The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association
VOLUME XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 ********************************************************************************************* President – Steve Self (251) 621-1794 Vice President -- Ed Magowan – (850) 458-0577 Secretary – Sharon Bogart (850) 983-9860 Treasurer Jim Larduskey (850) 434-3638 Observing - Warren Jarvis (850) 623-8061 Librarian: Jacque Falzone (850) 261-9745 Education Chair – Dewey Barker (850) 458-1591 NWFAA Contact: Dennis Hausch (850)428-9467 Editor and ALCOR: Dr. J. Wayne Wooten, Physical Sciences, Room 9704, Pensacola State College, Pensacola FL 32504-8998 Phone (850) 484-1152 (voicemail) (E-mail) wwooten @ pensacolastate.edu Please mail all dues to EAAA Treasurer, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL 32504
Memories of Dr. Tom Carr In his www.spaceweather.com site for today, April 22, 2011, Dr. Tony Phillips of JPL pays tribute to a U of Florida astronomer who played a large role in both our lives. His research in radio astronomy, particularly Jupiter and the other jovians, was for decades at the leading edge of planetary astronomy, and he played a big role in the design and success of the Voyagers as they visited all the jovians, explored their magnetic fields with his antenna designs, and even now probe in outer edge of the sun’s magnetic field at the heliopause. He passed away Tuesday at the age of 94, active until the last in his research. My first contact with Dr. Carr was in June 1965, as a 17 year old NSF student coming to Gainesville for the summer. I had just finished my junior year at Walton High School, and with buddy Rand Baldwin from Paxton HS, was already determined to become an astronomer. But NOT a radio astronomer! Rand got the plum job of working with Dr. Kwan Yu Chen in optical astronomy (eclipsing binaries, a field I would work with later on my Masters) but I was assigned to the radio astronomy folks, with little knowledge of electronics or radio astronomy. Talk about a crash course! I was a strong farm hand back then, so Dr. Carr used my muscles well and started me from the ground up. I was assigned to dig the ditches in which we laid the cables connecting the yagi antennae to the control room. When Rand and I returned to UF the next year as freshmen majoring the physics, we both helped earn our way through the program by working 20 hours a week as student assistants. For me, that usually met being the student observer in the control room, literally listening to radio Jupiter coming in on audio speakers, and taping the noise at 1.75 inches per second on a reel to reel tape recorder. When an interesting noise storm started to erupt, I would switch to 7.5 ips for higher quality data. From his pioneering work, Dr. Carr determined the rotation rate of Jupiter’s core (System III), the Io Flux Tube (when the inner large moon Io somehow focuses the most intense static toward us as it passes between us and Jupiter), and was honored by NASA by being named Radio Mission Scientist for the Voyager program. It was his involvement with the Voyagers which opened doors for me as well at NASA, as one of his grad students. I was with him in the VIP viewing stand in September 1977 when Voyager I launched to the jovians; I remember sitting next to the President of Paraguay, not my favorite neo Nazi dictator, but heck I was watching the fastest spacecraft made by man fly out to the stars! Tom and NASA kept me involved; in March 1979, I was NASA’s guest at Jet Propulsion Lab when Voyager I passed by Jupiter, to discover the eruptions on Io and the thin dust ring around the largest planet as well as many more discoveries. For me, to be there with Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, Arthur C. Clarke, and other leaders of space exploration was like riding on the bow of the Santa Maria… The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 Page 2 Then in November 1980, Merry and I were again NASA’s guests, this time to fly past Saturn, again with too many discoveries to list here. All of this I owe in part to Dr. Carr and his belief in the potential of a 17 year old farm boy. When I completed my doctorate in 1979, Dr. John Oliver was head of my doctoral committee, and in three years, NW Florida would send the UF astronomy department another youngster for Tom and John to guide to a career in astronomy. Tony Phillips of Niceville had an outstanding science fair exhibit on Jupiter observations which I judged regionally and helped prepared for state fair. He won a scholarship which took him to Gainesville as an undergraduate, and on to being NASA’s outstanding solar physicist and a great communicator of space science to the public. I was fortunate enough to reunite with him in Tucson at the Coronado sponsored HOTS conference in 2004. With him, I feel deeply the loss of this great role model for both of us. –Wayne Wooten Thank you so much for sharing these remembrances of Tom. I didn't realize that Voyager's low frequency antennas were designed by Tom, but I'm not a bit surprised. It was good to see that picture of you with John Oliver. John was also an important figure in my life. When I visited UF as a summer student in my Jr. year of high school, John was my advisor and I learned a lot from him. He was as much responsible for me attending UF as Tom was. --Dr. Tony Phillips, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Yuri’s Celebration at the Planetarium April 16th Saturday, April 16, 2011 was a beautiful day for solar and night observing, but perhaps it was so pretty a lot of folks did not stop by the planetarium to help the Star Trek’s Continuum Chapter, the National Space Society, the Pensacola State College Astronomy Club, and the Escambia Amateur Astronomers celebrate 50 years of manned space flight. We had a little more than 100 folks drop by, not nearly the turnout from last year. But those who did come out and help had a good time with the planetarium shows, exhibits, great solar prominences, and the nearly full moon and Saturn through the scopes. It all culminated with a nice ISS pass at 9 PM to wrap things up. Pensacola State College was represented by Billy Jackson, Thor Garber, and Wayne Wooten. Billy Jackson did six planetarium shows for the public; many thanks for his contribution of time and talent to the success of the day! From the astronomy clubs we had Tom and Kimi Dragon, Rich and Coral Sigler, Andy Walker, Elizabeth Evans-razi, Dave Halupowski, Dewey Barker, Lyen McAbee, Jim Larduskey, and Jacque Falzone assisting. From the Continuum we had Chris Hammonds, Peggy Moshell, Katie Cline, Jay Gallops, and Jordan Britt. From the National Space Society we had Wayne Davis and daughter Hannah Davis. Chase Clark was a guest of the NSS. We also had Lynn and Patrick from the Stennis SFC in Mississippi to serve up astronaut ice cream, pass out handouts, and promote space exploration. PSC had shuttle tiles on display, and Merry Wooten lent her 8 pound Arizona meteorite for display as well. –Wayne Wooten I can tell you that my children and I stood in front of our house at 8:58-9:03pm excited and loud watching the ISS pass. The ISS appeared right under the constellation Orion and then moved through the belt and continued NW until it disappeared into Earth's shadow. I was surprised by how quickly it seemed to be moving, I know it was moving much faster than it appeared. It looked so small up there, I thought it would look bigger. The idea that there are people aboard the ISS and then seeing the craft was amazing, to imagine the people in it looking down on Earth day after day! My children were so excited to see a spaceship, as they referred to it! I also had told a lot of people where and when to look for it, I can tell you my neighbors, one street over, had driven out to Cantonment proper to see it better. They told me it was awesome and that they appreciated me taking their boys with me to the planetarium on Saturday night. I believe I've created some interest in space among the boys of the neighborhood thanks to all that you have taught me so far. -- Gina Anderson, PSC Club The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 Page 3
Webeloes Gaze at Camp Paquette on April 16, 2011 The Cub Scout Pack 400 viewing was completed on Saturday night, April 16th. The camp site in the Blackwater River National Park provided an excellent dark area. However, the moon was very bright. (I was only able to pick out the three brightest stars in the Little Dipper.) There were about 20 scouts and 20 adults, led by John Hogan, who organized the gaze. We did a survey of the sky. The following constellations and stars were pointed out to the scouts: Ursa Major and the Big Dipper, Polaris, Arcturus, Spica, Saturn, Leo, Gemini, Canis major, Canis minor, Orion, Taurus, and Auriga. The EAAA 6” Orion Dobsonian telescope was a hit. There were great views of Saturn, the Orion Nebula, Hyades, Pleiades, Praesepe, and the moon. One of the parents had a set of night vision binoculars. These provided interesting views of the night sky. The highlight of the night was the ISS. We picked it up as it entered Orion and watched until it passed Capella at 9:01 PM. Thank you for the opportunity to help out the scouts. --John Arnold
