*

Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society Big Bear Valley Astronomical Sod ety

September 2016 Agenda and Minutes

./ Welcome:

• New members or 1st time visitors? Greg Rooney, Erwin Lake • Members present: John D., Teresa, Claude, John V., Wes, Byron, Dick, Bill H., Vatch, Lydia,

Randy, Matthew, Tom, Bill Y .

./ Announcements: None

./ Treasurer/Membership Report: 51 paid members, $668.00 in the coffer.

• DUES are again due ...

./ Comments, reports, discussions, reviews: • Virtual Lecture, Dr. Erick Young on SOFIA! Good info, well received, well attended, good Q&A • BBSO Tour 8/18 & 9/1? Well attended, big groups, from a variety of hometowns • High Chaparral Star Party Sept 3 @ He. Lots of non-member attended ... good seeing • Friday Night in the Village Aug 12. Well attended, 3 planets and the moon were visible. • Discovery Center Campfire Date 8/26 - Claude gave "Pluto" presentation ... answered lots of Qs • SunDay at the Farmer's Market Aug 16th Positioned in front, several new potential club members • Contact with BB Library - details to be worked out but they'd love to have S & T

Library wants the Sky and Telescope ... just working out the details now .

./ Activities • Virtual lecture: September 15th

- Sarah Marcotte from JPL. She'll be talking about NASA's Mars 2020 rover! ( http://www.exhibitfiles.org/sarah marcotte ) ( http://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/ )

• Virtual Lecture: October ... guest lecturer TBD

• •

•

• •

•

Virtual Lecture: November: Dr. R. Paul Butler (https://en.wikipedia .org/wikilR. Paul Butler) on Proxima b discovery. Virtual Lecture: December ... no scheduled VT in December Virtual Lecture: January 2017 ... Dr. Kelly Fast ( http://science.nasa.gov/about-us/staff-bios/kelly­fast-phd/ ) on Planetary Defense Friday Night in the Village! This Friday Sept 9, Corner of Village and Pine Knot at the old gas station. Solar Sidewalk Astronomers SUN-day on Sept. 11th at Discovery Center, 10:00-2pm Calif. Naturalist Program Star Party at Pali Resort in Running Springs - Sept 10th

. Thus far Bill, Teresa, and Harve will take telescopes for them. Update on BBSO tours: remaining tours : 9/22, then the last 2016 tour will be on 10/13. No November tours since t he big mirror will be removed and re-coated. Tours won't start up aga in until the Spring of 2017 .

./ Chief observer report. • What's up this month? October 18/19, Grazing occultation of Aldebaran by the moon as seen

from Apple Valley. See the link: http://occultations.org/aldebaran/20160ctober/ More details on viewing location etc at October club meeting. Fall Equinox, September 22.

• Randy handed out the September SkyMap ... see attachment

./ Scheduling: • Next star party, Oct 1? Where to go? Confirmed 10/1/2016 at High Chaparral site • Next beginner talk? Winter constellations ... presenter: Teresa? • Great Astronomy Yard Sale- need to plan ... Oct 1 date but still need a place ...

Date may change depending on selected location that is TBD

./ John V on Adaptive Optics ... outstanding presentation on AD ... very cool Q&A session .

./ General Discussion • Thanks to Byron for donating a couple of small te lescopes. What shall we do with t hem? Need

to brainstorm ... • Byron exhibited 3 pieces of Astro artwork and discussed their history. • Bill Young will put club dates on the Facebook page at the request of several visitors to our Star

Parties.

Summary of upcoming dates: 9/9: Star party in the Village (SE corner of Village drive and Pine Knot Ave) 9/10: Star party/presentation at Cal Naturalist Conference in Running Springs 9/11: Global Solar Sidewalk Astronomers SUN-day at the Big Bear Discovery Center 9/ 15: Virtual Lecture: Sarah Marcotte from JPL on the Mars 2020 rover project 9/22: Fa ll Equinox 9/22: Next BBSO tour 10/1: Star Party in Baldwin Lake, High Chaparral site 10/13: Last BBSO tour in 2016 ... dark till Spring 2017 10/13: Next club meeting at Dennys in Big Bear, 6pm 10/ 18-19: Occultation of Aldebaran by the Moon ... Apple Valley location TBD

