! p U k o o L January 2009
ISSN 1758-2210
A New Year is calling you news | reviews | views | AstroSouth | out there
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Butser Ancient Farm under a darker sky... Butser Ancient Farm is naturally shielded from the worst of the light pollution from three sides. It is ideal for deep sky observing, imaging and getting the best out of your telescope. Skies have been recorded here down (so far!) to Magnitude 20.7 per ArcSecond, and are as good as the West Country or the Norfolk Coast. For only £4 per session you can experience dark skies in a tranquil and safe setting. If it’s cold, a warm and welcoming fire awaits you in the ancient roundhouse. A Multi-Session Pass is available for only £25.
Just off the A3, south of Butser Hill, and 10 miles north of Portsmouth it has easy access from all points of the compass, is an hour and a half from London, and twenty minutes from the South Coast.
For further info and to book yourself a Pass, please contact HantsAstro on 023 9261 7092 or by e-mail: subscribe@hantsastro.org TM
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Look Up! eZine ISSN 1758-2210 Cover: International Year of Astronomy Logo 2009. Enough Said
contents Look Up! January 2009 edition 09 News
Page 4-5
Page 8-9
HantsAstroTM - January 2009. Hello. Where we’ve been, where we are going...
View
First Type
Love the Telescope Don’t forget your eyes A look at observing without the mod-cons.
Pictures
Page10-12
Richard Parker & Martin Saban-Smith with a webcam and a Canon DSLR. Great results from both ends of the aperture scale.
IYA2009
Page 14-17
Out There - AstroSouth
Page 21-23
What’s this all about then? How you can join in!
introducing the new astro directory for the South
Look Up in January
Page 24
What’s in the Sky for this month...
Contacts and Details
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David Woods - Editor & Publisher iodesign ltd - www.iodesign.co.uk Look Up! eZine Editorial David Woods - david.woods@hantsastro.org Web Site: - www.hantsastro.org Tel: 023 9261 7092 Fax: 023 9257 0283 Skype: HantsAstro Post: HantsAstro.org 11 Drift Road, Clanfield, Hants PO8 0JJ Look Up! Electronic Magazine is published 1st of the month ISSN 1758-2210 This eZine is published on behalf of the HantsAstro.orgTM. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publisher, Sponsors or Advertisers of HantsAstro,org. HantsAstroTM is a society member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies (www.fedastro.org.uk). Where Links take you to other sites, the Editor, Publisher and Webmaster cannot be held responsible for the content of those sites. HantsAstro.orgTM, AstroSouth and Look Up! eZine and related devices are protected by registered copyright ©2008 All Rights Reserved. HantsAstroTM a trading name of I.O Design Limited. No reproduction of any material is permitted without express permission of the respective owners.
Contributors:/behind the scenes: Graham Green, Sharon Rose, Elaine Long, Sean Holland, David Scanlan Martin Saban-Smith, Richard Parker & Willow.
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Welcome to 2009! In the current economic climate, it’s a new year for opportunity if you want to be positive about it. Or a year full of dread if you don’t. With free membership and free observing at some of the sites we will be using this year, we have unwittingly created something new: Credit Crunch Astronomy. Over 60% of the people who have joined HantsAstro in the past 6 months are new to astronomy. Some wanted to find out what the fuss is all about, some have bought a telescope and want to use it and learn more. The feedback we have had from our membership and our readers shapes us as a group. We have learned much from you and Look Up! has therefore evolved into its current format. HantsAstro itself has become the fastest growing astronomy group in the UK, and we are only 9 months old! Our website and magazine are read in over 50 countries worldwide. It’s not just about free membership. None of this would have happened if we had not had your continued and ever increasing support in so many ways. This is as much your success as it is ours. Thank you.
David Woods: Founder HantsAstro.org
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NEWS
HantsAstro in 2009 The future is here.
New Year and a bit of housekeeping… With any kind of rapid expansion there are usually some growing pains and the Core Team members are aware of this. We have met and discussed how we need to tackle the new challenges that face us as a Group. Much of it is familiar ground. Let’s start at the top. Free membership isn’t some cynical marketing gimmick. It’s part of the Group’s ethos to give people the chance to see what’s above them in the night sky. I mean, the canvas is there every night, so why not take a look? It’s inescapable that we all live under the stars. When Graham Green (my much quieter co-founder) and I discussed starting HantsAstro nearly a year ago, we wanted more people to see the sky as we do, but in an innovative and engaging way. Take away the membership fee, make it “pay-asyou-go”, so the astronomy you want to do fits more in line with a modern outlook and lifestyle. That way anyone can access what we do as a group, and the response and support has been surprising. Free isn’t cheap or easy and takes a lot of work from an amazing band of people. We could have offered a
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Lights out at INTECH - Graham Green - 22nd November 2008 Observe darker skies from here, free with HantsAstro...
