Journal of the Northern Sydney Astronomical Society Inc. Volume 22 Number 2 July 2011 President’s Message In this issue he year for NSAS is already halfway to be interesting in the future. The next Page 1: President’s message Tthrough, and it’s been eventful so program will be in August. Page 2: Calendar/Communications far. Some of you who do not attend ISS and Endeavour meetings may have missed the 2nd edition The guest speaker program this year Page 3: A Quadruple Conjunction of Reflections this year, as it was not has continued to run strongly and, at the Page 4: Parkes Field Trip published for the simple reason that moment, NSAS has guest speakers from Page 5: Lindfield School Event there were so few contributions from the the professional astrophysics community Page 6: Paul’s Corner membership that it would have not been booked for the rest of the year, with a Page 7: Supermassive Black Hole worthwhile. I’d like to remind everyone number of candidates selected for 2012. Page 8: Book Review in the Society that Reflections is a journal Our speakers so far have come from Editorial for the members, but also of the members. CSIRO, Macquarie, Sydney, and NSW the Central West Astronomical Society There’s no point in rehashing information Universities and they have talked to us on (see the more detailed article inside). Our that is available in the newspapers or the a wide range of subjects that form their intentions are to run another field trip, Web in Reflections, as these are available areas of expertise. possibly to Coonabarabran and the AAO, to most of our members. later in the year. Don’t forget that the Geoff Welch Prize for As you know, we recently made a move in We have also tried to start our arrangement best article submitted to Reflections is short our meeting place from the Fr. Mac Pavilion with WSAAG at Linden Observatory this listed by the Committee in September, and to Regis Hall at St. Ignatius, which is big year, but they are equally frustrated with the winner is chosen by the membership at step up in our facilities and ability to host the observing conditions. the September General Meeting so, if you a large group. It’s probably just as well, as haven’t contributed this year, it’s already the membership of the Society has slowly We’ve recently lost our Secretary, Anna too late! grown over this year towards the level that Koeneman, who has resigned due to a the Committee would like to see. In fact, we broken (writing) wrist, after 3 years of On to other, happier, matters. The Society have gained 12 new members, at the loss support in this important area of Society has had a busy and fruitful year so far, both of 3 members at the last renewal. So please documentation. She has left her position in attracting new members and in running introduce yourselves to our enthusiastic with the often chaotic paperwork now its various internal programs and outreach. new members at the next opportunity. very neat and tidy. The Committee wishes The Theory Group has continued to attract to thank her for her loyal support. We new attendees and the last meeting had On the outreach side NSAS has been will attempt to get by for the rest of the about 20 persons attending. somehow busy. After a quiet start to the Society’s year within the Committee but The New Astronomers Group (NAG) has year, we ran a primary school star program I’d like everyone to start thinking about the been moving slowly through the art of at Lindfield Public School in May, followed makeup of the Committee next year prior observing over the year, and a number by the Parramatta Park star party and the to the elections in October. of new and existing members who have Seaforth Public School event in June. Due to my likely return to university not been active in observing have been The major outreach event for NSAS this next year, I will be stepping down as attending. The sad state of observing year will be the star party we will run as a President to offer myself in a slightly less during the last year due to the La Nina part of the Lane Cove Council Cameraygal active position, so I’ll be looking for a weather pattern has continued to dog our Festival on September 3. This is a major replacement. scheduled observing program, but we’ve event comparable to our parties for managed to continue the NAG on other Willoughby Council and it will require I wish everyone a pleasant winter of subjects. Hopefully we are finally seeing broad support from the membership, so astronomical interests, and the return of better skies, and this winter expect to be asked for help. hope to see more of you may allow us to run a more frequent at the various meetings observing program. As you may remember, a survey of the and observing sessions. membership at the last membership renewal Also starting up this year has been Bob indicated a strong desire for field trips this Best Regards, Roeth’s “Fifth Tuesday” Mathematics and year and we made our first trip in late June Astronomy programs. These have been to Parkes, where a 30-strong group of well-attended by both the mathematically members and wives toured the Dish, and inclined and the rest of us and they promise attended a joint observing session with Bob Fuller Calendar General Meetings: July 19th Guest Speaker: Baerbel Koribalski (CSIRO); the Wallaby project August 16th Guest Speaker: Daniel Yardley (Sydney Uni); gravitational wave detection September 20th Guest Speaker: David Free (Macquarie Uni); subject TBA Theory Group Meetings: July 12th - August 9th - September 13th NAG Meetings: July 26th - August 23th - September 27th Observing Nights: Consult NSAS’ web site at http://nsas.org.au/observing/ Deadline: Please send your contributions to the October issue of Reflections in time to reach the editorbefore September 15th to [email protected] ISS and Space Shuttle Sighting n May 21ST 2011, the Space Shuttle The whole of this pass starts at 5.45pm It is due to continue towards the ESE and OEndeavour had already joined and and it is due to rise over 10 degrees in will enter the Earths Shadow when it is was linked to the International Space the NNW in the constellation of Gemini only 18 degrees high at 5.50 pm, just after Station. near the main stars Pollux and Castor at just reaching Scorpio 5.47pm Both are passing over Sydney and more By this time the sky should be relatively closely over Gosford and dark but since the ISS and the Shuttle the HKG village hwere I are now joined together the vision of reside at a very high angle, the two should be very bright in the up to 66 degrees high as it reflected evening sunlight as seen at closes on the star Spica that altitude of well over 380 km. in Virgo, on Saturn, the Southern Cross and the Report of this sighting: prominent 2 pointers. On time and on course and quite brilliant. In fact there is quite a I have never seen the ISS quite so bunch of craft all together bright as it soared overhead. Seemed to in this pass as they are have quite a few points of light. Since followed by the Soviet it looked more like a Sydney bus with Soyuz TMA 20 and the all its lights on, I rechecked my notes Soyuz TMA 21, these are and timings and its trajectory, just in transport modules that case I was watching a rather low flying transport goods to the ISS Jumbo jet, albeit very silent with no and are kept nearby for disposal of waste Endeavour and the ISS as seen from Soyouz sign of any navigation lights red or green when the ISS is filled. TMA 20 supply ship. Credit NASA No it was the ISS and the space shuttle Its interesting to also note that the sewage absolutely on the predicted course and from the ISS is also disposed this way Progressing it reaches higher and higher in on time! and who knows, the next time you see a the northerly sky, past Leo and on to Virgo ‘Falling Star’ and make a wish , well it passing to our right of Saturn by 5.49pm. This sighting was one of the best I have could just be one of these craft burning up Remember it is quite fast as it is traveling witnessed and it excelled in the fact the that waste in our atmosphere. at over 17,000 km per hour but is over 380 NNW to ESE direction was in fact the exact We do not want to pollute space, just km distant so it is quite a steady track. Total length of the HKG valley and it cleared all Earth’s atmosphere. But no problem, in the visual transit will take up to 5 minutes. the trees except for the initial 2 minutes. reentry the craft do burn up with the heat This spectacle was well worth the time generated in the fiery descent By the time it gets near the small taken to enjoy the view of this special constellation of the Southern Cross it will event. There is also a 3rd extra craft in this bunch, be at its maximum height of 66 degrees Continued on page 8 called the ATV Johannes Kepler 2.