The IAS

News &

Views

Volume 86, Issue 1 www.iasindy.org

Indiana Astronomical Society

General Meeting

Saturday, January 19, 7:00 PM

Holcomb Observatory

“Remote Observing Using iTelescope.Net” (Observe like a Professional)

Dave Collier

Are you plagued by any of the following: Too few clear nights, light pollution, poor seeing, inability

to get to dark site but a few nights a year or not able to stay up all hours to make that observation?

Then a remote telescope might be an answer to your frustration. Dave Collier has been using remote

telescopes via the Itelescope.net Network to pursue the A/L globular cluster program over the last

year. Come hear about his experiences and explore if this might be an option to supplement your

observing.

________________________________

David Collier has been a member of the IAS since April of 2015. He has had a lifelong interest in

astronomy dating back to the early 1970s. His first telescope (back then) was a 60mm Tasco refractor

on an alt-az mount. He has a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Evansville and an

MBA from Butler University. He is employed by the US Navy and works as a Principal Systems

Engineer on the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft. His current telescope is a Celestron C-8 XLT on a

CGEM mount.

From the President’s Desk

The new year looks to be another busy one for outreach and growth within the society. In 2018 our

membership grew to a maintained level well above 200 — we welcome you new members and those

who’ve found their way back to the IAS.

Our Holiday Party was very well attended; organized by Paula Magar and Betsy Brown — superb!

And the weather cooperated — better rain than snow, right? I’d also like to thank the Officers and

Board of Directors for their past service and welcome Larry Cates and Norm Dingle to Board

positions and Jim Smith to another term. Continuing service to the Society in new positions is Robert

Aull as Treasurer, Laura Keller as Secretary and Ben Jansen as Vice President/Program Coordinator,

each serve in other roles as well. Two members who’ve been very dedicated and lead by example are

IAS News and Views

Page 2 January 2019

John Kramer who’d served as Treasurer and Ken Magar as Vice President/Program Coordinator — we

can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done and continue to do to help the Society grow and prosper.

Lastly, many of us don’t get out as much in the cold but think about observing, events and even

friends we’ve known over the years — perhaps contact someone who’s crossed your mind or would

enjoy hearing from you soon?

— John Molt

IAS NEWS

Upcoming Events for January

The following events will occur rain or shine.

IAS Program Planning/Board Meeting

Saturday, January 19 at 5 PM, Holcomb Observatory. The IAS board meeting will occur

approximately two hours before the general meeting. IAS members are welcome to attend

and provide input.

IAS General Meeting

Saturday, January 19 at 7 PM, Holcomb Observatory. The public is welcome. See the

front page of this newsletter for details and speaker information.

After a short break, AstroTalk will follow the main speaker.

LinkLive

Saturday, January 19 at 8 PM, Mooresville Public Library. LOSSI directors will provide

multimedia presentations on space-related current events and “what’s up in the sky.”

Weather permitting, an observing session will follow using the 36" telescope at Link.

Note that this event is the same night as the IAS general meeting.

Observing Activities for January

The following events are weather-dependent and subject to last-minute cancellation. Please monitor

our collaboration site for updates and do not drive out until you receive confirmation that it’s a “go.”

Link Observatory Activities (Members and Invited Guests) —

The IAS has deep-sky observing sessions scheduled to occur at Link Observatory on the

weekend of January 4-5 and again on January 25-26. Come observe with the telescope

operators using the Tanager Hill or Link 36" scopes, or bring your own and set up on the north

observing field.

Camping will be permitted if the grounds are not too soggy. No trailers or campfires, please.

IAS News and Views

Page 3 January 2019

West Park Activities (Members Only) —

Another members-only stargaze is scheduled to occur on Saturday, January 12 at Carmel-Clay

West Park on the far north side. West Park liaison Dave Collier will provide more details via

our groups.io collaboration site as the date approaches.

Holiday Party at Holcomb!

The December meeting and holiday party occurred on December 15, with 49 people in attendance.

Robert Aull moved to approve the bylaws changes as presented at the previous meeting and published

via email and online in the IAS newsletter. John Kramer seconded the motion and John Molt called for

a hand vote. A total of 31 IAS members voted yay, no nay votes, none abstaining. Revision 9 of the

bylaws are available on the IAS web site at http://www.iasindy.org/ias-501c3.php

The annual elections were carried out (see next article), followed by a raffle to distribute astronomy

books received as donations.

John Molt praised those who worked to organize the party, called out Ken Magar and John Kramer for

their service as they stepped down from officer positions, and thanked Tom Borlik and Robert Aull for

their work at Link Observatory in 2018. John had the IAS officers, board members, park liaisons, and

telescope operators stand to demonstrate the level of volunteer commitment necessary to keep the

Society running.

Steve Haines spoke about the possibility of planetarium shows returning to the Children’s Museum; he

will be meeting with a Vice President there shortly to discuss these opportunities.

The meeting concluded at 8:30 pm, with an invitation for members to remain to socialize.

IAS members converse at the Holiday Party. Santa Claus also made an appearance. Photos by Dave Collier and Tom Borlik.

Thanks to everyone for pitching in dishes and helping with setup and knock-down. Special thanks go

to Paula Magar and Betsy Brown for once again organizing this event.

IAS News and Views

Page 4 January 2019

Election Results

As usual, the annual election was held at the December general meeting. Voting took place at 7:10 by

paper ballot and the results were announced after the Holiday Party meal.

