SOUTHEASTERN IOWA ASTRONOMY CLUB THE SIDEREAL TIMES
SEPTEMBER 2013
A M EMBER SOCIETY OF THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE
CLUB OFFICERS : MINUTES AUGUST 16, 2013 Executive Committee President Jim Hil in called the mee n the club sent for her mother's fu- to order at 7: 7 m with the followin neral. Karen said that she will be President Jim Hilkin Vice President Libby Snipes members in a endance: Judy mith- u da n the loo of the newsle er Treasurer Vicki Philabaum son, Karen & Larry Johnson, Libby in the near future. Dave re orted Secretary David Philabaum ni es, Jim Wilt, Ray Reine e, Dave & that a boy scout rou cam in at Chief Observer David Philabaum Vic i Philabaum, John Toney, and uest Bi Hollow will be comin to the Members-at-Large Claus Benninghoven observatory later toni ht. The next Duane Gerling Mi e Tri odi. Vic i moved to a rove Blake Stumpf the minutes as ublished, seconded by rou scheduled is Great River Board of Directors hris an chool on e tember th . Judy, mo on assed. Vic i ave the Chair Judy Hilkin Treasurer's re ort. hec s were wri en Jim Hil in re orted on the followin Vice Chair Ray Reineke for: Astronomical Lea ue dues, liability maintenance items: some dirt has Secretary David Philabaum insurance, the hone bill, and aint for been obtained to extend the berm Members-at-Large David Martin the ar in lot and doors. The club bal- on the south side of the observatory Blake Stumpf Jim Wilt ance is $1,6 1. 5 and the rant balance farther to the east to bloc head- Audit Committee is $1,63 .98 for a total of $3, 3 . 3 in li hts on cars comin from Area E the chec in account. Larry moved to and the beach; the Viburnum bush- Karen Johnson (2011) Dean Moberg (2012) a rove the Treasurer's re ort, se- es on the north side of the observa- JT Stumpf (2013) conded by Jim Wilt, mo on assed. tory will be removed; the new doors Judy than ed the club for the flowers for the Pru h- arver observatory are in and Jim is wor in with INSIDE THIS ISSUE : (continued on page 4)
Space Place 2, 3
UPCOMING DATES Looking Back 3
~ The next meeting will October 18 at 7:00 pm at Minutes (cont.) 4 be Friday, September 20, Witte Observatory at the Witte Observatory Treasurer’s Report 4 ~ Members and guests at 7 pm. nights ~ September 28 Observer’s Report 5
~ Deadline for the Octo- and October 12 Space Place Items 6 ber newsletter is ~ Membership dues Wednesday, October 9, At The Observatory 6 were due in April. 2013 Calendar 7
~ October meeting on Sky Maps 8-9 PAGE 2 THE SIDEREAL TIMES
HOW TO HUNT FOR YOUR VERY OWN SUPERNOVA ! B Y DR. E THAN SIEGEL
In our day-to-day lives, stars seem like the plodes. most fixed and unchanging of all the night
sky objects. Shining relentlessly and con- stantly for billions of years, it's only the The inrushing matter approaches the cen- long-term motion of these individual nu- ter of the star, then rebounds and bounces clear furnaces and our own motion outwards, creating a shockwave that even- through the cosmos that results in the tually causes what we see as a core- most minute, barely-perceptible changes. collapse supernova, the most common type of supernova in the Universe! These occur only a few times a century in most Unless, that is, you're talking about a star galaxies, but because it's the most mas- reaching the end of its life. A star like our sive, hottest, shortest-lived stars that cre- Sun will burn through all the hydrogen in ate these core-collapse supernovae, we its core after approximately 10 billion can increase our odds of finding one by years, after which the core contracts and watching the most actively star-forming heats up, and the heavier element helium galaxies very closely. Want to maximize begins to fuse. About a quarter of all stars your chances of finding one for yourself? are massive enough that they'll reach this Here's how. “...we can increase giant stage, but the most massive ones --
