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Last meeting
by Terry Barker
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Share table:
- Ken Wilson brought in his monthly star charts and Iridium
flare schedules. He is also giving another telescope class on Feb. 8.
Details at http://www.smv.org/ethyl/teleclasses.htm.
Ken also announced that the Science Museum will have a grand unveiling
of the new earth and moon sculptures on Jan. 23.
- Chris McCann distributed his monthly Astronomy Highlights—he
shows how each planet can be viewed, when each phase of the moon begins,
comet news, meteor shower news, and dates of interest. It’s a real
treasury of information—good job, Chris!
- April 1-8 has been designated as National Dark Sky Week. The club may
try to participate by holding a skywatch.
- Jim Blowers has bought a new telescope—Charlotte Talley’s
NexStar 8. And Charlotte now has a brand new ETX-125.
Reports:
- Malvern Hill -- Joe Hetmanski had very light attendance at
Malvern Hill, probably due to the holidays.
- SMV Skywatch - Gary Cowardin had about 250 people at the last
SMV skywatch. Capital One had a Christmas party that night, with about
1200 employees attending. They showed a lot of interest.
Observatory:
- Gary Cowardin’s cell phone number is 301-3418, for those who
want to line up a session at the observatory.
Skywatches:
- Terry Barker has a Chesterfield County skywatch at Clover Hill
on Feb. 7.
- Roger Rigby is heading up a skywatch for Walton Park on
Feb. 7. See article in newsletter.
- Keith Johnson will be at the Sayler's Creek skywatch on
Feb. 7. Call Keith for info: 561-2275
- Debbie Coffin is the Lead Ranger at James River State Park,
and they will have a skywatch on Feb. 22. You can contact her at 933-4355.
All events will be held at Picnic Area #4.
- The SMV skywatch will be Feb. 21.
Visitors:
- Charlotte Tally greeted our visitors—Michael Lewis, Myron
Wasiuta, Ted Bethune, and Amy Medici.
A "short talk" was given by Myron Wasiuta. Myron met our
president, John Raymond at the Big Meadows Star Gaze. He told us the story
of how he came to purchase a telescope that was made by one our members
circa 1942. He purchased it through AstroMart, and all he knew about it at
the time was that it was a 5 inch home made refractor. It had been stored in
burlap bags, and some of the brass was cracked. The optics were initially
poor, but Myron reversed the primary and that corrected the problem. He
found an inscription on the telescope with the name T. Wilbur Stone (one of
our founding members), and upon further investigation, found a letter to the
AVSO from 1942 where Wilbur wrote that he had just finished a lens. Myron
believes that he was referring to this very telescope. Quite a story!
Jim Petty gave the main presentation, "Touch the
Universe." Touch the Universe is an innovative
and unique astronomy book. It is a combination of Braille and large-print
captions that face 14 pages of brilliant Hubble Space Telescope photos with
embossed shapes that represent various astronomical objects such as stars,
gas clouds, and jets of matter streaming into space.
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Powhatan report
by Jim Langley
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So I headed out last night to Powhatan. Expecting the
cold I bundled
up in so many layers I think I resemble the Michelin Man. As the sun
was setting, the sky seemed to have some high level cloud coverage
that I thought might bring the evening to an early close, but they
eventually moved SE and hovered there. The sky was very clear and
to
be honest it didn't seem as cold as previous times out there. In fact,
I didn't put on the gloves until around 2000.
I was using the 80mm refractor and some 7x50 binocs from Pentax.
Unfortunately, I forgot my observing stool (VERY important).
I wanted to try for Comet NEAT (c2002 V1) - I found it very quickly
with the binocs residing right between the circlet of Pices and the
Great Square of Pegasus. In fact it seemed perhaps 1 arc minute
from
a 7th mag star (SAO0128181) providing an excellent reference for
magnitude. It seemed to be just slightly brighter than the star - I
would say maybe right around 6.75 mag. Through the 80mm, I
could
not discern much of a tail. It appeared in the 13mm eyepiece as a very
compact globular cluster. Even when I put in a 3x barlow, I really
could not get much of a defined central core, just a very compact even
brightening in the center. This object was far easier to see
than I
was expecting and is very well place for quick looks in the evening.
I moved over to M42 as the sky seemed to have better seeing than I was
expecting. In the Trapezium, I was able to see the F star, but not the
E star (I had to confirm it later as I didn't have any charts with
me). This was a first for me and so with seeing like that I moved to
Saturn right overhead. The view was incredibly sharp and just
amazing
with the 13mm Nag and 3x barlow (about (110). I then tried to pull an
old astronomer trick with putting the 3x barlow in front of the star
diagonal for almost a 4x effect (about 148). The image held REALLY
clear. The Cassini was very sharp NEARLY all the way around - but not
for me :). I wish I had the eyepieces to go higher, since it
really
was the night to do it.
