August 2018

Monday, August 6, 2018

Setup and casual conversation starts at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.

Bartlesville Public Library

Meeting Room A (upstairs)

Program:

"Voyager"

by

Evan Zorn

Evan's program was originally scheduled for July 2, but due to technological problems, it has been rescheduled for August 6.

Meetings are open to the public and guests are welcome.

History & Sky Lore

The earliest written records were astronomical observations. The history of astronomy since then has been a complex interplay of philosophy and science. From ancient history to more recent times, read on to explore the history of astronomy.

Hi All,

Please see the email below from Tamara Green, president of the Astronomy Club of Tulsa, in regards to the Astronomy Day at Woolaroc on Aug. 18th. Looks like it will run from noonish to about 10 pm. I know at least one of you who said they could help, but I hope a few more of us will sign up. I plan on being there at least for part of the day and maybe for the whole time. If you would, please let Ms. Green and I know if you would be willing to help so that we can come up with a game plan for the day. Also, if you have any ideas for some activities to do during the day, please let us know.

Thanks, Karen Cruce, President, BASDear Ms. Cruce:

My name is Tamara Green, and I am the President of the Astronomy Club of Tulsa.

Jan Tucker with Woolaroc recently contacted me about our club doing an "Astronomy Day" at Woolaroc sometime this summer. Our club chose Saturday, August 18.

She said we could also invite your club to participate with us.

We plan to arrive at Woolaroc on that day at either Noon or 1:00 PM and have some astronomy-related activities during the day, followed by a talk on astronomy equipment in their Events Center at 6:30 PM. Then at 7:00 PM, even though the sun will still be up, guests could view the 1st Quarter Moon, which rises at 2:23 PM. When it gets darker after sundown, there will be Venus and Jupiter.

They want us to start breaking down at 9:00 PM, and be off the property by 10:00 PM.

Does this sound like something the Bartlesville club would be interested in participating in? If so, you all are welcome to come up with some daytime activities for the event as well! We would love to have you guys participate with us if you can!

If you need to contact me, my email address is astrotulsa.pres@gmail.com, and my phone number is (918) 851-1213.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Clear Skies!

Tamara Green

President

Astronomy Club of Tulsa

AstroTulsa.Pres@gmail.com

Apps for consideration

Distant Suns, your personal guide to the cosmos, lists Night Sky Network astronomy club star parties, safe solar gazing events, and lectures in the main navigation bar. Distant Suns is available for Android, Apple iOS, Kindle, and Nook.

SkySafari, a powerful planetarium that fits in your pocket, lists Night Sky Network astronomy club star parties, safe solar observing events, and lectures in the help menu. SkySafari is available for Android and Apple devices and computers.

Family Fun with Sky Watching

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-resources/stargazing-basics/family-projects-and-experiments/

Please use link below to access Member Presentations.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4CQup8TdDvCfnBiUlE5RURWWTl4Y0IyVVlyMnVwWlVtQW9uWnAxTDJHMHk4VmVuNFkxeXc

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 .

Sky and Telescope News http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/

Andromeda Collided with Galactic Sibling Billions of Years Ago

By: Elizabeth Howell | July 24, 2018 | Comments 0

A new study says our neighbor galaxy’s big stellar halo and stellar evolution are due to a major collision that ended 2 billion years ago.

HaloSat: A Small Satellite for a Big Question

By: David Dickinson | July 25, 2018 | Comments 0

HaloSat, a mini-satellite recently deployed from the International Space Station, is on the hunt for the universe's missing matter.

Liquid Water on Mars! Really for Real This Time (Probably)

By: Emily Lakdawalla | July 25, 2018 | Comments 1

A radar instrument on one of the oldest operational Mars orbiters has discovered possible evidence of liquid water on Mars.

Red Moon Meets Red Planet in Longest Total Lunar Eclipse of the Century

By: Bob King | July 25, 2018 | Comments 6

Not only will the Moon will be totally eclipsed this Friday, but Mars will be at opposition and shine in tandem with the red Moon all night!

See Mars at Its Best Since 2003

By: Bob King | July 24, 2018 | Comments 5

Wonder what to see now that Mars is at its biggest and brightest? Here are expert tips for when, where, and how to look.

When Giant Planets Orbit Evolved Stars

By: AAS Nova | July 20, 2018 | Comments 0

A new study explores the impacts of stars that age past the main sequence and evolve into red giants on the planets orbiting around them by looking at the orbits of gas giants closely circling evolved stars.

Jupiter’s Moons: 12 More Found, 79 Known

By: Kelly Beatty | July 17, 2018 | Comments 2

Over the past 18 months, astronomers have painstakingly tracked a dozen tiny moons that they found circling the giant planet Jupiter.

PanSTARRS Comet, Rocked by Outburst, Goes Green

By: Bob King | July 17, 2018 | Comments 4

Comet PanSTARRS (C/2017 S3) has erupted again! Now bright enough to see in binoculars, it might become a naked-eye object if it survives until perihelion.

What Can Lunar Eclipses Do For Science?

By: Graham Jones | July 13, 2018 | Comments 2

On the night of July 27, 2018, the longest total lunar eclipse for the next 105 years will be visible across parts of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Six months later, on January 20, 2019, there will be the 'Great American' lunar eclipse, where totality is visible across all 50 states.

Planet-Protection Policies: Due For Revision?

By: David Dickinson | July 13, 2018 | Comments 3

A new National Academies study assesses NASA's efforts to protect neighboring worlds from contamination and recommends ways the space agency could do a better job.

Observers Anxious for Dust to Settle as Mars Opposition Approaches

By: Bob King | July 11, 2018 | Comments 16

With opposition only weeks away, will the current global dust storm finally break? We look at the prospects.

Nautilus Expedition Recovers Possible Seafloor Meteorites

By: David Dickinson | July 10, 2018 | Comments 1

The expedition off the coast of Washington state performs a first, recovering meteorite fragments from a documented fall.

Don’t Miss Aldebaran’s Last Occultation Till 2033

By: Bob King | July 6, 2018 | Comments 0

The last and one of the most picturesque occultations of Aldebaran by the Moon happens on Tuesday morning, July 10. Catch it or wait 15 years for the next!

Organics Inside Enceladus: Complex Enough for Life?

By: Elizabeth Howell | July 6, 2018 | Comments 0

Scientists aren't comfortable yet saying that organics on Saturn's icy moon arose from life, but they have an idea of what to look for next.

Fireworks, Planets, Comets, a Nova — July’s Got it All!

By: Bob King | July 3, 2018 | Comments 7

July's a busy month for skywatching. Not only are five bright planets in view, but three comets and a newly-discovered nova are also observable. And it all starts with a bang on Independence Day.

Wheel-spoke Magnetic Field in Supernova 1987A

By: Monica Young | July 2, 2018 | Comments 1

Researchers have mapped the magnetic field in Supernova 1987A, shedding light on how stellar blasts act as particle accelerators.

Scientists See Strong Evidence of Rare Middle-weight Black Hole

By: Elizabeth Howell | June 29, 2018 | Comments 0

New observations give more fuel to the concept of intermediate-mass black holes.

‘Oumuamua Was a Comet After All

By: Javier Barbuzano | June 27, 2018 | Comments 5

Researchers have found that 'Oumuamua — the first confirmed object to enter the solar system from interstellar space — was a comet, releasing just enough gas to subtly change its course.

Hayabusa 2: Welcome to Ryugu

By: David Dickinson | June 27, 2018 | Comments 2

We got a peek at a new worldlet in the inner solar system this week, as the Japanese Aerospace Agency's (JAXA) Hayabusa-2 gave us our first good looks at the tiny asteroid 162173 Ryugu.

Best Test of General Relativity on Galaxy Scales

By: Monica Young | June 25, 2018 | Comments 0

Astronomers have conducted the best, galaxy-scale test of general relativity yet, and it rules out some (but not all) theories of modified gravity.

Skyweek

July 27 - 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 20:22 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Full Thunder Moon and the Full Hay Moon.

July 27 - Total Lunar Eclipse. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of Europe, Africa, western and central Asia, the Indian Ocean, and Western Australia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

July 27 - Mars at Opposition. The red 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 Mars. A medium-sized telescope will allow you to see some of the dark details on the planet's orange surface.

July 28, 29 - Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The nearly full moon will be a problem this year, blocking out all but the brightest meteors. But 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.

August 11 - 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 09:58 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.

August 11 - Partial Solar Eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun's reflection. The partial eclipse will be visible in parts of northeast Canada, Greenland, extreme northern Europe, and northern and eastern Asia. It will be best seen in northern Russia with 68% coverage. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

August 12, 13 - Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

August 17 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 45.9 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.

August 26 - 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 11:57 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes and other major lakes were more easily caught at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.

August 26 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 18.3 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 morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

September 7 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue giant 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 Neptune. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

September 9 - 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 18:01 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.

September 23 - September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 01:54 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 fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.

September 25 - 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 02:53 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year. This moon is also known as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox each year.

• • (Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2018.html)

2018 BAS Programs

September 6, Thursday. 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:

President : Karen Cruce

Vice President : Evan Zorn

Secretary : Denise Gregg

Treasurer : Vicky Travaglini

Members at Large : Duane Perkins, Craig Brockmeier

Appointed Positions

Newsletter : Mike Woods

Website and Social Media : Derek Herrman

Program Chairman : Bob Young

Meeting Arrangements : Daryl Doughty

Youth Leader : Rick Bryant

Observing Program : Evan Zorn

Astronomical League Coordinator : Kristi Herrman