San Diego Astronomy Association Celebrating Over 40 Years of Astronomical Outreach

Office (619) 645-8940 April 2005 Observatory (619) 766-9118 http://www.sdaa.org Messier Marathon A Non-Profit Educational Association By Ed Rumsey P.O. Box 23215, San Diego, CA 92193-3215 The club’s Messier Marathon was held the evening of March 12/13 at TDS. Both SDAA Business Meeting of the public pads were filled to capacity early making for tremendous interaction Next meeting will be held at: with fellow astronomers. A seasonal marine layer ensured a reduced San Diego SKF Condition Monitoring light dome for the coming evening. Friday night had been a bit dewy but clear 5271 Viewridge Court through out the evening and we were hopeful for at least the same. Some even San Diego, CA 92123 had visions of a repeat of last year with its warm dry clear skies. While observing April 12th at 7:30pm all 110 objects was unlikely, ambitions were high.

With the setting of the sun, a warm afternoon breeze subsided and planets popped Next Program Meeting first into view upon a cloudless sky. Mercury at 15° above the horizon made a April 20th 7:00 pm wonderful crescent while Saturn displayed magnificent ring structure with a hint of Mission Trails Regional Park banding. A 65-hour old moon wetted the astronomers’ appetites with splendid views Visitor and Interpretive Center of the terminator and lunar structure. A hint of the evening’s moisture was visible to 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail the west in the valley below. Dew was going to be an issue this evening.

Messier Continued on page 3

The Urban Astronomer CONTENTS Despite all the rain and clouds we had this month, we start our urban observing April 2005 Vol XLI, Issue 04 session just as the Sun sets and twilight begins to fill the sky. Mercury, the smallest Published Monthly by the and most elusive of the visible planets shines at nearly 0 magnitude and lies some 10- San Diego Astronomy Association 12 degrees above the western horizon. Although not visible by the time the newslet- 75¢ /$8.00 year ter arrives in the mail, this tiny world is still very much worth mentioning. Currently Incorporated in California in 1963 at eastern elongation, being visible in the western sky at sunset, Mercury at 166x reveals itself as almost a half disk as it dances in the atmospheric turbulence. Messier Marathon...... 1 Mercury is best viewed during western elongation, rising just before dawn, and The Urban Astronomer...... 1 before the Sun can heat-up the atmosphere. Even though no surface detail is visible, Astronomy 101...... 2 just the aspect of hunting down this small rocky planet can be rewarding, and I Calendar ...... 4 never pass up a chance to place Mercury into my crosshairs. AISIG ...... 5 Sky Watch...... 6 From Mercury we travel back to the southern sky in pursuit of M-93, an Open Astronomy Crossword...... 7 Cluster in the vaguely defined constellation Puppis, the Stern. Puppis is part of the Treasurer’s Report...... 8 old constellation Argo Navis, the ship of the Argonauts, and is only partially visible Board Minutes ...... 8 from our location in the Northern Hemisphere. To locate M-93, I actually start at NASA Space Place...... 9 Delta Canis Majoris, then proceed 8 degrees eastward to the very dim, 3rd magnitude The Back Page...... 10 yellow double star, Xi Puppis. Within the finder, Xi appears at a moderate separa- tion. From Xi, proceed 2 degrees to the 7 o’clock position as seen in the finder

Urban Continued on page 5 SanSan DiegoDiego AstronomyAstronomy AssociationAssociation

