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This Months KAS Events

This Months KAS Events

Highlights of the February Sky

. . . 2nd. . . Last Quarter

. . . 5th. . . February 2005 Aurigid Meteor Shower (5th-10th) This Months KAS Events . . . 7th. . . Mars 0.7° N of Lagoon Nebula, M20 and M21 also nearby First Light A Beginners Guide to Telescopes th . . . 8 . . . By Richard New Moon 7:00 pm Friday, February 4

.. . . 15th. . . Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center

First Quarter Moon Space Robotics .. . . 16th. . . Young Moon 1.5° S of the Pleiades, 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 15 best in western states Trinity Reformed church

.. . . 23rd. . . Full Moon Inside this Newsletter...... 26th. . . Zodiacal Light visible in W January Meeting Minutes...... p. 2 after evening twilight for next 2 weeks Board Meeting Minutes...... p. 2 Observations…………………………...... p. 3 .. . . 27th. . . NASA Space Place...... p. 4 Jupiter 1.9° S of Moon, best in Young Astronomers…………….…...... p. 5 western states The Book Corner……...... p. 6

KAS Officers & Announcements...... p. 7

Membership Form (Renew NOW)...... p. 8 February Sky Calendar…………...... p. 9

www.kasonline.org February 2005 Page 2 January Meeting Board Meeting Minutes Minutes

As appropriate for a frigid January meeting day, Molly and The KAS board met at 4 pm on 1/9/05 at Trinity Reformed Roger Williams gave a presentation on their trip to Ice- Church (326 W. Cork St.). Present were Richard Bell, land in September, 2004. Beverly Byle, Rich Mather, Robert Havira, Frank Sever- ance, Carol Van Dien, Robert Wade, and Roger Williams. Molly started off the presentation by describing the geol- ogy of the region, which is dominated by lava, gla- After approval of the agenda, the treasurer’s report was ciers, numerous scenic waterfalls (often with associated examined. Cash inflow has been aided by donations to the hydroelectric plants), and geothermal areas which provide Owl Observatory Fund, some of which are still pending. most of Iceland’s electricity Richard reported that and hot water, not to men- about half of the previous tion geysers, mudpots, and year’s memberships have other Yellowstone-like been renewed, and he sights. Parts of the tour re- plans to begin contacting lated to the history and cul- those who have not been ture of Iceland were also heard from as yet. Meth- summarized, including a ods of emphasizing the parliament dating more advantages of member- than 1000 years and 13th cen- ship were briefly dis- tury manuscripts of ancient cussed. The year 2005 sagas in an old Norse lan- programs are set except guage that can still be read for the months of June by contemporary Icelanders. and July, and Richard is working on those. Dis- Roger focused on the Aurora cussion was held on Borealis, beginning with a ways to welcome visitors brief explanation of its at our meetings more cause. Pictures were then shown from the nightly viewing effectively, and specific plans were made for the February sessions, which after an inauspicious clouded-out begin- meeting. Bob Havira also contributed some ideas on im- ning became more spectacular with each successive night. proving the officer selection process. The trip was enthusiastically recommended to all astron- omy-minded travelers. A brief discussion was held on possible topics for Astron- omy Day, with comets a leading contender in light of the Links: current Deep Impact mission. A very quick review was made of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and

Robert Wade listed a number of items for consideration http://www.tq-international.com (TravelQuest Interna- when more time is available. Richard reported that he and tional, the travel organizer) Jack Price had inspected the Owl Observatory with an eye

to construction of storage space under the roll-off roof, and http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/understanding.html the idea now appears less practical. Other options are be- (Map of Iceland, showing the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) ing considered. The meeting was adjourned at 6 pm, with

the next meeting set for http://msslhx.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/~npm/Web_Pages/ Feb. 20, 4 pm, at Trinity Visitor_Pages/aurora/sun_earth.gif (Schematic of aurora Reformed Church. formation)

http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/auroras/ Respectfully Submitted by fromspace.html (Movie of northern auroral oval in UV Roger Williams light)

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20011025aurora.html (Movie of double oval in visible light) February 2005 Page 3

Observations By Richard S. Bell

Generally, we try to keep the feature presentations of our part. I have a PowerPoint presentation that I made for the general meetings...well...general. You know what I mean; five part Amateur course I taught a couple of something that appeals to every kind of . Not times at the Nature Center. I also plan to bring my small everyone in the KAS is a novice, observer, astrophotogra- Tele Vue refractor and a German equatorial mount. I’ll also pher, computer guru, or research astronomer. A handful of bring some of my accessories and books. After the talk us may enjoy a presentation on the latest, greatest innova- we’ll hold a telescope clinic. So, we need our experienced tion in CCD imaging, but the majority of the membership members to attend so they can help folks set up their new could probably care less. So, our meetings usually feature telescope. Maybe it’s one they got for Christmas our one some sort of presentation about an astronomical trip some- they’ve just needed help with for a while. We also need one may have taken, some big astronomical event like the members to bring different types of telescopes, accessories, Transit of Venus, or a NASA robotic mission to Mars or books, and even computer programs. Saturn. We’ll also have plenty of KAS literature on hand – espe- We’re going to try something a little different for the Feb- cially Public Observing Session fliers. That’s where we can ruary 2005 General Meeting. The topic will be choosing really show people what a telescope can do. So please lend and using telescopes. This may seem like something that is a helping hand; it won’t just help beginners or the KAS, geared toward the novices, but in a round-about way it but it’ll help astronomers everywhere. helps all astronomers. Normally, most folks buy a tele- scope without knowing what to look for and once they get Editor’s Note: Refer your friends to these helpful astronomi- one they haven’t got a clue what to look at beyond the cal resources: Moon and bright planets. Eventually, they give up and the telescope spends the rest of its existence in the closet. Using A Telescope courtesy of Astronomy Magazine. What if they get the proper advice and guidance? Maybe (http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=ss&id=10) they’ll spend many years enjoying the pursuits of . Many wonderful things could happen. Telescopes and Binoculars courtesy of Sky and Telescope.

First, we’d have more amateur astronomers out there. That means more potential KAS members. More Full Moon amateur astronomers also mean a larger Theatre demand for books software, and equip- January 21, 2005 ment. That means the astronomical market- place grows larger and (hopefully) the products get better and, with more com- petition, cheaper. Plus, the longer these folks pursue amateur astronomy the more they’ll realize how big of a problem light pollution is and that benefits everyone. It all starts with getting them on the right path.

The plan for the February meeting is to start out with a formal presentation on telescopes. I’m taking care of that February 2005 Page 4

The Space Place by Patrick L. Barry and Dr. Tony Phillips

Like discarded lumber and broken bricks around a con- ing and definitely precious dust from the construction struction site, comets scattered at the edge of our solar zone. system are left-over bits from the "construction" of our so- lar system. Find out more about the Stardust mission at star- dust.jpl.nasa.gov. Kids can read about comets, play the Studying comets, then, can help scientists understand how “Tails of Wonder” game about comets, and hear a rhyming our formed, and how it gave rise to a life- story about aerogel at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/ bearing planet like Earth. stardust/.

But comets have long been frustratingly out of reach -- This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Califor- until recently. In January 2004 NASA's Stardust probe nia Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aero- made a fly-by of the comet Wild 2 (pronounced "vilt"). nautics and Space Administration. This fly-by captured some of the best images and data on comets yet ... and the most surprising.

Scientists had thought that comets were basically "rubble piles" of ice and dust -- leftover "construction materials" held together by the comet's feeble gravity. But that's not what Stardust found. Photos of Wild 2 reveal a bizarre landscape of odd-shaped craters, tall cliffs, and overhangs. The comet looks like an alien world in miniature, not con- struction debris. To support these shapes against the pull of gravity, the comet must have a different consistency than scientists thought:

"Now we think the comet's surface might have a texture like freeze-dried ice cream, so-called 'astronaut ice cream': It's solid and can assume odd, gravity-defying shapes, but it's basically soft and crumbles easily," says Donald - lee of the University of Washington, principal investigator for Stardust.

Scientists are currently assembling a 3-D computer model of this surface from the photos that Stardust took. Those photos show the sunlit side of the comet from many angles, so its 3-dimensional shape can be inferred by analyzing the images. The result will be a "virtual comet" that scientists can examine from any angle. They can even perform a vir- tual fly-by. Using this 3-D model to study the comet's shape in detail, the scientists will learn a lot about the ma-

terial from which the comet is made: how strong or dense or brittle it is, for example.

Soon, the Stardust team will get their hands on some of that material. In January 2006, a capsule from Stardust will parachute down to Earth carrying samples of comet dust captured during the flyby. Once scientists get these tiny grains under their microscopes, they'll get their first glimpse at the primordial makings of the solar system.

It's heading our way: ancient, hard-won, possibly surpris- February 2005 Page 5

Young Astronomers by Carol Van Dien

what must have been a spectacular Leonid meteor shower The first Young Astronomers meeting of 2005 was on Tues- of 1833! day, January 18th at Trinity Reformed Church. The meeting The made hundreds of wagon-wheel shaped started at 6:35 with 13 attendees, 6 of which were KAS structures out of piles of local rocks, which white man members. called ‘Medicine Wheels’. These structures were believed

to have been used as sighting The meeting topic was guides to align with certain stars “Native American Astronomy throughout the year; marking featuring the Big Horn Medi- lunar phases, equinoxes, sol- cine Wheel”. The presenter stices and more. Maps showed was Young Astronomer co- the location of many remaining ordinator Carol Van Dien. ‘Medicine Wheels’ left by plains The PowerPoint presenta- Indians throughout western tion began by explaining and the . about ‘Archeoastronomy’. Pictures of the famous ‘Big Horn It is a fairly new field of Medicine Wheel’ in science involving the were shown; it was built at the study of what ancient edge of a cliff! The interesting cultures around the world geology of the Big Horn moun- learned as they studied tains was shown with several the cycles and patterns pictures of the area. Carol told they saw in the heavens, and what they built or drew to the audience how the Wyoming Medicine Wheel is in a record their observations. They learned when to plant and unique spot that is one of a few on Earth called the "nuclei harvest their crops and how to tell the passage of time. of continents". This means that some of the Earth’s origi- nal crust is exposed in this area with younger layers eroded There were several pictures showing ruins from many an- away; some think this adds to the mystery of the Big Horn cient cultures. Carol pointed out that the Mayans from the Medicine Wheel. Mexican Yucatan peninsula were excellent astronomers for their time; one picture showed their special ’El Casti- Carol then showed a few slides of recent space news in- llo’ (the Castle) pyramid that had 365 steps to match the cluding a reminder that the geologist days in a year, and at the equinoxes a giant snake shadow rovers on Mars have been there for one was cast on the side of the steps! The Mayans used their year now, a recent space probe was knowledge of celestial cycles to plan most of their lives, just launched that will land on a comet including when to go to war. Another slide showed how this summer to study it, a Hubble pic- the three smaller pyramids at Giza, Egypt lined up to ture of a possible extra-solar planet, a match the three stars in Orion’s belt. The next few pic- new shuttle fuel tank, and the latest tures showed in England, the Chaco Canyon in pictures from the Huygens probe that New Mexico, and Hovenweep National Monument in just landed on Saturn’s moon, Titan! Utah. A few pictures were shown (Snakebot and Robonaut) to Carol explained that ancient cultures recorded their preview next month’s meeting about ‘Space Robotics’, and knowledge in different ways; some built elaborate build- the Young Astronomers will try their hand at building a few ings, monuments, or statues, and some made cave draw- simple robots! The audience then made their own medicine ings or other types of pictures. Many Native Americans wheels with small pebbles, learned how to read a star- recorded tribal history with a ‘Winter Count’ robe or hide; chart, and looked at a book about a winter count drawing one picture to remember a significant event for robe! A handout was given of Native American astronomy that year. A picture was shown of a winter count hide that stories, and everyone was invited to the next KAS general th a Nakota called ‘Lone Dog’ made to record events from meeting - a Telescope Workshop on Feb. 4 ! The meet- 1800 to 1871. Some astronomical events were even re- ing eded at 7:50 and everyone rushed home to avoid the corded; the Smithsonian Institution found 45 out of the 50 next blizzard! Sioux winter counts they studied all had references to

February 2005 Page 6

The Book Corner the trip unknown to Selena.

By Bob Havira Selena is intelligent, dedicated to her science and main- tains her integrity throughout the book. Despite sexism , Max. Shooting The . Bantam and outright hostility she is undaunted. She has confi- books: New York, 2004. dence in Babbage’s predictions and her ability to photo- graph the eclipse. Despite being mislead about the pur- A review of an historical adventure pose of the expedition Selena was determined to accom- novel. Available at the Kalamazoo and Portage Public Li- plish what she had set out to do. braries and WMU Waldo Library but not, alas, in the KAS library. The author provides realistic scenes of life in19th century America. The difficulty of the trip itself made trying to do The year is 1839 and the Somerville-Babbage Western Ex- science even more challenging. Shooting the Sun is fiction pedition is about to depart from Washington D.C. to but brave individuals did in fact pursue their scientific points west to observe and photograph a total eclipse of passions in settings and conditions depicted here. the sun. Charles Babbage (1791-1871) is constructing his Difference Engine. The Difference Engine was an early, I would have liked to see technical detail on the types of perhaps the first, computer which could be programmed telescopes and cameras. Refractors or reflectors? What for a specific problem. It was completely mechanical; a apertures? Focal lengths? Filters? It would not have wonderful Victorian machine of precision brass and pol- taken much effort to provide a believable set of specs for ished mahogany construction. It was very expensive to Selena’s equipment. I think this would have added a nice build and Babbage needed money to make his invention bit of color to the tale. workable. Babbage was also founder of the Royal Astro- nomical Society and had the support of astronomers John Unfortunately there were a couple of technical errors. Herschel and Mary Somerville. The expedition however Byrd’s description of the Daguerrotype process was incor- and its members are fictional. In the novel the Difference rect. Early in the book Selena demonstrated an eclipse to Engine had been programmed to predict the exact location reporters by occulting the sun’s telescope projected image. and time of a total solar eclipse. A successful observation They saw prominences!? Even so it is fun. I strongly rec- and perhaps photographic proof of the accuracy of the pre- ommend Shooting the Sun to all astronomers (and others), diction might encourage sorely needed investment in Bab- teens to adults. bage’s computer. Inconveniently the prime area of obser- vation was in the American desert southwest in what is now New Mexico. A group of adventurers: Babbage’s business partner, a landscape artist, an explorer, a Harvard ED professor, and an Astronomer have come from England, T France and America to confirm the accuracy of Babbage’s AN Difference Engine. W

The astronomer is Selena (yes, Selena) Cott, a beautiful, Your observations, stories, anecdotes, etc from (of course) young (and sole) woman; in Massachu- your “nights in the field.” As we draw nearer to the setts, the daughter of a sea captain, but educated and liv- observing season, and you dust off either your tele- ing in France and England. She carried a Thomas scope, binoculars, or eyeballs and contemplate go- Marine Chronometer, sextants, compasses, telescopes, ing outside and observing the night sky, we’d like cameras, photographic plates and chemicals and a minia- you to share your experience for the arm-chair as- ture version of Babbage’s computer. She hopes to be the tronomers amongst us. Feel free to send along web first to capture a total eclipse of the sun in the newly in- links to objects, constellations, etc you observed. vented medium of photography using Daguerrotype tech- nology. She has developed (photo pun) an accelerator to Tried some new increase the sensitivity of the photographic plates to allow astrophotagraphy? a suitably short shutter speed to prevent blurring. Share your tri- umphs (and fail- The expedition travels from Washington west by train ures) with the then down the Ohio and up the Mississippi and Missouri greater KAS audi- rivers by boat and then west on the Santa Fe trail by ence and tell us Conestoga wagon. Selena and her fellow travelers have a what you learned! bad time of it; Indians, the desert, getting lost, treachery, passions of the heart, and then there’s the REAL reason for February 2005 Page 7 KAS Officers Wanted:Wanted: PublicityPublicity Volunteer(s)Volunteer(s)

