IAS News and Views

Page 1 November 2013

The IASNews &ViewsVolume 80, Issue 11 www.iasindy.org

Remember the Public General Meetings are held at ButlerHolcomb Observatory Beginning in October

VERITAS* – Status and ResultsProf. John P. Finley, PhD

Indiana Astronomical Society/Butler UniversityObservatory Public MeetingNovember 23, 2013, 7:00 PM

Holcomb Observatory

The VERITAS array of 12 meter atmospheric-Cherenkov telescopes began full-scale operations in2007, and is one of the world’s most sensitive detectors of astrophysical Very High Energy (VHE)gamma rays (E>100 GeV). The Arizona-based experiment continues performing well and VERITASobservations have resulted in the detections of more than 40 VHE gamma-ray sources. These emittersinclude a variety of galactic (e.g. pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, binary systems and apulsar) and extragalactic (e.g. blazars, radio galaxies and a starburst galaxy) phenomena, as well assources whose physical origin is unidentified. In 2012, the VERITAS collaboration completed a majorupgrade of the experiment’s instrumentation. I will provide an overview of the current status of theobservatory and its capabilities, and summarize some of the recent results from the VERITAScollaboration. This will be the first talk I have given the IAS since we have completed the array andwill essentially close the loop on the talks I’ve given in 2001, 2006, and 2009.

*Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System

Professor Finley joined the faculty at Purdue University in 1993. His research areas include: thephysics and astronomy of compact objects; X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy; the physics of activegalactic nuclei; and the origin of cosmic rays. He has published numerous articles in his areas of study.

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Since 2007, he has been serving as chair of the VERITAS Executive Committee. He has also servedon several review panels including the NASA Senior Review Panel in 2004, 2006, 2008.

New Astronomer’s GroupNAG presentations are scheduled to resume in January. If you have expertise in a topic that would bebeneficial to our new astronomers, email bruce.bowman@tds.net to make arrangements.

From the President’s DeskPreparations for our annual elections and holiday party will be worked out in November. Please feelfree to make recommendations to your Board. We will need volunteers to help set-up and take down atHolcomb Observatory.

The Nominations Committee is seeking members who are willing to be an officer or director of theIAS. Your participation is needed to sustain a viable governing Board of Directors. Let us hear fromyou! We must publish a slate of candidates by the 3rd week of November.

Our Nominating Committee members are:

Bill Conner, Chairman (president@iasindy.org),John Molt (john.molt@iasindy.org) andMike Newberg (mike.newberg@iasindy.org)

Contact us for details on the position you may be interested in.

In January 2014, I must send the following nominations to the Board for ratification:

Observatory ManagerEditor of the News & ViewsWeb Supervisor & AssociateWeb Content ManagerLibrarianAstronomical League Correspondent

Coordinators for:

Public EventsEquipment Loan ProgramMembershipNew Astronomer’s GroupMcCloud Star Gaze

These are important functions. We need members to step forward to fill these positions. Call or emailyour Nominations Committee.

The star party season is about over, but we will be observing at Link through the Winter. Keep youreye on our Yahoo site for impromptu observing as weather permits.

During the Winter months, think about hosting a small group at your home on such subjects as:Observing Techniques, Astroimaging, Telescope Construction/Mirror Grinding, Variable Stars, DeepSky Observing, AL Observing Clubs and the like.

— The Pres

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Elections are Coming

It is time to begin thinking about elections again in earnest. Our elections will be held in December.There will be two Board members up for election as well as the four officers. In addition thecoordinator’s positions will be open for appointment after the new year. If you would like to act as oneof the appointed coordinators, please let us know as well. Nominations committee:

Bill Conner, Chairman (president@iasindy.org),John Molt (john.molt@iasindy.org) andMike Newberg (mike.newberg@iasindy.org)

To email a nomination, see our website at: www.iasindy.org. Place cursor on the"Home" tab and click on "Contact us.”

Duties of the Officers:(1) Except as provided by these bylaws or required by law, the entire control of the Society and itsaffairs shall be vested in the Board of Directors.

(2) The Board of Directors shall consist of seven (7) members elected from and by the membership atlarge. In addition, each Executive Officer shall be a voting member of the Board during their terms ofoffice. In the event of a tie vote upon any matter, the President of the Society shall cast a second voteto break the tie.

(3) The age requirement for members of the Board of Directors and Executive Officers shall be 18years or older.

(4) A member of the Board of Directors or an Executive Officer may be re-elected after their term ofoffice expires.

(5) If a vacancy occurs in any office for any reason, including failure to attend meetings, the Board ofDirectors shall elect a member of the Society to fill the unexpired term of the vacant office. Failure bya Director to attend six (6) meetings of the Board of Directors during any twelve (12) month periodmay constitute a vacancy at the discretion of the Board.

(6) At each December meeting, here designated as the "Annual Meeting," the Directors shall beelected by the membership to succeed those whose terms expire.

(7) The Executive Officers of the Society shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer,all of whom shall be elected by written ballot or voice vote at the Annual Meeting. The term of officefor the executive officers will be for one year starting January 1st of the next year.

