northern colorado contents - nocoastro · northern colorado astronomical society december 2014...
TRANSCRIPT
N O RT H E R N C O L O R A D O A S T R O N O M I CA L S O C I E T Y
December 2014 Newsletter
Page 2-3: Science news Page 4: NCAS info Page 5-6: Dec & Jan event calendars Page 7: NoCo resources
C O N T E N T S
Date: January 8, 2015 Meeting (NEW TIME): 6:15 pm Dinner (NEW TIME): 7:45 pm Location: FoCo Museum of Discovery Speaker: Dr. David Malaspina, CU Lab for Atmospheric & Space Physics (LASP) Topic: The Solar Probe Mission
M E E T I N G S
Attend the January meeting to learn
about your new 2015 NCAS officers. Also
see page 4 for new (or renewed)
membership information & how your
continued support benefits the
community!
Did deadly gamma-ray burst cause a mass extinction on Earth?
The fastest stars in the universe may approach light speed.
It’s that time again.. renew your
membership today! (see page 4)
add @ncastro.org to email
2 0 1 4 O F F I C E R S
NAME:
Dave Karp Greg Halac David Auter Jeff Blume Amanda Bell Greg Halac
TITLE:
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor Web Editor & Outreach Coordinator
EMAIL:
pres@ vp@ sec@ treas@ objview@ web-edit@
FREE ‘ INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY’ COURSE:
An introduction to astronomy through a broad survey of what we know about the universe and how we know it. In this class, you will be studying, quite literally, everything in the universe.
QUANTUM TELEPORTATION REACHES FARTHEST DISTANCE YET:
A new distance record has been set in the strange world of quantum teleportation. About five years ago, researchers could only teleport quantum information, such as which direction a particle is spinning, across a few meters. Now, they can beam that information across several miles!
EXPERIMENT SIMULATES BEGINNINGS OF LIFE ON EARTH:
The origin of life on Earth about 4 billion years ago remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries of science, but a new study is shedding light on the matter. The findings not only offer support for theories of how life first formed, but could also aid in the search for signs of life elsewhere in the universe, the researchers said.
S C I E N C E
N E W SShare your favorite stories, articles, photos or events with your fellow members! Submit anything and everything to your newsletter editor, Amanda, at objview at ncastro.org.
SHEDDING LIGHT ON EVOLUTION OF UNIVERSE:
The leading scientific theory of how the universe evolved has again proved accurate. The latest study of the afterglow of the big bang confirms even more precisely the standard model of cosmology, researchers with Europe's Planck spacecraft reported today at a press conference in Ferrara, Italy. That's a victory for the theory, but it leaves researchers with no discrepancies that might point to a deeper understanding.
‘SUPER-EARTH’ PLANET FOUND BY GROUND-BASED TELESCOPE:
This is the first time a planet in this "super-Earth" size category orbiting a sunlike star has been observed by a ground-based telescope using this detection method. ”With this result, we are also closing in on the detection of the atmospheres of small planets with ground-based telescopes," Lopez-Morales said. "We are slowly paving the way toward the detection of biosignatures in Earthlike planets around nearby stars."
IS COMPLEX LIFE POSSIBLE IN ONLY 10% OF ALL GALAXIES?
Of the estimated 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe, only one in 10 can support complex life like that on Earth, a pair of astrophysicists argues. Everywhere else, stellar explosions known as gamma ray bursts would regularly wipe out any life forms more elaborate than microbes. The detonations also kept the universe lifeless for billions of years after the big bang, the researchers say.
THE POTSDAM GRAVITY POTATO:
Why do some places on Earth have higher gravity than others? Because a center for studying this data is in Potsdam, Germany and because the results make Earth look somewhat like a potato -- say ‘hello' to the Potsdam Gravity Potato.
STARTALK LIVE! SF SKETCHFEST:
Where did we come from? Are we alone? Join guest host Bill Nye the Science Guy, comic co-host Eugene Mirman and their special guests comedian Dave Foley and Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute, as they attempt to answer these questions on stage at the Marine Memorial Theater in San Francisco.
DECEMBER SOLSTICE 2014:
The earliest people on earth knew that the sun’s path across the sky, the length of daylight and location of the sunrise and sunset all shifted in a regular way throughout the year. They built monuments to follow the progress. Today we see the solstice differently. We can picture it from the vantage point of space.
FIVE BOOKS THAT STOOD OUT IN 2014:
Books editor Jermey Matthews highlights five books reviewed this year in ‘Physics Today’ that you might want to consider for holiday reading or gifting. One feature of the ‘Physics Today Book Reviews’ section is its technical and topical diversity. Highlighting that diversity was one goal of this year’s “top five” list. The five books listed below that stood out cover quite distinguishable topics: cosmology and relativity; nuclear physics; oceanography and geophysics; quantum theory; and space science and “science-fiction” physics.
Clearly, these aren’t necessarily the best physics books of the year; I don’t even know where to start making such a list. But if you’re looking for expert opinions on relatively accessible titles, you’ll find them in the review summaries below.
WE ARE DEAD STARS:
Every atom in our bodies was processed in the body of an ancient star, says NASA astronomer Dr. Michelle Thaller. Thaller explains how the iron in our blood connects us to one of the most violent acts in the universe—a supernova explosion—and what the universe might look like when the stars die out.
Your membership dues support our public outreach programs as well as allow us to purchase and
maintain club equipment.
Membership dues are only $20 per year, collected in January and pro-rated for new members who
join at other times.
Membership benefits include: membership in the Astronomical
League (and their Reflector Magazine), use of club equipment and books and a discount on Sky and Telescope Magazine and/or
Astronomy magazines.
NCAS was officially established in 1995 as a non-profit organization to promote interest in
the science and hobby of astronomy. We meet the first Thursday of each month to discuss
our interests and share our experience in the universal world of astronomy.
F R O M N CA S T R O. O R G
MEMBER PHOTO ALBUMS:
You'll want to see all of the amazing photos taken by our members.
NCAS EMAIL:
Anyone can join the email lists but subscription requests are monitored. Only approved subscribers are allowed to post.
NCAS ADMINISTRATIVE INFO
Renew your membership here. Find group bylaws and constitution.
BORROW EQUIPMENT HERE:
Club items may be borrowed at no cost by NCAS members! Find out more here.
CLUB MEETING OVERVIEW:
Recommend a future speaker or find out how to join speakers for dinner before the NCAS meeting.
NCAS PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS:
Help NCAS fulfill its primary mission: to educate and engage the public with year-round public events.
Click here to become a member today!
NCAS Event Calendar
DecemberSunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Olander ES (private) 6:30 pm
NCAS Meeting 6:15pm Fort Collins MoD
FoCo MOD
Melvil Dewey Birthday, 1851
Public skygazing 7:30pm
Colorado Skies at Fiske Planetarium
Globe at Night Globe at Night
Geminid shower
Public skygazing
Globe at Night
FoCo MOD
Geminid shower
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
Colorado Skies at Fiske Planetarium
Globe at Night
LTO Public Night
Globe at Night
Stargazer open house
Globe at Night
FoCo MOD
Ursids shower
December solstice Ursids shower Ursids shower
Telescope training at Chamberlin Obs.
Public skygazing 7:30pm
FoCo MOD
Happy restart of the earth's tropical orbital period!
3 4 5 6 1 2
9 8 7 10 11 12 13
16 15 14 17 18 19 20
23 22 21 24 25 26 27
30 29 28 31
NCAS Event Calendar
January (2015)Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Quadrantid Meteor Shower
Quadrantid Meteor Shower
FoCo MOD
225th Am Astro Society (Jan 4-8)
NCAS Meeting 6:15pm Fort Collins MoD Globe at Night
FoCo MOD
Telescope training at Chamberlin Obs.
Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night Globe at Night
LTO Public Night
Globe at Night
Stargazer open house
Globe at Night
FoCo MOD
Globe at Night Globe at Night
ERGO Project
Globe at NightPublic skygazing 7:30pm
FoCo MOD
Apollo 1 lost (1967)
CO Star Party
Big Thompson ES, private 6:30pm
Challenger and crew lost (1986)
America's first satellite launched (1958)
13 12 11 14 15 16 17
27 26 25 28 29 30 31
1 2 3
6 5 4 7 8 9 10
20 19 18 21 22 23 24
Astronomy Clubs, Museums, Observatories and Planetariums
N O RT H E R N C O L O R A D O
BOULDER ASTRONOMY & SPACE SOCIETY (BASS):
Meetings are hosted by the UC campus at the Fiske Planetarium. Open to students and the public. Membership and meeting info here.
FORT COLLINS MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY (FOCO MOD):
The MoD isn't just where we hold our meetings. Check out their calendar for current events to find out more or just schedule a visit any time.
LONGMONT ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (LAS):
Promotes amateur astronomy through monthly meetings, star parties and public observing sessions. Meetings are open to the public.
LITTLE THOMPSON OBSERVATORY (LTO):
No-charge public access to the universe available during regularly-scheduled public star nights or a private event.
SOMMERS BAUSCH OBSERVATORY (SBO):
SBO is operated by the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) at CU Boulder. Check out the visitor’s guide for more info.
ESTES PARK MEMORIAL OBSERVATORY (EPMO):
Has many goals, including raising interest of kids in K-12th grade in math, physics and science. EPMO encourages enthusiasm for physics and math and wants their facility to be free of charge to everyone.
DENVER ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY (DAS):
DAS Promotes understanding of astronomical phenomenon with monthly meetings, outreach and activities at the University of Denver’s historic Chamberlin Observatory. Don’t forget to follow the Chamberlin Observatory on Twitter.
FRONT RANGE ASTRONOMICAL SUPERCLUSTER (FRASC):
A confederation of regional astronomy clubs for sharing information and hosting joint summertime star parties. Includes societies in Denver, CO Springs, Pueblo, Cheynne, FoCo (That's us!), Longmont, Boulder and many more…
FRONT RANGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (FRCC) OBSERVATORIES:
Sunlight Peak Observatory and Stargazer Observatory of Fort Collins are both operated by FRCC. Sunlight Peak Observatory is located on campus; Stargazer Observatory in Observatory Village near Fossil Ridge High School.