Astral Projections Online March 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, March 8, 2024, at 7 PM EST. This will be an in-person meeting at Novins Planetarium - Building 13. … March meeting will be the telescope workshop.
Upcoming Star Parties
Being planned now for 2024
Jakes Branch - March 16 - 6 PM to 8 PM
Jakes Branch - April 13 - 8 PM to 10 PM
Upcoming 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 - March 16 - 6 PM - Beginner Astronomy: Your First Telescope, followed by Star Party
Jakes Branch - April 13 - 7 PM - Saving Dark Skies, followed by Star Party
Cattus Island Nature Festival - April 27 - All-day event, volunteers needed.
Ocean County Library - March 26 - 6 PM - Beginner Astronomy: Solar Astronomy
Great Swamp National Wildlife Preserve - April 14 - 1:30 PM - DarkSky
Green Fair - April 25 - 5 PM to 8 PM - Toms River North - ASTRA/DarkSky/SciStarter
Stafford Library - April 29 - 2:30 PM - Beginner Astronomy: The Moon, Our Nearest Neighbor
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.
“… and the Sun has perished
out of heaven,
and an evil mist hovers over all.”
― Said to refer to a total solar eclipse - 1178 BC.
From: Homer (Greek), The Odyssey (8th century BC)
In the Odyssey, the references to planets and constellations describe a solar eclipse that occurred in 1178 BC. Homer is believed to have written the story, nearly three centuries before this event. If so, this would suggest the poet had surprisingly detailed knowledge of astronomy. … Scientific America June 8, 2008
Renewing your ASTRA membership for 2024.
Forms can be found on the website or here.
March ASTRA Meeting - March 8 Telescope Workshop
We are hoping for a good showing of our ASTRA members for the March Meeting. This will be the telescope workshop and we tend to get some of the public on hand looking for assistance with their scopes.
Event Reports
No observing was done for January.
February ASTRA Meeting Summary
For our February ASTRA meeting, Vic Palmieri provided s brief review of transporter technology being used in media before Star Trek from an old Buck Rogers serial. This led to a review of what technology was featured in the Star Trek series that is used today and that originated from NASA. We wrapped up the night with our planned movie “New Eye on the Universe” about the James Webb mission and what was discovered so far.
Meet the Infrared Telescopes That Paved the Way for NASA’s Webb
Before the James Webb Space Telescope, other space observatories looked out into the universe with their infrared vision. The successes of the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and Spitzer Space Telescope, as well as Webb, have given us infrared views of the cosmos for 40 years:
County Park Presentations
We had no county park presentations but did have two events for January.
LBIF Arts and Science
On February 10, Jim Webster Presented to the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts & Science a presentation of Beginner Astronomy: What to see in the night sky. This event also included some related citizen science projects. This was a Zoom event of 35 participants.
Next up on February 15, was an on-site presentation at Holiday City Carefree for the Women’s Club. Presented was Beginner Astronomy: The Moon, Our Nearest Neighbor. This event was estimated to be a total of 102 participates, but I believe if was more around 70 from my own counting.
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.
Odysseus
Intuitive Machines' robotic lander Odysseus has accomplished the first U.S. landing on the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Launched on a SpaceX rocket on February 15, the phone booth-sized lander reached lunar orbit on the 21st and successfully touched down on the lunar surface at 6:23 pm Eastern time on February 22nd. Its target landing region is about 300 kilometers north of the Moon's south pole. Before landing Odysseus’ navigation camera captured this image as it passed over the Moon’s northern equatorial highlands. At the upper right is the 50-kilometer diameter impact crater designated Bel’kovich K.
The good news, Odysseus has landed, near the south pole of the Moon. The bad news it has fallen over during touchdown. Then back to the good news … It is still sending data. - - - Universe Today
Outreach material below is distributed free for public outreach.
Around The Web
The Sun has been very active this last two weeks in February. - Check out the NASA blog on recent activity.
Giant sunspot region AR3590 is making history this week. It was the producer of the biggest X flare of Solar Cycle 25 so far, an X6.4. Plus it produced 3 X flares in less than 24 hours. And over the past day ... 6 M flares! Image via Helioviewer. - EarthSky.org
Remote Telescope Data Imaging
Ralf Rohner is a FaceBook friend of Jim Webster. He is a Pilot, Airlines Captain, and Landscape Photographer from Zurich, Switzerland. He is also an astrophotographer. His postings and images appear here in Astral Projections Online with his permission.
"Stephan's Quintet"
It is not often that I process data not captured by myself. Recently, though, I have been sitting under solid cloud cover away from home and without access to my data server. Out of curiosity, I tried my hand on publicly available data from James Webb Space Telescope. For this image, I used data of a group of galaxies, called Stephan’s Quintet, located in the constellation Pegasus and named after the French astronomer Édouard Stephan who discovered it in 1877.
Although called a “quintet,” only four of the galaxies are truly close together and caught up in a cosmic dance. The fifth and leftmost galaxy, called NGC 7320, is well in the foreground compared with the other four. NGC 7320 resides 40 million light-years from Earth, while the other four galaxies (NGC 7317, NGC 7318A, NGC 7318B, and NGC 7319) are about 290 million light-years away.
As a bonus, the JWST image reveals a vast sea of thousands of distant background galaxies.
