AEA Astronomy Club Newsletter, December 2011
Contents AEA Astronomy Club News & Calendar p.1Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month p. 1Astronomy News p. 4General Calendar p. 5 Colloquia, lectures, mtgs. p. 5 Observing p. 6Useful Links p. 7About the Club p. 8Club News & Calendar. News:
As mentioned at the Nov. mtg., the club now has an external website accessible outside Aerospace. I created an astronomical blog, and am posting past club newsletters – still catching up so give me a week or so to get this one posted. The title is “An Astronomical View,” and the URL is http://astronomicalview.blogspot.com/. I may occasionally also post other items of interest.
The AEA generously granted us $4,207 -- about 80% of our budget request for FY2012. We’ve already received the case for the Meade LX200, and are about to order an ATIK monochrome CCD imager that was approved by vote at the Nov. mtg. It has the smallest pixels and lowest readout noise on the amateur market. We’re also researching an eyepiece video camera for group or remote viewing. Other items within our budget include various filters, an autoguider and field de-rotator (or equatorial wedge) for longer exposures. And we may have a bit left over for a small portable telescope.
Speaking of the AEA, The AEA Corporate Annual Members Meeting will be held Monday, Dec. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in A1 Titan IVA. There will be door prizes and refreshments. All Aerospace employees (aka members) are invited to attend. VTC will be provided to Chantilly, Rosslyn, and Colorado Springs.
There was only one nomination for each club office, and so little uncertainty in the election results which will be officially announced at the club mtg. Dec. 15: President – Mark Clayson, Vice President – Paul Rousseau, Treasurer – Jim Edwards, and Secretary – David Wright. By constitutional authority, I have appointed Paul Rousseau Vice President in the interim to fill the vacancy left by Michelle Darrah.
New suggestions added to the suggestion box include (the 1st 2 now enabled with a new imager):
· Club astrophoto contest/collection, post photos & Inside Aerospace/Orbiter article (POC J. Edwards)
· Club research contest/repository, post & publish (POC J. Edwards)
· STEM outreach events – school star parties, mentor projects (e.g., Galactic Zoo,…) POC M. Clayson
We’re anticipating the last Venus transit of the sun for over 100 years – this June 5th. It will last several hours from mid-afternoon until sunset, so we may set up in the AGO mall to observe and photograph it.
Calendar
15 Dec 2011
Monthly Meeting
Exoplanetary Research at Caltech, Sasha Hinkley, Caltech Postdoc
19 Jan 2012
Monthly Meeting
“The Many Faces of the Sun,” David Glackin, Aerospace & former solar astronomer.
AEA Astronomy Club meetings are on 3rd Thursdays at 11:45am in A1/1026.
Astronomy Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month
(from Astronomy Picture of the Day, APOD: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html)
Video(s)
Around the World in 90 Minutes (compressed to 5) city lights & aurorae, etc., from ISS http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111121.html
Orange Sun Oozing -- solar granulation & sunspot http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111106.html
Jumping Sundogs over Thunderclouds http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111108.html
2011 November 23
The View from Chajnantor Image Credit & Copyright: Stéphane Guisard (Los Cielos de America), TWAN
Explanation: From an altitude of over 5,000 meters, the night sky view from Chajnantor Plateau in the Chilean Andes is breathtaking in more ways than one. The dark site's rarefied atmosphere, at about 50 percent sea level pressure, is also extremely dry. That makes it ideal for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) designed to explore the universe at wavelengths over 1,000 times longer than visible light. Near the center of the the panoramic scene, ALMA's 7 and 12 meter wide dish antennas are illuminated by a young Moon nestled in the arc of the Milky Way. ALMA's antenna configurations are intended to achieve a resolution comparable to space telescopes by operating as an interferometer. At left, a meteor's streak and the Milky Way's satellite galaxies, the Large (bottom) and Small Magellanic Clouds grace the night.
2011 November 14
Waterfall, Moonbow, and Aurora from Iceland Image Credit & Copyright: Stephane Vetter (Nuits sacrees)
Explanation: The longer you look at this image, the more you see. Perhaps your eye is first drawn to the picturesque waterfall called Skogarfoss visible on the image right. Just as prevalent, however, in this Icelandic visual extravaganza, is the colorful arc of light on the left. This chromatic bow is not a rainbow, since the water drops did not originate in rainfall nor are they reflecting light from the Sun. Rather, the drops have drifted off from the waterfall and are now illuminated by the nearly full Moon. High above are the faint green streaks of aurora. The scene, captured one night last month, also shows a beautiful starscape far in the background, including the Big Dipper, part of the constellation of the Great Bear (Ursa Major).
