OBSERVATORY NEWS July 2015 Published by the Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) Volume 26 No. 7 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor

views of Saturn. Members are invited to bring portable COMING UP AT telescopes to share for the gaze, and also if you are having THE OBSERVATORY.... any technical difficulties with your portable telescope, this is a good opportunity to get some John Ruthven signing June 28 1-4p expert help with collimating the *Black Holes July 1 7p optics, making minor repairs, Astronomy Thursday July 2 8:30p etc.! We will have the picnic FOTOKids Youth Program July 3 7p indoors if it is rainy, so I hope to Astronomy Friday July 3 8:30p see you all there on July 13 at 7 *Tides July 6 7p

Planet Hunting July 7 8p PM, rain or shine. Astronomy Thursday July 9 8:30p The FOTO mentoring Astronomy Friday July 10 8:30p program is off to a good start! Stonelick Stargaze July 11 THE WORD We are putting people who need Sunday Sun-Day Sundae July 12 1-4p some help getting started with FOTO Member’s Picnic July 13 7p By Michelle Lierl Gainey observing or learning to use their New Horizons @ Pluto July 14 8p telescope in touch with more Astronomy Thursday July 16 8:30p Hello Friends, experienced astronomers who Astronomy Friday July 17 8:30p can mentor them. This is a Stonelick Stargaze July 18 The July FOTO meeting will be rewarding experience for both A2Z Astro Class July 19 7p the annual picnic, on the grounds FOTO Planning Meeting July 23 7p parties. If you are willing to be a of the Observatory starting at 7 mentor, or are in need of a Wurst Night July 23 8p PM on Monday, July 13. This is Astronomy Friday July 24 8:30p mentor, please e-mail me at a potluck picnic, so please bring [email protected]. FOTO @ NMUSAF July 25 10:15a your favorite side dish, salad or Lincoln Ridge Star Gaze July 25 8:30p FOTO is in need of a dessert to share. Each person History of the Observatory July 26 1-4p secretary. Duties of the secretary should bring their own burger or *Behind the Scenes July 27 7p include documenting the minutes hot dogs, etc; we will have the *Summer Skies July 28 8p of the monthly FOTO meetings, Astronomy Thursday July 30 8:30p grill going. Drinks, ice, plates reading said minutes for approval etc will be provided. by the membership, keeping Save-The-Dates! This is a great chance to records of the minutes from the Sunday Sun-Day Sundae Aug 9 1-4p socialize with fellow FOTO Eclipses Aug 11 8p members and get to know some Board meetings, and writing any Movie Night Aug 22 7p new people! If the sky permits, correspondence needed (which Lincoln Ridge Stargaze Aug 22 8:30p we will have a star gaze after the does not come up very often). If CMC Heritage Tour Aug 26 7p picnic. As the sun sets, Venus you would like to try out this Starlit Picnic Aug 29 7p and Jupiter will be side by side in role, you can volunteer to serve ScopeOut Sep 12 All Day the western sky, and by 9:30 or as Secretary until the October * UC Communiversity Class so we should be seeing nice elections. Thanks to Al Scheide, FOTO Treasurer, for filling in as Monte and Dan Schellenberger interim secretary. Welcome Elizabeth Stone ScopeOut 2015 will be held Michael & Ann Troyer on September 12, noon to 5 PM New & Renewing Jessica Va with dinner and speaker to Members! Patricia and Dean Waddell follow. Dale Zoller and the Elizabeth Wolf ScopeOut Committee are John and Lu Ann Zeszut working hard to make this the Zoe Zeszut best ScopeOut ever! See Dale’s article later in this newsletter for Stargazing at Stonelick more information. Many volunteers are needed to make State Park this event a success. You can volunteer to help with ScopeOut Saturdays – July 11 & 18 by e-mailing me at [email protected]. Volunteers get free admission to ScopeOut (although not to the dinner) and the chance to interact with the Martha Bailey public to promote enthusiasm for Vedanarayanan Jyotheeswaran astronomy. and Hema Balachandran THANK YOU for all you do Robert & Wanda Barger to keep the Cincinnati Gordon Barnes Observatory Center thriving and Jennifer and Conrad Barnes serving our community. Jennifer Beach The Summer Skies

