Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

October 10, 2019 Agenda and Minutes Welcome:

New members or 1st time visitors? none Members present: Randy, Jane, Deanna, John, Claude, Teresa, Byron, Matt, Tim, Wes, Paula,

Dick, Mark, Lydia, Bill Any new Agenda Items?

News and Announcements: Treasurer/Membership Report: 41 paid members, $871.50 balance on account Scholarship Fund Report: $647.47 Librarian Report :

Report on RTMC Book Sale Sold $170 in books etc at RTMC Comments, reports, discussions, reviews:

Urban Assault Fri Oct 4th in the Village. - 50 visitors - Claude, Teresa, Randy, Mark, Bill

RTMC Astronomy Expo – domes two nights. - Claude and Teresa on Friday night, Bill and Byron on Saturday night

Club Star Party Sept 28th. Deanna, Jane, Randy, Vatch at High Chaparral 5th graders Star Party Oct 9th. 8th grade class of 25 students at High Chaparral Mt Wilson Experience Sept 28th. Very cool. Claude gave presentation BBSO public tour earlier today. 25 8th grade students

- Bill lead ½ of the class, Matt lead ½ of the class. Jane helped both - John and Claude did the presentations

Activities

Virtual Lecture Thurs. Oct 17th - Dr. Ifan Payne IN PERSON!! https://www.linkedin.com/in/ifan-payne-40a97620/

- Magdalena Ridge Observatory in New Mexico, and in particular, the development of the MRO interferometer.

Club Star Party Oct 26th – where? TBD, HC or Johnson Valley Urban Assault Fri Nov 1st in the Village. Be there with your scopes… Anyone working on the AL Lunar Project (besides Bill, Deanna, Jane & Teresa)? Or the Outreach

Award? (Claude & Teresa, Steve & Josh Johnson)? No new info.

Chief observer report. What’s up this month? Mercury Transit on Nov 11.

Scheduling: Mercury Transit Mon, Nov 11th. Do we want to do something?

- Bill will produce PSA for local distribution - Randy and Bill and ?? will have solar scopes on Stanfield Cutoff for this event.

Next beginner talk?

General Discussion – -30-

Sky Calendar - October 2019 3 Moon near Antares (evening sky) at 7h UT.

3 Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 22h UT. Mag. -2.0.

5 first Quarter Moon at 16:47 UT.

5 Moon near Saturn (evening sky) at 21h UT. Mag. 0.5. Occultation visible from southern Africa.

10 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 18h UT (distance 405,899 km; angular size 29.4').

13 Full Moon at 21:10 UT.

17 Moon near the Pleiades (morning sky) at 5h UT.

17 Moon near Aldebaran (morning sky) at 22h UT.

20 Mercury at greatest elongation east (25'" from Sun, evening sky) at 4h UT. Mag. -0.1. .

21 Orionid meteor shower peaks at 17h Ul Arises from the debris field of Comet Halley. Active from October 2 to November 7. Produces very fast (67 km/sec), generally faint meteors (20 per hour). Radiant located near Orion's club asterism. Best observed after midnight on night of Oct 21-22.

22 Moon near Beehive cluster M44 (morning sky) at 6h UT.

23 Moon near Regulus (morning sky) at 20h U1.

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26 Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 10:42 UT t ~ \~-__ .__ " ('J" .. ~~ • : '\ ", ('l

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26 Moon near Mars (18 0 from Sun, morning sky) at 21h UT. ~ ~ L -----/----- ~, Q{j.f/{I;' ...,~ ;/' !§ -:f.. 0 " ! ~ tJs / .i:'

Mag, 1,8. -:; ':; ' " 1 r·>,·i /' "- . .# ~ "i: 'i .... , '~ . • .......... ~ 1:)" 28 New Moon at 3:39 UT. Start of lunation 1198. ~ "'~ ............ <J~ II \ ' .- .... . .~ ---. :t g

"' .... -0 "'<>: I ; \ / • -', 7009 ~ ;::, 28 Uranus at opposition at 8h UT. Mag. 5. 7. *' ~ <; I I . ....... -. ,_ _ __ ---,i t' $

<? "~" ~ '~-'--~--:-':: 1,' ;...<".i $ 29 Moon near Venus (20 0 from Sun, evening sky) at 16h Ur. 'fo ~o;>' <:;:. ')"'¢- \ '. ?'- "f;:'ti; ~~"<f" Symbols Mag. - 3.9. Elusive Mercury (Mag. 0.2) is 3.0 0 South of Venus. 1?4-~.;>; ~,; ?gJ', / ",..,,'Q Ii!

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30 Moon near Antares (evening sky) at 17h Uf.

31 Mercury 2.6 0 SSW of Venus (21 0 from Sun, evening sky) at 5h UT. Mags. 0.5 and -3.9.

31 Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 15h UT. Mag. -1.9.

More sky events and links at http://Skymaps.com/skycalendar/ Planetary Nebula -<>-

Diffuse Nebula 0

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Open Star Cluster GloblJlar Star Cluster ED

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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 (t hat 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 through a telescope or very large binoculars. They are grouped in this way to hig hlight objects that can he 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 t he light pollution t hat su rrounds many of today's la rge cities.

You wi ll 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 te lescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of the fainter objects very diffi cult to see. So try to observe the evening sky on moonless nig hts around eit her New Moon or last Quarter.

Astronomical Glossary Conjunction - An alig nment 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 stai) or lying at different distances from Earth (optical do uble) . 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 celestia l bodies. For Me rcury 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 t ravels 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 re latively 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 Yo rk) is 5 hours behind UT. Variable Star - A star that changes brightness over a period of t ime_

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ffi if s Easily Seen with the Naked Eye

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Altair Capella Arcturus 6 Cephei Deneb (1 Herculis Vega Algol Fomalhaut Pleiades Polaris

Aql Au< 800

(ep (yg Her Lyr Per PsA Tau UMi

Brightest star in Aquila. Name means "the flying eagle". Oist- 16.71y. • The 6th brightest star. Appears ye llowish in color. Spectroscopic binary. Dist-42Iy. • Orange, giant K star. Name means "bear watcher". Dist-36.7 Iy. .. Cepheid prototype. ~Iag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.366 days. Mag 6 companion. • Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiants. Dist-I,400±200 {y. ®. Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.1 & 3.9 over 90 days. Mag 5.4 companion. • The Sth 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. • Brightest star in Pisci s Austrinus. In Arabic the "fish's mouth". Oist-251y.

The Seven Sisters. Spectacular duster. Many more stars visible in binoculars. Dist-3S0 ly. .. The North Pole Star. A telescope reveats an unrelated mag 8 companion star. Dist-433 ly.

CI :z: Easily Seen with Binoculars

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M31 Aod C' The Andromeda Galaxy. Most distant object visible to naked eye. Dist-2.93 million ly. M2 .qr • Resembles a fuzzy star in binoculars . I II AQuilae Aql • Bright Cepheid va ria ble. Mag varies between 3.6 & 4.5 over 7.166 days. Dist-l,200 Iy. J.l Cephei (ep " Herschel's Garnet Star. One of the reddest stars. Mag 3.4 to 5.1 over 730 days. X Cygni (yg • l ong period putsati ng red giant. Magnitude varies between 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days. M39 (yg May be visible to t he naked eye under good conditions. Dist-900 ly. v Draconis Dra Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs ill the sky. Dist .. 100 ly. M13 Hoc • Best globular in northern skies. Discovered by Halley in 1714. Oi st-23,000 ly.

-CO M92 Her • Fainter and smaller than M13. Use a telesco pe t,o resolve its stars . E lyrae ly' • Famous Double Double. Binoculars show a double star. High power reveals each a dou ble. R lyrae Lyr • Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days.

= M12 Oph ~ Close to the brighter MI0. Oi st .. 18,OOO ly. M10 Oph ® 3 degrees from the fainter M12. 80th may be glimpsed in binoculars. Oist-14,OOO ly. I( 4665 Oph Large, scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. 6633 Oph Scattered open cluster. Vi.sible with binoculars. M15 Peg • Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 14, d .. 1"). Dist-30,OOO ly.

, c:r: Double Cluster Per Double Clu.ster in Perseus. NGC 869 & 884. Excellent in binoculars. Oist- 7,300 ly.

M8 Sgr 0 lagoon Nebula. Bright nebula bisected by a da rk la ne. Dist- 5,200 ly. M2S 59' Bright cluster located about 6 deg N of "teapot's" lid. Dist-l ,900 ly.

Sgr-'il--A...s.pec.ta.culaLglahular..s.tar.d.uster Iel~s" oge wUl show stars. Oist- lO,OOO ll. Mizar & ALcor UM, • Good eye.sight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Miza r has a mag 4 companion. Cr 399 Vul Coathanger asteri sm or ' Brocchi's Cluster". Not a true sta r cluster. Oist-218 to 1,140 ly.

en Telescopic Objects , , , , y Andromedae 1009 , " . '{ Anetis 7293

I" ~ M51 11 Cassiopeiae Albireo 61 Cygni y Delphini ~ lyrae

~ "IE ~

{i ta M57

E M23

"'~~;~ M17 M11

C{) "'6 M33 M81 "27

And • Attractive dou ble star. Bright orange star with mag 5 blue companion . Sep-9.S". Aqr Q Saturn Nebula. Requires 8-inch telescope to see Sa turn-like appendages. Aqr .(0. Helix Nebula. Spans nearly 1/4 deg . Requires dark sky. Dist- 3DO ly. Ari Impressive looking double blue-white star. Visible in a small telescope. Sep-7 .8". CVn ;J Wh irlpool Galaxy. First recognised to have spiral structure. Dist- 25 million ly. (as • Yellow star mag 3.4 & ora nge star mag 7.5. Oist-19 1y. Orbit .. 480 yea rs. Sep- 12". Cyg Beautiful double star. Contra sting colours of orange and blue-green. Sep-34.4' . Cyg • Attractive dOUble star. Mags 5. 2 & 6.1 orange dwarfs . 0;st-11.4 ly. Sep-28.4". Del • Appear yellow & white. Mags 4.3 & 5.2. Dist-l00 ly. Struve 2725 double in same field. Lyr <I Eclipsing binary. Mag varies between 3.3 & 4.3 over 12.940 days. Fainter mag 7.2 blue star. lyr -{- Ring Neb ula. Magnificent object. Smoke·ring shape. Dist.4,lOO ly. Sgr Elongated star cluster. Telescope required to show stars. Oist .. 2,100 ly. Sgr 0 Trifid Nebula . A telescope shows 3 dust lanes trisecting nebula. Oist-5,200 ly. Sgr A fine an d im pressive duster. Oist-4,200 ly. Sgr 0 Omega Nebula. Contains the star cluster NGC 6618. Dist- 4,900 ly. Sct Wild Duck Ouster. Resembles a globular through binoculars. V-shaped. Oist-5 ,600 ly. Ser 0 Eagle Nebula . Re quires a telescope of la rge aperture. Dist- 8,150 ly. Tri tl Fine face -on spiral galaxy. Requires a large aperture telescope. Di st-2.3 million ly. UMa tJ Beautiful spiral galaxy visible with binoculars. Easy to see in a telescope. Vul -¢- Du mbbell Nebula . large, twin- lobed shape. Most spectacular planetary. Dist-975 ty.

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