the newsletter o f the QUEEN ELIZABET H PLANETARIUM FEB./MAR. 198 1 and the EDMONTON CENTRE , RASC 75$

Columbia Flie s in Marc h COMING§€CN

Travel back through the mist s cf time See fearscme dinosaurs Learn the mystery cf their disappearance Witness awesome astronomical events

Premieres f riday, /Harch C at the Queen Elizabeth Planetariu m

re r mere information, call 4JJ-O113 Stardust FEB./MAR. 198 1 Vol. 2 6 No . 2

8 Lif e at JPL Pau l Dean s Everyone coul d becom e a discoverer of new worlds since the TV pictures were being seen simultaneously by the scientists and the press . 14 Chasin g the Monsoon Eclips e Ja y Anderso n The frequenc y o f clou d cove r show n b y pas t record s sugges t tha t th e chances of a successful eclipse in 198 3 are high. 21 A Fire In the Sky Stewar t Krysk o This particula r firebal l was well observed by thousands of northern Albert a residents and the cameras of the Canadian Meteo r Patrol . 22 Starnlgh t — Once Mor e Wit h Feelin g Ro d McConnell You know the work is worth i t as a youngster approache s the eyepiece and whistles i n wonder a t an object he is seeing fo r th e first time .

2 Th e Fron t Pag e President' s Message 4 Astronom y Basic s Ring s Around the Sun 6 Discoverie s Astronom y New s Update 24 RAS C New s 24 Genera l Meetin g Notic e 25 A t the Planetariu m 27 Loo k Bac k Tim e 5 0 and 100 Years Ago 28 What' s U p ? Gemin i

COVER: O n March 17, the spaceship Columbia Is scheduled to liftoff from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Centre. It will be the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle, the long-awaited new spacecraft that will become the workhorse vehicle for space exploration in the 80'» and 90's. Three days after launch, the Columbia will glide to a landing (depicted here) at one of the 3 Shuttle landin g strips I n the U.S .

DEADLINE FO R AP R MA Y ISSU E Monday . Marc h 9 PRESIDENTS MESSAG E We ar e a t the star t o f a new operating yea r fo r th e Edmonto n Centre, and at the January meeting a new Council wa s elected. Many members of Council have continued o n for two-year term s in office. There were a number of others who stepped down, however. I would like to thank them, and in particular Dav e Holmgren, Mark Leenders, and Rod McConnell fo r thei r contribution s during 1980 . Here then i s the 198 1 Council: PRESIDENT: Te d Cadlen VICE-PRESIDENT: Dav e Belche r the SECRETARY: Ton y Whyte TREASURER: Me l Rankin OBSERVING CO-ORDINATOR: Darrel l Cro w front EDITOR O F Stardust: Ala n Dyer NATIONAL COUNCI L REP : Ala n Dyer COUNCILLORS: Kevi n Atchlson, Dav e Beale, Gart h Fltzner , Craig page Makarowskl, Dave Parker Those o f u s continuing o n Counci l an d th e ne w member s of Council loo k forward to the successful completion i n 1981 of our two Editor current projects : Alan Dye r — Th e 17.5 " f/4. 5 Dobso n telescope , scheduled fo r completio n i n Assistant Editor April. Stewart Kryiko — The Buc k Mountai n Observin g Sit e an d building , scheduled fo r Contributing completion b y late summer. Editors Tad Cadlen We ar e beyon d th e plannin g phases fo r bot h project s an d John Haul ! sufficient funds have been gathered to cover most of the anticipated Dave Holmgre n construction costs . I n th e month s t o com e w e wil l requir e you r Andrew Lowe assistance in finalizing theconstruction details, materialsacquisition, Rod McConnel l and i n putting u p the building . Anthony Whyte A smal l grou p i s alread y a t wor k constructin g th e Dobso n Typesetting telescope. Another group will be formed to put up the Buck Mountain Lorna Mllllgan building and Dav e Beale (the Observing Site Director) has asked for Graphic Arts interested peopl e (hopefull y wit h som e previou s house/garag e Dave Belche r construction experience) to contact him. (Phone Dave at 474-0811) Rick Corrlgan For further information on these or an y other o f the Edmonton Centre activitie s pleas e contact me at 463-170 3 (Home), 436-0641 (Work). Thanks ! The City Of -- Ted Cadle n EDMONTON Parks an d Recreation

STARDUST, the newsletter of the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium and the Edmonton Centre, RASC, is published bi-monthiy and is available free to all members of the Roy si Astronomical Society of Canada , Edmonton Centre as a benefit of membership. Single cop/os are available at the Planetarium Bookstore for 75C . STARDUST is also available by subscription for $4.50 per year for 6 issues ($9.00 for two years for 12 issues). Please make all cheques or money orders payable to: The Queen Elizabeth Planetarium. Write to: The Editor, STARDUST; c/o Queen Elizabeth Planetarium: C N Tower 10th Floor; 10004 -104 .\vonuo; Edmonton, Albzria, ToJ OH I. Unsolicited articles or photographs pertaining to any aspect o f astronomy .ir o welcome. HOURS: 8:30am - 4:30pm ivlon - Fr i 6:30pm - 9:00pm Tues - Su n 1:30pm -4:00pm o Sot ar c Sun (75

O Now In Stock Celestron 8 Dew Caps O Celestron Tripod Tote Bags Dew Remover Guns GO Astronomer's Flashlights No-Tool Knob Sets for C5/C8V Arriving Soon E Meade Schmidt-Cassegrains: 8-inch 4-inch Wedge Tripod 8-inch Packag e O 4-inch Packag e Package include s Mead e wedge an d tripod 0 If you hav e an y questions, phone Stew D during regula r office hours QL Mon.-Fri. o/Uonomy bo/ic / ring/ aroun d th e /u n

Doing amateu r astronom y i n th e winte r actually exten d aroun d th e sun fa r enough t o inevitably involves hardship. To survive the cold meet, formin g anothe r halo , calle d th e and windy nights , yo u hav e to dress like some circumscribed halo just outside th e 22 ° halo . moon-bound astronaut , merel y t o endur e a n Often a horizontal bright ban d will appea r hour o r two under the sparkling winter sky. But passing through th e sun, through the sundogs luckily, th e winter season also brings a type of and paralle l wit h th e horizon . I n it s mos t observing tha t ca n b e don e wit h grea t spectacular form , thi s parheli c circl e ca n b e convenience durin g th e daytime , an d with n o seen stretching 360° aroun d the sky. A second optical ai d o r specia l equipment . Soun d pair o f sundogs can sometimes appear on this appealing? circle, located 120° away from either side of the Winter i s when yo u ar e mos t likel y t o see sun. A brigh t spo t sometime s ca n b e see n the unusua l atmospheri c phenomen a o f directly opposite the sun on this circle. This rare sundogs an d solar halos . Searchin g for thes e sight i s calle d th e anthelion , an d i s als o th e and othe r rare r form s o f halo s ca n b e a n location wher e som e ver y rar e arcs , calle d interesting winter observing pasttime. anthelic arc s cross. The mos t common form of solar halo is the More commo n tha n mos t o f thes e 22° halo , so-called because its radius is always phenomena i s anothe r typ e o f tangen t arc , 22°. Ofte n locate d o n eithe r sid e o f th e sun , called the inf ralateral arc. These can be seen on usually also at a distance of about 22°, are the either sid e o f the sun , tangent to the 46° hal o parhelia or sundogs. These can appear with or (which itsel f ma y no t b e seen) an d belo w th e without th e 22 ° halo . Sundog s canno t b e parhelic circl e line . formed whe n the sun i s higher tha n 61 ° above All these strange daytime sights are caused the horizon, which in winter from our latitude, it never is . A much rare r sigh t i s th e 46 ° halo, Ice Crystals and Light Paths which is seldom seen complete. A faint 46° halo was visibl e i n Edmonto n o n particularl y haz y 22° Hal o morning jus t befor e Christmas . A phenomenon usuall y morecommonthan the 46° hal o is the clrcumzenithal arc. This can only occu r fo r su n elevation s below 32° , an d Clrcumzenithal Arc therefore ca n b e seen anytim e i n winter . This appears a s a bright arc , usually with rainbow - like colors, nea r the zenith. If there is a 46° hal o present a s well , th e circumzenitha l ar c wil l usually appear tangent to it , like two circles in contact. Contact arcs can also appear tangent to the conventional 22°halo . Thes e ar e rare , but are sometimes see n sprayin g of f th e 22 ° hal o directly abov e and below the sun. In winter, the lower tangent ar c would seldom be seen, being 22° Sundog s below th e horizon . Fo r su n elevation s abov e Parhelic Circl e 40°, th e uppe r an d lowe r 22 ° tangen t arc s by the refraction o f sun light through the various phenomena ca n occur . Al l th e regula r faces of 6-sided ice crystals. Theoretically, the "above-horizon" halo s an d spots ca n b e see n same phenomena can occur at night around the below th e horizon i n the clouds. Ther e can be moon. Th e 22 ° hal o i s fairl y common , bu t "subsuns", "subsu n dogs" , "sub-parheli c moondogs (o r paraselene!) and all the rest are circles", etc. quite rare , moonligh t bein g s o muc h fainte r If you' d lik e t o lear n mor e abou t than sunlight . atmospheric phenomena , I highly recommen d Another ice-crystal effect to watch for is the a ne w boo k o n th e subjec t calle d Rainbows, light pilla r Durin g the day , a vertical streak of Haios, an d Glories b y Rober t Greenler , light ca n b e seen passing through th e sun. At published b y Cambridge Universit y Press. It is night, this phenomen a takes the eerie form of very well illustrated and explains the nature of vertical pillar s o f ligh t abov e every streetlight . all thes e sky effects i n an understandable an d Light pillars are caused by theref/ecf/onof light readable fashion. A similar book but not as well off th e to p an d botto m face s of fla t plat e ic e illustrated, i s M . Minnaert' s classic work, Th e crystals i n the air. Nature of Light and Colour in the Open Air. From a n aircraft , a ne w arra y o f hal o — Alan Dyer

Components of a Spectacular Halo Display..^ • - , • " •>#••• ; ';: : - • ** &J.-&& - -•• - ' •••" : ••''^•^'^ fti$^^^^':'''^&^!^ Clrcumzenitha l Arc

•:.-.;-^^^PifiWiftg^^^ • . • * • .»• * • "VViif' 'J^rf: . , S *i n '• • .•*• • *.'*'»J."* ^ -V^' j -• . . ' - ' - L£.: Supralatera l Arc

:$& Parheli a or Sundogs ' "

Infralateral Arcs>; s ^. • • • -•.--. • y* ^.T" Uppe r and Lower Contact Arcs i*f--;"'.- ar e par t of th e "Circumscribe d ^T.-'.^vk/y-' ; Halo "

X Diagra m adapted from Rainbows, Halos, and Glories by Robert Greenle r {Cambridg e University Press) di/covcnc/ ci/tronomy neuu / updat e

THE GREAT SOLAR CRAP GAME recently. Now thi s i s NO T a prove n theory o f th e During th e las t few years there have been working o f th e sun , bu t i t i s remarkabl e that various attempts to lin k the lon g term sunspot such a simulatio n o f chanc e intensit y alon e cycle (no t th e 1 1 year cycl e know n t o mos t would produce this striking effect. But it has the people) t o climat e change s o n Earth . potential o f raisin g a ver y unsettlin g Specifically, i t has been argued that when long philosophical question . For if solar fluctuations periods of time go by with few spots appearing are responsibl e fo r change s i n th e Earth' s on th e fac e o f th e sun , the n the Eart h suffer s climate, and if an unknown element deep in the through a col d spel l tha t ma y approac h th e solar interio r randomly determine s these solar proportions o f a min i ic e age . Whil e th e lin k fluctuations, the n w e ma y hav e to accep t th e between weather and sunspots is by no means idea that our weather, and our lives, are deeply firm, there doe s seem to b e good evidence for affected b y pur e chance. long term variations in the number of sunspots - Pau l Dean s that grac e th e sola r surface . The questio n is , what causes this variation. At th e A.A.A.S . meeting s i n Toront o thi s THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION January, Phili p Morriso n presente d a publi c AND THE NASA BUDGET lecture durin g whic h h e touche d o n thi s Now that Jimmy Carte r has turned over the problem. H e summarized a recently publishe d White Hous e t o Ronal d Reagan , the complex paper that addressed the problem of long term translation o f pre-electio n rhetori c int o variability. administration polic y begin s i n earnest . The author s o f th e pape r i n questio n Already, however, it appears that those whohad assumed tha t th e su n i s littl e mor e tha n a n hoped fo r a n improvemen t i n th e budge t o f oscillator, with a short-term period (11 years for NASA unde r a Reaga n presidenc y ma y b e the sunspo t cycle , 2 2 year s i f th e magneti c disappointed. Muc h depends upo n how man y turnabouts ar e included ) an d lon g ter m of th e recommendation s o f Mr . Reagan' s variations. Bu t what make s it go? Their mode l economic adviser s ar e adopte d b y th e ne w constructed t o simulat e thi s 'sola r oscillator ' President. Principl e amon g thes e advisers are used purel y rando m inpu t - - a gaussia n Representatives Jack Kemp(R.-N.Y.) and David distribution o f amplitudes an d phases to excit e Stockman (R.—Mich.). the 'sola r oscillator ' -- pur e chance . The y ra n Stockman i s th e ne w hea d o f th e Whit e this mode l fo r a whil e an d th e result s were House Offic e o f Managemen t an d Budge t surprising. which ha s much sa y i n the numbe r an d use of Over hundred s o f years , th e pea k o f th e dollars given to NASA; the OMB has in the past 11.22 year cycles could be seen to build up, fade been responsibl e fo r scuttlin g suc h NAS A away (sometime s to almost nothing ) an d buil d proposals a s a Halley' s Come t mission . up again. When graphed, the long period cycles Alarmingly, in a memorandum t o the President- look remarkabl y lik e the long period variations elect, Stockman listedtheNational Aeronautics in th e sola r cycl e that hav e been propose d b y and Spac e Administratio n a s a "low-priority" John Edd y an d others ! I n th e artificia l cycle , agency - on e o f a grou p whos e budget s h e "Maunder Minimum " typ e trough s coul d b e would lik e to cut by one-third. picked out as well as peaks in sunspot numbers NASA's budge t fo r abou t th e las t decad e equivalent t o th e hig h reading s observe d has remained nominall y stabl e but has actually been declinin g rapidl y i n terms of rea l dollar s owing to inflation. If, in addition to this attrition, NASA's budge t i s cut b y one-thir d NAS A will barely hav e enoug h mone y lef t t o pa y fo r Shuttle launches . Ther e wil l b e n o fundin g available for any other space missions at all: the only Shuttl e payloads will b e those of civilian corporations, other government agencies, and foreign government s an d companies . An d because o f th e lon g lea d time s involved , n o funding durin g th e 1980' s fo r ne w spac e missions wil l mea n tha t th e 1990' s wil l se e absolutely n o space exploration. It will be as if Carl Saganafterstepping into the "cosmi c ocean " ha d hastily withdrawn his THE SHUTTLE FLIE S I N MARCH toe from the water and walked away. As 198 0 dre w t o a close , th e firs t Spac e — Ton y Whyte Shuttle craft, Columbia, wa s being prepared on Launch Pa d 39 A a t Cap e Canavera l fo r a March 1 7 liftoff . Afte r tw o year s o f delays , i t appears as if the Shuttle might finally get off the ground. Fo r the past year, more than half of the GRASS ROOT S FUNDIN G FOR 32,000 cerami c tile s wer e rebonde d t o th e SPACE Columbia's surf ace after it turned out that some With funding for U. S space programmes at were comin g "unglued. " Th e troublesom e ever-decreasing levels, several special interest Shuttle engine s wer e given a fourth an d final groups have sprung up to solicit public support . test in early December. While this was going on, One such group, the World Space Foundation , the prim e cre w o f Joh n Youn g an d Rober t in Sout h Pasedena , California, ha s taken ou t Crippen continue d their training i n Houston . advertisements t o publiciz e it s Sola r Sai l If all goes well with the first flight, then the Project i n severa l scienc e new s magazines . Shuttle program will proceed at full tilt, with up Then there is the Viking Fund, which ha s been to 7 4 flights i n th e firs t 4 years. Te n o f these accepting donation s fo r th e las t year . O n would b e launche d fro m th e Vandenber g Ai r January 9 the Viking Fund peopl e presented a Force Base in California. Of these flights, 1/3r d cheque fo r $70,00 0 t o NAS A officials to hel p will carr y NASA , civilian U.S. government an d support th e Vikin g 1 lander stil l operatin g o n European Space Agency payloads, 1/3rd will be Mars. Th e Lande r i s expecte d t o sen d bac k non-U.S. governmen t payload s suc h a s information for another decade, and the Viking commercial communication s satellites , an d Fund i s determined tha t thi s treasur e o f dat a 1/3rd will be for U.S. military payloads. The long should no t be bleeped ou t int o space unheard range schedule calls for 487 flights through the from earth. mid-1990's. A grou p wit h a muc h broade r objective , In additio n t o Columbia , th e Shuttl e fleet namely t o demonstrat e th e exten t o f publi c consists o f Challenger , wit h it s firs t fligh t interest i n th e exploration of our sola r system scheduled fo r November , 1982 , the Discovery and the search for extraterrestrial life, has been scheduled t o fl y i n Decembe r 83 , an d th e set u p b y Car l Saga n an d Bruc e Murray . Atlantis which will not fly unti l March 1985 . Membership i n their "Planetar y Society " costs --APD $20; they publis h a newsletter an d provid e a source fo r obtaining spacecraf t photos . ED. NOTE : Watc h for a feature articl e o n th e -- Ton y Whyt e Shuttle i n th e nex t issue . If we ujere to list a group of things that we would never hav e imagined to fin d i n the Satur n system, this would have been right at the top of the list... It wouldn't have been on the list at all, actually I - Imagin g Team Leade r Bra d Smit h commenting on the braide d F ring, Nov. 12 , 198 0 LIF€ R T J.P.I .

concerns as how to pronounce the names of the by various satellites . An d finally , down ther e underfoot makin g nuisances of themselves are Paul Dean s planetarium type s who hav e infiltrated the area in a n attempt t o abscon d wit h item s (suc h as or man y o f th e projec t scientist s an d film clip s an d colou r prints ) reserve d for th e science reporters preparing fo r the Saturn 'working members ' o f th e press . No w i n al l Fencounter, there was a feel ing that they had fairness t o J.P.L . i t should b e mentione d tha t already see n it all. Th e search for lif e on Mars, planetariums d o receiv e prints o f th e missio n the swirling cloud s o f Jupiter, the volcanoes of (weeks afte r th e event ) plu s new s update s lo -- they would be tough acts to follow. Yet the regarding significan t findings . I n addition , ringed plane t cam e through , surprisin g there would b e no way for J.P.L. to handle the everyone b y revealin g unusua l rings , oddbal l great numbers of science teachers/planetarium satellites an d a planetar y atmospher e wit h types wh o woul d probabl y descen d upo n several unusua l characteristics. Pasadena i f th e invitatio n wa s extended . But while al l these discoveries were being Nevertheless, i t wa s extremel y frustratin g made an d announced , frenzie d activit y wa s trying t o collect , i n th e fac e o f ragin g taking plac e behin d th e scene s a t th e Je t indifference, al l th e material s neede d fo r th e Propulsion Laborator y i n Pasadena, California. McLaughlin planetariu m programm e I wa s Some o f thi s excitemen t spille d ove r int o th e producing, whic h ha d a deadlin e a s tight a s press room--an auditorium at the edge of J. P.L. those o f th e variou s astronomica l magazine s that wa s inhabite d fo r tw o week s centere d represented at J.P.L... around Novembe r 12t h b y cables, typewriters Each day' s activitie s woul d begi n wit h a and the 'gentlemen of the press' . It is from this press conference in the auditorium. After a brief location tha t th e following backgroun d t o the summary of the spacecraft's health, report s of Saturn mission of Voyager I is drawn. the experimenta l result s began . Fro m 4 to 1 0 In th e pres s worl d o f J.P.L . ther e i s a scientists woul d presen t a synopsi s o f th e distinct hierarch y o f media . Suprem e i s previous day' s findings , ofte n pleadin g fo r television, receiving everything made available: understanding tha t th e result s wer e 'ver y prints, 16m m fil m clips , sounds , interview s ... preliminary' in nature and could b e outdated by the works. Next, the print medi a gathe r i n their the following day. These remarks were followed goodies. Numbe r thre e i s radio , wit h suc h by a questio n an d answe r session , wit h th e IHB

