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Prime Focus (06-16).Pub Highlights of the June Sky - - - - - - Saturn at opposition. - - - - - - DAWN: A very thin waning A Publication of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society crescent Moon is about 2° below Mercury. Look low in east about 20 minutes before sunrise. - - - 4th - - - New Moon 11:00 pm EDT KAS - - - 9th - - - PM: Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, is about 7° to General Meeting: Friday, June 3 @ 7:00 pm the Moon’s upper left. Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center - See Page 8 for Details - - - 10th - - - PM: The Moon is located about halfway between Observing Session: Saturday, June 11 @ 9:30 pm Regulus and Jupiter. The Moon, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn - Kalamazoo Nature Center - - - 11th - - - PM: The Moon forms a Board Meeting: Sunday, June 12 @ 5:00 pm triangle with Jupiter and Sunnyside Church - 2800 Gull Road - All Members Welcome Sigma () Leonis. - - - 12th - - - Observing Session: Saturday, June 25 @ 9:30 pm First Quarter Moon 4:10 am EDT Grand Globular Clusters - Kalamazoo Nature Center - - - 14th - - - PM: Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, is <5° below a waxing gibbous Moon. - - - 17th → 18th - - - Inside the Newsletter. PM: The Moon, Saturn, and Mars make a wide, flat May Meeting Minutes............................. p. 2 triangle, with the longest side stretching ~18° to Board Meeting Minutes......................... p. 3 connect the two planets. - - - 18th → 19th - - - Learn More About the A.L...................p. 3 PM: The Moon and Saturn are 3° to 4° apart. Observations of the Red Planet.......... p. 4 - - - 20th - - - NASA Space Place.................................. p. 5 Full Moon 7:02 am EDT June Night Sky......................................... p. 6 Summer solstice occurs at KAS Board & Announcements............ p. 7 6:34 pm EDT. General Meeting Preview......................p. 8 - - - 27th - - - Last Quarter Moon 2:19 pm EDT May Meeting Minutes The general meeting of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society word “scientist” had been added to the English language just was brought to order by Vice President Jack Price on Friday, before Herschel left for South Africa. Professor Bellon said May 6, 2016 at 7:13 pm. Approximately 40 members and Sir John was the embodiment of this new word. Herschel guests were in attendance at the Kalamazoo Area Math & published Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Science Center (KAMSC). Philosophy in 1831. This work became the manual on how to use the scientific method and influenced scientists in Our special guest speaker of the evening was Professor countries around the world for generous. Herschel also made Richard Bellon, a historian of nineteenth-century science at the case that science is not just a grand intellectual Michigan State University. The title of Professor Bellon’s adventure, but moral pursuit. presentation was John Herschel, Charles Darwin & the "Mystery of Mysteries". Professor Bellon’s story began in Once in South Africa Herschel setup the 20-foot reflector, 1802 when the 10-year old John Herschel traveled to Paris previously used by his father, to conduct a thorough survey with his family. At this time John’s father, William Herschel, of the southern sky. Herschel enjoyed reading Principles of was one of the most famous scientists in the entire world. Geology by Charles Lyell. At this time geology was very William was a German musician who immigrated to England much about biology, because if you want to observe changes in 1757. He continued his music career during the day and in strata you did so by looking at the fossil record. This pursued astronomy at the night. William was also a gifted raises the question on the origin of the species, because it’s telescope builder and constructed the greatest telescopes of obvious life on Earth has changed significantly over time. his time. He came to prominence after discovering Uranus Herschel wrote to Lyell about this “mystery of mysteries.” on March 13, 1781. This letter was published in 1837 by Charles Babbage. The Herschel's met Pierre-Simon Laplace, the French The HMS Beagle arrived in Simon’s Bay at the Cape of astronomer and mathematician who worked to prove the Good Hope in 1836. Its captain, Robert FritzRoy, enjoyed overall stability of the solar system (especially for Jupiter Lyell’s book on geology, and passed it on to the ship’s and Saturn). Isaac Newton said that periodic divine naturalist, Charles Darwin. This book along with Herschel’s intervention was necessary to guarantee the solar system’s Preliminary Discourse, changed Darwin’s life forever. stability. Laplace was convinced of the long-term stability of Darwin knew that Herschel was at the Cape of Good Hope, the solar system and commented about its ability to so used the opportunity to meet the great scientist. We knew “perpetuate the species.” William visited Napoleon during they discussed geology, but it is not known if they discussed his 1802 visit and wrote about a famous disagreement that the origin of species. Darwin returned to England, while Napoleon and Laplace had. Napoleon noted that Laplace’s Herschel remained in South Africa for a few more years. work on the solar system made no mention of God. Laplace’s replied “Sir, I have no need of that hypothesis.” It Professor Bellon now jumped ahead to December 1859. was noted this wasn’t necessarily an atheist view. The Charles Darwin wrote a letter to Charles Lyell, and among Laplacian view said that God created the laws of nature and the topics were John Herschel. A month earlier Charles allowed them to run their course. Professor Bellon noted that Darwin published his most notable work and one of the young John Herschel didn’t witness this famous meeting, but greatest scientific publications in history, On the Origin of Laplace’s views would influence John later in his life. Species [by Means of Natural Selection]. This became the foundation of evolutionary biology. Herschel is referenced in Professor Bellon then moved the story ahead to January 1834 the first and final paragraphs of Darwin’s book. The first when now Sir John Herschel sailed to the Cape of Good paragraph refers to that mystery of mysteries, as it has been Hope in South Africa with his wife and young children. The called by one of our greatest natural philosophers. In Darwin’s conclusion he wrote: ...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed laws of gravity... Darwin is very deliberately referring to Herschel’s science that we understood the function of the heavens by natural laws. Back to the letter from Darwin to Lyell, Darwin heard through the grapevine that Herschel referred is his work as “the law of higgledy-pigglety.” Herschel used this term when referring to the rough seas he experienced when sailing to the Cape of Good Hope. Professor Bellon argued that Herschel only meant that evolution by natural selection seemed to chaotic and not governed by an orderly set of natural laws. In conclusion, Professor Bellon pointed out the Charles Darwin and John Herschel are laid to rest next to each other at Westminster Abbey. Only a brief business meeting was held after the snack break. Professor Richard Bellon is a historian of nineteenth- Jack discussed final preparations for Astronomy Day on May century science at Michigan State University. 14th. The meeting concluded shortly after 9:00 pm. Prime Focus Page 2 June 2016 year, and it will be scheduled again (Richard, Roger, and anyone else who would like to participate). Jack reminded us of the Kindleberger Park Festival on July 9th. Jack also showed a poster available from Astronomy Magazine about the anatomy of a comet, but it appeared a bit small for display use. Following what was seen of the Cincinnati Observatory at the Astronomy Day Keynote Presentation, there was interest in a field trip to that site. Specifics about The regular meeting of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society date and time were not discussed as yet. Finally, Richard Board was held on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at Sunnyside gave an initial look at proposed duties for the Publicity Church. The meeting was called to order by President Officer position that he previously proposed, and the list was Richard Bell at 5:10 pm. Board members present were Scott received positively. The topic will remain open, with the Macfarlane, Rich Mather, Jack Price, and Roger Williams. goal of a vote at the November meeting and then filling the position at the December meeting. Rich gave the Treasurer’s Report, which showed cash inflows dominated by dues payments and outflows by The next board meeting was set for 5:00 pm on Sunday, June expenses from Astronomy Day and from the Robotic 12, 2016 at Sunnyside. The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 Telescope Project. Rich mentioned that he was still getting pm. all of the Robotic Telescope accounts in order so that a proper report can be made regarding the grant received for Respectfully submitted by Roger Williams this project. Richard reported that we would need a contribution of $39 to The International Dark-Sky Association in return for 1,000 informational postcards regarding light pollution, to be used at our outreach events. The summary of May/June events included Public Observing Sessions on May 28th, June 11th, and June 25th and a general meeting on June 3rd on the topic of the Juno mission to Jupiter. Evaluation of the last Astronomy Day was generally positive, with a good turnout confined by weather to indoor Learn More About the activities. Richard and Jean DeMott were a bit disappointed Astronomical League with the Channel 3 news coverage, since they didn’t highlight any children building a hands-on activity. For next year’s Astronomy Day, Richard suggested asking Fred Espenak to speak on ways to take pictures of a total solar Amateur astronomers from across the country benefit from eclipse, with other speakers or club members covering topics perusing the many pages of the Astronomical League's such as the history of solar eclipses.
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