Spectroscopy is a technique used to measure the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation and includes the visible light which radiates from stars and hot celestial objects.

This talk explains the terms used in astro-spectroscopy and examines how, using blue spruce maids technology now available to the amateur astronomer, scientific measurements of a star’s type, temperature and chemical composition can be made.

The equipment and computer software required to carry out spectroscopy on stars is examined and an example of the process of turning a processed spectrum image into useful calibrated scientific data is explained.

Dr David Lisk is a keen amateur astronomer and a retired Head of Informatics and Technology at a Higher Education college, where he lectured in Applied Science. 

Doors open about 7.15pm. There is free parking available on the campus in the evenings. Admission Free, including light refreshments. We are located in the Bell Theatre, Department of Mathematics and Physics, QUB – details here……

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is due for launch in October of next year on an Ariane V rocket. With much more light gathering power than Hubble, and the ability to operate well into the infrared, it will explore such topics as the re-ionization of the Universe, the formation of galaxies at very high redshifts, the birth of stars and planets, and exoplanet atmospheres.

After giving an overview of JWST's main instruments, and the type of science they are capable of, Prof Ray will concentrate in particular on what they can tell us about the first million years in the lifetime of a star like our Sun.  

Prof Tom Ray is a Professor at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies

Our speaker at this meeting is Dr Sophie Murray, currently a Research Fellow at TCD where she works on Space Weather projects within the Astrophysics Research Group. She has previously worked with the Met Office on Solar Physics and Thermospheric Modelling projects.

Dr Murray has over ten years experience as a research scientist, analysing and visualising large volumes of satellite data, and developing and verifying modelling techniques. Her current research interests range from solar flares and active regions to the impact of space weather on the Earth's upper atmosphere.

Space weather describes the changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space. Severe space weather events in the form of solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and solar energetic particle events, have the potential to severely affect a range of vital technologies. It is thus crucial to improve our scientific understanding of solar storms and the Sun-Earth connection in order to provide accurate forecasts of severe events.

The Perseid Meteor shower is caused by the Earth passing through the debris trail of Comet 109P Swift-Tuttle which orbits the Sun with a 130 year period. The meteors hit the Earth's atmosphere comparitively fast, aprroximately 35 miles/sec or 120,000 mph and burn up at a height of around 50 miles. 

Our traditional Perseid barbeque and Observing will be held at our observing site at Delamont Country Park.

We have chosen Saturday 12th August as offering the best weather prospects, though the Moonrise at 11:02pm will compromse viewing somewaht, the brighter meteors should still be visible.

Bring your own Barbeque, food and drink, regrettably Terry and his famous Barbie are not available this year.

Meet at 8:00pm for the Barbeque with observing from 10:30pm onwards.