Diablo Moonwatchmoonwatch August 2011 ENERAL EETING G M Tuesday August 23, 2011 “Hearts of Darkness -- Black Holes in Space” by Dr

MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011 ENERAL EETING G M Tuesday August 23, 2011 “Hearts of Darkness -- Black Holes in Space” By Dr. Alex Filippenko Professor of Astronomy, University of California, Berkeley Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Concord Police Association Facility supermassive black holes are 5060 Avila Road, Concord found at the centers of galaxies. Come learn about the remarkable Universe, voted the “Top Science properties of these bizarre Breakthrough of 1998” by Science objects. magazine.Voted the “best professor” on the UC Berkeley campus a Please join us Tuesday, August record eight times, and winner of 23rd to listen to Dr. Filipenko for the ASP's 2010 Richard H. Emmons an entire evening lecture followed Award for undergraduate teaching, he was also named the by a question and answer period. Carnegie/CASE National Professor Alex Filippenko received his of the Year in 2006 among doctor- Ph.D. in Astronomy from Caltech al institutions. He has appeared in in 1984 and joined the UC numerous television documen- Berkeley faculty in 1986, where he taries, coauthored an award-win- is currently ning textbook, and produced five

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P Sciences. Black holes are regions of space Elected to the National where gravity is so strong that Academy of nothing, not even light, can Sciences and escape! one of the No longer confined to the fer- world's most astronomy DVD courses with The tile imaginations of science-fiction highly cited astronomers, he has Teaching Company (including a writers and theoretical physicists, coauthored more than 670 scien- 12-lecture course on black holes, numerous black holes have recent- tific publications and is the recipi- chock full of information). ly been discovered by observation- ent of numerous prizes for his al astronomers. Stellar-mass black research. He was a member of holes can form during the deaths both teams that discovered the of some types of massive stars, and accelerating expansion of the 1 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011 TAM Nine (The Amazing Meeting) From Outer Space! CORNER by Chris Ford This month, I less demystifier of scams, super- Neil De Grasse Tyson, Pamela Gay S ’ would like to give you natural and pseudo-scientifc of “Astronomy Cast”, and “The

T a flavor of a highly claims, and the relent- Physics of Star Trek” entertaining event less scourge of Uri Laurence Krauss, who

N called “The Amazing Geller. It is an annual also all participated in Meeting” that I attend- forum that over 4-days a panel entitled “Our E ed with my son at the promotes science, Future in Space” with

D South Point Hotel in skepticism, and criti- a unsurprisingly wide

I Las Vegas last month. cal thinking, and to range of opinions. You may wonder what this author it is hard Other high profile sci- S the connection is to to think of a public entific media personal- astronomy, yet under event that attracts all ities at TAM 9 included E the radar this meeting in one place such a Professor Richard

R has become one of diverse range of high Dawkins, Michael the most interesting profile media science Shermer, biologist P Z

P public forums in the personalities, all of Myers, Richard Bill Nye signing an autograph for my USA devoted to sci- whom are accessible, Wiseman, as well as Son Alex. available, magicians Banachek, and willing to chat Penn and Teller, and of course one on one.This James Randi himself. years ninth TAM was Unfortunately absent at the last the third I have minute was usual regular,Adam attended with my 19 “Mythbusters” Savage. year old son Alex who was part of a There is always a strong astro- strong student repre- nomical and space component to sentation amongst TAM the 1,650 attendees. To give a sense of its content The promotion of the famous evolutionary biologist the values of science Richard Dawkins delivered an A stellar Astronomy speakers panel. (Left to right: Phil Plait, The Bad Astronomer, Bill and critical thinking excellent talk on alien contact, Nye The Science Guy, Neil De Grasse Tyson, Pamela Gay of Astronomy Cast, and “The for future generations while P Z Myers of the Physics of Star Trek” Laurence Krauss) are essential to the Pharyngula blog presented a future of our nation “Skeptical Look at Aliens”, and ence and critical thinking, with a and a key sub-theme of TAM. regular emphasis on astronomical subjects whether it is the possibil- This year ity of alien life, the future of space The Amazing Meeting was science, the evolution of the solar promoted as “TAM 9 from Outer system, or even the possibility of Space”, a pun on the famously UFO's. awful movie of that name. Some of the most prominent personali- The Amazing Meeting (TAM) was ties in the astronomical media and founded in 2003 by James Randi blogosphere were in attendance He is well known as a stage including “Bad Astronomer” Phil magician, escape artist, and tire- Plait, Bill Nye The Science Guy, Keynote speaker the irrepressible Neil De Grass Tyson in full flow... 2 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011

