March 2017 Spreads.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 69, No. 2 March 2017 ALCon 2016: A CapitAL CONvention What to Look at Tonight? Building a Civilization on Mars Earth’s Circumference: Channeling Eratosthenes T HE A STRONOMICAL L EAGUE 1 TORY, GERMANY)TORY, VA 4 Field of View 5 Reflector Mail 6 International Dark-Sky Association/Scenic America 7 Reflections 8 All Things Astronomical 9 Deep-Sky Objects/The Other Leo Trio 11 Wanderers in the Neighborhood/The Rings of Saturn 12 Solar Minimum Observing 14 ALCon 2016/A CapitAL CONvention 16 What to Look at Tonight? There’s a Program for That 19 Channeling Eratosthenes 21 10, 25, and 50 Years of the Astronomical League’s Magazine 22 Using Two Moons to Make “Mars Direct” Sustainable 24 From Around the League 26 Gallery TITLE PHOTOGRAPH: NGC 1850, THE DOUBLE CLUSTER; CREDIT: NASA, ESA, AND MARTINO ROMANIELLO (EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSER 28 Observing Awards 30 Coming Events This image of Melotte 15, captured January 25–29, 2017, was provided by Jerry Gardner with the Fort Worth Astronomical Society. He used a Sky-Watcher Esprit 150 mm and a Trius-SX694 camera on a Paramount MX+ mount. Guiding was via a Lodestar X2 off-axis quider. Sequence Generator Pro was used, total exposure was 13 hours with 10-minute subs. Processing was with PixInsight and Photoshop. To our contributors: The copy and photo deadline for the June 2017 issue is April 1. Please send your stories and photos to our managing editor, Ron Kramer ([email protected]), by then. The Astronomical League invites your comments regarding this magazine. How can we improve it and make it a more valuable resource for you, our members? Please respond to the editor’s email address above. The Astronomical League Magazine Vol. 69, No. 2 • ISSN: 0034-2963 • March 2017 A FEDERATION OF ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETIES A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION To promote the science of astronomy • By fostering astronomical education, • By providing incentives for astronomical observation and research, and • By assisting communication among amateur astronomical societies. Astronomical League National Office: 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114 2 R EFLECTOR ✶ M ARCH 2017 T HE A STRONOMICAL L EAGUE 3 The coolness of Second, imagine what an Hello Mr. Kramer: Dear Mr. Kramer: In the article titled “The There are historical dates and “everything” astronomy club brings to its Storms of Jupiter,” the author days that will live in infamy No doubt about it. Our community. stated, “the material in the that we all should know by QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE avocation enjoys a high While interested members Great Red Spot is welling up heart. One of the most ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE “coolness quotient.” What of the general public may not from the warm interior, significant dates in spaceflight Issued by the Astronomical League in March, June, September, other pastime allows people have the same sense of making this a high-pressure history is the landing of and December, the Reflector (ISSN: 0034-2963) is sent directly, to see the universe as it truly passion or degree of area (an anticyclone, with Apollo 11. either by postal mail or via a digital link, to each individual is? What other hobby directly knowledge as many amateur counterclockwise rotation).” I read the article by Gregory member of its affiliate societies and to members-at-large as a CANADA GRAFTON, ONTARIO, TORY; On the Earth, whether T. Shanos regarding collecting confronts matter, energy, astronomers, they do have a VA benefit of League membership. Individual copies of the northern or southern meteors. I am surprised and Reflector are available at the following subscription rates, space, and time? What other substantial amount of hemisphere, an area of high disappointed that the date payable to the League’s national office. avocation deals with... well... curiosity. They want to see pressure is sinking air. That is given for the Apollo 11 Paper subscriptions: everything? That all adds up more; they want to learn Field of View why the sky is usually cloud- landing is July 21, 1969. That USA & possessions: $3.00 each or $10.00 per year (4 issues) From the office of your president to something exceptionally more. And they respect those free. An area of rising air, like error should have been Canada: $5.00 each or $16.00 per year cool. amateur astronomers who share views of the Mexico: $6.00 each or $22.00 per year the GRS is described in the article, is an area of obvious to any editor associated with an Other countries: $7.00 each or $25.00 per year So, how do we deal with “everything?” heavens while taking time to explain it all in low pressure on the Earth. So why the different astronomy magazine. It should have been caught Digital subscriptions: First, imagine what an astronomy club brings friendly, non-condescending ways. designations? Is the author in error? and corrected. All countries, possessions, and territories: $10.00 per year to its members. People are impressed with and somewhat Thanks, Siegfried Jachmann Reflector and Club Roster Deadlines Howard Marcus Salt Lake Astronomical Society Guest speakers at club intimidated by the TITLE PHOTOGRAPH: SEYFERT’S SEXTET; NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER March issue January 1 meetings often explain equipment found in NOVAC member June issue April 1 esoteric topics such as common use today. Author replies: Editor replies: September issue July 1 The Great Red Spot (GRS) is an area where You are absolutely correct, and my apologies for planetary geology, They are amazed at December issue October 1 the air flows outward from its core. Coriolis not catching it. The correct date for the Apollo Written and graphic material from this publication may be re- stellar evolution, the science, but don’t force causes it to swirl counterclockwise 11 landing is, of course, July 20, 1969. We run printed only for non-profit benefit of interested parties, provided galactic morphology, adequately understand (southern hemisphere). Since gas flows each article past two peer-reviewers plus two specific credit is given to the writer(s), the Reflector, and the and cosmology—all it or comprehend its Astronomical League. Any other use of material, including graph- outward from the GRS, it would be a high- other editors and our executive council before I ics and photographs, is subject to express permission from the subjects having implications. They hear pressure area at the GRS’s altitude. There may give the final blessing. It should have been Editor and the Astronomical League. implications deeply and read about black be a low somewhere below it feeding the noticed by all of us. I cannot explain why it was National Officers affecting the emer- holes, dark matter, and upwelling gas, but since there is no surface not caught, and we will print your letter as a President gence of life on Earth, supernovae. They see on Jupiter, we cannot determine its altitude. correction in the March issue. TITLE PHOTOGRAPH: BIG LICK GALAXY GROUP; LYNN HILBORN; WHISTLE STOP OBSER TITLE PHOTOGRAPH: BIG LICK GALAXY GROUP; LYNN John Goss and, ultimately, us. fantastic, colorful Like the eye of a hurricane where there is a Thank you for pointing this out. While we low on top and a high on the bottom, the strive for 100% error-free magazines, occasion- Astronomical League National Headquarters While the topics images taken by 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114 GRS is a high-pressure area at its altitude with ally we goof. We really goofed on this one. [email protected] themselves are packed ground-based 816-333-7759 • All cool stuff. All through your Astronomical a low probably somewhere below it. Ron Kramer Vice President with science, most of observatories and I hope that makes the situation a little clearer. Bill Bogardus the presentations are League. Pile of cool stuff amateurs have space telescopes. Dear Editor: 190 Pheasant Place, Greenport, NY 11944 accomplished with only at the ready. People want to know Dear Mr. Kramer: 631-477-2246 • [email protected] Thank you for publishing Dr. Shanos’s article on a smattering of math, making difficult concepts about the science of astronomy, the art of I have just received my December issue of the meteorite collecting (December 2016); I can also Secretary Reflector. I receive it, I assume, because I was a Bryan Tobias easier to understand. Intellectually cool. observing, and the gear that makes it all testify as to how fascinating these fragments, Astronomical League National Headquarters Club members often share their latest happen. They look to us, amateur astronomers, recipient of the Astronomical League Award. As samples from across space and time, can be. I’d like 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114 observing concerns such as what for guidance to make sense of “every- editor of JAAVSO and a contributing editor of to add one thought, though: the reason that we JRASC, I think I know a good astronomical [email protected] or [email protected] objects to view and how best to thing.” know so much about meteorites is that a relatively Treasurer publication when I see one. And the December small community of scientists have devoted time and Tom Lynch observe them. How can you see the The result? Amateur astronomy is issue was particularly interesting and attractive. Helix Nebula, both with and without seen as being seriously cool. effort into unlocking their secrets. 43 Elm Street • Lynbrook, NY 11563 I enjoy the variety of content. I particularly But, as with other natural sciences (paleontol- 516-593-8580 • [email protected] a telescope? When can you spot the Next, imagine the importance of enjoyed the article about Rollin Van Zandt, who I ogy comes to mind as a prime example), the Executive Secretary “Lunar X?” What magnification is meeting the public.