-30- Bill Young

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9:08 UT. Path of annularity extends from the southern Atlantic 6;> r..; '1>0'< _0_0 .' "'j &, ~ '1i -- . ,,8)y ';lY

Ocean, across central Africa and Madagascar, and into the Indian .$ 0"""'" \ ... ~ ,~.,o'

• 'y ~ <::- • _--'___ 0· Madagascar and much of the IndIan Ocean. cl' s "",~ , '- - . ,.'~

1 Annular Solar Eclipse from 6:13 to 12:01 UT. Greatest eclipse at /

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Ocean. Partial eclipse over a much wider area covering Africa, ~,/ ... ,,-1> /.~ -,,,,,!> \

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1 New Moon at 9:03 UT. Start of lunation 1159. 0.."" :: r"® '1' ","> / \ ~ ~ • ~",.~ ~o~ SUEjOd 1/ \

2 Moon near Jupiter (180 from Sun, evening sky) at 22h UT. (is' ,,; • ,-,'."", • ~'N 1f~~/IV. \ "94 .. $f 'lJ 1""1 / n.~ Mag. -1.7. Much bnghterVenus IS nearby. C) .$ ~ -..--' I

• ~ &- '\" ""'. ""> JadtJ11'o \~ 3 Moon near Venus (240 from Sun, evem ng sky) at l1h UT. ~ iiI i "I .... ~ \ ~/!\ "J1IJ;Q 0 \\

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ago -3.9. uplter s mes rIg t near y. c ~ \ ... \ ~ I :: J' "" J;' or ~ 6:' \ .:tr ·o ! >- c.., 1 \\ ._- • .--. 0 ,

5 Moon near Spica (evening sky) at Oh UT. g f" \~ :;;. iF . ! ;; / ' . ........ r i .( ' ~o-_/ / 0

~ \ ';. "., I 21 ~ t:1 ...... ,,/ ~ '"

6 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 19h UT ~ \~ j ~ I:j ~ ~ ... jgf\ 1 -,.... " "'0, % • • /;? \-'. I \J o..<!i. - - ' -........ ... '- \ • ------ "IJ / . • (dIstance 405,055 km; angular SlZe 29.5'). ~ ~ ~ " - .---c?" ."';." '--.- _-: .~_.. ___ "'-~ :</ V>

8 Moon near Saturn at 22h UT. Mag. +0.5 . § :: \ __ 1/ . \ :'. ~i>\/o \ V> 0 - I ~ • 0 ~ \ ~ • \ \ .. ,' ~ ~ i ;;: ___ ,0

9 FlrSt Quarter Moon at 11:49 UT. .::; ~' y~' \. ') ~ l ~ i ~~ • ", ;e:; i ~ ~ • ;r: "' ...._--,. \ .,Jfi '~'b~ \ ! .,' ~~ 00::. • ~

16 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse from 16:55 to 20:54 UT, ~ g ~ \ ~ .~ ~ --'7'-0- .,c? ~ I ____ .0:' \ v:;: -'.A" '" • 'd l' 8 55 UT B 'd l' ". ~ ,., ----. \ ,., • "\ ./ , - - - ~ ~ I / .... "'~ ml-eclpseat1: . estnearml-eclpse. :g g :.. -.......... \ m ~, ' . +(';. .. --~.- "'r/

<; ~ III ~ '" ::: /, '\ G" ~ • ::; • 16 Full Moon at 19:05 UT. ~ g' -t \ ' , " / ... ~+"J' 1,.", ... ",,<, \ :: '.~ J) '

» \ ',- \ ~ I I • 0 t:t ..., . ---_ .• - .. 1..1 / • ~ ./" 0 • u..

18 Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 17h UT ~ ::: \\ .......... ......... '-. __ • • • " 'f. :s~ ,' '" \ ::: ;/ \ '~I ~~ .. - '" ~ ::: ~ ~ .... "'.." \ Z~ '" 0 '" (361,896 km ; angular size 33.0'). ~ ~ \ A<"G' .... ~ '. . 27 . : x / i .• ~~ ;: Z' ~

• • r"'"' '2" \ \ -9J" " . ~ \-9- . I . .I ' ! :~ $~ / :£ ~ 18 Venus 2.40 NNE of Splca (280 from Sun, evemng <g ~ \ .... , ... v,r .... -- :.\~ . ,\ ., • • • '\~- .' '6 :;:;

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sky) at 20h UT. Mags. -3.9 and +1.0. ~ .. " '2; '" ® y ,,~ 1\ ,' A· ... ~ ;g ~ o ~ \ ~ ', ..... _ 1-/ O£l.p ~ \ / Z toY) e, , ~.,;: ~

21 Moon very near Aldebaran (109° from Sun, :,%; . -________. ".::-C "-- -~/;.$ .•• /fl"~s I/;;;'r , ~~.,.;;r. <.,~." ...... ,....... sf! morning sky) at 23h UT. Occultation visible from ~ ;. ~ --------- ", -1 . , ,.... I" . ",,~ "Jr\ ~ .. '" @:: l 4o

", li i:\-.. , ">" "' .7 , ()v " ..... ~ . .. ... / '" ,;, '" East Afnca, the Mlddle East, and SW ASIa. ~ $ ~ .', -1,p '-;~" @ .r-- \ () ®~ / ..,~ ;::

• ~ ~ \I' /~ ./b / "'_ Af,(l ""'~- 11 • • ~ , :: _- § ~ 22 September equmox at 14:21 UT. The time when the 1<- ~ ..... // / ~-..--:/ ,)0, . AQUILA ... • r;~';; ,... \ , :.-:-- ___ .j ~

Sun reaches the point along the ecliptic where it crosses ~ ~, ~. IJ\ I ... ... /A .............. . "'\~ • • "b~"S·..... \ ' ' • \ ;; ,~ ~~" ... ' ............ ) ..... \ \ / "'«1 into the southern celestial hemisphere marking the start ';;,p,. "''& / / .>::: ... ' 1" y..,b 'V ,-/ / / / .... If ,t$ of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the V'~ %~ ., I .. '" 10

09 . } • ~ . / "" • : :\/ elf ~ h . h ~ ~ •• \ .--.-..::::.~----/ t-,1 ~ ..-- \ ~ ~~

Sout ern Hemlsp ere. '1l % .>" \ C-l p " -, .. " '.::' ,. ' ,,~ S~\Il,;"", ~ / # ~ ~ ." <'.9 \ ~ICO ; - - " '/>~" • ~,'" - / - '" - " <; ",,'" S b I 23 Last Quarter Moon at 9:56 UT. \"'0)." C' "o ~" us / - - - - _ _ ~< _ _ _L !'bl"~~ _ - -r #~{ ;§' .$ ym D S

'" ~" ........ I ,. \ ~ ir o~ ~;/!' ,,' f': 27 Moon near Regulus (35 0 from Sun, morning sky) at 22h UT. ~)' 00. "04, / '--::---, " ........ / / ' ,,- ""Ok; ~ ... . "'ars~ . / ' ",<,0 &' Galaxy tJ

h ~ <-10 ...... ..,,,"Is ---.. • ._r --....... ' I -_: h t;;;)~ 28 Mercury at greatest elongation, 180 west of Sun (morning sky) at 0"", ~ovr. .s-~ O'vti sl~f.:s '" \ • . ~~~<' . " .... it:-iS~ $' D~uble Star •

19h UT. Mag. -0.5. '1~/0 .... " . " - ~ -~_'_\ SAGITTARIUS '~b <,<,,<$-" _ _ "''''~ ~'l.<; Vanable Star ®

<'~ 4 ,-, ~ v D'ff N b l 0 29 Moon near Mercury (180 from Sun, morning sky) at 10h UT. Mag. -0.6. "''''$)-~.~ :\ \ ~\1 .. ~i,f> *'~ 1 use e u a

~ :r,; , 0 ~.. '\""~ ~<::J Planetary Nebula 4 More sky events and links at http://Skymaps.com/skycalendar/ CV,,,G'-.<)s(''/ / i AUcoSTRROANLA[S ';./o x-<::J'<' 0 St Cl t

)'~ :r", / G _,_' , \ ,\<::J pen ar us eT All times in Universal Time (UT). (USA Eastern Summer Time = UT - 4 hours.) <"s,fy "Stl)~ : flus • -.:::, \ .... ",'\.<::Jv.- Gl b l St Cl t ""

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About the Celestial Objects Listed on this page are several of the brighter, more interesting celestial objects visible in the evening sky this month (refer to the monthly sky map). The objects are grouped into three categories. Those that can be easily seen with the naked eye (that is, without optical aid), those easily seen with binoculars, and those requiring a telescope to be appreciated. Note, all of the objects (except single stars) will appear more impressive when viewed througl1 a telescope or very large binoculars. They are grouped in this way to highlight objects that can be seen using the optical equipment that may be available to the star gazer.

Tips for Observing the Night Sky When observing the night sky, and in particular deep-sky objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, it's always best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct light from street lights and other sources. If possible observe from a dark location away from the light pollution that surrounds many of today's large cities.

You will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darkness-usually about 10 to 20 minutes after you go outside. Also, if you need to use a torch to view the sky map, cover the light bulb with red cellophane. This will preserve your dark vision.

Finally, even though the Moon is one of the most stunning objects to view through a telescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of the fainter objects very difficult to see. So try to observe the evening sky on moonless nights around either New Moon or Last Quarter.

Astronomical Glossary Conjunction - An alignment of two celestial bodies such that they present the least angular separation as viewed from Earth. ConstelLation - A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern . Diffuse Nebula - A cloud of gas illuminated by nearby stars. DoubLe Star - Two stars that appear close to each other in the sky; either linked by gravity so that they orbit each other (binary star) or lying at different distances from Earth (optical double) . Apparent separation of stars is given in seconds of arc ("). Ecliptic - The path of the Sun's center on the celestial sphere as seen from Earth. Elongation - The angular separation of two celestial bodies. For Mercury and Venus the greatest elongation occurs when they are at their most angular distance from the Sun as viewed from Earth. Galaxy - A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity. Globular Star Cluster - A ball-shaped group of several thousand old stars. Light Year (ly) - The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 km/sec in one year. Magnitude - The brightness of a celestial object as it appears in the sky. Open Star Cluster - A group of tens or hundreds of relatively young stars. Opposition - When a celestial body is opposite the Sun in the sky. Planetary Nebula - The remnants of a shell of gas blown off by a star. Universal Time (UT) - A time system used by astronomers. Also known as Greenwich Mean Time. USA Eastern Standard Time (for example, New York) is 5 hours behind UT. Variable Star - A star that changes brightness over a period of time.

..... a::: ..... U> ...... Easily Seen with the Naked Eye :z:: ca.. U)

!E ..... :z:: :z: a::: ..... ~

~ a:: LA.I Cell :1!5

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Altair Capella Arcturus 6 Cephei Deneb a Herculis Vega Algol Fomalhaut Antares Polaris

Aql Aur Boo Cep Cyg Her Lyr Per PsA Sco UMi

o Brightest star in Aquila. Name means "the flying eagle". Dist=16.7 ly. o The 6th brightest star. Appears yellowish in color. Spectroscopic binary. Oist=42 ly. o Orange, giant K star. Name means "bear wat cher". Dist=36 .7 ly. <!\ Cepheid prototype. Mag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.366 days. Mag 6 companion. o Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiants. Oist=1,400±200 ly. <!\ Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.1 & 3.9 over 90 days. Mag 5.4 companion. o The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-white star. Dist=25.0 ly. ® Famous eclipsing binary star. Magnitude varies between 2.1 & 3.4 over 2.867 days. o Brightest star in Piscis Austrinus. In Arabic the "fish's mouth". Oist=25 ly. o Red, supergiant star. Name means "rival of Mars". Oist=135.9 ly. _ The North Pole Star. A te lescope revea ls an unrelated mag 8 companion star. Oist=433 ly.

