The Observer of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 46, Number 3 March 2021

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: LAST WORDS AS EDITOR – CARL J. WENNING

1 Last Words as Editor – Carl J. Wenning It has been a pleasure to have 2 President’s Note served as your editor beginning 3 Calendar of Astronomical Events – March 2021 with the January 2014 edition of 3 New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List The OBSERVER. Since that time, I 4 This Month’s Phases of the Moon have worked to produce 87 issues 4 This Month’s Solar Phenomena that included some 2,100 pages, 4 TCAA Celebrates 61 Years with Annual Meeting about 1,200,000 words, and a myriad of images. Not all the 5 NCRAL 2021 Cancelled words and few of the images were 6 AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA mine; there have been many other 8 TCAA Monthly Online Meeting for March contributors over the years. I 8 History of the TCAA (2010-2019): Part 1 hesitate to mention any names for 9 Spring Mood fear of missing someone. You know their names and have seen the 10 March 2021 with Jeffrey L. Hunt results of their efforts. I thank every one of you who has taken the 20 Public Viewing Sessions for 2021 time and energy necessary to write an article, submit an AstroBit, 21 TCAA Image Gallery or share an image for the benefit of the membership. 21 Did You Know? It is often said that editorship is a thankless task. In the main, 21 TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of February 26, 2021 that’s true – but not always. It was very nice to receive accolades from President Tim Stone in last month’s President’s Message and at the 61st Annual Meeting. It also was quite rewarding being The TCAA is an affiliate of the recognized with the Astronomical League’s 2017 Mabel Sterns Astronomical League as well as its Newsletter Editor Award – this newsletter’s second such accolade North Central Region. For more (the first being bestowed upon co-editors Mike Rogers & Jean information about the TCAA, be Memken with the inaugural 1998 award). certain to visit the TCAA website at Recognition is nice, but it really doesn’t matter all that much to http://www.tcaa.us/ me. What really does matter is that I have enjoyed writing and documenting the history of the club over the past seven years. It Visit http://www.astroleague.org for always makes me feel good knowing that others read what I have additional information about the written, and benefit from it if even in a small way. Though I will no Astronomical League and its longer serve as editor of this publication, I expect to continue numerous membership benefits, writing for it as time and energy permit. I also will continue to write including observing programs. and edit the NCRAL Northern Lights newsletter. I hope you will continue to follow me there. Also, visit the NCRAL website at I look forward to seeing what our new editor, Sandullah http://ncral.wordpress.com for in- Epsicokhan, will share with us. He will bring a new style to this formation about our North Central newsletter and that is as it should be. Each newsletter needs to Region. Find out about the many reflect the interests and talents of its editor. I encourage you to benefits of your membership from assist him as you have assisted me. Thanks for the opportunity to this site. serve. Carl J. Wenning, Editor of The OBSERVER (2014-2021)

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER I’m still basking in the glow of our is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin exceedingly successful annual City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organiz- meeting. The speakers were ation of amateur astronomers interested in outstanding, and we had plenty of time studying astronomy and sharing their hobby on our zoom meeting just to catch up with the public. with each other. We received several

comments afterward that it was one of TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS the best annual meetings ever. We had

President, Director, & Property Manager over 50 people in attendance and most Tim Stone 309-531-2401 of them stayed to the very end. The [email protected] level of engagement was high; it was

Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. awesome. That’s the only word I can use to describe it! Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 TCAA President Tim Stone [email protected]

Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent We have finished distributing the unwanted equipment that has been noted Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 in the last few Observers. All the equipment went to good homes, but there’s one [email protected] in particular that illustrates the impact we can have as a club. A couple were told Assistant Property Manager/ALCor about the 6” Celestron Newtonian and they contacted us to see if it would be Scott Wade 309-310-2464 possible to have it. They had wanted a telescope for years, but due to [email protected] circumstances in their life, it just wasn’t happening for them. This opportunity 5th Director seemed like it was something they could be benefited by, and the board agreed. Sunil Chebolu 678-896-5967 Today, just before I sat down to write this note, I finished helping them [email protected] understand how to use the telescope and watched them load it into their car. The Secretary/Historian/Editor gratitude on their faces was plain to see. Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 [email protected] The telescope was donated to the club by a woman who had lost her husband Technology Coordinator/Assistant Editor in death some time ago. He was an avid amateur astronomer and she wanted to Sandullah Epsicokhan 309-828-0227 [email protected] know if the club would help distribute his equipment to people who would enjoy using it. She wanted him to “live on” through the telescopes he so loved. She Webmaster couldn’t bear the thought of his beloved telescopes ending up in the trash. I gladly Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] accepted them from her on behalf of the club.

AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number It is a privilege to help people like this. Our hobby is one where we can [email protected] explore the beauty and elegance of the universe in ways most people cannot. It can be an expensive hobby. Sometimes the expense can be a barrier to people The OBSERVER who would love to engage. In this instance, the love of astronomy by one person Carl J. Wenning, Editor over many years has given the gift of astronomy to another couple for many years Submission deadline two days before to come. Yes, the annual meeting was awesome, but this is truly AWESOME! the end of each month. Tim Stone MEMBERSHIP DUES TCAA President 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. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

CALENDAR OF ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS – MAR 2021 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (3/15): Mercury (☿), Venus (♀), Jupiter (♃), The following individuals have paid dues for new or Saturn (♄), and Neptune (♆) renewed memberships as of February 26, 2021. (Others who paid after that date will appear in the April 2021 issue EVENING PLANETS (3/15): Mars (♂) and Uranus (⛢) 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 Standard Time before DST and CDT afterwards. New: David Arteman

Renewing: Brian Barling, Sharon MacDonald, Day Time Event and Mark and Bryce Heiniger

01 23:19 Moon at Perigee: 365422 km Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! 03 17:36 Mars 2.6°S of Pleiades

04 23 Mercury 0.3°N of Jupiter DUES BLUES 05 18:56 Moon at Descending Node 05 19:30 LAST QUARTER MOON If you have received a dues statement email along 06 05 Mercury at Grt. Elong: 27.3°W with this issue of The OBSERVER, please send your dues to Mr. Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 09 17:02 Saturn 3.7°N of Moon Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for seniors 10 09:35 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 10 18 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun 10 19:02 Mercury 3.7°N of Moon SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LISTSERV 13 04:21 NEW MOON Welcome to the [email protected] group at Groups.io. 13 20 Mercury at Aphelion This is a free, easy-to-use group email service set up for 14 02:00 Daylight Saving Time Begins the TCAA’s communication purposes. You can subscribe, 18 00:04 Moon at Apogee: 405253 km visit your group, read and post messages here: 19 12:48 Mars 1.9°N of Moon https://groups.io/g/tcaa The email address for this group is [email protected]. 19 22:31 Moon at Ascending Node After you successfully subscribe, please add this email 20 04:37 Vernal Equinox address to your safe sender list in your email client’s 21 09:40 FIRST QUARTER MOON contacts, so emails from this list are not classified as junk 23 05:26 Pollux 3.5°N of Moon mail. 25 19:17 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon Once subscribed, you can set your subscription settings here: https://groups.io/g/tcaa/editsub. You can 26 01 Venus at Superior Conjunction opt to receive all messages in individual emails, collections 28 13:48 FULL MOON of messages in a digest, a daily summary, or only special 30 01:12 Moon at Perigee: 360311 km notices. If you do not wish to belong to this group, you may unsubscribe by sending an email to This Calendar of Astronomical Events courtesy of Fred Espenak. [email protected] http://astropixels.com/almanac/almanac21/almanac2021cst.html If you have general questions about the group, email [email protected]. For questions not answered there, contact the moderators of this group (Deva C., Tim S., and EVENING SKY MAP Carl W.) by emailing [email protected]. Get the current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar at the following URL: http://www.skymaps.com/

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Friday, March 5 Saturday, March 13 Sunday, March 21 Sunday, March 28

All moon phase dates are Central Time. Moon phases for the 2021 calendar year can be found by clicking here: https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/ 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 the day including the change from the previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, the time of solar noon along with the elevation (El) of the midday sun, and solar distance. Data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2021 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Solar Dist.

