Menu
25/10/2004
Queen’s University look to the sky
Astronomers from Queen's University are providing a vital component to the world-wide effort of identifying and monitoring rogue asteroids and comets.
From this month, the UK Astrometry and Photometry Programme (UKAPP) for Near-Earth Objects, based at the University, will track Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and feed their crucial information into the international programme of protecting the Earth from any future impact by a comet or asteroid.
On average 30-40 NEOs are discovered each month - asteroids and comets that could one day collide with the Earth. Over 3,000 NEOs have now been found, and a world-wide effort involving professional and amateur astronomers attempts to keep track of these objects. Now a team of astronomers at Queen's will be tracking these objects each week using large high-performance telescopes.
Project leader Dr Alan Fitzsimmons said: "Previously we used UK-funded telescopes on La Palma, but for various reasons they could only track a couple of objects per month on average. The robotic nature of the Faulkes telescopes means that it is much easier for us to observe numerous NEOs than can be achieved by using conventional telescopes."
UKAPP is using the Faulkes Telescope North, a robotic telescope on the Hawaiian island of Maui built primarily for educational use by the Faulkes Telescope Project. At the end of this year they will also start using the twin Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring, Australia.
Once the images of the NEOs are taken, Dr Fitzsimmons and his colleagues transfer them to an astronomical computer network in Northern Ireland via the internet. The positions of the NEOs are then measured and communicated to the Minor Planer Center in Harvard in America; the world's clearing house and repository for measurements of NEOs.
The work is supported by a grant from the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and the Particle Physics Research Council (PPARC).
(MB/GMCG)
From this month, the UK Astrometry and Photometry Programme (UKAPP) for Near-Earth Objects, based at the University, will track Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and feed their crucial information into the international programme of protecting the Earth from any future impact by a comet or asteroid.
On average 30-40 NEOs are discovered each month - asteroids and comets that could one day collide with the Earth. Over 3,000 NEOs have now been found, and a world-wide effort involving professional and amateur astronomers attempts to keep track of these objects. Now a team of astronomers at Queen's will be tracking these objects each week using large high-performance telescopes.
Project leader Dr Alan Fitzsimmons said: "Previously we used UK-funded telescopes on La Palma, but for various reasons they could only track a couple of objects per month on average. The robotic nature of the Faulkes telescopes means that it is much easier for us to observe numerous NEOs than can be achieved by using conventional telescopes."
UKAPP is using the Faulkes Telescope North, a robotic telescope on the Hawaiian island of Maui built primarily for educational use by the Faulkes Telescope Project. At the end of this year they will also start using the twin Faulkes Telescope South at Siding Spring, Australia.
Once the images of the NEOs are taken, Dr Fitzsimmons and his colleagues transfer them to an astronomical computer network in Northern Ireland via the internet. The positions of the NEOs are then measured and communicated to the Minor Planer Center in Harvard in America; the world's clearing house and repository for measurements of NEOs.
The work is supported by a grant from the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and the Particle Physics Research Council (PPARC).
(MB/GMCG)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
08 November 2004
Queen’s talk to discuss asteroid impact threat
The prospects and implications of an asteroid impact on Earth will be the topic of the November meeting of the Café Scientifique at Queen’s University. Dr Alan Fitzsimmons, Reader in the Department of Pure and Applied Physics at Queen's, will give the talk, which is open to all and free of charge, on Tuesday in the Malone Lodge Hotel.
Queen’s talk to discuss asteroid impact threat
The prospects and implications of an asteroid impact on Earth will be the topic of the November meeting of the Café Scientifique at Queen’s University. Dr Alan Fitzsimmons, Reader in the Department of Pure and Applied Physics at Queen's, will give the talk, which is open to all and free of charge, on Tuesday in the Malone Lodge Hotel.
20 January 2014
Hoax Objects Found In Carrickfergus Alert
Two suspicious objects found during a security alert in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, have been declared elaborate hoaxes according to police. The security alert began on Sunday afternoon in the Broadlands Gardens area of the town, when several homes were evacuated.
Hoax Objects Found In Carrickfergus Alert
Two suspicious objects found during a security alert in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, have been declared elaborate hoaxes according to police. The security alert began on Sunday afternoon in the Broadlands Gardens area of the town, when several homes were evacuated.
06 June 2007
Belfast security alert 'hoax'
A security alert in east Belfast this morning has been declared a hoax. Three suspicious objects close to a telephone box were removed for examination after they had been checked by Army technical officers.
Belfast security alert 'hoax'
A security alert in east Belfast this morning has been declared a hoax. Three suspicious objects close to a telephone box were removed for examination after they had been checked by Army technical officers.
14 May 2014
'See The Universe' At Queen's University
The public is being invited to "see the universe" at Queen's University this weekend as part of a major astronomy exhibition. The exhibition, which is part of a national astronomy roadshow, has been developed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
'See The Universe' At Queen's University
The public is being invited to "see the universe" at Queen's University this weekend as part of a major astronomy exhibition. The exhibition, which is part of a national astronomy roadshow, has been developed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
16 November 2018
Two Suspicious Objects Removed During Belfast Security Alert
Two suspicious objects have been removed for further examination after sparking a security alert in south Belfast. A number of houses were evacuated following the discovery in Ulidia House on the Donegall Road on the evening of Thursday 15 November. The area was sealed off while Army Bomb Experts carried out forensic examinations.
Two Suspicious Objects Removed During Belfast Security Alert
Two suspicious objects have been removed for further examination after sparking a security alert in south Belfast. A number of houses were evacuated following the discovery in Ulidia House on the Donegall Road on the evening of Thursday 15 November. The area was sealed off while Army Bomb Experts carried out forensic examinations.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Another cloudy and mild night with the odd spot of light drizzle. More widespread outbreaks of rain will spread southeast into western parts of Tyrone, Fermanagh and Derry late in the night. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
