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Astronomy Wise
CONTENTS 4
Editor’s Notes
Venus
21
6
Solar Explorer
AstroCamp
29
13
Solar Facts and Figures
Awesome Astronomy
38
14
When Stars go BANG!
The Southern Crosses
40
18
Availability of Astronomy
John Harper’s Sky at Night
44
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Credit - NASA A small coronal mass
Please click the image
ejection blown from
on the right.
the Sun over 10 hours on the 4th/5th of December last year.
FROM THE EDITOR As a young astronomer I always wonder what potential there is for humanity outside of our cocoon, Earth. However,
Art & Design Design Leader - Edward Dutton Design Team - Edward Dutton, Robert Watson, Glen Wheeler
my main concern is whether or not it will happen in my lifetime. From recent advancement into the darkness, hu-
Editorial Correspondence E-mail: designteam @astronomy wise.com.
manity has really proven what is available and what can be achieved using the new technology and research we collect. This month’s magazine focuses on the community. With two new young writers Liam and Gillian providing their thoughts on Astronomy and how we are educated about science in our society. I feel there is lack of enthusiasm in the fields of
Editorial Editor in Cheif - David Bood Senior Editors - Edward Dutton Imagery Editor - Edward Dutton Writers - Joolz Wright, Liam Edwards, Julian Onions, Andy Devey, Gillian Mallaney, Neville Young, John Harper, Ralph Wilkins
Edward Dutton
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science education. I started my learning in the sciences with design on the frontier. It was soon after my schooling that I thought some topics became boring. My career path veered into somewhere different and I have ended on a path very different to where I set out. Education is a difficult topic. If to research it and learn. With available support, dedication and opportunity it is possible to follow your dreams and achieve what you set out to achieve.
this month’s magazine and are looking forward to the release of our new website on July 1st 2013.
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Astronomy Wise
Wise
my
I hope you all enjoy reading
o on str
you enjoy it, you’re more likely
Astronauts Carl J. Meade and Mark C. Lee test the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue. Credit - NASA
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THE SOLAR EXPLORER
By Andy Devey
Solar cycle No.24 is proving to be very different to the predictions? The start of 2013 was expected to be the peak of solar
very similar in character to solar cycle No.14. NASA
maximum but up to the beginning of May the Sun has
Science released a short video about this current solar
been very quiet causing a dip in solar activity. This so-
cycle in March 2013.
lar maximum is looking like it could be double peaked
May 2013 has shown an uplift in sunspot numbers
with the northern solar hemisphere peaking in 2011
and also yielded the first X-class solar flares for 2013
while the last few weeks appear to have confirmed
bursting forth from AR1748 in the week commencing
that the southern hemisphere is about to peak shortly.
13 May 2013. This started with an X1.7, an X2.8 fol-
This is the weakest solar cycle for a hundred years and
lowed by an X3.2 on May 13, and then an X1.2 on May 15. The region then went on to produce an M3.2-class flare on 17 May that I was able to capture between 09:02 and 09:55UT to make a movie of the event with my PST while I was hand tracking on an alt-azimuth mount. John Stetson of Maine USA was able to capture the
A comparison of the last three solar cycles. Credit - WUWT solar reference page.
X2.8-class event his excellent images are included below. I was able to get a short look at it with my PST through lots of clouds but had no chance of imaging it – sods law! I am not aware of any Moreton shock waves being detected from this event. I was able to capture one such event on 4 March 2012 triggered by an M2.2-class solar flare. When large flares release their energy close to the solar limbs it is possible on occasions to see the development and plasma flows in huge coronal loop structures. Here is an example that I captured on the 20 May 2013 associated with an M1.7-class solar flare.
This is the NOAA/SWPC Boulder Colorado plot of solar cycle No.24 to April 2013. Credit - NOAA/SWPC
Credit - John Stetson
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Astronomy Wise
The capture of an X-class solar flare has been a long
Here is a summary of the X-class solar flares for cycle
time goal that I have. Thus far there have been a
No 24 [updated 21 May 2013] with the largest being at
total of 19 during this current solar cycle and we are
the top of the list.
already half way through it? To capture such an event there needs to be an active region [AR] on the earth facing side of the Sun that has a Delta-class magnetic field [checking the spaceweather.com site will confirm this]. The Sun needs to be up in your part of the world and your equipment needs to be set up with a favourable clear sky conditions. These events only last for a brief period of time and so the probability of catching one remains fairly low even though I have moved to southern Spain where there are long sunny days and lower incidence of cloud cover. I have spent hundreds of hours on delta-class active regions but no luck as yet my largest was the loops from an M7.7 and the flare from an M6.7 event! The largest solar flares are often referred to as super-flares with an X-ray classification above X10 and there have been no such events during this present solar cycle! By participating in solar astronomy you have a unique opportunity to capture and record a fleeting and possibly spectacular solar event, so remember – orientate your image correctly and record its date/time and then you will have so much more than just a great photo! If you are considering buying a H-alpha telescope then don’t delay now is the time to buy! Just beware as this type of astronomy is extremely addictive and could easily set you off on a spending spree in pursuit of ever greater aperture and ever narrower band widths and so try to stick to your budget!
Here is my capture sequence of my first solar shock-
Have fun with our Sun and enjoy the solar spectacle.
wave. The GONG network captured a stunning solar shockwave associated with an X6.5-class solar flare on 6 December 2006 from 18:43 to 18:51UT. Click here to see the video.
To read more about our Sun please visit:
http://thesolarexplorer.net/
Astronomy Wise
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The first still from Andy Devey’s eastern limb sequence of these loops on the 20 May 2013 at 08:01UT. Click here to watch this spectacular event. 8
Astronomy Wise
A Brief History of Solar Astronomy – Part 3 By Andy Devey
In 1910 British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington suggested the existence of the solar wind, without naming it, in a footnote to his article on Comet Morehouse he postulated that the ejected material consisted of electrons while in his study of this comet he supposed them to be ions. In 1919, Frederick Lindemann also suggested that particles of both polarities, protons as well as electrons, come from the Sun. Eugene Parker realised that the heat flowing from the Sun in Chapman’s model and the comet tail blowing away from the Sun in Biermann’s hypothesis had to be the result of the same phenomenon, which he termed the “solar wind”. In 1929 - Robert d’Escourt Atkinson and Fritz Houtermans used the measured masses of low-mass elements and applied Einstein’s discovery [1905] that E=mc2 to predict that large amounts of energy could be released by fusing small nuclei together. Hans Bethe’s work in 1939 showed how nuclear fusion powers the stars – the source of the Sun’s energy was finally proven. Bethe won the 1967 Nobel Prize for physics for this work. James Stanley Hey laid the basis for the development of radio astronomy while working on radar technology for astronomical research. In 1942 he discovered that the Sun radiates radio waves and also localized for the first time an extragalactic radio source in the constellation Cygnus. In 1942 Hannes Alfvén suggests the existence of electromagnetic-hydromagnetic waves in a paper published in Nature. Alfvén waves in plasma are a low-frequency travelling oscillation of the ions and the Sun’s magnetic field.
Herbert Friedman an American pioneer in the application of sounding rockets (an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight) to solar physics and was the first to detect solar X-rays in 1949. Horace W. Babcock invented and built a number of astronomical instruments, and in 1953 was the first to propose the idea of adaptive optics. He specialized in spectroscopy and the study of magnetic fields of stars. He proposed the Babcock Model, a theory for the magnetism of sunspots and in 1961 he proposed the magnetic cooling of sunspots theory. In January 1959, the Soviet satellite Luna 1 first directly observed the solar wind and measured its strength. Gail Moreton was using time lapse photography at the Lockheed Solar Observatory when he spotted the chromospheric signature of a large-scale coronal shock wave in 1959. These shockwaves now bear his surname. In 1960 Robert Leighton, Robert Noyes and George Simon discover five-minute oscillations by observing the Doppler shifts of dark lines and they published in 1962. In 1970 Roger K. Ulrich, John Leibacher and Robert F. Stein deduce from theoretical solar models that the interior of the Sun could act as resonant acoustic activity. The solar oscillations can be observed on the surface of the Sun and can now be used to make precise measurements of the characteristics of the interior of the Sun. These two factors represent the birth of Helioseismology. R Tousey made the first detection of a CME on 14 December 1971, using the Seventh Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO-7). Initially it was thought that the camera may have failed but the next image showed that the brighter area had moved away from the Sun.