Blue Angel Elementary School Gaze on March 10, 2011 Wayne Travis, Dewey Barker, Ray Hayes, and potential member John Arnold arrived at Blue Angel Elementary School about 5:30 on Thursday March 11 for their inaugural Starry Nights event. At about 6:00 around 400 students, parents and teachers showed up to enjoy the clear night sky with views of Jupiter, the Moon and the Orion Nebula. There were several science stations set up in the classrooms so they did not all come out at once. Even with them showing up in shifts there was a never ending line of people and they seemed to enjoy the sites. Ray Hayes had his refractor set up for views of the Moon and Orion and I drifted from the Moon to Jupiter and the Orion Nebula using my computer guided 8" CPC. The computer makes it easy and quick to switch from site to site and the views were great. Dewey had his refractor and binoculars set up and gave a few star tours with his laser pointer. John Arnold was busy handing out star charts and flyers and manning Dewey's scope while he was giving the star tours. There was quite a bit of flight traffic and a few of us thought we saw the ISS flyover but it seemed to early and did not get every ones attention in time. We were all thanked several times for bringing out the telescopes. About 8:00 the last of the students were leaving a few teachers and parents were around to see the sites when it was not as busy. We all broke down and left for home about 8:30. --Wayne Travis
Festival on the Green Gazes on April 1-2, 2011 Jim Larduskey, Dewey Barker, Rich and Carol Sigler set up solar scopes and handed out flyers on the steps of the UWF Pace library on Friday and Saturday, and set up scopes for night viewing of Saturn. Many PSC and UWF students loved the gaze. Here is an example. The Festival on the Green was an enjoyable experience. I arrive at approximately 7:45 Pm and I stayed for about an hour and a half on both nights. I spent most of my time looking at Saturn. At first, I was a little intimidated by the telescopes…they all looked very expensive and I was afraid to touch them. However, after a brief crash course on operating them, I was completely entranced by Saturn’s beauty. Seeing a planet through a high quality scope was so much better than any picture of Saturn in a textbook. For one thing, the photo does not give Saturn justice in terms of brightness. Knowing a planet exists is very different from actually observing it with your own eyes. We watched Saturn until it disappeared behind some trees. Overall, it was a very educational and enjoyable experience, and the members of the EAAA who coordinated this event were very friendly and informative. --Jon Grogan, Astronomy Student
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Thoughts on the Future of Digital Imaging You (Bill Drelling) had commented on my image by my new 8300C that the single shot color cameras might be the wave of the future. At one time I might have agreed. Not now. Not after my experience with it. I bought the SBIG 8300C because I was curious as to how far single shot color had progressed since two cameras I owned and used when I first got into astrophotograpahy; the Meade DSI and the SBIG 2000 XCM, both single shot color cameras. Attached are two comparisons of M3. One shot with the ST-10XME (25 April) and the other (5 april) with the 8300C. It does not take long to notice the superior sharpness and detail of the ST-10XME shot on 25 April. But why, one asks, if the 8300C has better resolution? The answer is the difference in resolution is not that much, almost microscopic in comparative terms. Second, the 8300C covers a much bigger imaging area, about 1.6 times bigger than the ST-10XME so to get the similar sized image, you have to crop the 8300C and in doing so, you lose that resolution that so impressed us in the ads. You can see it in the comparisons. Now there is no doubt that the 8300C would be superior in photographing targets requiring a wider angle such as nebulae. But for star clusters, galaxies, etc. - well, forget it. But much worse is that fact that the 8300C downloads a FITS file that is composed of a RAW frame containing all colors and must be converted to a single bayer frame (I used CCDStack 2) which is 16MB in size, nearly three times bigger than a single color frame processed by the ST-10XME. So if you took 12 images with the 8300C, thats 12 x 64MB which means you are processing 768 MB at one time. Compare that to processing RGB of 8 frames each consisting of 6MB. That means the most we will process at one time in this scenario is 48MB, nearly 1/20th the size of the single color job. This has a severe impact on computers. Many astrophotographers have not upgraded to the newer computers with 64 Bit OS, instead they are still using the 32 Bit OS like Windows XP, which I am. There is no way on God's Green Earth that one can process 12 Bayer color files in one batch with my computer. So I break them up into 4 groups, stack them and take them to Photoshop. It takes me three times longer to process an image using the single shot Bayer files taken by the 8300C than the LRGB images from my Mono camera. For me, it means I make a choice. First option: I will have to upgrade to a newer computer and add another 4Gigs of RAM to the stock 4 Gigs that come with the sale for a total of 8 Gigs of RAM just to process the 8300C mages at a reasonable speed. Processing DSLR or Mono CCD images are a snap by comparision My second option is to sell the 8300C. I'm going with the second option. So sometime this week, when I get the energy, I will post it for sale on Astromart at $300 lower than the new cost and I have only taken 12 images with it. Its brand new, but its incompatible with my computer with its 32 Bit OS.Just thought you might be interested. There aren't many reviews on this out yet. --Bob Gaskin
In my humble opinion, if you need color, use a DSLR. If you want superior sensitivity or you want to do science, or you prefer B&W, you use a CCD. My ST2000 has been in its case since I got my Canon. --Rod Mollise
All true, but managable. Looks like on top of that you had bad seeing conditions for the one-shot color image. The foundational problem with one-shot color is that it is interpolated color. The image has to estimate the color from pixel to pixel. Since every pixel cannot be green, for example, the software interpolates the value of the pixel between the nearest green pixels and plugs it in. That is the main reason you lose resolution with a single shot color camera. It is noticable, but not too bad.
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The other issues you mention are real, but they need not be so bad. Here is my M45 image. http://www.gatorchaser.net/esp2010/m45_fsq_1200s_ave_adj_small.jpg It was taken with a one-shot color DSLR. The array on that is no different than your SBIG color array. The resolution could be better, but for three 20 minute long exposures it is a heck of a lot less work than monochromatic cameras with filter wheels. While the stars are elongated due to tracking issues, the resolution is darn good. Not much less than a monochrome camera. File size can be an issue, but with computers today i rarely find that a challenge. My computer is three years old, a duo-core with only 2 gigs of ram, a 32 bit processor, and running on Vista of all things. Just today I processed 10 one-shot color files in an average and a median combine. The files were 88 mgs each. That is 880 megs open at once, with the software and computer having no problem. Yeah, it took about 4 minutes to register and median combine the images, but no big deal. If you are running XP on an old system, it could be that you are due for an upgrade. I'd be happy to test out some of your images for you if you want to upload them somewhere. You can buy a new and faster computer for the $300 you will lose on the camera. My computer cost $450 three years ago...Here is a link to your file, but with the two frames registered and layered. Open it in Photoshop and look at the layers: http://gatorchaser.net/files/bob.tif Note the bloating of the stars in the color camera. That is not from the interpolation of the bayer array. No way you lose that much resolution with a color camera. That level of bloating is caused by something else...probably seeing or focus shift. I did see some movement of the stars though. So either you took those images years apart :) or you captured some slow satellites, or the color camera has hot pixels. My advice: Keep the camera for a little while longer and try again. Use a different optical train if needed. My first DSLR got returned, but only after trying it on different systems to validate the problems. In my view, the problems you see with your new camera are not due to the fact that it has a color array. Here are a few test images I have taken with my new DSLR...a one shot color camera...on an FSQ. Each is a stack of only three exposures, five minutes per exposure: M81 and M82 http://gatorchaser.net/lpmos/M81_M82_ave_adj_2.jpg M105 region http://gatorchaser.net/lpmos/m105_ave_adj_small_9.jpg M51 http://gatorchaser.net/lpmos/m51_ave_adj_small.jpg The Treo in Leo http://gatorchaser.net/lpmos/treo_ave_adj_9.jpg The Whale and the Pup http://gatorchaser.net/lpmos/whale_pup_5min_ave_adj_small.jpg Each has processing issues and some of the stars are indeed bloated, but not because of the array. Hope this helps you out...let me see any more test images you take. Keep the camera a little longer to be sure that it is the problem and not something else. --Bill Drelling
Can't argue with anything Bob has to say here; pound for pound, monochrome beats color for resolution, and horsepower required for processing. I always enjoy seeing his latest work, it shows the quality of imaging that can be accomplished in skies many would consider somewhat less than ideal.
