December 2019 OBSERVER

Home , Beta Andromedae, Kappa Librae, Omega Sagittarii

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 44, Number 12 December 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – NGC 7331 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – December 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«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2019-2020 5«Minutes of the November 5th BoD Meeting 6«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 8«TCAA Loses Another Benefactor – Ernie Finnigan 9«Make Plans Now to Attend TCAA Annual Meeting 9«December 2019 with Jeffrey Hunt 15«TCAA Active on Facebook 15«Renewing Your TCAA Membership 16«E/PO Updates for November 2019 16«Did You Know?

17«Public Viewing Sessions for 2020 18«TCAA Image Gallery IMAGE OF THE MONTH: EDITOR’S CHOICE – NGC 7331 « 19 TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of November 26, 2019 This month’s image of NGC 7331 and the surrounding area was taken by Bob Finnigan and Scott Wade on the evenings of November 22 and 23 using the 14” telescope and new full-frame The TCAA is an affiliate of the QHY 367 color camera at PSO. The image shown here consists of Astronomical League as well as its thirteen 600-second and nine 900-second subs. The image was North Central Region. For more processed by Scott using Pixinsight and Photoshop. information about the TCAA, be NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy about 40 million light-years away in certain to visit the TCAA website at the constellation of Pegasus. It was discovered by William Herschel tcaa.us/ in 1784. NGC 7331 is the brightest member of the NGC 7331 Group of galaxies which is seen in the background. This region of Visit Astroleague.org for additional space is just loaded with galaxies. Barely out the field of view to information about the League and its the lower right is Stephan’s Quintet. numerous membership benefits Stephan's Quintet is a visual including observing programs. grouping of five galaxies of which four form the first compact galaxy group ever discovered. The group was Also visit the NCRAL website at discovered by Édouard Stephan in ncral.wordpress.com for information 1877 at the Marseille Observatory. about our North Central Region. Find The group is the most studied of all out about our next Regional the compact galaxy groups. Perhaps convention during May 2020. next time we’ll see an image of these.

Vol. 44, No. 12 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers December 2019

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER It was with great sadness we received is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin the news of the passing of Ernie Finnigan, City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational brother of longtime member Bob Finnigan. organization of amateur astronomers inter- Ernie was a great friend to the club. He ested in studying astronomy and sharing provided the land which we leased from him their hobby with the public. for the purpose of constructing the

Waynesville Observatory. TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS Apart from Bob, I had the most

President, Director, & Property Manager opportunity to interact with Ernie. I would Tim Stone 309-531-2401 hear his John Deere Gator coming down the [email protected] driveway, and knew I was going to have a

Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. visit. Sometimes he would inform us of President Tim Stone Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 business that needed to be attended to, but [email protected] most of the time he was just down there to

Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent talk for a while and see how things were going. Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 He helped the club in many ways, from providing temporary storage for [email protected] arriving equipment to mowing the grass on the observatory grounds. Most Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor recently, he helped plant a set of trees on the north and east side of our property Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 to provide some privacy and windbreak. He thoughtfully chose a species of tree [email protected] that doesn’t get too tall and made sure everything would work for the observatory. 5th Director/Assistant Property Manager Before that he planted grass on the grounds, which had been little more than a Scott Wade 309-310-2464 mud flat, and bermed our buildings with rock to eliminate runoff seeping in and [email protected] puddling on our floors. Astronomical League Correspondent We will miss Ernie. Our thoughts and prayers are for his friends and family in Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 this difficult time of transition. [email protected] On a happier note, Diann and I will host the TCAA Holiday Party again this year Technology Coordinator at our home on December 19th starting at 6:30 PM. Food will be potluck, so please Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 [email protected] bring a dish to share. If you’d let me know what you plan to bring, that would be great, so we can be sure we don’t too much of the same thing. Our address is: Webmaster Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] 920 S Summit St. Bloomington, IL 61701 Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number [email protected] We have a great time at this event. I do hope you can attend!

The OBSERVER Tim Stone, President Carl J. Wenning, Editor

Submission deadline two days before the end of each month.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Individual Adult/Family $40 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. 12 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers December 2019

CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – DECEMBER 2019 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (12/15): Mercury ( ☿ ) and Mars (♂) The following individuals have paid dues for new or renewed memberships as of November 26, 2019. (Others EVENING PLANETS (12/15): Venus (♀), Jupiter ( ♃ ), who paid after that date will appear in the January 2020 Saturn (♄), Uranus ( ♅ ), and Neptune ( ♆ ) issue of The OBSERVER.)

The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! important astronomical events for this month. All events are given in Central Daylight Time. New:

Renewing: Lisa Wentzel, Anthony Cellini, and Day Time Event John Gahm (to Dec. 2021)

04 00:58 FIRST QUARTER MOON Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! 04 22:09 Moon at Apogee: 404447 km 11 05:40 Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon DUES BLUES

11 23:12 FULL MOON If you have received a “your dues are due” statement along with the email that brought you this 13 08:15 Moon at Ascending Node issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. 14 11:51 Pollux 5.3°N of Moon Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 14 12 Geminid Meteor Shower Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 15 09:54 Beehive 1.0°S of Moon 16 22:41 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon SUBSCRIBING TO THE NEW TCAA EMAIL LIST 18 14:30 Moon at Perigee: 370260 km The old TCAA Yahoo.groups email list is going away – 18 22:57 LAST QUARTER MOON at least as far as the TCAA leadership is concerned. Used 21 22:19 Winter Solstice by the TCAA for many years, Yahoo is no longer supporting the distribution system for anything other 22 19:49 Mars 3.5°S of Moon than email without attachments. They are also making it 22 21 Ursid Meteor Shower much harder to use. For instance, individuals must now be invited and then approved by a moderator to enroll in 25 23:13 NEW MOON this service. Gone will be the days when anyone could 25 23:18 Annular Solar Eclipse; mag=0.97 subscribe whenever they wished. 26 07:01 Moon at Descending Node You may still use the existing TCAA Yahoo.groups email system to address most of the club members (not 27 12 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun all subscribe), but forget about including anything other 28 19:32 Venus 1.0°N of Moon: Occn. than text. Efforts are now underway to replace Yahoo.groups with groups.io. Devanand Chatrathi will be 29 23 Mercury at Aphelion setting up the group for us. There will be no attempt at

“migrating” Yahoo.groups subscribers to groups.io; http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2020cst.html members will be provided instructions shortly in how to EVENING SKY MAP subscribe to this new service.

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

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon Wednesday, December 4 Wednesday, December 11 Wednesday, December 18 Wednesday, December 25

All moon phase dates are Central Standard Time. Moon phases for the 2020 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 Solar Dist.

Dec. Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Diff. Start End Time (El) MIL. MILES 1 6:59 AM (118°) 4:29 PM (241°) 9:30:13 -1:18 5:22 AM 6:06 PM 11:44 AM (27.7°) 91.660 11 7:08 AM (120°) 4:29 PM (240°) 9:20:20 -0:42 5:30 AM 6:07 PM 11:49 AM (26.5°) 91.526 21 7:15 AM (121°) 4:32 PM (239°) 9:16:44 -0:03 5:37 AM 6:10 PM 11:53 AM (26.1°) 91.444

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2019-2020

Date Event Speaker/Coordinator(s) Location Times Dec 4 TCAA Presents to PAS Tim Stone/Carl Wenning Riverfront Museum 7:30 PM Dec 19 Holiday Party Tim and Diann Stone 920 Summit, Blmn. 6:30 PM February 8 Annual Banquet & Meeting Dr. Matt Caplan/Dave Osenga Normal Township Hall 6:00-9:00 PM April ??? TCAA Social Tom Willmitch? ISU Planetarium? TBD April 25 Public Viewing Session Carl Wenning SGNC 8:15-10:15 PM May 2 Astronomy Day (Spring) Tom Willmitch TBD TBD May 23 Public Viewing Session Tim Stone SGNC 8:45-10:45 PM June 20 Public Viewing Session Sunil Chebolu SGNC 9:00-11:00 PM July ?? TCAA Summer Picnic TBD In-town Park? TBD July 18 Public Viewing Session Mark Boulware SGNC 9:00-11:00 PM August 22 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:15-10:15PM September 19 Public Viewing Session Sandullah Epsicokhan SGNC 7:30-9:30 PM September 26 Astronomy Day (Autumn) Tom Willmitch TBD TBD October ?? TCAA Social Tom Willmitch? ISU Planetarium? TBD October 17 Public Viewing Session Lee Green SGNC 7:00-9:00 PM

BE SURE TO JOIN US! TCAA HOLIDAY PARTY, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19TH, 6:30PM, POTLUCK!

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 5TH TCAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Board members, officers, and chairs met at the home of The following matters of NEW BUSINESS were then Carl Wenning in Normal at 6:30 PM. In attendance were addressed: President Tim Stone, Vice President Tom Willmitch, • Mercury’s transit of the sun will feature a public viewing Secretary Carl Wenning, 5th Director Scott Wade, ALCor Bob session at Tipton Park from 9 to about noon on Monday, Finnigan, and Observing Clubs chair Lisa Wentzel. In November 11th. Carl will contact Bloomington Parks & Rec attendance also was Sunil Chebolu. Treasurer Dave Osenga about using the parking lot. Both Carl and Tom will set up was not able to be present due to a last-minute change of solar telescopes, and others are invited to join. Once date for the meeting. Also missing were chairs Justin Meyer arranged, Carl will get the word out for this event. and Lee Green. • The 2020 Public Viewing Session brochure was approved Officer reports were given. Tim, as property manager, for printing with the bopi Print4Good Campaign. Carl will reported that the image rotator/focuser has been return, nd and that the 20” is out of commission due to a declination submit the file before the November 22 deadline. • axis problem. He noted how clean both SGO and PSO were Carl noted that Lee is willing to let others have a go at for SGNC’s Autumn Celebration and thanked everyone who developing a new look for the TCAA website. Carl will assisted with the cleaning effort. Carl gave the Treasurer’s speak with several IAA members he has spoken to about report on behalf of Dave: checking balance $1,467.88; this to find a volunteer to take the lead on this effort. savings balance $2,017.85; total balance $3,485.73. Bob • Tim noted that the Yahoo.groups “listserv” is all but dead noted that the Astronomical League is once again sending from the TCAA perspective. Recent changes have made out their ALCor newsletter written by Carroll Iorg. Carl retaining its use untenable. We will likely start using reported on behalf of Lee that the TCAA website is down and groups.io, the free version. Tim will pursue this option. that the site is being moved to the cloud as Lee’s server is Members also were reminded to pay particular attention failing. It should be up again shortly after the move. to the TCAA Facebook page as the preferred medium for The following items of OLD BUSINESS were then making TCAA announcements. Both avenues will continue addressed: to be used, nonetheless. • Carl noted after using the CPC 11” at SGO recently, that • Carl gave a brief update on the success of the Introduction the problem with the hand controller appears not to be in to Amateur Astronomy (IAA) course. See the current and its connection with the telescope, but in the cable next issues of the newsletter for complete details. connecting the two. The hand unit works perfectly when • Tim summarized plans for the February Annual Meeting left resting in its mount, and members are encouraged to and banquet. Dave will attempt to schedule Saturday, do so until the wiring can be replaced. February 8th at the Normal Township Hall. Dave also will • Carl brought up a need for having an adapter for the Lunt arrange for our usual caterer, but this time we need to (2 etalon) solar telescope. There is a desperate need for an have a new menu with one vegetarian entrée and perhaps adapter between the telescope and a mount that Carl chicken so as to provide for the dietary needs of our possesses. Lisa purchased the required adapter then and members. Tom will contact Matt Caplan of the ISU Physics there on behalf of the club for about $100. It will be sent Department to see if he will serve as speaker; a small to Carl and he will mate the mount and telescope. Lisa will honorarium ($50?) will be provided along with a be reimbursed for the expense. complimentary meal. • It was agreed to send $250 in “dues” to SGNC on behalf of • Bob and Lisa addressed nominations for the 2020-2021 the club. Dave Osenga will be directed to do so. TCAA Board of Directors. Nominations thus far were • Tom spoke briefly about 2020 Astronomy Day activities reviewed: Tim Stone, Tom Willmitch, Dave Osenga, and (May 2 and September 26) in relation to a set of materials Scott Wade. Sunil was encouraged and agreed to run for he hopes to obtain from the National Information STEM the Board of Directors as a “new voice” representing our Education Network. We have agreed to work with Tom on many new members. Nominations remain open until the these events. These events do not conflict with the 2020 date of the Annual Meeting. Public Viewing Session schedule. • The need for Carl’s replacement as newsletter editor, • Tom brought up the point that we need a better way of historian, and secretary were then addressed. Following a announcing observing activities at SGO in light of the many brief discussion, Carl agreed to serve in all three capacities new IAA-related members. Following a discussion, it was during 2020-2021 if appointed, and that Lisa would serve agreed that Tom and Carl would canvas the new members as Secretary after that. to see how best this would work. Currently, new members

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

are encouraged to email Carl with their request 24 hours • The date for the January Board of Directors meeting was in advance. It was agreed that something more inviting set for Tuesday, January 7th. Carl might not be able to host must be arranged if we are to get new members using the this meeting due to travel, so an alternative location might equipment provided for them. have to be considered. • A brief discussion about the traditional December holiday By way of Announcements, it was noted that Tom party was had. Tim will speak with his wife about possibly Willmitch had successfully completed his training through hosting. the TCAA School of Astrophotography, and Bob Finning gave • Carl presented a letter from Chris Dowling at Heartland him his official certificate recognizing the fact. He was Community College asking for a meeting with the TCAA roundly congratulated. about forging a better working relationship with the Challenger Learning Center. Carl agreed to host an “open The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 PM. meeting” for the club at his home. Members must realize Respectfully submitted, that this event likely will end in a pitch asking for financial

support. The support will have to come from individual Carl Wenning, Secretary members if at all. The TCAA has no money to offer the CLC.

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó A careful reading of TCAA Guides #1 and #4 by Sunil Chebolu resulted in the finding of a few typos. Thanks to Sunil for pointing out these errors. The errors have been corrected and updated versions of the Guides may now be found on the TCAA website at the following URL: http://tcaa.us/ ó The club’s fourth Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course is now history. Carl Wenning, the lead instructor hereby acknowledges the contributions of the following TCAA members who contributed to the planning, execution, and follow up of the course: Tom Willmitch, Lisa Wentzel, Tim Stone, Dave Osenga, and Sunil Chebolu. Carl also acknowledges the efforts of Deva Chatrathi who is assisting with efforts to continue engaging new club members enrolled in the course. Deva and Carl are now working together to develop new offerings for all club members based on the interests of those who enrolled in the 2019 version of the course. Of course, we must not forget about those members who in some way contributed to the development, review, and correction of the TCAA Guides used in the course. Again, “Thanks and a tip ‘o the hat to all who assisted in ways large or small.” ó Accounting for the Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course is as follows: income = $730 (fees and NCRAL grant); expenses $623.88 ($473.88 printing, $150 planetarium donation); net $106.12. Though the course netted a small “profit,” this income will be used to offset the $105 cost of Astronomical League dues for the 21 households where people have become members. This was a break-even event that dramatically increased the membership of the TCAA. ó At the Board of Directors meeting on November 5th, Tom Willmitch received his certificate for having completed the TCAA School as Astrophotography. Tom worked with Bob Finnigan and Scott Wade to complete his training recently. Bob Finnigan presenting Tom Willmitch Congratulation to Tom! with his certificate of completion on Nov. 5. ó The dove tale mounting bracket adapter for the Lunt solar telescope ordered by Lisa Wentzel at the Tuesday evening Board meeting arrived the next day (Wednesday November 6th) at the home of Carl Wenning. See to the left what Lisa has wrought! Dave Osenga who

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

has long wanted to use the telescope should be especially happy. Thanks to Lisa, this telescope is now in place on Carl Wenning’s Omni CG-4 mount. ó On the evening of Thursday, November 7th, Carl Wenning met with three members of the recent IAA course to provide training on the use of the CPC 11” at SGO. Participating were Tushar Patil, Sunil Chebolu, and Allan Griffith. Despite the waxing gibbous moon and 20°F temperatures, they managed to observe the nearly 10.6-day-old moon, Saturn, and numerous Messier objects. The session ran from 7:30-9:30 PM. ó The TCAA leadership (Board, officers, and chairs) have agreed to develop a new website for the TCAA. On November 9th, the Devanand Chatrathi (a new member joining the club through IAA) was commissioned to develop a website proposal using this template: https://freewebsitetemplates.com/preview/astronomywebsitetemplate/index.html. Given a choice between two templates from which to begin the new effort, this template was preferred by all leaders but for one. Deva is now working on the new website which will include all information from our current website which recently has been transferred to the Cloud following problems with our local server. ó Observations of the transit of Mercury on November 11th were a “no go” due to an overcast sky including a snowstorm. This is quite unfortunate, because the next Mercury transit from North American won’t be until May 7, 2049. Fortunately, several TCAAer saw a similar Mercury transit locally back in 2016. In addition, several of our club members saw two transits of Venus across the face of the sun in a single lifetime – 2004 and 2012! Venus transit are rare, occurring just four times over 243 years. The next Venus transit will take place on December 11, 2117. ó A brilliant fireball was observed crossing Illinois moving in the direction of St. Louis on the evening of November 11th. It burned out somewhere over Missouri. It is suspected that the meteor was part of the North Taurids meteor shower. TCAA member Troy Berg captured on his security camera the flash associated with the fireball that crossed Illinois and then exploded over Missouri at 10:58 PM on November 11th. You can see his short video on the TCAA’s Facebook page. Thanks, Troy, for sharing. ó Carl Wenning and Deva Chatrathi spent the evening together at SGO observing on the evening of November 16th. Carl provided Deva with his initial orientation to the use of the CPC 11” telescope. They viewed numerous representative M- objects as well as Uranus and Neptune. Their session ran about 75 minutes. Sunil and Scott joined Deva and Carl for a few minutes near the end as well. They had been imaging from PSO earlier in the evening. ó Efforts have begun to update the TCAA website. The original website (available at www.tcaa.us) has not been updated for several years in terms of its appearance. Content, however, has been continuously updated by webmaster Lee Green for which the club is grateful. Now, a team assembled by Deva Chatrathi is working to develop a more contemporary-looking website based on a template (shown left) upon which the Board of Directors has agreed. The new website will contain much the same content as the current website, but will do so using a more visually appealing format. It will feature TCAA images provided by members. The new website will be cloud-based. It will likely be several months before the project is completed. ó Carl Wenning submitted the TCAA’s Public Viewing Session brochure for 2020 to bopi’s Print4Good campaign on November 19th. Through the goodness of bopi (Bloomington Offset Process, Inc.), we will receive 2,000 full color bifold brochures as we have for the past four years. Bopi’s contribution is worth several hundred dollars, and the TCAA is most grateful for their generous contribution in support of the club’s programming. The schedule contained within the 2020 brochure can be found elsewhere within this issue of The OBSERVER. ó Devanand Chatrathi and Carl Wenning are working to prepare activities for IAA class members (as well as other TCAAers who want to join in on the fun). Right now, with all

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

the business of the holidays and several work deadlines for our leaders, we are planning on hosting the first events starting shortly after mid-January. Look for an early winter “under the stars” observing activity where members will learn to identify constellations and planets with their unaided eyes, and view binary stars, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies using binoculars. Training is already taking place with the use of SGO’s CPC 11” telescope and several have completed initial training including Devanand and Sunil Chebolu. If you are interested in training on this telescope, contact [email protected]. ó IAA participants and new TCAAers Jill & Steve Mayes, Venkat (Sai) Chander, and Carl Wenning spent 90 minutes on the evening of Friday, November 22nd, under the SGO dome training with the CPC 11” telescope. Joining them later was Deva Chatrathi. Bob Finnigan, Sunil Chebolu, and later Deva also spent evening in PSO doing astrophotography of galaxy NGC 7331 – all this despite temperatures in the lower 30s. See the front page’s Image of the Month for their capture of NCG 7331. Scott and Sunil returned the following evening to continue their work gathering photons from the galaxy. ó Sharon MacDonald and Carl Wenning continue to make regular observations of the International Space Station. Sharon has been posting observational data using the TCAA Yahoo.groups listserv and Carl continues to post both satellite information and planet watch information on the TCAA Facebook page. ó Sunday, November 24th had clear morning and evening skies. Carl Wenning got up early to view the moon, Mars, and Mercury gathering in the morning twilight. He, along with Carolyn, was also able to view the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter during the evening twilight. Two TCAAers, Jamey Jones and Tim Stone, provided images. See the TCAA Image Gallery later on in this newsletter. ó The TCAA website was down recently and is now back up. Webmaster Lee Green got it up and running again on Sunday, November 24th. Having trouble with his usual server when his firewall failed in late October, he moved the TCAA website to the Cloud. We thank Lee for his continued support of the TCAA and its website. ó Treasurer Dave Osenga recently renewed TCAA’s $250 annual membership with SGNC. As a benefit, one TCAA member gets 20% discount with the purchase of one item at Wild Birds Unlimited. If you want to use this, let Dave know and he’ll get the coupon to you. ó IAA class member Mike Jurich spent nearly two hours on the evening of November 25th working with Carl Wenning at SGO learning the operation of SGO’s CPC 11” telescope. To date, 8 IAA class members have completed their initial orientations using the club’s “goto” telescope. At the same time, Devanand Chatrathi spent the evening with Bob Finnigan continuing to learn the operations of the 14” photographic rig at PSO. They spent time imaging M57 (the Ring Nebula) and followed up with additional observations…

TCAA LOSES ANOTHER BENEFACTOR – ERNIE FINNIGAN

It is with sorrow that the editor announces the passing of yet another benefactor of the TCAA. At 1:15PM on Monday, November 25th, Ernie Finnigan – younger brother of Bob Finnigan – passed away quite unexpectedly. Ernie was working outdoors when he suddenly collapsed. Despite the immediate efforts of an EMT team, he could not be saved. Ernie who few besides TCAAers Bob, Tim Stone, and Carl Wenning had ever met, was the landowner upon whose farm the Waynesville Observatory now rests. A couple of years ago, Ernie and his wife Patty, signed a 50-year rental agreement with the club to place the WO on their property. Ernie’s passing does not affect this agreement, but it is probable that the situation will immediately affect property maintenance. Ernie has been assisting with site management doing such things as helping to protect our buildings from water seepage, cutting the grass surrounding the observatory, and even putting a up row of evergreen trees that to block the observatory from view and serve as both a wind break and light shield. Our sincerest condolence to Ernie’s wife Patty, Bob and Chery Finnigan, and the whole Finnigan family on the loss of Ernie. Ernie was only 61 years old. His obituary can be found here: https://bit.ly/2sq1gEq. Flowers and a note expressing our condolences were sent to the funeral home on behalf of the TCAA by Treasurer Dave Osenga.

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND TCAA ANNUAL MEETING

Make plans now to attend the TCAA’s Annual Meeting. Next year, 2020, will be the 60th anniversary of the club’s founding. I held its first formal meeting on February 18, 1960 after a February 4 planning meeting at the home of John & Bertha Kieviet. Next year’s celebratory event will be held on Saturday, February 8th, at the Normal Township Hall, 304 East Mulberry Street, Normal. The doors will open at 6:00PM, with those gathered called to order at 6:30PM. Again, get this date into your calendar so you don’t forget about it and can avoid a schedule conflict. The TCAA Annual Meeting one of the best activities that the club sponsors throughout the year, and you’ll not want to miss it! The Annual Meeting consists of a banquet, an annual business meeting at which we hear reports and vote for the following year’s Board of Directors, and concludes with an invited speaker. This year’s banquet has been arranged by Treasurer Dave Osenga and will be catered. The meal will consist of chicken and vegetarian entrées, potatoes, green beans, tea, coffee, water, lemonade, and a celebratory cake. Provided by Carolyn and Carl Wenning. Despite the great banquet meal, members are strongly encouraged to bring a small side dish (e.g., a regional or ethnic food) to share to increase the variety of food options. The banquet cost will remain at $20 per person (sorry, no discounts for children) and information about reservations will appear in the January edition of this newsletter. This year’s speaker has been “recruited” by Tom Willmitch. Our speaker will be Dr. Matt Caplan from the Illinois State University Physics Department. Dr. Caplan joined ISU in the fall of 2019. He earned his PhD from Indiana University in 2017. Prior to joining ISU, Dr. Caplan was a CITA National Fellow at the McGill Space Institute. His research uses large scale computer simulations to study the interiors of neutron stars.

DECEMBER 2019: MARS IN MORNING SKY AND A VENUS-SATURN CONJUNCTION ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

At the beginning of the month when morning twilight cluster leads the bright Stars of Winter in the eastern sky. begins (about 5:30 a.m. CST), the bright stars that dominate Aldebaran and the Hyades are low in the east. The Big the Winter sky – Sirius, Procyon, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Pollux, Dipper is low in the north, just west of the meridian. Unless Castor, Aldebaran, and Capella – are in the west. The Great you have a clear northern horizon, they are likely lost behind Sickle of Leo, with its bright star Regulus, is at the meridian, trees or the neighbor’s house. about halfway up in the sky. The star is about 0.5° above the For the planets, Venus passes Saturn on December 10. ecliptic. The sun is in this part of the sky during late August. Venus continues to emerge into the evening sky. Watch it So, when you see Regulus near the meridian you are seeing move away from Jupiter and toward its second conjunction the sun’s noon spot about nine weeks after the summer with a Bright Outer Planet is month. Jupiter descends into solstice. Farther east, bright Arcturus is about one-third of the sun’s glare as it reaches its solar conjunction late in the the way up in the sky. Spica is to Arcturus’ lower right in the month. In the morning, Mars continues to move higher in southeastern sky. Mars, appearing as a bright star, is to the the eastern sky, but it is nearly second magnitude. Not yet lower left of Spica and Mercury is below Mars, near the ready for serious telescopic examination; track it is it moves horizon. If you trace an arc from Regulus through Spica to through Libra. Mercury is just past its morning greatest Mars, this marks the ecliptic in this part of the sky. With elongation. It begins to descend back into bright twilight. Arcturus in the east and Regulus at the meridian, this places the Big Dipper high in the north, just east of the meridian. At • December 1: Mars (m = 1.7) moves into Libra, 14° to the the end of evening twilight, brilliant Venus and Jupiter have lower left of Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0). Sixty minutes before set and Saturn is low in the southwest. The waxing crescent sunrise (about 6 a.m. CST), Mars, Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m moon is to the upper left of Saturn. The Summer Triangle – = 2.8), and Mercury (m = −0.9) line up along the ecliptic in Vega, Deneb, and Altair – stands in the west, with the a diagonal line from the east-southeast horizon into the brightest star in Cygnus over two-thirds of the way up in the southeastern sky. The star is to the lower right of a line sky. Meanwhile, the Great Square of Pegasus approaches the that connects the planets. Mars, about 15° up in the meridian with Fomalhaut lower in the sky. The stars of southeast, is at the top of the stack, 7.3° to the upper Andromeda reach from Alpheratz toward Perseus and on to right of Zubenelgenubi. Bright Mercury, nearly 7° up in Auriga that are low in the northeast. The Pleiades star the east-southeast, is 4.4° to the lower left of the star.

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

Daylight lasts for nearly 9.5 hours and darkness, the time • December 5: One hour before sunrise, Mercury is over 5° between the end of evening twilight and the beginning of up in the east-southeast, nearly 14° to the lower left of morning twilight, lingers nearly 11.5 hours. Forty-five Mars. The Red Planet is over 16° up in the southeast. minutes after sunset (about 5:15 p.m. CST), brilliant Mars continues to approach Zubenelgenubi. This Venus (m = −3.9) is nearly 9° up in the southwest, about morning’s gap is 4.6°. Mercury continues to move away 8° to the upper left of Jupiter (m = −1.8). The Giant Planet from the star. The gap is nearly 8°. Venus passes 1.9° to is over 5° in altitude. Here at mid-twilight use a binocular the upper right of Nunki (σ Sgr, m = 2.0) the star at the to spot Kaus Borealis (λ Sgr, m = 2.8), the star at the top top of the handle of the Teapot of Sagittarius. Use a of the lid of the Teapot of Sagittarius, 1.0° to the lower binocular to locate the star during mid-twilight when right of Venus. Look for Saturn (m = 0.6), nearly 11° to Venus is almost 10° up in the southwest. At this time, the the upper left of Venus. Through a telescope Venus is brilliant planet is 6.4° to the lower right of Saturn. 11.6” across and 89% illuminated. About 15 minutes later Through a telescope, Venus is nearly 12” across and 88% as the dimmer stars appear in the darkening sky, the illuminated. One hour after sunset, the moon (9.3d, 66%) moon (5.3 days past new, 28% illuminated), 26° up in the is in southwest Pisces. south-southwest, is in Central Capricornus, over 10° to • December 6: One hour before sunrise, Mars continues to the upper left of Delta Capricorni (δ Cap, m = 2.8). approach Zubenelgenubi. This morning they are 4.0° • December 2: One hour before sunrise, Mars, 15° up in apart. The planet is over 16° up in the southeast. Mercury the southeast, is over 6° to the upper right of continues to move away from Mars. This morning Zubenelgenubi. Mercury is over 6° up in the east- Mercury is less than 5° up in the east-southeast and over southeast, 5.5° to the lower left of the star. The Mercury 14° to the lower left of Mars. Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8) – Mars gap is nearly 12°. In the evening, 45 minutes after rises as the sun sets. One hour later, the star is about 12° sunset, Venus is over 9° in altitude in the southwest, up in the east. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is nearly 9° to the upper left of Jupiter. Saturn is nearly 10° over 10° up in the southwest, 5.3° to the lower right of to the upper left of the brilliant Evening Planet. Fifteen Saturn. As the sky darkens further, the moon (10.3d, minutes later, the moon (6.3d, 38%), over 30° up in the 75%), over 35° up in the southeast, is in Cetus. Jupiter south, is 2.7° to the lower left of Delta Capricorni. sets at Nautical Twilight, nearly 70 minutes after sunset. • December 3: One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly 16° • December 7: One hour before sunrise, Mars is over 16° up in the southeast, over 12° to the upper right of bright up in the southeast, 3.3° to the upper right of Mercury. The gaps from the planets to Zubenelgenubi (Z): Zubenelgenubi. Fifteen minutes later during mid-twilight, Z – Mercury, 6.7°; Z – Mars, 6.0°. Venus is nearly midway Mercury is nearly 7° up in the east-southeast, over 15° to between Jupiter and Saturn, but they are not along the the lower left of Mars. Forty-five minutes after sunset, same arc in the sky: Venus – Saturn, 8.6°; Venus – Jupiter, Venus, over 10° up in the southwest, is 4.3° to the lower 9.7°. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is nearly 9° right of Saturn. One hour after sunset, the brightening up in the southwest. Jupiter is becoming more difficult to moon (11.3d, 82%), over 30° up in the east-southeast, is observe at this time interval after sunset. This evening, it among the dim stars of southeastern Pisces. is less than 5° in altitude. As the sky darkens further, the • December 8: Sixty minutes before sunrise, Mars is nearly moon (7.3d, 47%) is nearly 35° up in the south, 3.2° to 17° up in the southeast, 2.6° to the upper right of the upper right of Delta Aquarii (m = 3.2). Zubenelgenubi. Mercury is becoming more difficult to see • December 4: The moon is at its First Quarter phase at at this time interval before sunrise. Wait another 15 12:58 a.m. CST. One hour before sunrise, the Mercury – minutes to see it over 6° up in the east-southeast, 16° to Mars gap is over 13°. Mercury is less than 6° in altitude in the lower left of Mars, although a binocular may be the east-southeast. Zubenelgenubi is nearly 8° to the necessary in the brightening twilight to see the Red upper right of Mercury, and over 5° to the lower left of Planet. In the evening, Venus is 30° east of the sun. It sets Mars. During the evening at mid-twilight, Venus is nearly 2 hours after sunset. The Venus – Jupiter gap is 15°. 10° up in the southwest, 7.4° to the lower right of Saturn. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is nearly 11° up in If you can still locate Jupiter, it is nearly 11° to the lower the southwest, 3.3° to the lower right of Saturn. One right of Venus. What is the last date you see Jupiter hour after sunset, the gibbous moon (12.3d, 89%) is without optical assistance? Through a binocular or nearly 30° up in the east-southeast. The moon is slightly telescope? One hour after sunset, the moon (8.3d, 56%) higher than the Pleiades (M45), 23° to the lower left of is nearly 37° up in the south-southeast, among the dim the lunar orb. The moon is back in Cetus this evening. stars of eastern Aquarius. Later in the evening, the moon • December 9: An hour before sunrise, Mars, nearly 17° up is at apogee at 10:08 p.m. CST, 251,311 miles away. in the southeast, is 2.0° to the upper right of

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

Zubenelgenubi. A quarter of an hour later, about the time horizon, follow it into bright twilight at a later time. Thirty of mid-twilight, Mercury is over 5° up in the east- minutes before sunrise this morning, Mercury is nearly 7° southeast, nearly 17° to the lower left of Mars. One in altitude. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is evening before the Venus – Saturn conjunction, the nearly 12° up in the southwest. It is 1.9° to the lower left planets are 2.4° apart. Venus is below Saturn. Forty-five of Saturn. Jupiter is no longer visible at this time interval minutes after sunset, Venus is nearly 11° up in the after sunset. It is heading for its solar conjunction later southwest. An hour after sunset, the moon (13.3d, 95%) this month. One hour after sunset, the moon (15.3d, is 24° up in the east in southeastern Aries near the Taurus 100%), over 10° up in the east-northeast, is midway border. It is nearly 19° to the upper right of Aldebaran. between Aldebaran and Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau, m = 3.0), but above a line that connects the stars. Look carefully for the dimmer star. The moon is Full at 11:12 p.m. CST. • December 12: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 17° up in the southeast, passes 0.2° to the upper left of Zubenelgenubi. Through a telescope, the Red Planet is only 4.0” in diameter. Farther west, the bright moon (15.9d, 100%) is 13° up in the west-northwest, 2.1° to the lower right of Zeta Tauri. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus, about 12° up in the southwest, is 2.5° to the left of Saturn. Two hours after sunset (about 6:30 p.m. CST), the moon (16.4d, 99%) is 12° up in the east-northeast. It is in eastern Gemini, over 6° to the lower left of Zeta Tauri. • December 13: One hour before sunrise, the moon (16.9d, 98%) is over 20° up in the west, in western Gemini, almost 18° below Castor, (α Gem, m = 1.6). On the opposite side of the sky, Mars, over 17° up in the southeast, is 0.7° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi. While Jupiter is difficult to observe, it is nearly 20° from Venus. Catch it with optical assistance during early

At mid-twilight, Venus is 1.8° to the lower left of Saturn in twilight. Forty-five minutes after sunset, the Venus – the southwestern sky. Saturn gap is 3.4°, with Venus to the upper left of Saturn. Venus is over 12° in altitude in the southwest. Three • December 10: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 17° hours after sunset, the moon (17.4d, 96%) is 13° up in the up in the southeast, is 1.3° to the upper right of east-northeast in the middle of Gemini. The lunar disk is Zubenelgenubi. Fifteen minutes later, Mercury is over 5° over 10° to the upper right of Pollux (β Gem, m = 1.2). up in the east-southeast, nearly 18° to the lower left of • December 14: One hour before sunrise, the moon (17.9d, Mars. Venus – Saturn conjunction! At mid-twilight (about 94%), over 30° up in the west, is about 7° to the lower 45 minutes after sunset), Venus, over 11° up in the left of Pollux. Farther east, Mars, over 17° up in the southwest, is 1.8° to the lower left of Saturn. Through a southeast, is 1.3° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi. telescope Venus is 12.0” across and 87% illuminated. One Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is 4.4° to the hour after sunset, the bright moon (14.3d, 98%), nearly upper left of Saturn. Venus is nearly 13° in altitude above 18° up in the east is over 6° to the upper right of the southwest horizon. Four hours after sunset (about Aldebaran. 8:30 p.m.), the moon (18.5d, 90%), nearly 13° up in the • December 11: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 17° east-northeast, is over 8° below Pollux. up in the southeast, is 0.7° to the upper right of • December 15: One hour before sunrise, the moon (18.9d, Zubenelgenubi. A few minutes later, Mercury is 5° up in 88%) again appears in the western sky, over 42° in the east-southeast, 0.3° to the upper right of Graffias (β altitude. It is nearly 12° to the upper left of Pollux. Sco, m =2.5). You’ll need optical help to see the Meanwhile, Mars, nearly 18° up in the southeast, is 2.0° conjunction in the growing twilight. Mercury is over 18° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi. With a binocular or to the lower left of Mars. This is goodbye to Mercury, as telescopic low power, observe that the Red Planet is 1.8° its altitude dips below 5° in altitude at this hour during to the upper right of Nu Librae (ν Lib, m = 5.2). Speedy the next few mornings. With optical help and a good Mercury is 13° west of the sun. It rises nearly 70 minutes

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

before sunrise, appearing only 3° above the horizon 40 telescope, it’s easier to work with the focal ratio – the minutes later. Jupiter is only 8° west of the sun, setting telescope’s focal length divided by its aperture. For a less than 40 minutes after sunset. Forty-five minutes classic Schmidt-Cassegrain, multiply the f/ratio by the exit after sunset, Venus, nearly 13° in altitude in the pupil desired for the eyepiece needed (f/10 x 5 or f/10 x southwest, is 5.4° to the upper left of Saturn. Five hours 7). This results in an eyepiece in the 50 mm to 70 mm for after sunset (9:30 p.m. CST), the moon (19.5d, 82%), the Schmidt-Cassegrain. These oculars are typically two- nearly 12° up in the east-northeast, is in eastern Cancer. inch eyepieces. For an f/5 (Rich Field Telescope), an The moon is over 20° to the lower left of Pollux. With an eyepiece in the 25 mm to 35 mm range is needed to early sunset and the moon leaving the earlier evening achieve the desired exit pupil. What optical combination hours, this month’s deep sky highlight is the Pinwheel (f/ratio and eyepiece) that yields the best view of M33 Galaxy in Triangulum (M33, NGC 598). Dimmer and for you? smaller than Autumn’s gem, the Great Galaxy in Andromeda (M31, NGC 224), M33 is in the same region At the beginning of morning twilight at mid-month of the sky as the more familiar deep sky target. The (about 5:30 a.m.), an arc of four bright stars – Procyon, Pinwheel Galaxy is part of the Local Group of Galaxies Pollux, Castor, and Capella – curves above the western that includes the Milky Way and its Magellanic Clouds, horizon. Sirius is very low in the west-southwest and M31 and its satellites, and over 30 other smaller, dimmer Betelgeuse is a little higher in the west. The Great Sickle of galaxies. At the end of evening twilight, M33 is nearly 70° Leo with its bright star, Regulus, is now west of the meridian. up in the eastern sky. The Pinwheel galaxy is about 14° The moon is near Leo during the next few mornings. Farther from M31, and below Andromeda’s string of stars that east, bright, yellow-orange Arcturus stands high in the east- extends from Alpheratz, that is shared between Pegasus southeast. Spica is lower in the south-southeast. Mars is the and Andromeda, pointing toward Perseus. It is about 7° lone bright planet in the morning sky at this hour. Now past to the lower right of Beta Andromedae (β And, m = 2.0) Zubenelgenubi in its eastward march, the Red Planet is over and 4.2° to the upper right of Alpha Trianguli (α Tri, m 24° to the lower left of Spica. With Regulus, Arcturus, and =3.4). M33 is within the reach of a 7x50 binocular. The Spica in these locations in the pre-dawn sky, the Big Dipper is galaxy is 1° across with a low brightness. This creates a over 80% of the way up in the north. The meridian nearly challenge when viewing this deep sky object. Burnham, in bisects the Dipper’s bowl. The Pointer Stars are west of the his Celestial Handbook, describes the observing obstacle meridian pointing downward toward the North Star. of this large galaxy with a low surface brightness. “M33 is Cassiopeia is low in the north. Scanning eastward from these challenging object for the small telescope because of its stars takes us to Vega, less than 15° up in the northeast. great size and low surface brightness. Among amateur During the next several mornings, until the solstice, the sun’s astronomers it has been the source of the most declination shifts southward about 0.1°. This is about the discordant reports to be found in astronomical literature. width of your thumb at nearly 35 feet away. Without a While some find it easily visible in field glasses, or even to calendar, the solstice is an event that is difficult to the naked eye, others report complete inability to locate determine if you are beginning to observe the sun’s rising the galaxy at all, and conclude that its position must be position at this time. At the end of evening twilight (6 p.m. incorrectly charted” (p. 1899). In The Messier Album, CST), the Great Square of Pegasus stands at the meridian. Mallas writes, “In a four-inch telescope, M33 consists of a Andromeda, starting at Alpheratz – the star shared between faint central region surrounded by fainter, soft gray the two constellations – streams toward Perseus. Cassiopeia patches, which are difficult to distinguish from nearby is high in the north, east of the meridian. The Summer stars” (p. 85). For this observation use large exit pupils, in Triangle – Vega, Deneb, and Altair – lingers in the west as the 5-7 mm range. The exit pupil is the diameter of the the beginning of winter draws near. Venus, now setting after light leaving the eyepiece and striking your eye. Viewing the end of evening twilight, is the lone bright planet in the deep sky objects, in a dark location, allows your eye to sky at this time, low in the southwest. Farther east, the dilate to a maximum size that is around 7 mm. The Pleiades are over one-third of the way up in the east, above maximum diameter also depends on age, and other Aldebaran and the Hyades. Bright Capella, with Auriga, factors. We should match our pupil diameter to the stands low in the northeast. observing conditions. In this case it’s a dim object, so your eye can dilate. There are multiple ways to calculate • December 16: One hour before sunrise, the moon (19.9d, the observing instrument’s exit pupil. For a binocular, 79%) is about 50° up in the southwestern sky. It is nearly divide the aperture by the magnifying power. Binoculars 12° to the right of Regulus (α Leo, m =1.3). Farther east, (7x50) produce and exit pupil of 7 mm+ (50/7). For a Mars is nearly 18° above the southeast horizon. It is 2.6°

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi and 1.2° to the upper the upper left of Saturn. The Winter Solstice occurs at right of Nu Librae. At the end of evening twilight, Venus is 10:19 p.m. CST. The sun’s coordinates are 18 hours, Right about 6° up in the southwest. With a binocular look for Ascension; -23.5°, Declination. four stars that make a kite shape. They are known as the • December 22: One hour before sunrise, Mars, 18° in Dogs Kingdom asterism, composed of fourth magnitude altitude in the southeast, is over 8° to the lower left of stars. Venus is 3.6° to the upper right of Omega Sagittarii the waning crescent moon (25.9d, 16%). The moon is (ω Sgr, m = 4.7), one of the stars in the Dogs Kingdom. above a line that connects Zubenelgenubi and Mars appeared near the asterism as its retrograde ended Zubeneschamali (β Lib, m = 2.6). The lunar crescent is during its 2018 opposition. 3.5° to the upper left of Zubenelgenubi. Forty-five • December 17: One hour before sunrise, the moon (20.9d, minutes after sunset, Venus, over 15° up in the 69%) is 55° up in the southwest, 4.2° to the upper left of southwest, is over 13° to the upper left of Saturn. The Regulus. Mars (m = 1.6) is nearly 18° up in the southeast, Ringed Wonder sets 90 minutes after sunset. 3.3° to the lower left of Zubenelgenubi and 0.8° to the lower right of Nu Librae. Jupiter sets at Civil Twilight, about 30 minutes after sunset. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is over 13° in altitude in the southwest. It is nearly 8° to the upper left of Saturn. • December 18: Mars is now rising over 3 hours before sunrise. Two hours later, Mars, nearly 18° up in the southeast, is 0.7° to the lower right of Nu Librae. Use a binocular to see the pair. The moon (21.9d, 58%), over 55° up in the south-southwest, is over 9° to the lower right of Denebola (β Leo, m = 2.1). The moon reaches perigee at 2:25 p.m. CST. It is over 230,000 miles away. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is nearly 14° in altitude in the southwest. It is almost 9° to the upper left of Saturn. The moon reaches its Last Quarter phase at 10:57 p.m. CST. • December 19: The thick crescent moon (22.9d, 46%), over 50° up in the south, is to the right of a diagonal line that connects Denebola and Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4), one hour before sunrise. The moon is over 12° to the lower left of Denebola and over 9° to the upper right One hour before sunrise, look for the crescent moon above of Gamma Virginis. At the same time, Mars is nearly 18° the brightest stars of Libra and over 8° to the upper right of up in the southeast among the dim stars of Libra. It is 1.2° Mars in the southeast. to the lower left of Nu Librae and 2.6° above Iota Librae (ι Lib, m = 4.5). One hour after sunset, Venus, 12° up in the • December 23: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° southwest, is nearly 10° to the upper left of Saturn. up in the southeast, is 6° to the upper right of the Venus moves into Capricornus, and Saturn sets in the end crescent moon (26.9d, 8%). [See image next page.] Mars of evening twilight. passes between Iota Librae and Gamma Librae (γ Lib, m = • December 20: One hour before sunrise, the moon (23.9d, 3.9), 2.6° to the left of Iota. Forty-five minutes after 35%) is nearly 45° up in the south-southeast. It is nearly sunset, Venus is over 15° up in the southwest. It is nearly 11° above Spica. Mars is over 18° up in the southeast, 14° to the upper left of Saturn, over 6° in altitude. 2.4° to the upper left of Iota Librae. Forty-five minutes • December 24: One hour before sunrise, Mars is over 18° after sunset, Venus is over 14° up in the southwest, up in the southeast. The moon (27.9d, 3%), nearly 19° to nearly 11° to the upper left of Saturn. The Ringed the Mars’s lower left, is less than 6° up in the east- Wonder is over 8° in altitude. southeast. If you don’t have a good view of the horizon, • December 21: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° the moon is nearly 8° up 15 minutes later. up in the southeast, is 2.3° to the upper left of Iota Librae. • December 25: One hour before sunrise, Mars is over 18° The moon (24.9d, 25%) is 36° up in the southeast, nearly in altitude in the southeast. It is 3.4° to the lower left of 9° to the left of Spica. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Iota Librae. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is over Venus, nearly 15° up in the southwest, is nearly 12° to 16° up in the southwest, over 16° to the upper left of

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

Saturn. The Ringed Wonder’s altitude is over 5°. Through • December 30: One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly a telescope, Venus is 12.7” across and 84% illuminated. 19° in altitude in the southeast. Forty-five minutes after The moon reaches its New phase at 11:13 p.m. CST. sunset, Venus is nearly 18° up in the southwest. It is over • December 26: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° 20° to the lower right of the waxing crescent moon (4.8d, up in the southeast is in southeast Libra. Forty-five 21%). minutes after sunset, Venus is over 16° in altitude in • December 31: One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly Capricornus. It is nearly 18° to the upper left of Saturn. 19° up in the southeast, about 0.3° to the upper left of Venus is at its most southerly celestial latitude, −1.86°. Kappa Librae (κ Lib, m =4.8). The month ends with Mars over 5° to the upper right of Graffias. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Venus is over 18° up in the southwest. The moon (5.8d, 29%) is over 36° up in the south-southwest. As the sky darkens further, notice that Venus is 1.2° to the lower left of Theta Capricorni (θ Cap, m = 4.1). Through a telescope, Venus is 13” across and 83% illuminated.

One hour before sunrise, Mars is 6° to the upper right of the crescent moon in the southeast.

• December 27: One hour before sunrise, Mars is over 18° in altitude in the southeast. Jupiter is at its solar conjunction at 12:26 p.m. CST. Forty-five minutes after sunset, brilliant Venus is nearly 17° in altitude in the

southwest. The very thin crescent moon (1.8d, 3%) is The crescent moon and brilliant Venus appear in the about 6° in altitude, over 13° to the lower right of Venus. southwest about 45 minutes after sunset. The moon is 2.4° The lunar crescent is about 6° to the upper left of Saturn. below the planet. You’ll need an unobstructed horizon and a binocular to catch Saturn. This is the last entry in the daily notes for As the year closes and when morning twilight begins the position of Saturn. It slips farther into bright twilight (about 5:30 a.m. CST), Mars is the lone bright planet in the as it heads for its solar conjunction early next year. morning sky. While not exceedingly bright, it continues to • December 28: One hour before sunrise, Mars is about move through Libra, ending the year in the southeast corner 19° up in the southeast. Forty-five minutes after sunset, of the constellation near Scorpius. It is nearly 35° to the Venus is 17° in altitude in the southwest. The moon (2.8d, lower left of Spica, now well up in the south-southeast. 8%) is 2.4° below the planet. Saturn sets at Nautical Bright Arcturus is nearly 45° above Mars, and nearly two- Twilight, when the sun is 12° below the horizon, nearly thirds of the way up in the sky. Farther west in the southern 70 minutes after sunset. sky, the Great Sickle of Leo and the hind quarters of the Lion • December 29: One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly are past the meridian. Farther north, the bowl of the Big 19° up in the southeast. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Dipper is west of the meridian. In the west and northwest – Venus, over 17° up in the southwest, is over 9° to the Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella – are less than one-third lower right of the crescent moon (3.8d, 14%). of the way up in the sky. Meanwhile, in the northeast, Vega

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

and Deneb, are low in the sky. In the evening sky at the end prime viewing. Without Procyon and Sirius, the bright of twilight (about 6:30 p.m. CST), brilliant Venus shines from Winter Stars – Pollux, Castor, Capella, Aldebaran, low in the south-southwest. The growing crescent moon is in Betelgeuse, and Rigel – dominate the eastern sky, following the southern sky. Pegasus is just west of the meridian, the Pleiades westward. The Big Dipper is low in the north, placing the Great Andromeda Galaxy near the zenith for with the bowl east of the meridian. Happy New Year!

About the Author: Jeffrey Hunt has had a life-long interest in astronomy and astronomy education. He has taught astronomy at all levels from preschool students to university courses. Jeff is a former director of the Waubonsie Valley High School Planetarium in Aurora, Illinois. Dr. Hunt holds several degrees including a master’s degree in planetarium education from Michigan State University. He writes an astronomy blog (http://jeffreylhunt.wordpress.com) showing easily seen sky events. Currently he is retired with his wife and cat in Northern Illinois.

Editor’s Note: The editor of The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers wishes to acknowledge the dedicated monthly contributions to this newsletter by author, Dr. Jeffrey L. Hunt of Naperville, Illinois. Not only does Dr. Hunt contribute monthly for the benefit of the TCAA membership, he also contributes quarterly to the NCRAL newsletter Northern Lights which all TCAA members are entitled to receive. To sign up for Northern Lights, subscribe through the following URL: https://goo.gl/gsS8SF

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.

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, you have missed out on a lot during the past couple of months.

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

E/PO UPDATES FOR NOVEMBER 2019

The third and final class of the Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course was held at the ISU Planetarium on Saturday, November 2nd. This meeting dealt primarily with telescopic equipment. Before the class started, however, our new members and teachers gathered for a photograph which is shown below. Efforts are now underway to provide training in the use of the CPC 11” at SGO, and to find new ways of engaging all club members. With the leadership of Devanand (Deva) Chatrathi (third from right), a follow-up survey was conducted in an effort to provide more activities in line with desires and expectations of these new members. It is expected that monthly educational activities will be initiated starting in January that will be suitable for all club members.

INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY, NOVEMBER 2, 2019, ISU PLANETARIUM – Here are some of our new TCAA members resulting from the October/November course. Long-time TCAA members will note a few familiar faces. This group will be reassembling during the coming months to involve themselves in additional activities. Established “rank and file” TCAAers are urged to join in on the fun. Stay tuned to The OBSERVER for details.

Carl Wenning and Lee Green provided a public outreach program for 84 Girl Scouts and their leaders on Saturday evening November 9th. Carl started with a 45-presentation about the solar system and stars at 7PM in the lodge of Camp Peairs near Lake Bloomington. The talk was an effort to provide necessary background for a variety of Girl Scout merit badges. Afterward, Lee provided the girls with an opportunity to examine his C-14 telescopic. Views of the heavens were precluded by an overcast sky.

DID YOU KNOW?

Are you looking for back issues of The Are you looking for information about Are you looking for the TCAA Guides to OBSERVER? Look no further than here: the history of the TCAA? Find out more amateur astronomy? Visit this page: http://tcaa.us/Observer.aspx here: http://tcaa.us/History.aspx http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2020

April 25: Mars and the Events of 2020 (Carl Wenning) 8:15-10:15 PM

Mars makes its closest approach to Earth every 780 days (1.9 years). The next closest approach will occur on October 13th, 2020 when it appears opposite the sun in the sky. Prepare now to observe Mars as it moves rapidly eastward among the stars of the zodiac, brightening all the while, and then suddenly executing an impressive 13-degree-long retrograde zigzag!

May 23: Galaxies of the Spring Sky (Tim Stone) 8:45-10:45 PM

In the spring, our line of sight on the sky looks straight out of our galaxy into the vast space beyond, showcasing thousands of bright galaxies and millions of dim ones. We will tour this neighborhood of the universe, highlighting some of the most beautiful galaxies in the heavens.

June 20: Navigating with Stars (Sunil Chebolu) 9:00-11:00 PM

For centuries, navigators have relied on stars to identify directions, compute latitude, and even read local time. We will explore these ideas and also examine the problem of measuring one’s longitude at sea – a fascinating problem that defeated some of the best minds in the world for many years.

July 18: Jupiter & Saturn (Mark Boulware) 9:00-11:00 PM

Jupiter and Saturn offer stark contrasts when compared to the inner planets. We will review how and why they formed in their current locations and their impact on the formation of the rest of the solar system. We will learn how the two greatest planets are similar yet different.

August 22: Touring the Milky Way (Mark Cabaj) 8:15-10:15 PM

The Milky Way is one of countless stellar islands floating in a cosmic foam of dark matter, dark energy, and matter. Humanity is trying to find out what our galaxy looks like inside and out using ingenious observing methods and increasingly more sensitive equipment. Take a tour of our “cosmic home” to see what we know so far.

September 19: The ISS: Past, Present, and Future (Sandullah Epsicokhan) 7:30-9:30 PM

The International Space Station (ISS) is humankind’s largest artificial satellite. Given the right time and conditions, it can be easily seen orbiting overhead. We will look at how it was constructed, how it is used, what it is like living in space, and where it is headed in the future.

October 17: Missions to Mars (Lee Green) 7:00-9:00 PM

As we reach our closest approach to Mars for the year, the Red Planet shines brightly throughout the evening. Let’s review the many spacecraft missions we’ve sent there, what they are revealing, and how they are paving the way for a future manned mission to Mars.

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

TCAA IMAGE GALLERY

MESSIER 16 – This image consists of nine 300-second subs taken NGC 891 – Bob Finnigan and Scott Wade met with Sunil by Bob Finnigan on October 17, 2019 with the new QHY 368 Chebolu at SGNC’s Prairie Sky Observatory on the evening camera and the 14-inch Ritchie-Chretien telescope of Prairie of November 16th to continue training in the art of Sky Observatory. The image was processed with Pixinsight by astrophotography. They focused their efforts on NGC 891 – Scott Wade. sometimes called the Silver Sliver Galaxy – using the new QHY367 color camera on the 14” RC telescope. The result is shown right. The image consists of 5 sub-images – two at 600-seconds and thee at 300-seconds).

VENUS-JUPITER CONJUNCTION – Both Tim Stone and Jamey Jenkins captured images of the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on the evening of November 24th. The two passed within 1.5° of one another as seen locally. Tim provided the wide-angle view shown left whereas Jamey provided the close-up view shown right. Other observers that evening who mentioned this observation were Carl & Carolyn Wenning, Sharon Macdonald, Mark Boulware, and Sunil Chebolu.

Vol. 44, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2019

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF NOVEMBER 26, 2019

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 10/28/2019 1,669.88

Introduction to Astronomy Printing Reimbursement - Wenning ($52.00)

Introduction to Astronomy Facility Usage Donation to Planetarium ($150.00) Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory ($49.61) Membership - SGNC Dues and Subscriptions ($250.00)

BALANCE 11/26/2019 1,168.27

- Checking Account Balance – November 26, 2019 $1,168.27 - Savings Account Balance – November 26, 2019 $2,017.88 - Includes $0.03 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – November 26, 2019 $3,186.15

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

Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga