the vol. 41 no. 10 Skyscraper October 2014 Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island  47 Peeptoad Road  North Scituate, Rhode Island 02857  www.theSkyscrapers.org

In this issue 2 Trustees' Message Upcoming Meetings 2 Upcoming Parties

4 A Busy Month for Friday, November 7 Dr. Alan Powers “The Worlds of Seagrave Observatory Astronomy Enthusiasts Giordano Bruno”

5 Fomalhaut Saturday, December 13 Dr. William Waller “The – North Scituate Community Center 6 in An Insiders Guide” Saturday, January 10 Rich Nugent "Observing Satellites" 8 Secretary & Treasurer North Scituate Community Center

11 Twinkle, twinkle, variable star Friday, February 6 Dr. Alan Hirshfeld “Starlight North Scituate Community Center Detectives: How Astronomers, Inventors and Eccentrics discovered the Modern Universe”

Friday, March 6 Planetarium Show Cormack Planetarium Members' Observing Night Friday October 24

Phases of the Moon Seagrave Memorial First Quarter Moon October 1 19:33 Observatory First Quarter Moon Open Nights October 31 02:48 Full Hunter's Moon Saturdays at 7:00 pm October 8 10:41 weather permitting Last Quarter Moon October 15 19:12 New Moon September 23 21:57 The Skyscraper October 2014

Trustees Conrad Cardano, Jim Craw- Trustees' Message ford and Tom Thibault would like to extend a very appreciative thank you to the follow- Tom Thibault ing individuals for all their efforts, hard work and contributions that resulted in the Skyscrapers Members, insulation. Interior painting and cleaning. revitalized appearance of Seagrave Obser- I’m sure many Skyscrapers Members Addition of Refreshment Area. Reorga- vatory for our Centennial Anniversary. and guests that attended AstroAssembly nization and relocation of the library and Skyscrapers Members: Alex Bergmann, have seen the results of the facility main- storage cabinets. Exterior repairs, painting Al Caldarone, Kent Cameron, Jim Hen- tenance and improvement projects com- and increased electrical outlets. drickson, Steve Hubbard, Dave Huestis, pleted to date at Seagrave. The activities Clark Observatory and Ante Room: Bob Napier, Matt Ouellette, Tom Rinaldi, undertaken by the Trustee’s could not have Interior painting and cleaning. Exterior Steve Siok, Ellsworth Starring, and Matt been accomplished without the support of repairs and painting. Addition of current White. A special thanks, to Bob Stahlbush numerous volunteers. A number of work activity white board for his multiple sessions working alone sessions were scheduled and completed Grounds: Removal of downed trees. with Jim Crawford, which is challenging that included the following activities. Trimming and Brush removal. Addition enough on its own merit, only kidding Jim. Meeting Hall: Replacement of the of wall on concrete pad (Grille Area). Re- Non members: Brian Crawford and Meeting Hall ceiling and removal of soiled placement of rails on 16” Meade Roll-off Adam Thibault. Upcoming Star Parties Matt White

The remainder of October, and Novem- so I could really use help here. (Kent, Matt people should be able to handle this and ber are looking very busy for star party re- White, Matt O.) the lodge is going to provide a free meal. quests. November 21, Portsmouth Middle This event is on November 1st. We have two more events scheduled at School. (Kent, Matt W, Matt O.) Please let me know as to your avail- the observatory, October 29th (students In addition, a professor from Providence ability and whether you can bring a scope. from Bryant University), and November College wants to bring 100 students, (In I've had a couple more volunteers but I'm 10th (a cub scout group) (Kent, Matt W, four groups of twenty five.) to the observa- still short of where I need to be. Thanks to Steve Hubbard, Matt O.). Dave has told tory sometime in November. The only way Steve, Kent, Matt and Dave for the quick me that the Bryant event is covered. Please I'm going to squeeze this one in, is to utilize response. check your availability and let me know. the meeting night, and two of the sched- Thanks, November 13, (rescheduled from Octo- uled Saturday open nights. I will schedule Matt [email protected] ber 7), St. Luke's School, Barrington. I'm one addition evening. I also have a request told this event will host at least 200 people to do a program at the Ionic Lodge. Two

The Skyscraper is published President Public Outreach Coordinator monthly by Skyscrapers, Inc. Bob Horton [email protected] Matt White [email protected] Meetings are held monthly, usually on the first or second 1st Vice President Public Relations Spokesperson Friday or Saturday of the month. Kathy Siok [email protected] Francine Jackson [email protected] Seagrave Memorial Observatory is open every Saturday 2nd Vice President Observatory Committee Chairperson night, weather permitting. Steve Siok [email protected] Conrad Cardano [email protected]

Directions Secretary Membership Activities Coordinator Directions to Seagrave Memorial Observatory are located on the back page of this newsletter. Tina Huestis [email protected] Pat Landers [email protected] Submissions Treasurer Librarian Submissions to The Skyscraper are always Linda Bergemann [email protected] Alex Bergemann [email protected] welcome. Please submit items for the newsletter no later than October 24 to Jim Hendrickson, Members at Large Historian 1 Sunflower Circle, North Providence, RI 02911 Pat Landers [email protected] Dave Huestis [email protected] or e-mail to [email protected]. Matt White [email protected] Archivist E-mail subscriptions To receive The Skyscraper by e-mail, send Trustees Jim Crawford [email protected] e-mail with your name and address to jim@ Conrad Cardano [email protected] Editor distantgalaxy.com. Note that you will no Jim Crawford [email protected] longer receive the newsletter by postal mail. Jim Hendrickson [email protected] Tom Thibault [email protected] 2 The Skyscraper October 2014

Friday, October 10 Let’s Go “Back to the Moon for Good” at the URI Planetarium University of Rhode Island Planetarium shown Friday, October 10th, at 6:00 and Upper College Road 7:00 P.M. In addition, a short program on Kingston, RI Light Pollution will be shown, then The Skies of the URI campus, a live introduc- Friday, October 10th, 2014 tion to the night sky. 6:00 and 7:00 P.M. Admission is only $5.00, to benefit the University of Rhode Island Planetarium Contact: Francine Jackson: 401-527-5558 Fund. The University of Rhode Island Plan- It’s been over 45 since humans etarium is located on Upper College Road, have walked on the Moon. But, are there on the Kingston campus, across from the plans to go back? Should we? Could we? Art Center. How could his happen? Please join the The University of Rhode Island Plan- URI Planetarium as it debuts this award- etarium is available for programming for winning show about the possibility of re- schools and other organizations. For more turning to our one and only natural satel- information, please contact Francine Jack- lite. “Back to the Moon for Good” will be son at 401-527-5558.

