Tele Vue

Published monthly by PublishedThe Binocular monthly and Telescope since 1985Shop by The55 York Binocular Street, Sydneyand Telescope NSW 2000 Shop 55 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000 the best DECEMBER 2004 * Volume 234 www.bintel.com.au SOLARSOLARSOLAR ACTIONACTIONACTION THETHE SUN’SSUN’S UNUSUALUNUSUAL ACTIVITYACTIVITY THISTHIS YEARYEAR Three times this year there have been days with no observed sunspots on the surface of our star. Sunspots may be seen (with proper filters on a telescope) as dark spots surrounded by shadowy regions on the Sun’s surface. On one day in January and again for two days in mid-October, no sunspots were detected. Physicist David Hathaway of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre has noted that the solar minimum is approaching sooner than expected. The Sun’s activity is usually described as an eleven year cycle, although this can vary in length. The time of maximum solar activity and minimum solar activity, The Road Transport Authority has generally called Solar Max amd Solar Min occur about five to six years apart. When maximum activity is occurring the Sun is peppered with sunspots, solar been at it again! With scant regard flares erupt above the surface and the Sun ejects vast clouds of charged gas outwards ito space. Solar observers enjoy this period of increased activity with for surrounding residents feelings, the bonus of the likelihood of seeing flares and auroras. with no thought to the waste of coal- Auroras may well cause power outages in high latitudes, malfunctions in satellites, and interruptions to radio broadcasts. High flying aircraft may be sourced power, they are proposing instructed to fly at lower altitudes when flares occur. The Sun is monitored around the world twenty four hours a day. to erect a giant light tower in the west The solar cycles are not precisely 11 years long as mentioned above. They vary from nine years to about fourteen years. There is no certain way of figuring of Sydney. To make objectors ahead of time whether we will have a short or long cycle. Physicists David Hathaway and Bob Wilson at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center believe ashamed to complain they are once they have found a way to predict the date of the next solar minimum. Data from the last eight solar cycles have been examined and it was found that the Solar again covering the light polluting Minimum follows two years and ten months after the first day recorded without sunspots. If these figures are correct the next Solar Minimum will be in 2006. monster (and themselves) in a That is about a year earlier than expected. patriotic cloak. Well, I for one think observing the Sun they are a bunch of twerps. Anybody SOLAR SCOPE who thinks that the best way to AA FILAMENTFILAMENT ERUPTSERUPTS with Harry Roberts remember the legendary Light Horse COMPANY TO soldiers is to put up an illuminated, Les Sara Les Sara red-painted, phallic symbol at a Harry Roberts is a keen Sydney highway crossroads needs a reality amateur astronomer with a great JOIN UP WITH check! Or is it simply a way of interest in solar observation. MEADE INC. thumbing their noses at society because they can. See more page 2. Meade Instruments and Coronado Technology Group have ★ ★ ★ Things should start livening up in the signed a deal that sees Meade buying astronomical publishing area. Sky & the solar telescope and filter Telescope’s Australian edition manufacturer. should be on the newsagents’ shelves Coronado is a leading by now. Sky & Space’s current manufacturer of H-Alpha solar filters excellent issue will have to follow which are used to observe the Sun’s up with a blinder in January if they surface and atmosphere. These are to stay the course. Choices... highly specialised and difficult-to- choices! manufacture filters are made under ★ ★ ★ Hydrogen Alpha users often There are in fact two spe- With all the dash of a carefully controlled conditions at I received an anonymous letter witness the weird and the wonderful. cies of filament: the very long Quiet drunken snail the prominence pro- Coronado’s small factory in Tucson, nd regarding what I said about Such was the case on the 22 of Oc- Region