Mar Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Diff. Start End Time (Elevation) MIL. MILES

1 6:29 AM (99°) 5:47 PM (261°) 11:18:35 +2:38 4:58 AM 7:18 PM 12:08 PM (26.6°) 92.114

11 6:13 AM (94°) 5:58 PM (266°) 11:45:17 +2:41 4:42 AM 7:29 PM 12:06 PM (46.1°) 92.357

21 6:57 AM (89°) 7:09 PM (272°) 12:12:14 +2:41 5:25 AM 8:41 PM 1:02 PM (50.1°) 92.610

TCAA CELEBRATES 61 YEARS WITH ANNUAL MEETING

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 6TH ANNUAL MEETING: a devasting effect upon the club’s education and public President Tim Stone called the business portion of the TCAA’s outreach events with all such activities having been canceled 61st Annual Meeting to order at 6:03 PM. Twenty-one since March of 2020. Tim indicated that he hopes that this is attended at the start but this number grew and peaked at 53 not the “new normal” for 2021. Tim lamented the before the event ended. Tim began with a moment of silence cancellation of our public viewing sessions at Sugar Grove in memory of all club members who have passed away in the Nature Center and noted that the club has been active on six decades since the founding of the club. Facebook and through webinars despite the pandemic. Tim gave an annual report that he characterized as “not He noted with appreciation the service of Carl Wenning very interesting,” noting that the COVID-19 pandemic has had and Tom Willmitch, and that club members are all looking for

Vol. 46 No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

a comeback in 2021. Tim further pointed out that Carl will be light from Earth and reach 20% of the speed of light before stepping down as newsletter editor and secretary when his they leave the solar system. The trip to the nearest star term in office expires. Carl noted that he will continue with his system would take about 20 years. The talk was followed by efforts of historian and is nearing completion of the 60th many good questions and interesting answers. anniversary edition of the TCAA’s history. Tim noted, too, that Awards were then presented. Astronomical League we have successfully integrated online gatherings into club observing program awards were conferred upon Dave Osenga activities, and expect that this will have a positive, long-term (Urban observing program) and Lisa Wentzel (Open Cluster impact on members and guests. and Binocular Variable Star observing programs). Each spoke Treasurer Dave Osenga noted that the club is in good briefly about completing these programs. Deva Chatrathi, Tim financial condition with very little spending during the prior Stone, Carl Wenning, and Lisa Wentzel each received year. Current balances are $2,306.07 in checking and recognition for completing various NCRAL seasonal Mini $1,868.09 in savings for a total of $4,174.16. He reminded Messier Marathons (Deva – Spring; Tim – Summer and those who normally pay dues during the annual meeting to Autumn; Carl – Autumn, Spring, and Summer; Lisa – all four send them to him via US Mail or to use PayPal with the club’s seasons unassisted.) NASA Night Sky Network outreach online dues-paying system available through awards were conferred upon Dave Osenga, Sunil Chebolu, http://www.tcaa.us/Join.aspx. and Carl Wenning for early observing sessions, YouTube Tim called for final nominations for the Board of posts, and Facebook posts during the year of the pandemic. Directors. He noted that the current board members (Tim Dr. Anindya Sen, a friend of Sunil Chebolu, then spoke Stone, Tom Willmitch, Dave Osenga, Scott Wade, and Sunil from New Zealand about the topic of Ants and Universes. He Chebolu) are standing for election again this year. There being used the situation of an ant walking along a stretching string no new nominations, the nominations were closed, and the with three variants of that problem as an analogy. He showed election followed. The five candidates were elected by how mathematically-derived conclusions can be applied to unanimous acclamation: Tim Stone, Tom Willmitch, Dave the expanding universe under the conditions of constant and Osenga, Scott Wade, and Sunil Chebolu. exponential expansions. He spoke about the consequences of As required by state law, Dave Osenga declared that he is universal expansion on light (red shift) and how the concepts the club’s “official registered agent” residing at 1109 N. of distance, age, and lookback time are interrelated. He noted Linden St., Normal, IL 61761. There being no further business most succinctly that our portion of the universe has a before the club, the business portion of the annual meeting boundary without a wall, and that there are portions of the was adjourned at 6:23 PM. universe that we will never be able to see or travel to. These Dr. Simon “Pete” Worden, a guest of Tom Willmitch, conclusions met with many surprised looks, interesting spoke about Sending Laser-driven Light-sails to Interstellar comments, and probing questions. With many words of Space, focusing on Breakthrough Starshot. He noted how thanks and praise, the meeting ended at approximately 8:50 thousands of 1-gram space probes might in a few years be PM. sent to Proxima Centauri to visit an Earthlike planet there with Respectfully submitted, the potential of life. These probes would be powered by laser Carl J. Wenning, Secretary

NCRAL 2021 CANCELED

Carl Wenning, NCRAL Chair (2017-2021), regrets to convention center for classes due to the need for social inform the membership of the North Central Region (of which distancing. Classes won’t be over until three weeks after the the TCAA is an affiliate) that the annual convention scheduled NCRAL 2021 convention. It seemed reasonable, therefore, to for May 7/8, 2021 has been canceled. This is the second such cancel this convention. As Region Chair, Carl fully concurs with cancellation in a row. NCRAL 2020 and NCRAL 2021 were both NPMAS’s decision to cancel this year’s event. cancelled due to the complications presented by the COVID- You will recall that NCRAL 2020 was rescheduled earlier 19 pandemic. to 2022. NCRAL 2021 was canceled outright and the hosts will This year’s convention host was to be the Neville Public be looking for future available dates. Currently the TCAA is Museum Astronomical Society (NPMAS). During a Society scheduled to host NCRAL 2023 and had offered to move the meeting on February 3rd, the membership agreed that the date of our convention to 2024 to accommodate a two-year event should be canceled this year all things considered. postponement for NPMAS. The TCAA’s offer was considered, While the pandemic seems to be slowly on the wane in but NPMAS declined the offer. They indicated a preference to some areas, the precautions are still in effect everywhere. An select another year, 2024 or beyond. So, the TCAA is still added complication this year was that our venue, St. slated to host NCRAL 2023 as was the case previously. Norbert’s College in De Pere, Wisconsin, has been using their

Vol. 46 No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

On an associated note, Carl has decided to step down bylaws), Carl’s increasing medical problems have led him to from his position of NCRAL Chair at the end of his current term deciding otherwise. Efforts are now under way to find his in office which will be on May 8th. While he was interested in replacement. Carl will continue to serve as editor of NCRAL’s serving a third and final term (as permitted by the Region’s newsletter Northern Lights.

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

The recently re-elected TCAA Board of Directors will meet minutes starting at 6:30 PM. Attendance reached a peak via Zoom on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 6:30 PM. At this of 53 members and guests. The number is typically about meeting they will select officers (President, Vice President, 30. The attendance grew throughout the meeting as Secretary, and Treasurer) and ALCor, and appoint visitors from around the world logged in. Attendees were leadership chairs (property manager, newsletter editor, from across the USA, and from as far away as India and historian, observing programs coordinator, membership New Zealand. coordinator, technology coordinator, registered agent, and webmaster). If you are interested in serving in any capacity outside of the presidential sequence (the president and vice president must be Board members), please let one of the Board members know immediately. TCAA Historian Carl Wenning has been working diligently on several “bucket list” items since the start of the current pandemic. You might recall that Carl produced issues of the club history for its 25th and 50th anniversaries. He has nearly completed a “decadal” addition to his 50th anniversary edition. This addition of about 15-20 pages is being produced in sections, each with its own topic (e.g., Sugar Grove Observatory, Prairie Sky Observatory, Waynesville Observatory, Education and Public Outreach). Carl will begin releasing the decadal history, bit by bit, through The OBSERVER starting with this issue. A The TCAA has received $150 in exchange for two items complete history will be assembled for electronic declared “unwanted assets” by the TCAA Board of distribution later this summer. Directors – a 6” Celestron Newtonian reflector and a set of Lisa Wentzel informs us that due to the ongoing pandemic, 10x70 binoculars by Oberwerk, $100 for the former and Rockland Astronomy’s Northeast Astronomy Forum $50 for the latter. The only remaining items from the (NEAF) will again be virtual this year. That’s good news for club’s treasure trove of unwanted items is a Meade 5” TCAA members because it will allow us to attend FREE of achromatic refractor with some eyepieces but no mount charge. An all-day virtual forum will be held on Saturday, or tripod. See either the January or February issues of this April 10th. Details can be found through the following URL: newsletter for a description. th http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf1.html Just before 6 AM on February 17 , several TCAAers The club held its 61st Annual Meeting on Saturday, stepped out into the cold to see the latest Starlink satellite February 6th using its Zoom account for the first time. The train from a launch two days prior. While no one reported event went flawlessly. Dave Osenga served as online seeing the train (2.1-magnitude satellites above a thin organizer and host. Several online posts afterward layer of clouds), several observers did report seeing indicated that the membership enjoyed this gathering momentary glints of light near the zenith. Reporting immensely, some terming it the equal to the very best observations on the TCAA listserv were Tony Cellini, Carl given the excellent quality of the speakers. Phrases such Wenning, Jamey Jenkins, Tom Weiland, and Venkat Sai. as “best Annual Meeting speakers ever” and “the equal of Many TCAAers watched the NASA.gov feed as the the best professional talks ever heard at a conference” Perseverance rover touched down on the stood out. Thanks, and “a tip ‘o the hat” to all those who Martian surface at 2:55 PM CST on th worked to make the 61st Annual Meeting successful. Thursday, February 18 . Amazingly, within Informal attendance records kept during the club’s 61st a few minutes the first image was returned Annual Meeting showed that this year’s event was the from Mars. According to Deva Chatrathi, the following image is what was observed! largest ever. Attendance figures were recorded every 8-9

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

OPT Corp. The new hand controller has a slightly different configuration of buttons compared to the old model, but anyone familiar with the old model should have no problem adapting to the new model. It was installed on February 27th with location, date, and time set. A bit more “tweaking” will be required to adjust a few things such as backlash and direction of approach. This will require a clear sky. Hopefully everything will be “go” by mid-March – the start of warmer weather and the viewing season. Certified members are welcome to use it. Historian Carl Wenning has found yet another box of historical memorabilia. He has added it to the growing depository at SGO. In addition, Carl has also moved about

Bernie sighted on Mars by the Perseverance rover according to Deva. half of the club’s 2,000 public viewing session brochures to SGO as well; he is retaining the others for intown Carl Wenning is delighted to report that the nearly five- distribution through the ISU Planetarium, libraries, and month wait for a new hand controller for the TCAA’s CPC similar. 11” telescope at SGO is now over. The hand controller was The TCAA remains active on Facebook through at a much ordered back in October and arrived on February 25th. It less frequent pace due the continually overcast winter was ordered after the original 15-year-old hand controller skies. With the approach of spring, the skies will become developed electrical problems and Carl had a chance to clear more frequently as will the posts. Recent posts experiment with the new generation of hand controllers, include information about the motion of Mars past the one of which came with his new CPC 8” telescope. The Pleiades and Hyades star clusters, and the planets now shipping delay was caused by the pandemic according to appearing in the pre-dawn sky.

TCAA MONTHLY ONLINE MEETING FOR MARCH

The TCAA membership will meet online using Zoom for preside at these functions as normal. No business will be its first regular monthly membership meeting in decades on conducted at regular membership meetings as the club’s Thursday evening, March 18th, at 7:00 PM. If the membership affairs are managed by the TCAA Board of Directors. supports these activities throughout 2021, we will continue The list of remaining dates, topics, and speakers for 2021 them. If February’s Annual Business meeting with our two is as follows: guest speakers is any indication, we can expect to have a good Apr 15: Vesto M. Slipher and his Contributions to turnout. Galactic Astronomy (Tim Stone) Our inaugural speaker for our 2021 series will be Dr. Sunil May 20: Solar System Updates: Comets, Asteroids, and Chebolu, who will speak about Time Reckoning: Astronomical Minor Planets (Tom Willmitch) Calendars and Clocks. Sunil is a captivating speaker, and you’ll Jun 17: Radio Astronomy for Amateurs not want to miss his talk. The Zoom link (and other (Tim Stone) information) for the March 18th 7:00 PM meeting is: Jul 15: TCAA Guides https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4076147451?pwd=NllQWGQ5W (Dave Osenga et al.) HViNExoWTBTQXNucXgyZz09 Aug 19: Evidence for Evolution of the Universe Meeting ID: 407 614 7451 (Carl Wenning)

Passcode: 8376403 Sep 16: Analog and Digital Computers in Astronomy (Carl Wenning) The club’s regular membership meetings will consist of a Oct 21: The Sun and the Amateur Astronomer speaker (club members this year) to be followed with time for (Jamey Jenkins) Q&A. Time for socializing will be provided, including the use Nov 18: How to Plan, Organize, Complete, & Submit of breakout rooms where small group discussions with certain an AL Observing Program (Lisa Wentzel) themes can take place following the main presentation should that be desired. Either Dave Osenga or Carl Wenning Dec 16: TCAA Stories from Days Gone By will serve as Zoom meeting manager. The TCAA president will (Tim Stone et al.)

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

HISTORY OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS WINDS OF CHANGE: 2010-2019 (PART 1) ~ by Carl J. Wenning, TCAA Historian ~

The semi-centennial year of the TCAA, 2010, represented but was having problems with astrophotography using a DSLR in many ways a mix of beginnings and endings. Following the camera. Carl told Bob that TCAA members such as Lee Green, 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting on February 6, 2010 at Tony Cellini, John Werner, and Dan Miller were actively Ewing Manor, the club’s summer was filled with the usual and pursuing this aspect of the hobby and were having successes. ordinary member education and public outreach activities Perhaps they might provide some sort of assistance. This conducted mainly at Sugar Grove Nature Center. It also saw conversation resulted in Bob’s return to the club and to a the beginning of a “renaissance” of a type rarely seen in an series of improvements at SGO that revitalized the club. astronomy club. Bob later asked Carl about SGO, the dome of which he The sixth decade of the club’s existence (2010-2019) had purchased in the mid 1970s and that had once capped his included explosive growth in terms of observatories and Marie-Antoinette Observatory at Downs. The dome had been equipment. Some, but not all this growth, was propelled by a donated to the TCAA after Bob moved away from Downs. Carl member who has asked to remain anonymous. That person, related the building of SGO ten years earlier and told Bob of who was the source of so many winds of change that the problems encountered with the Meade LX200 12-inch propelled the club to new heights, will be referred to as telescope. Anonymous throughout this section of the club’s history. During this conversation, Carl mentioned that before the 12” Meade was housed at SGO, member Mike Rogers had Sugar Grove Observatory Updates loaned his Celestron 14-inch telescope for use under the William Carney spent the summer of 2010 residing Sugar dome at the time of its opening. He noted that the club later Grove Observatory (SGO) and replacing crushed stone purchased a new Meade 12” telescope to take advantage of surrounding the base of the building. Erosion had made the goto technology. This latter telescope had, over several years, original gravel base less effective in preventing rainwater experienced substantial mechanical difficulties. It had been seeping into the building. In the ten years since its performing a “China dance” (William Carney’s words) from construction in 2000, weathering has caused hard wood time to time when the telescope would begin moving on its planks covering the exterior had begun to warp. Separations own without warning. It then had to be turned off, restarted, between the planks were allowing wind, dust, rain, and snow and realigned before it could be used again. The telescope to enter the observatory’s interior. These problems hardly had been returned to Meade two times for warranty-related seemed to be of much concern as the Meade 12-inch LX200 repairs and had become dysfunctional once again. Meade was telescope mount was dysfunctional and the observatory was not willing to stand behind the instrument any longer. They seeing little use other than for the storage of unused loaner refused to allow the club to extend the original warranty a telescopes. third time. There were occasional discussions about replacing the observatory with a ground level roll-off-roof observatory following the NCRAL 2010 meeting hosted by the TCAA in May because the club now had some $5,000 in untapped reserves. Carl Wenning indicated that he was willing to make a considerable donation to pay for such an observatory. Still, nothing happened. Sugar Grove Observatory, and even the club, was facing an existential problem until Carl heard a “voice out of the past” on the other end of a phone call on August 2, 2010. On the other end of the line was Bob Finnigan, former club member and past president. Bob figured prominently in the history of the club during the 1970s and 1980s. Carl had not heard from Bob for nearly 30 years. Bob noted that he was now several years into retirement and wanted to get back into amateur astronomy – especially the area of astrophotography. Bob informed Carl that he had recently Lee Green using Meade 12” to show Venus during the daytime at Autumn Fest. purchased a Celestron 11-inch telescope on a CGEM mount

