the moon waxes throughout the week until it becomes full on the 13th. May's full moon is know as the Full Flower Moon where, in most areas, flowers are abundant during this time. Other names for the orb include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon. Though the moon is waxing gibbous and growing brighter, it is still in the western sky in the midnight to dawn hours on Saturday the 6th, so will pose little to no hindrance to viewing the eta Aquarid meteor shower at its peak. The eta Aquarids are a modest display of meteors resulting from the earth passing through the dusty trail of the great comet Halley that last visited the earth in 1986. Set your alarm for 1:30 or 2:00 Saturday morning, dress warmly, grab a blanket or reclining chair, lie down, and look generally east. Northern hemisphere viewers can expect to see 5 to 10 meteors per hour, while those in the southern hemisphere might see as many as 60 an hour.
So that we can continue to enjoy meteor showers in our rural mountain environment, please remember that inappropriate light at night can, besides blind with its glare and trespass upon neighbors property and into their windows, create a skyglow that hides the beauty of the heavens For more info on how to prevent light pollution, or to find out what's in the sky on any given night, browse to www.utahskies.org, and while you're there, be sure to subscribe to our fully illustrated Weekly Report, your ticket to the stars.
Astronomy News
From Around The World, and Beyond
Saturn's Tiniest Moon?
Friday, May 5th, 2006 - Measuring only about 4 miles across, Daphnis just might be the planet Saturn's tiniest moon. It seen here as a tiny smudge at the center top of the rings in this sweet shot by the orbiting Cassini Spacecraft. It's also one of the most recently discovered, too... showing up in Cassini images taken in 2005. Checkout NASA's Planetary Photojournal for more details. Saturn is high and slightly west of overhead shortly after dark, so if you'd like to observe the ringed planet, you'd better not waste too much time. It'll be gone in just a few short months.
Comet Passes By A Gem
Thursday, May 4th, 2006 - Pieces of disintigrating comet 73P-Schwassmann-Wachmann seem to be scattering around the sky. They also seem to be getting involved with some pretty impressive night sky objects. Last night, Italian astronomers Aletti and Luca snapped this gorgeous shot of the comet passing by one of the gems of the night sky, M13 - The Hercules Star Cluster. As if that wasn't impressive enough, another piece of comet will cruise right in front of M57 - The Ring Nebula. This is the cosmic equivalent of threading a needle. Checkout this star chart to locate the pair this coming Sunday night (5/7). It was created by the folks at Spaceweather.com
Saturday is Astronomy Day 2006
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006 - Mark your calendar folks, this Saturday (5/6) is International Astronomy Day. You are hereby invited to head to Salt Lake City to take part in the event, the goal of which is to get more people interested in astronomy. Activities include solar viewing, lectures and demonstrations on telescopes, the constellations, the size of the solar system, and more. Guest speakers include former astronauts Don Lind and the Honorable Jake Garn. Children's activities, vendors, information booths, door prizes will abound -- a fun day for all ages! More information can be found online; check it out!
eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peaks This Weekend
Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 - The annual eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is upon us, with the peak of the event coming Saturday morning (5/6). The eta Aquarids are the remnants of the famous Halley's Comet which last graced our skies in 1996. Meteors from this shower appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius which is rising above the eastern horizon before sunrise. Northern hemisphere observers can expect a modest 5-10 meteors per hour while those in the south are expecting 20-60. Checkout Spaceweather.com for all the details.
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Monday, May 1st, 2006 - Well, maybe not so hard for this comet. Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is literally crumbling before astronomers eyes as shown in this shot by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Astronomers are now monitoring some 33 fragments of the comet which will make a close flyby of Earth on May 12th. This is a naked eye object for those of you under dark skies... otherwise, those of you with binoculars or backyard telescopes should easily be able to find and view this incredibly rare event. It is currently cruising through the constellation Hercules in the morning sky (two great reasons to wake up early). Checkout Greg Crinklaw's Comet 73 page for daily updates... and CNN.com/SPACE for more on this breaking event.