Astronomy Wise
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Ken Huggett, founded Solarscope Ltd on the Isle
corona.
of Man in 1973 his company uses Laser optics, and specifically for the manufacture of high quality planar
In 1981 NASA retrieves data from 1978 that shows a
air-spaced, confocal, solid and tuneable Fabry-Perot
comet diving into the Sun.
etalon instrumentation. : The Fabry-Perot interferom-
In 1990, the Ulysses probe was launched to study the
eter consists of two parallel flat semi-transparent mir-
solar wind from high solar latitudes. All prior obser-
rors separated by a fixed distance. This arrangement
vations had been made at or near the Solar System’s
is called an etalon, was designed by Charles Fabry and
ecliptic plane.
Albert Perot in 1897. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) was Skylab was launched on 14 May 1973 it was the U.S.’s
launched on December 2, 1995 to study the Sun with
first space station launched and operated by NASA
its 10 instruments and it has discovered over 2400
it orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979. Numerous
comets to date. It began normal operations in May
scientific experiments were conducted aboard Skylab
1996. This joint project between the European Space
during its operational life, and crews were using an
Agency (ESA) and NASA was originally planned as a
X-ray telescope and were able to confirm the existence
two-year mission, SOHO currently continues to oper-
of coronal holes on the Sun [areas where the Sun’s
ate after over seventeen years in space and in Novem-
corona – its outer atmosphere is darker, and colder,
ber 2012, a mission extension lasting until December
and has lower-density plasma than average].
2014 was approved.
Del Woods founded the DayStar Filter Company in
In the late 1990s the Ultraviolet Coronal Spectrome-
February 1975. DayStar developed several series of
ter (UVCS) instrument on board the SOHO spacecraft
specialized filters for visual and imaging applications
observed the acceleration region of the fast solar wind
that became included in most professional solar ob-
emanating from the poles of the Sun, and found that
servatories and those of amateurs.
the wind accelerates much faster than can be account-
The first accurate measurement of the period of hori-
ed for by thermodynamic expansion alone.
zontal wavelength of the five-minute solar oscillations was made by Franz-Ludwig Deubner in 1975.
David Lunt developed Coronado Filters in 1997; Later
The Solar Maximum Mission satellite (SMM) was de-
Coronado filters were responsible for launching the
signed to investigate solar phenomena and in particu-
PST [Personal Solar Telescope] in 2004 an introductory
larly solar flares. It was launched on February 14, 1980
H-Alpha telescope that has massively increased the
and it was notable in that its useful life compared with
numbers of amateur solar astronomers viewing in
other similar spacecraft. It was intercepted and main-
the hydrogen-alpha wavelength. Meade Instruments
tained on the Space Shuttle Challanger in 1984, and in
purchased the company in 2005.
the shuttle’s payload bay the satellite received maintenance and repairs. The Solar Maximum Mission ended
The TRACE (Transition Region and Coronal Explorer)
on December 2, 1989, when the spacecraft re-entered
satellite was launched in April 1998 to allow joint ob-
the Earth’s atmosphere and burned up.
servations with SOHO during the rising phase of the solar cycle to sunspot maximum. No transition region
The term heliophysics was first coined in 1981 to
or coronal imager had witnessed the onset and rise
denote the physics of the entire Sun: from centre to
of a solar cycle to image the solar corona and transi-
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Astronomy Wise
tion region at high angular and temporal resolution.
ful in recorded observational history. The associated
The TRACE mission obtained its last science image on
coronal mass ejection (CME) came out of the Sun’s
2010/06/21 23:56 UT it was replaced by the newer SDO
surface at about 2300 kilometres per second (8.2 mil-
mission.
lion km/h). Only part of the CME was directed towards Earth, since the source region was on the right on the
The massive solar X-ray flare that occurred on Tuesday
limb of the Sun as seen from Earth.
4 November 2003 at the best estimate was an X28. This flare saturated the X-ray detectors on several
On 25 October 2006, NASA launched STEREO, these
monitoring satellites. This remains the most power-
are two near-identical spacecraft which from widely separated points in their orbits are able to produce the first stereoscopic images and measurements of CMEs and other solar activity. They orbit the Sun at distances similar to that of the Earth, with one slightly ahead of Earth and the other trailing. Their separation gradually increased so that four years after launch they were almost diametrically opposite each other in orbit. Andrew Lunt, David Lunt’s son founded Lunt Solar Systems in 2008. They are based at Tucson Arizona and manufacture a huge range of dedicated solar telescopes, solar filters and accessories from 35mm to 230mm in diameter. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) was launched on 11 February 2010 and came into operation in the spring of that year. It has 10 instruments to observe the Sun in exquisite detail. It is currently planned as a 5-year mission. There are so many discoveries that have led to our greater understanding of the Sun and so the decision has to be made as what to include and what to leave out. Those above and in the last two issues have been my personal choice but this article is by no means exhaustive on this subject and should be considered only as a framework for further research.
Blue (171 Angstroms) full disk image: The Sun’s million degree atmosphere taken on Dec. 4 by STEREO’s SECCHI/EUVI telescope. Credit - NASA
Have fun delving into those archives and enjoy our Sun!
To read more about our Sun please visit:
http://thesolarexplorer.net/
Astronomy Wise
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Astronomy Wise
Sun Facts & Figures
outermost region of the sun. 30%
gresses, the number of sunspots
of the radius.
increases and move towards the
Above the surface of the sun is it’s
equator. Sunspots usually occur
By Gillian Mallaney
‘atmosphere’.
in pairs with opposite magnetic
•
polarity.
The Photosphere- The
Our Sun, Sol, is a small star at the
innermost part of the suns atmos-
centre of the Solar System that is
phere and the only part we can see
Sol, our sun is a main sequence
only 8 light minutes away from
from Earth.
star and becomes 10% hotter every
Earth. It is an almost perfectly
•
billion years. In two to three billion
spherical object made of hot plas-
tween the photosphere and the co-
years, Earth’s oceans will evaporate
ma and interwoven by magnetic
rona. Hotter than the photosphere.
and cause a runway greenhouse
fields. To comprehend just how
•
effect, similar to Venus. The Sun
big the Sun is; it has a diameter
layer and the hottest. Extends sev-
is destined to become a red giant
of 1,392,684 km, 109 times that of
eral million miles from the chromo-
that will swell and engulf almost
Earth.
sphere.
all of the inner planets. A red giant
Chromosphere – In-be-
Corona – The outermost
is a star that cools and expands. The Sun formed about 4.6 million
The most recognisable feature on
It will become so large that it will
years ago and is currently middle
the sun is the sunspots which ap-
begin to destroy the Earth as we
aged, just like our Earth. It formed
pear to us as a significantly darker
know it.
from a gravitational collapse of a
area because of the difference in
region within a large molecular
temperature; the sunspot being
The Sun will eventually die out
cloud. The Suns Stellar Classifi-
a lower temperature. Magnetic
because it does not have enough
cation based on Spectral Class is
fields are associated with sunspots;
sufficient hydrogen reserves to
a G2V indicating that the surface
where there is intense magnetic
burn indefinitely. A white hot dwarf
temperature is around 5778K
activity it reduces energy trans-
will form from the remaining core
(5505°C) which shows that it is a
port from the hot interior to the
of the sun which will produce very
gas because no liquid or solid ma-
surface. Sunspots alter and vary
little light and heat.
terials can continue to exist in this
consistently over an 11 year period
For the remaining planets it will be
temperature.
known as the solar cycle. At solar
cold and dark and will never see
minimum, few sunspots are visible,
Sols light again.
The sun is composed of a variety
occasionally none. As the cycle pro-
of gases. Although the sun has no solid surface it still has a defined structure. The three interior structures of the Earth are: •
Core – Centre of the Sun
and 25% of its radius. •
Radiative Zone – Immedi-
ately surrounding the core. 45% of the radius. •
Convective Zone – The
On the 31st of August 2012, a giant prominence on the sun erupted. Credit - NASA / Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)
Astronomy Wise
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Top Image: Before and after galaxies showing how bright supernovae are. Credit - NASA Graph: Type II-p and II-l light curves over time. Credit - Paul Smith via Wikipedia
When Stars Go BANG!
galaxy types and a number of other cases
By Julian Onions
downright confusing.
all of which made sense once, but now with more knowledge are either less useful or
I mentioned briefly last time what happens when stars die, mentioning in passing that
So supernovas were first classified by their
big stars often go off with a bang. The sub-
spectral signature. There were type I super-
ject here though is the detail of what hap-
novae, which show no signs of hydrogen
pens when stars of with a bang.
in the spectrum, and type II which show hydrogen. So OK - that sounds fair enough
Firstly, the scale of these explosions are
so far, you’d expect hydrogen generally, it’s
quite staggering. A star going supernova in
the most commonest thing around, so it is a
our galaxy will be quite a sight, and there
reasonable thing to split on.
are several good candidates locally - Be-
“The star collapses inwards at a huge rate, a good fraction of the speed of light in fact.”
telgeuse in Orion being a prime example.
Next there were different sorts of lines that
Supernovas tend to go off about once every
were apparent in type 1 supernovae spectra.
100 years per galaxy, and we haven’t had a
Type 1a shows a line indicating the element
local one since 1604 (Kepler’s supernova),
silicon is involved, type 1b has a helium
and before that there were well observed
signature, and type 1c doesn’t show much of
ones in 1572, 1181, 1054, and 1006 - so we
either.
are well overdue for one. If it happens it may Type II’s started to break ranks too. There are type IIp’s which explode and then have a plateau in their light signature where the brightness fades, then stays the same for a while, before ultimately fading again. The type II-l has a linear decay (sort of constant de-lighting so to speak) in contrast. The type IIn shows narrow lines in the spectrum, and the type II-b starts off like the others but looks like a type I-b after a while. well be visible during the day, competing with the Sun. When we see them go off in
Confused yet?
nearby galaxies they are often brighter than the entire galaxy of 10 billion stars or more, for a short time. First, there are 5 - or possibly 6, or maybe more, types of supernova. With a lot of astronomy we are stuck with history, annoyingly so in a lot of cases. I could go off on one about magnitudes, stellar classification,
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Astronomy Wise
Well if you’re not confused yet, then let me throw another confounding thing into the
than generated. Firstly lots of intense light is generated that splits up a lot of the heavy elements built up so far back into helium and hydrogen. The core collapses, com-
Top Image: Artists impression of a Supernova. Credit - NASA
pressed by all this infalling material, getting squashed into huge density. Such a force actually pushes electrons into protons, turning them into neutrons, and so making a neutron star at the centre. This produces a huge number of neutrinos, those ghostly parti-
Bottom Image: Crab nebula the remains of supernova that went off in 1054. Credit - NASA
cles that hardly ever deign to interact with normal matter. However SO many neutrinos are made (maybe 1058 - yes that IS 1 with 58 0’s after it) that even though they hardly ever interact with normal matter - with that number present they have an effect pushing out material. The material then “bounces” off this solid core, exploding outward running into the mix. All the above types have basically the
gas that has started to fall in with a mighty
same cause, except for the type I-a. All the
collision. They tussle it out for a while, but
others, the type I-b and type I-c and all the type II’s are caused by a giant star collapsing at the end of its life. These are massive stars, in hydrostatic equilibrium as it’s known. This means that the star wants to collapse due to its gravity, but also wants to expand because of the heat produced from fusion. So it settles down to an uneasy equilibrium where the pressure outwards is exactly equal to the force of gravity inwards. Then the fire goes out, and gravity takes over. It takes over with a rush! The star collapses inwards at a huge rate - a good fraction of the speed of light in fact. One second the iron core is maybe the size of the Earth, the next second it is the size of something just slightly bigger than the M25. During this time energy is consumed rather
Astronomy Wise
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Image: Kepler’s Supernova Remnant In Visible, X-Ray and Infrared Light. Credit - NASA
the huge numbers of neutrinos passing
The brightness peaks, and then slowly di-
through heat up the material. Perhaps heat
minishes. Over the subsequent years, a shell
up is the wrong word, they actively fry the
of expanding material can be seen, until it
material which means the outward forces
looks something like that of the image on
now win. There is violent nuclear fusion,
the previous page - the crab nebula.
making new elements by the r-process whereby the newly freed neutrons make up
Although it is the death of the star, it con-
new elements in fractions of a second ( the
tains the seeds of rebirth. Firstly it scatters
r-process - r standing for rapid in contrast to
lots of heavy elements into the nearby envi-
the slow s-process).
ronment, giving the building blocks for rocky planets and life itself. It also send shocks out
“Newly freed neutrons make up new elements in fractions of a second.”
16
Those watching (hopefully from afar!) would
that cause clouds of otherwise stable gas to
see first a blast of neutrinos (provided they
start to collapse forming new stars. They are
had neutrino detectors!) and then a little
also important in regulating the life of galax-
later a blast of light, as the explosion finally
ies as a whole. So - part of the circle of life.
makes its way out from the shrouding outer material.
I skipped over the type 1a supernova - they
There are a lot of short lived highly radioac-
have quite a different process of going off,
tive elements made during this process, and
and one that is extremely useful for astrono-
it’s these that keep the supernova shining
mers - so I’ll defer that to another article.
for several weeks.
Astronomy Wise
*Page Break Text* *Description or annotation of image*
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Schools and Astronomy By Gillian Mallaney Astronomy being introduced in Schools Just think for a minute of where your interest in space came from. Whether it was from a TV show, a film, looking at the night sky or even science class, it developed from somewhere. Space and Astronomy have long been considered an interest of wonder, fear and excitement in the science curriculum, depending on prior knowledge, extent of self-teaching and how it was taught in class, if it was taught to you in class. Osborne and Collins (2000) came to the conclusion in their study of attitudes to science in school that; “The one topic [among the sciences] that generated universal enthusiasm was any study of astronomy”. The results of this study led to the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council to commission Martin Barstow of the University of Leicester to review and report on the use of astronomy in UK schools. With such media outlets as Stargazing Live, presented by Brian Cox, peaking at prime time the levels of interest of astronomy are developing a various ages. GSCE science students can learn about a variety of things including; electromagnetic spectrum, compare and contrasting views of the sun and the milky way in the Royal Observatory’s Colour and wavelengths
Availability of Astronomy By Liam Edwards
Availability of Astronomy to young people Astronomy, as I’m sure you all know, is the study of everything outside of Earth’s atmosphere. All of space is included within this parameter so astronomy is a very widespread branch of physics. However, it has been brought to my attention over the past few years that astronomy is far from accessible to young people. I believe this needs to change.. Firstly I’d like to start off by telling you my story and how I became interested in astronomy. I’ve been an inquisitive and curious soul for all my life, I’ve loved finding out about the world around me and how everything works. As any normal child I wanted to be a lot of things when I grew up. Firstly I wanted to be a palaeontologist and study the long dead remains of dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures. Then I found a love for marine biology after visiting SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida in 2007. I bought loads of books to
in space activity, rotational periods of the sun, planet Earth, the Moon and Sun, the Solar System and Stars and Galaxies. Carl Rutter, a student from Darlington, has a small interest in astronomy but has never been able to pursue his interest through the education system. He says; “I think it’s an important part of the human experience to understand how the universe works and pay more insight into the world beyond your front garden”. Astronomy is a subject that touches up on history, religions and cultures globally as well as moral/ethical issues. The specification to teach Astronomy in the UK has been updated to include the latest news about space, not just the basics. Since 2011, GCSE and astronomy teaching has been supported by the Royal Astronomical Society and numbers of candidates participating in GCSE Astronomy are predicted to
Teaching and learning even happens on the ISS.
exceed 5000 in upcoming years.
Credit - NASA
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Astronomy Wise
Expedition 35 Commander Chris Hadfield (left), Roman Romanenko (center), and Tom Marshburn (right) have all had extense training and education to get to their role the International Space Station. Credit - NASA
do with marine biology – most of them I still have to
there with a telescope (or a pair of binoculars) and do
this day because I still have a hidden passion for the
some stargazing – something that guide books and
field. At the time, physics was my worst subject and
websites don’t tell you to do straight away. When I
biology was my favourite. I absolutely hated physics
was just starting out, I took the risk of buying my first
(especially forces and motion) whereby the most I ever
telescope very early on and without much research
received in a physics test was 46%. However, all of that
done into it. This was a risk that proved to be a very
was to change when one Professor Brian Cox and one
good choice later on as, after my first stargazing
Dara O’Briain presented the first series of Stargazing
session outside in my grandparents’ back garden, I
LIVE on the BBC in January of 2011. From that point
was hooked! Nothing quite beats the feeling you get
onwards I was hooked on astronomy. I bought books,
after a successful night’s stargazing – especially your
DVD’s, apps, notes – anything to do with astronomy
first one. This is a feeling that I think everyone should
just so I could try and satisfy my insatiable thirst for
experience at one point in their lives, preferably early
knowledge. As my knowledge increased I became in-
on in their education because then they’ll be inspired
terested in more areas of physics that I previously had
to pursue a career path into astronomy or physics.
thought impossible to understand and comprehend
Several famous astronomers agree with this point for
such as quantum mechanics and particle physics.
example Neil deGrasse Tyson and the late Carl Sagan.
Whilst I was discovering my passion for astronomy I
However, despite the lack of firsthand experience and
noticed that there wasn’t a lot of firsthand information
knowledge around these days, there are a growing
for people just starting out in astronomy. You could
group of people who wish to destroy the stereotype
buy books and watch videos on the internet etc. and
that astronomy is only available to do if you have
just simply learn them inside out, but that doesn’t
grand 10m telescopes, these are the astronomical
make an ounce of difference until you actually get out
societies. Astronomical societies are a fantastic way
Astronomy Wise
19
to make new friends and to learn more about the
I first saw the rings of Saturn, the Galilean moons of
universe in which we are a part of. There are several
Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, the things I believed were
different astronomical societies and charities scat-
completely out of reach but for only a select group of
tered around the world (the best being Astronomy
people who had a double decker-sized telescope in
Wise - hehe) and they are all united with one common
orbit around the Earth.
goal – to observe the cosmos above our heads. A
So to concur, in order to get astronomy more available
worrying fact about astronomical societies is that they
to younger people, we must first bring these younger
are few and far between. Here in North Wales there is
people through the doors of misconceptions and into
no astronomical society or community which is a real
the realm of reality whereby beautiful and mystical
shame because astronomical societies are probably
things await. With an increased number of amateur
the best places to get inspired and to get involved with
astronomers we can then set our sights on even wider
astronomy because practically everyone in astronomi-
audiences and eventually lift the whole world’s eyes
cal societies started out with the exact same problems
up to the skies and the mysteries that wait to be seen.
as young people just getting into it.
The voice of the astronomical community must be
When people think about astronomy they immediate-
louder in order to extend our horizons and invite more
ly think that you need colossal 10 metre telescopes
people in, there needs to be an increase in physicists
to even see some of the planets in our Solar System.
and scientists alike who have a greater interest in
This is a common misconception that I’ll admit I
providing the public with the necessary information
thought myself before I started out. Then I thought
otherwise people trying to start up in astronomy will
I’d go on various e-commerce sites to see if they had
suffer and their curiosity for the heavens will ultimate-
any telescopes – this was just after Christmas and
ly begin to drain out of their minds due to the lack of
because I didn’t work back then I had a plan of saving
information and inspiration. This is why programmes
up my pocket money and my Christmas money to
like Stargazing LIVE, Horizon, Carl Sagan’s Cosmos
buy a telescope. I genuinely thought I’d have to save
and The Sky at Night are crucial to opening up the
up for months and months before I could afford a
previously mentioned ‘doors of misconception’ up to
decent one, but then I saw one that was only £20 from
the general public. Most importantly young people,
Argos that had a focal length of 360mm and a 50mm
because it’s young people who are the future of this
two elements coated achromatic lens. It was a table-
planet and the role it plays in scientific expansion and
top telescope, a very small one that had 2 eyepieces
space exploration.
(4mm and 20mm). But it was with this telescope that
Not all careers lead to becoming an Astronaut, some advance onto engineering spacecraft such as the Orion. Credit - NASA
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Image Credit - NAS
Venus
Some call it the origin of women and some call it a god who encompassed love and beauty. They say, it’s the closest to our home.
Could We Ever Land On Venus?
By Gillian Mallaney
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Curling up on the sofa bed, with the blinds drawn
ly without the aid of technology or equipment here
and the door closed just enough to let the light from
on Earth, the thick layers of clouds prevent us from
the bathroom enter the room; a little girl grabs the
being able to see her surface. She has the densest
duvet from next to her and opens her Encyclopaedia.
atmosphere of the four inner planets, with a surface
She flicks past everything and slams her hand on the
pressure of 92 times that of Earth. Venus consists
Universe section. With a massive smile on her face,
mainly of a 90-95% Carbon Dioxide atmosphere. This
she spends the next few hours mesmerised, thumbing
gas prevents the heat from the nearby Sun escaping
through pages and pages of facts about planets much
and raise surface temperatures to 735K (462°C, 863°F).
more inferior to her own.
This makes Venus hotter than Mercury and the hottest
I was eight years old when I developed an interest in
planet in the Solar System; even though she is twice
space. Even the Seven Wonders of the World couldn’t
the distance away from the Sun.
hold my interest to this planet. Years later, around the age of 11, I was grounded for two weeks for sneaking
Venus has a very slow rotation, a Venusian Day equals
downstairs in the middle of the night to watch a sci-
out to 243 Earth Days and she orbits the sun in only
ence fantasy television series about a group of astro-
224.65 Earth days. If you could spend the day on
nauts that would spend the rest of their life exploring
Venus, you would most certainly realise that the Sun
the solar system. I cannot recall exact details of what
rises in the East and sets in the West. This is because
the show was about; I can only remember the one
unlike the other planets in the Solar System, Venus
memory of sneaking downstairs, sitting with my back
rotates on its axis in a clockwise fashion. Venus has a
up straight and in front on the television very wide eyed. I just couldn’t wait for this episode to be recorded like all the others because this one was about Venus.
The History of Venus Venus was named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty, is the second planet from the sun and is often called Earths ‘sister’ planet or ‘twin’. The Babylonians named the planet Ishtar, the manifestation of womanhood and Goddess of Love. She also played a key role as a Goddess of War. Although the planets are similar in size, gravity and bulk composition, they are very different in nature. Venus is shrouded by an opaque, yellow tinted, highly toxic layer of sulphuric acid. These clouds are highly reflective and are the reason that Venus can be seen so clearly on Earth. She reaches her maximum brightness shortly before sunrise and just after sunset. Cultures refer to her as the ‘morning star’ and the ‘evening star’ because of these timings. Although we are lucky to be able to see Venus clear-
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very weak magnetic field, most likely due to her liquid
radation, whereas Venus 85% of them are in pristine
iron core.
condition.
There is a theory that Venus did once have her own
On Earth, the degradation happens a lot faster be-
rotating moon, just like our planet. Her moon was also
cause of the atmosphere. Wind and liquid erosion are
created by a huge impact with the developing planet,
the fastest and primary cause of degradation. This
billions of years ago. In the 17th Century, Giovanni
was compared with the Grand Canyon on Earth and
Cassini reported seeing a moon orbiting Venus. The
the Valles Marineris on Mars. The Grand Canyon is
moon was named Neith and over the next 200 years
shaped, smoothed and altered by the weather and wa-
there were numerous reports of sightings. About 10
ter on Earth but the Valles Marineris remains almost
million years after formation, according to Alex Alemi
untouched because there is little change in weather
and David Stevensons 2006 Study of the early Solar
on Mars and only a very thin atmosphere.
System, another impact reversed the planets spin direction and caused the Venusian moon to spiral
Compared to the Earth, Venus’s crater impacts aren’t
towards her at great speed, until eventually the moon
as lethal. The dense atmosphere slows objects with
collided with the planet and merged with her.
such a force down that most incoming foreign objects
Almost 1000 impact craters on Venus are evenly dis-
are less than 50 meters in diameter or will burn up
tributed across her surface. On Earth and the Moon,
long before they get to hit the surface.
the impact craters exist but show various signs of degThe number of pristine crater impacts indicates that the planet went under a global resurfacing approximately 300-600 million years ago. Project Magellan, also referred to as the Venus Radar Mapper, was launched on May 4, 1989. The study provided evidence to help us understand the role of impacts, volcanism and tectonism in the forming of Venus’s surface structures. The surface was covered with volcanic matter and volcanic features, such as plains, small lava domes and large volcanos. The signs of large plate tectonics, like the many we have on Earth, are not evident on Venus. The planet is dominated by global rift zones and coronae; Venus is unable to sustain such a process that we have on Earth. Without the plate tectonics, the planet undergoes a cyclical process in which the mantle raises in temperature until they hit a critical level, thus weakens the crust. Over a period of approximately 100 million years, subduction occurs and completely recycles the crust. Compared to objects such as the Earth and the Moon, Venus expressed few crater impacts which expressed to Magallen that the surface was geologically young-
A 3D Perspective view of Gula Mons gathered by Magellan Credit - NASA
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about 800 million years old.
Venus’ Ingredients
whistler mode waves, the signature of lightning. It is the only lightning we know of that is not associated with water clouds but clouds of sulphuric acid. The top
The centre of Venus and the mechanics of the planet
layer of Venus’s clouds take just four days to complete
are not known but are predicted to be similar to that
an orbit of the surface as they travel as hurricane
of our own because of the size, density and mass of
speeds, making entry of the planet very difficult.
Venus. The surface research conducted by missions such as the Mariner 2 gave us indications that the
The weather on Venus is harsh and unpleasant; a lot
inside of Venus is thought to contain a core of metal
worse than Earths Atacama Desert. Earth has four sea-
3,000km across, this is submerged inside a mantle of
sons because of the rotation axis ‘set’ at 23 degrees.
rock 3,000km thick and then covered with a thin crust
Venus has been impacted so much that she has been
of around 50km thick.
flipped almost completely upside down leaving her with a tilt of just three degrees from the sun, seasons
Venus most likely contained a lot of water, similar to
don’t exist. Whereas on Earth we have a hot summer
Earth, but it all boiled away because she is so close
and a cold winter, Venus has the most circular orbit in
to Sun. Earth would have suffered the same fate as
the entire Solar System, this means that she is pre-
Venus if we were positioned any closer to the Sun. The
vented from becoming hotter or cooler by moving to-
average temperature on Venus is 461 to 500 °C, since
wards and away from the sun. Also after a lengthy day
water boils at 100 °C, it is not possible for water to
(almost an Earth year) you would think that the night
exist on the planet. Scientists believe that Venus and Earth formed in the same way, the same materials were ‘collected’ and the same process happened to each. ESA’s Venus Express Spacecraft found that Venus has a trail ‘blown’ by the solar winds coming from the sun, the Earth’s magnetosphere protects our atmosphere from the sun, channelling the solar wind around the planet and preventing it from reaching/taking our atmosphere. The Earth’s magnetosphere was formed by the large temperature difference between the outer core and the inner core. At some point plate tectonics ceased to exist on Venus and the planet stopped releasing interior heat, without this the convection stopped and took away the magnetosphere. If we lost ours, we would lose all of our water too.
Weather on Venus The Venus Express was the closest thing Venus had to being a moon. It was launched in 2005 and by 2006/07 it found evidence of the intermittent appearance indicated a pattern associated with weather activity,
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Hubble’s photograph of Venus’ Clouds Credit - NASA
Galileo’s Violet and Near Infrared Filter images Credit - NASA Astronomy Wise
25
side would be cooler, but the sun gets little access
As a result of the harsh conditions, unbearable heat
to the planet, the blanket of sulphuric acid creates a
and crushing surface pressure; a surface colony is
greenhouse effect and the high winds move the in-
out of the question with current technology. The
tense heat around, keeping temperatures only varying
atmospheric pressure approximately 50km above
within 100 degrees. All of the planets water has boiled
the Venusian surface is similar to Earths according to
away and the remaining water particles have been
Geoffrey Landis, a scientist at NASA’s Glenn Research
‘blown’ into space, so you don’t get precipitation (bar
Centre. Earth air (nitrogen and oxygen) would be a
sulphuric acid rain that burns up in the heat before
lifting mechanism in the Venusian atmosphere. Landis
hitting the surface) or storms like you do on Earth.
proposed that the atmosphere at this precise point
There are two ‘cold’ areas of Venus above the acid
was so Earth like, that we could create ‘floating cities’
clouds in two layers called the mesosphere and the
on Venus where people could live, work and study the
thermosphere. In Earth’s atmosphere, a circulation
planet below.
pattern occurs when warm air rises over the equator and towards the poles, where the air is cooled and
He states that humans would not require pressurised
settles. Venus composes the opposite. The winds blow
suits when outside just air to breathe and protection
in a retrograde fashion, they are fastest near the poles
from the sulphuric acid in the atmosphere.
and as you approach the equator, they can die down
So the possibility of landing and living on Venus is
to almost nothing.
there. Humans would have to adapt to such a harsh
Our Future on Venus
world and it probably wouldn’t be happening this century. Landis’ theory is more of a science fiction
The impermeable Venusian Clouds once gave writers
novel than a long term goal at present as a lot is still
the freedom to make up an atmosphere and alien life
unknown about the Venusian world but with missions
forms of Venus. The genre peaked between the 1930s
to Mars and potential Colonisation on the red planet
and 1950s but was quickly put to bed when findings
happening, the dream is becoming more of a possibil-
from the first missions to Venus were made public.
ity each day.
Venus Colorized Clouds taken by the Galileo Spacecraft Credit - NASA 26
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AstroCamp is back this year with their first bi-annual event with loads of new and exciting stories to be shared. For more information packed with images, testimonies, future bookings, astronomy discussion and advice, please visit their website at: www.astrocamp.org.uk | Facebook | @TheAstroCamp Astronomy Wise
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AstroCamp Coverage
the campsite designed specifically experience, suddenly became pop-
But Saturday afternoons at Astro-
By Ralph Wilkins
ulated with scopes of all shapes
Camp are about astronomy talks,
The eagerly anticipated second
and sizes as we teased out some
a quiz and giving away prizes!
AstroCamp finally arrived in early
lunar detail on the 24% lit waning
We filled the pub from alcoves to
May and the organisers were espe-
crescent moon, resplendent in the
rafters and heard a beautifully
cially excited to be welcoming new
rich blue skies.
illustrated talk from Tom Kerss on
to encourage a shared stargazing
people to the event in the Brecon Beacons.
sunspots and filaments.
the solar cycle and the predicted Next up, a test of the solar viewing
long solar minimum. Then we had
project. Neil Hawkins from The
2 quizzes – one for the children
The number of bookings increased
Tring Astronomy Centre kindly
(won by Olivia Williamson from
by around 50% on the first As-
.gave us a Lunt hydrogen alpha
Winchester) and one for the adults
troCamp in September 2012 and
scope to use for the event, and we
(won by Barbara Isalska of Man-
included people from far-flung
soon progressed from eyepiece
chester Astronomical Society). Well
astronomical societies as well as
views to projection of the ‘bear
done guys! We don’t make any
curious newbies – we were very
claw’ shaped sunspot group onto a
money from AstroCamp, and put
keen to welcome everyone, get
plasma screen TV that John Wil-
every penny of profit into prizes
to know new people and share
dridge of the Baker Street Irregular
so, with the help of Simon Bennett
scopes as we pitched tents and set
Astronomers had brought for us to
of The Widescreen Centre, we
up a bewildering array of astrono-
use. The experiment worked well
were able to give away, in total, 2
my equipment.
and gave dozens of people their
planispheres, astronomy books, a
first views of solar prominences,
sketching kit, space fact cards, 2
The Friday that we arrived and took over the Cwmdu valley in the heart of the Black Mountains, promised poor weather for the evening– a meteorological set back that has plagued each and every star party so far this year – so this gave us time to get to know each other, talk astronomy and, more importantly for some, reconnoitre the local pub! But the Saturday heralded a few sunny patches and hints of stargazing weather after sunset. This was enough of a chance that we felt confident enough to bring out the full force of equipment! ‘The Common’, the open central area in
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pairs of binoculars with tripods, a
Cassegrain and, the monster in our
talks on main sequence stars and
Celestron 127 Maksutov goto scope
midst, Owen Brazell’s 22” Dobso-
Patrick Moore respectively, and we
and a Coronado hydrogen alpha
nian.
celebrated Simon Bennett’s 50th
scope with tripod! Our aim was to
birthday with a cake that would
give prizes that could be used right
But the clouds rolled in around
have overshadowed many a wed-
out of the box and allow people to
midnight and we bided our time
ding cake! All afternoon Paul and
use that night. A lot of people left
in conversation to see if we could
Tom answered follow up questions
the pub very happy and not just
ride out the weather. A few of us,
on their talks and we passed a
because of the excellent beers.
having decided around 2am that
very pleasant and sunny few hours
enough was enough, were quite
engaged in astronomy and cosmol-
This began a gradual increase in
dismayed to hear the next morn-
ogy discussions.
our fortunes as the weather fore-
ing that the skies had perfectly
casts gave us hope of some clear
cleared up less than half an hour
But the night time stole the show
skies on Saturday night and we
after we’d given up! Those that had
as the skies remained crystal clear
saw the cloud bands and moons
kept the faith were rewarded with
for as long as we could remain
of Jupiter first. The small refrac-
a sight of the Milky Way stretch-
awake. We started the evening
tors mitigated the atmospheric
ing away from north to south and
with the incredibly pleasurable
shimmer the most to give us lovely
views of summer skies to come:
experience of watching stars pop
views before we turned our atten-
Lyra and Cygnus showing them the
into view as the skies darkens. The
tion, shortly after, to the beautiful
Ring planetary nebula, the Double
gas giant planets Jupiter and then
ringed world, Saturn. Here we
binary star and the Veil and Pelican
Saturn emerged from the fading
saw the benefit of the longer focal
Nebulae.
blue backdrop first. Then bright
lengths of the catadioptric scopes
Capella in Auriga, then Arcturus in
as we picked out the Cassini Divi-
Waking up on Sunday, we set up
Bootes, followed by Procyon, Vega,
sion in the rings and the majestic
the hydrogen alpha scope and
Betelgeuse… before long the sky is
moons Titan, Tethys, Rhea and
plasma screen once again. We
dark and rather than stars, we’re
Dione. Sharing scopes is such a
took videos to process into su-
picking out deep sky objects with
fun way to learn about the benefits
per-resolution images while people
the naked eye… the Double Cluster
of different methods of focusing
watched the rotating sunspot
in Perseus, the Beehive Cluster and
the light onto an eyepiece and an
groups and prepared for more
later, the vast expanse of the North
excellent way of socialising.
talks in the sunshine. Organis-
America Nebula - we don’t see that
ers Paul Hill and Tom Kerss gave
from London!
The sparkling open clusters in Auriga, Cancer and Cassiopeia
The Hercules and Serpens globu-
showed us why the contrast of a
lar clusters and the galaxies that
dark background sky is so im-
spanned Leo and Virgo loomed
portant to reveal the full beauty
large in Neil Hawkins’ 11” Schmidt
of these star concentrations and
Cassegrain, while the contrasty
the globular clusters, that are so
views through the plucky Taka-
plentiful in Spring, stood out as 3D
hashi 60mm and Matthew Hodg-
spheres through the larger scopes
son’s twin mounted APMs showed
– the 10½” Dobsonian, 9¼” Schmidt
the refractors can be just as
Astronomy Wise
31
sensational. All views that I feel are delicately and indelibly etched onto my retinas. A few people, myself included, were taking advantage of the opportunity to take some images of the skies too. Tom took widefield images around the camp and into the light-speckled blackness above. I hunted down the Leo Triplet, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules and Kemble’s Cascade, while Jupiter and Saturn coaxed many people into a photographic keepsake – some who were trying astrophotography for the 1st time. It was also warm enough to enjoy the party atmosphere until late. The sight of people relaxing on The Common on airbeds with a drink in hand as they gazed up into the skies was a joy to behold. As were the regular sounds of a ukulele that floated across the camp from time to time! The mood was exactly as we’d planned. Clear skies for stargazing, help and guidance to newcomers (a special thank you to Damien Phillips for all his help there), a fun and relaxed atmosphere and a great social gathering to learn more about the skies and techniques to get the best views. A count of scopes on the Sunday showed more than 60 pointing their lenses and mirrors skyward from The Common, and many more dotted elsewhere around the camp site.
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of 3 clear nights at the 2nd, a few We also got the chance to talk to
people were suggesting that we’ll
other astronomy promoters such
be remembered for being the only
as Callum Potter from Astronomy
stargazing festival that can guaran-
Now, Andrew Davies from Mid
tee good observing weather – but
Cheshire Astronomical Society and
we won’t put that on the website,
Jim Anning from AstroPub, where
it’ll only jinx it for next time!
we could exchange ideas, promote
What this event was really about
fun - and introduce new people to
new ones and plan more ways to
was a fantastic culmination of the
practical astronomy – we’d be fool-
encourage others to look up. So
hard work of the organisers, gra-
ish not to do it all again in autumn
you can bet that there will be even
cious offers to help the event from
wouldn’t we?
more astronomy outreach endeav-
astronomy retailers and, most of
ours to enjoy in the future.
all, the friendliness and enthusi-
Hopefully we’ll see you all again,
asm of the people who booked to
and many more, under clear dark
With each night being clear at
join us at AstroCamp. When a new
AstroCamp skies in early Septem-
the 1st AstroCamp, and 1½ out
astronomy event can be this much
ber 2013!
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33
My AstroCamp Experience By Joolz Wright When asked what AstroCamp was all about it seemed a little odd when the words that came out of my mouth were …”I’m taking my telescope and my son into the middle of Wales to spend the weekend with a bunch of people I met on the internet”. But that was basically it. Having never been to a Star Party, very little knowledge of the telescope I owned and only
Equipment (above) - Much better than CBBC!
having spoken to the folk I was
packed afternoon with an Astro
going to spend the weekend with
Pub Quiz for both adults and chil-
in 140 characters via Twitter...
dren with the most phenomenal
Then those black velvet skies
to say it was daunting is an un-
prizes and a talk on the life cycle
descend and a busy night of ob-
derstatement! Well, that was last
of the sun. Everyone then headed
servation begins. Voices call out
September and it was so brilliant
back to camp for some solar obser-
astronomical objects and people
I did it all again in May! This time I
vation and imaging. A huge screen
move from scope to scope by soft
was armed with my new telescope,
was set up at the base with live
glowing red light to enjoy and
a Skywatcher Skymax 127 GoTo
streaming of the Sun. Incredible,
share their views. Then as the
(which incidentally, was purchased
especially for the inexperienced so-
night becomes early morning all
with great sound advice of the new
lar observers like myself… and the
that can be heard is the whirring
Astro friends I met at AstroCamp
camp children! The following after-
of scopes slewing, seeking out
first time around) but I am still
noon were more talks this time at
their new targets in the night sky
a relative newbie to astronomy
the camp so that astros could carry
(with the occasional expletive!) as
having had very little use of my
on solar observing and imaging
the real die hards eek every last
scope due to the dreadful winter
and not miss the rare clear skies!
minute of clear sky.
weather!
to be experienced to be believed.
You see, that is the beauty of The
Arrival in Cwmdu on Friday to a
But then it is when dusk begins
Astrocamp. There are folk there
warm welcome from camp organ-
to approach that the real magic
with equipment to give the Hub-
isers was followed by an evening
happens. The buzz on the central
ble a run for its money, well okay,
of clouds, which on hindsight
observing area with astronomers
not quite but there were some
was perhaps a good thing, giving
of all ages and experience setting
incredible views at the eyepiece
everyone chance to pitch up, settle,
up scopes, the general banter
this weekend. There are imagers
catch up with friends and meet
amongst like-minded people, the
who were guaranteed no interrup-
new ones… the local pub optional
first excitement as Jupiter’s first
tions in a corner of the “Hub” or
of course! Saturday was a social
glow is seen in the sunset just has
“Common” as it was affectionately
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called. And there are people like
And here’s another amazing thing:
So there it is. Astrocamp. If you
me who just LOVE to view the sky,
an astronomer I met at the first
ever get the chance to go I can
happy to soak up the mass of ex-
camp had upgraded his webcam
highly recommend it. A place
pertise that was freely given by the
so he brought his older one which
where memories are made, friend-
experienced attendees of the camp
he not only gave to me but spent
ships are formed and knowledge is
and practise my new found skills
his Sunday morning giving me a
freely shared but most of all those
with my new scope. My 12 year old
hands on tutorial, both in imaging,
skies...
son saw an Iridium Flare for the
stacking and processing practicing
first time this weekend along with
on trees! This is the kind of amaz-
many other celestial treats shared
ing camaraderie that Astrocamp
at the eyepiece and I was given
fosters. By the end of the week-
fantastic help on using my DSLR
end I came away with so much
and scope.
more knowledge and experience that could never be gleaned from
Okay, it may not be the best image
a manual, not to mention new
you have ever seen of Saturn… but
friends!
it’s my first!
Saturn (above) - Joolz’s first image of the planet. Equipment (below) Many telescopes on the day.
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37
Awesome Astronomy
to interact with a wider astronomical community and
By Ralph Wilkins
and black holes seem to be the most popular ones!
Change is underway in Cydonia. The Face on Mars (our version of Mount Rushmore) is undergoing a revision to replace Tom’s likeness with that of his successor on
get a better understanding of which issues interest people the most. If you’re interested, exoplanets, Mars
We started off the podcast last year with Sir Patrick Moore’s last ever interview (episode 1), talked about
the podcast, Paul. Since we began recording in April 2012, Tom and I have been incredibly excited to record an hour of astronomy news and information each month. It actually takes around 3 hours to record each hour-long
the search for ET with SETI Senior Astronomer Seth Shostak (episode 3) and closed out 2012 by not succumbing to the misinterpreted Mayan ‘prophesy’ but, instead, going on a dark matter hunt with the particle physicists at Fermilab. episode, but much of that is due to deliberate mistakes, trying to put each other off and general clowning around. I really would recommend podcasting to anyone – you just can’t know how much fun recording is until you give it a go! But we’ve also been delighted to see that more people have been listening month on month – this, I think, has really demonstrated to us just how popular astronomy has become and that ever more people are keen to learn more about this incredible universe we live in. Our favourite part of the show has always been answering astronomy questions that have come into the programme via the Twitter account (@AwesomeAstroPod) and the Facebook Group, because this allows us
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Astronomy Wise
However, Tom has now moved on to pastures new. He’s left the poor atmosphere on Mars for more astronomy ventures on Earth, but I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that Paul Hill will take on the mantle of educating and entertaining on Awesome Astronomy – the show will go on! Paul has a long background in education and astronomy communication and is one of the keenest visual observers I know – he’s one of those curious breed of astronomers that does his imaging with pencil and paper. How very nineteenth century! So he spends more hours at the eyepiece than is probably wise!
Nevertheless, we’re continuing to bring you the latest news in astronomy, planetary science and cosmology – always delivered with the intention of being engaging to anyone, regardless of their astronomy knowledge. We’ve also kept the Q&A section and an absorbing interview each month (spoiler alert: astronomy populariser Mark Thompson will be joining us in the next episode, out on 1st June). But we’ve also added a section to explain in five minutes those frustrating concepts in astronomy that can be difficult to understand. Paul started this in episode 11 with his simple explanation of the Big Bang and he already has ideas for guides to astrobiology, inflation and many other exciting astronomy concepts. Our aim’s still to promote astronomy and deflate any of the misconceptions or baseless conspiracy theories that stray into astronomy – okay, don’t ask us about the Face on Mars. We’re committed to entertaining with fact-based reporting and if we can’t continue to entertain you, we’ll break out the tripods and heatrays once more and, armed with antibiotics this time… slowly but surely, we’ll draw our plans against you… Hear previous episodes, subscribe to the show and download episode 12 on 1st June here.
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Image Credits Stellarium
The Southern Crosses
travels, the higher in the sky Corvus and
By Michael Poll
extended northwards, points straight at
(Pretoria Centre, Astronomical
the Crow. At latitude 26⁰ S (e.g Pretoria),
Society of Southern Africa)
Corvus passes almost exactly overhead (the
For viewers in the northern hemisphere at, say, latitudes between 40⁰ N and 55⁰ N, during May the distinctive quadrilateral of Corvus (the Crow) lies low in the southern sky, with the bright star Spica to the east (left) of it. There are not many other bright objects in that part of the sky, (apart from Saturn at the moment!), but just below the horizon lie a wealth of bright and interesting sights which do not rise at the higher northern latitudes. These sights include what are known to southern sky viewers as ‘The Southern Crosses’ – of which there are three. Southwards of latitude 30⁰ north (e.g Cairo), the Southern Cross itself (Crux) becomes visible below Corvus. The further south one
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Astronomy Wise
Crux become, and it can then be seen that the long axis of the Southern Cross, when
declination of the southern most stars of
the quadrilateral is 23⁰ S – declination is the
example in Cape Town, Buenos Aires and
celestial equivalent of latitude). The declina-
Sydney).
tion boundaries of the Southern Cross are between 55⁰ S and 65⁰ S so when Corvus
The other two crosses are known as the
is overhead, the Southern Cross attains its
False Cross and the Diamond Cross, and
highest altitude of about 55⁰ for Pretoria,
they lie to the west of Crux. The False and
and stands upright. (The Southern Cross
Diamond Crosses are asterisms, and not
becomes circumpolar south of 34⁰ S, for
constellations – the Diamond Cross is wholly part of Carina the Keel, and the False Cross is split between stars of Carina, and Vela, the Sail. For Pretoria, these groups rise in the early evenings of late December and early January. The False Cross rises first, so that it is in the sky before the Southern Cross itself is visible. (note the Magellanic Clouds to the right of Canopus). For a first time viewer, this is where the ‘false’ part may come into play, but when the Crux rises, the difference is apparent. Referring to the diagram alongside it can be seen that the stars of Crux are brighter, and the constellation itself is smaller – the axes of Crux are 7⁰ x 4⁰, whereas the False Cross axes are 9⁰ x 7⁰, and the short axes slope in the opposite sense to each other. Given that the stars of Crux are labelled
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Image Credits Stellarium
clockwise from Alpha to Delta, starting with
Sir John Herschel’s famous ‘Jewel Box’, so
Alpha in the ‘6 o’clock’ position, a fifth star,
named because of the variety of colours of
Epsilon is easily seen on the line joining Del-
its stars. Gamma Crucis is the only reddish
ta and Alpha. The False Cross does not have
star of the five brightest stars of Crux, and it
an equivalent star.
has a line-of-sight companion.
This diagram above shows the southern evening sky at 22h00 for mid-May. Consider-
The False Cross and the Diamond Cross were
ing that the upper diagram above is for the
originally entirely part of the ancient constel-
end of December, it can be seen how the sky
lation of Argo Navis, which was one of Ptole-
has rotated around the south celestial pole
my’s original 48 constellations and was the
from December to May, so that the Diamond
largest constellation for about 2000 years. It
Cross lies to the left of the False Cross in this
is said that the constellation was dismantled
diagram.
for convenience in the 1750s by the Abbe Nicolas Louis de la Caille, a French astrono-
42
Crux used to be part of Centaurus – the
mer who worked at the Cape of Good Hope
constellation of Centaurus surrounds Crux
(Ref 1), but another source suggests that
on three sides. The separation of Crux from
Argo was broken up by the American Benja-
Centaurus is generally attributed to the
min Gould in 1879 in order to make this part
French astronomer Augustin Royer in 1679,
of the sky ‘more manageable’ (Ref 2). The
although there are suggestions that it was
problem with Argo was in cataloguing all the
recognised as a separate constellation at
stars in the constellation. The Millennium
least a century before this. Alpha Crucis is
Star Atlas says that there 28 446 stars bright-
a very close double, with a third star close
er than magnitude 10 in Argo, compared
by. All three stars are a brilliant white. Next
with the next most populous constellation,
to Beta Crucis is the wonderful open clus-
Cygnus, which has about 14 000 stars bright-
ter NGC4755 (Caldwell 94). This cluster is
er than magnitude 10 (Ref 3).
Astronomy Wise
with the stars Beta and Theta of Carina formArgo ended up being split into Vela, the Sail;
ing the long axis, and Upsilon and Omega of
References
Carina, the Keel; and Puppis, the Poop Deck.
Carina, the short axis.
1. Rambling Through
There is no Alpha or Beta star in Vela - the
At one end of the long axis of the Diamond
the Skies
brightest star in this constellation is Gamma
Cross, the naked eye star Theta Carinae is
E C Krupp
Velorum. When Argo was split up, Alpha Ar-
actually the brightest star of a brilliant binoc-
Sky & Telescope
gûs became Alpha Carinae, (a.k.a Canopus)
ular or telescopic cluster of blue white stars,
March 1999
and Beta Argûs became Beta Carinae (a.k.a
known as the Southern Pleiades (IC 2602,
Miaplacidus).
Caldwell 102). The cluster is very striking
(Note that a
even when viewed against light pollution.
date is mis-
Gamma Velorum is not part of the False
Embedded in the cluster is a very distinctive
printed in this
Cross. The stars of this Cross are Delta
asterism of five stars, variously described
reference –
and Kappa Velorum, and Epsilon and Iota
as the ‘Five of Diamonds’, or as resembling
“1763” should
Carinae. If the long axis of the False Cross
a capital Greek letter sigma (Σ), or the letter
read “1753”)
is extended a little further than Epsilon it
‘M’, depending on the orientation of the clus-
2. Jason’s Phan-
points to the pretty open cluster NGC 2516
ter when viewed.
tom Argonauts
p 87
Les Dalrymple
(Caldwell 96). This cluster was discovered by LaCaille in the early 1750s. Its more recent
Taken together these three crosses lie in
Sky & Telescope
nickname is the ‘Southern Beehive’.
one of the richest parts of the Southern
December 2002
Milky Way. Apart from the deep sky objects
p 114
The Diamond Cross lies between Crux and
mentioned, there are also numerous other
3. Southern
the False Cross. It is a symmetrical asterism,
wonderful sights in this region of the sky.
Hemisphere Sky
Fred
Schaaf Sky & Telescope April 1998
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p 88
43
The Night Sky.. By John Harper F.R.A.S
ical midnight, the sky is
Last Quarter Moon is on
in the twilight, setting
not black but a beautiful
the 30th at 04h54 in the
about 90 minutes after
velvet deep blue, merg-
constellation of Pisces
the sun. Never visible this
ing to turquoise on the
5°to the right of the plan-
month in a dark sky, the
northern horizon. Don’t
et Uranus.
planet is easily detected
forget to look out for the ghostly silver-blue
low in the NW because of The Planets
its brightness.
north, during the hour
Mercury’s favourable
Mars rises only 40
before and after mid-
evening apparition
minutes before the sun
night, as they catch the
continues during the
at the beginning of the
light of the sun, which
first half of June, after
month, but 90 minutes
is not very far below the
which it begins to move
before it at the end.
northern horizon at this
in towards the sun, so
Unfortunately because
time of year.
that during the last week
of the planet’s distance
it can no longer be seen.
from the earth, and its
noctilucent clouds in the
The Moon
The planet is beneath the
comparative dimness,
As the month proceeds,
Moon is at apogee
twin stars of Gemini, Cas-
combined with bright
the Sun climbs through
(furthest from the earth)
tor and Pollux. Mercury’s
June twilight, it is not an
the stars of Taurus until
on the 9th at 21h40, and
greatest elongation east
easy object to observe
around 13h on the 21st
perigee on (nearest to
of the sun (24°) takes
in Taurus, but if you can
when it crosses the
the earth) 23rd, at 11h09.
place on the 12th. During
spot the Pleiades when
the evening of the 10th,
they are 8° above the NE
border into Gemini, the solstice having occurred
New Moon occurs on the
the two-day-old waxing
horizon at about 03h,
on the June 21st at
8th, at 15h57, when the
crescent moon is low in
and scan down towards
05h04
The earth-sun
moon lies in Taurus, and
the WNW sky, 6° below
the horizon to the lower
distance is 152, 028,935
3° south of the sun.
Mercury. The first object
left of this star cluster,
km. The solstice marks
First Quarter is on the
you are likely to spot
you may spot Mars ‘twin-
the astronomical start of
16th at 17h24 takes place
when scanning in the twi-
kling’ a couple of degrees
summer in the northern
on the Leo/Virgo border
light is Venus, which on
above the horizon.
hemisphere, and the
4° north of the constel-
the day of the moon/Mer-
beginning of winter in
lation of Crater, the Cup.
cury conjunction is some
Jupiter is in conjunction
the southern. Thus takes
The moon is midway
5° to the right of Mercury
with the sun during the
place the longest day
between Regulus in Leo
and slightly lower in the
late afternoon of the 19th
and shortest night for
and Spica in Virgo.
sky. At around 21h, the
and so is a very difficult
us here in the UK, and
Full Moon is at 11h33 on
two inner planets are
object to observe due to
thereafter night length
the 23rd, is in the con-
around 10° above the
its proximity to the latter.
increases once again. The
stellation of Sagittarius
horizon, beginning to set
season of summer lasts
not far from Pluto’s cur-
an hour later.
93.65 days. In the north-
rent position and is the
ern UK, there is no true
second lowest Full Moon
Throughout June, Venus
best observed between
night, and at astronom-
of this year.
is a bright evening object
23h and 01h, straddling
44
Astronomy Wise
Because of the bright June twilight, Saturn is
astronomical midnight;
difficult to observe because of brightening twilight, although it lies over 10° above
when it may be seen as
the SE horizon.
a bright star-like object just over 15° above the
Constellations visible in the south around midnight, mid-month, are as follows:
SW horizon at 0h (UT).
Ophiuchus, Serpens Cauda, Hercules, and the head of Draco the dragon, which is
As Saturn lies on the
near the zenith.
Virgo Libra border, it is easy to identify, lying as it does in an area devoid
All times are GMT
1° is one finger width at arm’s length.
of bright stars, with the exception of Spica, some 12° to the left, and lower down in the sky than Saturn. Take a look at the ringed planet through a small telescope and delight in the spectacle of the favourably placed northern surface of its ring system. By the end of the month the planet sets shortly before 01h. On the 19th the gibbous waxing moon passes south of Saturn and so when darkness falls during the night of the 19th/20th, the moon is some 6° to the lower left of Saturn. Uranus in Pisces is still a difficult object to observe in the morning sky, rising as it does in the brightening twilight after midnight. The much fainter planet Neptune, in Aquarius, half a degree above sigma Aquarii, is also
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