With those views - I had really high hopes for the Jupiter event.
Beginning around 1930, Io and Europa would be passing in front of
Jupiter (along with their respective shadows). I knew it would be
a
stretch (if not impossible) to see the shadows at 110x, the moons
transiting would be WAY out of the question - but I definitely wanted
to see the moons move into the disk. However, Jupiter was still
fairly low and was bubbling like it was underwater. It was VERY
odd.
Seeing was good over most of the sky, but over Richmond the seeing was
atrocious. I have never seen seeing that localized. Could the city
be
having that much effect during cold spells?
Between those main observations, I spent a lot of time just scanning
the Milky Way with the binocs. I am doing that A LOT more frequently
these days and I am constantly amazed at what I am seeing. I hit more
messier objects in a few minutes of scanning than I could imagine. I
couldn't see M1 - but I did make a try at the rosette. The cluster was
obvious, but there was only an ever so slight hint of nebulosity
around it My wife is loving the fact that I am regressing in aperture
- going from 10" to an 80mm and now to 50mm. Next month -
it'll just
be eyeballs.
So around 2030 - I begin to feel the cold. But more than that, I was
REALLY missing my stool, particularly my knees and back :) So I
wrapped everything up and headed home. A couple things to
add - here
is a link to a great little java tool for jovian events: http://www.cpac.freeserve.co.uk/
Also the zodiacal light was really obvious - rival the milky way.
Perhaps because I haven't been to dark sky sites enough, but it seems
that it may be brighter this time of year, or even in recent years. Is
this just me or has anyone else noticed this?
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Powhatan report #2
by Bill Dickinson
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Arriving before sunset I found a dry patch of ground
to setup my
scope. I was soon joined by Dale who setup his 10" nearby. As the
sun disappeared below the horizon a few hunters wondered by in the
twilight. They were amazed at the views of the crescent moon and
Saturn through our scopes. They soon hurried on their way not
wanting to be caught hunting after dark. The few clouds and distant
gun shots that were present before sunset dissipated rapidly as
twilight gave way to clear dark skies. Several other observers
joined us during the night including Ray who arrived at about
11:00pm with his 14". The sky transparency was a 7, seeing about a
3
with a naked eye limiting magnitude of 5.9. The temperature in was
in the mid to upper twenties.
Here are some of the highlights of my observations that night:
IC 418
Lepus PN
11.0 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
Best seen tonight with 85x & 127x - bright central star with pinkish
light red outer ring higher power failed to reveal more detail or
color due to poor seeing.
B 33
Horse Head Nebula
Orion DN
1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA 16" f5
With Orion still east of the meridian I started searching for the
Horse Head Nebula (HHN) without filter using 85x (24mm Panoptic) and
156x (13mm Nagler). The two refection nebulas nearby IC 435 and NGC
2023 were easily seen as halos surrounding their associated stars.
The defuse and featureless light of IC 434 was also faintly visible,
it's the nebulosity that the dark horse head protrudes into but no
horse was visible. Using the 13mm and a Hydrogen Beta filter the HHN
became visible as a large notch in the faint but improved contrast
of IC 434. The HHN filled more than half of the .5 degree FOV.
Reducing power to 85x (.8 deg FOV) equipped with the H-beta filter
improved the view quite a bit revealing a short neck and the nose of
this elusive nag.
NGC 891
Andromeda GX
9.9 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA 16" f5
pB, vL, vmE. A beautiful edge on galaxy with a wide dark riff
running its entire length. The bulging central core is visible on
each side of the riff with the core just slightly brighter than the
arms. Five stars involved. This galaxy extends about halfway across
the .5 degree field of the 13mm Nagler eyepiece - 156x. One of 13
objects discovered by Caroline Herschel.
NGC 898
Andromeda GX
14.0 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
pF, pS, pmE. Found just southwest of NGC 891, this small galaxy
appears almost edge on with an star like central core. 16mm Nagler
127x. Member of Abell Galaxy Cluster 347
AGC 347
Andromeda GC
13.3 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
Abell Galaxy Cluster 347 is located .75 degrees south east of NGC
891. Seven galaxies were visable within a one degree field centered
on NGC 910. Seven members were observed; NGC 898, NGC 914, NGC 906,
NGC 909, NGC 911, NGC 910 and NGC 923. Six of which were visible in
the .8 degree field of the 24mm Panoptic. Overall the members of
this group appear as ghostly oval and round shapes with exception of
NGC 898 which is obviously edge-on. All are in the 13 to 14
magnitude range. The brightest member appeared to be NGC 906, the
faintest noted was NGC 923. Several other galaxies were suspected
with averted vision but I only tried to identify the more prominent
members on this night. I don't believe that NGC 891 is a member of
this group. While researching this group in the U2K I found were
misidentified on Maps 43 and 44.
