Perth Observatory | June Newsletter 2020

PERTH OBSERVATORY NEWSLETTER

WHAT'S UP IN THE SKY DON'T MISS THE DELTA AQUARIIDS METEOR SHOWER

ENTER THE BEAGLE THE GREAT GALACTIC GHOUL AND BRITAIN'S MARS MISSION

LOCKDOWN IS OVER JOIN US FOR WINTER NIGHT TOURS AND EVENTS

JUNE

EQUINOX

JUNE

2020

by James Chesters

arerraC ylrebmiK yb noitartsullI

EDITOR'S NOTE June 2020

Welcome to June's edition of the Perth Observatory newsletter.

I hope you're keeping warm and dry this winter weekend. Or, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere I hope you made it out to Stonehenge at dawn for the Summer Solstice.

After months of lockdown, Perth Observatory is once more open for business -- and we can not wait to see your faces again.

PERTH OBSVERVATORY 337 Walnut Rd Bickley WA 6076

Now, more than ever, the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we are based on, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation.

Kalamunda has long been an important meeting place for Noongar people, and the local area contains campsites and spiritual sites used by Noongars from pre-contact to the present day.

POVG pay our respects to these Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognise the unique contribution the Whadjuk people have made, and continue to make, to our culture and community.

In the six seasons of the Noongar calendar, June places us in Makuru, the season of regrowth and fertility.

There's undoubtedly a metaphor in there somewhere about life after COVID-19, but instead, I'm going to celebrate the great content we have in this newsletter!

Rob Grieves writes about Starlink's satellites effects on astronomy, Matt Woods tells us everything to see in the sky over the next few months, Julie Matthews has Lotterywest Project updates, and guest contributor Mike Hotka has lots to say about his celestial friends.

Michelle Ashley-Emile has a movie review for us, and Eta Carina has a new crossword -- plus the

CONTACT US

first to return a correctly-solved puzzle wins a Night Sky Tour voucher.

Perth Observatory PO Box 179 Kalamunda WA 6926

My endless thanks go to all the contributors and volunteers who help to make this newsletter possible.

(08) 9293 8255 newsletter@povg.org.au www.perthobservatory.com.au

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTENTS

Editor-in-Chief James Chesters

Contributors

05

Colin Armstrong

Training during COVID-19 Back in March, Perth Observatory moved our volunteer training events online.

Michelle Ashley-Emile Jay Chesters Rob Grieves Roger Groom Julie Matthews Diana Rosman

August's Night Sky

Geoff Scott Ken Stranger Matt Woods

12

Mercury is very low on the Western horizon during the evening at the start of August.

Guest Contributors Mike Hotka Pamela Hainsworth

Crossword

Star tours go virtual

Eta Carina

19

Livestreaming astronomy hasn’t always been plain sailing, luckily we have Matt Woods.

Subscribe Click Below to subscribe to our newsletter

24 Come on, Get Social

Will Starlink satellites destroy astronomy?

Elon Musk announced the controversial Starlink project in January 2015.

A VIEW THROUGH THE EYEPIECE

BY POVG CHAIR DR COLIN ARMSTRONG

Who could have predicted that the outbreak of a new

Thanks to Paul Wadham and the project team, our

virus, reported back in January, would go on to wreak

Astrograph telescope has been brought back to life,

so much havoc worldwide?

with its remaining pieces in place and its brass work is gleaming like a mirror.

When we sent our last Perth Observatory Volunteer Group newsletter in March we were unsure how

Recently, Dr Beatriz Villarroel -- a theoretical physicist

COVID-19 would impact our upcoming events.

from Stockholm University -- got in touch with Perth Observatory, to discuss her academic paper and Perth

Now we're emerging from lockdown and it feels like it's

Observatory's glass plate collection.

been a lifetime without night sky tours. It was practically heartbreaking when we couldn't open our

Dr Villarroel is behind a citizen science project using

doors for events celebrating Star Trek First Contact

our Astrographic plate scans to search for vanishing

night, Star Wars Day, or even Towel Day.

and appearing stars. You can join in with the project here.

Luckily, Matt Woods is a tech genius, and has been selflessly and tirelessly running virtual events twice a

In other "while you were locked down" news, we're

week, with talks on Thursday nights and Virtual Sky

delighted to report that the 33rd Governor of Western

Parties every weekend on YouTube, informing everyone

Australia, the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, has

"what's up" in the sky. Even better news is that he'll

accepted our invitation to become a Patron of the

continue to host weekly YouTube events.

Perth Observatory Volunteer Group.

Others in the astronomy community have also been

As many of you know, Mr Beazley became WA's current

taking their events online, including Australia's

governor on May 1, 2018, and has long been a

Astronomer-at-Large, Fred Watson, presenting

supporter of Perth Observatory, including attending

webinars on astronomy.

the historic opening of Worl Wangkiny back in March.

Back down to Earth, while the observatory hasn't been

The last three months have been hard for everyone,

open for tours until this month, we've been keeping

but now we're open for Winter Sky Tours once again

busy, our R-COP telescope has been working overtime

and -- in the immortal words of Professor Brian Cox --

contributing to scientific research, and our Lotterywest

things can only get better.

projects have achieved a lot, including a refreshed kitchen.

I look forward to seeing you all soon on the hill at Bickley.

- Dr Colin Armstrong

19

TRAINING DURING COVID-19

FACING NEW FRONTIERS

by Julie Matthews

Our tours are back, but how did we keep our volunteers enthused during the COVID-19 shutdown?

It was a huge learning process as the training team delved into previously unknown territory and discovered the world of online training through (gulp) video conference meetings.

At the end of June, we will have completed a whole 10-week program of remote online training using Microsoft Teams.

Each Tuesday night, our keen vollies have tuned into an hour filled with the main presentation delivered by some of our very best Hosts and Presenters, mock dome talks by the trainees, and an astro quiz by Geoff Scott.

Topics covered include Binoculars – Astronomy at Home, the museum items, the Astrograph, the Lowell Telescope and its research projects, the Calver telescope, RCOP/Skynet, the Meridian, Worl Wangkiny, and Halley’s Comet.

We have all learnt so much more about the Observatory while also brushing up on our presentation skills, and can’t wait to share it all with our incoming visitors.

A huge thank you to everyone that gave up their time to make this series so successful while overcoming the fear of being “on camera”. It has once again proven to me how fortunate we are to have such a fantastic Volunteer group.

See you up on the hill – in real-time!

WHAT'S IN

JULY'S NIGHT SKIES

by Matt Woods

Mercury will reappear and join Venus in the early morning just before sunrise halfway through the second week of July.

Located in the constellation of Gemini (The Twins) throughout the month, Mercury reaches its greatest elongation in the east on July 22 at 23:00 (AWST) and then starts heading back towards the Sun.

Jupiter, king of the planets, is still in Sagittarius (The Centaur with a Bow) and visible throughout the night in July. Jupiter also reaches its closest point to the Earth this month on July 14, and is at its brightest for the year that night.

Saturn is still below Jupiter and visible throughout the night between the constellations of Sagittarius and Capricornus. Saturn reaches its closest point to the

Venus is in the constellation of Taurus (The Bull) in the early morning during July. At the start of the month, Venus rises at 04:39, and at 03:58 by the end of July.

Mars, the red planet, is in the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster) at the start of July, rising at 23:40. It moves into Pisces (The Fish) by the end of the month, rising at 22:55.

Earth this month on July 21, also at its brightest for the year that night.

Uranus is in Aries (The Ram) in the early evening this month. Rising at 02:43 at the start of July, and 00:48 by the end of the month.

Neptune, the last planet in our Solar System, is in between Aquarius, Cetus, and Pisces in the middle of the night for the whole of July.

Rising at 22:49 at the beginning of July, Neptune is rising 20:49 by the end of the month.

15/07/20 Jupiter and Saturn at 21:00

23/07/20 Mercury's greatest elongation in the East in the

Image: Stellarium

morning. Image: Stellarium

5/07/20 Mars, Uranus and Neptune at 05:00. Image:

15/07/20 Jupiter and Saturn at 21:00.

Stellarium

Image: Stellarium

WHAT'S IN

JULY'S NIGHT SKIES

by Matt Woods

OMEGA NEBULA

M17 - Omega Nebula. Image Credit: Putman Mountain Observatory

DELTA AQUARIIDS

A meteor from the Delta Aquarids. Image Credit: David S. Brown

Omega in an emissions nebula in the constellation of Sagittarius.

The Delta Aquariids meteor shower is active from July 12 to August 23.

Located in Sagittarius, the Omega Nebula is one of the

The Delta Aquariid meteors peak on July 27/28,

brightest and most massive star-forming regions of the

favouring the southern hemisphere, including Perth.

Milky Way. Unlike other showers, the Delta Aquariids lack a Within the nebula, the radiation from an open cluster of

definite peak. Instead, they ramble steadily until

~35 hot, young stars heats the surrounding gas to

early August. In 2020, the Delta Aquariids have a

incandescence. It is believed there could be as many as

good hourly rate of meteors per hour, with the Moon

800 stars in the associated cluster.

in its First Quarter phase.

The nebula was first discovered (by Europeans) in 1745

Located in the constellation of Aquarius, the source

and recorded by Charles Messier in 1764, and was

of the Delta Aquariids is believed to be comet

named Omega because it appears like the Greek letter.

96P/Machholz 1, of the unnamed ancient stream of Kreutz sungrazing comets.

Alternatively, it may be seen as a horseshoe with a "tail" to one side giving it, perhaps, a swan's neck

Viewable from 20:00 in mid-July, the new moon on

appearance.

July 21 means there are waning crescents predawn in late July, so wait until around 03:00 on July 28 for

Omega is also referred to as the Swan, Checkmark,

best performance. This waning moon means there

Lobster and Horseshoe Nebula.

will mostly be dark skies until early August.

Omega Nebula on 15/07/20 at 21:00.

Image Credit: Stellarium

The Delta Aquarids on 28/07/20 at 01:00. Image Credit: Stellarium

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS THIS MONTH

JULY'S NIGHT SKIES

by Matt Woods

PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE On the early morning of Sunday, July 5 the Moon moves behind the Earth and partially into Earth's penumbra (outer shadow).

The penumbral eclipse lasts for 2 hours, 45 minutes, but unfortunately, we won't be able to see it from Australia. For our friends in countries in South/West Europe, much of Africa, much of North America, South America, the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Oceans, and Antarctica you'll see at max 25% of the Moon slightly in shadow.

This month's Penumbral Eclipse begins at 03:07 (UTC), with the Moon covering the most at 04:30 (UTC). The Penumbral Eclipse finishes by 05:52 (UTC).

CONJUNCTIONS AND OCCULTATIONS

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS

by Matt Woods

Conjunctions involve object(s) in the Solar System and/or more distant objects, such as a star.

It's an apparent phenomenon in which multiple objects which aren't close together appear close in the sky and it's caused by the observer's perspective.

An occultation occurs when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer. Check out the astronomical events coming up in the next few months.

JULY 31/07/20

12/07/20

Alignment of the Moon, Antares, Jupiter

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars ot 18:00

and Saturn 22:00

All image credits courtesy of Stellarium

SEPTEMBER 22/09/20

24/09/20

Conjunction of Mercury and Spica at 19:00

Alignment of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn at 20:00

26/09/20 Alignment of the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn at 20:00

THE METEOR MAN FROM CRUX

ABORIGINAL ASTRONOMY

Ray Norris is an astrophysicist and science communicator based at the CSIRO, as well as an adjunct professor in the dept of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie Uni. Norris has also researched and reported extensively on Aboriginal Australian culture relating to astronomical subjects. There is evidence that traditional Aboriginal Australians made careful records and measurements of phenomena such as meteorite impacts, and could determine the cardinal points to an accuracy of a few degrees.

In the paper Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation, Norris recounts stories and beliefs associated with meteors in Aboriginal Australian Astronomy. We excerpt a small portion below.

"Hamacher & Norris (2010) report many... associated with death, although some have positive connotations and some negative... Harney et al. (2009) tells how, after someone dies, and their body is placed in a forked stick to decay, a meteor will shoot from their body back to his country, so people there know that he has died.

Meteors can also cause death: Allen (1975 ) report a Yolngu story of a lonely fire spirit who came to earth as a meteorite to bring fire to the people, but accidentally caused massive fires and destruction to the people when he accidentally touched the Earth. Even now, to touch or smell the hot ashes from a recently-fallen meteorite will cause death (Wells 1971).

The Tangani people (SA) believed that a devastating smallpox epidemic had been brought by a meteor-man from crux (Clarke 2003a ; Tindale 1933 ).

Meteors can also signify the creation of a new life. In Kimberley and Kamilaroi cultures, the same meteor that signifies death can also bring a new baby (Akerman 2014; Fuller et al. 2014a).

In the Wardaman reincarnation cycle (Harney & Norris 2009), dead spirits go up to the Milky Way through the star Vega, which functions as a gateway, and then go through a series of ceremonies in Sagittarius, led by the star Altair (identified by the Wardaman as a wedgetailed eagle), in which they are mentored by the star Arcturus (identified as a rock cod).

After completing the ceremonies, they fall to the Earth as a meteorite, and make their way to a creek, where they are fed algae by the rock cod while they wait for their mother to pass by."

NEW IN THE ASTROSHOP

KEEP WARM ON WINTER NIGHT TOURS

Thanks to volunteers extraordinaire, models Lexie and Zoe

by Julie Matthews

Vintage design Perth Observatory windcheaters are now available in the Astroshop.

Our classic Perth Observatory windcheaters are fresh in stock this season. Just in time for winter night tours, the pullovers have a warm fleece lining, long sleeves, and feature the vintage Perth Observatory logo.

Perfect for layering in cooler weather, these windcheaters are available in sizes Small to 3XL for just $30 each. Want a cotton tote bag with the vintage design? They're yours for only $7.50.

As a special "welcome back" offer for Perth Observatory volunteers, if you provide your own windcheater, we'll print onto it the vintage Perth Observatory design for only $10.

Due to the small size of the shop, we advise that only a small number of patrons will be allowed inside the shop at any one time.

The Astroshop team politely ask that you pay by card, and use the hand sanitiser provided before entering the shop.

We appreciate your support, and hope you enjoy visiting us soon!

WHAT'S IN

AUGUST'S NIGHT SKIES

by Matt Woods Mercury disappears in the Sun’s

Jupiter is still in Sagittarius this

glare at the end of the first full

month. Viewable at the start of

week of August, reappearing

the night, it sets at 06:06 at the

low in the west in the early

beginning of August. By the end

evening at the very end of the

of the month, Jupiter is setting

month.

at 03:58.

Venus is in Taurus (the Bull) in

Saturn is still below Jupiter in

the early morning at the start

August, and visible throughout

August, moving through Orion’s

the night between Sagittarius

club and into Gemini (the Twins)

and Capricornus. As with

by the end of the month.

Jupiter, it's also viewable at the start of the night. Saturn sets at

At the start of August, Venus

06:33 at the beginning of

rises at 03:58 (AWST) and by the

August and 04:29 by the end.

end of the month, it’s rising at 04:04. Reaching its greatest

Uranus is in Aries (The Ram) in

elongation in the east on August

the early evening this month.

13 at 09:00, Venus then heads

Rising at 00:44 at the start of

back towards the sun.

August, by the end of the month, Uranus is rising at

Mars is in Pisces (the Fish)

22:42.

THE PERSEIDS The Perseids meteor shower is nearly here. Peaking on August 12/13, this meteor shower has been observed for at least 2,000 years.

The meteor shower is connected with the comet Swift-Tuttle, orbiting the sun every 133 years. Every August, The Earth passes through the debris field left by the comet’s tail, chunks of ice and dust, some parts

during August, getting brighter throughout the month as Earth

Neptune is between Aquarius,

gets closer and closer. At the

Cetus, and Pisces throughout

start of August, it’s rising at

August. Rising at 20:45 at the

22:55 and by the end of the

beginning of August, Neptune

month, it's rising at 21:37.

rises at 18:44 by the end.

over 1,000 years old.

This debris enters Earth’s atmosphere, burning up and creating one of the best meteor showers of the year. For the Northern Hemisphere,

13/08/20 Venus near its greatest

15/08/20 Venus at 06:00.

elongation in the East at 06:00.

Image Credit: Stellarium

The Perseids can be seen all over the sky in the Northern Hemisphere. People with

Image Credit: Stellarium

sharp eyes will see that the meteors appear to come from the constellation Perseus, from where they take their name.

The field starts hitting Earth around midAugust, with peaks around the 12th and 13th of August, Earth gets hit by more than 100 meteors an hour.

Unfortunately, n the Southern Hemisphere. and especially Perth, the Perseids meteor shower is very low on the horizon in the North around 06:00. We’re lucky to see, at best, five meteors per hour.

15/08/20 Jupiter and Saturn at 19:00.

15/08/20 Mars, Uranus and Neptune on

It’s a shame because in the Northern

Image Credit: Stellarium

at 02:00. Image Credit: Stellarium

Hemisphere they can see anywhere from 115 to 170 meteors per hour, but this year the Moon is around the Last Quarter phase so they will see a reduced rate. For Perth shooting star lovers, it’s best to go out and look north at 06:00.

31/08/20 Mercury at 18:30 Stellarium

Image Credit:

WHAT TO SEE

AUGUST'S NIGHT SKIES

Trifid and Lagoon Nebulas. Image Credit: Perth Observatory Volunteer Andrew Lockwood

by Matt Woods

TRIFID AND LAGOON NEBULAS The Trifid Nebula (M20 & NGC 6514) and Lagoon Nebula (M8 & NGC 6523) are close in the constellation of Sagittarius.

The Trifid Nebula is an emission (pink) and reflection (blue) nebula, with an open star cluster. The name Trifid (meaning “divided into three lobes”) comes from the three-pronged dark lanes (dark nebulae) through the nebula blocking the light behind. The nebula is 2,660 light-years away and is 15 light-years across.

The central star formation “nursery” is where hot young stars power the emission nebulae. Infrared telescopes shown 30 embryonic and 120 newborn stars not yet bright enough to emit visible light. The new stars are very young, at 400,000 years old, and the central star in the nebula is really a cluster of four-star systems, two being close binaries, making a total of six stars in all.

The Lagoon Nebula, sometimes called the “Hourglass Nebula” (not to be confused with the true Hourglass Nebula in the constellation of Musca), is a very young nebula, perhaps less than 10,000 years old. Further away than the Trifid Nebula at 4,100 light-years away, the Lagoon is a lot bigger, at 100 light-years across and 50 light-years high.

One of the finest and brightest star-forming regions in the sky, the Lagoon Nebula contains many “Bok globules”, dense cosmic dust and gas from which boost star formation. Energised by a bright ultraviolet “O4” class star, the central emission area is a relatively easy object to find for amateur astrophotographers.

15/08/20 Trifid and Lagoon Nebulas at 21:00. Image: Stellarium

A REMARKABLE MACHINE

THE MINCHIN TELESCOPE

by Pamela Hainsworth

Sidney Frederick Minchin (1893 - 1974) built the the Minchin telescope, by hand, at his home at Cottesloe.

The telescope, and the ingenious geared mechanism that allows it to follow celestial transits, is believed to have been built between the First and Second World War.

Layers of paper mixed with glue moulded over a wood former make up the telescope's barrel, and the telescope’s main optics are said to have come from a submarine periscope.

With his absorbing interest in

Instead of a teacher, Minchin

astronomy and physics, Minchin

became a senior technician in

was at one time a committee

the P.M.G. Telephone

member of the W.A. Astronomical

Department.

Society.

While disability and pain would Born in Middle Swan and growing

be his constant companion,

up on a farm at Dangin, 160 km

Minchin’s life attitude was one of

east of Perth, much of Minchin’s

wisdom, gentleness and a sense

reading was done on the plough

of humour.

while his loyal horse plodded on following the previous farrow.

Qualifying for entrance to the Claremont Teacher’s College, Minchin was denied his chosen profession by injuries sustained in the First World War at The Third Battle of Ypres (the Battle of Passchendaele Ridge) in 1917, and

Other components were expertly machined by Minchin himself.

in a battle for Villers-Bretonneux in 1918.

Sidney Frederick Minchin (1893 - 1974)

WHAT'S IN

SEPTEMBER'S NIGHT SKY

by Matt Woods

Mercury is in Virgo in the early

Jupiter is still in Sagittarius this

evening this month, setting at

month, and viewable at the start of

18:59 (AWST) at the start of

the night, setting at 03:54 at the

September, and at 20:19 by

beginning of September. By the end

month's end.

of the month, Jupiter is setting at 02:01.

Venus is in Gemini in the early morning at the start of

Below Jupiter and visible throughout

September, moving into Leo by

the night,

the end of the month. At the

month. Like Jupiter, it's viewable at

beginning of the month, Venus is

the start of the night, setting at

rising at 04:04 and rising at

04:24 at the beginning of September

04:04 by the end of September.

and 02:28 by the end.

Mars is in Pisces this month,

Uranus is in Aries during September,

getting noticeably brighter throughout the month as Earth gets increasingly close to the red planet. Rising at 21:34 at the start of September, by the end of the month, it's rising at 19:29.

Saturn is in Sagittarius this

The Zodiacal Light. Image Credit & Copyright: Alan Dyer

ZODIAC LIGHT SEASON The Zodiacal light season begins September 1.

rising at 22:38 at the start of September, and 20:41 by the end of

As the Sun approaches the

the month.

September Equinox on September 22

Neptune is visible throughout the

causing the backscattering of light off dust particles spread out along

night this month and is between the

the ecliptic plane (the apparent path

Aquarius, Cetus, and Pisces for the

of the Sun’s motion on the celestial

whole of September.

sphere as seen from Earth).

Spring and Autumn are the best times for seeing this pearly glow at dawn or dusk, due to the steep angle of the ecliptic relative to our horizon.

15/09/20 Mercury at 19:00. Image

15/09/20 Venus at 19:00. Image Credit:

Credit: Stellarium

Stellarium

September's Equinox season favours dusk for the Southern Hemisphere, and dawn for the Northern; with the reverse true near the March equinox.

To best see the zodiacal light, go out an hour after sunset or before dawn, and look from as dark a site as possible; light pollution or the faint glow from distant cities on the horizon will destroy the ethereal glow.

The zodiacal light will appear as a slender, pyramid-shaped glow, tracing the length of the ecliptic plane.

15/09/20 Jupiter and Saturn at 20:00. Image

15/09/20 Mars, Uranus and Neptune at 23:00.

Credit: Stellarium

Image Credit: Stellarium

WHAT'S TO SEE

SEPTEMBER'S NIGHT SKY

Sculptor Galaxy Image Credit & Copyright: Mike O'Day

THE SCULPTOR GALAXY

by Matt Woods

The Sculptor or the Silver Coin Galaxy (NGC253) is a barred galaxy in the Sculptor constellation roughly 67,000 light-years wide.

Discovered (by Europeans) by Caroline Herschel in 1783, while carrying out a comet search, it's one of the Sculptor group of galaxies, grouped around the south galactic pole (sometimes called "the South Polar Group").

The Sculptor group may be the next closest group of galaxies beyond our Local Group, located about 11.5 million light-years from Earth. Often called a Starburst galaxy, NGC253 contains a large number of stellar nurseries, forming many hot young blue stars.

This activity is from a collision with a dwarf galaxy approximately 200 million years ago, and the process of star formation and subsequent explosion as supernovae occurs at an unusually high rate.

These young stars emit radiation that causes the hydrogen gas to glow brightly pink. NGC253 has many Wolf Rayet stars (WR stars start as hot, massive stars, around x20 solar masses, and rapidly lose mass by blowing their hydrogen envelope away in the form of high-velocity stellar winds.)

The Silver Coin Galaxy also has a large proportion of dust, although in less defined lanes, such as those found in the Milky Way galaxy.

With an apparent magnitude of 7.2, the Sculptor is the second easiest galaxy to see, after Andromeda, and not including the Milky Way's two satellite galaxies (The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds).

With the right viewing conditions, NGC253 can be seen with binoculars with a

15/09/20 Sculptor Galaxy at 21:00 pm.

long axis ~2/3 of the full moon.

Image Credit: Stellarium

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS

SEPTEMBER'S NIGHT SKY

by Matt Woods

THE SEPTEMBER EQUINOX

On Tuesday, September 22, the Southward Equinox occurs at 21:31 (AWST), marking the beginning of astronomical Autumn/Fall for the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of Spring for the Southern Hemisphere.

This is the exact moment when the Sun's declination equals 0 as seen from the Earth. The two points where the ecliptic or the imaginary path the Sun seem to trace out along the celestial sphere meets the celestial equator are known as the "equinoctial points."

In the 21st century, the September Equinox last fell on September 22 on 2016 and will fall on September 22 or the 23 until 2092, when it begins falling on September 21 every four years.

The equinox (literally meaning 'equal nights' in Latin) indicates that night and day are nearly equal worldwide, and that the Sun rises due east of an observer on the equinox and sets due west. The Full Moon nearest to the September Equinox is known as the Harvest Moon, a time when farmers use the extra illumination at dusk to bring in crops. In 2020, the Harvest Moon falls on October 2.

The term Equilux sometimes discerns the difference between the true equinox and the point when sunlight length equals the length of the night.

Several factors play a role in this, including the time it takes the physical diameter of the Sun to clear the horizon, atmospheric refraction, and the observer's true position in their respective time zone. The Equilux occurs within a few days of either equinox.

PERTH OBSERVATORY & COVID-19

Q&A

by Julie Matthews

As the State Government continue easing of COVID-19 restrictions, there are many questions on our minds.

Training Coordinator Julie Matthews chats to POVG Chair Colin Armstrong about why you can feel at ease joining us on tours.

Julie: How are we keeping volunteers and visitors safe on tours?

Do Perth Observatory volunteers have special training?

Who is cleaning door handles, ladder rails, and telescope eyepieces?

All Perth Observatory Volunteers on our tours have completed AHA

Telescope Operators are cleaning

Hospital and Tourism COVID-19

the eyepieces. During tours

Hygiene Training. In addition,

the doors to telescope domes

briefings before tours remind

are open so there's no need for

volunteers of the standards and

additional cleaning.

protocols required.

Because all visitors sanitise their We also communicate COVID-19

hands first, while ladder handrail

restrictions, policies and procedures

cleaning is frequent, it's

to volunteers and visitors,

unnecessary to do between every

electronically and via notices around

visitor.

the venue.

How many visitors are on a tour?

How do we know cleaning has been done?

Colin: Health and safety is our

Phase 3 of the COVID-19 WA

A Hygiene Officer is on duty for

priority. On top of a very rigorous

roadmap allows us a maximum of up

every tour, and they will ensure

cleaning and sanitising schedule,

to 100 visitors, per single undivided

appropriate cleaning has been

we've refreshed the kitchen and

space, and up to 300 visitors on site

done. You will see in the foyer a

lecture theatre to maintain 1.5m

(excluding volunteers and staff) --

notice identifying that day’s Host

between tables.

though we don't expect that many

and Hygiene Officer.

guests!

Volunteers and visitors will all follow

We have cleaning schedules

rules for maintaining a healthy

We comply with State and Federal

displayed throughout the

distance throughout the venue and

Government requirements, and

observatory, including the Foyer,

maintaining the 2 square metres per

satisfy individual volunteers'

Museum, Shop, Toilets, Domes.

person. We also have a new one-

preparedness to work.

These record the date, time and

way traffic flow, with a dedicated entrance and another dedicated exit.

Does the Observatory have hand sanitiser?

Initials of the cleaning, like in public

What happens when visitors arrive for a tour?

As you expect at Perth Observatory, you get warmly welcomed, with hand sanitiser. As all bookings are

Yes, we have multiple hygiene

made online, we then mark you

stations throughout the Observatory

'arrived' on our list.

site with alcohol-based hand

conveniences such as airports, and shopping centres.

What happens if an observatory visitor later tests positive for COVID-19?

If this situation arises, POVG will cooperate with the Public Health

sanitiser, including our entrance

We're also checking body

Authorities to make the necessary

foyer, telescope domes, toilets, and

temperatures and asking some basic

arrangements.

other buildings.

health questions.

We conduct and record thorough

Is the shop open?

Perth Observatory maintains a

and regular cleaning of common

comprehensive record of volunteers, as well as visitors to the

contact surfaces, ‘high touch’ items

Yes, and we're restricting entry to

Observatory, to assist authorities

and shared amenities.

two visitors at a time. Everyone is

with contact tracing in the event of

asked to sanitise their hands before

a COVID-19 case.

entry, and avoid touching items where possible. We also encourage cashless payments.

Thank you Colin! We look forward to a safe future and clear night skies.

ASTRONOMY UNDER LOCKDOWN

STAR TOURS GO VIRTUAL

"IT’S INTERESTING HOW QUICKLY YOU GET USED TO TALKING TO YOURSELF IN FRONT OF A SCREEN"

by Jay Chesters

In March, Perth Observatory went into lockdown -- and events were cancelled.

Around Australia, astronomers were

Matt realised he had many astronomy

all wondering how to take the night

presentations that would entertain Perth

sky live via the internet.

Observatory audiences -- and started twice-weekly events.

POVG's Tour Administrator, Matt Stargazer's Club WA took their events

virtual events -- and leapt at the

onto Facebook Live.

chance to take Perth Observatory

messages from participants," he

"There have been two other surprises: "it’s interesting how

Carol Redford, club founder & CEO, says it didn't take her long to master

"I've wanted to do them since

"But we’ve had some very nice

says.

Woods, has long wished to run

night sky tours online.

- FRED WATSON

using the platform.

quickly you get used to talking to yourself in front of a screen," Fred says

watching Fraser Cain from Universetoday.com run virtual star

"There was a bit of research and time to

parties back in 2013-14, but I've

figure out what I wanted to include" but

never had the time to properly work

that was all there was to it, Carol says.

it out," Matt says.

"It’s also been a great pleasure (though a bit daunting) to find astronomer colleagues among the participants."

Australia’s astronomer-at-large, Fred His original plan was live streaming

Watson, presents the live weekly

through a telescope once a week,

webinars Cosmic Relief.

on Saturday nights.

even with virtual tours -- it took Matt six live streams to get a clear

Fred says it's a big surprise people enjoy When the first two events were

Things aren't always easy though,

night sky.

the webinars so much.

cloud-covered, Matt had to show

How have people responded to

images he’d taken earlier that week,

"The presentations are stripped of fancy

in case of a cloudy night.

animations and movies to better cope with dodgy internet connections.

virtual astronomy events?

I was surprised to see how popular the livestreams were, especially at the start," Matt says.

"t was great to see so many people join, it’s amazing -- some streams reached thousands of people.."

Carol agrees, "There have been some great reactions," she says, "From 'Keep up the good work' to 'Easy listening.' That's what I'm aiming for: an easy to understand and easy to participate experience under the stars."

"[Our] numbers have been pretty constant," Fred says, "We recently kicked off the second series, for which we’ve had to introduce a small charge of $2 to cover Zoom costs. That has brought numbers down a bit, but with a higher uptake against bookings."

Fans of Stargazing WA's Facebook Live events will be pleased to know Carol plans to continue, them after a recent break.

"I want to concentrate on producing a live broadcast when there's something special to see with the naked eye in the night sky," she says, "They will become a bit more random!"

Even though the events have been "in lockdown" there have been some opportunities to travel, within reason.

“I got to go to the Central Wheatbelt, a POVG volunteer has a private

Part of Caldwell 72 open cluster | Photo credit: Geoff Scott

observatory, for a livestream where we didn’t have any light pollution,” Matt says. “It’s great to have someone able to join the livestream, as we can joke and share our knowledge on each target.”

The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) started broadcasting live webinars in April, shortly after universities first moved into online learning. Their free, live online lectures continued every Wednesday, until June 10.

Cass Rowles, ICRAR’s Cosmic Communicator, said their YouTube channel subscribers have “more than doubled” since the lectures started -- and the team enjoy interacting with their audience, as well as looking forward to new questions each week.

Livestreaming hasn’t all been plain sailing. “In our second week, technology failed us, and we were unable to stream via Zoom as we had previously,” Cass says. “Running late with a waiting audience, our speaker Kat Ross logged into our YouTube account and streamed directly from her home, showing her slides from her laptop screen.”

Stay tuned to ICRAR's YouTube: now and then, the team will have special topic lectures, and encourage everyone to get in touch if there’s an astronomy subject they want to hear about.

There are many ways you can take your astronomy interest forwards, from "armchair astronomy" to more hands-on approaches, and Perth Observatory's YouTube events will also continue a few times a month.

You can also get involved with a World Record Attempt tonight!

Register online, answer five questions, and use the app to map light pollution in your area.

Another online activity is the free citizen science project, AstroQuest. With just a computer and the internet, you get to complete "quests" helping scientists understand how galaxies grow and evolve, while learning extra information about the galaxies you're inspecting.

Fred Watson also outlines various avenues for getting involved in astronomy in his first Cosmic Relief webinar episode, The Universe for Everyone, including getting involved with observatories.

"Perth Observatory is a shining example of great public engagement!" Fred says -- and I think we'd agree.

M20 Trifid Nebula and M8 Lagoon Nebula | Photo credit :Geoff Scott

MOVIE REVIEW

THE BEYOND (2017)

by Michelle Ashley-Emile

Director: Hasraf 'HaZ' Dulull Writer: Hasraf 'HaZ' Dulull Stars: Jane Perry, Nigel Barber, Noeleen Comiskey

Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival (2017) Best Sci-fi Feature

Berlin Sci-fi Filmfest (2017) Best VFX

Watch if you like: Contact and The Arrival

Available on Amazon Prime.

PLOT SYNOPSIS The Beyond is a science fiction documentary-style movie set in the present (2019).

The film follows a team of cosmology experts sent to explore an anomaly that has entered the Earth's atmosphere in hopes to find alien life before it finds us.

To do this, they must create a new type of human, an untested experiment in a race against time. The outcome raises deep questions on what it is to be human, and our place in the universe.

REVIEW The Beyond is a perfectly ok movie for what it is. It is a low budget, no-name actor film with some fantastic marketing. When you have great marketing with a product that doesn't meet expectations, it's a bit of a letdown.

The actors are stiff and sterile, and although the CGI is pretty good for a low budget film, it is better in small glimpses. One prolonged CGI sequence started to look a bit' uncanny valley', especially in the human-to-robot sequences.

However, for a far-out fantasy Sci-Fi movie, the most unrealistic notion, in my opinion, was that they were filming a casual documentary about a top-secret military and space agency operation.

The mockumentary, handheld-camera style and interview-based dialogue, more often seen in comedystyle genres, really threw me off the seriousness of the plot.

At times, especially at the start of the film, it felt like an off-shoot of The Office.

I was waiting for a comedic spin on such a serious subject. Once I realised this wasn't coming, I was able to push that aside and take it for what it was.

"THE MOST UNREALISTIC NOTION IS THAT THEY ARE FILMING A CASUAL DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A TOP-SECRET MILITARY AND SPACE AGENCY OPERATION" The Beyond is worth watching if you already have an Amazon Prime subscription. Unlike Netflix, Amazon Prime seems to give more independent filmmakers a platform to showcase their work.

Looking into the directors' background, The Beyond is Dulull's first feature film, and when you consider that it's weighted a bit heavier.

It is also a great film to watch with your teenagers or pre-teens. There is no violence directed towards humans, no sexual content, and without ruining the plot, an optimistic outcome at the end. It raises themes and questions that delve deep into humanity.

UPCOMING EVENTS

ABSEILING AND TELESCOPES NIGHT

Need a bit of thrill in your life?

Perth Observatory is teaming up with Spacechameleon Adventure Co to organise a family-friendly event where you can abseil our Lowell Telescope Dome and look through the telescopes at some cool stellar objects.

Abseiling challenges your primal fears, and falling is the most primal of all.

You’ll learn how to apply the rational mind to understand irrational fears, leads to a greater level of control in many other aspects of day-to-day life. Spacechameleon Adventure Co caters for beginners as well as adrenaline junkies, and the event will go ahead rain or shine.

Each participant gets three abseils through the dome’s trap door and descend the full 12 metres in a controlled free fall to the ground.

You can also abseil upside down

Price $60 per adult $50 per concession $40 per child (Ages 5 to 17)

Location: Perth Observatory Date: Saturday, July 4 Time: 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm (Doors open 3:30 pm)

Image credit: Geoff Scott

just like Tom Cruise if you choose to do so!

Come nightfall, we’ll be able to show you the Moon, nebulas and star clusters.

If it’s cloudy, we’ll then provide you with a fantastic guided tour of the Observatory and an astronomical presentation

BOOK NOW

THERE'S A STARLINK WAITING IN THE SKY

WILL STARLINK SATELLITES DESTROY ASTRONOMY

by Rob Grieves

Elon Musk announced the Starlink project in January 2015.

The outspoken CEO of SpaceX has a plan: placing thousands of K-Band communications satellites in low earth orbit (300-500km in altitude).

The satellites would feature high bandwidth, low latency radio communication between satellite and base stations on the ground as well as a mesh-style network using high bandwidth laser interlinks between satellites.

Pictured: Starlink

SpaceX wants Starlink to provide global coverage featuring connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps and latencies of less than 20 miliseconds. Starlink will be ideal for remote or sparsely populated areas where broadband internet is slow, unreliable, expensive or even not available at all.

Starlink has become a controversial topic in astronomy. Some people are excited about the level of service Starlink could provide, but others who work in astronomy, particularly those who use telescopes to do research, are not so impressed.

ELON MUSK

"I’M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL NOT CAUSE ANY IMPACT WHATSOEVER IN ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES, ZERO" - ELON MUSK

A recent paper published by the European Southern Observatory titled "Impact of satellite constellations on astronomical observations with ESO telescopes in the visible and infrared domains" investigates in-depth about the potential impacts "satellite trails" will have on astronomy research data.

There are potential ways to reduce Starlink's impacts, including observing towards the opposite direction of the Sun so that the satellites are in Earth's shadow, or scheduling observations so that the satellites will not pass through the field of view.

Although these can help, they require detailed information about the orbits of these satellite constellations and may end up being costly or timeconsuming workarounds.

In a recent interview at the Satellite 2020 conference in Washington, Musk reaffirmed his belief that Starlink would have no impact on astronomy once the satellites reach final orbit, ranting "I’m confident that we will not cause any impact whatsoever in astronomical discoveries, zero.

That’s my prediction. We’ll take corrective action if it’s above zero."

However, he also mentioned some ways SpaceX are reducing the reflectivity of the satellites. Improvements include painting the antenna black and installing a sunshade.

As is the case most of the time, the reality is probably somewhere in the middle, but only time will tell.

In any case, the Starlink satellites are here to stay.

Pictured: Popular Science magazine from May 1949

by Michelle Ashley-Emile

PERTH OBSERVATORY

UPCOMING EVENTS CHOOSE YOUR NIGHT FOR A VIEWING TOUR

BOOK AN EXCLUSIVE & PRIVATE NIGHT TOUR Book a Night Tour and the evening schedule can be tailored to your needs, with a BBQ cook top also available on request.

Perth Observatory Volunteers will take you on a grand tour of the Southern Hemisphere’s sky with a wide range of targets including galaxies, planets, nebulas, and enormous star clusters.

All complete with a tour of the museum!

FIND OUT MORE

Dark Sky Nights Dark sky nights are when there’s no Moon.

Fainter objects, such as globular clusters and nebulae, show up well against the darker background of a moonless sky.

Moonlit Nights Moonlit nights are when the Moon is one of the observing targets.

WINTER NIGHT TOURS Want to experience our amazing night sky through a wide range of telescopes?

Distant planets will become near, hot, dense clusters of stars will shine, and you will take home with you a newfound sense of wonder.

The best detail on the lunar surface is seen around half moon

Astronomers say the best time for viewing our southern skies is during Winter.

phase.

That's not all, you will also have the chance to browse our museum and see our meteorite exhibit, historical

Our passionate volunteers at the Perth Star clusters and bright nebulae

Observatory will brave the cold weather to

will also be visible.

show you planets, and the galactic centre passing overhead.

Full Moon Nights Full moon nights are when a Full Moon occurs on a weekend or

instruments, and admire our amazing astrophotographs and artwork.

With hot chocolate at the end of the night, it's time to put on your warmest

There's many deep sky treasures waiting for you that you can’t see in Summer.

coat, beanie and boots on and join us on the hilltop for a very different experience.

during a school holiday period.

BOOK NOW

Come along and see the stars for yourself!

OBSERVING NEAR EARTH OBJECTS WITH R-COP

MY LIFE WITH THE STARS Words and photo: Mike Hotka www.mikehotka.com

By Mike Hotka

http://www.mikehotka.com

A great joy in my life is the relationships I have with my family and friends.

I've many friends who aren't

I love the discipline that these

earthbound, visiting me every

programs offer, each provides

year like clockwork. Cygnus,

a unique list of objects that

Virgo, Auriga, to name a few.

defines many of my future observing sessions.

Each year, I learn something new about these celestial friends by

In July 1986, I started observing

peering into their depths with my

the objects of the Messier

telescope.

Observing Program, my first Astronomical League

My name is Mike Hotka, I live in

observing program.

Broomfield, Colorado, USA, and I have been an amateur

I enjoyed seeing the objects

astronomer since 1964.

of the Messier program so much that I've been

I am an observational observer,

completing one program after

studying the beauty of the

another ever since.

universe with my own eyes, and I build the telescopes that I use.

In 2017, I turned my attention to a program called Target

My telescopes include a 12.5-

NEOs!

inch, f/8 Newtonian and an 8inch, f/6 Newtonian.

The acronym NEO stands for Near-Earth Object and the

In 1986, I became a member of

premise of this program is to

the Astronomical League, a

observe asteroids that cross

world-wide association of

Earth's orbit.

amateur astronomers.

Professional astronomers A benefit of being a member is

identify the asteroids of

that you have access to their

interest, so all I have to do is

observing programs, and the

to record the astrometry

opportunity to explore, observe

(position) and photometry

and understand the objects of

(magnitude) of these asteroids

the program.

and submit my data to the required databases.

I like these programs because I have seen many deep-sky objects that, if left to my own accords, I wouldn't have known they existed,

"THE PRECISION REQUIRED OF THESE NEO OBSERVATIONS IS WELL BEYOND WHAT IS CAPABLE OF MAKING OBSERVATIONS WITH YOUR EYE" - MIKE HOTKA

The precision required of these NEO

One of the requirements necessary to

observations is well beyond what is

capture the required data for each

capable of making observations

asteroid was that I needed at least three

with your eye.

images of the asteroid, moving in the associated starfield, 30 minutes apart.

I needed to image the star fields that contained the NEO asteroids

The only robotic telescope network that

and then let a program analyse

would allow me to capture the images I

these images to obtain the precise

needed was the SkyNet Telescope

position and magnitude.

Network.

This work requires a telescope with

That's how I heard about Perth

a mount that tracks accurately and

Observatory's R-COP telescope.

CCD imaging equipment.

R-COP stands for: I didn't want to get into purchasing all the equipment I would need, and instead I turned to automated, robotic telescopes.

Remote Telescope Partnership Clarion University – Science in Motion Oil Region Astronomical Society Perth Observatory Using the Perth Observatory R-COP telescope from the comfort of my home in Colorado has been very beneficial.

The R-COP telescope has an accurate mount and state-of-the-art imaging equipment.

The web-based user interface helps me to find the asteroids of interest and then to queue up image requests, it's very intuitive to use.

I've been using the R-COP telescope for about three years now and have recorded over 100 asteroids so far.

I also use the R-COP telescope to record southern hemisphere variable star images, as a member of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO).

Once I obtain an image of a variable star, I upload the image to AAVSO and use their online photometry program to extract the magnitude of the variable star, and submit this data to the AAVSO database.

My association with this observatory meets all my imaging needs to record asteroids and variable stars.

I couldn't be happier.

BEHIND THE SCENES

PROJECT UPDATES

by Julie Matthews

Our Grand Old Lady, the Astrograph telescope, is all dressed up and ready to inspire.

Our Kitchen is getting a little nip and

"Currently under construction, we

tuck too. Project Manager, Helen

expect to be installing he dividing door

Armstrong, shares an update:

wall in about three months."

"This Lottery West Project is coming

When you next visit us at the

along nicely: the new kitchen floor is

observatory, the garden in our new

down and looking great, we've a

Lottery West-funded BBQ area should

dishwasher installed, and the fridge

be flourishing.

moved.

Thanks Des, Ken, Rob, Jo and Sue for

Project Manager, Paul Wadham, had this to say: “At almost 120

"Apart from a few minor touches of

installing the reticulation and native

years old, the Astrograph was

paint, all we are waiting on is the new

plants. Now to stop the kangaroos

suffering the ravages of time,

dividing door wall.

eating all our plants!

with paint flaking off, rust setting in, and mechanical components needing repair.

In March 2019, the POVG began completely refurbishing the scope. I'm thrilled to announce that the telescope is now available for public viewings.

I also want to thank the sponsors who donated to the project and the project team who worked so

Looking forward to many BBQs under the stars!

hard to bring this telescope

Before and after!

Thanks to all the teams working on the various

back to life.

Our kitchen looks so much bigger and brighter

Lottery West Projects.

Special mentions go to Michael and Krysztof, who worked through the summer preparing for the final top-coats of paint, and Lloyd who prepared the tubes and put all the pieces back together."

Lowell glass plate L6, November 12/13 1972 47 Tuc inverted photo and shop'd by Geoff Scott

"AFTER 59 WEEKS OF SCANNING, AN AMAZING 21,032 ASTRO PLATES AND 310 LOWELL PLATES WERE COMPLETED BY MAY" - DR CRAIG BOWERS

Lowell Plate 1, November 8/8 1972 NGC 2287

The Photographic Glass Plate

“In the last eight years less than 1,000

Preservation Project is nearing

'plates' were taken," he says "with

completion, ahead of time!

most using T-Max 400 and X-Ray celluloid film that had been

This project to preserve the

hypersensitised.

photographic glass plates, produced by the Perth Sir Howard Grubb

"The last plate 21,019 taken on the

Astrographic standard telescope

Astrographic on the 8/9th September

between 1901 and 1999, also includes

1999, was the Minor Planet 687 Tinette,

metadata, stored on the plate

by Greg Lowe.”

envelopes, as well as in a series of observing books.

The Team are also working to secure ongoing funding for offsite storage of

Project Manager, Honorary Historian

the data, amongst answering requests

and Research Director, Dr Craig

from overseas universities wishing to

Bowers, says scanned images, along

access information on the plates.

with the metadata, are accessible online to anyone using this historical data for research.

By the end of May, the team had completed 59 weeks of scanning an amazing 21,032 astro plates and 310 Lowell plates.

Well done Team!

BRITAIN'S MARS MISSION

THE BEAGLE AND THE GHOUL

by Jay Chesters

The road to Mars, much like the surface of the red planet itself, is lined more with failures than good intentions.

Mars has been so enthusiastic about scuppering the various probes and landers that a Great Galactic Ghoul was suggested by a journalist in 1997 to explain the struggles.

Living on Mars, the ghoul is waiting to devour unsuspecting spacecraft.

The ghoul exists for a reason; the history of Mars exploration is a story mired in misadventure. Without listing all 50something spacecraft that have been sent in the direction of our celestial neighbour, approximately half have failed.

Between 1960 and 1971 alone there were at least a dozen failed missions.

It wasn’t until 1971 that a Mars lander transmitted anything from the surface — and it lasted 14.5 seconds before contact was lost to the ghoul.

Things started looking up, and in 1996, NASA’s Sojourner rover even became the first rover on another planet — operating for nearly 90 days.

By the '00s, despite some notable failures from the Japanese Nozomi orbiter, NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter, the Mars Polar Lander, and the Deep Space 2 penetrators, it really started to seem like anyone could do this whole Mars spacecraft thing.

Enter The Beagle In 2003, Britain’s Beagle 2 launched aboard the ESA’s Mars Orbiter on a mission to search for signs of life, past or present — optimistically named after Charles Darwin’s famous vessel. Conceived and designed and developed by various British academics and companies, Beagle 2 was more famous and more popular than the Queen’s corgis.

THE BEAGLE WAS “RELEASED” ON A TRAJECTORY TOWARDS MARS IN MUCH THE SAME WAY AS A BULLET IS “RELEASED” TOWARDS A TARGET

So high profile was Britain’s Beagle

Expectations were high, and it seemed

that it even had music composed

fitting that the Beagle descended

for it by Blur to be the mission’s call-

through the atmosphere on December

sign, and a painting from the artist

25 — a British spacecraft finding proof

Damien Hirst that served as a test

of life on Mars would have been a gift.

card to set up the lander’s cameras and spectrometers after landing.

The faithful Beagle was protected by a state-of-the-art heat shield, gently

It couldn’t have been more British if

lowered by parachutes, and cushioned

the poet laureate Andrew Motion

by airbags.

had written a five-part poem to be performed by the Queen as part of

Or, at least, it should have been. There

her traditional broadcast.

was no way of knowing if one, or more, of these failed — because when called,

A Christmas present

the Beagle wouldn’t “speak”.

The Beagle was “released” a

Various commands were presumably

trajectory towards Mars on Dec 19,

tried by NASA’s Mars Odyssey as it

in much the same way as a bullet is

passed overhead, including shake and

“released” towards a target:

roll over, but the Beagle didn’t obey.

entering the Martian atmosphere at 20,000 km/h.

The 76-metre radio telescope dish at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK couldn’t get the Beagle to fetch a reply.

Luckily, the Mars Express spacecraft was designed and tested to transmit and receive signals from Beagle 2 — despite sounding more like an animated movie with Tom Hanks.

Mars Express dutifully flew over the rover’s landing site, but the only thing this Beagle would do was stay.

A Beagle’s fate Beagle 2 was declared lost in February 2004, and it would be more than a decade before its fate was known.

In 2015, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter identified the rover in high-res images.

Beagle’s parachute and airbags had worked as planned — something that is never a given — and it had even started to deploy its solar panels.

Unfortunately, this Beagle chose to “sit” before all four panels were uncovered — and its antenna didn’t ever manage to get the power to transmit or receive any signals.

OBSERVATORY CROSSWORD #4 BY

ETA

CARINA

CLICK HERE Printer Friendly

Across

Down

1 Unnamed adorable mess, of gas and dust?

1 At once when the bowler falls perhaps

Misnamed actually (9,6)

(2,3,4,2,1,3)

8 Design a drink by the sound of it (5)

2 Gathered timelessly. Taken away (7)

9 Bolt from smooth undertakers (7)

3 Gee mister - small country! (4)

11 Every bishop gone from the strand (4)

4 Special editions for film workers (6)

12 Disallow old measure for this type of sensor (10)

5 The home of painting - Windsor for example

14 Sieve dilemma (6)

(3,5)

15 Killer pair of blockheads at home (8)

6 Census taker - note the top number of the

17 Permit to go by on the left (8)

fraction (10)

19 Relic of an old stick-in-the-mud? (6)

7 Continental beast that would be more trouble

22 Weird coin forgeries (5,5)

than it was worth if it was white (7,8)

23 Twist wrap (4)

10 Scuttles the arrows (5)

25 From here on I fancy the leading lady (7)

13 Flexible plate, only used by extraordinarily dippy

26 Landed gent dead after disturbing liar? Och

folks these days? (6.4)

aye! (5)

16 Warblers like Frank (8)

27 Everything is possible, but not for astronomers,

18 Elder lacking one Spanish fellow (5)

perhaps (3,4,3,5)

20 Celebrity twinkler over bottomless telescope house (7)

Email us your completed crossword: the first correct puzzle received wins a night sky tour voucher!

21 Fitness or affluence when we replace he (6) 24 Face of a confused surrealist (4)

SOLUTION OBSERVATORY

CROSSWORD

#3

Image credit: xkcd https://xkcd.com/2186/

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