in Newton Co.); Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 1-2: Cox THE Field observings (at dark); Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 8- 9: Cox Field observings (at dark); Fri., Feb. FLINT RIVER 15: FRAC meeting (7:30 p.m., UGa-Griffin campus, Stuckey Bldg.); Wed., Feb. 20: OBSERVER public eclipse observing (7:45-whenever, front lawn, UGa-Griffin campus). Newsletter of the FLINT RIVER ASTRONOMY CLUB * * * (an affiliate of the Astronomical League) President’s Message. Recently I read a book Vol. 11, No. 12 February, 2008 titled North to the Orient, by Anne Morrow Officers: President/Alcor, Curt Cole; Vice Lindbergh, that reminded me that we‟re all President/Newsletter Editor: Bill Warren; explorers to some degree. This book was Secretary-Treasurer: Irene Cole; Board of about an exploratory trip to China in the Directors: Larry Higgins,Tom Danei and summer of 1931 by Anne and her famous Felix Luciano. husband Charles in a plane that they named Webmasters, David Ward and Tom Sirius, after the Dog Star of Canis Major. Moore; FRACgroups moderators: Steve Flying at night was not a common practice Knight and Tom Moore; Ga. Sky in those early years, but the Lindberghs did it View/Astronomy Day Coordinator, Steve occasionally, undoubtedly admiring the stars Knight; Observing Chairman/Public as they flew or camped in the dark skies of Observing Coordinator, Larry Higgins; Canada, Alaska, Japan and China. Once, Program Co-Chairmen: Larry Higgins and when darkness overtook them far from their Bill Warren; Publicity: Curt Cole; NASA day‟s destination, they had to land on an contact: Felix Luciano; and Event isolated lake at night and sleep in their float- Photographer, Tom Danei. equipped plane. Anne didn‟t mention whether Club mailing address: 190 West James or not the sky was clear that night, but I like to Circle, Hampton, GA 30228. Web page: think it was, out in the vast darkness of www.flintriverastronomy.org; discussion group at Alaska. [email protected]. We amateur astronomers all explore the Please notify Curt Cole (770-946-3405), sky, searching ever deeper for interesting or [email protected], or Bill Warren challenging stars, galaxies & nebulae. When (770-229-6108), [email protected], Lindbergh needed to cover longer distances, if you have a change of home address, he got a bigger, more powerful plane. When telephone no. or e-mail address. astronomers need to cover longer distances, they get a bigger, more powerful telescope. * * * But let‟s not forget that if we just need to Club Calendar. Mon., Jan. 28: home- roam around in the neighborhood, say within schooling observing (6:00 p.m., Varner Field our solar system, we don‟t need the telescopic version of the Boeing 747. A small scope will Higgins, talking about “Astronomy On a often do just fine. The important thing is not Shoestring.” the size plane or scope you travel to exciting Larry showed us at least a dozen cost- and interesting places with. Remember the effective devices and techniques for saving goal. It‟s to travel. To explore. To be money on equipment, eyepieces and amazed at the new discoveries we make. I telescopes. At the end of Larry's talk, Tom hope you get to go to many interesting places Moore pointed out that, in comparing what this year, even if you never leave the ground. Larry put into his 'scopes, equipment, etc., and what Orion Telescopes charges for the same -Curt Cole things in its catalog, the savings amounted to a healthy $750.00. * * * Incidentally, Larry omitted at least three of his innovations in his talk: first, that his Last Month’s Meeting/Activities. We forgot “favorite tool,” the empty film canister, can to mention it in last month's newsletter, but also be used as a dust plug for your eyepiece four FRACsters – Curt, Tom Moore, Larry hole. Second, that a used “Little Debbie” box Higgins and yrs. truly – conducted a last- fits nicely over your Telrad for use as a cheap minute PTA observing for Beaverbrook dew shield. (In an emergency once upon a Elementary School on Dec. 11th. The sky was time, Larry simply folded and taped a piece of lukewarm and the weather cold, but our notebook paper over a Telrad.) And when yr. presenters were red hot. Thanks, guys, for editor’s telescope unexpectedly