AOS HOLIDAY PARTY · Winter Hexagon of Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux and Caster, Procyon and Sirius, all surrounding the red giant Betelgeuse. There is so much to see there. Looking

THE AMATEUR OBSERVERS' SOCIETY OF NEW YORK

The Amateur Observers' Society459 Little East Neck Rd., West Babylon, NY 11704-6520(Fax) 360-248-3129

AOS Monthly MeetingHofstra University Berliner Hall, Rm 117, Bldg 62, California Ave, Hempstead, NYIn case of inclement weather, or other unusual situation, please call Hofstra at (516) 463-7669

The Celestial Observer is the the Official Newsletter of the Amateur Observers’ Society of NY, Inc. A 501(c)3 organization.

Visit us at www.aosny.org and join us on Facebook.The AOS expresses its deepest appreciation to Hofstra University for hosting our meetings, the Custer Institute, NYS Parks Dept and National Park Service for hosting our Observatories, and the Sierra Club Long Island Group for the 20" telescope.

IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

President's MessageDecember Constellations & FolkloreTransit of Mercury PhotosTips for Warmer Stargazing Sessions

www.aosny.org OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER December 2019

A M A T E U R O B S E R V E R S ’ S O C I E T Y O F N E W Y O R K

CONTINUED INSIDE…

NEXT MEETING: Sunday December 1, 1:15PM at Hofstra University, Hempstead NY Berliner Hall Room 117 Building 62, California Ave.

THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEBy Sue Rose

I hope that everyone had a great Nov. seeing the Mercury Transit and spending Thanksgiving with family & friends. The year is nearly over, and the Winter Solstice looms over us on Dec 21. It may be the darkest day, but it also means that our Sun will once again begin its’ journey higher in the sky. While that will bring us more warmth, the long dark nights of winter are advantageous for astronomical observing so don’t waste it. Get some long johns, a warm hat, coat and gloves and enjoy the beautiful winter sky dominated by Orion and the Winter Hexagon of Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux and Caster, Procyon and Sirius, all surrounding the red giant Betelgeuse. There is so much to see there. Looking forward to your reports.Many thanks to long-time AOS friend, Frank Melillo, who explained details of the impending Mercury Transit and how it has been observed by him and others. He is a great font of planetary information. If you missed Mercury and the Sun in their celestial dance, the next event visible from the US is May 7, 2049. Mark your calendars or plan

to travel for the 2 intervening events. I’ve counted nearly 50 AOS members who saw this one in some way. We have 300+ members. What about everyone else? Let me know. There is a Planetary Transit Special Observing Award available from the Astronomical League for the event. See details at https://www.astroleague.org/PlanetaryTransit_

Venus2012. I’d like someone to volunteer to spearhead this observing project for our members. Let me know ASAP. Thanks.The universe is

expansive, and we like to think about our little neck of the woods as being isolated and protected. We have recently discovered, however, that this is not the case. Our solar system has been invaded by interstellar objects, or so we believe. Is it true? If so, what, where, when, why and how? Thankfully, we have access to experts here on Long Island. Stony Brook Professor Phil Armatage will fill us in on The Interstellar Visitor “Oumuamua”. Don’t miss the details of this celestial interloper.The Stars on Sunday public observing after the Nov meeting was very successful with just over 100 people in attendance. The

AOS HOLIDAY PARTYDECEMBER 15

Celestial Observer December 2019

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Dec event will not follow our meeting but occur on Sun, Dec 8, weather permitting, due to a scheduling conflict. Please let me know if you can participate. We especially need telescope operators since 150 are already registered and the list has been cut there.There is a special public program at Sunken Meadow State Park on Dec 14 which we’ve been asked to attend. It is essentially for the Geminid Meteor Shower but has grown to a big event, weather permitting. Yes, I know it’s just after full moon. No one told the meteors. We will have other things to see and will tell them to try for next year when it’s new moon. This will be our last observing event till Feb 2, Stars on Sunday at Hofstra.Wishing everyone blessed holidays, clear skies and a Happy New Year.

OBSERVATORIESOur observatory in Southold at the Custer Institute is still going strong under the direction of Bill C, keeping the many visitors enthralled with the views though our C-14. Open on most clear Sat nights, Bill could use some help. Some good news. We have been advised that we will be invited back when the facility at Jones Beach is completed sometime

next year. We will be working with the staff at Sagamore Hill for our 2020 observing schedule. Stay tuned.In addition, we’re in discussions with additional facilities to help fill in the gaps. Don’t forget that NYS StarGazing permits are still available for the remainder of the year if you want to observe from the designated parks. The new permits will go on sale Jan 1. Restrooms WILL NOT be open during the winter and most likely are already closed.On Dec 8, weather permitting, we will open the Hofstra observatory for Stars on Sunday public view-ing. Come join us as we help those of all ages enjoy the wonders of the night sky from the 4th floor of Berliner Hall. We need 5 people, especially telescope operators, for the 150 people already registered. Please contact Sue if you can help."Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground."

