Astral Projections Online April 2024
Check our Website for updated content at www.astra-nj.com
Club Presentations Wanted:
Does anyone have any astronomy items of interest to share with the membership?
Please let us know at Club Contacts.
Club dues and membership. If you renew after March 31 you will be renewed as a new member.
ASTRAL PROJECTIONS ONLINE (APO for short) is an email-linked publication for members only. If you exit APO to the club website or other resources you will need to use the emailed link again to get back to it. If you wish to retain a copy please bookmark or refer back to the email. We will make all efforts to post by the first week of the month.
Submissions Welcome: Members are invited to submit articles, photos, news, or stories for inclusion with Astral Projections Online. Please contact the ASTRA Webmaster.
Event Calendar
EVENT Cancellations: Members will receive email notifications of an event cancellation.
Upcoming March ASTRA Meeting
ASTRA's next meeting will be Friday, April 12, 2024, at 7 PM EST. This will be an in-person meeting at Novins Planetarium - Building 13. … Our April meeting will be a club-wide solar eclipse recap.
Upcoming Star Parties
Jakes Branch - April 13 - 8 PM to 10 PM
Cloverdale Farm - May 11 - 9 PM to 11 PM
Jakes Branch - May 18 - 9 PM to 11 PM
Patriot Park - June 1 - 9 PM to 11 PM
Upcoming Public, County & State Park Presentations 2024
Public Outreach Presentations, if any member wishes to support ASTRA outreach efforts with the public, please let Vinny, Ro, or Jim know of any interest. Additional help for these events is always appreciated.
County and State Park presentations require a registration fee, call the hosting park to reserve.
Jakes Branch - April 13 - 7 PM - Saving Dark Skies, followed by Star Party
Green Fair - April 25 - 5 PM to 8 PM - Toms River North - ASTRA/DarkSky/SciStarter
Cattus Island Nature Festival - April 27 - All-day event, volunteers needed.
Stafford Library - April 29 - 2:30 PM - Beginner Astronomy: The Moon, Our Nearest Neighbor
Cloverdale Farm - May 11 - 7 PM - Beginner Astronomy: The Moon, Our Nearest Neighbor, followed by Star Party.
Sierra Club Saving Dark Skies Presentation on April 3 from 7:30 PM to 9 PM via Zoom … Event Registration
Great Swamp National Wildlife Preserve - April 14 - 1:30 PM - Audoban DarkSky - Event Registration
Website Updates …
Please visit our club website. We continue to have additional updates, if some content would be useful to members please let us know.
“What's the sense in having an eclipse if you can't look at it? Somebody in production sure slipped up this time!”
― Charles M. Schulz - July 16, 1963
Total Solar Eclipse - April 8
The Total Solar Eclipse is only a few days away. No matter where you are for this event, safe travels and safe viewing. We are looking forward to hearing all about it.
There are 224 solar eclipses within the 21st century. Of these, 68 are total solar eclipses, 73 are annular solar eclipses, 7 are hybrids of total and annular solar eclipses, and 77 are partial solar eclipses.
The next Solar Eclipse in the US will not be until August 12, 2045.
For more visit greatamericaneclipse.com
For ASTRA members who will not be traveling for the eclipse, Novins Planetarium is hosting a viewing event on April 8, between 2 PM and 5 PM. The eclipse for Toms River will be at 90%.
In addition to distributing free safe viewing supplies, there will also be music, food to purchase, science activities for the family, and more. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and sunscreen.
If you're willing to help, let Jim Webster know and we will contact Cara.
This event at Ocean County College Campus, Parking Lot 2 is free, but registration is requested. Eclipse Event
For more information visit OCC/Novins Planetarium information webpage.
Solar Eclipse Safety … NASA
April ASTRA Meeting - April 12
Solar Eclipse Recap
For the ASTRA April meeting, we are having a membership-wide review of member experiences from the April 8 Eclipse. Anyone who wants to add anything to the Slide Deck please let Jim Webster know. Submitting to the slide desk is not required, you can use your own flash drive.
Event Reports
Star Parties
March Star Party
Our first 2024 star party was on March 16. Member and guest turnout was good. We also had two digital telescope setups, with John Enderson's version being homegrown. We should have a future meeting to review the growing interest in digital telescopes. Unfortunately we have no photos. Maybe next time.
March ASTRA Meeting Summary
In our March ASTRA meeting, we had a 2017 solar eclipse review from Phil Zollner, followed by our yearly telescope workshop. Guest, turnout for the workshop was low this year. We’ll need to see what can draw more of the public out for this usually energetic event.
County Park Presentations
Berkeley Historic Society and
Jakes Branch
On March 14 we had a presentation for the Berkeley Historic Society, then on March 16, we had one for Jakes Branch County Park. Both were Beginner Astronomy: What to see in the night sky with a telescope. The headcount for the Historic Society was thirty and Jakes Branch was ten.
Our Nearest Neighbor
Let’s explore some interesting features, facts, or myths about our nearest neighbor, the Moon. Without it, life on Earth would be totally different, if not at all.
Moon Viewing Guide
The Moon is Earth’s constant companion, the first skywatching target pointed out to us as children. We watch its face change as the month progresses, and see patterns and pictures in its geological features.
It’s the object in the night sky that humanity knows best ― and the one that’s easiest to study. Whether your tools are a telescope, a pair of binoculars, or just your eyes, you can find plenty of features on the Moon.
For more go to science.nasa.gov
Moon viewing guide: What to look for on the lunar surface … space.com
Outreach material below is distributed free for public outreach.
Around The Web
Free Astronomy Textbook
2023 Version
Astronomy for Mere Mortals: a complete introductory 484-page textbook, available free, updated annually. You may print it, or if you would like a printed copy, please contact the author, Aaron Clevenson, at aaron@clevenson.org
Link to the book at astroleague.org
Unexpected Job Opportunity
Not that most of us could get this job, but I sure wish I could. … NASA
A Brief History of the
Astronomers Chair
From the mundane to the iconic, the physical to the symbolic, the striking presence of chairs in the history of science begs to be acknowledged and understood.
ASTRA Members Astro Images
We’ve had several members of our club going all out on astrophotography. Knowing that not everyone is on Slack I am taking this opportunity to repost what they have shared. It is recommended to join the members-only Slack for getting to view these images as they are posted along with other club-related postings and to chat with members.
Ron Bernknopf
Sam Granovsky
Dark Sky News
Dark Sky New Jersey is a joint venture of Dark Sky International Advocates and Delegates from New Jersey and the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club Dark Sky team. If there is an interest in helping, please let Jim Webster know.
Jakes Branch Exhibit Update
Jakes Branch may have a temporary version of the DarkSky exhibit ready for International Dark Sky Week and for the Ocean County Dark Sky Week Proclamation. Jim Webster will be picking it up on April 3.
Dark Sky Week
International Dark Sky Week will be held April 2–8, 2024, to end with the Great North American Eclipse event. How can I celebrate International Dark Sky Week? Visit the official event website at idsw.darksky.org! Get together with friends and family and go outside at night.
For Dark Sky Week we have four proclamations within New Jersey: Ocean, and Bergen Counties, Scotch Plains, and The town of Clinton. We’re hoping for a positive response next week for Hopewell Boro, bringing us up to five.
New Jersey Legislature
Bill A2196 is still pending a State Senate vote. Possible in May.
Northeast Astronomy Forum and Space Expo - NEAF
In a joint effort between DarkSky New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, the three chapters of DarkSky International will have a booth set up at NEAF on April 20 and 21. Jim Webster is expected to provide a 45-minute presentation at some point during this event.
On the lighter side of astronomy …
by Bill Watterson (Universal Uclick/Andrews McMeel)
Let’s hope this doesn’t happen…
July 20, 1963 - Charles M. Schultz
Members Submitted Articles & Items
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Nothing for December
What’s Up:
Sky Watching Tips from NASA
Provided by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Is usually updated anywhere from the first day of the month to the fifth day of the month. Check back to this linked image if it hasn’t been updated yet.
For more go to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory webpage: What’s Up: Skywatching Tips From NASA
This article and images are distributed by NASA Night Sky Network
The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach.
Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more!
Participate in Eclipse Science
By Kat Troche
April is NASA’s Citizen Science Month, and there is no shortage of projects available. Here are some citizen science projects you can participate in on April 8th, on and off the path of totality right from your smartphone!
Eclipse Soundscapes, ARISA Lab / NASA
Eclipse Soundscapes
Eclipse Soundscapes will compare data from a 1932 study on how eclipses affect wildlife – in this case, crickets. There are a number of ways you can participate, both on and off the path. NOTE: you must be 13 and older to submit data. Participants 18+ can apply to receive the free Data Collector kit. Learn more at: eclipsesoundscapes.org/
GLOBE Eclipse
Folks that participated in the GLOBE Eclipse 2017 will be glad to see that their eclipse data portal is now open! With the GLOBE Observer smartphone app, you can measure air temperature and clouds during the eclipse, contributing data to the GLOBE program from anywhere you are. Learn more at: observer.globe.gov/
HamSCI, The University of Scranton / NASA
HamSCI
HamSCI stands for Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation. HamSCI has been actively engaged in scientific data collection for both the October 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse and the upcoming April 8, 2024, total eclipse. Two major activities that HamSCI will be involved in around the solar events will be the Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP) and the Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC) which are part of the HamSCI Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science. Learn more about these experiments and others at: hamsci.org/eclipse
SunSketcher
If you’re traveling to totality, help the SunSketcher team measure the oblateness, or shape, of the Sun during the eclipse by timing the flashes of Baily’s Beads. You will need a smartphone with a working camera for this, along with something to hold the phone in place - don’t forget a spare battery! NOTE: The app will need to run from five minutes before the eclipse starts until the end of the eclipse. Any additional phone use will result in Sun Sketcher data loss. Learn more at: sunsketcher.org/
SunSketcher, Western Kentucky University / NASA
Don’t stop at the eclipse - NASA has citizen science projects you can do all year long – from cloud spotting on Mars to hunting for distant planets! By contributing to these research efforts, you can help NASA make new discoveries and scientific breakthroughs, resulting in a better understanding of the world around us, from the critters on the ground, to the stars in our sky.
We'll be highlighting other citizen science projects with our mid-month article on the Night Sky Network page, but we want to wish all you eclipse chasers out there a very happy, and safe solar eclipse! For last minute activities, check out Night Sky Network's Solar Eclipse Resources section!
Additional Eclipse Citizen Science
The above was shared at our March ASTRA meeting. Jim Webster will be working the Adirondack Sky Center-sponsored eclipse event. He will be providing an overview and support of the Globe Observer Eclipse app and SciStarter.
One Million Acts Of Science
SciStarter
April is Citizen Science Month and it would be great for anyone interested to register for One Million Acts of Science. This is perfect timing for the Solar Eclipse on April 8. Check it out at SciStarter.org
Let’s Explore Space - What’s in the Sky March-April 2024
APO Editor Note:
The Comet information in the April APO is a reposting from March due to its potential viewing during the eclipse.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks
On December 4, periodic Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks shared this telescopic field of view with Vega, alpha star of the northern constellation Lyra.
Image credit: NASA APOD
In recent months, outbursts have caused dramatic increases in brightness for Pons-Brooks though. Nicknamed the Devil Comet for its hornlike appearance, fans of interstellar spaceflight have also suggested the distorted shape of this large comet's central coma looks like the Millennium Falcon.
A Halley-type comet, 12P/Pons-Brooks last visited the inner Solar System in 1954. Its next perihelion passage or closest approach to the Sun will be April 21, 2024. That's just two weeks after the April 8 total solar eclipse path crosses North America. But, highly inclined to the Solar System's ecliptic plane, the orbit of periodic Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will never cross the orbit of planet Earth.
So should you look for this comet during the April 2024 eclipse?
Even with the sun’s light mostly blotted out by the moon during the eclipse, you’ll likely still need optical aid to see the comet. Then … there’s the risk of blindness. Scanning with optical aid near the sun – even during an eclipse, when the sun is only momentarily darkened – is a pursuit best left to experienced astrophotographers to capture an image of the comet near the eclipsed sun on April 8, 2024. — EarthSky
Tonight’s Sky: April
April nights are filled with starry creatures. Near the Big Dipper, you will find several interesting binary stars. You can also spot galaxies like the Pinwheel Galaxy, M82, and M96—the last of which is an asymmetric galaxy that may have been gravitationally disrupted by encounters with its neighbors.
Visit the STScI which produces Hubblesite.org video overviews for Tonight’s Sky.
They can be found both on Facebook and stsci.edu.
Submissions Welcome
Members are invited to submit articles, photos, news, or stories for inclusion with Astral Projections Online. Please contact the ASTRA Webmaster.