Mar 2019 OBSERVER

Home , 44 Ophiuchi, 51 Ophiuchi, Delta Arietis

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 44, Number 3 March 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – M42 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – March 2019 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«Minutes of the February 9th Annual Meeting 5«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 7«Images from the 2019 Annual Meeting & Banquet 8«24” Moved to Dome on Saturday, February 16th 9«Prairie Sky Observatory Today 10«March 2019 with Jeffrey L. Hunt 13«NCRAL 2019 is Coming! 14«Public Viewing Sessions Schedule for 2019 14«TCAA Active on Facebook 15«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2019 15«HowTimeFlies 15«Renewing Your TCAA Membership 18«TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of February 28, 2019

EDITOR’S CHOICE: IMAGE OF THE MONTH – M42

This month’s Editor’s Choice is an image of the Great Orion nebula taken by Carl Wenning at Sugar Grove Observatory on February 27, 2012. Carl was aided in the capture of this image by Bob Finnigan and post-processing was conducted by Lee Green. According to Carl, “There’s not much to be impressed about with the quality of this image. It’s pretty much run of the mill, with much better work having been done by other club members in recent years. What is worthy of note, however, is how the club has the capacity to take out-of-this-world images using some of the most advanced astrophotographic equipment available to amateur astronomers anywhere on the planet. “I strongly encourage TCAA members to take advantage of the opportunity to learn how to do astrophotography under the tutelage of Bob Finnigan and others using the incredible telescopes,

The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League. For cameras, and computers of our training site – Prairie Sky more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit the Observatory at Sugar Grove Nature Center. Also, don’t forget to TCAA website. Visit Astroleague.org for additional take advantage of the CPC 11” goto telescope under the dome of information about the League and its membership Sugar Grove Observatory. I can help visual observers with that. benefits. Contact me at [email protected].”

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER Our 2019 Annual Banquet is is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin behind us, and quite a banquet City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational it was. We had good food, good organization of amateur astronomers inter- fellowship, a good (short) ested in studying astronomy and sharing business meeting, and a their hobby with the public. fabulous speaker. I was so

happy to see everyone who 2018 TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS came, and if you weren't there, you were missed! President, Director, & Property Manager Tim Stone 309-531-2401 [email protected] Among other things, we elected a new board of Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. directors for 2019. The officer Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 [email protected] roster remains unchanged except for one position. Justin Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent Meyer has been on the board TCAA President Tim Stone Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 [email protected] for a year and has contributed his time and efforts in that capacity. Scott Wade was elected in Justin's place. I Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor want to thank Justin for his tenure on the board, and welcome Scott. I'm grateful Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 [email protected] for the support of such quality people as we pursue our wonderful hobby and our club goals. Director/Technology Coordinator Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 The board will meet on Tuesday, March 12th, and at that meeting we will [email protected] determine who will hold which positions for the coming year. With that, we will Astronomical League Correspondent turn our attention to the year ahead. As always, you're welcome to attend these Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 meetings and provide your input. We have a great time, keep it light, and end up [email protected] spending time just "shooting the breeze" with each other as we share what we've Webmaster been up to astronomically. Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] While we don't have a Public Viewing Session in March this year, these are Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator quickly approaching. Sunil Chebolu will be leading off the series in April with a talk Lisa Wentzel unlisted number about how distant the stars are and how we know. I hope you're already planning [email protected] on being at as many of these as you can. They're a load of fun, and the public is Publicist always so appreciative. Kids and adults alike enjoy the views of the heavens Rick Lasher 309-825-2768 through our telescopes, and pepper us with questions of all kinds. For the regulars [email protected] (you know who you are), thank you so much for your ongoing support of our public The OBSERVER outreach efforts. For those who don't often come, won't you plan to help with Carl J. Wenning, Editor in Chief these this year? I promise you'll have a great time!

Submission deadline two days before the end of each month. Hoping and praying for clear skies,

MEMBERSHIP DUES Tim Stone

Individual Adult/Family $40 TCAA President Full-time Student/Senior $25 (Senior status equals ages 60+)

To join, send your name, contact info and dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – MARCH 2019 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (3/15): Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, & Neptune The following individuals have paid dues for new or renewed memberships as of February 28, 2019. (Others EVENING PLANETS (3/15): Mars & Uranus (NB. Mercury near who paid after that date will appear in the April 2019 conjunction with and south of sun. Currently not visible.) issue of The OBSERVER.) The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of important astronomical events for this month. All times are Central Time. Brian Barling, Bryce Heiniger, Lee Green, Dave Osenga

Mark Boulware, Sharon MacDonald, and Vivian Hoette

Day Time Event

01 12:40 Saturn 0.3°S of Moon DUES BLUES

02 05:03 Moon at Descending Node If you have received a “your dues are due” 02 15:28 Venus 1.2°N of Moon statement along with the email that brought you this 04 05:25 Moon at Apogee: 406391 km issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. 06 10:04 NEW MOON Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for 06 19 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 10 02:00 Daylight Saving Time Begins 11 07:09 Mars 5.8°N of Moon SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LIST 13 05:13 Aldebaran 1.9°S of Moon 14 05:27 FIRST QUARTER MOON By subscribing to a group’s mailing list, you will receive email messages from the group though you 14 21 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction won’t have access to the group’s web features (like 16 11:22 Moon at Ascending Node photos, files, links, polls, calendar, etc.) unless members 17 08:01 Beehive 0.5°N of Moon activate it later. The club has an open email listserv. It is 18 18:59 Regulus 2.6°S of Moon known as the TCAA YahooGroups listserv. It will be used 19 14:47 Moon at Perigee: 359381 km to share announcements and reminders about 20 16:58 March Equinox – Spring Begins astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv, you must do the following: 20 20:43 FULL MOON

