Observe—Educate—Have Fun April 2019 The Sidereal Times The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society P.O. Box 50581, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87181-0581 www.TAAS.org taas — 2011 winner of astronomy magazine’s out-of-this-world award for outstanding public programming since 1959 General Meeting News TAAS Astronomy101 Saturday, April 20, 6:00 PM Speaker: John W. Briggs, “Telescopes and What They Show” Science and Math Learning Center, UNM Campus Free and Open to the Public Before the April 20 TAAS General Meeting, John Briggs – TAAS mem- TAAS GENERAL MEETING ber, Magdalena-based astronomer Saturday April 20, 7:00 PM and telescope historian – will pres- ent “Telescopes and What They Science & Math Learning Center, UNM Campus John W. Briggs with the Featured Speaker: DR. ANTONIO PARIS Show” for Astronomy 101. original polar alignment wrench under the 20-inch “MARS: YOUR PERSONAL The program will describe John’s refractor at University 3-D JOURNEY TO THE RED PLANET” favorite memories from a lifetime of Denver’s Chamberlin Free and Open to the Public experience using a variety of tele- Observatory, c. 1986, when scopes, presented in a fashion to he worked with master encourage all observers in their own astrotographer Prof. Edgar ongoing adventures. Everhart in a program of Our Featured Speaker at the TAAS General Meeting on April comet astrometry at the 20 will be Dr. Antonio Paris, Chief Scientist at the Center for Chamberlin Observatory Field He will illustrate this with examples Station in Bailey CO. Planetary Science. His topic: “Mars: Your Personal 3-D Journey of interesting instruments from to the Red Planet,” based on his book of the same name. various times and places, including remarkable homemade scopes that Here is a portion of Dr. Paris’s introduction to his book: “Wel- have appeared at telescope-making come to Mars! Through the eyes of Curiosity, Opportunity, and conventions and star parties like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft, this book will Stellafane and the Riverside Tele- continued on page 2 . introduce you to the geology of Mars andcontinued the groundbreaking on page 2 . scope Makers Conference. Also Placitas Star Party TAAS Fabulous 50 NMMNH&S Public Star Spring Viewing Session Party Sat., April 13 Placitas Elementary School All Saints of North America Valle de Oro N.W.R. Observing begins at dusk. Orthodox Church Wed., April 10, 6:00 p.m. Fri., April 19 8:00 p.m. INSIDE 2....... President’s Message 5....... Public Star Parties at Valle de Oro, Placitas 9....... Astrophoto: The Pleiades, M45 3....... Astrophoto: Flame Nebula 6....... Astrophoto: Lunar Craters 10....... TAAS Reports & Notices 4....... Under the Dome, Telescope Loan Update 7....... Open Space Visitor Center Report 11....... TAAS Directors & Staff 8....... TAAS Fabulous Fifty Spring Session continued on page 3 . The Sidereal Times April 2019 President’s Message Jim Fordice Astronomy Shines The other Junior Division astronomy proj- at the Science Fair ect was created by Olivia Cole. You may recognize Olivia’s name because she won In the Junior Division there were two as- an award from TAAS last year and has at- tronomy projects. Alexandra Archuleta’s tended several of our General Meetings. project “How Does the Sun and Moon Olivia’s project was titled “Galactic Rota- Carl Larson and I served as the judges Determine the Moon Phases?” earned the tion Curves: Altering Science Cosmically.” at the 2019 Central New Mexico Science & $200 First Place award. Alexandra theo- She used galaxy rotation data obtained Engineering Research Challenge on March rized that the moon’s phases are caused by a professional astronomer to discuss 22. We viewed a number of very well-done by shadows. She devised an experiment and explain that galaxies do not rotate science projects, concentrating on three composed of a light to simulate the sun as expected. She discussed how the two directly related to astronomy. and a ball to simulate the moon. She main theories (dark matter and Modified mounted the ball in a box with “windows” Newtonian Dynamics) attempt to explain The one Senior Division project related to cut into the side of the box for the sunlight why this is. We awarded her a $100 Second astronomy was performed by Liliana Ma- to come in and to view the moon on each Place prize. drid Larranaga. Her project was titled “Star of the other sides. Thus she illustrated that Tracks.” Liliana used a camera to take pic- the moon’s phases are caused by the sun In addition to the monetary awards each tures of star tracks and used them to mea- illuminating the moon, along with our dif- of the winners will also receive a one-year sure the local angle hour of stars. She very fering perspective of the moon from Earth. TAAS Student membership. Congratula- accurately measured the rotation rate of Her project was a great example of how tions to Liliana, Alexandra, and Olivia. the earth. We awarded Liliana a $200 First science works! Place award for the Senior Division. ..General Meeting News ...Astronomy 101 continued from page 1 continued from page 1 featured will be selected instruments from particularly enjoyed close double stars achievements in the exploration of the Red the collection of John’s own Astronomical with striking colors. Planet. Through the use of 3D glasses, you Lyceum in Magdalena NM. will have the opportunity to explore im- Pausing college studies to work as an ob- pact craters, volcanoes, ancient rivers and While the presentation will include de- server for research projects, John gained other geological features on Mars.” scriptions of hardware, the emphasis will experience with classic larger refractors be on exactly what the hardware allows including the 20-inch at Wesleyan’s Van Dr. Paris will pass out 3-D glasses at the seeing....but sublime views do not neces- Vleck Observatory and the 65-cm Zeiss at beginning of his talk. sarily require large telescopes, as John CIDA, Venezuela’s national observatory. hopes to illustrate with interesting anec- Along with his position as chief scientist at dotes and images. Later, working at Mount Wilson and Yer- the Center for Planetary Science, Dr. Paris kes, he learned firsthand what could be is an Assistant Professor of Astronomy and John Briggs started as a young backyard seen with the largest telescopes—Lynne in the Olson Astrophysics at St. Petersburg College FL observer with refracting telescopes, and world at the turn of the century. and a graduate of the NASA Mars Educa- tion Program at the MarsMars: Space Your Flight Personal Cen- 3Dter Journeyat Arizona to theState Red University. Planet pace He is Science the RemembeR to notify TAAS authorAerial of three Phenomena. books: when your mailing address, ; S ; e-mail address, phone and numbers, etc., change. Send updates to Doug LeGrand, Dr. Paris is a professional member of the [email protected], or to Washington Academy of Sciences, the Observe – Educate – Have Fun Bob Anderson, membership@ American Astronomical Society, and has TAAS.org. appeared on the Science Channel, the Discovery Channel and the National—Lynne Geo- Olson graphic Channel. Page 2 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times April 2019 The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024 and Sh2-277, is an emission nebula in the constellation Orion. It is about 900 to 1,500 light- years away. I shot this last month and was surprised to see a hint of the Zia Sun Symbol from the bright star Alnitak interacting with my camera pixels. —Dwight Talley Page 3 The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society The Sidereal Times April 2019 Under the Dome Upcoming Events: Notes from and about GNTO Jim Fordice • rd April 27: 3 Quarter Moon Ob- • serving March 10 - Messier Marathon: • May 4: New Moon Observing March proved to be an astronomical bust rd Marchat GNTO. 9 - Messier Marathon: June 1: 3 Quarter Moon Observ- Tom Liles and I opened the site. We re- • ing ported: Well, not a good final night for Alan Scott opened the site, and reported: the Messier Marathon. Cloud cover 80% June 8: New Moon Observing I arrived on site for our Messier Marathon with sustained winds at 20mph, gusting at 5:10 p.m. High and medium height to 28mph. We opened, looked around, and clouds were present as far as the eye could are closing now. Nobody else showed up! Don’t forget that the GNTO Observing see, and the clouds appeared to be get- Field is available for use by TAAS members ting worse. Although there was one car/ Congratulations to Tom Liles for qualifying anytime. Check the TAAS website for the astronomer at the gate when I arrived, he as a GNTO Opener. We now have 17 mem- procedure to follow. Contact me if you have decided to head home, without coming on Marchbers who 30 are - 3 rdqualified Quarter as Moon Openers. Observing: any questions. site. I stayed around until 7:30 p.m and closed up. Looking up as I drove home, a As always, check TAAS_Talk and the TAAS setting moon was visible to the west. It Will Ferrell was the opener. His report: The website for last-minute changes and up- appeared to be behind a sheet of paper, observing session for March 30th at GNTO dates. GNTO events are open to all TAAS smeared with dense Vaseline. Definitely a was a complete blowout. The wind was members and their guests. good night to stay home and read astrono- too strong to even stay outside much less my magazines. set up equipment. The facility was closed GNTO Director: [email protected] or 505- down an hour after opening.