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Home , Beta Lyrae, Colonization of Mars, Epsilon Lyrae, Oregon Star Party, Ranger program, Winter Star Party

Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 71, No. 3 June 2019

MARTIAN HOW ONE NEUTRINO

7.20.69 CHANGED

5YEARS REMEMBERING TWO 11 FORMER LEAGUE PRESIDENTS ONOMY T STR O T A H G E N P I E G O Contents N P I L R E B 4 ...... President’s Corner DAY Join a Tour This ! 4 ...... All Things Astronomical 6 ...... Full Steam Ahead OCTOBER 5,

From 37,000 feet above the Pacific Total Flight: Chile 7 ...... Night Sky Network 2019 Ocean, you’ll be high above any clouds, July 2, 2019 For a FREE 76-page Astronomy seeing up to 3¼ minutes of totality in a PAGE 4 9 ...... Wanderers in the Neighborhood dark sky that makes the ’s corona look Day Handbook full of ideas and incredibly dramatic. Our flight will de- 10 ...... Deep Sky Objects suggestions, go to: part from and return to Santiago, Chile. skyandtelescope.com/2019eclipseflight www.astroleague.org Click 12 ...... International Dark-Sky Association on "Astronomy Day” Scroll 14 ...... Fire & Ice: How One Neutrino down to "Free Astronomy Day African Stargazing Safari Join Stephen James ̃̃̃Changed a Field Handbook" O’Meara in wildlife-rich Botswana July 29–August 4, 2019 for evening stargazing and daytime PAGE 14 18 ...... Remembering Two Former For more information, contact: safari drives at three luxury field ̨̨̨Astronomical League Presidents Gary Tomlinson camps. Only 16 spaces available! Astronomy Day Coordinator Optional extension to Victoria Falls. 21 ...... Coming Events [email protected] skyandtelescope.com/botswana2019 22 ...... Gallery—Moon Shots

25 ...... Observing Awards Iceland Aurorae September 26–October 2, 2019 26 ...... National Young Astronomer Award Winners—Where Are They Now? This is our 6th year running this popular PAGE 22 tour of Iceland. Visit historic sites, gey- sers, and towering waterfalls with a guide; Cover image: Terry Hancock (Western Colorado at night, seek the fabled northern lights. Fine restaurants and hotels await you. Astronomy Club) took this fantastic image of NGC 7822 from his Grand Mesa Observatory using a skyandtelescope.com/iceland2019 Takahashi FSQ-130 with a QHY color CMOS camera. The image is shown rotated 90° from its original Australian Observatories Travel Down Under to tour top presentation and cropped to fit our cover format. October 1–9, 2019 observatories, including Siding Spring and “The Dish” at Parkes. Go wine-tasting, hike in re- serves, and explore eclectic Sydney The Astronomical League Magazine and Australia’s capital, Canberra. Vol. 71, No. 3 • ISSN: 0034-2963 • June 2019 Plus: Stargaze under Southern skies. Options to Great Barrier A FEDERATION OF ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETIES A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Reef and Uluru, or Ayers Rock. To promote the science of astronomy skyandtelescope.com/australia2019 • By fostering astronomical education, Uluru & Sydney Opera House: Tourism Australia; observatory: Winton Gibson • by providing incentives for astronomical observation and research, and See all S&T tours at skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-travel • By assisting communication among amateur astronomical societies. Astronomical League National Office: 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114 THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 3 presentations (Night Sky Network and a discus- The overall system presents the unusual sight Ferris wheel with the carousel at the center. We used to think other solar systems sion by Al Lamperti on a 3-D tour of the Universe) of a thick hoop of gas and circling at right would form just like ours, with the planets President’s Corner and panel discussions (How to Gain and Keep angles to the . Until now this set- Dr. Kennedy added: all orbiting in the same direction around Members, Improving Diversification with the up only existed in theorists’ minds, but the ALMA Perhaps the most exciting thing about this a single sun. But with the new images we QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE see a swirling disc of gas and dust orbiting cannot remember the last time I attended the League and Clubs). We leave CocoCay at 5 p.m., observation proves that polar discs of this type discovery is that the disc shows some of ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE the same signatures that we attribute to around two stars. It was quite surprising Issued by the Astronomical League in March, June, September, and I Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), but it must with dinner and presentations by National Young exist, and may even be relatively common. December, Reflector (ISSN: 0034-2963) is sent directly, either by dust growth in discs around single stars. to also find that that disc at right postal mail or via a digital link, to each individual member of its have been at least 25 ago. Having lived Astronomer Award winners. The ship returns to The new research was published on January We take this to mean planet formation angles to the orbit of the two stars. affiliate societies and to members-at-large as a benefit of League outside the for most of the years Port Canaveral on Monday morning, signaling the membership. Individual copies of Reflector are available at the can at least get started in these polar Incredibly, two more stars were seen following subscription rates, payable to the League’s national office. between 1974 and 2000, there were few oppor- end of ALCon 2019. circumbinary discs. If the rest of the orbiting that disc. So if planets were born PAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS: tunities to attend the conference, and frankly, on We then continue the planning for ALCon USA & possessions: $3.00 each or $10.00 per year (4 issues) planet formation process can happen, here there would be four in the sky! Canada: $5.00 each or $16.00 per year most of my travels back to the USA, the focus was 2020, scheduled for Albuquerque, plus a new there might be a whole population of ALMA is just a fantastic telescope, it is Mexico: $6.00 each or $22.00 per year on my job with Royal Dutch Philips, the European Other countries: $7.00 each or $25.00 per year ALCon Jr. STEAM Conference event aimed at the misaligned circumbinary planets that we teaching us so much about how planets in DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: electronics conglomerate. There was very little younger . More news to follow. have yet to discover, and things like weird other solar systems are born. All countries, possessions, and territories: $10.00 per year time for side trips. seasonal variations to consider. HELP WANTED he research is supported by the Monash REFLECTOR AND CLUB ROSTER DEADLINES Finally, this past April, the spell was broken. f there were a planet or planetoid present at the March issue January 1 e still need to fill a few volunteer posi- T̨Warwick Alliance, established by the June issue April 1 NEAF was an event that can truly be classified as ̨inner edge of the dust ring, the ring itself September issue July 1 tions. First, our webmaster has decided I University of Warwick in England and Monash amazing. With more than 100 vendors, a great W December issue October 1 to retire (to get back to observing) and we need would appear from the surface as a broad band University in Australia in 2012. The full research Written and graphic material from this publication may be reprinted only group of speakers, and tons of “astrobuffs” rising almost perpendicularly from the horizon. for non-profit benefit of interested parties, provided specific credit is given a replacement, or several replacements. There is team for this paper were lead author Dr. Grant M. to the writer(s), Reflector, and the Astronomical League. Any other use of looking for the latest and greatest “astrogizmos,” The polar configuration means that the stars material, including graphics and photographs, is subject to express an immediate opening for his position. If you wish Kennedy; Luca Matrà and David J. Wilner of the I doubt that too many were disappointed. permission from the Editor and the Astronomical League. to support your League, contact me at president@ would appear to move in and out of the disc plane, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; For me, it was also a time to reconnect with giving objects two shadows at times. on NATIONAL OFFICERS astroleague.org. Stefano Facchini of the Max-Planck-Institut President old friends. Having lived in Brooklyn until 1968, planets in such systems would also be different. Second, we are looking for a volunteer who für Extraterrestrische Physik; Julien Milli of the Ron Kramer I remembered many people. Whether or not they On they vary throughout the year as we orbit 9520 Dragonfly Avenue • Las Cruces, NM 88012 has experience in securing grants to work on European Southern Observatory; Olja Pani´c of 520-500-7295 • [email protected] remembered me was another story altogether. the Sun. A polar circumbinary planet would have funding additional programs within the League. the School of Physics and Astronomy, University Vice President There was some disappointment. The only old seasons that also vary as different Carroll Iorg This program is not yet finalized, but we are of Leeds; Daniel Price of Monash University’s 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114; colleague I ran into was John Pazmino, and after 14 by Royal Society University Research Fellow Dr. receive more or less illumination throughout the 816-444-4878 • [email protected] already looking for someone with successful Centre for Astrophysics and School of Physics Grant M. Kennedy of the University of Warwick’s binary orbit. Secretary a short talk, we determined we had not seen each and Astronomy; and Mark C. Wyatt and Ben M. Bryan Tobias experience in grant writing at the local, regional, Department of Physics and Centre for Exoplanets other for more than 50 years! We hoped to spend Co-author Dr. Daniel Price of Monash Univer- Yelverton of the Institute of Astronomy, University Astronomical League National Headquarters and national levels. If you have this unique talent, and Habitability, in Nature Astronomy. 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114 more time together, but he had a booth to take sity’s Centre for Astrophysics (MoCA) and School of Cambridge. [email protected] or [email protected] please let me know at [email protected]. care of, as did I. The paper was entitled “A circumbinary proto- of Physics and Astronomy said: Treasurer We want to discuss this further at the upcoming —from Warwick University press release Bill Dillon planetary disc in a polar configuration.” According 190 Settlers Road • Fincastle, VA 24090 Several hundred people visited the Astronom- council meeting on Wednesday, July 24. 703-674-8484 • [email protected] ical League booth, many of whom were present to Dr. Kennedy, Details and requirements for this position is in Executive Secretary or former members. Amazingly, almost half had Discs rich in gas and dust are seen around Maynard Pittendreigh the “Help Wanted” ad on page 11. 3208 Little Oak Way • Orlando, FL 32812 nearly all young stars, and we know that 770-237-2071 • [email protected] never heard of the League. These unfortunate souls were given the full treatment about what we Keep looking up. at least a third of the ones orbiting single National Office stars form planets. Some of these planets Mike Stoakes, Office Coordinator are, our history, and an open invitation to join. —Ron Kramer Astronomical League National Headquarters end up being misaligned with the spin 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114 Most left with loads of information about us and a 816-DEEP-SKY of the star, so we’ve been wondering National office: [email protected] promise to join our ranks. Society rosters: [email protected] whether a similar thing might be possible League sales: [email protected] e are presently putting the finishing All Things for circumbinary planets. A quirk of the National Observing Program Coordinators dynamics means that a so-called polar Cliff Mygatt Aaron B. Clevenson W touches on preparations for ALCon 2019, [email protected] [email protected] to be held in Florida. On Wednesday, July 24, we misalignment should be possible, but un- Astronomical League Historian Astronomical til now we had no evidence of misaligned Mike Stewart 913-240-1238 • [email protected] will have our annual council meeting. Thursday discs in which these planets might form. will have a special tour of , LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DOUBLE Send to [email protected] with subject line “letter to editor” the Star-B-Que, and the presentation by our r. Kennedy and his fellow researchers used keynote speaker. On Friday we board the ship, FLIPS PLANET-FORMING DISC REFLECTOR STAFF ̨ALMA to pin down the orientation of the Mariner of the Seas, for a three-day cruise to the INTO POLE POSITION Dring of gas and dust in the system. The orbit of the Managing Editor Assistant Editor Ron Kramer Kevin Jones Bahamas. Saturday includes the League business ew research led by an astronomer at the binary was previously known, from observations Mobile: 520-500-7295 [email protected] [email protected] meeting, National Young Astronomer Award win- ̨University of Warwick has found the first that quantified how the stars move in relation Design/Production N Editor Michael Patterson ner presentations, time to visit Nassau, welcome confirmed example of a double star system that to each other. By combining these two pieces of John Martin [email protected] [email protected] remarks, a presentation by Davies, and has flipped its surrounding disc to a position information they were able to establish that the Advertising Representative Photo Editor Carla Johns binocular viewing on the helicopter pad. that leaps over the orbital plane of those stars. dust ring was consistent with a perfectly polar Dan Crowson 970-567-8878 [email protected] [email protected] Sunday will find us at CocoCay, a private The international team of astronomers used the orbit. This means that while the stellar orbits orbit Assistant Editor Coming Events Editor island developed by Royal Caribbean, which Atacama Large Millimeter/Sub-Millimeter Array each other in one plane, like two horses going Kristine Larsen John Wagoner [email protected] [email protected] includes a variety of water-related activities. Or, (ALMA) to obtain high-resolution images of the around on a carousel, the disc surrounds these Artist’s view of the double star system and surrounding disc. Images this page ©University of Warwick/Mark Garlick if you prefer, you can stay onboard and listen to belt–sized disc. stars at right angles to their orbits, like a giant