Hal and Karen Bernstein Gene and Karen Bertke Need help with your telescope? FOTO Planning Meeting Elizabeth Brown Bring it for expert tips on setting Alexander Bungabong it up and exploring the night sky. Stargazing begins at dusk. Open By Michelle Lierl Gainey William and Lesley Bunn to all ages. Paul Busker Stargazes are weather The next FOTO Planning George and Linda Callard Kristin Conlin permitting. “Friend” the Meeting is scheduled for Stonelick Lake Stargazers Thursday, July 23 at 7 pm at the Bala Corattiyil Valeria J Freysinger Facebook page for weather and Bangkok Bistro restaurant, 3506 Brian and Jenny Gardner schedule updates. Erie Avenue. Note the change in James Garvey location! The Observatory will Rusty and Jeannie Harp be busy with the Wurst Date Meet Me Outdoors Erin Hedrick Night Ever event that night, so Robert and Sally Johnson we thought this would be a nice Nicholas and Jacqueline Kelly chance to have a good Thai Pat & Sherry Kiernan dinner in conjunction with the David Lynch

Board meeting. The planning Michael Malec Looking for one site to find this meetings are open to all FOTO Sophia McAllister spring’s best outdoor recreation members. We encourage your Sarah McDaniel events? Stargazing, hikes, biking, participation in the discussion of Janet Ross everything outdoors. future FOTO activities. Michael and Susan Saracina http://meetmeoutdoors.com

2 John Ruthven Print Signing June FOTO Meeting 5142 is the Kroger

Sunday, June 28th 1 pm Highlights Community Rewards

By Michelle Lierl Gainey Number for the

The highlight of the June Observatory meeting was the excellent presentation by Dr. Terra Clarke, “Global Climate Change over the Past Quarter Millennium”. Dr. Clarke gave an overview of the factors contributing to oscillations in climate over the Mr. John Ruthven will be at history of Earth, and showed the Observatory Sunday, June how the production of th 29 offering signed, limited greenhouse gases is causing a edition giclee' prints of his much more rapid change in "Eyes of the Night" which temperature since the Industrial features the Observatory! Revolution. Each signed 14"x 20" print The FOTO Forum is still in the is on sale for $150. The total planning stages. We have After a quick and easy sign up run will be limited to 250 decided to use vBulletin for our online, every time you swipe your Kroger Plus Card a prints. forum site. The purpose of the donation goes to support the Proceeds support the Forum is to make it easier for FOTO members to share Observatory’s mission. No cost Observatory’s programs. to you; no loss of fuel points. information and ideas, interact on projects, post announce- https://www.kroger.com/accou FOTO's July Meeting nt/create ments, and whatever else the members like. By Michelle Lierl Gainey Dave Bosse requested funding for 2 more telescopes for New Star Gazers

Once again our July FOTO the loaner program. The meeting will be the annual membership approved funding picnic, at the Observatory for two 8” Dobsonian telescopes, starting at 7 pm on Monday, July which will be purchased through the gift shop. 13. This is a potluck picnic, so please bring your favorite side dish, salad or dessert to share. Each person should bring their own burger or hot dogs, etc; we will have the grill going. Drinks, ice, plates etc will be provided. This is a great chance to socialize Star Gazers airs locally on with fellow FOTO members and channels 14 and 48 and you can get to know some new people! watch each month’s episodes on http://www.cincinnatiobservato If the sky permits, we will have a The Observatory is a proud ry.org/stargazer.html star gaze after the picnic member of GCEE!

