★ September ★ The SiderealSidereal TimesTimes 1999

★ THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALBUQUERQUE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY P.O. BOX 50581, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 87181-0581

Report on a Tall Telescope ©1999 David Nelson Blair

I am so glad David agreed to allow me to publish his Tall Telescope story. His performance at the general meeting was simply outstanding and enjoyed by all. For the record, unlike most The Sidereal Times articles, this one is copyrighted by the author and my not be reproduced without his expressed written permission. Thank you Dave!!!—ed.

Telescopes have grown over the , so my six- I slapping my backside on both cheeks and went inch seems increasingly diminutive in the company of on with my macho speech. “I’ve got my johns and I’ve telescopes with mirrors 20, 22, even 24 inches across. got my jeans. I’m wearing two pairs of socks and snug, Owners of fine, six-inch refractors can still hold their high-top Rockports. own, especially when they spit phrases like aperture “It’s winter in Minnesota. There’s a big difference be- fever at the big light-bucket owners. tween here and—” I don’t have even that leg to stand on, since my little scope is doubly modest in being a reflector. Luck- “I didn’t always live in New Mexico. In my back- ily I left it home altogether when I visited family in East days, they called me Pennsylvania Tough.” I Minnesota last winter. twirled my Russian fur hat with a warmly gloved hand. In Saint Paul my brother Jim introduced me to a “Let’s go.” church friend named Mark, who took great interest in I spent ninety minutes snug in the cab of a pickup a New Mexico astronomer. Southwest desert sky is the with Mark and his wife Rachel before arriving at a pic- one thing that can keep a Midwest stargazer off the turesque observing field, a patch of tundra surrounded topic of aperture, and that allowed me to sustain my by frozen lakes. A twenty-foot bluff guaranteed that credibility. no lights from the passing highway would reach us. “Join us tonight,” he insisted, talking up his own The air felt crisp on my face an hour before sun- observing group. “We’ve got about fifteen members and down, but I actually worked up a slight sweat as I this great site about sixty miles north of the city.” helped Mark erect a 10-inch LX-200, enough glass to suck a thousand times the starlight of an unassisted I met him late that afternoon in my leather observ- human pupil. ing jacket. As the sun descended, others arrived, and I was “Are you sure you’re going to be warm enough?” quickly among friends. They teased me about the nick- I’d had the conversation. “This is warmer than it name Pennsylvania Tough. “We’ll see how tough,” looks, and I’ve got a flannel shirt underneath.” laughed a fellow named Alan. He had a 24-inch Dob- “They’re calling for clear and cold tonight.” Continued on page 8

Departments Features ○○○○○○○○○ ○ ○ ○ President’s Update page 2 Myths page 12 TAAS Workshops page 4 Board Meeting page 3 The Kids’ Corner page 13 Jansky Lecture page 5 Calendars page 4 Campus Observatory page 13 Back to Placitas page 5 Observer’s Page page 6 Letters to the Editor page 14 Bluewater/Oak Flat Recaps page 7 What’s Up for September page 7 Classified Ads page 15 Special BOD Meeting page 10 Trivia Contest page 9 Aug. Meeting Recap ------TAAS Media Efforts page 10 Docent News page 12 Sept. Meeting Preview ------Library News page 12 The Sidereal Times September 1999

lem. PRESIDENTPRESIDENT’SS U UPDATEPDATE Society membership is not a by David Nelson Blair fixed pool—where gains here must result in losses there. It is a resource that can grow and si- Friday nights are a precious day-night workshops, to be run multaneously cover many resource, especially to us work- by Carl Frisch, another advocate bases. ing stiffs. So perhaps it shouldn’t of expanded activities at our re- As long as the Society wel- be too startling that they’ve be- mote observatory. comes active, diverse people, it come the subject of a gentle turf The process miffed me a bit, will do fine. battle within the Society. because it makes the Society For three consecutive Board and president look weak. Random Acts of Kindness months, the Board of Directors But ah well. I’m going to take Thanks to those people and has wrestled with the following my bruises without a fuss for organizations who have made question: Should activities at two reasons: special contributions to TAAS in General Nathan Twining Obser- First, a workshop is a skill- 1999 to date: Grant Middle vatory be scheduled on Friday building institution. People will School PTA, Robert Rosenberg, nights—at the same time that learn from each other, and Kenneth D. Luedeke, S.Y. Jack- the Society participates in pub- GNTO will gain a valuable re- son Elementary School, the lic observing sessions at UNM’s search infrastructure as a result. United Way of Central New campus observatory. Second, Gordon is right. Mexico, James Moore, Jeff Some Society leaders have Choice of activities is healthy. Bender, Pete Schman, Dan expressed concern that compet- The good news is that a new Richey, Ernie Villescas, Mike ing activities will reduce docent activity at GNTO will not sink Pendley, Howard B. Austin, participation at UNM, thus un- UNM nights. I’m confident of Paul W. Kandel, Monty Woods, dermining campus night’s value this because of good Society Carl Frisch, Marie Huges El- to the Society (public outreach, trends that have been estab- ementary School PTA, Terry membership recruitment) and lished in recent weeks. Reagan, Robert Ortega, Brett the Society’s relationship with On August 22, at the second the University of New Mexico, special Board meeting, two com- Cunningham, Sidney N. Stone, which provides us meeting mittees were reactivated: Public and Julie Dahl and Cub Scout space and a web site. Mike Relations and Membership, un- Pack 336. Pendley, Nancy Dodge, and der the chairmanship of Sam Campus Coordinator Jay Lockwood and Robert Williams, New Members Harden have taken this position. respectively. Please join me in extending Others feel that the Society, Both are already rolling. a warm TAAS welcome to new with 430 members, is large And both are open to participa- members of the Society: enough to offer its membership tion by any TAAS member. Brendan Clark choice—a word that Gordon Both should welcome people Dean Clark Pegue stressed in arguing for into the Society and invite their Kathy Clark expanded GNTO activities. active membership. Already Motions to add Friday news releases have been written Kevin Clark GNTO nights to the official So- and membership fliers have Cheryl Ann Ewing ciety calendar have been either been distributed to new Mae Jeanne Garcia withdrawn or voted down, but places—shops across Albuquer- Bobie Rust that has not put paid to the ques- que that sell telescopes, for ex- Chris Rust tion. ample. John Rust On its own, the Observatory In the end, this is the best so- Wes Rust Committee has organized Fri- lution to the Friday-night prob- Stanley John Warren