—Theodore RooseveltFriends are like stars.

You don't always see them, but you know they are

always there!

2020 AOS CALENDARWe wish to thank Nancy R, Jason C and Mike D for their efforts in producing this calendar for everyone to enjoy. They have arrived and will be distributed at the Dec meeting. Those who requested mailing should have theirs already.

METEORITES: BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

We are very fortunate that Linda P, in her capacity as volunteer at the museum, has made some

amazing contacts, one of which is Sam Alpert, curator of the meteorite collection. He was kind enough to give us an outstanding tour 2 ½ years ago and has agreed to host us once again. The limit is 25 participants. His currently availability is Feb 5 or 6, or Mar 11 or 12, at 4pm. Contact Sue with your preference to be put on the list by November 4 so we can be penciled in.

MERCURY TRANSIT EVENTWe changed the location for the Transit observation to Captree State Park after we discovered that not only would the restrooms be open but there was a café as well for those who needed some sus-tenance for the 5+ hour event. We were joined by many ASLI members who kindly supplied bagels, coffee and muffins. Thank you ASLI. Although the sky was not pristine, it didn’t block our view of the tiny black orb crossing the face of the Sun. Frank was there as well so that means we picked the good spot. The most exciting parts were the beginning and end. Could you make it out when the disk of Mercury touched the edge of the solar disk at first and fourth contacts? Nail biting to be sure. After lamenting that we were unable to time it precisely, Chris K and I came up with a solution. He found an app for our iPhones that showed the time with seconds. If you click the power button and home button at the same time, you get a screen shot. So, at fourth contact, after downloading the app, we both clicked and there was the photo of the exact time. I used a 70mm TeleVue Pronto refractor with a sun funnel and he had a 8” Orion reflector with a white light filter. We were off by 1 second so I trust


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his time with the bigger view. Those with Androids should be able to do something similar. Let us know so we can spread the word.Captree is also a boat basin where fishing boats come and go, day and night, for most of the year. As such, the restrooms and access gates remain open. We shall send an investigative team to check it out at night to see what the lighting situation is. Maybe we’ve found a new observing area. Fingers crossed. If you’d like to help, please let me know.The event provided an opportunity for us to finally get a Subaru photo. Gene Z, Bill B, Chris and I lined up our vehicles, with telescopes, and took some

photos. I know we were missing quite a few others. We need to prove to Subaru that finally creating the astronomy badge was a good thing so please take a photo of your Subaru with a telescope and send it to me.

AOS NONAGENARIANCongratulations to Murray C who recently celebrated his 90th birthday!

NAME A STAR AS A HOLIDAY GIFT? NICE IDEA BUT NOOOOOO

Don’t get hoodwinked into this scam. The only organization which can name celestial bodies is the International Astronomical Union and they can’t be bought. They must be earned, just like Frank Melillo has an asteroid named after him due to his astronomical work. They pick some obscure

and dim star that can’t be seen but send you a nice map. They write all the names is a book that they keep in their safe and it only costs you about $75. If you’re really interested in commem-orating, contact Sue for some ideas.

NOVEMBER MEETING SUMMARYSue thanked Veterans and their families for their service & sacrifice. There was a review of the 3 observatories and their status and upcoming observing nights. We will try to do some observing award programs as a group. Watch the hotline for info. Tom L is holding several library telescope programs, see the monthly calendar for this and other observing programs. Safety First at ALL observing and other AOS programs. Dec 7 Trip to Philadelphia to see Museum of the Moon. Dec 15, 1pm Holiday Party at Borelli’s Italian Restaurant. Hempstead Tpk and Merrick Ave. Calendars will be ready for Dec meeting. Observing plans for the transit were reviewed. Guest speaker Frank Melillo—Mercury Transit. We need a new awards coordinator to replace Bill Bogardus. This is the person to whom everyone would submit their observations. Award certificates were presented to Chris H, Deborah C, Elliot G, and Ed W for observing and outreach projects. Sue reviewed other upcoming astronomical events-Venus movement thru 2020, Lunar X, Venus/Jupiter Conjunction + Saturn, Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation, eclipsing binary Algol.

"THE SCARIEST DAYS OF THE YEAR"

The Sun is clearly the most important cosmic object to life on Earth. From ancient Africa to ancient Europe to the ancient Far

East to the ancient Americas, the Sun was not only a useful source of warmth and light, it was an object of worship. In modern times, some still worship the Sun by lying prostrate on the beach in its honor or gazing silently at sunsets from romantic vistas. But in general, the Sun today gets hardly a notice.We also live in an era where none of us fears the permanent disappearance of the Sun during a total solar eclipse, or during the fourth week of December, when its arc across the daytime sky dips perilously low against the southern horizon. Without knowledge of how the solar system works, you would not know for sure whether, each year in December, the Sun's daily path would cross lower and lower and lower until the Sun itself disappeared below the horizon, perhaps never to rise again.The Sun does, in fact, disappear for residents north of the Arctic Circle: from one day per year at the Circle itself, up to six months at a time at Santa's address, but until recently, hardly anyone lived that far north to worry about it.From the latitude of New York City, "high noon" on December 21, brings the Sun a mere 26 degrees above the southern horizon. If the laws of celestial mechanics hold true this week, as they have for the past 14 billion years, the Sun's arc will cross the sky no lower than this angle in the few days that follow. Indeed, the daily descent of the Sun simply stops. In Latin "sol" means sun and "stit-" means stationary, giving us the familiar word "Solstice" to describe this, the first day of winter. Around December 25th, the Sun's arc crosses convincingly higher in the sky, prompting no end of celebration in the ancient world, and leading early Christian authorities to place


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the (otherwise uncertain) birth of Jesus at this time of year.Of course, New Yorkers are typically in a hurry during their lunch break, and do not think to whip out a protractor and measure the Sun's noon-time altitude. But fortunately, somebody else has done this for us. Ever wonder about that super-sized metal triangle that sits in the plaza of the McGraw Hill Building, at 6th Avenue, between 48th and 49th streets? Most people think it's just an attempt at obscure, abstract, geometric art. While it may also be that, the triangle is first and foremost a solar observatory. Different sides align exactly with the Sun at high noon on the first day of each of the four seasons.On December 21at noon, it's the triangle's lower edge that will align exactly with the Sun. Why not eat your sandwich there, and then? Others do, yet have no clue what's going on, and might be upset to learn that the noon Sun had been dropping day by day. You can now tell them not to worry--brighter days lie ahead.For a photo and description, go to this web page: http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/cos.html which itself contains links to descriptions and photos of dozens of astro inspired City monuments, and select "McGraw-Hill Building Plaza" Happy holidays to all, and, as always, keep looking up.–Neil deGrasse TysonDepartment of Astrophysics & Director, Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, http://research.amnh.org/users/tyson

"WHY IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE CALLED THE WINTER SOLSTICE

AND WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT ANYWAY?"

Jack Horkheimer

Greetings, greetings, fellow star gazers. On Dec. 21st, the winter solstice, that is the first day of winter, officially begins for the northern hemisphere. But if you're like most people the concept of the winter solstice can be a bit confusing. So, let me explain what the winter solstice is really all about. But to do that we're going to have to go back in time all the way to the first day of spring.O.k., we've got our skies set up for the first day of spring, which is also called 'the vernal equinox', vernal meaning 'green', and equinox meaning 'equal night', which simply means that on the equinox the hours of daylight are equal to the hours of night. Now on the first day of spring, the vernal equinox, the Sun rises exactly due east and sets exactly due west. And each successive day thereafter it rises and sets just a little bit farther to the north until the summer solstice, the first day of summer, when the Sun reaches its northernmost point along the horizon and actually seems to 'stand still' and rise and set in the same place for a few days. In fact, the word 'solstice' means 'Sun stands still'.And as any school child will tell you, the first day of summer is the longest day of the year, meaning the day of longest daylight. Now after the solstice the Sun will appear to reverse its direction and will rise and set just a little bit farther south each successive day. And each successive day the time of daylight will grow just a little bit shorter and on the autumnal equinox, the first day of autumn, the Sun will once again rise due east and set due west and the hours of daylight will again be equal to the hours of night. Then the Sun will continue its journey southward rising and setting a little bit farther south each day and daylight will continue to get

shorter and night time longer each day until the winter solstice, the first day of winter, when the Sun will reach its farthest point south and once again will appear to 'solstice' that is stand still and rise and set in the same place for a few days. And at the time of the solstice, the northern hemisphere will experience the shortest day of the year, meaning the day of least sunlight and most night.Then, a few days after the solstice, the Sun will appear to retrace its steps and will rise and set just a little bit farther north on the horizon each successive day until once again we'll be back where we started on the vernal equinox, the first day of spring and the Sun will rise and set due east and west. And will then repeat the entire rising and setting cycle again and again, year after year. Now in the 21st century we really don't pay much attention to where the Sun rises and sets each day but our ancestors kept precise records of where the Sun rose and set every day because this gave them their first yearly calendar by which they were able to determine the seasons so they would know when to plant and when to harvest. In fact, recording the Sun's rising and setting positions day after day was as important to our ancestors as our wall calendars and atomic clocks are to us today. So, might I suggest that just for fun beginning with this solstice, you watch the Sun's journey all this upcoming year as it rises and sets at a slightly different place each morning and night. You'll not only find it fun but absolutely fascinating. I'm Jack Horkheimer, keep looking up!