Filaments (QRF), and the ceeded to “lift off.” By 02:54 (23 Arizona. creationism in last month’s issue of tober. Morning observations showed shorter Active Region Filaments october, about 4 hours later) I noted Coronado manufactures NIGHT SKY. The letter was well- that a big prominence had appeared (ARF) only found closely involved it “unstable and rising”. By 05:00 it about seven hundred solar scopes and reasoned and sensible... but lacked at the Sun’s eastern limb (Fig 1). with sunspot groups (Active regions, had more than doubled its initial filters each month and is hard-pressed a writer’s name. Pity, it ended up in A prominence is created when AR’s). QRF’s are usually long lived height, and a long thin tendril to keep up with expanding world- the circular filing cabinet. matter (ionised hydrogen) collects at solar phenomena, but as H-alpha re- stretched north to the site of sunspot wide demand. It is understood that the boundary between unlike searcher Prof. Harold Zirin put it in group AR 690. The eruption now Coronado sees advantages in being ★ ★ ★ Do we hear rumours that the great polarities on the Sun’s chromosphere the 1980’s : “Virtually every promi- sped up, and by 06:15 it had ex- allied to Meade as that company has John Dobson is to visit these shores (Fig. 2). Where the unlike fields nence that rises above 50,000 km will panded hugely in both width and very highly sophisticated production 1 again? We do, we do! (hear rumours, “rub” together the right conditions erupt in 48 hours.” height, attaining a height of ~400,000 facilities in California and staff who that is.) If he comes and you can get exit for material to slowly collect in The narrow space formed km, though now quite faint (Fig 3). are able to streamline production for the chance to meet him, do so. It’s a long, stable, serpentine “sausage” between the unlike polarities is analo- At 400,000 km some of the greater efficiency. It may well be that not too often that you get the chance called a filament. A typical large fila- gous to the Lagragian points in huge loop of material was clearly Meade develops a series of filter to meet a real legend. We’ll keep you ment might be 50,000 km high, Earth’s orbit, in that material can col- being drawn back to the Sun by grav- systems designed precisely for their posted. 10,000 km wide, and stretch across lect there without unbalanced forces ity. Calculation gave the rate of ejec- own range of Schmidt Cassegrain ★ ★ ★ the Sun for 500,000km; they are im- tearing it apart. The stronger and tion as a very leisurely 20 km per and Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes. Amateur astronomers in Sydney are pressive “beasts”. Seen from above, more stable the fields, the greater, and second, well under the 618 km/sec There is currently no 3 gearing up for their annual filaments appear as long black shapes higher, the filament grows. Zirin as- solar escape velocity and I assume intention to remove production from Christmas dinners just like stretching across the Sun’s disc in a sures us that the Sun “has trouble all the ejecta, now too faint to see in Arizona and relocate it to Meade’s 2 everybody else. One club is asking wavy pattern. When a filament is holding them down.” . H-alpha, fell back onto the Sun. huge facilities in California. The their members to come along dressed seen side-on, at the Sun’s limb, the When the tall prominence Overall it was a fine example of a twenty five staff at Coronado will as their “favourite astronomical filament is then (confusingly) called (Fig 1) appeared, the first task was QRF ejection, and all part of the continue production of filters and object”. Did they think this one a prominence. When at the limb a to measure its height: I calculated it weird and wonderful world of hydro- telescopes at the present factory at the through? How do you dress as a filament’s height can be accurately over 80,000 km at 22:30 UT on the gen alpha. current time. measured. The word “prominence” 22nd. It was therefore well over 1 Zirin, H. “Astrophysics of the Sun”. nebula? What about a Black Hole? can be applied to any material seen Zirin’s Limit, and the detached north- Cambridge Uni Press. P267. Does a comet slowly