Northern Sydney Astronomical Society

Beginning in March 2011 Bob Roeth will be starting a series of presentations on Astronomy related mathematics. These talks will be held periodically on the fifth Tuesday of the month (when there is one).

The first session on March 29th will cover the following (time permitting):

Below is a list of the topics which may be covered as the series progresses. This list may be revised throughout the year, so please have a look and let us know of any topics which you may have a particular interest in. This feedback will help in deciding which topics will be covered in future sessions.

Note: These topics are not in any particular order

1. Eccentricity calculations with a simple calculator with square roots and with a scientific calculator having Sines and Cosines from trigonometry,
2. Newton’s invention of Gravity,
3. Easy ellipse mathematics,
4. How close was Ptolemy’s orbit to the ellipse when he used the equant?
5. Constructing ellipses – another meaning for ‘envelope’,
6. Sundial maths, shadow paths and the Equation of Time,
7. L1,L2 and L3 e.g., SOHO ‘at’ L1,
8. Combining magnitudes e.g., Venus and Jupiter in very close conjunction in 2BC and 6BC,
9. Co-orbital Janus and Prometheus in Saturn’s family of satellites,
10. Horseshoe orbits, The Interplanetary Highway of cheap Solar System Tours (cheap on fuel – EXPENSIVE IN TIME).
11. Gravity Assist e.g., the Pioneers and/or VEEGA, Jupiter’s effect on orbiting junk,
12. Spherical Aberration with concave spherical mirrors,
13. Sagittal calculations for spherical mirrors in the stage before parabolising,
14. Calculations relating to the Calendars,
15. Kepler’s mathematics,
16. Use of Conjunctions to determine planetary periods, advance through the civil calendar of the onset of retrograde motion,
17. Estimating the declination of the Sun from the day-number in the year.

We hope to see you there.

Peter Nosworthy