Observer Staff Editor & Publisher: Richard DeMidio Published by MAFware Solutions and Countdown to MM Newsletter of the New Hampshire Astronomical Society Vol. 2005 No. 2 “All the news that fits in print” February 2005
Pictures and Notes PPPrrreeesssiiidddeeennnttt'''sss MMMeeessssssaaagggeee PPPiiiccctttuuurrreeesss GGGaaalllooorrreee I had the 14" TScope out for 3 hours from 7-10 PM. I hit the carbon star I stopped by Home Depot the other day The first picture this month is Saturn Winter Double (R Leporis and S and they had put away all the snow taken by Herb Bubert. Cephei, missing only Y Canum blowers -- in their place were Venaticorum for the carbon star Winter lawnmowers. I know we just had our Triple). Red stars at night-- “Freeze Your Buns” night, but this is an astronomer's delight? The Orion Nebula unmistakable sign that spring will was glorious. All six of the Trapezium eventually get here! visible, even with the Merrimack light pollution. I bagged Rigel's companion With the warmer weather comes star for the first time. No such luck with the party season. This year we have put Sirius companion, though--Sirius was just about every star party in the bright enough in the scope to have an northeast on the club calendar, found on ice crystal diffraction ring around it, our web site. They start in April with such as one often sees with the Moon. the DelMarVa Star Party in Maryland, Ï Paul Winalski and run through October with Astro- Assembly down in Rhode Island. All- Photo by Herb Bubert Rigel's companion and other doubles in-all, fifteen star parties and other Not to be outdone, Nils Wygant took were so easy that I also tried for Sirius astronomy events to keep us busy all this wonderful shot of comet Macholz B. But even with my 16-inch at 360x, I through spring and summer! in which a lot of detail can be seen. didn't see it. Saturn was great: the C- Great job guys! ring was visible, the Enke minimum But first we have to brave extreme, was visible in the A-ring, there were mind-numbing cold at least one more two bands and a whitish polar cap on time for the annual Messier Marathon! the planet itself. I saw five moons (and It’s scheduled for March 11th, with a no shadow!). From in-town Nashua rain/snow/cloudy date of the 12th. As M42 didn't show up well, but the E and always, it will be held at Larry’s house F stars in the Trapezium were clearly in New Boston. Assuming we accept visible with the 16. When the skies are NGC5866 as M102, (and we can get stable, aperture wins. M30 in the morning twilight!) that Ï John Bishop gives 110 objects in about 10½ hours of Finally bagged an image of Saturn with darkness. Remember, once M74 and the Obsession using my video camera and newly acquired adapters. Managed M77 have set, they’re gone until the next night! to get about 15 seconds of video while Photo by Nils Wygant successfully keeping the image in the Ï Mathew Marulla The details of these pictures may be field of view. I think Registax is love NHAS President 2005 found on our NHAS photo committee processing this video! PPPuuubbbllliiiccc OOObbbssseeerrrvvviiinnnggg HHHiiiggghhhllliiiggghhhtttsss Yahoo group along with many other Ï Rich DeMidio fine photos. Keep them coming folks! There were no public observing events Noteworthy News since last publication. FFiieelldd NNootteess Field Notes Messier Marathon ………...…Page 2 Ï Ed Ting Editor’s Note: Several members logged
field reports from their observing session. Here are a few them for your enjoyment.
