THE DENVER OBSERVER SEPTEMBER 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 OT h e D eBn v e r S E R V E R S A I L S A L O F T F O R A M I L K Y WAY V O Y A G E ! RHO OPHIUCHI REGION Calendar Several different types of nebulosity are distinct in this image. The yellowish cloud associated with Antares (the brightest star in the image), is IC 4606. Above Antares is IC 4605 which is the blue reflection nebula 8.............................. Last quarter moon around 22 Scorpii. To the left of 22 Scorpii is the dark nebula B44. IC 4604 is the blue nebulosity around Rho Ophiuchi, the triple star above that. Below Rho Ophiuchi is the blue nebulosity of IC 4603. Sh 2-9 is the red 15........................................ New moon emission nebula associated with Sigma Scorpii, the blue star near the right edge of the image. Below Sigma Scorpii and to the right of Antares is the globular cluster M4. To the upper right of Antares is the smaller 22........................... First quarter moon globular cluster NGC 6144. This image is comprised of a four images mosaic. It was shot with a Mamiya 29........................................ Full moon lens with HaLRGB filters, binned 1x1 with an SBIG ST-2000XM CCD camera. Image © Joe Gafford Inside the Observer SEPTEMBER SKIES by Dennis Cochran he Age of Aquarius is upon us. This sprawling with all of its well-known nebulae and star clusters President’s Corner.......................... 2 T constellation reaches out over Capricornus from above the teapot shape of his bow-and-arrow body northeast of its “grin” and manages to cover an that we talked about in “July Skies.” That’s his arrow Society Directory............................ 2 impressive chunk of sky. The Water-Bearer (Aquarius) pointed west towards Antares, the big red star called Schedule of Events.......................... 2 harbors the large globular cluster M2 right on the me- the “Heart of the Scorpion.” ridian below its famous sister M15. Bag ‘em both! M15 is In the empty space between Sagittarius and Capri- DAS Job Jar................................... 4 just up-left from tiny Equuleus, itself just down-left cornus are two interesting objects near to one another: from the easier-to-spot asterism Delphinus the Dol- dwarf galaxy NGC 6822 and a planetary known as the September Speaker......................... 4 phin. Once you’ve found M15, M2 is halfway down to “Little Gem,” NGC 6818. They are straight west of the Adopt a Telescope Project................. 5 Capricornus. Although western Sagittarius has the western corner of Capricornus and straight east of the Saturn Nebula, a planetary that looks like it has a fat end of that little string of stars that projects northeast DAS Bioblitz Project....................... 6 ring, it’s located just above the middle of the goat’s wide from ς (sigma) Sgr, the uppermost star in the handle of grinning “V.” The cluster M73 is just down-right from the teapot. Beginners Bits................................ 7 the planetary, the second-brightest in the sky, and Low to the southern horizon there are several ob- next to globular cluster M72, so this area is worth New members.................... back page jects squished in the space between Scorpius and Sagit- checking out. Meanwhile west of mid-south, Sagitta- tarius. Above and above-left of the “Cat’s Eyes” pair of M27.................................. back page rius continues to dominate the southern evening sky Continued on Page 3 The Denver Astronomical Society One Mile Nearer the Stars Page 1 THE DENVER OBSERVER SEPTEMBER 2012 PRESIDENT’S CORNER by Ron Pearson Society Directory ugust was another tough summer month for One of the major goals or missions of DAS is out- President: A DAS members. Instead of observing the glitter- reach to schools and others in the science of astron- Ron Pearson (303) 670-1299 ing Milky Way, we had unrelenting wild fire haze omy and science in general since astronomy literally [email protected] obscuring the night sky and rainless monsoon clouds encompasses the whole Universe in its sphere of Vice President: Lisa Judd (626) 487-8515 making even just one night of observing more re- study. We conduct our outreach efforts through both [email protected] warding. I got out for the Perseid Meteor shower and Chamberlin Observatory Public Nights and Open Secretary: saw 15 or so meteors in an hour and half before Houses with teams of telescope operators and our Dennis Cochran (720) 870-0465 clouds closed in again. On the August new moon school or outside outreach programs through a cadre Treasurer: Brad Gilman (720) 488-1028 weekend we got a brief respite from the photonic made up of you, our members, who volunteer ad hoc assault coming out of the oil hole