Page 2 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times

BOARD MEETING Observatory coordinator was dis- PRESIDENT’S UPDATE turbed by possible competition for by Sammy Lockwood TAAS events on Friday nights. Alan stated that he didn’t see the workshop as a conflict because members inter- The August 26, 1999 Board of Di- and meetings. rectors (BOD) meeting was called to or- ested in helping out at UNM will con- der at 7pm by President David Blair. Committee Reports tinue to do so whether there is a work- Members present were Robert Will- shop at GNTO or not. Nancy ex- Assets Committee pressed strong opposition to the work iams, Sammy Lockwood, Gordon Sammy presented the 1999 TAAS Pegue, Allan Green, Kevin McKeown, shop or any event that impacted Fri- Assets report: Education Assets are day nights, explaining that we should Bruce Levin, Nancy Dodge, Katherine valued at $10,640. Loaner Scope As- Blankenburg, and Carl Frisch. Observ- support the ongoing commitment to sets totaled $6,332. Misc. Assets totaled UNM Friday nights, and it’s TAAS co- ers present were Barry Gordon. Tom $3,539. Sammy explained that there Pannuti arrived late in the meeting. ordinator. Although no agreement was were still several items from GNTO reached, it was decided that since the Bruce read the minutes of the July that needed to be added, asked that workshop was not an official TAAS 22 BOD meeting. Gordon motioned everyone review the inventory for er- calendar event, it was not a BOD is- to accept them, Nancy seconded the rors or omissions. David called for a sue. motion, and the minutes were ap- 5-minute recess for everyone to review proved the inventory. After review, several Grants Committee items were added to the GNTO list of Alan passed around a $4900 Grant Treasurers Report Assets, which totaled $80,232 for a request to Intel, that will go out shortly. Robert Williams presented the Au- TAAS Assets total of $100,733.00. Sam Public Relations Committee gust Treasurers Report. Education moved to accept the inventory, Nancy Sammy announced that their first funds on deposit were $1639.96. Gen- seconded the motion, and the 1999 meeting was next week, but that he eral Nathan Twinning Observatory TAAS Assets Inventory was accepted. had already sent out several press re- (GNTO) funds on deposit were GNTO Committee leases on UNM nights and Chaco Can- $2042.32. General funds on deposit yon. were $315.03 for a total balance of Gordon explained that Dick $3997.33. Spalding from Sandia National Labs is Calendar looking to possibly site a whole sky Carl presented three changes to Robert then reviewed itemized ex- photography system at GNTO. The pense lists from 1998 and 1999, show- the TAAS calendar. Elephant Butte system would continuously observe was moved from Memorial Day week- ing that TAAS has spent several thou- and record the entire sky for research sand dollars more than we have made end to April 29, 2000, Grant Middle and documentation. Spalding is also School was added on November 30, over the past two years. Editor’s note: looking to site a Radiometer, that The treasury balance on January 1998 was and Collet Park was added on April would sense and record night flashes, 25, 2000. Gordon motioned to accept 9489.06 and January 1999 was 11133.26 like the bright meteor of a few weeks (does not include $10,000 from Motorola the calendar, Alan seconded the mo- before. Gordon explained that because tion, and the calendar was accepted. for the starlab). The balanced peaked at of power and accessibility concerns, 11,328.24 in February 1999. There was the Radiometer seems the more likely Past Events a general discussion on possible cor- candidate for a site at GNTO, but Bluewater Lake State Park 8/7 rective actions. Gordon and Carl ex- TAAS would benefit from the exposure plained that the GNTO committee is Robert reported lots of turnout, of either or both. Gordon made a mo- including a group from Rio Rancho reviewing their priorities for the , tion that the BOD formally support the to determine expenses to operate and High School. Everyone has a good placement of these systems at GNTO. time, but viewing was ‘so so’. maintain GNTO. Gordon and Robert Katherine seconded the motion, and pointed out that for years, TAAS and the board approved unanimously. GNTO has built up the treasury with- Oak Flat 8/14 Gordon also reported that the GNTO Carl reported about a dozen TAAS out spending it. Barry Gordon stated Committee is developing a working that cutbacks are probably not the an- members attended, and public turnout budget on continuing costs. was a few dozen. Also lots of clouds swer, but rather we should be looking Carl explained that he will an- at fund raising. Robert explained that and mud. The Forest rangers had a nounce new Friday workshops at potluck dinner for the early. a collection had been started to fund GNTO on a variety of topics at the next the new Astrophysics Pier at GNTO, General meeting. There was a great and that $140 was collected at the last deal of discussion on the impact of BOD meeting. Carl suggested a dona- these workshops to Campus nights at Continued on page 10 tion box be displayed at TAAS events UNM. David explained that our UNM Page 3 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— The Sidereal Times September 1999 October 1999 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

31 12 Planet Rise / Set (10/15/1999) Sunrise/Sunset Mercury 09:00/19:30 Uranus 15:15/01:45 • Last 10/01 07:01/18:51 Venus 03:30/16:30 Neptune 14:45/00:45 Last quarter quarter 5:05 10/15 07:12/18:32 • Mars 12:45/22:15 Pluto 10:30/21:30 at 22:03 • Cross-quarter day 10/30 07:26/18:15 Hallowe’en Jupiter 19:00/08:00 • UNM • Begin std. time Saturn 19:45/09:00 (Approximate MDT times) (MDT) (call to confirm) 34 5 6 7 8 9 • Moon ~1.9° • Pluto ~0.3° SSW SSW of Beehive of Juno at 0:00 •UNM • New • Mars at heliocen- • Mercury at (call to confirm) Moon at 05:34 tric conjunction aphelion • GNTO with Neptune • ATM Workshop 7pm, Valley HS Enchanted Skies Star Party 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 • Neptune • Osuna • GNTO Mtg. • UNM Stationary in • Moon at apogee. (call to confirm) Elementary RA at 13:00. ° School 63.5 Earth-radii • Moon ~5 N of End retrograde at 08:00 Mars Enchanted Skies Star Party motion 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 • General Meeting • Moon ~0.5° NW • Board Mtg. • UNM • Moon ~0.5° • ATM (7pm @ PandA • Uranus stationary • First of Neptune NW of Uranus Workshop (call to confirm) in at 01:00. End quarter at 09:00 7pm, Valley HS building) retrograde motion • Jupiter @ opposition 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 • GNTO • Full • Moon at perigee. • Moon ~1.2° • Venus at greatest Moon 15:03 • Neptune at east 56.6 earth-radii at NNW of • UNM quadrature 07:00 (call to confirm) elongation west • Mercury at • Moon ~2.4° Aldebaran and “1/2 full” greatest elonga- SSE of Saturn • Jansky Lecture tion east (see page 5)

Wait, there’s more … computers are appear when warranted describing New workshop at available with astronomy related soft- topics for specific Fridays. Check the GNTO ware. A library with charts and hand- TAAS hotline for special information books are also at your disposal. Vari- or cancellations. by Carl Frisch ous TAAS experts will be available on To encourage use of our obser- different Fridays depending on inter- vatory and involve more TAAS ests. There are no formal pre-requisites ATM Workshop member participation, every Friday and no formal start time, but arrival by Mike Pendley night a workshop will be held at before sunset is highly encouraged. GNTO. The subject will depend on Come early and use the grill and pic- The Amateur Telescope Mak- you. Specializing in CCD imaging, nic area. The guest trailer will be avail- ing workshop is now in opera- telescope use, deep sky observing, able as always for coffee, hot cocoa, or tion. The workshop meets the just to warm up. You say you want to and observatory procedures, our aim first and third Wednesdays of is to cater to our members needs. go to UNM on Fridays? No problem; each month at Valley High Consider this an extension to our as- come on out after...we’ll be going all tronomy 101 classes offered through- night if the skies are good! School, 1505 Candelaria—the out the year. We have several tele- Please feel free to leave me a mes- north side of Candelaria, just scopes at GNTO for your use and en- sage at 239-6002 indicating if you west of 12th street. The meetings joyment, or you can bring down your might be coming down and specific begin at 7 PM in building A, room own to use or even for a tune up. interests. Forthcoming articles will 7.

Page 4 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times November 1999 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

12 3456 • ATM Workshop • UNM • Mercury at (call to confirm) • GNTO greatest declina- 7pm, Valley HS • Equation of Time • Mercury • Saturn at tion south stationary in RA. opposition at max for year: (07:00) 16.47 min. Taurid Meteor Shower (south) 7 8 9 10111213 • Queen of Heaven School. 5303 • Moon at apogee. • GNTO Mtg. •UNM • Placitas Star • New 63.7 Earth-radii Party Moon at 20:53. Phoenix. Right (call to confirm) behind Big 5 at 23:00 • Moon ~3° N of Begin lunation Mars 951 sport store on San Mateo Taurid Meteor Shower (north) 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 • Mercury Transits • Moon ~3° NE of • ATM Workshop • Board Mtg. • UNM Sun ~14:00- • First 7pm, Valley HS (call to confirm) • General Meeting Neptune quarter at 02:03 (7pm @ PandA • Moon 3.5° SSE 15:00 building) • Mercury at • Moon ~0.15° perihelion of Jupiter NNE of Uranus Leonid Meteor Shower 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 • Full • Moon ~2.4° SSE Moon 0:05 • Mercury • Thanksgiving • UNM of Saturn • Sun enters stationary in RA. • Mars at (call to confirm) Scorpius End retrograde perihelion • Moon at perigee motion 56.0 earth-radii 28 29 30 Planet Rise / Set (11/15/1999) Sunrise/Sunset • Mars 1.7° from Mercury 06:45/17:00 Uranus 12:15/22:45 11/01 06:27/17:13 SSE of • Last • Venus 4.2° NNE Venus 03:00/15:00 Neptune 11:45/21:45 11/15 06:41/17:01 Neptune quarter 16:20 of Spica Mars 11:15/21:00 Pluto 07:30/18:45 11/30 06:55/16:55 Jupiter 15:45/04:45 Saturn 16:30/05:45 (Approximate MST times) (MST) 1999 Jansky NOTES: Back to Placitas TAAS=The Albuquerque Lecture by Barry Gordon Astronomical Society I received the following from Dave Fin- GNTO=General Nathan ley regarding this year’s Jansky Lec- It’s time to mark your cal- Twining Observatory. Call ture—ed. endars. On Saturday evening, Gordon Pegue @ 332-2591 to confirm. Hi, Mike: November 13, TAAS will be The annual Jansky Lecture will going back to the dark skies UNM=University of New Mexico Observatory. Call the be held at Macey Center in Socorro of Placitas for another Star on Saturday evening, October 30. TAAS hotline @296-0549, or the The speaker will be Dr. Frank Party hosted by Las Placitas UNM hotline @ 277-1446 to Drake—yes, the Frank Drake of the Association, an open space confirm. Drake Equation. advocacy group. Details and ATM=Amateur Telescope I don’t have the exact time or directions will be published Making. Call Michael Pendley other details yet, but wanted to get next month. for information @ 296-0549. this word to you so you could maybe PandA=UNM Physics and get it in the newsletter as soon as Astronomy. Corner of Lomas possible. and Yale.