melt? How do projected against the blackness of ern end meant that perhaps the ejec- 2 Ibid. you dress to represent certain space at the limb, and includes other tion was already underway albeit 3 Phillips, K. “Guide to the Sun” planets? Hmmm... solar ejecta, in addition to filaments. fairly slowly. Cambridge Uni Press. P188. ★ ★ ★ I’d like to take this opportunity and The Editor of The NIGHT SKY run away with it to a tropical island. together with the staff of The Binocular and Telescope Shop No, not really! But I will take this opportunity to offer all long- would like to wish all our readers and customers suffering readers of Night Sky a a Very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year! Preparing filters at Coronado’s factory. Merry Christmas and A Peaceful New Year! Mel meets French statue ...... 2 Receive your copy Questions and some answers..... 2 SUBSCRIBE TO THE May 2005 be a every month for an better, safer and Star Map for December ...... 3 eyeful of sky news . happier year in so Mick ‘n Don ...... 4 NIGHT SKY FOR $12 many ways! The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 55 York Street, Sydney. Tel: 02 9262 1344 web: www.bintel.com.au December 2004 * Volume 234 * Page 2 OH NO, THE IDIOTS MEL PUTS ON THE ACCENT AND PICKS UP ARE AT IT AGAIN! AN INTERESTING FRENCH SCULPTOR The RTA is at it again! Not satisfied R Sculptoris is a semi-regular with their monument to themselves High in the at Glebe Island in the inner west of southern December Sydney, they are going to light up a sky you’ll find the traffic interchange at Eastern Creek. constellation With cynicism bordering on the Sculptor, which absurd they have figured that if they was created by the wrap themselves in the mantle of Dear Night Sky, French astronomer Detail in NGC 252 patriotism they can get away with a I am not sure if this is the right Abbé Nicolas de huge waste of electricity, light up the address to be writing to, but well, Lacaille in 1752. It night sky and show off their latest here goes... was originally NGC 55 is a Mag 8 spiral galaxy. toy. Forget the roads, it’s the light In your November issue of the Night named L’Atelier du Like NGC 253 it is nearly edge-on. show that counts! Sky magazine, in the Mick & Don Sculpteur – the One half of the galaxy (western side) RTA CONS RSL ONCE AGAIN comic, Mick said that he would like sculptor’s is brighter than the other. Medium Roads Minister Carl Scully to meet this Chance bloke someday. workshop and aperture telescopes show more detail announced that a fifty five metre red Well, my name is Chance... and I am in the spiral arms and a brighter, tower would be built at the junction a busy young man (at 14) but I can many Latin NGC 252 variations of this elongated central region. An Oxygen of the M4 and the new Westlink M7 spare the two minutes to write this name appear on 19th century star variable star that ranges in magnitude III filter will reveal three bright motorway. This is proudly claimed email. maps. Sculptor contains the southern from 5.8 to 7.7 over a period of about Hydrogen II regions, just visible as to be the biggest intersection of its And yes, I have been blamed for a pole of the Milky Way, which is 90° one year. It’s deep-red colour makes hazy spots near the centre of the type in Australia. Said Scully, ”The lot of very interesting stuff. from the plane of our Galaxy. When this star quite distinctive and it is galaxy. tower will feature reflected light Yours sincerely, we look in the direction of Sculptor within the ιreach of binoculars and NGC 288 is an unusual, irregular which splashes back onto the Chance Bruening (via email) we can see many faint galaxies, small aperture telescopes. group of stars, often described as an interchange and will be visible up to unobstructed by the stars, gas and S Sculptoris is another variable star. open-type globular cluster, with a two kilometres away.”