August 2020
Next BAS Monthly Meeting:
August 3, 2020
CANCELLED with COVID 19
6:30 pm Setup/Social, 7:00 pm Meeting
Bartlesville Public Library
BAS meetings feature presentations on a variety of astronomy and space science topics. Meetings are usually on the first Monday evening of each month and are open to the public. Guests are always welcome. More event details are listed on our calendar.
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Next BYA Monthly Meeting:
6:30 pm Setup/Social, 7:00 pm Meeting
Our Savior Lutheran Church
300 NE Madison Blvd., Bartlesville, OK
Bartian Youth Astronomers is an interactive, hands-on youth group for ages seven through high school.
BYA meetings are usually on the third Monday evening of each month. More event details are listed on our calendar.
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Reflections on Astronomy
Brief essays about experiences in astronomy.
Karen’s Story by Karen Cruce
Growing up in the country in northwestern Kansas gave me ample opportunity to enjoy the night sky. As kids, my siblings and I would throw blankets and our sleeping bags on the ground and sleep under the stars many nights during the summer. Between just looking at the night sky and enjoying the summer breeze, we also always kept our eye out for meteors and the occasional satellite that would traverse across our field of vision. Of course, the moon was always an enjoyment, especially when it was full, and we would play tag or explore our world by moonlight. In high school, I remember taking a group of my classmates down to the creek one moon-lit night, which was about a half mile from our house. Most of them were pretty scared, especially once we got into the trees. No flashlights, just moonlight. Of course, most of these friends were “city” folk, and were not used to complete dark. It was especially eerie when the coyotes started to howl. I think most of them were glad to get back to “civilization”.
I remember one winter night, I was out enjoying the cold, crisp air when I noticed an eerie bright green tinge of vibrating light overhead. I soon realized that it was the Northern Lights and rushed in to get my younger brother who also always enjoyed the night sky. We watched as the lights danced across the sky for about ten minutes before they faded. I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights again. So beautiful.
On another occasion in high school which would have been the late 1970’s, I remember a partial solar eclipse that happened during school. We all had our little shoe boxes outfitted with the pin hole so we could see the moon’s outline against the sun. I don’t exactly remember how much of the sun was covered, and I know it wasn’t a total solar eclipse, but I do remember that the daylight faded to a dusky hue. Everything around looked unnatural and dreamlike.
I have passed on my love of the night sky to my children. There have been many camping trips where the day ended with us just finding an open grassy area to check out the sky. Nothing ends the day better than the night sky and the night critters singing away.
The night sky has always fascinated me. Growing up, I spent many evenings outside all year long just enjoying the view. I was mesmerized by all I could see, and would think about all that was out there that I couldn’t see. Was there other life? How many other galaxies, stars, planets, and just plain old empty space was there? It definitely had an impression on me, and I still like to gaze at the heavens and wonder at its marvelous creation and what secrets it may hold.
Kristi and Derek have created a separate BAS email address where members and non-members alike can provide the club with their comments, suggestions and ideas. Hopefully, this will provide us with additional information about what we can do better.
The email address is bvilleastro+comments@gmail.com .
BAS Historical Materials Needed
In conjunction with the upcoming BAS Library Display, an effort is being made to locate as much historical club material as possible. Only a small part of the material will be included in the display, but we need to centralize all historical club information. If you know the location of, or have any access to old club photos, newspaper clippings, articles or other historical materials, or if you have memories or recollections of past BAS events or information, please contact John Blaesi or John Grismore. Thanks.
The BAS now has storage at First Christian Church for club equipment and records. We are trying to consolidate and we are requesting any members with club equipment or records to contact one of the officers to arrange to move the items to storage and log it into our inventory.
Fantastic ALCORS,
Save the Date! ALCON 2020 will be held in Albuquerque, NM, July 16 – 18. POSTPONED TO August 4-7 2021.
The conference is hosted by The Albuquerque Astronomical Society (TAAS), and we are excited to welcome the astronomical community to Albuquerque. I am attaching a flyer & information package for event. Both can be found at the bottom of our website: TAAS Home Page Check back frequently for updates.
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
Clear Sky Predictor for Bartlesville: http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/BrtlsvlOKkey.html
Sky and Telescope News http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/
The summer of 2020 will see three spacecraft launch toward the Red Planet, each one with distinct objectives.
BY: EMILY LAKDAWALLA JULY 24, 2020
China Launches Tianwen 1 Mars Mission
China launches its first Marsbound mission, Tianwen 1, which carries an ambitious orbiter, lander, and rover package.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON JULY 23, 2020
500 Days Until the Total Solar Eclipse Over Antarctica
Travel to the ends of the Earth to experience a special — but risky — total solar eclipse in Antarctica.
BY: JAMIE CARTER JULY 22, 2020
First Image of a Young Sun and Two Giant Planets
For the first time, astronomers have imaged multiple planets orbiting a Sun-like star.
BY: MONICA YOUNG JULY 22, 2020
New 3D Map of the Universe — and a Growing Cosmological Debate
The Sloan Digital Sky Survey has released a new map of the universe — and the results confirm ongoing tension over the expansion rate of the universe.
BY: MONICA YOUNG JULY 21, 2020
Citizen Scientists Help Discover “Weird” Brown Dwarfs
Astronomers and citizen scientists have found two would-be stars lacking heavy elements. They’re most likely ancient survivors of our galaxy’s earliest days.
BY: MONICA YOUNG JULY 20, 2020
ASTRONOMY IN SPACE WITH DAVID DICKINSON
United Arab Emirates Launches Mars Hope Orbiter
United Arab Emirates joins the "planetary space club" with an ambitious mission to Mars.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON JULY 20, 2020
New Launch Date for James Webb Space Telescope
NASA has delayed its beleaguered James Webb Space Telescope to October 2021, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BY: MONICA YOUNG JULY 16, 2020
Long-lived Lunar Magma Ocean Points to a Younger Moon
Most lunar scientists today think that the Moon formed after a Mars-size body hit the still-forming Earth, launching enough material into orbit to form our satellite. But there is still lively debate about the age of the Moon, and its evolution after it formed. A Mars-size body smashed into Earth…
BY: JAVIER BARBUZANO JULY 17, 2020
European Solar Orbiter Takes Closest-ever Images of the Sun
The first images to be released from the European Space Agency’s Sun-imaging spacecraft show intriguing “campfires” that could help explain a solar mystery.
BY: MONICA YOUNG JULY 16, 2020
EXPLORE THE NIGHT WITH BOB KING
Comet NEOWISE has captivated skywatchers with its stunning tail. Now that it's moved into the evening sky and climbing higher each night even more people will get a chance to see it.
BY: BOB KING JULY 15, 2020
Comet NEOWISE Delights at Dawn
Skywatchers are treated to a naked-eye comet as NEOWISE emerges into the the dawn sky.
BY: BOB KING JULY 9, 2020
Amateur Astronomer Discovers "Clyde's Spot" on Jupiter
The discovery of a new feature on Jupiter gave NASA’s Juno mission an opportunity to image an emerging storm up close.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON JULY 9, 2020
The summer of 2020 will see three spacecraft launch toward the Red Planet, each one with distinct objectives.
BY: EMILY LAKDAWALLA JULY 8, 2020
Two Bright Supernovae Light Up Nearby Galaxies
Two bright new supernovae — 2020nlb in M85 and 2020nvb in NGC 4457 — are now within the range of amateur telescopes in the western sky at nightfall.
BY: BOB KING JULY 7, 2020
Alignment of a Star and a Planet
Unlike in our solar system, not all planets orbit in the same direction as their stars rotate. A nearby planetary system may reveal how these orbits form.
BY: AAS NOVA JULY 6, 2020
Close Encounters in the Milky Way — and What They Mean for Planets
New research shows stellar flybys are common in our galaxy’s crowded center. That could have both good and bad (but mostly bad) effects on growing planets.
BY: NOLA TAYLOR REDD JULY 2, 2020
Venus Passes in Front of the Solar Corona (VIDEO)
Two astronomers captured the silhouette of Venus as it passed in front of the solar corona.
BY: ALFRED DE WIJN AND GUNTHER KÖNNEN JULY 1, 2020
Anticipation Grows for Comets NEOWISE and Lemmon
Two comets spark excitement for the coming week — NEOWISE might reach naked-eye visibility at dawn, while Lemmon will be visible in binoculars at dusk.
BY: BOB KING JULY 1, 2020
NASA to Use Pulsar Navigation for Deep Space Missions
NICER and SEXTANT demonstrate XNAV pulsar navigation system that may be used on Artemis.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON JUNE 29, 2020
Black Hole Collision May Have Caused Burst of Light
Astronomers think they’ve detected a flash created by the merger of two black holes.
BY: CAMILLE M. CARLISLE JUNE 26, 2020
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events
(Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2019.html)
July 14 - 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.
July 20 - 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 17:33 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.
July 20 - 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.
July 22 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 20.1 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.
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 the 28th and morning of the 29th. The second quarter moon will block many of the fainter meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should still be able to catch a few of the brighter 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 3 - 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 15:59 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the 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 11, 12 - 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 the 11th and morning of the 12th. The second quarter moon will block out some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Perseids are so bright and numerous that it should still be a good 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 13 - Venus at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest western elongation of 45.8 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 morning sky. Look for the bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.
August 19 - 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 02:42 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 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 05:23 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year.
September 11 - 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 17 - 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 11:00 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 22 - September Equinox. The September equinox occurs at 13:30 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.
October 1 - 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 21:06 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Hunters Moon because at this time of year the leaves are falling and the game is fat and ready to hunt. It has also been known as the Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This full 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-2019.html)
Next Month's BAS Meeting: September 7, Monday. Bartlesville Public Library Meeting Room A (tentative), Presenter: TBA
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 multi-part articles are also welcome. Please submit your contributions to Mike Woods or to bvilleastro@gmail.com.
Bartlesville Astronomical Society is an organization of people interested in astronomy and related fields of science. Membership is open to everyone interested in any aspects of astronomy.
Elected Officers and Board Members:
Appointed Positions and Board Members:
Additional Appointed Positions:
Our officers and some individuals holding other club positions can be reached by email. To send an email, just click on a title above.
Membership Rates
Members are eligible for these discounted magazine subscriptions:
Sky and Telescope
Astronomy Technology Today
Astronomy Magazine
Please check with the BAS Treasurer for current discounted subscription rates.
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