Perth Observatory Newsletter | March 2021 by Perth Observatory

PERTH OBSERVATORY NEWSLETTER

AUTUMN EQUINOX MARCH 2021

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TOWEL TOWEL DAY DAY C CE EL LE EB BR RA AT TIIN NG G D DO OU UG GL LA AS S A AD DA AM MS S W WIIT TH H A A S SP PE EC CIIA AL L N NIIG GH HT T T TO OU UR R

EDITOR'S NOTE by James Chesters March 2021

Welcome to the Autumn Equinox edition of Perth Observatory's newsletter. Perth Observatory Volunteer Group acknowledges we operate on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk-Noongar people. In the Noongar calendar, we're moving into the season of Djeran, which sees a welcome break in the very hot weather!

PERTH OBSERVATORY 337 Walnut Rd Bickley WA 6076

t's hard to believe it's almost April already – though when it's 40 degrees outside you could be forgiven for thinking it's January. The nights are becoming cooler now, though, so bring your jumper when you join us on the hill in Bickley for a breathtaking tour of our night sky. We're very lucky to live here! Speaking of our tours: in this edition of the newsletter, Matt Woods is our trusty guide to what's where and when in the night sky. Read on as Matt takes us through what's to see every month – including some not-to-bemissed sights. There's a total Lunar eclipse, two meteor showers, and Uranus appears out of the Sun's glare in June. Elsewhere this edition, Paul Wadham updates us on projects at Perth Observatory, we share some of our hottest upcoming events (including a Milky Way photography workshop, as well as Star Wars day) and hear from Julie Matthews what's new with our volunteers. And on the subject of volunteers, we're recruiting now – so get in touch if you want to see the stars! Kalamunda has long been an important meeting place for Noongar people, and our local area contains campsites and spiritual sites used from pre-contact to the present day. POVG pay our respects to these Elders past, present.

CONTACT US Perth Observatory PO Box 179 Kalamunda WA 6926 (08) 9293 8255 newsletter@povg.org.au www.perthobservatory.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTENTS autumn equinox

Editor-in-Chief James Chesters

Contributors

Colin Armstrong Jay Chesters Julie Matthews Matt Woods Michelle Ashley-Emilie Paul Wadham Zoe Fraussen

Celebrating the Autumn Equinox with a special morning tea.

international women's day

We mark IWD 2021 by looking at some remarkable women of astronomy and science.

star wars day

Subscribe Click Below to subscribe to our newsletter.

This May the 4th, make the jump into hyperspace to Perth Observatory to celebrate Star Wars Day.

lowell telescope art competition

28 Come on, Get Social

Win prizes for your artwork: enter today to celebrate the Lowell telescope's 50th anniversary.

A VIEW THROUGH THE EYEPIECE POVG CHAIR DR COLIN ARMSTRONG This time a year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic really started making things interesting. At the time, it felt like we were closed to visitors for years – but we've been very lucky in WA. Even last month's brief lockdown, however inconvenient, was preferable to it lasting for many months as we've seen in other states and other countries. There's a lot to celebrate at Western Australia's oldest observatory. The re-elected Labor government has committed to $1.6m in funding for Perth Observatory over the next four years.

Join our winter night tours for a look through our telescopes; Alpha Centauri is highest from March to September, and Omega Centauri is easily seen from April through September. For our younger and young-at-heart visitors, we're hosting a fairy afternoon tea next month to celebrate the release of POVG volunteer Jan Baldwin's wonderful book 'Out and about with Artemis at the Perth Observatory.

This much-needed funding is good news, and it will help with our general operations costs and expand our STEM education programs.

What's more, we have new items in our Astroshop, special events for 'Towel Day' and 'May the Fourth', daytime tours on Sundays, and an art competition for the Lowell Telescope Anniversary.

We're also celebrating a very special anniversary: the 50th anniversary of our majestic Lowell telescope, which has accomplished many amazing things over the years.

Thank you for supporting Perth Observatory, I hope to make you welcome on the hill at Bickley soon.

Join us in April for a guided tour, hear from a reallife government astronomer who worked with the Lowell telescope in its glory days. Looking to the skies, the next few months include not one but two meteor showers, a lunar eclipse, and endlessly fascinating nebulas and galaxies.

The Lowell and Meridian Domes in Autumn. Image Credit: Matt Woods

MORNING TEA

AUTUMN EQUINOX

The Autumn Equinox in March marks the first day of astronomical autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

The equinox is when the length of day and night is nearly equal. This is a time of harvest, and not just agriculture, but your efforts and intentions too! This Autumn Equinox, join us for a morning tea at the Perth Observatory from 9.30 to celebrate this astronomical event. There will be a guided tour of the observatory's historic grounds, followed by morning tea on our back lawn with live music, refreshments, and even a special take-home gift. Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/events/autumn-equinox-morning-tea Djeran - April/May What we think of as Autumn also aligns with the season of Djeran in the traditional Noongar seasonal calendar. Marked by cooler nights and dewy mornings, Djeran is also a time of red wildflowers including the Red Flowering Gum as well as the smaller Summer Flame, when the red rust forms on the Sheoaks cones and the Banksia start to display their flowers.

Autumn Equinox Morning Tea Price: $30 per person Location: Perth Observatory Date:

BOOK NOW

Saturday March 20 Time: 09:30 - 11.30 (Doors open 09:00)

www.AstroPhotography.com.au © Roger Groom

Minister for Science, Dave Kelly, and Member for Kalamunda, Matthew Hughes, meet POVG volunteers

FUNDS FOR INSPIRATIONAL OBSERVATORY

BOOST FOR OUR STEM PROGRAMS by Jay Chesters

The WA state government has promised Perth Observatory $1.6m in funding. Dave Kelly, Minister for Science, committed the McGowan Labour Government to give $400,000 each year to Western Australia's oldest observatory. Meeting Perth Observatory Volunteer Group members on site in Bickley last month, Minister Kelly was joined by Matthew Hughes (Member for Kalamunda). Hughes commented that the funding agreement provided in 2015 by former premier Colin Barnett was "unsatisfactory." "While the volunteers do an amazing job, the lack of funding has stopped the observatory from reaching its potential," Hughes said, acknowledging the important work we do to inspire people, young and old, to take an interest in the night sky. Commenting on the announcement, Colin Armstrong, POVG Chair, said the funding will be used for our general operations and expand our STEM education programs. "We're very grateful to the State Government for supporting Perth Observatory," Dr Armstrong said. "2020 was a difficult year, but with this funding, we can commit to doing even more for Western Australia -- and sharing our love of the night sky." Perth Observatory's funding is one of several similar commitments from the state government regarding investments in science and STEM. Minister Kelly shared that our friends at Gravity Discovery Centre and Observatory in Gingin will receive funding to expand their own STEM engagement activities. A $500,000 investment is also promised for Curtin Uni's Binar CubeSat, the first integrated satellite bus to be fully designed and built in Australia. The satellite will enter low earth orbit well in advance of South Australian's SASAT1 satellite. "The Binar CubeSat technology is set to become Australia's most validated spacecraft, boosting WA's burgeoning space industry," Minister Kelly said. Perth Observatory is located on crown land with infrastructure owned by the Western Australian State Government's Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Since 2015, the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group has run the Observatory through an agreement with the DBCA. www.AstroPhotography.com.au © Roger Groom

WHAT'S IN

APRIL'S NIGHT SKIES by Matt Woods Mercury is very low in the Eastern sky in the constellation of Aquarius (the Water Bearer) at the start of April. It then moves into Pisces (the Fish) before disappearing into the twilight in the second week of the month. Venus pops up low in the western sky in Aries (the Ram) during the middle of the last week of April. Mars starts April in Taurus (The Bull) before gradually moving into Gemini (the Twins) in the north-western evening sky. At the start of the month, Mars sets at 21:34 (AWST), and by the end of the month, it's setting at 20:55.

Mars on 15/04/21 at 19:00 All Images credit: Stellarium

Jupiter and Saturn are together in the east in the early morning sky this month. Jupiter is in Aquarius, while Saturn is in Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) during April. At the beginning of the month, Jupiter rises at 02:41, and Saturn at 01:44. By the end of April, Jupiter rises at 01:07, following Saturn at 23:55. Neptune is viewable in the early morning between Aquarius and Pisces. At the start of April, Neptune will rise at 04:54, and by the end of the month, it'll rise at 03:04.

Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune on 15/04/21 at 05:00

The Eight-Burst Nebula. Image Credit: Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA/NASA/ESA)

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

EIGHT-BURST NEBULA by Matt Woods The Eight-Burst Planetary Nebula (NGC 3132) is also known as the Southern Ring Nebula. A bright planetary nebula in the constellation Vela, the eight-burst nebula is two thousand light-years away from us and 0.4 light-years across. The name “planetary nebula” refers to the round shape and, in reality, has nothing to do with planets. It just looks like one. The round shape is instead vast shells of gas ejected from a star as it nears the end of its life; the gas is expanding away from the central star at a speed of nine miles per second. Images of the nebula show two stars close together within the nebulosity, with the white dwarf that created the nebula as the fainter of the two. The white dwarf has a temperature of 100,000 K and has blown off its layers. The intense ultraviolet radiation comes off the white dwarf, making the nebula fluoresce brightly.

The Eight-Burst Nebula on 15/04/21 at 21:00. Image Credit: Stellarium

APRIL UPCOMING EVENTS

VIRTUAL STAR PARTIES hosted by Matt Woods Every second week, POVG volunteer Matt hosts Perth Observatory's Virtual Star Parties on our YouTube channel. Tune in this month for a livestream of one of our telescopes, showing our amazing Southern sky. Join us! The party starts 20:00 (AWST). Click the links below and sign up.

SPRING INTO MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Take advantage of the Milky Way this Autumn as it rises in the south-east.

Roger Groom and Astrophotography Australia return with another exclusive photography workshop. Autumn is an ideal time for photographing the Milky Way in the night sky, and following this workshop, you’ll be able to use your new-found skills to capture the beautiful Milky Way as it rises through April and May, Held at Perth Observatory, the first of two nights covers the how-to of Milky Way photography – including what hardware you use(tripod, camera, mounts, lenses, etc), how to use it, camera settings, and much more. The second night is a practical workshop on the Perth Observatory grounds.

The Milky Way and the Perth-Lowell dome. Image Credit: Roger Groom

Price:

Starting with a quick recap of the first night’s information and a laser sky-tour to familiarise yourself with the spring night sky, you'll photograph the Milky Way from our observatory.

$180 (per person)

If the second night is cloudy, we’ll run an image processing workshop to get the best out of your photos of the Milky Way.

April 20 & April 21

Find out more and sign up here: perthobservatory.com.au/events/spring-milky-wayphotography

(Doors open 18:30)

Location: Perth Observatory Date: Time: 19:00 to 21:30

BOOK NOW

Image Credit & Copyright: Yuri Beletsky (Carnegie Las Campanas Observatory, TWAN)

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS | APRIL

LYRIDS METEOR SHOWER

by Matt Woods

Starting early on April 23 while most of us are asleep, the Lyrids meteor shower hits Earth’s atmosphere. Observed for at least 2,600 years, the Lyrids are the longest observed meteor shower. The oldest description of the the Lyrids comes from the Chinese Zuo Tradition that described on the night of the March 16, 687 BCE that “at midnight, stars fell like rain.” Records show this shower has been more active in the past and has become a minor shower with the occasional surprise, keeping the Lyrids interesting.

The shower is also mentioned in the strong astronomical traditions of the Boorong people, the traditional custodians of the land from the region around Lake Tyrell, in what is now north-west Victoria. For the Boorong clan, the constellation of Lyra was was the ancestral Malleefowl, Neilloan, and she taught people when to look for Malleefowl eggs. The Lyrids meteor shower coincides with the time the Mallee fowl start to build their elaborate nests, with the streaks of the meteor shower itself resembling a bird kicking up sand as she builds a nest. The cause of the Lyrids is the long-period comet Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) which has an irregular orbit of about 415 years. The comet is named after the amateur astronomer A. E. Thatcher who recorded it on April 5, 1861, as it was making its last pass around the Sun. This year, the Lyrids peak on the night of April 22 and 23 and appear to come from the constellation of Lyra, appearing in the sky over the Perth hills around midnight.

Go out around 04:00 when the Moon is setting, and Lyra is at its zenith (highest point in the sky), then look towards the bright star (Vega) low in the North. Give your eyes 15 minutes to fully adjust to conditions. It's best to go to a dark sky area outside of Perth, but you can find a nice park or a large open space in Perth's outskirts and get an okay view.

OUT AND ABOUT WITH ARTEMIS

FAIRY AFTERNOON TEA

Artemis is a fairy guide that lives at Perth Observatory. She loves flying around, visiting all our telescopes, and telling everyone about them. 'Out and about with Artemis at the Perth Observatory’ is an imaginative children’s book written by Janet Baldwin and illustrated by Sharon Tapscott.

This April, join Artemis and other observatory fairies for a tour of the book's locations, find all the fairy doors around Perth Observatory, then enjoy an afternoon tea with lots of fairy treats. ‘Out and about with Artemis at the Perth Observatory’ shows the adventures of Artemis, visiting telescopes and telling the stories of the people who used to work there. Visit the observatory for a guided tour of the locations of the book, followed by afternoon tea on our beautiful lawn. Come dressed as a fairy, forest sprite, elf, pixie, or any magical creature and get involved with exploring the magical places of this lovely, safe environment. Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/events/fairy-afternoontea

‘Out and about with Artemis at the Perth Observatory’ Written by Jan Baldwin, illustrated by Sharon Tapscott

Fairy Afternoon Tea Price: $50 family pass (2 adults, up to 3 children, and 1 book) $15 full price $10 concessions/children $5 per book Location: Perth Observatory Date: Saturday April 10

BOOK NOW

Time: 14:00 - 16:00 (Doors open 13:30)

www.AstroPhotography.com.au © Roger Groom

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

WOMEN IN STEM

by Jay Chesters The theme of International Women's Day 2021 was 'Choose to Challenge'. One way to help forge a gender-equal world is by celebrating women's achievements. Here's a small selection of women whose achievements in space and astrophysics we acknowledge and celebrate!

Karlie Noon A Gamilaroi astrophysicist, Karlie Noon was the first female, Indigenous Australian to graduate with combined degrees in mathematics and science. Karlie is now working on a theoretical astrophysics research project to better understand how stars are formed.

Zara Randriamanakoto One of few female astrophysicists in Madagascar, Zara was awarded the L’OréalUnesco Foundation’s prize for her research on the influence of the surrounding environment on the disruption mechanisms of stellar clusters. "Astronomy...has become my passion," Zara says, "and a powerful tool I use to inspire girls and women to consider a career in STEM."

Annie Jump Cannon Astronomer Annie Jump Cannon helped create the Harvard Classification Scheme, the first serious attempt to organise and classify stars based on their temperatures and spectral types. Annie's work was instrumental in the development of contemporary stellar classification.

Yi So-yeon A South Korean astronaut and biotechnologist, Yi So-yeon was the first Korean to fly in space. Following her mission aboard the International Space Station, So-yeon became the first astronaut to attend the International Space University's Space Studies Program.

Lisa Harvey-Smith An award-winning astrophysicist, Lisa Harvey-Smith is also Australia's first Women in STEM Ambassador. Lisa's varied research includes the origin and evolution of cosmic magnetism, supernova remnants, the interstellar medium, massive star formation and astrophysical masers.

Eileen Collins NASA astronaut and USAF colonel, Eileen Collins became the first female commander of a U.S. spacecraft when she commanded the shuttle mission STS-93 in 1999. Awarded several medals for her work. Eileen has logged 38 days, 8 hours and 20 minutes in outer space.

WHAT'S IN

MAY'S NIGHT SKIES by Matt Woods Mercury and Venus will be very low in the Western sky this month. Mercury appears in Taurus (The Bull) in the middle of the second week of May and reaching its greatest elongation in the west on May 17. It then begins to make its way back towards the Sun before disappearing again in the Sun's glare at the end of the month.

Venus moves from Aries (the Ram) in Taurus in the middle of May's first week. On the evening of May 29, there will be a very close conjunction of Mercury and Venus. It's the best seen around 18:00 (ASWT) if you look low in the west.

Mercury, Venus and Mars on 5/05/21 at 18:00

Mercury and Venus on 29/05/21 at 18:00 All Images credit: Stellarium

Mars starts May in Gemini (the Twins) in the north-western evening sky. At the start of May, Mars set at 20:54, and by the end of the month, it's setting at 20:21.

Jupiter and Saturn are both in the eastern sky in May's early morning sky. Jupiter is in Aquarius, while Saturn is in Capricornus (The Sea-Goat) during May. At the beginning of May, Jupiter is rising 01:07 and Saturn at 23:51. By the end of the month, Jupiter is rising at 23:21, with Saturn rising at 21:54. Neptune is viewable in May's early morning between Aquarius and Pisces. Neptune rises at 03:00 at the start of the month, and 01:06 by the end of May.

Mercury's greatest elongation in the west on 17/05/2021

Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune on 15/05/21 at 03:00.

Meteors from the Eta Aquarids. Image Credit: So Perth

WHAT TO SEE

ETA AQUARIIDS METEOR SHOWER by Matt Woods The Eta Aquariids meteor shower is one of the best meteor showers in the Southern Hemisphere peaking on the morning of May 6. Active from April 19 through to May 28, Eta Aquarids' meteor per hour rate can vary between 10 – 20 meteors per hour for Perth. The Eta Aquarids are a very old ejection from the famous Comet Halley, which is named after Astronomer Edmund Halley, who first determined in 1705 that the comet was periodic. The Eta Aquarids are one of two meteor showers caused by the comet, the other shower being October’s Orionids. Halley’s orbit around the Sun takes 75 years, next entering the inner system again in 2061.

The Eta Aquarids on 06/05/21 at 05:00. Image credit: Stellarium

The Eta Aquarids meteors seem to appear from the constellation Aquarius – with its radiant near one of its brightest stars, Eta Aquarii, giving the meteor shower its name. Aquarius appears in the sky over the Perth hills around 23:30 and the hours before dawn is the best time for viewing the meteor shower.

We suggest going out around 04:00, giving your eyes about 15 minutes to fully adjust to the lighting conditions, then look to the sky between north and north-east. This year, the last quarter Moon will be in the Aquarius, so you'll see a reduced number of meteors.

The Eta Aquarids are caused by debris from Halley's Comet

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

CENTAURUS A GALAXY by Matt Woods

Centaurus A or NGC 5128 is an elliptical galaxy that we see edge-on. The galaxy is the fifth brightest galaxy in the sky and one of Earth's closest radio galaxies. Between 10 to 16 million light-years away from us, it's found in the Centaurus constellation. The galaxy Centaurus A Galaxy - Image Credit: ESO/WFI (Optical); MPIfR/ESO/APEX/A.Weiss et al. has a diameter of 60,000 light-years,The making it 40% smaller than our galaxy, and at its centre, it has a (Submillimetre); NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al. (X-ray) supermassive black hole with a mass of ~55 million suns. It was discovered by Europeans in 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop from Parramatta in New South Wales. Centaurus A is a starburst galaxy meaning that it's undergoing a period of intense star formation, compared to an average galaxy. Studies confirm this high rate of star birth is caused by a collision between Centaurus A and a smaller spiral galaxy. The bright central bulge of Centaurus A and its dark dust lane can be easily viewed using an amateur telescope. However, a larger telescope is required to view greater detail and contrast. Centaurus A is an extremely bright radio object, especially for X-Rays in particular, with its central supermassive black hole and its two long radio jets extending well beyond the visual bounds of the galaxy. Centaurus A on 15/05/21 at 21:00. Image Credit: Stellarium

VOLUNTEER UPDATE

FIRST AID TRAINING by Julie Matthews

29 of our volunteers updated their First Aid certificates this February. We're very grateful to our instructor, Keith Emin, from Revive Emergency Medical Training, who entertained us with his sparkling sense of humour whilst teaching us the skills to provide First Aid response, including CPR, life support and managing casualties in a range of situations. The special covid-safe courses ran over two Sundays at the Observatory, and it was wonderful to see such a crosssection of our volunteer force at the course, with attendees ranging in age from 18 to those in their 70s. A reminder to all our volunteers: the Perth Observatory defibrillator is located next to the First Aid Kit on the corridor wall next to the back door.

Next volunteer intake Interviews for the next intake of Night Sky Tour volunteers start at the end of March. If you're interested in applying to join the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group and help run Perth's oldest observatory, please complete a volunteer application form at perthobservatory.com.au/become-a-volunteer If you've free time during the day, we need School Day Tours volunteers and various administration roles. There's always plenty to do and interesting people to get to know. I'd also like to take this opportunity to send gentle hugs to all our volunteers and readers bravely fighting through various health issues at the moment. You are all in our thoughts and hearts, and I wish you and your families all the best.

MAY

VIRTUAL STAR PARTIES hosted by Matt Woods

Tune in this May as the amazing Matt Woods presents a livestream from one of our telescopes, showing off our amazing Southern sky. Join us! The virtual start party starts 20:00 (AWST). Click the links below and sign up.

TOWEL DAY - NIGHT SKY TOUR “Any man who can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy, rough it, slum it, struggle against terrible odds, win through and still know where his towel is, is clearly a man to be reckoned with.” Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Every planet, that we know of, with advanced, intelligent organic lifeforms will be celebrating Towel Day on May 25, in honour of author Douglas Adams. We can't take you to the cold moons of Jaglan Beta, or the red stars of the desert world of Kakrafoon, but we can show you the wonders of the universe -- all without leaving the comfort of Perth's hills. You'll see distant suns and far-off planets, enormous nebula and colossal clusters of hot, bright stars, as well as witnessing the majestic Milky Way stretching across the sky above your heads in our starry Southern sky. Be a hoopy frood and don't forget your towel, we have prizes for the best adult and child costumes on the night. Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/night-tours/towel-day-night-tour

Prices Full price: $50.00 Concession: $35.00 Child (Ages 5 to 17): $25.00 Date Monday, May 25

BOOK NOW

Time 19:30 (Gates open 19:00)

Total Lunar Eclipse. Image Credit: Matt Woods

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS | MAY by Matt Woods

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

On Wednesday the 26th of May, the Moon passes within Earth's inner shadow called the Umbra (Latin for shadow) in what's called a Total Lunar Eclipse. At the eclipse's start, the outer part of Earth's shadow (the Penumbra, from the Latin paene "almost, nearly") slightly darkens the Moon. Then the Umbra (the centre portion of the shadow) begins to cover the Moon, slowly turning it orange. The reddish appearance of the Moon is due to Rayleigh scattering, where the blue part of the light hitting the Earth's atmosphere is scattered by the nitrogen molecules, and the red and yellow parts of the spectrum continue through the atmosphere, hitting the Moon. This is the only Total Lunar Eclipse for 2021, beginning at 16:47 while the Moon is below the horizon in Perth. Don't worry: we're not missing out, the first penumbral phase of the eclipse is hard to notice. The Moon rises above the horizon at 17:16, about 30 minutes before the first partial phase begins: when you notice the Moon starts to be eaten away by the Earth's shadow. Totality, where the Moon will be orange, begins at 19:11 and finishes at 19:25, lasting only 14 minutes this year. The second partial phase ends at 20:52, with the second penumbral phase and the eclipse itself ending at 21:49. In total, the eclipse lasts for 5 hours, 2 minutes. We're hosting a special event on the night -- to find out more, visit our Total Lunar Eclipse event page. WA has an Aboriginal history dating back at least 40,000 years and Australia is home to the world's oldest continuous culture. For some Aboriginal people in WA, solar and lunar eclipses have been commonly seen as bad omens. In the west Kimberley, the Nyul Nyul people of Beagle Bay, while reportedly unafraid of solar eclipses believed a lunar eclipse was an omen of death of a man. (Eclipses in Australian Aboriginal Astronomy by Duane W Hamacher).

Total Lunar Eclipse diagram. Image Credit: timeanddate.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

STAR WARS DAY We've got a good feeling about this.

This May 4, grab your lightsaber and groom your Wookiee – or, if you've turned to the dark side, give your helmet a polish. Then make the jump into hyperspace to Perth Observatory to celebrate Star Wars Day. All of our usual telescope domes will be open for business, and our Jedi council of amateur astronomers will show you amazing sights, whether it's a planet the Death Star could destroy, a binary star system, or a galaxy far, far away. The night will include prizes for the best adult and child costumes, so come along to the Perth Observatory in your favourite rebel scum outfits. There could even be some of your favourite characters on site! May the Fourth be with you.

Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/shop/nighttours/star-wars-night

Price: Full price: $50.00 Concession: $35.00 Child (Ages 5 to 17): $25.00 Date: Tuesday, May 4 Time: 19:30 (Gates open 19:00)

BOOK NOW

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

Experience an amazing Total Lunar Eclipse with us on May 26. Rug up, bring your camera, outdoor chair or even a bean bag and come up to Perth Observatory. Join us and enjoy watching the Moon become blood orange as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. Hot drinks will be provided on the night, and Perth Observatory volunteers will be on hand to chat about why the eclipse is happening and answer any questions you have. We’ll also have some telescopes set up so you can view the moon up close.

Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/events/ total-lunar-eclipse

Price: Full price: $25.00 Concession: $20.00 Child (Ages 5 to 17): $15.00 Date: Tuesday, May 26

BOOK NOW

Time: 17:45 (Gates open 17:00)

BEHIND THE SCENES

PROJECT UPDATES by Paul Wadham

Work continues on many of Perth Obervatory's Lotterywest programs. The first project relates to Perth Observatory's outdoor interpretative signage. This project is provisionally divided into two phases, where phase one is the creation of a self-guided walk of the observatory, linked to an updated version of our “Everythere” tour. Phase two of the project involves the creation and of necessary safety and hazard signs for the site. Key points for this self-guided walk include that it starts and finishes at the Perth Observatory admin building and Astroshop. This keeps it in line with the current direction and composition of our existing guided day tours. We're appealing for help from volunteers for both content and final digital layouts of the signs, so if anyone is interested in jumping in and getting involved please contact me. The next big project we're working on is Astrograph Signage. With the help of Dr Craig Bowers, the observatory's research director, we've started making mock-ups of the nine wall panels that we will be putting up in the restored Astrograph dome. The first four panels will be about the Astrograph telescope in its original home at Kings Park, the middle panel about the historic clocks, and the last four will be about the Astrograph in its current home in Bickley. This is another project that we need some volunteer help with, including creating the final digital layouts and setting up of each panel prior to printing, so any of you talented people out there that would like to help – you know what to do! The Museum Redevelopment project continues, with the next stages prior to construction including preparing the museum floor for the refurbishment of the museum.

We have the final positions for all of our restored clocks, and when they're returned to the museum they will need underfloor plinths built to support them. The next stage is the relocation of all of our items from the museum. It makes sense: to refurbish the museum it first needs to be empty, so we've obtained two sea containers to house the various items from the museum that don't need to be climate controlled. Our Photographic Glass Plates Preservation project is now very near to completion, and the project team are currently scanning the last of the plate register books. It's exciting times to be this close to finishing the project! Our kitchen upgrade project is yet another project that is now almost finished, with just some minor painting work needed. A big thank you goes out to Helen Armstrong and Rob Kennedy for their help getting this project completed, and to all the teams working on the observatory's various Lottery West Projects. Stay tuned for more updates on our latest projects in the next POVG Newsletter.

C composite image of the USS Jellyfish in Abell 2877 showing optical Digitised Sky Survey (background) with XMM X-ray data (magenta overlay) and MWA 118 MHz radio data (red-yellow overlay). Credit: Torrance Hodgson, ICRAR/Curtin University.

ASTRONOMERS FIND FIRST

'JELLYFISH' IN SPACE by Jay Chesters

It's said that the universe is not only stranger than we imagine; it is stranger than we can imagine. It seemed to have got a lot stranger when astronomers in outback WA observed "a ghostly jellyfish-like structure" in their data. The Australian-Italian research team using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope observed the cluster of galaxies known as Abell 2877 and noticed something very odd. Of course, it isn't an actual space-jellyfish (we also advise against researching "living sky" conspiracies) – but the discovery is remarkable enough on its own. Torrance Hodgson, from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Perth, is lead author on the paper 'Ultra-Steep Spectrum Radio Jellyfish Uncovered in Abell 2877'. Hodgson said "This radio jellyfish holds a world record of sorts. Whilst it’s bright at regular FM radio frequencies, at 200 MHz the emission all but disappears. “No other extragalactic emission like this has been observed to disappear anywhere near so rapidly." Observing the cluster for 12 hours at radio frequencies between 87.5 and 215.5 megahertz, the jellyfish only appears when they turned down the frequency. Hodgson says the phenomenon is difficult to explain. “Our working theory is that around 2 billion years ago, a handful of supermassive black holes from multiple galaxies spewed out powerful jets of plasma. This plasma faded, went quiet, and lay dormant," he says. Hodgson suggests that, quite recently, two things happened: "the plasma started mixing at the same time as very gentle shock waves passed through the system." In turn, this briefly reignited the plasma, lighting up the jellyfish and its tentacles for astronomers to see (with low-frequency radio telescopes.) The MWA – precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) – is located at CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in remote WA. Construction on the SKA at the site is scheduled to begin in less than a year. Professor Johnston-Hollitt, Hodgson’s supervisor and co-author, says the SKA will be thousands of times more sensitive and have much better resolution than the MWA. "Discoveries like the jellyfish only hint at what’s to come, it’s an exciting time for anyone seeking answers to fundamental questions about the cosmos,” Johnston-Hollitt said.

WHAT'S IN

JUNE'S NIGHT SKIES by Matt Woods

Mercury returns very low in the Eastern sky in the middle of June, appearing in the constellation of Taurus (The Bull). Venus is low in the Western sky in June and moves from Taurus, through Gemini (The Twins) and into Cancer (The Crab). Mars starts June in Gemini (The Twins) in the North-Western evening sky, and it moves into Cancer during June. At the start of the month, Mars sets at 20:20, but by the end of the month, it sets at 21:53. Saturn and Jupiter are in the eastern sky in the early morning this June. Jupiter is in Aquarius, while Saturn is in Capricornus (The Sea-Goat) during June.

Mercury on 30/06/21 at 06:00

Jupiter and Saturn on 15/06/21 at 00:00

All Images credit: Stellarium

At the beginning of the month, Jupiter rises at 23:17 and Saturn at 21:50. By the end of the month, Jupiter will rise at 21:25, and Saturn rises at 19:51. Uranus appears out of the Sun's glare in June and can be seen in Aries (The Ram) in the early morning. At the beginning of June, Uranus rises at 04:53, and by the end of the month, Uranus is rising at 03:06 am. Neptune will be viewable this June in the early morning between Aquarius and Pisces. At the start of June, Neptune will rise at 01:01, and by the end of the month, it rises at 23:04.

Venus and Mars on 15/06/21 at 18:000

Jupiter and Saturn on 15/06/21 at 00:00

JUNE

VIRTUAL STAR PARTIES hosted by Matt Woods

Tune in this June as the amazing Matt Woods presents a livestream from one of our telescopes, showing off our amazing Southern sky. Join us! The virtual start party starts 20:00 (AWST). Click the links below and sign up.

LOWELL TELESCOPE 50TH ANNIVERSARY Join us to celebrate our Lowell dome and telescope's 50th anniversary. Come party with our wonderful telescope and learn about all the amazing things it has accomplished in its 50 years of service. Jump onto a guided tour of the Lowell dome, and see where the government astronomers once worked, and take a walk back through time as you meander through our museum and observatory halls. You’ll see special displays showcasing some of the technology used when the Lowell telescope was first in use including its photographs and discoveries. Enjoy a presentation from past Lowell Astronomer Peter Birch, as he sheds some light on what it was like to work with the Lowell back in “the good old days”. And the fun doesn't end there! Stay and have dinner on our back lawn, with our friends from the Lesmurdie Club are selling meals from around the world.

Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/events/lowells-50th

Price: Full price: $25.00 Concession/Child (Ages 5 to 17): $15.00 Date:

BOOK NOW

Saturday, April 24 Time: Talk starts 19:00 (Gates open 16:30)

The June Solstice. Image Credit: TimeandDate.com

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS | JUNE

WINTER SOLSTICE by Matt Woods

The June Solstice occurs on June 21 at 11:32 (AWST), marking the beginning of astronomical winter for the southern hemisphere, and the start of summer for the northern hemisphere. The solstice is the moment when the Sun’s declination equals 23.5 degrees south, as seen from the Earth. The line of latitude where the Sun passes directly overhead during the June solstice is known as the Tropic of Cancer. However, due to precession in modern times, the Sun is in Gemini in mid-June. The June solstice means the southern rotational pole of the Earth is tipped away from the Sun and begins its long apparent journey northward until December. The wobble of Earth’s axis, known as the Precession of the Equinoxes, takes about 26,000 years to complete one ‘wobble.’ During an average 72-year life span, the equinoctial points will have moved one degree (about twice the diameter of a Full Moon).

The Earth's position around the Sun at Solstices and Equinoxes. Image credit: Almanac.com

Ptolemy's Cluster. Image Credit & Copyright: Rolf Wahl Olsen

WHAT TO SEE

THE PTOLEMY CLUSTER by Matt Woods

Ptolemy Cluster (Messier 7 & NGC 6475) is a large open cluster near the sting of Scorpius. While it's 980 light-years away from us, it's large enough to be seen with the unaided eye in a dark sky and is a fair sight in binoculars. The cluster is 25 light-years across and contains around 100 stars in total. The Greek-Roman astronomer Ptolemy first described it in 130 CE, from which it gets its common name of 'Ptolemy's cluster'. The colour of the stars in this cluster is predominately yellow, indicating an older cluster with an estimated 260 million years. Clusters that contain many hot blue stars, like the Pleiades, are considerably younger. Halley’s orbit around the Sun takes 75 years, next entering the inner system again in 2061. The Eta Aquarids meteors seem to appear from the constellation Aquarius – with its radiant near one of its brightest stars, Eta Aquarii, giving the meteor shower its name.

The Eta Aquarids are caused by debris from Halley's Comet

Ptolemy Cluster on 15/06/21 at 21:00. . Image Credit: Stellarium

Scheme ID: C10424616 SUPPORT PERTH OBSERVATORY

CONTAINERS FOR CHANGE by Julie Matthers

Perth Observatory has joined the Containers for Change scheme. Please take glass, plastic, aluminium, steel and paper-based cartons between 150mL and 3L to your local refund depot, and use the Perth Observatory scheme ID C10424615. POVG will receive 10 cents for each container. Save the ID on your phone for every time you recycle your containers Find your local refund depot and get more information on which of your containers are eligible for refunds, just click here: containersforchange.com.au/wa If you're unable to get to a refund centre, we also have a labelled bin on-site for you to add your clean container donations when you next visit the observatory. Our maintenance and accounts volunteer, Des, will collect and take donated containers to the refund centre. Thank you for helping the POVG promote sustainable and environmentally-conscious practices and diversifying ways for us to raise much-needed funds. Your help supports the continuing upkeep and running of Western Australia's oldest observatory!

Most of your glass, plastic, aluminium, steel and paper-based cartons between 150 ml and 3 litres are eligible.

PERTH OBSERVATORY

WINTER NIGHT TOURS

Farewell summer! Astronomers say the best time for viewing our southern skies is during winter. Perth Observatory passionate volunteers brave the cold weather to show you planets, and the galactic centre passing overhead revealing many deep-sky treasures that you can’t see in Summer. Read Matt Woods' expertly researched articles to find out 'What's Up in the Sky' or just pick a night to join us! Alpha Centauri is highest from March to September, and Omega Centauri is easily seen from April through September. That's not all! You will also have the chance to browse our museum and see our meteorite exhibit, historical instruments, and admire our amazing astrophotographs and artwork. Our night sky tours often sell out, so book yours in advance Night sky tour times are changing for the winter months – double-check the time your tour starts before you visit. Find out more and book here: perthobservatory.com.au/night-tours/winter-night-tours

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STAR ADOPTION TOURS

Perth Observatory's unique star adoption program includes a gift certificate and private viewing tour as a way to recognise a family member or friend. All available stars in the adoption program range between the magnitudes -1 and 4.9 (visible to the naked eye) or 5.0 and 7.9 (visible in binoculars). All stars are visible in the Southern Hemisphere. Your individual star adoption package includes: A certificate (suitable for framing) with your adopted star's name and coordinates, and the duration and purpose of the adoption. A private star and night sky viewing tour for the recipient and three guests within 12 months. This includes viewing your adopted star, along with several other night sky objects. The tour is scheduled when your chosen star is available at a suitable time for viewing A planisphere (a device to show what constellations and stars are in the sky at any given time) Star charts and coordinates showing where to find your star in the night sky, as well instruction on how to use these on your star viewing night Please note: Perth Observatory's Star Adoption program doesn't offer international naming rights to your adopted star because there are no internationally-recognised naming rights. The Perth Observatory Volunteer Group Inc runs the star adoption program, and proceeds go towards the observatory's not for profit public outreach program.

FIND OUT MORE

Find out more and enter here: perthobservatory.com.au/shop/events/lowells-50th

Artwork by Michelle Ashley-Emilie Background photo by Roger Groom

PERTH OBSERVATORY ASTROSHOP

ASTROSHOP UPDATES

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Image credit: xkcd https://xkcd.com/2356/

Contact Us Perth Observatory PO Box 179 Kalamunda WA 6926 (08) 9293 8255 newsletter@povg.org www.perthobservatory.com.au Support Us Click here and support Perth Observatory on Patreon

Perth Observatory Volunteer Group acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which we operate, the Wadjak clan of the Noongar Nation, whose land extends to the present-day site of the observatory. We recognise their continuing connection to these lands, waters and communities.