By Scott Baker

Air Telescope? Is that anything like an Air Guitar? The constellation of Sextans Uraniae, the “Heavenly Sextant” is another creation of the Polish astronomer Johan Hevelius (1611-1687). Hevelius, a wealthy brewer (I like him already) and city councilor, decided to build an observatory in the town of Dantzig (modern day Gdansk). He built “Sternenburg” Observatory, on the top Sextans, a small constellation wedged in Planetary nebula are few in Sextans with floors of four houses. There he installed between Leo, Hydra and Crater, is IC314 our only target. IC314 is very a radically new, 140' focal length another constellation with no remarkable faint (14.3 mag.) and slightly irregular in refractor with an open tube, called an bright stars. The brightest star, Alpha shape, with an elongation to the east. “air telescope.” Using this telescope, Sextantis, is only 4.5 magnitude, and lies Seeing the faint glow will take at least Hevelius made many contributions to 12 degrees due South from the much 12", due to its low surface brightness. astronomy, including: brighter Regulus. This small constella- tion will require some skill and large For galaxies, Sextans doesn’t disappoint. The determination of the solar telescopes to view some of its hidden Although it doesn’t host any famous rotation period with considerable treasures. bright objects, like its neighbor Leo, it accuracy from sunspot observations does contain a few worth a look. The in 1642-1645. For the double star observer, there are brightest galaxy, NGC 3115, also called two of note in Sextans. The first, “The Spindle Galaxy” is the best of the Detailed maps of the Moon which he Gamma Sextantis, is a multiple binary group. This edge on spiral at 21 million published in his “Selenographia.” system. The primary pair, at 5.6 and 6.1 light years distant is 4’X1' in size. It has magnitudes, have a separation of .6 arc a nice taper from end to end, appearing The publishing of his many years of seconds, a challenge for most scopes. as a spindle, but has no distinct dust lane comet observations in “Prodomus The third star in the system, a faint 12th like other edge on spirals. Because of Cometicus” in 1665, followed by magnitude yellow star lies 36" away at this, it is considered to be a S0 type “Cometographia” in 1668. PA of 325°. The other double is 35 galaxy, an intermediate form between Sextantis, a nice orange and yellow pair elliptical and spiral. Sole discovery of Nova 1670 Cygni. of stars with magnitudes of 6.3 and 7.4. With a separation of 6.8" of arc, this A nice trio of galaxies, four degrees to And of course, his star catalog, pair should be easy in most scopes. the NE of Alpha Sextantis, is NGC “Uranographia,” published posthu- 3165, 3166 & NGC 3169. The two mously by his wife, four years after his For globular clusters, Sextans only has larger galaxies, 3166 and 3169, are only death. In this catalog of 1564 stars, is one, and it’s a challenge for even the six million light years from each other. where his new constellations, includ- largest scopes. PAL 3, one of the 3166 and 3169, at 10.5 and 10.3 respect- ing Sextans, first appear. It’s said that famous Palomar Globulars, lies 45 fully, should be visible in scopes of 8" or he created the constellation of minutes to the NW of Alpha Sextantis. more. 3165, at 13.9 magnitude, will take Sextans to commemorate his favorite This globular, with a magnitude of 14.7, 12" or more to detect. observing tool, a sextant that was lost will challenge all who try to grasp its when his home burnt down in 1679. faint light. Astro 101 continued on page 3 Page 2 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

Similar to NGC 3115, NGC 3044 is Object name: IC 614 Object name: NGC 3166 another edge on spiral that has a very Magnitude: 14.3 Magnitude: 10.5 skinny appearance in the eyepiece. At Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 26m 52s Dec: Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 13m 46s Dec: 11.4, it should be visible in an 8" scope, -03°27’53" +03°25’33" but I think it will take 10" to see it Size: 0.8 x 0.8 Size: 4.8 x 2.3 clearly. Surface brightness: 12.9 Surface brightness: 13.0 Dreyer description: Very faint, diameter Dreyer description: Bright, pretty small, I hope you’ve enjoyed this tour of irregular eastward. round, westward abruptly much brighter Helevius’s Sextant. middle, 2nd of 3. Object name: Spindle Galaxy, NGC Object name: Gamma Sextantis 3115 Object name: NGC 3169 Other ID: HIP 48437, SAO 137199 Magnitude: 9.1 Magnitude: 10.3 Magnitude: 5.07 Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 05m 14s Dec: Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 14m 15s Dec: Equatorial 2000: RA: 09h 52m 30.413s -07°43’05" +03°28’01" Dec: -08°06’18.356" Size: 7.2 x 2.4 Size: 4.2 x 2.9 Alternate names: HIP 48437 GSC Other ID: Spindle galaxy Surface brightness: 12.9 5475:1379 PPM 192845 Dreyer description : Very bright, large, Dreyer description: Bright, pretty large, Spectral: A2V very moderately extended 46°, very very little extended, pretty gradually gradually abruptly much brighter middle much brighter middle, 11th magnitude Object name: 35 Sextantis extended nucleus. star, 78°, 80", 3rd of 3. Other ID: HIP 52452, SAO 118449 Magnitude: 5.77 Object name: NGC 3165 Object name: NGC 3044 Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 43m 20.927s Magnitude: 13.9 Magnitude: 11.8 Dec: +04°44’51.438" Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 13m 31s Dec: Equatorial 2000: RA: 09h 53m 41s Dec: Alternate names: HIP 52452 GSC +03°22’30" +01°34’46" 257:1275 PPM 157110 Size: 1.3 x 0.7 Size: 4.7 x 0.7 Spectral: K3III+... Surface brightness: 13.6 Surface brightness: 12.9 Dreyer description: Very faint, moder- Dreyer description: Very faint, very large, Object name: Pal 3 ately extended 0°, 1st of 3. very moderately extended 122°. Magnitude: 14.7 Equatorial 2000: RA: 10h 05m 30s Dec: +00°04’00" Size: 2.8 x 2.8 Messier Continued from page 1 With a darkening sky, M77 came into view but M74 remained elusive to all due to its proximity with the moon and light dome. Andromeda’s galaxies were a bit easier but the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) showed itself only as a faint smudge. SDAA Editorial Staff Before 8:00 PM the dew was upon us and the hair dryers were to be heard from all Editor corners of the site. The clusters came easily but the Little Dumbell (M76) was Douglas Searles hard to pin down. As the moisture grew in the west, the seeing worsened making [email protected] observations impossible by 9:30 PM when the site became totally socked in by Contributing Writers ground fog. Based upon the conditions, the high score of 19 objects by Bob Scott Baker Austin was truly remarkable. One other reported a score in the teens with the Tony Philips majority of scores falling in the single digit category. Conditions and preservation Mike Finch of equipment precluded greater success. John Mood Ed Rumsey While this year’s event terminated early, those that participated learned the sky a The Urban Astronomer little better, made new acquaintances, ate 10 dozen oatmeal-peanut butter cookies, and generally enjoyed themselves. The club looks forward to hosting next year’s Messier Marathon and is hopeful for better observing conditions. Thank you to all that participated. SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 Page 3 San Diego Astronomy Association

Page 4 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

SDAA ASTRO IMAGING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP Milky Way in Sagittarius

Imager: Randy Marsden Imaged at: TDS, CA Equipment: Optics Vivitar 28mm Camera Nikon F2, Vivitar 28mm, E200

Exposure Information: 1x30 min, Kodak E200

Control Software: PaintShop Pro, Maxim DL

Image Processing : Paintshop Pro for scanning, curves, Maxim for gradient removal

Content is Copyright © 2005 by the San Diego Astronomy Association. Milky Way in Sagittarius image are Copyright © 2004 by Randy Marsden.

Urban Continued from page 1 where the two imaginary lines intersect. imaginary line from Beta Tauri to Theta There will be two small groups of about (actually moving northwest), ½ degree Aurigae, and center your finder between 4-6 stars each with about 1-degree past a pair of stars, and then place the the two stars. Located just 2 degrees separation between them. Centering the crosshairs on-line to the star on the right outside (southeast) of this line is M-37. finder between these groups is our as viewed through the finder. M-93, will As viewed through my 4” refractor at starting point. As viewed through the be within the field of view and at 67x, 31x, M-37 emerges into a large bright finder, move 3 degrees to the 2 o’clock shows itself as some 25 stars in a small cluster of about 30 stars, increasing to position. Here lies M-38, a loose open compact group. 67x reveals another dozen. This cluster cluster of about 35 stars at 31x. Return- nearly shows the same number of stars ing to the starting point (between the Leaving the ill-defined Puppis, we as seen in the large open cluster M-35 in two star groups) move the finder to the proceed northwest to Auriga, the Gemini. A great view and well worth 11 o’clock position (towards Theta) Charioteer, in search of three Messier the time-spent tracking in down. almost 4 degrees. This location marks Open Clusters, M-36, M-37 and M-38, M-36, at 31x, M-36 reveals some 20 stars you’ll be surprised on how easy these are Although seeing conditions are relatively in a small compact group. Increasing the to find from your backyard. First, I poor this night, all things considered, it magnification makes the group some- locate Beta Tauri, and draw an imaginary was the best night I have seen for awhile. what larger but only shows 2 or 3 more line to the 0 magnitude yellow giant, So until next month, drag out your scope stars. For the final Messier cluster, move Alpha Aurigae, (Capella). Next draw the into the backyard and become….. along the same path from M-36, (11 same imaginary line from Iota Aurigae, The Urban Astronomer o’clock position) and travel 6 degrees to eastward to the 2.5 magnitude double just outside Auriga to locate M-37. An star Theta Aurigae. Place your finder alternate route would be to draw an

SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 Page 5 San Diego Astronomy Association

SkyWatch for April, 2005 John Mood

[ Times PDT] [ * = 1 star = EZ ] [ ** = 2 stars = Moderate ] [ *** = 3 stars = Difficult ]

Fri., 8 April —— PARTIAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN; for a TOTAL eclipse or an ANNULAR eclipse, you’ll have to travel far south, at least to northern South America. Even to see any of the partial eclipse, you’ll have to travel east to southern USofA or south into Baja or mainland Mexico.

Tues., 12 April —— MARS is 1.2 degrees south of NEPTUNE —— PENUMBRAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON, shortly before sunrise [ ** ]; this is a bit difficult as the Moon dims only slightly, but it could have some hint of color.

EVENING PLANETS: SATURN [ * ] in Gemini the Twins is beginning to drop toward the west, but is still spectacular being its close to Earth & its rings almost as wide open as possible. Try to spot the Cassini division in the rings, the thin shadow of the planet on the rings & the thin shadow of the rings on the planet. JUPITER [ * ] is in Virgo the Virgin & is now at its closest to Earth; follow the could bands on its surface & its Galilean satellites.

EVENING & MORNING BONUS!!!! COMET C/2004 Q2 (MACHHOLZ) [ ** ] has faded from naked eye visibility but is still available in binocs & up all night in Draco the Dragon.

MORNING PLANETS: MARS [ * ] moves from Capricornus the Goat in Aquarius the Water Carrier but is too far away to show any telescopic detail; on the night of 12 April, it is only 1.2 degrees from NEPTUNE [ ** ] { see above}. URANUS [ * 1/2 ] is only 10 degrees away in Aquarius.

{ N.B. Because of the recent discovery of 2 relatively large trans-Neptunian objects, many professional astronomers no long consider Pluto a planet. I’ll go along with them! }

BEGINNING OBSERVERS – “How to Become an Experienced Observer, Part 4” So far, I’ve advised being rested physically & familiar with your equipment, allowing plenty of time for your eyes to get adapted to the dark (even when you’re viewing under city lights) & the “trick” of averted vision. Now for another “trick.” The Earth’s atmosphere is not uniform. It is composed of “cells” of more or less moisture, more or less heat. Hence, telescopic viewing can be “unsteady.” The secret is to spend some time looking at the object; I mean 10, 15, even 20 minutes! This is especially true while viewing planets. Occasionally, a cell of unusually dry & stable air will pass in front of your telescope & you’ll suddenly see details previously invisible. The effect can be dramatic while viewing Saturn or Jupiter. You’ll be startled, but exhilarated, at the sights you’ll see. Next month: Get our your pencils. TIERRA DEL SOL LAT = 32º 36' 48" N ( ± 0.l” ), LONG = 116º 19' 55" W ( ± 0.1" ), ELEV = 3710' ( ± 5' ), at the bathroom, as determined from USGS 7.5 min 1/24000 map. (See my essay on GPS at www.sdaa.org.)

Send comments & questions to me by phone (619/225-9639), USPS (4538 Long Branch Av., San Diego, CA 92107) or my e-mail address ([email protected]). ¡HAPPY VIEWING!

Page 6 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

Astronomy Crossword by Scott Baker Puzzle#004

Across Down 30. Many galaxies have one (3) 1. Light that causes sunburns. (2) 2. A bad Chevy design? (4) 31. The Southern Cross (4) 7. New name for quasars (three letter 3. Holds the second-longest record for 32. The largest surface feature on Mercury acronym) (3) being in space. (8) (7,5) 9. Eta Pegasi (5) 4. Winter Roarer (3) 35. It occurs when an object passes in 11. Wearing a furry parka? (6,6) 5. When one tectonic plate slips under front of another. (7) 13. Pi Sagittarii (8) another (10) 36. Delta Geminorum (5) 15. Mean Solar _____ (3) 6. System used to identify stars. (5) 37. Greek mathmetician who discovered 17. Scheat, Alpheratz, Markab, and 8. Gamma Lyrae (7) precession (10) Algenib form this. (5,6,2,7) 10. When a planet passes directly 40. NGC7027 (5,6,6) 20. Reentered on March 22, 2001 (3) between the sun and another planet (7) 42. Alpha Leporis (5) 21. Created Meteor Crater in Arizona 12. It keeps things moving (7) 45. Zeta Sagittarii (7) (4,9) 14. M8 (6,6) 47. Studied the writings of 37A. (7) 23. NGC4027 a punctuation mark? (5) 16. Lies between Mars and Jupiter (8,4) 49. Constellation that forms an alter. (3) 25. Explored the spectra of stars, 18. A circle with an arrow, a circle with 52. Perished in the Challenger reentry. (6) William ______(7) a cross, a circle with a dot... (7,2,3,7) 54. Still not flying. (5,7) 26. Moon with active volcanos (2) 19. Some asteroids (5,6) 55. Where M42 resides. (5) 27. Where a planet travels around a 20. A real small constellation? (12) 56. Capella is it’s brightest star. (6) star. (7,5) 22. M16 (5,6) SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 Page 7 San Diego Astronomy Association

24. Epsilon Geminorum (7) BOARD MINUTES Bob Austin gave the Membership 28. A continuous portion of a circle (3) March 8, 2005 Report: need to judge the science fair, 29. One of many around Saturn (5,4) The meeting was called to order at and the winners will get prizes and 33. Lambda Velorum (8) 7:10pm on March 8, 2005. In attendance awards and do a short presentation at the 34. The only constellation that consists were Brian Staples, Bob Austin, Brian program meetings. A motion was made of two parts. (7) McFarland, Jerry Hilburn, Mark Lane, to allot $150 towards getting awards; the 38. It floats on a layer of lava. (5) Michael Finch, Joshua Johnson, Scott motion was seconded and voted 39. 62tau Pegasi (4) Baker, Diana Baker, Ed Rumsey, and approved. The last program meeting 41. Lambda Draconis (7) Lou Jackson. went okay. 43. Delta Arietis (6) The minutes of the February meeting Jerry Hilburn gave the AISIG Report: 44. Long, narrow, shallow depressions were read online. A motion was made to they had a meeting recently but didn’t do on the surface of a planet. (5) approve the minutes, it was seconded much due to bad weather. 46. Malchoz is one. (5) and voted approved. Brian Staples gave the Newsletter 48. “The Scales” (5) In priority/member business, Ed Report: plan to insert Sky Map into the 50. Largest atmosphere-free moon of Rumsey will be a host for the Messier newsletter Saturn (4) Marathon and will work with Brian The Website Report was given: the 51. Omicron Persei (4) McFarland on the Private Pads. A events and contact pages should be up to 52. Three letter acronym for something motion was made to have all sites only date and the enhanced membership that is probably a magnetar. (3) build Peter de Baan’s observatory. It was renewal form is almost done. 53. An immeasurably long period of seconded and voted approved. In Old Business: the telephone hasn’t time (3) Michael Finch gave the Treasurer’s been fully installed yet; Congressman Report: there are 582 members. A Filner cancelled the site visit; still looking Answers will be in next months motion was made to approve the at options for a second site; people want newsletter. treasurer’s report; it was seconded and to buy our property; Brian Staples will be voted approved. the Community Relations Chair, and Jim Treasurer’s Report The Site Maintenance Report was given: Traweek will be the chair for the IDA The lock combination will be changed meetings. by Michael Finch on the 13th; the front road to TDS In New Business, Jerry Hilburn dis- With the addition of our new members should be fixed. cussed his ideas for shop.sdaa.org, and we now have a total of 582 SDAA Brian Staples gave the Observatory he will be doing further research. members. We have several new mem- Report: there is a small leak in a corner A motion was made to adjourn at 8:58 bers last month. Please welcome Sonny of the warming room. pm Adams, Stephen Cardwell, James Brian McFarland gave the Private Pad Cavanaugh, John, Amy, & James Earnest, Report: there is a new person helping Robert Helm, David & Sarah Klumph, Brian out; and if weather permits on Juan Moreno, Jim Nugent, Jim & Beth Saturday, will fix the last of the electrical Pollard, Dennis And Mary Renfro, problems. Richard Snyder, and Mitchell Walker. The Star Party Report was given: there is I’m in the process of putting Welcome to SDAA and may you enjoy nothing to report. together a tour of the Palomar clear dark skies! Jerry Hilburn gave the Library/Educa- Facility with Scott Kardel for Are you a private pad owner? When tion Report: there is nothing to report June 4th. Each tour can handle renewing your annual membership, for the library. There is a career night at please select Contributing Member. The Chaparral Elementary School, and will 40 people. Let me know if you current rate for Contributing Member- have SDAA at science night. Clairemont want to go. ship is $50. High School is starting to have meetings Bob Austin Do you have questions about SDAA every other week; Vista High School’s [email protected] membership? Has your address astronomy club asked for an introduc- changed? Please contact me at tion, and will have a star party. Volun- [email protected]. Thank you. teers for the beginner’s program are still Second Site Fund balance: $7,798.10 needed. Page 8 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

