JANUARY 2018

October 2019

October Meeting Details October Presentation

DATE: Tuesday, September 10th

MEETING TIME: 7:00 PM

PLACE: La Posada Recreation Center

MEETING SCHEDULE:

7:00 Meeting Intro and Welcome

7:10 Organizational Announcements

7:30 Featured Presentation

~8:15 Club Activities/Business

~8:30 Door Prizes Drawing?

~8:45 Outside Activities/Snack at

Denny’s

Join us after the meeting at the local Denny’s restaurant for a snack, dessert, or whatever so we can get to know each other better and talk more astronomy .

WHO: John Dwyer, President, Sonoran

Astronomical Society

TITLE: High Dynamic Range (HDR)

Processing of Images.

ABSTRACT: John will talk about how High

Dynamic Range (HDR) Processing of Images

can be used for astronomical images as well as

normal photos.

Next Member Star Parties

DATE: Thursday, October 24th

TIME: 5:45 PM Setup

PLACE: Canoa Preserve Park

DATE: Thursday, November 21st

TIME: 5:15 PM Setup

PLACE: Canoa Preserve Park

Please join our Yahoo Group site:

(http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/sas_club/)

To get directions and up-to-date infor-mation on the status of a star party in case a weather issue develops.

If you have a telescope that you don ’t

know how to use, or are looking to buy

a telescope and want to compare differ-

ent telescopes, join us at a star party

and we can give you some help.

Parker Solar Probe Update

At the May 14th meeting of the Sonoran

Astronomical Society, the last before the

summer break, Dr. Joe Giacalone of the Lunar

and Planetary Laboratory, spoke about The

Parker Solar Probe: NASA’s Mission to

Touch the Sun.

This month, on the 1st of September, the Solar

Probe made its 3rd of 25 planned close

approaches to the Sun. With each pass the

Parker sets new speed records; 213,200 mph

this pass. The goal of the Parker Solar Probe

missions is to help scientists understand and

perhaps even predict space weather.

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 2 Volume XII Issue 2

UPCOMING EVENTS

NEXT MEETING

DATE: November, 8th

TIME: 7:00 P.M.

SPEAKER: TBD

PRESIDENT’S NOTES

Greetings everyone,

We have completed the transition of our website over to a new hosting site. Joe Castor has done a bang-up job in getting the site up and running and making some improvements. Joe will give a brief update about the site at our October meeting. Please check out the new site and let us know what you think.

Our club star parties are still suffering from cloud outs. We had one scheduled for September 26th. It was fairly clear at sunset but that lasted for only about 90 minutes when clouds started rolling in, Will we ever get a good night at our new site?

We had one public star party scheduled for the end of September at Canoa Ranch. We finally got some mostly clear skies and had a great night. There are several public star parties scheduled for October. Please help out if you can.

John Dwyer, President SAS

PUBLIC STAR PARTIES

DATE: October 17th TIME: 5:30 PM Setup PLACE: Hermosa Montessori MS 11540 S. Agua Linda Rd, Vail

DATE: October 18th TIME: 5:30 PM Setup PLACE: Rancho Sahuarita Camp-Out 15455 S Camino Lago Azul, Sahuarita DATE: October 25th TIME: 6:00 PM Setup PLACE: Historic Canoa Ranch DATE: October 26th TIME: 6:00 PM Setup PLACE: Arivaca Library, 17050 W Arivaca Rd, Arivaca

CLUB EQUIPMENT FOR LOAN OUT

TELESCOPES:

2 - 8” Celestron Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes

1 – 4” Refractor telescope

1 – 1” Refractor telescope

Note: Instruction may be required for some telescopes. Contact one of the club officers for information and availability.

CLUB BOOK/CD/DVD LOAN LIBRARY

BOOKS:

The following books are available for check out:

1. Guide to the Stars (16”) by David H. Levy

2. The Next Step: Finding and Viewing Messier’s Objects by Ken Graun

3. Touring the Universe: A Practical Guide to Exploring the Cosmos through 2017 by Ken Graun (2 copies)

4. What’s Out Tonight? Celestial Almanac & Astronomy Field Guide 2000 to 2050 by Ken Graun (2 copies)

5. Sky Atlas 2000.0 Companion by Robert A. Strong (donated by Paul Anderson)

Please see the club treasurer or secretary for availability. Our thanks to Ken Graun for his generous donations. CDs/DVDs:

We have “Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy”. This is a 16 DVD set of 96 lectures (30 min per lecture) by Dr Alex Filippenko of UC Berkeley and CalTech. This is a nontechnical introductory college-level course on astronomy. More information about this course can be found at http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursedesclong2.aspx?cid=1810. Please see the club treasurer at the next meeting for availability.

