OBSERVATORY NEWS September 2018 Published by the Friends of the Observatory Volume 29 No. 9 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor @ Observatory 2018

After the lecture, guests will then be Upcoming Events ScopeOut 2018 welcome visit the Observatory for tours & viewing through the 2 Days of Astronomy & telescopes (weather permitting). September Calendar Cost: $25/person Telescopes! Reservations are required. . Stonelick Stargazing Sep 1 dusk Space is limited For more info or Late Night Date Night Sep 1 10:30p Friday, September 14 please call 513-321-5186 *Longitude Sep 6 8p at 7pm at the or Register Online for the Dinner Astronomy Thursday Sep 6 8p and Lecture Clark Montessori School Stonelick Stargazing Sep 8 dusk Saturday, September 15th Sunday Tours Sep 8 1-4p **The Stolen Lens Sep 8 8p 6-10pm at the History of the Observatory Sep 9 1-4p Observatory Open Doors Sep 9-14 Want to see the coolest telescopes FOTO Member Picnic Sep 10 6:30p in the Tri-state? Want to look Astronomy Thursday Sep 13 8p through a telescope to see the Scopeout Dinner! Sep 14 7p Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and at Clark Montessori School Mars? Join the members of the ScopeOut Scope Festival! Sep 15 6-10p Cincinnati Observatory as we At the Observatory celebrate the telescope. Dozens of

FOTO Planning Meeting Sep 18 7p astronomers will set up their telescopes and share their *Behind the Scenes Sep 18 8p Kicking off the weekend the knowledge, passion, expertise Topics in Astronomy Sep 19 7p Observatory welcomes Michael between 6-8pm. Astronomy Friday Sep 21 8p Bakich, Senior Editor at Cosmic Kids returns Sep 22 Astronomy Magazine, who will History of the Observatory Sep 23 1-4p present: Star Death, an explosive talk that deals with the lives of stars Astronomy Thursday Sep 27 8p beginning with their births all the Astronomy Friday Sep 28 8p Then way to their sometimes spectacular as darkness falls, from 8-10pm they Great Outdoor Weekend Sep 29 8p deaths. will share views through their own Hubble’s Greatest Hits Oct 17 7p A dinner will be catered by telescopes (weather Cosmic Kids Oct 13 Venice on Vine. permitting). Plus the massive th 175 Anniversary! Nov 8 Cincinnati Observatory telescopes Please note Friday’s event will be * UC Communiversity will be in operation to view the ** held at the Cincinnati Astronomical Society held at nearby at the planets up close. (see story in this issue) Clark Montessori School We will also have activities for Complete Calendar & Late- 3030 Erie Avenue students of all ages, meteorites on Breaking Events are Online Cincinnati, OH 45208

1 display, and new and used community,” shared Executive telescopes for sale. Director Craig Niemi. “We rarely ‘toot our own horn’, but this is an opportunity to not only tell our incredible story, but also celebrate with those who have supported our work.” Admission is $5/person. Free for Sponsors of the event include the Observatory members! Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile No reservations are Jr./US Bank Foundation, University needed. Great for all ages. For of Cincinnati, Xavier University, more info call 513-321-5186. UBS, Bahl & Gaynor, and Icon

Solar. The Observatory’s 175th Anniversary fundraising goal for this, their first Saturday, September 8th offsite fundraising event, is 8pm Celebration! $50,000. “We’ve been so pleased at the Cincinnati Astronomical with the response of the corporate Society community in supporting our Thursday, November 8th event,” shared Development 6-9pm Director Anna Hehman. “Especially since we’d like to use proceeds from this fundraiser to increase the number of underserved students we bring to the Observatory for a field trip.” The event will be open to the public and tickets are $75 each. The Mystery of the Stolen Lens! To make your reservations for this exciting event, please click Cincinnati Astronomical Society 5274 Zion Rd., Cleves here. For more information or to learn The Cincinnati Observatory, the how to support the event, contact Historian and amateur sleuth, John nation’s oldest public Anna Hehman at 513-321-5186 or Ventre tells the story of our stolen Observatory, will be [email protected] 1880 antique telescope lens. commemorating its 175th Discovered missing in 1981, who Anniversary with a celebration at could have stolen it and why? Was the Monastery Event Center on Save-the-Dates it a simple burglary? Was it an November 8. "inside job" by a Society member? The Center was built adjacent to Could it have been aliens? Join us at the site of where the original CAS to learn the rest of the story. Observatory once stood in Mount Adams. Viewing through the 1880 telescope The Observatory is a thriving afterwards, weather permitting. educational resource as well as a Free. RSVP’s appreciated. Sign up online. National Historic Landmark, Sep 29: Great Outdoor Weekend serving 35,000 people annually Nov. 8: 175th Anniversary through their work in schools as Celebration (continued on page 3) well as public programs. “The Observatory is excited to celebrate this milestone with the 2 We began with a private tour led by brought home a deep appreciation Historian and Tour Director, Dan for how well our Observatory is Koehler. surviving.

Sunday, September 9th through Friday September 14th 1-4pm

The Doors are Open at the Cincinnati Observatory! First Glimpse of Yerkes very large Telescope Discover the fascinating story of the people who made Cincinnati the The history of Yerkes is a veritable "Birthplace of American who's who of American Astronomy Astronomy". (less O.M. Mitchel, of Fermilab’s campus featured many We'll explore Cincinnati's past course). Edwin Hubble, artistically designed buildings. and how the citizens of Cincinnati Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (of founded the nation's first public Chandra telescope fame), Gerard The ride home was broken up astronomical observatory. Learn Kuiper and Carl Sagan all spent with a stop at FermiLab, America's why John Quincy Adams was so time at this Observatory. particle physics and accelerator interested in what was only laboratory. Built on 6,800 acres, happening here in Cincinnati. FermiLab employs over 1750 Discover how 19th century employees including scientists and astronomers determined time for engineers from all over the Cincinnati and who made the first world. Our guide, Ann Mary, spent U.S. weather predictions. Tours and two fabulous hours helping us all safe sun viewing (if clear) understand how FermiLab is Free! Just mention Ohio Open actively working to solve the Doors. Craig Niemi & Brad Reck mysteries of matter, energy, space An Ohio History Connection Event! and time for the benefit of all. examining the 40” Telescope

Science Field Trip After the tour and dinner at They are currently working on the Harpoon Willie's, we went back to Deep Underground Neutrino By Valerie Niemi Yerkes for a 3- hour exclusive Experiment which will ultimately session with the extraordinary 40- send neutrinos over 800 miles (from We're back and we had a wonderful inch telescope. The tube is over 64 Batavia, IL to Lead, SD) straight time on our great Science Field feet long! We took our time through the earth's mantle. Fun Trip, August 3-4. viewing several deep sky objects Fact: Neutrinos are so small and Seventeen intrepid scientists on including M57, M2, M11 and the have such little mass that it take a a 47- passenger bus set off to the Swan Nebula. piece of lead 2 light years long to wilds of Wisconsin and stop them (the beam). Illinois. Our first stop was Yerkes Sadly, this wonderful telescope is Observatory, home of the world's scheduled to go offline forever on largest refractor telescope. October 1, 2018. It certainly

3 quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Astro Topics with Dean Regas

