Lalande 21185 - a Nearby Star Don Pearce

 Houston Astronomical Society    

  GuideStar  July, 2008 Highlights: At the July 11 meeting... A Priceless trip to the TSP...... 5 Terry Mann - Astronomical League Prez....6 Note: This is the 2nd Friday to avoid a HAS Banquet Announcement...... 9 Steven Weinberg - Biography...... 11 conflict with the 4th of July Holiday Minutes of the June Meeting...... 14 Science Fair Winners...... 16 Don Pearce HAS Web Page: Our own "Captain Comet" http://www.AstronomyHouston.org This month, HAS member Don Pearce talks with us about the lure and the excitement of comets. There are some who believe the seeds of life See the GuideStar's Monthly Calendar on Earth were delivered by cometary impacts. of Events to confirm dates and times Others just enjoy seeing a bright comet in the of all events for the month, and check sky. the Web Page for any last minute changes. When's the next 'big one'? Don may tell us.

HAS Banquet this Schedule of meeting activities: All meetings are at the University of Houston Science and month!!! Research building. See the inside back cover for a map to the location.

Steven Weinberg Novice meeting: ...... 7:00 p.m. Joe Dillinger (FBAC) - "The A-Team at the George Reserve now for the HAS Banquet Observatory" on July 12, 2008. The speaker Site orientation meeting: ...... 7:00 p.m. will be Nobel prize winner Steven Classroom 121 Weinberg. This is a must-be-there General meeting: ...... 8:00 p.m. event for Houston area astronomy Room 117 enthusiasts. Registration See last page for a map information is inside this issue. and more information. GuideStar, Vol 26, #7 July, 2008

The Houston Astronomical Society Table of Contents

The Houston Astronomical Society is a non-profit corporation organized 3...... July/August Calendar under section 501 (C) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Society was Web site formed for education and scientific purposes. All contributions and gifts Publicity Suggestion Box are deductible for federal income tax purposes. General membership 4...... Observations of the Editor meetings are open to the public and attendance is encouraged. 5...... A Priceless Trip to the TSP 6...... Just Looking Officers & Past President President: Bill Leach...... H: 281-893-4057 Terry Mann - Astronomical League Vice Pres: Ken Miller...... H: 936-931-2724 President Secretary: Doug McCormick...... H: 281-996-0177 9...... HAS 2008 Banquet Announcement Treasurer: Bill Flanagan...... H:713-699-8819 10...... HAS 2000 Banquet - Signup form Past President: Steve Sartor...... 11...... Steven Weinberg - Biography 12...... Want-Ads Additional Board Members Astronomical League

Steve Goldberg...... 713-721-5077 13...... Lalande 21185 - A Nearby Star Don Pearce...... 713-432-0734 14...... Membership Renewals John Missavage...... Clayton Jeter...... 15...... Minutes of the June Meeting Bram Weisman...... 16...... Science Fair Winners

Committee Chairpersons Special Interest Group Listing Audit ...... Tom Blocker...... Education...... Richard Nugent...... Field Tr./Obsg...... George Stradley...... 281-376-5787 Any member who wants specific information on a SIG listed below may Novice...... Justin McCollum...... call the listed individual. Also, see the "Ad Hoc Committee Chairpersons" Observatory...... Bob Rogers...... 281-460-1573 Program...... Brian Cudnik...... on the inside front cover and the "Special Help Volunteers" listing (not Publicity...... John Missavage...... in every issue). Telescope...... Bram Weisman...... Paul & Kay McCallum...... Welcoming...... Open...... Advanced...... Bill Leach...... 281-893-4057 Comets...... Don Pearce...... 713-432-0734 Ad-Hoc Committee Chairpersons Lunar & Planetary...... John Blubaugh...... 713-921-4275 Historian...... Leland Dolan...... 713-688-0981 Librarian...... Peggy Gilchrist...... 281-443-8773 Logo Mds Sales...... Judy Dye...... 281-498-1703 Long Range Plan...... Bill Leach...... 281-893-4057 Parliamentarian...... Kirk Kendrick...... 281-633-8819 Publ. Star Party...... Richard Nugent ...... 713-524-1993 Rice U. Coord...... Matt Delevoryas...... 713-666-9428 Schedule Obs'v't'y...... Steve Goldberg...... 713-721-5077 Other Meetings... Texas Star Pty...... Steve Goldberg...... 713-721-5077 Fort Bend Astronomy Club meets the third Friday of the month at 8:00

p.m. at the First Colony conference Center. Novice meeting begins at Special Interest Groups & Help Committees 7:00, regular meeting begins at 8:00. Web site: http://www.fbac.org These are now listed on the inside of GuideStar (not every month). See the Table of Contents Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society meets in the the Lunar Advisors and Planetary Institute on the 2nd Friday of each month. Web site: Dr. Reginald DuFour, Rice Univ. http://www.ghg.net/cbr/jscas/ Dr. Lawrence Pinsky, U. of H. Dr. Lawrence Armendarez, U. of St. Thomas North Houston Astronomy Club meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 4th Friday of each month in the Teaching Theatre of the Student Center at King- Dues and Membership Information wood College.Call 281-312-1650 or [email protected]. Annual Dues:Regular...... $36.00 Web site: www.astronomyclub.org Associate ...... $6.00 Sustaining ...... $50.00 Student ...... $12.00 Honorary ...... None

All members have the right to participate in Society functions and to use the Observatory Site. Regular and Student Members receive a subscription to The Reflector. Regular, Student, and Honorary Members receive The GuideStar. Associate Members, imm ediate family members of a Regular Member, have all membership rights, but do not receive publications. Sustaining members have the same rights as regular members with the additional dues treated as a dona- tion to the Society. Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines are available to members at a discount.

Membership Application: Send funds to address shown on outside cover of Guid- eStar. Attention - Treasurer, along with the following information: Name, Address, Phone Number, Special Interests in Astronomy, Do you own a Telescope? (If so, what kind?), and where you first heard of H.A.S.

GuideStar, Page July/August Check the web site: www.astronomyhouston.org Calendar: Webmaster: Kay McCallum [email protected] Date Time Event Photo by Scott Mitchell

he Houston Astronomical Society Web Tpage has information on the society, its July resources, and meeting information. 1 1:00 p.m. Mercury at greatest elongation west 1 1:00 p.m. Mercury at greatest elongation west Want your astronomy work and name on 3 9:19 p.m. New Moon the Internet for the whole world to see? 5 Prime Night, Columbus Observing Site Have some neat equipment? Pictures in film, 9 3:00 a.m. Jupiter at opposition CCD, hand drawings or video format are all 11:34 p.m. Moon at first quarter 11 7:00 p.m. HAS Novice Meeting, U of H welcome on the page. Do you have an idea 8:00 p.m. HAS General Meeting, U of H to improve the page? I’m listening. Send me 18 2:59 a.m. Full Moon Email at [email protected].

25 1:42 p.m. Moon at last quarter 27 Delta Aquarid meteors peak 31 7:30 p.m. HAS Board of Directors Meeting, Houston Chronicle Building

August

1 5:13 a.m. New Moon Total Solar Eclipse (Asia) 7:00 p.m. HAS Novice Meeting, U of H Publicity Suggestion Box 8:00 p.m. HAS General Meeting, U of H 2 Prime Night, Columbus Observing Site 8 3:20 p.m. Moon at first quarter 12 Perseid meteors peak I welcome any suggestions that any 16 4:17 p.m. Full Moon member has to offer. It doesn’t matter 23 6:50 p.m. Moon at last quarter how trivial you think your idea may be. Novice Star Party, Columbus Observing Site All input will be reviewed and welcomed. 30 2:58 p.m. New Moon Let’s grow.

Send calendar events to Doug McCormick Please drop me a note at the following - [email protected] address.

 [email protected]   John Missavage- HAS Publicity Chair        GuideStar deadline   for the August   issue   is July 15        GuideStar, Page Observations... of the editor by Bill Pellerin, GuideStar Editor

The 2008 Texas Star Party is over

At 3:30 a.m. I looked up at the skies over the Prude Ranch and the Texas Star Party and saw the most beautiful sight there is. The Milky way was shining all the way from the southern horizon to the north- ern horizon. "This is our home galaxy", I thought. As good as it was to peer through the telescopes on the observing field, this view is the one that sticks with me. See Barbara Wilson's picture to the right.

I said that I'd be watching R Crb from the TSP, and I did. I viewed it through Bill Fla- nagan's 14" telescope, and it was still very dim. We had to consult with star charts for a while to assure ourselves that we were looking at the correct star. We were.

John Wagoner's globular cluster list wasn't difficult to complete. I was able to complete it on the first observing night. It was a lot of fun, though. I don't normally spend time looking at globulars, so this was an opportunity to do something different. My 4" refractor showed each of the globulars easily.

I spent a bit of time with David Nagler this year. David had a complete set of his Di- optrx lenses (astigmatism correctors) with him this time. I had never considered astigmatism a significant observing problem for me, but my 22 mm Nagler produces a 4mm exit pupil and that's large enough for my vision defects to show up. When I got back home, I checked my glasses prescription (and had my eyes re-checked) and found that I have a 1.25 diopter astigmatism cor- rection in my glasses. As a result of this, I ordered a 1.25 diopter Dioptrx. It came today, but I won't have the opportunity to The Milky Way over the Texas Star Party 2008 try it out right away. (Photo by Barbara Wilson)

Bill Flanagan and I took on the task of managing the vendors and the door prizes at this year's TSP. Jayne and Dana Lambert couldn't make the trip Until next time... to TSP, so we did our best to make it all work out, and it did. If you clear skies and new moons! missed the TSP, you missed a chance to win a TeleVue 13mm Ethos eyepiece. (For the record, I didn't win it.... drat!)