WINTER STARGAZING TIPS TO STAY WARM AND COZY!

(POSSIBLE HOLIDAY GIFTS?)Some parts of the country feel as if the winter will never end.


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Massive snows, polar vortexes, arctic winds...it’s almost enough to make you forget that a spring thaw will eventually arrive! One thing that is guaranteed to warm an astronomers heart in these cold winter nights: the beautiful, sparking skies!Orion, Taurus, the Pleiades, Sirius, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Double Custer in Perseus: these are just a few of the gorgeous sights that are at their peak in the winters of the Northern Hemisphere, not to mention the clockwork actions of the Moon and planets. But how can you observe and stay comfortable outside when the weather seems determined to turn you into a popsicle?1. Layers are your friend!-You

may already know this, but remember to wear multiple layers of clothes! A super warm coat won't help that much if all you are wearing underneath is a t-shirt. At the same time, moving around during your setup and observing may actually heat you up to an uncomfortable degree, so being able to peel off a sweater or overcoat would be very welcome.

2. Warm, wool socks-Thick cozy socks are a must, especially as the night wears on. Your feet will thank you, especially if you are wearing good boots! Which brings us too...

3. Waterproof boots-You will want warm boots, and if there is snow, make sure your boots are also waterproof. Any water soaking through your shoes to your boots is a sure way to make your toes icy and prematurely end your observing. Clear out your observing area-Is there snow on the ground where you usually set up? Bring a shovel and clear it out, even if there is

just an inch or two of the white stuff. Your equipment and toes will thank you.

4. Blankets-Did you bring a blanket? Good. Even if you think you won't need one...you very well may want one after the first hour or so, especially if you are seated very still.

5. Gloves-Pack your gloves! Some astronomers prefer fingerless gloves that allow them to work on their instruments while outside, while others prefer combo mitten-gloves that allow you to flip the ends of the mittens off for fingerless glove access. Remember, you will be handling lots of cold metal as you set up your equipment in the cold so if you don't want your fingers going numb within minutes, gloves are a must!

6. Heat pads-Chemical heating pads are your friend. Stick these little beauties into your gloves and boots to stay warm. Some heating pads now offer rechargeable electrical heating-just make sure they are charged before you leave the house!

7. A big goofy hat and earmuffs-A hat with ear flaps? Big fuzzy earmuffs? You will definitely want these! While they may look a bit silly, you will be toasty inside, with nice warm ears rather than frigid lobes in danger of frostbite. Besides, you will be in the dark: who cares what you look like?

8. A warm thermos-A thermos full of your favorite warm liquid-hot chocolate, soup, coffee, tea- is your best friend during these long winter nights.

One final thing to remember:

however cold you think you are, there is probably someone some-where else who is in an even colder location...like, say, an amateur astronomer in Antarctica:

With these tips you are sure to have a much warmer and cozier time checking out the beautiful jewels of the winter night. Stay warm, and don't let the frost bite!

STAR GAZING WISH‘Twas the night after Christmas, 'twas mild and 'twas clear.Nothing could bring an observer more cheer.Perseus stood on his perch way up high;His steed, Pegasus, was grazing nearby.

The Gemini twins were now climbing the sky,And the Beehive (I swear!) I could see naked eye.I listened for old Canis Major to bark,The whole dome of heaven was stunning and dark.

It was good to be out, far away from the crowdWhile enjoying a sky that did not hold a cloud.The unchanging stars that were named long agoReturn with each season for gazers below.

Though some find their peace in wine and firelight,For me it is found in a clear, moonless night.To my brothers and sisters, be they near or far,


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I bid you good fortune and wish on a star.May good health and joy find their way to your door.May your blessings outnumber the stars in M4.Wherever life leads you, wherever you roam,May the stars always be there to guide your way home.Roger Curry, 2004Northeast Florida Astronomical Society

