the newslette r o f th e
QUEEN ELIZABET H PLANETARIUM
and the
EDMONTON CENTRE , RASC
FEB./MAR. 198 1
75$
Columbia Flie s in Marc h
COMING§€CN
Travel back through the mist s cf time
See fearscme dinosaurs
Learn the mystery cf their disappearance
Witness awesome astronomical events
Premieres f riday, /Harch C
at the Queen Elizabeth Planetariu m
re r mere information, call 4JJ-O113
Stardust
FEB./MAR. 198 1
Vol. 2 6 No . 2
8 Lif e at JPL Pau
l Dean s
Everyone coul d becom e a discoverer of ne w worlds sinc e the T V picture s
were bein g seen simultaneously by the scientist s an d the press .
14 Chasin g the Monsoon Eclips e Ja
y Anderso n
The frequenc y o f clou d cove r show n b y pas t record s sugges t tha t th e
chances of a successful eclipse i n 198 3 are high.
21 A Fire In the Sky Stewar
t Krysk o
This particula r firebal l was well observed by thousands of northern Albert a
residents an d the cameras of the Canadia n Meteo r Patrol .
22 Starnlgh t — Once Mor e Wit h Feelin g Ro
d McConnel l
You kno w the work is worth i t as a youngster approache s the eyepiece and
whistles i n wonder a t an object h e is seeing fo r th e firs t time .
2 Th e Fron t Pag e President'
4 Astronom y Basic s Ring
6 Discoverie s Astronom
24 RAS C New s
s Message
s Around the Su n
y New s Update
24 Genera l Meetin g Notic e
25 A t th e Planetariu m
27 Loo k Bac k Tim e 5
28 What' s U p ? Gemin
0 and 100 Years Ago
i
COVER: O n March 17, the spaceship Columbia Is scheduled to liftoff from Pa d 39A of the
Kennedy Space Centre. It will be the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle, the long-awaited
new spacecraft that will become the workhorse vehicle for space exploration in the 80'» and
90's. Three days after launch, the Columbia will glide to a landing (depicted here) at one of
the 3 Shuttle landing strips I n the U.S .
DEADLINE FO
R AP R MA Y ISSU
E Monday
. Marc h 9
PRESIDENTS MESSAG E
the
front
page
Editor
Alan Dye r
Assistant Editor
Stewart Kryik o
Contributing
Editors
Tad Cadlen
John Haul !
Dave Holmgre n
Andrew Lowe
Rod McConnel l
Anthony Whyte
Typesetting
Lorna Mllllgan
Graphic Arts
Dave Belche r
Rick Corrlga n
The City Of
EDMONTON
We ar e a t th e star t o f a ne w operatin g yea r fo r th e Edmonto n
Centre, and at the January meetin g a new Council wa s elected. Many
members of Council have continued o n for two-year term s in office.
There were a number of others who stepped down, however. I would
like to thank them , and in particular Dav e Holmgren, Mark Leenders,
and Ro d McConnell fo r thei r contribution s during 1980 .
Here then i s the 198 1 Council:
PRESIDENT: Te
d Cadlen
VICE-PRESIDENT: Dav
e Belche r
SECRETARY: Ton
y Whyte
TREASURER: Me
l Rankin
OBSERVING CO-ORDINATOR : Darrel
l Cro w
EDITOR O F Stardust: Ala
n Dyer
NATIONAL COUNCI L REP : Ala
n Dyer
COUNCILLORS: Kevi n Atchlson , Dav e Beale, Gart h Fltzner , Craig
Makarowskl, Dav e Parker
Those o f u s continuin g o n Counci l an d th e ne w member s of
Council loo k forward to the successful completion i n 1981 of our two
current projects :
— Th e 17.5 " f/4. 5 Dobso n telescope , schedule d fo r completio n i n
April.
— Th e Buc k Mountai n Observin g Sit e an d building , scheduled fo r
completion b y lat e summer.
We ar e beyon d th e plannin g phases fo r bot h project s an d
sufficient funds have been gathered to cover most of the anticipated
construction costs . I n th e month s t o com e w e wil l requir e you r
assistance in finalizing theconstruction details, materialsacquisition,
and i n puttin g u p the building .
A smal l grou p i s alread y a t wor k constructin g th e Dobso n
telescope. Another group will be formed to put up the Buck Mountain
building and Dav e Beale (the Observing Site Director) has asked for
interested peopl e (hopefull y wit h som e previou s house/garag e
construction experience ) to contac t him. (Phon e Dave at 474-0811)
For further informatio n o n these or an y other o f th e Edmonton
Centre activitie s pleas e contact m e a t 463-170 3 (Home), 436-0641
(Work). Thanks !
-- Ted Cadle n
Parks an d
Recreation
STARDUST, the newsletter of the Queen Elizabeth Planetarium and the Edmonton
Centre, RASC, is published bi-monthiy and is available free to all members of the Roy si
Astronomical Society of Canada , Edmonton Centre as a benefit of membership. Single
cop/os are available at the Planetarium Bookstore for 75C . STARDUST is also available by
subscription for $4.50 per year for 6 issues ($9.00 for two years for 12 issues). Please make
all cheques or money orders payable to: The Queen Elizabeth Planetarium. Write to: The
Editor, STARDUST; c/o Queen Elizabeth Planetarium: C N Tower 10th Floor; 10004 -104
.\vonuo; Edmonton, Albzria, ToJ OH I. Unsolicited articles or photographs pertaining to
any aspect o f astronomy .ir o welcome.
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o/Uonomy bo/ic /
ring/ aroun d th e /u n
Doing amateu r astronom y i n th e winte r
inevitably involves hardship. To survive the cold
and windy nights , yo u hav e to dress like some
moon-bound astronaut , merel y t o endur e a n
hour o r two unde r the sparkling winter sky. But
luckily, th e winte r season also brings a type of
observing tha t ca n b e don e wit h grea t
convenience durin g th e daytime , an d wit h n o
optical ai d o r specia l equipment . Soun d
appealing?
Winter i s whe n yo u ar e mos t likel y t o see
the unusua l atmospheri c phenomen a o f
sundogs an d sola r halos . Searchin g fo r thes e
and othe r rare r form s o f halo s ca n b e a n
interesting winte r observin g pasttime .
The mos t common form of solar halo is the
22° halo , so-called becaus e its radius is always
22°. Ofte n locate d o n eithe r sid e o f th e sun ,
usually als o a t a distance of about 22° , are th e
parhelia or sundogs. These can appear with o r
without th e 22 ° halo . Sundog s canno t b e
formed whe n th e su n i s higher tha n 61 ° above
the horizon, whic h i n winter from our latitude, it
never is . A much rare r sigh t i s th e 46 ° halo,
which is seldom seen complete. A faint 46° halo
was visibl e i n Edmonto n o n particularl y haz y
morning jus t befor e Christmas .
A phenomenon usuall y morecommonthan
the 46° hal o i s the clrcumzenithal arc. This can
only occu r fo r su n elevation s below 32° , an d
therefore ca n b e see n anytim e i n winter . This
appears a s a brigh t arc , usuall y wit h rainbow like colors, nea r the zenith. If there is a 46° hal o
present a s well , th e circumzenitha l ar c wil l
usually appear tangent to it , like two circles in
contact.
Contact arcs can also appear tangent to the
conventional 22°halo . Thes e ar e rare , bu t ar e
sometimes see n sprayin g of f th e 22 ° hal o
directly abov e and below the sun. In winter, the
lower tangen t ar c would seldom b e seen, being
below th e horizon . Fo r su n elevation s abov e
40°, th e uppe r an d lowe r 22 ° tangen t arc s
actually exten d aroun d th e su n fa r enoug h t o
meet, formin g anothe r halo , calle d th e
circumscribed halo just outsid e th e 22 ° halo .
Often a horizontal bright ban d will appea r
passing throug h th e sun, through th e sundogs
and paralle l wit h th e horizon . I n it s mos t
spectacular form , thi s parheli c circl e ca n b e
seen stretching 360° aroun d the sky. A second
pair o f sundog s ca n sometimes appear on this
circle, locate d 120° away from either side of the
sun. A brigh t spo t sometime s ca n b e see n
directly opposite the sun on this circle. This rare
sight i s calle d th e anthelion , an d i s als o th e
location wher e som e ver y rar e arcs , calle d
anthelic arc s cross.
More commo n tha n mos t o f thes e
phenomena i s anothe r typ e o f tangen t arc ,
called the in f ralateral arc. These can be seen on
either sid e o f th e sun , tangen t to th e 46 ° hal o
(which itsel f ma y no t b e seen ) an d belo w th e
parhelic circl e line .
All these strange daytime sights are caused
Ice Crystals and Light Paths
22° Hal o
Clrcumzenithal Arc
22° Sundog s
Parhelic Circl e
by the refraction o f sun light through the various
faces o f 6-sided ice crystals. Theoretically , the
same phenomena can occur at night around the
moon. Th e 22 ° hal o i s fairl y common , bu t
moondogs (o r paraselene! ) and all the res t are
quite rare , moonligh t bein g s o muc h fainte r
than sunlight .
Another ice-crystal effect to watch for is the
light pilla r Durin g the day , a vertical streak of
light ca n b e seen passing through th e sun . A t
night, thi s phenomen a take s the eeri e form o f
vertical pillar s o f ligh t abov e ever y streetlight .
Light pillars are caused by theref/ecf/onof ligh t
off th e to p an d botto m face s o f fla t plat e ic e
crystals i n th e air .
From a n aircraft , a ne w arra y o f hal o
phenomena ca n occur . Al l th e regula r
"above-horizon" halo s an d spots ca n b e see n
below th e horizo n i n the clouds . Ther e can be
"subsuns", "subsu n dogs" , "sub-parheli c
circles", etc .
If you' d lik e t o lear n mor e abou t
atmospheric phenomena , I highly recommen d
a ne w boo k o n th e subjec t calle d Rainbows,
Haios, an d Glories b y Rober t Greenler ,
published b y Cambridg e Universit y Press. It is
very wel l illustrate d and explains the natur e of
all thes e sky effect s i n a n understandabl e an d
readable fashion. A similar book bu t no t as well
illustrated, i s M . Minnaert' s classi c work , Th e
Nature of Light and Colour in the Open Air.
— Ala n Dyer
Components of a Spectacular Halo Display..^
• - , • " •>#••• ; ' ;: : - • ** &J.-&& - - • • ' • • • " : ••''^•^'^ fti$^^^^':'''^&^!^ Clrcumzenitha l Arc
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• * • .»• * • "VViif' 'J^rf:
'• • .•*• • *.'*'»J."* ^ -V^'
. , S *i n
j -• . . '
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.
-
L£.: Supralatera l Ar c
:$& Parheli a o r Sundogs
'"
Infralateral Arcs>; s
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^.
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" Uppe r and Lower Contac t Arc s
i*f--;"'.- ar e par t o f th e "Circumscribe d
^T.-'.^vk/y-' ;Halo
"
X Diagra m adapte d fro m Rainbows, Halos, an d Glories
by Rober t Greenle r {Cambridg e Universit y Press )
di/covcnc/
ci/tronomy neuu / updat e
THE GREAT SOLAR CRAP GAME
During th e las t fe w year s there hav e been
various attempt s to lin k the lon g term sunspot
cycle (no t th e 1 1 yea r cycl e know n t o mos t
people) t o c l i m a t e change s o n Earth .
