February 2013

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The Warren Astronomical Society PaperP.O. BOX 1505

WARREN, MICHIGAN 48090-1505

http://www.warrenastro.org

February 2013 Vol. 44, No. 2

president@warrenastro.org firstvp@warrenastro.orgsecondvp@warrenastro.org treasurer@warrenastro.org secretary@warrenastro.org publications@warrenastro.org outreach@warrenastro.org board@warrenastro.org

President: Jon BlumFirst Vice President: Diane HallSecond Vice President: Riyad MattiTreasurer: Dale PartinSecretary: Dale ThiemePublications: Debra ChaffinsOutreach: Bob Berta

Entire Board

The President’s Field of ViewBelt of Venus

We’ve got several belts in astronomy, including Orion’s belt, the asteroid belt, belts on Jupiter, the Van Allen belt, and the Kuiper belt. The most beautiful is the Belt of Venus. It shows particularly well when viewed over the ocean, as in this sunrise photo from Maui. But you can see it at sunrise or sunset on most clear days in Michigan too.

Look for the Belt of Venus in the opposite direction from the sun. It’s in the west just before sunrise and in the east just after sunset. You will notice an orange or pinkish belt about 10 to 20 degrees above the

horizon. Immediately below that orange belt is the dark band caused by the shadow of the earth.

According to Tony Flanders, writing for Sky & Telescope, the color in the Belt of Venus is the light of the sunset or sunrise where you are standing being reflected off the atmosphere about 100 miles in front of you (when you are standing with the setting or rising sun at your back). The belt is named after the Roman goddess Venus, and has nothing to do with the planet Venus.

- Jon

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The SWAP SHOP This column is for those interested in buying, trading or selling. Ads run for six months. The month and year the ad will be removed is shown. Submit ads to publications@warrenastro.org.

FREE Telescope!Meade 230 60mm f/11 with 25mm eyepiece, finder, and fairly good tripod. Presumably rarely used.

Contact both bevniedelson@gmail.com and rmg@wmis.net or call 897-5713

Detroit area delivery would be at a Warren Astronomical Society meeting. (4-2013)

ETX 90, not used, like brand new. (3-2012)$350 or Best OffierContact Jim Hurley at coachjimjv@yahoo.com

When Karen and I were in Chicago recently at the conclusion of our Great Lakes Cruise, we visited the newly renovated Adler Planetarium. In the gift shop I was smitten by a telescope (no, it didn’t fall on me, but its brass fittings and hardwood tripod found the way to my heart). Then I learned it was on a closeout special and the deed was done. Now it is looking for a new home. Sale price was $200 plus tax and shipping. I am asking for $150. This is NOT an astronomical telescope – it is called Harbormaster and is intended, I believe, for scanning the horizon for arriving sailboats. Further details are on BrassBinnacle.com. Fred Gluckson, 248-788-8066 or fgluckson@cs.comIt does look nice in one’s living room. In fact I have had more fun looking AT it than THROUGH it. (3-2012)

Meade #775 Hard Carrying Case for ETX-125. Brand new, never been used. Received as a gift but not for the right telescope. Cost $200 new asking $75. Would like it to find a good home where it would be useful. (2-2013)Dick Gala (248) 549-5238). rrgala@med.wayne.edu

Seven Ponds Open Invitation

WAS members are invited to The Seven Ponds Astronomy Club monthly meetings. More information about upcoming meetings, maps to Seven Ponds Nature Center, etc. is available at http://bhmich.com/sevenpondsac/. Please let me know if you might attend so that appropriate plans can be made. Any questions, please contact me.

- John Lines

“Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life. “

- Marcus Aurelius

Seven Ponds Special InvitationOn March 23rd, 2013, Seven Ponds is hosting a talk by Harlan Neuville, a retired engineer who worked Mission Contol (Guidance and Navigation) for NASA in the heyday of the manned missions from 1966-1975. Harlan is very interesting. He has lots of behind the scenes stories of the missions, including Apollo 13. The main part of his talk centers around taking questions from the audience.

Please make plans to Seven Ponds Nature Center on Saturday, March 23rd at 7:00PM. The nature center is located at 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, Michigan 48428.

The Seven Ponds Astronomy Club website is: http://bhmich.com/sevenpondsac On the home page, there is a link to a map to the nature center.

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WAS Discussion GroupThe WAS Discussion Group meetings take place at the home of Gary and Patty Gathen from 8 to 11 PM on the fourth Thursday of the month from January through October. Different dates are scheduled for November and December due to Thanksgiving and the holidays. The Gathens live at 21 Elm Park Blvd in Pleasant Ridge, which is three blocks south of I-696 and about a half block west of Woodward Ave. A map can be found at http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result.php?q1=21+Elm+Park+Blvd.%2C+Pleasent+Ridge%2C+MI. The agenda is centered around discussing one science topic at a time by all. Soft drinks are furnished while snacks are contributed by attendees. We usually have from 4 to 16 members and guests, so come on over (and bring some snacks for the group). Gary can be reached at 248.543.5400 and at gary@gathen.net.

Speaker’s Corner - February 4, Cranbrook

This month at Cranbrook on February 4, we have a double-header from Bob Berta. His featured talk, “Astronomy/Astrology in Ancient Egypt” will cover the span from 4000BCE to 1500BCE and should excite the observer and the history buff alike. Expect some insight into those infamous pyramids! Bob will also present a film called “Timescape” made in 2012 that, in Bob’s words, has “amazing footage of many astronomical views from many famous US landmarks and parks-- come prepared for some real eye candy!” Bob promises gorgeous photography and a great musical score.

In addition to being our current Outreach Chair and a past president of the club, Bob is an avid astrophotographer with a passion for music, so we consider his comments above to be one heck of an endorsement!

Upcoming Talks

March 4 C Marty Kunz Astronomy.fm Live!March 21 M G.M. Ross The Rehabilitation of Percival LowellApril 1 C Jonathan Kade Comet of Doom (short talk) Diane Hall Astrology 101 (long talk)April 18 M Ken Bertin ITN 2012

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Treasurer’s ReportDecember 31, 2012

MEMBERSHIPWe currently have 120 members (30 of which are family memberships).

INCOME AND EXPENDITURES (SUMMARY)We took in $1178.60 and spent $1958.08. We have $11539.01 in the bank and $164.56 in cash, totaling $11703.57.

COSTS AND REIMBURSEMENTS$1075.90 DeCarlos Banquet and Conference Center (does not include $250.00 deposit paid on April 2, 2012)

$144.16 four award plaques (Thieme Enterprises)

$100.00 speaker honorarium

$54.95 gift certificate for Gus Povirk (banquet piano player)

$20.00 tip for banquet waitress

$5.08 nametags for banquet

$448.39 for 35 calendars from Calyptic Creations

$32.95 magazine subscription

$5.00 calendar overpayment

$16.70 reimbursement for snacks

$54.95 gift certificate for Bill Thomas (Wolcott Mill Park)

INCOME$181.00 new memberships and renewals

$24.65 donations for snacks

$54.00 merchandise sales

$1.00 donations for new telescope and mount

$32.95 magazine subscription

$600.00 Banquet tickets

$285.00 Calendars

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$5387.50 Total donated to date for new telescope and mount

- Dale Partin

Photo and Article SubmissionsYour WASP team wants to include your photos and articles. After all, this is YOUR publication!

To share your photos for submission in the WASP, please email them to publications@warrenastro.org

Documents can be submitted in Word (.doc), Open Office (.ods), or Text (.txt) formats, or put into the body of an email. Photos can be embedded in the document or attached to the email and should be under 2MB in size.

Please include some captions for your photos along with the way you want your name to appear and dates taken.

Object of the Month - NGC 2266:

NGC 2266 is an open cluster in the constellation Gemini. The object is far less famous than its nearby cousin, the Messier object M35, which lies only about 8 degrees to its southwest. Nevertheless, it is a surprisingly interesting telescopic target that is both easy to find and attractive to the eye, despite it being of only modest brightness. NGC 2266 is small in size for an open cluster, only about 7’ in diameter. It has an integrated magnitude of 9.5, and a Trumpler Class of II 2 m, which characterizes it as a relatively dim cluster that is distinct from the field stars and is comprised of stars that are both moderate in number and in range of brightness.

Although not among the most celebrated of clusters, our object of the month has a number of qualities that make it worthwhile. Its small size and detachment from the field stars makes it stand out as a clearly identifiable cluster. It is only 2 degrees north of Epsilon Geminorum, a star that is occasionally referred to by the common name Mebsuta and is familiar to stargazers as the 3rd magnitude star that marks the knee of the Gemini’s western twin. Unlike many of the objects of its type, this cluster is amenable to observation at a range of magnifications. At low power it can be observed as a hazy patch with some resolvable stars, and is a quick hop from Mebsuta. At greater power, individual features of the cluster become more apparent. It has an unusual equilateral triangular shape, one side of which is lined with the brightest stars of the cluster. These stars stand out in stark contrast to the dimmer glistening mass of member stars that mark the interior, as well as in comparison to the lines of stars that mark the less prominent opposing sides of the triangle. Larger aperture may also improve the view, with the additional light grasp revealing more of the richness of NGC 2266.

This column is written with the intention of introducing a new object each month that is visible from Stargate Observatory using a moderate-sized telescope typical of beginner and intermediate level amateur astronomers. In particular, special focus will be given to objects that are not among the common objects with which most observers are already familiar, but instead articles will mainly give attention to “hidden gems” or underappreciated features of the night sky.

- Chuck Dezelah

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Observatory Rules 1. Closing time depends on weather, etc.2. May be closed one hour after opening time if no members arrive within the first hour.3. Contact the 2nd VP for other arrangements, such as late arrival time. Call 586-992-0498.4. An alternate person may be appointed to open.5. Members may arrive before or stay after the scheduled open house time.6. Dates are subject to change or cancellation depending on weather or staff availability.7. Postings to the Yahoo Group and/or email no later than 2 hours before starting time in case of date change or cancellation.8. It is best to call or email the 2nd VP at least 2 hours before the posted opening with any questions. Later emails may not be receivable.9. Generally, only strong rain or snow will prevent the open house... the plan is to be there even if it is clouded over. Often, the weather is cloudy, but it clears up as the evening progresses.

- Riyad Matti, 2nd VP

Astronomical Phenomena

February 2013

d h 2 1 Spica 0.3N of Moon Occn 3 7 Saturn 3.4N of Moon 3 13 LAST QUARTER 4 20 Mars 0.4S of Neptune 6 0 Moon furthest South (-20.6) 6 23 Mercury 0.4S of Neptune 7 11 Moon at perigee 7 11 Pluto 0.5S of Moon Occn 8 19 Mercury 0.3N of Mars 9 10 Venus 5.7S of Moon 10 7 NEW MOON 11 1 Neptune 5.5S of Moon 11 10 Mars 5.8S of Moon 11 13 Mercury 4.9S of Moon 13 13 Uranus 4.2S of Moon 16 17 Mercury greatest elong E(18) 17 20 FIRST QUARTER 18 11 Jupiter 0.9N of Moon Occn 18 11 Jupiter 0.9N of Moon Occn 18 18 Aldebaran 3.8S of Moon 19 6 Moon at apogee 19 10 Saturn stationary 19 13 Moon furthest North (20.6) 21 7 Neptune at conjunction 22 19 Mercury stationary 25 6 Regulus 5.4N of Moon 25 20 FULL MOON 26 7 Mercury 4.1N of Mars 28 13 Venus 0.7S of Neptune All times are in UTC

2013 Stargate Observatory Open House

February 9, March 9, April 13

2013 WAS MeetingsCranbrook Meetings: 1st Mondays

February 4, March 4, Aprill 1

Macomb Meetings: 3rd ThursdaysFebruary 21, March 21, April 18

Snack Volunteer ScheduleFebruary 4 C Joe ToccoFebruary 21 M Jonathan Kade/ Diane HallMarch 4 C Bob TrembleyMarch 21 M Dave BaileyApril 1 C Jon BlumApril 18 M Dale Partin

If you are unable to bring the snacks on your scheduled day, or if you need to reschedule, please use the form on the website, or email the board at board@warrenastro.org as soon as you are able so that other arrangements can be made.

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Photographer: Robert Lovelace III (Nephew of Therese Oldani)

Location: Ford Road and Napier Road 11pm, Dec 5th

Equipment:Canon t3 30 second exposure, fstop 4.5, 8mm fisheye lens

Speaker’s Corner - February, Macomb

For our Macomb meeting this February 21st, James Marron of the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA) will present “Reverse Cosmology.”

Jim Marron built an 8” F10 Newtonian in the late 1950s. He and his wife Evie both joined the GRAAA in 1961 and both have served as past presidents of the association. The J.C. Veen Observatory built by GRAAA members in 1970 stands on land donated by the Marrons, adjacent to their own home in Lowell. Jim has lectured at the Roger B. Chaffee planetarium and taught astronomy classes at Grand Rapids Community College; over the years he and Evie also traveled to four continents chasing eleven solar eclipses.

2nd VP Report An electric focuser has been attached to the 12.5” cassegrain telescope after cleaning the main mirror. The optics were collimated afterward. Everything is in working order. The new 8” LFK refractor is in the polishing/figuring stage. Expected completion time frame is February/March. The open house on January 12 was held but under cloudy sky. 4 people attended.

Next open house is on the second Saturday of next month, February 9th. We have a full tank of propane for the heater if needed. Riyad I. Matti

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W.A.S. History S.I.G.

Feb 1972

In this issue, we find out that Chris Edsall suggested the name our observatory now bears: “Stargate”. Frank McCullough once again “Uncovers the Good Old Days” in the W.A.S.P. and I find out that I’ll never see a copy of April 1970. Frank goes on to present M97 in “Observational Astronomy” and the exponential Kenneth Wilson gives us “A formula for Calculating Astrophotos”. He then offers up a book review on Olcott’s “Field Book of the Skies”.

Feb 1975

In The Astrophotographers Corner, Larry Kalinowski instructs us on “The Afocal Method”. Auriga---the Charioteer is “Constellation of the Month” reproduced by Frank McCullough from Olcott’s Field Book of the Skies. Finally, James A. Loudon writes “Spectacular Planetary Configurations in January and February, 1975”

Feb 1983

Roger Weber of Channel 4 News wrote a poem about the club members observing the Dec 30 lunar eclipse called “The Lunar Eclipse”. In the mathematical self-help guide department, Kenneth Wilson writes, “Calculate the Field of View of any of Your Eyepieces”, while Bruce Johnston talks about an interesting way of touring the moons of Jupiter in “The Slingshot Effect . . . . . . . . . Why?”.

- Dale Thieme

RASC Windsor Centre: Meetings and Open HousePoint Pelee Dark Sky Nights

One night a month Point Pelee National Park remains open until midnight for visitors to experience the dark skies of this National Dark Sky Preserve. The 2013 dates are set for Saturday February 9, March 9, Sunday April 7 and Saturday May 11. The February and April nights will be jointly hosted by the park staff and the RASC - Windsor Centre.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday January 15, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ojibway Nature Cen-tre located at 5200 Matchette Road, Windsor. Our Main presentation will be a movie night featuring David Suzuki of The Nature of Things: Lights out! We will also have our regular Director of Observing talk and of course we will have time to socialize during the coffee break.

Next Hallam Observatory Open House

The Hallam Observatory is open to the public one evening every month. The next open house night will be held on Saturday January 19 2013. The observatory will be open at 7:00 p.m. Please note that this event is “weather permitting” and although our telescopes are powerful they cannot see through clouds. Visit our web site for more information about future Hallam Observatory open house dates and a map/directions to the Hallam Observatory. http://www.rascwindsor.com

Please pick up a copy of the Aurora and the Light Pollution Abatement update at: http://www.rascwindsor.com/Visit or Join our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rascwindsor/269998713071782/

Rick Marion - PresidentRASC Windsor Centre

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WAS Board meeting, January 7, 2013

Board members present: Jon Blum, Diane Hall, Riyad Matti, Dale Partin, Dale Thieme, Bob Berta

Visitors: Jason Daniels, Brian Klaus, Marty Kunz, Jim Near

Jon Blum brought the meeting to order at 6:33

Reports:1VP: Diane Hall mentioned we needed a speaker for the February Cranbrook talk- Bob Berta offered to do a talk that night.

