SIAC Newsletter October 2013

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

SIAC Newsletter October 2013 SOUTHEASTERN IOWA ASTRONOMY CLUB THE SIDEREAL TIMES OCTOBER 2013 A M EMBER SOCIETY OF THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE CLUB OFFICERS : MINUTES SEPTEMBER 20, 2013 President Jim Hilkin called the meeting to is meeting night. Jim Hilkin gave an up- Executive Committee order with the following members in attend- date on the following maintenance President Jim Hilkin items: some additional dirt was added to Vice President Libby Snipes ance: Judy Smithson, Libby Snipes, Jim Treasurer Vicki Philabaum Wilt, Ray Reineke, Duane Gerling, Claus the east end of the berm to help block Secretary David Philabaum Benninghoven, Dave Philabaum, John Ton- headlights from cars coming from the Chief Observer David Philabaum ey, and Paul Sly. Vicki Philabaum conduct- beach and area E; the viburnum bushes Members-at-Large Claus Benninghoven ed a tour of the facility for a group from on the north side of the classroom were Duane Gerling Great River Christian School during the removed as they were getting too big for Blake Stumpf meeting. Libby moved to approve the the space; Jim has installed cabinet Board of Directors minutes as published, seconded by Jim Wilt, doors and created a storage area in the Chair Judy Hilkin motion passed. Jim Hilkin read the Treasur- Stone-Kelly dome; the new doors for Vice Chair Ray Reineke er's report from Vicki. Checks were written the Prugh-Carver Observatory are in, Secretary David Philabaum for the phone bill and to Ray for the new but there has been no word from SCC Members-at-Large David Martin about painting them so Barngrover's will Blake Stumpf motor for the Fecker telescope. The club Jim Wilt balance is $1,872.82 and the grant balance is deliver them to the observatory; Ray's Audit Committee $1,426.97 for a total of $3,299.79 in the images that he took of Pluto and other objects will be put in a rack on the west Karen Johnson (2011) checking account. Jim Wilt moved to ap- Dean Moberg (2012) prove the Treasurer's report, seconded by wall of the classroom. Jim said he plans JT Stumpf (2013) Ray, motion passed. Dave Philabaum an- to invite Dr. Steven Spangle of the Uni- nounced that a group from AEA 16 will be versity of Iowa to come sometime this at the observatory on November 15 th , which fall and view comet ISON, Jim will ask if INSIDE THIS ISSUE : (continued on page 2) Minutes (cont.) 2 UPCOMING DATES Treasurer’s Report 2 ~ The next meeting will November 15 at 7:00 pm Observer’s Report 3 be Friday, October 18, at at Witte Observatory Ottewell Calendars 4 the Witte Observatory at ~ Extended days for pub- 7 pm. Looking Back 5 lic viewing and youth ~ ~ Deadline for the No- November 1 & 2 Space Place Info 5 vember newsletter is Calendar 6 Wednesday, November 6, 2013 Sky Maps 7 - 8 ~ November meeting on PAGE 2 THE SIDEREAL TIMES MINUTES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) he could give a talk sometime in the spring. We plan to only the Ealing telescope not tracking correctly. No one reported advertise the first Friday nights in the newspaper since the having any problems with the tracking. With no further busi- meeting nights coincide with the full Moon. Jim reported ness to discuss Ray moved to adjourn, John seconded, and the that Karen Johnson has received several items from NASA's meeting adjourned at 7:40 pm. Space Place to be used as handouts. Jim asked that anyone interested in becoming a telescope operator to let him know. Respectfully submitted, Dave gave the Observer’s report. Jim presented a list of up- Dave Philabaum, Secretary coming events for the club and pubic nights at the Observa- tory Complex. Claus asked if anyone has had trouble with TREASURER ’S REPORT SIAC Treasurer's Report September 2013 9/1/2013 Beginning Balance $3,392.03 Deposits 9/20/2013 Membership, Donations $60.00 Total Deposits $60.00 Expenses Check # Payee 9/18/2013 432 MTC Technologies $30.21 9/20/2013 433 Ray Reineke $122.03 Total Expenses $152.24 9/30/2013 Ending Balance $3,299.79 General Fund $1,872.82 Grants (1549-122.03) $1,426.97 Total in Checking Account $3,299.79 OCTOBER 2013 PAGE 3 OBSERVER ’S REPORT FOR OCTOBER ~ N OVEMBER BY DAVE PHILABAUM Note: All times are given in this report using a 24 ter's cloud tops. Mars is in Leo less than 2° east of Reg- hour clock ulus in mid October when it rises just before 03:00 CDT. By mid November the red planet is almost 20° Mercury is very low in the west just a few degrees farther east, below the back end of Leo. On the morning above the horizon. It will reach inferior conjunction with of October 29 th Mars, Regulus, and the waning crescent the Sun on November 1 st and pass into the morning sky moon roughly form an equilateral triangle. The Moon is where it will begin to be visible a little over a week later. third quarter on October 26 th at 18:40 CDT. New Moon It's greatest elongation east of the Sun occurs on Novem- is on November 3 rd at 6:50 CST. There is a total solar ber 18 th when it will be 19° west of the Sun and rises eclipse from the middle of the Atlantic ocean to central over two hours before the Sun. This is the best morning Africa. This is a hybrid annular-total eclipse. The eclipse apparition for Mercury this year. Saturn is visible very begins as an annular one lasting only 15 seconds and then low in the west during the last part of October although becomes total for the rest of the eclipse path. Along the binoculars will be needed. It is in conjunction with the east cost of the United States, a very small partial eclipse Sun on November 6 th and won't be visible to the naked will be visible at sunrise. First quarter eye until late November. Venus is still occurs on November 9 th at 23:57 CST low in the west as it has been for the last and the Moon is full on November 17 th several months, but as it catches up to at 9:16 CST. On October 22 nd a couple the Earth, the view is beginning to of hours before sunrise the Moon, just change more rapidly. It goes from a gib- past full, lies between the horns of Tau- bous phase to a crescent, and the size rus in the Hyades cluster. Recent re- grows from 22" in mid October to 37" in ports show that comet ISON (C/2012 mid November. Venus reaches greatest S1) is about magnitude 11 as of the first elongation east of the Sun on October part of October, still fainter than it was 31 st when it will be 47° east of the Sun predicted to be. The comet is located and appears half lit. It is so low because about 1° north of Mars near the middle of the angle of the ecliptic and the fact that it reaches its of October, but is moving to the east past Mars, and by greatest southern declination in decades on November the middle of November it is 33° east of Mars and just 6th . Pluto , in Sagittarius, is low in the southwest as the 1.5° from Spica. On the morning of November 7 th it is sky becomes fully dark in mid October and is only half as less than 0.5° from Beta Virginis. The peak of the Ori- high by mid November. Neptune is in Aquarius less onid meteor shower is October 21 st , but this is a very than two degrees from 5.4 magnitude 38 Aquarii. It is unfavorable year because the Moon is three days past full. highest shortly after the sky becomes fully dark. Uranus This is a good year for the Northern Taurids which is in Pisces near the border with Cetus and rises about peak on November 12 th and are associated with debris two hours after Neptune. Jupiter, in Gemini, rises from Halley's comet. This minor shower has a rate of around 23:30 CDT in mid October and almost two about 5 meteors per hour. This is a very unfavorable hours earlier by mid November. On October 19 th begin- year for the Leonids with full Moon occurring on No- ning at 1:25 CDT a double-shadow transit begins with vember 17 th , the peak of the shower. Daylight Savings the shadow of Europa and Io visible on the disk of the Time ends at 2:00am on November 3 rd so remember to planet following just behind the Great Red Spot which is fall back an hour. This is good news for those observers centered on the disk around 2:25 CDT. Another double- who do most of their viewing in the evening but not so shadow transit occurs on October 26 th beginning at 3:37 good for those observing Jupiter or looking for comet CDT when the shadows of Io and Europa again are visible ISON in the morning sky. on the disk of Jupiter. The Great Red Spot is centered on the disk at 3:11 CDT just before the shadows reach Jupi- PAGE 4 THE SIDEREAL TIMES ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR 2014 & COMPANION The Astronomical Calendar “keeps improving” (as readers have said) and for 2014 it has taken a leap. There are extra pages, an even richer array of illustrations and fea- tures, and an even friendlier narrative style.
Recommended publications
  • Globular Clusters by Steve Gottlieb
    Southern Globulars 6/27/04 9:19 PM Nebula Filters by Andover Ngc 60 Telestar NCG-60 $148 Meade NGC60 For viewing emission and Find, compare and buy 60mm Computer Guided Refractor Telescope $181 planetary nebulae. Telescopes! Simply Fast Telescope! Includes 4 eye Free Shipping. Affiliate. Narrowband and O-III types Savings www.amazon.com pieces - Affiliate www.andcorp.com www.Shopping.com www.walmart.com Observing Down Under: Part I - Globular Clusters by Steve Gottlieb Omega Centauri - HST This is the first part in a series based on my trip to Australia last summer, covering observations of a few southern showpiece objects. The other parts in the series are: Southern Planetaries Southern Galaxies Two Southern Galaxy Groups These observing notes were made in early July while my family was staying at the Magellan Observatory (astronomical farmstead) for eight nights. The observatory is in the southern tablelands of New South Wales between Goulburn and Canberra (roughly 3.5 hrs from Sydney) and is hosted by Zane Hammond and his wife Fiona. Viewing the showpiece southern globulars was high on my observing priorities for Australia. Because the center of the Milky Way wheels overhead from -35° latitude, the globular system is much better placed and several of the best globulars in the sky which are completely inaccessible from the north are well placed. In the August issue of S&T, Les Dalrymple (who I observed with one evening), ranked M13 no better than 8th among the best globulars visible from Australia. I'd still jack up its ranking a couple of notches, but it's just one of the weak runnerups to 47 Tucana and Omega Centauri viewed over 75° up in the sky and behind NGC 6752, 6397 and M22.
    [Show full text]
  • A Temperate Rocky Super-Earth Transiting a Nearby Cool Star Jason A
    LETTER doi:10.1038/nature22055 A temperate rocky super-Earth transiting a nearby cool star Jason A. Dittmann1, Jonathan M. Irwin1, David Charbonneau1, Xavier Bonfils2,3, Nicola Astudillo-Defru4, Raphaëlle D. Haywood1, Zachory K. Berta-Thompson5, Elisabeth R. Newton6, Joseph E. Rodriguez1, Jennifer G. Winters1, Thiam-Guan Tan7, Jose-Manuel Almenara2,3,4, François Bouchy8, Xavier Delfosse2,3, Thierry Forveille2,3, Christophe Lovis4, Felipe Murgas2,3,9, Francesco Pepe4, Nuno C. Santos10,11, Stephane Udry4, Anaël Wünsche2,3, Gilbert A. Esquerdo1, David W. Latham1 & Courtney D. Dressing12 15 16,17 M dwarf stars, which have masses less than 60 per cent that of Ks magnitude and empirically determined stellar relationships , the Sun, make up 75 per cent of the population of the stars in the we estimate the stellar mass to be 14.6% that of the Sun and the stellar Galaxy1. The atmospheres of orbiting Earth-sized planets are radius to be 18.6% that of the Sun. We estimate the metal content of the observationally accessible via transmission spectroscopy when star to be approximately half that of the Sun ([Fe/H] = −0.24 ± 0.10; the planets pass in front of these stars2,3. Statistical results suggest 1σ error), and we measure the rotational period of the star to be that the nearest transiting Earth-sized planet in the liquid-water, 131 days from our long-term photometric monitoring (see Methods). habitable zone of an M dwarf star is probably around 10.5 parsecs On 15 September 2014 ut, MEarth-South identified a potential away4. A temperate planet has been discovered orbiting Proxima transit in progress around LHS 1140, and automatically commenced Centauri, the closest M dwarf5, but it probably does not transit and high-cadence follow-up observations (see Extended Data Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • THE 1000 BRIGHTEST HIPASS GALAXIES: H I PROPERTIES B
    The Astronomical Journal, 128:16–46, 2004 July A # 2004. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. THE 1000 BRIGHTEST HIPASS GALAXIES: H i PROPERTIES B. S. Koribalski,1 L. Staveley-Smith,1 V. A. Kilborn,1, 2 S. D. Ryder,3 R. C. Kraan-Korteweg,4 E. V. Ryan-Weber,1, 5 R. D. Ekers,1 H. Jerjen,6 P. A. Henning,7 M. E. Putman,8 M. A. Zwaan,5, 9 W. J. G. de Blok,1,10 M. R. Calabretta,1 M. J. Disney,10 R. F. Minchin,10 R. Bhathal,11 P. J. Boyce,10 M. J. Drinkwater,12 K. C. Freeman,6 B. K. Gibson,2 A. J. Green,13 R. F. Haynes,1 S. Juraszek,13 M. J. Kesteven,1 P. M. Knezek,14 S. Mader,1 M. Marquarding,1 M. Meyer,5 J. R. Mould,15 T. Oosterloo,16 J. O’Brien,1,6 R. M. Price,7 E. M. Sadler,13 A. Schro¨der,17 I. M. Stewart,17 F. Stootman,11 M. Waugh,1, 5 B. E. Warren,1, 6 R. L. Webster,5 and A. E. Wright1 Received 2002 October 30; accepted 2004 April 7 ABSTRACT We present the HIPASS Bright Galaxy Catalog (BGC), which contains the 1000 H i brightest galaxies in the southern sky as obtained from the H i Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS). The selection of the brightest sources is basedontheirHi peak flux density (Speak k116 mJy) as measured from the spatially integrated HIPASS spectrum. 7 ; 10 The derived H i masses range from 10 to 4 10 M .
    [Show full text]
  • Delite Eyepiece Between 100X and 200X for a Given Tele- Line for Tele Vue Optics
    EQUIPMENT REVIEW to help prevent an errant eyepiece from blue, and twin-lobed, somewhat reminis- falling to the ground. cent of the Little Dumbbell Nebula (M76), When I test eyepieces, it’s important to although the emphasis was on the lobes Select these eyepieces to enhance your observing me to use them in a variety of telescopes so rather than the center. without ruining your credit. by Tom Trusock I can understand what aberrations the tele- Finally, I took the time to check the scope adds to the design. Through the contrast with the Fetus Nebula (NGC We test years, I’ve seen amateurs blame specific 7008). With a bright star just off the edge of aberrations on eyepiece design that were this planetary nebula, its large size and low the fault of the telescope. Always remem- surface brightness can make it difficult to ber, we deal with an optical system. pick out the distinctive shape, but it was in Because of this, I’m careful to review eye- clear view through the DeLites. pieces in various telescopes I am already familiar with. For this review, I used an Comparing sizes Tele Vue’s DeLite 18-inch f/4.5 Newtonian reflector These are excellent eyepieces. But which (equipped with the Tele Vue Paracorr), a one did I prefer? I found that my favorite 3.6-inch f/7 apochromatic refractor, and a eyepiece depended greatly on the telescope 6-inch f/15 Maksutov reflector. I used it in. Overall, each DeLite performed My testing showed all three scopes per- similarly, so I matched magnification to formed similarly, so the comments in gen- sky conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Planetary Nebulae
    Planetary Nebulae A planetary nebula is a kind of emission nebula consisting of an expanding, glowing shell of ionized gas ejected from old red giant stars late in their lives. The term "planetary nebula" is a misnomer that originated in the 1780s with astronomer William Herschel because when viewed through his telescope, these objects appeared to him to resemble the rounded shapes of planets. Herschel's name for these objects was popularly adopted and has not been changed. They are a relatively short-lived phenomenon, lasting a few tens of thousands of years, compared to a typical stellar lifetime of several billion years. The mechanism for formation of most planetary nebulae is thought to be the following: at the end of the star's life, during the red giant phase, the outer layers of the star are expelled by strong stellar winds. Eventually, after most of the red giant's atmosphere is dissipated, the exposed hot, luminous core emits ultraviolet radiation to ionize the ejected outer layers of the star. Absorbed ultraviolet light energizes the shell of nebulous gas around the central star, appearing as a bright colored planetary nebula at several discrete visible wavelengths. Planetary nebulae may play a crucial role in the chemical evolution of the Milky Way, returning material to the interstellar medium from stars where elements, the products of nucleosynthesis (such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and neon), have been created. Planetary nebulae are also observed in more distant galaxies, yielding useful information about their chemical abundances. In recent years, Hubble Space Telescope images have revealed many planetary nebulae to have extremely complex and varied morphologies.
    [Show full text]
  • A Basic Requirement for Studying the Heavens Is Determining Where In
    Abasic requirement for studying the heavens is determining where in the sky things are. To specify sky positions, astronomers have developed several coordinate systems. Each uses a coordinate grid projected on to the celestial sphere, in analogy to the geographic coordinate system used on the surface of the Earth. The coordinate systems differ only in their choice of the fundamental plane, which divides the sky into two equal hemispheres along a great circle (the fundamental plane of the geographic system is the Earth's equator) . Each coordinate system is named for its choice of fundamental plane. The equatorial coordinate system is probably the most widely used celestial coordinate system. It is also the one most closely related to the geographic coordinate system, because they use the same fun­ damental plane and the same poles. The projection of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere is called the celestial equator. Similarly, projecting the geographic poles on to the celest ial sphere defines the north and south celestial poles. However, there is an important difference between the equatorial and geographic coordinate systems: the geographic system is fixed to the Earth; it rotates as the Earth does . The equatorial system is fixed to the stars, so it appears to rotate across the sky with the stars, but of course it's really the Earth rotating under the fixed sky. The latitudinal (latitude-like) angle of the equatorial system is called declination (Dec for short) . It measures the angle of an object above or below the celestial equator. The longitud inal angle is called the right ascension (RA for short).
    [Show full text]
  • Astronomy 2008 Index
    Astronomy Magazine Article Title Index 10 rising stars of astronomy, 8:60–8:63 1.5 million galaxies revealed, 3:41–3:43 185 million years before the dinosaurs’ demise, did an asteroid nearly end life on Earth?, 4:34–4:39 A Aligned aurorae, 8:27 All about the Veil Nebula, 6:56–6:61 Amateur astronomy’s greatest generation, 8:68–8:71 Amateurs see fireballs from U.S. satellite kill, 7:24 Another Earth, 6:13 Another super-Earth discovered, 9:21 Antares gang, The, 7:18 Antimatter traced, 5:23 Are big-planet systems uncommon?, 10:23 Are super-sized Earths the new frontier?, 11:26–11:31 Are these space rocks from Mercury?, 11:32–11:37 Are we done yet?, 4:14 Are we looking for life in the right places?, 7:28–7:33 Ask the aliens, 3:12 Asteroid sleuths find the dino killer, 1:20 Astro-humiliation, 10:14 Astroimaging over ancient Greece, 12:64–12:69 Astronaut rescue rocket revs up, 11:22 Astronomers spy a giant particle accelerator in the sky, 5:21 Astronomers unearth a star’s death secrets, 10:18 Astronomers witness alien star flip-out, 6:27 Astronomy magazine’s first 35 years, 8:supplement Astronomy’s guide to Go-to telescopes, 10:supplement Auroral storm trigger confirmed, 11:18 B Backstage at Astronomy, 8:76–8:82 Basking in the Sun, 5:16 Biggest planet’s 5 deepest mysteries, The, 1:38–1:43 Binary pulsar test affirms relativity, 10:21 Binocular Telescope snaps first image, 6:21 Black hole sets a record, 2:20 Black holes wind up galaxy arms, 9:19 Brightest starburst galaxy discovered, 12:23 C Calling all space probes, 10:64–10:65 Calling on Cassiopeia, 11:76 Canada to launch new asteroid hunter, 11:19 Canada’s handy robot, 1:24 Cannibal next door, The, 3:38 Capture images of our local star, 4:66–4:67 Cassini confirms Titan lakes, 12:27 Cassini scopes Saturn’s two-toned moon, 1:25 Cassini “tastes” Enceladus’ plumes, 7:26 Cepheus’ fall delights, 10:85 Choose the dome that’s right for you, 5:70–5:71 Clearing the air about seeing vs.
    [Show full text]
  • Virgo the Virgin
    Virgo the Virgin Virgo is one of the constellations of the zodiac, the group tion Virgo itself. There is also the connection here with of 12 constellations that lies on the ecliptic plane defined “The Scales of Justice” and the sign Libra which lies next by the planets orbital orientation around the Sun. Virgo is to Virgo in the Zodiac. The study of astronomy had a one of the original 48 constellations charted by Ptolemy. practical “time keeping” aspect in the cultures of ancient It is the largest constellation of the Zodiac and the sec- history and as the stars of Virgo appeared before sunrise ond - largest constellation after Hydra. Virgo is bordered by late in the northern summer, many cultures linked this the constellations of Bootes, Coma Berenices, Leo, Crater, asterism with crops, harvest and fecundity. Corvus, Hydra, Libra and Serpens Caput. The constella- tion of Virgo is highly populated with galaxies and there Virgo is usually depicted with angel - like wings, with an are several galaxy clusters located within its boundaries, ear of wheat in her left hand, marked by the bright star each of which is home to hundreds or even thousands of Spica, which is Latin for “ear of grain”, and a tall blade of galaxies. The accepted abbreviation when enumerating grass, or a palm frond, in her right hand. Spica will be objects within the constellation is Vir, the genitive form is important for us in navigating Virgo in the modern night Virginis and meteor showers that appear to originate from sky. Spica was most likely the star that helped the Greek Virgo are called Virginids.
    [Show full text]
  • The Multidimensional Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Twentieth Century, Volume 1
    THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL GUIDE TO SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, VOLUME 1 EDITED BY NAT TILANDER 2 Copyright © 2010 by Nathaniel Garret Tilander All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law. Cover art from the novella Last Enemy by H. Beam Piper, first published in the August 1950 issue of Astounding Science Fiction, and illustrated by Miller. Image downloaded from the ―zorger.com‖ website which states that the image is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Additional copyrighted materials incorporated in this book are as follows: Copyright © 1949-1951 by L. Sprague de Camp. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1951-1979 by P. Schuyler Miller. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1975-1979 by Lester Del Rey. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1978-1981 by Spider Robinson. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1979-1999 by Tom Easton. These articles originally appeared in Analog Science Fiction. Copyright © 1950-1954 by J. Francis McComas. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1950-1959 by Anthony Boucher. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction. Copyright © 1959-1960 by Damon Knight. These articles originally appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction.
    [Show full text]
  • Distances and Ages of NGC 6397, NGC 6752 and 47 Tuc?
    A&A 408, 529–543 (2003) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20031003 & c ESO 2003 Astrophysics Distances and ages of NGC 6397, NGC 6752 and 47 Tuc? R. G. Gratton1, A. Bragaglia2, E. Carretta1, G. Clementini2,S.Desidera1, F. Grundahl3, and S. Lucatello1;4 1 INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy 2 INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Bologna, Via Ranzani 1, 40127 Bologna, Italy 3 Institute of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark 4 Dipartimento di Astronomia, Universit`a di Padova, Italy, Vicolo dell’Osservatorio 2, 35122 Padova, Italy Received 28 April 2003 / Accepted 23 June 2003 Abstract. New improved distances and absolute ages for the Galactic globular clusters NGC 6397, NGC 6752, and 47 Tuc are obtained using the Main Sequence Fitting Method. We derived accurate estimates of reddening and metal abundance for these three clusters using a strictly differential procedure, where the Johnson B V and Str¨omgren b y colours and UVES high resolution spectra of turn-off stars and early subgiants belonging to the clusters− were compared to− similar data for field subdwarfs with accurate parallaxes measured by Hipparcos. The use of a reddening free temperature indicator (the profile of Hα) allowed us to reduce the error bars in reddening determinations to about 0.005 mag, and in metal abundances to 0.04 dex, in the scales defined by the local subdwarfs. Error bars in distances are then reduced to about 0.07 mag for each cluster, yielding ages with typical random errors of about 1 Gyr.
    [Show full text]
  • S-PROCESS ABUNDANCES in PLANETARY NEBULAE Brian Sharpee,1 Yong Zhang,2, 3, 4 Robert Williams,2 Eric Pellegrini,5 Kenneth Cavagnolo,5 Jack A
    The Astrophysical Journal, 659:1265Y1290, 2007 April 20 A # 2007. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. s-PROCESS ABUNDANCES IN PLANETARY NEBULAE Brian Sharpee,1 Yong Zhang,2, 3, 4 Robert Williams,2 Eric Pellegrini,5 Kenneth Cavagnolo,5 Jack A. Baldwin,5 Mark Phillips,6 and Xiao-Wei Liu 3 Received 2005 May 6; accepted 2006 December 4 ABSTRACT The s-process should occur in all but the lower mass progenitor stars of planetary nebulae, and this should be re- flected in the chemical composition of the gas that is expelled to create the current planetary nebula shell. Weak for- bidden emission lines are expected from several s-process elements in these shells and have been searched for and in some cases detected in previous investigations. Here we extend these studies by combining very high signal-to-noise ratio echelle spectra of a sample of PNe with a critical analysis of the identification of the emission lines of Z > 30 ions. Emission lines of Br, Kr, Xe, Rb, Ba, and Pb are detected with a reasonable degree of certainty in at least some of the objects studied here, and we also tentatively identify lines from Te and I, each in one object. The strengths of these lines indicate enhancement of s-process elements in the central star progenitors, and we determine the abundances of Br, Kr, and Xe, elements for which atomic data relevant for abundance determination have recently become available. As representative elements of the ‘‘light’’ and ‘‘heavy’’s-process peaks, Kr and Xe exhibit similar enhancements over solar values, suggesting that PN progenitors experience substantial neutron exposure.
    [Show full text]
  • The Moon Greets the Planets in the November Dawn 4 November 2015, by David Dickinson
    The moon greets the planets in the November dawn 4 November 2015, by David Dickinson Watch the scene shift, as the moon joins the dance this weekend. The mornings of Friday, October 6th and Saturday, October 7th are key, as the moon passes just two degrees from the Jupiter and Mars pair and just over one degree from Venus worldwide. Similar close pairings of the moon and Venus adorn many national flags, possibly inspired by a close grouping of Venus and the moon witnessed by skywatchers of yore. Saturday November 7th is also a fine time to try your hand at seeing Venus in the daytime, using the nearby crescent moon as a guide. The moon will be only four days from New, and the pair will be 46 degrees west of the sun, an optimal situation as A tri-planetary grouping from the morning of October Venus just passed greatest western elongation 31st. Credit: Joseph Brimacombe 46.4 degrees west of the sun on October 26th. So did this past weekend's shift back to Standard Time for most of North America throw you for a loop? Coming the day after Halloween, 2015 was the earliest we can now shift back off Daylight Saving Time. Sunday won't fall on November 1st again until 2020. Expect evenings get darker sooner for northern hemisphere residents, while the planetary action remains in the dawn sky. Though Mercury has exited the morning twilight stage, the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mars continue to put on a fine show, joined by the waning crescent moon later this week.
    [Show full text]