September 2019 OBSERVER No. 2

Home , Beta Lyrae, Iota Ceti, Messier 3, Zeta Tauri

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 44, Number 9 September 2019

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – Milky Way 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – August 2019 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury 5«September 2019 with Jeffrey L. Hunt 9«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 10«A Tale of Woe and a Cautionary Note 11«TCAA Image Gallery 14«E/PO Updates for August 2019 (partial listing) 14«Central Illinois Mini Conference September 21st 15«Intro. to Amateur Astronomy Course to Resume 15«Remaining Public Viewing Sessions for 2019 16«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2019 16«10” Telescope Declared “Unwanted Property” 16«A Note from the Editor 17«TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of August 27, 2019 17«TCAA Active on Facebook

17«Renewing Your TCAA Membership

IMAGE OF THE MONTH: EDITOR’S CHOICE – MESSIER 57 The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League as well as its This month’s image is by Tim Stone who writes about “Bubbles North Central Region. For more in the Sky.” Tim notes: information about the TCAA, be The majority of stars don’t end in the brilliant explosion of a certain to visit the TCAA website at supernova. They end much more quietly and at a far older age. tcaa.us/ Most stars fade into cosmic cinders, objects that used to be stars but can no longer sustain nuclear fusion. First up in this death Visit Astroleague.org for additional process is the “white dwarf” stage. Nuclear fusion has largely ended information about the League and its and the star, not massive enough to go supernova, simply numerous membership benefits contracts. As it does so, it heats up until it is numbered amongst the including observing programs. hottest objects in the universe. Typical white dwarf temperatures are in the neighborhood of 200,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The collapse and resulting heating drives some of the star’s mass away, Also visit the NCRAL website at creating absolutely stunning “planetary” nebulae. ncral.wordpress.com for information M27 is one nearby example of a planetary nebula. It’s been about our North Central Region. Find very extensively studied because of its proximity, and for the same out about our next Regional reason, it’s a popular target with astrophotographers. In deep convention during May 2020. images such as mine, we can see the process unfold. Layer after layer, successively farther from the central star, document the phases of this stage of the star’s life. Planetary nebulae are

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

characterized by copious amounts of oxygen emission, which is blue-cyan in color. The OBSERVER Hydrogen often accompanies the oxygen, as it does here, glowing its characteristic red color. There are two very sharp shock boundaries marked by intense hydrogen is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a emission. They don’t encircle the star entirely, so gasses have an easier time registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational moving outward where they don’t encounter this boundary. The shock front itself organization of amateur astronomers inter- seems to be clumpy, allowing streamers of expanding gasses to escape, and ested in studying astronomy and sharing creating the appearance of rays emanating from the central star. The same clumps their hobby with the public. of matter cast shadows into the exterior, making this one of the rare instances

where these can be seen in images. The white dwarf itself is directly in the center TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS of the nebula, glowing blue-white with its intensifying heat.

President, Director, & Property Manager Planetary nebulae are fleeting things. They will last a few tens of thousands of Tim Stone 309-531-2401 years, and then they, too, will fade away. M27 is estimated to be only 14,000 years [email protected] old!

Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 RESIDENT S OTE [email protected] P ’ N

Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent With the onset of the Autumn weather Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 pattern, it’s prime time for astronomy. [email protected] Personally, I’ve very much enjoyed some Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor beautifully clear nights in the last month. Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 I’ve had the opportunity to do some deep [email protected] sky photography and some spectrography, 5th Director/Assistant Property Manager along with just good-old-fashioned sitting Scott Wade 309-310-2464 outside under the stars and being amazed. [email protected] One of the deep sky results is the Editor’s Astronomical League Correspondent Photo of the Month in this issue. I’m proud Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 of this image, but more than that, I’m proud [email protected] to be part of a club that enabled me to President Tim Stone Technology Coordinator create it. Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 [email protected] While results like mine take a lot of experience and practice, it doesn’t take all that to create a pleasing image. Have a Webmaster look at the images in this month’s TCAA Image Gallery. Many of them were created Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] in a single night at our Prairie Sky Observatory, under the tutelage of our very own Bob Finnigan. He’ll be happy to help you learn to acquire images of deep sky Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number objects. We’d love to see our facilities used more than they are today. Won’t you [email protected] get involved in astrophotography? You won’t regret it! We have two more Public Viewing Sessions left in this season. It’s hard to

The OBSERVER believe we’re at the end already. It seems like only yesterday we had that first 2019 Carl J. Wenning, Editor session, on a cold and blustery night in April. Turnout has been great this year, and I’d love to see us end the season with even more successful public outreach. I hope Submission deadline two days before you’ll come, bring your telescope and engage the very enthusiastic people who the end of each month. come to see what this astronomy thing is all about. MEMBERSHIP DUES One last thing before I sign off… Don’t forget the Sugar Grove Nature Center Autumn Festival is coming up October 26th. It’s another great opportunity to Individual Adult/Family $40 Full-time Student/Senior $25 promote our wonderful hobby. Now is the time to put it on your calendar and plan (Senior status equals ages 60+) to come out to help!

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

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – SEPTEMBER 2019 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (9/15): Mars and Uranus The following individuals have paid dues for new or renewed memberships as of August 27, 2019. (Others EVENING PLANETS (9/15): Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and who paid after that date will appear in the October 2019 Neptune issue of The OBSERVER.) The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! important astronomical events for this month. All events are given in Central Daylight Time. Robert Johnson

gallery Day Time Event Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

02 04 Mars in Conjunction with Sun DUES BLUES

03 19 Mercury at Superior Conj. If you have received a “your dues are due” 05 21:10 FIRST QUARTER MOON statement along with the email that brought you this issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. 06 00:52 Jupiter 2.3°S of Moon Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 08 07:53 Saturn 0.0°N of Moon: Occn. Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 08 11:35 Moon at Descending Node 10 00 Neptune at Opposition SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LIST

13 07:32 Moon at Apogee: 406378 km By subscribing to a group’s mailing list, you will 13 22:33 FULL MOON receive email messages from the group though you won’t have access to the group’s web features (like 20 10:14 Aldebaran 2.6°S of Moon photos, files, links, polls, calendar, etc.) unless members 21 20:41 LAST QUARTER MOON activate it later. The club has an open email listserv. It is known as the TCAA YahooGroups listserv. It will be used 23 00:30 Moon at Ascending Node to share announcements and reminders about 23 01:50 Autumnal Equinox astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv, you must do the following: 23 17:34 Pollux 5.9°N of Moon 1. To subscribe: Send a blank email to TCAA- 24 15:15 Beehive 0.4°S of Moon [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a 26 02:30 Regulus 3.3°S of Moon confirmation email from the group. Reply to the confirmation email to activate your subscription. 27 20:27 Moon at Perigee: 357803 km 2. To post a message: [email protected] 28 12:26 NEW MOON 3. To unsubscribe: [email protected]

28 22:15 Mercury 1.2°N of Spica

http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2019cst.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. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon Thursday, September 5 Friday, September 13 Saturday, September 21 Saturday, September 28

All moon phase dates are Central Daylight Time. Additional moon phases for the 2019 calendar year 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 (Az), length of day including change from previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, and the time of solar noon along with the elevation (El) of the midday sun. These data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2019 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Solar Dist.

