the vol. 45 no. 09 Skyscraper September 2018 AMATEUR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND 47 PEEPTOAD ROAD NORTH SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND 02857 WWW.THESKYSCRAPERS.ORG In This Issue: Friday, September 7, 7:00pm 2 President’s Message at Seagrave Observatory 3 Kent Cameron Memorial Sky Gaze at River Bend Farm A Half Century of Astronomical Spectacles: 4 Sagittarius, the Archer My Personal Top 10 List by Richard Sanderson Richard Sanderson will present, “A Half the Springfield Science Museum in Mas- 6 NGC 6818 : Planetary Century of Astronomical Spectacles: My sachusetts, where he managed Museum’s Nebula in Sagittarius Personal Top-10 List,” a talk that was in- observatory and Seymour Planetarium. spired by the recent 50th anniversary of Specializing in astronomy education and 7 A Trip Through the Milky Way his first eclipse. Rich reviewed dozens of historical astronomy, he wrote a newspa- 8 The Sun, Moon & Planets astronomical events he has witnessed over per astronomy column for many years and the past 50 years and narrowed them down has been published in various astronomy in September to his ten favorite. They include eclipses, magazines and journals. Together with Phil 10 Proposed Changes to transits, great comets, fireballs and more, Harrington, he co-authored the 2006 book, and are illustrated by his own astronomical “Illustrated Timeline of the Universe.” Rich Constitution & Bylaws photographs. has been a member of the Springfield Stars 11 AstroAssembly 2018 Rich recently retired from a 19-year Club since 1973. tenure as Curator of Physical Science at Skyscrapers Board Meeting Monday, September 17, 7pm All Members Welcome Phases of the Moon Last Quarter Moon September 3 02:37 New Moon Seagrave Memorial September 9 18:01 Observatory First Quarter Moon Open Nights September 16 23:15 Full Harvest Moon Saturdays st 8:00 pm September 25 02:52 weather permitting President’s Message by Steve Hubbard Finally, there are just a couple of other There have been some exciting things go- struments also in use. In addition, we ended things I want to mention. First of all, thanks ing on Seagrave Observatory! up with 35 to 40 enthusiastic members of the to Tracy Prell, we are collecting money from First of all, I want to send out a HUGE public who were treated to views of Jupiter, Amazon on a regular basis whenever anyone thank you to the Trustees! They spent a large Saturn and Mars. buys through Amazon using their “Amazon portion of a recent steamy, hot weekend in- Speaking of star parties, we are going to Smiles” program. This is a simple, easy way stalling a new attic fan system in our meet- hold additional ones over the next 3 months to donate to a charitable group (us!) and ing hall. I was there on a recent Saturday and at the observatory. doesn’t cost you a dime. Next time you’re on the hall was noticeably cooler even without The dates for these will be: Saturday Sep- Amazon, check it out! the A/C units going. This should make our tember 15, Saturday October 20 (Which is At every meeting we will also be collect- warm weather meetings much more enjoy- also International Observe the Moon night) ing canned food stuffs to donate to the local able. and Saturday November 17. food bank on behalf of Skyscrapers. Please Secondly, we had another great star party These are a great time to get a chance to try to remember to bring something and at Seagrave on Saturday, August 25. Unfor- look through a number of telescopes, enjoy place it in the collection box in the meeting tunately it wasn’t all that clear, but we did time with fellow enthusiasts and also intro- hall. get a good amount of members and their duce the glories of the night sky to members See you at the meeting and… be sure to telescopes out to compliment the society in- of the public. sign up for Astroassembly!! Skyscrapers Food Basket Skyscrapers has now started a food Skyscrapers Library Borrowing Procedure Shop AmazonSmile donation program! Just simply bring a The catalog of available items to borrow is available at caned good or two each time you visit http://www.theskyscrapers.org/library-procedures, as well as in the meeting hall in and Support the meeting hall or observatory; place proximity to the bookcases. Skyscrapers, Inc. it in the Food Donation box in the hall and they will be donated to our local To borrow an item a member can: 1) review the list online before coming to a meeting food bank on a monthly basis. 2) review a hard copy of the list on a meeting night. Once a member chooses an item they can ask Dave Huestis or Weston Ambrose to retrieve it from the bookcase. The member will then sign the item out. This check out procedure will occur only between 7:00pm and 7:30pm on monthly meeting nights held at Seagrave. Borrowed items should be returned at the next meeting unless other arrangements are made. https://smile.amazon.com/ch/05-0382371 The Skyscraper is published President Outreach Committee monthly by Skyscrapers, Inc. Steve Hubbard [email protected] Linda Bergemann [email protected] Meetings are held monthly, Francine Jackson [email protected] usually on the first or second 1st Vice President Friday or Saturday of the month. Jim Hendrickson [email protected] Observatory Committee Chairperson Seagrave Memorial Observatory Jeff Padell [email protected] is open every Saturday night, 2nd Vice President weather permitting. Terry Turner [email protected] New Member Steward Tracy Prell [email protected] Directions Secretary Directions to Seagrave Memorial Observatory are Kathy Siok [email protected] Librarian located on the back page of this newsletter. Dave Huestis [email protected] Treasurer Submissions Submissions to The Skyscraper are always welcome. Matt Ouellette [email protected] Assistant Librarian Please submit items for the newsletter no later than Weston Ambrose September 15 to Jim Hendrickson, 1 Sunflower Cir- Members at Large cle, North Providence, RI 02911 or e-mail to jim@ Bob Janus [email protected] Historian distantgalaxy.com. Tracy Prell [email protected] Dave Huestis [email protected] E-mail subscriptions Trustees Editor To receive The Skyscraper by e-mail, send e-mail Jeff Padell [email protected] Jim Hendrickson [email protected] with your name and address to jim@distantgalaxy. com. Note that you will no longer receive the news- Tom Thibault [email protected] letter by postal mail. Jim Crawford [email protected] 2 The Skyscraper September 2018 Friday, September 14: Enjoy the Wonders of the World at the University of Rhode Island Planetarium! University of Rhode Island Planetarium Kingston Campus In addition to the featured presentation, Upper College Road Losing the Dark, a short introduction to Friday, September 14th, 6:00 P.M. light and its problems in our society will be Contact: Francine Jackson 401-527-5558 given, as well as a tour of The Skies above Come enjoy a tour of the Seven Won- the URI campus. ders of the Ancient World! These incredi- Admission to this presentation is $5.00, ble features were built before modern-day to benefit the URI Planetarium Fund. The equipment was even a thought, and yet, URI Planetarium is on Upper College today, one of these is still a major feature. Road, at the end of Engineering Row and Why were these made? How? Come learn across the parking lot from East Hall. of the beauty and majesty of the Seven The University of Rhode Island Plane- Wonders of the Ancient World. In addition, tarium is available for programs of many learn what are considered the Seven Won- varied topics of astronomical interest. For ders of the Universe, through the beauty of more information, please call 401-527-5558. 21st century technology. Friday, September 21: Kent Cameron Memorial Sky Gaze at River Bend Farm Ranger Joshua Bell from the Blackstone Additionally, we will be dedicating the Sep- or Josh Bell at [email protected] River Valley National Historical Park has tember 21 night in memory of Kent Camer- River Bend Farm Visitor Center asked Francine Jackson and Jim Hendrick- on, who had hosted night sky events at Riv- 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge MA 01569 son to help with summer Friday Night Sky er Bend Farm for over 20 years. For more Programs at River Bend Farm once again for information, contact Jim Hendrickson summer 2018. The park has partnered with at [email protected], Francine local Civil Air Patrol Squadrons to run the Jackson at [email protected] program. They'll be explaining basic stuff to visitors like how telescopes work and what it is that they'll be looking at. They'll have some beginner telescopes, but folks should feel free to bring their own. The fol- lowing tentative dates have been suggested. All dates are Fridays and there are no rain dates. In the event of inclement weather, an indoor presentation will be given. September 21 - Blackstone Valley GO Event - Kent Cameron Memorial Sky Gaze - start at 18:30; Sunset at 18:44; Wax- ing gibbous Moon occults delta Cap (3rd magnitude star) beginning at 19:06; Venus sets early; Jupiter, Saturn & Mars visible. October 5 - start at 19:00; Sunset at 18:20; Waning crescent Moon not visible in evening; Jupiter sets early; Saturn & Mars visible; dark night for deep sky; best night for Milky Way viewing. These events have been a lot of fun for us in past years and River Bend Farm is an ideal location with a large, open field away from lights which is ideal for observing.