RASNZ_20_09_2019
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. Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
. Email Newsletter Number 225, 20 September 2019
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Affiliated Societies are welcome to reproduce any item in this email
newsletter or on the RASNZ website http://www.rasnz.org.nz/
in their own newsletters provided an acknowledgement of the source is
also included.
Contents
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1. Interstellar Comet Discovered
2. First Water Detected on Potentially `Habitable´ Planet
3. Name ExoWorld Competition - Closes Sept. 30
4. Naseby Stargazing Event - Sept. 28
5. The Solar System in October
6. AAS Astrophotography Competition - Closes Sept. 30
7. RASNZ Beatrice Hill-Tinsley Lecture Series
8. New Zealand Starlight Conference - October 20-23
9. Burbidge Dinner - November 22
10. Variable Star News
11. Secretary for National Astronomical Society
12. Revised RASNZ Rules
13. India’s Vikram Lunar Lander Lost
14. 2020 Conference and RASNZ Centenary
15. How to Join the RASNZ
16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
17. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
18. Quotes
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1. Interstellar Comet Discovered
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In October 2017 an asteroid from interstellar space passed through the inner Solar System. It was seen only briefly as it was discovered after its close approach to the Sun. It was later designated 1I for interstellar object and named 'Oumuamua. See Newsletters No.203 and 204, 2017 November and December, for details. Though there was some slight evidence of outgassing from the object, causing it to accelerate slightly, it always appeared asteroidal. An object coming from the Oort Cloud, the reservoir of comets about a light-year from the Sun, has an orbital eccentricity, e, close to 1. 1I/'Oumuamua had an eccentricity of 1.19 indicating that it already had a velocity of 26 km/s toward the Sun when the Sun's gravity began attracting it. The I/ designation is for interstellar objects.
Now an obvious comet has been found coming from interstellar space. On August 30 Gennady Borisov of Crimea discovered an 18th magnitude comet in Lynx, 10 degrees east of Castor and Pollux, low in the dawn sky. Follow-up astrometry by many observers showed that comet is in a strongly hyperbolic orbit, eccentricity 3.4. As the comet hasn't passed any major planet on its approach to the Sun this shows that its velocity was around 33 km/s before it came into the Sun's influence. The comet is presently designated C/2019 Q4 (Borisov) but will receive an I/ designation.
Observations to September 17 give an eccentricity of 3.478 with a perihelion distance of 2.035 AU, 305 million km, outside the orbit of Mars, on December 7. If its brightness change follows the usual formula then it should brighten to magnitude 15, too faint to see in a telescope but a nice target for cameras on backyard telescopes. It is moving steadily south-east so staying a low in the dawn sky over coming weeks. It crosses the celestial equator in mid-November and will be near the Crux, Southern Cross, in mid-February.
For an orbit simulation of both 'Oumuamua and Comet Borisov see
http://orbitsimulator.com/BA/2hyperbolics.gif
A FAQ by Bill Gray is at https://projectpluto.com/temp/2i.htm .
-- Information mostly from Central Bureau Electronic Telegram No. 4668.
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2. First Water Detected on Potentially `Habitable´ Planet
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Water vapour has been detected in the atmosphere of a super-Earth with habitable temperatures by UCL researchers in a world first. Planet K2-18b, which is eight times the mass of Earth, is now the only planet orbiting a star outside the Solar System, or `exoplanet´, known to have both water and temperatures that could support life.
The discovery, published on September 11 in Nature Astronomy, is the first successful atmospheric detection for an exoplanet orbiting in its star´s `habitable zone´, at a distance where water can exist in liquid form.
First author, Dr Angelos Tsiaras (UCL Centre for Space Exochemistry Data
(CSED)), said: "Finding water in a potentially habitable world other than Earth is incredibly exciting. K2-18b is not `Earth 2.0´ as it is significantly heavier and has a different atmospheric composition. However, it brings us closer to answering the fundamental question: Is the Earth unique?"
The team used archive data from 2016 and 2017 captured by the ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope and developed open-source algorithms to analyse the starlight filtered through K2-18b´s atmosphere. The results revealed the molecular signature of water vapour, also indicating the presence of hydrogen and helium in the planet´s atmosphere.
The authors believe that other molecules including nitrogen and methane may be present but, with current observations, they remain undetectable. Further
studies are required to estimate cloud coverage and the percentage of
atmospheric water present.
The planet orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18, which is about 110 light years from Earth in the Leo constellation. Given the high level of activity of its red dwarf star, K2-18b may be more hostile than Earth and is likely to be exposed to more radiation.
K2-18b was discovered in 2015 and is one of hundreds of super-Earths - planets with a mass between Earth and Neptune - found by NASA´s Kepler spacecraft. NASA´s TESS mission is expected to detect hundreds more super-Earths in the coming years.
Co-author Dr Ingo Waldmann (UCL CSED), said: "With so many new super-Earths
expected to be found over the next couple of decades, it is likely that this is the first discovery of many potentially habitable planets. This is not only because super-Earths like K2-18b are the most common planets in our Galaxy, but also because red dwarfs - stars smaller than our Sun - are the most common stars."
The next generation of space telescopes, including the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and ESA´s ARIEL mission, will be able to characterise
atmospheres in more detail as they will carry more advanced instruments. ARIEL is expected to launch in 2028, and will observe 1,000 planets in detail to get a truly representative picture of what they are like.
Professor Giovanna Tinetti (UCL CSED), co-author and Principal Investigator for ARIEL, said: "Our discovery makes K2-18 b one of the most interesting targets for future study. Over 4,000 exoplanets have been detected but we don´t know much about their composition and nature. By observing a large sample of planets, we hope to reveal secrets about their chemistry, formation and evolution."
Original at:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/sep/first-water-detected-potentially-habitable-planet
-- From an ESA/Hubble Science Release heic1916 forwarded by Karen Pollard.
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3. Name ExoWorld Competition - Closes Sept. 30
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Within the framework of its 100th anniversary commemorations, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is organising the IAU100 NameExoWorlds global competition that allows any country in the world to give a popular name to a selected exoplanet and its host star. Over 70 countries have already signed up to organise national campaigns that will provide the public with an opportunity to vote. The aim of this initiative is to create awareness of our place in the Universe and to reflect on how the Earth would potentially be perceived by a civilisation on another planet.
