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Star Dust If Undeliverable, Return to NCA C/O Elizabeth Warner Newsletter of National Capital Astronomers, Inc National Capital Astronomers, Inc. Star Dust If undeliverable, return to NCA c/o Elizabeth Warner Newsletter of National Capital Astronomers, Inc. capitalastronomers.org 400 Madison St #2208 Alexandria, VA 22314 December 2015 Volume 74, Issue 4 First Class Next Meeting The Progenitors of Ia Supernovae Dated Material When: Sat. Dec 12th, 2015 Time: 7:30 pm as Revealed by X-Ray Observations of Where: UMD Observatory Supernova Remnants Speaker: Hiroya Yamaguchi Hiroya Yamaguchi, University of Maryland and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Table of Contents Preview of Dec 2015 Talk 1 Abstract: Type Ia supernovae (Ia SNe) are widely believed to result from Sky Watchers 3 the thermonuclear explosions of white dwarfs. They are a major source of the iron-peak elements in our Universe: chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), “R” is for Rocket 4 iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni). Also, Ia SNe are particularly Occultations 5 important for astrophysics because they are used as distance indicators (standard candles) in cosmology. Calendar 7 Directions to Dinner/Meeting Although decades of intense effort to uncover many fundamental aspects Our time and location for dinner with the of Type Ia SNe yielded limited results, X-ray observations of supernova speaker before this meeting is 5:30 pm at remnants (SNRs) have now allowed us to accurately measure the “The Common,” the restaurant in the abundances of heavy elements being synthesized in supernovae. This UMD University College building located observational technique has provided a key for understanding the at 3501 University Blvd. mechanisms of Type Ia supernova explosions, as well as how they Next NCA Meeting: Inside This Issue The meeting is held at the UMD produce heavy elements. Astronomy Observatory on Metzerott Rd th about halfway between Adelphi Rd and University Blvd. This presentation will address recent observational studies of Type Ia 2015 December 12 Preview of Dec 2015 Talk 1 supernova remnants made with the Japanese X-ray astronomy satellite, Need a Ride? 7:30 pm Sky Watchers 3 Please contact Jay Miller, 240-401-8693, if you need a ride from the metro to “R” is for Rocket 4 dinner or to the meeting @ observatory. @ UMD Observatory Please try to let him know in advance by e-mail at [email protected]. Occultations 5 Calendar 7 Observing after the Meeting Dr. Hiroya Following the meeting, members and guests are welcome to tour through the Observatory. Weather-permitting, Yamaguchi several of the telescopes will also be set up for viewing. Courtesy NASA/Suzaku and NASA/CXC, DSS, and NASA/JPL-Caltech X-ray image of Supernova 3C 397 via the Chandra Observatory (purple) and Suzaku (blue) continued on page 2 Star Dust © 2015. Star Dust may be reproduced with credit to National Capital Astronomers, Inc. December 2015 Vol 74, Iss 4 2 December 2015 Vol 74, Iss 4 7 Reminder Supernovae Progenitors – continued from page 1 Learn how to use your Telescope Calendar of Events After the meeting, everyone is invited to Suzaku. The satellite’s sensitivity allowed successful detection of weak NCA Mirror- or Telescope-making Classes: Tuesdays and Fridays, from 6:30 to join us at Plato's Diner in College Park. emission lines of the iron-peak elements from a number of supernova 9:45 pm at the Chevy Chase Community Center (intersection of McKinley Street Plato's is located at 7150 Baltimore Ave. remants. From 3C 397, one of the brightest Type Ia supernova remnants and Connecticut Avenue, N.W.) Contact instructor Guy Brandenburg at 202- (US Rt. 1 at Calvert Rd.), just south of in the Milky Way, we discovered extremely strong emissions of Mn and Ni 635-1860 or email him at [email protected]. the university's campus. What if it's clear for the first time. The abundances of these elements were measured and and you want to stick around and Open house talks and observing at the University of Maryland Observatory in they are the highest reported in any Type Ia SNe/SNRs. We confirmed College Park on the 5th and 20th of every month at 8:00 pm (Nov.-Apr.) or 9:00 pm observe? No problem -- just come over that these abundances of elements can be achieved only by electron when you're through. This is very (May-Oct.). Details: www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse informal, and we fully expect people to capture reactions taking place in the dense cores of exploding white dwarfs. This indicates that the progenitor mass of this SNR had become Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory at the National Air & Space wander in and out. Museum, Solar viewing, Wed. – Sun., 12 – 3 pm (weather permitting). ________________________ close to the so-called Chandrasekhar limit, the maximum mass of a stable Courtesy CA Brooks Owens Science Center Planetarium: “Alien Skies,” Fri. Dec. 11, 7:30 pm; white dwarf. That answers the major long-standing question about the Telescope class on the grounds of the physics of Type Ia supernovae. University of Maryland Observatory $5/adult; $3/students/senior/teachers/military; children under 3 free. Cosmic Mile Markers (College Park). www1.pgcps.org/howardbowens In measuring distance in space, The future prospects for the forthcoming X-ray mission, ASTRO-H, will standard candles are used. The term Mid-Atlantic Senior Physicists Group: “Earth’s Unique Continents” with also be discussed. Coming January 2016! Roberta Rudnick (UMD), Wed. Dec. 16, at 1 pm at the American Center for refers to celestial objects with known __________________________ st Physics (1 floor conference room). www.aps.org/units/maspg/ levels of brightness. The distances of these objects can then be determined Biographical Sketch: Owens Science Center Planetarium: “Suzie’s Snowflake,” Fri. Jan. 8, 7:30 pm; by their change in luminance (i.e., Dr. Hiroya Yamaguchi is an Assistant Research Scientist at the University The submission deadline $5/adult; $3/students/senior/teachers/military; children under 3 free. dimming). Scientists use an equation of Maryland, but usually works at the NASA’s Goddard Space Flight for the January issue of www1.pgcps.org/howardbowens called the “inverse square law” to Center. In 2008, he received a Ph.D. in Science from Kyoto University, Star Dust is Dec 31st . calculate dimming distance. Japan. Subsequently, he held postdoctoral positions at RIKEN, Japan’s Upcoming NCA Meetings at the University of Maryland Observatory: 9 January: Dean Howarth & Abigail Fine, “William & Caroline Herschel, National Research & Development Institute, and at the Harvard- The “standard,” Clear Skies! Astronomers: a Historical Re-enactment.” however, depends Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (Cambridge, MA). He is currently on how vast the involved in developing software for the ASTRO-H mission, a joint US- distance in Japan X-ray observatory to be launched in early 2016. His research National Capital Astronomers Membership Form question. For intra- interests include supernovae and their remnants, galactic chemical galactic or nearby evolution, and atomic processes. He is also familiar with X-ray detectors, Name: ______________________________________________________ Date: ___/___/___ galactic measures, as he was involved in detector development and calibration when he was pulsing Cepheid a graduate student. variable stars are (cc) Address: ____________________________________________________ ZIP Code: ______ used as the Ia Supernova 2014J in M82 standard (as well (Cigar Galaxy) Home Phone: ____-____-_____ E-mail: ____________________ Print / E-mail Star Dust (circle one) as stellar parallax). If the distance is, well, astronomically Membership (circle one): Student….. $ 5; Individual / Family…..$10; Optional Contribution…..$__ far, something really bright has to be Please indicate which activities interest you: used (besides, it’s not easy to pick out specific stars at large distances). A very . Attending monthly scientific lectures on some aspect of astronomy ____ bright celestial object classified as type . Making scientific astronomical observations ____ Ia supernova happens to be a standard . Observing astronomical objects for personal pleasure at relatively dark sites ____ candle at vast distances. Attending large regional star parties ____ When a dense, white dwarf star in a . Doing outreach events to educate the public, such as Exploring the Sky ____ binary system reaches 1.4 solar masses . Building or modifying telescopes ____ (the Chandrasekhar limit) by pulling . Participating in travel/expeditions to view eclipses or occultations ____ material from its companion star, a . Combating light pollution ____ nuclear reaction occurs and it explodes Do you have any special skills, such as videography, graphic arts, science education, electronics, machining, etc.? with a brightness of 5 billion times that Courtesy NASA of the Sun. This reaction happens the Suzaku X-Ray Observatory same way, at the same solar mass and For a brief video introduction to Suzaku, see the following link: with the same brightness each time. So, Are you interested in volunteering for: Telescope making, Exploring the Sky, Star Dust, NCA Officer, etc.? to ascertain distance, the inverse square law is applied using the known initial https://youtu.be/oSUGMeoFZiY luminance compared to how bright the supernova appears. ________________________________________________ Please mail this form with check payable to National Capital Astronomers to: ________________________ Henry Bofinger, NCA Treasurer; 727 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002-6007 Star Dust © 2015. Star Dust may be reproduced with credit to National Capital Astronomers, Inc. Star Dust © 2015. Star Dust may be reproduced with credit to National Capital Astronomers, Inc. December 2015 Vol 74, Iss 4 6 December 2015 Vol 74, Iss 4 3 2015-2016 Officers “R” is for Rocket – continued from page 4 ________________________ Sky Watchers Late Autumn Schedule President: plans include space colonization. A V2 orbital test without a crew may Can you see the Stars? December Joseph Morris occur as early as 2016. ________________________ [email protected] 703-620-0996 (h) Blue Origin is another west-coast company Evening – Globe at Night, Global.
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