The Observer of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers

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THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 43, Number 11 November 2018

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: September Image – Altair Spectrum 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – October 2018 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 5«Members Return Safely from Iceland Trip 7«TCAA Members to Attend NEAF 2018 8«ALCon 2019 – Second Reminder 9«Quarterly Membership Meeting Successful 9«Education/Public Outreach for October 2018 11«November 2018: Venus Sparkles in the Morning Sky 15«Comet 46P/Wirtanen Cometh 16«Public Viewing Schedule for 2019 16«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2018-2019 17«HowTimeFlies 17«TCAA on Facebook 17«Kudos to IDOT for New Lights at I-55/Shirley Exit 18«Renewing Your TCAA Membership 19«TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of October 30, 2018

EDITOR’S CHOICE: IMAGE OF THE MONTH – THE MOON

This month’s Editor’s Choice is a collage of two lunar images taken by Tim Stone. Tim notes, “These two moon shots were taken

with my 8-inch Schmidt/Newtonian telescope to test the system for The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League. For spectroscopy work. One shot is three days before full and the other more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit the is one day before full, both this month. The two images are the TCAA website. Visit Astroleague.org for additional exact same scale. The moon's apparent size is related to the lunar information about the League and its membership distance which changed over the interval between the images. The benefits. effect of libration is also clearly visible.”

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER As we wind our way toward the end is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin of the year, we approach the holiday City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational season when we take stock of ourselves, organization of amateur astronomers our accomplishments, failures, and interested in studying astronomy and aspirations for next year. I’ll save that sharing their hobby with the public. retrospection for next month’s issue of

The OBSERVER, but I’ve already begun. TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS With the full onset of autumn, astronomical activities are slowing down, President, Director, & Property Manager Tim Stone 309-531-2401 and family activities are starting to press [email protected] their way into our lives. This is as it should be. Without the support of our Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. family, astronomy would be a difficult Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 TCAA President Tim Stone [email protected] passion to pursue. We are out of the house on clear evenings, and even on cloudy nights, we spend time reading or Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent otherwise exploring our universe. Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 Personally, I’m very thankful not only for the support my family gives me in my [email protected] astronomical obsession, but the pride they take in my activities and the images I’m Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor able to capture and share with the world. Hardly a week goes by when Diann hasn’t Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 mentioned to someone that I’m “into” astronomy. She shows them some of my [email protected] images, and delights in their wide-eyed “he took THAT?” response. She regales me

Director/Technology Coordinator with those stories, and it lets me know that she’s okay with the inconveniences she Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 experiences on those long clear nights. [email protected] I’m delighted to prioritize family time in this holiday season, though almost

Astronomical League Correspondent certainly there will be a clear night or two when I cannot go out to image, and it will Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 gnaw at me just a little bit. [email protected] Let’s all take the time this month to specially thank our loved ones and friends for their encouragement as we look forward to 2019. Perhaps they don’t even Webmaster Lee Green 309-454-7349 recognize how much it means to us. Let them know, and please accept my own [email protected] thanks to you, the amateur astronomy community and the TCAA, for whatever way you are involved. Without you, we wouldn’t have a club and we wouldn’t be in Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator touch with so many other amateur astronomy organizations and their membership. Lisa Wentzel unlisted number [email protected] It’s a truly remarkable thing we do. I’m glad to be part of it, and I’m thankful to all of you. Publicist Have a happy Thanksgiving season! Rick Lasher 309-530-2678 Tim Stone, President [email protected]

The OBSERVER Carl J. Wenning, Editor in Chief

Submission deadline two days before the end of each month.

MEMBERSHIP DUES

Individual Adult/Family $40 Full-time Student/Senior $25 (Senior status equals ages 60+)

To join, send your name, contact info and dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

ALENDAR OF ELESTIAL VENTS OVEMBER EW ENEWING EMBERS C C E – N 2018 N & R M

The following individuals have paid dues for new or MORNING PLANETS (11/15): Venus renewed memberships as of October 30, 2018. (Others EVENING PLANETS (11/15): Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, who paid after that date will appear in the December Uranus, and Neptune 2018 issue of The OBSERVER.)

The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of important astronomical events for this month. All times are None Central Daylight Time.

Day Time Event DUES BLUES 01 22:16 Regulus 2.1°S of Moon If you have received a “your dues are due” 02 02:00 Daylight Saving Time Ends statement along with the email that brought you this 05 12 S Taurid Meteor Shower issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. 06 09 Mercury at Greatest Elong: 23.3°E Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 07 10:02 NEW MOON Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for 08 22:58 Mercury 1.8°N of Antares seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 11 09:46 Saturn 1.4°S of Moon 12 11 N Taurid Meteor Shower SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LIST

13 08:04 Moon at Descending Node By subscribing to a group’s mailing list, you will 14 09:57 Moon at Apogee: 404341 km receive email messages from the group though you 14 17:14 Venus 0.2°S of Spica won’t have access to the group’s web features (like 15 08:54 FIRST QUARTER MOON photos, files, links, polls, calendar, etc.) unless members activate it later. The club has an open email listserv. It is 15 22:16 Mars 1.0°N of Moon: Occultation known as the TCAA YahooGroups listserv. It will be used 17 17 Leonid Meteor Shower to share announcements and reminders about 22 23:39 FULL MOON astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv, 23 15:11 Aldebaran 1.7°S of Moon you must do the following: 26 00 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun 26 06:10 Moon at Perigee: 366623 km 1. To subscribe: Send a blank email to TCAA- [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a 26 23:18 Moon at Ascending Node confirmation email from the group. Reply to the 27 03 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction confirmation email to activate your subscription. 27 14:57 Beehive 0.8°N of Moon 2. To post a message: [email protected] 29 03 Mercury at Perihelion 3. To unsubscribe: [email protected] 29 03:27 Regulus 2.3°S of Moon 29 18:19 LAST QUARTER MOON http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2018cst.html

EVENING SKY MAP Click on the icon found here to access a current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Wednesday, November 7 Thursday, November 15 Thursday, November 22 Thursday, November 29

All moon phase dates are Central Daylight Time. Additional moon phases for the 2018 calendar year (Central Time) can be found by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission. THIS MONTH’S SOLAR PHENOMENA

In the table below, you will find times of sunrise and sunset along with rising and setting azimuths, length of day including difference from previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, and the time of solar noon along with the elevation of the midday sun. These data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2018 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Nov Sunrise Sunset Length Difference Start End Time 1 7:25 AM (108°) 5:22 PM (251°) 10:26:41 -2:21 5:53 AM 7:24 PM 12:39 PM (35.0°)

11 6:37 AM (112°) 4:41 PM (247°) 10:04:20 -2:07 5:03 AM 6:15 PM 11:40 PM (32.0°) 21 6:49 AM (116°) 4:34 PM (244°) 09:45:01 -1:45 5:13 AM 6:09 PM 11:41 PM (29.5°)

