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Mars Perseverance Rover - An Update from Andrew B
Edwin Rod
Hi Everyone Andrew has put together a range of images and links from the Perseverance Rover, as always he finds the best images and links. I always do enjoy his updates. I personally was luck enough to watch live around 10am NZT last Friday morning. Anyway I'll let you enjoy the images and links from Andrew Below Cheers Edwin Hi everyone, Need not say much about this, other than WOW. Descent highlights. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4czjS9h4Fpg Mars Perseverance Rover up looking camera sees parachute deployment about 12,000 metres above Mars. Parachute opened in about 0.7 of a second with the speed of descent at about 2,000 KPH / 1,242 MPH. High resolution images. 12,000 metres / 39,370 feet above the surface of Mars over Jezero Crater, Syrtis Major Quadrangle. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First 360 degree panorama in vastly better resolution. A four times higher resolution view will be made available in due course. Mars Perseverance Rover. Jezero Crater, Syrtis Major Quadrangle. NavCam / Navigation Camera. NASA / JPL-Caltech. Mars Perseverance Rover. Andrew.
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Ian Griffin – Chasing the Auroura
Edwin Rod
Ian Griffin – Chasing the Auroura
This sure was a packed talk from Ian here in Wellington! I was lucky enough to have met Ian once before in Cooks Beach for the transit of Mercury in November 2019.
Ian covered his flights on SOPHIA and the flight to see the lights, how he became interesting in Astronomy and Aurora’s, no one in the audience was disappointed. Bonus points for spotting me in the Audience.
Space Place Wellington SamsungA8+ 03_02_2020 (Some photos from WASAstronomy/News/Photos are my main interests and more links can be found @ Thanks Edwin (A Science/Space and general interest posting enthusiast)
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January 2021 News, research and starcharts
Edwin Rod
Hi everyone Please find this month’s newsletters and Starcharts attached. There is no shortage of interesting papers this month. The highlights are the planets around Trappist-1 and TOI 178 two interesting systems with resonances. There are a range of interesting news items too. It’s been a busy few weeks so I’ll leave you to look through the links and papers Cheers Edwin Research papers The Role of Ultraviolet Photons in Circumstellar Astrochemistry https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.14715 In Situ Geochronology for the Next Decade https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.01131 Possible Atmospheric Diversity of Low Mass Exoplanets https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.01277 Searching for Small Circumbinary Planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.03186 The Copernican Principle Rules Out BLC1 as a Technological Radio Signal from the Alpha Centauri System https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.04118 Around which stars can TESS detect Earth-like planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.07898 Probing the capability of future direct imaging missions to spectrally constrain the frequency of Earth-like planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.07378 Vertically resolved magma ocean-protoatmosphere evolution https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.10991 Constraints on Planets in Nearby Young Moving Groups Detectable by High-Contrast Imaging and Gaia Astrometry https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.11130 Complications in the ALMA Detection of Phosphine at Venus https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.09831 Claimed detection of PH3 in the clouds of Venus is consistent with mesospheric SO2 https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.09837 The Extended Habitable Epoch of the Universe for Liquids Other than Water https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.10341 Refining the transit timing and photometric analysis of TRAPPIST-1 https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.01074 Characterisation of the hydrospheres of TRAPPIST-1 planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.08172 Super-Earths M Dwarfs and Photosynthetic Organisms Habitability in the Lab https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.04448 Persistence of Flare-Driven Atmospheric Chemistry on Rocky Habitable Zone Worlds https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.04507 Characterizing Atmospheres of Transiting Earth-like Exoplanets Orbiting M Dwarfs with James Webb Space Telescope https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.04139 Oceanic Superrotation on Tidally Locked Planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.11784 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting News items FORTHCOMING STAR PARTIES - STARDATE – SOUTH ISLAND. Waitangi weekend, Fri 5th -Mon 8th February 2021. Staveley. Keep an eye on https://cas.org.nz/ STARDATE. Fri 12 and Sat 13 February 2021, at Stonehenge. Phoenix Astronomical Society. Contact secretary@... The Stars are Comforting https://www.rnz.co.nz/concert/programmes/stars Spectroscopy Can Offer New Details of Surface of Venus http://spaceref.com/venus/six-wavelength-spectroscopy-can-offer-new-details-of-surface-of-venus.html Some sensible points in here https://undark.org/2021/01/18/astronomy-discoveries-fall-victim-to-hype/ Astronomers estimate Titan's largest sea is 1,000-feet deep https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-01/cu-aet012021.php Starlink Satellites Are Fainter Now — But Still Visible https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/starlink-satellites-fainter-but-still-visible/ Beyond Starlink: The Satellite Saga Continues https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/beyond-starlink-the-satellite-saga-continues/ CHEOPS finds unique planetary system http://nccr-planets.ch/blog/2021/01/25/cheops-finds-unique-planetary-system/ http://spaceref.com/exoplanets/cheops-finds-a-unique-planetary-system.html 6 Things to Know About NASA’s Mars Helicopter on Its Way to Mars https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/6-things-to-know-about-nasas-mars-helicopter-on-its-way-to-mars Saturns Tilt http://spaceref.com/saturn/saturns-tilt-is-caused-by-its-moons.html The 7 Rocky TRAPPIST-1 Planets May Be Made of Similar Stuff https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/the-7-rocky-trappist-1-planets-may-be-made-of-similar-stuff TRAPPIST-1's 7 Rocky Planets May Be Made of Similar Stuff https://www.unibe.ch/news/media_news/media_relations_e/media_releases/2021/media_releases_2021/trappist_1_s_7_rocky_planets_may_be_made_of_similar_stuff/index_eng.html TRAPPIST-1: Seven Worlds of Similar Compostion https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2021/01/26/trappist-1-seven-worlds-of-similar-compostion/ Mercury http://spaceref.com/mercury/study-reveals-messenger-watched-a-meteoroid-strike-mercury.html Astronomy/News/Photos are my main interests and more links can be found @ Thanks Edwin (A Science/Space and general interest posting enthusiast)
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Not Yet Imagined: A Study of Hubble Space Telescope Operations
Edwin Rod
Not Yet Imagined: A Study of Hubble Space Telescope OperationsHi everyone this looks like a great e-book to download and have a read of.
By Christopher Gainor The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is the most famous astronomical instrument of its time and one of the best-known robotic vehicles ever put into space. Its launch and deployment into low-Earth orbit from the Space Shuttle Discovery in April 1990 appeared to fulfill the plans and dreams of astronomers since the beginnings of space exploration to place a telescope beyond the distorting effects of Earth’s atmosphere. The first images from Hubble contained a stunning surprise—the space telescope’s main mirror had been precisely ground to the wrong shape. Although HST’s images were still superior to anything available from ground-based telescopes, the Hubble Telescope instantly became a byword for incompetence. With the future of NASA on the line, scientists and engineers devised fixes for the spherical aberration afflicting Hubble, and astronauts flying on the first of five servicing missions to HST installed new instruments that restored the Space Telescope’s capabilities to those promised when it was launched. Within weeks, HST produced the breathtaking images and other data that astronomers and the public had long anticipated, and soon Hubble shed its former image as it became a symbol of American technological and scientific prowess. Not Yet Imagined documents the history of HST from its launch through its first 30 years of operation in space. It focuses on the interactions among the general public, astronomers, engineers, government officials, and members of Congress during that time. The decision-making behind the changes in Hubble’s instrument packages on servicing missions that made HST a model of supranational cooperation amongst scientists is chronicled, along with HST’s contributions to our knowledge about our solar system, our galaxy, and our universe. This book also covers the impact of HST and the images it produces on the public’s appreciation for the universe, and how HST has changed the ways astronomy is done. Astronomy/News/Photos are my main interests and more links can be found @ Thanks Edwin (A Science/Space and general interest posting enthusiast)
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Starcharts and Keeping in Touch
Edwin Rod
Hi everyone Please find this months starcharts and Keeping in touch newsletter from John D Cheers Astronomy/News/Photos are my main interests and more links can be found @ Thanks Edwin (A Science/Space and general interest posting enthusiast)
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December 2020 research and news items
Edwin Rod
Merry Christmas everyone.
Please find the attached usual newsletters, I haven’t had this month’s star charts for this month, but if you’re in New Zealand you might not have had much use for them anyway! According to the Met service it’s the worst November ever recorded for Wellington and I’m sure not much better across NZ. Its raining again at the moment and around 12c outside just after the summer solstice here! There is a range of interesting research out this month, the possible discovery of a signal around Proxima really caught my attention, and there are a range of links to news items on that one to follow up on. Andrew has again taken a good look at the Chinese lunar sample return this month. Well lets hope 2021 is a brighter year for everyone. To finish off the year I have attached my best image of Jupiter and Saturn
Cheers Edwin Research papers An approximation to determine the source of the WOW! Signal https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.06090 The effect of stellar multiplicity on protoplanetary discs. A NIR survey of the Lupus star forming region https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.12297 The First VERA Astrometry Catalog https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.03089 Chemically tracing the water snowline in protoplanetary disks with HCO https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.12319 New insights into ice properties and their effect on ice shell convection https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.12502 Interstellar Objects Outnumber Solar System Objects in the Oort Cloud https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.14900 Natural radioactive environments as sources of local disequilibrium for the emergence of life https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.14839 Astrochemistry associated with planet formation https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.01472 The effect of pre-impact spin on the Moon-forming collision https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.02965 The Role of Early Giant Planet Instability in the Terrestrial Planet Formation https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.02323 Modeling transmission windows in Titan's lower troposphere https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.02247 A Distinct Population of Small Planets Sub-Earths https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.02273 Gaia Early Data Release 3 https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.03380 A Statistical Estimation of the Occurrence of Extraterrestrial Intelligence in the Milky Way Galaxy https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07902 Bayesian analysis of Juno/JIRAM's NIR observations of Europa https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.05240 On the Robustness of Phosphine Signatures in Venus' Clouds https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.05844 Lava Worlds From Early Earth to Exoplanets https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07337 Detectability of biosignatures on LHS 1140 b https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.11426 Magnetospheres of Terrestrial Exoplanets and Exomoons https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.11694 Visible-wavelength Spectra of Europa's Trailing Hemisphere https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.11737 The Fundamental Connections Between the Solar System and Exoplanetary Science https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.11628 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting News items FORTHCOMING STAR PARTIES - CENTRAL STAR PARTY. Thu 14th – Mon 18th January 2021. Four days/nights of tenting/bunk rooms, excellent astronomy talks and telescope viewing! Tuki Tuki Camp site, 70 Moore Rd, Haumoana, Hawkes Bay. www.censtar.party . STARDATE – SOUTH ISLAND. Waitangi weekend, Fri 5th -Mon 8th February 2021. Staveley. Keep an eye on https://cas.org.nz/ STARDATE. Fri 12 and Sat 13 February 2021, at Stonehenge. Phoenix Astronomical Society. Contact secretary@... Mysterious metal monolith pops up in Christchurch https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123769650/aliens-or-artists-mysterious-metal-monolith-pops-up-in-christchurch-the-latest-home-to-the-global-phenomenon Rocket plumes http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/misc/zuma_vs_falcon9-stage2_clouds_plumes_overview.pdf The world’s oldest story? Astronomers say global myths about ‘seven sisters’ stars may reach back 100,000 years https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-oldest-story-astronomers-say-global-myths-about-seven-sisters-stars-may-reach-back-100-000-years-151568 Chance Played A Major Role In Keeping Earth Fit For Life http://astrobiology.com/2020/12/chance-played-a-major-role-in-keeping-earth-fit-for-life.html Christmas without lockdowns, despite contrary views https://sciblogs.co.nz/lately-in-science/2020/12/24/christmas-without-lockdowns-despite-contrary-views/ A Transient at Proxima Centauri? https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/12/21/a-transient-at-proxima-centauri/ A signal from Proxima? Likely intelligent, unlikely from aliens https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/a-signal-from-proxima-likely-intelligent-unlikely-from-aliens BLC1: A candidate signal around Proxima https://sites.psu.edu/astrowright/2020/12/20/blc1-a-candidate-signal-around-proxima/ A Statistical Estimation of the Occurrence of Extraterrestrial Intelligence in the Milky Way Galaxy https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.07902 Alien hunters detect mysterious radio signal from nearby star https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/alien-hunters-detect-mysterious-radio-signal-from-nearby-star/ Hi, Currently there's a mag 7-ish comet in the morning sky (Comet Erasmus). It rises just before astro twilight. It could be a reasonable astrophotography target (albeit, we're fighting trilight down here in NZ). Here's an observation from J. J. Gonzalez Suarez (Spain) - C/2020 S3 (Erasmus): 2020 Nov. 28.25 UT: m1=6.8, Dia.=3', DC=7/, Tail= 0.4 deg. in PA 270 deg, 25x100B. [ Zodiacal light. Altitude: 4 deg. Sidgwick method. Tycho-2 comparison stars. SQM: 20.3.]. Ephemerides from GUIDE 9.1 - Erasmus (C/2020 S3) Date RA declination r delta mag Elong Speed PA Con ---- -- ----------- - ----- --- ----- ------ ----- --- 29 Nov 2020 14h07m46.36s -22 56' 21.5" 0.5472 1.0850 11.6 30.2 330.15 96.0 Hya 30 Nov 2020 14h17m15.22s -23 09' 00.1" 0.5304 1.0949 11.5 28.9 330.23 95.1 Hya 1 Dec 2020 14h26m45.81s -23 19' 25.4" 0.5140 1.1058 11.4 27.7 330.23 94.1 Lib 2 Dec 2020 14h36m17.73s -23 27' 37.2" 0.4983 1.1174 11.3 26.5 330.19 93.1 Lib 3 Dec 2020 14h45m50.61s -23 33' 35.9" 0.4833 1.1299 11.2 25.2 330.12 92.2 Lib 4 Dec 2020 14h55m24.08s -23 37' 22.8" 0.4691 1.1431 11.2 24..0 330.05 91.2 Lib 5 Dec 2020 15h04m57.81s -23 38' 59.6" 0.4558 1.1570 11.1 22.8 329.96 90..3 Lib 6 Dec 2020 15h14m31.48s -23 38' 29.0" 0.4436 1.1715 11.0 21.6 329.85 89.4 Lib 7 Dec 2020 15h24m04.72s -23 35' 53.9" 0.4326 1.1866 11.0 20.4 329.70 88.5 Lib 8 Dec 2020 15h33m37.15s -23 31' 18.3" 0.4230 1.2022 10.9 19.2 329.46 87.6 Lib 9 Dec 2020 15h43m08.30s -23 24' 46.5" 0.4148 1.2182 10.9 18.0 329.07 86.8 Lib 10 Dec 2020 15h52m37.63s -23 16' 23.5" 0.4081 1.2345 10.8 16.8 328.47 86.0 Sco 11 Dec 2020 16h02m04.51s -23 06' 15.0" 0.4032 1.2510 10.8 15.7 327.58 85.2 Sco 12 Dec 2020 16h11m28.21s -22 54' 27.1" 0.4000 1.2677 10.8 14.5 326.34 84.5 Sco 13 Dec 2020 16h20m47.89s -22 41' 06..5" 0.3987 1.2844 10.8 13.4 324.67 83.8 Sco (perihelion) 14 Dec 2020 16h30m02.66s -22 26' 20.3" 0.3992 1.3011 10.9 12.3 322.52 83.1 Oph 15 Dec 2020 16h39m11.60s -22 10' 15.7" 0.4016 1..3177 10.9 11.3 319.88 82.5 Oph 16 Dec 2020 16h48m13.77s -21 53' 00.0" 0.4058 1.3343 11.0 10.3 316.72 81.9 Oph 17 Dec 2020 16h57m08.29s -21 34' 40..5" 0.4117 1.3507 11.1 9.3 313.08 81.4 Oph 18 Dec 2020 17h05m54.35s -21 15' 24.4" 0.4192 1.3670 11.2 8.4 308.98 80.8 Oph 19 Dec 2020 17h14m31.23s -20 55' 18.4" 0.4282 1.3832 11.3 7.6 304.49 80.3 Oph 20 Dec 2020 17h22m58.34s -20 34' 29.0" 0.4387 1.3993 11.4 6.9 299.65 79..8 Oph Cheers John D - RASNZ Comet and Meteor Section Astronomy/News/Photos are my main interests and more links can be found @ Thanks Edwin (A Science/Space and general interest posting enthusiast)
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Starfield Observatory
Edwin Rod
Starfield Observatory
Hi all John sure has been busy since I last made it out to his observatory complex near Martinbourgh the trees have grown and the observatories too. It’s a real credit to John and his team, with the total covid lockdown in 2020 and a mess of a year it was nice to make it out for the observatory opening and catch up with everyone. Here is a selection of the scopes, equipment and observatories.
