From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 20:17:14 EDT
Subject: Asteroid Corvan, Venus, Mars
Hi all,
1. I'm absolutely delighted to be able to tell you that my old friend &
observing colleague Pat Corvan, just retired from Armagh Planetarium where I'm sure
many of you met him, has been honoured by the IAU with the naming of an
asteroid after him. The citation reads:
"(8515) Corvan = 1991 RJ. Discovered 1991 Sept. 4 by R. H. McNaught at Siding
Spring. Patrick G. Corvan (b. 1940) has links with Armagh Observatory dating
back to his schooldays. He is an avid observer whose enthusiasm for astronomy
is readily communicated to others. His book and slide collections, as well as
stories about the astronomers who have worked at or visited Armagh, are much
in demand".
Once again that sly old 'Vulpecula' John McConnell (aka 9929 McConnell) had a
hand in the process - well done John!
The award is richly deserved, as Pat has devoted almost all his private life,
and a large part of his working life, to astronomy, and there's very little
that he doesn't know about great astronomers, both Irish and others!
I spent many enjoyable & rewarding nights with Pat, and the other Pat '2602
Moore' (now sir Pat, of course!) at the 10" Grubb refractor at Armagh
Observatory.
2. Venus is now slowly creeping out from the Sun, low down in the NW in the
evening twilight. Look about 30 degrees (a bit more than the length of the
'Plough' which is 25 deg) below and well right of Saturn on 30 May; that distance
decreases gradually, reaching about 25 degrees by 3 June. If you can't spot it
easily, look out for it on 8 June, when it will lie about 5 deg below right
of a nice young thin crescent Moon.
3. Meanwhile Mars is brightening rapidly in the morning sky, and it also has
a close pass by the Moon, in this case a thick waning crescent, on the morning
of 31 May: look low down in the East at about 03.30 BST, just over 3 deg
above and left of the Moon. Mars will be magnitude 0.5, a bit brighter than
Antares, which will be low down in the SSW at that time.
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
Hi all,
I've just heard from Prof Alan Fitzsimmons at QUB that in fact two other
local astronomers were also honoured by the IAU with asteroid names: Dr Apostolis
(Tolis) Christou at Armagh Observatory, and Dr Stephen Lowry at QUB.
Congratulations to them both (and also to my informant.....)
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
aol.com Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 20:17:14 EDT Subject: Asteroid Corvan, Venus, Mars Hi all, 1. I'm absolutely delighted to be able to tell you that my old friend & observing colleague Pat Corvan, just retired from Armagh Planetarium where I'm sure many of you met him, has been honoured by the IAU with the naming of an asteroid after him. The citation reads: "(8515) Corvan = 1991 RJ. Discovered 1991 Sept. 4 by R. H. McNaught at Siding Spring. Patrick G. Corvan (b. 1940) has links with Armagh Observatory dating back to his schooldays. He is an avid observer whose enthusiasm for astronomy is readily communicated to others. His book and slide collections, as well as stories about the astronomers who have worked at or visited Armagh, are much in demand". Once again that sly old 'Vulpecula' John McConnell (aka 9929 McConnell) had a hand in the process - well done John! The award is richly deserved, as Pat has devoted almost all his private life, and a large part of his working life, to astronomy, and there's very little that he doesn't know about great astronomers, both Irish and others! I spent many enjoyable & rewarding nights with Pat, and the other Pat '2602 Moore' (now sir Pat, of course!) at the 10" Grubb refractor at Armagh Observatory. 2. Venus is now slowly creeping out from the Sun, low down in the NW in the evening twilight. Look about 30 degrees (a bit more than the length of the 'Plough' which is 25 deg) below and well right of Saturn on 30 May; that distance decreases gradually, reaching about 25 degrees by 3 June. If you can't spot it easily, look out for it on 8 June, when it will lie about 5 deg below right of a nice young thin crescent Moon. 3. Meanwhile Mars is brightening rapidly in the morning sky, and it also has a close pass by the Moon, in this case a thick waning crescent, on the morning of 31 May: look low down in the East at about 03.30 BST, just over 3 deg above and left of the Moon. Mars will be magnitude 0.5, a bit brighter than Antares, which will be low down in the SSW at that time. Clear Skies, Terry Moseley Hi all, I've just heard from Prof Alan Fitzsimmons at QUB that in fact two other local astronomers were also honoured by the IAU with asteroid names: Dr Apostolis (Tolis) Christou at Armagh Observatory, and Dr Stephen Lowry at QUB. Congratulations to them both (and also to my informant.....) Clear Skies, Terry Moseley
