Newsletter Archive the Skyscraper February 2021
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the vol. 48 no. 02 Skyscraper February 2021 AMATEUR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND 47 PEEPTOAD ROAD NORTH SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND 02857 WWW.THESKYSCRAPERS.ORG In This Issue: A Walking Tour of Optical History- 2 President’s Message Artifacts and Anecdotes from the 3 Observing the Winter Circle 5 The Sun, Moon & Astronomical Lyceum Planets in February 6 The Hyades: More than An Online Presentation by John Briggs Meets the (Bull's) Eye Saturday, February 6, 7:00pm EST via Zoom 8 NASA Night Sky Notes: Contact Steve Hubbard ([email protected]) for 8 Landing On Mars: A Tricky Feat! Zoom Meeting link and information. 9 Requiem for a Telescope Our forefathers in optics allowed a revo- students remain aware of these inspirations 10 Cluster & Nebula in Auriga: lutionary ascendancy of American astrono- -- they are all lessons to be learned. NGC 1893 & IC 410 my in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The John W. Briggs of Magdalena, New Mex- 12 From the Archives Astronomical Lyceum in New Mexico, orig- ico, has lived and worked at far-ranging ob- inally built in 1936 as a theater and gymna- servatories in various technical capacities, 13 Hank Renaud Memorial sium, now houses a collection of telescopes, including Mount Wilson, Yerkes, National Book Sale optics, archives, and literature from this as- Solar, Maria Mitchell, Venezuelan Nation- cendancy. Its volunteer staff find the artifacts al, Chamberlin, and South Pole Station. In 13 January Reports and associated history surprisingly engag- the 1980s he was an assistant editor at Sky 14 Astronomical League ing for visitors of all interest levels. The pre- & Telescope magazine and built Bogsuck- Observing Award Update sentation will include unusual items, large er Observatory in Massachusetts. He is a and small, created by some of the America's past-president of the Antique Telescope Seagrave Observatory is greatest early optical artists, including Hen- Society and a member of many astronom- ry and Harry Fitz, Alvan Clark and Sons, ical organizations including the Springfield closed until further notice. Carl and Robert Lundin, John A. Brashear, Telescope Makers responsible for the annu- Due to the outbreak of George Willis Ritchey, and the pioneer of al Stellafane Convention in Vermont. He is coronavirus, Seagrave Memo- astronomical spectroscopy and photogra- currently nominated to serve on the board phy, Lewis Morris Rutherfurd. The collec- of the American Association of Variable rial Observatory will remain tion includes artifacts originating right up Star Observers. closed to the public until through the Space Age, including from the further notice. amateur telescope making movement and its surprising influence. While time allows Upcoming Presentations only an overview, the presentation hopes to Saturday, March 6 remind participants how history of science Phases of the Moon Camille M. Carlisle: A Behind the and technology can be powerfully engaging Scenes Look at Sky & Telescope Last Quarter Moon and interesting for essentially anyone when February 4 17:37 offered in the right spirit. In some cases, the Saturday, April 3 written remembrances of pioneers spell out New Moon David Iadevaia: Small Radio the inspiration they had, often taken from Telescopes for Amateur Astronomy February 11 19:06 the beauty of Nature. Arguably no one was Saturday, May 1 more eloquent in such words than Albert A. First Quarter Moon Seth Shostak: SETI Institute February 19 18:47 Michelson. In other cases, the artistry in the artifacts themselves is a similar testimony, Saturday, June 5 Full Snow Moon and intense pride-of-workmanship is dra- Charlie Warren: 25 Years of Amateur February 27 08:17 matized by how instruments were signed. It Astronomy Magazine is necessary and worthwhile that we and our President’s Message by Steve Siok Hello again everyone. tica. And I also remember visiting John in Well, on this last day of January as we Sunspot, New Mexico as he worked on the wait for the great 2021 Nor’easter, I have two Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Lots of memories topics I want to share. First is our meeting and I guess many of you will also want to this coming Saturday. Our speaker is none reminisce with him. other than our member John Briggs. He will Secondly, I want to shout out for Jeff be talking about his project in New Mexico, Padell. Jeff has been spearheading the ef- The Astronomical Lyceum. It is a museum forts to expand the Skyscrapers presence New Members of telescopes and astronomical books and with The Astronomical League, the um- Welcome to Skyscrapers ephemera. Any of you who remember John brella of astronomy clubs nationally. YOU from his time in New England will recall can benefit from