Page 5 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— The Sidereal Times September 1999

THE OBSERVERS PAGE Updates In early August, the famous vari- By Kevin McKeown able star R Coronae Borealis began a fade event. As of August 14th, the star was below 8th magnitude, and fading Late summer musings The Partial Eclipse steadily. This suggests a deep fade is underway. Also, after a long dor- While spring and autumn are Despite clouds that formed in the mancy, the famous symbiotic variable equivalent—after all they both hold early morning hours of July 28th, some star CH Cygni is a bit brighter, at mag- equinoxes—the sky, and the stargaz- of us (Gordon Pegue, KM) had good, nitude 8.1. Is it waking up? Let’s get ing these two seasons present is as dif- but brief views of the 40% partial lu- some CCD images ASAP! ferent as winter and summer. Whereas nar eclipse. At mid eclipse, the show springtime nights are typically frigid— was quite striking with the moon seen Perseids, 1999 remember those cold Messier Mara- very low in the west southwest sky. thons—autumn nights are tranquil, The umbra-penumbra line was very I observed quantitatively only on th and usually warm. September 22nd sharp, and the umbra was a very bright the morning of August 12 —the maxi- might require a sweater, but never so coppery gray, and easily detectable in mum—in the two hours before dawn, little on March 21st. And some trivia: binoculars. I was surprised at how in- and rates barely struggled over 30 Per- on September 23rd, at noon, local si- distinct the penumbra was- even five seids per hour. The zenith star was 6.2. dereal time equals local solar time— minutes before the umbral eclipse, the Also, most of the Perseids were of 2nd the only time of the year this occurs! penumbral shadow was not obvious. to 4th magnitude. While there was an On March 22nd, the two time systems exquisite flaring fireball of magnitude are exactly 12 hours off. Asteroid Research -5 just before 5 AM, the tenor of the But it’s the stargazing that’s so dif- shower was weak overall, in terms of ferent! At nightfall in the spring, the Dave Blair’s work with asteroid numbers, and bright meteors. Before lingering gegenschein hints at the late was summarized in Minor August 12th, clouds ruined the display. summer twilights to come. In Septem- Planet Bulletin 26 (1999), of the Assn. With all the hype this year’s Per- ber, the gegenschein is apparently of Lunar and Planetary Observers Mi- seids received, I felt bad for the neo- gone, and right away we start into a nor Planet Section. Using an array of phyte stargazer who might have ex- winter night’s darkness. Whereas telescopes from binoculars all the way pected better. It seems those fine Per- springtime skies twinkle and shimmer up to Pete Eschman’s 18 inch Dob, seid displays of the late 1970’s, the from the poor seeing associated with Dave recorded 194 positions for 69 as- 1980’s, 1993, and 1994 had spoiled us. spring storms, some of the finest views teroids! The 1996 max was nice, but well be- of planets and double are had in low the Geminids in numbers. Perseid September. At nightfall in the spring, Oak Flat, August 6th, 1999 max 1997 was suspiciously weak. And considering that the parent comet of the sky is bedazzled with bright stars, Gordon Pegue, Bill Tondreau, and the Perseids—Comet Swift-Tuttle (S- whereas a September nightfall offers Kevin McKeown—all desperate for T)—is now well past its perihelion of little more than the simple Summer photons—traveled to Oak Flat on Fri- 1992, it seems the Perseids are settling Triangle. Spring can claim three first day evening, August 6th. Skies were down to the “historical” rates of 15/ magnitude stars all its own: Regulus, very nice, and we observed many late hr to 25/hr observed between Spica, and Arcturus. But the autumn summer objects. We had “teaser” perihelia of Comet S-T. Even more can claim to only Fomalhaut. But this views of Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn’s importantly, the meteoroids we might claim is weak at best, as southerly rings are so wide open now, it’s amaz- expect to find in back of Comet S-T, Fomalhaut is properly a star of spring ing!!! down under. At midnight, mid April, after perihelion, should be small, and thus produce fainter meteors. the Milky Way is by and large missing Bluewater Lake, Aug. 7th. from the Heavens. In mid September, While this author suggested rates the Milky Way is always well pre- Bluewater Lake, Aug. 7th, was of 40/hr to 50/hour (under black skies sented the entire night. Spring recalls somewhat plagued with clouds, but on before dawn) in the August “What’s realms of . Autumn brings but again clearing afforded some good Up”, in hindsight even this was unre- one to mind: Andromeda! And views of summer Milky Way objects. alistic. However, given the actual rates autumn recalls the seemingly fresh Attendance—both TAAS and the Pub- of 34/hr, 40/hr was statistically pos- views of so many open clusters and lic—was excellent! However, mercury sible. But I believe Channel 13-TV sug- galactic which have become vapor lights at Bluewater, along with gested 80/hour (don’t hold me to this), unfamiliar after one year. car lights tended to hamper viewing. and UNM PandA suggested 50/hr to 100/hr. One national report suggested 100/hr. With these lofty numbers in Page 6 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times

