MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety Diablo MoonWatch Diablo MoonWatch April 2013 GENERAL MEETING Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday April 23, 2013 Lindsay Wildlife Museum Magnetism, Space Weather, and Atmospheric 1931 First Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA 94597 Evolution at Mars By Dr. Matt Fillingim Please park East of the museum, follow the Unlike Earth, Mars does not instructions on the last page have a global scale magnetic Matt Fillingim has been a field. However, it does have research scientist at the Space Sciences Laboratory at the intense and localized crustal University of California, Berkeley, magnetic fields. since 2002. Prior to that, he received his Ph.D. in Geophysics Earth’s planet-wide mag- from the University of Washington netic field is thought to shield in Seattle and both his B.S. and our atmosphere from the solar M.S. in Space Sciences fromthe wind. Without such a shield, Florida Institute of Technology in the solar wind has impacted Melbourne, FL. His current the atmosphere of Mars over research focuses on the magnetic the past few billion years sub- fields and tenuous, ionized gas stantially changing it. Dr. Fillingim of Mars has changed. He will also introduce then next mission to (aka plasma) surrounding Earth, will discuss some of the recent the Moon, and Mars. He has also ideas about the history of Mars’ Mars, MAVEN, slated to launch in late 2013, which is designed to been the astronomy instructor at magnetic field and how (and Berkeley City College since 2008. why) the atmosphere and climate decipher the atmospheric history of Mars. P U S ’ T A H W “Space-Creatures” I will share my un-earthed “friends” with you, as we journey through their amazing life, death and. rebirth? By Moon Trask Pan-Starrs comet by John Read 1 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch April 2013 Keeping Steady With Binoculars CORNER by Chris Ford It is a maxim that Neither are they that comfortable mono eyepiece because of the S to use compared to contemporary way the brain synthesizes the ’ every astronomer binoculars that I have recently visual information. T needs a pair of tried out, all of which led me to binoculars. look for a new set that are more So binocular viewing is a very N up to date so I can give my exist- natural process and wanting the E For myself, I have ing pair a long overdue rest. two pairs of 7 X 50 best experience, I recently D and 10 X 50’s that decided to update my I have been in my pos- vintage binoculars with session for over 30 S a new set, as everything years.They were I read during my E given to me by my parents to whom in research said that most R turn they were given binoculars over 20 years by a film director old do not compare with P who used them to scout out locations for shoots. In the current state of the fact I don’t know how old they optical art. are or even who the (long- extinct) maker is, but that’s not So what to buy? These binoculars must be pretty vintage as everything is solid Well, this month’s president’s cor- important, they are MY binoculars metal. No plastic or rubber anywhere. of great sentimental value, almost ner is not meant to be a binocular indestructible, and they have Another common problem buying guide, but rather the per- delivered a wonderful service experienced with binoculars is sonal discovery into how far the over the years. I suspect that keeping the view still and free of experience of using binoculars for many of us have similar relic “the shakes” (especially the 10 X astronomical purposes has instruments of comparable per- 50’s) and avoiding neck ache changed for this author.This is the sonal value. However it has while looking at anything over 45 direct result of purchasing a set of become increasingly clear of late degrees above the horizon unless the Canon IS (Image Stabilized) that my binoculars do not really lying on a recliner.There is compare to what a modern pair though something particularly of binoculars can deliver in terms comforting in viewing with both of clarity and performance. eyes as our brains are designed to handle a 50% crossover of optical information from both our left and right eyes.This is also a reason when using a binoviewer on a con- ventional telescope, why though the incom- ing light is split 50%, the experience can seem nearly as bright as viewing through a The business end of my hard used and venerable 10 X 50’s The Canon 10 X 42 IS (Image Stabilized) binoculars. 