Niagara Whirlpool Mar Apr 2011

March—April 2011
RASC NIAGARA CENTRE
Volume 30, Issue 2
The Niagara Whirlpool
President’s Report
By Stan Sammy
Inside this issue:
Vice’s Report
4
“Discovery” by
Kristin Carver
5
“Bucket List” by
Darlene Marano
6/7
Secretary’s Report
8
David Perry Photos
9
Event Horizon
10
Members Observing
Report
11
“Sun” by
David Klooz
12/
13
Masthead and Moon
Phases
We wish to advise that
our club website will be
up and running soon.
Thank you for your
patience.
14
During our many Public
Observing Nights, the one
question asked most is “What
is the power of your
telescope?” This is a valid
question for most, since the
telescopes advertised in the
department stores list them by
their
magnification power
(300x or 500x ). They seem
disappointed when I respond
telling them I don’t know.
However I continue by
explaining
what
magnification power is and
that my 10’ scope is only at
80x or 100x. and very rarely
would it need to be pumped
up.
Another question is ‘Do I
need a telescope to become a
member of the astronomy
club?” My answer is “No
equipment is required, all you
need is a yearning to learn
about the night sky. We will
teach you how to become an
amateur astronomer.”
I hope that the following
information will be of help to
our new members and any
one wishing to become a
“Stargazer”.
Welcome to Astronomy
Astronomy is the oldest of the
sciences. Human fascination
with the heavens is timeless.
Stargazing is intellectual as
well as aesthetic. It combines
the thrill of exploring new
realms of knowledge with the
delight of appreciating new
spheres of beauty.
Getting Started
You can start exploring
tonight! All you need is a
little practical advice and this
guide. There’s an infinite
universe of celestial wonders
to see and discover. You’ll be
surprised at how much you
can see with just your eyes.
You’ll be able to make out the
star patterns of the
constellations, follow the
phases of the Moon and watch
the five brightest planets
moving against the
background stars. Meteors
flash unexpectedly and
artificial satellites drift slowly
in and out of view.
And don’t forget the colorful
tapestry painted across the
skies by the rising and setting
Sun.
Celestial Road Map
Once you know a few
constellations, the sky will
always be a familiar friend. It
will always be a familiar
friend. You can learn the star
patterns of the constellations
with the simple star maps in
this guide. Start by choosing
the correct map for the
season. You don’t even need
to be out in a dark country
location. The brightest stars
that mark the constellations
can be seen from many urban
and most suburban locations.
Sometimes a dark country
sky can even make things
harder for a beginner because
there are so many stars that
it’s hard to find the familiar
patterns of the constellations!
When you go outside to look
at the stars, give your eyes a
few minutes to adjust to the
dark. Turn off as many lights
as you can to reduce your
local sky glow. A flashlight
with a red filter is helpful. It
will allow you to read your
star map without destroying
your night vision.
Find north, south, east and
west around your horizon.
Hold your star map up in
front of you and turn it so
that the direction at the
bottom of the map matches
the direction in which you
are facing. The lower edge of
the map represents your
horizon. The center of the
map is your overhead point,
the zenith. You should be
able to match the pattern of
stars in the sky with the
constellations shown on your
map. Once you have
identified a star pattern like
the Big Dipper, you can use
it as a guide to find the next
one. Congratulations! You’re
on your way to a very
rewarding hobby.
Another kind of star map is
the planisphere. It is a round
(continued on page 2)
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 2
President’s Report
(continued)
map printed on card or
plastic that allows you to set
the time of night and time of
year, so it matches your
current sky. Planispheres are
good for determining what’s
up in the sky, and when the
stars and constellations rise
and set.
As you read along, remember
that this guide only scratches
the surface. For more
information there are many
good guidebooks available in
your local library and
bookstores. We can suggest a
list of resources to help you
get started. Software, such as
Starry Night or Stellarium,
can help too. Use it to help
plan your observing sessions
and to make and print your
own customized star maps.
Make Some Astro-Buddies
If you are interested in
astronomy and don’t already
belong to an amateur
astronomical organization,
local or national, you should
consider joining one. Not only
will you make new friends
and enjoy swapping ideas, it’s
also the best place to get help
and advice if you need it.
In Canada, the largest national
organization of amateur
astronomer is the Royal
Astronomical Society of
Canada (RASC). The member
clubs of these organizations
hold annual and regional
c o n v e n t i o n s a t wh i c h
amateurs talk shop and
exchange ideas. The RASC is
composed of scores of local
amateur astronomical clubs
and groups, totaling
thousands of individuals. We
are the RASC Niagara Centre.
As an astronomy club we
offer workshops to help you
get acquainted with the stars.