M31 Andromeda by Tom Thibault. 3 The Skyscraper October 2014

fireballs that create persistent dust trains as A Busy Month for they blaze across the sky. The meteors appear to radiate out of the sky just above Orion’s head (hence Astronomy Enthusiasts the name of the shower) and not far from Dave Huestis the bright red super Betelgeuse, which marks his right shoulder. While Ori- Many amateur astronomers look for- you happen to see one in the northern sky on is an easy star pattern to identify, at 3:30 ward to the cooler and less muggy days of emanating from the of Draco a.m. this giant constellation can be found fall, which occurred back on September 23. then consider yourself lucky. due south of your location and about half- The sets earlier and earlier each night, There is an astronomical event you will way up above the horizon. Maximize your allowing us to begin our observing sessions be hearing a lot about in October, which meteor count by observing between mid- during the early evening hours. While this is the close encounter of Comet Siding night and dawn. October has a little bit of everything to Spring (C2013 A1) with Mars. It will come And finally, a partial solar eclipse will be please even the casual stargazer, the phrase within about 82,000 miles of the red planet visible throughout almost all of the United “location, location, location” is going to be a on October 19 at 2:28 p.m. EDT. Instru- States on October 23. Almost is the key key factor in determining what will be seen. ments in orbit around Mars and on the sur- word, for here in Rhode Island the eclipse First up on the morning of October 8 face will be directed to observe this unique begins just after sunset. In fact, we miss is another total lunar eclipse. You may re- event. Some astronomers have indicated even a small partial by only a few miles. If member back on April 15 we were clouded that a telescope four-inches in diameter you travel to Hartford, Connecticut, and out during the last one. Unfortunately we or larger might be able to observe this en- you can find an absolutely dead horizon, are not favorably located this time around counter. you’ll be able to see just a tiny portion of the to observe the eclipse in its entirety. To At the time of close approach Mars will solar disk obscured by the Moon as the Sun do so you’d need to travel out to the West be approximately 151 million miles from sets. The farther west and northwest one Coast. However, if you are limited to the the . It will appear as a tiny red disk in travels, more of the Sun will be covered. At southern New England area, you will be an eyepiece. Recent research indicates the eclipse maximum just less than two-thirds able to follow some of this celestial ballet as comet is only just under ½ half mile across. of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. the Earth’s shadow sweeps across the lunar While the comet’s coma (the surround- So head west if you wish to experience one surface ing dust cloud) is estimated to be about of Mother Nature’s special astronomical While the beginning of the eclipse oc- 12,000 miles across, it is very tenuous. I am events. Or find a live webcast on the In- curs in a dark sky at 4:15 a.m. (all times are extremely skeptical about one’s chances of ternet. Should you have an opportunity to EDT) with the Moon 26 degrees above detecting the comet from the Earth with observe this event firsthand, be sure to use a the west-southwest horizon, this phase is anything but large professional telescopes. method that protects your eyes from injury. too dim to be noticed. Only as the Moon However, if you wish to give it the old col- In conclusion, please remember that the slides deeper into the Earth’s light penum- lege try, local observatories are open for your view- bral shadow will an observer notice a subtle Mars will be in the constellation of ing pleasure. Visit their respective websites darkening of the left hand portion of the Ophiuchus, low in the southwestern sky for public observing schedules. Seagrave lunar surface. At 5:15 a.m. the Moon will after sunset. Memorial Observatory in North Scituate enter the dark umbral shadow and the par- Two days later on the morning of the is open every clear Saturday night. Ladd tial phase will be underway. The Moon will 21st, we can expect to observe about 20 or Observatory in Providence is open every then be only 16 degrees above the horizon. so yellow and green meteors per hour dur- Tuesday night. Frosty Drew Observatory After this point dawn’s early light will be- ing the Orionid meteor shower. The Moon in Charlestown is open every clear Friday come apparent. By the time the Moon is will in a waning crescent phase and will night. completely within the shadow at 6:25 a.m., not interfere with seeing this shooting star Seagrave and Ladd will not be open for it will only be about four degrees above display to best advantage. These remnants the total lunar eclipse. Check the Frosty the western horizon. The sky will be quite of Halley’s Comet disintegrate in our at- Drew website for any plans they may have bright, since the Sun will rise at 6:50 a.m. mosphere at around 41.6 miles per second. as the event nears. Locally we will not see the end of totality, The Orionids are also noted for producing or the remainder of the eclipse. To observe this event in its entirety you’d have to travel west to at least the Rockies. Hopefully the weather will cooperate here so we can enjoy a part of this beautiful sky show. At the same time the Earth encounters the annual Draconid meteor shower. This minor display of shooting only pro- duces ten or less yellowish slow moving meteors per hour. Though the Full Moon will most likely wash out these meteors, if 4 The Skyscraper October 2014

Fomalhaut Francine Jackson

Although families don’t often do this anymore, as the TSA frowns on the prac- tice, when I was a kid I often went with my family to the local airport to watch the planes. Looking for them to come out of the sky, then watching others leave the ground and disappear somewhere overhead made for a good change from watching TV all night. Also, sometimes we were able to watch planes that come in within our line of sight. Starting as a faint light just in front of us, which gradually increased in size, we loved to watch as these points would became three-dimensional, and land just hundreds of feet in front of us. But, sometimes, one of these lights it is, kind of like Polaris, our North Star, However, despite its short time in our didn’t budge. At this time of , especially, which, because it also is in a region of faint sights, apparently it is home to its own one light, rather low to the horizon, would stars, fools the eye, looking like a brighter planetary system. Fomalhaut is, in fact, the just shine with the same brightness, never beacon in the north. In fact, the two stars third brightest star in our sky to have plan- changing, never showing its red and green are loosely related, as, if you continue the ets, after Pollux and our own Sun. side lights, just there. It took a long time line from the Big Dipper to the North Star Martha Evans Martin, in her small but before I realized that light would never and follow it downward, it would point beautifully written The Friendly Stars, refers change, as I had found the star Fomalhaut. very closely to Fomalhaut. to Fomalhaut as the definite sign of au- The southernmost of the twenty bright- Fomalhaut has been called one of the tumn. By the time of its night appearance, est stars from our position here on Earth, four “Royal Stars” of astrology, along with the birds have “ceased to sing,” the insects Fomalhaut is also one of our closest neigh- Regulus, Aldebaran, and Antares, as it have stopped their “shrill notes,” and win- bors, located only about 25 light years from believed that each season needed a stel- ter is fast approaching. She also thinks of here. Located within a rather unnoticeable lar guardian, and these stars were perfect its being alone as a bright fall star, as, “[I] constellation, Piscis Austrinus, the South- Guardians of the Sky for the four seasons. ts serenity [is] in no wise disturbed and ern Fish, Fomalhaut shines with an appar- They were also often referred to as the its beauty in no wise eclipsed by the more ent magnitude of just over 1. However, its “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” As spectacular entrance of the brilliant winter position in the sky, directly below large but the southernmost of this group, it is the one stars now gathering in the east.” A more nondescript Aquarius, the Water Bearer, seen the least, as it is only above the hori- beautiful note for a solitary star would be seems to allow it to appear brighter than zon for about eight hours at this latitude. hard to find. Thank you, Martha.

Photos from AstroAssembly 2014 Coming in the November Issue

5 The Skyscraper October 2014 Globular Cluster in Capricornus Messier 30 Glenn Chaple

During October, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, and Sagittarius depart the evening sky, tak- ing with them their ample cargo of globular star clusters. A few stragglers remain acces- sible to backyard telescopes – among them, Messier 30 in Capricorn. M30 was discovered by Messier in 1764. He described it as a round , contain- ing no stars. Its stellar nature fell to the watchful eye of William Herschel, who re- solved M30 twenty years later. Recently, I observed M30 from a subur- ban location on an evening when the naked eye limit was about 5th magnitude. It was readily visible through 10 X 50 binoculars, appearing as an out-of-focus 7th magni- tude star just a half degree west of the 5.5 magnitude star . A 4-inch Photo by Mario Motta, MD f/10 reflector at 120X didn’t resolve any stars, but it did reveal M30’s highly con- minutes and seemed elongated in an east- earth. It harbors several hundred thousand centrated nucleus. In my 10-inch f/5 reflec- west direction. Two stellar streams radiated stars and has an estimated diameter of 90 tor at 208X, the outer parts of M30 were outward towards the north. light-years. resolved. The cluster spanned some 5-6 arc- M30 lies about 27.000 light-years from

freestarcharts.com 6 The Skyscraper October 2014

Aurora borealis made a (brief) appearance in Pascoag, Rhode Island on the evening of September 12. Photo by Jim Hendrickson.

A large solar prominence visible at midday on September 19. Photo by Steve Hubbard.

