OBSERVATORY NEWS March 2014 Published by the Friends of the Observatory (FOTO) Volume 25 No. 3 513-321-5186 www.cincinnatiobservatory.org Bill Cartwright, editor this will not pose a problem for too COMING UP AT many of our previous Thursday evening attendees! But it seems THE OBSERVATORY.... there are some people who could not come on Thursdays and can come on Mondays, so we are looking forward to meeting you! Stonelick Stargaze Mar 1 dusk The first Astrophotography Dean’s Astro class Class was given by Fred Calvert for members Mar 3 7p on February 20th and was an Astronomy Thursday Mar 6 8p excellent introduction to the FOTOKids Mar 7 7p principles of astrophotography. Astronomy Friday Mar 7 8p Even I could understand it! If you History Tours Mar 9 1-4p missed the first class but want to **FOTO Meeting Mar 10 7:30p THE WORD participate in future classes, e-mail Astronomy Thurs Mar 13 8p me ([email protected]) and I will send you Fred’s slides from the Astronomy Friday Mar 14 8p By Michelle Lierl Gainey first class. Following Fred’s *UC Science Expo Mar 15 12-4p Hello friends! instructions, I was able to “take” Astronomy Thurs Mar 20 8p At our February FOTO my first astrophoto using a remote Astrophoto Worksh Mar 20 7p meeting, a vote was taken to telescope at New Mexico Skies Astronomy Friday Mar 21 8p change the Bylaws so that the (for free!). See my photo of the 5th Anniversary of the Paul Nohr meetings are no longer required to Whirlpool Galaxy below! Memorial Sundial Mar 23 1-4p be held on the first Thursday of Astromony Thurs Mar 27 8p each month. The reason for this Astronomy Friday Mar 28 8p was to move the FOTO meeting to Stonelick Stargaze Mar 29 dusk a different day so that the Observatory is free for public ** Note the monthly FOTO programs every Thursday. Based on the Survey Monkey poll taken Members Meeting has moved to through the newsletter, it seems 2nd Mondays - 7:30pm at the that Monday evenings are the best Observatory day for the most members, so we decided to have FOTO meetings on Save-The-Dates! the second Monday of the month. Marsapalooza Apr 10-12 Thus, our next monthly meeting The telescope does all the technical st 1 Night Light Apr 13 will be held on Monday March work, so it is a no-brainer, but it Intro to Astronomy Apr 16, 23, 30 10th, at 7:30 pm. Please mark was still a fun way to get started. Astrophoto Workshop Apr 17 your calendars for the second The next class is on Thursday, Saturn Saturday May 10 Monday of each month. I hope March 20th at 7 pm. I know we 1 have many intelligent and talented members of FOTO. Many of you FOTO Kids and 50 For 50! are knowledgeable about interesting astronomical or FOTO Teens By Aashi Mital historical topics. If you would like By Aashi Mital to give a presentation at one of the As many of you know, the Cincinnati Observatory has been FOTO meetings, feel free to Thank you for the amazing submitted as an entry for the contact one of our program turnout at February’s meeting! We Cincinnati Preservation committee members: Dave saw some new faces in the room McBride, Tom East or John and were thrilled to share the Association’s “50 FOR 50!” Blasing. world of Galileo with all of you. Contest. They are celebrating their th Saturday, March 8th is This month is bound to be just as 50 Anniversary by selecting the International Sidewalk Astronomy exciting as we dive into the life of top 50 buildings and historical Day! This year, the event is held French astronomer Charles sites that make Cincinnati unique. in honor of John Dobson, the father Messier and his astronomical The list comes out April 10th, so of sidewalk astronomy, who died catalogue. Be prepared for the we need to really go for it over the in January at age 98. John Dobson adventurous challenge of our very next few weeks! The higher up on has left a beautiful legacy of own Messier Marathon! the list we are, the greater the outreach astronomy, which we at Make sure that you dress for presence of the Observatory in the FOTO are helping to carry on. I the weather, as we’ll be spending a regional area. hope FOTO members will turn out great deal of time outside. Don’t The contest is through in record numbers to hold sidewalk worry! If the weather doesn’t Facebook, but you don’t need to astronomy events on March 8th. cooperate, we’ll have plenty of fun have Facebook to vote. All you Dean Regas is coordinating this activities to do indoors. We’ll see have to do is go to the link event; please contact Dean if you you in the Herget Building at the (https://www.facebook.com/pag are interested in participating. Observatory at 7 p.m. on Friday, es/Cincinnati-Preservation- th March 7 . Association/185964090342?v=app Have questions? Don’t hesitate _448952861833126&rest=1). When The Red Planet Returns! to email Aashi Mital you get there, click on “View ([email protected]) or Aaron Entries” option, select the picture Mark Your Calendar for Eiben ([email protected]). of the Observatory, which opens a Until then, stay warm and keep new page where the “Vote” option Marsapalooza 2014 looking up! becomes available and hit the th “Vote” button. Thanks for the April 10, 11 & 12 9-11pm Museums and Historic Sites support. The Cincinnati Observatory will open its doors and telescopes to of Greater Cincinnati the public while Mars is at its Greater Cincinnati STEM closest for the year. There will be Q&A about Mars, tours of our Collaborative amazing buildings and history, and viewing through the two vintage 1845 and 1904 telescopes (weather permitting). MHSofGC is currently comprised of over 30 participating sites across And we'll have tips on how to The Observatory is proud to be observe the upcoming April 15 Greater Cincinnati. Each site offers a unique perspective on local working with the Collaborative to lunar eclipse too. further STEM education in our $7 per person. No reservations history and culture through public programs, exhibits, lectures, and region. You can find out more at needed. Check out the What’s Up their new website! web page for any updates. tours. www.historicgreatercincinnati.org http://www.greatercincystem.org 2 Went to the observatory for the first UC Communiversity Craig’s Corner time a couple of weeks ago, it is truly By Craig Niemi amazing and should be protected. Enrich Your Life With Quality Courses Following the founding of the The marriage of science, education original Cincinnati Observatory in and history the Cincinnati 1842, and with astronomy’s Observatory provides for its citizens is subsequent spread across the a distinctive to our community and city. nation, observatories became symbols of a city’s culture, Simply beautiful. You've got to visit knowledge and affluence. this gorgeous campus or you haven't One of our goals has been for seen all of our city. the Observatory to be recognized When the observatory started back in as an integral part of Cincinnati’s 1845, it opened the doors to citizen cultural fabric. science and opportunities in The Observatory was recently education. It still upholds this included in the Best of Cincinnati message. Guide (pg 20) and is in a top spot in the Cincinnati Preservation Thank you for helping people to learn April 21th 7-9p Association’s 50 for 50 celebration. more about Cincinnati and trying to Behind the Scenes Both speak to the power of place open the eyes of the local people who May 12th 8-10p and the tremendous impact we’ve don't appreciate this city. They always Stargazing 101 had on the community. ask, "Why Cincinnati?" They think in May 14th 7-9p When we say “the modern day terms rather than going Mysteries of the Universe Observatory” we don’t just mean back in time when we were the 4th largest city in the country and aided the iconic buildings and All classes $22 per person (+ any the nation in several ways. telescopes. The Observatory is you materials fees.) and me; our staff, volunteers and The observatory is one of the best kept To register contact UC members; our donors and secrets. Go! Take your family! Look Communiversity at 513-556-6932 supporters; our inspired and awe- through time. Enjoy every moment of or www.uc.edu/ce/commu.html struck visitors young and old. this historic landmark. That’s what power of place is. This is one of the few entries on here Planning Meeting We hope you will visit that actually talk about how it defines Cincinnati’s observatory often in the city and makes it special. By Michelle Gainey 2014! One day on the list and the The next FOTO Planning Meeting Here are some of the recent Observatory rose from 50th to 3rd! is scheduled for Thursday, March comments posted online. It's a special part of Cincinnati's 27, 6 pm at the Observatory. The history. I LOVE the Observatory! planning meetings are open to all More than a just a hidden treasure, a FOTO members. We encourage I didn't know much about the hidden gem. your participation in the observatory until I read this young discussion of future FOTO woman's caption.