If you own a telescope, but
are having problems with it,
there is no better place to go
than an astronomy club. Take
advantage of these gold mines
of knowledge, experience and
fellowship.
The camaraderie of the night
sky is a universal feature of
astronomy clubs. There is no
substitute for spending time
with other people from
different walks of life who all
share the same love for the
nighttime sky.
Binoculars – a Good Start
If you alread y o wn
binoculars, put them to work.
Be prepared for a pleasant
surprise. They are easy to aim
and use, giving bright,
wide-angle images that are
upright and not reversed (as is
often the case with a
telescope). Experienced
amateur astronomers are
never without binoculars, no
matter what kind of telescope
they might own.
Binoculars let you see
Jupiter’s moons orbiting
around the planet – it is like
watching a miniature solar
system in motion. They
provide wonderful views of
the blasted surface of Earth’s
Moon. Binoculars reveal the
brighter star clusters and
nebulae, too. You can see
bright sparks of stars
shrouded in wisps of faint
interstellar gases. Others will
appear as a faint glow of
ghostly light.
The Milky Way will amaze
you with its glowing star
clouds and knots of dark
nebulosity silhouetted against
the brighter galactic carpet.
With your binoculars you can
enjoy countless hours of
travel in the stellar realms of
the night sky.
What Can You See in a
Telescope?
Nothing can compare with the
feeling of making a direct
connection to the cosmos!
This is what a telescope can
bring.
Seeing for yourself the distant
worlds of our solar system,
ephemeral comets drifting
through space, far-flung
clumps of stars, and the
ghostly glow of galaxies deep
in the void, is a deep personal
experience like no other. A
telescope is a subtle space
ship of the mind. The views
will not look like the full
color spreads in magazines
and books. Such photographs
need long exposures of many
minutes or even hours. The
human eye does not take time
exposures. It cannot perceive
colors in dim light. What the
eye can do is see very fine
detail in structure and
contrast. Your telescope’s
range is limited only by your
willingness to be patient, to
learn how to use it to its best
advantage, and to learn how
to really see what it is
showing you.
The Moon will be dazzlingly
bright and sharp with a
lifetime of detail to explore.
The planets will look very
small, even with high power.
subtle detail will be revealed,
especially during brief
moments
when our
atmosphere is steady. Saturn’s
rings and Jupiter’s bands are
always showstoppers. The
Moon and planets make
rewarding targets from even
the most light-polluted places.
Stars are tiny and sometimes
colorful pinpoints of light, no
matter how big a telescope
you have. Star clusters range
from large, loose groupings of
brilliant celestial jewels to
faint and far away smudges of
light at the limits of vision.
Nebulae and galaxies run the
gamut from big and bright to
frustratingly faint. Patience
and persistence will reward
you with delicate detail in
structure and contrast. The
best views of nebulae and
galaxies are from dark sky
locations where there is little
light pollution. A little
knowledge of your target’s
place in the grand scheme of
the universe can make its
observation a more
meaningful one.
All of your observing, with
the unaided eye, binoculars or
a telescope, will be easier and
richer with the help of a good
guide book, star maps and sky
simulation software like
Starry Night, Stellarium and
an Astro Buddy.
Choosing a Telescope for
Astronomy
Once you are familiar with
the sky and are comfortable
navigating around with
binoculars, a telescope is the
next step for many people.
Choosing the best telescope
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 3
can be challenging.
Here are a few factors to help
you make your decision:
Aperture is Important
The most important property
of a telescope is its aperture,
or the diameter of the
telescope’s main optical
element, whether it’s a lens or
a mirror. Aperture affects the
telescope’s light gathering
power (which determines how
bright objects will appear),
and its resolving power (how
much fine detail it can show).
There are other factors to
consider, but the larger the
aperture, the more you will
see.
There are exceptions to the
rule that “bigger is better.”
One is portability. Large
telescopes need housing in a
permanent observatory or a
strong back and a truck to get
them to an observing site. The
size of the perfect telescope is
a balance between the largest
aperture you want and the size
you can comfortably handle.
If you see yourself traveling
with your telescope,
portability and ease of set-up
and use are the main deciding
factors.
Don’t Get Hung Up on
Power
The first question most people
ask is “What is its magnifying
power?” Magnification is not
as important as a sharp image.
If a telescope gives lots of
magnification, but the image
is a fuzzy blob, then the
magnification is of no use.
The maximum useful
magni ficatio n fo r any
telescope is about 50 times
the aperture in inches, or two
times the aperture in
millimeters. This is about
100x to 120x with the
smallest telescopes, which is
enough to see such wonders
as the rings of Saturn and
cloud bands on Jupiter.