TAM Nine From Outer Space! (Continued from previous page )

Pamela Gay gave an impassioned someone tweeted during the likely to encounter, and yet it is plea for the continued future of event that they should do a buddy not technical and always highly the James Webb Space Telescope cop routine! Needles to say, Neil accessible.There is definitely a dis- and what its loss will mean for caught the tweet live on stage and tinct flavor to TAM that is as much science educa- about being in the company of tion in the others who value the importance nation. Finally, of science, education, and logical Neil De Grasse reasoning. I cannot think of anoth- Tyson, who in er forum that includes so many my opinion is well known faces from such a the most enter- diverse range of disciplines, and taining advocate for around $375 per person for 4 for astronomy solid days, it is great value, and public outreach that includes breakfast and lunch was the keynote thrown in for the price also. speaker at TAM If you are interested in the sci- 9 and on fine entific method, critical thinking, form. His speech love astronomy and space, or are centered on the My son Alex and I with James Randi (aka “The Beard”) frustrated by the poor reporting consequences of living in a socie- duly showed it on screen during of science in the media,TAM may ty where science literacy is not his keynote. be just the tonic for you. given proper priority, giving many examples from his personal expe- As is evident from the above http://www.amazingmeeting.com/ riences. If anyone has seen Neil speakers, TAM is a highly eclec- Chris Ford live, you will know he is an tic mixture of personalities from incredibly knowledgeable, charis- matic, and funny speaker, and an the sciences, arts, and entertain- amazing advocate for astronomy. ment. In fact the back and forth dia- It is also one of the most logue between Neil and Bill Nye entertaining and yet mentally on one panel was so hilarious that challenging meetings that you are

3 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011 An Honest Look at UFO’s by Nathaniel Bates UFO’s and amateur astronomy do manner.They turned to me and begin with a Null Hypothesis that not go together. asked me whether or not this was conforms to our own point of a UFO. I smiled and told them that view we have begun with a dis- Better put, UFO’s and amateur they were viewing Sirius, a very honest premise.A debunker astronomers often do not go near star about nine light-years should not begin with a Null together. Skeptical writers often away. Sirius could appear to be a Hypothesis that UFO’s are non- go to great lengths to discredit brilliant flickering object due to existent.The Null Hypothesis is the UFO narrative. In this essay, I the very moist Marin county win- most honest when we assume intend to try my best to take a ter sky, and the interesting seeing that it is the opposite of what we broad view of the UFO phenome- that the Pacific Ocean produced. I are trying to prove. If one is trying non, and to see to it that I do not suppose we can add Sirius to to debunk a position, often one take the dismissive approach that Venus or swamp gas and admit should begin by assuming it to be so many skeptics take. Indeed, that it is possible that people can potentially true and then showing nothing is more insulting than to mistake astronomical phenomena it to be false, especially in lieu of be told that one is incapable of for UFO’s. overwhelming evidence either distinguish- way. My point of ing Venus view runs con- from a mov- trary to the tradi- ing object, or tional skeptic swamp gas methodology from some- that merely thing truly showing that a unexplained. claim does not At the same meet the bar of time, one evidence is cannot aban- enough. I believe don proper scientific skepticism Add to the mix the International that the burden of proof is on any in order to embrace a True claim that is made about UFO’s, Believer mentality that accepts Space Station, satellites, and pro or con. If one is a skeptic, one claims of alien contact uncritical- strange airplanes. does best by postulating that the ly.Astronomers are right to sound We cannot rule those out as belief could be true and the prob- a note of caution when approach- possibilities. So, how do we begin ing the believers with intelligent ing this subject. here? I think that we have to questions to see if their claims begin by a proper understanding line up with reason. What is the truth here? of what intellectuals call the “Null Let me begin by telling a story hypothesis.”The Null Hypothesis Therefore, we should begin by of my own. I was at camp, and it is what we assume to be true in assuming that some UFO’s might was late.We were all up after lieu of extraordinary proof. For really be alien space craft and dark, making life miserable for the debunkers, the Null Hypothesis is then evaluate how logical this Counselors. It was a teenage that all UFO’s can be explained by claim is.We would see whether thing, if you remember those Venus, Sirius, Swamp Gas, this claim lines up with logic, rea- days. Some friends of mine were Airplanes, Satellites, or overactive son or science.This is a more rea- staring up at a mysterious object imaginations. I believe that this is sonable path for skeptics than to that was flickering in the dark the wrong approach to begin begin by assuming that all of winter sky.They were in absolute with.The Null Hypothesis is not these are natural phenomena and awe of an object that was turning so simple when we really get in then putting the entire burden on blue and red in an alternating to philosophy or logic. If we UFO supporters. Posit that UFO’s 4 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011