We returned home Saturday night tired, but much wiser! Wishing you all great adventures and thanks for The Fall Sky all you do for the Cincinnati th Valerie and Observatory Docent Wed. Sept.19 7pm Observatory. Kelsey Stryffe will share a few of Hubble’s Greatest Hits th the amazing architectural features Wed. Oct. 17 7pm Moon Landing FOTO Second and stories of the homes. th Wed. Nov. 14 7p Guide Stars: Charts, Apps & Monday Meeting Software Wed. Dec. 12th 7p is the Picnic These fun and laid-back single topic By Valerie Niemi classes for beginners focus on a variety of topics and will surely th September’s 10 FOTO meeting keep you looking up! begins at 6:30pm with our summer picnic. (Note the earlier start The Cincinnati Observatory invites $15 per person $12 for members. time!) all amateur and professional Sign Up Online or call 513-321- The Observatory will be photographers to enter our 2019 5186. providing tasty Mac & Cheese from Calendar Photo Contest. Winning Keystone Bar, drinks and the grill. photographs will be featured in our Bring something to throw on the 2019 Cincinnati Observatory grill and something to share. Calendar. Afterwards we’ll walk off dinner with a leisurely half-mile walk Deadline is September 21st! through the neighboring Contest rules and more information Observatory Historic District. on the website. While our two National Landmark buildings are certainly the Entries must be submitted neighborhood’s showpieces, many through the Cincinnati of the homes nearby were owned by Observatory website Observatory directors and astronomers. www.cincinnatiobservatory.org One of only 2,500 National Historic Landmarks. (NHLs) are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or

4 Cosmic Kids Lifelong Learning

Enrich your life with UC Continuing Education's exciting array of noncredit short, yet in- depth courses and educational Saturday Night opportunities designed for diverse audiences of all ages. with the Stars Saturday September 29th Longitude: John Harrison & His Clocks Our Monthly Astronomy Club for 8-10pm Wed Sept. 6th 8pm & Kids starts again September 22 th Get outdoors – really outdoors at Wed. Oct. 24 7-9pm Explore the cosmos during our new the Cincinnati Observatory. $35 per person multi-disciplinary classes which th helps grades K-7 learn and We’ll take you to the planets, stars Behind the Scenes at the discover topics in astronomy and and beyond with views through our Observatory investigate the wonders beyond our Tues. Sept. 18th 8-10pm & many telescopes. Under clear skies th world. These classes are open to you’ll see giant Jupiter, the ringed Tues. Nov. 13 7-9pm members and non-members. You planet Saturn and the Red Planet, $35 per person may decide to take one class or the Mars. If it’s cloudy you can tour entire class series. You may also historic observatories and walk the To register call 513-556-6932 or decide to stay with your child for beautiful grounds. select your course(s) online and the class or drop them off and pick click Register. them up after, parents will not be No reservations required. charged as participants. Free and open to the public. Stargazing at Upcoming dates and topics: September 22: Aliens Great Outdoor Weekend lets Stonelick children and adults to sample the October 13: Black Holes best outdoor recreation and nature November 10: Constellations Saturdays –Sept.1st & 8th and awareness programs available in December 8: Crash Landing on October 6th & 13th the Moon Greater Cincinnati region. There Grades K-3 meet from 9-10am are over 100 events available—all Grades 4-7 meet from 11am-noon are free and open to the public.

Member prices: For further information go to Meet $3.00/participant/class OR Me Outdoors $10.00/participant/series Non-member prices:

$10.00/participant/class OR Bring the Family! $30.00/participant/series Need help with your telescope? Get Space is extremely limited. Sign expert tips setting it up and Up For Cosmic Kids Online or exploring the night sky. Stargazing call 513-321-5186. begins at dusk. Open to all ages. Stargazes are weather permitting.

5 “Like” Stonelick Stargazers for weather and holiday schedule Radio Astronomy! Sunday Tours of updates. the Observatory

Astronomy Nights Sunday Sept. 8 & 23rd Sunday Oct. 14 & 28th Thursdays, Sept. 6, 13, 27 Drop in between 1-4pm Fridays, Sept. 21, 28 All 8pm-9:30pm Free for Members! Brought to you by Cincinnati Public Radio & WVXU

Looking Up brings you the latest astronomical discoveries in a really fun, quick-paced conversation. We cover out-of-this-world topics Birthplace of American Astronomy In awe with the beauty of the night about planets, stars, and the sky? Have questions about the universe, science and technology, Stop by for the whole story or just Universe? This is where you can get throw in a little pop-culture and the highlights. It’s all fascinating the answers. bring it all down to Earth. and connects our past with your Astronomy Evenings include During each episode, there will today. ever-changing short presentations be conversations about current $5 per person. Free for members. on a wide variety of topics and astronomical or science Group tours by appointment. plenty of time for your astro- happenings, a special guest, then questions. Tour this National either a Kid Question or a letter Historic Landmark. And if clear, from the Observatory's Crank File – The Observatory view the Moon, planets and deep a collection of wild, unusual, far- space treasures through the historic fetched and conspiratorial by Day 1845 telescope. (Program is held correspondences collected through rain or shine) the decades. The topics and the night sky Looking Up releases new nd change week-to-week/month-to- episodes twice a month, on the 2 th month so you can visit often to hear and 4 Wednesdays. Subscribe on and see something new. iTunes or Stitcher. Free for Members! For the latest schedule visit the web calendar and sign up online. FOTO Planning The Cincinnati Observatory is hosting weekday tours of our Meeting National Historic Landmark. The tours are held at 1pm, 2pm rd Tuesday, September 18 7pm and 3pm Monday through Friday.

Tours include both observatories Help plan programs and events for and telescopes, including the your fellow members. Open to all. Mitchel telescope- the oldest public telescope still in use in this

hemisphere. (continued on page 7)

6 Cost: $5 per person. It was also resolved that the Lorraine Johnson Want to schedule a group up to 12? President be requested to Laurie Johnston Sign Up Online. address an invitation to the Hon. Christine Kidwell Call 513-321-5186 for more John Quincy Adams to deliver Frank B. Knapke, Jr information. the annual address before the Sam and Marie Kocoshis Society in June next (1846). Robert and Mary Kurimo Paulette and Hannah Leeper Observatory Principal Source: Minutes of the Gary and Janice Lubin Cincinnati Astronomical Society, Linn Mangano Historical Notes Board of Control, February 22, Bob and Jane Marklein 1845 Donna and Robert Massie By John Ventre, COC Historian Melisse May New & Renewing Leslie McIntosh Rules and Regulations of the Patrick McKelvey Observatory II Members! Kristin Mogg Christopher Morris At the February 22, 1845 Board of Jose Alvarez Eric and Stephanie Mutchler Control Meeting the Directors of John Barnes Michael Omoore the Cincinnati Astronomical Renee Bernard Irene Osterbrock Society adopted the following Lauren and Kurt Boehm Tania and Nathanial Paine Rules and Regulations. Jerry and Jonda Byrd Alec Pipala Cassandra Barnes and Terry Eloise and George Pitstick Continued Chapman Kurt and Cherry Poppe 5. An extension of the J.A. and Cecie Chewning Gautham Prasad privileges of families of Mark & Vicki Plano Clark Gerry Reisert members, in respect to the Christy Clement Phyllis Schomaker number that may be Boyd & Melinda Colglazier Jon & Jacqueline Seymour admitted at any one time, Keith and Jennifer Crutcher Jim and Janet Steiner can be allowed on any Reginald Crutcher Lauren and Doug Stenger consideration. (see Const. Tim Dohm Ryan Stewart Art. 10). Margaret Drennon Jonathan Tepsick John Edwards Adam Vanslyke 6. Each member of the Jeanette and Greg Fisher Ann Vavrock Society shall, on his first Terry Flesch Jennifer Vogel visit, inscribe his name in a Valeria J Freysinger Mike Walker book to be kept for that Lynn and Pat Frock Linda and Jim Weber purpose in order that their Ethan Fuqua Greg and Colleen Weckenbrock autograph signature may be Barbara and Ramon Garcia Catherine Wendt referred to if necessary. Julie Glazer Christy Wesselman The certificate of Matt Wulf and Tara Goettsch Marty Wietlisbach membership to be presented Martha Hadley Justin and Jennifer Wilkey at the same time. Colleen Hauser Pate Williams Dennis and Helen Hawkins Gregory Yudovich After agreeing to adopt the Bob and Donna Hermann above rules, it was proposed to Eddie Parks and Corri Hess Thanks to all our terrific adopt one in relation to visits to Curtis Hinshaw members, donors and volunteers! the Observatory on Sundays, Mary Hinton We hope you will visit often in and after some discussion it was Christy and Scott Holland 2018! resolved to refer this subject to Gregory and Leslie Hopkins the Society. Sandra Jackson

7 New Member A2Z+ Astronomy ScopeOut Benefits with Dave Bosse Donations &

With your membership, you By Dave Bosse Consignments become a Friend of the Observatory (FOTO) and join our family of The normal date for the A2Z+ Wanted amateur astronomers, history buffs, Astronomy Class is the third donors and volunteers. Sunday of each month. That day in One of the most popular activities is September lands on the Sunday telescope sales, advice, repair, swap following ScopeOut. With FOTO meets on the Second and maintenance. We’ll accept ScopeOut expanding to two nights Monday of the month at 7:30 pm at your donated astronomical gadgetry this year, Friday night the 14th and for sale at ScopeOut right up to the the Observatory. All members and Saturday night the 15th, Sunday their guests are welcome to attend. night the 16th might be (perish the day of the Saturday portion of the thought) Astronomy overload. So, two-day event, September 15th. Your benefits include: in order to free up everyone’s Consignment sales will be handled 1. Discounted or free admission schedule to focus on ScopeOut, as well. Just drop off any donations to Friends of the Observatory we’ll keep Sunday the 16th free for or consignments anytime at the (FOTO) programs recovery from what we hope will be Observatory. 2. Member’s only classes and a most successful ScopeOut For more information contact Dave programs event(s). Bosse at [email protected] 3. Loaner telescopes We will be back in business in 4. Free admission to October continuing our look into Astronomy Thu/Fri/Saturdays the lives of stars and galaxies. FOTO Committee 5. Discounts in the Gift Shop The A2Z+ Astronomy class 6. Free admission to the historic usually meets the third Sunday of Officers landmark buildings and each month at 7:00 P.M. in the West permanent collections. Wing of the Herget Building, but Chair-Valerie Niemi 7. Use of the FOTO lending not this month. Discussions cover Vice Chair-John Blasing Library. contemporary Astronomical topics Secretary-Michelle Gainey 8. One-year subscription to the as well as those historic. No pre- Treasurer-Al Scheide monthly e-newsletter requisite knowledge of Math or Member Representatives to the 9. Members-Only Facebook Page Astronomy is necessary. The group COC Board: meets for about an hour or so and is Dave Bosse free to any member of the For more information, call the JoAnne Pedersen Observatory. Observatory at 513-321-5186. Terry Endres To contact an Officer or Rep email Borrow a [email protected] and I’ll forward your contact Telescope! information on to them.

By Dean Regas

As a member of the Observatory, you can borrow a scope though the Telescope Loan Program. For more info please call Dean at 513-321- 5186.

8 Chicago, where members were Astro Tour of given an excellent tour of the Craig’s Corner facilities and equipment. Ireland Volunteers are welcome to help Craig Niemi, Executive Director with the FOTO table at the iSpace event: Saturday October 6, 10 AM Over the past couple of years May 1-9, 2019 with Dean – 2 PM at Scarlet Oaks, Sharonville. August has become our “slow” Regas Aaron Eiben and John Blasing are month. organizing the displays and hands- That is if you consider only on activities. offering; Summer Camps, Outreach The 2019 Calendar Contest was Programs, Field Trips, Library Have you always wanted to go to announced. Winning photographs Programs, Sunday Sun-Day Ireland? Now is your chance to will be featured in the calendar. Sundae, Astro Thursdays, Astro take an Astro Tour and your guest The overall winner will win a Fridays, Dean’s Topics and Intro host will be astronomer Dean private reception at COC with up to Classes, Communiversity Classes, Regas. Visit the ancient site of New 20 guests. Deadline for submission AARP Night, Four Planets & the Grange (older than Stonehenge), is 9/21/18. Moon, Book Signings, Member’s tour Birr Castle home of the The September FOTO meeting Meetings and Classes, Sunday Leviathan telescope, and see the will be a picnic and walking tour of Tours, Weekday Tours, Museum stars from a dark sky preserve. the Observatory Historic District. Center Heritage Tours, Stonelick The picnic will start at 6:30 PM. Star Gazes, Lincoln Ridge Park We will have barbecue and Stargazes, Late Nights, Board and macaroni / cheese, and members are Committee Meetings and Rentals welcome to bring their own food to “slow”. grill and side dishes or desserts to September should be better. share. The membership voted to We’re only adding the ScopeOut The tour runs Mays 1-9, 2019 and is fund the purchase of 2 additional 8” Astronomy Fair, Ohio Open Doors, booking now. Hurry, space is Dobsonian telescopes, which will Cosmic Kids, Great Outdoor limited! For more info go not be part of the Telescope Loaner Weekend, Cincinnati Public and to:astrotours.co/dean program but will be kept available other district’s K-12 programs. at COC for use as yard scopes Hopefully staff and volunteers th during events. Dave Bosse will can catch their breath in October. August 13 FOTO order the telescopes and put All just goes to show they wouldn’t together the eyepiece kits. trade it for the world-they love what Meeting Highlights The speaker was Dr. Zvi Biener, they do and it shows. Associate Professor of Philosophy Craig By Michelle Lierl Gainey, at University of Cincinnati. His FOTO secretary. topic was “When Physics Met Astronomy”. Dr. Biener explored Valerie Niemi gave a nice review of the evolution of knowledge in these the recent field trip taken by some two fields, which initially were FOTO members. Members thought to be unrelated. As more traveled by bus to tour the Yerkes was learned about both physics and Observatory in Wisconsin, with a astronomy, the interrelatedness of detailed look at the beautiful the 2 fields became apparent. historic Observatory and observing through the 40” refractor telescope. The following day they visited FermiLab, a world-class particle physics research facility near 9 Education Programs

By Samantha Pepper

It’s hard to believe summer is almost over but that means field trip Connect to Your season is kicking into gear! Observatory

The Cincinnati Observatory Center 3489 Observatory Place Cincinnati, OH 45208 513-321-5186 cincinnatobservatory.org

Social Media

This summer has been busy and fun-filled at the Observatory. The Like us on Facebook education team has been doing non- stop field trips and outreaches, as Follow us on Twitter well as increasing summer camp The Observatory offers fun, from 2 to 4 weeks! engaging field trips to students of Enjoy our photos & videos all ages. Field trips include an on Instagram. interactive classroom portion, tour

of the two historic telescopes and even safe solar viewing on sunny Like us and visit the days! If you know a student or website for teacher who loves space tell them to check out the School Programs tab late breaking news on the Observatory’s website to and events learn more! Contact Sam The campers got to enjoy learning (samantha@cincinnatiobservatory. about the Observatory, making and org) or Katie launching rockets, driving a “Mars ([email protected]) Rover” and more! If your child to set up a trip. missed out on the fun, not to worry, the Observatory will have a winter break camp offered through the Museum Center.

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The Observatory

Staff:

Craig Niemi, Executive Director [email protected]

Dean Regas, Outreach Astronomer & Volunteer Coordinator [email protected]

Anna Hehman, Development Director [email protected]

Kelsey Stryffe. Admin. Assistant & Docent [email protected]

Katie Vaughn, Outreach Educator [email protected]

Samantha Pepper, Outreach Educator [email protected]

John Ventre, Historian [email protected]

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