Cold and Spellbinding: An Alignment of Planets in the Sunset Sky

Cold and Spellbinding: An Alignment of Planets in the Sunset Sky 

A special night to look at your night Sky is Saturday, Feb. 25^th 2012, when the crescent Moon moves in to form a slender heavenly triangle with Venus, Jupiter and the Moon as vertices.  

One night later, on Sunday, Feb. 26^th 2012, it happens again. This arrangement will be visible all around the world, from city and countryside alike.  The Moon, Venus and Jupiter are the brightest objects in the night sky; together they can shine through urban lights, fog, and even some clouds.

After hopping from Venus to Jupiter in late February, the Moon exits stage left, but the show is far from over.

In March, Venus and Jupiter continue their relentless convergence until, on March 12^th and 13^th this year, the duo lie only three degrees apart—a spectacular double beacon in the sunset sky.  Now you’ll be able to hide them together behind a pair of outstretched fingertips. Should make some interesting photography!

 

Yeah there’s something mesmerizing about our stars and planets all bunched together in this way—and, no, you’re not imagining things when it happens to you. Just chill, relax and enjoy the spectacle!

GB80PW operation moves to Saturday

This special callsign GB80PW, issued to Practical Wireless magazine to celebrate the publication's 80th year in print, had its first airing in January this year.
However, PW editor, Rob Mannion, G3XFD received a number of requests to operate the station at weekends, rather than a weekday, as most people were at work and unable to get on the air in time.
In order to accomodate those requests, Rob has now opted for operation on the Saturday following PW's publication.


So, please look out for GB80PW on the Saturdays immediately following publication days during 2012.


The dates are Saturday February 11th, March 10th, April 14th, May 12th, June 16th, July 14th, August 11th, September 15th, October 13th, November 10th and December 15th.

Keep those dates in your diary and Phil G3XBZ and Rob G3XFD – and the other operators who'll be involved – look forward to working you!

Galway Radio Experimenters Club

The Galway Radio Experimenters Club will be holding their next meeting in the Anno Santo hotel in Salthill on Monday 6th of February at 8pm. On the night Enda (EI2II) will be giving a demonstration on the advantages of computerising the ham shack. Beginning with getting the most from your logging software to propagation prediction and DXClusters. Should anybody wish to have help setting up software please feel free to bring along your laptop on the night. We would like to welcome any interested amateurs, SWLs or indeed anyone with an interest in amateur radio.

Ofcom: GPS Jamming Notice

RAF Spadeadam, Cumbria

Dates: Between 9th and 20th April, 2012 inclusive (weekdays only).
Times:  0700 - 1800 GMT.
Location of MULTIPLE Jammers: Land based within 5km of N55° 04.000’ W002° 34.000’.
Frequency: A 24 MHz band centred around 1575.42MHz (GPS L1).
Total Power: Up to 10 Watts EIRP.

It is stressed that, as in previous exercises, Safety of Life operations will at all times take precedence over exercise activities.

Ofcom stakeholders should contact
InfoGPS.Notices@ofcom.org.uk 

Device To Predict Solar Activity To Be Launched Soon

It has been reported that solar activities in the past few weeks have increased by manifolds. With the increased solar activities, researchers have also begun to increase their efforts in improving the devices by which the solar activities could be gauged.

It has been reported that researchers and scientists of the NASA are planning to make a computer based device which would predict the coming solar storm. In the past few weeks, the activities of the solar have increased quite rapidly.

Last week, it was a major solar storm which was experienced by the researchers. It has been informed that the solar storms can be hazardous for the earth as it scratches the Earth’s Magnetic field. It has been informed that the device upon which the NASA researchers are working would enable the researchers to gauge the coming solar activities. Moreover, the prediction of the weather forecast would also improve with the help of the device.

Michael Hesse from Goddard’s Space Weather Laboratory was reported as saying, “Ensemble forecasting will provide a distribution of arrival times, which will improve the reliability of forecasts. This is important. Society is relying more so than ever on space. Communications, navigation, electrical-power generation, all are all susceptible to space weather”.

The device would bring revolution in the way weather is predicted. Moreover, it would become easier for the researchers and scientists to explore new horizons of the universe.
It has been informed that the device is being supported by the NASA’s Space Technology Program. Moreover, the Implementing Ensemble Forecasting would improve the weather forcast and would allow the scientists to predict peak and worse weather conditions before hand.

Antarctic Activity Week Special Event

Look for special event station TM9AAW to be on the air between February 10-26th. Activity is to celebrate the 9th Antarctic Activity Week (AAW).

Operations will be made by François, F8DVD, from his QTH of Mâcon in the east part of France. The WAP reference number for TM9AAW is 220. Operations will be on 40-10 meters mostly SSB.
QSL via F8DVD, by the Bureau or direct (w/SAE + 1 IRC or 2 USDs to: François Bergez, 6, Rue de la Liberté, F-71000 MACON, FRANCE.

For more details, see http://tm9aaw.monsite-orange.fr
or TM9AAW on QRZ.com.

Limited future activity from Jan Mayen Island

Recently the Norwegian government declared most of Jan Mayen a Nature Reserve and banned landings and camping on most of the island.

This means that tour operators can no longer visit since the main landing area is part of the Reserve. The only places left on the island which could be used as landing and camp sites are in Kvalross-bukta and in Båtvika, in the very extreme (weather-wise) southern part of Jan Mayen.

This will mean that most visits to the north part of the island (where previous landings occurred) will soon be impossible. Whilst radio amateur operations may still be possible from these two locations, which are difficult to get to (rough landing, very strong winds with sand storms, no access to any shelters or resources etc), it now appears JX5O was probably the last major expedition to Jan Mayen and may well be for the coming years.It also seems that only professional, licensed staff members at the Olonkin base will be able to activate the island, with that in itself a rare occurrence." However, Svein, LA9JKA, is expected to be based on the island beginning March 22nd, and is expected to stay until March 2013
.
No eQSLs, SWL reports are welcome.
QSL only direct to: Svein Rabbevag, Brendlia 12, N-6013 Alesund, Norway. Also, see details on QR.com for postage info.