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Newsletter Archive the Skyscraper May 2011 the vol. 38 no. 5 May Skyscraper 2011 Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island 47 Peeptoad Road North Scituate, Rhode Island 02857 www.theSkyscrapers.org The Van Vleck Observatory sits From 1997 to 2001, he worked at atop Wesleyan University’s Campus in the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Middletown, CT, painting a scenic backdrop Astrophysics as a research assistant for the for all who visit the University. For 175 Chandra X-ray Observatory; primarily years, Wesleyan has been the site of active writing and documenting analysis software astronomical research, and the Van Vleck and providing support for observers. Observatory is currently the home to two From 2001 to 2005, Roy attended telescopes of note: a 20” Alvan Clark refrac- graduate school in a joint program between tor and a 24” Boller and Chivens Cassegrain the University of Leicester (in the English telescope. I will provide a brief overview of midlands) and the Center for Astrophysics, the Observatory, its historical instruments, hopping back-and-forth across the Atlantic its scientific work, and the people who have every few months. In 2005, he completed called VVO home. I will then turn to the his Ph.D. in astrophysics, entitled “The present, discussing observations currently X-ray Point Source Populations of Spiral taking place with modern instruments on and Star Forming Galaxies”, and returned campus and at facilities around (and above!) to the Center for Astrophysics full-time as the world. a research astronomer and post-doctoral Roy Kilgard grew up in rural south scholar. May Meeting with Georgia near one of the best dark sky lo- In 2007, Roy moved to Connecticut cations in the eastern United States, and and the Van Vleck Observatory at Wesleyan became a dedicated observer from an early University, where he is now a Research Roy Kilgard age, using a 4” Newtonian reflector with Assistant Professor of Astronomy. His Friday, May 6, 7:30pm no clock drive. He attended Valdosta State research emphasis is in X-ray emission Seagrave Memorial Observatory University, triple-majoring in Astronomy, from galaxies, with recent work centered on Physics, and Philosophy. While there, he stellar- and intermediate-mass black holes The Past, and 3 college friends attempted the Messier and their link to episodic star formation Present, and Future of Marathon twice, finding (and sketching) 83 events in galaxies. His most recent achieve- objects the second time. ment is the birth of his first child, Tabetha the Van Vleck Observatory Patrice Kilgard, born March 7th, 2011. In this issue… Phases of the 2 President’s Message Moon The Constellations 3 10 17 24 3 in May Other notable events: Multiple planetary conjunctions in the morning sky all month. See Shooting Stars page 12 for more. 4 of May 9 3C 273 Quasar in Virgo Seagrave Memorial Observatory 10 Cosmic Recount is open to the public weather permitting April Reports 11 Summer hours begin May 7 13 Solar Activity in April Saturdays: 9:00-11:00 pm 2 The Skyscraper May 2011 captured with this device. He informed us he is still learning the nuances of the Mallincam, so I look forward to seeing ad- President’s ditional photo’s in the future. Steve is also intending to have the Mallincam set-up on the 16” Meade from time to time and I urge Message all to take the opportunity to see the views it The Skyscraper is published monthly by Tom Thibault Skyscrapers, Inc. Meetings are usually held provides. You will be amazed. Let me extend on the first Friday of the month. Public a thank you to Steve Hubbard from all of observing is usually held every Saturday Dear Skyscrapers Members, us for sharing the amazing capabilities of the night at Seagrave Memorial Observatory, Spring has sprung at Seagrave and as Dave Mallincam. weather permitting. Huestis noted, the glaciers have receded. Our business meeting followed, the President We were able to open the observatory for results of our election were announced by Tom Thibault [email protected] Public Viewing for the first time this year on Dave Hurdis. Penny Lesperance and Dave March 19th. We had an enthusiastic crowd Hurdis tallied the ballots that evening 1st Vice President all wanting to take in a close-up view of the revealing the re-election of myself as John Briggs [email protected] st “Super Moon”. It was a great evening; the President, John Briggs as 1 Vice President, 2nd Vice President weather was what we all have been waiting Ed Haskell as Secretary, Jim Crawford as Steve Hubbard [email protected] for — relatively warm and clear skies. Treasurer, and Gene Kusmierz as Member at The evening began with naked eye Large. The results also revealed Kathy Siok Secretary views of Jupiter and Mercury’s twilight as our newly elected 2nd Vice President, Jim Ed Haskel [email protected] conjunction above the western horizon. Hendrickson as Member at Large, and Steve Treasurer Our visitors where then treated with a tour Siok as Trustee. Congratulations to all and I Jim Crawford [email protected] of the observatory and recently restored look forward to working with you all as well 8-1/4” Alvan Clark. Dave enlightened our as our current Trustee’s Tom Barbish and Pat Members at Large visitors to the historical facts of Frank E. Landers. Let me thank Ed Haskell and Linda Steve Siok [email protected] Seagrave, the Clark and observatory, as Bergemann for heading our Nomination Gene Kusmierz [email protected] well as Skyscrapers. The scopes went into and Election Committee’s. The hard work Trustees operation including Bob Horton’s home- by both of you and your assistants is greatly Jim Brenek [email protected] made reflector, and the society’s 12” Meade. appreciated by myself and the society. Tom Barbish [email protected] The early part of the evening was focused on Our 2011/2012 Operating Budget was Pat Landers [email protected] the Orion Nebula, a scattering of deep sky discussed and approved by vote of the mem- Star Party Coordinator objects, and of course the “Super Moon”. bership. I thank all those who participated Bob Forgiel [email protected] The end of the evening treated those that in the discussions and the support of all the remained to a splendid view of Saturn which membership in its approval. The conclusion Librarian had risen high enough in the east to clear of our elections and approval of our operat- Amber Lesperance [email protected] the tree line. I urge all interested in sharing ing budget has paved the way for another Historian their knowledge of the night sky to volun- successful year for Skyscrapers. Dave Huestis [email protected] teer to assist on Open Public Nights and to Lastly, a number of members’ activi- contact our Trustee’s regarding training on ties were announced for the end of April, Editor our equipment. These activities will provide a visit to the Charles Hayden Planetarium, Jim Hendrickson [email protected] you with great satisfaction and contribute to Constellation Night, and CCD Marathon. Directions our mission as Skyscrapers. I sure all will find an interest in one or more Directions to Seagrave Memorial Our April Meeting featured our own of these, so come join us. Information re- Observatory are located on the back page Steve Hubbard. He exposed us all to the garding these activities can be found on our of this newsletter. wonders of modern technology as it relates Web Site, http://www.theskyscrapers.org/ Submissions to astro-imaging and viewing through the Clear Skies Submissions to The Skyscraper are always use of his Mallincam video camera. Steve Tom Thibault welcome. Please submit items for the newsletter no later than May 18 to Jim treated us to some wonderful pictures he Hendrickson, 1 Sunflower Circle, North Providence, RI 02911 or e-mail to jim@ distantgalaxy.com. E-mail subscriptions To receive The Skyscraper by e-mail, send e-mail with your name and address to jim@ distantgalaxy.com. Note that you will no longer receive the newsletter by postal mail. twitter.com/SkyscrapersInc www.theSkyscrapers.org The Skyscraper May 2011 3 part of the animal he is fighting, Serpens. across out southern horizon. Scorpius is From our perspective, as we are looking the animal credited with killing Orion, the at him, to the right, or west side of him is Hunter. Because of this, the two can not the portion of Serpens containing his head, be seen in the sky at the same time. As the The Serpens Caput. To the east of Ophiuchus is scorpion now desires to be seen, Orion must Serpens Cauda, the snake’s tail. In a good leave. He can only return to our evening Constellations sky, you might be able to see the entire snake skies when Scorpius allows him to by setting across the Doctor’s body, but, as two objects in the western sky later in the year. can’t inhabit the same place in the sky, that Although to us this image is a perfect in May belongs to Serpens’ adversary. animal, Hawaiian mythology has this as Francine Jackson Above Ophiuchus is another great person, a fishhook, cast by the fisherman Maui. Hercules. Many of his labors are in various The hook got caught on the bottom of the As the sky begins to remind us that a parts of the sky, so it is fitting he should be ocean, and when Maui finally pulled it up, new month is approaching, we are able to enjoyed also. He is rather easy to identify along with it came the Hawaiian islands.
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