Your new IAS officers and directors for 2019 are:

President — John Molt

Vice President — Ben Jansen

Treasurer — Robert Aull

Secretary — Laura Keller

Board of Directors — Three-year terms: Jim Smith, Norm Dingle

One-year term: Larry Cates

More details on who is filling each of the Officer, Board and Coordinator positions in 2019 can be

found on the “Contact Us” page on the IAS web site.

We are grateful to all of the 2019 candidates for agreeing to run and for their willingness to help direct

the course of the IAS. It takes many dedicated people to keep the organization operating effectively,

and once again we have a strong leadership team with a few new faces coming on the board that will

continue to move things forward.

The Society owes special thanks to outgoing Vice President Ken Magar, Treasurer John Kramer and

board member Ed Rhoads for their years of service.

Dark Sky Observing Site Information

IAS members may observe at Link Observatory, McCloud Nature Park, Prairie Grass Observatories,

West Park in Carmel, Eagle Creek Park, and/or Burkhart Creek Park during non-scheduled times if

they do not conflict with reserved activities.

The Link Observatory is open for observing during IAS functions at that location. For scheduled

events, see the IAS calendar under the “Events Schedule” tab on the website www.iasindy.org (a

monthly calendar is at the end of this newsletter). Impromptu observing opportunities are also

occasionally announced on the ias-indy collaboration site by our telescope operators. All observing

depends on weather conditions, so please join the group to receive the latest information.

For those interested in observing at McCloud Nature Park, call the Nature Center (765-676-5437) or

the Park Office (317-718-6188) before 4 PM on the day you want to go. Such impromptu requests are

limited to IAS members and their immediate family; other group viewing requires five days’ notice.

Please understand that some requests may not be granted depending on event conflicts and the like.

To view at Burkhart Creek County Park, first acquire a copy of the IAS approval letter to show you

have permission to be there after dark. Then send an email to both dverley@morgancounty.in.gov and

tutterrow8327@att.net, mention that you are with the IAS, and let them know your plans. You may or

may not get a reply…don’t worry…just take your approval letter and go.

West Park in Carmel is also available for use by IAS members. Download the MOU from our

collaboration site and print it as proof of membership. You must obtain approval from one of the listed

park liaisons at least 24 hours in advance. The Carmel Police Department must also be notified. For

liability reasons, non-member guests will have to leave before nightfall. See the MOU for details.

IAS News and Views

Page 5 January 2019

To observe at Eagle Creek Park Eagle's Crest, first acquire a copy of the IAS approval letter and

send an email request to all the addressees provided in the letter to check availability. Upon approval

the gate key may be picked up before 5 PM from the administrative office (north side of 56th Street

just east of the reservoir). Return the key to the office on the following business day.

For those interested in observing at Prairie Grass Observatory, call Hoppe at 765-296-2753.

IAS Web Site Update

The IAS web site has recently been

given an overhaul to make it easier

to join the Society.

Previously, you had to download

the PDF membership application,

fill it out and save it, email it to the

Membership Coordinator, and then

return to the site to pay. Now, the

entire process can be completed on

the web, with none of the messing

around in email.

This is achieved by use of an online

form. All you have to do is fill in

the required form fields and click

the yellow “Submit and Continue”

button. Membership information is

collected by a PHP script and sent

directly to both the Treasurer and

the Membership Coordinator.

You are then redirected to the page

where dues are collected. This will

generate a second email to the

Treasurer, verifying payment. If

there is any disconnect between the

payment notification and the form

entries, either the Membership

Coordinator or the Treasurer will

contact you to resolve it.

The same process may be used for

annual renewals, but please be sure

to select the corresponding “radio

button.” Membership in the Astronomical League may also be selected, but don’t forget to click the

second button on the payment page so League dues land in your shopping cart.

The provided screenshot should give you an idea of what the new web form looks like. Please direct

any questions or problems using this form to the IAS webmaster at webmaster@iasindy.org.

For those who prefer to pay by personal check and US Mail, that option still exists. Simply download

the existing membership application and follow the instructions in that document.

IAS News and Views

Page 6 January 2019

Observing and Outreach Reports

Every scheduled observing event this month was cancelled due to clouds, but several of us were able

to see Comet 46P Wirtanen at one point or another, mostly through binoculars. Here are the reports.

December 7 — We were able to pick it out naked eye at our star party Friday night in south-central

Florida. Difficult for sure but doable. By the way, to me in a scope (10") it was large and bright but

still uninteresting.

— Mike Downs

December 9 — In a case of carpe noctem, Phil Thompson and I operated Tanager Hill Observatory on

a cold but clear Sunday night beginning at 1830 hours. After “warming up” on Mars and M45, we then

attempted NGC nebulae 6960, 6992, 6995, and IC 5070 in Cygnus; however, as the swan was

beginning to set that section of the sky lost its transparency. We turned to M31 in the finder scope and

then slewed to Neptune in the C14’s main objective.

As the night chill set in we unsuccessfully sought comet 46P/Wirtanen in the finder scope first near

Eta Eridani, then via RA/Dec coordinates, then via two galaxies NGC 1211 and 1253 bracketing 46P

at the time. We followed the age-old method whereby one of us would either remove his glasses or

leave them on to refocus the finder, leaving the other to slew to vignetted or double stars at the

periphery until we spiraled away from the comet’s known location. We repeated the process with

vigor until the cold sapped our will at 2215 hours.

— Robert Aull

December 10 — I went out just now (11 PM) to view the comet. It was better than last Friday, and

displayed more condensation, only a few degrees southeast of Menkar (alpha Ceti). Still, it was not

particularly easy in 10×50 binoculars, and I suspect it will never reach naked-eye visibility, at least not

as viewed in our light-polluted skies. I encourage all to go take a look, if you haven’t already.

