BAS Observer – April 2018

BAS Observer – April 2018

In this edition:
• Club Activities
• April–May Events
• Stephen Hawking (1942–2018)
• A Galaxy with Little or No Dark Matter!
• Some March Events
• Looks Can Be Deceiving
• Can You See Quasar 3C 273?
• The Sky in April
• Satellite Saturnalia
• Equipment for Sale
• BAS Information
• Spectacular Image of Isolated Neutron Star

BAS Observer – March 2018

BAS Observer – March 2018

In this edition:
• Club Activities
• Maleny – January & February Observing Evenings
• March–April Events
• Fabulous Image of Omega Centauri
• Teach Yourself Astronomy
• Did Life Begin in Space
• The Sky in March
• Space Rocks Unique
• Equipment for Sale
• BAS Information
• Astrophotography Workshop

BAS Observer – December 2017

BAS Observer – December 2017

In this edition:
• Club Activities
• Student Helps Discover New Planet
• Eighth Planet Discovered in Kepler-90 Star System
• December–January Events
• SkyMapper Creates Best Map Yet of the Southern Sky
• The Sky in December
• A Catastrophic Senryũ
• Equipment for Sale
• Bas Information
• Four Spacecraft Parked at the Space Station

BAS Observer – February 2017

BAS Observer – February 2017

In this edition:

A Farewell . . . and a Welcome
Club Activities
February–March Events
The Sky in February
The Moon from Geostationary Orbit
A Four-planet System in Orbit: Directly Imaged!
Equipment for Sale
Brisbane LED Street Lighting Trials
Discovery of Water on 51 Peg b
BAS Information
Spectacular Close-up of Saturn’s Rings

BAS Observer – January 2017

BAS Observer – January 2017

In this edition:

  • John Glenn 1912–2016
  • Club Activities 
  • BAS 30th Anniversary and Christmas Party 
  • January–February Events 
  • Astronomical Research Grants 
  • Sunshine Coast Observing Site
  • Tycho Brahe – Hven Island
  • Please Don’t Use the ‘S’ Word!
  • Star Charts for January
  • Colliding stars to light up the sky in 2022?
  • Lunar and Planetary Guide for January–February

August 2018 Meeting – Astronomy in Antarctica

August 2018 Meeting – Astronomy in Antarctica

Astronomy in Antarctica. It seems a strange place to locate a telescope. Most of us find a SE Queensland winter a sufficient challenge to operate a telescope. However, BAS member, Mike Zupanc, who has actually lived and worked in Antarctica, explained to us just why the frozen continent is one of the best places on Earth for a few specific forms of astronomy. For one, the atmospheric turbulence we experience in temperate and tropical zones from jet streams and moving high and low-pressure systems and pestering clouds, are not an issue on the high dome regions of central Antarctica. Moisture is also never a problem as it instantly freezes to ice on the ice pack. So, telescopes are free of dust and condensation and can even track circumpolar objects continuously at certain times of the year. We even learned that the University of NSW has an entirely autonomous telescope operating in Antarctica. That is an impressive feat. Most of us have enough trouble keeping our telescopes operating for a few hours within arm’s reach.

Thank you Mike for a really informative talk.