April 2009 - Volume 38, Number 4
MEETING NOTICE: The regular meeting of the BARNARD ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY will be held Thursday, April 9th at Jones Observatory on Brainerd Rd. The observatory doors will open at 6:45 p.m. Refreshments and social hour begin at 7:00 p.m. The program will be presented at 7:30 p.m. followed by the business meeting at 8:30.
PROGRAM: Dr. Chuck Higgins, Professor of Physics & Astronomy at MTSU. "Jupiter and Her Satellites: Radio Connections"
Planned Activities to Enjoy The Wonders of Astronomy—
Celebrating Amateurs Who Are Professional in Knowledge
“Giving amateurs their due: The term ‘amateur’ is often used negatively as a synonym for ‘unskilled.’ Not here! In astronomy, the word remains true to its Latin root, amator, meaning ‘lover.’ Amateur astronomers spend countless hours under the starry sky purely for the love of it. Many become as skilled at telescope observing or astrophotography as any professional—often more so.”
Discovering the Joy of Astronomy
“The joy of astronomy comes from finding your way around the starry sky and understanding what you see.” –The Editors, SKY AND TELESCOPE MAGAZINE
Mourning the Increasing Loss of Dark Night Skies in Our Cities
“There is no more important task for the modern amateur astronomer than to fight the steady growth of light pollution in urban areas. Already we are witnessing the tragedy of the first generation of city children who might never see the beauty of a dark night sky.”
--Director, Observatory, Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Note: BAS endorses outdoor lighting restriction efforts by the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) and also by local organizations such as Save Roane Starry Skies (SRSS) at The Tamke-Allan Observatory, Roane State College, Harriman, TN.
Technical Areas of Specialization within BAS for Member Participation
Large Aperture/Dark Sky/Deep Space Optical Astronomy at Several Regional Dark Sky Sites
For more information, contact David Witt or Victor Rogers.
Astrophotography
For more information, contact David Hanon or Dr. Gary Caldwell
Radio Astronomy at a Fully Functional Radio Telescope Observatory Outside of Cleveland, TN
For more information, contact Bill and Melinda Lord, Bill Seymour, or John Mannone.
Sidewalk Astronomy—“Chattanooga Out of This World” Challenging Optical Viewing of The Earth’s Moon and The Inner Planets for the General Public from Downtown Locations Surrounded By Bright City Lights
For more information, contact Tom Adkins, Joe D’Agostonoor Dr. Gary Caldwell.
BAS MARCH MEETING
Program
Nine members and three guests enjoyed a causal evening of “show and tell” at the March 12th meeting of the Barnard Astronomical Society. Bill Lord began the program by showing a two-step platform made from oak with a blinking red light under the step for use at star parties. The platform has two hand rails so a person using the step could steady themselves. He also showed an eyepiece light brow which again is used at star parties so people who have never used a telescope know where to look.
Bobby Thompson showed us the Crayford focuser he recently purchased with its super fine adjustment. He also showed us the DMK31AU03 Imaging Source camera he is using. An image he took of Saturn is posted to the BAS website in the Gallery section.
Adam Krause impressed us with the controller he built to run the step motors on his homebuilt 8” equatorial mount telescope. The controller hooks up to his computer giving him a “go to” capability. A lively discussion followed on mirror grinding and making telescopes.
John Mannone delighted the group with some of his original poetry. He also read excerpts from David Levy’s book, “More Things in Heaven and Earth” and “The Sun” by Steele Hill, which showed the connection others have made to poetry and the universe.
Ralph McConnell purchased a 12” Meade Lightbridge telescope last year and has been having fun with it. He showed us photos of the buggy he built to wheel the telescope in and out of his “telescope garage” he keeps in the garage. For transport, he showed us a toolbox on wheels he has modified to haul the beast in.
David Witt brought in two telescope mirrors and other parts donated to the club recently. The members looked over the components and determined that two telescopes or binoculars could be made with the parts.
Bobby Thompson took our guests to tour the planetarium and main telescope while the business meeting was held.
The Basics
Gamma Ray Bursts (GRB’s)
Dazzling Fireworks Light Up The Distant Universe
Like firecrackers on New Year’ Eve, GRB’s have been popping all over the known universe for the past several years.
Astronomers are still debating the nature of GRB’s. The leading theory says that they blaze outward when the core of a super-giant star collapses to form a black hole. The star’s outer layers explode as a supernova, while magnetic fields and other processes direct jets of gamma rays, charged particles, and other energy into space from the poles of the exploding star. (A GRB emits more energy in just a few minutes than the Earth’s Sun will produce in its 10 billion year lifetime, making these objects the most powerful in the universe.)
Studying GRB’s allows scientists to sample an individual star at a distance where separate galaxies cannot even be seen clearly. Long bursts, which last more than two seconds, occur in massive stars which are undergoing collapse; and, the enormous bulk of the star leads its core to form a black hole, into which the rest of the star falls. But in short bursts lasting less than two seconds, smaller stars simply explode and form supernovae.
With such power, GRB’s are easy to detect even across billions of light-years. On September 13, 2008 the orbiting Swift x-ray telescope discovered what may be the most distant GRB. Analysis of this GRB’s fading light with telescopes on the ground indicated that it was approximately 12.8 billion light years away (which means that the burst occurred only about 800 million years after the Big Bang.)
And, one GRB may have been the most powerful ever recorded:
The U.S. Space Agency’s Fermi telescope discovered a massive explosion in space which scientists say is the biggest GRB ever detected. The spectacular blast, which occurred in the Carina constellation, produced energies ranging from 3,000 to more than five billion times that of visible light.
“Visible light has an energy range of between two and three electron volts, and these were in millions to billions of electron volts,” said NASA astrophysicist Frank Reddy.
A team led by Jochen Greiner of Germany’s Max Plank Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics determined that the huge burst occurred 12.2 billion light years away. Taking into account the huge distance from earth of the burst, scientists worked out that the blast was stronger than 9,000 supernovae—powerful explosions that can occur at the end of a massive star’s lifetime. Astronomers reported that the GRB appeared so bright because one of its polar jets was pointed directly at earth. Several telescopes on the ground and in space saw the burst. For a few minutes, the object was bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye.
Reference: “Star Date”, November/December 2008;
A publication of the University of Texas
McDonald Observatory.
Check Out This Interesting Astronomy Web Site
McDonald Observatory Sky Tips
skytips@mcdonaldobservatory.org
Respectfully submitted by Bill Seymour, BAS Secretary.
BAS members and friends,
We will have the annual Star Party for the Boy Scouts on Friday, April 17, 2009 at Camp Columbus. The moon will be at last quarter, and Saturn will be a visible in the evening. More details and directions to the camp will follow as the time nears. There will be hundreds of Boy Scouts there, so please plan now to help by bringing a telescope if you can, to share the wonders of the night sky with the Scouts.
David Witt
Mark Your Calendar
Here are a few of the upcoming meetings that have programs scheduled:
April 9: Dr. Chuck Higgins, Professor of Physics & Astronomy at MTSU. "Jupiter and Her Satellites: Radio Connections"
May 14: "Contact" the movie and star party at Bobby Thompson's-BAS Members and guests only
June 11: Tom Crowley on hunting Supernovas
July 9: Open.
August 13: Dr Doug Durig (tentative)
September 10: Open
October 8: Joint Meeting with the Chemical Society, Prof. John Mannone will present a program of interest to both astronomers and chemists.
November 12: Paul Lewis, UTK
December 5: Annual BAS Christmas Party
Star Parties
April 17: Boy Scout Camporee
April 24-26: Tennessee Star Party at Fall Creek Falls http://personal.bna.bellsouth.net/s/p/spsmith/default.htm
Telescope Loaner Program Update
Brian Drake has donated a telescope to the BAS loaner scope program. It is a classic Newtonian. It has a driven equatorial mount, pedestal, transportation tray and box. This is classic 1960's scope, German equatorial mount and pedestal by Criterion. This scope was known for its high quality mirror. It is not a "grab 'n go" scope. It will probably take 30min for a first time set-up.
The club has several telescopes for loan. Contact Adam Krause or Bill Lord to get a telescope.
Equipment for Sale
Hi Gary and Everyone,
I was a BAS member in the 80s and 90s then moved away to Hawaii. I’m back again but my eyes aren't what they used to be. I have decided to confine my astronomy study to print and internet searches and will soon sell most of my astro gear. I have a 1997 vintage Meade 10" SCT and various eyepieces and accessories, Celestron 25X100 binoculars, charts, books and other miscellanea. I'd like to give the BAS members first shot at everything before I go to ebay and Astromart. I'd like to hear from any/all of you.
Aloha,
Terry Teets
stteets@comcast.net
Telescope Project
We would like to start a group within the Barnard Astronomical Society for those interested in building telescopes. We have had a donation to the club of two mirrors and some parts to build two telescopes. If you are interested in helping with these, or in building your own telescope, let us know.
Bill & Melinda Lord 423-478-9043
www.tnSkyNet.com
Satellite Influence on Jupiter’s Radio Emission
C. A. Higgins
Department of Physics & Astronomy,
Middle Tennessee State University,
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
Abstract
Until the Galileo spacecraft mission to Jupiter, the low frequency radio emission from Jupiter’s magnetosphere was known to be influenced by the satellite Io. In 1998 it was found that Ganymede and Callisto have small influences on the radio emission in the 2.0–5.6 MHz range (Menietti et al., 1998, 2001). Subsequently Higgins et al. (2006, 2007) found that Europa’s phase shows a minor but statistically significant effect on thelower range of decametric radio emissions. Therefore, all four Galilean moons show an influence on Jupiter’s radio emission. Results from data analysis of Voyager and Galileo spacecraft data are explained.
Additionally, I would like to give an overview of The Radio JOVE project (http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov): a NASA education and outreach project intended for students, teachers, and the general public to learn the basics of radio astronomy. With this radio telescope they can receive signals from the galaxy, the Sun, Jupiter, and of course a variety of manmade and terrestrial radio noise.
Charles A. Higgins
Associate Professor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Middle Tennessee State University
Dr. Higgins joined the faculty at MTSU in 2001 after an NRCpost doctoral research associate position at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a teaching position at Penn State University. He earned his B.S. degree in Physics from the University of Alabama-Huntsville and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Astronomy from the University of Florida. Dr. Higgins teaches astronomy and physics courses in the Physics & Astronomy department and conducts research in radio astronomy (primarily on the planet Jupiter). His most recent article on Jupiter-satellite interactions appeared in the Journal of Geophysical Research in 2007. He is a member of the American Geophysical Union as well as the American Astronomical Society, and he regularly attends national meetings.
Dr. Higgins has co-written the astronomy lab manual used at MTSU and is a new contributing author for the well-respected text “An Introduction to Physical Science”. He is the advisor of MTSU’s Astronomy Club and is also involved with a NASA Education program to bring hands-on science into K-12 classrooms. Outreach in astronomy is a high priority, and he donates his time with numerous presentations at star parties, schools, and Astronomy Day events. Dr. Higgins mentors undergraduate students with their research projects and advises pre-medical students for professional school. He is a member of the Faculty Senate and the Honors Faculty.
Come and hear Dr. Higgins present the program at the next meeting.;
The Polywell Fuser
Consider if you will that in every gallon of sea water there is about one eighth of a gram of Deuterium. It can be extracted for a cost of about four cents. Consider further that if one burns it in any kind of "Break Even" fusion reactor it would be equivalent to about three hundred gallons of gasoline!
We have many ongoing experiments to produce this "energy of the stars" culminating for the most part in the design of the so called Tokamak Toroidal Fuser.
Now, if we move straight away to the cutting edge of the thinking in the field of fusion physics we come to the work of the late Dr. Robert W. Bussard. He holds the three main patents that cover his research with a now famous experiment called the "Polywell".
Essentially it is a magnetic confinement device with six extremely powerful ring magnets that focus the electrons to the center of the reactor while expelling the ionized electrons into the polyhedral spaces along the edges of of the rings. This forms a very efficient device that was called his WB-6. One might call this the proof of concept model. The model has now progressed to the WB-7 and WB-8 stages which are awaiting funding from the Office of Naval Research and other organizations.
Now consider also the dream of dreams in nuclear energy production. The device will directly replace the fission reactors of today and will produce no nuclear residue. Further it is capable of "eating" the fission products we have already produced! I'm thinking by now you are already about to Google your brains out!
Good Seeing and Enjoy the ride-- without your carbon footprint!
DIRECTIONS TO ORION ACRES
FROM NORTH HAMILTON COUNTY:
From 27 (corridor J) take hwy. 111 to Dunlap, continue through the Sequatchie Valley up the next mountain (Cagle Mountain). When you reach the summit about 5 miles turn LEFT onto hwy. 399 (sign reads 'to Savage Gulf State Park' Stay on 399 until it ends, which will be in Grundy Co. Now make a LEFT onto hwy. 108 South. This goes thru Palmer TN. Continue on 108 up to a higher elevation. When this levels off, turn RIGHT onto Palmer Fire Tower Rd. This is a large open area with possibly trucks loaded with timber for the paper mills. Orion Acres will be on the RIGHT about 8 tenths mile.
FROM INTERSTATE 24 (to Nashville):
Go to the Dunlap/Whitwell exit (#155). This is hwy. 28. Exit right and keep on 28 for about 11 miles, passing Hardee’s on your left. Continue through the stoplight and take the next LEFT on Hwy. 108 North. Continue another 11 or so miles. You will see 'Grundy County' sign. Take the next left. This is Palmer Fire Tower Rd. Go 8 tenths of a mile and Orion Acres is on the RIGHT
Start Your Own Meteorite Collection
Through a special purchase arranged by the University of The South, BAS has obtained a large meteorite collection at an unusually low price per gram. These meteorites will be offered for sale to BAS members at the August 14th meeting as a fund-raiser for the Club treasury.
The unclassified North West Africa (NWA) EL3 meteorites have been individually bagged with the weight and magnetic strength noted for each one. There is a wide selection of sizes and the price will be very affordable.
Can’t make it to the meeting? You can place your order with Bill & Melinda Lord at ap_guardian@yahoo.com or 423-478-9043. The price is just 10 cents per gram, and add $5.00 for shipping and handling.
TELESCOPES WANTED
We want everyone in our club to have access to a great telescope. Our plan is to refurbish telescopes so that we can loan them to astronomers without scopes of their own. I f you have a telescope or accessories you are no longer using, please let us have it. We promise someone will use it and treat it with care and respect. Of course you can have a receipt for your tax write-off and every penny is welcome if you would like to donate money so we can buy or fix up a telescope.
Contact Gary Caldwell, Adam Krause or Bill Lord if you have a donation, we will happily come to your door to pick up your unwanted telescope. Sponsorship information will be posted on the web and in the Barnard Star.
BAS WEB SITE
http://bas.chattanooga.net
Officers
President……………………………………….... Gary Caldwell
Vice-President………………………………………….Bill Lord
Secretary…………………………………...………Bill Seymour
Treasurer………………………………………….Melinda Lord
STAR Editor……………………………………….Steve Ramey
Webmaster…………………………………………….Rod Ruch
Star Party Chairman……………………………...Victor Rogers
Outreach Coordinator…………………………...John Mannone
Program Committee Co-Chairs… John Mannone and Bill Lord
Member-at Large……………………………………David Witt
February Minutes
A brief meeting was called to order by Vice-President Bill Lord. Minutes of the last meeting were approved as published in the last newsletter. Treasurer Melinda Lord reports we have $1,339.17 in the checking account with no outstanding bills.
John Mannone asked that we strongly encourage the science fair winners of the BAS prize to present their winning project to the club in June. David Witt will relay this request to our judge.
Vice-President Bill Lord presented John Mannone with a Night Sky Network (NSN) Award Certificate and Pin for his work in Astronomy Outreach. John got the BAS started with the Night Sky Network over three years ago.
REMINDER- Your annual BAS dues of are now due on the anniversary of your membership in accordance with the adopted amendment to the by-laws. The due date appears below your name on the address on the front of this newsletter. If your expiration date says “Overdue” or if you don’t agree with the date shown, contact Melinda Lord to resolve discrepancies. The current dues rates are as follows: REGULAR $15.00, REGULAR ASSOCIATE $7.00, JUNIOR $8.00, JUNIOR ASSOCIATE $5.00. Your Sky & Telescope or Astronomy subscription will continue to be handled as in the past. When you receive your subscription reminder card, submit it to:
Melinda Lord
354 N West Cir NW
Cleveland, TN 37312-1011
Along with the group subscription rate of $32.95 for Sky and Telescope, or $34.00 for Astronomy. Note the increased rate for Astronomy. This was effective July 31, 2005
DEADLINE- All articles and other materials for publication in the next STAR are due no later than Wednesday, May 6th. The following media are acceptable: hard copy, disk (IBM), video tape (VHS), prints, or e-mail to bas@chattanooga.net or stramey@catt.com and attach a file or mail to:
Steve Ramey
109 Sioux Trail
Ringgold GA 30736
PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ALSO ACCEPTABLE.