Astromeg

Astromeg, 8 days ago to random

In case you are wondering, there is research on the atmospheric impact of the space sector. See for example: Ryan et al (2023) "Impact of Rocket Launch and Space Debris Air Pollutant Emissions on Stratospheric Ozone and Global Climate"

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF002612

Astromeg, 8 days ago to SpaceX

So #Boeing finally successfully launched their crewed launcher yesterday, and now #SpaceX have launched the next test flight of #Starship.

Astromeg, 1 month ago to random

🤩 #aurora north west England

Astromeg, 1 month ago to random

I am sitting on wet grass with a soggy bum, and I don’t care… worth getting out of bed for wow #aurora

Astromeg, 1 month ago to random

From the back of the house, right now! 🤩 #aurora

Astromeg, 2 months ago to random

I had planned on doing some #solareclipse coverage today (and I did do a couple of interviews on BBC News and 5 Live), but I lost enthusiasm when - exactly as predicted - we got an email this morning announcing another round of voluntary #redundancies at work. Not unexpected, given the state of the sector and the recent cancelled promotion round, but just argh. I need a new career.

Astromeg, 3 months ago to london

Heading to #London again! This time to talk about exploring the #Moon with a group of #physics #teachers on a #CPD #Astronomy course run by The PTI.
There courses are always good fun, with teachers who are both genuinely interested in their subjects and passionate about #teaching. Looking forward to meeting this cohort!

Astromeg, 3 months ago to Astronomy

Last night I did a tutorial for my #introductory #astronomy class looking at stellar evolution and how the chemical composition of the #stars has changed over the history of the #universe. Then I wake up to hear Prof Catherine Heymans (Astronomer Royal for Scotland) talking about one of the youngest and most distant #galaxies ever found, thanks to #JWST and why it might be so bright. Here’s the story: https://esawebb.org/news/weic2406/?lang

Astromeg, 3 months ago to random

Congratulations #IntuitiveMachines and #Odysseus, nice landing (and nifty problem solving)! There is so much activity around the #moon at the moment, it’s going to be exciting to see the science that comes from all these missions! 🌙 🚀 🤩 (Let’s not trash the place though, hey…)

Astromeg, 4 months ago to Astronomy

Looking forward to #EuropeanAstrofest in London on February 2&3. I'll be there with the #UCLan #DistanceLearning #Astronomy stand, and on stage at 10.30am on the Friday talking about the current frenzy of activity around the #Moon. If you're attending, do pop by the stand to say hello!
https://europeanastrofest.com/

Astromeg, 4 months ago to Astronomy

“What’s that bright #star next to the #moon tonight?!”

It’s no star, that’s the #planet #Jupiter!

If you have access to binoculars, have a look and see if you can spot its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.

#astronomy #planets #lookup #space #nightsky

Close up showing the Moon in more detail
Close up of Jupiter showing the four largest moons

Astromeg, 4 months ago to Astronomy

Good morning #Venus! #mercury is there too, it you have a clear horizon. #LookUp #astronomy #planets
Image by Stellarium.

Astromeg, 6 months ago to Amazon

I've been doing a #DistanceLearning course on #RemoteSensing recently, just for fun. It's amazing how much high-quality Earth imagery is available for free!
I've been using #Landsat data to look at #deforestation in the #Amazon, here's my change map showing the loss of forest in a 150x150km region around the town of Apuí since 1984. It's definitely got worse in recent years... 😞

Astromeg, 6 months ago to random

Fun couple of days at the #BreakthroughListen meeting at #SKAO this week, hearing about all the ways astronomers are searching for evidence of #technosignatures 👽 🛸 (we haven’t found any yet, but there are some really clever search techniques). The best bit? The final day pick n mix selection included UFOs…! 😁

Astromeg, 7 months ago to random

Hello telescope! Nice to be back at #JodrellBank for the #BreakthroughListen meeting at #SKAO

Astromeg, 7 months ago to random

Last call for tickets for my public lecture coming up on Thursday this week! Tickets are completely free, and you can get a virtual ticket if you can’t make it to Preston. Details 👇

https://www.uclan.ac.uk/events/listing/public-lecture-how-not-to-go-the-way-of-the-dinosaurs

Astromeg, 7 months ago to random

Heard the hype about the #orionids? Wondering whether to expect an amazing celestial firework display this weekend?

We're not expecting a huge peak of activity, but predictions for these things are only as good as the data, and we have seen unexpected peaks before...

More info: http://drmeganargo.net/index.php/2023/10/19/fireworks-in-october/

Astromeg, 8 months ago to random

The next UCLan Public Lecture: "How not to go the way of the dinosaurs" will be given by, er, me! Preston, November 9th 2023, and it's completely free. More info and booking link 👉 https://www.uclan.ac.uk/events/listing/public-lecture-how-not-to-go-the-way-of-the-dinosaurs

Astromeg, 8 months ago to random

After doing so much media yesterday about #SpaceJunk and the #FCC fining a #satellite operator for the first time, I wrote a post about it: http://drmeganargo.net/index.php/2023/10/04/the-fcc-issues-first-fine-to-a-satellite-operator/

Astromeg, 8 months ago to random

My working day started with the Today programme on #BBCRadio4 in the UK, and ended with As It Happens on #CBC in Canada! The middle was a conference in #LaPalma #IAUS385 😅

Astromeg, 8 months ago to random

The #FCC has issued its first fine for space littering! When it reached the end of its life, operator Dish Network was supposed to move Echostar 7 to a graveyard orbit 300km above geostationary orbit, putting it out of the way of operational satellites. They realised they didn’t have enough propellant, and it only got 122km away, potentially still posing a risk to operational satellites. Here’s the press release: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-397412A1.pdf

#SpaceDebris