Monday, December 5, 7:00 p.m.

(6:30 - Setup and Casual Conversation)

Bartlesville Public Library

7:15 p.m.

Meteorites: Tour Guides of the Asteroid Belt and More

by

Dr. Kathryn Gardner-Vandy

Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy is a planetary scientist who studies meteorites. She has a PhD in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona and a BS in Geology from the University of Oklahoma. She is self-employed as an Earth and Space Science consultant and is also a Research Associate at The University of Tulsa. In January, she will be starting as an adjunct professor in the Aviation and Space program at Oklahoma State University.

Link to a photography blog regarding the Eclipse:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/outdoors/features/mark-your-calendars-north-american-solar-eclipse-2017?utm_medium=Email%201624387&utm_campaign=Content&utm_source=WeeklyContent%20160827&utm_content=Explora&utm_term=mark-calendars-north-american-solar-eclipse-2017

Have your hotel ready?

John Blaesi

Dear fellow stargazer:

I'm a real person (a mom of two from Boston) who designed a commemorative tee shirt for the 2017 Eclipse. Please forgive the intrusion if you are not interested, but if you or your group are in need of a "totality" tee shirt, I hope you'll take a look: zazzle.com/vernons_store+gifts

Thanks so much.

See you in the path! Betsy Hudson P.O. Box 978 Boylston, MA 01505

At 1st glance I almost deleted it - but looked at the website

I​t's not just T-Shirts - they have polo shirts - jackets - hoodies - sweatshirt etc.

select a design and a set of links pops up below says Styles 75 or some such

$ 25 ea for a t-shirt is pretty stiff but $ 25 for a nice polo or jacket is very reasonable.

Anyway take and look and see if its something ​you want to let ​your members know about.

​Also Have your seen any other eclipse related items

I ordered Eclipse glasses and viewing cards from ​http://www.rainbowsymphony.com/eclipse-glasses

​If you order 100 or more the price is only $ 0.75 each They arrived in less than a week.

I plan to give sets to all my grandkids school classes - neighbors - and extended family.

The Eclipse cards are much better for younger kids - they can be mounted on an 8 by 10 sheet of card stock or cardboard - thus shielding their whole face.

Particularly handy since this eclipse will be about 65 degs high near mid-day during totality.​

Our club is also selling them as a fund raiser nearer the event.

John Land

​ - Tulsa Club​

Resource: It's All Done with Mirrors

These simple demonstrations are a great way to illustrate the path of light as it reflects off of mirrors and how this is used in telescopes, especially if you have ever been asked why the Moon appears "flipped" or "upside down" in your eyepiece! Check out this activity, complete with demo video and list of materials, on the NSN website at:

https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=345

Universe Discovery Guide: The Fate of Our Universe

Universe Discovery Guide for November: The Fate of Our Universe

https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=548

Article: Light Pollution and You

Light pollution has long been the bane of amateur astronomers, but in recent years its effects have become much more prominent, and not just to stargazers. Extremely bright white LED lights, while more efficient, have created problems for some communities as they have replaced their street lamps, and have raised awareness of just how much light is too much light at night.

Find out more about light pollution, including how to measure it, where to avoid it, and how to help your community curb the effects of bad lighting in this article.

https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/news-display.cfm?News_ID=745

That is all for our member news for this month. Questions or comments? You can reach us at nightskyinfo@astrosociety.org

Wishing you clear, dark skies,

Vivian White & Dave Prosper

Night Sky N etwork Administrators

Family Fun with Sky Watching

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-resources/stargazing-basics/family-projects-and-experiments/

Predictive Prowess: See an Iridium Flare

By: Bob King | July 17, 2014 | Comments 4

Channel your inner superpower by looking up at the night sky precisely when a dazzling blaze of light is beamed to Earth from outer space.

I found this free course for folks interested in Astronomy!

https://www.udemy.com/astronomy-state-of-the-art/learn/v4/overview

Goodluck!

Racheeta Agrawal

Hello BAS members

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/

Sky & Telescope’s Telescope-Tutorial Videos

By: Kelly Beatty | December 19, 2014 | Comments 0

In a quartet of high-quality videos, Sky & Telescope editors offer newcomers solid, objective tips on how to buy, use, equip, and care for new telescopes.

What to Know Before Buying a Telescope

By: Tony Flanders | April 16, 2014 | Comments 12

Looking through a telescope introduces you to a whole new world of unexpected wonders. But telescopes come in a huge range of sizes and shapes. Here's a detailed, printable guide to the essential features that every good scope needs to have.

How to Choose Your First Telescope

By: The Editors of Sky Telescope | November 21, 2016 | Comments 3

Here's a quick guide to the essential features that you should look for when buying your first telescope.

How to Choose a Telescope

By: Adrian R. Ashford | April 16, 2014 | Comments 0

The incredible variety of telescopes presents a real challenge for first-time buyers. Here's a no-nonsense primer to an astronomical rite of passage.

Clarendon (c): Meteorite Find of a Lifetime

By: Ruben Garcia | November 22, 2016 | Comments 3

Dug out of a Texas field last year, the second-largest chondrite ever found in the U.S. has been donated to Texas Christian University.

Astronomers Discover Roundest Star

By: Monica Young | November 21, 2016 | Comments 5

Asteroseismologists delving into the Kepler mission's data trove have found a star that appears to be more spherical than any natural object.

Sputnik Planitia Made Pluto’s “Heart” Wander

By: Kelly Beatty | November 18, 2016 | Comments 0

A big, nitrogen-ice-filled basin has apparently caused Pluto's entire crust to shift over time.

Radio Bursts Herald Future Science

By: Camille M. Carlisle | November 17, 2016 | Comments 0

For the first time, astronomers have discovered a (potential) high-energy counterpart to a fast radio burst, and also used a different burst to probe the cosmic web.

Jupiter Returns with a Stormy Surprise

By: Sean Walker | October 28, 2016 | Comments 0

The gas giant is emerging in the glow of dawn sporting an tumultuous North Temperate Belt.

Skyweek

November 29 - 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 12:18 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.

December 11 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 20.8 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.

December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The nearly full moon will block out many of the fainter meteors this year, but the Geminids are so bright and numerous that it could still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

December 14 - 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 00:06 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the cold winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. This moon has also been known as the Full Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule. This is also the last of three supermoons for 2016. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

December 21 - December Solstice. The December solstice occurs at 10:44 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

December 21, 22 - Ursids Meteor Shower. The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. The second quarter moon will block many of the fainter meteors. But if you are patient, you might still be able to catch a few of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

December 29 - 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 06:53 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.

January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower. The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving fairly dark skies for what could be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

January 12 - 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 11:34 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps. This moon has also been know as the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.

January 12 - Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 47.1 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 evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.

January 19 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 24.1 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.

• • (Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2017.html)

2016 BAS Programs

Next Meeting

January 2, 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.