NEWSLETTER OF THE VANCOUVER CENTRE RASC

VOLUME 2003 ISSUE 2 MARCH/APRIL 2003

Space Station’s Future? 1 Space Station’s Future? by John Nemy and Carol Legate Forms of Light 2 http://www.nemy.com Flight Engineer, Nikolai Budarin President’s Message 3 The International Space are in the third month of their four Pictures of the Night Sky 6 Station, the world’s first month mission on board the Space international orbital outpost Station. The three astronauts were Artificial Star Party 7 celebrated the second anniversary due to return to Earth on March 1, First Astronomical Light 8 of continuous residency and when the shuttle Atlantis was Ferbruary 1, 2003 10 permanent scheduled to human deliver a Looking Ahead presence in replacement Remember, you are always space crew. That welcome to attend meetings of November 2, mission, and Council, held on the first Tues- 2002. The all future day of every month at 7:30pm American shuttle flights, in the G.S.O. Space Shuttle are on hold Mar. 11: Dr. Fred Raab, Dir. of program has until Hanford's Gravity Wave Ob- played a investigators servatory. major role in learn what Apr. 8: Dr. Mark Halpren of the Space Space Shuttle Endeavour followed by the caused International Space Station as they (trav- UBC speaking on the recent Station’s Columbia to release from the MAP space- elling right to left) passed over Blackcomb craft and its meaning for cos- development. Mountain, Whistler, B.C. Canada, Decem- disintegrate mology. The loss of ber 2, 2002 17:35 PST. The Shuttle and 40 miles the Space ISS had undocked 5 hours prior to this above Earth May 13: Dr. Steven Brahm of photo. Video clip taken by Carol Legate & SFU on Devon Is. as a training Shuttle John Nemy of The Pacific Observatory on Saturday, ground for Mars exploration; Columbia will February 1st. making an Earth-Mars Internet. dramatically affect the future of the Along with the Space Shuttle, Next Issue Deadline ISS (International Space Station). the ISS also relies on Russian At the present time, the ISS is unmanned rockets to provide life Material for the May Nova should submitted by Monday, occupied by its 6th crew of support supplies. The Russian May 5, 2003. Please send sub- astronauts. Expedition Six cargo ship, Progress 10, launched missions to: Commander, Ken Bowersox; from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Gordon Farrell Station Science Officer, Don Kazakhstan on Sunday, February ([email protected]) Pettit; and Russian cosmonaut/ continued on page 8 Forms of Light by Marc Verschueren books and read the magazines. We of gas emits its own light—it is not Asking questions about the are told that M42 is a star scattered light. The atoms in the universe is always inspired by the nursery—new stars are being gas are excited by the light of the visual beauty of it. This winter, not formed in it. But how do we know embedded stars which, due to the as horrible for astronomical that? I always like to know, at least electrons falling back to lower purposes as winters have been in in principle, how such conclusions levels, create the light. The the last few years, has allowed us are reached. You do not embedded stars are young stars. at least some view of the winter necessarily want to know the We can know this from the form spectacle. The special guests are smallest detail of the astronomical of the light they emit; they are of of course Saturn and Jupiter, but science connected to an object like the O-type or close to it. In a plot there is always Orion, the giant of M42, but we should know at least of brightness as related to the the winter sky and we all look time a broad outline of the thinking of colour of the light, these stars and time again at M42. the astronomers who describe the appear where very young stars I observe from a rather poor nature of such an object. I like to should appear. Some may only be location because of light pollution, dig a little bit deeper into the a few 100,000 year old. In this but the gem of M42 is as information which is readily way, we can say that M42 is a star fascinating as ever. It is no doubt available to most of us to see how nursery, even if I find this a one of the first objects that the one can justify some statements somewhat silly description. And it beginning amateur sees, and it is made and what they actually mean. is the detailed properties of the very often the prime attraction that So I went to look here and there light that tells us this. When we gets many hooked for good. And and did a little bit of thinking. look at it all we see is the beauty you do not need athletic star The M42 nebula appears a of the green glow of the nebula and hopping to find it; my 6-inch pale green to our eye because it the brilliant stars in it. allows me to separate the smallest contains oxygen. This can be seen Good old Burnham tells us separation of the Trapezium— from the spectrum of the light. that M42 is somewhere between always gratifying. It is pleasing That spectrum contains two strong 1600 and 2000 light years away, that a simple instrument can show lines around 500nm and they are with a good degree of uncertainty. this impressive star formation. And very characteristic for oxygen. Distance is always a critical then there is the nebula, with its They are many other gases, but it element to grasp the reality of what colour. From my poor site it is is the oxygen that gives it the we are looking at in the eyepiece. virtually impossible to see visible green. To see this for To be a bit more accurate, I had a nebulae; the sky is just too bright. ourselves we would have to install look at the website of Hipparcos. I can see no galaxies except the a spectrograph on our scope to It is not exactly your usual chart brightest such as the Andromeda, analyze the light we see. This is (you have to get used to it) but but I can see M42. Most nebulae not impossible, but it is not very there was a parallax angle for 3 of we only see as a very pale white. common yet (there are amateur the members of the trapezium of This is because they are so faint versions of this most important 1.85 mas, which gives that our eye cannot register the instrument). In the meantime, we approximately 1700 light years. So colour they may have, but M42 has will accept the word of the Burnham’s figures are right. This colour: a mysterious green. specialists. The spectrograph tell distance is measured We always want to know a us what form of light we are geometrically by measuring little bit more about what we see. watching. Because there are the angles. The nature of the light is That’s why we have all these two lines, we know that the cloud continued on page 5 2 President’s 2003 Vancouver About RASC Message Centre Officers The Vancouver Centre, RASC As usual, we have started meets at 7:30 PM in the auditorium President of the H.R. MacMillan Space Cen- slowly this year, but as Spring Bill Ronald 604-733-7036 tre at 1100 Chestnut St., Vancou- approaches, things are starting to [email protected] ver, on the second Tuesday of every get busy. I have just sent out an e- Vice-President month. Guests are always wel- mail reminding those of you who Nicole van den Elzen 604-501-2656 come. In addition, the Centre has have registered your addresses [email protected] an observing site where star par- with us about the events of the next Secretary ties are regularly scheduled. Ron Jerome 604-298-3292 Membership is currently $51.00 two months. At the beginning of [email protected] per year ($26.00 for persons under March, a small group went down Treasurer 21 years of age) and can be ob- to Boundary Bay for the first Marc Verschueren 604-986-1485 tained by writing to the Treasurer Messier Marathon. They reported [email protected] at the address below. Annual membership includes the invalu- seeing a few Messiers but it was Librarian able Observer’s Handbook, six is- not a Marathon. William Fearon 604-939-1895 sues of the RASC Journal, and, of [email protected] Coming up on March 16 is the course, access to all of the club Artificial Star Party, where you can National Representatives events and projects. Pomponia Martinez 604-215-8844 For more information regarding get help checking out your [email protected] the Centre and its activities, please telescope and learn how to do it Bob Parry 604-215-8844 contact our P.R. Director. yourself. Then on March 22, you [email protected] NOVA, the newsletter of the have the opportunity to meet some Membership Vancouver Centre, RASC, is pub- Dan Collier 604-732-6046 lished on odd numbered months. of the members of the Bremerton Opinions expressed herein are not Chair, CARO Committee Astronomical Society, who are Bob Parry 604-215-8844 necessarily those of the Vancouver coming up for a visit to the Space Centre. Director of Telescopes Centre. On March 28/29, weather Material on any aspect of as- Phil Morris 604-734-8708 tronomy should be e-mailed to the permitting, the second Messier Public Relations editor, mailed to the address on Marathon is being planned at the Norman Song 604-299-7924 page 5, or uploaded to Boundary Bay viewing site. [email protected] SpaceBase™ at 604-473-9358, 59. Contact Jason Rickerby or Doug Speakers Advertising Montgomery for more Barry Shanko 604-271-0615 [email protected] information. Nova encourages free use of its Merchandising classified ads for members with A new event for us this year Doug Montgomery 604-596-7058 items for sale or swap. Notify the is National Dark Sky Week (April [email protected] editor if you wish your ad to run in 1 to 8), which was initiated by a Nova Editor more than one issue. high school student from Virginia. Gordon Farrell 604-734-0326 The concept is simple; ask [email protected] Commerical everyone to turn off their outside Webmaster Rates Jason Rickerby 604-502-8158 lights and then go out and look at [email protected] 1/2 Page: $25.00 per issue the sky. It is not only a light Full Page: $40.00 per issue Greeter pollution initiative, but also an Rates are for camera-ready, or Greg Price 604-377-5547 electronic files. Payment, by attempt to get people to experience [email protected] cheque, must accompany ad ma- the night sky as it should be seen. Trustees terial. Make cheque payable to: For more information, see: http:// Sally Baker 604-324-3309 RASC Vancouver Centre. Lee Johnson 604-941-5364 continued on page 5 3 Observing Sites

Dale McNabb Observatory in Aldergrove Lake Park (RASC Van- couver Centre's regular viewing site) Contact Mike Penndelton (604- 888-1505) or Howard Morgan (604-856-9186)

Site of the annual star party organ- ized by the RASC Vancouver Cen- tre

Site of the annual Mt. Kobau Star Party organized by the Mount Kobau Astronomical Society

Site of the regular Thursday night star party. On the dike at the foot of 72nd St.

4 continuted from page 2 not important, but all the other ASTROCOMPUTING MEMBERSHIP properties we can only find by SpaceBase™ (604-473-9358,59). HAS ITS looking at the detailed structure of Affiliated since 1992 with RASC PRIVILEGES! Vancouver, our link to RASC Net, the light we see. RASC Members only chat area. New members, did you know? Light gives us the story of a Future data distribution hub for The Vancouver Centre has 8 tel- nebula and its stars. Radiation is CARO Project. Features include escopes available for loan free of charge! We have telescopes rang- our only contact with these latest HST images, current world space news and astronomy pro- ing from 60mm to 10" diameter. objects, but the light can change grams. Provides a file uploading For more information see Phil Mor- on its way to us. It changes facility for submitting articles and ris, Director of Telescopes in the lobby of the GSO after the mem- colour—in some extremes it imagery to Nova. bers meeting. All telescopes are becomes radio waves—and then it to be picked up and returned at the tells us the story of the universe, LIBRARY GSO. The loaner period is for one not only of a nebula. Lately, some The centre has a large library of month, to be returned after the next new results have been published, books, magazines and old Nova’s meeting. Telescopes are not al- for your enjoyment at the GSO. lowed to circulate outside of these such as the measurements made by Please take advantage of this club meetings. You can now reserve 2 the MAP satellite. We should have service and visit often to check out different telescopes per year and a look at that at some other time. the new purchases. Suggestions use what is left at the end of the In the meantime let us be for future library acquisitions are meeting anytime. Phil can be enthralled by the beauty of Orion appreciated. reached at 604-734-8708. Your greatest opportunity as a and M42 and its green light. ! RASCVC on the Internet member of the R.A.S.C. is to take http://members.shaw.ca/rascvan/ advantage of the company of other or http://www.rasc.ca/vancouver enthusiasts to increase your knowl- continuted from page 3 edge, enjoyment and skill in as- H.R. MACMILLAN www.nationaldarkskyweek.htmlplanet.com/ tronomy. Finally, on April 11/12 we will SPACE CENTRE The best thing you can do to gain the most from your member- hold our first Sidewalk Astronomy The Pacific Space Centre Society ship is to get active! Take in the event of the year. It will be at is a non-profit organization which club meetings; engage other mem- operates the H.R. MacMillan Space bers with questions; come out to ob- English Bay as usual, but if we Centre and Gordon M. Southam have enough volunteers, we might serving sessions (also known as Observatory. Annual Membership “star parties”), and, by all means, also set up at Kitsilano Beach. ($30 Individual, $65 Family) in- volunteer to take part in our many Let’s hope for clear skies and a cludes a newsletter, Discounts on public events. Space Camps, special programs Observing takes place at the good turnout by both the public and lectures, Vancouver Museum Dale McNabb Observatory in the and our members. ! Discounts, and free admission to Aldergrove Lake Park, located in the Space Centre. Admission to the Langley, on 8th Avenue, just east Space Centre includes: Astronomy of 272nd Street. We are there most shows, Motion Simulator rides, clear nights. Contact Mike multimedia shows in GroundStation Penndelton at 604-888-1505 or Canada, and access to the Cosmic Howard Morgan at 604-856-9186. Courtyard Exhibit Gallery. For Mem- bership information, call Mahi RASC Jordao at 604-738-7827, local 237 1100 Chestnut Street for information. You can also reach Vancouver, B.C. them on the Internet at http:// www.hrmacmillanspacecentre.com/ V6J 3J9 604-738-2855

5 Pictures of the Night Sky by Ron Jerome tall, with brownish hair and a smile cover the moon. That is one The postie pushed the mail that made it immediately clear he degree.” We all doubted his through the slot in the door. Among was about to embark on something statement, but had to wait until the items that fell on the floor was he really enjoyed. Fifteen of us had after class to prove him right. He a catalogue from one of the local agreed to appear every Tuesday went on to explain how distances colleges offering a myriad of night at 7:00 p.m. for the next eight were measured in degrees, minutes continuing education courses. I sat weeks. Ages ranged from twenty and seconds. Suddenly I felt at the kitchen table, leafing to sixty and the knowledge level stirrings of my high school through the possibilities: ran from slightly above zero to Mr. geometry and university Glassblowing with Pyrex; How to Sixty who had actually taken some trigonometry, two classes that had Earn Money as a Speaker; Sugar star photos. caused me no end of grief. Did I Gumpaste Flowers; Acting, Cary began by providing a list still have those old texts around? I Theater for the Terrified; Past Life of reference sources, then pulled my course confirmation slip Regression; Martial Arts Combo followed up with a brief tour of from my pocket to be sure I had Dragon Temple; and Astronomy, what was out there to be seen. He not inadvertently signed up for Adventures in the Night Sky. introduced the constellations with Past Life Regression. In university, I had a a series of connect-the-dots One evening class was roommate who had taken an overheads and proceeded to planned outdoors, at a local park. introductory astronomy course describe how the ancients had Being October, it was weather because he needed a science conceived of all sorts of wild and dependent. One of the problems credit. Although I don’t recall that fantastic images from the with being a star gazer in the he actually competed it (or many collection of hundreds of tiny Pacific Northwest is the high others), he had had some very points of light in the sky. Starting probability of low visibility. A positive things to say about it. with the Big Dipper seemed quite typical week’s weather forecast Besides, wasn’t the media full of logical. Even I knew that one. As looks something like this: Hubble Space Telescope it turned out, some of the younger Monday - cloudy, with a photographs, that wonderful eye audience were not acquainted with chance of showers candy that makes looking at the the term dipper, which might have Tuesday - cloudy, with a stars and planets so appealing? been as old as those who had chance of rain When you gaze up at the night sky, named that constellation. He Wednesday - rain nothing really looks like those provided names for many of the Thursday - rain, sometimes pictures, but maybe that’s because more prominent stars, of which heavy in places it is all too far away. With a good quite a few had an Arabic origin. Friday - intermittent telescope I had no doubt that I As it turned out, much of the best showers would be able to see some of those early astronomy had been done in Saturday - cloudy wonderful images for myself. I that part of the world. Sunday - cloudy, with sunny signed up for the astronomy “How big do you think the periods course. moon is?” Cary asked, “the full It is this last glimmer of hope Cary Smielek, the instructor, moon.” We all agreed that it that keeps the local astronomical was setting up an overhead looked to be somewhere between community going. Besides, it is projector as his class began to a quarter and a loonie in size. “If only like this for half of the year. arrive. He was probably in his late you hold your little finger up at We met Cary in a parking lot thirties, about five foot six inches arms length, it will completely continued on page 11 6 Artificial Star Party by Seamus Dunne but if you’ve ever tried this sort of magnification while moving the When: 12:00 noon, Sunday test on Polaris, or any star, you will eyepiece just inside and outside of 16 March 2003 (light rain or know that sufficiently steady focus. I hope to publish shine). atmospheric conditions required construction details about the Where: Hillcrest Park on for this testing occurs very rarely, artificial star in a future issue of Clancy Loranger Road (north side perhaps only hours per year. NOVA. of Nat Bailey Baseball Stadium at A star test, whether the star is A cool, overcast day is best; Ontario St. and 33rd Ave, artificial or real, is intended to this provides the best ‘seeing.’ Vancouver). reveal defects in your telescope’s When it’s good, the artificial star’s This star party is all about optical system, defects perhaps diffraction circles and Airey disk getting your telescope out of you didn’t know were there. In appearance is as steady as still mothballs and giving it a spring many cases these defects simply photograph. However if the sun is tune-up while visiting with fellow require a minor adjustment to shining then the seeing astronomers. Last year we had a remedy, in other cases there is no deteriorates and the star appears fairly big turnout and it was a great simple remedy. An example of the to squirm, making evaluation more success. Long-time members got former is a collimation error; an difficult. to visit with old friends and meet example of the latter is an We will also need volunteers new members while sharing their imperfectly figured lens or mirror. who are experienced in star testing knowledge. I hope we can repeat Nevertheless, even a small of telescope systems. Although it this year. It’s intended to help adjustment in your telescope’s some defects (pinched optics) can members get the best performance collimation can bring about a be easily detected, other defects from their equipment, regardless remarkable improvement in (such as turned-edge) take a of its optical design. An artificial performance and greatly increase trained eye to recognise. So I am star is used for testing the optical your enjoyment of it. asking here for those with some performance of a telescope The artificial star, which I expertise to come out and assist us. system—the primary mirror, a have made from an old projector, If you plan to attend keep secondary mirror and an eyepiece has a 50-watt quartz-halogen lamp these things in mind: as a complete, aligned system. at its heart. Light from this is - this is a free service to RASC Why make an artificial star when reflected by a condenser mirror members. there are already zillions in the through a small aperture stop, then - you should plan to have your sky? We use this because we can through a microscope objective. equipment set up and cooling off see it under more controlled The result is a dazzling point of about one hour before we start; conditions that create closer-to- light approximately one tenth of a tube currents inside a scope make perfect seeing conditions. Why not millimetre in diameter, with a very this evaluation very difficult. use a real star? An artificial star high colour temperature. The star - there is no need for any clock can be made steady, bright, and is placed at a distance of 50 to 100 drive or electricity in your motionless. The word motionless metres from the scope and aimed equipment. bears repeating. Further, no motor at it. Misleading results are - however, you may wish to bring drive or polar alignment is obtained if the scope is not a a laptop computer and CCD required, so any errors here are considerable distance from the imaging equipment and capture eliminated. Certainly the star star. For the test, you must very images of the star. You must supply Polaris could be used, eliminating critically observe the appearance your own power. the need for motor-driven optics, of the star using high continued on page 12 7 Upcoming Events March June 12 – Perseid meteor shower; 16 – Artificial Star Party. See p. 7 1 – Fraser River Festival observing at Aldergrove Lake for details. 26 – 2003 General Assembly TBD – Mars Week 28-30 – Messier Marathon 2 begins September April July 26-27 – Merritt Star Party 1-8 – National Dark Sky Week 1 – 2003 General Assembly ends 11-12 – Sidewalk Astronomy 1 25-26 – Manning Start Party & October 25-26 – Sidewalk Astronomy (rain Manning Outreach 17-18 – Sidewalk Astronomy 2 date) 26 – Mt. Kobau Star Party begins December May August 9 – AGM 10 – Astronomy Day 2 – Manning Star Party ends 15 – Total Lunar Eclipse continuted from page 1 major contribution to the Station 2, was scheduled to dock with the is the Canadarm2. The next station about 7:55 a.m. PST, generation of this famous robotic Tuesday, February 4. Progress 10 arm uses a Mobile Base System. will deliver new supplies, The system allows the arm to equipment and fuel to the station. travel along the ISS. The At the time of the loss of Canadarm2 is also more flexible Columbia, it seemed that the cargo than the original Canadarm, giving aboard the Russian supply ship it a greater ability to bend, rotate, would be appropriate to sustain the and manoeuvre around the large current crew of the ISS until June, and complex environment of the if necessary. The continued Space Station. The arm is also assembly and future existence of designed so that certain the ISS depends on space fight. components can be swapped in The first component of the space for new units when the old ISS was placed into orbit ones wear out or fail. Unlike the November 20, 1998. Since then, Canadarm, the Canadarm2 is 16 Space Shuttle flights, 17 designed to be repaired in space manned and unmanned Russian and probably will never return to flights and 50 spacewalks have earth. serviced the Station. In six visits The entire Space Station is by crews to the station, 6000 meals continued on page 12 and 4000 snacks weighing 3629 kg (8000 lbs.) have been consumed. A quarter moon is visible in this ob- The international effort to make lique view of Earth’s horizon and airglow, recorded with a digital still the ISS a reality involves more camera aboard the Space Shuttle than 100,000 ground personnel Columbia. Photo taken 26 January and 500 contractors. Canada’s 2003. Image courtesy of NASA. 8 First Astronomical Light by Dan Collier 12° wide. North is to upper right. due to the design of the cold finger. Acquired on February 25, At lower left, the Snowcone-Like In areas where the stars are better 2003 at 0330 UT at Southam Object (SLO) is actually Capella, focused, the camera has reached Observatory using the Cookbook which conveniently drifted into magnitude 9.5—in other words, all CCD camera illustrated in the last view to enable identification of the the stars in Uranometria 2000.0 issue of NOVA. The camera was field. The camera was resting on a are visible. That is pretty good for operating in 378 by 242 mode and table in the dome and pointing an untracked exposure with an exposure aperture of was 30 10mm. seconds. With the The raw Peltier data was operating at reduced to a full Windows capacity, bitmap with mag 21 a Quick should be Basic achievable program. A on the dark frame 400mm was Overton subtracted, Telescope. the data The were only object reduced to of interest is 8 bits by R Aurigae, clipping the the MSBs, and the contrast and straight up. The stars trailed about brightest star at top centre. brightness were adjusted for 2 pixels during the exposure. According to the Observer’s printing. No attempt was made to Ambient temperature was Handbook, it is a long-period correct for the rectangular pixel about 5°C. The camera’s Peltier variable (LPV) with a period of shape that the TC245 CCD cooler was operated at only 10 459 days and mean maximum exhibits in this mode. As a result, percent capacity because the water visual magnitude of 7.7. the image is slightly elongated in system was not connected. Burnham’s Celestial Handbook the horizontal direction. Thermal charge in the raw image gives the range 6.8–13.7. Because the Observatory’s was quite large, approximately Evidently, R Aur has been caught 500mm Cassegrain telescope is half-scale in terms of analogue- near its predicted Feb. 17 not in commission at present, a digital units (ADUs). maximum. LPVs are quite red, and small achromat lens (30mm focal In parts of the field, stars are the CCD’s red-friendly response length, 10mm diameter) was not well imaged. The lens is rather has added to R Aur’s prominence. installed in front of the CCD to strongly curved (f/3), leading to However, at the deep red produce this image. significant off-axis aberrations. wavelengths which the CCD The field is centred on 5h 7m, Moreover, the CCD is not centred favours, LPVs exhibit less +51° in northwest Auriga and is in the camera (by about one mm) variation than they do by eye. !

9 February 1, 2003: Anomalous Co-Occurrences by Dan Collier women. The crew of the Columbia’s planned return. And The following is absolutely Challenger numbered seven, like Columbia, our car did not true. including an African-American return home from that voyage. 1. On the morning of man and two women. During 6. One of the subjects of a Saturday, February 1st, 2003, I Columbia’s flight, I had an eerie book I was writing at the time was woke up earlier than usual and impression about the crew. One of the crash of an airliner in the couldn’t get back to sleep. While the women in Columbia reminded midwestern U.S. due to a hydraulic that is not unusual in itself, what me a lot of one of the women killed system failure. While Columbia is unusual is that I put the TV on. in Challenger. The other woman orbited on its last voyage, the It was tuned to a station in Columbia reminded me a lot of brakes on our family car had a total broadcasting news of the space the other woman killed in the hydraulic failure. Just before the shuttle Columbia. In January Challenger. upset that caused Columbia to 1986, I learned of the Challenger 4. The first shuttle to enter tumble and break apart, telemetry explosion after waking up space was the Columbia, in 1982, indicated problems in the unexpectedly and turning on the in a flight I witnessed from start hydraulic system. TV set. to end on TV. Heat-shield tiles 7. The television show The 2. Columbia was lost within were damaged and lost on that Simpsons lampooned the space a day of the anniversary of the ascent. The most probable cause shuttle program by depicting a re- Challenger loss. Challenger was of the Columbia’s eventual loss entry mishap. The crew of the lost after a problematic launch on nearly 21 years later was damage fictional shuttle, the Corvair— a winter day, and the low to, or loss of, heat-shield tiles on named after a model of car temperatures played a role in the ascent. I witnessed that final flight manufactured, like ours, by events. Columbia was lost after a from start to end on TV also General Motors—had only one problematic launch on a winter day (NASA Select TV). scientific experiment to deal with, in which low temperatures may 5. Our family car was 32 years an art farm. Columbia’s crew had have played a role in the events. old, a 1971 model. The space 80 scientific experiments to 3. The crew of the Columbia shuttle program was officially supervise—and one of them was numbered seven, including an inaugurated in 1971. Our car made an ant farm. ! African-American man and two its last voyage on the day of

10 continuted from page 6 was the life and times of comets— minutes, unable to digest all the near Ferguson Point in Lord Hale-Bopp had arrived. These information being provided. All I Stanley’s Park, adjoining the were phenomenon to be enjoyed could remember of the first Teahouse Restaurant. Walking live, not just in pictures, although conversation was that I was likely toward the water, away from the he teased us with Hubble images to spend about $300. When I went building, the street lamps and the and some Jupiter shots from Mt. back a couple of weeks later, the trees, provided the better part of a Palomar. It is certainly possible to din had subsided. Jeanette showed one hundred twenty degree view buy astrophotographic prints of me three pairs of high quality of the night sky. The first sighting both interesting and exotic of binoculars. After describing their was the obligatory Big Dipper, objects to hang on the wall. A good respective features, she pointed to followed by Queen Cassiopeia. earth based 35mm camera or the second: “This is a very popular Her traveling companion, King emerging CCD technology with choice and if you don’t like them, Cepheus, was harder to find and I computer enhancements can bring them back.” I liked what she began to realize that I really did deliver eye catching and artful said. I was hooked. need to memorize those dotted presentations of the glories of the My Christmas presents that patterns if I were going to find my night sky. I wanted to take my own, year were the binoculars (from my way around. “Look, there is the not buy someone else’s handiwork. wife) and a new tripod (from my Great Square of Pegasus,” I have shot woodlands, meadows, kids). Santa gave me a few clear someone called out. I could not mountains and marmots. I even nights. My first treat was Saturn. I find it and it was much later that I have a series of photos of a sunrise could clearly distinguish a ring realized the enormity of some of in Patagonia, taken outside the tiny around the sixth planet in our solar the constellations. I was not used village of El Chalten, at the base system. While the image was to imagining things on such a of the Cerro Torres. As the towers small, there was no question about grand scale. turn from granite to gold with the what was out there. It was no The other standout of the dawning light, a full moon hangs longer just a yellowish dot in the night was the star Capella, in the in the sky. I hadn’t realized at the sky. Then, even more wonderful constellation Auriga. This bright, time that I had already married was Jupiter. Not only could I see sparkling jewel seemed to change photography with astronomy. this giant satellite, I could resolve colours—red-to-blue-to-white— Between the first and second four tiny points of light encircling giving the impression that it must set of classes, I paid my first visit it. The dance of the four moons be a plane or some other man made to a telescope store, looking for a was exciting and I eventually object. Having looked at this star pair of binoculars. Jeanette Elgas, learned the names of each of the in the northeast sky from my front the proprietress, was a short, players. To do this necessitated a driveway, I had often thought it excitable brunette, who, in a matter trip to my favourite second hand was a light on a radio beacon on of a few minutes, completely bookstore, where I acquired a 25 Mt. Seymour. When the sky tour overwhelmed me. She was year old astronomy text. It was a ended, we thanked Cary for his handling three different customers, place to start. efforts and he gave one of those including one on the phone, as well We were visited by Comet smiles, which said: “A few more as directing the dismantling of a Hale-Bopp over much of that converts.” He had put out the bait. fancy looking telescope that had winter. Newspaper and magazine Three months later I was just been sold. Walking into her articles recounted a variety of sitting in his next class. He talked store was like diving to the bottom comet sightings that had already of the impending lunar eclipse, of a very deep pool. By the time I occurred during my lifetime, all explaining why they only returned to the surface, I was preludes to the current show. I happened occasionally. Then there gasping for breath. I left after 30 continued on page 13 11 continuted from page 7 tape, notepad… sledge hammer if Vancouver). You can park and - you must bring the eyepieces and you need it. We simply supply unload on Clancy Loranger Road. Barlow lenses which give you assistance and advice; we cannot The road is only 100 metres long. maximum magnification, typically supply tools. There is free parking for lots of 200x or more. High magnification - bring a lunch. This sort of thing cars and a public washroom there, is necessary. Insufficient is not accomplished in 15 minutes. too. magnification makes this test - rain gear When: Sunday 16 March, 12 inconclusive. - Dobsonian owners: For your noon until 4pm. - be prepared to do any optical comfort bring a *stable* platform Weather: Ideally the day will testing by observing straight or table about 30 inches high on be cool and overcast. Colder is through your scope, that is, which you can set up your scope better, so dress for a cold day. We without a star diagonal in place. since you will be looking at the decided that we would cancel the You will get more useful results. artificial star which is on the date in the event of anything more Later, you should do the same horizon. Maybe we’ll have one than very light rain (scope owners testing with your usual set-up— there, too. Without this, you must likely will not want to allow more that is, using a star diagonal. Only crouch very low for a long period than a few drops on their by eliminating the star diagonal in order to look through your equipment). If we should cancel can you be certain it is not a eyepiece. A folding chair would be during the event, I suggest we then problem. useful, too. retire to Solly’s Bagels for coffee - bring any special tools you need Where: Hillcrest Park on at 28th and Main. to access & adjust your optics: Clancy Loranger Road (north side Questions? Seamus Dunne small screwdrivers, pliers, of Nat Bailey Baseball Stadium at (604-327-7262) [email protected] wrenches, hex wrenches, masking Ontario St. and 33rd Ave, ! continuted from page 8 boost to keep it in orbit. This is 17:35 PST, the ISS and Endeavour designed to never return to Earth. one of the Space Shuttle’s main made a historic pass as the last Even at such a high altitude (400 roles. time a shuttle and the ISS were kilometres above earth) the Station The last Shuttle to the ISS was seen together. barely skims over Earth’s thin the Endeavour in late November. To follow the International atmosphere. Our atmosphere It remained until early December Space Station as it orbits Earth on combined with the solar wind 2002. The docked spacecrafts the internet, visit http://heavens- causes the ISS to slow as it travels made several orbital passes over above.com and on NASA around Earth. The Space Station the Whistler region during that Television. ! requires an occasional external mission. On December 2, 2002 at

12 continuted from page 11 My favourite planets became strangers, to glimpses of the could not remember witnessing a even more entrancing, and the heavens. It began to look like it just single one. Where had I been? I Orion Constellation hosted a series might become a hobby after all. was not going to let this one of enticing possibilities that had The idea of astrophotography escape. been out of reach, until now. I even had gotten sidelined, although, Knowing almost nothing glimpsed the night skiers on the along with some eyepiece about taking pictures of the night Grouse Mountain chairlifts, upgrades, I had acquired the sky objects, I took my 35mm to traveling upside down as they necessary tools. Frustration set in, what looked like a darkish kind of returned to the top for another run. however, when I eventually tried site—a school yard in my I immediately understood the to marry my reflector to my neighbourhood. There I set up my concept of image reversal. I had camera. They didn’t get along at tripod, mounted it with my 35mm resisted buying a telescope for all on the first date. I could not get camera and set about capturing a several reasons. First, was the the target objects to focus properly trophy for my wall. I had had weather factor. Second, I was not and I couldn’t figure out the right beginners’ luck on the same spot a sure about spending money on combination of lenses and adaptor few months earlier with my lunar something I still was not entirely parts to make it work. Explaining eclipse attempts. They were not convinced I was devoted to, in my problem to various people magazine quality, but I was spite of all the hours of reading and elicited little help, since most of encouraged enough to look looking I had already done. Third, the good photographers were forward to this next attempt. I really wasn’t sure what my using refractors and digital Again, as luck would have it, I primary viewing interest would be. equipment. I felt like a throwback succeeded in capturing 3-4 Riding the bus to and from to another era. Perhaps I would satisfactory results. The success of work each day took me past a have to get a different scope. A these efforts and the pictures in number of pawn shops on the edge chance call to a technician at Astronomy and SkyNews, to of the Hastings Street tenderloin Harrison Scientific Instruments which I now subscribed, only led district. B.C. Collateral Loan was Ltd. put me in touch with Boyen, me to raise my sights. bigger and better kept than the rest. whom I had never met. “No As Cary Smielek’s second Two weeks before the next worries,” was his response to my course wound up, he took the Christmas arrived, I caught sight perplexing puzzle. “I can help you opportunity to include us in the of a dark blue telescope, a 5 inch out. We’re having a star party at audience at a meeting of the Royal Skywatcher, astride a set of the Cypress parking lot on Astronomical Society of Canada, wooden legs, in the middle of the Saturday night. Join us if you can.” Vancouver Centre, a disparate feature window of that shop. One There were probably eight group of amateur astronomers, of the employees had an interest scopes hard at work by the time I ranging from the bright lights of in telescopes and had convinced arrived, all attended by really the mathematics and science management to feature a few, intense star gazers. Boyen greeted departments of the city’s two along with the cameras and me in short order. A balaclava major universities, to industry binoculars that were acquired in circumscribed an oval face, specialists and finally to those who the ordinary course of business. I adorned with a bushy mustache. just had an abiding interest in what felt better upon learning it was not That was all of him I could make was going on in that dark space an unredeemed pawn of unknown out, as he was wrapped up in at overhead. I eventually joined the origin, and I took it home that least two layers of clothing, trying group and soon discovered the weekend. Over the next couple of to stay warm through the night loaner program: take a scope home years I treated myself, friends, vigil. I was overwhelmed with help and try it; you will like it. I did. neighbours, and even total continued on page 14 13 continuted from page 13 of the sequence he had success! longer sure they were mine. Even in setting up my equipment and With everything screwed down Boyen’s special libation failed to during the course of the night, I tightly, he pointed the scope at the reach them. I packed up and had the opportunity to look moon. “Should be easy to try this headed home. through some serious telescopes. out and it will be a very short My wife took the film to One sported a two inch eyepiece exposure.” He covered the Costco the following Monday and and, as I stood peering through it, aperture, while I triggered the waited the obligatory hour to get I felt as Alice must have when she cable release to open the shutter, the photos finished. That evening, entered the looking glass. I could then opened it and counted, “One we examined the pictures together. reach out After a few and touch moments of each of the careful, new born silent stars scrutiny wrapped in Anne the dust succinctly cloud of the summed up Orion the results: Nebula. “The moon,” “So, she observed Boyen, can in a serious you help tone, “looks me with my like a camera football with problem?” little bite I asked marks all hopefully, around the having edges.” discussed What could I my say? The frustrations critics had at length spoken. with him on While she a couple of set about prior preparing occasions. dinner, I He replied reviewed the in his results a few patented response: “No worries.” Missouri, Two Missouri.” After more times. It was hard to argue After ensuring I had all the the second count, he covered the with her comments and I could requisite pieces he began stacking scope, instructing me to close the only conclude that the group of lenses and adaptor parts like a shutter. We did this several more technicians in charge of the construction engineer. His first times. “See how those work out.” Hubble Space Telescope would attempt to get a focused image fell I stayed for a couple of hours, until not have to start looking for new short, but after rearranging parts my feet were so cold, I was no career opportunities just yet. ! 14 15 RASC MERCHANDISE Available for purchase after Telescopes - Binoculars meetings: Microscopes & Accessories Calendars $12.00 Weather Instruments Beginners’ Guides $15.00 Observers’ Guides $20.00 Star Charts $10.00 DEALER FOR Cloth Crests $11.00 ZEISS • PENTAX • CELESTRON • Lapel Pins $ 6.00 BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB • SKYWATCHER • L.E.D. Flashlights $22.00 OLYMPUS • STEINER CD-ROM Astronomy Skymaps for PC’s “Like New” Consignment Equipment

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