. In a display Dear Chance, dust of the plane of the Milky Way. It is a red giant, Mira type variable small central condensation. A 10cm of cynicism almost as gross as the No doubt both Mick and Don will Amongst these faint galaxies is a that ranges from magnitude 5.5 to aperture telescope will show faint Minister’s, former RSL NSW branch reply to you at your email address member of our Local Group, the 13.6 over a period of a year. At its stars amongst the haze of the cluster. president Mr. Rusty Priest apparently directly. I might take this opportunity Sculptor dwarf, but before you go brightest it is well within the reach ESO 350-G40 is best known said that the local residents would get to mention that both are actually peering down your nearest large of binoculars and small aperture as the Cartwheel Galaxy and was used to the light. reasonably intelligent people, despite aperture telescope, this galaxy can telescopes, however as it dims a photographed by Hubble Space “We went through that with the rumours to the contrary. The is a only be seen in long exposure medium to large aperture telescope Telescope in 1995. It is a small ring Anzac Bridge. After the furore dies strong rumour that Mick was used by photographs on very large would be required. galaxy, with faint spoke-like features down they’ll continue to look at the Hunter S. Thompson as the main telescopes. While Sculptor has some that radiate from a bright nucleus. stars.” he is reported as saying in the character in his epic book “Fear and The stars that make up interesting stars, it is best known for The Cartwheel has 2 companion Blacktown Advocate. Loathing in Las Vegas”. Mick denies Sculptor are relatively faint, with its galaxies, many of which make galaxies, one of which is the cause Clearly, Mr Priest hasn’t had his this saying; “Urrhh, Hunter S is a Alpha Sculptoris shining at wonderful telescope objects: of the amazing appearance of this backyard or bedroom windows whacked out dope fiend. I’m into magnitude 4.3, but there are a few NGC 253 is the jewel of Sculptor. A galaxy. This object is very faint even invaded at night by unwelcome (and astronomy, not ether.” An worth a good look: Mag 7, nearly edge-on spiral galaxy, through a 30cm aperture telescope probably illegal) light spilling from autographed photo of the pair will be Epsilon (ε) Sculptoris is a binary it is nearly half a degree long and and the companion galaxies are freeways and bridges. Otherwise he sent to Chance. Editor. system with the main star having a while it can be picked up in barely visible on a good night. An wouldn’t make such a thoughtless magnitude of 5.3 and its companion binocular, an aperture of at least aperture of 40cm reveals a hint of the remark... or would he? Dear Sir, 8.6, making it visible in small 100mm is required to make out the outer ring with a small nucleus. The BAD DESIGN YET AGAIN Last month you had an interesting aperture telescopes. The stars have smudge of the spiral arms. A medium Cartwheel is about 500 million light The Anzac bridge in the city is a article about Ramadan. You wrote an orbital period of over 1,000 years aperture telescope will start to years away. classic case of bad lighting design. that it marks the end of the ‘ninth and this system lies 89 light years resolve detail in the spiral arms and Now that the warm weather Because of lack of intelligent design, month of the Muslim calendar’. How from us. the dark dust lanes in the arms, is here, spend a few nights hunting the RTA placed all the deck lighting is the Christian period of Easter Kappa1 (κ) Sculptoris is a close especially on the western side of the down a few marvelous faint fuzzies along one side. The result is that the calculated? I have read confusing binary star of magnitudes 6.1 and 6.2. galaxy. There are 3 distinct stars that this summer. Oh and don’t forget to lights are angled at forty five degrees ways of doing this. Who decides These yellow stars lie about 224 light surround the galaxy, which is often look out for that yearly, one-night- and flare into approaching drivers’ when Easter falls? years away and a telescope with an referred to as the Silver Coin galaxy. in-December phenomenon - Santa eyes, causing eye strain, especially Ron Fothergill aperture of 10cm or greater is needed NGC 253 lies about 9 million light and his reindeer of course! in rainy weather. The RTA managed Dear Ron, to clearly resolve this pair. years away. Seasons Greetings to all! Mel. to have the bridge bathed in massive It’s not too difficult to calculate the banks of floodlights. The glare would timing of Easter if you have a moon NOVAK DIES have been much worse if it hadn’t phase calculator. Easter Sunday is the A quiet man who manufactured high AUTHOR! AUTHOR! been for an outcry about light first Sunday after the first full moon quality telescope components for pollution and wasted electricity from after the Autumn equinox (Spring in amateur astronomers around the STEVE MASSEY AT BINTEL local citizens and even from Siding the Northern Hemisphere). The world, Ken Novak died recently in Spring Observatory. equinox falls around March 20 but his Wisconsin home in the USA. The designers of the lighting on the the liturgical rules for Easter specify Novak was educated at DePaul Anzac Bridge flagrantly thumbed March 21 as the date for the University in Chicago where he their noses at the lighting ANO’s calculation. So it is possible for gained an interst in astronomy. When because they can. The RTA can Easter Sunday to be as early as March he returned to his home town of effectively do as it pleases. It appears 22 or as late as April 25. The Equinox Ladysmith he set up a business to to be above the law. can be described as the moment that supply parts to amateur astronomers. The monstrous light tower slated for the Sun crosses the celestial equator. His designs were well-thought out the M4-M7-Wallgrove Road and assembled with precision. interchange is to be erected to Dear Editor, The Binocular and Telescope Shop commemorate the historical fact that Why is the map in Night Sky began importing Novak telescope “near this site between the wars reversed? I always thought that East parts fifteen years ago. In all those servicemen were barracked and is to the right of North and West is to years we were only once ever able trained.” according to Mr. Priest, its left. Your map shows the opposite. to get Mr. Novak to speak a full who was referred to as “one of this Why? sentence. He would rarely say much country’s icons” by Minister Scully. Confused reader more than “Yes.” or “No.”, or “Two Mr. Priest enlisted in 1945 and served weeks.” when asked for a delivery with the Occupation Forces in Japan Dear Confused Reader, date. He was an original. Sydney based author Steve Massey Steve’s latest and then for a further twenty odd We read most books (and maps) by will be putting in an appearance at book is a years in the Army. He then fought for looking down at them. In that case GARDNER DIES The Binocular and Telescope Shop comprehensive many years to assist returned your supposition would be correct. Max Gardiner, a member of the on Thursday, 16 December at 5pm and servicemen to achieve their rights as However, the sky is above us. You Astronomical Society of NSW died to sign his latest book, “Exploring practical a stalwart in the RSL. hold the map up over your head as recently after a long battle with The Moon”. introductory Rather than the RTA producing tacky shown in the illustration above right. cancer. This is Steve’s third book in almost guide to lighting displays around the state to Face South, hold the map over your Max was a very successful as many years; his first book Video our nearest commemorate our gallant head. The bottom of the map shows businesman who used his abilities to Astronomy was released in 2000 as neighbour, the Moon, It’s servicemen and women Minister South, the left side shows East. The assist the ASNSW to re-organize its a Sky & Telescope observers guide. packed with useful information, tips, Scully should donate the monies to middle of the map is directly operations. He was also an His second book “The Night Sky”, a and suggestions. There are sections the Education Department to ensure overhead. Curious onlookers may outstanding advocate for cancer guide to observing the Sun, Moon on the Moon’s amazing effects on the that our proud military history is think you’ve lost your marbles ... not sufferers. He was awarded the and planets was published last year. Earth as well as excellent maps, and taught properly to the young the stars, so do this privately with no Australia Medal for his efforts in that Steve has been a contributing author clear advice on how to photograph generation. Wouldn’t