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Volume 32—Number 12 December 2015
Roanoke Valley Astronomical
Society Amateur Astronomy News and Views
In Southwestern Virginia
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 1 of 12
With the promise of an interesting presentation by
guest speaker Steve Conard, of the Johns Hopkins
University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) and
Lead Engineer on the New Horizons’ Long-Range Re-
connaissance Imager (LORRI), and the addition of sev-
eral members of the Blue Ridge Astronomy Club
(BRAC) for this joint meeting, the turnout for the No-
vember 2015 meeting was nothing less than outstand-
ing. Filling in for our President Dan Chrisman, who’s
recovering from his recent surgery, Vice President
Rand Bowden opened the meeting at 7:35 p.m. to an
audience of 47 Club members, family members, and
guests.
As the first order of business, Rand recognized our
guest speaker and then asked Frank Baratta to wel-
come our guests and visitors. One of our guests, Bill
Emory, became an RVAS member at the meeting, and
Frank was pleased to welcome back our September
guest speaker, Mr. Nick Anderson, past president of
the Virginia Tech astronomy club.
Rand then took care of some administrative business,
reminding the RVAS members present that the De-
cember meeting has been moved to December 14th.
The meeting will include our Holiday social (bring a dish (Meeting Continued on page 2)
Upcoming Meeting
Winter Solstice Social
December 14, 2015
Our annual winter bash! Details inside. Don’t
miss it!!!
November RVAS Meeting Notes
If you’re going to Pluto……………………………..
Lightweight and fast is best! By Bill Dillon, Secretary
November’s joint RVAS-BRAC meeting drew our largest
turnout in many months
Photo by Carolyn Baratta
The Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society is a membership organization of amateur astronomers dedicated to the pursuit of observational and
photographic astronomical activities. Meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. See calendar on last page of news-
letter for location. Meetings are open to the public. Observing sessions are held one or two weekends a month at a dark-sky site. Yearly dues
are: Individual, $20.00; Senior Individual, $18.00; Family, $25.00; Senior Family, $22.00; Student, $10.00. Articles, quotes, etc. published in the
newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the RVAS or its editor.
Officers/Executive Committee/Editor/Webmaster Dan Chrisman, President ([email protected] )
Rand Bowden, Vice President ([email protected])
Bill Dillon, Secretary ([email protected])
Jeff Suhr, Treasurer ([email protected])
Carol Mesimer, Member at Large ([email protected])
Michael Good, Immediate Past President ([email protected])
Frank Baratta, Past President ([email protected])
David E. Thomas, RVAS Newsletter Editor ([email protected])
Roger Pommerenke & David E. Thomas, Webmaster ([email protected])
RVAS web page: http://rvasclub.org
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 2 of 12
to share) and a visit to the planetarium at the Science
Museum of Western Virginia.
Rand also reported on the recent copyright infringe-
ment claim involving a copyrighted cartoon used without
license in one of our past Newsletters. After careful
consideration, the Club officers settled the claim and
took measures to prevent future copyright claims.
RVAS members are cautioned to avoid using copy-
righted materials in newsletter articles and presen-
tations, unless use permissions have first been ob-
tained.
As a last administrative matter, Rand reminded every-
one that this meeting would be the last chance to sign
up for a Guy Ottewell 2016 Astronomical Calendar.
This 43rd edition may in fact be the last calendar Mr.
Ottewell will produce. Members were encouraged to sign
up. In addition, RVAS Treasurer Jeff Suhr had a lim-
ited supply of Astronomy Magazine 2016 calendars for
sale at the meeting.
At this point in the meeting, Rand introduced Frank
Baratta to present his “What’s Up” program, highlight-
ing the near and deep sky for mid-November through
December 31st. During this period the tireless observer
will have an opportunity, weather permitting, to observe
the Leonid Meteor Shower, peaking on November 17th
and the Geminid Meteor Shower peaking on the night
of December 13th/14th, with a just past new Moon set-
ting at 7:32 p.m., offering dark skies for viewing. On
December 28th Mercury will be at greatest eastern
elongation. Try spotting it 10⁰ above the WSW horizon
30 minutes after sunset.
Continuing, Frank pointed out that December 3rd will see
a last quarter Moon with observing set for Cahas on the
4th and 5th. We’ll have a new Moon on December 11th with
Cahas observing on the 11th and 12th.
Frank reported that as this period begins, The Pleiades
are low in the east as darkness falls. The only planets
visible in the sky before midnight during this period will
(Meeting Continued from page 1)
(Meeting Continued on page 3)
Vice President Rand Bowden makes a point while chairing
the meeting
Photo by Carolyn Baratta
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 3 of 12
June 28, 2015 June 29, 2015
June 29, 2015
be Uranus and Neptune, both below naked-eye visibil-
ity. As we watch constellations, stars and other deep
sky objects moving across the night sky our view of the
Milky Way has shifted directions from the brighter
inner regions of summer to the softer outer regions of
the galaxy.
In the period from mid-November to the end of Decem-
ber the haze of the Milky slowly shifts from a NE/SW
orientation to a nearly E/W orientation and the Great
Square of Pegasus slides nearly overhead. On Decem-
ber 16th you’ll find the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) di-
rectly overhead, slightly north and east of the Great
Square. A little further to north and east in the con-
stellation Perseus a challenging observing target is the
eclipsing binary Algol or β Persei.
Following Frank Baratta’s presentation, and with a
great deal of eager anticipation, the audience was intro-
duced to Jack Gross President of the Blue Ridge As-
tronomy Club, who had the honor of introducing our
guest speaker, Mr. Steve Conard of JHUAPL. Steve
described himself as an astronomer wannabe from an
early age, grinding and polishing the primary mirror of
his first telescope.
Focusing on science and math in school he took a circui-
tous route in finding a temporary, two-year position
with JHUAPL which has lasted 33 years, and he is now
the lead engineer on the LORRI imager on NASA’s New
Horizon’s spacecraft, now approximately 1 AU beyond
the Pluto/Charon system, after nearly 10 years in
space. With the initial mission of a Pluto/Charon close
encounter and fly-by successfully completed, New Ho-
rizons will, if approved, make a close fly-by of a small
Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) on January 1, 2019.
As Steve described it, New Horizons launched on Janu-
ary 19, 2006 with the fastest earth departure ever at
36,000 MPH, passing the Moon’s orbit in only 9 hours
and the orbit of Mars in less than 3 months. Steve said
that to get to Pluto in a reasonable period of time “you
make the lightest spacecraft that can stand the stress,
put it on the biggest rocket you can find and throw that
spacecraft out there as hard as you can.”
New Horizons reached the Pluto/Charon system on July
14, 2015. The spacecraft carries seven scientific instru-
ments, including LORRI, which is basically a 208mm
Ritchey-Chretien telescope connected to a 1024 x 1024
pixel CCD.
The greatest challenge Steve said he faced in designing
and building LORRI was figuring out how to overcome
defocused images due to the temperature gradient be-
tween the inside and outside of the spacecraft. The
problem was solved by coming up with a Silicon Carbon
material that has both high temperature conductivity
(Meeting Continued from page 2)
(Meeting Continued on page 4)
Meeting attendees take in Frank Baratta’s monthly What’s
Up program
Photo by Carolyn Baratta
BRAC President Jack Gross introduces the evening’s guest
speaker, Steve Conard
Photo by Carolyn Baratta
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 4 of 12
Photos Wanted!!!
For the Annual Slideshow
Have you photographed RVAS members at club meetings or observing sessions or other astronomy activities?
Your photos are needed for our 4th Annual Slideshow to be shown at the December 21st Winter Solstice Social.
Send your photos to Frank Baratta at [email protected] or call 540-774-5651 for additional infor-
mation.
and low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), along
with the use of magnesium baffles, external isolators,
and a beryllium radiator and conduction bar.
The spacecraft used a gravity assist from Jupiter to
increase its heliocentric velocity by 20% on February
28, 2007, and got some nice pictures of Jupiter and its
moons as it passed by.
Using LORRI as both an image taker as well as a naviga-
tion instrument, New Horizons continued its journey to
the Pluto/Charon system for another eight-plus years,
giving real meaning to the immense distances in the out-
er solar system.
Finally approaching Pluto in July of 2015, after nine-plus
years of travel New Horizons ripped through the Pluto/
Charon system at a speed in excess of 31,000 mph,
passing within 8,000 miles of the surface of Pluto and
18,000 miles of the surface of Charon.
The images taken by LORRI and shared with us by Ste-
ve were in a word astounding. The supposed flat ice balls
of Pluto and Charon are actually geologically complex,
with mountains, ridges and chasms to rival any in the
solar system. A “look-back” image taken by LORRI of
Pluto on July 16th shows an “atmospheric haze” well over
100 miles high above the surface, the study of which
will keep scientists busy for years.
In
October and November, New Horizons performed a se-
ries of burns to put it on course for a close encounter
of a small KBO on January 1, 2019. Steve said he
wouldn’t be accepting any New Year’s Eve invitations
that year.
After several minutes of questions and answers, Steve
concluded his presentation to a hearty round of ap-
plause.
Rand Bowden then closed the meeting at 9:11 p.m.
(Meeting Continued from page 3)
Our guest speaker, Steve Conard, shares his insider’s
knowledge about the New Horizon’s Pluto Mission
Photo by Carolyn Baratta
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 5 of 12
MESSIER PROGRAM OBSERVING
The Messier objects for December are: M2, M15, M29,
M31, M32, M39, M110.
The observing session will be held at 6:30 pm, Friday
Decembber 4th and December 11th. at Cahas knob overlook,
MP 139 on the parkway.
Club members are welcome to join in the Messier hunt at
any time. (Using a scope or binoculars)
Images by NASA
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 6 of 12
Are You Receiving Your Newsletters
and Other Club Emails?
To save having to download newsletters from our website, these and other items of interest are emailed to
members. If you have not been receiving these items by email, please let us know by calling the RVAS Mes-
sage Line at 540-774-5651. Please also check whether your spam blocker is intercepting our emails.
Most of you know that I write the monthly astronomy
column for the Roanoke Times.
After what I first thought was a sufficient amount of
research, I had the December column written by Friday
November 20 in plenty of time for the Thanksgiving hol-
idays. Then, I started thinking more about my initial
premise and decided that it didn't sound quite right.
“The road leading to twenty-first century stargazing began one hundred years ago when Albert Einstein re-leased his paper describing the General Theory of Rela-tivity, which eventually resulted in today’s Global Posi-tioning System (GPS) technology. Because of the GPS satellite system, a smart phone equipped with GPS capa-bility “knows” its exact position on the surface of our planet. This would not be possible without taking into account the effects of general relativity.
One of the tenets of this remarkable theory is that time moves slower in stronger gravitational fields. Since GPS satellites orbit at an altitude of 12,000 miles, they feel about four percent less of a tug from Earth’s gravi-ty than we do on the surface. Hence, the clocks aboard the satellites move slightly faster than identical ones on Earth. The positional information that each of these satellites send to a phone’s internal receiver on Earth grow more inaccurate as time passes, with the positional error increasing to a few miles in just a few hours. To correct for this, the internal satellite clock rates are slowed down before launch to match those that stay on Earth.”
I was trying to link Einstein's 100th anniversary of his
General Theory of Relativity, which occurred on Novem-
ber 25, to twenty-first century GPS satellite technolo-
gy and the advent of smart phones with GPS capability.
These phones can run sky map apps which accurately
show the positions of the stars and planets in the sky.
Over the past six years, I have read in a number of
sources that described GPS requiring to take into ac-
count the gravitationally induced slowing of time, pre-
dicted by Relativity. (One such article appeared a few
years ago in the Roanoke Times and another in a book by
an MIT professor.)
But what I read just didn't seem quite right. It was
never adequately explained. So, I looked at a few more
references online. Yes, a number of them confirmed
that surface positions on Earth determined through
GPS would not be accurate enough without the system
compensating for the effects of Relativity. One even
cited Stephen Hawking.
Then, I read a couple of other pieces saying that it was
a popular myth among science types. They gave sound
reasoning why, while Relativity is certainly correct, it
does not play a role in GPS determining positions on
Earth. (One point raised was that it would require an
atomic clock in each cell phone’s hardware – which there
isn’t.) So, I couldn't very well tie Relativity with sky
apps on smart phones. Oh well, while it sure sounded
good, it wasn’t to be. I quickly went down a different,
more familiar, and safer road.
Wrong Road
by John Goss
Get Connected!
Want to be more in touch with other RVAS members? Join the RVAS Yahoo Group! Share
last-minute observing plans, articles, ideas, astrophotos—you name it. You’ll need to have or
create a Yahoo email address. Click the link below. Once logged in, provide the information
requested, including your real name since the group is only for members and those invited.
You’ll receive an acknowledgement from the moderator.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/RVAS_Club/info
For assistance, call the RVAS Message Line (540-774-5651). We’ll have you connected in no
time!
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 7 of 12
Member Observation
Video frame taken as a passenger jet crossed the face of the Moon on November 21, 2015 at 6:20 pm.
By Dave Thomas
Our club’s Library Telescopes (LiTel) outreach has
been well documented in previous newsletters [e.g. Oc-
tober, 2014]. Most recently, a Roanoke Times editorial
(“Every library should have one of these”) highlighted
our efforts and those of Bedford’s Blue Ridge Astrono-
my Club. RVAS’ financial donations and sweat equity
(i.e. telescope enhancements) continue to benefit the
families of library patrons. Last September, the li-
brary system registered it’s one hundredth loan of a
telescope. And, the cumulative number of telescope
loans continues to increase as four of the library sys-
tem’s branches are providing patrons with their tele-
scopes (see graph below).
(LiTel Continued on page 9)
LiTel Surpasses 100!
By Dan Chrisman
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 8 of 12
While the current supply of library loaner telescopes
provides many families with their first view through an
eyepiece, demand for the telescopes exceeds the sup-
ply. As the graph below exhibits, patrons are waiting
for the opportunity. Even with the addition of more
telescopes, the demand remains high.
The data suggests that that seldom is a telescope not
paired with a patron. Anecdotal evidence from out-of-
state library loaner programs suggests that information
sessions hosted by our members (e.g. John Goss’ Gains-
boro Branch session at 5:30 pm on 12/1/2015) will drive
even greater demand for the telescopes.
Let us celebrate our part in the 100th loan and set our
sights on achieving our 200th loan in record time.
(My thanks to Alan Hale at the South County Library
for the telescope loan data and to John Goss for his
vision.)
(LiTel Continued from page 8)
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 9 of 12
Les Quatre RVASquetaires: Dan Chrisman, Bill
Dillon, Michael Good and John Goss.
Photo by Richard Drumm, “The Astronomy Bum”, Podcaster for “365 Days of Astronomy”.
In the basement of the Leander McCormick
Observatory, Michael Good photographs an ob-
serving logbook that contains one of his under-
graduate observing session entries.
Photo by Dan Chrisman
On the campus of the University of Virginia, Dan Chrisman
with the Leander McCormick Observatory’s 26-inch astromet-
ric refractor: 47,654 days after its dedication, originally the
second largest telescope in the world.
Photo by Michael Good
A Sampling from the 10/3/2015
VAAS Annual Meeting
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 10 of 12
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 11 of 12
RVAS 25 years ago
The December 1990 issue of the Newsletter reported
on the November guest speaker, Dr. Laurence Freder-
ick, a Hubble Space telescope “insider”, who at the time
was “one of the honored few with an observing program
scheduled on the HST.” Deeply involved in America’s
space program, Dr. Laurence helped select the Apollo
lunar landing sites and was instrumental in the design of
the HST from the beginning. HST, with “the smoothest
surface ever produced”, promised to deliver “one hun-
dred times the resolution heretofore attained”. Well, at
the date of the November 1990 meeting only five
months had passed since “NASA’s bombshell announce-
ment” that the HST primary mirror had a spherical ab-
erration, the surface having been ground incorrectly.
Dr. Frederick pointed out at least two opportunities the
mirror manufacturer had to catch and perhaps correct
its manufacturing error, but chose not to and a sub-par
telescope was put into space. We all know the rest of
the story. In December 1993 on the first Hubble ser-
vicing mission, a Space Shuttle crew of astronauts car-
ried out the repairs, and we enjoy the results even to-
day.
RVAS 10 years ago
(The November and December 1990 Newsletters
were published in one issue in December)
On November 5, 2005, the annual convention of the Vir-
ginia Association of Astronomical Societies (VAAS) was
hosted by RVAS at Virginia Western Community College.
And in the words of RVAS VP Mike Overacker, “VAAS
was a GAAS!!!” All the planning and hard work put in by
many Club members in October paid off in a well-
attended, well-organized, successful event. John and
Genevieve Goss had the registration table well in hand.
Rand Bowden assisted Mike with selling extra door prize
tickets. Bob Young and Bruce Jones had arranged for
much appreciated coffee and donuts.
