In this issue: Message from the President Member profile of the month Article: Finding Planets among the Stars Photos and comments from recent events Upcoming Events Minutes from June Meeting Calendar –July During a recent SMAS Starparty at Look Rock, I stepped away from my scope and paid some attention to all that was going on around me. Here are some of the things I saw: A group of visitors were exclaiming, “Wow! Marvelous! And Wonderful!” as they looked through a member’s scope at Saturn One member was showing some new members his easy method of finding the highlights in the summer sky – “Start at the Big Dipper, Arc over to Arcturus, and spike down to Spica”. Another member was using the laser pointer to trace the shape of several of the constellations to a group of visitors. A seasoned member was displaying some of his favorite objects to newer member through his large Dobsonian scope. Two new members were being giving a tutorial on how to best use their new scope. One member was sharing several of his eyepieces with another member for a “try before you buy” session. A very interested visitor from Maryville (who frequents this overlook in hopes of finding people with telescopes) was given club information in hopes of getting him to come to a SMAS meeting. And of course, several members busily following their observing plan and making observation notes. The interactions taking place all around me reminded me of why our club sponsors this type of event. Almost simultaneously we had activities related to: 1. Outreach to the public to give them more awareness of amature astronomy 2. Education of both new and experienced club members 3. A chance to invite seriously interested visitors to join our club 4. Members gathering at a remote, dark location for some serious observing with the added safety factor of being with a large group. I encourage all members to participate in our SMAS Starparty events. It gives each of us an opportunity to help our fellow club members, educate the public, and gain knowledge and experience for own use. Jim Sanders Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society Society’s ChRonological Astronomical PaperS S. C. R. A. P. S. Volume 34, Number 7 July, 2011 Message from the President Back to Top
Transcript
In this issue:
Message from the President
Member profile of the month
Article: Finding Planets among the Stars
Photos and comments from recent events
Upcoming Events
Minutes from June Meeting
Calendar –July
During a recent SMAS Starparty at Look Rock, I stepped away from my scope and paid some attention to all that was going on around me. Here are some of the things I saw:
A group of visitors were exclaiming, “Wow! Marvelous! And Wonderful!” as they looked through a member’s scope at Saturn
One member was showing some new members his easy method of finding the highlights in the summer sky – “Start at the Big Dipper, Arc over to Arcturus, and spike down to Spica”.
Another member was using the laser pointer to trace the shape of several of the constellations to a group of visitors.
A seasoned member was displaying some of his favorite objects to newer member through his large Dobsonian scope.
Two new members were being giving a tutorial on how to best use their new scope.
One member was sharing several of his eyepieces with another member for a “try before you buy” session.
A very interested visitor from Maryville (who frequents this overlook in hopes of finding people with telescopes) was given club information in hopes of getting him to come to a SMAS meeting.
And of course, several members busily following their observing plan and making observation notes.
The interactions taking place all around me reminded me of why our club sponsors this type of event. Almost simultaneously we had activities related to:
1. Outreach to the public to give them more awareness of amature astronomy 2. Education of both new and experienced club members 3. A chance to invite seriously interested visitors to join our club 4. Members gathering at a remote, dark location for some serious observing with the added
safety factor of being with a large group. I encourage all members to participate in our SMAS Starparty events. It gives each of us an opportunity to help our fellow club members, educate the public, and gain knowledge and experience for own use.
Jim Sanders
Smoky Mountain Astronomical Society
Society’s ChRonological Astronomical PaperS
S. C. R. A. P. S.
Volume 34, Number 7 July, 2011
Message from the President
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July, 2011
This section is for viewing by SMAS members only
Finding Planets among the Stars
by Dr. Tony Phillips
Strange but true: When it comes to finding new extra-solar planets, or exoplanets, stars can be an incredible
nuisance.
It’s a matter of luminosity. Stars are bright, but their planets are not. Indeed, when an astronomer peers
across light years to find a distant Earth-like world, what he often finds instead is an annoying glare. The
light of the star itself makes the star's dim planetary system nearly impossible to see.
Talk about frustration! How would you like to be an astronomer who's constantly vexed by stars?
Fortunately, there may be a solution. It comes from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer, an ultraviolet
space telescope orbiting Earth since 2003. In a new study, researchers say the Galaxy Evolution Explorer
is able to pinpoint dim stars that might not badly outshine their own planets.
“We've discovered a new technique of using ultraviolet light to search for young, low-mass stars near the
Earth,” said David Rodriguez, a graduate student of astronomy at UCLA, and the study's lead author.
“These M-class stars, also known as red dwarfs, make excellent targets for future direct imaging of
exoplanets.”
Young red dwarfs produce a telltale glow in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum that
Galaxy Evolution Explorer can sense. Because dwarf stars are so numerous—as a class, they account for
more than two-thirds of the stars in the galaxy—astronomers could reap a rich bounty of targets.
In many ways, these stars represent a best-case scenario for planet hunting. They are close and in clear
lines-of-sight, which generally makes viewing easier. Their low mass means they are dimmer than heavier
stars, so their light is less likely to mask the feeble light of a planet. And because they are young, their
planets are freshly formed, and thus warmer and brighter than older planetary bodies.
Astronomers know of more than five hundred distant planets, but very few have actually been seen. Many
exoplanets are detected indirectly by means of their “wobbles”—the gravitational tugs they exert on their
Profile of SMAS Member Back to Top
Science Article Back to Top
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central stars. Some are found when they transit the parent star, momentarily dimming the glare, but not
dimming it enough to reveal the planet itself.
The new Galaxy Evolution Explorer technique might eventually lead to planets that can be seen directly.
That would be good because, as Rodriguez points out, “seeing is believing.”
And it just might make astronomers feel a little better about the stars.
The Galaxy Evolution Explorer Web site at http://www.galex.caltech.edu describes many of the other
discoveries and accomplishments of this mission. And for kids, how do astronomers know how far away a
star or galaxy is? Play “How Old do I Look” on The Space Place at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/whats-older
and find out!
This article was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a
contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Permission to use has been granted to
SMAS by NASA Space Place Project.
Exoplanets are easier to see directly when their star is a dim, red dwarf.
Photos from SMAS Starparty at Look Rock on June 25, 2011
Michael Reuter and Jim Sanders getting setup Bob Arr’s 13” Dobsonian scope “Emily” in the process
of being set up. Where is Bob? On his way back home to retrieve a forgotten part.
New member Stan Azubalis displaying his neat eyepiece case
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Comments on this event by a couple SMAS members:
Michael Reauter:
It was a beautiful evening for stargazing, in spite of the initial rain threat. It was due to that threat and some initial sprinkles that Sasquatch did not make the trip. A contingent of SMAS members arrived just after 9 PM to being setting up. There were a number of visitors already in the parking lot enjoying the weather and we had 10 members in attendance. After it got dark, we offered views of Saturn and double stars to the visitors. I showed some of the visitors Saturn through my telescope and got a number of "Ooohs!", "Wows! and "That's cool!" while they were at the eyepiece. I had Gamma Virginis in the same field of view for dramatic effect. I also showed the triple star nature of Alcor and Mizar. Jim Sanders showed off Epsilon Lyrae. We stopped all telescope viewing at about 10:20 PM to watch an Iridium flare near Delta Lyrae. By about 11 PM, the bulk of the visitors left and we all settled down to some more observing. Bob Arr showed me M22 through his 13" telescope, aka Emily, with his bino viewers. The view was spectacular. I could see lots of stars and noticed that cluster showed some elongation. I continued my work on the Binocular Messier club by nabbing M7, M22, M8, M23, M28, M17, M18 and M25. During my sketching session, we had some clouds wander through. They thankfully passed on and dissipated fairly quickly. We packed up and headed down the mountain at 1:40 AM. Michael
Lee Erickson:
Janice and I arrived about 9 in the contingent to which Michael R refers. Soon I was pleased to meet new members Gary and Susan. I helped introduce him to the operation of his Germinal Equatorial type mount and then calibrating his red dot finder. We then concentrated on observing Saturn. We observed one moon about three ring diameters away from Saturn which I assume was the bright one Titan. Gary and I sketched it. Here is my sketch:
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I think the seeing for Saturn was the best I have experienced all year. The ring was sharp and steady.
Titan was visible and did not come and go as do the moons of Saturn when the air is unstable. Thanks
to Jim Sanders for loan of some eye pices to compare and contrast with Gary's eye pieces.
I heard some Ooooos and Ahhhhhs to which Michael is referring and congratulate the provider of the
views responsible.
I had a great time visiting with the guests and members. Thanks all!
Lee
Photos from SMAS Starparty at Look Rock on July 2, 2011
The large group almost filled up the parking lot Gary and Laura Kliethermes
July 6, 2011 – ORION Amateur Science and Astronomy Club, Grove Theater, Oak Ridge, Tn Tentative program: Mr. Tim Troutman, NOAA/NWS Morristown, Climate Change
July 8, 2011 – Regular SMAS meeting at PSTCC Tentative program:
1. Business Session 2. Brent Holt – Optical Design Using Ray Tracing Techniques 3. Lee Erickson - Understanding the Sky: Celestial Sphere; Coordinate System 4. Quick update on “Constellation of the Month Project”
July 30, 2011 –SMAS Star Party at Unicoi Crest (weather permitting).
Aug 27, 2011 – SMAS Star Party at Unicoi Crest (weather permitting).
Upcoming Events Back to Top
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Meeting Minutes
June 10, 2011 Meeting Minutes
Reported by Duane Dunlap, Temporary Secretary Any corrections to these minutes should be sent to Duane Dunlap [email protected]. The regular SMAS business meeting was held at PSTCC on Friday June 10, 2011. The meeting was called to order by President Jim Sanders at 7:30 EDT. Those in attendance were: Brent Holt, Duane Dunlap, Lee Erickson, Jerry Kornegay, Vicente Diaz, Erik Iverson, Angela Quick, Stan Azubalis, Yuko Komatu, Mark Ziolkowski, Jim Sanders, Michael Reuter, Gary Bridges, Ralph E. Bridges, Mike Fleenor and Kenny Pridgen. Jim Sanders welcomed the group and introduced Mike Fleenor, a former SMAS member, who is selling his astronomical equipment and becoming a cyclist. A list of equipment for sale totaling over $10,000 was distributed to the attendees.
Program #1: Beginner’s Guide to Star Hopping - 30 minutes – Jim Sanders
Skills to keep you from getting lost or Tips to Navigate the Night Sky
Know your equipment o Characteristics of mount o Field of view of telescope/eyepiece
Have a good Star Atlas
Know how the sky works – Match the Star Atlas to current conditions
• Know the orientation of your Field of View – Normal or Reversed, direction of North, East, etc.
Star Atlas Choices • Freebies
Mag 7 Star Atlas Project, Magnitude 7.25 • http://www.archive.org/details/Mag_7_Star_Atlas (one pdf file)
o Or http://www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1052 (indv pdf files) • 21 charts, 550 DSOs, color
Taki Star Atlas, Magnitude 8.5 • http://www.geocities.jp/toshimi_taki/atlas_85/atlas_85.htm • 149 charts, 88,000 stars, 2928 DSOs, no color
• Know your equipment – Characteristics of mount – Field of view of telescope/eyepiece
• Have a Star Atlas • Know how the sky works
– Match the Atlas to current conditions • Know your eyepiece orientation
Normal or reversed, which way North, East, etc. You may find the rest of Jim’s presentation by going to the SMAS Yahoo.com site, Files, Meeting Material, 2011 Presentations.
Program #2: Constellation of the Month – 10 minutes – Jerry Kornegay
Jerry presented a proposal to study a constellation each month and document what different people see with different size telescopes, at different locations with different seeing conditions. Such a document would be useful to observers and hopefully match observations with expectations. More discussion on this proposal will be forthcoming.
BREAK
Program #3: Night Sky – Spring Galaxies – 30 minutes - Lee Erickson
Lee presented the referenced topic and began with the statement “Like wolves they run in packs”. Lee covered a number of night sky objects such as NGC 4565 (the Needle Galaxy), M3, M63, M94 and M51. He showed us how to find these objects without “GoTo” by following the curve of the Big Dipper’s handle to Arcturus and on to Spika. He completed his presentation with directions to a double star (Cor Caroli) in Canes Venatici.
End-Adjourn
Submitted by Duane Dunlap June 16, 2011
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