Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

February 2017 Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? - New member Jane. This was her first time to a meeting. Learned about BBVAS at the Erwin Lake Star Party. Attendees were Stan, Deanna, John V, Claude, Teresa, Wes, Dick, Randy, Jane, John D, Byron, Matt and Tom.

 Announcements: None

 Treasurer/Membership Report: . 30 paid members. . Treasury currently at $788.50

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Virtual Lecture-Dr. Paul Butler, co-discoverer of Proxima B planet live from Oz!! - Unanimous opinion is that it was great! - That and other past lectures are available on our BBVAS Facebook page. . December’s Solstice Potluck - Great fun!

 Activities . February 23, Dr Kelley Fast, NASA HQ – Hunting NEO’s - This talk was rescheduled to this month after being cancelled due to weather last month. - Topic will be “Planetary Defense”. - This led to a comment that a recent meteor came down in Lake Erie! . Star Party Feb 25th – where? GMARS or Johnson Valley? - This will fall on the actual night of new moon. - Teresa will check that it’s okay with GMARS. - We will meet at China House and caravan to the site.  It was pointed out that there had recently been a problem with the coop well in Lucerne Valley and China House didn’t have water. We will verify that this is no longer a problem before the star party.  A route map will be emailed out to everyone. . March 3 – Urban Assault, finally! - Weather and ground snow permitting, we will set up in the normal spot in the Village.

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - Friday, the Moon will rise in penumbral eclipse. The eclipse will be mostly over by the time it rises. - Saturday will be close approach of comet P45. Unfortunately, it’s too faint even for binoculars. This will be in the very early morning, under a full Moon and in clouds. Consensus opinion is don’t bother… - There are two comets coming in late March that may be much brighter. - Randy talked about changes made to website. More links and astronomical information. Custom charts, calendars, etc. for our area. Check it out!

 Scheduling: . Field trip(s) this spring? Suggestions of Mt Wilson and/or ? - Perhaps April or June would be good weather for a visit to Mt Wilson. - We will contact to inquire.  Questions:  Can the interferometer be toured?  How about the 150’? - Other suggested locations that would make good future field trips came up through the rest of the evening. These included:  Hawthorn St. Carnegie Facility.  JPL  SpaceX  SOFIA . March Virtual Lecture – Dr Steve Howell, Kepler K2 Mission update - Scheduled! Will send out email blast with details before the event.  Byron asked that we ask Steve if we could get hold of around a half dozen signed copies of his SciFi book, Keplers Dozen. - The April lecture will be Teresa’s ex-boss, Tom McMahon. Tom will give us a virtual tour of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory. - No May lecture due to RTMC. . Informal discussion (over a pint?) re Juniper Park Observatory - Randy heard that Bill Hornaday’s partner in the facility wants to keep the observatory and fix it up! . Library Star Parties and Lectures – Need letter finished and submitted - We’ve dropped the ball and need to get back to arranging things. . DC asked us to participate in Nature Nights again, need dates and speakers (one a month)? - We’ve gotten behind here as well. Megan will be contacted to see when/if they want us back. . Next beginner talk? - Randy is postponing his talk on Planetary filters until next month.  Randy on Planetary Filters! . Postponed until next month.  General Discussion: . Deanna made “Official Amateur Astronomer” Certificates that can be given to students, etc. that attend our star parties. - Teresa moved that we spend money to get a supply of them printed.  The motion was seconded and approved. - A discussion then ensued about how to keep printing costs under control but a lot of excitement was voiced about how this could spark an interest in astronomy, especially among young students. . Randy donated a series of Astronomy Magazine DVDs to start a BBVAS library. - Others said they would be interested in donating books and other materials. - Deanna volunteered to act as librarian. - Randy said he can put the library’s catalog on our website. Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

March 2017 Agenda

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? none . Members present: Byron, Claude, Teresa, John V., Deanna, Stan, Joan, Vatch, Wes, Randy, Jane, Chris, John D., Steve, Bill

 Announcements: . BBSO Tours resume in April. New docent training available! - Starting after April 15 - Looking for more Docents to lead tours. . BBSO back on-line after re-coating in November and Focuser repair in January.

 Treasurer/Membership Report: . 34 members, and $814.00 in the coffer.

 Librarian Report (And Astronomer Certificates): . Deanna presented sample Certificates . Deanna reported that the library is getting too large to transport to meetings. . We will put the library contents on the website. If you want to check out an article, send email to Deanna. Lots of Astronomy DVDs available for check-out.

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Virtual Lecture- February 23, Dr Kelley Fast, NASA HQ – Hunting NEO’s - Good lecture, good info

 Activities . Virtual Lecture- March 23, Dr Steve Howell, Kepler K2 Mission update! Books should be here by the lecture! . Star Party March 25th – where? GMARS or Johnson Valley? Messier Marathon! - We voted to try GMARS again. Details to follow . March 31 – Urban Assault Public Star Party in the Village . Club t-shirts can be ordered… if interested, please contact Teresa

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? Lyrids meteor shower, April 16-26 with the peak on/about April 22 near the central star Vega. (is that VEEGA, or VAEGA ?) 

 Scheduling: . Field trip to Mt Wilson this spring - Pricing – It’s $15 pp for tour guide, 10 persons min - Best Dates? Teresa will check availability on a weekend. - Lots of member interest. . April Virtual Lecture – The April lecture will be Teresa’s ex-boss, Tom McMahon. Tom will give us a virtual tour of the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory. - No May lecture due to RTMC. . Library Star Parties and Lectures – Need letter finished and submitted . DC asked us to participate in Nature Nights again, need dates and speakers (one a month). We’ve proposed : April 21, May 13 (if a Saturday is ok), May 19 (Secondary May date), June 16, July 14, Aug 11. Waiting for reply on the dates. . April 23 – AWB’s GAM SunDay – shall we participate? Agreed that club members will participate, likely at the Discovery Center with solar telescopes. . Next beginner talk? - Basic telescope class… Teresa to give intro to different kinds of scopes, and members may bring scopes to demonstrate. . Shall we have a solar telescope demo at the August 26 Big Bear air fair? Bill will contact airport to see if we can get a vendor spot. This is shortly after the US solar eclipse, so if you’ll be in town and if you have a solar telescope, please contact Claude or Teresa.

 Randy on Planetary Filters! . Great demo on filters. Here is a link to the cool handout that Randy provided: - http://agenaastro.com/choosing-a-color-planetary-filter.html . Randy’s handout for the March skymap: http://skymaps.com/skymaps/tesmn1703.pdf   General Discussion: General Calendar:  March 23, Virtual lecture: Dr Steve Howell, Kepler K2 Mission update  March 25th – star party GMARS… Messier Marathon  March 31- Urban Assault public star party in the Village  April 13- next club meeting at Dennys  April 21- Nature Nite at the Discovery Center (to be confirmed)  April 22- Lyrids meteor shower peak near Vega  After April 15… BBSO Docent-led tours start  April 23 – AWB’s GAM SunDay at Discovery Center?  April 27- virtual lecture: Tom McMahon on the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory  August 26 Big Bear air fair * Big Bear Valley

Astronomical Society Big Bear VaUey Astr onomical Society

April 2017 Agenda and Minutes

.f Welcome: • New members or 1st time visitors? • Members present: Randy, Jocelyn, Wes, Claude, Teresa, Deanna, Steve, Joan, Stan, Bill, Dick, Matt, Tom, Vatch, Mack

./ Announcements: • Byron talked with John Day ... John sounded good and it ready to come home .

./ Treasurer/Membership Report: • 42 paid members • $828.50 in the coffer

./ Librarian Report (And Astronomer Certificates): • Resources are available ... just contact Deanna • Certificates will be available in a couple of weeks • Motion to purchase 100 solar sunglasses ($80.00) - 2nd by Vatch - Vote: unanimously approved • Order placed by Deanna

./ Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: • Virtual Lecture- March 23, Dr Steve Howell, Kepler K2 Mission update "WOW", livery interesting", "wonderful presentation", etc. • Star Party March 31 at High Chaparral - Lots of attendees, but way too cold for an "all-nighter", good seeing • "Urban Assault" March 31 - Claude and Teresa presented the night sky to about 30 passersby. - Most visitors were very interested in the telescope and the night sky. • BBSO Docents Meeting - All Docents were present except John Day. Claude and John V. gave presentation about the changes and updates on the facility. ./ Activities • Virtual Lecture April 20 - The April lecture will be Tom McMahon, Engineering Manager for the Large Binocular Telescope. Tom will give us a virtual tour of the LBT Observatory. - Note the date ... moved up from the usual 4 th Thursday - http://www.lbto.org/ • Discovery Center Star Party Fri April 21- No Lecture, just bring 'scopes! Change May 13 to May 21? Other dates: June 16, July 14, Aug 11 - We chose May 21 as the 2nd date for this season ... more dates to follow • May 13 - Field Trip to Mt Wilson! We can still accommodate 4 more on the tour. Deposit is sent in, so we're a go! Carpool? nd • BBSO Tours now every 2 and 4th Thursday at 2pm. First tour of this year th is Apr 27 • • April 23 - AWB's GAM SunDay at Discovery Center - bring your solar scopes!

./ Chief observer report. • What's up this month? - Comet Lovejoy, no naked eye, see handout

./ Scheduling: • Star Party April 29 - l=Iigh Chaparral? - Now to be held at Matt's house (Thanks Matt and Katie) • May S - Urban Assault Public Star Party in the Village • Library Star Parties and Lectures - Need letter finished and submitted • Next beginner talk? Nothing defined yet .

./ Teresa on Telescope Types • Very nice comprehensive presentation on the various types of telescopes .

./ General Discussion:

Consolidated event calendar: April 20 Virtuallecture ...and virtual tour of the LBT April 21 Discovery center star party in the upper parking lot April 23 AWB's GAM SunDay at Discovery Center - bring your solar scopes ! April 27 1st BBSO tour lead by Docents April 29 Star party at Matt's house M ayS Urban Assault public star party in the village M ay 11 Next club meeting at Dennys M ay 13 Mt. Wilson tour May21 Discovery center star party in the upper parking lot

