January 2020 OBSERVER

Home , 14 Aquarii, 17 Aquarii, 41 Tauri, 78 Aquarii, 82 Aquarii, 8 Aquarii

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 45, Number 1 January 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – Messier 1 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – January 2020 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2020 4«Member Education During January 2020 5«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 6«Make Plans Now to Attend TCAA Annual Meeting 7«January 2020 with Jeffrey Hunt 13«Renewing Your TCAA Membership 13«Did You Know? 13«Public Viewing Sessions for 2020 18«TCAA Treasurer’s Report

The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League as well as its North Central Region. For more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit the TCAA website at tcaa.us/

Visit Astroleague.org for additional information about the League and its IMAGE OF THE MONTH: EDITOR’S CHOICE – M1 numerous membership benefits, including observing programs. This month’s image choice shows Messier 1, the Crab Nebula. It was imaged on December 22nd by Scott Wade and Bob Finnigan at Prairie Sky Observatory using the 14” PlaneWave telescope. The Also, visit the NCRAL website at image consists of nine 1,200-second subs taken with the QHY 367 ncral.wordpress.com for information C color camera. about our North Central Region. Find The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant in the constellation out about our next Regional of Taurus. The name is due to William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, convention during May 2020. who observed the object in 1840 and produced a drawing that looked somewhat like a crab. The object is about 6,300 light-years distant with a mean radius of 5 light-years. Currently, at magnitude 8.4, it exploded and was visible in the daytime sky of July 1054 A.D.

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER By the time you read this note, the second decade of is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin the 2000s will have expired. It seems like just yesterday City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational that everyone was abuzz about "Y2K." Now twenty years organization of amateur astronomers inter- later, it seems nothing is impossible with technology. ested in studying astronomy and sharing Astronomy technology is no exception. The completely their hobby with the public. computerized telescopes we have today, the images we

can take, the increasing involvement of amateur TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS astronomers with keeping and maintaining databases for President Tim Stone

President, Director, & Property Manager use by professionals, and even more frequent pro/am collaborations, would have Tim Stone 309-531-2401 blown our mind 20 years ago. Getting into astronomy has never been simpler or [email protected] more rewarding.

Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. It’s impossible for me to imagine what our hobby will be like ten years from Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 now. I hope I can continue my active participation for these coming years, and I [email protected] certainly believe TCAA will be alive and well at the close of the next decade. It is my

Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent fervent hope that everyone reading this will resolve anew to actively engage in Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 astronomy as these years come and go. The opportunity is clear and amazingly [email protected] present. Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor Thanks to the public relations functions of major scientific organizations such Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 as NASA, ESO, The Carnegie Observatories, to mention a few, have so many of the [email protected] public been aware of astronomical happenings. Yet they rarely have anyone who 5th Director/Assistant Property Manager can really explain what it all means to them. We can be that voice. Scott Wade 309-310-2464 Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Everyone seems to be talking [email protected] about Betelgeuse’s current brightness minimum. The media is discussing the Astronomical League Correspondent possibility that Betelgeuse may supernova soon. Yet, if you asked most people to Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 point out Betelgeuse, they couldn’t possibly do that. We can! We can point our [email protected] telescopes at that star, discuss its variability with them, discuss its color and age Technology Coordinator with them. We know Betelgeuse personally, and there are plenty of people who Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 [email protected] would like to meet it. This is what I’m talking about when I say, “Let’s be the voice of astronomy in Webmaster our community.” Read up on current astronomy events. Read this newsletter. Read Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] the NCRAL newsletter. Study online resources. And when people ask you about what they heard on the radio or saw on Facebook, you can talk to them, and stoke Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number their interest in astronomy and maybe even our club! [email protected] Speaking of our club, our TCAA Holiday Party was quite a success again this year. We had approximately twenty of our members in our home, and we all had a

The OBSERVER great time. We talked about astronomy, and about other things. We got to know Carl J. Wenning, Editor better some people we didn’t know so well before. But more than that, we all became a little more personable with each other. Sometimes it’s hard to remember Submission deadline two days before that we’re all human beings, working to keep our lives in order and moving in the the end of each month. direction we want them to go. When we get MEMBERSHIP DUES together, shake each other's hands, smile and sit down to eat together, it brings us closer to what we Individual Adult/Family $40 Full-time Student/Senior $25 all have in common – being people who are (Senior status equals ages 60+) interested in some of the same things. If you couldn’t come this year, I do hope you’ll To join, send your name, contact info, and mark your calendar for next year. Barring dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA unforeseen circumstances, we do plan to host the Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL party again in December 2020. 61761-1471. Tim Stone, President

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – JANUARY 2020 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (1/15): Mars (♂), Jupiter (♃), & Saturn (♄) The following individuals have paid dues for new or EVENING PLANETS (1/15): Mercury (☿), Venus (♀), Uranus (⛢), renewed memberships as of December 27, 2019. (Others who paid after that date will appear in the February 2020 & Neptune (♆) issue of The OBSERVER.)

The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! important astronomical events for this month. All events are given in Central Daylight Time. New: none

