DOCSLIB.ORG

Prime Focus Newsletter Mitchell, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 14, Passed Away at and for Maintenance of the Website

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Prime Focus Newsletter Mitchell, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 14, Passed Away at and for Maintenance of the Website Highlights of the March Sky - - - - - - AM: The Moon is between Mars and Saturn, left of Beta Scorpii. Last Quarter Moon 6:11 pm EST - - - 2nd - - - AM: The Moon is about 4º left of Saturn. - - - 7th - - - KAS DAWN: A thin waning crescent Moon is 3° to upper left of Venus. General Meeting: Friday, March 4 @ 7:00 pm PM: A double shadow Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center - See Page 14 for Details transit occurs on Jupiter from 7:29 to 8:59 pm EST. Observing Session: Saturday, March 5 @ 7:00 pm - - - 9th - - - New Moon Messier Marathon - Richland Township Park - See Page 13 for Details 8:54 pm EST Board Meeting: Sunday, March 13 @ 5:00 pm - - - 14th - - - First Quarter Moon Sunnyside Church - 2800 Gull Road - All Members Welcome 1:03 pm EDT - - - 14th → 15th - - - Full Moon Theater: Saturday, March 26 @ 7:00 pm PM: A double shadow Kalamazoo Area Math & Science Center - See Page 4 for Details transit occurs on Jupiter from 10:22 pm to 12:34 am EDT. - - - 20th - - - Vernal Equinox: Spring Inside the Newsletter. begins at 12:30 am EDT. February Meeting Minutes.................... p. 2 - - - 21st → 22nd - - - PM: A waxing gibbous Board Meeting Minutes......................... p. 2 Moon forms a triangle with Observations............................................p. 3 Jupiter and Sigma Leonis. NASA Space Place.................................. p. 3 - - - 23rd - - - Full Moon Full Moon Theater..................................p. 4 8:01 pm EDT Excuses, Excuses..................................... p. 5 - - - 24th → 25th - - - Total Solar Eclipses in the USA........... p. 6 PM: Moon 4° above Spica. Robotic Telescope Installation............ p. 8 - - - - - - AM: A waning gibbous Membership of the KAS........................ p. 11 Moon, Saturn, Mars, and March Night Sky......................................p. 12 Spica form an uneven quadrangle. KAS Board & Announcements............ p. 13 - - - 31st - - - General Meeting Preview......................p. 14 Last Quarter Moon 11:17 am EDT The general meeting of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society The latest monthly meeting of the KAS Board was held at was brought to order by President Richard Bell on Friday, Sunnyside Church on February 14, 2016. President Richard February 5, 2016 at 7:14 pm. Approximately 45 members Bell called the meeting to order at 5:14 pm. Board members and guests were in attendance at the Kalamazoo Area Math present were Joe Comiskey, Scott Macfarlane, Jack Price, & Science Center (KAMSC). Don Stilwell, and Roger Williams, with Rich Mather attending via Skype. Richard was also the featured speaker of the evening. The title of his latest presentation was Installation of the KAS Rich presented the Treasurer’s report, which was accepted Robotic Telescope. Richard revisited some of the information after a few questions. Substantial income was obtained from covered in his first talk on the robotic telescope in April dues payments and from contributions to the Robotic 2014 (and summarized in the May 2014 issue of Prime Telescope Fund, which continues to be supported steadily. Focus). These included the origins of the Robotic Telescope Project, an overview of Arizona Sky Village, advantages and In the follow-up category, Richard first gave an update on disadvantages of robotic telescopes, and uses for our robotic the robotic telescope installation. Representatives from telescope. He then gave a detailed breakdown of the main PlaneWave had visited the site for the setup which we equipment like the PlaneWave CDK20, Paramount ME II, included in the purchase agreement. They adjusted the and the SBIG STX-16803 CCD camera. Richard then secondary mirror position to eliminate the focusing problem described the recent installation of the robotic telescope and mentioned last month. They also did a polar alignment and what still needs to be done. These are covered in detail in an ran a calibration of more than 200 points, giving extremely article beginning on page 8. accurate telescope pointing. Items currently being checked