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

Carl also lamented to Bob about the poor image quality Mike Rogers and previously housed in SGO) using parts from produced by the 12” telescope. The club, Carl noted, had Bob’s yoke mount. accepted the telescope without a critical review of its optical The repaired C14 mount operated poorly by modern quality. While this did not matter so much with diffuse standards. Anonymous, desiring for a more advanced mount, celestial objects, objects like planets and the moon were purchased a CGE Pro for the SGO upon which was placed the unacceptably and perpetually out of focus. Another problem refurbished C14. Carl worked with machinist Jim Dunham and stemmed from a wobbly steel “cage” used as a pier atop the others to install Dan’s “mono pier” to hold the new CGEM 30’ column of concrete. This produced large vibrations in the mount, thereby replacing the wobbly steel cage that had been telescope whenever someone moved within the observatory. used earlier. SGO was at the point where the telescope was almost By early December 2010, SGO was up and running again, completely unusable when Bob rejoined the TCAA. but this time with the ability to accommodate two telescope Hearing of these problems, Bob suggested that he could configurations. A choice could now be had between using the donate his unused 1973 C14 telescope to the club. If the club refurbished C14 and Bob’s Takahashi 130mm apochromatic was willing to clean up the optical tube assembly and refractor with its SBIG STL-11000 eleven-megapixel camera refurbish the yoke mount, the club could have it at no cost. (and sometimes a QSI583C camera). The 130mm refractor The Board of Directors quickly decided to have the optical would be mounted in tandem with a companion refractor tube assembly (OTA) refurbished and to accept the donation. outfitted with an auto-guider. A “quick change” mounting Efforts also would be made to repair the dysfunctional yoke mechanism meant that the observatory could serve as both a mount. Dan Miller noted that he had a used “mono pier” that visual and photographic facility. he would donate to replace the steel cage between the In addition, Lee Green and Bob also had made the observatory’s concrete column and any telescope mount. telescope operable by remote control using wireless Within a few weeks, things began to happen. networking. They conducted astronomical imaging first from William Carney shipped the C14 to California for a the second floor, then the ground floor of the observatory, complete rebuild. (The telescope was returned about two and a short time later from the warmth of the Nature Center months later cleaned and the mirror re-aluminized and building. This was a sea change – so markedly different was overcoated. The repair and shipping cost amounted to $757 – the SGO in comparison to the situation months before. What not unreasonable for a telescope OTA that would cost nearly had been a dysfunctional observatory housing a broken $3,800 purchased new.) Dan Miller repaired an unused C14 telescope was approaching “state of the art.” What a yoke mount he had (taken from the telescope once owned by difference a few months of effort had made!

SPRING MOOD

Editor’s Note: The following article first appeared in the Ohio tube – an inconvenience for you both. The little fellow will just State University Astronomy Club Newsletter during spring have to find a new home. Perhaps he can check out that quarter of 1976. It was my second effort at creative writing cricket chirping serenely in the distance. Nature makes while I served as editor. I started the OSUAC newsletter during strange bedfellows! the autumn of 1974. Carl J. Wenning The endless procession of the seasons has once again renewed the constellations. Leo and Virgo have replaced the Spring is the time of year when the world comes alive. Hunter and the Dogs. Sweeping the telescope back and forth The plant yields the bud, the cocoon sends forth its new life; in Virgo, you can find galaxy upon galaxy. The Virgo Cluster and at least the amateur astronomer is willing to step alone contains over a thousand known galaxies, but with your outdoors. ‘scope, you can see only a few fuzzy patches. Yet, each is a The chill of winter has gone, and the snow has swirling mass containing billions of stars. disappeared. With the warm southerly breeze, you are not so The glow of our galaxy, the Milky Way, can no longer be reluctant to observe. The Big Dipper has turned on end and seen. This thin ribbon of light lies very close to the horizon in may on any one night pour out its contents, but on the first the early evening and will only reappear when Cygnus can clear night, you’ll probably dash out to observe the starry once more be seen. wonders of the universe. Time passes quickly, and before long, you recognize the Green grass and budding trees remind you of the changes Summer constellations. And as Ursa Major begins to descend, brought about by Mother Nature. The frogs croaking in the you notice that all along you’ve been watched by a wise old distance have replaced the deathly still of winter past. owl, M97. He appears duller than usual, but in the early Getting out your telescope that has waited patiently for morning you just aren’t too bright either. The optical binary your touch, you find that a spider has lodged his web in the system, Mizar and Alcor, just doesn’t come up to standards.

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

Maybe you’ve chosen the wrong stars. Reaching for the star the night birds have begun their morning songs. Glancing to charts, you notice how wet they have become. Alas, you’ve the east, you see rosy-fingered dawn. The night is gone. It’s found the problem, the objective has dewed! time for bed. Looking about, the landscape is covered with fog banks that are drifting slowly about. You feel damp and chilly, and

MARCH 2021: MARS IN TAURUS, MORNING PLANET GROUPING ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

As morning twilight begins when March opens, the bright conjunction early in the month. Farther eastward, Leo climbs gibbous moon is in the southwest among the stars of Virgo into the eastern sky. In two months at this time, the celestial with its brightest star Spica. Topaz Arcturus – west of the lion stands at the meridian. The Big Dipper stands on its meridian – is about two-thirds of the way up in the sky. Leo is handle in the northeast at this time. In the western sky, only farther west, tilted head-first toward the horizon. The Big three stars of the Great Square of Pegasus visible. The line of Dipper is above the Lion. Farther eastward, Scorpius is above Andromeda’s bright stars points upward toward Perseus and the horizon in the south-southeast. Antares – the pattern’s Capella. The Great Andromeda Spiral is only one-third of the brightest star – nears the meridian. The stinger is above the way up in the west-northwest. If you’re planning to attempt a horizon, while the pincers (Libra) are west of the meridian, one-night Messier Marathon during the month, then be sure about one-third of the way up in the sky. The Teapot of to catch those objects in the west as quickly as possible after Sagittarius is quite low in the sky, east of Scorpius. The sunset. Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – sprawls across the eastern sky. Cassiopeia is low in the north-northeast at • March 1: One hour before sunrise, the moon (17.7 days this hour. The sky is without any bright planets. The sun is in after the New Moon phase, 94% illuminated) is less than the sky for over 11.25 hours. Darkness – the interval after the one third of the way up in the sky above the west- end of evening twilight and the beginning of morning twilight southwest horizon. The lunar orb is 1.3° to the upper right – is nearly 9.75 hours long. The sun’s noon altitude increases of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4). Three planets are over 12° during the month. At the end of evening twilight, the emerging from the bright sunlight. Forty-five minutes bright Winter Congregation – Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel, before sunrise, Saturn (m = 0.7) is over 5° up in the east- Aldebaran, Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella – is at the southeast. It is 6.0° to the upper right of Mercury (m = 0.1), meridian. The full display of the winter sky shines from the although the speedy planet is 3° above the horizon. Fifteen south! The group seems to be led by the Pleiades star cluster. minutes later, Jupiter (m = −2.0) – 8.1° of ecliptic longitude east of Saturn – is nearly 4° in altitude. Use a binocular to locate Mercury 2.4° to the Giant Planet’s upper right. The sun is in the sky for a several minutes longer than 11 hours. Darkness – the time between the end of evening twilight and the beginning of morning twilight – is 9 hours, 39 minutes. One hour after sunset, Mars (m = 0.9) is over two- thirds of the way up in the sky above the southwest horizon. During the month, the planet marches 17.7° eastward. The Red Planet is 3.0° to the lower left of Alcyone (η Tau, m = 2.8), the brightest star in the Pleiades star cluster. Use a binocular to observe Mars with the cluster. Notice that the planet is 1.5° to the upper right of 13 Tauri (13 Tau, m = 5.6). Four hours after sunset (about 9:45 p.m. CST), the moon (18.4d, 89%) is less than 10° above the east-southeastern horizon. At 11:18 p.m. CST, the moon is at perigee, 227,086.8 miles away. Mars marches through Taurus during the month. During evening hours, use a binocular to track its eastward trek compared to your favorite stars in the constellation.

Mars, although much dimmer than it was when it was near opposition is approaching the star cluster for a

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

approaches, the moon (20.4d, 70%) is very low in the east- southeastern sky.

March 2, 2021: An hour before sunrise, the gibbous moon is 5.1° to the upper right of Spica.