Renewing: Jamie Jenkins

Day Time Event Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

01 19:30 Moon at Apogee: 404580 km 02 22:45 FIRST QUARTER MOON DUES BLUES

04 03 Quadrantid Meteor Shower If you have received a “your dues are due” 05 02 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98324 AU statement along with the email that brought you this 07 15:09 Aldebaran 3.0°S of Moon issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 09 17:29 Moon at Ascending Node Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for 10 09 Mercury at Superior Conjunction seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 10 13:10 Pen. Lunar Eclipse; mag=0.896 10 13:21 FULL MOON SUBSCRIBING TO THE NEW TCAA EMAIL LIST 10 20:26 Pollux 5.3°N of Moon Welcome to the [email protected] group at Groups.io. 11 17:54 Beehive 1.0°S of Moon This is a free, easy-to-use group email service set up for 13 05:37 Regulus 3.8°S of Moon the TCAA’s communication purposes. You can subscribe, 13 08 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun visit your group, start reading and posting messages here: https://groups.io/g/tcaa 13 14:20 Moon at Perigee: 365964 km The email address for this group is [email protected]. 17 06:58 LAST QUARTER MOON After you successfully subscribe, please add this email 17 17:03 Mars 4.7°N of Antares address to your safe sender list in your email client's 20 13:13 Mars 2.3°S of Moon contacts, so emails from this list do not end up getting classified as junk mail. 22 14:31 Moon at Descending Node Once subscribed, you can set your subscription 22 20:42 Jupiter 0.4°N of Moon: Occn. settings here: https://groups.io/g/tcaa/editsub. You can 24 15:42 NEW MOON opt to receive all messages in individual emails, 28 01:29 Venus 4.1°N of Moon collections of messages in a digest, a daily summary, or only special notices. If you do not wish to belong to this 29 15:28 Moon at Apogee: 405390 km group, you may unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2020cst.html If you have general questions about the group, check email [email protected]. For questions not answered EVENING SKY MAP there, contact the moderators of this group (Deva C., Tim Click on the icon found here S., and Carl W.) by emailing [email protected]. to access a current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar.

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon Thursday, January 2 Friday, January 10 Friday, January 17 Friday, January 24

All moon phase dates are Central Standard Time. Moon phases for the 2020 calendar year can be found by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

THIS MONTH’S SOLAR PHENOMENA

In the table below, you will find times of sunrise and sunset along with rising and setting azimuths (Az), length of the day including the change from the previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, and the time of solar noon along with the elevation (El) of the midday sun. These data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2020 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Solar Dist.

Jan Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Diff. Start End Time (El) MIL. MILES 1 7:19 AM (120°) 4:39 PM (240°) 9:20:27 +0:39 5:41 AM 6:17 PM 11:59 AM (26.6°) 91.401 11 7:19 AM (118°) 4:49 PM (242°) 9:30:29 +1:15 5:41 AM 6:26 PM 12:03 PM (27.7°) 91.410 21 7:14 AM (116°) 5:00 PM (244°) 9:45:56 +1:45 5:39 AM 6:35 PM 12:07 PM (29.6°) 91.474

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2020

Date Event Speaker/Coordinator(s) Location Times February 8 Annual Banquet & Meeting Dr. Matt Caplan/Dave Osenga Normal Township Hall 6:30-9:00 PM April ??? TCAA Social Tom Willmitch? ISU Planetarium? TBD April 25 Public Viewing Session Carl Wenning SGNC 8:15-10:15 PM May 2 Astronomy Day (Spring) Tom Willmitch TBD TBD May 23 Public Viewing Session Tim Stone SGNC 8:45-10:45 PM June 20 Public Viewing Session Sunil Chebolu SGNC 9:00-11:00 PM July ?? TCAA Summer Picnic TBD In-town Park? TBD July 18 Public Viewing Session Mark Boulware SGNC 9:00-11:00 PM August 22 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:15-10:15PM September 19 Public Viewing Session Sandullah Epsicokhan SGNC 7:30-9:30 PM September 26 Astronomy Day (Autumn) Tom Willmitch TBD TBD October ?? TCAA Social Tom Willmitch? ISU Planetarium? TBD October 17 Public Viewing Session Lee Green SGNC 7:00-9:00 PM

MEMBER EDUCATION DURING JANUARY 2020 Carl Wenning and Deva Chatrathi will host an early evening sky orientation and viewing session at SGNC in mid to late January. All TCAA members are invited to attend. We will view the sky during a directed observing session using eyes, binoculars, and telescopes. A sky map and observing checklist will be provided. If you don’t know the sky, this is the time to learn under expert guidance. Contact Carl at [email protected] for details if you are interested in participating.

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó Lisa Wentzel has completed the necessary observations for the Astronomical League’s Urban Observing Program. Her observing record has been forwarded to the program manager, and we hope to see her receive her pin and certificate at the February Annual Meeting. ó TCAA President Tim Stone, Bob & Cheryl Finnigan, and Carl & Carolyn Wenning represented the club at the wake of Ernie Finnigan on Monday, December 2nd. There they were able to express the condolences of the membership to Patty Finnigan, Ernie’s wife, as well as the rest of the family. Dave Osenga sent flowers on behalf of the TCAA membership. ó Carl Wenning, Tim Stone, and Tom Willmitch attended the Peoria Astronomical Society (PAS) meeting at the Riverfront Museum’s planetarium on Wednesday, December 4th. Carl spoke as NCRAL Chair describing the growing benefits of affiliate membership and encouraging participation by the 20 or so PAS members present. Tim gave the keynote address dealing with the TCAA and the work taking place in its three observatories. Tom went along to see not only the talks but to visit the Northmoor Observatory in Donavan Park afterward where club’s 9” refractor is housed. (Visit the PAS website at https://www.astronomical.org/observatories.php for details.) Sheldon Shafer of the PAS served as host. Sheldon gave our group an opportunity to observe the first quarter moon and M42 in Orion (at about 140X), much to the delight of our three members. None of the TCAAers had ever visited the observatory despite knowing of its existence for several decades. Thanks to Sheldon for making the evening’s events possible. Photo credits: moon: Tim Stone; telescope: Carl Wenning ó The same evening as the Peoria trip, Bob Finnigan and Sandullah Epsicokhan spent the evening at PSO imaging M1 (the Crab Nebula) despite its low elevation and brightness of the moon. That image now adorns to the cover of this issue. ó The club's new email list [email protected] went live on Tuesday, December 10th, after it was set up by Deva Chatrathi. Deva then quickly set up Tim Stone and Carl Wenning as moderators. Carl sent the first message through the system at 5:23 PM, confirming his new status with Deva. Thanks, Deva, for giving us group email access once again! ó If you have not already subscribed to the TCAA’s new email service, be certain that you do. No one will add your email address if you don’t do it yourself. See page 3 of this newsletter for how to join [email protected]. To date (Dec 29), 39 individuals have subscribed to the new email service. ó The TCAA’s new Public Viewing Session brochures for 2020 were delivered to the home of Carl Wenning on Thursday, December 11th. The Board of Directors will determine how best to distribute them at their Tuesday, January 7th meeting. It is expected that distribution will begin in March so that the brochures don’t get lost before the start of the viewing season. ó The TCAA’s annual holiday party was held at the home of Tim & Diann Stone on December 19th. The turnout this year was about 20, and those who attended had a good time. Thanks to Tim and Diann for hosting this event. ó Tim Stone reported the following observation, “On the night of December 22nd, at about 6:30 PM, I was out at the Waynesville Observatory doing some deep-sky imaging as well as spectroscopy. I happened to step out of the roll-off roof after making an adjustment to the 16" and saw a line of Starlink satellites stretching from [low in] the southwest to high in the northwest sky. There had to have been 30 of them, all spaced by maybe 10 to 15 degrees. As one would fade out in Cygnus, another would flare into view near Venus. I think it must have taken them 15 minutes to all pass over. It was disturbing and strangely beautiful at the same time.” ó NCRAL’s Northern Lights newsletter was disseminated to the Region’s 1,850 members on December 22nd. If you have not yet received or read it, you may do so by going to https://ncral.wordpress.com/newsletter-archive/. The series of articles

