The Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image (see description on the right, below)

The Hubble Ultra Deep Field Image
(10,000 galaxies in an area 1% of the apparent size of the moon -- see description on the right, below)

Thursday, February 15, 2018

2018 February


AEA Astronomy Club Newsletter                         February 2018

Contents

AEA Astronomy Club News & Calendar p.1
Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month p. 2
Astronomy News p. 8
General Calendar p. 9
    Colloquia, lectures, mtgs. p. 9
    Observing p. 12
Useful Links p. 14
About the Club p. 14

Club News & Calendar.

Club Calendar

Club Meeting Schedule:
1 Feb
AEA Astronomy Club Meeting
Online Carnegie Lecture
(A1/2906)

AEA Astronomy Club meetings are now on 1st  Thursdays at 11:45 am.  For 2018:  Jan. 4 in A1/1029 A/B, Feb. 1 & March 1 in A1/2906 and for the rest of 2018 (April-Dec), the meeting room is A1/1735. 



We have reserved the night of Sat. Sept. 8 on the Mt. Wilson 100-inch telescope.  We do have a full manifest already – carry-overs from the 2017 night cancelled due to bad weather.  But if interested, we can still put you on the waiting list in case of cancellations, which typically do occur.

We have a speaker for June 7 from JPL – Rob Zellem, doing research on exoplanetary atmospheres.

“Exoplanets: Finding Life in the Galaxy”

Rob was born just outside the Philadelphia city limits but grew up in Hendersonville, TN. He went to Villanova University where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Astrophysics, minoring in Physics, Mathematics, and Classics, and getting an Honors Concentration. His love of travel and learning about other cultures brought him to University College London in England where he got his MSc in Space Science. He then moved out west to Tucson, AZ, where he received his PhD in Planetary Sciences from the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. He is currently a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory supporting ground- and space-based instruments that will measure the atmospheres of extrasolar planets.


Club News:  

We have a new Vice president by executive appointment – Walt Sturrock.  This was part of a deal – I attended his AEA Genealogy Club kickoff, and made a deal that I’d be his VP, if he’d be mine.

The club has just received its annual AEA allotment  -- $4,400, as requested.

From Katharine Losoncy:

NOVAC is planning a collimating night, and gathering a variety of accessories, bob's knobs, etc.

One of the members also shared a 6" f8 dobs he recently built at the build your own Saturday's. There are some dark parts of Maryland, beautiful areas day and night.
He included notes on his quick-collimating add-on, and an eyepiece adjuster to allow kids of different heights easy access.
https://guysmathastro.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/a-6-dob-for-young-relatives/

It looks like a fun project.

Thank you,
Katharine Losoncy 

We need volunteers to help with: 

·         Populating our club Sharepoint site with material & links to the club’s Aerowiki & Aerolink materials
·         Arranging future club programs
·         Managing club equipment

Astronomy Video(s) & Picture(s) of the Month
(from Astronomy Picture of the Day, APOD: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
VIDEO: An Immersive Visualization of the Galactic Center https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180122.html
Video Credit: NASA, CXC, Pontifical Catholic Univ. of Chile, C. Russell et al.
Explanation: What if you could look out from the center of our Galaxy -- what might you see? Two scientifically-determined possibilities are shown in the featured video, an immersive 360-degree view which allows you to look around in every direction. The pictured computer simulation is based on infrared data from ESO's Very Large Telescope in Chile and X-ray data from NASA's orbiting Chandra X-ray Observatory. As the video starts, you quickly approach Sgr A*, the supermassive black hole in the Galactic center. Then looking out, this 500-year time-lapse simulation shows glowing gas and many points of light orbiting all around you. Many of these points are young Wolf-Rayet stars that have visible hot winds blowing out into surrounding nebulas. Clouds approaching close become elongated, while objects approaching too close fall in. Toward the video's end the simulation repeats, but this time with the dynamic region surrounding Sgr A* expelling hot gas that pushes back against approaching material.
VIDEO:  A Total Lunar Eclipse Over Tajikistan 
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180128.html
Video Credit & Copyright: Jean-Luc Dauvergne (Ciel et Espace); Music: Valère Leroy & Sophie Huet (Space-Music)
Explanation: If the full Moon suddenly faded, what would you see? The answer during the total lunar eclipse in 2011 was recorded in a dramatic time lapse video from Tajikistan. During a total lunar eclipse, the Earth moves between the Moon and the Sun, causing the moon to fade dramatically. The Moon never gets completely dark, though, since the Earth's atmosphere refracts some light. As the featured video begins, the scene may appear to be daytime and sunlit, but actually it is a nighttime and lit by the glow of the full Moon. As the Moon becomes eclipsed and fades, the wind dies down and background stars can be seen reflected in foreground lake. Most spectacularly, the sky surrounding the eclipsed moon suddenly appears to be full of stars and highlighted by the busy plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. The sequence repeats with a closer view, and the final image shows the placement of the eclipsed Moon near the Eagle, Swan, Trifid, and Lagoon nebulas. Nearly two hours after the eclipse started, the moon emerges from the Earth's shadow and its bright full glare again dominates the sky. This Wednesday another total lunar eclipse will take place -- but this one will be during a rare Super Blue Blood Moon.
VIDEO:  Sun Halo over Sweden https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180101.html
Video Credit & Copyright: Håkan Hammar (Vemdalen Ski Resort, SkiStar)
Explanation: What's happened to the Sun? Sometimes it looks like the Sun is being viewed through a giant lens. In the featured video, however, there are actually millions of tiny lenses: ice crystals. Water may freeze in the atmosphere into small, flat, six-sided, ice crystals. As these crystals flutter to the ground, much time is spent with their faces flat and parallel to the ground. An observer may find themselves in the same plane as many of the falling ice crystals near sunrise or sunset. During this alignment, each crystal can act like a miniature lens, refracting sunlight into our view and creatingphenomena like parhelia, the technical term for sundogs. The featured video was taken a month ago on the side of a ski hill at the Vemdalen Ski Resort in central Sweden. Visible in the center is the most direct image of the Sun, while two bright sundogs glow prominently from both the left and the right. Also visible is the bright 22 degree halo -- as well as the rarer and much fainter 46 degree halo -- also created by sunlight reflecting off of atmospheric ice crystals.



Venus at Night in Infrared from Akatsuki 
Image Credit: JAXA, ISAS, DARTS; Processing & Copyright: Damia Bouic
Explanation: Why is Venus so different from Earth? To help find out, Japan launched the robotic Akatsuki spacecraft which entered orbit around Venus late in 2015 after an unplanned five-year adventure around the inner Solar System. Even though Akatsuki was past its original planned lifetime, the spacecraft and instruments were operating so well that much of its original mission was reinstated. Also known as the Venus Climate Orbiter, Akatsuki's instruments investigated unknowns about Earth's sister planet, including whether volcanoes are still active, whether lightning occurs in the dense atmosphere, and why wind speeds greatly exceed the planet's rotation speed. In the featured image taken by Akatsuki's IR2 camera, Venus's night side shows a jagged-edged equatorial band of high dark clouds absorbing infrared light from hotter layers deeper in Venus' atmosphere. The bright orange and black stripe on the upper right is a false digital artifact that covers part of the much brighter day side of Venus. Analyses of Akatsuki images and data has shown that Venus has equatorial jet similar to Earth's jet stream.


Unexpected X-Rays from Perseus Galaxy Cluster 
Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXO/Oxford University/J. Conlon et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF/Univ. of Montreal/Gendron-Marsolais et al.; Optical: NASA/ESA/IoA/A. Fabian et al.; DSS
Explanation: Why does the Perseus galaxy cluster shine so strangely in one specific color of X-rays? No one is sure, but a much-debated hypothesis holds that these X-rays are a clue to the long-sought identity of dark matter. At the center of this mystery is a 3.5 Kilo-electronvolt (KeV) X-ray color that appears to glow excessively only when regions well outside the cluster center are observed, whereas the area directly surrounding a likely central supermassive black hole is actually deficient in 3.5 keV X-rays. One proposed resolution -- quite controversial -- is that something never seen before might be present: fluorescent dark matter (FDM). This form of particle dark matter might be able to absorb 3.5 keV X-radiation. If operating, FDM, after absorption, might later emit these X-rays from all over the cluster, creating an emission line. However, when seen superposed in front of the central region surrounding the black hole, FDM's absorption would be more prominent, creating an absorption line. Pictured, a composite image of the Perseus galaxy cluster shows visible and radio light in red, and X-ray light from the Earth-orbiting Chandra Observatory in blue.


Clouds in the LMC 
Image Credit & Copyright: Josep Drudis, Don Goldman
Explanation: An alluring sight in southern skies, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is seen in this deep and detailed telescopic mosaic. Recorded with broadband and narrowband filters, the scene spans some 5 degrees or 10 full moons. The narrowband filters are designed to transmit only light emitted by hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Ionized by energetic starlight, the atoms emit their characteristic light as electrons are recaptured and the atoms transition to a lower energy state. As a result, in this image the LMC seems covered with its own clouds of ionized gas surrounding its massive, young stars. Sculpted by the strong stellar winds and ultraviolet radiation, the glowing clouds, dominated by emission from hydrogen, are known as H II (ionized hydrogen) regions. Itself composed of many overlapping H II regions, the Tarantula Nebula is the large star forming region at the left. The largest satellite of our Milky Way Galaxy, the LMC is about 15,000 light-years across and lies a mere 160,000 light-years away toward the constellation Dorado.


Launch and Landing 
Image Credit & Copyright: John Kraus
Explanation: A composite of three consecutive exposures, this night skyscape follows the January 7 launch and first stage landing of a Falcon 9 rocket from a beach on planet Earth's space coast. With the launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the bright streak beginning farthest left traces the initial phase of the rocket's flight. A visible upward hook marks the first stage beginning its return trajectory with a "boostback burn" near the top of the arc, while the second stage separates and continues toward orbit. Above the top of the launch arc due to perspective, a bright streak shows the returning first stage slowing and descending toward the Cape. Centered below, the streak at the horizon is a 17 second burn finally slowing the first stage to a successful vertical landing about 8 minutes after launch at Landing Zone 1. During the scene's effective long exposure time, the background stars leave short trails in the night sky of the rotating planet.


Astronomy News:
(from https://www.sciencedaily.com )

RX J1131-1231 split into four images. (NASA/CXC/Univ of Michigan/R.C.Reis et al)

For The First Time Ever, Astronomers Have Detected Planets Outside Our Galaxy

This is crazy!
MICHELLE STARR
5 FEB 2018
In an incredible world first, astrophysicists have detected multiple planets in another galaxy, ranging from masses as small as the Moon to ones as great as Jupiter.
Given how difficult it is to find exoplanets even within our Milky Way galaxy, this is no mean feat. Researchers at the University of Oklahoma achieved this thanks to clever use of gravitational microlensing.
The technique, first predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity, has been used to find exoplanets within Milky Way, and it's the only known way of finding the smallest and most distant planets, thousands of light-years from Earth.
As a planet orbits a star, the gravitational field of the system can bend the light of a distant star behind it.
We know what this looks like when it's just two stars, so when a planet enters the mix, it creates a further disturbance in the light that reaches us - a recognisable signature for the planet.
So far, 53 exoplanets within the Milky Way have been detected using this method. To find planets farther afield, though, something a little bit more powerful than a single star was required.
Oklahoma University astronomers Xinyu Dai and Eduardo Guerras studied a quasar 6 billion light-years away called RX J1131-1231, one of the best gravitationally lensed quasars in the sky.
The gravitational field of a galaxy 3.8 billion light-years away between us and the quasar bends light in such a way that it creates four images of the quasar, which is an active supermassive black hole that's extremely bright in X-ray, thanks to the intense heat of its accretion disc.
Using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray observatory, the researchers found that there were peculiar line energy shifts in the quasar's light that could only be explained by planets in the galaxy lensing the quasar.
It turned out to be around 2,000 unbound planets with masses ranging between the Moon and Jupiter, between the galaxy's stars.
"We are very excited about this discovery. This is the first time anyone has discovered planets outside our galaxy," Dai said.
Of course, we haven't seen the planets directly, and are unlikely to in the lifetime of anyone alive today. But being able to detect them at all is an incredible testament to the power of microlensing, not to mention being evidence that there are planets in other galaxies.
Of course, common sense would dictate that planets are out there - but evidence is always nice.
"This is an example of how powerful the techniques of analysis of extragalactic microlensing can be,"said Guerras.
"This galaxy is located 3.8 billion light years away, and there is not the slightest chance of observing these planets directly, not even with the best telescope one can imagine in a science fiction scenario. 
"However, we are able to study them, unveil their presence and even have an idea of their masses. This is very cool science."
The research has been published in The Astrophysical Journal.


 General Calendar:

Colloquia, Lectures, Seminars, Meetings, Open Houses & Tours:

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.  For more information about the Carnegie Observatories or this lecture series, please contact Reed Haynie.  . Click here for more information.
1 Feb
AEA Astronomy Club Meeting
Online Carnegie Lecture
(A1/2906)


2 Feb.
Friday Night 7:30PM SBAS  Monthly General Meeting
in the Planetarium at El Camino College (16007 Crenshaw Bl. In Torrance)
Topic: “Report on the Annual Meeting of the American Astronomical Society” Dr. Steven Morris, Harbor College





Feb 11




UCLA Meteorite Gallery --
Location: UCLA Campus

DR. PAUL WARREN

METEORITES FROM THE MOON

Location: Geology 3656
Time: 2:30PM
Paul will discuss how impacts eject fragments from the Moon and the variety of paths they can follow before accreting to the Earth. He will talk about the different terrains on the Moon including mare basalts and anorthositic breccias from the highlands. He will compare the different kinds of knowledge gained from lunar meteorites and the samples returned by the Apollo astronauts.

