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Queensland Astrofest
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25.01.2022 Queensland Museum Network has been closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID19) situation and the health and safety of our visitors, partners, staff and the wid...er community is our key priority. COVID-19 has impacted our partners, participants and our ability to bring the best possible programming from across the globe and following todays advice regarding mass gatherings, it is with a heavy heart we are cancelling World Science Festival Brisbane 2020 (25-29 March) and some of the remaining World Science Festival Queensland events. For further details and info regarding refunds visit: http://bit.ly/2U3bNj5
25.01.2022 Astronaut Christina Koch, launched to the International Space Station in March, marks her 289th day in space Saturday, breaking retired astronaut Peggy Whitson...s world record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. FULL STORY: https://spaceflightnow.com//koch-marks-record-stay-in-spa/ See more
24.01.2022 The first launch of a U.S. Space Force mission since the establishment of the new military service is planned Thursday, when a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 ro...cket is set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral with a billion-dollar jam-resistant communications satellite designed to ensure national leaders remain connected with the armed forces. FULL STORY: https://spaceflightnow.com//space-forces-first-launch-sch/ See more
22.01.2022 Scientists revisit decades-old Voyager 2 data and find one more secret: Uranus appears to be losing some of its atmosphere to space. A plasmoid in the planet's one-of-a-kind magnetic environment may be the cause. More about the discovery: go.nasa.gov/33IHu5O
22.01.2022 90 years ago today, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto! Take a closer look at its highlands, plains and craters in this flyover view, created using data from our New Horizons spacecraft: https://youtu.be/g1fPhhTT2Oo
22.01.2022 It takes 247.9 Earth years for Pluto to make one orbit around the Sun, at an average speed of 10,623 miles per hour (17,096 kilometers per hour). Its orbital p...ath doesn't lie in the same plane as the eight planets but is inclined at an angle of 17. Its orbit is also more oval-shaped, or elliptical, than those of the planets. See more
21.01.2022 #BREAKING: The 2020 Ekka has been cancelled. This is only the 3rd time in the RNA's history the show won't go ahead, according to RNA Chief Executive Brendan Christou. More here: https://ab.co/3aNlJ7s
20.01.2022 May all your nights be clear in 2020! (When you have time to bring out the scope.) All our thoughts are with those who have lost so much in the fires of 2019 and into the new year. May this year bring you happiness. ... Best wishes Qld Astrofest Committee
20.01.2022 Smoke from the Australian bushfires is making its way around the globe, interacting with high impact weather and distributing aerosolsultraviolet (UV)-absorbin...g particles in the airalong the way. Video: Aerosols highlighted by color orange: dust blue: sea salt pink: nitrates red: carbonaceous https://go.nasa.gov/3aELs2g
19.01.2022 WHY THE STARS ARE DIFFERENT COLORS When we look at the clear starry sky, the first thing we notice is that some stars are better seen than others. With the nake...d eye we can see up to the sixth magnitude, and then notice that the stars are of different colors. There are shades, but the stars have three basic colors: red, yellow, and blue. Red stars are the coldest and blue or white are the warmest. We can also determine the age of a star by its color. Young stars are hot blue or white, and old ones are relatively cool and red. The color of a star depends on the temperature on its surface, and the temperature on the surface depends on the age and mass of the star. It can be from a thousand kelvins to hundreds of thousands of kelvins. According to the appearance of the color spectrum, we have different classes: O, B, A, F, G, K, M. We obtain these classes using a spectrograph. This device uses a prism to separate light into a spectrum. This gives us more precise data about the star we are analyzing. The stars of groups O, B, and A are mostly white or light blue, the stars of class F are yellowish, the stars of class G belong to the yellow stars, the stars to orange, and to the others the red stars. See more
19.01.2022 Sixty more satellites for SpaceXs Starlink global Internet network streaked into orbit Monday night from Cape Canaveral, including one spacecraft to test an ex...perimental dark coating to address scientists concerns that the thousands of the quarter-ton, flat-panel satellites will impede astronomical observations. FULL STORY: https://spaceflightnow.com//spacex-launches-more-starlink/ See more
17.01.2022 Catastrophic fires are ravaging large swaths of Australia, as seen in this image taken on Jan. 1 by one of our NASA Earth observation instruments. Fire management officials can use satellite data like this to make life-saving decisions: https://go.nasa.gov/2tlx0eu
16.01.2022 Go NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. It’s your birthday. This Friday marks 30 years of stunning imagery and ground breaking discoveries for the one-of-a-kind orbiting telescope. Join us in observing #Hubble30 by sharing your favorite galactic image! https://go.nasa.gov/3aoSMxH
15.01.2022 Live Spacewalk: Watch as astronauts complete the intricate process of repairing the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), a dark matter and antimatter detector out...side the International Space Station. On Sat., Jan. 25 at 6:50 a.m. EST, tune in for a live spacewalk as Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency (ESA) and Andrew Morgan of NASA perform the fourth and final spacewalk to repair AMS, which has far outlived its planned three-year lifespan. In addition to revitalizing an important piece of scientific equipment, the process of creating the tools and procedures for these spacewalks is preparing teams for the types of spacewalks that may be required on Moon and Mars missions.
15.01.2022 Watch live as Chinese teams count down to launch of the third Long March 5 rocket at 1246 GMT (7:46 a.m. EST): https://spaceflightnow.com//chinas-long-march-5-rocket-po/
14.01.2022 #OTD in 1968, the Apollo 8 capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, successfully completing the mission. Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bil...l Anders were the first-ever humans to reach the Moon's orbit, and famously broadcast a live TV message from their spacecraft on Christmas Eve, 1968: https://go.nasa.gov/2MzY40j See more
13.01.2022 *COVID-19 Update 2020* The QLD Astrofest, at this stage, will still go ahead in August 2020. The committee recommends anyone with significant health risks, who is planning to attend, to seek medical advice for that decision. ... Our event has a site limit of 110 people per night and has an average of 140 seperate people attending over the 10 days. As with any illness outbreak risk we will provide hand cleaning facilities, eg alcohol gel for use and recommend anyone who is showing symptoms or is in a household with communicable diseases, eg rotovirus or influenza, to not attend. The site is a school camp run by Lions and they clean the site before we arrive. The committee pays for subsequent cleaning and is considering daily procedures depending on the situation in August. We will continue to be guided by medical advice from the Australian Governments, all parent Astronomical Societies and Lions Camp Duckadang.
13.01.2022 We're saddened by the passing of celebrated #HiddenFigures mathematician Katherine Johnson. Today, we celebrate her 101 years of life and honor her legacy of excellence that broke down racial and social barriers: https://go.nasa.gov/38VibPJ
13.01.2022 NASA will say goodbye to the Spitzer Space Telescope this week after more than 16 years observing the most distant galaxies ever detected, planets orbiting other stars, and star-forming clouds of dust and gas. FULL STORY: https://spaceflightnow.com//nasa-prepares-to-shut-down-on/
13.01.2022 Take a look back on the liftoff of Boeings Starliner spacecraft on its first orbital test flight Dec. 20 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket with these photos showing the capsule streaking into space at dawn: https://spaceflightnow.com//photos-atlas-5-blasts-off-at-/
13.01.2022 Go NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Its your birthday. This Friday marks 30 years of stunning imagery and ground breaking discoveries for the one-of-a-kind orbiting telescope. Join us in observing #Hubble30 by sharing your favorite galactic image! https://go.nasa.gov/3aoSMxH
13.01.2022 Betelgeuse might be about to go supernova!
12.01.2022 Firefly Aerospace has released a video of a fire that cut short a test-firing on the first stage of the companys Alpha small satellite launcher Wednesday in Te...xas. Additional images appear to show little sign of damage to the rocket. FULL STORY: https://spaceflightnow.com//firefly-confirms-anomaly-and-/
11.01.2022 2020 AAT primary mirror aluminising is done. Monday - mirror was removed Tuesday- mirror cleaned and re-aluminse Wednesday- As i write this mirror is being in...stalled. Telescope back on sky Thursday. Congratulations Team great job. See more
07.01.2022 Many people around the world are currently having to spend time restricted in their everyday lives or in total isolation. Astronauts are used to isolation when ...aboard the International Space Station for many months. They are confined with up to five others of various nationalities. The astronauts use of time is carefully planned and exercise is a very important part of every day to prevent bone and muscle loss. But there is personal time to relax for other interests such as hobbies and to look out the windows at the planet below. Although there's no opening the window or going outside to smell fresh air. Some astronauts have begun sharing constructive suggestions for how people on Earth can use periods of isolation in 2020. Retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly wrote a long opinion piece in the New York Times on the subject. One thing Kelly suggests is keeping a journal like he did for nearly a year in space. "If you find yourself just chronicling the days events (which, under the circumstances, might get repetitive) instead try describing what you are experiencing through your five senses or write about memories. Even if you dont wind up writing a book based on your journal like I did, writing about your days will help put your experiences in perspective and let you look back later on what this unique time in history has meant." And Kelly also wrote: When you are confined in a small space you need an outlet that isnt work or maintaining your environment. Some people are surprised to learn I brought books with me to space. The quiet and absorption you can find in a physical book one that doesnt ping you with notifications or tempt you to open a new tab is priceless. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, famous for using his guitar and playing David Bowies 'Space Oddity' in space, shared his thoughts in the video linked to here. And during the coming weeks, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium will post items here on Facebook to keep you in touch with "out there". Stay safe. --- Mark Rigby, Curator
07.01.2022 Scientists said they followed the star as it traced a rosette-shaped orbit around a "supermassive" black hole.
06.01.2022 The recent annular eclipse
05.01.2022 What will the Moon look like throughout 2020? Using data from our Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to visualize with unprecedented fidelity, NASA Goddard's Dial-a...-Moon shows you the Moon each hour: https://go.nasa.gov/37sKofB Watch a full year of Moon phases from the Northern Hemisphere: https://go.nasa.gov/2udsqPY From the Southern Hemisphere: https://go.nasa.gov/2QHYt1U
05.01.2022 4... 3... 2... 1... 0 A successful test for the motor steering the NASAs Orion Spacecraft's launch abort system & a milestone on the path to the first... crewed #Artemis mission! This system is designed to protect NASA Astronauts in the event of an emergency during launch or ascent: https://go.nasa.gov/2T2TD1N See more
03.01.2022 Although astronauts aboard the International Space Station are spending the holidays apart from their families, they have the holiday spirit and more than jus...t a few of the most important festive supplies. Commander Luca Parmitano and NASA astronauts Christina Koch, Drew Morgan and Jessica Meir share their message for the holidays wrapping up 2019. See more
02.01.2022 A Russian military communications satellite rode a Soyuz rocket and Fregat upper stage Thursday into an orbit stretching nearly 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers)... above Earth, successfully launching after a one-month delay to replace a suspect third stage on the Soyuz launcher. FULL STORY: https://spaceflightnow.com//soyuz-rocket-launches-russian/ See more
02.01.2022 ! The Qld Astrofest Committee met this week to make a final call on whether Qld Astrofest would be held in 2020. Despite long held hopes that the COVID-19 situation would have improved sufficiently to allow the event to be held in August, it was felt that in the best interests of all they cancel this years event. Considerations included:... The social distancing requirements of 1 person per 4m2; numbers would be severely constrained in the dormitories and kitchen areas, leading to total numbers allowed on site to be halved. The amount of additional daily cleaning, required to comply with regulations, would be a significant burden on the small Committee. Professional cleaning would be financially prohibitive, yet necessary, as the committee numbers and subsequent available volunteers would be limited. The limit of registrants on site and required cleaning frequency would likely make the event unviable financially. The potential legal liability of the Committee and Clubs was considered as a significant issue. This is a unique situation would not be covered by the existing policy. With all this in mind, it is with regret that the Committee has advised Duckadang that the 2020 event is cancelled, and they will focus their efforts on planning for the 2021 event. We hope that regular attendees will understand and look forward to seeing you again next year.
01.01.2022 World Science Festival is on again in Brisbane from 25 to 29 March 2020. See the link below for the program: https://www.worldsciencefestival.com.au/event-pro/brisbane/
