OBSERVATORY NEWS August 2014 Published by the Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) Volume 25 No. 8 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor
Planning is well underway for COMING UP AT ScopeOut this September 13. This is a major public outreach event THE OBSERVATORY.... for COC. Dale Zoller and the ScopeOut Planning Committee have some great new ideas for this FOTOKids Aug 1 7p year’s event. Many FOTO Astronomy Friday Aug 1 8:30p volunteers are needed to make this Stargazing at Lincoln Ridge Aug 2 8:30p event a fun and educational Astronomy Thursday Aug 7 8:30p experience for everyone. If you Astronomy Friday Aug 8 8:30p would like to help, please contact SuperMoon Aug 9 7p Dale Zoller or come to the
History Tours Aug 10 1-4p ScopeOut planning meeting (see *FOTO Member’s Meeting Aug 11 7:30p announcement later in this **Planetology Aug 12 7p newsletter). Astronomy Thursday Aug 14 8:30p There are also many Astronomy Friday Aug 15 8:30p THE WORD opportunities to participate in
Late Night Date Night Aug 16 10:30p Sidewalk Astronomy this summer By Michelle Lierl Gainey and fall, while the weather is nice Astrophoto Workshop Aug 21 7p and people are out and about. Astronomy Thursday Aug 21 8:30p This is a great way to share your Stonelick Stargaze Aug 23 dusk Hello friends! I hope you are all enjoying the summer. The July 13 love of the night sky with people History Tours Aug 24 1-4p who might have never Member Movie Night Aug 25 7p FOTO picnic was held inside, due to bad weather; it was a very experienced it before. It is CMC Heritage Tour Aug 27 7p wonderful to see their eyes light pleasant event with lots of good Astronomy Thursday Aug 28 8:30p up when they look at the Moon or food and friendly conversation. Astronomy Friday Aug 29 8:30p planets through the telescope for We have some excellent cooks Cincinnati Famous Families Aug 30 7p the first time. You can either among our members! Stonelick Stargaze Aug 30 dusk bring a portable telescope, team up In addition to our regular with someone who brings a FOTO meeting at 7:30 PM on *Note the monthly FOTO Members telescope or you can do the talking August 11, Aashi has arranged a Meeting is usually 2nd Mondays - 7:30 pm at and crowd control. Please contact Movie Night at COC on August 25 the Observatory Dean Regas or Aaron Eiben if you (Monday), 7 to 9 pm. We will ** UC Communiversity would like to be part of a sidewalk have popcorn, snacks and drinks. astronomy team Save-The-Dates! See Aashi’s announcement later in Observe the Moon Night Sep 6 this newsletter for details. Aashi Lincoln Ridge Stargaze Sep 6 has also arranged for some fun Did You Know….
Ultimate Educators Expo Sep 10 and interesting field trips for Methane has been detected in the ScopeOut 2014 Sept 13 FOTO members over the next few atmosphere of a supposedly dead Great Outdoor Weekend Sept 27-28 months! planet…..Mars!
