UNA Planetarium Image of the Month Newsletter
Vol. 2. No. 9 Sept 15, 2010
We are planning to offer some exciting events this fall, including a return of the laser shows. Our Fall Laser Shows will feature images and music of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. The word laser is actually an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. We use many devices with lasers in them, from CD players to the mouse on your desk. What many people don’t know is that there are also natural lasers in space.
The lasers in space often come from molecules (groups of one or more atoms sharing electrons); we call these masers. One of the more important one is the OH In 1987, astronomers observing from Chile observed a new star in the sky. This maser, formed by an oxygen and hydrogen exploding star, called a supernova, blazed away as the first supernova in several atom. The conditions in dense clouds that hundred years that was visible without a telescope. Ever since the Hubble Space form stars supply the requirements for telescope has been observing the ejecta of the explosion traveling through its host these masers. Radio astronomers study galaxy, called the Large Magellanic Cloud. This recent image of the exploding star these masers coming and going in these shows a 6-trillion mile diameter gas ring ejected from the star thousands of years dense clouds and even rotating around in before the explosion. Stars that will explode become unstable and lose mass into disks near their stars. This gives space, resulting in such rings. Astronomers studying these images found that the astronomers information about the materials from the supernova explosion its self is colliding with the mass lost physical conditions in the disks. earlier, creating the bead-like structure on the ring. Image courtesy NASA.
The OH molecule may seem familiar to you; it is two-thirds of a water molecule, Astro Quote: “"The Calendar for September. 2010 one of the key molecules for life. You and I are about 62% water, so you can see how history of astronomy Sept 6th. Planetarium afternoon program. important it is. The Sun and planets is a history of formed in a star forming region about 4.6 Sept 7th. Planetarium Evening Program. billion years ago. If you decide to visit us receding horizons.” Sept 10th – 18th. Laser Shows and take in our laser shows, you can think of the possibility that 62% of the Edwin Hubble. Sept 20. Planetarium afternoon program. molecules in your body may have been part of a maser billions of years ago Sept 21. Fall Equinox giving off laser light in the radio region Evening planetarium tours start at Sept 21st. Planetarium Public Night different only in energy from the lasers 7:30PM and afternoon programs at you are watching. That’s a laser show! 4:30PM in September. Tours include Sept 27. Planetarium afternoon program. Mel Blake a planetarium star show and either observing through a telescope or a Sept 28. Planetarium Public night. UNA Planetarium and Observatory, is multi-media presentation depending operated by the Dept. of Physics and Earth on the weather. $3/person, UNA Science. students free. No reservations are required. The September 2010 Sky for North Alabama
How to use this Chart: The sky is shown for 9:00PM, Sept15th for Florence, Alabama. It will appear this way one hour earlier for each week difference in time. The stars brightness’s are represented by different sized dots. The faintest stars you can see are the small dots; the brightest ones are large dots. Hold the chart with the direction you are facing rotated towards you. So if you are facing north, hold the chart with north closest to you. The circle represents the horizon and the center of the chart is the point directly over your head. So an object half-way between the center and edge of the chart is half-way up in the sky. This chart was prepared using the SkyNow software of R. M. Blake. This chart may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes with the following acknowledgement included: Courtesy UNA Planetarium and Observatory. http://www.una.edu/planetarium/.
September Laser Light Shows
UNA Planetarium is happy to presenting, for the second time, laser light show entertainment.
The Fall Laser Light show will begin with a sampling of laser and music entertainment of Led Zeppelin. This will be followed by a full-length laser rock-opera “The Wall” by Pink Floyd. The shows should be considered PG13 and not suitable for all ages; parents should be advised of this and use their discretion. The programs will last about 1 hour. Show times are 6:00PM,
7:30PM, 9:00PM and 10:30PM, Friday Sept 10th through Saturday Sept 18th. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the planetarium or at the door. The cost is $7 person, UNA students $5 with ID. It makes a great date! For more information and updates check us out on
Facebook or contact Mel Blake (256) 765-4284, email:[email protected].
Campus Groups Welcome!
UNA Planetarium and Observatory would like to remind students and faculty advisors that the planetarium is available to campus and community organizations for group tours. As you plan your groups’ activities for the year keep us in mind for a fun and educational activity!