SKYWATCHER THE NEWS LETTER OF THE GUILDFORD ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY http://www.guildfordas.org/

FROM THE EDITOR…..

Welcome back from your holidays folks, for CfDS Contact Details those of you who went away I hope you had a good time. The last meeting that we had was the AGM For more information and literature about the back in July, for those of you who came, you BAA Campaign for Dark Skies, please do know who is on the new committee, but for not hesitate to contact us. You can contact those of you who could not make it, I have either the co­ordinator Bob Mizon via done a page or two on who is on the post or email... committee, hope this is of some help to the new members? info dark­skies.org So its back to business on the astronomy side of things, with Kelling Heath at the end of the The Coordinator, CfDS Bob Mizon month I take it those of you who are going you 38 The Vineries are getting yourselves ready, for those of you Colehill Wimborne who are unable to come I hope the skies are Dorset BH21 2PX clear for you back here? With this being the start of our year so to say, Skywatcher is going to have a few changes Forthcoming Meetings made to it, such as a PRESIDENT Column? But if you the members would like to add Tonight’s Meeting something or see something in Skywatcher then please send it to me at my email address Nik Szymanek or call, one more thing, there will NOT be a Skywatcher next month as I am in Kelling. “ An introduction to Well that’s all from me folks. astrophotography “ Clear skies to you all Oct 6th Neil Ross Editor Jerry Stone [email protected] Call this number if you would like to send it by “ The day they launched a pos t…..07841130231 woodpecker “

WE DON’T JUST TALK ASTRONOMY…….WE DO ASTRONOMY SEP 50p The Committee for 2005/2006

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1. President ­ Mr G Stacey 2. Vice President ­ Mr P Woolliams 3. Secretary ­ Mr J Axtell e th 4. Treasurer ­ Mr T Dodman ll l. f a al o 5. Observatory Director ­ Mr C Hooper u es yo am to n 6. Asst Observatory Director ­ Mr R. Alder n d e io an sit at g o 7. Observational Co­ordinator ­ Mr J Axtell ul in pp at ist o r l l ee 8. Publicity Officer ­ Mr J Wilhelm ng ul , s o f ee C r a tt 9. Newsletter Editor ­ Mr N Ross Fo mi om 10. Librarian ­ Mr Mallison C There are a couple more thing’s I would like to say, firstly that is a big thank you to Mr Bushell, who stood down as secretary. Thanks John

Next is goodbye to Adrian, who after many years as a member of G.A.S, is moving out to OZ. We would like to wish him and his family all the best and I hope he keeps in touch. Good luck mate!

Astronomy Picture of the Day Explanation: A recent survey of stars conducted with the Spitzer Space Telescope is convincing astronomers that our Milky Way Galaxy is not just your ordinary spiral galaxy anymore. Looking out from within the Galaxy's disk, the true structure of the Milky Way is difficult to discern. However, the penetrating infrared census of about 30 million stars indicates that the Galaxy is distinguished by a very large central bar some 27,000 light­years long. In fact, from a vantage point that viewed our galaxy face­on, astronomers in distant galaxies would likely see a striking barred spiral galaxy suggested in this artist's illustration. While previous investigations have identified a small central barred structure, the new results indicate that the Milky Way's large bar would make about a 45 degree angle with a line joining the and the Galaxy's center. DON'T PANIC ... astronomers still place the Sun beyond the central bar region, about a third 2005 August 25 of the way in from the Milky Way's outer edge. Tenth found!

A team of astronomers systematically scanning the far reaches of the has discovered a distant, icy world that is bigger than Pluto but so far away the head of a pin held at arm's length would blot out the sun. The discovery, if confirmed, would force astronomers to re­write their textbooks and give school kids a 10th planet to memorize once a governing body sanctions the still­ secret name proposed by a trio of discoverers.

Currently known by the catalog number 2003UB313, the newly discovered planet wheels about in an elliptical orbit tilted some 45 degrees to the plane of the solar system's eight major , taking 560 years to complete one trip around the sun. At its most distant, the planet is a remote 97 times farther from the sun than the Earth. At its closest, it passes inside the orbit of Pluto at a distance of some 36 astronomical units. It is currently the most distant object known in the solar system, so far removed that its surface temperature is a frigid 30 degrees above absolute zero.

"It has a surface just like that of Pluto," said Michael Brown, a planetary scientist at the Institute of Technology. "It's a little bit bigger than Pluto and the main difference, of course, is it's much, much farther away than Pluto right now, so it's going to be a much colder place to be. Not a very pleasant place to live, definitely. And life as we know it would certainly not be doing much out there." The new world was discovered Jan. 8 by Brown, , of the Gemini Observatory in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and David Rabinowitz, of Yale University, using the 48­inch Samuel Oschin Telescope at Mount Palomar.

With a surface dominated by methane, the distant world is 1,677 miles in diameter, compared to about 1,400 miles for Pluto. It is a member of the , a broad fan­shaped disk of icy debris extending from the orbit of Neptune to well beyond Pluto. Disturbed by gravitational interactions, primarily involving Jupiter and , a Kuiper Belt object can fall into the inner solar system and become captured in a so­called short­period orbit. In the early solar system, gravitational encounters also threw large numbers of comets into a vast , spherical shell known as the Oort Cloud. Comets that eventually fall back into the inner solar system from the Oort Cloud typically have orbits measured in millions of years. The newly discovered world is a "very cold, very distant place," Brown told reporters in a teleconference Friday evening. "If you were standing on the surface and you held a pin at arm's length, you could cover the sun with the head of the pin. As I said, it's not a place you'd want to go for a summer vacation. Now, in 280 years, it'll be a lot closer, but it still won't be much of a vacation spot then, either."

This time­lapse image of a newfound planet in our solar system, called 2003UB313, was taken on Oct. 21, 2003, using the Samuel Oschin Telescope at the near San Diego, Calif. The planet, circled in red, is seen moving across a field of stars. The three images were taken about 90 minutes apart. Scientists did not discover the planet until Jan. 8, 2005. Credit: Samuel Oschin Telescope, Palomar Observatory

The size of the planet was inferred by observations of its brightness. "Even if it reflected 100 percent of the light reaching it, it would still be as big as Pluto," Brown said in an earlier statement. "I'd say it's probably one and a half times the size of Pluto, but we're not sure yet of the final size." Talking to reporters, he said a name has been submitted to the International Astronomical Union and "I don't want to say what it is yet because we really want this name to get accepted and we want to make sure we go through all the proper channels," Brown said. The discovery almost surely will re­ignite the debate over what it takes to be defined as a planet. Many astronomers believe Pluto is more accurately grouped with other Kuiper Belt objects and should not be considered a planet in the traditional sense. The debate has even made it into the lyrics of popular song, "Planet X" by Christine Lavin (http://www.christinelavin.com/planetx.html).

"Even I have promoted the idea that we should consider Pluto not to be a planet and a Kuiper Belt object instead," Brown said. "But historically, it's been called a planet for such a long time that I think we're never going to not call Pluto a planet. And that's fine. I think historically, we can call it a planet." But if Pluto is, in fact, a planet, "then anything larger than Pluto ­ I think we should draw the line there ­ anything larger than Pluto is a planet. Things that are smaller, I think we just call them typical members of the Kuiper Belt and they don't join this very special class of things that are planets." Bro wn said the discoverers were holding off mak ing an announcement until after they completed their observations. But hackers found the discovery on a private website and trio decided to go public. Guildford AS Library Stock

Guildford AS Library Stock 21 February 2005

Year of Date Cost ISSBN Title Author Author Publisher Publication Purchased £ Number

BOOKS

The Mariner 6 and 7 pictures of mars Stewart A. Collins 1971 The Backyard Astronomers Guide Dickinson & Dyer Surface of the moon: Its structure and origin V.A. Firsoff 1961 Government Support for Beagle 2. House of Commons Science & Technology Committee Nov 04 Frozen star, of Pulsars, black holes and the fate of stars George Greenstein 1984 Observing the Universe (A new Scientist Guide) Nigel Henbest (editor) 1984 100 billion , the birth, life and death of the stars Rudolf Kippenhahn 1983 Skywatching David Levy The Universe Life Nature Library 1970 Larousse Encyclopedia of Astronomy Larousse 1966 The Modern Universe Raymond A. LyttleLtoynttleton 1957 1973 Year Book of Astronomy 1973 1975 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1975 1976 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1976 1979 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1979 1980 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1980 1982 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1982 1983 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1983 1984 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1984 1985 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1985 1986 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1986 1987 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1987 1988 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1988 1990 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1990 1991 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1991 1992 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1992 1994 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1994 1995 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1995 1996 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1996 1997 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1997 A textbook of Astronomy, Facts and feats Patrick Moore 1979 Earth , The new satellite projects explained Patrick Moore 1955 Moon Flight atlas Patrick Moore 1970 Travellers in Space and time Patrick Moore 1983 1989 Year Book of Astronomy Patrick Moore 1989 Guide to Astronomy James Muirden 1972 Analysis of Apollo 10 photography and visual observations NASA 1971 ATLAS of surveyor 5 Television data NASA 1974 Guide to Lunar Orbiter Photographs NASA 1970 The Moon as viewed by lunar orbiter NASA 1970 Answer book of astronomy Iain Nicholson 1975 Lonely Hearts of the Universe Dennis Overbye 1991 Oct 04 gift Concise Encyclopedia of Astronomy A. and H. Wigert & Zimmermann ITALY in Space before and after SIRIO 1978 Moon, Mars and Venus. A concise guide in colour 1976

Messier Objects: A Beginner's Guide Kathy & Sue Machin & Wheatley Astronomical League of U19S9A7 6 Feb 2004 £5.00 none Turn Left at Orion: 100 objects to see in a small telescope Guy & Dan Consolmagno & Davis Cambridge UP 2000 3rd ed 6 Feb 2004 £15.00 0­521­78190­6 Caldwell Card Sky & Telescope Sky & Telescope Sky & Telescope 2001 6 Feb 2004 £3.00 not applicable Messier Card Sky & Telescope Sky & Telescope Sky & Telescope 2003 6 Feb 2004 £3.00 not applicable Astronomy Encyclopedia Gen: Patrick Moore Phillip's 2002 6 Feb 2004 £30.00 0­540­07863­8 Moonwatch Phillip's 2003 6 Feb 2004 £12.99 0­540­08543­X Webb Society Deep­Sky Observer's Handbook ­ Star Atlas (#1) Webb Society Webb Society 2002 6 Feb 2004 £15.00 0­904824­05­5 Webb Society Deep­Sky Observer's Handbook ­ Star Atlas (#2) Webb Society Webb Society 2002 6 Feb 2004 £15.00 0­904824­05­5 Philips Planisphere 10” Lat 51.5º North Springer Verlag

Observatrional Astronomy: A Plan for the Beginner S J Lubbock Fed of Astro Soc 1987 rev 2001 4 Feb 2005 £2.20 Exploring Mars: An Astronomy Now Guide Neil English Pole Star Publications 2004 4 Feb 2005 £8.99

If interested in any of the above books please speak to David Reynolds What’s Up? ­ September Night Sky

Moon New 3rdSep 1st Qtr 11th Full 18th Last Qtr 25th (3rd Oct) Planets: Mercury May be glimpsed at Mag –1.4in the first week of the month, rising about 1hr before the Sun. Venus Not easy, although it’ll be at Mag –4 for the month, it stays very close to the horizon just after sunset. Moves from Virgo to Libra. Mars It’s getting closer! Still best as morning object, increasing in magnitude from ­0.5 to ­ 0.9. Rising in Aries before 20hrs by end of month, and approaching The Pleiades. Jupiter Probably only visible during the first week. Still in Virgo at Mag –1.7 and dropping into the twilight murk. Saturn Dawn object in Cancer, Mag +0.3 near M44 Praesepe (Beehive) Uranus Mag 5.7, low in Aquarius, best around 23.00 hrs Neptune Mag 7.8, in Capricornus, best around 21.00

Highspots:

1st Sep Jupiter & Venus only 1° apart, near Spica 4th Sep Mercury only 1° from Regulus 6th Sep Jupiter,Venus, Spica & 3­day old Moon form tight group 19th Piscides 3rd Oct Partial Lunar Ecipse (Annular in Spain)

Sources: FAS Astro Calendar 2004/2005, Astronomy Now (September), Sky at Night Magazine (September), SPA Popular Astronomy (July­September), Sky & Telescope (September)

What’s Up? ­ September Night Sky

Deep Sky Objects – Summer Summary

Constellation Globular Cl. Open Nebula Double Galaxy Cluster & Star Asterism Coma M53, Mel111 Alpha M64, M85, M88, Berenices NGC 5033 M91, M98, M99, M100 Canes Venatici M3 M51, M63, M94,M106 Corona Eta, Borealis Beta, Sigma Serpens Caput M5 Ophiucus M9, M14, M10, M12, M14, M19, M14, M62, M107 Serpens Cauda M16 Eagle M16 Eagle Theta Scorpius M4, M80 M6, M7 Alpha, Beta, Nu Scutum NGC6712 M11, M26 Hercules M13, M92, NGC6210 Zeta NGC6229 (PN) Lyra M56 Stephenson 1 M57 –Ring Epsilon, (PN) Zeta, Eta Aquila NGC6709 B142, B143 Sagitta M71 Vulpecula Cr399 – M27 – Coathanger, Dumbell (PN) Stock 1 Cygnus M29, M39 NGC6960­2 Beta, The Veil, Delta, NGC7000 ­N Omicron, .American, 61 NGC6826

S ources: Guide to the Constellations (Neil Bone), Deep­Sky Observer’s Year (Privett & Parsons) Hello From The New Sec retary!

Well I’m now in post and I’ve got a lot to live up to, following on in John Bushell’s good shoes. Some might say at least I fit one of his profiles – the sideways one! My first main job has been to organise a programme for this coming year. That’s now mostly done, with just one gap to fill. I hope you’ll agree that there’s an exciting range of speakers; from TV celebrity , through scientific researchers (Drs Andrew Coates, Ian Crawford, Robert Smith and of course Chris Lintott), well­known author Neil Bone, through absolute enthusiasts like Bob Mizon and Jerry Stone. And what a start to the season – tonight we have Nik Szymanek, who needs no introduction. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to seeing more examples of his excellent and pioneering imaging work!

Another of my current jobs is trying to get all of the membership records into a MS Access database, and ongoing task that will prove beneficial in the long run. I’ve also produced a draft flyer advertising GAS. I hope to get this printed soon, and out to a variety of places to promote the Society in this our 50th year. One of the things we like do here at GAS is “outreach” work, and to this end Gavin and I will soon be meeting Dr Lucie Green of Mullard Space Science Laboratory, Holmbury St.Mary. She’s keen to see where we can co­operate in outreach ventures. One such possibility is the forthcoming National Science week, and I’ll be representing GAS at a meeting later in September and will report back at the next meeting. There’s a couple of ventures for which I’ll be seeking your support – we’ve been contacted by a local school who want us to run an observing session, and also a local Scout Troop wishes several of its members to go through the Astronomer Badge.

The coming weeks are going to be potentially very busy, so here’s a few reminders for you of some important events:

9th­11th September, Star Party and open days at Herstmonceux Observatory Science Centre 9th­11th September, Kielder Forest Star Party 23rd September Science Museum 2 for 1 ticket offer for “Walking on the Moon” 3D at their IMEX cinema, until 21 October 29th September to 2nd October, Equinox Star Party at Kelling Heath, Norfolk 1st October – Annual Convention, Federation of Astronomical Societies, Cambridge 3rd October, Partial Eclipse of the Sun

To see this last event I’m off to Spain where it will be an Annular, so I hope to have some images to show you at our next meeting on 6th October

Until then I wish you clear skies and dark nights! John Axtell