1 FOTO's August 2014 Meeting Welcome FOTO Planning Meeting
By Dave McBride New & Renewing By Michelle Gainey
The next FOTO Planning Meeting On August 11th at 7:30pm the Members! program committee will welcome is scheduled for Thursday, August back John Blasing giving us his 28, 6 pm at the Observatory. The new presentation on “The planning meetings are open to all Diffraction and Interference of FOTO members. We encourage Light.” Many of you may your participation in the remember some of John’s previous discussion of future FOTO topics including his demonstration activities. of the measurement of permittivity and permeability of free space in “Founders and Famous August of 2012. This presentation is an Families of Cincinnati” explanation and demonstration of two closely related phenomena, August 30th 7 pm diffraction and interference, which are exhibited by all electromagnetic radiation, and indeed by all propagating waves. Cheryl and Nicholas Ames The presentation opens with a few Jalaja Anantharaman brief historical remarks and an Paul Blasing introduction to Huygens' Principle James Boothe of Wave Propagation. Diffraction Mellanie Carney and interference are explained in Terra Clarke terms of Huygens principle, and Josh and Alison Cumby are then visualized with water Patricia and Robert Dawson waves using a ripple tank Carla Dreyer apparatus. Finally, diffraction and Louis and Mary Freese interference of light is Jane Garvey and John Lanier demonstrated on an optical bench Barbara Gloeckner apparatus, using a helium-neon Joy and Robert Gorham laser as a light source. Nancy and Tom Hamant Founders and Famous Families of On September 8th our program Scott and Andrea Heile Cincinnati brings to life the will feature Jeff Hutton with his Jennifer Herchline founding families’ histories, topic “More than a Telescope.” Stephen Hill Jeff will tell us the story of how his Christy and Scott Holland sharing these intertwined and telescope was constructed around Barbara and Timothy Juenke fascinating tales with readers near one of Dick Wessling’s mirrors. Joel Klekamp and far. Many of those same Later, it would become a living Jennifer O’Donnell and Pat founding families made possible memorial to his 42 year friendship McDevitt the Cincinnati Observatory and with Dick. Kathleen and John Rorris many of Cincinnati’s other cultural Jerry Black will be the Matthew Schaefer treasures. presenter on October 13th. Jerry is Jack and Lynn Schiff There will be a lecture by the current Chair of the Ohio Margo Smith-Joseph Wendy Hart Beckman, Q&A and Chapter of the Mars Society. He James L. Thompson the book-signing. The Observatory will be speaking about “The Stephen R. Wavra will be open following for tours. Search for Life on Mars and Maureen and Raymond Free, no reservations are needed. Beyond.” Whitehead
2 Dropping in on Astro Evenings at the FOTO Kids and Teens Turkmenistan's 'door to hell' – in pictures Observatory By Aashi Mital
As explorers, we’ve investigated Thursdays, August 7, 14, 21, 28 and sought out answers to Fridays, August 1, 8, 15, 29 questions the universe holds dear, 8:30 pm-10 pm all in the name of science! This time around we’ll boldly venture A core program of the through a place that captivates the Observatory is our ongoing Astro hearts of many, a place that is Evenings which take place most familiar, but is still full of Thursdays and Fridays year- mysteries driving our curiosity- round. the Solar System. The evenings are all volunteer Prepare for a journey of a staffed and include a short lifetime (plus some!) at our next The origin of Turkmenistan's presentation on ever-changing and meeting being held on Friday, Darvaza Crater – nicknamed the fascinating topics followed by a August 1st at 7 p.m. in the Herget "door to hell" – is disputed, but the guided stargaze through the oldest Building. theory most widely accepted public telescope in the United Remember to dress for the involves a Soviet expedition to States (weather permitting). weather, bring water to keep explore for gas. Also included is plenty of time hydrated and don’t forget that A Turkmen geologist claims the for Q&A on any astro topic and a sunscreen. If you have any borehole was set alight in historical tour of the Observatory, questions, please email Aashi 1971 after fears it was emitting where you’ll not only see how the Mital at [email protected] or poisonous gases. It has now been old telescopes work, but also learn Aaron Eiben at burning for 40 years. about the role that Cincinnati has [email protected]. "We did find some bacteria played in the birth of astronomy in Until then, keep looking up! living at the bottom that are very Free for Observatory members! comfortable living in those high temperatures, and the most Astrophotography important thing was that they Museums and Historic Sites were not found in any of the Workshop surrounding soil outside of the of Greater Cincinnati Third Thursdays crater," he says. "Outside of our February through November solar system, there are planets that do resemble the conditions inside this pit, and [knowing that] can help us expand the number of places where we can confidently start looking for life outside of our By Craig Niemi solar system." http://www.theguardian.com/w MHS is comprised of over 30 orld/2014/jul/18/-sp-door-to- participating sites across Greater hell-turkmenistan-in-pictures Cincinnati. Each site offers a Next Session: Thursday,
unique perspective on local history August 21 7:00-9:30 pm and culture through public Did You Know…. Free for Cincinnati Observatory programs, exhibits, lectures, and tours. members. Space is limited. A high jumper on Phobos could jump 513-321-5186. up to one mile high into orbit. www.historicgreatercincinnati.org
3 Late Night/Date Night Craig’s Corner
At the Observatory By Craig Niemi, Executive Director
By Craig Niemi Last month I asked you to mark This August and September are your calendar to observe a partial months that truly exemplify the Saturday August 16 solar eclipse on October 23, 2014. Observatory’s mission and 10:30 pm-12:00 am The eclipse will be at sunset so you programming. should be scouting out an In addition to our regular Astro Can’t sleep? Looking for a unique observing site with a very low Evenings, the SuperMoon public Saturday night out? Get a sneak south western horizon. The “open house” program on August preview of the next season’s planetarium program Stellarium, 9th will likely bring hundreds of planets and stars a month or two indicates that the Sun will set at an visitors young and old to ahead of everyone else. azimuth of 255 degrees. So, how experience the Observatory. Recommended for adults only. do you find that spot on the September’s International Observe Admission is $10 per person. horizon? The easiest way is with a the Moon Night, Great Outdoor For reservations call 513-321-5186 compass that has degrees marked Weekend and the annual ScopeOut or go to www.formstack.com on its face. However, if you do not Fair have the potential to bring have a compass, then you can use hundreds more to the Observaotry your fingers. If you go out at and introduce them to our STEM sunset around August 15th, and programming. FOTO Movie Night hold both of your hands out at arm The ongoing UC length like the photo below By Aashi Mital Communiversity classes and indicates you will get a very good Museum Center’s Heritage indication of where the Sun will be Heads up! FOTO is hosting a tour/view program later in the movie night in the Herget during the eclipse. August will attract scores of life- Building on Monday, August 25th Oct. 23 Aug. 15 long learners to the COC. from 7 to 9 p.m. Join us for a History tours on the second and showing of In the Shadow of the fourth Sundays and the “Founding Moon, a documentary film about Families” book-signing on August America’s manned missions to the 30th will offer local history buffs Moon during the 1960s and 1970s. the chance to explore what is truly This may be the first, and last, time a unique Cincinnati institution. where surviving crew members And with the school year fast from every single Apollo Mission approaching our high in-demand So start looking around your local that went to the Moon tells their and high impact outreach parks and neighborhoods to find story in their own words, so it’s programming will soon be in full that “perfect” observing spot for bound to be a blast! Want to learn the eclipse. Once you find it, swing. more about the film? invite your friends and neighbors Our visitors are always amazed http://www.imdb.com/title/tt09 to safely observe the setting at how much we offer the 25248/ eclipsed Sun. Remember to always Cincinnati region. It’s all made We will have popcorn to munch use approved solar filters that are possible by you; our dedicated on, but feel free to bring drinks free of scratches and pinholes. staff, talented volunteers and and snacks for the event. A sign- Even though the Sun is setting and generous donors and members! up sheet will be passed around at it looks much dimmer than a the August FOTO meeting, but if noonday sun, you can still damage Did You Know…. you are unable to make it and your eyes and photo equipment. wish to bring munchies, please Always use the proper filters and 4.5 billion years ago about 100 baby email Aashi Mital at observing techniques to observe planets circled our Sun. [email protected]. the Sun.
4 display; paper plate sundials; ScopeOut 2014 Update pinhole solar projector; and an ScopeOut 2014 Planning "inertial guidance" demo. We will By Dale Zoller still have activities the younger Committee Meeting kids such as a scavenger hunt, art ScopeOut 2014 will be held contest and face painting. By Dale Zoller
Saturday, September 13, 2014. As The popular "Telescope Re- in the past, the main event will run home" returns this year. In The next ScopeOut 2014 Planning from 12-5 pm. We will hold the addition to re-homing a few Committee meeting will be on raffle drawing from 5-6 pm and telescopes (for a few dollars), the Tuesday, August 12 at 6:00pm at then the dinner and keynote Telescope (Loan and) Re-home the Observatory. ScopeOut is the presentation from 6-8:30 pm. This table will also be selling the Orion Observatory's annual open house year's keynote speaker is James line of telescopes for the and science fair and will be held Albury, co-host of the PBS show Observatory Gift Shop. We are on Saturday, September 13, 2014. "Star Gazers." Mr. Albury's topic also expanding the sales Anyone interested in helping with will be "Engaging the Public in opportunities to the COC the planning of the various Astronomy." Viewing will follow membership by providing ScopeOut activities is invited to the keynote presentation from 9-11 consignment sales for anyone who attend. pm (weather permitting). This is interested in off-loading year's dinner is provided by Bella astronomical equipment that is Luna Italian Restaurant. The unused, unwanted, redundant or Stargazing at Stonelick menu includes chicken parmesan, otherwise a solution in search of a vegetarian lasagna, salad and rolls. problem. The table will be in the State Park Tickets for the speaker/dinner are vendor tent area and will be $25. Contact the Observatory manned during all of the primary Saturdays – August 23 & 30 office at 513.321.5186 to make ScopeOut hours (12:00-5:00). your reservations. Please contact Dave Bosse As always, ScopeOut requires a ([email protected]) for more substantial number of dedicated details. volunteers to make it run smoothly. Unfortunately, we are going to Volunteers are still needed for have to abandon the planned "ball registration, raffle booth, parking drop" raffle as no one stepped up and the gift shop. I will have to assist with the organizing of this signup sheets available at the event. I hope we can revive the August FOTO meeting. If you idea for next year's ScopeOut. would like to volunteer and cannot Stratus will have their R22 make the August FOTO meeting, helicopter on display at the event. please email me at In addition, Tesla Motors will have Summer Skies [email protected]. Remember, one of their "Model S" electric cars in order to have your admission fee on display. Both will be Need help with your telescope? waived for ScopeOut, you must demonstrating engineering Bring it for expert tips setting it up sign up in advance of the event. principles as they relate to STEM and exploring the night sky. Plans for the "Science education. Stargazing begins at dusk. Open to Adventures" tent are coming all ages. together. We are adding more Stargazes are weather science-related activities including Did You Know…. permitting. “Friend” the Stonelick "Galileo" experiments Lake Stargazers Facebook page for (acceleration ramp, pendulum, Prior to 1929 the prevailing weather and schedule updates. tennis ball drop, etc.); AIAA wisdom was that the Universe was "rocket" build & launch; UC unchanging and eternal. Physics Dept. demos; spectroscopy 5 Union Terminal Vintage Baseball & FOTO Board Members
By Aashi Mital Astronomy Terms expire Oct. 2014 Except as noted FOTO is going to experience By Craig Niemi Union Terminal with a Private President: Michelle Gainey Rotunda Tour at the Cincinnati VP: Aashi Mital Museum Center on Tuesday, Secretary: John Barnes August 19th at 7 p.m. The tour Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen shall range anywhere from 45 FOTO Rep: Frank Huss (exp Oct minutes to an hour and fifteen minutes. The cost is $5 per person 2016) and $4 for parking. The group Trustees shall be meeting in front of the John Blasing (exp. Oct 2015) ticketing counter in the rotunda by Aaron Eiben (exp. Oct 2015) no later than 6:45 p.m. If you wish Al Scheide to go, you must email Aashi Mital Thanks again to John, Valerie and all our volunteers for putting Dave McBride at [email protected] by no later than 5:00 pm on Monday, together a great symposium. We August 8th. had a great weekend exploring the Our tour will cover much more research of Craig Waff who passed Eyes of the Night than the construction, architecture away just after the 2012 Transit of and art of Union Terminal. Venus. Outside of learning more about the Craig was in California world-famous mosaic murals, we researching the Observatory will pay a visit to the Harold C. Founder, Ormsby MacKnight Schott Union Terminal Mitchel. Craig’s research interests President’s Office, the modern were vast and interdisciplinary including uncovering thousands of Amtrak Waiting Room, the Rookwood Tea Room, possibly pre-civil War base ball games that Mr. John Ruthven is offering peruse through their prized no one was even aware of. signed, limited edition giclee' private art collection and much Symposium attendees included prints of his "Eyes of the Night" more. We hope to see you there! representatives of the Reds Hall of which features the Observatory! Fame Museum; Dr. Barbara Becker Each signed 14"x 20" print is on FOTO: Field Trip Survey (UC Irvine) who spoke on the sale for $150. The total run will be correspondence of Williams limited to 250 prints. Proceeds Huggins that Dr. Waff uncovered; By Aashi Mital support the Observatory’s Nick Kanas (Professor Emeritus programs. As many of you may have noticed, UC, San Francisco); Marc To order contact Craig Niemi at we are expanding the Rothernberg (National Science 513-321-5186 or opportunities, such as field tips Foundation) and our keynote [email protected] and group activities, available to speaker Dr. Steven Dick (NASA the FOTO Membership. In Historian and Library of wanting to grow with this process, Congress). Did You Know…. please take a moment to fill out the The attendees experiences and following survey online: the symposium, the Hall of Fame Latest finding have discovered https://www.surveymonkey.com tour, the dinner at Xavier, and of there is about 100 times as much /s/N867Z8Z We’d love to hear course the Observatory, was all water in Mars ice caps than in all your feedback. awe-inspiring. five of our Great Lakes.
6 would give the ocean a salt California, who was not involved Saturn’s Moon Titan Has a content roughly equal to the in the study. "With our long-lived saltiest bodies of water on Earth. Cassini spacecraft, we’re Very Salty Ocean Their findings also support the unlocking new mysteries as fast as idea that the moon's icy shell is we solve old ones. July 2, 2014: Scientists analyzing rigid and in the process of freezing http://science.nasa.gov/science- data from NASA’s Cassini mission solid. news/science-at- have firm evidence of an ocean The thickness of Titan's ice nasa/2014/02jul_saltyocean/ inside Saturn's largest moon, crust appears to vary slightly from Titan, which might be as salty as place to place. The researchers the Earth's Dead Sea. The findings said this can best be explained if History of the Observatory are published in this week’s the moon's outer shell is stiff, as edition of the journal Icarus. would be the case if the ocean August 10 & 24th "This is an extremely salty ocean were slowly crystalizing, and by Earth standards," said the turning to ice. Otherwise, the Drop in anytime between 1-4 pm. paper's lead author, Giuseppe moon's shape would tend to even Mitri of the University of Nantes itself out over time, like warm in France. "Knowing this may candle wax. This freezing process change the way we view this would have important ocean as a possible abode for implications for the habitability of present-day life, but conditions Titan's ocean, as it would limit the might have been very different ability of materials to exchange there in the past." between the surface and the ocean. The data also touch on a major mystery: The presence of methane in Titan's atmosphere. Scientists have long known that Titan's atmosphere contains methane, ethane, acetylene and many other hydrocarbon compounds. But sunlight irreversibly destroys Researchers found that Titan's ice methane after tens of millions of 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 shell, which overlies a very salty years, so something has What is it? ocean, varies in thickness around replenished methane in Titan's What is it doing at the the moon, suggesting the crust is thick air during the moon's 4.5 Observatory? in the process of becoming rigid. billion-year history. The new results come from a The rigid ice shell model $5 per person suggested donation. study of gravity and topography published in Icarus suggests that Free for members. Group tours by data collected during Cassini's any outgassing of methane into appointment. repeated flybys of Titan during the Titan's atmosphere must happen past 10 years. Researchers found at scattered "hot spots" (like the that a relatively high density was hot spot on Earth that gave rise to Will E.T. Be Hostile? required for Titan's subsurface the Hawaiian Island chain), not In his book Contact, Carl Sagan ocean in order to explain the from a broader process such as said that any civilization we might gravity data. This indicates the convection or plate tectonics. communicate with will have ocean is probably an extremely "Titan continues to prove itself as outgrown its warlike tendencies. salty brine of water mixed with an endlessly fascinating world," In the long run aggressive dissolved salts likely composed of said Linda Spilker, Cassini project civilizations will destroy sulfur, sodium and potassium. The scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion density indicated for this brine Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, themselves.
7 Carbon dioxide sinks are at the New Horizons Only One Year NASA Launches heart of a longstanding scientific puzzle that has made it difficult From Pluto New Carbon Observatory for scientists to accurately predict how carbon dioxide levels will NASA has successfully launched change in the future and how its first spacecraft dedicated to those changing concentrations will studying atmospheric carbon affect Earth's climate. dioxide. http://science.nasa.gov/science- OCO-2 soon will begin a news/science-at- minimum two-year mission to nasa/2014/02jul_oco2/
locate Earth’s sources of and In July 2015, NASA will discover a storage places for atmospheric new world. No one knows what SuperMoon carbon dioxide, the leading to expect when the alien landscape human-produced greenhouse gas Saturday, Aug 9th 7-10 pm comes into focus. There could be responsible for warming our icy geysers, towering mountains, world and a critical component of deep valleys, even planetary rings. the planet’s carbon cycle. At this point, only one thing is certain: Its name is Pluto. On July 14th, 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft will make a close flyby of that distant world. Because Pluto has never been visited up-close by a spacecraft Not all Full Moons are created from Earth, everything we see will equal. Some are closer to the Earth be a first. I know this will be an than others and every 14 months astonishing experience full of we get a slightly larger Full Moon. history making moment. These Supermoons make the Moon appear 14% bigger in the http://science.nasa.gov/science- sky. news/science-at- Supermoon includes tours of nasa/2014/14jul_pluto2015/ A Delta II rocket leaps off the launch pad to begin NASA's OCO-2 mission the two Observatory buildings and at Vandenberg Air Force Base in viewing through the historic Amazon “Smiles” on California. telescopes of Saturn and Mars (weather permitting). the Observatory OCO-2 will take NASA's studies Cost: $5 per person. No reservations needed. For of carbon dioxide and the global further information, please call carbon cycle to new heights. The 513-321-5186. mission will produce the most Note: The rain date for this detailed picture to date of natural event will be Sunday August 10 Amazon will donate 0.5% of the sources of carbon dioxide, as well when the Moon will be just as price of your eligible purchases to as their "sinks" -- places on Earth’s big. Cincinnati Observatory Center surface where carbon dioxide is whenever you shop on removed from the atmosphere. AmazonSmile. Next time you shop The observatory will study how Did You Know…. at Amazon simply start at these sources and sinks are http://smile.amazon.com/ch/31- distributed around the globe and Time doesn’t move at the same speed for everyone. 1665954 how they change over time.
8 Rosetta Comet May For Sale - Giant Right-Angle A Close Call for Earth Just Be a Binary Prism Binocular System Two Years Ago
FOTO member Graham Davis has This is the just past the second a giant 5-inch VIXEN right angle anniversary of a near-miss. On binocular system for sale. July 23, 2012, the sun produced an A recent review in Astronomy extreme solar storm that could magazine rated these as probably have rocked the technological the best available today in the underpinnings of modern society. price range. Fortunately, Earth was outside the Included is a custom manufac- line of fire. Images of comet 67P/Churyumov- tured yoke and tripod; green laser http://science.nasa.gov/science- Gerasimenko taken on July 14, pointer finder and three pairs of news/science-at- 2014, by the OSIRIS imaging matched Televue Nagler oculars. system aboard the European Space The views are stunning, not only nasa/2014/23jul_superstorm/
Agency's Rosetta spacecraft have wide field, but planets too! All in allowed scientists to create this fitted aluminum cases for storage Solar Flare Surprise? three-dimensional shape model of and transportation! Comes with three sets of Nagler matched the nucleus. oculars and a special right angle The European Space Agency's Lately, the sun has been Rosetta probe is approaching finder. remarkably quiet. Statistics show, Comet 67P/Churyumov- The system is on display at however, that the most potent the Observatory for inspection, Gerasimenko for a historic mission eruptions often occur during the New value $6,200. Will accept to orbit and land on the comet's declining phase of the solar cycle, nucleus. As Rosetta approaches best over around $4,300! Contact Graham Davis at 513- taking forecasters by complete the comet (now less than 9,000 km surprise. More than ever, now is away), the form of the nucleus is 667-8637. the time for X-flare alerts available coming into focus, and it is from http://spaceweathertext.com extraordinary. New Star Gazers (text) and http://science.nasa.gov/science- news/science-at- http://spaceweatherphone.com nasa/2014/17jul_rosetta/ (voice)
All Quiet on the Sun What is 55142?
A new asteroid? An earth-like SUDDEN QUIET: Less than two exoplanet? weeks ago, the sun was peppered Star Gazers airs locally on Better than that. It’s the Kroger with large active regions. Now, channels 14 and 48 and you can Community Rewards number for the face of the Sun is almost watch each month’s episodes on the Observatory. completely blank. Suddenly, the our website: sunspot number and the sun's x- http://www.cincinnatiobservator After a quick and easy sign up y.org/stargazer.html “Keep ray output have dropped to their online, every time you swipe your Looking Up!” Kroger Plus Card a donation goes lowest levels in years. Is Solar Maximum finished? Probably not, to support the Observatory’s but the ongoing quiet spell is Did You Know…. mission. No cost to you; no loss of remarkable. Check fuel points. http://spaceweather.com for Given enough time, even Black Holes https://www.kroger.com/accoun forecasts and further discussion. will evaporate entirely. t/create
9 of 'glass-pushers' patiently UC Communiversity Meet Me Outdoors walking around oil drums who
Enrich Your Life With seemed to be massaging glass Quality Courses disks of various diameters. I caught the eye of one of these mirror grinders. He was about my height and seemed to carry special authority with his peers. His Looking for one site to find this name was Richard Wessling but summer’s best outdoor recreation insisted on being addressed as events? "Dick". As an awkward pre-teen I http://meetmeoutdoors.com was unprepared for Dick's friendly
ways and the ease in which he
ignored my attempts to appear to already know all about telescopes th ScopeOut 2014: Door Prizes August 12 at 7 pm (I didn't). Planetology Aashi Mital My father passed away a year later and Dick sensed my loss by Sep 22nd at 7 pm August is here already and with supporting my growing interest in The Search for Life on Other ScopeOut just around the corner, astronomy and telescope making. Worlds we are looking for neat and nifty He was disappointed that I found giveaways for door prizes. If you mirror grinding tedious but All classes $22 per person (+ any have any items that would make nevertheless taught me much materials fees.) To register contact for stellar prizes or anyone in our about telescope design and UC Communiversity at 513-556- community who would be willing construction. What I didn't know 6932 or to donate to the Observatory, feel was that Dick was well known in www.uc.edu/ce/commu.html free to let us know by contacting the telescope making community, Dale Zoller at counting Richard Buckroeder and [email protected] Robert Cox as good friends. Scout Programs Some years later Dick's optical talents were recognized by an More Than a Telescope entrepreneur who had started a custom plastic optics manufacturer By Jeff Hutton called U.S. Precision Lens In 1968, my father noticed my (U.S.P.L.). At that time, this firm developing interest in astronomy lacked the leadership of an expert and drove me to a meeting of the in optics. After he was hired by Cincinnati Astronomical U.S.P.L., he became largely Association which we learned was responsible for most of the bubble lens arrays used in early Texas By Craig Niemi being held in the basement of the Cincinnati Observatory. Even Instruments calculators, as well as There will be no Cub Scout events then I wondered why a 'meeting' the reason a Technical Oscar was until October. would occur in the basement of awarded to U.S. Precision Lens for the old building. When we their work in projection television arrived we noticed no activity optics. In August of 1988 Dick Did You Know…. behind the aged windows and shared the stage with President finally located an unlocked door Ronald Reagan as the result of Neptunes moon Triton has active leading to the basement. U.S.P.L.'s success at exporting liquid nitrogen guyers shooting up 5- American products overseas- 10 miles above its icecaps. We were surprised that this 'meeting', was actually a gathering largely the results of Dick's work. 10 could, knowing that this scope and I joined Dick and our friends would probably be my largest, as I for a last prayer circle together in was now looking ahead to my own Dick's hospital room. retirement. My philosophy regarding any telescope is that it should be as transparent to the observing experience as possible. That is, I want to remember viewing or imaging an astronomical object, not setup or what the telescope would or wouldn't do. A welded Jeff Hutton at the steel rocker box seemed to solve Stellafane Convention many of the bulk, heat retention and rigidity issues that some In 2011 Reda and I traveled experience as they use their large from our home in Kentucky to the dobs. annual Stellafane Convention in During the summer of 2009 Dick Wessling, cleaning Springfield, Vermont. Dick completed the primary the Merz &Mahler The Stellafane gathering is mirror, had it coated and delivered considered the preeminent to me. Originally, I intended to Nearing retirement, Dick began gathering of amateur telescope wait until my retirement a few the Pines Optical Shop at his home makers in the U.S.. I entered the hears hence to build this telescope. in Milford, Ohio and became a 16 inch in the telescope The thought of a near perfect 16- full-time telescope optician. It is competition and was fortunate inch mirror waiting 5 years to be well known today that a Wessling enough to win first place in the used was just too much to bear. I mirror is one of the best. As a design and construction decided to move ahead with the result of his friendship with categories. Sadly, because I had project. By September, 2009 I was Richard Buckroeder, Dick became not produced the mirror, the preparing the steel cage to accept interested in building a Tri-mirror telescope was eliminated from the the primary mirror. Buckroeder-Schiefspiegler tele- optical competition. In 2000, By January of 2010, both mirror scope, which he speedily another telescope using Dick's cells were complete, as was produced in 4.25, 8 and 12 inch optics did win the Robert Cox construction on the upper cage. sizes. These were counted among award at Stellafane for an 8 inch On March 6, I performed my focus his many instruments, all painted tri-mirror Schiefspiegler. check. The mount was not yet in Wessling yellow and known to Dick's leadership and ready so the tube assembly rested his many friends as friendship is remembered by a on a temporary stand and pointed "Yellowscopes". great number of astronomers, both to the zenith. I placed milled pine In 2007, my wife, Reda and I amateur and professional. An sticks in the corners of the mirror had a serious discussion about asteroid, discovered in 2006, was box to adjust the primary-to- obtaining one of Dick's famed 16- named in his honor, and has been eyepiece spacing. It was on this inch short-focus mirrors. Dick's designated 242830 night that my friend, Dick powers as a mirror maker were Richardwessling. I think he might Wessling, suffered the stroke that legendary but we wondered if have preferred 'Dick'. Dick, at age 72, would continue was to end his life 11 days later. . making mirrors. Against all fiscal I had one last conversation with logic, we decided to ask Dick if he Dick. Although he couldn't open Did You Know…. his eyes he was conscious and we would produce a 16-inch mirror for us. He agreed and as Dick was discussed, among other things, my Neptune’s 900 mph winds around its completing the mirror I set about choice of the eyepiece focuser. equator are the fastest in the solar building the best 16-inch dob I Later that week, my wife, Reda system.
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