, Q "13 • ,\ . 'ii dOlSsr s ' .. G J . ..V.( ,, ;U?';d-'J- SKY MAP SHOWS Get Sky Calendar on Twitter ~ -t- ~~~'l / '\~ n3Hm - Fe. HOW Sky Calendar - April 2017 http://twitter.com/sky maps ~ ifi "~ • /( . '\...... I ~<)o .?'~ v~ THE NIGHT SKY LOOKS ~ ~ 0 r" \ \\ • J'",,, <9 ).. EARLY APR 10 PM 1 Moon near Aldebaran (evening sky) at 9h UT. Occultation visible y""~~ .fi':<>'~ ~ r ,~'Js"IJ \~ i q,;oo I . /0 I "1t", "'o~ v-!;» LATE APR 9 PM from southern Asia , Japan, and Korea. £>" {?~" 'l~ ' . ~ \ ~k Ol",,@ ~ . (Add 1 Hour For OayHgtrt: Siring) § ~.t ct . " -l> k ,1'· 0 ~~'\- • \ . --...; . --..':i;y' 10 SKY MAP DRAWN FOt 1 Mercury at greatest elongation east (19 ° from Sun, evening sky) ,,~l ~ ~ "'0 ---J...;_ ,." ..-----, ' " ,~ ~ • / oS' ?"'/ ,,~'" / . \ ~ . o?.,. -c.~ :y NORTHAHHS c:} o~ ~ ., /' / '! oS'.. , ~ SUIrABU FO R 3 First Quarter Moon at 18:40 UT. 4>"» /.. • ______./ .~ ~O'. <"~ Y"~ LATIJUDESUP ~"" ~.,'" .>. §? '>-:;;; . ,, --~ (\ / ~\ 'A . oS',,' '. , I ':'.:, ";) T01S ' NIlUII / '4~ / ' 110 -0 s~ el o d ~L , . • ---. -.,,". 'i> ' ~, ~ '-''t> OF'PIS ~ ~ I )'3t\d\ Q 0) --' ---' ~ :.;;l ~ visible from southe rn South Ame rica . ; ~ '/ Jt;,'" ~'O® a\\\\1 ~ "'>. ~~ g.. 0 . t . . hUT B' b ~ il: ~ • ~ ~J ~~ =~ ~ 7 Juplter a opposItIon at 21 . est time to 0 serve IS !l • ,; / . , ~ e ",-- M ~ ~c:> '" \. .... , .& ----. '/ . • •~ ~ ~ the largest planet in the sola r system. Mag . -2.5. :;j {i' ~ .- .- 'e.-... ~ I o,J> ~ '" ., /L--, I::: cu I -~___ !o zew ' / ~. ~ \ /rr-. {. ' ~ "" 10 Moon near Jupiter (midnight sky) at 23h UT. Mag. - 2.5. ,/ 7 -.----,- iio! @ • .. - // / ' . ' C- ~ § .'" / // l ~ J ,>"'~'>-' ~' ! lew _,-0. \ ""-..: "'", ~ -1/·/'/ / ~o¥/>.--~: t ~ 11 Full Moon at 6:08 UT. t:: Q ~/ ~4> ladd\Q ' ..______--.• ., / \ . --~ / / ,;, ~ . ~ ~ ~~----- __ / : ,.., c.y:.~~~\'il a ~" //"' .". "t- / ./ J. :9. . ~ '" --- / ~Q 'I'.J:.el: ~ If.- ; IV \""' :<{. to :c 11 Moon near Spica (midnight sky) at 10h UT. ~ / 0£ 1..-1 :'l ----. I ~: ... ..----- ______\ "1') / .... ~ I '\ $~ . /'\ \ . ' / ! 'fj, / / . . - . ~ 15 Moon near Antares (morning sky) at 7h UT. & .. /~ '" j ... ," ~ \) HO[VW '-: / ~ .:E :£"'1 / ?\ ?;; VSHn 0 t- :r-<'" ____, / "G"'l.---" \=0 ' . ....," 3: < \ /' ~ I "I,:) / .e"' / . w 0\ ~ ,'\ ~ 15 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 10h UT .- I'b ~ . \Cl"' ~'" / . . " VI \0 c:: ~ == "' .I 11 .{lo- z;: '" ~ _ . ----.-~ ::::l ..... / t-I (distance 405,475 km; angular size 29 .5'). "'./'-.;; ~." "~ ... ~ z \ .• --~,~ . ! ..~ I 0 . \\ ~ t c:. . ' Ii; '" ~ I~ " j QJ ~ \ / ~.- § ~ \ + -'Ii. ~ , ._(~ // '\ ~ / /.\ IIJ ~ I:; I \ • '" \ • J: r ',·,,?__ .--- - e ~ . _"' ..,{.--/ J: ~ ~ -~ ! I \ • ,/ / " I- » n -;::;~ i \ ~$ .'~ ,. .. >'" / ' ~ : \ / \ ---' :5 o~ ".... "'l1lI'"c: '" ___ e. / - ', ' \" v- /' /' . - '; 10...;- • . .-- ~ .". .. %. . -----,. " 1. ' \ ,, / ~q. ~ . ., ~ ~~ £u Plen:uryal1nTenorconJunCllon wnnlne,::,unaI -t (1) ~ e.. ~~ "";:'-- t-~/ v..\" 17'+--- :: \0 OJ "- :c: p,., -7 (::. 0;. ~ A (.... ~ Q:' ~'" -S LL.I 6h UT. Mercury passes into the morning sky. "; ~. • • ~ k .' r' 0 ~,<,,\, // i "'. $~ , co LeO[ .S' IE o " Th@ 'Qo.:: / \..~ /' ! ""'~." c: ra 0 21 Mars 3.5 SSE of the Pleiades (28 ° from Sun, ~ Cl · r~~ ' a ."::::.....-.- - .~~."- / ' .~'$ ">:. i / \ .:8 ~ . k ) ;t. d •.-...... ? ~<1 .e/J(J(; ---- ~...... -.;:. 0 .. t; • ...., ~ evemng s y at 20h UT. Mag . 1.6. Si, ~ "'" ~ "-i- Ofq • -I- I • lyra. Expect t ';./. / \ .'---".' J- "ef \ / ___- i --- //' ",- ","' .~ ! f!J '(j. ;;) /' ' lull" 0- 0-- - - " ' , " '" "" 10 to 20 bright, fa st meteors pe r hour at its pea k. --,~. . j " '-- .... , ' ~!- - - • \ ~'" ------~<> ~ s:if !! ~ ~ ~ - ~ '- \ . '- 7-- \ .$" {:t ~ 23 Moon near Venus (morning sky) at 21h UT. Mag. -4.5. ~ :2.",. '---,<, E!I,J!:Jl~ - - -' . :/ llV ). ,0 ':. ~ , '2.;---. - / { ""~ "1l '9> / I 1 ' ..- . '-./ .q, 0 • o~ 1!:- 27 Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 16:14 UT (359,327 km ; 1>. "/'''0 • = "''-' Us ~~~~ / ' • oIi> .,i' f->& Double Star • (270 vA' '" / . ~ c:; ,\> ~ 28 Moon near Mars from Sun, evening sky) at 9h UT. Mag. 1.6. fQ- ~'" " "i ,s.... ~ 9,,,'<) Variable Star '" 28 Moon near Aldebaran (32° from Sun , evening sky ) at 18h UT. . <9<,,<», ' '0'/ ~ s<:-~ Di ffu se NebuLa D ""q • • • >10'" Occultation visible from eastern Europe and north central Afri ca. ~ ~ . ~ Planeta ry NebuLa {J .:r 11 81116 ''h'gh u . SOUTH • . 6 ~\I:~ ,, '¥-\ 'i<\(,V-~ tar agRitu es ,1 0 1 2 3 4 • STA R ATLASES & PLA NI SPHER ES • STAR CHARTS & ASTR O POSTE RS itT ST4 P In the So .,50C\.l:e ,,\I\\~" UJ~map'o~ • BOO KS FO R SKY WATC HER S • TELE SCOP ES & BINO CU LARS 7(7 1/ PA,/fERN l uthern sky. Regulus .nd Leo have been S~O~S 1 ~'- Copyright © 2000- 2017 Ky m Th alassoudis. All Rights Res erved . AIL sales support the product ion and free distribution of Th e Evening Sky Map • • N FHE SkY. l NSTRUCTIONS: THE SK'i t-I~P • TER MS OF USe, fREE fOR NON,COMMERCIAL EDUCATIO NAl US E ASTRONOMY EDUCATION GROUPS MAY FREElY DISTRIB UTE PR INT ED HAN DOUTS. FUll D£TA llS AT http://Skymaps,comj lerms.html About the Celestial Objects LIoI !::t Easily Seen with the Naked Eye LIoI Aur • Th e 6th brightest star. Appears yellowish in color. Spectroscopic binary. Dist=42 ly. Listed on this page are several of the brighter, more interesting celestial objects :z:= N Capella visible in the evening sky this month (refer to the monthly sky map). The objects are = Arcturus Boo • Orange, giant Kstar. Name means "bear watcher". Dist=36.7 ly. "­ .... Sirius CMa • The brightest star in the sky. Also known as the "Dog Star". Di st=8 .6 ly. grouped into three categories. Those that can be easily seen with the naked eye (that en -a::::: Procyon CMi • Greek name meaning "before the dog " - rises before Sirius (northern latitudes) . Dist=11.4 ly. is, without optical aid), those easily seen with binoculars, and those requiring a iE LIoI A­ Castor Gem • Multiple star system with 6 components. 3 stars visible in telescope. Dist=52 ly. telescope to be appreciated. Note, aLL of the objects (except single stars) will :z: ce Pollux Gem • With Castor, the twin sons of Leda in classical mythology. Dist=34 ly. appear more impressive when viewed through a telescope or very large z: Re gulus Le o • Brightest star in Leo. A blue-white star with at least 1 companion. Dist=77 ly. binoculars. They are grouped in this way to highlight objects that can be seen using Vega Lyr • The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-wh ite star. Dist=2S.0 ly. LIoI Betelgeuse Ori • One of the largest red sup ergiant stars known. Diameter=300 times that of Sun. Dist=430 ly. the optical equipment that may be available to the star gazer. = Algol Pe r ® Famous eclipsing binary star. Magnitude varies between 2.1 & 3.4 over 2. 867 days. ~ Aldebaran Tau • Brightest star in Taurus. It is not associated with the Hyades star cluster. Dist=66 .7 ly. Tips for Observing the Night Sky Polaris UMi • The North Pole Star. A telescope reveals an unrelated mag 8 companion star. Dist = 43 3 ly. z: Spica Vir • Latin name means "ear of wheat" and sho wn held in Virgo's left hand. Dist=250 ly. When observing the night sky, and in particular deep-sky objects such as star clusters, = nebulae, and galaxies, it's always best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct Easily Seen with Binoculars light from street lights and other sources. If possible observe from a dark location M38 Aur .::; Stars appear arranged in "pi" or cross shape. Dist=4,300 ly. away from the light pollution that surrounds many of today's large cities. M36 Aur ':: Abo ut half size of M38. Located in rich Milky Way star field. Dist=4,100 ly. You will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darkness-usually about 10 to r-n• M37 Aur Very fine star cluster. Discovered by Messier in 1764. Di st=4,400 ly. 20 minutes after you go outside. Also, if you need to use a torch to view the sky C, M44 Cnc co Praesepe or Beehive Cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Dist=590±20 ly. map, cover the light bulb with red cellophane. This will preserve your dark vision . , , , M3 CVn ED Easy to find in bi noculars. Might be glimpsed with the na ked eye. Mell11 Com ':.' Coma Berenices. 80 mag 5-6 stars in 5 deg. Dist=283 ly. Age=400 million yea rs. Finally, even though the Moon is one of the most stunning objects to view M39 Cyg ,':: May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions. Dist=900 ly. through a telescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of •• v Draconis Ora • Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. Dist=100 ly. the fainter objects very difficuLt to see. So try to observe the evening sky on eo M35 Gem Fine open cluster located near foot of the twin Castor. Dist=2,800 ly. moonless nights around either New Moon or Last Quarter. M13 Her ED Best globular in northern skies. Discovered by Halley in 1714. Di5t=23,000 ly. M92 Her e Fainter and smaller than M13. Use a telescope to resolve its stars. M48 Hya ':, 12+ stars in 7x binoculars. Triangu lar asterism near centre. Dist=1 ,990 ly. Astronomical Glossary , R Hydrae Hya ® Long period variable. Mag varies between 3.0 & 11.0 over 390 days. Brilliant red . = R Lyrae Lyr ® Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days. Conjunction - An alignment of two celestial bodies such that they present the least 223 2 Man ':: A large scattered star cluster of 20 stars. Dist=1,300 ly. angular separation as viewed from Earth . 2244 Mon Surrounded by the rather faint Rosette Nebula. Dist=5,540 ly. Constellation - A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern. ICC M50 Mon ':' Visible with binoculars. Telescope reveals individual stars. Dist=3 ,000 ly. , Cr 69 Ori Lambda Orionis Cluster. Dist=1,630 ly. Diffuse Nebula - A cloud of gas illuminated by nearby stars. Double Cluster Per Double Cluster in Perseus. NGC 869 & 884. Excellent in binoculars. Dist=7, 300 ly. Double Star - Two stars that appear close to each other in the sky; either linked by M47 Pup ':.' Bright star cluster. 15+ stars in 7x binoculars. Dist=1,500 ly. gravity so that they orbit each other (binary star) or lying at different distances from M46 Pup Dist=5,400 ly. Contains planetary NGC 2438 (Mag 11 , d=65") - not associated. en, M5 Ser e Fine globular star cluster. Telescope will reveal individual stars. Dist=25, 000 ly. Earth (optical double) . Apparent separation of stars is given in seconds of arc (") . , , Mizar & Alcor UMa • Good eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Mizar has a mag 4 companion. Ecliptic - The path of the Sun's center on the celestial sphere as seen from Earth. , Telescopic Objects Elongation - The angular separation of two celestial bodies. For Me rcury and Venus , , , the greatest elongation occurs when they are at their most angular distance from the E Bootis Boo • Red giant star (mag 2.5) with a blue-green mag 4.9 companion. Sep=2.8". Difficult to split. Sun as viewed from Earth. M67 Cnc ':, Contains 500+ stars mag 10 & fainter. One of the oldest clusters. Dist=2 ,350 ly. C, M94 CVn t? Compact nearly face-on spiral galaxy. Dist=15 million ly. Galaxy - A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity. M51 CVn t? Whirlpool Galaxy. First recognised to ha ve spiral structure. Dist=25 million ly. Cas • Yellow star mag 3.4 & orange star mag 7.5. Dist=19 ly. Orbit=480 yea rs. Sep=12". Globular Star Cluster - A ball-shaped group of several thousand old stars. {l '"E 1] Cassiopeiae ~ M64 Com t? Black-Eye Galaxy. Di scovered by J.E. Bode in 1775 - "a small, nebu lous star". Light Year (ly) - The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 kmjsec in one year. '" 3242 Hya ~ Ghost of Jupiter. Bright blue disk. Mag 11 central star. Dist=2,600 ly. Magnitude - The brightness of a celestial object as it appears in the sky. ~ IV M83 Hya t? Classic face-on spiral. Di scovered in 1752 by Lacaille. In attractive star field. f:? E Y Leonis Leo • Superb pair of golden-yellow giant stars. Mags 2.2 & 3.5. Orbit=600 yea rs. Sep=4 .4". Open Star Cluster - A group of tens or hundreds of relatively young stars. ~ Monocerotis Mon • Triple star. Mags 4.6,5.0 & 5.4. Requi res telescope to view arc-shape. Sep=7 .3". Opposition - When a celestial body is opposite the Sun in the sky. ~ 2264 Mon Christmas Tree Cluster. Associated with the Cone Nebula. Dist=2,450 ly. M1 Tau 0 Crab Nebula. Remnant from supernova which was visible in 1054. Dist=6,500 ly. Planetary Nebula - The remnants of a shell of gas blown off by a star. M8l UMa t? Beautiful spiral galaxy visible with binoculars. Easy to see in a telescope. Universal Time (UT) - A time system used by astronomers. Also known as Greenwich M82 UMa t? Close to M81 but much fainter and smaller. ~ 3132 Vel ~ One of the brightest planetaries. Magnitude 10 central star. Dist=2 ,600 ly. Mean Time. USA Eastern Standard Time (for example, New York) is 5 hours behind UT. M104 Vir t? Sombrero Gala xy. Almost edge-on spiral galaxy. Protruding central core. Variable Star - A star that changes brightness over a period of time. C() YVirginis Vir • Su perb pair of mag 3.5 yellow-white sta rs. Orbit=l69 years . At their closest in 2005. The Evening Sky Map (ISSN 1839-7735) Co pyright '" 2000-2017 Kym Thalass oudi s. All Rights Reserved. Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

May 2017 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? - Sarah Kettler . Members present: Wes, Vatch, John D., Claude, Teresa, Deanna, Byron, Randy, Lydia, Dick, Tom Christine, Jim, Bill.

 Announcements: none

 Treasurer/Membership Report: . $782.50 and 42 paid members

 Librarian Report : Solar sunglasses are here! . Please email Deanna to borrow books/etc: [email protected]

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Virtual Lecture- Tom McMahon, Engineering Manager for the LBT, with a virtual tour of the LBT Observatory. - Great presentation/ amazed about the actual size of the LBT . Star Party April 22 at Matt’s House - Good attendance/great hot chocolate/good seeing . April 23 – AWB’s GAM SunDay at Discovery Center - About 40 visitors/ good response . Discovery Center Star Party Fri April 21 - LOTS of visitors/ need to turn off the parking lots lights next time(s) . BBSO Tour today - 15 visitors including some kids/good questions/comments

 Activities . Discovery Center Star Party Sat May 21 (correction: May 20) – No Lecture, just bring ‘scopes! Other dates: June 16, July 14, Aug 11 - Will need presenters for June, July, and August . May 13 – Field Trip to Mt Wilson! We can still accommodate 4 more on the tour. Deposit is sent in, so we’re a go! Carpool? Meet at the BB airport parking lot for caravan/car pool. . BBSO Tours now every 2nd and 4th Thursday at 2pm. - Additional Docents requested…please sign up if you’ve attended the intro training.

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - 3 comets visible via binoculars, with comet Johnson being the best. See attached starmap showing the comet’s paths.

 Scheduling: . RTMC Expo – Need Observatory Volunteers - Teresa now has about 7 names of club member who will staff the Domes. - Need contact with Matt at Camp Oakes to pre-test the 2 scopes. . Next beginner talk? - Comuterized Astronomy . International SunDay Jun 18 – Participate? Conflict with Father’s Day, no joy . Urban Assault Friday Jun 2nd in the Village… confirmed . Another Erwin Lake Public Event – Jun 17? Or July? Club voted for a July date tbd. . Star Party Jun 24 – where?... confirmed date, but location tbd . June virtual lecture on Spin Casting telescope mirrors

 General Discussion  Summary of Future calendar events: . May 20…Discovery Center star party, upper parking lot, starts at dusk . May 25… NO virtual lecture: conflict with RTMC . May 26 and 27… RTMC at Camp Oakes/Lake Williams . June 2… Urban Assault in the Village, NE corner of Village Drive/Pine Knot . June 16… Discovery center star party, upper parking lot, starts at dusk, need presenter . June 22… Virtual Lecture on Spin Casting of mirrors . June 24…Star party… location TBD . July 14… Discovery center star party, upper parking lot, starts at dusk, need presenter . August 11… Discovery center star party, upper parking lot, starts at dusk, need presenter   Reference to past Virtual Lectures… congratulations and a million thanks to Claude and Teresa for arranging the speakers over the last several years… what a very cool program. . Tom McMahon on the LBT: https://youtu.be/bJ-MMtUM-ug . Steve Howell on Kepler and K2: https://youtu.be/W69S3761u98 . Paul Butler on alien worlds and the history of science: https://youtu.be/j2oJ8_wjhpA . Mark Giampapa on Solar Stellar connection: https://youtu.be/L7ymAzjdFTA . Sarah Marcotte on Mars 2020: https://youtu.be/4PD7zrzjzBg . Jay Pasachoff on solar eclipse: https://youtu.be/_FoNUDaWMq4 . Eric Young on SOFIA: https://youtu.be/juCl1cYrYQI . Bill Welsh on KOI-54: https://youtu.be/Ymezzyc-N7Q . Grace Chase on Infrared mysteries of star birth: https://youtu.be/0pOy0wcvELQ . Don McCarthy on Pluto occultation: https://youtu.be/TwbOyHfcZDw . Dan Durda on New Horizons: https://youtu.be/f0qNY-Y1V7c . Joe Tenn on astronomer Frank Schlesinger: not available . Pedro Sada on Exoplanets: https://youtu.be/9PNu97XXRrQ . John Varsik on solar flares: https://youtu.be/p3fi_K7RUQg . Dale Gary on radio astronomy: https://youtu.be/dyAF-vvX1RU . Jeff Morganthaler on Io torus: https://youtu.be/fDSL8jBtwXs . Astronomy without borders: https://youtu.be/nKRnxq4ssVk . International Dark Sky association: https://youtu.be/r3qG0nj-pcc . Connie Walker on Intl Year of Light: https://youtu.be/i1-orX6HFho . Don Jennings on Saturn in the IR: https://youtu.be/EWdFvVoTAeA . John Varsik on BBSO history: https://youtu.be/7BEDqD3PBD8

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.. 2 3 / ,/- / ...... 4 Moon near Regulus (evening sky) at 10h UT. Occultation S I) ;'---...... -. ... __ --.-.­ O~1t visibLe from AustraLia and New Zealand. 0 0 7:11<111) 5 Mars 6.20 N of Aldebaran (240 from Sun, evening sky) at <;~J1~ l Od 22h UT. Mags. 1.6 and 0.8. i ''. , ' OR SOUTH r OF THIS 6 Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks at 2h UT. Most / ,. :.I (:'N\ \ , active for 7 days around this date. Associated with _ / ",<>,' ~ONI" \ , .. ' i- vs~n ~ Comet Halley. Very fast, bright meteors, up to 30 per ~ / ","' .1 ; . \ ~8", + ..... hour. Favors skywatchers in the tropics and southern l './J T ~--. \,,2; /! ~i-->! ~. ,, ''"), \ ~ '8/v ./ I \ ~ . hemisphere observing a few hours before dawn . Y. / •.__ . ~ 1 / 0/ / \--;" . . l \\':Q.t\t\}, ... / ...~ ~ /. ".. / 1 ...... 7 Moon near Juplter (evenmg sky) at 23h UT. Mag. -2.4. ""._. ___ __' __r - ~".f<>;-- '~ . "";- . _ >c ~~ \ • • i= 12 Moon near Antares (morning sky) at 13h UT. Z 5" • a .,:- -e • ~ <.. "I ~ ..g' s-.f..3, '- _~ ::r. / b 12 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 20h UT ~ ': ../ ~ -,;;.... ~ ,,(.. /' ~ ri2. :::- QIJ • i f./ \.'->... ("" "I VI (distance 406,210 km; anguLar size 29.4'). »0 ro 0:;: ! ~_ f \O~ ~ 't-~ ...:\.<.. , <:- ~-._ . ;..u · ~ ~ ;::;0:>.... ., \ ;' c..~\;)\\ \~" • /,. "t' / 1 ...... __ i= 13 Moon near Saturn (mormng sky) at 23h UT. Mag. 0.2. i" ~ :~ ~r: \ 1 " ~ v / \ _. ~ ---. c; o ::l ....., '3 ..., ~ i €I \ ,v . \t;l ~. f- 0 17 Mercury at greatest elongation west (26 from ~ 's; A ~ (;0. \ \ 1'" " <:> ~,~~ .f ,. . ~: ~ ~ S . k) t 23h UT M 06 x ~ r~ O" j 0" \ i . -- -,,,\ ..,., i " / ..,--'\ J! ... un, mormng s y a . ago . . ~ ~ ~~ \ <1'.,.. • .~~_:turu5 ~~(, ¥,~- &'"0 ,/\ . _.. _.,-... -.. ~\f/ /f-:--.... .S ~ 19 Last Quarter Moon at 0:34 UT. ::\ 'i!. ~t ' .,/: ' ~~;'. ... - ' ---" ;' "-... g ;;' ~ ~ ::;'.'" /- . '. <:::;~ . / . ,; ) .. Co .f? ..::z:- 20 Moon near Neptune (75 0 from Sun, morning sky) >;? %- ? V1n de~ latnx . , / --~ 8. ~ at 611 UT. OccuLtation visible from the South Atlantic ~ Of", -:;c}l~;:''' /., \ / "' 1 :., ~ . - ~ ! -> t!. ! tr · "'_. \ . I /' "'-. ~ 0 Ocean. Mag o 7 , 9 . y. <\'/ l~ -l- /'...... ,/ ~"". If! . ... t~ ~¢- - - s -~ . q "\~~\ ./ ~ ~~ 25 New Moon at 19:45 UT. Start oflunation 1168. ~ ." Pea ,,\ ,04 (.~~ ! ''-, r ' - "", J ~ ' ~ 0 l '--. .'-..-----., -...~/ 'l.\ ~ ~ 47 26 Moon at ~erigee (closest to Earth) at 1:20 UT (357,207 km ; ~ "Ot;. _• .I ! \ \ \:/ ~ ",:" ','", "t.: .. -- .. - ~,CORVUS :' ~ .,t l :; bL S 00 .1" '-.. / ~ ,,$' Do u e tar • 30 Moon near Beehive cluster (evening sky) at 1h UT. ~ 'Oo~ ,t' -',-' C; "~ R,<;[' Variable Star .. y. 04 83 " / ~~ -$ 31 Moon near Regulus (evening sky) at 17h UT. Occ uLtation visible from <9<,,6'> I(,./, ." ,~ - ,.,~ . Diffuse Nebula [J ~ ~ ~ central Africa and Madagascar. &;.> ~o: \ ,. ~'" -<-­ YJ"..(.; , / '\0'" Globular Star Cluster S '4p Fo '9h Iii r . .. .. /' 5 ,28 • t\ '\~ \.'\\ I('XS)~ I} "W' u SAVE ON RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS. http://Skymaps.com/store f'j'.vO ". So ° ,\.,,0 "... ~ S M 't d ••• • 4 &RrC Ot~' Jf) sk. • '" [en'" SOUr ° , " t con"~' "/;\(,'/.~ tar agnl U es . 1 1 • STAR ATLASES & PI.ANISPHERES ° STAR (HARTS & ASTRa POSTERS ft rS'lA, Y It IS the '. se(.OflC \'a·9 t~,'R\. gest maRo~ • BOOKS FOR SKY WATCHERS ° TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS /\ I R PATTER,V IN TH"r zom ac (onst .llaMn ana :"? W,? S\1(]'IIS'''\. ._ ~~...':'.'!~ ~ 2_0E~2 012.~2',~~~ ss oudi s. A~~~_~!:~~~.~~":'!:. All sales support t he production and free dist ribut ion of The Evening Sky Map. E SkY INSTRUCTIONS: i Hf ~I<'I' • TERMS Of USE n~o: FOR. NOfHOii,MEi\CIAl F. Olic.t,nONA1. US E. Asr~aN()I~ '1 f.OUCATT ON GROUPS MAY Ff{Hl.Y OlSHTBUTf :'RUOff) HAN OOUTS . Flilt nElAil S AT ~tt; ;:/:'S~:fll (lp~ .. wr!!/t·!nn-).I't'nt About the Celestial Objects Easily Seen with the Naked Eye Usted on this page are several of the brighter, rrore interesting celestial objects ~Ia /lur • The 6th brighteS star. fIWea's yel lowish in color ~ro=pic bir,ary. 0&=42 Iy. visible in the evening sky this rmnth (refer to the rronthly sky map) . The objects are Arcturus Boo • Qange, giant K&ar. l>8rrenmns "bear watdla-" Ost =36.7Iy. A'ocyon 8me rreans "rival of lllars'. Ost=135.9Iy. Tips for Observing the Night Sky Fblaris LM • The NJrth Rlle S ar. A tele;mpe rev831s an unrel ated ~ 8 oorrpanion star. Clst=433 Iy. \Ar • Latin name rreans "ear of ~t" and shoINn held in \Argo's left hand. Ost=250 Iy. \Men observing the night sky, and in partiOJlar deep-sky objects sum as star dusters, ~ica nebulae, and galaxies, it's alv.tays best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct Easily Seen with Binoculars light from street lights and other sources. I f possible observe from a dark location M44 Ole A-aesepe or Beehive Ouster. 'Asible to the naked eye Ost=590±20 Iy. away from the light pollution that surrounds rrany of today's large dties. M3 Ovh '" Easy to find in binoculars. Mght be glimpsed with the naked e-;e ltJu will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darkness-usually ctJout 10 to jJ cephei cep ® Hers:::hel's G:met Sar. Ole of the reddest stars fv\3g 3.4 to 5.1 over 730 days. 20 minutes after you go outside .AJso, if you need to use a torm to vievv the sky 11/e1111 Cbm Cbma Berenices. 80 mag 5-6 stars in 5 deg. Dst=283 Iy. Pge=400 million years map, cover the light bulb vvith red cellophane. This will preserve your dark vision. X cygni cyg '" Long period pulsat ing re:l gialt. Mlgnitude varies betV\eell 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days M39 cyg IIIay be visible to the nffied eye under good conditions. Ost=900 Iy. Finally, even though the I\Ibon is one of the rrost stunning objects to vieN v D'aconis D'a • Wde pair of 'tA1ite stars Ole of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. Ost=100 Iy. through a teles:ope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of M13 Her '" Best globular in northern skies. Osoovered by Halley in 1714. ost=23 , 000 Iy. the fainter objects very diffiOJlt to see. 3:> try to observe the evening sky on Ml2 Her '" Fainter and smaller than M13. I..Jse a telesoJpe to resolve its stet's ITXXlnless nights around either N:w I'vbon or La<;t Q.Jarter. RHydrae Hya .) long period variable rvBg varies between 3.0 & 11.0 over 390 days. Brilliant reo. £ Lyrae Lyr • FarrousCbubleCbuble 6nocul ars show a double star. Hgh po.verrevealsooch a double. RLyrae Lyr ., &mi-regularvariable I\Ia;lnitudevariesbetween 3.9& 5.0 over 46.0 days Astronomical Glossary M12 QJh (j) Oose to the brightS' M10. Ost=18,000 Iy. M10 QJh '" 3 00gre9S from the faintS' M12. Ebth may be glimpsed in binoaJlars Ost=14,Ooo Iy. Cbnj unction - M alignrrent of t'M) celestial bodies sum that they present the least IC4665 QJh Large, ocattered open duster. \Asible IMth binoculars. angular 93paration as viewed from 63rth. 6633 QJh 8::at t ered open dust er. \l si ble 1M t h bi noo.J! aI'S Cbnstellation - A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern. f!M an ffi A dose globular. Mly jU& bevisiblelMthout optical aid Ost =7,000 Iy. M.i S3r ffi Rne globular star duster. TelesoJpe IMII reveal individual stars Ost=25,000 Iy. Diffuse Nebula - A doud of gas illuminated by nearby stars. ~ Mzar & JlJcor lJI\Ia • Qxx:j e-;esght or binoculars reveals 2 stars NJt a binay Mzar has a mag 4 mmpalion. [))uble S:ar - T'M) stars that appear dose to ea:;h other in the sky; either linked by 0' 399 \AJI Cbathanger asteriS'll or "Broo:i1i 's Ousta-" . NJt a true star duster Ost=218 to 1, 140 Iy. gravity so that they orbit each other (binary star) or lying at different distances from E'arth (optical double) . ,Apparent separation of stars is given in 98C0nds of arc ("). Telescopic Objects £ Bo6tis Boo • f€d giant star (mag 2.5) IMth a blue-green mag 4.9 oompanion. S:p---2.8" Dffioult to spli t. Ecliptic - The path of the SJn's renter on the celestial sphere as seen from 63rth. f\/67 O1c Cbntains 500+ stars rrag 10 & fainter. Ole of the oldest dusters. Ost=2,350 Iy. Bongat ion - The angular separation of t'M) celestial bodies. For i'v1:lrcury and \enus M'J4 Ovh c' Cbmpaot nealy face-on EPi ral galaxy. Clst=15 million Iy. the greatest elongation ocx::urs when they are at their rrost angular distance from the ~ C3ssi opei ae Cls • ~Iow star mag 3.4 & orange star mag 7.5. Ost=191y. Obit=480 yeas. &p=12' . 5128 <:en C' Bisected by a IMde obscuring lane. Srong radio source. Ost=14 rrillion Iy. fun as vievved from Earth. M.i1 Ovh ?' Wii rt pool GlI axy. Fi rst reoogni red to have spi rat st rud: ure 0 st =25 rri II i on I y. Celaxy - A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity. rv'64 Glm ?' Biock-EYeGliaxy. DsooveredbyJE Bode in 1775-"asmall, nebulous star". Gobular S:ar 0 uster - A ball -shaped group of several thousand old stars CIt e JlJbireo cyg • Beautiful double star. Glntrasting 001 ours of orange and blue-green. Slp=344". {;l ~ B 61 CYgni Qtg • IIttract ivedoublestar. Mlgs5.2 &6. 1 orange dwarfs Clst=11.4ly. &p=28.4". Light Year (Iy) - The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 km'sec in one year. ....,; 3242 Hya -<- Glost of Jupiter. Bright blue disk. rv'ag 11 M16 Slr 0 Eagle I\tlbula F6:luires a telescope of large aperture Dst=8, 15O Iy. Ranetary Nebula - The remnants of a shell of gas blown offby a star. ~ C'J Ml1 UIi'a ,) Beautiful spiral galaxy visible IMth bi noculars Easy to see in a telesrope Un i versal li me ( LJ1) - A t i Ire system used by as! ron(')fl"Bf's. .AJ so known as Geenwim Ml2 UIi'a c? Oose to 1V81 but mud1 fai nter and smaller. IVean lirre. l..I8A Eastern S:andard lime (for exarrple, N:w York) is 5 hours behind ur M104 \Ar ,) 8:>mbrero Gllaxy. JlJmost edge-on spiral galaxy. A-otruding central oore. . • V\Arginis \Ar • 8Jperb pai r of mag 3.5 yeilON-whit e stars. Qbit=169 years. M. their do::est in 2005. Vc3riable S:ar - A star that manges brightness over a period of time. tvt27 \AJI v D.Jmbbell f>€OOla large, tlMn-lobed shape. rvbst spectacular planetary. Dst=975 Iy. C0 'The BJEning S

Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

June 2018 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . Attendees: Stan, Joan, John, Claude, Tom, Jane, Byron, Deanna, Vatch, Randy, Lydia, Bill . New members or 1st time visitors? - Deanna’s daughter, Lauren

 Announcements: none

 Treasurer/Membership Report: 41 (wey)31 paid members, balance: $645.50

 Librarian Report : Deanna brought the library to the meeting. Lots of books/videos available

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . RTMC May 25 – 27. - No more RTMC on Memorial weekend. Next RTMC will still be at Camp Oaks, but possibly in late September… new date TBD. - The Club staffed the two domes with good response from visitors. - Byron donated a telescope in one of the drawings. - Attendance was approx. 550. . Urban Assault Friday on May 18. canceled . BBSO Tour on May 24, Jun 14? Wes and ? lead the tour. . Farmers’ Market Solar Observing on June 12th. Good attendance, Teresa/Wes/Randy/Byron/Bill . BHS Awards Ceremony June 4th. Great job by Teresa. Here is a link to the video: - https://www.facebook.com/BigBearValleyAstronomicalSociety/videos/1261642303969 672/?permPage=1

 Activities . Virtual Lecture June 21 – Dr Jeff Kuhn from U of Hawaii - Colossal Telescopes being proposed for the Search for Life in the Universe!!! - http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/users/kuhn/kuhn2.html . ISS flies over the Sun June 21, visible in E BB valley! See attached . Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village Jun 22? All set, weather permitting . Next Farmers’ Market Solar Observing date – Jul 10. All set- weather permitting . Discovery Center Campfire Star Parties starting again, June 15 – Bill is the speaker. Next will be July 13, Steve Johnson as Speaker. Aug 10 needs speaker. . BBVAS Star Party the 16th. This Sat HC? All set- weather permitting . Erwin Lake Park Public Star Party and Telescope Clinic July 20! - All set-weather permitting… PSAs have been distributed… Parks Dist. OK on date/lights. . Anyone working on the AL Lunar Project (besides Bill and Deanna)? Jane will start soon. - https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/lunar/lunar1.html

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - Byron (July club meeting) will bring in personal sketches of Mars detail - July 27- Aug 3… Mars at opposition… biggest in the sky since 2003. • https://www.space.com/40588-mars-at-opposition.html

 Scheduling: . Next beginner talk? Not yet defined . Bear Valley Farms telescope setup- fundraiser for our scholarship fund? Dates? - All agreed that this would be a very good opportunity. Details to follow

 General Discussion:

 Beginner talk: . John will give an overview of Stereo A’s view of the backside of the Sun. . Including history/details on - SOHO- https://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/ - SDO- https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Attachments: Details: viewing chart on ISS transit across the sun June skymap

-end- ISS transit across the Sun

On Thursday 21st at 4:34:20.94 PM local time, the ISS will again transit across the disk of the Sun. The transit is visible from the east side of the valley. (See the attached map.) It looks like Cushenberry Summit would be an almost ideal viewing location. The Sun angular size: 31.5′ which will appear 41.3 times larger than the ISS. The transit duration will be 0.81 seconds at Cushenberry Summit.

After the transit, there is still plenty of time to make it to our Virtual Lecture at 6pm. Thi s month, we're being treated to a talk about the future of colossal telescopes being proposed for the sea rch for life and civilizations elsewhere in the Universe. Dr Jeff Kuhn from the University of Hawaii will be our speaker. This will be a mind-bendingly fascinating talk!

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;;' .-_.'. ._ . j SI1VQlI Vd01HI \lJ! ' ~~"} ,~/,- J '---, "~ \ ' /!'-J 16 Moon near Beehive duster M44 (evening sky) at . ~ .;'< 11...."" ~ '. "" "" ::; • ' . "" c y"./-' ...... _ t; ---. 20h UT. -----g;- !(B ...... " //~ " ~ ~: . ,: li1 .:;; '" o 18 Moon near Regu lus (evening sky) at 9h Uf. "':.A ,'•• , , ~. /". J' .. _ j) , .. " ~ -< t:J .,¥"'. '--... J. • " . " -',:: ,. f ~ ~ d~ t;::i . l~CII _.' '" . , - - . ~ I - '" 20 Ve nus 0.7" NNE of Beehive cluster (39" from ~ s: .... f ./' .. -S-ff \ ~ "tI~ ' • i .g ! 31 ~ Su n, evening sky) at 10h UT. Ma g. -4.0. > • U /" ~ < ~ CUt \ t to,:,,\ \S C\ Gi' "2 . t -:. :: S ~ ~ . ~ ...~ !J ,CI' . , ~;;: ~ ; ~ <:> ,: " ~, ,'..,~ .'. 1 ,,, \ -')" 'I: <;) , ';;' ... i!i • 20 First QUarter Moon at 10:51 Ur. I i ~~ '! ' { ~ .... . ~ ~' ,..$ • I ~ ~ '~ . r;,<.&f1. \ : / ,I SU'I NS\ " (:n Clt Northern Hem isphere and winter in the So uthern .~ \ : \ ., " '~" ~~ ,"'"',/ /'- v.;f # i¥ Hemisphere, ;! \. - ... \ ( < .. _, ) _/ 1 ~ 7 ' r:oI'.. \ ,.;~. ..::." '. ~ ----r--- ~\,. /," .§" !§ -I ,' -, ' ~".. '" ,..::. \ iii" \ . // ~ ~ 01:' 22 Moon near Spica (evening sky) at 8h UT. -.... '(0 .....~ " ...... \. t~ $ , !' .... t:i ~ ~ , . .. • '!j'" 0 ;g'Il} , " ", .:'II:.c ..... 23 Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 21h UT. Mag . - 2.4. ","_ '" '. . >,, ) _=L __ -o-.:,,' 0." • ~ t ~ i\ 't:i 1- .,~ .... \ ",' '" 'it'!> ,_/ r'.;J 26 Moon near Antares (evening sky) at 1h UT. 11- ~ -- .[((/1' , " , t",- \ \ ./ , ~ ....\v.~ "'''' '' - . f't! .... '0 '- l"./c \ ;! 'r ~1 1 V ." I ~\) .. '" ~ ¥ <;" L\. 27 Saturn at opposition (opposite the Sun) at 13 h ur, The ~'" ""1...... - ..... _ ~ \ ""'''' ~'" ,:,1 t-t.f . ~ . . 0'__ -;- " -- ... \ ~~ 4f ri nged ,p l~net is at its closest and b~ghtest at Mag , +0.0. ~ ~c.Q,? .~ --..... ' _'~ ~ '-J~ "4j' ,l ". ~ /P .... _ .... "\:\,.... 1_ ' ' .:.~... ~~ ~{;J Saturn s nngs are spectacular even In a smaLLte les cope. ~-1- ~ •__ -/ '.. +G<., ....f>-:"f!# ~ L ~1- -~., f ~ - '-., 0' 'J! # Symbols t .. ...".. ----.- -+ ~ ~ ~ I~! I ~""""" " :;' ;;. G I 28 Moon near Saturn (midnight sky) at 4h Ur. Mag. 0.0. "'-" ~« ~ ~ , 'J ...t'.... • " <:J~'" ""-....., c"l>~ ~.y a axy t? ~• '""', orA " t',! ~ I 1"- /"' ;ntarl!l. . r " 0 ~'" -'.t.; '~"!:j _....0;::; 0ou ble St ar e, 28 Full Moon at 4:53 UT. ~ ~ :0;;- _ " . • • 'to' .... €' 0/ 1Q. ~h _ -~.:- ' ;-; Is , f flf'':;; ~<{~ Variable Star of) 30 Moon at apogee (farthest from Ea rth) at3h UT {distance 406,061 km; ·O'.... c.;; (J. --'"-'-' ''' C .1 , ._1 / ' • • ~<:.; .p a ngu ar SIze . . " .:-::;" "&'" )I , " ,.S I ~<3 ~~ PI I N b I ' . '&(.) ~ :,. • : . , . \ \l'j.V ,' "0'e pr ane ary e u a -v M()fe sky events and links at http://Skyma ps,com/ skycalendar/ ;rc fry.; ,x-- iH 1,11 _ ,j 1 ' . .{.\.\\'\'\ /'" ~x-r;s Open Star CLuster . AU times in Universa l Ti me (UT). (USA Eastern Daylight Time _ UT - 4 hours.) ("s.fy~ "f/~ ;,e;' .- V ~,l ~ uu ~ . : • • • \ t;J9:--\.1..&!-' Glo bular Star Cluster e 'fP lo ,.. ()S(I/I/'~ ~' , f ~ ,: t , ; ' o'llf''1 !f..-t;J+'?' _0 ~ ", . SAV E ON RECOMM ENDED PRO DUCTS e http :// s ky map s.co m/s to re ~NOJf~o,",,, .,,-n ~\\'U:\ ~ ~ SI M' 1 lit" I~ f!~ - • SOUTH · ~ n'- ,,0\ "!-.uv. ar a!lU tI d....es ..4 • STAR ATlASES & PLAN ISP HERES • STAR CHARTS & AST RO PO SHI~S G}fj sr~t be! t~& $1I!~fl b 3 ~Ole3\\ ~ l"' 't.~~"{\\\.\. ~ ·1 0 1 ;1 J u~ map.~ • 800KS FO R SKY WATCHfRS • TEl[SCOPES & BINOCU LAR S .:\ 7 PA TTERN IN Tk ut d15tlnctlV1! conste llation (o!On I' S~O'f6 1'<1 Copynght ~ 2000-2018 Kym Th alassoudl s. AU RIg hts Reserved AU sales su pport the prod uction and free dlstnbutlon of The Evenl ng Sky Map Than k you ! r 5I(y fNSTlt UCTloNS' nl[ sv;'( ~A • TvtMS OF USE FREE FO ~ NOi'f.(OIUl(~UA L !OO(ATl ~Al US( -'SiJiO'l).'lVEOUOTIIJI GROUPS MAY FR HLY CmRIBUTt FiUHT(D H~D I)J T S. FULL OUAlLS AT http://S''''m ~ p •. '~ m/t I't"TT1$ ." t''l Ab out the Celestial Objects Easily Seen with the Naked Eye Usta:J on this page are several of the brighter, rrore intere&ing ceest ial objects ,Altair /Iq . B'ightes star in Aqlila N:rre rTfIEI'IS Mthe flying eagle'. 051:=16.8 Iy. Prcturus Oan~ gia1t "bear watcher". Dst=36.7Iy. visi~e in the eveni ng sky this nunth (refer to the nunthly sky ~) . The objects are 6Jo Ksta-. JIame rreEr1S l) Cl:f:*\ei O!p ... ();ptlad prototype. I\Itlg vaies bEt'M!al 3.5 & 4.4 aver 5.366 c:faJs I\fag 6 ~on . groupa:J into three cate;pries. Those that ca'l be easily seen .. th the n1iquitae PqI ~ Bight Qphed vaiab'e fVeg vaies b6:v.een 3.6 & 4.5 over 7.166 days. Dst=1 .200 Iy. I rvt3 o.tJ 'Il East to fim in bi roo..Jlars Mght be gli f'l1)Sed 'l'.ith the naked eta nebulae, and g~axies, it's always best to observe fnom a da1<1ocation. Avoid direct IJ ~ Qp ttl ~ 'sQmet Sar. Cheof there:tiest stars M3g 3.4105.1 over 730 days. light from strea lightsano other 9JU1U3S If possible observe from a dark location rv'eI 11 1 Cbm Cbrre Bere1ices. 80 rrag &.6 sa-s in 5 deg, Ost=283 Iy. .Ag:F400 trill ion years away from t he light pd lution t hat surrounds many of loday's large dties X C\'gni Q,'Q ttl Long paioo pulsating re::I giant. r-tagn it ude varies bet\o\€el1 3.3 & 14.2 CNef 407 days. 'bu w ll ""' rrore stao after your eyes adapl 10 the darkness-urually about 1010 !'vU9 q.g way be visible to thenac:ed eyeurder good cooditions Ost=OOO Iy. 20 nrinules after you go outsde Also, if you nero to use a torch to viow the sky v D"a::xlnis Da . Woo par of ...... nite siers Ole of the fineS: bi~a- pars in the 'kj. 051=100 Iy. map, llver the light bulb .. th red oolophane Thls .. 11 preserve your da1< vision. M13 HEr s Best globula- in northern 9h e Ooretothebri~tEJ'M10 . Ost=18,000 Iy. moonless nights around either Now Mlon or last Qater. M10 O>h $ 3 degrees frem the fanle' M12. 901h may be glirJ1)Sled in bl'l(Xljars Ost=14, 000 Iy. IC4665 Q>h ~ s:attered open duster. \AsibielMth blnccula-s. 6633 QJh S:a:tere::l qJEJl duster. \Asiblev.ith binorulars. Astronomical Glossary fJB ~r 0 l.a';,)oorI N3bula Bright nebula bisected by a dM< ISle Ost=5,200 Iy. Cbnj uncti on - An alignrrent of ty,o ceestial bodies suoh that they present t he least fvt25 ~r Bright dUS:Et located about 6 deg N of "teapot's' lid. Ost=1 ,9OO ly. t..22 ~ 0& Aspecta:::ula-globula-staduSer. Teies:opewllSlowsta-s. Ost =1 0,OOOly. anguf ... separat ion as viewed from Ellrt h. r-I4 S::o d! A dosaglobula-. MlyjLS be visi ble without optica aid. Ost=7,000 Iy. Cbnstel lati on - A defined area of the sky ODntai ning a st ... pattern. ~ M) S:o Buttafly Guster. 30+ sta-s in 7x blnoc:uIars Dst=1 ,960 Iy. M7 an SJperb ~ duste: \49b1elo t he~ eye .Age=260 rri ll ioo yea"S. Ost=780 ty. Offuse Nebula - A doud of illunri nata:J by.....t>y stVEJed by J.E Bcxe in 1775 - Ha srell . l'lE!l::lUous sta"'. SJn as viewed from Ea1 h. ~bireo C¥9 • 8eaJl iful ckJuble s.a. Cbrtrast ing ooiours of orange ald blue-green. 9ap=34.4". G31exy - A mass of up to S8'>Ier13i bi ll ion stars held togaher by gravit y. 61 qtgni C¥g • .Attroctive double sta. ~s 5.2 & 6.1 orcnge cMais. Ost=1 1.4 Iy. S:p--28.4". Gobular Sar auster - AMI-shaped group of S3\'eraI thoUS81d old st

July 13, 2017 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? - 1st time visitor: Mark Swanson - New member: Greg Rooney . Members present: Teresa, Claude, Wes, Byron, Vatch, Randy, Dick, Paul, Lydia, Tom, Bill

 Announcements: none

 Treasurer/Membership Report: 44 Members, and $798.50 in the coffer.

 Librarian Report : no report

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Discovery Center Star Party on June 16. - Teresa gave presentation, small crowd that stayed till the end. - Claude, Wes, Bill with telescopes . Virtual Lecture- June 22, Dean Ketelsen, UA Mirror Lab. - Muy Good info . Urban Assault Friday Jun 2nd in the Village - Small audience - Randy, Wes, Claude, Teresa, Jane presented . BBSO Tour June 22 and today. - Both tours went well. Today’s tour had 4 Docents… lots of support. . Dr. Tamitha Skov, the “SpaceWeatherWoman” toured BBSO. - http://www.spaceweatherwoman.com . Star Party Jun 24 at High Chaparral. - Early evening, but very good seeing. Josh had telescope troubles. Stan displayed his new Celestron telescope.

 Activities . Erwin Lake Public Event and telescope clinic, July 21. - PR pieces are distributed. - Bring Desserts, no pot-luck dinner however. . Virtual Lecture, July 27. Ron Oliversen, NASA/GSFC Ass. Chief, Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory . - https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/ronald.j.oliversen . Discovery Center Aug 11 – need a speaker! - Bill will talk on the Solar Eclipse and the Perseids . Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village. - July 28, at the NE corner of Pineknot and Village Drive, BBL . Solar Eclipse, August 21. Where will you be? - Randy: Should the Club host an Eclipse event in Big Bear?  Purpose would be to provide info and viewing of the eclipse for the public.  More discussion necessary, location, staff, etc.  Maybe put words on BBSO website as to the location of the BBL event.  Put BBL eclipse info on Club website . Anyone start the AL Lunar Project? - We’ll turn this into a Summer-long project - Info and log sheets can be found here: https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/lunar/lunar1.html

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - Not much except the Perseids meteor shower. However, there will be a waning gibbous moon during the early morning hours for this event. - http://earthsky.org/?p=2087

 Scheduling: . Next beginner talk? Jane’s talk will be presented. . Star Party, Aug 19. Where? High Chaparral

 Talking to the public without using technical terms - Dr. Jane Jackson . Jane couldn’t make this meeting, so Bill talked about old/new storage devices.

 General Discussion: -

Summary Calendar:

July 21 Public Star party and Telescope Clinic, Erwin Lake Park July 27 Next BBSO Docent tour July 27 Virtual lecture…. Ron Oliversen July 28 Urban Assault star party in the Village Aug 10 Next BBSO Docent tour Aug 10 Next club meeting at Dennys Aug 11 Discovery Center public star party Aug 19 Star party… High Chaparral Aug 21 proposed BBL Eclipse party? Aug 24 next BBSO Docent tour

Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

August 2017 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? No new members at this meeting. . Members attending: Claude, John, Stan, Joan, Vatch, Randy, Tom, Wes, Byron, Lydia, Dick, matt, Jane, Linda, Bill

 Announcements: BBVAS now a member of WAA! . Western Amateur Astronomers, http://www.waa.av.org/INSIDE.html - Newsletter and discussions for Amateur Astronomers . Happy birthday to Dr. John Varsik

 Treasurer/Membership Report: AL dues are paid for 2017. . $798.00 with 44 members . Club dues are due next month.

 Librarian Report : Nothing to report

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Erwin Lake Public Event and telescope clinic, July 21. - Very well attended, lots of new scopes, very good seeing. . Virtual Lecture- . Ron Oliversen, NASA/GSFC Ass. Chief, Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory, on the Lunar Atmosphere. - Great presentation . Urban Assault Friday Jul 28th in the Village - Lots of folks stopped by and looked at moon, planets . BBSO Tour July 27 and today. - Both tours went very well… more than a few younger folks attended. . Renaming Ceremony at BBSO - Several club docents attended and visited with dignitaries. - New telescope name: the Goode Solar Telescope, GST

 Activities . Solar Eclipse, August 21. BBVAS will set up in the parking lot near Swim Beach. - PSA delivered to KBHR, the Grizzly, Facebook. . Virtual Lecture for September – Dr Tamitha Skov – Space Weather Woman! - http://www.spaceweatherwoman.com/ . Virtual Lecture for November- our very own Teresa Bippert-Plymate - Her background as a professional Astronomer . Discovery Center - Fri Aug 11 – Bill to speak on the Eclipse. Need telescopes. - Theme: “what can we see tonight?” - Randy, Vatch, Claude/Teresa with scopes - Visitors stayed and asked lots of questions about Perseids and ISS • Some visitors laid flat on parking lot and saw several bright Perseids. . Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village, Aug 25th. - This week before Labor Day should have lots of visitors . Anyone start the AL Lunar Project? - Not yet… but a great idea - https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/lunar/lunar1.html . BBVAS Star Party – Aug 19. HC? - Confirmed… bring your telescope and enjoy . Civil Air Patrol needs help with 10” Cave Astrola for evening viewing after the Air Fair, 8/26. - Contact: Capt. Edward Bennett, [email protected] - Randy will try to be there to help with the telescope - Additional club members are encouraged to help/attend as well.

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - One naked-eye comet (2017-01) in September

 Scheduling: . Next beginner talk? - Recap of the Solar Eclipse by those who saw it.

 Talking to the public without using technical terms - Dr. Jane Jackson . Good presentation with great reminders about what the audience will take away.

 General Discussion: . Chat about International Dark Sky Association - http://www.darksky.org/ - From our Virtual Lecture series: https://youtu.be/r3qG0nj-pcc . A motion was made, seconded, and approved to reimburse Teresa for the purchase of club T- shirts. The total is estimated to be $380.00. The club will then sell the T-shirts to club members with the proceeds of each sale going back into the Club Treasury. . For consideration at next month’s club meeting: nd - Have a 2 Telescope Clinic during the year… possibly in the Spring and Fall…

-end- OI1"IJION [ ~1I'i S- NOUJ~lI'IO SS-VdWOJ '.\'OlI~ ')1101'1 u1 ilJIUS.!t'. ill ,{'w JiI"'oqS 'if lH./. Q, slnol.l uMlp~Jd ~4 ~ ~ o.UJI/J .~~I\o ~ ''i.\~' """" H.LHON '~I'~••• ~ .,.. , ..§., ')... ~o'" Get Sky Ca lendar on Twitter :+V -~... o '\ ,1" .. 1 Sky Calendar - August 2017 h ttp ://t w;tt,,,, o m/s ! ...+Jt. ;.: , ".r'0r" . ~ ~ ...... \ '.+ 7 3 Moon near Saturn (evem ng sky) at 8h UT. Nag. 0.3. '" ~ ~o '" <:J'\'o ~ I ; 1 1 ~1 040 1. ~ ,,go t>-" , ... \'\~. .s !-J e]o ~ 1 ~ ~ S ~ I ~O~ 1 • 7 Partial Eclipse of tile Moon from 17 :23 to 19:18 UT, .; ~ / Jt. ...~O • ~ .. :IN ! m i d ~e dip se at 18:2 0 UT. Vis ible from t he Ea!tern R %- ..."\ :0..,,,. 1 -----/ ~ , Hemisphere including Austra lia, lndonesia and India . ~; . , ,,~~ SliT} ..!' ...~ e e' ~ from 14 h UT. Active from July 17 to August 24. 1: ~ . ' "~l '10,,&.~" Produces swift, bright meteors (50 to 100 per hour) e \ OJna , ...... - ~ r ~ '.,:; \1 many with persistent trains. Best vi ewi ng condi tions ~ '5 \)t \ i' occur after midnight. Moo nlight interferes, 8 :; J \ ' .p ..... N

15 last Quarter Moon at 1:16 UT. :2 ~ :.: . : -', , UIWtU...... al s. ",$$ i ~ ~ ' )¥('$, I ' ' ..-lo 15 Moon noar the PLetades (morning sky) at ISh UT,; '" r;: ~ ,," : ~ ",,~. 1<.... ' r\ Ii :5 r.. "~ . ,. .... ~ ...... - , :i .. ... ~ ...";Pol + '" rJ'+<\" -__. " '" .:!! ~ 16 Moon near Aldebaran (74' from Sun, mormng sky) ~ ~ [ \ ~ \ ~ '. , ,' : ~'{. ::n- , L:.\~ ~ ,'~'>' ''I ~ g •. ~ ;:: at 7h UT. Occultation visible from the Caribbean. g \ ::' ~c: ~ i: ~ ~1~ (j~\ '\ ...... 1 !"e~.. . :> j' / ; C>;:) \ I ' ~ ,' :'> ..L ~ ,j' '0.... I ... 18 Moon at perigee (closest to Ea rth) at 13:16 UT ~:-, ' • ~ ~" ~ ' ' -- ," ~ (366 121 km ' ang ula r size 32 6') ~ ~ ,. • tal f" ...... ,;. . ~ ,. ' . HUCU l ts ..... I', 0 f' I ,' IU , , . '. :. -; ~ 'i oJ" ~. j .;.: .',,"'(;..l • • V I :....., : I ?- ~ 19 Moon near Venus (mormng sky) at4h UT. Mag. -4.0. ~ ~ ~ -; "' :,' ~ J +" ",, ;: I:t- ~ ~ -.:. ""' ''' ~ -1, ' I ....§, l ;f a "'l: 20 Moon near Bee nive cluster (morning sky) at 7h UT. S ~ -e. oJ" ~~;. ~. ..~ . ..----- ").::i G ~ .... ,, ~e . " $ 1:P ~ 21 Tot al Solar Eclipse from 16:49 to 20:03 UT, greatest "" Ii, " - / ,/, tt ..r ~ 'j ., L ~ ~ eclipse at 18:25 UT (duration 2m 40s). Totali ty visible \. ;" , ~ " v_J3 ~ • 11,)(. .... 1,)\ ' '', \ .------r;.. 1' .1 'l ~ along narrow, coast·to-coast path across USA. PartiaL ~; ', -4 0&l l ".m~~~v 0' .... :\"1. > • \!..,,;..... :f ~ eclipse in North America and northern So uth Am erica . '*'~ %- "" -4 . ,)' "-, I ;le\o r...;...... J' ,g NASA Eclipse website: http://eclipse2017.na sa .gov ~ '\ MIl . . J, ',,- ","/ l.$f 11- '1r: ~.q lot \ ....-t-' ~ CJ t:::' 21 New Moon at 18:30 UT. Start of lunation 1171. ~ "'oJ:' f., • d' / ,. "'j .;f> ,co ,@ i<" ;:, ...... q,. ." 'I" 25 Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 15h UT. Mag. - 1.8. '%.""' ~\: (, ' . ~A 't...... \.\""... ,I~t:; h Is ~,), MU satUrn J- - .... :+ Symo 25 Moon near Spi(a (evening sky) at 21h UT. ~ ~.,. 11'0..11 11 _ _ _ - - - ~ .# ~~ '\ ;p~ ~ to.\\\): 11 • 'I;;~~ $' Ga laxy ~ 29 Fi rst Quarter Moon at 8:13 UT. ....~ ~ ~~ 01. It..& 0 bi 5t ( '... '" 1;> 30 Moon at apogee (fa rtnest from Earth) at 11h UT (di stance 404,308 ~"*c J04GITr04 c,; ~'b"""> f<.' • ~<::J~~ Globula r Star Cluster ffi ',of/> lb ;h" • ~~<::Jv. SAVE ON RECOMMENDED PRODU CTS. http://Skymaps,com/store -?',yo C"fJtri ( • • 1>'1 \l.~1 ~ ':.~ 51 M 'I d ••• • • • -V'l ~ , '" Q " ,., BRIG DIJ{ge () f SOUTH 'I.\t'{~ ~\~v. ar agm u eS .1 0 1 2 3 4 • STA R ATLA SES lSI I'L A N l SP Hf R~ 5 • STAR Cti ARTS 8. ASTRO POSTERS 111 S1-4 Th" Milk rlzrJrI ~c\:afl. 5 't~,wt. U/df'map.§ • BOO KS FOR S kY WATCH ERS • TELESCOPES & BINOCU LARS O<./T II PA.T1ffIN I YW iY IS viSIble above the so uthefo M S\"oOI/lS i'rl ~ Copyright II 2000- 2017 Kym Th a!.ass olJdlS. AU RIg hts Re served, All sales support the plOduction and flee cfut ri buti()n of Th@ E~ e ning sky Ma p. .\' THf SKY. JNSn urnaNS:. 11\[ SIC'l ",,~p • ruMS Of USE! fRU fOR II/K.-{IIMMfRClAllllUCAlJ01W. US E A51ROI«lMYE OllU.llOM r.totJPS MAY mUY OISWllUlE I'k!Iff[O HIINOOUIS. fULL DWllS AT hl tp:/~~ ,c omftcrn, hlIa l About the Celestial Objects ...... Easily Seen with the Naked Eye listed on this page are severa l of the brighter, more interesting celestial objects f5S Altair Aql Brightest star in Aquila, Name means "the flying eagle", Dist-15.7 ly. visible in the evening sky this month (refer to the monthly sky map). The objects are iiEN Arcturus Boo Orange, giant Kstar. Name means "bear watcher", Oi5t.. 36.7 ly. grouped into three categories. Those that can be easily seen with the na ked eye (that SQ~ () Cephei Cep e. Cepheid prototype. Mag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.356 days. Mag 6 com panion. Deneb Cyg Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiiints. Di st-l,400:t:200 ly. is, without optical aid), those easily seen with binoculars, and those requiring a ::&:=..... c.:J a Herculis Her e. Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.1 & 3.9 over 90 days. Mag 5.4 companion. telescope to be appreciated. Note, all of the objects (except single stars) will Vega lyr • The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-white star. 015t-25.0 ly. appear more tmpresslve when viewed through a teLescope or very large ==:z:CC Antares Seo • Red. supergiant star, Name means -rival of Mars", Oist-135.9 [y. binoculars. They are grouped in this way to highlight objects that can be seen using Polaris UMi • The North Po le Star. A telescope reveals i!ln unrelated mag 8 companio n star. 0 ;5t-433 Iy. the optical equipment that may be available to the star gazer...... Spica Vir • latin name means -ear of wheat- and shown held in Virgo's left hand. Oi5t-250 [y. -~ Easily Seen with Binoculars Tips for Observing the Night Sky M31 And (7 The Andromeda Ga laxy. Most distant object visible to naked eye. Oist-2,5 million Iy. When observing the night sky, and in particula r deep-sky objects such as star clusters, :z:= TJ Aquilae Aq l • Bright Cepheid variable. Mag varies between 3.6 & 4.5 over 7.166 days. Oist_1,200 (y, nebulae, and galaxies, it's always best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct M3 CVn ~ Easy to find in binoculars, Might be glimpsed with the naked eye. Il Cephei Cep \I Herschel's Garnet Star, One of the reddest stars, Mag 3. 4 to 5.1 over 730 days, light from street lights and other sources. If possible observe from a dark location X Cygni Cyg • Long period pulsating red gia nt. Magnitude varies between 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days. away from the light pollution that surrounds many of today's large cities. M39 Cyg o May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions. Oist- 900 ly, You will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darkness-usually about 10 to y Draconis Ora .. Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. D;st- l oo ly. 20 minutes after you go outside. Also, if you need to use a torch to view the sky C, M13 He r e Best globular in northern skies. Discovered by Halley in 1714. Dist .. 23,000 ly. map, cover the light bulb with red cellophane. This will preserve your dark visio n. =, , , M92 Her e Fainter and smaller than MD. Use a telescope to resolve its stars. E Lyrae lyr .. Famous Double Double. Binoculars show a double star. High power reveals each a double. Finally, even though the Moon is one of the most stun ning objects to view R Lyrae lyr ~ Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days. through a telescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of • MI2 Oph e Close to the brighter M10. [list- 18,OOO Ly. the fainter objects very difficult to see. So try to observe the evening sky on MIO Oph e 3 degrees from the fainter M12. Both may be glimpsed in binoculars, Di5t .. 14,000 [yo moonLess nights around either New Moon or Last Quarter. IC 4665 Oph o Large, scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. 6633 Oph \') Scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. = MI S Peg e Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 14. d-l ~ ), Dist- 30,OOO ly. Astronomical Glossary M8 S9r o lagoon Neb ula . Bright nebula bisected by a dark lane. Dist-5,lOO ly. = M25 Sgr o Bright cluster located about 6 deg Nof "teapot's· lid. Oist-1.900 ly, Conjunction - An alignment of two ceLestial bodies such that they present the least • M22 S9r e A spectacular globular star d uster. Telescope will show statS. Oist_1Q, OOOly. angular separation as viewed from Earth. M4 Seo e A close globular. May just be visible without optical aid. Oist-7,OOO ly, Constellation - A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern. M' Seo o Bu tterfly Cluster, 30+ stars in 7x binoculars. Oist.1,960 Iy. M7 o Supe rb open cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Age-260 million years, Oist-780 Ly. Diffuse Nebula - A cloud of gas illuminated by nearby stars. I Seo I-= M5 Ser e Fillt! globular star cluster. Telescope wi ll reveal individual sta rs, 01st-25,000 (y. Double Star - Two stars that appear close to each other in the sky; either linked by Miza r & Alco r UM, .. Goo d eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Miza r has a mag 4 companio n. gravity so that they orbit each ot her (bi nary star) or lying at different distances from en Cr 399 Vu l o Coathanger asterism or "Srocchi's Cluster". Not a true star cluster. Oist-218 to 1,140 ly. Earth (optical double) . Apparent separation of stars is given in seconds of arc ("). I ' • Telescopic Objects Ecliptic -The path of the Sun's center on the ce lestial sphere as seen from Earth. 7009 Aqr oQo Saturn Nebuta. Requires B-inch telescope to see Saturn-like appendages. H • • Elongation - The angular separation of two ceLestial bodies. For Mercury and Venus E 800tis Soo .. Red giant star (mag 2.5) with a blue-green mag 4.9 companion, 5ep_2.8 Difficult to split. the greatest elongation occurs when they are at their most angular distance from the 1'1 M94 CVn t? Compact nearly face-on spiral galaxy. Oist-15 million ly. Sun as viewed from Ea rth. M51 CVn (7 Whirlpool Galaxy. First recognised to have spiral structure. Di st-25 million ly. M'4 Com (7 Black-Eye Galaxy. Discovered by J.E. Bode in 1775 . "a small. nebulous star". Galaxy - A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity. C, Cyg .. Beautiful double star, Contrasting colours of orange and blue-green, Sep-34.4 n. Albireo Globular Star Cluster - A ball-shaped group of several thousand old stars. 61 Cygni Cyg • Attractive double star. Mags 5.2 & 6. 1 orange dwarfs. Oist-11.4Iy. Sep-28.4', III' y Delphin; Del .. Appear yellow & white, Mags 4.3 & 5.2. Dist- l00 ly. Struve 2715 double in same field. Light Year (ly) - The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 km!sec in one year. " ~_ ~ ly~. Lyr .. Eclipsing binalJ'. Mag varies between 3.3 & 4.3 over 12.940 da ys. Fainter mag 7.2 blue star. Magnitude - The brightness of a celestial object as it appears in the sky. {:l '"~ M57 Lyr ~ Ring Nebula. Magnificent object. Smoke-ring shape. Dist- 4.100 [y. 5gr () Elongated star cluster, Telescope required to show stars. Dist-2,tOO ly. M23 Open Star Cluster - A gro up of tens or hundreds of relatively young stars. <> E 59r [J Triftd Nebula. A telescope shows 3 dust lanes trisecting nebula, Dis t-S.200 Iy. Opposition - When a celestial body is opposite the Sun in the sky. ~:~ Sgr <> A fine and impressive cluster. Oist-4,200 Iy. M17 Sgr CJ Omega Nebula. Contai ns the star cluster NGC 6618. Oist-4,900 Iy. Planetary Nebula - The remnants of a shell of gas blown off by a star. "11 Set (') Wild Ouck Cluster. Resembles a gLob utar th ro ugh binoculars. V-shaped. Dist-5,600 Iy. Universal Time (llT) - A time system used by astronomers. Also known as Greenwich "'6 Ser CJ Eagle Nebula. Requires a telescope of large aperture. Dist-8,150 Ly, ~ M81 UMa t? Beautiful spiral galaxy visible with binoculars. Easy to see in a telescope, Mean Time. USA Eastern Standard Time (for example, New York) is 5 hours behind UT. M82 UMa t? Close to Mal but much fainter and smaller. Variable Star - A star that changes brightness over a period of time. M27 Vul ~ Oumb beit Nebula. large, twin -lobed shape. Most spectacu lar planeta ry, Oist-975 ly. GJ T~e Evenill9 Sky M~p (rsSN 1839-7735) Copyright ~ 2000-2011 Kym Thllauoudis. AU Rights Rt!5I!T\'td. Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

September 14, 2017 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? Pat and Lanny Hold . Members: Claude, Teresa, John, Deanna, Byron, Linda, Lydia, Randy, Tim, Tom, Dick, Mark, Vatch, Jane, Bill

 Announcements: . Available for sale: assorted sizes of t-shirts with club logo . The spacecraft Cassini will enter Saturn’s atmosphere on 9/15/17 at 4:50am… and be gone.

 Treasurer/Membership Report: DUES are due, $15 single and $25 family. . Current Balance $608.00 . Randy prepared a club membership sheet… everyone needs to fill in and send to Randy with membership dues.

 Librarian Report : Deanna prepared an inventory sheet and will make it available on club website. If you want to borrow an item, just let Deanna know via email: [email protected] . We also have an 8” telescope available to loan to club member.

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Solar Eclipse, August 21. BBVAS was set up in the parking lot near Swim Beach. - Est 300 folks attended from all over SoCal - We ran out of solar sun glasses, but everyone there shared - 4 telescopes showed the 70% occultation. (Wes, Steve, Randy, Bill) . Urban Assault Friday Aug 25th in the Village - 3 telescopes and a zillion visitors saw Saturn, Jupiter, and the Moon . BBVAS Star Party Aug 19 at HC - Not well attended due to the Eclipse travel etc. . BBSO Tours Aug 24 & Sept 7 (public & pilots simultaneously) - Despite the schedule conflict, everything went very well . Aug 26th – Civil Air Patrol Telescope Viewing - Thanks to Randy for showing about 100 CAP-ers what the night sky offers . August 13th- Tour of BBSO by about 35 3rd graders from Baldwin Lane Elementary - John gave lecture, Erika/Jeff showed demo of sunspoter, and Sergey/Bill guided the Dome tours.

 Activities . Virtual Lecture for September – Dr Tamitha Skov – Space Weather Woman! . Another SunDay? When/where? - In the Village, September 24, 11am to 1pm . Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village, Sept 29th. Confirmed . Anyone start the AL Lunar Project? Not yet, but here is the AL link: - https://www.astroleague.org/observing.html . BBVAS Star Party – Sept 16th. HC? Confirmed at High Chaparral… dusk setup

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - Randy handed out the Finder Path of Comet C/2017-01 (see attached) - Also see the attached “Evening Sky Map” for September 2017

 Scheduling:

. October Virtual (but live) lecture – Teresa Bippert-Plymate “A Career in Astronomy” . A fall public Telescope Clinic? - October 14, 2017, Erwin Lake Park (on Hatchery road in Erwin Lake) - Teresa will produce the Flyer, Bill will contact the Chamber etc for PSA - Same format at the July event… if this is successful, then we’ll have 2/year. . Next beginner talk? - Nothing suggested. However, if you have a “show and tell”, please bring. . Probable November Virtual Lecture guest speaker: Philip Choi, Pomona College, AO expert - http://physastro.pomona.edu/people/philip-choi/

 Member reports on the Total Solar Eclipse of Aug 21!! . Wonderful and entertaining recap of the folks who went somewhere to see the Totality. - Teresa/Claude, Tim, Byron, Vatch, Mark (also saw Venus then as well) . Plans were discussed about visiting the 2024 total eclipse in Mexico et al - https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8 . Year 2045 will have total eclipse starting in NA in NoCal and heading southeast thru Florida… will happen on August 12, so will we be able to see the Perseids?

 General Discussion:

Calendar summary:

Sept thru Oct Comet C/2017 01 (see attached flight path) Sept 16 Star party, High Chaparral site, starts at dusk Sept 22 Autumnal Equinox: Fall begins, sun goes south of equator Sept 24 SUNday in the Village, 11am -1pm, bring solar filters and scopes Sept 28 Virtual Lecture at BBSO… Dr. Tamitha Skov, Space Weather Woman Sept 29 Urban Assault in the Village, starts at Dusk Oct 12 Next club meeting at Dennys Oct 14 Public Telescope Clinic, Erwin Lake park on Hatchery Oct 26 Virtual Lecture (actually this will be live), Teresa’s professional career

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a η LIBRA i E 20 New Moon at 5:30 UT. Start of lunation 1172. T n SERPENS t H C (CAUDA) n E p e E o AQUILA d H S u i A T r Diphda s 22 Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 10h UT. Mag. –1.7. M i . n M11 t E e S g E o A w p M S I 22 September equinox at 20:02 UT. The time when the Sun a 7009 M16 t T T t β n H e e r i D E reaches the point along the ecliptic where it crosses into the f c N r n A D o I m M17 A S R CAPRICORNUS . E southern celestial hemisphere marking the start of autumn in E a 7293 M23 y T C Saturn k A T j M25 s D I a M21 e the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. O r M20 N N i th I Symbols n A T t Antares s T H o Fomalhaut Nunki M4 s R A t M22 M8 ro E Galaxy 27 Moon near Saturn (evening sky) at 1h UT. Mag. 0.5. T h c C Y e AUSTRINUSPISCIS a O m s N U SE The e O o Teapot h S Double Star 27 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 7h UT (distance 404,348 km; F u c R A th SW et A CE o tr E . f s P Variable Star angular size 29.6'). B a SAGITTARIUS M6 y P E l SCORPIUS a A G ar W IT IN g y S Diffuse Nebula e lk A 28 First Quarter Moon at 2:54 UT. B fi M7 i Y sh M N U , e ZO SI P Th I Planetary Nebula N isc CORONA OR More sky events and links at http://Skymaps.com/skycalendar/ G is H TH A GRUS AUSTRALIS O- Open Star Cluster E us -T SK tri ON All times in Universal Time (UT). (USA Eastern Summer Time = UT – 4 hours.) Y nu IZ MA s. OR Globular Star Cluster P T H O OM FIN FR SAVE ON RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS • http://Skymaps.com/store D The KY A B Su . T S RIG mme ead IGH Star Magnitudes HT r Tri SOUTH overh E N -1 0 1 2 3 4 • Star Atlases & Planispheres • Star Charts & Astro Posters STA angle stars TIR R PA – Vega, bright E EN TTER Altair, and Deneb – three S TH Copyright © 2000–2017 Kym Thalassoudis. All Rights Reserved. • Books for Sky Watchers • Telescopes & Binoculars N IN SHOW THE SKY KY MAP All sales support the production and free distribution of The Evening Sky Map. . INSTRUCTIONS: THE S * TERMS OF USE: FREE FOR NON-COMMERCIAL EDUCATIONAL USE. ASTRONOMY EDUCATION GROUPS MAY FREELY DISTRIBUTE PRINTED HANDOUTS. FULL DETAILS AT http://Skymaps.com/terms.html About the Celestial Objects Easily Seen with the Naked Eye Listed on this page are several of the brighter, more interesting celestial objects Altair Aql Brightest star in Aquila. Name means "the flying eagle". Dist=16.7 ly. visible in the evening sky this month (refer to the monthly sky map). The objects are Capella Aur The 6th brightest star. Appears yellowish in color. Spectroscopic binary. Dist=42 ly. Arcturus Boo Orange, giant K star. Name means "bear watcher". Dist=36.7 ly. grouped into three categories. Those that can be easily seen with the naked eye (that δ Cephei Cep Cepheid prototype. Mag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.366 days. Mag 6 companion. is, without optical aid), those easily seen with binoculars, and those requiring a Deneb Cyg Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiants. Dist=1,400±200 ly. telescope to be appreciated. Note, all of the objects (except single stars) will α Herculis Her Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.1 & 3.9 over 90 days. Mag 5.4 companion. appear more impressive when viewed through a telescope or very large Vega Lyr The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-white star. Dist=25.0 ly. binoculars. They are grouped in this way to highlight objects that can be seen using Algol Per Famous eclipsing binary star. Magnitude varies between 2.1 & 3.4 over 2.867 days. Fomalhaut PsA Brightest star in Piscis Austrinus. In Arabic the "fish's mouth". Dist=25 ly. the optical equipment that may be available to the star gazer. SEPTEMBER 2017 Antares Sco Red, supergiant star. Name means "rival of Mars". Dist=135.9 ly. Polaris UMi The North Pole Star. A telescope reveals an unrelated mag 8 companion star. Dist=433 ly. Tips for Observing the Night Sky When observing the night sky, and in particular deep-sky objects such as star clusters, NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Easily Seen with Binoculars nebulae, and galaxies, it’s always best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct M31 And The Andromeda Galaxy. Most distant object visible to naked eye. Dist=2.93 million ly. M2 Aqr Resembles a fuzzy star in binoculars. light from street lights and other sources. If possible observe from a dark location η Aquilae Aql Bright Cepheid variable. Mag varies between 3.6 & 4.5 over 7.166 days. Dist=1,200 ly. away from the light pollution that surrounds many of today’s large cities. M3 CVn Easy to find in binoculars. Might be glimpsed with the naked eye. You will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darkness—usually about 10 to μ Cephei Cep Herschel's Garnet Star. One of the reddest stars. Mag 3.4 to 5.1 over 730 days. 20 minutes after you go outside. Also, if you need to use a torch to view the sky χ Cygni Cyg Long period pulsating red giant. Magnitude varies between 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days. map, cover the light bulb with red cellophane. This will preserve your dark vision. M39 Cyg May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions. Dist=900 ly. ν Draconis Dra Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. Dist=100 ly. Finally, even though the Moon is one of the most stunning objects to view M13 Her Best globular in northern skies. Discovered by Halley in 1714. Dist=23,000 ly. through a telescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of M92 Her Fainter and smaller than M13. Use a telescope to resolve its stars. the fainter objects very difficult to see. So try to observe the evening sky on ε Lyrae Lyr Famous Double Double. Binoculars show a double star. High power reveals each a double. moonless nights around either New Moon or Last Quarter. R Lyrae Lyr Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days. M10 Oph 3 degrees from the fainter M12. Both may be glimpsed in binoculars. Dist=14,000 ly. IC 4665 Oph Large, scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. Astronomical Glossary 6633 Oph Scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. Conjunction – An alignment of two celestial bodies such that they present the least M15 Peg Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 14, d=1"). Dist=30,000 ly. Double Cluster Per Double Cluster in Perseus. NGC 869 & 884. Excellent in binoculars. Dist=7,300 ly. angular separation as viewed from Earth. M8 Sgr Lagoon Nebula. Bright nebula bisected by a dark lane. Dist=5,200 ly. Constellation – A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern. M25 Sgr Bright cluster located about 6 deg N of "teapot's" lid. Dist=1,900 ly. M22 Sgr A spectacular globular star cluster. Telescope will show stars. Dist=10,000 ly. Diffuse Nebula – A cloud of gas illuminated by nearby stars. M6 Sco Butterfly Cluster. 30+ stars in 7x binoculars. Dist=1,960 ly. Double Star – Two stars that appear close to each other in the sky; either linked by M7 Sco Superb open cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Age=260 million years. Dist=780 ly. gravity so that they orbit each other (binary star) or lying at different distances from Mizar & Alcor UMa Good eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Mizar has a mag 4 companion. Earth (optical double). Apparent separation of stars is given in seconds of arc ("). Cr 399 Vul Coathanger asterism or "Brocchi's Cluster". Not a true star cluster. Dist=218 to 1,140 ly. Ecliptic – The path of the Sun’s center on the celestial sphere as seen from Earth. Telescopic Objects Elongation – The angular separation of two celestial bodies. For Mercury and Venus γ Andromedae And Attractive double star. Bright orange star with mag 5 blue companion. Sep=9.8". the greatest elongation occurs when they are at their most angular distance from the 7009 Aqr Saturn Nebula. Requires 8-inch telescope to see Saturn-like appendages. Sun as viewed from Earth. 7293 Aqr Helix Nebula. Spans nearly 1/4 deg. Requires dark sky. Dist=300 ly. γ Arietis Ari Impressive looking double blue-white star. Visible in a small telescope. Sep=7.8". Galaxy – A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity. CELESTIAL OBJECTS ε Boötis Boo Red giant star (mag 2.5) with a blue-green mag 4.9 companion. Sep=2.8". Difficult to split. Globular Star Cluster – A ball-shaped group of several thousand old stars. M51 CVn Whirlpool Galaxy. First recognised to have spiral structure. Dist=25 million ly. η Cassiopeiae Cas Yellow star mag 3.4 & orange star mag 7.5. Dist=19 ly. Orbit=480 years. Sep=12". Light Year (ly) – The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 km/sec in one year. Albireo Cyg Beautiful double star. Contrasting colours of orange and blue-green. Sep=34.4". Magnitude – The brightness of a celestial object as it appears in the sky. 61 Cygni Cyg Attractive double star. Mags 5.2 & 6.1 orange dwarfs. Dist=11.4 ly. Sep=28.4". γ Delphini Del Appear yellow & white. Mags 4.3 & 5.2. Dist=100 ly. Struve 2725 double in same field. Open Star Cluster – A group of tens or hundreds of relatively young stars. β Lyrae Lyr Eclipsing binary. Mag varies between 3.3 & 4.3 over 12.940 days. Fainter mag 7.2 blue star. Opposition – When a celestial body is opposite the Sun in the sky. M57 Lyr Ring Nebula. Magnificent object. Smoke-ring shape. Dist=4,100 ly. M20 Sgr Trifid Nebula. A telescope shows 3 dust lanes trisecting nebula. Dist=5,200 ly. Planetary Nebula – The remnants of a shell of gas blown off by a star. M17 Sgr Omega Nebula. Contains the star cluster NGC 6618. Dist=4,900 ly. Universal Time (UT) – A time system used by astronomers. Also known as Greenwich M11 Sct Wild Duck Cluster. Resembles a globular through binoculars. V-shaped. Dist=5,600 ly. Mean Time. USA Eastern Standard Time (for example, New York) is 5 hours behind UT. M16 Ser Eagle Nebula. Requires a telescope of large aperture. Dist=8,150 ly. M33 Tri Fine face-on spiral galaxy. Requires a large aperture telescope. Dist=2.3 million ly. Variable Star – A star that changes brightness over a period of time. M27 Vul Dumbbell Nebula. Large, twin-lobed shape. Most spectacular planetary. Dist=975 ly. The Evening Sky Map (ISSN 1839-7735) Copyright © 2000–2017 Kym Thalassoudis. All Rights Reserved.

Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

October 2017 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? . Members present: John V., Claude, Teresa, Deanna, Greg, Vatch, Byron, Randy, Dick, Jane, Lydia, Bill Y.

 Announcements: T-shirts and magnets are here

 Treasurer/Membership Report: . 25 paid members, 20 unpaid for this year, $591.50 balance

 Librarian Report : . Deanna brought the DVD inventory for member sharing

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Virtual Lecture with Dr Tamitha Skov – Space Weather Woman! - Great comments including “great presenter”, and “wonderful” . BBVAS Star Party on the 16th. Short session, good seeing, cold . SunDay in the Village on Sept 24. - Good attendance, Teresa/Claude/Bill . Urban Assault Friday on the 29th - Great attendance, and some “emotional” responses (good) - Claude/Teresa/Bill with telescopes . BBSO tour 10/12… full group, good questions/attention . BBSO 3rd grade class tour… borderline too young for most chat.

 Activities . Telescope Clinic/Star Party. Oct 14, Erwin Lake Park . Virtual Lecture LIVE! - BBVAS President, Teresa Bippert-Plymate, Oct 19 . Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village, Oct 27th. . Anyone start the AL Lunar Project? . BBVAS Star Party – Oct 21. Where?... High Chaparral agreed to

 Chief observer report. (see attached Skymap, and comet map) . What’s up this month? - Orionids on 10/21 - Leonids on 11/10  Scheduling:

. November 16 Virtual lecture – Dr. Phil Choi, Adaptive Optics. - http://physastro.pomona.edu/people/philip-choi . Next beginner talk? TBD . No December Virtual lecture  -end-

Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

November 2017 Agenda and Minutes

 Welcome: . New members or 1st time visitors? None . Members present: Randy, John V., Claude, Teresa, Stan, Joan, Jane, Wes, Deanna, Tom, Bill . It was good to see John Day at Claude’s b’day party…

 Announcements: T-shirts and magnets are here. Green pointers were tiny.

 Treasurer/Membership Report: 28 paid members, $679.50 balance

 Librarian Report : Inventory will be on club website soon. Email Deanna to borrow items.

 Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: . Virtual Lecture with BBVAS President, Teresa Bippert-Plymate - Very cool to learn about Teresa’s comprehensive background and experience . BBVAS Star Party on Oct 21st. - Cold and clear, but after a while everyone said “I’m cold- going home now”… . Urban Assault Friday on Oct 27

- Deanna, Randy, Bill… Deanna sat up a table and collected more Scholarship $$. . Telescope Clinic/Star Party. Oct 14, Erwin Lake Park - We tried it, but just 1 or 2 visitors attended… too cold, may not do an Oct Clinic again. . Oct BBSO Tour - Teresa and Bill… lead a full tour on the Oct tour. - Jane and Wes…lead 11 visitors on the Nov Tour. - We will consider moving the Winter tour time up one hour.

 Activities . November 16th Probably-not-Virtual lecture – Dr. Phil Choi, Adaptive Optics. - http://physastro.pomona.edu/people/philip-choi/ . Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village, Nov 24th. Canceled… too close to Thanksgiving Day. . BBVAS Star Party Nov 18th – GMARS or Johnson Valley? - We’ll meet at the Plymate’s Pinion Pine Observatory this time . Anyone start the AL Lunar Project? - Bill started the program… he commented that the program enhanced his observations of the moon’s surface…Note: these observations can be done in the daylight as well.

 Chief observer report. . What’s up this month? - Upcoming meteor showers • North Taurids, November 11-12 with waning crescent moon • Leonids, November 16 with new moon • Geminids, December 13-14 with waning crescent moon - See attachments, including total Lunar eclipse on 1-31-2018.

 Scheduling: . No December Virtual Lecture – . And no December Club meeting at Dennys either . January’s virtual lecture: Gerald McKeegan on NEO program. - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerald-mckeegan-0a838a24/ . December Solstice Party –Sun 12/17… - We’ll meet at Deanna’s home… “thanks” to her for hosting this event. • Details to follow - This will be a potluck dinner… no theme suggested… . Next beginner talk?... Ideas? Need the next subject…

 Beginner talk – Laser guide stars – Claude . Super presentation on Laser Guide Stars, and AO. We are fortunate to have Claude and the other BBSO experts guide us through their profession.

 General Discussion: this was actually included in Claude’s presentation as well.

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