THE LOWELL EXPANDING OUR UNIVERSE OBSERVER The quarterly newsletter of Lowell Observatory Issue 97 Spring 2013 Detecting Molecules In Artist’s rendering of planet HR 8799c at an early stage in An Exoplanet the evolution of the planetary system, showing the planet, Atmosphere a disk of gas and dust, rocky inner planets, and star HR team of researchers, including 8799. Credit: Dunlap Institute A for Astronomy & Astrophysics; Lowell astronomer Travis Barman, have Mediafarm. made the most detailed examination yet of the atmosphere of a Jupiter-sized For information about planet beyond our Solar System. research and other Lowell news, visit our blog at: According to Quinn Konopacky, an http://www.lowell.edu/news/ astronomer with the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, University of Toronto, and lead author of the study, “We have been able to observe this planet in unprecedented models called core accretion and be expected if the planet shared the detail because of the advanced gravitational instability. When stars composition of its parent star. Instead, instrumentation we are using on form, a planet-forming disk surrounds the planet has a high ratio of carbon to the Keck II telescope, our ground- them. In the first scenario, planets oxygen – a fingerprint of its formation breaking observing and data processing form gradually as solid cores slowly in the gaseous disk tens of millions techniques, and because of the nature grow big enough to start acquiring gas of years ago. As the gas cooled with of the planetary system.” The paper from the disk. In the latter scenario, time, grains of water ice formed, presenting this breakthrough discovery planets form almost instantly as the depleting the remaining gas of oxygen. was published in the journal Science on disk collapses on itself. Planetary Planetary formation then began when March 21st. properties, like the composition of a ice and solids collected into planetary The team, using the OSIRIS planet’s atmosphere, are clues as to continued on page 4 instrument at the Keck II observatory, whether a system formed according to has uncovered the chemical one model or the other. “This is the fingerprints of specific molecules, sharpest spectrum ever obtained of IN THIS ISSUE revealing a cloudy atmosphere an extrasolar planet,” said co-author 1 Exoplanet Atmosphere containing water vapor and carbon Bruce Macintosh, an astronomer at 2 Director’s Update monoxide. “With this level of detail,” the Lawrence Livermore National 3 Suited for Space said co-author Barman, “we can Laboratory. “This shows the power of compare the amount of carbon to directly imaging a planetary system – 3 Restore The Clark the amount of oxygen present in the the exquisite resolution afforded by 4 NEOs Abound! atmosphere, and this chemical mix these new observations has allowed 5 LARI Crosses the Atlantic provides clues as to how the planetary us to really begin to probe planet 5 Trustee Wins Viola Award system formed.” formation.” 7 NASA Features LARI Image There has been considerable Although the planet’s atmosphere uncertainty about how planets in other shows clear evidence of water vapor, 8 Upcoming Events solar systems formed, with two leading that signature is weaker than would 2 THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Spring 2013

