July 2019 OBSERVER (#2-150Ppi)

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 44, Number 7 July 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – Apollo XI 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – July 2019 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«TCAA Social & Public Viewing Session July 13th 5«Scott and Emily Wade “Graduate” 6«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 7«E/PO Updates for June 2019 7«Meteorite “Display” in El Paso, IL 8«Central Illinois Mini Conference September 21st 8«Intro. to Amateur Astronomy Course to Resume 9«Remaining Public Viewing Sessions for 2019 9«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2019 9«TCAA Active on Facebook 10«TCAA Image Gallery 12«July 2019 with Jeffrey L. Hunt 16«TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of June 28, 2019 16«Renewing Your TCAA Membership

The TCAA is an affiliate of the IMAGE OF THE MONTH: EDITOR’S CHOICE – APOLLO XI Astronomical League as well as its North Central Region. For more While this space is normally reserved for images taken by one information about the TCAA, be of our club members, the editor’s choice for this month is image certain to visit the TCAA website at chosen to commemorate one of the most monumental tcaa.us/ achievements of mankind – the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. That event took place 50 years ago this month, on July 20, 1969. Visit Astroleague.org for additional Because your editor is 66 years old, he can vividly remember information about the League and its the evening when a fellow Ohioan from only 20 miles away membership benefits. (Wapakoneta) set foot on the surface of the moon. He and four of his friends were plastered to the TV watching “scratchy” images originating from the lunar surface. Also visit the NCRAL website at That year 16-year-old Carl Wenning also stood agog looking at ncral.wordpress.com for information the moon in the evening twilight as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin about our North Central Region. began their EVA. The moon was a 5.9-day-old waxing crescent located in the southwestern sky 10° to the left of magnitude –1.8 Jupiter, with Mars dominating the south at magnitude –1.3. These images will be forever etched in your editor’s mind. What do you remember of this night? Do you remember any of the moon landings, that last of which occurred in 1972? If you are younger than about 52 years old, then probably not much. Too bad!

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER Well, summer has arrived! is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin Though the nights are short, the air is City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational warm, and it is prime time for organization of amateur astronomers inter- observing the summer Milky Way – ested in studying astronomy and sharing my favorite section of our night sky. their hobby with the public. As I write this, I’m in Enid,

Oklahoma, visiting my son, his wife, TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS and our grandson Hudson. Yes, this

President, Director, & Property Manager trip is about seeing all of them, but I Tim Stone 309-531-2401 have a secondary motive to be here. [email protected] We timed the trip during this

Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. month’s dark moon, in the hope that Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 perhaps I might get a night under the [email protected] incredibly dark skies of Copper Breaks TCAA President Tim Stone Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent State Park near Quanah, Texas. It’s Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 about four hours away from here, and the forecast for the next few days is for [email protected] spectacularly clear skies. I couldn’t be more excited! Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor I didn’t bring a telescope or anything like that. I brought my portable mount Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 with a fabulous DSLR setup I borrowed from a friend, and with that I hope to do [email protected] some good wide-sky photography. It’s distinctly different than my typical deep-sky 5th Director/Assistant Property Manager photography and my lunar imaging. I’m still a novice at this, but I’ve done it enough Scott Wade 309-310-2464 now that I think I can capture a decent image of the spectacular band of our galaxy, [email protected] stretching from the southern horizon to nearly overhead. Astronomical League Correspondent Copper Breaks State Park is an IDA-recognized International Dark Sky Park. I’ve Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 been there once before, and the skies remind me so much of the sky in Central [email protected] Illinois when I was a kid. It breaks my heart that those same skies are so badly Technology Coordinator polluted now, but I’m glad there’s still some place to go where the dark sky is Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 [email protected] actively being preserved. If you’ve never been to a dark sky park, it’s well worth the trip! Stay tuned; Webmaster perhaps next month I’ll have an image to publish in The OBSERVER. Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] Oh, and by the way, everyone down here is doing quite well!

Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number Tim Stone [email protected] TCAA President

The OBSERVER Carl J. Wenning, Editor TAKE NOTE!

Submission deadline two days before The next meeting of the TCAA Board of Directors we be held on Tuesday, July the end of each month. 16th. We will be meeting at the Wenning residence in Normal at 6:30 PM. Send agenda items to Secretary Carl Wenning if you have any. See his contact MEMBERSHIP DUES information in the column to the left. Individual Adult/Family $40 Full-time Student/Senior $25 Bob Finnigan has asked for us to announce that he will work with Scott and Emily (Senior status equals ages 60+) Wade to develop a training class in astronomical imaging for interested

To join, send your name, contact info and individuals on Tuesday, July 2, at SGNC’s Prairie Sky Observatory. The session is dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA informal and will start at 5:00 PM. Participants will contribute to the Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL development of the next class and need not be members of the TCAA to attend 61761-1471. this session. Contact Bob for additional information. See his contact information in the column to the left.

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – JULY 2019 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (7/15): Venus, Uranus, & Neptune The following individuals have paid dues for new or renewed memberships as of June 28, 2019. (Others who EVENING PLANETS (7/15): Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, & Saturn paid after that date will appear in the August 2019 issue The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of of The OBSERVER.) important astronomical events for this month. All events are given in Central Daylight Time.

