alactic Observer GJohn J. McCarthy Observatory Volume 9, No. 5 May 2016 In the Universe the Stronger Don't Last Longer See inside, pages 8 and 18 a http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org May 2016 • 1 The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 www.mccarthyobservatory.org Allan Ostergren Website Development JJMO Staff Marc Polansky It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Technical Support has established itself as a significant educational and Bob Lambert recreational resource within the western Connecticut Dr. Parker Moreland community. Steve Barone Jim Johnstone Colin Campbell Carly KleinStern Dennis Cartolano Bob Lambert Mike Chiarella Roger Moore Route Jeff Chodak Parker Moreland, PhD Bill Cloutier Allan Ostergren Cecilia Dietrich Marc Polansky Dirk Feather Joe Privitera Randy Fender Monty Robson Randy Finden Don Ross John Gebauer Gene Schilling Elaine Green Katie Shusdock Tina Hartzell Paul Woodell Tom Heydenburg Amy Ziffer In This Issue "OUT THE WINDOW ON YOUR LEFT"............................... 4 JOVIAN MOON TRANSITS ................................................ 14 MOUNT MARILYN ........................................................... 4 RED SPOT TRANSITS ...................................................... 14 TRANSIT OF MERCURY .................................................... 5 MAY NIGHTS ................................................................ 14 MARS AT OPPOSITION ...................................................... 5 SUNRISE AND SUNSET ...................................................... 14 NUMBER NINE ............................................................... 6 ASTRONOMICAL AND HISTORICAL EVENTS ......................... 14 NEW MARTIAN MAPS ..................................................... 6 COMMONLY USED TERMS ............................................... 17 A TILTED MOON ............................................................ 7 REFERENCES ON DISTANCES ............................................ 17 SUPERNOVA BREAKTHROUGH ............................................ 8 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/IRIDIUM SATELLITES .......... 17 OFF-ROADING ON MARS ................................................. 9 SOLAR ACTIVITY ........................................................... 18 THE ASTRONOMERS MONUMENT AT GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY 10 IMAGE CREDITS ............................................................ 18 PUBLIC ASTRONOMY ...................................................... 11 SECOND SATURDAY STARS ............................................... 19 SPACE SHUTTLE HISTORY ............................................... 11 MAY GRAPHIC CALENDAR .............................................. 20 MAY SHOWERS ............................................................. 12 FORGOTTEN NAMES FOR AN ANCIENT WORLD ................... 12 MAY HISTORY ............................................................... 12 VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING INTERIOR ........................... 13 JUPITER AND ITS MOONS ................................................. 14 2 • May 2016 http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org May Astronomy Calendar and Space Exploration Almanac J a a c i o w 2 t Catching a Dragon d NASA Photo 4 N Cygnus, Soyuz and Progress NASA Photo http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org May 2016 • 3 “Out the Window Fecunditatis) was noteworthy only within 9 miles (14 km) of the lunar on Your Left” for a small crater (Theta Secchi) lo- surface. Along the way, the Apollo t’s been almost 45 years since cated on its flank. Jim Lovell, the 10 crew created dozens of informal Iwe left the last footprint on the Command Module Pilot on landmarks that could be used by dusty lunar surface. Sadly, as a the crew of Apollo 8, was one of the Armstrong and Aldrin, and mission nation founded on exploration and first people to circumnavigate the control, as waypoints to check their the conquest of new frontiers, we Moon. He named that ancient rock progress against the nominal descent appear to have lost our will to outcrop “Mount Marilyn” as a trib- timeline. The names appear on the lead as a space-faring nation. But, ute to his wife. Although unofficial, charts used by the astronauts, in tech- what if the average citizen had the name became part of the Apollo nical reports, and in transcripts of program lexicon and a landmark for communications between the astro- the first Moon landing. nauts and the ground. Apollo 10 was a dress rehearsal The 4,593 foot (1,400 m) high for Apollo 11, with astronauts Tho- Mt. Marilyn is just one of the land- mas Stafford and Eugene Cernan marks identified on the following taking the Lunar Module down to page. It was likely created over 4 the means to visit our only natural satellite; what would they see out the window of their spacecraft as they entered orbit around the Moon? This column may provide some thoughts to ponder when planning your visit (if only in your imagination). Prior to 1968, a triangular-shaped outcrop of rock located between two dark patches of lava (Mare Tranquillitatis and Mare NASA Photo: the Apollo 10 Command Module as seen from Mount Marilyn the Lunar Module with Mt. Marilyn Image: Bill Cloutier visible in the background 4 • May 2016 http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org billion years ago in the aftermath Union (IAU) named the outcrop Mars at Opposition of the impact that formed the “Mount Secchi.” Lovell would like The Earth will come between nearby basins. Following to the the IAU to reconsider and officially Mars and the Sun on May 22nd, an conclusion of the Apollo program, recognize Mt. Marilyn’s place in arrangement called Opposition. On the International Astronomical history. that day, Mars will rise with the setting Sun and be visible the Transit of Mercury entire night. At closest approach, Mercury’s orbit crosses the proximately 1/158 the size of the Sun Mars will be approximately 46.8 Earth’s orbital plane each year in (1/5 the size of Venus in 2012). million miles (75.3 km) from Earth early May and early November. If the The photo of Mercury during the (the distance at Opposition can inner-most planet is passing between 2003 transit (below) was taken vary from 34.6 million miles to 63 the Earth and Sun at that time, the through a small telescope (to mag- million miles due to Mars’ highly silhouette of Mercury can be seen nify the view). With solar activity elliptical orbit). The planet will crossing (transiting) the Sun’s bright relatively low, Mercury should be appear larger than in its previous disk. The alignment occurs infre- distinguishable from any small sun- 2014 Opposition (being almost 10 quently, on average only thirteen spots, particularly as it moves in front million miles closer), but unfortu- times each century. The last transit of the Sun over the course of the day. nately for northern hemisphere occurred in November 2006. The transit should not be viewed observers, 16.5° lower in sky. Unlike the transit of Venus which without proper eye protection (to do Mars can be found in the con- could be seen by the unaided eye otherwise risks serious eye damage stellation Scorpius during the (properly protected), finding the and blindness). Binoculars and tele- month of May. The planet will be more diminutive Mercury will likely scopes should be properly filtered as relatively bright with an apparent require optical aid. the Sun’s concentrated light and heat magnitude of -2.0. Mars will be On May 9th, the entire transit will can shatter glass and/or melt inter- relatively close to Antares (5° at be visible to observers along the east nal components. the beginning of the month and coast, beginning at 7:12 am EDT and The McCarthy Observatory will 12° at month’s end), the bright- lasting approximately 7½ hours. have updated information on est star in the constellation Scor- Mercury will cross the Sun in a the transit on its webpage pius and the 15th brightest star in descending direction from east to (www.mccarthyobservatory.org) the night sky. The red supergiant west. It will appear as a small black with possible viewing opportunities, is also known as the “Heart of the dot against the bright solar disk, ap- weather permitting. Scorpion.” The name Antares is derived from ancient Greek, mean- ing the rival or equal of Mars due to its similar reddish-orange hue. For telescopic observers attempt- ing to view the planet’s surface fea- tures, Martian weather reports can be found on the Malin Space Sci- ence Systems website (http:// www.msss.com/). The development of regional dust storms can be of particular interest since they can quickly grow to engulf the entire planet for months as they did in 2001. Mars rotates once every 24 hours and Mercury 37 minutes so the view will change little if you observe at the same time each night. To see the entire planet, you will need to observe at differ- ent times of the night or over a Transit: May 7, 2003 relatively long period of time (a Photo: Dr. Parker Moreland month or more). On nights of good http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org May 2016 • 5 seeing (steady atmospheric condi- tions), the bright polar ice caps should be visible. In May, it is late summer inLunar the northern hemi- sphere and the northern pole is tippedExploration towards Earth. Surface markings are difficult to discern on Mars due to its rela- tively small size and great distance, even in the largest telescope. A map or guidebook such