April 2021
Monday, April 5, 2021 via Zoom (due to COVID-19)
Program: Electronically-assisted Astronomy with Special Guest Speaker from the Astronomical Club of Tulsa!
Bartlesville Astronomical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BAS April Virtual Club Meeting
Time: Apr 5, 2021 06:45 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85433793302?pwd=d2I4T3gzT2dqTjNuRWlaUTF1ZHF0Zz09
Meeting ID: 854 3379 3302
Passcode: 884299
Virtual Braum’s:
Bartlesville Astronomical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: BAS April Virtual Braums
Time: Apr 5, 2021 08:45 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86496520630?pwd=T1BUQ2grdEthRVlhK3NYNnZHSUtydz09
Meeting ID: 864 9652 0630
Passcode: 424415
ZOOM meeting will start around 6:45 to allow people to log in.
Everyone invited.
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Main meeting:
Bartlesville Astronomical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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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.
The Midstates Astronomy Conference is scheduled to take place at the NSU campus in Broken Arrow Fri June 4 to Sunday June 6
Here is a link to the information page / schedule and list of speakers.
https://msral2020.wixsite.com/register4msral2020/schedule
At this time actual registration is not open yet but should be ready soon.
John Land
The great tradition of dark sky observing continues with the 42nd Annual
TEXAS STAR PARTY, May 2-9, 2021!
near Ft Davis, Texas
We have made changes to help deal with COVID-19 concerns. Find out more at:
https://texasstarparty.org/coronavirus-and-tsp/
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 22, 2021.
This will provide you the highest possible chance of being selected as one of the 300 people
who will be able to attend TSP this year.
Follow this link to get started!
https://texasstarparty.org/get-started/
SIGN UP NOW!
You can find out the status of your TSP Registration at any time by visiting
https://texasstarparty.org/account/
Find the latest news at:
https://texasstarparty.org/news/
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
~~~~~
Reflections on Astronomy
Brief essays about experiences in astronomy.
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.
Apps for Consideration
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/
New analysis shows that Comet 2I/Borisov, which zipped nearest the Sun in late 2019, was unlike any comet we’ve seen before.
BY: MONICA YOUNG MARCH 30, 2021
Low-density exoplanets orbiting close to their host stars tend to lose their atmosphere. Now, astronomers can measure how fast it disappears.
BY: AAS NOVA MARCH 29, 2021
Radar measurements taken early this month rule out any chance of a collision with Apophis over the next 100 years.
BY: J. KELLY BEATTY MARCH 27, 2021
"Flakes" coming off the Great Red Spot have had some wondering if this epic storm is coming to an end. But observations and computer modeling show it's only getting stronger.
BY: JEFF HECHT MARCH 26, 2021
Astronomers Detect Strong Magnetic Fields Around M87’s Black Hole
Event Horizon Telescope data support the idea that magnetic fields control how black holes feed and grow.
BY: CAMILLE M. CARLISLE MARCH 24, 2021
NASA is getting ready to deploy Ingenuity, the first helicopter mission to take to alien skies.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON MARCH 23, 2021
This supermassive black hole is restless, and astronomers want to know why.
BY: MONICA YOUNG MARCH 22, 2021
A new nova in Cassiopeia, discovered on March 18th, is bright enough to see in a small telescope.
BY: BOB KING MARCH 21, 2021
Measurements of elliptical galaxies provide a new way of calculating the current expansion rate of the universe. And the results are adding to a growing controversy.
BY: ARWEN RIMMER MARCH 18, 2021
A new study suggests that by 3 billion years ago, most of the Red Planet’s water was locked away in minerals, and it has stayed there ever since.
BY: MONICA YOUNG MARCH 18, 2021
Leo, the Lion, stands high in the southern sky during the early spring. We visit some of the constellation's brighter galaxy clumps then go asteroid hunting.
BY: BOB KING MARCH 17, 2021
A new study estimates the number of interstellar objects that fly through the inner solar system every year, and it could be quite a lot.
BY: JEFF HECHT MARCH 16, 2021
New simulations have identified the Karma family of asteroids in the main belt as a potential source of near-Earth asteroids.
BY: THEO NICITOPOULOS MARCH 15, 2021
Much of the solar system’s interplanetary dust — seen as zodiacal light from Earth — might come from Mars.
BY: GOVERT SCHILLING MARCH 12, 2021
NASA's Perseverance rover, China's Tianwen 1, and the United Arab Emirates' Hope orbiter share their latest photos from Mars.
BY: MONICA YOUNG MARCH 11, 2021
Perseverance's Fortnight of Firsts on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover sends back postcards aplenty following its arrival on Mars as it prepares to explore Jezero Crater.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON MARCH 6, 2021
Asteroid Apophis Pays Earth a Visit This Week
When a potentially hazardous asteroid glides safely past Earth on March 6th, astronomers will conduct a dress rehearsal for a dramatic close-miss pass in 2029.
BY: J. KELLY BEATTY MARCH 5, 2021
March — A Good Time to Visit Vesta
Dip into this easy guide to seeing the brightest asteroid, Vesta, and understanding what makes it unique.
BY: BOB KING MARCH 3, 2021
Scientists may have discovered a clue to how massive stars form in the Orion Nebula and a stellar birthplace.
BY: AAS NOVA FEBRUARY 25, 2021
Amateur Astronomers Reveal Long-Ago Galaxy Mergers
The images from five Brazilian amateur astronomers have captured Hubble-level details in galaxies, laying the ground for future work in understanding their histories. Want to join the fun?
BY: MONICA YOUNG FEBRUARY 24, 2021
Star-shredding Black Hole Makes Ghostlike Particle
A single high-energy neutrino may shed light on a star being swallowed by a supermassive black hole some 690 million light-years away.
BY: GOVERT SCHILLING FEBRUARY 23, 2021
Watch NASA's Perseverance Land in Jezero Crater on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance rover is providing us with amazing views of its new home., including an amazing video of the sky-crane descent.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON FEBRUARY 22, 2021
First-detected Black Hole is More Massive Than We Thought
A higher mass for Cygnus X-1, the first black hole to be discovered, challenges ideas about the evolution of massive stars.
BY: JULIE FREYDLIN FEBRUARY 22, 2021
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events
(Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2021.html)
March 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 18:49 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Crow Moon, the Crust Moon, the Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.
April 12 - 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 02:32 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.
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 nearly full moon will be a problem this year. Its glare will block out all but the brightest meteors. But if you are patient you may 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 Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
April 27 - Full Moon, Supermoon. 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 03:33 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the 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 Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn. This is also the first of three supermoons for 2021. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
May 6, 7 - 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 been 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 second quarter moon will block out some of the faintest meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should still should be able to catch quite 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 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 19:01 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.
May 17 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 22 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 26 - Full Moon, Supermoon. 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 11:14 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. This moon has also been known as the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon. This is also the second of three supermoons for 2021. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
May 26 - 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 the Pacific Ocean and parts of eastern Asia, Japan, Australia, and western North America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)
June 10 - 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 10:54 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 10 - Annular Solar Eclipse. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun. This results in a ring of light around the darkened Moon. The Sun's corona is not visible during an annular eclipse. The path of this eclipse will be confined to extreme eastern Russia, the Arctic Ocean, western Greenland, and Canada. A partial eclipse will be visible in the northeastern United States, Europe, and most of Russia. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information) (NASA Interactive Google Map)
June 21 - June Solstice. The June solstice occurs at 03:21 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 24 - Full Moon, Supermoon. 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 18:40 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the 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 Rose Moon and the Honey Moon. This is also the last of three supermoons for 2021. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.
July 4 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 21.6 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 10 - 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 01:17 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 24 - 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 02:37 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the 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 Thunder Moon and the Hay Moon.
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. It's glare will block block most of the faintest 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.
Next Month's BAS Meeting: May 5, Monday. Zoom meeting(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:
President
Craig Brockmeier
Vice President
Rick Buck
Secretary
Denise Gregg
Treasurer
Evan Zorn
Appointed Positions and Board Members:
Program Director
Bob Young
Newsletter Editor
Mike Woods
Observing Program Coordinator
Rick Buck
Member-at-Large
Duane Perkins
Member-at-Large
Karen Cruce
Additional Appointed Positions:
Bartian Youth Astronomers Leader
Rick Bryant
Meeting Arrangements Coordinator
Daryl Doughty
Website and Social Media Administrator
Denise Gregg
Astronomical League Coordinator
Denise Gregg
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
Regular Membership
For age 18 or older. Holds one vote for BAS business.
$25 per year
Student Membership
For age 13 through high school, or age 18 or older and enrolled full-time at a post-secondary educational institution. Holds no vote for BAS business. A student younger than age 13 may join with an adult on a Family Membership.
$10 per year
Family Membership:
Two People
For two people, with at least one member age 18 or older. Holds one shared vote for BAS business.
$30 per year
Family Membership:
Three or More People
For three or more people, with at least one member age 18 or older. Holds one shared vote for BAS business.
$40 per year
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.