Tom Willmitch and Matthew Will

Day Time Event

02 14:16 NEW MOON DUES BLUES 02 14:23 Total Solar Eclipse; mag=1.046 03 01:53 Moon at Ascending Node If you have received a “your dues are due” 04 03:34 Mercury 3.3°S of Moon statement along with the email that brought you this issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. 04 08:20 Mercury 2.5°S of Beehive Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 04 10:02 Beehive 0.2°S of Moon Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for 04 18 Earth at Aphelion: 1.01676 AU seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 04 23:54 Moon at Perigee: 363729 km 05 18 Mercury 3.8° of Mars SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LIST 05 21:17 Regulus 3.2°S of Moon By subscribing to a group’s mailing list, you will 07 02 Mercury at Aphelion receive email messages from the group though you 09 05:55 FIRST QUARTER MOON won’t have access to the group’s web features (like 09 11 Saturn at Opposition photos, files, links, polls, calendar, etc.) unless members 13 02:06 Mars 0.4°S of Beehive activate it later. The club has an open email listserv. It is 13 14:43 Jupiter 2.3°S of Moon known as the TCAA YahooGroups listserv. It will be used 16 02:27 Saturn 0.2°N of Moon: Occn. to share announcements and reminders about 16 04:05 Moon at Descending Node astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv, you must do the following: 16 16:31 Partial Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.653

16 16:38 FULL MOON 1. To subscribe: Send a blank email to TCAA- 20 19:01 Moon at Apogee: 405480 km [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a 21 08 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction confirmation email from the group. Reply to the 24 20:18 LAST QUARTER MOON confirmation email to activate your subscription. 27 19:47 Aldebaran 2.3°S of Moon 2. To post a message: [email protected]

28 10 Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower 3. To unsubscribe: [email protected]

30 12:02 Moon at Ascending Node 31 22:12 NEW MOON

http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2019cst.html

EVENING SKY MAP Click on the icon found here to access a current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar.

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Tuesday, July 2 & Wed, July 31 Tuesday, July 9 Tuesday, July 16 Wednesday, July 24

All moon phase dates are Central Daylight Time. Additional moon phases for the 2019 calendar year can be found by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

NB. The partial lunar eclipse of July 16th will not be visible locally having completed before moonrise.

THIS MONTH’S SOLAR PHENOMENA

In the table below, you will find times of sunrise and sunset along with rising and setting azimuths (Az), length of day including change from previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, and the time of solar noon along with the elevation (El) of the midday sun. These data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2019 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Solar Dist.

July Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Diff. Start End Time (El) MIL. MILES 1 5:29 AM (58°) 8:30 PM (302°) 15:00:58 -0:34 3:24 AM 10:34 PM 12:59 PM (72.6°) 94.510 11 5:35 AM (60°) 8:27 PM (300°) 14:52:03 -1:08 3:34 AM 10:27 PM 1:01 PM (71.6°) 94.510 21 5:43 AM (62°) 8:21 PM (298°) 14:38:02 -1:36 3:47 AM 10:16 PM 1:02 PM (69.9°) 94.452

TCAA SOCIAL & PUBLIC VIEWING SESSION JULY 13TH

The TCAA will hold its next quarterly membership social on Saturday, July 13th. The event will start at 5:30 PM at the ISU Planetarium; Vice President Tom Willmitch will serve as host. This will be the start of an evening full of events, so you’ll not want to miss it. Beginning at 5:30 PM, Dr. Carl Wenning will present a 45-minute talk Fire & Ice: The Pending Collapse of Earth’s Magnetic Field? Carl first presented this talk to the Lincoln Orbit Earth Science Society at the Illinois State Museum back on April 15th; it was very well received. The speaker described recent rapid changes in Earth’s magnetic field and provided evidence for a history of magnetic reversals. What is unclear is how the next reversal will affect our modern technological society. The speaker will describe potential impacts of what could turn out to be a momentous – even catastrophic – world situation in the not too distant future. Following this talk and some time for questions and answers, we will depart the planetarium shortly after 6:30 PM for supper. After supper, we will head out to Sugar Grove Nature Center for Lisa Wentzel’s 9:00 PM public viewing session talk A History of Women in Astronomy. Lisa will point out that there are many women astronomers who have made significant contributions to our understanding of the universe. Join us to learn about some of them and their contributions. In addition to Lisa’s presentation, we will have a laser-guided sky tour and telescope viewing if the sky is clear. Let’s see if we can get a good turnout for both of these events. We typically have about 15 members attend (about 30% of the club’s membership), but it would be great if we could see members who rarely turn out for such events as these. Please communicate with your TCAA peers about these events and encourage their attendance.

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

SCOTT AND EMILY WADE “GRADUATE”

Scott Wade “graduated” from Bob Finnigan’s School of Astrophotography on June 2nd. He is the first student to formally do so using the PSO training facility at SGNC with its 17” and 14” telescopes. Within days, Emily Wade – Scott’s daughter, similarly graduated. Congratulations to both Scott and Emily! According to Bob, “Scott and Emily went out to PSO and Scott did his first solo image on the 17- inch. Scott opened the PSO roof, turned on the south pier, connected to the mount, homed the mount, and did a find on Vega. He then did a connect to the focuser, installed the focus mask and found that it was okay. He then went to Messier 13 and used the guide scope to find and track a guide star. After that he set up a sequence of six RGB images of M13. (See the TCAA Image Gallery on page 11 in this edition of The OBSERVER for the image.) Afterward, he closed down the 17-inch telescope and locked up.” Bob supervised Scott’s work from afar. Bob further noted, “All the time I was watching at home in Lexington using Team Viewer. I could see all that was going on at PSO. I was also able, after a sub- screen image of M13 was downloaded, to make corrections from Lexington to the subs like making a Kernel Filter correction. This is Scott’s first solo imaging run. He now has Scott Wade a key to PSO and permission to do more imaging on his own. Bob will keep helping him remotely as needed. Scott is Bob’s first “graduate.” Bob hopes to have many more such successful students this coming year. This Team Viewer system Bob used is available to TCAA members. According to Bob, “Members can use it to audit others doing some remote “viewing” with others at PSO on their own. Or, if someone is out there, a member can do pictures from home as we now have a robotic system.” According to Bob, Emily Wade passed her astrophotography course on the evening of June 24th. Bob noted that “Emily took the helm of the PSO under guidance of her father and took an image of M51” (which is described in the TCAA Image Gallery found later in this issue of the newsletter). Emily, a 2019 Normal Community High School graduate, will be heading off to the University of Texas in Austin later this summer to begin her work as an undergraduate astronomy and physics major. Last December, Emily was recognized as a 2019-20 Illinois State Scholar by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Students are recognized for this honor based on class rank and ACT or SAT test scores. The scholars receive a letter and a certificate of achievement. We wish her the best of luck! Both Scott and Emily will receive their “diplomas” at one of the club’s July 13th events – either the club social at the ISU Planetarium at 5:30 PM or at SGNC as part of the public viewing session at 9:00 PM. Details will be sent out over the TCAA listserv once plans have been finalized. It should be noted that Bob, Scott, Tim Stone and several others have worked hard over the past six months or so to turn PSO into a center for learning about astronomical imaging. This includes the installation of a new 14-inch telescopes, “sideboard” computers for the 14” and 17” telescopes, three new cameras and filter wheels, and much more. Emily Wade

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó Have you downloaded the Summer 2019 edition of NCRAL’s Northern Lights newsletter? It is one of the benefits of the TCAA’s membership in the Astronomical League. By virtue of this membership, our club is also a member of the North Central Region of the Astronomical League (NCRAL). (Our own Carl Wenning is Regional Chair of this group and he writes most of the newsletter.) You may download the 28-page Summer 2019 issue of Northern Lights at: https://ncral.wordpress.com/newsletter-archive/ ó With the 50th anniversary of the Apollo XI moon landing on July 20th and the moon being full on the 16th, perhaps we should set up telescopes for evening viewing at different locations around town during the first half of the month starting on or after the 4th of July. If interested in joining in the work of a small group of “sidewalk astronomers,” please contact Carl at [email protected]. ó Carl Wenning spent Tuesday evening, March 25th, at Illinois Wesleyan’s Mark Evans Observatory getting to know Marc Tiritilli and assisting him with the optical cleaning of the Celestron 11” telescope housed there. Under Carl’s guidance, Marc removed the corrector plate and secondary mirror which were then cleaned and reinstalled. Successful observations of Jupiter ensued through the nearly overcast sky. Recollimation will take place as soon as the sky clears. During his visit, Marc showed Carl the recently-acquired IWU meteorite collection containing literally hundreds of catalogued samples! Most specimens are less than about 3cm in diameter, but the variety is overwhelming. Marc is an accomplished amateur astronomer and former Bloomington High School math and physics teacher. He now teaches part time at IWU. Carl expects to return the favor to Marc by giving him tours of the TCAA’s observatories in the not too distant future. ó Sunil Chebolu recently reported, “I was in Vietnam June 10-13 for the Vietnam-USA joint mathematical meeting. This took place in Quy Nhon, a beautiful coastal city in Vietnam. There was very little light pollution (to my surprise!) and the skies were clear, so it was great for stargazing. I went to the roof terrace of our hotel to see the stars and constellations. I also went swimming in the south China sea and saw the beautiful starry night sky while I was floating on my back. It was a rare and delightful astronomical treat. From the beach I took several pictures. Here are two: one is the beautiful sunrise and the other (my favorite) is the morning star Venus shining brightly at the crack of dawn.”

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

E/PO UPDATES FOR JUNE 2019

A clear morning sky gave way to clouds on Saturday, June 8th, just in time for our session dealing with Telescopes – Why Astronomers Need Them presented by Carl Wenning. Carl gave a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation about telescopes, demonstrated how a refracting telescope works using an optical bench, and pointed out the various components of a 5” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and mount recently given to him by Lisa Wentzel (thanks Lisa!). Following the lecture there were open houses at both PSO and SGO but no sky watching of any sort. A total audience of about 32 was in attendance including the following 15 TCAAers: Carl Wenning, Lisa Wentzel, Tom Weiland, Dave Osenga, Lloyd Mason, Paul Pouliot, Mark and Bryce Heiniger, Vivian Hoette, Dave Peters, Lee Green, Mark and Nataya Boulware, Brian Barling, and Bob Finnigan (who came out to set up PSO computers but had to leave before the program began). Thanks to all TCAA members who attended and supported this public outreach effort. On Wednesday, June 12th, Carl Wenning presented a workshop for 8 students and 4 adults at HCC’s Challenger Learning Center. Carl demonstrated how telescopes work with the use of pinhole projection and an optical bench. He then assisted students in the construction of their own small refractors. This was followed-up up with viewing outdoors using these telescopes as well as Carl’s 5” SCT. On the evening of Saturday, June 22nd, Lee Green presented a Girl Scout Program at Camp Peairs adjacent to Lake Bloomington. Lee presented to a group of 1st-8th grade girls at the camp. According to Lee, “There were two troops that showed up, and the girls had many good questions. With the mostly cloudy skies, we spent extra time in discussions, but were able to view Mizar and Jupiter between cloud passes.” A total of 33 were present in addition to Lee. That same evening, the Sugar Grove Nature Center’s Great American Campout (at which the TCAA regularly provides a telescopic viewing) was cancelled due to “soggy conditions” and a forecast of thunderstorms after midnight.

METEORITE “DISPLAY” IN EL PASO, IL ~ by Carl Wenning ~

While returning from a short trip out of town on Saturday, June 15th, Carolyn and I stopped by the El Paso Antique Mall on the west side of town just to see what we were missing. In addition, we were looking for an old-fashioned potato grater when we stumbled upon something much more interesting and impressive – a very extensive meteorite “display.” There, in Case 104A, we saw dozens and dozens of Algerian meteorites, from half-kilogram specimens down to tiny shards. To my trained eye, they all appeared to be ordinary chondrites, many with extensive fusion crusts and some with regmaglypts (characteristic thumbprint patterns). Each of the larger specimens were beautifully mounting in “rings.” Needless to say, I was nearly dumbstruck. These meteorites were collected by a man named Erik who bartered with nomads for them years ago while traveling in Northern Africa. In exchange for some local currency, and sundry items like paper and pencils, he was able to acquire the entire collection. It appears that local Berber peoples understand western interest in meteorites and collect them when discovered upon the desert sands. They take them to local leaders who hold on to them until such time as a buyer can be found. Given the very consistent appearance of many of these meteorites, they possibly might have come from a single large fall. Each specimen is for sale for about $1.50 to $3.00 per gram which seems to be about the going rate for such items. Check it out!

