The Sidereal Times January 2012
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Observe—Educate—Have Fun The January 2012 Sidereal Times The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society P.O. Box 50581, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87181-0581 www.taas.org since 1959 505/254-TAAS (8227) Perihelion Banquet News David Blair Perihelion Banquet 6–11 pm, Saturday, January 14, 2012 Eleganté Hotel 2020 Menaul NE (at University), Albuquerque Dr. Penelope Boston will explore “Astrobiology in the Age of Exoplanets” TAAS members Tom Davies, Dave Blair, Ric Thiem, John Laning, Steve at TAAS’s Perihelion Banquet January Welch, and kneeling Charlie Mullen at Telescope Amnesty Day last year. 14, an event that will also elect the Society’s slate of officers for 2012, TAAS Invited for Telescope Amnesty Day challenge members on their knowledge of astronomy trivia, and offer some THE EXPLORA Science Center has again invited TAAS to participate in Telescope Amnesty Day. great door prizes. The Saturday evening banquet runs from 6 to 11 p.m. at the On Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., closet Eleganté Hotel, 2020 Menaul NE (at astronomers will bring their seldom-used telescopes to Explora for University) in Albuquerque. instructions on how to set up and enjoy their telescopes. This is a wonderful opportunity for TAAS members to share their Boston is a TAAS member who knowledge of telescopes and astronomy with children of all ages. The defended the search for extraterrestrial people bringing their telescopes to Explora are eager to learn how to use intelligence in the Society’s first-ever them. The hands-on instruction provided by TAAS members is beneficial debate in July. In her keynote, she will and the effort in the past has resulted in new TAAS members. examine potential homes for life across the galaxy. All TAAS members are encouraged to participate and meet the future astronomers in our community. She is a geomicrobiologist of extreme More details will be provided as the date approaches. Dee Friesen is environments, an astrobiologist, and an coordinating the event and can be contacted at [email protected]. advocate of a human mission to Mars. continued on page 4 . INSIDE 2.......Photos by John Laning 4–5...Calendars 9......TAAS Reports & Notices 3.......AL Observing Clubs 6.......The Quest 10......Photo: Flying Horse Nebula On the Event Horizon 7.......Photos by Dan Richey 11......TAAS Directors, Staff 8......Board Meeting Minutes Photo: Lunar Eclipse The Sidereal Times January 2012 I imaged NGC 2024 and IC434 Thanksgiving morning 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. with clouds messing with my Green images. Equipment: AT72ED with AT Field Flattener f/7 , SBIG ST8300M with FW5, iOptron iEQ45 mount, autoguider SBIG SG-4 with AT102ED f/7. RGB 60:20:30 x one minutes. Software: CCDSoft V5, MaxIm DL IP V5, Nebulosity V2.4, Photoshop Elements V9. Both satellites and clouds caused the Green to be shortened. Tijeras, NM. Photos: John Laning Helix Nebula NGC7293 Equipment: AT102ED f/8 with ATFF, SBIG ST8300M FW5, iOptron iEQ45 Mount, No Autoguider, 2 Hours of RGB 60:30:30x1 minute. Software: CCDSoft V5, Nebulosity V2.4, Photoshop Elements V9. November 26, 2011, Tijeras, NM (note: operator error autoguiding) Page 2 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times January 2012 Astronomical League Offers Choice of Observing Clubs Gordon Pegue I recently (a little over a year ago) completed a project that I’d well-organized log also aids in been working on for a few years to observe all 338 fields in planning new observations. the Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, a work published by Halton Arp in 1966. You have an opportunity to be recognized by A natural starting point for TAAS and the Astronomical League (AL) for your observing any beginner is the 110 deep- efforts too, and you don’t need to start with such an sky objects on the Messier advanced program. There are 34 Observing Clubs sponsored list. Working your way through the list will increase your by the AL and more information may be had at http://www. familiarity with the night sky as you use the constellations astroleague.org/observing. The important point is that your and star patterns to guide you to the objects. Plus, one can membership in TAAS, as an affiliate club of the AL, allows easily use binoculars to make the observations. you to be recognized with award certificates and hat pins when you complete AL Observing Club requirements. Two of the AL observing programs cover just this kind of activity. The AL Messier Observing Club requirements are I suggest you consider one or more of the AL Observing Club pretty straightforward: record in your log book the object programs. They are a fine way to improve your observing observed, along with a brief