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March 2018 March the Monthly Newsletter of the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club March 2018 March The Monthly Newsletter of the Bays Mountain Astronomy Club More on Edited by Adam Thanz this image. See FN1 Chapter 1 Looking Up Brandon Stroupe - BMAC Chair More on this image. See FN2 Brandon Stroupe More on Looking Up this image. See FN3 Hello BMACers, how we perceive what we actually see in an esoteric sense. I believe Dan will be giving us a very informative and enjoyable Here we are in March already. The months are moving right along talk. I hope everyone will be able to come out and participate in and the weather is completely unpredictable. Have I mentioned our meeting. in the past how much that I do not like the weather here in Tennessee? Of course, I have. It is getting closer and closer to At our February meeting, our topic of discussion was eyepieces. warmer weather which probably makes many of you happier. It We spoke about the various types of eyepieces and what objects makes me just a little sad. You all know I like the cooler weather. in the night sky that they would be used for. We spoke briefly It is much better weather to image with a DSLR. And the about the different optics in the eyepieces as well as the humidity is much lower in cooler weather. I hate that hot, sticky materials they are made from. We also spoke about the different feeling. Okay, I am done talking about the weather and how types of filters that are used with different eyepieces and what much I do not like it. they are good for. There were different types of eyepieces, a Barlow lens, and filters to look at. This was an open format For our March meeting, we will be given a presentation by one of presentation, which was a good thing since I am not very our very own members. Dan Mullen will be giving his knowledgeable about eyepieces. We had a lot of people give presentation entitled, “From Reality to Perception.” For those their opinions and knowledge about eyepieces. Even I learned a whose passion is visual astronomy, we may take for granted the lot. Again, I really like these types of presentations because it view through our telescopes of our favorite objects. However, it gets the audience involved and many of you have a lot to offer in is quite a feat that our instruments can deliver such images the field of amateur astronomy. I want to thank everyone that taking in consideration the obstacles or “filters” through which came out and participated in the meeting and I hope to see you the light path travels. Our discussion will be on the effect of all at the next meeting. these “filters” on our viewing sessions, and taking a step further, Bays Mountain Astronomy Club Newsletter March 2018 3 Lynx Image from Stellarium annotations by Adam Thanz 4 Bays Mountain Astronomy Club Newsletter March 2018 Sculpture of Hevelius in Gdańsk, Poland. Image by Adam Thanz 5 Bays Mountain Astronomy Club Newsletter March 2018 Our constellation this month will be Lynx. As you may have because Wayne Manly, who typically runs them, may not be able guessed it, it is named after the animal. This constellation does to be available as much this year. As mentioned in the meeting not have any mythology behind it that I could find. This last month, to volunteer to help run the scopes at Bays Mountain, constellation was formed by the Polish astronomer Johannes you will need to be trained and authorized. You can contact Adam Hevelius in 1687 from 19 faint stars between the constellations Thanz or Jason Dorfman if you are interested. Please don't let Ursa Major and Auriga. He named it Lynx because of its faintness that stop you from volunteering though. It should be a quick and and he challenged future stargazers to spot it. He claims that only easy process to complete. It will be worth the effort for the public. the lynx-eyed, which would be those with good eye sight, would Just remember how fun it is to see a kid’s, and even some grown- be able to recognize it. As for deep-sky objects in this up’s, reactions when looking through a telescope for the first time constellation, there is a globular cluster, some galaxies, and even or seeing Saturn’s rings or Jupiter’s moons for the first time. It a supercluster. The globular cluster NGC 2419 known as the never gets old sparking an interest in astronomy to someone of “Intergalactic Wanderer” is the most notable in this constellation. any age. Until next month… Clear Skies. NGC 2537 is a dwarf galaxy in Lynx along with the NGC 2841 group, which is a group of galaxies lying among this constellation and Ursa Major. The Lynx Supercluster is a remote supercluster. It was the most distant supercluster known at the time of its discovery in 1999. It is made up of 2 main clusters of galaxies and other smaller clumps. I did not know much about this constellation until I wrote this article. It has plenty of objects to look at the next time you are out under the stars. If you would like to know more, check out Jason Dorfman’s article, “Celestial Happenings.” That will be it for this month. Please remember that the StarWatches and the SunWatches will start again this month. I hope everyone will be able to make plans to help with them if possible. We will definitely need some help with the SunWatches 6 Bays Mountain Astronomy Club Newsletter March 2018 Chapter 2 BMAC Notes More on this image. See FN4 More on BMAC News this image. See FN3 Tennessee Spring Star Party 2018 There will be vendors set up in the lobby at the inn as well as a The Astronomy in the Parks Society, Cumberland Astronomical swap table. Society, Dyer Observatory and Fall Creek Falls State Park will be We will also offer an introduction to astronomy on Saturday night hosting the annual Tennessee Spring Star Party 2018 on March on the observation field, showing those interested how to use a 16-18, 2018 at Fall Creek Falls State Park in Pikeville, Tennessee. star wheel and telescope. As in the past, TSSP 2018 is free to attend and registration is not Come enjoy a weekend under the stars at one of Tennessee's required. All are welcome to attend and are responsible for their premier parks. Fall Creek Falls has a family friendly atmosphere own food and lodging. Fall Creek Falls is offering a star party with activities offered for all ages. package for those wishing to stay at the inn. Campsites are also available. Call 1-800-250-8610 for reservations. Ask for the star http://tn.gov/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls/ party package for rooms at the inn. For more information, contact: Lloyd Watkins There will be all night observing Friday and Saturday night on the [email protected]; Allen Ball [email protected] observing field (observers are permitted to nap in their vehicles, but camping on the observing field is not permitted). We will have a hospitality/warming tent on the observing field with warm beverages and snacks provided. There will be public viewing Friday and Saturday nights, 7-10 p.m. During the day on Saturday there will be free programs offered in the Cascade Room. The speakers are being finalized at this time. Bays Mountain Astronomy Club Newsletter March 2018 8 Chapter 3 Celestial Happenings Jason Dorfman More on this image. See FN5 Jason Dorfman More on Celestial Happenings this image. See FN3 The month of March begins and ends with a full moon. This will 1.1° to the right of Venus. Both will appear nearly full. Venus will be the second “blue moon” of the year - the first was in January. show about a 10” diameter disk with Mercury about half that at The vernal equinox occurs on the 20th, this is the official start of 5.6” and showing 87% illumination. As the month continues on, Spring, though as I write this in February we are having lovely the two begin to climb out of the twilight glow. Swift Mercury 70° weather. Also this month, don’t forget the time change to climbs higher initially, reaching its peak and greatest elongation Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 11. Set your clocks on the 15th. A half hour after sunset on that day, it will be about forward an hour on this day. 12° above the horizon and 6° high a half hour later when the sky is a bit darker. At its greatest elongation, the magnitude of Mercury will have dropped to -0.4 and the illumination to about Planets half, but the disk will have grown to 7.3”. After this day, Mercury begins its swift plunge back into the bright twilight of the setting For those who have been missing the opportunity to view the Sun. Be sure to look again on the 18th to catch a thin crescent planets in the evening sky, your wait is finally over. As March Moon to the left of Venus and Mercury. The Moon will be about begins, look low towards the western horizon in the early twilight 4° from Venus with Mercury about the same distance away to the hour. First, you’ll find Venus and then look harder for Mercury. On right of Venus. The trio will be about 10° above the horizon a half the 1st, Venus will be about 5° above the horizon a half hour after hour after sunset.
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