Links to the Enews for: October 2009 November 2009 Most recent issue
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. Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
. Email Newsletter Number 110, 24 January 2010
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Affiliated Societies are welcome to reproduce any item in this email
newsletter or on the RASNZ website http://www.rasnz.org.nz/
in their own newsletters provided an acknowledgement of the source is
also included.
Contents
--------
1. Mary Sandri
2. The Solar System in February
3. RASNZ Conference 2010 May 28 to 30
4. Council and Executive Nominations, Please
5. RASNZ Web Site Manager Wanted
6. Stardate North Report
7. Stardate South Report
8. International Asto-photography Competition
9. Robert Kirshner Lecture on DVD
10. Brian Mason
11. VUW Scholarships in Radio Astronomy & Instrumentation
12. IYA Coin Collector Sought
13. John Davis
14. NACAA XXIV
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
17. How to Join the RASNZ
18. Headlines
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1. Mary Sandri
--------------
South Island astronomers, particularly, were greatly saddened to learn of
the death of Mary Sandri on December 27. She was a regular attendee of
RASNZ Conferences and Stardate South Island but will be most remembered
for organising the Stargazers Getaways. These were held at Herbert, south
of Oamaru. They attracted participants from all over the South Island and
a quite a few from more northerly places. With help from North Otago
Astronomical members Mary arranged the venue, speakers and superbly
catered tea breaks.
Everyone loved her direct and good-humoured manner. David Curtis summed it
up: "Mary was a real character. I will miss her a great deal. I always
valued her opinion and enjoyed how she could cut through the 'crap' and
get straight to the point. A trait worth having especially when
organising Stargazers Getaway."
Carol McAlavey wrote: "Mary was one of the most amazing people I know.
Her generosity was unlimited, and above all, she was the most fun person I
knew! Mary will always be synonymous with Stardates, especially Herbert,
and the many conferences we attended! Her energy and organisational
skills were legendary and there were definitely interesting times when she
was about as she was always passionate about what she believed in. The
conversations around the fire at Herbert or outside her tent at Staveley
will be remembered for a long time to come. Goodbye dear friend."
Steve Butler spoke for all of us: "Mary has indeed contributed much to NZ
astronomy. Her organisation and welcoming nature will be my lasting
memory. That fireplace at Herbert won't be as warm any more without Mary
perched alongside."
The RASNZ extends its deepest sympathy to Mary's husband Denis ("DJ") and
Mary's extended family.
===============================================================
2. The Solar System in February
-------------------------------
The usual notes on the visibility of the Planets for February 2010 have
been placed on the RASNZ web site:
http://www.rasnz.org.nz/SolarSys/Feb_10.htm. Notes for March 2010 will be
in place in a few days.
THE EVENING SKY PLANETS
MARS will be an evening object and well placed for viewing throughout
February. Having been at opposition at the end of January, it will rise
close to the time of sunset at the beginning of the month. With a summer
opposition, the planet is well north of the equator. As a result the
planet will be a low object in southern skies, with the best time for
viewing during February in late evening. By the end of the month Mars
will transit a little after 11pm for most of NZ.
Mars will be in Cancer, starting the month some 3° below the Praesepe
(Beehive) star cluster. During February it will move slowly towards
Gemini, ending the month about 8° to the right of Pollux. The star will be
a little fainter than Mars, but have a similar slightly orange colour.
Mars itself will fade from magnitude -1.3 to -0.6 in February.
On the 26th the nearly full Moon, 92% lit, will be about 5.5° to the upper
right of the planet.
SATURN is the other planet visible in the late evening sky during
February. It will rise close to 11pm NZDT on February 1, and shortly
after 9 pm at the end of the month. Thus by then it will be easily viewed
by late evening. Saturn is only just north of the celestial equator so, it
will get higher in southern skies than Mars, and also rise more rapidly.
During February, Saturn will be moving slowly in a retrograde sense. The
planet is in Virgo, some 20° from the first magnitude star Spica. The Moon
will be about 7.5° from Saturn on the night of February 2/3, best seen
before sunrise on the morning of the 3rd, when the Moon will be to the
upper left of Saturn. At midnight the two will be slightly further apart
with the Moon nearly directly above the planet.
Saturn's rings are still only open a slight amount, so will generally
appear as a bar either side of the planet in a small telescope
VENUS and JUPITER are also nominally evening objects during February, but
both will be very low at sunset. Venus starts the month only 3 degrees
from the Sun, setting some 20 minutes after it. By February 28 its
distance from the Sun will only have increased to 6 degrees and then set
half an hour after the Sun.
Jupiter sets an hour after the Sun on February 1 so is then a little
higher than Venus at sunset. It reaches conjunction with the Sun on
February 28. Thus Venus moves past Jupiter in the course of the month,
the two are closest on February 17 when Venus will be half a degree above
Jupiter. The two will be only 8 degrees from the Sun and about 4 degrees
up at sunset. Due to their proximity to the Sun no attempt to see the
pair should be made before the Sun sets.
THE MORNING SKY PLANETS
MERCURY is a morning object throughout the month. At the beginning of
February it will rise about 2 hours before the Sun, and be some 12° above
the horizon 45 minutes before sunrise. The planet will be a little way
round to the south from east in Sagittarius a few degrees below the handle
of the "teapot". Mercury starts the month on magnitude -0.1, more than 2
magnitudes brighter than Nunki, the brightest star in the handle. For
those prepared to be observing early enough, much of February will provide
a good opportunity to view the planet.
On the morning of February 12, the thin crescent Moon, less than 5% lit,
will be 4.5° to the upper left of Mercury. This should provide an
excellent guide to locating the planet. Using a binocular put the Moon to
the upper left of the field of view, Mercury should then be towards the
lower right. Mercury will remain visible long after all stars have
disappeared in the brightening sky.
By the end of February, Mercury will be rising some 70 minutes before the
Sun, so will be lower in the morning twilight, only 3° above the horizon
45 minutes before sunrise. This will make it a difficult object even
though it will be at magnitude -0.6.
SATURN is also visible as a morning object at a moderate altitude to the
northeast. Even by the end of February it will not set until 2 hours
after sunrise.
OUTER PLANETS
URANUS will be in Pisces just over 21 degrees from Jupiter, and will set
some 100 minutes after the Sun. By the end of February, Venus will be
less than 5 degrees to the left of Uranus and set just a few minutes
later.
NEPTUNE in Capricornus, is half way between Venus and Jupiter at the
beginning of February, so will be low in the sky at sunset. Venus passes
Neptune on February 8, when the two will be a degree apart. Neptune is at
conjunction with the Sun on February 15.
BRIGHTER ASTEROIDS:
(1) Ceres is a morning object in Ophiuchus. It rises around 2.30 am at
the beginning of February and just after 1 am at the end of the month.
Its magnitude changes from 9.0 to 8.9 during the month.
(2) Pallas is in Serpens, its magnitude changing from 9.3 to 9.1 during
February. It rise a few minutes before Ceres on February 1, and
virtually at the same time on the 28th.
(4) Vesta remains in Leo and is at opposition on February 18 with a
magnitude 6.1. It will then be less than half a degree from the close
(1.6") double star gamma Leo, magnitude 2.2+3.6. The two are actually
closer the previous night when they will be less than a quarter degree
apart, with another 4.8 star a similar distance the other side of Vesta.
They should make a good binocular grouping. Vesta is well north of the
equator, so will not rise until about half an hour after sunset even at
opposition.
(532) Herculina is coming up to opposition on March 13. During February
it will brighten from magnitude 9.4 to 9.0. The asteroid is in Coma
Berenices rising a little after midnight on February 1 and by about 11 pm
on the 28th. A chart of its path in Coma Berenices is on the RASNZ web
site accessible through the bright asteroid pages.
COMET 81P/WILD 2 is expected to brighten to magnitude 9.5 by the end of
February. The comet is in Virgo fairly close to Spica. The two are less
than 6 degrees apart mid month. More details and charts are on the RASNZ
web site. Follow the link to Comets 2010.
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3. RASNZ Conference 2010 May 28 to 30
-------------------------------------
Just a further reminder about next year's Conference.
The Standing Conference Committee is now calling for papers. Anyone
wanting to present a paper, or poster paper can access the appropriate
form from the RASNZ webpage - www.rasnz.org.nz - and submit the paper
for consideration. We already have some papers, but at the moment there
is plenty of space available in the programme. As with recent
conferences it is proposed to go through till around 5pm Sunday with the
programme.
Registration forms have been sent to RASNZ members. The on-line form is on
the RASNZ webpage. We encourage early registration.
The local organising committee was keen to impart a local flavour, and for
those who would like to go, there will be Conference trip on the Taieri
Gorge Railway. You can book on the Conference registration form. The
train leaves at 12.30pm, and returns at 4.30pm.
Dr Stuart Ryder is our guest. He is a southern guy -- completed his degree
at Canterbury University -- and is now the Australian Gemini Scientist at
the Australian Gemini Office, hosted by the Australian Astronomical
Observatory. Stuart's feature paper will include discussion of supernovae
he has observed.
Bill Allen will be delivering the Fellows Lecture on the Friday evening.
We also recommend taking advantage of competitive airfares by booking
early. Air New Zealand and Pacific Blue fly to Dunedin.
The Conference is being held at the Otago Museum. There are plenty of
accommodation options within easy walking distance.
-- abridged from Dennis Goodman's earlier note.
********************
Call for conference papers.
Submissions to present papers at the 2010 conference are now invited. The
time allocation for papers is normally 20 minutes. Further details of
requirements and closing dates, together with a submission form are on the
RASNZ web site.
-- Brian Loader
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4. Council and Executive Nominations, Please
--------------------------------------------
1. Appointment of Vice-president
Members will remember that Duncan Hall was elected as incoming
vice-president at the Tekapo AGM in 2008. Since that time Duncan has been
appointed to a position with the SKA in Manchester, England, so has
resigned from Council.
Recently Council voted to co-opt Glen Rowe to Council as vice-president.
Older members may remember that Glen served as executive secretary for
much of the 1980s.
--------------------------------------------
2. Call for nominations to Council.
Closing date for receipt: 26 February 2010
2010, being an even numbered year, is an election year for the RASNZ
Council. Nominations are requested for all officers and council
positions.
The positions for which nominations are required are:
President
Incoming vice-president
Executive secretary
Treasurer
5 Council members.
In addition the fellows need to nominate and elect a fellows representative
Affiliated Societies will elect two representatives at the affiliated
societies' committee meeting held prior to the AGM.
The current president, Grant Christie, automatically becomes
vice-president. The rules do not allow the president to serve a second
consecutive term.
By the terms of rule 74, nominations need to be sent in writing to the
Executive Secretary by Friday 26 February 2010. The nomination must
specify the name of the candidate and the office sought. It must be
signed by the proposer and seconder and be accompanied by the written
consent of the nominee.
The address to which nominations should be sent is:
RASNZ Executive Secretary
14 Craigieburn Street
Darfield 7510
New Zealand
A postal ballot will be held in March 2010 for any position for which the
number of candidates exceeds the number of appointees required.
-- Brian Loader, Executive Secretary, 14 November 2009
===============================================================
5. RASNZ Web Site Manager Wanted
--------------------------------
The RASNZ web site is widely used by the public,
both in NZ and overseas, as a source of astronomy information. In 2008
there were over 178 000 visits to the site with the number of hits in
excess of 1 million. Numbers for 2009 by the end of October were already
in excess of the total for 2008.
The present web site manager has been maintaining the site since its
inception over 10 years ago. It is now time for him to step aside and
hand over control to a younger person. This handover is envisaged to take
place during 2010.
Applicants are invited. The applicant will need to have some skills at
preparing html files for a web site, and obtaining the material to go on
the site.
Thus any would-be applicants for the job, completely unpaid of course,
should be aware that there are two sides to it. These are researching and
preparing the material for the monthly and other updates, and then
preparing the actual html files for uploading onto the site.
These do require several hours of work each month. In addition there are
less frequent updates required 3 or 4 times a year and a heavier number
required in preparation for each New Year. The present manager expects to
be preparing these latter over a time span of about two months towards the
end of the previous year.
In addition the web site is an outlet for keeping members informed about
the annual conference and other RASNZ functions. In the weeks leading up
to conference updates are needed on a regular basis, sometimes a few times
a week. The web site has also developed as a means of communication
between RASNZ and the affiliated societies. Thanks to Jennie for
providing the material needed for this.
The web site also results in the occasional query being received which
needs to be answered, although many of these are sent to the publicity
officer who handles them.
There would also seem to be a need for the development of the site, for
instance to make it more interactive.
Please send any offers to take on the role, with an indication of
experience to the RASNZ secretary, email: secretary@rasnz.org.nz.
===============================================================
6. Stardate North Report
------------------------
Ian Cooper kindly provided this report. It has been slightly abridged.
The 23rd annual Stardate was held over January 14-18, at Moore Rd
Christian camp site by the Tukituki River near Havelock North.
Unfortunately the long running westerly weather gave way to an easterly
flow which was bad news for the east coasts of both islands.
After a fine Thursday the cloud thickened. By Friday a misty drizzle had
set in, then real rain until early evening on Saturday. Fortunately
Stardate has always had a programme of talks whatever the weather.
On the Friday evening Murray Forbes gave an update on the Grazing
occultation of Sigma Scorpii from the Wairarapa on 31 July 2009.
Additional observations from the South Island and Australia were added to
give an even better result.
John Drummond followed with a look at our planetsī prospects of being hit,
or not, by the Asteroid Apophis in 2036. Some of the older members in the
audience didnīt look too concerned as they figured that they wouldnīt be
here by then. The rest of us were just hoping that better observations
would show the path to be missing us, if only just. Time will tell.
John Drummond finished the evening off with a slide show of all of the
winners and place getters in the monthly competitions held throughout 2009
by the RASNZ Astronomical Photography Section. Many of those entrants were
actually in the audience and could be rightly proud of their efforts
projected onto the big screen.
On the Saturday afternoon the astrophotography theme was continued by both
Cameron Jack ("Starting Out In DSLR Astrophotography") and Ian Cooper ("Is
Film Really Dead?").
Then there was a change to space oriented topics. Edwin Rodley give a
fine overview of the many space missions carried out, or continuing
through 2009. Gary Sparks gave us an entertaining look at the
International Space camp 2009, held in Huntsville, Alabama. Gary was the
New Zealand teacherīs representative, and fellow attendee Rhiannon McNish
was one of the two New Zealand student representatives. The video sections
of the talk showed Gary being put through his paces in some of the testing
equipment used by the 1960īs astronauts. It was dizzying enough just
watching it!
After dinner on that evening we had the first of two talks by visiting
American amateur astronomer Dee Friesen, former President of The
Albuquerque Astronomical Society (TAAS). Dee highlighted some of the
public outreach events and programmes run by TAAS throughout the
International Year of Astronomy. Some of these events were so successful
that TAAS will continue with them in the future. One of those events was
called, "She Is An Astronomer". It utilised a number of professional
female astronomers from New Mexico who had one-on-one sessions with young
female students of high school and junior high age.
Cameron Jack gave a brief background to the many and varied images in the
current New Zealand Almanac published by the Phoenix Astronomical Society.
Many of the contributors were in the audience.
The exploits of two New Zealand Total Solar Eclipse (TSE) chasers were
seen in contrast by talks on the TSE of 22 July 2009 by John Burt and then
John Drummond, both from Gisborne. Cloud prevented successful viewing of
totality, but as is usually the case, an excellent holiday and travel
experience was had by all. Their hunger for a clear view of totality will
no doubt lead them under the Moonīs shadow in the near future.
To finish the night off, George Moutzouris of Wellington enthralled the
multitude of kids with a presentation of the night sky. This followed
Georgeīs afternoon attempt, out on the telescope field, to introduce the
young ones to the scale of the solar system. A heavy burst of rain had
forced them all inside.
John Drummond started the Sunday afternoon session off with an account of
the establishment of an additional observatory called the "Tui
Observatory," at his home in Patutahi, near Gisborne. This was followed by
John Burtīs story of adapting a store-bought garden shed into an
astronomical observatory, officially known as a `GSOī or garden Shed
Observatory.
Continuing the gardening theme, Vicky Irons of Wellington enlightened us
on the process of `Gardening by the Moon,ī as well as the effects of light
pollution on plants.
Dee Friesen concluded the afternoon session with a look at early astronomy
by the Chacoan or Anasazi Indians of New Mexico from around 900 A.D.
onwards. The well preserved astronomical observation sites that exist
today and the small public outreach observatory that TAAS operates in
tandem with the local tribe were a feature of this presentation.
After supper Richard Hall started his talk on "Space-Time: A Hitch Hikers
Guide to Reality" at a comfortable pace before racing through all the
weird and wonderful possibilities of modern cosmology.
John Drummond gave the last talk from his busy weekend agenda back-
grounding Rob McNaught, the world's most prolific comet discoverer.
Kay Leather concluded the lectures by revealing the truth behind the Mayan
prophesy of the world ending in 2012. At this stage plans for Stardate
2013 are on hold.
The few showers on Sunday morning finally relented and we were able to
hold a shortened Telescope Trail on the bottom paddock in the late
afternoon sun. This has always been an enjoyable feature of the Tukituki
Stardates since 2001 when Steven OīMeara first initiated it. Recently the
Telescope Trail was shifted to avoid the heat of the day, often with
temperatures into the early 30s Celsius. This weekend was decidedly cooler
and more comfortable all round.
Although it clouded over at dusk it did clear before midnight and a
handful of telescopes observed a slowly clearing sky until around 2.30
a.m. on the Monday. Around fifteen people stayed for the fifth night and
were rewarded with the best viewing of the weekend.
Although hampered by rain in the early parts Stardate 2010 was a very
enjoyable gathering of like-minded astronomers from mainly around the
North Island. There were several new attendees keen to come back next
year. With the return of some notable absentees from this year's event, it
will be an even better event next year.
===============================================================
7. Stardate South Report
------------------------
Stardate South also suffered the easterly cloud and some rain. However,
its talks were greatly enhanced by contributions from David Malin.
Talks began on Friday evening with Clive Rowe describing pulsars. Your
scribe was late so missed most of Clive's talk except a stunning
animation at the end that showed how pulsars work.
The Imperfect Universe
David Malin showed how Galileo's discoveries revealed an imperfect
universe. He also noted that 2009, the International Year of Astronomy,
celebrated a few other significant anniversaries that shook conventional
wisdom. Charles Darwin was born in 1809 and published his "Origin of
Species" in 1859, showing that life was a continuum from bacteria to
humans. Men walked on the moon in 1969 and took photos of the earth
highlighting the thin skin on which all life depends.
Up to the invention of the telescope European lore held that the sun and
moon were perfect unblemished orbs. (Chinese astronomers knew about
sunspots.) The perfect moon reflected the earth. Galileo's telescope
demolished both perfections. The moon is wrinkled; the sun has spots. In
the same year that Galileo saw these imperfections, Kepler dethroned the
earth from the centre of crystalline spheres on which the planets moved.
Galileo was the first modern scientist: he tested theories by observation
then published his results promptly. He made his first telescope in May
1609. The lens was 12 mm across and it had a field of view of 3' (one
tenth of a full moon's diameter!) He published his astronomical
discoveries in Sidereus Nuncius in 1610. By 1612 the book was all over
Europe.
The next big advance in astronomy was the invention of photography. After
many improvements it enabled astronomers to make precise images of
astronomical objects and phenomena. It also enabled the detection of
objects far fainter than the eye could see.
Next came the transistor and, stemming from it, a range of CCD-like
detectors. These have allowed detection of radiation totally invisible to
the eye. Further advances in detectors have shown that the Cosmic
Microwave Background has tiny ripples from density variations. Without
these ripples -- the earliest imperfection -- stars and galaxies wouldn't
have formed.
Local Society Reports
Saturday morning began with reports from local astronomical societies.
The Canterbury Astronomical Society, Stardate SI hosts, reported a busy
year. Public nights are held every Friday, wet or fine. Four telescopes
are in use, ranging from a 5-inch refractor on a 'go to' mount to the 14.5
inch Newtonian in a refurbished dome that actually turns.
Timaru has a new group after a ten-year hiatus. Public telescope sessions
have attracted a core of 27 financial members. The group meets at the
Aoraki Polytech on the last Friday of the month.
The Dunedin Astronomical Society is celebrating its Centenary this year by
hosting the RASNZ's Conference.
The Palmerston North Astronomical Society is suffering light-pollution
problems at its observatory. It is considering moving its 12.5-inch
telescope to a new site out of town. A "telescope amnesty", where public
bring optic tubes for cleaning, advice, etc, was very popular.
The North Otago Astronomical Society mourned the loss of Mary Sandri.
There was two minute's silence in memory of Mary.
What's Up With the Sun?
Euan Mason described re-analysis of dodgy statistics relating solar
activity and global warming. Changes to the way data sets were used,
midway through a statistical analysis, had been revealed by a German
critic (surname Laut). Sunspot magnetic fields appear to have been
deceasing in recent years. This has lead to predictions that spots will
vanish in 2013. Time will tell.
A History of Crux
David Malin outlined the history of the Southern Cross as a recognised
constellation. Dante, writing in 1308-21, refers to four stars deep in the
southern sky. He named them Justice, Temperance, Fortitude and Prudence.
However 200 years later Ferdinand Magellan, on his 1519-22 voyage never
mentions a southern cross in his journal, though Corsali does in 1515. The
pattern appears on a globe made in 1594 by Peter Plank. It is called Crux
in Nicolas Lacaille's catalogue around 1750. The Australian and NZ flags
both show Crux with varying astrometric precision. Further discussion of
these, and other flags with stars, elicited much audience participation.
Supernova Searching
Stuart Parker described his supernova search programme. He uses a C14
(14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain) with an SBIG ST-8ME CCD and f/5 focal
reducer, all carried on a Paramount ME mount. The telescope is housed in
a shed with a run-off roof. The search is controlled by CCD Auto Pilot
software. Images are blinked using MaximDL. It's not cheap: Stu tallies
the equipment cost at $21 380 so far. Dedication is essential: Stu has
discovered seven SN to date, one discovery per 900 images. This is a high
yield compared to most; one SN discovery per 4000-8000 observations is
more the norm. Details are important. An IR blocking filter stops long-
period variable stars becoming red herrings. The focal reducer improves
image quality and allows for pointing errors. Automated search software
helps but misses SNe in the brighter parts of galaxies. Stu works with a
mutually-supportive Australasian group calling itself BOSS: the Backyard
Observatory Supernova Search team.
Eighty attended the event. Our thanks to the organisers: Euan Mason, Tim
Homes, Carol McAlavey, Lionel Hussey and Dennis Goodman. Additional
assistance was provided by David Downing, Brian Loader, Martin Unwin and
Steve Johnson.
More on Stardate South Next month, probably. Thanks to Dennis Goodman for
helpful notes -- Ed.
===============================================================
8. International Asto-photography Competition
---------------------------------------------
After the huge success of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2009 the
Royal Observatory Greenwich, U.K. have today opened entries to this
year's competition. More information:
http://www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/astronomy-photographer-of-the-year
-- forwarded by Marilyn Head
===============================================================
9. Robert Kirshner Lecture on DVD
---------------------------------
A DVD of the the public lecture given by Prof Robert Kirshner in
Wellington during November last year, "Einstein's Blunder Undone" is
available from the RSNZ. Prof Kirshner was the 2009 Royal Society of New
Zealand Distinguished Speaker.
The lecture can be downloaded at or a copy of the DVD with a video of the lecture can be
obtained by sending an email to Faith Atkins at the Royal Society of New
Zealand: Faith.Atkins@royalsociety.org.nz. The RSNZ is not making a
charge for them.
===============================================================
10. Brian Mason
---------------
Royal Society of New Zealand Honorary Fellow, Dr Brian Mason, died in
Washington DC on 3 December 2009, aged 92.
A graduate in geology and chemistry from Canterbury University, he spent
most of his working life in the USA working as a geochemist and
mineralogist. His 1952 textbook, "Principles of Geochemistry" was a
classic which went through four editions over the next 40 years. He worked
on meteorites at the American Museum of Natural History and later the
Smithsonian Institution, and was involved in scientific investigations for
the lunar science program in the 1970s. Although his career was overseas,
he returned to New Zealand many times, and created a number of trusts to
support research work at Canterbury University and Canterbury Museum as
well as the Brian Mason Science & Technical Trust.
Most fittingly, he is commemorated by the naming of asteroid (12926)
Brianmason, discovered by Joel and Christine Schiff in 1999 at Takapuna.
Two minerals were named after him: Brianite and Stenhuggarite
(from the Swedish word stenhuggar, meaning stone mason).
The full obituary can be found on the Royal Society of NZ's website at:
http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/Site/about/our_structure/fellows/bmasonobit
uary.aspx
-- from Royal Society Alert, Issue 602, and from the above website.
===============================================================
11. VUW Scholarships in Radio Astronomy & Instrumentation
---------------------------------------------------------
The radio astronomy group at Victoria University of Wellington is seeking
suitable PhD & MSc students to commence research project in 2010. In
particular we are offering several research projects on the broad themes
of:
o understanding the role environment plays on the generation and evolution of radio galaxies;
o multiwavelength investigations of cluster dynamics (radio, X-ray & optical);
o science and technical requirements for the next generation of radio telescopes, and
o detection and characterisation of the transient radio sky at low frequencies.
We have strong collaborations with groups in Germany, France, the US and
Australia and students working with us have the opportunity work with the
international teams.
Applications for PhD projects are due by March 1st 2010 and potential
students holding a first class honours degree or good MSc degree in
Physics, Astrophysics or Computer Science or related fields are invited to
apply. Students of any nationality are eligible to apply for PhD
positions.
In addition we have funding for a one year MSc project on characterizing
and understanding the low frequency radio sky to commence as soon as
possible. Students with a background in Engineering (particularly
electronic and electrical engineering), Computer Science, Physics or
Astrophysics holding an honours degree (2A or above) would be suitable.
Nationals of New Zealand, Australia and NZ permanent residents are
encouraged to apply.
Please contact Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt for further details
[Melanie.Johnston-Hollitt@vuw.ac.nz]
===============================================================
12. IYA Coin Collector Sought
-----------------------------
The IYA2009 Secretariat is looking for someone to help compiling a
comprehensive list of numismatic releases during 2009, similar to the
analogous list regarding the philatelic releases:
http://www.astronomy2009.org/organisation/structure/taskgroups/philately/calendar/.
If you are a astro-numismatic-enthusiast, please contact the IYA2009
Secretariat (iya2009@eso.org) and help the project to keep a long
lasting legacy.
-- from Marilyn Head
===============================================================
13. John Davis
--------------
Emeritus Professor John Davis passed away last weekend. John was well
known to Australian astronomers, having come to the University of Sydney
in the early 1960's to join Robert Hanbury Brown and colleagues in
developing the Narrabri Stellar Intensity Interferometer. The work of
that instrument made fundamental contributions in stellar astrophysics
that remain significant today. The development of stellar interferometry
continued under John's leadership of the Sydney University Stellar
Interferometer (SUSI). John's legacy is being carried forward by a new
generation of staff and students who are expanding SUSI's capabilities and
scientific output.
John was widely recognised as a world leader in the technically difficult
path of making modern optical stellar interferometry an observational
technique of growing importance in modern astronomy. His contributions
were recognised in 2005 with the ASA's Ellery Lectureship and in 2008 in a
workshop, 'SUSI: Past, Present and Future', to mark his 75th birthday.
-- slightly abridged from Astronomical Society of Australia announcement.
===============================================================
14. NACAA XXIV
--------------
The 24th National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers (NACAA
XXIV) will be held over Easter 2010 (2nd-5th April) in Canberra.
The convention theme is "Astronomy in the On-line Age". Presentations will
span Friday to Monday and include observing, instrumentation,
astroimaging, education, outreach, research, history, and other topics.
For more information see http://www.nacaa.org.au/2010/programme
================================================================
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
-----------------------------
The RASNZ administers the Gifford-Eiby Memorial Lectureship Fund to
assist Affiliated Societies with travel costs of getting a lecturer
or instructor to their meetings. Details are in RASNZ By-Laws Section H.
For an application form contact the Executive Secretary
secretary@rasnz.org.nz, 14 Craigieburn Street, Darfield 7510.
=========================================================
16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
--------------------------
The RASNZ is responsible for recommending to the trustees of the Kingdon
Tomlinson Fund that grants be made for astronomical projects. The grants
may be to any person or persons, or organisations, requiring funding for
any projects or ventures that promote the progress of astronomy in New
Zealand. Full details are set down in the RASNZ By-Laws, Section J.
For an application form contact the RASNZ Executive Secretary,
secretary@rasnz.org.nz, 14 Craigieburn Street, Darfield 7510.
===============================================================
17. How to Join the RASNZ
-------------------------
A membership application form and details can be found on the RASNZ
website http://www.rasnz.org.nz/InfoForm/membform.htm.
Please note that the weblink to membership forms is case sensitive.
Alternatively please send an email to the membership secretary
members@rasnz.org.nz for further information.
The annual subscription rate is $75. For overseas rates please check with
the membership secretary, member@rasnz.org.nz.
===============================================================
18. Headlines
-------------
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Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Lack of Brains Hinders Research
Enraged Cow Injures Farmer with Axe
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge
Complaints About NBA Referees Growing Ugly
Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Chou Remains Cremated
March Planned For Next August
Miners Refuse To Work After Death
Passengers Hit By Cancelled Trains
=============================================================
Alan Gilmore Phone: 03 680 6000
P.O. Box 57 alan.gilmore@canterbury.ac.nz
Lake Tekapo 7945
New Zealand
==========================
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