mind, I should point out that the best Lastly, NGC 7789, in had hamburgers, potato salad, spa- Perseid displays—those associated Cassiopeia, gets us into the autumn ghetti and many other snacks for din- with enriched perihelion debris— sky. Located just W of beta Cas of the ner. As we were eating, we began to rarely attained rates better than 100/ “Lazy W”, NGC 7789 is a large, very have people coming and asking about hr (1977, 1981, and 1994)! In fact, in all rich, round cloud of faint stars, many the nights events, it was looking like other years the Perseids never pro- of which form trains. It’s been de- we would have a good turnout for the duced rates above about 80/hr, and the scribed as the Rattlesnake Pit, or the evening. shower usually did not surpass the Spaghetti Cluster! What do you think? We began the evening with a slide Geminids in strength (reality check, show with Kevin McKeown and Bruce please)!!! answering questions about the slides. In conclusion, it’s time to back off What’s Up For We then moved out to the telescopes, the predictions for high Perseid rates. September were about 75 people were shown Perhaps this year we can excuse the many objects in the 10 or 12 scopes that bad forecasts, but next year, let’s be by Kevin McKeown were set up. I would like to thank more cautious. One other point. Can Barry Spletzer, Bruce Levin, Dave Blair, those who speak about the Perseids at September 1999 features an inter- Carl Frisch, Kevin McKeown, Jeff least have made some personal obser- esting conjunction on the 15th where Bender, Robert Ortega, Pete Eschman, vations of the shower? Mars, and its alter ego Antares, pair up! Gordon Pegue, Alejandra Valderrama Here’s your chance to compare the and Ron and Leah Gasser for showing The TAAS 200 two. Mars actually passes well above up to help with this event. If I have Antares, so binoculars are needed to Here are five late summer Milky forgotten to mention anyone let me fit the two in the same field. Addition- Way TAAS 200 objects worth sweep- know so I can make sure you get the ally, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, and ing up. recognition you deserve. Saturn are well placed for observation, First, IC 4756 is a fine, large cloud We will be doing more star parties and Venus becomes a morning star in of 7th magnitude and fainter stars lo- for the New Mexico state parks next September. Also, with the equinox on cated at the end of Serpens’ Cauda year. I have talked to Steve Cary from September 23rd, the full moon of Sep- (tail). It’s one of the few good opens Santa Fe and he is going to make some tember 24th is a nearly perfect Harvest of the summer. suggestions for other state park dates moon. Check it out. Lastly, during late Next, in northeastern Sagittarius, at the next board meeting. They were September, Mercury has its poorest far off the Milky Way, locate planetary very pleased with all that we did at apparition of the year. If you can spot nebulae NGC 6818, and galaxy NGC Bluewater and are looking foreword to Mercury during this evening elonga- 6822. These are two of the best TAAS many more events in the future. I will tion, tell us about it! 200’s!!!. By happenstance, these keep you informed of any new dates wholly different objects lie very close and locations as they become available. to one another, and they can fit in the same low power field! First locate Bluewater State small, round, very bright, rich electric blue planetary NGC 6818. It’s a tiny Park Oak Flat.... gem! Now, scan for a large elongated patch of nebulosity less than 1 degree by Robert Williams Season Recap to the SE. This is NGC 6822- Barnard’s famous galaxy. This galaxy is a Local The August 7 Bluewater state park As bad luck would have it, the last Group member, and is a tiny version star party was a big success. At about Oak Flat event of the season followed of the Small Megellanic Cloud. Big 2:00pm I began to worry that the re- suit with the previous few; a muddy scopes and black skies might reveal cent rains and persistent clouds had field and cloud cover. At sunset, only tons of detail in this large, faint irregu- put a damper on everyone’s plans to one scope was set up while TAAS lar system. drive out to Bluewater for the star members answered questions from Next, move way up into , party. Just then Dave Blair and Bruce our guests. Several dozen folks lined well above the top of the Northern Levin drove up, I was no longer wor- up for a view of the moon and a few Cross to locate NGC 7008. This is one ried. Dave and Bruce quickly began stars. And that was about it. What a of the best planetaries in the Heavens! to set up camp and telescopes. At that miserable season. Thanks to all who It consists of a broken oval patchy gray point, more and more TAAS members came “rain or shine” and to all those ring that seems to connect some inter- began to show. rangers and volunteers that fed us! loper field stars. It’s pretty big, and As people began to show up Bruce Keep the faith and maybe next year full of detail- and lovely in large and I began to prepare dinner, with will hold clear skies. scopes. Dave and Pete helping at the grill we

Page 7 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— The Sidereal Times September 1999 Tall you?” proudly. Equal to my arm span. The last you was me, and Alan in- Out came huge nuts and bolts. You Continued from page 1 troduced me as an astronomer from should have seen the wrenches! New Mexico. “Cage crew,” called John when he “We’ve never had a visitor from south was satisfied that the Pyrex was secure. sonian, one of those balanced giants of the boarder! Umm, ¿tu hay-BLAME- This did not include me, and I had time with trusses forming an open tube, the mos the Eeen-glaze?” to catch my breath and realize how whole arrangement riding Teflon bear- “Un poco, señor,” I assured him. cold it was getting. Like pallbearers, ings on an elegantly simple and por- “That’s good enough for me! Grab a the crew carried out an eighteen-inch table turret. truss from the back of my truck.” aluminum cylinder, the mother of all As the sun touched the horizon, I At that moment the sun slipped guide scopes—I thought. But as they became aware of a rising engine sound, into hiding. marched it around toward the truss and suddenly a dozen Minnesotans We pulled open John’s truck, but tube, I realized it had no optics at all. were erect and facing the bluff like a instead of two pounds of aluminum, I Instead, there was just a focuser. . . . A squad of prairie dogs on high alert. hoisted a truss that could have been a focuser in the bottom of a barrel? Is that John Tjeltveit? No one actu- section of Alaskan pipeline. I looked back at the telescope’s ally asked the question, but I have no “Hustle, hustle,” shouted John. master. He was strapping himself into doubt that it seized the mind of every “You won’t have any easier time putting a harness like a window washer prep- club member on the field. A moment this up in the dark.” ping for the John Hancock Building. later, a 24-foot truck rolled into site I bent my back and hurried, still “I can already see ,” he from behind the bluff. You could see rather amused at that point. Nothing boomed. “Secure that cage and let’s get where U-HAUL had been painted like a little activity to counter the deep- some prime focusing in gear.” over. ening chill. John was all orders; he Prime focus indeed! I was looking “My god, it is John!” never touched a truss as the massive at a Dobsonian so grand that it had an “Honey!” yelled Mark. He made tube took shape over the next half observer’s cage inside the tube! eye contact with his wife; no further hour. John wriggled in the moment the communication was necessary. Rachel “Roll out the sky end,” he roared cage was bolted into the tube. He fas- bolted for their pickup. Moments later, next. There emerged a great hoop, tened his harness clips, and shouted, its engine roared, so she must have wider than the height of the man han- “All personnel, man your ropes. Numbers come up with her keys on the run, but dling it. As the crew fitted it to the truss Eleven, Twelve, and One, get this baby the whole time, my eyes were on Mark. tube, John scrutinized the tightening pointing.” This man, and a slight man at that, of every bolt. Then he watched over I was Number Twelve. Teflon bear- hoisted his 10-inch telescope—optical the eight of us who lowered an enor- ings or no, I had to put my back into it, tube, equatorial head, and solid tripod mous Dobsonian turret off the truck. but moments later the tall telescope all in one—and began running with it! When the tube was safely in place stood straight up, twelve rope handlers In a remarkably smooth motion, he on the turret’s Teflon bearings, John fanned out around it. John hung above hoisted the telescope into the bed of finally let up. “Take a breather,” he or- us, head-down inside the great tele- his truck. He scrambled up behind, dered. “I’ll handle the Pyrex myself.” He scope, one eye at the focuser. Thirty- hugged the telescope with one arm disappeared deep into the truck, and two feet above the tundra, his feet were and the side of the truck with the other. a moment later I heard the unmistak- the highest thing within miles. “Go!” he shouted, never looking back. able sound of a forklift. Sure enough. “Don’t worry a bit,” he shouted. Not for an instant did Rachel consider Soon after, edging toward the gate of “You’ll all have your turn up here. Num- the access road, and she and Mark es- the truck, came man, forklift, and a ber Three, give a tug. is just a caped across the tundra. huge optical mirror. hair out of the field.” He talking about a The rest of us weren’t so lucky. Low-expansion Pyrex! big overhead in Gemini. Onto the observing field rumbled Maybe that calls to mind baking I wondered how long it would be John Tjeltveit. The figure who emerged dishes that jump from ovens to freez- before Number Twelve got his turn at from the cab was rail thin and a head ers without a whimper. Astronomers the eyepiece. I wondered if I wanted taller than the rest of us. He sported a love it because it holds precise optical to be strapped upside down up there. thin, Honest Abe beard—only red. He shapes despite changing temperatures. Meanwhile, the tips of fingers and might have been a Norwegian Lincoln. But when John heard Pyrex, he envi- back of my mind were taking up an- Might have been, but wasn’t. sioned square yards of reflective nir- other question: Just how cold does it get When he spoke, he was pure Patton. vana. John’s aperture fever had not on a clear winter night in Minnesota? “I need a dozen volunteers: You, you, only become resistant to refractorite John scanned the starfield of M-35. you, and you. You, you, you, and you.” innoculations, it had mutated into “Number Twelve, bring me a tad your His index finger recoiled like an auto- Pyrex sprawl. way.” I tugging at the rope, my hands matic pistol. “You, you, you, and . . . “Sixty-nine inches!” he called already stiff with cold.

Page 8 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times

The sky was the kind that astrono- first Starlab show under the tutelage As she reached to clear a table, her arm mers sell their souls for, dead still and of another friend, Robert Williams, or brushed a heavy glass mug. so transparent that the starlight the time I saw a solar microburst “Oooh,” she said as it toppled off flooded down like searchlights. Of through Bruce Levin’s H-alpha filter. the table. course, such nights are accompanied “Number Nine, swing the Pyrex,” “Oooh,” said John Tjeltveit as the by a similarly dramatic escape of heat commanded John Tjeltveit back in the Broken Heart Cluster swung into view. from the good Earth. observing field of Minnesota. “On to I remember all this in slow motion. A new principal of life dawned on M-37.” I was craning my neck—actu- The mug seemed to take the longest me: If a Minnesotan warns you about ally I think it was frozen in that posi- time to reach to the floor. When finally the cold, listen. tion. Winter star clusters blazed above it did, I heard not a tinkle of glass, but “John, it’s fifteen below and dropping me. something more like a gunshot at close fast,” Alan noted. Because my life was flashing be- range. “Nothing unusual there,” said John. fore me, I was simultaneously back in “Nooooooooooooooooo!” John “Let’s try the clusters of . Number Albuquerque with my good friend Tjeltveit’s cry rose above the observ- Eight, pull hard. Seven, you give a tug, Kevin McKeown. Over coffee at the ing field. Nature can be swift and cruel, too.” With remarkable skill he negoti- Double Rainbow on Central, we chat- yet her brutality gave me the adjective ated the sky, his scorn sharp at one ted about those same winter clusters. I’d been groping for. ropeman or another if his field center “You know, Dave,” Kevin was say- In Minnesota that night, it was deviated an arc-minute. ing, “one of the really precious star clus- Pyrex-cracking cold! Whether 10 p.m. or midnight, I ters of the winter sky is often overlooked * * * could not tell and did not care, and no for the simple fact that it does not have a Next thing I remember, I sat one complained, least of all me, when Messier designation. And that would be huddled in a Saint Paul diner. Alan John seemed to forget our turns at the the Broken Heart Cluster, number 2281 in was massaging my arms. “Come on, the NGC catalog eyepiece. I started measuring time by .” Pennsylvania Tough! The coffee’s on its the thermometer instead of the clock. “Twenty-two eighty-one,” I re- way. You’ll be fine.” At twenty-five below, John finished peated, apparently on the observing “What about the telescope?” I with M-36. At thirty-five below, he field of Minnesota as well as at the sputtered. “What about John Tjeltveit.” wrapped up M-38. Double Rainbow. “Oh, John’s going to be all right, too. Twenty-two eighty-one, It had been a while since I’d heard “ ” ordered But that mirror of his fissured clean into Number Three, give a from my nose, ears, and toes. I could John Tjeltveit. “ three pieces. I guess that’s the last of that see my hands holding the rope, but I tug; that’s one I haven’t seen in a while.” light bucket.” could not feel them. My legs and arms “For heaven’s sake, John!” shouted Not quite, it turned out. I heard were slipping beyond sensation. We Number Three, “it must be minus forty!” from Alan the other day that John has talk about freezing cold; by its very defi- Back in Albuquerque, Kevin’s fo- separately mounted each of the Pyrex nition, a phrase weakly inadequate cus strayed. “You know, Dave, the Soci- fragments and combined them into a that night. ety ran a trivia question about minus forty ballfield-wide, tri-Dobsonian interfer- I don’t know when it occurred to once. Did you know that it’s the congru- ometer. To get it running, all he needs me that I might not see the sun again, ent point between the Celsius and Fahren- is a good crew. but before long I accepted it as fact. heit scales. It turns out that if you take Bone-chilling cold? No good—that minus forty and run it through the Cel- implied lingering sensation, and be- sius to Fahrenheit conversion, it still comes sides, I didn’t plan to die with a cliché out minus forty. So, of course, if you run August Trivia on my tongue. it through the Fahrenheit to Celsius for- All in all, it hadn’t been a bad life. mula, you’re right back to minus forty. You Contest I thought of my first night at General know, Dave, there’s no getting away from Nathan Twining Observatory, back in minus forty.” Sagittarius is a distinctive summer New Mexico. Fresh in from Pennsyl- Standing exposed in a Minnesota constellation wherein a large number vania, I had never seen such a glori- winter night, that seemed rather pro- of beautiful deep sky objects are lo- ous sky: Pegasus and Andromeda found: There’s no getting away from cated. How many Messier objects are burning; Orion hurtling the Manzanos, minus 40! in the constellation of Sagittarius? I think NGC 2281 has a name, his bright outline full of faint stars. I’d “ a) 10 b) 12 doesn’t it, Do any of never seen such stars before, and I ” John called out. “ c) 14 d) 15 you soldiers recall what it is? wanted to laugh hysterically when ” e) 17 Gordon Pegue, an old-time New Mexi- I did, but as the great Dobsonian The seeing just went to can, declared: “ swung toward NGC 2281, I remained Winner: Pete Eschman

hell. This sky is full of dust.” silent. My attention was on a waitress Then there was the time I gave my behind Kevin at the Double Rainbow. 15 d) Answer: Page 9 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— The Sidereal Times September 1999 TAAS Begins Lockwood. If you have an idea or cussed. David stressed the importance would like to work on the committee, of getting all newsletter entries to Mike Media Efforts call or e-mail any committee member. on time. by Sammy Lockwood Board The meeting adjourned at 8:53 The new TAAS Public Relations Continued from page 3 August 22 Special Committee is up and running, and through a professionally applied mar- Future Events Board of Directors keting plan, will try and make The Al- General Meetings Meeting Minutes buquerque Astronomical Society a Carl and Kevin explained that they household name. had a good presentation ready for the The August 22, 1999 Special Board The Public Relations Committee August meeting. David explained that of Directors (BOD) meeting of the Al- has targeted several media outlets to the November meeting would have buquerque Astronomical Society distribute information about TAAS Jayne Aubele, head of Education at (TAAS) was called to order at 2:10 by and it’s activities, including the Out- NM Museum of Natural History & President David Blair. Other board doors and Venue section of the Albu- Science speak on Venusian Volcanism. members present were Robert Will- querque Journal, the Neighborhood G. B. Cornucopia is slated to speak at iams, Sammy Lockwood, Gordon section of the Albuquerque Tribune, the Oct meeting on Archeo Astronomy, Pegue, Kevin McKeown, Bruce Levin, the Best Bets segment of KOAT news, and no speaker is slated for Septem- Nancy Dodge, Katherine Blankenburg, community calendars on KOB and ber, Kevin suggested Bob Karlack, a and Carl Frisch. George Pellegrino KRQE. We are also preparing press founding member who can speak on arrived later. Observers included John kits for the Assignment Editors for telescope and mirror making. Sefick, Ray Collins, Pete Eschman, and each of those outlets. A press kit is kept Alejandra Valderrama. Chaco Canyon 9/4 on file at the editor’s desk for quick Robert Williams read the minutes Carl explained that some facilities reference. from the July 20 special BOD meeting. will be available for Chaco, and it’s One section of our press kit will Carl motioned to accept the minutes, looking to be a well attended event. contain a reference list of TAAS experts Gordon seconded the motion, and the in several astronomically related fields Sevilleta BOD accepted the minutes. like meteors, asteroids, comets, optics, David explained that TAAS will etc. Our goal is to establish TAAS as a not participate at Sevilleta, but the Membership Development credible source of information regard- event will be held with assistance from ing newsworthy astronomical events. astronomers from NM Tech. There David explained that TAAS has a Nancy Dodge will be contacting our was apparently some concern by the number of inactive committees, or “experts” soon for verification. event’s owner, who canceled TAAS’s committees that do not report on a In addition to the major local out- involvement. regular basis, and presented a restruc- lets, we will include our activities in Old Business turing proposal that organized all the calendars of several weekly and TAAS committees into 5 main groups: monthly publications and radio sta- Resolutions Committee 1) Administration Committee, 2) Com- tions the area—including The Alibi, Gordon explained that the com- munications Committee, 3) Events Crosswinds Weekly, Stepp’in out, mittee was still working on a resolu- Committee, 4) Observatory Commit- Parenting New Mexico, KKOB, and tion process. tee, 5) Services Committee. Each com- KHFM to name a few. Lodestar Committee mittee would be comprised related ex- National magazines like As- Carl explained that Lodestar is isting positions, be open to all mem- tronomy and Sky & Telescope will be con- preparing for a museum opening date bers, and would ideally be headed by tacted for major events, like As- of Dec. 21, 1999. a board member. tronomy Day and the Elephant Butte Gordon stated that we didn’t need Star Party scheduled for next year. New Business committee for administration, and Lastly, we have targeted local telescope Committee Structure there followed discussion on that pro- outlets, like Kurt’s Camera Corral, to Alan presented a diagram of pro- posed committee. Gordon stated that include our TAAS membership bro- posed hierarchy in TAAS committee the Grant’s manager should be in- chures with their telescopes. structure, and explained that he is still cluded with the communications com- Your TAAS Public Relations Com- working on several ideas in light of mittee. Robert stated that the database mittee includes Carl Frisch, Nancy discussions at the past special BOD manager should be grouped with the Dodge, David Blair, Robert Williams, meetings. treasurer, because he was both, and Kevin McKeown, Alejandra didn’t want to spread himself any thin- Valderrama, and Chairman Sammy Newsletter Assignments were dis- ner. Bruce asked what General Admin-

