November 2016
Monday, November 7, 7:00 p.m.
(6:30 - Setup and Casual Conversation)
Bartlesville Public Library
7:15 p.m.
Moon Lore
by
Fran Stallings
Fran's presentation will discuss moon lore.
Bartians, Parents and other interested Beings:
At last months meeting we decided to move the November get together to Nov. 14th because our regular get together date would be during the week of Thanksgiving. I was not able to get the a room at the Bartlesville Library for the 14th. BAS Member Bob Young was able to get us a room at his church. So.....
BYA November Get Together: Monday, 14 November 2016 - Our Savior Lutheran Church - 300 N. Madison Blvd. (SEE ATTACHED MAP) - Setup @ 6:30, Meeting Starts @ 7:00
The Agenda for the meeting includes Astronomy News, presentations on the Constellation Leo and on Extraterrestrial Life, and our next Learn and Earn: Coordinate Systems Part 1 - "I am the Center of the Universe" (see attached Agenda).
Reminder - November is the month we pay our annual Bartlesville Astronomical Society Dues. More information coming soon.
We are still working on finding a site to launch our rockets. once we find a site, we will set up 1 or 2 times for launch parties and socials.
Finally, the notes from our October Get Together are attached.
Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or any information you would like to pass on to the group.
-Rick Bryant, BAS Youth Leader
Link to a photography blog regarding the Eclipse:
Have your hotel ready?
John Blaesi
Family Fun with Sky Watching
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.
News from the Night Sky Network:
Get Started with Variable Star Observing
Try mastering the art of tracking the brightness of a variable star with this guide from the American Association of Vari able Star Observers (AAVSO) and Astronomers Without Borders.Try out the beginner's spotting guide on their website and see if you can record the difference in brightness over time. If you like this program the AAVSO is your friend in becoming a variable star observing master, and the Astronomical League has a great observing program with many more stars to observe and track.
How the Hubble Space Telescope Imaged Mars
Amateurs get great pictures of Mars during opposition by using lots of preparation and skill with their preferred equipment at their observing sites. What kind of preparation does it take for scientists to get amazing pictures of Mars using the Hubble Space Telescope? We found out how by asking Max Mutchler, Research and Instrument Scientist at the Space Telescope Science Institute, who specializes in working with the Hubble Space Telescope's cameras!
Vivian White & David Prosper
The Night Sky Network Team
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.
By: Alan MacRobert | July 17, 2006 | Comments 1
Long-exposure astrophotography requires an accurately aligned equatorial mount.
- See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/equipment-diy/#sthash.54pqzBDM.dpuf
Tips for Shooting Great Nightscapes
By: Babak Tafreshi | August 10, 2015 | Comments 0
Capturing the Earth and sky in one great composition is surprisingly easy.
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/
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.
Tour November’s Sky: Hello, Venus!
By: Kelly Beatty | October 28, 2016 | Comments 1
Mars is still hanging around, and Venus is climbing higher each evening. Download our monthly astronomy podcast to get more stargazing info.
Jupiter Greets Crescent Moon in the Pre-Dawn Sky
By: JR | October 27, 2016 | Comments 2
On Friday, October 28th, the waning crescent Moon and brilliant Jupiter get together for an early morning conjunction.
8th-magnitude Nova in Sagittarius
By: Bob King | October 24, 2016 | Comments 24
A nova in Sagittarius, discovered a few nights ago by a Japanese amateur, has become bright enough to see in binoculars. Update: As of October 31st, the nova had been holding at about magnitude 8.0 for a week. It's temporarily designated TCP J18102829-2729590. This is not to be confused with another nova just above the…
Big Kuiper Object 2007 OR10 Has a Moon
By: Kelly Beatty | October 21, 2016 | Comments 0
Hubble images reveal a satellite orbiting one of the Kuiper Belt's biggest objects. An interesting trend has emerged concerning the largest objects in the distant Kuiper Belt: they have moons. Most notable is Pluto, with four. Haumea has two. Eris, Orcus, Quaoar, and Makemake each have one. In fact, of the eight largest known trans-Neptunian…
ESA’s Schiaparelli Lander: Missing in Action
By: David Dickinson | October 20, 2016 | Comments 1
Here's what we know so far about the fate European Space Agency's Schiaparelli mission.
ExoMars Orbiter Reaches Red Planet
By: Kelly Beatty | October 19, 2016 | Comments 0
After a 7-month journey from Earth and a 139-minute rocket burn, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has settled in around its new home.
Two Stars, Three Planet-forming Disks
By: Monica Young | October 17, 2016 | Comments 0
A young pair of stars hosts three potentially planet-forming disks, and all three of them are wildly tilted with respect to each other.
Proxima Centauri Has Sun-Like Cycle
By: Camille M. Carlisle | October 12, 2016 | Comments 0
Observations confirm that the closest star to our solar system has a regular magnetic cycle similar to our Sun.
Could Spacecraft Make it to Proxima Centauri?
By: Monica Young | August 25, 2016 | Comments 19
Dust and gas between stars would pose a threat to spacecraft en route from Earth to the Alpha Centauri system — and scientists are seriously considering the problem now that the prospect of interstellar travel is no longer sci-fi.
Exoplanet Found Around Proxima Centauri
By: Camille M. Carlisle | August 24, 2016 | Comments 2
Astronomers have discovered a planet in the habitable zone of the closest star to the Sun.
By: Alan MacRobert | October 13, 2016 | Comments 2
The news that astronomers find the universe has 10 times more galaxies than previously thought? There's less to this than the headlines say.
ALMA Pans for Galactic Gold in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field
By: Monica Young | September 27, 2016 | Comments 5
ALMA, the largest telescope array in the world, took a look at the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, and revealed the cosmic history of star formation.
Daily Alert for Asteroid Flybys
By: Camille M. Carlisle | September 22, 2016 | Comments 0
Skyweek
October 30 - 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 17:38 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.
November 4, 5 - Taurids Meteor Shower. The Taurids is a long-running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is unusual in that it consists of two separate streams. The first is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. The second stream is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke. The shower runs annually from September 7 to December 10. It peaks this year on the the night of November 4. The first quarter moon will set just after midnight leaving dark skies for viewing. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 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 13:52 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. It has also been known as the Frosty Moon and the Hunter's Moon. This is also the second 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.
November 16, 17 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is an average shower, producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of the 16th and morning of the 17th. The waning gibbous moon will block many of the fainter meteors this year, but if you are patient you 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 Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
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.
2016 BAS Programs
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Program
Lunar Stratigraphy
Barndoor Drives for Astrophotography
Stellarium, free planetary program
Astro Blitz, Six Quick Astronomy Slideshows
Introduction to Google/online tools for BAS
Do it yourself astronomy equipment
Virtual Lunar Atlas
Presenter
Bob Young
Rick Bryant
Daryl Doughty
Cruce, Bryant, Gregg, Doughty, Zorn, Grismore
Racheeta Agrawal
Jerry Koenig
Jerry Koenig
Star Lore
Resistance is Futile
Preparing for the total solar eclipse 2017
Moon Lore
Derek Herrman
Bartian Youth Astronomers
Daryl Doughty
Fran Stallings
Next Meeting
November 7, 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.
The current officers are:
The current board members are:
Additional club positions:
Membership is open to everyone interested in any aspects of astronomy.
Adult. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20.00
Students (through 12th grade) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00
Magazine Subscription (reduced rate for members)
Sky & Telescope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32.95
Astronomy Technology Today Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $14.00
Astronomy Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34.00/yr