entire conference lasting anywhere from 1 to 3 The main control room for JPL's Deep Space Network hours. which tracks the two Voyager spacecraft . Immediately upo n th e conclusio n o f th e briefing, mos t pres s peopl e hurrie d of f t o sunny. worship at the local temple— a small, holy room The pres s cor p populatio n ros e called 'Mission Photos' -- from which emerged dramatically a s th e dat e o f clos e encounte r the lates t visua l display s offere d u p fro m th e approached. O n Nov . 11t h an d 12th , severa l great go d Voyager . Carefull y guarde d wer e hundred reporter s an d camerame n crowde d these precious blac k & white and colour prints, into th e auditorium, representin g suc h diverse both b y th e keeper s o f th e templ e an d th e countries a s Japan , Sweden , France , Britain , suitably impresse d recipients . Canada, Australi a an d o f cours e th e Unite d Next, interview s wer e arrange d an d States. I t wa s als o a scienc e fictio n fan' s conducted, eithe r inside the auditorium besid e dreamcome-true sinc e th e Scienc e Fictio n the full scale mockup o f Voyager, or outside i n Writers o f Americ a ha d wangle d passe s fo r the fin e Californi a smogshine . I t wa s always many o f thei r members . (Ther e wer e enoug h interesting t o coun t th e numbe r o f time s th e 'big name ' writer s there t o fil l at leas t a year's summary o f a T V repor t ha d t o b e repeate d worth o f 'guest-of-honour ' spot s a t scienc e because the reporter blew his lines (the reporter fiction conventions. ) Then , suddenl y a s ai r shall remain nameless) or, in the case of Patrick escaping from a punctured tire, a large portion Moore o f th e BBC , t o liste n t o hi s missio n of th e pres s vanishe d o n th e 13th . Obviously summary tape d outdoor s severa l day s before that wa s i t .. . closes t approac h ha d bee n the conclusion o f the encounter. He obviously successful and nothing more could b e learned. didn't trus t th e weathe r to remai n brigh t an d And ye t th e mos t importan t scienc e wa s just ?y$jim' * & Mf: *#.

The Von Karman Auditorium at JPL was the scene for daily press conference s wher e mission scientist s (right ) presented the latest findings. AM photo s o f JP L b y th e author. being received and analyzed, and would not be all thei r finding s wer e extremel y preliminar y released for severa l more days. and tha t i t wa s obvious from th e ton e o f th e Meanwhile, projec t scientist s wer e no t press conference s tha t th e pres s wer e onl y having a holida y either . I t wa s a muc h mor e interested i n th e 'prett y picture 1 aspect of th e hectic encounter than had been experienced at mission anyway. The counter argument, led by Jupiter. A s was pointed ou t during on e of the Voyager Projec t Scientis t Dr . E d Stone , wa s press conferences , th e initia l exploratio n o f that a n effort shoul d b e mad e to interes t th e Jupiter and its moons took plac e over a period public i n all the science aspects of the Voyager of 4 days. At Saturn, because the satellites are flyby -- an argument that eventually carried the closer to the planet, that 'first-look' period took day. place i n les s tha n 1 8 hours . Consequently , During the quiet times, it waspossibletosit scientists barel y ha d tim e t o receiv e the data around the press area and watch TV ... not your before they ha d to face the pres s and provide ordinary programming mind you, but an almost 'instant science 1 for th e assembled multitudes. nonstop live telecast from Saturn itself. Black & Not surprisingly, there were many behind - white television monitors scattered throughout the-scenes squabble s amon g th e missio n the pres s area revealed the ra w (but very hig h scientists concerning what information should quality) photo s a s they wer e beame d bac k t o be released . Apparentl y som e scientists , Earth from Voyager. With this setup , everyone particularly those working i n the complex areas could becom e a 'discoverer ' o f ne w world s of charge d particles , magneti c field s an d since th e picture s wer e bein g see n plasma science , wer e reluctan t t o announc e simultaneously b y the scientists an d the press. their findings . Thei r double argument was that Another benefi t o f attendin g th e 10 VOVRG6R 1 : Th e Latest Result s Much o f th e informatio n you hav e been o r 11!). The inne r 'D' ring exists; the outer 'E' ring will b e readin g i n th e Januar y an d Februar y exists all the way out to the orbit of Rhea; and the issues o f th e variou s slick monthl y magazine s new 'G 1 ring i s located betwee n the T ring and about the Voyager encounte r with Saturn had a the orbit of the two co-orbital satellites (at about dateline of the end of November or beginning o f 2.45 Saturn radii) . December. This i s because of the long lead time The 'F ' rin g braid s ma y b e caused b y very needed t o pu t magazine s together. But , a t th e complex gravitationa l interaction wit h th e tw o recent meetin g of the American Association for shepherd satellite s {S13 an d S14) , particularly the Advancemen t o f Scienc e i n Toront o i n when they come into conjunction once every 25 January, severa l announcement s wer e mad e days or so. However, at leas t part of the 'F' ring concerning Voyage r result s analyze d jus t seems to be composed of micron-sized particle s recently: and s o they ma y be influenced by the magneti c One o f th e mor e difficul t experiments was and/or electri c field of Saturn. the examinatio n o f Voyager' s radio signal s as they passe d through Titan' s thick atmosphere . At th e A.A.A. S meeting , i t was announced that using thi s technique , th e surfac e o f Tita n ha d been reached, and a very interesting surface it is. The atmospheric pressure at ground leve l is 1.5 bars , o r 1. 5 times th e pressur e o f Earth' s atmosphere a t sea-level . Th e surfac e temperature i s 97 ° Kelvi n (-176°C) . Th e atmosphere itsel f i s 95 % to 99 % nitrogen gas , with trac e element s tha t includ e ethane , ethylene, acetylene , hydrogen cyanid e and , o f course methane . No w i t turn s ou t tha t th e conditions a t th e surfac e ar e trul y strange , What ar e th e ring s mad e of ? Averag e although ther e ar e probabl y n o nitroge n sea s particle size s ar e no w known , thank s t o radi o anywhere o n Tita n (tha t wa s proposed whe n i t occultation experiments . I n th e 'C ' ring , th e was thought tha t the surface temperature migh t largest numerous rock s are 1 metre in diameter . be 70°K to80°K). Instead, i t seems that 97°K is But in the 'A' and 'B' rings, the larges t particles very close to the triple state point of methane. In are on the orde r of 8 to 10 metres in diameter . other words , at that temperature , methan e ca n There i s als o a grea t dea l o f smal l particulat e exist as a gas. a liquid and a solid. So Titan may matter i n the 'B' ring. I f lumped all together, th e have a soli d surfac e mad e o f hydrocarbo n material i n the rings would form a satellite 200 to material with methan e clouds, methan e rain and 300 kilometres i n diameter with a mass of 3 X 10-8. oceans, an d methan e ic e cap s an d ice-berg s the mas s of Saturn . floating i n the methan e seas ! It is an analogou s Finally, a non-Voyage r discover y wa s situation t o Earth , where water is near it s triple announced .. . a 16t h moo n for Saturn . This was state point becaus e of our surface temperature. first see n fro m Eart h i n Marc h o f 1980 , bu t In addition, th e true diameter of Titan wa s also confirming observation s have just recently been found -- 5,800 km with atmosphere, 5.120 km as a made. Its period i s about 1.9 8 days, and its orbit solid body . It s density i s therefore 1.9 gm/cc. is just beyon d tha t of Tethys (th e 3rd 'classical' Some genera l comment s wer e als o mad e moon ou t fro m Saturn) . Th e onl y troubl e i s about the rings. The eccentric rings found in the satellite designation s are mad e on the basis o f 'C' rin g an d i n on e o f th e gap s i n Cassini' s the dat e o f discovery , s o thi s on e shoul d b e Division could b e cause d b y a pai r o f tin y called S13. That means that the moons known as satellites o n eithe r sid e o f eac h rin g movin g S13 an d S1 4 (th e shepherds ) an d S1 5 (th e around Saturn in eccentric orbits. Voyager 2 will closest moo n t o th e 'A ' ring ) ma y hav e to b e check ou t thi s idea. Within Cassini's Division at renumbered. O h well, some da y they'll all hav e least 36 individual ring features are present (and names anyway. this i s where the y wer e goin g to sen d Pionee r -- Pau l Deans

11 happenings at J.P.L. (rather than reading about At left , a view o f one o f the TV monitor s a t JPL wit h them a few months later) is the amazing amount "live" picture s fro m Saturn . of extra information that can be picked up-odds Above, a sweeping view of the rings taken as Voyager and ends that neve r make it into the papers or left th e Saturnlan system . magazines. Fo r example , i t woul d tak e approximately 2 4 hour s t o respon d t o a n a nuclea r submarine) . Voyage r 2 i s definitel y unexpected situatio n onboar d Voyage r with a 'go' for it s Uranus mission , despite the fact that new se t o f commands . Durin g thi s tim e th e there ar e a s ye t n o fund s availabl e fo r th e trouble woul d b e analyzed, solutions propose d ground suppor t require d to receive the signals. and tested, and afinal decision made , mostly by (So i t i s possibl e tha t Voyage r wil l sai l pas t committee. Th e transmittin g o f a n Uranus i n 198 6 an d n o one will b e listening.) unauthorized signa l t o a spacecraft is perhaps The Neptune option will be exercised only if the the worst offense possible at J.P.L., punishable spacecraft i s i n goo d healt h afte r passin g by almost instan t dismissal ! Uranus. Speakin g o f Neptune , on e ide a pu t Other fascinatin g little items gleaned from forth i s that this distant planet may not possess the encounte r missio n includ e th e following : a se t o f rings . It' s argued tha t th e retrograd e Typical exposure s for most of the photos taken motion o f Trito n (Neptune' s larges t satellite ) by Voyager are about 1/4 second long. It takes a would disrupt and scatter any particlesthat had 1 second exposure to obtain star images. By the attempted o r wer e attemptin g t o for m a rin g end of the Voyager 2 Saturn encounter (whic h system around th e planet . is t o tak e plac e August 25th) , the projec t wil l The missio n a t Saturn was divide d int o 3 have cos t $35 0 millio n dollar s ove r a ten year areas o f responsibility . Th e bigges t proble m period (the same cost as for the construction of faced b y Fligh t Operation s wa s unsolvable - they worrie d ove r th e weathe r i n Spai n tha t might have disrupted the receipt of data by the Madrid trackin g station . Fligh t Engineering' s greatest worr y wa s t o recalculat e al l th e manoeuver time s afte r Voyage r misse d it s predicted rendezvous with Titan by 43 seconds. As for the boys in Flight Science, their greatest headache was keeping gate crashers out of the science area ! S o yes , th e Satur n flyb y wa s

Voyager photographed 1 5 of Saturn's 16 moons. Here is Mimas , sportin g a n impac t crate r tha t I s 1/ 4 th e diameter o f this tiny moon .

12 The Dancin g Co-orbital Moon s So you'v e checke d ou t th e scienc e an d astronomical magazines , have rea d th e variou s explanations as to how the 'shepherd'moons (S13 and 314} keep the 'F' ring in place and can actually make vague sense of it all. But now you see that the co-orbitals (S10and S11 ) do even stranger things like .. . reverse thei r directio n o f motio n a s the y approach eac h othe r (o r somethin g lik e that). Well, to pu t your min d a t rest , here is the official explanation as put forward by Dr. Bradford Smith, Voyager Imaging Team Leader, at a session of the A.A.A.S. held i n early January. But, whe n a highe r orbi t i s reache d b y th e The inner co-orbitaf (the one 50 km closer to trailing satellite , i t acquire s a lowe r angula r Saturn) i s trailin g th e oute r co-orbital . Bu t velocity (i n other words it takes slightly longer to because th e inne r on e i s close r t o Saturn , i t i s orbit Satur n tha n i t use d to) and , as you migh t moving aroun d Satur n slightl y faste r tha n th e expect, the leading co-orbital (which has dropped outer co-orbita l an d i s therefore slowly catching into a lower orbit) takes slightly les s time to orbi t up t o it . A s i t approaches , th e inne r on e i s Saturn than it used to. SO, the trailing moon, now gravitationally accelerate d towar d th e leadin g in a higher orbit, begins to fall behind th e leading (and larger ) co-orbital . A t th e sam e time , th e moon, no w i n a lower orbit .. . in other words, the leading moo n feel s it s companio n approachin g separation distanc e betwee n th e tw o begin s t o and i s slightly decelerated . So the trailing moo n increase. The y ar e stil l movin g i n th e sam e gains a little energy while the leading one loses a direction a s before, it's just tha t th e trailing co - little energy. But i n a moving system such as the orbital is now slower than the leading co-orbital . one at Saturn, when energy i s gained by an object, One of the most importan t things to remember in it moves into a slightly higher orbit. Conversely, an all thi s i s tha t i t i s al l happenin g i n a frame o f energy los s means the object drops int o a lower reference that i s rotating around Satur n and must orbit. SO , this mean s that th e trailing co-orbita l therefore obey th e law s of motion a s put forward climbs int o a higher orbi t (furthe r from Saturn) , by Kepler. Got all that? Good. You'll get my bill in while the leading co-orbital drops slightly closer to the mail. Saturn. — Pau l Deans virtually flawless. The Je t Propulsio n La b i s relativel y quie t That perfection has opened up yet another now. Data analysis continues, and will continu e planetary system for scrutiny. Scientists have a for year s t o come . Voyage r 1 i s no w o n it s new clas s o f moon s t o stud y (moon s mad e irreversible journey to the stars at a speed of 3.5 primarily of ice water), a frozen relic o f ancien t astronomical unit s pe r year i n the directio n o f Earth i n th e atmospher e o f Titan , an d a gas Alpha Ophiuchus. Th e reporters hav e departe d giant plane t whos e dynamic s ma y b e heavily for other stories, perhaps to return i n August for influenced b y th e fac t tha t i t experience s the Voyager 2 encounter. seasons. And o n a persona l note , I hav e almos t In additio n t o it s importanc e t o pur e recovered fro m th e exhilaratin g experience , science, the Voyager mission also touched th e and it s exhausting aftermath . Wha t with talks , imaginations o f million s o f peopl e aroun d th e articles, interviews , a scrip t an d sho w world. I n th e Unite d States , th e Lo s Angele s production, I rapidly developed a severe case of PBS statio n reporte d a three-fol d jum p i n Saturn Saturation . Bu t now , I ca n loo k a t a audience whenever The Voyage r Show' hit the Saturn photo without cringing, contemplate the air. But as with other spectaculars, the memory foibles of J.P.L. without crying , and fall asleep is fadin g fast , an d simultaneously , s o i s th e without tryin g t o coun t th e numbe r o f ringlet s space programme . present i n the 'B ' rin g o f Saturn . 13 Chasing Th e

flt-S>f "- With ove r 5 minutes o f totality , it's the bes t eclips e of the 80's .

Eclipse n June 11,1983, the Earth, Sun and Moon will onc e agai n reach a position i n thei r O celestial danc e whic h wil l permi t th e Moon's .shado w t o fal l o n th e Earth . Th e amphitheatre fo r thi s sola r eclips e wil l b e located i n Southeas t Asia : throug h th e Indonesian archipelag o an d acros s Ne w Guinea. This part of the world ha s a climate typical of the inner tropics, substantially modified by a number o f unique local features. Temperatures are high , bu t no t excessive , with a n annua l range s o small that i t does no t distinguish th e seasons. Th e regio n i s the larges t area of th e globe with an annual rainfall of 2500 mi Mi metres (100 inches ) o r more . Th e ai r i s humi d yea r round, yet , strangely, sunshine is abundant. Indonesia i s affecte d b y thre e larg e scale seasonal weather patterns. From Novembe r to March the northwest monsoo n bring s ai r from Asia acros s these waters. The eas t monsoon , from Wa y t o September , carrie s ai r fro m Australia. Betwee n th e tw o i s a transitional period, familiar in literatur e as the doldrums . The eas t monsoo n seaso n {know n elsewhere a s the southwes t monsoon ) wil l b e well-established a t eclips e time . I t ca n b e Environment Canad a equated wit h th e norther n hemisphere' s - • • . summer, and in the region of the eclipse, brings a distinct dr y season which i s not found in most other part s of the archipelago . 18 Left: A computer-drawn plo t of the 1983 eclips e path, from a programme written b y Andrew Lowe . Right: A ma p o f th e Indonesia n area , showin g th e eclipse path throug h Jav a and Sulawes i

thousand fee t an d rainfall i s much less intense than a t locations farthe r to the north and west. During June , Kupang , o n th e islan d o f Timor, and closest to Australia, has an average monthly rainfal l o f onl y 1 0 millimetre s (0. 4 inches). Bu t Kupan g i s a prominent exceptio n in thi s equatoria l region , an d thos e island s closer t o th e eclips e trac k ar e muc h wetter . Surabaya, in the eclipse zone on the north side of Java, averages 86 millimetres o f rain in June , while Makassar , o n Sulawes i (Celebes) , averages 74. These amounts are a little less than those which typically fall on the northern plain s states an d Canadia n prairie s durin g th e same month. SUNSHINE To the eclipse chaser, cloud cover is more important tha n rainfall , though ther e i s mor e than a casua l relationshi p betwee n th e two . While Nort h American s ar e incline d t o Indonesia, despit e th e rainfal l statistics , i s a think o f a monsoon seaso n as a wet one , th e very sunn y land . Becaus e almos t al l time i s better described by a direct translation precipitation come s fro m thunderstorms , of this Arabic word — "seasonal wind." Durin g monthly amounts accumulate rapidly from only June, wind s blo w outwar d fro m a winter hig h a modes t amoun t o f cloud. pressure cel l whic h build s ove r Australia (it' s Because o f th e rapi d modificatio n o f th e winter i n th e souther n hemisphere) , crossing Australian ai r mas s a s i t passe s ove r water , the Timor Sea to reach the islands which make cloud cover increases quickly from east to west. up Indonesia . A t it s Australia n sourc e But even more significant are the effects of the the ai r mas s i s typical o f a desert - dr y and local terrain on the steady monsoo n winds . warm. The same type of ai r can b e found over As inhabitant s o f th e Appalachian s an d the desert s o f th e America n southwest , Rockies ar e well-aware, air which is forced to bringing skies that astronomers bra g about . rise can very quickly tur n to cloud, especially if As the monsoo n wind s carry this air away it wa s humi d t o begi n with . Across southeast from th e Australia n coast , i t i s rapidl y Asia this effect is very common; smaller islands humidified b y th e war m water s of th e Timo r may hav e a we t an d dr y seaso n determine d Sea, changing, in the lower levels at least, to the almost exclusivel y b y th e win d direction . warm an d sultry maritim e ai r familiar to thos e Windward sides, with an upslope wind, are wet; living alon g th e Gul f Coast . The atmosphere the leeward side with its descending and drying becomes ver y unstable , capabl e o f formin g winds, wil l hav e a muc h smalle r amoun t o f immense thunderstorm s whic h ca n dro p precipitation. I n the are a o f th e eclipse sunn y prodigious amount s o f rain . weather wil l favou r the nort h sid e of Java and Nevertheless, i n th e relativel y shor t the wes t side of Sulawesi. trajectory from Australia to the eclipse site, the At Surabay a {se e p.18) , onl y 1/3r d o f th e atmosphere remains dry above the lowest 6 to 8 east monsoon days have more than half the sky

11 .^u i Pacific Ocean f

Timor Sea

covered by cloud. At Bandung, in western Java lies some 9 degrees east of Java on the eclipse on the island's mountainous spine, the number track, the sun has had an additional hal f hour to of cloud y day s nearl y doubles . Thi s i t no t form clou d becaus e o f it s earlie r rising . Th e entirely due to the higher altitude of Bandung, combined effect , which bring s a n hou r mor e since th e longe r over-wate r trajectory makes sunshine, could be critical i f the day is inclined western Jav a cloudie r tha n th e east . Bot h to b e cloudy. Semarang an d Djakarta , o n th e northwes t Satellite photographs taken in June of 1977 coast, sho w a significant amount mor e clou d and 1979 offer considerable encouragement to than Surabaya. eclipse chasers , reflectin g th e promisin g On Sulawesi, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) is statistics shown on p.18. Three sites, Surabaya, sheltered from the eas t winds and i s nearly as Ujung Pandang , an d th e sout h coas t o f Java sunny a s Surabaya. However Kendari, on th e were examined for clou d on the photographs ; same island , bu t eas t o f Ujun g Pandang , lies the statistic s that resulte d do littl e mor e tha n fully i n th e pat h o f th e monsoo n an d midda y give a roug h indicatio n o f th e frequenc y o f hardly eve r see s a sunny sky. cloud cover , but the y ar e no t widely different Since daytim e heating has a strong effect than th e muc h mor e extensiv e data tha t wa s on the formation of convective clouds such as used to compile the diagram on the next page. thunderstorms, skies tend to be cloudier in the In 1977, pictures were taken by NOAA-5at afternoon. Ther e ar e man y variation s on thi s approximately 9 A M an d 9 P M loca l time . I n theme i n the complicate d weather patterns of 1979, TIROS-N passed overhead at 3 AM and 3 the archipelago , bu t by-and-larg e a morning PM. The analysi s of thei r photo s showed th e eclipse i s mor e likel y t o b e favoure d b y number of cloudy an d clear passes at the three sunshine tha n a n afternoon one. The moon' s sites along the eclipse track. shadow reaches Java about 11:30 AM local time The conclusion confirmed that cloud is less and Sulawesi a half hou r later . Since Sulawesi likely i n the morning than in the afternoon and 17 KEY

Overcast

Broken Clou d

Sunny (less than 1/ 2 sky covered)

Ij [ i Kupan g evening. Howeve r considerabl e clou d ca n b e chasers ma y wan t t o tak e thei r chance s a t found overnigh t a s well , som e becaus e o f higher locations where photographs will beof a coastal fog, and more to thunderstorms formed higher quality . when coolin g ai r flowing of f th e lan d trigger s the instability . WINDS Though th e sateliit e photograph s ar e The east monsoon become s established in promising, th e statistic s show n abov e shoul d May and blows for severa l months, increasin g be used for planning . in steadiness and strength until August. This is an averag e condition , fo r ever y yea r ha s it s VISIBILITY variations in monsoonal development. To those The onse t o f the east monsoon i s marked used to the ever-varying winds of the temperate by a decrease in visibility as a dry hazechanges zones, th e monsoo n wind s o f Indonesi a wil l the sk y t o a blue-gre y colour . Th e haz e i s blow wit h an ongoing monotony . composed o f salt particles evaporated from the The mountainous island s and sea channels sea surface , wit h additiona l nateria i adde d have a stron g directiv e influence, turning th e from grass and forest fires. Drought condition s winds to blo w paralle l to the coasts. Lan d and in Australia aggravate the problem, and it tends sea breeze s alternate during th e night an d day to worsen as the east monsoon progresses. The as th e warmin g effec t o f th e su n set s u p th e lack o f extensiv e cleansin g rainfall s i s a characteristic off - an d on-shor e winds . Se a contributing factor . breezes, whic h brin g onshor e winds : ar e very The haz e i s confine d t o th e lowe r efficient a t preventin g th e formatio n o f atmosphere, along with most of the humidity. At convective cloud for severa l miles inlan d fro m altitudes above the haze layer, between 6 and 10 the coast. thousand feet above sea level, the air takes on a This breez e begin s towar d mid-mornin g refreshing drynes s an d th e sk y return s t o it s along the coast and gradually presses inland as familiar blu e tint . Adventuresom e eclips e the afternoo n progresses . Th e clou d edge , i f

II Left: A char t o f ke y site s aroun d th e eclips e pat h Preferred Area For Cloud showing clou d cover statistics. Surabaya and Ujung Pandang appea r t o offer th e bes t chances . Right: Clou d cover is les s likel y ove r coastal plain s near th e shore but may build up inland. there i s one, retreats from th e coast , provide d Higher the interior terrain is relatively flat and close to Terrain sea level . Bay s ar e particularl y suitabl e locations t o benefi t fro m thi s effect , whil e peninsulas offer the poorest prospects. The sea breeze is a low leve l circulation, so that eclipse Coastal Plai n - A Se a sites ma y take advantag e of th e protectio n o f Best Sit e for Seeing Eclips e higher terrain, while still enjoying a wind which blows of f th e sea at the surface techniques which ma y help: Mountainous terrai n als o channel s th e winds, an d th e disturbe d monsoon s ten d t o 1. Watch th e weather for a s many day s as develop high velocities as they turn or converge possible before the eclipse in the general are a of where you wish to be. Note the time that the through th e passes. first puff y convectiv e clouds appear , an d thei r SELECTING TH E ECLIPS E SIT E extent at eclipse time. Since the cloud tend s to The mos t likel y weathe r patter n shoul d appear earlier on days in which i t is heavy, the follow this scenario: pattern o n eclips e da y ma y giv e a few hour s 1. The probability of sunny weather is high warning tha t a particula r sit e ma y no t hav e a (approximately 65%) , especiall y o n th e particularly good view of the show. B e careful, northeast coas t o f Java . Cloud s ma y b e since the cloud will probably b e a little heavier building fo r th e afternoon . Highe r elevation s right afte r i t firs t pop s up , than a short whil e will hav e the greates t tendency t o cloud over, later. I f you choos e a coastal site, look fo r on e though thi s i s not a pronounced facto r i n east with a n onshor e breez e at eclips e time , an d Java. Location s i n th e le e o f highe r groun d confirm that the cloud has been pushed inland . (northeast Java , southwest Sulawesi) ar e best. 2. Fo r th e highes t qualit y photography , Coastal site s with a n onshore se a breeze give choose a high inland site. The colour of the sky additional assurances. and th e drie r feelin g wil l serv e a s goo d 2. Haz e wil l brin g som e reductio n t o indicators o f the state of the atmosphere . visibility, thoug h probabl y no t les s tha n 1 0 3. Choos e th e mos t easterl y locatio n miles. Highe r location s wil l hav e a bluer sky. possible. 3. Moderat e eas t t o east-southeas t wind s 4. Sta y mobile . I f you r skie s clou d over , are mos t iikel y o n th e south coast. Winds will head up wind or across the wind, especially if it's follow th e terrai n i n inlan d areas . B y lat e to a lowe r elevation . Convectiv e cloud almost morning nort h coasta l area s wil l hav e th e always ha s sunnier skie s nearby. beginnings o f a se a breez s whic h ma y strengthen o r weake n th e monsoo n winds , Of al l th e location s available , th e depending o n the coast's exposure. climatological evidence suggests that the north coast of Java, near Surabaya, may offer the best 4. Temperature s an d humiditie s wil l b e chances. Th e islan d o f Sulawesi , nea r Ujun g high, wit h th e mercur y reachin g clos e t o 30 ° Pandang, i s also a good site. Both depen d o n Celsius. Hig h mountai n passe s or saddles wil l finding th e right loca l condition s t o maximiz e be drier. the probabilities, but even in poor locations the With thes e characteristic s i n mind , a n frequency o f clou d show n b y pas t record s eclipse sit e ca n b e selecte d t o maximiz e th e suggest that the chances of a successful eclipse probability o f a goo d view . Her e ar e som e are high . 11 Nov. 25 , 1980 : A brilliant fireball explodes over Alberta . Wa s it a meteor? A satellite re-entry ? No one knows ye t

• •''•••:••. ; = ;-

The Nov . 2 5 bolide was captured o n film b y the Vegrevill e camera o f the Meteo r Observatio n and Recover y Project. Photo courtes y of Dr. Ala n Blackwell, Universit y of Saskatchewan. t was a clear night , that i s as clear as can be This particula r fireball wa s well observed, expected fro m downtow n Edmonton . ! was both visually, by thousands of northern Alberta Iwalking t o m y car , whic h wa s parke d i n c. residents, an d photographicall y b y th e Jasper Avenue car dealer's lot, whsn i noticed a Canadian Meteor Patrol. Over the next few days bright, purpl e colore d objec t i n th e sk y ! collecte d the visual reports from the general approaching fro m the east , i t traveled east to public, whil e Dr . Ala n Bleckwet l o f th e west, passin g abou t 6 t o 8 degree s south o f University o f Saskatchewa n gathere d Polaris. M y firs t impressio n wa s tha t i t wa s information fro m th e prairi e meteo r cameras . some kin d o f unusua l aircraft . As i t passed to The bolide was recorded on two of the cameras, the north its full identity became apparent. This including one at Vegreville, Alberta. Usin g thi s fireball wa s compose d o f 3 brigh t piece s information, some facts regarding th e object' s accompanied b y 1 0 t o 1 5 fainte r chunks . I t trajectory could b e determined. slowly dimme d a s i t approache d th e western It travelled about 7 km/sec a t an altitude of about 60 to 80 km. Dr. Blackwell's main interest was t o determin e wher e (i f a t all ) thi s objec t reached th e ground . Whe n I observe d th e meteor, i t wa s travellin g i n a horizonta l trajectory. I t gav e n o indicatio n o f an y piece s falling t o th e groun d a t tha t point . I als o A Fire received a repor t fro m 3 0 k m wes t o f Edson , where, as the person also described, the fireball disappeared towar d the western horizon. Thi s In The Sk y indicates that if the object didn' t ski p back int o space, it likely came down somewhere west of the Rockies, well beyond the limit of the prairie meteor camera system. There ar e tw o unusua l thing s abou t thi s particular object , one bein g tha t i t travelled so incredibly slow, and the other that it entered the by atmosphere almos t paralle l t o th e ground . Because its speed was less than that of escape Stewart Krysko velocity, Dr . Blackwel l ha s postulate d tha t i t must have been a satellite dropping out of orbit. The nex t mornin g I calle d th e Cheyenn e Mountain complex in Colorado Springs and the horizon, giving the impression that it was fading Cold Lak e trackin g statio n an d neithe r on e due to atmospheri c extinction a s it got further would confir m tha t i t wa s a satellite re-entry. awsy, rathe r tha n burnin g ou t or going beio w The Russians , however , launche d thre e the horizon . I happened to glance at my watch Cosmonauts int o orbit that week, and I believe when I first noticed the object, and the time was that th e meteo r ma y hav e bee n par t o f th e 6:19:05. As soon as it faded away I checked the launch vehicle . Th e "ma n made " satellite idea time once again and it read 6:20:10. It took over seems t o b e th e mos t acceptabl e a t thi s a minut e t o g o fro m horizo n t o horizo n — moment. However , another ver y exciting ide a extremely slow for a normal meteo r or fireball! has been proposed. Perhaps this object was not Quite astounde d b y th e whol e event , I a man-made satellite but a natural satellite — a scrambled into the office to borro w a pen and small chunk o f rock tha t ha d been orbiting the paper t o recor d th e detail s of m y observation earth fo r th e las t five billio n years , essentially while they wer e still fresh in my mind . earth's second moon !