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Some tradeoffs I consider for myself include tricolor imaging with monochrome imagers and filters is a LOT of work (but so gorgeous when done). Tricolor imaging means more exposure time is required. Ed's Third Corollary of Astroimaging clearly states that the duration of stable, clear skies is inversely proportional to the time required for satisfactory exposure. I wish I could devote the time and expense required to produce magazine quality images, the type that require hours of accumulated exposure time with various filters and a week of post-processing. If I lived in New Mexico or Arizona I might do that. Here on the Gulf Coast I can only enjoy the skies when they cooperate - which is usually when I have to work the next day. If I can get a shot of Markarian's Chain with a few two minute exposures, I'm happy to have done so from my light polluted back yard and move on to the next objects I want to see. I remember one night at Ft. Pickens last year, I'd gotten an image of the Leo Triplet with my 40D and f/4 refractor, I mumbled something to the effect that it needed multiple exposures and better skies and wasn't a very good shot.....a lady there said "Maybe not to you, but I've never seen it." Kinda put it in perspective. We're a long way from the days of Tri-X, pre-flashing and whatnot with film. Since the advent of reasonably priced DSLRs and color imagers during the past (less than) ten years, I'm willing to bet that more people have been introduced to astrophotography than in the preceding 50 years. I'd also say a lot of people never heard of the Whirlpool until someone like John VeDepo stuck a Mallincam in a scope at star party so they could take a shot of the monitor with their cell phones. Even though they know they could download Hubble images, they seem to enjoy seeing the images created on the hoof even more. That said, Bob's M3 taken with the ST10 sure looks fine. –Ed Magowan
EAAA March 11, 2011 Minutes of the Meeting
President Steve Self called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Around 30 people showed up for the meeting including students. We have one new member Glen. No awards were given out at this time. Dewey Barker is in charge of the educational program and has the books for Level I. There are 5 levels and each is based on points earned. Jim Larduskey gave the treasurer report of $1,342.17 in checking, $5,212.0 in savings, $963.72 in cash for a total balance of $7,517.96. Our non-profit status with the state is due, which is $64.00. There are a few Galileoscopes still available for $35.00 each. Shirts and hats are available for sell through Dave Halupowski. Hats are $10 and t-shirts are $13. No sweatshirts available at this time. Bring in your favorite apparel, even child sizes and he can have our logo put on it. It wasn’t a good night for stargazing at Jacque Falzone’s property on February 26th as it was cloudy, rough weather. Another outing has been planned for Saturday, March 26th. The Boy Scout Astronomy Merit Badge @ Langley Bell on March 4th was very successful. Good presentation. Dewey reported that the Greater Good Music and Arts Festival on March 4 – 6 were pretty much clouded out all three days. May get more stargaze requests out of it. Attendance was not good, again due to the weather. About 400 students, parents and teachers showed up for the Blue Angels Elem. gaze on March 10th. to view Jupiter, the Moon and Orion Nebula just to name a few. Several science stations were set up in the classrooms. Go to http://www.pnj.com/article/20110311/NEWS01/103110327/1006/news01/For-these-students- gazing-into-space-part-lesson-plan to read the articles posted by the PNJ. No word yet on the request made by the Cub Scout den in the Eglin area. This is for the Webelos I den out of Navarre. The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 Page 7
No word either on the request for a stargaze @ Opal Beach for the Girl Scout Council at the end of March or early April. No specific dates set. The Hurlburt Gaze is Saturday, March 12 from 7 pm – 10 pm. Need at least 12 scopes. Set up at 5:30. A request was made for a stargaze at Helen Caro Elementary on Saturday, April 9th, 5 pm – 8 pm. Meadson Road in Escambia County. A request was made for a stargaze for the Division Relay for Life @ Escambia High School,, North 65th Ave., 6 pm to dawn, April 2. Stargaze @ Longleaf Elementary School, Monday, March 14, 6 pm, 2600 Longleaf Dr. Set up is at 5 pm, near Pine Forest High School. Yuri’s Night Celebration is set for Saturday, April 16 @ the PSC Planetarium, 2 pm – 9 pm. Mid-South Stargaze is April 27 – May 1 @ French Camp, MS, Rainwater Observatory. Go to www.rainwaterobservatory.org to register Ft. Pickens Star Gazes (all on a Friday): June 24, July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21 Pensacola Beach Pavilion Gazes: May 6-7, June 3-4, July (?), Aug. 5-6, Sept. 2-3 Festival on the Green is April 1 – 2 (Sat-Sun) @ UWF Several members are adopting the clubs telescopes, as they have to be out of storage by May, 2011. Some of the smaller ones will kept in the Planetarium. Dr. Wooten will get together a list of scopes to loan out to members. Dr. Wooten will follow-up in the next month on getting some of the local libraries to rent out scopes. Mandy has offered to do some work on the Dobsonian to make it more modern.. He is willing to take it out, improve it and possibly use it at the Ft. Pickens gazes. Many suggested we improve the trailer, design a new frame for it. After Hurricane Ivan came through, we’ve seen a drop in our membership. How can we get new members? Through outreach of course, and to do that we need more involvement. There’s more impact through participation. Where is a good place to purchase scopes? Sams club has some state-of-the art, computer- driven amateur scopes. Walmart also has some good computerized scopes with automatic star finding and tracking. Good prices too! For an updated calendar of EAAA events go to: http://rlwalker.gulfweb.net/astronomy/index.html Start Facebook Account for group. Richard Walker created one way back, but you have to be a member of Facebook. Dennis mentioned a 3rd magnitude star, which can be seen Sunday, March 13th. The third-brightest star that the Moon occults (covers) this year for North America slides behind the Moon's dark edge after sunset, for observers in the Northeast and along the Eastern Seaboard. The star is Mu Geminorum, magnitude 3.2 and orange-red. The Moon will be in fine view very high in the south; Yuri’s Night Meeting was held on Feb. 12 and March 5th. EAAA approved purchased of astronaut suit. Dr. Wooten reported shuttle tiles are here. Wants to know if Stennis can bring moon rocks. Dr. Wooten will bring meteor. Future program? Meeting ended at 8:00 pm. Program tonight: Rusy S. “Deflecting an Asteroid” Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweickart is among an international group of people championing the need for the human race to prepare for what will certainly happen one day: an asteroid threat to Earth. Schweickart said the technology is available today to send a mission to an asteroid in an attempt to move it, or change its orbit so that an asteroid that threatens to hit Earth will pass by harmlessly. What would such a mission entail? The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 Page 8
He described two types of “deflection campaigns” for a threatening asteroid: a kinetic impact would roughly “push” the asteroid into a different orbit, and a gravity tractor would “tug slowly” on the asteroid to precisely “trim” the resultant change course by using nothing more than the gravitational attraction between the two bodies. Together these two methods comprise a deflection campaign. “In a way, the kinetic impact was demonstrated by the Deep Impact mission back in 2005,” said Schweickart. “But that was a very big target and a small impactor that had relatively no effect on the comet. So, we haven’t really demonstrated the capability to have the guidance necessary to deflect a moderately sized asteroid.” Most important, the gravity tractor spacecraft would arrive prior to the kinetic impactor, precisely determine the asteroid’s orbit and observe the kinetic impact to determine its effectiveness. Following the kinetic impact it would then determine whether or not any adjustment trim were required. “You want to know what happens when you do a kinetic impact, so you want an ‘observer’ spacecraft up there as well,” Schweickart explained. “You don’t do a kinetic impact without an observation, because the impactor destroyHs itself in the process and without the observer you wouldn’t know what happened except by tracking the object over time, which is not the best way to find out whether you got the job done.” So, 10-15 years ahead of an impact threat — or 50 years if you have that much time — an observer spacecraft is sent up. “This, in fact, would also be a gravity tractor,” Schweickart said. “It doesn’t have to be real big, but bigger gets the job done a little faster. The feature you are interested in the outset is not the gravity tractor but the transponder that flies in formation with the asteroid and you track the NEO, and back on Earth we can know exactly where it is.” Schweickart said even from ground tracking, we couldn’t get as precise an orbit determination of an NEO as we could by sending a spacecraft to the object. Additionally, generally speaking, we may not know when we send an observer spacecraft what action will be required; whether an impact will be required or if we could rely on the gravity tractor. “You may launch at the latest possible time, but at that time the probability of impact may be 1 in 5 or 1 or 2,” Schweickart said. “So the first thing you are going to do with the observer spacecraft is make a precise orbit determination and now you’re going to know if it really will impact Earth and even perhaps where it will impact.”