— Bruce Bowman

December 11 — I looked at this evening as well. It is very faint but fairly large. I was able to spot it

easily even with street lights and a neighbor who decided to add a spotlight to his back yard. You

might also watch for the Geminids while observing the comet.

— LeRay Hinchman

December 12 — Found it easily in my 8×40s so I grabbed my 6″ Dob for a quick look. Interestingly, it

looked much more impressive in the binoculars than the telescope.

— Matt Kurtz

Fred and I just came inside after seeing the comet with handheld binoculars; 7×50 and 8×42. Looked

pretty good! We could not see it naked eye from the area near the Link; however, we were not outside

long enough to become fully dark-adapted.

— Laura Hintz-Keller

I just found it myself with the 9x63s. It was exactly where Sky Safari said it would be. Had to search

for a while because I can barely see Aldebaran and Menkar naked eye and M45 is a faint, fuzzy patch

from my home location right outside I-465 at Mann Road. It’s almost in the middle of those three

objects. Sky Safari says that it’s mag 8.9 right now. I’m really surprised I found it from here. I

probably wouldn’t have found it in the 10×50s.

— Wayne McSpadden

IAS News and Views

Page 7 January 2019

I used my son’s short focal length Newtonian on low power. Basically find Aldebaran and draw a line

to Tau. Then draw another line up from Bellatrix. It’s right at that intersection slightly below the line

from Aldebaran to Tau. Looks like a blue green snowball. Pretty much the only thing that won’t focus

to a pinpoint in the field. Not unlike looking at Neptune. Bam!

— Jon Thomas

Motivated by all of the posts, I stepped out to take a quick peek. I didn’t stay out long so wasn’t close

to dark adapted. Hints naked eye but a big fuzzy ball with a brighter center in 10×50 binoculars. Very

nice!

— Rick Betuker

December 16 (night of closest approach) — The comet is visible in binoculars just southeast of the

Pleiades (M45). Look for a greenish, fuzzy star. This was from 56th and Allisonville Road in Indy.

Take a look.

— Dave Collier

I just came in from observing the comet in Carmel, near 141st Street and Ditch Road.

8×42 binoculars (pretty good, detectable)

16×70 binoculars (much better)

4" APO with 31 Nagler = 26× with about 3.1º field of view (best view)

Even with the Moon tonight the comet is still pretty good viewing.

— Paul Morow

I also spotted 46P about two hours ago with 7×50 then 16×50 binoculars. It wasn’t a tough object in

spite of the moonlight and some cirrus clouds. As you’ve all warned, it’s very large and diffuse!

— Paul Zeller

Finally at about zenith. Went out and saw it, used my 12×60s to dial in then popped my ES 30mm 82º

in my 8" and dialed it right in. Nice, big, and diffuse. Can see the greenish blue perfectly.

— Chris Heim

My two photons worth: 56th and Georgetown; 15×45 Canon IS, minimal dark adaption (too many

local lights and two lazy to lay out on the ground very long).

At 7 PM the comet was detected with great difficulty after ten minutes using peripheral vision and

knowing the exact location. At 9 PM with the Pleiades higher, the comet was easy on peripheral

vision, but still not with direct. I estimate the visible size at half a degree.

The change in position over two hours was obvious. A brilliant green color was not visible.

— Fritz Kleinhans

December 17 — Paula and I finally did find it. No luck with 10×50 binoculars, so we switched to our

little ST-80. I found it with the ST-80, but it was still very hard to detect. It is very large and diffuse as

others have said. Keep in mind that where we live, we can barely make out the Pleiades naked eye

especially with the Moon out. I would love to put my 16" on it, but no time right now with working

long hours.

— Ken Magar

IAS News and Views

Page 8 January 2019

Here is an image of the

comet I took Sunday

night after midnight.

I’m trying to learn to

use a DSLR. This is a

stack of four taken

with a Nikon D50

(unmodified) at ISO

1600 for 60 seconds

with a 300mm F4.5

Nikon H series lens

from the late 60s to

early 70s. I haven’t

learned to use raw files

yet, so the original

images were jpegs. Not

too bad, but I’m sure I

can get much more

when I get the right software for raw files. I used my Orion Atlas mount that doesn’t have the updated

electronics for periodic error correction or the ability to connect an autoguider. The camera and lens

setup is a pretty inexpensive way to start astrophotography using a DSLR camera.

— Dan Cade

If you missed the comet here’s a way to see it. I did this from my front yard last night. It is nearly two

hours of movement. 46P/Wirtanen from December 16th, 2018 (www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7-

uNi3CGhM).

— Scotty Bishop

IAS News and Views

Page 9 January 2019

2018 IAS Public Outreach Report

Below please find a (conservative) estimate of the results of the public outreach efforts of the IAS in

the previous year. Thanks to all IAS members who contributed to the success of these events. Special

thanks to Steve Haines and Jon Thomas for their efforts as the IAS Public Events and McCloud/Eagle

Creek Coordinators, and for collating our scattered event records into a cogent summary.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total

