Hamilton Amateur Astronomers Ev Summer 2002 ent Horizon Volume 9 Issue 9 Hey! Who put those Stars there? Being a relatively new amateur astronomer ( or is I happily navigate through my list of targets, then I that an amateur, amateur astronomer?), I am quickly decide to take a break and just look with my own eyes. learning, has some grief and frustrations. The payback Low and behold, again I am confused. What is that for all of this is the joy of finding and seeing something fuzzy patch I see with somewhat averted vision. I don't for yourself, for the first time. A great example of this even know what constellation that is in! Well, that is was May 3, 2002. Leo to the east, there is Gemini to the west, hmm. I It was supposed to be relatively good for viewing, consult my star maps and field guide ­ Cancer? That so I told my wife I was going to go to Binbrook to do can't be right? Hmm, then that fuzzy patch is M44! the astronomy thing (that actually should read "Honey, The Pre, no the Pray, no it is pronounced the Pr ah, but all the other people are going to get to go out and the heck with it ­ the Beehive. I view it through the play with their telescopes, so can I, pleeeease go to?"). telescope. I don't even try to draw it in my logbook. I I called Stewart and he arranged for me to pick up the simply write "beautiful, stunning, amazing" key and lock. I went out ­ others would show up ­ it I continue playing, but slowly notice that the views was a beautiful night, a little crisp, but beautiful. are suddenly very poor. Did the secondary mirror Jump ahead to me, standing alone in the Binbrook move? Do I have condensation on the mirrors? No Conservation area, looking up at the sky and asking and No. Lesson 3:Eyepieces left on the ground during "Who put all those ***** stars there?", "This doesn't a heavy dew is a bad thing. look like the sky I am used to from my backyard!" Maybe next time, I won't be 24 hours early and I Lesson 1: Dark(er) skies can be at first confusing when will get to see some of you! you are accustomed to seeing them from the city or sub- (ps. Note to self: don't leave your observing stool urbs. in the driveway next time) I start with what I know (which may not be a great Greg Emery is a new member of the HAA starting point but it is all I have). I find M51, but some- and has only been active as an amateur as- thing isn't right; I see more detail than from my Dundas tronomer for about 1 year. Greg's interests home, but where is all the intricate detail I see in the in astronomy lean more towards deep sky pictures from Hubble or in Sky and Telescope. Lesson 2: objects as opposed to planetary observing. An 8" telescope will show you what an 8" telescope will In addition to observing, interests also in- show, even under the best conditions don't expect too clude optics design and amateur telescope much. But the view is much better than from home. making. Chair's report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 2 Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 4 Dome to go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 6 Web Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4 Calendar2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 7 Page 2 Chair's Report This has been some kind of year forget that your own observations for observing! We have had clear and/or astroimages are important Event Horizon is a publica- skies during many of our Binbrook to communicate - even a few min- tion of the Hamilton Amateur nights and it looks like StarFest utes describing your experiences at Astronomers (HAA). weather is going to be nearly ideal. a meeting can greatly enhance it! The HAA is an amateur astron- We were contacted by the Specta- Don't forget the HAA Silent omy club dedicated to the promo- tor over the summer and they have Lake observing weekend (Septem- tion and enjoyment of astronomy urged us to continue to use the au- ber 6/7/8). If the weather gods for people of all ages and experi- ditorium, so we are going to do so continue to smile on us, you may ence levels. and hope that this year's experi- see some of the darkest skies you The cost of the subscription is in- ence is better than last year's. Ap- can imagine. The bugs should be cluded in the $25 individual or parently we can now book three gone and the nights should be clear $30 family membership fee for the months at a time, so this will help and cool. Many of us already have year. Event Horizon is published us plan better for future meetings. our campsites reserved, but I am a minimum of 10 times a year. (Last year we could only book two sure that there will be room for months in a row.) more. There will be some very big HAA Council It is time for us to start organizing scopes present, so make the most Hon. Chair . . . . . . . . . . Jim Winger a roster of speakers for the coming of this opportunity! Chair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Doug Welch months. If you heard a particularly Have a great August and see you in Second Chair . . . . . . . Grant Dixon good talk at a star party this sum- September. Secretary . . . . . . . Margaret Walton mer, please let me know. I am al- Doug Welch Treasurer . . . . . . . . . Barbara Wight ways looking for new talent! Don't Observing Dir. . . Stewart Attlesey Editor/Web . . . . Anthony Tekatch Doug Welch is the current chair of the HAA and also a Membership Dir.. . . .Ann Tekatch founding member. You can find out more about Doug at: Councillor. . . . . . . . .Ray Badgerow http://www.physics.mcmaster.ca/people/faculty/ Welch_DL_h.html Web: amateurastronomy.org Mailing Address: PO Box 65578 Dundas, ON L9H 6Y6 Domain Name and Web hosting for the Hamilton Amatuer Astronomy club supplied by Axess Communications Corporate and Residential DSL and Web Hosting http://www.axess.com support@axess.com Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers amateurastronomy.org Page 3 Dome to go First light for us came on a chilly December night, followed moments later by the thought of what a good thing a dome would be. Problem was we already had a mortgage, and technically speaking VISA still owned the scope; but bonuses can work Christmas miracles and the solution happened to be a quick Internet trip to Kendrick's Astro Instruments. I was actually looking for a solar filter (sun = warmth - you get the picture) when the heading "Observatory Tents" caught my eye - and Gail's too. "We need one of those!" she said, pointing over my By manipulating the sections, and some movement shoulder at the square tent with the generous door, large of the scope, you can see most of the viewable sky yet window, and roof flaps. stay sheltered from the unwelcome winds and intru- sive lights that often shorten a promising session. On the inside, the vinyl-covered fabric is black, however some cracking from wear and tear is almost guaranteed. While claims of being "light proof" may be unjustified, at a dark sky site it's the wind shielding that comes into play. As campers go, we understand tents. Some pegs, a few poles, and Voila! Good thing too, since the ini- tial erecting took place at one in the morning, during a snowstorm (simple explanation, but don't ask). The shock-corded poles separate in the middle but the elasti- cized cord keeps them together They are also connected at the roofline by a flexible joint. Any design that keeps the poles attached to the tent even when folded for stor- age works for me, and with Jim's simple instructions it was only unfamiliarity that stretched the set-up time to 15 minutes. The stated dimensions are 10' x 7' x 6.5' high though the useable space is more like 8' x 6' x 6' high. Still, there is elbow room for 2 adults with a chair, small ta- ble and, dependant on configuration, up to a 12" scope. Anchored by 10 robust plastic pegs and 4 guy lines, Fully unzipped, the door opens up all of one end, and the unit can withstand a stiff breeze but strong gusts the opposing window gives generous access to the other will liberate the corners and a gale has flattened ours side. The two roof flaps are joined at the centreline by on one occasion. We've since moved it to a more shel- Velcro and unzip independently down to chest height. tered part of the yard where we leave it up. While it's Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers amateurastronomy.org Page 4 comforting to know our scope is out of sight when left I'd rather spend the hours on the Caramilk problem. In to cool, and a fitted fly to keep out rain can be had for spite of that, at only $515 CDN we feel it's been money $152 (or a Canadian Tire tarp and a couple of bungee's well spent - and should the neighbours get to thinking for $15), the fact that a strong wind can whip it to the we're into some kinky form of winter sex, we let 'em! ground precludes it from being a permanent home for After a thirty year hiatus, Glenn Muller expensive equipment. is rediscovering astronomy. He and his Breakdown time is just as quick, if not quicker than wife, Gail, observe from their backyard in the set-up; until you try and get it back into the carry Grimsby. They invite you to view their bag. I've mentioned this, in passing, to Jim Kendrick webpage at: http://home.interlynx. who keeps assuring me it can be done but, personally, net/~mullers/ WebWatch Submitted by Bob Christmas http://home.interlynx.net/~bxmas/rpccomet.htm Have a look at my new comet gallery. If you are contemplating traveling to see this eclipse we invite you to consider Sirius Travel. Please visit our website (www.siriustravel.com) for details about this tour or email us anytime at eclipse2002@siriustravel.com. Future total solar eclipses (landfalls): November 23, 2003 - Antarctica (passes over Russian base of Mirny) March 29, 2006 - Africa, Turkey, Russia November 13, 2012 - Australia (rainforest region) March 20, 2015 - skims Iceland March 9, 2016 - Indonesia August 21, 2017 - USA!!! The Veil nebula taken by Bob Botts. Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances The next page is a graph of Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances recorded during the month of July 2002 by Doug Welch using his home made SID recorder. Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers amateurastronomy.org Page 5 Event Horizon - Hamilton Amateur Astronomers amateurastronomy.org 7 14 21 28 6 13 20 27 5 12 19 26 4 11 18 25 NightNight Saturday 3 10 17 24 September 2002 2 9 16 23 30 ObservingObserving 1 8 15 22 29 6 13 20 27 5 12 19 26 4 11 18 25 3 10 17 24 31 Friday NightNight July 2002 2 9 16 23 30 2 9 16 23 30 1 8 15 22 29 ObservingObserving 7 14 21 28 shower 15th Thursday meteor 1 8 theuntilPerseids 15 22 29 call Roy Tekatch info, Rob Ann Attlesey Wednesday 7 14 21 28 observing Stewart 827-9105, 692-3245, 575-5433 For August 2002 Tuesday 6 13 20 27 Monday 5 12 19 26 Sunday 5 12 19 26 4 11 18 25 StarStar 3 10 17 24 31 HAAHAA 2 9 16 23 30 NightNight Saturday 1 8 15 22 29 LakeLake October 2002 7 14 21 28 PartyParty ObservingObserving SilentSilent 6 13 20 27 3 10 17 24 31 2 9 16 23 30 StarStar (check(check 1 8 15 22 29 MeetingMeeting HAAHAA 7 14 21 28 Friday NightNight 6 13 20 27 6 LakeLake unknownunknown GeneralGeneral PartyParty website)website) ObservingObserving SilentSilent 13 HAAHAA VenueVenue 20 27 August 2002 5 12 19 26 4 11 18 25 Thursday 5 12 19 26 call Roy Tekatch info, Rob Ann Attlesey Wednesday 4 11 18 25 observing Stewart 827-9105, 692-3245, 575-5433 For Tuesday 3 10 17 24 September 2002 Day Monday Labour 9 16 23 30 StarStar HAAHAA Sunday LakeLake PartyParty SilentSilent