Winter Spring Talks 2009-2010
What you may have missed!
July 1st
PLANET-EATING STARS AND STYROFOAM WORLDS: An update on the search
for Extrasolar Planets
On July 1st, Dr. Laurence Marschall the author of two new books on astronomy "GALILEO'S NEW UNIVERSE" and "PLUTO CONFIDENTIAL". Until 1995, we knew of no solar systems like our own in the universe.
Yet in the past few years over 400 planets have been discovered orbiting
stars other than our Sun. This sudden flood of
discoveries came about, explore some of the odd new worlds that have
been studied so far, and review what we have learned about the structure
and history of our own planetary system from observing these far more
distant planets.
June 3rd
STUDYING VARIABLE STARS
On June 3rd, AAVSO member James Carlson presented on studying variable stars. Carlson served as CCAS Observatory director since its inception until 2007.The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) provides data for basic research. Individuals are assigned personal observing codes and make daily, even hourly, reports regarding the activity of stars as they brighten and fade.
May 6th
NASA CHALLENGES
On May 6th, 2001
MIT grad Hugh Blair-Smith followed-uphis spell binding talk last August reviewing his
remarkable career in “machine language” level software
building in support of several historic NASA programs and
programming for the inertial guidance system for the Apollo
spacecraft, which landed the world’s first man on the moon.
Hugh returned and built on the machine-level programming he did for NASA and gave us an update on what he sees for the future of the NASA Apollo, ISS and Space Shuttle program under Obama influence.
April 1st, 2010
MIT's Dr. Marcia Bartusiak gave her talk on founders of astronomy that was the adapted from her latest book "The Day We Found the Universe'.
Bartusiak's storyline showed how many important astronomers were all so close to discovering the theory of expansion of the Universe before personal setback or change in their career prevented them from this achievement. She talked about the critical work of Vito Slipher who rebuilt and mastered the delicate Lowell Observatory spectrograph under Edwin Hubble. Hubble usually gets credit, but Siphler was first to see the signs that the universe is expanding.
March 4th, 2010
On March 4th, Amateur Astronomer Paul Cezanne gave a presentation on conducting a proper Messier Marathon. An MIT graduate Cezanne is a software analyst by day and is also known for his Astronomy website called 'Paul Cezanne's Obseving Reports' as he says "Sometimes when I'm done looking at the stars, I write about it". He continues to give stargazing talks at Truro Libray and the National Seashore and has been an outreach person for Astronomy in general in the Outer Cape.
Sturgis Charter school student Kelsie Krafton also spoke on her acomplishment finding two asteroids which will eventually bare her name. CCAS awarded her for the accomplishemnt.
February 4th, 2010
On February 4th, Astronomer Ed Ting gave a powerpoint lecture “Talking about Telescopes”. Ed publishes one of the most comprehensive telescope review websites on the internet. Inside, you'll find reviews of over 100 telescopes, eyepiece reviews, a beginner's advice column, feature articles, and lots more! His telescope review website has become a very popular resource for amateur astronomers interested in upgrading equipment and the general novice looking to buy their first scope.
January 7th, 2010, Michael Renzi gave an incredible talk on
"Reflections of an Aspiring Astronomer". A former CCAs member,
Mr. Renzi resides in Lakeville, Mass where he operates a roll-off
observatory under dark skies. He has built and maintained many
telescopes. His imaging equipment is currently attcahed to a
Schmidt Cassegrain scope and uses a Losmandy Titan mount.
December 3rd,2009, Dr. Alburt Rosenberg, PhD talked about Atmospheric Optical Effects. Rainbows, mirages, auroras, the twinkling of stars, and even the blue color of the sky are all considered atmospheric optical effects. These visual events in the sky occur when light bounces off or is bent by solid particles, liquids droplets, and other materials present in the atmosphere.
Over his years as a college professor Dr. Rosenburg, taught concepts and theories in physical science at RPI, Penn, and UMASS.
November 5th, 2009 Ryan Mann talked about Dendrochronology, the study of annual growth rings in trees. Much like ice
cores, carbon 14 dating and sediment cores, the layering system can unlock clues
into what is going on and what has happened in the past in relation to
environmental conditions. During the winter 2008, Mann performed analysis on several
core samples in an attempt to correlate weather patterns in relation to annual
rings in cedar trees found in Waquoit bay.
October 2009, Robert Brookhart talked about aspects of missile tower development during the space race in the 1960's. As a structural
steel detailer he worked in California on plans and drawings that became the Apollo moonshot tower(s) at Cape Canaveral including requisite escape plans for the astronaut safety. His work in steel design also got him envolved in the Atlas missile silo program.
September 2009, Gary Derman talked about
Einstein's telescope and its use in the search for the Dark Matter and Dark Energy
that occupies 95% of the universe. Discarded as not practical by Einstein when he
first suggested it, the phenomenon has already been used to find new planets and to
see objects too distant for even the Hubble telescope alone. Amateurs and
professionals alike will use it for the new astronomy of the 21st century.
August 2009, Amateur Astronomer Betsy Young gave her presentation on Astronomer Maria Mitchell journey from Nantucket to first Director of Vassar College Observatory. At the age of 29 she discovered a comet from the rooftop of her home on
Nantucket (1847). Mitchell was against slavery a suffragist and co-founded the American Association for the Advancement of Women.
July 2009, Hugh Blair-Smith gave us a resopunding interesting talk on his experiences working with NASA on Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and the current Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. His specialty was the embedded computers required for inertial navigation and other functions. We look forward to Hugh's return this winter to give us more on strategies at NASA and how
Apollo astronauts were trained in celestial navigation, but that role was later de-emphasized.
June 2009, Tom and Jackie Leach fresh back from their visit to the Franklin Institute spoke on the exhibit "Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy" which showcases Galileo's accomplishments, his relationship to the ruling Medici family, his discoveries, and his overall impact on astronomy, physics, and math. This exhibit was put together in celebration of the 400th year anniversary of his contributions to the progressive development of the telescope and will continue through October in Philadelphia only.
May 2009, Dr. Tim Barkers’ topic was “Visual Astrophysics” which provided the attendees with important insights on what information can be gathered about “planetary nebulae” using observation techniques available to amateur astronomers. He was careful to point out that the term planetary nebulae does not refer to planetary systems but, to dying stars which are giving off their outer structure in the form of luminous gases that can appear as bright planets. He opened his discussion with a brief review of his own introduction to astronomy and an overview of the astrophysics program at Wheaton College. He covered his graduate studies at the Lick Observatory and its 36 inch refractor telescope. Include were comments on his personal friendship with fellow astronomer, Steven Hawley, who went on to become a mission specialists on five space shuttle flights.
Dr. Barker used the Ring Nebula (M57, NCG 6720) as the focus of his explanation of the massive gasses thrown off by stars in a death cycle and how this gas is illuminated by the star. He demonstrated how filters are used to determine the various chemicals making up the gas and also how filters can be used to reduce background light. Dr. Barker highlighted the role of solar mass in life cycle of stars, especially their end state.
Members engaged with lively questions and comments regarding their own observing experiences with nebulae.
April 2009, Bill Boyd recreated important history with slides and models, presenting our tale of the birth of the Cape Cod Astronomical Society and the Werner Schmidt Observatory from being a gleam in someone's eye to the dedication ceremony at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High
School. The sooner we get this archived by Bill the better. Thanks Bill!
March 2009, Dr. Michael Hunter, Observatory Director returned to speak on telescope
maintenance. As telescopes become more accurate,
powerful, and complex, they become more vulnerable and more in need of proper maintenance. Observatory Director Mike Hunter
brought us up to speed on scope maintenance and
alignment of even the smallest Dobsonian to a permanently mount, computer controled scope. Not to be taken lightly, maintenance is one of the single, most important things that can be done by
the amateur astronomer to optimize viewing pleasure.
February 2009, Dr. Michael Hunter spoke on the construction/modification of telescopes. From the smallest 3" telescope he made in 1957 to a microobservatory for an 8” schmidt-newtonian and beyond. This was the first of two part series that Hunter guides us through on the construction and maintenance of telescopes.
January 2009, Dr. John Huth spoke on Primitive Navigation. Some examples of primitive navigation include the Vikings and Polynesians. Because the latitudes of voyaging for these cultures differed substantially, their means of navigation had corresponding differences. For example: the Polynesians created a "sideral compass" that takes advantage of the fact that stars always rise and set at the same azimuth over the course of the year. The Vikings, on the other hand, could voyage during the summer months and were much more reliant on the sun, which introduces its own set of issues for navigation. It is said that the Vikings used a "sunstone" to find direction from the polarization of the sky. He described a number of techniques used by cultures for navigation prior to the now common practices of the use of the sextant or GPS. Dr. Huth is a Donner Professor of Science and teaches in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.
December 2008, attorney and historian Mike Farber spoke about how the Pilgrims used a sophisticated blend of surveying techniques to subdivide our lands. They used science, sometimes astronomical clues, to delineate the boundaries of Cape Cod. The ongoing Cornerstone Project is drawing interest from local historians and archaeologists. CCAS members may want to join Farber on his fact finding mission and we have published an addition to our website to keep up to date on this interesting topic. CCMNH will have a public discussion on the Cornerstones on December 13th and CCAS vice president Tom Leach has been invited onto the panel.
November 2008, avid astronomer Paul Cezanne spoke on the fine points of Binocular Astronomy. If you missed the talk He has been keeping a regular tally of his nightly outings in his Astonomy Blog
Paul Cezanne's Astronomy Observing Reports.
October 2008, Gary Derman spoke on Sky Pointing. Gary described the logic (without the math) of how the celestial object positions are calculated for your location and time and explained the distortions and position errors associated with this process. More simply stated, to see an object where should we point the telescope and then how far off center might the image appear.
September 2008, Richard Porter gave his talk on the development and use of the thermometer from Galileo to the Space Shuttle. Dr. Porter is owner operator of the Thermometer Museum in Onset, Massachusetts and recently donated one-half of his collection to Penn State University.
The August meeting showed us how to use star positions to find our location on earth.
July 2008, Robert Walsh of Massachusetts Maritime Academy gave an animated talk at the August meeting on celestial navigation and the use of a sextant to determine ships position. Commander Walsh is Director of the Center for Maritime Training at the Academy. Many thanks to MMA for providing us with such a positive and interesting speaker on this complex topic.