3 novel, "From the Earth to the exhibits and over 360 aerospace ScopeOut 2015 Update Moon." Also, the spacecraft vehicles and missiles as we walk Dawn has arrived at Ceres and around the world’s largest and By Dale Zoller the New Horizons will fly by oldest military aviation museum. Pluto in July. Please let us know See current aircraft, such as the ScopeOut 2015 will be held if you would like to do an exhibit B-2, F22A and the world’s only Saturday, September 12, 2015. or talk on one of these topics. XB-70 Valkyrie bomber. Sit in a As in the past, the main event ScopeOut requires a large jet cockpit or check out hands-on will run from 12-5 pm. We will number of dedicated volunteers educational programs. hold the raffle drawing from 5-6 to make it run smoothly. Please pm and then the dinner and consider volunteering for one of keynote presentation from 6-8:30 the many different areas (set up, pm. registration, gift shop, dinner We are pleased to announce helpers, etc.). We will have that this year's keynote speaker signup sheets available at the will be Dr. Bob O'Dell, former July FOTO meeting. If you Project Scientist for the Hubble would like to volunteer and Space Telescope and current cannot attend the July FOTO collaborator with the Hubble meeting, please email Michelle Heritage Project. As 2015 is the Gainey at [email protected], or me 25th anniversary of the HST's at [email protected]. Thanks Whether you’re an engineer, a launch, Dr. O'Dell's topic will be in advance. pilot or a history buff, this field "25 Years of the Hubble Space trip has something for all! You Telescope." Viewing will follow can sign up at the June and July the keynote presentation from 9- FOTO Field Trip: FOTO Membership meetings, 11pm (weather permitting). but IF you are unable to make it Last year's new "Science National Museum of the and wish to attend, please email Tent" was a big improvement Aashi Mital at over past years and was well United States Air Force [email protected]. received. Some of the new Do you need directions or features were the cloud chamber, By Aashi Mital want to learn more? Visit: "Galileo" experiments http://www.nationalmuseum.af FOTO is headed to the National (acceleration ramp, pendulum, .mil/ Museum of the United States Air tennis ball drop, etc.), the Force on Saturday, July 25th. We prism/spectrum/thermometer will meet 10:15 a.m. in the demo and the UC Physics FOTO Board Members atrium of the main building of Department group. We are (Terms expire Oct. 2015, the museum. The cost is $5 per Except as noted) looking at additional exhibits to person and payment is due to make it even better this year. Aashi Mital by Friday, July 17th. The following President: Michelle Gainey VP: Aashi Mital events/anniversaries take place in Secretary: 2015: The International Year of Treasurer: Al Scheide Light and Light-Based FOTO Rep: Frank Huss (exp. Technologies; the 50th Oct 2016) anniversary of the discovery of the cosmic background radiation Trustees by Penzias & Wilson; the 100th John Blasing anniversary of Einstein's General Aaron Eiben Relativity; and the 150th Dave Bosse (exp. Oct 2016) anniversary of Jules Verne's We’ll experience 17 acres of Chris Kean (exp. Oct 2016)

4 1-3 Graduate Credit Hours, or Small Thunderstorms May Teacher Professional non-credit through Xavier XCEED. $430/credit hour, $100 Add Up To Massive Development non-credit. Register online Check the website for more Cyclones on Saturn A number of STEM & History information. PD opportunities are coming up New model may predict cyclone activity on other this summer: planets “Wurst” Date Night Ever Astronomy: History & Science at the Observatory

Tuesday & Thursday 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm June 30 and July 2

For the last decade, astronomers With the Wurst Bar and have observed curious "hotspots" on Saturn's poles. In Cincinnati Observatory 2008, NASA's Cassini spacecraft Thursday, July 23, beamed back close-up images of From 8:30-11 pm. these hotspots, revealing them to be immense cyclones, each as This date night has it all: Food wide as the Earth. Scientists and drink, followed by and estimate that Saturn's cyclones planets, followed by more food may whip up 300 mph winds, and drink. and likely have been churning Start your evening at the for years. Wurst Bar in Mount Lookout While cyclones on Earth are fueled by the heat and moisture Square at 8:30 pm, then take a of the oceans, no such bodies of This course is broken up into complimentary shuttle to the water exist on Saturn. What, two sections-the history of Observatory for a program, then, could be causing such astronomy before and after the starting at 9 pm. Enjoy viewing powerful, long-lasting storms? invention of the telescope. We of Saturn (weather permitting) In a paper published in the will discuss and recreate a and a tour of the Observatory. journal Nature Geoscience, multitude of the observations of Afterwards, grab the shuttle atmospheric scientists at MIT the night and daytime skies that back to the Wurst Bar to enjoy propose a possible mechanism were made by the ancients. Happy Hour pricing the rest of for Saturn's polar cyclones: Over Topics include the cycles and the night! time, small, short-lived orbits of the Sun, Moon, and Attendees also receive 20% off thunderstorms across the planet Earth, , planets, coupon for future visit to the may build up angular seasons and eclipses. Wurst Bar. momentum, or spin, within the In the second half of the Tickets are $30 each and atmosphere -- ultimately stirring course, you will delve into the benefit the Cincinnati up a massive and long-lasting Observatory education discoveries made from the vortex at the poles. programs. simple telescopes of the http://www.sciencedaily.com/r Must be 21 or over. Reservations Renaissance to the Hubble Space eleases/2015/06/150615152550.h required. Space is limited. To telescope including stellar tm RSVP, call 513-321-5186. evolution and .

5 Tickets are $30 for this fun, said Christopher Russell, a Summer Fundraisers social event! Visit the UCLA professor of space physics Observatory’s webpage to make and planetary science, and the Support Observatory’s reservations! Dawn mission's principal Also, mark your calendars for investigator. “We approach it in Programs the Starlit Picnic event on awe and almost total ignorance.” August 29th at the Observatory – Dawn's visit to Ceres, which is By Anna M. Hehman bring a picnic dinner and watch scheduled to last more than a

the sunset! Check out year, began on March 6. From www.cincinnatiobservatory.org July 2011 to September 2012, it for more details! observed Vesta, a minor planet that is the second most massive body in the asteroid belt Closest Ever Look at Dwarf between Mars and Jupiter. Over the years, scientists have Planet Ceres learned about the conditions at Logan Hicks (left facing camera) of First images from Dawn the beginning of the solar system DEPs Fine Wine and Spirits talks spacecraft produce 3-D by studying meteorites from with a guest at this year's Celestial model of 'mysterious' Vesta that have fallen to Earth. There have been no such Sips event as wine pourer Pat terrain McDevitt looks on. meteorites produced by Ceres, an indication that the two bodies On Saturday, June 20th, the are likely very different. For Observatory hosted over 60 example, Dawn found little people for its annual Celestial evidence to indicate there is Sips event. Amy DiTravisonno of water on Vesta. But Russell said DEP’s Fine Wine and Spirits was Ceres could have a substantial in attendance to present the amount of water or ice beneath three biodynamic wines served its rocky crust. to guests. Amy suggested The first images of Ceres from the The presence of water, he biodynamic wines because the said, “could affect the time for Dawn mission reveal a surface filled grapes are grown and harvested relaxation of craters and with craters of many according to the phases of the mountains on Ceres and reduce moon. A good time was had by shapes and sizes. the height of the topography all guests, as sipping and touring compared to Vesta, and will A NASA mission led by UCLA the Observatory made for a affect minerals on the surface.” professor Christopher Russell wonderful summer evening! Russell also said Ceres, unlike has released new images of the Next up is the Wurst Date Vesta, “might have a weak dwarf planet Ceres, the largest Night Ever on July 23rd, a atmosphere and perhaps even asteroid between Mars and collaborative event with the life.” Jupiter. Wurst Bar in Mt. Lookout http://www.sciencedaily.com/r The photos were produced by Square. Attendees will start at eleases/2015/06/150611161302.h the spacecraft Dawn, which is the Wurst Bar then take their tm now observing Ceres from 2,700 shuttle to the Observatory for a miles above its surface; NASA program, tour and hopefully has also produced a one-minute Did You Know… some viewing! Afterwards, video animation that sheds new they’ll be shuttled back down to light on this mysterious and the Wurst Bar to enjoy Happy There is only about one new star heavily cratered world. Hour pricing the rest of the being born each year in our 'Everything we learn from night. . Ceres will be absolutely new,' 6 exists in only three seasons, not Astro Evenings at the Weather in Cincinnati summer. This begs the question: Why Observatory By Fred Bowman do caves in the area have a constant temperature of Thursdays, July 2, 9, 16, 30 Mark Twain said “Everybody 58°F? The temperatures of caves Fridays, July 3, 10, 17, 24 talks about the weather, but are regulated by both the 8:30-10:00 pm nobody does anything about it.” atmospheric temperatures and The weather service has kept the temperature of the records for more than 140 years, Earth. Two miles below the rounding the average daily highs Earth’s surface the temperature and lows to the nearest degree. I is a constant 120°F. feel that the daily averages, with over 140 data points, should be expressed at least to the nearest Starlit Picnic at the tenth of a degree. Observatory I’ve examined the year-long