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 3 Volume XII Issue 2

THE OCTOBER SKY

Jupiter is still a good object for viewing low in the evening southwestern sky. Saturn is due south at sunset and will be visible for several hours after that. Venus is now in the evening sky but fairly low in the southwest. Mercury will be in the evening sky most of this month, and will reach greatest eastern elongation of 25° on the 20th. Mars is too close to the Sun for observing as it transitions to the morning sky. Uranus, in Pisces, reaches opposition on the 28th and will be visible most of the night. Neptune, located in Aquarius, reached opposition last month and is visible most of the evening. For Jupiter’s moons positions, see this site:

https://www.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/observing-tools/jupiter_moons/jupiter.html

Comets are still few and far between. There is one which could be visible in a telescope early in the month. That is C/2018 W2 (Africano). It is now racing south away from us and will be fading. It begins the month in Andromeda and ends up the month too low to really see. Its current magnitude is about 9, but will be quickly fading. Another much discussed comet (C/2019 Q4 Borisov), supposedly an interstellar interloper, unfortunately will not get bright enough to view.

OCTOBER MOON/SUN TIMES

WANT TO VIEW SATELLITES? WANT CURRENT COMET INFORMATION?

To find out information on when you can view satellites, such as the International Space Station (ISS), or satellite related events, such as Iridium Flares, go to www.heavens-above.com. Under “Configuration”, use “select from map” to enter your specific location (precision can make a difference for Iridium Flares), and choose what satellite’s infor-mation you want to view. Also, information on comets, planets, and other objects are available.

If you want information on current observable comets, go to “The Weekly Information about Bright Comets” site at http://www.aerith.net/comet/weekly/current.html. Comets are listed in brightest to least bright order. Remember, to see a comet without any optical aid, it must be approximately 4th magnitude or brighter. With binoculars, the comet would most likely need to be at least 8th magnitude. Comets below 11th magnitude might be difficult to pick up with other than a large aperture telescope. Visibility can also depend on how diffuse the comet is.

DATE M-Rise M-Set M-Phase Sun-set Star Party

Tue 10/01 9:28 20:36 18:09

Wed 10/02 10:33 21:20 18:07

Thu 10/03 11:37 22:06 18:06

Fri 10/04 12:35 22:56 18:05

Sat 10/05 13:30 23:49 1st Qtr 18:04

Sun 10/06 14:17 ----- 18:02

Mon 10/07 15:01 0:43 18:01

Tue 10/08 15:39 1:38 18:00

Wed 10/09 16:14 2:32 17:59

Thu 10/10 16:46 3:27 17:58

Fri 10/11 17:16 4:20 17:56

Sat 10/12 17:45 5:14 17:55

Sun 10/13 18:15 6:07 Full 17:54

Mon 10/14 18:45 7:02 17:53

Tue 10/15 19:18 7:58 17:52

Wed 10/16 19:55 8:55 17:51

Thu 10/17 20:35 9:54 17:49 Hermosa MS?

Fri 10/18 21:22 10:52 17:48

Sat 10/19 22:14 11:51 17:47

Sun 10/20 23:13 12:47 17:46

Mon 10/21 ----- 13:40 3rd Qtr 17:45

Tue 10/22 0:15 14:28 17:44

Wed 10/23 1:22 15:13 17:43

Thu 10/24 2:30 15:53 17:42 S.A.S.

Fri 10/25 3:39 16:31 17:41 Canoa Ranch

Sat 10/26 4:47 17:09 17:40 Arivaca

Sun 10/27 5:56 17:47 New 17:39

Mon 10/28 7:04 18:26 17:38

Tue 10/29 8:12 19:09 17:37

Wed 10/30 9:19 19:55 17:36

Thu 10/31 10:21 20:45 17:35

(S)=Solar

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 4 Volume XII Issue 2

THE STARGAZER’S CORNER: Find Strange Uranus in Aries

Most of the planets in our solar system are bright and easily spotted in our night skies. The exceptions are the ice giant planets: Uranus and Neptune. These worlds are so distant and dim that binoculars or telescopes are almost always needed to see them. A great time to search for Uranus is during its opposition on October 28, since the planet is up almost the entire night and at its brightest for the year.

Search for Uranus in the space beneath the stars of Aries the Ram and above Cetus the Whale. These constellations are found west of more prominent Taurus the Bull and Pleiades star cluster. You can also use the Moon as a guide! Uranus will be just a few degrees north of the Moon the night of October 14, close enough to fit both objects into the same binocular field of view. However, it will be much easier to see dim Uranus by moving the bright Moon just out of sight. If you’re using a telescope, zoom in as much as possible once you find Uranus; 100x magnification and greater will reveal its small greenish disc, while background stars will remain points.

Try this observing trick from a dark sky location. Find Uranus with your telescope or binoculars, then look with your unaided eyes at the patch of sky where your equipment is aimed. Do you see a faint star where Uranus should be? That’s not a star; you’re actually seeing Uranus with your naked eye! The ice giant is just bright enough near opposition - magnitude 5.7 - to be visible to observers under clear dark skies. It’s easier to see this ghostly planet unaided after first using an instrument to spot it, sort of like “training wheels” for your eyes. Try this technique with other objects as you observe, and you’ll be amazed at what your eyes can pick out.

By the way, you’ve spotted the first planet discovered in the modern era! William Herschel discovered Uranus via telescope in 1781, and Johan Bode confirmed its status as a planet two years later. NASA’s Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to visit this strange world, with a brief flyby in 1986. It revealed a strange, severely tilted planetary system possessing faint dark rings, dozens of moons, and eerily featureless cloud tops. Subsequent observations of Uranus from powerful telescopes like Hubble and Keck showed its blank face was temporary, as powerful storms were spotted, caused by dramatic seasonal changes during its 84-year orbit. Uranus’s wildly variable seasons result from a massive collision billions of years ago that tipped the planet to its side.

The path of Uranus in October is indicated by an arrow; its position on October 14 is circled. The wide dashed circle approximates

the field of view from binoculars or a finderscope. Compliments David Prosper of NASA Night Sky Network

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 5 Volume XII Issue 2

OFFICE/POSITION NAME PHONE NO.

Chairman of the Board Open

President John Dwyer (520) 393-3680

Secretary Michael Moraghan (520) 399-3352

Treasurer John McGee (520) 207-6188

Star party Coordinator Duane Johnson (520) 303-6920

Newsletter Editor John Christensen (520) 869-8983

Webmaster Joe Castor (620) 584-4454

ALCOR* Burley Packwood (520) 396-3576

NSN** Representative Duane Johnson (520) 303-6920

Past President Emeritus Dan F. Case (520) 207-6833

Past President Emeritus Ben Coppock (520) 625-5360

YAHOO! Group Owner John Dwyer (520) 393-3680

*Astronomical League Coordinator

**Night Sky Network

S.A.S CLUB OFFICERS

SAS STATISTICS & FINANCES

Lifetime Members: 0 Bank Balance as of End of June: $2893.83

Individual & Family Members: 163 Deposits / (W/Ds): $120.00/($527.90)

Total Membership: 163 Bank Balance as of End of Jun: $2485.93

WHY JOIN SAS CLUB DUES

OUR YAHOO! GROUP & WEB SITES

1. SAS Family Membership Fee is only $15.00 per year.

2. SAS monthly newsletter “The Sonoran Starry Nights.”

3. Top-quality astronomy lectures by local astronomers!

4. SAS Yahoo! Group Website member forum.

(sas_club.)

5. SAS Discount for Astronomy Magazine $34.00 for 1yr

or $60.00 for 2 yr renewed through our treasurer.

6. SAS Discount subscription rate for Sky & Telescope

Magazine $32.95 for 1-year self-renewed.

7. RASC Observer’s Handbook at a discount, $30.00.

8. SAS T-Shirts for sale for $10.00—M, L, XL.

9. Member of International Dark-sky Association (IDA)

and The Astronomical League.

10. SAS Discount for Astronomy 2018 Calendar $10.00

11. SAS monthly Member Star Parties.

12. SAS Telescope and astronomy book loan programs.

13. SAS outreach to astronomy education in schools.

14. SAS fellowship with other amateur astronomers!

Dues (family or individual) are $15 annually, payable each

year in the month you initially joined the club. You will

receive a reminder in the monthly newsletter e-mail of your

due date. You can either pay at the club meeting or mail it

to the club’s address (S.A.S., P.O. Box 1081, Green

Valley, AZ, 85622).

If you want to keep up-to-date with club activities, such as star parties, tours, etc., want information on current astronomical events, or have questions about astronomy, please join our Yahoo group at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sas_club.

Also check out our web site

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 6 Volume XII Issue 2

LOCAL ASTRO-IMAGING GROUP: Sonoran Desert Astro Imagers (SDAI) (Peter Lammers, Coordinator)

Are you interested in Astrophotography or are you currently involved in imaging the skies?

Please plan to join our monthly meeting of the Sonoran Desert Astro Imagers group. Our meetings

focus on improving our skills, helping each other, workshops, and field trips. Please send your Name

and E-mail address to my address below and we’ll include you in the emailing notices of monthly

meetings; “the when and where meeting notice.” Do you have any questions? If so, call me (Peter

Lammers) at (520) 398-4308 or email to peterlammers@cox.net.

Clear Skies! Peter Lammers

SAS IS A MEMBER OF THE ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE SAS IS A MEMBER OF IDA

OUR SPONSORS

S T A R I Z O N A

ADVENTURES IN ASTRONOMY AND NATURE

5757 N. Oracle Rd www.starizona.com

Tucson, AZ 85704 (520) 292-5010

Stellar-Vision Astronomy & Science

Since 1986

New Address:

3721 E 37TH ST

TUCSON AZ 85713

(520) 571-0877

http://www.stellarvisiontucson.com

Since SAS is a member of the Astronomical League, any SAS member may join the Astronomical League for a nominal fee of $7.50. What are the advantages to you of joining the AL?

1. You can receive various observing awards by joining an “observing club” and observing the required number of objects. There are all levels of clubs from beginner to advanced, viewing constellations to deep-sky objects and using either your naked eyes, binoculars, or a telescope. Contact our ALCOR rep Burley Packwood for details.

2. You can get a 10% discount on books purchased through the AL Book Service.

3. You will receive the AL’s quarterly “Reflector” magazine which keeps you up to date on all the AL activities.

More info at www.astroleague.org

SAS is proud to be a member of the International Dark-Sky Association, supporting the reduction in light pollution around the U.S. and the world. More info at www.darksky.org

SAS NON-PROFIT STATUS

The Sonora Astronomical Society is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization! SAS has a CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING from the State of Arizona Corporation Commission for 2009-2011!

MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS

To order or renew your Sky and Telescope Magazine at the Club Rate, you can go directly to www.skyandtelescope.com/clubspecial To order or renew Astronomy Magazine, see the

Treasurer.

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 7 Volume XII Issue 2

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE (CONT)

4. 1. Orion Skyquest xt10i For Sale.

includes:

The telescope is an Orion Skyquest xt10i which has a

computer that can locate 14000 items in the sky. It is

assembled and the mirror and scope have been checked.

It comes with a carrying case. It’s never been used. I

decided that another telescope would be better suited for

me. Original price was $900. Asking $850 which includes

the carrying case, a $120 value. I live in Green Valley .

Contact Ed Matte at EdMatte@msn.com

5. Celestron CPC 1100 Computerized

Telescope.

includes:

Starbright XLT optical coating

GPS with SkyAlign for quick & easy alignment

9x50 finder scope & Telrad finder

microfocuser

2” star diagonal with Virtual View swivel adapter

40 mm x 1.25” Celestron Plossl eyepiece

13 mm x 1.25” TeleVue, Nagler IV eyepiece

17 mm x 2” TeleVue, Nagler IV eyepiece

2” 2x Barlow magnifier

hand control with 2 line LCD screen

sturdy tripod with 2” diameter steel legs

compatible with StarSense technology & WiFi

ergonomic carrying handles

12 V cable & 120 V adapter

metal carrying case for accessories, manual, original

packaging

In excellent condition was $4400 new, asking $2850 obo

Please contact Murray Croot, at (520)526-2526

or mcroot@gmail.com for photos.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

1. Meade 10" LX200 Advanced Coma-Free

SCT, with GPS FOR SALE ($3200.00).

includes:

* Built-in GPS Controlled Tracking System, over 145,000

objects.

* Meade Standard Field Tripod designed for 8" and 10"

LX90 abd LX200 GPS Telescopes.

* Meade Deep Sky CCD Imager (510x492 - 250,000 pix-

els).

* Meade #644 Flip-Mirror system.

* Meade #777 Off-Axis Guider.

* Meade Autostar II Hand Controller, includes more than

145,000 celestial objects.

* Eye Piece Tray.

* Astronomy Viewing Chair.

* Plus, much more!

Contact Joe Ascarate at joseph.ascarate@gmail.com

2. Celestron 11” Nexstar GPS (Go-To)Telescope.

Includes:

* Alt-Azimuth Mount

* 1 Eyepiece

* Landing Pad

* Feather Touch Focuser

* Vibration Pads

* Asking $1400

Contact Lyle Kolze at (608) 346-5957 or E-mail

lkolze@yahoo.com

3. Orion XT8 Plus Dob.

If you are interested in this scope, contact Robert Shrop-

shire at rshropshire1@aol.com for more information.

SONORAN STARRY NIGHTS

October 2019 8 Volume XII Issue 2

SUMMARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 10TH PRESENTATION

At the September 10th, 2019 meeting Tim Hrutkay, spoke about Astronaut training at Kitt Peak. Mr. Hrutkay is the Day Time Coordinator at the National Observatory.

One of the most impressive structures at the Kitt Peak National Observatory is the unique McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. The skyward end of an angled shaft rest atop a 100-foot tower. Only about 200 feet of the shaft is visible, an additional 300 feet extend below ground. The shaft is angled at about 32 degrees to align with celestial north. At the upper end of the shaft two flat mirrors, heliostats, track the motion of the sun and reflect its image down the tube to a 1.6-meter concave mirror at the bottom of the shaft. That mirror reflects the image halfway back up the tube where a 1.5-meter mirror directs the image into the underground observation room. The focal ratio is about f/54.

Since 1962 the telescope served as the National Solar Observatory. In 2016 the National Science Foundation announced the solar observatory would move to Maui, Hawaii where the Daniel K. Inouye (NIK) solar telescope will be installed with first light in 2020. It would have been hugely expensive to demolish McMath and return the site to its original state as required by the lease with the Tohono O’odam Nation, so a new mission was found. In 2016 the NSF authorized a grant to transform McMath into the Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach. The telescope will thus remain in use for public outreach and education.

The solar telescope was used during April and May 1964 to familiarize the Apollo astronauts with the moon. In the control room, they could view a 30-inch McMath image projected on a table, or use “Astronaut Eyepieces” to study a photo under various magnifications. Years later a dusty visitors’ log was found at the observatory with the signatures of the Apollo astronauts. In the 1960’s the road to Kitt Peak was unpaved. An Apollo astronaut’s recollection of his Kitt Peak visit was of a long, weary drive.

Mr. Hrutkay discussed the history of the US astronaut program beginning with the Mercury missions. There were seven Mercury astronauts, so each mission name included the number 7, e.g., Freedom 7, the first mssion. There were only 6 missions, however, as Deke Slayton was grounded because of minor heart irregularity. After the Mercury missions in 1963 only 5 continued in the astronaut program: Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra, Gus Grissom, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton.

The Gemini missions were designed to prepare for landing on the moon. Of the skills to be tested, the

“spacewalk” (EVA) this proved to be one of the most difficult. Gene Cernan’s heart raced to 180 beats per minute as he fought to control his movements in space; every action produced an equal and opposite reaction. Buzz Aldrin, a Ph.D., was instrumental in the success of the early days of the space program as he solved two major problems, including how to practice for EVAs--in a giant swimming pool. He also provided the solution for the difficult orbital paradox problem: bringing together two spacecraft traveling at different velocities and altitudes. Adding velocity adds altitude so the pursuing spacecraft rises above the target spacecraft. Slowing, the pursuing spacecraft falls below and behind the target spacecraft.

Rehearsal for the first manned Apollo mission ended in tragedy when Virgil Ivan (Gus) Grissom, Edward White II, and Roger Chaffee died in a command module fire. Three stars were unofficially renamed in their honor: Navi in Cassiopeia, backward became Ivan; Dnoces in Ursa Major, backward became Second for Ed White II; Regor in Puppis, backward became Roger, for Roger Chaffe.

Mr. Hrutkay told stories about the Apollo astronauts, such as the “First Mutiny in Space”. The Apollo 7 crew, perhaps sympathizing with Commander Wally Schirra’s severe head cold, refused some of Mission Control’s orders, culminating with the refusal to wear their helmets during landing. None of them would ever fly another NASA mission. During the Apollo 8 flight, Frank Borman had a “legendary bout of space sickness”. Apollo 10 was a dress rehearsal for a moon landing, to include a partial descent of the Lunar Module to within 50,000 feet of the surface. To assure that the astronauts would not attempt an actual landing, the fuel tank of the lunar module was only half full. When moving about the cabin of Apollo 11 in his spacesuit, Buzz Aldrin accidently broke off a switch needed to arm the Lunar module’s ascent engine. Fortunately, he was able to replace in with a ballpoint pen.

From Apollo 11 to Apollo 17, the last lunar mission, there were legendary battles over choosing the lunar landing sites, with conflicting concerns about safety and science. Kitt Peak and the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory provided key input.

Congress cut funding for Apollo after mission 17. Leftover rocket and module components from cancelled missions were used to construct Skylab in 1973. Skylab provided the first scientific study of the sun from orbit. Skylab observations were coordinated with the McMath telescope. McMath will continue to support science as the new Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach.