TAAS Fabulous Fifty Scorpius Friday July 14, 2017 2000 MDT (8:00 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita
Evening Events 8:00 pm Meet inside the church for overview of summer sky. 8:45 pm View night sky outside. Sunset 8:21 pm 9:30 pm Social session inside the church. 10:00 pm Optional additional viewing outside.
Objectives Provide new astronomers a list of 50 night sky objects 1. Locate with the naked eye 2. Showcases the night sky for an entire year 3. Beginner astronomer will remember from one observing session to the next 4. Basis for knowing the night sky well enough to perform more detailed observing
Methodology 1. Divide the observing activities into the four seasons Lyra a. winter Dec Jan - Feb b. spring Mar Apr - May c. summer Jun Jul - Aug d. fall Sep Oct - Nov Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita 2. Begin with the bright and easy to locate and identify stars and associated constellations 3. Add the other constellations for each season.
Methodology (cont.) 4. Add a few naked eye Messier Objects 5. Include planets when visible 6. Include the Moon as a separate observing activity M 8 The Lagoon Nebula Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita A star forming area Visible to the naked eye 7. Include meteor showers as separate observing activity
Tonight s Activities 1. Identify the TAAS FAB 50 summer objects 2. Learn about Messier Objects 3. We will first look at a free Skymap that can be downloaded at http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html 4. Observe outside 5. Social time indoors (free cookies and drink)
100 astronomical objects listed by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1771 Messier Objects (M)? Messier was a comet hunter, and frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets Compiled a list of them, to avoid wasting time on observing them Currently 110 objects in list First deep space objects (outside of our solar system) that amateur astronomers will attempt to observe after observing the moon and the planets All visible in small telescopes Many are observable in binoculars Few are visible to the naked eye
What Are the Messier Objects (M)?
Star Charts Many sizes and types All useful Pick a chart Learn to use it
The Summer Sky Map
Sky Map Lesson Free and can be downloaded at http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html Select observer location New map each month (available 3 days prior) Easy to use Available in several languages
Sky Map Lesson (cont.) 1. Hand out Sky Map 2. Examine Sky Map 3. Learn how to hold Sky Map 4. Use Sky to locate FAB 50 objects
Steps to Get Sky Map 1. Log into to the web site to download the Sky Map 2. Locate the Northern Hemisphere Edition 3. Select the current month (the chart for each month becomes available about 2 4 days prior to the first day of the month) 4. Download the chart and save to your computer 5. Print Sky Map
Sky Map Lesson (cont.) This chart is for Northern Hemisphere - early July at 10 PM and/or - late July at 9 PM 40 o north latitude. Albuquerque s 35 0 north latitude Close enough to 35 0 so chart is useable
Sky Map Lesson (cont.) The are are two pages to the map. We will examine each page individually
Sky Map Lesson (cont.) Cygnus Dates of celestial events Outlines of the constellations Magnitude (brightness) of the stars Symbols for the various objects
Magnitude (brightness) bright star dim star Brightness of a star is indicated by size of the black dot
Star Chart Lesson (cont.) General Info Visible with naked eye Observing Tips Visible with binoculars Astronomical Glossary
Holding the Sky Map Begin by locating the four cardinal directions a. South b. North c. West d. East Hold the chart so the direction you are looking is at the bottom of the chart
Holding the Sky Map (cont.) Upside down (unreadable) Direction viewing at bottom of map Right side up (readable)
Review of Spring Constellations Stars Messier Object Ursa Major Dubhe Merak Leo Regulus M 44 The Beehive Boötes Arcturus M 3
Spring Constellation Ursa Major the Big Bear North Star POLARIS Two bright stars Dubhe Merak Pointers to the North Star
How to Find the North Star
Spring The backward question mark Constellation Leo the Lion Bright star Regulus This constellation actually LOOKS LIKE a lion.
Spring Constellation Bootes (bow-oh-tease) the herdsman Bright star Arcturus
Arcturus is a BIG Star 186 million miles This summer we wi look at even BIGGER star, ANTARES.
Spring Objects in July SkyMap Summer Objects Bootes Leo Ursa Major Looking west
Summer Constellations Stars Messier Objects Lyra Vega Cygnus Deneb Aquila Altair Scorpius Antares M 4 Sagittarius Nunki M 8 Summer Triangle (asterism)
Summer Constellation Lyra the Lyre Bright star Vega 5 th brightest Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita The leaning over parrelogram
Lyra Vega Lyra EAST on the bottom View to the EAST
Summer Constellation Cygnus the Swan Deneb (DEN-ebb) Albireo (double star) Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita
Cygnus Cygnus Deneb Albireo Hold your Skymap with EAST on the bottom View to the EAST
Summer Constellation Aquila the Eagle Bright star Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita Altair
Altair Aquila Altair Hold your Skymap with EAST on the bottom View to the EAST
Asterism A prominent pattern or group of stars Typically having a popular name Smaller than a constellation
A crowded sky Lyra Cygnus Aquila Three constellations are very close to each other
Three Bright Stars Lyra Cygnus Aquila Three bright stars in three separate constellations Create a very visible pattern
Three Bright Stars (cont.) Lyra Cygnus Aquila Summer Triangle Three bright stars in three separate constellations Create a very visible pattern
Asterism
The Summer Triangle June looking EAST December looking WEST Visible for almost 7 months
URSA MAJOR The constellation is called URSA MAJOR The asterism is called THE BIG DIPPER
Summer Constellation Scorpius the scorpion Antares M 4 globular cluster Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita M 4
Scorpius Antares Scorpius M 4 Hold your Skymap with SOUTH on the bottom View to the SOUTH
Summer has a very big star Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita
Summer has a very big star A very BIG star Sun A SMALL star Antares
So, how BIG is Antares? 864 million miles ------------------------ = 9. 3 93 million miles 9.3 x distance to the sun
Summer Constellation Sagittarius Nunki the teapot Bright star Nunki M 8 Lagoon Nebula Photo Wikipedia
Sagittarius Sagittarius Nuki M 8 Hold your Skymap with SOUTH on the bottom View to the SOUTH
The Center of the Milky Way Galaxy
The Summer Skymap Galactic Center Sagittarius Scorpius Hold your Skymap with SOUTH on the bottom View to the SOUTH
Star hopping to find objects 1. Learning how to move from a know object to an unknown object 2. Looking for geometric situations between visible stars 3. Finding the location of the unknown object About halfway between stars
How to Find M 8 Top of the Pot M 8 Nunki Almost equal distance In a dark sky M 8 visible to naked eye Almost always visible in binoculars
Review Scorpius Aquila Cygnus Triangle of Summer Sagittarius Lyra
The End of Dee s mumblings Begin to dark adapt by closing one eye before you go outside. Bring with you 1. A red light (cell phone app) 2. Sky Map