2011 November 18
A Colorful Side of the Moon Credit: NASA / GSFC / DLR / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Explanation: This colorful topographical map of the Moon is centered on the lunar farside, the side not seen from planet Earth. That view is available to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter though, as the spacecraft's wide angle camera images almost the entire lunar surface every month. Stereo overlap of the imaging has allowed the computation of topographical maps with coverage between 80 degrees north and south latitude. The results have about a 300 meter resolution on the lunar surface and 10 to 20 meter elevation accuracy. Data closer to the north and south poles is filled in using the orbiter's laser altimeter. In this map, white, red, green, and purple represent progressively lower elevations. In fact, the large circular splotch tending to purple hues at the bottom is the farside's South Pole-Aitken Basin. About 2500 kilometers in diameter and over 12 kilometers deep, it is one of the largest impact basins in the Solar System.
Astronomy News:
Exoplanet Hunters Almost Losing Count
“The canonical Extrasolar Planets Encyclopedia listed 687 confirmed as of the end of September [not including Kepler results]. With Kepler’s latest data release, it’s total of exoplanet candidates is now 1,781, of which 90-95% are expected to prove real. And “of these, about 200 of all types lie within their stars’ habitable zones....There are many more in the pipeline. At the end of the mission we may easily have found over 3,000 candidates. ....Most exciting among the Kepler finds are the so-called “multis” – stars with two, three, four, five, or six candidate planets...Kepler announced 170 multi systems last February, and in September added 158 more.” The multis are “...almost certainly all real planets....It’s virtually impossible that spurious signals could team up to produce the observed patterns.”
“Elsewhere...23 new giant planets were found by the WASP-South transit survey. This South Africa-based project watches star fields across wide areas of the sky using off-the-shelf telephoto camera lenses.
“A running theme throughout the [Extreme Solar Systems II conference in Wyoming Sept. 12-16] was the quest for a holy-grail number: what fraction of main-sequence stars host Earth-like worlds?
NASA will decide this spring whether it can afford $20 million per year to extend the Kepler mission for 4 years beyond its planned 3.5 years. ....necessary if Kepler is to obtain good data on planets that are as small and far from their stars as Earth is....We live in difficult times...when scientific progress is not limited by technology, but by economics.”
[This news bite is from the Dec. 2011 issue of Sky & Telescope Magazine.]
General Calendar: Colloquia, Lectures, Seminars, Meetings, Open Houses & Tours:
Note: The South Bay Astronomical Society website (www.sbastro.org.) is temporarily not functional (due to recent death of the webmaster). Nor have I received the usual hardcopy mailing recently. So I have no dates for their Sept. events.
Colloquia: Carnegie (Tues. 4pm), UCLA, Caltech (Wed. 4pm), IPAC (Wed. 12:15pm) & other Pasadena (daily 12-4pm): http://obs.carnegiescience.edu/seminars/
Carnegie astronomy lectures – only 4 per year in the Spring www.obs.carnegiescience.edu. Visit www.huntington.org for directions.
2 Dec
SBAS Monthly General Meeting at El Camino College planetarium. 7:30 PM
Topic: TBD
Guest Speaker:. www.sbastro.org.
Dec. 8 & 9 -- 2012 and the End of Days Phenomena
Much has been written about the impending end of the world on December 21, 2012. It has been asserted that on that date, the Maya calendar ends. It is further asserted that in 2012, the planets align, an unseen rogue planet will closely approach the Earth, the Earth's pole will shift and the sun's pathway through the Milky Way will contribute to our woes. None of this is true but an extraordinary number of people are concerned nevertheless. The preoccupation with the "end of days" concept is as old as history itself and even in our civilized society, it is seriously discussed and has received a good deal of unjustified media and public attention. We'll try to separate myth from reality.
Speaker:
Dr. Don Yeomans, Manager, NASA Near-Earth Object Program Office at JPL
Locations:
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, 7pmThe von Kármán Auditorium at JPL4800 Oak Grove DrivePasadena, CA› Directions Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, 7pmThe Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College1570 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA› Directions
Webcast:
For the webcast on Thursday at 7 p.m. PST, click here If you don't have RealPlayer, you can download the free RealPlayer 8 Basic.
12 Dec
LAAS LAAS General Mtg..
Griffith ObservatoryEvent Horizon Theater8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
15 Dec
AEA Astronomy Club Mtg.
Exoplanetary Research at Caltech, Sasha Hinkley, Caltech Postdoc
Note: As of Feb. 28, 2011, the Mt. Wilson Observatory Assn. (MWOA) no longer exists. All public outreach activities of Mt. Wilson will be through the Mt. Wilson Institute (www.mtwilson.edu/ -- links for virtual tour & Quick Time video) No lectures noted yet to replace the previous MWOA 4th Saturday lecture series. The Angeles Crest Highway has recently reopened, and the Observatory is open for public visits daily 10-4 from April thru Nov.