Picture: Graham Green
traditional subscription based group, but why take revenue away from other groups? We have proven that we can promote all areas of astronomy and all the astronomy groups in our area of Hampshire. Hopefully they get more support too as we actively encourage anyone to attend their talks and seminars every month. At the end of the day, these groups have been doing it for years, and many of them offer something informative as well as entertaining. Check out our AstroSouth pages every month. From this month, we have expanded the list to reflect our growing readership which now extends right across the South of England. New Look Up! As you will see, we have spent some time developing a more professional look for the eZine. From our first issue back in May it is now three times bigger. This period of rapid growth has meant that sometimes we have not always been able to get it out on time as it has been an evolutionary process in an effort to improve quality and originality. Even though it’s a free publication, we have set ourselves high standards and with every issue we discover ways to improve it. Compared to some of the earlier issues you can definitely see the changes. As with other areas, this process is ongoing. I guess that is part of being a new group and we have covered a lot of ground quickly. We are
always looking for interesting content and images for the eZine. It takes three solid days to put together, and we have been building a pool of articles and images from which to draw upon for the next few issues. Feedback and contributions to the eZine are always very welcome. “The Forth Bridge” We are now focusing efforts on the website, which has several thousand visitors every month and is steadily growing all the time. Our web traffic has now overtaken some very well established and prestigious UK astronomy resources online! The website was never designed to be that size and HantsAstro has outgrown it, so a total revamp will be started in the summer.There are another 50 pages to be uploaded and the navigation needs to be improved. The site and the eZine are two elements which are important sources of revenue for the Group so they have to be kept up to date and constantly developed. We’re working on it. Site Passes We have now sorted out our site passes, which are credit card sized and valid for 24 months. It’s controlled by the number of times you use the sites, not annual subscription. It means you’re not paying for cloudy nights. We’re not a cloud observing group. If we were,
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Butser Ancient Farm offers events beyond Astronomy that take in the wonders of the night sky.
The New Forest and the rest of Hampshire offer many opportunities for discovering the night sky with HantsAstro...
Picture: Graham Green
www.wor thingastronomers.org.uk. Great work guys and we wish them every success! Since we came on the scene we are now seeing a change in 8. Undertake a total website revamp the way some groups operate, but I’m not claiming credit for it... I said once starting Summer 09 we are a ‘future group’. We are no Any expertise in any of the above longer alone. It’s a sign of the times, and areas from members would be most change is needed if astronomy in the welcome and some have already come UK is to continue. If we are seen to be forward, but there is much to do. spear-heading that change, then that’s Like any astronomy group we share a responsibility to get it right. However, Size Matters? We now have over 110 members! the same aspirations and goals, but not everyone will appreciate such a However, that number is largely do things in a much more direct way. radical change. academic - it’s what we do as a group Our Core Team members act as our See it then as a viable that defines us, not just our size. This guidance system and we alternative, as we all share year we are consolidating and have set can act much faster than the same desire regarding a traditional committee, out to do the following: this rewarding past-time. due to the ways we 1. Develop our observing sites, with communicate and our We are a limited resource structure as a real team. more observing sessions however, and some of The first three months the goals we have set of observing sessions 2. The Butser Star Festival, Solar ourselves as a group are taught us much in how to & Lunar “away missions” and still very much in progress. To become operate and this is just the start of that IYA2009, plus INTECH so established in such a short time learning curve. Telescope Amnesties frame has been no mean feat and has been a real thrill. Now that this first Every Other Business 3. Develop and improve our range of Several astronomy societies across the part of the ride is over we have the telescopes South now have retail sponsors and rest of the funfair to explore; one stall 4. Include Radio Astronomy as part this is to be applauded as it’s a great at a time. way to help members get access to of our activities new kit and specialist service and Clear Skies for 2009 support. One in particular, Worthing David Woods 5. Education Outreach (already in Astronomers, has adopted a similar HantsAstro.org progress, report due in Feb 09) model of sponsorship, free membership plus a free newsletter and already has You’ll notice something 6. ‘Grow’ LookUp! to 32 pages by 30 members - check them out on March 09 2008 would have been a marvellous start! (I will now probably get protests from some cloud-spotting clubs, but maybe they’ve been too busy). Apologies to those who haven’t got their passes yet; that will be corrected shortly. When we have announced the new observing sites in Hampshire and across the South, a Multi-Pass upgrade will be available for a nominal fee.
7. Launch the online store by our first birthday (currently in progress)
I said once that we are a ‘future group’. We are no longer alone.