7 The Skyscraper October 2014 A u g u st & S eptem b er R eports

• Owen Gingrich has agreed to be the Sat- Secretary urday evening feature speaker. He will pres- ent a thumbnail view of 1914 astronomy as Tina Huestis it would have been during the time period of Frank Seagrave. • Kathy reminded every- Skyscrapers August Meeting one that Astro-Assembly is the organiza- Minutes – 8/1/2014 tion’s primary fundraiser and that raffle and door prizes donations are actively being First Vice-President Kathy Siok called sought. If anyone is interested in donating, the Skyscrapers’ August meeting to order at contact Kathy. Donations are tax deduct- 7:20PM. ible. • She also encouraged volunteer sign First Vice-President, Kathy Siok: Kathy ups during the event to help with park- announced that she would be filling in for ing, food/grille set up, clean up, and other President Bob Horton, who could not be in general duties. • Pre-registration is $25 for attendance that evening. nonmembers, $20 for members. • The Sat- Treasurer, Linda Bergemann: Linda urday evening banquet will be held in the reported no new members for the month. Community Center. Dr. David Kipping • Voted into membership at the August Historian, Dave Huestis: Dave reported meeting were Al Caldarone (of Chepa- that he located descendants of the Seagrave ing an atmosphere and located within the chet, RI) and William Kraimer (of Niantic, family (although Frank Seagrave never “goldilocks” or habitable zone of a sun, they Connecticut). • Joseph Filocco (of Green- married nor had children). Two great-niec- could be cryo-habitable (liquid ocean be- ville, RI); Mark Sweberg (of Warwick); and es living in Connecticut showed an interest neath), where there may be a chance for life Taylor Iascone (of Johnston) were not pres- in coming to Astro-Assembly and, from with the presence of water, or they could ent for voting. Wisconsin, a descendant of Revolutionary be telluric — Earthlike and habitable. The First Vice-President, Kathy Siok: Kathy War officer Captain Edward Seagrave may difficulty is that alien planets and moons reminded members that the September also attend. are hard to find. When a moon passes in meeting would be held on Friday, Sep- Trustee, Conrad Cardano: Conrad an- front of a planet, it causes a dip in the star’s tember 5, at the North Scituate Commu- nounced that Saturday’s public open night brightness, which can be detected using the nity Center at 7:00PM. Dava Sobel, author was cancelled due to weather. • He was transit method. In 1989 came the first con- of Galileo’s Daughter, Longitude, and A also cancelling Saturday morning’s outdoor firmed exo-planet. In 2000 the first tran- More Perfect Moon will be the speaker. project work session. • Tom Thibault noted siting planet was found. As of 2009, the Kathy encouraged people to bring their that an indoor work session was still going Kepler mission had identified 4,000 can- own copies of any Sobel books with them forward, and if anyone was interested in didates for exo-planets. And more recently, that night. Dava Sobel will be happy to sign helping, to show up at 9:00AM. • The out- Kepler 22-b was the first planet found in them. side work session was rescheduled for the the habitable zone (although without a 2nd Vice President, Steve Siok: Steve following Saturday at 9:00AM. moon). To learn more, visit www.exomoon. reported that the Astro-Assembly program Francine Jackson: Francine noted that org or Twitter@HEK_Project. (September 26– 27) has been solidified. • September 6 was the “International Ob- The meeting adjourned at 7:35. Submit- Scituate town historian Ray Wolf will give serve the Moon” night. If interested, con- ted by Tina Huestis, Secretary. the Friday evening talk, which will cover tact Bob Horton. the time period of Frank Seagrave, as well Kathy Siok introduced Dr. David Kip- Board of Directors Meeting as how the creation of the reservoir signifi- ping, of the Harvard Smithsonian Center Minutes — 8/25/14 cantly changed the culture of the town. • for Astrophysics, and his talk on Exo- Steve mentioned that poster sessions are Moons. a new feature being introduced for Satur- Speaker, Dr. David Kipping: Dr. Kip- Attendees: Jim Brenek, Conrad Car- day. These sessions will be about astronomy ping explained that his talk would cover dano, Jim Crawford, Ed Haskell, Jim Hen- projects presented in an informal “show & why exo-moons are of interest, how they drickson, Bob Horton, Dave Huestis, Tina tell” poster format in the Meeting Hall. If can be found, and how close they are to Huestis, Francine Jackson, Pat Landers, anyone is interested in learning how they achieving this goal. Exo-moons are moons Bobby Napier, Steve Siok, Tom Thibault, can present a poster session, contact Steve.• orbiting around stars outside of the solar and Matt White. Afternoon presenters will be: Dave Hues- system. They can be created by collisions Bob Horton, President: Bob called the tis giving a history of Seagrave Observa- with other bodies, or formed from a cir- meeting to order at 7:00pm at Seagrave. tory; Rich Sanderson speaking about the cumplanetary disc, or captured by a planet. Bob reminded everyone that the Sep- Springfield Planetarium’s star projector; Dr. Kipping explained that exo-moons tember meeting will be held on Friday, and Andrew Szentgyorgyi talking about may actually be better candidates as hab- September 5, at the Community Center the Giant Magellan Telescope’s first light itable bodies than their host planets. For and will feature Dava Sobel. • Jim Craw- instruments and its search for exo-planets. instance, if a moon were capable of sustain- ford volunteered to handle all of the audio/ 8 A u g u st & S eptem b er R eports

visual needs and Francine is publicizing Assembly attendees. He also discussed op- Treasurer the event. • It was agreed that no refresh- tions and pricing for the anniversary mug. ments will be served due to the uncertainty Tom Thibault, Trustee: Tom brought the Linda Bergemann of the number of attendees. • An email will group up to speed on work that has been Cash Flow YTD as of September 17, 2014 be sent to the membership recommending accomplished on the exterior repairs and (4/1/14 through 9/17/14) them to arrive early since seating is lim- painting of the Meeting Hall as well as the ited. • “International Observe the Moon moving of the bookcases and installations INFLOWS AstroAssembly Night” (IOTMN) is Saturday, September of the cabinets. • He mentioned that there Banquet $850.00 6. Bob noted that last year the organiza- is no update on the Eagle Scout project’s Registration $770.00 tion participated. • The Board agreed to construction documents. Bob volunteered TOTAL AstroAssembly $1,620.00 host a public event this year again at the to follow up and reported that he provided Donation Observatory, weather permitting. • Volun- a statement to the building planners. • It Misc Donation $796.00 Refreshment Donation $23.00 teers should arrive at 6:00pm for setup and was noted that the sale of the organiza- TOTAL Donation $819.00 open at 7:00pm. • If weather conditions tion’s two telescopes raised $500, which Dues are in doubt, there should be some mem- was handed over to the Treasurer. • Conrad Contributing $10.00 bers on hand to talk informally about the noted that the Automation Committee fin- Family $120.00 moon. • Since parking may be congested, ished its work a couple of weeks ago and is Junior $15.00 Regular $543.35 car pooling from the Community Center now officially dissolved. He plans to finish Senior $247.90 would be helpful. • Francine reported that connectivity instructions/documentation TOTAL Dues $936.25 the IOTMN’s website has a downloadable and intends to schedule a hands-on demo EAGLE Project In $170.00 PowerPoint presentation. • An email will for members of the Observatory Com- Misc Income be sent to the membership announcing the mittee. • A discussion followed regard- Interest Inc $15.52 Sale of Items $500.00 IOTMN. ing Project Slooh’s outreach to astronomy TOTAL Misc Income $515.52 Steve Siok, 2nd Vice President: Steve club memberships. After consideration, the Star Party Donations $238.00 provided the following update for Astro- Board decided to pass on the offer. Subscription Income Assemby: parking has been arranged, ad- Francine Jackson: Francine spoke about Astronomy $34.00 vertisements for the program are being the “2015 International Year of Light,” Sky & Telescope $32.95 TOTAL Subscription Income $66.95 received with more expected, and speakers which is a United Nation’s global initiative FROM PayPal Account $357.46 are committed. • Ray Wolf will present Fri- highlighting the importance of light and TOTAL INFLOWS $4,723.18 day night’s talk. • Saturday poster session dark-sky awareness issues. She offered to OUTFLOWS topics are being signed up and an email will research it further. • Francine also reported Contingency be distributed to see if there is any interest that she met with someone from URI’s Speakers Fees $100.00 from the membership. • Jim Crawford not- conference center who is interested in part- TOTAL Contingency $100.00 ed that a work session will be scheduled the nering with Skyscrapers in some manner, Corporation, State Fee $20.00 week before the event. Tent/chairs/tables for instance holding one of our Skyscraper’s EAGLE Project Out $170.00 Postage and Delivery $14.35 set up is slated for that Thursday. Anyone meetings at Alton Jones. Presidential Fund $40.00 who wants to help should arrive at the Ob- Matt White: Matt noted the following Printing and Reproduction $10.70 servatory at 4:00pm. • Steve will be getting upcoming star parties: Monday, September Refreshment Expense $84.05 the raffle permit in the coming week. • Vol- 15, at 6:30pm at Seagrave; and Friday, Oc- Subscription Payments unteers are needed for the Saturday lunch- tober 3, at 7:30pm at Steer Farm Elemen- Astronomy $34.00 Sky & Telescope $32.95 time Grille as well as to manage the free tary School. • He reported the public ob- TOTAL Subscription Payments $66.95 refreshments for that morning. serving nights are going well. Trustee Expense Dave Huestis, Historian: Dave noted Pat Landers: Pat noted that the Friday Capital Equipment $222.33 that his guest blog article on the 100th an- members’ night was washed out due to poor Property Maintenance $2,488.81 niversary is now online on the Astronomy weather. He is planning the next one to be TOTAL Trustee Expense $2,711.14 Utilities website and that a “letter to the editor” will held on Friday, September 19, and will also Electric $117.12 appear in Sky & Telescope. In addition, schedule another for a Friday evening in Porta-John $495.00 the next issue of the Amateur Astronomy October. Propane $80.25 Magazine and the online site GoLocal. Meeting adjoined at 9:00pm. TOTAL Utilities $692.37 Prov.com will also will carry the story. Dave Submitted by Tina Huestis - Secretary TO Checking $357.46 TOTAL OUTFLOWS $4,267.02 expects the local newspapers to run some- OVERALL TOTAL 456.16 thing as well as the Sunday Providence Journal, which is planning to print it the Cash and Bank Accounts - As of 9/17/14 Capital One Bank $12,353.99 week before the event. • He mentioned Checking $12,690.44 that the Seagrave relative from Wisconsin PayPal $0.00 in confirmed. • Dave showed a mockup of TOTAL Bank Accounts $25,044.43 the postcard that will be given to Astro- Skyscrapers September Meeting Minutes - 9/5/2014

First Vice-President Kathy Siok called the Skyscrapers’ September meeting to or- der at 7:15 p.m. Kathy announced that she & Steve Siok would be conducting the September meeting, filling in for President Bob Hor- ton. After welcoming all present, Kathy indicated that an Astro-Assembly volun- teer sign-up sheet was available and she encouraged everyone to put their names down for helping at the annual event. She noted that Treasurer Linda Bergemann was in attendance and to see her to pay for any pre-registrations. 2nd Vice President, Steve Siok: Steve welcomed all first-time attendees to the Dava Sobel meeting. • He noted that the Saturday, September 6, open night was called off Steve briefed the group on the program sion is scheduled for Saturday, September due to poor weather. Those conditions also for Astro-Assembly. The theme is the 20, to be held rain or shine. • Also an inte- cancelled the “International Observe the “Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of rior work session is scheduled for Saturday, Moon Night” (IOTMN) program planned Seagrave Observatory.” The Friday night September 6, at 9:00 a.m. for prep work, for that same evening. The IOTMN event presentation will be by town historian since the weather won’t be suitable for will be rescheduled to a later date. • Steve Ray Wolf. • The Saturday program will staining. • Steve Siok added that on Thurs- reminded all present that Skyscrapers’ open offer: “show & tell” poster sessions in the day, September 25, helpers are needed with nights are held at the Observatory on ev- Meeting Hall; Dave Huestis presenting tent set up. Plan to arrive between 4:00 – ery clear Saturday night, with the exception the history of Seagrave Observatory; Rich 5:00 p.m. being those winter months when weather Sanderson speaking about the Springfield Announcements for the Good of the conditions prevent access to the grounds. Planetarium’s star projector; and Andrew Organization: Frank Reed informed the Treasurer, Linda Bergemann: Linda Szentgyorgyi talking about the Giant Ma- group that he was offering three classes at reported there were no new members for gellan Telescope’s first light instruments. • the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecti- the month. She noted that the membership Owen Gingrich, from the Harvard College cut. They are: “Modern Celestial Naviga- application is available online or to see her Observatory, will be the evening speaker tion (Oct. 18–19),” “Celestial Navigation: for a copy. The dues are: $50 for a Regular and will provide an overview on the state 19th Century Methods (Nov. 1–2),” and membership, $60 for a Family membership, of astronomy in 1914. • Steve noted that a “Lunars: Finding Longitude by Observ- $25 for Senior membership, and $15 for a number of nice raffle prizes will be in store. ing the Moon (Nov. 15–16).” Flyers with Junior membership. • Voted into member- • The Saturday evening banquet price will more information are available or call ship at the September meeting was Al Jo- be $25. • Volunteers are still needed for Mystic Seaport Reservations (860-572- seph Filocco (of Greenville, RI). various jobs during the day such as refresh- 5322, prompt #1). • Dave Huestis reported First Vice-President, Kathy Siok: Kathy ments and parking. Alex Bergemann’s Eagle Scout fundraising reported that the next meeting will be As- Trustee, Conrad Cardano: Conrad an- goal is $2,250 and encourages members tro-Assembly (September 26– 27). • The nounced that the annual cleanup work ses- to donate/contribute to help our Society’s Friday, November 7, meeting will be back at the Observatory and will feature Dr. Alan Powers, who will be presenting “NASA Helps Giordano Bruno find New Worlds.” • The Saturday, December 13, meeting is the Society’s holiday potluck celebration and will be held at the North Smithfield Community Center. Dr. William Waller will present his talk on the “Milky Way.” Dr. Waller is a professor at Tufts Univer- sity. • Kathy reminded all present that the Society’s winter meetings will be held off- site at the Community Center. The winter schedule is Saturday, December 13; Satur- day, January 10; and Friday, February 6. Second Vice-President, Steve Siok: The Skyscraper October 2014 youngest member. Checks should be made thor of Galileo’s Daughter,Longitude, and lbs. sterling prize in 1714 for an answer. To out to Skyscrapers. The project is an out- A More Perfect Moon. determine longitude, the trick was to know door addition to the Meeting Hall’s North Speaker, Dava Sobel presented the talk, the time of day in two places on the globe side for food/grille set ups. Construction “Longitude — A Story of Amateur Tri- at one time. John Harrison (1693–1776) in- will start once Astro-Assembly is over for umph.” She set the stage by depicting the vented a clock that accomplished this feat this year. perils faced by sailors whose longitude and didn’t need a pendulum nor oiling. Ul- The meeting adjourned at 7:35. Submit- reckoning was faulty. Since there was no re- timately, Harrison spent 40 years trying to ted by Tina Huestis, Secretary. liable means to determine longitude at sea, earn the prize. Kathy Siok introduced Dava Sobel au- the Royal Observatory offered a 20,000

Twinkle, twinkle, variable star cron Ceti)—behaves exactly in this way. By Dr. Ethan Siegel There are many types of variable stars, including Cepheids, RR Lyrae, cataclysmic As bright and steady as they appear, universe as starlight. variables and more, but it’s the Mira-type the stars in our sky won’t shine forever. There’s only a finite amount of fuel in variables that give us a glimpse into our Sun’s The steady brilliance of these sources of there, and when stars run out, the inte- likely future. In general, the cores of stars light is powered by a tumultuous interior, rior contracts and heats up, often enabling burn through their fuel in a very consistent where nuclear processes fuse light elements heavier elements to burn at even higher fashion, but in the case of pulsating variable and isotopes into heavier ones. Because temperatures, and causing sun-like stars to stars the outer layers of stellar atmospheres the heavier nuclei up to iron (Fe), have grow into red giants. Even though the cores vary. Initially heating up and expanding, a greater binding energies-per-nucleon, of both hydrogen-burning and helium- they overshoot equilibrium, reach a maxi- each reaction results in a slight reduction burning stars have consistent, steady energy mum size, cool, then often forming neutral of the star’s mass, converting it into ener- outputs, our sun’s overall brightness varies molecules that behave as light-blocking gy via Einstein’s famous equation relating by just ~0.1%, while red giants can have dust, with the dust then falling back to the changes in mass and energy output, E = their brightness’s vary by factors of thou- star, ionizing and starting the whole process mc2. Over timescales of tens of thousands sands or more over the course of a single over again. This temporarily neutral dust ab- of years, that energy migrates to the star’s year! In fact, the first periodic or pulsating sorbs the visible light from the star and re- , where it’s emitted out into the variable star ever discovered—Mira (omi- emits it, but as infrared radiation, which is invisible to our eyes. In the case of Mira (and many red giants), it’s Titanium Monoxide (TiO) that causes it to dim so severely, from a maximum magnitude of +2 or +3 (clearly visible to the naked eye) to a minimum of +9 or +10, requiring a telescope (and an experi- enced observer) to find! Visible in the constellation of Ce- tus during the fall-and-winter from the Northern Hemisphere, Mira is presently at magnitude +7 and headed towards its minimum, but will reach its maximum brightness again in May of next year and every 332 days thereafter. Shockingly, Mira contains a huge, 13 light-year-long tail -- visible only in the UV -- that it leaves as it rockets through the interstellar medium at 130 km/sec! Look for it in your skies all winter long, and contribute your results to the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) International Da- tabase to help study its long-term behavior! Check out some cool images and simu- lated animations of Mira here: http://www. Images credit: NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft, of Mira and its tail in UV nasa.gov/mission_pages/galex/20070815/v. light (top); Margarita Karovska (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) / NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope html image of Mira, with the distortions revealing the presence of a binary companion (lower left); Kids can learn all about Mira at NASA’s public domain image of Orion, the and Mira (near maximum brightness) by Brocken Space Place: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ Inaglory of Wikimedia Commons under CC-BY-SA-3.0 (lower right). mira/en/ 11 Directions to Seagrave Memorial Observatory From the Providence area: Take Rt. 6 West to Interstate 295 in Johnston and proceed west on Rt. 6 to Scituate. In Scituate bear right off Rt. 6 onto Rt. 101. Turn right onto Rt. 116 North. Peeptoad Road is the first left off Rt. 116. From Coventry/West Warwick area: Take Rt. 116 North. Peeptoad Road is the first left after crossing Rt. 101.

From Southern Rhode Island: Take Interstate 95 North. Exit onto Interstate 295 North in Warwick (left exit.) Exit to Rt. 6 West in John- ston. Bear right off Rt. 6 onto Rt. 101. Turn right on Rt. 116. Peeptoad Road is the first left off Rt. 116.

From Northern Rhode Island: Take Rt. 116 South. Follow Rt. 116 thru Greenville. Turn left at Knight’s Farm intersec- tion (Rt. 116 turns left) and follow Rt. 116. Watch for Peeptoad Road on the right.

From Connecticut: www.theSkyscrapers.org • Take Rt. 44 East to Greenville and turn right on Rt. 116 South. Turn left at Knight’s Farm inter- section (Rt. 116 turn left) and follow Rt. 116. Watch for Peeptoad Road on the right. • or • Take Rt. 6 East toward Rhode Island; bear left on Rt. 101 East and continue to in- tersection with Rt. 116. Turn left; Peeptoad Road is the first left off Rt. 116.

From Massachusetts: Take Interstate 295 South (off Interstate 95 in Attleboro). Exit onto Rt. 6 West in Johnston. Bear right off Rt. 6 onto Rt. 101. Turn right on Rt. 116. Peeptoad Road is the first left off Rt. 116.

47 Peeptoad Road North Scituate, Rhode Island 02857