began doing your customary splendid job of showing overbalancing and tipping forward one off the wonders of the night sky. evening, Larry suggested attaching car keys to Four of us – Steve & Aimee Mann, Larry the back of our „scope with a rubber band. It H. and yr. editor – were at Cox Field on Fri., worked so well that we still do it that way. Jan. 4th. Aimee was lovely as always, the rest The 22 members and guests at the Jan. of us stunningly handsome as usual, at least, meeting included: Curt & Irene Cole, Larry until her upcoming eye surgery, after which H., Felix Luciano, Joel & Eric Simmons, she‟ll find that we look more like Mr. Eds Alan & Sally Bolton, Ken Walburn, Steve than Mr. Universes). But the sky was Knight, Steve & Aimee Mann, Joe generally good that night. Auriemma (who rejoined the club at the Unfortunately, that wasn't the case the meeting), Charles, Erica & Jeffrey Anstey, following evening when Curt Cole met Dwight Harness, Tom Moore, Mike Stuart, visitors Mark & Amy Bird at Cox Field. yr. editor and visitors Jerry & Beverly Still, Curt must have been persuasive during Williams. (And No, he‟s not the same Jerry their hour at the field, since the Birds joined Williams who used to be in FRAC.) FRAC that same evening. We had seven at Cox Field on Jan. 11th, The 22 members and guests who attended including visitors Israel, Autumn, Amara & our Jan. meeting were treated to one of the Seneca Baryeshua, FRAC co- founder and finest programs we've ever had: Larry telescope maker par excellence Ken Walburn, his friend Raymond Hughes, and Eathon Bradley Porter was born at about yr. editor. The sky cooperated very nicely 11:30 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs., 5 oz., and was until around 8 p.m., at which time the clouds 19 in. long. They use some kind of scale to rolled in. describe the baby's condition at birth, and Attendance was better the following Eathon was 9.9 on a scale of 10. I hope that's evening: in addition to the Baryeshuas, who good. came back for more (and wound up joining “I haven't seen him yet, but Betty says that the club), we also had Mike Stuart, Larry he's pretty. It'll probably be a week before I Higgins, Curt Cole, Tom Moore, visitors get to see him, so all that matters now is going Jerry & Beverly Williams, and yrs. truly. to bed and getting some sleep.” The sky was as clear as a maiden's conscience, and everyone in attendance had a splendid *From David O'Keeffe: “Hello and happy time looking at things like Comet 8P/Tuttle new year. I was eager to see what Isaiah (the and Hubble's Variable Nebula (NGC 2261, youngster on David's bus route) had to say a nebula that looks like a smaller, fainter about his telescope from 'Santa'. He said he version of Comet Hale-Bopp). got a big telescope, and it's in safe keeping in In all, we had 25 members and guests at his Dad's closet. We will have to wait and see Cox Field in January. what transpires. When Dad received the 'scope, he was very grateful. And once again I * * * thank all who helped in this endeavor.”
This 'n That. When told about the Jan. *We hasten to extend a hearty welcome to meeting that he'd missed due to bad weather in new members Mark & Amy Bird of his area, Steve Bentley replied, “I'm sure Sharpsburg. Ga.; Israel, Autumn, Amara & Larry put on a good show. He's a genius at Seneca Baryeshua of Williamson, Ga; stuff like that. Betty and I were gonna come, Charles Boils of Thomaston, Ga.; and but she couldn't get her mud pack off.” returnees Joe & Martha Auriemma of Since there wasn't a chance in ten thousand Senoia, Ga. that yr. editor was gonna let that comment Mark & Amy, Israel & Autumn, and slide by unnoticed, we replied, “Here's a Charles, please let us know what we can do to 'Household Hint From Heloise': Remind help make your membership worthwhile and Betty that, when applying her mud pack, she enjoyable. shouldn't use Super Glue to hold it in place.” Joe and Martha – well, welcome back to FRAC. We've missed you muchly, and it *Speaking of the Bentleys, we received the feels like old times seeing you at our meetings following message just before midnight on and observings. Mon., Jan. 14th: “Well, after our granddaughter was in labor for nearly 19 *On Jan. 12th, Israel Baryeshua became hours, they had to do a C-section, but Betty the first and only person ever to arrive at a and I are officially great-grandparents now. Cox Field observing by bicycle. (The Baryeshuas are the Coxses‟ next door Our Feb. Cox Field observing weekends neighbors, so it wasn‟t a very long ride.) will be Fri.-Sat., Feb. 1st-2nd and Fri.-Sat., Feb. 8th-9th. *Finally, we should note that, sometime during the next couple of months, Ken Please note the following carefully and “Twinkletoes” Walburn will have hip mark it on your calendar: Since our regular replacement surgery, after which it‟ll just be a club meeting date falls on Valentine's Day this matter of time before we expect to see him year, we're changing our February meeting performing on “Dancing With the Stars.” date to the following day, Fri., Feb. 15th. We will, however, meet at our usual time (7:30 * * * p.m.) and location on the 2nd floor of the Stuckey Bldg. on the UGa-Griffin campus. Upcoming Events. Larry H. has scheduled Our Feb. speaker, Steve Bentley, will talk an observing for a home-schooling group from about “Power Sources for Your Telescope.” Jackson, Ga., at 6:00 p.m. on Mon., Jan. 28th. The coordinator told Larry to expect about 75 On Wed., Feb. 20th, FRAC will conduct a students and parents, so we hope you'll be able total lunar eclipse observing on the front to attend. The site will be Varner Field, lawn of the UGa-Griffin campus where we Newton Co.‟s RC Flyers‟ Club Field. hold our meetings. (The lawn in question is To get there from, say, Jonesboro, take I-75 the area between the parking lot and the S to the Ga. Hwy. 20/81 exit, then go E on street.) 20/81 to the square in downtown McDonough. Technically, it‟s a UGa-Griffin event and From there, follow Hwy. 81 until it intersects part of our ongoing commitment to that group with Ga. Hwy. 212. Turn right at 212, and in return for allowing us to conduct our stay on that highway for 7.9 mi., then turn left meetings on their campus. In real terms, at Ga. Hwy. 36. Go 5.2 mi. on 36 and turn though, our eclipse observing will be open to right at Lackey Rd. Go 0.2 mi. to the 1st road the community and publicized beforehand in on the left, Johnson Terrace, and turn right. the Griffin Daily News. So we need your help Go 0.4 mi. to the end of the road, and the site on that evening. will be on the left. Virtually all you‟ll need to know about To get there from Griffin, take Ga. Hwy. eclipses is that (a) Lunar eclipses occur when 16 E to Jackson. Turn left at Ga. Hwy. 36. the Earth moves between the Moon and the Stay on Hwy. 36 for approximately 18 mi. Sun, casting our planet‟s shadow on the until you reach Lackey Rd. Turn right at Moon‟s surface; (b) The next total lunar Lackey Rd., and follow the directions from eclipse we‟ll be able to see will be about 3 there in the previous paragraph. years from now; and, if you want to get fancy, (Thanks to Tom Moore for supplying (c) The other kind of eclipses, called solar those directions. –Ed.) eclipses, occur in the daytime when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. Seriously, folks, that‟s all there is to it. to glide ever so slowly across the Moon‟s Anything you tell them beyond those basics surface, changing its color to a dark red, will be icing on the cake. This will be a great orange, copper, or something similar. The opportunity to talk with a lot of potential dark shadow – called the umbra – will reach members living in the Griffin area, and you totality at 10:00, and that phase will last 52 can help us spread the word about astronomy min., after which the shadow will recede until and FRAC. 12:09 a.m. on Feb. 21st. Of course, you might also want to tell our For more on the eclipse, see Alan visitors that “If you want to join FRAC, our MacRoberts’s article, “February‟s Ideal dues are $15 a year and that big guy over there Eclipse of the Moon” (Sky & Telescope [Feb. (Curt Cole) will be happy to give you a 2008], pp. 68-71. membership application and take your check.” The visible part of the eclipse will begin at * * * 8:43 p.m., but those with telescopes to set up might want to arrive at 7:45 or earlier in order LOVE AND ASTRONOMY to get a parking space near the lawn. The eclipse will last for four hours. Stay as long as article by Curt Cole you like. * * * February, the month of love by virtue of Valentine‟s Day, is upon us. Astronomers The Sky in February. Mars will begin down through the ages must have been evenings high in the sky in Taurus in Feb., romantics, judging by the number of celestial and Saturn will rise at sunset and be visible features associated with love. all night throughout the month. On Feb. 20th, Venus is one of those heavenly bodies. the evening of our total lunar eclipse Venus was a roman goddess of beauty. Her observing at UGa-Griffin, Saturn will be to Greek counterpart was the goddess the lower left of the Moon as you face east. Aphrodite, who was the goddess of not just (Regulus [Alpha Leonis] will be the bright sensual love, but love of one‟s family, friends, star above the Moon when our observing and country. The fun loving Romans came to begins.) view Venus more in the light of sexual love. On Feb. 1st, Venus and Jupiter will be The bright planet Venus is visible in the “morning stars” lying less than 1/2o apart in morning sky shortly before dawn this month. the SE sky in Taurus at 5:30 a.m. (Ken Look low in the southeast as the sky begins to Walburn, who wouldn‟t get up that early for brighten. a bikini-clad Jessica Simpson knocking at his Another heavenly body associated with front door, insists that 5:30 a.m. is an urban love is the asteroid 433 Eros. Eros was the legend, like alligators in the sewers.) Greek god of love. We get the word erotic The star of February‟s night show is, of from him. This asteroid, about 8 miles in course, the total lunar eclipse on the 20th. At diameter and 21 miles long, is the second 8:43 that evening, Earth‟s shadow will begin largest known Near Earth Object, and has an orbital period of 1.76 years. NASA landed the chart, Sinus Sequi, meaning “to follow”, when spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker on Eros on Feb. he felt his independently minded wife 12, 2001. It sent back many photos while breathing down his neck. He turned around there. The IAU has used a love theme to and saw her angry stare, so he quickly erased name craters on Eros. They include Cupid, it. Later, when she wasn‟t looking, he named Casanova, Don Juan and Valentine. that feature with her in mind. You‟ll find it on The body with the most romantically the southern edge of Mare Imbrium (Sea of named features is probably the Moon, which Showers). It‟s about 140 miles in diameter will be totally eclipsed this month on the 20th. and is called Sinus Aestuum, or Seething Bay. Some of these features should be resolvable in An important aspect of any romantic binoculars. relationship is faithfulness. All Marines are The lunar feature most deserving on familiar with the motto Semper Fidelis, so Valentine‟s Day may be Sinus Amoris, or Bay they should easily decipher the meaning of of Love. Put on Dean Martin’s “That‟s Sinus Fidei, on the northern edge of Mare Amore” and show your beloved this Vaporum, Sea of Vapors. This bay is about indentation on the northeastern edge of Mare 30 x 40 miles. Fidei means faith or trust. Tranquilitatis (Sea of Tranquility). Amoris is I‟m told that in every relationship a little roughly 90 miles wide and 150 miles long. rain must fall. After a fight, most lovers want You should be able to make it out in to make up and see a beautiful rainbow. You binoculars. The Italian Jesuit priest Riccioli can find your rainbow on the northwest edge named it and many other lunar features in of Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains or Showers) 1651, and his chart formed the basis for the as Sinus Iridium, Bay of Rainbows. It‟s about lunar nomenclature we use today. 240 x 160 miles. An easy binocular target. Sinus is Latin for “curving part or recess”, As mentioned above, sometimes romantic and when found on a seashore, we refer to it partners find themselves at extremes. To get as a bay or gulf. Many of the lunar sinuses in back on track, try meeting in the middle at particular can be said to have romantic names. Sinus Medii, a 200 mile diameter area in the Searching for harmony in your love life? very middle of the moon‟s disk, hence the Try Sinus Concordiae, Bay of Harmony, a 60 name. x 100 mile feature on the eastern edge of Mare The final goal for many in the search for Tranquilitatis. romance is to successfully start a family. That I have it on good authority through a friend sometimes takes years of practice, which of a friend of an acquaintance that in the good nobody I know seems to object to. Train your old days before women‟s lib, a groom could scope or binos on the northeastern edge of look forward to the part of the wedding Mare Fecunditatis, Sea of Fertility, where ceremony where the bride promised to “Love, you‟ll find 60 mile wide Sinus Successsus. honor and obey.” We‟ve already found the By the time most couples celebrate their 50th first two connections to these promises, but wedding anniversary, their wrinkled bodies where to look for “obey”? Well, an old lunar probably resemble the lunar surface. So we‟ll cartographer had just penciled it in on his conclude this romantic lunar interlude by observing a bay on the southern edge of Mare Those with RVs or travel trailers normally set Tranqulitatis. It‟s an easy binocular object up along the edge of the tree-lined field to about 110 x 230 miles. It‟s known as Sinus keep their large vehicles from blocking the Asperitatis, or Bay of Roughness. view of others on the field, and to minimize generator noise. * * * During the daytime hours, you can drive on and off the field all you want, whether to get Why GEORGIA SKY VIEW Should something to eat or to go on a day excursion. Some people bring food with them, but most Be Your First Star Party seem to head out to the local restaurants for their meals. I brought food last time, but I by Charles Anstey think this year I will eat out. The facilities at Camp McIntosh are If you have never attended a star party, you excellent. There is a very large meeting might be uneasy about doing so. Thoughts of hall/dining room/kitchen where presentations upsetting other astronomers or breaking some and the Saturday potluck dinner are held. unwritten rule can dampen your enthusiasm. You'll almost always find a few people there You may have heard horror stories about at any time, day or night. Drinks, coffee and unfriendly observers yelling at others about snacks are available for $0.50 - $1.00 on the white lights, noise, or ruining their time under honor system. If it rains, the dining hall is the stars. Such stories are rare, and they tend more than large enough to accommodate to be highly exaggerated. everyone. Georgia Sky View 2007 was my first There are two bunkhouses, one for each official star party, and I found it exceptionally gender, with bathrooms, showers and hot enjoyable. I am a member of FRAC, the host water. (Restrooms are also located in the club, so I already knew many of those in dining hall.) The bunkhouses are located a attendance, but it didn't matter. Ga. Sky View short walk from the observing field, and you makes attending a star party very easy and may prefer to sleep in a temperature- natural. moderated bunkhouse instead of on the field for a small additional fee. Each bunkhouse The Site. Common first timer concerns has about 20 top-bottom bunk beds on either are: where you will set up, how you will get side of the building, with bathrooms and around, where you will eat, what happens if it showers centrally located between them. rains, and will the experience be worth the effort? GSV At Night. You shouldn't drive on or The setup at GSV is very simple. There is off the field after dark unless there is an one large observing/parking/camping field, emergency. If you are really nervous about and a smaller one beside the dining hall. You that issue (or if you have chosen to stay off- can park your car on the large field and then site), you can park in front of the dining hall set up your telescope and tent right next to it. and come and go as you please. I don't think anyone at GSV 2007 needed or wanted to excellent choice as your first star party or drive after dark. your 100th. At night, most everyone will be observing, (Editor's Note: For more information or simply wandering around between the about Ga. Sky View 2008, including a observing field and meeting house. You do registration form with price list, see the GSV not need a light to get around but if you use link on our website, one, it should be red. If you accidentally turn