alcon 2015 in las cruces alcon 2015 in las cruces

TH E AS T R O N O M I C A L LE A G U E 1

Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 67, No. 4 September 2015

ALCon 2015 in Las CrucesA Whole New WorldPart 3: Discovering AstronomyAre You Smarter Than a 1944 Boy Scout?

ALCon 2015 in Las CrucesA Whole New WorldPart 3: Discovering AstronomyAre You Smarter Than a 1944 Boy Scout?

2 RE F L E C T O R ✶ S E P T E M B E R 2015


The Astronomical League Magazine

Vol. 67, No. 4 • ISSN: 0034-2963 • September 2015

A FEDERATION OF ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETIESA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

To promote the science of astronomy• By fostering astronomical education,• By providing incentives for astronomical

observation and research, and• By assisting communication among amateur

astronomical societies.Astronomical League National Office:

9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64114

To our contributors: The copy and photo deadline for the December 2015 issue is October 1.Please send your stories and photos to our magazine editor, Ron Kramer([email protected]), by then.The Astronomical League invites your comments regarding the magazine. How can weimprove it and make it a more valuable resource for you, our members? Pleaserespond to the editor’s email address above.IC 1805 (the Heart Nebula) is an emission nebula showing dark dust lanes and glowinggas. This image, taken by Kirby Benson of the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces fromhis home in southeastern Las Cruces, consists of 21 ten-minute subs of H-alpha (onOctober 11, 2013) for 3.5 hours and 12 twenty-minute subs of O-III (on October 26, 2013)for 4 hours. All narrowband processing was completed in June 2015 using PixInsightwith final touches in Photoshop CS4. A synthetic S-II green channel was created using atechnique from Kayron Mercieca at Light Vortex Astronomy. Telescope was a TakahashiTSA-102S with a TOA-35 flattener. Mount was a Takahashi EM-200 Temma 2M.Camera was an SBIG ST-8300M with a FW5-8300 filter wheel and Astrodonnarrowband filters. Guiding was with an SBIG ST-i and off-axis guider.

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4 Field of View/Great Time for Amateur Astronomy

5 International Dark-Sky Association

6 Reflector Mail

7 Reflections/Digital Copies of Our Magazine

8 Deep-Sky Objects/Helix Nebula

10 Discovering Astronomy–Part 3/Planetary Probes

11 10, 25, and 50 Years of the Astronomical League’s Magazine

12 A Whole New World25 Years with the Hubble Space Telescope

15 Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 1620 Geographos

16 ALCon 2015 in Las Cruces/America’s Dark Sky Paradise22 How I Became an Astrophotographer

A Never-Ending Cosmic Journey Since Age 12

24 Are You Smarter Than a 1944 Boy Scout?

26 Gallery/Astrophotography Submitted by Our Members

27 All Things Astronomical

28 Observing Awards

30 Coming Events


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QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THEASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE

Issued by the Astronomical League in March, June, Sep-tember, and December, the Reflector is mailed directlyto each individual member of its affiliate societies andto members-at-large as a benefit of League member-ship. Individual copies of the Reflector are available at$2.00 each or as an $8.00 per year subscription throughthe League national office. ISSN: 0034-2963.

Reflector and Club Roster DeadlinesMarch issue ............................ January 1June issue .................................. April 1September issue ....................... July 1December issue ...................... October 1

Written and graphic material from this publication maybe reprinted only for non-profit benefit of interestedparties, provided specific credit is given to the writer(s),the Reflector, and the Astronomical League. Any otheruse of material, including graphics and photographs,is subject to express permission from the Editor andthe Astronomical League.

National OfficersPresidentJohn Goss

Astronomical League National Headquarters9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114

816-333-7759 • [email protected] President

Bill Bogardus190 Pheasant Place

Greenport, NY 11944631-477-2246 • [email protected]

SecretaryAnn House

67 Virginia StreetSalt Lake City, UT 84103

[email protected]

TreasurerTom Lynch

43 Elm Street • Lynbrook, NY 11563516-593-8580 • [email protected]

Executive SecretaryRon Whitehead

3685 Beacon Hill Court • Beavercreek, OH 45440-3553937-233-5843 • [email protected]

National OfficeMike Stoakes, Office Coordinator

Astronomical League National Headquarters9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100 • Kansas City, MO 64114

816-DEEP-SKYNational office: [email protected]

Society rosters: [email protected] sales: [email protected]

National Observing Program Coordinators

WWW.ASTROLEAGUE.ORG

Coming Events EditorJohn Wagoner

[email protected]

AdvertisingRepresentative

Ron Kramer, temporarySee contact

information in this listing.

Letters to the EditorSend to: [email protected] line: “Letter to Editor”

Reflector Staff

EditorRon Kramer

Mobile: [email protected]

Design/ProductionChuck Beucher

[email protected]

Cliff [email protected]

Aaron B. [email protected]

Assistant EditorKevin Jones

[email protected]

Assistant EditorKristine Larsen

[email protected]

Astronomical League HistorianMike Stewart

913-240-1238 /[email protected]

Field of ViewFrom the office of your president

This is a great time foramateur astronomyWe live in a wonderful, butconfusing, time for amateurastronomy, one that couldvery well be given the curiousname the “Post-Modern Era.”How did we arrive at thisfortuitous juncture? First,though, what happened to the“Modern Era?”

Following the art world’s practice of coiningperiods in art history, the “Modern Era” seemsto be a fitting term for the period beginningaround 1960. It was then that a sizablenumber of budding amateurs began purchas-ing commercial telescopes instead of buildingtheir own. Six-inch f/8 Newtonian reflectorswere the instruments of choice, just beforecommercially available Schmidt–Cassegraintelescopes began to seriously enter the hobby.Modernism eventually put amateurs at theeyepieces of larger scopes—those of eightinches or more—that could truly revealdetails in previously dim, indistinct objects.The Modern Era faded in the mid- to late1990s when the Internet took hold and CCDimaging finally superseded film photography.

The era before Modernism, “Impressionism,”saw the reign of small refractors providingtantalizing views of many deep-sky objects.Many of these telescopes were equipped withstar diagonals, erecting lenses, various filters,several eyepieces, and Barlow lenses. Theywere also fitted with plenty of ornate knobs,and, sometimes, not just a finder scope, but aguide scope, too. Unfortunately, only a vagueimpression was often gained of star clusters,nebulae, and galaxies, leaving much to theimagination. It was a frustrating time for manybeginning deep-sky observers. On the otherhand, the lunar and planetary views werecertainly not disappointing, and provided manysatisfying hours at the eyepiece.

Post-Modernism is characterized by thepopularity of two types of telescopes, thosewith mounts of the Dobsonian design, enablingthe use of large apertures, and those equippedwith computerized guide mounts, allowing forprecise tracking of the stars and for easylocation of celestial wonders. We also haveaccess to two common accessories that havebecome essential for many amateurs: thereflex (or unit-power) finder for quicklyzeroing on targeted areas of the sky, andextra-wide field eyepieces offering incredible,inspiring views of extended objects.

Today’s amateur astronomers are nowseeing deeper and with greater detail thanever before. Globular clusters are beingresolved into sparkling lights, diffuse nebulae

are revealing physicalfeatures with rangingcontrast, and distant galaxygroups are being discernedfloating in the darkness.Imaging has exploded,capturing scenes that rivalthose obtained throughprofessional telescopes ofjust thirty years ago.Astronomy is now “24/7,”

with the Internet allowing just about anyoneon the planet to experience any aspect ofastronomy at any time.

Of course, these glowing accounts com-pletely ignore the very real problem of lightpollution wiping clean the star-filled dome. Itmust not be ignored. It must be solved, not justfor astronomy’s sake, but also for the better-ment of society.

Are we living in the “Golden Age” of amateurastronomy, one of observer, telescope, andsky? We live in a very privileged time, indeed.

So, where will Post-Modernism lead? Thelogical extension of the above commentsindicate that, in areas surrounding the largepopulations centers of the United States, muchobserving willbe donethroughautomatedimagingtelescopesplaced inremote sitesfar fromsources oflight pollution. More home observatories willhave computerized telescopes programmedwith the evening’s observing schedule. Sinceastronomy will be yet another step removedfrom first-hand experience of the night sky,perhaps a good term for this next era would be“Abstractism.” We stand at its edge.

Will we soon be witnessing a decline invisual observing? Will the fantastic celestialimages obtained today dull the sense ofwonder gained at the eyepiece? No one knows,but there will always be people gazingupwards, free of computerized gizmos,wanting to know what is really up there andwhat they can see of it. They will be admiringthe universe alongside aspiring imagerscapturing the beauty and mystery of theheavens. The Astronomical League will bethere, too.

Participate. Discover. Volunteer.

John Jardine Goss

TH E AS T R O N O M I C A L LE A G U E 5TH E AS T R O N O M I C A L LE A G U E 5

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Tim HunterCo-founder, IDA

3223 N. First AvenueTucson, Arizona 85719-2103

Phone: 520-293-3198; FAX: 520-293-3192Email: [email protected]; www.darksky.org

IDA Dark Sky NationFor nearly 15 years, IDAhas recognized effortsaround the world topreserve special darksky places through itsInternational Dark SkyPlaces Program(www.darksky.org/international-dark-sky-places/about-ids-places).I personally considerthis IDA’s most success-ful program. The International Dark SkyPlaces consist of parks, reserves, andcommunities. They are usually placed intoone of three tiers—Gold, Silver, orBronze—depending on the darkness of thesky, with Gold representing the highest tierand the darkest skies, followed by theSilver and Bronze designations.

Many of these columns have describedDark Sky Places. On April 22, 2015, IDAissued a press release naming the KaibabPaiute Reservation as its first Dark SkyNation. According to the press release,“never before has an entire group ofethnically and linguistically related peoplecome together to collectively embrace dark-skies principles. As a result of the KaibabBand of Paiute Indians’ work to protect thepristine night skies over its northernArizona territory, IDA is pleased to an-nounce the designation of the Kaibab PaiuteIndian Reservation as an International DarkSky Community. The IDA status makes theKaibab Paiute truly the world’s first darksky nation.”

The Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservationhas a population of approximately 250residents and is located on the Arizona–Utah state line approximately 50 milesnorth of the Grand Canyon. The KaibabPaiute are one of ten member bands of theSouthern Paiute tribe. The bands live along

the southern GreatBasin and the San Juanand Colorado Riverwatershed. For moreinformation about theSouthern PaiuteConsortium, seewww.kaibabpaiute-nsn.gov/SPC.html.

The Kaibab Paiutebelieve they have aspecial responsibilityto protect and manage

their lands, and have come to recognizethe value of the dark skies over theirlands. They consider their dark skies athreatened resource worthy of conserva-tion and protection. Thunder Mountain isa landform that dominates the reserva-tion landscape. The new Dark SkyCommunity will be officially known asThunder Mountain Pootsee Nightsky,recognizing the status of the Kaibab Bandof Paiute Indians as a sovereign nation.This designation also recognizes theimportance of Thunder Mountain and thenight sky in Kaibab Paiute culture aswell as the unique language spoken bySouthern Paiutes, who speak a Uto-Aztecan native language in addition toEnglish.

The Kaibab Paiute have made a clear anddetermined effort to improve the quality ofthe outdoor lighting on the reservation.They have adopted and implemented aquality lighting plan and raised awarenessof the importance of dark skies both on andbeyond their reservation. Their Dark SkyAward is well deserved and quite unique.

Winning Clubs of the 2015 Horkheimer Library Telescope ProgramBecause of the generosity and vision of the Horkheimer Charitable Fund, the Astronomical League was able to holda drawing for ten Library Telescopes at ALCon 2015 in Las Cruces. The names of ten clubs, one from each region,were drawn from the 33 total entries. They will each receive an Orion 4.5-inch StarBlast Dobsonian Telescope, aCelestron 8–24 mm zoom eyepiece, and a commemorative plate, all to be modified by the clubs to create LibraryTelescopes.

The Astronomical League wishes to thank Orion Telescopes and Celestron. Without their support, this programwould not have been possible.

2015 Horkheimer Library Telescopes:Great Lakes Region: Oakland Astronomy ClubMountain Astronomical Research Section:Longmont Astronomical Society

Mid-States Region: Broken Arrow Sidewalk AstronomersMid-East Region: Back Bay Amateur AstronomersNorth Central Region: Northern Cross Science Foundation

More information on the Library Telescope Program can be found atwww.astroleague.org/content/library-telescope-program.

Northeast Region: Amateur Observers’ Societyof New York

Northwest Region: Olympic Astronomical SocietySoutheast Region: Flint River Astronomical SocietySouthwest Region: Houston Astronomical SocietyWestern Region: Temecula Valley Astronomers


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To the Editor:I particularly enjoyed theJune 2015 edition of theReflector and its coverageof auroras. While I enjoyedthe article, I was put off bythe list of recommendedsites for seeing auroras.Most were in exoticlocations like Iceland,which most of us would notlikely have the time or money to visit. Manymight think that you can’t see auroras fromthe United States, while indeed you can. Iretired from San Francisco, California, 11years ago and moved to Michigan. Whilehere, I have seen auroras several times—even from my backyard, only about 25 milesnorth of Detroit (latitude 42 degrees). Iincluded a photo taken from Cadillac,Michigan, last year at a friend’s cabin. Theaurora was huge and covered a very wideangle both in azimuth and altitude. This wastaken with a Nikon D800 and 20 mm lens at

ISO 2000 and a 20-second exposure on anon-tracking camera tripod. Anothermember of our club (Warren AstronomicalSociety) has quite a collection of auroraphotos he has taken and we all enjoycomparing these photos as another way toenjoy the wonders of the night sky.

Bob Berta, Warren Astronomical Society

To the Editor:I’ve been reading the Reflector for almosttwenty-five years, and have watched it growfrom a newsletter to a full-fledged, world-class astronomy magazine. My favoritequarterly article is “Deep-Sky Objects” byDr. James Dire. Not only does he discussthe science of each object and the history,but he also shares his beautiful digitalimages and visual notes. Being a visualobserver, it’s always interesting to readwhat a skilled observer like James Dire isable to see.

In the mid-1960s, as a 13-year-oldbudding amateur astronomer, I would run tothe mailbox to get my copy of Sky & Tele-

scope magazine. I couldhardly wait to read aboutthe deep-sky objects thatWalter Scott Houston hadwritten about in his “Deep-Sky Wonders” column. Afteralmost fifty years, I’m nowexcited to find my Reflectorin the mailbox, and just likethose days as a kid, I canhardly wait to begin reading

the many interesting articles by so manytalented astronomy writers.

Roger Ivester (www.rogerivester.com)Both Roger and his wifeDebbie are honorary“Lifetime Members” of the Las VegasAstronomical Society and Roger is afounding member of the Cleveland CountyAstronomical Society, Boiling Springs,North Carolina.

To the Editor:I have been a member of the DVAA (Dela-ware Valley Amateur Astronomers) for

about 30 years and am a profes-sional photographer.

The DVAA honored our very-long-term program chair (18 consecu-tive years!) and two-term formerpresident, Marilyn Michalski, bypresenting her with an engravedcrystal bowl at our April meeting inRadnor, Pennsylvania.

Marilyn has worked tirelessly forthe past 25+ years on the club’sbehalf, getting quality speakers,

and as an astronomy ambassador to thepublic through education and outreach. Youmight say that she is the proverbial face ofamateur astronomy, and you would be right!(She also won firstprize at Stellafane afew years ago for theincredible “Emerald”Dobsonian that shebuilt.)

I photographedher with theappreciation awardthat night in April,and then matted an8x10 print. ShelleyCravetz did the beautiful Photoshop work toadd the cosmic background. Club memberssigned their own tributes, including DerrickPitts, Chief Astronomer at the FranklinInstitute, over the past two monthlymeetings, and the framed print was thenpresented to her two weeks ago.

Mitch Berger, DVAA and RittenhouseAstronomical Society

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• Download a FREE AstronomyDay Handbook with all kinds ofideas and suggestions

• Check out the lastest tips forAstronomy Day

• List your event for both the publicand media to see

• Check out past Astronomy DayAward winners

• All this and more at your “onestop Astronomy Day shopping” site

NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night

Gary TomlinsonAstronomy Day Coordinator

[email protected]

For the past year, we havebeen discussing theupcoming availability ofdigital copies of ourquarterly magazine, theReflector. We receivedmany comments from ourreaders, both positive andnegative. Most of thenegative commentspertained to the possibleloss of a “paper magazine which can beread at leisure” or “not having to access acomputer to read an issue.”

Positive comments included the costsavings (electrons are much cheaper thanpaper and ink, plus the cost of shipping16,000-plus copies), the environmentalimpact, and the ease of storing back issues.

Looking at the numbers, about 40% ofour members under the age of 40 preferdigital copies. About 40% of members overthe age of 60 prefer paper. The balance,between 40 and 60 years old, are anapproximate 50/50 split. As our societycontinues to age, and greater numbers ofyounger members join, the trend will movetowards the digital. We expect that by 2017or 2018, some 40% of the Reflector’s copieswill be digital.

Considering both sides of this coin, andafter a rather lengthy discussion at therecent ALCon 2015 convention in Las

Cruces, New Mexico, the AstronomicalLeague’s Council has accepted the following:

Effective with the September 2015 issueof the Reflector, every AL member, forwhom we have a valid email address, willautomatically receive a digital copy of ourquarterly magazine. Each member will besent a link, via email, which, when“clicked,” will begin the download process.For most members with a “broadband”

(high-speed) Internetconnection, this downloadshould take one minute orless. Slower connectionswill take longer.

In addition, eachmember receiving thedigital edition will alsoreceive a printed copy ofthe Reflector, as usual.

When you receive thedigital version, you will be given the optionof either continuing to receive the papercopy (“opting-in to paper”) or deciding thatthe digital version is suitable for your needs(“opting-out of paper”). Regardless of yourchoice, you will continue to receive a copyof the Reflector every quarter. You canchoose whether you want digital or paper,or both.

Some of the advantages to the digitalversion include:• Receipt of your digital copy at least one totwo weeks before paper copies arrive in themail• Improving the environmentalsustainability of the Astronomical League• A reduction in the costs to produce16,000 paper copies per quarter

We will also request that each memberupdate their email address (and mailingaddress) on our website(www.astroleague.org) at their earliest

opportunity. This willensure that all paper anddigital copies arrive attheir intended destinations.

If you have any ques-tions regarding this policy,please contact Mitch Glazeat [email protected] Ron Kramer [email protected] assured that thereare no plans to discontinuepaper copies of theReflector.

The ALCon 2015convention saw more than

170 registrants and over 200 peopleoverall, representing at least 53 memberorganizations. There were 22 speakersdiscussing everything fromauroral activity on Venus to upcomingtransits of Mercury, asteroid photometryand astrometry, optical interferometry,New Mexico’s unique relationship with theSun and night sky, the OSIRIS-Rex asteroidsample return mission, and more. Forfurther details, turn to the ALCon article inthis issue. 8

More than 53 AL organizations are representedon this map at ALCon 2015.

8 REFLECTOR ✶ S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 5

DEEP-SKY OBJECTSBy Dr. James R. Dire, Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy

T H E H E L I X N E B U L A

T he Helix Nebula (NGC 7293)is a famous planetarynebula noteworthy for beingone of the largest and

nearest celestial objects of itstype. A Hubble Space Telescopecomposite image of the HelixNebula appeared as theAstronomy Picture of the Day onMay 10, 2003; the image soonthereafter started beingreferred to as the “Eye of God.”

The Helix Nebula resides inthe faint zodiacal constellationof Aquarius, 7.75 degreessouthwest of the star Skat

(Delta Aquarii, magnitude 3.3).One way to star hop to the HelixNebula is to find the point one-third of the way from Skat to thestar Deneb Algiedi (DeltaCapricorni, magnitude 2.8) and

two stars separated by nearly20 degrees. Iota Aquarii is fivedegrees northeast of DenebAlgiedi.

A beautiful remnant of a dyingstar, NGC 7293 contains a

double ring structure not unliketwo coils of a spring, whichgives rise to its popular name,the “Helix Nebula.” A planetarynebula forms when thick stellarlayers slowly expand away froma dying red giant star. When the

core of such a starcontracts into a whitedwarf, high-speedstellar winds andultraviolet lightemanate from thewhite dwarf, collidingwith and exciting theexpanding gas layersand causing them toglow. The white dwarfat center of the HelixNebula shines atmagnitude 13.4, wellwithin the reach of 12-to 14-inch telescopes.

At magnitude 7.6,the Helix Nebula is thebrightest planetarynebula in the sky. Thenebula resides a mere675 ± 25 light-yearsaway. The brightportion of the mainnebula spans 18arcminutes, whichmeans it extends 3.5light-years acrossspace. The fainterouter halo of thenebula spans 28arcminutes, roughlythe same angulardiameter as the Moon!

The large size of thenebula results in avery low surfacebrightness. For thisreason, Charles

Messier never spotted thenebula. It was even missed bythe keen observers WilliamHerschel and his son JohnHerschel. NGC 7293’s discov-ery is credited to the German

astronomer Karl LudwigHarding in 1824, twenty yearsafter he discovered theasteroid Juno.

Most planetary nebulaehave a bluish-green color atthe eyepiece caused byemissions from doubly ionizedoxygen. However, due the lowsurface brightness of theHelix Nebula, this color is notnoticeable. Long-exposurecolor photographs of thenebula show myriad colorsfrom deep red to blue.

The Helix Nebula appears asa faint, featureless, round diskin 50 mm or larger binocularsor small, rich-field refractors.The nebula is best viewed inrich-field 6- to 8-inch tele-scopes at low magnification.Through an 8-inch telescope, itappears as a slightly ellipticalring with two thick arcs on thenortheast and southwest edgesand a darker central region. Anoxygen-III or ultra-highcontrast nebula filter andaverted vision will bring outmore detail in the nebula’sstructure. The nebula is morechallenging to view in largertelescopes since highermagnifications, as a result oflonger focal lengths, spread thelight out more, decreasing theapparent surface brightness.

The accompanying images ofNGC 7293 were taken througha 190 mm f/5.3 Maksutov–Newtonian telescope with anSBIG ST-2000XCM CCDcamera. The exposure was 80minutes. The top shows thesingle-shot color camera’sprocessed image. Variations inthe color result from hotterregions of the nebula excitingdifferent atomic emissions thancooler regions. Of course, thehuman eye cannot perceivecolor from faint sources. Thebottom image is same as thetop with the color removed tosimulate what the nebula lookslike when viewed telescopi-cally. Even without color, theHelix Nebula is a fascinatingobject to study with any sizetelescope. 8

pan 4.5 degrees to the south.Those are the two stars closestto the nebula brighter than 4thmagnitude. The nebula also liesmidway between the first-magnitude star Fomalhaut andIota Aquarii (magnitude 4.3),


DISCOVERING ASTRONOMY:An Exploratory Series from theAdirondack Public ObservatoryPart 3–Planetary Probes

We landed onthe Moon more

than 40 years ago.It’s only 240,000miles away. Butgetting humans to aplanet will be muchmore of a challenge:the energy require-ments, the design andengineering issues, not tomention the hundreds ofmillions of miles and the monthsin space. In the interim, we’veat least begun to acquire somerelevant experience—such astime spent working aboard theInternational Space Station andon external space walksperforming maintenance andrepair of uncooperativeequipment, and the replacementof gyroscopes and cameras onthe Hubble Space Telescope.Such activities will clearlyprovide valuable preparation forthe extended journey requiredby a planetary visit. Andperhaps NASA’s tentativeconcept of capturing a smallasteroid will provide additionalpractice and refinement of ourskills working in space.

But before we actually gothere (if budgets permit andtechnologies developsufficiently), and before wecome up with any strategic planto answer key questions aboutour solar system and our placein the larger universe, we firstneed better basic knowledgeabout our neighboring planets,nearby stars and galaxies. Babysteps must precede giant leaps.

And if we can’t yet get therein person, our surrogates can.Enter the remotely controlled,automated interplanetaryprobes and their arrays ofsensors and Earth-focusedtransmitters.

Take a look at the Galileoprobe’s unprecedented 1998close-up of asteroid Ida and itstiny moon, Dactyl. (Who wouldhave thought we would see anasteroid with a moon?) Or youcan watch Io and Europa,moons of fire and ice, orbit overthe orange and ochre whorls of

Jupiter’s bands. The camerashifts to show us Europa, withits arcuate ice ridges, hoveringlike a veinous eyeball; and fromsulfur-yellow Io’s Pele volcano,massive gas plumes arc acrossthe black emptiness like bluesolar prominences.

Remains of other volcanoes,now dormant or extinct, andtheir lava flows splotch Venuslike lichens. A low-angle shot ofMars reveals layering in a sheetof dry ice hundreds of feetthick—the edge of the northpolar ice cap; elsewhere, gulliesemerging mid-cliff indicaterecent water flow from subsur-face aquifers. A color photo ofOlympus Mons captures thethree-dimensionality of that75,000-foot Martian volcano,the solar system’s highest, aslava flows slump down itsslopes in frozen brown swells.

Where on Earth, you ask, willwe find such images?

Galileo Galilei felt lucky todiscover four of Jupiter’s moonswith his telescope’s one-and-a-half-inch lens. And 300 yearslater, with his more advanced24-inch refracting telescope,Percival Lowell thought he sawcanals crisscrossing the surfaceof Mars; he wrote about them inMars and Its Canals early in the20th century. By the end of thatcentury and in the early yearsof the 21st, we had come a longway. Unmanned and remotelycontrolled spaceprobes, launchedfrom Earth acrosshundreds ofmillions of miles ofinterplanetaryspace, have beenreturning detailedclose-up colorphotographs of our

solar system’s planets andmoons. This vast flow ofinformation is unprecedentedand awe-inspiring; everyastronomy textbook wasinstantly made obsolete.

What did these probes find—and where? Here is a smallsampling of how they haveexpanded our knowledge.

Mercury:Magnetic fieldindicates a moltencore; although it’sthe closest planetto the searing heatof the Sun, deepcraters seem toharbor water ice(United States,Mariner 10, 1974, and Messen-ger, 2008).

Venus: No longer just the“evening star,” a small brightsphere in the darkening nightsky, we found instead thickclouds masking its variedtopography, part of an atmo-sphere that blankets the planetwith a pressure 90 times that ofEarth’s at a temperature thatwould melt lead and zinc(Russia, multiple Venera probes,1967 and following years).Beneath the clouds lie plains,highlands, and dormant (?)volcanoes pictured in detail(United States, Magellan probeusing synthetic aperture radar,1990–1991).

Mars: Massive extinctvolcanoes(Olympus Mons,75,000 feet high,and others), polarice caps (frozencarbon dioxideand water ice),dust storms anddust devils,indications of

water in earliertimes, pock-markedand misshapenmoons, an atmo-sphere primarily ofCO2 at a pressureequivalent to onepercent that ofEarth, temperaturesof –67 oF, the

massive Valles Marineris canyonsystem stretching almost 2,500miles and in places 30,000 feetdeep (United States; Mariner 9,Viking Orbiter, Curiosity; 1971,1980, 2012).

Jupiter: Massive, 67 moons,not just four; magnetic field linessupporting a flux tube carryingmillions of amps of current

connectingJupiter and Io (aunique power-sharing arrange-ment!); its ownauroras and rings,huge storms andpowerful lightningdischarges and aswirling Red Spot.

A moon with unusually activevolcanoes (Io), another mooncovered with ice that encloseswhat may be water that couldsustain life (Europa), thelargest moon in the solarsystem (cratered Ganymede,which sports its own aurora andis larger than Mercury) (UnitedStates; Pioneer 10, Voyager 1,Galileo, Cassini, New Horizons;1973, 1979, 2000, 2007).

Saturn: The first cleardelineation of its rings’ struc-ture, discovery of its auroras,sightings of more moons(totaling now at least 62). Astrong magnetic field, winds of1,100 miles per hour attemperatures of –185 oC. TheHuygens probe landed on itsmassive moon Titan (larger thanthe planet Mercury) and found aprimarily nitrogen atmosphere(with two percent methane) thatis 50 percent denser thanEarth’s (United States and ESA,Cassini probe and Huygenslander, 2005). Voyager 1,launched in 1977, had discov-ered three of its moons and is

By Lee GaillardBy Lee Gaillard

T H E AS T R O N O M I C A L LE A G U E 11

now the most distant man-madeobject in space, having coastedbeyond the influence of thesolar wind and to the verge ofinterstellar space.

Uranus: Tilted at 97.8degrees to the orbital plane ofthe solar system, possessing 27moons, 10 of them discoveredduring Voyager 2’s 1986 flyby;winds howling around the planetat 560 miles per hour. It, too,has auroras and 13 narrowrings (United States; Voyager 2,HST; 1986, 2005).

Neptune: A large light-blueplanet roughly 30 times fartherfrom the Sun than Earth is, with13 known moons (6 discoveredby Voyager 2 in 1989), a mag-

netic field,rings,auroras,hugestorms andwinds thatswirlaround itscircumfer-ence at

hundreds of miles per hour(United States, Voyager 2, 1989).On its moon Triton, geysers spewnitrogen gas and black material.

Human-friendly places tovisit? Not really.

Nonetheless, we now haveclear photos of them all,filtered images beamed back toEarth so we could reconstitutethem in full color, sights neverseen before from Earth.Beautiful. Suddenly we arethere, our horizon expanded farbeyond what we ever thoughtpossible. Then add a robotic,unmanned asteroid visit withsoil sampling and return toEarth: in 2003, Japan launchedHayabusa, which rendezvousedwith asteroid Itokawa inSeptember 2005. Landing onthe asteroid, it collectedsamples of surface materialand returned them to Earth inJune 2010. An incredibletechnological achievement.

Why study astronomy? Ittakes us to the most excitingfrontier around. 8

This concludes the 3-part series.

September 1965

Floyd L. Shirey Memorial FundFollowing the accidental death of Floyd L. Shirey during the LeagueConvention in Milwaukee, it was unanimously agreed that a Floyd L.Shirey Memorial Fund would be established. The purpose of this Fundis to aid a worthy student of astronomy, at the Yerkes Observatory. Theidea was so well received that immediate contributions were made bydelegates at the convention. Within a few days the first society,Southern Cross Astronomical League, Inc., Miami, Fla., made a verygenerous contribution. A motion was made at the Convention thatmember societies and regions of the Astronomical League be madeaware of this action.A tragic accident took Mr. Shirey’s life during a field trip to the Yerkes Observatory. TheMemorial Fund lives on in the form of the Astronomical League Trust Fund. The League’sCouncil established the Trust Fund at the 1970 Convention. A Board of Trustees nowadministers the Fund, following procedures agreed to in 1989.

10, 25, and 50 Years of the Astronomical League’s MagazineBy Mike Stewart, Astronomical League Historian

September 2005

Mount Graham Astronomy Day 2005Mount Graham Astronomy Day 2005 was a huge success with about250 in attendance. The Desert Skygazers Astronomy Club hosted theevent at Discovery Park in Safford, Arizona.

Many people from the community helped out to make the day asuccess. The Boy Scouts parked cars, Eastern Arizona College studentshelped out with solar viewing and rocket launching, and teachers fromDiscovery Plus Academy and the Discovery Astros Junior Club assistedin building games. The Lions Club kept us well nourished, and the localpolice department guarded our feature attraction—Moon rocks. TheMoon rocks were from the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 landing sites.Participants were given the unique opportunity to not only look at these rocks but to hold thecase that they were in and observe all sides of the rocks.The Desert Skygazers Astronomy Club hosted this wide-ranging event in April 2005, featuringdisplays, hands-on activities, observing, and speakers. Astronomy Day originated in 1973 andtook place traditionally in the spring, either April or May. Today, Astronomy Day has grown intoa twice yearly outreach—April and September—promoting awareness of amateur astronomyand the universe. Has your club made plans to host an Astronomy Day event this September?

August 1990

Another Comet Levy!One of the highlights of this year’s Texas Star Party was a chance to beinvolved in the excitement of a new cometary discovery. Renownedcomet hunter David Levy had spotted a 10th magnitude candidate inthe Great Square of Pegasus the morning before leaving his Tucsonhome for the TSP. He confirmed his find Monday morning from thePrude Ranch, and the next day everyone knew!

At first it appeared that the comet was already fading, but it soonbecame obvious that the new Comet Levy (1990c) was stillapproaching the inner solar system and would only get better.

The latest information, from IAU Circular 5030, shows that thecomet will most likely be a naked eye object later this year. Of course Comet Austin hasreminded us how fickle comets can be, but other circumstances look very encouraging.

David Levy discovered 1990c on May 20, 1990. The comet was later redesignated C/1990K1. As noted in the previous Reflector, comets defy predictions regarding magnitude. Thiscomet became visible to the naked eye, reaching magnitude 3. Bob Shirriff of the Birmingham[Alabama] Astronomical Society wrote the article that appeared in the August 1990 issue.


e arecelebrating the25th anniver-

sary of humanity’s mostproductive instrument ofastronomical discovery, theHubble Space Telescope(HST). In a quarter century ofoperation it has returnedover one million images,spawned 10,000 professionalpapers, and promptedcountless articles inspiringpeople from every corner ofone of the few places ithasn’t looked. As a species,we’ve been awakened towonders few imagined just ageneration ago. As thismilestone passes, there willbe many tributes, but thisstory is about the sliver ofHubble’s glory I’ve beenprivileged to see.

Since the introduction ofmass media, it is likely everygeneration since theRenaissance has felt aprivileged place in the historyof discovery. But it may beargued that no instrument

since Galileo’s first use of thetelescope to look heaven-ward has affected ourunderstanding and apprecia-tion for the intricacy of theUniverse more than Hubble.In the city that wouldbecome Sibiu in centralRomania, a young boy in theearly twentieth century wasenthralled byflights of fancy inJules Verne’sspace fiction.Rereading to thepoint of nearmemorization,Hermann Oberth would usethis inspiration two decadeslater to propose placing atelescope in space. Oberth,Robert Goddard, andKonstantin Tsiolkovsky arecredited as independent“fathers of modern rocketry,”with Wernher von Braunlauding Oberth as “theguiding star of my life.”Lyman Spitzer published anarticle in 1946 describing theoptical advantages of a

I can show you theshimmering,

space-based instrument, butit took technological andeconomic forces more thantwenty years to engage

resources thatled to a telescopeplaced above thelimitingatmosphere ofour planet.Delayed by

budgetary constraints andthe loss of the Space ShuttleChallenger, Hubble waslaunched on April 24, 1990,soon revealing unprec-edented detail and discovery.

One of the Hubble’s earlytasks was imaging thegalaxies presumed to hostquasars (1). Ground-basedinstruments were unable tosee the faint “quasar fuzz”thought to surround brilliantemanations projected towardus from their active nuclei.Given the resolution of aspace-based instrument,Hubble successfully imagedmany of these galaxies in themid-1990s. They inspired meto attempt to observe themusing my 25-inch reflectorfrom the Texas Star Party andmy home in Minnesota, and Iwas able to spot several oftheir host galaxies, includingPHL 909 and PG 1012+008.

One of the most familiarimages from Hubble in themid-1990s was the EagleNebula, M16, in Serpens,with its “Pillars of Creation.”The edges of this nebula arebacklit with glow fromnewborn stars, and detail inthe pillars could be discernedin my large reflector. In 1993,Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9was found to have an orbitintersecting Jupiter, andHubble imaged the cometbreaking into many smallfragments one year before itimpacted our solar system’s

largest planet. I recall the“string of pearls” seen in my25-inch reflector when thecomet rounded Jupiter tooclosely that spring, and thegiant planet’s scars followingJuly 1994’s fireworks.

In the waning days of1995, HST stared continu-ously for ten days at a smallspeck of sky, only a fewarcminutes wide, near thehandle of the Big Dipper. Noone knew what to expectfrom this gamble of valuabletelescope time on apreviously vacant area. Itcould have been a big flop,showing nothing. Instead,this image—the HubbleDeep Field (2)—becameone of the most iconicimages of the sky ever taken.Three thousand galaxieswere seen to distances over10 billion light-years,implying 100 billion galaxiescontaining ten sextillion starsstrewn across the whole sky.Hundreds of papers weregenerated from this study,and follow-up images of thissmall piece of sky found new,distant supernovae. Iobserved this field in thespring of 1996 with my 25-

inch reflector from the TexasStar Party and made adrawing for later reference. Ittook over a year to find otherimages that allowed me tocorrelate two objects in theHubble Deep Field with mydrawing. Since then I haveused other telescopes twiceto spot even more galaxies inthis amazing field. In 2003,HST was used to explore thesouthern sky in Fornax withan even deeper image lastingone million seconds. Twogalaxies and three stars inthat image were visible fromwestern Oklahoma in my 32-inch reflector in 2006.

One of the standarddistance markers formeasuring the Universe is aType Ia supernova, where awhite dwarf is part of abinary system and materialfrom a nearby companionstar accumulates on thewhite dwarf’s surface. Theorypredicts this situation willhave a violent end: thecomplete destruction of the

1

23

— Alan Menke Photos compliments of NASA


nearby galaxy M81. Knownas supernova 1993J, it wasthe closest known exampleof a rare Type IIb super-nova—the violentexplosion of a very hot,massive, Wolf–Rayet star,providing astronomers

access to data unavailableat greater distances.Hubble has imagedsupernova 1993J’sremnant, and even its lightechoes, similar to those oflast decade’s V838Monocerotis (3) and thecenturies-old Cassiopeia Asupernova of 1680 andTycho’s supernova of 1572.Bouncing off previouslyextruded outer layers,

white dwarf if it reaches 1.4solar masses. At this mass,the quantum pressure ofelectron degeneracy can nolonger resist gravitationalcontraction, and the star isdestroyed as runawaynuclear fusion creates asupernova. Since these starsall have the same mass, theirlight curves are predictable,allowing distance measure-ments based on theirapparent brightnesses. As itstudied these cosmicbeacons, what Hubble andother telescopes found in1998 was remarkable: theUniverse is not onlyexpanding, but doing so at anever-increasing rate,powered by an unknownforce termed dark energy.This mysterious forceaccounts for two thirds of theenergy found in the Universe.These supernovae are toodistant for visual observa-tion, but Hubble was able toimage the aftermath of amuch nearer event.

In 1993, a hydrogen-poorstar with a massivecompanion exploded in the

these optical reverbera-tions carry enoughinformation to allowspectroscopic study of thehistoric events. Infraredechoes from Cassiopeia Ahave shown this Milky Waysupernova remnant to be

Type IIb. In 2008, a teamusing the Subaru telescopeused this type of data topeg Tycho’s supernova asType Ia. Think of visitingTombstone, Arizona, andreconstructing its famousgunfight from sonorousechoes. Using my largereflectors, I was able toobserve these threesupernovae remnants (sanslight echoes), and thecomplex structure of V838Monocerotis.

Closer to home, thesearch for what was termed“missing matter” focused inthe 1990s and early 2000son substellar bodies calledbrown dwarfs—objects withmasses between those ofplanets and the smalleststars. Brown dwarfs werenot massive enough toproduce conditions in theircores sufficient to beginfusing hydrogen into helium,and they glow with the

gravitational energy of theirformation. I followed thisstory with fascination aftertheir confirmed discovery in1994, and waited a decadefor their census to reveal acandidate visible using myinstruments. In the spring of2006, on the night aftercelebrating what FrankSinatra termed “the halfwaymark,” I used my newlyacquired 32-inch reflectorfrom my home to spot

DENIS J1441-0945 (4), anestimated magnitude 20.5speck in northwestern Libra.Barely visible on the POSS IIred plate, Hubble split thisbinary brown dwarf, 34parsecs from us, intocomponents totaling 0.072solar masses, revealing anorbital period of 118 yearsand a semimajor axis of 14.1astronomical units.

Planetary nebulae aresome of the most beautifulobjects in the sky. Markingthe death throes of medium-sized stars, their glowingouter layers are light-yearswide and come in anastounding variety of detailaffected by factors includingthe surrounding interstellarmaterial, magnetic fields andbinary companions. Prior toHubble, telescopic observersoften did not have imagesand information to appreci-ate their intricate structures.Now, using large reflectors

under dark skies, referenceimages, and filters toimprove contrast, the subtleouter layers, jets, andtwisted cambers of theirinner cores are fair game.The shells and jets of theEgg Nebula (5) and thesericeous outer layers of theHelix Nebula are examples ofwhat are visible underexcellent conditions.

Hubble has given newopportunities to those

interested in observingdetail within galaxies of theLocal Group and beyond.The irregular galaxy NGC6822 (6) in Sagittarius isover 1.5 million light-yearsfrom us, and, with the helpof Hubble’s data andimages, I spotted asupernova remnant,globular cluster, andplanetary nebula within itsconfines. The interactingspiral galaxies known asthe Antennae, NGC 4038and 4039; see next page(7), have been beautifullyimaged by HST. Massiveyoung clusters in theircentral maelstrom that aredestined to form large, newglobular clusters, and tidaldwarf galaxies that gracethe long arms drawn out bytheir gravitationalinteraction, can be seen inlarge reflectors, usingarticles from professionaljournals and Hubble

4

5 6

e world... shining,splendid...and Tim Riceand The Hubble Heritage Team


In the deepest fieldHumble boson

You warrant a noble cervusFor your ten sextillionth part

—Dave Tosteson,Chisago City, Minnesota

[email protected]

imaging as references. Stephan’sQuintet (8) is a group of galaxiesfour to five times more distant thanthe Antennae, about 280 millionlight-years from Earth. In the 1990s,studies showed tidal dwarf galaxiesforming among the complex lasttango in pairs between its fourgalaxies. Over two dozen of these

tidal galaxies, what have beentermed the youngest in theUniverse, were identified by SallyHunsberger of Penn State in this

group, also known as Arp 319.Using Hubble imaging, five of itstidal dwarfs with magnitudesbetween 18.1 and 19.5 were visibleusing my 32-inch reflector.

Perhaps the most visually strikingand physically interesting phenomenaimaged in the last few decades arethose involving gravitational

lensing (9). The deepgravity wells ofsupermassive blackholes and large galaxyclusters possess greatamounts of dark matter.Their mass causes lightfrom distant objectsbehind them to be bentto produce multiple pointimages for quasars, orlonger, drawn out arcsfor galaxies. Hubbledisplays these detailswith unprecedentedclarity and gives

observers the opportunity to attempttheir visual recovery. One of the bestexamples is the quintuply split quasarthree billion light-years behind SDSS

7

J1004+4112, adense galaxycluster sevenbillion light-yearsaway. Images byHubble show notonly the multiplequasar images, butnumerous lensedbackgroundgalaxies. The datasuggest this clustercontains over sixtytrillion solarmasses, and I wasable to see two of its quasar imagesusing my 25-inch telescope in 2005. Ipursued seeing a lensed arc imagedby HST in one of these massiveclusters for over a decade beforespotting in 2008 the redshift-1 Wolf–Rayet galaxy located behind thegalaxy cluster Abell 2667 (10).

The dark matter backbone (11)of galaxy clusters isthought to bedistributed in aweblike array thatfills the Universe.Teasing out itsqualities has beenchallenging, as itemits no light andinteracts onlythrough gravity. One of the best toolsto study it is collisions between largegalaxy clusters, where “normal”matter interacts to heat intraclustergas to millions of degrees, producingX-rays visible to the Chandra X-rayObservatory. Astronomers use atechnique called weak lensing tostudy the distribution of dark matterwithin this environment, through howit subtly distorts the shape andorientation of background galaxies.The interacting clusters of MACSJ0025.4-1222 in western Cetus

8

9

provide a near ideal setting for thistype of investigation. At a redshift of0.586 and a distance of 5.6 billionlight-years, detail within this clusterwas challenging to see even in my32-inch reflector. From the dark skiesof the Okie–Tex Star Party, I was ableto spot nine of its galaxies in 2008.

As I reflect, it is apparent the endis in sight for bothHubble and mycareer. We’veshared a number ofthings, including abirthday, correctedoptics, and a desireto view magnificentcelestial wonders.Though Hubble will

be decommissioned in a few yearsand gently nudged toward a fiery end,I wish to avoid that last fate and findtime for observations where, as a ladon a magic carpet ride, surprise anddiscovery await. 8

10

11


I was all set up to view andimage the near-Earth object (NEO)2004 BL 86 for its close encounter onthe evening of January 26, 2015, butwe had a blizzard that night (winterstorm “Juno”). I was disappointed, tosay the least.

Since it was snowing out, and Istill had electrical power and Internetaccess at home, I started to searchfor “the next one.” I stumbled upon1620 Geographos on NASA/JPL’sNEO close approach tables, whereyou can search by date, distance, andmagnitude: neo.jpl.nasa.gov/ca.Later I also found the observing aidprogram from the Minor PlanetCenter (MPC): www.minorplanetcenter.net/cgi-bin/neaobs.cgi.

On the first clear night after thestorm, January 31, Geographos would be in Virgo, rising before midnight. Buta nearly full moon would be up most of the night, more than two feet ofsnow covered the ground, there was a light wind, and it was 14 degreesoutside.

But that wasn’t the real challenge. According to Stellarium, NASA/JPL, andMPC, Geographos would be around magnitude 16—no comparison to 2004BL 86 at magnitude 8.

I wasn’t sure how faint my little 6-inch f/4 Newtonian and camera would go,and since this asteroid is moving relatively fast, I didn’t think stacking

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ASTEROID 1620 GEOGRAPHOSBy Steven Bellavia, Mattituck, New York

exposures was a good option (though there is a “freeze” option in Deep SkyStacker, intended for comets, that might have worked).

Despite the daunting task ahead, I wanted to image a fast-moving asteroid.So I made a chart using Stellarium showing what the field of view would be inmy camera with the 6-inch astrograph.

Since my mount is non-computerized (non go-to), my strategy was to locatea recognizable star pattern in the camera’s LCD window, take many shots for aslong as I could, and then go home and search for the faint little dot, movingamong the stars.

After performing a careful collimation, focus, and drift alignment, I triedsome shots to see what I was getting. But the moonlight was so overpoweringthat I could not take long exposures. Most of my shots were 60 to 90 secondsat ISO 3200 and ISO 6400; anything more was washed out.

I imaged from about 2:00 a.m. until 5:45 a.m., when the Sun’s light started tofill the sky. I had no idea if I’d gotten the asteroid or not. I went home andstarted to look over my shots, and I found it! Only images after moonset—4:45a.m. or so—had it. It was extremely faint, but it was definitely it.

I then used Deep Sky Stacker (version 3.3.4) to register and calibrate themixed-ISO and mixed-exposure photos, and chose the option to write out theregistered and calibrated files while stacking. (I did not use the final stackedimage, as I only wanted aligned and cropped frames for creating a time-lapsevideo of the asteroid’smotion. I used acropping factor of 3x).

What follows are 3frames showingGeographos over 50minutes on themorning of February 1,2015, from 4:49 to5:39 a.m. EST. A redcircle indicates itsposition.

I would havepreferred to haveimaged its motionover several hours,so that myuncropped photoswould have shown itmoving across mostof the field. But I amglad I found it at all.And its motion inless than an hour isimpressive for anycelestial object.

Geographos gotslightly brighter on itsclosest approach inMarch (magnitude15.6). But at that pointit was close to thehorizon, with very littletime to image beforesunrise. It had a brightmoon nearby for abouthalf of February aswell, so I think I got itat the best time Icould.

I am not sure if Ihave ever imagedanything so faint,but this was my mostexciting ventureso far. 8

Stellarium viewof Geographosin Virgo onFebruary 1,2015

6-inch astrograph on a non-computerized Celestron CGEM mount

Three photos below: The faint asteroid Geographos,indicated by a red circle, over a 50-minute period

“Raw” full-field(uncropped)photo of thearea containingGeographos,60-secondexposure, ISO6400

Stellariumcamera view ofGeographos



By Berton Stevens/Photography by Dale Taylor

The convention was held at thebeautiful and historic Hotel Encantode Las Cruces overlooking the MesillaValley. The hotel was designed toreflect the Spanish and MexicanColonial historic architecture of thesouthwest. The artwork at the hotelalso reflects these styles.

The six-day convention startedwith some very exciting tours onMonday and Tuesday, July 6 and 7.There were two tours on Monday,one to the Very Large Array (VLA) andone to the NewMexico Museum ofSpace History inAlamogordo. Bothtours left early in themorning for theirdestinations.

The first stop on the VLA tour was avisit to the Magdalena AstronomicalSociety’s classic telescope collection atthe CWB Art Gallery. Michael Mideketold the group about the telescopes ondisplay at the gallery. He also talkedabout the restoration process underwayon some of the instruments. It was thenon to the VLA.

The Karl G. Jansky Very LargeArray is situated on the Plains of SanAgustin about sixty miles west ofSocorro, New Mexico. The VLA issurrounded by mountains that helpprotect the array from man-maderadio interference. The area issparsely populated, also reducing thepotential interference.

Karl Jansky was a radio engineerand physicist. He was an early radioastronomer who discovered the radioemissions from the Milky Way. In2012, the VLA was renamed in hishonor. By the time the bus arrived atthe VLA, the group was ready for the

lunch that Lorenzo’s Italian restauranthad packed for the group. After lunch,the group toured the visitor’s centerand visited the Array OperationsCenter for the VLA and the Very LongBaseline Interferometer. Some of thestaff thought that Jodi Foster sittingon the hood of a car listening tosignals from the VLA in the movieContact was comical, since all thesignals are digital and there isnothing for anyone to hear.

The group also had an opportunityto see one of the 27antennas up close.Each antenna is 82feet in diameter andis moved on aspecial liftinglocomotive called

“Hein’s Trein” that can take theantenna anywhere on the 13-mile legsof the Y-shaped rail system. The groupalso visited the antenna repairbuilding. The tour returned to LasCruces after dinner at the historic OwlCafé in San Antonio, New Mexico.

Meanwhile, the other tourtraveled to the New MexicoMuseum of Space History inAlamogordo, New Mexico. Themuseum preserves and displayssome of the equipment previouslyused at the White Sands MissileRange. The first stop was theMuseum Service Center. This facilityhouses many of the artifacts thatwere not on display in the museum.Museum curator Sue Taylor showedthe group some amazing pieces oftechnology and talked about howthey were used on the range. Inaddition there were numerouspieces previously flown on earlierNASA missions, as well as a

Tour group at Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array radio observatory ca.19

View of the Hotel Encanto, venue for ALCon 2015

Display of classic telescopes and equipment at the CWBArt Gallery in Magdalena, New Mexico

Wednesday’s meet-and-greet was well a

The s

Bob Gabou

The Astronomical League Convention(ALCon 2015) came to Las Cruces, NewMexico, at the beginning of July. ALConbrought together amateur and profes-sional astronomers from all over thecountry to enjoy learning about the latestdevelopments in the science of as-tronomy. ALCon was sponsored by theAstronomical League (www.astroleague.org),the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observ-ers (www.alpo-astronomy.org), and the Astronomi-cal Society of Las Cruces (www.aslc-nm.org).


950s 3-D glasses

attended

eparate vendor room had a continuous traffic flow

Guzauskas talkingt dark skies

Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)used to train Shuttle astronauts.

John Briggs also told the groupabout the efforts to refurbish a 0.95-meter telescope.

The group then traveled on to themuseum proper where they enjoyedtheir pre-packed lunches. DaveDooling, the education director,discussed the museum’s overallphilosophy and did an alien autopsydemonstration. Next, Dave and Sueled the group on a tour of themuseum.

Robert Goddard, the Father ofAmerican Rocketry, conducted manyof his early rocketry experiments inNew Mexico; the museum exhibitsdetailed the history of rocketrystarting with his work through to themodern age. Scale models of manydifferent rockets provided a visualcomparison of the advancements inrocketry. Another exhibit simulatedthe vibration and noise of severaldifferent launch vehicles. If youclosed your eyes, you almost felt thatyou were present at the launch of theSpace Shuttle.

The museum is built on the eastflank of the Tularosa Basin andprovided a beautiful view of thebasin, the white gypsum sands ofWhite Sands National Monument,and much of White Sands MissileRange. Another exhibit displayed anumber of items taken into space onthe Space Shuttle.

The tour next went to the IMAXtheatre where the documentary TheLand of Space and Time wasscreened. This locally produced moviedetailed the developing spaceprogram at the White Sands MissileRange. After the movie, the groupreturned to Las Cruces.

That evening, there was a starparty at a local company, EMITechnologies, owned by one of theALCon staff members. There wereclouds in the area, but there werestill enough holes to view some partsof the evening sky, including Venusand Jupiter, still close together aftertheir recent conjunction.

Tuesday’s tour was to the WhiteSands Missile Range. The first stopwas the White Sands MissileMuseum. In the Museum buildingthere was an interesting selection ofartifacts from the Missile Range.These included fascinating examplesof technology from the 1940s and1950s, including manual switch-boards, launch consoles, and other

3-D progress from 1950 to 2015?

Carroll Iorg, John Goss, and Terry Mann(current and two past presidents)

Thursday night star party included entertainmentby a group of fire dancers.

Jon Holtzman discussing theAPOGEE project

Dolores Hill presenting theOSIRIS-REx mission

Dr. Candace Gray from NMSUdescribing her research of auroralactivity on Venus

There was plenty of great food at the Friday night Star-B-Que atLeasburg Dam State Park, Radium Springs,New Mexico.


equipment. There were also smallrockets and displays of objectsrecovered from the range.

The museum also had pictures ofvarious events on the range, and awhole room on the Trinity test, thefirst atomic bomb explosion. Thebomb was developed in northernNew Mexico at Los Alamos and wastransported to the Trinity site at thenorthern end of the range. There thebomb was assembled and detonated,destroying the tower it was on,except for the very bottom of thesupport legs. It also turned the desertsand into a radioactive green glasscalled trinitite.

A V-2 rocket that had been sittingoutside for many years was housed ina separate building to protect it fromthe desert sun, storms and wind. Youcould walk the length of the V-2 andlook at it in detail.

The museum told the story of howthe White Sands Missile Range wascreated after World War II, whencaptured German V-2 rocket parts andGerman rocket scientists werebrought to the White Sands ProvingGrounds. The Germans’ rocketdevelopment had outstrippedAmerica’s almost non-existent effortsand American scientists wanted toknow what the Germans haddeveloped.

Many V-2 rockets (renamed A-2)were test-fired at White Sands. TheUnited States continued to developits own rockets as well, including theWAC Corporal sounding rocket. OnFebruary 24, 1949, a WAC Corporalsounding rocket mounted on top of aBumper (V-2) rocket was launched—the first launch of a two-stage rocket.The WAC Corporal reached analtitude of over 250 miles, travelingat 5,150 miles per hour, making it thefirst flight to travel more than fivetimes the speed of sound.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles(ICBMs) cannot be launched fromWhite Sands, since their first stagewould fall on land and could causedamage to life and property east ofthe range. Large ICBM launchesmoved east to Cape Canaveral,Florida, so the first stages could fallinto the ocean. This left White Sandsto testing smaller missiles and othermunitions.

Other milestones at White Sandsinclude Project Manhigh, which tookmen to the 100,000-foot level in aballoon-lifted gondola from whichthey would jump out and parachute to

Earth to help develop escape systemsfor manned spacecraft. Anothermilestone was reached on theground, where a rocket sled test trackwas built and in December 1954,Colonel John P. Stapp rode a rocketsled to 632 miles per hour (a landspeed record) and experienced 46.2Gs as the sled decelerated as part ofa deceleration test.

Right outside the V-2 building wasthe Missile Park. Here inert samples ofmany of the missiles and aircrafttested at White Sands were ondisplay. Nike Ajax and Nike Hercules,the anti-aircraft missiles thatsurrounded many American citiesduring the 1950s and 1960s, were alsoon display. There was even a Patriotmissile battery, another example ofthe munitions tested on the Range.

The tour group had lunch at theFrontier Club on base and thenheaded to Launch Complex 33 wherethe V-2 missile tests were conducted.This site, previously called ArmyLaunch Area Number One, includes ablockhouse to protect workers fromany incidents that may occur whilethey were launching one of themissiles. A large gantry crane couldlift rockets up to 54 feet high into thevertical position for launch. It alsoprovided some protection from highwinds. There was also a V-2 rocketon display at this historic site.

The group then traveled on toLaunch Complex 36. Here, NASAlaunches its Black Brant soundingrockets. These missiles can reachaltitudes of 250 miles. NASA’slaunches from this site most recentlyhave been to observe the Sun frombeyond the Earth’s atmosphere.These launches are clearly visiblefrom Las Cruces and Alamogordo ifyou are looking in the right directionat the right time.

After examining the launch site,the group then returned to the hotel.There had been a star partyscheduled for the evening, but cloudsfrom the local monsoon weathercovered the sky and the star partywas cancelled.

Wednesday was the AstronomicalLeague’s council meeting. While thecouncil met, other convention-goersvisited the areas around Las Cruces,including some of the local museums,natural preserves, and nationalmonuments.

Early Wednesday evening, there wasa meet-and-greet in the HospitalitySuite at the hotel. This informal

Las Vegas lounge singer DanielPark entertained the group at theStar-B-Que.

Lots of people attended the festivities on Friday evening (photo: Cristina Lugo).

Here is a group shot of the ALCon 2015 attendees.

The Master Observer Award winners with their new plaques

Ron Kramer, ALCon 2015 chair and editor ofthe Reflector receiving the G. R. WrightService Award from Bill Bogardus


gathering enabled attendees to chit-chat, enjoy refreshments, find oldfriends and make new acquaintances.

The star party scheduled forWednesday night went on eventhough there were still clouds in thesky. Members of the AstronomicalSociety of Las Cruces and other localamateur astronomers pointed theirtelescopes at the sky for convention-goers to look through. A number ofthe guests also brought their owntelescopes and there was plenty oftime to look at the heavens.

Thursday saw the beginning of thepapers sessions that would run forthe next three days. While the paperssessions went on for the astronomi-cally minded, ALCon also providedthe opportunity for less-interestedpartners to visit several Las Crucesattractions.

On Thursday there was a specialtour to the New Mexico Farm andRanch Museum conducted by one ofthe ALCon staff members. Friday tookthem to historic Old Mesilla wheresmall stores surrounding the plaza sellunique gifts and jewelry. The DoubleEagle restaurant provided a tour of itshistoric areas, including the roomwhere the famous ghost of a youngwoman is said to appear. Saturdaythey were off to the best farmer’smarket in New Mexico in downtownLas Cruces, where they could also visitthe Las Cruces’ museums.

Back in the San Andreas Ballroom,the attendees were welcomed byrepresentatives of the conventionsponsors. John Goss, president of theAstronomical League, welcomedeveryone to the convention, followedby Carroll Iorg, the ALCon chair. TheAssociation of Lunar and PlanetaryObservers (ALPO) was represented byexecutive secretary Matthew Willand the Astronomical Society of LasCruces’s president, Daniel Giron gavea few welcoming words. Finally,convention chair Ron Kramer gave hiswelcome. After the welcoming, thepapers began in earnest.

If there was a theme for the day, itwas asteroids. Three talks dealt withthese minor planets, most of whichcircle the Sun between the orbits ofMars and Jupiter. The first asteroidtalk was presented by Fred Pilcher ofALPO, who discussed observing thesetiny objects with a CCD camera tomeasure their changing brightnessesas they tumble through space. Atelescope usually targets oneasteroid all night, taking images of

the asteroid and the surrounding starfield. The images are then reduced toprovide magnitude measurements tomake light curves.