that be much audience. Assuming you try this in area. Amateur astronomers in NSW to numerous astronomy magazines, and video the Moon. This 224 page better than naming some minor the dark, a red coloured torch will will miss the incisive mind and books and periodicals for some years. book is a very reasonable $19.95 and roadworks or street lighting after our help you see the map without ruining action-oriented man that was Max. Meet Steve at the B & T Shop! should make an excellent gift. military heroes? Mike Smith your night vision. The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 55 York Street, Sydney. Tel: 02 9262 1344 web: www.bintel.com.au December 2004 * Volume 234 * Page 3 you can now shop on-line at www.bintelshop.com.au for astronomical telescopes

mid-evening mid December 2004

The Moon’s appearance for the Mercury is in the Saturn rises just after month of December is shown in this evening sky but heading 9pm in the East. Look for Comet Linear (K4) should be manner: towards the setting Sun. It will soon it around 11pm in the visible to experienced observers as it moves from Centaurus through be in conjunction. North East in line with twins Castor th and Pollux in Gemini. Vela and Carina. Brightness 5 Last Quarter estimates put it at about magnitude Venus rises around .Uranus is in Aquarius 11 which is extremely faint, even in th 12 New Moon 3.30am. First it plays low in the western sky. large scopes. footsies with Mars and later in the Difficult to find. Comet Linear (T7) is now rising th 13 Perigee month Mercury joins it. before midnight and will be in Crater AAO Neptune is also in the above Corvus. It should be similarly 19th First Quarter Mars is rising about 3am. West. Visually appears faint and difficult to find. The Small Magellanic Galaxy and moves into Scorpius. as a faint blue-green dot Meteor showers are sometimes more is high in the southern sky at this time 27th Full Moon where it dabbles with Venus early in in telescopes. Sets interesting. This month the best of the year. Look for it (away from the month. The Moon is just above around 9pm. Not worth the effort. shower (theoretically at least) is the city sky glow) directly South and to Geminid. Visible in the week before 28th Moon at Apogee Mars on the 10th. the right of the Large Magellanic Pluto is not happy, Jan. the middle of the month, this shower Galaxy. Being as faint as it is can produce up to a good, bright Under good conditions it is clearly The Moon was once thought to have Jupiter rises around (well beyond what you can see in meteor per minute. Wait till after visible to the naked eye. To its right, seas, The flat lava plains looked like 1.30am and is king of the your home telescope) Pluto dosn’t midnight and look in the north-east (at this time of the year) is the seas to observers on the Earth, hence north-eastern skies until dawn. It appreciate extra light pollution in the about twenty or thirty degrees above interesting cluster of stars 47 Tuc, the name ‘mare’ or ‘sea’ in Latin. The makes a great sight. To its right is sky. Turn off the lights, turn on the the horizon. Best nights should be one of the best globulars in the sky. invention of telescopes changed that! Spica in Virgo. Worth an early rise. astronomy! around the “First Day of Christmas” Binocular time! Have a butcher’s! The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 55 York Street, Sydney. Tel: 02 9262 1344 web: www.bintel.com.au December 2004 * Volume 234 * Page 4

WHERE WAS THAT STRANGE PAGAN TEMPLE? Bouncy Spring Quiz AND WHO WERE THOSE STRANGE PAGANS? QUIZ

Macarthur Astronomical Society Inc: NSW ☎ (02) 4627 1424 Ian Cook. [email protected]. Sutherland Astronomical Society Inc: NSW ☎ (02)9832 4082 Brett McMillan.www.sasi.net.au His Holy Wholiness presents the Northern Sydney Astronomical Society Inc: answers to his Bouncy Spring Quiz. ☎ David (02) 9876 6750 www.nsas.ozau.net (1) vertically along the North-South British Astronomical Association (NSW) ☎ 9398 9705 E. Cocking www.baansw.asn.au meridian. The Astronomical Society of NSW. (2) Olympus Mons on Mars. ☎ (02) 4572 1568. Adrian Saw. www.asnsw.com (3) A large telescope in Ireland. The Western Sydney Amateur Astro Group Inc ☎ Dave Gault (02) 4754 4351 (4) Alvan Clark www4.tpgi.com.au/users/wsaag (5) Table Mountain The Hawkesbury Astronomical Society: NSW (6) the universe looks the same from ☎ (02) 4572 1568 Adrian Saw . The Wollongong Astronomy Club. NSW anywhere. ☎ (02) 4261 9369 Paul Brown (7) lead. The Illawarra Astronomical Society: NSW (8) Jilin, Manchuria. ☎ (02) 4276 3199 Peter McKinnon Shoalhaven Astronomers: South Coast NSW (9) Jupiter’s moon Lysithea. ☎ (02) 4423 2255 Jack Apfelbaum (10) M-class. www.shoal.net.au~astronomy/index.html (11) 31mm The Astronomical Society of the Hunter: NSW (12) Lacerta ☎ (02) 4937 4664 Col Maybury [email protected] Ed: We received a couple of answers to last month’s questions.The most interesting was from Peter Neilson of (13) Dumbell Newcastle Astronomical Society: NSW Dubbo. Peter just happens to be the owner of the Dubbo Observatory, where the above photos were taken. Peter (14) Maurice Loewy. ☎ (02) 4950 0725 Allan Meehan (15) about 380kg www.nas.org.au didn’t say so, but I believe that the dark cape lying at the entrance of the Tardis was probably owned by a certain Jedi Central West Astronomical Society, NSW knight who did a monumental flit when struck with a light sabre.... or have I got my science fiction in the wrong (16) Ptolemy John Sarkissian: [email protected]. galaxy? Anyway, Peter wins the copy of Astronomy 2005 even though his ‘stone replica’ appears to be made by (17) 1995 Port Macquarie Astronomical Association NSW (18) Tadpole galaxy. ☎ pouring concrete into a trough dug in the ground. But I digress .... here is Peter’s letter. (02) 6583 1933 Jim Daniels. (19) Transient Lunar Phenomena Grafton Astronomical Society, NSW To Professor Shatterini ☎ (02) 6642 4130 Jeff Ashenden Two replies stood out from the Ballaarat Astronomical Society: Vic Re: Where is this strange pagan temple? etc etc: crowd, that from Alan Thomas and ☎ (03) 5332 7526 John Hastie That was a New Zealand shearing shed in the Wairapapa just north of Wellington. http://observatory.ballarat.net that from Kelly Belford, who tried It is called the Stonehenge Aotearoe (Land of the Long White Cloud). It has been built by the Phoenix Astronomical to intimidate the good professor by Bendigo District Astronomical Society Society. Strange that Night Sky just happened to feature the constellation of Phoenix in November! PO Box 164 Bendigo Vic 3552 . Barry McPhee showing that her sources of Astronomical Society of Victoria Inc However, our little cousins to the east are obviously in awe at the one tenth model of the original Stonehenge nearing information were from books as well ☎ (03) 9888 7130. Linda Mockridge completion at Dubbo Observatory. as the internet. Good to see www.asv.org.au This one is made from stone, the heel stone weighing in at 500kgs!~ What the Latrobe Valley Astronomical Society Vic KOOLANG somebody can still read out there! ☎ (03) 5174 6453 home.vicnet.net.au/~lvas Kiwi’s failed to recognize is that to make a successful replica for southern Bill Liva in Adelaide really needs to Astronomical Society of Geelong, Vic OBSERVATORY latitudes (instead of the smooth insipid structure you picture) is that if the Doctor ☎ try a little harder. His envelope was 0407 345 070 Frank Baker for details. is not around to give a few clues, then your efforts are wasted. http://members.optushome.com.au/asog George Downs Drive mainly stuffed with banknotes to Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, Bucketty NSW Cheers, Peter Neilson make up for lack of precision in his ☎ 0419 253 252 Richard Pollard for details. Ed: Before we receive a friendly visit from the Kiwi Prime Minister or second Astronomical Society of Melbourne, Vic. Friday & Saturday nights answers. C’mon Bill, the Leviathan ☎ 0412 - 318 125 Chris Ellis 02 4998 8216 row cultural representatives of the All Blacks we’ll take this opportunity of of Parsontown was not the parson’s [email protected] inviting the New Zealand astronomical society in question to send us the latest wife ... and the photograph you sent Canberra Astronomical Society: ACT photos of their creation. I did hear rumours that it was going to be ‘antiqued’ to ☎ (02) 6288 7394 Diane Purcell. Bathurst Observatory was obviously re-touched