Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Observing our Desert Skies since 1954 Summer 2013 Volume LIX, Issue 2 Inside this issue: Comet PanSTARRS (C/2011 L4) & Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6) President’s Msg 2 Our Programs 3-4 TAAA News 5-7 Featured Articles 8-14 Observing 15-16 Outreach News 17-18 Classified Ads 18 Contacts 19 Take Note! 20 May 2013 Night Sky Network Toolkits Help Teach Science is Fun Two comets grace our skies: Comet PanSTARRS (C/2011 L4) and Comet Moving Ahead at CAC Lemmon (C/2012 F6). Both images displayed here were taken by Dean 3rd Anniversary at CAC Ketelsen from Geology Vista on Catalina Highway. Comet Chris Impey’s Astronomy: PanSTARRS, above, sports a very State of the Art Program long anti-tail. This image was taken with Dean’s 70-200 Canon F/2.8 TAAA Ladies Night Out zoom, set to 90mm. This is 8 stacked images, three minutes each. The Observing Southern Skies; separation between Polaris (at the left Planetary Nebulae; edge) and γ Cephei (at the right edge) is 13.5 degrees. The comet’s anti-tail Ophiuchus is over 7 degrees long. Comet 18 May 2013 Lemmon, at right, was photographed Daytime Polar Alignment using Dean’s 14” Hyperstar. This image has a total exposure of 8 minutes. Visible is both a blue ion tail Explaining Astronomical towards the right and a more diffuse dust tail below. Note that Comet Lemmon was discovered by the Mt Lemmon Survey. For details about these images and more interesting stuff (astronomy and Distances and Scales otherwise), visit The Ketelsen’s Blog at http://theketelsens.blogspot.com/. Images copyright © Dean Ketelsen, used by permission. Astronomy Humor SARSEF and Sharing the Sky Attention Astrophotographers! Reports Want your astrophotos to appear here? Send them along with a description of the object and how it was taken to [email protected]. Desert Skies Summer 2013 Page 2 President’s Message It is an honor to be the 18th president of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association. I want to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to take this great organization forward. We have come a long way under the capable The mission of the Tucson Amateur leadership of those who came before me. Astronomy Association is to provide opportunities for members and the public to Our education and outreach programs are Over the next year I would like to us continue share the joy and excitement of astronomy second to none – and we are going to this forward-looking agenda. You have through observing, education and fun. We fulfill this by providing Astronomy Services to elected a board of directors that is capable, continue to improve and expand them. schools, church groups, scout troops, and qualified and has the enthusiasm and “can-do” In an effort to keep you, our members, convention organizers. We support many attitude to accomplish our goals. Some of the Science, Technology, Engineering and better informed and do it more efficiently Mathematics (STEM) events in the Tucson projects we will be working on are: the Newsletter has been redesigned. We community. Our members enjoy observing have had a favorable response to our the night sky under the dark skies that our Expand use of our TIMPA site: observing sites offer. We are an all-volunteer, Monthly Bulletin with its listing of current ○ Invite members of public to star tax-exempt, non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. events as well as our Quarterly Journal party. with its more in-depth articles. ○ Host astronomy event for school We value your input, so please do not hesitate Over the past three years, we have children. to call or email me with any questions, concerns launched several observing programs Expand use of our CAC site; or suggestions you may have. Through (clubs) for those who are interested in a Expand our cooperation with other understanding, cooperation, enthusiasm and more intense observing protocol. There Astronomy, Science, schools and other dedication we can accomplish great things. are guided observing sessions for those organizations; who want or need instruction and Implement a ride-share program. Thank you, guidance. For the more daring of us, they Your suggestions, please… can fulfill the requirements of any program BoB Gilroy on their own. However, we cannot do it alone – we need TAAA President your help. In the near future we will be In January of this year we launched an reaching out to you, our members, to help us observing club that was slightly different This is Your Newsletter in our quest. The following is just a partial list from most other clubs – Our Family This newsletter is what you make it to be. No of volunteers needed: Observing Program. The family works longer is it cram packed with announcements. This new format allows for in-depth articles together as a unit to complete the Presenters for outreach programs using about all aspects of amateur astronomy. Here requirements. the Night Sky Network kits and other are some suggestions: Our school star parties continue to be materials; popular and we have been able to keep up Teachers and Teacher Assistants for our Astrophotos w/ detailed description with the requests. How-to articles of interest to beginners basic astronomy course; New product reviews Improvements continue at the Chiracahua Mentors for special programs; Astronomy humor Astronomy Complex. The RV area has Book report Apparel Assistant; Astro-travel journals been completed and progress is being Observing reports made on the Ramada. And remember, no Administrative assistants in different The next deadline is September 1st. Send general funds have been used on the CAC areas; articles to: project. Committee work as needed; [email protected] Your suggestions… Desert Skies Summer 2013 Page 3 Programs Night Sky Network Toolkits Help Us Teach Science is Fun Text and Photos by Terri Lappin, [email protected] The Night Sky Network toolkits continue to add a valued aspect to our outreach program. They allow the public to discover astronomical concepts on their Giving credit due to our volunteers is own – sometimes with a little coaching from us – an important task of the SMSIG. It is and in the process they learn that science can be our volunteers who help to fulfill the fun. Toolkits include projects, like “Making a TAAA’s educational mandate. These Planesphere” that can go home with the visitor. The are the volunteers who helped with NSN also makes it easy to order NASA materials to our toolkit exhibits this year. give away at our outreach events. Cathy Anderson* Al Anzaldua* We have all 11 toolkits developed by the Some of the materials from several Night Sky Network Toolkits. Toolkits typically include a Bryce Burchett Astronomical Society of the Pacific. (See the poster with grommets for hanging, nearly all the Mary Caldwell complete list of toolkits and other resource materials materials necessary for the projects, plus a Resource CD with background information, and Scott Caldwell on the next page.) a Training DVD. Angela Cardot Vern Dunlap Toolkits were brought to 19 TAAA outreach events we’ve serviced 124 events, making over 22,800 Bob Gilroy* between July 2012 and June 2013, reaching about contacts. Not bad for the small group of TAAA Ralph Jensen 4,600 people. These are respectable numbers members trained as toolkit presenters. Mary Helen Kaser compared to the last few years. During this time, the Jim Knoll most used toolkits were “Magnetic Sun”, followed by The Starry Messenger Connection Terri Lappin* The Starry Messenger Special Interest Group “Exploring the Solar System”, “Our Galaxy, Our Karen Liptak Universe”, “Supernova”, “Black Hole Survival”, Life (SMSIG) was created in 2009 in part to increase the Mike Magras in the Universe”, and “Space Rocks”. Since 2004 use of the Night Sky Network toolkits. The SMSIG Loretta McKibben when the TAAA became a charter member of the leadership team provides direction to most of our Brian O'Connell Night Sky Network and we received our first toolkit, major outreach events. We decide which events to Susan O'Connor* support and which materials are suitable for the Jim O’Connor event. Take note of the increase in the number of Susan Ropp events and number of contacts following the Mae Smith establishment of the SMSIG. We’ve made a Joe Statkevicus difference! Mike Thompson Pati Wilcox Each year, toolkits are used at star parties held at Rizwan Zaki area schools. However, most of our effort goes into *These are our primary presenters. large outreach events. This includes the Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB) where thousands of There are many others who visitors are seen at our exhibit over this two-day participated at community events. This young man really knew his galaxies; he was able to give the popular name of several galaxy event. This emphasis on the larger outreach events To all who volunteered your time: disks which are part of the Our Galaxy, Our explains the recent increase in the number of Thank You! Universe Outreach Toolkit. Pictured is Cathy Anderson at our exhibit at the first Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo in November 2012. (Continued on page 4) Desert Skies Summer 2013 Page 4 (Continued from page 3) recommendations are made for Toolkit Outreach Results Since 2004 how best to present concepts. Year # of events* # of contacts* contacts that have been made, especially Oh yea, we also eat pizza – an evident in early 2010 when we participated in important element of our 2004/2005 16 1709 our first TFOB event. Our participation in the training sessions! 2005/2006 6 483 first Arizona Science and Astronomy Expo 2006/2007 4 197 added a new outreach opportunity this year.