Post by richdavies on Aug 6, 2020 19:38:45 GMT
The August Journal is live on-line
What else should grace the front page this August but a rather spectacular image of C/2020 F3 (Neowise) by Nick Quinn taken on July 22 from the South Downs, UK. Must have been a tough editing decision, as there is a lot of serious competition out there by our members. Great to see so many contributions on the community pages and the gallery.
This edition is packed with articles long and short ranging across the astronomical spectrum. We start with history and Richard Sargent presents a paper on the astronomical observations and connections of Henry Prescott (1649-1719). A native of Chester in Cheshire and not strictly an astronomer himself, he did keep a fascinating diary of the very interesting connections he made in the astronomical world. Raffaello Lena and Barry FitzGerald bring us close detail of the Moon in their study of five lunar domes in Mare Fecunditatis. Their paper discusses theories of the formation of the domes and discusses comparison with their earlier paper of 2017. Interesting and original research.
Staying with amateur research, Richard McKim, Paul Abel and Emmanuel Kardasis have presented a short paper on the waves observed in the atmosphere of Venus (2015-2020), reviewing the Akatsuki spacecraft data and amateur data taken at shorter infrared wavelengths. Could the waves have been generated by surface activity first noted in BAA observations in 2017?
In the fourth refereed paper, Jeremy Shears reports on the unusual 'stunted' outbursts in the nova-like variable star HS 0229+8016. Varying between magnitudes 13.4 and 15.1, some episodes lasted hundreds of days, but Jeremy is asking for continuing surveillance before any conclusions can be drawn.
With the magic of Zoom, the BAA was able to help the Sydney Skywatchers, formerly the BAA New South Wales branch, celebrate its 125th Anniversary (reports Mike Frost). Carolyn Kennett describes the BAA contribution to the 'Measure the Moon' project during the earlier part of the year. The conjunction of Venus and a crescent moon provided an excellent opportunity to engage the wider public in observations, and no less than eminent astronomer Prof. Jay Pasachoff was among those who contributed.
The lock-down has freed many a time-pressed member to expand their horizons, and Mike Foulkes describes how Polish amateur Milosz Leszewicz reprocessed some of his Saturn images to identify the moon Janus, a seriously tricky achievement.
John Chuter reminds us that this is the BAA's year for Highlighting Women in Astronomy, in his Journal Archive piece - if the names Elizabeth Brown, Margaret Huggins, Agnes Clerke and especially Lydia Alberta Brown, mean nothing to you then it's time to get reading. Lydia Brown was the BAA Assistant Librarian and Secretary for 42 years and her home was the BAA's registered office for decades. We haven't always been in Piccadilly!
David Arditti has some advice for what to do when your GoTo won't goto and Alan Dowdell presents the report of our last face-to-face BAA Ordinary Meeting from January 25. How long ago and how strange that feels now. Concluding with the most excellent of sky notes from Nick Hewitt and lots of member letters, observing and section reports, it's hats off to Philip Jennings and you, the contributors, for another great edition.
Elizabeth Brown, first BAA Solar Section Director, Agnes Clerke, member of first BAA Council, Lydia Brown BAA Assistant Librarian and Secretary for 42 years.
OOPs!
Oh dear, there has been a wee bit of a mistake. The printed Journal has just gone out with the voting papers for the Board of Trustees and Council. Fine, except for one small problem: last year's Session Papers, i.e. for 2019/20 rather than 2020/21, were circulated. Accidents happen and our printers will shortly be re-issuing a replacement print run and mailing them to send out the correct ballot paper. If, perchance, you have already voted using the incorrect papers then please resubmit using the correct ballot paper (check the date in the top right-hand corner) when you receive it. Votes on the incorrect forms will be discarded and not counted.
Those of you more technically minded, (who have submitted a current email address to the office), will have received an email with a link that allows you to vote electronically. This one has the correct ballot paper. Check that it has not gone into your junk / spam folder.
Whilst on that subject, this Newsletter is only received by those who have 'opted in' with their email address. If you have member colleagues who say they never receive it, they need to email the office with their current email address asking to be put on the mailing list. The BAA doesn't want to spam its members either.
Neptune 2020 Jan 11 1643 UT Manos Kardasis C14 SCT Colour
Diary Dates
Please check the Events page on the BAA Website for all changes and updates to BAA meetings and other events in the light of the COVD-19 precautions. britastro.org/meetings Please also be reminded that the BAA Office is still working remotely and unable to process sales.
You can see all our Webinars on YouTube Channel on this link
We are taking a bit of a summer break but don't miss:
19th August 2020 - 19:00 to 20:00. Neptune at Opposition Webinar. Mike Foulkes, the Director of the BAA Saturn, Uranus and Neptune Section.
And coming up:
5th September 2020 All day BAA Autumn Webinar.
This is in lieu of the Leeds Autumn Weekend. For anyone who does not wish to join via Zoom or is unable to install the software, then we will also be streaming the webinar on our BAA YouTube channel. Please note you will be unable to ask questions via YouTube.
11:00 Prof Christine Done - The life and death of Black Holes
Prof Christine Done is a researcher at Durham University.
14:30 Dr Andreea Font - Stumbling in the dark: the search for the Universe's missing mass
Dr Andreea Font works in the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University.
Editor: Janice McClean
britastro.org/journal-view/23562
What else should grace the front page this August but a rather spectacular image of C/2020 F3 (Neowise) by Nick Quinn taken on July 22 from the South Downs, UK. Must have been a tough editing decision, as there is a lot of serious competition out there by our members. Great to see so many contributions on the community pages and the gallery.
This edition is packed with articles long and short ranging across the astronomical spectrum. We start with history and Richard Sargent presents a paper on the astronomical observations and connections of Henry Prescott (1649-1719). A native of Chester in Cheshire and not strictly an astronomer himself, he did keep a fascinating diary of the very interesting connections he made in the astronomical world. Raffaello Lena and Barry FitzGerald bring us close detail of the Moon in their study of five lunar domes in Mare Fecunditatis. Their paper discusses theories of the formation of the domes and discusses comparison with their earlier paper of 2017. Interesting and original research.
Staying with amateur research, Richard McKim, Paul Abel and Emmanuel Kardasis have presented a short paper on the waves observed in the atmosphere of Venus (2015-2020), reviewing the Akatsuki spacecraft data and amateur data taken at shorter infrared wavelengths. Could the waves have been generated by surface activity first noted in BAA observations in 2017?
In the fourth refereed paper, Jeremy Shears reports on the unusual 'stunted' outbursts in the nova-like variable star HS 0229+8016. Varying between magnitudes 13.4 and 15.1, some episodes lasted hundreds of days, but Jeremy is asking for continuing surveillance before any conclusions can be drawn.
With the magic of Zoom, the BAA was able to help the Sydney Skywatchers, formerly the BAA New South Wales branch, celebrate its 125th Anniversary (reports Mike Frost). Carolyn Kennett describes the BAA contribution to the 'Measure the Moon' project during the earlier part of the year. The conjunction of Venus and a crescent moon provided an excellent opportunity to engage the wider public in observations, and no less than eminent astronomer Prof. Jay Pasachoff was among those who contributed.
The lock-down has freed many a time-pressed member to expand their horizons, and Mike Foulkes describes how Polish amateur Milosz Leszewicz reprocessed some of his Saturn images to identify the moon Janus, a seriously tricky achievement.
John Chuter reminds us that this is the BAA's year for Highlighting Women in Astronomy, in his Journal Archive piece - if the names Elizabeth Brown, Margaret Huggins, Agnes Clerke and especially Lydia Alberta Brown, mean nothing to you then it's time to get reading. Lydia Brown was the BAA Assistant Librarian and Secretary for 42 years and her home was the BAA's registered office for decades. We haven't always been in Piccadilly!
David Arditti has some advice for what to do when your GoTo won't goto and Alan Dowdell presents the report of our last face-to-face BAA Ordinary Meeting from January 25. How long ago and how strange that feels now. Concluding with the most excellent of sky notes from Nick Hewitt and lots of member letters, observing and section reports, it's hats off to Philip Jennings and you, the contributors, for another great edition.
Elizabeth Brown, first BAA Solar Section Director, Agnes Clerke, member of first BAA Council, Lydia Brown BAA Assistant Librarian and Secretary for 42 years.
OOPs!
Oh dear, there has been a wee bit of a mistake. The printed Journal has just gone out with the voting papers for the Board of Trustees and Council. Fine, except for one small problem: last year's Session Papers, i.e. for 2019/20 rather than 2020/21, were circulated. Accidents happen and our printers will shortly be re-issuing a replacement print run and mailing them to send out the correct ballot paper. If, perchance, you have already voted using the incorrect papers then please resubmit using the correct ballot paper (check the date in the top right-hand corner) when you receive it. Votes on the incorrect forms will be discarded and not counted.
Those of you more technically minded, (who have submitted a current email address to the office), will have received an email with a link that allows you to vote electronically. This one has the correct ballot paper. Check that it has not gone into your junk / spam folder.
Whilst on that subject, this Newsletter is only received by those who have 'opted in' with their email address. If you have member colleagues who say they never receive it, they need to email the office with their current email address asking to be put on the mailing list. The BAA doesn't want to spam its members either.
Neptune 2020 Jan 11 1643 UT Manos Kardasis C14 SCT Colour
Diary Dates
Please check the Events page on the BAA Website for all changes and updates to BAA meetings and other events in the light of the COVD-19 precautions. britastro.org/meetings Please also be reminded that the BAA Office is still working remotely and unable to process sales.
You can see all our Webinars on YouTube Channel on this link
We are taking a bit of a summer break but don't miss:
19th August 2020 - 19:00 to 20:00. Neptune at Opposition Webinar. Mike Foulkes, the Director of the BAA Saturn, Uranus and Neptune Section.
And coming up:
5th September 2020 All day BAA Autumn Webinar.
This is in lieu of the Leeds Autumn Weekend. For anyone who does not wish to join via Zoom or is unable to install the software, then we will also be streaming the webinar on our BAA YouTube channel. Please note you will be unable to ask questions via YouTube.
11:00 Prof Christine Done - The life and death of Black Holes
Prof Christine Done is a researcher at Durham University.
14:30 Dr Andreea Font - Stumbling in the dark: the search for the Universe's missing mass
Dr Andreea Font works in the Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University.
Editor: Janice McClean
britastro.org/journal-view/23562