On the web at http://www.nhastro.com/ 2 The NHAS Observer February 2004 MMMeeessssssiiieeerrr MMMaaarrraaattthhhooonnn to the West of the planet. Since the But I'm not on the equator, and thus my Moon was several days past full, I position doesn't trace out a circle of The time can certainly go by fast when could see the shadow edge and estimate radius 1: at 42.45 degrees North, my not paying attention. It seems like it the North/South axis of the Moon radius is only was just yesterday when I was dusting relative to the Sun. That let me the snow off my telescope at Larry and estimate the direction of motion of the cos(42.45) = .737 Linda’s place after a snow squall Moon (at right angles to the shadow dumped about 3 inches of snow at the axis, and to the East). It looked like the of the Earth's radius, So my actual site. Of course, we were all bummed Moon was going to go just underneath baseline in Earth radii is missing the first several hours Jupiter in a couple of hours. At the 1.63 * .737 = 1.2 radii. observing but reflecting back I moment, it was about three Moon I’ll note here that the line from the remember how much fun I had that diameters away. But I didn't stay up to Moon to me to the Earth's axis isn't night and specifically during that time watch a near conjunction, as Monday going to be parallel to the plane of my we were waiting. I remember sharing was a school day for my children and I latitude. There's another correction to stories, trying to keep up with Larry on was getting up early. The next morning make--but the Moon is far away and technology while trying hard not to be a I got up at 6:00 am and was outside at the angles involved are small, so I'll mental midget, warming up with great 6:45 am collecting the daily ignore that complication. This will food and drink, and most of all, newspaper. I looked up and saw the tend to make my final Moon distance enjoying the companionship. Moon on the other side of Jupiter. It too low. Further, my baseline isn't Somehow, the weather made no was a bit to the South and East It perpendicular to the direction to the difference for this was something seemed to be about two Moon moon, as the Moon wasn't exactly on bigger than trying to find 110 fuzzy diameters away. I realized I now had the meridian halfway through the 7.25 objects. I remember being anxious the the data to calculate the distance to the hours (at 23.5 + 3.625 = 27.125 = 3.125 night before so much that I could hardly Moon, just as Ptolemy had done many the next day = 3:08 am). Because the sleep. The car was packed the previous years ago. I drew a diagram where Moon was about half-way from full to evening and I was ready to go. Sleep Jupiter was a fixed dot, and plotted the last quarter, it was almost on the seemed like something of a hindrance, two positions of the Moon. The meridian at that time, and I'll ignore this but still had to try and get some. It was distance between then was about four complication as well. It also means that like the Christmas Eve again growing Moon diameters and thus the Moon had my final estimate is likely to be a bit up as a child. To me, the MM is the moved five of its own diameters too far. During the 7.25 hours, the super bowl and World Series combined. (leading edge to leading edge). So in 7 Moon moved relative to the fixed stars, The one time of the year where so hours and 15 minutes, the Moon had for which Jupiter is my stand-in, as many of us participate in enjoying the apparently moved 2.5 degrees as seen Jupiter doesn't move significantly in common theme that we all adore and from Nashua (42.54 degrees North). At this time span and is much further drives us to brave the cold, elements, this point you may care to try your hand away. Since the Moon goes around and sleep. No matter the conditions, at the calculations, as you have all the relative to the Earth in 27.32 days (a being around everyone talking, joking, data you need! I'm going to carry "sidereal month", as opposed to the and yes observing is what the event is through the calculation with two or 29.5 days of the Sun-relative "synodic all about. So everyone pack up the three significant digits, but that month"), in 7.25 hours the Moon moves night before and quest your way to New probably far overstates the precision of Boston for our annual super bowl. my casual, by-eye estimation of angles. (360*7.25)/(27.32*24) = 3.98 degrees Only four weeks to go but I shall resist To make things simpler, I'll use units of to the East. the temptation on packing my minivan Earth radii until the end. First, what is just yet. ☺ the length of my baseline? The time We'll call it 4.0 degrees. If the Moon Ï Rich DeMidio difference is 7.25 hours. Since the were stationary in the sky, our own Earth rotates relative to the fixed stars motion to the East should result in an MMMoooooonnn MMMeeeaaasssuuurrreeemmmeeennntttsss in 23:56 hours (23.93 hours, or four apparent motion (a "parallax") of the minutes a day less it does than relative Moon to the West. The Moon's A paper by John Bishop to the Sun, due to Earth's motion in its apparent motion was 2.5 degrees to the Editor’s Note: This is really more of a orbit), that 7.2 hours is East, and its actual motion was 4.0 white paper and brings to attention the degrees to the East. Therefore there's question on what is the best forum for (360*7.25/23.93) about 109 degrees. been an apparently motion to the West technical articles such as this one. of (4.0 - 2.5) = 1.5 degrees. In other Perhaps a place on the website that If you draw a diagram, you can see that words, if we "un-do" the Moon's members can write and contribute these the chord between the endpoints of that motion along its orbit, we see that a papers. arc on the Earth's surface is stationary Moon would have moved 1.5 degrees to the West. On Sunday the 30th of January, I 2 * sin(109/2), = 2 * sin(54.5) = 2*.814 happened to glance up at the sky and = 1.63 radii. (See Moon on page 3) see that the Moon was close to Jupiter February 2004 The NHAS Observer 3 Moon (from page 2) WWWeeebbb UUUpppllloooaaadddsss As near as I can tell the following Because the lines to Jupiter from the attended: Star parties and conventions across the ends of the baseline are parallel, we can Gardner Gerry U.S. have been added to the NHAS say that the 1.5 degrees of parallax Matt & Melissa online calendar. See April for the first motion forms the same angle as the Nils who shoveled us out. one in Maryland. length of the baseline does when Herb. viewed from the Moon. Ï Barbara O’Connell Paul Winalski, Chase McNiss Since the angle is small we can ignore AAAssstttrrroooPPPhhhoootttooonnnsss chord-vs-arc differences, or where Joe Derek exactly we put the center from which Chase McNiss reported that at the Mike Townsend we measure the angle (e.g., it'd be January meeting held at the Nashua John Bishop (I think) slightly different if we used the center public library, several members Ed Los - used the c14 of the baseline rather than one of the provided tutorials of use cases for Larry Lopez ends, but the difference is small enough processing photographs. Many of these I had a great time and completely that we can ignore it). At what distance notes have been and will be published missed Matt & Melissa. R would the base of 1.2 radii subtend in the yahoo photo group. There were Ï Larry Lopez 1.5 degrees? Since we're ignoring the also strategies for using Photoshop chord-vs-arc difference, we note that discussed that appear on the website DDDeeeeeeppp SSSkkkyyy OOObbbjjjeeecccttt ooofff ttthhheee http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/ the total circumference of a circle with MMMooonnnttthhh radius R is (2 * pi * R); each degree is The author of this website is world thus (2 * pi * R)/360 = 0.017 R , and so famous for the quality of images that he Observer: Lew Gramer, Steve has produced from his driveway in CT! Clougherty; Dan Winchell, Mike 1.5 degrees is an arc of 1.5 * (2 * pi * th R)/360 = 0.026 R. That's the baseline At the February 12 Meeting, There Aramini length, in terms of R. If the base is 1.2 were 8 attendees at the NHAS Photo Your skills: Advanced (many years); radii, then 1.2 = 0.0262 R, and thus R = Comm meeting. Numerous members Intermediate (some years) (1.2/0.026) = 46 radii. The actual value brought digital images and there was an Date/time of observation: 28/29 Mar is 62. Given an Earth radius of 4,000 open discussion regarding everything 2001, 03:15 UT miles, I've calculated an Earth-Moon from cameras, focusing procedures and Location of site: ATMoB Clubhouse, distance of 184,000 miles, which is 74 images editing and enhancements. The Westford MA USA (42oN, 86m elev) percent of the real 250,000 miles. agenda next meeting at the next Site classification: Exurban. That's an amazingly close answer for meeting will be specific to different Sky darkness: 5.6
Ï John Bishop 94), NGC 3222 Freeze your buns was much better Category: Group of galaxies. Attended than I expected. The Weather Class: E2, SAB(s)abP, SB0 NNNAAASSSAAA MMMiiissssssiiiooonnn UUUpppdddaaattteeesss was a bit poor recently but the plowing Constellation: Leo The Huygens probe successfully service plowed out YFOS and Nils Data: mag 12, 11, 14; size 3.2x2.8 15o, descended and landed on Titan with cleaned up a lot when he got there. I 5.4x3.6 155o, 1x1 scientists analyzing the wealth of data viewed M42 and a red star in Paul's Position: 1023 +1954 that has come back. Visit Dob, and Comet M. in Mike T's Description: As a gauge of our http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm refractor. I had a great time but had to conditions in between the cirrus bands for details on the entire mission. leave early to go to an Aikido workshop tonight, we decided to try viewing this Spirit and opportunity are also from which I'm still recovering. The lovely trio (actually a quadruple) of continuing to perform well beyond their temperature was not very cold and the galaxies, which lie tantalizingly close expectancy. Visit heater worked great. Herb brought (40'-50' E) of gamma Leonis (Algieba). http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/ind some deviled eggs and Nils brought Despite searching at high power, I just ex.html for mission details some Kentucky Fried Chicken. John didn't find the third member (n3222) at brought some coffee. all tonight. It has shown up to averted vision very well in this scope on earlier (See Deep Sky on page 4) 4 The NHAS Observer February 2004 Deep Sky (from page 3) NNNAAASSSAAA SSSpppaaaccceee PPPlllaaaccceee Treasury. Barbara O'Connell was occasions, so I think this entire unable to make the meeting so refer to Editor’s Note: The article was too observation was hampered by moisture the newsletter for updates. large to include in this publication so tonight. We did not even bother to look Evening Program. Comet Machholz the URL is provided. for the fourth eg, n3213, tonight. by Matt Marulla. Matt provided a On the other hand, the bright interacting This month’s article is entitled "A wonderful slide show depicting the Arp pair, NGC 3226 and n3227, Different Angle on Climate Change". history and many pictures from this showed up passingly well tonight. Read the entire article at comet. We learned that the discover, Northerly member n3226 had a bright, http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/astro_clubs/ Don Machholz found nine comets from well-defined core which was striking at 1978 – 1994. His recent find was all powers. LLLooooookkkiiinnnggg BBBaaaccckkk aaattt LLLaaasssttt MMMooonnnttthhh discovered on 8/27/04 with a 6-inch At highest power, this bright inner Criterion Dynascope. At the time, the nugget occasionally seemed to show a Opening. Matt Marulla opened the comet was mag. 11.2. From now to much smaller, sparkling nucleus, not meeting and discussed his goals and March, is the best time to photo since quite at center. But it displayed no other vision for the upcoming year. Matt also the tail will be more visible. For details detail, in the core or in the diffuse halo. provided a trip report to the new Oyster on the discovery and about the author, NGC 3227, the Southerly member of River high school in Durham, NH. please visit this web site: the pair, was just a bit of a NHAS was asked to assist the science http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0410/b.html disappointment tonight, showing only a teacher there in Astronomy. They do Ï Rich DeMidio not have an observatory, telescope or modicum of detail: it had a nicely (N-S) elongated, but mostly diffuse core, set such but some students have projects
inside a similarly elongated (NW-SE) and matt was interviewed. It was also halo, which nearly touched the outer suggested by Paul Winalski that we halo of n3226. However, none of the consider a sky watch there for future fine spiral structure we'd seen on a prior reference. Will need to ask Ed about night (especially with Dan's fine new fitting it into a schedule. About 15 14" dob!) was even hinted at tonight. people are taking the Astronomy class Nor was the spiral arc that reaches out this semester. Book of the Month. History of Star right up to the hub of n3226 visible, at st any power. chart making. 1896 1 edition of Upton Coincidentally, this group appears to star Atlas. Matt Marulla provided a belong to a larger cluster of galaxies, copy of the first printing. The book which also includes the NGC 3190 was first published before the IAU group (Hickson 44). made official constellation boundaries. Does anyone know if these 4 egs are Scope of the Month. None also catalogued as a group, or which if Public Observing. No updates any catalogued cluster these groups Committees. Web: No report ATMs: both belong to? Larry Lopez No report . Membership: Ï Lew Gramer Bob Sletten said that classes are being TTThhheee BBBooottttttooommm LLLiiinnneee planned for a Spring semester. Please contact him if you have any suggestions Starting Balance: $4,510.53 or wish to teach a class. January Deposits: $0 YFOS. Larry Lopez said that the January A/P: $164.55 coffee house occurred in December. (Insurance, Plowing YFOS, Propane Place is plowed and usable but make YFOS) sure that you Net Balance: $4,347.74 spread sand but Cash Balance: $4347.74 not in clubhouse. Make sure snow is Membership: 104 moved off the New members: deck and do not Barnett Helzberg MA make piles. Might David Rounds Chichester, NH 8" want to bring a Newtonian shovel. In fact, it Richard Zore Brookline, NH is a good idea to Celestron Ultima 8x56 Binocs Kowa have one 254x77mm splitting scope anyways.
DEADLINE for Mar. 2005 Issue: 5 PM Mar 13 E-mail articles to the Editor. CHANGE OF ADDRESS – Notify the Treasurer of changes to postal or e-mail address. How to Join N.H.A.S. Write to us: Send E-mail to: 2005 Officers NHAS [email protected] President: Mathew Marulla P.O. Box 5823 Vice President: John Bishop Manchester, NH 03108-5823 Use our web site: Treasurer: Barbara O'Connell Attn: Treasurer Secretary: Richard DeMidio http://www.nhastro.com/ This month's contributors: Mathew Marulla, John Bishop, Rich DeMidio, Larry Lopez, Bob Sletten
New Hampshire Astronomical Society P.O. Box 5823 Manchester, NH 03108-5823
Messier Marathon Promo, 2/18, Planetarium NHAS Upcoming Events
Event Date Time Location Feb. Business Meeting Feb. 18 7:30 p.m. Planetarium, Concord, NH CMP Skywatch Mar. 4 7:30 p.m. Planetarium, Concord, NH Coffee House Mar. 11 7:00 p.m. YFOS Messier Marathon Mar. 11 All night Lopez Residence – New Boston, NH Mar. Business Meeting Mar. 18 7:30 p.m. St. Anselm's College, Goffstown, NH