Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 69, No. 1 December 2016 A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Meteorites Asteroid Van Zandt Imaging Distant Galaxy Clusters Virginia Beach Boardwalk Astronomers From Around the League: League Officer Nominations Winning Journalism Award Essays T HE A STRONOMICAL L EAGUE 1 The Astronomical League helps members explore the wonders of our universe—maximize your membship! GERMANY)TORY, VA Observe Programs. Just about everyone has heard of the more than 50 AL Observe 4 Field of View/What If There Were No Astronomical League? Programs. These are a group of nationally recognized observing lists and activities. Some are 5 Reflector Mail suitable for novices, some are for intermediates, while others are strictly for advanced 6 International Dark-Sky Association/Happy Centennial amateurs. These clubs provide a low stress way to view the many wonders of the night sky. 7 Reflections League Awards. 8 Wanderers in the Neighborhood The Astronomical League wants to recognize those dedicated TINO ROMANIELLO (EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSER individuals who make astronomy happen. Every year, the League gives awards 9 Deep-Sky Objects/The Manta Ray Cluster in several different areas: the Mabel Sterns Newsletter Award, the Webmaster 10 Gallery The Challenge of Imaging Three Distant Galaxy Clusters Award, the National Young Astronomer Award, the suite of Horkheimer Youth Awards, : NASA, ESA, AND MAR 12 the Astronomics Sketching Award, and others. New this year are the OPT Imaging Awards! 13 All Things Astronomical 14 Asteroid Van Zandt Reflector Magazine. Every member receives this full color quarterly magazine that’s 15 Boardwalk Astronomers published for League members by League members. Members are encouraged to 16 A Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Meteorites submit articles and images for our national readership of over 16,000 amateur 20 Dealt Anew astronomers. The magazine also puts members in touch with dozens of star parties 21 10, 25, and 50 Years of the Astronomical League’s Magazine located all over the country and features columns from other professional groups. 22 From Around the League TITLE PHOTOGRAPH: NGC 1850, THE DOUBLE CLUSTER; CREDIT League Store. We have a great League Sales Office, run by a dedicated and 26 Astronomers Without Borders talented staff. Our astronomical handbooks are low cost and very popular — 28 Observing Awards another of the many benefits of League membership. League Sales is vastly 30 Coming Events expanding its inventory, has gone to a color catalog, and now has on-line Top image: Zag (Morocco) H3-6 Chondrite, which fell in Morocco on August 4 or credit card capability. 5, 1996. Weighing 56 grams, this slice measures 180 x 106 x 1 mm. From the collection of Ron J. Kramer. Bottom image: Parnallee LL3 chondrite, which fell in the Madura district, Tamil Book Service. Searching for that special astronomical title in print? Separate from League Sales, Nadu, India, on February 28, 1857. Note the exquisite preservation of the chondrules, which were formed during the condensation of the solar nebula. Speciment is a 5.5-gram partial slice measuring 42 x 26 x 3 mm. From the the League provides a 10% discount on astronomy books with no shipping charge. collection of Gregory T. Shanos. To our contributors: The copy and photo deadline for the March 2017 issue is National Convention of the Astronomical League. At our National and Regional meetings, January 1. Please send your stories and photos to our managing editor, Ron Kramer ([email protected]), by then. members rub shoulders with, among others, research astronomers, astronauts, authors, magazine The Astronomical League invites your comments regarding this magazine. How can we improve it and make it a more valuable resource for you, our editors, university professors, equipment manufacturers, as well as officers of the League. This is your members? Please respond to the editor’s email address above. chance to talk shop with those in-the-know. National Voice. The AL is an active and vital member of the amateur The Astronomical League Magazine astronomical community. The League gives Vol. 69, No. 1 • ISSN: 0034-2963 • December 2016 A FEDERATION OF ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETIES amateur astronomy a national voice on A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION To promote the science of astronomy important issues such as the fight against • By fostering astronomical education, • By providing incentives for astronomical light pollution. observation and research, and • By assisting communication among amateur astronomical societies. Astronomical League National Office: www.astroleague.org 9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114 2 R EFLECTOR ✶ D ECEMBER 2016 T HE A STRONOMICAL L EAGUE 3 What would amateur astro- In essence, there is no genuine Dear Editor: five of them are still in the club. We I’m not very worried that visual astronomy will Earlier this year, I donated a wondered how we could honor disappear either. It will remain a part of our hobby nomy look like if there were sense of a national amateur telescope in memory of my parents them for their role in FRAC’s because it is so more easily shared. Imagers like to work no Astronomical League? astronomical community working ARIO, CANADA to the Ottawa Public Library founding. alone, and even when they are in large gatherings they QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE Imagine Space. At our July meeting, our program tend to isolate themselves. The interaction at star parties Can you imagine what the world of together, solving the challenges ACE FLIGHT CENTER ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE A collaboration between the was a trip down memory lane, and club observing events always involves enjoying the Issued by the Astronomical League in March, June, September, the amateur astronomical that confront today’s hobby. Yes, Ottawa Public Library and the U.S. “FRAC’s First Year,” and we view through the eyepiece. That camaraderie and shared and December, the Reflector (ISSN: 0034-2963) is sent directly, community would be like if the people will still gaze at the stars, Embassy in Ottawa, the Imagine presented those five charter experience is a big part of the hobby and insurance that either by postal mail or via a digital link, to each individual Astronomical League had never Space is a public makerspace—a members with AL polo shirts with visual observing will endure. but they will come away with an GRAFTON, ONT TORY; member of its affiliate societies and to members-at-large as a “FRAC Charter Member” or “FRAC That aspect extends to outreach, too. An astrophoto VA place where customers can use benefit of League membership. Individual copies of the existed? The life of today’s amateur incomplete experience. Co-Founder” printed on the back. It will never have the visceral impact of seeing the real Reflector are available at the following subscription rates, high-tech tools to create and payable to the League’s national office. astronomer would certainly be The reach of a respected innovate. was, we felt, a fitting tribute to thing with your own eyes. I can’t imagine doing outreach The instrument is an Orion them for nearly two decades of without actually looking through telescopes, can you? Paper subscriptions: different, and, in many ways, much national amateur astronomy Field of View StarBlast 4.5-inch tabletop service to our club, and a I imagine many visual astronomers feel a sense of USA & possessions: $3.00 each or $10.00 per year (4 issues) less rewarding. From the office of your president organization Canada: $5.00 each or $16.00 per year SEYFERT’S SEXTET; NASA GODDARD SP telescope that was modified for celebration of FRAC’s long being left behind, of not doing “real” astronomy because Mexico: $6.00 each or $22.00 per year An isolated and sparse Being under the stars, observing public use. The dust caps on the eyepiece and telescope association with the Astronomical League as well. they are not producing data. I’ve felt that myself. There Other countries: $7.00 each or $25.00 per year nightscape with no Astronomi- the night sky firsthand, and were attached by chain so that they cannot get lost. A Bill Warren is, however, something to be said for the skill and Digital subscriptions: Celestron zoom eyepiece (8 to 24 mm) was bolted in Flint River Astronomy Club dedication it takes to push that visual envelope and see All countries, possessions, and territories: $10.00 per year cal League in sight appreciating the wonder, beauty place so that it cannot be removed. Three stickers were fainter and further with one’s own eyes. It can yield a Reflector and Club Roster Deadlines People standing at their telescopes and mystery of this incredible YNN HILBORN; WHISTLE STOP OBSER put on the telescope: a Sun sticker warning never to look sense of prideful accomplishment that I doubt is TITLE PHOTOGRAPH: March issue January 1 wonder what they should attempt universe are large parts of the at the Sun, an eyepiece magnification chart sticker that duplicated by yet another image of M42. To be sure, it’s June issue April 1 shows what magnification you will have for each setting not for everybody, but for those that get it, it’s a sort of September issue July 1 to find, with no clear goals in mind. attraction of our amazing of the zoom rush that is unique to our breed. December issue October 1 They have little direction, and they avocation. Because of the eyepiece, and a Ted Forte Written and graphic material from this publication may be re- have little encouragement on Astronomical League, people are Moon map sticker Desert Coyote Observatory printed only for non-profit benefit of interested parties, provided Huachuca Astronomy Club, Sierra Vista, Arizona specific credit is given to the writer(s), the Reflector, and the oriented as you developing their abilities to encouraged to spend time under would see the Chair, Planetary Nebula Program Astronomical League.