Observing:
The following data are from the 2011 Observer’s Handbook, and Sky & Telescope’s 2011 Skygazer’s Almanac & monthly Sky at a Glance.
Sun, Moon & Planets for June:
10 Dec Total lunar eclipse – Partial eclipse (moon enters umbra) begins 4:45am, total eclipse begins 6:05am, mid-eclipse 6:32am, sunrise/moonset ~6:50am.
Planets: Jupiter transits about 9pm, still bright after opposition Oct. 28. Mars rises about 11pm. Saturn rises ~4 hrs before sunrise. Mercury greatest eastern elongation Dec. 23 rises 1 ½ hrs before sunrise. Venus is very bright at dusk above the southwest horizon. Uranus transits 7:30-9:30pm.
Other Events:
3 Dec
LAAS Public Star Party: Griffith Observatory Grounds 2-10pm
?
SBAS out-of-town observing – contact Greg Benecke www.sbastro.org.
10 Dec Total lunar eclipse – Partial eclipse (moon enters umbra) begins 4:45am, total eclipse begins 6:05am, mid-eclipse 6:32am, sunrise/moonset ~6:50am.
13 & 14 Dec Geminid meteor shower (but gibbous moon will hide all but the brightest meteors).
21 Dec. Winter solstice – longest night of the year.
24 Dec
LAAS Dark Sky Night: Lockwood Valley (Steve Kufeld Astronomical Site; LAAS members and their guests only)
?
SBAS Star Party (weather permitting): RPV at Ridgecrest Middle School 28915 North Bay Rd.
26 Dec Venus is left of the thin crescent Moon at dusk in the southwest sky.
Internet Links: Link(s) of the Month
General
e! Science News Astronomy & Space
NASA Gallery
Astronomical Society of the Pacific (educational, amateur & professional)
Amateur Online Tools, Journals, Vendors, Societies, Databases
The Astronomy White Pages (U.S. & International Amateur Clubs & Societies)
American Astronomical Society (professional)
More...
Regional (esp. Southern California)
Western Amateur Astronomers (consortium of various regional societies)
Mt. Wilson Institute (www.mtwilson.edu/), including status for visits & roads
Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS)
South Bay Astronomical Society (SBAS)
Orange County Astronomers
The Local Group Astronomy Club (Santa Clarita)
Ventura County Astronomical Society
About the Club Club Website: https://aeropedia.aero.org/aeropedia/index.php/Astronomy_Club It is updated to reflect this newsletter, in addition to a listing of past club mtg. presentations, astronomy news, photos & events from prior newsletters, club equipment, membership & constitution. We have begun to link some presentation materials from past mtgs. Membership. For information, current dues & application, contact Vic Christensen (x63021, M1-167), or see the club website where a form is also available. Benefits will include use of club telescope(s) & library/software, discounts on Sky & Telescope magazine and Observer’s Handbook, field trips, great programs, having a say in club activities, acquisitions & elections, etc. Committee Suggestions & Volunteers. Feel free to contact: Michelle Darrah, Program Committee Chairwoman (& club VP), David Wright, Activities Committee Chairman (& club Secretary), or Vic Christensen, Resource Committee Chairman (over equipment & library, and club Treasurer). Mark Clayson, AEA Astronomy Club President
==================================AEA Astronomy Club Newsletter, November 2011
Contents AEA Astronomy Club News & Calendar p.1Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month p. 1Astronomy News p. 4General Calendar p. 5 Colloquia, lectures, mtgs. p. 5 Observing p. 6Useful Links p. 7About the Club p. 8Club News & Calendar. News: Nominations for club officers are currently being accepted by the Nominating Committee (contact Nahum Melamed, x62416) for our annual club election that will take place between our Nov. & Dec. meetings. There are 2 vacancies for 2012 due to Michelle Darrah’s departure & Vic Christensen’s much-appreciated & excellent 2 years of service: vice president & treasurer. Following final nominations from the floor at the Nov. 17 mtg., ballots will be sent out by email, to be returned, tallied & results announced at the Dec. 15 mtg.
Calendar
17 November 2011
Monthly Meeting
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) AoA, by Jim Johansen, Aerospace
15 Dec 2011
Monthly Meeting
Exoplanetary Research at Caltech, Sasha Hinkley, Caltech Postdoc
19 Jan 2012
Monthly Meeting
“The Many Faces of the Sun,” David Glackin, Aerospace & former solar astronomer.
AEA Astronomy Club meetings are on 3rd Thursdays at 11:45am in A1/1026.