Specifically, i t has been argue d that when lon g
periods o f time go b y with fe w spots appearing
on th e fac e o f th e sun , the n the Eart h suffer s
through a col d spel l tha t ma y approac h th e
proportions o f a min i ic e age . Whil e th e lin k
between weather an d sunspot s is by n o means
firm, ther e doe s seem to b e good evidenc e for
long term variations in the number of sunspots
that grac e th e sola r surface . The questio n is ,
what cause s this variation.
At th e A.A.A.S . meeting s i n Toront o thi s
January, Phili p Morriso n presente d a publi c
lecture durin g whic h h e touche d o n thi s
problem. H e summarized a recently publishe d
paper tha t addressed the proble m o f lon g ter m
variability.
The author s o f th e pape r i n questio n
assumed tha t th e su n i s littl e mor e tha n a n
oscillator, with a short-term perio d (1 1 years for
the sunspo t cycle , 2 2 year s i f th e magneti c
turnabouts ar e included ) an d lon g ter m
variations. Bu t wha t make s it go ? Thei r mode l
constructed t o simulat e thi s 'sola r oscillator '
used purel y rando m inpu t - - a gaussia n
distribution o f amplitudes an d phases to excit e
the 'sola r oscillator ' -- pur e chance . The y ra n
this mode l fo r a whil e an d th e result s wer e
surprising.
Over hundred s o f years , th e pea k o f th e
11.22 year cycles could be seen to build up, fade
away (sometime s to almost nothing ) an d buil d
up again. When graphed, the long period cycles
look remarkabl y lik e the long perio d variations
in th e sola r cycl e tha t hav e bee n propose d b y
John Edd y an d others ! I n th e artificia l cycle ,
"Maunder Minimum " typ e trough s coul d b e
picked out as well as peaks in sunspot number s
equivalent t o th e hig h reading s observe d
recently.
Now thi s i s NO T a prove n theor y o f th e
working o f th e sun , bu t i t i s remarkabl e that
such a simulatio n o f chanc e intensit y alon e
would produc e this striking effect. But it has the
potential o f raisin g a ver y unsettlin g
philosophical question . For if solar fluctuations
are responsibl e fo r change s i n th e Earth' s
climate, and if an unknown elemen t deep i n the
solar interio r randoml y determine s thes e solar
fluctuations, the n w e ma y hav e to accep t th e
idea that our weather , and ou r lives , are deeply
affected b y pur e chance.
- Pau l Dean s
THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION
AND THE NASA BUDGET
Now that Jimmy Carte r ha s turned over the
White Hous e t o Ronal d Reagan , the complex
translation o f pre-electio n rhetori c int o
administration polic y begin s i n earnest .
Already, however, it appears that those whohad
hoped fo r a n improvemen t i n th e budge t o f
NASA unde r a Reaga n presidenc y ma y b e
disappointed. Muc h depends upo n how man y
of th e recommendation s o f Mr . Reagan' s
economic adviser s ar e adopte d b y th e ne w
President. Principl e amon g thes e advisers are
Representatives Jack Kemp(R.-N.Y.) and David
Stockman (R.—Mich.) .
Stockman i s th e ne w hea d o f th e Whit e
House Offic e o f Managemen t an d Budge t
which ha s muc h sa y i n the numbe r an d us e of
dollars given to NASA ; the OMB ha s in the past
been responsibl e fo r scuttlin g suc h NAS A
proposals a s a Halley' s Come t mission .
Alarmingly, i n a memorandum t o the President elect, Stockman listedtheNationa l Aeronautics
and Spac e Administratio n a s a "low-priority "
agency - on e o f a grou p whos e budget s h e
would lik e to cu t b y one-third.
NASA's budge t fo r abou t th e las t decad e
has remained nominall y stabl e but has actually
been declinin g rapidl y i n term s o f rea l dollar s
owing to inflation. If, in addition to this attrition,
NASA's budge t i s cu t b y one-thir d NAS A will
barely hav e enoug h mone y lef t t o pa y fo r
Shuttle launches . Ther e wil l b e n o fundin g
available for an y other space missions at all: the
only Shuttl e payload s will b e those o f civilian
corporations, othe r governmen t agencies, and
foreign government s an d companies . An d
because o f th e lon g lea d time s involved , n o
funding durin g th e 1980' s fo r ne w spac e
missions wil l mea n tha t th e 1990' s wil l se e
absolutely n o space exploration.
It will be as if Carl Saganafterstepping into
the "cosmi c ocean " ha d hastily withdrawn hi s
toe from th e wate r and walke d away.
— Ton y Whyt e
GRASS ROOT S FUNDIN G FOR
SPACE
With funding fo r U. S space programmes at
ever-decreasing levels , severa l special interes t
groups hav e sprung up to solicit public support .
One such group, th e World Space Foundation ,
in Sout h Pasedena , California , ha s take n ou t
advertisements t o publiciz e it s Sola r Sai l
Project i n severa l scienc e new s magazines .
Then ther e i s the Viking Fund, which ha s been
accepting donation s fo r th e las t year . O n
January 9 the Vikin g Fund peopl e presente d a
cheque fo r $70,00 0 t o NAS A official s t o hel p
support th e Vikin g 1 lander stil l operatin g o n
Mars. Th e Lande r i s expecte d t o sen d bac k
information fo r anothe r decade, and the Viking
Fund i s determine d tha t thi s treasur e o f dat a
should no t b e bleeped ou t int o spac e unheard
from earth.
A grou p wit h a muc h broade r objective ,
namely t o demonstrat e th e exten t o f publi c
interest i n th e exploratio n o f ou r sola r system
and the search for extraterrestrial life, has been
set u p b y Car l Saga n an d Bruc e Murray .
Membership i n their "Planetar y Society " cost s
$20; the y publis h a newslette r an d provid e a
source fo r obtainin g spacecraf t photos .
-- Ton y Whyt e
THE SHUTTL E FLIE S I N MARC H
As 198 0 dre w t o a close , th e firs t Spac e
Shuttle craft, Columbia, wa s being prepared on
Launch Pa d 39 A a t Cap e Canavera l fo r a
March 1 7 liftoff . Afte r tw o year s o f delays , i t
appears as if the Shuttle migh t finally get off the
ground. Fo r the past year, more than half of the
32,000 cerami c tile s wer e rebonde d t o th e
Columbia's surf ace after it turned out that some
were comin g "unglued. " Th e troublesom e
Shuttle engine s wer e give n a fourth an d fina l
test in early December. While this was going on,
the prim e cre w o f Joh n Youn g an d Rober t
Crippen continue d their trainin g i n Houston .
If all goes well with th e first flight, then the
Shuttle progra m wil l proceed a t full tilt, with up
to 7 4 flight s i n th e firs t 4 years. Te n o f thes e
would b e launche d fro m th e Vandenber g Ai r
Force Bas e in California. Of these flights, 1/3r d
will carr y NASA , civilian U.S . governmen t an d
European Space Agency payloads, 1/3rd will be
non-U.S. governmen t payload s suc h a s
commercial communication s satellites , an d
1/3rd will be for U.S. military payloads. The long
range schedule calls for 487 flights through the
mid-1990's.
In additio n t o Columbia , th e Shuttl e flee t
consists o f Challenger , wit h it s firs t fligh t
scheduled fo r November , 1982 , the Discover y
scheduled t o fl y i n Decembe r 83 , an d th e
Atlantis whic h wil l no t fl y unti l Marc h 1985 .
--APD
ED. NOTE : Watc h fo r a feature articl e o n th e
Shuttle i n th e nex t issue .
If we ujere to list a group of things that we would
never hav e imagined to fin d i n the Satur n
system, this would have been right at the top of
the list... It wouldn't have been on the list at all,
actually I
- Imagin g Team Leade r Bra d Smit h
commenting on the braide d F ring, Nov. 12 , 198 0
LIF€ R T J.P.I .
by
Paul Deans
F
or man y o f th e projec t scientist s an d
science reporter s preparing fo r the Saturn
encounter, there was a feel ing that they had
already see n it all . Th e search for lif e on Mars,
the swirling cloud s o f Jupiter, th e volcanoes of
lo -- they would be tough act s to follow. Yet the
ringed plane t cam e through , surprisin g
everyone b y revealin g unusua l rings , oddbal l
satellites an d a planetar y atmospher e wit h
several unusua l characteristics.
But whil e al l these discoveries were bein g
made an d announced , frenzie d activit y wa s
taking plac e behin d th e scene s a t th e Je t
Propulsion Laborator y i n Pasadena, California.
Some o f thi s excitemen t spille d ove r int o th e
press room--an auditorium at the edge of J. P.L.
that wa s inhabite d fo r tw o week s centere d
around Novembe r 12t h b y cables , typewriters
and th e 'gentleme n o f the press' . I t is from this
location tha t th e followin g backgroun d t o th e
Saturn missio n of Voyager I is drawn.
In th e pres s worl d o f J.P.L . ther e i s a
distinct hierarch y o f media . Suprem e i s
television, receiving everything made available:
prints, 16m m fil m clips , sounds , interview s ...
the works. Next, the print medi a gathe r i n thei r
goodies. Numbe r thre e i s radio , wit h suc h
concerns as how to pronounce the names of the
various satellites . An d finally , down ther e
underfoot makin g nuisance s of themselves are
planetarium type s who hav e infiltrated the area
in a n attemp t t o abscon d wit h item s (suc h as
film clip s an d colou r prints ) reserve d fo r th e
'working members ' o f th e press . No w i n al l
fairness t o J.P.L . i t shoul d b e mentione d tha t
planetariums d o receiv e prints o f th e missio n
(weeks afte r th e event ) plu s new s update s
regarding significan t findings . I n addition ,
there woul d b e no way for J.P.L . to handl e the
great numbers of science teachers/planetarium
types wh o woul d probabl y descen d upo n
Pasadena i f th e invitatio n wa s extended .
Nevertheless, i t wa s extremel y frustratin g
trying t o collect , i n th e fac e o f ragin g
indifference, al l th e material s neede d fo r th e
McLaughlin planetariu m programm e I wa s
producing, whic h ha d a deadlin e a s tigh t a s
those o f th e variou s astronomica l magazine s
represented a t J.P.L...
Each day' s activitie s woul d begi n wit h a
press conference in the auditorium. After a brief
summary o f the spacecraft' s health, report s o f
the experimenta l result s began . Fro m 4 to 1 0
scientists woul d presen t a synopsi s o f th e
previous day' s findings , ofte n pleadin g fo r
understanding tha t th e result s wer e 'ver y
preliminary' in nature and could b e outdated by
the following day. These remarks were followed
by a questio n an d answe r session , wit h th e
IHB
entire conference lasting anywhere from 1 to 3
hours.