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

CENTRAL ILLINOIS ASTRONOMY MINI CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 21ST

The Central Illinois Mini Conference for amateur at both SGO (11”) and PSO (Hα, 11”, 14”, and 17” astronomers will return to McLean County on Saturday, telescopes) and an invited talk at that time. Later we will September 21st. This event, first held at Sugar Grove Nature journey to Waynesville Observatory – our dark-sky site about Center (SGNC) in 2016 and then 2017, was hosted by the 7 miles distant with its 6”, 10”, 16”, 20”, and 24” telescopes Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society (CUAS) last year as – for a tour of the facilities there. a “jamboree.” At that time, we heard a number of invited Members of other Illinois amateur astronomy groups talks at Staerkel Planetarium on the campus of Parkland are most welcome to join us. We especially encourage Community College and celebrated the opening of the new members of CUAS, Sangamon Astronomical Society (SAS), CUAS observatory with a cookout at their rural site. Peoria Astronomical Society (PAS), and Popular Astronomy This year, 2019, we hope to do something similar with Club (PAC) who have joined us in the past. This year we also contributed and invited talks starting midafternoon at the encourage members of the U of I and ISU astronomy clubs to newly refurbished ISU Planetarium, with the event moving join us. Registration will be required for this free event so we out to Sugar Grove Nature Center later in the afternoon for a can prepare appropriately. Details about the program complimentary evening cookout. We will have open houses schedule and registration will follow next month.

INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY COURSE TO RESUME

The TCAA’s Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course for the three sessions is making a comeback for the first time since 2017. Started in are Saturdays, October September of 2015 as Universe Sampler, the course (later 12, 19, and November named Introduction to Amateur Astronomy) was successively 2. (There will be no taught three times, twice by Carl Wenning and twice by class on Saturday, Darren Erickson with a one course taught by both. October 26 due to a Approximately 30 individuals passed through the first three schedule conflict.) courses. Classes will run from The 2019 course is being supported by an inaugural 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM $250 mini grant provided by the North Central Region of the each day. This will Astronomical League (NCRAL) and awarded at its Regional allow for evening convention in Moline on May 3-5, 2019. The purpose of the viewing sessions should grant is to help a club to recruit new members and is the first the sky be clear. of its type. In this instance, the money will be used to pay for The course Guide as many copies of the course’s textbook, TCAA Guide #1, as (not the course) will be possible. The grant will allow us to reduce the cost of the provided free to non- course in the hope of recruiting new members. The course TCAA-member participants (one per household), and a one- will be promoted at all public viewing sessions this year. year introductory membership in the TCAA will be included. TCAA Guide #1 was written by Carl prior to the start of (TCAA members may attend the course without paying the the course in 2015 and subsequently updated and expanded. $15 course fee but will have to either use an electronic The Guide constitutes a comprehensive introduction to version or print their own copy of TCAA Guide #1 for use in amateur astronomy but is not to be mistaken for an the course. (N.B. The Guide is currently being updated. If you introductory astronomy text. The Guide addresses the basics are a TCAA member and intend to take the course, do not that everyone needs to know in order to become a print your copy for the course until (1) you have been successful amateur astronomer. It deals primarily with the admitted and (2) the revisions are complete.) use of eyes, binoculars, and telescopes to successfully view Those who successfully complete the course the objects of the night sky. (determined on the basis of course attendance and Introduction to Amateur Astronomy will be offered for a successfully passing an optional written test which will be reduced fee in comparison to the past (registration fee will new this year) will be eligible for training on the SGO’s 11- be $15 per household this year rather than $25). Each of the inch Celestron “goto” telescope. Keys to the observatory will course’s three 2-hour classes will be held at the ISU be provided only after an acceptable introductory period, Planetarium courtesy of Director Tom Willmitch. Classes will the length of which has yet to be determined by the TCAA be taught by Carl Wenning with Tom’s assistance. The dates Board of Directors.

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

To apply for this course, go online to the following case- of seats in the course is limited, and priority will be given to sensitive URL: http://bit.ly/2V8eGxL Be mindful of the fact non-members. Should you have any questions or concerns, that application does not guarantee enrollment. The number contact Carl Wenning at [email protected].

REMAINING PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2019

July 13: A History of Women in Astronomy (Lisa Wentzel) 9:00-11:00 PM

Women have a centuries-long history of direct involvement in astronomy. For much of that, they were given little, if any, credit for their marvelous discoveries. We will explore some of important women in the history of astronomy and learn how historical attitudes are changing in the current world.

August 10: Meteor Showers – There’s More Than One (Mark Cabaj) 8:30-10:30 PM The famous Perseid Meteor Shower peaks in a few days, but the moon will be nearly full. Will you have to wait until next August to see a meteor shower? Learn about other great meteor showers, when they are visible, and what you can expect to see. September 07: Your First Telescope – Binoculars? (Mark Cabaj) 8:00-10:00 PM Virtually every serious amateur astronomer owns a pair of binoculars. If you’re thinking about getting a telescope for yourself, or for a Christmas gift, we will tell you what to look for, how to use them for rewarding astronomy, and why you’ll use them longer than any other telescope you’ll ever own.

October 05: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – Two Planets, or Three? (Mark & Nataya Boulware) 7:00-9:00 PM We spend a lot of time looking at the inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Few have ever seen Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. October presents a great opportunity to see all three in one night. We will learn about them, and hopefully have a look at them!

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2019

Date Event Coordinator(s) Location Times

July 13 Membership Social/PVS T. Willmitch, C. Wenning ISU Planetarium 5:30 PM July 13 Public Viewing Session Lisa Wentzel SGNC 9:00 – 11:00 PM July 25-29 ALCon 2019 (tour & cruise) Astronomical League Kennedy Space Ctr/Cruise All day August 10 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:30 – 10:30 PM Sept 7 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:00 – 10:00 PM Sept 21 Central IL Mini Conference Carl Wenning ISU/SGNC/WO Afternoon/evening Sept 26-28 Illinois Dark Sky Star Party Sangamon Astro Society Jim Edgar/Panther Creek All day October 5 Public Viewing Session Mark & Nataya Boulware SGNC 7:00 – 9:00 PM Oct 12,19,26 Intro to Amateur Astronomy Carl Wenning ISU Planetarium TBD Dec 4 TCAA Presents to PAS Carl Wenning/Tim Stone Riverfront Museum 7:30 PM Dec ??? Holiday Party TBD TBD TBD

TCAA ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK

Did you know that the TCAA is on Facebook? We encourage users of social media to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing and to learn about nightly events that only require the observer to step outdoors and view with the unaided eye. You can find us on Facebook by searching either TCAA or Twin City Amateur Astronomers. If you haven’t followed TCAA’s Face-book page, you have missed out on a lot during the past couple of months.

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

TCAA IMAGE GALLERY

M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, by Bob Finnigan. Bob M51, Version 2, by Bob Finnigan. Bob captured these images of writes, “My work last time out (June 10th) consisting of M51 on the evening of June 20th (11 300-sec shots). He noted that one 300-second and two 600-second images taken with this image was created using only MaxIm DL and no additional the 14-inch RC telescope at PSO. The images were made processing such as PixInsight or Photoshop. A B&W version is using the QHY 168 color camera. I used five 600-second shown inset. This just goes to show that our members can make darks and 50 bias frames. Post processing was done spectacular astroimages without a high skill set. In other words, using PixInsight and Photoshop.” the telescopes and cameras of PSO are very user friendly.

Spectrum of Rasalgethi (α Herculis), June 20th, by Tim Stone. Tim noted on Facebook: The last spectrum I posted was of Arcturus. It’s a relatively cool star at about 7,000 degrees Fahrenheit. This spectrum is of Rasalgethi, the brightest star in the constellation Hercules. It’s about half the temperature of Arcturus, at 3,500 degrees. This star is an ice cube as stars go. At these low temperatures metal molecules freely form. One of the most common molecules in cool stars is titanium oxide (TiO). In this spectrum, virtually all of the broad swaths of dark bands are the result of the presence of TiO. I don’t have many of the TiO bands labeled in this presentation, because there’s just so darned many of them. Basically, I would just write TiO across the top line a few dozen times, until they all ran into each other! Well, it’s late and I need to go to bed, having stayed up late last night getting this spectrum. It proved to be wonderfully hard to get, which mystified me for a while until I realized the corrector lens on my scope had dewed up. Ok, so this one will get at least one more visit, and maybe some more text to go along with it. Enjoy!

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

Spectrum of P Cygni, June 24th, by Tim Stone. Tim noted: I’m really excited about the spectrum I acquired tonight. This is P Cygni, one of the most luminous stars in our galaxy. It’s very hot and shows emission lines, rather than the absorption bands of most stars. Where Rasalgethi is about 3,500[Kelvin], P Cyg is about 30,000[Kelvin]! The emission lines are hydrogen and helium, glowing in the intense temperatures of the environment around the star. Enjoy!

Messier 13 by Scott Wade (shown right). The image shown right is the Great Globular Cluster of Hercules taken by Scott Wade on the evening of June 2nd. This was Scott’s first “solo” image taken at SGO. It qualified Scott as a keyholder for the observatory. He now has complete access to the equipment and permission to use it unsupervised. See the accompanying article on page 5.

Messier 27 by Scott Wade (shown left). On June 8th Scott wrote, “Tim [Stone] came out to the PSO last night to show Bob [Finnigan] and me how to do a polar align on the 14” using TPoint. We really appreciate the hours he spent with us to achieve a successful align! At the end of the evening, Bob and I did a closed-loop slew to M27 (Dumbbell nebula). It ended up in the dead center of the field. We shot a luminance, red and green channel image, but the filter wheel had a hiccup and we couldn’t do a blue.” [Bob later created an artificial blue layer resulting in the accompanying image.]

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

Crescent Moon by Jamey Jenkins. On June 8th, Jamey Jenkins wrote “While waiting on the sky to darken last evening, I thought I’d capture a few images of the crescent moon hanging in the western sky. Here (shown right) is a two-frame mosaic through the 102mm aperture f/7 William Optics refractor using a DMK41 video camera, IR/UV blocking filter.”

Messier 51 by Emily Wade (shown left). Scott Wade, Emily’s father, remarked, “Here’s an image of M51 that Emily and I captured last night (June 24th) at the PSO with the 17”. She was in the driver’s seat last night, getting focus, centering M51, etc. I ran the images through Maxim DL, 3 each of R, G, and B @ 300 seconds; she did the clean-up work in Photoshop.”

JULY 2019: SATURN AT OPPOSITION AND A SECOND MERCURY – MARS CONJUNCTION ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

At the beginning of the month, as morning twilight begins, from the southwestern sky, over halfway up, with Spica bright Jupiter is low in the southwest followed by Saturn, nearly beneath it. appearing higher in the south-southwest. Saturn is approaching its opposition early in the month. The Summer • July 1: At the beginning of morning twilight Jupiter (m = Triangle – Vega, Deneb, and Altair – is high in the south. −2.6) is over 7° up in the southwest, followed by Saturn Deneb is near the zenith, just past the meridian. Pegasus is (m = 0.1) over 30° to the east. The Ringed Wonder is 22° now well up in the eastern sky. Capella is easy to see, low in in altitude in the south-southwest. Deneb, the the northeast. It is beneath Perseus and Cassiopeia, while easternmost star of the Summer Triangle, is 85° up, a Ursa Major is low in the north-northwest. As sunrise few degrees west of the meridian. Pegasus is about approaches, Venus is low in the east-northeast, slowly halfway up in the southeast. Capella (α Aur, m = − 0.5) is heading for its superior conjunction. The waning crescent moon joins the brilliant planet on July 1. Observing this 10° up in the northeast, beneath Perseus and Cassiopeia. grouping will test your view of the horizon as well as your Capella is about the same altitude as the Pleiades that observing skills. The sun is in the sky for over 15 hours, while appear in the east-northeast, about 30° to the right of darkness – from the end of evening twilight to the beginning the star. At about 30 minutes before sunrise the thin of morning twilight – reigns only about 4.5 hours. During crescent moon (28.0 days old, 2% illuminated), 4.5° up early evening twilight, Mercury and Mars are in the west- in the east-northeast, is 6.4° to the upper right of Venus northwest. After is greatest elongation last month, Mercury (m = −3.9). Find a clear horizon and use a binocular. is heading toward its inferior conjunction, dimming rapidly, Venus is about 12° west of the sun. The sun is in the sky while Mars’ brightness stays relatively constant. You’ll need about 15 hours, 10 minutes. Its daily arc across the sky is a binocular to find them. At the end of evening twilight, very similar to the solstice path. Today’s noon altitude is bright Jupiter, to the upper left of Antares, is in the only 1° below the solstice’s highest point. Thirty minutes southeast followed by Saturn. The Summer Triangle is easily after sunset, Mercury (m = 1.1), about 7° up in the west- seen in the eastern sky. Farther west, golden Arcturus shines northwest, is 3.8° to the left of Mars (m = 1.8). The

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

planetary pair is nearly in a line with Pollux (β Gem, m = hemisphere in the South Pacific Ocean as well as Chile and 1.6), nearly 9° to the upper right of Mars. You’ll need Argentina. The total eclipse’s maximum duration – 4 optical aid to see them. Mars is setting before Nautical minutes, 32 seconds and occurs over the Pacific Ocean at Twilight, when the sun is 12° below the horizon. The longitude 108.6°W, latitude 17.4°S. Thirty minutes after planet is only 20° east of the sun. As twilight ends, sunset. Mercury (m = 1.2), 7° up in the west-northwest, is Jupiter, 25° in altitude, is about 10° east of the meridian. 3.8° to the lower left of Mars. Saturn follows; it is about 15° up in the southeast. As the • July 3: Thirty minutes after sunset a very thin waxing moon approaches its New phase, let’s look at M13 (NGC crescent moon (1.3d, 2%), 5° up in the west-northwest, is 6205). The globular cluster is a few degrees east of the 3.3° to the lower right of Mars. Mercury (m = 1.4) is 3.8° to meridian and over 80° up in the south at the end of the lower left of Mars. Use a binocular to see them. evening twilight early in the month. I can find it easily • July 4: Our planet reaches aphelion at 5:11 p.m. CDT, with an equatorially mounted telescope and a low- 1.017 Astronomical Units from the sun. Thirty minutes power eyepiece, even without a finder. Locate the after sunset, the crescent moon (2.3d, 7%) is 13° up in the Keystone of Hercules – Pi Herculis (π Her, m = 3.2), west-northwest, over 11° to the upper left of Mars. Epsilon Herculis (ε Her, m = 3.9), Zeta Herculis (ζ Her, m Mercury (m = 1.5) is 3.7° to the lower left of Mars. Use a = 2.8), and Eta Herculis (η Her, m = 3.4). The stars are binocular to see them. about one-third of the way from Vega (α Lyr, m = 0.0), • July 5: The moon is at perigee at midnight, 226,009 miles about 40° up in the east-northeast, to Arcturus (α Boo, away. At the beginning of morning twilight, Jupiter is 5° in m = 0.2), shining over 50° up in the west. M13 lies more altitude in the southwest. Saturn, 31° to the upper left of than halfway from Zeta to Eta, on the right side of the Jupiter, is 21° up in the west-southwest. Thirty minutes Keystone. Put either in the center of the eyepiece and after sunset, Mercury (m = 1.6) is 3.7° to the lower left of move toward the other star. The immense cluster, 23’ in Mars. This is the second conjunction during this apparition diameter, pops into view. In The Messier Album, John of Mercury. Both planets are fading into bright twilight. An Mallas describes the cluster, “M13 is one of the finest hour after sunset, the moon (3.3d, 15%), 15° up in the globular clusters in the heavens and a showpiece for west, is 2.8° to the upper right of Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3). Northern hemisphere observers. . . This great swarm The Celestial Lion’s head is tipped downward toward the contains several hundred thousand stars, it is thought” western horizon. Farther east along the ecliptic, Jupiter, (p. 53). In Deep Sky Wonders, Walter Scott Houston 23° up in the south-southeast, is 8° to the upper left of describes the attraction of the cluster, “As you read this, Antares. Saturn is 8° up in the southeast. Jupiter continues amateurs somewhere are looking at the splendid to retrograde in southern Ophiuchus and Saturn globular cluster M13 in Hercules. Some might be retrogrades in eastern Sagittarius. comparing notes on how well various telescopes resolve • July 6: Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury (m = 1.8), less the cluster into individual stars. Others are using it as a than 4° up in the west-northwest, is 3.8° to the lower left test of eyesight or sky conditions. M13, along with the of Mars. Mercury is leaving the sky quickly. Get your last Orion Nebula, is perhaps the most frequently observed glimpse with a binocular during the next few evenings deep sky object. Indeed, even when Halley’s Comet before it disappears into the sun’s glare! An hour after beckoned people to look skyward during 1986, it is sunset, the waxing crescent moon (4.3d, 24%), over 20° up probably fair to suggest that more people saw M13 than in the west, is nearly 10° to the upper left of Regulus. the comet itself” (p. 157). M13 is a fine target for a quick • July 7: Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury (m = 2.0) is view of the sky, a detailed examination, or an 3.9° to the lower left of Mars. As the sky darkens further, introduction to a new observer in the backyard or at a the crescent moon (4.3d, 24%), nearly 30° up in the west- public observing session. The addition of Jupiter, Saturn, southwest, is about 10° to the lower left of Denebola (β and a crescent moon in a few evenings makes a great Leo, m =2.1). set of objects for personal observing or an introduction • July 8: One hour after sunset, the moon (6.3d, 46%), over to a new enthusiast. 30° up in the southwest, is 2.2° to the upper left of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4). Tonight’s moon phase and • July 2: The moon reaches its New phase at 12:16 p.m. CDT. location is very similar to the moon’s characteristics at the There is a solar eclipse visible from the southern

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

time Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk began in 1969. That year, farther east, 2.2° to the left of the moon (13.3d, 99%). Jupiter was about 10.5° to the right of the moon. Both planets continue to retrograde. • July 9: The moon reaches its First Quarter phase at 5:55 At midmonth, as morning twilight begins at about 3:30 a.m. a.m. CDT. Saturn is at opposition at 12:07 p.m. CDT. The CDT, the nearly full moon is near Saturn in the southwest. planet is 1.2° to the lower left of Pi Sagittarii (π Sgr, m The planet continues to retrograde in eastern Sagittarius. =2.9) when it’s in the sky this evening. Through a Saturn sets about 40 minutes before sunrise. At the telescope, the disk of Saturn is about 18” across, less than beginning of twilight, the Summer Triangle is in the west. half Jupiter’s apparent diameter. The rings are tilted 24°. Deneb, the eastern corner of the group, is nearly 80° in One hour after sunset, the moon (7.3d, 57%) is nearly 7° altitude. The Great Square of Pegasus is approaching the to the upper left of Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0). meridian. Enif, the horse’s nose, is just past the meridian, • July 10: Venus and Mercury are now hiding in bright putting the globular cluster M15 (NGC 7078) in a prime twilight. Jupiter sets a few minutes before morning observing location in the sky. Moving eastward, the Pleiades twilight begins. Saturn is 18° up in the southwest at the are gleaming low in the east-northeast, above Aldebaran; beginning of morning twilight. In the evening, 30 minutes the star has just cleared the horizon. Capella is in the after sunset, Mars is about 5° up in the west-northwest. northeast, below Perseus and Cassiopeia. Jupiter is not visible at this hour as it sets before 3 a.m. CDT. Venus, now Use a binocular. One hour after sunset, Jupiter (m = −2.5), rising at about Civil Twilight, is descending into the sun’s about 8° to the upper left of Antares, is 24° up in the glare heading for its superior conjunction. In the evening at south-southeast. Saturn, one night past opposition, is the end of twilight, Jupiter is west of the meridian, to the nearly 12° up in the southeast, over 30° to the lower left of upper left of Antares. The moon and Saturn are the south- Jupiter. The moon (8.3d, 68%) is to the upper right of southeast. Arcturus is about halfway up in the sky in the Jupiter. This evening it is nearly 7° to the upper right of west, with Spica to its lower left, about one-sixth of the way Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m = 2.8). up in the sky in the southwest. The Big Dipper is nicely • July 11: One hour after sunset, the moon (9.3d, 78%), over placed in the northwest. Farther south, the Summer Triangle 30° up in the south, is about 6° to the lower left of approaches the meridian, high in the east with Vega very Zubeneschamali (β Lib, m = 2.6). The moon is over 20° to high in the south. Pegasus is nearly clear of the east- the upper right of Jupiter. northeast horizon. • July 12: One hour after sunset, the moon (10.3d, 86%), • July 16: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon about 30° up in the south, is nearly 10° to the upper right (13.6d. 100%), over 13° up in the southwest, is 0.9° to the of Jupiter. Even though the moon is bright, the waxing lower left of Saturn. The moon is Full at 4:38 p.m. CDT. gibbous moon, Jupiter, and Antares nearly make an One hour after sunset, the moon (14.3d, 100%), 7° up in equilateral triangle in the sky. the southeast, is over 10° to the lower left of Saturn. • July 13: One hour after sunset, the nearly full moon (11.3d, • July 17: One hour before sunrise, the moon (14.6d, 100%), 92%), about 25° up in the south-southeast, is 3.8° to the 13° up in the southwest, is nearly 13° to the upper left of left of Jupiter. Saturn, only 5° in altitude. In the evening, at the end of • July 14: For those with larger scopes, Pluto (m = 14.2, twilight, the moon (15.3d, 98%) is 10° up in the southeast. apparent size, 0.1”) is at opposition at 9:51 a.m. CDT. One • July 18: One hour before sunrise, the gibbous moon (15.6d, hour after sunset, the moon (12.3d, 97%), 19° up in the 98%) is 20° up in the southwest. Thirty minutes after the south-southeast, is nearly midway between Jupiter and end of twilight, the waning gibbous moon (16.4d, 95%), Saturn. As the sky darkens further, Pluto is 5.1° to the about 11° up in the southeast, is 2.4° to the lower right of lower left of Saturn. Delta Capricorni (δ Cap, m =2.8). • July 15: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon • July 19: One hour before sunrise, the moon (16.6d, 94%) is (12.6d, 98%), about 7° up in the southwest, is over 12° to nearly 30° up in the southwest. Thirty minutes after the the lower right of Saturn. Thirty minutes after sunset, end of twilight, the gibbous moon (17.4d, 90%) is 6° up in Mars is less than 4° up in the west-northwest. Viewing it is the east-southeast. clearly a challenge because of its altitude and its • July 20: One hour before sunrise, the waning gibbous brightness. As the sky darkens further, Jupiter is 25° up in the south, over 8° to the upper left of Antares. Saturn is moon (17.6d, 89%), over 30° up in the south, is over 17° to the upper right of Fomalhaut (α PsA, m = 1.2). The star

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

seems to be a lonesome celestial marker in a sea of dim • July 27: One hour before sunrise, the moon (24.6d, 27%), stars. It is over 20° south of the ecliptic and nearly 30° over 30° up in the east, is nearly 8° to the upper right of south of the celestial equator. Fomalhaut is south of Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8). Pegasus as it skims across the southern horizon during the • July 28: One hour before sunrise, the moon (25.6d, 18%), colder evening months. Its absolute magnitude is one-half 25° up in the east, 6° to the lower left of Aldebaran. magnitude dimmer than its apparent magnitude, • July 29: One hour before sunrise, the moon (26.6d, 10%) is indicating that its actual distance is closer than the nearly 17° up in the east-northeast at Orion’s club, 0.8° to theoretical distance (10 parsecs, 32.6 light years) used to the upper left of Chi1 Orionis (χ1 Ori, m = 4.4). The moon calculate absolute magnitude. When Fomalhaut’s absolute is nearly 14° to the upper left of Betelgeuse (α Ori, m = magnitude is compared to the sun’s brightness 0.4). The star is over 7° up in the east. characteristic, the distant star is nearly 20 times brighter • July 30: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the thinning than our solar system’s central star. The moon is at crescent moon (27.6d, 4%), 8° up in the east-northeast, is apogee at 6:59 p.m. CDT; it is 251,954 miles away. One in the middle of Gemini. The crescent is nearly 12° to the hour after sunset, Jupiter is over 25° up in the south, over upper right of Pollux. Mars moves into Leo, but it is only 5° 7° to the upper left of Antares. Saturn, 31° to the east of from the sun. Jupiter along the ecliptic, is 15° up in the southeast. One • July 31: Thirty minutes before sunrise, the waning hour after the end of evening twilight, the moon (18.4d, crescent moon (28.6d, 1%) is 2° up in the east-northeast, th 84%) is 5° up in the east-southeast. In honor of the 50 nearly in a line with Castor (α Gem, m = 1.6) and Pollux. anniversary of the first lunar landing: “We came in peace The moon is about 8° to the lower right of Pollux. Dim for all Mankind.” My thanks to the teachers who provided Mercury (m = 2.0), 4° up in the east-northeast, is 6.5° to their personal televisions at school to view space events of the upper right of the moon. The moon and Mercury make my childhood, John Rice’s classroom library that had another observing challenge. Use a binocular to see this astronomy books, and Roger Grossenbacher’s inspiration line-up. In the evening one hour after sunset, Jupiter (m = sparked my interest to look up. −2.4) is on the meridian about 26° in altitude. Antares is • July 21: One hour before sunrise, the gibbous moon (18.6d, about 7° to the lower right of Jupiter. Saturn, over 30° east 83%) is nearly 40° in altitude in the southern sky. Mercury along the ecliptic from Jupiter, is nearly 20° up in the is at inferior conjunction at 7:34 a.m. CDT, nearly 5° south south-southeast. The moon reaches its New phase at of the sun. 10:12 p.m. CDT. • July 22: One hour before sunrise, the moon (19.6d, 75%) is 42° up in the south. At month’s end, when morning twilight begins, the sky is • July 23: One hour before sunrise, the gibbous moon (20.6d, without bright planets and the moon. Jupiter and Saturn set earlier in the night and the moon approaches its New phase. 66%) is nearly 45° up in the southeast. The moon is in The sky resembles the November evening sky, with the Cetus again this month. Great Square of Pegasus at the meridian. The Summer • July 24: One hour before sunrise, the moon (21.6d, 56%) is Triangle is in the west, with the Northern Cross of Cygnus over 40° up in the southeast. The moon reaches its Last nearly standing vertical, high in the sky. In the eastern sky, Quarter phase at 8:18 p.m. CDT. bright Capella shines from the northeast with Aldebaran to • July 25: One hour before sunrise, the thick waning its lower right. The Pleiades are eye-catchers about a third of crescent moon (22.6d, 46%) is over 40° up in the southeast. the way up in the east. As morning twilight brightens the At this time the moon and Pleiades (M45) have about the eastern sky, Betelgeuse and Rigel peak through the same altitude. The cluster is about 26° to the left of the brightening sky. Orion in the morning sky is an indication moon, which is back in Cetus again this morning. One hour that the Dog Star, Sirius, and the Little Dog Star, Procyon, after sunset, Jupiter is over 25° up in the south, 7° to the enter the sky soon. Dog Days are upon us. Orion’s belt stars point downward to Sirius’ location below the horizon. What upper left of Antares, now west of the meridian. Saturn, is the first date that you see it? Mercury is beginning its over 30° to the lower left of Jupiter, is about 17° up in the morning appearance; it is low and dim. Better, but limited, southeast. views occur next month. The length of daylight is now • July 26: One hour before sunrise, the moon (23.6d, 36%) is getting noticeably shorter, about 14 hours, 30 minutes long. 40° up in the east. It is nearly 15° to the right of the Twilight now accounts for less than four hours of the diurnal Pleiades. cycle, and night lengthened to nearly 5 hours, 45 minutes. At

Vol. 44, No. 7 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers July 2019

the end of evening twilight, Jupiter and Saturn are in the the Milky Way, which rises out of the southern horizon, southern sky. Saturn is east of the meridian and Jupiter to arches over 60° up in the east through Cygnus, through the west. Both planets continue to retrograde, but Jupiter’s Cassiopeia in the northeast, and into the north-northeast westward motion ends near mid-August. Jupiter moved horizon where Perseus is rising. In the west, Arcturus is westward 2.4° along the ecliptic during July, while Saturn nearly half-way up in the west. Spica is low in the west- retrograded 2.2°. Scorpius and Sagittarius border the glow of southwest.

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF JUNE 28, 2019

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 5/29/2019 702.67 Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (52.42) Tom Willmitch Dues Received 25.13 Matthew Will Dues Received 40.00 BALANCE 6/28/2019 715.38

Checking Account Balance – June 28, 2019 $715.38 Savings Account Balance – June 28, 2019 $2,517.74 - Includes $0.03 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – June 28, 2019 $3,233.12

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date.

Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer

RENEWING YOUR TCAA MEMBERSHIP

The TCAA works to promote in every way among its members and the public an interest in and knowledge of astronomy and its allied sciences, to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques, to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields, and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis. The TCAA is a Federally recognized non-profit entity organized exclusively for education and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. The TCAA currently supports family friendly public observing sessions at SGNC, public outreach events such as the recent May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury and the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse field trip, hosting of NCRAL meetings (2010 and 2016), September mini conferences, and education courses for our membership and the public. The TCAA maintains three observatories including payment of insurance and publishes an award-winning club newsletter. We support Sugar Grove Nature Center through their membership program, maintain a loaner telescope program, and provide many other benefits as outlined in TCAA Guide #2 – Membership and Benefits. Your TCAA membership supports education and public outreach in Central Illinois and regions beyond. Membership dues and the generosity of its members are the club’s primary means of financial support. We receive no grants or public funds. We have unmet needs. By renewing your membership when it comes due, you can help to ensure our continuing efforts.