4 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 201 9 THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 5 about outreach, even several of the vendors, all be marketed as a “citizen scientist” program Activities by Michelle Nichols. July 28 ~ August 2, 2019 passionate, dedicated, and energetic folks who where help is needed to provide national and romoting your family-centered star par- Full STEAM Ahead love the art of engaging the public. It was funny international data on light pollution encroach- P ty activities can be as simple as making a Join us this year at the family how those of us who are fans of John Dobson roll ment. Talk about advocacy and the impact on local half-sheet flier or bookmark. Make sure your NSP 26 friendly Nebraska CONVERSATIONS AT A STAR PARTY with spontaneity and have organic and fun en- wildlife and biomes and how people can change club’s name, information, and website address counters. Several shared how their clubs worked their local community. y first time at the Winter Star Party was are prominently included. Include an invitation beneath the dark skies of together to come up with new and fresh ideas, ̨this February, and it was in one of our 3. Have solar observing where there is sketch- such as “please join us,” or “you are cordially Nebraska’s Merritt Reservoir. M which were very inspiring, to say the least. One (hubby and my) favorite spots – the Florida Keys. ing and logging of sunspots and prominences. invited to,” followed by a list of offerings such as fellow RVer from Naples, Florida, said he knew of This week-long event is only $50 per It was a new crowd for us. The atmosphere did not With iPhone adaptions or running a scope with an naturalist talks, nature walks and star lore, citizen three clubs that are either circling the drain or are disappoint: warm ocean water, light cool breezes iPad, let the students take pictures. We have done science programs, dark-sky advocacy training, adult, $15 for children 5 - 12 with no longer around due to unwillingness to rethink st for our 70- to 80-degree days. Although there this with the and they post the pictures to STEAM activities, nighttime observing training, registration before July 1 . how they do things. It seems a lengthy business had been some serious hurricane damage to the their Facebook pages with such excitement. Note: and giveaways. Make sure you get these fliers meeting was their priority, instead of develop- buildings at Camp Wesumkee, you could tell the make sure that safety is your top priority! and bookmarks into the local schools and library Register online at www.NebraskaStarParty.org ing a program or talk geared to the families and WSP crowd called this location home. We checked 4. Conduct a or rec- system! Some local community papers just for novices attended every month. The families and in, and I realized my hubby listed me as the As- ognition or identification session where guests families will also list kids’ activities for free. novices soon left for lack of connection. Another tronomical League STEAM and accessible outreach are encouraged to log and sketch what they see. The world of is at the apex neighbor commented how people in his club hold coordinator. A conversation ensued right away, Provide black sketching paper on a clipboard and of a “make it work” moment in time, not only to positions but don’t support the outreach plans of and I explained how I had taken over the League’s white pastel art pencils then let them loose. You pursue the next generation of future astronomers, the club because of their “this is the way we have youth coordinator position. could have giveaways or certificates for this. but to keep our veteran astronomers and the new always done it” mentality. He further stated sadly “relief pitchers” as connected and engaged as The WSP volunteer mentioned that in the not- that it created schisms and zero teamwork. The 5. This can be tied into idea 4 – have a star possible. So, I guess it boils down to a choice – do so-distant past this star party had a regular group lack of rotating positions in the club (basically lore night. Wouldn’t it be great to bring in some- we stay stuck in the comfort of the past, or step of kids and families. The woman who led the others stepping up and taking their turn) has one who knows the history of the area and can tap up and spark a paradigm shift for the future? You youth activities was a teacher, to the degree that caused some to be “stuck” doing a job that has into the culture and ancient history of the area? know me, I’m full STEAM ahead! the week’s activities fit the educational standards, taken a lot of time of (and caused an energy drain Does the location have an archeoastronomical —Peggy Walker so the kids were on a “field trip” instead of an on) these members for multiple years with no one connection? Combine this with a night hike, with “unexcused absence.” Pretty smart! But when her giving them a reprieve. special speakers or performers (storytellers). children moved on to higher education, this left et’s team up to initiate a paradigm shift that will a vacancy in the Winter Star Party offerings. He 6. My favorite quick, hands-on activity is the ̨ allow us to have what we have never had continued to say that they want to bring this back, L Sky & Telescope star wheel – such a great tool. Night Sky Network before, because we did what we have not done but how do you attract families? And immediately Plus, I use skymaps.com, which shows where before. It’s called “thinking outside of the box!” (like that download scene from The Matrix) I the planets are on the ecliptic, and lists objects Why are people so afraid to change the way they CREATING A CULTURE OF OUTREACH started to share four or five ideas with him, and he categorized as naked-eye, binoculars or small think for the betterment of the whole? Why do we IN YOUR CLUB asked if I could write them down. I gave him my telescope, and larger apertures. Families will struggle to attract, motivate, and keep newbies ublic outreach is rewarding, fun, and vital to card, and he said he would make sure that it got not only have a great beginner observing list but so we can train them and then pass the torch to club membership, but if just a few members to the outreach coordinator if she was interested. maybe a kick-start to developing astronomy as P them? I know from personal experience that being participate, you run the risk of burning them out. I offered to come back and conduct a couple of their hobby. a right-brained, out-of-the-box thinker and It’s the curse of success partnered with enthu- activities at next year’s star party if they needed 7. For families and students, generate a rea- problem solver scares most folks. But what if, for siasm; it may even have happened to your club! help. sonably easy or moderate observing list and run the sake of passing on the legacy of the hobby The Night Sky Network has done research on a cosmic scavenger hunt. Give them the full week ot long after, I encountered a couple who we dearly love, we simply just come together and astronomy club culture across the United States to complete it, with a certificate and maybe a cool ̨help coordinate another star party we at- “get ’er done?” and found that this and related issues occur N prize for different levels of achievement like 20 tend that has lots of elementary-aged kids (about across clubs of all sizes. These difficult problems out of 20, 15 out of 20, and so on. two to three dozen). So, with the WSP conversa- So, here are my ideas for student STEAM can be addressed by creating a culture of outreach tion fresh in my mind, I asked them why nothing activities at star parties to begin a paradigm shift. 8. Dig out your Night Sky Network kits – why within clubs. By nurturing an outreach-friendly Staunton River Star Party - Fall 2019 is planned for the elementary kids during the day 1.If you are at a state or national park with a struggle to reinvent the wheel? These kits are culture, a club can help prevent burnout while – all the attention is on high school students for naturalist or ranger on site, enroll it to become generated to help people who are not educators IDA Dark Park simultaneously recruiting new people into their the weekend. I suggested coming up with STEAM an IDA Urban or Dark Sky Park. You now have a to teach astronomy concepts. You can plug in a programs. A culture of outreach coexists with a activities for this particular star party and added partner with the naturalist or ranger to run a few willing new helper, because there is an actual strong volunteer , helping your club become October 21 - 27 that I would be happy to help. Crickets. Not even sessions like the biology/botany/zoology part script and the kids won’t care if you are following a dynamic place where members want to con- a response! Are we missing a key to of the park by conducting a night hike or nature notes or not. tribute. Four techniques that can help your club Staunton River State Park make an impact at the elementary student levels? walk, bird watching, etc. during the day. Of 9. Look through NASA’s Space Place for kids thrive are setting limits, recruiting inside and out, Scottsburg, VA (near South Boston) Don’t get me wrong – this particular star party course, running the IDA ranger program would be (spaceplace..gov) where there are countless simplifying roles, and recognizing work.

