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Welcome to Newsletter No. 24. So much has happened in the past 6 months, since Newsletter 23, so the following is just a snapshot of all of it. Sorry for the delay getting to No. 24, but it’s has been a hectic 6 months for me and the Society as well
Society news
The start of the 2007-8 Program of Events, as seen the usual mixture of talks, by invited speakers, talks and other presentations by Society members, debates about Astronomical issues and, as you will see later in this newsletter, some ‘major’ changes to the Society.
The 2007-8 program kicked off with a presentation, by Dr Stewart Eyres, from the University of Central Lancashire, about the ‘outburst’ star, RS Ophiuchi.
RS Ophiuchi has been extensively observed since Victorian times, because, about 150 years ago, it started a series of ‘outburst’ episodes, whereby the brightness of the star suddenly increases by perhaps 1000 times, as it ejects a shell of dusty material.
The most recent outburst, the 6th so far, has been extensively imaged by both Professional and Amateur observers and a new insight into what is happening has taken place.Essentially, the star is a dying Red supergiant, and will expire sometime in the not too (astronomically speaking) distant future perhaps in as little as a 1000 years.
Just how it will expire will depend upon two factors:
a) How much mass will it loose before it dies and
b) How much mass will it keep to fuel the final ‘explosion’
In and amongst the images taken, the theorists are getting to work to deduce why this star is doing what it is doing, and as a result, can any theory predict what may happen to other stars similar to RS Ophiuchi.
On the 1st June, Dr Mark Jones, from the Open University, gave a presentation about ‘Infra Red Astronomy’.Because this radiation is not ‘seen’ by our eyes, we have to rely on Satellites and Telescopes equipped with sensitive detectors.The presentation looked at experiments past and present, such as ISO, IRAS, UKIRT and some specialist imaging telescopes and then went on to describe what had been gleaned from the results from these missions.To finish off, he discussed the plans for the future of this exciting branch of observational astronomy.
Following the Summer ‘recess’, the next Public Lecture was by Dr Maurizio Salaris, who some of us had listened to at Merseyside Astronomy Day, in March (see Newsletter 23).
Dr Salaris is a European expert on the formation of the Universe on the ‘BIG’ scale (i.e. galaxy super-clusters and the like).It was a very interesting talk, well attended and had a long discussion at the end during questions and answers.
In October we followed this up with ‘Building a galaxy Star by star’ by Dr Sue Percival from Liverpool JM University.
Dr Percival’s presentation looked at how Stars form inside a galaxy, from clouds of dust and gas and tied in nicely with Dr Salaris’s talk, the previous month.
Again there was a long Q&A session at the end and we continued the discussions in the Head of Steam pub!
On Thursday 11th of October a small group of HAPS members ventured to West Yorkshire Astronomical Society at Pontefract High School to listen to a presentation by Alan Bean the 4th man to set foot on the Moon.
His presentation discussed some of the interesting things that were done on the mission as well as a few of the ‘personal touches’ done by the Astronauts.
You may remember the famous experiment of comparing the fall of a hammer and feather, on the Moon, which showed that, in a vacuum, all objects fall at the same rate unimpeded by air resistance as there is none on the Moon there was also the famous ‘9-iron golf shot’ where there was concern that the golf ball could make one full orbit of the Moon and land rather close back at the landing site.
He mentioned a number of interesting facts such as:
a) that the lunar surface was a weird place and the soil/dust had some unusual properties for example just 2 cm below the surface, the temperature of the soil drops from +250 degrees to -100 degrees the soil is a good ‘insulator’ of heat.
b) Then there was the ‘lunar concrete’ experiment where the astronauts took some ingredients, such as lime/pebbles, to attempt to mix a concrete like slurry to see if it was possible to make buildings using mostly Moon sourced materials except for water it IS!
c) When looking from the Moon he said that it was so wonderful to see all the stars in the night sky without impediment from the effects of the earth’s atmosphere he thought it was so beautiful.
It was a truly inspirational presentation, he was not bothered by the ‘politically correct doom mongers of space exploration’ he wanted to tell people that we, as a human race, have a ‘need’ to explore new worlds, new civilisations, to boldly go. (Sorry for the Star Trek plug! But it is very apt for his beliefs)
He was also very frustrated by the lack of political will, on the part of the American Government, to put some serious money into a new venture to the Moon.
He also made the very obvious comment that, as seems likely/possible, if or when the Chinese decide to send a manned mission to the Moon, this will likely rekindle the ‘Kennedy’ spirit, of the late 1950s early 1960s, when the Americans wanted to beat the Russians to the Moon.
On the 2nd November Professor Ian Lawrie, came to HAPS (with the Clubroom newly refurbished read on!!!), to give a presentation about ‘Quantum Physics in the early Universe.
Laying out a ‘path of enlightened thinking’ by a number of very famous theoretical physicists, Professor Lawrie conveyed the conviction that the properties of Quantum Mechanics , provides a ‘proof’ that:
a) What was seen by COBE in the Cosmic Background Radiation maps is a true likeness of the universe.
b) Quantum mechanical origins of the formation of the Universe.
Essentially the story goes like this:
COBE saw that there were microscopic anomalies in the temperature of the cosmic background’.
By utilising the properties of very very small particles, which behave like packets of energy, it is possible to ‘rewind’ the expansion of the Universe, by 14.5 billion years, to suggest that:
a) Shortly after the inflationary period of the Universe’s expansion the Universes’ structure, in 4-dimensional space, was very lumpy.
b) As the Universe expanded this lumpiness smoothed out until it is as we see it today.
d) The Universe will now expand for ever at a steadily increasing rate and that
e) Unfortunately we cannot test the theory, because the energies involved are so massive that we would need a machine the size of the galaxy (or bigger) to do so and finally.
f) Quantum Mechanics may explain Einstein’s ‘extra term’ in E=MC2+K, that he originally used to explain the Universe in terms of General Relativity.
Definitely not a subject that you would want to read about as a ‘bedtime story’ but the explanation seems so elegant that, amongst other ideas such as ‘String theory’ which now seems to have more holes in it than a football pitch sized colander, Theoretical physicists are now in deep discussion about this new insight into the formation of the Universe.
In the coming Months, there will be talks by:
a) Professor Vladco Vedral Entanglement and Quantum Computers another delve into the weird world of the ultra-microscopic Universe on the 7th of December.
b) Dr Ralph Spenser, from Jodrell Bank RT Micro-Quasars and other outflows on 4th of January 2008.
c) Mike Hezzlewood, SPA on ‘Visual Astronomy’ on 1st February 2008.
d) Astrophysical Chemistry by Dr June McCombie on 7th March 2008.
e) And the last Public lecture of this current program on 4th Aril 2008 ‘The hunt for dark mater’ by Dr Ed Daw from the University of Sheffield.
On Saturday 1st September the Society hosted its first ‘Beginners Astronomy Day’ at the Observatory.Thankfully we had some good weather allowing visitors to view the Sun in Hydrogen alpha.
The event went very well and Mel did a fantastic job putting together a presentation about the basics in Astronomy and backed up with hints and tips provided by other Society members we found that there are quite a few people in Huddersfield who have a Telescope but are not (yet!) members of our Society.
It was a good springboard for the launch-pad of the ‘Beginners Astronomy Course’ organised by Mel Westwood and assisted by a number of Society members.
This is running for 6 weeks from Wednesday 7th November until mid-December.
A recent meeting of Society members involved in this project was held at the Clubroom and each week there will be a different theme plus two evenings at the Observatory.
Already Mel has had 20 enquiries, most of whom have paid a deposit, so this will get some money coming into the Society.
In advance of their start of this course, a number of Society members have spent their spare evenings and weekends revamping the Clubroom.
With Peter Ironmonger as project manager and chief buyer, much of the old fixtures and fittings in the clubroom have been stripped out and replaced with new.