Page 10 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times

istration was defined as, to which that several could be doing. Gordon membership committee now, and of- David defined as the non-astronomi- commented that we have become very fered himself as chair. David, Sammy, cal chores of TAAS. dependent on active members like Gordon and Bruce agreed to partici- Carl recommended that Member- Mike Pendley and Robert Williams, pate. Robert motioned that a Member- ship be it’s own committee, and the and there was discussion on whether ship Committee be formed as volun- discussion turned to membership. that was healthy. Alejandra stated that teered to, Gordon seconded the mo- Bruce commented that the member- if an active member feels comfortable tion, and the BOD accepted unani- ship committee should get and keep doing 10 jobs, than let them. She sug- mously new members. Robert explained that gested that we decide if we really want A recess was called at 3:20. Presi- they should also call all new members, to invite more member participation, dent David Blair called the meeting which Lisa Wood does now. or continue to enjoy our current jobs, back to order at 3:35. Alejandra commented that it ap- i.e., let ourselves shine. George com- pears we want to change our existing mented that simply changing the com- Treasury structure from the board doing most mittee structures will not invite more of the work, to a structure where the member participation, and questioned Robert presented itemized income board member is the catalyst for the what her we want to make committees and expense lists for 1998 and 1999, membership getting more involved, where none are needed. Kevin agreed showing that we are spending much and thereby doing most of the work. with George, explaining that as Ob- more than we are making, and asked Ray stated that if members had ac- servers Page author, he wouldn’t feel that everyone start thinking about countable/meaningful tasks, that comfortable doing his job in a commit- budgets and priorities. Robert further more would get involved. tee. Sammy also agreed, stating that stated that some work needs to Ray also stated that we shouldn’t he wouldn’t feel comfortable trespass- progress, citing the new Astrophysics create work to justify new committees, ing into a job that someone already pier at GNTO, and started a collection and suggested that David was propos- enjoys doing him or herself. Nancy for the project by laying $20 on the ing too many new committees. Kevin suggested that we table the issue of table. Several more contributions from agreed with Ray. David defended his committee restructure, since we didn’t around the table followed. Robert con- proposal as the right amount, and seem to be making any progress. Al- cluded that our recent dues increase pointed out that he was only trying to though this was never formally agreed should begin helping shortly. consolidate existing committees. to, the subject seemed to drop itself Sammy stated that he has been active shortly thereafter. Public Relations for over a year, and still doesn’t know Here, the discussion turned to get- what committees TAAS has, which ting more members active in regular David stated that he was at “wit’s David listed as, 1) Grants Committee, TAAS activities. Robert explained a end” trying to fill the still vacant post 2) Membership Committee, 3) Lode- proposal Lisa Wood had made to en- of public relations. Kevin commented star Committee, 4) Planetarium Com- courage more TAAS families to attend that we need to fill the post soon, as mittee, 5) Program Committee, 6) Pro- school star parties. Lisa will have sev- other local astronomy groups like tocol Committee, 7) GNTO Commit- eral passes available for TAAS families Lodestar are being spotlighted by the tee, 8) Darksky Committee, and 9) to enjoy the Starlab and slide shows, media. George commented that Dave EPPC Committee. without having to commit themselves Finley was an excellent PR man be- Kevin suggested doing away with to help out, but hopefully will want to cause of the follow up on stories he all committees except GNTO. Carl, help later. Robert stated that if we submitted, but is not available now. Robert and Pete suggested consolidat- don’t accomplish anything else today, Sammy volunteered to fill the post, but ing most existing positions into a small we need to form a membership com- asked for help. A suggestion was made number of committees. Gordon stated mittee. Bruce offered that the mem- to form a committee. Carl, Nancy, that we were all “missing the point” bership committee’s priority should be Kevin, Robert, and Alejandra volun- of David’s proposal, which was to to attract new members, and keep the teered for the committee. Nancy mo- combine the existing committees into old ones. Ray argued that we couldn’t tioned that the public Relations Com- 5 “umbrella” committees. Carl sug- form a membership committee until mittee be formed as volunteered to, gested that we “weed out” what are we define their duties. Gordon agreed George seconded the motion, and the effectively committees of one, and call with Ray’s point. Nancy pointed out BOD accepted unanimously. them what they are i.e.: individual that the duties were already spelled positions. out in the membership package. The meeting adjourned at 4:02 At this point, the discussion Alejandra asked if we even have a con- p.m. turned to how several very active sensus on if we want new members. members are doing everything, and David countered that he was confident These minutes will not be official un- whether we should try to break-up we did. Everyone seemed to agree. til accepted by the Board of Directors—ed. some tasks that one person does now, Robert restated that we need to form a Page 11 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— The Sidereal Times September 1999

DO it?” I kept asking myself, until a infant Hermes and given by Apollo to Docent News few lectures later I realized his pecu- his son, Orpheus, who went into the by Lisa Wood, Education Liaison liar body and face orientation were underworld to seek his bride Eurydice: probably due to his use of a she had been killed by a viper. Hades, If you would like to join our do- teleprompter. I’ve found the graphics, king of the underworld, was touched cent team, please give me a call. We charts and demonstrations easy to fol- by his music and permitted Orpheus now have 11 star parties booked for the low. For you math fans out there, he to take Eurydice back, provided that year, and I don’t anticipate adding doesn’t hesitate to present astronomi- he did not turn to look at her until they more unless an emergency arises. This cal equations to illustrate his points, had emerged from hell. However, at is a fun and easy way to keep your in- although you can pretty much ignore the very last moment, Orpheus terest in astronomy burning brightly, them if you want. I hope many more glanced back, and Eurydiceís soul and share your knowledge of the sky of you will avail yourselves of this slipped away forever. with some charming and entertaining wonderful series, even though the wait The next star in the summer tri- young students. to get started is several months, once angle is (alpha Cygnus) in the Lisa sent this to the school docents and you get going, you’ll find it worth your constellation Cygnus or the swan. since I needed a quarter column filler de- time. From Vega move to the east in the sky to the Milky Way. The swan is flying cided to print it here—hope that was OK How to Get Started— away from Polaris along the Milky Lisa—ed. Call me (back of newsletter) and Way galaxy. The Greeks saw the swan I’ll put you on the waiting list. I’ll call Hi Docents! I just got back from a as a disguised Zeus who had taken the you when your name comes up on the 2 night stay at Star Hill Inn where "star form of a swan to seduce Leda, wife of list. You must file a BANK check or tours" (an hour with a folk with a King Tyndareus. As a result of this cash ($25) to begin the course. This is scope) went for $45 each. I figured up union Leda produced two eggs, from entirely refundable, only to protect us a MODEST market value of our events one she bore Helen of Troy, from the against loss. You may take more than and came up with $960! Thought other came the Dioscuri (“sons of one tape, but an additional deposit will you'd like to know. If you want to God”), Castor and Polydeuces (Pol- be required. know how it breaks down (conserva- lux). Hoping to hear from you! tively), see below! The third star is Altair (alpha Science Demos $25/hr Aquila) the 12th brightest star in the (8) Folks w/Scopes $320/hr night sky in the constellation Aquila Slide Show $25/hr Star Myths the eagle. Aquila is between Lyra and Star Lab $100/hr by Robert Williams Cygnus and to the south in the sky. Prep & adm. costs $20 There are a few myths that are associ- The Summer Triangle ated with the eagle, this one reveals the And we come up with almost ferocious nature of the eagle. In some $1000! As winter grows closer and the accounts, Prometheus, whose name Library News nights grow longer, I find myself ex- means “foresight”, was one of the last cited for all the wonderful winter con- generation of Titans, descendants of by Lisa Wood stellations to hold their prominent po- the primal deities Uranus and Gaea. Couch Potato sition in the night sky. As we bid fare- He is also said to be the creator and well to the warm summer nights I divine protector of human beings. Astronomers—Alert! thought it would be nice to talk about Prometheus taught humankind the Since I’m about halfway through the great summer asterism known as arts and sciences, which Zeus consid- our new 40 lecture “Understanding the the “Summer Triangle”, it is still high ered too great a gift to bestow on the Universe” series, I’ll give you a mid- in the early evening sky this time of inferior human race. Still, Prometheus stream analysis. For some TAAS mem- year. persisted, supplying them with the gift bers this series will be too difficult, for The summer triangle is made up of fire, which he took from the sun and some, too basic. After the first few lec- of three stars in three , secretly smuggled to earth in a hollow tures I found myself learning things forming the asterism of a triangle. I fennel stem. new to me. Many topics not new were will talk about each of the stars and Zeus, enraged by this act, devised at least presented in a simple and novel constellations. a terrible punishment for Prometheus. way. Many TAAS members would The first star is Vega (alpha Lyra), He was chained naked to a pillar in the probably benefit from this course, if the 5th brightest star in the heavens, it Caucasus mountains, and from dawn only for a fresh perspective. I was most is in the constellation Lyra or the harp. to dusk the eagle of Zeus tour through impressed with the first lecture when Just west of directly overhead early in his flesh to his liver. But because I was under the impression that Dr. the evening sky. For the Greeks, Lyra Prometheus was immortal, his liver Fillipenko was blind. “How does he was the instrument invented by the healed every night, only to be pecked

Page 12 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times

out again when the eagle reappeared at dawn the following day. In this way ★ his destined to go on forever. How- ★ Free Telescope Offer ever, many years later Zeus accepted What’s that? Did you say Free? That’s right FREE! ★ an appeal from the hero Hercules (Her- Any TAAS member can use this coupon to borrow a TAAS cules) to show Prometheus mercy: The telescope. Call Dee Friesen at 856-1593 or Jason Vargas at 899-9755 wise centaur Chiron agreed to relin- and receive a loaner telescope absolutely free. You can choose from scopes quish his immortality in exchange for Prometheusí freedom. Once Zeus had with apertures ranging from 6” to 13”. Call soon because they’ll be going fast! relented, Hercules shot the eagle ★ Some restrictions apply. Offer valid for current TAAS members. through the heart. Offer is first come first served. Late comers will be put on a waiting list. Well that is the summer triangle, Neither TAAS nor the telescope curators will be held liable for any lost sleep or other it will soon give up its position in the problems arising from the use of TAAS scopes. Borrowers are required to enjoy the telescopes. sky for Orion, Taurus and the rest of the winter constellations. I hope you have enjoyed these stories and I will try and do them on a more regular ba- sis. The myths in all three of the con- stellations came from The Starlore The Handbook-An Essential Guide To The Night Sky by Geoffrey Cornelius. Kids’ Corner UNM Report by Jay Harden, UNM Campus by Barry Wood Observatory coordinator

16 July—Cancelled. Clouds, wind & Starlab at my School rain. 23 July—A decent night. We had six I am in the 3rd grade at a science magnet school called Inez El- telescopes set up and 65 viewers. Do- ementary. My mom and I set up the starlab there so that the classes cents in attendance: Mike Pendley, Jon could have a lesson in astronomy. It took 2 days for all the classes to Pendley, Kevin McKeown, Bill Ton- visit the starlab. I helped set the starlab up in the morning. It is new dreau, Jay Harden, Dave Blair (wel- and works very well. It has two different projectors—one has stars come Mr. Prez), Robert Ortega, and the other has characters from mythology. I liked the animals the Katherine Blankenburg. best. The lesson we learned was about Mars and Antares. They look like they are close together in the sky, and that they are 2 red stars, 30 July—Fairly good viewing night but really one red dot is a planet (Mars). The other red dot is a dying but only 30 viewers. We had seven star (Antares) Stars and planets are different, and we talked about telescopes set up. Docents in atten- the differences between them. You might be able to land on a planet, dance: Bill Tondreau, Mike Pendley, but never on a star. The planets are much closer to us than the night- Brock Parker, Jay Harden, Kevin time stars, even though they also look very far away. You could fly McKeown, Gordon Pegue, Dave Blair to Mars in the space ships we have now, but not to Antares. Even if (again) and Jeff Goldmeer. your ship made it that far, you would be dead when you got there. 6 Aug—Started cloudy but it did Soon we may send astronauts to Mars. I hope you look outside for mostly clear up. I suppose, due to the these two red dots in the sky. early clouds, we only had 20 viewers. Docents in attendance: Mike Pendley, Bill Tondreau, Jay Harden. We had four telescopes set up. 27 Aug—Cancelled due to still more Mars, , 61 Cygnii, and the ris- l3 Aug—Cancelled due to clouds clouds. However, David Blair and ing moon—all with the campus 10- Bruce Levin braved the night and inch cave reflector. One guest also 20 Aug—Cancelled due to more joined Todd at the observatory. About turned up at the general meeting the clouds. a dozen members of the public viewed next night.

Page 13 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— The Sidereal Times September 1999

Scheduling a public event conflict have the resources to do both. I would LETTERS also places the docent pool in an awk- rather do UNM well one or two or three ward position. On one hand, these in- Fridays a month and have every one Friday Nights dividuals want to provide community feel good than do a poor job every Fri- by Michael Pendley service, but on the other hand, they day night and have descent and hard As David mentions in his Presi- don’t want to miss the other fun things feelings in the Society. TAAS does. To make them choose sets dents Update and from information ******** elsewhere in the newsletter it is obvi- up internal stress. Add to this the fact ous that there is controversy regard- that we only have one Friday night a I received the following e-mail this ing Friday Night UNM / GNTO week and we realize that TAAS has a month—ed. events. David mentions I have a par- classic case of having to make a very ticular point of view on the subject. I difficult choice of how to allocate a From: New Mexico First, thought I would express it here and limited resource. Subject: Buzz Aldrin Guest Speaker invite others to publish their thoughts As I see it, the TAAS leadership Sir, Buzz Aldrin will be our guest and opinions in this section of the must act to resolve this issue quickly. speaker at our First Forum Fundraising newsletter next month. The issue is divisive and will lead to Dinner Monday, September 27th, 1999 This issue is not about choice—it problems if ignored. I only see three at the Hyatt Regency Albuquerque. is about commitment and whether solutions: (1) Develop a bigger and TAAS should intentionally schedule better organized docent pool that will New Mexico First Presents: First conflicts with PUBLIC (not internal but allow TAAS to meet its support expec- Forum “The Eagle Has Landed”. On PUBLIC) events. tations in spite of conflicts (2) remove July 20th, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil I certainly support choice and the GNTO conflict and continue the Armstrong made history as the first would have absolutely no problem UNM support as we have in the past two humans to set foot on the moon. with events targeted toward members or (3) Reevaluate the ability for TAAS Come hear the living representative of conflicting with other events targeted to support UNM every Friday. one of the most important events in the toward members. Indeed—with 450 Choice one is desirable but not history of mankind speak about con- members, conflicting schedules is possible in the short run. This leaves tinuing space exploration and space probably the only way a sufficient us with choices two and three. tourism. number of activities that span the in- TAAS supports UNM because it RSVP to New Mexico First, 505 terests of the membership can be wants to—not because it has to. TAAS Marquette NW Suite 1616 Albuquer- achieved. has evolved a lot in the last several que, NM 87102, (505) 242-3205, Fax Public events are a different mat- years. It would be OK to say that ac- (505) 242-3511 statewide toll free (888) ter. It is my opinion that if TAAS com- tivities, interests, and infrastructure in 663-0001, email [email protected]. mits to supporting an outside organi- TAAS have evolved faster than sup- zation—be it an elementary school, or port staff—so TAAS can no longer Ticket Prices UNM—then TAAS should support it support UNM every Friday night. Dinner with Private Reception fully, provide a product that we would This would free up some Friday nights (limited to first 200) all be proud of, and not place the mem- for GNTO activities—and relieve Jay $175.00 members bers that have volunteered to manage from having to ask docents to choose. $185.00 non-members. I urge the TAAS leadership to those events in an awkward position. Dinner Only (with no-host social solve this matter at the next Directors If that commitment cannot be honored hour) meeting once and for all. Either drop then TAAS must address the problem $75.00 members Friday night GNTO or reduce the with additional resources or a reduc- $85.00 non-members tion in the commitment. commitment to UNM. We just don’t Should other events compete against School Star Parties in the name NEW MEXICO ASTRONOMICAL of choice?—I think not. Should an out CELESTRON • MEADE • TELEVUE of town event be scheduled the same PARKS OPTICAL • UNITRON • HOME DOME Telescopes • Eyepieces • Mounts • Accessories day as Astronomy Day in the name of Observatory Fabrication choice?—I think not. Should other On-Site Observatory • Regular Star Parties events be scheduled against the ATM Come to the Country Telescope Store and Test workshop or a GNTO night or As- Equipment Under Dark Skies! tronomy 101 in the name of choice?— 834 N. Gabaldon Rd. you bet! Those events are put on by Hours: by appointment and ... Belen, NM 87002 Wednesday : 7-930 pm TAAS for TAAS and TAAS members (505) 864-2953 Ask about the TAAS Friday : 7-930 pm member discount can attend whatever event they find Mark A. Nagrodsky Saturday: 12-430 pm most interesting. Owner Page 14 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— September 1999 The Sidereal Times