After the precise orbit is known, the required action would be determined. “So now, if needed you launch a kinetic impactor and now you know what job has to be done,” Schweickart said. “As the impactor is getting ready to impact the asteroid, the observer spacecraft pulls back and images what is going on so you can confirm the impact was solid, –not a glancing blow — and then after impact is done, the observer spacecraft goes back in and makes another precision orbit determination so that you can confirm that you changed its velocity so that it no longer will hit the Earth.” The second issue is, even if the NEO’s orbit has been changed it so that it won’t hit Earth this time around, there’s the possibility that during its near miss it might go through what is called a “keyhole,” whereby Earth’s gravity would affect it just enough that it would make an impact during a subsequent encounter with Earth. The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 Page 9
This is a concern with the asteroid Apophis, which is projected to miss Earth in 2029, but depending on several factors, could pass through a keyhole causing it to return to hit Earth in 2036. “So if it does go through that keyhole,” said Schweickart, “now you can use the gravity tractor capability of the spacecraft to make a small adjustment so that it goes between keyholes on that close approach. And now you have a complete verified deflection campaign.” Schweickart said a Delta-sized rocket would be able to get a spacecraft to meet up with an asteroid. “A Delta rocket would work,” he said, “but if there is a more challenging orbit we might have to use something bigger, or we may have to use a gravity assist and do mission planning for type of thing which hasn’t been done yet. So we can get there, we can do it – but ultimately we will probably need a heavy lift vehicle.” As for the spacecraft, we can use a design similar to vehicles that have already been sent into space. “A gravity tractor could be like Deep Space 1 that launched in 1998,” Schweickart said. “ You can make any spacecraft into a gravity tractor fairly easily.” But it hasn’t been demonstrated and Schweickart says we need to do so.
Go to Draco, links, NEO for more info or astroids. go to orbit diagram to see when it will give us problems. or go to Spaceweather.com and at bottom of page will see more upcoming earth asteroids.
EAAA APRIL 08, 2011 MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Vice President Ed Magowan called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Around 30 people showed up for the meeting including one student. Glen, a new member last month, received his award for completing Level I, a book titled “Investigating Astronomy” by Slater. Dewey Barker is in charge of the educational program and has the books for Level I. There are 5 levels and each is based on points earned. Jim Larduskey gave the treasurer report of $1,560.42 in checking, $5,213.35 in savings, $752.72 in cash (at the beginning of the meeting) for a total balance of $7,525.49.
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Jim mentioned that after paying an initial $100 plus for using PSC facilities during Yuri's night, he was informed an additional $100plus would be required for the same event. It might be necessary to investigate alternative venues, in future years, for this event. Dr. Wooten is establishing a student EAAA group at PSC for our group to mentor. Such an arrangement allows us to continue using PSC facilities for our meetings at no cost. Several members, myself included, still need to pay for their 2011 EAAA dues. Dave Halupowski has shirts and hats available for sale. Hats are $10 and t-shirts are $13. No sweatshirts available at this time. Bring in your favorite apparel, even child sizes and he can have our logo put on it. A general consensus is that the skies at Model Park have deteriorated over the years and that it would be best to not spend the money required for insurance so we can have star gazes there. Members are checking tomorrow and attempting to remove the piers from Model Park (leaving the concrete bases which might have to be removed later). STAR GAZES Helen Caro Elementary Star Gaze, 1255 Meadson Road, Pensacola, FL 32506-9641, from 6:00pm-10:00pm. Yuri’s Night Celebration is set for Saturday, April 16, 2011, @ the PSC Planetarium, 2 pm – 9 pm. Setup will start about 10:00am. Billy Jackson will have shows in the planetarium. Boy Scout Regional Gaze, April 16, 2011, merit badge event, Niceville, FL (providing 100 star maps) Mid-South Stargaze is April 27 – May 1 @ French Camp, MS, Rainwater Observatory. Go to www.rainwaterobservatory.org to register Burnville Elementary star gaze, May 6, 2011. Contact Dewey, if you can help, for details. Casino Beach star gaze, May 6-7, 2011. Contact Dewey, if you can help, for details. Ft. Pickens Star Gazes (all on a Friday): June 24, July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21 Pensacola Beach Pavilion Gazes: May 6-7, June 3-4, July (?), Aug. 5-6, Sept. 2-3 Dr. Wooten will be contacting members for a Saturday work day (to be announced). The loaner equipment will be signed out to volunteer members who will care for them and make them available for loan as needed. A procedure may need to be established for tracking the equipment. Dr. Wooten will follow-up in the next month or two getting some of the local libraries to rent out scopes. Manny will replace the connector on a telescope hand control unit and see if it will make the telescope function properly. Manny has offered to do some work on the Dobsonian to make it more modern.. He is willing to take it out, improve it and possibly use it. The Dobsonian will be brought to the Ft. Pickens star gaze on June 24 so we can see how it works, as is, and determine if or how it should be modified. For an updated calendar of EAAA events go to: http://rlwalker.gulfweb.net/astronomy/index.html Send dates and times of new star gazes and events to: [email protected] for posting. Jackie will give the May program on applications (apps) that are available for the new telephone technology. Let your geek kids know in case they would like to see some of these astronomy apps. The meeting was adjourned about 8:00pm. Dr. Wooten gave an interesting talk using the SkyMap computer program to show Halley comet movement through the heavens around earth in 1910, 1986 and, in the future, in 2061. Those interested might also want to check out the Halley comet movement in other years in 1531, 1607, 1682, 1758 … 2061. The SkyMap program is free. --Richard L Walker for Sharon Bogart
The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 5-6 May-June 2011 Page 11
Calendar of Events
May 6-7 First Pavilion Gaze of the season, sunset until 10 PM Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower, Saturday is AL Astronomy Day also May 8 Mercury passes 1.4 degrees south of Venus in dawn sky May 10 First quarter moon May 11 Venus passes a degree south of Jupiter in dawn sky, with Mercury close by May 13 Waxing gibbous moon passes seven degrees south of Saturn in evening sky May 13 EAAA meets at 7 PM in room 1775 for “Astronomy with the IPad by Jacque. May 14 Waxing gibbous moon passes seven degrees of Saturn in SE evening sky May 17 Full Moon, the Flower Moon May 18 Mercury passes 1.4 degrees south of Venus in dawn sky May 21 Mercury passes 2 degrees south of Mars in dawn sky May 23 Venus passes a degree south of Mars as well May 24 Last quarter Moon May 29 Waning crescent moon passes five degrees north of Jupiter in morning May 30 Moon passes three degrees north of Mars May 31 Moon passes north of Venus and Mercury in dawn sky June 3-4 Pavilion Gaze on Pensacola Beach, 7 PM setup June 1 New Moon, partial solar eclipse for northern latitudes June 9 First Quarter Moon June 10 EAAA meets at 7 PM, room 1775, Moon seven degrees south of Saturn June 15 Full Moon, total lunar eclipse for eastern hemisphere June 21 Summer Solstice occurs at 12:17 PM CDT today June 23 Last Quarter moon June 24 Ft. Pickens Gaze at Battery Worth, setup about sunset June 28 Pluto at opposition July 9 Pavilion Gazes July 22 Ft. Pickens Gaze Aug. 5-6 Pavilion Gazes Aug. 19 Ft. Pickens Gaze Sept. 2-3 Pavilion Gazes Sept. 16 Ft. Pickens Gaze Sept. 30 Last Pavilion gazes this weekend Sep. 16 Ft. Pickens Gaze Oct. 21 Last Ft. Pickens Gaze for season Note: As is our custom, our meetings are held on the Friday which for the year lies closest to the full moon; for 2011, this will be the Second Friday of the month, unless so changed by the club president. Please remember to pay your annual dues. Mail check or pay at the meetings to Jim Larduskey, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL 32504. Regular - $24, Student/ Senior - $12, Meteor - $10
Globular Cluster M-3 by Bob Gaskin
This is from my new SBIG 8300C single shot color CCD camera. It takes LOTS of RAM. I just added two more Gigs of RAM to my HP 64 Bit desktop. Each FItS file the 8300C downloads is about 16MB. Processing is best done in CCDStack but not the normal way. I image in Maxim DL 5 but in the RAW mode. Then the RAW files are downloaded into CCDStack and processed enitrely in color instead of breaking them up into RGB masters. This is M3 taken a few weeks ago on a test. I used only 6 x 5 minute images (1/2 hours work) and processed and stacked two groups of three full color single shot images. For anybody used to normal CCDStack processing, this is a real challenge. But once you get the hang out of it, is pretty simple. The SBIG 8300C at $1900 will open a lot of doors to future imagers, especially ones who don't want to fool around with a filter wheel etc. This camera is as simple as it gets and still does pretty good work.
