Vol. 73, No. 1 December 2020
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Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 73, No. 1 December 2020 PUBLIC OUTREACH DURING A PANDEMIC THE ULTIMATE OBSERVING CHALLENGE th 75 GEAR UP FOR SOLAR CYCLE 25 THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY Contents AN EMPLOYEE-OWNED COMPANY NEW FREE SHIPPING on order of $75 or more INSTALLMENT BILLING on orders over $350 PRODUCTS & PAGE 16 Standard Shipping. Some exclusions apply. Exclusions apply. 4 . To the Editor 4 . Star Beams (from the President) 5 . International Dark-Sky Association 5 . Night Sky Network Orion® StarShoot™ Compact Astro 6 . Full STEAM Ahead Orion® StarShoot™ Mini 6.3mp Tracker Imaging Cameras (sold separately) Orion® StarShoot™ G26 APS-C Orion® GiantView™ BT-100 ED #21192 $280 7 . Wanderers in the Neighborhood Color #51883 $400 Color Imaging Camera 90-degree Binocular Telescope (Mount not Mono #51884 $430 #51458 $1,800 #51878 $2,600 included) PAGE 12 9 . Deep-Sky Objects computer not 10 . From Around the League Trust 2019 included 12 . 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Prices are M-F 6 am - 5 pm PT, subject to change without notice. • by assisting communication among amateur contact Gary Tomlinson Saturday 8 am - 2 pm PT Please check OrionTelescopes.com astronomical societies. Astronomy Day Coordinator Orion® Monster Mount Orion® Dynamo™ Pro 155Wh AC/ Orion® StarShoot 2" Filter Wheel for the most current pricing. Dealer [email protected] & 25x100 Binocular Kit DC/USB Lithium Power Supply and LRGB Filter Set Package (800)447-1001 pricing and/or promotions may vary. Astronomical League National Office: #21186 $850 #2309 $180 #20186 $630 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114 2 REFLECTOR ✶ SEPTEMBER 2020 The builder did not bother to point out to her such and, in fact, the street numbers on the house To the Editor: Star Beams International Dark- a fixture was illegal in Pima County, Arizona, and could not even be seen from the street. Bob the county building inspector was not bothered agreed to install a switch for the porch and garage enough by it to require a fixture change. Egad! outside lights, which has been done, and he fur- QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE FROM THE PRESIDENT ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE t is always a pleasure for this astronomer- Sky Association But, not to worry, the porch lights and garage ther agreed to modify all his house designs so no Issued by the Astronomical League in March, June, September, and turned-historian of science to read colleagues’ NEW LEAGUE SECRETARY lights do not really need to be on at all. The drive- light inside or outside is installed without a way December, Reflector (ISSN: 0034-2963) is sent directly, either by I postal mail or via a digital link, to each individual member of its views on our mutual subject! I have a couple of am pleased to announce the appointment of NO LIGHT SWITCH way and walkway to the house are well demar- for it to be turned off. He thanked me for pointing affiliate societies and to members-at-large as a benefit of League membership. Individual copies of Reflector are available at the thoughts, however, to share with author Dave I Terry Mann as the new secretary of the League, do not know how many times I have been to cated after dark with low-lumen, shielded solar out this design issue. This conversation further following subscription rates, payable to the League’s national office. Tosteson and your readers. filling the balance of vice president Chuck Allen’s I a star party where there is an obtrusive light luminaires. I told Donna and Sunil I was somewhat convinced me that Donna and Sunil had chosen a PAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS: First, about Shapley: he did indeed defend the term as secretary. Terry has served many past that no one knows how to turn off. Nobody knows aghast at their choice of lights, but they could first-class builder for their new house. USA & possessions: $3.00 each or $10.00 per year (4 issues) Canada: $5.00 each or $16.00 per year view that one big Milky Way galaxy was the uni- roles with the League, including president. Wel- where the light switch is located or has access simply leave them off most of the time. They then This story had a happy ending, but it illus- Mexico: $6.00 each or $22.00 per year Other countries: $7.00 each or $25.00 per year verse at the 1920 Curtis-Shapley debate, but his come back, Terry! to the switch. At star parties on the grounds of told me there was no way to turn off the lights at trates, unfortunately, how little thought goes DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: immediate reaction to Hubble’s discovery, which WEBSITE HELP NEEDED the Flandrau Science Center at the University of night. They simply came on, controlled by a pho- into the design for outdoor nighttime lighting. No All countries, possessions, and territories: $10.00 per year Hubble informed him of in a private letter before We are in need of help from members who are Arizona, the lights around the building are lit all tocell. That was the way the house was designed. doubt there are thousands of porch and outdoor REFLECTOR AND CLUB ROSTER DEADLINES publication, was that there were actually other proficient with WordPress. If you can lend some night long. Either no one knows how to turn off The builder told them these lights had to be on garage lights burning through the night for no March issue January 1 June issue April 1 galaxies (though if they were “island universes” time and expertise in helping us keep our website the lights or has access to the switches or, even all night because of a county rule. Yikes! As you other reason than no one knows how to turn them September issue July 1 December issue October 1 then ours was a continent). He expressed this to fresh and current, please email me at worse, there is no off switch. The lights simply might imagine, I was not at all amused. off. Rats! Double rats! Triple rats! If you encoun- Written and graphic material from this publication may be reprinted only Cecilia Helena Payne (later Gaposchkin) as “this [email protected]. come on at night triggered by their photocells or a Sunil gave me the phone number for the ter a similar situation, I hope you can track down for non-profit benefit of interested parties, provided specific credit is given to the writer(s), Reflector, and the Astronomical League. Any other use of is the letter that destroyed my universe.” THE STATE OF OUR ASTRONOMICAL FAMILY AS WE remote timer. owner of the company that built their house. For the problem far enough to effect a solution and material, including graphics and photographs, is subject to express permission from the Editor and the Astronomical League. Second, about the process that drives Cepheid MOVE THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC This is a frustrating experience and sometimes the sake of this vignette, let’s call him “Bob”; he get an unneeded light turned off.