Funding was provided, in part, by both Kirklees Council and the Cuckoo’s Nest Charity Shop.
So this is a list of what’s been done:
a) The inside wall, at below ground level, has been sealed against damp penetration.
b) The old kitchen units have been replaced with new and extra work-tops have been installed.
c) The Library area has been completed redeveloped.
d) The gas Fire has been disconnected and replaced with a modern electric fire.
e) An extractor fan has been installed to provide good ventilation and air movement.
f) The blackboard has been removed and replaced with a dry-wipe board and white projection screen.
g) The room electrical sockets have been replaced and new fixtures installed to remove the need for long trailing extensions.
h) A new sink has been installed.
i) A new sign, outside, has been put in place.
j) The main entrance door has been cleaned, eased and repainted to make access easier.
k) The carpet has been replaced.
l) There is now proper storage space for the portable telescopes we have in the Clubroom.
In summary, if you haven’t been down to a meeting recently then when you do (and I hope that now we’ve spent a lot of money time and effort on these changes!) come along to future meetings, and then you can appreciate the work that has been done.
So what does it look like now? Well here are a couple of recent images taken shortly after completion of the renovations..
and
There is still a small amount of finishing off to do. As with any project of this size there were a few unexpected additional tasks, to be done, once the major stripping out of the old fixtures and fitting was done.
These will be completed in the next week or so.
The principal people involved with this project were Peter Ironmonger (as Project Manager and carpenter), Mel Westwood (and his wife) painter, carpenter and electrician, Paul Harper (painting and cleaning), myself (painting, construction and rubbish clearance), Paul Cooke (Security door modifications), Stewart Clough (cabinet maker) and Brian Armitage (cleaning, tidying up and general all-round helper).
If I’ve forgotten anyone then, sorry so I will simply say thanks to everyone who helped out and, also, thanks to others who have already expressed some very positive comments about the new layout.
Even the Landlord looked happy with what has been going on!
There is one final item to sort out and that is the problem of overflowing drains outside the Clubroom the landlord has been contacted and (as of the time of writing) has agreed to set on contractor to sort it out hopefully the work can be done in the next few months.
We have also got some money (about £600) from the Examiner run Competition this will go towards paying for some ‘extras’ purchased as part of the Clubroom renovations.
Astromind 2007
Marcus has been successful in regaining the ‘Yorkshire Astromind’ title we held the event at Moldgreen United Reformed Church in October and the event ran very smoothly.
The 2007/8 contest will be held by Sheffield Astronomical Society.
The other Program activities also have been going on with ‘lively’ debates on such subjects as:
a) Time travel reality or fantasy’ consensus was that it was fantasy as there were so many problems with the consequences!
b) The International Space Station White Elephant or Technological marvel’ the outcome was that it was a technological marvel and never seems to get much publicity of the general day-to-day activities that take place this could or would actually show the general public just why it was put together and what new discoveries are done that have uses back on Earth.
On the 6th of July we had a ‘Curry Night’ this time again Peter chose the venue, on Bradford Road and a small gang of HAPS members had a very enjoyable evening. More than likely there will be some of these in the next program perhaps trying other cuisines such as Mongolian or Tibetan to name but two.
There have been the usual mix of talks by members, the Imaging Competition and more relaxed evenings when members can read magazines though these have been taken over to start the organisation of the events as described previously in this section of the newsletter.
Whats coming up?
In the next few months, we enter another busy period of events - now also concentrating our efforts at the Observatory as well as the Beginner’s Astronomy Course.
There is the HAPS Christmas Dinner, this year taking place at the ‘Bulls Head’ pub, just above the Observatory, off Blackmoorfoot Road.
This is booked for Sunday 16th December at 7.30pm.
Please contact Paul Harper to make a reservation, pay a deposit of £10 per person to him (total cost is £18.95) as soon as possible and for details of the Menu - all meals HAVE to be booked in advance.
Star party visits
As with 2006, a contingent from HAPS has visited both the Dalby Forest Star Party and the Kielder Forest Star Party
Dalby Forest Star Party was held in mid August.
As with previous years, the weather was mixed and it was not clear enough, on the Saturday night, to do any observing.
It was possible to see what had been built at their new Visitors centre/Observatory site and catch up with old friends such as John Harper of the Scarborough & Ryedale Astronomical Society.
As ever S&RAS put on a good event with talks taking place in the marquee, on the Saturday night, whilst the weather was not good enough for observing.
For the kids there was also ‘pop bottle rockets’
Kielder Forest Star Party, in October, followed the same format as with previous years - a two night stay ensured that the second (Sunday) night was clear enough to undertake 2 and a half hours of imaging.
The promised clear skies, for the Sunday evening, encouraged Gain and Adele to make the 3 hour drive up from Huddersfield, for a nights observing and then set off back to Huddersfield at 3am.
Thankfully their journey was worth it with Gain going quasar and galaxy hunting at the very limits of the capabilities of his 20-inch Dobsonian telescope.
The images, of the Night Sky, taken at this event were shown at a Society meeting in November.
On first inspection Robert has got some images of the constellation of Cygnus showing the ‘North America Nebula’ - NGC 7000 - a region of Hydrogen gas emission inside our Milky Way galaxy.
These will eventually appear on his (recently created) website: www.robs-roamings.info
Mel and his wife decided to come this year, but due to the poor weather on the first (Saturday) night, they called it a day and went home.
Hopefully this hasn’t put them off - the weather at Kielder can be anything from bitingly cold with clear frosty nights to huge downpours and mini-hurricanes so it is unfortunately one of those - you pays your money and you takes your chances - types of place.
Thankfully Kielder has, when the weather is good, some great outdoors to explore.
It is a huge man-made forest and there’s plenty to find for anyone with walking boots or a mountain bike.
The walk to the new Observatory, from the campsite, takes about 45 minutes - probably not suitable to take a non-4WD vehicle up the track! - Here are a few views along the way:
and
and the observatory site itself
You can see the two stainless steel pillars for the Telescope mounting platforms.
A few HAPS members have joined the KFAS to support their efforts in running a new Society as well as getting the use of these, hopefully, excellent facilities in a truly dark skies location.
We also took the opportunity to sit in on the Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society’s first Committee Meeting.
You may remember if you have read previous Newsletters, that:
a) Some Architects visited out Observatory to see what was involved in its construction and then
b) Kielder Astronomical Society obtained grants totalling more than £250,000 to build a ‘Forest Friendly’ observatory in the idle of Kielder Forest.
Well, now the project has started its construction phase.The building will be a long wooden platform; raised on stilts above the forest floor level (which has been cleared).It will house:
a) a 20-inch Split-ring Dobsonian telescope on an equatorial mount.
b) a Meade 14inch LX200 on an equatorial mount.
c) There will be space for a ‘classroom’, warm room, toilet facilities and
d) Storage spaces.
You might be rather surprised to know that most of the funding has come from the ‘Arts Council’ with a smaller contribution from the Forestry Commission and NONE from any science or astronomy funding body!
Hopefully construction and equipment testing will be completed by March 2008, when there will be an opening ceremony and a ‘Star Party’ as well - so set your calendars as the Huddersfield Society may well take part in this Star party.
Observatory News
The Observatory has again not seen too much activity, over the past few months.
This is because the focus has been on sorting out the refurbishment of the Clubroom.
However there has been the Beginner’s Astronomy Day, on the 1st of September.
Attended by about 20-25 visitors that was a good boost to the ‘public awareness’ of the Huddersfield Astronomical & Philosophical Society, by the people of Huddersfield and further afield.
A number of ‘new ideas’ were tried, as it was the first time we had run one of these -
a) Mel presented a ‘basic’ view of the Universe in the form of a PowerPoint slide show.
b) Various Society members were on hand to demonstrate how telescopes work.
c) The solar telescopes were in use - thankfully the weather was kind to us
d) Robert gave a demonstration (principally for the kids!) of ‘pop bottle rockets’.
e) Paul provided a simple ‘finger buffet’ for the guests to enjoy.
All in all it was a worthwhile venture and we plan to run another Beginners Astronomy Day, in early September 2008.
During the day we were approached by the organiser of Holmbridge Women’s Institute and a few weeks later we had a stand at their ‘Open Day’ where again we met some people from other organisations and made useful links with potentials for future Observatory visits and the like.
Thankfully the sun shone (eventually) during the Open Day and we were able to show the visitors a view of the Sun through a Portable Solar telescope.
STOP PRESS - the Society has got some funding for its own Portable Solar telescope
Observatory visiting parties
We have already had some visiting parties at the Observatory, including SPICE in mid-October - they came on a clear night and HAPS members were able to give them a thorough tour of the Night Sky including a number of Open Clusters and similarly interesting objects.
In the coming Months we have already quite a few visiting parties to the Observatory, including almost a whole week of evenings dedicated for St Patricks Catholic Primary School (Mid December).
Visits by other groups are already in the pipeline, with dates agreed - so if you would like to help out please get in touch and I’ll let you know who is coming and when.
Comet 17P Holmes
If you have been watching the news, you should have by now seen one or more articles about a new ‘bright comet’ in the sky, Comet 17P Holmes.
This comet was first identified some 150 years ago as a ‘periodic comet’ with an orbit of about 7 years.
For most of these orbits, this comet is a faint ball of dust and gas, only reasonably viewed through a large telescope.
However, the 2007 return was something different - over a period of only 2 days the Comet, in early October, brightened up by a factor of about1 million times, from around 15th to almost 3rd magnitudes and was soon spotted by eager comet hunters.
At the time of writing, now, a few HAPS Society members have now seen the comet and there are a few images too. SEE PHOTOS PAGE
There is also plenty of information about 17P Holmes on the world wide web and, if you have a computer planetarium program you may be able to download its orbital elements so you can follow its track, in the weeks ahead.
At the moment the Comet is travelling through the heart of Perseus and is visible for most of the night
The Night Sky For The Next Few Months
November sees the autumn constellations giving way to the winter ones. You can see Pegasus/Andromeda, Pisces, Perseus (with Comet 17P Holmes), Auriga, Cygnus and Lyra, with Taurus and Gemini becoming more prominent heralding the arrival of Orion, after Christmas.
New moons take place on the 9th November and 9th December, the 8th of January 2008, 7th February 2008 and the 7th of March 2008.
The Planets
Venus is visible in the morning sky throughout the autumn and winter months, rising slightly later as the months go by.
Mars is visible all night, throughout the next 6 months.
In November and December Saturn is a morning object but by January it is visible for most of the night.
So there is plenty to see in the night sky, this autumn and winter - this is especially so for Saturn as the ‘rings’ are starting to close up as they go ‘edge on’ by 2008-9.
Meteor Showers
In November we have the Leonid Meteors on the 16th, 17th and 18th of November. Best viewed in the early hours, with Leo high up (it rises at about 11pm GMT), you may see up to 60 fast-moving meteors per hour.
The Geminids take place on the 13th of December – best viewed at about midnight with Gemini overhead – this shower has about 20 meteors per hour and usually fairly bright (about as bright as the main stars of Orion).
Nearer Christmas, you have the 'Ursid' meteor shower, with a radiant in the Great bear, visible from the 23rd December – quite bright but only about 3-5 meteors per hour.
HAPS XMAS DINNER - added 19/12/07
The following couple of photos were taken at the annual xmas dinner.
Next Newsletter
The next Newsletter will, hopefully be published sometime around March 2008. This should include reports on the events in the 2007-8 program, an update on Public Lectures and news of events coming up in the Spring of 2008 as well as, perhaps, a preview of the 2008-9 program.As always contributions are welcome, in any format – please send them to me (Robert) by e-mail or snail mail.
Previous Newsletters
Newsletter 22
Newsletter 23