Sep. Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Diff. Start End Time (El) MIL. MILES 1 6:23 AM (78°) 7:29 PM (281°) 13:05:09 -2:33 4:46 AM 9:04 PM 12:55 PM (57.7°) 93.817 11 6:32 AM (83°) 7:11 PM (276°) 12:39:09 -2:37 4:59 AM 8:45 PM 12:52 PM (54.0°) 93.580 21 6:42 AM (86°) 6:55 PM (271°) 12:12:45 -2:39 5:10 AM 8:26 PM 12:49 PM (50.1°) 93.331

NOVEMBER 11, 2019 TRANSIT OF MERCURY ~ by Carl Wenning ~

This coming Veterans Day, Monday, November 11th, Mercury will again pass across the face of the sun (or transit) as seen locally. Transits of Mercury occur rarely but when they do, they occur in May or November due to the orbital mechanics of the Mercury and Earth. The last four transits occurred on November 15, 1999; May 7, 2003; November 8, 2006; and May 9, 2016. The last time, only one TCAAer observed the phenomenon – William Carney – who viewed it telescopically from SGO. He observed the event while others were seemingly unaware of its happening. (His report caught your editor quite by surprise.) This will not happen again as this time as your editor plans to provide periodic updates and reminders. Like with the last two transits of Venus (both viewed locally by hundreds with the assistance of the TCAA), this will be another great opportunity to share the excitement of amateur astronomy with the general public.

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

As astronomer Fred Espenak states, “The principal events occurring during a transit are conveniently characterized by contacts, analogous to the contacts of an annular solar eclipse. The transit begins with Contact I, which is the instant when the planet's disk is externally tangent to the Sun. Shortly after Contact I, the planet can be seen as a small notch along the solar limb. The entire disk of the planet is first seen at Contact II when the planet is internally tangent to the Sun. During the next several hours, the silhouetted planet slowly traverses the brilliant solar disk. At Contact III, the planet reaches the opposite limb and once again is internally tangent to the Sun. Finally, the transit ends at Contact IV when the planet's limb is externally tangent to the Sun. Contacts I and II define the phase called ingress while Contacts III and IV are known as egress. Position angles for Mercury at each contact are measured counterclockwise from the north point on the Sun's disk.” The accompanying table gives the times of major events during the 2019 transit in Central Standard Time (CST) – Daylight Saving Time having come to an end on November 3. The transit will start just before sunrise which occurs at 6:37 AM. Mercury will cross the local horizon (assumed flat and free from obstructions) about 5 minutes after the transit begins and 3 minutes after sunrise (when the sun’s upper limb crosses the local horizon). Greatest transit is the instant when Mercury passes closest to the Sun's center (i.e., minimum separation). At this time, the geocentric angular distance between the centers of Mercury and the Sun will be 75.9 arc-seconds or just over one minute of arc. The duration of the event will be just under 5 hours and 29 minutes. The position angle is the direction of Mercury with respect to the center of the Sun's disk as measured counterclockwise from the celestial north point on the Sun (not denoted in the accompanying image to due image rotation).

Event CST Contact I 6:35:27 Contact II 6:37:08 Greatest Transit 9:19:48 Contact III 12:02:33 Contact IV 12:04:14

Because Mercury is so tiny in comparison with the size of the sun’s visible surface, the event will require the use of a telescope in addition to suitable solar filters. I tried to observe the transit of Mercury back on November 10, 1973, with the use of solar filters but no magnification provided by either binoculars or telescopes. Despite prolonged efforts, I was unable to view Mercury, so tiny was it in comparison to the face of the sun. During the 2019 transit of Mercury, it will have an angular diameter of only 10.0 arc seconds. Compare this with the sun whose angular diameter will be 32.3 arc minutes! At the time of transit, the sun will appear 1,938 times larger than Mercury! No wonder that Mercury looks like a point of light even under high magnification when viewed with a telescope during the morning or evening twilight.

SEPTEMBER 2019: CHANGING DAYLIGHT, A HARVEST MOON & BRIGHT EVENING PLANETS ~ BY JEFFREY L. HUNT ~

September is a month of change. Meteorologists call it the sky. Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse, the sentinels of first month of autumn. For astronomers, summer goes on Winter’s evening sky, are in the southeastern sky. During the until the 23rd; the beginning of the month can bring very day, the sun is in the sky for a few minutes longer than 13 warm temperatures. Daylight diminishes as the month loses hours with the noon position over 15° lower than summer over an hour of daylight when the sun moves over 15° solstice’s noon altitude. This was the sun’s location on April southward along the horizon as it rises and sets. In some 9th. At the end of evening twilight, Saturn is at the meridian years a light frost forms in the outlying areas around with brighter Jupiter low in the southwest nearly above month’s end. This year in my yard, early in the summer, Antares. Mercury and Mars reach conjunction early in the certain flowers bloomed a week later than normal with the month. While Mercury heads toward its greatest elongation later arrival of the warm weather. Whether the weather in the evening sky, the ecliptic’s angle makes viewing this patterns follow the typical annual schedule, the sky surely speedy planet nearly impossible. Even by month’s end, shows that colder months are parking at the curb. When Mercury sets 39 minutes after sunset; it is barely above the twilight starts at the beginning of September, the Pleiades west-southwest horizon at Civil Twilight when the sun is 6° are high in the southeast leading the Winter Stars into the below the horizon. Mars slowly climbs into the morning sky,

