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. Moon flipbooks and sun website, www.astroleague.org. dials would be possible hands-on activities. The site is still a
problem to be dealt with, since Portage District Library Naturally, this is the place to go if you're looking for policy would not allow us to sell eclipse glasses. information about upcoming events and League news. But
there is so much more... Further Follow-up topics began with the Robotic Telescope
Project. Rich had spent several days with the telescope Want to learn all about one of the great League observing following the Texas Star Party. He reported having a better programs? Go to: understanding of how the roll-off roof control works, but unfortunately had not managed to make it operational yet. http://www.astroleague.org/observing.html One interesting discovery was two loose wires that had apparently never been attached. These were soldered in Do you know of a worthy candidate for one of the many place, but this was not a primary cause of the problem. Rich League awards? Look at: could not answer Richard’s question of “How much more time is needed?” All agreed that a meeting of the project http://www.astroleague.org/al/awards/awards.html team should be held soon to decide what way we go from here. Are you interested in buying a particular book about our fascinating hobby? Then go to: Richard reviewed again the tasks that needed to be th http://www.astroleague.org/al/bookserv/bookserv.html completed at the Owl Observatory maintenance on June 11 (12 pm). Volunteers are needed to complete repair and There is even something to help your club function better. restain the building. In the outreach area, Richard reported a Try... request for KAS to attend Education Days at Homer Stryker Field on June 1st and 7th from 9:00 – 10:45 am. Since 2,500 http://www.astroleague.org/al/socaids/socaidid.html students will be brought in for the event, the scale sounded to the Board like a bit of overreach. Solar viewing at Space Make the most of your Astronomical League membership! Camp at the Air Zoo has been requested again on To find out more about what the Astronomical League offers Wednesday, July 20th at 1 pm. This one worked well last you, why not log on to www.astroleague.org today?
Prime Focus Page 3 June 2016 Clear nights are an uncommon occurrence in West Michigan, If you’re interested in observing the ruddy features of Mars but when they do present themselves I like nothing more then here are some observing tips: than setting up a telescope in an open field. One could spend a lifetime gazing at open clusters, globular clusters, nebulae, First, you’ll need a telescope. Just about any telescope will and galaxies. do, but I’d consider a 4-inch refractor or 6-reflector to be the minimum aperture needed to do Mars justice. Both should Then there’s the stuff closer to home. The Moon, like most be well collimated and preferably set upon an equatorial deep sky objects, is fairly static. However, its orderly set of mount with a clock drive. That way you’re free to observe phases reveal new details in features like craters, mountain Mars and not keep it manually centered in the eyepiece. ranges, and maria. The Sun is very dynamic with some features evolving in a matter of minutes. The planets present Use the Clear Sky Chart to find out if good seeing is a variety of challenges. Uranus and Neptune are too distant predicted. Sometimes the CSC isn’t too accurate though. to reveal much in the way of detail in their bluish The ultimate test is to look to the stars. Are they twinkling a atmospheres. In contrast, Jupiter’s belts and zone display a lot? Then wait a little later or try another night. Setup your great wealth of detail. Saturn’s atmosphere is more subdued, telescope at least 30 to 60 minutes before you plan to but makes up for it with its spectacular ring system. These observe. By cooling it down to the ambient air temperature, are truly alien worlds with no true surface though. What you’ll prevent air currents inside your ‘scope from degrading about the more earth-like worlds? the image of the planet. Use a planetarium program to find out when Mars reaches its greatest altitude (its zenith) in the Spacecraft images of Mercury may show a battered surface, southern sky. A great free program is Stellarium. The higher but from Earth it’s nothing more than a blurry dot. This is Mars’ altitude is the less atmosphere it has to travel through, due to its close proximity to the Sun. Venus is farther from therefore giving the steadiest image possible. Even on a the Sun and thus closer to Earth, but is covered in an opaque night with good seeing and an acclimated telescope, you’ll layer of toxic clouds. That leaves us with Mars. It’s the still need lots of patience. Mars won’t reveal its wealth of nearest planet who’s surface we can see and therefore has a features right away. Most of the time it’ll look blurry, but rich observational history dating back to Galileo. there will be precious moments its features snap into view.
The best time to observe Mars is when it’s at opposition. What features are you seeing? Again, programs like Starry This means Mars is opposite the Sun in the sky and therefore Night or Stellarium will show you which side is currently closest to Earth. Oppositions with Mars occur every 26 facing Earth. Sky & Telescope’s website even has a nice months. This is the time required for Earth to catch up to app called Mars Profiler. If you’re a little old school like me Mars in its shorter, speedier orbit around the Sun. Mars was then download the Mars Map I put together for the historic just at opposition on May 22nd and closest to our planet on opposition in 2003 from KAS Online. May 30th. Don’t let this discourage you though, Mars will be at its observing best for several more weeks! Mars does have its “must see” features. Some of these include Syrtis Major, a large and dark region kind of shaped like a shark’s fin. This was the first major documented surface feature on Mars by Christiaan Huygens in 1659. Another personal favorite region is Solis Lacus (Lake of the Sun), located south of Mars’ Tharsis region. Solis Lacus is also known as the “Eye of Mars” since it’s a very dark, round feature surrounded by lighter terrain. Mars is a heavily cratered planet, but most craters are not visible from Earth. The one major exception is Hellas, located in Mars’ southern hemisphere and measuring 2,300 km (1,400 miles) in diameter. Only the north polar cap is visible during this opposition, but only barely so. It might even be hidden behind clouds like in the Hubble image to your left.
Feel free to experiment with various magnifications. The general rule of thumb for the highest possible magnification is 100 power per inch of aperture. I’ve broken that rule a couple of times when the seeing was exceptionally steady. Try some colored filters as well. A #25 red is most common The Hubble Space Telescope captured this view of Mars with Mars. That’ll help bring out those surface features. An using a red, green, blue, and purple filters on May 12, #80A blue filter will help reveal clouds and limb hazes. 2016 - just 10 days before opposition. Click here for an Take the time to sketch Mars. That really helps train your annotated version. eye to see the greatest amount of detail. Good luck!
Prime Focus Page 4 June 2016 Joint Polar Satellite System to Revolutionize Earth-Watching by Dr. Ethan Siegel
If you want to collect data with a variety of instruments over an entire planet as quickly as possible, there are two trade- offs you have to consider: how far away you are from the world in question, and what orientation and direction you choose to orbit it. For a single satellite, the best of all worlds comes from a low-Earth polar orbit, which does all of the following:
orbits the Earth very quickly: once every 101 minutes, is close enough at 824 km high to take incredibly high- resolution imagery, has five separate instruments each probing various weather and climate phenomena, Complete temperature map of the world from NOAA's National Weather Service. and is capable of obtaining full-planet coverage every 12 hours. down to 1 Kelvin accuracy for tropospheric layers. The type of data this new satellite – the Joint Polar Satellite 3. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) System-1 (JPSS-1) — will take will be essential to extreme instrument, which takes visible and infrared pictures at a weather prediction and in early warning systems, which resolution of just 400 meters (1,312 feet), enables us to could have severely mitigated the impact of natural disasters track not just weather patterns but fires, sea like Hurricane Katrina. Each of the five instruments on board temperatures, nighttime light pollution as well as ocean- are fundamentally different and complementary to one color observations. another. They are: 4. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS), which 1. The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), which will measures how the ozone concentration varies with measure the 3D structure of the atmosphere, water vapor altitude and in time over every location on Earth's and temperature in over 1,000 infrared spectral channels. surface. This instrument is a vital tool for understanding This instrument is vital for weather forecasting up to how effectively ultraviolet light penetrates the seven days in advance of major weather events. atmosphere. 2. The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder 5. Finally, the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant System (ATMS), which assists CrIS by adding 22 microwave (CERES) will help understand the effect of clouds on channels to improve temperature and moisture readings Earth's energy balance, presently one of the largest sources of uncertainty in climate modeling.
The JPSS-1 satellite is a sophisticated weather monitoring tool, and paves the way for its’ sister satellites JPSS-2, 3 and 4. It promises to not only provide early and detailed warnings for disasters like hurricanes, volcanoes and storms, but for longer-term effects like droughts and climate changes. Emergency responders, airline pilots, cargo ships, farmers and coastal residents all rely on NOAA and the National Weather Service for informative short-and- long-term data. The JPSS constellation of satellites will JPSS-2 is scheduled to launch in 2021, and will take extend and enhance our monitoring capabilities far into the advantage of technologies developed through the NOAA future. (Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites) POES and the Suomi NPP and JPSS-1 mission satellites. This article is provided by NASA Space Place. With articles, The JPSS program will provide polar coverage through activities, crafts, games, and lesson plans, NASA Space the 2030s to ensure the continuity and robustness of Place encourages everyone to get excited about science and critical polar weather satellite observations. technology. Visit spaceplace.nasa.gov to explore space and Earth science!
Prime Focus Page 5 June 2016 June Night Sky......
This star map is property of the This map represents the sky at the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. NORTH following local times: However you may make as many Late May 12 am copies as you wish free-of-charge, so long as it is for non-profit Early June 11 pm educational purposes and full Late June Dusk credit is given to the KAS.
www.kasonline.org EAST WEST
SOUTH
aturn will be at its observing best in less than 2° to Mercury’s lower right. wide, flat triangle, with the longest sides June. It reaches opposition on the stretching about 18° to connect the two S nd rd night June 2 - 3 and the rings are The nearly first quarter Moon forms an planets. almost tilted at their widest (26°). acute triangle with brilliant Jupiter and much dimmer Sigma () Leonis on the The Moon and Saturn are 3° to 5° apart th th Grab your binoculars and gaze toward the evening of June 11th. on the night of June 18 - 19 . After eastern horizon about 20 or 30 minutes dusk, look below and right of the pair to rd before sunrise on June 3 . Look for a On the night of June 17th, a waxing spot Antares, the orange-red supergiant very thin waning crescent Moon, located gibbous Moon, Saturn, and Mars form a star representing the heart of Scorpius. June 2016 Page 7 PRESIDENT
Richard S. Bell 373-8942
VICE PRESIDENT Moving? New E-mail? Jack Price 343-3193 Have you recently moved and/or TREASURER changed your e-mail address? If
Rich Mather so please let us know ASAP. 629-5312 If you are moving out of town SECRETARY/ALCOR before your membership expires
Roger Williams please contact us anyway. You 375-4867 paid for a years worth (or more) of newsletters and that’s what MEMBERS-AT-LARGE you’ll get! Joe Comiskey 329-4251
Mike Cook 345-4998
Scott Macfarlane 679-2865 Maintenance Session Don Stilwell 963-5856 Owl Observatory is in need of maintenance. We will be making repairs to the building, re-staining the outside and cleaning the E-MAIL a BOARD MEMBER inside. Would you like to help? Please let us know by sending a note through the Contact Page. We’ll let you know if we have to cancel due to rain or other weather conditions.
Saturday, June 11th @ 12:00 pm
Public Observing Sessions Saturday, June 11th
Saturday, June 25th
Kalamazoo Nature Center ─ 7000 N. Westnedge Ave. ─ General Meeting Preview
Launched in 2011, the Juno spacecra will enter Jupiter’s orbit in July 2016. Juno’s instruments are designed to address such fundamental ques ons as: how did Jupiter form, how did its atmosphere come about, and how it evolved. Juno’s observa ons will allow scien sts to constrain the models of the origin and evolu on of Jupiter by making measurements of the planet’s water abundance, interior structure, auroras, and extended charged par cle environment. Considering that Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, the Juno data will also be important for understanding the origin and evolu on of the solar system itself, and will provide valuable insights into the workings of the extrasolar systems. In this talk, Professor Atreya will give a tour of the Juno mission and an cipated science results.
Friday, June 3 @ 7:00 pm Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center 600 West Vine, Suite 400 • Use Dutton St. Entrance ─ Dutton Entrance Locked by 7:10 pm ─
Kalamazoo Astronomical Society c/o KAMSC STAMP 600 West Vine, Suite 400 Kalamazoo, MI 49008
© June 2016, Stargazer Productions