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May 2019 Newsletter

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May 2019 Newsletter 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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