These notices are out of date, but remain here for reference.
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Earlier this year, in March, an observing weekend was held at the Bushy Park Homestead north of Wanganui. In October this year, it's happening again.
From October 3rd to 5th, the Taranaki Active Astronomers Group (TAAG) is promoting another get-together similar to the previous one. In the same way as last time, the organisation is intended to be very loose, with no arranged activities and everyone booking directly for themselves.
Accomodation is available in the bunk rooms for $20/night, or alternatively in the homestead for $100/night. It's a first come first serve system with minimal organisation, so please contact Bushy Park directly to book on 06-342-9879 or bushypark.homestead@xtra.co.nz. Once you've done so, it'd be very helpful if you could inform Warwick Kissling, so there's a reasonable idea of numbers.
Update: Late last month, several members travelled over the Cook Straight to watch the star Beta Virginis disappear for several seconds in co-ordination with some Christchurch astronomers. The preliminary results of this trip have been very successful, and are posted on the website of the RASNZ Occulatation Section. Thanks to the people who took part.
If you missed out, however, there's a chance to do it again. On July 19th at around 8.45pm on a Saturday night, another star -- this time in Sagittarius -- is due to be occulted. It should be visible from Kaikoura and the surrounding area. The star is mag 5.7, which should make it easy to watch in binoculars.
The likely programme will be to catch the Interislander to Picton on Saturday morning, collectively rent vehicle(s) and drive to places near Kaikoura, carry out the observations (here's hoping for good weather), stay somewhere cheap in Kaikoura, and then return on Sunday afternoon.
More information will become available closer to the date, but meanwhile names are being collected of people (beginners and experts alike) who are interested in being involved. If you think you might be interested or would like some more information, please contact Mike McGavin.
This Wednesday we're privileged to have renowned astronomer, writer and historian, William Sheehan, here from the USA.
Late this winter, the faster-moving Earth will catch up with Mars as the two planets pursue their perennial paths around the Sun. At opposition, on August 28 2003, Mars will approach within only 55,760,523 kilometres -- slightly closer than it has been in at least 60,000 years.
Close oppositions occur once every 15 or 17 years, as Mars passes the Earth during its perihelian, as it is nearest to the Sun. A collusion of factors will make this opposition the most favourable of our lifetimes.
The meeting officially begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 2nd July. A map to Science House is here. Volunteers to help prepare the post-meeting supper are greatly appreciated.
The Wellington Astronomical Society has been invited to Clyde Quay School (Elizabeth Street, Mount Victoria) to a Star Party on Thursday 26th June, running from 6:30 to 8:00pm.
If you can join us please do. Bring along a telescope, or just yourself, and help give the astronomers of the future a wonderful start in astronomy. Remember to dress warm.
If you are able to join us, please contact John Field.
A trip is being organised for the latter part of June to travel to the South Island to collect scientifically useful information about this event. As well as being a good opportunity to help with something important, it can also be a very educational experience. The following is adapted from an announcement by Graham Blow of the Occultation Section of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. Please contact Graham if you're interested in taking part.
At about 10.37 pm on the evening of Tuesday June 24 minor planet (124) Alkeste will pass in front of the magnitude 3.6 naked eye star Beta Virginis. As it does so the shadow of Alkeste will sweep across the earth in a band about 83 km wide. Anyone within this band will see the magnitude 3.6 star disappear from the sky for up to 3.8 seconds.
An occultation of a naked eye star this bright is very rare indeed, so this represents an opportunity to see something very special. The shadow of Alkeste passes across the northern South Island, and also over heavily populated regions of southeast Australia where a massive effort to observe the event is planned. This will be an opportunity to be part of a truly international observing effort.
The event will be visible to anyone without optical aid (although using binoculars or a small telecope is desirable). The track has been predicted very reliably indeed and we can say that anyone within the central two-thirds of the track is guaranteed to see an occultation (weather permitting).
