alactic Observer GJohn J. McCarthy Observatory Volume 5, No. 5 June 2012 June 5: The Transit of Venus See page 6 for details The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 Allan Ostergren www.mccarthyobservatory.org Website Development John Gebauer JJMO Staff Marc Polansky It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Josh Reynolds has established itself as a significant educational and rec- Technical Support reational resource within the western Connecticut com- Bob Lambert munity. Steve Barone Allan Ostergren Dr. Parker Moreland Colin Campbell Cecilia Page Dennis Cartolano Joe Privitera Mike Chiarella Bruno Ranchy Jeff Chodak Josh Reynolds Route Bill Cloutier Barbara Richards Charles Copple Monty Robson Randy Fender Don Ross John Gebauer Ned Sheehey Elaine Green Gene Schilling Tina Hartzell Diana Shervinskie Tom Heydenburg Katie Shusdock Phil Imbrogno Jon Wallace Bob Lambert Dr. Bob Willaum Parker Moreland Paul Woodell Amy Ziffer In This Issue THE YEAR OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM .................................. 3 SUMMER NIGHTS ........................................................ 12 ASTRONOMICAL AND HISTORICAL EVENTS ...................... 12 APOLLO 11 CONNECTION .............................................. 4 REFERENCES ON DISTANCES .......................................... 14 OUT THE WINDOW ON YOUR LEFT ................................. 4 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/IRIDIUM SATELLITES ....... 14 MARE CRISIUM ........................................................... 5 SOLAR ACTIVITY ......................................................... 14 KATHLEEN FISCHER SUNDIAL ........................................ 6 COVER PHOTO AND OTHER CREDITS .............................. 14 VENUS TRANSIT ........................................................... 6 SECOND SATURDAY STARS ............................................ 15 HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE TO VIEW VENUS TRANSIT ....... 7 JUNE GRAPHIC CALENDAR ........................................... 16 COUNTDOWN TO PLUTO ................................................ 8 LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER ................................ 9 SUMMER SOLSTICE ....................................................... 9 JUNE HISTORY ............................................................ 10 WOMEN IN SPACE ....................................................... 10 AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT ........................................... 11 GALAXY CHECK ......................................................... 11 SUNRISE AND SUNSET ................................................... 12 2 • May 2012 http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org The Year of the Solar System NASA announced on Oct. 7, 2010 that the upcoming year would be “The Year of the Solar System.” The “Year,” however, is a Martian year and, as such, 23 months in length. Some of the highlights of the “Year” of exploration are: Other notable events: • April 15, 2012 Saturn at Opposition • May 20, 2012 Annular Solar Eclipse (visible in southwest U.S.) • June 5, 2012 Venus Transit (visible before sunset on the east coast) • August 2012Orion Dawn Rules spacecraft theleaves VestaWinter for Ceres Sky http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org May 2012 • 3 Out the Window on Your Left” Apollo 11 Connection T’S BEEN 40 YEARS since we left the last footprint on There are notations for two landing sites targeted the dusty lunar surface. Sadly, as a nation founded on by the Soviet Union identified on the Mare Crisium exploration and the conquest of new frontiers, we appear to image. On July 20, 1969, while Apollo 11 astronauts Ihave lost our will to lead as a space-faring nation. But, what Armstrong and Aldrin were preparing to set their lu- if the average citizen had the means to visit our only natural satellite; what would they see out the window of their spacecraft nar lander down on Mare Tranquillitatis, the Soviets as they entered orbit around the Moon? This column may provide attempted to land, what was believed to be, a sample some thoughts to ponder when planning your visit (if only in return mission (Luna 15) on Mare Crisium. With a your imagination). crash landing, the Soviets lost their opportunity to up- One of the more recognizable naked-eye features stage the Americans. of the lunar landscape fills our viewport this month: Seven years later, NASA in August of 1976, Luna 24 successfully landed on the lunar surface just east of the Luna 15 crash site and succeeded in drilling into the regolith. The samples returned to Earth were the last collected from the Luna 16 Moon. Mare Crisium or the Sea of Crises. The barren lava plain is bounded by the confines of an impact basin created during the pre-Imbrium period, 4.55 to 3.85 billion years ago. The circular mare is approximately 376 miles (605 km) in diameter and is located on the Moon’s eastern Luna 24 mission artist's impression (Source: NASA) limb, northeast of Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tran- quility). There are relatively few large craters on the surface of the mare, with the largest (Yerkes and Lick) flooded by ancient lava flows so that only an outline remains. The mare ridges, or dorsa, that ring the inner perimeter define a boundary between a shallow “coastal” shelf and the deeper central portion (up to 1.8 miles or 2.9 km in depth). Mountains encircling Mare Crisium are interrupted by several outcroppings and projections onto the mare’s surface, including Promontorium (Cape) Agarum along the southeast rim that rises 3.4 miles (5.5 km) above lava plain. Beyond the mountainous enclosure, there is evidence of additional basin rings Sample return capsules from Luna 16, 20, and 24 on from the original impact, although most are only display at the NPO Lavochkin Museum (Courtesy of ghostly arcs or concentric fault lines. Alexander Chernov and the Virtual Space Museum). 4 • May 2012 http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org Tycho to Moretus Mare Crisium Fra Mauro http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org May 2012 • 5 Kathleen Fischer Sundial open house (Second Saturday Stars) with a “Kids Night” Daytime visitors to the John J. McCarthy Ob- program. Weather permitting; the public will be able to servatory this summer will discover a wonderful observe the night sky through the Observatory’s main addition to the adjacent gardens and grounds. Rest- telescope, as well as through portable telescopes set up ing on a one-ton granite disk in the center of the by the Observatory’s all-volunteer staff. “outdoor classroom” in Galileo’s Garden will be a magnificent, stainless steel sundial. The equatorial Venus Transit sundial will stand nine feet tall, with a bronze rep- On June 5th, one of the rarest planetary alignments lica of Galileo’s first telescope integrated into the can be observed in the hours prior to sunset on the gnomon pointing to the celestial pole. The shadow east coast of North America. On that evening, the arms span five feet and the engraved time scale is planet Venus can be seen crossing in front of, or tran- adjustable so that both “clock time” and “sun time” siting, the disk of the Sun. can be read. The time scale contains both standard Transits of Venus occur when the planet is clos- time and daylight saving time engravings. est to the Earth and directly in line with the Sun, as The sundial will be dedicated to Kathy Fischer, viewed from Earth. This celestial arrangement is an inspirational science teacher, advocate for sci- known as an Inferior Conjunction. Because the or- ence literacy and long-time supporter of the bit of Venus is inclined 3.4° with respect to the Observatory’s mission, before passing away in ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun across the sky), 2010. She and her husband Larry loved the teach- Venus will almost always appear to pass either ing possibilities of a sundial. Along with family above or below the Sun, as viewed from Earth at members and friends, Kathy and Larry are the pri- an Inferior Conjunction. mary benefactors that allowed the concept (pictured However, it is possible that during the months below) to become a reality. of December or June, Venus can be observed cross- Dedication of the sundial will be during the daylight ing the disk of the Sun. This event is so infrequent hours on June 9th. Additional details will be provided on (but predictable), that it has only happened seven the Observatory’s website (www.mccarthyobservatory. times since the invention of the telescope: first in org). Later that day, the Observatory will hold its monthly 1631 and most recently in 2004. 6 • May 2012 http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org Transits of Venus occur in pairs approximately 8 years apart, separated by an interval of either 105.5 years or 121.5 years. Prior to the June 2004 transit, the previous transit occurred on December 6, 1882. Following the June 2012 transit, the next transit will occur on December 11, 2117, more than a hundred years in the future. The entire transit will be visible from northwest- ern North America and Hawaii; however, the Sun will set on the east coast while the transit is in progress. From western Connecticut the silhouette of Venus will be inside the limb of the Sun's disk at 6:21 pm on June 5th at an elevation of approximately 20°. In the next two hours (Sunset is at 8:25 pm), observers will notice the slow progression of the planet across the Sun's disk before it disappears below the horizon. As with any solar viewing, proper eye protection (and