12 Feb
LAAS General Mtg. 7:30pm Griffith Observatory

 

The von Kármán Lecture Series: 2018

Looking Deep: The InSight Mission to Mars

February 22 & 23

The InSight mission, scheduled to launch in May, 2018, will be the first NASA mission to observe the deep interior of Mars. Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury are as similar as they are different, and the view granted by our human and robotic eyes only scratches the surface. By sending instruments that can teach us about the interior of Mars, we learn about the history and evolution of all these familiar planets. The instruments InSight will bring to Elysium Planitia are conceptually simple, yet also sensitive, delicate, and complex. The spacecraft itself uses proven hardware from previous missions to Mars’ surface, but also features new activities crucial to the success of InSight science.
Come dig deep into the workings of Earth’s next trip to the Red Planet. InSight (Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport) is a mission in NASA’s Discovery Program. It is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Bruce Banerdt, and is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). InSight is a collaborative partnership of NASA, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Cetre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) of France, and the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR).
Speaker:
Troy Lee Hudson
Technologist, at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Instrument Systems Engineer for the InSight mission Heat-Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3).

Location:
Thursday, February 22, 2018, 7pm
The von Kármán Auditorium at JPL
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA
› Directions

Friday, February 23, 2018, 7pm
The Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College
1570 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
› Directions


1 March
AEA Astronomy Club Meeting
Online Carnegie Lecture?
(A1/2906)

Observing:

The following data are from the 2018 Observer’s Handbook, and Sky & Telescope’s 2018 Skygazer’s Almanac & monthly Sky at a Glance.

Current sun & moon rise/set/phase data for L.A.:  http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/usa/los-angeles

Sun, Moon & Planets for February:
   


Moon: Feb 7 last quarter, Feb 15 new, Feb 23 1st quarter       
                 
Planets: Venus visible at dusk after the 5th.  Mars visible in early morning, highest at dawn.  Mercury hidden in the sun’s glow all month.  Saturn visible at dawn. Jupiter rises after or near midnight, highest before dawn.
Other Events:


7,14,21,28 Feb
LAAS The Garvey Ranch Observatory is open to the public every Wednesday evening from 7:30 PM to 10 PM. Go into the dome to use the 8 Inch Refractor or observe through one of our telescopes on the lawn. Visit our workshop to learn how you can build your own telescope, grind your own mirror, or sign up for our free seasonal astronomy classes.

Call 213-673-7355 for further information.
Time: 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: Garvey Ranch Obs. , 781 Orange Ave., Monterey Park, CA 91755


 
10 Feb
SBAS Saturday Night In Town Dark Sky Observing Session at Ridgecrest Middle School– 28915 North Bay Rd. RPV, Weather Permitting: Please contact Greg Benecke to confirm that the gate will be opened! http://www.sbastro.net/

17 Feb
LAAS Private dark sky  Star Party

17 Feb
SBAS out-of-town Dark Sky observing – contact Greg Benecke to coordinate a location. http://www.sbastro.net/.  

24 Feb
LAAS Public  Star Party: Griffith Observatory Grounds 2-10pm


Internet Links:

Telescope, Binocular & Accessory Buying Guides


General


Regional (Southern California, Washington, D.C. & Colorado)
Southern California & Beyond Amateur Astronomy Organizations, Observatories & Planetaria
Mt. Wilson Observatory description, history, visiting


About the Club

Club Websites:  Internal (Aerospace): 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 linked some presentation materials from past mtgs.  Our club newsletters are also being posted to an external blog, “An Astronomical View” http://astronomicalview.blogspot.com/. 
 
Membership.  For information, current dues & application, contact Alan Olson, or see the club website (or Aerolink folder) where a form is also available (go to the membership link/folder & look at the bottom).  Benefits will include use of club telescope(s) & library/software, membership in The Astronomical League, 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:  Mark Clayson, President & Program Committee Chairman (& acting club VP), TBD Activities Committee Chairman (& club Secretary), or Alan Olson, Resource Committee Chairman (over equipment & library, and club Treasurer).

Mark Clayson,
AEA Astronomy Club President


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