are sensors to insure that the roll-off roof could not be Richard, having spoke enough for one evening, skipped his allowed to strike the telescope, an issue with the roll-off roof President’s Report and went straight into observing reports. software, and commissioning of the autofocus function. Jim Kurtz managed to find a clear morning and spotted all five naked eye planets before dawn. Mike Sinclair was able Richard reported further progress on the meeting programs to sneak a peak at the Orion Nebula (M42) with binoculars. for 2016. Fred Espenak will present his talk on the 2017 Roger Williams shared an observing report via e-mail with eclipse via Skype program at the April meeting. Richard Richard from Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Orion Bellon (MSU) is scheduled for May 6th, and Richard was stood straight overhead at 10:00 pm on February 4th, while awaiting confirmation of Sushil Atreya (UM) for June 3rd. J. Canopus (the second brightest star in the night sky) rose in Kelly Beatty, the senior editor of Sky & Telescope agreed to the south. Then at 4:30 am on February 5th, Roger said he be the presenter on November 4th. got a look at the Southern Cross and Omega Centauri through a fairly transparent sky. Jupiter was also a good In New Business, Richard reported the need for some target, but he said his 15×45 image stabilizing binoculars software upgrades, since the current versions don’t work could use a bit more magnification. optimally with newer computers. Specifically, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC ($199.99) and Adobe Photoshop CC Astronomical news and events were then covered. Edgar ($119.88/year) are needed for the Prime Focus newsletter Mitchell, lunar module pilot on Apollo 14, passed away at and for maintenance of the website. Since Richard also uses the age of 85 on February 4th, on the eve of the 45th Photoshop for his own projects, he offered to pay half of the anniversary of his lunar landing. The James Webb Space cost for Photoshop. After a motion by Scott and second by Telescope’s 6.5-meter primary mirror has been fully Don, the Board voted unanimously to do the upgrade. On a assembled. Each of the 18 hexagonal-shaped mirror second new topic, Richard reported that the work load was segments measures just over 1.3 meters (4.2 feet) across and getting high for his President and Newsletter Editor duties. weighs approximately 40 kilograms (88 pounds). JWST is He suggested that we begin thinking about creating a board- scheduled to launch in 2018. Mike Sinclair mentioned again level Publicity Officer, possibly by converting one of the At- the rumors that LIGO has detected gravitational waves. Large positions. Since this would require a full membership (Editor’s Note: The rumors turned out to be true! Scientists vote, some time should be set aside for planning. The Board announced on February 11th that the twin LIGO detectors took the suggestion under advisement. In other business, measured gravitational waves created by the merger of two Jack asked about when we should order the eclipse glasses black holes 1.3 billion light-years away. The detection was that we hope to sell as a fundraiser for the 2017 solar eclipse. made on September 14, 2015 at 5:51 am EDT - only about a The consensus was that autumn of 2016 would be the right week after the Advanced LIGO detectors came online.) Jack time period. Price mentioned that the Ford Amateur Astronomy Club will hold its annual Swap Meet at 9am on March 19th at the Holy With no further business, the next meeting was set for March Cross Lutheran Church (30650 Six Mile Rd.) in Livonia. 13, 2016, same time and place (5:00 pm at Sunnyside). The The meeting concluded at 9:22 pm. meeting was adjourned at 6:35 pm. Prime Focus Page 2 March 2016 The Closest New Observations Stars to Earth by Richard S. Bell by Dr. Ethan Siegel The past couple of months have been relatively quiet ones When you think about the new stars forming in the Milky for the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society. We’ve had a Way, you probably think of the giant star-forming regions couple of general meetings and one Full Moon Theater, but like the Orion Nebula, containing thousands of new stars no outreach activities or observing (thanks to a clouded out with light so bright it's visible to the naked eye. At over 400 February Freeze Out). That all changes this