The MARCH 2002 DENVER OBSERVER Newsletter of the Denver Astronomical Society One Mile Nearer the Stars How Many in One Night?? Gearing up for the Messier Marathon? Those folks who are new to astronomy may not yet be able to relate to the sheer joy of braving the early-spring temperatures (brrrrr) for a full night (and morning—I’m talking dusk to dawn, here) of observing some of the most beautiful objects in the heavens. Why now? Because for only a few weeks during the year is it possible to see all of the Messier objects in one night. Astronomers will dig in their heels and tripods, get out the star charts (See Page 7), and knock off one object after the next. Some people actually catalog 70 of the available 110 targets and submit their achievements to the Astronomical League for the coveted Messier Certificate. Others just like to look at the beautiful celestial wonders like the one in the photo to the left. Either way, get out to the The Pleaides (M45) DSS on the weekend of the 15th and enjoy Image © Joe Gafford, 2002 the views!—PK Spring Fever Strikes President’s Corner .......... 2 MARCH SKIES 2002 f you’ve been reading your astronomy magazines, you know that by month’s Schedule of Events ......... 2 Iend, four naked-eye planets will grace the night skies. Jupiter is the main show-stopper but Saturn, Mars, and finally Venus will sparkle for all, moon or no moon. Remember that a Officers ......................... 2 little high-cloud haze can be good for telescopic planet observations. Moon-less springtime Notices and Updates ...... 3 evenings are best if you’d like to check out the zodiacal light along the ecliptic. You’ll need a dark site to observe it—see how high you can follow its glow. Finally, a welcome, yet unexpected Observing the Great Llama visitor has been hugging the northwestern horizon lately. Comet Ikeya-Zhang (C/2002 C1) is putting on a better show than anticipated. Experts think it could brighten to 3rd magnitude ......................... 4, 5, 6, 7 with an ion tail of 10° to 15°. This icy interloper may be best observed photographically because of its high gas content—it definitely bears close watching. Our website will keep you Messier Marathon.......... 7 posted with updated star charts. Happy Equinox, and clear skies.—Patti Kurtz High and bright Library Survey .............. 8 5 ..................................... Last quarter moon this month, Jupiter 13 ............................................... New moon, is worth keeping an DSS Information....... 8, 9 ............ Double shadow transit on Jupiter eyepiece close by 20 ........................................ Vernal Equinox for. Its moons will For Sale ......................... 9 21 .................................... First quarter moon, do some fairly fancy ............ Double shadow transit on Jupiter shadow dancing. Membership Info. ..... back 28 ................................................ Full moon, Keep your cameras MarchInside The Observer 2002 ............ Double shadow transit on Jupiter Image: © Bert Harless, 2002 ready! Page 1 “The Mystery Astronomer” DAS Officers President: Larry Brooks (303) 986-5255 Email: [email protected] Vice President: Patti Kurtz (303) 948-5825 Email: [email protected] Secretary: Ron Pearson (303) 670-1299 Email: [email protected] Treasurer: Chuck Carlson (303) 744-7331 Email: [email protected] ALCor: Jerry Sherlin (303) 680-6894 Email: [email protected] Chief Observer: Who is the dapper young man demonstrating proper eclipse etiquette? Hint: The picture is 31 Jack Eastman years old. First correct answer wins a $50.00 gift certificate to S&S Optika. Send responses to Patti Kurtz at [email protected]. Executive Board Members Ted Cox Jerry Sherlin PRESIDENT’S CORNER Jack Eastman David Shouldice I want to take this opportunity to thank dedicated to Colorado Astronomy Day. Joe Gafford Steve Solon the outgoing E-board members and I also want to thank all of the members Greg Marino Dan Wray welcome the new. It has been a great year that have contributed to making the DAS George Jones, Past President thanks to you. The Denver such a great organization. Thanks to those Astronomical Society of you who participate in the Open DAS Information Line: has grown alot this Houses, the Public Night events, the school (303) 986-5255 year. Patti and I star parties, Colorado Astronomy Day, particularly want to those that work at the Dark Sky Site, and DAS Correspondence: thank you for the The Dark Sky Site Committee. My thanks Denver Astronomical Society enormous contribution to people that show up for clean-up day, c/o Larry Brooks of time, energy, and talent publish the newsletter and contribute 3686 South Depew, #8 Denver, Colorado 80235 MARCH APRIL Van Nattan Scholarship Fund P.O. Box 150743 1 E-Board meeting, 8 P.M. 5 E-Board meeting, 8 P.M. Lakewood, Colorado 80215-0743 15-17 Dark Sky Site Weekend 12-14 Dark Sky Site Weekend (Messier Marathon, See Page 9.) 20 Observatory Cleaning Day at Webmaster: Patti Kurtz 23 Observatory Cleaning Day at 10:00A.M. and Email: [email protected] 10:00A.M. and Open House (begins at 7:00P.M.) Open House (begins at 26 General Meeting at Olin Hall, Newsletter: 7:00P.M.) DU, 7:30 P.M.—Dr. Mark Denver Observer editor, Patti Kurtz 30 Spring Banquet at the Blue Vincent, (University of StarFire Creations Unlimited Bonnet Restaurant (cocktails Colorado) “South Pole—Life in (303) 948-5825 at 6:30P.M.) and Installation An Up-Side-Down World.” The Observer is available in color of New Officers. See Page 3. PDF format from the DAS website. Public Nights are held every Tuesday and Thursday from The Executive Board conducts the 7:00-9:00 P.M. (Beginning April 3, 8:30-? P.M.) business of the DAS at 8 P.M. at at Chamberlin Observatory Chamberlin Observatory. Please see Costs to non-members are: $2.00 adults, $1.00 children the Schedule of Events for meeting DAS Schedule DAS Please call (303) 871-4333 for reservations. dates. All members are welcome. www.denverastrosociety.org Page 2 March 2002 articles and pictures to the newsletter, run the web site, contribute to the web site, and last but most certainly not least, thanks for the continued support from the University of Denver’s Physics Department. As you can see, I am not naming names because The Observer would need two extra pages to list everybody, and we’ve got two extra pages this month anyway. Thanks again to all, and clear skies. —Larry Brooks, [email protected]. Welcome New Members! The following folks joined the Denver Astronomical Society during the last month. Welcome new members! • Robert J. Hilton, M.D. • Robert Sticher Image: © David Shouldice, 2002 © David Shouldice, Image: S & S OPTIKA New Officers With Chuck Carlson (Treasurer) cruising in the the February meeting were (left to right) Larry Colorado’s Premier Astronomical Antarctic, new officers had to smile without him Brooks, President; Carla Swartz, Vice- Supply Store at the last general meeting. Newly elected at President; and Ron Pearson, Secretary. New 5174 So. Broadway; Englewood, Sky & Telescope sends only one notice E-board members were also elected. CO 80110 before subscriptions end. The DAS sends (303) 789-1089 only one issue of The Denver Observer Note from the editor: Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and after dues expire. The cost of magazines Newsletter contributions (ccd and film Fridays: 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. (Astronomy and Sky & Telescope) is in addition to the annual dues. For questions astrophotos, members with telescopes, star Thursdays: 10 A.M. - 8 P.M., Saturday: concerning memberships, please contact party candids, short observing anecdotes, 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. DAS Treasurer, Chuck Carlson Closed Sundays and Mondays observing and imaging tips, etc.) are welcome ([email protected]). See the back page of and encouraged. This is your chance to strut www.sandsoptika.com this newsletter for more information. your stuff! Please submit by the 15th of each NOTICES month as follows: Film: Glossy prints by mail** or scanned New Officers Elected and uploaded (high res.) to the listserve Elections of new officers were held at the February meeting. Thanks to the outgoing officers upload area. and E-board members (see the President’s Corner, Page 2), and welcome to the new: CCD: Uploaded to the listserve upload area President.................................... Larry Brooks E-Board: Ted Cox, Jack Eastman, Joe Gafford, (resolution as high as possible, please). Vice-President ............................ Carla Swartz Patti Kurtz, Sandy Shaw, David Shouldice, Text: Articles should be no more than 250 Secretary..................................... Ron Pearson Steve Solon, and Dan Wray. words, please. Please paste article(s) into an Treasurer ................................ Chuck Carlson email and send to me at: DAS Spring Banquet and [email protected]. Installation of New Officers If you don’t receive a confirmation email from me, I didn’t get your email. Also, be The Blue Bonnet Restaurant (457 South checks payable to the DAS and send to Greg Broadway, 303-778-0147) will cook up a Mexican Marino (10791 Grove Street, Westminster, CO sure to let me know if you’ve uploaded a file. Fiesta for the DAS Spring Banquet on Saturday, 80031) by March 15, 2002. We have to cap the Thank you! March 30, 2002. The buffet will include cheese reservations at 70 people this year, so if you enchiladas, crispy chili rellenos, a scrumptious want to attend, be sure to get your checks in **Patti Kurtz taco/burrito bar, green and red chili, rice and as soon as possible. Dr. Roger Clark will be (303) 948-5825 beans, chips, salsa, and guacamole. our presenter this year and will be speaking All articles and images are © the author or Dinner this year will cost $18/person and about Mars.