SOUTHEASTERN IOWA 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 . 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 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 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 . 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. 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 , 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 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 and the fact that it reaches its of October, but is moving to the east past Mars, and by greatest southern 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 . 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 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. There are more pages for each month, including sky domes not only for the north- hemisphere evening sky but for other parts of the world and for other times of night; not only the detailed timetables of events, but expansions of information about cal- endar history and lore, the activities of the Earth and Sun, the , the Moon, conjunctions and other patterns made by the moving bodies, and the “Wide Sky.” There are supplementary sections on Eclipses; Meteors, Asteroids; Comets (particularly rich in diagrams); ; 3 -D views of the orbits in space; large views of the trajectories of Mercury and Venus in the dawn and dusk skies; drawings of the planets' changing disks and the orbiting of their satellites around them; graphs of the bodies' changing brightness, relation to the Sun, and rising and setting times; a glossary of all terms used. A new feature, the “Zodiac Charts,” extends in colorful curves over four pages and makes it easy to refer to all the movements of the Sun, Moon, and planets against the background of the .

The Astronomical Companion is a general guide to astronomy; some say it should be called the Astronomical Treasury. Printed on the same large page-size as the Astro- nomical Calendar the book begins with an "Overview of Astronomy" and pictures that almost force you to understand coordinate systems and orientation in space. A strand running through the book is the series of 30 ten-inch-diameter diagrams showing expanding spheres of space, from the Moon's orbit and the domains of plan- ets and comets out through the nearest stars, the neighboring regions of our , the whole galaxy, the of , the cloud, and so on to the eerie limits of the . Among many other features: a map and catalogue of names with their deriva- tions; the seasons (including their linking with traditional dates such as Beltane, Hal- loween, St. Lucy's Day); the world's calendars; precession and its many consequenc- es; "Moonlight" and "Earthlight" and "Moon as Signpost"; comparative distances; a comprehensive Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (the graph that relates all the kinds of star by color and brightness); and pages on , meteor showers, double stars, variable stars, even cloudiness by month and region.

The 2014 Calendar remains the same size as before (11x15 in.) although the layout has been redone. The club price for the Astronomical Calendar is the same as last year, $20. The Calendar and Com- panion can be ordered together for $39. The price for just the Companion is $30. I will place the order on November 25 so let me know before then if you want one. You may call me at 319-753-1082 or e- mail me at [email protected]. You may view the 2013 Calendar and the Companion at a club meeting or go to http://www.universalworkshop.com.

OCTOBER 2013 PAGE 5

Looking Back in the Sidereal Times

25 Ago - October, 1988 DIG IN! On Saturday morning at 8:00 October 1, a work party will meet at the Witte Observatory to dig trenches in order to lay the conduit and get electricity to the pads. This will be a big help in eliminating the power cords being stretched across the yard for someone to trip over. Anyone who would like to help should bring along a shovel if you can. The kid's excursion to Des Moines appeared to be a success. Six kids and five semi kids spent Saturday afternoon going through the Science Center of Iowa looking at the exhibits and trying all of the science projects. It was a very interesting way to spend a day. ⋯ A special thanks to Dick Wilt and Dean Moberg for making the arrangements and providing the transportation for everyone.

10 Years Ago - September, 2003 Astronomers using the have discovered two new orbiting Uranus. The newly found moons have been temporarily named S/2003 U1 and S/2003 U2 until the International Astronomical Union approves the discovery and gives them something more permanent - they're small, however, only 12 to 16 km across. They're so faint and small they eluded the Voyager 2 spacecraft when it flew by Uranus in 1986. This brings the Uranian satellite total up to 24, still behind Jupiter (38) and Saturn (30). ( S/2003 U1 was given the name Mab and S/2003 U2 was named Cupid. Uranus currently has 27 moons, Jupiter 67 and Saturn 62.) Asteroid 2003, SQ222 whizzed by the Earth last week, missing us by only 88,000 kilometers. The rock wasn't that large, only 3 to 6 meters across, but if it had hit the Earth it probably wouldn't have caused damage as it would burned up in the atmos- phere. The asteroid was discovered by the Lowell Observatory and several amateur astronomers who collaborated to track its motion as it flew away from the Earth - unfortunately, they didn't notice it until it had already passed us. Objects of this size do strike the Earth about once a year, and create a spectacular fireball in the sky for anyone lucky enough to spot it . (On September 18 th the most recent asteroid to zip by Earth closer than the orbit of the moon was 2013 RZ53 . At just 3 to 10 feet (1 to 3 meters) in diame- ter, the tiny asteroid would have burned up in Earth's atmosphere if it were on a collision course with the planet, scientists say. 2013 RZ53 made its closest approach to Earth, about 148,000 miles, at 5:20 p.m. CDT.)

