MEETING NOTICE :

The regular meeting of the BARNARD ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY will be held Thursday, April 12th at Jones Observatory on Brainerd Rd. The business meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. followed by the program at 8:30. Refreshments will be served

PROGRAM:

“A Tour of The Lowell Observatory” presented by BAS member Robert Coulter.

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

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

March Minutes

The March 8 meeting of the Barnard Astronomical Society was called to order at 7:48 PM by president Tom Adkins.There were seven members present.

The Febreuary minutes were read and accepted with two corrections. The title of John Mannone's presentation should have been "An Introduction to Radio Astronomy".

Treasurer's Report

As of February 28 the balance in the society's account is $778.74. A check has been written to the Chattanooga Science Fair for $138.72 for the awards voted in the Feb. meeting.

Old Business

On Saturday, March 24 there will be an event at the John A. Patten Recreational Center in Tiftonia entitled "Voices of the Night". This will be a joint effort of the Rhyme 'n Chat and the BAS. Bring scopes , binoculars ,etc.

New Business

There is a new middle school on Three Notch Lane in Ringgold. It looks like it might be a good place for some star parties.

Will there be a Star Party at the Soddy Elementary School in April?

David Witt reminded us of the TSSP at Fall Creek Falls State Park March 16-17. No pre-registration is required unless one needs to reserve a room at the inn for overnight.

At the BAS meeting on April 12 there will be a promotion of Dark Skies in conjunction with the Rhyme 'n Chat poetry group. We may have press coverage. It would really be nice to have a good turnout.

We should increase our outreach efforts by promoting our star parties through the high school science teachers. Students would probably have to travel on their own since no buses would be available. Students may come to Jones Observatory. This would have to be coordinated through Jack Pitkin. This may not become a reality until the fall season.

The nominating committee for new officers will be appointed at the April meeting.

The Science Fair will be held March 12 and the awards program on March 15.

Jim Smith of 196 Blue Heron Drive, Ringgold, GA 30736 donated a 10 in. Oddesy Dobsonian telescope to the BAS. A letter will be sent to him acknowledging the donation.

Program (

Dr. David Fields of the Tamke-Allen Observatory presented a program on "Radio Astronomy". The Tamke -Allen Observatory is located near Rockwood, TN. The observatory's inventory consists of an IBT "dish scope", a D & G Optics 8 in. refractor, a Meade 12 in. LX200 and a Coronado PST.

Dr. Fields presentation centered around getting started in radio astronomy. It can be done very inexpensively with readily available hardware such as a discarded satellite dish antenna, a readily available signal amplifier and miscellaneous hardware. More information on radio astronomy can be found at radiosky.com and roanstate.edu/obs.

Gary Caldwell, 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, May 2nd. The following media are acceptable: hard copy, disk (IBM), video tape (VHS), prints, or e-mail to bas@chattanooga.net or stramey@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. A sign will be posted at 7pm on Saturday May 7th.

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. There will be a sign posted at 7pm on Saturday, May 7th.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

April Program

Regular April meeting Thursday, April 12, 2007 at The Jones Observatory; 7:30 P.M.—Business Meeting and Social; refreshments will be served. 8:30 P.M.—Program: “A Tour of The Lowell Observatory” presented by BAS member Robert Coulter. Program includes interesting audio-visual items.

Looking Ahead

Regular May meeting Thursday, May 10, 2007; “My Visit to The Great Meteor Crater in Arizona” presented by BAS member Robert Coulter.

Regular June meeting Thursday, June 8, 2007; “My Experiences While Working in The Space Shuttle Program” presented by BAS member Kevin Richardson.

A New Spring Field Trip Being Added for BAS

In what is hoped will become a regular yearly event, BAS outreach is now extending to another observatory in the region.* Dr. David Fields, Director of The Tamke-Allan Observatory (TAO), has invited BAS for a visit on Saturday evening, May 5, 2007. Located on a remote peninsula of Watts Bar Lake near Harriman, TN, TAO is operated by Roane State College and has an 8 inch refractor in the main dome, LX 200 SCT’s, Coronado Solar Scopes, and numerous radio telescope dish antennas. BAS will depart the Jones Observatory parking lot promptly at 3:00 P.M. in car pools for the one hour and fifty minute drive to TAO. A stop will be made along the way in Kingston for dinner. During remaining daylight, an observatory tour and solar astronomy will be done.

After dark, a brief star party will be held, using the optical telescopes belonging to the observatory. (BAS members do not bring their own telescopes on this field trip.) Note that weather will not be a factor, since there are numerous inside activities. Expect to arrive back in Chattanooga around midnight.

PUT THIS MAY 5TH FIELD TRIP DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR. NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU MAY BE, YOU CAN SPARE ONE-HALF OF A SATURDAY TO GROW YOUR HOBBY AND HAVE SOME DIFFERENT ASTRONOMY EXPERIENCES AND FUN.

*BAS already has a another regular field trip involving an observatory in the area in the Fall of each year, the Cordell-Lorenz Observatory at The University of The South in Sewanee, TN.

Thanks Are Due

To the many BAS members whose volunteer efforts made possible our community outreach to bring the wonders of astronomy to so many groups during the past year: elementary school students, UTC students, RNC Poetry Group, Boy Scouts, 21st Century Neighborhood Assn., American Chemical Society, The Chattanooga Hiking Club, and others. This is a very impressive beginning for our new outreach program.

To the many BAS officers and leaders who labor without recognition behind the scenes every month with the administrative duties necessary to keep BAS operating.

Special Recognition

To Dr. Francis Cordell, whose monthly column “Conversations in Cosmology” in the BARNARD STAR continually amazes us and stimulates our imaginations with his profound grasp of such a broad range of scientific topics.

To Dr. John Mannone for an enormous amount of work in submitting so many Night Sky Network (NSN) reports that BAS is now ranked among the top ten astronomy clubs in America for quantity of NSN reports submitted. And for his relentless (and often frustrating and unappreciated) efforts to grow interdisciplinary culture in the community by bringing together such varied groups as bookstore browsers, amateur poets, amateur astronomers, as well as the general public during several some nighttime events.

To Victor Rogers, BAS “President Emeritus” for his continuing efforts with NSN, his role as public liaison for BAS, his global e-mails keeping BAS members informed on a wide variety of topics in astronomy, and for making available to BAS and visitors his property at Orion Acres, one of the best dark sky viewing sites in the Eastern United States.

Zombie Star Party

Hi Fellow Astronomers. The Atlanta Astronomy Club will be holding our annual 'no frills' ZOMBIE star party from April 12-15 at our new Dark Sky site at the Deerlick Astronomy Village in Talliferro County, Georgia (off I-20) midway between Atlanta & Augusta. The DAV site has a hothouse, a well, lots of electrical hook-ups, plenty of room for camping and some of the darkest skies in North Georgia. We will provide free coffee and refreshements for the event and a chili dinner on Saturday night.

We would like to invite your members to come on out and would appreciate it if you could pass the announcement onto your members, via your website and/ or newsletter.

You can get more information and a pre-registration form (though pre-registration is NOT required) at our website:
http://www.atlantaastronomy.org/Zombie/

Thank You & Clear Skies,
Sharon Carruthers
Treasurer, AAC

News From The Science Fair

The Chattanooga Regional Science Fair certainly appreciates the Barnard Astronomical Society for sponsoring these awards. The winners this year are as follows: Barnard Astronomical Society Award

Two awards are given for the best exhibits in the field of physics. The Junior Division winner is: Brandi from GPS – 8th Grade. Title of Project: Building A Solar Telescope. She will receive $50 and a certificate.

The Senior Division winner is: Katie from Notre Dame High School – 10th grade. Title of Project: Electrochemistry of Homemade Solar Cells. She will receive $75.00 and a certificate Katie won 2nd place in the Grand Prize category and will be displaying her project in the International Fair.

Thanks again,

Ginny Reese

… And we at the BAS also wish to thank Dr. Tom Murphy for his donation to this cause.

 

The End of Physics, or --- The End?

An astronomical black hole forms when enough matter is squashed into a small enough space to reach a critical density. According to theory, the same critical density could be reached if two particles
slam violently together, creating a tiny black hole. Just how violent the collision must be depends on the number of dimensions in our universe. If there are only the three dimensions of space we're familiar with, then making black holes would require particle energies far greater than any known process can produce. But if the Universe has extra dimensions, as quantum theories of gravity predict, then gravity could get much stronger at very short distances and suck the two colliding particles together once they get close enough. Black hole creation could then be within reach of CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the new accelerator in Geneva due to start smashing protons in 2007.

In preparation for the LHC, theorists have been trying to predict the behavior of such tiny black holes. A 2002 paper suggested that soon after being created, a black hole could disappear into the extra dimensions but no one has fully described this process.

Now Antonino Flachi and Takahiro Tanaka at Kyoto University in Japan have fleshed out the picture. In extra-dimensional theories, most particles would be trapped in our three-dimensional world, which physicists call the brane. But gravitons, the carriers of gravitational forces, can travel out of the brane and into the extra dimensions. If the brane were a flat, stretchy sheet, a black hole could emit a graviton perpendicular to the sheet, and the black hole's recoil could distort the nearby brane region, creating a deep dimple.

Dejan Stojkovic of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland says the new study confirms his earlier paper suggesting that small black holes could leave our brane. However, Greg Landsberg of Brown University in Providence Rhode Island, is skeptical about the broad applicability of the results. He says there are many scenarios that include different assumptions that result in black holes being trapped on the brane. Rather than spend a lot of time discussing various possibilities, he says, "I prefer to wait a few years until the LHC turns on."

Good Seeing!