Astronomy_News_20_07_2019

Astronomy_News_20_07_2019
This months research Papers 20_07_2019
RASNZ_20_07_2019



The Breakthrough Listen Search Observations of 1327 Nearby Stars
https://arxiv.org/abs/1906.07750

Atmospheric Evolution on Low-Gravity Waterworlds
https://arxiv.org/abs/1906.10561

Planet seeding through gas-assisted capture of interstellar objects
https://arxiv.org/abs/1804.09716

Chemistry on Rotating Grain Surface
https://arxiv.org/abs/1906.11386

Runaway climate cooling of ocean planets in the habitable zone
https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.00827

The Breakthrough Listen Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.05519

Formation and delivery of complex organic molecules to the Solar System and early Earth
https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.06127

Searching the Moon for Extrasolar Material and the Building Blocks of Extraterrestrial Life
https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.05427

Searches for Technosignatures: The State of the Profession
https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.07832

Role of planetary obliquity in regulating atmospheric escape
https://arxiv.org/abs/1907.07459



Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
eNewsletter: No. 223, 20 July 2019
Affiliated Societies are welcome to reproduce any item in this email newsletter or on the RASNZ website www.rasnz.org.nz in their own newsletters provided an acknowledgement of the source is also included.

Contents
 1. Apollo 11's 50th Anniversary and Future Plans
 2. Conference Honours
 3. The Solar System in August
 4. Stargazers Getaway August 30-September 1
 5. 2019 AAS Astrophotography Competition
 6. Variable Star News
 7. Joan Marie Galat in NZ
 8. Space Weather Section Director Sought
 9. Secretary for National Astronomical Society
10. Astro-tourism Centre Opened in Tekapo
11. Another Earth-Impactor Tracked
12. Saturn's Rings from Cassini's Close-ups
13. Did a Nearby Supernova Lead to Us?
14. How to Join the RASNZ
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
16. Quote
  1. Apollo 11's 50th Anniversary and Future Plans
It's the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing but nobody has been back since the end of the Apollo programme. Now everyone, it seems, wants to go the moon.

In January, Chang’e-4, a Chinese robotic spacecraft including a small rover, became the first ever to land on the far side of the moon. India is aiming to launch Chandrayaan-2 this month, its first attempt to reach the lunar surface. Even a small Israeli non-profit, SpaceIL, tried to send a small robotic lander there this year, but it crashed.

In the coming decades, boots worn by visitors from these and other nations could add their prints to the lunar dust. China is taking a slow and steady approach, and foresees its astronauts’ first arrival about a quarter of a century in the future. The European Space Agency has put out a concept of an international “moon village” envisioned for sometime around 2050. Russia has also described plans for sending astronauts to the moon by 2030, at last, although many doubt it can afford the cost.

In the United States, which sent 24 astronauts toward the moon from 1968 to 1972, priorities shift with the whims of Congress and presidents. But NASA in February was suddenly pushed to pick up its pace when Vice President Mike Pence announced the goal of putting Americans on the moon again by 2024, four years ahead of the previous schedule.

“NASA is highly motivated,” Jim Bridenstine, the former Oklahoma congressman and Navy pilot picked by President Trump to be the agency’s administrator, said in an interview. “We now have a very clear direction.”

For India, reaching the moon would highlight its technological advances. China would establish itself as a world power off planet. For the United States and NASA, the moon is now an obvious stop along the way to Mars.

The fascination with Earth’s celestial companion is not limited to nation-states. A bevy of companies has lined up in hopes of winning NASA contracts to deliver experiments and instruments to the moon. Blue Origin, the rocket company started by Jeff Bezos, founder and chief executive of Amazon, is developing a large lander that it hopes to sell to NASA for taking cargo — and astronauts — to the moon’s surface.

For three decades after the end of the Apollo program, few thought much about the moon. The United States had beaten the Soviet Union in the moon race. After Apollo 17, the last visit by NASA astronauts in 1972, the Soviets sent a few more robotic spacecraft to the moon, but they soon also lost interest in further exploration there.

NASA in those years turned its attention to building space shuttles and then the International Space Station. Its robotic explorers headed farther out, exploring Mars more intensely, as well as the asteroid belt and the solar system’s outer worlds.

-- The first paragraphs of a New York Times article by Kenneth Chang
on July 12. See the full article with images at
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/science/nasa-moon-apollo-artemis.html

Fred Watson has an introduction to the Moon at
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-16/pocket-guide-to-the-moon/11260558
  2. Conference Honours
Two other awards made at the May Conference that were omitted from previous Newsletters:

Kyra Xavia of Dunedin received the Earth and Sky ‘Bright Star’ Award. Kyra has been extremely active in the promotion of astronomy and in the work of preserving the night sky from the effects of light pollution.

Gordon Hudson of Porirua received the President’s Service Award. Gordon was RASNZ President between 2012-14. He served as Secretary during this current term. Gordon has actively promoted astronomy and star parties since the 1980s and is an active observer/contributor.

-- From Keeping in Touch #33.
  3. The Solar System in August
Dates and times shown are NZST (UT + 12 hours).  Rise and Set times are for Wellington. They will vary by a few minutes elsewhere in NZ.  Data is adapted from that shown by GUIDE 9.

THE SUN and PLANETS in AUGUST, Rise & Set, Magnitude & Constellation
            August 1     NZST            August 31     NZST
      Mag  Cons    Rise    Set     Mag  Cons    Rise    Set
SUN  -26.7  Cnc   7.27am  5.27pm  -26.7  Leo   6.46am  5.57pm
Merc   1.9  Gem   6.21am  4.19pm   -1.8  Leo   6.46am  5.33pm
Venus -3.9  Cnc   7.21am  5.05pm   -3.9  Leo   7.05am  6.17pm
Mars   1.8  Leo   8.04am  6.17pm   .1.7  Leo   6.55am  5.57pm
Jup   -2.4  Oph   1.07pm  4.16am   -2.2  Oph  11.10am  2.08am
Sat    0.3  Sgr   3.20pm  6.18am    0.3  Sgr   1.15pm  4.15am
Uran   5.8  Ari  12.41am 11.15am    5.7  Ari  10.42pm  9.17am
Nep    7.8  Aqr   8.35pm  9.23am    7.8  Aqr   6.34pm  7.24am
Pluto 14.4  Sgr   3.46pm  6.43am   14.4  Sgr   1.45pm  4.43am

               August 1  NZST               August 31  NZST
Twilights    morning     evening        morning     evening
Civil:    start 7.00am, end  5.55pm   start 6.21am, end 6.23pm
Nautical: start 6.27am, end  6.28pm   start 5.49am, end 6.55pm
Astro:    start 5.54am, end  7.01pm   start 5.17am, end 7.27pm

      AUGUST PHASES OF THE MOON, times NZST (& UT)
  New moon:      Aug  1 at  3.12pm (03:12 UT)
  First quarter: Aug  8 at  5.31am (Aug  7, 17:31 UT).
  Full Moon:     Aug 16 at 12.29am (Aug 15, 12:29 UT)
  Last quarter   Aug 24 at  2.56am (Aug 23, 14:56 UT)
  New Moon:      Aug 30 at 10:37pm (10:37 UT)

PLANETS in August.

MERCURY, VENUS and MARS: during the last 8 days of August the three terrestrial planets are all in Leo - with the Sun (see table above).  Not surprisingly, the three planets are unobservable during August.  On the 30th they are joined by the New Moon with all three planets at conjunction with our satellite during the 24 hours.  Again, an unobservable event.

Remembering that this is as viewed from the Earth, it means that there is effectively a line-up of all 4 inner planets and Sun.

JUPITER and SATURN meanwhile are visible much of the night rising well before the time of Sunset and setting after midnight.  Jupiter is stationary on the 11th when it will be just under 7° from Antares.

This month's lunar occultation of Saturn is on the 12th.  It is visible from most of the North Island but is a miss from the South Island.  The southern limit grazing occultation of Saturn occurs along a west to east band which includes Carterton and Masterton.  The extreme outer edge is at Greytown where Saturn only just touches the moon.  Further north increasing amounts of Saturn are hidden until the latitude of Otaki from where Saturn is, briefly, fully obscured  The duration of the occultation increases the further north one goes, more than an hour at North Cape.

Predictions of times of the occultation for a number of places in the North Island and Eastern Australia are available on the Occultation Section web site .

PLUTO is close behind Saturn, rising and setting half an hour later.

URANUS remains a morning object in Aries.

NEPTUNE, is in Aquarius.  By the end of August it is in the sky most of the night.


BRIGHTEST ASTEROIDS in AUGUST, magnitude, constellation, time of transit

               AUGUST 1     NZDT      AUGUST 31    NZST
               Mag  Cons  transit    Mag  Cons  transit
(1)  Ceres     8.4   Lib   7.38am    8.9   Sco   5.59pm
(4)  Vesta     8.1   Ari   6.54am    7.7   Tau   5.24am
(15) Eunomia   8.5   Aqr   1.12am    8.5   Aqr  10.45pm

CERES moves into Scorpius on the 1st.  It passes between the second magnitude stars delta and beta Sco midmonth and ends August just over 5° from Antares and 9° from Jupiter.

VESTA is in the morning sky, rising at 1.30 am on the 1st and at midnight on the 31st.  It moves into Taurus on the 11th.

EUNOMIA is at opposition on August 12 with a magnitude 8.2. It will then be in the sky most of the night.

-- Brian Loader
  4. Stargazers Getaway August 30 - September 1
The North Otago Astronomical Society Inc, would like to invite you to Stargazers Getaway 2019, over the weekend of, Friday August 30th to Sunday September 1st at Camp Iona in Herbert.

This is the second year back for our iconic Stargazers Getaway, building on last year's camp, the first in over 10 years!

With expressions for attendees already coming in, this year is promising to be bigger and better!!

Children under 5 are free
Students 5-17 - $20 p/night, $35 for both
Adults +18 - $35 p/night, $60 for both
Day visits for talks - $5 p/day

Interested people who would like to either attend, speak or present a poster paper are asked to email the Stargazers Getaway Co-ordinator, Damien McNamara, as numbers are limited at :- solaur.science@gmail.com
  5. 2019 AAS Astrophotography Competition
Calling all Astrophotographers: get your entries in for the 2019 New Zealand Astrophotography competition before the competition cut-off date of September 30.  Winners will be announced at the Auckland Astronomical Society's annual Burbidge dinner.

This year's judge is the "Bad Astronomer" Phil Plait, American astronomer, sceptic, writer and popular science blogger. Phil is best known for debunking misconceptions in astronomy but is also a well-known astrophotography enthusiast.

Prizes are one year subscriptions to Australian Sky & Telescope and a $300 Astronz gift voucher. As well the Auckland Astronomical Society will provide a cash prize for each category winner.

For categories, prize details, competition rules and entry forms see the homepage of the Auckland Astronomical Society website
https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/default.aspx

-- Abridged from a note to the nzastronomers group by Jonathan Green.
  6. Variable Star News
False Flare
A flurry of posts was spawned on the Variable Stars South (VSS) Google discussion group starting in June. An observation was reported by Marcos da Silva of a light outburst of the 4th magnitude star Gamma Ophiuchi. The brightening was about 2 magnitudes. As this was not a known variable star a number of questions were asked and more information was provided over several posts. The observation was a short video over quite a large area of sky (60 degrees across) taken with a meteor camera, part of the Brazilian Meteor Observation Network (BRAMON). The video was taken in South America and the time of day was soon after nightfall; the video was also posted. It was eventually proposed that the phenomenon was probably due to a flash from an earth-orbiting satellite coincidentally at the same position as the star. A web-site that publishes predictions of flash events had a couple of occurrences near Gamma Oph at the time of observation. It is intriguing that the equipment launched into earth orbit can unknowingly interfere with our observations of stellar objects far away. Another explanation proposed, in this case celestial, was an incoming meteor aligned head-on with the camera. The video is available on the VSS website under “News Items” or using the following link: https://www.variablestarssouth.org/unusual-brightening-of-gamma-ophiuchi/

The comments on the flash event were mixed in with a lot of discussion of basic photometric procedures such as making and filing darks and flats. It is proposed that an updated guide to procedures for photometric systems and software will be produced, distilling the best methodologies from this discussion.

AAVSO
Three more CHOICE education courses are being offered in the remainder of the 2019 year. Notable is Exoplanet Observing, November 4 - December 6. For the full list refer to the AAVSO web-site or the July monthly Circular.

VSS Symposium in 2000
The Variable Stars South Symposium 6 (VSS S6) will be held on Friday April 10th, the first day of the 29th National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers, Easter weekend 2020, 10-13 April. The NACAA XXIX event will be held at Parkes, a NSW Regional Town, and hosted by the Central West Astronomical Society. Parkes is the site of the Parkes Radio Telescope, the famous 64 m steerable dish which has been operating since 1961. The website for the NACCA event is https://nacaa.org.au/2020/about. We will advise details of the VSS Symposium when they are posted on the VSS website.

Star Alert
The variable V854 Centauri appears to have commenced a decline. This star is a R Coronae Borealis (RCB) type star; this class of star undergoes large fades in brightness intermittently due to obscuration by dust clouds in the stellar atmosphere. Each event tends to be unique in duration and magnitude decline.

-- Alan Baldwin
  7. Joan Marie Galat in NZ
Joan Marie Galat is a Canadian-based international award-winning author whose career began at the age of 12, when she was hired as a newspaper columnist. Now she is the author of more than 20 books, including a Canadian best seller. Joan shares her love of the night sky in her Dot to Dot in the Sky series (Whitecap Books), which partners sky science with the stories early cultures first told to explain their observations. Dark Matters—Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution (Red Deer Press) offers personal stories, revealing how light at night impacts wildlife. Other titles include Black Holes and Supernovas, The Discovery of Longitude, and an upcoming title: Absolute Expert – Space (National Geographic Kids).

A professional speechwriter, former radio show host, and frequent presenter, Joan has travelled across Canada and from the Arctic Circle to Australia, South Korea, and the USA to deliver presentations promoting science and literacy. In 2016, Joan spoke about the night sky environment at a United Nations event in Seoul. Featured at the Jasper Dark Sky Festival and numerous other night sky events, she presented at the International Dark-Sky Association annual meeting in 2018. When not writing or talking about the night sky, Joan enjoys stiltwalking and can sometimes be seen in costume at Edmonton festivals.

PRESENTATIONS and WORKSHOP
Joan will be touring in New Zealand October 14 – 28, 2019. She is available for adult, family, and student presentations that explore the world through science and story. You can watch Joan’s speaker demo and book trailers, and view book descriptions at www.joangalat.com.

-- Forwarded by John Hearnshaw.
  8. Space Weather Section Director Sought
Dear Members,

Following his valuable term of service as Director of the Space Weather Section, Damien McNamara has chosen to step down from that position. Damien has become more involved with the challenges brought by increasing light pollution from new and additional sources. For and on behalf of the Council, I would like to thank Damien for his effort, energy and leadership.

Damien stepped down as Director on 5 May 2019. At this time, Council is inviting any Member of the Society who wishes to be considered for the Directorship of the Space Weather Section to apply. Applications close at 5 p.m. 12 April 2019.

Applications are to be sent by post or email to the Secretary by the above deadline; secretary@rasnz.org.nz.

Applications are to include
  1. a statement of interest which sets out the Member's interests in Space Weather, their past experience, their plans for leading the Section and any new initiatives for the Section's members, and
  2. the names and contact details of two referees of whom Council can request further information about the applicant. Applications are to be no more than two sides of A4 in length, font size at least 12, font either Times New Roman or Ariel.

Yours,
Nicholas Rattenbury, RASNZ President.
  9. Secretary for National Astronomical Society
 The Royal New Zealand Astronomical Society (RASNZ) is seeking a suitable person to take on the voluntary role of Secretary.  This is an important role within RASNZ. The new appointee will be a key member of RASNZ helping administer and make strategic decisions for RASNZ.

 No formal qualifications or prior experience in a similar role are necessary, and, this role does not preclude holders of positions in other astronomical societies. However, knowledge of RASNZ rules
(https://www.rasnz.org.nz/images/articleFiles/Council/Rules2015.pdf), history and operations would be beneficial to performing the duties.  Templates created by former holders of this position will be made available.  This role can be undertaken entirely from the home office but attendance at the RASNZ Council's AGM held once a year at the RASNZ annual conference is strongly encouraged.

 The responsibilities of the Secretary include:
 (i) Receive and send physical and electronic correspondence on behalf of the RASNZ, document it and draw appropriate people's attention to the
correspondence;
 (ii) Compile the Council's Annual Report and prepare it for approval by the Council in time for publication in the March issue of Southern Stars, and
 (iii) Maintain a record of meetings and motions, both physical and electronic.

 This offers a great opportunity for someone to contribute to the nationwide support and promotion of astronomy, science education and related research.

 Contact: Nick Rattenbury (nicholas.rattenbury@gmail.com)
 President - RASNZ
  10. Astro-tourism Centre Opened in Tekapo
An $11 million, fully immersive dark sky experience is now open in Tekapo combining Maori astronomy and science.

Dark Sky Project, formerly Earth and Sky, opened the doors to its new 1140sqm building on the Tekapo lakefront on July 1 and is a joint venture between Ngai Tahu Tourism and co-founders Graeme Murray and Hide Ozawa.
The centre includes the Dark Sky Diner, and will be the departure point for the astro-tourism business' outdoor, evening stargazing experiences.

Mana whenua from Arowhenua, Waihao and Moeraki runanga blessed the building named Rehua on Monday while Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy, opened the new experience.

Murray said it "has been incredible" to watch the building take shape, especially the moment the large observatory dome was craned on in April.
"Ever since Hide and I stood on the summit of Otehiwai (Mt John) looking up at the night sky 15 years ago, it has been our dream to develop a home for astronomy in the heart of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, so that we could inspire a lifelong understanding and passion for our night skies."

The dome houses the 125-year-old Brashear Telescope, which stands up to nine metres tall and was in storage for five decades before being restored in Fairlie over the past two years. The telescope is now part of the new 45-minute Dark Sky Experience.

The centre will tell the stories of local iwi and runanga's relationship with the night sky, and how it has developed.

It is located at the heart of the Aoraki/Mt Cook Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve - the largest dark sky reserve in the world and the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai said the $3m in government funding provided by the Tourism Growth Partnership fund in 2016 was the kick-start the $11 million development needed. "It will further enhance the Ngai Tahu contribution to regional development and job creation – mo tatou, a, mo ka uri a muri ake nei. I truly commend mana whenua and all involved in the creation of an authentic experience that will see our ancestors' stories told to the world."

To ensure the Dark Sky Experience was authentic, Dark Sky Project worked with mana whenua from Arowhenua, Waihao and Moeraki, leading Maori astronomy expert Professor Rangi Matamua and the University of Canterbury to bring to life the stories of the universe.

-- From The Timaru Herald of July 2.  See the original text with photos at  https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/113896886/new-star-attraction-opens-in-tekapo-combining-mori-astronomy-and-science
  11. Another Earth-Impactor Tracked
On June 22 around 21:26 UT (17:26 local time), a roughly 5-metre object entered the atmosphere over the Caribbean Sea, and exploded at an altitude of about 25 km over the sea surface, releasing an energy roughly equivalent to 3 kilotons of TNT.  The explosion was first detected by the geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) instrument on board the GOES-16 geostationary satellite.

A couple of days later the NASA JPL team realised that an object appearing on the NEO Confirmation Page as A10eoM1, discovered on the morning of June 22 by the ATLAS survey in Hawaii, could be a good candidate progenitor for the fireball event.  This tentative identification allowed the Pan-STARRS team to locate three pre-discovery detections of the object in images obtained by the Pan-STARRS2 telescope a couple of hours before the ATLAS discovery.  Adding the corresponding astrometry to the orbit determination confirmed the identification of the object with the fireball event, pinpointing the impact location with a precision of a few hundred km.

The asteroid has now been designated 2019 MO and is the fourth known impactor detected by surveys before impact with our planet.

Past impactors have been 2008 TC3, on 2008 October 7, about 4 metres across, found 20 hours before impact; 2014 AA on 2014 January 2, 2-4 metres across, found about 22 hours before impact; 2018 LA found on 2018 June 2, 2-5 metres across, found 8 hours before impact; and 2019 MO, 4-8 metres across, recorded 13 hours before impact.

For more information see  http://neo.ssa.esa.int

-- Copied from the European Space Agency's NEO Coordination Centre Newsletter July 2019.  See the above website for the original.
  12. Saturn's Rings from Cassini's Close-ups
As NASA's Cassini spacecraft (https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/cassini) dove close to Saturn in its final year, the spacecraft provided intricate detail on the workings of Saturn's complex rings, new analysis shows.
  
Although the mission ended in 2017, science continues to flow from the data collected. A new paper published on June 13 in Science describes results from four Cassini instruments taking their closest-ever observations of the main rings.
  
Findings include fine details of features sculpted by masses embedded within the rings. Textures and patterns, from clumpy to straw-like, pop out of the images, raising questions about the interactions that shaped them. New maps reveal how colours, chemistry and temperature change across the rings.
  
Like a planet under construction inside a disk of protoplanetary material, tiny moons embedded in Saturn's rings (named A through G, in order of their discovery) interact with the particles around them. In that way, the paper provides further evidence that the rings are a window into the astrophysical disk processes that shape our solar system.
  
The observations also deepen scientists' understanding of the complex Saturn system. Scientists conclude that at the outer edge of the main rings, a series of similar impact-generated streaks in the F ring have the same length and orientation, showing that they were likely caused by a flock of impactors that all struck the ring at the same time. This shows that the ring is shaped by streams of material that orbit Saturn itself rather than, for instance, by cometary debris (moving around the Sun) that happens to crash into the rings.
  
"These new details of how the moons are sculpting the rings in various ways provide a window into solar system formation, where you also have disks evolving under the influence of masses embedded within them," said lead author and Cassini scientist Matt Tiscareno of the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California.
  
At the same time, new puzzles have arisen and old mysteries have deepened with the latest research. The close-up ring images brought into focus three distinct textures -- clumpy, smooth and streaky -- and made it clear that these textures occur in belts with sharp boundaries. But why? In many places the belts aren't connected to any ring characteristics that scientists have yet identified.

"This tells us the way the rings look is not just a function of how much material there is," Tiscareno said. "There has to be something different about the characteristics of the particles, perhaps affecting what happens when two ring particles collide and bounce off each other. And we don't yet know what it is."
  
The data analysed were gathered during the Ring Grazing Orbits (December 2016 to April 2017) and the Grand Finale (April to September 2017), when Cassini flew just above Saturn's cloud tops. As the spacecraft was running out of fuel, the mission team deliberately plunged it into the planet's atmosphere in September 2017.
  
Cassini's Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) uncovered another mystery. The spectrometer, which imaged the rings in visible and near-infrared light, identified unusually weak water-ice bands in the outermost part of the A ring. That was a surprise, because the area is known to be highly reflective, which usually is a sign of less-contaminated ice and thus stronger water ice bands.
   
The new spectral map also sheds light on the composition of the rings. And while scientists already knew that water ice is the main component, the spectral map ruled out detectable ammonia ice and methane ice as ingredients. But it also doesn't see organic compounds -- a surprise, given the organic material Cassini has discovered flowing from the D ring into Saturn's atmosphere.
  
The research signals the start of the next era of Cassini science, said NASA's Ames Research Center's Jeff Cuzzi, who's been studying Saturn's rings since the 1970s and is the interdisciplinary scientist for rings on the Cassini mission.
  
"We see so much more, and closer up, and we're getting new and more interesting puzzles," Cuzzi said. "We are just settling into the next phase, which is building new, detailed models of ring evolution -- including the new revelation from Cassini data that the rings are much younger than Saturn."
  
The new observations give scientists an even more intimate view of the rings than they had before, and each examination reveals new complexities, said Cassini Project Scientist Linda Spilker, based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. "It's like turning the power up one more notch on what we could see in the rings. Everyone just got a clearer view of what's going on. Getting that extra resolution answered many questions, but so many tantalizing ones remain."

For the original and graphics see
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2019-114

-- From a Jet Propulsion Laboratory press release forwarded by Karen Pollard. 
    13. Did a Nearby Supernova Lead to Us?
Did ancient supernovae induce proto-humans to walk on two legs, eventually resulting in homo sapiens with hands free to build cathedrals, design rockets and snap iPhone selfies?
  
A paper published on May 28 in the Journal of Geology makes the case: Supernovae bombarded Earth with cosmic ray energy starting as many as 8 million years ago, with a peak some 2.6 million years ago. This ionized  the lower atmosphere and set off a chain of events that feasibly ended with bipedal hominins such as homo habilis, dubbed “handy man.”
  
The authors believe atmospheric ionization probably triggered an enormous upsurge in cloud-to-ground lightning strikes that ignited forest fires around the globe. These infernos could be one reason ancestors of homo sapiens developed bipedalism -- to adapt in savannas that replaced torched forests in northeast Africa.
  
“It is thought there was already some tendency for hominins to walk on two legs, even before this event,” said lead author Adrian Melott, professor emeritus of physics & astronomy at the University of Kansas. “But they were mainly adapted for climbing around in trees. After this conversion to savanna, they would much more often have to walk from one tree to another across the grassland, and so they become better at walking upright. They could see over the tops of grass and watch for predators. It’s thought this conversion to savanna contributed to bipedalism as it became more and more dominant in human ancestors.”
  
Based on a tell-tale layer of iron-60 deposits lining the world’s sea beds, astronomers have high confidence that a supernovae exploded in Earth’s immediate cosmic neighbourhood -- between 100 and only 50 parsecs (330 to 160 light-years) away -- during the transition from the Pliocene Epoch to the Ice Age.

The researchers calculated the ionization of the atmosphere caused by cosmic rays from such a supernova, which appears to have been the closest one in a much longer series. They contend it would increase the ionization of the lower atmosphere by 50-fold. Usually cosmic rays don’t penetrate that far, but the more energetic ones from supernovae come right down to the surface. Ionization in the lower atmosphere meant an abundance of electrons would form more pathways for lightning strikes so there would be a lot more lightning bolts.

The probability that this lightning spike touched off a worldwide upsurge in wildfires is supported by the discovery of carbon deposits found in soils that correspond with the timing of the cosmic-ray bombardment.

“The observation is that there’s a lot more charcoal and soot in the world starting a few million years ago,” Melott said. “It’s all over the place, and nobody has any explanation for why it would have happened all over the world in different climate zones. This could be an explanation. That increase in fires is thought to have stimulated the transition from woodland to savanna in a lot of places. That’s thought to be related to human evolution in northeast Africa. Specifically, in the Great Rift Valley where you get all these hominin fossils.”

Melott said no such event is likely to occur again anytime soon. The nearest star capable of exploding into a supernova in the next million years is Betelgeuse, currently some 150 parsecs (500 light-years) from Earth. That's too far away to have effects anywhere near this strong. So, don’t worry about it. Worry about solar proton events. That’s the danger for us with our technology: a solar flare that knocks out electrical power. Just imagine months without electricity.

For the original text and references see https://news.ku.edu/2019/03/12/supernovae-zapped-earth-26-million-years-ago-researchers-wonder-if-they-prompted-human

-- From a University of Kansas press release forwarded by Karen Pollard.
  14. How to Join the RASNZ
RASNZ membership is open to all individuals with an interest in
astronomy in New Zealand. Information about the society and its
objects can be found at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/membership-benefits
A membership form can be either obtained from treasurer@rasnz.co.nz or
by completing the online application form found at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/membership-application
Basic membership for the 2019 year starts at $40 for an ordinary
member, which includes an electronic subscription to our journal
'Southern Stars'.
  15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
The RASNZ administers the Gifford-Eiby Memorial Lectureship Fund to
assist Affiliated Societies with travel costs of getting a lecturer
or instructor to their meetings.  Details are in RASNZ By-Laws Section
H.

For an application form contact the Executive Secretary
secretary@rasnz.org.nz,
  16. Quote
"In the space of one hundred and seventy-six years the Lower Mississippi has shortened itself two hundred and forty-two miles. Therefore ... in the Old Oolitic Silurian Period the Lower Mississippi River was upward of one million three hundred thousand miles long... seven hundred and forty-two years from now the Lower Mississippi will be only a mile and three-quarters long... There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture out of such a trifling investment of fact."  -- Mark Twain quoted on Phil Plait's 'Bad Astronomy' webpage, http://www.badastronomy.com/index.html
  Alan Gilmore               Phone: 03 680 6817
P.O. Box 57                alan.gilmore@canterbury.ac.nz
Lake Tekapo 7945
New Zealand



July Celestial Calendar by Dave Mitsky

All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract four hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EDT)

7/1 The Moon is 1.6 degrees south-southeast of Venus at 23:00
7/2 Asteroid 18 Melpomene (magnitude +9.2) is at opposition at 1:00; New Moon (lunation 1194) occurs at 19:16; a total solar eclipse visible from the southern Pacific Ocean, northern Chile, and central Argentina reaches greatest eclipse at 19:22:53
7/3 The Moon is at the ascending node (longitude 107.6 degrees) at 7:00; the Moon is 6.1 degrees south of the first magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 18:00
7/4 The Moon is 0.1 degree north of Mars, with an occultation occurring in Micronesia, most of Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the eastern tip of Africa, at 6:00; the Moon is 3.3 degrees north-northeast of Mercury at 10:00; the Moon lies within the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive or Praesepe) in Cancer at 15:00; the Earth is at aphelion (152,104,285 kilometers or 94,513,221 miles from the Sun) at 22:00
7/5 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 51" at a distance of 363,726 kilometers (226,009 miles) at 5:00; Venus is at the ascending node through the ecliptic plane at 13:00
7/6 The Moon is 3.1 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 5:00
7/7 Mercury is stationary at 4:00; Venus is at its northernmost declination (23.4 degrees) at 5:00; Mercury is at aphelion at 7:00; Mercury (magnitude +2.0) is 4.0 degrees south of Mars (magnitude +1.8) at 14:00
7/9 First Quarter Moon occurs at 10:55; the Lunar X, also known as the Werner or Purbach Cross, an X-shaped illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to begin at 15:58; Saturn (magnitude +0.1, apparent size 18.4") is at opposition at 17:00
7/10 The Moon is 7.3 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 0:00; the middle of the eclipse season (i.e., the Sun is at same ecliptic longitude as the Moon’s ascending node, 107..5 degrees) occurs at 0:00
7/13 The Moon is 7.8 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 11:00; the Moon is 2.3 degrees north-northeast of Jupiter at 21:00
7/14 Pluto is at opposition (magnitude +14.2, apparent size 0.1") at 15:00
7/16 The Moon is 0.2 degree south of Saturn, with an occultation occurring in central South America, Easter Island, southern Polynesia, and eastern Melanesia, at 7:00; the Moon is at the descending node (longitude 287.7 degrees) at 9:00; the Moon is 0.04 degree south of Pluto, with an occultation occurring in western Micronesia, northern and central Australia, southern Indonesia, Madagascar, and eastern Africa, at 17:00; the Moon is at the descending node (longitude 287.7 degrees) at 9:00; a partial lunar eclipse visible from South America, Europe, Africa, most of Asia, and Australia reaches greatest eclipse at 21:30:44; Full Moon, known as the Hay or Thunder Moon, occurs at 21:38
7/18 Mars is at its greatest heliocentric latitude north today
7/19 The dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres is stationary at 17:00
7/20 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 28" from a distance of 405,481 kilometers (251,954 miles) at 23:59
7/21 The Sun enters Cancer, at longitude 118.3 degrees on the ecliptic, at 7:00; the Moon is 4.0 degrees south of Neptune at 8:00; Mercury reaches inferior conjunction at 12:00
7/22 Venus is 6.0 degrees south of Pollux at 17:00
7/23 The Sun’s ecliptic longitude is 120 degrees at 3:00
7/25 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 1:18; Mercury (magnitude +4.1) is 5.6 degrees south-southwest of Venus (magnitude -3.9) at 3:00; the Moon is 5.0 degrees south of Uranus at 7:00; the Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 17:25
7/26 The equation of time, which yields the difference between mean solar time and apparent solar time, is at a minimum of -6.55 minutes, at 12:00
7/27 Mercury is at its greatest heliocentric latitude south today; the Moon is 7.9 degrees south-southeast of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) in Taurus at 8:00
7/28 The Moon is 2.3 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) at 1:00
7/30 The Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower (15 to 20 per hour) peaks; the Moon is at the ascending node (longitude 107.6 degrees) at 17:00
7/31 The Moon is 4.5 degrees north of Mercury at 4:00; the Moon is 6.1 degrees south of Pollux at 4:00; Mercury is stationary at 19:00; the Moon is 0..7 degree northeast of Venus at 22:00

Friedrich Bessel (1784-1846) was born this month.

The light from Supernova SN 1054 was first noted by Chinese astronomers on July 4, 1054. The first lunar map was drawn by Thomas Harriot on July 26, 1609. Charles Messier discovered the globular cluster M28 in Sagittarius on July 27, 1764. Comet D/1770 L1 (Lexell) passed closer to the Earth than any comet in recorded history on July 1, 1770. Charles Messier discovered the globular cluster M54 in Sagittarius on July 24, 1778. Caroline Herschel discovered the open cluster NGC 6866 in Cygnus on July 23, 1783. The globular cluster NGC 6569 in Sagittarius was discovered by William Herschel on July 13, 1784. Karl Ludwig Hencke discovered asteroid 6 Hebe on July 1, 1847. The first photograph of a star, namely Vega, was taken on July 17, 1850. The first photograph of a total solar eclipse was taken on July 28, 1851. Henri-Alexandre Deslandres invented the spectroheliograph on July 24, 1853. Sinope, one of Jupiter’s many satellites was discovered by Seth Nicholson on July 21, 1914. Karl Jansky announced the detection of radio radiation from the center of the Milky Way on July 8, 1933. Seth Nicholson discovered Neptune’s satellite Lysithea on July 6, 1938. The Mariner 4 probe took the first close-up image of another planet, namely Mars, on July 14, 1965. The Apollo 11 lunar module landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Neptune’s satellites Despinea and Galatea are discovered using images from the Voyager 2 probe on July 27, 1989. Fragments of Comet D/1993 F2 (Shoemaker-Levy) impacted Jupiter on July 16, 1994. Prospero, one of the satellites of Uranus, is discovered by Matthew Holman on July 18, 1999. Pluto’s satellite Styx is discovered using images from the New Horizon probe on July 11, 2012.

The peak of the Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower on the morning of July 30th is not compromised by moonlight. The radiant is located northwest of the first-magnitude star Fomalhaut (Alpha Piscis Austrini). Southern hemisphere observers are favored. Click on http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-delta-aquarid-meteor-shower http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-delta-aquarid-meteor-shower for further information. Other minor meteor showers with southern radiants occurring this month are the Alpha Capricornids, the Piscis Austrinids, and the Northern Delta Aquarids.

Information on Iridium flares and passes of the ISS, the Tiangong-2, the USAF’s X-37B, the HST, and other satellites can be found at http://www.heavens-above.com/ http://www.heavens-above.com/

The Moon is 27.4 days old, is illuminated 5.0%, subtends 31.3 arc minutes, and is located in Taurus on July 1st at 0:00 UT. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination of +22.4 degrees on July 3rd and +22.3 on July 30th and its greatest southern declination of -22.4 degrees on July 16th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.0 degrees on July 12th and a minimum of -6.9 degrees on July 27th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.8 degrees on July 24th and a minimum of -6.8 degrees on July 9th. New Moon takes place on July 2nd. The Moon is at perigee on July 5th (distance 57.03 Earth-radii) and at apogee on July 27th (distance 63.58 Earth-radii). The Moon forms a triangle with Jupiter and Antares on the night of July 12th and lies almost halfway between Jupiter and Saturn on July 14th. A partial lunar eclipse, the 22nd of Saros 139, takes place on July 16th, with greatest eclipse occurring at 21:30:44 UT. Approximately 65% of the Moon will be covered by the Earth’s shadow. The eclipse is not visible from North America. The Moon occults Mars and Saturn from various parts of the world on July 4th and July 16th respectively. See http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on lunar occultations taking place in July. Visit http://saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ http://saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons. Click on https://www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2019/july https://www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2019/july for a lunar phase calendar for this month. The times and dates for the lunar crater light rays predicted to occur in July are available at http://www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm http://www.lunar-occultations..com/rlo/rays/rays.htm

The Sun is located in Gemini on July 1st. The Earth is farthest from the Sun on July 4th, when it is 3.3% more distant than it was at perihelion and 1.7% farther than its average distance. A total solar eclipse visible from the southern Pacific Ocean, northern Chile, and central Argentina occurs on July 2nd. This will be the 58th eclipse of Saros 127. Greatest eclipse takes place in the southern Pacific Ocean at 19:22:53 UT and lasts for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. A partial solar eclipse can be seen from most of South America and a small portion of Central America. Consult https://eclipse.gsfc..nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2019Jul02T.GIF https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2019Jul02T.GIF for further information. The Sun enters Cancer on July 21st.

Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on July 1st: Mercury (+1.0 magnitude, 9.4", 27% illuminated, 0.72 a.u., Cancer), Venus (-3.9 magnitude, 9.9", 98% illuminated, 1.68 a.u., Taurus), Mars (+1.8 magnitude, 3.7", 99% illuminated, 2.56 a.u., Cancer), Jupiter (-2.6 magnitude, 45.5", 100% illuminated, 4.34 a.u., Ophiuchus), Saturn (+0.1 magnitude, 18.4", 100% illuminated, 9.05 a.u., Sagittarius), Uranus (+5.8 magnitude, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 20.05 a.u. on July 16th, Aries), Neptune (+7.8 magnitude, 2.3", 100% illuminated, 29.35 a.u. on July 16th, Aquarius), and Pluto (+14.2 magnitude, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 32.82 a.u. on July 16th, Sagittarius).

Mercury is located in the west, Mars in the northwest, Jupiter in the south, and Saturn in the southeast during the evening. At midnight, Jupiter is in the southwest, Saturn is in the south, and Neptune is in the east. In the morning, Venus can be found in the northeast, Saturn in the southwest, Uranus in the east, and Neptune in the south.

Mercury can be seen with difficulty low in west-northwest the evening sky in early July. A thin crescent Moon passes within three degrees of Mercury on July 4th. Mercury passes four degrees south of Mars on July 7th and less than six degrees south of Venus on July 25th. The speediest planet reaches inferior conjunction on July 21st.

Venus disappears into the glare of the Sun early in the month. It lies very low in the east-northeast at dawn on July 1st.

Mars is occulted by a thin crescent Moon from some parts of the world on July 4th. Mars is at its greatest heliocentric latitude north on July 18th. By the end of the month, Mars subtends just 3.5 arc seconds.

Jupiter drops in brightness by two tenths of a magnitude and in apparent size by more than two arc seconds this month. The gas giant subtends 44.4 arc seconds at its equator and 41.6 arc seconds at its poles at mid-month. It culminates shortly before 11:30 p.m. local time at the beginning of the month and just after 9:00 p.m. local time as July ends. The waxing gibbous Moon passes two degrees to the north of Jupiter on the night of July 13th. Favorable EDT transits by Io and its shadow take place on the nights of July 4th, July 11th, July 18th, and July 27th. Io reappears from eclipse approximately 14 arc seconds from the eastern limb at approximately 11:48 p.m. EDT on July 12th. Europa transits the planet at a favorable EDT time on July 23rd. EDT transits by Ganymede occur on July 24th and July 31st. Information on Great Red Spot transit times and Galilean satellite events is available on pages 50 and 51 of the July 2019 issue of Sky & Telescope and online at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ and https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm

When Saturn reaches opposition on July 9th, it is located to the east of the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius. At that time, the Ringed Planet shines at magnitude +0.1, subtends 18.4 arc seconds at its equator and 16.9 arc seconds at its poles, has a declination of -22 degrees, and is 75 light minutes from the Earth. Saturn’s rings span 41.8 arc seconds at opposition and are tilted greater than 24 degrees with respect to the Earth. The average number of days between successive oppositions is 378. Saturn passes 1.1 degrees south of the third-magnitude star Pi Sagittarii on July 20th and 0.7 degree southeast of the fourth-magnitude star Omicron Sagittarii on July 31st. The gas giant attains a maximum altitude of approximately 28 degrees during July. Saturn is occulted by a nearly Full Moon from some parts of the world on July 16th. The faint satellite Enceladus shines at twelfth magnitude and is 16 arc seconds to the east of the edge of Saturn’s A ring on July 9th. Iapetus shines at tenth magnitude and is positioned 8..4 arc minutes west of Saturn on the same night. Eight-magnitude Titan and tenth-magnitude Tethys are also west of the planet, while tenth-magnitude Rhea and Dione lie to the north. For further data on Saturn’s satellites, browse http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/ http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/

Uranus can be found in southern Aries approximately ten degrees southeast of the second-magnitude star Hamal (Alpha Arietis) and 2.3 degrees south of the sixth-magnitude star 19 Arietis. A waning crescent Moon passes five degrees south of Uranus on July 25th. Visit http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Maps/Charts-2019/09uranus_2019_1.pdf http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Maps/Charts-2019/09uranus_2019_1.pdf and http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm for finder charts.

Neptune is located in eastern Aquarius. The eighth planet is situated just east of the fourth-magnitude star Phi Aquarii at the start of the month. By the end of July, Neptune lies 0.9 degree from that star. A waning gibbous Moon passes four degrees south of Neptune on July 21st. Browse http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Maps/Charts-2019/10neptune_2019_1.pdf http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Maps/Charts-2019/10neptune_2019_1..pdf and http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm for finder charts.

Finder charts for Uranus and Neptune are also available at https://www.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_UrNep19.pdf https://www.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_UrNep19.pdf

The dwarf planet Pluto is at opposition in eastern Sagittarius on July 14th. It’s occulted by a nearly Full Moon from some parts of the world on July 16th. Finder charts can be found at http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Maps/Charts-2019/Pluto2019.jpg http://www.bluewaterastronomy..info/resources/Maps/Charts-2019/Pluto2019.jpg and on page 48 and 49 of the July 2019 issue of Sky & Telescope and on page 243 of the RASC Observer’s Handbook 2019.


For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/ http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/

The periodic comet 168P/Hergenrother heads northeastward through the vicinity of Pisces, Cetus, and Aries during July. It may shine at only twelfth magnitude. See http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/ http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and http://www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html http://www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for additional information on comets visible this month..

The dwarf planet/asteroid 1 Ceres shines at eighth magnitude as it journeys southwestward through Libra. It lies within three degrees of the second-magnitude binary star Beta Scorpii for the entire month. Asteroids brighter than magnitude +11.0 reaching opposition this month include 18 Melpomene (magnitude +9.2) in Scutum on July 2nd and 45 Eugenia (magnitude +10.8) in Capricornus on July 26th. Information on asteroid occultations taking place this month is available at http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2019_07_si.htm http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2019_07_si.htm

A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at http://nineplanets.org/ and http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html

Various events taking place within our solar system are discussed at http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/styled-4/index.html http://www.bluewaterastronomy.info/styled-4/index.html

Information on the celestial events transpiring each week can be found at http://astronomy.com/skythisweek http://astronomy.com/skythisweek and http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/ http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/

Free star charts for the month can be downloaded at http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and https://www.telescope.com/content.jsp?pageName=Monthly-Star-Chart https://www.telescope.com/content.jsp?pageName=Monthly-Star-Chart

Data on current supernovae can be found at http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/ http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/

Finder charts for the Messier objects and other deep-sky objects are posted at https://freestarcharts.com/messier https://freestarcharts.com/messier and https://freestarcharts.com/ngc-ic https://freestarcharts.com/ngc-ic and http://www.cambridge.org/features/turnleft/seasonal_skies_july-september.htm http://www.cambridge.org/features/turnleft/seasonal_skies_july-september..htm

Telrad finder charts for the Messier Catalog and the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are posted at http://www.astro-tom.com/messier/messier_finder_charts/map1.pdf http://www.astro-tom.com/messier/messier_finder_charts/map1..pdf and http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/db/Book110BestNGC.pdf http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/db/Book110BestNGC.pdf respectively.

Information pertaining to observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies can be found at http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/358295-how-to-locate-some-of-the-major-messier-galaxies-and-helpful-advice-for-novice-amateur-astronomers/ http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/358295-how-to-locate-some-of-the-major-messier-galaxies-and-helpful-advice-for-novice-amateur-astronomers/

Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel are two excellent freeware planetarium programs that are available at http://stellarium.org/ http://stellarium.org/ and https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start

Deep-sky object list generators can be found at http://www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ http://www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and http://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php http://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php and https://dso-browser.com/ https://dso-browser.com/

Freeware sky atlases can be downloaded at http://www.deepskywatch.com/files/deepsky-atlas/Deep-Sky-Hunter-atlas-full.pdf http://www.deepskywatch.com/files/deepsky-atlas/Deep-Sky-Hunter-atlas-full.pdf and http://astro.mxd120.com/free-star-atlases http://astro.mxd120.com/free-star-atlases

The multiple star 36 Ophiuchi consists of three orange dwarf stars. For more on this interesting system, see https://stardate.org/radio/program/orange-triplets https://stardate.org/radio/program/orange-triplets and http://www.solstation.com/stars/36ophiu3.htm http://www.solstation.com/stars/36ophiu3.htm

Forty binary and multiple stars for July: Eta Draconis, 17 & 16 Draconis, Mu Draconis, Struve 2273, Nu-1 & Nu-2 Draconis, Psi Draconis (Draco); Kappa Herculis, Gamma Herculis, Struve 2063, 56 Herculis, Struve 2120, Alpha Herculis (Ras Algethi), Delta Herculis, Rho Herculis, Mu Herculis (Hercules); Rho Ophiuchi, Lambda Ophiuchi, 36 Ophiuchi, Omicron Ophiuchi, Burnham 126 (ADS 10405), Struve 2166, 53 Ophiuchi, 61 Ophiuchi (Ophiuchus); h5003 (Sagittarius) ; Xi Scorpii, Struve 1999, Beta Scorpii, Nu Scorpii, 12 Scorpii, Sigma Scorpii, Alpha Scorpii (Antares), h4926 (Scorpius); Struve 2007, 49 Serpentis, Struve 2031 (Serpens Caput); 53 Serpentis, Struve 2204, h4995, h2814 (Serpens Cauda); Epsilon Ursae Minoris (Ursa Minor)

Notable carbon star for July: T Draconis

Sixty-five deep-sky objects for July: NGC 6140, NGC 6236, NGC 6340, NGC 6395, NGC 6412, NGC 6503, NGC 6543 (Draco); IC 4593, M13, M92, NGC 6106, NGC 6166, NGC 6173, NGC 6181, NGC 6207, NGC 6210, NGC 6229, NGC 6482 (Hercules); B61, B62, B63, B64, B72, IC 4634, IC 4665, LDN 42, LDN 1773, M9, M10, M12, M14, M19, M62, M107, NGC 6284, NGC 6287, NGC 6293, NGC 6304, NGC 6309, NGC 6356, NGC 6366, NGC 6369, NGC 6384, NGC 6401, Tr 26 (Ophiuchus); NGC 6440, NGC 6445 (Sagittarius) ; B50, B55, B56, Cr 316, M4, M6, M7, M80, NGC 6144, NGC 6153, NGC 6192, NGC 6231, NGC 6242, NGC 6302, NGC 6337, NGC 6451 (Scorpius); NGC 6217, NGC 6324 (Ursa Minor)

Top ten binocular deep-sky objects for July: IC 4665, LDN 1773, M4, M6, M7, M10, M12, M13, M92, NGC 6231

Top ten deep-sky objects for July: M4, M6, M7, M10, M12, M13, M92, NGC 6210, NGC 6231, NGC 6543

Challenge deep-sky object for July: NGC 6380 (Scorpius)

The objects listed above are located between 16:00 and 18:00 hours of right ascension.








This email describes updates for minor planet occultations for July 019.
If you do not wish to receive these updates please advise the
Occultation Section.

You can view updated paths and other details at:
http://www.occultations.org.nz/

Minor Planet Occultation Updates:
================================

Events of particular ease or importance below are marked: *****

Jul 3 (546) HERODIAS: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 1.9 sec, Mag Drop 3
Across Australia from near Canberra at low elevation across southern New
South Wales, central South Australia and central Western Australia to
near Karratha.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190703_546_63612_u.htm

Jul 3 (91) AEGINA: Star Mag 12, Max dur 9.9 sec, Mag Drop 1.4
Across southern Australia from King Island across Bass Straight,
possibly including the South Gippsland coast.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190703_91_60576_u.htm

Jul 3 (45) EUGENIA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 24.8 sec, Mag Drop 0.5
A broad path across the North Island of New Zealand, including Auckland
to Mangonui.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190703_45_60578_u.htm

Jul 4 (406) ERNA: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 4.4 sec, Mag Drop 1.9
A fairly narrow path across the North Island of New Zealand, from
Woodville to Opunake, and across Australia from Coffs Harbour across
north-eastern New South Wales, south-western Queensland and southern
Northern Territory at low and decreasing elevation.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190704_406_60584_u.htm

Jul 4 (814) TAURIS: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 7.5 sec, Mag Drop 3.9
Across western Western Australia from Albany and Perth to Carnarvon.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190704_814_60590_u.htm

Jul 4 (405) THIA: Star Mag 11.1, Max dur 8.7 sec, Mag Drop 1.3
A broad path across south-eastern Australia from Coffin Bay across
south-eastern South Australia near Peterborough and across New South
Wales from near Broken Hill to Byron Bay.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190704_405_60592_u.htm

Jul 5 (517) EDITH: Star Mag 12.1, Max dur 6.7 sec, Mag Drop 2.6
Across northern Australia from near Mackay across northern Queensland
and northern Northern Territory to near Wyndham in northern Western
Australia.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190705_517_60598_u.htm

Jul 5 (424) GRATIA: Star Mag 11.6, Max dur 6.4 sec, Mag Drop 2.1
Across Australia from Rockhampton across southern Queensland, central
South Australia and southern Western Australia to Perth.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190705_424_60600_u.htm

Jul 8 (573) RECHA: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 6.4 sec, Mag Drop 2.4
Across New Zealand, near Whangarei, and across Australia from Ballina
across north-eastern New South Wales, Queensland from Warwick to near Mt
Isa, and across northern Northern Territory to Timber Creek.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190708_573_60632_u.htm

Jul 8 (14) IRENE: Star Mag 11.6, Max dur 7.4 sec, Mag Drop 1
Across Australia from Denham across central Western Australia and into
southern Northern Territory (and northern Queensland) in morning twilight.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190708_14_60634_u.htm

Jul 9 (379) HUENNA: Star Mag 12, Max dur 8.8 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
Across northern Australia from Cairns across northern Queensland,
northern Northern Territory and northern Western Australia to Derby .
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190709_379_60644_u.htm

Jul 10 (21) LUTETIA: Star Mag 10.8, Max dur 8.1 sec, Mag Drop 0.9
A broad path across south-eastern Australia from Millicent across
south-eastern South Australia, Victoria, passing directly over Bendigo,
and south-eastern New South Wales to Bateman's Bay, just south of Canberra.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190710_21_60652_u.htm

Jul 10 (1071) BRITA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 4.6 sec, Mag Drop 3.6
Across northern Australia, from Cairns across northern Queensland,
central Northern Territory and central Western Australia to Carnarvon.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190710_1071_60654_u.htm

Jul 12 (859) BOUZAREAH: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 6.7 sec, Mag Drop 2.5
Across the North Island of New Zealand, from Tokomar to New Plymouth,
and across Australia along the northern coastline of Tasmania and
south-west Western Australia from Bremner Bay to Bunbury, possibly
including southern Perth.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190712_859_60674_u.htm

Jul 12 (458) HERCYNIA: Star Mag 10.6, Max dur 5.4 sec, Mag Drop 3.8
Across the South Island of New Zealand, from Milton to Queenstown, and
into south-eastern New South Wales, possibly including Canberra, but at
very low elevation .
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190712_458_60676_u.htm

Jul 12 (9) METIS: Star Mag 12, Max dur 8.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.3
Across Australia from Margaret River along the southern Western
Australia coastline, across South Australia and southern Queensland to
Gladstone.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190712_9_60678_u.htm

Jul 13 (200) DYNAMENE: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 10.6 sec, Mag Drop 1
Across New Zealand, from Waipukurau to Bulls, and near Motueka, and
across southern Tasmania, including all south of Swansea and Queenstown.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190713_200_60692_u.htm

Jul 14 (1424) SUNDMANIA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 6.2 sec, Mag Drop 3
Across northern Australia from Mackay across northern Queensland, c
Northern Territory and northern Western Australia to Wyndham.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190714_1424_60704_u.htm

Jul 14 (439) OHIO: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 6.5 sec, Mag Drop 2.8
Across Australia from Rockhampton across central Queensland, southern
Northern Territory and central Western Australia to Kalbarri.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190714_439_60706_u.htm

Jul 14 (760) MASSINGA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 5.9 sec, Mag Drop 2.2
Across northern Australia, from north of Cooktown across Cape York
Peninsula, northern Northern Territory and northern Western Australia to
a little south of Exmouth.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190714_760_60708_u.htm

Jul 15 (91) AEGINA: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 13.7 sec, Mag Drop 1.4
Across central New Zealand, crossing Wellington and Picton to
Collingwood in evening twilight.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190715_91_60722_u.htm

*****Jul 15 (1127) MIMI: Star Mag 9.9, Max dur 4.2 sec, Mag Drop 4.7
Across south-eastern Australia from Coffs Harbour across New South
Wales, north-western Victoria (near Mildura) and south-eastern South
Australia to Adelaide.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190715_1127_62806_u.htm

Jul 15 (754) MALABAR: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 6.9 sec, Mag Drop 1.8
Across south-eastern Australia from near Newcastle across southern New
South Wales, north-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia to
near Millicent.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190715_754_60724_u.htm

Jul 15 (373) MELUSINA: Star Mag 10.8, Max dur 9.2 sec, Mag Drop 2.7
Across Australia from north-eastern Northern Territory across central
Western Australia to near Geraldton.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190715_373_60726_u.htm

Jul 16 (579) SIDONIA: Star Mag 12, Max dur 11.4 sec, Mag Drop 0.9
Across Australia, from Mackay across central Queensland, central South
Australia and coastal southern Western Australia to near Bunbury.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190716_579_60738_u.htm

Jul 17 (5374) HOKUTOSEI: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 3.6 sec, Mag Drop 4.9
A narrow path across the South Island of New Zealand, from Timaru to
Fox, and across Australia from near Port Macquarie across north-eastern
New South Wales, south-western Queensland and northern Northern
Territory to near Darwin.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190717_5374_63624_u.htm

Jul 17 (869) MELLENA: Star Mag 11, Max dur 2.5 sec, Mag Drop 3.3
A narrow path across south-eastern Australia from Nambucca Heads across
New South Wales, Victoria near Kerang and across south eastern South
Australia to to south of Kingston SE.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190717_869_63626_u.htm

Jul 17 (424) GRATIA: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 6.9 sec, Mag Drop 2.3
Across south-eastern Australia from near Batemans Bay across
south-eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria to near Melbourne.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190717_424_60754_u.htm

Jul 18 (1317) SILVRETTA: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 1.9 sec, Mag Drop 3.1
A narrow path across south-western Western Australia from Bremner Bay to
Perth.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190718_1317_60760_u.htm

*****Jul 19 (74) GALATEA: Star Mag 9.5, Max dur 14 sec, Mag Drop 3.2
A broad path across the South Island of New Zealand, from Waipara (and
including Christchurch) to Hokita, and across Tasmania including most
south of Swansea to Queenstown, including Hobart.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190719_74_60770_u.htm

Jul 19 (924) TONI: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 7.3 sec, Mag Drop 1.9
Across Australia from ingham across northern Queensland, central
Northern Territory and central Western Australia to Denham.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190719_924_60772_u.htm

Jul 19 (193) AMBROSIA: Star Mag 11.7, Max dur 2.4 sec, Mag Drop 3.1
A fairly narrow path across Australia from Mackay across northern
Queensland, central tn and northern Western Australia to Port Headland.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190719_193_60774_u.htm

Jul 19 (1317) SILVRETTA: Star Mag 12, Max dur 1.9 sec, Mag Drop 3.5
A narrow path across New Zealand, possibly including Wellington and much
of the east coast of the South Island, including Christchurch, to near
Invercargill.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190719_1317_60776_u.htm

Jul 20 (193) AMBROSIA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 2.4 sec, Mag Drop 3.4
Across the North Island of New Zealand, from Woodville to Opunake, and
into central Queensland near Bundaberg in evening twilight.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190720_193_60782_u.htm

Jul 20 (1607) MAVIS: Star Mag 10.8, Max dur 1.7 sec, Mag Drop 2.5
A very narrow path across southern Australia from Grafton across
northern New South Wales near Broken Hill, across South Australia north
of Quorn to Border Village and across southern Western Australia to near
Moora, in evening twilight.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190720_1607_63634_u.htm

*****Jul 20 (1071) BRITA: Star Mag 11.5, Max dur 5.4 sec, Mag Drop 3.6

Across the North Island of New Zealand at Auckland, across southern
Victoria from Orbost to Hamilton, including Melbourne, and across
south-west Western Australia from Bremner Bay to Bunbury.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190720_1071_60784_u.htm

Jul 20 (471) PAPAGENA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 11.5 sec, Mag Drop 0.3
Across Australia from Tully across northern Queensland, central Northern
Territory and Western Australia to Denham.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190720_471_60786_u.htm

Jul 20 (500) SELINUR: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 4.5 sec, Mag Drop 1.3
Across the North Island of New Zealand, near Mangonui, and across
southern Victoria at Wilson's Prom and Cape Otway
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190720_500_60788_u.htm

Jul 22 (386) SIEGENA: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 13.9 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
A broad path across New Zealand grazing the south-east coast of the
North Island and including most of the east coast of the South Island,
from Christchurch to Invercargill.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190722_386_60806_u.htm

Jul 22 (586) THEKLA: Star Mag 11.5, Max dur 8.1 sec, Mag Drop 2.7
Across Australia, from Townsville across northern Queensland, southern
Northern Territory and central Western Australia to near Geraldton.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190722_586_60808_u.htm

Jul 23 (34) CIRCE: Star Mag 12.1, Max dur 9.7 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
Across Australia from Grafton across northern New South Wales, central
South Australia and into southern Western Australia at low and
decreasing elevation.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190723_34_60816_u.htm

Jul 24 (18) MELPOMENE: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 16.8 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Across Australia from Townsville across Queensland, western South
Australia and southern Western Australia to Esperence.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190724_18_60828_u.htm

Jul 24 (201) PENELOPE: Star Mag 11, Max dur 9.8 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
Across south-eastern Australia from Ballina across New South Wales to
Balranald, across north-western Victoria and south-eastern South
Australia to Kingston SE.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190724_201_60830_u.htm

Jul 24 (193) AMBROSIA: Star Mag 12.1, Max dur 2.6 sec, Mag Drop 2.7
Across south-western Western Australia, from Bunbury across southern
Western Australia and into central Northern Territory at low and
decreasing elevation.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190724_193_60834_u.htm

Jul 25 (79) EURYNOME: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 8.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.6
A fairly narrow path across Australia from north of Rockhampton across
central Queensland, southern Northern Territory and central Western
Australia to Denham.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190725_79_60838_u.htm

Jul 25 (586) THEKLA: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 8.7 sec, Mag Drop 2.1
Across the South Island of New Zealand from Christchurch to Te Anau.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190725_586_60840_u.htm

*****Jul 26 (914) PALISANA: Star Mag 8.6, Max dur 13.6 sec, Mag Drop 2.8
Across the South Island of New Zealand, from just north of Christchurch
to Greymouth, and across Australia, from Sydney across northern New
South Wales, north-eastern South Australia, southern Northern Territory
and northern Western Australia to Halls Creek.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190726_914_60850_u.htm

Jul 26 (72) FERONIA: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 6.6 sec, Mag Drop 1.4
Along the northern coast of Tasmania.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190726_72_60852_u.htm

*****Jul 27 (13249) MARCALLEN: Star Mag 8.3, Max dur 2.8 sec, Mag Drop 9.1
A narrow path across New Zealand, crossing the North Island near
Auckland and the South Island from about Haast to Manapouri.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190727_13249_62668_u.htm

Jul 27 (925) ALPHONSINA: Star Mag 12, Max dur 5.2 sec, Mag Drop 1.2
Across the North Island of New Zealand, from about Woodville to New
Plymouth.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190727_925_60864_u.htm

Jul 27 (1071) BRITA: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 6.6 sec, Mag Drop 3.1
A fairly narrow path across the South Island of New Zealand, from
Ashburton to Wanaka (and passing somewhat south of Tasmania) .
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190727_1071_60866_u.htm

Jul 28 (15436) 1998VU30: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 5.7 sec, Mag Drop 3.9
A fairly narrow path of significant uncertainty across northern
Australia from Ayr across northern Queensland, central Northern
Territory and northern Western Australia to Port Headland.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190728_15436_60874_u.htm

***Jul 29 (1071) BRITA: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 7.1 sec, Mag Drop 4.8
Across Australia from The Gold Coast (south of Brisbane) across southern
Queensland (and into southern Northern Territory in evening twilight).
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190729_1071_60882_u.htm

Jul 29 (605) JUVISIA: Star Mag 10.8, Max dur 6.1 sec, Mag Drop 3.8
Across Australia, crossing south-western Tasmania, possibly including
Strahan, across Western Australia from well east of Kalgoorli to west of
Karratha (and a little south of Invercargill on the South Island of New
Zealand ).
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190729_605_60884_u.htm

Jul 30 (201) PENELOPE: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 11.7 sec, Mag Drop 0.5
Across Australia from Cape York in northern Queensland across northern
Northern Territory and central Western Australia to Kalbarri.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190730_201_60894_u.htm

*****Jul 30 (33) POLYHYMNIA: Star Mag 8.6, Max dur 4.2 sec, Mag Drop 3.1
Across New Zealand, including the south-eastern tip of the North Island,
posibly just crossing Wellington, and across the South Island from near
Blenheim to Manapouri, possibly including western Christchurch. The
North Island segment is just into morning twilight.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190730_33_60896_u.htm

Jul 31 (1694) KAISER: Star Mag 9.4, Max dur 2.1 sec, Mag Drop 5
A very narrow path across southern Australia from near Taree across
central New South Wales to Wentworth, across south-eastern South
Australia near Waikerie, a little north of Adelaide, and across
south-western Western Australia from Bremner Bay to Margaret River.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190731_1694_62818_u.htm

Jul 31 (997) PRISKA: Star Mag 11.1, Max dur 2.4 sec, Mag Drop 4.1
A very narrow path of some uncertainty across south-eastern Australia
from Narooma and Cooma across south-eastern New South Wales, across
north-eastern and western Vic from Corryong to Horsham, and across
south-eastern South Australia to Kingston SE.
Details:
http://www.occultations.org.nz//planet/2019/updates/190731_997_63648_u.htm

Note: for some events there will be an additional last minute update so
check
for one, if you can, on the day of the event or in the days leading up
to it.
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Please report all attempts at observation to Director Occsec at the address
below. (PLEASE report observations on a copy of the report available
from our
website).

John Sunderland

---------------------------------------------
RASNZ Occultation Section
P.O.Box 3181 / Wellington, 6140 / New Zealand
---------------------------------------------
WEBSITE: http://www.occultations.org.nz/
Email: Director@occultations.org.nz