(8) No person shall hold more than one Executive Office at a time.

(9) Members of the Board of Directors shall hold office for three years. Their terms shall be staggeredso that two directors are elected at each annual meeting, with the exception of a year in which a thirddirector is to be elected.

(10) The President shall preside at all meetings of the members and ensure that the purposes of themeeting are accomplished. The President shall annually nominate the Observatory Manager, the Editorof the monthly newsletter, the Web Supervisor of the official website, the Associate Web Supervisor,the Web Content Manager, the Librarian, the Equipment Loan Program Coordinator, the Public EventsCoordinator, the Astronomical League Correspondent, the Membership Coordinator, the NAGcoordinator, and the McCloud Stargaze coordinator,. The nominations will be ratified by the Board ofDirectors. The President will be responsible for communication with Indiana University.

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(11) The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President and shall act as ProgramCoordinator. The Vice President’s principal responsibility is to obtain speakers or to develop a specificprogram for each of the general meetings.

(12) The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Business/Board meetings, initiate such Societycorrespondence as shall be directed to the Secretary, and ensure that records of the Society's businessare maintained in permanent form.

(13) The Treasurer shall be responsible for all monies belonging to the Society. The Treasurer shallkeep accurate records of all transactions and hold Society funds ready for disbursement at the order ofthe Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall also maintain insurance documents and prepare and submitall required state and federal tax returns.

(14) The Board of Directors shall compile and approve an annual inventory report showing the wholeamount of real and personal property owned by the Society. The report shall be presented to thePresident at the January Board meeting. The Secretary shall file the report with the Society’s records.

(15) The Board of Directors and Executive Officers shall establish official Standard OperatingProcedures (SOPS) for operation of the Link Observatory, to clarify the requirements of these bylaws,detail agreements between the Society and other parties and to comply with any city, state, or federalrules or regulations. These procedures may be altered by the Board of Directors without a generalmembers’ vote. Such operating procedures shall be filed with the Society’s records and shall be postedwhere deemed appropriate.

Coordinators Appointed by the President each January

(16) The Observatory Manager shall be responsible for routine management of the LinkObservatory. The Observatory Manager shall maintain an inventory of the IAS property at theobservatory and schedule the use of the Link Observatory facilities. It is the ObservatoryManager’s responsibility to notify the President of any situation at the Link Observatory thatrequires the attention of Indiana University. The Observatory Manager is responsible for thesecurity of the keys he holds for the Society, accounting for all keys issued to the Society,reporting of the status of the keys to the Board and issuance of keys in accordance with thedirections of the Board.

(17) The Editor shall be responsible for publishing the monthly newsletter. The electronic copy isto be transferred to the Web Supervisor for placement on the website. The Editor shall beresponsible for printing and mailing copies to members who have designated that they prefer“hard copies” and to Friends of the Society. It is the Editor’s responsibility to maintain a highlevel of excellence in the newsletter.

(18) The Web Supervisor shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the IASwebsite at the highest level of excellence.

(19)The Associate Web Supervisor shall assist the Web-Supervisor in their duties and know thesystem well enough to act as Web-Supervisor if needed.

(20) The Web Content Manager will function as is the Society's liaison with the WebSupervisor. Duties include maintaining information on the website that is NOT design related andserving as the administrator of the two IAS Yahoo groups.

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(21) The Librarian shall be responsible for the Society’s library including the maintenance of aninventory of all media, and check in/out records for the Society. The Librarian shall be responsiblefor recommendations to the Board for additional media.

(22) The Equipment Loan Program Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining the loanerequipment and overseeing loan activities.

(23) The Public Events Coordinator is responsible for evaluating, scheduling and coordinatingevents requested by public and private institutions and individuals.

(24) The Astronomical League Correspondent (ALCor) shall serve as the Society’s contactperson for Astronomical League matters. The ALCor will coordinate with the MembershipCoordinator to ensure that membership rosters are sent to the League in accordance withAstronomical League procedures. The ALCor is also responsible for communicating Leaguebenefits and programs to the Society’s members.

As a collateral duty, the ALCor shall serve as the Society’s Awards Coordinator (AC) for theLeague. The Awards Coordinator will carry out these duties in accordance with instructions fromthe Astronomical League's Observation Program chairpersons.

(25) The Membership Coordinator shall collect dues from the members, keep accurate recordsof all transactions and transfer these funds to the Treasurer. The Membership Coordinator shallupdate and maintain Membership, Inactive membership and IAS Astronomical League databases.Each month the Membership Coordinator will send Notices of Pending Membership Expirationand Notices of Membership Expiration. In addition, the Membership Coordinator will send lettersof welcome and introduction to all new members upon receipt of the application and dues.

(26) The New Astronomer's Group (NAG) Coordinator is responsible for coordinating thedevelopment and presentation of NAG programs at general meetings. Duties include the creationof an archive of NAG presentations for the future.

(27) The McCloud Star Gaze Coordinator will function as the Society's liaison with theMcCloud Nature Park. Duties include coordinating the development and presentation of publicprograms at the Park.

