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ASTRONOMY Rochester Skies A publication of the Rochester Astronomy Club A Quarterly Newsletter Issue #14 2nd Quarter 2010 A Word from our Book Review Spectacular Spiral Five Questions With... Gallery Astronomical League Scott Regener reviews A guest article from the Newly elected secretary Club members share Coordinator two David Levy books Antelope Valley Club in Brandon Wymann goes some of their best Dean Johnson shares after a happy accident Lancaster, CA under the spotlight and astrophotos! information on how leads him to the wrong highlights the reveals his answer to Page 7 you, too, can garner book. Whirlpool Galaxy. the famous five Page 5 awards, praise, and Page 3 questions. recognition for your Page 7 observational efforts. Page 2 Earth can’t really change its posture. latitude is called the Tropic of Cancer. Parallels It spins with it axis always tipped 23 Twenty-three degrees south of the degrees off vertical with respect to its equator sits the Tropic of Capricorn. Hello everyone. orbit around the sun. When the When these latitude lines were named Now is the time of northern hemisphere leans maximally hundreds of years ago, the sun was year we can expect away from the sun, we experience the entering the constellations of Cancer to begin observing winter solstice. Conversely when and Capricorn during the respective the night skies with a fair degree of leaning towards - the summer solstice. solstices. But the stars appear to comfort. I find that I can run the This spring, as in the fall, that tilt change position relative to the sun focuser on my scope better when my becomes neither towards nor away over time so now the summer and fingertips can actually feel the knobs! from the sun. We’re face on, but just winter solstices find our sun in the We are near the spring equinox. It’s leaning to the side. constellations Sagittarius (December) when our Earth straightens up its In three months, as we arrive and Taurus (June). Time for a name spine to receive the sunlight rays at the summer solstice, those change? Probably won’t happen. This equally across its face. Accordingly, experiencing the sun directly overhead apparent change in position of the on this date at the equator the sun is at noon will be residing at 23 degrees background stars for the most part... directly overhead. Of course, the north of the equator. This line of Continued Page 2 The Rochester Astronomy Club is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All contents of the newsletter are copyrighted and cannot be reused or redistributed in any form without express written permission. ©2009 Rochester Astronomy Club Newsletter www.rochesterskies.org 1 ROCHESTER ASTRONOMY CLUB Parallels lines (which include the equator) latitude line chosen to divide post continued from page 1 define the Earth’s five major WWII Korea roughly in the middle to geographic zones. But there are other satisfy both Soviet and US interests. ...occurs because of the 26,000 year interesting observations regarding the Coincidentally, the 38th degree precession, or rotation, of the Earth’s circles of latitude. Rochester, parallel also equally divides in half the axis around its poles. However there Minnesota sits near the line of latitude land mass of the United States. is a larger precession called a of 44 degrees north. Other cities 44 A degree in latitude is Markovitch cycle which also takes degrees north of the equator include approximately 69 miles – the distance into account orbital eccentricity (our Bangor, Maine; Eugene, Oregon; from Rochester to St. Paul. A minute planet’s slightly oval orbit around the Belgrade, Serbia; and Bordeaux, of latitude is 1.15 miles, and a second sun), axial tilt wobble, and other France. Rochester and these cities of latitude is about 100 feet. Right factors. This results in the earth’s axis spin eastward around the earth at now I figure I sit one quarter second returning back to its original position about 750 miles per hour. At the of latitude south of my refrigerator. in about 41,000 years. equator, one is spinning around 1070 I’m going to start that journey north to These lines of latitude are miles per hour. Lines of latitude have see what I can discover. Have a great complemented by the Arctic Circle at been used geopolitically. The spring and clear skies. 66 degrees north, and the Antarctic infamous “38th parallel” was the Circle at 66 degrees south. These five - Randy Hemann A Word from the RAC Astronomical League Coordinator Hello astronomy fans! Last year you mark down the date, time, was very good for the Rochester condition of the skies (where Astronomy Club as three different applicable) and the equipment used members, Luka Bazjer, Jay for each observation. McLaren and Scott Regener picked For those making their first up observing certificates. I know try at an observing award, I’d that several of you RAC members recommend: out there are either pursuing or Constellation Hunter Club contemplating going after an For those of you who are not observing award from the familiar with the night sky, this is a Astronomical League. great program to familiarize With the advent of Spring yourself with the patterns of stars and warmer weather (and that make up the constellations and hopefully lots of clear skies), it’s bright stars that we can see from time to get those lists out and make webpage on the Astronomical the Northern Hemisphere. No some progress on getting a League website that you are equipment other than a planisphere certificate and pin. familiar with the requirements of is necessary, but journaling your the observing program in question. Please make sure that when Continued Page 3 you check out your observing club Journaling is a must, and be sure 2 Rochester Astronomy Club Newsletter Q2 2010 ROCHESTER ASTRONOMY CLUB Astronomical League list to qualify for a certificate and Binocular Deep Sky Club, the continued from page 2 pin. You must record local time and Lunar 100 and also offer a pretty observations is a must. Please date, sky conditions, equipment good opinion of your work on the check the Club webpage for the used, a brief description of the Planetary Observer’s/Solar System requirements. object observed and a drawing of Club, Lunar II and the Herschel what it looks like in your 400. Jay McLaren is also a good binoculars. In my humble opinion, guy to have review your Herschel Universe Sampler Club This program is also for this is one of the easiest awards to 400’s since he has that award and beginners, but a bit more involved. get. It only took me 3 months to Scott Regener is qualified to Participants will learn the brightest record 50 Binocular Messier review anyone who is going after stars, their names and which Objects. the Urban Club award. constellations they reside in, The Messier Telescopic is The qualified people of the observe the Moon and some of the of course more involved, but for RAC can review, but it is the planets in our Solar System and those used to more involved Astronomical League that is the become familiar with some double observing, it is a great way to hone final arbiter that decides if the work stars, variable stars, star clusters, your observing skills. If you is done properly. nebula and galaxies. The Universe complete this list, the ability to To receive a certificate and Sampler Club has lists for both starhop and observe faint objects pin of an Observing Club gives an naked eye and telescope/binocular will give you the preparation amateur astronomer like ourselves observing. necessary to go on to other and a sense of accomplishment and more difficult observing programs. sharpens our skill as observers. It It took me a year and a half to also reflects well on the Rochester Messier Clubs (Binocular and complete my search of the Messier Astronomy Club because it shows Telescopic) list, but I feel it could be done in the Astronomical League and our These clubs are for those one observing year. affiliated clubs nationwide that we observers that are advanced enough have an active and dedicated cadre to find their way among the As the RAC’s Al-cor of amateur astronomers that we are constellations to search out the 110 representative, I can review these indeed making an effort to learn the brightest deep sky objects compiled programs and let you know if night sky. by Charles Messier in the last half you’ve done the work properly, as BUT-- be careful! If you get one of the 18th century. The Binocular well as the Double Star Club, the certificate, you’ll want more! Club awardees need only 50 off the - Dean Johnson Book Review: Guide to the Night Sky / Deep Sky Objects, both by David Levy ! Mistakes come in two stumbling upon a showpiece object recently, I had the good fortune to flavors. Unfortunate mistakes lead or poor conditions forcing make a rather pleasant mistake. to broken equipment, missed observation towards an In reading the Royal observations or worse. Then there unforgettable view. When I placed Astronomical Society of Canada's are the serendipitous mistakes: an interlibrary loan request Observing Handbook, towards the Continued Page 4 Rochester Astronomy Club Newsletter Q2 2010 3 ROCHESTER ASTRONOMY CLUB Levy Book Review Chapters cover comets, meteors, Levy by the fireplace on a cloudy continued from page 3 planets, galaxies and more. With night, recounting his experiences tight prose, organized thoughts and with old friends both animate and back lie pages of observing lists, personal anecdotes that season the inanimate.

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