Divinus Lux Observatory Bulletin: Report #18
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C a L E N D a R F O R 2019
Small Astronomy Calendar for Amateur Astronomers Year III 2021 Let’s welcome our 2021 Small Astronomy Calendar Edition made by our Intergalactic Astronomy Educators Fellowship (IGAEF)’s team. In 2021, many amateur astronomers asked for calculations for more specific geographical locations. This year we added new useful calculated positions and coordinates for everyone in the world to use. You should check this calendar every month, specifically the lunar occultations pages for your observation point. There are many interesting and unique events that might not happen every year, because of the different parameters of the Moon orbit. Our hope is to fulfill your expectations. We would like to receive suggestions and feedback. You can find the editor’s email in the last page of the calendar. We appreciate your support and we are looking forward to having a good observational year, and a better and more complete calendar for this first year of a new decade. Index 3 - Calendar for 2021 4 – What is the Intergalactic Astronomy Educators Fellowship (IGAEF) 5 - Time Zones and Universal Time 6 - Phases of the Moon 2021 7 – Physical Ephemeris for the Moon 2021 10 - Local Time (EST) of MOONRISE 2021 11 - Local Time (EST) of MOONSET 2021 12 - Local time (EST) of planets rise and set 2021 15 - Diary of Astronomical Phenomena 2021 21 - Lunar eclipses 23 - Solar Eclipses 25 - Meteor Showers for 2021 26 – 2021 UPCOMING COMETS 27 - Satellites of Jupiter 2021 36 – Mutual Events of Jupiter Satellites 2021 39 - Julian Day Number, Apparent Sidereal Time, Obliquity -
Naming the Extrasolar Planets
Naming the extrasolar planets W. Lyra Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, K¨onigstuhl 17, 69177, Heidelberg, Germany [email protected] Abstract and OGLE-TR-182 b, which does not help educators convey the message that these planets are quite similar to Jupiter. Extrasolar planets are not named and are referred to only In stark contrast, the sentence“planet Apollo is a gas giant by their assigned scientific designation. The reason given like Jupiter” is heavily - yet invisibly - coated with Coper- by the IAU to not name the planets is that it is consid- nicanism. ered impractical as planets are expected to be common. I One reason given by the IAU for not considering naming advance some reasons as to why this logic is flawed, and sug- the extrasolar planets is that it is a task deemed impractical. gest names for the 403 extrasolar planet candidates known One source is quoted as having said “if planets are found to as of Oct 2009. The names follow a scheme of association occur very frequently in the Universe, a system of individual with the constellation that the host star pertains to, and names for planets might well rapidly be found equally im- therefore are mostly drawn from Roman-Greek mythology. practicable as it is for stars, as planet discoveries progress.” Other mythologies may also be used given that a suitable 1. This leads to a second argument. It is indeed impractical association is established. to name all stars. But some stars are named nonetheless. In fact, all other classes of astronomical bodies are named. -
Legacy Image
NASA SP17069 NASA Thesaurus Astronomy Vocabulary Scientific and Technical Information Division 1988 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, M= . ' NASA SP-7069 NASA Thesaurus Astronomy Vocabulary A subset of the NASA Thesaurus prepared for the international Astronomical Union Conference July 27-31,1988 This publication was prepared by the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Facility operated for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration by RMS Associates. INTRODUCTION The NASA Thesaurus Astronomy Vocabulary consists of terms used by NASA indexers as descriptors for astronomy-related documents. The terms are presented in a hierarchical format derived from the 1988 edition of the NASA Thesaurus Volume 1 -Hierarchical Listing. Main (postable) terms and non- postable cross references are listed in alphabetical order. READING THE HIERARCHY Each main term is followed by a display of its context within a hierarchy. USE references, UF (used for) references, and SN (scope notes) appear immediately below the main term, followed by GS (generic structure), the hierarchical display of term relationships. The hierarchy is headed by the broadest term within that hierarchy. Terms that are broader in meaning than the main term are listed . above the main term; terms narrower in meaning are listed below the main term. The term itself is in boldface for easy identification. Finally, a list of related terms (RT) from other hierarchies is provided. Within a hierarchy, the number of dots to the left of a term indicates its hierarchical level - the more dots, the lower the level (i.e., the narrower the meaning of the term). For example, the term "ELLIPTICAL GALAXIES" which is preceded by two dots is narrower in meaning than "GALAXIES"; this in turn is narrower than "CELESTIAL BODIES". -