= :z: Easily Seen with Binoculars

~ • C) , , , L -CO

-=-. -~

, cc , en , , ,

M31 M2 11 Aquilae M3 I-! Cephei X Cygni M39 v Oraconis M13 M92 E Lyrae R Lyrae MI0 IC 4665 6633 M15 Double Cluster M8 M25 M22 M6 M7 Mizar & Alcor Cr 399

And t7 The Andromeda Galaxy. Most distant object visible to na ked eye. Oist~2 . 93 million ly. Aqr Ell Resembles a fuzzy star in binoculars. Aql ® Bright Cepheid variable. Mag varies between 3.6 & 4.5 over 7.166 days. Oist=1,200 ly. CVn Ell Easy to find in binoculars. Might be glimpsed with the naked eye. Cep ® Herschel's Garnet Star. One of the reddest stars. Mag 3.4 to 5.1 over 730 days. Cyg ® Long period pulsating red giant. Magnitude varies between 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days. Cyg ,;, May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions. Oist=900 ly. Dra _ Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. Oist=100 ly. Her Ell Best globular in northern skies. Oiscovered by Halley in 1714. Oist=23,000 ly. Her Ell Fainter and smaller than M13. Use a telescope to resolve its sta rs. Lyr _ Famous Double Oouble. Binoculars show a double star. High power reveals each a double. Lyr ® Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days. Oph Ell 3 deg rees from the fainter M12. Both may be glimpsed in binoculars. Oist=14,000 ly. Oph c; Large, scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. Oph ';: Scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. Peg Ell Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 14, d=1"). Dist~30,000 ly. Per .;, Double Cluster in Perseus. NGC 869 & 884. Excellent in binoculars. Oist=7,300 ly. Sgr 0 Lagoon Nebula. Bright nebula bisected by a dark lane. Oistu 5,200 ly. Sgr ;, Bright cluster located about 6 deg N of "teapot's" lid. Distu l,900 ly. Sgr Ell A spectacular globular star cluster. Telescope will show stars. Oist=10,000 ly. Sco .;, Butterfly Cluster. 30+ stars in 7x binoculars. Oist~1 ,960 ly. Sco ,';:' Superb open cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Age=260 million years. Oist=780 ly. UMa _ Good eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Mizar has a mag 4 companion. Vul ,;, Coathanger asterism or "Brocchi's Cluster". Not a true star cluster. Oist=218 to 1,140 ly. , Telescopic Objects , , ,

C, y Andromedae 7009 7293 y Arietis E Boobs M51

oC! ~~ 11 Cassiopeiae .... Albireo

{I ca 61 Cygni

E y Oelphini

~~~~rae ~ M20

M17

GJ Mll M16 M33 M27

And • Attractive double star. Bright orange star with mag 5 blue companion. Sep=9.8". Aqr ? Saturn Nebula. Req ui res 8-inch telescope to see Saturn-like appendages. Aqr ? Helix Nebula. Spans nearly 1/4 deg. Requires dark sky. Dist~300 ly. Ari _ Impressive looking double blue-white star. Visible in a small telescope. Sep=7.8". Boo _ Red giant star (mag 2.5) with a blue-green mag 4.9 companion. Sep=2.8". Difficult to split. CVn t7 Whirlpool Galaxy. First recognised to have spiral structure. Oist=25 million ly. Cas _ Yellow star mag 3.4 & orange star mag 7.5. Dist~19 ly. Orbit=480 years. Sep=12". Cyg _ Beautiful double star. Contrasti ng colours of orange and blue-green. Sep~34.4". Cyg _ Attractive double star. Mags 5.2 & 6.1 orange dwarfs. Oist=11.4 ly. Sep=28.4". Del _ Appear yellow & white. Mags 4.3 & 5.2. Dist=100 ly. Struve 2725 double in same field. Lyr <!\ Eclipsing binary. Mag varies between 3.3 & 4.3 over 12.940 days. Fainter mag 7.2 blue star. Lyr ? Ring Nebula. Magnificent object. Smoke-ring shape. Oist=4,100 ly. Sgr 0 Trifid Nebula. A telescope shows 3 dust lanes trisecti ng nebula. Oist=5,200 ly. Sgr 0 Omega Nebula. Contains the star cluster NGC 6618. Dist=4,900 ly. Sct ,) Wild Duck Cluster. Resembles a globular through binoculars. V-shaped. Oist=5 ,600 ly. Ser 0 Eagle Nebu la. Requires a telescope of large aperture. Oist=8,150 ly. Tri t7 Fine face-on spiral galaxy. Requires a large aperture telescope. Oi5t=2.3 million ly. Vul ? Dumbbell Nebula. Large, twi n-lobed shape. Most spectacu lar planetary. Oist=975Iy.

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