21 8 An d 9 AR E rhe FOR ihi s YEAR' S biq EVENT .

STARNIGHT ONCE MOR E Wiih

by Rod

nce a yea r ther e i s a ma d scrambl e positive, an d th e ver y fact that they mad e an to prepar e fo r th e flurr y o f excitemen t appearance itsel f indicate s a n interest . Man y Oand chao s affectionatel y referre d t o a s are genuinely surprised that the show is all free, STARNIGHT. Behin d th e scene s of apparen t and really seem to enjoy themselves. But when confusion lurk s a hard-workin g grou p whic h it i s all over, and the trappings store d away for has sweated its way through endless meetings, another year , a nagging questio n stil l remains. pounds o f cookies , an d countles s cup s o f Was i t wort h it ? — both fo r th e publi c an d th e coffee lat e int o th e night . Th e week s o f Society? Hav e we really don e th e bes t job? preparation culminat e i n hundred s o f visitors To b e successful , al l venture s lik e milling about , perusin g th e displays , trippin g STARNIGHT mus t hav e a definite set of goals over obscure d powe r cord s an d complainin g and objectives . A valuabl e se t o f goal s fo r that the y reall y can't se e the littl e fuzzy blob s STARNIGHT migh t be : the telescop e operator s insis t ar e there ! Bu t — t o increas e publi c appreciatio n fo r th e most no d appreciativel y and turn away , soon mystery and wonder o f the universe. joining the next line-up for a peek at some other -- to increase public interest in astronomy as a celestial body . science Generally, th e visitors ' comment s ar e - to make the public aware of the diversity and 22 characteristics of astronomical objects. — t o promot e publi c knowledg e o f th e instruments we use to perceiv e the universe. SIMON -- to raise public awareness of the facilities and services availabl e t o the m fo r astronomica l NEWCOMB education. AWARD — to mak e the public aware of the existence of an astronomical Society which they ca n join. At the meeting of the Council of the RASC To mee t thes e goal s a t STARNIGHT , i t is on May 21, 1978, a proposal from the not sufficient to simply accumulate a variety of Halifax Centre, the activities an d the n jus t "le t th e whol e thin g Simo n Newcom b was adopted. The Award is named happen." Typically , th e feature s o f Award, after a native of Nova Scotia, an astronomer STARNIGHT include : telescope s traine d o n who was the foremost man of science of his celestial objects, displays, films and videotape, time in America. planetarium shows, astro-photography demos , information handouts , an d lot s o f RAS C members an d QE P staf f presen t t o answe r RULE Si questions. Al l thes e component s shoul d b e Topicst Award s will b e presente d fo r articles orchestrated to provid e a unified program . relating t o astronomy , astrophysic s o r spac e To pu t STARNIGH T together i n the past , science. Topic s shoul d Interest average to well- informed amateur s an d ma y b e o f curren t o r generally a loos e organizatio n o f peopl e have historical Interest . struggled wit h heav y workload s an d tigh t Presentation: Article s shoul d b e 100 0 - 150 0 timelines, an d usuall y withou t enoug h words, writte n I n proper grammatical form an d assistance fro m othe r RAS C members . Thi s presented typewritte n an d double-spaced . year, however, should be the yearthat we finally Diagrams nee d no t t> e I n finishe d form , bu t get organized! A proper working group shoul d should b e complet e an d read y fo r drafting . be pu t together , wit h peopl e specificall y i n Photographs ma y als o b e submitte d an d I f charge o f the following areas : possible origina l negative s shoul d accompan y Displays the submission. References should be Included Observing and according to the styl e used b y the Journal . Publicity EligtbUky: Any RAS C member In good standing Refreshments may submit articles. Audio-Visual Submission of Entries ; Articles must be received Information Handout s by the Awards Committee of the RAS C betwee n and General Assistanc e January 1 and Marc h 31. Members of Centre s must firs t submi t thei r entrie s to thei r Centre Simply put , STARNIGH T take s a Executive, wit h th e Executiv e choosin g th e tremendous amoun t o f wor k t o b e successfu l entries they wish to represen t their Centre. and the old adage, "If you are going to do it, do it Judging: Articles will b e judge d b y the Awards right!" still stands today. This year STARNIGHT Committee. Criteri a shal l includ e scientifi c will b e o n th e night s o f Friday , Ma y 8 an d accuracy, originality , an d literar y merit . T o Saturday, May 9. If you would like to contribute maintain unbiase d judging, th e Identit y o f th e to its organization, especiall y i n the areas listed author(s) should not appear on the article. above, pleas e don't be shy about volunteering . Presentation o f Award : Th e awar d wil l b e Phone Ted Cadien at 463-1703 o r let us know of presented a t th e nex t Genera l Assembly . The your interes t a t the nex t meeting . award will remai n i n the hand s of th e winner's You'll kno w th e wor k I S wort h i t a s a Centre fo r display and wil l b e returne d t o th e youngster hesitantl y approache s th e eyepiec e National Office b y April 1 of the following year. A and whistles i n wonder at an object he is seeing photograph o f th e Awar d ma y b e foun d i n the RASC National Newsletter, LSI , Dec . 1978 . for th e firs t time . STARNIGH T i s a specia l occasion. Let' s wor k togethe r t o mak e thi s year's event truly remarkable . ~!3^^!^^^ ici/c new /

CENTRE MEMBERSHI P DOIN G WELL LEARN THE SKY AT THE PLANETARIUM While it was off to a slow start earlier in the On Monday , Marc h 30 , beginning a t 7:30 fall, membershi p renewal s an d ne w PM, the Planetarium will be presenting aspecial memberships hav e picked u p considerably. As "sky familiarization " sho w fo r al l RAS C of January 15 , Centre membership stood at 102 members. Admissio n i s free , an d th e members, wit h a larg e percentage bein g ne w presentation wil l b e very informal , lastin g fo r members. A sizabl e numbe r o f member s fro m about 9 0 minutes (o r more , i f there's interest). last year still have not yet renewe d however. The constellations of the late winter, spring and summer skies will be pointed out, using the PACKING THE M I N Planetarium Sta r projector . We'l l demonstrat e December's General Meeting saw the bes t the position s an d motion s o f th e planets , attendance figure s yet , as ove r 10 0 peopl e including th e famou s Jupiter-Satur n tripl e jammed int o the Musi c Roo m at the Library t o conjunction. The locations of favorite deep-sky see th e marvelou s Voyage r 1 slides and films. objects and double stars will also be pointed out As coul d b e expected , a larg e par t o f th e in greater detai l tha n i n any public show. audience wa s mad e u p o f visitors and guests, This special presentation is not open to the perhaps attracte d to the meeting b y the public public, bu t i s for RAS C member s an d guest s service announcements o n radio, TV and in the only. If you have any questions about observin g press that advertise d th e meeting . Thes e wer e techniques, telescope use , etc., please take this prompted b y ou r Centr e pres s releases , sen t opportunity t o ask. out i n the week prio r t o th e meeting .

NOTICE o f GENERA L MEETING S

Wednesday, Feb. 11 Monday, March 9 Dr. Pau l Wesson, U.of A. Dr. Phi l Curry, Prov . Museu m "Is The Universe Spinning?" "The Extinctio n of the Dinosaurs " Now that' s a n Intriguin g tWe l Fo r mor e Dr. Curr y I s th e chie f paleontologis t fo r th e information on Dr. Wesson's talk, be sure to read Provincial Museum and his talk will review what his articl e I n th e January , 198 1 Issue o f we know about dinosaurs, and why they became Astronomy magazine. extinct. There are some Interesting astronomical causes proposed for the dinosaurs' downfall.

Both meeting s at : 8:00 PM ; MUSI C ROOM , EDMONTO N PUBLI C LIBRAR Y Guests an d member s o f th e publi c ar e welcom e 24 at th e planetariu m

For the pas t mont h or so, the planetariu m thousand year s to a s little a s 50 years. A s Dr. production staf f ha s bee n immerse d i n th e Russell put s it , fo r lif e o n th e eart h i t wa s a prehistoric worl d of dinosaurs. Dinosaurs ? A t global crisi s equivalen t i n destructio n t o th e the planetarium? What have dinosaurs got to do "simultaneous detonatio n o f 1/ 2 of the world' s with astronomy , you say? nuclear stockpile." In cas e yo u haven' t heard , th e lates t The theories ar e all very new, but based on theories abou t wh y th e dinosaur s becam e them w e ar e puttin g togethe r a planetariu m extinct invok e a grea t dea l o f astronomica l show calle d Th e Death o f th e Dinosaurs. speculation. Ther e ar e tw o mai n theorie s Beginning Marc h 6, the show is ouradaptation competing fo r attentio n i n th e scientifi c of a program originally produce d b y the H.R . literature thes e day s concernin g dinosau r MacMillan Planetariu m i n Vancouver. extinction. One states that a particularly violent Illusions, which prove d to be a very popular supernova nea r our solar system irradiated the programme, end s Feb . 22 . Fro m Feb . 2 4 t o earth t o suc h a n extent, that lif e was severely March 5 inclusive, we'll be presenting oneof our affected, bot h b y the hig h dose s o f radiatio n seasonal nigh t sky Star Shows. RASC members and b y th e climati c change s i t created . Th e can atten d planetariu m show s fo r free , o f main proponent o f this idea is Dr. Dale Russell course, bu t comin g u p o n Marc h 30 , we'l l b e of the Nationa l Museums in Ottawa. presenting a specia l "sk y familiarization " The alternativ e theory, propose d b y Drs . programme i n th e Planetariu m theatr e Luiz an d Walte r Alvare z o f th e Universit y o f specifically for RAS C members only . See page California, says that an asteroid about 10 km in 26 for details . diameter-collided wit h th e earth , creatin g a cloud o f dust that floated in the atmosphere for several years. This stratospheric layer was so dense, i t turned day into night, shutting off the photosynthesis process so essential to life. This in tur n kille d of f vas t number s o f specie s of animal life . A variatio n o n thi s them e i s another ne w idea that says it was not an asteroid, but an icy comet, an d tha t i t plunge d int o th e ocean , poisoning th e water with cyanide, and heating the ai r an d water . Soon, I am told, even more scenarios wit h variation s o n destructiv e astronomical theme s wil l b e proposed , one s calling upon galactic dust clouds, for example. How sever e were th e extinctions ? At th e end of the age of dinosaurs 65 million years ago (at the transition between the Cretaceous and the Tertiary periods), it appears a s if 75% of all living species, both plan t an d animal life , both land an d se a creatures, were eliminated fro m Planetarium staff member s awaiting with dread the the face of the earth. All this took place in a time thrilling premiere of the QEP's new show Deaf/7 of the span that may have been anywhere from several Dinosaurs. Don' t miss it! 26 THE ANNUAL fidwonton ^Banquet

Date: Saturd%, March 21 Time: 6:30 p m Ba r Opens 7:30 pm Banquet Place: Chateau Lacombe Hotel

Tickets will be $11.00 each and will be available at the February and March General Meetings, or phone Treasurer Mel Rankin at 469-3066 and reserve your ticket. Please reserve your place before March 14 to facilitate hotel arrangements.

Monday, March 30 Queen Elizabeth Planetariu m 7:30 p m Free Admission RASC member s an d guest s onl y please.

We'll point out prominen t constellation s the location s o f deep-sky objects the changing positions of the planets the Milk y Way the ecliptic look boc k lim e year/ ag o

FEBRUARY, 1881 : "The Presiden t o f th e Roya l Societ y presents hi s compliment s t o th e Edito r o f Nature, an d wil l b e much oblige d to hi m i f he will, at as early a date as may b e convenient, be so goo d a s t o giv e publicit y t o th e enclose d minute o f th e Transit of Venus Committee: "The Committe e appointe d b y th e Roya l Society, a t the reques t of th e Government , to make arrangements for observing the Transit of Venus i n 1882 , woul d b e glad t o b e informed whether astronomer s hav e a t thei r disposal , and ar e willin g t o lend , fo r us e i n th e observations, 4-inch , 5-inch , o r 6-inc h refracting telescopes , and 10-inc h o r 12-inc h isapp Kttrance reflectors, wit h equatoria l mountings ; als o portable transits or altazimuths. 1/2-inch refracto r b y Cook e equatoriall y "The instrument s woul d b e returned , i n mounted, wit h a powe r o f 96 . The plane t was perfect order , a s soo n a s possibl e afte r th e well placed for the observation, being nearl y in transit, and , i n an y case , befor e th e en d o f the zenith." 1883." FEBRUARY, 1931 : MARCH, 1881 : "It i s wel l know n tha t Si r W . Hersche l "I observe d her e thi s evenin g th e announced th e existenc e o f si x satellite s o f occupation of 73 Piscium by Jupiter, which was Uranus; but only four are now recognized. The predicted i n you r "Astronomica l Column " possibility o f th e existenc e o f additiona l under th e dat e December 23, 1880. At 1 h 52m. satellites, bot h o f Uranu s an d Neptune , ha s 30s. G.M.T. the star was hanging on the limb of been considered by many; we learn from a Daily the planet , an d b y 1h , 54m . i t ha d entirel y Science News Bulletin issue d b y Scienc e disappeared. Th e phenomeno n strongl y Service o f Washington , D.C . tha t a resembled the occultation o f a satellite, except photographic search for possible new satellites that th e disappearanc e was more rapid . Bu t i t has bee n mad e by Mr. W.H. Christie, usin g th e was no t instantaneou s as I had expected. The 60-inch reflecto r an d givin g exposure s fro m planet an d sta r appeare d to coher e fo r abou t one t o thre e hours . Th e result , however , was one an d a hal f minutes . Th e contras t i n thei r negative i n eac h case. Mr . Christi e conclude s colours was very marked, Jupiter appearing of a that i f an y bodie s exist , they ar e no t brighte r yellowish tinge, while the star shone out white than mag. 1 9 in the case of Uranus, or mag. 18.5 like a diamond. Durin g the occultation the red in that of Neptune. Eve n this negative result is of spot was on the planet's disk, and its following interest, and ma y save time, as establishing th e end was in about the same meridian as the point uselessness of searching for suc h bodie s wit h of the star's occultation . any smalle r instrument . I t woul d see m "The G.M.T . of reappearance was 2h. 44m., worthwhile t o mak e an attempt i n the cas e of when the star was again observed to hang on to Pluto; success is unlikely, but would be of value the planet' s limb . Th e telescop e use d wa s a 4 in giving Pluto' s mass. " 27 whcit V u p ? gem in i

Throughout the ages, Gemini has been pictured as the celestial twins. It contains a rich variety o f clusters and planetar y nebulae — something for everyone

** CLASS I OBJECTS ** ** CLASS III OBJECTS ** Bright, easy to find Challenge objects The firs t o f th e Clas s I object s i s M3 5 a Class II I i s mad e u p o f tw o (o r three , bright, ric h ope n cluste r just 2° north-wes t o f depending ho w yo u loo k a t it ) planetar y ^Geminorum. It s magnitud e o f 5. 5 make s it nebulae. NGC 2371/72 gives the appearance of visible t o th e unaide d ey e i n a dar k site . a doubl e planetary . It' s about 12. 5 magnitud e Through a reasonabl e size RFT , over 10 0 8t h and fairly large, about 30" x 50". Whil e listed as mag. stars fill the field, making it one of the best being ver y faint , it's no t tha t difficul t an d has open clusters i n the sky. been see n from a s close to tow n a s Ellerslie. The second Clas s I object i s the planetary The doubl e natur e o f thi s planetar y i s ver y nebula NGC 2392, or the "Clown Face Nebula". distinctive — i t look s lik e tw o haz y disk s i n It's a n ol d favourit e from m y earl y observin g contact. I t reside s abou t halfwa y between /? days. This i s one o f the first deep-sky object s and T Geminorum . that I could fin d withou t usin g a star chart . I t The las t object for this issue i s J900. This appears as a small, 8th mag. bluish spot not far one should prov e to b e tough! It' s about 12t h from 5 Geminorum . (Thi s is the bright starthat magnitude an d onl y 10 " i n diameter, so it will was ver y clos e t o Plut o o n th e planet' s appear ver y star-like . Althoug h show n i n th e discovery plate in 1930.) The "Clown Face" has Atlas o f th e Heavens , i t i s no t labeled . I t i s a 10t h mag . central star. located near the boundary between Gemini and Orion, northwest of y Geminorum . ** CLASS II OBJECTS ** Fainter, but distinctive For Clas s I I w e hav e a couple mor e ope n CENTRE MESSIE R CERTIFICAT E clusters. Th e first is a small compact an d very GOES NATIONA L rich littl e grou p abou t 4 ' i n diameter . Calle d In lat e 1980 , th e RAS C National Counci l NGC 2158 , thi s spatterin g o f star s i s aroun d accepted th e Edmonto n Centre' s Messie r 11th magnitude and sits just to the edge of M35. Certificate as a national award, available to any Both object s wil l likel y b e in the same field at RASC membe r wh o ha s located an d observed low powe r an d provide an interesting contras t all 11 0 Messie r objects . Anyon e i n the RASC of two ver y different classe s of open clusters. who i s eligible ma y appl y throug h thei r loca l Second o f all , is NGC 2266 , which lie s o n Centre, o r unattache d member s ma y appl y the outer boundar y o f the Milky Way, about 2° directly t o th e Nationa l Offic e i n Toronto . North o f e Geminorum . It' s a rich littl e grou p Edmonton Centr e member s ma y appl y b y about 5' in size, similar to NGC 2158. The stars contacting Centr e Presiden t Te d Cadie n a t seem to rang e from about 10th magnitude an d 463-1703 or contacting Observin g Coordinato r fainter. Darrel Cros s at 469-2391. as DEEP-SKY OBJECT S

OBJECT TYP E MAG. SIZE I Class I

M35 O C 5. 3 40 ' NGC 239 2 P N 8. 3 47"x43 " {Clown Fac e Neb. )

Class II

NGC 215 8 OC 12.5 4' NGC 226 6 OC 9.8 5'

A MER E 200 YEARS Although usuall y no t classe d as a "naked Class III eye" planet, Uranus can be seen without optical aid unde r a clear , an d ver y dar k sky . Considering this, it's difficult to imagine how it NGC 2371/7 2 P N 13. 0 54"x35 ' could hav e gon e unnotice d unti l Willia m J900 P N 12. 5 12"x10 ' Herschel accidentall y stumble d acros s i t i n 1781. At the time it was close to Eta Geminorum near th e wester n edge o f Gemini. Thi s i s very close to M35 , a Class I object from the "What's OC Open Cluster Up?" colum n thi s month . Marc h 13 , 1981 , GC Globular Cluster therefore is the two hundredth anniversary of its EN_._._ Emission Nebula discovery! ( A fact tha t seem s to hav e largel y RN Reflection Nebula gone unheralde d i n th e astronomica l PN Planetary Nebula magazines so far.) SNR Supernova Remnant G Galaxy + Hubble type -- Ste w Krysk o

Constellation Chart courtesy of Hubbard Press for /ol c FOR SALE: 6" Craftsma n lathe, incl. 2 chucks, Don't forget: February's General faceplate, motor , an d bench . $500 , Phon e Barry Arnold a t 432-5894 (Days). Meeting Is on a Wednesday FOR SALE : 8" f/6 mirro r wit h secondary, plu s Feb. 11 blue fiberglass tube. 6 monthsold. $135.00. Phone Dir k Auge r a t 424-9584. 2t the /oto r /y/te m

THE GREAT CONJUNCTION During a nine and one half month span, the Triple Conjunctio n i n Virgo giant planet s Jupite r an d Satur n underg o a 1980-81 triple conjunction i n the constellation Virgo. In this time they neve r stra y mor e than 3° apart . Saturn On thre e separate occasions during this time, the thre e planet s hav e th e sam e celestia l Nov. 15 Jupiter •1' * • longitude an d ar e a t th e point s o f thei r leas t separation. Th e firs t o f thes e conjunction s occurred o n Decembe r 3 1 whe n th e planet s were 63 ' apart . O n th e 4t h o f Marc h the y will again b e 63' awa y from on e another, and still Dec. 31 again on July 23rd, they'll be separated by 66'. '"-* The Observer's Handbook give s th e date s as January 14th , Februar y 19th , an d Jul y 30th . These ar e the time s Jupiter an d Saturn ar e at the sam e right ascension, (whic h i s measured Feb. 1 from th e celestia l equator), as opposed to the same celestial longitude (whic h centers on the ecliptic). S o the date s given i n th e Handboo k are no t actuall y th e date s that the planet s are closest together . A conjunction betwee n Jupiter and Saturn Mar. 4 occurs every 20 years. If at that point, the earth passes the two planet s within a 40 hour interval then a "triple" o r "grand " conjunction occurs. Such a triple conjunction occurs on the average every 18 0 years, bu t ca n var y from 4 0 to 38 0 May 1 8 years. Th e las t conjunctio n o f thi s type too k place i n 1940/41 . Th e next , wil l b e 258 years from now , i n 2238/39. So by all means, enjoy it while you can ! — Ste w Krysk o July 23

CERES AND VESTA Ever seen an asteroid? This is an excellent Aug. 23 time to hunt one down, as both Ceres and Vesta, two of the brightest asteroids are well placed for Diagram from Nov. 1980 issue of Sk y anc observing. Se e page s 9 5 an d 9 8 o f th e 198 1 Telescope magazine , Used by permissio n Observer's Handbook fo r finder charts. 30 ob/eruing report /

THE NE W YEAR'S COME T At th e beginnin g o f January , th e taken with a 135 mm telephoto lens . astronomical grapevine was pu t t o th e test. A A wee k o f cloud y weathe r prevente d new comet was discovered, reached maximum further glimpses of the comet, but on Saturday, brilliance an d faded fro m sigh t ai l withi n th e Jan. 1 0 a group consisting of Dave Beale, Dave space o f a mont h o r so . Th e wor d sprea d Belcher, Darrel l Cross and Ted Pigeon actuall y quickly earl y i n th e Ne w Yea r o f Willia m made it to the top of Buc k Mountai n (wit h the Bradfield's eleventh discovery , mad e o n Dec . aid of 4-wheel drive vehicles) and were treated 17. Come t Bradfiel d (o r 1980 1 a s i t i s als o to a glorious vie w of th e come t i n a relatively known) reache d perihelio n o n Dec . 2 9 an d dark sky. In 11x80 binoculars, a tail some 5°-6° became visible from Edmonto n fro m Jan. 3 on long could be seen, with the comet "coma" itself as i t move d north . Frankyln Loehde spotted i t at mag. 5.5 or so. It was a beautiful sight -- a real that night when it was only 2° above the western comet at long last, and certainly the best comet horizon. It s magnitud e wa s abou t 3 . Andrew since Comet West in early 1976. Lowe and Alan Dye r bot h foun d i t for the first As of this writing in mid-January, the comet time o n Monday , Jan . 5 b y which time i t ha d was fadin g fast , bu t wa s still easil y visibl e i n faded t o abou t mag . 4.5 . Eve n so , i t ha d a dark skie s a s i t heade d north-eas t throug h distinctive tail about 2° long pointed straight up Aquila. It is unfortunate that not everyone heard from the horizon. The appearance of the comet about th e comet in time to see it at its peak, but is wel l show n i n Andrew' s phot o take n tha t perhaps th e nex t brigh t visito r fro m th e Oor t night. It's a 30-second exposure on 103a F film, cloud will arrive with more warning . ob/erving actMtie /

With th e mil d winte r weather , ther e ha s been a grea t dea l o f observin g activit y i n th e Centre lately . O f course, Come t Bradfiel d pu t on a good show i n early January. O n Jan. 10, several intrepi d observer s actuall y mad e it to the top of Buck Mountain foran unprecedented winter session . The Dec . 1 3 session at Ellerslie was unfortunatel y cloude d out , but the Observatory ha s bee n use d o n severa l othe r occasions i n th e las t fe w weeks. O n Jan . 3 , without a 4-wheel drive vehicle, many observers noted amateu r astronome r Ke n Hewitt-Whit e head out to El k Island Park for winter deep-sk y from Vancouver was in town and joined a group observing. Th e Marc h 7 session take s place at of Edmonto n Centr e folks at Ellerslie fo r a fine Elk Islan d startin g a t abou t 8:3 0 pm : Take the evening o f astronomy . "Oster Trail " turnof f wes t from th e mai n par k road, an d hea d dow n t o the parking lo t at the FEBRUARY end o f th e road . That' s where we'll b e — you February's Observer' s Corne r i s o n can't mis s it. and will feature Monday, February 23 at 8:00 pm APRIL a presentatio n fro m Dav e Belche r o n "Constructing an d Usin g a n Astrograph." (a n Since th e nex t issu e of Stardust ma y no t astrograph i s a specia l camer a designed fo r reach you in time , mak e a not e now that the astro-photography) Dav e is one of the Centre's April Observin g Sessio n takes place Saturday, most accomplished photographers and should April 4 at Buck Mountain. Things get underway provide u s with a n informative talk. at sunset . For a group Observing Session this month, If you'r e ne w i n th e Centr e an d requir e our new Observing Co-ordinator, Darrell Cross, directions, or i f you nee d a ride, pleas e phone has schedule d a n evenin g a t Ellersli e o n Darrell a t 469-2931. Saturday, February 21, beginning a t 8:30 pm or so. Afte r a littl e deep-sk y observing , w e ca n move ont o som e luna r an d planetar y viewing once Jupiter, Saturn and the moon rise together at 9:0 0 pm . Saturn's rings ar e no w opening u p for /al e after their edge-o n appearanc e las t year. FOR SALE : Celestron 8 telescope with wedge, MARCH tripod, trunk , 25m m an d 40m m Kellne r The Monday , March 23 Observer's Corner eyepieces, star diagonal, power cord. Asking will featur e a ne w fil m tha t document s th e firm pric e of $1,39 5 and will throw i n $60.00 construction o f th e Canad a - Franc e - Hawai i dew cap . Contact Bob Martin at or Telescope. A s usual , ther e wil l als o b e leave a messag e with m y answering service impromptu showing s o f astro-photograph y and I will ge t bac k to you . from variou s Centr e members . FOR SALE : 3-inch Tasc o refracto r telescop e The March Observing Session is scheduled with equatoria l mount . Phon e for Saturday , Marc h 7 , a dark-of-the-moo n (work) o r (home) . As k for Terr y night. Since Buc k Mountai n is usuall y Thordarson. inaccessible thi s tim e o f yea r fo r anyon e 32 TkE RoyAl DISCOVER ASTROINOMiCAl ike SociEiy Of CANAd A UNIVERSE EDMONTON CENTR E

monthly genera l meeting s monthly observer s grou p meeting s regular grou p observin g session s use o f th e Ellersli e Observator y the annual RASC Observers Handbook STARDUST the RAS C Journal an d Newsletter free admission to ail Planetarium shows

President Te d Cadle n Vice-President Dav e Belche r Treasurer Me l Rjnkin

RASC, EDMONTON CENTRE MEMBERSHI P APPLICATION FORM Please accept m y application for membershi p in the Royal Astronomical Society ot Canada. EDMONTO N CENTRE for 198 1 Enclose d is a cheque or money order for the appropriate fee; $20.00for Adults; $12.00for Youths 1 7 and unde r I understand that upon receip t of my application an d fe« remittance, a membership card and a copy of the 1981 Observer's Handbook will be mailed to my address (or can be picked up at the next monthl y general meeting), and that I will be placed on the mailing list s lor RAS C publications .

Name Q Ne w Membe r Address G Renewa l

Posfa/ Code Phone MAIL TO. Edmonto n Centre , RAS C c/ o Quee n Elizabet h Planetariu m C N Tower , 10t h Floor 10004 - 10 4 Avenue Edmonton , Albert a TS J OK1 . Please make all cheques payable to : Edmonton Centre , R.A.S.C . Thank s ! STARDUST EDMONTON CENTRE, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada c/o Queen Elizabeth Planetarium 10th Floor, C.N. Tower Edmonton, Alberta T5J OK1

FEBRUARY MARCH

GENERAL MEETINGS Music Room , Eclm . Puoiic Librar y

WEDNESDAY, February 11 , 8 PM Monday, March 9, 8 PM Dr Pau l Wesson, U.o f A. Dr. Phi ; Curry , Pr o ivluseur r "Is The Universe Spinning?" "The Extinction of the Dinosaurs"

OBSERVER'S CORNERS Rm.445, 4th F oor, Physics Bdg., U.o f A.

Monday, February 23, 8 PM Monday, March 23, 8 PM Dave Ee.che r "iL'vi — "Th 0 CF H Te.Gsccc "Constructing and Usin g an Astrograph" Dave Beale :

OBSERVING SESSIONS

Sat., Feb. 21 at8:30pm. Sat., March 7 at8:30pm.

Sat., April 4 at 8:00pm.....

TO: