January 2006 Volume 13 Issue 3 the Cranky Curmudgeon Ponders Red Shift HAA Telescope Clinic Summary
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Hamilton Amateur Astronomers JanuaryEvent 2006 Horizon Volume 13 Issue 3 The Cranky Curmudgeon Ponders Red Shift HAA Telescope Clinic Summary by Bill Tekatch by Mike Jefferson January 06/06 Teamsters Hall, 460 Parkdale N., Ever since Edwin Hubble found that the red shift Hamilton, ON of galaxies increased with distance, red shift has been a At the HAA Telescope Clinic there were about 23 keystone topic in cosmology. While the professional sci- people in attendance to give and get help in the oper- entific community now recognises that the galaxies are ation of newly acquired optical equipment from Christ- not moving away from us at great speeds, they still use mas, 2005. John ‘Galileo’ Gauvreau spent consider- terminology as if that were the case. They know that it able time helping his student Maggie and her husband is space itself that is expanding, ever increasing the dis- work through the operation of their new mirror lens tance between distant-galaxies. I say distant-galaxies spotter, while Mike Spicer (in his usual, very profes- because the galaxies in our local group are not separat- sional attire) entertained numerous listeners with tales ing from each other. of the mysteries of “Optics Through the Looking Glass”! So through the years, various explanations were pro- GOTO’s that set themselves up automatically, a ‘queen posed for the cause of red shift from the Doppler Effect, of hearts’ refractor, telescopes easy enough to be oper- to tired light, to the current General relativity stretch. ated by children and cheap ways of circumventing ex- General relativity theory allows the expanding space to pensive methods were just some of the ‘enigma varia- stretch light. I have a difference of opinion that is proba- tions’ and ‘March hares’ he unveiled to the fascination bly more of a difference of perspective. At first glance it of all listeners. John’s astronomy student, Brad, got appears that the general relativity explanation breaks some instruction in the operation of Anthony Tekatch’s the Law of Conservation of Energy. How can a pho- reflector. Anthony and Mike Jefferson spent much time ton be stretched, being changed from the original wave- discussing early concepts of space travel, the influence length to a longer wavelength of lower energy and not of computers, redundancy in spacecraft, spectra, im- lose energy? age formation and manipulation, sundry other topics and handing out bits of advice to anyone who wanted There are likely several perspectives that are equally any. Glenn Muller demonstrated the advantages of a correct, and here is my take. If the universe is ap- 6” F8 Newtonian design to Robert, another student of parently expanding, it obviously had an ever-increasing John Gauvreau’s, with some input from John and Mike density the farther back in time that we look. That J. Ann Tekatch, Gail Muller (who also did her usual, higher density or concentration of matter also meant gracious, hostess ‘thing’ with the coffee and the hall), that the gravitational field intensity was higher. So a Tim Philp (the Patrick Moore of Brantford, ON), Bob photon formed in an earlier denser universe undergoes Christmas, Greg Emery, Hal Mueller, Darryl & Sandy gravitational red shift as it travels to our current lower “Ansel Adams” Maude and other club members were density universe. Gravitational red shift is well under- all on hand to assist in many ways and areas. Glenn, stood, proven, and by coincidence just happens to also Anthony, John and Gail gave assistance and advice to be a part of General relativity theory. Sometimes it is people observing the waxing crescent Moon, through just a matter of perspective. gosammer clouds, in the parking lot at the end of the presentation. Four of us gathered at Tim Horton’s on Bill Tekatch is a founding member of the Parkdale N. afterwards, for further discussion and ‘back HAA, ran the Cosmology Discussion Group of the envelope’ stuff, until far into the very cold night! for some time, and has written several ar- Nuts? “What do WE care what other people think?” ticles on cosmology. All in all, a good and instructive time was had by every participant. by Mike Jefferson Page 2 Meeting space for the Hamilton Amateur Astronomy club provided by Teamsters Local 879 Event Horizon is a publication of the Hamilton Amateur Astronomers (HAA). Domain Name and Web hosting for the The HAA is an amateur astronomy club dedicated to the Hamilton Amateur Astronomy club supplied promotion and enjoyment of astronomy for people of all by ages and experience levels. Axess Communications The cost of the subscription is included in the $25 indi- Corporate and Residential DSL and Web vidual or $30 family membership fee for the year. Event Hosting Horizon is published a minimum of 10 times a year. http://www.axess.com [email protected] HAA Council Hon. Chair . Jim Winger Chair . Glenn Muller Second Chair . Doug Welch Email Reminder notice Secretary . Margaret Walton Treasurer. .Cindy Bingham We send email reminders before each meeting Observing Dir. Greg Emery which describes the location, time and topic of the Publicity . Gail Muller general meeting. Editor/Web. Anthony Tekatch If you’re not on the list, make sure that you receive Membership Dir. Stewart Attlesey your reminder by sending a note to: Councillor. .Bob Christmas [email protected] Councillor . John Gauvreau Councillor . Ann Tekatch An Offer Councillor . Cathy Tekatch Thinking of buying your first telescope but won- PO Box 65578, Dundas, ON L9H 6Y6 dering what kind to get? Before you buy, consider Web:. .amateurastronomy.org this offer from Mike Spicer: a “loaner” 5 inch tele- scope with electronic alt-az controls. The scopes General Inquiries: are lightweight, easy to set up and very easy to [email protected] . (905) 575-5433 use. Mike is offering newer members of our club Membership Inquiries: one of these telescopes to try out for a month or [email protected] so. Interested? You can reach Mike by email at Meeting Inquiries: [email protected] or by phone at (905) [email protected] . (905) 945-5050 388-0602. Public Event Inquiries: Articles submissions [email protected] . (905) 945-5050 The HAA welcomes your astronomy related writ- Binbrook Observing Inquiries: ings for the Event Horizon newsletter. Please send [email protected] . (519) 647 0036 your articles, big or small, to: [email protected] [email protected] Newsletter Inquiries/Submissions: The submission deadline is two days before each [email protected] general meeting. Submissions to the web site or newsletter are welcome, and may be edited for size & content. Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers amateurastronomy.org Page 3 Chair’s Report by Glenn Muller • Some moons, like Ganymede, have magneto- spheres Despite a media predilection for terrorist tsunamis of avian flu, astronomers have rung in the last few “New • Some asteroids have moons Years” with some exciting planetary missions. 2004 saw • Some moons are asteroid-like – they could either Spirit and Opportunity bounce into the spotlight on be captives of the host planet or debris from a Mars, and 2005 revealed the true nature of Saturn’s broken moon. rings and several of its moons, including the tantalizing surface of Titan. For 2006, we can expect the January • Some moons have cometary properties – a good launch of New Horizons which is a long-awaited mission example is Enceladus, shown in a Cassini image to Pluto. releasing icy jets. For a small orbiting body, barely visible in back- yard scopes, Pluto has garnered a lot of attention lately. Additional factors: With the discovery of slightly larger, more distant, • Several exo-planets have been discovered, many worlds Pluto suddenly finds itself the focus of a bench- with several times the mass of Jupiter. When such mark debate over what constitutes a planet. objects have at least 13 times Jupiter’s mass, they Briefly covered, during last October’s presentation have the ability to burn a hydrogen-like element titled “Planets and Pretenders”, the HAA will devote called deuterium. This could push them through an evening for discussion on organizing solar system ob- the upper limit of the “planet” category into the jects into categories that encompass all the variables. “brown dwarf” category. While a couple of hours may be hardly sufficient to scratch such a large surface I still anticipate some en- • Finding a lower size/mass limit may be the most tertaining thoughts on the possibilities. So, to get the difficult parameter to define. wheels turning, here is some applicable information: • An object may change states so it may be simplest Pluto: to categorize solely on the objects current state. • With a diameter of 2274 km there are 5 known • After determining basic categories (i.e.) Planets; moons that are larger. Moons; Asteroids; Comets etc; a series of sub- • Currently credited with 2 moons of its own. categories may further group the individual vari- ables (i.e.) composition; diameter; atmosphere; • Its orbit ranges from 29 AU to 49.5 AU and, al- signs of life; orbital characteristics; etc. (see the though that occasionally brings it closer to the companion article) Sun than Neptune, Pluto has the most eccentric orbit of the planets. Since the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the recognized clearing house for naming celestial bod- • Considered to be part of the Kuiper Belt yet it is ies, has no real definition for a planet I see no reason no longer the largest KBO discovered. why our discussions should not be as relevant as any- • During its close approaches to the Sun, Pluto one else’s. In fact, despite several Google searches, the forms a thin nitrogen/carbon monoxide atmo- most comprehensive systems for classifying planets were sphere which eventually refreezes.