Latest news with #SouthernHemisphere
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Science
- The Guardian
Australian stargazers to enjoy two meteor showers this week – and you can leave the binoculars at home
Stargazers and night owls in Australia will be in prime position to catch a glimpse of two spectacular meteor showers this week as they pass through our atmosphere. The good news is that you won't need a telescope or a pair of binoculars to see the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids showers – just your own eyes. Here's what you need to know about the meteor showers and where you can see them. The southern hemisphere is likely to have a great view of both the meteor showers, with Australia in prime position to enjoy them. But meteor showers are best seen away from the city lights, according to University of Southern Queensland professor of Astrophysics Jonti Horner. He recommends stargazers scope out a potential viewing spot during the day – ideally somewhere away from buildings, street lamps and car headlights – to return to at night. Stargazers should check the weather each evening too to decide which to venture out into – with some rain forecasted in Sydney on Wednesday and some cloud cover predicted in Melbourne and Brisbane this week. The best time to view the showers will be between 11pm and dawn on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week. 'When the radiant rises you will start to see them but the higher the radiants get in the sky the better the view will be,' Horner said. 'So the radiant of the Southern Delta Aquariids, which is the stronger of the two showers, is highest at around 2.00am local time, which means any time between 11pm and dawn would be the prime time'. He said that the radiant for the Alpha Capricornids is highest a couple of hours earlier just before midnight, but warned it may put on a less luminous show. The Delta Aquaridds are coming in at about 40kms a second, while the Alpha Capricornids are travelling about 22kms a second. Although some might be tempted to break out the binoculars or even the telescope to enjoy the meteor showers, Horner believes it's best just to use your own eyes. 'The reason for that is you'll want to have the widest possible field of view to be able to see the biggest amount of sky that you can, because the meteors that you see are bit of dust and debris hitting our atmosphere,' Horner said. 'If you're looking through binoculars or a telescope you've just got such small field of view that you won't see them.' He also recommended not spending too much time looking at your phone screen beforehand so your eyes can adjust to the darkness faster – which allows you to spot the lights better. 'It takes about 45 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to the darkness but you get most of your adaptation in the first 5 minutes,' Horner said. Horner also suggested taking a chair or blanket with some pillows to lie down on to avoid a sore neck, while downloading an app that maps the night sky is a helpful way to know which way to look. Horner said that you can visualise a meteor shower as being a stream of debris crossing the earth's orbit where all of the debris particles are travelling in the same direction. 'So that debris when it's coming towards the earth it will hit the earth from a specific direction' Horner said. 'The result that we observe is that the meteors can appear in any part of the night sky but they will always trace back to that point in the sky that is the direction the meteors are coming from'. He said that the point where meteors are coming from is called the radiant of the meteor shower and so their names derive from the constellation that the radiant is in. Horner said that the best meteor shower of the year for stargazers to look out for is the Geminid meteor shower which is active during the first couple of weeks of December but peaks on the nights of the 14-15. 'Depending on your latitude you'll be able to start observing those meteors in December from about 9.30pm in the Brisbane area, bit later the further south you go and a bit earlier the further north you go,' Horner said. 'That shower is by far the best shower of the year, the moon will be new this year so there will be nothing to interfere with your viewing'.
RNZ News
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Paying tribute to Sir Michael Hill
Sir Michael Hill was of course very well known for his jewellery firm, but he also leaves a legacy through his commitment to classical music. In 2001 his lifelong love of violin music led him to found the biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition for 'emerging young violinists'. Ann Rodder is the Executive Director of the Michael Hill Violin Competition, she spoke to Jesse. Sir Michael Hill Photo: MHIVC
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'This Proves We've Been Lied To': Alien-Like World Discovered Beneath Antarctica Fuels Explosive Rift Between Scientists and Truth-Seekers
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Scientists have discovered ancient, river-carved landscapes hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. 🧊 These preserved surfaces act as natural barriers, influencing the flow of glaciers and potentially moderating ice loss. act as natural barriers, influencing the flow of glaciers and potentially moderating ice loss. 🔬 The research, led by Durham University, utilized radar data to map these features, revealing their vast extent and impact on ice dynamics. to map these features, revealing their vast extent and impact on ice dynamics. 🌡️ Understanding these landscapes is crucial for improving predictive models of future sea-level rise in response to climate change. Recent discoveries beneath the vast, icy expanse of Antarctica have uncovered a hidden world that could reshape our understanding of ice flow dynamics and future sea-level predictions. A team of researchers from Durham University and other global institutions has identified ancient landscapes beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. These landscapes, shaped by rivers millions of years ago, are now influencing the movement of glaciers, potentially altering how we forecast ice loss and its impact on global sea levels. This groundbreaking research offers a new lens through which to observe the frozen continent's past and its implications for our warming world. Revealing the Ancient River-Carved Surfaces The ancient landscapes discovered beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet extend over an impressive 2,175-mile stretch along the continent's coast. These flat surfaces, believed to have been sculpted by rivers before Antarctica became ice-covered around 34 million years ago, now lie buried under the ice. The research team utilized radar data to map these features, revealing their vast expanse and intricate details. What makes these surfaces so significant is their influence on current glacier flow. While deep troughs guide the movement of fast-flowing glaciers, the flat areas act as natural barriers, slowing down the ice flow. This discovery suggests that these surfaces could play a crucial role in moderating ice loss, providing new insights into predicting future changes in sea levels. Incorporating these findings into predictive models can enhance our understanding of how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet may respond to climate change, offering a more accurate assessment of potential sea-level rises. 'This Sensor Sees the Unseeable': NASA's Quantum Gravity Tech Set to Revolutionize Earth Monitoring With Unmatched Precision A Remarkably Preserved Landscape The preservation of these landscapes is nothing short of remarkable. For over 30 million years, these surfaces have remained largely undisturbed, suggesting that the ice sheet has protected rather than eroded the terrain beneath. Dr. Guy Paxman, the lead author of the study, highlights the enigmatic nature of this sub-ice terrain, noting that its preservation offers a unique glimpse into Earth's geological history. These flat surfaces, which span roughly 40% of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet's coastal region, provide critical insights into the dynamics of ice flow. Understanding their shape and geological features is key to improving our ability to forecast the ice sheet's behavior in response to different climate scenarios. This research not only unravels the mysteries of the past but also equips scientists with the knowledge needed to predict future changes more accurately. 'Humanity's Red Dawn Is Here': Scientists Claim Terraforming Mars Is Now Possible, Unveiling Astonishing Plans for This Bold New Frontier International Collaboration and Methodology This pioneering study is a testament to the power of international collaboration, involving experts from universities and research institutions across the globe, including the UK, Germany, and China. By pooling resources and expertise, the team was able to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of data to reveal the bigger picture of how these ancient landscapes formed and their impact on current ice dynamics. The methodology involved analyzing radar data to map the ice thickness and underlying features. By doing so, researchers could identify the flat surfaces and their distribution beneath the ice. This comprehensive approach not only deepens our understanding of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet but also sets the stage for further exploration. Future studies aim to drill through the ice to retrieve rock samples from these surfaces, providing a more detailed timeline of their history and helping to predict how the ice sheet will evolve in a warming world. 'This Jet Will Shatter Laws of Physics and Privacy': X-59 Sparks Outrage as NASA Pushes Supersonic Silence into Civilian Skies Implications for Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise The implications of these findings are far-reaching, particularly in the context of climate change and sea-level rise. If the East Antarctic Ice Sheet were to melt entirely, it could raise global sea levels by up to 170 feet. Understanding the role of these river-carved surfaces in moderating ice flow is crucial for developing accurate predictive models. As global temperatures rise, the stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet becomes increasingly uncertain. By incorporating the influence of these ancient landscapes into climate models, scientists can better predict how the ice sheet will respond to warming and the subsequent effects on global sea levels. This research is a critical step toward a more comprehensive understanding of Antarctica's role in the climate system and highlights the urgent need for continued exploration and study. The discovery of hidden landscapes beneath Antarctica's ice offers a new perspective on the continent's geological history and its implications for future sea-level changes. As researchers continue to explore these ancient terrains, the knowledge gained will be invaluable in shaping climate policy and mitigation strategies. How will this newfound understanding of Antarctica's past influence our approach to addressing the challenges of climate change in the coming decades? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (28)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Debate over "that" try continues long after the Lions clinch a series win over Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Debate continued Sunday on a hemispheric basis over the last-minute try and absence of a penalty that sealed the British and Irish Lions' 29-26 win over Australia in the second test and a series victory with a match to spare. From the Northern Hemisphere, Jac Morgan's cleanout of Carlo Tizzano at the last breakdown Saturday was fair and perfectly executed. From the Southern Hemisphere, Morgan breached rugby's law 9.20 by striking Tizzano above the shoulders which likely in most matches in the south would have been considered endangerment and would have been penalized. While the Lions woke with the sore heads of celebrants, the Wallabies were left to brood over what might have been. Australia coach Joe Schmidt was emphatic after the match that Italian referee Andrea Piardi had erred in not penalizing Morgan and ruling out the last-minute try to Hugo Keenan which prevented the Wallabies from leveling the series. Piardi and his assistant referees closely studied replays of the final ruck before waving away the entreaties of Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and awarding the try. In explanation, Piardi said Tizzano and Morgan had arrived at the ruck at the same time and their collision was part of the normal rough and tumble of the game. 'You just have to read law 9.20 and I guess you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the vision,' Schmidt told a news conference after the match. 'When two players are described as arriving at the same time, just watch the footage. 'Players make errors. Match officials make errors. Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're talking about. You cannot hit someone above the level of the shoulders and there's no wrapping with the left arm, the hands on the ground. That's what we've seen, and we've watched a number of replays from different angles. It is what it is. We just have to accept it.' From the northern perspective, Morgan makes contact with Tizzano below the neck and shoulders. It was, Lions coach Andy Farrell said 'brilliant". Some Lions fans even went as far as to accuse Tizzano of 'simulation," by trying to exaggerate the incident to influence the referee. 'I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, honestly, didn't you? It depends on what side of the fence you come from,' Farrell said. 'I thought it was a good clear-out live. I couldn't understand what they were going back for. They seem to go back for everything these days. But I'm so pleased that the referee held his nerve. It was the right decision in my opinion. 'I can understand people's opinions.' Wallabies and Lions fans clashed on social media long after the crowd of more than 90,000 fans — the most ever to watch the Lions — had left the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Fans from the north and south agreed only that this had been one of the great test matches and most memorable of rugby occasions. ___ AP rugby: The Associated Press
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Debate over "that" try continues long after the Lions clinch a series win over Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Debate continued Sunday on a hemispheric basis over the last-minute try and absence of a penalty that sealed the British and Irish Lions' 29-26 win over Australia in the second test and a series victory with a match to spare. From the Northern Hemisphere, Jac Morgan's cleanout of Carlo Tizzano at the last breakdown Saturday was fair and perfectly executed. From the Southern Hemisphere, Morgan breached rugby's law 9.20 by striking Tizzano above the shoulders which likely in most matches in the south would have been considered endangerment and would have been penalized. While the Lions woke with the sore heads of celebrants, the Wallabies were left to brood over what might have been. Australia coach Joe Schmidt was emphatic after the match that Italian referee Andrea Piardi had erred in not penalizing Morgan and ruling out the last-minute try to Hugo Keenan which prevented the Wallabies from leveling the series. Piardi and his assistant referees closely studied replays of the final ruck before waving away the entreaties of Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and awarding the try. In explanation, Piardi said Tizzano and Morgan had arrived at the ruck at the same time and their collision was part of the normal rough and tumble of the game. 'You just have to read law 9.20 and I guess you just have to listen to the description from the referee and then watch the vision,' Schmidt told a news conference after the match. 'When two players are described as arriving at the same time, just watch the footage. 'Players make errors. Match officials make errors. Our perspective is we felt it was a decision that doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they're talking about. You cannot hit someone above the level of the shoulders and there's no wrapping with the left arm, the hands on the ground. That's what we've seen, and we've watched a number of replays from different angles. It is what it is. We just have to accept it.' From the northern perspective, Morgan makes contact with Tizzano below the neck and shoulders. It was, Lions coach Andy Farrell said 'brilliant'. Some Lions fans even went as far as to accuse Tizzano of 'simulation,' by trying to exaggerate the incident to influence the referee. 'I thought it was a brilliant clear-out, honestly, didn't you? It depends on what side of the fence you come from,' Farrell said. 'I thought it was a good clear-out live. I couldn't understand what they were going back for. They seem to go back for everything these days. But I'm so pleased that the referee held his nerve. It was the right decision in my opinion. 'I can understand people's opinions.' Wallabies and Lions fans clashed on social media long after the crowd of more than 90,000 fans — the most ever to watch the Lions — had left the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Fans from the north and south agreed only that this had been one of the great test matches and most memorable of rugby occasions. ___ AP rugby:
