VOL. 41, NO. 01 JANUARY, 2009 T H E 2008 WAS Officers President: Robert Berta [email protected] 1st VP: Gary M. Ross fi[email protected] W . A . S . P . 2nd VP: Marty Kunz [email protected] Secretary: Jonathan Kade [email protected] N E W S L E T T E R Treasurer: Stephen Uitti [email protected] THE WARREN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY PAPER Publications: Larry Phipps [email protected] P.O. BOX 1505 Pub. Relations: John Kriegle [email protected] WARREN, MICHIGAN 48090-1505 http://www.warrenastro.org IN THE PRESIDENT’S FIELD OF VIEW WHAT’S INSIDE IN THE PRESIDENT’S FIELD OF VIEW 2008 Wrap up!. Page 1 TRANSITION TO THE NEW WEBSITE The Times They Are A-Changin’ Page 2 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS, JAN. ‘09 Planets, Stars, and an Eclipse!. Page 3 IN THE NEWS Solar Flares, Magnetic Holes, Saturn’s Tilt. Page 3 WHAT ARE THEY? R. Jay GaBany, Part 1. Page 4 U OF M DEARBORN Happy New Year First color images. Page 6 ...and hopefully, a MUCH better 2009 for all of us. While thinking of things that were positive in 2008 I WAS MEETING SCHEDULE AND came up with a list: SOLAR UPDATE 1. The enthusiasm of all club members and "can-do" The inside scoop. Page 7 attitude that makes our club so special. WAS PRESENTATION, & STARGATE 2. ALL the volunteers that shared their love for astron- OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULES omy with the public, scouts, school kids, etc. Who’s doing what, when, and where. Page 8 3. Members who willingly spend hours in near freezing temperatures or sweltering heat showing the public NASA'S SPACE PLACE our beloved sky (and able to convince the public that Superstar Hide and Seek. Page 8 we are immune to biting cold, mosquitoes, etc. and really do this for FUN). THE SWAP SHOP 4. Compassion for fellow club members who fall on Items for sale, or swap!. Page 9 hard times and step up when it counts. 5. Willingness of members to go to great lengths to Editors Note: We hope you like the new look. This effort to research the most arcane astronomical subjects and give us wonderful lectures at our meetings. (Have you update the WASP wi" be an ongoing process over the next sev- ever heard of a club that has TWO membership eral months. We are asking for your input on design, arti- meetings a month and has no problem filling all cles you write and wish to be included, as we" as links to the speaker slots with club members). 6. NEW MEMBERS interesting website articles. For correspondence, please include %WASP& in the subject line of e-mails you send. E- I could continue with a much longer list but you mails can be sent to: [email protected] get the idea. And I hope you all pat yourself on PAGE 1 VOL. 41, NO. 01 JANUARY, 2009 the back if you were part of the above list. I think that WHAT ARE THEY? we have two main targets in our club...one is of New Images from R. Jay GaBany and course is to observe, socialize and practice our hobby. Cosmotography.com But the second may be the most important...at least for me it is. We need to use all of our skills to bring Wow...R. Jay GaBany has done it again! THESE in- our love of astronomy to others so we can get others credible pictures...and the text about color images, is interested in science and astronomy. The US is falling an excellent article that would be of interest to a lot of behind other countries in both Science and Math...and our members. As I mentioned before...I consider Jay that is something we can help improve. 2009 will the absolute best imager today. (I think we have a again see a big effort by WAS to take astronomy to way to go still before we can match these!). Bob Berta others...especially children. Their is an old saying about "Preaching to the choir." and that is certainly a THE TIMES, THEY ARE A’ CHANGIN’ danger if we don't make an effort to reach others. I Doug Bock, long time WAS member, former WAS am happy that we have picked up several new mem- president, Boonhill Star Parties sponsor, and die hard bers in 2008 and am always looking for ways to attract supporter of WAS and amateur astronomy in SE Michi- new members. If you have any ideas PLEASE share gan (remember “Frankenscope”?) recently sent this them with the board members. We have already got- message: ten some great ideas that you will be hearing about “I’ve decommissioned the old website, in preference to starting with our January Cranbrook meeting. the new one that the group has moved to.” -Doug Bock I have tried a few new ideas in 2008...some were Please note that the old WAS website is no longer on- successful...others so-so and others went in the line (http://www.warrenastronomicalsociety.org/). The dumpster. We are always looking for ideas that keep new site is here: us from getting stale and while the board members http://www.warrenastro.org/was/default.aspx have some great ideas there are a lot more members Thanks, Doug, for the invaluable service you have than just the board so we are looking for YOUR input. provided over the years. We continue to look to you We can't promise we will use every idea you for your insight, guidance, and friendship. have...but we will certainly consider them. Season's Greetings from Finally...if you have a telescope...make a New Years Resolution to not only use it frequently...but share it Metro Beach Nature Center! with others. If you have kids or grandkids...or neigh- Next year, we are hoping to celebrate the International bors you can bring to a membership meeting or Star- Year of Astronomy with some sidewalk astronomy on gate Open House please do. One of the ideas we are April 4th. We would like to invite you to help us plan contemplating is a special meeting a couple times of our evening, or participate in any way that you can. the year (non school months) that would start earlier This will be our first foray into hosting an astronomy and be "Kid Friendly"...I will be discussing this idea program here at Metro Beach, so any and all assis- and others at the next couple of membership meetings tance would be appreciated. so am looking forward to your ideas and input. Thank you for your time and have a great holiday sea- Bob Berta son and a safe and happy new year! President, Warren Astronomical Society Michelle Serreyn Interpreter Metro Beach Nature Center The Warren Astronomical Society Paper (WASP) is the official monthly publication of the Society. Each new issue of the WASP is e-mailed to each member and/or is available online at warrenastronomicalsociety.org. Requests by other As- tronomy clubs to receive the WASP, and all other correspondence should be addressed to the Publications Director, Larry Phipps, at [email protected]. Articles for inclusion in the WASP are strongly encouraged and should be sub- mitted to the editor by the 28th day of each month. Any format of submission is accepted, however, the easiest forms for this editor to use are plain text files. Most popular graphics formats are acceptable. The preferred method of submission is electronically via e-mail with attachment to the editor. Alternative submissions include printed form delivered in person, or via US mail. Disclaimer: The articles presented herein represent the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily the opinions of the WAS or the editor. The WASP reserves the right to deny publication of any submission. PAGE 2 VOL. 41, NO. 01 JANUARY, 2009 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS JANUARY, 2009 DATE: DATE:__________________ 1 Saturn stationary 18 Mercury 3.2N of Jupiter 2 Uranus 4.1S of Moon 20 Mercury inferior conjunc 4 Mercury greatest elong 21 Antares 0.1S of Moon 4 FIRST QUARTER 22 Moon furthest South 4 Earth at perihelion 23 Moon at apogee 9 Moon furthest North 23 Venus 1.2N of Uranus 10 Moon at perigee 24 Jupiter at conjunction 11 FULL MOON 25 Mars 0.7N of Moon 11 Mercury stationary 25 Mercury 4.8N of Moon 11 Pollux 5.2N of Moon 26 Jupiter 0.0N of Moon 13 18 Regulus 2.2N of Moon 26 NEW MOON Eclipse 14 Venus greatest elong E(47) 27 Mercury 4.3N of Mars 15 Saturn 5.6N of Moon 27 Neptune 1.6S of Moon 17 Spica 3.0N of Moon 29 Uranus 4.2S of Moon 18 LAST QUARTER 30 Venus 2.5S of Moon (Thanks to Bob Berta for pointing us to these articles) *********************** *********************** IN THE NEWS Oakland Astronomy Club NEWSLETTER SOLAR FLARE SURPRISE December 2008 NASA Science News for December 15, 2008 http://oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews1208.html Solar flares are supposed to obliterate everything in Clear skies, their vicinity, yet one of the most powerful flares of Bill MacIntosh the past 30 years has done just the opposite, emitting *********************** a beam of pure and unbroken hydrogen atoms. Re- ANNUAL WAS HOLIDAY BANQUET searchers think this strange event could yield vital *********************** clues to the inner workings of solar flares. FULL WAS LOGO MERCHANDISE STORY at: by Diane Worth http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/15dec_solarfl I am able to reorder WAS logo jackets if anyone is aresurprise.htm?list1076889 needing one and open the additional line-up for the members to order club wear in "both styles" at the GIANT BREACH IN EARTH’S January 2009 general meeting.