Smooth, Solid Mounts
Whatever kind of telescope
you are thinking about, it will
n e e d
a
s o l i d ,
smoothly-working mount.
This requirement rules out
most of the inexpensive and
wobbly models. They can be
wiggly and difficult to aim,
and their poor optics produce
distorted images. Ignore their
claims of uselessly high
power – you’re better off with
a good pair of binoculars!
The Cost Factor
Budget is a factor in almost
every telescope purchase
decision.
There are three major
price-related pitfalls to be
avoided:
1. Don’t buy a flimsy,
inexpensive telescope at the
mall with the intention of
getting a taste of the sky and
upgrading later. Many of
those telescopes are so
poor-quality and frustrating
that they can turn budding
astronomers off for good!
2. Don’t give up on
astronomy if the telescope of
your dreams is out of reach at
the moment. There are many
reasonably
priced,
high-q uality b eginner ’s
telescopes that can reveal
incredible wonders, while
helping a novice define his or
her observing interest.
3. Finally, if you are one of
the lucky few for whom price
doesn’t matter think twice
before buying the biggest,
most expensive telescope in
stock. Many of the large, fully
featured telescopes are also
the most complicated, and are
too much to grasp for
someone still trying to find
the Big Dipper!
The Bottom Line
Which, then, is the right
telescope? That’s a decision
that must be made
individually, but the three best
pieces of advice are:
1. The best telescope in the
world will bring no joy if it is
never taken out of the closet!
2. All else being equal, a
larger-aperture telescope will
show more in the night sky
than a smaller one.
3. Buy from a company that’s
knowledgeable about
telescopes and astronomy,
and who will support you
even after your purchase
(since you will likely have
questions). Our advice is to
choose a well-made telescope,
of a design matched to your
main observing interest and
most frequent observing site.
Make sure it’s a size that can
be handled easily and used
often, and you will enjoy a
lifetime of awe and wonder
under the stars!
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 4
Vice-President’s Report
By Dr. Brian Pihack
Our guest speaker for the
March meeting is Robert
Godwin. Mr. Godwin will be
presenting : “Science Fiction,
Spaceflight, and Energy”.
This gentleman is a
very
articulated speaker.
You
probably remember him from
the last presentation that he
gave at our meeting.
What you might not know
about him is that he opened
his own record label, Griffin
Music, which by 1992 would
be voted best independent
label in America by several
major US newspapers. Over
the next few years Griffin
Music would release many
classic
rock
acts'
back-catalogs, of Anderson Bruford Wakeman and
Howe, Motorhead, Thin
Lizzy, Mike Oldfield, Olivia
Newton-John, Hawkwind,
Nazareth, David Bowie, and
many other household names.
In 1998 Robert was invited by
his brother, Richard, to attend
a celebration in honor of the
crew of Apollo 7. During that
event Apollo 11, astronaut
Buzz Aldrin asked Robert to
publish a book to honor his
fellow astronauts and to
commemorate man's first
voyage to the moon. Working
with advice from his friend,
noted
space-author,
Andrew Chaikin, he launched
a space book imprint, Apogee
Books. In partnership with
his brother, Robert he has
subsequently worked with
almost every surviving Apollo
astronaut on his acclaimed
book series "The NASA
Mission Reports". Robert's
space series has included
contributions
by
Sir Arthur C. Clarke,
Tom Hanks, Neil Armstrong,
Buzz Aldrin, David Brin,
Ro n Ho war d , Se na to r
Harrison Schmitt,
Eugene
Cernan, Wally Schirra, Dave
Scott, Walt Cunningham, Dr
Marc Garneau, Eileen Collins,
Bonnie Dunbar and many
more astronauts and space
scientists. Now if that does
not bring you out nothing
will !!
Robert as a tradition also
brings along a lot of books for
sale at some really good
prices. To read his full bio
[from which I gleaned the
above] please look up http://
www.apogeespacebooks.com/
A u t h o r _ B i o s /
robert_godwin.html
Lately I have been fine
tuning a “home build
project”: a flux field
indicating magnetometer……
always wanted to be able to
say that! Closest I will ever
get to a flux capacitor.
[Thank you Dr. Emmett
Brown] Ah, did I just hear
Dan F. smirk? I have taken
the standard type o f
magnetometer [used as a early
warning indicator for auroras,
added copper pennies to
reduce the wave interference
and nulling magnets to act as
inertial dampeners.[Star Trek
déjà vue !] It seems to be
working very well. I have
been able to reproduce findings that parallel the http://
www.ster nhimmel-ueb er ulm.de/aurora.htm site, but
obviously at a much quicker
rate, with more sensitivity,
and best of all, specifically for
this area.