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

rising at Civil Twilight at mid-month and then at Nautical retrograding in eastern Sagittarius. The gap between the Twilight early next month. Venus slowly climbs into the two planets is over 28°. The lunar orb is at its First evening sky, but it is only a few degrees east of the sun and, Quarter phase at 10:10 p.m. CDT. like Mercury, its visibility suffers from a poorly inclined • Sept. 6: Sixty minutes after sunset, the gibbous moon ecliptic. Dim Neptune reaches opposition before midmonth. (7.6d, 60%), 25° up in the south, is over 9° to the upper At the end of evening twilight, Arcturus takes its autumnal left of Jupiter. place about a third of the way up in the west. The Big Dipper • Sept. 7: One hour after sunset, the moon (8.6d, 69%), 25° might be hiding behind the neighbor’s house or nearby tree line, low in the northwest. The Summer Triangle – Vega, up in the south, is 6.4° to the right of Saturn (m = 0.4). Deneb, and Altair – is at the meridian. Vega is a few degrees The moon is also 2.2° to the upper left of Kaus Borealis (λ from the zenith. The Milky Way arches across the sky from Sgr, m =2.8). the south-southwest to the northeast. • Sept. 8: Jupiter is 90° east of the sun, setting a few minutes after 11 p.m. CDT. One hour after sunset, it is • Sept. 1: Thirty minutes after sunset, the moon (2.6 days over 20° up in the south-southwest. The Jupiter – Saturn old, 10% illuminated), over 10° up in the west, is the gap is 28°. At the same time, the moon (9.6d, 78%), same distance to the upper right of Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0). about 24° up in the south-southeast, is over 6° to the A little later, about an hour after sunset, Jupiter (m = lower left of Saturn. −2.2), 23° up in the south-southwest, is 7° to the upper • Sept. 9: One hour after sunset, the moon (10.6d, 85%) is left of Antares (α Sco, m = 1.0). Saturn (m = 0.3), over 10° nearly 22° up in the south-southeast. Jupiter sets 4 hours east of the meridian, is 25° up. Saturn, nearly 29° from after sunset. Jupiter, is slowing its retrograde in eastern Sagittarius. • Sept. 10: Neptune (m = 7.8) is at opposition. One hour • Sept. 2: Mars is at its solar conjunction at 5:42 a.m. CDT. after sunset it is 10° up in the east-southeast. At the It begins a slow crawl into the morning sky. Forty-five same time, the moon (11.6d, 91%) is 19° up in the minutes after sunset, the crescent moon (3.6d, 18%), southeast in central Capricornus. Evening’s bright nearly 16° up in the west-southwest, is almost 9° to the planetary pair, Jupiter and Saturn, is in the southern sky. upper left of Spica. Jupiter is 22° up in the south-southwest while Saturn, 25° • Sept. 3: An hour after sunset, the moon (4.6d, 28%), up in the south, is nearly 28° east of Jupiter. nearly 18° up in the southwest, is 3.3° to the upper right • Sept. 11: One hour after sunset, the moon (12.6d, 96%), of Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m = 2.8). The planet is to the over 15° up in the southeast, is 2.5° to the lower left of right of a line that connects Zubenelgenubi and Delta Capricorni (δ Cap, m = 2.8). During the next few Zubeneschamali (β Lib, m = 2.6). Mercury is at superior evenings notice the moon’s altitude, relative to the conjunction at 8:40 p.m. CDT. It begins a difficult-to-see horizon, is nearly the same, although it appears farther apparition in the evening sky. The ecliptic has a shallow north along the horizon. The effect is more noticed at the angle with the horizon in the evening hours during time of the autumn full moon known as the Harvest September that results in a poorly seen apparition of Moon. Traditionally, this time of year, the full moon’s Mercury. light aided farmers working in the fields at harvest time. • Sept. 4: About 45 minutes before sunrise, look for When the sun sets in late September, it is near the Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3) during the next few mornings. It autumnal equinox (coordinates: right Ascension, 12h; is about 5° up, 10° north of east. This is the time span for declination, 0°). The sun sets at the west cardinal point. the star’s first morning appearance (heliacal rising). One At the same time, the vernal equinox (0h, 0°) is near the hour after sunset, the thick crescent moon (5.6d, 38%) is eastern horizon. Specifically, the effect is prominent over 20° up in the southwest. Tonight, it is 5° to the right when the Vernal Equinox is around 20° up in the of Graffias (β Sco, m = 2.5) and nearly 17° to the lower southeast. Since there is no bright star nearby, look for right of Jupiter. Pegasus and Alpheratz, the star shared with Andromeda. • Sept. 5: One hour after sunset, the moon (6.6d, 49%) When the star is 35-45° in altitude in the eastern sky, and makes a nice triangle with Antares and Jupiter. The moon the moon is in the eastern sky, the Harvest Moon effect is 3.8° to the right of Jupiter, 25° up in the south, and can be seen during a few nights/mornings, regardless of nearly 7° above Antares. Jupiter is moving eastward the phase. The ecliptic makes minimal angles with the among the stars of southern Ophiuchus while Saturn is horizon in the west and in the east. As the moon moves