using Brisbane Astronomical Society: Qld Limekilns Road, Bathurst 2795 make it look old. If they can do ‘The Ring’ movies this should be a doddle! Photoshop ... wasn’t it? ☎ (07) 3321 8511 Darryl Mitchell 02 6337 3988 Now, while His Complete www.bas.asn.au www.ozemail.com.au/~nwilliams/bas Contiguousness forgot to mention a AURORA AUSTRALIS SIGHTED prize, he hasn’t forgotten the actual Southern Astronomical Society:Qld AURORA AUSTRALIS SIGHTED ☎ (07)5537 3852 Kevin Dixon. MAGELLAN prize itself. The prize was supposed www.sas.org.au OBSERVATORY to be .... and still is a copy of the Astronomical Association of Queensland, Qld ☎ Peter Hall (07) 3378 1173 www.aaq.org.au Lake Bathurst excellent production “Moon Phase South East Queensland Astronomical Society, near Goulburn Maps” with images by David Malin ☎ (07) 3844 7904 Dave Larkin. and Akira Fuji and produced by www.powerup.com.au/~mcerlean/index.html .... farmstay observing .... Ingham Amateur Astronomers Club 02 4849 4489 Astrovisuals of Victoria. ☎ (07) 4776 5773 Tracey Castles. Not being game to split the three best Bundaberg Astronomical Soc. Qld entries His Supine Splendidity has ☎ (07) 4159 7232 www.interwox.com.au SCIENCE CENTRE Redlands Astronomical Society Qld awarded a copy each to Kelly, Bill ☎ (07) 3822 5545 Ross Spence PLANETARIUM and Alan. Bundy Skywatchers (South-Central Qld) Please get ready for next month’s ☎ Squires Way, Fairey Meadow NSW (07) 4159 9674 Karlene Galway monumental Swinging Summer Astronomical Society of South Australia, SA planetarium, observatory, science, ☎ Quiz, when once again we stretch the (08) 8338 1231 Tony Beresford. dinosaurs, displays, souvenirs www.assa.org.au grey matter just that bit further than Astronomical Society of Tasmania, Tas 02 4286 5000 is safe for good health. ☎ (03) 6244 3476 Laurie Priest. Tom Luttrell www.ast.n3.net Astronomical Society of Alice Springs N.T. SkyWatch ☎ (08) 8952 9817 Annette Green WHAT’S NEW Darwin Astronomy Group NT observatory ☎ (08) 8945 9450 Phillip Smith Coonabarabran Gove Amateur Astronomers, NT ☎ 0417 601 490 Ian Maclean for information. (near Siding Spring Observatory) Astronomical Society of Western Australia, WA OPEN DAILY & NIGHTLY (now incorporating Murdoch Astronomical 02 6842 3303 Society) http://aswa.info ☎ (08) 9299 6347 Val Semmler. Astronomical Society of The South-West, W.A. KINGS TABLELAND ☎ (08) 9721 1586 Phil Smith. observatory Wentworth Falls, If you’d like your Society included, please contact Mike Smith at (02) 9262 1344 or Blue Mountains [email protected] with information. We’ll ...where the skies are darker... MEADE’S LXD 75 put your details in the above list. 02 4757 2954 computer-controlled scopes

Images taken by Tom Luttrell (above) and by Shevill Mathers (below) near Hobart (above) and by Shevill Mathers (below) near Luttrell Tom Images taken by that put on a wonderful light show. show the auroras early in November Tas. magnetic field and charged cause by interaction between the Earth’s are Auroras caused by different are colours in the aurora the Sun. Different particles from gases in the atmosphere. are available in stock! LXD75 6” Schmidt Newtonian Next you’ll be tellin’ me that LXD75 8” Schmidt Newtonian Mick, that’s all in the past. Cripes! Santa isn’t real. LXD75 Schmidt Cassegrain We’re now politically I’ll miss LXD75 5” and 6” refractors correct. In a multi-cultural gettin Nah, I’ll Hey Don, society we can’t dressed never tell are we gonna be afford to hurt up as a you that! Night Sky is published monthly by in the Christmas The Binocular and Telescope Shop Pty Ltd anybody’s wise man 55 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Nativity play Tel: (02) 9262 1344 Fax: (02) 9262 1884 feelings, so an singin’ Happy Mike Smith Editor. at your daughter’s Contributions are welcome. we can’t call it hymns. I Holiday Printed by Omega Creative Communications school again this 4 Campbell Street, Artarmon NSW 2064. Christmas always Season This newsletter is available at The Binocular and year? Telescope Shop and at many astronomical society anymore. enjoyed Mick! meetings and astronomy centres around Australia. Night Sky is delivered monthly to any address in that. Australia for $12.00 per year.