Astronomy Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month
(from Astronomy Picture of the Day, APOD: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html)
Video(s)
Hammer vs. Feather on the Moon http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111101.html
Approaching Light Speed http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111018.html
Comet & CME on the Sun http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111005.html
Dark Matter Movie from the Bolshoi Simulation http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap111003.html
An 8-minute mini-documentary on the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, shortened to the 'ALMA radio telescope', with initial image of the Antennae Galaxies:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2044840/Worlds-complex-telescope-takes-pictures-deepest-space-quest-knowledge-outer-universe.html
A Picturesque Venus Transit Image Credit & Copyright: David Cortner
Explanation: The rare transit of Venus across the face of the Sun in 2004 was one of the better-photographed events in sky history. Both scientific and artistic images flooded in from the areas that could see the transit: Europe and much of Asia, Africa, and North America. Scientifically, solar photographers confirmed that the black drop effect is really better related to the viewing clarity of the camera or telescope than the atmosphere of Venus. Artistically, images might be divided into several categories. One type captures the transit in front of a highly detailed Sun. Another category captures a double coincidence such as both Venus and an airplane simultaneously silhouetted, or Venus and the International Space Station in low Earth orbit. A third image type involves a fortuitous arrangement of interesting looking clouds, as shown by example in the above image taken from North Carolina, USA. The next transit of Venus across the Sun will be in 2012 June.
HH-222: The Waterfall Nebula Image Credit: Z. Levay (STScI/AURA/NASA), T.A. Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage) & H. Schweiker (NOAO/AURA/NSF), KPNO, NOAO
Explanation: What created the Waterfall Nebula? No one knows. The structure seen in the region of NGC 1999 in the Great Orion Molecular Cloud complex is one of the more mysterious structures yet found on the sky. Designated HH-222, the elongated gaseous stream stretches about ten light years and emits an unusual array of colors. One hypothesis is that the gas filament results from the wind from a young star impacting a nearby molecular cloud. That would not explain, however, why the Waterfall and fainter streams all appear to converge on a bright but unusual non thermal radio source located toward the upper left of the curving structure. Another hypothesis is that the unusual radio source originates from a binary system containing a hot white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole, and that the Waterfall is just a jet from this energetic system. Such systems, though, are typically strong X-rays emitters, and no X-rays have been detected. For now, this case remains unsolved. Perhaps well-chosen future observations and clever deductive reasoning will unlock the true origin of this enigmatic wisp in the future.
MACS 1206: A Galaxy Cluster Gravitational Lens Image Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Postman (STScI), and the CLASH Team
Explanation: It is difficult to hide a galaxy behind a cluster of galaxies. The closer cluster's gravity will act like a huge lens, pulling images of the distant galaxy around the sides and greatly distorting them. This is just the case observed in the above recently released image from the CLASH survey with the Hubble Space Telescope. The cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 is composed of many galaxies and is lensing the image of a yellow-red background galaxy into the huge arc on the right. Careful inspection of the image will reveal at least several other lensed background galaxies -- many appearing as elongated wisps. The foreground cluster can only create such smooth arcs if most of its mass is smoothly distributed dark matter -- and therefore not concentrated in the cluster galaxies visible. Analyzing the positions of these gravitational arcs also gives astronomers a method to estimate the dark matter distribution in galaxy clusters, and infer from that when these huge conglomerations of galaxies began to form.
Astronomy News:
Did a Big Splat Shape the Moon?
It has long been a “...mystery why the lunar farside is so different from the nearside, being covered by a thick blanket of bright material and showing few areas of lava flows.” A new study “modeled what would happen if a smaller satellite plowed into the Moon’s face early on. If the two had similar orbits, the impact would be relatively low speed and the smaller orb would splat and accrete, rather than explode and scatter.”
“This scenario arises from today’s consensus model that a Mars-sized object collided with the young Earth 4.5 billion years ago, ejecting the matter that would become the Moon – and smaller, short-lived satellites. The infant Moon swept up the smaller objects as it gradually spiraled out to a wider orbit. But one or more satellites could have settled into the stable Trojan points along the Moon’s own orbit – and lingered for tens of millions of years before some perturbation nudged them loose.”
“The big Trojan in [the] simulations was about a third the Moon’s diameter and added 4% to its mass, enough to thicken the far-side crust by 30 miles. Their simulations also suggest that the splat drove molten rock out of the Moon’s interior on the other side, accounting for today’s near-side maria.”
“NASA’s new GRAIL mission to map the Moon’s internal densities may help settle whether this is indeed what happened.”
[This news bite is from the Nov. 2011 issue of Sky & Telescope Magazine.]
General Calendar: Colloquia, Lectures, Seminars, Meetings, Open Houses & Tours:Note: The South Bay Astronomical Society website (
www.sbastro.org.) is temporarily not functional (due to recent death of the webmaster). Nor have I received the usual hardcopy mailing recently. So I have no dates for their Sept. events.
Colloquia: Carnegie (Tues. 4pm), UCLA, Caltech (Wed. 4pm), IPAC (Wed. 12:15pm) & other Pasadena (daily 12-4pm): http://obs.carnegiescience.edu/seminars/
Carnegie astronomy lectures – only 4 per year in the Spring www.obs.carnegiescience.edu. Visit www.huntington.org for directions.
4 Nov?
SBAS Monthly General Meeting at El Camino College planetarium. 7:30 PM
Topic: TBD
Guest Speaker:. www.sbastro.org.
Nov. 10 & 11 -- The von Kármán Lecture Series http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures.cfm
Bringing the High Energy Universe Into Focus
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) will carry into orbit the first astronomical telescope capable of focusing high energy X-rays. Enabled by recent advances in technology, this small Explorer mission will provide a combination of sensitivity, imaging and energy resolving power a factor ten to one hundred times better than any previous mission that has operated in the high-energy X-ray band. NuSTAR will find black holes, neutron stars and other exotic objects in dusty regions of the Universe obscured from view in the optical and low-energy X-ray bands. NuSTAR will also study radiation from exploding stars and their remnants to help us understand the processes that drive the explosion and produce many of the elements in the Universe. After being launched from under the wing of an airplane in the South Pacific, NuSTAR will begin its scientific observing program in 2012.
Speaker:
Dr. Fiona Harrison, Principal Investigator, NuSTAR, Caltech
Locations:
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, 7pmThe von Kármán Auditorium at JPL4800 Oak Grove DrivePasadena, CA
› Directions Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, 7pmThe Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College1570 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA› DirectionsWebcast:
For the webcast on Thursday at 7 p.m. PST, click here If you don't have RealPlayer, you can download the free RealPlayer 8 Basic.
14 Nov
LAAS LAAS General Mtg..
Griffith ObservatoryEvent Horizon Theater8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
17 Nov
AEA Astronomy Club Mtg.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) AoA, by Jim Johansen, Aerospace
Note: As of Feb. 28, 2011, the Mt. Wilson Observatory Assn. (MWOA) no longer exists. All public outreach activities of Mt. Wilson will be through the Mt. Wilson Institute (www.mtwilson.edu/ -- links for virtual tour & Quick Time video) No lectures noted yet to replace the previous MWOA 4th Saturday lecture series. The Angeles Crest Highway has recently reopened, and the Observatory is open for public visits daily 10-4 from April thru Nov.
Observing:
The following data are from the 2011 Observer’s Handbook, and Sky & Telescope’s 2011 Skygazer’s Almanac & monthly Sky at a Glance.
Sun, Moon & Planets for November:
Planets: Jupiter transits just before midnight, still bright after opposition Oct. 28. Mars rises about midnight. Saturn rises 1-3 hrs before sunrise. Mercury & Venus are visible low above the SW horizon just after sunset. Uranus transits 7:30-9:30pm.
Other Events:
5 Nov
LAAS Public Star Party: Griffith Observatory Grounds 2-10pm
?
SBAS out-of-town observing – contact Greg Benecke www.sbastro.org.
8 Nov – Asteroid 2005 YU55 (400 m, 11th magnitude) passes 325,000 km from earth (closer than the moon), visible across North America
26 Nov
LAAS Dark Sky Night: Lockwood Valley (Steve Kufeld Astronomical Site; LAAS members and their guests only)
?
SBAS Star Party (weather permitting): RPV at Ridgecrest Middle School 28915 North Bay Rd.
Internet Links: Link(s) of the Month
Some good solar websites:
http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/images/latest.html
http://www.spaceweather.com/
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/
http://search.nasa.gov/search/search.jsp?nasaInclude=sun#
General
e! Science News Astronomy & SpaceNASA Gallery
Astronomical Society of the Pacific (educational, amateur & professional)
Amateur Online Tools, Journals, Vendors, Societies, Databases
The Astronomy White Pages (U.S. & International Amateur Clubs & Societies)
American Astronomical Society (professional)
More...
Regional (esp. Southern California)
Western Amateur Astronomers (consortium of various regional societies)
Mt. Wilson Institute (www.mtwilson.edu/), including status for visits & roads
Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS)
South Bay Astronomical Society (SBAS)
Orange County Astronomers
The Local Group Astronomy Club (Santa Clarita)
Ventura County Astronomical SocietyAbout the Club Club Website: https://aeropedia.aero.org/aeropedia/index.php/Astronomy_Club It is updated to reflect this newsletter, in addition to a listing of past club mtg. presentations, astronomy news, photos & events from prior newsletters, club equipment, membership & constitution. We have begun to link some presentation materials from past mtgs.
Membership. For information, current dues & application, contact Vic Christensen (x63021, M1-167), or see the club website where a form is also available. Benefits will include use of club telescope(s) & library/software, discounts on Sky & Telescope magazine and Observer’s Handbook, field trips, great programs, having a say in club activities, acquisitions & elections, etc.
Committee Suggestions & Volunteers. Feel free to contact: Michelle Darrah, Program Committee Chairwoman (& club VP), David Wright, Activities Committee Chairman (& club Secretary), or Vic Christensen, Resource Committee Chairman (over equipment & library, and club Treasurer).
Mark Clayson, AEA Astronomy Club President
================================
AEA Astronomy Club Newsletter, October 2011
Contents
AEA Astronomy Club News & Calendar p.1
Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month p. 1
Astronomy News p. 4
General Calendar p. 5
Colloquia, lectures, mtgs. p. 5
Observing p. 6
Useful Links p. 7
About the Club p. 8
Club News & Calendar.
News:
Club booth at the Oct. 12 AEA October Festival. Volunteers & visitors (bring a friend!) are welcome from 11am to 1pm. We plan to showcase our 10-inch GoTo telescope doing its alignment dance, H-alpha telescope to look at current solar activity, and 8-inch Dobsonian, in addition to various other astronomical items of interest.
STEM Outreach Opportunities
An opportunity to share astronomy or other aerospace subjects w. local schools: http://pages.aero.org/educational-outreach/2011/07/22/volunteer-networking-event/
Other opportunities at the Volunteer Job Board:
http://pages.aero.org/educational-outreach/category/job-board/
Calendar
Upcoming AEA Astronomy Club meeting programs (3rd Thursdays) at 11:45am in A1/1026) & activities:
12 Oct
AEA October Festival
Astronomy Club Booth – 11am to 1pm. Meade 10-inch & Orion 8-inch on display, H-alpha solar scope will be looking at the sun. And more.
20 Oct
AEA Astronomy Club Meeting
TBD – We continue working on getting one of the Caltech exoplanet researchers, and will get word out.
15 Dec
AEA Astronomy Club Meeting
“The Many Faces of the Sun,” David Glackin, Aerospace & former solar astronomer.
[TBD – possibly a joint star party w. a local club – either LAAS or SBAS]
Astronomy Video(s)/Picture(s) of the Month
(from Astronomy Picture of the Day, APOD: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html)
Video(s)
ISS night-time flyover of West Coast [look for San Francisco, LA, San Diego & Baja starting about 15 seconds in]: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110927.html
Kepler-16b: A Planet with Two Suns [Tatooine?]: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110920.html
HH 47: A Young Star Jet Expands: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110905.html
In the Shadow of Saturn Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
Explanation: In the shadow of Saturn, unexpected wonders appear. The robotic Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn drifted in giant planet's shadow for about 12 hours in 2006 and looked back toward the eclipsed Sun. Cassini saw a view unlike any other. First, the night side of Saturn is seen to be partly lit by light reflected from its own majestic ring system. Next, the rings themselves appear dark when silhouetted against Saturn, but quite bright when viewed away from Saturn, slightly scattering sunlight, in this exaggerated color image. Saturn's rings light up so much that new rings were discovered, although they are hard to see in the image. Seen in spectacular detail, however, is Saturn's E ring, the ring created by the newly discovered ice-fountains of the moon Enceladus and the outermost ring visible above. Far in the distance, at the left, just above the bright main rings, is the almost ignorable pale blue dot of Earth.
Apollo 17 Site: A Sharper View Credit: NASA / GSFC / Arizona State Univ. / Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Explanation: This view of the Apollo 17 landing site in the Taurus-Littrow valley was captured last month by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), the sharpest ever recorded from space. The high resolution image data was taken during a period when LRO's orbit was modified to create a close approach of about 22 kilometers as it passed over some of the Apollo landing sites. That altitude corresponds to only about twice the height of a commercial airline flight over planet Earth. Labeled in this image are Apollo 17 lunar lander Challenger's descent stage (inset), the lunar rover (LRV) at its final parking spot, and the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) left to monitor the Moon's environment and interior. Clear, dual lunar rover tracks and the foot trails left by astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, the last to walk on the lunar surface, are also easily visible at the Apollo 17 site. [But of course the conspiracy theories will continue]
Asteroids Near Earth Illustration Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, WISE
Explanation: Though the sizes are not to scale, the Sun and planets of the inner solar system are shown in this illustration, where each red dot represents an asteroid. New results from NEOWISE, the infrared asteroid hunting portion of the WISE mission, are shown on the left compared to old population projections of mid-size or larger near-Earth asteroids from surveys at visible wavelengths. And the good news is, NEOWISE observations estimate there are 40 percent fewer near-Earth asteroids that are larger than 100 meters (330 feet), than indicated by visible light searches. Based on infrared imaging, the NEOWISE results are more accurate as well. Heated by the Sun, asteroids of the same size radiate the same amount of infrared light, but can reflect very different amounts of visible sunlight depending on how shiny their surface is, or their surface albedo. That effect can bias surveys based on optical observations. NEOWISE results reduce the estimated number of mid-size near-Earth asteroids from about 35,000 to 19,500, but the majority still remain undiscovered.
Astronomy News:
The Milky Way’s New Arm Pieces
“Radio, IR & other techniques have fleshed out a lot of the picture [of the large-scale structure], but the far side of the Milky Way remains especially poorly known. A few years ago, the Spitzer telescope helped conclude that our galaxy has just two main spiral arms, not four as had been thought; the other two arms are weaker. The main ones....appear to connect up nicely with the ends of our galaxy’s central bar.”
Just now there’s evidence the two arms continue around to the far side. Millimeter emissions from CO in giant molecular clouds show the entire arc of the Scutum-Centaurus arm “...is more than 200,000 light-years long and wraps more than 300 degrees around the galactic center.”
Trouble for the Kepler Mission
The Kepler spacecraft has been highly successful, finding 1,235 planet candidates in its first 4 months, and learning much about the nature of stars – a “golden age for stellar physics.” But only 68 of the candidate planets are earth-size, far short of expectations. The problem appears to be that scientists assumed most main-sequence stars behave as the sun, with brightness variations of only 10 ppm over a few hours. But most now appear to vary by 2 or more times that, making it difficult to identify transits by small bodies. Still, repetitive signals can be pulled out of the noise with enough transits. But in the short life of Kepler, that only occurs for very small orbits, which mean uninhabitable temperatures. By the mission design life of 3 ½ years, it should barely be able to detect (with 3 transits) 1 AU-orbiters like earth, of which a smaller percentage (0.5 percent) transit than tight orbiters due to geometry. But they’re monitoring over 145,000 stars, so they do expect fair numbers.
The estimate is, though, that the mission life would need to be doubled to detect all the earths in its FOV transiting solar-type stars. While the spacecraft is healthy, with adequate consumables, unbudgeted operational costs of $17 million/year may not fit NASA’s shrinking budget ($1.9 billion cuts have been proposed by Congress), and the cost & schedule overruns by the James Webb Space Telescope. The PI, of course, says “I think this is the greatest mission that NASA has ever flown. I can’t imagine any other mission being more important.”
JWST
Speaking of the Webb Telescope, in July the House Appropriations Committee “called for it to be cancelled outright, despite the $3 billion already spent on it.” Congress favors NASA development of a new heavy-lift Space Launch System capable of sending crews beyond Earth orbit, and the FY12 budget has $1.9 billion for that purpose. ...Meanwhile, construction on JWST continues, with more than 75% of hardware either in production or finished. But the price tag is now estimated at $6.8 billion. [Our own Jim Johansen led an AoA to salvage JWST, and at some point hopefully soon he may be at liberty to share the findings with us].
[These news bites are from the Sept & Oct 2011 issues of Sky & Telescope Magazine. Below is a recap of email news releases forwarded to club members by Vic Christensen, not including the Scientific American articles.]
Date
Description
URL
[Work in progress – will be posted on the club website]
General Calendar:
Colloquia, Lectures, Seminars, Meetings, Open Houses & Tours:
Note: The South Bay Astronomical Society website (www.sbastro.org.) is temporarily not functional (due to recent death of the webmaster). Nor have I received the usual hardcopy mailing recently. So I have no dates for their Sept. events.
Colloquia: Carnegie (Tues. 4pm), UCLA, Caltech (Wed. 4pm), IPAC (Wed. 12:15pm) & other Pasadena (daily 12-4pm): http://obs.carnegiescience.edu/seminars/
Carnegie astronomy lectures – only 4 per year in the Spring www.obs.carnegiescience.edu. Visit www.huntington.org for directions.
?
SBAS Monthly General Meeting at El Camino College planetarium. 7:30 PM
Topic: TBD
Guest Speaker:. www.sbastro.org.
17 Oct
LAAS LAAS General Mtg..
Griffith ObservatoryEvent Horizon Theater8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
20 Oct
AEA Astronomy Club Meeting
TBD – We’re hoping to get one of the Caltech exoplanet researchers, and are following some leads.