Starfield opening of The Ramsey observatory
Nikon CoolPix P900 CMOS Sensor 12_12_2020 Target - Subject Observatory opening Location Martinborough https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martinborough https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-41.3029114,175.4539261,7018m/data=!3m1!1e3 Lens Nikkor 83X Wide Optical Zoom File Name Starfield_P900_12_12_2020 Astronomy/News/Photos are my main interests and more links can be found @ Thanks Edwin (A Science/Space and general interest posting enthusiast)
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Hi all two interesting research papers here to read
Edwin Rod
The future of Earth and also a look at Proxima C Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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Re: Make sure to watch Jupiter and Saturn this month
wayne roberts
They are already very close; as you say, great views to come. My eyesight is not what it was and stars/planets present as elongated spikes (distance glasses clean it up nicely) - I doubt I'll be able to separate them at their closest (without my glasses). Telescopic views will be magic  .Regards; Wayne.
On Wednesday, 2 December 2020, 07:26:47 am AEDT, Edwin Rod via groups.io <edwinrod_welly@...> wrote:
Going to be great to watch over the next month Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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Make sure to watch Jupiter and Saturn this month
Edwin Rod
Going to be great to watch over the next month Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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November 2020 News and Research
Edwin Rod
Hi everyone Please find all the usual star chart’s and newsletters attached along with a few interesting bits of research. There is a good look at the search for the proposed outer ice giant this month and some great ones looking at habitable planets too. The Leo labs tool looking at orbiting objects is lots of fun to have a look at.
Cheers Edwin
Research papers Hydrogen recombination line luminosities and -variability from forming planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2002.09918 An Integrated Analysis with Predictions on the Architecture of the tau Ceti Planetary System https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14675 Hydrogen dominated atmospheres on terrestrial mass planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.15091 A Targeted Shift-Stacking Search for Planet Nine and Distant TNOs in the Galactic Plane https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.13791 The Occurrence of Rocky Habitable Zone Planets Around Solar-Like Stars from Kepler Data https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14812 Volume-Complete Sample of Mid-to-Late M dwarfs within 15 Parsecs https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.15635 Water abundance at the surface of C-complex main-belt asteroids https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.00279 Stellar occultations enable milliarcsecond astrometry for Trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.12708 Modelling the atmosphere of lava planet K2-141b https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14101 SPECULOOS Ultracool Dwarf Transit Survey https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.02069 Statistical Properties of Superflares on Solar-type Stars https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.02117 Generalized Stoichiometry and Biogeochemistry for Astrobiological Applications https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.02425 Clouds in Exoplanetary Atmospheres https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.03302 The Effect of Land Albedo on the Climate of Land-Dominated Planets in the TRAPPIST-1 System https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.03621 The Occurrence of Rocky Habitable Zone Planets Around Solar-Like Stars from Kepler Data https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.14812 The Demographics of Exoplanets https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.04703 Re-analysis of Phosphine in Venus' Clouds https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.08176 Observability of ultraviolet N I lines in the atmosphere of transiting Earth-like planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.05613 Evidence for geologically recent explosive volcanism in Elysium Planitia, Mars https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.05956 Terraforming the dwarf planet Ceres https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.07487 The Ultimately Large Telescope https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.02946 Kernel Phase and Coronagraphy with Automatic Differentiation https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.09780 Presumptuous Philosopher Proves Panspermia https://philpapers.org/rec/TURPPP-8 A terrestrial-mass rogue planet candidate detected in the shortest-timescale microlensing event https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.12377 Hubble WFC3 Spectroscopy of the Habitable-zone Super-Earth LHS 1140 b https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.08815 Brightness modulations of our nearest terrestrial planet Venus reveal atmospheric super-rotation rather than surface features https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.09271 New Horizons Observations of the Cosmic Optical Background https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.03052 Methane as a dominant absorber in the habitable-zone sub-Neptune K2-18 b https://arxiv.org/abs/2011.10424 Interesting News items FORTHCOMING STAR PARTIES - CENTRAL STAR PARTY. Thu 14th – Mon 18th January 2021. Four days/nights of tenting/bunk rooms, excellent astronomy talks and telescope viewing! Tuki Tuki Camp site, 70 Moore Rd, Haumoana, Hawkes Bay. www.censtar.party . STARDATE – SOUTH ISLAND. Waitangi weekend, Fri 5th -Mon 8th February 2021. Staveley. Keep an eye on https://cas.org.nz/ STARDATE. Fri 12 and Sat 13 February 2021, at Stonehenge. Phoenix Astronomical Society. Contact secretary@... Astronomers find 139 new minor planets in the outer solar system https://astronomy.com/news/2020/03/astronomers-find-139-new-minor-planets-in-the-outer-solar-system NASA's Webb To Examine Objects in the Graveyard of the Solar System http://spaceref.com/asteroids/nasas-webb-to-examine-objects-in-the-graveyard-of-the-solar-system.html Why sleep experts say it’s time to ditch daylight saving time https://theconversation.com/why-sleep-experts-say-its-time-to-ditch-daylight-saving-time-146956 How giant planets turn gas to metal http://nccr-planets.ch/blog/2020/10/30/how-giant-planets-turn-gas-to-metal Americans searching 'how to move to NZ' skyrockets during a tight election race https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/americans-searching-how-to-move-to-nz-skyrockets-during-a-tight-election-race/5OOOWEGQFBOMMBP3ZZPKXO3XJU/ Why is Australia chock-full of poisonous creatures https://www.kickassfacts.com/askus-why-is-australia-full-of-poisonous-creatures-but-not-new-zealand/ On 300 Million Habitable Zone Planets https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/11/10/on-300-million-habitable-zone-planets/ One of my favorite area's https://getpocket.com/explore/item/searching-for-the-key-to-life-s-beginnings Radioactive Elements May Be Crucial To The Habitability Of Rocky Planets http://astrobiology.com/2020/11/radioactive-elements-may-be-crucial-to-the-habitability-of-rocky-planets.html NSF begins planning for decommissioning of Arecibo Observatory’s 305-meter telescope due to safety concerns https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=301674 Low Earth Orbit Visualization https://platform.leolabs.space/visualization Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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A collection of nice scopes here
Edwin Rod
Hi all It was a great weekend away in Foxton at the NZ Astrophotography weekend. There was no shortage of telescopes to check out and admire. It was a nice clear night Saturday night and I managed to do some observing and also take some photos. You always ed up leaving with a big shopping list of things to buy :) Cheers Edwin New Zealand Astrophotography Weekend 2020 http://www.horoastronomy.org.nz/upcoming-events/astrophotography-weekend Nikon CoolPix P900 CMOS Sensor 14_11_2020 Target - Subject Telescopes, Sunset, and the event. Location Foxton Beach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_Beach https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-40.4668783,175.2473649,941m/data=!3m1!1e3 Lens Nikkor 83X Wide Optical Zoom File Name Foxton_Astrocamp_P900_14_11_2020 Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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The Southern Cross and pointers
Edwin Rod
The Southern Cross and pointers One here for people to enjoy from the northern hemisphere, there were some street lights in this direction, and the cabin I was in for the night can be seen too.
New Zealand Astrophotography Weekend 2020 http://www.horoastronomy.org.nz/upcoming-events/astrophotography-weekend
Nikon CoolPix P900 CMOS Sensor 14_11_2020 Target - Subject Telescopes, Sunset, and the event. Location Foxton Beach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_Beach https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-40.4668783,175.2473649,941m/data=!3m1!1e3 Lens Nikkor 83X Wide Optical Zoom File Name Foxton_Astrocamp_P900_14_11_2020 Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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A night under the stars
Edwin Rod
A night under the stars It was good to give the 650D a workout and snap this one of everyone with their gear and hard at work under the stars, my DSLR is now over 8 years old too!
New Zealand Astrophotography Weekend 2020 http://www.horoastronomy.org.nz/upcoming-events/astrophotography-weekend
Nikon CoolPix P900 CMOS Sensor 14_11_2020 Target - Subject Telescopes, Sunset, and the event. Location Foxton Beach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxton_Beach https://www.google.co.nz/maps/@-40.4668783,175.2473649,941m/data=!3m1!1e3 Lens Nikkor 83X Wide Optical Zoom File Name Foxton_Astrocamp_P900_14_11_2020 Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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Water on Sunlit Surface of Moon
Edwin Rod
Hi Everyone Important news requires an important update. Attached are two interesting papers about the Moon and water on the surface to have a look at. The observations were made from SOFIA which often operates from Christchurch. The NASA news item is also linked below, now when we will make it back? Super interesting so I will let you all read on. Cheers Edwin
Cheers Edwin Ch Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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October 2020 News research and Star Charts
Edwin Rod
Hi everyone
Please find this month’s news, starcharts and as always a few of this month’s best research items.
You will be pleased to know the satellite Collison didn’t happen it sure was a nice day so I went out and took a few photos, and I have attached one taken around 2pm at the predicted time of re entery over wellington. There are two really interesting articles to read on the subject. The story behind Donald J. Kessler was very interesting and something I had never read about before. Again Andrew has a range of interesting updates for us too including looking at Bennu and the sample collection a mission I know he’s been following closely. If your looking for a full update on the Venus news I have managed over the last month to collect up all the bits of research on the phosphine discovery but top of the list are suggestions that the measurement was an error. Either way a new mission back to Venus is needed to study the clouds and map the surface in detail. Remember it’s the Astrophotography camp in November and I’m hoping to make it along for one night. Thanks Edwin Research papers Which Stars can see Earth as a Transiting Exoplanet https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.09766 Coupled Day-Night Models of Exoplanetary Atmospheres https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.07303 In Search for a Planet Better than Earth superhabitable worlds https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ast.2019.2161 Solid tidal friction in multi-layer planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.04587 Hot Exoplanet Atmospheres WASP-121 b https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.11308 a targeted SETI strategy that avoids the SETI Paradox https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.04089 Temperature Evolution and Habitability Impacts of Dozens of Superflares Observed Simultaneously by Evryscope and TESS https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.00604 Status of the SPARC Physics Basis https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-plasma-physics/collections/status-of-the-sparc-physics-basis Moderate-Resolution K-Band Spectroscopy of Substellar Companion ? Andromedae b https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.08959 Earth as an Exoplanet https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.02589 Gravitational wave lensing beyond general relativity https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.12187 Refining the transit timing and photometric analysis of TRAPPIST-1 https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.01074 Multiple subglacial water bodies below the south pole of Mars unveiled by new MARSIS data https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.00870 The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.00474 A terrestrial-mass rogue planet candidate detected in the shortest-timescale microlensing event https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.12377 Effects of the Planar Galactic Tides and Stellar Mass on Comet Cloud Dynamics https://arxiv.org/abs/0911.5533 Lunar Opportunities for SETI https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.12689 Primordial Black Holes as Dark Matter https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.02838 Electrostatic lofting of dust grains from the surfaces of Thebe and Amalthea https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.11114 Rapidly Spinning Compact Stars with Deconfinement Phase Transition https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.10731 Venus Venus No statistically significant detection of phosphine https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.09761 A stringent upper limit of the PH3 abundance at the cloud top of Venus https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.07817 Phosphine on Venus Cannot be Explained by Conventional Processes https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.06499 A Precursor Balloon Mission for Venusian Astrobiology https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.11826 Might active volcanisms today contribute to the presence of phosphine in Venus's atmosphere? https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.11904 On The Biomass Required To Produce Phosphine Detected In The Cloud Decks Of Venus Authors: Manasvi Lingam, Abraham Loeb https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.07835 Feasibility Analysis and Preliminary Design of ChipSat Entry for In-situ Investigation of the Atmosphere of Venus https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.08396 Transfer of Life Between Earth and Venus with Planet-Grazing Asteroids https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.09512 Phosphine as a Biosignature Gas in Exoplanet Atmospheres https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/ast.2018.1954 Looking for pieces of Venus? Try the moon https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-10/yu-lfp100720.php Detection of simplest amino acid glycine in the atmosphere of the Venus https://arxiv.org/abs/2010.06211 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting News items FORTHCOMING STAR PARTIES - STARDATE MARS. Fri 16 to Sun 18 October 2020. Phoenix Astronomical Society. Talks and telescope viewing at Stonehenge Aotearoa (near Carterton) – with a focus on Mars! Contact The Phoenix Astronomical Society secretary - secretary@... . NZ ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND. Fri 13th – Sun 15th November 2020. Shed new light on your astrophotography with some of New Zealand’s top astrophotographers! Foxton Beach Camp, Foxton Beach, Horowhenua. www.nzapw.org.nz . CENTRAL STAR PARTY. Thu 14th – Mon 18th January 2021. Four days/nights of tenting/bunk rooms, excellent astronomy talks and telescope viewing! Tuki Tuki Camp site, 70 Moore Rd, Haumoana, Hawkes Bay. www.censtar.party . STARDATE – SOUTH ISLAND. Waitangi weekend, Fri 5th -Mon 8th February 2021. Staveley. Keep an eye on https://cas.org.nz/ STARDATE. Fri 12 and Sat 13 February 2021, at Stonehenge. Phoenix Astronomical Society. Contact secretary@... Earth-like Planets often come with a bodyguard http://www.mpia.de/news/science/2020-16-superearth The current state of space debris https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Space_Debris/The_current_state_of_space_debris The Elusive Peril of Space Junk https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/28/the-elusive-peril-of-space-junk Tasmanian devils return to mainland Australia for first time in 3,000 years https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/10/tasmanian-devils-return-to-mainland-australia/ How America Lost 200,000 Lives to Covid-19 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/opinion/covid-pandemic-us-response.html 2020 New Zealand Astrophotography Competition Entry movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_8PNrPiqpM Where in the world will the next epidemic start? https://sciblogs.co.nz/guestwork/2020/09/27/where-in-the-world-will-the-next-epidemic-start/ Meet the bright people behind the Wairarapa dark sky reserve bid https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wairarapa/300109429/meet-the-bright-people-behind-the-wairarapa-dark-sky-reserve-bid Daylight savings https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/426993/spring-forward-five-facts-about-daylight-saving Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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Possible inter-satellite collision on Friday (2PM NZ Time)
Edwin Rod
Hi Folks Twitter seems to be down, but to the best of my knowledge this is going to be 2pm today! Links and info below Cheers Edwin Warning issued over possible 2.8 tonne space junk collision
We
likely won't know anything about the possible satellite collision
tonight until the Chinese CZ-4C booster passes over New Zealand. That's
5000 km or roughly 11 minutes after the (possible) impact, say 9:07 PM
EDT. Maybe we'll hear something by 9:10 or so. Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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Beauty in the Stars – Steve C
Edwin Rod
Beauty in the Stars – Steve C I have known Steve for many years and he sure is one amazing photographer of deep sky objects. In fact the images looking amazing on the projector in the darkened room, I feel people will be looking forward to exploring the Magellanic clouds with his images in the near future. Post Covid Lockdown it was nice to see Steve in person too. WAS Meeting, Space Place – Carter Observatory Samsung A8+ 07_10_2020 Please join the following groups for further discussions and information
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September 2020 News and research items
Edwin Rod
Hi everyone
Please find all the usual, starcharts and newsletters attached along with some research papers too. With the news about Phosphine in the clouds of Venus I have added in some good ones on Venus for you to have a look at and read. Again Andrew has provide us with some great updates and there are lots of links to have a look at. Due to not feeling to well over the weekend I haven’t been able to do much of a write up on Venus myself this month but Paul Gilsters article provides a great overview and detail as always. Anyway enjoy Thanks Edwin Research papers On The Biomass Required To Produce Phosphine Detected In The Cloud Decks Of Venus Authors: Manasvi Lingam, Abraham Loeb https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.07835 Feasibility Analysis and Preliminary Design of ChipSat Entry for In-situ Investigation of the Atmosphere of Venus https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.08396 Transfer of Life Between Earth and Venus with Planet-Grazing Asteroids https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.09512 Seeing above the Clouds with High Resolution Spectroscopy https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.11464 Estimating the Ultraviolet Emission of M dwarfs with Exoplanets from Ca II and Ha https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.07869 Water Vapor and Clouds on the Habitable-Zone Sub-Neptune Exoplanet K2-18b https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.04642 Callisto https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.05002 Accretion disk's magnetic field controlled the composition of the terrestrial planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04311 Stellar Flares versus Luminosity XUV-induced Atmospheric Escape and Planetary Habitability https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04310 A kilometer-scale asteroid inside Venus's orbit https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.04125 Direct characterization of young giant exoplanets at high spectral resolution by coupling SPHERE and CRIRES https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.01841 How massive can a black hole be? This study asked that question and takes a look at how many there could be. Black holes – Do they grow stupendously large? https://astrobites.org/2020/09/05/stupendously-large-black-holes/ Constraints on Stupendously Large Black Holes https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.08077 Direct Imaging Discovery of a Young Brown Dwarf Companion to an A2V Star https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.08537 The High-Energy Radiation Environment Around a 10 Gyr M Dwarf https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.01259 Utilizing a Database of Simulated Geometric Albedo Spectra for Photometric Characterization of Rocky Exoplanet Atmospheres https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.01330 Cryogenic Cometary Sample Return https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.00101 Habitable Zones in Binary Star Systems https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.00144 The Equatorial Jet Speed on Tidally Locked Planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2009.00358 A Recipe for Geophysical Exploration of Enceladus https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.02887 The effects of granulation and supergranulation on Earth-mass planet detectability https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.11952 Lithologic Controls on Silicate Weathering Regimes of Temperate Planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.11620 Evolution of the Earth's Polar Outflow From Mid-Archean to Present https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.10337 The impact of the planetesimal surface density in the terrestrial planet zone https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.10432 Alien skies https://www.drewexmachina.com/2020/08/28/alien-skies-the-view-from-alpha-centauri/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting News items The British Astronomical Association (BAA) did a webinar about Comet NEOWISE a few days ago. It can be seen on YouTube at - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6xlpvxJTYQ Camera retailer who swindled more than $100,000 from customers jailed https://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/122804586/camera-retailer-who-swindled-more-than-100000-from-customers-jailed Gobekli Tepe: The world’s first astronomical observatory? https://astronomy.com/news/2020/09/gobekli-tepe-the-worlds-first-astronomical-observatory Dark sky reserve moving forward https://times-age.co.nz/dark-sky-reserve-moving-forward Dark Sky Maps https://blue-marble.de/nightlights/2019 New Zealand Tasmanian tiger pelt provides DNA of extinct marsupial https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/424807/new-zealand-tasmanian-tiger-pelt-provides-dna-of-extinct-marsupial A Supercomputer Analyzed Covid-19 — and an Interesting New Theory Has Emerged https://elemental.medium.com/a-supercomputer-analyzed-covid-19-and-an-interesting-new-theory-has-emerged-31cb8eba9d63 A mechanistic model and therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 involving a RAS-mediated bradykinin storm https://elifesciences.org/articles/59177 Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076020302764 Further links and discussion can be found at the groups/links below Astronomy in New Zealand - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/5889909863/
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August 2020 News skycharts and research papers
Edwin Rod
Hi everyone
Please find all the usual newsletters, starcharts and papers attached. Its Covid level level 2 for us in Wellington and NZ until Sunday night (29th Aug) and its level 3 for the Auckland region, I have one or two links on Covid for those who might be interesting, in the attached notepad file. There sure is no shortage of interesting articles this month and a lot to get through. Did the Sun form with another star? A binary companion? Interesting research suggests it might have, with intriguing implications for the proposed outer ice giant Planet. Ganymede has always been a Moon of interest for me and this month there is a look at a big impact basin on the moon and the tidal heating of Jupiter’s Moons. There is also an interesting look at a Star that is just big enough to be on the main sequence. How many habitable planets can you fit around a Star? Its an interesting question that is answered this month. There is a look at a very high density Neptune planet and a look at the Trappist planets too.
Andrew from the UK has also summed up nicely some top stories from the month too.
Cheers Edwin
Research papers Surface and oceanic habitability of Trappist-1 planets under the impact of flares https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.09147 Magma ocean evolution of the TRAPPIST-1 planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.09599 Potential For Liquid Water Biochemistry Deep Under The Surfaces Of The Moon, Mars And Beyond https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.08709 Isotopically distinct terrestrial planets via local accretion https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.08850 High-resolution survey for planetary companions to young stars in the Taurus Molecular Cloud https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.06065 Quantifying the information impact of future searches for exoplanetary biosignatures https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.07586 Detection of ten new planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.07998 Missions to and Sample Returns from Nearby Interstellar Objects https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.07647 An eclipsing M-dwarf close to the hydrogen burning limit from NGTS https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.07354 Powering the Galilean Satellites with Moon-Moon Tides https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.02825 The Science Case for a Titan Flagship-class Orbiter with Probes https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.05680 Optical Transmission Spectroscopy of the Terrestrial Exoplanet LHS 3844b https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.05444 Effects of Flux Variation on the Surface Temperatures of Earth-like Circumbinary Planets https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.04992 Could the Migration of Jupiter have Accelerated the Atmospheric Evolution of Venus https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.04927 Differing Enceladean ocean circulation and ice shell geometries driven by tidal heating https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.03764 Non-detection of O2/O3 informs frequency of Earth-like planets with LUVOIR but not HabEx https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.03952 Water worlds in N-body simulations with fragmentation in systems without gaseous giants https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.03594 Monte Carlo estimation of the probability of causal contacts between communicating civilisations https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.03597 A Long-Lived Sharp Disruption on the Lower Clouds of Venus https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020GL087221 The Habitable-zone Planet Finder Reveals A High Mass and a Low Obliquity for the Young Neptune K2-25b https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.12766 https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/08/07/a-dense-sub-neptune-challenges-formation-theories/ An astrometric planetary companion candidate to the M9 Dwarf TVLM 513-46546 https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.01595 https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/08/05/saturn-class-exoplanet-is-a-win-for-astrometry/ http://spaceref.com/extrasolar-planets/radio-telescopes-find-extrasolar-planet-around-main-sequence-star.html The Habitability of the Galactic Bulge https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.01419 Stellar Pulsation and the Production of Dust and Molecules in Galactic Carbon Stars https://arxiv.org/abs/1910.11401 Prebiotic precursors of the primordial RNA world in space https://arxiv.org/abs/2008.00228 Exoplanets Sciences with Nulling Interferometers and a Single-Mode Fiber-Fed Spectrograph https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.15529 Asteroid impact, Schumann resonances and the end of dinosaurs https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.15463 Observing Earth from the Moon to prepare for detecting life on Earth-like exoplanets https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.16078 Dynamical Packing in the Habitable Zone https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.13962 The stability of tightly-packed, evenly-spaced systems of Earth-mass planets orbiting a Sun-like star https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.08426 https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/08/04/a-tight-fit-planets-in-the-habitable-zone/ Oceanic and atmospheric methane cycling in the cGENIE Earth system model https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.15053 Colors of an Earth-like exoplanet https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.15624 investigating the biological potential of galactic cosmic ray-induced radiation-driven chemical disequilibrium in the Martian subsurface https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-68715-7 Near-parabolic comets observed in 2006-2010 https://arxiv.org/abs/1308.0563 No evidence for interstellar planetesimals trapped in the Solar System https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.04534 The Science Case for Spacecraft Exploration of the Uranian Satellites https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.07284 Can Volcanism Build Hydrogen-Rich Early Atmospheres https://arxiv.org/abs/2007.12037 Using a real-world network to model localized COVID-19 control strategies https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-1036-8 Deforestation and world population sustainability: a quantitative analysis https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-63657-6 https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/akzn5a/theoretical-physicists-say-90-chance-of-societal-collapse-within-several-decades ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting News items New Zealand Astrophotography Weekend 2020 http://www.horoastronomy.org.nz/upcoming-events/astrophotography-weekend 'Shallow Lightning' and 'Mushballs' Reveal Ammonia to NASA's Juno Scientists https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7721 Vincent Van Gogh’s art comes alive and larger than life on Wellington waterfront https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/122282691/vincent-van-goghs-art-comes-alive-and-larger-than-life-on-wellington-waterfront The People’s Space Odyssey: 2010: The Year We Make Contact https://www.centauri-dreams.org/2020/07/31/the-peoples-space-odyssey-2010-the-year-we-make-contact/ The scramble for space at Earth’s outer limits https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/423083/the-scramble-for-space-at-earth-s-outer-limits The Unraveling of America https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/covid-19-end-of-american-era-wade-davis-1038206 Further links and discussion can be found at the groups/links below Astronomy in New Zealand - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/5889909863/
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