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

and pictures dealing with the TCAA’s recent Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course written by Deva Chatrathi and Carl Wenning. ó The star Betelgeuse in Orion is on the wane. It recently has dimmed to the point that it is dimmer than at any point since photometric means were used to determine its brightness nearly a century ago. Some astronomers think that it might be getting ready to go SUPERNOVA! If you haven't seen Betelgeuse recently, be certain to step outside the next clear evening to do so. Some say that Orion look "weird" with the should star being so dim. Also, be certain to check out this popular article about the star at https://on.natgeo.com/39rDzwK In relation to this topic, Tim Stone wrote the following: “Here is a comparison between Betelgeuse’s spectrum from April (red) and November (blue). I acquired the two spectra with different equipment configurations, and the later one was after an intense six months of technique improvements, but the rough comparison should be valid. One striking difference I see is the peak at 7050Å (Titanium Oxide) is far more pronounced in the November spectrum than in the April one. As the star dims, it is cooling, which makes TiO absorption much more efficient. 7050Å is a TiO bandhead, so the absorption takes place on the redward side of that wavelength. The difference at 7050Å between those two spectra is explainable (to me, anyway) as a consequence of the cooler stellar atmosphere. “If I had spectra samples at higher resolution, we would probably be able to see the pressure-related broadening of individual lines. As the star cools, it contracts, increasing the pressure in the star's atmosphere. This broadens the absorption features. This pressure-related line broadening and narrowing is one of the primary ways we classify stars into luminosity classes. But alas, I don't have the ability to record any individual lines with enough resolution to do luminosity analysis (yet).”

MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND TCAA’S 60TH ANNUAL MEETING

Make plans now to attend the TCAA’s Annual Meeting. Next year, 2020, will be the 60th anniversary of the club’s founding. I held its first formal meeting on February 18, 1960, after a February 4 planning meeting at the home of John & Bertha Kieviet. Next year’s celebratory event will be held on Saturday, February 8th, at the Normal Township Hall, 304 East Mulberry Street, Normal. The doors will open at 6:00 PM, with those gathered called to order at 6:30 PM. Again, get this date into your calendar, so you don't forget about it and can avoid a schedule conflict. The TCAA Annual Meeting one of the most enjoyable activities that the club holds throughout the year, and you’ll not want to miss it!

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

The Annual Meeting consists of a banquet, an annual business meeting at which we hear reports and vote for the following year’s Board of Directors, presentation of awards, and an invited speaker. This year’s banquet has been arranged by Treasurer Dave Osenga and will be catered. The meal will consist of chicken and vegetarian entrées, potatoes, green beans, tea, coffee, water, lemonade, and a celebratory cake. Despite the great banquet meal, members are strongly encouraged to bring a small side dish (e.g., a regional or ethnic food) to share to increase the variety of food options. The banquet cost will remain at $20 per person (sorry, no discounts for children). Additional information about reservations will appear in the February edition of this newsletter. This year’s speaker will be Dr. Matt Caplan from the Illinois State University Physics Department. Dr. Caplan joined ISU in the fall of 2019. He earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 2017. Prior to joining ISU, Dr. Caplan was a CITA National Fellow at the McGill Space Institute. His research uses large scale computer simulations to study the interiors of neutron stars.

JANUARY 2020: BRILLIANT EVENING STAR VENUS & JUPITER ENTERS MORNING SKY ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

