February 2016 Observer
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The Denver FEBRUARY 2016 OBSERVER Comet C/2013, US10 (Catalina), a recent visitor to the inner solar system, in local skies on a rare cloudless night... Image © Ron Pearson FEBRUARY SKIES by Zachary Singer This month, we’ll check out an easy but worthwhile binary, an ex- in the dawn sky, about 5°, on average, to the right and upward from emplary open cluster, and for experienced observers, a truly “far-out” Mercury when you look eastward. As the month goes by, Venus will globular cluster. But first, a quick stop at our solar system… also move closer to the Sun, finishing February about 25° to the Sun’s west. Local Sky At the same hour, Saturn shines in the south-southeast at Febru- As we head into February, dawn comes ever earlier, and the lazy, ary’s beginning, and ends the month in the south. Outshining nearby “after 7” sunrises of the month’s opening days will give way to sunrise Antares by at least ½ closer to 6:30 a.m. For the first half of the month, though, getting up magnitude, Saturn will Sky Calendar early will still get you a view of all the naked-eye planets—Mercury be easily identified. 8 New Moon through Saturn—in the same sky. (We’ll do them in order of view from (Keep in mind, though, 15 First-Quarter Moon east to west.) that by month’s end 22 Full Moon In the Observer Nearest the Sun’s glow, you’ll need to look for (Mar 1) Last-Quarter Moon Mercury shines at mag- this planet earlier in the President’s Message . 2 nitude 0, but only about morning to keep the 5° above the southeastern dawn from spoiling a telescopic view.) Society Directory. 2 horizon at 6:15 a.m., at the Mars starts February in the south at 1st magnitude, and brightens Schedule of Events . 2 beginning of the month. about a ½ magnitude by the beginning of March. Even then, though, DAS News . 3 It draws closer to the sun it’s still only half the angular diameter it will have at opposition in late as the days progress, and May, so stay tuned. Meet a DAS-er . .3 will be lost in solar glare And finally, there’s Jupiter! Only a month away from opposition, it’s About the DAS . 3 by mid-month. (A much now both a “morning” and an “evening” object—transiting at around a Getting Your Bearings . 4 better look at this planet is quarter to 3 in the morning in the first days of February, it crosses the coming in the spring.) Meridian not long after midnight when March begins. That puts it in Venus blazes at -4 mag. the southwest morning sky early in the month, and very low in the west Continued on Page 6 THE DENVER OBSERVER FEBRUARY 2016 Society Directory PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE by Ron Hranac DAS Executive Board DAS Elections—Get Involved! President: Ron Hranac It’s that time of year again: Have you renewed your Denver Astronomical Society membership? president@denverastro .org Notices were sent out last month, and the good news is the number of renewals is on track with this Vice President: same time last year. Thanks very much to those of you who have renewed to support DAS and as- Stuart Hutchins vp@denverastro .org tronomy for 2016. If you haven’t yet done so, the following link will take you to our renewal web Secretary: page, where you can use either PayPal or a credit card. (A PayPal account isn’t necessary.) http://www . Jeff Tropeano denverastro .org/dasrenew .html . secretary@denverastro .org Denver Astronomical Society’s success as an organization depends largely on the many volunteers Treasurer: who fulfill a variety of roles. Among those roles are outreach and sharing our love of the day and Michael Nowak treasurer@denverastro .org night sky with the public—think monthly Open Houses, twice-weekly Public Nights, and activities at Executive Board Members: museums, schools, and other venues. Another important role that often takes place behind the scenes Johnny Barela Ed Scholes is leadership of the Society. Our annual elections are upon us, and I’d like to invite you to consider Jack Eastman Sorin Joe Gafford Ken Sturrock tossing your hat in the ring for a position on the Executive Board—otherwise known as the E-Board. Chuck Habenicht Dan Wray At the very least, cast a vote in this month’s elections. Past President, Ron Pearson Article II, Section 2.0 of Denver Astronomical Society’s bylaws says, “The Annual Meeting and President Emeritus, Larry Brooks election of the Executive Board and Officers shall be conducted at the General Meeting in February or Committees at another date, as the Executive Board may direct. The Officers and Board members will be installed Van Nattan-Hansen Scholarship Fund: at the Annual Banquet in March.” Ron Pearson (Chair) th PO Box 100621 This year’s annual meeting is scheduled to be held on Friday, February 19 at DU’s Olin Hall, with Denver, CO. 80250-0621 things getting underway at 7:30 p.m. MST. EGK Dark Site Committee: You’re encouraged to attend the annual meeting and participate in the elections. Keep in mind that Darrell Dodge, Interim Chair darksite@denverastro .org elected officers and board members are your voice in the direction of DAS, so let your voice be heard. Nominations began at the general meeting in January and will continue through February’s meeting. IDA Representative: Dr. Robert Stencel If you’d like to nominate someone (including yourself) for a position on the E-Board, send an e-mail coloida@hotmail .com to nominations@denverastro .org, or let Tim Pimentel know in person. Volunteers or Appointed Following the elections, the new leadership will get busy planning another exciting year for DAS Representatives members and the public. If you have comments or suggestions, feel free to contact any of the E-Board ALCor: members. We welcome your input. Our next major membership event is the DAS Spring Banquet on Darrell Dodge 303 932-1309 Saturday, March 19th; I hope to see you there! Newsletter Editor: Continued on Page 5 Zachary Singer 303 718-4188 editor@denverastro .org Newsletter Proofreaders: DAS SCHEDULE Darrell Dodge, Ron Hranac The Observer is available in color PDF format from the DAS website . Website: Darrell Dodge FEBRUARY 2016 webmaster@denverastro .org IT Coordinator: Ken Sturrock itdept@denverastro .org 13 Open House—DU’s Historic Chamberlin Observatory—Starts at 5:30 PM External Outreach Coordinator: 19 Annual Meeting at DU’s Olin Hall, Rm. 105, 7:30 PM—Featured Speaker: Alan Erickson, Julie Candia who will discuss astro-imaging with DSLRs (see “DAS News”); DAS E-Board Elections external@denverastro .org 26 E-Board Meeting—At DU’s Historic Chamberlin Observatory, 7:30 PM Public Night Coordinator: Hugh Davidson 303 679-0629 Librarian: Phil Klos During Open House, volunteer members of the DAS Public Nights feature a presentation on astronomical DAS Information Line: bring their telescopes to the Chamberlin Observa- subjects and a small-group observing session on the (303) 871-5172 tory’s front (south) lawn, so the public can enjoy historic 20-inch telescope (weather permitting), at Cham- DAS Correspondence: views of the stars and planets, try out different berlin Observatory on Tuesday and Thursday evenings Denver Astronomical Society telescope designs, and get advice from DAS mem- (except holidays), beginning at the following times: bers. The Observatory is open, too (costs listed P.O. Box 102738 March 10 - September 30 at 8:30 PM Denver, Colorado 80250 below), and its historic 20-inch telescope is open president@denverastro .org for observing with no reservations necessary. October 1 - March 9 at 7:30 PM Open House costs (non-members): If the skies are clear, Public Night costs (non-members): $4/adult, The Executive Board conducts the business of $2/person ($5/family), $1/person in inclement weather. the DAS at 7:30 p .m ., at Chamberlin Obser- $3/child and students with ID. DAS mem- DU students with ID, and DAS members free. vatory . bers and DU students with ID: free. Please see the Schedule of Events for meeting Members of the public (non-DAS/DU, as above), please dates . All members are welcome . make reservations via our website http://www .denverastro .org (www .denverastro .org) or call (303) 871-5172. The Denver Astronomical Society One Mile Nearer the Stars Page 2 THE DENVER OBSERVER FEBRUARY 2016 DAS NEWS MEET A DAS-er Volunteer Opportunities Connor Bray, Van Nattan-Hansen Scholarship Recipient *** Please note that Lindsey Shaw has passed the baton for managing Volunteer Outreach to Julie Candia. Lindsey did an awesome job, and the DAS is very thankful for all her work . —Ed . By Dena McClung February 13, 5:00PM-8:00PM: in Denver. Night observing for ap- Meet Connor Bray, one of two recipients of the Van Nattan- Night Observing at Heritage Cen- proximately 65 students. They are Hansen scholarships for 2015. He recently began his freshman ter in Georgetown, CO, for their interested in locating constellations year at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. Cultural Arts Program. Denver in the night sky. At age 15, Connor is one of DAS’ youngest members and Museum of Nature and Science will To volunteer, please contact Julie an apprentice operator at Chamberlin Observatory, which is just also be providing their Titan Virtual Candia at external@denverastro .org— two blocks from the home where he lives with his parents and Arts Program. and thanks! younger brother. He has a robust intellect, a sharp wit, and an February 18, 6:00PM: Astron- eagerness to help that made him fun to interview.