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INTECH Te
Comments from the feedback box at th
“This has been an exceptional opportunity to get good fuel interes
“I thought it was all very good - esp
“Would be great to run this even 4 time
“There were star constellations that I hadn’t even hear Picture: Graham Green
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Look Up!
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elescope Amnesty FREE advice session, followed by Planetarium Show
Wednesday 21st January 2009 advice session 6pm show starts 8pm
...with the HantsAstro online
he Oct 2008 Telescope Amnesty:
astronomy group, and members of the BBC Sky at Night team.
d advice and guidance to use a telescope and st in astronomy. Brilliant evening. Do it again”
pecially the chaps showing us the telescopes! They were great and full of knowledge” “Excellent night and very interesting”
es a year - to show highlights of each season” “Excellent evening - thanks”
rd of, now I can boast at how I can see Orion” “I loved it! Wooo!”
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co-hosted by
Make the most of these dark winter nights by getting out and taking a look at the beautiful night skies. And find out how by coming to INTECH’s Telescope Amnesty event. Strictly ages 8yr+. Tickets for the show are £6/£5 (concession for seniors and those in full-time education). We strongly recommend booking your tickets early on (01962) 863791. No late entry to the planetarium.
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VIEW
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Words: David Scanlan
Love the telescope….don’t forget your eyes! M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Picture: Wikimedia -John Lanoue
Are you one of those astronomers who took up the hobby, either recently or years ago, and it soon struck you that you are going to need a telescope sooner rather than later to do some really exciting and possibly some ground breaking astronomy? Well this article is all about what you can do with just the basics your naked eyes and maybe a pair of standard 10X50 Binoculars. First of all let’s look at naked eye astronomy. There’s plenty you can do in this field to be honest and it is a great starting point for all beginners. First of all get to know the constellations; after all you won’t be able to find your faint and fuzzy galaxies, nebulae and clusters without first knowing a little bit about the constellations in which they lay. Right….let’s take a look at a couple of
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the more significant constellations and some of the naked eye and binocular celestial objects of interest that you can target first. Ursa Major- second star in from the pan handle lay the stars Alcor and Mizar, a nice double star system with a good separation. This star is both a great naked eye sight and also an even better binocular view. Jump down the handle to the first star on the bowl. Delta Ursa Majoris. This is clearly a naked eye star yet still heralds some debate amongst astronomers for this star is a suspected variable star: suspected meaning that no one knows for sure whether or not it is variable. I am currently the Director for the Society for Popular Astronomy Variable Star Section and I have entered into a brand new era of collaboration with the British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section in order to establish once and for all if Delta Ursa Majoris is indeed variable, your observations of this
star could help us to make a discovery so why not contribute? Comparison charts and detailed information on Delta Ursa Majoris can be found at http://popastro.com/vstar/ Andromeda… did you know the next time someone asks how far you can see with your ‘ “astronomer’s eyes” you can comfortably say 2.5 million light years, that’s roughly 6 trillion miles! That’s how far you will be looking when you view the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, with your eyes. No question that binoculars and a telescope will show more but to view it with your own eyes is something special. Now let’s jump to Taurus, passing through the constellation of Orion which heralds the great Orion nebula and Alpha Orionis (another variable star and a worthy target), to the Pleiades, M45.This young open star cluster can be viewed with the naked eye and you can
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M45 - Pleiades
Picture: NASA/ESA/AURA/Caltech
easily resolve the main stars. Binoculars will reveal many more of the cluster’s 1000 statistically confirmed members. A lovely cluster and an easy target for all. One completely unmistakeable celestial target is obviously the Moon. Although a telescope is needed to get ‘inside’ the craters and wander the lunar valleys you can note and understand the coming and going of the lunar phases, watch occultations of major stars and planets and why not contribute to the Moon Watch Project. This Project aims to refine our knowledge on the visibility of the crescent Moon soon after the new moon. All you do is look towards the westerly setting
Orionid Meteors...
The Moon
Picture: Wikimedia Commons
sun on specific dates and let the moon watch project know if you glimpse the baby crescent Moon. Believe it or not by doing this you are actually making a solid, scientific observation that will assist mans understanding of this truly awesome astronomical body. Visit the MoonWatch web site at http://www.crescentmoonwatch.org/ index.htm One of my all time favourites has got to be meteor watching.There is nothing so spell binding than sitting under the starry canopy of the universe watching and waiting for the streaks of light shooting across the sky. There are specific times of the year when meteor showers occur but meteor watching can
Picture: Wikimedia Mila Zinkova
be done on any clear night and usually you will be blessed with two or three sporadic meteors. One astronomer I know actually conducted a 12 hour meteor watch when a shower was not even scheduled! I hope this article has given you all food for thought and I hope you get even more enjoyment from your astronomy. as a result.
David Scanlan is the Director of the Variable Star Section Society for Popular Astronomy
Meteor Chart courtesy of the Society for Popular Astronomy www.popastro.com
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REVIEW Words: David Woods Picture: Graham Green
StarGPS AutoStar Handset Upgrade $99-199 via online Global Positioning Satellites are a real boon, especially if you move around a lot. If you own a Meade Telescope with an AutoStar handset controller then I guess you do too. But, every time you switch it on, it asks for date - OK. Time, check, lat and long of your location Umm... Unless you researched your site(s) and found this info on the Internet, then the accuracy of your scanning of the heavens will be a bit
frustrating when you start observing or imaging and objects start tracking out of your eyepiece. Now there is an answer. Flash upgrade your hand set via your PC and connect either a dedicated GPS module or a Garmin Etrex or a Geko. Once converted and connected, the handset searches for a GPS signal and sets date, time and position in a second or two, and that’s it! The advantage is that now the telescope can be more
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Great American Nebula Richard Parker Location: Gosport Date: February 2008
Taken with: Sky Watcher Pro ED80-1 refractor and a Starlight Xpress SXVF-H16 CCD Mono on an unguided HEQ6 Mount Mono Images taken in Luminance, Red, Green and Blue channels 4x2 minute exposures, then combined and processed to make the final image. CCD Image Resolution: Four Mega-pixels.
Proving that small refractors can produce beautifully big results: The Sky Watcher ED80-1 f7.5
Picture: Graham Green
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The Crescent Moon - Martin Saban-Smith
Location: Alton, Hampshire Equipment: Meade LXD75 SN-10 f/4 UHTC 10” Schmidt-Newtonian, LXD75 Mount with AutoStar Canon EOS 5D DSLR
The Moon always offers something different, using a little light pollution here ‘paints‘ the surface an interesting shade of bronze.
250mm of Schmidt-Newtonian a type of Reflector that promises APOlike quality with bigger aperture but at a lower cost. f/4 focal ratio is ‘fast’ so is perfect for astrophotography and offers a wide field of view. 10 inches of aperture provides great magnification when needed.
. Picture: Graham Green
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SPACE LECTURES 2008-09 8th April
12th November
Are We Star-dust or Nuclear Waste? The Story of the Birth and Death of Stars
Black Holes, Black Magic and Interstellar Travel Prof John Brown (Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Glasgow University)
Dr Robin Catchpole (Cambridge University)
13th May
10th December
Impacts from Space and the Death of the Dinosaurs
A (Potted) History of the Telescope Ninian Boyle (BBC Sky at Night, Venturescope)
Dr Paul Roche (Faulks Telescope Project)
14th January
The Search for Extraterrestrial Life in the Universe
10th June
Toys in the Sky: The Challenges of Space to the Human Mind
Prof Malcolm Coe (University of Southampton) 11th February
Neville Poulton (Astrium)
Tour of the Universe
8th July
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (Astrium) 11th March
What Can We Know About the Universe?
They Really Did Land: Apollo at Forty Piers Bizony (AETV)
Prof Russell Stannard OBE (Open University)
Tickets ÂŁ6.00 and ÂŁ5.00 All lectures start at 6.30pm. The lectures are for adults and older children (11+) and each one will be followed by a short planetarium show about that month's sky.
Booking line: 01962 863791 www.intech-uk.com for more information INTECH Science Centre, Telegraph Way, Morn Hill, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1HZ Look Up!
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At the Centre of Astronomy for this Year - IYA2009!
Words: David Woods
In 2009 the world will celebrate the International Year of Astronomy to
commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope to study the night sky. 2009 is also the anniversary of many other important dates in the history of science, such as the publishing of Kepler’s Astronomia Nova, Huygens’ Systema Saturnium, and the first moon landing.
pastime. HantsAstro is a modern approach to ‘de-geekify’ astronomy, so that more people can share in the wonders of the night sky. Most importantly, it can be done with very little equipment. Just your own eyes will do..
At that point in your life, you discovered your true place in the Universe. It’s not something I can quite begin to describe. I urge anyone who reads this to pass that opportunity on, if you do nothing else. That alone, would make this whole project worthwhile.
For this celebration, astronomers around the world will be inviting people like you, and your friends and family, to look up in wonder at the night sky and to seek out answers to some of life’s biggest questions. It’s what we do... HantsAstro was formed for this very reason; to get more people, who would not normally consider astronomy, to give it a go and see how much has changed. Right across the UK there are lots of events taking place to celebrate and raise the profile of Astronomy. In the South we are no different and can boast several unique places to visit where you can get more out of your astronomy! Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences, but never in its history has so many people been involved. One of the reasons for this is the recent increase in cheaper, higher quality telescopes that have been manufactured over the past 10 years. One could say that it’s only been since the space race in the past 50 years, that has really fired people’s imaginations. Science fiction has also played a great part in shaping our creativity and some of this has transpired (to a degree!) into science fact. The IYA2009 encompasses all the elements of astronomy that make it such an exciting and rewarding
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and ask them if they have ever seen the Orion Nebula or even the Moon with a pair of 10 x 50s. If they say yes, show them again, and if they say no then definitely show them. I have never met anyone who has refused. We all share the same sky, yet so many people do not understand what is above them. Remember that warm, fuzzy feeling you got when you first saw Jupiter or Saturn with your own eyes? Mind blowing - wasn’t it?
Mission 2. If you have a telescope you can go a bit further. Show them the moons of Jupiter or the Andromeda Galaxy, always a crowd pleaser! Then explain to them that with a simple web-cam they can take images like a mini Hubble telescope! Misson 3. Pick a night when there is a meteor shower and providing it’s clear, organise a BBQ. Show some friends a heavenly free firework show. Telescope performance nowadays is so good that you are able to see detail on nearby planets that was only dreamed of a couple of generations ago. As a Group we encourage everyone to look through a telescope, but amazingly few people have even attempted to look at the night sky with even a cheap pair of binoculars. Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to do the following: Mission 1. Have a word with your next door neighbours about astronomy
Mission 4. Drag one of your friends to our free observing night at INTECH where they can try out a telescope or binoculars and pick up some tips on finding their way around the night sky. This won’t cost you a bean, as it’s totally free. Butser Ancient Farm is our premier site for observing and a number of events are in progress to help you get more out of astronomy. Mission 5. Send five of your friends a copy of Look Up! eZine. Better than a chain letter and far more rewarding.
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Butser Ancient Farm - Our Premier Site for observing
Picture: Graham Green
In every issue we will be covering what’s happening with the IYA2009. Our forthcoming Telescope Amnesty at INTECH is becoming a regular event. The free advice session is proving popular and the planetarium show after is truly amazing. See the advert on pages 6 & 7 in this issue. Big World One of the things we are looking to do this year, is to get in touch with as many of the countries that download Look Up! as we can, and find out what sort of astronomy is done elsewhere on planet Earth. If you are reading this outside of the UK then please get in touch. This magazine is read in 50 countries, so I hope to get a lot of e-mails! Write in - we would like to find out more about you. Back to our shores. There are several Star Parties happening across the South of England during the year. Details of these will be posted on our website in due course. Whilst not all of them are strictly IYA2009 events,
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our mission as a Group, is to inform and educate as many people across the region as possible. So in essence, that is it. The whole point of IYA2009 is to make people more aware of astronomy in all its forms. The next few pages will detail what’s going on and where, as an overview to the year’s events. If it is to succeed at all then it is down to you - the reader of this article. Doing nothing about it is really easy, but taking up one of the missions may seem a small step however, if we all contribute, then it adds up to a big change. I’m sure you’ve heard something like this before, so why not this time give it a go! HantsAstro wants to make astronomy more mainstream, and this is one of the few chances in the history of astronomy to do just that. Let’s go for it!
Continued page 16
Mission 5. Send five of your friends a free copy of Look Up! eZine. Better than a chain letter and far more rewarding. 15
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IYA 2009
What’s On in the South? There are an ever growing number of events taking place across the South, and it kicks off with the INTECH Telescope Amnesty 21 Jan @ 6pm INTECH are also holding a series of Space Lectures (see page 13 for details) from Nov 08 to July 2009. Elsewhere, there is a range of activities, and bound to be popular are three Moon Watches. These will take place across the region with several Astronomy Groups organising public events.
Mission 2. If you have a telescope you can go a bit further. Show them the moons of Jupiter or the Andromeda Galaxy. Always a crowd pleaser! Then explain to them that with a simple webcam they can take images like a mini Hubble telescope!
The main dates are: Spring 28 March - 05 April 2009 Autumn 24 October - 01 November 2009 (and for schools) 19-29 November 2009 Visit any of the Planetariums (on a cloudy day!) There are several across the South, and all offer exciting and informative shows with knowledgeable presenters. Some are geared towards families, while others are much more technical. It’s an ideal way to immerse yourself quickly with the night sky. Explore! @ Bristol Norman Lockyer, Sidmouth INTECH, Winchester SouthDowns, Chichester Royal Observatory, Greenwich London See AstroSouth pages 21-24 for links...
We have telescopes for you to learn astronomy, that you can also buy yourself. Picture: Graham Green
Misson 3. Pick a night when there is a meteor shower and providing it’s clear and quite dark, organise a BBQ. Show some friends a heavenly free firework show. See page 9 for more examples...
AstroSouth t universally seeking
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IYA 2009
What’s On in the South? There are also a number of day events and workshops planned across the South. These are to help you discover more about the history of astronomy and Space. In July, there will be major celebrations of the Moon Apollo Landing in 1969, 40 Years Ago.
Why not learn to capture stunning images like Richie Jarvis’ Horsehead Nebula featured last month. IYA2009 is open to all levels of astronomer- young or old, newbie or hardcore...
IYA Tip #1
IYA Tip #2
Here are a couple of local IYA 2009 events for January to March 2009 Observing the Night Sky Newchurch IOW PO36 0NN Start Time: 2009-01-25 19:30:00 End Time: 2009-01-25 23:00:00
Binoculars: they’re ideal for Take it easy. many forms of stargazing.
Vectis Astronomical Society invite you to an evening’s stargazing from Newchurch Village.
Don’t get cheap high-power or zoom types. 7 x 50s or 10 x 50s are ideal and quite inexpensive: BAK4 prisms are better. 15x70mm are great but are heavier and require a tripod.
Astronomy Weekend Davis Street Hurst RG10 0TH Start Time: 2009-03-27 19:00:00 End Time: 2009-03-29 17:00:00
Avoid ‘Zoom’ binoculars or telescopes, as they do not offer a great view, and don’t get hung up on magnification!
Start with picking out the planets and, some of the easier Messier objects and the some of the well known constellations. It’s always surprising how many people know their star sign, but know little about the night sky. Try star hopping. Show someone how to use a star map or Planisphere. That way, you won’t get lost in the Cosmos! Picture: Graham Green
INTECH Science Centre & Planetarium home of the first IYA2009 Telescope Amnesty
Join Reading Astronomical Society and Dinton Pastures Country Park for their Astronomy Weekend. An exhibition will run all weekend. In addition: Telescope nights will be Fri 27th March and Sat 28th March at 19.30 Solar viewing will be afternoon of Sunday 29th March All events weather permitting with indoor contingency
AstroSouth t universally seeking
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dusk to dawn gallery launching early 2009
For more business... look no further than
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AstroSouth t
LookUp! is an exciting new concept in astronomy publishing. Downloaded by thousands of astronomers in the UK and in over fifty countries, it’s still growing every month This free publication offers the best chance for your astronomy related business to promote itself in a truly cost effective way. AstroSouth is launching this month too! This new astronomy directory will throw a spotlight on astronomy in the South of England, from astronomy courses, education, career to regional news Ask for a copy of our rate card today!
Call David Woods now! on Tel: 023 9261 7092 email: david.woods@iodesign.co.uk Look Up!
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Observing Sessions with HantsAstro
TimeShift Timetable INTECH January 09 6/20 8/22
BAF
New Forest
1-4
17-31
1-4
17-31
February 09
3/17
5/19
1-4
16-28
1-4
16-28
March 09
3/17/31
5/19
1-4
17-31
1-4
17-31
April 09
14/28
16/28
1-4
16-30
1-4
16-30
May 09
Solar
TBA
1-4
16-30
1-4
16-30
June 09
Solar
TBA
1-4
16-30
1-4
16-30
July 09
Solar
TBA
1-4
16-30
1-4
16-30
Aug 09
Solar
TBA
1-4
16-30
1-4
16-30
The above table... Our plan is to run up to three sites with fortnightly observing sessions, starting with INTECH and Butser Ancient Farm. Tuesdays/Thursdays are the planned days for INTECH, see the two sets of dates in the first column, which are the first and third weeks of the month. Simple, one night gets called off, then go on to the next slot. (i.e. 20th January is cancelled – we re-arrange for the 22nd). Butser Ancient Farm observing sessions slide either side of the INTECH observing dates, see the two sets of dates in the second column (BAF). They are at the start/end of the month. The idea is only to meet and observe on clear nights. That’s why we put the dash from 1-4 or 20-30, it could be any day between 1-4 or 20-30. The key dates with this site are to observe when there is little or no moon at Butser or whichever Tuesday/Thursday is best at INTECH. The third column dates are for other sites we have as reserve, including the New Forest and some planned ‘away missions’. HantsAstro might be able to claim we can avoid light pollution, but clouds and bad weather are something else. However, we do have one or two tricks up our sleeve. The timetable is flexible and hopefully you are too. Check our website for regular weather updates on our ClearSkies page: http://www.hanstastro.org/clearskies.html It views 7 days ahead, is 95% accurate within three days and 100% on the night. Why? Because we’ll be there! Join our group and you will be added to updated alerts regarding our observing sessions that are designed to inform you as accurately as possible that the sky is clear, or if staying at home is better... It’s new, it’s working but there is still a margin for error. If you’re game, so are we.
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You can still observe if it’s not too cloudy!
... soon to be upgraded more sites & more info at a glance.
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What’s on in the South January 2009 Hampshire Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the County nearly every month, so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details.
Hampshire Astronomical Group
January 09 - The Next Decade of Exoplanet Discovery: The Hunt for the Earth Analog Speaker - Dr Don Pollacco Clanfield Memorial Hall, South Lane, Clanfield PO8 0RB - @ 19:45pm Cost £2 Non-members www.hantsastro.org.uk
Solent Amateur Astronomers Society January 20 - Into the Comic Ocean Speaker - Andrew Lound Oasis Acadamy, Lordhill Fairisle Road Southampton SO16 8BY - @ 19:30pm Cost £2 Non-members www.delscope.demon.co.uk/society/home.htm
Basingstoke Astronomical Society January 22 - Imaging the Planets Speaker - Chris Hooker (Newbury AS) Cliddesden Primary School, Cliddesden, Basingstoke RG25 2QU - @ 19:00pm Cost £2 Non-members www.basingstokeas.org.uk
Southampton Astronomical Society
No Talk at time of issue www.southampton-astronomical-society.org.uk
Vectis Astronomical Society January 23 - TBA Speaker - Dr David Whitehouse January 25 - Observing the Night Sky Speaker Pointers Inn Newchurch Village Newchurch PO36 0NN - @ 19:30pm Cost £2 Non-members (donation)
www.wightastronomy.org
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January 2009 Right across Hampshire and the South, there is an active community of astronomical societies. This is reflected every month in this directory. If you have an event that you would like to promote for free, then please contact: david.woods@hantsastro.org INTECH Science Centre + Planetarium Winchester, Hants Cost £2 per show in addition to exhibition entry Cost - £6.95 Adults £4.65 under 14’s Check site for schedule www.intech-uk.com
Events Telescope Amnesty Wednesday 21st Jan 2009 Free Advice Session Planetarium Show £6/5 http://www.intech-uk.com/folders/planetarium/special_event__ telescope_amnesty.cfm IOW Star Party Thursday 26th March to Monday 30th March 2009 Brighstone IOW http://www.iowstarparty.org/ If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch.
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Astronomy Groups A to H Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep!
Abingdon - http://www.abingdonastro.org.uk/ Adur AS - http://www.adur-astronomical.com/index.htm Andover - www.andoverastronomy.org.uk Ashford AS - http://www.ashfordastro.org.uk/website/ Aylesbury - http://www.aylesbury-astronomy.org.uk/ Basingstoke AS - http://www.basingstokeas.org.uk/ Bracknell - http://www.herschel-astrosoc.co.uk/has/default.htm Brighton & Hove AS - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john_wade/bhas/ Cody AS - http://www.codyastrosoc.co.uk/ Crawley AS - http://uk.geocities.com/crawleyas/ Croydon AS - http://www.croydonastro.org.uk/ Eastbourne AS - http://www.eastbourneas.org.uk/ East Sussex AS - http://www.croydonastro.org.uk/
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January 2009 Talks & Events across the South of England Please check relevant web site for updates and contact details. Southdowns Planetarium Chichester, West Sussex Various Monthly Shows Check site for details + times and booking Cost - £6 Adults £4 under 16’s www.southdowns.org.uk/sdpt Norman Lockyer Observatory & Planetarium Sidmouth, Devon Various Monthly Visits Shows Check site for details + times and booking Cost - £5 Adults £2.50 under 16’s http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/nlo/ Home~EN.php Events If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this listing then please get in touch.
Epsom Ewell - http://www.ewell-as.co.uk/ Farnham AS - http://www.farnham-as.co.uk/ Guildford AS - http://www.guildfordas.org/ Hampshire AG - http://www.hantsastro.org.uk/ Horsham AG - http://www.horshamastronomy.com/
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Astronomy Groups L to W Interesting local Astronomy talks take place in the South every month, so please check the relevant web-site for any updates and contact details. Why not pay them a visit and support astronomy on your doorstep!
Lewes AG - http://www.lewesastro.org.uk/ Maidenhead - http://www.maidenhead-astro.net/ Newbury AG - http://www.newburyas.org.uk/ Orpington - http://www.orpington-astronomy.org.uk/ Reading - http://www.readingastro.org.uk/index2.htm Richmond & Kew AS - http://www.rkas.org.uk/ Salisbury Solent AS - http://www.delscope.demon.co.uk/society/home.htm Southdowns AS - http://www.southdownsas.org.uk/ Vectis AS - http://www.vectis-astro.org.uk/
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January 2009 Talks & Events across the South of England Please check relevant web site for updates and contact details. Royal Obervatory Greenwich, London Planetarium Cost £6/4 per show Check site for schedule Free Admission to the Observatory www.nmm.ac.uk/ places/royal-observatory/ The Obervatory Science Centre Herstmonceux, Hailsham Admission £7.70/£5.70 Check site for schedule and opening dates www.the-observatory.org/ Events
Wadhurst AS - http://wadhurst.info/was/
If you have any talks or events you wish to be included in this
Wealden AS - http://www.wealdenas.co.uk/
listing then please get in touch.
Wessex AS - http://www.wessex-astro.org.uk/ West of London AS - http://www.howard.beeg.btinternet.co.uk/index2. htm Weymouth AC - http://www.weymouthastronomy.co.uk/ Wiltshire AS - http://wasnet.co.uk/ Worthing AS - http://www.worthing-astronomical-society.com/ Worthing Astronomers - http://www.worthingastronomers.org.uk/
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OUT THERE...
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Our Southern Sky - January 2009
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January 2009
Mercury is visible in the bright twilight sky and is best seen on the 4th when it is at its greatest eastern elongation with the brighter planet Jupiter, just over 1.5 degrees away.
Where the Planets are in our Solar System in January.
Venus brightens this month from mag.-4.2 on the 1st to -4.4 by the end of the month in the twilight western sky after sunset. On the 14th Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation and will appear as a ‘half Moon’ phase through even a small telescope on the 17th.
Table Key RA - Right Ascension Dec - Declination Constell. - Constellation Elongation - Angle between Sun & Planet as seen from Earth Distance - From Earth in Astronomical Units (AU) = 149.598M Km Magnitude - Brightness Diameter - in ArcSeconds Phase - % Visibility of object disc
Mars is not visible this month. Jupiter continues its course westward this month and into conjunction with the Sun on the 24th and will be too close to the Sun for safe viewing. Saturn can be seen in Leo at mag.+0.5. It will be very difficult to see the planet’s rings because the equatorial plane of Saturn has now become tilted almost directly towards us. Have a look through a telescope and you will easily spot Saturn’s moons. Comets Comet 85P/Boethin has been disappointing. It has put on a poor show so far and this may be due to it becoming inactive or a shift of orbit, it may have broken up… Let’s keep an eye out for it as it ambles towards Pisces and on the 25-26th it comes close to the centre of M74 the elusive +10.5 face-on spiral galaxy.
All Data is based on 15th of the month from Central Hampshire.
Comet 2007 N3 Lulin is ‘predicted’ to be at Mag.8.6 at the beginning of the month and brightens to 7.5 by the 29th making it an ideal binocular object. It becomes brightest towards the end of February so have a look towards the end of this month in the predawn sky south-south east in Libra.
Next Month
Comet 144P/Kushida, this chap is predicted to be a faint Mag.11 this month as it moves through the western part of Taurus and into the Hyades cluster on the 31st. You’ll need a large telescope to see this one. Have a look, you never know, it might brighten!
HantsAstro Year to View Radio Astronomy Project Accessories -
Meteors The Quadrantids are active from the 1-6th. The best time to view this short shower in the UK will be in the early hours of the 3rd in the pre-dawn sky. The radiant is just north of Bootes. The shower peaks midday when the ZHR will be 100!
Buyer’s Guide 4 DSLR + CCD imaging compared...
Full Moon 11th January referred to as the Old Moon or the Moon after Yule. Some called it the Full Snow Moon. Objects
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Sun
Mercury
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
The Moon
19h47m37s
20h34m26s
22h54m28s
19h01m43s
20h18m13s
11h32m55s
11h10m04s
Dec
-21°08’21”
-16°50’57”
-07°22’12”
-23°30’09”
-20°05’22”
+05°16’41”
+01°17’06”
Constell.
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Leo
Leo
RA
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-11.9°
-47.1°
-10.9°
-7.2°
123.4°
126.9°
0.984 AU
0.730 AU
0.685 AU
2.396 AU
6.084 AU
8.794 AU
0.372 MKm
Magnitude
-28.04
-1.78
-4.31
1.29
-1.78
0.61
-11.4
Diameter
32’31”
09”
24”
03”
32”
18”
32’05”
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12%
51%
99%
99%
99%
80%
Elongation Distance
Phase
Solar System Data for January 2009
If you have any suggestions for improving this star information then please e-mail:
david.woods@hantsastro.org
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