July 2014 The Sidereal Times
Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club A Member Society of the Astronomical League
Club Officers: Minutes ~ June 20, 2014
Executive Committee President Jim Hilkin President Ji Hilkin called the Audit o i ee had Scout Pack 7, about 20-25 Vice President Libby Snipes Treasurer Vicki Philabaum the ee ng to order at et and everything was scouts. Ray reported that Secretary David Philabaum 7:05p with the following found to be in order. Dave the new ArgoNavis digital Chief Observer David Philabaum Members-at-Large e bers in a endance: ill oved to approve the se ng circles are now in- Claus Benninghoven Duane Gerling Stewart , Ji Wilt, ibby reasurer s report, arry stalled on the Ealing. He has Blake Stumpf Snipes, Paul Sly, Ray Rein- seconded, and the o on used the scope several Board of Directors Chair Judy Hilkin eke, lake Stu pf, Karen & passed. Ji Hilkin reported es and the new syste Vice Chair Ray Reineke arry Johnson, and Dave & on groups that had recently works pre y well. ong Secretary David Philabaum Members-at-Large Vicki Philabau . Dean co e to the observatory. slews are so e es not as Frank Libe st Blake Stumpf Moberg arrived during the On May 21 about 65 peo- accurate and so e es the Jim Wilt th ee ng. Vicki oved to ple with the Danville 6 unit has locked up, which he Audit Committee Dean Moberg (2012) approve the inutes of the grade group visited the ob- thinks ay be due to elec- JT Stumpf (2013) May ee ng as published servatory, and on June 5 th a trical noise fro the slewing John Toney (2014) in the newsle er. arry se- group of about 25 fro ub otors and the length of Newsletter Karen Johnson conded and the o on Scout Pack 85 visited the the cables. He will con nue passed. Vicki gave the observatory. Dave reported to fine tune the syste . He reasurer s report sta ng that the following groups is s ll working on the ech- the current balance in the are scheduled to co e to anis to allow the clutches checking account is the observatory: July 1 st at to be locked and unlocked $2,358.19 which includes 8:30p Upward ound, with the pendant. President $225.48 in grant funds. She about 35 high school stu- Hilkin thanked Ray for all of will be sending in the dues dents; July 9 th at dusk, Dark his hard work on the project Inside this issue: for the Astrono ical eague Wings ca p, about 15 ages which will ake finding ob- soon. Vicki reported that 10-13; July 19 th 9:00p , ub jects a lot easier. Ji also Space Place Article 2,3 (continued on page 3) Minutes (cont.) 3 Upcoming Dates Looking Back 4
Thanks 4 he ne t ee ng will be August ee ng on the Friday, July 18, at the John 15 th Observer’s Report 5-6 H. Wi e Observatory at Me bers/Guests Night on Treasurer’s Report 6 7:00 p Saturday, August 23, view-
Calendar 7 Deadline for the August ing at 9 p
Sky Maps 8-9 newsle er is Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Page 2 The Sidereal Times
The Invisible Shield of our Sun by Dr. Ethan Siegel
Whether you look at the moving, charged particles jor danger to terrestrial planets within our solar (mostly protons) that life, as our Sun's invisible system, the stars within move between 300 and shield protects us from all our galaxy or the galaxies 800 km/s, or nearly 0.3% but the rarer, highest ener- spread throughout the uni- the speed of light. To gy cosmic particles. Even verse, it's striking how achieve these speeds, if we pass through a re- empty outer space truly is. these particles originate gion like the Orion Nebu- Even though the largest from the Sun's superheat- la, our heliosphere keeps concentrations of mass ed corona, with tempera- the vast majority of those are separated by huge dis- tures in excess of dangerous ionized parti- tances, interstellar space 1,000,000 Kelvin! cles from impacting us, isn't empty: it's filled with shielding even the solar “...our dilute amounts of gas, When Voyager 1 finally system's outer worlds heliosphere dust, radiation and ionized left the heliosphere, it quite effectively. NASA keeps the vast plasma. Although we've found a 40-fold increase spacecraft like the Voyag- long been able to detect in the density of ionized ers, IBEX and SOHO majority of these components remote- plasma particles. In addi- continue to teach us more those dangerous ly, it's only since 2012 tion, traveling beyond the about our great cosmic ionized particles that a manmade space- heliopause showed a tre- shield and the ISM's ir- from impacting craft -- Voyager 1 -- suc- mendous rise in the flux regularities. We're not us…” cessfully entered and gave of intermediate-to-high helpless as we hurtle our first direct measure- energy cosmic ray pro- through it; the heliosphere ments of the interstellar tons, proving that our Sun gives us all the protection medium (ISM). shields our solar system we need! quite effectively. Finally, What we found was an it showed that the outer Want to learn more about amazing confirmation of edges of the heliosheath Voyager 1’s trip into in- the idea that our Sun cre- consist of two zones, terstellar space? Check ates a humongous where the solar wind this out: http:// "shield" around our solar slows and then stagnates, www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/ system, the heliosphere, and disappears altogether news.php?release=2013- where the outward flux of when you pass beyond the 278 . the solar wind crashes heliopause. Did You Know? against the ISM. Over 100 AU in radius, the helio- Unprotected passage Kids can test their Voyager 1 was sphere prevents the ion- through interstellar space knowledge about the Sun launched on ized plasma from the ISM would be life-threatening, at NASA’s Space place: September 5, 1977 from nearing the planets, as young stars, nebulae, http:// and is now asteroids and Kuiper belt and other intense energy spaceplace.nasa.gov/ confirmed to be in objects contained within sources pass perilously solar-tricktionary/ . interstellar space. it. How? In addition to close to our solar system various wavelengths of on ten-to-hundred-million light, the Sun is also a tre- -year timescales. Yet (connued on page 3) mendous source of fast- those objects pose no ma- JulyNovember 2014 2013 Page 3
The Invisible Shield of our Sun (continued from page 2)
Image credit: Hubble Heritage Team (AURA / STScI), C. R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt), and NASA, of the star LL Orionis and its heliosphere inter- acting with interstellar gas and plasma near the edge of the Orion Nebu- la (M42). Unlike our star, LL Orionis displays a bow shock, something our Sun will regain when the ISM next collides with us at a sufficiently large relative velocity.
Minutes (continued from page 1) said that the new doors on kin reported that there is a June 28 th dusk, e bers the Prugh-Carver observato- proble with the video pro- and guests night; July 18 th ry need to be painted and jector and that Dave is : p , ee ng night and asked for volunteers to do checking for places to get it public viewing; ugust 4 th that. Dean Moberg reported repaired. Ji also said he's sunset, public viewing that the udit Co i ee planning to get a work party night. Dave gave the Ob- et on June 12 th and every- together so e e this fall server’s report followed by thing was found to be in to work on the deck of the Ji Hilkin's presenta on on order. The only thing that Stone-Kelly Observatory. the constella on Ursa Ma- needs to be done is for the The possibility of a new cov- jor. With no other business Did You Know? udit Co i ee e bers er that would just fit over to discuss arry o oned to to sign the audit report. the front of the Ealing tele- adjourn, seconded by Ji The first binary star Dean also said that he is scope was discussed. It Wilt, and the ee ng ad- inves ga ng the possibility could have so e s aller journed at :36p . discovered was Mizar of changing the by-laws to openings that could be used (with Alcor), located only audit when a new per- when viewing the bright espec ully sub i ed, son beco es treasurer in- Moon. Upco ing dates at Dave Philabau , secretary in the handle of the stead of every year. Ji Hil- the observatory include: Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Page 4 The Sidereal Times
Looking Back in the Sidereal Times 25 Years Ago—July 1989
July, 1989 is the 20 th anni- 1969, at 15:18 CDT . Neil AC will on e again be se ng versary of the first lunar Armstron first set foot on up a tent with an astronomy landing and SIAC will be the Moon at 21:56 CDT with display and teles opes for se ng up a sta display at Buzz Aldrin followin shortly viewing. Any help with this Westland Mall July 16 to 21 therea er. orty-seven proje t would be greatly ommemora ng the event. pounds of lunar material appre iated. (This year marks the 45 th were collected and returned ( or several years the club anniversary. The Lunar to Earth for analysis. ) set up and staffed a tent at Module carryin Neil Arm- the fair to help spread the stron and Buzz Aldrin land- July 27 - August 1 is the es word about the i e b- ed on the Moon July 20, Moines County Fair and SI- servatory and the club.)
Looking Back in the Sidereal Times 10 Years Ago—July 2004
uane Gerling reported that then asked Ashley to the a ement posi on with er- he set up an en han ng observatory to show her the kins in Des Moines. Doran evening for his son and his ring mounted there. Only plans to join her in Des girl friend. uane set up an one ues on id she say Moines soon.) engagement ring (the one yes? (She said yes! Doran Did You Know? oran was giving to Ashley) and Ashley were married in Forty-five years ago, Neil on a teles ope in the lass- January 2007. Doran is a Armstrong became the room, then set up another safety police officer and teles ope in the roll off lives in North Liberty Iowa. first human to step on the building to view it. oran Ashley recently took a man- Moon, July 21, 1969. Buzz Aldrin was the second.
Thank You Ray!
A huge "pat on the back" the bulky Cassegrain op- to Ray Reineke for giving eration. He earned every the Ealing Telescope a "attaboy" out much needed refurbish- there! Thanks, Ray! ing. He did a "yeoman's job" of incorporating a new encoder to simplify
July 2014 Page 5
Observer’s Report for July/August
Mars is sll in Virgo during p a et ht y ab ve the the be et a e J y a the fi t pa t f p a e 8-5. O A - . It t ve 2 ° A t, b t t ea twa t 4 th the M cc t th f 4.3 a t e th h the ta Sat f v ewe A - Ep P c the take t t L b a A - t a a. Pluto t a t a t ha f f J y. O A t t 10 th a by the e f a ht - 14 th the M cc t U a- A t t pa e Sat . J y a tw h ea e f v ewe M - Ma eache ea te by -A t. Th the a a pa t f S be a a q a at e J y 19 th . be t e t v ew the fa the Ch a. C e t Ma e w the wa f p a et. The be t app ach f he e 1.6 °, we t a be t v ewe ate f v ew t a e the b t th cc a tw ht. It ze a t tw week f J y e. Venus ve e f 8.5" t 7.2" be- whe the M w be t t e t a e - twee -J y a - f the ky. Whe P t J y a ab t 12 ° ab ve N te: A t ak t ha t t a t the ht f J y the ea te h z 45 ee a y face feat e . 21 t t w be y 155 a c te bef e e. It A e ve Saturn L b a a ec th f 5.1 a - q ck y ve th h th ep t a e ta a y ht a ce - t e 29 Sa a . Th e a e te Ca ce J y 21 t , e tha ab t five e the epa- A t 11 th . O e week CST a 2.5 ° thea t f A pha a f the b e ta ate t ha a c e e c - L b ae, bef e be t A b e . It e a w th te w th J p te w th the 24-h c ck ve ea t a the 0.25 ° f the ta A - tw p a et epa ate by ta . O A t 1 t Sat , t 1 t a t ve we t y 0.33 ° 45 te be- Ma , a Sp ca f a e a the ta . Neptune f e e A t ab t 23 ° w th the v we twa a 18 th . A that ate the c e ce t M 7 ° t the the ta f Aq a a tw p a et w be ab t we t- thwe t f Sp ca. h e at a t e 7.8. e e ee th a ea t Sat eache ea te Nept e e a f M44, the Beeh ve c - q a at e A t 9 th . 22:30 J y a tw te . Mercury w the A w th Ma , v ew Sat h ea e by A - ky -J y a ea y wh e t e- t. O the ht f A - et h he tha x e- what h h the ky. Sat- t 8 th t cate 1.25 ° ee be w e bef e w et by 23:30 thea t f 4.8 a t e v we the ky -A t. L k f T ta ea t S a Aq a a 0.25 ° a bec ve y ha t f the p a et 7-23 a 8 th f 6.5 a t e ee. Me c y at pe he - -8. It w be we t f the SAO 146161. Uranus e J y 29 th a pa e p a et 7-31 a 8-16. ab t 1.5 h a e Nep- th h pe c c- L k f the Tethy , t e a h e at a - w th the S A - D e, a Rhea a e t e 5.8. It ta a y t 8 th . It w eve t a y the we t e f the ht a ce J y 22 be v b e the we t- c e pa e 6 Page 6 The Sidereal Times
Observer’s Report (continued from page 5)
ern sky in late August alt- n July 27 t . On July 22 n it Ceres t ree egrees ug al ai ill r - t e t in aning res ent t t e east. e Perseid a ly e nee e as it sets M n a ears in t e Hya- ete r s er eaks t e less t an inutes a er es luster ne egree nig t f August 12-13, t e Sun. Jupiter is in n- a ve Al e aran. On Au- ever, t e M n is nly un n it t e Sun n gust 2 n t e nearly rst t ays ast full an ill July 2 t an s ul egin quarter M n lies et een e in t e sky all nig t se- t e visi le l in t e east S i a an Mars an t e verely re u ing t e nu - uring a n a er t e rst next nig t t e rst quarter er f ete rs seen. If y u eek f August ere it M n is et een Mars an egin vie ing early in t e ill a ear t t e l er Saturn. Aster i s Ceres evening ef re t e M n le f enus. e Moon an Vesta are ust ver rises, ile t e s er ases are: LQ 7-18 at ne egree a art in irg ra iant is l , it ay e 21:08; ne 7-26 at 17: 2; in i -July, sl ly se a- ssi le t see a fe Eart FQ 8-3 at 19: 0; full 8-10 at ra ng a er t eir l se en- -grazing ete rs t at is- 13:10. is ill e t e l s- unter n July t an t . lay l ng at s a r ss t e Did You Know? est full M n f t e year ey are ving east sky. e Persei s rate is The Perseids appear to it erigee less t an 30 t r ug t e stars an n re t an alf t e axi- radiate from the inutes ef re t e M n t e nig t f August 10 t u f r t ays s try t constellation Perseus. In is full. e st istant esta is alf ay et een vie a ay r t later t mythology, Perseus, the M n f t e year urs I ta an Ka a irginis get re vie ing e son of Zeus, fought Medusa, married Andromeda, and was Treasurer’s Report killed by Dionysus. SIAC Treasurer's Report June 2014
5/30/2014 Beginning Balance $2,338.52
Deposits
6/11/2014 Dues $50.00
Total Deposits $50.00
Expenses
Check Payee
6/19/2014 448 MTC Technologies $30.33
Total Expenses $30.33
6/30/2014 Ending Balance $2,358.19
General Fund $2,132.71 Grants $225.48 Total in Checking Account $2,358.19 July 2014 Page 7
Calendar for July/August
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
13 (July) 14 15 16 17 18 19
Moon at perigee Neptune 5° south SIAC Meeting at of Moon Witte Observato- ry 7 pm—Public Viewing at sunset
Last Quarter Moon
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Saturn appears Uranus appears Venus 4° north New Moon stationary stationary of Moon
Jupiter in con- junction with Sun
27 28 29 30 31 1 (August) 2
Moon at apogee Delta Aquarid Delta Aquarid First Friday Public Meteor Shower Meteor Shower Night—viewing from sunset to 10:30, weather permitting
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
First Quarter Saturn 0.07° Mercury in superi- Moon north of Moon or conjunction
Mars 2° south of Moon
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Full Moon Neptune 5° south Perseid Meteor Perseid Meteor Uranus 1.2° SIAC Meeting at of Moon Shower Shower south of Moon Witte Observato- Moon at perigee ry 7 pm—Public Viewing at sunset
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Last Quarter Venus 0.2° north Members Night Moon of Jupiter— Jupiter 5° north closest planet- Autumn Equinox of Moon planet conjunction on Mars of the year Page 8 The Sidereal Times
July 2014 Page 9 A Brief History
The idea for the observatory was conceived by the members of the Southeastern Io- wa Astronomy Club. Through a cooperative agreement between the Des Moines County Conservation Board, The Burlington Community School System, and the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club, the idea became a reality. A substantial grant from the John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation provided the funding for materials, with nearly all the construction being done by members of the club. Work began in the Southeastern Iowa spring of 1985 and the observatory was dedicated in May 1987. In the years since Astronomy Club the dedication, thousands of people have climbed the ladder to peer through the Astronomy Club eyepiece of the beautiful 1937 Alvan-Clark brass refractor.
P.O. Box 14 In 1996 a second observatory, the Prugh-Carver Observatory, was added through a West Burlington, IA 52655 grant from the Carver Foundation. Dedicated to Burton Prugh, a Burlington busi- nessman, it stands as a reminder of his devotion and support to the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. It houses Mr. Witte’s personal telescope—an 8” Fecker re- fractor, as well as several smaller scopes. W E ’ R E O N T H E W E B Dedicated on September 17, 2004, the new Stone-Kelly Observatory houses the 16” H TTP :// Cassegrain that was formerly on Burlington High School off Roosevelt Avenue. WWW . DMCOUNTY . CO M Volunteer club members, after passing a training and apprenticeship program, op- / INDE X . ASP X ? N ID =516 erate the observatory for public and private groups. The observatory complex is open to the public on the first and third Fridays of every Dues month, weather permitting. $20 Individual $30 Family
About Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club
The Southeastern Iowa As- come to share in the meet- tronomy Club meets on the ings, and they are followed third Friday of each month by a public viewing session at the Witte Observatory at 7 (weather permitting). pm. Additional benefits to mem- The purpose of the club is to bers include our monthly provide astronomy opportu- newsletter, The Sidereal nities to the local area, Times, voting rights for club mainly through the use of activities, and membership the facilities at the John H. in the national Astronomical Witte, Jr. Observatory. Dur- League. The Astronomical ing monthly meetings, infor- League membership pro- mation is provided about vides a quarterly newsletter, upcoming events and items discounts on certain astron- of interest locally, nationally, omy-related products, spe- and worldwide. The meet- cial training/skill building Travel directions to the Witte Observatory Complex. ings allow members to share programs, and other great The observatory complex is located at 18832 152nd Ave- their experiences and exper- benefits. nue, Sperry, Iowa in Big Hollow Creek Recreation Area tise with each other, as well approximately 12 miles north of Burlington, Iowa. as providing a forum for questions. The public is wel-