Tom Graham Observe—Educate—Have Fun February 2015 The Sidereal Times The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society P.O. Box 50581, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87181-0581 www.TAAS.org taas — 2011 winner of astronomy magazine’s out-of-this-world award • (505) 254-TAAS (8227) General Meeting News Perihelion Banquet Festivities Featured Lynne Olson Dinner, Music, Election, Prizes, Awards, and More TAAS General Meeting February 7, 2015, 7:00 P.M. The Planetarium at the NM Museum of Natural History and Science New Planetarium Projection System featuring the Winter TAAS Fabulous Fifty Jim Greenhouse, Director of Space Science at the NMMNH&S (and a TAAS member), will demonstrate the wonders of the op- eration of the new Planetarium projector system, in the works for some time, being installed and ready for action by the time of this meeting. The Planetarium program will include the Win- ter TAAS Fabulous Fifty, originated by Dee Friesen, and featur- ing the stars and constellations of this season. Greenhouse is the museum’s Space Science Director and has Roger and Linda Kennedy Received the Dobson Award managed four other planetariums around the country for the by Lynne Olson for Educational Outreach last 30 years. He is originally from Amarillo, but has also lived in Dallas TX, Memphis TN, Macon GA, and near Charlotte NC. ************************* Over one hundred TAAS members and guests gathered at the This will be our first General Meeting of 2015 and will intro- Eleganté Hotel, with their usual delicious food and beautiful table duce our Officers and Board Members of this term. They wel- presentation, for our 2015 annual banquet on the evening of Sat- come all to this program and will be pleased to offer informa- urday, January 10. tion and answer questions about our activities and possibilities after the meeting during our social hour. At the entry table were Dan Clark and Chaz and Hilary Jetty, tak- Our meetings are free and open to the public, as well as to TAAS ing care of the check-in, name tags, door prize tickets, and TAAS members, so please join us at this marvelous facility! See www. lanyardsPhoto: David for members—andOlson handing out ourcontinued new membership on page 2 . taas.org for a map to the Planetarium. School Star Party General Meeting New Moon Observing Natural History Longfellow Elementary Museum Planetarium GNTO Tues. Feb. 3 Sat.Feb. 7, 7:00 p.m. Sat. Feb. 21 INSIDE 2–4...Perihelion Banquet continued 9.......Images: Comet Lovejoy, CA Nebula 12........Winter Solstice Sunrise at Chaco 5.......Astronomy Trivia Challenge, Fabulous 50 10......Image: Cone Nebula 12........Explora Adult Night 6.......Under the Dome 10......GNTO Observing: Far Out, Far In 13........Solar Astronomy Outreach 7–8...February–March Calendars 11......Home Observatory Built 14........8 Winter Telescopic Asterisms 7.......Scope Help Available at ATM Meeting 11......Solar Volunteers Earn AL Certificates 15........TAAS Reports & Notices 8.......Learn How to Use Stellarium 16........TAAS Directors & Staff graphic courtesy http://www. The Sidereal Times February 2015 ...Perihelion Banquet continued from page 1 SpecialPresented byService PresidentPhotos: DavidSteveAwards Snider Olson Isengard Award: Directors’ Special Ray Collins Appreciation Award (not present) Gordon Pegue (not present) Pete Eschman cards, thanks to Dan Clark and Bob Anderson! Trish Logan and Jim Fordice greeted and welcomed the crowd as they found friends and tables. President Steve Snider invited everyone to the buffet dinner of chicken and roast beef with vegetables, salad, and dessert. Linda Kennedy provided dulcet tones with her harp, creating a lovely atmosphere for the diners. Election of Officers: As the dinner came to a close, the election of Of- ficers for 2015 was led by Tom Graham, Chairman of the Nominating Com- mittee. The motion to proceed with the voting was made and seconded, the hand vote count taken along with proxy votes, and the slate was elected: Steve Snider, President; David Frizzell, Vice President; Dan Clark, Treasur- er; and Sigrid Monaghan, Secretary. Amy Estelle Announcements made by President Snider, included the following: •New portable planetarium for TAAS! Our new Educational Outreach leader, Trish Logan, elaborated on our big purchase of 2014. •TAAS Fabulous 50—Dee Friesen gave the first Certificate of Comple- Trish Logan tion to Andy House and invited all to attend upcoming events and reach for that same goal. Our Honored Guests were Rich Rand of the UNM Department of Phys- ics and Astronomy; Jim Greenhouse and Simone Seagle of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science; Greg and Debbie Noel of Accent Southwest Windows and Doors, who donate cash awards to the Regional Science Fair (and store our planetarium!). Antonio Garcia of the Tijeras Will Ferrell Ranger Station was not able to attend at the last minute. (not present) Dee Friesen presents TAAS Fab Fifty Certificate