Thailand Hosts Astronomy Tours Through March 2021, Looks Forward to New Observations from New Locations

National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and Tourism Authority of Thailand are facilitating 7 astronomy tours for domestic tourists from December 2020 (Thai / Buddhist year 2563) through March 2021. Thailand is celebrating the ‘Great Conjunction’ December 19-23, followed by NARIT AstroFest January 9, 2021, and Thai National Observatory (TNO) Open House on February 13 and March 6. The establishment of NARIT in 2008 (first founded as NARI in 2004) has led to rapid development of astronomy facilities in the nation. NARIT oversees telescopes in 13 different locations for academic / public and research / science: observatories in Nakhon Ratchasima, Chachoengsao, Songkhla, Khon Kaen (under construction); the 2.4-meter TNO (built 2013) one of the largest in Southeast Asia and situated on the highest Thai mountain 2,565-meter Doi Inthanon; the 40-meter single-dish Thai National Radio Telescope (2020); and Thai Robotic Telescope Network operating 0.6-0.7 meter telescopes in Chile, PRC / Zhongguo, Australia, USA and at a location yet to be selected in South Africa. NARIT also manages the 21-acre, US$13M Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark in Chiang Mai. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, whose exceptionally keen interest in astronomy is well known for decades, has earned the nickname “Princess of Astronomy” and international admiration for her dedication / philanthropy to science and education – worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. (Image Credits: Thai Bureau of the Royal Household, NARIT, TNO, NASA)

MONDAY

NET Dec 21 — Boeing, NASA, Stennis Space Center MS: SLS core stage hot fire test planned.

Jupiter – Saturn Great Conjunction on December Solstice is Poignant Symbol of Space Age

The 2 largest planets in the Solar System will align within 0.101° (1/5 of the diameter of a full Moon) of one another from geocentric point of view on December 21 – Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer Solstice in the Southern. Human fascination with astronomical conjunctions, and specifically so-called Great Conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn (the rarest of bright-planet conjunctions, owing to slow orbits) has a rich archeoastronomical history, perhaps most famously speculated as the “Christmas Star” in Biblical lore. While there was a closer Great Conjunction in 1623 (0.086°), no observation was recorded due to conditions. The most recently observed ‘Double Planet’ conjunction of the behemoth gas giants stretches back to 1226 and is thought to have influenced Genghis Khan to withdraw his armies from China. With modern technology, humanity has extended its reach to the farthest reaches of the Solar System, with Juno currently in orbit and Pioneer / Voyager missions conducting flybys of both giants, gaining momentum from gravity assist on the way to interstellar medium. This aspect of orbit mechanics has been described in detail by Serbian researcher Nataša Todorović in the just-released paper The arches of chaos in the Solar System, identifying outward manifold pathways through space generated by planets with dramatic effect on object speed. Notably, the upcoming Great Conjunction will be the first observed by humans living in Space. (Image Credits: NASA)

Dec 21 —

Dec 21 — Texas A&M University, Commerce TX: Mystery of the Christmas Star – Planetarium Showing; reproducing the skies as seen from Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago; 20:00.

Dec 21-22 — Center for Astrophysics and Gravitation (CENTRA), Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Lisbon, Portugal: XIII Black Holes Workshop: Celebrating the Nobel Prize 2020 for black holes.

Dec 21 — December Solstice: The Sun reaches the point where it is farthest South of the celestial equator, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year (opposite in Southern Hemisphere); 00:02.

Dec 21 — Moon: At first quarter, 13:41.

Dec 21 — Jupiter: 0.10° SE of Saturn, 09:00; will appear as a ‘double planet’, for the first time since July 16, 1623; next occurrence 2080, then 2400.

Dec 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2017 XQ60: Near Earth Flyby (0.032 AU)

Dec 21 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 XA3: Near Earth Flyby (0.033 AU)

Continued From…

Nov 4, 2020 – Feb 28, 2021 — International Astronautical Federation, Online: Abstracts Submission Open: 72nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2021); being held Oct 25-29.

Dec 19-23 — NARIT, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Multiple Locations, Thailand: Celebrating the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, NARIT and TAT hold stargazing tours for domestic tourists.

TUESDAY

Dec 22 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: In-flight interviews with Expedition 64 Astronauts Kate Rubins and Victor Glover (09:10 EST), and Victor Glover and Shannon Walker (12:35 EST), live coverage available.