{"id":612775,"date":"2026-04-17T11:11:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T11:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/612775\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T11:11:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T11:11:14","slug":"coffs-coast-astronomer-awarded-after-discovering-giant-planetary-ring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/612775\/","title":{"rendered":"Coffs Coast astronomer awarded after discovering giant planetary ring"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>MOONEE amateur astronomer Jonathan Bradshaw has been honoured by the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) after discovering a giant ring rotating 4,000 km above the dwarf planet Quaoar.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Bradshaw was awarded the Page Medal by Professor Fred Watson AM at the National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers in Tamworth on Saturday 4 April.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/coffscoast.newsofthearea.com.au\/advertise\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3856 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Trusted-Source_Coffs-Coast.jpg\" alt=\"Trusted Source\" width=\"400\" height=\"214\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He and fellow amateur astronomers Renato Langersek and John Broughton, were recognised for discoveries that have guided humanity\u2019s big telescopes.<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, the three astronomers \u2013 situated in Samford, Brisbane and the Gold Coast \u2013 were watching as Quaoar passed in front of a distant star.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe star blinked before and after Quaoar passed in front of it,\u201d Mr Bradshaw said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRenato, John and I all saw it, so we knew it wasn\u2019t a glitch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe best explanation was that there was a ring.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was an enigma because it is much further from Quaoar than expected by the \u2018Roche Limit\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rings are usually found inside the Roche Limit, where the planet\u2019s tidal forces stop rings and debris from forming into a moon.<\/p>\n<p>Quaoar is roughly half the size of Pluto and takes 288 years to orbit the Sun.<\/p>\n<p>It is now known to have a moon and two rings.<\/p>\n<p>Following their discovery, Mr Bradshaw co-authored a report for \u201cNature\u201d detailing their discovery and subsequent observations of Quaoar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to be part of a discovery that has rocked the astrophysics world,\u201d he told News Of The Area.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an honour to be part of a trio of amateurs who came along and spoiled what had, until that time, been a perfectly sound theory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a proper \u2018what the\u2026\u2019 moment and I am super proud to receive notifications almost every week from other scientists using our published results to further their own understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Professor Richard McDermid, President of the Astronomical Society of Australia and Director of AAO (Australian Astronomical Optics) at Macquarie University, described the trio as \u201cremarkable astronomers\u201d who demonstrate that dedicated amateurs can make significant contributions to our understanding of the cosmos.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Tanya Hill, ASA prizes coordinator and astronomer at the Melbourne Planetarium, added, \u201cThese \u2018backyard astronomers\u2019 remind us that everyone can look at the night sky and observe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir observations can guide the work of billion-dollar telescopes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, back in Moonee, Mr Bradshaw says he is searching for his next discovery.<\/p>\n<p>By Andrea FERRARI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MOONEE amateur astronomer Jonathan Bradshaw has been honoured by the Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) after discovering 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