OBSERVATORY NEWS August 2015 Published by the Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) Volume 26 No. 8 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor

make your reservation for the dinner and speaker. Viewing COMING UP AT will follow the keynote presentation from 9-11pm THE OBSERVATORY.... (weather permitting). The "Science Tent" returns this year with the "cloud *Through the Telescope Aug 4 7p chamber" (cosmic rays), "" Thursday Aug 6 8:30p experiments (acceleration ramp, FOTOKids Youth Program Aug 7 7p pendulum, tennis ball drop, etc.), Astronomy Friday Aug 7 8:30p the inertial-guidance display, Stonelick Stargaze Aug 8 dusk and hands-on physics

Sun-day Sunday Sundae Aug 9 1-4p experiments from the UC FOTO Member’s Meeting Aug 10 7:30p Physics Department group. All About Eclipses Aug 11 8p Also returning this year is the Astronomy Friday Aug 14 8:30p R-22 helicopter from Stratus Stonelick Stargaze Aug 15 dusk ScopeOut 2015 Update Helicopters based at Lunken A2Z Astro Class Aug 16 7p Airport. New this year will be a FOTO Planning Meeting Aug 20 7p By Dale Zoller wind tunnel built by the son of

Astronomy Thursday Aug 20 8:30p one of our "Future Galileos" ScopeOut 2015 will be held Astronomy Friday Aug 21 8:30p participants, a display of model Saturday, September 12, 2015. @Lincoln Ridge Stargaze Aug 22 8:30p rockets from "Team Ohio As in the past, the main event History Tours Aug 23 1p Rocketry Club" and an exhibit will run from 12-5 pm. We will CMC Heritage Tour Aug 26 7p featuring a restored 60's-era hold the raffle drawing from 5-6 Astronomy Thursday Aug 27 8:30p rocket engine. There will also be pm and then the dinner and a Nissan Leaf electric car on Astronomy Friday Aug 28 8:30p keynote presentation from 6-8:30 Starlit Picnic Aug 29 7p display courtesy of Busam pm. We are pleased to announce Nissan . that this year's keynote speaker We have a great line-up of will be Dr. Bob O'Dell, former Save-The-Dates! classroom talks with topics Project Scientist for the Hubble ranging from the New Horizons Intro to Astro w/ Dean Regas Sept 2 & 9 Space Telescope and current mission to Pluto (Terry Endres) ScopeOut! Sept 12 collaborator with the Hubble to the science of global warming Saturn w/ Dean Regas Sept 15 Heritage Project. Ultimate Educator’s Expo Sept 16 (Dr. Terra Clark). Other talks As 2015 is the 25th include "Rocket Guidance Mitchell Society Event Sept 24 anniversary of the HST's launch, Systems" by Stephen Frey and Great Outdoor Weekend Sept 26 Dr. O'Dell's topic will be "25 "Martian Geography and Robot Super Lunar Eclipse Sept 27 Years of the Hubble Space Probes" by John Thomas of the Space Day @ iSpace Oct 3 Telescope." Contact Society. Pluto w/ Dean Regas Oct 13 Observatory director Craig ScopeOut is one of the * UC Communiversity Class Niemi as soon as possible to Observatory's premiere events and it requires a large number of clear, we’ll show you the . She has also, with Valerie dedicated volunteers to make it You provide the food, we’ll Niemi, helped to develop the run smoothly. We are quickly provide the celestial atmosphere. wonderful educational displays moving into the "crunch" time to $30 per person (which on meteorites and / get these positions filled. Please benefits the Observatory’s Saturn. We will all miss Aashi consider volunteering for one of outreach education programs) and wish her well as she pursues the many different areas (set up, Must be age 21 and up. her career options. registration, gift shop, parking, Reservations are required. With Aashi’s departure, we raffle table, dinner helpers, etc.). RSVP at 513-321-5186 or sign up are now without a FOTO Vice We try to keep volunteer online. President AND Secretary. Since assignments to a two-and-a-half there are only 2 months left hour shift so that you will also before elections, we will wait have time to enjoy the ScopeOut THE WORD until October to fill these activities. We will have signup By Michelle Lierl Gainey positions, but please be thinking sheets available at the August about whether you would like to FOTO meeting. If you would I hope you are all enjoying the run for one of these officer like to volunteer and cannot summer, and getting some positions. There will also be two attend the August FOTO chances to enjoy the night sky in Trustee positions open in meeting, please email Michelle the brief breaks from the rain and October. Gainey at [email protected], or me clouds. Saturn is in prime ScopeOut 2015 will be held at [email protected]. Our position above the