the many opportunities Robert & Jacquie Jackson that he was always enchanted by old Alvan offered by participating in the League’s Ob- of Hope, RI Clarks. And he would do his best to acquire serving programs. I scanned the list and any old scope that needed a home. Thus was counted 75 different tasks you can get in- Richard Doherty & Daniel born the seed of his museum. But like most volved in. Most efforts allow you to earn amateur astronomers, an interest always recognition with a personal certificate and Fountain seems to become an obsession. That is what lapel pin. Consider getting involved, espe- of Fall River, MA John will share with us on Saturday. Please cially as the weather gets warmer. I would everyone, the weather this week will not al- like to point out that there are projects for Curtis Lotter & Regina low you to anything else Saturday night so observers of all levels and observers with all I hope to see many of you then. The Zoom levels of equipment (even no equipment). Clement of Scituate, RI link will be sent to all members this week. And now is the time to start thinking and The first time Kathy and I met John was scheming about your Messier Catalog Mar- Michael Corvese at the AAVSO convention at Maria Mitchell athon Run. In March and April it is possi- Portsmouth, RI Observatory on Nantucket. He was a high ble to observe all 110 Messier objects on one school summer intern that year and made night! You will need a dark sky with good history by becoming the first male to in- horizons, so you might want to observe Angella Johnson tern at the summer program. (Reverse dis- during the new moon. The new moons this Providence, RI crimination averted!). John was an active year occur on March 13 and April 12. SO member of the New Bedford Astronomical start thinking about it and tie your project Society and later joined Skyscrapers. His to the Astronomical League program! astronomical interests took him all over the That’s all for now. Please stay safe and country and world. I remember the talk he wishing you clear skies. gave at Seagrave about wintering in Antarc- The Skyscraper is published President Outreach Chairperson monthly by Skyscrapers, Inc. Steve Siok Linda Bergemann Meetings are held monthly, usually on the first or second 1st Vice President Observatory Committee Chairperson Friday or Saturday of the month. Steve Hubbard Jim Crawford Seagrave Memorial Observatory is open every Saturday night, 2nd Vice President New Member Steward weather permitting. Ian Dell'Antonio Tracy Prell Directions Secretary Librarian Directions to Seagrave Memorial Observatory are Sue Hubbard Dave Huestis located on the back page of this newsletter. Treasurer Assistant Librarian Submissions Submissions to The Skyscraper are always welcome. Kathy Siok Weston Ambrose Please submit items for the newsletter no later than February 15 to Jim Hendrickson, 1 Sunflower Cir- Members at Large Historian cle, North Providence, RI 02911 or e-mail to jim@ Francine Jackson Dave Huestis distantgalaxy.com. Laura Landen Editor Matt Ouellette E-mail subscriptions Jim Hendrickson To receive The Skyscraper by e-mail, send e-mail Trustees with your name and address to jim@distantgalaxy. Astronomical League Correspondent (ALCor) com. Note that you will no longer receive the news- Jim Crawford Jeff Padell letter by postal mail. Bob Janus 2 The Skyscraper February 2021 Geminid Meteor Shower Report & Observing the Winter Circle by Dave Huestis I never tire of observing shooting stars, it quits. Please examine the basic star map ac- as long as the activity keeps up so I don't I looked out at 4:30 a.m. to see if it was companying this article. This chart rep- fall asleep. So, with exceptionally clear skies clear and if the activity had increased. It resents the sky for February 1 at 9:00 p.m., and a relatively warm temperature of 42 de- was totally overcast. looking from a point directly overhead grees (not bad for the Geminids), I settled I hope you took advantage of the opti- (zenith) towards the southern horizon. A down in a lounge chair on my back porch to mum observing conditions to observe a few circle, or actually an ellipse, can be drawn scan the heavens for meteors blazing across meteors yourself. through each of the labeled stars. However, the sky. As I sat facing east around 10:00 p.m., you can also draw a straight line from one I started my observing session on De- the constellation Gemini was already above star to the next and create a hexagon. Betel- cember 13 at 10:00 p.m. and ended it at 11:30 my tree line. Orion the mighty hunter was geuse, though inside either pattern, is still p.m. During that 90-minute span I counted high in the southeast. Soon, seven of the considered part of the asterism. 20 Geminids. Nothing spectacular. No bril- brightest stars we can see from the Earth Before we examine each of the stars in liant fireballs.