NZ has been allocated the following star and its companion to name:
Star:
Identification: HD 137388
Type: Orange Dwarf, G-type
Constellation: Apus
Planet:
Identification: HD 137388b
Mass: 0.2 Jupiters
Orbital period: 330 Days
Discovery: 2011
Detection Method: Radial Velocity
Eccentricity: 0.36
The competition for NZ went live on September 1. Submissions for the designation of HD137388 and HD137388b will end on September 30 at 5:00pm NZST.
Name ExoWorlds website: http://nameexoworlds.iau.org/
IAU100 website: https://www.iau-100.org/
NZ Competition website: https://space.auckland.ac.nz/nameexoworlds/
Please send queries to education@rasnz.org.nz
-- Carolle Varughese, RASNZ Education Group Leader.
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4. Naseby Stargazing Event - September 28
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On 28 September, 5 pm to 8:30 pm at Town Hall and Naseby Holiday Park.
Bring your camera and enter your photos into our Astrophotography competition.
5 pm Planetarium at the Town Hall.
6 pm Sausage Sizzle at Naseby Holiday Park.
6:30 pm Special Guest Speaker: Ian Griffin - "Wonders of the Southern Night Sky".
7:15 pm Astrophotography Session.
Stargazing (weather permitting) until 8:30 pm.
-- From advertisement on LinkedIn.
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5. The Solar System in October
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Dates and times shown are NZDT (UT + 13 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 OCTOBER Rise & Set, Magnitude & Constellation.
OCTOBER 1 NZDT OCTOBER 31 NZDT
Mag Cons Rise Set Mag Cons Rise Set
SUN -26.7 Vir 6.54am 7.28pm -26.7 Vir 6.07am 8.02pm
Mercury -0.2 Vir 7.35am 9.07pm 0.4 Lib 6.53am 9.52pm
Venus -3.9 Vir 7.30am 8.31pm -3.8 Lib 7.06am 9.47pm
Mars 1.8 Vir 6.36am 6.35pm 1.8 Vir 5.21am 6.16pm
Jupiter -2.0 Oph 10.20am 1.22am -1.9 Oph 8.41am 11.47pm
Saturn 0.5 Sgr 12.12pm 3.13am 0.6 Sgr 10.20am 1.20am
Uranus 5.7 Ari 9.36pm 8.13am 5.7 Ari 7.32pm 6.12am
Neptune 7.8 Aqr 5.28pm 6.20am 7.8 Aqr 3.26pm 4.20am
Pluto 14.5 Sgr 12.41pm 3.41am 14.5 Sgr 10.44am 1.44am
OCTOBER 1 NZDT OCTOBER 31 NZDT
Twilights morning evening morning evening
Civil: start 6.29am, end 7.54pm start 5.40am, end 8.30pm
Nautical: start 5.56am, end 8.26pm start 5.04am, end 9.06pm
Astro: start 5.22am, end 9.00pm start 4.26am, end 9.45pm
OCTOBER PHASES OF THE MOON, times NZDT & UT
First quarter: Oct 6 at 5.47am (Oct 5, 16:47 UT).
Full Moon: Oct 14 at 10.08am (Oct 13, 21:08 UT)
Last quarter Oct 22 at 1.39am (Oct 21, 12:39 UT)
New Moon: Oct 28 at 4.39pm (03:39 UT)
PLANETS in OCTOBER
MERCURY and VENUS are evening objects, by the 31st they set about 5 minutes apart. Mercury is at its greatest elongation, 25° east of the Sun on the 20th. Subsequently its easterly motion slows allowing Venus to catch up with it. The two planets are 2.6° apart on the 31st. Mercury will be to the left of the brighter planet and slightly higher. The two will be rather low, about 9° above the horizon at 8.50 pm.
On the 30th, the crescent moon, only 6% lit, will be about 9° to the upper right of the planets.
JUPITER is also an evening planet. On the 31st it sets 2 hours after Venus. Earlier that evening the moon is about 5° below Jupiter. The moon is also a few degrees from Jupiter on the evenings of October 3 and 4.
SATURN is an evening object setting after midnight. This month's lunar occultation on the 6th is visible from parts of southern Africa and the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean.
PLUTO, like Saturn, is in Sagittarius, the two planets are 5.5° apart at the end of the month.
MARS is a nominal morning object but, even by the end of the month, rises only 45 minutes before the Sun.
URANUS is at opposition on the 28th, so becomes observable all night.
NEPTUNE, is in Aquarius well placed for viewing in the evening.
POSSIBLE BINOCULAR ASTEROIDS in OCTOBER
OCTOBER 1 NZDT OCTOBER 30 NZDT
Mag Cons transit Mag Cons transit
(1) Ceres 9.1 Oph 5.33pm 9.2 Oph 4.19pm
(4) Vesta 7.2 Tau 4.30am 6.7 Tau 2.14am
(9) Metis 9.3 Cet 3.10am 8.7 Psc 12.46am
(15) Eunomia 9.1 Aqr 9.31pm 9.5 Aqr 7.49pm
(29) Amphitrite 9.0 Psc 2.00am 9.2 Psc 11.34pm
CERES overtakes Jupiter in Ophiuchus about October 24. For a few nights the two are just under 3° apart with Ceres to the left of Jupiter in the early evening sky.
VESTA brightens in Taurus and is best seen as a morning object, although it will rise a little before 9pm by the 30th.
METIS is at opposition on the 26th with a magnitude 8.6 making it the second brightest asteroid. It crosses from Cetus to Pisces on the 26th.
EUNOMIA is an evening object in Aquarius.
AMPHITRITE, in Pisces, is at opposition on October 12 at magnitude 8.7.
-- Brian Loader
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6. AAS Astrophotography Competition - Closes Sept. 30
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Calling all Astrophotographers, it's that time of year again, time to get your entries in for the 2019 New Zealand Astrophotography competition.
This year we are super lucky to have the "Bad Astronomer" Phil Plait as judge for the competition. Phil is an 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. For more on Phil see the Auckland Astronomical Society's website.
Australian Sky & Telescope are sponsoring both the Deep Sky category and the Nightscape / Artistic category. The winners of these categories will receive a one year subscription to the magazine as well as having their images printed in it.
Astronz are sponsoring the Solar System category with a $300 Astronz gift voucher. The Auckland Astronomical Society will also provide a cash prize for each category winner.
Auckland's Stardome Observatory and Planetarium will print a selection of the entrants images for an astrophotography exhibition that will be displayed at Stardome after the competition awards are announced. The exhibition will then tour around New Zealand at various events and galleries.
The competition cut-off date is the September 30 and the competition awards will be announced at the Auckland Astronomical Society's annual Burbidge dinner. See below for Burbidge dinner details.
The competition rules and entry forms can be found on the homepage of the Auckland Astronomical Society website
https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/default.aspx
-- Adapted from a note to the nzastronomers group by Jonathan Green.
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7. RASNZ Beatrice Hill-Tinsley Lecture Series
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The RASNZ Lecture Trust Inc. is pleased to announce the itinerary of the 2019 Beatrice Hill Tinsley Lecture series where Babak A. Tafreshi will be speaking at various NZ venues.
Auckland (Auckland Astronomical Society): October 10, time 18:30
Venue: Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre, University of Auckland, Symonds Street
Admission charge: No charge
Event details and bookings: Booking required. Details available soon.
Tauranga (Tauranga Astronomical Society): October 11, commencing 7:30pm
Venue: Otumoetai Baptist Church auditorium. 241 Otumoetai Road, Otumoetai, Tauranga 3110
Admission charge: $5 per adult. Free for children and Tauranga Astronomical Society members
Hamilton (Hamilton Astronomical Society): October 12, time 7.30pm
Venue: Waikato University, Room 1.04 S Block, 1 Knighton Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton
Admission charge: $10
Event details and bookings: Tickets via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/beatrice-hill-tinsley-2019-lecture-tour-tickets-71491158981
Napier (Hawkes Bay Astronomical Society): October 14, commencing at 6pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1 at EIT on Gloucester Street in Taradale
Admission charge: Gold coin
Wellington (Wellington Astronomical Society): October 15, time 7:30pm-8:30pm
Venue: Massey University Wellington, The Pit Block 12, Level C
Admission charge: No Charge
Event details and bookings: Free public event but seating is limited. Register at https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2019/the-world-at-night-beatrice-hill-tinsley-lecture-2019/wellington-region
Nelson (Astronomy Section, Nelson Science Society, RSNZ): October 16, time 7.30 - 9.00 pm
Venue: Elim Christian Centre, 625 Main Rd, Stoke
Admission charge: $5 koha, students free
Event details and bookings: no bookings. Cash only.
Christchurch (Christchurch Astronomical Society):
October 18, time 7:00 p.m.
Venue: University of Canterbury, C2 Lecture Theatre.
Admission charge: Free
Event details and bookings: Tickets via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/d/new-zealand--christchurch/science-and-tech--events/
Dunedin (Dunedin Astronomical Society): October 28, time TBA
Venue: TBA
Admission charge: TBA
Event details and bookings: TBA
Wanganui (Wanganui Astronomical Society): October 30, time 7.30pm
Venue: Concert Chamber, Whanganui War Memorial Hall, Watt Street.
Admission charge: $5pp, Family $10
New Plymouth (New Plymouth Astronomical Society): October 31, time 7:30pm
Venue: Spotswood College Staffroom
Admission charge: Adults $10, Children Free
Event details and bookings: Cash Door Sales Only - No EFTPOS
Babek will also be speaking at the NZ Starlight Conference, Sunday 20 – Fri 25 October - https://starlightconference.org/
For more information, see - https://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/beatrice-hill-tinsley-lectures.
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8. New Zealand Starlight Conference - October 20-23
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Planning for the New Zealand Starlight Conference continues to make good progress. The conference will take place this year at Lake Tekapo and will discuss all aspects of dark skies protection, combating light pollution, astro-tourism, astro-photography, lighting technology, the aesthetics of the starry night sky, the health and environmental issues of light pollution and much more. The dates will be 20 - 23 October 2019. The conference website is https://starlightconference.org.
We have confirmed ten outstanding keynote speakers, and details are (or soon will be) on the website. We currently (mid-September) have 94 registrations and hope to increase the number in the next few weeks. Many are from overseas, but there is also a strong NZ contingent from the astronomical and dark skies communities.
Many speakers have offered talks on a wide range of topics based on lighting technology, light pollution and its health and environmental impacts, stargazing and astro-tourism. This will therefore be a highly multidisciplinary conference.
A theme of the Starlight Conference is `towards the first dark-sky nation´. To this end we are encouraging people from New Zealand´s already accredited dark sky places, and representatives from all aspiring dark sky places (about a dozen of them) to participate in the conference. We plan to run a workshop with experts from the International Dark-Sky Association on how to become a dark sky place with IDA accreditation.
Our website gives all information you will need to register for the NZ Starlight Conference 2019. The registration fee for the Starlight Conference is NZD290, which includes lunches, morning and afternoon teas, Mt John visits and an opening reception in the new Dark Sky Project building (with the restored 1897 Brashear telescope).
The NZ Starlight Conference has been registered as an official IAU100 and RASNZ100 event.
We hope to see you in Tekapo in October. Speaking slots are full, but we have spaces for more poster papers.
-- John Hearnshaw Chair, Organizing Committee, NZ Starlight Conference
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9. Burbidge Dinner - November 22
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The Auckland Astronomical Society's Burbidge Dinner 2019 is on
Friday 22 November 2019.
Start Time: 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Venue: Ellerslie Events Centre, Pakuranga Hunt Room.
After Dinner Lecture by Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn, (Director, Sydney Institute of Astronomy, University of Sydney) "The Galactic Centre - a Window into the Future". See the lecture abstract at
https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/eventcalendar.aspx
As well as our guest speaker there will be the prize-giving for the New Zealand Astrophotography Competition including the Harry Williams Trophy for the supreme winner, and the Beaumont Writing Prize. A spectacular venue, great meal, cash bar and ample free parking.
Tickets: $65 pp, earlybird price of $60.00 is available until 31st October includes a buffet dinner.
Tickets can be booked: - by email at events@astronomy.org.nz -by phone to Niven on 021 935 261 or Bill on 021 225 8175
-- From the AAS website.
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10. Variable Star News
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Another nova in Scorpio has been discovered by Japanese observer Koichi Itagaki (Yamagata) on 15th September. Other observers have reported the outburst at about the same time. Reported at unfiltered CCD magnitude 11.0, visual observations are about magnitude 12.0. An initial spectroscopic observation indicates a classical nova with foreground galactic reddening. The nova is being actively monitored by a range of observing techniques. The nova has been given the permanent GCVS designation V1707 Sco.