Outreach Events With Outdoor Telescope Observing

McCloud Stargazes

25 50 18 60 75 50 278

Eagle's Crest Stargazing

700 140 840

General Meeting - After Observing

40 40

Carmel High School

50 50

Newfields Jupiter Opposition Event

65 65

Owen-Putnam State Forest LD Picnic

40 40

w/ observing 1313

Outreach Events Without Outdoor Telescope Observing

Brooks School Science Night

45 45

Park Tudor Science Event

50 50

Pike High School Literacy Fair

30 30

Indiana Master Naturalists Class

30 30

McCloud 15-Year Anniversary

30 30

JB Stephens Elementary STEM

50 50

Fishers Elem. Astronomy Class

40 40

Westfield School Science Camp

50 50

Conner Prairie Curiosity Fair

40 40

Fishers Library Event

45 45

Mill Creek Elementary Avon

50 50

Goddard School Lawrence

35 35

Speedway Elementary STEM

35 35

Children's Museum All About Space Day

324 324

General Meeting – Visitors Signup

11 2 2 3 5 6 8 3 9 1 3 53

West Clay Elementary STEM

50 50

No observing 957

Total 2270

IAS News and Views

Page 10 January 2019

January’s Evening Eclipse and Morning Conjunctions

Observers in the Americas are treated to an evening total lunar eclipse this

month. Early risers can spot some striking morning conjunctions between

Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon late in January.

A total lunar eclipse will occur on January 20th and be visible from start to

finish for observers located in North and South America. This eclipse might be

a treat for folks with early bedtimes; western observers can even watch the

whole event before midnight. Lunar eclipses take several hours to complete and

are at their most impressive during total eclipse, or totality, when the Moon is completely enveloped

by the umbra, the darkest part of Earth’s shadow. During totality the color of the Moon can change to

a bright orange or red thanks to the sunlight bending through the Earth’s atmosphere - the same reason

we see pink sunsets. The eclipse begins at 10:34 pm Eastern Standard Time, with totality beginning at

11:41 pm. The total eclipse lasts for slightly over an hour, ending at 12:43 am. The eclipse finishes

when the Moon fully emerges from Earth’s shadow by 1:51 am. Convert these times to your own time

zone to plan your own eclipse watching; for example, observers under Pacific Standard Time will see

the eclipse start at 7:34 pm and end by 10:51 pm.

Lunar eclipses offer observers a unique

opportunity to judge how much the

Moon’s glare can interfere with

stargazing. On eclipse night the Moon

will be in Cancer, a constellation made

up of dim stars. How many stars you

can see near the full Moon before or

after the eclipse? How many stars can

you see during the total eclipse? The

difference may surprise you. During

these observations, you may spot a

fuzzy cloud of stars relatively close to

the Moon; this is known as the “Beehive

Cluster,” M44, or Praesepe. It’s an open

cluster of stars thought to be about 600

million year old and a little under 600

light-years distant. Praesepe looks

fantastic through binoculars.

Mars is visible in the evening and sets

before midnight. It is still bright but has

faded considerably since its closest

approach to Earth last summer. Watch

the red planet travel through the

constellation Pisces throughout January.

Have you ever wondered how eclipses occur? You can model the Earth-

Moon system using just a couple of small balls and a measuring stick to

find out! The “yardstick eclipse” model shown here is set up to

demonstrate a lunar eclipse. The “Earth” ball (front, right) casts its

shadow on the smaller “Moon” ball (rear, left). You can also simulate

a solar eclipse just by flipping this model around. You can even use the

Sun as your light source! Find more details on this simple eclipse model

at bit.ly/yardstickeclipse

Venus makes notable early morning appearances beside both Jupiter and the Moon later this month;

make sure to get up about an hour before sunrise for the best views of these events. First, Venus and

Jupiter approach each other during the third full week of January. Watch their conjunction on the

22nd, when the planets appear to pass just under 2 ½ degrees of each other. The next week, observe

Venus in a close conjunction with a crescent Moon the morning of the 31st. For many observers their

closest pass — just over half a degree apart, or less than a thumb’s width held at arm’s length — will

IAS News and Views

Page 11 January 2019

occur after sunrise. Since Venus and the Moon are so bright you may still be able to spot them, even

after sunrise. Have you ever seen Venus in the daytime?

If you have missed Saturn this winter, watch for the ringed planet’s return by the end of the month,

when it rises right before sunrise in Sagittarius. See if you can spot it after observing Venus’

conjunctions!

You can catch up on all of NASA’s current and future missions at nasa.gov

— David Prosper, NASA's Night Sky Network

Celestial Events for January 2019

01 – The Moon lies between Venus and Jupiter in the predawn

sky.

03 – The Earth reaches perihelion at 12:20 am EST,

147,099,755 km from the Sun.

03 – The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks the night of

January 3-4.

04 – A partial solar eclipse occurs, visible from northeast

Asia, Japan and the northern Pacific (including some of

the Aleutian Islands).

09 – Latest sunrise of the year for those near 40º N latitude

(8:05 am EST in Indianapolis).

21 – Full Moon. A “supermoon” total lunar eclipse occurs,

visible from the Americas.

22 – Venus and Jupiter are in conjunction in the morning sky.

The partial solar eclipse of January 4, 2018.

Click for a larger view.

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Quadrantids — named for the

defunct constellation of Quadrans

Muralis — have the potential to be the

strongest shower of the year but

usually fall short due to the brief length

of maximum activity (six hours) and

poor weather often experienced during

early January. The average hourly rate

one can expect under dark skies is 25.

These meteors usually lack persistent

trains but will occasionally produce

bright fireballs. Due to the high

northerly declination the Quadrantids

are not well seen from the southern

hemisphere.

Quadrantid viewing is likely to be favorable in 2019 as the nearly-New Moon will be absent from the

sky all night. The parent object of this shower is asteroid 2003 EH.