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

about 13° eastward among the stars, it moves less sky for about 12.5 hours, with the equinox only days away. compared to the horizon. As the moon moves eastward, Daylight quickly slips away. Night, from the end of evening its altitude remains about the same. During the next few twilight to the beginning of morning twilight, is nearly 8.5 evenings, the moon rises about 30 minutes later each hours long. night, rather than the average 50 minutes. This effect seems more pronounced with a bright, nearly Full moon • Sept. 16: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon in the sky, especially when the Harvest Moon (17.0d, 96%) is nearly 40° up in the southwest. Three descriptions occur in the popular press. hours after sunset, the moon (17.7d, 92%) is nearly 15° • Sept. 12: One hour after sunset, the moon (13.6d, 99%) is up in the east in Pisces. 11° up in the east-southeast. It is 3.6° above Delta Aquarii • Sept. 17: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon (δ Aqr, m = 3.2). (18.0d, 91%) is about 45° up in the southwest. Saturn’s • Sept. 13: The moon is at apogee (252,498 miles) at 8:32 retrograde ends and the planet resumes its direct motion a.m. CDT. One hour after sunset, the nearly full moon against the starry background in eastern Sagittarius. One (14.6d, 100%) is 8° up in the east-southeast. It reaches its hour after sunset, it is 25° up in the south, over 27° east full phase at 11:33 p.m. CDT. It’s a mini-moon compared of Jupiter. Three hours after sunset, the moon (18.7d, to when the moon is full near perigee (a so-called 86%) is nearly 10° up in the east. The Pleiades (M45) are supermoon). over 20° to the left of the moon. • • Sept. 14: Two hours after sunset, the moon (15.6d, 99%) Sept. 18: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon is 13° up in the east-southeast in eastern Aquarius. (19.0d, 84%) is 55° up in the south-southwest. In the Tonight, it is 4.4° to the upper left of Iota Ceti (ι Cet, m = evening, three hours after sunset, the moon (19.7d, 79%) 3.5). is only 4° up in the east. As the moon is out of the early evening sky, let’s focus on the Lyra region. At the end of • Sept. 15: One hour before sunrise, the moon (16.0d, evening twilight, the constellation is west of the meridian, 99%) is 6° to the upper right of Iota Ceti. The inner nearly overhead. The constellation is simple: I see a small planets, Mercury and Venus, are too close to the sun to triangle connected to a parallelogram. The triangle be seen. They are east of the sun in the evening sky, but consists of Vega (α Lyr, m = 0.0), Epsilon2a Lyrae (ε2a Lyr, only 10° from the sun. Mars, now past its solar m = 4.6), and Zeta1 (ζ1 Lyr, m = 4.3). Zeta1 is shared with conjunction, is 5° west of the sun. Jupiter (m = −2.1) and the parallelogram. The other three stars are Delta2 Lyrae Saturn (m = 0.4) are the two lone bright planets in the (δ2 Lyr, m = 4.2), Gamma Lyrae (γ Lyr, m = 3.2), and Beta evening sky. One hour after sunset Jupiter is 21° up in the Lyrae (β Lyr, m = 3.5). After Vega, the stars’ visual south-southwest, and 8° to the upper left of Antares. intensities are rather mundane, although, the presence Saturn is nearly 26° up in the south. It is nearing the end of the bright star and compact, unique shape of the of its retrograde in eastern Sagittarius, nearly 28° east of constellation makes it easy to locate. Vega, the fifth Jupiter. Two hours after sunset, the waning gibbous brightest star in the night sky, is the second brightest moon (16.6d, 96%) is 9° up in the east. It’s in Cetus again. with a northerly declination, after Arcturus. In their book, It’ll be back there again in two nights. The Friendly Stars, authors Martin and Menzel note that At mid-month, the moon is in the evening sky just past its “Vega can be seen at our latitude at some time during full phase. At the end of evening twilight, Jupiter is low in the the night every night of the year. One can see it even southwest, followed by Saturn to its upper left. The Summer between sunset and midnight every night of the year” (p. Triangle is high in the south. Farther east, Pegasus and 27). Vega generally marks the direction our solar system Andromeda are well above the horizon and the bright moon. is heading through space – the Solar Apex – compared to Bright Capella is low in the northeast, beneath Perseus and the galactic motion of the other stuff in the solar Cassiopeia. Farther along the horizon, the Big Dipper is in the system’s region. When Vega is at the meridian, this target north-northwest. Meanwhile, at the beginning of morning in space is about 10° below it. The star is relatively close twilight, the Winter Triangle – Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Procyon – is now well-above the southeastern horizon. to us, about 27 light years away. It is interesting to note Capella is high in the east-northeast. The moon is now that all six stars that I’ve listed are double/binary stars. entering the morning sky as it passes through this bright star After the famous Mizar and Alcor duo in Ursa Major, field later in the month. During the daytime, the sun is in the Epsilon Lyrae, the “Double-Double”, is probably the most familiar to those with telescopes. It is a good test for the

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

alignment of a telescope’s optics. The brighter stellar pair between them is over 27° and slowly closing. The Great is separated by 3.5’. The brighter components are Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn is 15 months away. separated by 2.6” and 2.3”, that are within the resolving • Sept. 21: At the beginning of morning twilight, the power of a 2-inch aperture telescope. That means that gibbous moon (22.0d, 57%) is over 60° up in the each of the brighter stars looks like a figure 8 with no southeast. It is 5.1° to the upper right of Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau, darkness between them. Larger apertures and sharply m =3.0), the Southern Horn of the Bull. The moon collimated optics are needed to separate or “cleanly split” reaches its Last Quarter phase at 9:41 p.m. CDT. all the stars. Some observers can see the split with a high- • Sept. 22: At the beginning of morning twilight, the thick quality 4-inch refractor, while others cannot see the crescent moon (23.0d, 46%) is nearly 60° up in the stellar quartet with a commercially made 10-inch mirror! southeast. It is 2.3° to the upper right of Mu Geminorum Beta Lyrae is a multiple star system. The bright star that (μ Gem, m = 2.8). we see is an eclipsing binary. A second component (m = • Sept. 23: The Autumnal Equinox occurs at 2:50 a.m. CDT. 6.7) is 45” from the bright star and within the capabilities At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon (24.0d, of a binocular. The deep sky treasure in Lyra is the Ring 36%), nearly 50° up in the east-southeast, is 1.7° to the Nebula (M57, NGC 6720). It is known as a “planetary upper right of Delta Geminorum (δ Gem, m =3.5) and nebula,” resembling the disk of a dim planet like Uranus over 9° to the lower right of Pollux (β Gem, m = 1.2). or Neptune in a large telescope. The Ring was the first of • Sept. 24: At the beginning of morning twilight, the these observed about 240 years ago. It is located more crescent moon (25.0d, 25%) is nearly 10° below Pollux. than halfway from Gamma Lyrae to Beta Lyrae. It can be The moon is in Cancer, 6.5° above the Beehive Cluster observed with smaller apertures, but it may take a six- (M44, NGC 2632). Last month the moon appeared near inch aperture to see the ring nature of the nebula. One of the cluster in a brighter sky. my “scoping” friends calls it the “Smoke Ring Nebula.” • Sept. 25: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon The cloud is 80” x 60”; the long axis is twice the current (26.0d, 16%), 26° up in the east, is over 8° below the apparent size of Jupiter. The nebula is a result of the Beehive Cluster and over 14° to the upper right of formation of a white dwarf when the outward pressure Regulus. In the evening, one hour after sunset, Jupiter is of the top layers of the star was too great to hold the nearly 20° up in the west-southwest, nearly 9° to the gasses and they were jettisoned into space, leaving the upper left of Antares. Saturn, nearly 26° up in the south, hot core of a star. In larger telescopes, the gases are not is over 26° to the upper left of the Giant Planet. a simple structure as they seem with smaller apertures. • Sept. 26: At the beginning of morning twilight, the thin On the clearest nights, observers report that you’ll need crescent moon (27.0d, 8%), about 13° up in the east, is at least a 10-inch aperture to see the nebula’s central star. 2.8° to the left of Regulus. With this constellation high in the south, seasonably • Sept. 27: One hour before sunrise, the moon (28.0d, 3%), cooler temperatures and a humidity reduction make 6° up in the east, is over 16° to the lower left of Regulus. seeing the gems of Lyra a great view! The moon is at perigee at 9:24 p.m. CDT, 222,365 miles • Sept. 19: The moon is rising near midnight. At the away. beginning of morning twilight, the moon (20.0d, 77%) is • Sept. 28: The moon is at its New phase at 1:26 p.m. CDT. over 60° up in the south. It is about 10° to the lower right Saturn sets before midnight. of the Pleiades. • Sept. 29: Thirty minutes after sunset, the moon (1.2d, • Sept. 20: At the beginning of morning twilight, the moon 2%) is 5° up in the western sky, about 10° south of west. (21.0d, 67%), nearly 70° up in the south, is 3.7° to the Use optical assistance to see it. upper right of Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8). On closer • Sept. 30: Forty-five minutes after sunset. The moon (2.2d, inspection, through a binocular, the gibbous moon is to 7%), 8° up in the west-southwest, is about 7° to the right the upper right of the Hyades, specifically, 0.5° to the of Zubenelgenubi. Fifteen minutes later, Jupiter (m = upper right of Delta1 Tauri (δ1 Tau, m = 3.8). In the −2.0) is 19° up in the south-southwest, about 10° to the evening sky, one hour after sunset, Jupiter and Saturn are upper left of Antares. Saturn, nearly 26° to the upper left in the southern sky. Jupiter is 20° up in the south- of Jupiter, is over 25° up in the south. southwest and Saturn is nearly 26° up in the south. Both planets are moving eastward among the stars. The gap

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

As the month ends, the early morning sky is without any south-southeast. Bright Capella is near the zenith. The bright planets. Jupiter and Saturn set earlier in the night. The Pleiades lead this winter congregation westward. Leo is other three planets are not easily found. Venus, entering the entering the morning sky, indicating that the Big Dipper will evening sky, like Mercury, is subject to the low angle the soon be standing on its handle in the northeastern sky. ecliptic makes with the horizon. Mars is dim and rises about Daylight has diminished about 40 minutes since mid-month 50 minutes before sunrise. Better sightings of the planet are and the night hours are over 9 hours in length. Back in the ahead. While bright, Mercury (m = −0.8), approaching its evening sky, Jupiter and Saturn present themselves for greatest elongation, sets about 10 minutes after Civil viewing during the early evening. As the moon re-enters the Twilight. This is a poor apparition of Mercury. As morning evening sky, a crescent or First Quarter moon, the planetary twilight begins, the bright Winter Stars – Sirius, Procyon, pair, M13, Albireo, and the Ring Nebula make a great Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, and Rigel, are congregated in the observing set for a public star party or a backyard gathering.

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó The 18th annual Illinois Dark Skies Star Party will be held again this year from September 26-28 at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area 25 miles northwest of Springfield. Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area is Illinois’ largest park. According to the event’s promotional information, “It’s a recreational dream and it makes a great home for three nights of observing.” It is in an area of Illinois often referred to as “Forgottonia,” a 16-county region between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers in western Illinois that has seen very little development over the years. This has made the region a sanctuary for those seeking dark skies in Illinois. The event is sponsored by the Sangamon Astronomical Society. Registration fees are due by the September 12th deadline to ensure availability of meals and t- shirt/sweatshirt orders. There is a $20 late fee for registrations after September 12th. For details and to register, visit www.sas-sky.org. ó On August 4th Lisa Wentzel wrote, “Another [Rockland Astronomy Club] Summer Star Party has come to an end. We had a number of really nice nights for observing. I saw some old friends and made some new. I learned about Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud objects, laughed with others through some really bad sci-fi movies, and enjoyed wonderful views through my and others’ scopes. My 8” dob with its new mirror was hands down the best on the planets. I had a line of other observers most every evening to see planetary detail through it. But I loved the view of M13 through one guy’s 15” Obsession with its newly refigured Lockwood mirror. That aperture is wonderful for DSOs. I couldn’t find Pluto in my 8”, so went to a friend’s 20” New Moon dob to try my luck. His setting circles put me in the exact spot I was looking in my scope, but we couldn’t see it in his scope either. I can’t see everything in that 8”, but it is a little workhorse none the less. I am really pleased with how it has turned out.” ó Earlier this summer, Lisa Wentzel requested of CNC Manufactured AstroGoods a Dobsonian mount for her 6" Newtonian telescope on a tripod to keep it off the ground during winter snow and to serve as a grab-and-go telescope for quick views. It also has the ability to be easily detached for use as a table-top telescope. Lisa is now owner of a rather unusual “tripod Dobsonian.” You can learn more about this configuration at https://www.astrogoods.com/tripod.dob.shtml ó During the third weekend of August, Scott and Emily Wade headed off to Austin, TX, where Emily is just beginning her first year at the University of Texas majoring in astronomy. UTA is now building the Giant Magellan Telescope that will be the world’s largest when it is completed next decade in Chile. We wish Emily the best of luck in her future endeavors and hope to hear back from her regularly. ó Friday, August 23rd, was a good night for some observers according to reports sent to the editor. Lisa Wentzel viewing from home was able to observe and record observations of six more open clusters for her Binocular Open Cluster observing program. Bob Finnigan hosting two of Carl Wenning’s observing companions – Luke Ludwig and Steve Richter – showing them how to capture images of M27. Afterward, Carl, Luke, and Steve spent an hour viewing through Carl’s CPC 8” telescope to see a variety of representative celestial objects. Neither Luke nor Steve had ever viewed through a telescope before.

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

ó For those who might have known him, Ben Welch, the father of Brad Welch, passed away on August 23rd at 76 years of age. Ben was active in our club in the late 70s or early 80s. Perhaps only Bob, Tim, and Carl would have ever met him. His obituary can be found at http://bit.ly/2ZvHimR. Our condolences to Brad on his loss. ó TCAA member Dick Wentzel was hospitalized recently but has returned to a state of health. He was discharged from BroMenn Hospital in late August. We wish him the best and look forward to his appearance at the next TCAA Board of Directors meeting which he frequents. ó Talking about the next Board of Directors meeting, it will be held on Tuesday, September 10th, at the home of Carolyn & Carl Wenning beginning at 6:30 PM. ó August 28th was a busy evening at SGNC. Bob Finnigan spent the evening in PSO imaging along with Tom Willmitch, Scott Wade, and Sandy Epsicokhan. Carl Wenning spent the evening in the parking lot with his CPC 8” observing the clusters and nebulae of Sagittarius in the regions of the Milky Way north of the galactic center. ó Also on August 28th, Tom Willmitch “graduated” from Bob Finnigan’s school of astrophotography completing acquisition of the Crescent Nebula. He will soon receive his graduation certificate as did Scott and Emily Wade before him. See Tom’s image of the Crescent Nebula in the TCAA Image Gallery later in this issue of the newsletter. Congratulations Tom!

DID YOU KNOW?

Are you looking for back issues of The Are you looking for information about Are you looking for the TCAA Guides to OBSERVER? Look no further than here: the history of the TCAA? Find out more amateur astronomy? Visit this page: http://tcaa.us/Observer.aspx here: http://tcaa.us/History.aspx http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx

A TALE OF WOE AND A CAUTIONARY NOTE!

Late summer and early autumn are those times of year when most deer-car collisions occur. Such an event occurred recently with Sandullah & Pat Epsicokhan. Sandy and Pat had such an encounter on their way to the August 10th public viewing session. The editor hereby gives note to our members to be especially wary of dear in the Funks Grove area while driving at evening or night. Sandy later wrote the editor and gave permission to pass it on. He said, “I was on Shirley Road going over the I-55 overpass. I had slowed down because there is a stop sign where the overpass intersects old Route 66. That area is well lit, but the deer paid no heed to the lights. I hit it in the hind quarter on the passenger side. The deer continued on. My grill, bumper, radiator and hood were damaged as well as some of the supports under the hood. I can still drive the car, but the air conditioning no longer works. I just got an estimate of just over $4,500 but they think it might go up once they get inside. I have $100 deductible, so it won’t be too bad.” The moral of the story is that none of us can afford to drive in the Funks Grove area without being especially cautious. Last autumn your editor – always on the lookout for deer – nearly collided with a large buck deer that literally jumped over the hood of his truck while the truck was moving at about 45 miles per hour. Had your editor been going any faster, the deer might have gone through the windshield with devastating consequences. Such collisions are often fatal for the driver as for the deer. According to State Farm Insurance Co., there is a 1-in-200 chance of any driver hitting a deer in any given year here in Illinois. Eventually, someone else in the club will likely do so. A word to the wise: Slow down and watch out for deer when driving in the Funks Grove area. Deer can spring across the road from seemingly nowhere and when you least expect it.

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TCAA IMAGE GALLERY

NGC6960 VEIL NEBULA (SW) - This image of the “Witch’s Broom” NGC6960 REPRISE – This image is a re-worked version of the was taken by Bryce Heiniger and Scott Wade on the evening of image shown left. Scott Wade remarked, “[I] did a few non- August 1st with the PSO 14” and QHY 168 camera. This image aggressive curve and level adjustments, applied has minimal processing – it was the first image processed GradientXTerminator, Nik Collection-Defin2 to reduce completely by Scott Wade without external assistance. noise, a couple of Photoshop add-on actions from ProDigital Compare this image to the one to the right provided a couple Software’s Astronomy Tools (Deep Space Noise Reduction), of weeks later. It shows his growth as an astrophotographer. Local Contrast Enhancement, and the Star Killer add-on action from Starizona.

THE SUMMER TRIANGLE SPECTRA by Tim Stone. On July 22nd and 23rd, I captured spectra of the stars of the Summer Triangle. These are interesting stars, because they're all A Class stars, and can be done in the same night at roughly the same altitude. This minimizes differences due to atmospheric conditions. Unfortunately, I didn't get Altair on the 22nd, and conditions were a bit different on the 23rd. So it goes!

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

As A Class stars, their spectra are dominated by Hydrogen absorption lines. At first glance they appear very similar, and thus their placement in the same class. Subtle differences do exist, though, and they're very informative. First of all, Vega and Deneb are both "early" A class; Deneb is A2 and Vega is A0. Thus you might expect their spectra to be very similar. Vega's spectrum is much smoother, with few pronounced features other than the Hydrogen bands. Deneb, on the other hand, has narrower Hydrogen bands and considerably more minor features. Why would that be? While Vega is a normal, run-of-the-mill Main Sequence star, Deneb is a blue supergiant. While they both have roughly the same temperature, Deneb has thousands of times more surface area than Vega, so it produces far more light. A supergiant is a star nearing the end of its life. When it begins fusing Helium into heavier elements, its core heats up by orders of magnitude. The increased temperature bloats the star, reducing the pressure in the star's photosphere. The reduced pressure decreases the likelihood that atoms there will collide with each other. This produces purer absorption bands, which are narrower than their higher-pressure counterparts in Vega's spectrum. With the higher pressures in Vega's photosphere, atomic collisions are much more common. These collisions alter the absorption process in such a way that absorption outside the normally narrow wavelength can occur. The explanation of this phenomenon is very technical, and I certainly can't say I understand it in detail, but I can see its effects very clearly in these two spectra. We can also see some marked differences between the three spectra, The Calcium K line is little more than a slight kink in Vega's spectrum, more pronounced in Deneb's, and has formed a notch in Altair's spectrum. Altair is spectral class A7, so it's a couple thousand degrees Kelvin cooler than Vega. As the stellar temperature decreases, the metals (elements heavier than Helium) have an easier time absorbing light because collisions between atoms take place at lower velocities, energies which don't blast electrons out of their orbitals. This same phenomenon applies to Deneb's spectrum. While the temperature is still higher than Altair's, the pressure is considerably lower, lessening the likelihood of a collision knocking an electron loose from the metals. So, we see a lot more metal absorption features in Deneb's spectrum than we do even in Altair's. The CH (G) band is all but absent in Vega's spectrum, and has formed a kink in Altair's Hydrogen Gamma absorption. In the K Class, both the K and G lines strengthen as the Hydrogen lines weaken. By the time we get to the G class, like our sun, these Hydrogen lines have been completely overprinted by these supplanting lines. It is observations like these that help us know the physical characteristics of stars. We can learn their composition, temperature, and even their size simply by studying their spectra. These spectra were taken with the Star Analyzer 200, the 3.8-degree prism, and a PointGray Chameleon webcam on my 8” f/4 Schmidt-Newtonian. Resolution is about 2.9Å/px. Processing with RSpec 1.9.