event from the DCT at the assumed substantial risk the communication of the end of February. A crew to get to this position, but excitement of what we do to from Discovery Education it would be increasingly the next generation, and to traveled to Flagstaff to difficult to maintain our the pursuit of knowledge. produce a live online event mission as a research Many thanks to all and streamed to schools across observatory without it. wishing you a very pleasant the United States through The essence of this Spring. Discovery’s education letter, therefore, is simply network. A daytime event to thank everyone who The Horsehead Nebula Director’s went into a few thousand contributed to those first (below) is a dark nebula (dust Update classrooms across the images that we delivered cloud) that is seen silhouetted by Jeffrey Hall country with some tens of to our observers last against the purplish glowing thousands of students tuned quarter. This includes hydrogen gas that is ionized by Greetings to all our in; for about an hour we everyone on the Lowell the nearby bright star Sigma friends, colleagues, and discussed how the telescope staff, for building DCT Ori. The Horsehead is located supporters. works, how it is engineered, took everyone we had. approximately 1,500 light-years away, in the constellation of In the first quarter of and the kinds of science It includes Bill Putnam, Orion. The color composite was 2013, we were very pleased we will do with it. The Bob Millis, and John created with exposures taken to see the first successful question-and-answer feed Hendricks, who drove with the Large Monolithic science nights carried out was bursting with queries the project forward. It Imager (LMI), the DCT’s at the Discovery Channel from kids from all over. The includes our Advisory National Science Foundation Telescope (DCT). We are same evening, we reprised Board and all of our (NSF) funded science-grade still mostly involved with the event with the DCT Friends and donors who CCD imager, on March bringing the new telescope fully in action, observing have given so generously 6th. It is a properly oriented objects live and discussing to Lowell over the years; I into full operation, with commissioning image for only about 10 nights out how real astronomical data believe that especially in demonstration purposes. More of the 90 in the quarter are acquired and analyzed. light of the increasingly LMI/DCT pictures: http:// devoted to science The past two months grim prognosis for federal www.lowell.edu/techSpecs/LMI/ observations. However, have therefore amply support of basic research, gallery.html it was still a milestone to demonstrated the enormous you will become the key see astronomers on our potential of our new to the security of Lowell Image credit: Massey/Neugent/ staff and from our partner facility, which comes and institutions like it, to Lowell Observatory/NSF institutions beginning to online at precisely the explore the capabilities time that general access for of the DCT and its main astronomers to research- imaging camera. While grade telescopes is becoming there were a few operational increasingly scarce. glitches (hardly unexpected The possible loss to the for a new facility like this, astronomical community of and we’re working on those) open access to facilities on and a few bouts of bad Kitt Peak and elsewhere puts weather (a little less obvious Lowell in a uniquely strong what we can do about that), position as the owner of not in general the observers only its new 4-meter-class were extremely positive telescope, but several other about the DCT’s image existing smaller telescopes quality as well as its ease of and with observing access, use. through our contract with We also were very the U. S. Naval Observatory, pleased to carry out the to the Navy Precision first significant outreach Optical Interferometer. We THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Spring 2013 3

Suited for Space One of the exhibit’s by Samantha Thompson main attractions is a replica Apollo-era spacesuit. “Suited for If you’ve had a chance to visit Space” is developed the Steele Visitor Center exhibit hall by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling recently, you’ve surely noticed some Exhibition Service (SITES) changes! Gone are the old displays, in collaboration with the making way for a rotation of engaging, Smithsonian’s National temporary exhibits. These new exhibits Air and Space Museum. will open several times a year, providing The national exhibition tour is generously a wonderful opportunity to explore supported by DuPont. different areas of astronomy. Nearly 19,000 visitors experienced our opening exhibit “A New Perspective on Mars: The Red Planet in 3D” that featured 12 wore evolved from the groundbreaking Space Museum’s collection, including a large 3D images of the Martian surface. advances of the Gemini and Mercury glove, a boot and helmets. Visitors can Our newest exhibit, “Suited for mission suits, facilitating movement examine unusual details of every suit, Space,” takes visitors on a remarkable and dexterity in small spaces, get up close and personal with objects journey through the history of remaining pressurized in zero gravity, and artifacts, hold an astronaut’s glove spacesuit design and development, and providing essential oxygen, heating, and even take a photograph “wearing” from the earliest high-altitude pressure and cooling in as efficient a manner as an Apollo suit. suits to the iconic white suits of Apollo. possible. See for yourself the unparalleled In May 1961, when President Kennedy Through rare and original creativity and determination of the promised to put a man on the Moon photography, including unique, extraordinary few who ventured into within a decade, the ability to fulfill new X-ray images of the interiors space and the brilliant ingenuity of the that promise existed only in theory. To of the spacesuits, this Smithsonian hundreds more who worked tirelessly achieve this ambitious goal, astronauts Institution-designed exhibit reveals to get them there. Flagstaff is just would need not only a spacecraft to how the modern technological marvel one of 11 cities privileged to host this launch them safely into space, but that is the spacesuit enables astronauts exhibit so don’t miss this opportunity a spacesuit that would protect them to live and work in space. While the to see a piece of history. “Suited for as well. The spacesuit was a critical fragility of these spacesuits prevents Space” is open until June 16th. piece of engineering that allowed Neil them from traveling, this exhibit Armstrong to step onto another world features a replica Apollo spacesuit For more visit: http://www.lowell.edu/ and survive in the hostile environment on loan from NASA and 10 original visit_specialexhibit.php of outer space. The Apollo spacesuit he objects from the National Air and