Oct. 13 & 14 -- The von Kármán Lecture Series http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures.cfm
A Self-Powered Underwater Robot for Ocean Exploration and Beyond
The Sounding Oceanographic Lagrangrian Observer Thermal RECharging (SOLO-TREC) autonomous underwater vehicle is the first unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) that is completely powered by renewable energy. By taking advantage of the natural temperature differences in the ocean, the vehicle employs a novel thermal recharging engine that allows for virtually indefinite ocean monitoring for climate and marine life studies, exploration and surveillance. SOLO-TREC is among the longest lasting UUV's. Since its deployment into the ocean west of Hawaii on November 30th, 2009, SOLO-TREC has successfully accomplished its mission objectives, and opened the door for future applications of this remarkable engine.
Speaker:
Dr. Yi Chao, Principal Investigator, SOLO-TREC, JPL & Thomas Valdez, Engineering Staff, Electrochemical Technologies Group
Locations:
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, 7pmTBD at JPL4800 Oak Grove DrivePasadena, CA› Directions Friday, Oct 14, 2011, 7pmThe Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College1570 East Colorado Blvd.Pasadena, CA› Directions
Webcast:
For the webcast on Thursday at 7 p.m. PST, click here If you don't have RealPlayer, you can download the free RealPlayer 8 Basic.
Note: As of Feb. 28, 2011, the Mt. Wilson Observatory Assn. (MWOA) no longer exists. All public outreach activities of Mt. Wilson will be through the Mt. Wilson Institute (www.mtwilson.edu/ -- links for virtual tour & Quick Time video) No lectures noted yet to replace the previous MWOA 4th Saturday lecture series. The Angeles Crest Highway has recently reopened, and the Observatory is open for public visits daily 10-4 from April thru Nov.
Observing:
The following data are from the 2011 Observer’s Handbook, and Sky & Telescope’s 2011 Skygazer’s Almanac & monthly Sky at a Glance.
Sun, Moon & Planets for October:
Planets: Jupiter rises (in the east) just after sunset, and is at opposition (nearly brightest) Oct. 28. Mars rises shortly after midnight. Saturn sets in the West less than an hour after sunset until mid-month, then rises just before sunrise later in the month. Mercury & Venus are visible just above the western horizon just after sunset. Uranus transits 9:30-11:30pm.
Other Events:
12 Oct
AEA October Festival
Astronomy Club Booth – 11am to 1pm. Meade 10-inch & Orion 8-inch on display, H-alpha solar scope will be looking at the sun. And more.
?
SBAS out-of-town observing – contact Greg Benecke www.sbastro.org.
21-22 Orionid meteor shower (modest)
22 Oct
LAAS Dark Sky Night: Lockwood Valley (Steve Kufeld Astronomical Site; LAAS members and their guests only)
?
SBAS Star Party (weather permitting): RPV at Ridgecrest Middle School 28915 North Bay Rd.
24 Oct – Zodiacal Light visible in N latitudes in the East before morning twilight for next 2 weeks.
28 Oct – Jupiter at opposition & almost at its brightest. & Mercury & Venus within 2 deg. of moon.
5 Nov
LAAS Public Star Party: Griffith Observatory Grounds 2-10pm
Internet Links:
Link(s) of the Month
General
e! Science News Astronomy & Space
NASA Gallery
Astronomical Society of the Pacific (educational, amateur & professional)
Amateur Online Tools, Journals, Vendors, Societies, Databases
The Astronomy White Pages (U.S. & International Amateur Clubs & Societies)
American Astronomical Society (professional)
More...
Regional (esp. Southern California)
Western Amateur Astronomers (consortium of various regional societies)
Mt. Wilson Institute (www.mtwilson.edu/), including status for visits & roads
Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS)
South Bay Astronomical Society (SBAS)
Orange County Astronomers
The Local Group Astronomy Club (Santa Clarita)
Ventura County Astronomical Society
About the Club
Club Website: https://aeropedia.aero.org/aeropedia/index.php/Astronomy_Club It is updated to reflect this newsletter, in addition to a listing of past club mtg. presentations, astronomy news, photos & events from prior newsletters, club equipment, membership & constitution. We have begun to link some presentation materials from past mtgs.
Membership. For information, current dues & application, contact Vic Christensen (x63021, M1-167), or see the club website where a form is also available. Benefits will include use of club telescope(s) & library/software, discounts on Sky & Telescope magazine and Observer’s Handbook, field trips, great programs, having a say in club activities, acquisitions & elections, etc.
Committee Suggestions & Volunteers. Feel free to contact: Michelle Darrah, Program Committee Chairwoman (& club VP), David Wright, Activities Committee Chairman (& club Secretary), or Vic Christensen, Resource Committee Chairman (over equipment & library, and club Treasurer).
Mark Clayson, AEA Astronomy Club President