In the next issue of the
Whirlpool I will include the
plans for the one that I have
just built, as well as the “New
and Improved” model I am
now working on. ….and now
the best part. All but the
power source and the rare
earth magnets came from the
dollar store.
The power
supply is a recycled solar
garden light. Difficulty level,
non existent. Problem: ….at
the moment I first turned it
on, the activity was very high.
BUT, [as with buying a telescope and cloudy skies
resulting] before I could
calibrate the high end, the
activity dropped, and has been
very low to date. Hence I will
wait until next issue to
include the plans !
...I have been fine tuning
a “home build project”: a
flux field indicating
magnetometer….
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Fair Thee Well, Discovery!
By Kristin Carver
At 4:20 am two members
of the Niagara Centre climbed
from their beds to ready
themselves for one of the
most anticipated days of their
lives. They quietly prepared
themselves for the long day,
constantly looking out their
hotel window at the sky with
silent prayers. After gathering
all of their equipment, they
made their way to their car for
a one hour drive to the
famous Space Coast. With a
forecast of thick fog and haze
covering the coastline, the
members remained on edge
while driving through the
dense cover. Luck was on
their side as the fog started to
lift as their final destination
crept closer.
While driving down the
Challenger Memorial
Parkway, both travelers
reflected on the triumphs and
tragedies of the shuttle
program. With smiles, they
came upon their destination,
Kennedy Point Park. Smiles
faded to surprise at the
number of people who were
already set up along the
Eastern edge of the park
overlooking the water at a
somewhat early 8:00am.
They quickly gathered
their equipment and found a
small sandy spot along the
waters edge with a clear view
of the Kennedy Space Center.
They laid out their towels and
looked out over the water,
squinting against the rising
sun. Slight disappointment
clouded their hope as they
noticed the heavy haze close t
the horizon on the opposite
side of the channel. The
Vehicle Assembly Building
was barely visible and if they
looked hard enough a small
white smudge was off to the
left of the enormous structure.
They were told by another
observer that that was the
shuttle. With hopes that the
haze would lift as forecast and
with nine hours left until
launch, they tried not to
become discouraged.
More and more people
trickled into the park making
the single row along the
waters edge, spread to three
rows in a little over an hour.
There were people from all
over the United States and
parts of Canada, but the
biggest surprise were two
men who came from Sweden
to see the launch. They were
situated under a small tree,
with a tiny telescope aimed at
the shuttle, allowing them to
get a close up view. After
travelling almost halfway
around the world last
November to only be
disappointed when the launch
was cancelled, they were
ready and excited to see it
through this time.
As time ticked by, many
phrases became common in
the park. Phrases like, “This
is history,” and “Once in a
li f et i me ,” wer e he ar d
frequently, but not as often
and as amusing as “The
Bucket List.” Everyone knew
that this day was the
beginning of the end of a
thirty year legacy.
The sun rose higher in the
sky and the haze began to
disappear as Launch pad 39A
finally came into view. With
excitement everyone looked
through their binoculars and
high powered cameras to see
the back of the tower and tip
of the external fuel tank. It
was hard to see, but the small
speck of orange was still
amazing none the less.
The wildlife helped with
everyone’s entertainment as
they sat along the shoreline.
T h e r e we r e m a n a t e e s
swimming lazily, birds diving
into the water and dolphins
hunting along the shoreline.
The children playing along a
beach at the north end of the
park had a big surprise when
two dolphins swam close by.
People gasped at another yet
amazing sight as they waited.
Clouds
were
not
uncommon throughout the
day, but a particularly thick
section drifted over the launch
site and decided to settle.
With a couple of hours left
until launch, Lady Luck made
an appearance as the winds
picked up and the clouds
drifted away leaving the sky a
crystal clear blue.
Many spectators were wise
enough to bring radios tuning
into the NASA station and
other newscasts. Everyone
listened to the announcers talk
about the history of the shuttle
and the crew members on
board. As they gave a detailed
narration of the preparations
and updated the listeners on
the co u nt d o wn, t he
unthinkable happened. At TMinus five and holding, a
problem arose with the range
safety command system.
This system monitors the
airspace and ocean traffic,
enabling the shuttle to make a
safe landing in the event that
the shuttle needs to abort
during its ascent.
So as the launch window
shrank minute by minute, the
anticipation slowly turned to
dread. The two weary
travellers sat resting a
reassuring hand trying to give
strength to the other. Then as
the window shrank to a
Page 5
minute,
they
resigned
themselves to the fact that the
launch would be cancelled
and prepared to pack up their
camera gear.
Just as the
cameras were shut off, a voice
announced on the radios,
drowning out all other sound,
“We are go!” A cheer rose up
from along the coastline as
the tension disappeared and
excitement took over all in a
mere second. As the
countdown resumed, the
anticipation mounted. And
what would have normally
felt like an eternity actually
felt like seconds as cameras
were pointed at the launch
pad.
A woman’s voice shouted
out, “There it is!” and smoke
started to billow out from
under the shuttle. The gigantic
craft slowly lifted away from
the pad as people cheered and
applauded. The celebration
became louder as the giant
orange flame, six times the
length of the shuttle, emerged
from the smoke showing the
true power of mankind’s
determination. As the shuttle
shrank deep into the sky, the
crowd became quiet as they
watched in awe of
Discovery’s last journey to
the stars with silent prayers of
“Godspeed,” “Safe trip,”
“Good luck,” and my
favourite, “Fare thee well
Discovery and a safe return
The Niagara Whirlpool
Page 6
We have lift off…...Discovery is
on it’s way!
Volume 30, Issue 2
How to reduce the size of your Bucket List
By Darlene Marano
What are the chances of
reducing your Bucket List by
three items in a matter of 48
hours? Normally this would
be a difficult if not
impossible thing to do,
however, I’m thrilled to say
that I was able to accomplish
just that. It started with the
first thing that had been on
my list since I was a little girl
as I remember watching the
Apollo launches and Neil
Armstrong taking his first
step on the moon on our
family TV. It was thrilling
and almost unimaginable to
watch these events happen.
I had waited so many
years (and I won’t tell you
how many) to see a launch,
that sitting on the shoreline,
viewing it live and listening to
the familiar crackle heard
from the rockets seemed
surreal. It was not at all like
the many Saturn V rockets
and shuttle launches I viewed
on TV and was in awe at the
length of time it took for them
to get into space. Watching it
live was a whole new
experience for me. I was
shocked at the short amount
of time it actually took for
this spectacular 4.5 million
pound vehicle to lift into the
sky and rapidly disappear out
of sight…nothing at all like
watching it on TV. I feel
truly fortunate to have had the
opportunity to
see
Discovery’s final launch and I
have my daughter, Kristin, to
thank for almost nagging me
to death about heading down
for this event after our failed
attempt last year.
I finished off my Bucket List
events with a ride in a
NASCAR style stock car
whizzing at 140 mph on an
oval track (yes, I’m an
astronomy and NASCAR
geek) and by sharing a day at
the Magic Kingdom, with just
my daughter and I, and I can
honestly say, I’m pretty
happy.
I share these shuttle launch
photos knowing that everyone
has seen ma ny, but
considering we were 12 miles
away and using standard
lenses on our digitial SLR
cameras, we were pretty
pleased with the outcome of
our MANY shots. Next item
on the Bucket List...see
Discovery
at
the
Smithsonian:)
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 7
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 8
Secretary’s Report
By Philip Downey
We have had nine new
members join the club so far
this year. They are Laura
Curtis, Matthew Graham,
Robert Hillier, Steve
Lentinello, Barbara Lemieux,
T a mar a Mai ur i, Mar k
Michener, Don Mook and
Gary Murphy. Please help me
welcome them to the club at
the next general meeting or
public starnight. Our current
membership total is 80.
St. Catharines. Brian Pihack
has offered the use of his
office in Niagara Falls as a
permanent address and
mailbox for the club. This
will save us $150 per year.
Thanks Brian!
We are giving up the
club’s P.O. box in
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Our new address is:
RASC Niagara
℅ Dr. Brian Pihack
4245 Portage Road
L2E 6A2
We are working on a
new design and format for the
club’s website. Please let us
know what features you
would like to see on it. We
could have sections or pages
for news, archives, meeting
minutes, weather, links to
spaceweather, the clearsky
forecast, whirlpool, rss feeds,
a blog, twitter, photo gallery
or galleries, calendar, light
pollution, discussion forum
and maybe other things I
haven't thought of, so that's
why I'm asking you.
Please help me welcome
Laura Curtis, Matthew
Graham, Robert Hillier,
Steve Lentinello and
Barbara Lemieux to the
club.
Members and guests enjoying our February
meeting at the Niagara Falls Public Library
Our President—Stan Sammy
Photo by Dr. Brian Pihack
Photo by Dr. Brian Pihack
Handywork of
Dr. Brian Pihack
who continues to
work on a new
T-shirt design for
the Centre
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 9
David Perry
Photo Page
Details… -15 degrees C,
12-14 inches of snow on the
ground. Got my van stuck a
couple of times, but I wasn't
giving up. (Maybe I have
issues?)
LOL!
Stayed by myself for 6
hours.
Occasional
jumping-jacks, running-onthe-spot, and a thermos of
coffee and Bailies will get
you through any Arctic
situation!
Mmmm!
I shot 2 1/2 hours of exposure
on the Pleiades Cluster, and 2
hours on the Rosette Nebula.
I will have them ready for the
next Whirlpool. The air was
dead-calm. I could hear for
miles. The snow was crunchy/
squeaky. I saw 4-5 light
pillars that night. Beautiful.
A rewarding night of imaging
and silence, for a person with
APOCD. (Astro-Photography
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder). I can't wait to do it
again. This is the BEST
ho b b y in the wo r ld !
-David Perry
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 10
Events Horizon
Thursday, March 10th
Thursday, May 12th
Executive meeting at 7:00pm. Members welcome.
Chatters Eatery. Banquet room next to restaurant.
Executive meeting at 7:00pm. Members welcome.
Chatters Eatery. Banquet room next to restaurant.
Saturday, March 12th
Thursday, May 19th
Public Star Night and AV Presentation
Heartland Forest, Niagara Falls
Beginners’ Astronomy Workshop. 6:45pm to 7:30pm.
General Meeting starts 7:30pm Everyone welcome. No Charge.
Niagara Falls Library at Victoria and Morrison Streets
Thursday, March 17th
Beginners’ Astronomy Workshop. 6:45pm to 7:30pm.
General Meeting starts 7:30pm Everyone welcome. No Charge.
Niagara Falls Library at Victoria and Morrison Streets
Thursday, May 26th to Sunday, May 29th
Saturday, April 2nd
Members Night
CCCA Observatory
Members Night
CCCA Observatory
Thursday, April 7th
Beginners’ Astronomy Workshop at AN Myer High School
7:00pm—9:00pm. (Centre Members Only)
Saturday, April 9th
Public Star Night and AV Presentation
Heartland Forest, Niagara Falls
Thursday, April 14th
Cherry Springs Star Party, Pennsylvania
Saturday, May 28th
Saturday, June 4th
Public Star Night
CCCA Campground
Thursday, June 9th
Executive meeting at 7:00pm. Members welcome.
Chatters Eatery. Banquet room next to restaurant.
Thursday, June 16th
Executive meeting at 7:00pm. Members welcome.
Chatters Eatery. Banquet room next to restaurant.
Beginners’ Astronomy Workshop. 6:45pm to 7:30pm.
General Meeting starts 7:30pm Everyone welcome. No Charge.
Niagara Falls Library at Victoria and Morrison Streets
Saturday, April 16th to Sunday, April 17th
Saturday, July 2nd
NEAF, Rockland, New York
Members Night
CCCA Observatory
Thursday, April 21st
Beginners’ Astronomy Workshop. 6:45pm to 7:30pm.
General Meeting starts 7:30pm Everyone welcome. No Charge.
Niagara Falls Library at Victoria and Morrison Streets
Friday, July 1st to Sunday, July 3rd
Saturday, April 30th
Saturday, July 9th
Members Night
CCCA Observatory
Public Star Night
CCCA Campground
Thursday, May 5th
Friday, July 22nd and Saturday, July 23rd
Beginners’ Astronomy Workshop at AN Myer High School
7:00pm—9:00pm. (Centre Members Only)
Public Star Night for campers at
Rock Point Provincial Park, Dunnville
Thursday, May 6th
Saturday, July 30th
Public Observing and Display 9:00 am to 3:00 pm (TBD)
Fairview Mall, St. Catharines
Members Night
CCCA Observatory
Saturday, May 7th
Public Observing 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Fireman’s Park, Niagara Falls
RASC General Assembly
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Members Observing Coordinator`s Report
By Mark Roberts
There have been very few
observing opportunities so far
this year.
Our first two
Members Nights have been
snowed out, along with what
seems like months of cloudy
skies. The few clear nights
we have had lately have been
accompanied with howling
winds. We just can’t seem to
catch a break.
We can only hope that
things will start to improve. It
can’t stay overcast forever.
In March we will still be
able to view Jupiter as it dips
into the west in the early
evenings. On the evenings of
the 15th and 16th Mercury will
be 2 and 2.5 degrees from
Jupiter at twilight. You will
need a good open view of the
Western horizon as it will be
quite low, approx. 10-12
degrees. Not a super easy
grab, but see how many of
you can observe it! On the
19th we will have the largest
Full Moon of 2011 (The
Worm Moon). Mercury will
be at its greatest elongation on
the 22nd, offering the best
view for 2011.
On March 26th we will be
observing Earth Hour from 8
until 9 p.m. local time. Please
join in and turn off all non
essential lighting. I believe
that they do this too early in
the evening, as you really do
not see the effect on the night
sky.
Still it drastically
reduces energy use and every
bit helps. If you are like me
you may even want to keep
them off longer.
Diehards and early birds
will find Saturn easily
observable from about 11p.m.
until sunrise all of March.
In April, Saturn will be
stealing the show. It will be
observable all night all month.
For anyone that wants to give
it a try, Pluto will be in
Page 11
Sagittarius, very close to
M-25 in the early mornings.
I have only observed it
once before. I and a few
others were at the CCCA and
Phil Downey found it with
the clubs 16” reflector.
Hopefully we will get a
chance to track it down
again.
MEMBERS
the CCCA
NIGHTS
at
MARCH
Saturday March 5th 2011,
Rain Date- Sunday March 6th
APRIL
Saturday April 2nd 2011, Rain
Date – Sunday April 3rd
After a month of cloud we
finally got a night of clear
skies in Southern, Ontario.
Could not pass up the
opportunity to image The
Great Orion Nebula, the
Imaged at the CCCA
Observatory, Wellandport,
ALSO!!!
Saturday April 30th 2011,
Rain Date – Sunday May 1st
Vixen ED114SS Refractor
operating at F/5.3 (Thanks
Please mark these dates on
your calendars and try to
attend if you can.
See you at the CCCA
Canon Digital Rebel
50 x 2 min. @ ISO 800
10 x 5 sec exposures @ ISO
800 combined and layer
masked in to preserve core
Dark and Flat frames
Combined with Deep Sky
Processed with PS CS2
The Niagara
NiagaraWhirlpool
Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 12
Is Our Sun Part of a Binary Star System?
By David Klooz
Not long ago, stars in
binary or multiple star
systems were thought to be
the exception, not the rule.
NASA now estimates that
more than 85% of all stars
may be part of a binary or
multiple star relationship.
While the Ancients (Vedic
and Sumerian writings) made
mention of our sun having a
partner, there is certainly
nothing in the current
scientific mainstream
literature that even hints at
our star being part of a binary
system.
In order to examine the
c ur r e n t p ar ad i g m a nd
compare it to a potential
alternative, it’s necessary to
examine two areas of interest:
1 ) pr ecessio n o f the
equinoxes; 2) and, the
accepted frame of reference
with respect to the current
lunisolar model and an
alternative frame of reference
for a binary model.
Precession of the equinoxes
– The equinox is the first day
of fall or spring when the
exact point of equinox drawn
by a line from the sun to the
earth intersects the earth’s
axis at exactly a 90 degree
angle, so that night and day
are of equal length, i.e., 12
hours. Precession of the
equinoxes is then the slow
backward movement of the
equinox against the
background constellations of
the zodiac. It takes about
2,000 years for the equinox to
move through each
constellation, so that over a
period of 24,000 years the
equinox precesses, or moves
backwards, through all twelve
constellations of the zodiac.
This cycle (The Platonic Year,
The Great Year) was familiar
to the Greeks, Egyptians,
Vedic Indians and Mayan
peoples, among others. Many
of their great buildings were
designed using precessional
numbers, such as 72 (each
star precesses 1 degree every
72 years).
Lunisolar Model – This
model uses only an internal
frame of reference and
supports the premise that
precession is caused solely by
lunar and solar forces causing
the earth to ‘wobble’ on it’s
axis, completing one such
‘wobble’ every 25,682 years.
Binary Model – This model
uses both internal and
external frames of reference
supporting the premise that
precession is caused not only
by lunar and solar forces
acting on the earth, but by our
sun’s curved motion through
space around a common
centre of gravity due to it
being gravitationally bound to
a companion star.
In order to compare the
models a number of areas of
interest can be quickly
compared, including comet
paths, the Kuiper Belt, objects
that precess, Sidereal and
Solar Year time differences,
and speed of precession.
If we are in a binary
system, the greatest issue
facing this theory is what and
where is the second star?
Various scientists and teams
of scientists have looked at a
number of theories, including
‘Brown Dwarfs’, ‘Dark
Stars’, ‘Modified Newtonian
Dynamics’ and others. One
of the most impressive studies
is being conducted by
Karl-Heinz Homann and his
son Uwe Homann, directors
of the Sirius Research Group
near Edmonton, Alberta.
Their research, over the past
15 years, implies that we
might be in a binary or
multiple star orbit with Sirius
as our primary companion,
and that there is an observable
gravitational relationship
between our solar system and
the Sirius System. Their data
also suggests that Procyon
might also have a
gravitational relationship with
Sirius, which could explain
why these two star systems
seem to move together across
the sky.
M81 and M82 Bode's Galaxy and
Cigar Galaxy
M51
Whirlpool Galaxy
The Niagara Whirlpool
Volume 30, Issue 2
Page 13
Comparison of Models and Photos
By David Klooz
Current Lunisolar Model
Lack of precession relative to objects within the
solar system, e.g. meteor showers is inexplicable
Sheer edge of solar system demonstrated by knife
edge of Kuiper Belt is unexplained and unexpected
Proposed Binary Model
Precession is only seen relative to objects outside
the solar system – confirmed by observations
Sheer edge of solar system is explained and expected by rotation of second star across Kuiper Belt
Peculiar distribution of angular momentum among
Sun and planets unexplained and unexpected (Sun
with 99.99% of mass of solar system only has 1%
of it’s angular momentum)
Sidereal and solar year delta explanation conflicts
with sidereal and solar day explanations – requires
different physics
Speeding up of precessional rate over the past several centuries has no explanation and dynamic inputs are continually altered
Comet paths should be random, but are not
Angular momentum balances with dual star
Solar system full of anomalies requires disparate
theories to explain: wobble, time deltas, angular
momentum, internal and external solar system observations, etc.
Comet Hartley - taken October 07
when it was near the double cluster
in Perseus
Sidereal and solar year time deltas are the natural
result of a binary orbit
Precession accelerates past apoapsis of binary stars
and is commensurate with angular rate of change of
binary motion
Some long-cycle comet paths should be channelled
by dual mass
Recognition of binary reference frame provides a
single solution to solar system anomalies
Core of M31
Andromeda
Galaxy and M32
and M110
M101 Pinwheel
Galaxy
RASC NIAGARA CENTRE—EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Page 10
PRESIDENT Stan Sammy 905-937-6820
stansam@niagara.com
VICE-PRESIDENT Brian Pihack 905-356-1212
drbgpdc@on.aibn.com
SECRETARY Philip Downey 905-934-8372
philip.downey.1998@alum.bu.edu
TREASURER Robert Lewis (magazine subscriptions) 905-957-7881
RASC NIAGARA CENTRE
astronomybob@gmail.com
NATIONAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE Tracy Schilz
RASC Niagara
tracyschilz@hotmail.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Darlene Marano 289-296-8971
℅ Dr. Brian Pihack
dsgm13@cogeco.ca
Mark Roberts 905-735-0977
4245 Portage Road
David Perry 905-682-9860
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Kristin Carver 289-296-8971
str1701ncc@cogeco.ca
david42@live .ca
kristin.carver@gmail.com
PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL
L2E 6A2
Al Ursacki
John VanderBrugge
We’re on the web!
www.astronomyniagara.com
Dan Frigault
Glen Pidsadnick
Andrew Beaton
BEGINNERS WORKSHOPS Stan Sammy
PUBLIC RELATIONS Brian Pihack
LIGHT POLLUTION ABATEMENT Wayne Liebau 905-892-4531
wliebau@becon.org
LIBRARIAN Linda Ursacki 905-834-6921
linda_ur@live.ca
OBSERVATORY CHAIR Les Marczi 905-734-3447
lmarczi@cogeco.ca
MEMBERS’ OBSERVING COORDINATOR Mark Roberts 905-735-0977
str1701ncc@cogeco.ca
PUBLIC OBSERVING COORDINATOR Kristin Carver 289-296-8971
kristin.carver@gmail.com
ANNUAL BANQUET TICKET SALES Brian Pihack
WEBSITE COORDINATOR Bill Macsween 905-468-1548
macsween@niagara.com
WHIRLPOOL EDITOR & PUBLISHER Darlene Marano 289-296-8971
HOSPITALITY Pat Sammy 905-937-6820
dsgm13@cogeco.ca
patricia.sammy@hotmail.com
Moon Phases
For March, April, and
May 2011
New Moon
First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
Mar 4
Mar 12
Mar 19
Mar 26
Apr 3
Apr 11
Apr 17
Apr 24
May 3
May 10
May 17
May 24
Copyright
The Niagara Whirlpool is an
official publication of the
Royal Astronomical Society
of Canada, Niagara Centre. It
is published bimonthly, except
for July and August and is
distributed free to all Centre
members. The subscription
rate for non-members is $12
per annum. Original articles on
astronomy and related subjects,
observation reports, book
reviews, letters, images and
other items are needed. Please
submit them at the meetings,
mail them to RASC Niagara
Centre, P.O. Box 4040, St.
Catharines, Ontario, L2R 7S3,
or e-mail them to the editor at
dsgm13@cogeco.ca.
Classified advertising is free
for Niagara Centre members.
Material in this publication
may not be reproduced
without permission. Opinions
expressed are those of the
authors and do not necessarily
reflect those of the RASC or
the RASC, Niagara Centre.