The RAS holds regular monthly meetings from October to May covering all aspects of astronomy and solid-earth geophysics, planetary sciences and solar-terrestrial physics. Usually, a pair of Specialist Discussion meetings for Fellows are followed by a more general Astronomy & Geophysics ('Ordinary') meeting, open to the public.
These regular meetings are held on the second Friday of the month, normally in the Geological Society lecture theatre and the RAS lecture theatre (all at Burlington House). A map to these locations can be found here, and webcasts/podcasts of a number of recent meetings are available.
In April, the meeting is subsumed into the annual week-long RAS National Astronomy Meeting, which in 2011 will be in Llandudno.
Date: 9 Feb 2012
Time: 09:30
Two Day Meeting: BGA/RAS - New Advances in Geophysics Meeting 2012
For further details, please visit:
http://www.swan.ac.uk/environment_society/newscentre/latestevents/bgacryosphericgeophysics.php
Please email Bernd Kulessa (b.kulessa .at. swansea.ac.uk) if you have any queries.
Date: 10 Feb 2012
Time: 10:30
A Specialist Discussion Meeting organised by: David Hughes (Leeds) dwh<at>maths.leeds.ac.uk and Michael Proctor (Cambridge) m.r.e.proctor<at>damtp.cam.ac.uk
Summary: One of the most important theoretical problems in astrophysical fluid dynamics is to explain the generation of global scale magnetic fields, as observed in stars, accretion discs and galaxies. The vast majority of the modelling of cosmic magnetic fields has been performed within the framework of mean field electrodynamics. On one level, mean field theory has proved to be extremely successful, in reproducing certain characteristics of observed magnetic fields. However, notwithstanding this success, some serious problems remain. This has led to a resurgence of interest in the large-scale dynamo problem. This meeting will bring together researchers from all areas of dynamo theory – from those trying to understand the basics of the theory to those seeking to explain specific examples of observed astrophysical large-scale fields – in order to discuss the current difficulties and the possible ways forward.
Please click here to view the programme.
Date: 10 Feb 2012
Time: 16:00
RAS Fellow:
Dr Adam Christopherson (University of Nottingham)
Vorticity generation in Cosmology
Dr Chris Lintott (Oxford)
What to do with 500,000 scientists: latest results from the Zooniverse
Professor David Vaughan (British Antarctic Survey)
Why is it so hard to predict the future of ice sheets and sea level rise?
Dr Pål Brekke (Norwegian Space Center)
The Northern Lights: from myths to modern science
Date: 9 Mar 2012
Time: 10:30
A Specialist Discussion Meeting organised by: Jonathan Nichols (Leicester) jdn<at>ion.le.ac.uk and Adam Masters (MSSL) am2<at>mssl.ucl.ac.uk
Summary: Magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) coupling occurs at all planets with global magnetospheres and resistive ionospheres, in various configurations dependent on the nature of the transfer of momentum in each system. At Earth, the solar wind drives the magnetospheric dynamics, at Jupiter these are dominated by the planet’s rotation coupled with the centrifugal outflow of internally-generated plasma, whilst Saturn presents an intriguing mix of internal and external driving. In this meeting we focus on the relationship between M-I coupling and auroral emissions, which is not only relevant for the study of planets in our solar system, but also the emerging field of exoplanetary research. At many planets, M-I coupling leads to spectacular auroral displays and associated radio emissions, which can be studied using an array of space- and ground-based instruments in order to understand the energetic processes occurring in magnetospheres. Further, the radio emissions resulting from M-I coupling processes at Jupiter-like exoplanets with internal plasma sources may offer a new method of detecting such objects. Recent advancements in our understanding of M-I coupling and auroral processes at Earth, the outer planets and exoplanets will be discussed.
Date: 9 Mar 2012
Time: 10:30
A Specialist Discussion Meeting organised by: Haley Gomez (Cardiff) haley.gomez<at>astro.cf.ac.uk , Mikako Matsuura (UCL) mikako<at>star.ucl.ac.uk and Robert Kennicutt (Cambridge) robk<at>ast.cam.ac.uk
Summary: Dust grains are ubiquitous in the interstellar medium of galaxies. They are responsible for the formation of molecular hydrogen and for absorbing and re-emitting up to 90% of the energy from galaxies, as well as providing an effective coolant for star formation. Although important in a number of astrophysical processes, the origin and consequently the chemical make-up and emission properties of dust grains is largely unknown. Since the launch of the Herschel Space Observatory and Planck Satellite in 2009, we are beginning to understand far more about the origin and composition of dust. This has consequences for understanding the physical properties of dust grains, which in turn is crucial to correctly interpret results from studies of galaxy evolution and star formation with Herschel, and ultimately ALMA.
For more information please visit:
http://www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk/newsandevents/conferences/RAS-2012-03/
Date: 9 Mar 2012
Time: 16:00
Details will be available nearer the time.
Date: 27 Mar 2012
Time: 09:00
The National Astronomy Meeting for 2012 will be held in Manchester March 27-30. This will be a joint meeting with our German counterparts Astronomische Gesellschaft.
www.jb.man.ac.uk/nam
Date: 28 Mar 2012
Time: 09:00
The National Astronomy Meeting for 2012 will be held in Manchester March 27-30. This will be a joint meeting with our German counterparts Astronomische Gesellschaft.
www.jb.man.ac.uk/nam
Date: 29 Mar 2012
Time: 09:00
The National Astronomy Meeting for 2012 will be held in Manchester March 27-30. This will be a joint meeting with our German counterparts Astronomische Gesellschaft.
www.jb.man.ac.uk/nam
Date: 30 Mar 2012
Time: 09:00
The National Astronomy Meeting for 2012 will be held in Manchester March 27-30. This will be a joint meeting with our German counterparts Astronomische Gesellschaft.
www.jb.man.ac.uk/nam
Date: 11 May 2012
Time: 10:30
A Specialist Discussion Meeting organised by: Mark Burchell (Kent) m.j.burchell<at>kent.ac.uk and Andrew Needham (OU) a.w.needham<at>open.ac.uk
Summary: Space missions involving sample return from minor solar system bodies (comets and asteroids) are now a major part of Solar System science. The successful NASA mission to comet 81P/Wild-2 and the JAXA mission to asteroid Hayabusa are both yielding significant scientific insights into the composition, origin and evolution of these bodies. This meeting will bring together specialists in the analysis of extraterrestrial materials to discuss on-going analysis of existing samples, new developments in analysis techniques and plans for future such missions (e.g. Osiris-Rex and Marco Polo).
Date: 11 May 2012
Time: 16:00
***Please note the new time for the AGM which takes effect from 2012 onwards***
The AGM is only open to Fellows; non-Fellows intending to attend the following A&G meeting are welcome to wait in the Lower Library of the Geological Society.
Date: 11 May 2012
Time: 17:00
***Please note the later start time of the RAS Ordinary Meeting***
Details will be available nearer the time.