At the beginning of morning twilight as the New Year appear over halfway up in the eastern sky. The Great Square opens (about 5:40 a.m. CST), Mars is the lone naked eye of Pegasus is now past the meridian with the line of planet in the morning sky. It is low in the southeast. Spica is Andromeda's stars pointing toward Perseus. The Great to the upper right of the Red Planet, approaching the Andromeda Galaxy is near the meridian. meridian. Yellow-orange Arcturus is over halfway up in the southeast. The Big Dipper is high in the north. If you face • January 1: Happy New Year! One hour before sunrise, north, you see two bright stars somewhat flanking the Mars (m = 1.6), nearly 18° up in the southeast, is 4.7° to meridian: Vega and Capella. Vega is less than one-third of the upper right of Graffias (β Sco, m = 2.6). Jupiter (m = the way up in the east-northeast, while Capella is lower in −1.8) is only 4° west of the sun, beginning its apparition. It the northwest. Both stars, along with Deneb, which is very can be found during the daytime. Use care observing the low in the northeast, have high declinations, so they appear planet in close proximity to the sun. Mercury, nearing its long before their seasonal companions and linger long after solar superior conjunction before midmonth, is 5° west of their cyclical comrades disappear into the sun's glare. the sun. Saturn is approaching its solar conjunction on Compare their positions this morning to their locations at January 13, then begins its slow climb into the morning sky the end of twilight this evening. Meanwhile, Capella joins to join Jupiter and Mars. The sun is in the sky for nearly Castor, Pollux, and Procyon in the western sky. They make 9.25 hours, and darkness lasts nearly 11.5 hours. Darkness an arc low in the sky that extends from west to northwest. is the time between the end of evening twilight and the Farther east, Mars is in eastern Libra. The constellation's beginning of morning twilight. The phases of twilight last brightest stars – Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali – form about 3.3 hours in the morning and evening. Venus (m = the pincers of the classic representation of Scorpius. Antares −4.0) is 35° east of the sun, setting nearly 3 hours after is beginning to clear the horizon, and the rest of the body sunset. One hour after sunset, this brilliant Evening Star is soon follows. Leo is now past the meridian, beginning to tilt 16° in altitude in the southwestern sky. Through a down toward the western horizon. Meanwhile, at the end of telescope, it is 13" across and 82% illuminated. Notice that evening twilight (about 6:10 p.m. CST), a waxing crescent Venus is about the same altitude as Fomalhaut (α PsA, m = moon is west of the meridian to the upper left of Venus, the 1.2). The star is over 25° to the left of the planet. At the lone naked eye planet in the sky at this hour. Facing north, same time the moon (6.8 days past the New phase, 38% notice that Vega and Capella have nearly changed places illuminated), over 40° up in the south, is nearly 42° to the from this morning's view. Vega is in the northwest, and upper left of Venus and nearly 16° to the upper right of Capella is in the northeast, although higher than Vega's Beta Ceti (β Cet, m = 2.0). The lunar orb is in Cetus tonight. morning altitude. Vega joins Deneb and Altair, the Summer The moon is at apogee at 7:30 p.m. CST - 251,394 miles Triangle from west to northwest. Deneb is nearly halfway up away. This is the first of two apogees this month. in the sky. Our eye is drawn eastward because of the bright • January 2: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in collection of stars – Pollux, Castor, Capella, Aldebaran, the southeast, is 4.1° to the upper right of Graffias. As the Betelgeuse, and Rigel. Sirius and Procyon are yet to rise. This month progresses, Mars’ altitude decreases when viewed bright Winter Congregation is led by the Pleiades that

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

one hour before sunrise. The ecliptic’s angle is low, and Cetus again, is nearly 16° to the lower right of Hamal (α Ari, the sun's declination is greater than Mars. The sun is m = 2.0). At this hour, the Pleiades (M 45) has the same moving toward the vernal equinox while Mars is altitude as the moon. The cluster is nearly 28° to the left of approaching the ecliptic's lowest point. The basic principle the moon. is that the farther north an object, the earlier it rises. • January 5: Earth is at perihelion at 1:48 a.m. CST, 0.98324 During January and February, the time interval between Astronomical Units from the sun. One hour before sunrise sunrise and Mars rising decreases nearly 20 minutes. (about 6:20 a.m. CST), Mars is over 18° up in the southeast. Betelgeuse (α Ori, m = 0.4) rises at sunset. One hour after As the approach to Graffias continues, Mars is 2.1° to the sunset, brilliant Venus is nearly 17° up in the southwest. It upper right of the star this morning. Rigel (β Ori, m = 0.2) is 7.0° to the lower right of Delta Capricorni (δ Cap, m rises at sunset. One hour after sunset, Venus is nearly 18° =2.8). Farther south, the moon (7.8d, 48%) is 46° up in the up in the southwest. It is 3.4° to the lower right of Delta sky and over 16° above Beta Ceti. The moon reaches its Capricorni. Through a telescope, Venus is 13.4” across and First Quarter phase at 10:45 p.m. CST. 81% illuminated. Farther east, the moon (10.8d, 76%) is • January 3: One hour before sunrise, Mars continues to over halfway up in the east-southeast. approach Graffias. This morning, one hour before sunrise, • January 6: Mars continues to move toward Graffias. One Mars is 3.4° to the upper right of the star. At this time, hour before sunrise, locate Mars about 19° up in the Mars is nearly 19° up in the southeast. Look for Antares (α southeast. This morning, the planet is 1.5° to the upper Sco, m = 1.0), over 8° up in the southeast, about 11° to the right of the star. Pollux (β Gem, m = 1.2) rises at sunset. lower left of Mars. One hour after sunset, Venus, 17° up in About an hour later, Venus, nearly 18° up in the southwest, the southwest, is 5.8° to the lower right of Delta is 0.8° to the upper right of Gamma Capricorni (γ Cap, m = Capricorni. The bright, slightly gibbous moon (8.8d, 57%) is 3.6). Farther east, the moon (11.8d, 84%), nearly halfway over halfway up in the south-southeast in southeastern up in the sky in the east-southeast, makes a triangle with Pisces. Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8) and the Pleiades. The lunar orb is 11° to the upper right of Aldebaran and 8° to the lower right of the star cluster. • January 7: One hour before sunrise, Mars, 19° up in the southeast, is 1° to the right of Graffias (β Sco, m = 2.5). Mars enters Scorpius today and moves through the constellation in only 8 days. Jupiter rises at Civil Twilight when the sun is 6° below the horizon. One hour after sunset, about 5:40 p.m. CST, brilliant Venus is over 18° in altitude in the southwest. This evening, it makes a pretty triangle with Delta Capricorni and Gamma Capricorni. The gap from the planet to each star is 1.2°. Mars is above γ Cap and to the right of δ Cap. Farther east, the moon (12.8d, 91%) is over 35° up in the east. This evening it is 3.2° to the upper left of Aldebaran. • January 8: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in the southeast, passes 0.7° to the lower right of Graffias. An hour after sunset, Venus, nearly 19° up in the southwest, is 0.9° to the upper right of Delta Capricorni. Farther east, the very bright moon (13.8d, 96%) is 28° up in the east. Look carefully to locate the southern horn of During the next several mornings, watch Mars approach Taurus, Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau, m = 3.0). The moon is 0.6° to the and pass Graffias. This morning Mars is 2.1° to the right of left of the star. Although the moon is bright, it is 1.2° the star. below the Crab Nebula (M1, NGC 1952). Return with low • January 4: One hour before sunrise, Mars (m = 1.5), over telescopic power in a week when the moon has moved 18° up in the southeast, is 2.7° to the upper right of farther east, and it's dimmer than tonight. • Graffias. One hour after sunset, brilliant Venus is over 17° January 9: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in up in the southwest, 4.6° to the lower right of Delta the southeast, is still near Graffias, passing 0.1° from Capricorni. Farther east, the gibbous moon (9.8d, 67%), in Omega1 Scorpii (ω1 Sco, m = 3.9). Use a binocular to see the planet with the dimmer starfield. One hour after

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

sunset, the nearly full moon (14.8d, 99%) is in the feet of is 1.3° to the upper left of Iota Aquarii. Later in the evening, Gemini, about 19° up in the east-northeast. The lunar disk about 9:45 p.m. CST, the moon (18.9d, 85%), 14° up in the is about 3.7° to the lower left of Mu Geminorum (μ Gem, east, is midway between Regulus and Denebola (β Leo, m m = 2.8). At this hour, notice that this glaringly bright = 2.1). The gibbous moon is below a line that connects the moon has about the same altitude as Betelgeuse. Brilliant two stars. With the moon out of the evening sky, go Venus shines from about 19° up in the southwest. This outside at the end of twilight (6:25 p.m. CST). Find a place evening it is 1.8° to the upper left of Delta Capricorni. It is with clear horizons in the southeast and the northwest. At moving into the dimmer starfield at the Capricornus – this time, it is possible to see the Winter Triangle – Sirius, Aquarius border. Follow it with a binocular as it moves Betelgeuse, and Procyon – and the Summer Triangle – eastward. At this time, Venus is 1.2° to the lower left of Vega, Altair, and Deneb – simultaneously. Martin and Mu Capricorni (μ Cap, m = 5.1). Menzel in The Friendly Stars, poetically describe the scene. • January 10: One hour before sunrise, the moon (15.3d, "In the skies all of the other bright winter stars have 100%) is low in the west-northwest, over 10° below Pollux. arrived, and some of the brightest of the spring and Farther east, Mars, over 18° up in the southeast, is 1.5° to summer stars still linger to grace the company, when the the lower left of Graffias. Mercury is at superior king of stars arrives. No less than ten of our sixteen conjunction at 9:19 a.m. CST. The moon reaches its Full brightest stars are in view when the dazzling face of Sirius phase at 1:21 p.m. CST. A penumbral lunar eclipse is appears. On the eastern side of the heavens are golden visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. In the Capella, rose-tinted Aldebaran, red-faced Betelgeuse, fair evening, about an hour after sunset, brilliant Venus is Rigel, the gentle Pollux, and Procyon, the smaller Dog Star, about 19° up in the southwest, 2.4° to the lower right of all fresh and joyous, and eager. In the southwest is Iota Aquarii (ι Aqr, m = 4.3). Through a telescope, Venus is Fomalhaut, serene and indifferent to what is about to 13.7” across and 80% illuminated, an evening gibbous transpire. In the west is Altair, just waiting above the phase. Farther east, the bright moon (15.8d, 100%) is horizon to witness the event, and then drop out of sight. nearly 6° to the lower right of Pollux. In the northwest are Vega and Deneb, bright and gay and • January 11: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in twinkling with almost as many hues as Sirius himself" (pp. the southeast, is 2.1° to the lower left of Graffias. At the 62-63). The event portrayed by the authors is Sirius' rising same time, the moon (16.3d, 99%) is 18° up in the west- into the sky. At first, Sirius' light struggles to shine as it northwest. It is 8.0° to the left of Pollux. This evening twinkles wildly, throwing off an inconsistent array of Venus appears in among the dim stars of Aquarius. One colors. Rising above the denser atmosphere, the star's hour after sunset, find the brilliant planet 19° up in the light becomes bright and consistent. While the evening southwest. With a binocular, locate the planet 1.2° to the skies are cold and brisk, take note of the stars' colors as lower right of Iota Aquarii. Two hours after sunset, the Martin and Menzel describe. A binocular helps to see the moon (16.8d, 98%), about 8° up in the east-northeast, is colors clearly. Just before 10 p.m., the moon (18.3d, 90%) over 15° to the lower left of Pollux. is nearly 15° in altitude in the east. It is midway from • January 12: One hour before sunrise, find the bright moon Regulus to Denebola, but below a line that connects the (17.3d, 96%) nearly one-third of the way up in the western stars. sky. It is about midway between Pollux and Regulus (α Leo, • January 14: One hour before sunrise, the moon (19.3d, m= 1.3). Farther east, Mars, over 18° up in the southeast, 82%), over 40° up in the west-southwest, is nearly 14° to is 2.7° to the lower left of Graffias. Venus continues to the upper left of Regulus. Farther east, Mars, over 18° in dominate the early evening southwestern sky. Cold, clear altitude in the southeast, is 5.4° above Antares. One hour skies accent the brightness of the Evening Star. This after sunset, Venus is over 20° up in the southwest. With a evening, one hour after sunset, it is nearly 20° up in the binocular, locate it 2.5° to the upper left of Iota Aquarii. southwest with a binocular notice that it is 0.3° to the Notice that it joins a line made by 45 Aqr (m = 5.9), 42 Aqr upper right of Iota Aquarii. (m = 5.3), and 38 Aqr (m = 5.4). Venus is 9° to the upper • January 13: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in right of the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293). the southeast, is 3.4° to the lower left of Graffias. At the • January 15: Mars moves into Ophiuchus. It crosses the same time, the gibbous moon (18.3d, 90%) is about 35° up constellation in 27 days. One hour before sunrise, Mars is in the west. It is 3.3° to the upper right of Regulus. Pluto is over 18° in altitude in the southeast, 1.8° to the upper at its solar conjunction at 7:21 a.m. CST. Saturn is at its right of Omega Ophiuchi (ω Oph, m = 4.4) and 5.1° to the solar conjunction, 9:17 a.m. CST. The moon is closest to upper left of Antares. Through a telescope, Mars is 4.5” Earth (perigee) at 2:21 p.m. CST, 227,396 miles away. One across, not much to see at this time. The moon (20.3d, hour after sunset, brilliant Venus, 20° up in the southwest, 73%) – about halfway up in the southwest – is about 10°

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

to the lower left of Denebola. In the evening, about an the upper left of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4). In the hour after sunset, brilliant Venus, about 21° up in the evening, one hour after sunset, Venus, 21° up in the southwest, is over halfway from Iota Aquarii to Sigma southwest, is 1.7° to the lower right of Sigma Aquarii. Aquarii (m = 4.8), 3.0° to the lower right of the latter star. • January 17: One hour before sunrise, the moon (22.3d, Through a telescope, Venus is 14.0” across and 78% 50%) is nearly 7° to the upper left of Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0). illuminated. As midnight approaches, the moon (21.0d, Mars is over 18° up in the southeast, 4.7° to the upper left 64%), about 10° up in the east, is 2.4° to the upper left of of Antares, and 0.4° to the upper right of Omega Ophiuchi. Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4). One hour after sunset, Venus, over 21° in altitude in the southwest, is 0.6° below Sigma Aquarii. At mid-month when morning twilight begins (about • January 18: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in 5:40 a.m. CST), a bright moon, that is approaching its Last the southeast, is 4.7° to the upper left of Antares. At the Quarter phase, is high in the south above Spica, which is at same time, Mars is 0.4° below Omega Ophiuchi. View the the meridian. Ruddy Arcturus is higher than the moon in the star and Mars in the growing twilight with a binocular. The south-southeastern sky. Working upward from Spica and moon (23.3d, 39%) is nearly 6° to the upper right of Arcturus, we reach the Big Dipper that is now high in the Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m = 2.8). In the evening, Venus is northwest. Mizar, at the bend in the dipper’s handle, is at nearly 22° in altitude above the southwest horizon. It is the meridian. The Pointer Stars aim at the North Star. Drilling 0.7° to the upper left of Sigma Aquarii. through the bottom of the dipper takes us to Leo. The Lion is now tipped toward the western horizon. Its bright star, Regulus is about halfway up in the west. This morning sky resembles the view on a warm May evening. Mars is the lone planet in the sky at this hour, although Jupiter and Saturn are on their paths into the sky to join the Red Planet. Find the Red Planet in the southeast. Mars is to the upper left of its Rival, Antares. Compare them in the sky. Both are nearly the same color and brightness as Mars passes the star. Farther north, the Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – is entering the morning sky. Altair is very close to the horizon, but it rises higher as twilight brightens the eastern sky. Compare the triangle’s position this morning to where you see the stars this evening. Similarly, Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella are low in the western sky. Compare their morning positions to where you see them this evening. As we move to the evening sky at the end of twilight (about 6:30 p.m. CST), the bright Winter Congregation – Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Castor, Capella, Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, and Rigel – dominates the evening; yet, almost without delay, our eye is drawn to the Pleiades Before sunrise, the waning crescent moon appears to the that seem to be leading the brighter stars westward. The upper left of Mars, and the planet is near its Rival, Antares. lone bright planet in the sky is Venus. While it is far from Sirius, compare the visual intensities of the planet and star. • January 19: One hour before sunrise, the moon (24.3d, Later this month, they will have the same altitudes at this 28%), about 30° up in the south-southeast, is 1.7° to the time interval. At this hour, Vega and Deneb are in the lower right of Gamma Librae (γ Lib, m = 3.9) and 4.8° to northwest. Deneb is still high in the northwest at this season, the upper left of Graffias. Mars is over 18° up in the about halfway up in the sky. Vega is lower, less than one- southeast. It continues to move away from Antares. This third of Deneb’s altitude. The Big Dipper is quite low at this morning’s gap is 4.8°. Mars is to the upper left of its Rival. hour, just above the horizon in the north-northeast. At the same time, it is 1.0° to the lower left of Omega Ophiuchi. In the evening, one hour after sunset, look for • January 16: One hour before sunrise, Mars (m = 1.5), over brilliant Venus, 22° up in the southwest, 1.8° to the upper 18° in altitude in the southeast, is 4.9° to the upper left of left of Sigma Aquarii. Antares and 1.0° to the upper right of Omega Ophiuchi. • January 20: Jupiter rises at Nautical Twilight when the sun Farther westward, the moon (21.3d, 62%) is nearly 2.5° to is 12° below the horizon. A short time later, Mars (m = 1.4)

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

is over 18° in altitude in the southeast, 4.9° to the upper its Rival. Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter is nearly 5° in left of Antares. The moon (25.3d, 19%) is 3.9° to the upper altitude, to the lower left of Mars. One hour after sunset, right of Mars. Thirty minutes before sunrise, Jupiter is 5° the moon (2.1d, 4%), about 8° up in the west-southwest, is up in the southeast, nearly 30° to the lower left of Mars. over 15° to the lower right of Venus. The brilliant planet is The dim Red Planet is lost in the brightness of the pre- 1.4° to the lower right of Phi Aquarii. Through a telescope, sunrise sky, but locate the moon and then Mars with a observe that Venus is 75% illuminated, an evening gibbous binocular. About an hour after sunset, Venus, 22° up in the phase that is 15" across. southwest is 4.3° to the upper right of Tau Aquarii (τ Aqr, • January 27: One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly 18° up m = 4.0) and 2.7° to the upper left of Sigma Aquarii. A in the southeast. It is 7.7° to the left of Antares. Begin binocular helps find the stars here, as well. looking for Jupiter, low in the southeast, as it passes 3.4° • January 21: One hour before sunrise, Mars, 18° up in the to the upper left of Nunki (σ Sgr, m = 2.0), the star in the southeast, is over 9° to the upper right of the moon (26.2d, handle of the Teapot of Sagittarius. Use a binocular to see 11%) and 5.2° to the upper left of Antares. In the evening, the planet and the star. Venus is 40° east of the sun. At the one hour after sunset, Venus is over 22° up in the end of evening twilight, Venus, 18° up in the west- southwest. It is 2.1° below Lambda Aquarii (λ Aqr, m = 3.7). southwest, is 0.2° to the upper left of Neptune. Venus is • January 22: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in nearly 7° above the crescent moon (3.1d, 9%) and 0.2° to the southeast, is 5.5° to the upper left of Antares and the lower right of Phi Aquarii. nearly 10° to the lower left of Graffias. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Jupiter is about 4° up in the southeast. The crescent moon (27.2d, 6%) is 7° to the upper right of Jupiter and nearly 22° to the lower left of Mars. One hour after sunset, Venus, nearly 23° up in the southwest, is 1.1° to the lower right of Lambda Aquarii. • January 23: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° up in the southeast, is 5.9° to the upper left of Antares. About an hour after sunset, Venus, 23° up in the southwest, is 1.0° to the right of Lambda Aquarii and 4.5° to the lower right of Neptune (m = 7.9). • January 24: Mars is 2.0 Astronomical Units from Earth. One hour before sunrise, the Red Planet is 18° up in the southeast, 6.3° to the upper left of Antares. Saturn rises at the beginning of twilight when the sun is 6° below the horizon. The moon reaches its New Moon phase at 3:42 p.m. CST. It is the beginning of the Year of the Rat on the Chinese calendar. The Chinese calendar and other similar calendars begin the New Year at the second new moon after the winter solstice. Procyon (α CMi, m = 0.4) rises at

