REFLECTIONS / REFRACTIONS University Lowbrow Astronomers REFLECTIONS \ REFRACTIONS October 2012 Volume 36, Issue 10 Lowbrow Summer: 2012 The Lowbrows had a very active summer from the from the solstice to the first day of fall. The newsletter doesn't have the space to report on all the events in one issue but this should give you an idea of the breadth of the club's activities. It is impressive and we should be proud of what we accomplished.--ed. Ann Arbor Public Library Loan-a-Scope Program: Telescopes Made Available to Area Families This past spring the Ann Arbor Public Library, with librarian Lowbrow Amy Cantu leading the charge, launched it s telescpe loan program. Eight Orion StarBlast scopes were retrofitted by Lowbrow Clay Kessler and were introduced to the public at a Lowbrow/Library observing event at the Leslie Science Center at the end of April. Thinking the program would need more publicity to catch with the public, the public relations campaign included a second observing event at the end of June. The first event, though, saw all the scopes loaned out and by the time of the second event the waiting list for scopes had grown to well over one hundred. Since the the June 27th event had been publicized, it was held as scheduled, but due to the immediate popularity of the program no scopes were available for loan that night. The evening was a great success, with scores of families on hand to view the moon and Saturn. Hoping to meet demand, the Library bought more instruments and held a retrofit party in the basement of the main branch August 25th, more than doubling the number of scopes available. The waiting list increased as well, though, to over two hundred. --Jim Forrester
Page 2 REFLECTIONS / REFRACTIONS August 25th: New Batch of Loan-a-Scopes Made From the left: George Piner, Librarian and Lowbrow Amy Cantu, Mystery Man in the Hat, Charlie Nielsen and Clayton Kessler. Jack Brisbin and Paul Walkowski tinker away on the new StarBlasts.
October 2012 Okie-Tex Star Party September 8-15 Page 3 Photo: Nathan Murphy Lowbrows far and wide descended on the far western end of the Oklahoma pan handle and joined 300 other amateur astronomers at the Okie-Tex Star Party, September 8-15. Seven of the eight nights were brilliantly clear, making for quite a successful week. The perfectly timed Wednesday evening rain gave everyone an opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep. A highlight was NGC 6726, an emission nebula in Corona Australis. The bright stars blazing out of the fluorescing gas reminded everone of the height challenged desert dwellers of the first Star Wars film making 6726 the Jawa Nebula. Check out this Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120927. html From the left: Nathan Murphy (now of Madison, WI), a rather surprised Chris Sarnecki reacting to a somewhat unusual guest, Honorary Lowbrow Rob Campbell (Long Island, NY), Robert Wade (Ledyard, CT), Jim Forrester, George Piner and Mark Deprest.--Jim Forrester Lowbrow Calendar Saturday, October 13, 2012. Open House at Peach Mt. Starting at Sunset (May be cancelled if it s cloudy.). Friday, October 19, 2012. (7:30PM). Monthly Club Meeting. Documentary Film: The City Dark Saturday, October 20, 2012. Open House at Peach Mt. Starting at Sunset (May be cancelled if it s cloudy.) (this open house is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library and the University Lowbrow Astronomers). Thursday, November 1, 2012. (7:00PM). A Voyage to the End of the Universe. Public talk by Terence Dickinson. This event is hosted by the Ann Arbor District Library and will take place in the downtown branch of the library.
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October 2012 Page 5 The Darkest Spot in the Mitten by Brian Ottum 10 93267: ;< 80 9;=756::235> 46 120?: @450;5-463;54= *42AB,C8 A5;D5 4E 4 F%42A '45>:2GH ); 6I3E E788:2,C9: /::5 ;5 4 E:42?I <;2 6I: J42A:E6 EK;6 35 =;D:2.3?I3>45G!I: L;725:0 E6426E D36I 4 J:643=:J 35EK:?63;5 ;< 6I: =3>I6 K;==763;5 84KG M;7?45 E:: 6I46 6I:2: 3E 4 53?: J42A FI;=:H 35 6I: -N ;<.3?I3>45O This hole is located east of Mio & Fairview, in the Huron National Forest. It is just 185 miles north of Ann Arbor, a 3hr srive. I figured that there had to be observing spots on the public land up there. Tony Licata, in a posting in the Michigan Astronomers Yahoo Group, said that he d been looking in that area and found nothing. So I went to the DarkSkyFinder and Blue Marble Night Lights 2010 websites fir detailed inspection. The national forest is the obvious target with just trees. lakes and the beautiful Au Sable River. Google maps satellite view of the area is several years old and poor resolution. However, Bing s aerial view is excellent. I found a dirt forestry road that had a good-clearing, located off a paved forestry road.
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October 2012 Page 7 &/;76 R48B,C8 E36635> 35 80?I432 45J K45535> 6I: /35;?7=42E 6I2;7>I @0>57EG &== ;< 4 E7JJ:5 6I:2: D4E 4 EI23:A 45J D43= 6I46 ;23>3546:J 4/;76 RXXC 35 <2;56 ;< 8:B 35 6I: D;;JEG )I39:2E D:56 J;D5 80 EK35: 45J, L78K:J 356; 6I: ']G!I:2: D4E 45;6I:2 45J, <3>72:J 36 D4E 4?;0;6:?4==35> I3E /7JJ3:EG #8/4224EE:JB, D:56 /4?A 6; 80?I432 ;76E3J:G ": D4E K2;/4/=0 8;2: 4<243J ;< 8: 6I45 6I: 2:9:2E:G That dark spot in the Huron National Forest was great, but it has three big drawbacks. First, the entrance road is a bit scary. Second, the horizons are not good at all, with trees all around at about 30 degrees up. Third, there are NO facilities whatsoever. On the flip side, it is super secluded, super dark with no light domes at all. Tony Licata found a more open site nearby, with better horizons. He and Mike Rousseau went there after the GLSG. The site is just a mile from the Horseshoe Lake campground in the Huron forest. We plan to all return there in mid-october, so I will have more to report. That site is 2 in the following map. My dark and rustic spot is 1. THEN ON TO: The Great Lakes Star Gaze, Gladwin, MI Observing field at the Great Lakes Star Gaze
Page 8 REFLECTIONS / REFRACTIONS Lowbrow Norb Vance leads other Lowbrows and friends in the group photo at the Great Lakes Star Gaze. At right: Norb blasts off a big one! Photo: Brian Ottum Brian Ottum got time lapse video of the all night activity and set it to music. You can view it here: http://vimeo.com/49606864
October 2012 Page 9 Places & Times Dennison Hall, also known as The University of Michigan s Physics & Astronomy building, is the site of the monthly meeting of the University Lowbrow Astronomers. Dennison Hall can be found on Church Street about one block north of South University Avenue in Ann Arbor, MI. The meetings are usually held in room 130, and on the 3 rd Friday of each month at 7:30 pm. During the summer months and when weather permits, a club observing session at the Peach Mountain Observatory will follow the meeting. Peach Mountain Observatory is the home of the University of Michigan s 25 meter radio telescope as well as the University s McMath 24 telescope which is maintained and operated by the Lowbrows. The observatory is located northwest of Dexter, MI; the entrance is on North Territorial Rd. 1.1 miles west of Dexter-Pinckney Rd. A small maize & blue sign on the north side of the road marks the gate. Follow the gravel road to the top of the hill and a parking area near the radio telescopes, then walk along the path between the two fenced in areas (about 300 feet) to reach the McMath telescope building. Membership Membership dues in the University Lowbrow Astronomers are $20 per year for individuals or families, $12 per year for students and seniors (age 55+) and $5 if you live outside of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This entitles you to the access to our monthly ewsletters on-line at our website and use of the 24 McMath telescope (after some training). A hard copy of the ewsletter can be obtained with an additional $12 annual fee to cover printing and postage. (See the website http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/theclub/ for more information on joining the club). Membership in the Lowbrows can also get you a discount on these magazine subscriptions: Sky & Telescope - $32.95 / year Astronomy - $34.00 / year or $60.00 for 2 years For more information contact the club Treasurer. ewsletter Contributions Members and (non-members) are encouraged to write about any astronomy related topic of interest. Public Open House / Star Parties Public Open Houses / Star Parties are generally held on the Saturdays before and after the New Moon at the Peach Mountain observatory, but are usually cancelled if the sky is cloudy at sunset or the temperature is below 10 degrees F. For the most up to date info on the Open House / Star Party status call: (734)332-9132. Many members bring their telescope to share with the public and visitors are welcome to do the same. Peach Mountain is home to millions of hungry mosquitoes, so apply bug repellent, and it can get rather cold at night, please dress accordingly. Lowbrow s Home Page http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/
University Lowbrow Astronomers Reflections & Refractions Website www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/ Star-hopping katydid advising greatful Lowbrow last July