AGC 426
Perseus GC
12.5 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
One of the brightest Abell Galaxy Clusters with eleven members
observed; NGC 1283, NGC 1281, NGC 1278, NGC 1277, NGC 1275, NGC
1273, NGC 1272, NGC 1270, NGC 1268, NGC 1267 and NGC 1264. All were
visible in the same .5 degree field of view! Overall the members of
this group appear as oval or round featureless shapes with gradual
brightening centers almost without exception. Their brightness range
from 11th to 15th magnitude. The brightest member appears to be NGC
1275 with the faintest identified was NGC 1264. Several other
galaxies were suspected with averted vision, I definitely want re-
observe this great cluster.
NGC 1637
Eridanus GX
10.8 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
pB, pL, lE. This pretty large galaxy is slightly oval in shape with
a star like center. Hints of spiral arm details seen at 85x and127x.
Surface brightness listed as magnitude 13.1 in Uk2.
NGC 1625
Eridanus GX
12.3 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
pF, pL, pmE, appears to be almost edge with one star
involved.Smaller than nearby NGC 1637. Easily found only .25 degress
west of 3.9 mag Nu Eridanus. NGC 1622 and 1618 just to the east.
NGC 1700
Eridanus GX
11.2 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
pB, S, R. Bright but small galaxy with quickly brightening star like
core.
NGC 1667
Eridanus GX
12.1 1/4/2003 Powhatan, VA
16" f5
pF, pS, E with slightly brighter core.
Clear Skies, Bill Dickinson
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Fund generator?
by
Keith Salvas
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I am a member of the Ventura County
Astronomical Society [VCAS] in California but I am writing
on my own behalf. In May of 1999 I obtained the
exact length of a Martian solar day and solar year
from the Griffith Observatory, my intent was to produce a Martian solar
calendar including it's leap year schedule. I've created
such a system and I've been tracking Earth and
Martian Julian dates with it since Sunday 00Jan
2000.
I'd like your organization to consider producing this
calendar as a way of generating funds for
yourself. It is a novelty item, I'll admit to that, and
possibly controversial because some future inhabitants of Mars are still
debating the idea of a Martian calendar. But I believe
this system could find a home with some people
here on Earth. As a side note: I've designed it so
that your organization can incorporate it's own astrophotos.
If you are interested in seeing this system then I'll
send you An MS Excel file [about 700kb] that
produces the calendar itself. I'll include instructions
on how to assemble the calendar, and what I want for it in return,
in the e-mail.
Just for your info: If you are living on Mars you'll
count 669.50106... days for one Martian solar year. Therefore, you'll
alternate between year of 669 and 670 days. The leap year schedule assigns year
multipliers of 3, 10, 1000 and 17,000 to keep the system accurate to 1/3rd
day for every 100,000 years.
I hope to read from you. If not... Clear skies!
<http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys/1.gif>
Keith Salvas, PO Box 1583, Camarillo, CA 93011
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Walton Lake skywatch
by Roger Rigby
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I would like to appeal to anyone who was not planning on
helping
with Clover Hill to stop by the Walton Lake Clubhouse in Midlothian
from 6:30 - 8:00 on Friday, February 7th and help show a group of
energized Girl Scouts and potential future astronomers and RAS
Members the Night Sky. We not only need telescopes and binoculars,
but we could also use people familiar with the night sky to point out
constellations and areas of interest.
The Girl Scouts will be providing Hot Chocolate and Snacks,
and afterwards
everyone helping is invited to come over to my place for Pizza and continued
Star Gazing, either with a telescope or while soaking in the Hot-Tub.
If you are able to help, please contact me and let me know so that I
can stop collecting paper towel tubes to make into zero power telescopes. :)
Thanks in Advance & Clear Skies,
-Roger Rigby
804-897-4353
mobilecad@comcast.net
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Light pollution map
by David Thomas
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I have been wanting to see a road map superimposed on to a
map of light
pollution in Virginia. After a couple of bad tries I think I have been
wanting to see a road map superimposed on to a map of light pollution in
virginia. After a couple of bad tries I think I got a pretty good map http://groups.yahoo.com/group/richastro/files/VA3.jpg.