The KAS is searching for one or more volunteers to handle publicity for our programming. Responsibilities would include writing and sending out monthly press releases to local media outlets. Creating and distributing OFFICERS posters and fliers may also be required.

President Those interested in the position should have Richard S. Bell access to a computer with a modem connection or 373-8942 a fax machine. Fax software for your computer can be provided by the KAS. (Those proficient in [email protected] Morse Code will be given preference.)

Vice President For more information please contact KAS President Richard Bell. Jean DeMott 381-1406 [email protected]

Treasurer Join [email protected] Rich Mather 629-5312 [email protected] is the electronic mailing list of the Kalamazoo [email protected] Astronomical Society. Here are some of the reasons why you should subscribe today:

Secretary/ALCOR Share Information With Other Members Roger Williams Last Minute Observing Sessions 375-4847 KAS Online Updates [email protected] Aurora Alerts

To join, simply send an e-mail to “[email protected]”. To Newsletter Editor post a message to the group, just send an e-mail message to Robert A. Wade “[email protected]”. 372-4149 [email protected] February Star Parties Members at Large Deep Texas Stargaze Bob Havira Feb. 2, 2005 - Feb. 6, 2005 344-7707 [email protected] Cedar Key Feb. 5, 2005 - Feb. 12, 2005 Frank Severance 372-2237 Winter Star Party [email protected] Feb. 7, 2005 - Feb. 13, 2005

Mike Sinclair Orange Blossom Special Star Party 373-7003 Feb. 9, 2005 - Feb. 13, 2005 [email protected]

Carol Van Dien 342-4983 [email protected] Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

I have checked the class of membership desired and enclosed a check or money order made pay-

Regular Membership: $20.00 ______

Family Membership: $25.00 ______

Senior Family (65 & over): $20.00 ______

Students / Senior (65 & $15.00 ______

Owl Observatory Fund: ______(Contributions to this fund are tax-deductible.) Total: ______Mail To... Name: ______Kalamazoo Astronomical Society c/o Richard Bell

Address: 3724 Borgess Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49048 City:______State:______

Phone:______Email:______

Your Membership has Expired. Please renew TODAY!!!

Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

I have checked the class of membership desired and enclosed a check or money order made pay-

Regular Membership: $20.00 ______

Family Membership: $25.00 ______

Senior Family (65 & over): $20.00 ______

Students / Senior (65 & $15.00 ______

Owl Observatory Fund: ______(Contributions to this fund are tax-deductible.) Total: ______

Mail To... Name: ______Kalamazoo Astronomical Address: Society c/o Richard Bell 3724 Borgess Drive City:______State:______

Phone:______Email:______ Your Membership has Expired. Please renew TODAY!!!

FOR SALE

Having the right tools for observing is important and planispheres are essential. The Miller Planisphere is made with heavy duty plastic (cardboard versions will be ruined after a few dewy Michigan nights). Just dial the date and time and you'll see what's in the sky for that moment.

All planispheres sold by the KAS are 10.5” in diameter and set at 40º latitude. Perfect for our area but still accurate enough for trips to the southwest! A durable plastic case is also included.

All proceeds go toward outreach programs of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. To order yours please send an e-mail to [email protected] or look for them at KAS general meetings or public observing sessions.

$12.00 EACH

STAMP c/o 2462 N. 10th St. Kalamazoo, MI 49009

© February 2005, Kalamazoo Astronomical Society

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