From: TerryMoselaol.com
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 17:50:55 EST
Subject: Fireballs, ISS, Mars watch, Calendars, NEO's on the OU
Hi all,
1. FIREBALLS: There are many reports from various parts of the world of some
very bright fireballs, which seem to be part of the Taurid meteor complex.
Dr David Asher of Armgah Observatory predicted several years ago that we
would see very bright Taurid fireballs in late October & the first half of
November in 2005, and it seems to be happening! They are not frequent, and indeed
the ordinary Taurid meteors themselves are not a particularly rich shower, but
there is certainly a higher incidence of really bright fireballs than usual,
at the present time. The radiant lies roughly between the Pleiades and the
Hyades. If you see any, let me know.
2. The ISS is now starting another series of evening passes over Ireland.
Details from the excellent www.heavens-above.com.
3. Another reminder about the IAA Mars Watches this W/E, on Friday &
saturday nights, if clear, at the lower car park, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum,
Cultra, Holywood, Co Down, starting at 8 p.m. Admission free. I''ll be away
(see below), so check the IAA website www.irishastronomicalassociation.com for latest details
4. If you're thinking of buying a calendar for an Xmas prezzie, be aware of
the following:
A. There's a very nice looking calendar called "Moons", by a photographer
called Judd. Just be aware that all, or almost all, of the photos are faked!
Faked in the sense that there's a telephoto shot of the moon superimposed on a
nice landscape shot. You can have great fun spotting the inconsistencies (moon
lit from one side, landscape lit from the other, for example!), but buy it
only if you like the pretty pics.
B. The National Geographic Calendar called "Galaxies" features, wait for it
- NO shots of galaxies, but 12 shots of Solar System objects! Some of them are
old hat, or a least well-known, such as a shot of Hale-Bopp. You would spot
that for yourself if buying it in a shop, but not if you were getting it by
mail-order.
5. The Material World, Radio 4: Live Recording in the Berrill Lecture
Theatre on NEO's
On Tuesday 22nd November, Radio 4's The Material World programme is to be
recorded in the Berrill Lecture Theatre on the OU campus, as part of a series
of programmes produced jointly by the Open Broadcasting Unit and BBC Radio
Science Unit, linked with the forthcoming OU S250 Science in Context course.
This programme will be on Near-Earth objects - just how worried ought we to
be about the potential hazard that comets and asteroids which have passed
close to the Earth may pose to life on Earth? The probability of any such
impact occurring in our lifetime is low but how should scientists and society at
large respond to what is still a potentially catastrophic hazard? What have
the scientists learnt from evidence of previous impacts that may help us in
the future?
Quentin Cooper will be chairing a panel and taking questions from a live
audience. The panellists are Professors Simon Kelly and John Zarneki of the OU's
Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute; and Benny Peiser who is an
expert on the social implications of Near-Earth Objects at Liverpool John
Moores University.
Recording with start at 2.00 pm, audience members are asked to be there at
1.30 pm. If you are interested in a FREE ticket for the event please e-mail
the programme at Material.Worldbbc.co.uk, with
TICKET in the title. The programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4
on Thursday 6th January 2006 at 4.30pm.
For more information about this and other programmes produced by The Open
University go to www.open2.net.
..............................................................................
......................................................
I'm off to Turkey for a few days to check out observing locations for the
IFAS eclipse trip next March, so I won't be replying to any emails before next
Wednesday.
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
aol.com Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2005 17:50:55 EST Subject: Fireballs, ISS, Mars watch, Calendars, NEO's on the OU Hi all, 1. FIREBALLS: There are many reports from various parts of the world of some very bright fireballs, which seem to be part of the Taurid meteor complex. Dr David Asher of Armgah Observatory predicted several years ago that we would see very bright Taurid fireballs in late October & the first half of November in 2005, and it seems to be happening! They are not frequent, and indeed the ordinary Taurid meteors themselves are not a particularly rich shower, but there is certainly a higher incidence of really bright fireballs than usual, at the present time. The radiant lies roughly between the Pleiades and the Hyades. If you see any, let me know. 2. The ISS is now starting another series of evening passes over Ireland. Details from the excellent www.heavens-above.com. 3. Another reminder about the IAA Mars Watches this W/E, on Friday & saturday nights, if clear, at the lower car park, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, Cultra, Holywood, Co Down, starting at 8 p.m. Admission free. I''ll be away (see below), so check the IAA website www.irishastronomicalassociation.com for latest details 4. If you're thinking of buying a calendar for an Xmas prezzie, be aware of the following: A. There's a very nice looking calendar called "Moons", by a photographer called Judd. Just be aware that all, or almost all, of the photos are faked! Faked in the sense that there's a telephoto shot of the moon superimposed on a nice landscape shot. You can have great fun spotting the inconsistencies (moon lit from one side, landscape lit from the other, for example!), but buy it only if you like the pretty pics. B. The National Geographic Calendar called "Galaxies" features, wait for it - NO shots of galaxies, but 12 shots of Solar System objects! Some of them are old hat, or a least well-known, such as a shot of Hale-Bopp. You would spot that for yourself if buying it in a shop, but not if you were getting it by mail-order. 5. The Material World, Radio 4: Live Recording in the Berrill Lecture Theatre on NEO's On Tuesday 22nd November, Radio 4's The Material World programme is to be recorded in the Berrill Lecture Theatre on the OU campus, as part of a series of programmes produced jointly by the Open Broadcasting Unit and BBC Radio Science Unit, linked with the forthcoming OU S250 Science in Context course. This programme will be on Near-Earth objects - just how worried ought we to be about the potential hazard that comets and asteroids which have passed close to the Earth may pose to life on Earth? The probability of any such impact occurring in our lifetime is low but how should scientists and society at large respond to what is still a potentially catastrophic hazard? What have the scientists learnt from evidence of previous impacts that may help us in the future? Quentin Cooper will be chairing a panel and taking questions from a live audience. The panellists are Professors Simon Kelly and John Zarneki of the OU's Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute; and Benny Peiser who is an expert on the social implications of Near-Earth Objects at Liverpool John Moores University. Recording with start at 2.00 pm, audience members are asked to be there at 1.30 pm. If you are interested in a FREE ticket for the event please e-mail the programme at Material.World