MESSIER 3 – This image of M3 – a globular cluster in Canes MESSIER 27 – This image of the Dumbbell Nebula was taken by Venatici – was taken by Sandullah Epsicokhan on the evening Bob Finnigan on August 23rd. This image consists of five 500- of August 19th with the assistance of Bob Finnigan. second color frames using a QSY on the 14” and stacked.

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SPECTRUM OF DENEB BY TIM STONE – Tim writes: Here's a closer look at Deneb's spectrum. It's a hot A-class star, but it's a supergiant, so pressures in its atmosphere are much lower than for main sequence A stars like Vega. This gives the "metals" the opportunity to absorb much more efficiently than in the more common variety of A stars. Here we can see plenty of features that can be attributed to various metals. Iron is very common, but Silicon, Calcium, Magnesium, Chromium, Titanium, Cerium, Zirconium, Sodium, and even Thorium are readily identifiable. These metals come from the matter that formed Deneb, which came from supernovae and other cataclysmic events in Deneb's neighborhood before Deneb even started forming. Of course the Hydrogen features are very prominent, and even Helium adds a notable band. This is an amazing spectrum to me. When I first acquired the data, it looked quite featureless to me, and I pretty much set it aside to spend my processing time on more interesting targets... or so I thought. Yes, the rest were good, too, but when I got back to Deneb, I was quite surprised to see how much was actually there! I'm glad I didn't forget about it. Deneb will be on my repeat visit list, as I work to further improve my equipment, techniques, and processing. And bonus: It's not far from P Cygni!

NGC 6888 “CRESCENT NEBULA” BY TOM WILLMITCH WITH POST PROCESSING BY SCOTT WADE. Bob Finnigan noted, “Tom took this image of the Crescent Nebula last night (August 28th). He has now completed his astrophotography course and will be getting his diploma soon. Scott noted, “I stacked 10 of 15 subs in Pixinsight with further processing in Photoshop to bring out a little more detail.” Image taken with a QSY camera using PSO 14” telescope.

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E/PO UPDATES FOR AUGUST 2019 (PARTIAL LISTING)

TCAAers were met with a clear sky and a large crowd at the August 10th public viewing session at SGNC. Mark Cabaj gave a very- well-received 35-minute talk about meteors, meteor showers, and meteorites. He had several specimens for display and, in a door prize drawing, gave away four inch-sized meteorites. There were two metal and two stony specimens. The audience responded with lots of questions and was quite enthusiastic and appreciative. Afterward, attendees looked through five telescopes in the parking lot and toured Prairie Sky Observatory where Bob Finnigan provided the commentary. A bright 10.7-day-old waxing gibbous moon put a kibosh on observing deep sky objects for most telescopists, who focused on the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Carl Wenning was able to show M31, M81, M11, M13, M57, Albireo, and 61 Cygni using his CPC 8” telescope’s superior goto capacity. In addition, he and his guests were able to spot 5 Saturnian moons despite the fact that the moon was only 16° distant. About 80 individuals were present in total. Attending from the TCAA were the following: Mark Cabaj, Bob Finnigan, Tom & Carolyn Weiland, Carl Wenning, Allan Griffith, Dave Osenga, Lee Green, Tom Willmitch, Bryce and Mark Heiniger, Duane & Carolyn Yockey, and Dave Peters. Lisa Wentzel was present but had to leave early when she discovered an electrical problem with her van lights. Sandullah & Pat Epsicokhan were on their way to the public viewing session when they hit a deer. Fortunately, they not hurt. They also had to return home due to the vehicular damage.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS ASTRONOMY MINI CONFERENCE SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST

The Central Illinois Mini Conference for amateur With the approaching dark (sunset at 6:52 pm; astronomers will return to McLean County on Saturday, astronomical dusk at 8:27 pm), we will journey in small September 21st. It was hosted by the Champaign-Urbana groups to Waynesville Observatory – our dark-sky site (only Astronomical Society (CUAS) last year as an “Astronomy about 7 miles distant from SGNC) – to view its 6”, 10”, 16”, Jamboree.” At that time, we heard a number of invited talks 20”, and 24” telescopes as well as the photographic systems at Staerkel Planetarium on the campus of Parkland and facilities located there. Community College and celebrated the opening of their new Members of other Illinois amateur astronomy groups roll-off-roof observatory with a cookout at their rural site. are most welcome to join us. We especially encourage This year, 2019, we hope to do something similar with members of CUAS, Sangamon Astronomical Society (SAS), contributed and invited talks starting midafternoon at the Peoria Astronomical Society (PAS), and Popular Astronomy newly refurbished ISU Planetarium. NCRAL President and Club (PAC) who have joined us in the past. This year we also TCAA member Dr. Carl J. Wenning will start off the event encourage members of the Rockford Astronomical Society with his presentation titled, Fire or Ice? Pending Collapse of (RAA) and the U of I and ISU astronomy clubs to join us. Terrestrial and Solar Magnetic Fields. What is our Technological Society’s Fate? After a series of short LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: contributed talks, we will head out to Sugar Grove Nature Center for a complimentary cookout. Registration is required for this free event so we can While at Sugar Grove Nature Center, we will have open prepare appropriately. Register online by September 14th at houses at both Sugar Grove Observatory (11”) and Prairie the following URL: http://bit.ly/2NSKAQg If you wish to give Sky Observatory (90mm Hα, 11”, 14”, and 17” telescopes – a talk, you may apply by going to this same URL. Just follow our premier astrophotographic training facility). the appropriate link.