• March 2: One hour before sunrise, the moon (18.7d, 87%)

is less than one-third of the way up in the southwestern March 4, 2021: With a binocular look for Mars and the sky, 5.1° to the upper right of Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0). Forty- Pleiades this evening. five minutes before sunrise Saturn is nearly 6° in altitude above the east-southeastern horizon. While difficult to see, • March 4: One hour before sunrise, the moon (20.7d, 68%) speedy Mercury is 6.6° to the lower left of Saturn. As the is about 30° up in the south-southwest. It is between sky brightens further, bright Jupiter comes into view. Gamma Librae (γ Lib, m = 3.9) and Iota Librae (ι Lib, m = Mercury is 1.9° to the upper right of Jupiter. Use a 4.5). The lunar orb is 3.9° to the lower right of γ Lib and binocular to locate the planets. Fomalhaut (α PsA, m = 1.2) 3.5° to the upper left of ι Lib. Three planets are in the east- is at its solar conjunction today. While not near the ecliptic, southeast before sunrise. Forty-five minutes before at local noon, it is over 22° below the bright solar disk. In sunrise, Saturn is over 6° in altitude in the east-southeast. the evening, one hour after sunset, the lone bright naked- Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter is nearly 5° in altitude, over eye planet, Mars, is nearly two-thirds of the way up in the 8° to the lower left of Saturn. Use a binocular to find it with southwestern sky, 2.7° to the lower left of Alcyone and Mercury 0.6° to Jupiter’s upper right. One hour after 1.8° to the upper right of 13 Tau. Five hours after sunset, sunset, Mars is less than 60° up in the west-southwest, the moon (19.4d, 80%) is less than 7° up in the east- 2.6° to the lower left of Alcyone, as the Red Planet passes southeast, nearly 13° to the lower left of Spica. the star this evening. • March 3: One hour before sunrise, the moon (19.7d, 78%) is about a third of the way up in the south-southwestern sky. It is 6.7° to the upper right of Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m = 2.8). Fifteen minutes later, Saturn is nearly 7° above the east-southeastern horizon. As the sky brightens further, use a binocular to see Jupiter nearly 5° in altitude in the east-southeast with Mercury 1.2° to the Giant Planet’s upper right. One hour after sunset, Mars (m = 1.0) is nearly two-thirds of the way up in the sky in the west-southwest, 2.6° to the lower left of Alcyone. When rounded this evening’s gap is the same as what is observed tomorrow evening when Mars passes the star. As midnight

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

Saturn. With a clear horizon, you might find Jupiter very low in the sky. Thirty minutes before sunrise, use a binocular to locate Jupiter about 5° up in the east- southeast, with Mercury 0.3° to its upper left. One hour after sunset, Mars is nearly 60° up in the west-southwest. It is 2.8° to the left of Alcyone. With a binocular spot 37 Tauri (37 Tau, m = 4.3), 2.6° to the upper left of Mars. The moon is at its Last Quarter phase at 7:30 p.m. CST. • March 6: One hour before sunrise, the moon (22.7d, 45%), over 22° up in the south-southeast in Ophiuchus, is nearly 12° to the left of Antares. Mercury reaches its morning greatest elongation (27.3°W) at 5:22 a.m. CST. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is nearly 7° in altitude above the east-southeast horizon. At this hour, Jupiter is only about 3° in altitude, nearly 9° to the lower left of Saturn. Jupiter is visible at this altitude with an unobstructed, cloud-free horizon. Fifteen minutes later, use a binocular to observe Jupiter, over 5° in altitude in the east-southeast, with Mercury 1.0° to its lower left. One

March 5, 2021: An hour before sunrise, the gibbous moon is hour after sunset, Mars, nearly two-thirds of the way up in 5.0° to the upper right of Antares. the west-southwest, is 2.9° to the upper left of Alcyone and 2.0° to the lower right of 37 Tau.

March 7, 2021: An hour before sunrise, use a binocular to look for the moon near Kaus Borealis at the top of the Teapot of Sagittarius. The globular cluster Messier 22 is in the field as well. March 5, 2021: Jupiter, Mercury, and Saturn are visible during bright morning twilight in the east-southeast. Jupiter • March 7: One hour before sunrise, the moon (23.6d, 34%) is about 5° up in the east-southeast, with Mercury 0.3° to its is nearly 17° up in the south-southeast. It is 1.2° to the upper left. The Jupiter – Saturn gap is 8.6°. right of Kaus Borealis (λ Sgr, m = 2.8), the star at the top of • March 5: One hour before sunrise, the moon (21.7d, 57%) the lid of the Teapot of Sagittarius. Use a binocular to see is 26° up in the south, 5.0° to the upper right of Antares (α the moon with the star as well as the globular star cluster Sco, m = 1.0) and 4.2° to the lower left of Graffias (β Sco, M22 (NGC 6656), 2.4° to the upper left of the star. Move m = 2.5). Use a binocular to see the starfield behind the the lunar crescent and the star to the lower left section of moon. Fifteen minutes later, Saturn is nearly 7° up in the the binocular field. While not an ideal hour to view them, east-southeast. Jupiter is 8.6° of ecliptic longitude east of the gaseous nebulae – Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523) and Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514) – become visible to the

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

upper right of the moon and the star. At least the dim stars that help define the clouds’ locations are visible. As the sky brightens further, Saturn is visible low in the east- southeast, about 7° above the horizon. Jupiter is 8.9° to the lower left of Saturn. By 30 minutes before sunrise, use a binocular to see Jupiter and Mercury (m = 0.0), 1.8° to the Giant Planet’s lower left. One hour after sunset, Mars is high in the west-southwest among the starfield of Taurus. It is approaching an imaginary line from Alcyone to Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8). This evening Mars is 3.2° to the upper left of Alcyone and 1.5° to the lower right 37 Tau.

March 9, 2021: The crescent moon joins Jupiter and Saturn. This morning the crescent is 7.9° from Saturn. The Jupiter – Saturn gap is 9.1°.

• March 9: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the crescent moon (25.7d, 16%) is about 7° up in the southeast. Saturn – nearly 8° up in the east-southeast – is 7.9° to the upper left of the lunar slice. At this hour, Jupiter – nearly 4° up in the east-southeast – is 9.1° to the lower left of Saturn. Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter is over 6° in altitude. Mercury is 3.5° to the lower left of the Giant Planet. Use a binocular to see them. One hour after sunset, Mars is high March 8: 2021: Look for Mars nearly between Alcyone, the in the west-southwest, 4.0° to the upper left of Alcyone brightest star in the Pleiades star cluster, and Aldebaran. and 9.6° to the lower right of Aldebaran. Use a binocular to spot the planet with the starfield with the Hyades and • March 8: One hour before sunrise, the moon (24.6d, 24%) the Pleiades. Mars is 0.3° to the lower right of 37 Tau, and is over 10° above the southeast horizon. The lunar slice is above a line from Alcyone to Aldebaran. 4.1° to the left of Tau Sagittarii (τ Sgr, m =3.3), at the bottom of the Teapot’s handle. At this hour Saturn is over 5° up in the east-southeast. As the sky brightens, Jupiter and Mercury follow behind. Jupiter is 9.0° to the lower left of Saturn. As twilight progresses can you see the two in the sky together without optical aid? By 30 minutes before sunrise, Jupiter is nearly 6° up in the east-southeast with Mercury 2.6° to its lower left. One hour after sunset. Mars, high in the west-southwestern sky – is well-past the Pleiades, 3.6° to the upper left of Alcyone. The planet is below a line from Alcyone to Aldebaran, 10.0° to the lower right of the constellation’s brightest star. Among the dimmer stars, use a binocular to spot 37 Tau 0.9° to the upper left of Mars.

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

Jupiter is 9.5° to Saturn’s lower left. Use a binocular to locate Theta Capricorni (θ Cap, m = 4.1) nearly midway between the two planets. One hour after sunset, Mars is high in the west-southwestern sky, marching eastward among the stars of Taurus. It is 8.4° to the right of Aldebaran. Use a binocular to find 37 Tau, 1.4° to the lower right of the planet. Mars is generally moving toward neighbor stars to the upper right of the “V” of Taurus, Kappa Tauri (κ Tau, m = 4.2) and Upsilon Tauri (υ Tau, m = 4.2). This evening, Mars is 3.4° to the lower left of κ Tau and 3.6° to the lower left of υ Tau. • March 13: The moon is at its New phase at 4:21 a.m. CST. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is nearly 9° in altitude above the southeast horizon. Jupiter – nearly 5° in altitude above the east-southeast horizon – is 9.6° to the lower left of Saturn. One hour after sunset, Mars is 56.0° up in the west-southwest The Red Planet passes 7.2° to the upper right of Gamma Tauri (γ Tau, m = 3.6). The star is near the point of the “V” of Taurus in the Hyades star cluster. Through a telescope spot κ Tau, 2.8° to the upper March 10, 2021: During bright twilight, the crescent moon is left of Mars, while υ Tau is 3.0° to the planet’s upper left. to the lower right of Jupiter and Mercury. Find a clear horizon and use a binocular to see them.

• March 10: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is 8.0° up in the east-southeast, Jupiter is 9.2° of ecliptic longitude east of Saturn. The Giant planet is nearly 4° in altitude. Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter is over 6° in altitude. Use a binocular to spot Mercury, 4.4° to the lower left of Jupiter. Mercury is only 4° in altitude. The thin crescent moon (26.7d, 9%) is nearly 4° in altitude, 5.4° to the lower right of Jupiter. One hour after sunset. Mars is 57.0° up in the west-southwest among the clustered star fields of Taurus. The plant is nicely placed to the right of Aldebaran and the Hyades, and to the upper left of the Pleiades. The planet is 0.3° above 37 Tau. • March 11: Saturn and Jupiter are easier to see in the predawn sky. They are appearing higher in the sky each morning. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is over 8° in altitude above the southeast horizon. Jupiter is over 9° to Saturn’s lower left and about 4° up in the sky in the east-southeast. Fifteen minutes later, Mercury is 4.0° up, 5.4° to the lower left of Jupiter. We say good-bye to March 14, 2021: During the evening find Mars nearly in a line with Aldebaran and Epsilon Tauri (ε Tau). Mercury for this apparition. With exceptional conditions you should be able to track it for a few more mornings • March 14: Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. CST when before it is lost in the sun’s brilliant light. One hour after the clocks are advanced to 3 a.m. CDT. The time interval in sunset, Mars (m = 1.1) is less than 60° in altitude above the these notes remain the same. Forty-five minutes before west-southwestern horizon, among the stars of Taurus. It sunrise, Saturn and Jupiter are low in the southeastern sky. is to the upper left of the Pleiades and nearly 9° to the right Saturn is over 9° in altitude and brighter Jupiter is over 5° of Aldebaran. Use a binocular to spot it 0.8° to the upper up in the sky, 9.7° to the lower left of Saturn. Thirty left of 37 Tau. minutes after sunset, the thin crescent moon (1.6d, 2%) is • March 12: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is about 9° above the western horizon. As the sky darkens nearly 9° above the southeast horizon. Over 4° in altitude, further, over 55° in altitude in the west-southwest, Mars

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

is below a line that connects Aldebaran and extends above the line. Then we return to Leo and Regulus, where this through Epsilon Tauri (ε Tau, m = 3.5). Tomorrow, Mars is ecliptic tour began this morning. on that line. Mars continues its eastward march. This evening, use a binocular to locate κ Tau and υ Tau, to the • March 16: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is upper left of Mars. Mars is 2.2° and 2.4° to the lower right nearly 10° in altitude in the southeast. Jupiter is slowly of the stars, respectively. moving away from the Ringed Wonder. This morning • March 15: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is Jupiter is 10.0° to the lower left, nearly 6° in altitude above nearly 10° in altitude above the southeastern horizon. the east-southeastern horizon. One hour after sunset, the Bright Jupiter is 9.8° of ecliptic longitude east of Saturn. At moon (3.6d, 12%) is in Cetus, over 24° up in the west. The this hour it is over 5° in altitude in the east-southeast. In lunar crescent is 2.1° above Xi1 (ξ1 Cet, m = 4.3), 2.1° to the evening, one hour after sunset, the moon (2.6d, 6%) is the lower right of Xi2 Cet (ξ2 Cet, m = 4.3), and nearly 11° about 14° up in the west, among the stars of Pisces. It is to the lower left of Mesarthim (“the extremely fat ram,” γ 1.2° to the upper left of Mu Piscium (μ Psc, m = 4.8) and Ari, m = 3.9). A binocular reveals the starfield along with 1.7° to the lower left of Nu Piscium (ν Psc, m = 4.4). Mars earthshine on the moon. It’s a wonderful evening to view was near these stars not long ago. This evening the Red the gentle glow on the moon’s nighttime gibbous shape. Planet is less than two-thirds of the way up in the west- Mars is higher in the sky, among the stars of Taurus in the southwestern sky among the stars of Taurus. It is slightly west-southwestern sky. This evening it is 1.2° to the lower above an imaginary line that extends from Aldebaran right of κ Tau and 1.3° to the lower right of υ Tau. Use a through ε Tau. Use a binocular to spot the stars κ Tau and binocular to see the dimmer starfield. υ Tau, to the upper left of Mars, slightly over 1.0° away. • March 17: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is over 10° up in the southeast. Jupiter – 6.0° in altitude As morning twilight begins at mid-month, Antares is less above the east-southeast horizon – is 10.1° to the lower than 30 minutes east of the meridian, less than one-third of left of Saturn. One hour after sunset, the moon (4.6d, 18%) the way up in the sky. Trace the ecliptic across the sky. It now is over one-third of the way up in the sky above the west- displays the sun’s annual course from late summer until southwest horizon. In Aries, the crescent is 16.0° to the nearly mid-January. Regulus – the brightest star near the upper left of Hamal (“the full-grown lamb,” α Ari, m = 2.0). ecliptic – is less than 10° up in the west and less than 0.5° Again, this evening, the crescent makes a nice contrast above the imaginary line that represents the plane of the with the earthshine on the moon’s nighttime portion of solar system. The imaginary line passes between Porrima and the Earth-facing part of the lunar sphere. Mars is higher in Spica. The former is nearly 3° above the line and the latter is the sky to the upper right of the “V” of Taurus. This over 2° below it. Farther eastward, Zubenelgenubi is about evening it makes a tiny triangle with κ Tau and υ Tau, 0.9° 0.3° above the line, Graffias is 1.0° above it, and Antares 4.5° to the upper right of κ Tau and 0.7° to the lower right of υ below the ecliptic. In Sagittarius, the line passes between the Tau. Lagoon Nebula and the Trifid Nebula, about 1° east of the winter solstice point. Kaus Borealis, at the top of the Teapot, is 2° below the line. Farther eastward, Omicron Sagittarii is about 1° above the ecliptic. Eastward from this point the line moves into Capricornus and to the east-southeastern horizon. With the equinox occurring in a few days, the sun is in the sky a few minutes short of the expected 12 hours. Darkness is nearly 9 hours long. In the evening at the end of twilight, the sun’s track is displayed from late spring to late summer, as Leo is in the evening sky. Aries is in the west, although Hamal is nearly 10° above the ecliptic. In Taurus, the ecliptic runs between the Hyades star cluster and the Pleiades star cluster. Mars is above the line. Farther eastward, the line passes between the Horns of Taurus, 2.1° above Zeta Tauri, the Southern Horn of Taurus. In the feet of Gemini, Eta Geminorum and Mu Geminorum are less than 1° below the line. Pollux is nearly 7° of ecliptic latitude above the ecliptic. March 18, 2021: In the evening, use a binocular to locate the dim starfield near Mars. The planet makes an equilateral Among the dim stars of Cancer, Delta Cancri is less than 0.1° triangle with Upsilon Tauri (υ Tau) and dim 72 Tauri (72 Tau). This evening Mars passes Epsilon Tauri (ε Tau).

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

• March 18: The moon is at apogee at 12:03 a.m. CDT • March 19: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is (251,791.4 miles). Forty-five minutes before sunrise, nearly 11° in altitude in the southeast. The Jupiter – Saturn Saturn is 10.5° above the southeastern horizon. Jupiter – gap is 10.3°, with Jupiter to Saturn’s lower left. One hour over 6° up in the east-southeast – is 10.2° to the lower left after sunset, the moon is about 55° up in the west- of Saturn. Use a binocular to see Saturn 3.9° to the upper southwest, Mars (m = 1.2) is 3.2° to the lower right of the right of Theta Capricorni (θ Cap, m = 4.1), while Jupiter is moon (6.6d, 35%). The lunar crescent is 5.4° to the upper 2.6° to the lower left of Iota Capricorni (ι Cap, m = 4.2); An right of Aldebaran. Use binocular to observe that the Red hour after sunset, the moon (5.6d, 26%) is halfway up in Planet is 0.6° above υ Tau, with dimmer 72 Tau between the west-southwest, to the lower left of the Pleiades, 5.5° them. Mars is 3.2° to the lower right of τ Tau. from Alcyone. Mars is 9.1° above the lunar crescent. Within the starfield, the planet is 0.8° to the upper right of κ Tau and 0.3° to the upper right of υ Tau. Look closely with a binocular to see Mars, υ Tau, and 72 Tauri (72 Tau, m = 5.5) making a tiny, equilateral triangle. The Red Planet passes 4.0° to the upper right of ε Tau, at the top of the “V” of Taurus, opposite Aldebaran. The first impression might be to think that Mars was closest to ε Tau when it seemed to pass Aldebaran and the star a few nights ago. While that alignment was an impressive sight, the ecliptic coordinate system runs at an angle from lower left to upper right in the western sky. Notice the alignment of the lunar crescent with the Pleiades. The moon and the star cluster have the same ecliptic longitude this evening, and they are at their closest. Mars passes Aldebaran in ecliptic longitude in a few evenings. Then it is at conjunction with the star, rather than when the planet had its impressive passing of Aldebaran and ε Tau. After the Aldebaran conjunction, the next star on the Martian tour of Taurus is Tau Tauri (τ Tau, m = 4.2), 3.7° to the upper left of the planet. March 20, 2021: An hour after sunset, look for the moon caught between the Horns of Taurus, Elnath and Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau).

March 19, 2021: As night falls look for the moon, 3.2° to the upper left of Mars.

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

March 20, 2021: Forty-five minutes before sunrise Jupiter March 22, 2021: During the evening find the moon, 6.0° to the and Saturn are low in the southeast. They are 10.4° apart. lower right of Pollux.

• March 20: The sun is at 0° of ecliptic longitude at 4:37 a.m. • March 22: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is CDT, signaling the beginning of astronomical spring nearly 12° in altitude in the southeast, while Jupiter is over (Vernal Equinox) in the northern hemisphere. During mid- 7° in altitude above the east-southeast horizon, 10.7° to twilight, about 45 minutes before sunrise, Jupiter and the lower left of the Ringed Wonder. Use a binocular to Saturn are low in the southeastern sky. Saturn is 11° up in spot θ Cap, 3.5° to the lower left of Saturn. Jupiter is 3.4° the southeast. Jupiter is 10.4° of ecliptic longitude east of to the lower left of ι Cap. In the evening one hour after Saturn. The Giant Planet is nearly 7° up in the east- sunset, Mars is over 50° up in the west-southwest, 1.5° to southeast, 3.0° to the lower left of ι Cap, while Saturn is the lower right of τ Tau. Farther east, the bright moon 3.7° to the upper right of θ Cap. An hour after sunset, the (9.6d, 64%) is over 70° above the southern horizon, 6.0° to moon (7.6d, 44%) – between the horns of Taurus – is over the lower right of Pollux (β Gem, m =1.2). two-thirds of the way up in the southwest. It is 3.0° to the • March 23: One hour before sunrise, Saturn is nearly 10° upper right of Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau, m = 2.0) and 4.8° to the above the southeastern horizon, nearly 11° to the upper lower right of Elnath (“the one butting with horns,” β Tau, right of Jupiter, 5.0° up in the east-southeast. One hour m =1.6). Mars is over 14° to the lower right of the thick after sunset, the moon (10.6d, 74%), is nearly 70° above lunar crescent. This evening, Mars passes 6.9° to the upper the southeastern horizon. It is 9.0° to the lower left of right of Aldebaran. The planet is nearly 10° to the upper Pollux. Farther west, Mars is 52.0° up in the west- left of Alcyone and the Pleiades. Among the dimmer stars, southwest. It is marching eastward through Taurus, 1.0° to the Red Planet is 2.6° to the lower right of τ Tau. the lower right of τ Tau. • March 21: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is • March 24: One hour before sunrise, Saturn is over 10° up over 11° in altitude above the southeast horizon. Jupiter – in the southeast. It is 3.3° to the upper right of θ Cap. 7.0° up in the east-southeast – is 10.6° to the lower left of Jupiter – nearly 11° to the lower left of Saturn – is 3.8° to Saturn. One hour after sunset, the moon (8.6d, 54%) – in the lower left of ι Cap. The Jovian Giant is over 5° above Gemini – is over 70° above the south-southwest horizon, the east-southeastern horizon. Use a binocular to see the 2.6° to the upper left of Mu Geminorum (μ Gem, m = 2.8). starry background with the planets. In the evening, one Mars – over 50° above the west-southwestern horizon – is hour after sunset, the bright gibbous moon (11.6d, 83%) is 2.0° to the lower right of τ Tau. nearly two-thirds of the way up in the sky above the southeastern horizon. In Cancer, it is 15° to the upper right of Regulus (“the prince,” α Leo, m = 1.3). Farther west along the ecliptic, Mars is over 50° up in the west- southwest among the stars of Taurus, above the Hyades

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

and Pleiades. Use a binocular to spot it 0.7° to the right of moon’s glare to see Denebola (“the lion’s tail,” β Leo, m τ Tau. =2.1) over 11° to the upper left of the lunar orb and Chertan (“the two small ribs,” θ Leo, m = 3.3), 4.9° to the moon’s upper left. • March 27: One hour before sunrise, Saturn is 11.0° in altitude above the east-southeast horizon. Jupiter – over 6° up in the east-southeast - is 11.3° to the lower left of Saturn. Use a binocular to see that Jupiter is 0.8° to the right of 42 Capricorni (42 Cap, m = 5.2). One hour after sunset, the moon (14.6d, 99%) is in Virgo, 9.9° to the lower right of Denebola and 3.8° to the lower left of Nu Virginis (ν Vir, m = 4.0). Block the moon’s glare to see the background stars. Farther west, use a binocular to spot τ Tau, 1.8° below Mars, and Iota Tauri (ι Tau, m =4.6) 4.0° to the upper left of the planet. Mars (m = 1.3) – over 50° in altitude in the west-southwest – is above the “V” of Taurus,

March 25, 2021: In this binocular view during the evening, made by Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster. The the moon is to the lower left of Eta Leonis (η Leo) and to the planet is less than 10° below Elnath (“the one butting with upper left of Regulus. horns,” β Tau, m = 1.6) that marks the northern horn of the Bull. • March 25: One hour before sunrise, Saturn is over 10° up • March 28: One hour before sunrise Saturn is over 11° in the southeast. Jupiter is 11.0° of ecliptic longitude east above the southeastern horizon, 11.4° to the upper right of Saturn. The Jovian Giant is nearly 6° above the east- of bright Jupiter. The Jovian Giant is over 6° up in the east- southeast horizon. One hour after sunset, the bright moon southeast. Use a binocular to see the planets in front of (12.6d, 90%) is over halfway up in the east-southeast, 4.2° the starry background. Saturn is 3.0° to the upper right of to the upper left of Regulus and 1.1° to the lower left of θ Cap, while Jupiter is 4.6° to the lower left of ι Cap. Eta Leonis (η Leo, m = 3.5). There is a lunar occultation Farther west, the moon (15.0d, 100%) is nearly 14° up in with η Leo that occurs in North America from about 40° the west. Because of its brightness, block the moon’s glare North latitude to nearly the southern end of Central to spot Eta Virginis (η Vir, m = 3.9), 3.3° to the lower left of America, although it occurs during daylight hours, before the moon, and Porrima (γ Vir, m = 3.4), 7.6° to the upper sunset. The occultation is visible in a darker sky from left of the lunar orb. The moon is Full (Worm Moon) at western Africa to the eastern Caribbean. See 1:48 p.m. CDT. One hour after sunset, the moon (15.6d, http://www.lunar- 100%) is less than 10° above the eastern horizon, 3.0° occultations.com/iota/bstar/0326zc1484.htm. Farther below Porrima. Farther west, Mars – over 50° up in the west, Mars is in Taurus. Find the planet above the “V,” west-southwest – is 2.3° above τ Tau and 3.6° to the lower made by Aldebaran and the Hyades, 0.8° to the upper right right of ι Tau. The planet is 9.0° below Elnath. Because of of τ Tau. the bright moonlight, use a binocular to see Mars with the • March 26: Venus is at its superior conjunction with the sun sidereal background. at 1:58 a.m. CDT. It begins a slow climb into the evening • March 29: One hour before sunrise, the moon (16.0d, sky. The first evening appearance of the planet occurs 99%) is nearly 20° above the west-southwestern horizon, approximately on April 21, give or take a day or two. Use 8.2° to the upper right of Spica (“the ear of corn,” α Vir, m a binocular to look for it about 20 minutes after sunset, = 1.0). Farther eastward along the ecliptic, Saturn is nearly low in the west-northwest. One hour before sunrise, 12° up in the southeast. Brighter Jupiter – nearly 7° in Saturn is nearly 11° above the southeastern horizon, over altitude above the east-southeastern horizon – is 11.5° to 11° to the upper right of bright Jupiter that is about 6° up the lower left of the Ringed Wonder. One hour after in the east-southeast. Use a binocular to see the planets sunset, Mars is nearly 50° up in the west-southwest. against the starry background. Saturn is 3.2° to the upper Among the stars of Taurus, it is 2.8° to the upper left of τ right of θ Cap, while Jupiter is 4.2° to the lower left of ι Cap. Tau, 3.2° to the right of ι Tau, and 8.5° below Elnath. Two One hour after sunset, Mars is over 50° up in the west- hours after sunset, the moon (16.7d, 97%), less than 10° southwest, 1.3° above τ Tau. Farther east, the bright moon up in the east, is 7.0° to the lower left of Spica. (13.6d, 96%) is over one-third of the way up in the sky above the east-southeastern horizon. Block out the

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

5.0° to the lower right of ι Cap. One hour after sunset, Mars is nearly 50° up in the southwest, above the “V” of Taurus that is made by Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster. Use a binocular to spot the planet 3.5° to the upper left of τ Tau, 2.9° to the upper right of ι Tau, and 7.9° below Elnath. Four hours after sunset (11:15 p.m. CDT), the moon (17.8d, 91%) is over 10° in altitude above the east-southeastern horizon. The lunar orb is 1.6° to the upper left of Zubenelgenubi (“the southern claw,” α Lib, m = 2.8). • March 31: One hour before sunrise, the bright gibbous moon (18.0d, 90%) is nearly 25° up in the southwest, 2.6° to the upper left of Zubenelgenubi. Farther eastward, Saturn is over 12° above the southeastern horizon. Jupiter – over 7° in altitude above the east-southeastern horizon – is 11.7° of ecliptic longitude east of Saturn. Use a binocular to see the planets against the starry background. Saturn is 2.8° to the upper right of θ Cap, while Jupiter is 5.2° to the lower left of ι Cap. You may have already

March 30, 2021: An hour before sunrise, look for Jupiter and spotted Nashira (“the lucky star of the verdant fields at the Saturn above the horizon in the southeast. The gap between end of summer,” γ Cap, m = 3.6) and Deneb Algedi (“the them is 11.6°. kid’s tail, δ Cap, m = 2.8) below Jupiter. The planet and the stars make a nice triangle. Jupiter is 2.1° to the upper left of Nashira and 2.0° above Deneb Algedi. Arcturus (“the bear-guard,” α Boo, m = −0.1) rises at sunset. One hour after sunset, Mars is less than 50° up in the west, in Taurus above the “V” made by Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster. The planet moved eastward 17.7° during the month. Use a binocular to spot it 4.1° to the upper left of τ Tau, 2.7° to the upper right of ι Tau, and 7.4° below Elnath. As midnight approaches, the bright moon (18.8d, 83%) is less than 5° up in the east-southeast, 13.0° below Zubeneschamali (“the northern claw,” β Lib, m = 2.6).

As the month ends and morning twilight begins, the bright gibbous moon is in the south-southwest near Zubenelgenubi. Slightly farther east, Antares stands at the meridian, about one-fifth of the way up in the sky. In the east, the Summer Triangle is high in the sky. Notice the gap between Vega, the highest corner of the Summer Triangle, and Arcturus, high in the west-southwest. Starting at Vega, the space is filled with Hercules and Corona Borealis, with its

March 30, 2021: An hour before sunrise, the moon is 9.7° to distinctive shape of a broken circle. Spica is lower in the sky in the upper left of Spica. the southwest. Farther westward, Leo is about to take a “header” into the western horizon. Regulus is only 10° up. • March 30: The moon is at perigee at 1:16 a.m. CDT Above the Lion, the Big Dipper is higher in the northwest. (223,918.9 miles). One hour before sunrise, the gibbous Cassiopeia is on the other side of the celestial pole, low in the moon (17.0d, 96%) is over 20° above the southwestern north-northeast. Less than two weeks after the equinox, the horizon, 9.7° to the upper left of Spica. Farther eastward, sun is in the sky for nearly 12.75 hours, while darkness is Saturn is nearly 12° up in the southeast with Jupiter (m = reduced to a few minutes longer than 8 hours. At the end of −2.1) 11.6° east of the Ringed Wonder. In the starfield, evening twilight, the Winter Congregation has shifted Saturn is 2.8° to the upper right of θ Cap, while Jupiter is westward. Orion, the centerpiece of the region, is about one

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

third of the way up in the southwest. Sirius is to the Hunter’s References: left, while the Bull is to the right. Higher in the sky, the arc of Davis, G.A. Pronunciations, Derivations, and Meanings of a Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella is over halfway up in the Selected List of Star Names. western sky. Farther eastward, Leo tilts upward in the Meeus, J., Astronomical Tables of the Sun, Moon, and Planets, southeast. The Lion is followed by bright Arcturus, low in the 3rd ed. east, and Spica, near the horizon in the east-southeast. The Meeus, J., Mathematical Astronomy Morsels. Big Dipper is about approaching two-thirds of the way up in Simulation Curriculum Corp., Starry Night Pro. the sky, easily displaying its treasure of galactic treats. U.S. Naval Observatory, Multiyear Interactive Computer Almanac, 1800-2050.

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2021

The schedule for the TCAA’s public viewing sessions is below. All dates are Saturdays. As of now, all events are planned for Sugar Grove Nature Center. On-site events are subject to cancellation if the COVID-19 pandemic continues. In that case, presentations will be made “live” and online using the TCAA’s new Zoom application. Promotion will occur through Facebook.

APRIL 17: STAR CLUSTERS OF THE MILKY WAY (CARL WENNING) 8:00 – 10:00 PM The Milky Way is one of countless stellar islands floating in a cosmic foam of matter, dark matter, and dark energy. 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 have learned so far.

MAY 15: GALAXIES OF THE SPRING SKY (TIM STONE) 8:30 – 10:30 PM In the spring, our line of sight on the sky looks straight out of our galaxy into the vast depths of 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 12: 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 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 10: VENUS & MARS TONIGHT (SHARON MACDONALD) 8:30 – 10:30 PM Venus and Mars are alright tonight, but in the coming days Venus will pass Mars as seen in Earth’s evening sky. Venus is an inferior planet whereas Mars is a superior planet. Learn how and why they move as they do. OBSERVING FIRST!

AUGUST 14: OUR AMAZING MOON (CARL WENNING) 8:30 – 10:30 PM The moon has many regular features and changing appearances. Learn about our nearest neighbor in space and observe the 5-day-old moon through a telescope.

SEPTEMBER 11: THE ISS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE (LEE GREEN) 7:30 – 9:30 PM The International Space Station has been orbiting Earth since its launch in 2000. Since that time, millions of Earthlings have seen it course across our morning and evening sky. If you’ve never seen it, learn where, when, and how to do so.

OCTOBER 9: JUPITER & SATURN (MARK & NATAYA BOULWARE) 7:00 – 9:00 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.

Vol. 46, No. 3 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers March 2021

TCAA IMAGE GALLERY

MOON – BY JACK CORZINE New TCAA member Jack Corzine recently started working in the area of astrophotography. Here are three images of the moon starting last October. Jack notes, “[These images were] taken with my Samsung 10+ on my Celestron 102mm Astro-fi and cleaned up a bit with GIMP. Location is my backyard. I have no clue as to the Bartle scale although I am assuming a 4 or 5. We are located at Spin Lake, west of Danvers about 5 miles. There are streetlights across the lake from us which are shielded by many trees and about 1/4 mile from us.”

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

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 01/28/21 2,280.94 David Artemen Dues Received 25.13 Dr. Pete Worden - Annual Meeting Honorarium (100.00) Brian Barling Dues Received 45.00 Sharon MacDonald Dues Received 25.00 Mark Heiniger Dues Received 40.00 Anonymous Donation - Unwanted Items 150.00 Dr. Anindya Sen Honorarium – Annual Meeting Reimbursement (103.00) Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (51.97) BALANCE 02/26/2021 2,311.10

Checking Account Balance – February 26, 2021 $2,311.10 Savings Account Balance – February 26, 2021 $1,868.10 - Includes $0.01 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – February 26, 2021 $4,179.2

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

Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer