Latest news about the Society
This is the intriguing topic of a lecture by Professor David Tong from the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University. The lecture is at 3:00 pm on Friday 20th March 202 in the Taliesin Arts Centre in Swansea University. No booking is required and the auditorium can hold 350, all are welcome.
Further details can be found by following the link below:
It has been brought to my attention, by Gavin, that the Federation of Astronomical Societies is holding a “National Astronomy Week” from the 14th to the 22nd November, 2020.
Despite the coincidence this week has not been arranged to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the AAS (8th Nov, 2010) but rather to mark the closest approach of Mars to Earth until 2033.
Further info from the Federation of Astronomical Societies website HERE.
Should AAS consider doing something; for our 10th anniversary and/or the NAW??
Next Meeting is on Monday 25th November. It will be an open “round the table” discussion on a number of various topics. I will put up some suggestions for discussion items on the website in the next week. If anyone has a topic they would like covered just drop me a mail.
A good crowd turned out on the 11th for Dr Annabel Cartwright’s talk on the hypothesis of transfers of life and organisms between Venus & Earth 500 million years ago. She said “watch this space” re investigations on a search for biological markers in the Venusian atmosphere. I await any news with interest!
It’s good to hear of non standard hypotheses, based on the science, that challenge the established view. Whether they prove to be right or wrong they help to advance or knowledge and understanding.
The weather in South Wales held out today to show the transit of Mercury for most of the afternoon, starting from about 12:35. Mercury was still in transit as the Sun set. The first picture below shows Mercury 10 minutes into the transit. The 2nd picture shows the full Sun to demonstrate just how small Mercury is by comparison. These pictures were taken from Abergavenny; for the technically minded both were taken in white light with an 80mm ED refractor and a Herschel wedge.
Monday 23rd Sept., Dr Duncan MacLeod, Gravitational Physics Group, Cardiff University : will be talking on the subject of LIGO and Gravitational Waves.
Dr MacLeod is a Sêr Cymru COFUND Fellow in the Gravitational Physics group of the School of Physics and Astronomy. His research targets development of improved user-facing software utilities for accessing, processing, and visualising data from the second-generation of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors, primarily the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).
LIGO, Livingstone
All are welcome. Usual time and place, The Kings Head, Abergavenny at 7:30pm.
At our discussion meeting, last Monday, there was a lively exchange of views.
There were 3 unanswered questions asked, that I have since investigated in a bit more detail. I have posted my comments on the “General Items” page, HERE
Please note that these are my thoughts and comments. Anyone who disagrees, or can add to them, please feel free to email me HERE and I will post your responses on the website.
The 3 questions were:-
1) What are the estimates for how many generations old the sun is?
2) What is the status of the EHT (Event Horizon Telescope)? and
3) What particles are DAMA/LIBRA detecting for their recent Dark Matter detection claims?