the vol. 45 no. 07 Skyscraper July 2018 AMATEUR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND 47 PEEPTOAD ROAD NORTH SCITUATE, RHODE ISLAND 02857 WWW.THESKYSCRAPERS.ORG In This Issue: Saturday, July 28, 7pm 2 President’s Message at Seagrave Observatory 3 Astronomy Nights at River Bend Farm Mars Party 3 Stunning Saturn Shares Ever since NASA's Viking spacecraft ar- outlets like Twitter (@JPMajor), Instagram Summer Sky rived on Mars in the mid-1970s we’ve been (same) and Facebook, he has been expand- mesmerized by amazing landscape images ing to "in-real-life" astronomy outreach pro- 5 Aphelion: Earth Farthest from the surface of the Red Planet. Right grams with some neighborhood skywatch- From The Sun now there are two active rovers operating ing gatherings, most recently at Waterfire in on Mars and there are ways to see what they Providence. Jason is a self-taught writer, im- 6 Globular Cluster in Scorpius are seeing in almost real-time (barring any age processor, and graphic designer living in Messier 4 inconvenient dust storms, of course!) Im- Warwick, Rhode Island. age processor and space news blogger Jason You are encouraged to bring any 7 A Close-Up View of Mars Major will show how to access these images Mars-related materials that you may have. and how he creates “real-color” images from We will also have refreshments, a brief busi- 8 The Sun, Moon & the monochrome data that’s available. ness meeting and observing. Planets in July Jason Major is a space exploration enthu- siast, blogger, and amateur image processor. Upcoming Meetings 9 Image Gallery His articles on planetary exploration mis- sions and scientific findings have been pub- August Meeting lished on Universe Today, Discovery News, Saturday, August 18 National Geographic online news, and on September Meeting his own site LightsInTheDark.com and his Friday, September 7 imaging work has been featured by News- week, The Atlantic, Scientific American, AstroAssembly and by NASA itself. Active on social media September 28 & 29 Skyscrapers Board Meeting Monday, August 20, 7pm All Members Welcome Phases of the Moon Last Quarter Moon July 4 07:51 Seagrave Memorial New Moon Observatory July 13 02:48 Open Nights First Quarter Moon July 19 19:52 Saturdays st 9:00 pm Full Buck Moon weather permitting July 27 20:20 President’s Message by Steve Hubbard Hello again everyone! First of all, thanks might settle in time enough to give us some more about how to use your telescope or to Francine and Jim for a great presentation good views. binoculars, wanted to spot an object or 2 at our June meeting about a trip they made To celebrate, be sure to try and get to our on your celestial bucket list or just want to earlier this year to a very unique home “Mars Party” on the 29th. We will have a spend some time in the company of like made planetarium (star theater) in Wis- special speaker, some Mars related memo- minded celestial enthusiasts under pleas- consin. It was a fun presentation and many rabilia and…keeping my fingers crossed… ant summer skies, watch for upcoming thanks also to everyone who brought some some views through our telescopes of Mars announcements of dates. These are a great yummy treats for our dessert buffet. too. way to get to know the universe and your Have you seen Mars yet? It’s only weeks Don’t forget that Jupiter and Saturn will fellow members! away from it’s closest approach to Earth in be well placed for viewing over the next few Finally…we are fast approaching anoth- many years. Unfortunately as sometimes weeks as will many of our favorite summer er Astroassembly on September 28 and 29. happens when Mars is close to us, a giant objects. We have been working hard to bring some dust storm has started up. This has ob- Working with the trustees and your great speakers and lots of fun to you for this scured some of the details, but seeing Mars officers, we have set up a number of star long time annual Skyscraper tradition. Be as big in a telescope as it will be is still going party opportunities over the next couple of sure to put the dates in your calendar, this to be a treat. And who knows…the dust just months. If you have ever wanted to know is a not to be missed opportunity! 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 President Outreach Committee Steve Hubbard [email protected] Linda Bergemann [email protected] The Skyscraper is published Francine Jackson [email protected] monthly by Skyscrapers, Inc. 1st Vice President Meetings are held monthly, Jim Hendrickson [email protected] usually on the first or second Observatory Committee Chairperson Jeff Padell [email protected] Friday or Saturday of the month. 2nd Vice President Seagrave Memorial Observatory is open every Saturday night, weather permitting. Terry Turner [email protected] New Member Steward Tracy Prell [email protected] Secretary Directions 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 Matt Ouellette [email protected] Assistant Librarian Submissions to The Skyscraper are always welcome. Weston Ambrose Please submit items for the newsletter no later than Members at Large July 15 to Jim Hendrickson, 1 Sunflower Circle, Bob Janus [email protected] Historian North Providence, RI 02911 or e-mail to jim@ 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. Tom Thibault [email protected] com. Note that you will no longer receive the news- letter by postal mail. Jim Crawford [email protected] 2 The Skyscraper July 2018 Astronomy Nights at River Bend Farm Ranger Joshua Bell from the Blackstone quarter); Venus, Jupiter, Saturn & Mars vis- us in past years and River Bend Farm is an River Valley National Historical Park has ible. ideal location with a large, open field away asked Francine Jackson and Jim Hendrick- September 21 - Blackstone Valley GO from lights which is ideal for observing. son to help with summer Friday Night Sky Event - Kent Cameron Memorial Sky Additionally, we will be dedicating the Sep- Programs at River Bend Farm once again Gaze - start at 18:30; Sunset at 18:44; Wax- tember 21 night in memory of Kent Camer- for summer 2018. ing gibbous Moon occults delta Cap (3rd on, who had hosted night sky events at Riv- The park has partnered with local Civil magnitude star) beginning at 19:06; Venus er Bend Farm for over 20 years. For more Air Patrol Squadrons to run the program. sets early; Jupiter, Saturn & Mars visible. information, contact Jim Hendrickson They'll be explaining basic stuff to visitors October 5 - start at 19:00; Sunset at at [email protected], Francine like how telescopes work and what it is that 18:20; Waning crescent Moon not visible in Jackson at [email protected] they'll be looking at. They'll have some be- evening; Jupiter sets early; Saturn & Mars or Josh Bell at [email protected] ginner telescopes, but folks should feel free visible; dark night for deep sky; best night River Bend Farm Visitor Center to bring their own. The following tentative for Milky Way viewing. 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge MA 01569 dates have been suggested. All dates are These events have been a lot of fun for Fridays and there are no rain dates. In the event of inclement weather, an indoor pre- sentation will be given. July 27 - start at 20:30; Sunset 20:09; Full Moon rises at 20:10; Mars Opposition - best Mars has been in 15 years - potential big turnout; Venus, Jupiter, Saturn & Mars visible. August 17 - start at 20:00; Sunset at 19:43; Waxing crescent Moon (almost 1st Stunning Saturn Shares Summer Sky by Dave Huestis Since the beginning of the year I’ve been gazers who are fortunate to own telescopes will reveal a slightly larger image of the touting the prime-time return of Jupiter, have been following Saturn for months. planet than your sleep deprived associates Saturn and Mars. Last month I provided They were able to observe this beautiful experienced. an observer’s guide to Jupiter. Bright Jupi- ringed-world during pre-midnight hours.