Announcement details are given on the AAVSO site https://www.aavso.org/pnv-j17370958-3510211-possible-nova-110-mag-scorpius-0 and in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 4667.
-- Alan Baldwin
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11. Secretary for National Astronomical Society
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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. The Executive Secretary shall be paid an annual honorarium of $1000.
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
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12. Revised RASNZ Rules
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At the 96th AGM held in New Plymouth on 18 May 2019 a number of alterations to the Rules were put to the meeting and passed. The affected Rules are 26, 38, 43, 49 58, 58a, 58b, 75 and 82.
These alterations have been filed with the Companies Office and were registered by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies on 27 August 2019.
The updated Rules are available on the RASNZ website by clicking on the RASNZ Rules and Bylaws link found here: http://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/about-rasnz
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13. India’s Vikram Lunar Lander Lost
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India's attempt to land on the Moon resulted in a loss of contact with the Vikram lander. The lander appears to have arrived on the lunar surface intact, but is tilted and attempts to re-establish contact have failed so far.
It wasn't meant to be. After a six-week journey, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) lost contact with Chandrayaan 2's Vikram lander shortly before it was supposed to have touched down on the lunar surface. The Moon landing was set to occur on September 6 UT. Vikram (Sanskrit for "valour") separated from the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter on September 2 for a four-day descent that would take it 100 km down to the lunar surface.
The landing occurred on a plain near the lunar south pole on the nearside of the Moon, between craters Manzinus C and Simpelius N. The site is located near -71°S. A successful touchdown would have made it the closest soft landing near a lunar pole to date. China's Chang'e 4 mission landed near -47°S latitude on January 3. Israel's SpaceIL Beresheet mission failed an attempted soft landing in April.
Launched atop a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India on July 22, Chandrayaan 2 took a leisurely path to the Moon via a series of orbital boosts, gradually raising its elliptical orbit around the Earth until it was captured by the Moon's gravity on August 20.
The Chandrayaan 2 lunar orbiter began mapping the landing site and an alternate site at the end of August, using its Orbiter High Resolution Camera. Chandrayaan 2 will continue to map the lunar surface and monitor the lunar environment over the coming year.
The Vikram lander was set to deploy a small rover named Pragyan (meaning “wisdom” in Sanskrit) shortly after landing. The solar-powered rover and lander made the landing attempt at local sunrise to give them both a maximum two weeks of daylight before they succumbed to the cold lunar night.
The lunar landing site for Vikram and Pragyan was selected to search for lunar water ice trapped near the poles. An earlier ISRO mission, the Chandrayaan 1 orbiter, found direct evidence for water ice in craters trapped in perpetual shadow near the lunar poles.
The ISRO and NASA's Deep Space Network will continue to listen for Vikram in the coming days, but the prognosis is grim. The Chandrayaan 2 orbiter and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter may image the site as well.
-- Abridged from David Dickinson's article on Sky & Telescope's webpage at https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/india-chandrayaan-2-loses-contact-vikram-lunar-lander/
See the original for diagrams and images.
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14. 2020 Conference and RASNZ Centenary
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The 2020 Conference will be held 8-10 May at Wellington with the Wharewaka Function Centre the venue (near the Michael Fowler Centre) in downtown Wellington. The Wellington Astronomical Society is hosting this conference.
2020 marks a significant milestone in the life of the Society as it was founded in November 1920 with 75 members.
The SCC invites ideas from members how the Society might commemorate its centenary at next year’s conference. Please send your suggestions to the SCC at conference@rasnz.org.nz.
-- Glen Rowe, Chair, Standing Conference Committee
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15. How to Join the RASNZ
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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'.
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16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
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The RASNZ is responsible for recommending to the trustees of the Kingdon
Tomlinson Fund that grants be made for astronomical projects. The grants may be to any person or persons, or organisations, requiring funding for any projects or ventures that promote the progress of astronomy in New Zealand. Applications are now invited for grants from the Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund. The application should reach the Secretary by 1 November 2019 for consideration by Council. Full details are set down in the RASNZ By-Laws, Section J. Information on the K-T Fund is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/kt-fund
The application form at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/KT_Application2019.pdf
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17. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
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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 and at http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/ge-fund
The application form is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/GE_Application2019.pdf
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18. Quotes
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"How long is a piece of string theory?" -- Eric Idle.
"Oh dear. What can the dark matter be?" -- Eric Idle.
(Both above from Eric Idle's 'The Road to Mars'.)
"Kepler's laws, although not rigidly true, are sufficiently near to the truth to have led to the discovery of the law of attraction of the bodies of the Solar System. The deviation from complete accuracy is due to the facts, that the planets are not of unappreciable mass, that, in consequence, they disturb each other's orbits about the Sun." -- Isaac Newton.
"For Mr Newton, space and time did not talk to each other, never married, and lived separate lives." -- Roberto Trotta.
"In some sense, gravity does not exist; what moves the planets and the stars is the distortion of space and time." -- Michio Kaku.
(The three above in Marcus Chown's 'The Ascent of Gravity', Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2017.)
"A precise classification system is the key to understanding the biological or geological world; an imprecise system of classification leads to misinterpretation and confusion.
The development of every classification system follows the same general evolutionary pattern. Properties of the members of the population are surveyed. Some are found to be discontinuous, and a tentative classification is based on these discontinuous properties. Additional surveys reveal other discontinuous properties that can be used to test the initial classification. Every classification scheme continues to evolve as more data becomes available. Interesting tensions develop between taxonomists who are mainly 'lumpers' and those who are mainly 'splitters', between those researchers who are ready (sometimes too ready) to accept changes in a taxonomic system and those who cling to an 'established' system long after it has been superseded. These tensions are well exposed at meetings of meteorite researchers." -- John T. Wasson in 'Meteorites', W.H. Freeman, 1985.
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Alan Gilmore Phone: 03 680 6817
P.O. Box 57 alan.gilmore@canterbury.ac.nz
Lake Tekapo 7945
New Zealand
==========================
. Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
. Email Newsletter Number 225, 20 September 2019
==================================================
Affiliated Societies are welcome to reproduce any item in this email
newsletter or on the RASNZ website http://www.rasnz.org.nz/
in their own newsletters provided an acknowledgement of the source is
also included.