Clear skies,
Bob Gaskin
GOES-R, Zombie Fighter by Dr. Tony Phillips On April 5, 2010, something eerie happened to the Galaxy 15 telecommunications satellite: It turned into a zombie. The day began as usual, with industry-owned Galaxy 15 relaying TV signals to millions of viewers in North America, when suddenly the geosynchronous satellite stopped taking commands from Earth. It was brain dead! Like any good zombie, however, its body continued to function. Within days, Galaxy 15 began to meander among other satellites in geosynchronous orbit, transmitting its own signal on top of the others’. Satellite operators scrambled to deal with the interference, all the while wondering what happened? In horror movies, zombies are usually produced by viruses. “In this case, the culprit was probably the sun,” says Bill Denig of the National Geophysical Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. He and colleague Janet Green of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center recently led a study of the Galaxy 15 anomaly, and here are their conclusions: On April 3rd, a relatively minor solar flare launched a cloud of plasma toward Earth. Galaxy 15 had experienced many such events before, but this time there was a difference. “Galaxy 15 was just emerging from the shadow of Earth when the cloud arrived and triggered a geomagnetic storm,” explains Denig. Suddenly exposed to sunlight and the ongoing storm, “the spacecraft began to heat up and charge [up].” Electrons swirling around Galaxy 15 stuck to and penetrated the spacecraft’s surface. As more and more charged particles accumulated, voltages began to rise, and—zap!—an electrostatic discharge occurred. A zombie was born. “At least, this is what we suspect happened based on data collected by GOES satellites in the vicinity,” he says. “We’ll be able to diagnose events like this much better, however, after GOES-R is launched by NASA in 2015.” GOES-R is NOAA’s next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite. One of the instruments it will carry, a low-energy electron counter, is crucial to “zombie fighting.” Low energy-electrons are the ones most likely to stick to a spacecraft’s surface and cause brain-frying discharges. By monitoring these particles in Earth orbit, GOES-R will provide better post-mortems for future zombie outbreaks. This could help satellite designers figure out how to build spacecraft less susceptible to discharges. Also, GOES-R will be able to issue alerts when dangerous electrons appear. Satellite operators could then take protective action—for example, putting their birds in “safe mode”—to keep the zombie population at bay. Meanwhile, Galaxy 15 is a zombie no more. In late December 2010, after 9 months of terrorizing nearby spacecraft, the comsat was re-booted, and began responding to commands from Earth again. All’s well that ends well? True zombie fighters know better than to relax. Says Denig, “we’re looking forward to GOES-R.” You and the kids in your life can learn about space weather at http://scijinks.gov/space- weather-and-us. This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Cosmic
Caption: The Galaxy 15 communication satellite was “brainless” for several months in 2010 after being exposed to a geomagnetic storm. The new GOES-R satellite will warn of such dangers.
Download a high-resolution image file at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/news_images/galaxy-15-speaks.jpg
Recount by Dr. Tony Phillips News flash: The Census Bureau has found a way to save time and money. Just count the biggest people. For every NBA star like Shaquille O’Neal or Yao Ming, there are about a million ordinary citizens far below the rim. So count the Shaqs, multiply by a million, and the census is done.
Could the Bureau really get away with a scheme like that? Not likely. Yet this is just what astronomers have been doing for decades.
Astronomers are census-takers, too. They often have to estimate the number and type of stars in a distant galaxy. The problem is, when you look into the distant reaches of the cosmos, the only stars you can see are the biggest and brightest. There’s no alternative. To figure out the total population, you count the supermassive Shaqs and multiply by some correction factor to estimate the number of little guys.
The correction factor astronomers use comes from a function called the “IMF”—short for “initial mass function.” The initial mass function tells us the relative number of stars of different masses. For example, for every 20-solar-mass giant born in an interstellar cloud, there ought to be about 100 ordinary sun-like stars. This kind of ratio allows astronomers to conduct a census of all stars even when they can see only the behemoths. Now for the real news flash: The initial mass function astronomers have been using for years might be wrong. NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer, an ultraviolet space telescope dedicated to the study of galaxies, has found proof that small stars are more numerous than previously believed. “Some of the standard assumptions that we've had—that the brightest stars tell you about the whole population—don’t seem to work, at least not in a constant way,” says Gerhardt R. Meurer who led the study as a research scientist at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. (Meurer is now at the University of Western Australia.) Meurer says that the discrepancy could be as high as a factor of four. In other words, the total mass of small stars in some galaxies could be four times greater than astronomers thought. Take that, Shaq! The study relied on data from Galaxy Evolution Explorer to sense UV radiation from the smaller stars in distant galaxies, and data from telescopes at the Cerro Tololo Inter- American Observatory to sense the “H-alpha” (red light) signature of larger stars. Results apply mainly to galaxies where stars are newly forming, cautions Meurer. “I think this is one of the more important results to come out of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer mission,” he says. Indeed, astronomers might never count stars the same way again.
Find out about some of the other important discoveries of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer at http://www.galex.caltech.edu/. For an easy-to-understand answer for kids to “How many solar systems are in our galaxy?” go to The Space Place at: http://tiny.cc/I2KMa
This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Caption: Astronomers have recently found that some galaxies have as many as 2000 small stars for every 1 massive star. They used to think all galaxies had only about 500 small stars for every 1 massive star.
Note to editors: This image may be downloaded from http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/news_images/big-and-small-stars.jpg. Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The Meteor Journal of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association
VOLUME XXXVI Numbers 7-8 July-August 2011 ********************************************************************************************* President – Steve Self (251) 621-1794 Vice President -- Ed Magowan – (850) 458-0577 Secretary – Sharon Bogart (850) 983-9860 Treasurer Jim Larduskey (850) 434-3638 Observing - Warren Jarvis (850) 623-8061 Librarian: Jacque Falzone (850) 261-9745 Education Chair – Dewey Barker (850) 458-1591 NWFAA Contact: Dennis Hausch (850)428-9467 Editor and ALCOR: Dr. J. Wayne Wooten, Physical Sciences, Room 9704, Pensacola State College, Pensacola FL 32504-8998 Phone (850) 484-1152 (voicemail) (E-mail) wwooten @ pensacolastate.edu Please mail all dues to EAAA Treasurer, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL 32504
Pavilion Gazes on May 6-7, 2011 We had about 100 folks drop by for two ISS passes (7:50, over the Pavilion in twilight, and 9:20, by the Moon and Procyon), crescent moon, Saturn with several moons, and a fine evening on Friday, May 6th. Jacque Falzone, Rick Johnston, Gary Wiseman, John Arnold, Lyen McAbee, and Wayne Wooten represented the club well, and several folks indicated interest in joining, buying scopes, and getting involved in the future. --Wayne Wooten Most of the EAAA members arrived around 7:00 PM at the Beach. Dewey Barker had his 4” Orion refractor and his 90 mm Orion Maksutov set up, Wayne Travis brought his 8 inch Celestron CPC, I had my 10 inch Schmidt-Newtonian, John Arnold had the 6” Club Dobsonian, and Rick Johnston had his 4 inch refractor. Lyen McAbee and John VeDepo were also on hand to provide assistance. It was a very windy and damp evening with slightly hazy skies but we were able to enjoy views of the moon, Saturn, Bee Hive cluster, Omega Centauri to name just a few of the objects we were able to see. We estimate about 200 people were on the Beach and showed up to enjoy the views through our telescopes. The Moon and Saturn brought the most enthusiastic complements from everyone. Dewey distributed many handouts and used his laser pointer for some constellation tours. We had some gazers that stayed with us the entire evening. We got a great view of the ISS as it passed overhead. It was very bright and drew a lot of comments and questions from the people in attendance. With the help of John VeDepo, we were able to find Omega Centauri in my 10 inch Meade SN10. Even though it was very low near the horizon, we got a very impressive view of this globular cluster. The crowds were surprised to hear that it contained several million stars and is the largest brightest cluster in our galaxy. After many “Thank You’s”, the crowds diminished around 10:30 and we closed up and all went home about 11:30 still viewing the moon till the very end. – Manny Galindo
