The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
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Southern Stars THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND Volume 58, No 2 2019 June ISSN Page0049-1640 1 Southern Stars Journal of the RASNZ Royal Astronomical Society Volume 58, Number 2 of New Zealand (Inc.) 2019 June Founded in 1920 as the New Zealand Astronomical Society and assumed its present title on receiving the Royal Charter in 1946. In 1967 it became a member body of the R oyal Society of New Zealand. CONTENTS P O Box 3181, Wellington 6140, New Zealand SWAPA Students Captivated by the Stars at the 2019 [email protected] http://www.rasnz.org.nz RASNZ Conference in New Plymouth John Drummond ...................................................... 3 Subscriptions (NZ$) for 2019: Ordinary member: $40.00 Student member: $20.00 The Morphology of Galaxies Aayushi Verma ........................................................ 7 Affiliated society: $3.75 per member. Minimum $75.00, Maximum $375.00 Corporate member: $200.00 Antony Gomez Chris Monigatti, Duncan Hall .................................. 11 Printed copies of Southern Stars (NZ$): $35.00 (NZ) AR12738: ‘Salvoes of Surges’ Harry Roberts ........................................................ 12 $45.00 (Australia & South Pacific) $50.00 (Rest of World) AR12738 Returns: Surging Renewed! Harry Roberts ........................................................ 13 Council & Officers 2018 to 2020 Exoplanet Research: News on the NUS_NZ President: Collaboration Nicholas Rattenbury Department of Physics, Timothy Banks & Edwin Budding .......................... 14 The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142. [email protected] Grus and the Grus Galaxy Chain Andrew Robertson ................................................ 17 Immediate Past President: John Drummond P O Box 113, Patutahi 4045. [email protected] Adaptive Tracking Craig Young ........................................................... 20 Vice President: Steve Butler 30 Hoffman Court, Invercargill 9810. [email protected] John Drummond, FRASNZ Nalayini Davies ..................................................... 26 Secretary: Appointment pending. [email protected] Treasurer: Susan Shoebridge Apt 101/367 Great North Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland 1021. [email protected] Members’ Councillors: Hinerangi Curtis 96B Hinau St, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041. [email protected] FRONT COVER Craig Young standing beside his 16” Photometric Bob Evans 15 Taiepa Rd, Otatara RD9, Invercargill 9879. [email protected] telescope inside his Crystal Lake Observatory in the Waikato, New Zealand. John Hearnshaw 39 Kirkwood Ave, Christchurch 8041. [email protected] [email protected] BACK COVER Glen Rowe 23 Stanhope Grove, Korokoro, Lower Hutt 5012. The 2019 SWAPA Students. [email protected] Affiliated Societies’ Councillors: Nalayini Davies 9 Castle Drive, Epsom, Auckland 1023. [email protected] Peter Jaquiery 31 Wright St, Dunedin 9010. [email protected] Fellows’ Councillor: Karen Pollard School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury, Page 2 Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140. Southern Stars [email protected] SWAPA Students Captivated by the Stars at the 2019 RASNZ Conference in New Plymouth:- John Drummond SWAPA Students Captivated by the Stars at the 2019 RASNZ Conference in New Plymouth John Drummond Students With A Passion for Astronomy The fifth SWAPA scheme at the recent RASNZ conference in New Plymouth was another resounding success. The SWAPA (Students With A Passion for Astronomy) scheme, binoculars and other goodies that RASNZ sponsor, ASTRONZ, instigated by Professor John Hearnshaw, invites senior high had at the conference. An additional blessing of the SWAPA school students from around Aotearoa to submit a 300-word scheme was that SWAPA winners from previous years were essay stating how they have a passion for astronomy and also at the conference – sometimes in roles of responsibility. why they should be chosen to attend the RASNZ conference free of charge. I sent out email invitations to nearly 500 high Here’s some statements made by the SWAPA students after the schools and received 88 excellent entries. Of these, ten were conference… chosen by Professor John Hearnshaw and me as winners. These ten SWAPA winners won free conference registration, Breanna Camden free entry to the Saturday night banquet, free travel to/from The 2019 RASNZ conference in New the conference and their accommodation was paid for. This Plymouth, as part of the SWAPA due to the very generous donation of Michael Snowden last scheme, was an amazing opportunity year. In addition, the ten SWAPA students received a one-year which I am so thankful to have membership