Lots to see in the Sky in May!
IAA Zoom Lecture – Weds 28th April 19:30 – Prof Alan Fitzsimmons
“Meteorites – Revealing the history and evolution of our Solar system.”
Abstract:
The recent fall of the Winchcombe meteorite reminded everyone that meteors and meteorites are exciting to see. Studies of meteorites have revealed the history of our Solar system, while telescopic studies have helped understand their sources.
Combined, they have shown us evolutionary processes currently happening to asteroids. In this talk I will describe the main types of meteorite, and how they allow us to date the origin of our Solar system.
I will show how telescopic studies have revealed their origins, and how scientists have uncovered processes affecting them today. I will conclude with a brief discussion of the current golden age of asteroid exploration – the source of most meteorites – and mysteries still to be solved.
Alan Fitzsimmons is a Professor in the Astrophysics Research Centre in QUB, and a renowned expert on all the small solar system bodies: comets, asteroids, dwarf planets, moons, EKBOs etc. He has given us so many excellent lectures that I’ve lost count, and this one promises to be just the same.
Paul Evans is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Prof Alan Fitzsimmons
Time: Apr 28, 2021 07:15 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81554740686?pwd=dkc2THEwYzlvODFEOEhCRnBnTHZ6UT09
Meeting ID: 815 5474 0686
Passcode: 932867
The room will open around 19:15 to allow for a prompt start
This talk will also be Simulcast on our YouTube Channel
The Sky in April 2021 with International Dark Sky Week
IAA Zoom Lecture Weds 31st March – Brian harvey
China: Moon, Mars and Space Station
Synopsis:
This presentation tells the story of China’s space programme from 1956 and how it became a space superpower this century. China has astonished the world by landing a rover on the far side of the moon. Its probe Tianwen is now orbiting and preparing to land on Mars and China’s space station, Tianhe, will be launched next month. The presentation looks at the past, present and future of China in space and its ambitions for human and solar system exploration.
Bio:
Brian Harvey is a writer and broadcaster on spaceflight. His first book was Race into space – the Soviet space programme. His books and book chapters have been translated into Russian, Chinese and Korean. He wrote China in space – the great leap (2nd, edition, Springer-Paxis, 2019), now in publication in Chinese. In the course of the research, he met China’s first space man, Yang Liwei and first space woman, Liu Yang. His next project, due for publication this summer, is European-Russian cooperation in space – from de Gaulle to ExoMars.
Paul Evans is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Brian Harvey
Time: Mar 31, 2021 07:15 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86243362542?pwd=NW1PbjdLb3B1Qm4vSnBtTldBNmJ2Zz09
Meeting ID: 862 4336 2542
Passcode: 391881
The room will open around 19:15 to allow for a prompt start
This talk will also be Simulcast on our YouTube Channel
IAA ZOOM LECTURE -WEDS 17TH MARCH – JOHN FLANNERY
Here’s a list of URLs provided by John during the talk
www.messier.seds.org – extensive biography of Messier along with detailed information about the catalogue entries
www.astropixels.com/messier/messiercat.html — Fred Espenak’s site with very useful seasonal charts
www.coaa.co.uk/software_ astronomy.htm — MessMara software
IAA Zoom Lecture -Weds 17th March – John Flannery
“Charles Messier: His Life and his Legacy”
Synopsis:
Two hundred and fifty years ago this year the French astronomer Charles Messier (1730-1817) submitted the first draft of a catalogue that would guarantee him lasting fame. Now recognised as a list of the sky’s showpiece objects, it contains highlights such as the Great Nebula in Orion (designated M42); the Andromeda Galaxy (M31); and the beautiful Pleiades star cluster (M45).
Tonight’s talk by Irish Astronomical Society member John Flannery will tell a little about the life of Charles Messier, how his catalogue came into being, and its importance in astronomy.
Bio:
John is editor of the IAS quarterly journal and is active in astronomy outreach. His main interests as an amateur astronomer are the sky lore of world cultures; binocular observing; and astronomical history.
Paul Evans is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: John Flannery
Time: Mar 17, 2021 07:15 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83793251894?pwd=NWJwREVucEhnTjBYM3c4RXNZOGVjUT09
Meeting ID: 837 9325 1894
Passcode: 960033
The room will open around 19:15 to allow for a prompt start
This talk will also be Simulcast on our YouTube Channel
IAA ZOOM LECTURE WEDS 3RD MARCH 7:30PM – KEVIN NOLAN
Title: Mars, the Search for Origins.
IAA Zoom Lecture Weds 3rd March 7:30pm – Kevin Nolan
Title: Mars, the Search for Origins.
Abstract:
Mars shared an early history not dissimilar to Earth, and so the origin of life there is considered plausible. This talk looks at the history of our engagement with Mars; and examines the present day multi-decadal robotic exploration campaign to characterise the planet and what it has to reveal about life origins processes.
The reasoning for exploring the planet are considered, and the resulting scientific priorities, mission and instrument characteristics outlined. Finally, key results to date are presented, what they reveal about the planet and how they will shape the next missions there.
Biography:
Kevin Nolan is a lecturer in physics at TU Dublin, Tallaght campus. Having returned to academia from industry, Kevin is also working on a part-time PhD under Dr. Niall Smith, Head of Research at CIT. The project originally involved developing a software pipeline for the ESA Integral / OMC camera in association with Prof. Lorraine Hanlon, UCD; and now involves the data analysis of AGN photometric data derived from the mission.
Kevin is also involved in science outreach and has been a Volunteer for The Planetary Society (founder Carl Sagan) since 1998. In 2008 Kevin had a popular science book published titled “Mars, a Cosmic Stepping Stone” examining the motivations for the robotic exploration of the planet Mars. Kevin also makes frequent contributions to Astronomy Ireland magazine, The Irish Times and RTE in the areas of space science and exploration.
Paul Evans is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Dr Kevin Nolan
Time: Mar 3, 2021 07:15 PM London
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85075031888?pwd=ZDA2WWxBcWVaV0pldXAvVnRURW9SQT09
Meeting ID: 850 7503 1888
Passcode: 771101
The room will open around 19:15 to allow for a prompt start
This talk will also be Simulcast on our YouTube Channel
The Messier Marathon
This is an ideal time of year to see many of the Messier Catalogue in a single night. Paul Evans has produced a guide and simulation as to how one might go about this. From lover latitudes it is indeed possible to see all 110 objects in one moonless clear night, however a few are too low to see from Ireland.