October Astronomy Events

Hi NZ Astronomers

Wellington and Wairarapa Astronomy Events for October 2007

New Members are always welcome along, including visitors from around NZ and overseas.

Please note the new dates of this Months Phoenix Meetings

Thanks Edwin


Wellington Phoenix Meeting
Tuesday the 23th of October
7:20pm @ Science House (Royal Society Buildings), Turnbull Street
http://www.astronomynz.org.nz/society-meetings/society-meetings.html

Wairarapa Phoenix Meeting
Friday the 26th of October
7:20pm @ the Phoenix clubrooms, Ahiaruhe, Wairarapa
http://www.astronomynz.org.nz/society-meetings/society-meetings.html

Wellington WAS Meeting
Joel Baker Meteorites
Wednesday the 10th of October
7:25pm @ Science House (Royal Society Buildings), Turnbull Street
http://www.was.org.nz/

The speaker for the October WAS meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 10 is Joel Baker who will be talking about meteorites. Meteorites that arrive at Earth from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter are our oldest samples of the Solar System and preserve a remarkable and unique record of the formation of the Sun and the planets ca. 4.567 billion years ago. Different meteorites contain a record of the processes of solid formation and planet building in the infant Solar System. I will describe how we use isotopic forensics at Victoria University of Wellington to study these meteorites, which has two main objectives. Firstly, we use isotopic clocks date meteorites in order to establish a high-resolution timescale for solid, planet and comet formation in the infant Solar System. We then measure the isotope ratios of selected elements in these meteorites to high precision. Because specific isotopes of certain elements are produced by certain nuclear reactions in different types of stars this allows us to build a picture of the environment in the vicinity of the proto-Solar System and constrain the astrophysical setting necessary for building stellar and planetary systems like our own.


Phoenix Observing Evening
To Be Announced
Phoenix Observing Evening
With Master Observers Ian Cooper and Chris Picking

6:30pm @ the Phoenix clubrooms, Ahiaruhe, Wairarapa
Please book by contacting Chris Picking by email: picking@attglobal.net
http://www.astronomynz.org.nz/observing/observing.html



Wellington Spaceflight Meeting

Cancelled – Due to the redevelopment of Carter Observatory Spaceflight meetings will resume later in the Year.

http://www.nzspace.org.nz/meetings.htm


The Galactic Circle Kids Space and Astronomy Club

Galactic Circle: Wednesday the 19th September @ The Thomas King Observatory 4:30PM. The Thomas King Observatory is located next to Carter Observatory. The Galactic Circle is WAS's junior astronomy club and meets on the third Wednesday of each month.

For more details, contact
Marilyn Head at (04) 389 0882 (w), email marilyn@actrix.gen.nz or web www.galaxy.wellington.net.nz



Pauatahanui Star Party
6th of October
Observing will start after dark. Contact John Field
john.field@paradise.net.nz
The Phone number at Pauatahanui is 021-102-6056.

Gifford Star Party
13th of October
This Saturday Duncan Hall will open the Gifford Observatory behind Wellington College from 8 pm to 10 pm. The observatory has a fine 130mm Zeiss-Rumsey-Nankivell refractor and a flat area should you want to bring your own telescope or binoculars.

Contact telephone numbers are 474-5350 or PH 021-615-905
Contact Duncan Hall duncan.hall@ieee.org


September Astrophotography Targets from John Drummond

1. Lens - M31 in Andromeda - a large mag 4 galaxy currently culminating about 1am. I know it's a smallish target but in 6 degree FOV frame it should look nice.

2. Telescope/Easy - NGC 55 in Sculptor. It's mag 8.4 and 31' x 6'. It culminates about 12:30am. RA: 00 15, Declination: -39 13.

3. Telescope/Hard - NGC 1365 in Fornax. Type: SBb galaxy. RA: 03 33, Declination: -36 08. Magnitude: 10.3. Major axis: 11.00 arcminutes, minor axis: 6.2 RISES about 7:35pm.



2007 RASNZAPS astrophotography camp

Hi all,

just a quickie to advise that the 2007 RASNZAPS astrophotography camp will be held near Gisborne in early October 2007 - as per the voting outcomes from earlier polls. It will be held on my small farm from Friday 5th - Sunday 7th October - although people are welcome to stay Thurs - Sun nights. Cost is $15 per person per night - this includes a BBQ each night.

For details see:
http://www.possumob servatory. co.nz/gissy_ gathering- 2007.htm
or
http://tinyurl. com/2udb3b

Cheers

John Drummond, RASNZAPS DirectorPossum Observatory (IAU Code: E94)Gisborne, New ZealandE 177° 53', S 38° 38'Email: john_drummond@ xtra.co.nzWebsite: http://www.possumob servatory. co.nzImages: http://www.possumob servatory. co.nz/latest_ images-all- continuing. htm

RASNZ Astrophotography Section: http://www.rasnzaps .co.nzRASNZ Comet and Meteor Section: http://www.cometeor .co.nz



Carter Observatory e-Newsletter

The October edition of the Carter Observatory e-Newsletter can be found at :-

http://newsletter.carterobservatory.org/2007/Oct07/

Regards

Brian.



Stardate 2008

Stardate will be held at Tukituki, near Havelock North from the 10-14 January, 2008.

We have yet to confirm some of the costs, and details will be published in the newsletter as soon as possible.

http://www.astronomynz.org.nz/stardate/expression-of-interest.html



Astro Reminders put together by

Edwins News and Reminders page
http://tinyurl.com/jb6oj

Paul Moss
http://www.astronomy.net.nz/

Edwin Rod
http://laintal.screenrevolution.co.nz/