26 21:28 Jupiter 1.9°S of Moon 1. To subscribe: Send a blank email to TCAA- 28 00:10 LAST QUARTER MOON [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a 28 24:11 Saturn 0.1°N of Moon confirmation email from the group. Reply to the 29 08:08 Moon at Descending Node confirmation email to activate your subscription. 30 22:06 Mars 3.1°S of Pleiades 2. To post a message: [email protected] 3. To unsubscribe: [email protected] 31 19:14 Moon at Apogee: 405577 km

http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2019cst.html

EVENING SKY MAP Click on the icon found here to access a current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Wednesday, March 6 Thursday, March 14 Wednesday, March 20 Thursday, March 28

All moon phase dates are Central Time. Additional moon phases for the 2019 calendar year can be found by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

THIS MONTH’S SOLAR PHENOMENA

In the table below, you will find times of sunrise and sunset along with rising and setting azimuths (Az), length of day including change from previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, and the time of solar noon along with the elevation (El) of the midday sun. These data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2019 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Mar Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Difference Start End Time (El)

1 6:30 AM (99°) 5:47 PM (261°) 11:17:13 +2:38 4:59 AM 7:17 PM 12:08 PM (42.0°)

Note: Hours shift because clocks are set forward 1 hour at 2:00 AM for DST on Sunday, March 10th. 11 7:14 AM (94°) 6:58 PM (266°) 11:43:13 +2:41 5:43 AM 8:29 PM 1:05 PM (45.9°) 21 6:58 AM (89°) 7:08 PM (271°) 12:10:51 +2:41 5:26 AM 8:40 PM 1:03 PM (49.9°)

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 9TH ANNUAL MEETING

Twenty-six members and guests attended the TCAA’s and Jim Gibbs, Editor in Chief of Northern Lights), and 59th Annual Meeting and Banquet on Saturday, February 9th. pointed out the fact that TCAA’s own newsletter, The President Tim Stone welcomed those assembled at 6:30 PM OBSERVER, continues to be a publication of exceptional after which members enjoyed a banquet meal of grilled quality. chicken, baked ham, green beans, roasted red potatoes, There was no annual report from the Treasurer as he tossed salad, and dinner rolls along with lemonade and was not present and did not leave any notes. Tim stated that water. Dessert was a very tasty sheet cake made by Sam’s it sufficed to know that we have a positive balance in our Club (many were asking) provided courtesy of the Wennings. treasury, and to see the latest newsletter for the values. Following a convivial dinner, Tim called the business meeting Tim placed a final call for nominations for the Board of to order at 7:15 PM which was immediately followed with a Directors. There being seven nominations and hearing no moment of silence for members passed. new nominations, he declared an end to the nominations The first order of business was the President’s Annual process and called for a vote. The vote was by secret ballot Report. He pointed out the completion of the Waynesville with the following results for the 2019-2020 TCAA Board of Observatory facilities (with the pending installation of the Directors: 24” telescope), and the installation of the 14” at Prairie Sky • Tim Stone Observatory. He also mentioned the successful 2018 public • Thomas Willmitch viewing sessions despite the mostly cloudy skies, thanked • Scott Wade Tom Willmitch for hosting a series of club socials, noted that • Carl Wenning two TCAA members help to run NCRAL (Carl Wenning, Chair, • Dave Osenga

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

Tim distributed three Night Sky Network Outreach Award pins. They went to Vivian Hoette for giving her first- ever talk at a SGNC public viewing session, to Nataya Boulware for being the youngest presenter of a public viewing session, and to Bryce Heiniger for assisting with public viewing sessions with his telescope. All award winners were warmly congratulated for their successes. A door prize drawing – consisting of books and star charts – was then held much to the delight of all. An electric cooling fan for an 8” Dobsonian telescope was then given away to Vivian Hoette who had need for such a device. Thanks to several donors including Sharon MacDonald, Lisa Wentzel, and Carl Wenning. The meeting was then adjourned, and the room cleared and prepared for the invited speaker for the evening. 2019-2020 Board of Directors: Tim Stone, Tom Willmitch, Beginning at 8:00 PM, Tyler Linder from Sullivan, IL, and Scott Wade, and Carl Wenning. Missing was Dave Osenga. a doctoral candidate in Space Studies at the University of As mandated by state law, Tim declared that Treasurer North Dakota, spoke with us about Asteroids – Making the Dave Osenga is the Official Registered Agent for the club Connection between Professional and Education Public (whose address and contact information can be found on Outreach Astronomers. He spoke first about the importance page 2 of the club’s newsletter). Club, Astronomical League, of this connection and suggested that amateurs are far and Night Sky Network awards were then presented. better purveyors of astronomical knowledge than are Receiving the TCAA’s Eugene & Donna Miller Family professional astronomers. He then detailed the reasons and Award were Scott & Stacey Wade. It was conferred in encouraging a closer working relationship between the two. recognition of their work with daughter Emily who is He briefly summarized his work with Bob Holmes and their considering a career as a professional astronomer. work on asteroids. Members concurred afterward that this Unfortunately, Emily was singing in a concert at the U of I was a great talk, one member telling the Secretary that, “It and neither she nor her mother Stacey were able to attend was the best talk I’d ever heard at a TCAA event.” The the ceremony. meeting drew to a close at 9:05 PM. The Astronomical League’s Honorary Messier Award In attendance at this year’s event were the following: was presented to 15-year-old Bryce Heiniger for having Brian Barling, Bryce and Mark Heiniger, Carl & Carolyn observed all 110 Messier Objects. Carl Wenning, who Wenning, Tyler Linder, Lee Green, Dick and Lisa Wentzel, presented the award, noted the great amount of work Mark and Nataya Boulware, Matthew Will, Paul Pouliot, required to earn this award, and how very detail Bryce’s Robert Finnigan, Sandullah & Pat Epsicokhan, Scott Wade, observing records were. Because Bryce’s pin and certificate Sharon MacDonald, Thomas & Pam Willmitch, Tim Stone, had not yet arrived from the AL, Carl presented Bryce with Tom & Carolyn Weiland, Chuck & Vivian Hoette, and William his own Messier pin earned 37 years before as a “loaner.” Carney. Tim conferred upon Lisa Wentzel the Astronomical League’s Globular Cluster Observing Club Award for having Respectfully submitted, observed and classified 60 globular clusters. Lisa, already an AL Master observer, now has completed about a dozen Carl Wenning, Secretary observing programs.

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó Bob Finnigan has continued to work with the new 14” telescope at Prairie Sky Observatory to make it fully functional. On February 6th Bob provided the image found at the bottom of page 6 and reported, “Here is the 14” with new finder, guide scope, camera, and filter wheel.” The telescope is now all but fully functional thanks to Bob with assistance from Scott Wade and Rick Lasher. Thanks to all for putting so much work for the benefit of our TCAA membership. ó Bob Finnigan and Tim Stone took our Annual Meeting guest speaker Tyler Linder on a 2.5-hour tour of our observatory complexes at both Waynesville and Sugar Grove Nature Center on the afternoon of Saturday, February 9th.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

ó On January 22nd, Bob Finnigan and his brother Ernie (on whose land the Waynesville Observatory is located) appealed to the taxing authority of DeWitt County. Based upon their appraiser’s assessment, the County billed Ernie an addition $3,200 in real estate tax which the TCAA would have had to pay. On February 13th, Bob and Ernie were informed that the taxing district agreed completely with our appeal as we were able to show actual purchase and construction costs. They reduced the tax basis by about $15,000. It now appears that the TCAA’s annual real estate assessment for WO will be on the order of $900 per year – a $2,300 annual savings. Thanks to Bob and Ernie for going to bat for the TCAA! ó Also on February 13th, Bob Finnigan informed us that a new side-bar computer (Eagle) had been attached to the 14” telescope at PSO. (The computer is the red box attached to the side of the telescope in this image.) Two days later, Bob announced that he had established a wireless RealVNC network so that the telescope can be completely controlled in a wireless fashion from two computers in the control room. The only thing lacking now (besides clear skies) is a pointing model and a high-precision polar alignment. ó On Saturday, February 16th, the weather warmed up just enough to all the movement of the club’s new 24” telescope from its place in a storage barn to it new home. Tim Stone, Tony Cellini, and Justin Meyer did the move, and Scott Wade showed up late in the day to assist. Bob Finnigan was there the whole day to document the process. (You may see a collage of Bob’s images further on in this issue of the newsletter.) As the weather continues to improve, the telescope will be placed in its yoke mount. A considerable amount of work will be required to bring the telescope to operational status. The amount of work required to do so can be prodigious. Hopefully, the telescope will be “on line” sometime this summer (if not sooner). Thanks to all who lent a hand. ó On Wednesday, February 20th, TCAA members Sandullah Epsicokhan and Carl Wenning spent a lazy afternoon over coffee at Panera Bread in Normal talking about amateur astronomy. Carl has agreed to help Sandullah with a 10” loaner telescope to learn how to make observation for the AL’s Messier Observing Program, and to get up to speed with the CPC 11” telescope under the SGO dome. Bob Finnigan has also agreed to mentor Sandullah in the use of the photographic training telescopes at PSO. If club members are interested in joining these groups, they should contact Carl at [email protected] as soon as reasonably possible. ó Because the new Eagle computer is working so well on the new 14” PSO telescope, a second Eagle was added – but this time to the 17” PSO telescope. Bob completed the installation on Friday, February 22nd. USB cabling running under the floor of SGO has been problematical in the past due to both environmental conditions and the motions of the telescope. These motions sometimes place stress on the cables causing them to fail or badly connect through a USB box. The Eagle should resolve these problems. The spring and summer months should show if this type of wiring problem has been mitigated. ó Tony Cellini “finally got off [his] duff and brought the Raspberry Pi out to WO to report weather conditions to Weather Underground” (using his own words). The weather station is again running. The weather station, which reports local conditions such as wind speed and direction, temperature, sunrise and sunset times, and moon phase can be found at the following URL (be sure to bookmark): https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather- station/dashboard?ID=KILWAYNE13&cm_ven=localwx_pwsdash# history ó Bob Finnigan reported on February 27th that the three imaging telescopes at SGO are “working up to par now.” There was a recent developer-related problem with a new driver on the Paramount ME which has now been corrected. The only thing yet to be done is to recreating pointing models and confirm polar alignment. “This will be done,” Bob remarked, “if ever we get a clear sky.” The required program, T-Point, was recently added to the software.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

IMAGES FROM THE 2019 TCAA ANNUAL MEETING AND BANQUET

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

24” MOVED TO DOME ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

PRAIRIE SKY OBSERVATORY TODAY ~ by Bob Finnigan ~

We have recently made some significant updates to Prairie Sky Observatory at Sugar Grove Nature Center. After many of the former telescopes were moved to our dark sky site near Waynesville, I, with the assistance of others, have tried to create a learning center where TCAA members can be mentored in the use of modern astrophotographic techniques in preparation for using even more advanced instruments (include 20” and 24” telescopes) at our Waynesville Observatory. Here is an update.

(LEFT) The south pier has a 17-inch PlaneWave telescope mounted on a Paramount ME. It is outfitted with a six-inch guide scope and an Ultra Star guider camera. The main camera is a QHY 168 Mono with 7-position filter wheel. An Eagle computer is mounted on the scope allowing for wireless communication with computers in the control room. The 17” telescope uses VNC Remote Viewing.

(RIGHT) The north pier has a 14-inch RC Scope on a 1100 AstroPhysics Mount. It also has a QHY 168 Mono camera with a 7-position filter wheel. It has an Eagle computer mounted on the side of the scope. It is outfitted with a 4-inch guider and Ultra Star guide camera. Like the 17” telescope, the 14” uses VNC Remote Viewing.

(LEFT) The west pier features a Celestron 11” HD telescope atop a Paramount MX mount. It too is outfitted with a QHY 168 camera, but this one is color. It is attended by a 4” guide scope with an Ultra Star camera serving as a guider telescope. We are using ICRON which converts USB to CAT 6 to communicate with our computer control.

(RIGHT) On the east pier is the solar scope. It is a double-stack Coronado Hα scope placed on a CGEM mount.

Editor: The author is now recruiting for his next class of mentees. Contact Bob if you’d like to learn how to use these photographic instruments. Contact Carl Wenning if you’d like to learn how to use the SGO visual telescope.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

MARCH 2019 ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

At the beginning of the month, and before morning • March 2: This morning is another classic Venus – moon twilight starts, the starry sky has the appearance of a July (25.8d, 15%) pairing, with the crescent 4.3° to the right of evening sky. The Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb, and Altair) the brilliant Morning Star, that is nearly 9° up in the east- stands high in the east. The scorpion, with its bright star southeast 1 hour before sunrise. Look for Earthshine on Antares, crawls across the southern horizon. The Big Dipper, the night portion of the moon. Jupiter (m = −2.0) is 39° to high in the sky, is tilting down toward the northwest horizon. the upper right of Venus and Saturn is 13° to the upper Arcturus is high in the southwest with Spica beneath it, right of Venus. Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury (m = lower in the sky. The Sickle of Leo, with Regulus, is nearing 0.2) is about 13° up in the west. As the moon approaches the western horizon. As sunrise approaches, three bright its New phase, I normally describe deep sky objects that planets – Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter – and the moon arc are visible when the evening skies are moonless. This across the morning sky from southeast to south. Shortly month let’s look at some brighter objects, Winter’s after sunset, Mercury is low in the western sky. It has just Hertzsprung-Russell collection of stars. The H-R diagram is passed its evening elongation and it is completing its best now a classic diagram to chart and compare stellar evening appearance of the year. Mars marches eastward in properties, based on temperature and luminosity and the Aries, dimming further as the month progresses. The interchangeable properties that are related to the main evening sky has the bright winter stars. Orion is west of the characteristics. Explaining to a group of beginners that meridian at the end of evening twilight, while Sirius is to the “cool” stars are “red” and “hot” stars are “blue” can east of that line. The Pleiades are nearly 20° to the upper left certainly lead to misconceptions about the intensity of the of Mars, which has nearly the same altitude as Rigel. Regulus colors. Showing them star colors through a telescope is about 25° above the eastern horizon. The sun is rapidly provides clearer meaning to the description, even so that moving northward along the horizon during rising and some colors are difficult to distinguish from others setting. The azimuths are changing about 1° every two days through the eyepiece. Use a pair of polarizing filters to throughout the month. The length of daylight is 11 hours, 15 reduce the brightness of the stars to make the colors minutes. The length of darkness, from the end of evening easier to see in the diminished intensity of the bright stars twilight to the beginning of morning twilight is 9 hours, 40 on the list. Take the tour of the Winter H-R diagram minutes. through an eyepiece: Spectral Class O: Alnitak – the eastern star in Orion’s belt (ζ Ori, m = 1.7), 815 light years • March 1: Three bright planets shine from the southern sky distant; B: Rigel (β Ori, m = 0.2), 860 l.y.; A: Sirius (α CMa, this morning. Jupiter (m = −2.0) rises 4.5 hours before m = −1.5), 9 l.y.; F: Procyon (α Cmi, m = 0.4), 11 l.y.; G: sunrise followed by the waning crescent moon (24.9 days Capella (α Aur, m = 0.1), 40 l.y.; K: Aldebaran (α Tau, m = old, 22% illuminated) about 90 minutes later. Saturn (m = 0.8), 70 l.y.; M: Betelgeuse (α Ori, m = 0.4), 500 l.y. As you 0.6) follows the moon less than 20 minutes later. Venus observe the stars beginning with the O spectral class, (m = −4.1) rises about 45 minutes after Saturn. By 1 hour which spectral classes show a distinct difference of color? before sunrise, the three planets, with the moon 3° to the It is also important to note that some observers attempt a upper right of Saturn, span 38° from the east-southeast to “Messier Marathon” around the time of the Vernal south-southeast. Antares (α Sco, m = 1.0) is nearly 24° up Equinox to observe all the objects on Messier’s famous list in the south, about 13° to the lower right of Jupiter. during one night. This year the moon is full around that Through a telescope Venus’ gibbous phase (72%) time. This year, the weekend of March 8-10 may be the continues to grow as the planet moves away from us. It is best time to observe the gluttony of deep sky objects in 15.5” across. Mercury (m = 0.0), just past its evening one observing session. greatest elongation and fading in brightness, is about 13° • March 3: At an hour before sunrise, the crescent moon up in the west at 30 minutes after sunset. Optical (26.7d, 9%), about 4° up in the east-southeast, is about 7° assistance is necessary to track the planet as it appears to the lower left of Venus. About 30 minutes after sunset, farther north along the horizon each evening. Its catch Mercury (m = 0.5) through a binocular, 13° up in the brightness diminishes over 1 magnitude by March 5. Mars west. At the end of evening twilight, Mars is 38° up in the (m = 1.2), 35° up in the west at Astronomical Twilight, is west, over 18° below the Pleiades. about midway across Aries. Continue to track Mars with a • March 4: The moon is at apogee at 5:26 a.m. CST. The binocular against the dimmer stars along the planet’s path. observing challenge this morning occurs at about 30 Through a telescope, it is only 5.3” across. minutes before sunrise. Look in the east-southeast, about

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

3° up, for a thin crescent moon (27.6d, 4%). It is about 18° north each week this month. At the end of evening to the lower left of Venus. The fading Mercury (m = 0.8) is twilight, the waxing crescent moon (5.4d, 26%) is 7.1° to about 12° up in the west during early evening twilight. the left of Mars, 35° up in the west. The Red Planet is 13° • March 5: One hour before sunrise, brilliant Venus (m = below the Pleiades. −4.1) is about 9° up in the east-southeast. Through a • March 12: During mid-twilight, Venus is 8° up in the east- telescope, the planet is a morning gibbous, 74% southeast. The V – J span is nearly 50°; Saturn is nearly illuminated and 15” across. The three bright morning mid-way between the two brighter planets. At the end of planets, Venus – Saturn – Jupiter, span over 42°. The evening twilight, look for the moon (6.4d, 35%) 5.5° to the Venus – Saturn gap has grown to 16°. Mercury (m = 1.2), lower right of Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8), almost between fading in brightness, is over 11° up in the west, during the Hyades and the Pleiades. While the entire Hyades bright evening twilight about 30 minutes after sunset. At cluster may not fit into a binocular field with the lunar the end of twilight, Mars is 38° up in the west-southwest, crescent, take a look with the lowest optical power in your 17° below the Pleiades. inventory to see the nice view. At the same time Mars is • March 6: Jupiter passes 1.6° north of 44 Ophiuchi (44 Oph, 36° up in the west, about 12° below the Pleiades. m = 4.2). One hour before sunrise, Venus is 7° up in the east-southeast. The morning planet trio continues to dominate the southeastern sky. The moon reaches its New phase at 10:04 a.m. CST. About an hour after sunset, Mars is over 42° up in the west-southwest • March 7: The spread of the morning planet trio is 42°. The V – S gap, 18°. A half an hour after sunset, the moon (1.3d, 2%) is 5° up in the west, 8.5° to the lower left of Mercury (m = 2.0). You’ll need a binocular to see Mercury in the glare of early twilight. The moon is nearly 44° to the lower right of Mars. One hour after sunset, Mars is 42° up in the west-southwest, 16° to the lower right of the Pleiades. • March 8: At mid-twilight (about 45 minutes before sunrise), brilliant Venus is nearly 9° up in the southeast. The morning planets span 45°; the V – S gap is 19°. Antares The moon appears near the Hyades on March 12, 2019. is 22° up in the south. An hour after sunset, the moon Look at the star field with the moon through a binocular. (2.4d, 5%) is nearly 11° up in the west. At the same time, Mars (m = 1.3) is over 30° above the lunar crescent. • March 13: Jupiter (m = −2.1) is 90° west of the sun, rising • March 9: At morning’s mid-twilight, Venus (m = −4.0) is 4.75 hours before sunrise. At the beginning of morning nearly 9° up in the east-southeast. Saturn is 17° up in the twilight, it is 23° up in the south-southeast. At the end of southeast, 21° to the upper right of Venus. Jupiter, 25° up evening twilight, the moon (7.4d, 46%), 58° up in the in the south, is nearly 26° farther west of Saturn. At the southwest, is midway between Aldebaran and Zeta Tauri (ζ end of evening twilight, the waxing crescent moon (3.4d, Tau, m = 3.0), the southern horn of Taurus. 10%) is 15° up in the west. Mars is over 20° above the • March 14: Venus rises at Astronomical Twilight and for the moon. rest of this apparition it rises later and closer to sunrise. • March 10: For those who do not like the switch to Daylight The moon is at its First Quarter phase at 5:27 a.m. CDT. At Saving Time, today is your official day to kick up a fuss. The the end of evening twilight, the moon (8.4d, 57%) is in clocks switch to 3 a.m. CDT at 2 a.m. CST. One hour before Orion, near the club stars, 4° to the lower right of Mu sunrise, Venus (m = −4.0) is 6° up in the east-southeast. Geminorum (μ Gem, m = 2.8). At the same time, Mars is Through a telescope the planet is a morning gibbous, 75% 35° up in the west, about 11° below the Pleiades. Mercury illuminated and nearly 15” across. After twilight ends, is at inferior conjunction at 8:47 p.m. CDT. Mars is 4.6° below Delta Arietis (δ Ari, m = 4.4). The Red • March 15: At about 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus is 8° Planet is about 14° below the Pleiades. up in the east-southeast. The V – J spread is nearly 54°, • March 11: About 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus is 8° up with the Giant Planet 25° up in the south. Saturn is about in the east-southeast. The planet rises about 2° farther 28° to the upper right of Venus. Through telescope, Venus

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

is 14” across and 77% illuminated. At the end of evening nearly full moon is 10.5° to the upper right of Denebola (β twilight, the waxing gibbous moon (9.4d, 68%) is nearly Leo, m = 2.1). 11° to the lower right of Pollux (β Gem, m =1.2). The moon • March 20: At the beginning of morning twilight, the nearly is nearly 70° up in the south. full moon (13.8d, 99%), 8° up in the west, is 9° to the lower left of Denebola. Look for Jupiter in the south as it At mid-month during early morning twilight, three passes 1.3° north of 51 Ophiuchi (51 Oph, m = 4.8). At bright planets – Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter – arc across the mid-twilight, V – J, 59°, V – S, 33°. Through a telescope, southeastern sky. They span a distance over 50°. While Venus is 78% illuminated and nearly 14” across. The moving slowly eastward against the starry background, Vernal Equinox occurs at 4:58 p.m. CDT when the sun’s Jupiter and Saturn, nearly match the annual westward march coordinates are 0h, Right Ascension and 0° Declination. of the constellations. When Venus first appeared in the The sun’s rays are most direct at the equator. At the end evening sky, it appeared to be chasing Spica. Now, in March, of evening twilight, the moon (14.4d, 100%) is 12° to the the Venus – Spica gap is over 110° as the planet is rapidly lower right of Denebola. The moon is full at 8:43 p.m. CDT. moving eastward against the stars. Venus still appears in the This is another “Super Moon.” eastern sky, while Spica is much farther west. The planet is • March 21: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon now rising after the beginning of morning twilight. Mercury (14.8d, 99%) is 20° to the lower right of Spica (α Vir, m = is beginning a not-so-hot morning apparition, that reaches 1.0). About 45 minutes before sunrise, use a binocular to greatest elongation next month. While the elongation is over see Venus 2.2° to the upper left of Delta Capricorni (δ Cap, 27°, the angle of the ecliptic is low, and the planet is below m = 2.8). V – J, 60°; V – S, 34°. At the end of evening the ecliptic. Even at its greatest elongation, Mercury rises at twilight, the waning gibbous moon (15.4d, 98%) is 5° up in about the time of Nautical Twilight, when the sun is 12° the east. Mars, in the western sky, is 7.1° below the below the horizon. In the March evening sky, Mars’ Pleiades. brightness is seemingly overwhelmed by the collection of • March 22: At the beginning of morning twilight, the bright Winter stars to its east. Continue to watch the Red gibbous moon (15.8d, 97%) is 7.1° to the upper right of Planet move toward the Pleiades. Daylight has grown over Spica. At mid-morning twilight, V – J, 61°; V – S, 35°. At 40 minutes during the first half of the month, while darkness about 10 p.m. CDT, the waning gibbous moon (16.4d, has diminished nearly the same amount. 94%), 7° up in the east-southeast, is about 10° to the lower left of Spica. • March 16: About 45 minutes before sunrise, Venus is 7° • March 23: This morning, the moon (16.8d, 92%), 32° up in up in the east-southeast. The Venus – Jupiter separation is the southwest, is 12° to the upper left of Spica. V – J, 62°; 54°; Venus – Saturn, 27°. The gap opens over 1° each day. V – S, 36°. At the end of evening twilight, Mars moves into The Jupiter – Saturn separation is nearly 25.5° for several Taurus. It is 6.1° below Alcyone (η Tau, m = 2.8), the mornings as both seemingly creep eastward against the brightest star in the Pleiades (M 45). Watch Mars close in sidereal background. At the end of evening twilight, the and pass the star cluster during the next week. waxing gibbous moon (10.4d,78%), 65° up in the south- • March 24: At the beginning of morning twilight, the southeast, is 9.6° to the lower left of Pollux. Mars, among waning gibbous moon (17.8d, 85%) is east of a line that the dim stars of Aries, is 34° up in the west. connects Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m = 2.8) and • March 17: In the morning sky, V – J, 55°; V – S, 30°. At the Zubenelgenubi (β Lib, m = 2.6). It is 4.8° to the upper left end of evening twilight, the waxing gibbous moon (11.4d, of Zubenelgenubi. V – J, 63°; V – S, 38°. At the end of 87%), nearly 60° up in the southeast, is nearly 15° to the evening twilight, Mars, 30° up in the west, is 5.4° to the upper right of Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3). In the western sky, lower left of Alcyone. Mars is 1° to the left of Delta Arietis (δ Ari, m = 4.3). • March 18: In the pre-sunrise sky, V – J, 56°; V – S, 31°. At the end of evening twilight, Mars passes 2.1° to the lower left of Zeta Arietis (ζ Ari, m = 4.8). The waxing gibbous moon (12.4d, 94%), nearly 45° up in the east-southeast, is 2.2° to the upper left of Regulus. • March 19: During early morning twilight, V – J (m = −2.2), 57.5°; V – S, 32°. The moon (12.8d, 96%) is 5.2° to the upper left of Regulus, 6.5° up in the west. The moon is at perigee at 2:48 p.m. At the end of evening twilight, the

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

V – S, 44°. In the evening sky, Mars is 3.3° to the lower left of Alcyone. • March 30: During this morning’s mid-twilight, the crescent moon (23.8d, 29%), 17° up in the southeast, is 15.2° to the lower left of Saturn. V – J, 70°; V – S, 45°. This evening, Mars passes 3.1° to the lower left of Alcyone and the Pleiades, a beautiful view through a binocular. • March 31: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the waning crescent moon (24.8d, 21%) is 19° to the upper right of Venus, about midway between Venus and Saturn. V – J, 71°; V – S,46°. At the end of evening twilight, Mars is 3.2° to the lower left of Alcyone. Tonight, Mars is nearly the same distance as last night and slightly higher in the sky.

At month’s end, the morning planet gaps continue to Mars begins moving between the Pleiades during late widen. The two outer planets appear farther west each March. This chart shows the positions of mars, March 25-31. morning, while Venus, now rising before Nautical Twilight, rises farther northward along the eastern horizon each • March 25: This morning, the gibbous moon (18.8d, 77%) is week. The crescent moon adds another adornment to the 2.4° to the upper right of Graffias (β Sco, m = 2.5). V (m = morning sky. Bright Jupiter, in Ophiuchus, is 25° up in the −4.0) – J, 64°; V – S, 39°. Through a telescope, Venus south, at the beginning of morning twilight. Antares is displays a gibbous phase, 13.5” across, that has nearly the slightly west of the meridian. Saturn, in eastern Sagittarius, is same illumination as this morning’s moon. At the end of 25° east of Jupiter. The Summer Triangle – Vega, Deneb, and evening twilight, Mars is 4.9° to the lower left of Alcyone. Altair – is high in the eastern sky. The Big Dipper is high in • March 26: This morning, the waning gibbous moon (19.8d, the northwest. Arcturus is high in the west, and Spica low in 68%) is 8.7° to the upper right of Jupiter (m = −2.2) and the southwest. At the end of evening twilight, the bright 8.8° to the upper left of Antares. V – J, 65°; V – S, 40°. At winter stars gleam in the west, with Pollux about 10° west of the end of evening twilight, Mars is 4.3° to the lower left the meridian. Mars, near the Pleiades, is 28° up in the west. of Alcyone. The Beehive star cluster (M44, NGC 2632) is a degree or so • March 27: This morning. the nearly last quarter moon east of the meridian, nearly 70° up. Leo with its bright star (20.8d, 57%) is 4.2° to the left of Jupiter. V – J, 67°; V – S, Regulus is high in the southeast. Arcturus is low in the 41°. This evening, Mars is 3.9° to the lower left of Alcyone. eastern sky. Follow it across the sky all night. The length of The moon displays its Last Quarter phase at 11:10 p.m. daylight grew about 85 minutes during the month to 12 CDT. hours, 40 minutes. Darkness was reduced 90 minutes to 8 • March 28: At the beginning of morning twilight, the thick hours, 10 minutes. As we head toward the summer solstice, crescent moon (21.8d, 48%), 19° up in the south-southeast, the durations of daylight and twilight lengthen. By June 21, is 9° to the right of Saturn. V – J, 68°; V – S, 42°. This the length of daylight is nearly 15 hours, 15 minutes and the evening, Mars is 3.6° to the lower left of Alcyone. length of twilight, about 4 hours, 20 minutes. Twilight • March 29: This morning, the moon (22.8d, 38%), 14° up in (morning plus evening) increases nearly 75 minutes. All of the southeast, is 3.1° to the lower left of Saturn. V – J, 69°; this occurs at a loss to darkness, which is about 4 hours, 25 minutes at the solstice.

NCRAL 2019 IS COMING!

NCRAL 2019 will take place in Moline, IL, Friday-Sunday, May 3-5. Our host will be Popular Astronomy Club. The conference planning team has been very busy in the last couple of months to finalize the event. They have created a website for on-line registration and program information: www.ncral2019.org. There you will find the speaker bios, presentation summaries, pricing and other information. The theme of the convention will be Astronomical Voyages of Discovery: Past, Present, and Future. Complete your registration by March 15th in order to take advantage of an Early Bird discount.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

Please plan now to attend and don’t forget that the TCAA will be hosting NCRAL 2023 (having already hosted NCRAL 2010 and NCRAL 2016). TCAA member and NCRAL Chair Carl Wenning will be attending this event, of if you’d like to join him, contact him as soon as possible at [email protected]. Ride and room sharing are possible.

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSION SCHEDULE FOR 2019

April 13: Distance – How do we know how far? (Sunil Chebolu) 8:00-10:00 PM There is a long history of science behind distance measurement in the universe. We will explore how we so confidently answer the common question: “How far away is that?”

May 11: Spectra – Stories the Stars Tell (Tim Stone) 8:30-10:30 PM The light from stars illuminates everything in the universe. How do we know what those stars are made of? We will look at the spectra of stars, to learn how we understand stellar composition, and how spectra have enabled us to discover hundreds of exoplanets.

June 8: Telescopes – Why do Astronomers Need Them? (Carl Wenning) 8:45-10:45 PM It seems like astronomers are forever building bigger and bigger telescopes. Even amateur astronomers like us want ever bigger telescopes. We will answer the questions of what telescopes do for astronomers, and how do they work.

July 13: A History of Women in Astronomy (Lisa Wentzel) 9:00-11:00 PM Women have a centuries-long history of direct involvement in astronomy. For much of that, they were given little, if any, credit for their marvelous discoveries. We will explore some of important women in the history of astronomy and learn how historical attitudes are changing in the current world.

August 10: Meteor Showers – There’s More Than One (Mark Cabaj) 8:30-10:30 PM The famous Perseid Meteor Shower peaks in a few days, but the moon will be nearly full. Will you have to wait until next August to see a meteor shower? Learn about other great meteor showers, when they are visible, and what you can expect to see.

September 07: Your First Telescope – Binoculars? (Mark Cabaj) 8:00-10:00 PM Virtually every serious amateur astronomer owns a pair of binoculars. If you’re thinking about getting a telescope for yourself, or for a Christmas gift, we will tell you what to look for, how to use them for rewarding astronomy, and why you’ll use them longer than any other telescope you’ll ever own.

October 05: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – Two Planets, or Three? (Mark & Nataya Boulware) 7:00-9:00 PM We spend a lot of time looking at the inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Few have ever seen Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. October presents a great opportunity to see all three in one night. We will learn about them, and hopefully have a look at them!

TCAA ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK

Did you know that the TCAA is on Facebook? We encourage users of social media to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing and to learn about nightly events that only require the observer to step outdoors and view with the unaided eye. You can find us on Facebook by searching either TCAA or Twin City Amateur Astronomers. If you haven’t followed TCAA’s Face-book page, here is just one of the images you have missed out on during the past couple of weeks in addition to the stories.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2019

Date Event Coordinator(s) Location Times

April 6-7 Northeast Astronomy Forum L. Wentzel / C. Wenning Suffern, NY All day April 13 Public Viewing Session Sunil Chebolu SGNC 8:00 – 10:00 PM Apr ?? TCAA Membership Social Carl Wenning TBD TBD May 3-5 NCRAL 2019 Popular Astronomy Club Moline, IL Fri. PM – Sun. AM May 11 Public Viewing Session Tim Stone SGNC 8:45 – 10:45PM June 8 Public Viewing Session Carl Wenning SGNC 9:00 – 11:00 PM July 9 Public Viewing Session Lisa Wentzel SGNC 9:00 – 11:00 PM July 13 TCAA Membership Social Carl Wenning TBD TBD Jul 25-29 ALCon 2019 (tour & cruise) Astronomical League Kennedy Space Ctr/Cruise All day August 10 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:30 – 10:30 PM Sept 21 ??? Cen IL Astronomy Jamboree TBD SGNC/Waynesville Obsv TBD Sept 26-28 Illinois Dark Sky Star Party Sangamon Astro Society Jim Edgar/Panther Creek All day September 7 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:00 – 10:00 PM October 5 Public Viewing Session Mark & Nataya Boulware SGNC 7:00 – 9:00 PM

HOWTIMEFLIES

The HOWTIMEFLIES column is being discontinued until for least the next calendar year. During this time the club’s Historian will be working diligently on the 60th Anniversary Edition of A Brief History of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers: 1960-2020. As you might know, Carl Wenning published a 139-page history of the TCAA in 2010 for the 50th anniversary of the club. If you have any questions about TCAA history, especially event over the past 10 years, let Historian Carl Wenning know and he’ll attempt to work an answer to your question into the 60th anniversary edition. Carl has been associated with the TCAA over the course of most of its history having first attended a club meeting in September 1977 – more than 41 years ago. He knew nearly every one of the persons mentioned in the historical record, and so is the most qualified person to describe events and answer questions about the club’s past.

RENEWING YOUR TCAA MEMBERSHIP

The TCAA works to promote in every way among its members and the public an interest in and knowledge of astronomy and its allied sciences, to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques, to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields, and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis. The TCAA is a Federally recognized non-profit entity organized exclusively for education and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. The TCAA currently supports family friendly public observing sessions at SGNC, public outreach events such as the recent May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury and the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse field trip, hosting of NCRAL meetings (2010 and 2016), September mini conferences, and education courses for our membership and the public. The TCAA maintains three observatories including payment of insurance and publishes an award-winning club newsletter. We support Sugar Grove Nature Center through their membership program, maintain a loaner telescope program, and provide many other benefits as outlined in TCAA Guide #2 – Membership and Benefits. Your TCAA membership supports education and public outreach in Central Illinois and regions beyond. Membership dues and the generosity of its members are the club’s primary means of financial support. We receive no grants or public funds. We have unmet needs. By renewing your membership when it comes due, you can help to ensure our continuing efforts.

Vol. 44, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2019

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2019

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount Balance 01/29/2019 1,691.58 Sugar Grove Nature Center Membership (250.00) Catering Annual Meeting (452.92) Room Rental Annual Meeting (50.00) Key Deposit - VOID upon return of key Annual Meeting Annual Meeting Speaker Honorarium and Travel Annual Meeting (200.00) Banquet and Dues Deposit Annual Meeting 726.00 Brian Barling Dues Received Bryce Heiniger Dues Received Lee Green Dues Received Mark Boulware Dues Received Sharon MacDonald Dues Received Vivian Hoette Dues Received Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (68.27) Dave Osenga Dues Received 25.00 Waynesville Server Parts Reimbursement (583.11) Balance 02/28/2019 838.28

Checking Account Balance – February 28, 2019 $838.28 Savings Account Balance – February 28, 2019 $2,517.62 - Includes $0.03 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – February 28, 2019 $3,355.90

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date.

2019 Annual Meeting Accounting Report 1. 26 People attended 2. Banquet payments = $500.00 3. Meeting costs = $702.92 a. Catering = $452.92 b. Speaker honorarium and travel = $200.00 c. Room rental = $50.00 4. Net cost to club = $202.92 5. Dues payments = $226.00

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date.

Respectfully submitted,

Dave Osenga