Byrneville Gaze on May 6, 2011 Wayne Travis and I arrived at Byrneville Elementary School around 6:30 PM. Wayne brought his 8” CPC and I brought my 100 mm Orion refractor and my 90 mm Orion Maksutov. The skies were clear and we could see a nice “Cheshire cat” smile in the blue skies. We had around 30 or so students and 10 parents and teachers in attendance. The Moon and Saturn were big hits and once it got dark enough Wayne set his scope on M-81 and M-82 and I set my 100 mm on M-51. I used my laser pointer to help show the constellations and I used my 7 x 35 binos to demonstrate what can be seen with small binoculars after I heard a couple comments about not thinking to use binos for star gazing. It was too light to see the ISS go over on its first pass, but we got a nice view of the second one. We had a great night under the stars and the kids were well behaved and seemed to enjoy looking through the scopes. Wayne and I were on site until 10:00 PM before we finally wrapped up and headed for the barn. This was a nice site and I hope we get to go up there again next school year. --Dewey J. Barker
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Pensacola State College Day at Cordova Mall on May 14th Jim Lardusky and I arrived at Cordova Mall around 8:30 AM. The college had a table ready for us at the front entrance between Red Robin and Jos. A. Bank. Jim set up a lap top and projector and had a copy of the Star Shooting CD running as a slide show. He set up the club's new 4" Celestron Newtonian and I set up my Orion 90 mm Maksutov for a telescope display and I also set up the handout baskets with star charts, moon maps, summer beach gaze schedule, celestial scale, club membership forms, and a couple others. Foot traffic was moderately heavy, but we didn't get many people stopping to ask questions or look through the scopes and I estimate that we did not pass out more than 30-40 handouts. We were hoping a couple other members would come out assist so that we could set up the PST outside, but with just the two of us, it wouldn't have been prudent to leave either the laptop/projector system or the PST unattended. I had to leave at 2:30 PM, hopefully someone showed up after I left to give Jim a hand. This was an interesting event and if the college does something similar next year we should request a set up outside, weather permitting, possibly near Best Buy or Food Court entrance. --Dewey Barker I arrived just after Dewey had to leave, but checking sunspots found nothing worth setting up the solar scope for, alas. Jim and I stayed until 4 PM, when all the booths shut down. I spent the last 30 minutes or so touring the other college booths and passing out star charts and gaze flyers to all our participants. Many thanks to Jim and Dewey for their time and talents! –Wayne Wooten
Pace High School Gaze on May 23rd Wayne Travis and I arrived at the Santa Rosa Soccer Complex around 7:30 PM Monday night. Since neither of us was familiar with the area, we arrive a little early so that we would be able to find the location in the daylight. The sky was quite hazy and there were a lot of clouds gliding slowly overhead and the prospects of seeing anything was not very high. There were a couple of games going and the lights were starting to come on, but we waited for Mr Weissman to arrive before making a determination on if we were going to have a gaze. Mr Weissman arrived about 8:30 PM or so and we could see a few stars and Saturn through the thin clouds. We shifted our location to get away from the lights and to see if anything was visible enough to set up scopes. I could make out Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella to the West and a couple stars in Leo, and the Big Dipper. I was doing some constellation identification tours with my laser when the complex lights were turned off...and the stars popped out! Wayne and I set up our scopes and I also set up my 15 x 70 binoculars on the parallelogram mount. Several of the students that were in attendance at the May 12th school gaze also came out for this event, hopefully we will see them out at the beach over the summer. We viewed Saturn, M-3, M-81, M-82, M-51 and M-13 during the hour and a half we were on site for the 30+ students and parents that came out for this event. We packed up around 10:30 PM and headed for home. It would have been nice to stay a little later as Scorpius was starting to come up, but Tuesday was a work day and the 5:30 alarm was definitely going to arrive way too quickly. --Dewey J. Barker, EAAA - S. G. & E. C.
Dr. Wooten’s Talk to Gulf Coast Science Café on June 20th Wayne’s talk last night about 50 Years of Progress in Astronomy at the Science Café meeting was absolutely amazing, albeit I must admit, it was very much like what I see and hear every time I come to observe your astronomy classes over the years. Your knowledge of the subject is tremendous, your presentation is artful, your excitement for the subject is contagious. Great job, colleague! By the way, in case your didn’t notice, the audience at Monterrey’s was totally engaged with you last night. I’d imagine that you’ll probably see some of those folks showing up at EAAA meetings and some signing up for your astronomy classes. I’d also bet folks in attendance last night are going to spread the word about you to others. You are a great asset to astronomy and science education, and a wonderful representative of all the best that Pensacola State College has to offer. You were indeed shining very brightly last night, and I was extremely proud of your performance. It was really good. --Dr. Ed Stout, Head, Physical Sciences
I was so happy I made it to your presentation at Monterrey's! I don't know anyone else who could keep the entire room on the edge of their seats for an hour-- and without slides!! I wish we had it recorded. Anyway, thanks for doing it! --Andy Walker
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First Ft. Pickens Gaze Report for 2011 The weather was not being cooperative as the sun went down on Friday night for the 1st gaze of the season at Ft Pickens. The Clear Sky Clock had shown the skies to be cloud free by 5:00 PM, unfortunately the Canadian weathermen are not any better than those in the US at forecasts and we had to struggle to see Saturn and any constellations during the entire night. The following members were brave enough to deal with the 20 MPH speed limit and the clouds; Gary Wiseman, Jim Lardusky, Wayne Travis, Ed Magowan, Manny Galindo, Lyen McAbbe, Rick Johnston, Rich & Carol Sigler, John Arnold and Dewey Barker, and if I missed anyone, please let me know. We had between 50 to 75 people come out for this event. Several members had pointed their scopes/binos at a tree and watched an Osprey feeding it's young before sunset. As it got darker, the clouds thinned out enough to see Saturn and a few of the brighter stars for most of the evening, and it cleared just long enough for the Big Dipper to show up. I spotted Corvus but I could not readily see any other constellations. The majority of us stayed out until 10:00 PM or so before finally deciding to pack things up and head for home. Hopefully, we will have better weather at the Big Lagoon Gaze on July 9th and at the next Ft Pickens gaze on July 22nd. --Dewey J. Barker, EAAA Star Gaze & Events Coordinator
Took the fiance' and kids and checked this out, I gotta say we all had a blast! I have never seen Saturn through a telescope before and everyone out their with the scopes was extremely friendly and obviously interested in astronomy. I didn't catch any names but several of the folks took time to show us things and explain different constellations and such, my daughter is already asking when the next one is! If ya'll get a chance to come out on some of the upcoming dates, I'd definitely recommend it." --Submitted by a friend of Rick Hogue Travels in Arizona with Dr. Jim Brady Lowell Observatory located on hillside in west Flagstaff founded in late 1890's by Percival Lowell of Harvard. He used two borrowed telescopes to begin study of Mars in 1894, then brought custom built 24" telescope to Flagstaff in 1896 I think, to study Mars in close opposition to E arth. Developed prediction of Pluto, but died before proven; "planet" Pluto discovered at Lowell in 1930 as he had predicted. Today the observatory consists of several other scopes off site in high desert along with NRL facility. Building a large (? 48"?) scope with partner Discovery Channel. Meteor Crater is also a privately run facility east of Flagstaff about 10 miles from town. Large crater (2.5 miles across) once thought by chief geologist for USGS to be caldera of volcano. Now realized to be site of meteor impact about 50K years ago. Pieces of meteor on site, in NYC, DC, and also at Lowell visitor center. Excellent guided explanation of crater, but no visit beyond the visitor center permitted. , Somewhat expensive, $14/adult, but it is the best preserved meteor crater on earth, and has been site of astronaut training in geology, so worthwhile addition to Lowell visit. In summer, go early as desert heat and altitude ~7500 feet can be debilitating. --Jim Brady
Minutes of the EAAA Meeting May 13, 2011. Prior to the business meeting Dave Halupowski showed photos on the classroom large projector screen of the Mid-South Star Gaze at French Camp in April. Dave used two ccd movie cameras to record views of Saturn; one was ccd security camera and the other an Orion camera. Dave was using a 6” refractor telescope with a 3.8 mm lens and a double Barlow lens. Dave filmed the planet with a red, green, and blue filter. He processed the film using the Registack program. Steve Self, EAAA president opened the meeting at 7:15 p.m. in PSC classroom 1775. There were approximately 30 members present. The guests were introduced. The treasurer Jim Larduskey reported there was $1288.22 checking, $5213.35 in savings and $597.72 in cash for a total of $7099.29. Additional expenditures for Yuri’s night was $134.00. Dewey Barker reviewed the Amateur Astronomer advancement program. Dave Halupowski showed a supply of EAAA hats and shirts that were for sale to members. Dave gave an updated in the International Dark Sky Association. It is reported that Afghanistan has excellent dark skies but the military is the only folks that benefit the night skies. Many park facilities are opting for dark sky lighting to encourage visitors. The dark skies benefit newly hatched turtles in Florida by preventing them from being attracted by man-made lights.
The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 7-8 July-August 2011 Page 4
A star gaze was held for the Webelos Scouts at Camp Paquette on April 16th. Only a few girl Scouts attended the Camp Kolomoki star gaze. The Yuri’s night event had good content with good Planetarium show but was not well attended by guests. The astronaut suit was interesting and the Continuum put together a good program. Telescopes were set up during the day and the night time views of Saturn and the Moon were good. The ISS passed overhead in the evening. The planning on next year’s event will start soon and there will be a probable change in venue. The first Pensacola Beach Pavilion Gazes: the weather was good for the May 13th and 14th gazes and they were well attended with 100 + visitors. The Byrnville Elementary School on the night of May 13th had 20 to 30 students with good parental help. The star gaze at Pace High School was adversely affected by haze and light pollution. Another gaze is scheduled for Monday, May 23rd. Dennis Hausch reported the Northwest Astronomy club is active and growing. Steve Sanford was able to get three of the four bolts out of the pier at Model Park. The last bolt will have to be cut off. Grinding will be required to finish the disassembly. The EAAA will have a booth in Cordova Mall with the Pensacola State College promotion on Saturday May 14th. Members are encouraged to help. It appears the telescope storage must be moved by late July. The EAAA is still looking for “Scope Foster Parents.” Steve Self reminded members that officer elections will be in November and a slate of officers should be compiled soon. Dr. Wooten reported that the Pensacola News Journal will have some astrophotography by Sidney Rosenthal in the near future. A program is needed for next month. Manny Galindo was able to fix the connector on an n old EAAA telescope. The December lunar eclipse looked three dimensional because the light bending around the Moon. The blue ring ozone layer effect was also apparent. Casino Beach gaze of July 9th has been relocated to Big Lagoon State Park. Ft Pickens gazes, June 24, July 22, August 19th, September 16th, and October 21st. Casino Beach gazes: June 3-4, August 5-6, and September 2-3, September 30th and October 1. Ft. Pickens (Langdon parking lot): Aug. 6, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. Gulf side Pavilion: August 13, club picnic followed by Perseid Meteor watch after 10:00 p.m. at Opal beach. Pensacola Beach Pavilion: September 17-18. NAS Mainside Navy Exchange stargaze: September 11th -6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Cory Station Child and Youth Program stargaze: July 31st at Blue Angel Recreation Center off HWY, 98. 7:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. Ray Hayes has several Sonotubes he would like to give to EAAA members that have a need. The tubes are 10.5” and 13” O.D. For future programs, Andy Walker will give the September program-The Moon is important to you. Dr. Clay Sherrod will give a program for October. The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. For our program, Jacque Falzone gave an interesting program demonstrating IPOD technology that can help with astronomical observations. In addition she spoke briefly about the numerous applications that are available and the cost of the equipment and applications. --Bert Black, acting as secretary.
EAAA June 10, 2011 MINUTES OF THE MEETING
• Prior to the business meeting, telescope parts/pieces, accessories, optics, binoculars and mounts were set up outside to be given away. These were from the storage room that we had to vacate. • Steve Self called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. • About 30 people showed up including members and students • No awards were given out at this time • Dewey Barker explained all 5 levels of the EAAA education / award program. Need to order more Level I books. Just a reminder and for those of you who don’t know, books can be ordered through our website. Go to www.eaaa.net, select EAAA section, go to EAAA bookstore (Amazon). The Observer’s Guide: A Handbook, is the one used for the Level I test. Anything ordered from Amazon through our club, the proceeds go to the EAAA. The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 7-8 July-August 2011 Page 5
• Jim Larduskey gave the treasurer’s report as follows: checking $1,288.22; savings $5,213.35; cash $597.72 for a total balance of $7,099.29. • Minutes from the previous meeting were approved. • Dave Halupowski has EAAA shirts and hats in stock for sale, but no polo shirts • Dave Halupowski reported that by dimming street lights or street lights really not necessary, we can save on money. Dennis stated that Eglin AFB is improving their light situation • Stargaze Reports: o Discover Pensacola State College Day was held at Cordova Mall. Dewey Barker and Jim Lardusky reported that it was not the best location. A lot of people were not interested. (See report in Meteor). o Dewey Barker and Wayne Travis comment on the Pace High stargaze was that it was hazy, the lights were on, but had a fairly decent sky. About 20 students and adults attended. (see report in Meteor) o It was raining at the Pensacola Beach Pavilion on Friday and the next night was about the same, but did get to see the Moon. Dewey Barker, Rich & Carol Sigler, Lynn McAbee and John Arnold attended. • Other: - Rick Hogue will take care of the piers out at Model Park - The storage room has been cleaned out. Dr. Wooten stated he has books/mags if anyone is interested. Can pick up M-Th, 1-3pm. Must be out by Aug. 8th. Several scopes still need homes. Richard will post on Facebook an inventory of scopes, who has what and contact info. - A reminder that officer elections are in November. Anyone interested in running, should contact one of the present officers. - Future programs are: Andy Walkers “The Moon Is Important To You” for September and Dr. Clay Sherrod will hold a lecture in October. - Dr. Wooten is giving a lecture on 50 years of Astronomy for the Gulf Coast Science Café @ Monterey’s Mexican Grill, June 20th @ 6pm • Future Stargazes: - Casino Beach Gaze: Big Lagoon State Park, Sat., July 9th - Club Picnic followed by Perseid Meteor Watch., Sat., Aug.13th. Meteor Watch 10 pm @ Opal Beach - Ft. Pickens Gazes: June 24, July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 21 - Casino Beach Gazes: Aug. 5-6, Sept. 2-3 - NAS Mainside Navy Exchange stargaze: Sun., Sept. 11, 6 – 10 pm - No meeting in August • Dave Halupowski showed a video of the dark sky taken with a C8, using 25 second exposures. • Dennis Hausch explained Messier hopping in the Sagittarius region using a chart • Dave Halupowski explained SLOOH and how to use it. Slooh is a robotic telescope service that can be viewed live through a web browser. It was not the first robotic telescope, but it was the first that offered "live" viewing through a telescope via the web. Other online telescopes traditionally email a picture to the recipient. The site has a patent on their live image processing method. Slooh is an online astronomy platform with live-views and telescope rental for a fee. Observations come from a global network of telescopes located in places including Spain and Chile. www.slooh.com • Meeting adjourned at 7:58 pm --Sharon Bogart, Secretary
The Meteor Volume XXXVI Numbers 7-8 July-August 2011 Page 6
Calendar of Events July 4 Independence Day is also aphelion day, with earth farthest from the Sun! July 7 First Quarter moon passes seven degrees south of Saturn in evening sky July 8 EAAA meets, 7 PM, room 1775, Dr. Wooten on 50 years of astronomy progress July 9 Big Lagoon State Park gaze at Sunset July 15 Full Moon, the hay or thunder moon July 20 Mercury at GEE, 27 degrees east of Sun in evening sky July 22 Ft. Pickens Gaze at Langdon Beach Parking Area July 23 Last quarter moon passes five degrees north of Jupiter in morning sky July 27 Waning crescent moon passes one degree south of Mars in morning twilight July 30 New moon Aug. 4 Waxing crescent moon passes seven degrees south of Saturn Aug. 5-6 Pavilion Gazes, set up about sunset under the first quarter moon Aug. 13 Club Picnic, Perseid Meteor watch at Opal Beach, alas, the Full Moon as well Aug. 19 Ft. Pickens Gaze, Moon passes north of Jupiter in morning sky Aug. 21 Last Quarter moon Aug. 22 Neptune at opposition; it has now completed an orbit of the Sun since discovery Aug. 29 New Moon Sept. 2-3 Pavilion Gazes Sept. 9 EAAA Meeting at 7 PM, room 1775, Dr. Andy Walker presents program on Moon Sept. 16 Ft. Pickens Gaze Sept. 30 Last Pavilion gazes this weekend Sep. 16 Ft. Pickens Gaze Oct. 21 Last Ft. Pickens Gaze for season
Note: As is our custom, our meetings are held on the Friday which for the year lies closest to the full moon; for 2011, this will be the Second Friday of the month, unless so changed by the club president. Please remember to pay your annual dues. Mail check or pay at the meetings to Jim Larduskey, 4660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL 32504. Regular - $24, Student/ Senior - $12, Meteor - $10
New Supernova in M-51 by Dr. Clay Sherrod
Before and after....left photo is May 30, right photo was June 7 U.T.
Captured with the 0.5 meter ASO Astrograph at Petit Jean Mountain's Arkansas Sky Observatories, these images show the sudden outburst of a "supernova", a massive explosion of a star many times the size of our own sun in the far distant galaxy Messier 51 in the northern sky constellation of Canes Venatici, very near the "Big Dipper" in our nighttime skies.
The Supernova on June 7 at 7:00 U.T. was measured at magnitude 14.64 (R) The exact astrometric position of this new star has been measured at ASO at:
NET UCAC3 C2011 06 07.19713 13 30 05.10 +47 10 11.1 14.7 R H45
--Dr. Clay Sharrod
Globular Cluster M-5 by Jerome Klingaman
This is a shot of M5 I made on the evening of 5 May 2011. I attempted to process the image as if I was going to construct a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. The software is available, and I would like to try that sometime. Consequently, it is very lightly processed; what you see here should be fairly close to what the camera saw during the shoot—predominantly orange and yellow main stars with blue colors fading off into the distance. I believe that M5 is one of the oldest known objects in the universe.
Cheers, Jerry
Spiral Galaxy M-101 by Jerome Klingaman
As you know, I’m not optimized for galaxies, but I can capture a few that are close in. This shot of M101 is essentially what I get with my 130mm refractor and LRGB filters. I took this image on 5 May, the same evening I imaged the globular cluster M5.
Best Regards, Jerry
Scorpius over Kilauea by Malone Calvert
I took the attached photo several nights ago from the edge of the Kilauea crater. The camera was hand held against a rock so forgive the erratic star trails. I couldn't quite get all the constellation in the frame and still get the glow from the volcano. Looks like Scorpio is getting his tail singed. We had a great time and the milky way was so bright it looked like a three dimensional cloud bank. --Malone Calvert The Historic 60th Reflector at Mount Wilson
While we all were enthralled with Mt. Wilson's 200 inch telescope featured in "Journey to Palomar," there are some others up there too. A friend took this picture of the 60 incher which is not used for science anymore. They turned it over to tourists and other visitors.
When George Hale built this 60-inch telescope in 1908 it was the largest telescope in the world. The glass disk for its mirror, cast in 1894 by the Saint-Gobain glassworks in France, was given to Hale by his daddy while Hale was director of Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin. Not until he came to Mt. Wilson under the sponsorship of the Carnegie Institution could Hale finally lay his hands on the money to finish up the telescope. The 60-inch telescope is one of the most productive telescopes in the history of astronomy, having been used largely for the original studies of the spectral classification of stars that are the basis of much of our modern-day astronomy. It was also used to continue the HK Project begun at the 100-inch telescope. One of the first adaptive optics systems designed for astronomical studies -- Atmospheric Compensation Experiment (ACE)-- was developed and used on the 60-inch telescope from 1992 to 1995.
Thought the scope is over a century old, its still a thing of beauty. Now the visitors to Mt. Wilson have fun with it. This material came from Mt. Wilson’s website. --Bob Gaskin
Milky Way Safari by Dauna Coulter and Dr. Tony Phillips
Safari, anyone? Citizen scientists are invited to join a hunt through the galaxy. As a volunteer for Zooniverse's Milky Way Project, you'll track down exotic creatures like mysterious gas bubbles, twisted green knots of dust and gas, and the notorious “red fuzzies.”
“The project began about four months ago,” says astrophysicist Robert Simpson of Oxford University. “Already, more than 18,000 people are scouting the Milky Way for these quarry.”
The volunteers have been scrutinizing infrared images of the Milky Way's inner regions gathered by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. Spitzer's high resolution in infrared helps it pierce the cloaking haze of interstellar gas and dust, revealing strange and beautiful structures invisible to conventional telescopes. The Milky Way Project is helping astronomers catalogue these intriguing features, map our galaxy, and plan future research.
“Participants use drawing tools to flag the objects,” explains Simpson. “So far they've made over a million drawings and classified over 300,000 images.”
Scientists are especially interested in bubble-like objects believed to represent areas of active star formation. “Every bubble signifies hundreds to thousands of young, hot stars. Our volunteers have circled almost 300,000 bubble candidates, and counting,” he says.
Humans are better at this than computers. Computer searches turn up only the objects precisely defined in a program, missing the ones that don't fit a specified mold. A computer would, for example, overlook partial bubbles and those that are skewed into unusual shapes.
“People are more flexible. They tend to pick out patterns computers don't pick up and find things that just look interesting. They're less precise, but very complementary to computer searches, making it less likely we'll miss structures that deserve a closer look. And just the sheer numbers of eyes on the prize mean more comprehensive coverage.”
Along the way the project scientists distill the volunteers' data to eliminate repetitive finds (such as different people spotting the same bubbles) and other distortions.
The project's main site (http://www.milkywayproject.org ) includes links to a blog and a site called Milky Way Talk. Here “hunters” can post comments, chat about images they've found, tag the ones they consider especially intriguing, vote for their favorite images (see the winners at http://talk.milkywayproject.org/collections/CMWS00002u ), and more.
Zooniverse invites public participation in science missions both to garner interest in science and to help scientists achieve their goals. More than 400,000 volunteers are involved in their projects at the moment. If you want to help with the Milky Way Project, visit the site, take the tutorial, and … happy hunting!
You can get a preview some of the bubbles at Spitzer’s own web site, http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/. Kids will enjoy looking for bubbles in space pictures while playing the Spitzer concentration game at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/spitzer- concentration/.
This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Caption: Volunteers study infrared images of our galaxy from the Spitzer Space Telescope, identifying interesting features using the special tools of the Milky Way Project, part of the Citizen Science Alliance Zooniverse web site.
Editors: Download this image at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/news-images/milkyway-project-website.jpg
Finding Planets among the Stars by Dr. Tony Phillips Strange but true: When it comes to finding new extra-solar planets, or exoplanets, stars can be an incredible nuisance.
It’s a matter of luminosity. Stars are bright, but their planets are not. Indeed, when an astronomer peers across light years to find a distant Earth-like world, what he often finds instead is an annoying glare. The light of the star itself makes the star's dim planetary system nearly impossible to see.
Talk about frustration! How would you like to be an astronomer who's constantly vexed by stars? Fortunately, there may be a solution. It comes from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer, an ultraviolet space telescope orbiting Earth since 2003. In a new study, researchers say the Galaxy Evolution Explorer is able to pinpoint dim stars that might not badly outshine their own planets.
“We've discovered a new technique of using ultraviolet light to search for young, low-mass stars near the Earth,” said David Rodriguez, a graduate student of astronomy at UCLA, and the study's lead author. “These M-class stars, also known as red dwarfs, make excellent targets for future direct imaging of exoplanets.”
Young red dwarfs produce a telltale glow in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum that Galaxy Evolution Explorer can sense. Because dwarf stars are so numerous—as a class, they account for more than two-thirds of the stars in the galaxy— astronomers could reap a rich bounty of targets. In many ways, these stars represent a best-case scenario for planet hunting. They are close and in clear lines-of-sight, which generally makes viewing easier. Their low mass means they are dimmer than heavier stars, so their light is less likely to mask the feeble light of a planet. And because they are young, their planets are freshly formed, and thus warmer and brighter than older planetary bodies. Astronomers know of more than five hundred distant planets, but very few have actually been seen. Many exoplanets are detected indirectly by means of their “wobbles”—the gravitational tugs they exert on their central stars. Some are found when they transit the parent star, momentarily dimming the glare, but not dimming it enough to reveal the planet itself. The new Galaxy Evolution Explorer technique might eventually lead to planets that can be seen directly. That would be good because, as Rodriguez points out, “seeing is believing.” And it just might make astronomers feel a little better about the stars. The Galaxy Evolution Explorer Web site at http://www.galex.caltech.edu describes many of the other discoveries and accomplishments of this mission. And for kids, how do astronomers know how far away a star or galaxy is? Play “How Old do I Look” on The Space Place at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/whats-older and find out! This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Caption: Exoplanets are easier to see directly when their star is a dim, red dwarf.