Author Dava Sobel Headlines New England Fall Astronomy Festival at UNH Sept. 13-14

Written by Beth Potier | UNH Media Relations

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Award-winning author and playwright Dava Sobel will kick off the third New England Fall Astronomy Festival at the University of New Hampshire Friday, Sept. 13, 2013. Sobel, author of “The Planets,” “Galileo’s Daughter” and “Longitude,” will deliver a free keynote lecture on the subject of her latest book and play, “A More Perfect Heaven: How Copernicus Revolutionized the Cosmos,” at 7:15 p.m. on the grounds of the UNH Observatory (Spinney Lane in Durham, on the western edge of campus).

The festival, hosted by the UNH Physics Department in conjunction with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and other astronomy clubs throughout the region, continues through Saturday evening, Sept. 14 with star-gazing, astronomy-related activities, and science talks geared to the public. The festival is free and open to all, with many activities targeted to children and families.

“After all the amazing success and fun we’ve had with the festival the past two years, we couldn’t stop,” says event organizer and UNH Observatory manager Ian Cohen, a PhD student in physics at UNH. “We’re ecstatic to have Dava Sobel join us this year.”

“The entire astronomical community from throughout New England drives this event, helping us introduce astronomy to families around the region,” adds John Gianforte, an instructor of astronomy at UNH and lecturer at Granite State College and an organizer of the festival.

Sobel will sign books following her talk Friday night, then participants can stay to star-gaze at the UNH Observatory and with telescopes provided by the region’s dedicated amateur astronomers.

NEFAF gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday for a day of family astronomy-related activities. Sobel will be on hand throughout the day, and UNH researchers and astronomy experts will discuss a range of astronomy topics of particular interest to young scientists. Activities include hands-on science, astronomy games, and model rocket building and launching (participants can buy and create their own rockets from FlisKits). Star-gazing resumes Saturday evening, and meals and snacks will be available for purchase both days.

Patrons can meet Sobel at a fundraising reception Friday evening (5:30 – 7 p.m.) at the Elliott Alumni Center on campus. For information and tickets, which cost $50 each or $80 per couple and include hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, and reserved seating for her talk, go to http://nefaf2013reception.eventbrite.com.

More details and program updates are at physics.unh.edu/observatory/NEFAF or on the festival’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/NEFAF.UNH).

In addition to the UNH physics department and the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, the New England Fall Astronomy Festival is sponsored by the Offices of the President at UNH, the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space at UNH, the NH Space Grant Consortium, BAE Systems, Beswick Engineering, Silvertech, Inc., Exeter Events and Tents, and Science Distance Learning.

Supermoon This Weekend

Do not forget to have a look at the evening sky this weekend to see the supermoon, when the full moon will appear a little larger than usual. A “supermoon” occurs when the full moon for the month coincides with the moon’s perigree, or its closest approach to Earth for the year. The moon will reach its fullest state at 7:32 a.m. on June 23. By that time in the morning, however, the moon will have already set. Therefore, it will appear similar in fullness and brightness on both Saturday and Sunday.

Innovation in Science Needed

According to a report from the National Science Board, declines in the funding of public research universities, such as the University of New Hampshire, might decrease the ability to get a quality science education.

The report explains that enrollment at public research universities is rising, but funding is declining. This will not only affect universities; it will affect this country’s science jobs if no one is well-educated enough to do those jobs.

There will be a rising need for innovation. The science board report explains that “the public university is a contributor to and competitor in an increasingly intertwined global market­place of knowledge production and innovation. A primary way they make this contribution is through the education and training of our nation’s scientists and engineers and performing research that will generate new knowledge, a vital building block to innovation.”

UNH is the only public research university in the Granite State.

Jan Nisbet, senior vice provost for research at UNH, says in an article for Foster’s Daily Democrat, “New Hampshire needs an innovation ecosystem to maintain its high-quality standard of living.”

My question is: how will this affect science writing in this country? We need to think of new ideas that will encourage our students, professors, and general public to learn and to engage with science. We need to generate knowledge. This is my goal, to make science interesting and understandable for everyone.

* Read the science board’s press release from the National Science Foundation.

NEFAF 2012: A Family Affair

New England Fall Astronomy Festival

explore starry wonders both day and night

September 21 – 22, 2012

UNH Observatory | Durham, NH

physics.unh.edu/observatory/NEFAF

Show children the wonders of astronomy with the New England Fall Astronomy Festival, an annual event held at the University of New Hampshire Observatory. Presented by the UNH Physics Department and the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, the festival encourages children of all ages to engage in astronomy.

For preschoolers and beyond, NEFAF offers many hands-on activities and demonstrations that will allow everyone to have fun while they learn. Explore space weather and the planets, begin learning the constellations, play a round of moon golf, and craft solar beads.

Participate in interactive skits provided by the Margret and H.A. Rey Center or find out the latest research that high school and university students have conducted at UNH, including Project SMART and their scientific balloon or the LunaCats and their robotic moon excavator.

Do not miss this fun-filled weekend of discovery for the entire family!

Free admission, but donations much appreciated

Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday

NEFAF 2012: Promoting University Research

New England Fall Astronomy Festival

explore starry wonders both day and night

September 21 – 22, 2012

UNH Observatory | Durham, NH

physics.unh.edu/observatory/NEFAF

Explore the latest advancements in space science with the New England Fall Astronomy Festival, an annual event held at the University of New Hampshire Observatory. Presented by the UNH Physics Department and the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, the festival highlights many astronomy-related research projects conducted by the university.

Featured projects include the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). After its launch in 2008, IBEX began investigating—and has since changed our understanding of—the far reaches of our solar system. This satellite, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, comprised UNH-designed sensors that helped remap the boundary between our solar system and the rest of our galaxy.

Also learn about the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER), which studies space radiation aboard NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter; and Project SMART, a program that allows high school students to launch a high-altitude scientific balloon.

Other participants include meteorite guru Bob Veilleux; meteorologists from Plymouth State University who will launch weather balloons; Dr. Harlan Spence, director of the UNH Institute for Earth, Oceans, and Space; and an array of telescopes.

Find out more about UNH space science research at NEFAF, which promises a fun-filled weekend of discovery!

Free admission, but donations much appreciated

Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday

NEFAF 2012: A Weekend of Discovery

New England Fall Astronomy Festival

explore starry wonders both day and night

September 21 – 22, 2012

UNH Observatory | Durham, NH

physics.unh.edu/observatory/NEFAF

Celebrate the September sky with the New England Fall Astronomy Festival, an annual event held at the University of New Hampshire Observatory. Presented by the UNH Physics Department and the New Hampshire Astronomical Society, the festival brings together astronomers of all ages for a fun-filled weekend of discovery.

Learn from astronomy experts, attend a telescope clinic, safely observe the sun, and explore the night sky through dozens of telescopes. Practice stargazing and astrophotography or find out the latest space science research conducted at UNH. Children can participate in talks specifically geared toward them; games like golfing on the moon; and hands-on activities like the launching of a weather balloon or the crafting of solar beads.

Speakers and participants include meteorite guru Bob Veilleux; high school and university students; educators from the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center; and Dr. Harlan Spence, director of the UNH Institute for Earth, Oceans, and Space.

Participate in a raffle for a chance to win a telescope and partake of the on-site concessions throughout the day.

Do not miss this great opportunity to spend a beautiful fall day and night at the UNH Observatory. NEFAF promises an immersive, space-related experience for anyone fascinated by the wonders of the universe.

Please check the website for event schedule.

Free admission, but donations much appreciated

Beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday

UNH Releases Undergraduate Research Journal

Studying the economics of an eco-friendly resort in Belize. Learning how mathematics can describe biology. Traveling to a monastery in New York to see how Russian Orthodoxy in the United States survived communism during the 20th century.

The stories that student research experiences have generated are abundant at the University of New Hampshire. See what students are investigating in the 2012 edition of Inquiry journal, which is now available to read online.

Inquiry, the multi-disciplinary journal for undergraduate research at UNH, is published online annually in April. The journal features articles and personal commentaries about research experiences from current UNH students and alumni.

Published on April 26, the 2012 edition is the eighth issue of the journal.

Annular Solar Eclipse on May 20

On Sunday, the moon will cover about 90 percent of the sun in an annular solar eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, the moon, and Earth are aligned such that the moon passes directly between us and the sun. The term “annular” means that the moon does not completely cover the sun, leaving a ring of light around the moon.

The eclipse will begin at sunrise in China; pass over the Pacific Ocean; and move across parts of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas before sunset. The eclipse follows a specific track; outside of this track, observers will only see a partial eclipse. Unfortunately, none of the eclipse will be visible in the Northeast because the sun will already have set.

Note: To prevent eye damage, never look directly at the sun. Even though the sun will be partly covered and even at sunset, the sun is very bright. Instead, use proper filters when looking through a telescope or binoculars.

Upcoming Astronomical Events

April 2012:
15: Saturn at opposition
18: Mercury at its greatest western elongation
22: Mercury passes 2.1 degrees from Uranus
22: Lyrids meteor shower peak
23-29: Astronomy Week
28: Astronomy Day

May 2012:
4: Space Day
5: Eta Aquarids meteor shower peak
20: Annular solar eclipse (visible in the western United States)
22: Mercury passes 0.4 degrees from Jupiter

June 2012:
1: Mercury passes 0.1 degrees from Venus
4: Partial lunar eclipse (visible in the United States at moonset)
5: Transit of Venus across the sun (partly visible in the United States at sunset)
17: Moon occults Jupiter
21: Summer solstice, 11:11 UT (7:11 p.m. EDT)
29: Pluto at opposition

July 2012:
1: Mercury at its greatest eastern elongation
5: Earth at aphelion
15: Moon occults Jupiter
20: Moon occults Mercury
27: Dawn leaves asteroid Vesta for Ceres

August 2012:
6: Mars Science Laboratory (MLS) landing
6: Southern Iota Aquarids meteor shower peak
11: Moon occults Jupiter
12: Perseids meteor shower peak
13: Moon occults Venus
15: Venus at its greatest western elongation
16: Mercury at its greatest western elongation
17: Mars passes 2.9 degrees from Saturn
24: Neptune at opposition


Other Local Earthly Events:
Apr. 12: Sidewalk Astronomy at the UNH Observatory
July 29 - Aug. 3: Gordon Research Conference on radiation chemistry, Andover, NH
July 30 - Aug. 3: Black Hole Feedback workshop, Hanover, NH

UNH Releases Undergraduate Research Journal

With gas prices fluctuating, there has been a turn towards researching a cleaner, alternative source of fuel: biodiesel. And undergraduate research at the University of New Hampshire is unlocking the potential to produce this environmentally friendly fuel.

Brian McConnell, a sophomore at UNH, spent last summer studying how algae grown using wastewater recycled from Dover can be turned into biodiesel. Then he, along with other student researchers at UNH, published his findings in the 2011 issue of Inquiry journal, which is now available to read online.

Inquiry, the multi-disciplinary journal for undergraduate research at UNH, is published annually in April online at www.unh.edu/inquiryjournal. The journal features articles and personal commentaries about research experiences from current and recently graduated UNH students.

Published on April 13, the 2011 edition is the seventh issue of the journal.

Authors and editors spend nearly six months revising articles and preparing them to be read by a broad, international audience, from the academic community to the general educated reader. The research included in Inquiry, though it may be technical information, is meant to be understood by people from all backgrounds.

McConnell’s summer project, funded by a university grant, allowed him to study the process of growing microscopic algae in both freshwater and Dover wastewater. He then extracted the oils from the algae, which can be used to produce biodiesel.

Other articles featured in this issue of Inquiry include projects from nursing, history, economics, physics and international affairs.

For instance, Ella Nilsen’s history study, called “No Longer a Secret: Uncovering My Family’s Russian Jewish Heritage,” investigates her family’s hidden heritage.

Physics student Joshua French prepared a star sensor for spaceflight aboard a NASA rocket which launched in December.

The feature article, written by Laura Roach, describes the research partnership forged between China and the United States through the Confucius Institute that was established at UNH last fall.

Each of these undergraduate projects is relevant to the future of our planet and our society, just like McConnell’s investigation demonstrates how microscopic algae could soon become a viable method for fueling our vehicles.

Students learn from the successes and difficulties of the research process. Being able to communicate their research experience to a general audience is the final and one of the most important steps in this process.

The Inquiry staff consists of two part-time senior editors and one or two assistant editors. They guide a volunteer board of student editors made up of undergraduates representing all the various disciplines of the university. The student author’s research project and writing of the article is under the direction of a faculty mentor.

Inquiry journal is made possible by the UNH Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research (http://www.unh.edu/undergrad-research), which provides grants and resources to support student research.

Astronomical Events in 2011

January 3, 4: The peak of Quadrantids meteor shower. Up to 40 meteors per hour are possible, best seen after midnight in the constellation of Boötes.

March 20: The vernal equinox occurs at 23:31 UT, or 7:21 p.m. EDT, when there will be equal amounts of daylight and nighttime. This is also the first day of spring.

April 3: Saturn will be at opposition on this day, when the planet will be at its closest approach to the earth. This is thus the best time to view the Saturn and its moons.

April 21, 22: The Lyrids meteor shower peak. This shower is best viewed before sunrise emanating from the constellation of Lyra, the little harp, and it can produce up to 20 meteors per hour.

May 5, 6: The Eta Aquarids meteor shower peaks, but this is not an active shower; expect to see about 10 meteors per hour before the sun rises.

June 21: The summer solstice occurs at 17:16 UT, or 1:16 p.m. EDT. The sun will be at its highest point in the sky, thus making this the longest day of the year. This is also the first day of summer.

July 12: Today, Neptune will complete its first complete orbit since its discovery on Sept. 23, 1846. Neptune, which was discovered through mathematical calculations and not by telescope, takes more than 164 years to orbit the sun.

July 28, 29: The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower peak. Radiating from the constellation of Aquarius, this meteor shower can produce around 20 meteors per hour.

August 12, 13: The peak of the Perseids meteor shower. This shower, radiating from Perseus in the northeastern sky, is one of the best shows of the year, producing about 60 meteors per hour.

August 22: Neptune is at opposition. Although the blue planet will be at its closest approach to the earth, it will remain a small blue dot even in powerful telescopes.

September 23: The autumnal equinox occurs at 9:04 UT, or 5:04 a.m. EDT.

September 25: Uranus will be at opposition. The blue-green planet is at its brightest as it makes its closest approach to the earth.

October 21, 22: The Orionids meteor shower peak, with about 20 meteors per hour.

October 29: Today, Jupiter is at opposition, promising to be bright and beautiful.

November 17, 18: The Leonids meteor shower peak. The Leonids can produce an average of 40 meteors per hour, radiating from the constellation of Leo after midnight.

December 13, 14: The peak of the Geminids meteor shower. One of the best showers of the year, the Geminids can produce an average of 60 meteors per hour. The meteors emanate from the constellation of Gemini and are best seen after midnight.

December 22: The winter solstice occurs at 5:30 UT, or 12:30 a.m. EST. This is the shortest day of the year.

Shrimp Surprise

In November 2009, at nearly 600 feet below the Windless Bight on the Ross Ice Shelf of Antarctica, NASA scientists dropped a borehole camera, hoping to capture some of the first images of what life is like beneath an ice shelf. The borehole camera actually consists of three cameras: one that looks forward, one that looks to the side, and one that looks backward. The scientists drilled an eight-inch diameter hole in which to drop the probe, and what they found below the ice shelf really surprised them: one little, orange shrimp swimming about.

The shrimp, who was seen via the backward-looking camera, has been identified as a  three-inch long Lyssianasid amphipod. The Windless Bight is 12.5 miles away from any open water, and while all kinds of life forms can thrive in the Antarctic waters, the lone shrimp was still quite unexpected. One of the scientists explains, "We were like little kids huddling around, just oohing and aahing at this little creature swimming around and giving us a little show. It was the thrill of discovery that made us giddy; just totally unexpected."

So, of course the scientists have to wonder: if we can find life in some of the most unexpected places here on Earth, why could life not exist elsewhere in the universe?

Watch the video of the shrimp and read the NASA article here.

March 20: Sun-Earth Day

This year, Sun-Earth Day takes place on March 20 and will be celebrated with a live webcast  at 1:00 p.m. EDT, discussing electromagnetic force and magnetism, and specifically, magnetic storms. Sun-Earth Day actually consists of several events throughout the year designed to engage students in science and give them the opportunity to talk with scientists.

It is useful to learn about the sun, our closest star, because the sun dictates the space weather in our solar system. In fact, NASA says that "the largest, single, challenge for astronauts traveling to Mars will be to overcome exposure to solar storms and radiation." Also, in one second, the sun can convert 4 million tons of matter into energy.

View the Sun-Earth Day website here.

Planet Earth

NASA has released some wonderful new images of the earth. A series of pictures, taken between June and September 2001 by the Moderate Resolution Imagining Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the Terra satellite, were then stitched together to form this one, high-resolution image:

See some more pictures, new and old (compare the above recent image with the 1972 image from Apollo 17!), here.

Chile Earthquake Changes Earth’s Rotation?

NASA scientists are claiming that the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile last week has changed the earth's rotation, shortening the length of the day to 1.26 milliseconds. Apparently, the earthquake has caused the earth's figure axis to shift by three inches, but the figure axis is different from the north-south axis around which the earth rotates. The figure axis is offset from the north-south axis by thirty-three feet and represents the axis around which the earth's mass is balanced. The quake caused some of the earth's mass to shift vertically, hence shifting the figure axis.

Read the full article posted at Space.com.