NASA's Chandra Finds Black Holes Are 'Green'
Tuesday, April 25th, 2006 - (NASA) Black holes are the most fuel efficient engines in the universe, according to a new study using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. By making the first direct estimate of how efficient or "green" black holes are, this work gives insight into how black holes generate energy and affect their environment. The new Chandra finding shows most of the energy released by matter falling toward a supermassive black hole is in the form of high-energy jets traveling at near the speed of light away from the black hole. This is an important step in understanding how such jets can be launched from magnetized disks of gas near the black hole's event horizon, the distance from a black hole within which nothing, even light, can escape. See the NASA press release for more fascinating information about this study.
The sun is a fascinating subject; it's appearance changes from day to day. In fact, it is the only star in the sky that we can see any details on at all! This week, however, the sun is quiet; there are no large sunspots visible.
Mercury is now a morning object, rising just before the sun, but having reached its greatest western elongation on the 19th, it is now heading back into the glare of the sun and its superior conjunction on May 18th. Then it will be opposite the earth, behind the sun from our perspective, and moving into the western sky after sunset.
Because of its proximity to the Sun, Mercury is never really viewed against a dark background. Rather, it always struggles to be seen over the light of the setting or rising Sun. Patience (and clear skies) will reward you with some beautiful morning views of this planet in April.
Venus remains high in the morning sky near sunrise, making for a brilliant wake-up treat over sips of coffee. If you have a telescope handy, take a peek at the love goddess' name sake; the crescent of Venus is lovely indeed.
The ESA's Venus Express spacecraft is now in orbit around the second planet and preparing for its mission. Once it's ready, the 'craft will study the planet in great detail, in particular the Venusian atmosphere and clouds.
Southern Utah in the spring is a sensual delight.. Rivers swell and rage with snowmelt, desert cacti bloom delicate, and the ancient rock fills vistas with warm hues from light brown through red to purple. This view from the banks of the Colorado River north of Moab on State 128 shows the mighty Colorado (formerly the Grand River until 1921) in the foreground, Fisher Towers farther out, and the snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the distance.
The Moon waxes gibbous this week, becoming full on the 13th. While some consider these phases of the moon "light pollution", others see opportunity.
Remember, between new and full, the moon itself is a rich source of viewing delights. Features appear - mountains, craters, rilles - as the sunlight casts long, defining shadows. Look along the portion of the Moon separating light from dark, known as the terminator, for the greatest contrasts.
The Red Planet is found high in the western sky at sunset as it moves to it's superior conjunction opposite the Sun later in the year. Look at this sweet shot taken by Utah Skies member Brian Jolley last year when Mars was at its closest. He took this through the historic Clark refractor at Lowell Observatory.
Even without a telescope the view of and around Mars is interesting. Having moved into the constellation Gemini, Mars sits between the twins and the stars that define their "waists" - Castor's Mebsuta and Pollux's Wasat.
Planet Jupiter | Solar System | The Utah Skies Report
Jupiter is currently rising just before midnight, putting it pretty much overhead as first light approaches. "Late to bed, early to rise" works for those wanting views of the Sun's largest planet.
This image is an example of what Jupiter has to offer viewers: exquisite details. Much of this beautiful structure can actually be seen through a typical telescope, but results vary depending on telescope aperture and sky conditions. Too, the Great Red Spot has some company: another storm has grow in proportion near the GRS, and has come to be known as Spot Jr!
If you have binoculars, point these towards Jupiter. While you won't be able to see any details on the planets surface, binoculars will clearly show you several of Jupiter's brightest moons, and regular observations will show them jockey for position as they orbit the giant planet. The movement is quite apparent, sometimes even in the span of a few hours.
