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alactic Observer John J. McCarthy Observatory G Volume 11, No. 12 December 2018 First Image of the surface of Mars as transmitted by the InSight spacecraft moments after landing on November 26th . The image was transmitted via the MarCO cubesats. The dust cover (covered with black specks) will be ejected once the dust settles (approxi- mately two days after landing) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observvvererer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 www.mccarthyobservatory.org Allan Ostergren Website Development JJMO Staff Marc Polansky Technical Support It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Bob Lambert has established itself as a significant educational and recreational resource within the western Connecticut Dr. Parker Moreland community. Steve Barone Jim Johnstone Colin Campbell Carly KleinStern Dennis Cartolano Bob Lambert Route Mike Chiarella Roger Moore Jeff Chodak Parker Moreland, PhD Bill Cloutier Allan Ostergren Doug Delisle Marc Polansky Cecilia Detrich Joe Privitera Dirk Feather Monty Robson Randy Fender Don Ross Louise Gagnon Gene Schilling John Gebauer Katie Shusdock Elaine Green Paul Woodell Tina Hartzell Amy Ziffer In This Issue "OUT THE WINDOW ON YOUR LEFT" .................................. 3 REFERENCES ON DISTANCES ............................................ 18 MOUNT MARILYN ........................................................... 3 NASA'S GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE ............................... 19 ENTRY, DESCENT AND LANDING ........................................ 4 EARTH-SUN LAGRANGE POINTS ....................................... 19 APOLLO 8 - 50 YEAR LOOKBACK ..................................... 5 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/IRIDIUM SATELLITES .......... 20 OSIRIS-REX ............................................................... 6 SOLAR ACTIVITY ........................................................... 20 DECEMBER COMET ......................................................... 7 CONTACT INFORMATION ................................................. 21 COMET FINDER CHART ................................................... 8 DECEMBER GRAPHIC CALENDAR ..................................... 22 EXOMARS UPDATE ......................................................... 8 NEWLY DISCOVERED IMPACT CRATER ............................... 9 MISSION TO THE FAR SIDE ............................................... 9 FIRST ENCOUNTER ......................................................... 11 IMPACT RELICS? ........................................................... 11 SPACESHIP EARTH AND THE BLUE MARBLE ........................ 12 PURCHASING A TELESCOPE .............................................. 13 DECEMBER NIGHTS ....................................................... 15 SUNRISE AND SUNSET ...................................................... 15 ASTRONOMICAL AND HISTORICAL EVENTS ......................... 15 COMMONLY USED TERMS ............................................... 18 2 • Dec 2018 JJMO http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org “Out the Window on Your Left” T’S BEEN 45 YEARS since flank. Jim Lovell, the Command Apollo 10 was a dress rehearsal we left the last footprint on the Module Pilot on the crew of for Apollo 11, with astronauts Apollo 8, was one of the first Thomas Stafford and Eugene Idusty lunar surface. Sadly, as a Mare Serenitatis nation founded on exploration and people to circumnavigate the Cernan taking the Lunar Module the conquest of new frontiers, we Moon. He named that ancient rock down to within 9 miles (14 km) of appear to have lost our will to lead outcrop "Mount Marilyn" as a the lunar surface. Along the way, as a space-faring nation. But, what tribute to his wife. Forty-nine years the Apollo 10 crew created dozens if the average citizen had the means later (in 2017), the International of informal landmarks (like Boot to visit our only natural satellite; Astronomical Union (IAU) Hill and Sidewinder Rille) that what would they see out the formally adopted the name for could be used by Armstrong and window of their spacecraft as they the lunar feature, based upon its Aldrin, and mission control, as entered orbit around the Moon? This significance as a navigation waypoints to check their progress column may provide some thoughts landmark for the Apollo 11 against the nominal descent landing (along with Little West timeline. The names appear on the and Double craters). charts used by the astronauts, in to ponder when planning your visit (if only in your imagination). Mount Prior to 1968, a triangular- shaped outcrop of rock located be- Marilyn tween two dark patches of lava (Mare Tranquillitatis and Mare Fecunditatis) was noteworthy only for a small crater located on its NASA Photo The Apollo 10 Command Module as seen from the Lunar Module with Mt. Marilyn visible in the background http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org JJMO Dec 2018 • 3 technical reports, and in transcripts of communications between the astronauts and the ground. The 4,593 foot (1,400 meters) high Mt. Marilyn is just one of the landmarks identified on the follow- ing page. It was likely created over 4 billion years ago in the aftermath of the impact that formed the nearby basins. Entry, Descent and Landing The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) spacecraft separated from its cruise stage on November 26th and en- tered the Martian atmosphere ap- proximately 80 miles (128 km) above the planet's surface at 12,300 miles per hour (5.5 km/sec). It was protected from the heat of reentry by an aeroshell (which experienced a peak temperature of approxi- mately 2,700°F or 1,500°C). The aeroshell's heatshield, a large para- chute and twelve retrorockets (braking rockets) slowed down the spacecraft for a gentle landing on its three shock-absorbing legs. Just before 3 pm EST, on a winter's day in the northern hemi- sphere of Mars, the InSight space- craft set down on an expansive lava plain, Elysium Planitia, 373 miles (600 km) from Gale Crater, cur- rently being explored by the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) rover. The high temperature on land- ing day was a chilly -4ºF (-20ºC). Mission Planning and Sequencing Engineers post-landing celebration The landing ellipse (area in (Kyle Cloutier center) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech which the spacecraft had a 99 per- sity. The lander's science team is The first instrument, a six-sen- cent chance of landing when tar- interested in probing below the sor seismometer called the Seismic geting the center of the ellipse) was surface and that requires a smooth, Experiment for Interior Structure 81 miles (130 km) long and 17 level area upon which to set down (SEIS), will record seismic waves miles (27 km) wide. Unlike other its experiments. InSight will spend (from impacts or marsquakes) as Martian landing sites, with com- the first two to three months on the they travel through the planet. Sci- pelling geologic features, ancient surface surveying its landing area, entist use the waves' characteris- water-carved channels or river before using its robotic arm to tics and speed of travel, to build a delta deposits, Elysium Planitia place its two instruments on the model of the planet's interior. was selected for its lack of diver- surface. InSight's seismometer will be the 4 • Dec 2018 JJMO http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org first to be placed on the surface and event in this otherwise horrific year the United States once again. It was is thousands of times more sensitive was the reading from the Book of a proposal by a quiet engineering than the ones permanently mounted Genesis by the crew of Apollo 8 genius, George Low, (Manager of on the Viking landers. Because of the as they orbited the Moon on the Apollo Spacecraft Program Of- instrument's extreme sensitivity Christmas Eve. fice) to send the Apollo 8 com- (SEIS is sensitive enough to detect The race to beat the Soviets to mand module alone into lunar or- vibrations smaller than the width the Moon took a dramatic turn in bit that would ultimately place the of a hydrogen atom), a wind and 1968 and saw the United States United States in a position to thermal shield will be placed over take its first lead by year's end. achieve President Kennedy's goal the seismometer to eliminate Apollo 7 was launched in October to land a man on the Moon and vibrations from the wind and 1968 into Earth orbit. A week or safely return him to Earth by the temperature fluctuations. so later, the Soviets launched two end of the decade. InSight will also measure the Soyuz space craft into Earth orbit Apollo 8 was launched on heat flowing out of the planet's core (one manned and one unmanned December 21st under the command with a self-burrowing, mechanical for a planned rendezvous). In of Frank Borman with astronauts mole. The Heat Flow and Physical November, another unmanned William Anders and Jim Lovell Properties Package (HP3), the Zond flew around the Moon and (Lovell replaced Michael Collins second instrument, will burrow photographed the unseen far side. on the original team; Collins, who into the soil to a maximum depth The United States expected that required back surgery, would go on of 16 feet (5 meters). At that depth, the Soviets would attempt another to be the Command Module Pilot the instrument will be able to moon shot in early December for Apollo 11). The launch was detect heat trapped below the