The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association

Transcription

1 The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association VOLUME XL Numbers 5-8 May-August 2015 ********************************************************************************************* President Ed Magowan (850) Vice-President: Tom Riederer (920) Secretary Richard Walker (850) Treasurer Jim Larduskey (850) Librarian: Jacque Falzone (850) Education Chair Dewey Barker (850) NWFAA Contact: Dennis Hausch (850) Deep Sky Committee: Dave Haluposki (850) PSC Student Chapter officers for : President: Dave Cochran (850) Vice President: Adam Licko (850) Secretary-Treasurer: Amy Stewart (410) Editor and ALCOR: Dr. J. Wayne Wooten, Physical Sciences Department, Room 1751, Pensacola State College Pensacola, FL Phone (850) (voic ) ( ) pensacolastate.edu Please mail all dues to EAAA Treasurer, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL Pavilion Gazes on Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 22 nd, was the perfect afternoon for a Memorial Day weekend gaze at Pensacola Beach, and the turnout by club and public was great. When Tom Reiderer and I got there, Dewey Barker was already set up observing the Sun with the PST, and I got a good shot of the solar prominences out with the Coronado 60 as well. I concentrated on letting the public users of SmartPhones shoot the sun and crescent moon with the ioptron 12mm Plossl adapters, and a lot of those shots were great, both with the Coronado and later with the Orion Eon 72 refractor. Many of the 200+ attendees promised to post their shots on FaceBook and get the club some good publicity; they were often in awe of just how good the images they took were! As mentioned, club support was great. In addition to Dewey, Tom, and myself, Dave Cochran brought out his 70mm refractor, Rick Johnston showed off his new 8 RC OTA, George Oedesma had his 12 Meade SC, John Arnold his C-8, and John Ellard brought the Questar 3.5 to compare with his 4 refractor. Ed Magowan, Ross Mudge, and Steve Huber assisted with star identification and scope and club questions, and we did a great job of public outreach this evening. Great images of the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn were also taken under the good seeing conditions by Malone Calvert in Crestview, and Ed Magowan at Blue Angel later that evening. Saturday started well, but clouds rolled in later. Members attending included Dewey Barker, Steve Huber, Dave Cochran, Lyen McAbee, and Jon Ellard in observing the moon, Venus (almost half lit now), Jupiter, and Saturn at opposition now. Dewey noted, We didn't have as big a crowd on Saturday, maybe people stopped by for views. The skies were OK, but there was some haziness and it got worse as the night progressed. I didn't take any moon photos, but I did try for some shots of the flares with my PST. Need to play with the settings to see if I can get some better resolution, but this shows some interesting flares. --Dewey Barker On Saturday, May 23 rd, a friend of mine had some family members in town who wanted to go to Blue Angel park and view the moon. So, I took the C-8 and we looked at the Moon, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. They really enjoyed the views and were eager to learn more. --John Arnold

2 The Meteor Volume XL Numbers 5-8 May-August 2015 Page 2 Partly Cloudy for Fort Pickens Gaze on June 12 th The weather was questionable earlier in the day, but I was glad that three of us decided to go out anyway as there was a reporter from the New Journal on site to do a story on the event. I estimate that we had around 50+ people stop by for views through the 3 scopes members had set up, I was joined by Lyen MacAbbee and Jon Ellard. The seeing was decent, very little twinkling seen but the transparency wasn't too good, I estimate we had around Mag 3 skies. Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn were big hits with everyone, but the poor transparency did not allow for decent views of Omega Centauri or the Hercules Cluster, but some of the open clusters near Sagittarius looked fine in my 5" refractor. The crowd was on hand until 9:00 or so, Lyen packed up around 10:30, and Jon and I hung around with a couple of his friends until 1:00. Dewey Barker Great Gazes for the Pavilion on June 19-20, 2015 The beautiful grouping of the crescent moon, Venus, and Jupiter in the west was a great draw (check out the fine shots by Myron Almond both nights), and we had about 300 folks drop by the Gulfside Performance Pavilion on both Friday and Saturday evening, June We also had the Hubble Space telescope right on cue, thanks to Thor Garber s note, at PM Friday, with a dramatic -2 mag. flare just before it vanished into our shadow at 9:05 PM, and nice ISS passes later both evenings. Many thanks to the EAAA members who brought out scopes and cameras on Friday (I couldn t make it Saturday, and still need reports, buy student chapter president Dave Cochran said attendance was comparable). These include Ed Magowan, Dave Cochran, Jacque Falzone, Jon Ellard, Lyen McAbee, Tom Reiderer, George Oedesma, and Wayne Wooten. New member Randy Aufrance brought his family and was one of dozens of Smartphone users shooting the Solar activity with the Lunt 60, and crescent moon with the Orion Eon 72 refractor. --Wayne Wooten George Oedesma submitted these notes, Had a fine time at the Pavilion. No idea how many people. They lined up 20 or more deep. I loved to see kids viewing things like the moon,venus Jupiter and Saturn... Got a hoarse sore throat explaining things to different people... Bar next door served me free non alcoholic drinks for free...after the crowd finally left looked at some more interesting stuff like sombrero Galaxy and ring nebula with a smaller military group. Took the long way home. The milky way was beautiful between Navarre and Pensacola beach at the rest stops. Too bad we could not make the the pavilion area any darker... Oh well while we are dreaming lets go out to a couple hundred hundred feet of water and build a island like the Chinese do.. Oh well, Its nice to see the milky way is still there if only we could put out a few lights. It is the thing that has inspired so many dreams to so many people... --George Oedsma Cindy LaPointe sends words of thanks, I went to the stargazing event on Pensacola Beach tonight. I tremendously enjoyed taking a closer look at some of the planets as well as the moon and learning more about them. I spoke with a gentleman there who made me aware of this website. I would greatly appreciate it if you could add me to the e mail notification list. I am not a member of EAAA, but hope that I could still receive these e mail updates. I look forward to more amazing stargazing events. Thank you in advance for your help, -- Cindy LaPointe

3 The Meteor Volume XL Numbers 5-8 May-August 2015 Page 3 New student member Tracie Leatherman tried her hand at ISS photography on Friday, and reported, I was finally able to get a few shots of ISS Saturday night. The first two are pretty faint, but as it came overhead I was able to get a great one, unfortunately the camera shook a bit at the beginning. I waved to Scott Kelly as he passed over!! Have a great summer. --Tracie Leatherman John Arnold came out Saturday, and got a neat shot of the Beach Ball Water tower with the conjunction. Ron McCuiston took it from his back yard, and also noted the fine ISS pass almost all the way across the sky Saturday evening. Chris and Gina Gomez came Saturday, and reported, Saturdays pavilion gaze at Casino Beach offered some great clear skies for the public to get great vies of the crescent moon, Venus, Jupiter and its moons, Saturn, nebulae, and star clusters. We had 7-8 scopes set up with great gatherings of people waiting to have a peak of the night sky. After the gaze, we took a wide field shot (55mm) of the star region of Gamma Cygnus-Deneb and its associated nebulae. Pictured in it, are the North America Nebula and Pelican Nebula to the left and the Sadr Region in Gamma Cygnus to the right. --Chris and Gina Gomez EAAA Meeting Minutes for June 6, 2015 TONIGHT'S PROGRAM: - Dr. Andy Walker gave a presentation that considered what would be required for life on other planets. He also discussed how it might be possible to identify (S.E.T.I.) or communicate with that life (a proposed shadow generator). - Chris and Gina Gomez showed their new video that included their deep sky objects. ITEMS FOR SALE: - Tom Riederer showed his 10 year old Meade LXD55-5 telescope he has for sale. Members can get it for $200 and for an extra $25 Tom will include a 2 Lumicon minus-violet filter. (Dewey Barker bought it ed) - Wayne Wooten has four, green or purple 10x25 solar/eclipse binoculars for sale ($15). (Contact: ) NEXT PROGRAM: July 3, 2015: Dr. Wayne Wooten with follow-up on Rosetta and New Horizons. August 7, 2015: NO EAAA Meeting in August... HOWEVER... we're planning our annual beach picnic / gaze. Details to be announced soon. OPEN MEETING: Ed Magowan opened the meeting at 7:45pm. Introduce Students and Guests There were several shy students and guests at the meeting. REPORTS Awards: No awards were presented this month.amateur Astronomer Education Program and Levels: Dewey Barker advised our guests about our education program and program levels.

4 The Meteor Volume XL Numbers 5-8 May-August 2015 Page 4 Treasurer Report (Jim Larduskey) Checking $ Savings 5, Cash Total $6, Shirts and Hats (Dave Halupowski) Dave has hats (about $15) and all sizes of shirts (about $15) for sale. He is also able to arrange to have personal items embroidered for a reasonable fee (about $12). International Dark Skies Report: No report this month Last Month's Minutes Please let secretary know of any needed corrections. OLD BUSINESS Past Star Gazes - maintained on EAAA calendar at Star Gaze reports appear in the Meteor. Local Dark Skies Locations: If you use established or find new dark skies please let the club know about them so we can compile a list with GPS coordinates, aiding other members to find them. The Old Munson site has been cleared. The New Munson site has tall pines and finding the horizon can be a challenge NEW BUSINESS Future Star Gazes - maintained on EAAA calendar at Clicking on any posted star gaze should bring up additional information about that event (Point of contact, begin time, location including GPS coordinates) Dewey Barker also sends out lists of gazes occurring in the near future. ANNOUNCEMENTS - The EAAA needs to have a meeting with the Director of the West Florida Library System requesting the name of an individual I/we can work with to establish a uniform, yet simple, telescope loaner program. In particular, - what would a telescope loan period be (3 weeks? 1 month? 1 renewal?) - what materials get checked out with each telescope - who to contact when the loaner telescopes need maintenance - maintain an equipment inventory (telescopes assigned to branches) - coordinate astronomy presentations at the library and branches to promote astronomy and the use of telescopes and binoculars. I'll see if this work can be completed over the summer. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned to the outside star gaze at 8:15pm. --Richard Walker, Secretary

5 The Meteor Volume XL Numbers 5-8 May-August 2015 Page 5 EAAA Meeting Minutes for July 3, 2015 Approximately 35 members in attendance. Dave Halupowski reported on Dark sky site in Munsen. The air field area has become overgrown with tall trees making stargazing very problematic. Photo of the old site field nearby has been kept much better trimmed (however no fencing to protect equipment). A motion was made and passed to abandon the grassy airfield site and the fixed telescope stand will be removed. Dave will be planning to be at the old site for the Aug 12 Perseid shower which should begin about 11PM (Weds) till dawn. Dr Wooten made an excellent presentation/update on our three outer solar system robotic adventurers: New Horizons, Dawn and Rosetta. Latest pictures of Pluto as New horizons approaches our ex-planet on July 14. Awesome video of Ceres taken by Dawn spacecraft as it orbits. Great news from Rosetta/ Philae as the lander shows some life. available as the comet begins to heat up. Great detailed pictures Ed McGowan presided over brief business meeting: 2 gazes at beach pavilion site went well.future gazes Big Lagoon Sat July 11, August 8th. Pavillion gaze set for August 21 and 22 nd. Pickens gaze scheduled for July 18 th, but there is some question if the park service management is going to belay nighttime visitors there. Park service willing, Pickens EAAA picnic will be August 14 th. Stay tuned for updates! Dr Wooten gave update on the IOptron motor which will have to be sent for repairs. 2-4 inch reflectors available to be put into Dobsonian cradles for loaners. Visitors Shawn Asberry and daughters welcomed. No treasurers report due to illness. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 to view the still nice Jupiter-Venus conjunction. --Andy Walker, Acting Secretary

6 The Meteor Volume XL Numbers 5-8 May-August 2015 Page 6 Calendar of Events July 8 Last quarter moon July 11 Big Lagoon Gaze; Venus at brightest, mag July 16 New Moon July 17 Fort Pickens Gaze, sunset at Battery Worth July 18 Fine grouping of Venus, Jupiter, and crescent moon in SW July 24 First quarter moon July Pavilion Gazes, sunset 11 PM, Pensacola Beach Gulfside Pavilion July 26 Moon passes 2.4 degrees north of Saturn in SE twilight July 31 Full Moon, the Hay Moon; also a Blue Moon, second of July August 7 Last Quarter Moon, Mercury 1 degrees NNE of Jupiter in western twilight August 8 Big lagoon Gaze (No EAAA business meeting in August) August 13 Peak for Perseid Meteor Shower, new moon will not interfere this year! NWFAA plan Munson gaze on evening of 12 th ; contact Dave or Dennis August 14 Fort Pickens Gaze, sunset at Battery Worth, EAAA club picnic, New moon August 15 Venus at inferior conjunction, passing between earth and sun August Pavilion Gaze, sunset 11 PM, Pensacola Beach Pavilion, First Quarter Moon August 29 Full Moon, the Green Corn Moon Sept. 1 Neptune at opposition Sept. 2 Venus passes 8 degrees south of Mars in dawn sky how fast it has retrograded! Sept. 4 EAAA meets at 7 PM, room 1775, Pluto flyby New Horizons report Mercury at GEE, 27 degrees east of Sun in evening sky Sept. 5 Big Lagoon Gaze, last quarter moon Sept. 10 Waning crescent moon passes 3 degrees north of Venus in dawn sky Sept. 11 Fort Pickens Gaze, sunset at Battery Worth Sept. 13 New Moon, partial solar eclipse in Antarctica only Sept. 14 Rosh Hashannah, Jewish New Year 5775 AM Sept. 15 Crescent moon 5 degrees north of Mercury in western twilight Sept Pavilion Gazes, sunset 11 PM, Pensacola Beach Gulfside Pavilion Sept. 21 First quarter moon Sept. 23 Autumnal Equinox, Fall begins at 3:21 AM today Sept. 27 Total lunar eclipse, gaze at PSC Planetarium and other venues? Partial phase begins at 8 PM, totality 9:10 PM 10:20 PM locally Oct. 2 EAAA meets at 7 PM, room 1775, results from the lunar eclipse? Oct. 3 Dr. Clay Sherrod s talk, 7 PM, WSRE Oct. 4 Last Quarter Moon Oct. 8 Waning crescent moon passes just south of Venus Oct. 9 Final Fort Pickens gaze of season, sunset at Battery Worth Mars, Jupiter, and Moon in nice morning conjunction Oct. 10 Final Big Lagoon Gaze Oct. 13 New Moon Oct Pavilion Gazes, sunset 11 PM, Pensacola Beach Gulfside Pavilion Oct. 20 First quarter moon will not interfere much with Orionid Meteor shower Oct. 25 Venus passes 1 degree south of Jupiter in morning sky Oct. 26 Mars, Venus, Jupiter very close, Venus at greatest western elongation Oct. 27 Full Moon, the Hunter s Moon, after the Harvest Moon on Sept. 27th

7 Join us for a Fun Night Under the Stars! The Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association Will Hold Free Public Star Gazes on these dates: Big Lagoon State Park Star Gazes for 2015 are scheduled for Saturdays; March 14, April 11, May 9, June 6, July 11, August 8, September 5, October 10 The gaze is free, but normal park entry fees will still apply. Participants must enter park before sunset, the gate is locked at that time. Fort Pickens Star Gazes at Battery Worth for 2015 are scheduled for Fridays; April 17, May 15, June 12, July 17, August 14, September 11, October 9 The gaze is free, but normal park entry fees of $8.00 will still apply. Gulfside Performance Pavilion Star Gazes for 2015 are scheduled for both; March 27 & 28, April 24 & 25, May 22 & 23, June 19 & 20, July 24 & 25, August 21 & 22, September 18 & 19, Oct 16 & 17 Free parking is available in the Casino Beach parking lot, near the Beach Ball Water Tower. Members Telescopes and Binoculars will be set up for views of: the Moon, Planets and other Celestial Objects. Clear skies permitting, Members will begin setting up their Telescopes for these events just before sunset. The Astronomy Club meets on the first Friday of each month at 7:00 PM, building 17, room 1775 at Pensacola State College. For more information about the Astronomy Club, or for scheduling a star gaze for a school, scouting, or other social event at your location; Contact Dewey Barker after 4:00 PM at (850) for any questions. Please be sure to visit our website at or go to: to view our calendar of events and club members Astro - Photos

8 The "G" in GOES Is What Makes It Go By Ethan Siegel Going up into space is the best way to view the universe, eliminating all the distortionary effects of weather, clouds, temperature variations and the atmosphere's airflow all in one swoop. It's also the best way, so long as you're up at high enough altitudes, to view an entire 50 percent of Earth all at once. And if you place your observatory at just the right location, you can observe the same hemisphere of Earth continuously, tracking the changes and behavior of our atmosphere for many years. The trick, believe it or not, was worked out by Kepler some 400 years ago! The same scientist who discovered that planets orbit the sun in ellipses also figured out the relationship between how distant an object needs to be from a much more massive one in order to have a certain orbital period. All you need to know is the period and distance of one satellite for any given body, and you can figure out the necessary distance to have any desired period. Luckily for us, planet Earth has a natural satellite the moon and just from that information, we can figure out how distant an artificial satellite would need to be to have an orbital period that exactly matches the length of a day and the rotational speed of Earth. For our world, that means an orbital distance of 42,164 km (26,199 miles) from Earth's center, or 35,786 km (22,236 miles) above mean sea level. We call that orbit geosynchronous or geostationary, meaning that a satellite at that distance always remains above the exact same location on our world. Other effects like solar wind, radiation pressure and the moon require onboard thrusters to maintain the satellite's precisely desired position above any given point on Earth's surface. While geostationary satellites have been in use since 1963, it was only in 1974 that the Synchronous Meteorological Satellite (SMS) program began to monitor Earth's weather with them, growing into the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program the next year. For 40 years now, GOES satellites have monitored the Earth's weather continuously, with a total of 16 satellites having been launched as part of the program. To the delight of NASA (and Ghostbusters) fans everywhere, GOES-R series will launch in 2016, with thrice the spectral information, four times the spatial resolution and five times the coverage speed of its predecessors, with many other improved capabilities. Yet it's the simplicity of gravity and the geostationary "G" in GOES that gives us the power to observe our hemisphere all at once, continuously, and for as long as we like!

9 Image credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, of the first image ever obtained from a GOES satellite. This image was taken from over 22,000 miles (35,000 km) above the Earth's surface on October 25, 1975.