June 2024 Meeting Notes

Bartlesville Astronomical Society Meeting Notes

June 3, 2024

Attendance:  We had 14 members plus 11 guests (including our guest speaker), in person and on Zoom. 

Main program: ”Galaxy Clusters and Supernovae: Cosmic Probes of the Universe" by Moonzarin Reza, graduate student in Astronomy at Texas A&M University. 

Moonzarin has served as a Visiting Scholar at Fermilab. Her research focuses on data-intensive computational astronomy. She has used the data from large-scale astronomical surveys such as SDSS, Kepler, as well as large-scale simulations such as EAGLE and Quijote, to study the Universe at different scales, ranging from stars to galaxy clusters. Her research focus is on constraining the cosmological parameters, which describe the fundamental behavior of the universe.

In her presentation, Moonzarin began by giving a general definition of cosmology.  Cosmology is the scientific study of the universe as a whole, encompassing the origin, evolution and fate of the universe; the formation of large-scale structures in the universe; and the dynamics of the universe.  Moonzarin discussed various cosmological parameters, such as the density of total matter and radiation density.

Galaxy clusters are the largest known gravitationally bound structures in the universe. These clusters contain hundreds to thousands of galaxies. The light from galaxy clusters is measured in longer, redder wavelengths—their light is “red-shifted”.

Optical surveys of galaxy clusters indicate their richness—the number of galaxies in a cluster--and then maps of galaxy clusters are made.

Supernovae of galaxies are of several types. Type 1 has no hydrogen; type 2 has hydrogen.  Type 1a supernovae occur in binary star systems and are used as “standard candles”, which are a measurement of the intensity of a light source.  Type 1a supernovae are very bright; they can be observed in distant galaxies, and are reliable indicators of distance.   Type 1a supernovae are rare, though, and can be affected by dust and gas.

There are several proposed universe development models—open (a universe continually expanding); flat (universe that is expanding, but more slowly over time); and closed (the “Big Crunch”).  All of these models began with the Big Bang.

Astronomical events/reports:

We didn’t have a star party May 11 due to weather.  In lieu of the star party, Denise sent an email about the possibility of Northern Lights the night of May 10, and we were able to see them in Bartlesville and photograph them, even with mobile devices!  Denise showed a selection of photographs, taken with mobile devices and also with a camera using longer exposure times.  This was an exceptionally strong Northern Lights event.   Denise also showed other images of astrophotography taken with an iPhone, to illustrate that you can take pictures of astronomical objects without a standard camera or a telescope.

Upcoming events:

Star party at Jo Allyn Lowe June 8, weather permitting

Summer solstice June 20 3:50 p.m.

Club Business:

Treasurer’s Report – Evan:

April 30 ending balance: $15,030.49.

Plus: $455.91 from a Benevity Causes donation.

Less: $15.00 payment to the State of OK for our annual registration.

Ended May 31: $15,471.40.

Portable projector?  The projector used by the BYA is in our storage room at the mall, but it’s not very portable.  A portable, battery-powered one would cost $200-500.  Pat S is working on this.

P66 volunteer grant update:  Evan reported that Phillips 66 is discontinuing the volunteer grant program as well as donation-matching for Phillips 66 retirees effective July 1, 2024.  This means that any P66 retirees who have accumulated enough hours by July 1 to apply for volunteer grants will need to do so soon.  Evan said that this change doesn’t apply to P66 employees, just retirees.

Denise said that as far as she knows, ConocoPhillips has not announced a similar change for the volunteer grant program for COP retirees. 

Astronomical League update:

·   MSRAL is June 7-9 at the Mahoney State Park Lodge in Nebraska.  The conference dates are the same dates as the OKM Music Festival here.  Registration is open at www.msral.org. 

·   AlCon will be in Overland Park, Kansas, July 16-20, and one of the speakers will be David Levy.  Registration is now open at https://www.astroleague.org/

Sunfest:  We had 428 people come to our Sunfest booth! Thirty people signed up to get the newsletter, and most of those also want to get the youth newsletter, if the youth group starts meeting again.  Thanks goes to Craig, John B, Evan, Joann, Katlynn, John G, Brian, Gil and Meg, who volunteered with setup, takedown, and/or working one or more booth shifts!  Denise showed some pictures taken at Sunfest, including a Wheel Bug and a Convergent Lady Beetle that visited our booth!

Library display is coming up in August.

Girl Scout event this September:  They have asked that we come do a star party (like we have done before) at Camp Wah-Shah-She September 20, 21, or 22; will probably do on Friday, September 20.  Craig is coordinating this event.  Will need volunteers.

Green Country Village:  They would like a presentation; Denise is working on setting up a date (daytime event).  We could possibly bring some telescopes just to show them or look at the Sun.

Brookdale Senior Living:  Denise has offered to a presentation on meteor showers for them.  Date pending.

Eldercare fundraiser--“Dinner Under the Stars” to be held at the Cross Bell Ranch:  Date not yet set, would need to take place before September 30.  John B is coordinating this event.  Will need volunteers; will wait until closer to the date to confirm.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum planetarium:  Denise has suggested some September dates to them; she has not yet heard back.

Next club meeting:  July 1 at the library, topic apps for your phone

Later meetings:

August:  New telescope technology

September:  Night Sky photography and proposed slate of Club officers for 2025

October:  Club elections and other business, and something fun

November:  Do you want a telescope for Christmas?

December:  An upcoming year’s worth of meteor showers; possibly a star party

January:  You got a telescope for Christmas.  Now what do you do with it?