— Source: American Meteor Society

IAS News and Views

Page 12 January 2019

Total Lunar Eclipse, January 20-21

This eclipse will be visible

from start to finish from

central Indiana. Cross your

fingers for clear skies!

The second eclipse of 2018

(after the partial solar

eclipse in Asia two weeks

previously) is a total lunar

eclipse, with the umbral

phase lasting for one hour

and two minutes.

This will be last total lunar

eclipse to grace Earth’s sky

until May 26, 2021! The

event is well placed for

observers in the Americas,

but in central Indiana, you’ll

have to stay up after mid-

night to see all of it.

The orbital path of the

Moon will take it into the

northern half of Earth’s

umbral shadow. The path

through Earth’s shadows as

well as a map illustrating

worldwide visibility of the

event are provided at right.

Local times (EST) for the

major eclipse phases are as

follows.

Penumbral Eclipse Begins:

09:36 PM

Partial Eclipse Begins:

10:34 PM

Total Eclipse Begins: 11:41 PM

Greatest Eclipse: 12:12 AM

Total Eclipse Ends: 12:43 AM

Partial Eclipse Ends: 01:50 AM

Penumbral Eclipse Ends: 02:48 AM

At the instant of greatest eclipse, the Moon will be located about 6-7º WNW of M44 in Cancer (can

you say “photo opportunity?”). The Moon reaches perigee about 10.5 hours later…so yes, this will

also be a “Supermoon Eclipse,” for what that’s worth.

More information can be gleaned from the provided diagram (click for a larger view).

IAS News and Views

Page 13 January 2019

Novice/Urban Observing List — January 2019 Phil Dimpelfeld

The objects in this month’s observing list lie between the celestial coordinates of Right Ascension =

4h and RA = 6h. This section of the sky includes the zodiac constellation of Taurus. The Milky Way

runs through the constellations Perseus, Auriga, and Taurus. This section of the sky has eight Messier

objects — M79, M38, M1, M42, M43, M36, M78, and M37. Curiously, there are no Messier objects

with a Right Ascension of 4h.

With the cold weather, some observers may opt to use their binoculars for a quick grab-and-go! Many

objects in this month’s list can be seen with binoculars!

Level 1

Mel 25, “the Hyades” (Caldwell 41), open cluster in Taurus, 04h 27m, +15° 52', mag = 0.5,

size = 330'. Just look for Aldebaran, and you’ll find the Hyades!

Beta Orionis (“Rigel”), double star in Orion, 05h 14.5m, -08° 12', mag = 0.1, 6.8, sep = 9.5". Give

your scope plenty of time to acclimate to the outside temperature before looking for this one!

The “Cheshire Cat”, asterism in Auriga, 05h 27m, +35° 00', mag = 5 to 7, size = 2°. Once you

have found The Cat, finding the three Messier open clusters in Auriga (M36, M37 and M38) is

a lot easier!

M38, open cluster in Auriga, 05h 28.7m, +35° 50', mag = 6.4, size = 21.0'

M36, open cluster in Auriga, 05h 36.1m, +34° 05', mag = 6.0, size = 12.0'

Theta 1 Orionis (the “Trapezium”) multiple star system in the Orion nebula, 05h 35.3m, -05° 23',

mag = 6.7, 7.9, 5.1, 6.7, sep = 8.8, 13, 21.5". Larger apertures and good seeing will reveal

more than four stars!

M42, the “Orion Nebula”, 05h 35.4m, -05° 27', mag = 3.7, size = 90 × 60'.

M37, open cluster in Auriga, 05h 52.4m, +32° 33', mag = 5.6, size = 23.0'

Level 2

1 Camelopardalis, double star in Camelopardalis, 04h 32.0m, +53° 55', mag = 5.7, 6.8, sep = 10.3"

NGC 1647, open cluster in Taurus, RA= 04h 46.0m, Dec= +19° 04', mag = 6.4, size = 45'’

NGC 1981, open cluster in Orion, RA= 05h 35.2m, Dec= -04° 26', mag= 4.2, size= 25'

Level 3

NGC 1907, open cluster in Auriga, RA= 05h 28m, Dec= +35° 19′, mag = 8.2, size = 7'. In the

same wide-angle field of view as M38.

M1, the “Crab Nebula” (in Taurus), RA= 05h 34m, Dec= +22° 00′, mag = 8.4, size = 6 × 4'. The

only supernova remnant in the Messier catalog.

M79, globular cluster in Lepus, 5h 46.8m, -24° 33’ mag = 8.5, size = 8.7'

IAS News and Views

Page 14 January 2019

Deep-Sky Challenge: Winter 2018-9 Bruce Bowman

Below please find a list of ten (10) objects to view this season. Those who complete the primary

objects will receive a certificate via email and be recognized in the News and Views. We’re also

providing a challenge object to help push the limits of your observing skills. It’s not necessary to

successfully view the challenge object to receive the certificate; we only ask that you try.

Please complete the following list to receive the winter certificate:

NGC 1663 Open cluster in Orion

NGC 1762 Spiral galaxy in Orion

NGC 2112 Open cluster in Orion

NGC 2141 Open cluster in Orion

NGC 2186 Open cluster in Orion

NGC 2194 Open cluster in Orion

NGC 2163 Reflection nebula in Orion

NGC 2174/5 Open cluster/Emission nebula in Orion

Collinder 69 Open cluster in Orion

Collinder 70 Open cluster in Orion

Challenge Object for Winter 2018-9: Jonckeere 320 in Orion

The above objects are located between 4.5 and 6 hours of right ascension and should be well-placed

for evening to midnight viewing this season. Refer to the December newsletter for more detailed

discussion of these objects.

The Mystery of Ultima Thule

December 18 — When NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto three years ago, mission

scientists watching the first close-up images were shocked. Despite being stuck in the deep freeze of

the Solar System six billion kilometers from the sun, Pluto was not the frozen-stiff world many

expected it to be. The geography of the dethroned ninth planet was alive with mountain ranges,

windswept dunes, bladed terrain and much more. In one quick flyby, New Horizons turned planetary

science on its head.

Get ready to be shocked again. New

Horizons is less than two weeks away

from a new world even more

mysterious than Pluto.

Its name is “Ultima Thule” (2014

MU69), which means “beyond the

borders of the known world.” Indeed,

the little space rock is profoundly

unknown. Located almost a billion

kilometers farther from the sun than

Pluto, Ultima Thule has never been

much more than a faint speck of light

in telescopes. It inhabits the distant

Kuiper Belt where, seemingly, almost

anything is possible. Above: A speculative artist’s concept of Ultima Thule with a small moon.

IAS News and Views

Page 15 January 2019

“Really, we have no idea what to expect,” says New Horizons principal investigator Alan Stern, of the

Southwest Research Institute. “Will it have an atmosphere? Will it have rings? Will it have moons?

Any of that could be possible, and soon we’ll know the answers.”

On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, New Horizons will swoop three times closer to Ultima

Thule than it flew past Pluto in July 2015, shattering previous records for the most distant body

explored by a human spacecraft. First images will be posted on a web site set up by the New Horizons’

team: SeeUltimaThuleNow.com

We already know one thing about Ultima Thule. Its shape is elongated and strange. In 2017,

astronomers watched a distant star pass behind Ultima Thule. Starlight winked in and out in a pattern

suggesting two lobes with diameters of 20 and 18 km, respectively. Ultima Thule could be a small

binary system. Click for a larger image.

“Ultima Thule is 100 times smaller than Pluto, but its scientific value is incalculable,” says Stern.

“From everything we know, it was formed 4.5 or 4.6 billion years ago, 4 billion miles from the sun. It

has been stored at that enormous distance from the sun, at a temperature of nearly absolute zero, ever

since, so it likely represents the best sample of the ancient solar nebula ever studied.”

“Nothing like it has ever been explored,” he says.

— Dr. Tony Phillips, Spaceweather.com. Used with permission.

Equipment Loan Program

Did you know you could borrow a scope or piece of astronomy equipment from the Society and take it

for a test drive? Members trying to determine what kind of equipment to buy are welcome to borrow

one of the Society’s scopes for a month or two and see how they like it. Jon Thomas is the program

coordinator and can arrange for pickup and training. We will also consider donations of equipment

appropriate for this program. The IAS is a public charity under section 509(a)(2) of the internal

revenue code. We would be happy to provide acknowledgement suitable for documentation as a tax

deduction.

The Equipment Loan Coordinator may be contacted at equipment@iasindy.org

IAS News and Views

Page 16 January 2019

Chang’e 4 Probe Heads to the Lunar Far Side

China's latest lunar mission will drop a lander and rover in one of the oldest terrains on the Moon, becoming

the first craft to intentionally land on and explore the far side.

December 7 — A Long March-3B rocket lifted off today at 18:23 Universal Time (UT) from Xichang

space center in southwestern China with Chang'e 4 headed for a first-ever soft landing on the lunar far

side. Named after the Chinese Moon goddess, Chang'e 4 is the latest mission in China's lunar

exploration program.

There’s a reason no mission has

landed on the lunar far side

(though some space hardware has

crashed there). The Moon is

tidally locked with respect to the

Earth, meaning it keeps roughly

one hemisphere turned towards

us as it orbits, and one turned

perpetually away. Line-of-sight

communication between the far

side and Earth isn’t possible. To

solve this, China launched the

Queqiao mission to head to a

lissajous (halo) orbit around the

lunar L2 Lagrange point early

this year leading up to Chang'e 4,

37,300 miles (60,000 kilometers)

The relay network for the Chang'e 4 far side lander and rover. CAST / ISSE

beyond the Moon for a dedicated relay.

The Chang'e 4 lander and rover is similar to China’s Chang'e 3 lander, which landed at the edge of the

Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) in 2013 and deployed the Yutu (Jade Rabbit) rover. China’s National

Space Administration (CNSA) held a student contest to name the Chang'e 4 rover and lander, and

we’ll probably hear the

formal names for each

once they’ve successfully

landed on the far side of

the Moon. Chang'e 4

carries upgraded

instruments that build on

the successful Chang'e 3

mission, including cameras

and instruments allowing

for the study of surface

geology, lunar seismology,

and the solar wind and its

interaction with the lunar

surface. China will also use

Chang'e 4 to conduct low-

Chang'e 3 lander and rover (inset) on the Moon. CNSA

frequency radio astronomy and monitor cosmic rays from the radio-quiet lunar far side. A small

student experiment aboard Chang'e 4 contains silkworm eggs, the small flowering planet thale cress,

and potato seeds in an effort to study how they grow in the low-gravity lunar environment.

IAS News and Views

Page 17 January 2019

The mission will now head for a trans-lunar insertion orbit, and will most likely land on or around the

first week of January 2019. Chang'e 4 is headed to the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, a 1,550 mile

(2,500-kilometer) wide basin located between the lunar South Pole and Aitken crater. The top priority

target is thought to be the 116-mile diameter (187 kilometer) Von Kármán crater. It's likely that

Chang'e 4’s landing will coincide with lunar sunrise on Von Kármán, which will provide the

maximum duration of solar exposure during its first two weeks of operation. That would put the

landing date on or around January 3, 2019.

Probable landing sites for Chang'e-4 in Von Kármán crater on the lunar far side. NASA / LRO / Huang Jun

Both the rover and the lander feature solar panels for daytime power and operation, along with nuclear

plutonium-238 heaters to keep their electronic components warm during the two-week-long lunar

night.

Tales from the (lunar) far side

We got our first good look at the lunar far side on October 7, 1959, courtesy of the Soviet Luna 3

flyby mission. Those first grainy images revealed a surprisingly different terrain than the familiar

nearside of the Moon, showing a realm largely devoid of flat maria.

Why go to the lunar far side? The landing site for Chang'e 4 is one of the oldest basins on the Moon,

and may contain sections of exposed lunar mantle. Von Kármán crater offers one on the few relatively

flat areas for a landing within the otherwise rugged terrain of the far side.

If successful, China will follow up Chang'e 4 with an even more ambitious Chang'e 5 sample return

mission, launching sometime in late 2019. China rehearsed the sample return maneuver with its

Chang'e 5T1 flyby and Earth return mission in 2014. The heavier sample return mission requires

China’s new heavy lift rocket, the Long March 5, which failed on its second launch last year.

China’s space program is often an enigma, with information on successful launches and landings

announced days later. A successful lunar far side landing would bring considerable prestige to the

ascendant Chinese space program, and the Chang'e 4 mission will be one to watch shortly after the

coming New Year.

— David Dickinson, Sky and Telescope. Used with permission.

IAS News and Views

Page 18 January 2019

Astro Ads

Do you have or are you looking for astronomy-related materials and equipment? The IAS, as a service

to its members, will publish non-commercial ads at no charge. For sale, exchange, or want ads are all

accepted. Each ad runs in the newsletter for four months and may be renewed at the owner’s request.

To place an ad, send an email to editor@iasindy.org. Be sure to notify us when the item sells.

For Sale:

Own a piece of another world! Large Campo del

Cielo meteorite, coarse octahedrite from

Argentina. These are nickel-iron meteorites that

often contain silica inclusions.

This hefty specimen weighs in at 11.6 pounds

(5.27 kg). Price is firm at $600. If interested

contact Bruce Bowman at bruce.bowman@tds.net

For Sale

Meade 2" UHTC diagonal, good condition, with

caps. $65 if picked up at an IAS meeting or $75 if

I need to ship it.

Williams Optics 2" SCT diagonal. Like new, original box and caps $90 if picked up at an IAS meeting

$100 if shipped.

Stellarvue AT-1010 80 mm scope with rings and caps and I’ll throw in the large tool box I transported

it around in. Older Stellarvue but in good shape $200. Add $20 if you want me to ship it somewhere.

If interested, contact Jay Simmons at enddst@gmail.com

2019 Meetings and Events Schedule General LinkLive Deep-Sky McCloud West Park Eagle Crest

January 19 19 4, 5, 25, 26 — 12 —

February 16 16 1, 2, 22, 23 — 9 —

March 16 16 1, 2, 29, 30 — 9 —

April 27 20 5, 6, 26 — 13 —

May 25 18 3, 4, 24, 31 11 — TBD

June 22 15 1, 21, 28, 29 8 — TBD

July 13 20 5, 6 20 — TBD

August 24 17 2, 3, 23, 30, 31 10 — TBD

September 28 (roast) 21 20, 21, 27 7 — TBD

October 12 19 25, 26 5 — —

November 16 16 22, 23 — TBD —

December 14 (party) — 20, 21, 27, 28 — TBD —

NOTES:

The April-October general meetings will be at Link. The remainder will be at Holcomb.

IAS board meetings will be held two hours prior to the general meeting at the same location.

Deep-sky observing sessions are at Link. Overnight camping is allowed, but no trailers or campfires.

LinkLive events are at the Mooresville Public Library, with observing at Link Observatory afterward.

IAS News and Views

Page 19 January 2019

Public Outreach Programs

To schedule a program at the Link Observatory or at your site, please contact the following people:

Public Outreach Programs: To schedule a public event, contact the IAS Events Coordinator Steve

Haines by sending an email to events-coordinator@iasindy.org.

Goethe Link Observatory tour: To schedule a tour of the Link Observatory, contact Link Observatory

Manager John Shepherd by email at link-observatory@iasindy.org.

IAS Membership Report for November 2018

On 11/30/2018 the IAS had a total of 212 members.

During November there were 13 renewals and two new memberships.

The IAS welcomes the following new members:

Mark Fugate Carmel

Mark Rexroth Carmel

Submitted by Jeff O’Dair, IAS Membership Coordinator

Astro-Quotes

“In science it often happens that scientists say, ‘You know that’s a really good

argument; my position is mistaken,’ and then they would actually change their

minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It

doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change

is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time

something like that happened in politics or religion.”

— Carl Sagan

Miscellanea

Goethe Link Observatory

Observatory Address:

Goethe Link Observatory

8403 N. Observatory Lane

Martinsville, IN 46151

Latitude: 39 degrees, 33 minutes north

Longitude: 86 degrees, 24 minutes west

Phone: (317) 831-0668

Training programs are scheduled by the Observatory

Manager as instructors are available and time permits, although other requests can override these

sessions.

To schedule the use of the 36" telescope, two criteria must be met:

• There must be a trained telescope operator and at least one assistant present.

• Send an email to the Observatory Manager (link-observatory@iasindy.org) to confirm

availability.

Please plan ahead! Last-minute scheduling requests may not get access.

IAS News and Views

Page 20 January 2019

IAS News & Views — The monthly newsletter can be found on our web site at www.iasindy.org.

The News and Views welcomes articles of local astronomical interest, follow-up on IAS events, and

want/for sale ads. Please submit articles to the editor in an email to editor@iasindy.org.

Membership information — Please send an email to membership@iasindy.org; our membership

coordinator will respond promptly. Full instructions are also available under the “Join the Society” tab

on our web site, where you can submit a paperless membership form, e-pay your dues, join the

Astronomical League, and/or make a donation.

Requests for Information — You may contact our officers, Board members, and Coordinators via

our website at www.iasindy.org. Place your cursor on the “Home” tab and then select “Contact us.”

Page down to the person you desire to contact and send an email message requesting information or a

return telephone call. We will be happy to respond within a reasonable time frame.

Logo Clothing — The IAS has a supply of logo ware using Mid-Central Trophy in Kokomo, IN.

Typically T-shirts, sweatshirts, polo shirts, and caps are available. Call Linda (765-453-5494), tell her

this is an order for the IAS logo ware, discuss what you want and give her the size. She can determine

the cost and shipping and mail the order directly to your home. All major credit cards are accepted.

Bill Conner, 1938-2018

William T Conner, Jr (“Bill”) passed away surrounded by

loved ones at home on November 29th, 2018. He was 80

years old.

Bill was the son the of William T. Conner, Sr and Maudames

Conner and was born on March 7th, 1938 in Evansville,

Indiana. He graduated from Burris High School in Muncie in

1956 and went on to attend Purdue University. Bill was an

active member of Alpha Chi Rho fraternity, obtained an

ROTC Scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science

degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960.

Immediately after graduation from Purdue University Bill

joined the US Navy where he applied and was accepted to the

US Navy Submarine School as a Lieutenant. Bill spent

twenty years in the Navy was among the first graduates of the

newly formed “Nuclear Submarine School” under Admiral

Rickover in the 1960’s. During this period the US Navy made

the transition for from diesel powered to nuclear powered

naval vessels. Only the very best and brightest were selected

for this school and it was very difficult to complete the

training as it required the candidates to essentially obtain a

second nuclear engineering degree from the US Navy. Bill therefore had the unique experience of

starting his twenty-year career in a WWII styled Barbel Class diesel-powered submarine, and ending

his active-duty career operating and navigating Polaris missile and nuclear-powered attack submarines

as Executive Officer.

Bill was at sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War and was highly decorated for his

service in the Pacific. Bill was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in 1973 and served

with distinction on the USS Bonefish, the USS Daniel Boone, the USS James Madison, and the USS

Skipjack. After his active duty period Bill worked with for the Atlantic Command in Norfolk, Virginia

IAS News and Views

Page 21 January 2019

and taught naval navigation in Dam Neck, Virginia. There is no doubt to those that knew Bill well that

the US Navy defined his life and that he was tremendously proud of his accomplishments and

experiences during this period of his life.

After retiring from the Navy Bill went on to graduate from Indiana University where he obtained

Masters in Business Administration in 1982. After graduation Bill settled his family in Indianapolis,

Indiana and went into the securities industry as an executive. Bill was instrumental in programming

and developing the very first electronic trading platform for trading stocks and bonds using computer

technology. This technology was later developed into the trading platforms that are used today

worldwide in the banking and securities industries. Bill then went on to work for Charles Schwab until

his second retirement in the late 1990s.

After full retirement Bill had a multi-faceted life and stayed productively active. Bill was an

accomplished carpenter and fine woodworker and he took great pride in the log cabin that he built near

Owen-Putnam State Forest. Due to his naval experience navigating by the sun and stars using nothing

more than a sextant in the era before satellites and GPS navigation, Bill became intensely interested in

astronomy as a hobby. Over the course of the last twenty-five years of his life Bill became an active

member of the Indiana Astronomical Society and an accomplished and published astronomical

photographer. Bill thoroughly enjoyed attending “Star Parties” nationwide with his friends and

teaching astronomy seminars at Butler and Indiana University.

Bill also had an active personal life and found time to enjoy ballroom dancing at the Continental

Dance Club in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Jim Conner. Bill is succeeded by his two sons,

Bill D. Conner and Wade T. Conner; Wade’s wife, Monika; three sisters, Carroll Conner, Jane

Conner-King, and Ann Cox; five grandchildren; and his significant other, Joy Quyle. Bill lived a full

an active life that was punctuated by duty, discipline, patriotism, fiscal responsibility, a strong work

ethic and a love for life.

“Sailor, rest your oar.”

The Witch Head Nebula, IC2118, in Eridanus. Photo courtesy Scotty Bishop.

IAS News and Views

Page 22 January 2019

January Calendar, 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

30 31 1 2 3

Quadrantids

4

Link campout

5

New Moon

Link campout

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

West Park

Stargaze 5 PM

13 14

First Quarter

15 16 17 18 19 IAS Board 5PM

IAS General

Meeting 7PM

LinkLive 8PM

20 21

Full Moon

Total Lunar

Eclipse

22 23 24 25

Link campout

26

Link campout

27

Last Quarter

28 29 30 31 1

Link campout

2

Link campout

Messier 78 and NGC2071 from Brown County State Park. Photo courtesy Scotty Bishop.

The IAS News and Views ©2019 by the Indiana Astronomical Society. Unsigned articles may be attributed to the editor.