Immediately upo n th e conclusio n o f th e
briefing, mos t pres s peopl e hurrie d of f t o
worship at the local temple— a small, holy roo m
called 'Missio n Photos ' -- from which emerge d
the lates t visua l display s offere d u p fro m th e
great go d Voyager . Carefull y guarde d wer e
these preciou s blac k & white an d colour prints ,
both b y th e keeper s o f th e templ e an d th e
suitably impresse d recipients .
Next, interview s wer e arrange d an d
conducted, eithe r insid e th e auditorium besid e
the full scale mockup o f Voyager, or outside i n
the fin e Californi a smogshine . I t wa s alway s
interesting t o coun t th e numbe r o f time s th e
summary o f a T V repor t ha d t o b e repeate d
because the reporter blew his lines (the reporter
shall remai n nameless) or, in the case of Patrick
Moore o f th e BBC , t o liste n t o hi s missio n
summary tape d outdoor s severa l day s before
the conclusio n o f th e encounter . He obviously
didn't trus t th e weathe r t o remai n brigh t an d
The main control room for JPL's Deep Space Networ k
which track s the tw o Voyage r spacecraft .
sunny.
T h e p r e s s c o r p p o p u l a t i o n ros e
dramatically a s th e dat e o f clos e encounte r
approached. O n Nov . 11t h an d 12th , severa l
hundred reporter s an d camerame n crowde d
into th e auditorium , representin g suc h divers e
countries a s Japan , Sweden , France , Britain ,
Canada, Australi a an d o f cours e th e Unite d
States. I t wa s als o a scienc e fictio n fan' s
dreamcome-true sinc e th e Scienc e Fictio n
Writers o f Americ a ha d wangle d passe s fo r
many o f thei r members . (Ther e wer e enoug h
'big name ' writer s ther e t o fil l a t leas t a year's
worth o f 'guest-of-honour ' spot s a t scienc e
fiction conventions. ) Then , suddenl y a s ai r
escaping from a punctured tire , a large portion
of th e pres s vanishe d o n th e 13th . Obviously
that wa s i t .. . closes t approac h ha d bee n
successful and nothing more could b e learned.
And ye t th e mos t importan t scienc e wa s just
?y$jim'
* & Mf:
*#.
The Von Karman Auditorium
at JPL was the scene for daily
press conference s wher e
mission scientist s (right )
presented the latest findings.
AM photo s o f JP L b y th e
author.
being received and analyzed, and would not be
released fo r severa l more days.
Meanwhile, projec t scientist s wer e no t
having a holida y either . I t wa s a muc h mor e
hectic encounter than had been experienced at
Jupiter. A s wa s pointe d ou t durin g on e o f the
press conferences , th e initia l exploratio n o f
Jupiter and its moons took plac e over a period
of 4 days. At Saturn , becaus e the satellites are
closer to the planet, that 'first-look' period too k
place i n les s tha n 1 8 hours . Consequently ,
scientists barel y ha d tim e t o receiv e the dat a
before the y ha d to fac e the pres s and provid e
'instant science 1 for th e assembled multitudes .
Not surprisingly , there were many behind the-scenes squabble s amon g th e missio n
scientists concernin g wha t information should
be released . Apparentl y som e scientists ,
particularly those working i n the complex areas
of charge d particles , magneti c field s an d
plasma science , wer e reluctan t t o announc e
their findings . Thei r double argument wa s that
10
all thei r finding s wer e extremel y preliminar y
and tha t i t wa s obviou s fro m th e ton e o f th e
press conference s tha t th e pres s wer e onl y
interested i n th e 'prett y picture 1 aspec t of th e
mission anyway. The counter argument, led by
Voyager Projec t Scientis t Dr . E d Stone , wa s
that a n effor t shoul d b e mad e t o interes t th e
public i n all the science aspects of the Voyager
flyby -- an argument that eventually carried the
day.
During the quiet times, it waspossibletosit
around the press area and watch TV ... not your
ordinary programmin g min d you, but an almost
nonstop live telecast from Saturn itself. Black &
white television monitors scattere d throughout
the pres s area revealed the ra w (bu t ver y hig h
quality) photo s a s they wer e beame d bac k t o
Earth fro m Voyager . With this setup , everyone
could becom e a 'discoverer ' o f ne w world s
since th e picture s wer e bein g see n
simultaneously b y the scientists an d the press.
Another benefi t o f attendin g th e
VOVRG6R 1 : Th e Latest Result s
Much o f th e informatio n you hav e been o r
will b e readin g i n th e Januar y an d Februar y
issues o f th e variou s slic k monthl y magazine s
about th e Voyager encounte r with Saturn had a
dateline of the end of November or beginning o f
December. This i s because of the long lead time
needed t o pu t magazine s together . But , a t th e
recent meetin g o f th e American Association for
the Advancemen t o f Scienc e i n Toront o i n
January, severa l announcement s wer e mad e
concerning Voyage r result s analyze d jus t
recently:
One o f th e mor e difficul t experiment s wa s
the examinatio n o f Voyager' s radio signal s as
they passe d throug h Titan' s thic k atmosphere .
At th e A.A.A. S meeting , i t wa s announce d tha t
using thi s technique , th e surfac e o f Tita n ha d
been reached, and a very interesting surfac e it is.
The atmospheri c pressure at ground leve l is
1.5 bars , o r 1. 5 time s th e pressur e o f Earth' s
a t m o s p h e r e a t s e a - l e v e l . Th e s u r f a c e
temperature i s 97 ° Kelvi n (-176°C) . Th e
atmosphere itsel f i s 95 % t o 99 % nitroge n gas ,
with trac e element s tha t includ e ethane ,
ethylene, acetylene , hydroge n cyanid e and , o f
course methane . No w i t turn s ou t tha t th e
conditions a t th e surfac e ar e trul y strange ,
although ther e ar e probabl y n o nitroge n sea s
anywhere o n Tita n (tha t wa s proposed whe n i t
was thought tha t th e surface temperature migh t
be 70°K to80°K) . Instead , i t seems that 97°K i s
very close to the triple state point o f methane. In
other words , a t tha t temperature , methan e ca n
exist a s a gas. a liquid and a solid. So Titan ma y
have a soli d surfac e mad e o f hydrocarbo n
material wit h methan e clouds, methan e rai n and
oceans, an d methan e ic e cap s an d ice-berg s
floating i n th e methan e seas ! It is an analogou s
situation t o Earth , wher e water i s near it s tripl e
state poin t becaus e o f our surfac e temperature.
In addition , th e tru e diamete r o f Tita n wa s also
found - - 5,800 km with atmosphere, 5.120 km as a
solid body . It s density i s therefore 1. 9 gm/cc.
Some genera l comment s wer e als o mad e
about the rings. The eccentric rings found in the
'C' rin g an d i n on e o f th e gap s i n Cassini' s
Division could b e cause d b y a pai r o f tin y
satellites o n eithe r sid e o f eac h rin g movin g
around Satur n in eccentric orbits. Voyager 2 will
check ou t thi s idea . Withi n Cassini's Division at
least 36 individual ring features are present (and
this i s wher e the y wer e goin g t o sen d Pionee r
11!). The inne r 'D ' rin g exists; the outer 'E' ring
exists all the way out to the orbit of Rhea; and the
new 'G 1 ring i s located betwee n the T ring and
the orbit of the two co-orbital satellites (at about
2.45 Saturn radii) .
The 'F ' rin g braid s ma y b e cause d b y ver y
complex gravitationa l interactio n wit h th e tw o
shepherd satellite s {S1 3 an d S14) , particularl y
when the y com e int o conjunctio n once every 25
days o r so . However , at leas t part o f th e 'F' ring
seems to be composed o f micron-sized particle s
and s o the y ma y b e influenced by the magneti c
and/or electri c fiel d o f Saturn .
What ar e th e ring s mad e of ? Averag e
particle size s ar e no w known , thank s t o radi o
occultation experiments . I n th e 'C ' ring , th e
largest numerou s rock s ar e 1 metre in diameter .
But i n the 'A ' an d 'B' rings , the larges t particle s
are on the orde r of 8 to 10 metres in diameter .
There i s als o a grea t dea l o f smal l particulat e
matter i n the 'B ' ring . I f lumped all together, th e
material i n the rings woul d for m a satellite 20 0 to
300 kilometres i n diameter with a mass of 3 X 10-8.
the mas s o f Saturn .
Finally, a non-Voyage r discover y wa s
announced .. . a 16t h moo n fo r Saturn . Thi s was
first see n fro m Eart h i n Marc h o f 1980 , bu t
confirming observation s hav e just recentl y been
made. It s period i s about 1.9 8 days, and its orbit
is just beyon d tha t o f Tethy s (th e 3rd 'classical'
moon ou t fro m Saturn) . Th e onl y troubl e i s
satellite designation s ar e mad e o n th e basi s o f
the dat e o f discovery , s o thi s on e shoul d b e
called S13. That mean s that the moons known as
S13 an d S1 4 (th e shepherds ) an d S1 5 (th e
closest moo n t o th e 'A ' ring ) ma y hav e t o b e
renumbered. O h well , some da y they'l l al l hav e
names anyway.
-- Pau l Deans
11
happenings a t J.P.L. (rather than reading about
them a few months later ) is the amazing amount
of extra information that can be picked up-odds
and end s tha t neve r mak e i t into the paper s or
magazines. Fo r example , i t woul d tak e
approximately 2 4 hour s t o respon d t o a n
unexpected situatio n onboar d Voyage r with a
new se t o f commands . Durin g thi s tim e th e
trouble woul d b e analyzed, solutions propose d
and tested, and afinal decision made , mostly by
committee. Th e t r a n s m i t t i n g o f a n
unauthorized signa l t o a spacecraft i s perhaps
the wors t offense possible at J.P.L., punishabl e
by almos t instan t dismissal !
Other fascinatin g littl e items gleaned from
the encounte r missio n includ e th e following :
Typical exposure s for mos t of the photos taken
by Voyager are about 1/4 second long. I t takes a
1 second exposure to obtain star images. By the
end o f th e Voyage r 2 Saturn encounter (whic h
is t o tak e plac e Augus t 25th) , th e projec t wil l
have cos t $35 0 millio n dollar s ove r a ten yea r
period (the same cost as for the construction of
At left , a view o f on e o f the T V monitor s a t JPL wit h
"live" picture s fro m Saturn .
Above, a sweeping view of the rings taken as Voyager
left th e Saturnla n system .
a nuclea r submarine) . Voyage r 2 i s definitel y
'go' for it s Uranus mission , despite the fact that
there ar e a s ye t n o fund s availabl e fo r th e
ground suppor t require d t o receive the signals.
(So i t i s possibl e tha t Voyage r wil l sai l pas t
Uranus i n 198 6 an d n o one will b e listening.)
The Neptune option will be exercised only i f the
spacecraft i s i n goo d healt h afte r passin g
Uranus. Speakin g o f Neptune , on e ide a pu t
forth i s that this distant plane t ma y not possess
a se t o f rings . It' s argue d tha t th e retrograd e
motion o f Trito n (Neptune' s larges t satellite )
would disrup t an d scatter any particlesthat had
attempted o r wer e attemptin g t o for m a rin g
system aroun d th e planet .
The missio n a t Satur n wa s divide d int o 3
areas o f responsibility . Th e bigges t proble m
faced b y Fligh t Operation s wa s unsolvable they worrie d ove r th e weathe r i n Spai n tha t
might hav e disrupted the receip t o f dat a by the
Madrid trackin g station . Fligh t Engineering' s
greatest worr y wa s t o recalculat e al l th e
manoeuver time s afte r Voyage r misse d it s
predicted rendezvous with Titan by 43 seconds.
As for th e boy s in Flight Science, their greatest
headache was keeping gate crashers out of the
science area ! S o yes , th e Satur n flyb y wa s
Voyager photographed 1 5 of Saturn's 16 moons. Her e
is Mimas , sportin g a n impac t crate r tha t I s 1/ 4 th e
diameter o f thi s tiny moon .
12
The Dancin g Co-orbital Moon s
So you'v e checke d ou t th e scienc e an d
astronomical magazines , hav e rea d th e variou s
explanations as to how the 'shepherd'moons (S13
and 314} kee p the 'F' ring in place and can actually
make vague sense of it all. But now you see that the
co-orbitals (S10an d S11 ) d o even stranger things
like .. . revers e thei r directio n o f motio n a s the y
approach eac h othe r (o r somethin g lik e that) .
Well, t o pu t you r min d a t rest , her e i s the official
explanation as put forward by Dr . Bradford Smith,
Voyager Imagin g Team Leader, at a session of the
A.A.A.S. hel d i n early January.
The inne r co-orbita f (th e one 50 km closer t o
Saturn) i s trailin g th e oute r co-orbital . Bu t
because th e inne r on e i s close r t o Saturn , i t i s
moving aroun d Satur n slightl y faste r tha n th e
outer co-orbita l an d i s therefore slowly catchin g
up t o it . A s i t approaches , th e inne r on e i s
gravitationally accelerate d towar d th e leadin g
(and larger ) co-orbital . A t th e sam e time , th e
leading moo n feel s it s companio n approachin g
and i s slightl y decelerated . S o th e trailin g moo n
gains a little energy while the leadin g one loses a
little energy . Bu t i n a moving syste m such a s the
one at Saturn, when energy i s gained by an object,
it moves into a slightly higher orbit. Conversely, an
energy los s mean s the objec t drop s int o a lower
orbit. SO , thi s mean s tha t th e trailin g co-orbita l
climbs int o a highe r orbi t (furthe r fro m Saturn) ,
while the leading co-orbita l drops slightly closer to
Saturn.
virtually flawless.
That perfectio n ha s opened u p yet anothe r
planetary syste m for scrutiny. Scientists have a
new clas s o f moon s t o stud y (moon s mad e
primarily o f ic e water) , a frozen relic o f ancien t
Earth i n th e atmospher e o f Titan , an d a ga s
giant plane t whos e dynamic s ma y b e heavily
influenced b y th e fac t tha t i t experience s
seasons.
In additio n t o it s importanc e t o pur e
science, the Voyager mission also touched th e
imaginations o f million s o f peopl e aroun d th e
world. I n th e Unite d States , th e Lo s Angele s
PBS statio n reporte d a three-fol d jum p i n
audience wheneve r Th e Voyage r Show' hit the
air. Bu t as with other spectaculars , th e memor y
is fadin g fast , an d simultaneously , s o i s th e
space programme .
But, whe n a highe r orbi t i s reache d b y th e
trailing satellite , i t acquire s a lowe r angula r
velocity (i n other word s it takes slightly longer t o
orbit Satur n tha n i t use d to ) and , as yo u migh t
expect, the leading co-orbital (whic h has dropped
into a lower orbit ) take s slightly les s time to orbi t
Saturn than i t used to. SO, the trailing moon , now
in a higher orbit, begins t o fall behind th e leadin g
moon, no w i n a lower orbi t .. . in other words, th e
separation distanc e betwee n th e tw o begin s t o
increase. The y ar e stil l movin g i n th e sam e
direction a s before , it' s just tha t th e trailin g co orbital i s no w slower tha n th e leadin g co-orbital .
One of the most importan t things to remember in
all thi s i s tha t i t i s al l happenin g i n a fram e o f
reference that i s rotating around Satur n and must
therefore obe y th e law s o f motio n a s put forward
by Kepler. Got all that? Good. You'l l get my bill in
the mail .
— Pau l Deans
The Je t Propulsio n La b i s relativel y quie t
now. Dat a analysis continues, and will continu e
for year s t o come . Voyage r 1 i s no w o n it s
irreversible journey to the stars at a speed of 3.5
astronomical unit s pe r year i n the directio n o f
Alpha Ophiuchus. Th e reporters hav e departe d
for other stories, perhaps to return i n August for
the Voyage r 2 encounter.
And o n a persona l note , I hav e almos t
recovered fro m th e exhilaratin g experience ,
and it s exhaustin g aftermath . Wha t wit h talks ,
articles, interviews , a scrip t an d sho w
production, I rapidly developed a severe case of
Saturn Saturation . Bu t now , I ca n loo k a t a
Saturn photo without cringing , contemplate the
foibles o f J.P.L. without crying , an d fall aslee p
without tryin g t o coun t th e numbe r o f ringlet s
present i n th e 'B ' rin g o f Saturn .
13
Chasing Th e
flt-S>f "-
With ove r 5 minute s o f totality ,
it's the bes t eclips e of the 80's .
Eclipse
Environment Canad a
-• • .
O
n June 11,1983, the Earth, Sun and Moon
will onc e agai n reac h a position i n thei r
celestial danc e whic h wil l permi t th e
Moon's .shado w t o fal l o n th e Earth . Th e
amphitheatre fo r thi s sola r eclips e wil l b e
located i n Southeas t Asia : throug h th e
Indonesian archipelag o an d acros s Ne w
Guinea.
This part o f the worl d ha s a climate typica l
of th e inne r tropics , substantially modified by a
number o f unique loca l features. Temperatures
are high , bu t no t excessive , wit h a n annua l
range s o smal l tha t i t does no t distinguis h th e
seasons. Th e regio n i s th e larges t are a o f th e
globe with an annual rainfall of 2500 mi Mi metres
(100 inches ) o r more . Th e ai r i s humi d yea r
round, yet , strangely, sunshine i s abundant.
Indonesia i s affecte d b y thre e larg e scal e
seasonal weathe r patterns. Fro m Novembe r t o
March th e northwes t monsoo n bring s ai r from
Asia acros s thes e waters. The eas t monsoon ,
from Wa y t o September , carrie s ai r fro m
Australia. Betwee n th e tw o i s a transitional
period, familia r i n literatur e a s the doldrums .
The eas t monsoo n seaso n { k n o w n
elsewhere a s the southwes t monsoon ) wil l b e
well-established a t eclips e time . I t ca n b e
equated wit h th e norther n hemisphere' s
summer, and in the region of the eclipse, brings
a distinct dr y season which i s not found in most
other part s o f th e archipelago .
18
Left: A computer-drawn plo t of the 1983 eclipse path,
from a programme writte n b y Andrew Lowe .
Right: A ma p o f th e Indonesia n area , showin g th e
eclipse pat h throug h Jav a and Sulawes i
While Nort h American s ar e incline d t o
think o f a monsoo n seaso n a s a wet one , th e
time i s bette r describe d by a direct translatio n
of thi s Arabi c wor d — "seasonal wind." Durin g
June, wind s blo w outwar d fro m a winte r hig h
pressure cel l whic h build s ove r Australi a (it' s
winter i n th e souther n hemisphere) , crossin g
the Timor Sea to reac h the islands which make
up Indonesia . A t it s Australia n sourc e
the ai r mas s i s typical o f a desert - dr y and
warm. Th e sam e type o f ai r ca n b e found over
the desert s o f th e America n southwest ,
bringing skies that astronomer s bra g about .
As th e monsoo n wind s carry this air away
from th e Australia n coast , i t i s rapidl y
humidified b y th e war m water s o f th e Timo r
Sea, changing, in the lowe r level s at least, to the
warm an d sultr y maritim e ai r familiar to thos e
living alon g th e Gul f Coast . Th e atmospher e
becomes ver y unstable , capabl e o f formin g
immense thunderstorm s whic h ca n dro p
prodigious amount s o f rain .
Nevertheless, i n th e relativel y shor t
trajectory from Australi a to the eclipse site, the
atmosphere remains dry above the lowest 6 to 8
11
thousand fee t an d rainfall i s much less intense
than a t locations farthe r to the north and west.
During June , Kupang , o n th e islan d o f
Timor, and closest to Australia , has an average
monthly rainfal l o f onl y 1 0 millimetre s (0. 4
inches). Bu t Kupan g i s a prominent exceptio n
in thi s equatoria l region , an d thos e island s
closer t o th e eclips e trac k ar e muc h wetter .
Surabaya, in the eclipse zone on the north side
of Java, averages 86 millimetres o f rain in June ,
while Makassar , o n Sulawes i (Celebes) ,
averages 74. These amounts are a little less than
those which typically fall on the northern plain s
states an d Canadia n prairie s durin g th e same
month.
SUNSHINE
To the eclipse chaser, cloud cover is more
important tha n rainfall , thoug h ther e i s mor e
than a casua l relationshi p betwee n th e two .
Indonesia, despit e th e rainfal l statistics , i s a
very sunn y land . Becaus e almos t al l
precipitation come s fro m thunderstorms ,
monthly amount s accumulat e rapidly from only
a modes t amoun t o f cloud .
Because o f th e rapi d modificatio n o f th e
Australian ai r mas s a s i t passe s ove r water ,
cloud cove r increases quickly from east to west.
But even more significant ar e the effect s of the
local terrai n o n th e stead y monsoo n winds .
As inhabitant s o f th e Appalachian s an d
Rockies ar e well-aware , ai r whic h i s forced t o
rise can very quickly tur n to cloud, especially if
it wa s humi d t o begi n with . Acros s southeast
Asia this effect is very common; smalle r islands
may hav e a we t an d dr y seaso n determine d
almost exclusivel y b y th e win d direction .
Windward sides, with an upslope wind, are wet;
the leeward side with its descending and drying
winds, wil l hav e a muc h smalle r amoun t o f
precipitation. I n th e are a o f th e eclips e sunn y
weather wil l favou r the nort h sid e o f Jav a and
the wes t side o f Sulawesi.
At Surabay a {se e p.18) , onl y 1/3r d o f th e
east monsoon day s have more than half the sky
.^u
Pacific Ocea n
i
f
Timor Se a
covered by cloud. At Bandung, in western Java
on the island's mountainous spine, the number
of cloud y day s nearl y doubles . Thi s i t no t
entirely du e to th e higher altitud e o f Bandung,
since th e longe r over-wate r trajector y makes
western Jav a cloudie r tha n th e east . Bot h
Semarang an d Djakarta , o n th e northwes t
coast, sho w a significan t amount mor e clou d
than Surabaya.