Utterly Alien by Dr. Tony Phillips

There’s a planet in our solar system so cold that in winter its nitrogen atmo- sphere freezes and falls to the ground. The empty sky becomes perfectly clear, jet-black even at noontime. You can see thousands of stars. Not one twinkles.

The brightest star in the sky is the Sun, so distant and tiny you could eclipse it with the head of a pin. There’s a moon, too, so big you couldn’t blot it out with your entire hand. Together, moonlight and sunshine cast a twilight glow across New Horizons spacecraft will get a gravity assist from Jupiter on its long journey the icy landscape revealing . . . what? to Pluto-Charon. Credit: Southwest Research Institute (Dan Durda)/Johns twisted spires, craggy mountains, frozen Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (Ken Moscati). volcanoes?

No one knows, because no one has ever ”This is a flyby mission,” notes Stern. sibling worlds knocked askew. been to Pluto. “Slowing the spacecraft down to orbit Pluto would burn more fuel than we can Yet there are some curious differences: ”Pluto is an alien world,” says Alan Stern carry.” New Horizons will glide past the Pluto is bright; Charon is darker. Pluto of the Southwest Research Institute in planet furiously snapping pictures. “Our is covered with frozen nitrogen; Charon Colorado. “It’s the only planet never best images will resolve features the size by frozen water. Pluto has an atmo- visited or photographed by NASA space of a house,” Stern says. sphere; Charon might not. “These are probes.” things we plan to investigate,” says Stern. The cameras will also target Pluto’s That’s about to change. A robot-ship moon, Charon. Charon is more than Two worlds. So alike, yet so different. So called New Horizons is scheduled to half the size of Pluto, and the two circle utterly alien. Stay tuned for New blast off for Pluto in January 2006. It’s a one another only 19,200 kilometers Horizons. long journey: More than 6 billion (12,000 miles) apart. (For comparison, kilometers (about 3.7 billion miles). New the Moon is 382,400 kilometers [239,000 Find out more about the New Horizons Horizons won’t arrive until 2015. miles] from Earth.) No wonder some mission at pluto.jhuapl.edu/. Kids can astronomers call the pair a “double learn amazing facts about Pluto at ”I hope we get there before the atmo- planet.” spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/pluto. sphere collapses,” says Stern, the mission’s principal investigator. Winter is Researchers believe that Pluto and This article was provided by the Jet coming, and while it’s warm enough now Charon were created billions of years Propulsion Laboratory, California for Pluto’s air to float, it won’t be for ago by some terrific impact, which split Institute of Technology, under a contract long. Imagine seeing a planet’s atmo- a bigger planet into two smaller ones. with the National Aeronautics and Space sphere collapse. New Horizons might! This idea is supported by the fact that Administration. Pluto and Charon spin on their sides like

SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, APRIL 2005 Page 9 THE BACK PAGE Classifieds HELP WANTED: OPT is looking for part-time help. Applicant must be technically oriented as the job opening is in the telescope repair and PAT (Performance Assurance Testing) Department. 3 days a week, flexible hours, benefits, deals on astronomical equipment, and the opportunity to be part of a team intent on sharing and growing the hobby of astronomy. We are looking to fill this position immediately! Please contact Craig or Eric at 1-800-483-6287

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