Private Reception or No-Host present it is very quiet, due to the fact Social Hour 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. that many solar astronomers I have CLASSIFIED ADS Dinner 7:00 p.m. talked to did not know it even existed. Regards, Rita Butler Anthony Seal. For Sale: 3" refractor, unknown brand but New Mexico First Membership Ser- in very good shape. Complete with vices Coordinator ******** altaz mount. This could be a collectors item. From: Angel Sanchez Make an offer. For sale: 5" rich-field refrac- ******** tor, optical tube assembly only, approxi- Subject: Imagen Astronomica From: Stephen L. Snider mately f/6. Make an offer. For sale: 8" f/8 Subject: New E-Mail Address uncoated, polished mirror. 1/6 wave. Make Hi! offer. For FREE: Meade 2 1/2" refractor, Hi to everyone on my e-mail list. We have known your beautiful pic- complete with tripod altaz mount. For Seems I’m changing addresses faster tures through Internet and we invite FREE: Various pieces of mirror blank glass. For more information, contact Robbin Pim- than I expect! In this case, I’m going you to participate in the I Concourse bley at 505-672-9736. back to my old ISP, Voyager.Net, so my and Prizes Astronomic Image, orga- new address is: [email protected] nized by the Astrophisic Institute of the Canary Islands and the Astronomic For Sale: Telescope 13.1 inch f/4.5 Dob- sonian (Coulter) with 27mm eyepiece ******** Group of Gran Canaria. Please join us and participate! (Coulter), plus 12mm eyepiece Nagler Type There are important prizes! 2 (Televue), plus 1.8 Barlow (Televue), plus From: Anthony Seal Rotating-focusser (Lumicon). All in new All information can be read in this Subject: Solar Newsgroup condition, with all instructions, receipts, address: http://aagc.dis.ulpgc.es/ and shipping boxes. Original owner of all. I have sent you this e-mail to tell imas First $625 takes lot, or will sell, all or indi- you of a solar astronomy newsgroup The limit of presentation of works vidual items, to best offer received by 90 called alt.astronomy.solar can you is October 15th, 1999. We look forward days after ad first runs. Must sell, moving please let your astronomy club mem- to see your works! overseas. Mike, 242-0319 (no calls after bers or people in your organization 9:00pm please), or [email protected]. know about this newsgroup. At Angel Sanchez

—SOCIETY STAFF— Board of Directors Phone E-mail Address President David Nelson Blair 296-9632 (H) [email protected] Vice President George S. Pellegrino 821-8516 (H) [email protected] Secretary, Public Relations Sammy Lockwood 275-0258 (H) [email protected] Treasurer, DB Manager, Starlab & Membership Chair Robert Williams 839-2840 (H) [email protected] Director Katherine Blankenburg 224-3384 (W) [email protected] Director Nancy Dodge 275-0007 (H) [email protected] Director, Event Coordinator Carl Frisch 239-6002 (H) Director Allan Green 281-6651 (H) [email protected] Director Bruce Levin 299-0891 (H) Director Kevin McKeown 254-9117 (H) [email protected] Director, Observatory Director Robert Ortega 891-7847 (H) [email protected] Director Gordon Pegue 332-2591 (H) [email protected]

Non-Board Members

Archivist Nancy Dodge 275-0007 (H) [email protected] Telescope Curator Dee Friesen 856-1593 (H) [email protected] Telescope Curator Jason Vargas 452-9098 (H) [email protected] Education Liaison, Librarian Lisa Wood 344-8308 (H) [email protected] Web Master, Newsletter Editor Michael Pendley 296-0549 (H) [email protected] UNM Campus Observatory Coordinator Jay Harden 296-0537 (H) [email protected]

Page 15 —TheTAAS Official Hot Newsletter Line Phone of The AlbuquerqueNumber is Astronomical 296-0549 Society— MEMBERSHIP: You may request a member- for 12 consecutive issues. The newsletter edi- TAAS LIBRARY: Please contact the Librarian ship application by calling the Hotline or by tor reserves the right to include and/or edit any (Lisa Wood) to check out a book or make a con- sending e-mail to the Database Manager (see article or advertisement. E-mail attachments tribution. previous page). Applications may also be in Microsoft Word, 10 point Palatino, justified, downloaded from the Web site. Annual dues .25 inch indent at paragraph beginning, no TAAS on the World Wide Web: to The Albuquerque Astronomical Society are spaces between paragraphs is preferred. ASCII $30/year for a full membership and $15/year and RTF are acceptable. One column is approxi- http://www.taas.org for an educator or full time student member- mately 350 words. Contact the Newsletter Edi- http://www.taas.org/download ship. Additional family members may join for tor (see previous page ) for more information. $3/each (educator, student, and family mem- ftp://astro.phys.unm.edu/pub/taas berships are not eligible to vote on society mat- CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Note that The Si- [email protected] ters). New member information packets are dereal Times is mailed at a nonprofit organiza- available for $3.50 (free copies are available from tion bulk mail rate. As a result, the newsletter TAAS Hotline: (505) 296-0549 the Web site). You may send your dues by mail will NOT be forwarded to your new address to our newsletter return address with your should you move!! Please provide the Database check written out to The Albuquerque Astro- Manager with your new mailing address to en- Map to UNM Campus Observatory nomical Society or give your check to the Trea- sure that you receive your newsletter. (not to scale) surer (see previous page ) at the next meeting. To Santa Fe MAGAZINES: Discount magazine subscrip- tions to Sky and Telescope ($29.95/12 issues) and Map to Regener Hall Astronomy ($29/12 issues) as well as discounts on books from Sky Publishing Corporation are (not to scale) available when purchased by TAAS members I-40 through our society. Include any of the above magazine renewal mailers and subscription payments as part of your renewal check (We rec- MLK Dr. ommend you renew 1-2 months early to ensure Regener Observatory uninterrupted magazine subscriptions.). I-25 Hall Popejoy Parking NEWSLETTER ARTICLES/ADVERTISE- Hall Parking MENTS: Articles, personal astronomical clas- sified advertisements and business card size ad- vertisements for businesses related to as- Parking tronomy must be submitted by the deadline University shown on the Society calendar (generally the Yale

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