DECEMBER CONSTELLATIONS AND FOLKLORE by Francine Jackson

As you watch Orion rise higher and higher above the horizon, on its way to its upright position due south with every colder and colder seasonal night, you might notice that it comes equipped with a pair of stars just above its majestic figure. These are Castor and Pollux. It's easy to remember which is which, because in the alphabet "C" comes before "P," and Castor rises before Pollux, leads it across the sky, then sets first below the western horizon. Castor and Pollux are traditionally referred to as the heads of Gemini, the Twins, a very unusual set, in fact, for they had different dads. Pollux was the son of Jupiter, and therefore was immortal, while his brother's father was a human being. Unfortunately, as happens to humans, Castor lost his life in battle, and Pollux was so distraught at losing his beloved brother and best friend that he asked his father to be with Castor always. As a compromise, which we see in the sky, for half the year Castor returns to Earth, to be with Pollux. The constellation from this latitude virtually travels over our heads, two brothers visibly happy to be here. But then, when the warmer weather starts to come back, the brothers soon disappear

below the western horizon, letting us know that Pollux must now join Castor in his world, Hades. This constellation is very easy to see, as the two brothers actually are stick figure fraternal twins, sitting just above Orion's shoulders.To the right, or west, of Gemini is an almost perfect pentagon shape. Early traditions had this as one of the shields belonging to Neptune, but somehow this got changed to depict a man riding a chariot, Auriga, the Charioteer. His reason for being in the sky is in question, but some believe he represents the son of Vulcan who was unable to walk properly and thus invented the chariot, a move which cause him to become forever immortalized in the sky.Auriga's brightest star, Capella, also was important in mythology as it was often called the "goat star." Some have it as the goat that gave life to the baby Jupiter, who broke off one of the goat's horns. To make up for this faux pas, Jupiter took the horn and gave it magical powers, to the extent that the person in possession of it could have it filled with whatever he wished it to be filled with. This was called the "cornucopia," or horn of plenty, a symbol of the holidays to this day. Also, if you look just to the south of Capella, you might see a dim triangle. These three stars are collectively referred to as the three little kids, being protected by Capella.Once these two constellations are within easy viewing with the previously described winter constellations, you might just see a very easy way to put all of the bright stars of this season together. Simply begin at Capella, move to the left, or east, to first Castor, then Pollux, keep to the left but go downward to the little dog star Procyon, almost straight down to brilliant Sirius,

now right, or west, to Rigel, move right and slightly up toward the Bull's eye, Aldebaran, then take a hard left to Betelgeuse. Notice, you've made an almost prefect letter "G." This asterism, made up of the brightest stars in the winter sky, is called the Heavenly G, and, if you're in a city sky, you might realize that now that you've seen it, the rest of the constellations are rather dim and might be a bit difficult to resolve again.The last constellation in this winter set can be found by once again going to Orion's belt, but this time move downward below his knees. You might find six stars arranged in a really crooked rectangle. This is Lepus, the Rabbit. Some of us feel really bad for this poor little creature, hiding below the greatest hunter that ever lived. Surprisingly, very early myths had this part of the sky listed as a bird, which seems to make more sense, as the basic shape could possibly be looked on as a wing. However, when this metamorphosis occurred, the rabbit was left with two avian characteristics: First, as his shape suggests, he could fly. And secondly, the more important reason to have a rabbit in the sky, Lepus could lay eggs. This little constellation is the celestial representation of the Easter Bunny. And, even though Lepus is a part of the winter sky, regardless of when the moveable feast of Easter occurs, anywhere from immediately after the vernal equinox to the end of April, Lepus is still in the early evening sky, overlooking all who spend their time hunting everywhere for his cache of Easter eggs.


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Life on Earth… Date Time Event Location

1 1:15 pm Club Meeting Room 117, Berliner Hall, Hofstra University, California Ave.

5 7–9 pm Floral Park Library Star Party–volunteers needed 17 Caroline Place, Floral Park

6 Sunset Observing, Sag Hill Members-only, if scheduled Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Oyster Bay

6 6:30-8:30 pm Tom Lynch Sidewalk Astronomy Atlantic Ave. walk through parking lot,

8 6-8 pm Stars on Sunday Volunteers needed

Roof of Berliner Hall, Hofstra University, California Ave.

8 6:30-8:30 pm Tom Lynch Sidewalk Astronomy Atlantic Ave. walk through parking lot,

14 SunsetPublic stargazing for Geminids Meteor Shower Volunteers needed

Sunken Meadow State Park

20 Sunset Observing Stargazing Permit Required

Robert Moses State Park Sunken Meadow State Park







DECEMBER


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Important State Park Info: Always tell someone where you will be when stargazing. Permits are required to observe after dusk at the state parks. The police come around to check and either ticket those without permits who will not leave. PLEASE add their number, (631) 669-2500, to your mobile phone's speed dial before you go. If non-astronomy related vehicles show up, you should let the police know. It’s also a good idea to put a note on the hotline and let others know you’re going there so you might get some company. Advise the police ahead of time that you will be there observing. The $35 yearly permits expire December 31st, are available for purchase from Jan 1-Mar 31 and Labor Day-Dec 31 and valid at 6 State Parks. Obtain permits at offices in Belmont Lake State Park, Jones Beach, Montauk Downs, Sunken Meadow, Robert Moses, Wildwood, or by mail to NYS Parks Dept, Belmont Lake State Park, Babylon, NY 11702. See their site for complete info.

Jones Beach West End 2Special AOS Permit requiredAOS Membership Card requiredAdvanced notice not required

Sagamore Hill National Historic SiteAOS Membership Card requiredAdvanced notice required

Susan F. Rose Observatory at Custer ObservatoryAOS Membership Card not requiredAdvanced notice not required

IMPORTANT MEMBERS-ONLY OBSERVING SESSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR AOS OBSERVATORIES

Life on Earth… Date Time Event Location

5 1:15 pm Club Meeting Room 117, Berliner Hall, Hofstra University, California Ave.

9 7 –8:30 pm North Bellmore Library Star Party Volunteers needed 1551 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore.


Robert Moses State ParkSunken Meadow State Park







JANUARY

Safety First: For those who are attending to scopes, either your own or one of the AOS’, it is very important that you be concerned with safety, both of equipment and visitors. A child damaging an eye is something we don’t want to have happen. Under NO circumstances should you allow anyone to stand on tiptoes or lift a child to place their eye on the eyepiece. If a stepladder with a handle is not available, make your apologies. Please also insist that the child hold onto the ladder, not the telescope, and that the accompany ing adult steady the child on any ladder. ALSO ENSURE that scopes and ladders are not left unattended. Children jump at the chance to climb ladders. The taking of photos through eyepieces with handheld cameras for any open Newtonian scopes at the AOSOJB is prohibited; for fear that a dropped camera will damage the primary mirror. On other scopes, let the camera owner be responsible for the photo at your discretion. We want everyone to have a good experience and be safe. Remember: for them, for you and for Chris.


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RECENT OUTREACHBill C had about 25 visitors on Oct. 12 at the Susan Rose Observatory in Southold, showing them Saturn and the lunar crater Pythagoras, and on Nov. 9 he showed 25 visitors the same crater as it was on the Moon's terminator while in near-freezing temperatures.On Nov. 3, Jason C, Bill C, Bart F, Andy G, Chris H, John K, Pat L, Nancy R, and Genie S operated telescopes and engaged the public at Hofsta's Stars on Sunday astronomy program on the roof of Berliner Hall.Tom L conducted telescope training and a star party for library patrons at the Wantagh Pubic Library on Nov. 4. Assisting him with telescopes were Linda P and Nancy R. Among the celestial treats seen by visitors were Saturn, the Moon, Albireo, and the Andromeda Galaxy, under mostly clear skies.

MONTAUK OBSERVATORYDate & Time: Saturday, December 7th, from 6–8:00 PM Event: Stargazing with Montauk Observatory (brief orientation talk beforehand) Location & Co-sponsor: South Fork Natural History Museum (SoFo) 377 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, NY Register: Call SoFo: 631-537-9735

STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY ASTRONOMY/PHYSICS

OPEN NIGHTSAstronomy Open Night, Friday, December 6, 2019ESS 001; 7:30PMProfessor Phil Armitage-“Is there anybody out there? Searching for another Earth”

COLUMBIA ASTRONOMY OUTREACH PRESENTS:

STARGAZING & LECTURE SERIES

http://outreach.astro.columbia.edu

These are free lectures at a public level followed by guided stargazing with telescopes (weather permitting). All events are held at Pupin Hall at Columbia University. No reservations are needed.

Lectures are 30 minutes, stargazing lasts 90 minutes. Stay only as long as you want. For directions, weather updates and more information, please visit:

Fall 2019Spacetime Telescopes

Jose Manuel Zorrilla MatillaNovember 15th, 7:00pm

Shorts: Galactic Habitability,

FIREBALL Balloon,and Exomoons

Moiya McTier, Nicole Melso, & Alex Teachey

December 6th, 7:00 PM

Student Research Shorts December 20th, 7:00 PM

Undead Worlds: Planets around White DwarfsJorge CortesOctober 4th, 8:00 PM

Life in the UniverseJosh Tan October 18th, 8:00 PM

A Scientist Never Asks a Star its AgeMark PopinchalkNovember 1st, 8:00 PM


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TRANSIT OF MERCURYNOVEMBER 11TH CAPTREE STATE PARK


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AOSPicturePage


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The Orion Nebula: Window Into a Stellar NurseryBy David Prosper

Winter begins in December for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing cold nights and the return of one of the most famous constellations to our early evening skies: Orion the Hunter!

Orion is a striking pattern of stars and is one of the few constellations whose pattern is repeated almost unchanged in the star stories of cultures around the world. Below the three bright stars of Orion’s Belt lies his sword, where you can find the famous Orion Nebula, also known as M42. The nebula is visible to our unaided eyes in even moderately

light-polluted skies as a fuzzy “star” in the middle of Orion’s Sword. M42 is about 20 light years across, which helps with its visibility since it’s roughly 1,344 light years away! Baby stars,

including the famous “Trapezium” cluster, are found inside the nebula’s whirling gas clouds. These gas clouds also hide “protostars” from view: objects in the process of becoming stars, but that have not yet achieved fusion at their core. The Orion Nebula is a small window into a vastly larger area of star formation centered around the constellation of Orion itself.

NASA’s Great Observatories, space telescopes like Hubble, Spitzer, Compton, and Chandra, studied this area in wavelengths we can’t see with our earthbound eyes, revealing the entire constellation alight with star birth, not just the comparatively tiny area of the nebula. Why then can we only see the nebula? M42 contains hot young stars whose stellar winds blew away their cocoons of gas after their “birth,” the moment when they begin to fuse hydrogen into helium. Those gas clouds, which block visible light, were cleared away just enough to give us a peek inside at these young stars. The rest of the complex remains hidden to human eyes, but not to advanced space-based telescopes. We put telescopes in orbit to get above the interference of our atmosphere, which absorbs many wavelengths of light. Infrared space telescopes, such as Spitzer and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, detect longer wavelengths of light that allow them to see through the dust clouds in Orion, revealing hidden stars and cloud structures. It’s similar to the infrared goggles firefighters wear to see through smoke from burning buildings and wildfires.Learn more about how astronomers combine observations made at different wavelengths with the Night Sky Network activity, ‘The Universe in a Different Light,” downloadable from bit.ly/different-light-nsn. You can find more stunning science and images from NASA’s Great Observatories at nasa.gov.

Find more observing projects at www.theskyscrapers.org/december

& OBSERVING PROJECTSIn the sky

Caption: This image from NASA’s Spitzer missions shows Orion in a different light – quite literally! Note the small outline of the Orion Nebula region in the visible light image on the left, versus the massive amount of activity shown in the infrared image of the same region on the right. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IRAS /H. McCallon. From bit.ly/SpitzerOrion


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MESSIER’S DISAPPOINTMENTSDr. Michael West

Comet hunting was all the rage among astronomers centuries ago. Because the starry skies appear unchanging over the span of a human lifetime, a comet’s sudden arrival was greeted with curiosity and sometimes fear.

One of the most successful comet hunters was a French astronomer named Charles Messier, who discovered 13 comets between 1760 and 1798. But that’s not what he’s best known for today.

While searching for comets with his telescope, Messier often stumbled upon fuzzy-looking objects that resembled them. But unlike comets, which move across the sky as they travel around the Sun, these mysterious splotches of light never moved.

Messier had no idea what they were, but he knew they couldn’t be comets. He called them nebulae, the Latin word for ‘clouds’ or ‘mist.’

Messier began compiling a list of these nuisance objects so that he and other comet hunters wouldn’t waste their time with them. In 1774, he published a catalog of 45 nebulae that could be mistaken for comets. By 1781, his list had grown to 103 nebulae.

To Messier, these nebulae were disappointments because they weren’t comets. But to modern astronomers, they’re some of the most beautiful and fascinating objects in the heavens.

The first object on Messier’s list, known as M1, turned out to be a spectacular exploded star when viewed with modern telescopes. Another, M13, was described by Messier as a “nebula containing no stars,” but it’s now known to be a

gorgeous cluster of more than 300,000 stars dancing around each other in a gravitational waltz.

Today we know that Messier’s list of objects is a hodgepodge of galaxies, star clusters, glowing clouds of gas, dead or dying stars, and other cosmic exotica. But seen through Messier’s small telescope, they appeared only as amorphous blobs.

Astronomers still refer to objects by their Messier numbers today, making him one of the most famous stargazers of all time. Although he’d probably have preferred to

be known for his comet discoveries, Messier’s legacy is his list of disappointments. Yet if he were alive today, he might have found his nuisance objects even more dazzling than the comets he was seeking.

As anybody who has been to a yard sale knows, one person’s trash is often another’s treasure. Or, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus put it, “Unless you expect the unexpected you will never find it.”


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LIBRARY TELESCOPE The Concept The Library Telescope Program places telescopes in local public libraries where patrons can borrow the telescope just like a book. A library can get the program going for under $400. The Library Telescope is purchased by the library from the manufacturer and certain modifications are made to make it easy to use and harder to damage or lose pieces. When possible, a local astronomy club member acts as a foster parent to the telescope. He or she will modify the telescope, teach library staff and patrons how to handle and use the telescope, periodically clean and adjust the telescope, and act as a local astronomical resource to the library patrons. The Telescope The Library Telescope Program uses the Orion StarBlast 4.5-inch Reflector Telescope along with a zoom eyepiece and supportive material. The telescope is easy to use and is robust. There is nothing to assemble. It has a wooden base, not the usual spindly tripod legs. The telescope is of manageable size and has a relatively large optical tube. This means that the Moon and deep sky objects will show far more detail than one could see with the common "beginner’s" telescopes. It also has a large field of view that allows the object to stay in the eyepiece longer. This is a quality instrument, reviewed by a number of astronomical publications and found quite worthy. Our Mission The Library Telescope Program was founded in 2008 by Marc Stowbridge and the New Hampshire Astronomical Society. The program has been implemented in 44 states in libraries of all sizes and has proven popular with library patrons and staff. The Orion StarBlast 4.5" Reflector Telescope has proven easy-to-use and durable for public use. Our goal is to promote the Library Telescope Program across the United States and beyond. There are currently 7 libraries in Nassau County with Library Telescope Programs. Should your library start a Library Telescope Program? Talk to them about it. For more info see: Facebook Page: Library Telescope and/or www.LibraryTelescope.Org Or Contact: Tom Lynch at [email protected] or 516-593-8580


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HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY

Astronomy Outreach, Department of Physics Astronomy

Stars on Sundays 2019 - 2020 Dec. 8, 6 – 8 pm Mar. 1, 7 – 9 pm Feb. 2, 6 – 8 pm Apr. 5, 8 – 10 pm Dec. 8, 6 – 8 pm

images ©New Mexico State University

Hofstra invites kids of all ages to view the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, star clusters, nebulae, &

multi-colored double stars with telescopes from the Hofstra Observatory, 4th floor, Herman Berliner Hall, California Ave. & Huntington Place, S. of Hempstead Turnpike. Program begins with a presentation about

the sky in room 117. Attendance is limited to150 people/event. Free registration is required.

Latest info and free registration: www.hofstra.edu/astronomy GPS: 826 Huntington Pl Uniondale, NY 11553; Email: [email protected]


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AOS 2019 Public Astronomy Programs www.aosny.org

AOS Newsletters-see past and present newsletters at http://www.aosny.org/Newsletter_archive.htm AOS Monthly Meetings Open to the Public – Free Hofstra University, Berliner Hall, room 117, 1:15pm. Astronomy discussions, suitable for all levels. First Sunday Oct-June, Sept (2nd Sun) For dates and location see www.aosny.org/MeetingSchedule.htm For monthly newsletter see www.aosny.org/Newsletter_archive.htm Stargazing at AOS Observatory in Southold – Free Susan F. Rose Observatory at Custer Insti-tute, Southold Public stargazing Saturday nights, weather permitting. See craters on the Moon, plan-ets, deep sky objects, etc. For map see www.aosny.org/Custerdirections.htm Custer Institute www.custerobservatory.org Presentations, Activities, and Stargazing – Free Sagamore Hill National Historic Site Outdoor presentation followed by stargazing with telescopes, weather permitting. Learn about the constellations and see planets, craters on the Moon, and more! To be advised of changing conditions, register at 516- 922-4788 www.nps.gov/sahi/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?event=F0A032AD-1DD8-B71B-0B664336E65F195A www.nps.gov/sahi/planyourvisit/calendar.htm www.nps.gov/sahi/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm Stars on Sunday with Hofstra University –Berliner Hall at California Ave.& Huntington Pl, Hemp-stead Indoor presentation followed by stargazing with telescopes, weather permitting. Learn about the constellations and see planets, craters on the Moon, and more! The first Sunday of the month during the academic year. To be advised of dates and changing conditions, register at 516-922-4788 www.hofstra.edu/astronomy Space is limited. Astronomy Day- Free with museum admission April each year Cradle of Aviation Museum, Garden City see http://www.cradleofaviation.org/ Workshops, planetarium presentations, demonstrations, solar observing (weather permitting). Astronomy Resources Monthly celestial events: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/tonights_sky/index.php Monthly sky charts Free: www.skymaps.com Free computer planetarium program: www.stellarium.org TELESCOPES PROVIDED AND/OR OPERATED BY AMATEUR OBSERVERS' SOCIETY OF NY with support from the Sierra Club, Long Island Group http://newyork.sierraclub.org/longisland/

REACH FOR THE UNIVERSE!

Documents

AOS HOLIDAY PARTY · Winter Hexagon of Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux and Caster, Procyon and Sirius, all surrounding the red giant Betelgeuse. There is so much to see there. Looking