The Sidereal Times
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Observe—Educate—Have Fun August 2014 The Sidereal Times The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society P.O. Box 50581, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87181-0581 www.TAAS.org taas — 2011 winner of astronomy magazine’s out-of-this-world award • since 1959 (505) 254-TAAS (8227) General Meeting News Oak Flat Public Star Party! Lynne Olson Saturday, August 2—Dusk Until Late by Lynne Olson THE FIRE DANGER restrictions have been lifted at Cibola National Forest, which includes the Oak Flat/ Juniper Picnic Area, so we are on for another opportunity to observe in a fine dark-sky area near Albuquerque. The event will begin with solar observing at 6:00 p.m., and all are invited to come at that time and to talk to the members as they set up their impres- sive array of telescopes on the observing field. You graphic: nasa/jpl may even want to bring a picniccontinued dinner on for page the 2. tables area. Sunset is at 8:10 p.m. TAAS General Meeting Saturday, August 9 – 7:00 P.M. Who are you? What do you Science and Math Learning Center, UNM Campus think about TAAS? How can the organization improve? Curiosity Rover On Mars— by Amy Estelle Update After One (Martian) Year ALL CURRENT TAAS members should watch for an e-mail message in the next two weeks with a The next meeting of TAAS will be held link to the anonymous TAAS membership survey. on Saturday, August 9 at the Science and Members will have an opportunity to give the Math Learning Center on the campus of Board of Directors direct feedback on programs, UNM, just to the north of the traditional clipart: microsoft word activities, and meetings and help determine the meeting place at Regenercontinued Hall. on page 2. organization’s future direction. Current members without an e-mail address on file will receive a mailed copy. New Moon General Meeting Oak Flat Public Observing, TAAS Science & Math Star Parties Fabulous 50, Center, UNM Sat. Aug. 2 and Picnic Sat. Aug. 9 Sat. Aug. 30 GNTO 7:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. until Late Sat. Aug. 23 INSIDE 2.......Planetarium Update, Star Party Schedule 6.........Astro-Image: M8, the Lagoon Nebula 9.......Oh Say, Can You Say? 3.......Under the Dome 7.........July Solar Outreach Report 11.......Astro-Image: First Light 4–5...August–September Calendars 8.........Astro-Image: M16, the Eagle Nebula 12.......TAAS Reports & Notices 4.......Scope Help Available at ATM Meeting 13.......TAAS Directors & Staff The Sidereal Times August 2014 New Planetarium Delivery Expected ...General Meeting News 2014-15 School Star Party Schedule Posted continued from page 1 by Tom Graham Our speaker will be Dr. Horton E. Newsom of the Institute of Meteoritics and Depart- ment of Earth and Planetary Sciences We can hardly wait to get TAAS members trained on the new at UNM, who will give a history of the planetarium, which should be delivered sometime in August. The amazing Curiosity Rover, its August 2012 school star party schedule is below and on the TAAS website. If landing on Mars, and the Mars Science you have ever thought of attending one, look at your schedule Lab with ChemCam and its LIBS (Laser and see if you can fit one in. They are fun, and kids as well as Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) instru- adults do say the darndest things. Just ask Bob Hufnagel about ment for analysis of rocks and soils. Curi- the lady he talked to at Explora or the boy that wondered how osity completed a Martian year (687 Earth a telescope could see through walls when a picture was posted days) on June 24, 2014, and Dr. Newsom on the wall and we did an inside presentation. It is all fun be- will bring the audience up to date on re- cause there are just as many Aha moments when kids really get cent and current data coming from the it! Mark your calendar for September 9 at Lowell Elementary rover. School, near the UNM Pit. September 9, 2014 Lowell Elementary School October 7, 2014 Ernie Pyle Middle School November 4, 2014 La Mesa Elementary School December 2, 2014 Double Eagle Elementary School January 27, 2015 Governor Bent Elementary School February 3, 2015 Longfellow Elementary School March 3, 2015 Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School April 28, 2015 Manzano Day School ...Oak Flat Star Party continued from page 1 planet mars Dr. Newsom obtained his undergradu- At 8:00 p.m., Dee Friesen will present the advancing their knowledge and experience. ate degree at the University of California TAAS Fabulous Fifty program, highlight- Parking is available adjacent to the picnic Berkeley, his doctorate at the University ing the main constellations and stars of grounds for visitors and on the observing of Arizona, and is currently a research the summer season along with observ- field for those bringing telescopes, with professor at the University of New ing tips. This program is offered for each directing signs for both at the entrance. Mexico. He is a geologist and geochemist season at various star parties and venues Restrooms are now at the Yucca area north with more than 30 years experience with and is both educational and entertaining. of the observing field due to renovation of planetary science, including the study of There will be a laser-guided constellation those at Juniper. impact craters and their hydrothermal tour as the skies darken, and we ask that systems. you use only red headlamps or flashlights Please see the details for both TAAS Fabu- He has also extensively studied processes to preserve night vision—and to avoid lous Fifty and the star party, as well as the on Mars’s surface including impact cra- blinding the telescope operators! map on www. TAAS.org; e-mail to TAAS@ ters, inverted channels and clay-bearing TAAS.org with any questions. terrains, and the origin and chemistry The public is highly encouraged to at- of surface materials using data from the tend, and all TAAS members are invited Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray spectrometer. to bring their telescopes for the enjoy- He is a co-investigator and science team ment of the visitors. TAAS looks forward member on the LIBS instrument on the to introducing folks to the night skies—or Observe Educate Have Fun Mars Science Laboratory “Curiosity,” cur- continued on page 6 . rently investigating habitable terrains on Mars. Page 2 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times August 2014 Under the Dome Notes from and about GNTO Mike Molitor PAUL GRUNWALD REPORTED that spec- ogy and will use no more water than an port. The planned new runway, which will tacular weather on June 28 greeted over average 10-acre farm. Construction is set be situated northwest to southeast, will be forty TAAS members and guests. When to begin later this year and will be com- one mile long. Construction should start he arrived at 7:00 p.m. Gordon, Alan, and plete in early 2016. TAAS member Karen before the end of the year. Future expan- Dee were already there and setting up. By Keese has been closely involved with the sion of the runway to 6,700 feet would sunset there were twenty scopes on the PNM-sponsored community advisory cross over Camino del Llano, and result in field and all but one pad were taken. The committee(CAC) that meets to discuss and closure of that road. The current plan is to parking lot was also close to being full. advise on project impact. Through the CAC, reroute traffic onto Harrison south before Transparency was good, seeing was not TAAS is working to obtain a copy of the site proceeding west. quite as good, and it took a long time for lighting plan for review and comparison things to settle down. The good conditions with IDA recommendations. Karen also The August 23 new moon is the annual pic- continued with no clouds and intermittent anticipates some type of PNM public infor- nic at GNTO. This year, nighttime viewing light breezes. Paul started out using the Is- mation meeting in the near future. will feature a TAAS Fabulous 50 observing engard before Martin took over. Later Paul theme. TAAS and GNTO supply burgers, and Vance worked in the small dome, gath- buns, condiments and soft drinks. Side ering some images using the CCD on the dishes and desserts are potluck. Join with C14 with Hyperstar. Amy Estelle reported, other TAAS members to celebrate and en- “Crowded field. Clear sky. Fabulous views joy our own dark-sky site. through 12.5 reflector. Spent time with beginners Desiree and Hank. Two years The next new moon event is September 20. in NM after Philly. Pete found the Dumbell We are floating GNTO events between Fri- Nebula which looks like the crystal football day and Saturday according to which has trophy for the college football national the better weather forecast, so the actualth. champion. Alberio still the stellar hue event could be held on Friday the 19 We champ—azure and topaz.” Paul departed Annual Picnic at GNTO August 23 will post which day the event will be held at 2:00 a.m., while Gordon, Vance, Alan, on Thursday. Dee, and a few others continued to enjoy the night at GNTO. It was one of the best Currently, a site cleanup is set for Septem- nights at GNTO in a long time and it proved ber 6. Details regarding cleanup will be one to be an appropriate send-off for Steve and The second item involves FAA approval of of the topics discussed at the next GNTO Jen Riegel, who are relocating to Colorado.