Published monthly since 1985 by The Binocular and Telescope Shop 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037 and 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124 www.bintelshop.com.au August 2011 * Volume 314 MARS AS BIG AS THE ? Closer than it will ever be for 50,000 years? Once-in-a-lifetime view? No, no and no. “Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked Eye. This will happen On Aug. 27 when Mars comes within 34.65M miles of earth. Be sure to watch The sky on Aug. 27 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has 2 . The Next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY Will ever see it again.” quoted from the Internet... and we all know that everything on the Internet is factually true. Actually the distance to Mars this month on the 27th is going to be 301, 047,862.5 kilometres, twice as far from us as the Sun. The planet will be If you visit the Sutherland As- approximately 1.4 Magnitude in brightness. Con- tronomical Society’s impressive trast this with the planet’s distance on 27th Au- observatory set-up near Como gust 2003 when it was just 55.7 million kilome- in the ‘Shire’ you will see what tres from Earth and was several times brighter. dedication, persistence and hard So, why does this error keep cropping up every slog can achieve. Well done fell- year? ers and ladies of the SASI! The original commentary included the phrase “... as seen through a telescope...” when comparing * * * Mars to the Moon as seen with the naked eye. The Square Kiometre Array ra- This small but important point was missed by a dio telescope has two contend- few. Their ‘interpretation’ of the event, either from ers- Australia and South Africa. ignorance or malice rushed around the world, It needs to be situated in an area gaining momentum as it went. Unfortunately a where there is little radio interfer- few hapless souls keep repeating this nonsense ence so that the antennae can pick every year. Believe me, it won’t happen! up the faint emissions from deep space. Now, if Australia is cho- sen what’s the chances of some mining mob finding coal/oil/dia- SUTHERLAND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY monds/iron ore within a few ki- lometres and demanding the right to dig in the middle of it? .... and REACHES THE HALF CENTURY. CELEBRATES ! getting government approval? * * * The recent astro-imaging confer- ence held on he Gold Coast was a great success. The more than a hundred keen amateur astrono- mers who attended had a very intensive and rewarding confer- ence. Makes you wonder where we’ll be in ten years from now. Ten years ago the number of suc- cessful amateur astronomers tak- ing photographs of the sky could be counted on one hand. Now there are hundreds. Amateurs regularly supplement NASA’s ef- forts to image the planets. Ama- teur astronomy is definitely look- ing up!

Artistic Photography corralled over one hundred and thirty present and past members of the Suherland Astronomical Society in the * * * one place and at the same time for a remarkable image of a galaxy of shining stars from the Shire’s foremost scientific organization. Bendigo District Astronomical The Sutherland Astronomical society was formed in June 1961, as the James The society’s logo is the galaxy NGC2997 in Antlia, one of the most beautiful Society is observing National Cook Astronomers Club. Like many groups in Sutherland Shire, it honoured spirals in the southern hemisphere. The society was instrumental in organising Science Week on Friday August Captain James Cook, the English explorer who discovered the East Coast of the first National Australian Convention of Amateur Astronomers in Katoomba 19th by having an Open Night Australia and landed at Kurnell, after successfully observing a Transit of Venus in 1966 and has hosted or co-hosted NACAA on three other occasions since at Quarry Hill Golf Course- in from Tahiti. The James Cook Astronomical Club was then.The society currently has a membership of just over 200 with many active conjunction with the Discovery granted council land at Oyster Bay, on members. Science and Technology Cen- the southern outskirts of Sydney, and in Members of the society have made tre. The event will begin at 6pm, 1969 started construction on its Green some significant discoveries: giving the littlies time to have a Point Observatory which was to be of - Comet 1998 P1/Williams discovered look at the Jewel Box, Omega a dome construction eventually housing by Life Member and prolific Variable Centauri and maybe the Small an F7 16” reflector . A meeting hall was Star observer Peter Williams in Au- Magellanic Galaxy before head- added in 1974, and the observatory was gust, 1998. ing home to bed. further extended in 1997 when a roll-off - Comet 1999 H1/Lee discovered by roof observatory, housing a C14 tele- member Steven Lee in March, 1999. * * * scope, was added beside the dome obser- - Nova V382 Velorum discovered by Who has the best story to tell vatory. The two buildings were merged Life Member Peter Williams in May, about that ‘first time’ looking in 2007 and the hall was extended. 1999 (independently co-discovered by through a telescope? Remem- In 1972 the group’s name was changed P.Williams&A. Gilmore) Brendon . ber when you first saw Saturn’s to the James Cook Astronomical Society rings or Jupiter’s moons? In two and in 1978 to Sutherland Astronomical We congratulate the Sutherland Astro- hundred words or A history of the Society, written to less... let me know. Society. nomical Society on fifty good years! Founding member Frank Napier coincide with the 50th anniversary. speaks at the SASI 50th Dinner. Best (or funniest) story wins a copy Mel looks at a horse’s tail ...... 2 subscribe to NIGHT SKY of classic Collins Oddie to rise again ...... 2 Receive your copy every month free by email. Get an ‘Stars and Planets’. Star Map for August ...... 3 eyeful of sky news in the mail or on your computer. Best stories will be Mick ‘n Don ...... 4 Details at the bottom of Page 4 printed in Night Sky.. The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037. Tel: 02 9518 7255 The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124. Tel: 03 9822 0033 August 2011 * Volume 314 * Page 2

Harry’s on to Smithy. MEL LOOKS RIGHT UP AND SEES A STRANGE HORSE Sagittarius the four-legged, two armed archer. The end of winter sees the constella- M22 (NGC 6656) is a large globular tion Sagittarius high in our night sky. cluster. It is visible to the naked eye Sagittarius sits below the prominent (in dark skies) and appears as a fuzzy constellation of Scorpius. Sagittarius blob in binoculars and it takes a 75mm is depicted as a half man, half horse telescope or greater to reveal some of aiming an arrow towards Scorpius. In the outer stars, some of the brightest mythology the Greeks associated Cro- appearing to have a reddish hue. Even tus (half man, half goat with a long small telescopes will reveal its ellipti- tail like a horse) with Sagittarius, the cal outline. M22 is considered to be Romans with Chiron the gentle and one of the finest examples in the sky, wise centaur (similar to Centaurus) third only to omega (ω) Centauri and but Sagittarius is different, in that he 47 Tucanae. The nucleus is not as con- has a war-like posture with his arrow densed as many of the other globulars Some sites are very rare sights. aimed at Scorpius. It is thought that and it lies about 10,000 light years Seldom Seen – Smythii. The ‘scope showed a round North of it was shallower Sagittarius can be traced back to the away. The Moon offers many basin, almost side-on, ringed by a low Banachiewicz. This eye-catching cra- Mesopotamian archer-god Nergal, M20 (NGC 6514) or the Trifid Nebula amazing vistas – some may be once unbroken rim, higher in places, with a ter contained a brilliant white cres- who was associated with the wrathful is a large gaseous cloud of gas. It gets in a lifetime views! Riccioli named smooth floor and hints of low “hills” cent that is crater Banachiewicz B, the god Irra of war and fire. However, in its name from three dark dust lanes of the lunar “seas” after moods, weather on the sunset horizon. The view was brightest thing in the whole field. SE our night sky Sagittarius looks more dust that cross the nebula. It is not as or geographic terms – but there are much like those from era cap- of Banachiewicz were and like a teapot than any of these mythi- impressive visually, but moderate-size two exceptions: Humboldt’s Sea and sules, a spectacular oblique vista! Back, two fresh craters on Smythii’s cal creatures. telescopes show a diffuse glow (the Smyth’s Sea (the latter was a Brit- An astronaut standing in rim. Interestingly, the Sun lies in Sagit- dark dust lanes can be easily seen if ish astronomical Admiral). Both are Smythii would see the sun setting South of Smythii we find fresh la tarius from mid-December until mid- the seeing conditions are good) with 19th C additions to the original list of in the west at altitude 6o –casting Pérouse - with its historic Sydney January, meaning that it lies in this the brightest region of the nebula cen- “seas”. is an old basin shadows ten times longer than the link, and bright central peak. Be- constellation at the time of Summer tering on the double star HN40. HN40 formation on the Moon’s extreme east- height of any feature. The shadows of tween la Pérouse and Back a long thin Solstice – its most distant point south was formed in the nebula and now il- ern limb – and, due to libration, is not Smythii’s encircling scarp are about “walled plain” wavered across almost of the equator. luminates it. M20 is about 5,000 light often seen. 15 - 30km wide and the 10:1 ratio 200km: Kästner and Kästner G, two The very centre of our galaxy – Sag years away. The writer keeps the four- suggest the rim is mostly 1.5km high, ancient overlaps – much like Struve in A* is found in Sagittarius, along with M8 (NGC 6523) or the Lagoon Nebula inch Maksutov at the ready, and on rising to 3km - yet it seemed taller. the lunar NW. many great binocular and telescopic is a well-known gaseous cloud of gas 2011 June 16 the Moon was just past Virtual Moon put the sunset shadow There is much to see in this objects. Alpha (α) Sagittarii is one and dust (nebula) and in dark skies, is full, a day after total eclipse, and low at longitude 86o, so we see about half unfamiliar area – note crater LJ (Fig) of several examples where the star visible to the unaided eye. The east- magnification showed unfamiliar de- of Smyth’s Sea. Some of the “hills” is Louise (UK astronomer). labeled as α which represents the ern half of the nebula surrounds the tail all along the eastern limb –amidst in the basin are floor-fracture cra- Compound crater Kiess is almost brightest star in a constellation, is not open star cluster NGC 6530. M8 is an which, a round basin stood out strik- ters (FFC, there are many)– but bet- ‘sunk’ in the mare by both basin lava actually the brightest star. Epsilon (ε) excellent sight in binoculars and tele- ingly. But what was I seeing? ter seeing was needed for detailed and rim shadows (Fig LHS). A su- Sagittarii has the honour of being the scopes, covering an area equivalent to The basin was large, about 2⁄3 views. perb view of Smythii from the north brightest. three full Moons, with a dark band. the size of nearby Mare Crisium. An Some unusual landforms (Kiess top centre) is in the “Kaguya ortho eyepiece at 167 times was about lay nearby. Most striking was Neper, Lunar ”– a “must-have” for right for the poor “seeing”. Sketching a huge crater 137km wide, almost moon-watchers. Also see the LPOD the basin and its neighbours took about half of Smythii (300km). Neper is website image for 2011 April 20. thirty minutes. I searched Rűkl for an deep, with multi-terraced walls and a All told - it was a good return for a answer. It was Mare Smythii, – a sight central peak piercing the shadows; a short session, on a cold and moonlit I had not seen before! striking crater for further study. night. Harry Roberts ODDIE TELESCOPE TO RISE AGAIN New ‘glass and brass’ Oddie II telescope will be re-built to provide spectacular views of the moon, stars and planets for the public at Mt. Stromlo near Canberra. The mystique of a large brass refractor drew many visitors to Stromlo and doubtless kindled many a kid’s interest in astronomy and science in general. With this in mind, the observatory has commissioned Tim Wetherell to design and build a replacement instrument to be known as the Oddie II. This will be a telescope of similar design to the original Oddie but tailored specifically to be an outreach instrument from the outset. It will be an artwork in the form of a working modern telescope with a historic look and feel. The Oddie II OTA will be a 8.7 inch f15 air-spaced achromatic doublet with the objective lens being manufactured by Istar Optical. The optical tube assem- bly will have a riveted construction composed of three steel sections flanged and bolted to- gether and will be internally baffled to en- Sagittarius is known for its nebulae M17 (NGC 6618) the Omega Nebula sure the best possible visual contrast. The and clusters, 15 of which Messier is also famous. Telescopes reveal an Oddie II will be equipped with massive cataloged - more than any other con- arch-shape, like a capital omega (Ω). custom made 3” eyepieces and accessories stellation. M18 (NGC 6613) is a loose cluster of offering spectacular wide angle views of Beta (β) Sagittarii consists of three about 20 stars, near M17. At 9th mag- The original centre section of the tube. the sky as well as crisp, contrasty views stars. The two brightest are unrelated nitude it is best seen in telescopes. The original 9 inch Oddie Telescope of planets, the moon and other astro- naked-eye stars that just happen to be M25 (IC 4725) is a group of approxi- was a gift of Mr James Oddie, an as- nomical objects. in the same line of sight. β1 Sgr is a mately 30 scattered stars. tronomer at the first municipal obser- The massively original Grubb mount magnitude 4.0 blue-white star that lies Make sure you catch some of the vatory in Ballarat, Victoria. Being a was damaged by the fire but has the 378 light years away. amazing sights in the “other” Centaur Grubb Parsons instrument, the Oddie potential to be repaired to working It has a magnitude 7.2 this month! Mel Hulbert was built in Dublin in the 1890’s. order and reused so the final tele- companion star that is The Oddie was the first telescope to scope combination will still con- visible in small to medi- be installed on at the northern end of tain about half of the parts of the um aperture telescopes. the ridge, set on a high point of Mount original, thus retaining much of its The β2 Sgr is a magni- Stromlo in 1911 and was the first Com- historic value. tude 4.3 white star that monwealth Structure to be built in the The project is currently under- lies about 139 light years ACT. It was initially used to test the way, metal is being cut and glass away. conditions for the new observatory. being ground - The OTA should Epsilon (ε) Sgr is the Unfortunately, the Oddie refractor was be complete by the end of 2011 brightest star of the con- destroyed along with many other tele- and the mount sometime dur- stellation with a magni- scopes at Stromlo, during the devastat- ing 2012. Once the two are tude of 1.8. It is a blue- ing 2003 bushfires. coupled into a big classic white giant lying about Although the Oddie refractor was no refractor, a long tradition of 145 light years away. longer part of new research activities, brass and glass under the M22 (NGC 6656) is a it did serve an equally valuable role in stars at Mt Stromlo will large globular cluster of outreach.. be set to continue. 30 scattered stars. The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037. Tel: 02 9518 7255 August 2011 * Volume 314 * Page 3 The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124. Tel: 03 9822 0033 You can shop on-line at www.bintelshop.com.au for your astronomical needs.

Saturn

Evening sky August 2011

Mercury: Low in the Saturn is in Virgo. It’s Astronomers using the Hubble Space The Moon rotates around its own western sky and getting getting low in the west Telescope to look for possible rings axis at such a slow rate that the same lower. Disappears from once the evening starts. around Pluto have instead uncovered side faces us. It used to rotate much view until the end of the You’ll need to get a look at it before a fourth, previously unknown moon faster but it has been slowing down month when it’s in the dawn sky. 9pm, when it’s getting too low for orbiting the dwarf planet. over billions of years. At some point good viewing. The moon, currently assigned the in the distant past it just stopped turn- Uranus: Is in Pisces , temporary name P4, is the smallest ing from our perspective. The Earth’s Venus: Venus is behind rising about mid-evening. of Pluto’s satellites. Astronomers es- gravity pulls differently at various the Sun. Directly behind Brightens slightly. A timate that its diameter is somewhere parts of the Moon, effectively act- it on the 16th. It will small bluish-green blip. between 13 and 34 kilometres. The ing as a brake. A similar situation then take a holiday till the middle of largest moon Charon is 1,043km wide has happened with most of the large September when it comes back into Neptune: Is in Aquarius and rises at and Nix and Hydra are in the range moons in the Solar System. the evening sky. about 6pm in the eastern Whilst you’re stickybeaking at Sagit- sky. Well beyond visual of 32-113 kilometres. P4 is located be- tarius with binoculars or a low power Mars slides into Gemini rd range at Mag 8, you’ll tween the orbits of Nix and Hydra. telescope locate the lovely grouping 3 Moon at Perigee and begins rising around need a good scope to see it. First image of P4 by Hubble Space Telescope of M8, M20 and M21. They’re easily th 4am. with the twins. It’s easy to 6 First Quarter. found. see on the 7th near Messier 35, a P l u t o : C a n n o t M8, the Lagoon Nebula is a bright th globular star cluster. understand why sailors 14 Full Moon emission nebula with a cluster of stars are were called sea-dogs. embedded in the middle. 19th Moon at Apogee Jupiter Tried sailing last month. Got as sick is rising just M20, the Trifid Nebula is a hydrogen before midnight in as a dog. So, were sailors always nd cloud with a blueish dust cloud. 22 Last Quarter sick? And how many sick dogs do Aries. The giant planet M21 is cluster of 60 or so very young will then appear to ‘swim against the you see on boats? It’s all far too th stars just to the north of the Trifid. 29 New Moon tide’ of the stars for some time. confusing for this little puppy. The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037. Tel: 02 9518 7255 The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124. Tel: 03 9822 0033 August 2011 * Volume 313 * Page 4 Why not join your local astronomy club to learn more about how the night sky works! KOOLANG SUBARU IN A MESS. August Macarthur Astronomical Society Inc: NSW liquid spilt on mirror ☎ (02) 4626 7911 John Rombi www.macastro.org.au Sutherland Astronomical Society Inc: NSW A serious hardware incident in early July shut down the ☎ (02)9832 4082 Brett McMillan.www.sasi.net.au OBSERVATORY Subaru Telescope indefinitely. A leak allowed orange-col- Northern Sydney Astronomical Society Inc: ored coolant to spill over the primary mirror and into the His Eminence Professor Dr Nervo ☎ Bob Fuller 0423 971374 www.nsas.org.au Shatterini, Associate Professor of Sydney City Skywatchers (BAA) (NSW) main camera, as well as into other instruments and the struc- ☎ 9398 9705 www.sydneycityskywatchers.asn.au ture of the telescope. The damage is being assessed. During Planetary Heating, Cooling and The Astronomical Society of NSW. the clean-up and recovery of equipment, nighttime observa- Air-Conditioning (weekends) asks ☎ 0428 965 249 John O’Brien www.asnsw.com these simple questions. The Western Sydney Amateur Astro Group Inc tions have been suspended, as well as daytime summit tours ☎ Gerry Aarts 0416 292 020 www.wsaag.org.au of the telescope. 1) How many Messier objects are www4.tpgi.com.au/users/wsaag An announcement posted on the Subaru telescope website found in Eridanus ? Sydney Northwest Astronomical Society (2) Which star cluster was once con- ☎ (02) 9634 1736 Ken Petersen FOR SALE said that operators detected an error signal while shutting The Hawkesbury Astronomical Association: down the observation system at the end of the night shift dur- sidered a separate constellation? ☎ (02) 4572 1568 Adrian Saw . (3) How many constellations di- The Wollongong Astronomy Club. NSW includes 27 acres ing the early morning hours of July 2. ☎ (02) 4261 9369 Paul When engineers arrived to assess the situation, they found rectly border Octans? The Illawarra Astronomical Society: NSW 5319 G reat North Road extensive leakage of ethylene glycol over the entire telescope. (4) Where would you find the Orion ☎ (02) 4276 3199 Peter McKinnon Bucketty NSW 2250 The leak originated from the the Subaru Prime Focus Cam- Arm, the Sagittarius Arm and the www.illawarraastronomicalsociety.hostoi.com Perseus Arm? Shoalhaven Astronomers: South Coast NSW contact: michael. mar [email protected] era and auxiliary optics. ☎ (02) 4423 2255 Jack Apfelbaum Although they prompt- (5) To what was Pyxis attached? www.shoalhavenastronomers.asn.au ly shut off the supply (6) In how many constellations can The Astronomical Society of the Hunter: NSW (02) 4937 4664 Col Maybury [email protected] of coolant, a significant the visible planets appear ? Newcastle Astronomical Society: NSW amount of leakage oc- (7) In how many constellations are ☎ (02) 4950 0725 Allan Meehan www.nas.org.au curred down to the stars are named Alaraph? Coffs Harbour Astronomical Society: NSW ☎ (02) 6653 2742 Win Howard tertiary mirror, the pri- (8) How many Messier objects are Coonabarabran Astronomical Society, NSW mary mirror and some in Canis Major? ☎ (02) 6842 2994 Paul Cass: of its actuators, the (9) Which famous comet was found Central West Astronomical Society, NSW John Sarkissian: [email protected]. Faint Object Camera in Hydra during 1965? Port Macquarie Astronomical Association NSW and Spectrograph and (10) Into how many constellations ☎ (02) 6582 2397 Joy Woods www.pmobs.org.au its auxiliary optics. was Argo Navis divided? Grafton Astronomical Society, NSW ☎ (02) 6643 1349 Mick Austin, President Pro tem. The engineers attempt- (11) What is the most famous star in Bombala Astronomy Group, NSW ed to clean up and re- Auriga? University of New England Astronomical Society move as much coolant (12) Who first compiled a list of ☎ (0427 892 011 Chris Wyatt Clarence Valley Astronomical Society as possible. However, stars by magnitude? ☎ (02) 6643 3288 Steve Fletcher such areas as optics, (13) How long is a sidereal month? Ballaarat Astronomical Society: Vic (14) Which is the second largest ☎ (03) 5332 7526 [email protected] control circuits, and the http://observatory.ballarat.net inside of Suprime-Cam constellation? Bendigo District Astronomical Society and FOCAS were inac- (15) What’s the temperature of the PO Box 164 Bendigo Vic 3552 . Kate McMillan visible surface of the Sun? Astronomical Society of Victoria Inc cessible during the ini- ☎ (03) 9888 7130. Linda Mockridge www.asv.org.au tial clean-up. The cool- (16) The Germans called it Latrobe Valley Astronomical Society Vic ant is not corrosive and Frederick’s Glory. What did the ☎ (03) 5174 6453 home.vicnet.net.au/~lvas French call it? Astronomical Society of Geelong, Vic does not appear to have ☎ 0407 345 070 Frank Baker for details. damaged the primary (17) Who discovered the ‘canali’ on http://vicnet.net.au~asog mirror substantially. Mars that got Lowell so excited ? Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, (18) Who wrote the words for ☎ 0419 253 252 Peter Skilton for details. The sad-looking mirror and its actuators covered in dripping ethylene glycol. Dust blowers are above. Astronomy Benalla 03 5762 1523 Rupe Cheetham Johnny O’Keefe’s “Wild One”? www.ab.teedee.com.au (19) Where would you be likely to Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga find pyroclastic rocks? www.asaw.org.au ☎Petra De Ruyter 0431 535 417 VESTA SEEN CLEARLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. (20) Which metallic nucleii are Snake Valley Astronomical Association (Vic) found in great numbers in cosmic ☎ 0418 425 207 Me Ken James. Dawn will begin its science mission in August with map- Canberra Astronomical Society: ACT ping and imagery collections before moving closer to Ves- rays? ☎ (02)6248 0552 J. Howard ta for more detailed observations. The closest Dawn will Answers may be found below by

www.mso.anu.edu.au/cas get to Vesta is about 200kms, to get the best views of the turning the page upside down. Astronomical Society: Qld boron. and beryllium Lithium, (20) ☎ (07) 3321 8511 Darryl Mitchell asteroid’s rocky surface and reveal Vesta’s chemical make-

www.bas.asn.au up and gravity field. volcano. a Near (19) Southern Astronomical Society:Qld Withers. Tony (18)

☎ Vesta was chosen is because it is big and it was also one of 0421 866 376 Joe Zerafa. Schiaparelli. Giovanni (17) www.sas.org.au the first bodies to form in the solar system. The surface of

Astronomical Association of Queensland, Qld Vesta will show the early history of the solar system. Justice. ☎ of Hand and Sceptre The (16)

Peter Hall (07) 3378 1173 www.aaq.org.au Vesta is approximately 500kms in diameter. Discovered South East Queensland Astronomical Society, ̊C. 5500 just It’s (15) ☎ (07) 3239 0032. www.seqas.org by Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers in 1807, it is the second-most

Ingham Amateur Astronomers Club massive object in the main asteroid belt. It rotates in about Virgo. (14) ☎ days. 27.3216 (13)

(07) 4776 5773 Tracey Castles. 5.3 hours. Until this picture was taken last month we had Bundaberg Astronomical Soc. Qld 150BC. ☎ (07) 4159 7232 www.interwox.com.au little idea of its surface features.

Redlands Astronomical Society Qld Vesta has an extremely large and deep crater near its south about in Nicea of Hipparchus (12) ☎ Capella. (11)

(07) 3207 2818 Chris Tacke www.ras.org.au pole. Whatever crashed into Vesta to form the crater eject- Bundy Skywatchers (South-Central Qld) pis.

☎ (07) 4159 9674 Karlene Galway ed a million cubic kilometres of rock into space, spray- -

Astronomical Society of South Australia, SA ing debris all through the solar system. It’s quite probable Pup and Vela Carina, Three, (10) ☎ (08) 8338 1231 Tony Beresford. www.assa.org.au Ikeya-Seki. (9)

that about 5 percent of all the meteorites that fall on Earth Astronomical Society of Tasmania, Tas one. just M41, (8) ☎ 0419 305 722 Bob Coghlan. www.ast.n3.net originate from that cataclysmic event.

Astronomical Society of Alice Springs N.T. The spacecraft has German cameras, Italian spectrometers Three. (7) ☎ (08) 8952 9817 Annette Green me. Believe four. Twenty (6)

NASA’s robotic spacecraft Dawn has drifted into orbit and gamma-ray and neutron detector built in the USA. Darwin Astronomy Group NT compass. ☎ (0420 238 663 Matt Barton around Vesta, starting a year-long mapping survey of one This array of instruments will investigate the composition

www.darwinastronomy.com the asteroid belt’s major inhabitants. of Vesta’s surface, study the link between Vesta and mete- boat’s the was It Navis. Argo To (5) Gove Amateur Astronomers, NT Way. Milky the In (4)

☎ Launched from Earth in September 2007, Dawn ap- orites that have fallen to Earth, and create a geologic map 0417 601 490 Ian Maclean for information. Tucana. Astronomical Society of Western Australia, WA proached Vesta using its ion engines until Vesta’s gravity of the asteroid.Scientists will also measure Vesta’s gravity

http://www.aswa.info naturally snared the probe into a slow-moving orbit. The field to determine whether it has a metallic core. In 2012 and Pavo Mensa, Indus, Hydrus, ☎ (08) 9364 9603 Chamaeleon, Apus, Seven. (3)

ion engines produce little thrust, but they sparingly con- Dawn’s ion engines will ignite in July to propel the space- Astronomical Society of The South-West, W.A. Pleiades. The (2) ☎ (08) 9721 1586 Phil Smith. sumed xenon propellant over thousands of hours to slowly craft toward its second destination, the dwarf planet Ceres

accelerate the spacecraft to enormous speeds. where it will arrive three years later. one. Not None. (1)

Well, it’s not Pluto’s had this moon for millions of years. Nobody can as if Pluto Night Sky has been published monthly since go there and remove it. before some of you were even by Yair Mick. It has suddenly The Binocular and Telescope Shop Pty Ltd Hey Don, 84 Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe 2037 was just a bit But spawned a new Tel: (02) 9518 7255 Fax: (02) 9518 5711 they reckon Possession Any errors, mis-spellings, dropped apostrophes too Pluto moon. and missing words are the fault of Mike Smith. Hubble found is nine Complain at - [email protected] small to isn’t officially Printed by the really nice people at a new moon a planet any tenths of Omega Creative Communications see in any 4 Campbell Street, Artarmon NSW 2064. for Pluto. other tele- more, so how the law, This newsletter is available at The Binocular and Telescope Shop and at many astronomical society How can scope. can it have a I guess. meetings and astronomy centres around Australia. Night Sky is available free by email. that be? new moon? Ask [email protected] to be on the mailing list for the newsletter. or The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Rd, Glebe 2037 www.bintelshop.com.au