March 2011

March 7, 2011 Meeting

Bartlesville Public Library Meeting Room

6:45 p.m. Setup and casual conversation

7:30 p.m.

BAS Seminar, March 2011

The Cheapskate Astronomer’s Introduction to Astrophotography

Part II: GREMLINS

Speaker - Rick Bryant

Astrophotography is an extremely enjoyable and fulfilling activity, but it is a wonder that we can be successful with all of the gremlins lurking at every turn. Armed with a little knowledge and lots of planning they can be defeated. Come listen to the Cheapskate Astronomer, Rick Bryant, as he introduces you to the most insidious gremlins and shows you the path you can take to eliminate them.

The Cheapskate Astronomer, Dr. Richard Bryant, has been an off and on amateur astronomer since 1974 when he was given a set of 7x35 binoculars and a backyard astronomy book for completing the Astronomy Merit Badge. Rick’s first “astrophotography” was comet Hale-Bopp in 1997 using a 35mm camera on a tripod. Since then, he tried several cameras and modified web cams before settling on a modified DLSR. It is the perfect match for his interests in comet, wide field, and deep space astrophotography.

"A Scale of Seeing" by the Editors of Sky & Telescope

(http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/3305911.html)

For more information read "Beating the Seeing" by Alan M. MacRobert.

(http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/3304176.html)

• • March 4 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 20:46 UTC.

  • March 19 - Full Moon. The Moon will be directly opposite the Earth from the Sun and will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 18:10 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the Full Crust Moon, and the Full Sap Moon. This will also be the largest full moon of the year because it will be near perigee, its closest point to the Earth.

  • March 20 - March Equinox. The March Equinox occurs at 23:21 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the northern hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the southern hemisphere.

  • April 3 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 14:32 UTC.

(Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2011.html)

2011 Programs

Next Meeting

April 4, Monday. Bartlesville Public Library Meeting Room (tentative)

Newsletter Contributions Needed

Our club newsletter is reaching more people each month, and member contributions in the form of short articles, interesting news items, alerts of upcoming astronomical events or activities, descriptions of personal observations or useful equipment, and observing tips, are encouraged. Recurring columns or multipart articles are also welcome. Please submit your contributions to Mike Woods or to bvilleastro@gmail.com .

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