November 2020 BRAS Newsletter
A Mars efter Lowell's Glober ca. 1905-1909”, from Percival Lowell’s maps; National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (see Page 6) Monthly Meeting November 9th at 7:00 PM, via Jitsi (Monthly meetings are on 2nd Mondays at Highland Road Park Observatory, temporarily during quarantine at meet.jit.si/BRASMeets). GUEST SPEAKER: Chuck Allen from the Astronomical League will speak about The Cosmic Distance Ladder, which explores the historical advancement of distance determinations in astronomy. What's In This Issue? President’s Message Member Meeting Minutes Business Meeting Minutes Outreach Report Asteroid and Comet News Light Pollution Committee Report Globe at Night Member’s Corner – John Nagle ALPO 2020 Conference Astro-Photos by BRAS Members - MARS Messages from the HRPO REMOTE DISCUSSION Solar Viewing Edge of Night Natural Sky Conference Recent Entries in the BRAS Forum Observing Notes: Pisces – The Fishes Like this newsletter? See PAST ISSUES online back to 2009 Visit us on Facebook – Baton Rouge Astronomical Society BRAS YouTube Channel Baton Rouge Astronomical Society Newsletter, Night Visions Page 2 of 24 November 2020 President’s Message Welcome to the home stretch for 2020. The nights are starting earlier and earlier as the weather becomes more and more comfortable and all of our old favorites of the fall and winter skies really start finding their places right where they belong. October was a busy month for us, with several big functions at the Observatory, including two oppositions and two more all night celebrations. By comparison, November is looking fairly calm, the big focus there is going to be our third annual Natural Sky Conference on the 13th, which I’m encouraging people who care about the state of light pollution in our city and the surrounding area to get involved in. -
December 2019 OBSERVER
THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS Volume 44, Number 12 December 2019 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – NGC 7331 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – December 2019 3«New & Renewing Members/DUes BlUes/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2019-2020 5«MinUtes of the November 5th BoD Meeting 6«AstroBits – News from AroUnd the TCAA 8«TCAA Loses Another Benefactor – Ernie Finnigan 9«Make Plans Now to Attend TCAA AnnUal Meeting 9«December 2019 with Jeffrey Hunt 15«TCAA Active on Facebook 15«Renewing YoUr TCAA Membership 16«E/PO Updates for November 2019 16«Did YoU Know? 17«Public Viewing Sessions for 2020 18«TCAA Image Gallery IMAGE OF THE MONTH: EDITOR’S CHOICE – NGC 7331 « 19 TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of November 26, 2019 This month’s image of NGC 7331 and the sUrroUnding area was taken by Bob Finnigan and Scott Wade on the evenings of November 22 and 23 Using the 14” telescope and new fUll-frame The TCAA is an affiliate of the QHY 367 color camera at PSO. The image shown here consists of Astronomical LeagUe as well as its thirteen 600-second and nine 900-second subs. The image was North Central Region. For more processed by Scott using Pixinsight and Photoshop. information about the TCAA, be NGC 7331 is a spiral galaxy aboUt 40 million light-years away in certain to visit the TCAA website at the constellation of PegasUs. -
Brightest Stars : Discovering the Universe Through the Sky's Most Brilliant Stars / Fred Schaaf
ffirs.qxd 3/5/08 6:26 AM Page i THE BRIGHTEST STARS DISCOVERING THE UNIVERSE THROUGH THE SKY’S MOST BRILLIANT STARS Fred Schaaf John Wiley & Sons, Inc. flast.qxd 3/5/08 6:28 AM Page vi ffirs.qxd 3/5/08 6:26 AM Page i THE BRIGHTEST STARS DISCOVERING THE UNIVERSE THROUGH THE SKY’S MOST BRILLIANT STARS Fred Schaaf John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ffirs.qxd 3/5/08 6:26 AM Page ii This book is dedicated to my wife, Mamie, who has been the Sirius of my life. This book is printed on acid-free paper. Copyright © 2008 by Fred Schaaf. All rights reserved Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey Published simultaneously in Canada Illustration credits appear on page 272. Design and composition by Navta Associates, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copy- right.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions. -
NCRAL Northern Lights Spring 2021
to continue serving as Northern Lights newsletter editor if the INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF Northern Lights new Regional Chair deems that desirable. The Region needs individuals willing to stand for election NCRAL Chair’s Message…..............................……………………1 to the following positions for our May election: Chair and Vice NCRAL Elections Online May 7-8, 2021…………………………….2 Chair. The terms of the current office holders – yours truly Basic NCRAL Officer Job Responsibilities…..…………….……….3 and Bill Davidson, expire on May 8th. Our present Secretary- NCRAL Financial Statement Winter 2021……..…………….……4 Treasurer, Roy Gustafson, is willing to stand for election to Pike River Starfest……………………..…………………….……..………4 complete the term to which he was appointed last spring after Call for 2021 NCRAL Nominations & Applications……….......5 NCRAL 2020 was postponed. Others may stand for election to NCRAL Seasonal Messier Marathon Awards…………….………7 this office too if they are desirous of completing the one-year Noteworthy!……………………………………………………………………7 unexpired term of the current office holder. Bill Davidson, our A Homebuilt Solar Wind Magnetometer………………..………..7 Regional Representative to the Astronomical League, Venus: Evening Star 2021 by Jeffrey L. Hunt………………..….10 continues in this position unless he should become Chair. Astronomical League 75th Anniversary Coming……..…….…18 This year’s elections will be conducted electronically with Future NCRAL Conventions…………………………………..…….….19 special electors. I sent out an email notice on February 22nd Seasonal Messier Mini Marathon Observing Program……19 about the election procedures to be followed in the event of Add Your Email Address to NCRAL Member Database…...20 not holding an annual business meeting. (That email is NCRAL Website………………………………………………………….….20 repeated starting on page 2 of this newsletter.) Procedures Regional Officer & Leader Contact Information………..……21 are stipulated by the Region’s Bylaws. -
Constellations
Your Guide to the CONSTELLATIONS INSTRUCTOR'S HANDBOOK Lowell L. Koontz 2002 ii Preface We Earthlings are far more aware of the surroundings at our feet than we are in the heavens above. The study of observational astronomy and locating someone who has expertise in this field has become a rare find. The ancient civilizations had a keen interest in their skies and used the heavens as a navigational tool and as a form of entertainment associating mythology and stories about the constellations. Constellations were derived from mankind's attempt to bring order to the chaos of stars above them. They also realized the celestial objects of the night sky were beyond the control of mankind and associated the heavens with religion. Observational astronomy and familiarity with the night sky today is limited for the following reasons: • Many people live in cities and metropolitan areas have become so well illuminated that light pollution has become a real problem in observing the night sky. • Typical city lighting prevents one from seeing stars that are of fourth, fifth, sixth magnitude thus only a couple hundred stars will be seen. • Under dark skies this number may be as high as 2,500 stars and many of these dim stars helped form the patterns of the constellations. • Light pollution is accountable for reducing the appeal of the night sky and loss of interest by many young people as the night sky is seldom seen in its full splendor. • People spend less time outside than in the past, particularly at night. • Our culture has developed such a profusion of electronic devices that we find less time to do other endeavors in the great outdoors. -
Saul J. Adelman
SAUL J. ADELMAN Department of Physics 1434 Fairfield Avenue The Citadel Charleston, SC 29407 Charleston, SC 29409 (843) 766-5348 (843) 953-6943 CURRENT POSITION: Professor of Physics, The Citadel (Aug. 22, 1989 - to date) PAST POSITIONS: Associate Professor of Physics, The Citadel (Aug. 23, 1983 to Aug. 21, 1989) NRC-NASA Research Associate, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Aug. 1, 1984 - July 31, 1986) Assistant Professor of Physics, The Citadel (Aug. 21, 1978 - Aug. 22, 1983) Assistant Professor of Astronomy, Boston University (Sept. 1, 1974 - Aug. 31, 1978) NAS/NRC Postdoctoral Resident Research Associate, NASA Goddard SpaceFlight Center (Aug. 1, 1972 - Aug. 31, 1974) EDUCATION: Ph.D. in Astronomy, California Institute of Technology, June 1972; Thesis: A Study of Twenty- One Sharp-lined Non-Variable Cool Peculiar A Stars, December 1971 (Dissertation Abstracts International 33, 543-13, number 77-22, 597) B.S. in Physics with high honors and high honors in physics, University of Maryland, June 1966 ACADEMIC HONORS: Phi Beta Kappa Phi Kappa Phi Sigma Pi Sigma Sigma Xi Summer Institute in Space Physics at Columbia University 1965 NDEA Title IV Fellowship 1966-69 ARCS Foundation Fellowship 1970-71 Citadel Development Foundation Faculty Fellowship 1987-93 Faculty Achievement Award 1989, 1997 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Research at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution 2011 OBSERVING EXPERIENCE: Guest Investigator, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory 1984-2016 Guest Investigator, Hubble Space Telescope 2003-05, 2011-16 Participant -
A Summary of the Different Classes of Stellar Pulsators
A Summary of the Different Classes of Stellar Pulsators A summary of all the classes of pulsating stars and their main properties as described in Chapter 2 is given in the tables below. This list originated from a combination of observational discoveries, measured stellar properties, and theoretical developments. Observers who found a new type of pulsator either named it after the prototype or gave the class a name according to the ob- served characteristics of the oscillations. Several pulsators, or even groups of pulsators, were afterwards found to originate from the same physical mech- anism and were thus merged into one and the same class. We sort this out here in Tables A.1 and A.2 in order to avoid further confusion on pulsating star nomenclature. The effective temperature and luminosity indicated in Tables A.1 and A.2 should be taken as rough indications only of the borders of instability strips. Often the theory is not sufficiently refined to consider these boundaries as final. Moreover, there is overlap between various classes where so-called hy- brid pulsators, whose oscillations are excited in two different layers and/or by two different mechanisms, occur. Finally, new discoveries are being made frequently, which then drive new theoretical developments possibly leading to new instability regions. The results from the future observing facilities as described in Chapter 8 will surely lead to new classes and/or subclasses with lower amplitudes compared to what is presently achievable. In the tables below, F stands for fundamental radial mode, FO for first radial overtone and S for strange mode oscillations. -
Appendix: for Beginners Only
Appendix: For Beginners Only All celestial objects described in the book are, in perfect observing conditions, seen in 10Â50 binoculars and therefore seen in any small amateur telescope. The author has seen them all through such binoculars. The observational data were gathered for several years on Blosˇka planota (Slovenia), which at that time belonged to Class 2 of the Bortle scale. But in spite of the very dark and calm sky you have to be an experienced observer in order to see many of them. What does it means to be an experienced observer, after all? An experienced observer has seen many celestial objects through different types and sizes of the telescopes. That is why he or she is well aware that binoculars have to be mounted on a stable tripod in order to make the best use of their potentials. An experienced observer always waits for his or her eyes to become adapted for night vision. An experienced observer always takes enough time to observe the chosen object. The key word here is enough. For some easy and bright double stars it is enough to observe them for five minutes, but to see the faintest celestial objects on the border of visibility of the binoculars or as many details as possible in some open cluster or elusive disperse nebula, you need – after your eyes fully adapt to night vision – half or maybe a whole hour. An experienced observer is patient like a cat and does not run from object to object. An experienced observer makes essential observations only when the chosen object is near its culmination. -
FY12 High-Level Deliverables
National Optical Astronomy Observatory Fiscal Year Annual Report for FY 2012 (1 October 2011 – 30 September 2012) Submitted to the National Science Foundation Pursuant to Cooperative Support Agreement No. AST-0950945 21 December 2012 NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation Contents NOAO MISSION PROFILE ................................................................................................. IV 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 1 2 NOAO ACCOMPLISHMENTS ....................................................................................... 3 2.1 Achievements ..................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Status of Vision and Goals ................................................................................. 4 2.2.1 Status of FY12 High-Level Deliverables ............................................ 5 2.2.2 FY12 Planned vs. Actual Spending and Revenues .............................. 7 2.3 Challenges and Their Impacts .......................................................................... 10 3 SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS .............................................................. 12 3.1 Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory ....................................................... 12 3.2 Kitt Peak National Observatory ......................................................................