2 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch April 2013 Keeping Steady With Binoculars (Continued from the previous page) binoculars that are spoken of so of the binoculars there is a button power the stabilization, and that highly on many astronomy binoc- that if you want to stop image the batteries tend to drain more ular forums. Simply, I found these shake, you just press and hold the quickly in the cold, not untypical binoculars a revelatory experi- button.The result is almost mirac- for astronomical viewing at night. ence and to those of you who ulous and a real leap in capability Also, at around $1,000 these already have them and need no beyond traditional binoculars. binoculars are not cheap, but in convincing, let me indulge my my personal experience, they moment of enthusiasm! So what about the actual optical have completely revolutionized quality? binocular viewing. These are simply quite extraordinary binoculars.At first Usually there is no free lunch There are several different size IS light, as with most binoculars, you and there have to be some com- binoculars and the 10 X 42’s I point to an astronomical object promises somewhere, but in the and usually “the shakes” lead to case of these binoculars I could purchased are the ones that stars bouncing around the view not find any fault. In fact the 10 X appear to receive the most unless you are lying on a recliner, 42’s that I purchased have praise. and even then keeping the view Canon’s famous red line around steady requires a conscious effort. each objective, the same as their There are higher powered With the Canon IS binoculars, as premium DSLR camera lens, high- and wide aperture 15 X 50’s and soon as you press the stabilization lighting the fact that they use 18 X 50 stabilized binoculars button, suddenly everything extra low dispersion optics to available as well,, though they becomes rock solid and steady. produce the crispest and most have an increasingly narrow fields Star clusters resolve from bounc- aberration free view possible. of view and because of that can ing clouds of stars to the finely Simply the view is deep, contrasty, be somewhat harder to locate tar- resolved objects they really are. and superb.Agin though, it is the gets.The 10 X 42’s offer a won- Very dim nebulae and galaxies stable view that transforms the derful balance between magnifica- that are difficult to separate from whole viewing experience and tion and field size, providing the the background suddenly become maximizes the quality of the widest true field at the highest highly apparent, as your averted optics.The only real downside I power for views with the best vision remains stable in relation to have experienced is that these contrast and the most detail.They the surrounding sky. I find the binoculars require a battery to are also tough and waterproof. effect is like adding 50% more The instruction aperture to the binoculars notion- booklet actually al aperture. tells you to wash them by In engineering terms, these dunking them binoculars work by using what is in a bucket of called a Vari-Angle Prism. water. (Not something I am Inside there are two sensors going to do that detect horizontal and vertical with my tele- shaking respectively.The two Vari- scopes) I highly Angle Prisms in both the left and recommend right sides of the binocular are them. controlled by a processor that So having instantly adjusts the refraction upped my game angle of incoming light. On top The Canon 10 X 42’s (left) next to the somewhat larger Canon 18 X 50’s with these wonderful stabilized 3 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch April 2013 Keeping Steady With Binoculars (Continued from the previous page) binoculars, what next? Well, we F/7.5 triplet ED Lenses.This con- can all dream. How about figuration of telescope tubes and these 12” triplet apochromatic bino rotating ring was made by binoculars? Matthias Wirth in Germany for a buyer in China.The price? I sus- A pair of these binoculars pect a case of “if you have to ask only weighs just over a ton at you can’t afford it”. 2,400 pounds so holding them while lying in a $59 back-yard Clear skies! recliner is not recommended.The Optics are APM-LZOS 304 mm — Chris Ford Your next binoculars? Only 300mm (12”) in aperture each. As Always Writers Are Wanted We are always looking for new articles and content. If you have astronomical perspec- tives or experiences to share with your fellow members that you would us to consider, please feel free to contact me Chris ([email protected]) or our newsletter editor Vianney. ([email protected]) Clear skies! Chris and Vianney 4 MountMount DiabloDiablo AstronomicalAstronomical SocietySociety DiabloDiablo MoonWatchMoonWatch April 2013 Retired Star Found With Planets and Debris Disc by the European Space agency ESA’s Herschel “The disc has sur- space observatory vived the star’s has provided the entire lifetime first images of a without being dust belt – pro- destroyed.