East Antrim Astronomical Society News

Total Lunar Eclipse details for 21st February

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:13:41 GMT

There is a total lunar eclipse on the morning of the 21st. The approximate timings for this event are: Penumbral Eclipse Begins 00:35 Partial Eclipse Begins 01:43 Total Eclipse Begins 03:01 Greatest Eclipse 03:26 Total Eclipse Ends 03:52 Partial Eclipse Ends 05:09 Penumbral Eclipse Ends 06:17

What is a Lunar Eclipse?

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:06:15 GMT

Find out more on our Lunar Eclipse page.

A short guide to choosing eyepieces

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:02:54 GMT

Eyepieces Terms - The choice of which eyepieces to purchase is almost as important as which telescope and mount to choose, eyepieces couple to our telescopes to give us our observing experiences and a bad choice of eyepieces will limit the experience as much as a bad choice of telescope.

Shuttle Atlantis Launches European Lab into Space

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:51:52 GMT

After two months of delay, a new Columbus voyage set sail aboard NASA's shuttle Atlantis on Thursday as seven astronauts rocketed toward the International Space Station (ISS) with a European-built lab. More information at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html

February Stargazers

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:47:58 GMT

Observing challenges for February 2007.

Next meeting - Tuesday 5th February

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:52:47 GMT

The next monthly meeting will take place on Tuesday 5th February and will be our Andrew Trimble Memorial lecture. We are meeting in the Lecture Theatre at Ballyclare High School, George Avenue (off Rashee Road), Ballyclare, Co. Antrim commencing at 8PM (we have had to move the original date back a day to accommodate the school).

Andrew Trimble was the society's first honorary life member who sadly passed away in 2002, this lecture is held each year in his memory and is always a highlight of our season as befits his memory.

This year the lecture is:-

Tree-rings provide clues to ancient cosmic events
by Professor Mike Baillie

Mike Baillie is a Professor Emeritus of Palaeoecology in the School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology at QUB. Professor Baillie has a special interest in possible cometary induced environmental change as reflected in both tree rings and human record or myths. Professor Baillie is the author or co-author of many books on the subject including 'The Celtic Gods - Comets in Irish Mythology' and 'New Light on the Black Death- The Cosmic Connection'.

Professor Baillie is an incredibly entertaining and knowledgeable speaker and this lecture will be one not to be missed.

Biggest show in the country - it's the Geminids of course!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:05:18 GMT

The Geminid meteor shower is the highlight of the year for astronomers and casual observers alike as the Earth turns to face the outslaught of up to 120 meteors hitting the atmosphere and vapourising every hour.

This year, with the new moon just past, prospects of a good event are favourable.

The launch of space shuttle Atlantis has been rescheduled for no earlier than Jan. 2, 2008

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 00:17:47 GMT

Space shuttle Atlantis' STS-122 mission to the International Space Station is targeted to launch no earlier than Jan. 2 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The liftoff date depends on the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system.

Early Sunday, one of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors inside the liquid hydrogen section of Atlantis' external fuel tank gave a false reading while the tank was being filled. NASA's current Launch Commit Criteria require that all four sensors function properly.

The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low. Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday, Dec. 6, was delayed after two liquid hydrogen ECO sensors gave false readings.

The crew of STS-122 will be heading back to Houston on Sunday evening but before leaving they expressed their gratitude for the effort to launch.

"We want to thank everyone who worked so hard to get us into space this launch window," the astronauts said in a statement. "We had support teams working around the clock at KSC, JSC, and numerous sites in Europe. We were ready to fly, but understand that these types of technical challenges are part of the space program. We hope everyone gets some well-deserved rest, and we will be back to try again when the vehicle is ready to fly."

The main objective of Atlantis' 11-day mission is to install and activate the European Space Agency's Columbus laboratory, which will provide scientists around the world the ability to conduct a variety of life, physical and materials science experiments.

December newsletter, AZIMUTH now available

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:43:32 GMT

A brand new layout for the EAAS newsletter and more content makes this packed full of astronomy and society news.

When does the moon and sun rise this month?

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:31:29 GMT

December sees astronomical twilight reach 6pm, hopefully the weather will prove more favourable this month.