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó On October 2nd Tony Cellini remarked, “Coming home from Funk's Grove this evening, I noticed that new lights have been installed on all parts of the Shirley exit. While they are LEDs, which might not be so great spectrum-wise, they are fully shielded and are casting no light upwards any more. It was a marked difference from the half-globe sodium vapor lights they replaced, so I think it's a positive change. I've been seeing these same lights going up around B-N as well. It's good to see some new lighting options being explored, especially when they're actually going in the right direction….” (See page 18 for additional information.) ó On Saturday, October 6th, Bob Finnigan and Tim Stone hosted a class in image processing for several TCAA members. The course was held in the Nature Center at SGNC. Bob noted afterward, “Well, we all learned to stack astro pix in MaxIm DL and to make tiff files to use with Photoshop. All participants were able to take three tiffs [from RAW files of M31] provided by Tim [Stone]. They were able to make a very good renderings of M31 in color. Later, Tim showed all how to improve their results.” In attendance (as shown left to right here) were Tom Willmitch, Rick Lasher, Emily and Scott Wade, Mark Boulware, and Bob Finnigan. Tim Stone took the picture.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

ó On October 7th Bob Finnigan noted, “Last night Justin got the VNC working on all three computers at Funks Grove. I went out to the Nature Center to see it all. I went into SGO and got all three computer screens up on our 50-inch 4k monitor also did the same at PSO. So, we are now 100% operational with remote viewing thanks to Justin.” ó It was a rainy Wednesday (October 10th) when our AG Optical 24” telescope and Taurus 600 yoke mount arrived on site at Waynesville Observatory. Bob and Ernie Finnigan were present to receive these two devices. Dave Osenga showed up about 20 minutes later. The yoke mount alone weighed in at some 900 pounds according to Bob. The following Saturday, October 13th, installation of the mount began. Tim Stone, Justin Myer, and Tony Cellini did the heavy lifting while Bob supervised and took pictures.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

ó (Shown above.) On Saturday, October 13th, Tim Stone, Justin Myers, Tony Cellini, and Bob Finnigan met at Waynesville Observatory to begin the installation of the 24” f/11 AG Optical telescope. The first order of business was to install the Taurus yoke mount. Its installation took the better part of the day. The size of the fully assembled mount dwarfed Tony as shown in the middle picture. Before the day was done, however, everyone had to take a look-see at the new telescope. It is shown here in its shipping container. ó Carl Wenning and Bob Finnigan were able to install the 90mm Coronado Hα solar telescope on its mount and pier within SGO on Wednesday, October 17th. This follows successful completion of an adapter between the CGEM mount and the existing pier. Carl was able to roughly align the telescope in latitude and azimuth, Bob then assisted with balancing and checking to make certain the mount is operating nominally, which it is. The unit is now pretty much ready for use at the October 20th Autumn Celebration at SGNC. ó On the evening of Wednesday, October 17th, Bob Finnigan reported, “Rick Lasher and I got the 12-inch telescope going. We took a 10- minute picture of M31 after getting a calibration with the Ultra Star imager and the finder scope. The QHY 168 camera has a filter wheel attached with 7 filters but no power, so I do not know which filter was used. The 12” is almost fully operations. The 17” is fully ready with a QHY 168 color camera.” If any of club member would like to learn how to use this equipment, they should contact Bob via email at [email protected]. ó On Tuesday, October 24th, Bob Finnigan hosted another imaging training session for Rick Lasher and Emily & Scott Wade. Scott noted, “We are learning how to stack images in Maxim DL and convert the files from FIT to TIFF for further manipulation in Photoshop. We are practicing with some of Tim Stone's image files. We are finding these sessions very beneficial and feel we have learned a lot already. We're very grateful for the time Bob is spending with us to show us the ropes.” A third such session occurred on Monday, October 29th, and was also attended by Vivian Hoette. ó On Sunday, October 28th, operating from his home in Lexington, Bob Finnigan was able to connect to the QHY 168M camera at PSO to set up the filter wheel and take a 6-second image. He was also able to connect the main camera with the filter wheel and guide camera. He was subsequently able to run 300- and 600-second darks.

MEMBERS RETURN SAFELY FROM ICELAND TRIP

World traveler Lisa Wentzel (shown above) led a group landscape, and sampling some of the local cuisine. A group of intrepid sky watchers to the wind-swept rock known as of five, consisting of Lisa, Carl Wenning, Kay Richardson Iceland from October 3-7 for the purpose of observing the (Bloomington), Pat Barbee (North Carolina), and Mary Jane Aurora Borealis, enjoying natural wonders of the ice-and-fire Havener (Florida), had an immensely enjoyable time.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

On the way to Reykjavík, they observed a bright green There was rapid brightening and dimming of the display, and auroral arc close to the northern horizon when near the rays came and went above the arc. As quickly as it had Labrador-Atlantic Ocean border. It stretched from east to appeared, the aurora disappeared. Nonetheless, everyone west. The next night, they was elated to have seen the Aurora participated in a 90-minute bus ride Borealis, no matter how short the to a dark, remote observing sight view. It was magnificent! where they waited patiently for some The rest of the trip was filled with 80 minutes for the auroras to appear. geological wonders spanning the While waiting, they enjoyed the stars distance between ocean and arctic that were so bright in relation to the icepack. Our explores visited several night sky that Carl remarked, “They glaciers, observed numerous look a bit closer to Earth tonight.” waterfalls, frolicked in black beech Carl noted how the change of latitude sand, climbed lots of rocks (causing from 40.5° north to 64° north really one member of the team to quip, “I made it difficult from him to think Lisa is trying to kill Carl”). We recognize constellations though the partly cloudy, topsy- walked through a valley caused by the mid-Atlantic ridge turvy sky. Disappointed at not having seen any auroras, they that is tearing the island apart and encountered a furious departed the site at about 11:20 PM. snow storm that shut down the road upon which we were Only about 10 minutes later, the northern sky flashed driving. We visited geyser fields (reminiscent of Yellowstone) brightly with an aurora. Noting this display, the bus they and enjoyed regional food. were riding was stopped on the side of a rural road and As a result of this experience, our travelers are looking everyone poured out of the bus for a magnificent 10-minute forward future travel events and hope that more members display that climbed about half way up in the northern sky of the TCAA will join them next time. One such opportunity and spanned east to west. The color was not evident as in the offing is travelling to attend NEAF next spring. See the before and look to most observers to be a ghostly gray. following article for details.

TCAA MEMBERS TO ATTEND NEAF 2019

Two TCAA members are planning to attend NEAF – Northeast Astronomy Forum. The event is hosted by the Rockland Astronomy Club (just north of New York City) and has a reputation for having exceptional speakers and vendor presence. You can see the 2018 event description at the following URL: http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.html NEAF 2019 will be held April 6-7, 2019 at Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY. Our two travelers have already booked their rooms at the Crowne Plaza Suffern-Mahwah in Suffern, NY, which is right next to the college and is the closest hotel. They are booked for April 5-8. (The hotel books up fast so it is suggested you reserve your room immediately.) Our members will fly from Peoria to the Westchester airport (EWR), which is about 35 minutes away and is NOT in New York City. Flights will be booked at a later date. Our members will rent a car for the weekend. NEAF tickets (see https://rockland-astronomy-club.myshopify.com/collections/neaf) be available later this year and run about $45 for the entire weekend. If you are interested in attending this world-class event but would like to have more information, contact Lisa Wentzel who attended this event last year.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

ALCON 2019 – SECOND REMINDER

TCAA/NCRAL Members,

Make your reservations now to attend ALCon 2019. We discussed this event at the AL’s national Council meeting in Minneapolis this past July, and what the plans calls for is simply amazing. I’m anticipating behind-the- scenes historical tours of the Kennedy Space Center hardly anyone ever gets to see. Following this, there will be a three- day cruise to the Bahamas during which we will hold the actual meeting. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event that definitely will be one for the records. You’ll not want to miss it! I’m definitely planning on attending this one, and I hope you will join me. See the ad to the right for details. Additionally, don’t forget to plan for and attend our Regional convention, NCRAL 2019. This event will take place in Moline, IL, May 3-5. It will be hosted by the Popular Astronomy Club and will feature an experimental agenda with a wide variety of activities and events from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning. NCRAL 2019 will be the first convention to consider the results of two NCRAL surveys aimed at producing an event that is better than ever. Plan now to join us. Details will be provided here and elsewhere, so get this event into your calendar now.

Carl -- Carl J. Wenning, NCRAL Chair

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING SUCCESSFUL

Fifteen members and guests were present for the October 16th Astronomy Club Social. We gathered at the ISU Planetarium at 7:30 PM for Tom Willmitch’s showing of Two Small Pieces of Glass. Prefacing this amazing, full-dome program, Tom told about the recent $300,000 renovation project that has brought the 1964 planetarium up to the modern age. The half-a-century-old Spitz projector has also seen some modifications as well, but it continues to use a star ball the Carl Wenning acquired in 1986 with 2,354 stars. Following the formal program, Tom gave brief sky lecture followed by Carl Wenning pointing out some interesting aspects of the sky as Lisa Wentzel and he recently saw from very near the Arctic Circle while they were in Iceland earlier in the month. Carl then pointed out a few things visible from a southern latitude of 30° (Santiago, Chile) where he has viewed the heavens four times before. The program lasted until about 8:45 PM at which time most of those in attendance headed off for Tobin’s Pizza for an evening of camaraderie. Attending the planetarium presentation were the following: Tim & Diann Stone with Alexandra Campderros Palmes (their exchange student from Barcelona, Spain), Dave Osenga, Vivian Hoette, Paul Pouliot, Lisa and Dick Wentzel, Carl & Carolyn Wenning, Tom & Carolyn Weiland, Tom Willmitch, Sharon MacDonald, and Mark Cabaj.

EDUCATION/PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR OCTOBER 2018

The last public viewing session of 2018 was held on Saturday, October 13th. Met with an overcast sky and cool weather, the meeting was attended by only 24 individuals, including 14 TCAA members. Mark & Nataya Boulware gave a well-received 30-minute talk about globular clusters. Afterward, an open house was held at the TCAA observatories. Also in attendance from the TCAA were the following: Tim Stone, Dave Osenga, Dave Peters, Vivian Hoette, Bob Finnigan, Lee Green, Paul Pouliot, Lisa Wentzel, Brian Barling, Tony Cellini, Tom Weiland, and Carl Wenning. Guests of note included Lisa’s sister Jane from California and Cedar Amateur Astronomer’s Jim Bosner from Iowa. On the evening of Monday, October 15th, Lee Green went to the Bloomington Girl Scout office to talk to a troop about constellations, notable stars, and about the formation of stars supernovas and black holes. He gave a PowerPoint presentation. Lee reported afterwards, “We had a very good session. While just 6 scouts attended, we spent over an hour going over the basics of astronomy and ended with a sky tour.” The TCAA hosted open houses at SGO and PSO for Sugar Grove Nature Center’s Autumn Celebration on Saturday, October 20th. Our volunteers were met with temperatures in the 50s, but also strong continuous winds from the north gusting from time to time at over 40 miles per hour. With a wind chill in the 30s, this had a negative impact on the number of attendees. Fortunately, the sky was clear to partly cloudy later in the afternoon and we were able to share white light and Hα views of the sun and Venus with visitors. Tim, Lisa, and Carl also viewed Mercury and Jupiter later in the afternoon when the crowd began to thin out. Viewing continued from 10 AM to 3 PM. In attendance at one point or another throughout the day were the following: Tim Stone, Carl Wenning, Brian Barling, “Big O” Dave Osenga, Bob Finnigan (who arrived early and did a bit of cleaning – thanks Bob!), Tony Cellini, Sharon MacDonald, Lisa Wentzel, Scott Wade, Lee Green, and Mark and Bryce Heiniger. See the next page for images from this annual event. The same evening as Autumn Celebration, Lee Green worked once again with Cheryl Siebert, Director of Chenoa Public Library to give a presentation. Lee noted, “We had a great outing. A den of cub scouts, a family of home-schoolers, and quite a few others joined us at the library.” Lee gave a short talk and provided viewing of the Moon and Saturn. There were 40 individuals present. On Saturday, October 28th, in recognition of Halloween, Carl Wenning presented a "scary" sky lecture at Kennekuk Cove County Park near Danville focusing on the planetary gods and well as on the constellations associated with the story of Perseus and Medusa. In attendance were host Fr. Timothy Sauppé from Westville, world-class astronomer Dr. Jeff Cooke (director of the project that detected GW170817, the gravity wave associate with the collision of two neutron stars), chief naturalist Lara Darling, Carolyn Wenning, and a total of 25 attendees. Unfortunately, the overcast sky prevented intended viewing with Fr. Sauppé’s telescope.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

Sugar Gove Observatory at Sugar Grove Nature Center with its “training” instruments shown left to right: Meade 12” telescope, Coronado 90mm Hα solar telescope, Celestron HD telescope (foreground) and 17” PlaneWave telescope (background).

Brian Barling (left) and Dave Osenga (right) spent much of the day keeping the club’s Sunspotter trained on the sun. It was a cool and windy necessitating coats and jackets. A warming cup of coffee was enjoyed by Dave.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

NOVEMBER 2018: VENUS SPARKLES IN THE MORNING SKY ~ BY JEFFREY L. HUNT ~

This chart shows the motion of Venus relative to Spica during November. Early in the month, look low in the southeast, about 20 minutes before sunrise. Use a binocular to locate them. As the month progresses, they rise earlier, appearing higher in the sky and farther southeast. By November 14, Venus moves to within 1.2° of Spica in a quasi-conjunction. Afterward, Venus appears to move away, yet higher relative to Spica. On November 20, Venus’ altitude is only about 0.5° lower than Spica. By month’s end, Venus is nearly 6° from Spica.

At the beginning of the month the planets are scattered Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3). Look for Arcturus (α Boo, m = across the sky. Venus appears in the southeast during −0.1) about 10° up in the east-northeast. This evening at morning twilight while Jupiter and Mercury appear low in the end of twilight look for the star about 10° up in the the southwest after sunset. Mars and Saturn are the only west-northwest. As morning twilight progresses, Spica (α naked eye planets that shine during darkness. Before the Vir, m = 1.0) rises, then Venus (m = −4.2) follows in the beginning of morning twilight, brilliant Sirius shines in the east-southeast. The planet is 6.2° below the star. In the south near the meridian. The brightest stars of Winter’s evening, 30 minutes after sunset, use a binocular to locate evening sky are higher in the southwestern sky. At the same Jupiter (m = −1.7), 4.5° up in the southwest. Jupiter sets time the waning crescent moon is to the upper right of about 30 minutes later, at about Nautical Twilight. It is Regulus. Magnificent Venus is entering the morning sky. It slipping deeper into bright twilight each evening. Mercury seems to be sprinting after Spica which rises over one hour before the sun. Venus rises about 40 minutes after Spica, but (m = ‒0.2) is 5° to the lower left of the Giant Planet; the planet rises about 8 minutes earlier each morning. Antares (α Sco, m = 1.0) is 12.5° to the left of Jupiter. At Watch it quickly close the gap on Spica. Venus brightens the end of evening twilight, Saturn (m = 0.5) is 13° up in about half a magnitude during the first half of the month. the southwest. It is 3.1° to the upper right of Kaus Borealis Through a telescope Venus displays a very thin morning (λ Sag, m = 2.8). Mars (m = −0.6), 47° to the upper left of crescent phase that is 1% illuminated and 1’ across! It is 11° Saturn, is about 32° up in the south, 0.5° to the upper right west of the sun and likely visible during the daytime without of Gamma Capricorni (γ Cap, m = 3.6). optical aid. The evening sky has four planets, but two, Jupiter • November 2: At the beginning of morning twilight, the and Mercury, depart the sky during evening twilight. Before waning crescent moon (24.3d, 30%) is 4° to the lower left Mercury leaves, it passes Antares in a conjunction that of Regulus. At 20 minutes before sunrise, Venus, 4° up in occurs near the horizon. Use binoculars at an observing spot the east-southeast, is 5.5° below Spica. Use a binocular to with a clear horizon to the southwest. At the end of evening find them. In the early evening sky, 30 minutes after twilight, Saturn is in the southwest; it is to the upper right of sunset, Jupiter is 4° up in the west-southwest. Mercury (m Kaus Borealis, top star in the Teapot of Sagittarius. Saturn = −0.3) is 5.6° to the left of Jupiter and at nearly the same passes the star later in the month. Mars continues its march altitude. Antares is nearly 7° to the upper left of Mercury, through the brighter stars in eastern Capricornus. At the about 5° up in the southwest. With a clear horizon, use a same time, the planet is in the south, to the upper right of binocular to locate the trio. At the end of twilight, Saturn, Gamma Capricorni. The planet is now only 12” across, about half the apparent diameter it was at its closest approach. 13° up in the southwest, is 3.1° to the upper right of Kaus The length of darkness, from the end of evening twilight to Borealis. Mars, 32° up in the south, is 0.5° to the upper left the beginning of morning twilight is 10 hours, 10 minutes. of Gamma Capricorni. • November 3: At the beginning of morning twilight, the • November 1: At the beginning of morning twilight, the thinning crescent moon (25.3d, 20%) is 9.8° to the right of waning crescent moon (23.2 days old, 42% illuminated), Denebola (β Leo, m = 2.1). At 20 minutes before sunrise, 47° up in the southeast, is 11.2° to the upper right of Venus is 5° up in the east-southeast and 5 ° below Spica.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

As with yesterday, the difficult-to-see grouping of Jupiter, Twilight, 60 minutes before sunrise. At 30 minutes before Mercury, and Antares continues in the southwest. What sunrise, the planet is 5° up in the east-southeast, and 4.4° are the last dates you see each object? This evening, 30 below Spica; it is about 100 times brighter than the star. minutes after sunset, Jupiter is only 3.5° up in the west- The nearly five-magnitude difference is a visual southwest, with Mercury 6.5° to its left. Antares, is 4.5° up representation of how apparent brightness relates to the in the southwest, 5.8° to the upper left of Mercury. As the magnitude scale. The waning crescent moon (26.2d, 12%) moon heads toward its New phase, look high in the is 8° above Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4). At 30 minutes southern sky, near the meridian during the early evening after sunset, continue to look for Jupiter, Mercury, and for the Great Andromeda Galaxy (M31, NGC 224). With its Antares in the west-southwest to southwest; the northerly declination, the galaxy appears about 20° east of separations: Jupiter – Mercury, 7.2°; Mercury – Antares, the zenith at 8 p.m. CST (9 p.m. CDT) early in the month. 4.7°. The two planets’ altitudes are less than the star’s With the sidereal nature of the sky, the galaxy appears altitude. Jupiter is about 3° up in the sky. If you’re tracking closer to the zenith each night at the same time. With the Jupiter, this may be one of the last evenings to see it at Great Nebula in Orion (M42, NGC 1976), M31 is likely one this time as it moves farther in to twilight toward its solar of the first two deep sky objects that beginning observers conjunction. One hour after sunset, Mars (m = −0.5), 32° locate in their telescopes or binoculars. The Great up in the south, is 0.5° to the upper right of Deneb Algiedi Andromeda Galaxy was the first to reveal that “spiral (δ Cap, m=2.8). nebula” were “islands in the universe” (galaxies), not gas • November 5: At 30 minutes before sunrise, the waning clouds in our galaxy; the study of cosmology exploded on crescent moon (27.3d, 5%) is 10.1° above Spica with an astronomical scale, provoking questions about the brilliant Venus 4.1° below the star. At 30 minutes after nature of the universe that are not yet answered. Using sunset, Jupiter, low in the west-south west is 8° to the Henrietta Leavitt’s Period-Luminosity Relationship of right of Mercury; Mercury is 3.8° to the right of Antares. Cepheid Variables – that the brightness period of a Use a binocular to see them. After twilight ends, look for variable star is directly related to its absolute magnitude – Mars (m = ‒0.5) 34’ above Deneb Algiedi. Low Hubble’s initial measurements showed that the great magnifications resolve them. Watch Mars continue its eastward march. spiral nebula was at least 900,000 light years away, • November 6: In the pre-sunrise twilight, Venus (m = ‒4.4) beyond the known boundaries of our own Milky Way. is 3.6° below Spica with the crescent moon (28.3 d, 2%) Current measurements place it at 2.2 million light years to 8.9° to the left of the planet. Mercury is at its greatest 2.5 million light years away. The galaxy is 1.2° west of Nu evening elongation at 9:32 a.m. CST. Even with a 23.3° Andromedae (ν And, m = 4.5). Once you point a telescope elongation, Mercury is difficult to see because of the low finder or a binocular at the region, guidance from the angle the ecliptic makes with the horizon and the planet referenced star is unnecessary because of the appears south of the solar system’s plane. Mercury stands unmistakable presence of the galaxy. The center spindle of 8° above the west-southwest horizon at sunset. Thirty the galaxy and inner arms spill out of the telescope’s minutes later, the planet is slightly north of southwest, eyepiece, even at the lowest powers. This nearest spiral 4.5° up. Antares is 2.9° to Mercury’s lower left. At the end galaxy is tilted at about 15° along our line of sight and of evening twilight, Mars, about one-third of the way up in spans nearly 3°, easily visible to your unaided eye as a the south, is 1.1° to the upper left of Deneb Algiedi. cloudy patch in a dark sky. An elliptical galaxy (M32, NGC • 221), that is considered a companion of the main spiral, is November 7: In early morning twilight, brilliant Venus is about 0.4° south of M31’s nucleus. In a binocular, it 3.2° below Spica in the east-southeastern sky. Watch the appears as a fuzzy “star.” The November 2018 issue of Sky gap continue to close. Through a telescope, Venus is a & Telescope magazine summarized a research article, morning crescent, 58” across and 5% illuminated. The published in the summer, theorizing that M32 is the moon reaches its New phase at 10:02 a.m. CST. During remnant of a galactic collision with the main galaxy within early evening twilight, 30 minutes after sunset, Mercury is the past 5 billion years (p. 11). The original galaxy may 2.3° to the upper right of Antares. After twilight ends, have had the mass equal to our Milky Way. M110 (NGC locate Mars 1.5° to the upper left of Deneb Algiedi. • 205), another elliptical galaxy companion of M31, is 0.6° November 8: In the pre-sunrise eastern sky, Venus (m = northwest of the main spiral’s nucleus. −4.5) is 2.8° below Spica. Thirty minutes after sunset, the thin waxing crescent moon (1.3d, 2%) is 7° up in the west- • November 4: The clocks revert to standard time this morning at 2 a.m. CDT. Venus (m = ‒4.3) rises at Nautical southwest. Mercury (m = −0.2) is 5° above the horizon,

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2.3° to the upper right of Antares. At the end of evening crescent moon (5.3d, 26%) is nearly 16° to the upper left twilight, Saturn, 12° up in the southwest, is 2.8° to the of Saturn. Mars is 0.8° to the right of Iota Aquarii. upper right of Kaus Borealis. The planet sets 3 hours after • November 13: The Venus (m = −4.7) – Spica gap is 1.3° this sunset tonight. Mars (m = −0.4), 50° to the upper left of morning. At Civil Twilight (30 minutes after sunset) Saturn in the south, is 1.3° below Mu Capricorni (μ Cap, m Mercury (m = 0.0) is 3° up in the southwest. The waxing = 5.1). Use a binocular to see the dim star above the crescent moon (6.3d, 35%) is about midway between planet. Saturn and Mars (m = −0.3). Mars is 0.3° to the upper right • November 9: Venus rises at Astronomical Twilight, over 95 of Iota Aquarii. minutes before sunrise. After today, Venus rises before • November 14: Venus and Spica are at their minimum the beginning of twilight until March 14, 2019. At 5:45 a.m. distance this morning. Venus is 1.2° to the lower left of CST (50 minutes before sunrise) Venus is 9° up in the east- Spica, a quasi-conjunction. Venus closes to within 5° of southeast. Venus is closing in on Spica. They are 2.3° apart. Spica, but Venus neither passes Spica in equatorial Through a telescope, Venus has a thin morning crescent coordinates nor ecliptic coordinates, the definition of a phase, 6.5% illuminated and 56” across. In the western quasi-conjunction. In the evening sky, Jupiter continues to evening sky about 25 minutes after sunset, Mercury disappear into bright twilight, setting 30 minutes after passes 1.7° to the upper right of Antares, while a thin sunset, at Civil Twilight. It is the first bright outer planet crescent moon (2.3d, 5%) shines 6° above Mercury. A clear from summer’s planet parade to exit the evening sky. The view of the horizon and a binocular are necessary to see moon (7.3d, 44%) is nearly 14° to the lower right of Mars. this collection of celestial gems this evening. The next After twilight ends, catch the Red Planet 0.6° to the upper Mercury-Antares conjunction is December 22 in the left of Iota Aquarii. morning sky. • November 15: Forty minutes before sunrise, Venus, 16° up • November 10: In the pre-sunrise eastern sky, 30 minutes in the southeast, is over 1.2° to the lower left of Spica. before sunrise, Venus is 2.1° below Spica. Venus (m = −4.6) Jupiter (m = ‒1.7) sets a few minutes before Civil Twilight. is 11° up in the east-southeast. The gap between the At about the same time, Mercury (m = 0.2) is about 4 ° up planet and star continues to close. In the evening sky, 30 in the southwest. At 5:30 p.m. CST (60 minutes after minutes after sunset, Mercury is 5° up in the southwest, sunset), the First Quarter moon (8.3d, 53%) is 3.1° to the 2.1° above Antares. Jupiter, 2.5° up in the west-southwest, lower right of Mars (m = ‒0.3), now 33° up in the south- is 10.7° to the lower right of Mercury. As the sky darkens southeast. Mars is 1.1° to the upper left of Iota Aquarii; the star is easier to locate after twilight ends. Saturn, 14° further, look for the crescent moon (3.3d, 11%) 8° to the up in the southwest, is 54° to the lower right of Mars, lower right of Saturn. Mars, about one-third of the way up setting over 2.7 hours after sunset. in the south as twilight ends, approaches the Aquarius- Capricornus constellation boundary. At mid-month, brilliant Venus sparkles in the morning sky. • November 11: In the pre-sunrise sky, Venus closes to Rising 140 minutes before sunrise, Venus appears about 1.2° within 1.6° of Spica. The brilliant planet is to the lower left to the lower left of Spica. The Spica chase ended on of the star. In the evening sky, ever more difficult to see, November 14 when a quasi-conjunction occurred. Venus Mercury (m = −0.2) is about 3° up in the southwest. The begins to separate from Spica, but they are close for the remainder of the month. In the evening sky, Mercury, rapidly moon (4.4d, 18%) is 4.1° to the upper left of Saturn. dimming, is hanging low in the western sky 30 minutes after Farther east, Mars moves into Aquarius. Tonight, it is 1.3° sunset. Jupiter is heading toward its solar conjunction in 11 to the lower right of Iota Aquarii (ι Aqr, m = 4.3). Watch days, disappearing into the sun’s glare. Saturn, moving Mars approach and move past the star. This part of the slowly eastward above the Teapot of Sagittarius, appears ecliptic does not have many bright stars to make a about 10° up in the southwest at the end of evening twilight. background for the movement of the planets without At the same time, Mars marches eastward in Aquarius. It is optical aid. Note the speed of Mars against the starry near the moon, 35° up in the south. The Mars-Saturn gap background. It is moving eastward along the ecliptic at grew 7° during the first 15 days of the month as Mars about 0.5° each day. marched eastward while Saturn inched along in the same • November 12: During morning twilight brilliant Venus, 15° direction. The sun’s movement toward more southerly up in the east-southeast, is 1.5° to the lower left of Spica. declinations adds nearly 50 minutes to darkness – from the In the evening sky, Mercury (m = −0.1) is fading rapidly in end of evening twilight to the beginning of morning twilight brightness and altitude in the southwest. The waxing during the first half of the month; in mid-November, this is nearly 11 hours. During the second half of November, minor

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planet Juno reaches opposition and the moon occults a star • November 24: Now rising over 3 hours before the sun, in Orion. Venus (m = −4.9) starts its stage of greatest brightness.

• November 16: In the pre-sunrise sky, the Venus (m = −4.8) (This morning it is 3.3° to the lower left of Spica.) For the – Spica separation is1.3°. In the evening the waxing next 11 days Venus displays its greatest visual intensity. It gibbous moon (9.3d, 63%) is 9.2° to the left of Mars. The is important to note that this is not a singular event, but planet is 1.7° to the upper left of Iota Aquarii. the duration of its brilliance occurs across several mornings. More formally, Venus is near its greatest • November 17: One hour before sunrise, Venus is 1.5° to illuminated extent, defined as a geometric configuration the lower left of Spica. About 1 hour after sunset, Saturn is when Venus has an elongation of 40° – midway between 13.5° up in the southwest. Farther east, Mars is nearly 35° up in the south, 0.6° to the upper right of 42 Aquarii (42 inferior conjunction and greatest elongation. This occurs Aqr, m=5.3). The starfield in this region is dim. Use a December 1, when Venus’ illuminated portion covers more area of the sky than any other time during its binocular to clearly see the pair. Minor planet Juno (3 Juno, apparition. (For a more technical explanation of greatest m = 6.9) is at opposition, 0.6° to the lower right of 32 illuminated extent, see https://tinyurl.com/venus- Eridini (32 Eri, m = 4.4). greatest-illuminated.) For our description, greatest • November 18: About an hour before sunrise, Venus is 15° brightness occurs during a 11-day period when Venus up in the southeast, 1.6° to the lower left of Spica. In the displays its greatest visual brightness. Its photometric evening sky, Saturn passes 2.7° above Kaus Borealis. The brightness may slightly change, but our eyes cannot waxing gibbous moon (11.3d, 80%) is 15.5° above Deneb perceive that minute difference. In the evening sky, Mars Kaitos (β Cet, m = 2.0). is 0.1° to the lower left of Sigma Aquarii. At around 9 p.m. • November 19: In this morning’s twilight, Venus is 16° up in CST look east for the waning gibbous moon (17.5d, 95%), the southeast. The Venus-Spica gap grows to 1.8°. The gap 0.4° to the upper right of Chi1 Orionis (χ1 Ori, m=4.4), in widens at about 0.3° each morning. In the evening sky, the Orion’s club. A short time later, the moon occults this star. brightening moon (12.3d, 88%) is 27° up in the east- The star disappears at 9:21 p.m. CST and reappears at southeast. Again, this month, it is in Cetus. 10:13 p.m. in the Bloomington-Normal area. • November 20: In this morning’s pre-sunrise southeastern • November 25: This morning the Venus-Spica gap is 3.7°. In sky, Venus is 2.1° to the left of Spica. Both are nearly the the evening sky, Mars (m = −0.1) is 0.6° to the lower left of same altitude; Venus is a tad lower (0.3°). At the end of Sigma Aquarii. The waning gibbous moon (18.5d, 89%) is in evening twilight, Saturn, 8° up in the southwest, is over the eastern sky around 9 p.m., about 6° to the left of 2.7° to the upper left of Kaus Borealis. Farther east (56°) Gamma Geminorum (γ Gem, m = 1.9). The moon and its along the ecliptic, Mars is 36° up in the south. It 2.5° to the starry background tracks farther west during the night. lower right of Sigma Aquarii (σ Aqr, m = 4.8). The waxing • November 26: Jupiter is at its solar conjunction today gibbous moon (13.3d, 94%) is 22° up in the east. (12:33 a.m. CST). Watch it emerge from behind the sun • November 21: This morning, Venus is 2.4° to the left of into bright twilight as the new year approaches. At Spica. At the end of evening twilight, Mars is 1.9° to the Nautical Twilight (105 minutes before sunrise), Venus is lower right of Sigma Aquarii. The waxing gibbous moon 20° up in the southeast. Through a telescope Venus is a (14.3d, 98%) is 16° up in the east. thicker morning crescent phase than earlier this month. • November 22: During early morning twilight, Venus is 2.7° This morning it is 22% illuminated. Venus is 4.1° from to the lower left of Spica. In the evening, Mercury sets 30 Spica; the gap continues to grow daily. During morning minutes after the sun (Civil Twilight). At the end of evening twilight the moon (18.8d, 87%) is 9° above Gamma twilight, Mars is 1.2° to the lower right of Sigma Aquarii. Geminorum high in the west-southwest. An hour after Farther east, the moon (15.3d, 100%) is 12° to the upper sunset, Saturn, 10° in the southwest, slowly crawls away right of Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8). The moon reaches its from Kaus Borealis, nearly 2.8° to its lower left. Farther Full phase, 11:39 p.m. CST. east (59°), Mars (m = −0.1) is 1.2° to the upper left of • November 23: In morning twilight, Venus, nearly 19° up in Sigma Aquarii. At 9 p.m., the waning gibbous moon (19.5d, the southeast, is 3° to the lower left of Spica. At the end of 80%) is 8.3° to the lower right of Pollux (β Gem, m=1.2), evening twilight, Mars is 0.6° to the lower right of Sigma low in the east-northeast. Aquarii. Farther east, the moon (16.3d, 99%) is 2.5° to the • November 27: Mercury is at inferior conjunction (3:15 a.m. lower left of Aldebaran. CST), heading into a favorable opposition next month. It passes 1° north of the sun. This morning at the beginning

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

of twilight, Venus is over 21° up in the southeast, 4.5° to Regulus. The moon reaches its Last Quarter phase at 6:19 the lower left of Spica. In the evening sky, Mars is 1.7° to p.m. CST. In the evening sky, Mars is 3.1° to the lower right the upper left of Sigma Aquarii. By 10:30 p.m. the waning of Lambda Aquarii (λ Aqr, m =3.7) gibbous moon (20.5d, 70%) is low in the eastern sky. The • November 30: Brilliant Venus gleams during early morning Beehive cluster (M44, NGC 2632, m = 4.5) is 5° to the twilight 5.8° to the lower left of Spica. The moon (22.8d, upper right of the moon. 44%) is over 11° to the right of Denebola (β Leo, m = 2.1). • November 28: This morning during twilight look for Venus An hour after sunset, Saturn, 7.5° up in the southwest, is 4.8° to the lower left of Spica. The waning gibbous moon 2.8° above Kaus Borealis. Farther east, Mars, 2.5° to the (20.8d, 67%) is higher in the sky, nearly 14° to the upper lower right of Lambda Aquarii is 38° up in the south. right of Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3). Mercury rises at Civil Twilight. It is charging into the morning sky for a very The month ends with brilliant Venus, 40° west of the sun, gleaming in the southeast pre-sunrise sky, nearly 25° up near favorable apparition. In the evening sky, Mars is 2.5° to Spica. The moon appears high above Venus, near the tail of the upper left of Sigma Aquarii. The moon (21.5d, 59%) Leo. Mercury is streaking toward a morning appearance as it clears the horizon after 11 p.m. CST. It is 2.1° above rises 40 minutes before the sun with an 8° elongation. Regulus. Although now dim, Mercury brightens and appears higher in • November 29: As Venus is in the middle of its stage of the sky during the first week of December. It rises nearly 10 greatest brightness, notice that it is about the same minutes earlier each morning. Meanwhile, Jupiter is slowly altitude (16°) as Sirius (α CMa, m = −1.5), in the southwest, moving into the morning sky, rising nearly 20 minutes before at 5:20 a.m. CST (about 100 minutes before sunrise). the sunrise, and only 4° west of the sun. In the evening sky, While it is not appropriate in formal astronomy to visually Saturn, 30° east of the sun, is beginning a slow slide toward compare the respective brightness of objects that are evening twilight, setting in the southwest 2 hours after widely separated (101° in this case), notice that Venus is sunset. Mars, over 60° to the east of Saturn, marches distinctly brighter (about 25 times) than Sirius – the through the dim sidereal background of Aquarius, dimming brightest planet compared to the brightest star. Venus is as it moves eastward. The time from the end of evening now 5.3° to the lower left of Spica, about two weeks after twilight to the beginning of morning twilight is nearly 11 their quasi-conjunction. The waning gibbous moon (21.8d, hours, 20 minutes, a 70-minute gain during the month. 56%) is 61° up in the south and 1.9° to the upper left of

COMET 46P/WIRTANEN COMETH

According to Spaceweather.com, a somewhat “hyperactive” comet will approach to within 11.5 million km (7.02 million miles) of Earth on December 16th. The comet is hyperactive to the extent that it has recently flared in brightness by a factor of several hundred times. It is hoped that the comet will retain its current outburst for at least another six weeks. Regardless, its path his will make “Comet 46P/Wirtanen one of the 10 closest-approaching comets of the Space Age. The website notes that it will probably become a naked eye object for several weeks during the holidays, prompting some astronomers to call it the Comet of the Year." The comet, if it does become naked-eye (estimated now at about magnitude 3), will be faintly visible in the evening. The image shown here depicts the sky looking south at 10:21 PM on December 16th. This is the time of transit. At that time, it will be more than 74° above our southern horizon – ideally placed for local viewing.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

On that date, it also will be located among the stars of The tail development, if any, will be small because the object Taurus the Bull. Unfortunately, the presence of the 9-day-old is opposite the sun and with its tail pointing mostly away waxing gibbous moon won’t make observation easier. The from Earth. best views of the comet will occur after moonset which Observers are hereby reminded that comets are much takes place about 20 minutes after midnight on December like cats – they have tails and make up their own minds. 17th. At that time, the comet will be located over 57° up in Whether Comet Wirtanen livens up our expectations in the the southwest and still very well placed for viewing. December sky or not has yet to be seen. Watch both The Because the comet’s head contains lots of carbon OBSERVER and our Facebook page for regular updates. compounds, expect the comet nucleus to appear greenish.

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSION SCHEDULE FOR 2019

April 13: Distance – How do we know how far? (Sunil Chebolu) 8:00-10:00 PM There is a long history of science behind distance measurement in the universe. We will explore how we so confidently answer the common question: “How far away is that?”

May 11: Spectra – Stories the Stars Tell (Tim Stone) 8:30-10:30 PM The light from stars illuminates everything in the universe. How do we know what those stars are made of? We will look at the spectra of stars, to learn how we understand stellar composition, and how spectra have enabled us to discover hundreds of exoplanets.

June 8: Telescopes – Why do Astronomers Need Them? (Carl Wenning) 8:45-10:45 PM It seems like astronomers are forever building bigger and bigger telescopes. Even amateur astronomers like us want ever bigger telescopes. We will answer the questions of what telescopes do for astronomers, and how do they work.

July 13: A History of Women in Astronomy (Lisa Wentzel) 9:00-11:00 PM Women have a centuries-long history of direct involvement in astronomy. For much of that, they were given little, if any, credit for their marvelous discoveries. We will explore some of important women in the history of astronomy and learn how historical attitudes are changing in the current world.

August 10: Meteor Showers – There’s More Than One (Mark Cabaj) 8:30-10:30 PM The famous Perseid Meteor Shower peaks in a few days, but the moon will be nearly full. Will you have to wait until next August to see a meteor shower? Learn about other great meteor showers, when they are visible, and what you can expect to see.

September 07: Your First Telescope – Binoculars? (Mark Cabaj) 8:00-10:00 PM Virtually every serious amateur astronomer owns a pair of binoculars. If you’re thinking about getting a telescope for yourself, or for a Christmas gift, we will tell you what to look for, how to use them for rewarding astronomy, and why you’ll use them longer than any other telescope you’ll ever own.

October 05: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – Two Planets, or Three? (Mark & Nataya Boulware) 7:00-9:00 PM We spend a lot of time looking at the inner planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Few have ever seen Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. October presents a great opportunity to see all three in one night. We will learn about them, and hopefully have a look at them!

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2018-2019

The events for 2018 are now drawing to a close, but we are planning a full schedule of events for next year.

Date Event Coordinator(s) Location Times Nov 03 Member Viewing Session N/A WO Dusk Nov 27 Board of Directors Meeting Carl Wenning Wenning Residence 6:30 PM Dec ?? Saturnalia Party Tim & Diann Stone Stone Residence 7:00-10:00 PM

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

------2019 ------

January ?? TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD February ?? Annual Meeting & Banquet Dave Osenga Normal Township Hall 6:30-9:00 PM April 6-7 Northeast Astronomy Forum L. Wentzel / C. Wenning Suffern, NY All day April 13 Public Viewing Session Sunil Chebolu SGNC 8:00-10:00 PM Apr ?? TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD May 3-5 NCRAL 2019 Popular Astronomy Club Moline, IL Friday PM - Sunday AM May 11 Public Viewing Session Tim Stone SGNC 8:45-10:45PM June 8 Public Viewing Session Carl Wenning SGNC 9:00-11:00 PM July 9 Public Viewing Session Lisa Wentzel SGNC 9:00-11:00 PM July 13 TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD Jul 25-29 ALCon 2019 (tour & cruise) Astronomical League Kennedy Space Center All day August 10 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:30-10:30 PM September 7 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:00-10:00 PM October 5 Public Viewing Session Mark & Nataya Boulware SGNC 7:00-9:00 PM

HOWTIMEFLIES

The Twin City Amateur Astronomers was founded in 1960 through the efforts of John & Bertha Kieviet. Over the years, newsletter editors David B. Williams, G. Weldon Schuette, Gary Skinner, Jim Moncher, Mike Rogers & Jean Memken, Rebecca Wenning, and Erin Estabrook (as well as other contributors) documented the efforts of the club. Now, TCAA Editor and Historian Carl Wenning continues that effort and provides monthly updates about the history of the club going back in intervals of 40, 25, and 10 years. Details about all mentioned events will be found in either the publication Twin City Amateur Astronomers: 1960-2010 or in The OBSERVER archive found on the TCAA website.

40 Years Ago: October 1978 – TCAA member John Werner makes his first appearance. He’s former observatory director for Anderson College in Indiana. Bob Finnigan and Carl Wenning make an appearance on WRBA-FM’s evening show hosted by Al Lundy. Their subject was UFOs. Tim Stone agreed to print address labels for sending out the newsletter that Weldon Schuette is editing. The club’s treasury balance is $196.01.

25 Years Ago: October 1993 – Mike Miller and Mike Rogers hosted an Astronomy Day display in the lobby outside the ISU Planetarium. Mike R. brought in a computer and demonstrated Voyager II software, then “all the rage” about night sky simulations. Mike M. handed out information packets to about 40 guests who showed up. Lenore Trainer continues her monthly columns about constellations in the newsletter.

10 Years Ago: October 2008 – Carl Wenning is writing a column for the newsletter titled StarGeezer. Property Manager William Carney has noted that the 12” Meade LX200 telescope mount in misbehaving. William is using Cartes du Ciel to control this first-generation goto telescope. Club members are making regular progress in working toward earning AL observing awards. The motion is so rapid that the newsletter carries a monthly update of who has observed what for each of the observing programs with which members are involved.

TCAA ON FACEBOOK

Did you know that the TCAA is on Facebook? We encourage users of social networks to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing and to learn about nightly events that on most evenings only require the observer to step outdoors and view with the unaided eye. You can find us on Facebook by searching either TCAA or Twin City Amateur Astronomers. We no longer are working with Twitter as we have not received the same “traction” as we have with Facebook.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

KUDOS TO IDOT FOR NEW ROADWAY LIGHTS AT I-55/SHIRLEY EXIT

Readers might be wondering what is so significant about the roadway light shown here. This is one of the new lights at the I-55/Shirley exit that Tony Cellini pointed out recently. The TCAA is delighted to know that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is working diligently to replace light-polluting highway lights under their jurisdiction. Members might remember how, at the TCAA’s September 2015 mini conference at SGNC, Mr. Mark Seppelt – Electrical Unit Chief for IDOT – told us about new Illinois state roadway lighting standards and the efforts that the state is taking to prevent light pollution. Operating with guidance from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA, http://darksky.org/), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC, www.usgbc.org/), the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES, www.ies.org), and similar groups around the USA, IDOT is making great headway in reducing BUG. BUG is Backlight/Uplight/Glare.

Backlight: Light directed downward but illuminating unintended areas. This often results in light trespass.

Uplight: Lighting that by placement or design throws light upward illuminating the sky. Astronomers see that is the cause of light pollution.

Glare: Intense and blinding light that reduces visibility. A light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted.

The intent of these organizations is to minimize light trespass from buildings and sites, to reduce sky-glow to increase night sky access, improve nighttime visibility through glare reduction and reduce development impact from lighting on nocturnal environments. Thanks to efforts by Lisa Wentzel, the TCAA’s Lighting Education Coordinator, we all now understand the significance of this work.

RENEWING YOUR TCAA MEMBERSHIP

The TCAA works to promote in every way among its members and the public an interest in and knowledge of astronomy and its allied sciences, to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques, to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields, and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis. The TCAA is a Federally recognized non-profit entity organized exclusively for education and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. The TCAA currently supports family friendly public observing sessions at SGNC, public outreach events such as the recent May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury and the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse field trip, hosting of NCRAL meetings (2010 and 2016), September mini conferences, and education courses for our membership and the public. The TCAA maintains three observatories including payment of insurance and publishes an award-winning club newsletter. We support Sugar Grove Nature Center through their membership program, maintain a loaner telescope program, and provide many other benefits as outlined in TCAA Guide #2 – Membership and Benefits. Your TCAA membership supports education and public outreach in Central Illinois and regions beyond. Membership dues and the generosity of its members are the club’s primary means of financial support. We receive no grants or public funds. We have unmet needs. By renewing your membership when it comes due, you can help to ensure our continuing efforts.

Vol. 43, No. 11 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers November 2018

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF OCTOBER 30, 2018

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 09/30/2018 1,070.53

Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (59.24) Filing Fee & Change of Agent Annual Report (43.00) BALANCE 10/29/2018 968.29

Checking Account Balance – October 30, 2018 $968.29 Savings Account Balance – October 30, 2018 $3,017.47 - Includes $0.00 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – October 30, 2018 $3,985.76

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date.

Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer