Post by richdavies on Nov 1, 2020 9:12:38 GMT
National Astronomy Week is still going ahead
With so many events postponed until next year, it is great news that NAW is making the very best of it and going ahead in an online fashion. They have launched a fantastic website with an excellent opening introductory video by John Fox, and the pick of the best images of Mars from across the world. Nathalie Korhonen Cuestas, Co-ordinator of NAW states,
"In autumn 2020, Mars makes a close approach to Earth, and it won’t be as close again until 2035. We’ll be holding a National Astronomy Week to make sure that as many people as possible get a chance to see Mars, even if only from their back garden or online, and to find out about the exciting space missions to the planet.
The week will be Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November. Mars will be easily visible in the evening sky, as well as Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon. Normally, there would be observing sessions across the country, but this year because of COVID-19 we’ll be holding most of our events online, so you can join in wherever you are".
Sky during NAW
Amongst many scheduled virtual events, will be activities for young and old with UK science centres hosting children's activities in the mornings. In the evenings between 6pm-7pm is a fantastic line-up of speakers covering Mars topics including life, water, weather, climate and geology. Then at 8pm the remote observatories join in, led by our best practical astronomers so that we can watch safely (and in the warm) at home. The full schedule will be posted shortly for people to register for events.
Take a look at the remastered 2003 video on Mars exploration narrated by our very own Dr Heather Couper (BAA President 1984-6 ), who sadly died in February of this year.
Regarding other external events; New Scientist Live held at the ExCel Centre, London Docklands, was postponed this year and is now planned for 14th -17th October 2021. The Practical Astronomy Show is postponed until 19th March 2022. It is still planned to be held in Kettering.
News and Updates
European AstroFest
Steve Kelly of Astronomy Now, has written to us to say that as one of their regular exhibitors, he wanted to let us know of their plans for the European AstroFest next year, 2021. "We will be moving the event online in February 2021. It will feature talks from astronomy and space experts and our exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services. We'll be in touch soon with further details about how you can participate. European AstroFest will return to London as soon as it is possible and we'll keep you advised about our plans." Fingers crossed for the AN team, they put so much work into this event.
New Tutorials Editor
Stuart Morris has recently taken on the position of BAA Tutorial Editor. He will start with replacing the existing Stargazing Site. He is really eager to develop the site to be more beneficial to the user: you, and is asking for suggestions for members and non-members for future articles and tutorials that people would like to be included. He is also asking for any who would be interested in writing tutorials at all levels, particularly intermediate and advanced. Please send your suggestions and ideas to
Tutorial Editor
Newsletters:
Asteroids and Remote Planets
Roger Dymock has just released Infinite Worlds Issue 8, the magazine of the exoplanets division of the Asteroids and Remote Planets Section. Interesting updates on a new Zooniverse Project, on data retention in the ExoClock project and also some trendy T shirts for sale. Thanks Roger, you fashionista!
Solar Section
Another interesting edition from the pen/keyboard of Director Lyn Smith reminding us in the UK, in this the wettest October for decades, that the sun is actually still up there. There are some beautiful images on prominences by Gary Palmer and Carl Bowron, plus a nice capture of filaments by Gottfried Steigmann.
Lunar
Opening with a stunning close-up from earth of the Apollo 17 landing site by Rik Hill in Arizona, (ahh! those lovely clear skies) Director Bill Leatherbarrow points us to the invaluable work of the above mentioned Stuart Morris in developing the history part of the Section Website with short biogs on notable past members and lunar observers. Further suggestions welcomed. Look out for the continuing feature on Lunar Domes with observations and images from Raffaello Lena and Maximilian Teodorescu.
Variable Star Section
The Variable Star Section is running a campaign to detect outbursts of the dwarf nova IX Draconis (see Forum discussion: britastro.org/node/24529). This star has a magnitude range of 14.6-18.2. It undergoes very frequent “normal” outbursts, every 3 to 5 days, which lasts a couple of days. Then, every 60 days or so, it undergoes a longer "superoutburst". Recent data from the TESS satellite have revealed the light curve of IX Dra in exquisite detail. However, for the next few months IX Dra will not be monitored by TESS. In the meantime, section Director Jeremy Shears and section member, Stewart Bean, are keen to get timings of the start of the next superoutburst (due mid-November) and possibly the one after that. Please could observers add IX Dra to their target list. We are requesting one observation per night to get a light curve which will enable us to spot the normal and superoutbursts. Observations can be visual or CCD.
With so many events postponed until next year, it is great news that NAW is making the very best of it and going ahead in an online fashion. They have launched a fantastic website with an excellent opening introductory video by John Fox, and the pick of the best images of Mars from across the world. Nathalie Korhonen Cuestas, Co-ordinator of NAW states,
"In autumn 2020, Mars makes a close approach to Earth, and it won’t be as close again until 2035. We’ll be holding a National Astronomy Week to make sure that as many people as possible get a chance to see Mars, even if only from their back garden or online, and to find out about the exciting space missions to the planet.
The week will be Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November. Mars will be easily visible in the evening sky, as well as Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon. Normally, there would be observing sessions across the country, but this year because of COVID-19 we’ll be holding most of our events online, so you can join in wherever you are".
Sky during NAW
Amongst many scheduled virtual events, will be activities for young and old with UK science centres hosting children's activities in the mornings. In the evenings between 6pm-7pm is a fantastic line-up of speakers covering Mars topics including life, water, weather, climate and geology. Then at 8pm the remote observatories join in, led by our best practical astronomers so that we can watch safely (and in the warm) at home. The full schedule will be posted shortly for people to register for events.
Take a look at the remastered 2003 video on Mars exploration narrated by our very own Dr Heather Couper (BAA President 1984-6 ), who sadly died in February of this year.
Regarding other external events; New Scientist Live held at the ExCel Centre, London Docklands, was postponed this year and is now planned for 14th -17th October 2021. The Practical Astronomy Show is postponed until 19th March 2022. It is still planned to be held in Kettering.
News and Updates
European AstroFest
Steve Kelly of Astronomy Now, has written to us to say that as one of their regular exhibitors, he wanted to let us know of their plans for the European AstroFest next year, 2021. "We will be moving the event online in February 2021. It will feature talks from astronomy and space experts and our exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their products and services. We'll be in touch soon with further details about how you can participate. European AstroFest will return to London as soon as it is possible and we'll keep you advised about our plans." Fingers crossed for the AN team, they put so much work into this event.
New Tutorials Editor
Stuart Morris has recently taken on the position of BAA Tutorial Editor. He will start with replacing the existing Stargazing Site. He is really eager to develop the site to be more beneficial to the user: you, and is asking for suggestions for members and non-members for future articles and tutorials that people would like to be included. He is also asking for any who would be interested in writing tutorials at all levels, particularly intermediate and advanced. Please send your suggestions and ideas to
Tutorial Editor
Newsletters:
Asteroids and Remote Planets
Roger Dymock has just released Infinite Worlds Issue 8, the magazine of the exoplanets division of the Asteroids and Remote Planets Section. Interesting updates on a new Zooniverse Project, on data retention in the ExoClock project and also some trendy T shirts for sale. Thanks Roger, you fashionista!
Solar Section
Another interesting edition from the pen/keyboard of Director Lyn Smith reminding us in the UK, in this the wettest October for decades, that the sun is actually still up there. There are some beautiful images on prominences by Gary Palmer and Carl Bowron, plus a nice capture of filaments by Gottfried Steigmann.
Lunar
Opening with a stunning close-up from earth of the Apollo 17 landing site by Rik Hill in Arizona, (ahh! those lovely clear skies) Director Bill Leatherbarrow points us to the invaluable work of the above mentioned Stuart Morris in developing the history part of the Section Website with short biogs on notable past members and lunar observers. Further suggestions welcomed. Look out for the continuing feature on Lunar Domes with observations and images from Raffaello Lena and Maximilian Teodorescu.
Variable Star Section
The Variable Star Section is running a campaign to detect outbursts of the dwarf nova IX Draconis (see Forum discussion: britastro.org/node/24529). This star has a magnitude range of 14.6-18.2. It undergoes very frequent “normal” outbursts, every 3 to 5 days, which lasts a couple of days. Then, every 60 days or so, it undergoes a longer "superoutburst". Recent data from the TESS satellite have revealed the light curve of IX Dra in exquisite detail. However, for the next few months IX Dra will not be monitored by TESS. In the meantime, section Director Jeremy Shears and section member, Stewart Bean, are keen to get timings of the start of the next superoutburst (due mid-November) and possibly the one after that. Please could observers add IX Dra to their target list. We are requesting one observation per night to get a light curve which will enable us to spot the normal and superoutbursts. Observations can be visual or CCD.