I figured
there would be others who would be interested in seeing it so I put a copy
in the richastro yahoo groups site. I tried to make it as small as
possible
and still be legible, I may have made it too small. If you want a copy
with
higher resolution then I can send you one, let me know. The legion is
basically; Grey = truly dark site limiting magnitude 6.5+, blue = rural
sky
limiting magnitude 6, green = suburban/ rural transition milky way visible
but with little detail and from there it goes yellow, orange, red, and
white
or in other words from bad to worse. I hope you find it useful. Check out
www.novac.com . david
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Book review: Seeing in the Dark
by Bill Dickinson
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Seeing in the Dark:
How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and Guarding Earth
from Interplanetary Peril
By Timothy Ferris
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; September 2002 – 379 Pages
Reviewed by Bill Dickinson
I love the title, "Seeing in the Dark" it expresses in a very
few
words much of what astronomy is all about. Oh, but the
subtitle, "How Backyard Stargazers Are Probing Deep Space and
Guarding Earth from Interplanetary Peril", I thought to
myself, "what a pile of sensationalism this book must be". I
almost
put it down but decided to look over the preface in which Timothy
Ferris states right up front, "This book is about stargazing, which
is at once one of the oldest and most ennobling, and one of the
newest and most challenging, of human activities." I decided to buy
the book and read on.
Mr. Ferris begins by relating stories of his childhood and how he
became a lifelong stargazer. The book is laid out like an
astronomical grand tour covering terrestrial subjects, the solar
system, our milky galaxy, and beyond. Sprinkled between and within
the well written chapters are short stories about famous and no so
famous amateur astronomers, some of which I had always consider to
be professionals. All of which I found to be thoroughly
entertaining.
The book is written in a non-technical almost romantic style that
will preserve the interest of most everyone from the "science
curious" to the advanced amateur astronomer looking for an easy
read. It's up to date with a wonderful mix personal stories,
historical recounts and current theories. It's not a picture book,
not one photo and only four poorly done illustrations of the
seasonal night sky in the entire volume. More than making up for
this shortfall, Mr. Ferris does a great job of referencing quotes
and facts throughout the thirty five chapters, compiling them in the
back of the book.
Overall, Seeing in the Dark is very well written and a joy to read.
As for the subtitle, it has very little to do with the book as a
whole. Perhaps something the publisher added to widen the books
appeal. From an amateur astronomer's point of view, it's a great
book about the universe by someone who loves astronomy, but more
that that it's about how and what stargazers see in the dark.
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Dark sky bill
by Bob Parks
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First, a huge thank you to everyone who sent emails in
support of SB1301.
Without a doubt this was a major factor in the squeaky tight passage of
the
bill in the Local Government committee today. Another big thank you to
John
Nusbaum who took the trip south today with me and who also spoke for the
bill.
Some amendments were offered by the patron to address legitimate concerns
by
some groups that spoke to the Senator. All of these were reasonable and
will
not have any real impact on the bill's enabling authority. The bill now
goes
to the full Senate for a vote. This is a good time to send an email to
your
Senator and ask for their support. It may get a full vote by the end of
the
week. Go to the VOLT website for links to your Senator and a sample email.
http://www.volt.org
After the Senate votes and passes the bill it will be sent to the House
Counties, Cities and Towns committee which has a reputation for being the
toughest committee in Richmond. It's goal is not to give away any power it
doesn't have to and enabling legislation is doing just that. So after the
bill gets through the Senate, this will be big test.
I will send you an update and instructions how to email all the members of
the CCT committee. We will need to have hundreds of people email the CCT
to
have any chance of this being passed. So this will be the biggest
challenge
and the best opportunity we will have for a long time to really make a
difference. We have a great bill and a great sponsor, all we need is an
outpouring of public support demanding that Richmond gives local
governments
the tools they need to fight light pollution.
Without the passage of enabling legislation, local governments will
continue
to have their hands tied regarding outdoor lighting standards. Glare,
light
trespass and sky glow will continue to get worse. Eventually you will have
to drive to West Virginia to see any stars at all.
So this is the time to become involved if you haven't been and hang in
there
if you have been helping all along. The VOLT website will make the task
easy, so you will really have to search hard to find a reason not to help.
Not having enough time just isn't a good excuse anymore.
Also please don't think that everybody else is doing it so they don't need
me. Out of a distribution list of 500 or so people, we only had 20-30
people
send emails to the Local Government committee. This helped, but in order
to
sway "no" votes, we will need to bury the CCT committee with an
avalanche of
public support.
Now is the time to come to the aid of your community. Make a difference.
Look for updates in the next week and instructions on how to help.
Thanks, Bob Parks VOLT
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