On Sulawesi, Ujung Pandang (Makassar) is
sheltered fro m th e eas t winds an d i s nearly as
sunny a s Surabaya . However Kendari , o n th e
same island , bu t eas t o f Ujun g Pandang , lies
fully i n th e pat h o f th e monsoo n an d midda y
hardly eve r see s a sunny sky.
Since daytim e heating ha s a strong effec t
on th e formatio n o f convectiv e clouds such as
thunderstorms, skies tend to b e cloudier i n the
afternoon. Ther e ar e man y variation s on thi s
theme i n th e complicate d weathe r pattern s of
the archipelago , bu t by-and-larg e a mornin g
eclipse i s mor e likel y t o b e favoure d b y
sunshine tha n a n afternoo n one . Th e moon' s
shadow reaches Java about 11:30 AM local time
and Sulawes i a hal f hou r later . Since Sulawesi
lies some 9 degrees east of Java on the eclipse
track, the sun has had an additional hal f hour to
form clou d becaus e o f it s earlie r rising . Th e
combined effect , which bring s a n hou r mor e
sunshine, could be critical i f the day is inclined
to b e cloudy.
Satellite photographs taken in June of 1977
and 1979 offer considerable encouragement to
eclipse chasers , reflectin g th e promisin g
statistics shown on p.18. Three sites, Surabaya,
Ujung Pandang , an d th e sout h coas t o f Java
were examine d for clou d o n the photographs ;
the statistic s that resulte d d o littl e mor e tha n
give a roug h indicatio n o f th e frequenc y o f
cloud cover , but the y ar e no t widel y differen t
than th e muc h mor e extensiv e dat a tha t wa s
used to compile th e diagram on the next page.
In 1977, pictures were taken by NOAA-5at
approximately 9 A M an d 9 P M loca l time . I n
1979, TIROS-N passe d overhead at 3 AM and 3
PM. Th e analysi s o f thei r photo s showe d th e
number of cloud y an d clear passes at the three
sites alon g th e eclips e track.
The conclusion confirmed that cloud is less
likely i n the morning than i n the afternoon and
17
KEY
Overcast
Broken Clou d
Sunny
(less tha n 1/ 2 sk y covered)
Ij [ i Kupan g
evening. Howeve r considerabl e clou d ca n b e
found overnigh t a s well , som e becaus e o f
coastal fog, and more to thunderstorms formed
when coolin g ai r flowin g of f th e lan d trigger s
the instability .
Though th e sateliit e photograph s ar e
promising, th e statistic s show n abov e shoul d
be use d fo r planning .
VISIBILITY
The onse t o f th e eas t monsoo n i s marked
by a decrease in visibility as a dry hazechange s
the sk y t o a blue-gre y colour . Th e haz e i s
composed o f salt particles evaporated from the
sea surface , wit h additiona l nateria i adde d
from gras s and forest fires. Drought condition s
in Australia aggravate the problem, and it tends
to worsen as the east monsoon progresses . The
lack o f extensiv e cleansin g rainfall s i s a
contributing factor .
The haz e i s confine d t o th e lowe r
atmosphere, along with mos t of the humidity. A t
altitudes above the haze layer, between 6 and 10
thousand feet above sea level, the air takes on a
refreshing drynes s an d th e sk y return s t o it s
familiar blu e tint . Adventuresom e eclips e
II
chasers ma y wan t t o tak e thei r chance s a t
higher locations where photographs wil l beof a
higher quality .
WINDS
The east monsoo n become s established in
May an d blow s for severa l months , increasin g
in steadiness and strength unti l August. This is
an averag e condition , fo r ever y yea r ha s it s
variations in monsoonal development . To those
used to the ever-varying winds of the temperate
zones, th e monsoo n wind s o f Indonesi a wil l
blow wit h a n ongoin g monotony .
The mountainous island s and sea channels
have a stron g directiv e influence, turnin g th e
winds t o blo w paralle l to th e coasts . Lan d an d
sea breeze s alternate during th e nigh t an d day
as th e warmin g effec t o f th e su n set s u p th e
characteristic off - an d on-shor e winds . Se a
breezes, whic h brin g onshor e winds : ar e ver y
efficient a t preventin g th e formatio n o f
convective clou d fo r severa l miles inlan d fro m
the coast.
This breez e begin s towar d mid-mornin g
along the coast and gradually presse s inland as
the afternoo n progresses . Th e clou d edge , i f
Left: A char t o f ke y site s aroun d th e eclips e pat h
showing clou d cove r statistics. Surabaya and Ujung
Pandang appea r t o offe r th e bes t chances .
Right: Clou d cove r is les s likel y ove r coasta l plain s
near th e shore bu t may build up inland .
there i s one, retreats from th e coast , provide d
the interio r terrai n i s relatively flat an d close to
sea level . Bay s ar e particularl y suitabl e
locations t o benefi t fro m thi s effect , whil e
peninsulas offer the poorest prospects. The sea
breeze is a low leve l circulation, s o that eclipse
sites ma y tak e advantag e of th e protectio n o f
higher terrain , whil e still enjoying a wind whic h
blows of f th e se a at th e surfac e
Mountainous terrai n als o channel s th e
winds, an d th e disturbe d monsoon s ten d t o
develop high velocities as they turn or converge
through th e passes.
SELECTING TH E ECLIPS E SIT E
The mos t likel y weathe r patter n shoul d
follow thi s scenario:
1. Th e probability of sunny weathe r is high
(approximately 65%) , especiall y o n th e
northeast coas t o f Java . Cloud s ma y b e
building fo r th e afternoon . Highe r elevation s
will hav e th e greates t tendenc y t o clou d over,
though thi s i s no t a pronounced facto r i n east
Java. Location s i n th e le e o f highe r groun d
(northeast Java , southwes t Sulawesi ) ar e best.
Coastal site s wit h a n onshor e se a breez e give
additional assurances.
2. Haz e wil l brin g som e reductio n t o
visibility, thoug h probabl y no t les s tha n 1 0
miles. Highe r location s wil l hav e a blue r sky.
3. Moderat e eas t t o east-southeas t wind s
are mos t iikel y o n th e sout h coast . Winds will
follow th e terrai n i n inlan d areas . B y lat e
morning nort h coasta l area s wil l hav e th e
beginnings o f a se a breez s whic h ma y
strengthen o r weake n th e monsoo n winds ,
depending o n th e coast' s exposure.
4. Temperature s an d humiditie s wil l b e
high, wit h th e mercur y reachin g clos e t o 30 °
Celsius. Hig h mountai n passe s o r saddle s wil l
be drier .
With thes e characteristic s i n mind , a n
eclipse sit e ca n b e selecte d t o maximiz e th e
probability o f a goo d view . Her e ar e som e
Preferred Area Fo r Cloud
Higher
Terrain
Coastal Plai n -
A Se
a
Best Sit e fo r Seein g Eclips e
techniques whic h ma y help:
1. Watc h th e weathe r fo r a s many day s as
possible befor e the eclips e i n the genera l are a
of wher e yo u wis h to be . Note the time tha t the
first puff y convectiv e cloud s appear , an d thei r
extent a t eclipse time. Sinc e the cloud tend s t o
appear earlie r o n day s i n which i t i s heavy, th e
pattern o n eclips e da y ma y giv e a fe w hour s
warning tha t a particula r sit e ma y no t hav e a
particularly goo d vie w of the show. B e careful,
since the clou d wil l probabl y b e a little heavier
right afte r i t firs t pop s up , tha n a shor t whil e
later. I f you choos e a coastal site, loo k fo r on e
with a n onshor e breez e a t eclips e time , an d
confirm tha t the cloud ha s been pushed inland .
2. Fo r th e highes t qualit y photography ,
choose a high inland site. The colour o f the sky
and th e drie r feelin g wil l serv e a s goo d
indicators o f th e stat e of th e atmosphere .
3. Choos e th e mos t easterl y locatio n
possible.
4. Sta y mobile . I f you r skie s clou d over ,
head up wind or across the wind, especially if it's
to a lowe r elevation . Convectiv e cloud almos t
always ha s sunnier skie s nearby .
Of al l th e location s available , th e
climatological evidence suggests that the north
coast of Java, near Surabaya, may offer the best
chances. Th e islan d o f Sulawesi , nea r Ujun g
Pandang, i s als o a good site . Both depen d o n
finding th e righ t loca l condition s t o maximiz e
the probabilities , but even in poor location s th e
frequency o f clou d show n b y pas t record s
suggest that the chances of a successful eclipse
are high .
11
Nov. 25 , 1980: A brilliant fireball explodes over Alberta . Wa s it a meteor?
A satellite re-entry ? No one knows ye t
• •''•••:••. ;= ;-
The Nov . 2 5 bolide was captured o n film b y the Vegrevill e
camera o f the Meteo r Observatio n and Recover y Project.
Photo courtes y of Dr. Ala n Blackwell , Universit y of
Saskatchewan.
I
t wa s a clear night , tha t i s as clear a s can be
expected fro m downtow n Edmonton . ! wa s
walking t o m y car , whic h wa s parke d i n c.
Jasper Avenue car dealer's lot, whsn i noticed a
bright, purpl e colore d objec t i n th e sk y
approaching fro m th e east , i t travele d eas t to
west, passin g abou t 6 t o 8 degree s sout h o f
Polaris. M y firs t impressio n wa s tha t i t wa s
some kin d o f unusua l aircraft . As i t passe d t o
the north its full identity becam e apparent. This
fireball wa s compose d o f 3 brigh t piece s
accompanied b y 1 0 t o 1 5 fainte r chunks . I t
slowly dimme d a s i t approache d th e wester n
A Fire
In The Sk y
by
Stewart Krysko
horizon, giving the impression that it was fading
due t o atmospheri c extinction a s it got further
awsy, rathe r tha n burnin g ou t o r goin g beio w
the horizon . I happened to glanc e at my watch
when I first noticed the object, and the time was
6:19:05. As soon as it faded away I checked the
time once again and it read 6:20:10. It took over
a minut e t o g o fro m horizo n t o horizo n —
extremely slow fo r a normal meteo r o r fireball!
Quite astounde d b y th e whol e event , I
scrambled int o th e offic e t o borro w a pen and
paper t o recor d th e detail s o f m y observation
while the y wer e still fres h in m y mind .
This particula r firebal l wa s well observed ,
both visually, by thousands of northern Alberta
residents, an d photographicall y b y th e
Canadian Meteor Patrol. Over the next few days
! collecte d th e visua l report s from th e general
public, whil e Dr . Ala n Bleckwet l o f th e
University o f Saskatchewa n gathere d
information fro m th e prairi e meteo r cameras .
The bolide was recorded on two of the cameras,
including on e a t Vegreville, Alberta. Usin g thi s
information, som e fact s regardin g th e object' s
trajectory coul d b e determined.
It travelled about 7 km/sec a t an altitude of
about 60 to 80 km. Dr. Blackwell's main interes t
was t o determin e wher e (i f a t all ) thi s objec t
reached th e ground . Whe n I observe d th e
meteor, i t wa s travellin g i n a horizonta l
trajectory. I t gav e n o indicatio n o f an y piece s
falling t o th e groun d a t tha t point . I als o
received a repor t fro m 3 0 k m wes t o f Edson ,
where, as the perso n also described, the fireball
disappeared towar d th e western horizon . Thi s
indicates that i f the objec t didn' t ski p bac k int o
space, i t likel y cam e down somewher e west of
the Rockies, well beyon d th e limit of the prairi e
meteor camer a system .
There ar e tw o unusua l thing s abou t thi s
particular object , on e bein g tha t i t travelled so
incredibly slow, and the other that it entered the
atmosphere almos t paralle l t o th e ground .
Because its speed was less than tha t o f escap e
velocity, Dr . Blackwel l ha s postulate d tha t i t
must have been a satellite dropping out of orbit.
The nex t mornin g I calle d th e Cheyenn e
Mountain complex i n Colorado Spring s and the
Cold Lak e trackin g statio n an d neithe r on e
would confir m tha t i t wa s a satellit e re-entry .
The Russians , however , launche d thre e
Cosmonauts int o orbit tha t week, and I believe
that th e meteo r ma y hav e bee n par t o f th e
launch vehicle . Th e "ma n made " satellit e ide a
seems t o b e th e mos t acceptabl e a t thi s
moment. However , another ver y excitin g ide a
has been proposed. Perhap s this object was not
a man-mad e satellit e bu t a natural satellit e — a
small chun k o f roc k tha t ha d been orbiting th e
earth fo r th e las t fiv e billio n years , essentially
earth's secon d moon !
21
8 An d 9 AR E rhe
FOR ihi s YEAR' S
biq EVENT .
STARNIGHT
ONCE MOR E Wiih
by
Rod
O
nce a yea r ther e i s a ma d scrambl e
to prepar e fo r th e flurr y o f excitemen t
and chao s affectionatel y referre d t o a s
STARNIGHT. Behin d th e scene s o f apparen t
confusion lurk s a hard-workin g grou p whic h
has sweated its way through endless meetings,
pounds o f cookies , an d countles s cup s o f
coffee lat e int o th e night . Th e week s o f
preparation culminat e i n hundred s o f visitor s
milling about , perusin g th e displays , trippin g
over obscure d powe r cord s an d complainin g
that the y reall y can' t se e the littl e fuzzy blob s
the telescop e operator s insis t ar e there ! Bu t
most no d appreciativel y an d tur n away , soon
joining the next line-up for a peek at some other
celestial body .
Generally, th e visitors ' comment s ar e
22
positive, an d th e ver y fac t tha t the y mad e an
appearance itsel f indicate s a n interest . Man y
are genuinely surprised that the show is all free,
and reall y seem to enjo y themselves. But when
it i s all over , and the trappings store d away fo r
another year , a nagging questio n stil l remains.
Was i t wort h it ? — both fo r th e publi c an d th e
Society? Hav e we reall y don e th e bes t job?
To b e successful , al l venture s lik e
STARNIGHT mus t hav e a definite set o f goal s
and objectives . A valuabl e se t o f goal s fo r
STARNIGHT migh t be :
— t o increas e publi c appreciatio n fo r th e
mystery an d wonde r o f th e universe.
-- to increas e publi c interes t in astronomy as a
science
- to make the public aware of the diversity and
characteristics o f astronomica l objects.
— t o promot e publi c knowledg e o f th e
instruments w e us e to perceiv e the universe.
-- to rais e public awareness of the facilities and
services availabl e t o the m fo r astronomica l
education.
— t o mak e the publi c awar e of the existenc e of
an astronomical Society which they ca n join .
To mee t thes e goal s a t STARNIGHT , i t i s
not sufficient to simpl y accumulate a variety of
activities an d the n jus t "le t th e whol e thin g
happen." T y p i c a l l y , th e f e a t u r e s o f
STARNIGHT include : telescope s traine d o n
celestial objects , displays, films and videotape,
planetarium shows , astro-photography demos ,
information handouts , an d lot s o f RAS C
members an d QE P staf f presen t t o answe r
questions. Al l thes e component s shoul d b e
orchestrated to provid e a unifie d program .
To pu t STARNIGH T togethe r i n the past ,
generally a loos e organizatio n o f peopl e have
struggled wit h heav y workload s an d tigh t
timelines, an d usuall y withou t enoug h
assistance fro m othe r RAS C members . Thi s
year, however, should be the yearthat we finally
get organized ! A prope r workin g group shoul d
be pu t together , wit h peopl e specificall y i n
charge o f th e following areas :
Displays
Observing
Publicity
Refreshments
Audio-Visual
Information Handout s
and Genera l Assistanc e
Simply put , STARNIGH T take s a
tremendous amoun t o f wor k t o b e successfu l
and the old adage, "If you are going to do it, do it
right!" still stands today. This year STARNIGHT
will b e o n th e night s o f Friday , Ma y 8 an d
Saturday, May 9. If you would like to contribute
to its organization, especiall y i n the areas liste d
above, pleas e don' t b e shy about volunteering .
Phone Ted Cadien at 463-1703 o r let us know of
your interes t a t the nex t meeting .
You'll kno w th e wor k I S wort h i t a s a
youngster hesitantl y approache s th e eyepiec e
and whistles i n wonder at an object he is seeing
for th e firs t time . STARNIGH T i s a specia l
occasion. Let' s wor k togethe r t o mak e thi s
year's event trul y remarkable .
SIMON
NEWCOMB
AWARD
At the meeting of the Council of the RASC
on May 21, 1978, a proposal from the
Halifax Centre, the Simo n Newcom b
Award, was adopted. The Award is named
after a native of Nova Scotia, an astronomer
who was the foremost man of science of his
time in America.
RULE Si
Topicst Award s wil l b e presente d fo r article s
relating t o astronomy , astrophysic s o r spac e
science. Topic s shoul d Interest average to wellinformed amateur s an d ma y b e o f curren t o r
historical Interest .
Presentation: Article s shoul d b e 100 0 - 150 0
words, writte n I n proper grammatical form an d
presented typewritte n an d double-spaced .
Diagrams nee d no t t> e I n finishe d form , bu t
should b e complet e an d read y fo r drafting .
Photographs ma y als o b e submitte d an d I f
possible origina l negative s shoul d accompan y
the submission . References should be Included
and accordin g to the styl e used b y the Journal .
EligtbUky: Any RAS C member In good standing
may submi t articles.
Submission of Entries ; Articles must be received
by the Awards Committee of the RAS C betwee n
January 1 and Marc h 31 . Members o f Centre s
must firs t submi t thei r entrie s t o thei r Centr e
Executive, wit h th e Executiv e choosin g th e
entries they wish t o represen t their Centre .
Judging: Articles wil l b e judge d b y the Awards
Committee. Criteri a shal l includ e scientifi c
accuracy, originality , an d literar y merit . T o
maintain unbiase d judging , th e Identit y o f th e
author(s) shoul d not appear on th e article .
Presentation o f Award : Th e awar d wil l b e
presented a t th e nex t Genera l Assembly . The
award wil l remai n i n the hand s of th e winner's
Centre fo r display an d wil l b e returne d t o th e
National Office b y April 1 of the followin g year. A
photograph o f th e Awar d ma y b e foun d i n the
RASC National Newsletter, LSI , Dec . 1978 .
~!3^^!^^^
ici/c new /
CENTRE MEMBERSHI P DOIN G WELL
While i t was off to a slow start earlier in the
f a l l , membershi p renewal s an d ne w
memberships hav e picked u p considerably. A s
of January 15 , Centre membership stood at 102
members, wit h a larg e percentag e bein g ne w
members. A sizabl e numbe r o f member s fro m
last yea r still hav e not ye t renewe d however.
PACKING THE M I N
December's Genera l Meetin g saw the bes t
attendance figure s yet , as ove r 10 0 peopl e
jammed int o th e Musi c Roo m a t the Librar y t o
see th e marvelou s Voyage r 1 slides an d films.
As coul d b e expected , a larg e par t o f th e
audience wa s mad e u p o f visitor s and guests ,
perhaps attracte d t o th e meetin g b y the public
service announcements o n radio, TV and in the
press tha t advertise d th e meeting . Thes e wer e
prompted b y ou r Centr e pres s releases , sen t
out i n th e wee k prio r t o th e meeting .
LEARN THE SKY AT THE PLANETARIUM
On Monday , Marc h 30 , beginnin g a t 7:3 0
PM, the Planetarium will be presenting aspecial
"sky familiarization " sho w fo r al l RAS C
members. Admissio n i s free , an d th e
presentation wil l b e ver y informal , lastin g fo r
about 9 0 minute s (o r more , i f there' s interest) .
The constellations of the late winter, spring
and summer skies will be pointed out , using the
Planetarium Sta r projector . We'l l demonstrat e
the position s an d motion s o f th e planets ,
including th e famou s Jupiter-Satur n tripl e
conjunction. The locations o f favorite deep-sky
objects and double star s will also be pointed out
in greate r detai l tha n i n any publi c show .
This special presentation i s not open t o the
public, bu t i s fo r RAS C member s an d guest s
only. If you hav e any questions about observin g
techniques, telescop e use , etc., please take this
opportunity t o ask .
NOTICE o f GENERA L MEETING S
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Monday, March 9
Dr. Paul Wesson, U.of A.
Dr. Phil Curry, Prov . Museum
"Is The Universe Spinning?"
"The Extinction of the Dinosaurs"
Now that' s a n Intriguin g tWe l Fo r mor e
information on Dr. Wesson's talk, be sure to read
his articl e I n th e January , 198 1 Issue o f
Astronomy magazine.
Dr. Curr y I s th e chie f paleontologis t fo r th e
Provincial Museum and his talk will review what
we know about dinosaurs, and why they became
extinct. There are some Interesting astronomical
causes proposed for the dinosaurs' downfall.
Both meeting s at :
8:00 PM ; MUSI C ROOM , EDMONTO N PUBLI C LIBRAR Y
Guests an d member s o f th e publi c ar e welcom e
24
at th e planetariu m
For the pas t mont h or so , the planetariu m
production staf f ha s bee n immerse d i n th e
prehistoric worl d o f dinosaurs . Dinosaurs ? A t
the planetarium? What have dinosaurs got to do
with astronomy , you say ?
In cas e yo u haven' t heard , th e lates t
theories abou t wh y th e dinosaur s becam e
extinct invok e a grea t dea l o f astronomica l
speculation. Ther e ar e tw o mai n theorie s
competing fo r attentio n i n th e scientifi c
literature thes e day s concernin g dinosau r
extinction. On e states that a particularly violent
supernova nea r our solar syste m irradiated the
earth t o suc h a n extent , tha t lif e was severely
affected, bot h b y th e hig h dose s o f radiatio n
and b y th e climati c change s i t created . Th e
main proponen t o f this idea is Dr. Dal e Russell
of th e Nationa l Museum s i n Ottawa .
The alternativ e theory, propose d b y Drs .
Luiz an d Walte r Alvare z o f th e Universit y o f
California, says that an asteroid about 10 km in
diameter-collided wit h th e earth , creatin g a
cloud o f dust that floated in the atmosphere for
several years . This stratospheri c laye r wa s s o
dense, i t turned day into night, shutting off the
photosynthesis process so essential to life. This
in tur n kille d of f vas t number s o f specie s o f
animal life .
A variatio n o n thi s them e i s another ne w
idea that say s i t was not an asteroid, but an icy
comet, an d tha t i t plunge d int o th e ocean ,
poisoning th e wate r wit h cyanide, and heatin g
the ai r an d water . Soon , I am told, even more
scenarios wit h variation s o n destructiv e
astronomical theme s wil l b e proposed , one s
calling upo n galacti c dust clouds , for example.
How sever e were th e extinctions ? At th e
end of the age of dinosaurs 65 million years ago
(at th e transitio n betwee n the Cretaceou s and
the Tertiary periods), it appears a s if 75% of all
living species , both plan t an d animal life , both
land an d se a creatures, wer e eliminated fro m
the face of the earth. All this took place in a time
span that may have been anywhere from several
thousand year s t o a s littl e a s 50 years. A s Dr .
Russell put s it , fo r lif e o n th e eart h i t wa s a
global crisi s equivalen t i n destructio n t o th e
"simultaneous detonatio n o f 1/ 2 of the world' s
nuclear stockpile."
The theories ar e all very new, but based on
them w e ar e puttin g togethe r a planetariu m
show calle d Th e Death o f th e Dinosaurs.
Beginning Marc h 6 , the show i s ouradaptatio n
of a program originall y produce d b y the H.R .
MacMillan Planetariu m i n Vancouver .
Illusions, which prove d to be a very popular
programme, end s Feb . 22 . Fro m Feb . 2 4 t o
March 5 inclusive, we'll be presenting oneof our
seasonal nigh t sky Star Shows. RASC members
can atten d planetariu m show s fo r free , o f
course, bu t comin g u p o n Marc h 30 , we'l l b e
presenting a specia l "sk y familiarization "
programme i n th e Planetariu m theatr e
specifically for RAS C members only . See page
26 for details .
Planetarium staf f member s awaiting with dread the
thrilling premiere of the QEP's new show Deaf/7 of the
Dinosaurs. Don' t miss it!
26
THE ANNUAL
fidwonton
^Banquet
Date: Saturd%, March 21
Time: 6:30 p m Ba r Opens
7:30 pm Banquet
Place: Chateau Lacombe Hotel
Tickets will be $11.00 each and will be available at the February and March
General Meetings, or phone Treasurer Mel Rankin at 469-3066 and reserve
your ticket. Please reserve your place before March 14 to facilitate hotel
arrangements.
Monday, March 30
Queen Elizabeth Planetariu m
7:30 p m
Free Admission
RASC member s an d guest s onl y
please.
We'll poin t out prominen t constellation s
the location s o f deep-sky objects
the changing positions of the planets
the Milk y Way
the ecliptic
look boc k lim e
year/ ag o
FEBRUARY, 1881 :
"The Presiden t o f th e Roya l Societ y
presents hi s compliment s t o th e Edito r o f
Nature, an d wil l b e muc h oblige d t o hi m i f h e
will, at a s early a date as may b e convenient, be
so goo d a s t o giv e publicit y t o th e enclose d
minute o f th e Transi t o f Venu s Committee:
"The Committe e appointe d b y th e Roya l
Society, a t th e reques t o f th e Government , to
make arrangements for observing the Transit of
Venus i n 1882 , woul d b e gla d t o b e informe d
whether astronomer s hav e a t thei r disposal ,
and ar e willin g t o lend , fo r us e i n th e
observations, 4-inch , 5-inch , o r 6-inc h
refracting telescopes , an d 10-inc h o r 12-inc h
reflectors, wit h equatoria l mountings ; als o
portable transit s or altazimuths.
"The instrument s woul d b e returned , i n
perfect order , a s soo n a s possibl e afte r th e
transit, and , i n an y case , befor e th e en d o f
1883."
MARCH, 1881 :
"I observe d her e thi s evenin g th e
occupation of 73 Piscium by Jupiter, which was
predicted i n you r "Astronomica l Column "
under th e dat e Decembe r 23 , 1880. At 1 h 52m.
30s. G.M.T . the star was hanging on the limb of
the planet , an d b y 1h , 54m . i t ha d entirel y
disappeared. Th e phenomeno n strongl y
resembled the occultatio n o f a satellite, except
that th e disappearanc e was mor e rapid . Bu t i t
was no t instantaneou s as I ha d expected. Th e
planet an d sta r appeare d t o coher e fo r abou t
one an d a hal f minutes . Th e contras t i n thei r
colours was very marked, Jupiter appearing of a
yellowish tinge , while the sta r shone ou t whit e
like a diamond. Durin g th e occultatio n th e red
spot wa s on the planet' s disk, and its following
end was in about the same meridian as the point
of th e star' s occultation .
"The G.M.T . o f reappearance was 2h. 44m.,
when the star was again observed to han g on to
the planet' s limb . Th e telescop e use d wa s a 4
isapp Kttrance
1/2-inch refracto r b y Cook e equatoriall y
mounted, wit h a powe r o f 96 . The plane t was
well placed for the observation , being nearl y in
the zenith. "
FEBRUARY, 1931 :
"It i s wel l know n tha t Si r W . Hersche l
announced th e existenc e o f si x satellite s o f
Uranus; bu t only fou r ar e now recognized. The
possibility o f th e existenc e o f additiona l
satellites, bot h o f Uranu s an d Neptune , ha s
been considered by many; we learn from a Daily
Science News Bulletin issue d b y Scienc e
S e r v i c e o f W a s h i n g t o n , D.C . tha t a
photographic searc h for possible new satellites
has bee n mad e b y Mr . W.H. Christie, usin g th e
60-inch reflecto r an d givin g exposure s fro m
one t o thre e hours . Th e result , however , was
negative i n eac h case . Mr . Christi e conclude s
that i f an y bodie s exist , they ar e no t brighte r
than mag. 1 9 in the case of Uranus, or mag. 18.5
in that of Neptune. Eve n this negative result is of
interest, and ma y save time, as establishing th e
uselessness o f searchin g fo r suc h bodie s wit h
any smalle r instrument . I t woul d see m
worthwhile t o mak e a n attemp t i n th e cas e of
Pluto; success is unlikely, but would be of value
in givin g Pluto' s mass. "
27
whcit V u p ?
gem in i
Throughout the ages, Gemini ha s been pictured as the celestial twins.
It contain s a rich variet y o f clusters and planetar y nebulae —
something fo r everyone
** CLASS I OBJECTS **
** CLASS III OBJECTS **
The firs t o f th e Clas s I object s i s M3 5 a
bright, ric h ope n cluste r jus t 2 ° north-wes t o f
^Geminorum. It s magnitud e o f 5. 5 make s i t
visible t o th e unaide d ey e i n a dar k site .
Through a reasonabl e siz e RFT , over 10 0 8t h
mag. stars fill the field, makin g it one of the best
open cluster s i n the sky .
The secon d Clas s I object i s the planetary
nebula NGC 2392, or the "Clown Face Nebula".
It's a n ol d favourit e fro m m y earl y observin g
days. Thi s i s on e o f th e firs t deep-sk y object s
that I coul d fin d withou t usin g a sta r chart . I t
appears as a small, 8th mag . bluish spot not far
from 5 Geminorum . (Thi s is the bright starthat
was ver y clos e t o Plut o o n th e planet' s
discovery plat e i n 1930.) The "Clown Face" has
a 10t h mag . centra l star.
Class II I i s mad e u p o f tw o (o r three ,
depending ho w yo u loo k a t it ) planetar y
nebulae. NG C 2371/72 gives the appearance of
a doubl e planetary . It' s abou t 12. 5 magnitud e
and fairly large, about 30" x 50". Whil e listed as
being ver y faint , it' s no t tha t difficul t an d ha s
been see n fro m a s clos e to tow n a s Ellerslie.
The doubl e natur e o f thi s planetar y i s ver y
distinctive — i t look s lik e tw o haz y disk s i n
contact. I t reside s abou t halfwa y betwee n /?
and T Geminorum .
The las t objec t for thi s issu e i s J900. Thi s
one shoul d prov e t o b e tough! It' s abou t 12t h
magnitude an d onl y 10 " i n diameter , so i t wil l
appear ver y star-like . Althoug h show n i n th e
Atlas o f th e Heavens , i t i s no t labeled . I t i s
located near the boundary between Gemini and
Orion, northwes t o f y Geminorum .
Bright, easy to find
** CLAS S II OBJECTS **
Challenge objects
Fainter, but distinctive
For Clas s I I w e hav e a couple mor e ope n
clusters. Th e firs t i s a small compac t an d very
rich littl e grou p abou t 4 ' i n diameter . Calle d
NGC 2158 , thi s spatterin g o f star s i s aroun d
11th magnitude and sits just to the edge of M35.
Both object s wil l likel y b e in the sam e field at
low powe r an d provid e an interestin g contras t
of tw o ver y differen t classe s of open clusters.
Second o f all , i s NG C 2266 , which lie s o n
the oute r boundar y o f the Milk y Way , about 2 °
North o f e Geminorum . It' s a rich littl e grou p
about 5' i n size, similar t o NG C 2158. The stars
seem t o rang e fro m about 10t h magnitud e an d
fainter.
as
CENTRE MESSIE R CERTIFICAT E
GOES NATIONA L
In lat e 1980 , th e RAS C Nationa l Counci l
accepted th e Edmonto n Centre' s Messie r
Certificate as a national award, available to any
RASC membe r wh o ha s located an d observed
all 11 0 Messie r objects . Anyon e i n th e RAS C
who i s eligibl e ma y appl y throug h thei r loca l
Centre, o r unattache d member s ma y appl y
directly t o th e Nationa l Offic e i n Toronto .
Edmonton Centr e member s ma y appl y b y
contacting Centr e Presiden t Te d Cadie n a t
463-1703 or contacting Observin g Coordinato r
Darrel Cros s a t 469-2391.
DEEP-SKY OBJECT S
OBJECT TYP
E
MAG.
I
SIZE
Class I
M35 O
NGC 239 2 P
C 5.
N 8.
{Clown Fac e Neb. )
3 40
3 47"x43
'
"
Class II
NGC 215 8
NGC 226 6
A MER E 200 YEAR S
Although usuall y no t classe d as a "naked
eye" planet, Uranus can be seen without optical
aid unde r a clear , an d ver y dar k sky .
Considering this , it's difficult to imagin e how it
could hav e gon e unnotice d unti l Willia m
Herschel accidentall y stumble d acros s i t i n
1781. At the time it was close to Eta Geminorum
near th e wester n edg e o f Gemini . Thi s i s very
close to M35 , a Class I object from the "What's
Up?" colum n thi s month . Marc h 13 , 1981 ,
therefore is the two hundredth anniversary of its
discovery! ( A fac t tha t seem s t o hav e largel y
gone unheralde d i n th e astronomica l
magazines so far.)
-- Ste w Krysk o
for /ol c
FOR SALE: 6" Craftsma n lathe, incl. 2 chucks,
faceplate, motor , an d bench . $500 , Phon e
Barry Arnol d a t 432-5894 (Days).
FOR SALE : 8" f/ 6 mirro r wit h secondary, plu s
blue fiberglass tube. 6 monthsold. $135.00.
Phone Dir k Auge r a t 424-9584.
OC
OC
12.5
9.8
4'
5'
Class III
NGC 2371/7 2 P N 13.
J900 P
N 12.
0 54"x35
5 12"x10
OC Open
GC Globular
EN_._._ Emission
RN Reflection
PN Planetary
SNR Supernova
G Galaxy
Cluster
Cluster
Nebula
Nebula
Nebula
Remnant
+ Hubble type
'
'
Constellation Chart courtesy of
Hubbard Press
Don't forget: February's General
Meeting Is on a Wednesday
Feb. 11
2t
the /oto r /y/te m
THE GREA T CONJUNCTION
During a nine and one half mont h span, the
giant planet s Jupite r an d Satur n underg o a
triple conjunctio n i n the constellatio n Virgo. In
this time they neve r stra y mor e than 3° apart .
On thre e separat e occasions durin g thi s time,
the thre e planet s hav e th e sam e celestia l
longitude an d ar e a t th e point s o f thei r leas t
separation. Th e firs t o f thes e conjunction s
occurred o n Decembe r 3 1 whe n th e planet s
were 63 ' apart . O n th e 4t h o f Marc h the y wil l
again b e 63' awa y fro m on e another , an d stil l
again o n Jul y 23rd, they'll b e separated by 66'.
The Observer's Handbook give s th e date s a s
January 14th , Februar y 19th , an d Jul y 30th .
These ar e th e time s Jupiter an d Satur n ar e at
the sam e right ascension, (whic h i s measured
from th e celestia l equator), a s opposed t o th e
same celestial longitude (whic h centers on the
ecliptic). S o th e date s give n i n th e Handboo k
are no t actuall y th e date s tha t th e planet s are
closest together .
A conjunction betwee n Jupiter and Saturn
occurs every 20 years. If at that point, the earth
passes the two planet s within a 40 hour interval
then a "triple" o r "grand " conjunctio n occurs.
Such a triple conjunction occurs on the average
every 18 0 years, bu t ca n var y fro m 4 0 to 38 0
years. Th e las t conjunctio n o f thi s typ e too k
place i n 1940/41 . Th e next , wil l b e 25 8 years
from now , i n 2238/39. So by all means , enjoy it
while you can !
— Ste w Krysk o
CERES AND VESTA
Ever seen an asteroid? This i s an excellent
time to hunt one down, as both Ceres and Vesta,
two of the brightest asteroids are well placed for
observing. Se e page s 9 5 an d 9 8 o f th e 198 1
Observer's Handbook fo r finde r charts.
30
Triple Conjunctio n i n Virgo
1980-81
Saturn
Nov. 15
Dec. 31
•1' * •
Jupiter
'"-*
Feb. 1
Mar. 4
May 1 8
July 23
Aug. 23
Diagram fro m Nov . 198 0 issue of Sk y anc
Telescope magazine , Used by permissio n
ob/eruing report /
THE NE W YEAR' S COME T
At th e beginnin g o f January , th e
astronomical grapevin e wa s pu t t o th e test . A
new comet was discovered, reached maximum
brilliance an d faded fro m sigh t ai l withi n th e
space o f a mont h o r so . Th e wor d sprea d
quickly earl y i n th e Ne w Yea r o f Willia m
Bradfield's eleventh discovery , mad e o n Dec .
17. Come t Bradfiel d (o r 1980 1 a s i t i s als o
known) reache d perihelio n o n Dec . 2 9 an d
became visibl e from Edmonto n fro m Jan . 3 on
as i t move d north . Frankyln Loehde spotted i t
that night when it was only 2° above the western
horizon. It s magnitud e wa s abou t 3 . Andrew
Lowe an d Alan Dye r bot h foun d i t for th e first
time o n Monday , Jan . 5 b y whic h tim e i t ha d
faded t o abou t mag . 4.5 . Eve n so , i t ha d a
distinctive tail about 2° long pointed straight up
from th e horizon. The appearance of the comet
is wel l show n i n Andrew' s phot o take n tha t
night. It' s a 30-second exposure on 103a F film,
taken wit h a 135 mm telephoto lens .
A wee k o f cloud y weathe r prevente d
further glimpses o f the comet, but on Saturday,
Jan. 1 0 a group consisting of Dave Beale, Dave
Belcher, Darrel l Cross and Ted Pigeon actuall y
made i t to th e to p o f Buc k Mountai n (wit h th e
aid of 4-wheel drive vehicles) and were treated
to a glorious vie w o f th e come t i n a relatively
dark sky. In 11x80 binoculars, a tail some 5°-6°
long could be seen, with the comet "coma" itsel f
at mag. 5.5 or so. It was a beautiful sight -- a real
comet at long last , and certainly the best comet
since Comet Wes t in earl y 1976.
As of this writing in mid-January, the comet
was fadin g fast , bu t wa s stil l easil y visibl e i n
dark skie s a s i t heade d north-eas t throug h
Aquila. It is unfortunate that not everyone heard
about th e come t in time to see it at its peak, but
perhaps th e nex t brigh t visito r fro m th e Oor t
cloud wil l arriv e with mor e warning .
ob/erving actMtie /
With th e mil d winte r weather , ther e ha s
been a grea t dea l o f observin g activit y i n th e
Centre lately . O f course , Come t Bradfiel d pu t
on a good sho w i n early January. O n Jan. 10,
several intrepi d observer s actuall y mad e it to
the top of Buck Mountai n foran unprecedente d
winter session . The Dec . 1 3 session at Ellersli e
was unfortunatel y cloude d out , but the
Observatory ha s bee n use d o n severa l othe r
occasions i n th e las t fe w weeks. O n Jan . 3 ,
noted amateu r astronome r Ke n Hewitt-Whit e
from Vancouver was in town and joined a group
of Edmonto n Centr e folk s at Ellerslie fo r a fine
evening o f astronomy .
FEBRUARY
February's Observer' s Corne r i s o n
Monday, February 23 at 8:00 pm and will feature
a presentatio n fro m Dav e Belche r o n
"Constructing an d Usin g a n Astrograph." (a n
astrograph i s a specia l camer a designed fo r
astro-photography) Dav e is one of the Centre's
most accomplishe d photographers an d shoul d
provide u s with a n informativ e talk .
For a group Observing Session this month ,
our new Observing Co-ordinator, Darrell Cross,
has schedule d a n evenin g a t Ellersli e o n
Saturday, February 21, beginning a t 8:30 pm or
so. Afte r a littl e deep-sk y observing , w e ca n
move ont o som e luna r an d planetar y viewing
once Jupiter, Saturn and the moon rise together
at 9:0 0 pm . Saturn' s rings ar e no w opening u p
after thei r edge-o n appearanc e las t year.
MARCH
The Monday , March 23 Observer's Corner
will featur e a ne w fil m tha t document s th e
construction o f th e Canad a - Franc e - Hawai i
Telescope. A s usual , ther e wil l als o b e
impromptu showing s o f astro-photograph y
from variou s Centr e members .
The March Observing Session is scheduled
for Saturday , Marc h 7 , a dark-of-the-moo n
night. Since Buc k Mountai n is usuall y
inaccessible thi s tim e o f yea r fo r anyon e
32
without a 4-wheel drive vehicle, many observers
head out to El k Island Park for winter deep-sk y
observing. Th e Marc h 7 session take s place at
Elk Islan d startin g a t abou t 8:3 0 pm : Take the
"Oster Trail " turnof f wes t fro m th e mai n par k
road, an d hea d dow n t o th e parkin g lo t a t the
end o f th e road . That' s wher e we'l l b e — you
can't mis s it.
APRIL
Since th e nex t issu e o f Stardust ma y no t
reach you in time , mak e a not e now tha t the
April Observin g Sessio n takes place Saturday,
April 4 at Buck Mountain . Things get underway
at sunset .
If you'r e ne w i n th e Centr e an d requir e
directions, o r i f yo u nee d a ride, pleas e phone
Darrell a t 469-2931.
for /al e
FOR SALE : Celestron 8 telescope with wedge,
tripod, trunk , 25m m an d 40m m Kellne r
eyepieces, star diagonal, power cord. Asking
firm pric e o f $1,39 5 and will throw i n $60.00
dew cap . Contac t Bob Martin at
or
leave a messag e with m y answerin g service
and I will ge t bac k to you .
FOR SALE : 3-inch Tasc o refracto r telescop e
with equatoria l mount . Phon e
(work) o r
(home) . As k fo r Terr y
Thordarson.
DISCOVER
ike
UNIVERSE
TkE
RoyAl
ASTROINOMiCAl
SociEiy
Of CANAd A
EDMONTON CENTR E
monthly genera l meeting s
monthly observer s grou p meeting s
regular grou p observin g session s
use o f th e Ellersli e Observator y
the annua l RASC Observers Handbook
STARDUST
the RAS C Journal an d Newsletter
free admission to ail Planetarium shows
President Te
Vice-President Dav
Treasurer Me
d Cadle n
e Belche r
l Rjnki n
RASC, EDMONTON CENTRE MEMBERSHI P APPLICATIO N FOR M
Please accep t m y applicatio n fo r membershi p in the Royal Astronomical Society ot Canada. EDMONTO N
CENTRE for 198 1 Enclose d is a cheque or money order for the appropriate fee; $20.00for Adults; $12.00for
Youths 1 7 and unde r I understand that upo n receip t of m y application an d fe« remittance, a membership
card an d a copy of th e 1981 Observer's Handbook will be mailed t o my address (o r can be picked up at th e
next monthl y genera l meeting) , an d tha t I will b e placed on th e mailin g list s lor RAS C publications .
Name
Q Ne w Membe r
Address
G Renewa l
Posfa/ Code
Phone
MAIL TO. Edmonto n Centre , RAS C c/ o Quee n Elizabet h Planetariu m C N Tower , 10t h Floor
10004 - 10 4 Avenue Edmonton , Albert a TS J OK1 . Please make al l cheques payable to :
Edmonton Centre , R.A.S.C . Thank
s!
STARDUST
EDMONTON CENTRE, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
c/o Queen Elizabeth Planetarium
10th Floor, C.N. Tower
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J OK1
FEBRUARY
MARCH
GENERAL MEETINGS
Music Room , Eclm . Puoiic Librar y
WEDNESDAY, February 11, 8 PM
Dr Pau l Wesson , U.o f A.
"Is The Universe Spinning?"
Monday, March 9, 8 PM
Dr. Phi ; Curry , Pr o ivluseur r
"The Extinctio n of the Dinosaurs"
OBSERVER'S CORNERS
Rm.445, 4th F oor, Physics Bdg., U.o f A.
Monday, Februar y 23 , 8 PM
Dave Ee.che r
"Constructing and Usin g an Astrograph"
Monday, March 23, 8 PM
"iL'vi — "Th 0 CF H Te.Gsccc
Dave Beale :
OBSERVING SESSIONS
Sat., Feb. 21 at8:30pm.
Sat., March 7 at8:30pm.
Sat., April 4 at 8:00pm.....
TO: