May 2018

Monday, May 7, 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)

String along with Daryl

Concepts towards a Unified Field Theory and Cosmology

Presenter: Daryl Doughty

Meetings are open to the public and guests are welcome.

Courtesy of Night Sky Network:

Astronomy clubs are invited to participate in the free 9th Annual Astronomy Festival on the National Mall (AFNM), Saturday, June 23, 6 –11 pm. Last year over 7,000 people came to this event. It is FREE to all participants and the public. AFNM is the largest astronomy event on the National Mall and is sponsored by Hofstra University. Hofstra Universty will pay for parking for astronomy club members who share their telescopes.

Join experts and educators from national science organizations, universities, museums, astronomy clubs, and federal agencies, who will be offering exciting hands-on demonstrations and activities, posters, banners, videos, a planetarium show with a portable blow-up dome, plus telescopic observations of the Sun, Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter. Scientists and educators will answer questions about careers in science, celestial objects and events, and the latest astronomical discoveries.

If you would like to bring your telescope and participate in outreach on the Mall, please contact Donald.A.Lubowich@hofstra.edu with your information and any additional questions you may have.

Joe Khalaf discusses how a telescope gathers light at a Bring Your Own Telescope event hosted by the Houston Astronomical Society. Folks brought in their new telescopes and with help from HAS members became better acquainted with their new instruments. Photo Credit: Sarah Silva

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.

2018 Texas Star Party – Sign up now!

The great tradition of dark sky observing continues with the 40th Annual

TEXAS STAR PARTY, May 6-13, 2018!

near Ft Davis, Texas

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 19, 2018.

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!

http://texasstarparty.org/get-started/

SIGN UP NOW!

You can find out the status of your TSP Registration at any time by visiting

http://texasstarparty.org/account/

Find the latest news at:

http://texasstarparty.org/news/

Find out about the TSP Eclipsathon!

https://texasstarparty.org/tsp-eclipsathon/

Questions? Visit our web site for the latest and complete details!

http://www.texasstarparty.org/ or email tsprooms@texasstarparty.org

We look forward to seeing you next May!

Sincerely,

the volunteers for Texas Star Party

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/

Dwarf Nova

V392 Persei Goes Big — It’s Now Binocular Bright

By: Bob King | May 1, 2018 | Comments 2

In a rare move, a sleepy cataclysmic variable blows its top and suddenly becomes a nova.

14 Galaxies Might Become Universe’s Most Massive Structure

By: Monica Young | April 26, 2018 | Comments 5

At least 14 galaxies are swarming in the early universe, forming a protocluster with the mass of 10 trillion Suns. It might become one of the most massive structures in the universe.

Mud Cracks on Mars Reveal Lake’s History

By: Julie Freydlin | April 25, 2018 | Comments 0

Curiosity spotted polygonal shapes on the surface of rocks on Mars — now, analysis of these mud cracks is revealing the history of the long-ago lake that once filled Gale Crater.

Gaia Maps 1.7 Billion Stars, Widens Cosmic Census

By: Jan Hattenbach | April 25, 2018 | Comments 2

With its second data release, the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite has redefined the way we look at our galaxy.

Happy 28th Birthday, Hubble!

By: Monica Young | April 24, 2018 | Comments 1

To celebrate Hubble's 28th birthday NASA is releasing a brand-new image of the Lagoon Nebula, a vast stellar nursery.

Pluto’s Moon Charon Receives Formal Names

By: David Dickinson | April 23, 2018 | Comments 0

The International Astronomical Union has approved names for features on Pluto's largest moon, Charon.

60-Second Astro News: Tech Advances for Exoplanet Hunters

By: Monica Young | April 20, 2018 | Comments 0

A mini-satellite demonstrates exoplanet-hunting technology, a superconducting camera tests its abilities to image exoplanets, and bad news for life on Proxima Centauri b.

Successful Launch for NASA’s TESS Exoplanet Mission

By: Elizabeth Howell | April 19, 2018 | Comments 2

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched successfully on April 18th at 6:51 p.m. EDT aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to survey the entire sky for new worlds.

The Lyrid Shower Kicks Off Year of Great Meteor Watching

By: Bob King | April 18, 2018 | Comments 7

The annual Lyrid meteor shower will shoot off silent fireworks on Earth Day this Sunday. We explore the shower's origin and how best to view and photograph it.

Spring Astronomy Day 2018

By: JR | April 13, 2018 | Comments 0

Looking for something to do on Saturday? Make plans to celebrate Astronomy Day on April 21st!

Globular Clusters Shine in a Galaxy Lacking Dark Matter

By: AAS Nova | April 12, 2018 | Comments 0

You may have seen recent news about NGC 1052–DF2, a galaxy that was discovered to have little or no dark matter. Now, a new study explores what NGC 1052–DF2 does have: an enigmatic population of unusually large and luminous globular clusters.

Asteroid 113 Amalthea to Occult Star

By: David W. Dunham | April 12, 2018 | Comments 1

Here's an opportunity for amateur astronomers to reveal more about asteroid Amalthea's satellite.

ARIEL: Next-Decade Exoplanet Mission Selected

By: David Dickinson | April 10, 2018 | Comments 0

The European Space Agency's ARIEL mission will seek to analyze the atmospheric composition and true nature of distant worlds.

Big Scope Breakout: New Supernovae, Novae, Bright Spot on Saturn

By: Bob King | April 9, 2018 | Comments 0

The sky's been bursting with exploding stars this season. Plus there's a new storm on Saturn. What's a skywatcher to do? Haul out the scope!

Tiangong 1’s Remote Reentry

By: David Dickinson | April 3, 2018 | Comments 7

China's first space station reentered Earth's atmosphere over the South Pacific after almost seven years in space.

A Galaxy Without (Much) Dark Matter

By: Camille M. Carlisle | March 28, 2018 | Comments 4

Astronomers have found a peculiar object: a fluffy galaxy that has little to no dark matter.

Skyweek

April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower. The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight, leaving dark skies for the what could be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

April 29 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 27 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.

April 30 - 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 00:58 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Full Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

May 6, 7 - Eta Aquarids. 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 6 and the morning of the May 7. The waning gibbous moon will block most of the fainter meteors this year, but you should be able to catch quite A few good ones if you are patient. 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 9 - Jupiter at Opposition. The 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 Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.

May 15 - 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 11:48 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 29 - 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 14:19 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.

June 13 - 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 19:44 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.

June 21 - June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 10:07 UTC. The North Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

June 27 - 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 28 - 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 04:53 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.

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

2018 BAS Programs

Next Meeting

At the March meeting, Abigail Bollenbach will be giving a presentation on the Cassini spacecraft titled "Cassini's Legacy".

March 5, 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.