PAS Meeting of the Minds CANCELED FOR 9/24/09

Please note, the Meeting of the Minds has been canceled
due to lack of topics for tomorrow night.
Enjoy your evening. See you at the Oct 1 PAS meeting.

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Sunspots and Equinox

Space Weather News for Sept. 22, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

NEW SUNSPOTS: In a year when the sun has been utterly blank 80% of the time, the sudden emergence of two large sunspots in a single day is a noteworthy event. Today is such a day. NASA satellites and amateur astronomers are monitoring a pair of growing sunspots, both apparently members of long-overdue Solar Cycle 24. The emergence of these active regions is not enough to end the deepest solar minimum in nearly a hundred years, but they do represent a significant uptick in solar activity. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

SEPT. EQUINOX: Today, Sept. 22nd at 2118 UT (5:18 pm EDT), the sun crosses the celestial equator. This event marks the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere. It's also the beginning of aurora season around the poles. Happy equinox!

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Double Flyby Today

Space Weather News for Sept. 8, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

DOUBLE FLYBY ALERT: On Tuesday, Sept. 8th at 3:26 p.m. EDT, space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station (ISS). The two spaceships are now circling Earth side by side, forming a pair of bright lights in the night sky. Check http://spaceweather.com to see if you are favored with a double flyby of your hometown before Discovery returns to Earth on Thursday.

DON'T MISS THAT FLYBY: Would you like a call when the ISS is about to fly over your area? Sign up for SpaceWeather PHONE: http://spaceweatherphone.com

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Public invited: Star Party PVCC Campus Sept 10th

Good afternoon,

Dave sent me a reminder to remind all of you we have a star party
scheduled for Sept 10th on the PVCC campus
by the telescope Domes.

RSVP for this event will be with Rod.
Please let us know you are attending with your telescope
by putting in your RSVP on the PAS Calendar
or by dropping an email to Rod.

Details for this event can be found in the Calendar at the above link.

Thank you so much and have a super 3 day weekend!!!

Terri, Event Coordinator

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Geomagnetic Megastorm & Vanishing Moons of Jupiter

Space Weather News for Sept. 2, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC MEGASTORM: Northern Lights swept over Cuba and Hawaii. Telegraph offices caught fire. Earth's magnetic field shook for nearly a week. That's what happened 150 years ago today when our planet experienced a shocking "geomagnetic megastorm." Could it happen again? Today's story on http://spaceweather.com explores the possibilities.

VANISHING MOONS OF JUPITER: Tonight, Sept. 2nd and 3rd, for the first time in many years, the moons of Jupiter are going to disappear. At least that's how it will seem when Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto line up in front of and behind the giant planet. A casual look through a backyard telescope will show no moons at all. The 2-hour vanishing act begins at 9:43 p.m PDT on Sept. 2nd (4:43 UT on Sept. 3rd). Check http://spaceweather.com a sky map, animations and more information.

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Planetary Wonderings: September & Saturn

Planetary Wonderings
September Focus: Saturn and September
By Mary-Frances R. Bartels, NASA Solar System Ambassador

The month of September marks several significant anniversaries and events related to the planet Saturn. Let us examine a few.

The month begins with the 30^th anniversary of the Pioneer 11 flyby. Pioneer 11, the second in the Pioneer program, investigated the outer solar system, and was the first spacecraft to explore Saturn and its rings up close. In addition to their scientific missions, the Pioneer craft carry a plaque with a message from mankind to whatever extraterrestrial beings may discover them.

On Sept. 4 Saturn’s rings will be edge-on as viewed from Earth. This also occurred August 11. Saturn’s rings turn edge-on every fourteen to fifteen years. While they are beautiful to observe, their “disappearance” provides an opportunity for Earth viewers to appreciate the planet’s strangely blue north pole, a new phenomenon discovered by the Cassini mission. Saturn was closest to earth in March which means, unfortunately, that it is difficult to view this time of year because it is so near the sun in the sky.

Sept. 17 is the 220^th anniversary of William Herschel's discovery of Saturn’s moon Mimas. Mimas has a large impact crater named after Herschel, and coincidentally resembles the Star Wars Death Star. Though an accomplished musician, Herschel developed an interest in astronomy. His systematic survey of the sky also lead him to discover the planet Uranus, which this year just so happens to be at opposition (closest to Earth) on this day as well.

Sept. 21 is Gustav Holst’s 135^th birthday. Holst is best known as the composer of “The Planets,” a seven-movement orchestral suite. His tribute to Saturn was called “The Bringer of Old Age.”

An obscure connection between Saturn and September can be found in Roman mythology and timeless traditions. Saturn was named for the Roman god of agriculture. Countless agriculture-related festivals are held during the months of September and October. One locally notable one occurs in the village near my residence. Each year during the third weekend of September the village of Centerburg , OH, puts on the Oldtime Farming Festival (www.oldtimefarmingfestival.org).

Resource of the Month: Test your knowledge of the “Lord of the Rings” with this Saturn Trivia Quiz at http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz90828a684a8.html . Some of the answers to the quiz are in this article.

Activity of the Month: Attend a Star Party. Those living near southwest Ohio might be interested in the ScopeOut Astronomy Fair in Cincinnati on the 12^th. The Cincinnati Observatory will celebrate the telescope with an open house called ScopeOut. ScopeOut is an opportunity for people of all ages to look at the latest and greatest astronomical equipment. Activities include classes, educational materials, kid's space crafts, safe viewing of the Sun, tours of the observatory’s historic buildings, and plenty of door prizes. For more information see: http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/scopeout2009.html . Readers not in the Cincinnati area might want to look for more local star party opportunities. http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/#0909 lists some in Nevada , Maryland , Illinois , Maine , and Michigan .

Suggestions, questions, corrections, and comments about “Planetary Wonderings” are welcomed and may be directed to stargazer @ keeplookingup.net (remove spaces). Past columns may be found at www.KeepLookingUp.net (click on “Planetary Wonderings” on the right side of opening screen) and at http://www.freelists.org/archives/astronomyed/ (columns from Jan. 2007 to the present).

Remember to keep looking up!

Sources (not already mentioned in the article):
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/18mar_saturn.htm
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=7992
http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/herschel/fwhershs.html

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Jupiter Moon Movie

Space Weather News for August 18, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

JUPITER MOON MOVIE: An amateur astronomer in the Philippines has photographed one of Jupiter's moons, Io, casting its circular shadow across another, Ganymede. The movie he made of this rare event is must-see cinema for astronomers. It's playing now on http://spaceweather.com .

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Tonight's VSP is canceled 8/14

PAS Members,

Due to the weather in Mayer, and a few other reasons, Chris has decided to cancel
tonight's Virtual Star Party. We will be setting up the next VSP soon. Watch for
an announcement of it, or check the PAS calendar or Forums for more info.

Have a super Friday and a fantastic weekend!
Terri, Event Coordinator

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Perseids Meteor Shower Peak Tonight 8/11

Space Weather News for August 11, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

The Perseid meteor shower is about to peak. The show begins after sunset on Tuesday, August 11th, and continues until the sun rises on Wednesday, August 12th. A time of particular interest is 0800-0900 GMT (1-2 a.m. PDT) on the 12th. That's when Earth is expected to pass through a denser-than-usual filament of dust from Perseid parent Comet Swift-Tuttle. Forecasters are unsure what will happen, but some have speculated that meteor rates could surge as high as 200 per hour. Bright moonlight will blot out many of those Perseids, but even a fraction of 200 is a good show.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for full coverage of the Perseids.

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society

Meteor Shower OUTBURST!!!

Space Weather News for Aug. 4, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

POSSIBLE PERSEID METEOR OUTBURST: This year's Perseid meteor shower could be even better than usual. According to NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, a filament of comet dust has drifted across Earth's path and when Earth passes through it, sometime between 0800 and 0900 UT (1 - 2 am PDT) on August 12th, the Perseid meteor rate could surge to twice its normal value. Check http://spaceweather.com for details and observing tips.

PERSEIDS ON YOUR iPHONE: Spaceweather.com is pleased to announce a new iPhone/iPod application dedicated to the upcoming Perseid meteor shower. It features a Perseid countdown clock, news alerts, an easy-to-use sky map, and a live gallery of photos from around the world. Sky watchers of all types will find it a valuable companion when the shower peaks later this month.

Learn more: http://spaceweather.com/perseids

Download the app: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=325305245&mt=8

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Terri, Events Coordinator
Email: Events@PASAz.org
Phoenix Astronomical Society