description of what you saw skills, increase your ability to navigate the night sky and help with notes about the time, date, location of the observation, you become proficient at maintaining a concise observing log. quality of the sky, your telescope size, and magnification A well-organized log helps keep your observations tabulated used. Two levels of completion are possible with the AL and serves as a means of recording your development as an Messier Observing Club. Observe and log 70 Messiers and observer. After just a few years, you can look back over your you can be recognized with a certificate. Complete the entire observations and sketches and see steady advancement in list of 110 and you’ll receive an Honorary membership in the the degree of difficulty of your observations. Maintaining a club complete with certificate and hat pin. Want to have a go at it with binoculars? Even better! Just observe a minimum of 50 Messiers, keep a good log and you’ll qualify for the Binocular Messier Club certificate and hat pin. On the Event Horizon At the same time, you can also be recognized by TAAS for ATM SIG Meeting .............................Wed., January 4 observing all 110 Messiers. Simply send me an e-mail at taas. [email protected]. I will make arrangements with you to Perihelion Banquet and Election .......Sat., January 14 inspect your log and certify you for TAAS recognition. ATM SIG Meeting .............................Wed., January 18 Taking on the TAAS 200 after completing the Messier list is a Board of Directors Meeting .............. Thu., January 19 natural next step. The TAAS 200 were selected on the basis of being “… the best 200 non-Messier objects easily visible from Sidereal Times Deadline ...................... Fri., January 20 central New Mexico.” Refer to this link for more information Explora Telescope Amnesty Day ........Sat., January 21 on this great list: http://www.taas.org/taas200.html. Keep a log of your observations, contact me at the e-mail address GNTO New Moon Observing ............Sat., January 21 above and I will see that you are recognized for your achievement. GNTO Committee Meeting .............. Thu., January 26 For additional information on the joys of visual observing or GNTO Training and Observing .........Sat., January 28 to be recognized for your observing achievements, send me Montezuma Elem. Star Party ........... Tue., January 31 an e-mail at [email protected]. Page 3 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times January 2012 January 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ATM SIG Meeting 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 TAAS Perihelion Banquet 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ATM SIG Board of Sidereal Times GNTO NM, Meeting Directors Deadline Explora Meeting Telescope Amnesty Day 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 GNTO GNTO Training Committee and Observing Meeting 29 30 31 Montezuma Elementary School Star Party ...Perihelion Banquet News continued from page 1 There will be the opportunity for additional nominations from the floor. Anyone not attending the She holds a PhD in microbiology from the University banquet should send a proxy ballot to TAAS’s current of Colorado. She is director of the Cave and Karst president, Steve Snider at [email protected]. Studies and Professor in Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at New Mexico Tech. She serves Steve will also deliver the welcome at the banquet. on numerous NASA and National Research Council Kevin McKeown will bring good humor to the annual committees and panels concerning planetary and trivia contest. And there will be door prizes: laser astrobiological topics and is the author of more than 135 pointers, a Tel View Plössl eyepiece, and a trio of articles. Edmund Scientific Mag 5 Star Atlases. The grand door prize will be a Starblaster six-inch reflecting telescope. In the TAAS officers election, an experienced slate is running. Dee Friesen, a past TAAS president, is The buffet will offer a choice of peppered beef tips or standing again for President. Current incumbents in poached salmon with orange brandy sauce. A cash bar the other three offices are standing again: David Blair will be open until 9. for Vice President, Dan Clark for Treasurer, and Art VanDereedt for Secretary. Page 4 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times January 2012 February 2012 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 ATM SIG Board of TAAS General Meeting Directors Meeting Meeting 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ATM SIG Van Buren GNTO NM Meeting Middle School Star Party 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Sidereal Times GNTO Deadline Observing 26 27 28 29 Zuni Elementary ATM SIG School Meeting Star Party N o t e s TAAS = The Albuquerque Astronomical Society.