 Subjects -> ASTRONOMY (Total: 94 journals)
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- News Note : EPFL (Switzerland) Joins SKA Organisation
- Authors: William Garnier
Abstract: The Swiss science and technology university École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) has become the 14th member of the SKA Organisation (SKAO) following a unanimous decision by the SKA Board of Directors. EPFL will be the lead institution coordinating involvement in the SKA on behalf of the Swiss academic community.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : Germany investing R400 million to expand MeerKAT
- Abstract: New additions to the MeerKAT telescope will push its computing requirements up 10- fold, requiring an overhaul of its computing hardware. The 64-dish telescope will grow by 20 dishes – expanding the maximum distance between dishes from 8km to 17km, which pushes up both its sensitivity and ability to create radio images. But this comes at a computing cost.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : New List of South African–based astronomers
- Abstract: Dr Fernando Camilo, Chief Scientist at SARAO (SA Radio Astronomy Observatory) has compiled a new list of SA-based astronomers. It now includes 201 unique names, including 66 post-docs, from 14 institutions, namely AIMS, NWU, Rhodes, SAAO, SARAO, UCT, UCT-IDIA, UFS, UJ, UKZN, UNISA, UP, UWC, Wits. N.B. several astronomers have part appointments at more than one institution. The new list includes for each person the institution(s), name, position held, department/faculty and interests.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : Brian Warner at 80
- Abstract: On 13 and 14 January 2020 the Department of Astronomy at the University of Cape Town held a Symposium to honour the 80th birthday of Prof Brian Warner and to celebrate 50 years of astronomy at UCT. The reputation of the department of course owes much to his leadership.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : River Club development
- Abstract: The present owners of the River Club, a 14.7-hectare property lying between the Cape Town campus of the South African Astronomical Observatory (the former Royal Observatory) and Liesbeek Parkway, have for several years been trying to get permission to develop the site. Their project is a huge one – to cost R4 billion, involving office, retail and residential buildings up to 10 storeys high.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : SALT contributes to a new understanding of novae
- Abstract: An international team of researchers, led by Dr Elias Aydi, a former SAAO and University of Cape Town PhD Student, now at Michigan State University (MSU), have discovered a new cause for the incredible brightness observed when a star explodes. The discovery used high-resolution optical spectroscopy from different telescopes including SALT to better understand the stellar explosion or nova.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : unexpected features found in distant galaxy using
MeerKAT
- Abstract: An international team has uncovered unusual features in the radio galaxy ESO 137- 006 using MeerKAT data ESO 137-006 is a fascinating galaxy residing in the Norma cluster of galaxies, and one of the brightest objects in the southern sky at radio wavelengths. The classical picture of a radio galaxy consists of an active galactic nucleus (AGN, hosting a growing supermassive black hole) shooting out two jets of plasma filled with particles that move at speeds close to the speed of light. The material within the jets eventually slows down and billows out, forming large radio lobes. ESO 137-006 is characterised by two such lobes of very bright radio emission.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- News Note : MeerKAT and SALT observe mysterious stellar event
- Abstract: The MeerKAT radio telescope and the Southern African Large Telescope have combined forces for the first time to discover and identify a unique and previously unseen flare of radio emission from a binary star in our Galaxy. Its radio name is MKT J170456.2-482100 and it has been identified with a K-type sub-giant star TYC 8332- 2529-1 that is about twice as massive as the Sun. It is also seen in UV and X-rays.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- Recent Southern African Fireball Observations Events # 326-334
- Authors: Tim Cooper
Abstract: This article continues the sequential numbering of reported fireball sightings from southern Africa. By definition, a fireball is any meteor event with brightness equal to or greater than visual magnitude (mv) −4. The following events were reported to the author and details are reproduced as given by the observer [any comments by the author are given in brackets]. All times were converted to UT unless stated, and all coordinates are for epoch J2000.0.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- New stamps glow with the stars of the southern skies
- Authors: Johan Kruger
Abstract: Since time immemorial, humankind has been gazing up at the skies in wonder. The beliefs of SA’s peoples are celebrated on a limited edition of stamps and envelopes featuring the stars and constellations of the southern hemisphere.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- How to Make a Cassegrain Secondary Mirror
- Authors: Etsuo Takayanagi; Chris Stewart
Abstract: Amateur telescope makers hesitate to build Cassegrain telescopes due to the difficulty of testing the convex hyperboloidal secondary mirrors. The Foucault test is, however, applicable to inspecting secondly mirrors from the rear side of the convex surface. This way of testing the convex surface makes the production of a Cassegrain secondary much easier than other methods. For this to be feasible, the mirror blank should be of optical glass. The method of retouching a convex surface is different from that of parabolizing a concave surface.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- Streicher Asterisms 23-25
- Authors: Magda Streicher
Abstract: This asterism represents almost a cowboy in shape. It is situated about 5 degrees southeast of delta Corvi. Two prominent stars of similar brightness gazing back at one like two eyes form the north-eastern end of the grouping. A faint string of stars running north to south resembles the long slender arms. The brightest star HD 111156 is magnitude 7.2, and resembles the large, typical belt buckle, with the rest forming the sculptured legs, positioned well apart. Searching for star asterisms is great fun with some vivid imagination and pondering of possible images.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
- Colloquia and Seminar
- Abstract: Journal articles detail the general logic behind new results and ideas, but often the source codes that enable these results remain hidden from public view and those who author these computational methods have not always received credit for their work. This presentation will cover recent changes in astronomy, and indeed, in many other disciplines, that include new journals, policy changes for existing journals, community resources such as the Astrophysics Source Code Library, changes to infrastructure, and availability of new workflows that make recognizing the contributions of software authors easier. This talk will include steps coders can take to increase the probability of having their software cited correctly and steps researchers can take to improve their articles by including citations for the computational methods that enabled their research.
PubDate: 2020-04-01T00:00:00Z
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