May 2015
Monday, May 4
Bartlesville Public Library
6:45 p.m. Setup and Discussion
7:00 p.m. Club Business
7:15 p.m. Current Astronomy News
7:30 p.m.
Grinding a Telescope Mirror
by Fred Frey
Fred Frey has been an amateur telescope maker for many years. In this months program, he will describe the process of grinding your own telescope mirror, explain optical testing, and discuss some of the tips and tricks for successful results.
Hello BAS Members --
With so many people interested in AstroPhotography in the group, we have thought of having a "Astro Picture of the Month" competition each month at our meetings.
Entry Rules:
Send one picture of the night sky/ object of the current month with a description of the picture and the equipment used to take this.
Mail it to bvilleastro@gmail.com.
Best picture is chosen in the next meeting and uploaded to our Facebook/Twitter pages with your mention!
So let the entries pouring in for our next meeting on the Feb 2, 2015.
Thanks
BAS President .
Happy Birthday Hubble Space Telescope
25 years ago on April 24th the Hubble space Telescope was launched.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html
The New Horizons Spacecraft is closing in on Pluto at 33,000 mph.
It will make its closest approach on July 14, 2015 revealing 100's of details never seen before.
NASA is giving students and interested people an opportunity to suggest names
for the many craters and features we will discover on Pluto and its five Moons
Deadline for submissions is April 24th
Information can be found at http://www.ourpluto.org/
Be sure to look at details from Tabs at the top of the homepage.
Participants can suggest names from Five Categories.
See details at http://www.ourpluto.org/nominate2
Or Vote on their favorite names that have already been proposed.
The great tradition of dark sky observing continues with the 37th Annual
TEXAS STAR PARTY, May 10-17, 2015!
Staying on the Ranch in housing, RV, or camping? Staying off-site in other accommodations? Everyone needs to enter the TSP drawing, held in late January.
You should submit a Registration/Reservation Request Form to ENTER THE TSP DRAWING before January 21, 2015. This will provide you the highest possible chance of being selected as one of the 500 people who will be able to attend TSP this year.
Follow this link to get started!
SIGN UP NOW!
You can find out the status of your TSP Registration at any time by visiting
Get info on our new AstroLearn Workshop at
Need funds to help pay for your trip to TSP? You can find out about getting paid while at TSP at:
Check out the latest news at:
Questions? Visit our web site for the latest and complete details!
https://texasstarparty.org/ or email TSPRooms@TexasStarParty.org
We look forward to seeing you next May!
Sincerely,
the volunteers for Texas Star Party
Astronomy conventions are a great way to meet other astronomers and find out what is going on in other clubs in the region. They feature a variety of guest speakers plus a number of astronomer vendors are usually present. Plus you get a chance to travel and see what kind of facilities other clubs are using.
MIdStates Astronomy convention
Friday May 29 thru Sun May 31 at University of Arkansas in Little Rock.
Our Tulsa Club is a member of a 5 state region of the Astronomical League.
Each year one of the regional clubs hosts the convention in their area.
This year the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society is acting a host.
They have an impressive list of guest presenters lined up.
Details at www.MSRAL.org
National Astronomical League Convention
July 6 - 11 Los Cruces New Mexico
These national events attract several 100 of the nation’s leading astronomy professionals as well as amateurs. Speakers include well known astronomy authors and professionals. This year’s event is held in the dark skies of SW New Mexico. A number of optional side trips are available: White Sands Missile base museum, Very Large Array Radio observatory, Apache Point observatory and Dunn Solar telescope plus many natural attractions.
https://alcon2015.astroleague.org/
https://www.astroleague.org/files/reflector/Mar_2015.issue_.Web_.pdf
John Land
Take the Future of Amateur Astronomers Survey
The Night Sky Network is doing a new survey of amateur astronomers located in the United States. We are attempting to understand the landscape of educational outreach performed by astronomy clubs and assess the needs of the amateur astronomy community for the next 5 years. We want to hear your voice.
Please let us know what your needs are and how we can better help you and your clubs by taking our survey, located here: http://bit.ly/2014astrosurvey
Pass this announcement along to any other persons or organizations that would have an interest in this survey as well. Thank you all!
You can see daily images of the Sun on www.Spaceweather.com
See a Fantastic image comparing sunspot to size of earth
http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=18&month=10&year=2014
Sky and Telescope News http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news
By: Camille M. Carlisle | April 23, 2015 | Comments 0
Astronomers have discovered 195 compact elliptical galaxies, upping the known number of these weird galaxies sixfold.
Hubble Investigates Ghosts of Quasars Past
By: Monica Young | April 22, 2015 | Comments 0
A galaxy-size blob of gas discovered eight years ago by a Dutch schoolteacher has galvanized the study of the spectral remains of once-bright quasars.
By: Kelly Beatty | April 21, 2015 | Comments 3
Although typically weak, the annual Lyrid display will benefit from moonless skies. This year's peak, late on April 22nd, favors Europe over North America.
Amateurs Given David Dunlap Observatory
By: Kelly Beatty | April 17, 2015 | Comments 0
After serving as caretakers of Canada's largest telescope for years, volunteers from the RASC's Toronto club have been given the historic facility outright.
Ancient Galaxies Seen Dying Inside-Out
By: Camille M. Carlisle | April 16, 2015 | Comments
Astronomers have found massive galaxies 3 billion years after the Big Bang that are dying from the inside out.
Dawn Maps Ceres in False Color
By: Camille M. Carlisle | April 14, 2015 | Comments 2
Thanks to NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, we’re finally seeing more of the asteroid Ceres than a fuzzy ball.
Ring-Shaped Spyglass to Early Universe
By: Monica Young | April 13, 2015 | Comments 8
A rare type of gravitational lens offers astronomers a close look at a young, dusty galaxy manufacturing hundreds of stars a year.
Nova Sagittarii Still Unpredictable
By: Alan MacRobert | April 12, 2015 | Comments 9
A 6th-magnitude nova erupted inside the Sagittarius Teapot and reached 4th magnitude. Now it has started fading.- See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/#sthash.bwyLMC3e.dpuf
Celebrate the Night Sky During April
By: Kelly Beatty | April 10, 2015 | Comments 0
Amateur skygazers can satisfy their celestial cravings with Globe at Night, International Dark-Sky Week, Astronomy Day, and Global Astronomy Month.
By: Kelly Beatty | April 8, 2015 | Comments 2
Amateur astronomy has lost a true pioneer, a keen observer who founded the worldwide Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers.
Nova Sagittarii Stays Unpredictable
By: Alan MacRobert | April 8, 2015 | Comments 7
A 6th-magnitude nova erupted inside the Sagittarius Teapot and reached 4th magnitude. Now it has started fading.
Watching Starbirth in Real Time
By: Monica Young | April 7, 2015 | Comments 2
A team of astronomers compared two images taken 18 years apart to catch the dramatic evolution of a forming star and its surroundings.
The Lunar Eclipse Wasn’t Total After All?!
By: Alan MacRobert | April 6, 2015 | Comments 11
In a borderline eclipse of the Moon like last Saturday's, the difference between "total" and "partial" depends on some crucial assumptions.
New Horizons: Navigating to Pluto
By: Alan Stern | April 3, 2015 | Comments 6
In the first of a series of installments written exclusively for Sky & Telescope, New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern offers his behind-the-scenes perspective on what it took to get the spacecraft to Pluto.
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
May 4 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 03:42 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. This moon has also been known as the Full Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.
May 5, 6 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Most of the activity is seen in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley, which has known and observed since ancient times. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28. It peaks this year on the night of May 5 and the morning of the May 6. The nearly full moon will be a big problem this year blocking out all but the brightest meteors. If you are patient, you should still be able to catch a few good ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
May 7 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 21.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.
May 18 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 04:13 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.
May 23 - Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings and a few of its brightest moons.
June 2 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 16:19 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of year to gather ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season. This moon has also been known as the Full Rose Moon and the Full Honey Moon.
June 6 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 45.4 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
June 16 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 14:05 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.
2015 BAS Programs
Next Meeting
June 1, 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.
The current officers are:
The current board members are:
Additional club positions:
Membership is open to everyone interested in any aspects of astronomy.
Adult. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00
Students (through 12th grade) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00
Magazine Subscription (reduced rate for members)
Sky & Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32.95
Astronomy Technology Today Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14.00
Astronomy Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34.00/yr