Observatory News October 2012 Published by the Friends of the Observatory Volume 23 No. 10 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor [email protected]

outreach to the public. FOTO has Coming Up At developed partnerships with various The Observatory.... parks in northern Kentucky providing telescopes for gazes at Villa Hills, Idlewild Park and Astro Friday, Sept 28, 8:00p Lincoln Ridge Park. These have Late Night @ the COCa Sept 28, been extremely successful, 10:30p The Word attracting hundreds of viewers at Mysteries of Universe*, Oct 1, 7p each event. In order to promote the Observatory’s brand, FOTO Dean’s Astro Class, Oct 3, 7p By Dale Zoller conceived and funded the purchase OHS Marker Dedication** Oct 4, of table throws with the Observatory 6:30pm At the August 2012 FOTO meeting logo, helping provide a first-class FOTO Monthly Meeting, Oct 4, I announced that I would not seek image for the Observatory at both 7:30p re-election as FOTO president. on-site and off-site events. In FOTO Kids & Teens, Oct 5, 7:30p While I have enjoyed my tenure as addition, we hope to have a new Late Night @ the COC, Oct 5, president, it has been four and Observatory “vertical banner” to use 10:30p I think it is time for new ideas and at events. FOTO has also funded Astro Thursday , Oct 11, 7:30p energy. I do think we have the purchase of tote bags, decals and Astro Friday, Oct 12, 7:30p accomplished a lot in last four years. t-shirts with the Observatory logo. Stonelick Stargaze, Oct 13, Dusk One of the most significant A major draw for potential members History Tours, Oct 14 , 1-4p accomplishments was the revision is our telescope lending program. A2Z Astro Class, Oct 14, 7p of the FOTO Bylaws. This was the Over the last several years, FOTO Stonelick Stargaze, Oct 20, Dusk work of a dedicated group of FOTO has provided the direction and Behind the Scenes*, Oct 22, 7p members who volunteered a large funding to purchase additional Astro Thursday , Oct 25, 7:30p number of hours to produce a telescopes, along with “Make It-Take It”, Oct 27, 12-2p document that serves to give FOTO comprehensive eyepiece kits. Cub Scout Badge Night, Oct 27, its direction. Another major Another major accomplishment was 7-9p milestone was the adoption of a new the production of the 2010 and 2012 History Tours, Oct 28, 1-4p funding strategy for FOTO. The old Observatory calendars. Optics & Telescopes* , Oct 30, 7p “variable” system was replaced with Spearheaded by Scott Gainey, and FOTO Monthly Meeting, Nov 1, a set annual amount which made featuring astrophotography by 7:30p long-term planning easier for both FOTO members Eric and Josephine FOTO Kids & Teens, Nov 2 FOTO and the COC. Africa, Fred Calvert, and Steve @NKU One of FOTO’s primary missions is Rismiller, the calendar is truly a *UC Communiversity assisting with the Observatory’s ** Cincinnati Astronomical Society first-rate product that enhances the 1 Observatory’s image around the ScopeOut 2012 display from Blue Chip Solar & world. Wind, showing you how to put the I would like to thank the FOTO By Dale Zoller energy from our closest star to good officers and trustees who have use. served over the past four years for your dedication, encouragement and support. I would also like to thank the members of the FOTO Program Committee which has helped arrange the programs presented at the FOTO monthly meetings. This has taken a big burden off the president, and their effort has been greatly appreciated. Of course, ScopeOut Volunteers none of this could have been accomplished without the support of Although the day started out cold the entire FOTO membership. and rainy, by late morning the Thank you! clouds had cleared and we had a The election for the 2012-13 FOTO nice sunny afternoon for ScopeOut officers and trustees will be held 2012. In the main tent, the crowd during the October FOTO meeting. was treated to great displays from I hope you will attend the meeting iSpace, The Mars Society, UC Bob and Jerry Stenton had their and participate in the election of Libraries NASA Collection, Star “meteorite hunt” set up in front of your future officers. Sailor Energy, Burgess Optical and the Herget Building and a lot of kids John Ventre’s meteorites. Kate got to go home with a little piece of FOTO Kids and Albert had her wonderful print of space rock. We were also treated to the Observatory and other artwork the return of The Astronomy FOTO Teens on display. In addition, John Channel with their great video Blasing had his “Speed of Light” displays. Thanks to Steve Willis of By Dean Regas demonstration set up on the “back Mustard’s Last Stand for providing side” of the tent. burgers and brats for the afternoon The next FOTO Kids and Teens crowd. Once the afternoon meeting will be Friday October 5 at activities concluded, we had the 7:30pm at the Observatory. We’re in raffle drawing. Thanks to all the a planet drought this fall – Saturn is vendors who generously donated gone for the and Jupiter is still items for the raffle. The evening activities began about a month or two away from the with dinner. A special thank you evening skies. So we’ll look for goes out to Denise Mustain (and , stars, stars. Double stars, friends) who once again coordinated quadruple stars, and star clusters the dinner arrangements. And will be the featured that night. If you thanks