SSouthernouthern SStarstars TTHEHE JJOURNALOURNAL OOFF TTHEHE RROYALOYAL AASTRONOMICALSTRONOMICAL SSOCIETYOCIETY OOFF NNEWEW ZZEALANDEALAND Volume 56, No 2 2017 June ISSN Page0049-1640 1 Royal Astronomical Society Southern Stars of New Zealand (Inc.) Journal of the RASNZ Founded in 1920 as the New Zealand Astronomical Volume 56, Number 2 Society and assumed its present title on receiving the 2017 June Royal Charter in 1946. In 1967 it became a member body of the R oyal Society of New Zealand. P O Box 3181, Wellington 6140, New Zealand [email protected] http://www.rasnz.org.nz CONTENTS Subscriptions (NZ$) for 2017: SWAPA 2017 Ordinary member: $40.00 John Drummond ...................................................... 3 Student member: $20.00 Affi liated society: $3.75 per member. The Louwman Collection of Historic Telescopes Minimum $75.00, Maximum $375.00 William Tobin ........................................................... 6 Corporate member: $200.00 Printed copies of Southern Stars (NZ$): Steve Butler FRASNZ ................................................10 $35.00 (NZ) $45.00 (Australia & South Pacifi c) The Norfolk Island Effect and the Whanagaroa $50.00 (Rest of World) Report Grahame Fraser ..................................................... 11 Auckland Observatory Research in the First 25 Years Council & Offi cers 2016 to 2018 - A Personal View II President: Stan Walker ........................................................... 18 John Drummond P O Box 113, Patutahi 4045. [email protected] Immediate Past President: John Hearnshaw Dep’t Physics & Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140. [email protected] Vice President: FRONT COVER Nicholas Rattenbury The Department of Physics, Peter Louwman in the midst of his collection of historic The University of Auckland, telescopes at The Hague, Netherlands. 38 Princes St, Auckland. [email protected] Photo: William Tobin Secretary: Nichola Van der Aa 32A Louvain St, Whakatane 3120. [email protected] Treasurer: BACK COVER Simon Lowther 19 Cape Vista Crescent, Pukekohe 2120. [email protected] 2017 SWAPA Students Members’ Councillors: Steve Butler 30 Hoffman Court, Invercargill 9810. Front row l to r: Ella Williamson, Aayushi Verma, [email protected] Laura Li, Lauren May, Rhianna O’Carroll. Bob Evans 15 Taiepa Rd, Otatara RD9, Invercargill 9879. [email protected] Back row l to r: Prof. Sergei Gulyaev, Simon Vincent, Sergei Gulyaev 120 Mayoral Drive, Auckland, 1010. Jack Zidich, Ben Lowe, Ass. Prof. Karen Pollard, President [email protected] John Drummond, Rian Lee, Dr Nicholas Rattenbury, Orlon Petterson Dep’t Physics & Astronomy, Aaron Rumpler. University of Canterbury, Photo via John Drummond’s camera Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140. [email protected] Glen Rowe 23 Stanhope Grove, Korokoro, Lower Hutt 5012. [email protected] Affi liated Societies’ Councillors: Peter Jaquiery 31 Wright St, Dunedin 9010 [email protected] Gary Sparks 67 Meeanee Road, Taradale, Napier 4112. [email protected] Fellows’ Councillor: Karen Pollard Dep’t Physics & Astronomy, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140. [email protected] Page 2 Southern Stars SWAPA 2017:- John Drummond SWAPA 2017 John Drummond Conference Those who attended the highly successful RASNZ conference in Dunedin in May 2017 will have noticed a number of younger faced attendees. Some of these would be high school students who attended as members of the SWAPA (Students With A Passion for Astronomy) scheme. This scheme, instigated by Professor John Hearnshaw three Lauren May Year 13, Upper Hutt College, Hutt Valley years ago, invites students from around Aotearoa to submit a My name is Lauren. I go to Upper 300-word essay stating why they have a passion for astronomy Hutt College, and I’m 17 years old. and why they would like to attend the RASNZ conference. Attending the RASNZ’s annual I sent out email invitations to nearly 500 high schools and conference in Dunedin this year was a received 39 excellent entries. Of these, ten were chosen by great opportunity. It opened my eyes John Hearnshaw and myself as winners. These ten SWAPA to the possibilities within astronomy, winners were provided free registration for the conference, free and showed me that I don’t have to be entry to the Saturday night banquet and entry into the Otago one of the top scientists in the world to Museum planetarium show; making a total prize package of make a signifi cant contribution. Two $275 each. In addition, the ten SWAPA students receive a speakers who really stood out to me one year membership subscription to the Royal Astronomical were Jennie McCormick and Maria Pozza. Not only are they Society of New Zealand (2017). women involved with a male-dominated topic, but they were also very interesting to listen to. Jennie’s incredible opening Aaron Rumpler Kaikorai Valley HS Dunedin to the conference made me realise that while I do need to start Aayushi Verma Christchurch GHS Christchurch planning my future, nothing is set in stone, my list of options is infi nite. The amazing achievements she has had within her Benjamin Lowe Mairehau HS Christchurch astronomical career are really inspiring and she is someone Ella Williamson Christchurch GHS Christchurch who I aspire to be like. Maria’s engaging, compelling, and Jack Zidich Christchurch BHS Christchurch well-presented talk about space law also made me aware of the Laura Li Palmerston North GHS Palmerston North endless possibilities of astronomy-related jobs there are in the Lauren May Upper Hutt College Hutt Valley world. It had never occurred to me that space law would be something that we need to worry about. At the moment, I’m Rhiannah O’Carroll Epsom GGS Auckland really interested in astrophysics. I like looking at some of the Rian Lee Rongotai College Wellington amazing things in the universe but what I enjoy most is fi nding Simon Vincent Motueka HS Motueka out how and why these things happen. Next year, I’m thinking about attending Victoria University and doing a Bachelor of On the Saturday morning, the students met with three Science with a major in Physics. But to fi nish off, I want to professional astronomers: Karen Pollard (University of thank everyone who made it possible for the SWAPA students Canterbury), Sergei Gulyaev (Auckland University of to attend the conference, and everyone else too who made us Technology), and Nic Rattenbury (Auckland University), to feel so welcome, and happily shared their knowledge with us. talk about possible careers in Astronomy, Physics, etc. The I have so much to learn about astronomy but I’m also excited questions asked by the students during this pre-conference to see where it will take me. talks breakfast were excellent. Again, thank you so much, I am defi nitely looking forward to During the conference it was so pleasing to see the students next year’s conference. meeting with and discussing astronomy with older professional Lauren May and amateur astronomers. The enthusiasm and maturity shown by them was outstanding. They were also drooling over Aayushi Verma Year 13, Christchurch GHS, Christchurch telescopes, binoculars and other goodies that ASTRONZ had This year, I was fortunate enough at the conference. to be selected to attend the RASNZ Conference 2017 in Dunedin as part of The following are statements made by the SWAPA students the SWAPA (Students With A Passion after the conference… for Astronomy) scheme. This was my fi rst time attending a professional conference and it was an incredibly eye-opening experience for me. I am planning a career in Astrophysics, and 56, 2, 2017 June Page 3 SWAPA 2017:- John Drummond so naturally all the talks during the conference about different Another great aspect of the conference was getting to meet topics like mapping the night sky, occultation, asteroseismology, many other students who all share a similar passion for gamma ray emission, gravitational waves, etc. immediately astronomy. I enjoyed listening to them talk about their various sparked my imagination, prompting me to take down notes and experiences in astronomy and was happy to share my own with research what I couldn’t understand. Prior to this conference, them. I am delighted that I will get to join many of them at the I knew I wanted to be an astrophysicist, but I was not aware University of Canterbury next year, when I pursue a BSc in of the different sub-fi elds within the fi eld. I have now learned Astronomy. about so many different ideas and topics within the fi eld of Astronomy! I am intrigued by all aspects of astronomy, but have a particular interest in the discovery of exoplanets, the search for life on One talk I especially enjoyed during the conference was Jennie Enceladus and Europa, and the study of galaxy evolution. McCormick’s ‘Lost in Space’, where she described her journey to where she is now. It is very inspiring to learn about the Thanks to RASNZ for the opportunity to attend! career path of an astronomer, and the amazing discoveries Rian Lee they make, such as when Ms. McCormick discovered the ‘New Zealand’ asteroid. Another really interesting talk was Dr. Karen Pollard’s talk about asteroseismology and how she uses sound waves to analyse stars. Jack Zidich Year 13, Christchurch BHS, Christchurch My name is Jack Zidich and I am a A key idea I learnt during my time at the Conference is that 17 year old student from Christchurch becoming an astronomer is no easy task, but with the right Boys High School. I greatly enjoyed amount of determination, it is possible and the pleasure of attending the RASNZ conference in doing a job in this fi eld is very rewarding. I have always Dunedin as a SWAPA student and looked up at the stars and wondered about the mysteries of the learnt much about current research universe.