RVAS President, Katherine Hix, opened the meeting.
The speakers included Dr. Dwight Holland, Dr. Carlos
Salgado, and Johnny Horne, who donated three of his
posters as door prizes. The final speaker of the day was
our own Michael Good, who spoke on astrophotography,
photometry, and AGN’s.
The meeting closed after the 47 door prizes worth al-
most $3,600 combined were awarded to the attendees.
By all accounts the 2005 VAAS convention hosted by
RVAS was not only a “GAAS”, but was by all accounts a
great success.
RVAS from the Past BY Bill Dillon
MONTHLY MEETING
“Winter Solstice Social”
December 14th, 7:30 p.m.
(Note change of meeting date!)
Classroom A, 3rd floor
Center on Church, Downtown Roanoke.
It’s the holiday season and time once again for the second of our two semiannual, free-spirited gatherings—
our Winter Solstice Social! Bring a munchie to share with your RVAS friends and join us for the fun! The
club will provide the beverages. We’ll feature our annual slideshow of members and friends caught at our
activities to a background of seasonal music, plus our monthly What’s Up program. And we’ll provide plenty
of “open mike” time for anyone who has a topic they’d like to share with everyone. There’ll be a game or two
and maybe even a trip to the planetarium. So mark your calendar and prepare for the munching and camara-
derie. Don’t miss it!
RVAS NL— December 2015— Pg 12 of 12
Use Our Message Line!
Want to check whether anyone is getting out on a scheduled observing session night or share that you’re
planning to do so? Have questions about the club or need its assistance? Call the RVAS Message Line,
540-774-5651, and leave a message or listen for any information available.
Monthly Calendar MONTHLY MEETING: “Winter Solstice Social”, December 14th, 7:30 p.m., Classroom
A, 3rd floor, Center on Church, Downtown Roanoke. (Note change of meeting date!) Bring
a munchie to share with your RVAS friends and join us for our annual fun fest! We’ll have a
variety of activities, including our annual slideshow, What’s Up, open mic time for anyone to
spotlight a favorite subject, a game or two and maybe even some time in the planetarium to go
along with our munching. Don’t miss our annual winter bash!
RVAS WEEKEND OBSERVING OPPORTUNITIES: Unless otherwise indicated, observing is held at Cahas Knob
Overlook, milepost 139 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
-- Friday and Saturday, December 4th and 5th. Sunset is at 5:02 p.m. Astronomical twilight ends at 6:35 p.m.
The Moon rises at 1:44 and 2:39 a.m., respectively.
-- Friday and Saturday, December 11th and 12th. Sunset is at 5:03 p.m. Astronomical twilight ends at 6:36
p.m. The Moon sets at 5:41 and 6:34 p.m., respectively.
-- Future Sessions: January 1st and 2nd; January 8th and 9th; January 29th and 30th.
ROANOKE CITY PARKS and RECREATION PUBLIC STARGAZE: Saturday, December 5th, 5:45 p.m., Cahas
Knob Overlook, milepost 139, Blue Ridge Parkway. Nonmembers must register with Parks & Rec. at 540-853-2236.
Members can call 540-774-5651 for information. (Next session: January 9th, 6:00 p.m., Cahas Knob Overlook, mile-
post 139, Blue Ridge Parkway.)
Astro-Quiz
“Asterisms” are patterns which include some of the stars from one or more constellations, such as the Belt of
Orion. But the Belt is part of another, less known asterism in Orion. Can you name it?
Answer to Last Month’s Quiz: On spring nights, directly south of Leo and Virgo lies slender, sprawling Hydra,
the water snake, with Corvus, the crow, and Crater, the cup, perched on its back. All are characters in an ancient
myth in which Corvus once had silver-white plumage and a sweet singing voice. Asked by Apollo to fetch water in
Crater, Corvus quickly set out, but tarried, eating figs that grew along the way. Returning with the water after a
long absence, Corvus blamed Hydra for holding him back. Apollo saw through the lie, turned Corvus black and
changed his song to a parched caw. Worse yet, placing all three in the sky, Apollo instructed Hydra to always
keep Crater’s throat-quenching water out of Corvus’ reach. Hats off to Harry Montoro for correctly answering
last month’s quiz—his second consecutive month doing so!. Have an answer to this month’s quiz (or a future ques-
tion and answer to suggest)? E-mail it to [email protected]!