to Lookout Joe’s for have binoculars, please bring those The “Kids Activity Area” drew a providing the “Observatory Blend” as well. Also a heads up for the steady crowd of future scientists coffee. After dinner, we were November meeting!!! We will be throughout the afternoon. As treated to an excellent keynote talk taking a field trip to the Northern always, the “dirty snowball” comet- presented by Dr. Pamela Gay titled Kentucky University planetarium making demonstration was a big hit. “Seeing Yourself in Science.” After for the November meeting on Friday In and around the Mitchel Building, the talk, we opened the domes for November 2. Plan on meeting there the UC Physics Department students evening viewing. Due to the clear at 7pm. More information and had their ever popular “cloud skies, we had a continuous flow of directions will follow next month. If chamber” and hands-on physics visitors until 11:30pm. Rumor has you have any questions, please display. During the afternoon, the it that Lonnie Puterbaugh from The contact Dean Regas at 513-321- Mitchel telescope was set up for Astronomy Channel did not leave 5186 or solar viewing. This was until almost 1:30am! [email protected] complimented by a solar energy 2 the “bright” star Theta Pegasi. If I faint star about the 8pm position, could find this star in the 16” finder close to Neptune. I took a look and scope, then move the scope south to sure enough there it was, pretty Neptune’s (using the much at the limit of visibility. I scope’s declination circle) I should started thinking could that be see Neptune in the finder. I’ve used Neptune’s biggest moon Triton? I’d this technique a lot with the big heard it’s visible in big scopes. At scopes at the Observatory. the time I think I remember telling Anyone who has tried to find people it may be Triton, but I wasn’t Neptune (without a go to scope) sure. Thank you to the members of the knows it can be challenging. The next day I checked the planning committee, and all the Neptune appears as a faint (8th NASA / JPL Solar System volunteers and vendors who helped magnitude), very small, blueish dot. Simulator, http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/, make ScopeOut 2012 a success! My problem was timing; observing and sure enough Triton was exactly was to start at 9pm, and the sky isn’t where the faint “star” was, Did You Know…. totally dark yet. After some frantic glimmering at 14th magnitude!! I searching I was finally able to find have seen Neptune several times A supernova explosion puts out Theta Pegasi in binoculars, then in before, but this was the first time I’d about as much energy as our the 16” finder scope. It was about seen Triton. I only wish I’d checked does in its entire 10 billion year 8:50pm. People were already lining the website earlier so I could have lifetime. up downstairs. I swung the scope to told the others they were seeing Neptune’s declination and see a Triton also. faint, bluish “star” in the finder What Should We Look scope’s field of view. I put a high For At Scope Out? power eyepiece in the 16” (about 300x) and there it is! I got lucky. By Basil Rowe It’s 9pm and the crowd comes upstairs. I volunteered to work the 16” Alvan I have found successful public Clark telescope at Scope Out. For stargazes can be a lot like life; a lot the public this typically means of it is about expectations. I had waiting in a long line before getting asked the other volunteers helping their chance to look, so whatever that night to tell people in line we they look at better be good! I was were looking at Neptune and all trying to decide what to look at – no they were going to see is a small Flipping the image left-right to bright planets were up, no Moon. I blue dot. We chose Neptune because correct for the view through the thought, the Ring Nebula? M13? there were no other planets up, no diagonal puts Triton in the right The double double? Albireo? All Moon, and Neptune was at its spot. beautiful objects, but what about closest to the Earth for the year. We something different? What about don’t typically look at Neptune, this October FOTO Neptune? Granted Neptune at its is a special treat! best looks like a tiny blue dot, but it I think as a result of setting these Planning Meeting was at opposition (closest to the expectations I didn’t hear one Earth) in late August and was the person say “I waited in line for an By Dale Zoller only planet up reasonably high in hour and this is all I get??” On the The next FOTO Planning Meeting is the sky. I asked Dean Regas what he contrary, I got almost as many scheduled for Thursday, October thought, he replied “go for it!” “wows” and “very cools” as Saturn! 18, 2012 at 6pm at the Earlier in the day I checked Even some of the teenage kids were Observatory. The meeting Neptune’s position, it was in central “OMG that’s sooo cool!” generally lasts a couple hours. The Aquarius, pretty much in the middle As the night progressed the sky planning meetings are open to all of nowhere. No bright stars nearby; got darker and Neptune got higher FOTO members. We encourage not very favorable to easily find. in the sky. It was almost a perfect your participation in the discussion Then I noticed Neptune had almost night, extremely clear. Then a few of future FOTO activities. exactly the same as people started asking about a very