2VP: Riyad Matti reported on the focuser issue from last year, he said we are using a spare focuser from another scope.

Treasurer: Dale Partin reported that we had 120 memberships (30 of which are family memberships) as of year end. The full Treasurer report is posted elsewhere in the WASP.

Secretary: Dale Thieme mailed the thank you letters to the businesses that donated door prizes (totaling to over $1200) to the banquet.

Outreach: Bob Berta reported that Lee Hartwell and Angelo D’Onato gave talks at a school in Rochester Hills, Bob Berta did Dearborn middle school talks. This past Friday at Cranbrook, demos for the Girls scouts, and Ken Bertin presented Saturday at a community synagogue, Beth Ahm.

Publications: Jon Blum read the following from Debra Chaffins for the Publication report:

“Please give Brian Thieme another thank you for me for the new cover for the WASP.

The other thing I was going to report is that I need to implement a deadline for articles that will be the 28th of each month (the 25th in February). I cannot guarantee that submissions after the 28th will make it into that month’s issue, and will be moved to the following month.”

Old Business: Dale Partin reported that with all costs and tickets sold, the net cost to the club was $150.

501.c3: Aside from an adjustment to the four years needed for the application, the forms are in the hands of an attorney for inspection.

New Business: The board regretfully accepted Sheila Judd’s resignation from the snack chairmanship. Ken Bertin has rounded up nearly a year’s worth of snack providers and Dale Thieme offered to send email reminders.

Banquet: After discussion and a vote, the board selected Thursday, December 5, 2013 for the next awards banquet. We will go with buffet and cash bar again.

The meeting ended at 7:22

Oakland Astronomy Club Newsletter http://oaklandastronomy.ulmb.com/oacnews.html Clear skies, - Bill MacIntosh

Members are encouraged to join the Warren Astronomical Society Yahoo Group for messages, photo posting and more.

WAS General Meeting, CranbrookJanuary 7, 2013

The meeting began at 7:30 with 41 present.

Officer Reports:President: Jon Blum makes a surprise appearance

1VP: Diane Hall announced that Dave Bailey and Ken Bertin were teaming up to present “Star Colors” at the Macomb meeting, January 17 and next month at Cranbrook, Bob Berta was doing some heavy lifting with not one, but two presentations.

2VP: Open houses are the second Saturday of month this year, Jan 12 is next. Using a focuser from another scope, Joe Tocco made an adaptor for it, mirror was cleaned and collimated. Some snow is sneaking in to the dome.

Treasurer: Dale Partin reported we had 120 memberships at year’s end, 11,703.57 in funds, 5387.57 for the telescope fund (3rd donation installment from the Kalinowki’s arrived, He sent a thank you to Mark Kalinowski), full report in WASP. He reminded us that it is membership renewal time.

Secretary: We had over $1200 in door prize donations, our own members brought the total to over $1400 with Orion donating the lion’s share. Thank you notes have been sent to the businesses.

Outreach: At a grammar school in Rochester Hills, Lee Hartwell and Angelo D’Onato gave a presentation. Bob gave a talk a Dearborn School.

Publications: The 28th of the month is the new deadline for newsletter submissions. Great cover artwork by Brian Thieme.

SIG Reports:Solar Group: Sun is kinda spotty, just can’t see it for all the snow and clouds.

Merchandise: Jonathan Kade implored us to please buy stickers and glow tape.

Hands On: Meeting at this Saturday’s Open House

Discussion Group: Meets 4th Thursday of the

month. Details in the WASP.

Astronomical League: Renewal time is here. Cost is $7.50

Observation: Gary Ross reports bad news about Woodhenge (see the W.A.S.P., November 2012, page 6)- the shadow of the gnomon fell short of the pole it was to hit on the solstice. A bit of troubleshooting discussion ensued. He also tried to celebrate Mutternacht with a bonfire to chase the demons away, but weather got in the way.

In The News Bonanza 1/7/2013 by Ken Bertin, special extended edition.

• NASA’s next Mars rover to launch in 2020• ‘Magnetic highway’ found at solar system’s

edge• Heavy hydrogen excess hints at Martian

vapor loss• Curiosity finds carbon- but is it from Mars?• Patrick Moore (1923-2012)• Orbiting eye sees NASA rover’s impact

scars on Mars• Hubble sees earliest known galaxies

through cosmic fog• Mysterious star deaths are really mergers

in disguise• Nile-like river roves across Saturn’s moon

Titan• Titan holds clue to faint young sun paradox• NASA GRAIL mission ends with twin moon

smashes• Nearby Tau Ceti may host two planets

suited to life• Van-sized space rock is a cosmic oddball• Unique meteorite hints Mars stayed moist

for longer• Bacteria from Siberia capable of living on

mars-study• NASA mulls plan to drag asteroid into

moon’s orbit

Presentation: “Riyad’s refractors” - with emphasis on the Larry Kalinowski Telescope by Riyad Matti

The meeting ended at 9:58

- Dale Thieme12

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WAS General Meeting, MacombJanuary 17, 2013

The meeting began at 7:32 with 39 present.

Officer Reports:President: Jon Blum is in Hawaii *sigh*

1VP: Diane Hall reported that Bob Berta will be doing a double presentation at the Cranbrook February meeting: “Timescape” / “Astronomy/Astrology in Ancient Egypt”. Jim Marron from Grand Rapids (GRAAA) is to present Reverse Cosmology

2VP: Riyad reminded us that the open houses this year are on the second Saturday of the months. We’ve replaced the observatory scope’s focuser with a spare electrical one. Joe Tocco fabricated an adaptor plate for it. The Kalinowski Scope is in the lens polishing stages, expected delivery around March/April. Last open house was clouded only a few showed up.

Treasurer: Full report in WASP.

Secretary: Thank you letters have been sent out to the businesses that contributed to the banquet door prizes: Cranbrook, JMI, Kalmbach Publishing (Astronomy Magazine), Meridian Telescopes, National Coney Island, OPT, Orion, and Sirius Astro Products.

Outreach: Bob Berta reports nothing pressing but we had two last weekend- Cranbrook and Beth Ahm. In the planning stages: on May 3, (10th is the rain date) a presentation at St Peter’s Church.

Publications: New deadline: 28th of the month

SIG Reports:Astro Photo: Bob Berta is taking over for Phil Martin. Looking forward to using the facilities at Cranbrook.

Solar Group: Sun’s been busy, but all show and no go. Did have some nice prominences, though.

Hands On: Next meeting is Feb 9.

Discussion Group: Meets the 4th Thursday of the month at Gary Gathen’s place. Details in WASP.

Astronomical League: Renewal season is here.

Radio Astronomy: Dave Bailey has joined the McMath-Hulbert gang.

GLAAC: Contacting three speakers for availability to speak at Kensington 2013.

Globe at Night (www.globeatnight.org), the light pollution measuring program was discussed, participation encouraged.

Observing: Bob Berta: described the Humble Earth Observatory (Bob’s patio), with a slide show of Bob’s set up.

Diane Hall: mentioned that 8:30 the other night, hearing a woman outside the house shouting about something in the sky, ran out, anticipating an observing opportunity, saw dancing spotlights instead. Personally disappointed, she calmed the lady.

In The News 1/17/13 by Ken Bertin:

• Only the toughest would survive on Tatooine worlds

• Black holes star in first images of high-energy cosmos

• Mock Mars mission reveals salty surprise• US no longer lists satellites as weapons• Ghostly galaxies burned off mysterious

cosmic fog• Hints of new dark force seen in galaxy

smash-ups• Largest structue challenges Einstein’s

smooth cosmos• NASA buys blow-up habitat for space

station astronauts

Presentation: “Color Mania!” (a look at the colors of stars) by Dave Bailey, Ken Bertin assisting.

The meeting ended by 9:40.