The second asteroid talk focusednot on asteroids’ brightnesses, buttheir positions. The program at theDesert Moon Observatory in LasCruces, New Mexico, presented byco-director Bert Stevens, focuses onthose asteroids that come near theEarth (near-Earth objects or NEOs)and gets their positions to helpimprove our knowledge of their orbit.This allows astronomers to makebetter predictions of whether aparticular asteroid could impact theEarth in the future.

The last asteroid talk highlightedthe OSIRIS-REx asteroid samplereturn mission. Dolores Hill from theUniversity of Arizona’s Lunar andPlanetary Laboratory told us how thismission will travel to an asteroid thatcomes near the Earth, pick up asample from the surface, and thenreturn that sample to Earth. This willgive scientists an opportunity todirectly examine the surface of anasteroid without having to visit itthemselves. The results will help usunderstand the composition of theseobjects and formulate a plan to divertthem should one of them be headingtoward the Earth.

In other talks, Bob Guzauskas,president of Lights Out America!focused on keeping the skies dark. Inaddition to the lighting industry’s“better fixtures” strategy, Lights OutAmerica! advocates purchasing briefmedia ads asking people to turnoutdoor lights off at night in Americalike they already do in France.

Richard Schmude, a member ofALPO and a professor of chemistry atGordon State College, told the groupabout measuring the infraredbrightness of Venus with an SSP-4photometer. He uses filters totransform the measurements to the Jand H system (near infrared).

Jon Holtzman, professor anddepartment head at New Mexico StateUniversity, described the chemistry ofthe Milky Way galaxy as mapped withthe near-infrared spectra of hundreds ofthousands of stars. The Apache PointObservatory Galactic EvolutionExperiment (APOGEE) project isrecording these spectra with the SloanDigital Sky Survey just a hundred milesto the east of the convention site. Theend result will help us understand theevolution of the galaxy.

The “Cast of Characters,” better known as the ALCon 2015 committee(clockwise from top left: Bert Stevens, Frank Fiore, Joe Alvarez, Jim Fox, TonyLevatino, Daniel Giron, Ron Kramer, Robert Westbrook, Cristina Lugo, Judy Kile,Ed Montes, Mary Alba, Janet Stevens)

Theodora Mautz is presented her NYAA First Place Award plaque by BillBogardus and Scott Roberts (of Explore Scientific)

Above: Sydney Marler being presented her NYAASecond Place Award plaque by Bill Bogardus andScott Roberts

Left: Dr. Pat Hynes offering her keynotepresentation, Everything But Astronomy:How We Keep the Public Looking Up


Thursday night’s star partyfeatured some very unusualentertainment. Odd Lab, a firedancing company, put on a show atthe star party location. They twirledfire, spun fire, and drew patterns inthe fire as they danced across theparking lot. The darkening skyallowed each member of the troupeto handle fire in a slightly differentway. Some twirled flaming batons,while others performed with burninghula hoops. There was even firebreathing! It was perhaps the mostunique entertainment ever seen at astar party.

A vendor room with displays fromExplore Scientific, New Mexico Skies,Celestron, International Dark-SkyAssociation and many others wasavailable. There was brisk activity at

the vendors during the convention.On Friday, while the papers

session was getting started in theSan Andreas Ballroom, AaronClevenson chaired a discussionamongst several AstronomicalLeague observing award programcoordinators. Observing Awardsallow Astronomical League membersto structure their telescope time toobserve specific target objects andeventually qualify to receiveobserving awards when they havecompleted the requirements ofparticular programs. After receivingawards for ten of these programs, theobserver qualifies to receive theMaster Observer award.

Back in the Ballroom, Friday’sspeakers were more eclectic, but justas interesting. Mike Reynolds, ALPO

member and professor of astronomy atFlorida State College, discussed theupcoming 2017 total solar eclipse thatwill be visible in the United States andthe best ways to observe it. Anotherobserving paper, presented by JohnKutney of the Astronomical Society ofLas Cruces, discussed our perceptionof darkness and the objects thatbecome visible in the dark. It alsoinvestigated the visibility of objects indark skies and the ways to predictwhich ones will be visible intelescopes of different sizes.

Optical interferometry at theMagdalena Ridge Observatory nearthe VLA was another interesting talkpresented by Ifan Payne, programdirector. The light from up to ten 1.4-meter telescopes is carefullycombined to produce high-resolution

images of astronomicalobjects. These objectsinclude multiple stars,new stars, and activegalactic nuclei. Theinterferometer allows thesmall telescopes toproduce the sameresolution as a 340-metertelescope.

Two speakers detailedthe more down-to-earthaspects of astronomy. DeeFriesen, president emeritusof the AlbuquerqueAstronomical Society,covered the techniquesused to bring astronomy tothe public in northern NewMexico. Alex Mares, parkranger at Leasburg DamState Park, discussed thesymbolic relationship

between the Earth, the Sun and the sky.One speaker touched on the

previous day’s asteroid theme. AlbertD. Grauer, observer for the Universityof Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey,described this survey, which coversas much of the sky as possible eachclear night, looking for, among otherthings, near-Earth asteroids. Theyhave also found more distantasteroids and comets as well assome supernovas.

The weather that evening wassomewhat threatening, but forecastsindicated that though it would not beclear, at least it would not rain for afew hours. Convention goers piledinto a bus and vans to head forLeasburg Dam State Park, thelocation of the Astronomical Societyof Las Cruces’ observatory. There,

Famous Dave’s was serving deliciousbarbeque.

While people were eating, LasVegas singer Daniel Park entertainedeveryone. There was much conversa-tion at the tables until, suddenly, threegreen aliens jumped out of the bushesand proceeded to dance around theconventioneers as they finished eatingtheir meals. Even as the alienscavorted in thecrowd, a few dropsof rain came down.

The aliens soondisappeared again,but the rain onlybecame moreintense. Peopleheaded for the busand vans. However,the party did notstop. Everything wasmoved back to thehotel where the partycontinued for a whilelonger. It was a very interesting sight tobehold; a rather large group astronomerswere dancing to the tunes of DanielPark. They finally ran out of steam at11:00 pm.

Saturday began with the annualbusiness meetings of the Astronomi-cal League and the Association ofLunar and Planetary Observers. TheAstronomical League event includeda short presentation on next year’sALCon in Arlington, Virginia.

After the business meetings, thefinal papers sessionstarted in the mainroom. The firstspeaker wasTheodora Mautz,the National YoungAstronomer first-place winner. Shetold the group abouther studiescomparing themotion of the MilkyWay’s globularclusters to theirdistances from theMilky Way’s nucleus. Normally,objects closer to the nucleus wouldmove faster than those farther awaywould. Ms. Mautz’s analysisindicated that there was norelationship between the distancefrom the nucleus and the motion ofthe globular cluster. This implies thatthere is substantial dark matter in thehalo of our galaxy affecting thegravitational field around it.

The next speaker was also a

National Young Astronomer winner:Sydney Marler took second place inthis year’s competition. Ms. Marlerstudied gamma ray bursts caused bymergers of neutron stars or collapseof massive stars. After the burst, theafterglow from these explosions canalso be studied in X-rays and Ms.Marler used these observations tolearn more about the chemical

composition of these bursts and testthe validity of models of interstellarabsorption.

The next regular presentation wasgiven by Mike Simonsen, membershipdirector and development officer forthe American Association of VariableStar Observers (AAVSO), on howamateurs can contribute to thescience of astronomy. Professionalastronomers have been encroachinginto areas that were exclusively theprovince of amateurs. An amateur

astronomer can spend large amountsof telescope time on a particularresearch project, providing anopportunity to contribute to thescience. Meanwhile, professionalshave built survey systems that coverthe sky on a regular basis, reducingthe need for such focused observa-tions. Nonetheless, amateurs can stillcontribute to the science, if they arewilling to learn how to do it.

But how do we get new people

Visitors from Roswell asked to be “taken to ourleader,” so we gave them John Goss.

Astronomical League Award presented to pastpresident Bob Gent by John Goss and Carroll Iorg

Dr. Arlo Landolt receiving the Peltier Award from John Goss


interested in astronomy? Librariesnormally lend out books, but whyshould they not lend out telescopes tothe public as well? Some localastronomical societies have beenproviding small, high-qualitytelescopes to libraries in their areas tohelp promote astronomy. John Goss,Astronomical League president, andJim Small, chair of the Mid-StatesRegion of the Astronomical League,detailed a library telescope program inthe St. Louis, Missouri, area and thelibraries’ experience loaning thesetelescopes to the public.

The Saturday afternoon talks were allabout our Solar System. John Westfallof ALPO told listeners about the twoMercury transits visible from the UnitedStates coming up this decade: May 9,2016, and November 11, 2019. Thesetwo will be best visible in the easternUnited States, but at least part of eachof them will be visible in the west.Careful timing of the limb contacts cancontribute to a precise determination ofthe Sun’s diameter.

Mars images were next up, withsome images showing what appearto be the classical canals. RogerVenable, coordinator of the ALPOMars Section, said that theycorrespond well to Percival Lowell’sdrawings of the Red Planet. Saturnwas not ignored, with a review of theobservations of the ringed planet asreported to the ALPO Saturn Section.Saturn, with its bands, belts, andbright and dark spots, is not a boringplanet, according to Julius Benton,coordinator of ALPO’s Saturn andVenus Sections. Then there are therings, which have a great deal ofdetail available to the amateur. Anumber of pro–amateur cooperativeresearch projects were described.

While Venus appears featureless,the 557.7 nm green line of oxygendoes appear in its atmosphere. It hasbeen studied for 40 years, withoutmuch understanding of the source ofthe emission. Candace Gray, a PhDastronomer at New Mexico StateUniversity, provided evidence thatthis emission line is caused byauroral activity deep in Venus’satmosphere. Mars shows the samedeep atmosphere emission,demonstrating that even planetswithout a strong magnetic field canhave auroras.

The final act of this entertainingconvention was the traditionalawards banquet. In addition to theannual awards presented this year,

the banquet included a tribute toWalter Haas, director emeritus of theAssociation of Lunar and PlanetaryObservers. His daughter, Mary (Haas)Alba told us about growing up withan astronomical father. Walterstarted two enduring organizations,ALPO and the Astronomical Society ofLas Cruces. He also initiated theALPO newsletter, The StrollingAstronomer, now the Journal of theAssociation of Lunar and PlanetaryObservers. Walter’s attention todetail not only in his own observa-tions, but also in those of others, andhis willingness to help anyone whowanted to observe the sky, made hima friend to many fellow amateurs.Walter passed away April 6, 2015, atage 97.

There were many well-deservedawards presented, including theAstronomical League’s Leslie PeltierAward, which was presented to ArloLandolt. His work on precisionphotometry of selected fields literallyset the standard for photometricobservations. The Landolt fields allowfor the calibration of photometers formeasuring star magnitudes in theUBVRI spectral bands. It was a greathonor to have Dr. Landolt at theconvention.

In addition, former AL presidentRobert Gent was the recipient of theAstronomical League Award, DonParker received the Peggy Haas ServiceAward, and several Master Observersreceived their awards.

The keynote speaker addressed anissue of concern for all amateurastronomers: “Everything butAstronomy: How We Keep the PublicLooking Up.” Pat Hynes, director ofthe New Mexico Space GrantConsortium (NMSGC), described theactivities of the NMSGC in promotingastronomy in New Mexico. Theseincluded working with New MexicoState University’s AstronomyDepartment to promote the researchdone by its graduate students. Theyalso organize events that not onlypromote astronomy, but alsoinnovation and networking. STEM-based research is an area of greatinterest to the NMSGC.

Convention chair Ron Kramerthanked the “cast of characters” thathelped make this convention a greatsuccess. With the awarding of the finaldoor prizes, the convention came to anend. Many of the attendees are lookingforward to next year’s convention inArlington, Virginia. 8

The sky first attracted Arlo’s attention as a farm boy out onthe prairies of southern Illinois. When it was too hot tosleep in the farmhouse, he would sleep on the hay framewagon out in the barnyard. He would look up and watch thestars move across the sky as the night progressed. Thedifferent patterns, brightnesses, and colors were a spec-tacle full of wonder!

This led to a professional life both as a university professorand as an observational astronomer specializing in astro-nomical photometry. The detectors have changed over time,

from photographic photometry in theearly days, to photoelectric photom-etry, to modern CCD photometry.Observing and being able to watchthe sky through the open slit alwayshas been a source of wondermentand joy, along with the smell of thenight air, and following the stars asthey wended their way across thesky through the night and through-out the year. This love of the nightsky defines the word “amateur.”

His observing has centered on standard star sequences,both distributed over the sky and for individual variable stars.These sequences in the Johnson UBV and Johnson–Kron–Cousins UBVRI photometric systems are of use to the entireastronomical observational community, since the standardstars range in brightness between 7th and 22nd magnitudesin V. The color range in the Johnson (B–V) is between –0.3and +2.0 or so. These standards are adaptable to use withany detector in the amateur or professional community.

Over the years, he has given dozens of lectures to groups atsmall institutions with no astronomers on staff. Manyattendees were amateurs. These lectures allowed for interac-tion with individuals interested in observational programsand techniques. Reprints from his publications had findercharts, enabling unambiguous identification of his standardstars. The stars covered a range in brightness, so that therewas a calibrating star for every need. Amateurs could thencalibrate and transform their data to a standard photometricsystem, thereby making more reliable the inter-comparison oftheir data with those of other observers. The sequences heestablished and published from his own data enable anyoneto tie in their own measurements. The calibrated photometryof various variable stars that he has observed should be ableto aid in establishing the zero points of variable star lightcurves where such effort is of value.

In addition, these standards provide value for photometryof asteroids, minor planets, satellites, comets, and anyastronomical object needing accurate calibration.

2015 Peltier Award

By Roger Kolman

Arlo U. Landolt


y journey began when I was a young boyaround 12 years of age, living with myfamily in the city of Providence, Rhode

Island. I always had a fascination with theskies and subjects that most kids my agedidn’t always talk about. UFOs? I wentthrough that phase. I even formed a UFOclub in elementary school. Okay, I’ll say it: Iwas a geek.

My real passions growing up werephotography and especially astronomy. So,one Christmas morning, guess what Ireceived—no, not an official Red Rydercarbine-action, two-hundred shot RangeModel air rifle—a Tasco 50x (variablepower) #4VTE telescope.

My Tasco took me on a never-ending cosmic journey.I have many fond memories of myolder brother Ray and me observingthe Moon and planets from ourlight-polluted neighborhood. It wasfrom this time that I became passionate about astronomy anddeveloped my love for the Moon and planets. This was the early1970s. I excelled in science in school. As I became an older teen, my

life revolved around education.Fast forward to 1999 when my wife

and I built our home in Richmond, RhodeIsland. Richmond is part of WashingtonCounty and offers some nice darkskies—much better than those in thebig city. Seeing these rural dark skiesreally reignited the spark to get backinto amateur astronomy and eventuallytry my hand at astro-imaging.

My next telescope, and my real first“serious” beginner’s scope, was aMeade 4500 reflector. It had a 4.5-inchmirror and an equatorial mount. Theyear 1999 was also when I joined myastronomy club, the AstronomicalSociety of Southern New England(ASSNE, www.assne.org).

ASSNE’s motto is “to educate andinspire.” It has been so influential on meand has helped me meet and makefriends with fellow amateur astronomersand astrophotographers. I’ve learned so

much from these folks—and you can, too.That year, 1999, was also my first step into astrophotography. I

combined my passions for photography and astronomy and began readingand absorbing everything I could on this specialized branch of photogra-phy. I started capturing celestial subjects, first using black-and-white 35mm film, then on 35 mm color negative film, and then I settled on 35 mmchrome slide film. I just loved the vibrancy of slides! When shootingchrome, your settings had to be “dead-on.” What you see is what you get.

Hey, even Paul Simon didn’t want his Kodachrometaken away! Slides were colorful, easy to store and

retrieve, and could be presented easily with aprojector. For several years, I continued to learnfrom reading and from applying what I learned“hands-on” using my astro equipment—atelescope, a tripod, a manual Chinon 35 mmcamera, and a basic 50 mm lens. Like manyastro-imagers, I started at the basic level of“camera-on-tripod” wide-field celestialphotography. As time went by and I becamemore proficient at astronomical imaging, myequipment and my challenges changed.

Several telescopes, such as a club-made10-inch Newtonian Dobsonian, an80 mm ED Orion doublet refractor, aMeade 12-inch LightBridge, aSkyWatcher 120 mm ED APO, andseveral 35 mm cameras, such as aNikon F, an Olympus OM-1, and aCanon EOS 20Da, passed throughmy hands. Then, it happened—I

finally took the plunge and switched to digital in 2006. I’ve neverlooked back.

Today, my passion—okay, obsession—with amateur astronomyand astrophotography continues, andstill centers on the Moon and planets.After reading more than 50 books andspending countless hours in the fieldlearning my craft and networking withfellow astro-imagers, I can truly saythat it has paid off. I don’t mean justthe technical and artistic rewards, butalso, and mainly, the enjoyment ofexperiencing what is truly the greatesthobby in the world!

In 2005, I officially started as a soleproprietor and became an independentcontractor and teacher of 35 mm digitalphotography and astronomy specializ-ing in lifelong learning. Today, I canproudly say that I am southern NewEngland’s #1 travelling photographyteacher.

I currently use what I call my “dream scope”—a 16-inch MeadeLightBridge Newtonian Dobsonian telescope. This scope is a “lightbucket,” but some may say it looks like a portable hot water tank(with truss tubes). My camera is a Canon EOS 60Da, which is Canon’ssecond-generation camera optimized for astrophotography (the 20Dawas first). Along with countless other accessories, such as some high-end eyepieces and lenses, I have been able to advance my skills andimprove my artwork.

Like many astrophotographers who have been bitten by the bug, itwas only natural that I advanced into using a telescope for astro-imaging. At this level, the learning curve gets tougher and morechallenging. Several methods are:

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHERStory and photos by Ronald Zincone

M

Author with his Canon

First scope

Jupiter using ZWOASI120MC webcam

Canon remote shutter

How I Became An


Piggybacking, which involves attaching your 35 mm camera to abracket on your telescope. This allows long-exposure, wide-field,“tracked” imaging using your scope’s tracking motors to follow theEarth’s rotation.

Prime focus: using your camera’s specific T-ring and adapter, youcan attach your DSLR camera to your scope for higher magnifications.For example, if your scope is an f/8 with a 1200 mm focal length, yourresulting image capture would be a 1200 mm f/8 shot. This method isbest for lunar photography.

Eyepiece projection is how we capture celestial subjects at“high resolution.” Resolution is how much detail can be captured in

your subject. This involves using amethod similar to prime focus, butyou insert an eyepiece into thecamera’s extender tube. Thismethod is best for planetary andlunar high-resolution images.

Two other methods using yourastronomical telescope are afocalimaging and webcam imaging.The afocal method capturesimages of celestial subjects

directly through your telescope’s eyepiece by using a special bracketto hold your smartphone or point-and-shoot digital camera directlyabove the eyepiece.

The webcam method is a very popular and revolutionary method ofobtaining many “AVI” frames—video images—in a short amount oftime in order to capture the brief, lucky moments of good seeing. Thismethod is best for the Moon and planets and the results can be trulyastonishing! I currently image with the ZWO ASI120MC webcam. TheJupiter image represents one of my best webcam captures using aCelestron NexImage.

I enjoy all forms of astrophotography. Yes, it is challenging andfrustrating at times, but also very rewarding. To be anastrophotographer, you must have a passion for the night sky and beprepared to sacrifice sleep, travel to dark sites, be diligent, bepatient, and enjoy hands-on learning. With some basic equipment,you, too, can become a night sky photographer! 8

Ronald Zincone is a member of ASSNE, ALPO, the AstronomicalLeague, and FDO, is a Certified Photographic Consultant (CPC), andis a certified Skywarn spotter for the National Weather Service.His website is ronaldzinconephotography.com.

Circumpolar star trails with camera on tripod

International Space Stationpassing Jupiter

It is just past midnight on September 24, 1846, and I,German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle, have just founda new planet that is interfering with calculations of Uranus’sorbit! And guess what, this new planet was not discoveredusing only a telescope, it was discovered using math!

I was inspired by French astronomer Urbain Le Verrier.In 1845 Le Verrier wrote a paper talking aboutirregularities in the orbit of the last planet to bediscovered, Uranus. Lots of people had tried to explain

these irregularities, but Le Verrierthought that all their theories werewrong. Earlier this year Le Verrier wrotetwo more papers on his theory that anundiscovered planet was responsible forthe irregularities in Uranus’s orbit. Heeven theorized the mystery planet’s massand orbit. I’ve heard rumors of a British

astronomer, John Adams, doing similar research, but I’mnot sure he’s done as much work as Le Verrier.

Then earlier today, or I mean yesterday, on September23, 1846, I received a letter from Le Verrier asking me tohelp locate the new mystery planet! The telescopes myfriend Le Verrier had access to in Paris were not asaccurate and he did not have access to any good maps ofthat part of the sky. He has not been able to get any helpfrom other scientists in France, so he sent letters to otherastronomers asking for their help locating his mysteryplanet. His letter told me where to look. My graduateassistant, Heinrich Louis d’Arrest and I pointed thetelescope into the night sky in the area Le Verrierpredicted it would be located. It took us less than an hourto find it!

We’ll need to observe this new planet for a couple morenights to confirm our findings, but I have already starteddrafting a letter to Le Verrier with the good news. I’mexcited to tell him that “the planet whose place you havecomputed really exists!” He will probably get to name thenew planet, but hopefully he will listen to my suggestionand name the new planet Janus “for the most ancient deityof the Romans, whose two-sided face signifies its positionat the frontier of the solar system.”

Inspired by Le VerrierBy Ephraim Craddock,

Baton Rouge Astronomical Society

Nine-year-old Ephraim Craddock was in fourth grade at GalvezPrimary School in Prairieville, Louisiana, when he composed his essay.

Beginning in 2016, the Horkheimer/O‘Meara Journalism Award willoffer a $1,000 prize for the first place essay, $500 for second, and$250 for third.

The 2015 winning essay of the Horkheimer/O‘Meara Journalism Award


Recently a friendsurprised me with a greatgift: a Boy Scouts ofAmerica (BSA) meritbadge pamphlet for the As-tronomy merit badge, copy-righted 1944! For a small bookthat’s 70 years old, it’s inremarkably good condition. It is interesting to see how peopleregarded astronomy as a hobby at that time. There are no colorphotographs, no photos of planets at all (a curious omission), andno satellites had yet been launched intospace. Even so, this 60-page pamphletbrought back a lot of memories.

For those unfamiliar with the BSA’s meritbadge system, each badge (there are wellover 100 different ones) has a set of require-ments that a Scout must complete in order toearn it. These requirements are updated foreach badge every few years. When I earnedthe Astronomy merit badge as a Scout in theearly 1980s, the requirements were different(and, in my opinion, much tougher) and hadlast been updated in 1971. Regardless of theyear, each badge has an accompanyingpamphlet published by the BSA. The pamphletcontains photographs, illustrations, and text tointroduce the Scout to the topic of the badge.The Scout demonstrates his knowledge of thesubject and shows a certified adult merit badge counselor that hehas completed the requirements for that badge. The counselorsigns the official paperwork, and the Scout receives that meritbadge at his troop’s next Court of Honor. (Sounds a lot like theAstronomical League’s Observing Awards, doesn’t it?)

This 1944 booklet contains the famous black-and-whitephotographs of the Horsehead Nebula in Orion and the M13globular cluster in Hercules taken at the Mount Wilson Observa-

tory (and which appeared in just about everyastronomy book published then). At the time ofpublication, the term “spiral nebulae” was stillsometimes attached to what we now know aregalaxies. The pamphlet does a good job of

describing the major constellations (especiallythe ones in the zodiac) and the stories behind them.

The number of known satellites orbiting other planets was muchlower in 1944 than it is now. Quite telling is the sentence, “Noone knows what the other half of the Moon looks like.”

In describing how stars are named, the pamphlet notes that“the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933 was opened by a beam of lightfrom the star Arcturus. When one lady heard about this shegushed enthusiastically, ‘You know—I think it’s simply wonderfulthe way astronomers have discovered the names of all thosestars!’”

As you will see in the requirements that follow, today’s Scouts

must work much harderto earn this badge thantheir predecessors did.Then again, the opportu-

nities are much wider. I wonderwhat the requirements mightbe 100 years from now.Perhaps they will include radio

astronomy, spectroscopy, SETI participation, software program-ming, or even stellar viewing from other worlds.

It may seem odd that in none of these requirements wasgrinding a telescope mirror even mentioned.Perhaps the BSA believed doing so was just abit too much to expect; it’s a great deal ofwork for anyone of any age, and always hasbeen. Merit badges are designed to stimulatea Scout’s interest, not snuff it out. (Yet I amstill impressed by the young astronomersfeatured in Reflector and their clever ideas,many of which go far beyond even theselatest requirements.) What requirementswould you include or leave out? One thing Ido envy those Scouts of 1944: I’ll bet theirskies were far less light-polluted. Thesenights, I don’t think I could find eight first-magnitude stars in my backyard in the city. Ican still remember lying on my cot at summercamp one night long ago, with my headpoking out from underneath the

tent, far from the city lights, and being abso-lutely amazed by the sheer number of artificialsatellites plainly visible to the naked eye,chasing each other around the Earth. I’ll neverforget it. That experience, plus the Astronomymerit badge, helped lead me into astronomy as aserious, rewarding hobby. If you’re a Boy Scout, it can do thesame for you.

Good night, Scouts!Matt J. McCullar is a member of the Fort Worth AstronomicalSociety and writes a book/media review column called “CloudyNight Library” for Prime Focus, their monthly newsletter. Hebecame an Eagle Scout in 1986.

Here is what a Boy Scout had to accomplish in 1944 in order to earn theAstronomy merit badge:Astronomy merit badge requirements (1944)1. Identify in the sky:

10 conspicuous constellations, including at least 4 in the zodiac;At least 8 first-magnitude stars.

2. Chart the position of Venus, Mars or Jupiter among the stars over a period of four ormore weeks; OR chart the Moon’s path through four constellations in the zodiac.3. Sketch the position of the Big Dipper and its relation to the North Star and the horizonearly some evening and again six hours later the same night. Record the date and hourof the making of each sketch.4. Indicate in the sky, the limits of the group of stars which, as seen from your latitude,never set. By your own observations determine whether the Big Dipper or Cassiopeiaever set.5. Draw a diagram showing the relation of the Sun, Moon, and Earth at new moon, firstquarter, full moon, and last quarter. Draw a diagram showing the relation of the Sun,Moon, and Earth at an eclipse of the Sun, and another for an eclipse of the Moon.

By Matt J. McCullar


6. Explain the principal causes of the tides. Draw a diagram showing the relation of theSun, Moon, and Earth when we have the highest tides and the lowest tides.7. Explain the principal difference between a reflecting and a refracting telescope.Illustrate by simple diagrams.

Well, if you’re not scared off by now, you just might have what it takes to earnthis badge. Can you do it?

It’s interesting to note that a Scout did not have to actually look at anythingthrough binoculars or a telescope. Not even identifying the largest features of theMoon was necessary. It could be that most families could not afford such thingsback then, although I speculate that the adult counselors were amateurastronomers themselves and owned optical devices that were available for use. Inthose days, few commercially made telescopes were available, and if an amateurastronomer wanted a telescope, he or she usually had to make it himself orherself. This was, fortunately, not a requirement in 1944. Television had not yetcome into general use; how many Scouts looking up at the Moon then would havebelieved that astronauts would be walking on it just 25 years later?

The BSA updates the requirements of each merit badge every few years, toreflect changes in technology, among other reasons. Some badges are updatedmore often than others. Here are the requirements for the Astronomy meritbadge as written in 1971:Astronomy merit badge requirements (1971)1. Do the following:

a) Sketch the face of the Moon, indicating on it the locations of at least five seasand five craters.b) Within a single week sketch the position of the Moon in the sky at the same hour onthree different evenings. Explain the changes observed.c) Tell what factors keep the Moon in orbit around the Earth.

2. Do ONE of the following:a) Photograph or locate on a map of the sky a planet at approximately weekly intervalsat the same time of night for at least 4 weeks. Explain any changes noticed on thephotographs or map.b) Find out when each of the five visible planets will be observable in the evening skyduring the next 12 months and compile this information in the form of a chart or table.

3. Do ONE of the following:a) In a sketch show the position of Venus, Mars, or Jupiter in the sky at approximatelyweekly intervals at the same time for at least 4 weeks.b) Using a compass, record the direction to the Sun at sunset at approximately weeklyintervals for at least 4 weeks in spring or fall (for 6 to 8 weeks in summer or winter)and relate this information to the seasons of the Earth.c) With the aid of diagrams explain the relative positions of Sun, Earth, and Moon atthe times of lunar and solar eclipses and at the times of New, First Quarter, Full, andLast Quarter phases of the Moon.

4. Using the shadow of a vertical pole in sunshine, lay out a true north–south line (ameridian). Then, using the line and the pole on another day, measure the altitude of thenoontime Sun and determine your latitude.5. Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, four of which are in the zodiac. Identify atleast eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of first magnitude. Then do the following:

a) Show in a sketch the position of the Big Dipper and its relation to the North Starand the horizon early some evening and again 6 hours later the same night. Record thedate and time of making each sketch.b) Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way.

6. With the aid of diagrams (or real telescopes if available) explain the differencebetween reflecting and refracting telescopes. Describe the basic purpose of a telescope,and list at least three other instruments used with telescopes.7. Do the following:

a) Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and someeffects of its radiation on the Earth’s weather. Define sunspots and describe some ofthe effects they may have on this radiation.b) Identify at least one star that is red, one that is blue, and one that is yellow, andexplain the meaning of these colors.

8. Do ONE of the following:a) Visit a planetarium or observatory and submit a report to your counselor both on theactivities occurring there and on the exhibits of instruments and other astronomicalobjects you observed.b) Spend at least 3 hours observing celestial objects through a telescope or field glass,and write a report for your counselor on what you observed.

9. Name different career opportunities in astronomy. Explain how to prepare for one ofthem. List the high school courses most useful in beginning such preparation.

This is an awful lot to ask a Boy Scout to do, even today. Most merit badgesaren’t nearly this complicated. As an active Scout myself in the 1980s, I didn’tmeet many other Scouts who earned the Astronomy badge. It was (and remains)an elective badge, not a required badge for advancement. Even so, theAstronomy merit badge is among the oldest merit badges still available. It’s beenaround for over 100 years, just about as old as Scouting itself. (I’m not certainwhat the original requirements were.)

The physical appearance of the Astronomy merit badge has changed overtime, too. Decades ago, the badge boasted only a large, monochromatic star.Today it shows a silhouetted Saturn against a dark blue background. Who knowswhat it may look like in the future?

The current requirements were updated in 2013. Some requirements haven’tchanged much, even after all this time, but the new requirements do rely heavily

on computers and web sites to help the Scout. Star parties are popular now,though they probably weren’t decades ago. Binoculars and telescopes can beeasily obtained. Planetariums are everywhere, and it’s now far easier tophotograph stellar objects.Astronomy merit badge requirements (2013)1. Do the following:

a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter whileparticipating in astronomy activities, and what you should do to anticipate, helpprevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.b) Explain first aid for injuries or illnesses such as heat and cold reactions, dehydra-tion, bites and stings, and damage to your eyes that could occur during observation.c) Describe the proper clothing and other precautions for safely making observations atnight and in cold weather. Then explain how to safely observe the Sun, objects nearthe Sun, and the Moon.

2. Explain what light pollution is and how it and air pollution affect astronomy.3. With the aid of diagrams (or real telescopes if available), do each of the following:

a) Explain why binoculars and telescopes are important astronomical tools.Demonstrate or explain how these tools are used.b) Describe the similarities and differences of several types of astronomicaltelescopes, including at least one that observes light beyond the visible part of thespectrum (i.e., radio, X-ray, ultraviolet, or infrared).c) Explain the purposes of at least three instruments used with astronomical telescopes.d) Describe the proper care and storage of telescopes and binoculars both at home andin the field.

4. Do the following:a) Identify in the sky at least 10 constellations, at least four of which are in the zodiac.b) Identify at least eight conspicuous stars, five of which are of magnitude 1 orbrighter.c) Make two sketches of the Big Dipper. In one sketch, show the Big Dipper’sorientation in the early evening sky. In another sketch, show its position several hourslater. In both sketches, show the North Star and the horizon. Record the date and timeeach sketch was made.d) Explain what we see when we look at the Milky Way.

5. Do the following:a) List the names of the five most visible planets. Explain which ones can appear inphases similar to lunar phases and which ones cannot, and explain why.b) Using the Internet (with your parent’s permission) and other resources, find outwhen each of the five most visible planets that you identified in requirement 5a will beobservable in the evening sky during the next 12 months, then compile this informationin the form of a chart or table.c) Describe the motion of the planets across the sky.d) Observe a planet and describe what you saw.

6. Do the following:a) Sketch the face of the Moon and indicate at least five seas and five craters. Labelthese landmarks.b) Sketch the phase and the daily position of the Moon, at the same hour and place,for four days in a row. Include landmarks on the horizon such as hills, trees, andbuildings. Explain the changes you observe.c) List the factors that keep the Moon in orbit around Earth.d) With the aid of diagrams, explain the relative positions of the Sun, Earth, and theMoon at the times of lunar and solar eclipses, and at the times of new, first-quarter,full, and last-quarter phases of the Moon.

7. Do the following:a) Describe the composition of the Sun, its relationship to other stars, and someeffects of its radiation on Earth’s weather and communications.b) Define sunspots and describe some of the effects they may have on solar radiation.c) Identify at least one red star, one blue star, and one yellow star (other than the Sun).Explain the meaning of these colors.

8. With your counselor’s approval and guidance, do ONE of the following:a) Visit a planetarium or astronomical observatory. Submit a written report, ascrapbook, or a video presentation afterward to your counselor that includes thefollowing information:

1. Activities occurring there2. Exhibits and displays you saw3. Telescopes and other instruments being used4. Celestial objects you observed

b) Plan and participate in a three-hour observation session that includes usingbinoculars or a telescope. List the celestial objects you want to observe, and findeach on a star chart or in a guidebook. Prepare an observing log or notebook. Showyour plan, charts, and log or notebook to your counselor before making yourobservations. Review your log or notebook with your counselor afterward.c) Plan and host a star party for your Scout troop or other group such as your class atschool. Use binoculars or a telescope to show and explain celestial objects to the group.d) Help an astronomy club in your community hold a star party that is open to the public.e) Personally take a series of photographs or digital images of the movement of the Moon, aplanet, an asteroid, meteor, or a comet. In your visual display, label each image and includethe date and time it was taken. Show all positions on a star chart or map. Show your displayat school or at a troop meeting. Explain the changes you observed.

9. Find out about three career opportunities in astronomy. Pick one and find out theeducation, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with yourcounselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

26 R E F L E C T O R ✶ S E P T E M B E R 2015

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Bob Runyan, a longtime member of the Platte Valley AstronomicalObservers, submitted this image of M8, the Lagoon Nebula. As hedescribes it, the image was “taken from my BYO AstroAsylum usingmy cradle mounted RC6/ST8i located in Shelton, Nebraska.”Autoguided by an Orion SSAG/adapted 8 x 50 finderscope, this is H-alpha + LRGB and about two hours of total data acquisition.Processed using MaxImDL, Photoshop, and Astronomy Tools.

Manuel Lois, a member of the Fort WorthAstronomical Society, sent this great lightning image,taken with a GoPro camera, 5-second exposure at ISO800, and processed with Photoshop.

Dave Doctor, member of the Astronomical Society of Las Cruces,provided this image of the Deer Lick galaxy group, highlighted byNGC 7331 in the center. There are at least 4 other visible galaxies inthe foreground. The image was taken in October 2014 from DoñaAna, New Mexico, about 10 miles east of Las Cruces, using an Astro-Tech 10-inch Ritchey–Chrétien, SBIG ST8XE, Paramount ME, MoonLite2.5-inch CSL focuser rotator and Astrodon E-series filters. Capturedata: LRGB unbinned 35 hours total exposure, temperature-matcheddark frames and null point sky flats, processed using PixInsight.

Discovered by William Herschel in 1788, NGC 2403 is a spiral galaxyand an outlying member of the M81 galaxy group, about 12 millionlight-years distant. Steve Reilly took this image from DogwoodRidge Observatory in Scottsville, Virginia, from January 28 toFebruary 19, 2015. He used an Optical Guidance Systems 12.5-inchRitchey–Chrétien at f/9 on an Astro-Physics 1200GTO mount and anSBIG STL-11002M/CW8 camera. Filters included Baader LRGB H-alpha 7 nm, S-II 8 nm, and O-III 8.5 nm unmounted filters. The imageconsists of 19 luminance, 17 red, 16 green, and 17 blue 15-minuteexposures totaling 17.25 hours, all taken at –30°C. The RGB imagesare binned 2x2 while the luminance images are binned 1x1. All datawere acquired using MaxImDL/CCD version 5.24 using ACP7.1.PixInsight version 1.8.02.1098 was used for processing and ditheredguiding was on.


Planetary Resources, Inc., the asteroid mining company, announced that on July 16,

2015, its Arkyd 3 Reflight (A3R) spacecraft deployed successfully from the International

Space Station’s (ISS) Kibo airlock and has begun its 90-day mission. The demonstration

vehicle will validate several core technologies, including the avionics, control systems

and software, which the company will incorporate into future spacecraft that will venture

into the Solar System and prospect for resource-rich near-Earth asteroids.

The A3R launched to the ISS onboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 in April as a part of the CRS-

6 crew resupply mission. Once the A3R completes its mission, the validated and evolved

technologies will be the main components of the Arkyd series of deep-space asteroid-

prospecting spacecraft. The next demonstrator, the Arkyd-6 (A6), will be launched later

this year and will test the attitude control, power, communication and avionics systems.

Planetary Resources will use the greater payload capacity of the A6 to begin demon-

strating core technology to measure resources on water-rich asteroids. Included in the

payload is a mid-wave infrared imaging system, able to precisely measure temperature

differences of the objects it observes, as well as acquire key data related to the presence

of water and water-bearing minerals. The system will first test target areas of our own

planet before being deployed to near-Earth asteroids on future missions. 8

A MEMBER BENEFIT FROMMcDONALD OBSERVATORYStarDate, the bi-monthly publication of the nonprofitMcDonald Observatory, is offering our members a 25%discount. Their magazine provides easy-to-read articleson the latest astronomy research, skywatching, thehistory of astronomy, and many other topics. StarDatealso offers starcharts for each month, a sky calendar,and Merlin’s answers to reader questions. The discountedrate is $19.50 for members in thecontinental USA, $22 for Canada, and$30 to other foreign countries.Members-at-Large should send theircheck (payable to the Astro League)to Astronomical League Office,9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100,Kansas City, MO 64114. Formembers Societies, the appointed person in eachclub should gather the subscriptions, and send theappropriate amount to StarDate Magazine, c/o PaulPrevite, 1 University Station A2100, Austin, TX 78712.You can read more about StarDate at www.stardate.org.If you have any questions, please contact the League’sNational Office at [email protected]

McDonald Observatory

Planetary Resources’ First Spacecraft Successfully Deployed


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Editor’s Note: Congratulations to all theseoutstanding astronomical observers! All awards,except the Herschel 400, require currentAstronomical League membership for eligibility. Ifyou have questions about an award, pleasecontact the corresponding Observing Programchair. Their contact information can be found onthe Observing Program website atwww.astroleague.org/observing. If furtherassistance is required please contact either of thenational Observing Program coordinators.

Advanced Binocular Double StarObserving ProgramNo. 9, Vincent R. Sheetz, Delaware ValleyAmateur AstronomersAsterism Observing ProgramNo. 21, Eric D. Johnson, Member-at-Large; No.22, Jeff Haidet, Toledo Astronomical Association;No. 23, Carol A. Ogden, Olympic AstronomicalSociety; No. 24, Dick Francini, Neville PublicMuseum Astronomical Society; No. 25, DanPosey, Austin Astronomical SocietyAsteroid Observing ProgramNo. 44, William Conner, Indiana AstronomicalSociety, Regular; No. 49, Daniel Otte, SouthernOregon Skywatchers, GoldBinocular Double StarObserving ProgramNo. 85, Vincent R. Scheetz, Delaware ValleyAmateur Astronomers; No. 86, John R. Sayers,Member-at-Large; No. 87, Jack Fitzmier, AtlantaAstronomy Club; No. 88, Marilyn Perry, Member-at-Large; No. 89, Roy Marsh, San AntonioAstronomical AssociationBinocular Messier Observing ProgramNo. 1057, John G. Hoff, Albany Area AmateurAstronomers; No. 1058, Marie Lott, AtlantaAstronomy Club; No. 1059, Bob Kacvinsky,Prairie Astronomy Club; No. 1060, DavidWhalen, Atlanta Astronomy Club; No. 1061,Lloyd Blake, Boise Astronomical Society; No.1062, Johnny Scarborough, Central TexasAstronomical SocietyCaldwell Observing ProgramNo. 215, Al Hamrick, Raleigh Astronomy Club,Silver; No. 216, Bob Kacvinsky, Prairie AstronomyClub, Silver; No. 217, Thomas Rocco Pennino,Amateur Observers’ Society of New York andAstronomical Society of Long Island, SilverCarbon Star Observing ProgramNo. 59, Ken Boquist, Popular Astronomy Club;No. 60, Eric Dose, Northeast Kansas AmateurAstronomers‘ League; No. 61, Michael VincentBournique, Member-at-LargeDark Nebulae Observing ProgramNo. 20, Robert Pitt, Member-at-LargeDeep Sky Binocular Observing ProgramNo. 366, Forrest Smith, Baton Rouge Astronomi-cal Society; No. 367, Jim Twellman, AstronomicalSociety of Eastern Missouri; No. 368, Brad Payne,Northern Virginia Astronomy ClubFlat Galaxy Observing ProgramNo. 26, W. Maynard Pittendreigh, Member-at-Large, Honorary; No. 27, Robert Pitt, Birming-ham Astronomical Society, HonoraryGlobular Cluster Observing ProgramNo. 271, Vincent Michael Bournique, Member-at-Large; No. 272, Kevin C. Carr, Member-at-LargeHerschel 400 Observing ProgramNo. 532, Margaret McCrea, Rose City Astrono-mers; No. 533, Steven Childers, ForsythAstronomical Society; No. 534, Kevin Johnson,Minnesota Astronomical Society; No. 535, KenHose, Rose City Astronomers; No. 536, ThomasRocco Pennino, Amateur Observers’ Society ofNew York and Astronomical Society of LongIsland; No. 537, Jay Drew, Springfield TelescopeMakers; No. 538, Bill Biermann, St. LouisAstronomical Society; No. 539, Wayne E. Frey,Central Florida Astronomical Society

Herschel II Observing ProgramNo. 92, David Hasenauer, Texas AstronomicalSociety of Dallas, Manual; No. 93, Clifton B.Mygatt, Jr., Olympic Astronomical Society,Device-Aided; No. 94, Bill Smith, Member-at-Large, Device-Aided; No. 95, William Hennessy,Neville Public Museum Astronomical Society,Manual; No. 96, Robert Pitt, BirminghamAstronomical Society, Device-AidedHydrogen Alpha SolarObserving ProgramNo. 15, Scott Azmus, Member-at-Large; No. 16,Jay Drew, Springfield Telescope Makers; No. 17,Rodney L. Martin, TriState Astronomers; No. 18,Mark Bailey, Member-at-Large; No. 19, GerardJones, Minnesota Astronomical League; No. 20,Bill Sanders, Central Arkansas Astronomy; No.21. Marie Lott, Charlie Elliott Chapter of AtlantaAstronomy Club; No. 22, Jack Fitzmier, AtlantaAstronomy Club; No. 23, Lee Sikstrom, Member-at-Large; No. 24, Dan Thoman, Charlie ElliottChapter of Atlanta Astronomy Club; No. 25,Robert Anderson, Member-at-Large; No. 26.Valorie Whelan, Charlie Elliott Chapter of AtlantaAstronomy ClubLocal Galaxy Group & GalacticNeighborhood Observing ProgramNo. 33-M/CA, Robert Pitt, Birmingham Astro-nomical SocietyLunar II Observing ProgramNo. 66, Gary George, Harford County Astro-nomical Society; No. 67, Vincent MichaelBournique, Member-at-LargeLunar Observing ProgramNo. 914, Suzanne Bjork, Mason Star Gazers; No.915, Bridget Langdale, Mason Star Gazers; No.916, Jarret Lingle, Mason Star Gazers; No. 917,Michael A. Pascavage, Delaware Valley AmateurAstronomers; No. 918, Dan Thoman, AtlantaAstronomy Club; No. 919, Bill Smith, Member-at-Large; No. 920, Larry Elsom, Member-at-Large;No. 921, Carol Smith, Boise Astronomical Society

Messier Observing ProgramNo. 2393, Eugene Garcia, Olympic AstronomicalSociety, Honorary; No. 2655, Joseph Mezzafonte,Amateur Observers’ Society of New York andAstronomical Society of Long Island, Honorary;No. 2692, Adam S. Yore, Member-at-Large,Honorary; No. 2693, John Day, Big Bear ValleyAstronomical Society, Honorary; No. 2694, DavidWhalen, Atlanta Astronomy Club, Honorary; No.2695, Vincent Michael Bournique, Member-at-Large, Honorary; No. 2696, Bernard Venasse,Member-at-Large, RegularMeteor Observing ProgramNo. 57, Nora Jean Chetnik, Honorary, Member-at-LargeNorthern Skies Constellation HunterObserving ProgramNo. 152, Jody Raney, Shreveport–BossierAstronomical Society; No. 153, Carolyn Alter,Rose City Astronomers; No. 154, Linda Huffman,Member-at-LargeOutreach Observing AwardNo. 657-O, Mark Simonson, Everett AstronomicalSociety of Camano Island; No. 658-S, ChrisMiskiewicz, Howard Astronomical League; No.659-O, Gail Sederquist, Popular Astronomy ClubQuad Cities; No. 660-O, Adam Beals, PopularAstronomy Club Quad Cities; No. 661-O, JohnWebber, Southern Colorado Astronomical Society;No. 662-M, Brian Buttafuoco, Museum Astro-nomical Resource Society; No. 663-O, Ron Yates,Flint River Astronomy Club; No. 664-O, WalterRussell, Southern Colorado Astronomical SocietyPlanetary Nebula Observing ProgramNo. 6, Paul Forward, Denver AstronomicalSociety, ImagingRadio Astronomy Observing ProgramNo. 7-B, Doug Kniffen, Astronomical Society ofEastern Missouri and Central Missouri AmateurAstronomers; No. 8-B, Alex Vrenios, Member-at-Large; No. 9-B, William Bogardus, AmateurObservers’ Society of New York and CusterInstitute; No. 3-S, Doug Kniffen, AstronomicalSociety of Eastern Missouri and Central MissouriAmateur Astronomers; No. 4-S, Scott Lookabill,Central Arkansas Astronomical SocietySketching Observing AwardNo. 2, Bill Smith, Member-at-Large; No. 3, MarkL. Simonson, Everett Astronomical Society; No. 4,Aaron Clevenson, North Houston AstronomyClub; No. 5, Michael A. Hotka, LongmontAstronomical SocietySolar System Observing AwardNo. 85, Jim McLaughlin, Auburn AstronomicalSociety; No. 86, Bernard Venasse, Member-at-LargeSouthern Arp Peculiar GalaxyObserving ProgramNo. 6-V, Robert Pitt, Birmingham AstronomicalSociety; No. 7-V, Dave Tosteson, MinnesotaAstronomical Association; No. 8-V, DouglasWiese, High Desert Astronomy ClubSouthern Planetary NebulaObserving ProgramNo. 3, Michael A. Hotka, Longmont Astronomi-cal Society, BasicSouthern Skies BinocularObserving ProgramNo. 90, Vincent Bournique, Member-at-LargeTwo in the View Observing ProgramNo. 5, Scott Kranz, Astronomy Society of KansasCity; No. 6, Albert Lamperti, Delaware ValleyAmateur Astronomers; No. 7, Jim Ketchum,Astronomical Society of Kansas City; No. 8, AaronClevenson, North Houston Astronomy ClubUniverse Sampler Observing ProgramNo. 120, Glenn Wolford, Member-at-Large,Naked-Eye; No. 121, Peter Moore, SeattleAstronomical Society, Telescope

Adirondack PublicObservatory

Astrophotography WorkshopSeptember 18th – 20th

With dark skies (magnitude 6.5)surrounded by the Adirondack

lakes and mountains,this is the perfect spot to

“Shoot the Stars.”No experience is necessary.

Bring your own equipment or use ours.The three day workshop is $120.

A 10% discount for APO members.www.APObservatory.org


Support Reflector advertisers!

Buy a new telescope or

other gear!

Reflector advertisers support

many League activities.

Let’s support them!

Astronomical League Sales is

open for business.

The League Book Serviceis here for you!Are you searching for that special astronomy bookbut don’t know where to start? Let the Astronomi-cal League’s Book Service fill your request! With its10% discount and free shipping, how could younot do otherwise?

This is the perfect place for members to go whenlooking for books currently in print aboutastronomy, cosmology, mathematics, and physics.Titles can be ordered from many well-knownastronomy book publishers such as Sky Publishing,Cambridge, Oxford, Willman-Bell, Springer-Verlagand others.

Moreover, items available through the BookService are not limited only to books. Posters,charts, and atlases are also available.

Ordering is simple enough. Just provide the nameof the item, author, publisher (if known), the retailprice and the shipping address. Be sure to includea check or money order—payable to AstronomicalLeague Book Service—for the retail price minus10%. Shipping and handling are free. Sorry, creditcards are not accepted.Mail your requests to:Star ‘N Space Books, 324 W. Gurley St.,Prescott, AZ 86301, or, on the web:www.abebooks.com/star-in-space-books-prescott-az/1255043/sf.

You should receive your order within two to threeweeks.

This benefit is made possible by the efforts ofLeague volunteer Marilyn Unruh, proprietor of Star‘N Space Books. She is also an avid amateurastronomer. Like many of the League’s members, shedesires to help others enjoy our fascinatingavocation. Marilyn notes, “This service allows me togive back to the astronomical community by doingsomething that I love to do—deal in books!”

For members who are looking to add to their library,the Book Service is definitely the place to go!


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To have your star party or event listed, please sendthe details, including dates, sponsors and website, [email protected]. Confirm dates andlocations with event organizers.— John Wagoner

Astronomical League Membership-at-Large ProgramWhat does the League offer you as Members-at-Large?

• Full voting privileges at AL meetings.• A subscription to the Reflector.• Book Service offering astronomy-related books at a 10 percent discount.• Optional subscriptions at discounted rates to the following publications:

Astronomy magazine $34.00; 2 years $60 • Sky & Telescope magazine $32.95RASC Observer’s Handbook $27.00 • StarDate $19.50

(Foreign rates are higher; see website)• Free Astronomical League Observing guide with membership.

To join the Astronomical League as a Member-at-Large, send a check for $40.00,$50.00 foreign, made payable to the Astronomical League, to:

Astronomical League National Office, 9201 Ward Parkway, #100, Kansas City, MO 64114Phone: 816-333-7759; Email: [email protected]

Or join online at: WWW.ASTROLEAGUE.ORG

ADVERTISING RATESThe following is a listing of the advertising rates for the Reflector. If you are interested in promoting your products,consider placing an ad with us. With a circulation of 16,000 astronomers, we offer a highly targeted market.Rates for the inside front cover, inside back cover, and back cover are negotiable.The rates below are for B&W ads; color ads are 10% additional.

Number ofIssues

Full Page7-1/2” H x 10” V

1/2 Page7-1/2” H x 5” V

1/3 Page5” H x 4-1/2” V or2-3/8” H x 10” V

1/6 Page2-3/8” H x 5” V or

4-1/2” H x 2-3/8” V

Mini-Ad2-3/8” H x 2-3/8” V

1 $1,000 $500 $400 $200 $150

2 $900 each $450 each $350 each $175 each $125 each

4 $800 each $400 each $300 each $150 each $100 each

H = Horizontal Deadlines: March issue: January 1 June issue: April 1V = Vertical September issue: July 1 December issue: October 1To submit advertisementsor for further information,please contact:

Ron Kramer, Acting ReflectorAdvertising [email protected]

Note: Ad pricing is subjectto change without notice.

October 8–11SJAC Fall Star PartyBelleplain State Forest, New Jerseywww.sjac.usOctober 9–11Connecticut Star PartyEdmund D. Strang Scout Reservation,Goshen, Connecticutwww.asnh.orgOctober 9–11Custer JamboreeSouthold, New Yorkwww.custerobservatory.org/events.htmOctober 11–18Peach State Star GazeDeerlick Astronomy Village,Crawfordville, Georgiawww.atlantaastronomy.org/PSSGOctober 12–18Staunton River Star PartyScottsburg, Virginiawww.stauntonriver-starparty.org

September 9–13Brothers Star PartyBrothers, Oregonwww.mbsp.orgSeptember 10–14Acadia Night Sky FestivalBar Harbor, Mainewww.acadianightskyfestival.orgSeptember 10–13Hidden Hollow Star PartyWarren Rupp ObservatoryMansfield, Ohiowww.wro.orgSeptember 10–13Illinois Dark Skies Star PartyJim Edgar–Panther Creek State Fishand Wildlife Area, Illinoiswww.sas-sky.orgSeptember 11–13Black Forest Star PartyCherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvaniawww.bfsp.orgSeptember 11–12Craters of the Moon Star PartyCraters of the Moon National Monumentand Preserve, Idahowww.ifastro.orgSeptember 11–12Idaho Star PartyBruneau Dunes State Park, Idahowww.isp.boiseastro.orgSeptember 10–13Heart of America Star PartyAstronomical Society of Kansas CityOverland Park, Kansaswww.hoasp.orgSeptember 11–13Jersey StarquestHope, New Jerseywww.princetonastronomy.orgSeptember 12–20Okie–Tex Star PartyKenton, OklahomaOklahoma City Astronomy Clubwww.okie-tex.comSeptember 17–20Great Lakes Star GazeGladwin, Michiganwww.greatlakesstargaze.comSeptember 18–20Astrophotography WorkshopAdirondack Public ObservatoryTupper Lake, New Yorkwww.apobservatory.orgSeptember 19National Astronomy DayWorley Observatory, LSU–Shreveport, Louisianawww.shreveportastronomy.comSeptember 25–26Astronomy at the BeachKensington Metropark, Brighton, Michiganwww.glaac.org/kensington-astronomy-at-the-beachSeptember 26Gateway to SpaceSt. Louis, Missouriwww.gatewaytospace.orgSeptember 26–27Tennessee Fall Star GazePikeville, Tennesseewww.cumberlandastronomicalsociety.orgOctober 3Virginia Association of Astronomical SocietiesNRAO Headquarters, Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville Astronomical Societycvilleastro.com/vaas-2015October 5–10Eldorado Star PartyX-Bar Ranch, Eldorado, Texaswww.eldoradostarparty.org

October 13–18AstroblastOil City, Pennsylvaniawww.oras.orgOctober 14–17Enchanted Skies Star PartySocorro, New Mexicowww.enchantedskies.orgNovember 3–8Deep South Regional Star GazeNorwood, Louisianawww.stargazing.net/dsrsgNovember 5–8Nightfall (Star Party)Borrego Springs, Californiawww.rtmcastronomyexpo.orgNovember 9–15CSPG Fall Star PartyChiefland, Floridawww.chieflandstarpartygroup.com/fall.htmlNovember 14Evening Star Party at Ralph A. Worley ObservatoryShreveport, Louisianawww.shreveportastronomy.comSPRING 2016March 9–13Staunton River Star PartyScottsburg, Virginiawww.stauntonriver-starparty.orgApril 2–9, 2016OzSky Star Safari, a.k.a. DeepestSouth Texas Star SafariCoonabarabran, New South Wales, Australiawww.ozsky.orgAttendance is extremely limited—that is why thisevent is listed so far in advance.

For those of you who are not aware of it,

the Astronomical League is now on

Facebook. We continue to build followers

week by week, and we are becoming

better known as the word spreads. We

are also on Twitter: @AstronomyLeague.


PlanetaryNebulae$14 plus$2.10 S&H

MessierObjects: ABeginner’sGuide$8 plus$1.20 S&H

ObserveEclipsesRegularly $18,Sale price $9plus $2.70 S&H

UniverseSampler$10 plus$1.50 S&H

GalaxyGroups andClusters$18 plus$2.70 S&H

Astronomy forEducatorsHandbookA CoursePlanning Guide5.5” x 7.25”Regularly $12,Sale price $6plus $1.80 S&H

Observe theHerschelObjects$6 plus$1.20 S&H

Math forAmateurAstronomers$10 plus$1.50 S&H

The A.L.P.O.Guide toWatchingMeteors$3 plus$1 S&H“Guide to the Stars” 16” Planisphere

$21 plus $3.15 S&H

GlobularClusters$14 plus$2.10 S&H

SeasonalStar Chart$25 plus$3.75 S&H

Local GalaxyGroup andGalacticNeighborhood$21 plus$3.15 S&H

Astronomical Leaguelapel pin (one-inchdiameter)$8 plus $1.20 S&H

Astronomical Leaguetravel mug$10: travel mug plus $1.50 S&H

Sky PuppiesObservingManual–For the Sky PuppyObservers ClubRegularly $15,Sale price $8plus $2.25 S&H

Carbon StarsA guide to theCarbon StarObserving Club$10 plus$1.50 S&H

Astronomical League full color clothpatch (three-inch diameter)$7 plus $1.05 S&H

Astronomical League blue andwhite cloth patch(three-inch diameter)$6 plus $1.05 S&H

Trucker HatPrinted logo, adjustable, navy only;$12, plus $5 S&H

VC600 Baseball HatEmbroidered logo, adjustable;

Colors: royal, maroon, khaki, navy;$16, plus $5 S&H

2100 Baseball HatEmbroidered logo, adjustable; “Sandwich”bill; Colors: sage w/stone trim, stone w/navytrim, navy w/stone trim;$20, plus $5 S&H

2050 Sportsman Bucket HatEmbroidered logo, one size; khaki only

$22, plus $5 S&H

League Sales are online!The League’s online store is available at the website,www.astroleague.org. Click on the link for the store on thetop right of the home page. The online store includes the latestshopping cart technology and accepts credit cards. Shipping &handling (S&H) is calculated at checkout. Merchandise is alsoavailable by mail order, payable by check. Please select your items,add the applicable S&H fee, and mail your order to:

Astronomical League Sales9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100Kansas City, MO 64114

If you have questions about the merchandise, or discounts onbulk orders, please call the League office, 816-DEEP-SKY, or email:[email protected].


Membership SecretaryAstronomical LeagueNational Office9201 Ward Parkway, Suite 100Kansas City, MO 64114

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit #6563SLC, UT 841

The Astronomical League invites its members tosubmit astrophotography for publishing in theReflector. When sending photos, please include abrief explanation telling us when and wherethe photo was taken, your club affiliation, whatequipment was used, and any computerprocessing that was involved.

Taken with a Lunt H-alpha 100 mm telescope with internal pressure adjustedtuner and double-stacked with a Coronado 90 mm SolarMax H-alpha filter, thisimage of the Sun shows prominences, filaments, flares, and plage regions. BurtonBriggs photographed this on May 24, 2015, from Emmett, Idaho. The camera wasa DMK 41, processing was with ImagesPlus, Astrostack, and Photoshop CS5. Thisis an inverted black-and-white image, colored in Photoshop. Briggs is a memberof the Boise Astronomical Society.

alcon 2015 in las cruces alcon 2015 in las cruces

Documents