2 (h:m) Declination +28 : 23 (deg:m) Distance 33.9 (kly) Visual Brightness 6.2 (mag) Apparent Dimension 18.0 (arc min) Messier 4 { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/cluster.html" } M4 (NGC 6121) , class IX, in { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/map/Sco.html" } { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/Jpg/m4.jpg" } Right Ascension 16 : 23.6 (h:m) Declination -26 : 32 (deg:m) Distance 7.2 (kly) Visual Brightness 5.6 (mag) Apparent Dimension 36.0 (arc min) Messier 5 { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/cluster.html" } M5 (NGC 5904) , class V, in { HYPERLINK "http://www.seds.org/messier/map/SerCap.html" } { HYPERLINK