MEETING NOTICE: The regular meeting of the BARNARD ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY will be held Thursday, January 8 th at Jones Observatory on Brainerd Rd . Refreshments and social hour begin at 7:00 p.m. The business meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. followed by the program at 8:30 .

PROGRAM: Dr. Gary Caldwell will give a program titled, “The Orion StarShoot II Imaging Camera.”

The Barnard STAR is the official publication of the Barnard Astronomical Society.

Planned Activities to Enjoy

The Wonders of Astronomy—

 

“The joy of astronomy comes from finding your way around the starry sky and understanding what you see.” –The Editors, SKY AND TELESCOPE MAGAZINE

 

DECEMBER CHRISTMAS PARTY

On Saturday, December 8th, BAS members gathered at St Peters School on Ashland Terrace for the annual club Christmas event. After a delicious pot luck dinner, Tom Adkins led games and provided a large assortment of books as prizes. Dr. Gary Caldwell showed some of his astrophotography images, including one of the most beautiful photographs of the Orion Nebula that an amateur astronomer could ever produce.

 

JANUARY REGULAR MEETING PROGRAM

At the Jones Observatory on Thursday, January 10, 2008 , Dr. Gary Caldwell will give a program titled, “The Orion StarShoot II Imaging Camera.”

Meeting Format

7:00 P.M. ---Observatory Opens for Refreshments and Social
7:30 P.M. —Business Meeting Begins
8:10 P.M. —Break
8:30 P.M. —Program Begins

 

LOOKING AHEAD

On Thursday, February 14th, UTC Senior Emily Hassler will present a program on the topic, “Cassini-Huygens Mission to Titan.”

On Thursday, March 13th, a NASA video titled “STARGAZE—Hubble's View of The Universe” will be shown. STARGAZE comes direct from the Hubble Space Telescope with over an hour of the most incredible images of the universe that you will ever see. Captions and “out of this world” music from the band 2002 accompany the visual images.

 

LORD RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY NOW OPERATIONAL

After several months of construction, the Radio Astronomy Observatory at the rural home of BAS members Bill and Melinda Lord near Cleveland , TN is now on line. The first measurement capabilities are for radio emissions from the Sun and from the planet Jupiter at 19.800—20.400 mhz using a complex dipole wire antenna system, a Radio Jove Receiver, and special SKYPIPE computer software.

In the near future, two 8 ft. dish antennas and some “quad-yagis” will be configured. There is interest in measuring radio emissions from our Milky Way Galaxy, spontaneous Cosmic Radio Bursts, and other phenomena.

The radio observatory, managed by Bill and Melinda, is available for use by any BAS members who have an interest and who make arrangements.

BAS is very grateful to Bill and Melinda for making this caliber of amateur astronomy facility available in our area. When all of the planned measure-systems are in place later in 2008-09, this will be among the finest American amateur radio astronomy facilities located at a private home.

The Lord's financed most of the equipment, including the separate building, and provided the labor (Bill is a superb carpenter and craftsman). Some additional materials, design input, and labor have been provided by ham radio operators Dick Castle and Bill Seymour. There has been no cost to BAS.

The Lord Observatory is part of the TAOSON Radio Astronomy Group based at the Tamke-Allan Observatory, Roane State College, Harriman , TN. Included are eight separate locations, either already in operation or planned, in East Tennessee . TAOSON is under the direction of Dr. David Fields, TAO Director, and the leading radio astronomer in this area.

 

THE BASICS

One way to measure the distances between objects in the night sky is to use your hand held out to arm's length. The width of one finger is about two degrees. (By comparison, the moon spans about one-half degree.) A clinched fist spans about 10 degrees, while a spread palm stretches 20 degrees from pinkie to thumb.

(Source: STARDATE, a publication of The University of Texas at Austin McDonald Observatory)

 

Big Money Well Spent!

The University of California , Berkeley established a new center to study cosmology under the leadership of Nobel Prize winner George Smoot.

Smoot, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics last year, donated $500,000 of his $700,000 in prize money to kick start the Berkeley Center for Cosmological Physics, which will bring together researchers from the school and from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on the hill above the campus.

"I remember within 24 hours of winning the prize, George coming to me and saying, 'I have this grand idea,'" said U.C. Berkeley's chancellor, Robert Birgeneau, at a press conference to mark the opening of the center on Tuesday.

The university has raised a total of $8.1 million for the center, including a $1.5 million, three-year grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for operating expenses while more money is sought for the endowment. The center will cost about $500,000 a year to run.

"Gordon Moore's a scientist and we have a large amount of projects that fund basic science," said Jim Omura, technology strategist for the San Francisco-based Moore Foundation. "It seemed like the time was right. Not only is this one of the best schools, but they are pioneers in cosmology."

Smoot won the Nobel Prize for work on cosmic background radiation, seeking evidence for the Big Bang. He said in a speech at the press conference that cosmology, which used to be a very broad, imprecise science, has evolved in the last decade. "It's an era I call the beginning of precision cosmology," Smoot said.

Another physics professor at Cal, Saul Perlmutter, also donated some of his prize money from the Gruber Cosmology Prize, which he won in 2006, to fund the new center.

Good Seeing!

 

 

I am proud to announce that I have been selected to represent the great State of Tennessee (along with several others already ordained) as a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador (http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/). I received the notification by snail mail yesterday, December 24.

My term begins in January 2008. As soon as they receive some legal documentation and photograph from me, they will make the official announcement. This includes their contacting my local media for public announcement--this is a big deal, they only choose one for each applying state each year. The letter that Dr. Ferrari sent me was very commendable.

I am excited in serving NASA/JPL. This should be good publicity for BAS. In addition, they already know about my astronomy-related poetry. I have great hopes in getting some exposure, maybe even nationally on this.

This is my Christmas present this year. I will keep you all posted.

Cheers,
John Mannone

 

 

On behalf of all of the members (about 6 of us in total) of the Jacksonville State University / Northeast Alabama Astronomy League (aka JSU/NEAAL) I want to pass on our Christmas wishes to you and to all of the BAS members. May there be many goodies and toys related to star gazing under your trees!

I'm hoping that good weather and clear skies greets us for either Saturday January 5th or Saturday January 12th so we can all play with our new toys!! Since the new moon is on the 8th either of those Saturdays will be good for a star party. The 5th will have a thin crescent in the east in the morning, the 12th will have a slightly less thin crescent setting in the west at sunset. Of course weather will impact any scheduling decisions but if/when you have an idea about opening Orion Acres for either of those days please let me know.

In all likelihood I'll be coming alone but there is the slight chance that one or two others may come along. The most likely is Gary who has a 6" Celestron Refractor and is working on the AL Double Star Award list. Another young fellow John might come with us, he has an 8" dob and just likes to cruise the Messiers. If anyone at all comes with me it will likely be one of those two. The other club members have attended some meetings but have never come to an observing event so are highly unlikely to make their first a winter night 2 hours away. But I have the release form and if anyone comes with me I'll have them complete it and bring it along. If we come we'll car pool and arrive together. Again, happy holidays!

David Hofland
Director, Student Services
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Jacksonville State University
256.782.5276

 

OFFICERS

President………………………………………...…...Tom Adkins
Vice-President……………………………………….Bill Seymour
Secretary………………………………………….Gary Caldwell
Treasurer……………………………………...…..…..David Witt
STAR Editor……………………………….....…….Steve Ramey
Webmaster………………………………..…...……….Rod Ruch
Database Manager……………………………...…....Bill Seymour
Star Party Chairman……………………….…..……Victor Rogers

 

December Minutes

(Note: Due to the Christmas Party, a business session was not held in December.)

Bill Seymour, Secretary

 

REMINDER- Your annual BAS dues of are now due on the anniversary of your membership in accordance with the adopted amendment to the by-laws. The due date appears below your name on the address on the front of this newsletter. If your expiration date says “Overdue” or if you don't agree with the date shown, contact David Witt to resolve discrepancies. The current dues rates are as follows: REGULAR $15.00, REGULAR ASSOCIATE $7.00, JUNIOR $8.00, JUNIOR ASSOCIATE $5.00. Your Sky & Telescope or Astronomy subscription will continue to be handled as in the past. When you receive your subscription reminder card, submit it to:

David Witt
4503 Cove Lane
Chattanooga , TN 37415-2306

Along with the group subscription rate of $32.95 for Sky and Telescope, or $34.00 for Astronomy. Note the increased rate for Astronomy. This was effective July 31, 2005

 

DEADLINE- All articles and other materials for publication in the next STAR are due no later than Wednesday, February 6 th . The following media are acceptable: hard copy, disk (IBM), video tape (VHS), prints, or e-mail to bas@chattanooga.net or s tramey@catt.com and attach a file or mail to:

Steve Ramey
109 Sioux Trail
Ringgold GA 30736

PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ALSO ACCEPTABLE.

 

DIRECTIONS TO ORION ACRES

FROM NORTH HAMILTON COUNTY :

From 27 (corridor J) take hwy. 111 to Dunlap, continue through the Sequatchie Valley up the next mountain ( Cagle Mountain ). When you reach the summit about 5 miles turn LEFT onto hwy. 399 (sign reads 'to Savage Gulf State Park ' Stay on 399 until it ends, which will be in Grundy Co. Now make a LEFT onto hwy. 108 South. This goes thru Palmer TN. Continue on 108 up to a higher elevation. When this levels off, turn RIGHT onto Palmer Fire Tower Rd. This is a large open area with possibly trucks loaded with timber for the paper mills. Orion Acres will be on the RIGHT about 8 tenths mile.

 FROM INTERSTATE 24 (to Nashville ):

Go to the Dunlap/Whitwell exit (#155). This is hwy. 28. Exit right and keep on 28 for about 11 miles, passing Hardee's on your left. Continue through the stoplight and take the next LEFT on Hwy. 108 North. Continue another 11 or so miles. You will see ' Grundy County ' sign. Take the next left. This is Palmer Fire Tower Rd. Go 8 tenths of a mile and Orion Acres is on the RIGHT