Contents
--------
1. Interstellar Comet Discovered
2. First Water Detected on Potentially `Habitable´ Planet
3. Name ExoWorld Competition - Closes Sept. 30
4. Naseby Stargazing Event - Sept. 28
5. The Solar System in October
6. AAS Astrophotography Competition - Closes Sept. 30
7. RASNZ Beatrice Hill-Tinsley Lecture Series
8. New Zealand Starlight Conference - October 20-23
9. Burbidge Dinner - November 22
10. Variable Star News
11. Secretary for National Astronomical Society
12. Revised RASNZ Rules
13. India’s Vikram Lunar Lander Lost
14. 2020 Conference and RASNZ Centenary
15. How to Join the RASNZ
16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
17. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
18. Quotes
===============================================================
1. Interstellar Comet Discovered
--------------------------------
In October 2017 an asteroid from interstellar space passed through the inner Solar System. It was seen only briefly as it was discovered after its close approach to the Sun. It was later designated 1I for interstellar object and named 'Oumuamua. See Newsletters No.203 and 204, 2017 November and December, for details. Though there was some slight evidence of outgassing from the object, causing it to accelerate slightly, it always appeared asteroidal. An object coming from the Oort Cloud, the reservoir of comets about a light-year from the Sun, has an orbital eccentricity, e, close to 1. 1I/'Oumuamua had an eccentricity of 1.19 indicating that it already had a velocity of 26 km/s toward the Sun when the Sun's gravity began attracting it. The I/ designation is for interstellar objects.
Now an obvious comet has been found coming from interstellar space. On August 30 Gennady Borisov of Crimea discovered an 18th magnitude comet in Lynx, 10 degrees east of Castor and Pollux, low in the dawn sky. Follow-up astrometry by many observers showed that comet is in a strongly hyperbolic orbit, eccentricity 3.4. As the comet hasn't passed any major planet on its approach to the Sun this shows that its velocity was around 33 km/s before it came into the Sun's influence. The comet is presently designated C/2019 Q4 (Borisov) but will receive an I/ designation.
Observations to September 17 give an eccentricity of 3.478 with a perihelion distance of 2.035 AU, 305 million km, outside the orbit of Mars, on December 7. If its brightness change follows the usual formula then it should brighten to magnitude 15, too faint to see in a telescope but a nice target for cameras on backyard telescopes. It is moving steadily south-east so staying a low in the dawn sky over coming weeks. It crosses the celestial equator in mid-November and will be near the Crux, Southern Cross, in mid-February.
For an orbit simulation of both 'Oumuamua and Comet Borisov see
http://orbitsimulator.com/BA/2hyperbolics.gif
A FAQ by Bill Gray is at https://projectpluto.com/temp/2i.htm .
-- Information mostly from Central Bureau Electronic Telegram No. 4668.
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2. First Water Detected on Potentially `Habitable´ Planet
----------------------------------------------------------
Water vapour has been detected in the atmosphere of a super-Earth with habitable temperatures by UCL researchers in a world first. Planet K2-18b, which is eight times the mass of Earth, is now the only planet orbiting a star outside the Solar System, or `exoplanet´, known to have both water and temperatures that could support life.
The discovery, published on September 11 in Nature Astronomy, is the first successful atmospheric detection for an exoplanet orbiting in its star´s `habitable zone´, at a distance where water can exist in liquid form.
First author, Dr Angelos Tsiaras (UCL Centre for Space Exochemistry Data
(CSED)), said: "Finding water in a potentially habitable world other than Earth is incredibly exciting. K2-18b is not `Earth 2.0´ as it is significantly heavier and has a different atmospheric composition. However, it brings us closer to answering the fundamental question: Is the Earth unique?"
The team used archive data from 2016 and 2017 captured by the ESA/NASA Hubble Space Telescope and developed open-source algorithms to analyse the starlight filtered through K2-18b´s atmosphere. The results revealed the molecular signature of water vapour, also indicating the presence of hydrogen and helium in the planet´s atmosphere.
The authors believe that other molecules including nitrogen and methane may be present but, with current observations, they remain undetectable. Further
studies are required to estimate cloud coverage and the percentage of
atmospheric water present.
The planet orbits the cool dwarf star K2-18, which is about 110 light years from Earth in the Leo constellation. Given the high level of activity of its red dwarf star, K2-18b may be more hostile than Earth and is likely to be exposed to more radiation.
K2-18b was discovered in 2015 and is one of hundreds of super-Earths - planets with a mass between Earth and Neptune - found by NASA´s Kepler spacecraft. NASA´s TESS mission is expected to detect hundreds more super-Earths in the coming years.
Co-author Dr Ingo Waldmann (UCL CSED), said: "With so many new super-Earths
expected to be found over the next couple of decades, it is likely that this is the first discovery of many potentially habitable planets. This is not only because super-Earths like K2-18b are the most common planets in our Galaxy, but also because red dwarfs - stars smaller than our Sun - are the most common stars."
The next generation of space telescopes, including the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and ESA´s ARIEL mission, will be able to characterise
atmospheres in more detail as they will carry more advanced instruments. ARIEL is expected to launch in 2028, and will observe 1,000 planets in detail to get a truly representative picture of what they are like.
Professor Giovanna Tinetti (UCL CSED), co-author and Principal Investigator for ARIEL, said: "Our discovery makes K2-18 b one of the most interesting targets for future study. Over 4,000 exoplanets have been detected but we don´t know much about their composition and nature. By observing a large sample of planets, we hope to reveal secrets about their chemistry, formation and evolution."
Original at:
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2019/sep/first-water-detected-potentially-habitable-planet
-- From an ESA/Hubble Science Release heic1916 forwarded by Karen Pollard.
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3. Name ExoWorld Competition - Closes Sept. 30
----------------------------------------------
Within the framework of its 100th anniversary commemorations, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is organising the IAU100 NameExoWorlds global competition that allows any country in the world to give a popular name to a selected exoplanet and its host star. Over 70 countries have already signed up to organise national campaigns that will provide the public with an opportunity to vote. The aim of this initiative is to create awareness of our place in the Universe and to reflect on how the Earth would potentially be perceived by a civilisation on another planet.
