OBSERVATORY NEWS April 2014 Published by the Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) Volume 25 No. 4 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor

Spring (or any time of year!) is to COMING UP AT look for Messier objects in the night sky. The Messier catalogue THE OBSERVATORY.... is named after Charles Messier (1730 – 1817), a French astronomer who compiled a list of

Astronomy Thursday Apr 3 8p 103 relatively bright deep sky Astronomy Friday Apr 4 8p objects (galaxies, star clusters and FOTOKids Apr 4 8p nebulae) that are visible from the Stonelick Stargaze Apr 5 dusk Northern Hemisphere. Messier’s Marsapalooza Apr 10 9p chief interest was hunting comets, Marsapalooza Apr 11 9p and many of the objects had the Marsapalooza Apr 12 9p same fuzzy appearance as a distant

History Tours Apr 13 1-4p comet in his small telescope, but

1st Night Light Apr 13 8-10p did not move like a comet. He *FOTO Member’s Meeting Apr 14 7:30p THE WORD made a list of them so he would Lunar Eclipse Apr 15 2-5a remember these “not-comets” and Intro to Astronomy Apr 16, 23, 30 By Michelle Lierl Gainey not waste time tracking them Astrophoto Workshop Apr 17 7p again. Astronomy Thursday Apr 17 8p Hello friends! Finally, after a long winter it seems that spring has Since Messier was able to see Astronomy Friday Apr 18 8p these objects with his small Late Night @ the COC Apr 18 10:30p arrived! Spring is a great time to dust off your telescope or telescopes, we can also find all of Behind the Scenes Apr 21 7p them with our amateur telescopes; Astronomy Thursday Apr 24 8p binoculars, get out your star charts, and enjoy the beautiful night sky many of them are even visible in Astronomy Friday Apr 25 8p small binoculars. Many of these Stonelick Stargaze Apr 26 dusk without freezing. At this time of objects are very beautiful, History Tours Apr 27 1-4p year, the spectacular winter especially if you can do your constellations and deep sky objects observing in a dark sky location. *Note the monthly FOTO Members are still in the evening sky: the nd Thus, Messier objects are among Meeting has moved to 2 Mondays - Orion nebula, the Pleiades and 7:30pm at the Observatory Hyades star clusters, and many the most popular targets for amateur astronomers to observe. others; but the spring constellations Save-The-Dates! are making their appearance also, During April and May, all 103 Messier objects can be observed in Saturn Saturday May 10 with their accompanying galaxies a single night, if you are crazy Late Night @ the COC May 16 and star clusters. Jupiter and Mars enough to want to stay up Saturn Saturday II June 7 are in excellent positions for observing from dusk to dawn. Late Night @ the COC June 21 viewing and if you stay up late People actually do this; it is called Sun Sunday Sundae June 22 enough, Saturn will also make an Sun Sunday Sundae July 13 appearance! a “Messier Marathon” and there ScopeOut 2014 Sept 13 are awards for completing it. You can also earn bragging rights by 1 finding all of the Messier objects over any period of time (even Marsapalooza – The Return Amazon “Smiles” on the years), if you keep records. Just start a Messier notebook; for each of the Red Planet Observatory object you can record the date and 9 pm at the Observatory time you saw it, what kind of April 10, 11, and 12 instrument you used (i.e., type and aperture of telescope or By Dean Regas binoculars), and a brief description By Craig Niemi The Red Planet is back. Mars, of it. Many people find it fun and always a crowd favorite, will be Amazon will donate 0.5% of the useful to sketch each object, as this the featured planet for a three- price of your eligible purchases to forces you to observe it more night viewing extravaganza called Cincinnati Observatory Center carefully. Marsapalooza. whenever you shop on Amazon Here is a website with pictures Smile. and information about each object Amazon Smile is the same in the Messier catalogue: Amazon you know. Same http://messier.seds.org/?civicrm_in products, same prices, same stall_type=wordpress service. Next time you shop at The Astronomical League has a Amazon simply start at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/31- Messier observing program: you 1665954 can win a Messier Program Certificate if you observe most or all of the Messier objects. Here is FOTO Kids and the Astronomical League website: The Observatory will open its FOTO Teens http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsc doors and telescopes to the public lubs/messier/mess.html. while Mars is at its closest for the By Aashi Mital

I hope you all have a chance to year. There will be classes about get out and enjoy the night sky. Mars, tours of the buildings, and We had a brilliant time in March See you at our next FOTO viewing through the historic 1845 doing our very own Messier meeting, on Monday April 14! and 1904 telescopes (weather Marathon! Between the clear skies permitting). The Moon and and all of your energy, we were Jupiter will also be observed. Cost: thinking about carrying on until Museums and Historic Sites $7 per person. Reservations are the early hours of the morning, required for April 10 and 11 by regardless of the chilly air. It of Greater Cincinnati calling 513-321-5186. No seems like most of us are ready for a spring full of fresh air, plenty of reservations are needed for sunshine and Mars! The Red Saturday, April 12. Planet reaches opposition in April and will be dominating the night Planning Meeting skies in no time. Gear up FOTO Kids because By Michelle Gainey we’re bringing “Mars Night” to MHS of Greater Cincinnati is The next FOTO Planning Meeting you at the Observatory for our currently comprised of over 30 is scheduled for Thursday, April next meeting! We’ll be learning all participating sites across Greater 24, 6 pm at the Observatory. The about the fourth planet and you’ll Cincinnati. Each site offers a planning meetings are open to all get a chance to see it with your unique perspective on local history FOTO members. We encourage very own eyes through a telescope and culture through public your participation in the (if the weather works with us). See you at the “O” in the Herget programs, exhibits, lectures, and discussion of future FOTO Building on Friday, April 4th at 8 activities. tours. pm.

2 or when I share that view with one 50 For 50! UC Communiversity of our visitors.

By Aashi Mital That personal “first light”, the Enrich Your Life with term given to the first time you The Cincinnati Preservation Quality Courses view through a telescope, is Association’s contest is heating up. especially powerful now that April is here and we’re about to celebrate the Observatory’s First Light Night.

On April 14, 1845, in the gray of a lingering twilight, Mitchel took his In fact, things have gotten so hot first look through the great Cincinnati that they’ve extended the contest Equatorial Refracting Telescope. He th until April 30 ! The competition is saw the Moon, "her mountain heights, getting tight and we need to keep her rocky precipices and her dells", making headway, as other sites are th Jupiter, "globe of surpassing quickly closing the gap. The higher April 21 7-9p Behind the Scenes splendor", the Saturnian system, "the up on the list we are, the greater th mind over whelmed in wonder and the presence of the Observatory in May 12 8-10p Stargazing 101 astonishment." the regional area. If we are high th enough on the list, we will be part May 14 7-9p Mysteries of the Universe We hope you can come out on of an upcoming exhibit on Sunday, April 13th between 8 and historical preservation the CPA is All classes $22 per person (+ any 10 pm for the Observatory’s first opening this coming fall. So light celebration. materials fees.) To register contact remember to tell your family, Enjoy the fascinating story of UC Communiversity at 513-556- friends and co-workers to cast the unique cast of characters who their votes! 6932, www.uc.edu/ce/commu.html put Cincinnati first on the For those of you haven’t heard, astronomical map. We’ll have the Cincinnati Observatory has Craig’s Corner tours, telescope viewing (if clear) been submitted as an entry for the and astronomical Q&A. Cincinnati Preservation By Craig Niemi I hope your every visit to the Association’s “50 FOR 50!” Observatory is memorable! Contest. They are celebrating their Imagine my surprise when I 50th Anniversary by selecting the stepped out the other night, and top 50 buildings and historical high overhead was the brilliant New Star Gazers Report sites that make Cincinnati unique. planet Jupiter. Not that it was a How do you vote? The contest newcomer to the night sky; it had is through Facebook, but you just spent most of the past 2 couple don’t need to have Facebook to of months hidden behind clouds. vote. All you have to do is go to: After such a long and cloudy (https://www.facebook.com/pag winter is was nice to see the king es/Cincinnati-Preservation- of the planets again. It always Association/185964090342?v=app takes me back to my start in _448952861833126&rest=1). When amateur astronomy, that first view you get there, click on “View of Jupiter through my Star Gazers airs locally on Entries”, select the picture of the grandfather’s telescope. That was channels 14 and 48 and you can Observatory, which opens a new many years ago but I still feel the watch each month’s episodes on page where the “Vote” option excitement when I look through our website: becomes available and hit “Vote”. the eyepiece of the Mitchel scope, http://www.cincinnatiobservator y.org/stargazer.html 3 web resources and how they help Welcome FOTO's April Meeting you, a description of an astronomy book, movie or New & Renewing By Dave McBride software – all topics of interest to Members! others. This is the perfect time to On April 14th at 7:30 pm the share and discover. program committee will host our If you have a question about 2014 "Member's Night" of brief member's night prior to the presentations given on special meeting please send a note to one interest topics by our members. of the committee members. This is the occasion where several Contact Tom East presentations that are about 10 ([email protected]), Dave minutes in length are combined McBride ([email protected]) or for the evening's program. Our any FOTO program committee previous Member's Night last member. October was so popular that we Looking ahead to didn't have time to include our May program, we will have a everyone that wanted to presentation by Dr. Terra Clarke contribute. on the topic "Collecting, restoring, Member’s Night is a great and using classic, long focal Lina Alkamhawi opportunity for FOTO meeting length, achromatic refracting John Betsch attendees to share a topic of telescopes." Jim & Debbie Cagey personal interest. If you would like Jason Currie & Michelle Kilcoyne to speak on a topic at the meeting, Melody Dargis you are welcome to do so. Your FOTO Board Members Kelly Dobos presentation may be as simple as Terms expire Oct. 2014 Tom & Sally East speaking from your own seat John & Judy Eilers Except as noted location or speaking from the front Mark & Joan Erhardt of the meeting room. If you have President: Michelle Gainey Tim Schirmang & Brianna slides (PowerPoint, etc.) you may VP: Aashi Mital Frappier-Schirmang use your flash drive with the Secretary: John Barnes Tanja & Jeffrey Goldman laptop that we have, or you are Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen Karen Henriques welcome to connect your own FOTO Rep: Frank Huss (exp Oct Tyler J Herrmann laptop to the projector. It is a 2016) Mike Huesing freeform agenda meant to Trustees Reda & Jeff Hutton accommodate whatever you need John Blasing (exp. Oct 2015) Linda King to easily bring your topic to the Aaron Eiben (exp. Oct 2015) Paul & Anne Kunkel membership. Richard & Patricia Lyke Al Scheide For example, you may have David & Linda McBride Dave McBride Rodney & Susan Moeller taken some astro photos that you Kennedy Heights Montessori would like to share, or you may have a special location or A2Z Astronomy Class Connie Villasuso & Stephanie Pettrey technique for capturing the By Dave Bosse Shannon Poulos upcoming lunar eclipse, you may Due to my surgery, the A2Z Peter & Maggie Schneider have an explanation of how the clear sky chart works, a talk about Astronomy class is taking some Susan & Michael Schock time off for R & R. your favorite citizen science Elizabeth Selickman The regular attendees are aware project, your method for easy Sam and Cozetta Vessel of this and semi-regular or other Chris Giebler & Marcela Villareal scope collimation or scope attendees should watch this space William Wolf building project, your favorite for any upcoming A2Z activity.

