Houston Astronomical Society Page 1 June, 2013
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Houston Astronomical Society Page 1 June, 2013 June, 2013 Volume 31, #6 At the June 7 Meeting Highlights: Science Fair Winners President’s Message 3 Triple Threat Debbie Moran 7 Texas Star Party Review The Primeval Atom 8 Turn Left at Orion, 4th Ed 11 Steve Goldberg Hubble Sees Farthest Supernova 13 At the June main meeting, we welcome four Houston Science and Engineering Fair special award winners to Satellites—How to See Them 16 present for the first part of the main presentation. The Parking at UH for HAS Meetings 17 titles of their projects look like interesting listening. Presenting are Alex Whatley: “Did Newton Miss Something?,” David Nguyen: “Light Speed Lasers,” Utkarsh Patel: “Solar Power - A Bright Idea,” and Zivan HAS Web Page: Vasquez: “When Galaxies Collide.” Thanks again to the http://www.AstronomyHouston.org judges who chose these projects: Richard Nugent, See the GuideStar's Monthly Calendar of Mike Rao, Mark Holdsworth, and Anoop Rathod. Events to confirm dates and times of all events for the month, and check the Web Steve Goldberg will review the 2013 Texas Star Party. Page for any last minute changes. What happened? Who was there? How was the observing? If you were there, and if you weren’t, you’ll want to see this presentation. Schedule of meeting activities: The GuideStar is the winner of the 2012 All meetings are at the University of Houston Astronomical League Mabel Sterns Science and Research building. See the inside Newsletter award. back page for directions to the location. Novice meeting: ······················ 7:00 p.m. “ Software for Astronomy” — Various presenters The Houston Astronomical See page 6 for more information Society is a member of the Astronomical League. General meeting: ···················· 8:00 p.m See last page for directions and more information. Page 2 June, 2013 The Houston Astronomical Society Table of Contents The Houston Astronomical Society is a non-profit corporation 3 ...............President's Message organized under section 501 (C) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Society was formed for education and scientific purposes. All 4 ...............June/July Calendar contributions and gifts are deductible for federal income tax 5 ...............Observations of the Editor purposes. General membership meetings are open to the public and attendance is encouraged. 6 ...............Astronomy Computer Programs and Apps Officers & Past President ...............Kid's Outreach and Star Parties 7 ...............Triple Treat President: Bill Pellerin ................................... C:713-598-8543 Vice Pres: Mike Edstrom ............................... 8 ...............The Primeval Atom Secretary: Rene Gedaly ................................. 11 ...............Turn Left at Orion, 4th Ed. Treasurer: Don Selle ..................................... Past President: Gordon Houston .................. 12 ...............Observatory Corner 13 ...............Hubble Sees Farthest Supernova Directors at Large 15 ...............Southern Skies Observing Adventure Greg Barolak ................................................. H:281-467-5780 16 ...............Satellites - How to See Them Mark Holdsworth .......................................... H:713-478-4109 17 ...............Parking at UH for HAS Meetings Mike Rao ....................................................... 832-689-4584 John Haynes .................................................. H:802-363-8123 Brian Cudnik.................................................. H:832-912-1244 Committee Chairpersons Audit .................... Scott Mitchell .................. H:281-293-7818 Other Meetings... Education ............. Debbie Moran ................. Field Tr./Obsg ...... Steve Fast........................ 713-898-2188 Novice .................. Debbie Moran Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society meets in the Observatory ......... Bob Rogers ...................... H:281-460-1573 the Lunar and Planetary Institute on the 2nd Friday of Program ............... Brian Cudnik.................... H:832-912-1244 Publicity ............... Mike Rao ........................ 832-689-4584 each month. Web site: www.jscas.net Telescope ............. John Haynes .................... H:802-363-8123 Welcoming ........... Vacant Membership ........ Steve Fast........................ 713-898-2188 Fort Bend Astronomy Club meets the third Friday of the month at 8:00 p.m. at the Houston Community Ad-Hoc Committee Chairpersons College Southwest Campus in Stafford, Texas Texas Star Party ... Steve Goldberg. .............. H:713-721-5077 http://www.fbac.org/club_meetings.htm. AL Awards ............ Amelia Goldberg ............. H:713-721-5077 Novice meeting begins at 7:00 p.m., regular GuideStar ............. Bill Pellerin ...................... C:713-598-8543 Outreach .............. Alan Rossiter ................... H:713-660-9503 meeting begins at 8:00 p.m. Website: Webmaster .......... Jeffery McLaughlin .......... http://www.fbac.org Email: [email protected] By-Laws Review ... Scott Mitchell .................. H:281-293-7818 North Houston Astronomy Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on Advisors the 4th Friday of each month in the Teaching Theatre Dr. Reginald DuFour, Rice Univ. of the Student Center at Kingwood College.Call 281- Dr. Lawrence Pinsky, U. of H. 312-1650 or [email protected]. Web Dr. Lawrence Armendarez, U. of St. Thomas site: www.astronomyclub.org Dues and Membership Information Brazosport Astronomy Club meets the third Tuesday of Annual Dues:Regular ................................................ $36 Associate ..................................................................... $6 each month at the Brazosport planetarium at 7:45 Sustaining ................................................................. $50 p.m. The Brazosport planetarium is located at 400 Student ..................................................................... $12 Honorary .................................................................. N/C College Boulevard, Clute, TX, 77531. For more information call 979-265-3376 All members have the right to participate in Society functions and to use the Observatory Site. Regular and Student Members re- ceive a subscription toThe Reflector. The GuideStar, the monthly publication of the Houston Astronomical Society is available on the web site. Associate Members, immediate family members of a Regular Member, have all membership rights, but do not receive publications. Sustaining members have the same rights as regular members with the additional dues treated as a donation to the Society. Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines are available to members at a discount. GuideStar deadline Membership Application: Send funds to address shown on last page of GuideStar. Attention- Treasurer, along with the following for the July information: Name, Address, Phone Number, Special Interests in Astronomy, Do you own a Telescope? (If so, what kind?), and where you first heard of H.A.S. issue is June 15th Page 3 June, 2013 President’s Message by Bill Pellerin, President What’s Going on with the HAS? Observatory Committee — is always recruiting help for site maintenance and Texas Star Party 2013 is over and in the record books. The skies upgrades. Contact Bob Rogers for infor- were good, but not perfect, by all reports, with at least 4 solid mation. nights of observing during the week. A hearty ‘thanks’ to everyone Outreach — see page 6 of this issue to from the HAS who helped make the event a great success. see how you can help with outreach One of the follow-ons to the TSP was a long conversation on the programs. If you can find the Moon, and list server about the event and how newcomers can be assisted you have a telescope, you can get in- and can enjoy the event. In the end, everybody agrees that the volved. Call Alan Rossiter or Debbie Mo- TSP volunteers do a great job and that there are always new op- ran. portunities to enhance future TSPs. That said: Become our Welcoming Chair. Call the I see the list server as a way to communicate notices and pro- president. vide links to web-items of interest to the amateur astronomy Be a speaker at the novice or general community, but not as the right venue for a discussion. There presentation. Call Brian Cudnik. were at least 56 emails posted to the list server on this topic, and this is way too many. Consider moving discussions to the Write for (or pick up the editing duties) HAS web site forum. Use the list server to announce the dis- for the GuideStar. Contact the editor for cussion and to invite members to participate. Also, if you information. mean to direct an email to a particular member, do so. For Parking — Read this… example, someone posts a link to a new astro-image with a description of the image and how it was taken. If you want to We can continue to park in the lot across complement the imager on the image, send an email directly Cullen from the Science and Research Build- to that person, don’t reply to the list server so that the mes- ing. The spaces are marked ‘Faculty’ but are sage goes to all list server subscribers. Let’s use the list server available to us from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for its best purpose and let’s use the forum for discussions. I know that some attendees at the May The Texas Star Party is run by volunteers who are members of meeting received warning tickets when park- various clubs, not just the HAS. Any issues or concerns associ- ing in 15F. I have contacted UH Parking and ated with this event should be directed to the