the vol. 39 no. 1 January Skyscraper 2012 Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island 47 Peeptoad Road North Scituate, Rhode Island 02857 www.theSkyscrapers.org January Meeting "The City Dark" Friday, January 6, 7:30pm at North Scituate Community Center The Frosty Drew Observatory is "The City Dark" said to be located in the darkest THE CITY DARK is a feature documentary The City Dark takes on the challenge of trying skies in Rhode Island. Knowing the about the loss of night. After moving to NYC to understand what we are losing through the observatory’s contributions to the from rural Maine, filmmaker Ian Cheney asks a loss of darkness. The City Dark has been filmed town – educational, economic and simple question - do we need the stars? - taking in a beautiful and elegant style – a sort of visual him from Brooklyn to Mauna Kea, Paris, and poetry that draws the viewer in. The beauty of aesthetic – Charlestown has bought beyond. Exploring the threat of killer asteroids the filming and insights of the interviews literally for Frosty Drew’s exclusive use the in Hawaii, tracking hatching turtles along the paint us picture of the costs of electric lighting. movie The City Dark. This 84- Florida coast, and rescuing injured birds on The film is an enchanting philosophical study minute movie stresses the importance Chicago streets, Cheney unravels the myriad of how artificial light is changing our lives in of retaining the night, for effects implications of a globe glittering with lights profound ways. It explores how we are becoming including human health, animal - including increased breast cancer rates from disconnected from our natural surroundings exposure to light at night, and a generation of – particularly the stars of the night sky that are preservation and the retaining of one kids without a glimpse of the universe above. being lost to light pollution in our urban areas. of our natural resources. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast Its biggest flaw is that it spends too much time –Francine Jackson of eclectic scientists, THE CITY DARK is the on how we've lost contact with the beauty of the Director, Frosty Drew Observatory definitive story of light pollution and the disap- night sky before getting to the more intriguing pearing stars. Written by Wicked Delicate Films ways in which artificial lighting is affecting the In many ways the most complex issue that we well-being of our society. The later parts of the face as a civilization are the trade offs between film examine how our changes to the lighting In this issue… the costs and benefits of modernity. One of the environment are harming the wildlife - such as most trans-formative changes of the last century turtles and birds. It also explores how lighting 2 President’s Message has been the massive expansion of artificial light may be having deleterious effects on human which has transformed our concepts of natural health in profound and unexpected ways. 3 Meteor Shower Prospects daylight and darkness and in so doing trans- This film literally asks us to considering the for 2012 & Other formed our way of life. Thomas Edison's electric costs of our modernity, science and indeed liter- Astronomical Highlights light bulb is in many ways the core invention of ally of our enlightenment. Those are questions our modern way of life. Artificial lighting repre- that we need to be asking in our modern, scien- 4 The Full Moon in January sents one of humankind's greatest triumphs over tific world as we come to realize the costs of our 5 Geminid Meteor Shower the natural world. But at the same kind, artificial modern way of life. Observing Reports lighting has remarkable, and usually unremarked, upon costs. 5 M74: Galaxy in Pisces 6 Dawn Takes a Closer Look 7 December Reports Phases 7 PRELIMINARY of the ANNOUNCEMENT for Moon Transit of Venus at Mount Wilson, with associated 1 9 16 23 30 Lectures and Tours Other notable events: Earth at perihelion on the 5th. Lunar eclipse begins at moonset on the 10th (not visible from East Coast). Solstice is on the 22nd. Mercury at greatest western elongation on the 23nd. Pluto is in conjunction on the 29th. 2 The Skyscraper January 2012 President’s Message Tom Thibault The Skyscraper is published monthly by Skyscrapers, Inc. Meetings are usually held on the first Friday of the month. Public ob- Dear Skyscrapers Members, Skyscraper. Bob Horton also, to the delight serving is usually held every Saturday night Hopefully all of you good little stargaz- of the crowd, shared a great aerial photo of at Seagrave Memorial Observatory, weather ers received some new observing gadgets John within a small plane accompanied by a permitting. this holiday season. The winter solstice has pair of UFO’s, apparently John’s reputation President passed and the winter skies are amongst the as a great photographer had spread through- Tom Thibault [email protected] best to test out those new goodies. Jupiter out the universe. continues to dominate the evening and As you all know, light pollution is the 1st Vice President some of the premiere deep sky objects have bane of all those with an interest in astrono- John Briggs [email protected] begun to display their wares. To me, the my. There are studies now showing that light 2nd Vice President winter skies are the best, the skies appear pollution is not only hindering our view of Kathy Siok [email protected] their darkest, the air is crisp, and the nights the night sky, but are also having effects on start early. us physically. January’s Meeting will feature Secretary It was good to see so many of you at the film “City Dark”. Francine Jackson will Ed Haskel [email protected] our December Holiday Meeting. The present the film and has extended an invi- Treasurer Skyscrapers tradition of our membership tation to our membership to invite any of Jim Crawford [email protected] gathering to feast with friends continued their public officials to attend. If we want to with a fabulous Pot Luck spread of varied see improvements regarding this issue, we Members at Large dishes. Our speaker Richard Sanderson’s, need to have those representing us to work Gene Kusmierz [email protected] “Night of Raining Fire” was captivating. on our behalf. Jim Hendrickson [email protected] As Richard read the eyewitness accounts of Our Observatory Committee and Trustees the 1833 Meteor Storm, I became envious Outreach Program have completed a very John Leonelli [email protected] of those that had witnessed this rare astro- active year. Even with the late start last year, Pat Landers [email protected] nomical event. I find history an interesting our Public Nights finished strong due to Steve Siok [email protected] subject to begin with, but add the astrono- the lack of snow and ice. We have added to Star Party Coordinators my component, and you have me hooked. the ranks of the committee two additional Conrad Cardano [email protected] Bob Horton and Bob Napier put members and invite all to come up and join Bob Forgiel [email protected] together a wonderful display honoring us on Saturday Nights. We participated and long time member John Hopf. It included hosted a good number of Public Outreach Librarian numerous examples of John’s work as a pro- events and shared the beauty of the universe Amber Lesperance [email protected] fessional photographer as well as stunning with hundreds. We’ve had a great year dis- Historian photos of comets he captured during his playing our commitment to public educa- Dave Huestis [email protected] lifetime. Our attendees were treated to tion. I would like to encourage anyone with an early holiday gift. All were invited to the time and interest to come join us in our Editor choose one of numerous postcard examples mission. Jim Hendrickson [email protected] of John’s works in memory of our fellow Clear Skies Directions Directions to Seagrave Memorial Bob Napier and Bob Horton Observatory are located on the back page of set up this presentation of this newsletter. John Hopf's photographs Submissions and postcards at the Submissions to The Skyscraper are always December meeting. Photo welcome. Please submit items for the newsletter no later than January 20 to by Jim Crawford. Jim Hendrickson, 1 Sunflower Circle, North Providence, RI 02911 or e-mail to jim@ distantgalaxy.com. E-mail subscriptions To receive The Skyscraper by e-mail, send e-mail with your name and address to jim@ distantgalaxy.com. Note that you will no longer receive the newsletter by postal mail. twitter.com/SkyscrapersInc www.theSkyscrapers.org The Skyscraper January 2012 3 Meteor Shower Prospects for 2012 & Other Astronomical Highlights Dave Huestis It seems like my meteor reports for 2011 if you wish to observe it safely I recommend (Alkaid) of the Big Dipper’s handle. read more like meteorological summaries. you purchase solar eclipse glasses early, as From midnight till dawn this area of The weather was absolutely horrible. Not the transit will be visible to millions of folks sky will rise higher and higher above the only did it spoil most of the shooting star across the United States. They are available north-east horizon. This scenario places the displays that were not already affected by from a number of vendors through the radiant point on the opposite side of the sky interfering moonlight, but extensive and internet. Whatever you do, caution will be from where the Moon will be, so moonlight prolonged cloud cover prevented amateur the keyword of the day.