subscription to the Royal Astronomical Society of attended. It allowed me to connect with New Zealand. like-minded students who are going on to study similar areas of astronomy On the Saturday morning, before proceedings, the students met and astrophysics, and I hope to have with two professional astronomers – Professor Karen Pollard created many lasting contacts. I was (University of Canterbury) and Dr Nic Rattenbury (Auckland also lucky enough to meet a remarkable University) - to talk about possible careers in astronomy, group of university students who are a physics, etc. The questions asked by the students during this part of the New Zealand Students Space breakfast were excellent. In addition, the students met with Association, a student-led initiative whose aim is to get more the conference keynote speaker, Professor Lisa Kewley, for students of all ages involved in astronomy and space sciences. an hour while the RASNZ AGM was in progress on Saturday Meeting members of the scientific community in the fields of afternoon. astronomy and astrophysics was a wonderful experience and I was blown away by the passion which was present. Talking The students presented excellent short talks at the conference to these people allowed me to discover more about what it is about themselves, what got them into astronomy, how they are like to have a career in astronomy, and I was inspired by each actively involved in it and what they might do, study-wise, at and every person I met. Furthermore, I enjoyed listening to university. It was very pleasing to see the students meeting presentations on such a wide range of subjects, something with and discussing astronomy with professional and amateur which opened my eyes to some of the variety of amazing areas astronomers. The enthusiasm and maturity shown by them of research going on in this field, from asteroidal occultations was meritorious. They were also drooling over telescopes, and microlensing, to the evolution of galaxies and the universe. I particularly enjoyed listening SWAPA WINNERS - 2019 to the talk on 3-dimensional Name Age Yr School City spectroscopy given by the invited Breanna Camden 16 13 New Plymouth Girls’ High New Plymouth speaker Professor Lisa Kewley, a truly inspiring woman who we Bryn Thompson 17 13 Awatapu College Palmerston North were given the opportunity to Heather Sinclair - Wentworth 17 13 Motueka High School Motueka speak with, ask questions about Jack McCorkindale 17 13 Wakatipu High School Queenstown her career and receive advice and Joseph Chamberlain 17 13 Freyberg High School Palmerston North wisdom which I am sure we all appreciated. Leah Albrow 17 13 Riccarton High School Christchurch Natalie Bennett 17 13 Napier Girls’ High School Napier Opportunities such as these Niamh Stratton 17 13 Campion College Gisborne are of great importance for Sarah Poulter 17 13 St Mary’s College Auckland prospective science students, for they allow young people such as Vivek Panchal 16 13 Howick College Auckland myself to experience and become 58, 2, 2019 June Page 3 SWAPA Students Captivated by the Stars at the 2019 RASNZ Conference in New Plymouth:- John Drummond immersed in a range of potential careers, many which we may course still enjoyable. It was great have not been aware of. Astronomy in particular is a subject to meet fellow Astronomy nerds not commonly taught at secondary schools, making this an like myself, old and young, and to awesome opportunity where I was able to learn so much about catch up with those students I had this science. Speaking at the conference about my passion for met before. Having the opportunity astronomy and where I hoped it would take me in the future to talk about my small Astronomy was something I found so beneficial, as not only did it improve journey so far was an amazing my confidence in speaking in front of others, but it gave me a experience with the audience being sense of empowerment that as a young person I am capable of very supportive and interested “putting myself out there” in the astronomical community. I in hearing from all of us, how was gratified and pleasantly surprised when following my talk, Astronomy fitted into our lives. I was approached by some of the conference attendees who Meeting the newly formed NZSSA (New Zealand Student were interested to learn more about where and what I hoped Space Association) was inspiring as even though I plan to to study, or who wanted to share with me some fascinating study Astronomy, it was good to see that as a student there is cosmological theories and astronomical discoveries. a group I can be a part of to get more involved in Astronomy. One talk I particularly enjoyed was from one of the University Attending the conference has fuelled my passion for astronomy, of Canterbury students, Aayushi Verma, about her research