Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

August 2017 Agenda and Minutes Welcome:

New members or 1st time visitors? No new members at this meeting. Members attending: Claude, John, Stan, Joan, Vatch, Randy, Tom, Wes, Byron, Lydia, Dick, matt,

Jane, Linda, Bill

Announcements: BBVAS now a member of WAA! Western Amateur Astronomers, http://www.waa.av.org/INSIDE.html

- Newsletter and discussions for Amateur Astronomers Happy birthday to Dr. John Varsik

Treasurer/Membership Report: AL dues are paid for 2017.

$798.00 with 44 members Club dues are due next month.

Librarian Report : Nothing to report

Comments, reports, discussions, reviews:

Erwin Lake Public Event and telescope clinic, July 21. - Very well attended, lots of new scopes, very good seeing.

Virtual Lecture- . Ron Oliversen, NASA/GSFC Ass. Chief, Planetary Magnetospheres Laboratory, on the Lunar Atmosphere.

- Great presentation Urban Assault Friday Jul 28th in the Village

- Lots of folks stopped by and looked at moon, planets BBSO Tour July 27 and today.

- Both tours went very well… more than a few younger folks attended. Renaming Ceremony at BBSO

- Several club docents attended and visited with dignitaries. - New telescope name: the Goode Solar Telescope, GST

Activities

Solar Eclipse, August 21. BBVAS will set up in the parking lot near Swim Beach. - PSA delivered to KBHR, the Grizzly, Facebook.

Virtual Lecture for September – Dr Tamitha Skov – Space Weather Woman! - http://www.spaceweatherwoman.com/

Virtual Lecture for November- our very own Teresa Bippert-Plymate - Her background as a professional Astronomer

Discovery Center - Fri Aug 11 – Bill to speak on the Eclipse. Need telescopes. - Theme: “what can we see tonight?” - Randy, Vatch, Claude/Teresa with scopes - Visitors stayed and asked lots of questions about Perseids and ISS

• Some visitors laid flat on parking lot and saw several bright Perseids. Urban Assault Astronomy in the Village, Aug 25th.

- This week before Labor Day should have lots of visitors

Anyone start the AL Lunar Project? - Not yet… but a great idea - https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/lunar/lunar1.html

BBVAS Star Party – Aug 19. HC? - Confirmed… bring your telescope and enjoy

Civil Air Patrol needs help with 10” Cave Astrola for evening viewing after the Air Fair, 8/26. - Contact: Capt. Edward Bennett, Bennett_er@hotmail.com - Randy will try to be there to help with the telescope - Additional club members are encouraged to help/attend as well.

Chief observer report.

What’s up this month? - One naked-eye comet (2017-01) in September

Scheduling:

Next beginner talk? - Recap of the Solar Eclipse by those who saw it.

Talking to the public without using technical terms - Dr. Jane Jackson

Good presentation with great reminders about what the audience will take away. General Discussion:

Chat about International Dark Sky Association - http://www.darksky.org/ - From our Virtual Lecture series: https://youtu.be/r3qG0nj-pcc

A motion was made, seconded, and approved to reimburse Teresa for the purchase of club T-shirts. The total is estimated to be $380.00. The club will then sell the T-shirts to club members with the proceeds of each sale going back into the Club Treasury.

For consideration at next month’s club meeting: - Have a 2nd Telescope Clinic during the year… possibly in the Spring and Fall…

-end-

OI1"IJION[ ~1I'i S-NOUJ~lI'IO SS-VdWOJ '.\'OlI~ ')1101'1 Mlp~Jd ~4~ u1 ilJIUS.!t'. ill ,{'w JiI"'oqS ~ 'if lH./. Q,

slnol.l u o.UJI/J

' """" H.LHON '~I'~ ••• ~ .~~I\o ~ ''i.\~

.. , ., ..§., ') ... ~o'"

S Get Sky Calendar on Twitter :+ V -~ ... o '\ ,1" .. 1 ky Calendar - August 2017 http ://tw;tt,,,,o m/s!<ymaps.~ "" , • \ ",,, .. ,,

~"f> ... <F , ~ ~ 2 Moon near Antares (eveni ng sky) at 9h UT. , .... c,,~ ,sl' ~ //' ,t.\ •

<.y' ~o " \. fl'-'''~ '' i" • ,"'" 2 Moon at apogee (fart llest from Earth) at 18h UT (distance ,~~+. + • ..~

v:f' ~ rI •

\" . ~ ~ ... . .....

