Hi all,

As you are probably aware, the Astronomical Society of Australia awards the
Berenice Page Medal to distinguished amateur astronomers at most NACAAs. The
ASA has sent the following email to amateur astronomical societies in
Australia calling for nominations for 2010, and the CAS Committee has sent
in its nomination. Individuals can also send in nominations. If you decide
to do so, please make sure you read below the criteria that must be
satisfied.

Note that nominations must be received in Perth by 16 December 2009, so
don't delay.

Albert Brakel

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

      It is my great pleasure to announce that nominations are now open
for the 2010 Berenice Page Medal awarded to recognise excellence in
amateur astronomy. The Berenice Page Medal was inaugurated by the
Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) in 1972 in memory of Mrs
Berenice Page, an exceptional amateur astronomer and foundation member
of the Society. The prize is awarded every two years by the Astronomical
Society of Australia for scientific contributions by an amateur
astronomer that have served to advance astronomy. The winner is
announced during the National Australian Convention of Amateur
Astronomers (NACAA), which is to be held in in Canberra over the 2010
Easter weekend, April 2-5.

      **** The closing date for nominations is 16th of December, 2009. ****

      I strongly encourage you to consider nominations from within your
Society. However, please be aware that the award is specifically for
scientific contributions that have served to advance astronomy. While
the amateur astronomical community benefits greatly from members’
organisational services, their popularisation of astronomy and their
proficiency in established astronomical techniques, these qualities are
not relevant to the award’s criteria. Self nominations are permitted.

      Nominations must include:
      • a detailed description of the candidate’s achievements, outlining
as succinctly as possible the scientific results that the candidate has
produced and the impact this has had on astronomy.
      • a covering letter giving the candidate’s full name, address and a
brief summary of their association with astronomy and particular
research interests.
      • supporting material such as copies of papers, articles or books
written by the candidate that substantiate their nomination.

      Nominations should be addressed to:
      Mr Pete Wheeler
      Page Medal Nominations
      ICRAR M468
      The University of Western Australia
      35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley
      WA 6009

      This information, the Conditions and Guidelines for the award, and
a list of past winners is available on the ASA website at
http://asa.astronomy.org.au/page.html. Details regarding the 2010 NACAA
can be found at http://www.nacaa.org.au/2010/about

      Regards and good luck!

      Pete Wheeler
      Outreach and Education Manager
      International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research
      Phone: 6488 7758
      Email: pete.wheeler@...
      Web: www.icrar.org

_______________________________________________
Regulars-list mailing list
Regulars-list@...
http://nacaa.org.au/mailman/listinfo/regulars-list_nacaa.org.au

The sky is about three-quarters cloud-covered at the moment, with a
prediction that it will be full cover by 8 pm, and only a few minor breaks
thereafter. So it looks like we're out of luck tonight.

Albert Brakel

There will be a Tardis Night tomorrow night. As Bill Frost will be unable to
be the telescope driver as planned, I will be taking over for him.

Meet me at the boom gate on the Mt Stromlo Road at 8:15 pm (not 7:15 pm, as
we are now in daylight saving).

In case of doubtful weather, please give me a ring on 6241-3895 before 7 pm
on the day.

Albert Brakel

As you know, the CAS BBQ will be held on Sat 5 Dec. This means that the
Southern Cross Journal will have to be edited and compiled by Sunday night,
so it can be printed and folded on Monday, to be mailed away on Tuesday
morning.

If you have any article or notice that needs to go in the next Journal,
please get it to me by Saturday night, if at all possible. This will be the
last Southern Cross before February.

We would also welcome some assistance with folding and labelling on Monday
night.

Albert Brakel
Editor

I must be a bit old-fashioned, I prefer black and white in many ways.
Nice work, Steve.
Can't say I can identify any galaxies, however.

John H

David Nicholls wrote:
> Low cloud on Wednesday morning (Deakin), and at 4am this morning (hoping
> for the predicted 19.45UT 18 Nov secondary peak), there was enough clear
> sky (some Cirrus) to say that the meteors were few if any.
>
> DN
>
> Michael Nelmes wrote:
>> Did anyone get to see any Leonid meteors yesterday morning? It was
>> clouded out here in north Canberra.
>> Michael N
>

Clouded out in S Canberra too. However, the meteor flux estimator
	 http://leonid.arc.nasa.gov/estimator.html
didn't think much of our chances anyway..

Vello

Low cloud on Wednesday morning (Deakin), and at 4am this morning (hoping
for the predicted 19.45UT 18 Nov secondary peak), there was enough clear
sky (some Cirrus) to say that the meteors were few if any.

DN

Michael Nelmes wrote:
> Did anyone get to see any Leonid meteors yesterday morning? It was
> clouded out here in north Canberra.
> Michael N

Hello everyone,

Notice of this month's talk which promises to be a beauty on a topic we hear very little about.

See you all there!

cheers,

Kim

Gravitational Wave Astronomy and Instrumentation

Professor David McClelland

Director, Centre for Gravitational Physics

Head, Department of Quantum Science

The Australian National University

Gravitational waves, or ripples in the curvature of space-time, were predicted by Einstein over 90 years ago.  Giant laser interferometers have been ‘listening’ for these waves on and off since 2006.  Whilst they are yet to be observed results of these searches have began constraining theories of the early universe and of the nature of systems which produce them.  These first generation detectors will be switched off mid next year to enable their sensitivities to be upgraded by a factor of around 10.  When they become operational mid next decade, the first direct detection of these elusive waves is virtually assured opening a truly new astronomical window – a new ‘sense’ with which to observe the universe.

In this talk I will introduce the concept of gravitational waves and review potential sources.  I will then describe the laser interferometers which are being built to observe them and review what has so far been achieved with data already recorded.

I was in the Middle East at the time and witnessed that storm.  The meteor
rate did build up very quickly.  A few of us were observing various objects
with a Meade ETX; got tired of that by around 8 pm or so; and were just
standing around, talking and drinking coffee when everyone stopped as the
first horizon-crossing meteor streaked overhead.  The ETX owner took the
scope back to his hotel room - he was gone all of 10 minutes.  Upon arriving
back and asking "Have I missed anything" he was answered with "We've seen
another six!"  The rate increased dramatically over the next hour or so to
at least one every few seconds  - we quickly gave up trying to count and
time them.

Mike Dower

   _____

From: CADG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CADG@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Albert
Brakel
Sent: Monday, 16 November 2009 1:09 AM
To: CAS List; CADG List
Subject: [CADG] Remarks on Leonid peak activity [1 Attachment]



[Attachment(s) <>  from Albert Brakel included below]

Michael N wrote:
<Note that these notes are from the international IYA newsletter rather than
the Australian one, so I believe that for us the peak Leonid activity is 18
November rather than the 17th. www.imo.net <http://www.imo.
<http://www.imo.net> net> gives a
prediction for the main outbust of activity at around 2200hrs UT on the
17th, ie. 0900 EDT on Wednesday the 18th in Canberra - so we should be
looking before dawn that morning. >
About 10 years ago Vello and I went to beyond Wagga to see the build-up to a
Leonid peak that was predicted for mid-morning, but all we got was a
base-line very low rate. A few hours later there was a storm rate over the
Middle East that built up from almost nothing over less than half an hour.
Even if a peak of hundreds/hour is seen in Asia, the start of a peak can be
very sharp, and we may not see more than 10/hour before dawn here. But you
might want to try anyway, weather permitting (Leonid weather has a bad
reputation in Canberra).
AB

Michael N wrote:
<Note that these notes are from the international IYA newsletter rather than
the Australian one, so I believe that for us the peak Leonid activity is 18
November rather than the 17th. www.imo.net <http://www.imo.net> gives a
prediction for the main outbust of activity at around 2200hrs UT on the
17th, ie. 0900 EDT on Wednesday the 18th in Canberra - so we should be
looking before dawn that morning. >
About 10 years ago Vello and I went to beyond Wagga to see the build-up to a
Leonid peak that was predicted for mid-morning, but all we got was a
base-line very low rate. A few hours later there was a storm rate over the
Middle East that built up from almost nothing over less than half an hour.
Even if a peak of hundreds/hour is seen in Asia, the start of a peak can be
very sharp, and we may not see more than 10/hour before dawn here. But you
might want to try anyway, weather permitting (Leonid weather has a bad
reputation in Canberra).
AB

----- Original Message -----

From: Rawlings and Ford

To: CAS List ; CADG

Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 11:15 PM

Subject: [CAS] IYA newsletter

 
Here are some IYA2009 updates from the last week.
 