What we want to do is to get as many timed chords across the asteroid as possible. To obtain a chord you must time the disappearance and reappearance of the star, ideally to 0.1 second accuracy. To do so requires having an accurate source of time (e.g. a shortwave radio receiver tuned to time signal station WWVH. Or you might even be able to use a cellphone and the IRL talking clock on 0900-45678!). However even if you don't have an accurate timebase just measuring the length of time for which the star is occulted will also be useful. Even reporting that the star disappeared is a useful result!
If sufficient chords across the asteroid are recorded, the size and profile of Alkeste will be established with unprecendented accuracy. In some recent cases where more than 50 chords have been observed we have been able to resolve minute details on the asteroid's limb. This is the ONLY way of obtaining this information short of sending a spacecraft.
Because the accuracy of the predicted path is very high we would prefer to move observers into the "guaranteeed" zone in the South Island, because it is somewhat unlikely that any last-minute movement in the path would move it as far north as Wellington.
So... we are looking for volunteers to take part in what will amount to an interesting and exciting astronomical adventure. A group of Wellington observers plans to fly to Christchurch on the afternoon or early evening of Tuesday June 24, returning the following morning. In Christchurch we will meet up with local observers and then travel north to the path of the occultation, distributing ourselves between about Woodend and Culverden. To make this event a success we will need as many people as possible to participate.
If you might be interested in taking part please contact me as soon as possible. The cost of this adventure will depend on how cheap we can get the airfares, etc, but we're aiming to keep costs in the range $200 to $250 each. We will need to book airfares very soon though if we want them at a reasonable price.
More information will be available at the WAS meeting on Wednesday evening so feel free to see me there. If you want to be involved and can't make it to the meeting you should contact me by email as soon as possible.
For more general information about timing occultations please check out the RASNZ Occultation Section website, where specific information about this event will also be posted soon.
This month, Dr Peter Cottrell of Canterbury University will speak about the progress made on the South African Large Telescope (SALT). This is a very exciting project for Southern Hemisphere Astronomy.
The meeting officially begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 4th June. A map to Science House is here. Volunteers to help prepare the post-meeting supper are greatly appreciated.
This Saturday, 10th May, is International Astronomy Day.
If the weather's good, a group of Wellington Astronomical Society members will be at Civic Square from about 12.30pm and through the afternoon. Among other things for the promotion of science and astronomy, well be inviting people to take a look at the Sun safely, using specially filtered equipment.
If the weather holds out, we're also intending to return to Civic Square in the evening with some telescopes, for observing the Moon, Jupiter, and various other fascinations of the night sky.
If you're passing by or in the area, please feel welcome to stop by, take a look at what's in the Sky, and talk to us to find out a bit more about a scientific hobby that fascinates many thousands of New Zealanders.
A report about last year's astronomy day event is available here.
Correction, 30th April 2003: This notice previously gave a date of a week earlier. For various reasons, the event has now been re-scheduled to Thursday, 15th May.
The Wellington Astronomical Society will be holding a star party at Silverstream School on Thursday 15th May between 7pm and 9pm. As well as the First Quarter Moon, we'll probably be targetting Saturn and Jupiter, as well as various easily found star clusters and nebulae.
About 150 children and parents are expected, so volunteers are needed to help. If you think you're able to help in any way, please contact John Field.
The Wellington Astronomical Society will be holding a star party at Owhiro Bay School on Tuesday 8th April, between 7pm and 9pm. As well as the First Quarter Moon, we'll probably be targetting Saturn and Jupiter, as well as various easily found star clusters and nebulae.
About 100 children and parents are expected, so volunteers are needed to help. If you think you're able to help in any way, please contact John Field.
This month, Dave Maclennan, Vice President of the New Zealand Spaceflight Association, has prepared a presentation exploring the aftermath of the recent Columbia shuttle disaster.
Beyond the obvious human impact of the tragedy, the presentation will look at the implications for the future of the NASA Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.
The meeting officially begins at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 2nd April. A map to Science House is here. Volunteers to help prepare the post-meeting supper are greatly appreciated.
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