March 2025 Meeting Notes

Bartlesville Astronomical Society Meeting Notes

March 3, 2025

Attendance: 

We had 16 members and 1 visitor in attendance this evening, in person and on Zoom.

Astronomical trivia—John G:

How many multiplanetary star systems are currently known? 

5,086 stars are known to have exoplanets (as of January 26, 2025).  1,033 known multiplanetary systems with at least two planets have been confirmed.

How far away is the farthest known multi-planetary system?   

At 13,300 light-years away, the farthest confirmed multi-planetary system is OGLE-2012-BLG-0026L, in the constellation Sagittarius.

What is the closest multi-planetary system?  Our Solar System!

Astronomy 101—Evan

Evan provided an overview of the movie “Interstellar”.  There is a book associated with the movie, The Science of Interstellar.  The plot of the movie centers around climate change, leading to the Earth dying, accompanied by major dust storms.  Without giving the whole plot away, this led to the cast seeking out a new planet to live on in another galaxy.

We need more volunteers for Astronomy 101, 10-minute astronomy, to cover the months of May through December.  Ideas for 10-minute astronomy:

Astrophotography on a smartphone

Seasons

Solar cycles

Drunken Moon

Predicting good stargazing weather

Night vision/averted vision

Observing satellites

Binocular stargazing

Comets

Astrophotography without a telescope

10-minute cosmology

During the meeting, we had some volunteers for this!

Tricia—Drunken Moon—May

Gil--Astrophotography on a smartphone--June

Luann—Observing satellites--September

Main presentation:  Exploring Astronomical Filters, by Pat S.

Astrophotography and image processing are among Pat’s main astronomical interests!

·       There are several main aspects to using astronomical filters.  One is to help with visual observation; another is to assist with astrophotography.  There are also special filters to help with lunar observations and polarization.

·       The benefits of using filters include enhancing image quality, minimizing light pollution and improving image contrast.

·       With filters, you can emphasize certain wavelengths of light.’

·       Visual observation applications of filters:

o   Moon filters help reduce eye glare when looking at the Moon.

o   Planetary color filters help enhance features on planets such as Jupiter.  By emphasizing differences in contrast, color filters can help to highlight features such as belts, icecaps and other interesting zones on planets.

o   Filters for astrophotography:  Broadband and narrowband filters can be used. 

·       Moon filters reduce bright moonlight and glare, similar to sunglasses.   ND neutral density filters reduce light without affecting color balance.

·       Polarizing filters allow light waves of certain polarity to come through. 

·       Planetary color filters block certain light wavelengths and admit others.  This does reduce color information that is passed through but can boost contrast and remove glare.

·       Color filters come in numbered types—0-2 are colorless; 3-18, yellow; 19-29, orange; 30-36, magenta/violet.

·       Broadband filters let a wide range of light wavelengths pass through.  These filters are good for stargazing, color accuracy and brightness.  They can help with emphasizing true color and give a more natural look, while letting in just a little artificial light.

·       Narrowband filters are formatted for specific color wavelengths, almost eliminating light pollution.  These filters are good for deep-sky photography.  You can use a monochrome camera and a tracking mount for long exposure pictures and use multiple filters.  Later, you can use image processing software on the images you have taken. 

·       Multi-narrowband filters can be used for specific ranges of wavelengths.  These are designed for objects such as emission nebulae and are better for color camera photography.  These filters don’t work as well for reflection nebulae, for capturing natural star color, and for photographing other galaxies.  They do, however, do an excellent job of reducing light pollution.

Suggestions of what to buy:

·       ND or polarizing filters for Moon viewing

·       Planetary filters for planet contrast

·       For astrophotography, broadband filters and multiple narrowband filters

·       For advanced astrophotography, narrowband filters with a monochrome camera.  This results in the best astrophotography, but does require an investment of money as well as longer image processing time.

Recent Club Events:

·       We had an observing event at the old soccer fields east of the high school the night of February 28 for Bartlesville High School physics students.  Thanks to Gil, John G, Eugene, Pat, Brian and Luann for bringing scopes or otherwise helping out.  Around 20 high school physics students, and about 5-6 of Brian Turner's students at the college, joined us.  High school physics teacher Tanya Knollmeyer organized her students' attendance, and they were all very appreciative.  At least two other parents were able to join us as well.  It was a beautiful night, with the thinnest new crescent moon most of us had ever seen.  The group was able to see Mercury, a crescent Venus, Jupiter (with four moons), Mars and Uranus, as well as the Orion nebula, Pleaides and other objects. 

·       Craig, Pat, Evan, John G and Denise put up our library display March 1.  The highlight of the exhibit is the six posters Craig made of our photography.  There are legends to go with the posters in the display, as well as a sheet describing some of the astronomical terms used in the exhibit, plus books, historical Club framed documents and the latest NSN lunar eclipse poster.  Have a look at it before the end of March!

Upcoming Club Events:

·       Girl Scout Brownies observing event, at a home in Skiatook on Wednesday, March 5.  This is for a troop based in Owasso, but they are holding their event in Skiatook in order to have darker skies.  Luann is coordinating this event with the Scouts.

·       Sidewalk astronomy (as opposed to doing monthly star parties at Jo Allyn Lowe):  We discussed possible venues for this, including Hideaway Pizza and the library.  It was suggested that there might be more traffic during the evening at the library on a Tuesday or Thursday, since the library closes early on Fridays and Saturdays. 

·       John G brought up the idea of a Skyscapes project—taking pictures of the night sky, with interesting buildings in Bartlesville in the foreground.  You would take such pictures with a camera on a tripod. 

·       Billion Light Year Club—to see Quasar 3C 273, 2.5 billion light years away.  This quasar is magnitude 12.9, located in the constellation Virgo.  It would appear as a faint star-like object.  Its photons have been traveling toward us 2-plus billion years.  Could we capture it with a Seestar?  Dates for such an event would be April 14-28, 2025. 

·       Next Club meeting April 7—Daryl and Gil will present on Astronomy and Navigation.

Upcoming Astronomical Events:

Night of March 13-14—total lunar eclipse.  Penumbral phase begins 10:57 p.m. March 13.  Partial phase begins 12:10 a.m. March 14.  Totality begins 1:26 a.m., maximum totality 1:58 a.m., totality ends 2:31 a.m.  Partial phase ends 3:48 a.m. Penumbral phase ends 5 a.m.

Mar 6 - The Moon and Jupiter will be a little over 5° apart

Mar 8 - The Moon and Mars will be about 1.5° apart

Mar 9 - Venus and Mercury will be about 6° apart low in the west at dusk

Mar 9 - Daylight Savings Time begins, spring forward, set clocks 1 hour ahead

Mar 14 - Full Moon / Worm Moon Mar 14 - Total lunar eclipse, partial 00:10am - 03:48am, totality 01:26am - 02:31am

Mar 20 - Spring equinox at 04:01 CDT

Mar 23 - Saturn ring plane crossing, Saturn’s rings will be edge on and nearly invisible Mar 29 - New Moon

Apr 05 - Mars and the Moon will be about 2° apart in the late evening, high in the southern sky

Apr 12 - Full Moon / Pink Moon, exact at 19:22 CDT

Apr 20 - Mercury reaches its highest altitude, at 11° above the horizon it will be difficult to observe

Treasurer’s Report – Evan Z:

·       Dues are now overdue!

·       Ending balance January 31, 2025:  $17175.68

·       Deposit $1000.00 in volunteer grant submitted by Denise

·       Deposit $40.14 for Truity account interest

·       Expense $27.08 reimbursement to Denise for library display supplies

·       Expense for library display posters printed at Staples $278.78

·       Ending balance February 28, 2025:  $17909.96

Former club member Fred Frey has a Dobsonian telescope that needs a new owner.  It needs cleaning.

Request:  We would like to include member astrophotos, ranging from handheld smartphone pictures, to unguided camera on a tripod shots, to telescopic images, at future BAS meetings. Please email them to bvilleastro@gmail.com.

BAS needs volunteers:

We need volunteers for public star parties and other observing events.  All members are encouraged to help out with some of these events.  In addition to telescopes, help is needed with setup, answering general stargazing questions, conversing with and encouraging visitors, providing handouts and signup sheets. If you can help, contact jrgrismore@icloud.com.

Reminders:

BAS has equipment, books, educational materials and scopes available for loan to qualifying members.