Send a message to Venus
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is enhancing people's interest in space and the Earth by holding a message campaign. People are invited to send messages that will be printed in fine letters on an aluminium plate and placed aboard the Venus Climate Orbiter AKATSUKI. Find out how to register your message by visiting http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/596/

Leonid meteor shower expected to wow stargazers on 17 November
The annual Leonid meteor shower will be peaking in the hours before dawn on 17 November. Most observers from dark locations away from light pollution hope to see a meteor every few minutes during this peak of activity. See http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/603/ for more.

IYA2009 supporters urged to sign Welsh dark skies petition
Unlike most of the UK, Wales still has some areas free from light pollution, where the stars can be seen in all their glory. Members of Cardiff Astronomical Society have been working hard to protect these areas, by holding an exhibition at the Senedd of the Welsh Assembly, and presenting a seminar for Assembly Members with world-renowned speakers. They are currently organising a petition to the Welsh Assembly to bring attention to the dangers of light pollution and the need for clear guidelines. If you would like to help, please visit http://tinyurl.com/cfds-petition and sign the petition. You do not need to reside in the UK to sign. Registration is necessary but e-mail addresses are only used for logging on, and will not be disclosed. The Assembly fully adheres to data protection requirements and is statutorily bound to debate all petitions.

Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2010 - Third Announcement - Updated
The SOC has been very pleased with the response to attend and present papers at CAP2010 and is now in the process of selecting oral presentations and organising sessions. However, we have decided to extend the deadline as we have heard from a number of people that the timing was not optimum and they would like to submit in November. The deadline for abstract submission has now been extended to December 4th. This also applies to the special rate for on-site hotel accommodation. For existing registrants, please ensure that you have selected your accommodation as soon as possible to make sure that you have a booking. Due to the annual Cape Town cycle tour, the Ritz hotel no longer has rooms available for the night of the 14th March 2010. We have successfully negotiated the same rates with the Cape Manor Hotel, which is 3 blocks away from the Ritz hotel, until the 15th March 2010. Bookings are being made on a first-come, first served basis. Please book your accommodation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
More info: http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/cap2010/

Western Connecticut IYA2009 enthusiasts unveil impressive scale Solar System
On 14 November a magnificent "true scale" model Solar System was being installed. It will be spread across over 6 miles of New Milford, Connecticut as part of local IYA2009 celebrations. The scale is set by a six foot diameter Sun that is on the Observatory grounds, and each object is on public property (most on school grounds), out to a distance of over 6 miles where the Oort Cloud and the "gateway to the Galaxy" will reside. Each object is cast in bronze, and sits atop a 5 foot stainless steel pyramid. For more, see: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/600/

Summary of the International Conference of Young Astronomers 2009
The International Conference of Young Astronomers (ICYA2009) took place in Krakow, Poland between 7 - 13 September. The conference gathered almost 150 young scientists, researchers and advanced amateur astronomers from 30 countries and five continents. The summary is online: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/599/

NASA's Great Observatories celebrate International Year of Astronomy 2009
A never-before-seen view of the turbulent heart of our Milky Way galaxy is being unveiled by NASA on 10 November. This event will commemorate the 400 years since Galileo first turned his telescope to the heavens in 1609. In celebration of this International Year of Astronomy 2009, NASA is releasing images of the galactic centre region as seen by its Great Observatories to more than 150 planetariums, museums, nature centres, libraries, and schools across the country. Learn more here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/598/

Radio telescopes around the world ready for unprecedented observation project
Thirty-five radio telescopes around the world will conduct an unprecedented continuous 24-hour observation of nearly 250 remote quasars this week. The collection of quasars, whose positions in the sky are precisely known, forms the core (or defining sources) of a grid of celestial landmarks called the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF2), which was officially recognized as the fundamental reference system for astronomy by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in August 2009. The ICRF2 has 295 defining sources that are spread evenly over the sky and out of which 243 will be observed. See more: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/597/

"Sounds of the Stars" enchant at German IYA2009 concert
One of the cultural highlights of IYA2009 in Germany has been a concert by the Bochum Symphonic Orchestra at the largest auditorium of Bochum University on 6 November. Not only was the music astronomy-themed, the whole performance was also sumptuously illustrated by space vistas panning over a giant projection screen. Read more: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/595/

IYA2009 news from Congo
The African nation of Congo has been working hard to popularise astronomy. Next year many African countries will celebrate their 50th birthday after independence. There will be large festivals in August 2010. In Congo, plans are being developed to take this opportunity to speak to a wide audience about science in general and astronomy in particular. See a preview here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/594/

IYA2009 Special project: “Millions of Earths” sheds light on exoplanets
Exoplanet hunters are specialists working at the frontier of science. A new documentary film called "Millions of Earths" follows them in their exciting research, sharing their dreams and discoveries. The film visits observatories from Chile to Germany, and talks with scientists from all over the world. It weaves threads together into a story to captivate and educate. "Millions of Earths" is a Beta Prod production. See their website here: http://www.betaprod.fr/spip.php?page=sommaire-EN

Irish Science Week opens with astronomy exhibition
The exhibition "Over us All is the SElfsame Sky" (OASES) opened at 11:00 am on Monday 9 November in the Rotunda Gallery, St Patrick's Trian, Armagh with a performance of music, poetry and dance by pupils from Mount St. Catherine's Primary School, Armagh and the Armagh Rhymers. The launch coincides with the beginning of the science week in Ireland. See more here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/592/

Galileo lecture available to watch online
Professor William Shea, Galileo's Chair from the University of Padua, recently gave a talk called "The New World of Galileo" to mark IYA2009. The presentation can be seen online. View it here: http://www2.geolsoc.org.uk/presentations/bh091026

New initiative seeks to send astronomy books to developing nations
There are many astronomical societies in developing countries run by amateur astronomers. They organise many events throughout the year, and participation is immense. However the lack of resources is not conducive to long-term programmes. To overcome this difficulty, "Astro Book Drive" works on getting spare books from wealthy countries across to developing nations. See how to get involved by visiting http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/590/

Interferometry super-session to be held for IYA2009
The International VLBI Service for geodesy and astrometry (IVS) is organising an ambitious event in the framework of IYA2009. The IVS runs a worldwide network of radio telescopes dedicated to monitoring the Earth's rotation and establishing celestial and terrestrial reference frames. The VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) technique connects all antennas together, creating the equivalent of an Earth-size radio telescope which allows one to map the targets (extragalactic radio sources) with milliarcsecond angular resolution and measure their astrometric positions to about 0.1 milliarcsecond or even better. On 18-19 November 2009, the IVS will run a 24-hour "super-session" as an IYA2009 event. Learn more here: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/589/

---

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-----Original Message-----
From: CADG@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CADG@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Steve Crouch
Sent: Friday, 13 November 2009 6:03 PM
To: CADG@yahoogroups.com; CAS
Subject: [CADG] A reprocessed NGC 1935

 

Hi to all

After having another look I decided that Albert was dead right.   The last NGC 1935 was too much in your face magenta.  I therefore reprocessed it a completely different way and I think the result is better this time.   The blue nebulosity seems to come out better too.   Anyway, time to move onto something else I think.

Cheers

Steve

http://members.pcug.org.au/~stevec/ngc1935_STL11K_RC.htm

A number of us are planning to go to West Wyalong next Friday (Nov 20) for a
graze of a mag 6 star
13 deg from the southern cusp of a 12% moon. The graze occurs at 10.30PM. The
catch is that the
moon's altitude will be a mere 6 degrees!

If anyone is interested in joining us for this event, please contact me for
further details

Dave Herald
Canberra, Australia