goes out of its way to prepare gift bags and prizes a shoo-in. This provides a good start for star party ideas, most of which are geared to the elementary Setting limits for club activity is essential For more information or to register: www.stauntonrver-starparty.org for every one of those children. But what about STEAM family activities. level. There are also are myriad websites and to creating and maintaining a volunteer-rich club

meaningful engagement? 2. Conduct the GLOBE @ Night monthly star books available to help. My latest discovery is the culture. We’ll address two types of limit-setting Full Party: $80 Weekend: $45 Sponsored by: CHAOS As the week continued, I listened to folks talk counts. This ties into idea 1 beautifully and should book Astronomy Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly here: term limits and outreach limits.

THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 7 6 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 201 9 Term limits keep club leadership dynamic and understanding. Of course, with more volunteers, a month. Roles demanding more work may require members engaged and interactive with the club’s your club will be able to participate in more splitting of duties to help out. For example, the activities. New officers offer fresh perspectives on events, bringing us to... club president or treasurer may need a member- Wanderers in club matters and can try out new ideas and activ- Recruiting is like tending a garden: it ship coordinator to keep up with dues. ities while still celebrating established traditions. never ends, but attentive work pays dividends. Recognizing your fellow club members’ The Neighborhood If your club has a history of long-running officers, Clubs need to focus not only on recruiting new great work is vitally important, and of all these it can be understandably difficult to break with members at public outreach events, but on practices, it’s the most fun. Many clubs have THE RED PLANET this practice, especially if they are great at their encouraging those new members – along with annual award ceremonies where their volunteers jobs. On the flip side, other members may find established members – to take on support roles are recognized for their hard work throughout the his year has seen one of the closest ap- that they appreciate the work done by the club within the club. While an announcement at a club year. Honor the club members who earn the As- T proaches of to the Earth since 2003 and much more once they take their turns recording meeting or newsletter may sometimes help fill tronomical League’s Outreach Award! Many clubs it will not be this close again until 2035. At its meetings, updating social media, or finding these roles, the strongest connections are often give the Night Sky Network’s annual award pins closest, the Red Planet had a disk that was 24.30 speakers. With clear job responsibilities outlined made in person. Have you noticed a club member and certificates to their volunteers for their for arcseconds across, reaching magnitude –2.78. for each position, the transfer can be relatively who takes notes at every meeting? They may outreach efforts every year. Always remember to This is brighter than Jupiter, which is usually the second-brightest planet in our sky. It was a red Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument’s data shows a cross-section of a portion of the painless and distribute the burden of adminis- make a great secretary or club archivist! Don’t be thank your fellow volunteers at events, including North polar ice cap of Mars. The radar beam is reflected off the ice layer boundaries, causing them to be represented in tration. afraid to ask, but be ready when you do. A one- members working behind the scenes: it can have a beacon shining in our summer sky. the image by horizontal white lines. This polar ice pack is 1.2 miles thick and 155 miles across. Images such as this allow researchers to understand how the polar ice cap formed over time by analyzing the individual layers. f your club receives more requests for outreach on-one conversation combined with a realistic job big impact on their well-being. Mars has always been a particularly inter- Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/UT I events than it can handle, don’t be afraid to description and easy training techniques greatly Research through a National Science Foun- esting planet in our , at least in the canal after their rocket crashed, Mars has been inorganic material in the soil. Since the images turn folks down! It is great to be wanted, but don’t eases the task of finding great volunteers within dation grant led longtime club members and public’s mind. Even in ancient times, the bright the locale of many adventures. One of the most from Viking did not show any little green people burn yourself and fellow club members out by the club. educators at the Astronomical Society of the moving star that was the color of blood became recent is the realistic 2015 film The , in walking around, the results were inconclusive, but overcommitting. Limits are your friend here, too. Simplify club roles where you can! You may Pacific to create a handy tip sheet and companion the god of war. Once the telescope was invented, which an is accidentally left to fend for disappointing the visible surface of Mars became the backdrop Suggest that interested scout or school groups find that one person had performed several video about “Cultivating Volunteers.” You will find himself on Mars. Other spacecraft have searched for life, but for many fantasies and science fiction. attend one of your already scheduled public different tasks in their role. For some individuals these and other club-tested ideas for growing Early telescopic observations of Mars revealed the extremely thin atmosphere and the lack of events. While you want to please everyone, you and clubs this may be okay, but always make your astronomy club at bit.ly/GrowYourClub. Whether John Carter was rescuing Dejah Thoris areas that appeared to be greenish – thought water on the surface make Mars very inhospitable will end up pleasing no one when members get sure to note if one person is taking on the lion’s (Note that the URL is case-sensitive.) or Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, and his crew was at the time to possibly be vegetation. The early to life. The atmosphere has a surface pressure overwhelmed and stop wanting to participate. It’s share of duties. A good rule of thumb is that club Good luck, and may your club thrive! trudging across the dry martian desert toward a maps of canals on Mars actually resulted from a just 0.6 percent of the pressure here on Earth. okay to set limits, and people are usually very administrative work should take three to six hours —Dave Prosper mistranslation of the Italian canali into “canals,” Combined with the subfreezingly cold tempera- rather than the correct “channels.” Canals were tures, liquid water cannot remain on the surface assumed to be made by intelligent beings. Once for very long. Without a protective magnetic field the word got out that there were canals on Mars, and an ozone layer, ionizing pours down, people’s imaginations went wild. Some observers destroying any life that may have been on the Advanced Telescope Systems even reported people wandering around in oases surface at one time. Since it became clear that life near the canals. would not be found above ground, the focus of the AdvancedTelescope.com his fascination with Mars has led the space- spacecraft missions slowly changed from finding life to finding water to support a human colony “Terrific product that belongs faring nations of Earth to send many space- Manufacturing Quality T on Mars. at every observing site.” craft to the planet. The first spacecraft to take – Thomas Epps Portable and Permanent closeup images of the surface of Mars was NASA’s Human-built orbiters have been circling the , which flew past the planet on July planet for over 47 years, since entered Telescope Piers 14, 1965, imaging a small swath of the surface. orbit in 1971. They have imaged and scanned the The resulting images showed no canals (or even surface with various instruments in the infrared, OITHv6 – Deep Sky! visible, and ultraviolet wavelengths and with 739 DSOs to mag 10; 215 bino objects channels) on Mars, but a surprising multitude and the NEW Goals/Log/Sketch Book of craters. Later it was discovered that Mariner 4 radar. A huge canyon now named Valles Marineris Only at www.birrendesign.com had imaged one of the few ancient areas of the (Mariner Valley) stretching over 2,500 miles Tel: 630-336-5321 surface. Much of Mars is devoid of craters, and was an early discovery. The giant the canals drawn by early observers were just dif- volcano and the three nearby Plateau ferences in the reflectivity of the surface (called volcanoes were more surprises. The outflows albedo features), mixed with bad seeing and vivid from this volcanic activity reshaped the surface, imaginations. covering and erasing the ancient cratered surface Since then, spacecraft have orbited Mars and with smooth lava plains. Major floods of liquid water across the surface of Mars caused the erosion features depicted in this image of the landed on its surface. The first spacecraft to land lmost anywhere astrogeologists have Tinjar Vallis (Latin for valley). The flow came from the was , landing July 20, 1976. The instru- looked on Mars, a new discovery awaited. sudden release of underground water, either from seismic A ments on Viking 1 (and its sister vehicle Viking Among the geological features were clear signs activity or a impact that broke a natural dam. This (928) 515-3018 image was taken during the northern martian spring by the 2) were thought at first to have shown chemical that a liquid, most likely water, flowed across the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) VIS camera on evidence of microscopic life, but later it became in the ancient past. Floods cut the Mars Odyssey orbiter on October 20, 2002. NASA/JPL- Caltech/Arizona State University. clear that the chemical reactions were caused by vast were cut into the surface. THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 9 8 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 2 0 1 9 would cover the surface of Mars to a depth of 29 The cluster is easily resolved into hundreds of feet. stars with an 8-inch telescope. The main part of of Mars would be a difficult the cluster is contained within a ten-arcminute and dangerous undertaking. The environmental area. Outside that area, it is visually difficult to factors that prevent life on the surface would also distinguish the cluster’s stars from foreground or kill any human inadvertently exposed to them. background stars. Nevertheless, one of the most critical factors t first glance in a small telescope, NGC for establishing a colony – water – is available A 6791 might appear to be a sparse globular in abundance on Mars. Maybe one day we will cluster, but it is not. A few summers ago, I viewed see some of those science fiction tales become this cluster on Kauai with Paul Jardin and Bob science fact. Kuzy using Paul’s 20-inch Dobsonian reflector. —Berton Stevens This behemoth Dob resolved the cluster into what appeared to be thousands of stars down to nearly 17th magnitude. But the cluster contained neither the dense core nor the glow of hundreds Deep Sky Objects of thousands of unresolved stars seen in globular star clusters. I cannot recall ever seeing an open star cluster with so many stars! HARP ON NGC 6791 Based on studies of its stars, NGC 6791 is is one of the smaller boreal estimated to be eight billion years old. This is L of the 88 that adorn the heavens. However, it is extremely old for an open star cluster. The stars in vastly more recognizable than other nearby small the cluster have about twice the iron to hydrogen constellations such as Sagitta and Vulpecula. Sa- ratio as our Sun, another oddity for a star cluster gitta and Vulpecula lie within the milky swath that y image of NGC 6791 was taken with a are dimmer than magnitude 18. of that age. NGC 6791 is indeed a unique open star is the plane of our home galaxy. Their brighter M Stellarvue 102 mm f/7.9 refractor with NGC 6791 lies 13,000 light-years away. The cluster and should be on everyone’s list of objects stars are all but lost in our galactic glow. Lyra, on a 0.8x focal reducer and field flattener to yield cluster is thought to contain a mass equal to 5000 to view this summer while exploring the constel- the other hand, lies just above the Milky Way’s f/6.3. The exposure was 40 minutes using an SBIG suns. The cluster orbits the center of the galaxy lation Lyra. main glow. This gives its brighter stars greater ST-2000XCM CCD camera. In the image north is at a radial distance of 26,000 light-years, placing —Dr. James R. Dire contrast against a darker background. up and east is to the left. The brightest star in the it about the same distance from the galactic Kauai Educational Association for Lyra is also well known because it contains image is 6.2-magnitude SAO 68129 located in the center as us. Visually, the cluster is magnitude Science and Astronomy NASA’s was the first spacecraft to directly image water ice on surface. lower right corner. The faintest stars in the image The spacecraft’s claw dug this shallow trench uncovering the ice just below the surface. The trench, informally called “Do- the fifth brightest star in the nighttime sky, , 9.5 and spans a diameter of nearly 16 arcminutes. do-Goldilocks,” not only revealed the ice, but some lumps in the lower left corner of the left image sublimated which shines at zero magnitude. The stars Vega, (changed state from ice directly to water vapor) over the four days between images (June 15 and 19, 2008). Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University. , and Zeta Lyrae form a equilateral triangle. The four stars Zeta, Delta, Gamma, and alters the martian surface, but much less than in These outburst floods appear to be episodic but form a distinct naked-eye paral- the ancient past. rare. When they occur, huge volumes of liquid lelogram. These geometric formations aid star water are released to flow across the surface. HELP WANTED hile the polar caps on Earth are made hoppers finding two popular objects in Lyra: the These are comparable to the largest floods here After 12 years, our IT MANAGER is retiring. We have immediate openings for people with experience in: of frozen water, on Mars, where the tem- , a.k.a. M57, located almost midway on Earth. The water came from subsurface aqui- W perature can get as low as –226 °F, they are most- between Gamma and Beta, and the double-double fers sealed by ice that were ruptured by a meteor • Unix and the Ubuntu operating system ly frozen . However, fifteen percent star, Epsilon Lyrae. M57 is one of the most viewed impact or volcanic activity. • Configuring firewalls and host intrusion detection system (HIDS) software of the visible polar caps are water ice. The martian planetary nebulae in the northern hemisphere. These outflow channels are different than the poles become larger in winter as carbon dioxide Epsilon Lyrae is a fantastic quadruple star system • Apache web server configuration and SSL certificates valley networks, which are more like terrestrial from the atmosphere freezes onto the surface; it that can be resolved by a 3-inch refractor at 100x • Administration of a Drupal content management system and programming Drupal modules rivers. Drainage basins where smaller channels then sublimates (changes directly from solid to if seeing conditions are excellent. Lyra is also merge into larger channels which then merge into gas) back into the atmosphere in the summer. home to a small globular star cluster, M56. But in a large channel mimic terrestrial river basins. Underlying the visible polar caps is a layer of this column, instead of featuring the globular star There are also river deltas and lakebeds visible ice. At the south pole it has been measured to be cluster, I want to concentrate on Lyra’s best open from orbit. In addition, surface studies by landers star cluster, NGC 6791. HELP WANTED 2.3 miles thick – this may be the remains of an have found minerals that could only have formed ancient ice sheet that covered the pole. Near the NGC 6791 is located approximately 8.5 In addition, we have a new volunteer position: GRANT WRITER. The qualified person will have experiencein successfully in the presence of water. north polar cap, the Phoenix lander was able to degrees east and slightly south of Vega. It is also writing and securing financial grants at the local, regional, corporate, and national levels. These grants will enable your Other features on the surface suggest that scrape away dirt on the ground surface to reveal one degree east-southeast of the fourth-mag- League to develop additional programs in outreach, observing programs, expansion of the Reflector, STEAM, and a host of ground ice is still just below the surface. Gullies the top of an ice layer, providing the first visible nitude star Theta Lyrae. The outer Milky Way other projects. The League does many great things with an annual budget of about $100,000. Imagine what we could do with and slope lineae (long, straight marks) along proof of . There may even still be crosses the eastern edge of Lyra. In skies free of an additional $25,000 or $50,000 per year. Literally, the sky is the limit. cliffs and crater walls are more recent, which liquid water below the ice layer of the polar cap. and light pollution, NGC 6791 appears suggest that water flowing on the surface still If all the water in both polar ice sheets melted, it within the Milky Way’s chalky glow. NOTE: THESE ARE VOLUNTEER POSITIONS. Contact [email protected] if you are willing to take on either challenge.

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12 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 2019 their extraterrestrial engines. a muon, which can travel through tion to this conundrum was that billions of years at nearly light Since neutrinos are not air and ice faster than the speed neutrinos continuously switch speed until it hits the nucleus of perfectly massless, they cannot of light within those materials, between their three types on the an ice atom near the detector. Its travel at exactly the speed of causing it to emit a blue-wave- way from the Sun to the Earth, ability to travel near light speed is light. That would require infinite length light called Cherenkov as they exist in what is known important to help correlate its ori- energy. But they come close. The radiation. The photo-detectors as a superposed quantum state. gin in time to photons collected at higher the initial energy impart- in the IceCube observatory were Trillions of these particles pass various wavelengths by the radio, ed to them, the faster they can constructed to see this light. through our bodies every second, infrared, optical, and gamma-ray Fire & Ice Because of the three-dimensional but they are relatively low energy observatories integrated into the go and the greater impact they will have when they do interact. nature of its design, scientists and, fortunately, do not often research network. The reason they are so able to are given a fairly narrow field of interact with us. On the first day of Antarctic penetrate matter is they only a little over one square degree errestrial sources of produc- “spring” in 2017, when its six- interact through gravity and the (for “track-like” detections with T tion include beta decay within month-long night was morphing weak nuclear force. The range a dominant linear topology) to radioactive elements, nuclear into an equally long day, an event over which the latter force oper- search for the source of the reactors, nuclear bombs, and was recorded in the IceCube ates is very small, only within an original neutrino. An automated particle accelerators. Cosmic Observatory’s detectors. Called atomic nucleus. Specifically, the notification system sends an alert neutrinos can be made by a EHE (for extremely high energy) uncertainty principle of quantum to network observatories within number of processes including 170922A (for the date), it sug- physics requires this to be 10–18 one minute of detection. supernovae, neutron stars, and gested a neutrino with a million meters, or only 0.1 percent the stronomers know neutrinos cosmic-ray impacts. Within the times more energy than any diameter of a proton! So these A can be produced within jets of quasars, a high energy previously identified source. Its very tiny particles see atoms as stars. There was a mystery for pion can be produced by cos- 290 TeV (tera–electron volts, 1012 mostly empty space. many years in regard to a dearth mic-ray interactions within the eV) worth of energy dwarfed the Only when there is a direct in those seen coming from the jet. This particle quickly decays most powerful seen from the Sun, hit on the center of a nucleon will Sun. Only about one-third of the into a lepton and a correspond- 18 MeV (mega–electron volts, they tango. The energy of that expected numbers were being ing neutrino, and the latter then 106 eV). A high-energy neutrino HOW ONE NEUTRINO CHANGED A FIELD process produces a particle called found. The very interesting solu- escapes to fly unimpeded for had impacted an atom within the

The above-surface laboratory of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, near the South Pole in Antartica. Photo: Erik Beiser, IceCube/NSF

By Dave Tostesen present; or when one decayed, a discovered in the mid-1970s, and in finding their origin. The only piece that had to be there could a dozen years after that, several issue is how to observe them. he most powerful force in the not be found. He proposed what subterranean detectors recorded In the first decade of the new T Universe is manifest within its he called a “desperate remedy” neutrinos from the first extrasolar millennium, a new detector was least. A black hole at the heart of in the form of a new particle to source, Supernova 1987A. This conceived and built at an unusual a galaxy nearly four billion light- conserve energy within these was touted as the first instance of location, the South Pole. Near the years away cannot swallow all it reactions. Three years later his “multi-” astronomy: the Amundsen–Scott station, 86 holes is trying to eat, and gravity and colleague Enrico Fermi formulat- detection of an event using dif- were drilled and melted into the magnetism combine to accelerate ed a theory of particle interac- ferent types of particles, though I extremely clear ice 125 meters this excess into jets aimed right at tions and named this undetected suppose simultaneously arriving apart to a depth of nearly a mile. Earth. Adroit astronomers, only member a “neutrino,” Italian for photons and protons in a sunrise Into their lengths were strung recently so well prepared to re- “little neutral one.” It had to be, could be considered. over five thousand photomultiply- ceive it, have gathered its signals they said, very light and almost ing detectors in a volume totaling to unravel and decode a mystery completely asocial. It was so eutrinos are notoriously one cubic kilometer. Called the long pondered. Its multi-messen- elusive that the first evidence N hard to detect, and they “IceCube Neutrino Observatory,” ger pulses include ones visible to for it took over twenty years to can pass unaffected through this state-of-the-art facility was the curious. find, in a scintillator built near long stretches of space and even built to find high energy neu- In 1930, the brilliant physi- a fission reactor at Los Alamos, through the center of the Earth. trinos and quickly relay their cist Wolfgang Pauli was puzzled. New Mexico. Neutron stars might give them direction of origin to terrestrial Certain interactions and energies Refined theory suggested pause, and black holes would and space-based observatories of subatomic particles did not add this wraith oscillated between be opaque to them. They are to help identify their sources. up, and he knew something was subtypes, and a few years later, electrically neutral and thus not The generators of these powerful missing. When two particles col- in 1962, experiments confirmed deflected in their course by elec- neutrinos were unknown before lided, the debris did not account the electron and muon neutri- tric or magnetic fields, and these IceCube was completed in 2010, Credit Felipe Pedreros, IceCube/NSF for all that should have been nos. A third subtype, tau, was qualities make them unequalled and researchers were hot to find THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 15 14 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 2019 followed by data from Fermi in celestial equator in western ation at the time of the neutrino spokesperson for the MAGIC ith all this as back- gamma rays showing a brighten- Orion, just under the arm that detection. The many wavelengths collaboration, offered that the W ground, I took my ing of the same source which had holds the shield or bow. Its of radiation studied along with neutrino found by IceCube, as a 32-inch f/4 reflector out on St. shown increased activity since redshift indicates its light has the neutrino findings allowed product of proton and Patrick’s night, 2018, at my home April 2018. It was then confirmed traveled 3.8 billion years to competing models of energy interaction within the blazar jets, in east-central Minnesota. I used by the ground-based MAGIC reach us and, even at that production within the blazar jets represented the initial detection a 9 mm eyepiece in moderately instrument (Major Atmospheric great distance, shines at a to be tested. of a source for these high-energy good conditions at 10 p.m. to spot Gamma-Ray Imaging Cherenkov respectable 14.8 magnitude in t is likely too early for defini- objects. this stellar-appearing object, also Telescope) in the Canary Islands. the visual, well within reach of I tive conclusions, but there is known as PMN J0509+0541. It By a month after the IceCube amateur equipment. consensus building toward what etrospective studies of nine had no nebulosity and, in that detection, two dozen instruments Padovani studied this object and is called the “lepton-hadronic” R years of previous IceCube large instrument at 14th magni- had studied this area across the found its peak to be model, with powerful high-speed neutrino data revealed over a tude, was easily seen with direct electromagnetic spectrum. about 1047 ergs per second at the electrons in the jets interacting dozen increased-emission events vision in a moderately crowded The object they found, now known very high energy of 10 GeV (giga– with photons to accelerate them between September 2014 and starfield. I find it intriguing to as TXS 0506+056, was first electron volts, 109 eV). This AGN to gamma-ray energies via a March 2015, offering more evi- have been hunting within the identified in 1983 as a strong is one of the strongest known process called inverse Compton dence for the collaborators to sug- Hunter to see something wherein radio source, and was in the top emitters of such VHE gamma scattering. Cerruti suggested gest blazars were the “first iden- both the most powerful and least one percent in power of all radio rays, in the top 4 percent of such high-energy neutrinos were gen- tifiable sources of the high-energy accessible things in our Universe In this representation of the IceCube-170922A event, the size of the colored spheres represents the logarithm of the amount of light emitters. Further study identified galaxies. Simona Paiano and their erated as part of a “pion decay astrophysical neutrino flux.” were produced together. Though detected; the color gradient from red to blue corresponds to the time of detection, earliest at red and latest at blue. The total duration it as an active galactic nucleus Researchers including Francis some scientists caution about of the event is about 4000 ns. The best fit track direction is represented by the arrow, consistent with Orion Blazar identified group from Italy and Spain used chain” within a “magnetized, as its source. Source: IceCube Collaboration/NSF (AGN) with one of its jets pointed the 10.4-meter Gran Telescopio compact region inside the rela- Halzen of the University of Wis- premature conclusions, such as right at us, which is the definition Canarias near the MAGIC obser- tivistic jet.” In his presentation consin, the developer and prin- Penn State’s Kohta Murase as ice near the detector to produce any ideas were presented and, true to its name, the of a blazar (named for the BL Lac vatory to pinpoint its redshift at at a National Science Foundation cipal researcher of the IceCube quoted in Sky & Telescope, many a muon that flew across the M at a conference in Germa- X-ray satellite was the first to subtype of quasars). In our sky 0.3365. Data from gamma-ray press conference on July 12, observatory, predicted this event are optimistic another important detector’s field, leaving a trail of ny that year at the site of Hess’s identify a blazar in Orion as the it is well placed for observation instruments showed this blazar to 2018, Dr. Razmik Mirzoyan of the and discovery will be a vanguard messenger has been added to the blue light. landing in Brandenburg. They possible source. This was quickly from both hemispheres, near the be flaring in that high-energy radi- Max Planck Institute for Physics, for a new field of study. toolbox of cosmic inquiry. ê n this night, I was cel- could not have known then that O ebrating a sexagesimal the clue that would help solve event with a close friend, and this puzzle was nearing its final, at the time was unaware Scott’s frigid destination. Having traveled birthday would mark the day of since just after the Solar System’s discovery for a mystery that had Late Heavy Bombardment, at the confounded science for over a time when single-celled life was century. The origin of cosmic rays just emerging on our planet, this had been pondered since their high-energy neutrino was only a discovery in 1912 by Victor Hess few light-years away from making during a high-altitude balloon history. The South Pole obser- flight. As he ascended toward vatory had discovered a diffuse 17,000 feet with no supplemental flux of high-energy astrophysical , his electroscope dis- neutrinos in 2013, including charged more rapidly the higher ones with energy of a few PeV he went. He correctly assumed (peta–electron volts, 1015 eV), but that particles from outer space had not identified their individual were the source, and that the sources. denser atmosphere nearer the With all the pieces in place ground was blocking them. that would allow such a discov- Because most cosmic rays are ery, this subatomic tombolo, this protons, and almost all are small conceptual stream that would con- charged atomic nuclei, galactic nect theory with fact, slammed and intergalactic magnetic fields a neutrino into the ice on that alter their paths to preclude equinox to sound an alert on the identifying their sources. Articles Astrophysical Multimessenger written in 2012 commemorating Observatory Network (AMON) at the centenary of this discovery 20:15:13 Universal Time on Sep- lamented the lack of progress in tember 22, 2017. This set into ac- TXS 0506+056 is located in the constellation Orion at 05h 09m 25.96s, +05d 41m 35.3s credit: Silvia Bravo Gallart/ Project_WIPAC_Communications finding their origin. tion a diverse array of telescopes

THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 17 16 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 201 9 Remembering Two Former Astronomical League Presidents

Jerry Sherlin, Astronomical ing youth in astronomy. Bob Gent, Astronomical nationally, speaking with citizens League President 1982–1984 Jerry was a meteorologist League President 2002–2006 and government officials about for the U.S. Air Force, where he light pollution and the preserva- specialized in space weather, and tion of dark skies. In recognition later was a research assistant at of all his efforts, in 2001 he was Sacramento Peak Solar Observa- presented the first IDA Hoag-Rob- tory near Cloudcroft, New Mexico. inson award. In 2000, the minor After retiring from the Air Force planet 10498 Bobgent was named in 1981, then NOAA in 1999, he in his honor. taught astronomy at Arapahoe He was a retired U.S. Air Community College in Littleton, Force lieutenant colonel and a Colorado, and the Community former space systems officer. Bob College of Aurora in Colorado. earned degrees in mathematics, He was active in many astrophysics, and international re- astronomy-related organizations lations. He was a member of the erry Sherlin, 22nd president t is with great sadness that we including: American Astronomical Society, ̨of the Astronomical League, ̨must report that Robert L. Gent, the Webb Society, the Internation- J • Fellow of the Royal Astronomi- I passed away on December 31, 30th president of the Astronomi- al Occultation Timing Association, cal Society (emeritus) 2018. cal League, passed away on the American Association of His service to the Astronom- • Professional member of the Saturday, March 23, 2019. He Observers, the Rich- ical League was far-reaching American Astronomical Society resided in Wadsworth, Ohio, land Astronomical Society, and, of and began at a time when the • American Association for the with his wife, Terrie. course, the Astronomical League. organization was growing and Advancement of Science During his many years of in- Bob’s absence in astronomy evolving into what it is today. • American Association of Vari- volvement with amateur astrono- will be keenly felt. His star will Jerry applied his leadership and able Star Observers my and the Astronomical League, shine brightly in our hearts. ê organizational skills as chair of • Association of Lunar and Plan- he chaired three national conven- MARS and as a regional represen- etary Observers tions (1995 in San Antonio, Texas; tative of MARS and MSRAL. He 2001 in Frederick, Maryland, and • Denver Astronomical Society was the AL Book Service chair for 2010 in Tucson, Arizona), and re- a number of years. In an unusu- • Astronomical League ceived the League’s prestigious G. al order of ascension through Jerry’s vitality and enthu- R. Wright Award and President’s national offices, he served first as siasm pursuing astronomy, Award. He was Astronomical Astronomical League executive professional or amateur, will be League vice president from 1998 secretary for one year in 1977, missed. ê to 2002 and president from 2002 then as president from 1982 to to 2006. 1984, and finally as vice presi- During his League presidency, dent from 1988 to 1991. the AL national office was insti- Because of his extensive tuted, the youth awards advanced, League work, much of it behind the observing programs increased the scenes, Jerry was presented dramatically in number, and the with the G.R. Wright Service Reflectorbegan being published Award in 1992. He continued in a full-color, glossy format. Lunar occultation of , by Bob Gent his contributions by chairing the Bob was also the past presi- wildly successful Copper Moun- dent of the International Dark-Sky tain, Colorado, ALCon in 1997. He Association, and, in this role, played an important early role in traveled domestically and inter- the League’s efforts at encourag-

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Washington íVisit the legendary home of the historic PORTER TURRET TELESCOPE, $8 S&H REGULARLY $18, ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE September 25–29 the 13” SCHUPMANN TELESCOPE, and the newly restored HALE-PORTER NOW 9 tmspa.com COFFEE MUG (CERAMIC) PLUS $3 S&H Acadia Night Sky Festival SPECTROHELIOSCOPE Optical and mechanical COMPETITION for $12 PLUS $6 S&H í July 30–August 4 Acadia National Park, home-made telescopes íLegendary non-commercial SWAP MEET UNIVERSE SAMPLER Oregon Star Party Bar Harbor, Maine Awesome RAFFLE CAMP, or stay at local LODGING Great FOOD A JOURNEY THROUGH í í í CONCESSION DARK SKIES at our rural Vermont hilltop ASTRONOMICAL THE UNIVERSE FOR METEORS Ochoco National Forest, acadianightskyfestival.org í LEAGUE TRAVEL MUG THE BEGINNER A GUIDE TO Prineville, Oregon $10 PLUS $4.50 S&H $10 PLUS THE METEORS September 26–29 $3 S&H OBSERVING oregonstarparty.org HARTNESS HOUSE PROGRAM 2019 Bootleg Astronomy $10 PLUS August 1–3 Star Party WORKSHOP AUG. 1 $4 S&H ASTRONOMICAL Julian Starfest Green River Conservation Area, MESSIER OBJECTS LEAGUE LAPEL PIN Menghini Winery, Harmon, Illinois (1" DIAMETER) A BEGINNER’S GUIDE ADVANCED $8 PLUS $2 S&H $8 PLUS RASC EPLORE THE Julian, California bootlegastronomy.com $3 S&H UNIVERSE GUIDE julianstarfest.com $20 PLUS September 27–29 TELESCOPE MAKING $4.50 S&H Join us at Springfield’s historic Hartness House, home of the Hartness Turret ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE August 1–4 Black Forest Star Party Telescope and the Hartness-Porter Museum of Amateur Telescope Making. FULL COLOR CLOTH PATCH (3” DIAMETER) Stellafane Convention Cherry Springs State Park, Meals are included. (Separate Registration from Convention Required) $7 PLUS $1.50 S&H MATH FOR Breezy Hill, Springfield, Vermont Pennsylvania DAY SESSION SPEAKERS: ¡CLIF ASHCRAFT: "Building a Schupmann Telescope" AMATEUR bfsp.org DON DILWORTH: "Lens Design, Then and Now" RICK FIENBERG: “A New ASTRONOMERS GLOBULAR stellafane.org/stella- ¡ ¡ ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE $12 PLUS CLUSTERS fane-main/convention Era of Professional-Amateur Collaboration in Astronomy” ¡NORMAND BLUE AND WHITE CLOTH $4 S&H $14 PLUS FULLUM: "Bigger, Lighter and Cheaper Mirrors" DAN GRAY: "New Life for PATCH (3” DIAMETER) $3 S&H August 24–25 ¡ $6 PLUS Old Telescopes" ¡ANTHONY PIERRA: “Next Generation of Optical Coatings for $1.50 S&H Connecticut River Valley Astronomical Observatories and the Space Program" ¡PERRY REMAKLUS: Astronomers Conjunction CARBON STARS “Writing on Sand: Will This Be the Last Generation of Telescope ASTRANOMICAL A GUIDE TO THE Northfield Mountain Recreation Makers?” GARY WALKER: "Scientific-CMOS Really sCMAS” LEAGUE PROMOTE AMATEUR ASTRONOMY, ¡ CARBON STAR BANDANA and Environmental Center, WILLIAM ZMEK: “Interferometry for Amateur Telescope Makers” OBSERVING CLUB LEARN NEW ASTRONOMY LORE, ¡ NATURAL $12 PLUS Massachusetts BANQUET KEY-NOTE: RICHARD BERRY, OR WHITE AND SUPPORT THE LEAGUE ¡ $3 S&H "Amateur Astronomy: The Next Twenty Years" $12 PLUS $2 S&H philharrington.net/ WITH YOUR PURCHASE astroconjunction THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 21 20 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 201 9 INFO & REGISTRATION AT STELLAFANE.ORG

MEMBER SHOTS OF THE JANUARY 2019 LUNAR ECLIPSE

GALLERY All photos © 2019 by their respective creators.

This page: Kristopher Setnes (Minnesota Astronomical Society) managed to catch the lunar meteroid impact during the recent eclipse using a 6-inch Orion Starblast with a Fujifilm X-T20 camera.

Right: Joe Abraham (Houston Astronomical Society) took this sequence of images during the recent eclipse using a Takahashi TSA-102 refractor with a Nikon D700 camera.

All photos © 2019 by their respective creators.

MASTER OBSERVER: Evansville Astronomical Society; No. 1031-M, MEMBER SHOTS OF THE JANUARY 2019 LUNAR ECLIPSE No. 217, Benjamin Jones, Albuquerque Astronomical Society; Brian McGuinness, Northern Colorado Astronomical Society; Observing Awards No. 218, Michael C. Neal, Echo Ridge Astronomical Society; No. 1070-S, Sonny Manley, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; No. No. 219, Will Young, Astronomical Society of Southeast 1071-O, Jane Lim, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; No. 1072-O, All photos © 2019 by their respective creators. Texas; No. 220, Chris Slotten, Olympic Astronomical Society; Daniel Roy, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; No. 1074-S, GALLERY David Decker, San Diego Astronomy Association; No. 221, Alan Scott, Albuquerque Astronomical Society; No. Active Galactic Nuclei Program 222, Alfred Schovanez III, Astronomical Society of Eastern No. 1083-S, Richard Mannarino, Escambia Amateur No. 17-I, Marie Lott, Atlanta Astronomy Club Missouri Astronomers Association; No. 1109, Eric J. Hoin, Central Arp Peculiar Galaxies Northern Observing Program ADVANCED OBSERVER: Florida Astronomical Society; No. 1110-O, Jeffrey Padell, No. 92-V, Bob Scott, Island County Astronomical Society Valorie Whalen, Atlanta Astronomy Club; Stephen Tzikas, Skyscrapers; No. 1111-O, Marla C. Smith, Flint River Astronomy Club; No. 1112-O, Rick Johnston, Escambia Beyond Polaris Northern Virginia Astronomy Club BINOCULAR MASTER OBSERVER: Amateur Astronomers Association; No. 1113-M, No. 22, Scott G. Kranz, Astronomical Society of Kansas City; Cleveland Carter, Imperial Polk Astronomical Society; No. 23, Blake Hulburt, San Antonio Astronomical Association; Steve Boerner, Member-at-Large; Nora Jean Chetnik, Member-at-Large; Rakhal Kincaid, Haleakala Amateur No. 1114-M, Dennis Wardell, Texas Astronomical Society No. 24, Tamara Stowe, San Antonio Astronomical Association; of Dallas; No. 1115-M, Steven S. Conner, Evansville No. 25, Amanda L. Grzyb, Member-at-Large; No. 26, Astronomers; Al Lamperti, Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers; David Whalen, Atlanta Astronomy Club Astronomical Society; No. 1116-O, Raymond Whatley, Douglas L. Smith, Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association; Northeast Florida Astronomical Society; No. 1117-S, No. 27, Chris Leake, Astronomical Society of Kansas City Messier Observing Program Jack Lochnasky, Raleigh Astronomy Club; No. 1118-S, Binocular Double Star Observing Program No. 2798, Tim Clark, Honorary, Stockton Astronomical Corrie Ann Delgado, Echo Ridge Astronomical Society; No. No. 143, Bernie Venasse, Member-at-Large; No. 144, Society; No. 2799, Gary Dietz, Regular, Astronomy 1119-O, Christopher Leake, Astronomical Society of Kansas Alan Scott, Albuquerque Astronomical Society; No. 145, Enthusiasts of Lancaster County; No. 2800, Alan Snook, City; No. 1120-O, Jim Lim, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; No. Peter Detterline, Member-at-Large; No. 146, Gus Gomez, Regular, Member-at-Large; No. 2801, Francis Graham, 1121-O, Daniel Roy, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; No. 1122-O, Tucson Astronomical Association Honorary, Member-at-Large; No. 2802, Donald Knabb, Pamela Shivak, Member-at-Large; No. 1123-M, Binocular Messier Observing Program Regular, Chester County Astronomical Society; No. 2803, Bryan Simpson, Cincinnati Astronomical Society Richard S. Eisenberg, Honorary, Ventura County Astronomical No. 1158, Mike Reitmajer, Rose City Astronomers; No. 1159, Society; No. 2725, Bryce Heiniger, Honorary, Twin City CORRECTED FROM THE LAST ISSUE: William A. Kast, Denver Astronomical Society; No. 1160, Amateur Astronomers; No. 2804, Paul Pulaski, Regular, No. 1066-O, Robin Jones, Roanoke Valley Astronomical Janet Pullen, Island County Astronomical Society; No. 1161, Albuquerque Astronomical Society; No. 2805, Society; No. 1066-O, Josh Jones, Roanoke Valley Kevin Kirk, Northeast Florida Astronomical Society Kiefer Iacaruso, Regular, Member-at-Large; No. 2806, Astronomical Society Caldwell Observing Program Edgar G. Fischer, Honorary, Albuquerque Astronomical Planetary Nebula Observing Program SILVER AWARDS Society No. 74, Alfred Schovanez III, Advanced Manual, Astronomical No. 256, James Bruce McMath, Central Arkansas Astronomical Meteor Observing Program Society of Eastern Missouri; No. 75, Kevin McKeown, Society; No. 257, Jarret Lingle, Mason Star Gazers; No. 258, No. 67, Pamela Lubkans, Honorary, Member-at-Large Advanced, Member-at-Large; No. 76, Will Young, Advanced Robert B. Harrison, Patron Member Manual, Astronomical Society of Southeast Texas; No. 37 NEO Observing Program Roy Troxel, Member-at-Large Comet Observing Program No. 18, Dan Crowson, Advanced, Astronomical Society of No. 104, Cindy L. Krach, Silver, Haleakala Amateur Eastern Missouri Sky Puppy Observing Program Astronomers; No. 105, Alan Snook, Silver, Member-at- No. 58, Antonio Santacroce, Kansas Astronomical Observers; Large; No. 106, Will Young, Silver, Astronomical Society of Outreach Observing Award No. 59, Noelle Fordham, Kansas Astronomical Observers; No. Southeast Texas; No. 107, Stanley Davis, Silver, Astronomy No. 565-M, Leonard Ward, Central Florida Astronomical 60, Emily Kiesel, Northern Virginia Astronomy Club Club of Tulsa; No. 108, Marie Lott, Silver, Atlanta Astronomy Society; No. 657-M, Mark Simonson, Everett Astronomical Society; No. 684-S, Naveen Vetcha, Von Braun Astronomical Observing Program Club; No. 42, Bernard Venasse, Gold, Member-at-Large; No. No. 62, Terry N. Trees, Amateur Astronomers Association of 43, Mark Lang, Gold, Raleigh Astronomy Club Society; No. 778-M, Matt Lochansky, Raleigh Astronomy Club; No. 806-M, Barbara Hassett, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; Pittsburgh; No. 63, Ken Boquist, Popular Astronomy Club ’s T.O.E.S. No. 807-M, Scott Hassett, Fort Bend Astronomy Club; No. (Rock Island); No. 64, John L. Goar, Olympic Astronomical No. 1, Bernie Venasse, Member-at-Large 847-S, Mark Hodges, Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society; Society; No. 65, Jim Pryal, Seattle Astronomical Society; No. Globular Cluster Observing Program No. 849-S, Rand H. Bowden, Roanoke Valley Astronomical 66, Steve Boerner, Member-at-Large; No. 67, Kevin Nasal, 321-V, Jeffrey Corder, Ancient City Astronomy Club; 322-I, Society; No. 894-M, James King, Houston Astronomical Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society (Green Bay); Brad Young, Astronomy Club of Tulsa; 323-V, Society; No. 897-S, Anthony Bryan, Evansville Astronomical No. 68, Rakhal Kincaid, Haleakala Amateur Astronomers; No. Charles E. Allen III, Evansville Astronomical Society; Society; No. 917-S, Wayne Frey, Central Florida Astronomical 69, Rob Ratkowski, Haleakala Amateur Astronomers 324-I, Peter Detterline, Member-at-Large Society / Imperial Polk Astronomical Society; No. 1006-S, Universe Sampler Observing Program Herschel 400 Observing Program Mike Reitmajer, Rose City Astronomers; No. 1019-M, No. 135, Alfred Schovanez III, Telescope, Astronomical No. 600, Alfred Schovanez III, Astronomical Society of Dewey Barker, Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association; Society of Eastern Missouri; No. 136, Robert J. Olsen, Eastern Missouri; No. 601, Lario Yerino, Astronomical Society No. 1041-S, Richard S. Wright Jr., Central Florida Telescope, Member-at-Large; No. 137, Robert Fish, of Kansas City Astronomical Society; No. 1069-M, Charles E. Allen III, Telescope, Boise Astronomical Society. Herschel II Observing Program No. 105, Dan Crowson, Device-Aided, Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri Hydrogen Alpha Solar Observing Program No. 43, Jonathan Poppele, Minnesota Astronomical Society; No. 44, Jeffrey M. Padell, Member-at-Large Local Galaxy Group & Galactic Neighborhood Observing Program No. 38M, Kevin Mayock, Rose City Astronomers; No. 39M, David Whalen, Atlanta Astronomy Club Lunar Observing Program No. 1047, Denise Moser, Astronomical Society of Kansas City; No. 1048, Kevin Kozel, Member-at Large; No. 1049, Steve Cariddi, Member-at-Large; No. 1050, David Collings, Echo Ridge Astronomical Society; No. 1051, Eric Rachut, Central Texas Astronomical Society; No. 1052, Robert F. Taylor Jr., Keene Amateur Astronomers, Inc.; No. 416-B, Paul Byrne, Member-at-Large; No. 964-B, Russell F. Pinizzotto, Southern Maine Astronomers, No. 1050-B, David Collings, Echo Ridge Astronomical Society Top: Mike Carlin (Rochester Astronomy Club) made this eclipse mosaic with a Celestron 8SE with f/6.3 focal reducer and a Canon 70D camera. Master Observer Award OBSERVER: Bottom: Steven Bellavia (Amateur Observers’ Society of New York) made this composite image of the recent eclipse Alfred Schovanez III, Astronomical Society of Eastern over two nights using a generic 90 mm f/5.5 refractor with a Canon EOS SL1 camera. Missouri; Marilyn Perry, Member-at-Large

THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE 25 Andrew participated in a Research Experience for NATIONAL YOUNG ASTRONOMER Undergraduates program in the imaging science department. His work involved designing new labs ALCon Jr. 2020 STEAM Conference for the Radiometry class that included measuring for families and students AWARD WINNERS— the intensity of different light sources, using professional radiometric equipment such as a ra- diometer and integrating sphere, and comparing WHERE ARE THEY NOW? the efficiency of different light sources. Telescope Making Workshop with

The Astronomical League started issuing National Young Astronomer Awards in 1993. Have you uring this time he also met his future Rob Teeter of Teeter’s Telescopes ̨wife, a visiting student in the program ever wondered what became of these young folks and where are they now? Below is Andrew D from Allegheny College. During his senior year, Hitchner’s short autobiography. He won the award at ALCon 2010 in Tucson, Arizona. Andrew worked on his thesis project that involved Hopefully his history will spur others to write similarly. measuring the height of clouds using Landsat 8 —Al Lamperti, Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers imagery, and he graduated with a BS degree in imaging science in spring 2015. By Andrew Hitchner the astronomy course at the RIT Observatory, and he continued to do this for all four years of his Andrew’s tenure at RIT involved more than ndrew Hitchner, a member of the Delaware just academics. His other main activity was his Valley Amateur Astronomers, won first studies. As the teaching assistant, Andrew helped A students with indoor labs, such as identifying involvement with the RIT pep band, which let An- place for the National Young Astronomers Award drew de-stress from his coursework and resulted in his junior year of high school in 2010. His planetary features, learning Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, graphing the HR diagram, and in lasting friendships. Globe @ Night project, “A Study in Stellar Spectroscopy,” After RIT, Andrew found a job back home followed in the footsteps of Annie Jump Cannon identifying gases using handheld spectroscopes. in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, as a sensor and the astronomers of Harvard in measuring the f a class occurred on a rare clear Rochester with Perspecta Inc. He is now in his third differences in stellar spectra and finding a ̨night, an outdoor lab would take place, which I year with the company and enjoys his work and relationship between the temperature of the stars involved having the students observe planets and coworkers. His job has provided him opportunities and the strength of the hydrogen absorption lines deep-sky objects. Andrew would help point the to travel around the country and to continue to in the stars’ spectra. His project was completed observatory’s various telescopes and would develop the skills that he learned at RIT. It has using only modest equipment available to the describe what the students should be looking for. also allowed him to continue his education. He amateur astronomer and featured an 8-inch He also helped students prepare for their oral Middle and High School is currently enrolled in an online MS program at Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain, a Canon DSLR, and a exams of identifying ten stars and constellations. the Stevens Institute of Technology, studying Rainbow Optics grating. Andrew confirmed that While he did not get to do much of his own microelectronics and photonics. there is an optimal temperature for hydrogen observing at RIT, he was grateful that the position Astro Graphic Novels - absorption, and this is found in A-type stars. O- of teaching assistant allowed him to continue ndrew continues to enjoy amateur and B-type stars are too hot for strong hydrogen what he thinks is the best part of this hobby: Ąastronomy and has found that the best way Comic Books absorption, while F through M stars are too cool sharing it with others. During his sophomore year, of doing this is to be more involved with his local NASA/JPL paper models and for strong hydrogen absorption. Andrew decided he wanted to get his degree in club, the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers. imaging science. The imaging science program at He is DVAA’s observing chair, coordinating the RIT is designed around the science behind the public star parties and giving a short presentation end-to-end image formation process, called the during the monthly meetings. Andrew also goes imaging chain. This includes the entire process out with members of the club to do dark-sky from the photons leaving the Sun, to then being observing and has participated in a few of the reflected into a camera through its optics, being club’s camping trips. captured on the focal plane, being displayed for In addition to astronomy, Andrew enjoys viewing, and finally processed by the human eye. numerous other hobbies in his free time. He ndrew greatly enjoyed his studies in the performs with the Montgomery County Concert Ąimaging science department. He was ex- Band and Jazz Band, is a member of a men’s 2020 Calendar features AL Members, Special Imagers or Sketchers: cited for each class he took and is amazed by how hockey team, and likes to bake bread and desserts much he learned. His professors were friendly for his friends and family. For astronomy, he and supportive, and his classmates became his plans on continuing as the observing chair for the good friends. Some of his favorite classes were DVAA and completing more Astronomical League After graduating from Methacton High School Remote Sensing Systems, Radiometry, Focal Observing Programs. Currently, he is working on in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, Andrew went on to Plane Array Design, and Environmental Applica- the Double Star and Open Cluster Programs. He pursue a degree at the Rochester Institute of tions of Imaging Science. It was during this time also plans on doing more outreach with the club to Technology, with the hope of turning his hobby of that Andrew realized he had found his passion and continue sharing his knowledge and passion with amateur astronomy into a career. During his first what he wanted to do for his career. In the summer members of the community, the part of his hobby year at RIT, he became the teaching assistant for between his sophomore and junior year at RIT, he most thoroughly enjoys. ê ALCON JR. WILL BE HELD IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO IN 2020. WATCH UPCOMING ISSUES OF REFLECTOR FOR MORE INFORMATION 26 REFLECTOR ✶ JUNE 201 9 Membership Secretary NON-PROFIT Astronomical League ORGANIZATION National Office U .S . POSTAGE 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 PAID Kansas City, MO 64114 TUCSON, AZ #271