Transcript
Saguaro Skies Saguaro Astronomy Club, Phoenix, AZ Volume 40, Issue 10
October 2016
The President’s Corner Autumn has arrived signaled by the cooler morning and evening temperatures. It’s that time of year that presents lots of activities in which SAC members can take part. October has our annual fall season Thunderbird star party, which I hope will be as well attended as our one in the spring. At the end of the month is the All Arizona Star Party hosted by EVAC. See this newsletter for details on these events and come on out and join your fellow club members and local astronomers under the stars. On the housekeeping end of things, October is the month where we open the meeting floor to nominations for new officers in the club. Several positions will be vacant including the President and Vice President and, if I recall, the Treasurer. Without sounding like a Public Television fund raising host, I do want to say that this is a way to participate in SAC beyond paying dues and attending meetings that can be very rewarding. As president, I met and corresponded with many people in the universe of astronomy that I never would have met as a rank and file member. I know over the years that many members of SAC have served in just about every capacity of office there is from board members to committee chairs. This is a chance to
Inside this issue: * Click Links to jump
continue that great tradition in our almost 40 year old club and maybe help set a new direction for the next decade of SAC. I hope to see you all at our next club meeting, October 14th at GCU. If you feel you do want to be nominated for office, I promise we won’t hold any debates. Michael mail to:
[email protected]
Editor Notes, Events & Spaceflight Trivia
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(Rick Rotramel)
Best of the NGC:
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NGC 7243, Open Cluster in Lacerta (SAC Imagers & Observers) (Compiled by: Rick Rotramel)
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Call for Best of the NGC Images, Notes & Sketches (Rick Rotramel)
SUCH-A-DEAL
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Ten ads
Bits & Pisces SAC Meeting Minutes
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(Kevin Kozel)
Sept. Speaker/Wanted! Deep Sky Chairman 25 & 10 Years Ago in SAC And They Build Telescopes
SAC President, Michael Poppre
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(Rick Rotramel)
Photo: Susan Trask
SAC Observing Website: saguaroastro.org
Follow SAC on Facebook
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The 2016 All Arizona Star Party Friday & Saturday Eves, Oct. 28 & 29
Quick Calendar Saturday, Oct. 8: T-Bird Park Public Star Party, 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM, see page 15 Tuesday, Oct. 11: SAC ATM/Imaging Meeting, 6:30 PM; @ Paul Lind's Shop Friday, Oct. 14: SAC General Meeting, 7:30PM; Speaker: Steve Coe, SAC member, Topic: “Comets he has viewed over the years.” Fri. & Sat. Oct. 28 & 29: All Arizona Star Party, Hovatter Airstrip Site, page 14 Tuesday, Nov. 8: SAC ATM/Imaging Meeting, 6:30 PM; @ Paul Lind's Shop Friday, Nov. 11: SAC General Meeting, 7:30 PM; Speaker: TBA, Topic: TBA Thursday, Nov 24: Happy Thanksgiving
SAC Outreach
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Fall Thunderbird Park Public Star Party Saturday, October 8th
SAC Officers/Chairs
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(Meeting Location & Occultation Info)
SAC Membership Form 17 Header image © 2000-2013 Stellarium Developers Scorpius setting in the southwest.
© Saguaro Astronomy Club, 2016
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Editor Notes
Schedule of Events 2016
Hi Folks,
SAC General Meetings
The Fall Thunderbird Park Public Star Party takes place on Saturday, October 8th. Bring out your telescope and show the public some views that the sky has to offer. Read about the details in SAC Outreach on page 15. The Best of the NGC features this month, NGC 7243, open cluster in Lacerta, thanks to all who contributed this month. In Bits and Pisces, you can find Meeting Minutes for the September SAC General Meeting, SAC History and And They Build Telescopes. In SAC Observing there is a run down of the 2016 All Arizona Star Party coming up the last weekend of October. EVAC does a fine job coordinating this great Fall Star Party. This is a great time for everyone of Arizona's astronomers who pretty much suffered through the Summer Monsoon season and are just itching to get out to a very dark site and meet with their friends to gather, enjoy a fun raffle for some goodies, eat a chili dinner and observe under the fine Arizona skies that everyone else is jealous of. So, I hope to see a whole bunch of happy astronomers out at the Hovatter Road Airstrip site.
Jan 22
Feb 19
Mar 18
Apr 22
May 20
Jun 24
Jul 22
Aug 12
Sept 9
Oct 14
Nov 11
Party, TBA
@ Grand Canyon University, Fleming Building, 7:30 PM See page near back of this issue for location.
SAC ATM/Imaging Meeting Tuesday, October 11th @ Paul Lind's Home Shop
T-Bird Park Fall Public Star Party Saturday, October 8th, Setup @ Sunset For info, click here: http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/t-bird_2016-fall.pdf
Cimarron Springs Elementary School Star Party Thursday, Oct. 27th from 5:30-7 pm. 17032 W. Surprise Farms Loop S, Surprise, AZ Email Sharon Harrigan: sharon.harrigan @dysart.org if you can bring and share your telescope with the kids. http://www.freelists.org/post/sac-forum/Fwd-literacy-night
All Arizona Star Party
Fri. & Sat, October 28 & 29 @ Hovatter Airstrip Info: http://evaconline.org/aasp_2016.htm
Site map: http://evaconline.org/AASP_2010_MapInfo.htm Friday: 5:30pm Potluck; Saturday: 4:30pm Social Hour, 5:00pm Raffle ($1 per ticket). 5:30pm Chili Dinner ($5)
Rick Rotramel, Editor
Spaceflight Trivia Can you name the mission involved in this picture below? (See answer on page 5)
SAC Announcements Nominations for 2017 SAC Officers At the October 14th SAC Meeting: Here's your chance to lead SAC! SAC's 40th Anniversary is next year! Ideas wanted for this celebration. Submit ideas to your SAC President! Join the planning committee. 2017 AAMM Dinner & Raffle Committee
NASA
Rick Rotramel, Chairman. * If you want to help plan and carry out this event, contact Rick and he will add you to the committee.
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Best Of The NGC: NGC 7243, Open Cluster in Lacerta By SAC Imagers, Observers & Sketchers, Compiled by Rick Rotramel
Lacerta Star Map Image by David Dillmore; 8” f/5 Newtonian, multi-purpose coma corrector and Sky Glow filter, Nikon D3300, a single 10 second exposure at ISO 12800, processed in Corel Paint Shop Pro 5, cropped, 9/3/16, Saddle Mountain Observatory, Tonopah, Arizona.
David Douglass
Continued on next page...
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Best Of The NGC: NGC 7243, Open Cluster in Lacerta By SAC Imagers, Observers & Sketchers, Compiled by Rick Rotramel
SAC Observer: Steve Coe
SAC Observer: Rick Rotramel
10X50 binocs; Antennas, S+T=7, pretty bright, pretty large, triangular, 3 pretty bright stars in a straight line through cluster center, another 3 stars seen with averted vision only, pretty well detached.
16” f4.4, 90x; Pretty Bright, pretty Large, pretty Rich, lots of pairs of stars.
ED 80; Antennas, S+T=6, 14mm, pretty bright, pretty large, somewhat rich and little compressed. There are 32 stars of magnitudes 9 and fainter in an irregular figure. There are several faint and very faint members, some at the limit of the ED 80 and averted vision. There is a matched pair on the north side, both white. TV 102; Antennas, S+T=7, 14mm, pretty bright, pretty large, not compressed, 19 stars resolved, somewhat detached, nice matched pair of 10th magnitude stars involved on north edge. 6" f/6 Maksutov-Newtonian; Flatiron, S+T=6, 14mm EP, pretty bright, pretty large, somewhat compressed, 33 stars mags 8-12. Averted vision shows many fainter members. The Struve double is dead center, it is just split at this power. 6" f/8; Antennas, S+T=7, 14mm, pretty large, little rich, not compressed, 26 stars resolved including one almost matched pair. Not very well detached. 8" SCT; Antennas, 22mm Pan, S+T=7, Pretty large, considerably rich, somewhat compressed. I counted 34 stars, averted vision added 5 more stars. There is a Struve matched pair included and a faint fuzzy background of unresolved stars. This cluster is moderately well detached. Nexstar 11; Cherry Rd, S=6 T=7, 80X, bright pretty large, somewhat rich, not compressed, 39 stars mags 10-13, few faint members, double star is easily split. Moderately detached from Milky Way. Nexstar 11; Sentinel, S=5 T=7, 22mm Panoptic EP, there are two sections to this cluster, 44 stars counted total. Pretty bright, large, pretty rich, little compressed and somewhat detached. The Struve dbl. that is included is a matched pair about 11th mag. 13" f/5.6; Dugas Rd, S=5 T=6, Bright, large and not compressed at 100X. 39 stars were counted in this rather coarse cluster. A dark lane divides the cluster into 1/3 and 2/3 groups. 13" f/5.6; Sentinel, 8/10 S+T, 60X, Bright cluster, very large, not compressed, 66 stars counted mags 9...., many pretty bright stars involved. Lovely yellow-yellow double star in center of cluster.
30 x 30
Rick Rotramel, 16” f4.4, 50x
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Call for Best of the NGC images, notes and sketches. Hello SAC imagers, observers & sketchers: For November, the Best of the NGC will feature NGC 457, OC, 01 19.1 +58 20, Mag. 6.4, rich, 80*, in Cassiopeia. For submitting images, send your file as an attachment in an email to the editor. Please send caption details of the image: Optics, camera, main software used, exposure, location and date taken. Observation notes are sent in the email text area or as an attached file. For scanned sketches, send a file with caption details: optics and eyepiece power used. Email to:
[email protected] For December, NGC 1232, Sc, face-on spiral, 03 09.7 -20 34, Mag. 10.5, 8x7, in Eridanus. For January, NGC 2403, Sc Galaxy, 07 36.8 +65 37, Mag. 9.5, visible in binocs, in Camelopardalis.
Spaceflight Trivia Answer Mariner 5 Mission type Operator COSPAR ID Mission duration Spacecraft properties Manufacturer Launch mass Power Start of mission Launch date Rocket Launch site End of mission Last contact Flyby of Venus Closest approach Distance
Venus flyby NASA / JPL 1967-070A 5 months Jet Propulsion Laboratory 244.9 kilograms (540 lb) 170 W June 14, 1967, 06:01:00 UTC Atlas-SLV3 Agena-D Cape Canaveral LC-12 December 21, 1967 October 19, 1967 3,990 kilometers (2,480 miles)
Mission Profile Mariner 5 was launched from the Eastern Test Range of Cape Kennedy on an Atlas Agena D on 14 June 1967 at 06:01:00 UT. A mid-course correction (a 17.66 second burn) was made on 19 June. Mariner 5 reached Venus on 19 October and began transmitting data. Closest approach at an altitude of 4094 km occurred at 17:34:56 UT. At this time Venus was approximately 79.5 million km from Earth. Mariner 5 passed in front of Venus' orbit and was occulted from Earth for approximately 26 minutes. Data transmissions occurred after the encounter. Contact was lost on 4 December 1967, but was temporarily regained on 14 October 1968. The spacecraft is now in heliocentric orbit. The spacecraft instruments measured both interplanetary and Venusian magnetic fields, charged particles, and plasmas, as well as the radio refractivity and UV emissions of the Venusian atmosphere. The mission was termed a success. Total research, development, launch, and support costs for the Mariner series of spacecraft (Mariners 1 through 10) was approximately $554 million.
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SUCH-A-DEAL ITEMS FOR SALE
ITEMS FOR SALE MEADE ETX-90EC 90mm Maksutov Telescope
Meade 10” LX200 GPS w/UHTC Telescope ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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LX200 GPS with UHTC (Enhanced Optical Coatings) Meade 26mm Super Plossl eyepiece, Finder Scope and tripod mount. 8 Meade Eyepieces in aluminum brief case: 6.4mm 9.7mm 12.4mm 15mm 21mm 32mm 40mm 2x Barlow Lens Moon Filter Lumicon Deep Sky Filter Wired and Wireless Handsets Cosmic One SCT Cooler (12-volt plug. Cools inside of SCT Tube to ambient temperature). Soft Cover for Telescope Note: The electric micro-focuser is not functioning presently. Needs troubleshooting. Original Shipping Box
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Includes the following: #07426 8 x 21mm Erect Image Viewfinder #07427/#825 8 x 25mm Right Angle Viewfinder Deluxe Tripod Eyepieces: Meade Ultra Wide Angle 6.7mm multi-coated Meade Super Plossl 26mm LP multi-coated Meade 2X telenegative multi-coated Meade remote controller #880 Table Tripod for Polar Alignment of the ETX-90EC Astro Telescope Manual Compass Carrying Case Allen wrenches Selling on behalf of a friend, Asking $350.00 For all. Contact Rick Tejera: 623-203-4121 Email:
[email protected]
FOR SALE $1,700 Contact Tim Tucker: 480-215-4453 Email:
[email protected] FYI: I live in Maricopa
Any products we sell - any products you buy here - help fund educational programs and remote access to the telescopes for public and private school students, homeschool students, and, astronomy clubs as part of their High-Tech Outreach Programs to younger members. We are dedicated to educational outreach. We also offer critical products you need for visual observing and digital imaging.
1350 S Greenfield Rd #2105 Mesa, AZ 85206 Phone: (480) 779-9262
http://corvus-optics.com/ SUCH-A-DEAL Ads placed here are free to SAC members. SAC is not responsible for the quality of the advertised items.
http://www.apache-sitgreaves.org/Enter.html
If you wish to place an ad here to sell your telescope or astronomy related items, contact Rick Rotramel at:
[email protected]
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SUCH-A-DEAL ITEMS FOR SALE
ITEMS FOR SALE
Miyauchi 100mm Flourite APO 45 Binoculars
160mm (6-inch) f/8 Celestron HD150 refractor Celestron HD150 refractor on Celestron CI-700 mount
Included: ●
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NGC-Max control computer Sky Commander computer All cables, power cords Orion 8x50 finder scope Telrad Metal eyepiece tray Battery shelf Large Pelican case for mount and its accessories Golf club case for OTA Baader white solar filter Extra 5-pound counterweight Two 2.5 lb weights 23-pound counterweight Manual for CI-700 Leveling legs for tripod UV filter 2-inch EP / focusing assembly
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Like new Carrying case Miyauchi 3x12mm finder 20x and 37x eyepieces I also had a surveying instrument company fit a Hewlett Packard mount. This is more solid than the no longer available Miyauchi fork mount. As similar pair sold recently w/o mount on astromart.com for $3500. $2000, Firm PRICE REDUCED! I want $3000 and will drive it (don't trust shipping) to any location in Arizona. Thanks, Monte Email:
[email protected]
Excellent planet and double star telescope, the HD150 gives sharp edgeto-edge views. The included UV filter helps a bit with color correction on planets. Offered by Richard Harshaw (
[email protected]) Cell: 480.227.7231.
Price Reduced to: $1,350.00 Asking price: $1,610.00 (Check, cash or credit card) Call for appointment to see. Located in Cave Creek near Cave Creek Road and Carefree Highway (AZ 74)
In the 70's & early 80's HP made an electronic distance measuring device (EDM). It was a pivoting yoke mount on a tribrach, attached to a heavy surveyors tripod. This tribrach/mount goes on to either a pier or surveyor's tripod via a 5/8"x 11 thread. I will include a Trimble commercial GPS pier. It will also go directly on any 5/8x11 tripod.
