Design and Operation of the Atlas Transient Science Server
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Modern History of Astronomy in Hawaii – Günther Hasinger – Astrocoffee – Ifa, September 11, 2015 Picking up from the Wonderful Talk by Kalepa Baybayan at the IAU GA
Modern History of Astronomy in Hawaii – Günther Hasinger – Astrocoffee – IfA, September 11, 2015 Picking up from the wonderful talk by Kalepa Baybayan at the IAU GA “The ancient Hawaiians were astronomers” wrote Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch, in 1897 in the introduction to her translation of the “Kumulipo”. Captain Cook In 1769 Captain Cook sailed to Tahiti to observe the transit of Venus. This was one of the most important Cook measurements of its time, determining the size of the solar system and thus the universe. Continuing on his journey, he “discovered” Hawaii. Green Thus astronomy brought both the Polynesian settlers and the European discoverers to Hawaii 1874 Venus Transit British Astronomer George L. Tupman King Kalakaua wrote in 1873: It will afford me unfeigned satisfaction if my kingdom can add its quota toward the successful accomplishment of the most important astronomical observation of the present century and assist, however humbly, the enlightened nations of the earth in these costly enterprises…” Venus Transit 2012 Venus Transit 2012: ~15000 Visitors at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii 1880 The “Royal Hawaiian Telescope” Letter of King Kalakaua to Captain R. S. Floyd, expressing his interest in having an 1884 observatory in Hawaii. In 1881 King Kalakaua looks through the Lick observatory 12” telescope. He enthusiastically expressed a desire to bring such a telescope to Hawaii. In 1884 a 5” refractor was installed in the dome constructed above Pauahi Hall on the Punahou School Campus. Fate of “Kalakaua’s Telescope” Images from Walt Kaimuki Observatory Halley’s Comet Steiger, Hawaii Institute for Geophysics Physics student Barbara Jay College of Hawaii è U. -
Observational Astrophysics Lab Manual Lab 1
1 P139 - Observational Astrophysics Lab Manual Lab 1: Deriving the Mass of Jupiter or Saturn Professor T. Smecker-Hane Version 4.0 Sept 25, 2007 1 Introduction The mass of a planet can be determined by measuring the orbital period, τ, the time it takes to complete one orbit, and the orbital radius, A, a constant assuming the orbit is circular, of one of its moons. Doing this independently for a number of moons rather than just one allows you to decrease the error in your derived mass. For Jupiter, there are four easily observable moons. Listed in order from smallest to largest A are: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. These are commonly referred to as the Galilean moons, because Galileo discovered them in 1610. For Saturn, there are five easily observable moons. Listed in order from smallest to largest A are: Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea and Titan. 2 Theoretical Framework for the Experiment Use your knowledge of Newton’s laws and classical mechanics to determine the center of mass of the system composed of a planet of mass M and a moon of mass m. Recall that the two bodies both rotate around the center of mass with the period equal to τ. Assume that the moon’s orbit is circular, and the distance between the two in the orbital plane is r and r = A, where A is a constant for a circular orbit. Now determine τ as a function of A, m and M. Next take the limit of m << M, as is the case for all the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and determine M as a function of A and τ. -
University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE HALEAKALĀ HIGH ALTITUDE OBSERVATORY SITE MAUI, HAWAI‘I MANAGEMENT PLAN University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy March 1, 2010 Prepared by KC Environmental, Inc. P.O. Box 1208 Makawao, Hawai‘i 96768 and Tetra Tech, Inc. 737 Bishop Street, Suite 3020 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Proposing/Approving University of Hawai‗i Agency: Location of (2) 2-2-07-008, Waiakoa, Papa‗anui, Makawao Proposed Action: Maui, Hawai‗i Landowner: University of Hawai‗i Project Summary: Draft Environmental Assessment for a Management Plan for the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site Legal Authority: Chapter 343, Hawai'i Revised Statutes Applicable Use of State Lands or Funds Environmental Assessment Use of Conservation District Lands Review “trigger”: Type of Document: Draft Environmental Assessment for Implementation of a Management Plan Anticipated Determination: Based on the information contained in this Draft Environmental Assessment, UH has determined that the Proposed Action will not have a significant impact on the environment. accordingly, UH anticipates issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Consultant: KC Environmental, Inc. P. O. Box 1208, Makawao, HI 96768 Charlie Fein, Ph.D., Vice President Direct: 808-281-7094 University of Hawai‘i Institute for Astronomy ES-1 Draft Environmental Assessment Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Executive Summary This Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) evaluates a Management Plan (MP) for appropriate and reasonable activities that would be undertaken by the University of Hawai‗i Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the Haleakalā High Altitude Observatory Site (HO) in support of ongoing and future astronomical research activities, including those that would require a Conservation District Use Permit (CDUP), in accordance with Hawai‗i Administrative Rules (HAR) 13-5-39. -
Translation to the Xephem Catalog Format
Translation of Some Star Catalogs to the XEphem Format Richard J. Mathar∗ Max-Planck Institute of Astronomy, K¨onigstuhl17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany (Dated: August 28, 2020) The text lists Java programs which convert star catalogs to the format of the XEphem visualiser. The currently supported input catalog formats are (i) the data base of the orbital elements of the Minor Planet Center (MPC) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), (ii) the data base of the Hipparcos main catalog or the variants of the Tycho-1 or Tycho-2 catalogs, (iii) the systems in the Washington Double Star catalog, (iv) the Proper Motions North and South catalogs, (v) the SKY2000 catalog, (vi) the 2MASS catalog, (vii) the Third Reference Catalog of Bright Galaxies (RC3), (viii) the General Catalogue of Variable Stars (GCVS v. 5). (ix) the Naval Observatory CCD Astrograph Catalog (UCAC4). [viXra:1802.0035] PACS numbers: 95.10.Km, 95.80.+p I. AIM AND SCOPE III. INVOCATION The Java library provided here supports loading star A. MPC Ephemerides catalogs into Downey's XEphem program to populate the chart of visible objects in sections of the sky, in the format Once the program and the auxiliary data files are com- of xephem 3.7.7. piled according to AppendixA, the program is run with The envisioned use is that the translated star catalogs a command line of the form can be included in the display by using the Data!Files gunzip MPCORB.DAT.gz menue of the xephem graphical user interface (GUI), and java -cp . de.mpg.mpia.xephem.Mpc2Xeph [ -a] by clicking on the Files menue of the GUI that pops up. -
Collaborative Decision Making
COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING NASA’S DEEP IMPACT MISSION An Education Module Grades 7-12 Featuring: z Capture the Issue z Timing is Everything z Clarifying the Issues z Refining the Issues z The Decision http://deepimpact.jpl.nasa.gov Developed by: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning DEEP IMPACT Collaborative Decision Making 1 Collaborative Decision Making: NASA’s Deep Impact Mission Overview 3 Capture the Issue Teacher Guide 7 Summary Interview Sheet (A’Hearn) 12 Listening Notes Sheet 13 Listening Notes Sheet Example 14 Timing Is Everything Teacher Guide 15 Deep Impact Space Craft Strategy Information Sheet 21 Earth-based Observatories Strategy Information Sheet 24 Earth Orbital Facilities Strategy Information Sheet 28 Student Planning Guide 31 Building a Scenario Group Sheet 34 Clarifying the Issues Teacher Guide 36 Defend This Student Presentation Guide 40 Summary Interview Sheet (Marriott) 43 Summary Interview Sheet (Meech) 44 Summary Interview Sheet (Muirhead) 45 What Goes Around Comes Around Text 46 Refining the Issues Teacher Guide 48 Public Forum Role Sheet 52 Critiquing Ideas Assessment Guide 55 Communicating, Questioning, and Listening Text 58 The Decision Teacher Guide 62 Peer Review Checklist 65 Appendices Appendix E: Glossary 67 Appendix F: Decision Making Process 69 Appendix G: Rule-Based Strategy 70 DEEP IMPACT Collaborative Decision Making 2 Collaborative Decision Making: NASA’s Deep Impact Mission Collaborative Decision Making is designed to engage students in grades 7–12 in activities that focus on collaboration and communication strategies. These activities will strengthen student understanding of and ability to use collaborative processes and communication practices to clarify, conceptualize, and make decisions. -
A Satellite Constellation Visualization Program for Walkers and Lattice
BOUQUET: A SATELLITE CONSTELLATION VISUALIZATION PROGRAM FOR WALKERS AND LATTICE FLOWER CONSTELLATIONS A Thesis by MANDAKH ENKH Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE August 2011 Major Subject: Aerospace Engineering Bouquet: A Satellite Constellation Visualization Program for Walkers and Lattice Flower Constellations Copyright 2011 Mandakh Enkh BOUQUET: A SATELLITE CONSTELLATION VISUALIZATION PROGRAM FOR WALKERS AND LATTICE FLOWER CONSTELLATIONS A Thesis by MANDAKH ENKH Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved by: Chair of Committee, Daniele Mortari Committee Members, John Hurtado John Junkins J. Maurice Rojas Head of Department, Dimitris Lagoudas August 2011 Major Subject: Aerospace Engineering iii ABSTRACT Bouquet: A Satellite Constellation Visualization Program for Walkers and Lattice Flower Constellations. (August 2011) Mandakh Enkh, B.S., Texas A&M University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Daniele Mortari The development of the Flower Constellation theory offers an expanded framework to utilize constellations of satellites for tangible interests. To realize the full potential of this theory, the beta version of Bouquet was developed as a practical computer application that visualizes and edits Flower Constellations in a user-friendly manner. Programmed using C++ and OpenGL within the Qt software development environment for use on Windows systems, this initial version of Bouquet is capable of visualizing numerous user defined satellites in both 3D and 2D, and plot trajectories corresponding to arbitrary coordinate frames. The ultimate goal of Bouquet is to provide a viable open source alternative to commercial satellite orbit analysis programs. -
The Economic Impact of Astronomy in Hawai'i
The Economic Impact of Astronomy in Hawai'i AUGUST 28, 2014 EXHIBIT A-33 The Economic Impact of Astronomy in Hawai'i AUGUST 28, 2014 Prepared by: University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization (UHERO) UHERO Principal Investigators: Dr. Kimberly Burnett (Associate Specialist), Dr. Inna Cintina (Assis- tant Specialist), and Dr. Christopher Wada (Research Economist) This research was supported by Mauna Kea Observatories UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I ECONOMIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION 2424 MAILE WAY, ROOM 542 HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I 96822 UHERO@HAWAI‘I.EDU UHERO ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ASTRONOMY IN HAWAII AUGUST 28, 2014 - PAGE 3 Executive Summary The astronomy sector in Hawaii generates economic activity through its purchases from local busi- nesses, its payment to its employees, and spending by students and visitors. In collaboration with the Institute for Astronomy, a survey was designed to obtain information from astronomy related entities about in-state expenditures. The collected survey data was used to estimate the astronomy sector’s total economic activity in each of Hawaii’s counties for the calendar year 2012. Following a standard Input- Output approach, we define economic impact to be the direct, indirect, and induced economic activities generated by the astronomy sector’s expenditures in the state economy, taking into account inter-county feedback and spillover effects. Local astronomy related expenditures in calendar year 2012 were $58.43 million, $25.80 million, $1.28 million, and $2.58 million in Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui counties respectively. Total as- tronomy related spending in the state was $88.09 million. Including indirect and induced benefits and adjusting for inter-county feedback and spillover effects, the astronomy sector had a total impact of $167.86 million statewide. -
Pan-STARRS in the Era of Wide-Field Time-Domain Surveys
Pan-STARRS in the Era of Wide-Field Surveys Armin Rest, Harvard University Outline • PS1 overview • Status • First Science • Future Survey Figure of Merit (FOM) System: • Collecting Area • FOV • Efficiency Site: • Sky brightness • Seeing Each generation of astronomical survey hardware is providing a substantial increase in AΩ product. Still on steep part of FOM vs. cost curve. Number of objects detected per unit time, to given SNR better PTF The Pan-STARRS project Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System PI: N. Kaiser Univ. of Hawaii project : USAF funded, Project Manager: W. Burgett technology demonstrator – sky surveys Camera Lead : J. Tonry Construction of prototype PS1 and Telescope Lead: J. Morgan 1.4Gigapix camera (GPC1) IPP Lead: G. Magnier Now moving to PS2 and PS4 PSPS: J. Heasley construction • PS1SC is funding a 3.5 yr science mission with PS1 2009-2012 • PS1 data products release to the consortium – full public release 1yr after survey finishes • PS1SC have “long term lease” PS-1 Telescope and GPC1 Camera 1.8m telescope on Haleakala (Maui) 1.4 gigapixel camera (GPC1) 40x40 cm focal plane 7 sq. deg. FOV, 0.26” pixels 8x8 chips, 8x8 cells per chip, 584x591 pixels Orthogonal Transfer CCDs Normal guiding (0.73”) OT tracking (0.50”) OTA Quantum Efficiency Red sensitivity! (Megacam) SDSS and Pan-STARRS bandpasses PS1: surveys 3pi survey 3 years: 12 epochs in grizy Courtesy of Steve Rodney 30 sec, 2 x grizy in 15 days, then another epoch one month later 24000 SNe per year Medium-Deep Fields (MDFs) gr=8x120 sec iz=8x240 sec Repeats every 4 days ~1000-2000 SNe in 1 year Limiting magnitudes: g, r, i, z = 23.6, 23.3, 23.3, 22.3 PS1: surveys Solar System Sweet Spot Survey 2 rectangles ~500 deg. -
Planetary Defense Final Report I
Team Project - Planetary Defense Final Report i Team Project - Planetary Defense Final Report ii Team Project - Planetary Defense Cover designed by: Tihomir Dimitrov Images courtesy of: Earth Image - NASA US Geological Survey Detection Image - ESA's Optical Ground Station Laser Tags ISS Deflection Image - IEEE Space Based Lasers Collaboration Image - United Nations General Assembly Building Outreach Image - Dreamstime teacher with students in classroom Evacuation Image - Libyan City of Syrte destroyed in 2011 Shield Image - Silver metal shield PNG image The cover page was designed to include a visual representation of the roadmap for a robust Planetary Defense Program that includes five elements: detection, deflection, global collaboration, outreach, and evacuation. The shield represents the idea of defending our planet, giving confidence to the general public that the Planetary Defense elements are reliable. The orbit represents the comet threat and how it is handled by the shield, which represents the READI Project. The curved lines used in the background give a sense of flow representing the continuation and further development for Planetary Defense programs after this team project, as we would like for everyone to be involved and take action in this noble task of protecting Earth. The 2015 Space Studies Program of the International Space University was hosted by the Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA. While all care has been taken in the preparation of this report, ISU does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of its content. -
Skywatch Outbound!” Number 62 (New Series) 70S
Amateur Astronomy WITH AN ATTITUDE from Chaos Manor South! Rod Mollise’s May - June 2002 Volume 11, Issue 3 “A Newsletter for the Truly Skywatch Outbound!” Number 62 (New Series) 70s. There was this new scope <[email protected]> being advertised in Sky and Bustin’ Telescope. One that had hit amateur astronomy like a thunderbolt, the Inside this Issue: Schmidt Cassegrain in the form of the original Orange Tube C8. The Dew with new, mass-produced Celestron was the telescope that a lot of us had been waiting for. It combined Bustin’ Dew with the Dew elegant, useful features into a Buster! the Dew package that virtually made it a 1 portable observatory. Oh! how happy I was when I got my new Review of Xephem! Celestron out into the field for the 2 Buster! first time on a clear July evening. A “premium” dew heater I was happy for a while, anyway. 3 My Back Pages! controller… After a few hours I noticed that stars Rod Mollise weren’t as sharp as they had been. And the brighter ones were developing foggy little haloes. Was What do you do about dew? Do something wrong with my new you worry about dew? baby? Yep. A look at the corrector showed it to be a dripping mess. You do if you live in a location where Thus ended my first observing run high humidity makes nature’s little, with the Orange Tube. It was a nice damp gift a prime enemy of the demonstration of what happens working observer. Since I live on the when you point a big lens at the Gulf of Mexico coast, dew is an heat-sucking sky in a humid omnipresent fact of my observing environment: dew “falls” (or “forms,” life. -
Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope $20,000,000
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction DANIEL K. INOUYE SOLAR TELESCOPE $20,000,000 The FY 2018 Budget Request for NSF’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is $20.0 million. This represents the 10th year in an 11-year funding profile, with an estimated total project cost of $344.13 million. Completion of construction atop Haleakala on Maui, Hawaii is planned for no later than June 2020. When completed, DKIST will be the world's most powerful solar observatory, poised to answer fundamental questions in solar physics by providing transformative improvements over current ground- based facilities. DKIST will enable the study of magnetic phenomena in the solar photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. Determining the role of magnetic fields in the outer regions of the Sun is crucial to understanding the solar dynamo, solar variability, and solar activity, including flares and coronal mass ejections. Solar activity can affect civil life on Earth through phenomena generally described as space weather and may have impact on the terrestrial climate. The relevance of DKIST’s science drivers was reaffirmed by the National Academy of Sciences 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey: New Worlds, New Horizons1 as well as the 2012 Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey: A Science for a Technological Society.2 DKIST will play an important role in enhancing the “fundamental understanding of space weather and its drivers,” an objective called out in the National Space Weather Strategy and associated National Space Weather Action Plan, both of which were released by the National Science and Technology Council on October 29, 2015. -
Xephem Eks - I - ’Fem
XEphem eks - i - ’fem The Scientific-Grade Interactive Cross-Platform Astronomical Software Ephemeris UNIX − Mac OS X − MS Windows Version 3.5.2 User Manual Clear S ky I nstitute Copyright © 2002 Clear Sky Institute, Inc. All rights reserved. www.ClearSkyInstitute.com This document prepared on Linux kernel version 2.4.9-13 with Applixware version 4.4.2. Last changed January 14, 2002. Contents 1 XEphem -- the Interactive Ephemeris . 1-1 1.1 Summary of Capabilities. 1-1 1.2 UNIX Installation . 1-3 1.2.1 Launching XEphem . 1-5 1.3 Windows Installation . 1-6 1.3.1 Starting XEphem the First Time. 1-6 1.3.2 File Structure . 1-7 1.3.3 Multiple Users . 1-8 1.3.4 File naming . 1-9 1.3.5 Printing . 1-9 1.3.6 Uninstallation. 1-10 1.4 Apple Mac OS X Installation . 1-10 1.4.1 LX200 . 1-10 1.5 Operation . 1-10 1.6 Triad Formats. 1-11 2 Main Window . 2-1 2.1 File menu . 2-4 2.1.1 Network setup . 2-5 2.1.2 External Time/Loc . 2-5 2.2 View menu . 2-6 2.3 Tools menu . 2-6 2.4 Data menu . 2-6 2.5 Preferences menu . 2-7 2.5.1 Save . 2-9 2.5.2 Save Fonts . 2-11 2.5.3 Save Colors. 2-12 2.6 Sites dialog . 2-13 2.7 Examples . 2-14 2.7.1 Sky tonight. 2-14 2.7.2 Solar eclipse path .