sunset. One hour after sunset, brilliant Venus, over 23° up During the early evening, the crescent moon pairs with in the southwest, is 1.8° to the upper left of Lambda Venus. This evening they are 7° apart. Aquarii. • January 25: One hour before sunrise, Mars, over 18° in • January 28: One hour before sunrise, Mars, less than 18° altitude in the southeast, is 6.7° to the upper left of in altitude in the southeast, is 8.3° to the left of Antares. Antares. Jupiter is beginning to creep into the sky at this Fifteen minutes look for Jupiter far to the lower left of time interval. What is the first date you see it with optical Mars. Thirty minutes after sunset, use a binocular to look aid and without assistance? One hour after sunset, Venus, for Mercury (m = −1.0) about 5° up in the west-southwest. almost 24° up in the southwest, is nearly midway from This speedy planet is starting its best evening appearance Lambda Aquarii to Phi Aquarii (φ Aqr, m = 4.2). Venus is of the year. Near its evening greatest elongation, it sets at 3.0° to the upper left of λ Aqr and 2.6° to the lower right the end of evening twilight next month. At the end of of φ Aqr. evening twilight this evening, Venus, about 18° up in the • January 26: One hour before sunrise, Mars is in the west-southwest, is 7° to the lower right of the moon (4.1d, southeast, 18.0° in altitude. This morning the Mars – 15%). The brilliant planet is 0.9° to the upper left of Phi Antares gap is 7.2°. The Red Planet is to the upper left of Aquarii.

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

• January 29: One hour before sunrise, Mars is about 18° up noticeably, dimmer than the star. Moving westward along in the southeast. This morning it is 8.9° to the left of the ecliptic, blue Spica is more than one-third of the way up Antares. The moon is at apogee at 3:27 p.m. CST, 251,900 in the south, now west of the meridian. Farther west along miles away. This is the second apogee this month. Sirius (α the ecliptic, Regulus is the next bright star. It is in the west, CMa, m = −1.5) rises at sunset. Thirty minutes after sunset, at a lower altitude than Spica. The regal Lion is now steeply find Mercury over 5° in altitude in the west-southwest. tipped toward the horizon. Pollux, Castor, and Capella – a One hour after sunset, Venus, nearly 25° in altitude in the trio of bright winter stars lingers above the northwest southwest, is about 17° to the lower right of the waxing horizon. Compare their positions this morning to where they crescent moon (5.1d, 22%). The moon is in western Cetus appear tonight. Moving northward along the horizon, we this evening. reach Cassiopeia, just above the horizon and east of the • January 30: One hour before sunrise, Mars is 9.5° to the meridian. Turning toward the east, we see the stars of the right of Antares and 2.6° to the upper right of Omicron Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – are together in Ophiuchi (ο Oph, m = 5.1). A binocular helps see the the sky. Scanning higher in the sky, we find Arcturus, high in planet and the star. At the same hour, Jupiter is nearly 25° the south, and the Big Dipper, high in the northwest. The sun to the lower left of Mars, about 4.0° up in the southeast. is in the sky for nearly 10 hours at month's end. Darkness With a good horizon and clear sky, you should see it with a lasts nearly 10 hours, 50 minutes. In the evening at the end binocular and possibly without optical assistance. Similarly, of evening twilight, brilliant Venus is low in the west- in the evening, use optical assistance to see Mercury, 6° in northwest. The nearly First Quarter phase moon is higher in altitude in the west-southwest. One hour after sunset, the the southwest, about halfway between Aldebaran and moon (6.1d, 31%) is in Cetus again this evening. It is nearly Venus. Venus – has nearly the same altitude as Sirius, now in 30° from brilliant Venus. The planet is nearly 25° up in the the southeast. The brightest star is part of the Great Winter southwest. Congregation in the eastern sky. The Winter Triangle – Sirius, • January 31: One hour before sunrise, Mars is nearly 18° up Procyon, and Betelgeuse – is now above the eastern horizon. in the southeast. It is about 10° to the left of Antares. Look Other observers see various larger shapes among these for Jupiter low in the southeast, about 5° in altitude. It is bright stars of Winter. I see the Winter "W," made of nearly 25° to the lower left of Mars. Thirty minutes after Procyon, Sirius, Betelgeuse, Rigel, and Aldebaran. Yes, the sunset, look for Mercury over 7° in the west-southwest. It letter is slightly misshapen, but the stars proudly proclaim should be possible to see it 15 minutes later as the sky they are the prominent stars of the season. Farther south, darkens, and it moves closer to the horizon. Use a the Pleiades are near the meridian, over two-thirds of the binocular and find an unobstructed horizon. In the evening way up in the sky. The Great Square of Pegasus is about sky, brilliant Venus sparkles in the southwestern sky, halfway up in the west, with the stars of Andromeda, nearly 25° in altitude. As the sky darkens further, the pointing toward Perseus, now straddling the meridian at the moon (7.1d, 40%), over 50° up in the south-southwest, is zenith. Deneb lingers in the northwest. Over 13 hours have over 17° below Hamal (α Ari, m = 2.0). The moon is in elapsed since we saw it this eastern Pisces this evening. morning at the beginning of twilight At the end of the month, when morning twilight to move from its morning position begins, Mars is the lone planet in the sky. It is in the to its evening place. southeast to the left of its Rival, Antares. Mars is slightly, but

About the Author: Jeffrey Hunt has had a life-long interest in astronomy and astronomy education. He has taught astronomy at all levels, from preschool students to university courses. Jeff is a former director of the Waubonsie Valley High School Planetarium in Aurora, Illinois. Dr. Hunt holds several degrees, including a master's degree in planetarium education from Michigan State University. He writes an astronomy blog (http://jeffreylhunt.wordpress.com) showing easily-seen sky events. Currently, he is retired with his wife and cat in Northern Illinois.

Editor’s Note: The editor of The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers wishes to acknowledge the dedicated monthly contributions to this newsletter by author, Dr. Jeffrey L. Hunt of Naperville, Illinois. Not only does Dr. Hunt contribute monthly for the benefit of the TCAA membership, but he also contributes quarterly to the NCRAL newsletter Northern Lights, which all TCAA members are entitled to receive. To sign up for Northern Lights, subscribe now through the following URL: https://goo.gl/gsS8SF

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

RENEWING YOUR TCAA MEMBERSHIP

The TCAA works to promote in every way among its members and the public an interest in and knowledge of astronomy and its allied sciences, to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques, to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields, and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis. The TCAA is a Federally recognized non-profit entity organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. The TCAA currently supports family-friendly public observing sessions at SGNC, public outreach events such as the recent May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury and the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse field trip, hosting of NCRAL meetings (2010 and 2016), September mini-conferences, and education courses for our membership and the public. The TCAA maintains three observatories, including payment of insurance, and publishes an award-winning club newsletter. We support Sugar Grove Nature Center through its membership program, maintain a loaner telescope program, and provide many other benefits as outlined in TCAA Guide #2 – Membership and Benefits. Your TCAA membership supports education and public outreach in Central Illinois and regions beyond. Membership dues and the generosity of its members are the club’s primary means of financial support. We receive no grants or public funds. We have unmet needs. By renewing your membership when it comes due, you can help to ensure our continuing efforts.

TCAA ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK

Did you know that the TCAA is on Facebook? We encourage users of social media to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing and to learn about nightly events that only require the observer to step outdoors and view with the unaided eye. You can find us on Facebook by searching either TCAA or Twin City Amateur Astronomers. If you haven’t followed TCAA’s Face-book page, you have missed out on a lot during the past couple of months.

DID YOU KNOW?

Are you looking for back issues of The Are you looking for information about Are you looking for the TCAA Guides to OBSERVER? Look no further than here: the history of the TCAA? Find out more amateur astronomy? Visit this page: http://tcaa.us/Observer.aspx here: http://tcaa.us/History.aspx http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2020

April 25: Mars and the Events of 2020 (Carl Wenning) 8:15-10:15 PM

Mars makes its closest approach to Earth every 780 days (1.9 years). The next closest approach will occur on October 13th, 2020, when it appears opposite the sun in the sky. Prepare now to observe Mars as it moves rapidly eastward among the stars of the zodiac, brightening all the while, and then suddenly executing an impressive 13-degree-long retrograde zigzag!

May 23: Galaxies of the Spring Sky (Tim Stone) 8:45-10:45 PM

In the spring, our line of sight on the sky looks straight out of our galaxy into the vast space beyond, showcasing thousands of bright galaxies and millions of dim ones. We will tour this neighborhood of the universe, highlighting some of the most beautiful galaxies in the heavens.

June 20: Navigating with Stars (Sunil Chebolu) 9:00-11:00 PM

For centuries, navigators have relied on stars to identify directions, compute latitude, and even read local time. We will explore these ideas and also examine the problem of measuring one’s longitude at sea – a fascinating problem that defeated some of the best minds in the world for many years.

Vol. 45, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2020

July 18: Jupiter & Saturn (Mark Boulware) 9:00-11:00 PM

Jupiter and Saturn offer stark contrasts when compared to the inner planets. We will review how and why they formed in their current locations and their impact on the formation of the rest of the solar system. We will learn how the two greatest planets are similar yet different.

August 22: Touring the Milky Way (Mark Cabaj) 8:15-10:15 PM

The Milky Way is one of the countless stellar islands floating in a cosmic foam of dark matter, dark energy, and matter. Humanity is trying to find out what our galaxy looks like inside and out using ingenious observing methods and increasingly more sensitive equipment. Take a tour of our “cosmic home” to see what we know so far.

September 19: The ISS: Past, Present, and Future (Sandullah Epsicokhan) 7:30-9:30 PM

The International Space Station (ISS) is humankind’s largest artificial satellite. Given the right time and conditions, it can be easily seen orbiting overhead. We will look at how it was constructed, how it is used, what it is like living in space, and where it is headed in the future.

October 17: Missions to Mars (Lee Green) 7:00-9:00 PM

As we reach our closest approach to Mars for the year, the Red Planet shines brightly throughout the evening. Let’s review the many spacecraft missions we’ve sent there, what they are revealing, and how they are paving the way for a future manned mission to Mars.

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF DECEMBER 27, 2019

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 11/26/2019 1,168.27 Memorial for Ernie Finnigan Memorial (32.62) Delivery Memorial (8.00) Quicken Renewal Subscriptions (38.05) Waynesville Paperwork Filing Fee (71.00) Jamey Jenkins Dues Received 25.00 Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (52.63) BALANCE 12/27/2019 990.97

Checking Account Balance – December 27, 2019 $990.97 Savings Account Balance – December 27, 2019 $2,017.90 - Includes $0.02 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – December 27, 2019 $3,008.87

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date.

Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer