Double Stars Are Twice the Fun & Double Star Challenge by Glenn Chaple the in This Issue
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the vol. 40 no. 4 Skyscraper April 2013 AMATEUR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND 47 PEEPTOAD ROAD NORTH SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND 02857 WWW.THESKYSCRAPERS.ORG In this issue Friday, April 5, 6:30pm at Seagrave 2 President’s Message Memorial Observatory 3 Double Stars for Late Winter/Early Spring Double Stars are Twice the Fun 4 April Lyrids Meteor & Double Star Challenge Shower and Last Decent Views of Jupiter by Glenn Chaple 5 Planetarium at the I hope you will attend our April meet- telescope to have some of the finest optics University of Rhode Island ing. Glenn Chaple, a columnist for As- to be found. Let’s see how well the Clark 6 Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major tronomy Magazine, will be introducing us performs compared to other telescopes. to the joy of observing double stars. After Perhaps someone’s telescope has even bet- M101 his talk, members are encouraged to set up ter optics? 6 Double Stars for 8-inch Clark their telescopes for a “Double Star Chal- So plan on spending this enjoyable lenge”, and we can have some fun improv- spring evening at Seagrave Observatory. 7 Astronomy Outreach at ing our observing skills, and testing the op- The spring peepers will be singing in the Greenville Public Library tical limits of various telescopes, as we hunt pond next door, and we’ll have a great time down doubles from a list that Mr. Chaple observing together. We will be sure to have 7 Budget Worksheet has provided us. Please print a copy of this hot beverages and snacks available. 2013-2014 list, and be sure to bring along some star The “Double Star Challenge” will be- charts and a red flashlight. gin immediately after our April meeting, 9 Your Daily Dose of Many of us believe that our 8” Clark around 9pm. Astonishment Glenn Chaple has been an avid amateur tronomy magazine Odyssey, and has written the 10 Comet C/2011 L4 astronomer since the summer of 1963 when a “Observing Basics” column for Astronomy since PanSTARRS Photo Gallery high school friend showed him Saturn and the 2002. He is co-author with Terence Dickinson double star Mizar with a small reflecting tele- and Victor Costanzo of the Edmund Scientific 14 Secretary scope. The interest led him 6 years later to a Mag 6 Atlas and author of the book Exploring 14 Upcoming Meetings bachelor’s degree in astronomy from the Univer- With a Telescope. sity of Massachusetts in Amherst. A 3-year stint In 1980, Chaple joined the American Asso- 15 Treasurer at the Alice G. Wallace Planetarium in Fitch- ciation of Variable Star Observers. Since then, burg, Massachusetts, was followed by more than he has made over 75,000 variable star estimates. 16 Imaging through 30 years as a secondary school science teacher. Although he pursues variable stars with any- the Alvan Clark Chaple has spent many thousands of hours thing from the unaided eye to binoculars to a exploring the night sky with a variety of tele- small rich-field telescope, his primary vari- scopes. For many years, his standby was a 3-inch able star tool is a vintage 13-inch Dobsonian- reflecting telescope with which he saw all of the mounted reflector. Messier objects, more than 100 asteroids, and Besides astronomy, Glenn enjoys distance 1,500 double and multiple stars. His fascina- running (“My marathon days are long over — tion with double stars led to his first astronomi- it’s 5K road races now!”), playing baseball in an cal writings, penning a column on double stars over-40 fast-pitch league, and fishing. He lives for Deep Sky magazine, edited by none other in north central Massachusetts with his wife, than current Astronomy Editor David J. Eich- Regina, and is the proud parent of two grown er. In addition to Deep Sky, Glenn also wrote sons and “grampy” to two future astronomers, the “What’s Up” column for the children’s as- Katie and Sam. He is a lifelong Red Sox fan. The Skyscraper April 2013 President’s Message Ed Haskell At the March meeting I introduced fronted with property tax bills from the The Skyscraper is published monthly high school senior Caitlin Wilson who has Town of Scituate which today would be by Skyscrapers, Inc. Meetings are held adopted astronomy as the topic for her Se- about $2,400 per year. Bob Napier appeared monthly, usually on the first or second nior Project. I read from her project pro- a number of times before appropriate com- Saturday of the month. Seagrave Memorial Observatory is open every posal and asked help from the membership mittees of the Town and argued that our Saturday night, weather permitting. in providing time and material assistance to public observing and educational under- Caitlin in her endeavor. I am happy to re- takings were of significant public value and President port that Skyscrapers his risen to the chal- would suffer severe damage if a small soci- Ed Haskel [email protected] lenge and a number of members are pro- ety such as ours had to try to raise that kind viding components from their ‘spare parts of money. Eventually the issue was won and 1st Vice President boxes’ and that Bob Horton has agreed to we enjoy an abatement of all property taxes Bob Horton [email protected] mentor Caitlin in her project. As this help in recognition of our contribution to the 2nd Vice President came forward Caitlin wrote the following public in general and to school children in Kathy Siok [email protected] to me: particular. Last month I wrote of the positive im- Secretary Good Afternoon Mr. Haskell, pact on our budget of public viewing ses- Tom Thibault [email protected] I met with Bob on Tuesday, and had sions. This seems a good opportunity to Treasurer review the impact of this tax abatement Lloyd Merrill [email protected] a tour of the Ladd Observatory and that results solely due to our educational even had the chance to use the telescope outreach efforts. Members at Large to see Jupiter! Thank you so much for The tax bill approximates thirty per- Jim Hendrickson [email protected] all of your help the past fews days. I cent of our annual budget. If we had to in- Bob Napier [email protected] really appreciate everything you, and clude funds to pay the taxes that have been Trustees all of Skyscrapers, have done for me. I abated then we would have to raise dues by Pat Landers [email protected] nearly $25.00 per member if spread equally hope to see you all soon! Steve Siok [email protected] across the member classes. Put in context Conrad Cardano [email protected] Thanks, that would result in a dues increase of 50% Outreach Coordinators Caitlin Wilson for Regular Members and a proportion- ately larger percent for most other member Conrad Cardano [email protected] Caitlin is a very impressive young wom- classes (since their present dues are lower Bob Forgiel [email protected] an and it is a pleasure for us to be able to than Regular Membership). Librarian help her in these academic pursuits. Once in a while I hear from two or three Alex Bergemann [email protected] Without doubt this assistance was ren- members who grumble that we devote too dered for the best of reasons and exemplifies much time to public outreach and educa- Historian the willingness of Skyscrapers’ Members to tion and who believe those resources could Dave Huestis [email protected] help educate the public on matters astro- be better spent elsewhere. Since this is a Editor nomical wherever and whenever needed. very small percent of the membership I Jim Hendrickson [email protected] However there is a direct benefit to Sky- could just dismiss these complaints out of scrapers from the educational initiatives we hand but instead the Board takes up the Directions Directions to Seagrave Memorial undertake of which you may be unaware. issue whenever raised and considers anew Observatory are located on the Some years ago Skyscrapers was con- whether we are doing the right thing. Thus back page of this newsletter. Submissions Submissions to The Skyscraper are always welcome. Please submit items Seagrave Memorial for the newsletter no later than April 19 to Jim Hendrickson, 1 Sunflower Observatory Circle, North Providence, RI 02911 or Open Nights e-mail to [email protected]. E-mail subscriptions To receive The Skyscraper by e-mail, send Saturdays at 8:00 pm e-mail with your name and address to jim@ Summer hours begin on April 20 distantgalaxy.com. Note that you will no with opening time at 9:00 pm longer receive the newsletter by postal mail. weather permitting 2 The Skyscraper April 2013 far the analysis has come down on the side of these is the preservation of the Society’s two Boards, their degree of satisfaction and of no change. I suspect that will continue to assets. Financial assets are primarily the how that protection is accomplished. I ex- be the case, but the right thing is for those concern of the Board of Directors, real and pect nothing surprising to be reported, this to whom you have entrusted the manage- personal property are primarily the concern is just good management practice. ment of the Society to review old practices of the Board of Trustees, but inevitably the The 2012-2013 term is drawing to a and policies and update them when the lines may blur slightly. I want to be absolutely close and it is fitting that I thank the mem- situation is called for.