The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association

Transcription

1 The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association VOLUME XLI Numbers November-December 2016 ********************************************************************************************* President Richard Mannarino (281) 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) UWF Astronomy Club Contact: Jon Ellard (251) Mobile AS Contact: Rod Mollise (251) PSC Student Chapter officers for : President: Jacob Herrea (850) Vice President: Tom Lloyd Secretary- Treasurer: Brittany Spears Editor: Rebecca Carlson (512) Sponsor/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 : EAAA re-activation Most recent members of EAAA probably think that the club has been continuously active since However, there were 5 years in the 1970's when the club was totally inactive. Summer, 1966, two of the most active members, Donnie Fortner and Raymond Bomar, left to start their freshman year in the summer sessions---so as to be familiar with the campus at the start of fall semester, and not be part of the hordes of new freshman completely confused by unfamiliar surroundings. The following year, I left for the University of Arizona to study astronomy and a new leadership took over---doug Lyons, Gail Houck, Carey (?), etc. The old minutes book probably gives more names. About five years later the club became inactive---then was reactivated when I took Wayne Wooten's place at PJC---when he was on study leave for his PhD during the 1977/78 school year. I contacted the old members that were still in the area. Not all were interested anymore including the two initial members I recruited in 1959, Dan Malinsky and Craig Wicke. We did not have a large enough core group so we decided to start with a small initial recruitment via the PJC newspaper---the CORSAIR and the Pensacola NAS GOSPORT---Harold Yesnes had been a civil service engineer on the base for many years---before retiring---and, was able to get an article in that newspaper. We used lunar photographs I had taken with the Dark Sky Site's 42" while at Lowell Observatory as a student tour guide. Two meetings had us organized enough to schedule a reactivation/member recruitment meeting. I wanted to reactivate in 1977 but, Thanksgiving was coming up soon, followed by Christmas and New Year. Wiser heads prevailed and we had our reactivation meeting in after which, the club became more active than ever before---very fast, and, mostly through being hosted by PJC and the Owens Planetarium. *

2 The Meteor Volume XLI Numbers November-December 2016 Page 2 We were very enthusiastic about achieving the club's long term goal---to build a domed observatory to offer the public access to astronomy. Harold Yesnes donated his home-built 10" reflector---with a mount heavy enough to carry a short 24". He had been a widower for several years and the lady he was seeing offered to let us build an observatory on her acreage. We were saved from this folly (he broke up with his lady friend before we could start construction) by Wayne Wooten. From Gainesville, he offered to donate his 10" reflector! Carl Ashcroft (a young navy man) was so enthusiastic about the 10" that he drove to DeFuniack to bring the telescope back---only to find that Wayne had not yet told his father of the donation. Carl returned empty handed. The portable 10" allowed the club to bring astronomy to the public for the first time---my 8" was mounted in concrete and could not be moved---and, while my father was willing to allow EAAA and Wayne's DeFuniack club access, he would not allow me to invite the public, at large, to our backyard. Several attempts were made to build an observatory---a dome mounted on an Avion travel trailer, a city financed observatory off Scenic Highway, etc. These attempts came to naught and the club still uses portable instruments. PJC's Frank Palma, Owens Planetarium curator, had been giving sky interpretation programs at Ft. Pickens. He offered to have me take up the programs---but, I was tied up and did not realize the opportunity---to have the club members give the programs as a club activity. After Wayne returned---this was done---with the 10" kept in the quartermaster building. * note---pjc would not host the club unless Wayne was willing to act as faculty host after he came back to PJC. His agreement allowed the club to reactivate. When Wayne was a high school student in DeFuniack, they had a school astronomy club. They learned about EAAA through the annual list of astronomy clubs in SKY & TELESCOPE in They contacted us with the result that we had three shared meetings. The second meeting was to be a star party in my backyard. Wayne told me they would arrive in Pensacola at a certain time---i arranged to have EAAA members present, my mother fixed some food for the DeFuniack group after their drive. But, the expected arrival did not come, and, after an hour, all the EAAA members left, I put my telescope away, we were about to lock up for the night---when they arrived. They had stopped at a Pensacola restaurant promptly at the time they said they would arrive in Pensacola. They did get to use my homemade 8". They seemed impressed by a telescope used without a finder 'scope. And, they enjoyed learning how we did hand guided time exposures of constellations that showed so many stars that it was tough to pick out constellations. That summer, we had a combined meeting at the Pensacola NAS Planetarium, used for teaching celestial navigation to pre-flight students. They were so impressed by the primitive, early projector that several must never have seen a planetarium sky before. After that meeting, summer, 1967, Wayne joined EAAA. Soon, I left for U of A and Wayne and best buddy, Rand Baldwin left for U of F.

3 The Meteor Volume XLI Numbers November-December 2016 Page 3 Years later, after three years army time, while I spent 1.5 school years trying to get back my planetarium job (one of those guaranteed rights veterans are promised) PJC was seeking a new astronomy instructor to replace Eddy Gilbert, who was retiring. I had not started a masters program and could not apply---so, I talked Wayne into applying. I thought that teaching at college level would be a better step toward university teaching/research than teaching high school---not realizing Wayne would fall in love with the area and stay even after getting his PhD. EAAA Report- Supermoon November 14th, 2016: --Robert Blake, EAAA Founder EAAA invited Pensacola State College students and community members to view the supermoon 2016 event through telescopes set up outside PSC s Planetarium. The event began at 5:00 PM and lasted until about 7:30 PM. An estimated 50 people stopped by throughout the night to view the moon. EAAA members were available to assist gazers with capturing images with their cell phones. Those that came early to the event also observed the orange-to-creamy color change as the moon rose in the evening sky. EAAA members present included Dr. Wayne Wooten, Richard Mannarino, Tom Riederer, Adam Licko, and Becca Carlson Benson. EAAA Meeting Minutes for December 02, :00pm TONIGHT'S PROGRAM: - Christmas Party (wonderful food) - EAAA Officers for 2017: Richard Mannarino president Christopher Gomez vice president Jim Larduskey treasurer Richard Walker - secretary Dewey Barker gaze coordinator Rebecca Carlson Meteor editor Jacque Falzone historian NEXT PROGRAM: - January 13, 2017 Rehearsal for the Pensacon Panel discussion on colonizing Mars Introduce Students and Guests Several students and guests attended the meeting. REPORTS Awards (Wayne Wooten) no awards presented tonight Amateur Astronomer Education Program and Levels (Dewey Barker) Dewey to inform any new members about the education program, and benefits Treasurer Report (Jim Larduskey provides the numbers) Checking $ Savings Cash Total $7, Forecast expenditures for Observer s Handbooks, loaner telescopes and possible IOPTRON units if all the current units are loaned out. 1,000 inexpensive solar glasses to be purchased.

4 The Meteor Volume XLI Numbers November-December 2016 Page 4 Jim is circulating the 2017 calendar lists for the 1) Wall calendars ($6.50) and the 2) Observer s Handbook (approx $26.00). If you want either or both of the calendars be sure to get your name on the specific lists. 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 California senate votes to not allow digital signs in certain areas. A win for astronomy. Last Month's Minutes (distributed in the last Meteor) 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 Munson area is being checked out for possible dark sky use in the fall. 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 2017 meetings will be on the 2nd Friday of each month beginning with January 13, Six IOPTRON units are available for check out and/or purchase. Mike Lewis and Ryan (Zach) Chavers each borrowed a unit. Four units remain to be borrowed or used at star gazes. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned, followed by a possible outside gaze. --Richard Walker, Secretary

5 The Meteor Volume XLI Numbers November-December 2016 Page 5 Calendar of Events Jan. 7 Big Lagoon Stargaze at sunset Jan. 12 Full Moon, the Moon of the Breaking Branches for northern woods Indians Jan. 13 EAAA meets in room 1775 at 7 PM, rehearsal for Martian Colonization Jan. 19 Last quarter moon passes just north of Jupiter, both rise about midnight Mercury at greatest western elongation, 24 degrees from sun in dawn Jan. 21 Big Lagoon Stargaze at sunset Jan. 23 Stargaze for W.H. Rhodes ES; contact Dewey Barker if you can assist Jan. 24 Moon passes four degrees north of Saturn in dawn sky Jan. 25 Moon passes four degrees north of Mercury in dawn sky Jan. 27 New Moon; seven more until our solar eclipse! Jan. 31 Very beautiful triangle of Venus, Mars, crescent moon at dusk! Feb. 2 First quarter moon Feb. 4 Big Lagoon Stargaze at sunset Feb. 7 Global Learning Center stargaze; contact Dewey at Feb. 10 EAAA meets at 7 PM in room 1775; Full Moon, the Hunger Moon Feb. 14 Valentine s day finds the Moon passing 4 degrees north of Jupiter Feb Pensacon at Bay Center; need volunteers of day and evening gazes! For more info, link to: Feb. 18 Last quarter moon, Big Lagoon gaze Feb. 20 Waning crescent moon passes 4 degrees north of Saturn in dawn Feb. 26 New Moon, six more until totality! March 3 Woodbine Elementary School Gaze March 4 Big Lagoon State Park gaze at sunset Stay tuned for our schedule of gazes at the Pavilion and Fort Pickens for 2017! For 2017, the meetings will be on the Second Friday of each month. Pay at the next meeting or by mail with a check, payable to EAAA to treasurer Jim Larduskey, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL 32504; call him at if you have questions. Dues are $24 for individual or family membership, $12 for senior (60+) and student membership.

6 Gallery of Memories of the Mercury 7 Program The Mercury 7 in front of Convair F-106 Delta Dart in 1962 These images were loaned to Pensacola State College by former PJC student Lisa Knuth to commemorate the passing of John Glenn, last of the Mercury 7 astronauts. Many Thanks! Oh, please absolutely share them. That's why I sent them. I think I told you about my father and his interaction with them. Would you like me to reiterate? I don't mind. Unfortunately, my father would be happy and proud, if he were alive to boast about it. But it throws a shadow on the heroes' reputations, and I would hesitate to do that. As I told you, he basically steered them to and accompanied them to the seedier strip clubs that were all over the area around Willow Grove NAS and Johnsville Air Station while they were undergoing centrifuge training. I really wish I could do better. He did allow me to stay home from school to watch John Glenn's mission (I do remember that) and bragged to his friends about his friendship with the 'guys', but he took off shortly thereafter and I had very limited communication with him for the rest of his life. I do believe he actually took me to Johnsville, and I was allowed to look at the centrifuge. I kind of remember going onto the base one time. My dad may have introduced me to some of them, but I was just a shy little girl, and I don't remember. I think maybe he must have, or why else would they all take the time to personalize their autographs to me? In retrospect, I hope I met them. Feel free to share any of my experience! I do love J. G.'s little spaceman!

7 I was very little, and I don't remember much. I believe I know how/why my dad met the guys. We lived a hop, skip, and a jump from Johnsville Navy base, and they were up there for centrifuge training. My Dad was, I don't know how to explain it, not an upright person. He showed them around the seedy side of the area, to have a good time. And apparently they all had a good time. My pictures and autographs were done before anyone went into space. But not too far before. And they were all directed, authentically to me. I so wish I had a better story. Not proud. You do whatever you need to do with the pix. I will just be very happy to have them back. And my lips are sealed about how they came about. You are the only person I have ever told about this (until now editor!) The gondola is made of lightweight composite materials and sheeted in aluminum. It was used to train early Navy jet fighter pilots and all of NASA s X-15 pilots, including a young test pilot by the name of Neil Armstrong. Beginning in August of 1959 it was used to train all of the astronauts for the Mercury and Gemini programs including Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell. All were subjected to the high G-forces of the Johnsville Centrifuge in this gondola. After its removal in 1964, it was sent by the Navy to the Smithsonian Institution where, due to its size, it was placed in an outdoor storage yard. Well, I feel like we have become friends, in a serendipitous way. Again, thank you for taking so much interest, and making me remember things about a happy time in my childhood. And my dad did give me my "First Golden Book of Astronomy", around the same time, and which is still right here on my bookshelf. As is the textbook from your class. Both of which have inspired me. Lisa Knuth, Pensacola Junior College Alumni In commemoration of the passing of the last of the Mercury 7 astronauts, Senator John Glenn, last December, here is a gallery of Lisa s NASA shots with the signatures of these great American heroes, who indeed had The Right Stuff! Here is the logo for the Mercury program, the symbol of the planet Mercury with the seven astronauts inside.

8 Alan Shepard, Mercury-Redstone 3 First American in space.

9 Launch of Freedom 7, May 5, 1961 This suborbital launch used the Redstone launcher, as the Atlas booster was not yet man rated. Yuri Gagarin had already orbited the Earth three times; America was months behind Russia!

10 Freedom 7, home safe. Shepard stayed on a ballistic trajectory for a 15-minute sub-orbital flight, which carried him to an altitude of 116 miles and to a splashdown point 302 miles down the Atlantic Missile Range. Note the astronauts used a life raft for separate recovery. This fact saved Gus Grissom s life on the next mission.

11 Gus Grissom, Liberty Bell 7 Replacing Deke Slayton on this mission, Gus narrowly avoided dying at the end of the sub orbital flight when his capsule sank just as he was being rescued. Later, however, he was among the first astronauts to die on the Apollo 1 fire, along with Ed White and Roger Chaffee.

12 John Glenn, Friendship 7 First American to orbit the Earth, February 20, A senator, shuttle astronaut, and a man who should have been president! Merry and I met him, and we certainly supported his run in 1984, and his death last month inspired this tribute to all these brave pioneers. Link to the Kingston Trio s song about them:

13 Mercury Atlas, Friendship 7 on the pad. As the Atlas booster became man-rated (after many spectacular failures) we were at last able to launch men into orbital flight. Unlike the first Russian manned missions, our Mercury 7 capsules were under partial crew control. Gagarin, like Laika on Sputnik II, was just along for the ride!

14 Launch of Friendship 7 Perhaps the tension was never greater than when we watched John Glenn launch into orbit atop the atlas rocket. Most pervious Atlas attempts had been spectacular failures. They really meant it when ground control said, Godspeed, John Glenn!

15 Scott Carpenter, Aurora 7 The smaller Redstone launches were from KSC launch complex 5, but the larger launches of the Atlas boosters were from launch complex 14.

16 The Aurora 7 launch on May 24,, 1962

17 Wally Schirra, Sigma 7 As depicted here, the astronauts were able to remove their head gear while in orbit, but never could remove the suit entirely. Shirtsleeve environments would have to wait for the space shuttle. All of these astronauts were test pilots in extremely good physical condition.

18 Gordon Cooper, Faith 7 At launch and recovery, all of the astronauts wore pressurized head gear. The failure to do so cost the Russians the lives of the Soyuz 11 crew members. Georgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov, and Viktor Patsayev are the only humans to have died in space.

19 Deke Slayton, Apollo-Soyuz Slayton was grounded in 1962 by an irregular heart rhythm. At age 51 he was granted medical clearance to fly, assigned as the docking module pilot of the 1975 Apollo Soyuz Test Project, and become the oldest person to fly in space at the time only to be surpassed by John Glenn in 1998, when he was 77 years old. The space shuttle allowed for less fit astronauts to fly safely.

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