ITEMS FOR SALE Celestron 9.25” Telescope w/RoboFocus ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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Celestron 9.25” (XLT) OTA AstroTech 8X50mm Finder Celestron 1.25”Star Diagonal Orion 5mm Sirius Eyepiece RoboFocus for SCT RS232 to USB Cable Celestron .63X Focal Reducer Meade .33X Focal Reducer Top Dovetail Rail for User’s Guide Scope Dovetail Saddle Plate Mount Current Retail Cost $1962.00 Asking $890.00 For All Contact Chet Schuler: 480 551-7066 Email:
[email protected] Location Scottsdale, AZ
Meade 14” LX200 GPS SMT UHTC In like new condition - $4000 Lots of accessories included: (wedge, Giant Field tripod, Balance Rails & Weights, Diagonal, etc.) Contact: Don Hersh in Prescott, 928-533-4004
[email protected]
Astrophysics StarFire 5” f/8 APO (Blue-tube) Asking: $2000 Includes a Celestron GEM mount Made by Losmandy Both items, contact: Don Hersh in Prescott, 928-533-4004
[email protected]
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SUCH-A-DEAL ITEMS FOR SALE
ITEMS FOR SALE
Celestron 8" SCT + Accessories ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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C 8 on a one arm mount with aluminum tripod A nice aluminum box that is full of accessories 40, 32, 15, 9, 6 and 4mm Celestron Plossl 1.25" eyepieces 1.25" diagonal A red dot finder All the paperwork & instructions are in a three ring binder Both AC and DC cables I viewed some distant trees and the optics are in good condition. We had a little trouble with the DC cable and its connection. After widening the contacts it was better. Both Alt and Az motors ran with no trouble. It was afternoon so I cannot discuss the pointing accuracy or stellar optic performance. If that all works, it would be an excellent beginners scope or a second scope for while you are taking images. I picked the $550 price tag because it is about half the brand new price of the scope and eyepieces. Steve Coe
Classic Unitron Telescope + Accessories ●
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“Here are some pics of the telescope that we have to sell for our charity. I think it is a 152. I found a couple of classic 152's online for $3000 to $4000...And that was a few years ago. So I think a fair price to start with is $2500 if you still want to post on your newsletter.” “The entire proceeds goes to The Castaway Kids (located in San Carlos, MX)...a nonprofit charity that helps needy families in the San Carlos/Guaymas, MX area. We have a house there and spend a lot of time helping the charity.” Eyepieces, Carrying Cases, Tripod & Accessories $2500.00 Takes all. The contact info is: Mike or Nancy 602-421-0729 Email:
[email protected] Scottsdale, AZ
Joyce is a waitress at the cafe we have been eating at for decades, near the intersection of Hwy. 87 and Lake Mary Road. Call here and set an appointment to see the scope. And...a nice trip to the cool pines.
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All for $550.00
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Joyce at Long Valley Cafe: 480-688-2701
Wonderful Starter telescope kit with upgrades ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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Orion 90 mm mak cas w/ tabletop base & Orion EQ-1 adjustable tripod w/equatorial mount & adapter Meade plossl 40 mm eyepiece Sirius plossl 25 mm eyepiece Sirius plossl 12.5 mm eyepiece Sirius plossl 10.0 mm eyepiece EZ finder II Finder scope 6x30 90 deg. star diagonal Correct image diagonal Perfect light weight telescope with many upgrades for home, traveling, kids, adults, astronomy, and terrestrial use. Comes with 2 mounts, tabletop and tripod w/equatorial mount with slow motion controls. 4 eyepieces; 2 finder scopes; 2 diagonals: star and correct image for terrestrial use. All bought new July-December 2015 from Orion. Perfect condition. Originally $550. Now $300 complete. Dave Crook 3141 E Sierra Vista Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85016 602 955 1992 Email:
[email protected]
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SUCH-A-DEAL
FOR SALE: TELESCOPE AND ACCESSORIES PACKAGE ● ●
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Orion SkyQuest 10” f/4.7 XT10 Dobsonian Intelliscope Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl 1.25” Eyepieces (7): 6.4mm, 9.7mm, 12.4mm, 15mm, 20mm, 32mm, 40mm Orion Sirius Plossl 1.25” 25mm Eyepiece Orion 1.25” 2X Barlow Mead Eyepiece Case (metal, holds all eyepieces) Orion Deluxe Stargazer’s 1.25” Eyepiece Filter Set (6 filters) Orion Ultrablock Narrowband Light Pollution Filter Orion Red Beam II Variable Brightness LED Flashlight Observing Table Observing Chair Total Original Cost: over $1500.00 Only used 4 times! Everything just like new. Selling due to health issues. Asking $750.00 Contact: Donald Sommers mailto:
[email protected] 623-594-3233
For Sale – Astro-Tech AT8IN Scope – 8” f/4 The scope is about 4 years old and I am the original owner. The optics are in likenew condition with no blemishes. Pick up only – Phoenix, AZ. I will drive up to 120 miles to deliver the scope. Bank check or cash. Scope pictures along with astrophotography images available.
http://www.lowell.edu/visit.php
Contact Jim Waters:
[email protected] (Asking $425 OBO on Cloudy Nights.) For SAC members, asking $400, OBO. To see ad in Cloudy Nights, click on link: http://www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/item/77856-at8in-for-sale/
http://www.photoninstrument.com
Welcome to Starizona! In addition to a complete selection of astronomical products, we offer free online resources such as our award-winning Guide to CCD Imaging and more. We also manufacture unique products such as the HyperStar imaging system. Our staff consists of experienced observers and astrophotographers who love to share their knowledge. Please feel free to contact us for advice or answers to any of your questions. Hours: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 10AM-5PM Fri, Sat 10AM-10PM Closed Sun. Free Viewing Fri and Sat nights! 5757 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 103 · Tucson, Arizona 85704 ·
The HyperStar-equipped ISERV telescope is now installed on the ISS! The HyperStar-equipped Celestron 9.25" telescope (and its backup) that is now installed on the ISS. The scope also features a Starizona MicroTouch Autofocuser. With the Starizona gang: Steve, Scott, Dean, and Donna. (Steve has since had to move to NY because he was dressing too much like Scott.) Call Us: (520) 292-5010 http://starizona.com/acb/index.aspx
[email protected]
October 2016
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Bits & Pisces Minutes of the September 9, 2016 SAC Meeting By Kevin Kozel, SAC Secretary President Michael Poppre called the meeting to order at 7:31pm and asked if any visitors or new members were present. There was one new member at the meeting: Patrick H, and two visitors from the East Valley Astronomy Club (EVAC). A visitor from the Sedona Club, Tom, was present at tonight’s meeting as well as last month’s meeting. There were 32 people at the meeting tonight, twice as many as last month. Folks must be coming back to the Valley now that summer is almost over. The President asked if there is any old business to attend to, and there was none. He had a few announcements: ● Our Treasurer could not be here tonight but gave a summary of the club’s funds: We have a balance of $3,076 in the bank and the insurance has been paid. ● The Annual Thunderbird Star Party will be held at the Glendale Conservation Park on Saturday, October 8 th, 2016 at 6pm. The Park is on 67th Avenue north of Deer Valley Road. ● The All Arizona Star Party will be hosted by EVAC on Saturday October 29, 2016 at the Hovatter Air Field south of Interstate 10, exit at milepost 52. ● The Flagstaff Star Party will be held at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff from September 22 to September 24, 2016 and hosted by the Flagstaff Dark Sky Coalition. This is the Third Annual Star Party and many more are sure to be held in the future. ● Nominations for Club Officers will be held during the October meeting and the positions that must be turned over to new people will be the President, Vice President and Treasurer. The Secretary and Properties Director may serve another one-year term. Elections for the three offices will be held during the November meeting. ● There will be a Dark of the Moon Star Party held at the Antenna’s site on the weekend of October 1 and 2, 2016. ● The President stated that in the spring of 2017, the Saguaro Astronomy Club will be 40 years old. This is quite an accomplishment for a group of like-minded people, to stay together for four decades. We will be asking for volunteers to set up a committee to organize a grand celebration for this very special event. Tasks involved may include sending out invitations to other astronomy clubs and to our past guest speakers, setting up the location of the party and the dining, organizing special club member presentations and other similar events to make this celebration a wonderful event. The President asked for member announcements: ● A.J. Crayon announced to the club that he will be stepping down from the Deep Sky Chairman position after holding the post for so very long. He asked if anyone would like to take over the Chair and told the club that the duties were to review the paperwork club members submitted for a particular type of award, approve the observations and order the small telescope plaque for the individual who earned the award. ● Steve Dodder told the club that the 2017 Grand Canyon North Rim Star Party will be held from June 17 through June 24. Self-lodgers are encouraged to sign up any time
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now, the sooner the better, because cabins and campsites are reserved quickly. If you intend to stay at least six of the eight nights with the club at the campground, email Steve at
[email protected] beginning midnight, Mountain Standard Time, January 1 st, 2017, for your chance to get a FREE campsite at the Beautiful North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and you will be showing people from all over the world the nighttime sky. The daylight hours are yours to enjoy as you please. Eric Hoag announced that there is a school outreach program at Kitt Peak Observatory on October 7 th, 2016. Contact Eric for more information. His contact info is on the SAC website. Paul Lind showed the club what the ATM folks did on Tuesday September 6, 2016. Mike Poppre had to cut off 1/8” of material on his telescope eyepiece holder plate so the counterweight would not strike the plate when slewing to objects in the sky. Chet Schuler and Lynn Blackburn were present at the ATM shop that night also. Paul also showed the club his photos of the western side of the Veil Nebula. His photos were very nice. Kevin Kozel told the club that on September 8 th, 2016 he saw what looked like a horseshoe shaped figure on the moon in the Mare Vaporum. The light and shadows were just right to highlight this visual feature on the moon. Kevin presented the Cambridge Star Atlas drawings of the moon with the horseshoe shape outlined on it to indicate the location of the feature. Tom Polakis showed the club his Milky Way photos with an after market Rokinow lens for his Canon camera and the photos were very nice. The lens costs about $400 and is well worth the money. Tom showed the Solar Flare which was off the limb of the Sun. The flare was very large and his time lapse photos showed a lot of movement in the flare. Tom was following the flare while it was a filament and when it moved to the limb and show itself to be a very large flare. Paul Knauth showed his vacation slides of his trip to Germany to visit the Bamberg Observatory. Paul met an old friend, Howard Bond, while visiting the Observatory and they toured the site and Paul showed many photos of the very old instruments and relics on display in the Observatory.
After the break, our speaker for September was Steph Sallum, a PhD student from that school in Tucson who call themselves the Wildcats. Steph talked about how planets form from the dust and gas around protostars within the Milky Way Galaxy. She has used the Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham with the adaptive optics to show the protoplanetary discs around stars, and the gaps in these discs which indicate planets are being formed. Her presentation was very informative and enlightening. The 50/50 raffle was held and the club netted $22. The meeting was adjourned at 9:44pm.
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Bits & Pisces The September 9, 2016 SAC Meeting Continued...
The September Speaker
“The speaker will be Stephanie Sallum from the University of Arizona. She will speak about imaging exoplanets directly with the Large Binocular Telescope.” Tom Polakis, SAC Vice President
Stephanie Sallum photo: Michael Poppre
Wanted! SAC Deep Sky Chairman AJ Crayon announced at the September 9th SAC Meeting that he is stepping down as Deep Sky Chairman. AJ has been in this role for a long time and has done an excellent job. Thank you AJ, from all of us SAC observers. If you think you have what it takes to take on this role, please come forward and let AJ or the SAC Board (leaders) know. The job requirements are: administrating the SAC Observing Awards program by noting observations presented and producing the awards and presenting them to SAC observers who complete one or more of the observing program lists. As well as maintaining an archive of the past and present awards.
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Where we going today Mr. Peabody?
© Peabody and Sherman, 'Rocky and Bullwinkle' Pictures
25 Years Ago in SAC
The WABAC Machine!
10 Years Ago in SAC
October 2016
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And They Build Telescopes By Rick Rotramel The monthly SAC ATM (Amateur Telescope Making) / Astro-Imaging meeting of Sept. 6, 2016 was attended by Paul Lind, Chet, Dwight, Lynn, Michael, Travis Whitlow and me.
After Paul finished the trimming on the bandsaw, he handed the tray off to Michael who grabbed a file and started to smooth up the rough edges.
Eyepiece Tray Trimming Michael Poppre brought in his eyepiece tray that needed a trim. Seems it is just large enough that the counterweight shaft hits it as it swings around the telescope mount.
Michael files smooth the rough edges
Telescope gets smudges
Paul scribing a mark for the trimming
So, Paul proceeds to scribe a mark on the tray for the trimming and takes it over to his bandsaw unit to do the trimming.
Travis Whitlow brought in his 8” Telescope to show off the smudges on the corrector plate obtained from the dew from the star party up at Fredericksen Meadow. He pondered how to clean it properly. Travis said he has cleaned optics before, but still, was concerned about the job.
Travis and Dwight discuss the cleaning job
Epilogue
Paul with the tray at the bandsaw trimming the tray Photos (2) Michael Poppre
That’s all for this month, see you next time. Remember, if you have a “need” for your telescope, bring it over to Paul Lind’s shop at the next SAC ATM/Astro-Imaging meeting on the Tuesday evening before the SAC general meeting and join in on all the fun. Paul will post the date on the SAC-Forum list. Hope to see you there. It’s a fun time for all.
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SAC Observing: The 2016 All Arizona Star Party
More info: http://evaconline.org/aasp_2016.htm Left: The All-Arizona Star Party is at the Hovatter Airstrip: Travel time about 2 hours.
AASP Scheduled Activities Friday:
From Phoenix: 5:30pm Potluck Go west on I-10 to Hovatter Rd at exit 53 or about 40 miles west of Palo Verde Nuclear Power Generating Saturday: Station. Turn left over the freeway, drive over the canal. 4:30pm Social Hour When you cross the canal, turn hard left. 5:00pm Raffle ($1 per ticket) Go 1.1 miles to a bend in the road. 5:30pm Chili Dinner ($5) As the road veers to the SE, look for a road running due south at the same point--- VINEGAROON ROAD. Take it for 1.8 miles. Please adhere to proper star party You will come to a small left-right zig-zag, then see a etiquette. For review, click here: chain link fence enclosing an area about 20 ft by 20 ft. That’s the airfield entrance. http://evaconline.org/sp-etiquette.html
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SAC Outreach:
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2016 SAC Officers and Contacts
Occultation Info
Board Members President Michael Poppre (mail to:
[email protected]) Vice-President Tom Polakis (mail to:
[email protected]) Treasurer Jack Jones (mail to:
[email protected]) Secretary Kevin Kozel (mail to:
[email protected]) Properties Steve Dodder (mail to:
[email protected])
Wayne Thomas has asteroid occultation info for the greater Phoenix Area:
Non-board Positions Novice Leader Steve Dodder (mail to:
[email protected]) Editor Rick Rotramel (mail to:
[email protected]) Webmaster Peter Argenziano (mail to:
[email protected]) Public Events Jack Jones (mail to:
[email protected]) ATM Group Paul Lind (mail to:
[email protected]) Imaging Al Stiewing (mail to:
[email protected]) Deep Sky AJ Crayon (mail to:
[email protected]) Public Outreach Eric Hoag (mailto:
[email protected])
Gene Lucas has Lunar Total and Graze Occultation info:
Mail to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Mail Address SAC, P.O. Box 11491, Glendale AZ 85318-1491
Meeting Location: Grand Canyon University is located at 3300 W. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ We meet in Fleming Hall, Room 105, 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Saguaro Astronomy Club Saguaro Astronomy Club (SAC), Phoenix, Arizona, was formed in 1977 to promote fellowship and the exchange of scientific information among its members-amateur astronomers. SAC meets monthly for both general meetings and star parties, and regularly conducts and supports public programs on astronomy. Membership is open to anyone with these interests. Saguaro Skies is posted as a pdf file monthly on the SAC website, www.saguaroastro.org/content/SACNEWS/newsindex.htm
for browsing or downloading for SAC members and friends of SAC. A email announcement of the monthly newsletter release is included with membership.
Parking: Turn into the campus from Camelback Road at 33rd Ave. and drive straight and stop at the guard station. Tell the guard you are attending the astronomy club meeting. Then, turn left past the guard and park.
Direct all membership inquiries to the SAC Treasurer by using the membership form found in this newsletter. For editorial and SUCH-A-DEAL advertising inquiries, contact the Saguaro Skies Editor.
Contacting This Issue’s Authors
Saguaro Skies Staff
If you wish to write to an author in this month’s issue, complaining that they don’t know what they are talking about or that they utterly dazzled you with their wordsmith skills, contact them by sending your message to the editor of Saguaro Skies, Rick Rotramel, at:
[email protected] I will then forward your questions, comments or carping to the author who may (or may not) reply.
Editor: Rick Rotramel Photographers: Tom Polakis, Rick Rotramel and Susan Trask 2013-2016 Contributors: Bob Christ, Mike Collins, AJ Crayon, Paul Dickson, Steve Dodder, Richard Harshaw, Kevin Kozel, Tom & Jennifer Polakis, Michael Poppre, Jimmy Ray, Rick Rotramel, SAC Imagers & Observers, Darrell Spencer & Rick Tejera.
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