sign in sign up
<<
Home , Carina (constellation)

FirstLight Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club

29° 39'N, 82° 21'W February 1996

Have You Seen Tonight — H. L. Cohen

Sirius is night's bright diamond in the sky, but Canopus is truely the rare jewel of the night

targazers worth their weight in But, have you seen Canopus tonight? Sknow — brightest in the night sky, jewel of the heavens, the First place winners are always firmament's "diamond in the sky." remembered, second place players often Located in (The Big Dog), overlooked. Sirius, we know, is brightest Sirius flickers and sparkles with rainbow looking of all. Who then follows? It is colors. The brilliance and glow of the Canopus, of course. Usually forgotten, "dog star" have attracted attention since Canopus should dazzle us too. Most stars humans first turned eyes upward. Today, Betelgeuse to those unfamiliar with night skies, its dazzling light appears unnatural, often • Procyon stimulating thoughts of UFO's. But, have you seen Canopus tonight? Many of us know the names Procyon, Capella and Spica. To many, Pollux, Sirius Castor, and Arcturus are familiar. Others Canis Major, know Polaris directs us north and no star is closer to our solar system than Alpha Centauri. Betelgeuse and Rigel help out- line winter's Orion while Vega, Deneb and Altair form the summer triangle. Regulus, heart of the Lion, heralds spring, and Aldebaran follows the seven sisters into autumn. Many know Canopus reddish Antares rivals Mars during warm summer nights, and yellowish Capella is Carina among the brightest stars of the heavens. FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 2 familiar to us appear four to sixteen times So, Canopus is Carina's alpha, or Alpha fainter than Sirius; only Canopus can Carinae (ka-iTne). compete with the Dog Star. Half as But have you seen Canopus tonight? bright, we should all know this star. Probably not, for Canopus lies 35 degrees But, have you seen Canopus tonight? south (and 9 degrees west) of Sirius. In ancient Egypt, 15 miles east of Situated nearly 53 degrees south of the Alexandria there once stood a seacoast sky's celestial equator, this star is not city, site of a great temple honoring visible from most of North America. Serapis, god of the underworld and later From San Francisco, this star would worshiped in Greece and Rome. It bore vainly try to rise.From Atlanta, Canopus the name Canopus. This old city is long would never be more than two degrees gone but a glorious star still carries the above the horizon! From the continental splendor of these ancient empires. This USA, only those in the deep south, who second jewel of the night lies partly know when and where to look, can view within an old constellation that, like the old northern Egyptian city, is no more. The sky once bore , The Ship Argo, and bearer of Jason, leader of the Argonauts, who went in quest of the Golden Fleece. Argo is now in pieces; the faint, obscure of mark the stern, the sails, and Carina FirstLight is the official, monthly publi- (ka-n'na) the keel. At the end of the keel cation of the Alachua Astronomy Club is the rudder, and there sits Canopus. (AAC), Gainesville, Florida. © 1996. All rights reserved. Send all written corres- Canopus (ka-nop'us) is probably Latin, pondence to: from Greek, kandpos, and perhaps of P.O. Box 13744 Egyptian origin. Its name is possibly first Gainesville, FL 32604-1744 USA due to the Greek mathematician and Send all E-mail messages to astronomer, Eratosthenes, and was later [email protected]. Send address used by the Greek astronomer, changes to AAC P.O. Box given above. For Hipparchus, who possibly designated this membership information, contact Ryan beautiful white star as the rudder. Today, Loftus, AAC Treasurer, at 352-462-1227. Canopus also bears the designation Alpha FirstLight Deadline: Submit articles for Carinae meaning the star Alpha, the club newsletter by the third Tuesday belonging to the constellation Carina. of each month. Send all material to Pamela This naming system is due to the Mydock, FirstLight Editor, P. O. Box 42, Bavarian, J. Bayer, who published a list Lochloosa, Florida 32662. (Send all other of over one thousand stars in 1603. Bayer correspondence to club's P.O. Box address gave conspicuous stars in each above.) Submit articles printed in dark type; constellation Greek letters followed by use a simple font (at least 14 pt. if possible). the genitive form of the Latin Double space between new paragraphs (do constellation name to show possession. not indent). Better, E-mail articles in plain ASCII text to [email protected]. FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 3 this heavenly star. In north Florida, astronomers can say something about its Canopus rises h a l f w a y between southeast properties. Canopus is relatively close, and south, barely reaches seven degrees about 75 to 100 light years away. We (about one hand-width) above south know, too, that Canopus is receding from before quickly descending toward the us at a typical stellar clip of 21 kilometers south southwest horizon. Above the per second\ horizon for less than six hours, most observers will barely have two hours to The spectrum of Canopus shows it catch Canopus near its high point. Winter belongs to a class of bright giants with is best though the star is visible from moderate temperatures, or possibly to a about October to March. group of low luminosity supergiants, stars that are in old age. (Its spectral class is Egypt and adjacent areas are nearly variously given as A9 II or F0 Ib-II.) equally distant from the equator as north Estimates of its absolute magnitude also Florida. Thus, opportunities to view vary (-2.5 or brighter) but Canopus is Canopus from the Mideast are similar to probably about one thousand times more Florida. Imagine this star rising briefly luminous than the Sun. Furthermore, stars above ancient, winter horizons giving its like Canopus typically have surface peoples but a brief glimpse of its dazzling temperatures of about 7,500 Kelvins, beauty before disappearing from view. which makes Canopus about 30 percent Some, perhaps, thought this star even hotter and at least 20 times larger in more beautiful and mysterious than diameter than the Sun. Although masses Sirius, itself. Judge for yourself. Go out of stars like Canopus are uncertain, and see Canopus tonight. Use the figure Canopus may contain approximately to help find Carina's alpha. The diagram three times more material than the Sun. shows Canopus near its high point at However, because 6,000 Suns could fit 9:00 p.m. (EST) on the night of February inside, Canopus may have an average 15 for north Florida (specifically density 150 times less than water! Gainesville). Look due south about one hand width high. Of course the horizon Find Canopus tonight. Sirius may be a diamond in the sky but Canopus is the should be free of haze, trees and rare jewel of the night. Like the Egyptians buildings. Haze, of course, will dim its and Greeks who were awed by a bright, (-0.7). white star that never ascended the The map will also work approximately heavens, look upon Canopus knowing for other dates. For each week later than that whatever its nature, you are among February 15, make the time one-half hour the privileged who can gaze upon its face. earlier. The map approximates this scene Then remember the words of A.M. Klein for March 1 at 8:00 p.m. (But note that, (1909-1972) paraphrased here: "I am by mid-March, sunset occurs at 6:30 p.m. weak before the wind — before the sun I so it becomes too light to see Canopus.) faint, I lose my strength. But I am utterly vanquished by a star — before these Ancient peoples marveled that this bright miracles I am nothing at all." star never rose high and probably wondered about its nature. Today Make sure you see Canopus tonight. $ FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 4

Upcoming Club Meetings and Events

February Club Meeting

Date Tuesday, Febuary 13 during a typical Jupiter radio storm. Jupiter is Time 7:30 p.m. one of the strongest low frequency radio Place Auditorium, Doyle Conner sources in the sky, rivaled only by our Sun. Building, 1911 SW 34th St. The radio emission was discovered in 1955. It Speaker Dr. Francisco Reyes, Assistant is the only planetary low frequency radio Scientist in Astronomy, University of Florida, emission that can be detected by ground base will review what is known about "The Jovian stations. Detecting the strong Jovian Decametric Radio Emission, " and will tell decametic radio emission can be a suitable about current research at UF's Radio project for amateur radio astronomers. Observatory, including example sounds heard

March Club Meeting

Date Tuesday, March 12 topic is titled: "One Dwarf, Two Dwarf, Red Time 7:30 p.m. Dwarf, Wliite Dwarf." He will present Place Auditorium, Doyle Conner observation data and computer modeling Building, 1911 SW 34th St ideas about the bright emissive region on a red Speaker Mr. T. J. Vaccaro, Department of dward star as a result of flourescence from a Astronomy, University of of Florida, will companion white dwarf star. present a talk about the star V471 Tauri. His

Star Parties

Sfar parties begin at sunset and meet at Bob Jacobs' unless otherwise stated. Address 9617 NW 143 St. (HWY. 241) —1.7 mi. North of Millhopper Rd. (HWY. 232). Look for Hurricane Harbor sign just past brick mailbox on right side of road. Go a few hundred feet up paved driveway to Bob's house. (Do not continue up onto dirt road)

Feb. 10 (Sat. Night); rain date Feb. 17. No date set for April yet; on Thursday , Apr. 4 Mar. 16 (Sat. Night); rain date Mar. 23. there is a partial lunar eclipse. FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 5

January Executive Council — Mark Cowan (Tuesday, 6:30 P.M., January 9th at Doyle Conner Building)

Brief meeting before regular monthly from the Science Fair asking about our prizes meeting; two items discussed. First, do we this year. Both items discussed further, during want to donate the 5-inch refractor donated the regular meeting. by Jan Sugalski as a Science Fair prize? Second, President John Brandorff has a letter

Minutes: Jan. Executive Council — Mark Cowan

(Tuesday, 7:30 P.M., January 9th at Doyle Conner Building)

Treasurer's Report by Ryan Loftus: S293 members to think about ideas for raising dollars with five members paid for 1996. Don money for the club, such as club t-shirts, and Ryan Loftus to open an account in Don's possibly for sale at the Spring Arts Festival. name at the Campus Credit Union; President Texas Star Party: John, Bruno, and Dale are John Brandorff will be joint owner on record. planning a road trip to Texas; wanna go Science Fair Prizes: It was decided that the along? It's the week of May 12th. five-inch refractor would be kept as a club Star Party Requests: TheAlachua Branch of scope. Science Fair prizes will include AAC the county library has requested a star party, membership for all astronomy exhibitors. The tentatively on Monday, March 11. Glenn Senior winner will be awarded a one-year Springs Elementary would like any date in subscription to Sky and Telescope and the February. Volunteers? Junior winner will be awarded a one-year subscription to Astronomy. Mirror Kit: Curtis Loftus brought in a six- inch telescope mirror kit that he plans to build. AAC Club Scopes: It was decided that Bruno Pancorbo, keep a record of club scope January Program: John Brandorff loans to members. introduced Mark Cowan, speaking about January observation of Messier objects and Sidewalk Astronomy: Don Loftus presented three asteroids. Mark presented color slides of the idea to promote a membership drive. what is available for viewing and some sky Money Ideas: John Brandorff wants club maps generated by SkyMap, version 2.2. 0

The AAC Web address is now http://www.astro.ufl.edu/~cohen/aac FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 6 February Executive Council — PamMydock

Attending: John Brandorff, Chuck Broward, Howard Cohen, Mark Cowan, Don Godman, Don Loftus, Ryan Loftus, Pam Mydock, Bruno Pancorbo, Duane Sandene

Location: Shoney's on NW 13th St, general public, just before the holidays. Gainesville, 6:30 P.M. Howard presented a new draft of the club Mark announced that he had to brochure. Chuck will check prices for temporarily resign his duties as secretary, offset printing in quantity. We plan on to attend to an illness in the family. Pam using a large quantify for our membership volunteered to take over his duties, until drives for the coming year. Besides the he can return. two evenings at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, it was decided to carefully plan Ryan and Don found an advertisement for and advertise two other public "Sidewalk some reasonably priced checks with three Star Parties, " possibly at the Oaks Mall different astronomy scenes. Everyone or at one of the public schools or even at agreed we should buy 150 of them a supermarket parking lot. We will be instead of the standard issue available discussing this topic further at the next from the credit union. They also have meeting. So be ready with your input. carbonless copies attached. John feels that we need to be more Don also showed us the new club focused with our public exposures and stationery , featuring Howard's new logo gear them towards generating new design and the P.O. Box address. members. Bruno suggested that the Kanapaha evenings could be better A few suggestions were made for the organized in favor of recruiting. We will program schedule for the remainder of have a well-lighted table, manned with 1996. Howard will see if Rosemary Hill people to hand out our brochures and talk observatory could be made available on a to the public to encourage membership. It Tuesday night for a regular club meeting. was suggested that the telescopes be It was decided that October's meeting arranged in more of a circle instead of all should focus on "Buying and Using a in a row. Beginner's Telescope. " We need a club member to volunteer to organize and We need to manage the crowd, rather present this topic. It should be very than be at their mercy. We will need popular with grandparents and the volunteers to make banners and man the FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 7 recruiting table. We also need some $50, payable with the first order. John people with very simple low power will try to bring some samples to the telescopes and binoculars, so beginners meeting on Tuesday. Baseball caps would do not feel intimidated by magnification be $7 and the shirts range in price up to or money. about $20.

Don Godman, our contact man for the Chuck and John have volunteered to last Moonlight Walk, will talk to the judge the Alachua County Science Fair people at Kanapaha to see if they will for Astronomy, at the end of the month. include our logo in their advertisements. This would be a way to get our club free Please remember to bring your dues with advertising. you to the general meeting on February 13th, at 7:30 P.M. John talked to Central Monogramming in Gainesville about getting our new logo on shirts and hats. The initial set-up fee is

North Central Florida's Amateur Astronomy Club

AAC meets every second Tuesday of each month, at 7,30 p.m., in the Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34th Street (at S.W. 20th Avenue), Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, USA; General public and beginning stargazers are invited to all meetings, star parties and club events. No equipment needed. Call an officer (area code 352) for more info or e-mail [email protected].

President John Brandorff Star Parties Bruno Pancorbo Gainesville (375-1043) Gainesville (373-0279) Vice-President Howard L. Cohen FirstLight Gainesville (376-5833) Editor Pamela Mydock Lochloosa (481-5238) Treasurer Ryan Loftus Alachua (462-1227) Publisher Chuck Broward Secretary Mark Cowan Melrose (475-1014) Gainesville (375-2564)

World Wide Web Home Page at URL http://www.asfro.ufl.edu/~cohen/aac February Astro Calendar (Times EST) d h m Thu 1 07:00 Julian Date 2,450,115.0 (UT= Feb 1 12:00) Fri 2 18:30 Venus (mag.-4.1) 1.2° NW of Saturn (mag. = +1.2) Sun 4 10:58 Full Moon Sun 11 16 Mercury at greatest elongation W (26°) 21 Earth passes to South side of Saturn's ring-plane (south side of planet now faces Earth until Sept. 2009) Mon 12 03:37 Last Quarter Moon Sun 18 18:30 New Moon Tue 20 Mars at perihelion Thu 22 18:45 Venus only 3.3° N of Moon (Look about 20 minutes after sunset) Mon 26 00:52 First Quarter Moon