An Honest Look at UFO’s (Continued from the precious page) are potentially real, and then pro- Now, for those who have claimed UFO’s do not land on the White ceed with a number of skeptical such contact with aliens I can House lawn, my own personal questions. For one thing, we have question is,“Why they are not bet- to ask ourselves why these UFO’s only say that their accounts are ter hidden?” If I were visiting a are here.Why visit our planet? sincere. planet, I would take a stealth posi- This is not an unimportant ques- They are not making anything tion. I would observe, and not tion. Some have alleged that the up, and I believe that they are show myself to those violent pri- aliens want to interbreed with often well adjusted and lucid peo- mates on the ground because humans because their DNA is frag- ple who make this claim. they have a tendency to shoot at They are reporting what what they do not understand. they believe has happened Strangely, however, the UFO aliens to them. However, they of the popular consciousness cannot fault me for apply- show themselves freely.Their ing scientific skepticism to reported appearance does not the claim that alien genet- conform to what I would expect ic codes could ever match from a Universe in which life can human DNA.This is even take myriads of forms.The pur- assuming that aliens are ported UFO aliens are mostly carbon based, which is not humanoid, resembling humans an unreasonable assump- with superficially altered forms. tion but still an assump- tion on our part. I do not Now, I want to make something claim to explain away the clear. claims of those who claim I am of the opinion that the to be abductees or to Universe is potentially teaming ile and they cannot reproduce on mock them (as has so often hap- with life.And, I am also of the their own world.This claim runs pened), merely to posit what I opinion that intelligent life may up against an obvious problem. It believe is a valid scientific ques- well have been visiting Earth over is impossible for two distantly tion that advocates for alien- the course of our history! Yet, related species to join their DNA human breeding should address. even there we have to address the through natural means. It is question of Relativity.Although extremely hard even for closely The other question that should be we do not know enough about related species to interbreed. It posed is the question of why the the complexities of Relativity and would be utterly inconceivable aliens described often seem Quantum Theory to rule out sta- for a completely alien species that ble wormholes and other anom- evolved on another world to inter- banal. alous phenomena, as it stands breed with humans. Finally, it They resemble Earth type now complex matter is bound by would seem natural that advanced organisms. Often, they even the speed of light.This means that aliens could solve the issue of resemble humans.Would a planet an alien space craft cannot travel DNA fragility without needing to potentially unlike Earth produce at the speed of light.A ship travel- travel many light years. an organism that looks like a ing near the speed of light from bipedal human with two hands, the center of the galaxy to Earth two feet and a head? I can think would indeed experience very lit- of other questions that should be tle passage of time. However, that posed.There is one important is due to time dilation which question that is often overlooked. allows for a shorter passage of While some might object that the time on board ship.The fact is

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An Honest Look at UFO’s (Continued from the precious page) that a great deal of time will have Some intervention in to our plan- largely unwilling to consider this passed, over 27,000 years! The et’s biology is one thing. possibility.This is a logical possi- aliens would have to be very com- Continual intervention would bility when we consider that a mitted to such a journey because, imply that our planet is special to great many sightings have been although their experience of time them in some way.Would it be fair near military bases. Such military is vastly less than 27,000 years, to expect that Earth is special to a cover stories might take off in to they would return to their home galaxy teaming with life? the culture, inspiring science fic- worlds many thousands of years tion and fantasy. Perhaps whole Let me explain my methods. I in the future. Finally, the actual UFO religions emerged out of see- begin with a Null Hypothesis that fact is that their ship will proba- ing advanced stealth technology can include the possibility of bly be limited to about ten per- much as Cargo Cults arose during some kind of alien visitation. I cent of the speed of light due to World War II from sightings of begin with the possibility that the threat of space debris. But, American aircraft! UFO’s could exist and then, at that then again, to be fair we cannot point, I enter in to a skeptical dia- Now, I promised that this rule out the possibility of laws of logue would be an physics currently unknown that with the honest look at could be harnessed for space trav- claims UFO’s instead el along much shorter timelines. It provided of a knee-jerk may well be that a vastly more me. In skeptical look advanced species will have dis- other and I intend to covered those laws by now. words, I fulfill that Really, to be honest, the possibili- take the promise. I ty of alien intervention in to argu- began by stat- ments of ing that I had Earth’s biology is not beyond the the UFO to begin with a pale. believers “Null It may be possible that such and Hypothesis” outlier events as the Cambrian address that some Explosion could defy easy expla- them UFO’s might be nations such as “natural selection.” critically. alien space Such periods of rapid evolution- If UFO craft until or ary change does open the possi- researchers tell me that there is a unless I can disprove such a bility that life got a little outside government conspiracy to cover claim.This is the most honest help that allowed multi-cellular up UFO’s, I then have to counter approach I can take, far more hon- organisms to thrive, making Earth by stating that governments often est than an approach that auto- a far more interesting world than lie about what they are lying matically excludes even the possi- before. I cannot rule out such pos- about.We have to consider the bility of alien visitation unless sibilities, or even the idea that possibility that the Cold War proven. It is possible that alien aliens might have visited Earth necessitated cover stories for contact has occurred, and that it during human history. I will even advanced technology. If an is not provable given current sci- go so far as to suggest that some American military man does not entific methods.Assuming our sci- UFO’s today might be alien in want the Soviets to know about ence can prove all things is arro- nature.Yet, with the physics we some new technology, an alien gant on the part of a new species now currently work with, travel- cover story becomes a very that has only been technological ing to Earth from a distant planet tempting way of doing damage for a few hundred years. Have I would take a great deal of time. control. UFO researchers seem disproven the Null Hypothesis?

