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Home , 23 Comae Berenices, 24 Comae Berenices, Alpha Andromedae, Beta Columbae, Coma Berenices, Coma Star Cluster

San Diego Astronomy Association Celebrating Over 40 of Astronomical Outreach

Office (619) 645-8940 March 2005 Observatory (619) 766-9118 http://www.sdaa.org A Non-Profit Educational Association P.O. Box 23215, San Diego, CA 92193-3215 Combinations Changing at Tierra Del Sol! The combinations for the front gates, pedestrian gate, SDAA Business Meeting power and pump will change on March 13th, the day Next meeting will be held at: SKF Condition Monitoring after the Messier Marathon at Tierra Del Sol. The 5271 Viewridge Court new combination appears on the mailing label of this San Diego, CA 92123 March 8th at 7:00pm newsletter.

Volunteers Needed For Beginner Program

Next Program Meeting There is a move to start a new Beginner Program within the club. The program would teach people new to astronomy about what’s up there to view, how to find the objects, March 16th 7:00 pm and about the mounts and telescopes to view those objects. We need volunteers to Mission Trails Regional Park make this program happen. If you are interested in helping out with this project and Visitor and Interpretive Center could donate an hour per month of your time, contact Bob Austin at 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail [email protected] or (760) 787-1174

Need to pay your membership dues? Renew your subscription? There are 2 ways. • The easiest way is to go to http://www.sdaa.org and click on the CONTENTS Membership tab on the left. Then scroll down to the bottom and click March 2005 Vol XLI, Issue 03 Renew. This will take you to PayPal. Once you have completed the Published Monthly by the transaction, click the Continue button at the bottom of the screen so San Diego Astronomy Association the Treasurer gets notified of the payment. You will be taken back to 75¢ /$8.00 the SDAA website. • Incorporated in in 1963 You can also pay by check made to SDAA (not to a publisher) and mail it to P.O. Box 23215 San Diego, CA 92193-3215. If you are Gate Combinations Changing...... 1 renewing a subscription, please include your renewal notice and any Astronomy 101...... 2 envelope the publisher sent you. Calander ...... 4 Current rates are: • Camp with the ...... 5 Basic Membership $30.00 • Board Minutes ...... 6 Contributing Membership $50.00 • Treasurer’s Report...... 6 Astronomy Magazine $29.00 • ASIG ...... 7 Sky & Telescope Magazine $32.95 • Sky Watch...... 8 Sky Watch $ 5.99 • The Urban Astronomer...... 9 Odyssey Magazine $25.46 • Astronomy Crossword...... 10 Private Pad Lease $35.00 NASA Space Place...... 12 Please remember, Private Pad Lease fees are due at the same time membership Editors Note...... 13 fees are due. The Back Page...... 14 SanSan DiegoDiego AstronomyAstronomy AssociationAssociation

By Scott Baker Just a little off the top This month’s is (the hair of Berenices). There are several tales that describe how this constellation came to be, one involving the tail of , but the most famous tale is about a beautiful woman, Berenices, the Queen of Egypt. Berenices, a beautiful woman with extraordinary hair, was married to III, the King of Egypt. Ptolemy had been waging a war, for some time, with the Assyrians, who had killed his sister. When the war was not as ancient as the story would lead as bright. Its companion, almost the nearing its conclusion, Ptolemy was you to believe, but one created and same size and color, circles the so needed for one last battle. Berenices cataloged by (1546- closely, that its separation is measured pleaded with him not to go, but it was 1601). in hundredths of an arc second. If you to no avail, he needed to finish the war. can split this double, at .05 arc Fearing for Ptolemy’s life, Berenices The constellation of Coma Berenices seconds, you better check for a hair prayed to the gods for his safe return, is really unremarkable as far as across your eyepiece! A much more telling them that she would sacrifice prominent stars, containing only a pleasing double, and easy in small her beautiful hair for his safety. The handful of 4th magnitude stars within scopes, is 24 Comae. Much like gods agreed and Ptolemy, victorious its boundaries. However, small and Albireo in , 24 Comae is an over the Assyrians, returned home insignificant as it is, it contains no less orange giant of 5th magnitude, which safely. Hearing of his safe return, than eight Messier objects and a HUGE contrasts beautifully with the blue- Berenices cut off her long beautiful number NGC of objects. Within its white 7th magnitude companion. hair and placed it in the temple as borders is a portion of the area known promised. Ptolemy, seeing his wife’s as the Coma- of For open clusters, Coma Berenices has new “do,” was outraged and went to and galaxies are what you’ll an excellent example, the “Coma Star the temple to retrieve her hair. Upon find here. There are over 2000 Cluster.” Best seen with binoculars, the arriving at the temple he found that her galaxies in the Coma Virgo Superclus- cluster, containing eighty or so stars, hair was missing which only enraged ter, which also encompasses our own covers over five degrees of sky. The him more. Fearing for Berenices life, “.” cluster was once known as the fuzzy the Greek astronomer Conon of ball of hair at the end of Leo’s tail, until Samos, who was in Egypt at the time, Before we delve into the galaxies it’s the were redrawn by intervened. He told Ptolemy that the famous for, let’s take a look at a few Tycho Brahe, now the cluster forms the Goddess Aphrodite had come and taken other objects first. knot of Berenices hair. the hair into the heavens, where it shown for all to see, and pointed out For double stars, you can try to split, When you were trying to split Diadem, the constellation to Ptolemy. This but I’m sure you won’t succeed, Alpha you may have caught M53 in your field seemed to appease Ptolemy and all Comae. Called Diadem, Alpha Comae, of view. M53, a fine , lived happily until the queen’s death in a star much like our own , is 62 is the brightest, at magnitude 7.7, of 223BC. Despite the nice tale, the light years away but shines three times the eight Messier objects in Coma. constellation of Coma Berenices is Astro 101 continued on page 3 Page 2 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, MARCH 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

Lying some 65,000 ly away, it takes a Other ID: HIP 61418, SAO 100160 Other ID: NGC4382 larger scope to resolve the of stars Magnitude: 5.03 into individual points, but still worth a Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 35m Object name: NGC 4394 look in any size instrument. A little more 07.758s Dec: +18°22’37.528" Magnitude: 10.9 difficult at 9th magnitude, 1-degree to Flamsteed-Bayer: Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 25m 56s Dec: the southwest lays NGC 5053, another Magnitude B: 6.45 +18°12’51" nice, slightly irregular, globular. Magnitude V: 5.11 Size: 3.4 x 3.2 Angular separation: 08°18’11.101" Object type: Spiral Now let’s take a look at what Coma is Dreyer description : Pretty bright, little known for, galaxies! We’ll start with Object name: Coma extended, brighter middle. M64, the “Black Eye” Galaxy. It gets its Other ID: SAC Mel 111 nick name of “Black Eye” from the large Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 25m 00s Dec: Object name: M 88 obscuring dust cloud at the core of the +26°00’00" Magnitude: 9.4 galaxy, giving it the impression of Size: 275.0 x 275.0 Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 31m 59s Dec: having a “black eye.” The dust cloud is Object type: +14°25’11" only visible with large scopes under Notes: Coma Berenices star cluster Size: 6.8 x 3.7 ideal conditions; however, the galaxy is Number of Stars: 80 Object type: still a nice compact spiral in smaller Other ID: NGC4501 scopes. M85 and M88 are both fairly Object name: M 53 bright spiral galaxies, with M88 showing Magnitude: 7.7 Object name: M 91 multiple spiral arms under good Equatorial 2000: RA: 13h 12m 55s Dec: Magnitude: 10.1 conditions. While looking at M85, try +18°10’11" Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 35m 26s Dec: and glimpse the fainter NGC4394 in the Size: 13.0 x 13.0 +14°29’47" same field. M91, M98, M99 and M100 Object type: Globular Cluster Size: 5.2 x 4.2 are all nice galaxies of varying sizes and Other ID: NGC4548 types which deserve more space than Object name: NGC 5053 we have in this newsletter. With so Magnitude: 9.0 Object name: M 98 many galaxies in this area, you wonder Equatorial 2000: RA: 13h 16m 27s Dec: Magnitude: 10.1 why Messier, picked these to put on his +17°41’55" Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 13m 48s Dec: list, when it could have been so easy to Size: 10.0 x 10.0 +14°53’58" create his list of 110 objects in this area Object type: Globular Cluster Size: 9.8 x 2.8 of the sky alone. Dreyer description : Cluster, very faint, Object type: Spiral Galaxy pretty large, irregularly round, very Other ID: NGC4192 Coma Berenices has a wealth of objects, gradually brighter middle, stars of especially on its southern border with magnitude 15. Object name: M 99 Virgo, where an amateur can spend Magnitude: 9.7 countless hours of observing. So as Object name: M 64 Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 18m 49s Dec: the winter fades and the warm spring Magnitude: 8.5 +14°25’03" approaches, spend some time in the hair Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 56m 44s Dec: Size: 5.3 x 4.6 of Berenices. +21°40’59" Object type: Spiral Galaxy Size: 10.0 x 5.4 Other ID: NGC4254 Object type: Spiral Galaxy Object name: Alpha Comae Object name: M 100 Other ID: HIP 64241, GSC 1454:1134 Object name: M 85 Magnitude: 9.3 Magnitude: 4.32 Magnitude: 9.1 Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 22m 55s Dec: Equatorial 2000: RA: 13h 09m 59.116s Equatorial 2000: RA: 12h 25m 24s Dec: +15°49’22" Dec: +17°31’46.620" +18°11’27" Size: 7.5 x 6.1 Size: 7.1 x 5.5 Object type: Spiral Galaxy Object name: 24 Comae Object type: Spiral Galaxy Other ID: NGC4321

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

Hills Parkway to Mission Gorge Road CAMP WITH THE STARS To reach William Heise Campground and turn right. Proceed down Mission By Michael Dietz take Hwy 67 north through Ramona Gorge Road 0.2 miles and turn right which turns into Hwy 78. Continue east onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. The One weekend every month the San on Hwy 78 through Santa Ysabel entrance to the lake and campground is Diego Astronomy Association sets up heading towards Julian. About a mile 0.2 miles down the road on the right. telescopes at campgrounds in San before Julian, turn right onto Pine Hills Diego County for the public. There is Rd. and head South. Continue about 2 From Interstate 8 - Take 8 to the usually a slide show presentation on miles to Frisius Drive and turn left. Mission Gorge/Fairmount exit. Turn astronomy preceding the public Head East on Frisius Dr. about 1 1/2 north onto Mission Gorge Road. viewing. During the summer months we miles to the park entrance. Proceed down Mission Gorge Road 6.5 are in the mountains and during late Fall miles to the northern (Kumeyaay Lake) through early Spring we are in the To reach Vallecito Stage Station take I- entrance to Father Junipero Serra Trail. desert. The following dates are the 8 East to the Ocotillo (Hwy S-2) turnoff. Turn left onto Father Junipero Serra current schedule for 2005 and are Head North on Hwy S-2 about 30 miles. Trail. The entrance to the Kumeyaay subject to change. You can contact me The campground is about 4 miles north Lake and Campground is 0.2 miles down at (619) 440-1274 if you will be attending of Agual Caliente Hot Springs on S-2 on the road on the right. so I can let you know of any last minute the left. We set up at the far West side changes or give you any additional of the campground. From North County details. Everyone that brings a go to Julian, then go East on CA78 telescope to share with the public can through Banner, until Scissor Crossing camp for free. (intersection of CA78 and S-2), where you turn right (Southeast) onto S-2 Jan. 15th Vallecito Stage Station (a.k.a. "Great Southern Overland Stage Feb. 12th Vallecito Stage Station Route of 1849"). Continue on S-2 for about 20-25 miles. The campground will March 5th Lake Jennings - Lakeside A comprehensive listing, by month and be on the right . April 16th Lake Jennings - Lakeside state, of all the major U.S. Star Parties for May 7th Lake Jennings - Lakeside amateur astronomers can be located at To reach Kumeyaay Lake Camp- June 11th William Heise Campground - http://www.chartmarker.com Julian ground: From Route 52 - Take 52 to the Mast July 9th William Heise Campground - Please contact us at [email protected] Blvd. exit in Santee. Driving east, turn Julian if we missed any. If you sponsor a Star left onto Mast Blvd., go under the Aug. 13th William Heise Campground - Party, send us your dates and URL so we freeway to the first traffic signal (West Julian can update our list. Sept. 3rd William Heise Campground - Hills Parkway) and turn right. Driving west, turn right onto Mast Blvd. and Julian We will also list and link to selected special right onto West Hills Parkway. Take Oct. 8th Vallecito Stage Station events in the Southwest area on our West Hills Parkway to Mission Gorge Nov. 5th Vallecito Stage Station homepage. Send information about your Road and turn right. Proceed down Dec. 9th Kumeyaay Lake Campground event and URL for a listing. Santee Mission Gorge Road 0.2 miles and turn right onto Father Junipero Serra Trail. Pat and Arleen Heimann The entrance to the lake and camp- To reach Lake Jennings take I-8 east ChartMarkers and More ground is 0.2 miles down the road on to Lake Jennings Park Rd. in Lakeside http://www.chartmarker.com and turn left. Turn right on Bass Dr. the right. There might not be a sign saying Bass Dr., but there will be a sign saying Lake From Route 125 - Take 125 north to 52 Jennings. west, to the Mast Blvd. exit in Santee. Turn right onto Mast Blvd. and right onto West Hills Parkway. Take West

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BOARD MINUTES 2nd site: Robert Sheaffer February 8, 2005 Scott Baker gave the Membership Field trips: Bob Austin Report: There is nothing new to report. Grants/fundraising: Jerry Hilburn The meeting was called to order at 7:15 Publicity: Brian Staples pm on February 8, 2005. In attendance Bob Austin has filled the schedule for Merchandising: Jerry Hilburn were Brian Staples. Bob Austin, Jerry program meetings through August, a Hilburn, Mark Lane, Rich Strobel, Brian motion was made to find the best A motion was made to adjourn at 9:02 McFarland, Scott Baker and Diana bargain on an LCD projector and pm. Baker. replacement bulbs for a maximum of $1000, it was seconded and voted The minutes of the January meeting approved. Bob Austin will be reim- were read online. A motion was made to bursed for coffee for the meetings. approve the minutes, it was seconded, and voted approved. Jerry Hilburn gave the AISIG Report: the meeting went well, 10 people will be The Treasurer’s Report was given: we working on a spring project; the have 582 members. A motion was made website has a new feature to add public web pages; and we’re putting a Treasurer’s Report to approve the treasurer’s report, it was by Michael Finch seconded and voted approved. proposal together to get a robotic telescope from Tim Castellano. The Site Maintenance Report was Treasurer’s Report given: the gate and combination locks Brian Staples gave the Newsletter are still to be changed on March 13th. Report: there was a slight glitch in the With the addition of our new members newsletter. we now have a total of 582 SDAA Brian Staples gave the Observatory members. We had several new members Report: the coating on the Club scope The Website Report was given: the last month. Please welcome Norman has been scratched by the cover and events page needs to be posted. Howard, Lee Jones, Rick Lemmon, Derek need to get it fixed or get a lip for it. & Lisa Lillie, Steve & Lorraine Morrison, In Old Business: the phone hasn’t been Alex & Theresa Shah, Marisa & Terry Brian McFarland gave the Private Pad finished being set up. Congressman Smith, and Erik & Rasanna Viirre. Report: letters will be sent about the Bob Filner’s tentative date to visit TDS Welcome to SDAA and may you enjoy private pads being returned; Ed Rumsy is March 5. The second site search clear dark skies! will become a volunteer, and the will need a separate meeting to fully electricity for the south pad is on. discuss it. There were 114 paying Are you a Contributing Member? Check guests at the banquet and the estimated your newsletter label this month for the Rich Strobel gave the Star Party Report: net gain was $2,551.41 new TDS gate combination. there were 11 scheduled star parties in January, 10 were completed, and 11 In New Business, the new committee Do you have questions about SDAA scheduled for February, two have been chairs are: membership? Has your address changed? completed thus far. The USS Midway Site Maintenance: Bill Griffith Please contact me at [email protected]. dry run went well, and we’re looking Private Pads: Brian McFarland Thank you. into a 3’x12' vinyl banner being made. Observatory: Jim Traweek Star Parties: Rich Strobel Second Site Fund balance: $7,739.79 Jerry Hilburn gave the Library/Educa- Library/Education: Mark Lane tion Report: there is nothing new to Membership/ New member mentor: report; there will be a beginner’s class Scott Baker that will run for six months, and we’re AISIG: Jerry Hilburn looking for volunteers. Newsletter: Brian Staples Website: Bret Akers

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

SDAA ASTRO IMAGING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP

Moon

Imager: Jerry Hilburn

Object Information: September nights - Another clear Moonlit night Some of the best nights at TDS are moon lit. SDAA has over 600 members, but on these nights very few venture out to TDS to shoot the moon. Last night it was just myself and Carey. We chased rocks and Carey made a great Toutatis animation. I tracked the moon and then sat on the observatory wall to watch rise. It was so quiet, no wind, and the fall weather made it a night to remember! Imaged at: Catfish Observatory, TDS Equipment: Optics LX200 GPS Camera Cannon Digital Rebel Exposure Information: 1/500 at 800 ASA

Content is Copyright © 2005 by the San Diego Astronomy Association. Moon image are Copyright © 2005 by Jerry Hilburn.

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SkyWatch for March, 2005 John Mood {15th Anniversary Column} [ Times PST] [ * = 1 star = EZ ] [ ** = 2 stars = Moderate ] [ *** = 3 stars = Difficult ]

Sat., 5 March —— PUBLIC STAR PARTY @ Tierra del Sol. Thurs., 10 March —— NEW MOON, 1:10 a.m. Sat., 12 March —— PUBLIC STAR PARTY @ Tierra del Sol, w/ 66-hour-old New Moon up; catch its thin crescent early in the evening; explore the Moon’s “terminator” (where dark turns to light as the Sun rises on the New Moon) for spectacular views of mountains, craters & rills. Sun., 20 March —— EQUINOX, 4:33 a.m.; “Spring is sprung, the grass has riz. / I wonder where the birdies is.” Sat., 26 March —— PUBLIC STAR PARTY @ Tierra del Sol. Sat., 2 April —— MEMBERS’ NIGHT @ Tierra del Sol.

EVENING PLANETS: During the first half of the month, [ * 1/2 ] is visible low on the western horizon in the Fishes. Spectacular SATURN [ * ] in the Twins is at its best right now, being its closest to & 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.

EVENING & MORNING BONUS!!!! COMET C/2004 Q2 (MACHHOLZ) has faded from naked eye visibility but is still available in binocs & up all night near Polaris, moving from the Giraffe into the Dragon.

MORNING PLANETS: Also late evening, gigantic [ * ] is in Virgo the Virgin; its 2 major bands of clouds & 4 Galilean moons are easily spotted in any size scope. MARS [ * ] moves from Sagittarius the Archer into the Goat but is too far away t o show any telescopic detail. { 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 3” So far, I’ve advised being rested physically & familiar with your equipment, plus allowing plenty of time for your eyes to get adapted to the dark (even when you’re viewing under city lights). Now for the “trick” of averted vision. It may strike you as odd, but it is a fact that you can see more detail, whether on a planet, a or a galaxy, if you do not look directly at it. This is because the rods, which I mentioned last month as being more sensitive to light (though not to color), are not in the center of your eyeball. Therefore, you can see much more if you look off to the side. When you do so, you will be surprised at how much detail suddenly “pops up,” as it were. Try it. You might catch a glimpse of the Cassini division in Saturn’s rings, or subtle detail on the surface of Jupiter. Averted vision can even enable you to spot a dim fuzzy galaxy you couldn’t see otherwise. It really works! Next month: It’s a question of time.

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!

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The Urban Astronomer some 50 plus stars even under light separation overpower the 8th magnitude polluted skies. Larger scopes will reveal white dwarf companion (Sirius B). From the charters portrayed in the movie the smaller open cluster NGC 2158 about Moving down the length of , “Clash of the Titans” we travel eastward 2 degrees from M-35. and located midway from Sirius, and 3rd to the constellation Gemini, (the Twins) magnitude Omicron Canis Majoris, lies Pi in pursuit of another film favorite “The From the Twins, we proceed south to Canis Majoris. Pi, as seen through my Lord of the Rings.” Saturn, shines at just join up with Orion, the Hunter. Now, 9x50 finder appears as a tri-. (I under zero magnitude and lies some 7 well placed in the sky, Orion can reveal a upgraded from the 6x30 to match the degrees to the southeast of the Orange wealth of objects visible to even the view in the binoculars). Located 3-degrees Giant, Beta Geminorum or Pollux. In smallest of scopes or binoculars. We Start to the west (right) of these three stars my 4” refractor at 167x, the ringed world at M-42/43, the great Orion Nebula, resides another large, bright open cluster, reveals itself in a yellowish hue, along located in the center star of Orion’s M-41. At 67x, 40 plus stars are easily seen with its brownish Northern Equatorial sword, Theta Orionis. Easily recognizable shining within the eyepiece. Zone. Both “A” (outer most of the in the finder or binoculars, at 67x the very larger rings) and “B” (brightest of the bright-diffused nebula and surrounding The Urban Astronomer rings) are easily seen. The Cassini stars completely fills the eyepiece’s field of Division, the dark gap which separates the view. Orion is the showpiece for A and B Rings is distinctly visible around as Andromeda is for galaxies. With the SDAA Editorial Staff the viewable side of the planet, but does addition of my Orion Skyglow filter, the Editor fade in the center somewhat due to the wisps, swirls and sounding nebulous of Douglas Searles axis tilt of the rings as seen from Earth. the area all leap into view, a stunning sight [email protected] Titan, the largest of Saturn’s moons, even in a 4” scope! As an added treat, Contributing Writers along with two or three others (Rhea, located in the heart of the Orion Nebula Scott Baker Tethys or Dione) can also be seen in the lies the popularly known Patrick Barry eyepiece of a small scope during their as the Trapezium. Increasing the Michael Dietz around the gas giant. magnification to 111x, the Trapezium or “Trap” is cleanly split into four distinct Mike Finch John Mood Leaving Saturn, we proceed back to individual stars at a moderate separation. The Urban Astronomer Pollux, then directly westward to the 1.5 Higher magnification or a larger scope will th magnitude multiple star Castor, or Alpha reveal two additional 11 magnitude stars Geminorus. At 111x (9mm Plossl) the in this formation. Located a degree blue/white Castor is split to reveal its above M-42/43 is the bluish star 42 closely separated companion, along with a Orionis. At the same distance above 42 extremely faint 9th magnitude red dwarf at Orionis is the open cluster NGC 1981. Look Up...... a wide split. From Castor, we proceed Small in size, my refractor reveals some th down the length of the western most 10-15, 6 magnitude stars loosely twin of Gemini to 3rd magnitude Mu grouped together. Geminorus, and then two degrees to the one o’clock position to , Eta Continuing south we encounter one of Geminorus. About 2 degrees from Eta the great dogs accompanying Orion, Canis lies 3rd magnitude 31 Geminorum. Major. Within the constellation lies the Placing your finder midway between Eta brilliant white star Alpha Canis Majoris, and 31, move the scope until the finder’s or Sirius blazing at –1.4 magnitude. The cross hairs travel three degrees to the name Sirius actually means searing or north (9 o’clock position). Here lies the scorching, and only the Moon, Venus, large open cluster M-35, roughly the size and Jupiter shine brighter in the night sky. of the moon. At 67x, the cluster Sirius is a , however, the completely fills the eyepiece and reveals primaries (Sirius A) brightness and close .....And Be Amazed!

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Astronomy Crossword #03

Answers to February 2005 Crossword Page 10 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, MARCH 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

Astronomy Crossword by Scott Baker Puzzle #003 Across Down 3 Our closest star (3) 1 Outside of 11 Across. (5,8) 18 Light we can’t see. (2) 2 A process in which something 20 Rival of Mars? (7) 4 Fifty miles west of Socorro, passes by degrees to a different New Mexico (3) stage. (9) 22 Beta Columbae (4) 7 Mu 1 Boötis or “Shepherds 3 International ______(5,7) 24 40 Eridani (4) Crook” (10) 5 Judgment based on observable 26 Dutch astronomer who calcu- 10 Iota Ursae Majoris (7) phenomena and uninfluenced lated the distance to the middle 11 “______Division” (7) by emotions or personal of the galaxy. (4) prejudices (11) 13 Not what happens when your 29 Epsilon Draconis (3) boss fires you. (11,5) 6 Holds the second-longest 30 It’s replaced film for most astro record for being in space. (8) 16 An immeasurably long period imagers. (3) of time (3) 8 A space-based telescope that 31 You’ve probably got one in your takes images of the Sun. (4) 17 Sigma Sagitarii (5) car. (3) 19 Epsilon Boötis (4) 9 An uncharged particle with 32 See 16 Across (2) virtually no mass. (7) 21 Acronym for an object that outside of our eighth 12 The densest moon of Saturn. planet. (3) (5) 22 A vertical (or almost vertical) 14 Three letter acronym for smooth rock face. (4) something that is probably a 23 The and outer magnetar. (3) space as viewed from the earth. 15 German mathematician who (3) realized that the planets go 25 Also called “The Eyes”. (5) around the sun in elliptical 27 A period marked by distinctive orbits. (6) character or reckoned from a fixed point or event (3) Answers will be in next months newsletter. 28 It can greatly effect 4 Across (12) 31 Pi 1 Ursae Majoris (7) Address Change? 33 TLA for a long time ago? (3) Submit your new information to: [email protected] to ensure you don’t miss out on SDAA news. If you ordered a magazine subscrip- 34 Orbits inside of 1 Down (3) tion through the club, you will still need to notify the magazine as well (see each magazine for change of address instructions).

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more air. The smog is easier to see. A fan out across a range of angles from one-of-a-kind sensor aboard NASA’s steeply looking forward (70.5 degrees Terra satellite capitalizes on this angle from vertical), to straight down, to the effect to get a better view of how clouds same steep angle backwards. As the Terra and air pollutants scatter and absorb satellite passes over a region, the cameras A Different Angle on sunlight. By doing so, this sensor—called successively view the region at nine the Multi-angle Imaging different angles. From these data, Climate Change SpectroRadiometer (MISR for short)—is scientists can construct a three-dimen- by Patrick L. Barry helping scientists fill in a major piece of sional picture of the cloud cover, revealing Look toward the horizon in almost any the climate change puzzle. Most satellite much more about cloud dynamics than a major city, and you’ll clearly see the gray- instruments look only straight down at flat image alone. They can also see light brown layer of smog and air pollution. the Earth. Layers of airborne particles bouncing off aerosol pollution from nine Yet when you look straight up, the sky can (called aerosols) and smog are harder to different directions, thus getting a fuller appear perfectly blue; you might think see with this vertical view, and clouds picture of how aerosols scatter sunlight. there’s no smog at all! The smog is often appear only as two-dimensional And they can even spot thin layers of overhead as well, but it’s much harder to sheets of white. Clouds and aerosols heat-trapping air pollutants that might go see. Why is there such a difference? It both can reflect incoming sunlight back unnoticed by other satellites. All this comes down to viewing angles: A vertical out to space, thus cooling the planet. But information comes just from looking at line straight up through the atmosphere they can also absorb sunlight and trap the atmosphere from a different angle. crosses much less air than a line angled heat rising from below, thus helping For more information, see http://www- toward the horizon. Less air means less warm the planet. What is the net effect? misr.jpl..gov . Kids can learn about smog, so the sky overhead looks blue. On MISR helps scientists figure this out by MISR, see MISR images, and do an the other hand, when you look toward looking at the atmosphere at several online MISR crossword at http:// the horizon, you’re looking through a lot angles—nine to be exact. Its nine cameras spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/ misr_xword/misr_xword2.shtml .

The MISR instrument on the Terra satellite views the atmosphere and Earth’s surface from nine different angles.

Page 12 SAN DIEGO ASTRONOMY ASSOCIATION NEWS AND NOTES, MARCH 2005 San Diego Astronomy Association

Note from the Editor: an equatorial mount, and bring the OTA It seems that the troubles with last (15mm Plossl) the pairs separation is fairly “up” 1-finder fields of view. The cluster months newsletter still haunt me. I love close, with the small blue/white compan- appears a little off –center to the left the articles from the Urban Astronomer ion located at the 5 o’clock position as within my 6 x 30 finder. At 31x both (no I am not the writer) and somehow viewed in the eyepiece. (Actually, Almach is clusters are nicely framed within the January’s article ended up in place of a triple star, however the third companion eyepiece. Increasing the magnification February’s. For those of us who hate to is currently not visible.) really bring out the clusters attributes, miss any part of a series, no matter how however because my plossl’s FOV is late it may be, the following is the article Leaving Andromeda, we proceed East- somewhat limited, I must be content to which should have been published last ward across the Meridian to the outskirts view these individually. Here is where month. My apologies go out to those of , The Bull, to take in one of the having a low power, wide field eyepiece of us who missed the article and to the sky’s treasures, the Open Cluster , really shows its value. Urban Astronomer who wrote it - your or the Seven Sisters. The cluster is in the efforts really are appreciated. shape of a little dipper with seven stars visible to the unaided eye, hence the name, Until next month, and while I wait for Orion to clear the trees. Leaving from last months tour, Seven Sisters. My 32mm Plossl gives me we travel past the “Horned Moon” to just over 1.6 degrees actual field of view, , or Alpheratz, located which places M-45 almost entirely within on the Northeastern corner of the Great the eyepiece. Herein lies some 50 stars of Square of Pegasus. Here we start our varying size and magnitude, and inserting pursuits of some very fine small scope my Orion Sky-Glow filter to the eyepiece and binocular friendly objects. From revels just a hint of nebulous surround- Alpheratz, move along an eastern route ing the brightest stars in the cluster. about 10 degrees to the second magni- tude star, Mirach, or . From the most viewed open cluster in the While facing Mirach, move along the 3 constellation, we move to the probably o’clock position about three degrees to least observed open cluster in Taurus, The third magnitude . At . Located in the “V” of Taurus, the same distance to the two o’clock near the orange giant Aldebaran, position is Nu Andromedae, aim your (AlphaTauri), the eye of the Bull, this massive open cluster spans some 5 finder or at this location. M-31, or the 2005 Desert Sunset Star Party Great should be degrees, and is best observed with binoculars or a large finder scope. Along within your field of view (FOV) and just Pat and Arleen Heimann will again be with the brilliant Aldebaran, some 60 stars outside your scopes FOV when using a hosting the Desert Sunset Star Party easily fill the field on view of my 12x50 low power eyepiece. With my 4” refractor May 4-8, 2005, at the Caballo Loco binoculars. A true space walk experience. @ 31x, (32mm Plossl) the central bulge RV Ranch southwest of Tucson. and surrounding area is clearly discernible, Caballo Loco is located east of Kitt Last in our tour of binocular and small even with the Moon at almost first Peak and nestled against the Sierrita scope friendly targets we proceed North- quarter. Although no specific detail can be Mountains. Whipple Observatory on west to NGC 884 & 869, the Double observed with a scope of this size, M-31 Mt Hopkins is located to the east. Cluster located between Cassiopeia and is still a nice target, and is one of the few Lots to do during the day and great . To locate the cluster I start at galaxies backyard observers can actually skies at night. There will be speakers Cassiopeia, which now resides as a “M” see. and door prizes on Friday and instead of a “W”. On the eastern side of Saturday evenings. Check our website the constellation lie delta and epsilon Returning to Alpheratz, we proceed down for details: http:// Cassiopeiae. Center the finder’s cross hairs the length of the constellation to Almach www.chartmarker.com/sunset.htm or , an excellent first or binoculars between the two stars, both magnitude orange/blue double star on should be within the finders FOV. Lock the Urban Club target list. At 67x the (RA), if you’re using

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