Online Fundraising Campaign Launched To “Restore The Clark” After 117 years of service, the massive Clark Telescope needs an overhaul so it Restore can continue to be the centerpiece of our public program for the next century. The Clark However, such an effort isn’t easy or cheap so we need your help! On March 13th – Percival Lowell’s birthday – we launched an official crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.com to raise the much-needed funds for the Clark restoration. Donors will receive Clark-related merchandise/experiences commensurate to their gift to the campaign. Help us restore the behemoth used by Percival to study Mars, by V.M. Slipher to detect the first evidence of the expanding nature of the Universe, and looked through by more than a million visitors in the past 20 years alone. Our Director of Technical Services and telescope guru extraordinaire Ralph Nye will set the Clark up for another century of good seeing for visitors to Mars Hill! Indiegogo campaign homepage: http://igg.me/at/restoretheclark 4 THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Spring 2013

Exoplanet Atmosphere original formation. the more we learn about this distant continued from page 1 The study of these super- planetary system, the more we learn sized planets will continue, taking about our own.” cores. “Once the solid cores grew advantage of a recent upgrade to the large enough, their gravity quickly OSIRIS instrument (developed at For the complete Science Magazine attracted surrounding gas to become the Dunlap Institute) and access to article, go to http://www.sciencemag.org/ the massive planets we see today,” said the Keck Observatory provided by content/339/6126/1398.full Konopacky. “Since that gas had lost support from NASA and NExScI. some of its oxygen, the planet ends up “These future observations will tell with less oxygen and less water than if Read our blog at: us much more about the planets in it had formed through a gravitational http://www.lowell.edu/news/ this system,” said Konopacky. “And instability.” “Spectral information of this quality not only provides clues about the formation of the HR8799 planets but also provides the guidance we need to improve our theoretical understanding of exoplanet atmospheres and their early evolution,” added Barman. “The timing of this work could not be better as it comes on the heels of new instruments that will image dozens more exoplanets, orbiting other stars, that we can study in similar detail.” The planet is one of four gas giants known to orbit a star called HR 8799, 130 light-years from Earth. The authors Dr. Wasserman gave multiple live interviews about both events to the Phoenix CBS and their collaborators previously affiliate, KPHO, from Meteor Crater near Winslow, AZ on February 15th. discovered this planet, designated HR 8799c, and its three companions back NEOs Abound! in 2008 and 2010. Unlike most other On Friday, February 15th, the sky seemed to be falling as Earth had planetary systems, whose presence two close calls with near-Earth objects (NEOs). Astronomers around is inferred by their effects on their the world – including Lowell’s Larry Wasserman and Brian Skiff – were parent star, the HR8799 planets can fully aware of and monitored the predicted close approach of near- be individually seen. “We can directly Earth asteroid 2012 DA 14. Approximately 100 feet in diameter and image the planets around HR 8799 weighing an estimated 40,000 metric tons, 2012 DA 14 passed because they are all large, young, and 17,200 miles from Earth’s surface, 5,000 miles closer than satellites in far from their parent star. This makes geosynchronous orbit (such as broadcast satellites). the system an excellent laboratory If that weren’t enough, another completely unrelated and unknown for studying exoplanet atmospheres,” asteroid entered Earth’s atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Siberia that said coauthor Christian Marois, an day, becoming a blinding, shadow-casting superbolide meteor. astronomer at the National Research Scientists believe it exploded at an altitude of 14.5 miles, causing a Council of Canada. “Since its bright flash, meteorite fragments, and a very strong shock wave that discovery, this system just keeps on shattered windows, injuring about 1,500 people – the only confirmed surprising us!” meteor event to have resulted in a large number of injuries. At about Although the planet does have 60 feet in diameter and weighing an estimated 11,000 metric tons, water vapor, it is incredibly hostile the Chelyabinsk meteor is the largest known object to have entered to life – like Jupiter, it has no solid Earth’s atmosphere since the 1908 Tunguska event (also over Siberia surface, and it has a temperature of and known for knocking down an estimated 80 million trees over 830 more than 1,000 degrees Kelvin as it square miles). glows with the energy leftover from its THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Spring 2013 5

LARI Crosses the Atlantic: Catching Up with @NickAstronomer by Tom Vitron

Left: Faulkes Telescope North Clamshell Dome located on Mount Haleakala on Maui, Hawaii. Right: Nick Howes in action.

It was easy to fall in love with space interested in space are getting more is putting them to work and in some and astronomy when the 1960s "Space scarce. That's where educators and cases, they're doing work for Lowell Race" was raging between the U.S. and avid amateur astronomers like Nick scientists! U.S.S.R. You could hardly help but be Howes get involved. Through the "Apollo was the hook for me," enthralled at the sight of astronauts on groundbreaking STEM (science, says Nick, a computer programmer the Moon, the Skylab, and then the technology, engineering, mathematics) for the government by day, a widely Space Shuttle. But with the latter now school program at the UK's Faulkes published astronomy freelance writer retired and no immediate replacement Telescope Project, Nick is not only and pro-am project manager for Faulkes for it, the obvious hooks to get kids getting kids interested in science, he by night since 2009. "There are literal continued on page 6

Lowell Trustee Wins Viola Mayor’s Award In March, Lowell Trustee Mr. William Lowell Putnam III won the Mayor’s Award for Lifetime Contribution to the Arts & Sciences at the Viola Awards, Flagstaff’s cultural and scientific awards event. His efforts to ensure Lowell’s continued growth and competitiveness during the past quarter century are too many to list here. Relatively unsung is his support of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra’s summer concert series at Lowell, and of KNAU, our local public radio affiliate. The latter broadcasts an all-classical feed, and has worked with Bill to bring Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” to Flagstaff twice in the past three years. Congratulations to a most deserving winner! The 2013 Viola Award is a kaleidoscope Lowell Trustee William Lowell Putnam III. created by local artist Christina Norlin. 6 THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Spring 2013

LARI Crosses the Atlantic do they get hands-on experience bodies, but the LARI project has been continued from page 5 that can inspire a career in science, particularly successful,” says Faulkes remnants of Apollo that you can look kids get credited for their work and Telescope Project Director Prof. Paul at, including the Apollo 10 LM (lunar discoveries in any subsequent research Roche of the University of Glamorgan. ascent module), which is one of our papers. "What a way to teach kids So after he is done "paying the programs at Faulkes (called Project about science, and more specifically bills" with his day job, Nick enters the Snoopy). But the real hooks for kids are astrometry," adds Nick, an avid fan of realm he truly loves, a realm his parents exoplanets, comets, near-Earth objects, all Solar System bodies. "The Faulkes led him to because they could see the brilliant galaxies, and everything jaw- Telescopes are huge and can get great passion in his eyes for all things space, dropping that we can show them at images so the kids love it. What I try from rockets to robots, from Star Wars Faulkes." to do is move them from the ‘pretty to supernovae. Even as our Skype Started by businessman and picture stuff’ to more true science." session crackles, his passion for science philanthropist Dill Faulkes to get the Reaping the rewards of patient education comes through clearly, even UK interested in astrophotography, sky observers, Nick and participating if complete words do not. No need to Faulkes aims "to provide free access to schools have successfully hunted ask why he gets asked to give astronomy robotic telescopes and a fully supported asteroids and near-Earth objects talks all over the UK. He embodies education program to encourage (NEOs), and have made national news astronomy outreach. "I firmly believe teachers and students to engage in with observations of a Jupiter Trojan that if I can get one person interested research-based science education." asteroid and of a fragmenting comet. in astronomy and one involved at each When Nick visited Lowell early last More recently, Nick and the Faulkes talk, my job is done!" Follow Nick on year, he was like a kid at Disneyland. program made two very interesting Twitter: @NickAstronomer. For more about When he subsequently found out on discoveries. First, while doing LARI Faulkes, visit http://www.faulkes-telescope. Twitter about the Lowell Amateur work, a new comet – C/2010 U3 com/ Research Initiative (LARI) and the – was spotted using both Faulkes research-matching opportunities, he Telescopes. The Minor Planet Center To learn more about participating in recognized an immediate fit for Faulkes confirmed in November that the LARI, visit http://www.lowell.edu/ and its online outreach programs. Faulkes' newly discovered NEO was in LARI_welcome.php. After a successful first While kids were already involved with fact a magnitude 20 (very dim) comet. year, LARI needs your financial support European Space Agency (ESA) projects, Second, data from the Faulkes North to continue to grow and thrive. If you can this extended Faulkes’ reach across the Telescope's tracking of Comet 103P help, please contact Antoinette Beiser at Atlantic. (a.k.a. Hartley/2 made famous by the [email protected] or call (928) 233-3216. Partnering with Lowell astronomer successful EPOXI spacecraft fly by) Larry Wasserman, Nick and various indicated "unusual and rapid activity schools are trying to spy on some in the comet's inner coma." The data Michael C.J. Putnam of the furthest, smallest (and hence seem to indicate that if the comet faintest) objects in our Solar System. increases its spin rate, it might well Wins Distinguished Using Faulkes' two robotic 2-meter break up. Seem too good to be true for Service Award telescopes (one in Hawaii, one in an amateur-driven effort? "Amateurs are The American Philological Australia), schoolchildren are assisting not constrained by budgets," explains Association (APA) presented Dr. Wasserman in finding positions Nick. "They make very valuable Michael C.J. Putnam, former contributions to really important of Trans-Neptunian and Kuiper Belt Lowell Trustee and current Brown science." Objects, which live in the far reaches University Professor of Classics, and along the outside edge of the Solar “Having Nick on board as our with the Distinguished Service System. "I always impress the distance Pro-Am Manager has been great; his Award at the 2012 Plenary to these objects when I talk to the enthusiasm and the sheer amount of Session of its 144th Annual kids," Nick says. "These objects require work he gets through makes a huge Meeting in Seattle. This award a lot of time, about 4 to 5 hours difference to the projects we are able – given occasionally rather straight of observing. So they learn to offer our users. He has engaged than annually – is presented about patience as well." both amateur astronomers and school for extraordinary service to the The way Faulkes works is that groups in the UK and overseas with profession of classics and the schools get to pick a time slot during several programs involving asteroids, American Philological Association. themed observing days. Not only comets and other small Solar System THE LOWELL OBSERVER | Spring 2013 7

Lowell Amateur Collaborator’s Work for Stratospheric Dr. Deidre Hunter Featured by NASA Marketing Lowell Amateur Research Initiative (LARI) collaborator Stephen Leshin Lowell scientists aboard SOFIA recently submitted an image of NGC 6822, Barnard’s Galaxy, to (Stratospheric Observatory for NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD). The beautiful image was Infrared Astronomy, NASA/ captured in collaboration with Lowell astronomer and Deputy Director DLR's airborne observatory) for Science Dr. Deidre Hunter as part of the LITTLE THINGS dwarf had a little fun at 40,000 feet. galaxy survey. APOD featured the image Friday, February 8th with a The Lowell-built HIPO (High- plug for LARI and LITTLE THINGS. Thanks so much to Steve and all our Speed Imaging Photometer for LARI collaborators for the amazing work they do for us! Check out the Occultations) instrument is one image’s APOD page: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130208.html of a few specially built SOFIA instruments.

NGC 6822, Barnard’s Galaxy, a dwarf irregular galaxy in the constellation Sagittarius. A member of our Local Group of galaxies, NGC 6822 is only 1.5 million light years from Earth. It is filled with young blue stars and mottled with the telltale Somebody attached a packing sleeve pinkish hydrogen glow of star-forming regions in the deep color composite image. to HIPO with our rack card tucked Image Credit & Copyright: Stephen Leshin, Collaboration: Dr. Deidre Hunter and LARI inside. . .

Retail Specialist Wins Greenberg Scholarship ARRIVALS • Oakley Anderson-Moore, Media Diana Weintraub, Lowell’s Retail Specialist, recently received the Assistant Greenberg Scholarship to attend the Museum Store Association (MSA) • Nicole Bird, Accounting Intern Retail Conference & Expo in Los Angeles. Nice job, Diana! • Sarah Conant, Graphic Designer • Ben Dirgo, NAU Research Intern • Mica Doucette, Annual Giving Officer • Katrina McLaughlin, Educator • Catie Tackitt, Educator • Aaron Walker, Educator DEPARTURES • Michael Gary, Educator • Joe Jaeger, Graphic Design Intern Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Flagstaff, AZ Permit No. 170 Spring 2013

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9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eco-friendly printing by Eco-friendly EXPANDING OUR UNIVERSE EXPANDING Tonight, Saturn will make its closest approach Tonight, Join Lowell Observatory for a fun and Observatory for a fun and Join Lowell Lowell Observatory will celebrate Astronomy Observatory will celebrate Astronomy Lowell – This special event will feature our SlipherVision SCAN TO SCAN TO GO TO our Facebook page ELL Saturn Opposition Lyrids Meteor Shower Star Fest Lyrids T/TH/Sun Astronomy Day M/W/F/Sat Regular Public Hours: Public Hours: Regular M/W/F/Sat T/TH/Sun Memorial Star Fest For comments about the newsletter, contact comments about the newsletter, For The Lowell Observer is published quarterly by Observer The Lowell 2013 PUBLIC PROGRAM PROGRAM 2013 PUBLIC SPRING SPECIAL EVENTS SPRING SPECIAL 928.774.2096 • www.lowell.edu • Find us on Facebook us on Facebook • Find 928.774.2096 • www.lowell.edu Lowell Observatory, 1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff, 1400 W. Observatory, Lowell Contents Copyright 2013 by Lowell Observatory ISSN 1054-0059 Contents Copyright 2013 by Lowell

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The quarterly newsletter of Lowell Observatory The quarterly THE

OBSERVER LOW Day with activities throughout the day, including science demonstrations, including Day with activities throughout the day, multimedia presentations. telescope viewing of the sun, grounds tours, and At night, enjoy more science demonstrations, telescope viewing and stargazing. (5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) MAY SAT 27 SAT (5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) – SUN 21 (5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) – (9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.) – 20 SAT Open until June 16 (regular public Open until June 16 Suited for Space Exhibit: more exhibit information) hours; see page 3 for 4/12 and 5/10 Fridays Science Nights: Second Friday Day: Monday 5/27 are Free School’s Out & Kids APRIL space show and telescopes set up for viewing celestial objects. At 7 p.m., Colbath will give an indoor presentation “Dinosaurs, retired scientist Kent Plankton and Asteroids: the Science of Studying Mass Extinctions.” to Earth this year. Come in to see the ringed planet up close through to Earth this year. and stargazing. telescopes, and also enjoy SlipherVision programs educational meteor shower night. Learn about the origins of meteor showers, educational meteor shower night. Learn participate in many science-how to differentiate between meteorites, and based, exciting hands-on be fun for the whole activities that are sure to family!

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