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An Honest Look at UFO’s (Continued from the precious page)

No, I have not. I had better be our ear to the sky while UFO’s are judging any new natural phenom- honest about that. banal and boring; hardly fit to ena, or any claim such as UFO’s, inspire us with a sense of the science is the best system we Sane people, of sound mind and diversity of technologies that have. In that spirit, those who body, have claimed experiences could exist in our Universe. claim that UFO’s have arrived and that we are in the midst of alien with UFO’s. Sadly, however, the SETI array is This cannot be denied. I contact should be able to address believe that explanations other down. a number of scientific questions, than the alien explanation should In this political climate, it may among them how the aliens be considered, including the pos- well never return. In times of resemble Earth forms, but also sibility that agencies on Earth may grave anxiety like our own time, how the aliens can travel so freely have very advanced technology.At human mythologies often turn to when Relativity limits travel to the same time, however, the the stars. Many UFO believers less than the speed of light. I am Universe is potentially teaming claim that aliens will come and the kind of skeptic who can be with life and it may save us from ourselves. Many of convinced.At the same time, I am well be that at some the kind of point planets potential unable to deal with believer who population pres- needs hard evi- sures then expand dence and a in to space. Such theoretical civilizations may model that can take an interest in fit the hard evi- up and coming dence. Sadly, planets like ours, the ability to perhaps preferring gather evi- to expose them- dence has selves to humble decreased due people in the to the decline woods than to gov- of SETI and we ernments. might be left Conversely, it may also be that we their narratives are implicitly reli- with speculation alone. If we are a are of no interest to anyone; that gious. More often than not, reli- Galaxy teeming with life, as is we are, as Carl Sagan suggested, gious and secular salvation narra- hoped, then we need more than better off listening with radio tives will emerge when rational speculation to give us a sense of astronomy than looking to space science does not appear to have where we fit in the vast social craft to come from the sky. For the answers, particularly in times network that extends throughout Carl Sagan and Frank Drake, the of grave ecological crisis where the starry disk we call home. real way to alien contact was many justifiably blame human through SETI. Most scientists technological arrogance for envi- doubt the UFO claims, but the ronmental destruction. Personally, great majority of scientists do see I do not oppose such hopes, alien life as possible. It is simply because I believe that we may that they pin their hopes on well be genetically hardwired to mathematical patterns revealed by believe in Utopia and to hope for radio astronomy. For them, SETI is a better world than we have cre- ated for ourselves. However, in 7 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011 Jupiter, the Amateur Planet Returns. by Jim Scala Go out before sun up any morn- ing, and you’ll see Jupiter as a Ganymede’s Shadow Crosses Jupiter 07/23/2011 bright star high in the south- eastern sky. Earth is catching up and will pass Jupiter – be at opposition – 0405 PDT 0331 PDT 0320 PDT on October 29th. Jupiter is high, at 12° declination. Beginning in Ganymede’s shadow passes across Jupiter July 23, 2011 at the times shown on the image. 2005 its oppositions were at neg- you’ll ever attend. Possibly the and very good seeing. However, in ative declinations and that trans- most interesting are it’s four modest seeing a six inch tele- lates to the planet being low in Galilean Moons. scope shows the moon’s shadow our bay area skies.The higher the (a solar eclipse on Jupiter) passing across the planet. Image two, a sequence of images Callisto showing Ganymede’s shadow Ganymede passing across Jupiter on July 23, 2011. It also illustrates that Io Ganymede’s orbit is highly inclined to Jupiter’s equatorial plane, so its shadow actually Europa aaa passes near the pole. Since the image is inverted (as seen in the Jupiter’s four Galilean Moons at 0500 on July 30, 2011 as seen and imaged through a four inch telescope. The orientation is reversed scope) it’s actually the Jupiter’s as seen in the telescope. Thi is a composite of two images; one for the moons and one for the planet. South Pole. .Watching an eclipse on Jupiter gives an excellent per- better for planetary observing Jupiter’s Moons Are For spective on planetary dynamics. because your telescopes is look- Everyone. ing through less atmosphere and Binoculars or a 50-mm tele- Jupiter is never without detail. that translates to less turbulence. scope easily shows the four About 150 years ago Cassini We call Jupiter The Amateur brightest moons discovered by observed a storm in Jupiter’s Planet, because since Galileo Galileo.They are like a small solar dense atmosphere that was bright turned his simple scope on it in system that changes positions red and has persisted since then. 1645 we’ve realized it exhibits the from night to night. .As you look It was called as the Great Red most pleasing, spectacular and at them, let your mind wander Spot. In recognition of its color. changing views of any planet we and think of what it must have Over these 150 years its color has can observe. Excellent views can been like to be the first person to gone from red to salmon and all be had any optical aid from binoc- ever see them. On that day it was shades in between. Currently, it’s ulars up to and including the the greatest scientific discovery mostly salmon colored. It has also Hubble Space telescope. But, the ever made. Image one shows changed size over the same peri- most interesting and spectacular them nicely. od and is now somewhat smaller than when it was discovered.The observations start with 7X50 Watching solar eclipses on binoculars and telescopes from great red spot makes timing four (100-mm) to twelve (300- Jupiter. Jupiter’s rotation easy. Image three mm) inches of aperture.That opti- To watch a moon pass in front shows the great red spot on July cal range includes just about any of Jupiter requires at least an 28th as it crossed the planet.The star party or group observing eight inch (180-mm) telescope differences in brightness brings 8 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011

Jupiter, the Amateur Planet Returns. (Continued from the precious page) out the effects of seeing and is not inherent in the image. It illustrates how the atmosphere 0538 PDT 0454 PDT 0420 PDT affects observation.The Jupiter’s great red spot crossing the planet on July 28, 2011. last image at designating Jupiter as The 0538 PDT was taken against a Amateur Planet is correct. light blue twilight sky. There’s more activity then the Would you like to take images Great Red Spot. like the ones shown here? I took these images from my About five years ago Jupiter backyard observatory in Lafayette. entered a period of increased You can take similar images in activity resulting from several line with the limits of your tele- cyclic changes that occur in our scope and camera. Five years ago solar system.These cycles, general- a small group of interested MDAS ly known as the Melankovic members started the MDAS cycles make interesting reading. Imaging group.We meet on the This has increased the interesting second Tuesday of the month and exciting detail that can be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the observed. Image four shows Walnut Acres elementary school. Jupiter without the great red All the details are on our web site spot.. It illustrates quite nicely the at: incredible detail awaiting your telescope. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/gro up/mdasimaging/.

Jupiter on July 4, 2011 showing many cyclones and other activity in its incredible atmosphere. As you look over the four images that illustrate this article I hope you will agree with me that 9 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011 Mount Diablo Astronomical Society Event Calendar—August 2011

10 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch August 2011 Board Members & Address President Treasurer Mailing address: Chris Ford - [email protected] Will Roberge - [email protected] MDAS Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 4889 Vice President Vianney - [email protected] Walnut Creek, CA 94596- Rick Linden - [email protected] General Meetings: Webmaster Fourth Tuesday every month, Membership Coordinator, Mtg Room Glenn Spiegelman - [email protected] except on the third Tuesday Marni Berendsen - [email protected] Refreshments and conversations Secretary and Refreshments Meetings begin at 7:15pm. Meeting Program Chair Moon Trask - [email protected] Where: Dick Flasck - [email protected] Concord Police Association New Member Steward 5060 Avila Road, top of the Outreach Coordinator, AANC Rep Nick Tsakoyias - [email protected] Take Avila Road from Willow Jim Head - [email protected] Directions to facility:

Publicity Board Member Steve Jacobs - [email protected]

Observing Committee Chair, Board Member Richard Ozer - [email protected]

Whats Up Coordinator, Board Member Kent Richardson - [email protected]

Your Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated Our association need a few members to come at Similarly at the end of each meeting the chairs 6:30 p.m. before our monthly meeting which starts at and tables have to be removed, the room has to be 7:15 p.m. to help in seting up the chairs and other cleaned and the garbages emptied. elements needed to conduct the general meeting. Thank you for your help.