temperature variations for th Are you in awe with the beauty Cincinnati, the highs and lows Saturday, August 29 7-10 pm of the night sky? Have questions follow a sinusoidal path, hot in about the Universe? This is the summer and cold in the where you can get the answers. winter. Everyone knows that; Astronomy Evenings include however, the particulars require short presentations on a wide a little math. The atmosphere variety of topics and plenty of acts to buffer the temperature time for your astro-questions. extremes. Following the winter Tour of the Cincinnati solstice it takes the atmosphere a Observatory, which as a National few days to react: 25 days for the high temperatures and 28 days Historic Landmark played an There are few places in the Tri- for the lows. The coldest days of important role in the history of state as picturesque for a picnic the year occur in January and the as the Cincinnati Observatory. Cincinnati and our nation. Once warmest in July. The yearly dark, we will view the Moon, You’re invited to dine outdoors average high is 64.72°F with a with us and take in a sunset, planets and deep space treasures variation of 24.13°F. The yearly listen to heavenly music as the through the historic 1845 average low is 45.37°F with a full Moon rises, and then have telescope. (Program is held rain variation of 21.57°F. The dessert under the stars. or shine; telescope viewing if average daily temperature range This is a romantic picnic like no clear skies). varies from 16° in winter to 20° other. The topics and the night sky in summer with a yearly average Bring your blankets, food and change week-to-week/month-to- temperature of 55.05°F. drinks, and if the weather is month so you can visit often to From my investigation I also clear, we’ll show you the stars. hear and see something new found a second harmonic for the You provide the food, we’ll Free for Observatory high temperatures. There is a provide the celestial atmosphere. members! 2.26°F variation with two high $30 per person (which For the latest schedule see the extremes and two low extremes benefits the Cincinnati web calendar then sign up online. per year. The lows occur in Observatory’s outreach winter and summer, while the education programs) highs occur during spring and 21 and up. Did You Know… fall. There is also a 0.52°F Reservations are required. variation for the low RSVP at 513-321-5186 or sign up There are more rogue planets in our temperatures following the trend online. galaxy than there are stars. for the high temperatures, but

7  UC Communiversity classes Craig’s Corner  Late Nights at the Europe’s Philae Comet Observatory By Craig Niemi  SaturnDay Lander Phones Home Executive Director  Weddings and other Life It’s officially summer; astro- Events nomically and meteorologically.  Astro Saturdays April, May and June were full  Sun Sundays of astronomy programs for  Celestial Sips Wine Tasting schools, scouts, seniors,  Kid’s Expo@ Paddlefest members and the general public.  John Ruthven Print Signings

The last two months saw school The E.S.A. reports it has received Our thanks to all our wonderful bus after school bus dropping off signals from the Philae lander on staff for all you’ve done in just kids eager for the kind of the surface of comet the first half of the year. And to authentic and inspiring STEM 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. all our members and donors experience that a field trip to the The signals were received via who help make it all possible. Observatory delivers. the lander’s Rosetta mothership And a special thanks to all our Staff & volunteers gave an by ground controllers at ESA’s volunteers without whom we increasing number of programs European Space Operations could not do what we do for the offsite too. Centre in Darmstadt on Greater Cincinnati community. Saturday, June 13. Public programs featured: Each of you makes a huge “Philae is doing very well: It  1st Light Night impact! has an operating temperature of  Astro Thursday & Fridays We hope your volunteer -35ºC and has 24 Watts  A2Z+ and other Member experiences have been available,” DLR Philae Project Programs rewarding, challenging and fun! Manager Dr. Stephan Ulamec  FOTO Movie Night And know that we want your told the European Space  FOTO Field Trips suggestions on how we can Agency’s Rosetta Blog. “The  FOTOKids Youth Programs continue to make the experience lander is ready for operations.”  Valentine’s Night better and your ideas on new  Not a UFO Night programs.  Pi Day! Now take a well-deserved,  SpaceFest in Dayton but short, break and get ready  Hubble’s Greatest Hits for the second half of 2015!

 Dr. Amanda Bauer-When Galaxies Collide Amazon “Smiles” on the  Jupiter Night  Scout Programs Observatory The space agency said 300  AARP Night packets of house-keeping data  Intro to Astronomy & Special were received in the first Topic classes given by Dean transmission but the lander had obviously emerged from Regas hibernation earlier as there are  Sunday History Tours Amazon will donate 0.5% of the more than 8000 more data  Several Museum and price of your eligible purchases packets stored in memory Programmatic Exhibits to Cincinnati Observatory  What’s Up at NASA Center whenever you shop on awaiting transmission.  High School Astro Clubs AmazonSmile. Next time you http://astronomynow.com/201  Astrophoto Workshops shop at Amazon simply start at 5/06/14/philae-lander-phones-  Stonelick Stargazes http://smile.amazon.com/ch/3 home/ 1-1665954 8 August Movie Night Kids Outdoor Dean’s Astronomy Classes All Dean’s classes are on By Aashi Mital Adventure Expo Tuesdays at 8 pm

By Michelle Lierl Gainey It’s summer and we’re mixing Led by astronomer and co-host things up for our next FOTO As part of the annual Paddlefest of PBS’ Star Gazer, Dean Regas Movie Night! Join us for a event, the Green Umbrella will be teaching on Tuesdays at 8 showing of the science fiction pm. Organization sponsors the Kids film Europa Report on Saturday, Outdoor Adventure Expo at August 22nd at 7 pm in the July 7 – Planet Hunting. How Coney Island. This event is Herget Building. we detect planets around other attended by thousands of stars that are trillions of miles children from various schools, away. Includes class youth groups, summer camps, as participation. well as family groups. COC was represented this year by Terry August 11 – Eclipse Chasing. Powell, Frank Huss, Scott Stories of astronomical travel Gainey, Aaron Eiben, Alex plus upcoming excuses for you Trunnell (our very bright, to see the universe while seeing personable and knowledgeable the world.

summer intern!) and me. We Cost $15 per person, $12 per had sunshine for most of the member. RSVP by calling Dean morning and early afternoon, so at 513-321-5186. about 700 children and adults had the chance to see the sun through the white-light filters Museums and Historic and an H-alpha filter, as well as Sites of Greater Cincinnati participate in the Planet Walk! Thank you to these members It’s going to be an excellent who valiantly withstood the thriller as we watch the fictional very hot, humid weather to journeys of the first crewed provide this interesting learning mission to Europa, one of experience to the children and Jupiter’s most famous moons. MHS is comprised of over 30 their parents and teachers. Want to learn more about this participating sites across Greater movie? Visit: Cincinnati. Each site offers a http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2 unique perspective on local 051879/ history and culture through As always, we will have some public programs, exhibits, snacks and drinks to munch on, lectures, and tours. but feel free to bring in Many sites are seasonal and something for this event. If you have reopened after the long have any questions, please email winter. Aashi Mital at www.historicgreatercincinnati.or g [email protected]. Alex guides the Planet Walk

9 Twenty years ago, astronomers UC Communiversity The Lord of the Rings hadn’t confirmed a single planet outside our solar system. In the Enrich Your Life With By Aashi Mital past six years, NASA’s Kepler Quality Courses mission—a space-based Saturn, the jewel of our solar telescope that orbits our Sun, system, has been gracing the looking at over 100 thousand night skies and the Observatory. stars simultaneously—has Learn more about Saturn’s rings, uncovered over 4100 planetary crazy storms and amazing candidates and 1000 confirmed moons. planets. We have learned most stars have planets, that Earth sized planets are common, and a good Black Holes! fraction are in the habitable zone July 1st 7p of their star. And when you put Tides the numbers together: 100 billion July 6th 7p stars, 10 percent with Earth-sized Behind the Scenes at the planets, 10 percent stars like the Observatory sun, that’s a billion Earth-sized July 27th 7p The exhibit will be located in the planets in the habitable zone of The Summer Skies rotunda and open to the public stars like the Sun.” July 28th 8p from April 17 - July 29. Throughout its time on display, To register contact UC the Saturn Exhibit will be full of Communiversity at 513-556- upgrades and new information. 6932 or And don’t forget that this www.uc.edu/ce/commu.html would make for an excellent resource! Between incorporating it into our programming to being Greater Cincinnati STEM an added intrigue for walk-ins Let me repeat that last bit. and tour groups or even if it’s There may be a billion Earth- Collaborative just learning more about sized planets in the habitable something of personal interest, zone of a sun-like star. Thirty it’s sure to turn a few heads. years ago, astronomers weren’t

sure of any. The Greater Cincinnati STEM Here's How Planet Hunters The technology behind this Collaborative (GCSC) impacts incredible discovery is in STEM (Science, Technology, Are Going to Find the Next principle quite simple. Most Engineering, and Mathematics) to date have been detected via transit—a slight dip learning and career readiness Earth in the light emitted from a star as through active, engaged, data- a planet crosses its path within driven partnerships between Twenty years ago, discovering the line of sight of a telescope. business, educational (Cincinnati another Earth sounded like a http://gizmodo.com/heres- Observatory), and community science fictional dream. But how-planet-hunters-are-going- partners. within a generation, astronomers to-find-the-next-ear-1703491062 Check out the new website! now believe we might do just www.greatercincystem.org that.

10 emptiness of this region has Lonely Galaxy quite an effect on the space Sunday Sun-Day Sundae around us -- the Milky Way is 'Lost In Space' being strongly pulled away from Sunday, July 12 it by the gentle but relentless tug 1-4 pm of other nearby galaxies. NGC 6503 lies right on the edge of this void. It has an almost non-existent central bulge surrounded by a massive halo of gas. The galaxy's central region is a good example of something

known as a "low ionization What do astronomers do during nuclear emission region," or the daytime? They stare at the LINER. These are less luminous Sun... safely. than some of the brightest This NASA/ESA Hubble Space The Sun is the star attraction galaxies. Emission from NGC Telescope image shows galaxy NGC on this Sunday and you can 6503. The galaxy is at the edge of a 6503's heart is believed to be the learn all about our nearest stellar strangely empty patch of space result of a starved black hole that neighbor. Sunday Sun-day called the . is only just being kept active, Sundae includes hourly receiving a very small amount of programs about the Sun, tours of NGC 6503 is only some 18 infalling gas to keep its large our historic buildings, and safe million light-years away from us appetite at bay. viewing of sunspots and solar in the of (The http://www.sciencedaily.com/r Dragon), making it one of the eleases/2015/06/150610111137.h flares out of our 1845 telescope closest neighbors from our Local tm (weather permitting). Group. It spans some 30,000 As a special treat we will also light-years, about a third of the have free sundaes for those in size of the Milky Way. The History of the Observatory attendance. galaxy's lonely location led $7 per person. No RSVP needed. th stargazer Stephen James July 26 O'Meara to dub it the "Lost-In- Drop in anytime between 1-4 pm Space galaxy" in his 2007 book Hidden Treasures. The Hubble Legacy ExtraGalactic UV Survey (LEGUS) is exploring a sample of nearby galaxies, including NGC 6503, to study their shape, internal structure, and the properties and behavior of their stars. This survey uses 154 orbits of time on Hubble; by contrast, a A Weather Observatory? typical Hubble observing program lasts from a few to a Stop by for the whole story or few tens of orbits. just the highlights. It’s all The GOW website is up all-year The Local Void is a patch of fascinating and connects our around as a link to informal space thought to be about 150 past with your future. education providers like the million light-years across that $5 per person suggested Observatory. seems to be curiously devoid of donation. Free for members. www.cincygreatoutdoorweeken galaxies. Astronomers using Group tours by appointment. d.org Hubble discovered that the

11 is why you have seen the A2Z+ Astronomy for What Is It Like To Be a Observatory really step up its social media presence, and Members Non-Profit Organization in revamp our webpage. Projections are that a strong Sunday, July 19th 7-8 pm Today's Economy? social media campaign and

online presence can increase By Jenny O’Donnell individual donations by about 7%. Getting our members to For all of our hard work and "share" their passion about the time, it is important also to Observatory is a fantastic understand the role played by multiplier for our ability to reach those who are raising money and a larger audience and is not seen constantly asking for money. by most recipients as intrusive or Did you know there are over pushy, but rather as informative 1.5 million nonprofit The A2Z Astronomy classes will and supportive. organizations in the United be held the third Sunday of each The hard part is keeping those States alone? Over 500,000 of month at 7:00 pm in the West first-time donors, once they have those nonprofits, like the Wing of the Herget Building. "clicked." The O does a Observatory, have less than The discussion group will meet particularly good job of retention $1,000,000 in revenue per year. for about an hour or so and the compared to industry standards These same 1.5 million best part is that attendance is and that's in a large part because organizations gather over 335 free to any COC member. The of the incredibly passionate billion dollars in contributions only pre-requisites are the desire volunteers. If we can get per year and about 72% of that to learn. someone to the O, we can keep comes from individual donors. them for a long time to come. Only 15% of the nonprofit That's a reflection on you. FOTO Kids and Teens income comes from foundations Facts gathered from: ”50 and only a meager 5% comes Fascinating Nonprofit Statistics: from corporate donors. By Aashi Mital Fundraising, Marketing and More!” Sure, those big checks get all One word. Rockets. They’re fast. the publicity, and everyone They’re furious. While most spends a lot of time and energy Gravity --"The Clue to the think of people think of the to get them...but slow and rockets' red glare and the bombs steady, dripping in at the $40 Dark, Quantum World of bursting in air this close to and $60 level is what is actually Independence Day weekend, funding the world of nonprofits. Our Universe" rockets are also key to exploring So where do folks give their Posted: 16 Jun 2015 07:29 AM PDT the rest of the universe. Get money? Most people give money ready to prep and launch rockets to between 3 and 5 charities. 31% of your very own at the next give to religious institutions. FOTO Kids meeting on July 3rd Only 16% go to educational at 7 p.m. in the Herget Building. institutions, and less to health Remember to dress for the related charities. After the weather! If you have any economy crash in 2008, there were increases in giving to questions, please don’t hesitate In 1915 Albert Einstein religious charities, but not other to email Aashi Mital at formulated the theory of general institutions until starting in 2013. [email protected] or Aaron relativity which fundamentally A significant proportion of Eiben at changed our understanding of giving happens online, and that [email protected] gravity. He explained gravity as

12 the manifestation of the Supermassive black holes lurk http://www.dailygalaxy.com/ curvature of space and time. at the center of every large my_weblog/2015/06/todays- Einstein's theory predicts that galaxy. These cosmic behemoths galaxy-insight-the-lonely- the flow of time is altered by can be millions to billions of galaxies.html?utm_source=feedb mass. This effect, known as times more massive than the urner&utm_medium=email&ut "gravitational time dilation", Sun. Determining just how m_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDail causes time to be slowed down massive, however, has been yGalaxyNewsFromPlanetEarthB near a massive object. It affects daunting, especially for spiral eyond+%28The+Daily+Galaxy+- everything and everybody; in galaxies and their closely related Great+Discoveries+Channel%3A fact, people working on the cousins barred spirals. +Sci%2C+Space%2C+Tech.%29 ground floor will age slower http://www.dailygalaxy.com/ than their colleagues a floor my_weblog/2015/06/alma- Posts of June 23 above, by about 10 nanoseconds observatory-spies-monster- Humans are under the in one year. This tiny effect has black-hole-at-center-of-a-distant- misconception that we are actually been confirmed in many spiral-galaxy.html special existing in a special time experiments with very precise period, to think this way clocks. "The Cosmos Five-Billion questions our intelligence or lack https://mail.aol.com/webmail- thereof.....The universe was here std/en- Years in the Future" LONG before us lowly humans us/DisplayMessage?ws_popup= were and will be LONG after we true&ws_suite=true are gone.

ALMA Observatory Spies "They will inevitably come to the wrong conclusion about the Monster Black Hole at universe...... We live in a special time, the only time, where we Center of a Spectacular can observationally verify that we live in a special time." Hubris writ large.

Lawrence M. Krauss, A Universe “In 5 billion years, the from Nothing: Why There Is expansion of the universe will Something Rather Than Nothing have progressed to the point This thought is completely where all other galaxies will obtuse. have receded beyond detection. Indeed, they will be receding There will still be the Local faster than the speed of light, so Group. detection will be impossible. We will still be heading for an Future civilizations will discover even larger . The science and all its laws, and Perseus Cluster and the Virgo never know about other galaxies Cluster are approaching, not or the cosmic background escaping. The image above is a composite radiation. They will inevitably of the barred spiral galaxy NGC come to the wrong conclusion 1097. The ALMA data is in red about the universe...... We live in Did You Know…

(HCO+) and green/orange a special time, the only time, Jupiter’s red clouds hide a dense, (HCN) superimposed on an where we can observationally rocky core that’s about 20 times optical image taken by the verify that we live in a special as massive as Earth. . time.” 13