So, many thanks to Bill Flanagan who helped me with this project. ..Bill GuideStar, Page A Priceless Trip to the 2008 Texas Star Party by Wes Widdon

• Driving hours to Ft. Davis: 10.3 • Trips to Alpine: 1 • Pit stops: 4 • Trips to Marfa: 1 • Vienna sausage consumed enroute: 1 can • Antelope seen: 6 • Gallons of gasoline used: 34.117 • Bison seen: 2 • Cost of gasoline: $142.92 • Hummingbirds seen: 1 • FBAC members sitting on Pbox porch when I arrived: 3 • Jack Rabbits seen: 1…multiple times • Hours to set up my tarp and tent: 1.5 • Mule deer seen grazing outside our cabin door: 3 • Hours to move my tarp and tent because I set up too close to Tracy: 1.5 • Squashed Porcupines seen on I-10: 3 • Temperature upon arrival: 110…in the shade • Grass burrs stepped on in room: 5 • Hours for room AC to cool down from 125 degrees to 85 • Friday night talk on light echoes rating: 8 degrees: 12 • Light echoes any of us will every image: 0 • Times I requested maintenance on AC unit: 3 • Saturday night talk rating: 10. Bob Berman • Times I ripped out the totally clogged AC unit filter and is a smart guy and a good talker. He's also a flung it down an adjacent cliff: 1 pyromaniac. • Meals consumed at Prude ranch: 10 • Frick and Frack of TSP performance rating: ehhh • Food consumability raging from 1 to 10: 6…except for the cowboy breakfast. That was an 11. • Times "MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN" quoted: too many • Flies in dining room attacking your meal at any given time: 106 • Driving hours back to Sugar Land: 11.3 • Gallons of lemonade I personally consumed: 5 • Pit stops: 5 • Nights of good observing: 6 • Vienna sausage consumed: 1 can…gag • Quality of night skies: Superb • People from TSP seen in Dairy Queen in Boerne: 1…George Stradley • Brush fires noticed: 1 • Times passed by Chuck and Richard: 1…but • Smoke on observing field noticed: Yes only because we stopped for ice cream • Observing pins I won: 4 • Times passed by small blue car with tiny • Imaginary galaxies in eyepiece at any given moment: No wheels: 1 comment • Gasoline consumed, including Alpine and • IC10 visibility: ain't no…even in my StellaCam Marfa trip: 39.2 gallons • Wide field imaging awards I won: 1 (thanks to Steve Gold- • Cost of gasoline: $164.25 berg) • Observing with good friends for a whole • Entries in wide field imaging category: 1 week: Priceless • FBAC observers in attendance: 15 Wes Whiddon • TSP registration: 581 (or was it 518. I'm not sure now) • FBAC scopes tipped over by dust devils: 1 • FBAC equipment tables tipped over by dust devils: 1 • FBAC equipment table covers ripped off and blown 100 yards away by dust devils: 1 • Bratty kids from Ohio loose on the observing field every night: 1 • Latest observing night for me: 3:30 a.m.

• Milky Ways and Snickers consumed to keep me awake: GuideStar, Page unknown Just Looking A GuideStar Interview by Clayton L. Jeter

Terry Mann - Astronomical League President

Two years ago I interviewed our out-going Astronomical League presi- time to education and public outreach. She also a fre- dent, Robert Gent, here in the GuideStar. I knew then that it was a “must- quent guest speaker and has lectured about astronomy do” to be able to interview Terry Mann also (our new president). If you at high schools, astronomy clubs and civic groups as have thumbed through the league’s newsletter, “The Reflector” recently, well as science centers, State and National Parks. chances are you have read her column,” President’s Notes”. It’s a letter to us that is chocked full She maintains a backyard observatory that houses a of useful astronomy 14-inch telescope and brings classrooms to the obser- news. When I receive vatory to let the students see the universe. Her interest my copy in the mail, in astronomy has taken her to many places including it’s always the first Australia, Tahiti, Baja, Aruba, Egypt, Alaska and Bo- section that I turn to. livia. Terry is currently on the Board of Advisors and has severed on the Board of Directors at the Astronomi- I emailed Terry last cal Society of the Pacific. She is also serving on the week and was pleas- committee for the International Year in Astronomy antly surprised when 2009 (IYA 2009). Information about Terry can also be she happily agreed found in the Book “Women of Space: Cool Careers on for this interview. the Final Frontier” By Laura S. Woodmansee. She is She told me she was currently an advisor for Meade’s 4M Community. in Alaska at the time, imaging the aurora. The Terry Mann interview… This girl is busy in astronomy!!! She’s Clayton: Terry, it is truly wonderful to have everywhere. you here for this informative interview. It was actually Robert Gent (past AL presi- I know all of you will enjoy meeting your A.L. president for the first time dent) who gave me the idea of interviewing here within these pages and will be inspired by her love of astronomy. Meet you. Terry Mann… OK… we know as we have just read that you’re really into astronomy, but how did Terry Mann is President of the Astronomical League, an organization with you first become interested? What was the approximately 16,000 amateur astronomers. She served as Vice President first object you observed through a tele- from 2002-2006 and was Secretary for the Astronomical League from 1998 scope? to 2001. In 2004, Terry received the R.G. Wright Service Award. This Terry: Thank you Clayton, it is a pleasure to be award recognizes people who have performed above and beyond the call of here. My interest in the sky started before duty. In 2007, she received the Hans Bauldauf award from the Great Lakes I can remember. My mom told me I would region for significant contributions to amateur astronomy. In December of ask her about the stars when I was only 2001, she was selected as a JPL Solar System Ambassador; she continues a few years old. I do remember becoming to enjoy her role with the Solar System Ambassadors. interested in astronomy in grade school. My first telescope was a Sears 60 mm refractor. Terry has served as President and Vice-President of the Miami Valley I remember taking this to school one day to Astronomical Society and chaired that organization’s astronomy conven- show the class the sun. I had one of those tion, Apollo Rendevous, for two years. She served as an advisor to their dangerous screw-in solar filters that I used. junior division and received the club’s highest award, the Kepler Award. I still cringe today when I think about using Terry also received an Award from the Ohio House of Representatives for her dedicated research and study of the Solar System. She has written Continued ... articles for the Astronomical League’s magazine, the REFLECTOR, local newspapers, and her astrophotography has appeared in local art galleries, newspapers, and TV newscasts. Terry has served as a summer volunteer at the University of Denver’s Mount Evans Observatory in Colorado. As much as she enjoys observing, she has always devoted a large amount of her free GuideStar, Page Just Looking... from previous page

that. As a teenager, my first view was of Saturn. My dad took Terry: We always try to have some new ideas me to a local college where they had an observatory and a for the League and the Reflector. We will nice refractor. That is where I learned the constellations and have some fun plans coming up for IYA spent about a year of my time. My dad taught me all of the 2009. We are still in the planning stages. constellations. Both of my parents were very supportive. We look to release some news in the next couple of months. Clayton: What is the most rewarding aspect to you in this hobby that we call “astronomy”? Why this much interest? Clayton: Terry, can you tell us about a typical Terry: For me one of the most rewarding aspects is to be in- day working for the Astronomical League? volved in the science. When Deep Impact happened, we had Terry: It is about what you would think. It can the League’s telescope trained on the comet. From the Ari- get very busy. I have a day job that takes zona Sky Village, we had a great view. While the telescope most of my day. I spend a good 40 hours followed the comet, we did a live web cast from Dyer Obser- a week in the evenings working on plans, vatory at Vanderbilt University. The web cast showed the e-mail, committees, advisory boards, speak- comet through the telescope, real time. We were also part of ing engagements and conference calls. It the Small Telescope Science Program. We submitted a light takes a large time commitment but I really curve of the impact and a time exposure showing multiple enjoy it. I do spend a lot of time on-line images of the comet before and after impact. I am also part too. Keeping up with day-to-day operations of the Stardust@Home project. I enjoy looking at the focus keeps me busy. movies. Astronomy is an interesting hobby. There is always something new to learn. I enjoy the challenge of seeing what Clayton: Do you have an amateur observing is out there. mentor? Terry: Yes, I do, he was and is still an inspira- Clayton: What astronomical equipment do you presently use? tion to me. Jack Newton’s astrophotogra- Terry: I have an 8-inch and a 14-inch SC, a Stellervue 80mm phy was the first work that caught my eye. APO, a Solarmax 90 telescope and a PST. Depending on what His images have been incredible from the I am observing, I switch the 8-inch and the 14-inch in and start. out of the observatory. The Stellarvue is a great travel scope with fantastic views. I just received the Solarmax 90 and the Clayton: In your bio above, you mentioned PST. I will be learning a lot more about the sun. I have used that you’re a JPL Solar System Ambassa- this visually, now I need to work on imaging with the Solar- dor. Can you tell us about that role? max 90 telescope. Terry: The Solar System Ambassador role is a fun way to talk about NASA missions. We Clayton: Your bio states that you take astro photos… are you have conference calls that allow us to speak into visual work too? Tell us about a typical observing ses- the people behind the missions. In most sion. talks I give, I will go into a segment about Terry: My typical session starts with a list or object I want to an upcoming NASA mission. The Solar view. I open up the observatory at least two hours ahead of System Ambassadors report on-line about time. I use my laptop and Internet to keep me company. I the talks we give and the details are re- have really enjoyed the last lunar eclipse. It is so cool to be ported to NASA. At the end of the year, we able to e-mail friends images and read the comments compar- see how many people we have reached and ing what we are all seeing in so many states. how many hours have been spent speaking. This is a great program that reaches many Clayton: Is most of your observing performed in your domed people. It is informative and fun. If you en- observatory at home? Do you attend star parties too? joy outreach, I would recommend you apply Terry: Yes, most of my observing is done in the observatory. I to this program. really enjoy attending star parties. It is kind of like catch- ing up with extended family. I learn so much when I attend one. I always come home with some great ideas. I do take Continued ... the Stellarvue and the Solarmax on the road whenever I can. That way people observe with me during the day and I can observe with them during the night.

Clayton: Are there any new changes that we will see within the league in the near future? How about the “Reflector”? GuideStar, Page Just Looking... from previous page

Clayton: How do you envision amateur astronomy in the next 25 years? Better yet, how about the AL in 25 years? Terry: I envision many changes in amateur astronomy. I think new technology will allow us to see and do much more then we do now. I think telescopes and imaging equipment will continue to improve. If we look back 25 years, we see amazing improve- Remember -- ments. I look for the Astronomical League to still be the largest group of amateur astronomers in the world. I hope the Astronomi- All HAS memberships cal League will include many clubs from around the globe. We are due for renewal already see some of this. We have clubs that have sister clubs in January. Pay your from other parts of the world. I hope we see more collaboration 2008 dues now!! Our with amateur astronomers. In the last couple of years, we have membership year now seen amateurs do great things. I think funding will become even corresponds to the more of an issue and amateurs will be doing more to help the calendar year. science. I see the League being a large part of that. Mail your dues to the address on the last page Clayton: Do you have any helpful advice to pass on to observers of this GuideStar or just starting out in astronomy? bring your payment to Terry: Enjoy yourself. You can make this hobby anything you want the meeting. it to be. It can be as simple as reading a book or as challenging as you want. Start out knowing something about the sky so you do not get discouraged. Then enjoy yourself and take it at your own pace.

Clayton: Is there an email address that you have that a Houston Astronomical Society member could contact you for an additional question or two? Terry: Sure, you can email me at: [email protected] …thank you Clayton

Clayton: Thanks Terry for taking the time to share your interest and thoughts with us for our monthly HAS newsletter, the GuideStar. Thanks too, for an outstanding job serving all of us as president. We wish you luck with all of your astronomy interests. Please come visit our society when in the Houston area, we’d love to see you. Clear skies, always.

GuideStar, Page HAS 2008 BANQUET

Hilton Houston Southwest 6780 Southwest Freeway July 12, 2008

Dr. Steven Weinberg Uses of Astronomy

AGENDA

6:30 Registration & Cash Bar 7:45 Meal 8:30 Uses of Astronomy

Menu Salad with Rolls & Butter

Choice of one entree:

Prime Rib of Beef w/Au Jus Char-grilled Chicken w/Wild Mushroom Glaze or Vegetarian Plate

Chef’s choice of potato, rice, or pasta Chef’s choice of vegetable

Italian Cream Cake

Iced Tea, Coffee, Water

Committee Chairman: Judy Dye, Committee Members: Michael Dye, Laura Overturf, Don Pearce, Steve Goldberg

GuideStar, Page Houston Astronomical Society Annual Banquet July 12, 2008

Registration Form

Name: ______Address: ______City: ______State: ______zip:______

Number of people in your party: ______

Home Phone: ______Work Phone: ______

Club Affiliation: ¨ HAS ¨ FBAC ¨ NHAC ¨ JSCAS ¨ ASSET

Names of other persons in your party:

Name Entree

Dinner choices (mark the number of each meal)

Prime Rib ______Char-grilled Chicken ______Vegetarian Plate ______

Total number of meals: ______Total Due: (# of meals x $30.00) ______Payment received by July 1 Total Due: (# of meals x $35.00) ______Payment received July 2-9

Dinner includes Chef’s choice of dessert, coffee or tea, gratuity, tax

Make checks payable to Houston Astronomical Society.

Mail this form to: Houston Astronomical Society Attn: Judy Dye, Banquet Chairman 12352 Newbrook Houston TX 77072-3910 281-498-1703 [email protected]

GuideStar, Page 10 2008 Houston Astronomical Society Banquet Uses of Astronomy Steven Weinberg, Ph.D.

Jack S. Josey-Welch Foundation Chair in Science and Regental Professor at University of Texas, Austin Director, Theory Research Group Nobel Prize (Physics), 1979

Biography

1979 Nobel Prize in Physics 1991 National Medal of Science Author: The First Three Minutes

Steven Weinberg holds the Josey Regental Chair in Science at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is a member of the Physics and Astronomy Departments. His research on elementary particles and cosmology has been honored with numerous prizes and awards, including in 1979 the Nobel Prize in Physics and in 1991 the National Medal of Science. In 2004 he received the Benjamin Franklin Medal of the American Philosophical Society, with a citation that said he is "considered by many to be the preeminent theoretical physicist alive in the world today."

He has been elected to the US National Academy of Sciences, Britain's Royal Society, and the Royal Irish Academy, as well as to the American Philosophical Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He is the author of over 300 articles and 12 books on elementary particle physics, cosmology, and other subjects. His prize-winning book, The First Three Minutes, is an introduction to cosmology for general readers, and has been translated into 22 foreign languages. His latest book, Cosmology, a graduate level treatise on modern cosmological research, has just been published.

His articles for general readers appear from time to time in The New York Review, the Times Literary Supplement of London, and other periodicals. He is currently a senior advisor to the JASON group of defense consultants and he has testified several times before committees of Congress on matters of science or security policy. He has also served as con- sultant at the U. S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, President of the Philosophical Society of Texas, and member of the Board of Editors of Daedalus magazine, the Council of Scholars of the Library of Congress, and many other boards and committees.

He received his A. B. degree from Cornell, worked for a year at the Niels Bohr Insitute in Copenhagen, and received his Ph.D. from Princeton; he also holds honorary doctoral degrees from sixteen other universities, including Chicago, Colum- bia, McGill, Padua, Salamanca, and Yale. He taught at Columbia, Berkeley, M.I.T., and Harvard, where he was Higgins Professor of Physics, before coming to Texas in 1982.

GuideStar, Page 11  Want Ads 

For Sale: Takahashi NJP Temma Mount For Sale: 17.5" Newtonian The mount is in excellent condition and comes with auto guider Perfect for imaging or visual star parties. 17.5” f4.5 Newtonian cable, custom made heavy duty Scope Guard case, power suppy telescope with highly accurate microprocessor-controlled, step- in Pelican case, four 14 lb weights, hand controller, polar finder per-based alt-az drive system with focal plane rotator. Designed illuminator, PC cable, Losmandy saddle plate and software. I am and built by Andy Saulietis and the owner. Accepts ST4-compat- asking $4,500. Contact Mike Squicciarini, Richmond, Texas 281- ible inputs for autoguiding. Mechanical and calibration work done 277-1885 (home), [email protected]. by the owner to optimize system accuracy for autoguided CCD imaging. Original 1981 Coulter mirror refigured to smooth 1/8th- For Sale: Nexstar 5se wave surface by Sky Optrical in late 80’s. Primary and secondary Nexstar 5se bought in June 07. Like new condition, barely used recoated with enhanced coatings group by PAP in early 90’s. (bought a bigger scope): This is a great starter scope if you're new Optics in excellent condition. 80mm f5 finder. Breaks down to to the hobby! numerous major pieces for transport. With modest effort, can be a traveling scope, but better as a semi-permanent observatory. Includes a Zhumell 1.25 Inch Eyepiece and Filter Kit and A/C See my website for many images made with this system over the power source. Still have all the original boxes. Asking $550.00 last decade.

Rick Hillier Price negotiable. For pickup/delivery, maybe can meet you half- Call 713-875-6463 (cell) way. Call 281-482-5190 or E-mail Al Kelly. e-mail [email protected] For Sale: Celestron Nexstar 8 For Sale: Celestron C-5 Outfit Like New Condition...Celestron Nexstar 8, Used only 2 times in Includes: back yard. Some extras include Solar filter, 1 1/4” star diagonal, • 5x24 finder scope 40 mm multi-coated nexstar plossel, 8-24 mm Z00 eyepiece, • Erect image diagonal variable polarizing filter, 2X multicoated Barlow. $ 850.00 Jack • Four Eyepieces: 25 mm; 17 mm; 12.5 mm; and 7.5 mm DeNina, Willis,Texas 936-856-0704, [email protected] • Equatorial wedge, adjustable for latitude • Battery powered (9v) motor drive Email your ads to Kay McCallum, our Webmaster, at • Celestron Rubber Covered Tripod--very sturdy [email protected] and to Bill Pellerin, GuideStar • Carrying case-Celestron editor at [email protected]

Condition excellent. Price: $425 for complete outfit. For more information or to make offer, contact Tom Williams, 713-526-2868.

How can I learn more about the Astronomical League?

Amateur astronomers from across the country benefit from perusing the many pages of the Astronomical League’s website, www.astroleague.org. Naturally, this is the place to go if you’re looking for information about upcoming events and League news. But there is so much more...

Want to learn all about one of the great League observing programs? Go to www.astroleague.org/observing.html.

Do you know of a worthy candidate for one of the many League awards? Look at http://www.astroleague.org/al/awards/ awards.html.

Are you interested in buying a particular book about our fascinating hobby? Then go to www.astroleague.org/al/bookserv/ bookserv.html.

There is even something to help your club function better. Try www.astroleague.org/al/socaids/socaidid.html

Make the most of your Astronomical League membership! To find out more about what the Astronomical League of- fers you, why not log on to www.astroleague.org today?

GuideStar, Page 12 Shallow Sky Object of the Month

Lalande 21185 - The close star you've never heard of by Bill Pellerin, GuideStar Editor

Object: Lalande 21185; GSC2521:2270 Class: Nearby Star (M2V) with planets Magnitude: 7.5 R.A.: 11 h, 3 m, 49 s Dec: + 35 degrees, 55 minutes, 35 seconds Distance: 8.3 ly Constellation: Ursa Major Size: n/a Optics needed: Binoculars or any telescope

Why this object is interesting. Lalande 21185 Lalande 21185 is the sixth closest (if you include the Sun; the fifth if you don't) star to Earth, and you probably have never heard of it. I hadn't, until I was browsing through the book Observer's Guide to Map from Lalande 21185 Stellar Evolution by Mike Inglis. TheSky v6.0 On page 5, Mike lists the 20 closest stars, and Lelande 21185 comes in at number 6. This rank order is generally accepted, but some web sites give a different answer. If you consider the Alpha Centauri/Proxima Centauri system to be one star, Lalande moves up the list one position.

Be that as it may, it's an interesting star, and it's one you can see with a small telescope.

Here are the facts. • Lalande 21185 is a flare star meaning that solar PlanetQuest to detect a near-Earth mass planet flares can cause the star to brighten from time to around the star. Current extrasolar planet detection time. I checked AAVSO.org and did not find any methods can much more easily detect large planets observational records for this star. Typically these near the host star. flares only last a few minutes, so while they may • Being a 'M' class star, it should appear rather reddish increase the brightness of the star noticeably, it visually. If you observe it before I do, let me know would be difficult to catch the star in the act. what it looks like. • The star name comes from Joseph-Jérôme Lefran- • The star is moving rapidly in a direction perpendicular çais de Lalande, a director of the Paris Observato- to the galaxy plane. From our point of view, most of ry, who, in 1801 released a star catalog with 47,390 the motion is in Dec, and we can see almost 5 arc- stars in it. seconds of movement per year. (A fun project would • In 1996 planets going around the star were detect- be to image the star now, then again next year and ed. Astronomers now believe that as many as three see if you can record the movement.) planets surround the star. Does the star look reddish to you? Is it easy to find? Have • Since Lelande 21185 is so close, it'll be an early fun with this one. observation of the Space Interferometry Mission GuideStar, Page 13 ADVANTAGE Telescope Repair

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Membership Renewals...

Your membership is renewable on January 1 of each year.

Total yearly dues are $36.

Your payment for 2008 is due as of January 1, 2008.

Magazine subscriptions can be renewed at any time and the renewal does not need to be synchronized with your HAS dues.

Membership in the Houston Astronomical Society is one of the great bargains in Astronomy.For a regular membership of $36 you get the opportunity to support an active and growing organization, you get the monthly GuideStar newsletter, and you get access to the outstanding H.A.S. observing site near Columbus, Texas. (You must attend an orientation, given regularly, to use the site.) And, after two months of membership you can borrow, at no charge, one of the Society's loaner telescopes. It's the best deal in town, we think. Please renew your membership when it expires.

Encourage other astronomy enthusiasts to join the organization as well. It's a great group.

Thanks!

GuideStar, Page 14 Minutes of the June, 2008 Meeting of the Houston Astronomical Society

The June, 2008 meeting of the Houston Astronomical • August 23rd – Novice Star Party Society was called to order on June 13th at 8:00 p.m. by HAS President, Bill Leach. • September 27th – General and Area Clubs

Opening Announcements: • October 25th – Novice Star Party

• Bill Leach introduced himself and welcomed everyone, • Don Pearce gave the Comet Report, highlighting including seven new members and nine guests, to the Comets 17P/Holmes, C/2007 W1 Boattini, and meeting. C/2006 Q1 McNaught. For more information on these comets and other comets of interest, see Announcements: Don’s Comet Corner on the HAS website.

• Judy Dye announced that the HAS Banquet will be held Program: on July 12th at the Hilton Houston Southwest. The speaker will be Nobel Prize winning physicist, Dr. Steven • Bill Leach introduced the first featured speaker Weinberg. His topic will be “Other Uses of Astronomy.” for the evening, Steve Goldberg, who delivered For registrations paid by July 1st, the cost is $30, while his review of the Texas Star Party. This year those paid July 2nd – 9th will be $35. For the agenda of Steve highlighted the area attractions around the meeting and the registration instructions and form, Fort Davis. see the June issue of GuideStar on the HAS website, www.astronomyhouston.org. • Education Chair Richard Nugent presented the second part of the evening program, a review of • Steve Goldberg presented Larry Wadle with a certificate the 49th Annual Science and Education Fair. Af- and pin in recognition of Larry’s completion of the Astro- ter Richard provided background on the event, nomical League’s Messier Club observing program. he introduced two of the science fair winners who presented their projects to the membership. • Steve Goldberg presented Steve Sartor with a certificate and pin in recognition of Steve’s completion of the As- Closing Announcements: tronomical League’s Caldwell Club observing program. To see all the awards earned by HAS members, visit the • Tony Settles announced that the GLAST satel- Astronomical League Certificates page of the HAS web- lite was launched successfully. Tony also pro- site. For more information on the Astronomical League vided background on the featured speaker at our observing programs, go to the AL website, http://www. upcoming HAS Banquet, Dr. Steven Weinberg. astroleague.org/ • Bill Leach announced that Astronomy Day will • Bill Leach reminded members that, by the vote held in be on October 18th this year. Bill also related January, the July General Meeting has been moved to that the speaker at the Regional Clubs Meeting July 11th to avoid the conflict with the July 4th holiday. on the evening of October 17th will be David Levy. • Field Trip/Observing Committee Chair, George Stradley, announced that the next star party will be June 28th at • Bill Leach pronounced the meeting adjourned at the Columbus observing site. This will be a regular star 9:14 p.m. party with other area clubs invited. George asked for an email from those planning to attend so he can build a list to notify if there are changes due to weather. If there are enough planning to attend, we’ll have hotdogs. George also reviewed the star party schedule for the remainder of the year:

GuideStar, Page 15 Science Fair Winners at HAS Meeting by Bill Pellerin, GuideStar editor

Richard Nugent has worked with the Houston Science Anna Wisniowiecki and Engineering Fair for many years, and oversees the participation of the HAS in the awards program. Anna's project was to understand the Shepherd Moons (of Saturn). One of the most beautiful sights in the sky At the last meeting we had two of the winners visit and is the planet Saturn. Observers have known for quite present their research project to the HAS membership. some time that the rings that encircle the planet have gaps. The best known of those gaps is called the Cas- Ryan Sikora sini Division, and it is easily seen in small amateur telescopes. The expla- nation of these gaps did not come until the planet was visited by inter- planetary spacecraft. These spacecraft revealed what are now called 'shepherd moons' because they Ryan's project was a "Demonstration of the Acceleraton shepherd of Gravity Using Technology". For this project, Ryans the mate- objective was to show the acceleration of gravity and to rial in measure its magnitude. He also demonstrated that light the rings and heavy objects have the same acceleration. in such a way that For his experiment, he set up a camera, a strobe (flash- the gaps es at .1 second intervals) and the ability to drop pairs of are cre- objects and photograph the objects at various positions ated. during their free fall. His images clearly showed that the objects moved further in the second, and subse- quent, intervals than they did in the first interval. Congratulations to these two winners and thanks to Richard Nugent for establishing and managing a From this data, Ryan could calculate the acceleration of relationship between the HAS and the Houston Science gravity and demonstrate that its effect was independent and Engineering Fair. on the mass of the object.

His other objective was to demonstrate that fundamen- tal scientific measurements can be made with equipment that is readily available to the public.

GuideStar, Page 16 General Membership Meeting Downtown The Houston Astronomical Society holds its regular monthly General P - Free Parking Membership Meeting on the first Friday of each month, unless rescheduled I-45 Scott due to a holiday. Meetings are in Room 117 of the Science and Research S&R - Science & Re- Building at the University of Houston. A Novice Presentation begins at 7:00 search Building p.m.. The short business meeting and featured speaker are scheduled at US 59 Cullen 8:00 p.m. Also typically included are Committee Reports, Special Interest Elgin Group Reports, current activity announcements, hardware reviews, an Holman astrophotography slide show by members and other items of interest. Parking is NOW across from Entrance 14, by the stadium. Entrance 14 Board of Directors Meeting S&R The Board of Directors Meeting is held on dates scheduled by the board at 7:00 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas. Information provided to GuideStar will be P published. The meetings are open to all members of the Society in good standing. Attendance is encouraged. Calhoun Wheeler GuideStar Information The H.A.S. GuideStar is published monthly by the Houston Astronomical Society. All opinions expressed herein are those of the contributor and not necessarily of Houston Astronomical Society. The monthly Meeting Notice is included herein. GuideStar is available on the HAS web site to all members of H.A.S., and to persons iinterested in the organization's activities. Contributions to GuideStar by Houston Astronomical Society members are encouraged. Electronic submission is helpful. Submit the article in text, MS-Word format via email [email protected]. Copy must be received Meeting by the 15th of the month for inclusion in the issue to be available near the end of the same month. Or, bring copy to the General Membership Meeting and give it to Meeting on July 11 - (SECOND Friday) the Editor, or phone to make special arrangements. 7:00 Novice & Site Orientation Editing & Production: Bill Pellerin, 713-880-8061; FAX: 713-880-8850; Email: [email protected] 8:00 General Meeting

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Houston Astronomical Society

P.O. Box 20332  Houston, TX 77225-0332

The Houston Astronomical Society welcomes you to our organization. The HAS is a group of dedicated amateur astronomers, most of whom are observers, but some are armchair astronomers. The benefits of membership are:

 Access to our 18 acre observing site west of Houston -- a great place to observe the universe!  A telescope loaner program -- borrow a HAS telescope and try observing for yourself!  A monthly novice meeting, site orientation meeting, and general meeting with speakers of interest.  Opportunities to participate in programs that promote astronomy to the general public (such as Star Parties at schools)  A yearly banquet with a special guest  A yearly all-clubs meeting for Houston area organizations  Meet other amateurs and share experiences, learn techniques, and swap stories

You're invited to attend our next meeting. You'll have a great time.