Of course, I am not the first to process this data set. Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) has published an very similar image, based on the same data, with its first batch of images in July 2022. I still found it interesting to see what I could come up with, compared to the STScI image.
Data courtesy of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
'Combining the Great'
While processing the JWST data for my recently posted Stephan’s Quintet image, I struggled, among other things, with color control. This was hardly a surprise. After all, JWST is an infrared telescope and combining different IR wavelengths into something that looks natural is not an easy task.
While I am reasonably satisfied with my result, I wasn't able to reproduce the beautiful hues we all love from Hubble - the other famous space telescope.
This had me thinking...
Astrophotographers often combine data captured with different instruments and over a rather long time span. Would I be able to combine my JWST image with data from the Hubble Space Telescope?
For this, I first processed my own version of Stephan's Quintet with Hubble data. Fortunately, this proved to be much easier than my JWST processing.
After aligning the two results, I was now able to blend them into a single HST/JWST image, which combines the best of both worlds: The subtle colors of Hubble and the stunning IR detail from JWST.
Data courtesy to Space Telescope Science Institute
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.
Matthew Labrecque
Earl Lautenschlager
Ron Bernknopf
Dark Sky News
Dark Sky New Jersey is now official. It is a joint venture of Dark Sky New Jersey members and the Sierra Club. If there is an interest in helping, please let Jim Webster know.
Jakes Branch Exhibit Update
Some information was shared to Jim Webster in an email, that the Park team members have met with a lighting contractor to discuss some dark sky lighting options. Fortunately, they are familiar with DarkSky lighting. They have worked with Mercer County to upgrade their lighting to conform to DarkSky standards. This gives me hope of some changes shortly and we can showcase proper lighting with the upcoming exhibit.
New Jersey Legislature
Bill A2196 is on the table for Monday, March 4, 2024. If approved it requires outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by, or on behalf of the State, or at projects receiving State funds, to meet certain criteria.
Jim Webster representing Dark Sky New Jersey along with the Sierra Club Dark Sky Team will be in attendance and possibly speaking in support of Bill A2196. We should know more by the time we have our March Club meeting.
On the lighter side of astronomy …
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!
Constant Companions: Circumpolar Constellations, Part II
By Kat Troche
As the seasons shift from Winter to Spring, heralding in the promise of warmer weather here in the northern hemisphere, our circumpolar constellations remain the same. Depending on your latitude, you will be able to see up to nine circumpolar constellations. This month, we’ll focus on Lynx, Camelopardalis, and Perseus. The objects within these constellations can all be spotted with a pair of binoculars or a small to medium-sized telescope, depending on your Bortle scale – the darkness of your night skies.
In the appearance of left to right: constellations Perseus, Camelopardalis, and Lynx in the night sky. Also featured: Cassiopeia as a guide constellation, and Capella as a guide star. - - - Credit: Stellarium Web
Double Stars: The area that comprises the constellation Lynx is famous for its multiple star systems, all of which can be separated with a telescope under dark skies. Some of the notable stars in Lynx are the following:
12 Lyncis – a triple star that can be resolved with a medium-sized telescope.
10 Ursae Majoris – a double star that was once a part of Ursa Major.
38 Lyncis – a double star that is described as blue-white and lilac.
Kemble’s Cascade: This asterism located in Camelopardalis, has over 20 stars, ranging in visible magnitude (brightness) and temperature. The stars give the appearance of flowing in a straight line leading to the Jolly Roger Cluster (NGC 1502). On the opposite side of this constellation, you find the asterism Kemble’s Kite. All three objects can be spotted with a pair of binoculars or a telescope and require moderate dark skies.
Image Source: NASA APOD
A ground-based image from the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) in the upper left shows Caldwell 14, the Double Cluster in Perseus, with an outline of the region imaged by Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2).
Ground-based image: Digitized Sky Survey (DSS); Hubble image: NASA, ESA, and S. Casertano (Space Telescope Science Institute); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
Double Cluster: The constellation Perseus contains the beautiful Double Cluster, two open star clusters (NGC 869 and 884) approximately 7,500 light-years from Earth. This object can be spotted with a small telescope or binoculars and is photographed by amateur and professional photographers alike. It can even be seen with the naked eye in very dark skies. Also in Perseus lies Algol, the Demon Star. Algol is a triple-star system that contains an eclipsing binary, meaning two of its three stars constantly orbit each other. Because of this orbit, you can watch the brightness dim every two days, 20 hours, 49 minutes – for 10-hour periods at a time. For a visual representation of this, revisit NASA’s What’s Up: November 2019.
From constellations, you can see all year to a once-in-a-lifetime event! Up next, find out how you can partner with NASA volunteers for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse with our upcoming mid-month article on the Night Sky Network page through NASA's website!
Let’s Explore Space - What’s in the Sky March-April 2024
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?
It depends on how experienced you are at observing the sun. 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 observers.
Just be aware the comet is up there. But you might just want to leave it to the astrophotography experts to capture an image of the comet near the eclipsed sun on April 8, 2024. —- EarthSky
Tonight’s Sky: March
In March, the stars of spring lie eastward: Look for the constellations Gemini and Cancer to spot interesting celestial features like star clusters M35 and the Beehive Cluster, and NGC 3923, an oblong elliptical galaxy with an interesting ripple pattern. Keep watching for space-based views of the galaxies.
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.