drilling near our to requests as we receive them. Both of these pro- dark sky site. But, don’t celebrate too much, because grams rely on you, our members, to volunteer and Executive Board Members the assault on our night sky and night vision may contribute your time and talents. We have recently resume at any time this fall. According to informa- welcomed several newly certified operators of the Chuck Carlson Ron Hranac tion posted on the Southwestern Energy and CO. Oil historic 20-inch Clark telescope to help out in the Jack Eastman Naomi Pequette & Gas Conservation Commission websites, despite dome room, and we welcome those who have Joe Gafford David Shouldice mediocre returns on their initial tests, they will be stepped up recently to take leadership roles in both Chuck Habenicht Dan Wray extending the depth of the drilling near our site over Chamberlin and our outside programs. Scott Leach is President Emeritus, Larry Brooks 4,000 feet horizontally, and intend to drill a second newly certified operator and will also be our IT sup- hole “in the area” before the end of the year. As ama- port lead. He replaces Chadd Warwick whose job teurs, professionals and others interested in the sci- keeps him in out of state. Scott will be leading im- Committees ence up in our night sky it is ironic that we are so provements to our AV computer network in Cham- directly confronted and impacted by the effects of berlin which we use to present talks and images from Van Nattan-Hansen Scholarship Fund: two other major issues in science and our society; our telescope camera, as well as provide internet Tim Pimental (Chair) PO Box 100621 greenhouse-driven global warming that is contribut- access and the PN reservation system. Amanda Parry Denver, CO. 80250-0621 ing to the spread of wild fires and drought while the has been our outreach coordinator for the past three EGK Dark Site Committee: search for carbon-releasing fossil fuel goes on in ear- months and Justin Modra will be taking the lead in Darrell Dodge, Interim Chair nest, literally in our faces. It certainly proves what we one aspect of our outreach education—the area of Email: [email protected] IDA Representative: learned in school; John Donne light pollution education. Perhaps you have seen or Dr. Robert Stencel said, that “No Man is an read about the excellent documentary film about Email: [email protected] Island. ” and “. never light pollution called The City Dark. With Justin’s send to know for whom proposal, the e-board approved the purchase of a full the bell tolls; It tolls for licensed version of the documentary, and Justin will Volunteers or Appointed Representatives thee.”* These issues also be lining up venues to show the film. point to an ever- increasing What this society does and accomplishes either at need for science education its dark sky site, or in the areas of astronomy out- ALCor: in schools as our schools get reach at Chamberlin or in school yards, or battling Darrell Dodge (303) 932-1309 Newsletter: back into session. Continued on Page 4 Editor: Patti Kurtz (720) 217-5707 Email: [email protected] The Observer is available in color PDF DAS SCHEDULE format from the DAS website. Website: SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Darrell Dodge Email: [email protected] 3 Labor Day 5 E-Board Meeting at Chamberlin (Be- IT Coordinator: Scott Leach 7 E-Board Meeting at Chamberlin (Be- gins at 7:30 P.M.) gins at 7:30 P.M.) 12-14 EGK Dark Sky weekend Librarian: 8-16 Okie-Tex Starparty 20 Colorado Astronomy Day at DMNS Phil Klos 14-16 EGK Dark Sky weekend and Chamberlin Observatory (10 A.M. DAS Information Line:(303) 871-5172 22 Open House at Chamberlin Observa- to 4 P.M.) and Open House (Begins at DAS Correspondence: Denver Astronomical Society tory (Begins at 7:00 P.M.) 6:00 P.M.) Chamberlin Observatory c/o Ron Pearson 26 Yom Kippur 27 DAS Auction at Chamberlin Observa- 2930 East Warren Avenue 28 DAS General Membership meeting at tory (Setup begins at 11:00 A.M., Bidding Denver, Colorado 80210 D.U.’s Olin Hall: Speaker: Peg Alig — begins at 1:00 P.M.) “Baehr Observatory in Pine, CO.” (Be- 31 Hallowe’en gins at 7:30 P.M.) The Executive Board conducts the business of the DAS at 7:30 p.m. at Chamberlin Observatory. Public nights are held at Chamberlin Observatory every Tuesday and Thursday evenings Please see the Schedule of Events for meeting beginning at the fo$owing times: dates. A% members are welcome. March 13 - April 14 at 8:00 P.M. April 15 - August 31 at 8:30 P.M. September 1 - September 30 at 8:00 P.M. October 1 - March 10 at 7:00 P.M. Costs to non-members are: $3.00 adults, $2.00 children www.denverastro.org Please make reservations via our website )www.denverastro.org) or ca$ )303) 871-5172.