alactic Observer John J. McCarthy Observatory G Volume 11, No. 6 June 2018 An infrared image of the Lagoon Nebula taken for the celebration of the 28th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope, conducted by its cofounders, NASA and the European Space Agency. Infrared imaging penetrates the dust and gas of the nebula to reveal the the fine details of the stellar background. Turn to page 11 for a visible light image of the nebula revealing all the color and grandeur of this wonder of the universe. The John J. McCarthy Observatory Galactic Observer New Milford High School Editorial Committee 388 Danbury Road Managing Editor New Milford, CT 06776 Bill Cloutier Phone/Voice: (860) 210-4117 Production & Design Phone/Fax: (860) 354-1595 www.mccarthyobservatory.org Allan Ostergren Website Development JJMO Staff Marc Polansky Technical Support It is through their efforts that the McCarthy Observatory Bob Lambert has established itself as a significant educational and recreational resource within the western Connecticut Dr. Parker Moreland community. Steve Barone Jim Johnstone Colin Campbell Carly KleinStern Dennis Cartolano Bob Lambert Route Mike Chiarella Roger Moore Jeff Chodak Parker Moreland, PhD Bill Cloutier Allan Ostergren Doug Delisle Marc Polansky Cecilia Detrich Joe Privitera Dirk Feather Monty Robson Randy Fender Don Ross Louise Gagnon Gene Schilling John Gebauer Katie Shusdock Elaine Green Paul Woodell Tina Hartzell Amy Ziffer In This Issue “OUT THE WINDOW ON YOUR LEFT” ................................ 4 SUNRISE AND SUNSET ...................................................... 15 KIES PI LAVA DOME ....................................................... 4 SUMMER NIGHTS ........................................................... 15 INSIGHT ........................................................................ 5 ASTRONOMICAL AND HISTORICAL EVENTS ......................... 16 MARCO ....................................................................... 5 COMMONLY USED TERMS ............................................... 18 SATURN AT OPPOSITION ................................................... 6 REFERENCES ON DISTANCES ............................................ 18 MARS TRACE GAS ORBITER ............................................ 7 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION/IRIDIUM SATELLITES .......... 18 GAIA ............................................................................ 7 SOLAR ACTIVITY ........................................................... 18 BLACK HOLE NEWS ....................................................... 7 LAGRANGE POINTS ........................................................ 19 CHARON LEXICON ......................................................... 10 CONTACT INFORMATION ................................................. 20 HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE CELEBRATES 28 YEARS ........... 11 SUMMER WORKSHOP ..................................................... 21 DUST HAZARD .............................................................. 12 SECOND SATURDAY STARS ............................................... 22 SUMMER SOLSTICE ........................................................ 12 JUNE GRAPHIC CALENDAR .............................................. 23 JUNE HISTORY .............................................................. 13 WOMEN IN SPACE .......................................................... 13 AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAT .............................................. 13 JUPITER AND ITS MOONS ................................................. 14 JOVIAN MOON TRANSITS ................................................ 14 RED SPOT TRANSITS ...................................................... 15 June Astronomy Calendar and Space Exploration Almanac Mars Science Laboratory (Earth-bound twin) Turret or "Hand," equipped with an Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer, imager, and sample collection devices Photo Credit: Bill Cloutier Out the Window on observers can locate the flooded miles wide (10 km), with gently Your Left” crater Kies (28 miles or 46 km in sloping sides and a distinct caldera, T’S BEEN MORE than 45 diameter) to the south, along the similar in appearance to shield vol- years since we left the last foot basin’s edge. In the mare east of canoes on Earth. I print on the dusty lunar sur- Kies crater is the lava dome Kies Lunar domes likely formed dur- face. Sadly, as a nation founded on (Pi). The dome is approximately 6 ing the later stages of lunar volca- exploration and the conquest of new frontiers, we appear to have lost our will to lead as a space-far- ing nation. But, what if the aver- age citizen had the means to visit our only natural satellite; what would they see out the window of their spacecraft as they entered or- bit around the Moon? This column may provide some thoughts to pon- der when planning your visit (if only in your imagination). East - West profile of Kies Pi Dome. Credit: LROC Quickmap Lunar seas are actually expansive low-lying plains formed by ancient lava flows The Sun is rising on Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds) in this month’s image. It was an area first targeted by NASA’s Lunar Recon- naissance Orbiter’s camera (LROC) when the spacecraft arrived on orbit in 2009. The impact basin in which the mare resides has a diameter of approximately 430 miles (690 km) and is older than the nearby Imbrium and Humorum basins. Impacts, such as the one that created Bullialdus crater (38 miles or 61 km in diameter), have exca- vated rock from beneath the rela- tively thin mare (estimated at less Kies Pi Lava Dome than 1,600 feet or 500 meters Southwest shore of Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds) thick). Starting at Bullialdus, lunar 4 • June 2018 JJMO http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org nism. They range in size from 5 to 8 miles (8 to 12 km) in diameter and 600 to 700 feet high (200 meters). Shield volcanoes form when lava, with a low viscosity that allows it to flow easily, begins to crystalize and cool, building up over time around vents and fis- sures. Accumulating lava flows form a broad mound until the source of magma is exhausted and/or re- treats. Collapse of magma lakes or pools create pits near the summit. InSight NASA’s Discovery Program mission InSight (Interior Explo- ration using Seismic Investiga- tions, Geodesy and Heat Trans- mythical paradise of the afterlife, as they pass through and interact port) lifted off on a foggy morn- on November 26th. with the planet’s interior. A heat ing from the Vandenberg Air The InSight lander is built on probe will burrow into the soil, up Force Base in California aboard a platform similar to that used for to a depth of 16 feet (5 meters), to a United Launch Alliance (ULA) the successful Phoenix mission measure the heat from the planet’s Atlas V rocket. The launch, on that explored the planet’s polar interior and pinpoint its source. May 5th, was the agency’s first region, saving testing time and The lander’s antennae will be used interplanetary mission from the development cost. The lander is to precisely determine its position west coast. Approximately 90 equipped with two science instru- in space as Mars orbits the Sun and minutes after liftoff, the space- ments, a seismometer and heat measure the planet’s wobble about craft separated from the Centaur probe, as well as communication its axis. From this data, the size, upper stage, commencing its six antennae for a radio science ex- composition and state (solid or month, 300 million mile inter- periment. A seismometer will pro- liquid) of the interior can be planetary cruise. InSight is cur- vide information on the nature of inferred. The science from InSight rently scheduled to land on Mars’ the planet’s crust, mantle and core is expected to contribute to our Elysium Planitia, a relatively by detecting seismic waves (vibra- understanding of the formation of smooth plain in Mars’ northern tions) generated from marsquakes, other rocky and terrestrial planets hemisphere, and named after a meteorite impacts or other events, (as well as exoplanets). MarCO The Atlas V that propelled been achieved, the engine is re- CubeSats have operated beyond InSight on its way to Mars is a started, sending the payload to- Earth orbit. If they are success- two stage rocket. The first stage, wards its destination. ful in reaching Mars, MarCO will powered by kerosene fuel (type Stowed inside the Centaur’s arrive as InSight prepares to RP-1) and liquid oxygen, bulkhead were two (for redun- enter the Martian atmosphere. accelerates the rocket to 10,000 dancy) experimental mini-space- The briefcase-size-spacecrafts, miles per hour. The second stage, craft called Mars Cube One, or equipped with an Ultra-High the Centaur, carries the payload MarCO (A and B). Once InSight Frequency antenna to receive into low-Earth orbit using a separated from the upper stage, transmissions from InSight, will restartable engine powered by the two CubeSats were released, be able to relay data directly back liquid hydrogen and liquid on separate trajectories towards to NASA’s Deep Space Network oxygen. Once an Earth orbit has the Red Planet. It is the first time on Earth from a distance of 97.5 http://www.mccarthyobservatory.org JJMO June 2018 • 5 million miles (157 million kilo- meters). There will be an almost 9 minute delay in the receipt of data due to the distance (8.7 light minutes). MarCO is a demonstration project and therefore, not critical to InSight’s mission success (the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will be the primary data relay for the landing). However, if successful, CubeSats may prove to be a valu- able resource for relaying