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| Southern Stars: Vol 47 Contents. | Index for other years | RASNZ Home Page | |
Awarua Tracking Station.
R W Evans.
Followers of the launch of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Jules Verne on 2008 March 9
will have noticed the prominent part that the Awarua Tracking Station played in the spaceship's
orbital insertion. Members of the Southland Astronomical Society have followed with
particularly keen interest and excitement the establishment of the European Space Agency (ESA)
tracking station on our doorstep.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 3 - 4
Radio Astronomy for the Masses:
Radio Jove.
Stuart Weston, Tim Natusch
The NASA Radio Jove project presents opportunities for schools and the amateur to become
involved with an international Radio Astronomy project. Some first hand experience is provided
to assist perspective participants to this field. The establishment of a collaboration between
NZ installations and The Swinburne RadioJove Solar/Ionospheric Observation, Education and
Outreach program (SUT Melbourne Australia) and the suitability of Radio Jove as a tool for
introducing Radio Astronomy and related technologies to Schools will be discussed.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 5-8
Radio Astronomy for the Masses: Sudden
Ionospheric Disturbances.
Stuart Weston
We present an indirect method of recording Solar Activity through Sudden Ionic Disturbances
(SID) and possibly Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB) by the monitoring of Very Low Frequency (VLF)
transmissions. Also the establishment of collaboration between New Zealand and the Stanford
Solar Center, Stanford University, USA who provided a SID VLF Monitor and software. It is felt
that this is another excellent tool and project for Schools to introduce pupils to Radio Wave
Propagation, Solar Activity and Atmospheric Properties.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 9-11
The Development of the Astronomy
Curriculum for New Zealand Secondary Schools.
Robert Shaw
On 26 February 2004, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority extended the secondary school
science curriculum. They set out what would be assessed for three unit standards in a new
Domain called Astronomy. This paper records the intention behind those standards, the
mechanics of the process that established the standards, and how the Carter Observatory
established an e-learning platform to make the standards available to every secondary school
student in the country.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 13-15
The Hα: Long Lived Prominences in
January and February 2008.
Harry Roberts
In January 2008 we had the first Cycle 24 sunspot group (see page 9). It caused some excitement
but lasted only about 24 hours and wasn't seen by many astronomers. More spectacular events
occurred in the H-alpha band in which was seen a burst of prominence activity in the mid to
high latitudes.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 16-18
Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
Annual Report of Council for 2007.
President's Remarks, Treasurer's Report, Membership Report, RASNZ Publications, RASNZ Section
Reports.
RASNZ Council
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Pp 19-30
Book Review - "Astronomy Aotearoa - NCEA
Level 1." by Robert Shaw
reviewed by R W Evans.
Volume 47, number 1. March 2008. Page 12
Southern Stars: Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 1 - 16. |
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Harry Williams (1911-2008).
Grant Christie.
The well known Auckland astronomical entity Harry Williams died peacefully on 2008 May 3rd.
This obituary is based on the one the author wrote for the Journal of the Auckland Astronomical
Society.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 3 - 4
Graham Blow FRASNZ.
At the 2008 AGM, Graham Blow was elected Fellow of the Society. Here is the supporting
statement for the nomination of Graham Lindsay Blow as Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
of New Zealand.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Page 5
Observations of Lunar Occultations of
Double Stars.
Brian Loader.
Accurate times of lunar occultations of both components of a double star by two or more well
dispersed observers will enable useful determinations of the separation and position angles of
the pair to be made. Lunar occultations observations can also detect hitherto unknown double
stars, or confirm or reject suspected close doubles. Results for observations of three double
stars are presented.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 6 - 9
Protecting a most Valuable Heritage -
the Starlight Reserve Initiative.
Graeme Murray.
This is the text of Graeme Murray's After-dinner Speech at the Royal Astronomical Society of
New Zealand's 2008 Conference at Lake Tekapo.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Pp 10 - 13
Book Review - "America in Space:
NASA's first fifty years." Edited by S.J. Dick (NASA chief historian), R. Jacobs,
C. Moore, A.M. Springer and B. Ulrich
reviewed by William Tobin.
Volume 47, number 2. June 2008. Page 14
Southern Stars: Volume 47, number 3. September 2008. Pp 1 - 12. |
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Beverly-Begg Observatory's
New Telescope.
Robin Gledhill.
It is always exciting being near the moment of birth when a new creation is set adrift to
achieve a dream. So it was at the dedication of the newest telescope at the edge of the Robin
Hood ground where Dunedin's Beverly-Begg Observatory lives.
Volume 47, number 3. September 2008. Pp 3 - 4
Anomalous Flaring in Cycle 23?
Harry Roberts.
Wolf's Relative sunspot number or index (Ri) is the most venerable and simplest of all
measures of solar activity. There are, however, some other activity measures available that
may lead to interesting conclusions.
Volume 47, number 3. September 2008. Pp 5 - 6
Nighttime - Our Environment.
Steve Butler.
This presentation at the 2008 Annual Conference held in Tekapo is intended to provide an
extended view of the issue of light pollution from that provided by the guest speaker Mr Bryan
King. Light pollution has a real impact on a wide range of our environment. Mr King's talk is
from the lighting industry point of view and provides much hope of improvements in
New Zealand's outdoor lighting.
Volume 47, number 3. September 2008. Pp 7 - 8
Patrick Moore honoured.
compiled by R W Evans.
One of our society's two Honorary members is Sir Patrick Moore. On July 9th this year he was
further honoured for his life's work in astronomy by the University of Leicester in the United
Kingdom with the award of Distinguished Honorary Fellow.
Volume 47, number 3. September 2008. Pp 9 - 10
Southern Stars: Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Pp 1 - 28. |
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Heliacal Leo - Obnubilated Draco.
Ed Budding.
A personal, descriptive account of the 10th Asian Pacific IAU Regional Meeting, Kunming, China.
August 3-6, 2008.
Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Pp 3 - 5
Mt John University Observatory:
the past, the present and the future.
John Hearnshaw.
A Conference paper presented at the Annual RASNZ Conference, Lake Tekapo, May 2008.
Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Pp 6 - 11
An Eye on the Universe.
R W Evans.
"An Eye on the Universe" is the name given to the astrophotography exhibition that is to
tour New Zealand during the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Page 11
Observatory Automation -
is it for you?.
Tom Richards.
In an effort to get a good night's sleep and a good night's observing, the author decided to
automate his observatory and instruments. He describes his mount, dome including rain
protection, instruments and computing.
Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Pp 12 - 14
Introducing the AUT 12m Radio
Telescope.
Sergei Gulyaev and Tim Natusch.
A 12m radio telescope was launched in New Zealand, 70 km North of Auckland. It is a fully
steerable fast slewing antenna of Cassegrain design. The radio telescope is equipped with a
dual-band (S/X) dual-polarization (LCP/RCP) feed system designed for astrophysical and geodetic
research. Equipped with a Hydrogen maser clock and Gbps fibre optic data links it will allow
New Zealand to contribute to international VLBI and eVLBI research and service. The launch of
the radio astronomical observatory and the corresponding educational program at AUT University
are important steps for New Zealand towards its participation in an Australasian SKA.
Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Pp 15 - 17
Astronomy at the University of
Canterbury Department of Physics and Astronomy and Mt John University Observatory.
John Hearnshaw.
The Annual Report of the Department for 2007.
Volume 47, number 4. December 2008. Pp 18 - 26