IAS Bylaws Rev 5December 15, 2012

IAS NEWS

Recent Events for the IAS

October McCloud Monthly Star GazeAnother season at McCloud is in the books. Thanks to Bill Conner, Bruce Bowman, StephenMcSpadden, Eric Teske, Tony Marsh, and Doug & Betsy Brown for coming out. I hope I didn't missanyone. Please let me know if I did. Even though the clouds shut us down quickly we still got to lookat the moon for 'International Observe the Moon Night.' If anyone got pictures please send them on tome or you can post them yourself. I'm already looking at 2014 dates. Thanks again everyone; manymore people are now aware of the wonders of the night sky because of us!

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Also, for those who are not aware, Stephanie J Morrissette, who has faithfully served as McCloud'sNaturalist, has moved on and is no longer with the Hendricks County Parks Department. ThanksStephanie for all your help! You were a great ally in the fight against the “forces of darkness.”

— Mike Newberg

— Photos courtesy Bruce Bowman and Eric Teske

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2013 Heart of America Star PartyThe Heart of America Star Party, sponsored by the Astronomical Society of Kansas City, was held atthe Society’s Dark Sky Site near Butler, MO from October 3-6. The number of registered participantsthis year was one of the smallest in its history due to three other popular local star parties being heldduring the same weekend.

Vicki and I arrived on Wednesday, even though the S.P. was not scheduled to begin until Thursday.Already there were IAS member Danny and Debbie Mitchell. We were joined later by friends Daveand Barbara Burtrum and Terry and Wanita Kruzan. On Friday, John Wasmuth stopped by on his wayback from the Okie-Tex Star Party.

The first three days were quite warm and we were able to observe on Wednesday and Thursday in shirtsleeves or light jackets. The skies were quite clear but a bit on the “mushy” side due to atmosphericmoisture. A cold front moved in on Friday evening and the skies became cloudy, and a small amountof rain fell during the night. And when I say a cold front, I mean COLD FRONT! Saturday nightrequired multiple layers of clothing to just keep warm. However, Saturday night was the best night ofthe week for observing. Objects were crisp and clear.

We both were able to complete the October IAS Observing List, even the challenge object NGC 7335.NGC 7335 was not visible in Vicki’s 12 ½” but was visible in my 15” at 215X. It really looked goodin Danny’s 24” at about 350X. I also spent time working on the Herschel 400 Observing List as wellas visiting some old favorites.

This star party is a keeper. The ASKC Dark Sky Site is one of the best in the Midwest.

— John and Vicki Switzer

— Photo courtesy John Switzer

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2013 Okie-Tex Star PartyThe Okie-Tex Star Party is hosted by the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club every Fall in theSeptember-October time frame. The party is held at Camp Billy Joe, an isolated campground nearKenton, at the very western tip of the Oklahoma panhandle. Drive west a couple of miles and you arein New Mexico.

Chris Dietz, Shashi Penumarthy and I attended this year. We all set up at our favorite locations forwhat we wanted to do. I was midfield to the North so I could see objects low on the southern horizonas they peeked over the hills to the South.

On arrival, the sky was classic dark, steady and clear desert fare. The Milky Way shone brightlydirectly overhead from North to South at sunset. All of its features were easy to see in the inkyblackness at the site. This is one place where you need a red flashlight to keep from bumping intothings once the Milky Way sets. Yes, the Milky Way does cast discernible light!

We experienced several changes in the sky conditions and weather. From Sunday through Wednesdaymorning the skies were perfect. Wednesday night the seeing started to deteriorate, but it was still darkand clear. Thursday and Friday a strong wind came up that shook the scopes so much that, we couldnot observe even though the sky was partly clear. Saturday the wind calmed down so we were up allnight and had to break camp bleary eyed by 10 AM.

Shashi went West to visit several parks, Chris returned to Indy and I made camp at Black Mesa StatePark just a few miles away. I was working on my Herschel list and wanted a couple more days toimage all objects that were visible.

Vendors included Teleview, Starlight and Astrogizmos as well as individuals selling paintings, T-shirts and miscellaneous astro gear. The ladies selling jewelry were also present so that we could buy“trip trinkets” for our wives/sweethearts.

Giveaways were held on Thursday and Saturday evenings after the lectures. The door prizes weremany. The grand prizes were an 8” Richey and Oberwork Binoviewer.

The catered food was pretty good, but I chose to cook for myself since I hit the sack at morningtwilight and didn’t get up until after noon. Otherwise I would have been tethered to the chowlineschedule or would have missed many meals.

We all had a good time and plan to return next year.

— Bill Conner

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— Photo courtesy Bill Conner

2013 Twin Lakes Star PartyHosted by the folks of the Western Kentucky Astronomical Association September 28th throughOctober 6 at Pennyrile Forest State Forest in western KY. Weather was about average for star partiesat this time of year; Friday, Saturday and Sunday had decent observing early in the evening. Early inthe week we had a few sporadic showers most evenings. There was very little the rest of the week –most of us packed up and were ready to leave Saturday with a forecast of heavy rain coming in.Continuing the fine tradition of ‘southern’ hospitality, the folks of the WKAA made sure we wereentertained and well fed. Plenty of beverages fruit and snacks all week along with burgers and chiliWednesday evening and a catered Saturday lunch preceding door prizes. Evenings we had movieswhen there wasn’t much to observe. Continuing tradition many of us gathered at the Lodge for theFriday evening buffet. I didn’t get any office work accomplished during the week nor play golf at thecourse within Pennyrile State Forest, but I did friend a stray kitten: Astro “Alex” T. Pennyrile Cat nowlives in Carmel. It’s a great location for a reasonably nearby star party late in the season, not too faraway, usually with 6.5 magnitude skies. Accommodations can be anything from camping on the field,to the Lodge, to cabins within the park. If you’ve the opportunity to attend it’s a great event with goodskies, a lot of dobsonian telescopes and hosted by great people.

— John Molt

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— Photo courtesy Eric Teske

Upcoming Public Events for NovemberIAS/Holcomb Observatory Program Planning Meeting — 7:00 PM, November 19, at HolcombObservatory

IAS Board/Program Planning Meetings are held at Holcomb Observatory on Butler’s Campus.

IAS Members are welcome to attend. Should you like to attend and/or have an issue that youwould like the Board to address, please contact Bill Conner at president@iasindy.org

IAS/Butler Public Lecture and General Meeting — 7:00 PM, November 23, at HolcombObservatory

Observing ActivitiesActivities for November:

McCloud Activities–There are no further scheduled IAS activities at McCloud Nature Park until spring of 2014.

Link Activities–New Moon observing events are scheduled for the weekends of November 1-2 and November29-30. These are clear-sky-only events. Monitor the Yahoo group for updates and possiblecancellations.

Impromptu observing may occur as sky conditions allow. Again, check the Yahoo group forinformation.

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Dark Sky Observing Site InformationWe are able to observe at the Link Observatory, Prairie Grass Observatories, and McCloud NaturePark during non-scheduled times if they do not conflict with reserved activities.

The Link Observatory is open for observing during IAS functions held there from early spring to latefall. For scheduled events, see our calendar of events under the “Events Schedule” tab on the websitewww.iasindy.org. Impromptu observing opportunities are announced on the IAS Yahoo group site byour telescope operators as weather permits.

For those interested in observing at McCloud Nature Park, please call the park office 765-676-5437before 4PM on the day you want to go. The administrators will give you permission to be there atnight and make arrangements to turn off the lights.

For those interested in observing at Prairie Grass Observatory, call Hoppe at 1-765-296-2753.

IU Kirkwood Observatory BloomingtonThe Kirkwood Observatory Solar Telescope is open on the "First Saturday" of each month from 1-3PM. Viewers may even be able to see a solar prominence or two, weather permitting. Updated weatherconditions and closings will be posted at the Kirkwood Observatory Hotline at (812) 855-7736, and atthe Observatory webpage, http://www.astro.indiana.edu/kirkwood.shtml.

Monthly openings of the solar telescope are planned for the first Saturday of each month during our2013 observing seasons. And if you want to follow the Sun in between our monthly Solar Telescopeopenings, the website www.spaceweather.com provides daily updates.

Kirkwood Observatory on the IU campus is open each Wednesday evening from Spring Break untilmid-November, weather permitting! Join us for a night of observing the night sky with the Kirkwood12" refractor. Please visit our schedule at http://www.astro.indiana.edu/kirkwood.shtml, for a list ofdates and times.

For updated weather conditions and closings, please call the Kirkwood Observatory Hotline at (812)855-7736.

AL/COR OBSERVATIONSChris Cordell

Galaxy Groups and Clusters Observing Program

Introduction

Welcome to the Astronomical League’s Galaxy Groups & Clusters Introduction. This program of 250galaxy groups and clusters is designed for detailed visual and/or CCD observation.

For many, the challenge will be to see these galaxy clusters with their own eyes. Most of the galaxygroups and clusters of this observing program are visually accessible with a 12.5" telescope, althoughthere are individual galaxies in some of the groups that are beyond almost all amateur observers.Although this program accommodates CCD cameras and imagers, you don't need a CCD camera tocomplete this program. You will be able to see at least some galaxies in all of the groups.

There are several rewards for undertaking this program, no matter which method you choose. Subtlevisual detection will reward you with the thrilling experience of viewing extremely distant objects at

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the very edge of visibility. In a CCD image, this same cluster may be a very beautiful cloud of galaxiesand their dim clouds of globular clusters.

Learning to identify star fields is important even with a computer driven telescope. An observer mustmatch the galaxies with their map coordinates. Many of the clusters in this program's catalog are dimand difficult objet to find, requiring the observer to star hop and use averted vision.

To obtain your certificate and award pin for this program, purchase the ObserveGalaxy Groups and Cluster observing guide from the AL Bookstore specificallywritten to support this observing program.

This guide is for amateur astronomers wanting to view and/or image galaxy groupsand cluster visible in amateur telescopes. It contains a variety of associations fromsmall compact groups, to larger, less compact groups (in some cases not wellisolated from other nearby galaxies). Due to the nature of these complex objects, itis impossible to set a definite magnitude limit for this guide. In this sense, thechallenge is open ended. Try to observer as many galaxies as you can in each caseand don't be afraid to push your limits. You may be surprised to find that

seemingly impossible faint objects will often yield to persistent scrutiny.