month. There’s parsecs (1,300 light-years) distant, it's one of the most a lot going on in March and we need your help! spectacular sights in the night sky, and the vast majority of the light from galaxies originates from nebulae like this one. First up is a general meeting on March 4th. KAS member But its great luminosity and relative proximity makes it easy and resident professional astronomer, Dr. Kirk Korista, will to overlook the fact that there are a slew of much closer star- be giving his first presentation in FIVE years. Kirk’s been forming regions than the Orion Nebula; they're just much, quite busy since becoming Chair of the WMU Physics much fainter. Department, but FIVE years! It may have been even longer if I hadn’t pleaded with him to give a talk during our 80th If you get a collapsing molecular cloud many hundreds of anniversary. Kirk will be speaking on one of his main thousands (or more) times the mass of our sun, you'll get a research interests, Quasars, so be sure to attend. Please try nebula like Orion. But if your cloud is only a few thousand and arrive at KAMSC a little early on March 4th. A concert times the Sun's mass, it's going to be much fainter.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • List of Easy Double Stars for Winter and Spring  = Easy  = Not Too Difficult  = Difficult but Possible
    List of Easy Double Stars for Winter and Spring = easy = not too difficult = difficult but possible 1. Sigma Cassiopeiae (STF 3049). 23 hr 59.0 min +55 deg 45 min This system is tight but very beautiful. Use a high magnification (150x or more). Primary: 5.2, yellow or white Seconary: 7.2 (3.0″), blue 2. Eta Cassiopeiae (Achird, STF 60). 00 hr 49.1 min +57 deg 49 min This is a multiple system with many stars, but I will restrict myself to the brightest one here. Primary: 3.5, yellow. Secondary: 7.4 (13.2″), purple or brown 3. 65 Piscium (STF 61). 00 hr 49.9 min +27 deg 43 min Primary: 6.3, yellow Secondary: 6.3 (4.1″), yellow 4. Psi-1 Piscium (STF 88). 01 hr 05.7 min +21 deg 28 min This double forms a T-shaped asterism with Psi-2, Psi-3 and Chi Piscium. Psi-1 is the uppermost of the four. Primary: 5.3, yellow or white Secondary: 5.5 (29.7), yellow or white 5. Zeta Piscium (STF 100). 01 hr 13.7 min +07 deg 35 min Primary: 5.2, white or yellow Secondary: 6.3, white or lilac (or blue) 6. Gamma Arietis (Mesarthim, STF 180). 01 hr 53.5 min +19 deg 18 min “The Ram’s Eyes” Primary: 4.5, white Secondary: 4.6 (7.5″), white 7. Lambda Arietis (H 5 12). 01 hr 57.9 min +23 deg 36 min Primary: 4.8, white or yellow Secondary: 6.7 (37.1″), silver-white or blue 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:2006.10868V2 [Astro-Ph.SR] 9 Apr 2021 Spain and Institut D’Estudis Espacials De Catalunya (IEEC), C/Gran Capit`A2-4, E-08034 2 Serenelli, Weiss, Aerts Et Al
    Noname manuscript No. (will be inserted by the editor) Weighing stars from birth to death: mass determination methods across the HRD Aldo Serenelli · Achim Weiss · Conny Aerts · George C. Angelou · David Baroch · Nate Bastian · Paul G. Beck · Maria Bergemann · Joachim M. Bestenlehner · Ian Czekala · Nancy Elias-Rosa · Ana Escorza · Vincent Van Eylen · Diane K. Feuillet · Davide Gandolfi · Mark Gieles · L´eoGirardi · Yveline Lebreton · Nicolas Lodieu · Marie Martig · Marcelo M. Miller Bertolami · Joey S.G. Mombarg · Juan Carlos Morales · Andr´esMoya · Benard Nsamba · KreˇsimirPavlovski · May G. Pedersen · Ignasi Ribas · Fabian R.N. Schneider · Victor Silva Aguirre · Keivan G. Stassun · Eline Tolstoy · Pier-Emmanuel Tremblay · Konstanze Zwintz Received: date / Accepted: date A. Serenelli Institute of Space Sciences (ICE, CSIC), Carrer de Can Magrans S/N, Bellaterra, E- 08193, Spain and Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), Carrer Gran Capita 2, Barcelona, E-08034, Spain E-mail: [email protected] A. Weiss Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Karl Schwarzschild Str. 1, Garching bei M¨unchen, D-85741, Germany C. Aerts Institute of Astronomy, Department of Physics & Astronomy, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, 3001 Leuven, Belgium and Department of Astrophysics, IMAPP, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands G.C. Angelou Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Karl Schwarzschild Str. 1, Garching bei M¨unchen, D-85741, Germany D. Baroch J. C. Morales I. Ribas Institute of· Space Sciences· (ICE, CSIC), Carrer de Can Magrans S/N, Bellaterra, E-08193, arXiv:2006.10868v2 [astro-ph.SR] 9 Apr 2021 Spain and Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC), C/Gran Capit`a2-4, E-08034 2 Serenelli, Weiss, Aerts et al.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evening Sky Map
    I N E D R I A C A S T N E O D I T A C L E O R N I G D S T S H A E P H M O O R C I . Z N O p l f e i n h d o P t O o N ) l h a r g Z i u s , o I l C t P h R I r e o R N ( O o r C r H e t L p h p E E i s t D H a ( r g T F i . O B NORTH D R e N M h t E A X O e s A H U M C T . I P N S L E E P Z “ E A N H O NORTHERN HEMISPHERE M T R T Y N H E ” K E η ) W S . T T E W U B R N W D E T T W T H h A The Evening Sky Map e MAY 2021 E . C ) Cluster O N FREE* EACH MONTH FOR YOU TO EXPLORE, LEARN & ENJOY THE NIGHT SKY r S L a o K e Double r Y E t B h R M t e PERSEUS A a A r CASSIOPEIA n e S SKY MAP SHOWS HOW Get Sky Calendar on Twitter P δ r T C G C A CEPHEUS r E o R e J s O h Sky Calendar – May 2021 http://twitter.com/skymaps M39 s B THE NIGHT SKY LOOKS T U ( O i N s r L D o a j A NE I I a μ p T EARLY MAY PM T 10 r 61 M S o S 3 Last Quarter Moon at 19:51 UT.
    [Show full text]
  • Lunar Mansion Names in South-West China
    Onoma 51 Journal of the International Council of Onomastic Sciences ISSN: 0078-463X; e-ISSN: 1783-1644 Journal homepage: https://onomajournal.org/ Lunar mansion names in South-West China: An etymological reconstruction of ancestral astronomical designations in Moso, Pumi, and Yi cultures compared with Chinese and Tibetan contexts DOI: 10.34158/ONOMA.51/2016/6 Xu Duoduo National University of Singapore (NUS), Asia Research Institute (ARI), Singapore [email protected] To cite this article: Xu Duoduo. 2016. Lunar mansion names in South-West China: An etymological reconstruction of ancestral astronomical designations in Moso, Pumi, and Yi cultures compared with Chinese and Tibetan contexts. Onoma 51, 113–143. DOI: 10.34158/ONOMA.51/2016/6 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.34158/ONOMA.51/2016/6 © Onoma and the author. Lunar mansion names in South-West China: An etymological reconstruction of ancestral astronomical designations in Moso, Pumi, and Yi cultures compared with Chinese and Tibetan contexts Abstract: The present study aims at an etymological reconstruction of lunar mansion designations of the Moso, Pumi, and Yi people from South-West China. Those lunar mansions are generally named after animals. A systematic examination on these astronomical names reveals frequent borrowing processes among these cultures, extended to Tibetan and Chinese contexts. Three patterns of direct borrowing of the lunar mansion names can be highlighted in addition to compatible morphological structures in some designation. This comparative research also provides innovative 114 XU DUODUO solutions to several issues still unsolved from the current studies on lunar mansions focused on specific ethnic groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Korotangi (The Dove)
    Korotangi (The Dove) The legend of the korotangi is that it came in the Tainui waka as one of the heirlooms which had been blessed by the high priests in Hawaiiki and which in the new country, would ensure good hunting for the tribe. It was said that the Kawhia and Waikato tribes, who descended from Tainui stock, took the korotangi into battle with them, setting it up on a hill and consulting it as an oracle. The "korotangi" can mean "to roar and rush as the sound of water" in either Maori, Hawaiian or Samoan has been used to support the legend that it was bought on the Tainui waka from afar. The expression “Korotangi” is still used as a term of endearment, or as a simile for any object treasured or loved. A mother lamenting the death of a child will, in her lament, refer to her lost one as her “Korotangi.” 1 No doubt the simile has its origin in the above tradition, which also seems to be a fea- sible explanation of the waiata. It certainly explains the reference to the eat- ing of the pohata leaves and the huahua from Rotorua, as well as the allu- sion to the taumata (hill-top or ridge). The Korotangi, Tawhio Throne, and the art work depicting The Lost Child TeManawa and Korotangi, arrived at Turangawaewae Marae on the same day. The Heart of Heaven is in part the sharing of the walk of TeManawa who lives these things, has fulfilled prophesy. Her journey has been documented since 1992 to current.
    [Show full text]
  • Ephemerides Astronomicae. Anni...Ad Meridianum Mediolanensem
    Informazioni su questo libro Si tratta della copia digitale di un libro che per generazioni è stato conservata negli scaffali di una biblioteca prima di essere digitalizzato da Google nell’ambito del progetto volto a rendere disponibili online i libri di tutto il mondo. Ha sopravvissuto abbastanza per non essere più protetto dai diritti di copyright e diventare di pubblico dominio. Un libro di pubblico dominio è un libro che non è mai stato protetto dal copyright o i cui termini legali di copyright sono scaduti. La classificazione di un libro come di pubblico dominio può variare da paese a paese. I libri di pubblico dominio sono l’anello di congiunzione con il passato, rappresentano un patrimonio storico, culturale e di conoscenza spesso difficile da scoprire. Commenti, note e altre annotazioni a margine presenti nel volume originale compariranno in questo file, come testimonianza del lungo viaggio percorso dal libro, dall’editore originale alla biblioteca, per giungere fino a te. Linee guide per l’utilizzo Google è orgoglioso di essere il partner delle biblioteche per digitalizzare i materiali di pubblico dominio e renderli universalmente disponibili. I libri di pubblico dominio appartengono al pubblico e noi ne siamo solamente i custodi. Tuttavia questo lavoro è oneroso, pertanto, per poter continuare ad offrire questo servizio abbiamo preso alcune iniziative per impedire l’utilizzo illecito da parte di soggetti commerciali, compresa l’imposizione di restrizioni sull’invio di query automatizzate. Inoltre ti chiediamo di: + Non fare un uso commerciale di questi file Abbiamo concepito Google Ricerca Libri per l’uso da parte dei singoli utenti privati e ti chiediamo di utilizzare questi file per uso personale e non a fini commerciali.
    [Show full text]
  • Reduced Maximum Mass-Loss Rate of OH/IR Stars Due to Overlooked Binary Interaction
    The University of Manchester Research Reduced maximum mass-loss rate of OH/IR stars due to overlooked binary interaction DOI: 10.1038/s41550-019-0703-5 Document Version Accepted author manuscript Link to publication record in Manchester Research Explorer Citation for published version (APA): Decin, L., Homan, W., Danilovich, T., de Koter, A., Engels, D., Waters, L. B. F. M., Muller, S., Gielen, C., Garca- Hernandez, D. A., Stancliffe, R., Van de Sande, M., Molenberghs, G., Kerschbaum, F., Zijlstra, A., & El Mellah, I. (2019). Reduced maximum mass-loss rate of OH/IR stars due to overlooked binary interaction. Nature Astronomy, 3(5), 408-415. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0703-5 Published in: Nature Astronomy Citing this paper Please note that where the full-text provided on Manchester Research Explorer is the Author Accepted Manuscript or Proof version this may differ from the final Published version. If citing, it is advised that you check and use the publisher's definitive version. General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the Research Explorer are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Takedown policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please refer to the University of Manchester’s Takedown Procedures [http://man.ac.uk/04Y6Bo] or contact [email protected] providing relevant details, so we can investigate your claim. Download date:08. Oct. 2021 Reduced maximum mass-loss rate of OH/IR stars due to overlooked binary interaction L.
    [Show full text]
  • Ephemerides Astronomicae. Anni...Ad Meridianum Mediolanensem
    Informazioni su questo libro Si tratta della copia digitale di un libro che per generazioni è stato conservata negli scaffali di una biblioteca prima di essere digitalizzato da Google nell’ambito del progetto volto a rendere disponibili online i libri di tutto il mondo. Ha sopravvissuto abbastanza per non essere più protetto dai diritti di copyright e diventare di pubblico dominio. Un libro di pubblico dominio è un libro che non è mai stato protetto dal copyright o i cui termini legali di copyright sono scaduti. La classificazione di un libro come di pubblico dominio può variare da paese a paese. I libri di pubblico dominio sono l’anello di congiunzione con il passato, rappresentano un patrimonio storico, culturale e di conoscenza spesso difficile da scoprire. Commenti, note e altre annotazioni a margine presenti nel volume originale compariranno in questo file, come testimonianza del lungo viaggio percorso dal libro, dall’editore originale alla biblioteca, per giungere fino a te. Linee guide per l’utilizzo Google è orgoglioso di essere il partner delle biblioteche per digitalizzare i materiali di pubblico dominio e renderli universalmente disponibili. I libri di pubblico dominio appartengono al pubblico e noi ne siamo solamente i custodi. Tuttavia questo lavoro è oneroso, pertanto, per poter continuare ad offrire questo servizio abbiamo preso alcune iniziative per impedire l’utilizzo illecito da parte di soggetti commerciali, compresa l’imposizione di restrizioni sull’invio di query automatizzate. Inoltre ti chiediamo di: + Non fare un uso commerciale di questi file Abbiamo concepito Google Ricerca Libri per l’uso da parte dei singoli utenti privati e ti chiediamo di utilizzare questi file per uso personale e non a fini commerciali.
    [Show full text]
  • Starry Nights Typeset
    Index Antares 104,106-107 Anubis 28 Apollo 53,119,130,136 21-centimeter radiation 206 apparent magnitude 7,156-157,177,223 57 Cygni 140 Aquarius 146,160-161,164 61 Cygni 139,142 Aquila 128,131,146-149 3C 9 (quasar) 180 Arcas 78 3C 48 (quasar) 90 Archer 119 3C 273 (quasar) 89-90 arctic circle 103,175,212 absorption spectrum 25 Arcturus 17,79,93-96,98-100 Acadia 78 Ariadne 101 Achernar 67-68,162,217 Aries 167,183,196,217 Acubens (star in Cancer) 39 Arrow 149 Adhara (star in Canis Major) 22,67 Ascella (star in Sagittarius) 120 Aesculapius 115 asterisms 130 Age of Aquarius 161 astrology 161,196 age of clusters 186 Atlantis 140 age of stars 114 Atlas 14 Age of the Fish 196 Auriga 17 Al Rischa (star in Pisces) 196 autumnal equinox 174,223 Al Tarf (star in Cancer) 39 azimuth 171,223 Al- (prefix in star names) 4 Bacchus 101 Albireo (star in Cygnus) 144 Barnard’s Star 64-65,116 Alcmene 52,112 Barnard, E. 116 Alcor (star in Big Dipper) 14,78,82 barred spiral galaxies 179 Alcyone (star in Pleiades) 14 Bayer, Johan 125 Aldebaran 11,15,22,24 Becvar, A. 221 Alderamin (star in Cepheus) 154 Beehive (M 44) 42-43,45,50 Alexandria 7 Bellatrix (star in Orion) 9,107 Alfirk (star in Cepheus) 154 Algedi (star in Capricornus) 159 Berenice 70 Algeiba (star in Leo) 59,61 Bessel, Friedrich W. 27,142 Algenib (star in Pegasus) 167 Beta Cassiopeia 169 Algol (star in Perseus) 204-205,210 Beta Centauri 162,176 Alhena (star in Gemini) 32 Beta Crucis 162 Alioth (star in Big Dipper) 78 Beta Lyrae 132-133 Alkaid (star in Big Dipper) 78,80 Betelgeuse 10,22,24 Almagest 39 big
    [Show full text]
  • Sky High 2008 28Nov Completed.Pub
    Sky-High 2008 Solar Prominences, 19th July 2007 The 16th annual guide to astronomical phenomena visible from Ireland during the year ahead (naked-eye, binocular and beyond) By Liam Smyth and John O’Neill Published by the Irish Astronomical Society € 5 P.O. Box 2547, Dublin 14. e-mail: [email protected] www.irishastrosoc.org Page 1 Foreword Contents 3 Your Night Sky Primer We send greetings to all fellow astronomers and 5 Sky Diary 2008 welcome them to this, the sixteenth edition of Sky-High. 8 Phases of Moon; Sunrise and Sunset in 2008 We thank the following contributors for their 9 The Planets in 2008 articles: Patricia Carroll, John Flannery and James 11 Eclipses in 2008 O’Connor. The remaining material was written by the editors John O’Neill and Liam Smyth. The Gal- 13 Comets in 2008 lery has images and drawings by Society members. 15 Meteors Showers in 2008 The times of sunrise etc. are from SUNRISE and 17 Asteroids in 2008 double star diagrams are from BINARY, both by J. O’Neill. 19 Variable Stars in 2008 We are always glad to hear what you liked, or 20 More Favourite Double Stars what you would like to have included in Sky-High. 23 From Eros to Apophis – a Century of Near Earth If we have slipped up on any matter of fact, let us Asteroids know. We can put a correction in future issues. 25 Spaceflight in 2008 And if you have any problem with understanding the contents or would like more information on 28 Gallery any topic, feel free to contact us at the Society e- mail address [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Discovery of a Shell of Neutral Atomic Hydrogen Surrounding the Carbon Star IRC+10216
    Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 000, 000–000 (0000) Printed 6 February 2015 (MN LATEX style file v2.2) Discovery of a Shell of Neutral Atomic Hydrogen Surrounding the Carbon Star IRC+10216 L. D. Matthews1, E. G´erard2, T. Le Bertre3 1Massachusetts Institute of Technology Haystack Observatory, Off Route 40, Westford, MA 01886 USA 2GEPI, UMR 8111, Observatoire de Paris, 5 Place J. Janssen, F-92195 Meudon Cedex, France 3LERMA, UMR 8112, Observatoire de Paris, 61 av. de l’Observatoire, F-75014 Paris, France 6 February 2015 ABSTRACT We have used the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope to perform the most sensitive search to date for neutral atomic hydrogen (H i) in the circumstellar envelope (CSE) of the carbon star IRC+10216. Our observations have uncovered a low surface brightness H i shell of diameter ∼ 1300′′ (∼0.8 pc), centered on IRC+10216. The H i shell has an angular extent comparable to the far ultraviolet-emitting astrosphere of IRC+10216 previously detected with the GALEX satellite, and its kinematics are consistent with circumstellar matter that has been decelerated by the local interstellar medium. The shell appears to completely surround the star, but the highest H i column densities are measured along the leading edge of the shell, near the location of a previously identified bow shock. We estimate a total mass of atomic hydrogen associated with −3 IRC+10216 CSE of MHI ∼ 3 × 10 M⊙. This is only a small fraction of the expected total mass of the CSE (<1%) and is consistent with the bulk of the stellar wind originating in molecular rather than atomic form, as expected for a cool star with ◦ ◦ an effective temperature Teff ∼<2200 K.
    [Show full text]
  • Extrasolar Planets and Their Host Stars
    Kaspar von Braun & Tabetha S. Boyajian Extrasolar Planets and Their Host Stars July 25, 2017 arXiv:1707.07405v1 [astro-ph.EP] 24 Jul 2017 Springer Preface In astronomy or indeed any collaborative environment, it pays to figure out with whom one can work well. From existing projects or simply conversations, research ideas appear, are developed, take shape, sometimes take a detour into some un- expected directions, often need to be refocused, are sometimes divided up and/or distributed among collaborators, and are (hopefully) published. After a number of these cycles repeat, something bigger may be born, all of which one then tries to simultaneously fit into one’s head for what feels like a challenging amount of time. That was certainly the case a long time ago when writing a PhD dissertation. Since then, there have been postdoctoral fellowships and appointments, permanent and adjunct positions, and former, current, and future collaborators. And yet, con- versations spawn research ideas, which take many different turns and may divide up into a multitude of approaches or related or perhaps unrelated subjects. Again, one had better figure out with whom one likes to work. And again, in the process of writing this Brief, one needs create something bigger by focusing the relevant pieces of work into one (hopefully) coherent manuscript. It is an honor, a privi- lege, an amazing experience, and simply a lot of fun to be and have been working with all the people who have had an influence on our work and thereby on this book. To quote the late and great Jim Croce: ”If you dig it, do it.
    [Show full text]