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY COURSE TO RESUME

The TCAA’s Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course is making a comeback for the first time since 2017. Started in September of 2015 as Universe Sampler, the course (later named Introduction to Amateur Astronomy) was successively taught three times, twice by Carl Wenning and twice by Darren Erickson with a one course taught by both. Approximately 30 individuals passed through the first three courses. The 2019 course is being supported by an inaugural $250 mini grant provided by the North Central Region of the Astronomical League (NCRAL) and awarded at its Regional convention in Moline on May 3-5, 2019. The purpose of the grant is to help a club to recruit new members and is the first of its type. In this instance, the money will be used to pay for as many copies of the course’s textbook, TCAA Guide #1, as possible. The grant will allow us to reduce the cost of the course in the hope of recruiting new members. The course will be promoted at all public viewing sessions this year. TCAA Guide #1 was written by Carl prior to the start of the course in 2015 and subsequently updated and expanded. The Guide constitutes a comprehensive introduction to amateur astronomy but is not to be mistaken for an introductory astronomy text. The Guide addresses the basics that everyone needs to know in order to become a successful amateur astronomer. It deals primarily with the use of eyes, binoculars, and telescopes to successfully view the objects of the night sky. Introduction to Amateur Astronomy will be offered for a reduced fee in comparison to the past (registration fee will be $15 per household this year rather than $25). Each of the course’s three 2-hour classes will be held at the ISU Planetarium courtesy of Director Tom Willmitch. Classes will be taught by Carl Wenning with Tom’s assistance. The dates for the three sessions are Saturdays, October 12, 19, and November 2. (There will be no class on Saturday, October 26 due to a schedule conflict.) Classes will run from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM each Saturday. This will allow for evening viewing sessions should the sky be clear. The course Guide (not the course) will be provided free to non-TCAA-member participants (one per household), and a one-year introductory membership in the TCAA will be included. (TCAA members may attend the course without paying the $15 course fee but will have to either use an electronic version or print their own copy of TCAA Guide #1 for use in the course. (N.B. The Guide is currently being updated. If you are a TCAA member and intend to take the course, do not print your copy for the course until (1) you have been admitted and (2) the revisions are complete.) Those who successfully complete the course (determined on the basis of course attendance and successfully passing an optional written test which will be new this year) will be eligible for training on the SGO’s 11-inch Celestron “goto” telescope. Keys to the observatory will be provided only after an acceptable introductory period, the length of which has yet to be determined by the TCAA Board of Directors. To apply for this course, go online to the following case-sensitive URL: http://bit.ly/2V8eGxL. Be mindful of the fact that application does not guarantee enrollment. The number of seats in the course is limited, and priority will be given to non- members. Should you have any questions or concerns, contact Carl Wenning at [email protected].

REMAINING PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2019

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. ALERT: Mark most generously will be giving away at least one set of binoculars and an almost new parallelogram binocular stand in another door prize drawing! Must be present to win!

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!

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2019

Date Event Coordinator(s) Location Times

Sept 7 Public Viewing Session Mark Cabaj SGNC 8:00 – 10:00 PM Sept 21 Central IL Mini Conference Carl Wenning ISU/SGNC/WO Afternoon/evening Sept 26-28 Illinois Dark Sky Star Party Sangamon Astro Society Jim Edgar/Panther Creek All day October 5 Public Viewing Session Mark & Nataya Boulware SGNC 7:00 – 9:00 PM Oct 12,19,26 Intro to Amateur Astronomy Carl Wenning ISU Planetarium TBD Dec 4 TCAA Presents to PAS Carl Wenning/Tim Stone Riverfront Museum 7:30 PM Dec ??? Holiday Party TBD TBD TBD

10” TELESCOPE DECLARED “UNWANTED PROPERTY”

At the last TCAA Board of Directors meeting, a serviceable 10” telescope donated to the TCAA about a year ago by the family of former club member Lenore Trainor (1956-2007) was determined to be unwanted property. This means that the club is willing to take a suitable donation in exchange for the telescope. The Odyssey 1 telescope is a very sturdy, but relatively heavy Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount. The telescope is very low profile (“short”) and most suitable for either a youthful observer or a rather short adult. As a result it has wanted for observers and sat unused at Waynesville Observatory since it was first left there. It needs a thorough cleaning but provides great views. A small variety of eyepieces is available with the telescope. If you are interested in this instrument and are willing to make a donation to the TCAA, please contact Secretary Carl Wenning at [email protected]. Please note that the accompanying image is a “file photo.” It is not a photograph of the actual telescope.

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

I have served as editor of The OBSERVER of the Twin City how putting together an award-winning newsletter is done. Amateur Astronomers since January 2014. With the I’m quite confident that others in this group have the completion of the March 2020 issue, I will be stepping down necessary capabilities to do the same. from my position as newsletter editor. Growing I will continue to accept the positions of Secretary and/or responsibilities in my family, my business, my charitable work, Historian if the TCAA Board of Directors wants to confer these my teaching, my parish, and the NCRAL Region have forced titles upon me – at least for another 2-3 more years. After me to realize that I can’t do it all. that, and by the time I reach 70 years of age, I’ll also step I have also come to realize that is not wise for any down from these posts. I’ll happily serve as leader for the organization to place too much reliance on any one member. NCRAL 2023 convention (as in 2010 and 2016) should I be When such a person disappears for health or other reasons – wanted for such and health permits. even death – a group can be left in considerable disarray. I’m announcing my resignation as editor now so that Currently I am Secretary, Historian, Newsletter Editor, and members can start thinking ahead to participating in amateur NCRAL Regional Chair – all these positions have hefty astronomy through other forms of service, one being responsibilities. editorship. With increasing weakness and decreasing health, there is During the balance of my various TCAA terms in office, I no knowing how much longer I can continue with all my want to complete a number of important tasks. In addition to responsibilities. I therefore have made the decision to not completing the newsletters, by next February – the 60th accept reappointment as newsletter editor at the end of my anniversary of the TCAA – I intend to complete a fifth edition term in 2020. While I will continue contributing articles to the of A Brief History of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers. I newsletter and Facebook from time to time, I can no longer suspect that most in this club have never read this document, shoulder the daily responsibility of assembling this but I will continue working on it for the sake of interested publication. posterity and my love of writing in general. By the time I resign, I will have shown by example of 75 Carl J. Wenning issues, some 1,400 pages, and who knows how many words,

Vol. 44, No. 9 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers September 2019

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF AUGUST 27, 2019

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 7/29/2019 1,444.33 Robert Johnson Dues Received 25.00 Supplies Reimbursement: Carl Wenning (15.21) Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (62.95) BALANCE 8/27/2019 1,391.17

Checking Account Balance – August 27, 2019 $1,391.17 Savings Account Balance – August 27, 2019 $2,017.80 - Includes $0.03 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – August 27, 2019 $3,408.97

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date. Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer

TCAA ACTIVE ON FACEBOOK

Did you know that the TCAA is on Facebook? We encourage users of social media to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing and to learn about nightly events that 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. If you haven’t followed TCAA’s Face-book page, you have missed out on a lot during the past couple of months.

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.