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Astronomy News for Bluewater Stargazers Vol 15 No.2 Mar/Apr 2021 Mar/Apr 2021 SGN Contents p 1: BAS will have exec positions available in 2021 p 2: Two former club members remembered Veteran astro-imager Alan Dyer captured the Jupiter- p 3: “Heavens blaze forth the deaths of princes" Conjunction of Dec, 2020 on Dec 20, the night before (image p 4: water may be from above) and again on the night after Dec 22. A snowstorm p 5: New Solar Halo type discovered prevented viewing on Dec 21! p 6: Most Distant object is “Far far out" p 7: Why is there something and not nothing? The image above was taken Dec 20 when the two were p 8: Perseverance lands on 8’ 23” or so apart and the brighter Jupiter was almost p 9: Mars images exactly below Saturn. Inset shows an enlarged view. p 10: Sunspot cycle 25 has started p 11: Quetican FoV: Beauty and Wonder in Nature -part 2 On Dec 22, Alan had clear skies again and time to make a p 12: Tom Thomson’s Northern Lights video which he posted on Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/ p 13: : and 494479858 -it is well worth a look. He presents a telescopic p 14: Indigenous Constellation: Wintermaker view with Jupiter 10 arc-minutes from Saturn. The video is p 15: March & April Sky and Planet Sights labelled and he does a commentary that is very informative. p 16: New ZWO planetary cam images After seeing his video you can say that you have seen the p 17: Miscellaneous Page: Stuff for Sale Great Conjunction of 2021!

BAS needs YOU to consider an exec position Please consider helping out your club by making yourself This month is election time for BAS exec positions. Any available for executive duties. Once we start back up again BAS member can nominate themselves for one of the four after the Covid-19 issue is behind us, perhaps by summer elected positions: president, vice-president, secretary and or fall of 2021, having additional expertise on exec would treasurer. Positions like public outreach, membership chair, take some of the stress off the long-serving members who Member-at-Large, etc., are appointments made by the have given their time and experience to this organization current exec as need arises and given willing volunteers. thus far. The duties associated with all BAS positions are outlined in our By-Laws available on our website. Note that, as in many So kindly give it some thought. New executive members are other organizations like ours, duties are shared among the always appreciated by those who will continue to serve, and group on a co-operative basis, which has worked well for us are a welcome source of new ideas, approaches and in the past. Members have received an email explaining the expertise as BAS continues into the post-Covid-19 era. nomination/voting procedure already.

Disclaimer: SGN reports on the activities of the Bluewater BAS Executive 2020-2021 Astronomical Society (formerly Bruce County Astronomical President (interim): vacant Society) but any opinions presented herein are not necessarily V-President (interim): vacant endorsed by BAS. For up-to-date details relating to BAS Secretary: Lorraine Rodgers [email protected] Treasurer: Cheryl Dawson [email protected] events see the BAS website at www.bluewaterastronomy.com. Member-at-Large: Zoë Kessler [email protected] SGN is produced and edited by John Hlynialuk and I am solely Membership: Marian Ratcliffe [email protected] responsible for its content. I maintain a web presence at www.johns- Public Outreach: John Hlynialuk [email protected] astronomy.com. Your original articles, images, opinions, comments, observing Past Pres: John Hlynialuk [email protected] reports, etc., are welcome at SGN. I reserve the right to edit for brevity or clarity. Errors or omissions are entirely mine. I will not publish your emails or other materials without your specific permission. No part of this publication shall be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the editor’s consent. However, the Sky Events and Constellation pages are free to copy for non-commercial use. Feel free to forward this issue in its entirety to friends. You are welcome to email comments and/or submissions to [email protected]

S G N BAS club members remembered Mar/Apr 2021 pg 2

Keith Oswald Keith Oswald, of West Grey, passed away suddenly in London, Ont. on Thursday, December 24, 2020. He was 57.

Born in Sunderland, England on December 14, 1963 to Bryan and Irene (nee Smith) Oswald.

Survived by loving spouse Marian Ratcliffe of West Grey, 32 of happy marriage and 38 years as best friends. Dear son of Bryan and Irene Oswald of Kanata, Ontario. Dear brother of Peter (Teresa) Oswald of Nepean and their children Rebecca and Jacob. Son-in-law of John Ratcliffe of Scarborough. Fondly remembered by his brothers-in-law Doug Ratcliffe of Kitchener, Alan (Deb DaCosta) Ratcliffe of Vanessa, Norman (Tracey) Ratcliffe of Keswick and their families. Predeceased by his mother-in-law Roberta Ratcliffe.

He will be dearly missed by his friends and by coworkers at Chapman's Cream. We would like to thank the Chapman's family for all the support they offered Keith during his illness.

Keith enjoyed living out in the country with the dark skies, where he could pursue his love of amateur astronomy. He was a member of the Bluewater Astronomical Society. Keith Oswald was a long time member of BAS and always ready to lend a hand with his telescope on star-gazing To honour his wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be nights. He and Marian were consistent participants in our a private family Celebration of Life at a later date when it is safe events and enjoyed sharing the . Both were eager to do so. to conserve the dark night sky status in the West Grey area and Keith supported Marian’s work with the local In recognition of the excellent care and services provided to municipal dark sky committee. Keith during his illness memorial donations to the London Health Sciences Foundation - Cancer Program would be BAS has made a contribution to the London Health appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Sciences Foundation in Keith’s Memory. -ed

More Remembrances of Robert Williamson

After the last issue of SGN was published, I received a tribute to Robert Williamson from his daughter, Janet (image left with Robert). She also sent along a number of photos and two are included here. As mentioned in the last last issue, Robert donated his 12 inch Dobsonian (image right) to BAS and it is in use as a club scope presently.

As indicated last time, Robert was an avid tinkerer and made interesting adjustments to the scope, creating camera holders, balancing systems, and a custom light shroud among other items. That telescope is referred to as “Inspector Gadget” in tribute to Robert. He also had an 8-inch Celestron SCT and he had several homemade items on it as well. These included a sunfinder, laser pointer holder, and a custom battery box. It was clear that Robert greatly enjoyed adding these devices to his scopes to make them more useable.

S G N Two club members remembered Mar/Apr 2021 pg 3 A Tribute to my Dad, Robert by Janet Williamson For decades Dad lived in Toronto and was an active member My father, Robert James Williamson, was born July 3, 1923 of the Astronomical Society and after retirement, he moved to and died November 10, 2020. Dad was the fifth child of Port Elgin and elated, he continued his commitment to twelve and at an early age was inspired by his musical attending and supporting the Astronomical Society there. He parents to play the piano by ear. His gift for piano extended honoured the members of the society, helped to erect the new into his 97th . building and spoke highly of many who shared a common bond in the love for astronomy, the and universe. Dad worked as an accountant all his life, immigrated from The astronomical society was his second family and it also Jamaica to with a wife and four children when he was included his brother-in-law who shared his passion. I age thirty-five. In Canada three more were born for a family of remember when he bought his big telescope that he wheeled seven children. Unfortunately, his marriage ended, and within out on a dolly, and all the gadgets he created to enhance the ten years his family moved away to British Columbia. I, his telescope's performance, so that he could take pictures of third child and first daughter, stayed in Ontario and remained the transit of . This pleased him, indeed. very close to my Dad all my life. He was a vital part of his grandchildren's lives, participating in all our Celebrations, Astronomy was Dad's deepest passion, and his telescope Christmas, Easter, birthdays, Holidays and his was always in ready mode, situated at a window with the best grandchildren's Graduations. night sky view. When Dad moved to Peterborough at age 90 and then to live with me at age 93 until his entry into a Dad was by my side comforting me when his first grandchild, nursing home at age 96, his use of the telescope diminished, my daughter, passed away as a young adult. His quiet, but his love and conversation about the stars never waned. comforting presence spoke volumes to me of his love and Living with me, I was his captive audience, and daily he commitment to his grandchildren. Dad was always a lovingly spoke of his love, knowledge and memorable experiences supportive, loyal, kind, quiet and soft spoken man. Dad was with the Astronomical Society. Dad's love, passion and truly a gentleman. devotion to the stars and the universe lives on in my heart. There will always be an empty void in my heart, as I sorely In all Dad's life, his one deepest passion that he spoke miss his loving presence, and all the stories he shared about confidently and knowledgeably about was astronomy. He was astronomy and about the Astronomical Society. well read and loved the stars, the , the universe and beyond. His curious mind inspired him to explore every book Thank you for the opportunity to share this tribute to my dear about the universe, and his dedication to knowledge he father. Stay healthy and safe in the new year, 2021. shared, animated when he talked about the wonders of the All the Best, Janet Williamson universe and his many telescopes and gadgets. His mind was analytical, creative, scientific and zealous for expanding his understanding and knowledge of the stars and universe. He used his creativity to modify his telescopes so that the gadgets he invented enhanced the telescope's performance.

From the Editor: One of my favourite quotes from Shakespeare’s works come from that classic “Julius Caesar” where Calpurnia has dread thoughts about Caesar’s going to the forum where he ultimately meets his fate.

She says: When beggars die, there are no seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.

Caesar replies: … The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come.

So I have to wonder about the recent appearance of the NEOWISE. I would like to believe that the passing of these “princes”, Ross, Robert and Keith was commemorated by the appearance in the sky of the most spectacular comet of a generation. Rest in peace, good friends.

S G N A Different Possible Lunar Water Source: Us Mar/Apr 2021 pg 4 “Earth Wind” May Transport Water to the Moon Feb 12, 2021 Dr.Tony Phillips The is windy. Every , 24/7, a breeze of electrified gas blows away from the sun at almost 2 million km/h. sparks beautiful auroras around the poles of Earth, sculpts the tails of comets, and scours the surface of the Moon.

Would you believe, Earth is windy, too? Our own planet produces a breeze of electrified gas. It’s like the solar wind, only different, and it may have important implications for space weather on the Moon.

“Earth wind” comes from the axes of our planet. Above: An artist’s concept of Earth wind (blue) Every day, fountains of gas shoot into space from the poles. The leakage is tiny compared to Earth’s total comes to producing water, Earth wind has some big atmosphere, but it is enough to fill the magnetosphere with a advantages over solar wind. When the full Moon is inside riot of rapidly blowing charged particles. Ingredients include Earth’s magnetic tail, it is surrounded by Earth wind and ionized , , and nitrogen. feels its impact on the lunar nearside, farside, and poles, -all are peppered with Earth wind particles. Thus, Earth wind Once a month, the Moon gets hit by a blast of Earth wind. It can potentially make water anywhere–unlike the solar wind happens around the time of the full Moon when Earth’s which rains down only on the lunar dayside. magnetic tail points like a shotgun toward the lunar disk. For 3 to 5 days, lunar terrain is bombarded by H+, He+, O+, N2+ Another potential advantage of Earth wind: it is oxygen rich. and other particles. “Oxygen is another key element of water,” points out Shi. “Whether these oxygen ions can contribute to the formation One effect of Earth wind, just discovered, is to create water. of lunar water is a very intriguing question for future study.” According to a new study published in the January 2021 edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters, Earth wind can actually make H2O on the lunar surface.

“Hydrogen ions in Earth wind combine with oxygen in Moon rocks and soil to make hydroxyl (OH–) and water (H2O),” explains one of the lead authors, Quanqi Shi of Shandong University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. “This came as a surprise.” Researchers have long known that hydrogen from space raining down on the Moon can create a temporary form of surface water. Solar wind does it all the time. However, this kind of water was expected to dry up once a month when the Moon enters Earth’s magnetic tail. Terrestrial magnetism deflects solar wind, turning the faucet to the OFF position. But that’s not what happened. Above: A lunar far side crater viewed by NASA's Moon The researchers looked at data from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper on the Indian Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft. Mineralogy Mapper (M3) onboard India’s Chandrayaan-1 Left is the brightness, right the abundance of water spacecraft, which was orbiting the Moon in 2009 when the (light blue) and hydroxyl (red) around a small crater. Hydroxyl- Moon made multiple passes through Earth’s magnetic tail. rich materials are seen as two rays emanating from the crater “We found that lunar surface water does not disappear as and water-rich materials encircle the crater. Such ray patterns expected during the magnetosphere shielding period,” says usually indicate sub-surface materials from possible water Shi. “Earth wind must be bridging the gap. In fact, when it deposits. Credits: ISRO/NASA/JPL-Caltech/USGS/Brown Univ.

Destroying Sundogs and Creating New Haloes Mar/Apr 2021 pg 5 Rocket Plume “Destroys” Sun Dog but Produces New Halo Type Original story posted February 11, 2011 by Dr. Tony Phillips

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), best known for cutting-edge images of the sun, has made a discovery right here on Earth.

"It's a new form of ice halo," says atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley of England. "We saw it for the first time at the launch of SDO--and it is teaching us new things about how shock waves interact with clouds.”

Ice halos are rings and arcs of light that appear in the sky when sunlight shines through ice crystals in the air. A familiar example is the sundog—a rainbow-coloured splash often seen to the left or right of the morning sun. Sundogs are The sundog’s destruction was formed by plate-shaped ice crystals drifting down understood. The events that from the sky like leaves fluttering from trees. followed were not.

”A luminous column of white light appeared next to the V and followed the rocket up into the sky," says Cowley. "We'd never seen anything like it.”

Cowley and colleague Robert Greenler set to work figuring out How ice crystals make sundogs. [more] what the mystery-column was. Somehow, shock waves from the SDO lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Feb. 11, 2010 rocket must have scrambled the ice —over 11 years ago. It was a beautiful morning with only a crystals to produce the 'rocket halo.' But how? Computer handful of wispy cirrus clouds criss-crossing the wintry-blue models of sunlight shining through ice crystals tilted in every sky. As the countdown timer ticked to zero, a sundog formed possible direction failed to explain the SDO event. over the launch pad. Then came the epiphany: The crystals weren't randomly Play the movie, below, to see what happened next—and don't scrambled, Cowley and Greenler realized. On the contrary, forget to turn up the volume to hear the reaction of the crowd: the plate-shaped hexagons were organized by the shock https://science.nasa.gov/files/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/ waves as a dancing army of microscopic spinning tops. files/anna-herbst1.mov Cowley explains their successful model: "The crystals are tilted between 8 and 12 degrees. Then they gyrate so that the main crystal axis describes a conical motion. Toy tops and gyroscopes do it. The earth does it once every 26000 years. The motion is ordered and precise.” The reflected sunlight produces a halo.

The simulations show that the white column beside SDO was only a fraction of a larger oval that would have appeared if the crystals and shock waves had been more SDO has a close encounter with a sundog. "The shock wide-ranging. A picture of the hypothetical complete halo waves were amazing, fantastical!" says high school student may be found here. Amelia Phillips who watched the event alongside friend and photographer Anna Herbst of Bishop, California. "We were "We'd love to see it again and more completely," says shouting and jumping up and down when SDO destroyed the Cowley. "If you ever get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sundog." Movie credit: Anna Herbst. be at a rocket launch," he advises with a laugh, "forget about the rocket! Look out instead for halos.” "When the rocket penetrated the cirrus, shock waves rippled through the cloud (image above right) and destroyed the Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA alignment of the ice crystals," explains Cowley. “This extinguished the sundog."

S G N Farout, now replaced by Farfarout Mar/Apr 2021 pg 6

This illustration depicts the most distant object yet found in our Here are the others in order with distances in au: Solar System, nicknamed “Farfarout,” -artist’s conception in (0.4), Venus (0.7), Earth (1.0), Mars (2), (3), the lower right. In the lower left, a bar graph shows the Jupiter (5), Saturn (10), Uranus (19), (30), (39), distances of the planets (green), dwarf planets (yellow), (39), (42), (43), 50000 candidate dwarf planets (orange), and Farfarout (red) from the Quaoar (44), (46), 541132 Lelakuhnua (78), 2012 Sun in astronomical units (au). One au is equal to Earth’s VP113 (84), 90377 (84), 225088 Gonggong (89), Reis average distance (150 million km) from the Sun. Farfarout is (96), 2018 VG18 “Farout” (124), 2018 AG37 “Farfarout” (132) 132 au from the Sun. In “light time”, Earth is 8 L-min, Farfarout Credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. da Silva is 17.6 L-hours.

A team, of astronomers consisting of Univ. of ’s David over the age of the solar system, and is the reason why it has Tholen, Scott S. Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for such a large and elongated . Science, and of Northern Arizona University, have been mapping the outer solar system have confirmed a Discovered on Mauna Kea planetoid that is almost four times farther from the Sun than Farfarout was discovered at the Subaru 8-meter telescope Pluto, making it the most distant object ever observed in our located atop Mauna Kea in Hawaiʻi, and recovered using the solar system. The planetoid, nicknamed “Farfarout,” was first Gemini North and Magellan telescopes and is very faint. The detected in 2018, now has a confirmed orbit and an official team estimates its size to be about 400 km across, putting it designation of 2018 AG37 by the Center. on the low end of being a , assuming it is an ice- Farfarout’s name distinguished it from the previous record rich object. “The discovery of Farfarout shows our increasing holder “Farout,” found by the same team of astronomers in ability to map the outer solar system and observe farther and 2018. farther to the edges of our solar system,” said Sheppard.

Journey around the Sun Interacting with Neptune Farfarout’s current distance from the Sun is 132 astronomical “Farfarout’s orbital dynamics can help us understand how units (au); 1 au is the distance between the Earth and Sun. Neptune formed and evolved, as Farfarout was likely thrown For comparison, Pluto is only 34 au from the Sun. The newly into the outer solar system by getting too close to Neptune in discovered object has a very elongated orbit that takes it out the distant past,” said Trujillo. “Farfarout will likely interact to 175 au at its most distant, and inside the orbit of Neptune, with Neptune again since their continue to intersect.” to around 27 au, when it is closest to the Sun. Farfarout’s journey around the Sun takes about a thousand years, and The original press release from the University of Hawaii is is crossing Neptune’s orbit means Farfarout has probably here: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/02/10/most-distant- experienced strong gravitational interactions with Neptune planetoid-confirmed/

S G N The Ultimate Question Mar/Apr 2021 pg 7

Why is there Something and gravity and the quantum vacuum, and out of that was born the universe as we know it. Not Nothing? In an ideal world, every extraordinary Other theories philosophical question would come with an in cosmology also seem to presuppose that extraordinary story telling the tale of how there must always have been something in someone first thought of it. Unfortunately, existence from which our universe arose, we can only guess at what led a German such as strings or membranes. philosopher, perhaps today best known for the Choco Leibniz biscuits later named after The trouble with such scientific answers to him, to come up with what is often the question of “why there is something and described as the greatest philosophical not nothing” is that it is not clear why we question of all, namely: why is there should think that there had to be gravity, or something rather than nothing? the quantum vacuum, or strings, or even a universe at all. It seems entirely possible The philosopher was Gottfried Wilhelm that instead of these things there could have Leibniz, the man who also bequeathed us been absolutely nothing. calculus and the binary system at the heart of modern computers. He died 300 years What question? ago, on November 14, 1716.Many earlier thinkers had asked Another response to Leibniz’s great question is simply to why our universe is the way it is, but Leibniz went a step deny that it has an answer. The philosopher Bertrand Russell further, wondering why there is a universe at all. took this line in a famous radio debate in 1948. He was asked why he thought the universe exists, and responded “I The question is a challenging one because it seems perfectly should say that the universe is just there, and that’s all”. possible that there might have been nothing whatsoever – no Earth, no stars, no galaxies, no universe. Leibniz even On this account, the universe would be what philosophers thought that nothing would have been “simpler and easier”. call a brute fact – something that does not have an If nothing whatsoever had existed then no explanation would explanation. Russell’s point was not that humans hadn’t yet have been needed – not that there would have been anyone explained why there is something rather than nothing but around to ask for an explanation, of course, but that’s a that there is no possible explanation. Those who believe that different matter. Leibniz thought that the fact that there is our universe is part of the larger multiverse also take this something and not nothing requires an explanation. line, suggesting that the multiverse – and hence our universe – has no ultimate explanation. Although it is now a popular The explanation he gave was that God wanted to create a response to Leibniz’s great question to say the universe is universe – the best one possible – which makes God the ultimately inexplicable, it does have the drawback of being simple reason that there is something rather than nothing.In intellectually unsatisfying (though of course that does not the years since Leibniz’s death, his great question has mean the response is false). (Cont’d next page) continued to exercise philosophers and scientists, though in an increasingly secular age it is not surprising that many have been wary of invoking God as the answer to it.

Quantum gods One kind of answer is to say that there had to be something; that it would have been impossible for there to have been nothing. This was the view of the 17th century philosopher Spinoza, who claimed that the entire universe, along with all of its contents, laws and events, had to exist, and exist in the way it does. Einstein, who counted himself a follower of Spinoza’s philosophy, appears to have held a similar view.

Other scientists, such as theoretical physicist Laurence Krauss in his populist book A Universe from Nothing (2012), offer a more nuanced version of this answer to Leibniz’s great question. Krauss claims that our universe arose naturally and inevitably from the operation of gravity on the quantum vacuum, empty space teeming with virtual particles that spontaneously pop into existence before disappearing again. Krauss’s ABOVE: Our is definitely “Something” in more ways theory implies that there could not have been nothing than one! Image above taken with Canon 20D at 800 ISO f/4 because there has always been something: first there was 17 mm focal length, 110 s exp. Jun 2008 John H. Image

S G N The Ultimate Question (cont’d) Mar/Apr 2021 pg 8

The most novel answer to Leibniz’s great question is to say possible universe with the greatest tendency to exist – which that our universe exists because it should. The thinking here might be because it is the best, or because it contains some is that all possible universes have an innate tendency to important feature such as the conditions that permit life to exist, but that some have a greater tendency to exist than arise – will actually bring itself into existence. others. The idea is actually Leibniz’s, who entertained the thought that there may be a struggle for existence between According to this theory, our universe becomes actual not possible worlds, with the very best one coming out on top as because God or anything else made it so but because it if through a process of virtual natural selection. In the end he literally lifted itself out of non-existence and made itself did not accept the idea, and retreated instead to the more actual. Weird? Yes. But we shouldn’t let that put us off. After traditional view that the universe exists because God chose all, an extraordinary philosophical question might just require to make it so. an extraordinary answer.

But the idea of a virtual struggle among possible universes Lloyd Strickland is a Professor of Philosophy and has appealed to some modern philosophers, who have Intellectual History, Manchester Metropolitan University. This followed it to its logical conclusion and claimed that the article was first published in The Conversation in Nov. 2016.

NASA’s Perseverance Lands safely on Mars Feb 17, 2021

The Mars 2020 descent stage holding NASA’s HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) is Perseverance rover can be seen falling through the Martian the most powerful camera ever sent to another planet, one atmosphere, its parachute trailing behind, in this image of six instruments onboard the Mars Reconnaissance taken on 18 February 2021. The ancient river delta, which is Orbiter. Launched in 2005, MRO arrived at Mars in 2006 the target of the Perseverance mission, can be seen and have been imaging ever since. The camera’s high entering Jezero Crater from the left. resolution capability remains unprecedented for any existing HiRISE was approximately 700 km from Perseverance at orbiter in the study of the Red Planet, as well as being an the time of the image and traveling at about 3 km/s. The indispensable instrument for helping to select landing sites extreme distance and high speeds of the two spacecraft for robotic and future human exploration. In the past were challenging conditions that required precise timing and decade, HiRISE has imaged avalanches in progress, and for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to both pitch upward discovered dark flows that may or may not be briny seeps. and roll hard to the left so that Perseverance was viewable Hundreds of science papers have been published with by HiRISE at just the right moment. HiRISE data.

S G N Perseverance on Mars Mar/Apr 2021 pg 9

The photos already have scientists asking a slew of be tiny vessels left over from gases that escaped, called questions about Mars’ geology. One photo of the rover’s “vesicles.” If they’re sedimentary rocks, the holes could front right wheel (image above) shows in the background a signal that they were shaped by a fluid. “Really, we have to few Martian rocks perforated with tiny holes. “Depending on get our instruments out and look at these textures in fine what the origins of these rocks is, the holes can mean detail to really help us make that determination,” Morgan different things,” Katie Morgan, the mission’s deputy project said. Image below is a wide angle view of the landing site. scientist, said. If the holes are of a volcanic origin, they could Credit: NASA

S G N Sunspot Cycle 25 Underway Mar/Apr 2021 pg 10

December 2019 confirmed as starting point of the new solar activity cycle from: Sunspot Index & Longterm Solar Observations (SILSO)

The reference date and amplitudes of the minima and maxima of the 11-year solar cycle are established on the base of the sunspot number maintained and distributed by the SILSO World Data center since 1981 at the Royal Observatory of Belgium.

Over past years, the rather weak cycle that had peaked in 2014 has been progressively declining, heralding the approach of the minimum that marks the transition to the next cycle and is characterized by long fully quiet and spotless periods. Month-after-month, SILSO has carefully monitored the general trend in the activity. In January 2020, the 13-month smoothed next big milestone of the new cycle: its maximum, so far sunspot number rose for the first time since the maximum of expected between 2023 and 2026. cycle 24 (April 2014). On this occasion, NASA just issued a dedicated press Now, by September, this reversal of the trend was firmly release on September 15. confirmed, officially placing the minimum between cycles 24 Another indication of the transition between the two cycles and 25 in December 2019. The Sun has thus now started its can be drawn from counts of individual sunspot groups ascending phase towards the next maximum. This date also belonging to the old and new solar cycles. While most sets the duration of the past solar cycle at exactly 11 years, sunspot groups belonged to the last solar cycle until as the last minimum occurred in December 2008, thus almost September 2019, the dominance switched to groups of the exactly the average length of all past sunspot cycles, which new cycle in November 2019. ranges from 9 to 14 years. So, this transition in terms of the number of active regions This confirmed minimum will now be used to constrain falls in October 2019. This matches rather closely the above scientific models and predictions of the future solar activity date of the lowest sunspot number, and demonstrates in a developed by solar researchers. December 2019 falls within different way that the new sunspot cycle has definitely taken the rather broad date interval (July 2019 to September 2020) the lead since the start of 2020. announced by the International Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel, supported by NASA and NOAA, and to which SILSO This late-breaking upward trend is now expected to is participating. Now that we have pinpointed the true accelerate over the coming months. minimum, the Panel will be able to refine the prediction of the So, be prepared for a more eruptive and interesting Sun!

November 2020 Sunspot Sequence

Pya Ram, a preschool teacher and amateur astronomer took this video time sequence of the sunspots over 8 days starting November 26, 2020 as one of the largest sunspot groups AR 2786 crossed the Sun in the last week of November last year. It was nice to see some activity even though presently, it is very quiet. Stay tuned, more spots to come!

See Pya Ram’s full video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIgVt8rJqdH/? utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_video_w atch_again

!Quetican Field of View by Doug Cunningham Mar/Apr 2021 pg 11 Beauty and Wonder in the Natural World -part 2

From the Editor: This is part 2 of the two part column good friend of outdoorsman and landscape artist, Tom started last issue. Copies can be obtained at www.johns- Thomson. In 1952, Robinson recounted, in an interview, a astronomy.com and the BAS website. Doug continues: brief conversation he had in 1916 with Tom just before Tom had painted “NORTHERN LIGHTS” In the second account, a northern lights display was viewed and painted by the famous Canadian Artist, Tom Thomson, Mark Robinson recalled the conversation: in 1917, and rendered in his famous painting, “NORTHERN LIGHTS”. “Do you see the northern lights?” Tom Thomson asked. “Yes Tom” I said, “They are very brilliant tonight.” From TOM’S JOURNAL for April 22nd , 1917: “It was around 10:00 PM last night. I was about to go to Robinson continued: bed when I looked out my window. I couldn’t believe what I saw. NORTHERN LIGHTS! I grabbed my paints and “And he wound his hands, and out he’d go, and stand. decided to go to Mark Robinson’s. I knew Mark would enjoy And I kept on a roaring good fire, and Tom’d come in, and my company, even though it was in the middle of the night. warm his hands again, …. I walked, rather quickly, jogged in fact ! It took me 25 minutes to get to his place. By that time the lights were in Five below zero, and out he’d go. And just gaze at them. full glory. Mark was up when I got there and he kept the Finally, about eleven thirty it would be, he (TOM) said : stove going during the night. … “I believe I can put that on canvas.” … this is what I painted. (shown below) I used one of my larger boards that I scrapped off earlier” “Now, that “Northern Lights” was painted by lamp light, and walking out and lookin’ at it. Mark Robinson first served as an Algonquin Park Ranger from 1909 until 1915. During that time, he also became a How he did it, no one knows but Tom Thomson.”

Left: Northern Lights, by Tom Thomson painted in the Spring of 1917. Note the stars of Cassiopeia centre of painting.

F r o m t h e E d i t o r : Northern Lights, left, is one of a total of 5 p a i n t i n g s d o n e b y Thomson all called “Northern Lights”. He did two in 1915, one in 1916 and two in the spring of 1917, which is the one at left (apparently his last aurora painting). Note that the sharp green demarcation is actually the edge of the aurora and not the horizon. The more subdued tree line is actually below that. The second of Thomson’s 1917 aurora paintings has the same forked tree and skyline and was likely painted from the same spot.

!Quetican Field of View “Beauty and Wonder” -cont’d Mar/Apr 2021 pg 12

As I am writing my Jan-Feb, 2021 SGN Column, the scales, large and small, and it is still endowed with mystery, COVID-19 Viral infections in our province of Ontario are out beauty, and wonder regardless of the scale! So, we can still of control! Our Provincial government has imposed a 28 day experience the wonders of nature on smaller scales, even lock-down for the portions of our province below the French from our back yards and local parks. And, by using prudent River and a 14 day lock-down for the northern parts of our social distancing, mask wearing, and getting vaccinated, we Province above the French River. So, all of us will be in will enjoy sooner the love and warmth of our families and lockdown as we enter the New Year, 2021. friends, either in a small bubble, or virtually. This COVID-19 pandemic will eventually pass so, in the meantime, enjoy the Like most of my readers, I know you all feel the pressure of natural world, at whatever scale is appropriate for your isolation from a normal life of family, friends, travel, movies, circumstances. Keep alive your sense of wonder! and shopping, But, the natural world is all around us at

Tom Thomson’s “Northern Lights” -1915 to 1917

During the peak of sunspot cycle 15, Tom Thomson created summer and fall of 1915, a third in the spring of 1916 (above more than one “Northern Lights” painting. In the official left -my favourite) and two in 1917, both in the spring -the catalog of his works here: image above right and the remarkably similar one (horizon- https://www.tomthomsoncatalogue.org/catalogue/entry.php? wise) on the previous page. Both the 1917 images appear to id=668 there are a total of 5 listed. The order in which these have been painted from the same spot, -the hills on the were painted can be deduced from the dates supplied in the horizon look similar and there is a distinctive forked tree catalog codes. The top two on this page were done in the branch in both.

SGN Constellation Mar/Apr 2019 pg 13

Taurus (Tau) Auriga (Aur) α−Tauri - γ−Tauri - Hyadum Primus α Aurigae - β Aurigae - Menkalinan ζ Aurigae - Sadatoni η−Tauri - β−Tauri - Nath ε−Tauri - Ain The outstanding feature of this beautiful and prominent Taurus is a zodiacal constellation and is one of the oldest of the constellation is the star Capella, magnitude 0.2, the third brightest star groups, being recognized by the ancient Babylonians, star visible in the northern latitudes. Capella means "She-Goat"; Persians, Egyptians and Greeks. A V-shaped group of stars, the the three stars ε, ζ and η-Aurigae were called the "Kids" by the well-known Cluster, forms the bull's face; Aldebaran, a ancient Arabs. Nath (β-Tauri) properly belongs to the constellation great red star, is the bull's right eye; it ranks 13th in brightness, having a magnitude of 1.0. Nath, at the tip of the bull's left horn, Taurus, but is shared by both constellations. β, ε and ζ-Aurigae would seem to properly belong to the constellation Auriga; it is are all eclipsing variables; ε-Aurigae is one of the largest stars in shared by both constellations. The best known feature of Taurus the sky. The area within the pentagonal figure of Auriga is rich in is the beautiful cluster of stars known as the , M45, a stars and clusters and well worth sweeping with binoculars; compact group located in the bull's shoulder. Six of these stars Auriga lies directly in the Milky Way plane. are visible to the ; an observer with keen eyesight can sometimes see seven. The Pleiades are a beautiful sight in DOUBLE STARS fieldglasses, 30 to 40 stars being visible. This cluster is most impressive at low power. The Pleiades are named (see chart) Mag. Sep (s) Remarks after the daughters of Atlas, the giant who supported the world. θ 2.7-7.1 1 Not all the stars named on the chart in this group are visible to λ 5.2-8.7 104 the naked eye, but are easily observable in binoculars. θ1 and θ2 ψ5 5.3-9.0 are a pretty pair visible to the naked eye and an attractive ω5.0-8.0 6 Pale Green-Bluish White. pair in fieldglasses. 14 5.0-7.2-11 15 Yellow-Blue; triple. DOUBLE STARS 26 6.1-6.4-8.0 12 Yellow-Blue; triple. Mag. Sep (s) Remarks 41 6.1-6.8 8 White-Violet. α 1.0-11.2 31 Gold-Pale Red. Σ681 6.3-8.3 23 τ 5.0-8.5 63 White-Blue. Σ698 6.2-7.7 31 Yellow-Pale Blue; beautiful. θ 5.1-8.5 52 Red-Blue. MESSIER OBJECTS χ 5.4-7.5 19 30 5.0-10.0 9 Green-Purple. Mag Remarks 62 6.2-8.0. 29 Many stars here M 36 6.3 . 88 4.4-8.0 69 M 37 6.2 Open Cluster. Beautiful. Σ422 6.0-8.2 7 Gold-Blue. M 38 7.4 Open Cluster. Unusual shape. Σ430 6.0-9.0-9.8 26-37 Triple. Σ495 6.0-8.8 4 Other Objects of Interest in Auriga Σ548 6.0-8.0-10.3 15-121 Triple. - Long period (459 days) variable, max. mag. is 7.7 Σ645 6.2-8.2 12 White-Ashen. AE Aurigae - Irr. Var. small amp. mag. 6 Near Flaming Star Σ674 6.5-9.5 10 Σ716 5.8-6.6 5 A striking pair. Σ730 6.5-7.0 10 MESSIER OBJECTS Mag Remarks M 1 8.4 Planetary Nebula. The famous “Crab Nebula," a still-expanding cloud from a SN explosion in 1054 A.D. Visible as a faint misty patch in a small scope. M45 1.6 Open cluster. The Pleiades. Spectacular!

Other Objects of Interest in Taurus AE λ Tauri - Eclipsing variable, magnitude range 3.8-4.1, period 3 d 22 h 52 min.

M45 Pleiades Star Magnitude 18 Tau 5.65 5.75 Taygeta 4.28 3.84 5.83 3.71 4.12 Alcyone 2.84 5.03 Atlas 3.59 HR 1172 5.43

Feature Constellation Mar/Apr 2021 pg 14

Orion, with its two brightest stars and is hanging over the western horizon at dark presently, and its reign as THE winter constellation is almost over. This part of the evening sky is full of sparklers: Aldebaran, , Capella, and , among others, draw the eye to the setting . Rightly so, in the list of the top 30 brightest stars in the entire sky, 22 are visible from N. America. Half of those are in Orion or adjacent constellations.

Our indigenous stargazers was similarly drawn to the bright spectacle in the sky and presented here is one of their sky stories: Wintermaker. Ojibwe Star Lore: Wintermaker To the Ojibwe, one of the largest groups of N. American indigenous people, Orion was and still is Biboonkeonini, the Wintermaker. Seen overhead during the winter months, Wintermaker is an appropriately-named, important mythological figure in Ojibwe culture. He is a strong Ojibwe “canoe man” than ushers in the cold winds and heavy snows of winter in the northern hemisphere. His outstretched arms rule the winter sky and stretch from our star in Canis Minor to Aldebaran in Taurus.

The painting above is part of an Ojibwe star map done by Annette Lee, assistant professor of astronomy and at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and member of the Dakota-Sioux tribe. Lee also directs the planetarium at the university and researches Ojibwe and Lakota star lore and mythology. She is currently involved with the Native Skywatchers Project, an initiative to revive and celebrate indigenous peoples' connection to the stars. She has created both an Ojibwe and Lakota star map and her drawings have been featured in SGN in past issues on this special constellation page.

Above: North Hegman Lake Pictographs with the Wintermaker (Orion), Curly Tail (Leo-), and Moose (Pegasus). Credit: Etphonehome. Map of Hegman Lake area in N. Minnesota Google maps The Wintermaker, Biboonikeonini’s, name literally means North Wind. While his torso is the same as Orion’s, his arms stretch upper right and centre. These pictographs can only be seen from Aldebaran to Procyon, 46° (about half) of the entire from canoe in the cliff face on one side of the narrows winter sky. The pictographs, above are the Wintermaker, a between North Hegman and Trease lakes, 24 km north of Ely, Curly Tail (Wolf or Dog) and a Moose. Note the three canoes Minnesota not far from Quetico Park on the Canadian border.

S G N Sky Sights Mar/Apr 2021 pg 15

Notable Sky Sights Sky Events March/April 2021 Visit the BAS website here: www.bluewaterastronomy.com or March (Moon times given are for Owen Sound ON) www.johns-astronomy.com for a detailed listing. Planet 02 05:19 Moon at Perigee: 365 422 km viewing opportunities are listed below. 03 23:36 Mars 2.6°S of Pleiades MERCURY in early March is a dawn sky 05 05:00 Mercury 0.3°N of Jupiter planet and makes a very close pass of 22’ to 05 13:58 Antares 5.2°S of Moon Planets Jupiter on Mar 5, then it heads back VENUS, is too close to the Sun to observe until it emerges as the 06 01:30 � LQ Moon rises 01:06 EST Mar 5 Evening Star in late April. It stays over the western horizon until 06 11:00 Mercury Greatest Elongation 27.3°W year end and into 2022. MARS, (magn. 0.9 fading to 1.5) is well magnitude 0.13, diameter= 7” up but past the meridian at dark and has shrunk to about 5 arc- 09 23:02 Saturn 3.7°N of Moon seconds across. Good luck seeing any surface features. Both 10 15:35 Jupiter 4.0°N of Moon JUPITER, and SATURN, passed behind the Sun in late January 11 00:00 Neptune in Conjunction with Sun and are re-appearing in the dawn sky ahead of sunrise. Saturn 11 01:02 Mercury 3.7°N of Moon leads Jupiter by about 8° (and 15 minutes rising) at the beginning of March, but by the end of April they are 15° and 40 minutes 13 10:21 � NM rises 07:12 EST apart rising. Mercury is near Jupiter in early March so get out for 14 02:00 DST starts (set clocks ahead 1 hr) a look at the planetary trio. 18 05:04 Moon at Apogee: 405 253 km URANUS, (5.7) is in the west at sunset but sets before midnight 19 17:48 Mars 1.9°N of Moon and NEPTUNE, (7.8) is now passing behind the Sun and not 19 21:13 Aldebaran 5.2°S of Moon visible in March or April. Dwarf planet, Ceres (8.3) is visible for a 20 09:37 Vernal Equinox (05:37 EDT) short time just after sunset but it is close to the Sun for most of March and April. , Vesta (5.7) is in the sky all night long 20 19:15 Mars 6.9°N of Aldebaran in Leo and starts a retrograde loop in late April. PLUTO (mag. 21 14:40 � FQ Moon rises 11:45 EDT 14.4) continues to stay close to Jupiter in Mar/Apr skies. Finder 23 10:26 Pollux 3.5°N of Moon charts for planets for 2021 will be posted soon on the BAS 24 09:58 Beehive 2.6°S of Moon website. The table below gives the sunrise/sunset times and the 26 00:17 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon Sun’s altitude for dates in March and April. The moon phase 26 06 :00 Venus at Superior Conjunction dates and moonrise times for Owen Sound are in the Astronomy Events listing at right. Check https://www.timeanddate.com for 28 18:48 � FM rises 19:48 EDT Moon and precise Sun rise and set times for your location. 29 15:52 Spica 6.5°S of Moon 30 06:12 Moon at Perigee: 360 311 km

Sunrise/set times: Owen Sound 44°35‘N 80°55’W April Times in Eastern Standard Time (EDT) 01 20:49 Antares 4.9°S of Moon (no foolin’) Vernal Equinox is due at 5:37 am EDT Mar 20 04 10:02 LQ Moon rises 15:24 EDT Date Rise Noon altitude Set � Mar 10 6:44 am 41.6° 6:23 pm (EST) 06 08:34 Saturn 4.0°N of Moon Mar 20 7:26 am 45.6° 7:36 pm (EDT) 07 07:15 Jupiter 4.4°N of Moon Mar 30 7:07 am 49.5° 7:49 pm 12 02:31 � NM rises 06:58 EDT Apr 11 Apr 10 6:47 am 53.7° 8:02 pm 14 17:47 Moon at Apogee: 406 120 km Apr 20 6:30 am 57.2° 8:15 pm 16 04:07 Aldebaran 5.4°S of Moon Apr 28 6:15 am 60.4° 8:27 pm 17 12:09 Mars 0.1°N of Moon: Data from www.timeanddate.com Daytime event, below local horizon 19 02:00 Mercury at Superior Conjunction 19 18:18 Pollux 3.2°N of Moon 20 06:59 � FQ Moon rises 12:25 EDT BAS Zoom Meetings Re-start Mar 3 20 18:25 Beehive 2.8°S of Moon BAS Zoom meetings resume via Zoom Mar 3 at 7 pm. 22 09:48 Regulus 4.9°S of Moon Secretary Lorraine will send out an email with the link 22 12:00 Lyrid Meteors 20/hr peak at noon EDT and password. Fox Observatory and other viewing Moon 73% waxing events continue to be restricted as the Covid-19 26 02:43 Spica 6.5°S of Moon vaccinations are being rolled out. Classes at the 27 01:00 Mercury at Perihelion outdoor ed centre continue to be on hold and BAS viewing events there are also affected by the 27 03:31 � FM rises 19:59 EDT Apr 26 province’s restrictions. See you all Mar 3, 2021. 27 15:24 Moon at Perigee: 357 379 km 29 06:07 Antares 4.8°S of Moon 30 21:00 Uranus in Conjunction with Sun S G N Images of the Month Mar/Apr 2021 pg 16

ZWO120MC colour video camera A recent BAS purchase is a colour planetary camera intended to be used to display the Moon to students but as it turns out, BAS deep sky imagers will love it, too. The shots here are screensnaps of the Moon and M42 on a recent viewing session. The camera software allows imaging of bright planets, the Moon and also deep sky objects like M42. The two lunar images shown here are through a 4-inch refractor (right) and a C-9.25 Edge SCT (below) with the camera at prime focus. I still have to figure out how to read out the camera settings so I do not have these for the images presented here.

Image above shows the prominent rayed crater Tycho (85 km diam.) at lower left, Copernicus (93 km diam.) upper centre and Proclus (28 km across) at right edge, a bright splash with three narrow rays on the edge of Mare Crisium the dark mare to its right. Image taken at prime focus of a 540 mm Televue NP101 refractor or about 10X.

Image left is through the C-9.25 SCT at approximately 50 power. Large crater lower centre is Schickard (227 km diameter) and the elongated crater left and above centre looking like a shoe print is Schiller about 179 km by 71km. Hint: You can calculate magnification at prime focus of a telescope by dividing 50 into the focal length: ex. my C-9.25 is 2350 mm, so 2350/50 = 47X or approx. 50X.

Image left is through the 101 mm refractor and encompasses a field of about 1 degree. This image was probably about 15 seconds long, although I did not keep accurate track of the exposure settings. I am still learning camera operations and the lunar and deep sky imaging are done by different software functions in the ASICAP software provided with the camera. There is also a Stacking function as well as a FIT image reader that allows users to manipulate images in the .fit format from professional sources.

Once Covid is behind us and the observatory is generally available again to members in groups, plans are to offer workshops with the camera attached to one or more of the telescopes available at the Fox. S G N The Miscellaneous Page Mar/Apr 2021 pg 17 BAS Member Loaner Scopes Our Solar H-alpha scope is on long-term SGN loan presently. Our Lunt solar scope can be borrowed by BAS members for an Classified extended period. Contact John H. if you wish to book it. It comes with a suitable mount and short training session is Ads Section provided on pickup. Several Dobsonian telescope are available. See For Sale page Several dobsonian loaner telescopes are available for free loan www.johns-astronomy.com to members. Although we are not using scopes at the Fox because of the necessity for disinfecting afterwards, long term loaner scopes are now available. Contact John H. for selection and availability.

Contact [email protected] for any of these items. FOR SALE: NEW PRICE! 12.5 inch f/6 Dobsonian See the complete list on Homebuilt by experienced telescope maker in 1980. See Sep 2014 www.johns-astronomy.com For Sale page. SGN pg 9 for build details. Truss tube design with full thickness Coulter mirror -one of their best, recently re-aluminized. Focuser and secondary mirror/spider is a Novak unit. Alt-azimuth mount (3/4-inch ply) is a nice wood grain finish with coating of Varathane. This is a large telescope and probably would be happy in a relatively permanent location, but is portable if you have lots of trunk space. Loading into and out of a car trunk is easier with two people. Can be seen at the Fox Observatory. Asking $759 but willing to negotiate. Contact John H. at 519-371-0670 or [email protected].

Minolta 35 mm film camera XG-SE, plus Makinon 80-200 mm f/4 zoom lens. Asking $25 Home-made Crayford Focuser 1-½” Flat base suitable for refractor or can be adapted Logitech to a round tube. QuickCam Asking $40. Express USB video cam. Model V-UB2 (video res 640x480, asking $10. Right: Lumicon off- Tube rings. Three sizes avail. axis guider body - To fit 5”, 6”, and 12 inch tubes. Meade 2x-3x variable nylon screw fittings Clamshell-type that open up (1.25”) asking $20 Barlow $25 and clamp down with knurled knobs. Asking $20 for small, $50 for large set. Very rare Meade 4-inch Schmidt camera Model 2066: See page 5 for original Meade catalog listing. Meade illum. reticle (double (1980 price was $435) Asking $100 cross-hair) 1.5 V req’d $25