to Andy House Barry Spletzer Page 2 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times February 2015 ...Perihelion Banquet continued from page 2 Prizes presented by Bruce Meyer The Lucky Prizewinners Top: Dave Ray, Jim Lawrence, Ira Strong Right: Alan Scott, Alex Burd Speaker Dr. Ifan Payne, Program Direc- tor of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory and Interferometer, was introduced by VP David Frizzell. Dr. Payne told the as- semblage of the origins, background of development, and the future of the struc- tures near Socorro. His entertaining and educational style was very well received Photos: David Olson by the gathering. Prizes: Bruce Meyer, Chairman of the Prize Committee, with Steve Snider draw- •Isengard Award: Ray Collins for im- ing the winning tickets, presented gift cer- measurable construction work on La tificates, each accompanied by a beautiful Cocina Galactica at GNTO astronomical photo by Vance Ley or John •Dobson Award for Educational Laning, to the following: Outreach: Roger and Linda Kennedy (Team Kennedy) for the Solar Astrono- •Grand Prize: $250 gift certificate my Outreach program, which held 171 to Dave Ray events in 2014 attended by over 25,000 •First Prize: $100 gift certificate people. to Jim Lawrence •Board of Directors Special Appre- •Second Prize: $50 gift certificate ciation Award: Gordon Pegue for 20 VP David Frizzell (above) introduces speaker Dr. Ifan Payne of Magdalena to Ira Strong years of service on the Board of Direc- Ridge Observatory (below) •Third Prize: $25 gift certificate tors to Alan Scott •Special Service Award: Pete Es- •Third Prize: $25 gift certificate chman for his exceptional efforts in to Alex Burd maintaining and upgrading the GNTO electrical and computer systems The Trivia Contest was written by Tom •Special Service Award: Amy Estelle Graham and consisted of 20 astronomy in special recognition of the initiation and TAAS-related questions. The winner and analysis of the Membership Survey was Dee Friesen, who received the spe- and other contributions to TAAS Board cially designed “Certificate of Bragging of Directors Rights.” •Special Service Award: Trish Logan for her Educational Outreach efforts Awards for outstanding contributions to and for shepherdingcontinued the acquisition on page of 4. TAAS were presented by Steve Snider and Jim Fordice : Page 3 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times February 2015 ...Perihelion Banquet continued from page 3 the new portable planetarium •Special Service Award: Barry Spletzer for his many years as the Tele- scope Loan Program Manager (“The Loan Ranger”) •Special Service Award: Will Ferrell for years as the TAAS Webmaster The conclusion of the evening was an- nounced by President Steve Snider, and the happy guests headed for home! Top: Tom Graham. Above: Trivia Contest induces deep thoughts. below: Charles and Laura Henry Middle coluMn, Top To boTToM: Linda Kennedy with harp; Gordon Schaefering, Mike Molitor, Viola Sanchez; Jim Fordice and Ellen Joan Fenoglio; Pearl Clark, Debbie and Greg Noel FAr righT coluMn, Top To boTToM: Amy Estelle, Nancy Henson;Jeff Averhoff; Marion McDonald; Diane and Dale Murray; Sharon and Bill Constantine Photos: David Olson Page 4 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times February 2015 For those who missed the Perihelion Banquet Trivia Contest, here’s an opportunity to test your knownledge of astronomy and TAAS- related facts. Questions and answers courtesy of Dee Friesen, 2015 Trivia Winner Tom Graham. TAAS Trivia Quiz January 10, 2015 Have a little fun, maybe learn something and enjoy that you woke up this morning. Each blank is worth 1 point. Max points is 24 without the Tie Breaker. No arguing! ..... 1. After helium and Hydrogen what is the next most common element on the Sun? ___________ 2. The moon is moving away from the earth at ________CM per year. 3. Which Planet in our solar system has the highest winds? _________________ Photo Naoyuki Kurita 4. What is the nearest star other than the Sun to the Earth? ________________ 5. A cosmic year is the amount of time it takes the Sun to revolve around New Astronomers Invited to February the center of the Milky Way, about ____________ years. TAAS Fabulous 50 Viewing Session 6. There is a high and low tide because of our ________and the _______. 7. Who is the president of TAAS? _______________________ by Dee Friesen 8. What does the acronym GNTO represent?________________ 9. ____________ is the only planet not named after a Roman or Greek god. i wAnT To inviTe everyone interested in learning the basic 10. The planet Venus does not tilt as it goes around the Sun, so consequent- features of the night sky to attend a TAAS Fabulous 50 View- ly, it has no__________ . ing Session for New Astronomers on Friday, February 13 at 11. How long has Gordon Pegue been on the TAAS Board of Directors? 7:30 p.m. 12. The comet we are all looking for this January, like right now, is____________.