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http://www.mnastro.org Spring 2004 Discovering Comets Volume 29 Number 2 by J.B.Andersen Sometime ago I heard two people talking at a sky party about making a name for themselves in the field of astronomy. They both agreed that find- In the pages of ing a comet was the best route. I started to see glory. I began to see the 15 the Gemini minutes of fame that Andy Warhol said we all have. I began doing research about comet hunting and that research led to the writing of this paper. I have divided the paper into five sections: equipment, MAS Picnic how to search the sky, time commitment, attitude of the observer, and a bib- liography. Patti Neavin…Pages 4 Equipment The three factors affecting comet discovery, and any visual Messier Marathon observing, are eyes, sky, and telescope. 2004 Wrapup For comet hunting a pair of binoculars, a telescope, some sky Steve Emert…Pages 5 charts, and a good knowledge of the sky are necessary. Binoculars. The minimum aperture used for a comet discovery Messier Marathon 2004 was a pair of 7x35 binoculars by William Bradfield in 1980. Alan Touchberry…Pages 5 However, large binoculars are generally used for areas near the hori- zon. Donald Machholz, discoverer of 8 comets, uses a pair of home made 5 inch binoculars.(1) MAS Photo Page Telescope. A large telescope, such as the 10 inch reflector used Matthew T.Russell, by Machholz, searches areas farther from the setting sun; away Eric Smestad from the horizon. Howard Brewington, another avid comet hunter …Pages 7,8,9 uses a 16 inch telescope that he built.(2) However, smaller instru- ments are adequate. Many comet hunters use spotting scopes. Sky Charts. A beginning comet hunter should be familiar with Beginners SIG sky objects before starting. meeting schedule. A variety of hard copy charts may be the best situation when comet hunting. Many people however, like to keep it simple and use …Page 10 a single, favorite chart. The following catalogues are used for a variety of purposes in comet hunting: • The SAO catalogues are used for star magnitudes • The Uranometra atlases are used for locating stars, fuzzy objects and RA and Dec. of newly discovered comets • The Atlas of the Heavens is used to identify the brighter galaxies, clusters and nebulae. Continued on Page 3 MAS UPDATE Compiled by Doug Brown GEMINI INFO Support the Stars Editors Currently, the Minnesota Planetarium is closed. We are attempting to Brian Litecky build a new breath-taking facility. This educational destination will Thor Olson engage a student's curiosity like never before. It will be ideal gateway Circulation to the fascinating world of science! John Treadwell As an amateur astronomer who realizes the importance of science in our "Gemini is published quarterly by the society and economy, we would like to ask for your help. A brief Minnesota Astronomical Society. moment of your time will help create an impact that will last a lifetime. Electronic submissions for Gemini Please call or write your legislators today. The legislature is deciding may be sent to: soon. To find out who represents you call 612.630.6151, or visit our website at www.mplanetarium.org and click legislature. [email protected] Thanks & Clear Skies, Robert Bonadurer, Director Minnesota [email protected] Planetarium Society Hardcopy items should be sent to: BAD Construction Volunteers Needed! The MAS is getting very close to starting construction on a permanent MAS Gemini home for its 24" Starmaster Dob (the BAD). We plan to build a 10x12 P.O. Box 583011 foot storage building on a concrete slab. On Saturday May 1st, we will Minneapolis, MN 55458-3011 have a BAD training session and ground breaking at Cherry Grove starting about noon. We need to clear some trees and stumps, so come Send all MAS membership dues, with digging tools and chainsaws or whatever you have to help. The change of address cards, subscriptions, more folks show up, the faster it will go! This event is almost rain-or- and renewals to the current MAS trea- shine. A few sprinkles won't stop us, but outright rain will. surer. "See "How to pay your dues" on the last page of this newsletter." Patron Members MAS Officers MAS offers a patron membership to those who want to help support President: Tim Hagen our activities by paying $55 rather than the regular annual membership [email protected] fee of $22. We would like to thank the following patron members as of 763-497-1963 (home) April 2004 Bradley Beisel George Skinner Robert Eichinger Jeff Quiram Vice President: Deane Clark James Bowditch Brian Litecky Steve Cote Jack Sandberg [email protected] Kurt Casby Michael Haydock Scott and Beth Mosley W. Michael Garner 612-922-9638 Michael Conley Chris Van Krevelen Jacquelyn LaVaque Rebeca Most-Reinfeld Allan Ferber Roy Cameron Sarver H. Richard Jacobson David Carley Secretary: Tom Greenwalt William Glass Parke Kunkle Timothy Hagen Donna Lindsey [email protected] Jere Gwin-Lenth David Olmstead Daniel DesLauriers Robet Speckhals 763-784-6244 (home) Thomas Hawkinson John Glasenapp Larry Larson Greg Baril Victor Heiner Paul Schwoboda Steven Emert Skip Stein Treasurer: Patti Neavin Ben Huset Dennis Johnson Cortney Sylvester James Schenz [email protected] Michael Kibat Robert Seabold Jay Cutcliffe 651-291-7199 Louis Leichter David Eagen Chelen Johnson Stuart Levy William Perron Deane Clark, Jr. Board Member: Michael Koppelman Robert Schmidt Michael Lavely Bob Minor [email protected] John Treadwell Charles Smith Sally Jorgensen 763-595-8952 Paul Walker David Schultz William White Burton Swan Frank Dorman Douglas Oines Board Member: Michael Burr Beverly Miller Leslie Standridge Margaret Olson [email protected] Tom Alm Bill Mahaffey William Bynum 763-263-1533 Greg Haubrich Christopher Goodman Roger Conlon Doug Brown Robert Bullard Ron Bennett G EMINI 2 Other Equipment Time There are electronic devices that attach to telescopes, that Donald Machholz, discoverer of eight comets, has taken as will tell you where you are pointed. When connected to the little as 42 hours of searching to find a comet and as much correct data base, these instruments will tell you what should 1742 hours. The average time spent searching for a comet by be in the middle of your field of view when you run across a comet hunters, until a discovery, is about 1000 hours. fuzzy object. Comets will appear as fuzzy objects. Comet hunting can be very time consuming with a reward A modem may be connected to the Smithsonian being years away(7). Working eight hours a night, 5 nights a Astrophysical Observatory allowing use of the SAO search week, it would take 6 months to get in the 1000 hour average menu to see if any known comets are in the part of the sky you for a comet discovery. are observing. If you were able to dedicate 8 hours per week to comet hunt- Another equipment possibility is to rent the Mount Wilson ing you could get in 1000 hours in 21/2 years! 24 inch telescope.(3) There is also an annual competition for amateurs to use the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).(4) A pos- Attitude sible project could involve searching the newly discovered Many of the successful comet hunters, those with lots of dis- Kuiper Belt. Gerard Kuiper proposed the belt over four coveries, seem to be driven by the hobby. They are highly decades ago and recently a team at the University of Texas, focused. Austin, lead by Anita Cochran found 30 comets using the HST. I have a sad dog story that applies to some comet hunters. It is estimated that there are at least 100 million but probably Recently a friend was out running with her dog in a highly 10 billion objects in the belt.(5) wooded area. She and the dog accidentally scared up a deer. The dog took pursuit. One of the trees had a dead branch stick- Searching the Sky ing out from the trunk. The dog impaled itself full in the chest Covering both the morning and evening sky is essential. on the dead branch and died within 30 seconds. There is a les- About 70 percent of a comet hunters viewing should be done son in this story for people who are too focused. in the morning. All eight of Donald Machholz’s discoveries have been made in the morning sky.(6) Probably the most extreme example of being driven to find comets is that of Howard Brewington. He introduces himself Begin by sweeping with the binoculars on a mount parallel as “Howard Brewington, comet hunter.” to the horizon. Then use a large reflector telescope sweeping in declination, along the same right ascension. It is best to He gave up a small business and his wife a teaching position learn to keep the telescope moving and not to use a hop and so that he could move from South Carolina to the more favor- stop method. able skies of New Mexico. If you search visually you gain the advantage of immediate- David Levy has said of him that, “He is so competitive about ly confirming a find, however a battery of cameras with fast his work that sometimes he loses the enjoyment.” Brewington film may be able to cover more sky and see just as deep as a himself has said, “Comet hunting is not fun; comet finding is.” live observer. He further contends that he has not looked through a telescope for fun since 1988, “Comets are my life, but I want astronomy Start covering the evening sky just after full moon and then to be fun again.”(8) work toward the morning sky.