This sweet shot of Jupiter nicely shows its great red spot and some of the incredible details just waiting your observation. Additionally, you can see one of Jupiter's moons eclipsing the giant planet. The round "ink spot" on the planet's surface is the shadow cast by its moon. Watching Jupiter's moons as they orbit and occasionally transit the giant planet is a very interesting part of observing Jupiter.
Saturn is now rising in the late morning and reaching the highest point in its path across the sky around 7pm. This continues to provide skywatchers with some spectacular views of the ringed planet. Some truely great views of the ringed planet and its satellites are available on the Cassini Huygens pages. This sweet shot was taken by Don Brown of Utah Skies.
Uranus is currently rising in the morning, sitting close to the sun. The Earth and Uranus have ostensibly achieved their greatest separation, and will soon begin to draw nearer again.
This fascinating image was taken from a ground-based telescope in the European Southern Observatory.
Planet Neptune | Solar System | The Utah Skies Report
The planet Neptune, is currently rising about 2 hours before the sun, leaving you precious little time to view the 8th rock. To speed up your acquisition of the planet, just look towards the east around first light You should immediately see bright Venus. Neptune is just about 1.5° below Venus. At just a touch brighter than mag 8, Neptune should be visible as a faint star-like object in binoculars or as a bluish object in a telescope. Once you've found it, higher powers will clearly reveal the disk of the planet .
This beautiful image of Neptune and its moon, Triton, was taken by the Voyager 2 spacecraft from a perspective that will never be had from Earth. Interesting to note is the gray hue of the planet in this image. The atmosphere of the planet preferentially scatters the light forward from this vantage and so removes the bluish tinge, and reddens the color.
Planet Pluto | Solar System | The Utah Skies Report
Pluto is rising before midnight, giving you the time you'll need to seek this faintest of planets. To know you've seen Pluto is going to require observations over several nights, carefully noting star patterns until you see one point of light move relative to the others: that's Pluto!!! But don't try this at home kids, unless you have some serious aperture, because at mag 15+, you're gonna need it!
This image of Pluto and its moon Charon was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, showing the improved performance of a space-based observational platform over ground-based telescopes.
Deep Sky
NASA News
Denver's Space Odyssey
Most educators agree that students learn best when they're involved in a lesson. Hands-on education adds excitement and interest and makes studies relevant. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science takes that concept to heart with Space Odyssey, a permanent exhibit created with support from NASA. Space Odyssey is a collection of immersive environments, performance spaces, media displays and interactive exhibits about space science.
Image to right: Using a diorama as a stage, an astronaut-performer teaches visitors about conditions on Mars. Credit: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Museum Galaxy Guides -- more than 300 trained volunteers and staff who interact, entertain and inform -- personalize the visitors' experiences by taking them through the expanse of interactive exhibits, displays and demonstrations. Space Odyssey is more than just exhibits, however. It's a place to get messy, get educated and get entertained. As guests walk through the Visitor Center door, they see a Martian landscape, swirling dust devils, glowing stars, updates from ongoing space missions, and other mysteries waiting to be understood. High-definition video and images from recent NASA missions bring the reality of modern exploration to visitors, while exhibits and interactive experiments encourage everyone to understand the basics of the science involved. Visitors leave with an understanding of how and why we are exploring the universe around us.
Space Odyssey received the Association of Science and Technology Centers 2005 Leading Edge Award for Visitor Experience. This award recognizes the many innovative ways the DMNS involves visitors in learning more about space, science and exploration.
Some of the features of Space Odyssey include:
-- The Visitor Center: This is a collection of exhibits, programs, games, activities and discussions. It covers themes such as space shuttle docking, the life of a star, the orbits of celestial bodies, properties of the sun, meteorites, and "Space Screen," a large, high-definition theater showing the latest images and videos from current space missions.
-- Planet Outpost: Come see an entire section devoted to Mars, including a large diorama depicting an actual location at the bottom of a deep Martian canyon, a remote-controlled rover and an experiment bar demonstrating principles used in planetary exploration. Visitors can also view and take part in interactive crater activities, a Martian dust devil display and a stream-table demonstrating water-driven processes on Mars and Earth.
-- Specialized Audience Areas: The AstroTot Training area is a special spot for children ages 3 through 6 and their parents, where children play, pretend to be space explorers, and relax. The InfoLounge is a multimedia center with videos, books and other science materials.
-- Performances: The stage and demonstration area are gathering places to learn about living in space, microgravity, conditions in the outer solar system, satellites and regularly updated news broadcasts.
-- Museum Galaxy Guide Activities: The live presence of the Galaxy Guides allows every visitor to come away from Space Odyssey with a unique experience. Guides offer interactive demonstrations and performances, deliver impromptu presentations and answer questions using wireless laptops, and serve as tour guides.
Most of the displays and activities at Space Odyssey are open-ended; they don't have a predetermined script, but allow visitors to discover answers, questions and ideas for themselves.
Image to left: Museum Galaxy Guides share information about a Mars rover with visitors. Credit: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Much of Space Odyssey is designed to be routinely updated. The Space Sciences Newsroom, involving over a dozen staff and volunteers, produces multimedia programs for the exhibit. Curators and educators work to make programs both accurate and engaging for the public. They are involved in regular briefings to keep the Galaxy Guides updated on the latest news from space and changes to the library of programs available for use in Space Odyssey. An ongoing series of continuing education programs is also offered to the Guides.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science has a long association with NASA. In 1999, museum staff hosted the first NASA Is Listening workshop, which helped develop relationships between NASA and informal education facilities. DMNS has benefited from membership in the Museum Alliance, a partnership formed by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory to provide access to education opportunities, programs and resources produced by various NASA missions. The DMNS has also been an active participant in the NASA Explorer Institutes in partnership with the Kennedy Space Center. Kennedy received NASA Explorer Institutes funding to work with DMNS to produce two video programs that portray the people and facilities involved in safely returning the shuttle to flight. The first DVD was widely distributed last year to museums, science centers, schools and other informal education institutions. The second DVD will focus on the required steps to safely return the space shuttle to flight. This production is planned for release and distribution in the spring or early summer of this year.
Space Odyssey is just part of the space science story at DMNS. Adult, family and children's programs are periodically scheduled, including camp-ins, planetarium shows, telescope workshops, lectures, rocket-building seminars, and monthly space-news updates with the curators. Space Odyssey has developed into a community resource -- the place to be to witness and share in these milestones in space exploration.
For more information about Space Odyssey, contact the Denver Museum of Nature & Science at (303) 322-7009 or 1 (800) 925-2250. The TTY number is (303) 370-8257.
The Hubble Space Telescope has distinguished itself as a premier source of astronomical images and science. Amazing HST images have graced the covers of major magazines and newspapers worldwide. In recognition of the amazing advances in astronomy and physics which have come from Hubble discoveries, we'd like to devote a section of this report to some of this incredible information.Hubble Heritage Team.
Hubble Snaps Baby Pictures of Jupiter's "Red Spot Jr."
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is giving astronomers their most detailed view yet of a second red spot emerging on Jupiter. For the first time in history, astronomers have witnessed the birth of a new red spot on the giant planet, which is located half a billion miles away. The storm is roughly one-half the diameter of its bigger and legendary cousin, the Great Red Spot. Researchers suggest that the new spot may be related to a possible major climate change in Jupiter's atmosphere.
Dubbed by some astronomers as "Red Spot Jr.," the new spot has been followed by amateur and professional astronomers for the past few months. But Hubble's new images provide a level of detail comparable to that achieved by NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft as they flew by Jupiter a quarter-century ago.
Before it mysteriously changed to the same color as the Great Red Spot, the smaller spot was known as the White Oval BA. It formed after three white oval-shaped storms merged during 1998 to 2000. At least one or two of the progenitor white ovals can be traced back to 90 years ago, but they may have been present earlier. A third spot appeared in 1939. (The Great Red Spot has been visible for the past 400 years, ever since earthbound observers had telescopes to see it).
When viewed at near-infrared wavelengths (specifically 892 nanometers . a methane gas absorption band) Red Spot Jr. is about as prominent in Jupiter's cloudy atmosphere as the Great Red Spot. This may mean that the storm rises miles above the top of the main cloud deck on Jupiter just as its larger cousin is thought to do. Some astronomers think the red hue could be produced as the spots dredge up material from deeper in Jupiter's atmosphere, which is then chemically altered by the Sun's ultraviolet light.
Researchers think the Hubble images may provide evidence that Jupiter is in the midst of a global climate change that will alter its average temperature at some latitudes by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The transfer of heat from the equator to the planet's south pole is predicted to nearly shut off at 34 degrees southern latitude, the latitude where the second red spot is forming. The effects of the shut-off were predicted by Philip Marcus of the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) to become apparent approximately seven years after the White Oval collisions in 1998 to 2000.
Two teams of astronomers were given discretionary time on Hubble to observe the new red spot.
[Left] . This image, acquired April 8, 2006 with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (high-resolution channel), shows that the second red spot has a small amount of pale clouds in the center. A strong convective event, which is likely a thunderstorm, is visible as a bright white cloud north of the oval, in the turbulent clouds that precede the Great Red Spot. As the oval continues its eastward drift and the Great Red Spot moves westward, they should pass each other in early July. This contrast-enhanced image was taken in blue and red light. The group that performed this observation was led by Amy Simon-Miller (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Glenn Orton (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and Nancy Chanover (New Mexico State University).
[Right] . Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (wide field channel) took this image of the entire disk of Jupiter on April 16. The second red spot appears at southern latitudes, below the center of Jupiter's disk. The new spot is approximately the size of Earth's diameter. The image was taken in visible light and at near-infrared wavelengths, and does not represent Jupiter's true colors. The red color traces high-altitude haze blankets: the equatorial zone, the Great Red Spot, the second red spot, and the polar hoods. The Hubble group that conducted this observation is led jointly by Imke de Pater (UCB Astronomy) and Philip Marcus (UCB Mechanical Engineering). Other team members are Michael Wong (UCB Astronomy), Xylar Asay-Davis (UCB Mechanical Engineering), and Christopher Go, an amateur astronomer with the Astronomical League of the Philippines.
For more information, please contact:
Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
(Phone: 410-338-4514; E-mail: villard@stsci.edu)
Robert Sanders
University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
(Phone: 510-643-6998; E-mail: rsanders@berkeley.edu)
Amy Simon-Miller
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
(Phone: 301-286-6738; E-mail: Amy.Simon@nasa.gov)
Imke de Pater
University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
(Phone: 510-642-1947, E-mail: imke@berkeley.edu)
Credit:NASA, ESA, A. Simon-Miller (NASA/GSFC), and I. de Pater (University of California Berkeley)
This weekend we move on to the constellation Ursa Major - The Great Bear. Best known as the "Big Dipper", Ursa Major is the true name of this constellation. The Big Dipper is what astronomers refer to as an asterism. An asterism is a named grouping of stars which is not officially recognized as a constellation.
This is a well known constellation. In fact, it is probably familiar to and findable by more people than any other constellation. This is a good thing, since two of it's stars, "Merak and Dubhe" are known as the pointer stars. Pointers to Polaris, the "North-Star". Once you learn these stars, you'll always know your directions at night. To find Polaris (and hence, north) start at Merak and draw a line through Dubhe and you'll arrive at Polaris.
Another reason for familiarity with Ursa Major is simply that Ursa Major is home to some of the most beautiful and most amazing deep sky objects known. Many of these are easily viewed in amateur telescopes and will be covered below.
The Big Dipper (The Plough in Britain), marks the hindquarters and tail of the Great Bear. The stars, in order right to left are Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid.
The focus of our efforts here will be the deep sky objects of Ursa Major.
Let's start things off with an interesting treat. Take a look at the handle of the Big Dipper and you'll see that it has a kink in it. This star is called Mizar(mag2.2) Look closely and you'll notice that Mizar has a faint companion. This is Alcor(mag4). Under decent skies, Alcor is readily visible. Now, if you have access to a telescope, point it in their direction. You'll notice that Mizar is in fact a double star itself. Mizar and Alcor are one of the best known double stars in the entire sky.
Mizar, at a distance of 78 light years from the Sun, and Alcor at 81 light years - while appearing to be a double star - are actually only an optical double. An optical double star is not a true double star where the components are gravitationally bound and orbit each other, but rather a chance alignment along one's line of sight.
Our first object is, M40, a double star. Messier found this object at the coordinates specified by an earlier astronomer. His records indicate that he did not detect any nebulosity. But for some unknown reason, he added it to his list.
Next we'll hit a beautiful Spiral Galaxy M81(mag6.9). This is an easy target for backyard astronomers. Visible in a decent pair of binoculars, this galaxy comes alive in telescopes. At mag 6.9, this is one of the brighter Messier galaxies.
M81 is the large, bright galaxy in the center; M82 is the smaller galaxy towards the right edge. Low power views in most telescopes will show both galaxies.
This shot was taken on April 11th by Utah Skies own Anthony Arrigo of Park City, Utah. It was a 12 minute unguided exposure through a 10" f/4.5 reflector using ASA800 speed film.
Continuing along we come to Irregular Galaxy M82(mag8.4). While M81 is brighter, M82's slender appearance along with it's somewhat mottled center provides for interesting views.
This is another fine image by Robert Gendler. We've used many of Robert's images in past reports. In fact, Robert is a past Utah Skies Astrophotographer of the Month. Take a moment and checkout his work - it's incredible.
Let's backup just a bit and take a look at the pairing of M81 & M82. As you can see, they're pretty close; separated by only about 3/4°.This is the spacing you'd see in a low power field of view in a typical amateur telescope with both objects easily visible.
Next we visit a beautiful Planetary Nebula known as The Owl Nebula, M97(mag9.7). This is one object which really benefits from dark skies and increased aperture.
When viewing this object, most people immediately see a round nebula. Averted vision is typically required for the eyes to become apparent. This is a fun object. At times, it almost appears to be blinking at you. The eyes will open when you're looking with averted vision and then close the instant you look at it directly.
To find "The Owl", move about 2° southeast of Merak.
Next up we come to a beautiful Spiral Galaxy M101 & M102(mag7.2).
This object is much harder to view than it's mag 7.2 would suggest. Spanning over 28' in diameter (almost as big as a fulll moon), this galaxy has a surface brightness of over mag14! It's bright, but that brightness is spread way out. You won't have trouble finding it; the difficulty lies in viewing the details.
To find this galaxy, envision an equilateral triangle above (northeast) of the handle of the dipper. If you're searching at low power (a good idea) this is a close enough approximation to put you on it.
Continuing on, we come to Spiral Galaxy M108(mag10.1). To find this object, travel about 1° southeast of Merak.
Here is another interesting pairing - a galaxy and a planetary nebula in M97 and M108.
This beautiful rich-field view came from the camera of Jerry Lodriguss. Jerry created this from a single 60 minute exposure through a 130mm Astro-Physics refractor. If you want a really nice telescope, you'd be well served to try to get your hands on one of these. The wait from the factory is measured in years though.
Continuing on, we come to Barred Spiral Galaxy M109(mag9.8). This beautiful image was also captured by Robert Gendler.
To find this beauty, travel about 1° southeast of Phad (Gamma Ursae Majoris) in the base of the dipper.
This is Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC3718(mag10.5) as imaged by Robert Gendler.
Let's wrap things up with this weeks Utah Skies Challenge Object, Spiral Galaxy NGC3184(mag9.75). This is yet another beautiful spiral galaxy. The arms on this galaxy are perfect. It looks like its doing cartwheels across the sky.
Good Luck!
If you are able to find all of these objects, you may be one of the few, the proud, the Deep Sky Obsessed.
E-mail your findings to DeepSkyObservations@UtahSkies.org.
Colorado IDA: Section Update for April 2006 by
Aaron Reid
Recently several section members converged upon the 18th annual
general meeting of the International Dark Sky
Association. Nancy Clanton, Leslie Lipstien, Aaron Reid, and Dr. Robert
Stencel all from the Colorado section were in attendance. This was the third
time I’ve been to the annual meeting and once again walked away with a great
wealth of information. Displays were available as usual although not as numerous
as in past years, and a great host of speakers as always. Attendance was nearly
the same as in years past. Some ideas we are going to use in the Colorado
section came from the event. Those ideas will be reflected on the website, plus
updates posted regularly:
http://www.wcacastronomy.org/coloida.html
Our great project for 2006 is to tour the entire state of Colorado to visit
all 10-plus astronomical societies. Our first visit takes place on Friday April
21st and is hosted by the
Denver Astronomical Society.
From there we will go to where ever invited. The idea is to show off the rolling
display, demonstrate fixtures that conform to laws and get folks involved in the
efforts. Education is still the most important tool for getting this situation
turned around. Our next visit will be at the Colorado National Monument on
Monday May 15th, near Grand Junction, CO on the Western Slope.
With energy costs rising and new more environmentally friendly building
techniques being employed, recognition of light pollution as a problem is
growing, too. We will give the presentations to all of the clubs at our
meetings. It’s on topic and we will have some easy projects for each region in
the state to complete. This is all part of a multi-year plan to educate the
entire state, and get a more active membership.
We have already found ourselves invited to the States of New Mexico, Utah and
Wyoming, this year. It looks to be a busy year for the section. If your club
hasn’t been contacted by us yet, please let us know and we would be more than
happy to speak at your location and get acquainted with your group and look
forward to future workings with everyone.
For more information, checkout the
Colorado IDA website.
This week we feature a beautiful
architectural light
fixture from the folks at
Hadco Lighting.
Pictured here is the
Hadco CF3. Available in a flat glass configuration (not shown), the CF3
features a newly redesigned lighting system for improved light distribution and
control. Its night sky friendly design means that it will comply with even the
most stringent lighting ordinances. This is one full cutoff fixture that
definitely plays by the rules.
As you'd expect, you can find
this high performance, night sky friendly friendly outdoor light in the
Architectural Lighting section of your favorite
Exterior Lighting retailer,
Starry Night Lights.
Newsfeed
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Moon
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
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The sun is a fascinating subject; it's appearance changes from day to day. In fact, it is the only star in the sky that we can see any details on at all! This week, however, the sun is quiet; there are no large sunspots visible.
Most educators agree that students learn best when they're involved in a lesson. Hands-on education adds excitement and interest and makes studies relevant. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science takes that concept to heart with Space Odyssey, a permanent exhibit created with support from NASA. Space Odyssey is a collection of immersive environments, performance spaces, media displays and interactive exhibits about space science.
The Big Dipper (The Plough in Britain), marks the hindquarters and tail of the Great Bear. The stars, in order right to left are Dubhe, Merak, Phecda, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar, and Alkaid.
Our first object is, M40, a double star. Messier found this object at the coordinates specified by an earlier astronomer. His records indicate that he did not detect any nebulosity. But for some unknown reason, he added it to his list.
Next we visit a beautiful Planetary Nebula known as The Owl Nebula, M97(mag9.7). This is one object which really benefits from dark skies and increased aperture.
Let's wrap things up with this weeks Utah Skies Challenge Object, Spiral Galaxy NGC3184(mag9.75). This is yet another beautiful spiral galaxy. The arms on this galaxy are perfect. It looks like its doing cartwheels across the sky.
