Australia's Astronomer-at-large, writer, science communicator, good lighting advocate, traveller.
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Articles by Fred Watson
The universe’s magnetic attraction
That’s mostly true, but there remain some big mysteries. For example, you might be surprised to know that the universe is riddled with entwining magnetic fields whose origin is largely unknown. But an international team led by Australian scientists has just taken a big step forward by producing the most complete map yet of cosmic magnetism. Making a map needs a survey, and you might wonder how you can survey something that’s completely invisible.
Surprises from NASA’s asteroid-deflection test
Foreshadowed in this column, the spectacular collision of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was not a wanton act of vandalism but a carefully crafted experiment that might one day help us avoid a catastrophic asteroid impact. The experiment was made possible by the particular circumstances surrounding a 760m asteroid called Didymos and its tiny moon Dimorphos.
Iron ‘bar’ found in the Ring Nebula
One of the things that makes science exciting is the way advancing technology allows us to build ever more capable scientific instruments for pushing back the frontiers of knowledge. That is certainly the case in astronomy as new telescopes regularly come on stream worldwide, and steady improvements are made to the capabilities of existing telescopes with novel and effective auxiliary instrumentation. Once installed, new equipment has to be tested or ‘commissioned’.
Nuclear tests and the night sky
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Glimpse worlds beyond our own with AG’s esteemed space expert and living legend, Fred Watson. Fred Watson is an honorary professor at Macquarie University and was Australia’s first Astronomer-at-Large. A mushroom cloud looms above Bikini Atoll after a nuclear test explosion in 1946. Mention nuclear weapons testing to an astronomer and there’s a good chance they’ll start talking about gamma-ray bursts.
Secrets of Martian riverbeds
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Glimpse worlds beyond our own with AG’s esteemed space expert and living legend, Fred Watson. Fred Watson is an honorary professor at Macquarie University and was Australia’s first Astronomer-at-Large. Have you ever heard of the Martian dichotomy? No, it’s not a political confrontation among aliens but rather a distinct geographical contrast between Mars’s northern and southern hemispheres.
Uranus’s newly discovered moon just 10km wide - Australian Geographic
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Fred Watson is Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large. A wide view of the Uranian system, showing the planet Uranus and some of its known moons. What they had found was a previously undiscovered moon of Uranus, a planet already known to have a retinue of 28 natural satellites. The scientists’ observing program was specifically targeted at studying the rings and moons of Uranus, so what made this anything other than a routine detection?
Australian astronomy at a crossroads
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Fred Watson is Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large. Funded jointly by the two governments, the telescope’s 3.9m-diameter mirror placed it among the world’s largest optical (visible light) telescopes. It was the perfect complement to Australia’s growing radio astronomy capabilities. I have recounted already the telescope’s illustrious career – but while it’s still producing world-class data, it no longer ranks among the world’s biggest.
Aliens or chemistry?
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Fred Watson is Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large. One of the most profound questions we can ask is whether there are living organisms elsewhere in the universe. So far, there’s no firm evidence of life originating anywhere beyond the confines of our world.
Celebrating Tidbinbilla
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Fred Watson is Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large. I’m often asked about the space probes that are leaving the solar system, never to return. There are five of them: Pioneer 10 and 11 and Voyager 1 and 2 – all launched in the 1970s – and New Horizons, which began its journey to Pluto and beyond in 2006. These tokens of humanity are… View Article I’m often asked about the space probes that are leaving the solar system, never to return.
Alien volcanos - Australian Geographic
Contributor Fred Watson Contributor Fred Watson Fred Watson is Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large. However, you might be surprised to know that Earth is not alone in having volcanoes – in fact, it’s beaten numerically by the planet Venus, whose surface is pockmarked with more than 1600 of them. But Venus’s opaque atmosphere makes it hard to establish whether any of them are still active. When it comes to active volcanoes, Jupiter’s moon Io takes the crown.
The 'Wow! signal' has finally been deciphered
Back in the 1970s, a concentrated effort in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) was well underway at the Big Ear radio telescope in Delaware, USA. More formally known as the Ohio State University Radio Observatory, this unusual telescope looked more like a sports arena than a conventional steerable dish. Nevertheless, between 1965 and 1971, it produced the most complete map of the radio sky yet attempted.
A telescope for a Golden Age- Australian Geographic
Back in September 1969 in a laboratory in north-eastern England, a young, newly minted physics graduate was engaged in a job that no more than a dozen people worldwide would be doing. It was a humble task – fabricating a circular polyethylene air-bag 3.9m in diameter and no more than a couple of centimetres thick. What made the job unique was the purpose of this unwieldy plastic pouch.
Mapping confirms waves on Saturn’s moon
We know of only one other celestial body where long-lasting reservoirs of liquid pool on the surface, and it’s a very strange world indeed. Saturn’s moon Titan is the second largest in the solar system, eclipsed only by Jupiter’s Ganymede. Its surface is not rock, but ice that’s –180°C. This ice is underlain by a global ocean of liquid water that is, in turn, underlain by a rocky core. Enveloping Titan is an atmosphere that has curious parallels with our own, despite its frigid temperature.
Astronomers liken gamma-ray bursts to lighthouse beams - Australian Geographic
To understand why, we have to go back to 1967, when the first of a class of astronomical events known as gamma-ray bursts, or GRBs, was observed. Discovered serendipitously by satellites designed to detect gamma-ray flashes from illegal nuclear tests, the bursts were soon identified as coming from space. Moreover, when new spacecraft were introduced in the 1990s, they were found to originate deep in the universe, well beyond the confines of our Milky Way galaxy.
What is an 'ocean world'? - Australian Geographic
So, what is an ocean world? Basically, it’s a ball of rock enveloped in water, which is in the form of ice unless it’s within the “habitable zone” of its parent star – in which case it becomes liquid water. Earth holds that privileged position in our solar system, but further out, ice predominates, with the subtle twist that internal heating from beneath the rocky surface can melt the lower levels of the ice mantle to create a sub-ice ocean.
A puzzle in the infant universe
Because of the finite speed of light and radiation, the further into space you look, the further back in time you’re seeing. Such is astronomers’ prowess with this cosmic capacity that they are able to see back to an era when the universe was still glowing brilliantly after its birth during the Big Bang. That glow is in the microwave spectrum and covers the whole sky, providing a background against which everything else is seen.
Running rings around galaxies
Like chocolate bars, however, galaxies come in different shapes and sizes, and not all have a spiral structure. Some are featureless blobs shaped like rugby balls; others are ragtag objects, fittingly known as irregulars. But spirals constitute some 60 per cent of the universe’s estimated 2 trillion galaxies, so what you’ve pictured is fairly accurate. Astronomers think they understand why galaxies have spiral arms.
Where did the Geminid meteors come from?
This is the Geminid shower, named after the constellation from which the meteors seem to come as they flash across the sky, vaporised by their rapid entry into our planet’s atmosphere. Their origin from a single point in the sky is just an illusion of perspective, because the meteors are actually moving on parallel tracks. What is more interesting is their true origin – where did the Geminid meteors come from? And that has been an enduring mystery for astronomers.
Behind the moon's shadow
Darwin 6.45AM, Saturday 15 April 2023. We’re standing with our baggage and sky-watching equipment outside one of Darwin’s imposing waterfront hotels, ready and waiting for our Big Adventure. All we need is the transport we booked the previous evening. What could possibly go wrong? At 6.50am, we check with the hotel receptionist. “Oh yes, it was definitely booked. I’ll call them.” Now it’s 6.55am. Check again.
Where did Earth’s water come from?
Image credit: A. ANGELICH (NRAO/AUI/NSF)/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO) Our planet’s oceans are something we take for granted. But for planetary scientists seeking to understand their origin, there are questions to be answered. Water, we know, is common in the universe. Indeed, with its hydrogen and oxygen makeup, it’s the most abundant of all two‑element compounds. Frozen water is plentiful in planetary systems in the form of comets – mountain-sized icebergs in space.
Rubble pile asteroids are like giant ‘space cushions’
New research flips our knowledge of ‘rubble pile’ asteroids on its head. Once in a while, a scientific result emerges that flies in the face of what we intuitively expect. It’s one of the things that makes science appealing – you never quite know what will turn up. Some recent work led by scientists at Curtin University now falls into that category. And the quirky title of their research paper – “Rubble Pile Asteroids are Forever” – gives a strong hint of what it’s about.
Supercomputer pinpoints a meteorite’s origin
Today’s researchers in astronomy and space science have access to a remarkable array of tools, including state-of-the-art telescopes both in space and on the ground. Less obvious to the casual onlooker, though, is their access to computing facilities that earlier generations of scientists could only dream of – and Australia boasts supercomputers that are the envy of the scientific world.
Nature’s magnifying glass
Image credit: Wikicommons Researchers are studying gravitational lenses to find out what dark matter is made of. Here’s a neat physics experiment you can do at home. Hold an empty wineglass by the bowl so you can look through its base. When you view a compact source of light, such as a lamp or an unshaded light globe, you’ll find it stretched into an arc centred on the stem of the wineglass. The base is acting as a lens, albeit an unusual one with a raised cusp in the centre.
Spider eyes on the skies: Australia's Huntsman Telescope
Image credit: courtesy Canon Australia The new Huntsman Telescope can see deep into the darkness where faint celestial structures hide. What has eight eyes, eight legs, is brown or grey, and lurks in Aussie homes? You’ve got it – a huntsman. So, what has 10 eyes, one leg, is black, white and red, and stares at night skies? I couldn’t resist that – it’s also a Huntsman.
Deflecting an asteroid
Image credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Space scientists everywhere are following the final movements of a little craft in deep space on a mission that could profoundly affect humankind’s future. The mission is called DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), which spells out exactly what it’s hoped it will achieve – test whether we can redirect an asteroid. Why a double asteroid? That’s what makes this ambitious project so clever. To explain, let me begin with the basics.
Why we can't get enough of twinkling stars
Image credit: supplied by Macquarie University Professor Fred Watson, Australia’s Astronomer-at-Large, explores our lasting love affair with stars and the technology that drives it. There’s nothing quite like twinkling stars. Even though many of us have lost the connection with the night sky because we live in light-polluted cities, there’s still an intimacy around stars. Looking at the sky and trying to make sense of the world we live in goes back to prehistoric times.
Sounds of Mars
Image credit: courtesy NASA NASA’s Perseverance rover, accompanied by a helicopter drone called Ingenuity, is seeking geological evidence of past life on Mars. Together, these space probes have been a formidable team, with Ingenuity’s airborne camera allowing mission scientists to see beyond Perseverance’s immediate horizon and map a course to the most interesting rock samples. It’s amazing Ingenuity can fly at all, given that Mars’s atmosphere is so different from Earth’s.
Do mirages exist on Mars?
Image credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS If you’ve travelled across Australia’s inland plains, you’ve probably noticed light patches in the arid landscape that look like distant stretches of water. These are mirages caused by heated air near the dry ground bending the sky’s light towards us. It’s a common phenomenon that needs no water. Could there be mirages on Mars? Perhaps, but it’s completely different from what beguiles the eyes of desert travellers on Earth.
Spacewarp
Spacewarp: Colliding Comets and Other Cosmic Catastrophes Fred Watson Paperback | Nov 2021 | NewSouth | 9781742237282 | 176pp | 210x135mm | GEN | AUD$27.99, NZD$34.99 Age range 10+ Why do stars twinkle? What’s the best way to start spotting constellations and comets? Is there life beyond Earth? What’s the chance of a catastrophic collision with a killer asteroid?
Technology, international bonds, and inspiration: why astronomy matters in times of crisis
In an international emergency like the present one, you might expect the science of the stars to be the last thing on people’s minds. The problems facing both individuals and governments are infinitely more pressing than events in the depths of space. People are suffering unprecedented hardships. Yet throughout history, astronomy has shown extraordinary resilience in times of crisis and has kept public support.
Why Astronomy Matters In Times Of Crisis
Image: Alex Cherney / CSIRO In an international emergency like the present one, you might expect the science of the stars to be the last thing on people’s minds. The problems facing both individuals and governments are infinitely more pressing than events in the depths of space. People are suffering unprecedented hardships. Yet throughout history, astronomy has shown extraordinary resilience in times of crisis and has kept public support.
Technology, international bonds, and inspiration: why astronomy matters in times of crisis
by Fred Watson Alex Cherney / CSIRO In an international emergency like the present one, you might expect the science of the stars to be the last thing on people’s minds. The problems facing both individuals and governments are infinitely more pressing than events in the depths of space. People are suffering unprecedented hardships. Yet throughout history, astronomy has shown extraordinary resilience in times of crisis and has kept public support.
Technology, international bonds, and inspiration: why astronomy matters in times of crisis
Adobe In an international emergency like the present one, you might expect the science of the stars to be the last thing on people’s minds. The problems facing both individuals and governments are infinitely more pressing than events in the depths of space. People are suffering unprecedented hardships. Yet throughout history, astronomy has shown extraordinary resilience in times of crisis and has kept public support.
Technology, international bonds, and inspiration: Why astronomy matters in times of crisis
Credit: Alex Cherney / CSIRO In an international emergency like the present one, you might expect the science of the stars to be the last thing on people's minds. The problems facing both individuals and governments are infinitely more pressing than events in the depths of space. People are suffering unprecedented hardships. Yet throughout history, astronomy has shown extraordinary resilience in times of crisis and has kept public support.
Technology, international bonds, and inspiration: why astronomy matters in times of crisis
In an international emergency like the present one, you might expect the science of the stars to be the last thing on people’s minds. The problems facing both individuals and governments are infinitely more pressing than events in the depths of space. People are suffering unprecedented hardships. Yet throughout history, astronomy has shown extraordinary resilience in times of crisis and has kept public support.
EXPLODING STARS AND INVISIBLE PLANETS
British astronomer Watson (Why Is Uranus Upside Down? And Other Questions About the Universe, 2007, etc.) takes readers on a genial tour of the known—and imagined—universe. “A typical place in the Universe is empty, cold and dark. And nothing in our experience can quantify just how empty, cold and dark it is.” So, with a nicely dramatic touch, writes the author, a pioneer in optics, long resident as a researcher in Australia, with an asteroid named in his honor.
Emily Gallagher reviews 'My Father’s Shadow' by Jannali Jones, 'This Is How We Change the Ending' by Vikki Wakefield, 'It Sounded Better in My Head' by Nina Kenwood, and 'The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling' by Wai Chim
Fiction Reviewed by Emily Gallagher • Fiction Reviewed by Emily Gallagher • A whistleblower’s child hides from a drug ring in the Blue Mountains. A sixteen-year-old rolls through life like an armadillo. A Melbourne high-school graduate wrestles with her insecurities. The daughter of a Chinese restaurateur juggles her responsibility to care for her siblings as her mother’s health deteriorates. Four lives, four fragile families, and four exquisite books.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
In a cramped, dismal cottage on the Galway–Mayo border, the theatre’s most poisonous mother–daughter relationship since Electra battled Clytemnestra is being played out on the stage of the Roslyn Packer Theatre. The Beauty Queen of Leenane is Martin McDonagh’s first and most performed play. Premièred in 1996 when McDonagh was still in his twenties, the play toured Ireland, moved on to London’s West End and later Broadway, gathering a swath of awards.
Penny Wong: Passion and principle
Every biographer has a relationship with their subject, even if they have passed away. A real advantage for biographers of the dead is that the subject cannot say what they think about the book. The relationship between Margaret Simons and Penny Wong was fraught.
Packer & Sons (Belvoir St Theatre)
You would have to be living under a rock the size of Uluru not to be aware of the reassessment of the masculine sense of dominance and entitlement that is sweeping the Western world at the moment.
Cosmic Chronicles: A user’s guide to the universe
Astronomy Reviewed by Robyn Williams • Cosmic Chronicles: A user’s guide to the universe by Fred Watson NewSouth, $32.99 pb, 256 pp, 9781742236421 Astronomy Reviewed by Robyn Williams • Fred Watson’s inspiration as a lad was the legendary telly astronomer Patrick Moore, who presented the BBC’s show The Sky At Night for more than fifty years.
Rainbows and moonbows
WHO WOULD HAVE thought that sunlight passing through a cloud of simple water droplets would produce such an extraordinarily beautiful effect? We take colourful rainbows completely for granted, but we always take a second look whenever one appears. It was the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes who, in the early 17th century, worked out how sunlight and raindrops combine to generate an arc of colour.
Light pollution is terrible for humans and animals
Astronomers have much to celebrate in the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL). Until the 1930s, every scrap of information about the universe came to us in the form of light. Admittedly, once radio telescopes began to make the first inroads into the invisible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, the game changed. Today, there’s no portion of that universal hum of radiation that is off-limits to ground- or space-based telescopes.
Darkness is disappearing and that's bad news for astronomy
Astronomers have much to celebrate in the International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies (IYL). Until the 1930s, every scrap of information about the universe came to us in the form of light. Admittedly, once radio telescopes began to make the first inroads into the invisible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, the game changed. Today, there’s no portion of that universal hum of radiation that is off-limits to ground- or space-based telescopes.
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