our odds of finding only about 0.1% of all stars -- will contin- one by watching the ue to fuse leaner elements past carbon, Pick a galaxy in the process of a major most actively star- oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon, sul- merger, and get to know it. Learn where forming galaxies phur and all the way up to iron, cobalt, the foreground stars are, where the appar- very closely.” and nickel in their core. For the rare ultra- ent bright spots are, what its distinctive massive stars that make it this far, their features are. If a supernova occurs, it will cores become so massive that they're un- appear first as a barely perceptible bright stable against gravitational collapse. spot that wasn't there before, and it will When they run out of fuel, the core im- quickly brighten over a few nights. If you (continued on page 3)
SN 2013ai, via its discoverer, Em- manuel Conseil, taken with the Slooh.com robotic telescope just a few days after its emergence in NGC 2207 (top); NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI) of the same interacting galaxies prior to the supernova (bottom). SEPTEMBER 2013 PAGE 3
Looking Back in the Sidereal Times
25 Years Ago - September, 1988 Dave Bachtell reports that the Fecker telescope is now ready for regular use. He joined Jim Hilkin and Jim Wilt as they worked to install the drive gears onto the mount outside the Wi e bservatory. When they tested it they were very sa s ed with the results. laus Benninghoven is going to be checking on the feasibility of having the objec ve glass ground in order to clear some of the vitri ca on that has clouded it. t will be very interes ng to see if this is possible. n the weekend of September 2 and 2 S A will be hos ng a public view to take advantage of the ars Spec- tacle this month. here will be invita ons published in the newspaper and aired on the radio and invi ng eve- ryone to join us. his should give people a good chance to get to know us and nd out what S A is all about. The e he e e e e e he e e e e he e he g . g he e e e e e e he e he e he j ff he e . e he P gh-C e e h e he e e . A 200 e e e he e g. ee e e e h he h e e 0 e e e e e gh h he e e e g e e e e e e e I e e e e .
10 Years Ago - September, 200 First Public ars mages Released Sep. 12, 200 - For the past few weeks, ASA has been le ng the public select targets for the mars lobal Surveyor spacecra , and the rst image was released today. he loca on was the summit crater of a giant volcano called Pavonis ons - the walls and floor of the crater are covered with thick dust. t was suggested by U.S. arine Lance orporal Robert F. Sanders, of Jacksonville, . . from the hundreds of selec ons submi ed so far. ars lobal Surveyor has taken 120,000 images of the planet s surface in high de- tail, but this is only of the en re planet. ( G S e e e e JPL he N e e . N e e 2 200 he e e e e ge . A g e- e e h ee e h h e h h g e e e . A e he e e e he e e NASA ffi e e he J 200 .)
HOW TO HUNT FOR YOUR VERY OWN SUPERNOVA (CONT . FROM PAGE 2) find what appears to be a "new star" in one of these son who's ever seen it! galaxies and it checks out, report it immediately ; you just might have discovered a new supernova! Read more about the evolution and ultimate fate of the stars in our universe: http://science.nasa.gov/ This is one of the few cutting-edge astronomical dis- astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and- coveries well-suited to amateurs; Australian Robert evolve/ . Evans holds the all-time record with 42 (and count- ing) original supernova discoveries. If you ever find one for yourself, you'll have seen an exploding star While you are out looking for supernovas, kids can whose light traveled millions of light-years across the have a blast finding constellations using the Space Universe right to you, and you'll be the very first per- Place star finder: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/starfinder/ . PAGE 4 THE SIDEREAL TIMES
MINUTES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)
to spray paint them; paint is available for anyone will- woul be between the stu s of the buil in . ave ave in to paint the oors of the i e bservatory an the bserver's report. he first ima e of comet S Stone-Kelly bservatory, paint is also available to has been obtaine since it has reappeare from the paint the lines on the parkin lot; all of the scopes in lare of the sun an it shows that the comet is two the Pru h-Carver observatory now have new covers ma nitu es fainter than it was pre icte to be at this alon with the Ealin telescope. Jim aske that any- me. i onal observa ons will be nee e to eter- one intereste in becomin a telescope operator to mine how bri ht the comet will et. supernova was contact him or ave. he me capsules will be put iscovere in M74 on July 26 th an is currently aroun back into the wall a er the mee n . ay reporte ma nitu e 12.5. n u ust 14 th a bri ht nova was is- that he has the new motor for the Fecker telescope covere in elphinus. Currently it is aroun 5 th ma ni- installe an workin . Jim reporte on upcomin tu e an visible in binoculars. ay passe aroun some ates for ac vi es at the observatory. Comet S ima es he ha recently taken inclu in two of Pluto will be in the early mornin sky in ovember an e- that showe its mo on over a perio of a few ays. pen in on its visibility some early mornin public Several members commente on their observa ons of session may be sche ule . r. Steve Span ler of the the Persei meteor shower which peake earlier this University of owa has in icate he woul like to visit week. ith no further business to iscuss Larry move the observatory some me. r. Span ler spoke at one to a ourn, Jim ilt secon e an the mee n a - of the club's banquets years a o an is ori inally from ourne at 7:40pm. the Hou hton area. Jim showe a couple of cabinet oors he ha obtaine to be use to make a stora e espec ully submi e , area in the Stone-Kelly observatory. he stora e area ave Philabaum, Secretary
TREASURER ’S REPORT SIAC Treasurer's Report August 2013
8/1/2013 Beginning Balance $3,430.72
Deposits
8/9/2013 Dues, Donations $383.00 8/22/2013 Dues $160.00
Total Deposits $543.00
Expenses
Check Payee 8/9/2013 428 Astronomical League - Dues $215.00 8/9/2013 429 Two Rivers Insurance $255.00 8/14/2013 430 Judy Smithson - Paint $81.98 8/14/2013 431 MTC Technologies $29.71
Total Expenses $581.69
8/31/2013 Ending Balance $3,392.03
General Fund $1,843.03 Grants ($1630.98-$81.98) $1,549.00 Total in Checking Account $3,392.03 SEPTEMBER 2013 PAGE 5
OBSERVER ’S REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER / O CTOBER BY DAVE PHILABAUM
Mars c L S b c ck L Oc b . I b S Oc b . O Mercury Oc b S b Oc b . M c c R . Oc b 6 c S Oc b b ISO M c b . M . V , M c , k b . " k . Venus b c . Moon S b . S b 6 . H M . q S b bb . Oc b b 7 . M Oc b b c b , fi q cc Oc b 8 , b . Saturn L b M Oc b 8 8 6. . , b b b c M Oc b k c cc 8 . O Oc b 6 . O S b M b M c S , S b b . V S 8. c b V . Pluto . O Oc b M cc k b c k . R S 8 b , 8 , . Neptune r q cc . c . R c 7.8. O Oc c ISON (C/2012 S1) b 8 b b 8 b c b b .7 . Uranus, P b . c , c Oc b b . S b c . b k b k. V c b b . Jupiter, J c G , b Oc . c b c b b . I 6' . . G Oc b c k c q Oc b . . 6 c ( ) Oc b 7. . b S cc J . O Oc b 7 b c k Oc b . k 6 7 I G b b b . . O ' I c b c . b b c c , c b G R S . . I b cc Oc b b 7 b fl . b b c c I , , . ' , P/G c b Z , c . b . q cc S b k b b c b c J . b b . PAGE 6 THE SIDEREAL TIMES
SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADORS PROGAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
The NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Ambassadors, or SSA, Program, a nationwide network Virginia, Wyoming and the District of Columbia. SSA of space enthusiast volunteers, will accept applications hopes to add 100 new volunteers to the program in from Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, 2012 . 2014.
Highly motivated individuals will be given the opportunity To learn more about the Solar System Ambassador Pro- to represent NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory as vol- gram and to apply online, visit http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ unteer Solar System Ambassadors to the public for a ambassador/ . one-year, renewable term beginning Jan. 1, 2014. If you have questions about this opportunity, contact While applications are being sought nationwide, inter- Kay Ferrari, SSA Coordinator, by email at ambas- ested parties from the following states are especially [email protected] . encouraged to apply: Alaska, Delaware, Mississippi,
AT THE OBSERVATORY
The Time Capsule has been sealed and is in place, awaiting the next 25 years to be re-opened. Thanks to all who contributed items!
Ray reported that he has the new mo- tor for the Fecker telescope installed and working. He ordered the motor and then created the box and other func- tions to make it work. He also tooled the motor for the roll-off roof last year. The club is fortunate to have just a skilled person. Thank you Ray!
Jim completed the cabinet using two doors in the Stone-Kelly for eyepiec- es. Thank you Jim! SEPTEMBER 2013 PAGE 7
September ~ October 2013
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Moon at perigee Neptune 6° south Full Moon SIAC Meeting at of Moon Witte Observato- Venus 4° south of ry 7 pm Saturn Uranus 3° south of Moon
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Autumn Equinox Last Quarter Moon at apogee Members and Moon guests night
Jupiter 5° north of Moon
29 30 1 (October) 2 3 4 5
Mars 7° north of Uranus at opposi- First Friday Pub- Moon tion lic Viewing
New Moon
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Mercury 3° south Saturn 1.9° north Venus 5 south of Mercury at great- Mercury 5° south First Quarter Fall Astronomy of Moon of Moon Moon est elongation of Saturn Moon Day
Moon at perigee Members and guests night
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Neptune 6° south Uranus 3° south SIAC Meeting at of Moon of Moon Witte Observato- ry 7 pm
Full Moon
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Orionid meteor Orionid meteor Moon at apogee Last Quarter shower shower Moon Jupiter 5° north Mercury appears of Moon stationary Gienah 1 h
8 0 h
h 2 2 2
Sarin Lyra M29
Sadr Vega Hercules
Matar NGC 7027 δ Cyg Cygnus Deneb North American Nebula (NGC 7000)
π Her
ζ Her
Blinking Planetary (NGC 6826)
M39 Hercules Cluster (M13) M92
Lacerta Eltanin
Rastaban
16 Blue Snowball (NGC 7662) h NGC 6946
n dia eri l M Alderamin tia les Ce
Draco Altais
Nodus I Alfirk Aldhibain The Scorpion (M52) NGC 7789 Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Cepheus Andromeda Caph
Spindle Galaxy (M102) Schedar
γ Cas Pherkad Er Rai Cassiopeia
Owl Cluster (NGC 457)
Kochab Ruchbah Ursa Minor M103 Little Dumbbell Nebula (M76) Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) 14h North Celestial Pole Polaris
Alkaid
Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 869) Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 884) Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) Mizar
Sunflower Galaxy (M63) Alioth Canes Venatici M34 γ Per
Winnecke 4 (M40)
Cat's Eye Galaxy (M94)
Mirfak Algol Cigar Galaxy (M82) Camelopardalis M106 M109 Bode's Galaxy (M81) Phecda Dubhe δ Per Perseus
Owl Nebula (M97) M108 Merak NGC 2403
Ursa Major ε Per
ψ UMa
Capella Almaaz θ UMa
Hoedus II
Tania Australis Menkalinan Talitha
° 0 3 Hassaleh Lynx N Auriga M38 Leo Minor
θ Aur M36
M37 Elnath
α Lyn
tic lip Ec
Viewing from Burlington, United States Long: -91° 08' 07" Lat: 40° 48' 52" 2013/9/20 9:00:00 PM (Local) Looking: north (40° above horizon) FOV: 100° Limiting Magnitude: 7.1 1
8 h h h 0 M92 2
2 2 Deneb North American Nebula (NGC 7000) δ Cygnus Cyg
NGC 7027
Sadr Hercules Cluster (M13)
Vega M29
Lyra
ζ Her Gienah Matar Azimuth: 94° 39.597' Altitude: 59° 8.271' Ring Nebula (M57) 30° RA (JNow): 22h 24.174m Hercules Scheat Dec (JNow): 31° 58.390' Veil Nebula (East), Network Nebula (NGC 6992) Veil Nebula (West) (NGC 6960) M56
Albireo
Vulpecula
Dumbbell Nebula (M27) Pegasus
Brocchi's Cluster (Coathanger Cluster) M71 Sagitta
15° Rasalgethi Deneb el Okab Pegasus Cluster (M15) Delphinus Rasalhague
Tarazed Enif
Altair Equuleus
Cebalrai Aquila
Sadal Melik M2
C elestial Equator
M14 Gumball Globular (M12)
Sadal Suud Serpens Cauda Wild Duck Cluster (M11) Ophiuchus M10
M26 Scutum Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009)
Neptune M73
Aquarius Little Gem (NGC 6818) Dabih Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822) Eagle Nebula (M16)
Deneb Algiedi Omega Nebula (M17) Black Swan (M18) M107 Capricornus Sabik M25 Delle Caustiche, Sagittarius Star Cloud (M24) M23 -15° Albaldah Pluto M75 M9
Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) M30 Sagittarius Cluster (M22) Trifid Nebula (M20) M28 Lagoon Nebula (M8) Nunki Kaus Borealis
Sagittarius Ecliptic Ascella M55 M54 Kaus Meridianalis M19
Alnasl M70 Piscis Austrinus M69 Antares Fomalhaut τ Sco Butterfly Cluster (M6) Flickering Globular (M62) Kaus Australis Microscopium Ptolemy's Cluster (M7)
Arkab -3 0° γ Gru
Shaula Wei Lesath Scorpius Corona Australis Girtab ι1 Sco
µ1 Sco
NGC 6541 Sargas α Ind NGC 6231 NGC 6388
Grus Al Nair S Telescopium β Gru
α Ara IC 5152 Indus
Peacock Star C NGC 6397 e le s t ia -4 l 5 M ° e r id Ara ia β Ara n NGC 6752
ζ Ara
-6 0° Norma Viewing from Burlington, United States Long: -91° 08' 07" Lat: 40° 48' 52" 2013/9/20 9:00:00 PM (Local) Looking: south (40° above horizon) FOV: 100° Limiting Magnitude: 7.1 A Brief History The idea for the observatory was conceived by the members of the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. Through a cooperative agreement between the Des Moines County Conservation Board, The Burlington Community School System, and the Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club, the idea became a reality. A substantial grant SOUTHEASTERN IOWA from the John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation provided the funding for materials, with ASTRONOMY CLUB nearly all the construction being done by members of the club. Work began in the P.O. Box 14 spring of 1985 and the observatory was dedicated in May 1987. In the years since West Burlington, IA 52655 the dedication, thousands of people have climbed the ladder to peer through the eyepiece of the beautiful 1937 Alvan-Clark brass refractor.
In 1996 a second observatory, the Prugh-Carver Observatory, was added through a grant from the Carver Foundation. Dedicated to Burton Prugh, a Burlington busi- nessman, it stands as a reminder of his devotion and support to the Southeastern W E’ RE ON T HE WEB Iowa Astronomy Club. It houses Mr. Witte’s personal telescope—an 8” Fecker refractor, as well as several smaller scopes. http://www.dmcconservation.com/ index.php/en/cons-recreation-areas/cons- Dedicated on September 17, 2004, the new Stone-Kelly Observatory houses the bh/cons-ra-bighollow-witteobs 16” Cassegrain that was formerly on Burlington High School off Roosevelt Avenue. Volunteer club members, after passing a training and apprenticeship program, oper- ate the observatory for public and private groups.
DUES The observatory complex is open to the public on the first and third Fridays of every $20 INDIVIDUAL month, weather permitting. $30 F AMILY
ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN IOWA ASTRONOMY CLUB The Southeastern Iowa Astrono- Additional benefits to members my Club meets on the third include our monthly newsletter, Friday of each month at the The Sidereal Times, voting Witte Observatory at 7 pm. rights for club activities, and membership in the national The purpose of the club is to Astronomical League. The provide astronomy opportuni- Astronomical League member- ties to the local area, mainly ship provides a quarterly news- through the use of the facilities letter, discounts on certain at the John H. Witte, Jr. Ob- astronomy-related products, servatory. During monthly special training/skill building meetings, information is provid- programs, and other great bene- ed about upcoming events and fits. items of interest locally, nation- ally, and worldwide. The meetings allow members to share their experiences and expertise with each other, as well as providing a forum for Travel directions to the Witte Observatory Complex. questions. The public is wel- come to share in the meetings, The observatory complex is located at 18832 152nd Avenue, Sperry, and they are followed by a pub- Iowa in Big Hollow Creek Recreation Area approximately 12 miles lic viewing session (weather north of Burlington, Iowa. permitting).