4 Be an Observatory Star with Total Lunar Eclipse ScopeOut 2014

Your Kroger At the Observatory By Aashi Mital

Rewards Card! Tuesday Morning, April 15 Congratulations FOTO! You’ve made it through a tough and 2:00 am to 5:30 am seemingly never ending winter,

but with that being said, we have a By Dean Regas whole heap of adventures just

waiting for us on the horizon, You’re invited to a witness one of including ScopeOut 2014. the most exciting astronomical You’ll be happy to know that events on Tax Day morning. The Dale Zoller, along with the rest of Earth, Moon, and Sun will align in us on the ScopeOut Committee, order to bring you a total lunar have gotten an early start on eclipse. Because of clouds, we planning our “open house” and By Lyn Marsteller haven’t seen one in Cincinnati we need of your help to keep since 2008. things moving. The Cincinnati Observatory Center Now, you’ll have to stay up late We’re putting out a call for an is now a recognized participating for this one (or get up really early). MC (Master of Ceremonies or nonprofit organization in the Mic Controller) for ScopeOut this Kroger Community Rewards The eclipse begins at 2 am when year. This individual’s sole job Program. It’s a simple as 1, 2, 3, the curved shadow of the Earth would be to keep the event going and 4! creeps across the Moon. During by not only be keeping with If you have a Kroger Rewards totality, from about 3-4:30 am, the scheduling announcements, presenting the raffles and door card, simply go to Moon will turn an eerie shade of prizes, like in years past, but also krogercommunityrewards.com orange. The final piece of the to engage the crowd, talk to the and sign in. shadow will leave the Moon audience and truly get interactive  Go to the My Account tab around 5:30 am. and enter your email with our guests.

address and password, This person would be our Viewing of the Moon, Mars and “Cruise Director” and needs to be  Then select Edit Kroger Saturn through the Observatory social, have plenty of energy, Community Rewards, and telescopes will also be included. humor and entertaining qualities most importantly, The program runs only under about them. If you think that this  View organizations to clear skies. No reservations is the job for you at ScopeOut this select the Cincinnati required. Show up anytime year, then contact Dale Zoller at Observatory Center or between 2-5:30 AM. [email protected] or Aashi enter 55142, Admission: $5 suggested Mital at [email protected].  Confirm your selection. donation. We also want to get started on If you don’t have a Kroger For more information, please call getting some of the items for our Rewards card yet, simply ask for 513-321-5186. raffles and door prizes, so if you one at your checkout the next time know anyone who would be you are shopping at Kroger. willing to contribute or work with Kroger will send the Did You Know…. the Observatory, feel free to let us Observatory a quarterly portion of know through the email, as the proceeds it collects from the Astronomers are not sure which mentioned above. Community Rewards program. comes first…the galaxy or the Want to help us plan? Come This does not affect your Kroger black hole at the center of every join in at the meetings or contact Fuel Points, so go ahead, be a star! galaxy. Dale. I’m sure he’s got plenty to offer.

5 Astrophotography First Light Night Paul Nohr Sundial Workshop 169 Years of Astronomy at Commemoration (3rd Thursdays February-November) the Cincinnati Observatory By Craig Niemi

th Sunday, April 13, 8-10pm Next Session: Thursday, April 17 th Well over 100 came out for the 5 7:00 - 9:30 pm By Dean Regas anniversary of the dedication of the Paul Nohr Memorial Sundial. On April 14, 1845, in the gray of a It was great to see so many lingering twilight, Observatory Observatory friends and family. founder Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel took his first look through the Great Cincinnati Telescope, the 3rd largest in the World. He saw the Moon, "her mountain heights, her rocky precipices and her dells", Jupiter, "globe of surpassing splendor", the Saturnian system, "the mind over

Interested in learning how whelmed in wonder and astonishment." astronomers take those amazing images of the heavens? Learn about the First Light that made Interested in taking those pictures Cincinnati the "Birthplace of yourself? American Astronomy". This monthly course will teach There will be a beautiful The Sun actually cooperated so all you the tricks of the trade, help conjunction of the Moon with the our visitors were treated to solar you get the most out of the planet Mars that night and guests will viewing, sundial demonstrations equipment you already have, and be able to view them through the 169 and tours of this remarkable point you toward the best year old telescope (weather Landmark. upgrades. You might find your permitting). The Sundial has been a No reservations are needed. All images in a future Observatory tremendous addition to our ages welcome. Cost: $7 per adult. calendar. campus and our education Free for Cincinnati Observatory Free for Observatory Members and kids under 18. For further programming! Our thanks to members. Space is limited. If you everyone who through their time, have questions or would like to information, please call 513-321- talent and treasury made it a register call 513-321-5186. 5186. reality.

Greater Cincinnati STEM Ohio History Fund

Collaborative By Craig Niemi

You can support Ohio and Local Looking for one site to find this History by checking-off “Ohio winter’s outdoor recreation History” on your tax return. Last events? year over $110,000 was awarded to The Observatory is proud to be Visit the Meet me Outdoors organizations including several working with the Collaborative to website to find great things to do the southwest region which further STEM education in our outdoors, including stargazing (we region. You can find out more at count indoors under the dome as includes the Observatory. their new website! being outside) http://www.ohiohistory.org/abo http://www.greatercincystem.org http://meetmeoutdoors.com ut-us/ohio-history-tax-check-off 6 New Photo of NGC 1999 Mysterious Asteroid Stargazing at Stonelick

By Eric Africa Disintegration State Park

Saturdays – April 5th & 26th NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has recorded the never-before- By Craig Niemi seen break-up of an asteroid into as many as 10 smaller pieces. Fragile comets, comprised of ice and dust, have been seen falling apart as they approach the sun, but nothing like this has ever before been observed in the asteroid belt. Hello everyone! I know it's been a With Hubble’s superior while. I have a ton of data to resolution, space telescope process, and not enough time for observations soon showed there It’s spring! everything. I finally got around to were really 10 embedded objects, Need help with your telescope? considering this one "finished", each with comet-like dust tails. Bring it for expert tips setting it up though I'm sure I'll find warts in it The four largest rocky fragments and exploring the night sky. if I look long enough. are up to 400 yards in diameter. Stargazing begins at dusk. Open to Anyway, here is NGC 1999 and Hubble data showed the all ages. Stargazes are weather its surrounding regions. This fragments drifting away from each permitting. “Friend” the Stonelick target has been on my to-do list other at a leisurely one mph. The Lake Stargazers Facebook page for ever since I saw the Hubble asteroid began coming apart early weather and schedule updates. pictures of the "Keyhole" feature, last year, but new pieces continue and though the Hubble telescope to reveal themselves, as proved in has nothing to fear from my the most recent images. image, I'm pleased that the http://science.nasa.gov/science- keyhole portion is visible. news/science-at- Eyes of the Night This region of the sky is not nasa/2014/06mar_asteroid/ very far from the Orion Nebula, but rather than repeat details here, please read all about it on my ScopeOut 2014 Planning website: http://www.skiesbyafrica.com/N Committee Meeting ebulae/NGC1999.html Do go to a direct link to the big By Dale Zoller

(75% sized) image at: Mr. John Ruthven is offering The next ScopeOut 2014 Planning http://www.skiesbyafrica.com/N signed, limited edition giclee' ebulae/Images/NGC1999/NGC19 Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, April 15 at 6:00 pm at the prints of his "Eyes of the Night" 99-2014.jpg which features the Observatory! Observatory. ScopeOut is the Observatory's Each signed 14"x 20" print is on Did You Know…. annual open house and science fair sale for $150. The total run will be and will be held on Saturday, limited to 250 prints. Proceeds Any kind of black hole in our solar September 13, 2014. Anyone support the Observatory’s system would tear planets from interested in helping with the planning programs. To order contact Craig their orbits and smash them into of the various ScopeOut activities is Niemi at 513-321-5186 or invited to attend. each other. [email protected]

7 Scientists Capture First Ever Space Fest 2014 History of the Observatory

Signal From the Beginning of At the Air Force Museum April 13th & 27th 1-4 pm

the Universe By Terry Powell

The National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio will hold its annual Space Fest on Saturday, May 17. We could use 3-5 volunteers to work an exhibit table for the Observatory as well as several people to work solar telescopes. Ormond Stone: Director 1875-1882 The event lasts from 10am-5pm. First director at the current This would allow the volunteers to Mt. Lookout Observatory SEXPAND work “shifts” and have some free You're looking at the first direct time to view the other exhibits. As Drop in anytime between 1-4 pm, $5 proof of the event that started the an added bonus, you will get to per person suggested donation. Free Universe—the Big Bang. Those see their new Shuttle Crew for members. There are group tours by black lines represent the Compartment Trainer exhibit. A appointment. polarization of the Cosmic brief commercial for the event can Microwave Background, which be found at: Introductory Astronomy "could have been produced by http://www.youtube.com/watch gravitational waves created by ?v=XvO- Course inflation" as predicted by Einstein. QGHsgFQ&feature=youtu.be If confirmed, it could be one of the This is a great opportunity to At the Observatory biggest scientific discoveries in promote the Observatory. If you history. can help, please see Terry Powell Wednesdays, April 16, 23, and 30 Einstein predicted all of this in at the April 2014 FOTO meeting, 8:00 -10:00 pm 1916. His theory of general or email Terry at relativity hypothesized that these [email protected] Want to get started in astronomy? gravitational waves exist as ripples in the fabric of space-time, and Let astronomer Dean Regas show scientists have been trying ever Telescope as Big as a you the way to reading the stars, since to prove their existence. If finding planets, and marveling at gravitational waves DO exist that Galaxy the Moon. means that the rapid expansion of Dean will discuss the new and the universe in the moments after Astronomers have figured out improved Solar System, Moon the Big Bang actually happened. how to use the gravity of distant phases and features as well as However, you also have to galaxies to bend light and magnify identify major stars, constellations imagine that the Big Bang formed images, forming gigantic and planets. Plus he will show the pond itself. telescopes that see deeper into the you how to get the most out of http://gizmodo.com/astronomers cosmos than ever before. your binoculars and telescopes. -discover-first-direct-proof-of-the- FULL $50 for the series, $40 for big-bang- STORY: http://science.nasa.gov/s Observatory members. 1545525927/1545578133/+jesusdia cience-news/science-at- To register call: 513-321-5186. z nasa/2014/07mar_frontierfields/

8 Researchers have now developed a Nearby Planet-Forming Disk Large Mountain Discovered method for analyzing the pressure experienced by tiny samples of Holds Water For on Asteroid Vesta organic material that may have been ejected from dying stars. Thousands of Oceans http://www.sciencedaily.com/rel eases/2014/03/140331083736.htm

Incredible Technology: How to Grab an Asteroid and Park It Near Earth

An illustration depicting the sprawling cloud of cold water H vapor that astronomers have detected around the burgeoning While orbiting 130 miles above the solar system at the nearby star TW surface, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft Hydrae. The cold water vapor discovered Vesta has a mountain could eventually deliver oceans to dry planets that are forming in the larger than any of earth. system. NASA's plan to lasso an asteroid, The researchers used the Cosmic Barometer' Could bring it into a stable orbit near the Heterodyne Instrument for the moon and let astronauts visit it Far-Infrared (HIFI) on the orbiting Reveal Violent Events in might sound ambitious, but the Hershel Space Observatory to space agency is looking at two detect the chemical signature of Universe's Past different ways to make it happen. water. In one mission, a robotic probe This tells us that the key would fly out to a small asteroid materials that life needs are and bring the whole thing back for present in a system before planets astronauts to explore. The other are born. We expected this to be mission involves the robot bagging the case, but now we know it is a boulder from a larger space rock because have directly detected it. and parking it near the moon. We can see it. Either one will help scientists work http://www.sciencedaily.com/rel out some of technological hurdles eases/2011/10/111020171448.htm that they could come up against while sending humans deeper into New Planet at Solar space than ever before. The new mission, first proposed in 2013, Scientists have developed a way of could also help researchers learn System's Edge reading the universe’s ‘cosmic more about how to deflect barometer’ to learn more about a dangerous asteroid if it were on Scientists have discovered a new ancient violent events in space. a path to Earth. dwarf planet beyond Pluto on the Exploding stars, random impacts http://www.space.com/25289- edge of our solar system and involving comets and meteorites, asteroid-retrieval-mission- nicknamed it after Vice President and even near misses between two incredible-technology.html Joe Biden. bodies can create regions of great

heat and high pressure. 9