SPACE PLACE INFO

Ready to play? There is no Space Place article this month due to the federal Test your knowledge in the latest game from NASA’s Space government shutdown. Place - Solar Tricktionary! Pick the correct definition to a term or concept about our Sun from a list of four. Hilariously incorrect answers allow players to learn heliophysics terms while still being entertained. Visit http:// spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-tricktionary/ to play.

PAGE 6 THE SIDEREAL TIMES

October ~ N ovemb er 2013

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

13 (October) 14 15 16 17 18 19

Neptune 6° south Uranus 3° south SIAC Meeting at of Moon of Moon Witte Observato- ry 7 pm

Full Moon

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Orionid meteor Orionid meteor Moon at apogee Last Quarter shower shower Moon Jupiter 5° north Mercury appears of Moon stationary

27 28 29 30 31 1 (November) 2

Mars 6° north of Halloween First Friday Pub- Extended Viewing Moon lic Night 8:00— Weekend 8:00— 10:30 10:30

Venus at greatest elongation

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

New Moon Taurid meteor Election Day Deadline for arti- Jupiter appears shower cles for newslet- stationary Taurid meteor ter shower Moon at perigee, DST ends Venus 8° south of (Fall back) Moon

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

First Quarter Neptune 6° south Neptune appears SIAC Meeting at Moon of Moon stationary Witte Observato- ry 7 pm Mercury appears Veteran’s Day Uranus 3° south stationary of Moon

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Full Moon Leonid meteor Moon at apogee shower Mercury greatest Jupiter 5° north elongation of Moon

Leonid meteor shower 2

0

h h

2 2

1 Matar 8 h Sulafat Scheat Ring (M57) M29

Sadr

Lyra NGC 7027

Cygnus North American Nebula (NGC 7000) Vega δ Cyg

n ia M39 id er l M Lacerta ia st Hercules le Ce Blinking Planetary (NGC 6826)

Blue Snowball (NGC 7662)

π Her

M92 NGC 6946 Eltanin

Hercules Cluster (M13) Alderamin M110 Rastaban (M31)AndromedaM32

NGC 7789 The Scorpion (M52)

Altais

Caph Alfirk Draco Schedar 1 6h Cepheus

Nodus I

γ Cas Aldhibain Cassiopeia Owl Cluster (NGC 457) Little (M76) Ruchbah

Er Rai M103 Almach

Edasich

Spindle Galaxy (M102) Perseus (NGC 869) Pherkad Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 884)

Kochab North Celestial Pole Ursa Minor Polaris M34

γ Per

Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) Mirfak

Alkaid 14h Perseus δ Per Mizar

Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) Camelopardalis

Alioth ε Per

Winnecke 4 (M40) Sunflower Galaxy (M63) Cigar Galaxy (M82) Bode's Galaxy (M81) Megrez Canes Venatici

IC 4182 Dubhe NGC 2403 Cat's Eye Galaxy (M94) M109 Phecda M106

Almaaz M108 Owl Nebula (M97) Merak Capella

Muscida Hoedus II

Ursa Major

Menkalinan

ψ M38 UMa θ UMa Auriga M36

° θ Aur 0 3 Talitha N Lynx M37 Tania Australis

Leo Minor tic ip cl E M35

α Lyn Viewing from Burlington, United States Long: -91° 08' 07" Lat: 40° 48' 52" 2013/10/18 8:00:00 PM (Local) Looking: north (40° above horizon) FOV: 100° Limiting Magnitude: 7.1 2 1

0 δ Cyg 8 h Blue Snowball (NGC 7662) h h

2 Deneb

2

n

a i North American Nebula (NGC 7000) d i r e

M

l

a i t s

e l NGC 7027 e

C Vega Sadr

M29 Lyra

Ring Nebula (M57) 30° Gienah

Matar (East), Network Nebula (NGC 6992) M56 Veil Nebula (West) (NGC 6960) Azimuth: 102° 12.973' ζ Cyg Altitude: 62° 19.460' RAScheat (JNow): 22h 53.013m Dec (JNow): 30° 17.691'

Vulpecula

Dumbbell Nebula (M27)

Brocchi's Cluster (Coathanger Cluster) Pegasus M71 Sagitta

15°

Markab Deneb el Okab

Pegasus Cluster (M15) Delphinus Tarazed

Enif Altair

Equuleus

Cebalrai Aquila

θ Sadal Melik M2 Aql Celestial Equator

η Ser

M14 Sadal Suud Serpens Cauda (M11)

M26 (NGC 7009) Scutum Neptune Aquarius M73 Little Gem (NGC 6818) Dabih Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822) (M16) Deneb Algiedi

Skat Capricornus (M17) Black Swan (M18) -15°

M25 Delle Caustiche, Sagittarius Star Cloud (M24) M75 Albaldah (NGC 7293) Pluto M23

M30

Sagittarius Cluster (M22) M21 (M20) M28 Nunki Kaus Borealis (M8) ϕ Sgr E Sagittarius cliptic

M55 Ascella Piscis Austrinus M54 Fomalhaut Kaus Meridianalis

M70 Alnasl M69 Microscopium

Kaus Australis -3 γ Gru Butterfly Cluster (M6) 0°

Ptolemy's Cluster (M7) Sculptor Arkab

G Sco

Corona Australis Shaula Lesath Girtab ι1 Sco

α Ind NGC 55 Grus Al Nair NGC 6541

β Gru Sargas

S NGC 6231 NGC 6388 Ankaa IC 5152 Telescopium

Indus

Peacock Star α Ara -45 ° Phoenix

NGC 6397

NGC 6752 α Tuc

Araβ Ara -6 0° Viewing from Burlington, United States Long: -91° 08' 07" Lat: 40° 48' 52" 2013/10/18 8:00:00 PM (Local) Looking: south (40° above horizon) FOV: 100° Limiting Magnitude: 7.1 A Brief History The idea for the observatory was conceived by the members of the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Through a cooperative agreement between the Des Moines County Conservation Board, The Burlington Community School System, and the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club, the idea became a reality. A substantial grant SOUTHEASTERN IOWA from the John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation provided the funding for materials, with ASTRONOMY CLUB nearly all the construction being done by members of the club. Work began in the P.O. Box 14 spring of 1985 and the observatory was dedicated in May 1987. In the years since West Burlington, IA 52655 the dedication, thousands of people have climbed the ladder to peer through the eyepiece of the beautiful 1937 Alvan-Clark brass refractor.

In 1996 a second observatory, the Prugh-Carver Observatory, was added through a grant from the Carver Foundation. Dedicated to Burton Prugh, a Burlington busi- nessman, it stands as a reminder of his devotion and support to the Southeastern W E’ RE ON T HE WEB Iowa Astronomy Club. It houses Mr. Witte’s personal telescope—an 8” Fecker refractor, as well as several smaller scopes. http://www.dmcconservation.com/ index.php/en/cons-recreation-areas/cons- Dedicated on September 17, 2004, the new Stone-Kelly Observatory houses the bh/cons-ra-bighollow-witteobs 16” Cassegrain that was formerly on Burlington High School off Roosevelt Avenue. Volunteer club members, after passing a training and apprenticeship program, oper- ate the observatory for public and private groups.

DUES The observatory complex is open to the public on the first and third Fridays of every $20 INDIVIDUAL month, weather permitting. $30 F AMILY

ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN IOWA ASTRONOMY CLUB The Southeastern Iowa Astrono- Additional benefits to members my Club meets on the third include our monthly newsletter, Friday of each month at the The Sidereal Times, voting Witte Observatory at 7 pm. rights for club activities, and membership in the national The purpose of the club is to Astronomical League. The provide astronomy opportuni- Astronomical League member- ties to the local area, mainly ship provides a quarterly news- through the use of the facilities letter, discounts on certain at the John H. Witte, Jr. Ob- astronomy-related products, servatory. During monthly special training/skill building meetings, information is provid- programs, and other great bene- ed about upcoming events and fits. items of interest locally, nation- ally, and worldwide. The meetings allow members to share their experiences and expertise with each other, as well as providing a forum for Travel directions to the Witte Observatory Complex. questions. The public is wel- come to share in the meetings, The observatory complex is located at 18832 152nd Avenue, Sperry, and they are followed by a pub- Iowa in Big Hollow Creek Recreation Area approximately 12 miles lic viewing session (weather north of Burlington, Iowa. permitting).