Scorpion; on September 12, noon to 5 pm volunteers are what makes Sagittarius and all of its glorious with dinner and speaker to ScopeOut a success! fields, star clusters and follow. Dale Zoller and the nebulae are high in the southern ScopeOut Committee are sky, and the summer sky features working hard to make this the Starlit Picnic at the several glorious globular best ScopeOut ever! See Dale’s clusters! See if you can find article on page 1 in this Observatory M13, M3, M22, M92, and M15! newsletter for more information. These are all spectacular in a Many volunteers are needed Saturday, August 29th 7-10pm dark sky. to make this event a success. FOTO owes a special “Thank You can volunteer to help with You!” to Aashi Mital, our ever- ScopeOut by e-mailing me at energetic and enthusiastic vice [email protected]. Volunteers get president for the past 2 years, free admission to ScopeOut who has resigned her role at (although not to the dinner) and COC to focus on her career the chance to interact with the development. Aashi has done public to promote enthusiasm for much to enhance the experience astronomy. There are few places in the Tri- of our membership: organizing THANK YOU for all you do state as picturesque for a picnic Movie Nights, many excellent to keep the Cincinnati as the Cincinnati Observatory. field trips, helping to organize Observatory Center thriving and You’re invited to dine outdoors the Volunteer Appreciation serving our community. with us and take in a sunset, Dinners and other social events. listen to heavenly music as the In addition to her role for FOTO, full Moon rises, and then have Aashi has contributed many Did You Know… dessert under the stars. hours of devoted effort to This is a romantic picnic like developing and organizing Two thirds of all the moons in no other. COC’s historical files and our solar system orbit Jupiter or Bring your blankets, food and museum. Saturn. drinks, and if the weather is 2 show the flow of nitrogen ices FOTO's August 2015 Here’s Pluto! in geologically recent times across a vast region. They Meeting appear to flow similar to NASA's New Horizons glaciers on Earth. There are By Dave McBride also carbon monoxide and Space Probe Has Sent methane ices mixed in with the On Monday, August 10th, the water ices. program committee will Back Its Highest- At Pluto’s temperatures of welcome our very own minus-390 degrees Fahrenheit, Cincinnati Observatory Resolution Images Yet these ices can flow like a Outreach Scientist, Aaron glacier. We see the flow of Eiben, to speak to us about his of Pluto And Its Moons. viscous ice that looks like new program topic “Baseball on glacial flow the Planets.” Please plan to join As of July 26, New Horizons the fun at the 7:30 pm is 12 days past the Pluto flyby membership meeting. and already over 15 million What better way to celebrate kilometers beyond Pluto and this summer’s hot current events continuing its journey into the than to expand upon Kuiper Belt, the third realm of Cincinnati’s national celebrity of worlds in our solar system. hosting the MLB All Star Game as well as NASA’s huge success Until barely three weeks as their New Horizons spacecraft ago, Pluto tantalized human- made its dramatic flight past the ity for eight decades icy dwarf planet Pluto and its with mysteries we could only moons in July. We’re not trying imagine – seen as just a point to say that the information you’ll of light or fuzzy blob in the learn about could make a big world’s most powerful difference for the National telescopes. League – but you just never New Horizons discovered NASA’s New Horizons know! that Pluto is the largest known mission – which culminated in See you there! body beyond Neptune – and the first ever close encounter thus reigns as the “King of the with Pluto and its five moons Kuiper Belt!” FOTO Board Members by a spacecraft from Earth on The science team plans to (Terms expire Oct. 2015, July 14, 2015. target New Horizons to fly by Except as noted) With the resoundingly another smaller Kuiper Belt successful close flyby Object (KBO) as soon as 2018. President: Michelle Gainey completed and the piano http://www.csmonitor.com/S Vice President: Open shaped New Horizons probe cience/2015/0727/Breathtakin Secretary: Open now looking in the rear view g-Pluto-images-reveal-icy- Treasurer: Al Scheide mirror, the scientific booty is dwarf-planet-s-plains-and- raining down on receivers back FOTO Rep: Frank Huss (exp. mountians-video on Earth. However it will take Oct 2016) about 16 months to send all the

Trustees: John Blasing, Aaron flyby science data back to Earth Did You Know…. due to limited bandwidth. Eiben, Dave Bosse (exp. Oct The new imagery and Jupiter’s moon Ganymede has a 2016) and Chris Kean (exp. spectral evidence from the large salt water ocean under its Oct. 2016). Ralph instrument appears to icy mantle. 3 Gerald A. Shubs have two, now we have four. Welcome Todd Siegel There are two six-inch “Dobs” in Jim and Janet Steiner the inventory as well and these New & Renewing Jamie and Jason Suter are also fine telescopes. A four- Linda and Jim Weber inch refractor on a German- Members! Karley Winkler Equatorial mount is also part of the pool available for anyone Borrow a Telescope! who wants to gain the Equatorial experience. Telescope Loan Program In an effort to encourage FOTO members to participate in Update the program, a class will be offered in August to learn how Sunday, August 16, 7-9 pm to use/borrow one of the FOTO scopes and become a Dobson By Dave Bosse expert. Dobson telescopes are remarkably easy to use and even Did you know that as a member the German-Equatorial refractor of the COC you can borrow one is easy to use with a little bit of

of the very fine telescopes in the training. Suzanne Boyce FOTO Telescope Loan program? The free class will be offered Arthur and Kim Bradley For a whole month you could be on Sunday evening August 16th Michael Brown enjoying the wonders of the at 7:00 P.M. at the Observatory Melanie Grynsztejn and Elias night sky with a significant and you will be shown how to Buttress optical instrument without transport and use the telescope; Mitchell Camfield significant monetary investment. MaryAnn and Andrew Deak the ins and outs of eyepieces; This is a listed benefit of being how to find stuff in the sky; how Hallie Dovich a member of the COC that few Jan Engstrom to enjoy and explore the Celestial actually know about and even Erik and Jackson Evans Sphere. And much more! Come fewer take advantage. Try it Matthew Economou and take one home that night! before you buy it? Search the . and Tonja Fields deeper sky on your own turf? Terry Flesch Greater Cincinnati STEM Brian and Megan Gray Learn firsthand how a telescope Colleen Hauser performs? Turn the telescope Kathy and Bob Hinklin lingo that you might have heard Collaborative Gordon and Jill Hippe into practical experience? Count the craters on the moon? Get Cheryl and Ed Jordan Robert and Mary Kurimo close-up pictures of the squirrels Leslie Laine in your backyard? You can do it The Greater Cincinnati STEM Susan Abel and Lori Lambert all. Collaborative (GCSC) impacts Tom Law FOTO recently funded the STEM (Science, Technology, Denise Mustain addition of 2 eight-inch Engineering, and Mathematics) John Nerone Dobsonian Newtonian reflectors learning and career readiness Tom and Adelaide Ottenjohn into the program because the through active, engaged, data- Kathyrn Link and Seth Pinedo demand for the larger aperture driven partnerships between Juan Santamarina and Ann telescopes has always been high business, educational (Cincinnati Schwister (we only had 2) and we want to Becky and Frank Satullo Observatory), and community increase the opportunity for our partners. John and Rebecca Schlanger members. We want you to be Check out the new website! Scott and Kimberly Sears part of the equation. We used to Jon & Jacqueline Seymour www.greatercincystem.org 4 Astronomy Minor from a US graduation ceremony and college). Twelve completed during an informal dinner courses at Levels 1 and 2 earn afterwards. Studying and you a Diploma of Higher completing my degree at UCLan Education (similar to a US has been a challenging and Associate degree). And finally, a extremely rewarding experience. Bachelor of Science (with

Honors) requires completing 18 You can find all necessary courses at Levels 1, 2 and 3, information about UCLan University Degree in together with a 10,000 words distance learning program, Astronomy via Distance Dissertation and a Viva academic calendar, course Learning examination. availability, curriculum, fees and instructors at By Slawomir Bucki Level 1 courses do not require www.studyastronomy.com. Or previous mathematics or physics feel free to contact me if you If you are reading this COC knowledge beyond typical High have any questions at Newsletter you are probably an School curriculum, and include a [email protected]. Astronomy enthusiast with preparatory calculus and physics substantial knowledge on the course that is required for Level subject. But how about 2 and 3 courses. You can take Sun-day Sunday Sundae advancing your hobby through a from one to three courses per formal program from a world- school year, accordingly to your Sunday, August 9th class educational and research time availability and confidence 1-4 pm institution, and obtaining level. university certification all the way up a Bachelor of Science UCLan program allows you to (with Honors) degree, from the interact with world-class comfort of your home and at the instructors and researchers, pace that fits your schedule? many of whom are at the leading edge of research in astrophysics The University of Central and cosmology. You will also be Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston, able to interact with other What do astronomers do during United Kingdom offers a students from all over the world, the daytime? They stare at the Distance Learning program that building an international Sun... safely. allows amateur astronomers to network of amateur The Sun is the star attraction acquire different level astronomers. And best of all, on this Sunday and you can certificates, all the way up to a you will be able to proudly learn all about our nearest stellar Bachelor of Science (with display a university certification neighbor. Sun-day Sunday Honors) degree. You can study in the hobby you are passionate Sundae includes hourly and obtain certificates for about. programs about the Sun, tours of individual courses, such as our historic buildings, and safe Introduction to Astronomy, I started my studies at UCLan in viewing of sunspots and solar Introduction to Cosmology or 2007 and on July 13, 2015 flares out of our 1843 telescope Great Astronomers in History, or attended a graduation ceremony (weather permitting). you can enroll into a degree in Preston to collect my Bachelor As a special treat we will also program. Once you have of Science, First-Class Honors have free sundaes for those in completed six Level 1 courses degree in Astronomy. I was attendance. you can be awarded a Certificate finally able to meet face-to-face $7 per person. No RSVP of Higher Education in with my professors and fellow Needed. Astronomy (akin to an students, first during a formal

5 Cincinnati Physics Department Craig’s Corner for their generous support. UC Communiversity We’ll see you on September th By Craig Niemi 12 ! Enrich Your Life With Executive Director Quality Courses

Make sure Saturday September Museums and Historic 12th is free on your calendar! Sites of Greater Cincinnati Every fall the Friends of the Observatory host the ScopeOut Astronomy Education Fair. Originally conceived as a celebration of the hobby of Astronomy, ScopeOut included local telescope equipment MHS is comprised of over 30 retailers, equipment vendors & participating sites across Greater Through the Telescope th manufacturers, astronomy related Cincinnati. Each site offers a August 4 7:00 pm exhibitors, talks and activities unique perspective on local through the day, all leading up to history and culture through Looking through a telescope is the keynote dinner and lecture. public programs, exhibits, always fun; but did you ever Every year since 1999 ScopeOut lectures, and tours. wonder how the darn thing has drawn hundreds of amateur Many sites are seasonal and works? have reopened after the long astronomers, science buffs and Fun, visually dramatic winter. families to the Observatory. experiments will make the www.historicgreatercincinnati.or Over the years ScopeOut has mysteries of lenses and mirrors g crystal clear, even for those who grown to be even more inclusive and now draws more kids, scouts are not friendly with physics. and teachers to the day and Stargazing at Stonelick Call UC Communiversity at evening events. 513-556-6932 go to their website ScopeOut has been a STEM State Park www.uc.edu/ce/commu.html.

(science, technology, engineering, Saturdays – August 8 & 15 mathematics) showcase since before there was such a thing as Meet Me Outdoors STEM. Over the years ScopeOut has evolved to include more space related disciplines, solar energy, aerodynamics, environmental education and history. Looking for one site to find this You can read more about spring’s best outdoor recreation The Summer Skies events? Stargazing, hikes, biking, ScopeOut 2015 in this issue of the Newsletter and be sure to Need help with your telescope? everything outdoors. sign up via the Observatory’s Bring it for expert tips setting it http://meetmeoutdoors.com website. up and exploring the night sky. Our thanks to ScopeOut 2015 Stargazing begins at dusk. Open event chair Dale Zoller; the to all ages. Did You Know…. entire ScopeOut Planning Stargazes are weather Committee; all the hard-working permitting. “Friend” the Stonelick Astronomers are puzzled why the volunteers that make it such a Lake Stargazers Facebook page for entire surface of Venus appears to great event, and the University of weather and schedule updates. be exactly the same age. 6 July FOTO Meeting FOTO Kids & Teens

Highlights Rockets: Second Stage

By Michelle Lierl Gainey Do you know what is going to By Aaron Eiben happen two years from now on this month? Here’s a hint: it The July FOTO meeting was the Calling all rocket scientists—we involves the sun, moon and the annual picnic. Despite a very had so much fun last third of earth, and hopefully a clear stormy day, the weather cleared July building and launching sunny day. Another hint: the up just in time to give us a lovely rockets that we’re doing it again date is August 21, 2017. evening for the picnic! We had a this month! Join us Friday, Hopefully by now you will very pleasant visit. August 7th at 7:00 pm for air realize that I am writing about rockets, water rockets, and fire the Total Solar Eclipse that will rockets of all kinds. Learn why be visible across the continental rockets fly and how to make ‘em . go up high! Use your knowledge to build your very own water bottle rocket and claim the title in the Ultimate Altitude Challenge. I hope to see you all this month, ‘cause it’s gonna be a BLAST!!! The graphic above says it all.

The white line is the area where the eclipse will be total and the red and blue areas will have only Stargazing at Lincoln a partial eclipse. Totality begins in the Pacific Northwest, crosses Ridge Park the Great Plains and Mississippi River valley, the Appalachian Saturday, August 22 8pm Mountains, and leaves the continent just north of Charleston, South Carolina. In the Pacific Northwest the duration is 2 minutes; the Great Plains duration increases to 2 minutes 30 seconds. The greatest duration is in the southern Illinois and western Kentucky regions at 2 minutes 41 seconds. In South Carolina the For questions and comments, duration has decreased to 2 420 Independence Station Rd., call the Observatory at 513-321- minutes 30 seconds. So, there is Independence, KY 41051 5186 or email Aaron at a whole lot of country that will [email protected] be in the shadow of totality. Volunteers from Friends of the Now is the time to seriously Observatory Center will help Astronomy Wisdom... I am a think about making the trek to open your eyes to the wonder of passenger on Spaceship earth. — witness one of the greatest sights the universe. You are welcome to R. Buckminster Fuller, Operating in all of astronomy. For more bring your telescope and Manual for the Spaceship Earth, detailed maps, go to binoculars. 1969 www.greatamericaneclipse.com Free and open to all.

7 so simple and so very easy to use A2Z+ Astronomy that anyone can master one of these telescopes in a matter of Telescopes and More minutes (but then we will go on to what to do with it). Even if Telescopes you already own a telescope there will be something to take Sunday, August 16, 7-9 pm away from this class.

By Dave Bosse Join us at the August A2Z+ Astronomy class at the

Observatory on Sunday, August Even though we again failed to 16th at 7:00 pm when this month complete the second part of QED we will conjure up the spirit of Ultimate Educators Expo during last month’s part two, John Dobson. we’re giving Quantum Electro Presented by the Greater The A2Z+ Astronomy classes Dynamics a rest for a while. A Cincinnati are held the third Sunday of each special thanks to Aaron Eiben month at 7:00 pm in the West Environmental who helped out with the Wing of the Herget Building and Educators mathematical explanations. That delve into topics Astronomical. actually did make it more September 16, 2:30 -7:00 pm The group will meet for about an understandable (?). It helped us hour or so and attendance is free to understand things like “light Tri-State educators are invited to to any member of the COC. travels in a straight line… the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical because it goes every which Garden for the 2015 Ultimate way,” or “light sometimes New Horizons @ Pluto Educator Expo. actually travels at the speed of The event, hosted by the Zoo light, but mostly it’s faster or in partnership with Greater slower.” It was fun while it Cincinnati Environmental lasted; we’ll get back to part Educators (GCEE), takes place at three at some future class. For the Cincinnati Zoo’s Harold C. now, we’ve got to let our minds Schott Education Center on relax a little bit. Wednesday, September 16 from Combining the August A2Z+ 2:30 - 7:00 pm. class with the Telescope Loan The Expo features break-out Program training class should sessions in which teachers will provide just the relaxation we gain practical information on need, (See the article on page four great environmental education opportunities. Over thirty-five of this Newsletter providing the details of the class “Borrow a Over 200 visitors came out on environmental organizations, Telescope”), but we will basically July 14th to be at the Observatory including the Observatory, will learn how to borrow and use one when history was made! After be there to share their of the Dobsonian telescopes from nine years hurtling across the educational programs available the Loan Program inventory. solar system, New Horizons to teachers and students. Setup; teardown; arrived at Pluto. http://cincinnatizoo.org/events transporting, use; eyepieces; sky; Young and old joined us for /ultimate-educator-expo/ star-charts; focusing; finder the live feed from NASA, Q&A, alignment; collimation; tours, solar system activities and Did You Know ; Messier; NGC; telescope viewing. magnitudes; star-hopping; all And yes we had the All-Star All the water which has ever things telescopic; we’ll cover it game on too. been, is still here. all! The Dobson mount design is 8 to our sun, and at about the habitable zones. Seven NASA Says We’ve Found same distances as Earth orbits candidates appear to orbit solar- the sun, meaning it has a similar type stars, Coughlin said. “Time Closest Twin To Our Earth length year and exists in the will tell if they stand the tests.” “habitable zone” where liquid The discovery “takes us one step Outside Our Solar System water can exist on a planet. closer to understanding how Jenkins said they suspect the many habitable planets are out planet is rocky, likely with active there”, said Joseph Twicken, a volcanoes, and has a thicker SETI scientist also on the Kepler atmosphere with greater cloud mission. cover than the Earth. Coughlin said that sifting But although 452b has more through the catalog will help in common with Earth than any astronomers “determine the exoplanet yet discovered, its star number of small, cool planets

is 1.5bn years older, 4% more that are the best candidates for A NASA illustration depicts one massive and 20% brighter than hosting life”. possible appearance of the our own. As stars age they grow “We’re trying to answer really planet Kepler-452b. Photograph: in mass and energy, casting fundamental questions,” NASA/Reuters more heat at the objects in their Grunsfeld said. “Where are we

orbit. going as human beings, and of Working off four year’s worth of Jenkins compared them to course the really grand question: data from the Kepler space people. “When they’re young are we alone in the universe?” telescope, researchers from they’re small and dim,” he said, The Kepler telescope can find NASA, the SETI Institute and and millennia later “they grow possible planets by detecting several universities announced and they get brighter”. tiny changes in the brightness of the new exoplanet along with 12 The new planet consequently stars as planets pass between possible “habitable” other receives 10% more energy than them and Earth. The researchers exoplanets and 500 new the Earth, meaning it could will have to use other candidates in total. provide a glimpse into a techniques, such as looking for “This is the first possibly rocky, burning, waterless future on shifts in the motion of other habitable planet around a solar- Earth, the scientists said. suns, to verify the nature of the type star,” said Jeff Coughlin, a “Kepler 452b could be objects. SETI scientist. All 11 previously experiencing now what the Earth Of the 4,661 exoplanet discovered exoplanets of a will undergo more than a billion candidates catalogued by the similar size and orbit travel years from now,” said Doug Kepler mission, 1,028 have around stars that are smaller and Caldwell, a SETI Institute been confirmed. Eleven of those cooler than the sun. scientist on the Keplar mission. are confirmed exoplanets less “It is the closest thing that we “If Kepler 452b is indeed a rocky than twice Earth’s size and in the have to another place that planet,” he said, its location habitable zone of their stars. The somebody might call home,” “could mean that it is just first exoplanet orbiting a distant said Jon Jenkins, a NASA entering a runaway greenhouse star was discovered in 1995. scientist. The planet is like phase of its climate history. Its Earth’s “older, bigger first ageing sun might be heating the cousin”, he said. surface and evaporating any Did You Know…. The research suggests 452b oceans. The water vapor would has five times the mass of Earth, be lost from the planet forever.” Uranus contains the coldest is about 1.5bn years older, and The scientists also found 11 other atmosphere in the solar system, has a gravity about twice as possible exoplanets that might with low temperatures hitting powerful as our own. be less than twice the Earth’s 371 degrees below zero. About 1,400 light years away, diameter and orbiting in Kepler 452b orbits a star similar 9 Dean’s Fall 5142 is the Kroger Astro Evenings at the Astronomy Classes Community Rewards Observatory

We have the line-up for Dean’s Number for the Thursdays Aug 6, 20, 27 Topics in Astronomy Classes this Observatory Fridays Aug 7, 14, 21, 28 fall. These one-night classes are 8:30-10:00 pm great for beginners and folks wanting to learn more about a subject or skill. Upcoming classes include:

August 11 at 8 pm – All about Eclipses. Stories of astronomical travel plus upcoming excuses for you to see the universe while In awe with the beauty of the seeing the world. night sky? Have questions about the Universe? This is where you Sept. 15 from 7-9 pm it’s can get the answers. Spectacular Saturn. Astronomy Evenings include

After a quick and easy sign up short presentations on a wide Oct. 13 from 7-9 pm - Pluto, and online, every time you swipe variety of topics and plenty of Other Small Stuff. your Kroger Plus Card a time for your astro-questions. donation goes to support the Tour of the Cincinnati Nov. 10 from 7-9 pm Binocular Observatory’s mission. No cost Observatory, which as a Astronomy, to you; no loss of fuel points. National Historic Landmark https://www.kroger.com/accou played an important role in the Each class is $15 ($12 for nt/create history of Cincinnati and our members) and reservations are nation. Once dark, we will view recommended. Call Dean at 513- the Moon, planets and deep 321-5186 or email him at New Star Gazers space treasures through the [email protected] historic 1845 telescope. (Program is held rain or shine; telescope Amazon “Smiles” on the viewing if clear skies). The topics and the night sky Observatory change week-to-week/month-to- month so you can visit often to hear and see something new Free for Observatory members! For the latest schedule see the

web calendar then sign up Amazon will donate 0.5% of the online. price of your eligible purchases to Cincinnati Observatory Center whenever you shop on Star Gazers airs locally on Did You Know…. AmazonSmile. Next time you channels 14 and 48 and you can shop at Amazon simply start at watch each month’s episodes on http://smile.amazon.com/ch/3 http://www.cincinnatiobservato Clouds on Venus, about 30 miles 1-1665954 ry.org/stargazer.html up, might be able to sustain life.