3 Moon near Saturn (evem ng sky) at 8h UT. Nag. 0.3. '" ~ ~o '" <:J'\'o ~ I ;11 ~10401.

16'f::pt,s, \

\ ".rr" '0 7 '.+

2 Venus 2.4 0 S of M3 5 duster (morning sky) at 15h UT. Mag. -4.0 . ~ g''; d ~\; ~J ~ \.

405 ,025 km; angular size 29,5 '), 4' .:i.~ \I t>+Jt. ;.: ,

~ ,,go t>-" , ... \'\~. .s!-J e]o~ 1~ ~S ~I~O~ 1 •

7 Partial Eclipse of tile Moon from 17 :23 to 19:18 UT, .; ~ / Jt. ... ~O • ~ .. :IN ! mid ~edipse at 18:20 UT. Vis ible from t he Ea!tern R %- ... "\ :0..,,,. 1 Hemisphere including Aust ra lia, lndonesia and India. ~; . , ,,~~ SliT}

-----/ ~, ..!' <c)' \ "'~ ~ 1I 7 FuLl Moon at 18:12 UT. ~ ; •• • Q, . f'?1)~

12 Per5eid meteor shower peak lasts about 10 hours if T -.-....... \--:-..~ / e e' ~ from 14h UT. Active from July 17 to August 24. 1: ~ . ' Produces swift, bright meteors (50 to 100 per hour) ~ r ~ e \ OJna , ..........

many with persistent trains. Best vi ewi ng conditions ~ '5 \)t \

~, .tI 'C.> ... ~ "l '10,,&.~ ~ "

i' -'.,:;

THE NIGHT SKY LOOKS EARLY AUG 9 PM LATE AUG 8 PM

\1 occur after midnight. Moonlight interferes, 8 :; J \ ' .p ..... N

~ ~ ' )¥('$ , I ' ' ..-lo ",$ r " 15 last Quarter Moon at 1:16 UT. :2 ~ :.: . : - ', , UIWtU....... als. $ i 15 Moon noar the PLetades (morning sky) at ISh UT,; '" r;: ~ ,," : ~ ",,~. 1<.... ' r\ Ii :5 .. ~

. ,. .... ~ ....... .- , :i .. ... ~ ... ";Pol + '" rJ'+<\" -__. " '" .:!! ~ 16 Moon near Aldebaran (74' from Sun, mormng sky) ~ ~ [ \ ~ \ ~'. , ,' : ~'{. ::n- , L:.\~ ~ ,'~'>' ' 'I ~ g •. ~ ;::

at 7h UT. Occultation visible from the Caribbean. g \ ::' ~c: ~ i: ~ ~1~ (j~\ '\ ...... 1 !"e~.. . :> j' / ; C>;:) \ I ' ~ ,' :'> ..L ~ ,j' '0.... I ...

18 Moon at perigee (closest to Ea rth) at 13:16 UT ~:-, ' • ~ ~" ~ ' ' -- ," f' ,' ~ (366 121 km ' ang ula r size 32 6') ~ ~ ,. • tal f" ... ... ,;. . ~ ,. ' . HUCU l ts ..... I', 0 I IU , , . '. :. -; ~ 'i oJ" ~.j .;.: .', ,"'(;..l • • V I : ..... , : I ?- ~

19 Moon near Venus (mormng sky) at4h UT. Mag. -4.0. ~ ~ ~ -; "' :,' ~ J +" ",, ;: I:t- ~ ~ -.:. ""' ''' ~ -1, ' I .... §, l ;f a "'l:

20 Moon near Beenive cluster (morning sky) at 7h UT. S ~ -e. oJ" ~~;. ~. ..~ . ..----- ").::i G ~ .... ,, ~e . " $ 1:P ~

21 Tot al Solar Eclipse from 16:49 to 20:03 UT, greatest "" Ii, " - / ,/, tt .. r ~ 'j ., L ~ ~ eclipse at 18:25 UT (duration 2m 40s). Totali ty visible \. ;" , ~ " v_J3 ~ • 11,)(. .... 1,)\ ' ' ', \ .------ r;.. 1' .1 'l ~ along narrow, coast·to-coast path across USA. PartiaL ~; ', -4 0&l l ".m~~~v 0'.... :\"1. > • \!..,,;..... :f ~ eclipse in North America and northern South America. '*'~ %- "" -4 . ,)' "-, I ;le\o r...;......... J' ,g NASA Eclipse website: http://eclipse2017.nasa .gov ~ '\ MIl . . J, ',,- ","/ l.$f

11- '1r: ~.q lot \ ....-t-' ~ CJ t:::' 21 New Moon at 18:30 UT. Start of lunation 1171. ~ "'oJ:' f., • d' / ,. "'j .;f> ,co ,@ i<" ;:, . ..... .... q,. ." 'I"

25 Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 15h UT. Mag. - 1.8. '%.""' ~\: (, ' . ~A 't. ..... ..... \.\""... ,I ~t:; h Is ~,), MU satUrn J- - .... :+ Symo

25 Moon near Spi(a (evening sky) at 21h UT. ~ ~.,. 11'0..1111 _ _ _ - - - ~ .# ~~ '\ ;p~ ~ to.\\\): 11 • 'I;;~~ $' Ga laxy ~

29 Fi rst Quarter Moon at 8:13 UT. ....~ ~ ~~ 01. It..& 0 bi 5t ~ ( '... '" 1;> ou e ar · 30 Moon at apogee (fa rtnest from Earth) at 11h UT (distance 404,308 "*c J04GITr04 c,; ~'b"""> f<.<?!' Varia ble Star iii

k I ' ') ~ 'Til 0 #' .;:. m; angu aT sue 29.6 . ' 6'<",~. S .'. M6 . .' (:l ~ Diffuse Nebula 0 v+ U SC OIPJU S • ..p

-",'" '\ COlONA • *:-<:S More sky events and links at http://Skymaps.com/skycalendar/ ~~£ ~ \ AUStlA l lS I Ct~ • • '*'~' Open Star Cluster AU times in Universa l Time (UT), (USA Eastern Summer Time - UT - 4 hours.)

30 Moon near SatIJm (evening sky) at 15h UT. Nag. 0.4. b;..u,... l T~' Ml.( ~~:+- Planetary Nebula .¢-

s.fJ. At. ---...... .~ . --_ _ --d\1 f>' • ~<::J~~ Globula r Star Cluster ffi ',of/> lb ;h" • ~~<::Jv.

-V'l ~ , '" Q " U/df'map.§

SAVE ON RECOMMENDED PRODU CTS. http://Skymaps,com/store

• STAR ATLASES lSI I'LA NlSPHf R~5 • STAR CtiARTS 8. ASTRO POSTERS

• BOOKS FOR S kY WATCH ERS • TELESCOPES & BINOCU LARS All sales support the plOduction and flee cfut ri buti()n of Th@ E~ening sky Map.

-?',yo C"fJtri ( • • 1>'1 \l.~1 ~ ':.~ 51 M 'I d ••• • • • ,., BRIG DIJ{ge () f SOUTH 'I.\t'{~ ~\~v. ar agm u eS .1 0 1 2 3 4

111 S1-4 Th" Milk rlzrJrI ~c\:afl. 5 't~,wt. O<./T II PA.T1ffIN I Y WiY IS viSIble above the southefo M S\"oOI/lS i'rl~ Copyright II 2000- 2017 Kym Tha!.assolJdlS. AU RIghts Reserved,

.\' THf SKY. JNSn urnaNS:. 11\[ SIC'l ",,~p • ruMS Of USE! fRU fOR II/K.-{IIMMfRClAll llUCAlJ01W. US E A51ROI«lMY EOllU.llOM r.totJPS MAY mUY OISWllUlE I'k!Iff[O HIINOOUIS. fULL DWllS AT hltp:/~~,comftcrn, hlIa l

About the Celestial Objects listed on this page are several of the brighter, more interesting celestial objects visible in the evening sky this month (refer to the monthly sky map). The objects are grouped into three categories. Those that can be easily seen with the na ked eye (that is, without optical aid), those easily seen with binoculars, and those requiring a telescope to be appreciated. Note, all of the objects (except single stars) will appear more tmpresslve when viewed through a teLescope or very large binoculars. They are grouped in this way to highlight objects that can be seen using the optical equipment that may be available to the star gazer.

Tips for Observing the Night Sky When observing the night sky, and in particular deep-sky objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, it's always best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct light from street lights and other sources. If possible observe from a dark location away from the light pollution that surrounds many of today's large cities.

You will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darkness-usually about 10 to 20 minutes after you go outside. Also, if you need to use a torch to view the sky map, cover the light bulb with red cellophane. This will preserve your dark vision.

Finally, even though the Moon is one of the most stunning objects to view through a telescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of the fainter objects very difficult to see. So try to observe the evening sky on moonLess nights around either New Moon or Last Quarter.

Astronomical Glossary Conjunction - An alignment of two ceLestial bodies such that they present the least angular separation as viewed from Earth. Constellation - A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern. Diffuse Nebula - A cloud of gas illuminated by nearby stars. Double Star - Two stars that appear close to each other in the sky; either linked by gravity so that they orbit each ot her (binary star) or lying at different distances from Earth (optical double) . Apparent separation of stars is given in seconds of arc ("). Ecliptic - The path of the Sun's center on the celestial sphere as seen from Earth. Elongation - The angular separation of two ceLestial bodies. For Mercury and Venus the greatest elongation occurs when they are at their most angular distance from the Sun as viewed from Earth. Galaxy - A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity. Globular Star Cluster - A ball-shaped group of several thousand old stars. Light Year (ly) - The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 km!sec in one year. Magnitude - The brightness of a celestial object as it appears in the sky. Open Star Cluster - A group of tens or hundreds of relatively young stars. Opposition - When a celestial body is opposite the Sun in the sky. Planetary Nebula - The remnants of a shell of gas blown off by a star. Universal Time (llT) - A time system used by astronomers. Also known as Greenwich Mean Time. USA Eastern Standard Time (for example, New York) is 5 hours behind UT. Variable Star - A star that changes brightness over a period of time.

.......... f5S iiEN SQ~

Easily Seen with the Naked Eye

::&:= ..... c.:J == :z:CC -..... Altair Arcturus () Cephei Deneb a Herculis Vega Antares Polaris Spica

Aql Boo Cep Cyg Her lyr Seo UMi Vir

Brightest star in Aquila, Name means "the flying eagle", Dist-15.7 ly. Orange, giant K star. Name means "bear watcher", Oi5t .. 36.7 ly.

e. Cepheid prototype. Mag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.356 days. Mag 6 com panion. Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiiints. Dist-l,400:t:200 ly.

e. Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.1 & 3.9 over 90 days. Mag 5.4 companion. • The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-white star. 015t-25.0 ly. • Red. supergiant star, Name means -rival of Mars", Oist-135.9 [y. • The North Pole Star. A telescope reveals i!ln unrelated mag 8 companio n sta r. 0 ;5t-433 Iy. • l atin name means -ear of wheat- and shown held in Virgo's left hand. Oi5t-250 [y.

~ Easily Seen with Binoculars = :z:

= C, , , , • = = • -=

I I

en

M31 TJ Aquilae M3 Il Cephei X Cygni M39 y Draconis M13 M92 E Lyrae R Lyrae MI2 MIO IC 4665 6633 MI S M8 M25 M22 M4

M' M7 M5 Mizar & Alcor Cr 399

And Aql CVn Cep Cyg Cyg Ora Her Her lyr lyr Oph Oph Oph Oph Peg S9r Sgr S9r Seo Seo Seo Ser UM, Vul

(7 The Andromeda Galaxy. Most distant object visible to naked eye. Oist-2,5 million Iy. • Bright Cepheid variable. Mag varies between 3.6 & 4.5 over 7.166 days. Oist_1,200 (y, ~ Easy to find in binoculars, Might be glimpsed with the naked eye. \I Herschel's Garnet Star, One of the reddest stars, Mag 3.4 to 5.1 over 730 days, • Long period pulsating red gia nt. Magnitude varies between 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days. o May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions. Oist- 900 ly, .. Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. D;st- l oo ly. e Best globular in northern skies. Discovered by Halley in 1714. Dist .. 23,000 ly. e Fainter and smaller than MD. Use a telescope to resolve its stars. .. Famous Double Double. Binoculars show a double star. High power reveals each a double. ~ Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days. e Close to the brighter M10. [list- 18,OOO Ly. e 3 degrees from the fainter M12. Both may be glimpsed in binoculars, Di5t .. 14,000 [yo o Large, scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. \') Scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars. e Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 14. d-l ~ ), Dist- 30,OOO ly. o lagoon Nebula . Bright nebula bisected by a dark lane. Dist-5,lOO ly. o Bright cluster located about 6 deg N of "teapot's· lid. Oist-1.900 ly, e A spectacular globular star d uster. Telescope will show statS. Oist_1Q,OOOly. e A close globular. May just be visible without optical aid. Oist-7,OOO ly, o Butterfly Cluster, 30+ stars in 7x binoculars. Oist.1,960 Iy. o Superb open cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Age-260 million years, Oist-780 Ly. e Fillt! globular star cluster. Telescope will reveal individual sta rs, 01st-25,000 (y. .. Good eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Miza r has a mag 4 companio n. o Coathanger asterism or "Srocchi's Cluster". Not a true star cluster. Oist-218 to 1,140 ly.

I ' • • Telescopic Objects

1'1 C, " III '

7009 E 800tis M94 M51

M'4 Albireo 61 Cygni y Delphin;

_ ~ ly~.

{:l '"~ M57

~

<> E M23

~~:~ M17

"11

GJ "'6 M81 M82 M27

Aqr oQo Saturn Nebuta. Requires B-inch telescope to see Saturn-like appendages. Soo .. Red giant star (mag 2.5) with a blue-green mag 4.9 companion, 5ep_2.8H

• Difficult to split. CVn t? Compact nearly face-on spiral galaxy. Oist-15 million ly. CVn (7 Whirlpool Galaxy. First recognised to have spiral structure. Di st-25 million ly. Com (7 Black-Eye Galaxy. Discovered by J.E. Bode in 1775 . "a small. nebulous star". Cyg .. Beautiful double star, Contrasting colours of orange and blue-green, Sep-34.4 n.

Cyg • Attractive double star. Mags 5.2 & 6.1 orange dwarfs. Oist-11.4Iy. Sep-28.4' , Del .. Appear yellow & white, Mags 4.3 & 5.2. Dist- l00 ly. Struve 2715 double in same field. Lyr .. Eclipsing binalJ'. Mag varies between 3.3 & 4.3 over 12.940 days. Fainter mag 7.2 blue star. Lyr ~ Ring Nebula. Magnificent object. Smoke-ring shape. Dist- 4.100 [y. 5gr () Elongated star cluster, Telescope required to show stars. Dist-2,tOO ly. 59r [J Triftd Nebula. A telescope shows 3 dust lanes trisecting nebula, Dist-S.200 Iy. Sgr <> A fine and impressive cluster. Oist-4,200 Iy. Sgr CJ Omega Nebula. Contains the star cluster NGC 6618. Oist-4,900 Iy. Set (') Wild Ouck Cluster. Resembles a gLobutar through binoculars. V-shaped. Dist-5,600 Iy. Ser CJ Eagle Nebula. Requires a telescope of large aperture. Dist-8,150 Ly, UMa t? Beautiful spiral galaxy visible with binoculars. Easy to see in a telescope, UMa t? Close to Mal but much fainter and smaller. Vul ~ Oumbbeit Nebula. large, twin -lobed shape. Most spectacu lar planetary, Oist-975 ly.

T~e Evenill9 Sky M~p (rsSN 1839-7735) Copyright ~ 2000-2011 Kym Thllauoudis. AU Rights Rt!5I!T\'td.