Vol. 59, No. 3, MARCH, 2014 Next Meeting – Tuesday, March 18th, 2014 at 8pm ~ “The Most Massive Stars and a Pair of X-ray Goggles,” ~ with Speaker Veronique Petit, University of Delaware Postdoctoral Associate at the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory FROM THE PRESIDENT ! Bill Hanagan IN THIS ISSUE: NEW News of Importance to ALL Members Pages 2 & 3 First off, I’d like to thank everyone who contrib- uted to our February meeting, including Greg Lee DAS 2014 Elections by Elections Chair Fred DeLucia Page 4 DAS Short Course on Astronomy Returns Page 4 who let us know “What’s Up” and Julia Dooley for her Ground Fog Day (errrr...Night) Page 5 talk on Exo-planet Discovery. Thanks also go out to On the New Equipment Front Page 6 Rob Lancaster for the Video Tribute to the late John Outreach at the Delaware Astronomical Society Page 7 Dobson and to Mike Cimorosi and Diana Metzger for NEW HORZONS Reaches the Final Four (AU) Page 7 Spring Observing Season is About to Begin by Fred DeLucia Page 8 the refreshments. Jeff Lawrence and Greg Lee also New Images by Member Rob Lancaster Page 9 deserve a nod for opening up the Sawin after the More Images by Member Frank Colosimo Page 10 meeting despite all the snow on the ground. Those More Images by Member Rob Worden Page 11 who braved the snowpack were treated to an unusu- DAS Events and Member Star Party Dates Pages 12-13 ally steady and detailed view of Jupiter. Notes on Member Star Parties Pages 12-14 Coming up at our March 18 meeting, Greg Other Astronomy Events for DAS Members Page 14 Lee will give us another installment of What’s Up in the Sky. Our main speaker for the March meeting Rain and Snow Satellite Launched February 27th Page 15 Borrow Before-U-Buy: Sawin & DAS Loaner Scopes & Equip. Page 16 will be University of Delaware Postdoctoral Associate Veronique Petit, who will present a talk titled “The Astro Photo of the Month & Website of the Month Page 17 Most Massive Stars and a pair of X-ray Goggles”. Veronique’s talk will examine X-ray astronomy and From Around the Web: Spiral Galaxy Spills Blood and Guts Page 18 the unique information it can give us about the exciting lives of the most massive stars. NASA Science News” Once again, I’d like to remind you to keep California Drought Page 19 thinking about how you can contribute to the DAS 10 More Years for Space Station Page 20 Mars Rover Solves Donut Riddle Page 21 and how you can make the DAS a better astronomy Looking Back to the Cradle of the Universe Page 22 club. We’ve had some volunteers step forward, and NASA Hosts Launch of Book Series Page 22 we’ve received a variety of equipment donations, but Video Shows Movement of Major Storm Page 23 more volunteers and donations Chandra sees Pulsar Firing Extraordinary Jet Page 24 Hubble Watches Stars’ Clockwork Motion Page 25 are needed. Supernovas Slosh Before Exploding Page 26 A club works best when all of its able-bodied NuStar Untangles Mystery of How Stars Explode Page 27 members pitch-in and help out at club functions in The Shocking Behavior of a Speedy Star Page 28 whatever way they can. If you want to make the A Breakthrough in Planet Discoveries Page 29 Largest Solar System Moon Detailed in Geologic Map Page 30 DAS a better astronomy club, give me a call at 302- Newtonian Mirror Making Seminar Planned Page 30 239-0949. I’m sure we can come up with something Spitzer Stares into the Heart of New Supernova M82 Page 31 that you can do to help the DAS that also suits your A Telescope Bigger Than a Galaxy Page 32 particular interests. GREAT Deals on Equipment & More from DAS Page 33 Info on Mt. Cuba & Club Special Interest Groups Page 34 Each issue of FOCUS is full of useful hyperlinks. Just click on any Info on Memberships & Magazine Subscriptions Page 35 graphic or telltale blue web address and your browser should take you Contact Information for the DAS Board Page 36 to additional linked web resources. “The Last Word” - FOCUS Editor Joe Neuberger Page 36 MORE Details on Page 4 in this Issue of the FOCUS! Learn About -- Constellations, -- Meteor Showers, -- Asterisms, -- Comets, -- The Celestial Sphere, -- Eclipses, -- Time, -- Visual Observing, -- Coordinate Systems, -- Astro-Photography, -- Our Solar System, -- Stellar Magnitude, -- The Various Types of Nebula, -- And How to Choose, Use and -- Star Clusters Maintain a Telescope, Among -- Galaxies Other Topics Plus Spend Time Taking a Telescopic Tour of the Wonders of the Night Sky Using the Society’s 12.5” Newtonian and other Telescopes. FREE for DAS Members, $30 for Non-Members. Fee Includes a 6 Month DASMembership. Contact Mike Cimorosi, DAS Education Chair at [email protected] www.DelAstro.org -2- “PUBLIC NIGHTS” at the Mt. CUBA OBSERVATORY... MCAO PUBLIC NIGHTS Greg Weaver updates on programs planned. Interested individuals or groups can apply by letter or call 654-6407 (preferably The Mt. Cuba between the hours of 9 and 11 am, Monday through Friday) Observatory Public to the Observatory to obtain reservations for these “Public Nights”. Nights continue year The Public Nights schedule for 2014 follows: round! In addition to Date Speaker Topic learning about many 24 March Greg Lee Viewing Upcoming Solar & Lunar Eclipese aspects of the heavens, 7 April TBD TBD you’ll have a chance to 21 April TBD TBD 5 May TBD TBD 19 May TBD TBD the latest updated version off the website at: http:// 9 June TBD TBD 23 June TBD TBD MountCuba.org. Programs are presented on Monday nights at 8pm. Please check the website for full details and An Introduction to the Night Sky with DAS Observing Chair Greg Lee at Bellvue State Park Fred DeLucia The Delaware Astronomical Society provides an evening of stargazing to learn constellations through an Introduc- tion to Observing the Night Sky. This program is appropriate for beginners through advanced stargazers of all ages. Equipment will be available, or you may bring your own. Red-filtered lights only please. Pre-registration is not required . There is no fee for this program. If the weather is questionable on the night of the event you can call the park office after 12 noon for a Go/NoGo decision Meet in the field behind the Arts Center at Bellvue State Park. More info can be found at www.destateparks.com/ park/bellevue/programs/. The dates for these events are as follows: June 1, 9:00 (after the concert) July 2, 8:00 July 30, 8:00 Aug 27, 7:30 NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS: Please feel free to share your astronomy passions for all of us to enjoy by writing to FOCUS Editor Joe Neuberger at [email protected]. Members are interested in what you’ve been doing with Astronomy and the editor would like to include your experiences in future issues of the DAS newsletter. Impromptu Observing Sessions From time to time, outside of the normal MSP dates, which can be found on pages 10 and 11, the Yahoo Group will have announcements and invitations from members as opportunities arise for Impromptu Observing Sessions. If you’re interested in participating in these unscheduled “observing sessions” please, reply to the Yahoo Group posts so we know who is coming. If no one responds, the observing session could be canceled. REMINDER: To get these notices as promptly as possible, be sure your Yahoo Group email account is set for Individual Emails. Go to YahooGroups.com, log in to your account and under Manage My Groups have your Mail Sub- scription for the DAS Yahoo Group set for “Individual Emails.” DAS Main Meeting Topics and Speakers thru June, 2014 March 18: “The Most Massive Stars and a pair of X-ray Goggles,” by Veronique Petit, University of Delaware Postdoctoral Associate. This talk will examine X-ray astronomy and the unique information it can give us about the exciting lives of the most massive stars. April 15: “Basic Optics in Astronomy,” by Mike Cimorosi May 20: Open; June 17: Open -3- Total Solar Eclipse, Partial Phase - Photo taken in Yiwu, China on August 1, 2008 by DAS Member Don Shedrick. Photo captured using an Olympus E-500 camera at 1/500 second, f/8.0 at 200 mm, film iso200. Observing with the Delaware Astronomical Society... DAS 2014 Elections are in May ! Fred DeLucia, Elections Chair for 2014 This year, as with all “even-numbered” years, the DAS will hold the 2014 elections in May for the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Bill Hanagan, who has devoted time as President since 2008, will complete his current term but declines to run again. He will remain active with the DAS Special Interest Groups for astrophotography and telescope making, as well as continue his work helping to upgrade the Sawin Observatory’s equipment and be an active DAS member at meetings. Also, due to John Case’s pending move of his residence to the west coast, he will not seek another term as Vice-President, and possibly might have to vacate the position before his present term expires. We are, of course, sorry to see Bill and John preparing to leave the Board. Their imaginative direction and vigorous support contributes greatly to our status. The added value that they brought to the club over the years is immeasurable. Bill and John had assumed their larger roles in the DAS for the purpose of making us a better club.