SpaceRef.com - Dec. 14, 2007
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) today expressed its deep disappointment at the level of cuts to UK astronomy research announced by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). These savings amount to at least BP80m over three years, with a further BP40m likely to be cut to create headroom for UK involvement in new projects.
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Cuts announced include UK participation in the Gemini South observatory in Chile, all UK research in ground-based solar-terrestrial physics and high-energy gamma-ray astronomy, UK involvement in the astronomical observatory on La Palma, and large cuts (~50%) at the Astronomy Technology Centre in Edinburgh.
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The RAS welcomes the concession by STFC that they will seek to negotiate continuing access to the Gemini North observatory on Hawaii, as requested by the Society two weeks ago. Without Gemini North, UK astronomers will have no access to giant telescopes in the northern hemisphere and will find it increasingly difficult to compete with their peers overseas.
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Monday, December 17, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Odd Little Star Has Magnetic Personality
ScienceDaily - Dec. 6, 2007
A dwarf star with a surprisingly magnetic personality and a huge hot spot covering half its surface area is showing astronomers that life as a cool dwarf is not necessarily as simple and quiet as they once assumed.
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The team’s observations of TVLM513-46546 combine radio data from the Very Large Array, optical spectra from the Gemini North 8-meter telescope, ultraviolet images from the orbiting Swift observatory and x-ray data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. This is the first time that such a powerful set of telescopes has been trained on one of the smallest known stars. The study is part of a program that looks at the origins of magnetic fields in ultracool dwarfs, stars that astronomers always assumed were simple, quiet, and more tranquil than their hotter and more massive siblings.
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Scientists Discover "Teenager Galaxies"
The Associated Press - Nov. 28, 2007
LONDON (AP) — Young galaxies, so faint that scientists struggled to prove they were there at all, have been discovered by aiming two of the world's most powerful telescopes at a single patch of sky for nearly 100 hours.
An international group of researchers has identified 27 pre-galactic fragments, dubbed "teenager galaxies," which they hope will help astronomers understand how our own Milky Way reached adulthood.
Cambridge University scientist Martin Haehnelt said his team used the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and the Gemini Telescope in Chile to monitor a section of the universe for 92 hours — the equivalent of about 12 nights.
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LONDON (AP) — Young galaxies, so faint that scientists struggled to prove they were there at all, have been discovered by aiming two of the world's most powerful telescopes at a single patch of sky for nearly 100 hours.
An international group of researchers has identified 27 pre-galactic fragments, dubbed "teenager galaxies," which they hope will help astronomers understand how our own Milky Way reached adulthood.
Cambridge University scientist Martin Haehnelt said his team used the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope and the Gemini Telescope in Chile to monitor a section of the universe for 92 hours — the equivalent of about 12 nights.
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UK plans withdrawal from telescope teams
Honolulu Star Bulletin - Nov. 25, 2007
HILO » The United Kingdom has announced its plan to withdraw from participation in the two Gemini observatories, one on Mauna Kea and the other in Chile, because of budget concerns, according to the Royal Astronomical Society.
The decision will leave British astronomers with no access to large telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere, although it still has agreements to use large telescopes in the southern hemisphere, society officials said earlier this month.
"This decision is a serious mistake and a shock to all of us," Michael Rowan-Robinson, society president, said in a press release. "If it goes ahead, it will deny UK scientists access to large telescopes in the northern hemisphere and hinder their ability to study almost half the sky."
Gemini issued a statement saying its board of directors "deeply regrets" the British decision.
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HILO » The United Kingdom has announced its plan to withdraw from participation in the two Gemini observatories, one on Mauna Kea and the other in Chile, because of budget concerns, according to the Royal Astronomical Society.
The decision will leave British astronomers with no access to large telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere, although it still has agreements to use large telescopes in the southern hemisphere, society officials said earlier this month.
"This decision is a serious mistake and a shock to all of us," Michael Rowan-Robinson, society president, said in a press release. "If it goes ahead, it will deny UK scientists access to large telescopes in the northern hemisphere and hinder their ability to study almost half the sky."
Gemini issued a statement saying its board of directors "deeply regrets" the British decision.
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Will the UK Bail on Gemini?
Sky & Telescope - Nov. 19, 2007
Astronomers in the United Kingdom are still reeling from the news, announced November 15th, that they're about to lose access to one of the "big guns" of observational astronomy. The nation's Science and Technology Facilities Council intends to withdraw from participating in Gemini Observatory, a pair of identical optical/infrared telescopes with 8-meter apertures. A final decision will be made by STFC on November 21st.
Under the terms of a seven-nation agreement in force through 2012, the UK has a 24% stake in Gemini, which it gained by committing about $70 million toward construction costs. But the STFC's anticipated budgetary shortfalls over the next few years precipitated this drastic action so that it can reinvest the planned savings in its "highest priority programmes."
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Astronomers in the United Kingdom are still reeling from the news, announced November 15th, that they're about to lose access to one of the "big guns" of observational astronomy. The nation's Science and Technology Facilities Council intends to withdraw from participating in Gemini Observatory, a pair of identical optical/infrared telescopes with 8-meter apertures. A final decision will be made by STFC on November 21st.
Under the terms of a seven-nation agreement in force through 2012, the UK has a 24% stake in Gemini, which it gained by committing about $70 million toward construction costs. But the STFC's anticipated budgetary shortfalls over the next few years precipitated this drastic action so that it can reinvest the planned savings in its "highest priority programmes."
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Astronomers Spot Evidence for Colliding Planet Embryos in Famous Star Cluster
Astrobiology Magazine - Nov. 18, 2007
Astronomers have found evidence for the formation of young rocky planets around the star HD 23514 located in the well-known Pleiades (Seven Sisters) star cluster that is easily visible in the current evening sky. Most of the extrasolar planets that have been discovered so far are gas giants similar to Jupiter, but researchers are continuing to search for smaller rocky planets. Terrestrial planets around distant stars are of utmost interest to astrobiologists because they are more likely to support habitats for life as we know it.
Using an infrared sensitive camera (MICHELLE) on the Gemini North Telescope, Joseph Rhee of UCLA and his collaborators have measured heat from hot dust surrounding a 100 million year old star in the bright star cluster. The star has properties very much like our Sun except that it is 45 times younger and is orbited by hundreds of thousands of times more dust than our Sun. The star is also one of the very few solar-type stars known to be orbited by warm dust particles.
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Astronomers have found evidence for the formation of young rocky planets around the star HD 23514 located in the well-known Pleiades (Seven Sisters) star cluster that is easily visible in the current evening sky. Most of the extrasolar planets that have been discovered so far are gas giants similar to Jupiter, but researchers are continuing to search for smaller rocky planets. Terrestrial planets around distant stars are of utmost interest to astrobiologists because they are more likely to support habitats for life as we know it.
Using an infrared sensitive camera (MICHELLE) on the Gemini North Telescope, Joseph Rhee of UCLA and his collaborators have measured heat from hot dust surrounding a 100 million year old star in the bright star cluster. The star has properties very much like our Sun except that it is 45 times younger and is orbited by hundreds of thousands of times more dust than our Sun. The star is also one of the very few solar-type stars known to be orbited by warm dust particles.
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UK astronomers stunned by Gemini withdrawal
Nature News - Nov. 21, 2007
The United Kingdom has abruptly announced its intention to withdraw from the Gemini Observatory, potentially leaving hundreds of British astronomers without a major telescope in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) said on 15 November that it would pull out of the international observatory, with its twin 8-metre telescopes in Chile and Hawaii. The STFC, one of seven UK national research councils, pays for major physics and astronomy projects. It has nearly a quarter stake in Gemini and pays annual subscription fees of £4 million (US$8.2 million).
The British astronomical community has reacted with shock and dismay. “It's a mistake,” says Royal Astronomical Society president Michael Rowan-Robinson. “I think it damages our ability to do multi-wavelength astronomy.”
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The United Kingdom has abruptly announced its intention to withdraw from the Gemini Observatory, potentially leaving hundreds of British astronomers without a major telescope in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) said on 15 November that it would pull out of the international observatory, with its twin 8-metre telescopes in Chile and Hawaii. The STFC, one of seven UK national research councils, pays for major physics and astronomy projects. It has nearly a quarter stake in Gemini and pays annual subscription fees of £4 million (US$8.2 million).
The British astronomical community has reacted with shock and dismay. “It's a mistake,” says Royal Astronomical Society president Michael Rowan-Robinson. “I think it damages our ability to do multi-wavelength astronomy.”
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