This guide includes a brief overview of some of the most popular atlases to assist you with their useand content. You will also find a variety of helpful observing hints, techniques, coordinates, data andtechnical information.

Rules and Regulations

There are two categories of search methods for this program, Manual and Device-Aided. To beconsidered for the Manual certificate, ALL of the objects must be observed manually. A space isprovided on the Submittal Form to indicate your search method.

Manual infers that the observer hand-guides the telescope to the object. The observer uses his/her eyeto see through the telescope to navigate to the object. Device-Aided infers the observer uses manual ordigital setting circles, computer devices or other automatic aids in locating the object.

There are also two types of observing techniques, visual and imaging. Visual infers that the object isobserved with the eye through the optics of the telescope. Imaging infers observations are obtainedusing astrophotography and/or CCD techniques.

To qualify for the AL's Galaxy Groups & Clusters Certificate and pin, you need only be a member ofthe Astronomical League, either through an affiliated club or as a Member-at-Large. If you are not amember now, click here to view information on becoming a member.

Of the 250 objects listed in the Galaxy Groups & Clusters Guide, you must observe 120 objects:

1) 30 Galaxy Trios;

2) 30 Hickson compact galaxy groups;

3) 30 Additional Galaxy Groups; and

4) 30 Abell galaxy clusters.

Record your observations on the form provided in the guide. Write object descriptions that will includeat a minimum:

DateTime (specify local time zone or Universal Time)Site (name site and include approximate latitude, longitude and elevation)Seeing (describe on a scale; indicate which scale you are using)

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Transparency (give naked eye limiting magnitude or specify an alternate scale)Averted vision level if applicable (rate according to an averted vision scale)Instrument (include information on telescope, eyepieces, CCD cameras or other

instrumentation)Description, in your own words, of the group and individual galaxies as appropriate (in many

cases you will probably only see a very faint smudge).

Complete an index by putting the page number of your descriptions next to the groups and clusters onthe list. The check-off and date columns are for your own use.

The Awards

Once you have made the necessary observations and sketches, mail the copies of your logs to theProgram Coordinator, along with your name, address, astronomy club or Astronomical Leagueaffiliation, e-mail, and phone number. Please do not send your original logs, as they will not bereturned. Upon verification of your observations, your certificate and pin may be forwarded either toyou or the Indiana Astronomical Society Awards Coordinator, for presentation, as you so choose.

For Observing Manual and Object List details, access: www.astroleague.org, click on the "Observe"tab at the top of the home page, and select "Clubs by Experience Level” Galaxy Groups & ClustersIntroduction is listed in the advanced section.

NOVEMBER DEEP-SKY CHALLENGEBruce Bowman

Below please find a list of ten (10) objects to view this month. Those who complete the primaryobjects will receive a certificate via email and be recognized in the News and Views. We're alsoproviding a challenge object to help push the limits of your observing skills. It's not necessary tosuccessfully view the challenge object to receive the certificate; we only ask that you try.

Please complete the following list to receive the November certificate:

NGC185 (elliptical galaxy in Cassiopeia)NGC278 (spiral galaxy in Cassiopeia)NGC225 (open cluster in Cassiopeia)NGC281 (cluster w/ nebula in Cassiopeia)NGC358 (asterism in Cassiopeia)NGC436 (open cluster in Cassiopeia)NGC637 (open cluster in Cassiopeia)NGC654 (open cluster in Cassiopeia)NGC659 (open cluster in Cassiopeia)Trumpler 1 (open cluster in Cassiopeia)

Challenge object for November 2013: IC1747 in Cassiopeia

The above objects are located between 0 and 2 hours of right ascension and so are well-placed forevening viewing this month.

As mentioned last month, many autumn constellations are associated with the ancient Greek myth ofthe hero Perseus. One of those is Cassiopeia — Queen of Ethiopia, wife of Cepheus, and the mother ofthe princess Andromeda. The W-shaped collection of five 2nd-magnitude stars associated with thisconstellation is one of the most familiar asterisms in the sky. Legend has it that Poseidon placedCassiopeia here as punishment for boasting that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Beingcircumpolar, the braggart Queen now spends half of eternity in a humiliating, upside-downorientation…certainly a lesson for us all! Cassiopeia also makes an occasional appearance in popular

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culture: In the movie The Green Mile, while Paul and Brutal are sneaking John Coffey out of theprison, John points to the constellation and says “Look boss! It’s Cassie, the lady in the rockin’ chair!”More important for you and me, the furthest northern extent of the Milky Way can be found here,providing a treasure trove of open clusters. We might even run into a galaxy or two, if our expectationsaren’t too high.

Let’s start with those galaxies, shall we? Point your scope in the vicinity of pi, 68, and omicronCassiopeiae – three 5th-magnitude stars in a row in the southern reaches of the constellation. Nowplace your finder crosshairs on a spot to the east that forms an equilateral triangle with these stars.NGC278 should now be within the field of view. My astro-notes say this object is about 1.5' in size,round, bright and very compact. The 9th-magnitude star SAO 36725 is just 3' north of the galaxy. Nowmove the scope so your finder crosshairs are a degree due west of omicron (the northernmost star ofthe three). NGC185 should be visible as a larger, but relatively faint, featureless glow between two8th-magnitude stars. With care you should notice a much brighter core and some elongation in a NE-SW direction. Another degree to the WNW lies NGC147, a much fainter galaxy that you might wantto give a try while you’re in the area. All three of these galaxies are satellite companions of the grandspiral M31 in Andromeda.

The open cluster NGC225 can be found halfway between gamma and kappa Cassiopeiae. This is atriangular-shaped grouping, about 12' on a side, with the NW side somewhat concave. Although notparticularly condensed, the component stars – of which there are roughly two dozen – are all 10th to11th magnitude and therefore the cluster stands out well from the background. NGC225 wasdiscovered in 1784 by Caroline Herschel (William Herschel’s sister) and is sometimes known asCaroline’s Cluster. Return to gamma Cassiopeiae and slew about 35' NNE to find NGC358. This is nota true cluster, and doesn’t even give the impression of a cluster. You’ll find only four stars ofmagnitude 11-12 in a small parallelogram, 2×1' in size. Despite the best efforts of reputableastronomers such as Swift and d’Arrest, the NGC is rife with non-objects such as this. Nonetheless,this target is worthy of a look, if only as a testimonial to the quirks of deep-sky cataloging in the 19thcentury.

Slew two degrees east of Schedar (alpha Cassiopeiae) to an L-shaped asterism of 7th-magnitude stars.Here we will find NGC281, a cluster with nebula. The cluster is fairly small, with little condensation,and contains stars ranging from magnitudes 7 to 13. By itself, the cluster is fairly unimpressive, butcareful use of either a UHC or an OIII filter will show much surrounding nebulosity, out to nearly adegree in size. The brightest portion is about 15' across with an obvious triple star at the center. Due to

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obscuring dust on its southwest side and a small dark nebula that resembles an eye, NGC281 issometimes known as the Pac-Man Nebula.

NGC436 is found about 50' NW of phi Cassiopeiae and the more frequently-observed “Owl Cluster,”NGC457. NGC436 is small but quite concentrated and stands out well from the field despite beingonly 8th magnitude. Look for 25-30 stars 11th magnitude and fainter in a region 4' across with adistinctive central knot. The two brightest stars in the field, found SE of the main group, are probablynot cluster members.

The “600 series” of clusters found between delta and epsilon Cassiopeiae are all worth a look. The 8th-magnitude cluster NGC637 can be found about two degrees west of epsilon. This is a highlycondensed group of about 20 stars 10th magnitude and fainter in 6'. The brightest stars form a curvedline that passes through the center from N-S; another bright pair is found about 3’ to the east. NGC654is a rich cluster containing several doubles, located just NW of the 7.3m star SAO 11950. The brighterstars in this cluster trend along an ESE-WNW line, and along with some stragglers to the SWreminded me of an umbrella when I first saw it (in 1988). Larger apertures and photographs show thecluster to be more wedge-shaped. NGC659 is a little more difficult because the component stars arefainter. Large scopes should show 25-30 stars 12th magnitude and fainter in an area about 5’ indiameter; small scopes may show only a granular patch or haze. Look for this cluster just 10' NE of the6th-magnitude star 44 Cassiopeiae. While in this area, be sure to also check in on NGC663. One of thefinest clusters in the sky, this object was in the November 2012 deep-sky challenge so we’re justmentioning it in passing this time around.

The renowned American astronomer R. J. Trumpler specialized in open clusters. Among hisaccomplishments is a cluster classification scheme based on the number of stars, their range ofapparent brightness, and the degree of central condensation. The first entry in his open cluster catalogcan be found at RA 01h35m43s and Dec +61deg17' (J2000); alternatively, slew your scope about 50'NNE from the Messier object M103. Trumpler 1 stands out well from the background as two dozenstars 10th magnitude and fainter in a group 4' in diameter. The brighter members are arranged in twoparallel lines oriented NE-SW (see photo below). More detailed information on the Trumplerclassification system can be found in the Astronomical League’s program booklethttp://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/opencluster/OC_Manual.pdf.

Our challenge object this month is a tiny planetary nebula half a degree SE of Segin (epsilonCassiopeiae). Its featureless, 12" disk shines faintly at 12th magnitude but its surface brightness is

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reasonably high. Being located in a fairly dense star-field, IC1747 can be difficult to distinguish from astar. The best way to identify it is to blink the field with an OIII filter using the procedure I describedlast August. I’m also providing an image from the digital sky survey to aid you in your search.

If you complete this list prior to the end of November, contact Bruce Bowman to ensure you receiverecognition. At this time only IAS members are eligible. Congratulations to the following eight (8)IAS members for completing the September challenge: Mike Birch, Bill Conner, Fred Keller, LauraKeller, Steve McSpadden, Wayne McSpadden, George Petzen, and John Shepherd. Although no onedetected the challenge object visually, Bill did manage to photograph it.

NOVEMBER NOVICE/URBAN OBSERVING CHALLENGEPhil Dimpelfeld

Venus, planet in south-western sky after sunset, mag = -4.2, size = 23”. What is the phase of Venus?

Uranus, planet currently in Pisces, 00h 36m, +03° 03’, mag = 5.7, size = 4”

M32, satellite galaxy to M31, 00h 42.7m, +40° 52', mag = 9.0, size = 8’ x 6’

M31, the “Andromeda Galaxy”, 00h 42.7m, +41° 16', mag = 4.4, size = 180' x 63'

Eta Cassiopeiae, double star in Cassiopeia, 00h 49.1m, +57° 49', mag = 3.4, 7.5, sep = 12”

Psi 1 Piscium, double star in Pisces, 01h 05.6m, +21° 28', mag = 5.6, 5.8, sep = 30"

NGC 457, the “E.T.” Cluster, open cluster in Cassiopeia, 01h 19.1m, +58° 20', mag = 6.4, size = 13.0'

NGC 663, open cluster in Cassiopeia, 01h 46.0m, +61° 15', mag = 7.1, size = 16.0'

Gamma Arietis (”Mesartim”), double star in Aries, 01h 53.5m, +19° 18', mag = 4.8, 4.8, sep = 7.8”

NGC 752, open cluster in Andromeda, 01h 57.8m, +37° 41', mag = 5.7, size = 50.0'

Challenge Object #1:

M110, satellite galaxy to M31, 00h 40.4m, +41° 41’, mag = 10.0, size = 17' X 10'

Note that the surface brightness of M110 is much fainter than M32, although theses two satellitegalaxies have the same magnitude. Tip: study the photographs of M31 to locate M32 and M110relative to the core of M31. It will be easier to find M110 if you know the general area to look in.Moving the scope makes it easier for your eye to pick up this faint object.

Challenge Object #2:

Comet ISON, eastern sky before dawn, check star charts for position (in Leo for October)

Notes:

To qualify for the Novice/Urban Observing List, you must observe at least 6 of the objects. Membersare encouraged to find these objects without the use of GoTo so that they become more familiar withthe night sky.

If you successfully observe at least 6 of the objects, please contact Phil Dimpelfeld(philip.dimpelfeld@yahoo.com). Let Phil know how many of the objects you were able to observe.You will be e-mailed a certificate recognizing your accomplishment.

If you are looking to buy a star atlas, Sky & Telescope’s Pocket Sky Atlas (by Roger Sinnott) isexcellent for beginner (and intermediate) stargazers. You can usually find this atlas at a discount on theinternet.

IAS News and Views

Page 17 November 2013

PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS

To schedule a program at the Link Observatory or at your site, please contact thefollowing people:

Public Outreach Programs: To schedule a public event, contact the IAS Events Coordinator bysending an email to: events-coordinator@iasindy.org.

Goethe Link Observatory tour: To schedule a tour of the Link Observatory, contact the LinkObservatory Manager by sending an email to link-observatory@iasindy.org

ASTRO ADSAre you changing or upgrading your equipment? Do you have or are you looking for astronomicalmaterials and equipment? The Indiana Astronomical Society, as a service to its members, will publishnon-commercial ads at no charge. The ad will stay in the Newsletter for 4 months and may be renewedat the owner’s request. Please be sure to notify us when the item sells. To place an ad, send an emailto editor@iasindy.org:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

For Sale: I have a telescope system for sale and wondered if you'd like to publish it in your latest astroads?

Scope:- CPC 925 GPS (XLT) Computerized Telescope ($2499)

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-cpc-925-gps-xlt.html

Included Accessories:- NexGuide Autoguider ($299.95)

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-nexguide-autoguider.html- 80 mm Guidescope Package ($189.95)

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-80-mm-guidescope-package.html-Televue Nagler Type 6 EN6-13.6 Lens (Paid $280.00)

http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=21&Tab=EP_EN6-13.0- Celestron X-Cel 1.25" Eyepiece Set of 6 (Paid $314.00)- Telescope & Tripod Case ($460)

http://casesandcovers.com/telescopecases.html- 9.25-inch Dovetail bar (CGE) ($39.95)

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-9-25-inch-dovetail-bar-cge.html- Star Pointer Finderscope ($17.95)

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-finderscope-star-pointer.html- Night Vision Flashlight ($15.95)

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/celestron-flashlight-night-vision.html

I’m going to miss this system, but I’ve had to make some financial changes and need to sell as aresult.

Asking $3800 obo

Richard Goodcell: 817-897-4449

IAS News and Views

Page 18 November 2013

I have the following items for sale. All of the items are in excellent (like new) condition.

ASTRO-PHYSICS 130mm f/6.3 Starfire EDF Gran Turismo Scope, Rings, Finder bracket and case$6500.00Televue 6mm Ethos $425.00Televue 13mm Ethos $510.00Televue 21mm Ethos $675.00Explore Scientific 4.7mm 82 degree $65.002” Everbrite Diagonal $150.00Discmount DM-6 $2000.00

Includes:8" DM-6 tilt-in saddleTeleVue Starbeam finder and angle mounting plateSky Commander XP-4 Computer DSC with encodersDM-6 Standard Ash Wood tripod with Pacific Design padded tripod caseDM-6 8" Tripod ExtensionTripod Tray KitPelican 1650 Case

Doug SanqunettiPlease email me for pictures or additional information: drsanqun@gmail.com

EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAMThe Loan Program has been helpful to those new to the hobby and others in need of observingequipment.

Did you know you could borrow a scope or piece of astronomy equipment from the Society and take itfor a test drive? The Society has a program where members who are trying to determine what kind ofequipment to buy can borrow one of the Society’s scopes for a month or two and see how they like it.Philip Dimpelfeld is the chairman of the program and can arrange for your pickup and training on theuse of the particular instrument. This is a great way to see what telescope you want to purchase. Wehave several scopes, eyepieces and binoculars to loan.

We will consider donations of equipment that are appropriate for this program. The IAS is classified asa public charity under section 509(a)(2) of the internal revenue code. We will be happy to provide youwith an acknowledgement of your gift. Please contact our Equipment Loan Coordinator by sending anemail to: equipment@iasindy.org

IAS MEMBERSHIP REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2013On 9/30/13 the IAS had a total of 158 members.

During September there were 8 renewals and 5 new memberships.

The IAS welcomes the following new members:

Jerry Hunter - Indianapolis, INRena Meadows - Indianapolis, INMelanie Fox-King - Indianapolis, INBob Thomas - Indianapolis, INSSSSL Narasimha Pullela - Carmel, IN

Submitted by Roberta Allen, IAS Membership Coordinator

IAS News and Views

Page 19 November 2013

2013 Calendar of Monthly MeetingsMonth Board General NAG McCloud

January 8 12 12February 5 9 9

March 5 9 9April 2 6 6 20May 28 June 1 June 1 18June 25 29 29 15July 23 27 27 13

August 27 31 31 17September 24 28 14

October 22 26 26 12November 19 23December None 14

MISCELLANEA

Goethe Link Observatory

Observatory Address

Goethe Link Observatory8403 N. Observatory LaneMartinsville, IN 46151

Latitude: 39 degrees, 33 minutes northLongitude: 86 degrees, 24 minutes westPhone: (317) 831-0668

Training programs are scheduled by the Observatory Manager as instructors are available and timepermits, although other requests can over-ride these sessions. It is the purpose of this listing to preventactivity conflicts.

To schedule the use of the 36-inch telescope: two criteria must be met:

1) There must be a telescope operator and assistant available2) Contact the Observatory Manager for scheduling by sending an email to

link-observatory@iasindy.org

DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO MAKE YOUR REQUEST OR YOU MAY NOTGET ACCESS.

IAS News & Views — Monthly Newsletter for the IASThe monthly newsletter can be found on the website www.iasindy.org. The News and Views welcomesarticles of local astronomical interest, follow-up on IAS events, and want/for sale ads. Please submitarticles to the editor in an email to editor@iasindy.org:

IAS News and Views

Page 20 November 2013

Membership informationYou may contact our membership coordinator by sending an email to membership@iasindy.org.Contact any IAS officer or the Treasurer via the webpage iasindy.org under the “Contact us” section.

Pay Your Dues by PayPalWe can now pay dues on our website using Paypal. There is a cart system where you can pay dues,order magazines, or donate to the Society. The cart is found in the “Join the Society” section of thewebsite. You will have to establish a PayPal account for yourself to make the transactions.

Requests for InformationYou may contact our officers, Board members, and Coordinators via our website at www.iasindy.org.Place your cursor on the “Home” tab and then select “Contact us”. You may then page down to theperson you desire to contact and send an email message requesting information or a telephone callback. We will be happy to respond within a reasonable time frame.

Logo ClothingThe Board has developed a supply of logo ware using Mid Central Trophy in Kokomo, IN. TypicallyT shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts, and caps are available. Call Linda, tell her this is an order for the IASlogo ware, discuss what you want and give her the size. She can determine the cost and shipping andmail the order to your home directly.

LindaMid-Central Trophy422 Arnold CtKokomo, IN 46902765-453-5494

All major credit cards are accepted. Hours 9-5 EST

IN MEMORIAM —

Jeff Patterson

IAS President2001 - 2012

— Photo courtesy Mike Wolford .

IAS News and Views

Page 21 November 2013

November Calendar, 2013For a more detailed Calendar of Events see the webpage www.iasindy.org

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday27 28 29 30 31 1

Deep SkyObserving atLinkObservatory

2Deep SkyObserving atLinkObservatory

3New Moon

4 5 6 7 8 9

101st Quarter

11 12 13 14 15 16LOSSC Event,8 pm

17Full Moon

18 19Board Meeting7PM

20 21 22 23IAS/HolcombObservatoryPublicMeeting

24 25Last Quarter

26 27 28 29Deep SkyObserving atLinkObservatory

30Deep SkyObserving atLinkObservatory