Snake River Skies A Publication of the Magic Valley Astronomical Society February 2009 Monthly Newsletter Mighty Orion: The Mythology resolved in good binoculars and small gazing is noticing and enjoying the telescopes as a bright gray-green various colors that stars display in The most brilliant of all the mist enveloping the star. In larger dark skies. These hues offer direct constellations dominates our evening telescopes it appears as a great glow- visual evidence of how stellar tem- sky this week, climbing well up in the ing irregular cloud. A sort of auroral peratures vary. south around 9 p.m. local time. It is, glow is induced in this nebula by fluo- of course, Orion, the Hunter. But just rescence from the strong ultraviolet In Orion, ruddy Betelgeuse exactly who was he? radiation of four hot stars entangled and bluish Rigel provide an excellent within it. Edward Emerson Barnard color contrast but we can easily find (1857-1923), for many years an as- other colors as well. Look at orangish As is also the case with the tronomer at Yerkes Observatory, mighty Hercules, the figure of Orion Aldebaran and yellowish Pollux. And once remarked that it reminded him of considerably removed from the winter has been associated in virtually all- a great ghostly bat and that he always ancient cultures with great national groupings, is brilliant topaz Arcturus, experienced a feeling of surprise usually regarded as a spring star, but heroes, warriors, or demigods. Yet, in when he saw it. contrast to Hercules, who was cred- now, in the dead of midwinter, rises ited with a detailed series of exploits, this week between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Orion seems to us a vague and shad- The Great Orion Nebula is a and quickly holds forth in solitary owy figure. The ancient mythological vast cloud of extremely tenuous glow- splendor in the east-northeast. stories of Orion are so many and so confused that it is almost impossible Even as you observe these to choose among all of them. Even stellar colors, do you notice that the origin of the name Orion is ob- they're recognizable only for the scure, though some scholars have brightest stars? This is due to the suggested a connection with the physiology of the eye, more specifi- Greek "Arion," meaning simply war- cally, the fact that the color sensors rior. All, however, agree that he was on the retina – the cones – are insen- the mightiest hunter in the world and sitive to faint light. Under dim illumi- he is always pictured in the stars with nation the retinal rods take over. But his club upraised in his right hand. their greater light sensitivity is offset by their color blindness. This is why Hanging from his upraised left we see all faint stars as white How- hand is the skin of a great lion he has ever, if we look at them through bin- killed and which he is brandishing in oculars or a telescope, their amplified the face of Taurus, the Bull, who is brightness stimulates the cones, which can detect their color. charging down upon him. ing gas and dust, approximately 1,600 light-years away and about 30 light Joe Rao serves as an instructor and Where stars are born years across (or more than 20,000 guest lecturer at New York's Hayden times the diameter of the entire solar Planetarium. He writes about astron- system). Astrophysicists now believe Below Orion's famous three- omy for The New York Times and that this nebulous stuff is a stellar in- star belt is undoubtedly one of the other publications, and he is also an cubator; the primeval chaos from most wonderfully beautiful objects in on-camera meteorologist for News 12 which star formation is presently un- the sky: the Great Orion Nebula. It Westchester, New York. © 1/30/2009 appears to surround the middle star of derway. by Joe Rao and Imaginova Corp., All a fainter trio of stars in a line that rights reserved. marks the hunter's sword. The nebula In living color is invisible to the unaided eye, though the star itself appears a bit fuzzy. It is One of the pleasures of star- PAGE 2 MVAS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2009 A Preacher's Thought’s Editor’s Note on this article: As we of troublesome facts if the parties in- tronomy, the physical life we live is celebrate the 400th Anniversary of volved do not share a common regard the result of science – from the clothes Galileo Galilei, who looked to the to different sources of knowledge. we wear, the food we eat, the homes “Heavens;” we should be reminded Setting aside for the moment the is- in which we live, the cities that we that “Faith” is a personal matter. sue of faith, there are two sources of build, the cars that we drive, the com- Galileo literally was accused of heresy knowledge – Science and History, and puter this article is typed on – all by the Catholic Church. As many of the process of obtaining knowledge these exist because of science. you may be aware, the Vatican has its through these disciplines is as differ- own observatory: “The Vatican Ob- ent as night and day. The historical method re- servatory,” which is one of the oldest quires the gathering of sources and astronomical research institutions Webster's gives the definition developing a confidence in the accu- of science as “1. A branch of knowl- racy of those sources. Unlike the sci- in the world. Read this article from edge or study dealing with a body of entific method, which should yield society member Pastor Jim Tubbs as facts or truths systematically ar- results that can be repeated and veri- he relates his own personal reflec- ranged and showing the operation of fied by others, historical sources are tions on the cosmos. There is no in- general laws 2. Systematic knowledge often spotty, not providing the level tent for any argument only a view of the physical or material world.” of detail our western scientific mind point to be shared. Likewise, history is defined as “1. craves. Multiple conflicting sources The branch of knowledge dealing with must be weighed, with judgments Many months ago, I was past events.....4. The record of past made concerning their value. Even asked by one of our society members events, especially in connection with with sources that are regarded as “How does a preacher even get inter- the human race.” having a high degree of accuracy, we ested in astronomy?” It was an hon- find ourselves wanting greater exact- est question of genuine curiosity, but ness. As an example, in studying the I did not give an answer at the time. history of ancient Egypt, I was struck Frankly I was a bit stunned. How by the varying dates given the dynas- could a preacher not be interested in ties and events of Egypt. In many astronomy? A line in one of ancient cases, all we have are names...nothing Israel's hymns of praise says “The else. To make matters worse, the heavens declare the glory of God, and Egyptians tended to memorialize only the sky proclaims the work of His those things which tended to elevate hands.” Since that question, I have them. Trying to fit in other current been thinking how I would answer. I events of the surrounding nations is spoke with V.P. David Olsen and told difficult because of all the gaps. The him I thought it would be fun to write modern mind is not comfortable with an article for our newsletter that The acquisition of knowledge these deficiencies. However, this is would answer that question without is its method. The scientific method the nature of knowledge for most of being preachy (hopefully). The arti- is “a method of research in which a mankind's existence, and therefore cle was supposed to be ready for the problem is identified, relevant data cannot be ignored. One might wonder December newsletter, but due to a are gathered, a hypothesis is formu- why we even need to concern our- busy month, I was unable to get it lated from this data, and the hypothe- selves with historical knowledge, ready (read this as, I put it on the sis is empirically tested” (again, Web- given its deficiencies. Scientific back burner and then forgot about it). ster’s). This is the method of choice in knowledge can tell us much about And that was just as well, for that our modern age. By this our knowl- what we are, but it takes historical gave me time to reconsider my origi- edge of this physical world and the knowledge to inform us who and why nal plan. universe has advanced impressively. we are. Among other benefits, his- As recent as my birth (1956), it was What I propose to do is set torical knowledge provides the frame- believed our galaxy was the sum total forth the very basic assumptions work of wisdom to guide our steps in of the universe. Our ability to meas- which lead any person to particular a scientific world where virtually any- ure distance is constantly being re- conclusions. Our views of this world thing is possible. fined. Using creative techniques and are determined by what we consider new types of telescopes we are able to There is one other term which to be valid sources of knowledge. It see objects behind other objects. And must be defined, if for no other reason is of no value to argue pros and cons just this past year we have obtained than that it is often misused.