August EVANSVILLE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, INC

August EVANSVILLE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, INC. 2018

It's Been 15 Years Since the Red Planet Was This Close and This Big

Planetary observing hits a high point this summer as Mars dominates the evening sky. Dust off your scope, because this is the year to observe the Red Planet. It hasn’t been this big and bright since 2003, and it won’t be again until September 2035. Although a bit farther and smaller than it appeared in 2003, Mars in 2018 will appear much larger than during its worst opposition, more than 800 years from now..

Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Inside this Issue.. 2 – Local Events and information 3 – News around the Globe 4 – Calendar 5 – Photos from Patoka Lake 6 – EAS Business

The EAS newsletter, Observer, is published monthly. Anyone wishing to contribute articles or photos may mail them to the club’s PO Box: EAS, PO Box 3474, Evansville, IN 47733, or e-mail them to the editor at: [email protected]

EAS OBSERVER NEWSLETTER

The Evansville Astronomical Society (EAS) is a non-profit organization fully incorporated in the state of Indiana. It has, as its primary goal, the Local Events and Information advancement of amateur astronomy. Founded in 1952, the society seeks to: EAS Update: 1… maintain adequate facilities for its members and the public in order to extensively study the Please Note we have a Regular Meeting scheduled at the skies and Observatory on Friday, August, 17th, 2018 @ 7:30pm. 2… promote an educational program for those Program: September 20th who wish to learn more about the science of The Fall Equinox by Mitch Luman Astronomy.

Meetings are held the third Friday of each month, except June, when the annual EAS picnic is held. EAS Update: The society also sponsors monthly Open House events during the warmer seasons that afford the Please Note we have a Mars Watch scheduled at the st public an opportunity to tour the observatory. Museum on Saturday, September 1 , 2018 from 7:00 to 9:00pm. EAS 2018 Officers and Contacts

President – Tony Bryan 812.827.3234 EAS Update: [email protected] Please Note we have a PSW scheduled at the Observatory Vice President – Scott Conner on Saturday, September 8th, 2018 @ 7:30pm.

Secretary – David M Kube 740.223.6854

Treasurer – Ted Ubelhor EAS Update:

Counselors Please Note we have a Regular Meeting scheduled at the Ken Harris Observatory on Friday, September, 21st, 2018 @ 7:30pm. Mitch Luman Michael Borman

Webmaster – Michael Borman EAS Update:

Program Director Please Note we our Fall Clean Up at the Observatory Tony Bryan scheduled for Saturday, October 6th, 2018 beginning 10am. Newsletter editor – Dave Kube [email protected] EAS Update: For more information about the EAS or directions to the Observatory, please visit the club’s web Please Note we have a Science Day and PSW scheduled page: at the Museum on Saturday, October 13th, 2018 from www.evansvilleastro.org 11:00am – 4:00pm Daytime. Nighttime will be in the evening.

Telescopes and accessories for sale...

As mentioned in last month’s issue, Mike Borman still has some excellent telescope equipment and imaging accessories for sale. Some of the gear has already been sold. If interested, go to Mike’s web page. Here is the link: http://www.mborman.org/forsale.htm

WWW.EVANSVILLEASTRO.ORG Page 2

EAS OBSERVER NEWSLETTER

Meteorite Crystals Older than Earth Astronomers have observed that young stars are generally Reveal Early Sun Secrets. very active and emit a lot of high-energy particles compared to stars farther along in their lives. To confirm whether the Sun went through an active phase like this, scientists have been studying the chemical composition of meteorites to look for tell-tale signs of reactions caused by energetic particles. In the past, they’d found evidence suggesting the Sun had an active early phase thanks to other known elements in the meteorites, but these helium and neon measurements in hibonite crystals are the most conclusive evidence yet.

Artist’s illustration of the early Solar System with an inset image of a hibonite crystal.

Field Museum, University of Chicago, NASA, ESA, and E. Feild (STSCL)

Andromeda may have Eaten the Milky Andromeda’s formation history is a bit of a murky subject. Way’s Long-lost Sibling. Although some previous studies have suggested that Andromeda grew over the eons by steadily merging with many smaller galaxies, others indicate that the galactic colossus underwent a single large merger at some point in its past.

To investigate how Andromeda accumulated its mass, the authors a new study ran cosmological simulations of galaxy formation to show that Andromeda’s observed properties — including a massive yet nearly invisible halo of stars — can be well explained by a single major merger with what was once the third-largest galaxy in the Local Group, M32p. This long dead galaxy was at least 20 times as massive as any galaxy This graphic shows how the Andromeda that has ever merged with the Milky Way. And, based on the galaxy shredded the large galaxy M32p, ultimately leaving a stripped galactic core study, its corpse is still likely traveling around Andromeda in known as M32. the form of M32.

R. D’Souza; M31, courtesy of Wei-Hao Wang; Stellar halo of M32: AAS/IOP From Discovery to Data: How Early last month, an asteroid invaded our personal planetary Astronomers Track Near-Earth space, brilliantly illuminating night skies across Southern Asteroids Africa. Officially dubbed 2018 LA, this small asteroid entered

Earth’s atmosphere on June 2, flying in at an impressive 38,000 mph (61,000 km/h).

2018 LA was initially discovered as a streak traveling quickly across a series of exposures taken with the Mt. Lemmon Survey (part of CSS) telescope in Arizona. This apparent motion in the images revealed its extreme proximity to Earth.

Once an asteroid has been discovered, scientists want to know its orbital properties as well as its size.

Near-Earth objects, or NEOs, are objects In the case of 2018 LA, its small size was confirmed using with orbits that bring them close to Earth. infrasound — sound waves with frequencies below the NASA/JPL-Caltech threshold of human hearing.

WWW.EVANSVILLEASTRO.ORG Page 3

EAS OBSERVER NEWSLETTER

Up and Coming Events 2017/2018 Regular Meeting – Friday, August 17th – Observatory @ 7:30 pm Mars Watch – Saturday, September 1st – Museum 7:00 – 9:00 pm PSW – Saturday, September 8th – Observatory @ 7:30 pm

Regular Meeting – Friday, September 21st – Observatory @ 7:30 pm Fall Cleanup – Saturday, October 6th – Observatory @ 10:00 am Science Day and PSW – Saturday, October 13th – Beginning @ Museum 11:00 am

Moon Phases

New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Third Quarter

September 9th, 2018 September 16th, 2018 September 24th, 2018 September 2nd, 2018

Moon Phases courtesey of Time and Date.com

WWW.EVANSVILLEASTRO.ORG Page 4

EAS OBSERVER NEWSLETTER

Photos from Patoka Lake 2018 Photos compliments of Mike Borman and Dave Kube

WWW.EVANSVILLEASTRO.ORG Page 5

EAS OBSERVER NEWSLETTER

EAS Meeting Minutes for July 20th, 2018

The meeting was called to order at 7:35 pm by President Tony Bryan. There were 13 members including 1 new member present and 1 guest. The reading of the minutes was motioned to be accepted as published in the newsletter and seconded. The motion passed by majority vote.

V. President Scott Conner announced the below list of up-coming events. Stars On The Beach (TBD) Saturday August 4 (TBD) 8 PM EDT @ Patoka Lake (TBD) PSW #4 Saturday, August 11 7:30 pm @ Observatory Regular Meeting Friday, August 17 7:30pm @ Observatory Mars Watch Monday, Sept 1 8 – 10pm @ Museum

TREASURER’S REPORT – Treasurer Ted Ubelhor was absent, so Scott Conner gave us an update of our funds. We ended our year with 50 members and currently 18 have already renewed for the new year which began on July 1st, 2018. We also had some nice donations over the last couple of months for our public outreach events. We have also received another donation from the Amazon Smile program.

SPECIAL PROJECTS – Tony Bryan gave us an update on the Bathroom Remodel, a new mirror and some drywall and rough plumbing done in the Men’s restroom. Scott Conner updated us on the Dome Repair projects.

OLD BUSINESS The EAS participated in a Jupiter Watch event held at the museum on June 1st. We held a PSW event at the observatory on June 9th for which Scott reported that we had about 20 guests. On June 9th Tony Bryan did a half day Astronomy presentation for about 100 Girl Scouts in Owensboro and received a $200 donation. The EAS picnic was held at Dolan Lake on June 16th. We had clear skies and great food. Thank you, Ken Harris for manning the grill. On July 14th we held our 26th annual Patoka Lake Event. The first presentation was the only day time activity largely visited and only a few attended the other events. The night time observing was cancelled due to clouds. Rain date will be August 4th for night observing. On May 5th Tony Bryan travelled to Boonville for Cub Pack 383’s Space Camp. Tony provided a couple of entry level programs but was clouded out for night time observations. We received a $150 donation.

NEW BUSINESS

Stars On The Beach – Rain date for the night time observing will be August 4th at the Patoka Beach. The day time activities will not be re-scheduled at this time since they occurred on July 14th.

PSW #4 – Our 4th PSW for 2018 will be held at the observatory on Saturday, August 11th. Matt, Ken, Scott Bishop and Piper will work this event.

Mars Watch – We have a Mars Watch Event scheduled at the Museum on Saturday, September 1st, 2018. The EAS will provide Telescopes from 7-9pm.

Ken Harris Star Party – Ken conducted a star party in Illinois on July 12th and has another planned for October.

About Capital Campaign – We are behind schedule on finalizing the Capital Campaign donation letter. It is hoped that by the middle of September the campaign will be in full swing. This is a fund building campaign to house the donated Questar Telescope and Mount.

We have no program tonight, so those in attendance socialized and enjoyed the lightning storm outside.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:59 pm