10 Sun. Secondly, we cannot verify Planning Meeting Next: The Mars that they have cleared their orbit of other objects. Michelle Lierl Gainey InSight Mission Moving now to our Solar

System, according to Dr. Amy The next FOTO Planning Mainzer (chief WISE Meeting is scheduled for With the success of the first Mars investigator), there are no Thursday, August 20 at 7 pm at rover mission, NASA immediately began coming up known gas giants out to 1000 COC. The planning meetings with new probes to launch to the AU. Furthermore, there is no are open to all FOTO members. surface of the red planet in evidence of noticeable asteroid We encourage your participation advance of a manned mission. gaps that would indicate the in the discussion of future FOTO The InSight mission, which is presence of such a massive activities. scheduled to take off in 2016. object. The probe will release Those who have read my We Need a Woodworker instruments designed to record treatise: “The Curious Case for seismic activity and heat deep Sedna”, should also agree that

within the planet, giving us an object with a minimum mass By John Blasing more information as to how it equal to that of Mars was

was formed. responsible for Sedna’s current http://www.tested.com/science orbit (also 2012 VP113’s orbit). I /space/535532-10-awesome- call it an object, according to the -space-projects-near- IAU’s definition of a planet; with future/item/mars-insight- no indications that it has cleared mission/ its neighborhood. The Hill Sphere, the sphere of Revisiting Planetary gravitational influence, is relatively small compared to the Status orbit’s circumference. A The base of FOTO's otherwise “planet” the size of Uranus By Fred Bowman very successful cloud chamber is would not conform to these rigid built from a heavy corrugated If it looks like a planet and acts restrictions. At 1000 AU even paper box. The box faces two like a planet – it is a planet! mighty Jupiter would be challenges while in service: The IAU, in 2006, defined a relegated to “dwarf planet” water condensate from the cold planet as “a celestial body that status, because of distance, not of the dry ice, and the steady (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) size. stream of curious kids leaning has sufficient mass for its self- Pluto may not be a planet but on it as if it's a shelf. gravity to overcome rigid body a Jupiter at 1000 AUs would be It isn't holding up well. If forces so that it assumes a as ineffective at clearing its there is a woodworker / hydrostatic equilibrium (round) orbit. Jupiter at this distance carpenter / cabinetmaker in shape, and (c) has cleared the could have satellites in stable FOTO's ranks who might be neighborhood around its orbits as far away as 30 AUs, willing to take on the project of orbit.” taking many centuries to orbit its building something more robust, The first problem I find is primary. of plywood perhaps, we'd be that all extra-solar objects that I feel that it would be delighted to talk details! Please are not stars are, by IAU beneficial to eliminate both contact Aaron Eiben or myself if definition, not planets either, condition “a” and “c”. Refer to you'd like to have a closer look. regardless of size -- they are not the first paragraph for in orbit around our clarification. 11 and see birds of prey up close. History of the Observatory Maybe you will learn how to Wurst Date Night Turns Out grow your own food or shoot a August 23rd bow and arrow! Every event is To Be the Best, Drop in anytime FREE! Starlit Picnic between 1-4pm The Observatory will be open

Saturday September 26th from 7:30-9:30pm for tours, Q&A and By Anna Hehman stargazing. www.cincygreatoutdoorweekend. The Development team is happy org to have wrapped up a very successful first time event, a

collaboration with the Wurst Bar Intro to Astronomy on the Square called the Wurst Date Night Ever! The event sold A Short-Course at the out, with 50 attendees meeting at Wurst Bar to be shuttled up to Cincinnati Observatory 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 the Observatory for tours and What is it? viewing on a beautiful Thursday What is it doing at the Wednesdays, Sept. 2 & 9 evening, July 23rd. Observatory? 8-10 pm

Stop by for the whole story or Want to kickstart a new, starry just the highlights. It’s all hobby? This introductory fascinating and connects our past astronomy course is perfect for with your future. beginners who want to know $5 per person suggested more about observing the night donation. Free for members. sky. The guests – many of them first Group tours by appointment. Led by astronomer and co- time visitors – were then shuttled back to Wurst Bar to host of PBS’ Star Gazer, Dean Regas, this course will show you enjoy their beautiful patio and Happy Hour pricing the rest of the stars. You will learn how to the evening. The event, identify stars, constellations, and developed by Observatory planets as well as viewing tips Development Chair Jenny for the Moon. Each night O’Donnell, a Wurst Bar regular includes viewing through the historic telescopes (weather for dinner, will hopefully be the first in a series with this permitting). Cost: $30, ($25 for successful collaboration. Coming up on August 29, the September 27 & 28 Observatory members) Observatory will host a Starlit To register call 513-321-5186. Picnic, a romantic evening under Would you believe that over one weekend you will have 125 the stars for couples, who will be outdoor recreation and nature Did You Know… invited to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy while they listen to activities to choose from around the greater Cincinnati region?? Stars orbiting the black hole at beautiful live music and sunset. You might climb way up in the center of our galaxy spin Once darkness falls, the guests the tree tops, or stargaze, or row about 10,000 kps, or fast enough will be invited to view through on the Great river! You to go around the Earth in 4 the historic telescopes. Tickets for this event are $30. will have several chances to hike seconds!

12 Lastly, our Mitchel Society and Ralph Pudritz of McMaster formation of moons around the Donor Appreciation event will University have shown that super- of other solar be held Thursday, September some moons of those planets systems. Those moons could be 24th at the Observatory. This could be habitable. twice as massive as Mars. annual event is a Thank You to Their findings suggest that With about 4,000 exoplanets those who support the some moons of exoplanets -- known to exist so far, and with Observatory as Mitchel Society planets beyond our solar system increasing technological givers, and we’re looking -- are the right size, in the right capabilities, an exomoon forward to another great position and have sufficient discovery is now looming on the celebration. We’ll also be water to support life. horizon. If these giant moons sending out in early Fall an For all this time, we have been around giant planets exist, they Annual Appeal to help build looking on other planets, when might already be present in the community awareness and the answer could be on a moon." available data of NASA's Kepler support for our programs. Please Exoplanets are being counted in space telescope, or they could be keep an eye out for this piece! the thousands since the detectable with the European

development of new, non-visual Space Agency's upcoming Jupiter's Moons -- methods that allow scientists to PLATO space mission and "Hint at Life on Alien prove their existence by European Southern measuring light patterns from Observatory's ground- Moons of Gas Giants" sun-like stars that dim slightly as based European Extremely Large the planets pass in front of them Telescope. in orbit. Everyone right away tends to Many planets outside the categorically exclude the solar system are even more possibility of life on Io. massive than Jupiter, and they Conditions on Io might have orbit their Sun-like stars at an made it a friendlier habitat in the Earth-like distance, but these distant past. If life did ever faraway super-Jupiters are develop on Io, there is a chance it effectively giant gas balls that might have survived to the cannot support life because they present day. lack solid surfaces. Their moons, Life on the surface is all but though, might have the right impossible, but if you go down conditions for liquid surface further into the rocks, it could be water and therefore for life to intriguing. Computer models Jupiter's moon Io. With plumes of matter rising up to 186 miles above emerge and evolve. suggest Io formed in a region the surface, Io is considered a prime While recent research has around Jupiter where water ice candidate as a hotspot for extreme focused on exoplanets, the was plentiful. Io's heat, extraterrestrial life. McMaster authors are eager to combined with the resulting study the moons of those giant possibility of liquid water, could Researchers who have modeled Jupiter-like planets, which they have made life plausible. There planetary systems far beyond believe to have migrated into must have been quite a lot of our own solar system have more temperate ranges of distant water on Io shortly after found that massive moons larger stars, towing watery moons in formation, judging from the than Mars might be the best their orbits. amount of water ice on Europa bet. Using data from our solar Closer to home, Heller and and Ganymede. system and observations of huge Pudritz modelled the early life of http://www.dailygalaxy.com/ planets far beyond the visual Jupiter, revealing a pattern of ice my_weblog/2015/06/jupiters- range of any telescope, distribution on Jupiter's moons moons-hint-at-life-on-alien- astrophysicists René Heller that led them to predict the moons-of-gas-giants.html

13 Here’s an article just received….

Gourmet Grub for Good Causes Benefits

Observatory

Join more than 250 guests for great food and a great cause at Gourmet Grub for Good, an This is…. amateur chef competition and ….The End fundraiser for Community Shares. The event is 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 at Mayerson Jewish Community Center, 8485 Ridge Road. Jenny O'Donnell will be the Cincinnati Observatory Center's Celebrity Chef, serving up a lentil and sweet potato "side dish." Come support Jenny and the "O" and enjoy a fun evening. $45 Event Tickets are available at https://secure.acceptiva.com /?cst=089c47 or by contacting Community Shares at 513-475- 0475.

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