March 2024
Next BAS Monthly Meeting:
Monday, March 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the library (meeting room C) and via Zoom
Topic: Countdown to Totality!
The Great American Eclipse of 2024 is coming up soon! Are you ready? At the March BAS meeting, the countdown will be at T-minus 35 days and we will be discussing how to prepare for the big event. Whether you plan to travel to the totality centerline that runs through Texas, all the way to Maine and beyond, or stay put and see the 93% partial eclipse in Bartlesville, we will have advice to help you prepare. In addition, if you have eclipse experience, you are encouraged to attend and offer your experience and advice. After this event, we won’t have another total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous U.S. until August 23, 2044! That's twenty years from now. Don’t be left without the dark!
Club members will be sent a link to the Zoom meeting. Here is a link to the Join page on our website! If you are not a Club member but would like to attend, please email bvilleastro@gmail.com and ask to have the Zoom link sent to you!
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.
Check the club's web page for more information and any changes in schedule or to request a Zoom Link!
https://sites.google.com/site/bartlesvilleastronomyclub/
----------------------------
BAS March Meeting: March Movie Madness!
No - we are not going to show movies of old March Madness basketball games, Who needs basketball when you have movies? Most sports fans associate March with the NCAA basketball tournament and spend their days glued to the television screen and panicking over brackets that seem to get increasingly complicated each year. But you know what's more important than sports? Movies. We are inviting Carl Sagen, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Bugs Bunny, and NASA! There may even be movie refreshments! Come on up to the Library and see what is showing! Got any requests ? Send to bvilleastro@gmail.com!
——————————————
Dewey Elementary School Family Night - 2024
Wow - what an event the Dewey Elementary School Family Night was! There were probably over 150 people that attended this even and almost all of them
visited the BAS booth,
looked at the vinyl moon inside across the gym through a telescope, and
looked at the real moon outside through a telescope.
The BAS had one of the five different stations across the gym that had various actives taking place such as face painting, book fair, and of course robots. The BAS booth was setup with a telescope pointing at a vinyl moon across the gym, one of the new SeeStars to show a different type of telescope and some pictures taken with it, the path of the 2024 solar eclipse, and the usual handouts and business cards. Needless to say the booth was quite busy!
Outside we had a kid size scope (Celestron C90), on a kid size tripod (shortened camera tripod), looking at an almost full size Moon (the real Moon). The little C90 telescope - vintage 1970's - performed flawlessly and presented a sharp picture of the Moon. The Moon was large bright, clear and high enough for an easy target but not so high to make it awkward to view. Thank you Moon! One young lady wanted to see Jupiter - that was almost easy enough since it was almost overhead but still doable. Jupiter and four moons were lined up just right and that resulted in several oohs and aahs. Several children got to see Jupiter and then it was back over to the Moon.
At one time I counted 20 people lined up waiting to look through the telescope. You could tell by their expressions and the look on their faces that this may have been the first time they have seen the moon through a telescope or even looked through a telescope. I think the youngest person there was 1 week old (OK, he did not actually look through a telescope but his mama did) and the oldest was - well - we are not going to say! It is really neat to watch a young lad being picked up by the mom or dad and being held to the eyepiece and see their face fill with enlightenment.
And needless to say, all of us were busy talking with families, showing pictures, and helping view through telescopes. A big THANK YOU to the BAS members that helped with the event - Luann W, Gill G, Evan Z, and John B helped the BAS booth and astronomical viewing and Brian T had the OWU science corner. Heck, I even wanted to go play in Brian's corner!
In short, a good time was had by all.
John Blaesi
~~~~~
April 8, 2024, there will be another total eclipse ‘across’ America.
Are you ready?
Do you plan to go?
Don’t wait until 2024 to make your plans!
NASA Site
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsearch/SEsearchmap.php?Ecl=20240408
Weather Site
https://eclipsophile.com/2024tse/
~~~~~
The email address is bvilleastro+comments@gmail.com .
Apps for Consideration
Family Fun with Sky Watching
Clear Sky Predictor for Bartlesville:
https://clearskyalarmclock.com/index.php
Sky and Telescope News https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/
The full Moon splits the Sickle, the dawn Moon occults Antares, carnivore constellations stand up in the east, and the zodiacal light is at its evening best.
BY: ALAN MACROBERT FEBRUARY 23, 2024
A quasi-satellite of Venus has just received an unusual name.
BY: DAVID L. CHANDLER FEBRUARY 9, 2024
New evidence, based off of NASA's Cassini measurements of Mimas's orbit, suggests the icy "Death Star" moon might have a subsurface ocean.
BY: MONICA YOUNG FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Juno has revealed Jupiter's volcanic moon Io as never before.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON FEBRUARY 5, 2024
If you like chasing comets, here's a guide to the year's best and brightest.
BY: BOB KING JANUARY 31, 2024
Odysseus has become the first mission of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program to soft-land on the Moon.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON FEBRUARY 22, 2024
After decades of debate, James Webb Space Telescope observations provide firm evidence of a neutron star inside the 1987A supernova remnant.
BY: GOVERT SCHILLING FEBRUARY 22, 2024
In a new study, astronomers have identified a quasar more luminous and voracious than any found to date.
BY: KIT GILCHRIST FEBRUARY 21, 2024
Standard cosmological scenarios might not explain the breadth of a newly discovered cosmic structure.
BY: GOVERT SCHILLING FEBRUARY 20, 2024
New observations of a neutron star in the Milky Way's center shed light on what makes mysterious fast radio bursts.
BY: MONICA YOUNG FEBRUARY 16, 2024
Results from a brand-new high-energy observatory are rocking the field of cosmology. In particular, a study of more than 5,000 galaxy clusters relieves tension in the standard cosmological model.
BY: ARWEN RIMMER FEBRUARY 15, 2024
By studying the formation and evolution of galaxies in the early universe, researchers seek to test the predictions of our leading theory of cosmology.
BY: AAS NOVA FEBRUARY 12, 2024
A James Webb Space Telescope survey known as PHANGS has revealed exquisite, just-published details in 19 nearby galaxies.
BY: MONICA YOUNG FEBRUARY 8, 2024
New Hubble Space Telescope observations reveal the warm sub-Neptune GJ 9827d might have a steamy atmosphere.
BY: MONICA YOUNG FEBRUARY 2, 2024
The Japanese space agency has reestablished contact with its SLIM lunar lander prior to sunset, enabling mission science to continue.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON JANUARY 30, 2024
NASA’s ground-breaking Ingenuity helicopter, part of the Perseverance mission, comes to a rest on the Red Planet.
BY: DAVID DICKINSON JANUARY 29, 2024
Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events
(Source: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-current.html)
2024
March 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 09:02 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.
March 20 - March Equinox. The March equinox occurs at 03:01 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
March 24 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 18.7 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.
March 25 - 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 07:02 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.
March 25 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the Moon will darken slightly but not completely. The eclipse will be visible throughout all North America, Mexico, Central America, and South America.
(NASA Map and Eclipse Information)April 8 - 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 18:22 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 8 - Total Solar Eclipse. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the Sun, revealing the Sun's beautiful outer atmosphere known as the corona. This is a rare, once-in-a-lifetime event for viewers in the United States. The last total solar eclipse visible in the continental United States occurred in 2017 and the next one will not take place until 2045. The path of totality will begin in the Pacific Ocean and move across parts of Mexico and the eastern United States and Nova Scotia. The total eclipse will be visible in parts of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information) (NASA Interactive Google Map)
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. Unfortunately the glare of the full moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. 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 23 - 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 23:50 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.
Next Month's BAS Meeting: April 1, Monday. 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
John Blaesi
Vice President
John Grismore
Secretary
Denise Gregg
Treasurer
Evan Zorn
Appointed Positions and Board Members:
Program Director
Bob Young
Mike Woods
Observing Program Coordinator
Rick Buck
Member-at-Large
John Blaesi
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.
Comments: Send email to bvilleastro+comments@gmail.com or our newsletter editor: bvilleastro+newsletter@gmail.com