NZ has been allocated the following star and its companion to name:
Star:
Identification: HD 137388
Type: Orange Dwarf, G-type
Constellation: Apus
Planet:
Identification: HD 137388b
Mass: 0.2 Jupiters
Orbital period: 330 Days
Discovery: 2011
Detection Method: Radial Velocity
Eccentricity: 0.36
The competition for NZ went live on September 1. Submissions for the designation of HD137388 and HD137388b will end on September 30 at 5:00pm NZST.
Name ExoWorlds website: http://nameexoworlds.iau.org/
IAU100 website: https://www.iau-100.org/
NZ Competition website: https://space.auckland.ac.nz/nameexoworlds/
Please send queries to education@rasnz.org.nz
-- Carolle Varughese, RASNZ Education Group Leader.
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4. Naseby Stargazing Event - September 28
-----------------------------------------
On 28 September, 5 pm to 8:30 pm at Town Hall and Naseby Holiday Park.
Bring your camera and enter your photos into our Astrophotography competition.
5 pm Planetarium at the Town Hall.
6 pm Sausage Sizzle at Naseby Holiday Park.
6:30 pm Special Guest Speaker: Ian Griffin - "Wonders of the Southern Night Sky".
7:15 pm Astrophotography Session.
Stargazing (weather permitting) until 8:30 pm.
-- From advertisement on LinkedIn.
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5. The Solar System in October
------------------------------
Dates and times shown are NZDT (UT + 13 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 OCTOBER Rise & Set, Magnitude & Constellation.
OCTOBER 1 NZDT OCTOBER 31 NZDT
Mag Cons Rise Set Mag Cons Rise Set
SUN -26.7 Vir 6.54am 7.28pm -26.7 Vir 6.07am 8.02pm
Mercury -0.2 Vir 7.35am 9.07pm 0.4 Lib 6.53am 9.52pm
Venus -3.9 Vir 7.30am 8.31pm -3.8 Lib 7.06am 9.47pm
Mars 1.8 Vir 6.36am 6.35pm 1.8 Vir 5.21am 6.16pm
Jupiter -2.0 Oph 10.20am 1.22am -1.9 Oph 8.41am 11.47pm
Saturn 0.5 Sgr 12.12pm 3.13am 0.6 Sgr 10.20am 1.20am
Uranus 5.7 Ari 9.36pm 8.13am 5.7 Ari 7.32pm 6.12am
Neptune 7.8 Aqr 5.28pm 6.20am 7.8 Aqr 3.26pm 4.20am
Pluto 14.5 Sgr 12.41pm 3.41am 14.5 Sgr 10.44am 1.44am
OCTOBER 1 NZDT OCTOBER 31 NZDT
Twilights morning evening morning evening
Civil: start 6.29am, end 7.54pm start 5.40am, end 8.30pm
Nautical: start 5.56am, end 8.26pm start 5.04am, end 9.06pm
Astro: start 5.22am, end 9.00pm start 4.26am, end 9.45pm
OCTOBER PHASES OF THE MOON, times NZDT & UT
First quarter: Oct 6 at 5.47am (Oct 5, 16:47 UT).
Full Moon: Oct 14 at 10.08am (Oct 13, 21:08 UT)
Last quarter Oct 22 at 1.39am (Oct 21, 12:39 UT)
New Moon: Oct 28 at 4.39pm (03:39 UT)
PLANETS in OCTOBER
MERCURY and VENUS are evening objects, by the 31st they set about 5 minutes apart. Mercury is at its greatest elongation, 25° east of the Sun on the 20th. Subsequently its easterly motion slows allowing Venus to catch up with it. The two planets are 2.6° apart on the 31st. Mercury will be to the left of the brighter planet and slightly higher. The two will be rather low, about 9° above the horizon at 8.50 pm.
On the 30th, the crescent moon, only 6% lit, will be about 9° to the upper right of the planets.
JUPITER is also an evening planet. On the 31st it sets 2 hours after Venus. Earlier that evening the moon is about 5° below Jupiter. The moon is also a few degrees from Jupiter on the evenings of October 3 and 4.
SATURN is an evening object setting after midnight. This month's lunar occultation on the 6th is visible from parts of southern Africa and the south-eastern Atlantic Ocean.
PLUTO, like Saturn, is in Sagittarius, the two planets are 5.5° apart at the end of the month.
MARS is a nominal morning object but, even by the end of the month, rises only 45 minutes before the Sun.
URANUS is at opposition on the 28th, so becomes observable all night.
NEPTUNE, is in Aquarius well placed for viewing in the evening.
POSSIBLE BINOCULAR ASTEROIDS in OCTOBER
OCTOBER 1 NZDT OCTOBER 30 NZDT
Mag Cons transit Mag Cons transit
(1) Ceres 9.1 Oph 5.33pm 9.2 Oph 4.19pm
(4) Vesta 7.2 Tau 4.30am 6.7 Tau 2.14am
(9) Metis 9.3 Cet 3.10am 8.7 Psc 12.46am
(15) Eunomia 9.1 Aqr 9.31pm 9.5 Aqr 7.49pm
(29) Amphitrite 9.0 Psc 2.00am 9.2 Psc 11.34pm
CERES overtakes Jupiter in Ophiuchus about October 24. For a few nights the two are just under 3° apart with Ceres to the left of Jupiter in the early evening sky.
VESTA brightens in Taurus and is best seen as a morning object, although it will rise a little before 9pm by the 30th.
METIS is at opposition on the 26th with a magnitude 8.6 making it the second brightest asteroid. It crosses from Cetus to Pisces on the 26th.
EUNOMIA is an evening object in Aquarius.
AMPHITRITE, in Pisces, is at opposition on October 12 at magnitude 8.7.
-- Brian Loader
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6. AAS Astrophotography Competition - Closes Sept. 30
------------------------------------------------------
Calling all Astrophotographers, it's that time of year again, time to get your entries in for the 2019 New Zealand Astrophotography competition.
This year we are super lucky to have the "Bad Astronomer" Phil Plait as judge for the competition. Phil is an 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. For more on Phil see the Auckland Astronomical Society's website.
Australian Sky & Telescope are sponsoring both the Deep Sky category and the Nightscape / Artistic category. The winners of these categories will receive a one year subscription to the magazine as well as having their images printed in it.
Astronz are sponsoring the Solar System category with a $300 Astronz gift voucher. The Auckland Astronomical Society will also provide a cash prize for each category winner.
Auckland's Stardome Observatory and Planetarium will print a selection of the entrants images for an astrophotography exhibition that will be displayed at Stardome after the competition awards are announced. The exhibition will then tour around New Zealand at various events and galleries.
The competition cut-off date is the September 30 and the competition awards will be announced at the Auckland Astronomical Society's annual Burbidge dinner. See below for Burbidge dinner details.
The competition rules and entry forms can be found on the homepage of the Auckland Astronomical Society website
https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/default.aspx
-- Adapted from a note to the nzastronomers group by Jonathan Green.
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7. RASNZ Beatrice Hill-Tinsley Lecture Series
---------------------------------------------
The RASNZ Lecture Trust Inc. is pleased to announce the itinerary of the 2019 Beatrice Hill Tinsley Lecture series where Babak A. Tafreshi will be speaking at various NZ venues.
Auckland (Auckland Astronomical Society): October 10, time 18:30
Venue: Large Chemistry Lecture Theatre, University of Auckland, Symonds Street
Admission charge: No charge
Event details and bookings: Booking required. Details available soon.
Tauranga (Tauranga Astronomical Society): October 11, commencing 7:30pm
Venue: Otumoetai Baptist Church auditorium. 241 Otumoetai Road, Otumoetai, Tauranga 3110
Admission charge: $5 per adult. Free for children and Tauranga Astronomical Society members
Hamilton (Hamilton Astronomical Society): October 12, time 7.30pm
Venue: Waikato University, Room 1.04 S Block, 1 Knighton Road, Hillcrest, Hamilton
Admission charge: $10
Event details and bookings: Tickets via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/beatrice-hill-tinsley-2019-lecture-tour-tickets-71491158981
Napier (Hawkes Bay Astronomical Society): October 14, commencing at 6pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1 at EIT on Gloucester Street in Taradale
Admission charge: Gold coin
Wellington (Wellington Astronomical Society): October 15, time 7:30pm-8:30pm
Venue: Massey University Wellington, The Pit Block 12, Level C
Admission charge: No Charge
Event details and bookings: Free public event but seating is limited. Register at https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2019/the-world-at-night-beatrice-hill-tinsley-lecture-2019/wellington-region
Nelson (Astronomy Section, Nelson Science Society, RSNZ): October 16, time 7.30 - 9.00 pm
Venue: Elim Christian Centre, 625 Main Rd, Stoke
Admission charge: $5 koha, students free
Event details and bookings: no bookings. Cash only.
Christchurch (Christchurch Astronomical Society):
October 18, time 7:00 p.m.
Venue: University of Canterbury, C2 Lecture Theatre.
Admission charge: Free
Event details and bookings: Tickets via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/d/new-zealand--christchurch/science-and-tech--events/
Dunedin (Dunedin Astronomical Society): October 28, time TBA
Venue: TBA
Admission charge: TBA
Event details and bookings: TBA
Wanganui (Wanganui Astronomical Society): October 30, time 7.30pm
Venue: Concert Chamber, Whanganui War Memorial Hall, Watt Street.
Admission charge: $5pp, Family $10
New Plymouth (New Plymouth Astronomical Society): October 31, time 7:30pm
Venue: Spotswood College Staffroom
Admission charge: Adults $10, Children Free
Event details and bookings: Cash Door Sales Only - No EFTPOS
Babek will also be speaking at the NZ Starlight Conference, Sunday 20 – Fri 25 October - https://starlightconference.org/
For more information, see - https://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/beatrice-hill-tinsley-lectures.
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8. New Zealand Starlight Conference - October 20-23
----------------------------------------------------
Planning for the New Zealand Starlight Conference continues to make good progress. The conference will take place this year at Lake Tekapo and will discuss all aspects of dark skies protection, combating light pollution, astro-tourism, astro-photography, lighting technology, the aesthetics of the starry night sky, the health and environmental issues of light pollution and much more. The dates will be 20 - 23 October 2019. The conference website is https://starlightconference.org.
We have confirmed ten outstanding keynote speakers, and details are (or soon will be) on the website. We currently (mid-September) have 94 registrations and hope to increase the number in the next few weeks. Many are from overseas, but there is also a strong NZ contingent from the astronomical and dark skies communities.
Many speakers have offered talks on a wide range of topics based on lighting technology, light pollution and its health and environmental impacts, stargazing and astro-tourism. This will therefore be a highly multidisciplinary conference.
A theme of the Starlight Conference is `towards the first dark-sky nation´. To this end we are encouraging people from New Zealand´s already accredited dark sky places, and representatives from all aspiring dark sky places (about a dozen of them) to participate in the conference. We plan to run a workshop with experts from the International Dark-Sky Association on how to become a dark sky place with IDA accreditation.
Our website gives all information you will need to register for the NZ Starlight Conference 2019. The registration fee for the Starlight Conference is NZD290, which includes lunches, morning and afternoon teas, Mt John visits and an opening reception in the new Dark Sky Project building (with the restored 1897 Brashear telescope).
The NZ Starlight Conference has been registered as an official IAU100 and RASNZ100 event.
We hope to see you in Tekapo in October. Speaking slots are full, but we have spaces for more poster papers.
-- John Hearnshaw
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9. Burbidge Dinner - November 22
--------------------------------
The Auckland Astronomical Society's Burbidge Dinner 2019 is on
Friday 22 November 2019.
Start Time: 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Venue: Ellerslie Events Centre, Pakuranga Hunt Room.
After Dinner Lecture by Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn, (Director, Sydney Institute of Astronomy, University of Sydney) "The Galactic Centre - a Window into the Future". See the lecture abstract at
https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/eventcalendar.aspx
As well as our guest speaker there will be the prize-giving for the New Zealand Astrophotography Competition including the Harry Williams Trophy for the supreme winner, and the Beaumont Writing Prize. A spectacular venue, great meal, cash bar and ample free parking.
Tickets: $65 pp, earlybird price of $60.00 is available until 31st October includes a buffet dinner.
Tickets can be booked: - by email at events@astronomy.org.nz -by phone to Niven on 021 935 261 or Bill on 021 225 8175
-- From the AAS website.
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10. Variable Star News
----------------------
Another nova in Scorpio has been discovered by Japanese observer Koichi Itagaki (Yamagata) on 15th September. Other observers have reported the outburst at about the same time. Reported at unfiltered CCD magnitude 11.0, visual observations are about magnitude 12.0. An initial spectroscopic observation indicates a classical nova with foreground galactic reddening. The nova is being actively monitored by a range of observing techniques. The nova has been given the permanent GCVS designation V1707 Sco.
Announcement details are given on the AAVSO site https://www.aavso.org/pnv-j17370958-3510211-possible-nova-110-mag-scorpius-0 and in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 4667.
-- Alan Baldwin
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11. 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. The Executive Secretary shall be paid an annual honorarium of $1000.
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
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12. Revised RASNZ Rules
-----------------------
At the 96th AGM held in New Plymouth on 18 May 2019 a number of alterations to the Rules were put to the meeting and passed. The affected Rules are 26, 38, 43, 49 58, 58a, 58b, 75 and 82.
These alterations have been filed with the Companies Office and were registered by the Registrar of Incorporated Societies on 27 August 2019.
The updated Rules are available on the RASNZ website by clicking on the RASNZ Rules and Bylaws link found here: http://www.rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/about-rasnz
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13. India’s Vikram Lunar Lander Lost
------------------------------------
India's attempt to land on the Moon resulted in a loss of contact with the Vikram lander. The lander appears to have arrived on the lunar surface intact, but is tilted and attempts to re-establish contact have failed so far.
It wasn't meant to be. After a six-week journey, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) lost contact with Chandrayaan 2's Vikram lander shortly before it was supposed to have touched down on the lunar surface. The Moon landing was set to occur on September 6 UT. Vikram (Sanskrit for "valour") separated from the Chandrayaan 2 orbiter on September 2 for a four-day descent that would take it 100 km down to the lunar surface.
The landing occurred on a plain near the lunar south pole on the nearside of the Moon, between craters Manzinus C and Simpelius N. The site is located near -71°S. A successful touchdown would have made it the closest soft landing near a lunar pole to date. China's Chang'e 4 mission landed near -47°S latitude on January 3. Israel's SpaceIL Beresheet mission failed an attempted soft landing in April.
Launched atop a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India on July 22, Chandrayaan 2 took a leisurely path to the Moon via a series of orbital boosts, gradually raising its elliptical orbit around the Earth until it was captured by the Moon's gravity on August 20.
The Chandrayaan 2 lunar orbiter began mapping the landing site and an alternate site at the end of August, using its Orbiter High Resolution Camera. Chandrayaan 2 will continue to map the lunar surface and monitor the lunar environment over the coming year.
The Vikram lander was set to deploy a small rover named Pragyan (meaning “wisdom” in Sanskrit) shortly after landing. The solar-powered rover and lander made the landing attempt at local sunrise to give them both a maximum two weeks of daylight before they succumbed to the cold lunar night.
The lunar landing site for Vikram and Pragyan was selected to search for lunar water ice trapped near the poles. An earlier ISRO mission, the Chandrayaan 1 orbiter, found direct evidence for water ice in craters trapped in perpetual shadow near the lunar poles.
The ISRO and NASA's Deep Space Network will continue to listen for Vikram in the coming days, but the prognosis is grim. The Chandrayaan 2 orbiter and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter may image the site as well.
-- Abridged from David Dickinson's article on Sky & Telescope's webpage at https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/india-chandrayaan-2-loses-contact-vikram-lunar-lander/
See the original for diagrams and images.
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14. 2020 Conference and RASNZ Centenary
---------------------------------------
The 2020 Conference will be held 8-10 May at Wellington with the Wharewaka Function Centre the venue (near the Michael Fowler Centre) in downtown Wellington. The Wellington Astronomical Society is hosting this conference.
2020 marks a significant milestone in the life of the Society as it was founded in November 1920 with 75 members.
The SCC invites ideas from members how the Society might commemorate its centenary at next year’s conference. Please send your suggestions to the SCC at conference@rasnz.org.nz.
-- Glen Rowe, Chair, Standing Conference Committee
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15. 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'.
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16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
--------------------------
The RASNZ is responsible for recommending to the trustees of the Kingdon
Tomlinson Fund that grants be made for astronomical projects. The grants may be to any person or persons, or organisations, requiring funding for any projects or ventures that promote the progress of astronomy in New Zealand. Applications are now invited for grants from the Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund. The application should reach the Secretary by 1 November 2019 for consideration by Council. Full details are set down in the RASNZ By-Laws, Section J. Information on the K-T Fund is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/kt-fund
The application form at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/KT_Application2019.pdf
================================================================
17. 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 and at http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/ge-fund
The application form is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/GE_Application2019.pdf
===============================================================
18. Quotes
----------
"How long is a piece of string theory?" -- Eric Idle.
"Oh dear. What can the dark matter be?" -- Eric Idle.
(Both above from Eric Idle's 'The Road to Mars'.)
"Kepler's laws, although not rigidly true, are sufficiently near to the truth to have led to the discovery of the law of attraction of the bodies of the Solar System. The deviation from complete accuracy is due to the facts, that the planets are not of unappreciable mass, that, in consequence, they disturb each other's orbits about the Sun." -- Isaac Newton.
"For Mr Newton, space and time did not talk to each other, never married, and lived separate lives." -- Roberto Trotta.
"In some sense, gravity does not exist; what moves the planets and the stars is the distortion of space and time." -- Michio Kaku.
(The three above in Marcus Chown's 'The Ascent of Gravity', Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2017.)
"A precise classification system is the key to understanding the biological or geological world; an imprecise system of classification leads to misinterpretation and confusion.
The development of every classification system follows the same general evolutionary pattern. Properties of the members of the population are surveyed. Some are found to be discontinuous, and a tentative classification is based on these discontinuous properties. Additional surveys reveal other discontinuous properties that can be used to test the initial classification. Every classification scheme continues to evolve as more data becomes available. Interesting tensions develop between taxonomists who are mainly 'lumpers' and those who are mainly 'splitters', between those researchers who are ready (sometimes too ready) to accept changes in a taxonomic system and those who cling to an 'established' system long after it has been superseded. These tensions are well exposed at meetings of meteorite researchers." -- John T. Wasson in 'Meteorites', W.H. Freeman, 1985.
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Alan Gilmore Phone: 03 680 6817
P.O. Box 57 alan.gilmore@canterbury.ac.nz
Lake Tekapo 7945
New Zealand
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