San Diego Astronomy Associationsdaa.org/docs/Newsletters/2018-12.pdf · San Diego Astronomy Association 4 San Diego Astronomy Association Board of Directors Meeting November 13, 2018

San DiegoAstronomy AssociationCelebrating Over 50 Years of Astronomical Outreach

http://www.sdaa.orgA Non-Profit Educational Association

P.O. Box 23215, San Diego, CA 92193-3215

December 2018

Next SDAA Business MeetingDecember 13th at 7:00pm

7270 Trade StreetSan Diego, CA 92121

Next Program Meeting January 19th at 6:00pm

San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

CONTENTSDecember 2018, Vol LVI, Issue 12Published Monthly by the San Diego Astronomy AssociationIncorporated in California in 1963A n n u a l B a n q u e t . . . . . . . . . . . 1N o v e m b e r M i n u t e s . . . . . . . 4S t u d e n t R e s e a r c h . . . . . . . . . . 7A s t r o n o m i c a l L e a g u e . . . . . . . . . 8F o r S a l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9December Ca l enda r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10S D A A C o n t a c t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1M e e t t h e M e m b e r s . . . . . . 1 2N A S A N i g h t S k y N o t e s . . . . . . 1 3A s t r o n o m y C a r t o o n . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

Newsletter DeadlineThe deadline to submit articles

for publication is the15th of each month.

Annual Banquet

Date: January 19, 2019Speaker: Dr. Stella KafkaTopic: Citizen Astronomy in the era of large surveys

Dr. Stella Kafka, is the Director of the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers). Before her tenure at the AAVSO, Dr Kafka held positions at CTIO, Spitzer Science center/Caltech, Carnegie Institution of Washington/DTM and AIP Publishing. The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is to enable anyone, anywhere, to participate in scientific dis-covery through variable star astronomy.

http://www.sdaa.org

San Diego Astronomy Association

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For centuries, citizen astronomers have been making important discoveries and significant contributions to science. With the out-burst of all-sky surveys and the availability of appropriate software, professional astronomers depend on the public to analyze, sort and understand large quantities of existing data, or to acquire new data sets leading to noteworthy discoveries. Nowadays our philosophy, our view of the role of the public in time-domain science has changed. From crowd sourcing to data acquisition, citizens are now leaving a notable mark in the science landscape, also assisting professional astronomers with data analysis and publications. In turn, scientific proj-ects and opportunities of active engagement are used to increase science literacy and public understanding of science. I will give a short overview on how astronomy has benefited from citizen contributions in various projects. I will also discuss how now, more than ever, citizen involvement in projects is needed to advance our knowledge and understanding of variable objects, and I will present ways citizen astronomers can significantly participate in new collaborations, complementing data acquired from missions such as TESS for cutting-edge science.

You are cordially invited to The San Diego Astronomy Association’s

Annual Banquet Saturday, January 19, 2019, 5:00 – 10:00pm

San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101____________________________________________________________

Speaker: Dr. Stella Kafka, is the Director of the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers). Before her tenure at the AAVSO, Dr Kafka held positions at CTIO, Spitzer Science center/Caltech, Carnegie Institution of Washington/DTM and AIP Publishing. The AAVSO is an international non-profit organization of variable star observers whose mission is to enable anyone, anywhere, to participate in scientific discovery through variable star astronomy.

Topic: Citizen Astronomy in the era of large surveys

Cocktail hour is from 5:00 to 6:00 and dinner from 6:00 to 7:00.

SDAA Banquet Order Form Use this form or order online at http://sdaa.org/banquet.htm

Name______________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________ City, State, Zip______________________________________________ Telephone__________________________________________________ Email______________________________________________________ Dinner Selections (Enter number of each)Beef____ Fowl ____ Vegetarian ____ Check here if requiring sugar-free dessert____Number Attending ____ @ $70 each Total Payment included $ _________

*Make checks payable to SDAA Orders must be received no later than 01/7/2019NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR

Mail to:San Diego Astronomy AssociationP.O. Box 23215San Diego, CA 92193-3215


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San Diego Astronomy AssociationBoard of Directors Meeting

November 13, 2018 – Unapproved and subject to revision

1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm with the following board members in attendance: Dave Wood, President; Kin Searcy, Vice President; Scott Dixon, Corresponding Secretary; Gene Burch, Treasurer; Brian McFarland, Recording Secretary; Jeff Herman, Director; Pat Boyce, Director; Dave Decker, Director. Members in attendance: Mary Todd and her husband, Dan Kiser, and Bill Nguyen.

2. Approval of Last Meeting Minutes

October meeting minutes approved.

3. Priority / Member Business None.

4. Treasurer’s & Membership Report

• Approved. • SDG&E may have been overcharging us (and others in the area). We are now seeing rebates. • Received another $70 from Amazon. • Student membership rate program approved.

5. Standard Reports

a. Site Maintenance • Will be visiting the site December 1st to relocate existing, damaged knife edge disconnect at the top of the well road

that services all the new pads. The plan is to move the service disconnect to the fence and keep all the cabling underground to avoid further contact with automobiles. Power will be out on the morning of December 1st until approximately 2pm will follow up with a note on the Yahoo group prior to the shutdown.

• Cleaned out the storage unit. Ed R sold a couple unused scopes for $550 total. Dave W, Dave D, and Ed R tested two others – a C8 and a Criterion SCT. Both are in good shape and will also be sold.

b. Observatory/Loaner Scope Report – No report. c. Private Pad Report

• We have 3 unleased pads (4, 28 and 36) and 4 people on the active waiting list. All have passed on 2 available pads. 28 has been offered to the wait list. Of the 4 people on the waiting list, 2 are current pad holders trying to relocate to less light impacted areas.

• Pad usage as of 10/27 shows: 29 pads have met their minimum for the year. 5 pads have 3 uses; 3 pads have 2 uses (including one whose minimum is 3 because of a mid year lease start); 4 pads have 1 use; 22 pads have been unused (includes 2 pads whose minimum is 1 because of a late year lease start); 7 of the unused pads are grandfathered.

• There are a number of pads that have new “improvements” that are well beyond the 10x10’ allowed including one recently leveled area that is at least 12x12’ with another at least 1’ of brush cleared around the edges and one that has a 4x8’ area of carpeting in front of a 10x10’ pad. I haven’t seen any requests for approval for improvements like this. If there haven’t been any, I’ll get pad numbers of the more egregious improvements along with pictures the next time I’m at the site.

d. Program Report – November meeting is gadget night. Working with Dorothy Woods to identify speakers for next year to support the new VP.


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e. AISIG Report • Mission Trails Regional Park is willing to let the SDAA use the site for telescope testing and would likely allow SDAA

to use the site for imager training when requested. SDAA has a strong relationship with MTRP. • Steve Hallman was the speaker at the last meeting.

f. Newsletter Report – Andrea continues to do stellar work. g. Website Report – No report. h. Social Media Report – No report. i. Outreach Report

There is a star party at Morning Creek Elementary in Poway scheduled. The big news for October was the cancellation of no less than eight events due to weather. Unfortunately, one of those was the Astronomical League “Astronomy Day” on October 13. This daytime, solar observing party was meant to generate awareness about astronomy and our wonderful universe.” This is a quote from their website. We will try again next year. In spite of the weather challenge, we were still able to complete seven events with an attendance of 770.

For October the numbers were:

Totals for Month: Events Completed 7.0 Events Cancelled 8.0 Public Attendance 220.0 Private Attendance 550.0 Total Attendance 770.0 Mem Support: 44.0 Average: Mem/Event: 6.3

Year to Date since January 1

Completed Events since January 1: 80 Public Attendees since Jan 1:

4340

Private Attendees since Jan 1:

3595 Total Attendees since Jan 1: 7935

j. TARO Report – New Shutter has been installed. Observatory will be brought online over the Thanksgiving week. k. Merchandise Report – No report. l. Cruzen Report – Permit for new breaker panel and Cruzen connection in place. Work starts soon. m. Astronomical League Report – Mary Todd, the SDAA Astronomical League Correspondent (SDAA AlCor) provided the

following information to the Board of Director’s Meeting: • As is indicated on the website www.astroleague.org, the Astronomical League (AL) provides many different

Observing Programs. These Observing Programs are designed to provide a direction for your observations and to provide a goal. The Observing Programs have certificates and pins to recognize the observers’ accomplishments and for demonstrating their observing skills with a variety of instruments and objects. The Observing Programs are at the Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels. Details are provided on the website www.astroleague.org under the Observe drop-down menu.


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• A committee of members is being formed in the SDAA to review the observations by SDAA members when they pursue awards for these programs. Then the ALSIG Chair or designee will submit the observations to the Astronomical League for the award. Please notify the ALCor if you are interested in participating on this committee. Please contact the ALCor with any questions.

• SDAA members who have previously completed Astronomical League Observing Programs are invited to contact the SDAA ALCor to be recognized in the SDAA newsletter. Those SDAA members who complete Astronomical League Observing programs in the future will be included in the SDAA newsletter as well as the Reflector magazine published by the Astronomical League.

• SDAA members who complete AL Observing Programs will have the opportunity to have their awards presented at an SDAA monthly program meeting.

n. Julian Starfest Report • Moving forward. Email addresses for campsite reservations are being set up. • Looking at alternate JSF dates for the out years.

6. Old Business

a. BoD Nominating Committee – Steve Hallman volunteered as VP and Bill Nguyen volunteered as Corresponding Secretary.

b. Banquet – Preparations continue with no problems. Will prepare articles for the newsletter. c. Lucas Endowment – SDSU provided the status, distributions, etc. $376K total. d. Other old Business – None.

7. New Business

There was a lengthy discussion regarding a safety and liability hazard at TDS. One of the private observatories has fallen into severe disrepair, so much so that the T-111 siding on the rear half has rotted to the point that you can put your hand through it. This siding is one of the components that affords structural integrity (mostly sheer) to the exterior walls. It was noted a couple weeks ago that the west wall has begun to buckle, which may indicate imminent collapse of the back half of this observatory. The BoD considers the structure to be a hazard and a liability to the organization and its members. As such, the SDAA BoD voted (unanimously) to take the following action: Notify the observatory owner that he has three months to repair the building. If repairs are not done, the SDAA will take appropriate action to remove the liability to the site and bill the observatory owner for actions taken. It was noted that the BoD deeply regrets having to take this action, but given its proximity to the Lipp and Cruzan observatories and their numerous public events, the safety of the members and public, as well as the liability to the club, are too significant to ignore.

8. Adjournment Adjourned at 8:00pm.


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Student Research and SDAA

By Pat Boyce

Astronomy research is in its Golden Age when it comes to Citizen Science. SDAA is closely collaborating with BRIEF (Boyce Research Initiatives and Education Foundation) to bring research opportunities to students and members alike. Members including Hilde Van den Berg, Mike Chasin, Jerry Hilburn, Allen

Priest, Kent Smith, and Alexander Beltzer-Sweeney have taken the BRIEF DoubleSTARSTM course to publish a scientific paper. They have joined community college professors in bringing that research experience to over 200 Boyce-Astro graduates over the past two years in publishing over 35 papers.

BRIEF sponsored an exoplanet workshop in the fall of 2016 attended by many SDAA members. From this beginning, Scott Dixon with TARO and Mike Chasin using a BRIEF observatory at Sierra Remote Observatories built a KELT and K2 exoplanet to create a database to train students on the methodologies

of time-series photometry and learn the observational techniques.

In the winter of 2017 /2018, Jerry Hilburn worked with two BRIEF DoubleSTARSTM student graduates to make over 1,000 observations of four carefully selected double stars to assess objectively the best observational techniques for double stars. The research paper, Investigation into the Accuracy of Small Telescope CCD Astrometry of Visual Double Stars, was presented at the Society of Astronomical Sciences Annual Symposium in June. It laid the foundation for an ongoing BRIEF student research program in astrometry as described at Boyce-Astro.org.

In early 2018 Scott Dixon and Pat Boyce applied for membership in NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) research program’s SubGroup1 (SG1) for seeing-limited photometry of the TESS Objects of Interest. Both TARO and BARO became listed observatories in the NASA program. TESS would be launched in April and SG1 members, a small group of astronomers worldwide, would be the initial observers. BRIEF sponsored twelve SDAA members and students to take the AAVSO Exoplanet Course in February to prepare for the upcoming observations. Scott Dixon continued the training of BRIEF exoplanet students throughout 2018 using K2 observations from TARO.

The first observations from TESS for follow-up by the SG1 astronomers began in September. TESS’s first year of observations are in the southern hemisphere generally too low to be seen from TARO. Scott is


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targeting these exoplanet candidates using BRIEF’s Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) southern hemisphere telescope availability for analysis by student teams. Recently 17 more BRIEF sponsored students passed the AAVSO exoplanet course to add to the ranks of qualified observers.

The goal is to expand the SDAA and student teams to be prepared for the many observation opportunities for TARO (and our other SDAA telescopes) that will arise when TESS moves to the northern skies next August. In the meantime, the BRIEF /LCO TESS observations analyzed by the student teams and TARO’s K2 observations are bring reported to NASA’s ExoFOP database. In addition, the science students are joining SDAA to participate in astronomy further.

The opportunities to be part of a NASA research program or to undertake independent scientific projects are growing for SDAA citizen scientists. Programs in photometry, spectroscopy and asteroids are getting underway. If you are interested, come on in; the water is warm.

ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE NEWSBy Mary Todd, SDAA Astronomical League Correspondent (ALCor)

[email protected] Astronomical League Observing Programs As is indicated on the website www.astroleague.org, the Astronomical League (AL) provides many different Observing Programs. These Observing Programs are designed to provide a direction for your observations and to provide a goal. The Observing Programs have certificates and pins to recognize the observers’ accomplishments and for demonstrating their observing skills with a variety of instruments and objects. The Observing Programs are at the Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels. Details are provided on the website www.astroleague.org under the Observe drop-down menu. SDAA Astronomical League Special Interest Group (ALSIG) A committee of members is being formed in the SDAA to review the observations by SDAA members when they pursue awards for these programs. Then the ALSIG Chair or designee will submit the observations to the Astronomical League for the award. Please notify the ALCor if you are interested in participating on this committee. Please contact the ALCor with any questions. SDAA members having completed Astronomical League Observing Programs SDAA members who have previously completed Astronomical League Observing Programs are invited to contact the SDAA ALCor to be recognized in the SDAA newsletter. Those SDAA members who complete Astronomical League Observing programs in the future will be included in the SDAA newsletter as well as the Reflector magazine published by the Astronomical League. Astronomical League Observing Program presentation SDAA members who complete AL Observing Programs will have the opportunity to have their awards presented at an SDAA monthly program meeting.


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For Sale:Two months old out twice in the yard:• Apertura12"NewtonianTelescope• PrimaryMirrorCoolingFan(8-AABatteriesNotIncluded)• 2"Crayford-styleDualSpeedMicro10:1Focuser• 1.25"AdapterforFocuser• 8x50RightAngleCorrectImageFinderandBracket• 9mmPlosslEyepiece-1.25"• 30mmSuperViewEyepiece-2"• 35mmExtensionTube• 1.25"MoonFilter• 4-HoleEyepieceTray• LaserCollimatorwithBattery• TelradfinderAsking $675. Warren 619.905.2142


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December 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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Public Star Party TDS

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5 Stars in the Park

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Doyle Elementary

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New Moon

Stars at Mission Trails

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Oakoasis

TDS Member

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Balboa Elementary

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Meeting

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Sweetwater Springs Campus

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Challenger Middle School

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Sherman Elementary

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West Sycamore

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SDAA ContactsClub Officers and Directors

President Dave Wood [email protected] (858) 735-8808VicePresident KinSearcy [email protected] (858) 586-0974RecordingSecretary BrianMcFarland [email protected] (619) 462-4483Treasurer GeneBurch [email protected] (858) 926-9610 CorrespondingSecretary ScottDixon [email protected] Director Alpha Dave Decker [email protected] (619) 972-1003DirectorBeta JeffHerman [email protected] DirectorGamma PatBoyce [email protected] (619) 227-9614Director Delta -Vacant- [email protected]

CommitteesSiteMaintenance BillQuackenbush [email protected] (858) 395-1007Observatory Director EdRumsey [email protected] (858) 722-3846Private Pads Mark Smith [email protected] (858) 484-0540Outreach Dave Decker [email protected] (619) 972-1003N. County Star Parties -Vacant- [email protected] S. County Star Parties -Vacant- [email protected] E. County Star Parties Dave Decker [email protected] (619) 972-1003Central County Star Parties Dennis Ammann [email protected] (619) 247-2457Camp with the Stars -Vacant- [email protected] K.Q.RanchCoordinator DennisAmmann [email protected] (619) 247-2457Newsletter AndreaKuhl [email protected] (858) 547-9887NewMemberMentor DanKiser [email protected] (858) 922-0592Webmaster Jeff Stevens [email protected] (858) 566-2261AISIG DaveWood [email protected] (858) 735-8808Site Acquisition -Vacant- [email protected] FieldTrips -Vacant- [email protected] Grants/FundRaising -Vacant- [email protected] JulianStarFest -Vacant- [email protected] Merchandising -Vacant- [email protected] Publicity JeffFlynn [email protected] LoanerScopes EdRumsey [email protected] (858) 722-3846 GoverningDocuments TBDTDS Network Dave Wood [email protected] (858) 735-8808Amateur Telescope Making -Vacant- ALCOR(AstronomicalLeagueCorrespondent)[email protected] (858) 560-2052

Have a great new piece of gear? Read an astronomy-related book that you think others should know about? How about a photograph of an SDAA Member in action? Or are you simply tired of seeing these Boxes in the Newsletter rather than something, well, interesting?

Join the campaign to rid the Newsletter of little boxes by sharing them with the membership. In return for your efforts, you will get your very own byline or pho-tograph credit in addition to the undying gratitude of the Newsletter Editor. Just send your article or picture to [email protected].

SDAA Editorial StaffEditor - Andrea [email protected]

Assistant Editor: Craig Ewing

mailto://[email protected]




















mailto:[email protected]


[email protected]






mailto:// [email protected]





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Meet the Members

Long time member Kin Searcy by the Lipp at TDS. Kin has spent many hours doing public outreach and lately spends much time photographing the night sky.


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NASA Night Sky Notes December 2018

This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomyoutreach.Visitnightsky.jpl.nasa.org to find local clubs, events, and more!

NASA Night Sky Notes:Observe Apollo 8’s Lunar Milestones

ByDavidProsper

December marks the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 8 mission, when humans first orbited the Moon in a triumph of human engineering. The mission may be most famous for “Earthrise,”the iconic photograph of Earth suspended over the rugged lunar surface. The photo inspired theimaginations of people around the world and remains one of the most famous photos ever taken. This month also brings a great potential display of the Geminids and a close approach by Comet 46P/Wirtanen

You can take note of Apollo 8’s mission milestones while observing the Moon this month. WatchthenearlyfullMoonrisejustbeforesunsetonDecember21,exactly50 years after Apollo 8 launched; it will be near the bright orange star Aldebaran in Taurus. The following evenings watch it pass over the top of Orion and on through Gemini; on those days five decades earlier,astronautsFrankBorman,JimLovell,andBillAndersspedtowardstheMoonintheirfully crewed command module. Notice how the Moon rises later each evening, and how its phase wanes from full on Dec 22 to gibbous through the rest of the week. Can you imagine what phase Earth would appear as if you were standing on the Moon, looking back? The three braveastronauts spent 20 sleepless hours in orbit around the Moon, starting on Dec 24, 1968. During those ten orbits they became the first humans to see with their own eyes both the far side of the Moon and an Earthrise! The crew telecast a holiday message on December 25 to a record number of Earthbound viewers as they orbited over the lifeless lunar terrain; "Goodnight,goodluck,amerry Christmas and God bless all of you - allofyouonthegoodEarth."Justtwodayslatertheastronauts splashed down into the Pacific Ocean after achieving all the mission’s test objectives, paving the way for another giant leapinspaceexplorationthefollowingyear.

TheGeminids,anexcellentannual meteor shower, peaks the evening of December 13 through the morning of the 14th. They get their chance to truly shine after a waxingcrescentMoonsetsaround 10:30 pm on the 13th. ExpertGeminid observers can spot around 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. You’ll spot quite a few meteors by avoiding bad weather and light pollution if you can, and of course make sure to bundle up and take frequent warming breaks.The Geminids have an unusual origin compared to most meteor showers, which generally springfrom icy comets. The tiny particles Earth passes through these evenings come from a strange “rock comet” named asteroid3200Phaethon.Thisdustyasteroidexperiences faint outbursts offine particles of rock instead of ice.


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NASA Night Sky Notes December 2018

You can also look for comet 46P/Wirtanen while you’re out meteor watching.Itsclosestapproach to Earth brings it within 7.1 million miles of us on December 16. That’s 30 times the average Earth-Moon distance! While passing near enough to rank as the 10th closest cometary approach in modern times, there is no danger of this object striking our planet. Cometary brightness is hard to predict, and while there is a chance comet 46P/Wirtanen may flare up to naked eye visibility, it will likely remain visible only via binoculars or telescopes. You’ll be able to see for yourself how much 46P/Wirtanen actually brightens. Some of the best nights to hunt for it will be December 15 and 16 as it passes between two prominent star clusters in Taurus: the PleiadesandtheV-shaped Hyades. Happy hunting!

Catch up on all of NASA’s past, current, and future missions at nasa.gov

Caption: Earthrise, 1968. Note the phase of Earth as seen from the Moon. Nearside lunar observers see Earth go through a complete set of phases. However, only orbiting astronautswitness Earthrises; for stationary lunar observers, Earth barely moves at all. Why is that?

Credit: Bill Anders/NASA


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MEMBERSHIP INFORMATIONSend dues and renewals to P.O. Box 23215, San Diego, CA 92193-3215. Include any renewal cards from Sky & Telescope or Astronomy magazine in which you wish to continue your subscription. The expiration date shown on your newsletter’s mailing label is the only notice that your membership in SDAA will expire. Dues are $60 for Contributing Memberships; $35 for Basic Membership; $60.00 for Private Pads; $5 for each Family membership. In addition to the club dues the annual rates for magazines available at the club discount are: Sky & Telescope $32.95 and Astronomy $34. Make checks payable to S.D. Astronomy Assn. PLEASE DO NOT send renewals directly to Sky Publishing. They return them to us for processing.