3 FOTO's October UC Communiversity FOTO Appreciation Meeting Continuing Education Dinner

By Dave McBride Classes By Tiffany Groen

The October Program will be As a way to say thank you to all of presented on October 4th by Greg our wonderful volunteers, we will Huber. Greg's topic will be “10 be having our annual FOTO Super Cool Events to Witness on volunteer appreciation dinner on Starry Night Pro.” We will be Thursday, December 6th, taking the taking a journey though time and place of our regular meeting. We space using the Starry Night Pro will begin at 6:00pm with appetizers Software to watch Astronomical and the meal will be served at 6:30 events. These events have Historical thanks to the generous donation of importance, are Super Rare, or the Mariemont LaRosa's. cannot be viewed from Planet Earth. FOTO members may register for Our November program will be the event during the October and presented by Basil Rowe speaking November meetings, where a sign to us with a special topic. In up sheet will be available. Members December we will forgo the regular may invite up to one guest free of business meeting to enjoy the FOTO By Craig Niemi charge. Additional guests may be Holiday Party. invited for $8.00 per guest. As The Program Committee is October 1st always, appetizers and desserts are continuing to receive responses Mysteries of the Universe welcome, though not required. from our announcement to host October 22nd Please note whether you plan on another "member's night" of brief Behind the Scenes at Observatory bringing anything on the signup presentations given on special October 30th sheet that will be provided. interest topics by our members. This Optics: Inside a Telescope If you are unable to sign up at the is the occasion where several pre- November 14th meetings, you can still register until sentations that are about 15 to 20 Stargazing 101 Wednesday, November 28th by minutes in length are combined for contacting Tiffany Groen by phone the evening's program. We will be All classes $18 per person (+ any materials fees.)To register contact at 513-262-3811 (call or text) or by scheduling the member's night in email at [email protected]. early 2013. If you would like to UC Communiversity at 513-556- 6932 or online We will be using the list of share your favorite topic that would registered names to prepare name www.uc.edu/ce/commu.html be of interest to others during a tags, so don't forget to check in meeting, please let one of the when you arrive. committee members know about it. Stargazing at Stonelick We will be doing set up on Contact Tom East Wednesday, December 5th at 5pm, ([email protected]), Dave State Park and should take about two hours. McBride ([email protected]) or Anyone wanting to help is more any FOTO program committee By Craig Niemi than welcome to join in on the fun. member to participate. th th Saturdays, October 13 & 20 A New Moon Sundiving Comet Ah, the clear, cool skies of autumn. Around Pluto Bring your own scope for expert Astronomers are paying close help setting it up. Stargazing begins While scanning the Pluto system for attention to a newly-discovered possible hazards to the approaching comet, which is heading for a at dusk. Open to all ages. Stargazes are weather permitting. New Horizons spacecraft, remarkably close encounter with the astronomers using the Hubble Space Sun. Fierce solar heat could turn “Friend” the Stonelick Lake Stargazers Facebook page for Telescope have discovered a fifth Comet ISON into a bright naked- moon orbiting the dwarf planet. eye object in Nov. 2013. First weather and schedule updates. http://science.nasa.gov/science- images and speculation about the news/science-at- comet are highlighted on today's nasa/2012/13jul_pluto5/ edition of http://spaceweather.com 4 September FOTO Nominations include A2Z+ Astronomy Class

Meeting Highlights President: Basil Rowe Permission to Permeate

By Dale Zoller Vice-President: Tiffany Groen By Dave Bosse

Secretary: Michele Lierl After not having a class last month Opportunity was provided to share due to ScopeOut, we are back at it! memories and experiences relating Gainey (incumbent) The A2Z+ Astronomy class is back to Neil Armstrong who recently Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen in session in October, making up for passed away. lost time. John Blasing is taking The September program “Out There (incumbent) the reins this month with a reprise of Outreach: New Programs, his “Permittivity and Permeability Activities and Antics from the Trustee: Tom East, of Free Space” presentation. You may remember John’s presentation Education Staff” was presented by Frank Huss (incumbent), Observatory Outreach Educator Leo and demonstration from the August General Meeting. I missed the Sack. Dave McBride (incumbent), August meeting so I’m really The Business Meeting Aashi Mital, Al Scheide. looking forward to this! Mark your calendars now and Old Business join us on the evening of Sunday,  The vertical banner is still October 14th at 7:00 pm for a undergoing revisions to the FOTO Board Members closer look at the basis of Electro- graphic design. Dale showed & Date Their Term Magnetic phenomenon. proposed designs from Leo The A2Z+ class meets the second Expires Sunday of each month at 7:00 pm Sack and Steve Rismiller in the West Wing of the Herget (submitted in response to a President: Dale Zoller / Oct. 2012 Building, lasts about an hour or so request for ideas at the August Vice President: Rebecca and is free to any member of the meeting). After discussing the Schundich / Oct. 2012 Observatory. designs. It was decided to send Secretary: Michelle Lierl Gainey / Leo’s suggestion to the graphic Oct. 2012 Late Night at the Treasurer: JoAnne Pedersen / Oct. designer to see it could be Observatory 2012 adapted. FOTO/COC Representative: Scott th th  The new recycling bins FOTO Gainey / Oct. 2013 October 5 & November 9 purchased for use in the lobbies Trustee: Dave McBride / Oct. 2012 10:30 pm-12:00 am and classrooms have arrived! Trustee: Frank Huss / Oct. 2012 Trustee: Dave Bosse / Oct. 2013 Looking for a unique night out?  Scott Naylor is “retiring” from Trustee: John Blasing / Oct. 2013 Come see what the Observatory is organizing the “Dark Sky” like after hours. You'll get to use the events at Stonelick Lake. We Member’s Astronomy oldest big telescope in the U.S. to need someone (or perhaps a view astronomical objects that are committee) to take over Class not visible until late at night (weather permitting). These organizing these events. By Dean Regas programs are recommended for adults only. New Business Dean Regas has restarted his If the weather does not permit viewing, we’ll have fun with some October 2012 elections: monthly Topics in Astronomy class for members. The next class will be of the crazy science experiments  John Blasing is chairing the rd and “adult” mythology on Wednesday October 3 at 7pm stories that we can’t share with nominating committee. where he’ll talk about telling time  All officers, and two of the family audiences. (and dates) by the Moon. If you Admission is $10 per person Trustee positions, are open for haven’t signed up for the classes, The late nights sell out early. To nominations. please contact Dean at make reservations please call 513- [email protected] 321-5186 5 Craig’s Corner congratulatory speech for the Future Galileos Cassini mission engineers at JPL.

He had a schedule conflict so By Dean Regas By Craig Niemi through Mr. Ventre it was arranged

for them to use the Observatory with The 2012 class of Future Galileos We were honored to be invited to its grand architecture and telescopes the memorial service for Neil graduated on September 7 at the as the set for his talk. Over the Observatory. Armstrong. Many of his fellow course of the afternoon we really got NASA astronauts were there while a feel for his sense of humor, wit friends and family spoke of his love and focus. great of science, country and golf. It was in front of the Clark Particularly touching was the telescope in the 1873 building that “missing man” flyby of Navy F-18 he said the other words that he’s fighter planes. As the four plane famous for. “Science is about what formation neared, one jet climbed is - engineering is about what can straight up until it could no longer be.” It’s an insight that I use often be seen. when demonstrating to groups our This NASA-funded, 4-year old telescope with its remarkable program has trained 100 teams to century old mechanics and optics. conduct astronomy outreach and And finally congratulations to given them 100 Orion XT8 our colleagues at the Cincinnati telescopes. This year’s class of 20 recipients includes teachers, scout Astronomical Society for having leaders, and YMCA groups. To date been awarded an Ohio Historical the 100 Galileos have conducted Society maker for their work during over 700 events and let over 32,000 the dawn of the space age. Project Neil Armstrong posing in front of people look through a telescope. Moonwatch was an early example the 1895 Paris Observatory Lunar of “citizen science” and the role Photos amateur astronomers continue to Curiosity Rover to

play today in the exploration of the Examine Pyramid- I had the great fortune to meet him universe. on a couple of occasions over the Shaped Boulder Please see Project Moonwatch years. In 1979, when he was and we hope to see you at CAS teaching at the UC engineering headquarters for the dedication on college, I sat in on one of my the 55th anniversary of the launch of father’s design classes at UC DAAP Sputnik this October 4th! where Mr. Armstrong came to talk about the “human engineering” that went into the design and layout of Venus Transit the spacecraft he flew. Not wanting by Eric Africa Curiosity's robotic arm is set to get to stand up in front of the students its first workout. It's been tasked he sat down to join them. The with examining a football-sized rock classroom was jammed packed whose odd pyramidal shape caught (understandably so) and the students the eyes of NASA scientists--and in the back of the classroom where fueled the imagination of earthlings having trouble hearing and seeing everywhere who are perhaps a tad him, so he sat perched on the back too eager for the rover to find evidence of intelligent life on the of the seatback for over an hour and Red Planet. a half. He never flinched.

It was just a few years ago he and his son Mark and daughter in- Did You Know…. law came to the Observatory on a Sunday afternoon to videotape a For more photos by Eric Africa go Most of the stars in the sky are to www.skiesbyafrica.com/ binary stars. 6 Welcome Kim Salit Kirk Schrotel New & Renewing Robert Scott Members! Ellen Sewell Warren Spreng Kayla Springer In the past few weeks, the sun Robert Stenton has been producing a few Coronal Sam and Cozetta Vessel Mass Ejections (CME’s) and they Rita and Robert Voltmer have been interacting with the earth. Christy Wesselman That means the Northern Lights or David Whitehouse Aurora Borealis have returned to the northern latitudes. For unexplained Gwendolyn Yip reasons, the aurora is usually stronger than normal around the “Make It-Take It” time of the equinox in September. Teacher Workshops Sue and I were lucky to see one of these Aurora while on a cruise Make Your Own Astronomy between Iceland and Greenland. Education Materials & Kits! We were at 60 degrees North latitude in the North Atlantic. It was By Craig Niemi September 6th and the Moon was gibbous in the south eastern sky. Celeste and John Baumgartner Bring the universe to life in your Neal Bhatnagar Around midnight, Venus rose on the classroom with hands-on, practical eastern horizon with Castor and Jack Bishop astronomy materials, designed by Pullox aligned above. Then green Brian and Kathy Brady the experts and built by… you! In aurora appeared. Curtains and Laurie Briggs each workshop, you have the pillars shot up through the Big Kara and Timothy Broderick opportunity to make your own Dipper, lasted a few seconds to a Josh & Amanda Burrett teaching tools, learn how to use minute and then changed before our John Coff them with lessons and activities, and eyes. We watched for over an hour. Melody and Dave Dargis then take your creations home with They cast reflections on the ocean at you! The workshop fee covers the Graham C. Davis times. What a sight! cost of all materials. Reservations William Decker are required – call Leo at 513-321- Fred & Mariann Fehr 5186 to sign up! Ralph and Patricia Giannella Brenda Grier Upcoming Workshops: Nakul Gupta Build a Telescope and Solar Filter Dr. Ronald Jandacek Saturday, September 22, 2012 Susan Kellogg Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Cost: $35 Jean Knuth Solar System in a Sun – 3D Scale Shawn Mansfield Hike Kit Frederick and Deanna Martin Saturday, October 27, 2012 Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Cost: $35 Alfred and Regeana Morgan Planetarium Projectors and Star Denise Mustain Wheels Jim and Marty Neumeister Saturday, November 17, 2012 I got this shot with our Canon T3i Irene Osterbrock Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Cost: $35 camera at ISO 6400, 18mm focal Tom and Adelaide Ottenjohn Sky Measurement Tools length, and a 3.2 second exposure Jeffery & Therese Paul Saturday, January 19, 2013 hand held, from the veranda of our Bruce and Mimi Petrie Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Cost: $35 room. I had to time the exposure Carroll Quinn Moon Phases & Eclipses Kit with the rocking of the ship moving Jerry Ragland Saturday, February 16, 2013 through the swells. Venus is the dot Greg & Barbara Sack Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Cost: $35 on the right above the horizon. 7 LightStuff! rhythm. The effects of excessive students, families, clubs, etc. Please light, which reduces melatonin consider participating.

production, are now being studied By Tom East TM more aggressively. This may be due 2. f.lux -

to the fact in that in 2009 the http://stereopsis.com/flux/ Question: What do these three A free tool to adjust the screen things have in common? American Medical Association (AMA) voted unanimously to temperature (color) of your computer display to the time of day. support efforts to control light 1. An optometrist It warms the colors of your display pollution: 2. A newborn infant photographer in the evening hours so that they are 3. An automotive control designer not as harsh. (Note: This is not a http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ne red screen tool that many Answer: They all deal with the ws/48814012.html astronomers are familiar with. Give effects of light on the human eye. it a try.) The optometrist dilates your pupils And this year the AMA released a during an eye exam, the report that is a review of some of the History of the photographer dims background research now under way: Observatory lights to get an infant to open its nd th eyes for a photo, and the control http://www.ama- 2 & 4 Sundays designer provides ways to dim your assn.org/resources/doc/csaph/a12- 1-4 pm headlights and adjust your mirrors csaph4-lightpollution-summary.pdf to minimize the effects of glare By Craig Niemi while driving. In each of these These and other studies point to the No reservations needed, except cases, the effect of light on the eye growing awareness that light, although essential for life, when groups. See the web calendar for is either compensated for, or used to updates. advantage. excessive, can have unintended consequences on human health, not Welcome to LightStuff!, a new to mention on other forms of life on article featured from time-to-time in our planet. the FOTO Newsletter. LightStuff! will bring you news about light I invite readers to submit news items pollution, its effects on us and our and resources they find for possible environment, and efforts to reduce it inclusion in this article. Together from around the world, the nation, we can raise awareness of the and our own backyards. effects of light pollution and begin The Mt. Lookout Observatory. to develop reasonable and practical Circa 1873 Our talented volunteer docents from The three examples listed above are methods for minimizing the impact the Museum & History Committee intended to point out that we all deal excessive and poorly designed weave the fascinating story of the with light and light pollution on a lighting has on our world. You can submit these items to me at Cincinnati Observatory’s rich nearly constant basis without giving history and the unique cast of it much thought. Light from our sun [email protected]. characters that made Cincinnati the makes life possible, gives the moon Birthplace of American Astronomy. One final note. With each article I'll its glow, produces some of the An ideal opportunity for our try to leave you with an interesting energy we consume, and affects our astronomy program volunteers to weather. The circadian rhythms we resource or tool to explore. This learn more about the Observatory observe in life around us evolved in month there are two: and incorporate its history into your response to the light-dark cycle programming. caused by the earth's rotation. 1. The Great World Wide Star Count (October 5 -19, 2012) - Did You Know…. http://www.starcount.org Several biological processes in A Citizen Science Event to measure mammals, particularly melatonin A teaspoon full of a neutron star the impact of light pollution in your secretion by the pineal gland, among own backyard. Great for teachers, would weight 100 million tons. others, are markers of circadian 8 Observatory to Auction priceless. All proceeds directly help Cincinnati the Observatory’s education A Night at the programs. To bid, please visit Astronomical Society / “End of the World” www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Ohio Historical The highest bid will be updated Marker Dedication Friday, December 21st daily. ALL BIDS must be received by October 31, at 11:59pm. You can 9 pm-1 am th follow the bids on our Facebook Thursday, October 4

Page: 6:30 pm By Dean Regas https://www.facebook.com/Cincinna

tiObservatoryCenter By Craig Niemi The world will not end on December 21, 2012. The Ancient Mayans knew great Ultimate Educators things about astronomy and could predict eclipses and cycles of Expo @ Zoo Venus. Their calendars predicted neither gloom nor doom to come - but they gave us a great excuse for a party! The Observatory will auction a most unique venue for you and up to 40 of your friends to survive The Cincinnati Astronomical December 21. Your 2012 rental Society (CAS) is honored to announce that it has been awarded package includes: an Ohio Historical Marker to By Craig Niemi commemorate the work done by  Complete access to the Observatory, a National Last month over 400 teachers came CAS members during the dawn of the space-age. Historic Landmark out and learned about Rocks from The Ohio Historical Markers Space from John Ventre. Leo identify, commemorate and honor  Use of the oldest introduced teachers to his new professional telescope in the the important people, places and “Make It-Take It” workshops series U.S. to see the Moon events that have contributed to the while Dean and Craig revealed the (weather permitting) state's rich history. The Ohio secrets of our Sun with solar scopes Historical Markers Program,  Presentation about the 2012 outside. administered by the Ohio Historical hoax by Astronomer Dean The Expo reintroduced teachers Society, is a vital educational tool, Regas, co-host of PBS’ Star of all grades and subjects to learn informing residents and visitors Gazers about the resources provided by the about significant aspects of Ohio's Greater Cincinnati Environ- past. There are currently 1,407  History tours by historian, mental Educators and its partner markers located across the state John Ventre organizations including the that recognize Ohio's rich cultural Observatory. GCEE member history. www.remarkableohio.org/  Mayan punch and light fare organizations (including the The launch of Sputnik 1 by the Observatory) provide programming Soviet Union on October 4, 1957  “End of the World” gift to both formal (K-12) and non- ushered in new political, military, bags formal audiences (youth and adults). technological, educational and Since its inception, GCEE has scientific developments. American This would make a great, light- served dozens of environmental engineers and scientists answered hearted holiday party, solstice education professionals, hundreds of Sputnik with the launch on January celebration, or corporate thank you classroom educators and thousands 31, 1958 of Explorer 1. The Space to employees at the end of the year. Race culminated with American The bidding begins at $1500 for the of Greater Cincinnati school astronauts first stepping foot on the evening but the experience will be children. www.discovergcee.org/ moon on July 29, 1969. During the 9 early years of this new Space Age and capital to track the satellites at Seasons, Sundials, & amateur astronomers of the the beginnings of the space age. Cincinnati Astronomical Society Cincinnati Moonwatch Team Solargraph Cameras utilized their three large members included CAS president permanently mounted telescopes to Dr. Alex Presnell, Team Leader Saturday, March 16, 2013 optically track the highly reflective and Xavier University student Tom Time: 12:00-2:00 PM Cost: $35 satellites which were often too small Van Flandern, Dennis Smith as to carry radio transmitters. They Deputy Team Leader and a host of Newfound Alien Planet contributed thousands of hours to talented and well organized the tracking of Earth orbiting volunteers. Then, as now, amateur In Habitable Zone satellites and confirmation of their astronomy is often the inspiration Might Be Able To orbits. for a career in the sciences. Van Project Moonwatch, anticipating Flandern would go on to receive his Support Life the launch of non-military satellites, Ph.D. in Astronomy from Yale. His A newly discovered alien planet was organized by the National career as a professional astronomer may be one of the top contenders to Academy of Sciences as part of the at the United States Naval support life beyond Earth, International Geophysical Year Observatory began as Chief of the researchers say. (IGY) spanning July 1957 through Research Branch until 1983 and December 1958. IGY was intended later becoming Chief of the to allow scientists from around the Celestial Mechanics Branch of the world to take part in a series of Nautical Almanac Office. He coordinated observations of various authored many publications phenomena including: aurora, including Dark Matter, Missing cosmic rays, geomagnetism, gravity, Planets and New Comets: longitude and latitude Paradoxes Resolved, Origins determination, meteorology, Illuminated” where he challenged oceanography, seismology, and many fundamental theories in solar activity. Newly developed physics. Asteroid #52266 is named electronic computers facilitated the in Van Flandern’s honor. Artist's rendition of the "super analysis of all the gathered data. The The dedication will be held on Earth" Gliese 163c, which may be most dramatic of the new the 55th anniversary of Sputnik’s capable of supporting microbial life. technologies available to the IGY launch at the CAS Headquarters was the rocket. Post-World War II (5274 Zion Rd. Cleves, OH 45002) The newfound world, a "super developments in rocketry for the Thursday October 4th, 6:30 pm. Earth" called Gliese 163c, lies at the first time made the exploration of Observatory members are edge of its star's habitable zone -- space a real possibility. In welcome for the dedication, tours that just-right range of distances successfully launching science into and stargazing. where liquid water could exist. space, the IGY may have scored its greatest breakthrough. Hidden Magnetic Weird Planets Over a seven year period from Portals? 1957 to 1964 the Cincinnati Once, astronomers thought planets Moonwatch Team was recognized NASA-sponsored researcher has couldn't form around binary stars. by The Smithsonian Astrophysical developed a way for spacecraft to Now Kepler has found a whole Observatory as one of their leading hunt down hidden magnetic portals system of planets orbiting a double worldwide teams in making in the vicinity of Earth. These star. This finding shows that scientific contributions to the gateways link the magnetic field of planetary systems are weirder and launching and optical tracking of our planet to that of the sun, setting more abundant than previously artificial earth satellites. The the stage for stormy space weather. thought. Cincinnati Astronomical Society’s http://science.nasa.gov/science- http://science.nasa.gov/science- members spent thousands of man- news/science-at- news/science-at- hours supporting the Team’s efforts nasa/2012/29jun_hiddenportals/ nasa/2012/12sep_weirdplanets/ by contributing time, energy,

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