The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association

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1 The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association VOLUME XXXVI Numbers 9-10 September-October 2011 ********************************************************************************************* President Steve Self (251) Vice President -- Ed Magowan (850) Secretary Sharon Bogart (850) Treasurer Jim Larduskey (850) Observing - Warren Jarvis (850) Librarian: Jacque Falzone (850) Education Chair Dewey Barker (850) NWFAA Contact: Dennis Hausch (850) Editor and ALCOR: Dr. J. Wayne Wooten, Physical Sciences, Room 9704, Pensacola State College, Pensacola FL Phone (850) (voic ) ( ) pensacolastate.edu Please mail all dues to EAAA Treasurer, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL Dr. Frank Palma and Ft. Pickens Gazing Dr. Frank Palma started the Fort Pickens star parties and carried them on for years. The first several years of public viewing at Fort Pickens was done not by EAAA, which was inactive until 1978, but by PJC in the form of Frank Palma taking PJC telescopes out to the campground at Fort Pickens campground-setting them up and letting people view. It is my fault EAAA did not take this over earlier. I had the oportunity in 1978, when the club was going again---but, I lacked the imagination to get the club involved. That imagination was provided by Wayne Wooten who also donated his 10" telescope; this allowed the club to give such activities with its own instrument. Frank Palma had asked me to take over the shows in 1978, when I was replacing Wayne for one school year while he was getting his doctorate. Frank seemed surprised that I did not want to do it! Had the thought occurred to me that I could get the club involved I would have done it. Wayne was the one who got the club involved in place of Frank Palma---I do not know in which year (summer of 1979, when I returned to PJC full-time--editor). An old METEOR, possibly 1980, says the club had its telescope in the Quartermaster building so it could be dragged out into the dry moat and used. So, I assume the club had taken over for Frank Palma by When I was the club president, (at which time I left to major in astronomy at the University of Arizona) I had wanted to give public programs---but my 8" telescope (that I would like to donate to the club---with conditions) was permanently mounted in concrete in our back yard and my father was not willing for me to invite the public into our backyard. We owe it all to Wayne Wooten that the club has been giving the star programs---but, Frank Palma deserves credit for what he did in the 1970's. When the club was reactivated in 1978, Harold Yesnes, a former member of the 1950's Pensacola Astronomy Club, took back the 10" reflector he had donated to PJC, and, which had not been used in decades, (and, had a mount designed to carry up to a 24") and gave it to EAAA to build an observatory. The observatory plans were shelved when Wayne's 10" donation permitted public star parties---allowing the public to know about the club and permitting a lot of growth. An examination of the old METEORs will verify this time frame. I donated my copies of the METEOR that were printed in the late 1960s + late 1970's. Since these were mimeographed with blue ink---they are probably fading. These should be restored to the club's history. --Robert Blake, EAAA founder 1959; EAAA reactivator 1978; planetarium director/asst. prof. of astronomy, Odessa College, retired.

2 The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 9-10 September-October 2011 Page 2 Ft. Pickens Gaze on June 22 nd When I arrived at the park around 7:00 PM, Wayne Travis and Ray Hayes were already on site and I was closely followed by Rich and Carol Sigler, Perry Vath, Ed Magowan and John Arnold. The skies appeared to be quite clear and the Moon was very prominent in the blue sky. We were originally slated to set up in the amphitheater parking lot, but the rangers were not sure if the parking lights had been secured, so we moved down to the East Beach parking area since there were not lights at this area. We had a nice angle to the sky all around and a light breeze was blowing from the South and seemed to help keep the presence of vampires down. I set up my Orion 90 mm Mak and my 100 mm refractor, Ray set up a refractor, maybe a 90 mm, Wayne and Rich set up their Celestron 8" CPC's, Carol set up a pair of binos, John set up the Orion 6" Dob and Ed set up a camera & tripod and was showing views of shots he was taking with a small monitor. I had also set up the table with the various baskets of handouts I bring to these events. The sky began to grow dark and as Saturn and the brighter stars began to pop out, I was surprised how difficult the constellations were to see at this location. I would have guessed that we had 1 or 1.5 mag better skies than we have at Casino Beach, but Ed pointed out that the transparency was being blocked by some high thin clouds. This made seeing the faint fuzzies difficult and I was quite surprised that I was able to find M-57. We had a large light dome towards the North-East from the Wal- Mart/Target shopping centers and a faint one to the West from Perdido Key/Orange Beach areas. I would estimate that we had 30 to 50 people stop by for a view through our scopes during the course of the evening. Seeing was very steady and views of the Moon and Saturn were quite sharp and there were a lot of comments about how nice the views were. I did several constellation tours with the few that I could see with my green laser pointer and got the typical "oohs" and "that's cool" when it blazed through the sky. I was able to use my TMB 3.2 mm eyepiece in my refractor on the Moon for a magnification of 185x as we watched the sunlight creep down the inside of Plato during the evening. I have attached a shot of the Moon taken with the refractor and a 21 mm eyepiece and my Fuji Fine Pix S7000. I believe that Ray, Perry and John left between 9:00-10:00 PM, they did have a long drive ahead of them and the rest of us packed up and headed out around midnight. It was a great night at a nice location, and we might want to try for another gaze here when the Moon won't interfere so much with the views. --Dewey J. Barker, EAAA Star Gaze & Events Coordinator Space Day at NAS Richard Walker, Perry Vath, Carol & Rich Sigler and Dave Halupowski helped out at Kid's Space day at the Naval Aviation Museum.While the children made and flew paper rockets many of witch hit the Blue Angel jet hanging from ceiling, EAAA members showed sun spots with binoculars and a Meade ETX. The event was 10:00-1:00 Saturday July Dave Halupowski Several EAAA members spent a few hours at the Naval Aviation Museum. Some on the front lawn with solar scopes, some inside with the refurbished, wooden 8" Dob (as close to a work of art that one can find in astronomy). We started a sign-up sheet so we could send s to our visitors and provide them with URL website links and future astronomy events they might be interested in seeing. I might be a good idea to have a sign-up sheet at each star gaze so we can notify non-members about web site links and calendar events. --Richard Walker Pavilion gazes for August 5-6 TH, 2011 Many thanks to John Arnold and Perry Vath for joining me at the Pavilion on Friday evening, August 5th. We did show about 50 folks the moon around sunset, but complete cloud cover set in before Saturn and any stars appeared. I gave the star charts to John, who plans to come back out this evening please join him if the skies are clear enough! --Wayne Wooten On Saturday, August 6 th, I arrived at the Pavilion around 7:00 PM and was soon met by Wayne Travis and Perry Vath. The skies were not looking too cooperative towards the North and it looked like the clouds were slowly drifting South. The Moon was easily located in a fairly clear area of the sky, so we decided to set up our scopes and hope for the best. The three of us were soon joined by Rich and Carol Sigler, they had set up their binoculars on the left side of the Pavilion.

3 The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 9-10 September-October 2011 Page 3 Lyen McAbbe, John Arnold, Dave Halupowski and George Oedsma soon joined the group. We had a few problems with clouds skirting over Saturn and the Moon, but overall it turned out to be a really decent night for viewing. I would estimate that we had around 100+ people stop by for views through our scopes. It was a fairly warm evening and I suspect the Bushwhacker Festival brought out a few more people than normal. We were routinely flashed by the headlights from cars circling the parking lot as people were looking for a parking spot. The heat was beating up on all of us and everyone else had left me at the Pavilion by 10:30 PM. I stuck it out until about midnight, hoping to catch Jupiter rising, but there were some clouds obscuring the area to the East. As luck would have it, I noticed that they had finally cleared as I was driving down my block and I could see the brilliant light from the giant planet off in the distance, glowing majestically above the tree line. ---Dewey Barker Gaze for Windy Hills Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 10th The weather wasn t being very cooperative for this event. I arrived at the church and met with the pastor. Wayne Travis arrived soon after I did and we toured the area to get a feel for the best place to set up scopes and decided that the back side of the church would be best. We tried to set up in an area that was mostly free from the glare of the street lights, but this neighborhood in Beulah was quite well lit. Wayne set up his 8 CPC and I set up both of my Orion scopes and we were soon joined by Dan Hart and John Arnold. They both brought dobsonians, John had a 6 and Dan had an 10. We spent the evening looking at the Moon, and Saturn as the clouds passed overhead. I used my green laser pointer for some constellation tours as the clouds provided openings. I would estimate that we had 75+ people stop by for views through our scopes. We were repeatedly thanked for taking the time to come out and set up and I hope the church s youth activities coordinator will contact us in the future for some more events. The kids seemed enthusiastic and asked some interesting questions during the event. We got socked in and with tomorrow being a work day we finally wrapped up around 9:30 or so and headed for home. --Dewey J. Barker, EAAA Star Gaze & Events Coordinator Ft. Pickens Gaze for August 19, 2011 Finally a clear night, and a great gaze. We had over 100 folks come out to Battery Worth to observe Saturn in the western twilight, then the treats of summer overhead. We had great club support as well, with members Rick Hogue, Jacque Falzone, Carol Sigler, Dewey Barker, Lyen McAbee, John Arnold, Gary Wiseman, Ed Magowan, Manny Galindo, and Wayne Wooten assisting with scopes, star charts, laser pointers, and answers to many crowd questions. --Wayne Wooten Thank you for your assistance last night at the Ft. Pickens gaze with the club s six inch Dobsonian. The sight must have been knocked out of alignment as I transported the scope out to Ft. Pickens. It was pretty frustrating until you lined it up again. Once it was properly sighted, I was able to show folks, Mizar and Alcor, M6, M7, M8, M17 and M22. Also, thanks for answering so many questions. The folks ask and I rarely know the answer. It sure helps when you answer their questions.it was a fun night. --John Arnold EAAA JULY 8, 2011 MINUTES OF THE MEETING Photo-op before meeting for Island Times article to be published sometime in August about sidewalk star gazes. Meeting began at 7:05 p.m. Ed McGowan presented a Southern Ocean Sky time lapse video from the South of Australia. Clouds and sky showed changes over a rocky coastline toward the Southern Ocean, with stars appearing to flare as they move in front. Approximately 30 guests/students/members were present. No awards given out at this time. Dewey Barker has Level I books available for the educational program. There are 5 levels and each is based on points earned. No treasurer report. Dave Halupowski has shirts and hats in stock for sell.

4 The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 9-10 September-October 2011 Page 4 Dave Halupowski reported that several cities are adopting outdoor lighting ordinances to protect the sky. Cities such as Norman, Oklahoma, Flagstaff, Arizona and cities in Texas. Dr. Wooten s lecture on 50 years of progress in Astronomy at the Gulf Science Monterey s Mexican Grill went well. A new comet was found called C/2011 L4. May be visible with the naked eye in It is expected to come within 30 miles of the sun. Bob Gaskin has a website listed: for the Emerald Coast Astronomy and you can also go to for the Northwest Florida Astronomy Association. Officer elections are in November. If you are interested in running, contact one of the present officers. Andy Walker will present a program The Moon Is Important To You at the September meeting. Dr. Clay s presentation is scheduled October 7 th. Topic is Doc Clay s Delorean: A Cosmic Trip Stuck in Reverse. The EAAA club picnic and Meteor watch is being held August 13 th, 3 rd parking lot past the Portafino hotels. With the full moon, only the brightest meteors will probably be seen. Fort Pickens stargazes are: July 22 nd, August 19 th, September 16 th and October 21 st. Fort Pickens gazes for members volunteering are free if you identify yourself and show ID. Casino Beach Gazes are: August 5-6, Sept. 2-3, Sept. 30 & Oct.1 st. The Roy Hyatt Environmental Center, a center that provides environmental education to Escambia County students is having an Open House, July 23. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Dr. Wooten shared various photos and memories of ISS/HST passes. --Sharon Bogart, Secretary Calendar of Events Aug. 29 New Moon Aug. 31 Waxing crescent moon passes seven degrees south of Saturn Sept. 2-3 Pavilion Gazes at sunset, Pensacola Beach Performance Pavilion Sept. 4 First Quarter Moon Sept. 9 Organizational meeting for Student Chapter of EAAA, 6:30 PM, room 1775 EAAA Meeting at 7 PM, room 1775, Dr. Andy Walker presents program on Moon Sept. 12 Full Moon, the Harvest Moon closest to Autumnal Equinox Sept. 16 Ft. Pickens Gaze at Battery Worth, Moon passes 5 degrees N of Jupiter Sept. 20 Last quarter moon Sept. 23 Autumnal Equinox; fall begins at 4:06 AM CDT Sept. 26 Uranus at opposition Sept. 27 New Moon Sept. 29 Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year for 5772 AM. Look for Venus low in SW Sept. 30 Last Pavilion gazes for 2011 are this weekend, starting at sunset Oct. 1 Celebrate Fall Astronomy Day at the Pavilion Oct. 4 First quarter moon, Venus passes Spica, low in SW twilight Oct. 7 Dr. Clay Sherrod s Talk, 7 PM, room 2142, see poster Oct. 12 Full Moon, the Hunter s Moon Oct. 13 Moon passes 5 degrees north of Jupiter, both rising just after sunset Oct. 14 EAAA meetings, 6:30 for students, 7 PM for business meeting, room 1775 Oct. 20 Last quarter moon interferes some with peak for Orionid meteor shower Oct. 21 Last Ft. Pickens Gaze for season Oct. 26 New Moon Oct. 28 Nice twilight grouping of Venus, Mercury, and waxing crescent moon Oct. 29 Jupiter at opposition, up all night

5 New GOES-R to Give More Tornado Warning Time by Dauna Coulter and Dr. Tony Phillips So far this spring, more than 1,400 tornadoes have struck the U.S. Some of them have cut jaw-dropping trails of destruction across the countryside and, tragically, across inhabited communities, too. Hundreds of lives have been lost in the onslaught. Throughout the season, the National Weather Service has routinely issued tornado alerts. In the case of the Alabama tornadoes of April 27 th, forecasters warned of severe weather five full days before the twisters struck. Because they couldn t say precisely where the twisters would strike, however, many of their warnings went unheeded. If people get a hurricane warning, they often evacuate the area, notes NOAA's Steve Goodman. But we react differently to tornado warnings. Perhaps it s because tornadoes are smaller than hurricanes, and the odds of a direct hit seem so remote. Recent pictures from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Joplin, Missouri, however, show the perils of playing those odds. Goodman believes that more precise warnings could save lives. To fine-tune tornado warnings, NOAA will soon launch the first in a series of next-generation weather satellites GOES-R (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites-R series). The spacecraft is brimming with advanced sensors for measuring key ingredients of severe weather including winds, cloud growth, and lightning. GOES-R will be the first geostationary spacecraft to carry a lightning sensor, says Goodman, the GOES-R Program Senior Scientist. Studies show that sudden changes in the total lightning activity correlate with storm intensity and with tornadoes. The lightning mapper will detect and map not only cloud-to-ground lightning, but also bolts within and between clouds. The kind of cloud-to-ground lightning we see from our front yards accounts for only percent of total lightning. To get a clear idea of a storm's intensity, meteorologists need to know about all the lightning a view GOES-R can provide. All by itself, the lightning mapper will provide 7 minutes more lead time in tornado warnings, according to Goodman. GOES-R s state-of-the-art instruments will also improve long-range forecasts. The satellite's Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), for instance, will provide a much clearer picture of clouds, says NOAA research meteorologist Tim Schmit. Compared to lesser instruments already in orbit, ABI can better detect super-cold overshooting tops, evidence of enormous energy and upward velocity that correlate with subsequent severe weather. Accurate advanced notice of high-risk tornadic conditions can cue officials to close schools and businesses even before tornadoes are actually detected, says Schmit. Forecasters doubt tornadoes can ever be predicted with 100% accuracy. The twisters are just too capricious. GOES-R, however, is a step in the right direction. Find out more about GOES-R s unprecedented capabilities at Young people can learn more about tornadoes and all kinds of other weather at

6 This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Caption: This GOES image shows the storms that spurred the intense April 27 tornado outbreak in the southern U.S. Animation showing the development of weather can be seen at Editors: Download this image at

7 Solar System Size Surprise by Dr. Tony Phillips News flash: You may be closer to interstellar space than you previously thought. A team of researchers led by Tom Krimigis of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory announced the finding in the June 2011 issue of Nature. The complicated title of their article, Zero outward flow velocity for plasma in a heliosheath transition layer, belies a simple conclusion: The solar system appears to be a billion or more kilometers smaller than earlier estimates. The recalculation is prompted by data from NASA s Voyager 1 probe, now 18 billion kilometers from Earth. Voyagers 1 and 2 were designed and built and are managed by NASA s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Aging but active, the spacecraft have been traveling toward the stars since 1977 on a heroic mission to leave the solar system and find out what lies beyond. To accomplish their task, the Voyagers must penetrate the outer walls of the heliosphere, a great bubble of plasma and magnetism blown in space by the solar wind. The heliosphere is so big, it contains all the planets, comets, and asteroids that orbit the sun. Indeed many astronomers hold that the heliosphere defines the boundaries of the solar system. Inside it is home. Outside lies the Milky Way. For 30+ years, the spacecraft have been hurtling toward the transition zone. Voyager 1 is closing in. Much of Voyager 1 s long journey has been uneventful. Last year, however, things began to change. In June 2010, Voyager 1 beamed back a startling number: zero. That s the outward velocity of the solar wind where the probe is now. This is the first sign that the frontier is upon us, says Krimigis. Previously, researchers thought the crossing was still years and billions of kilometers away, but a new analysis gave them second thoughts. Krimigis and colleagues combined Voyager data with previously unpublished measurements from the Cassini spacecraft. Cassini, on a mission to study Saturn, is nowhere near the edge of the solar system, but one of its instruments can detect atoms streaming into our solar system from the outside. Comparing data from the two locations, the team concluded that the edge of the heliosphere lies somewhere between16 to 23 billion kilometers from the sun, with a best estimate of approximately 18 billion kilometers. Because Voyager 1 is already nearly 18 billion kilometers out, it could cross into interstellar space at any time maybe even as you are reading this article. How close are we? wonders Ed Stone, Caltech professor and principal investigator of the Voyager project since the beginning. We don't know, but Voyager 1 speeds outward a billion miles every three years, so we may not have long to wait. Stay tuned for the crossing. For more about the missions of Voyager 1 and 2, see Another Voyager project scientist, Merav Opher, is the guest on the newest Space Place Live cartoon interview show for kids at

8 Caption: This artist's concept shows NASA's two Voyager spacecraft exploring a turbulent region of space known as the heliosheath, the outer shell of the bubble of charged particles around our sun. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

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