October 2013

Monday, October 7, 2013

Bartlesville Public Library Meeting Room

6:45 p.m. Setup and Conversation

7:00 p.m. Club Business

7:15 p.m. Current Astronomy News

Object of the Month

7:30 p.m.

To Be Determined

Save the Date: International Observe the Moon Night is coming: October 12

Mark your calendars! International Observe the Moon Night is coming this fall. Share the wonder of our Moon and prepare to amaze folks young and old with a new peek at an object they may not even consider to be amazing-but truly is. Head over to their official website at observethemoonnight.org for more details and to register your event.

The Skywatcher's Guide to the Moon

Use this Moon Map Guide to identify features on the Moon. Learn what the light and dark areas are and what those craters. Find out where the astronauts landed and what fills the "seas".

Vivian White & David Prosper

The Night Sky Network Team

nightskyinfo@astrosociety.org

Hi Everyone,

I am again taking orders for the 2014 Deep Space Mysteries calendars. The calendars are very nice and informative. If you are interested in purchasing some, please let me know by October 1, 2013. The cost will again be $6.48 per calendar and due on delivery. I plan on having the calendars available at the November monthly meeting (and again in December if need be). Once again, no mail orders will be accepted. Attached is a poster about the calendars sent to me by the publishers. You can contact me either at this e-mail address: karate4kix@yahoo.com, or by phone: 918-440-1893.

Thanks,

Karen Cruce

30^th Okie-Tex Star Party is drawing near

Sept 28^th to Oct 6^th

http://www.okie-tex.com/

Details for registration and meals at website.

Dozens of our Tulsa members join with more than 300 fellow astronomers each fall to marvel at the dark skies in the tip of the Oklahoma Panhandle. Al Nagler of Tel-Vue optics proclaimed it as one of the darkest sites in America. Time to get your registrations in. Especially for the on site meals. Since the nearest eating places are nearly 40 miles away.

Current News from Sky and Telescope

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news

To Catch a Comet — September 26, 2013

A balloon-borne mission launching from Texas will aim a telescope at the approaching Comet ISON. While it won't observe the comet at its best, the mission might reveal details about the composition of the icy body and the family it comes from.

Pulsar on the Fence — September 25, 2013

Astronomers have discovered a neutron star that switches between X-ray and radio emission within a few days. The find is fabulous news for theorists, who have long predicted that the two pulsar types were connected.

Comet ISON to Fly By Mars — September 24, 2013

On October 1st, Comet ISON will pass closer to Mars than it ever will to Earth. The Red Planet’s rovers and orbiters are ready to send home postcards of the event.

Methane Goes Missing on Mars — September 20, 2013

The Curiosity rover conducted super-sensitive tests of the Red Planet's atmosphere for methane — the most abundant hydrocarbon in the solar system — and found none. What does this finding mean for the search for Martian life?

Deep Impact Meets Its End — September 20, 2013

Primarily known for its up-close comet observations, the Deep Impact spacecraft went on the fritz in mid-August. The mission team scrambled to reestablish communication, but efforts were unsuccessful.

New 3D Maps of Milky Way's Bulge — September 18, 2013

New 3D maps of the Milky Way's central bulge of stars show a distinctively peanut-like shape. The maps give clues about how our galaxy evolved to its present-day form.

Onward, Voyager, to the Stars! — September 13, 2013

With the release of new results this week, NASA scientists are now confident that their plucky probe, launched 36 years ago, has entered interstellar space.

Deep Impact on the Fritz — September 11, 2013

Primarily known for its up-close comet observations, the Deep Impact spacecraft is currently out of control. The mission team is scrambling to reestablish communication before it's too late.

Skyweek from Sky and Telescope Magazine also presents a variety of astronomical events for the naked eye as well as telescope viewing.http://www.skyandtelescope.com/videos/skyweek

• • October 3 - Uranus at Opposition. The blue-green planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view Uranus. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

  • October 5 - New Moon. The Moon will be directly between the Earth and the Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 00:34 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

  • October 7, 8 - Draconids Meteor Shower. The Draconids is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. The shower runs annually from October 6-10 and peaks this year on the the night of the 7th and morning of the 8th. The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for optimal observing. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

  • October 9 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury will be at its furthest angle from the Sun, known as greatest elongation. It will be at its highest point in the night sky after sunset. This is the best time to try to view Mercury since it stays so close to the Sun and doesn't usually climb very high above the horizon.

  • October 12 - Astronomy Day Part 2. Astronomy Day is an annual event intended to provide a means of interaction between the general public and various astronomy enthusiasts, groups and professionals. The theme of Astronomy Day is "Bringing Astronomy to the People," and on this day astronomy and stargazing clubs and other organizations around the world will plan special events. You can find out about special local events by contacting your local astronomy club or planetarium. You can also find more about Astronomy Day by checking the Web site for the Astronomical League.

  • October 12 - International Observe the Moon Night. International Observe the Moon Night (InOMN) is an annual event that is dedicated to encouraging people to ‘look up’ and take notice of our nearest neighbor, the Moon. From looking at the Moon with a naked eye to using the most sensitive telescope, every year on the same day, people from around the world hold events and activities that celebrate our Moon. On this site, you can find information about an InOMN event near you or register your own event. We encourage everyone to join us in the celebration! International Observe the Moon Night Official Site.

  • October 18 - 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 23:38 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Hunters Moon because at this time of year the leaves are falling and the game is fat and ready to hunt. This moon has also been known as the Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This will also be the smallest full moon of the year because it will be near apogee, its farthest point from the Earth.

  • October 18 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not completely. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of the world except for Australia and extreme eastern Siberia.

  • (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

  • October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Halley, which has been known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7. It peaks this year on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The waning gibbous moon will block some of the meteors this year, but the Orionids tend to be fairly bright so it could still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

  • November 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 12:50 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

  • November 3 - Hybrid Solar Eclipse. A hybrid solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is almost too close to the Earth to completely block the Sun. This type of eclipse will appear as a total eclipse to some parts of the world and will appear annular to others. The eclipse path will begin in the Atlantic Ocean off the eastern coast of the United States and move east across the Atlantic and across central Africa. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

  • November 4, 5 - Taurids Meteor Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains from Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of November 4. This is an excellent year because there will be no moonlight to spoil the show. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

(Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2013.html)

2013 BAS Programs

Next Meeting

November 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 .

Bartlesville Astronomical Society - Membership

B.A.S. is an organization of people interested in Astronomy and related fields of science.