Going, Going...

    Saturn is known for its rings. They are visible even in a small telescope. I never miss the opportunity to view this planet; it is definitely my favorite, with Jupiter coming in a close second.

    Six months from now, the “Ringed” planet Saturn will become just plain old Saturn. Due to its orbit around the sun it will appear to us here on Earth, as having no rings!

    If you get a chance to take a look at the planet in the next couple months, by all means do it. The rings are bright, but they don’t look like rings right now. They are in the process of disappearing and appear more like a line drawn across the planet. As the planet slowly tips, the rings will be seen edge on and will appear to vanish. Like looking at a piece of paper edge on, it is very difficult to see.

    This won’t be forever; gradually they will get thinner and thinner until only larger telescopes will be able to see them. Then they will slowly start to reveal themselves again.

    This isn’t the first time this has happened, it last happened in March of 2009. In 1995 it happened twice with a third disappearance happening at the beginning of 1996. I dug out my notes from 1995 and on June 17^th, 1995, using a very good telescope, I had trouble seeing the rings without using averted vision. The next disappearance will occur in October of 2023.

    Right now, Saturn lies “about” 805 million miles away from us and its rings are only around a mile thick. This distance makes them extremely difficult to see edge on. In case you are wondering, presently it takes the light from the sun about an hour and 12 minutes to reach us after bouncing off Saturn’s disc. Another interesting fact is that Saturn takes 29.4 years to make an orbit around the sun! 

    On Saturday, September 14^th, the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh will be holding another star party at the Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park! This will be a great time to take a look at the rings through one of the scopes that will be set up there. The planet Saturn will definitely be the focus of the night, along with the moon and other celestial objects. Bring your own scope if you have one, if you’re not sure how to use it, we will be happy to help you out! Come up to the hilltop and take a look at Saturn’s rings, before their gone.

For more info about the AAAP Star Parties, go to

3AP.org

Viewing the Aurora from Wagman

 Chances are that you have heard numerous reports, seen hundreds of photographs and even listened to and watched news reports about Friday night’s auroras. Well, let me add one more to your pile.

    The sun is currently at what is called solar maximum, the peak of an eleven year cycle. A massive coronal mass ejection from the sun was due to hit the earth causing a huge geomagnetic storm. The particles expelled from the sun interact with the earth’s magnetic fields and causes what is known as Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights. (In the southern hemisphere, they are called Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights.) Solar observers gave notice a few days ago and rapidly the word spread. Astronomers passed the word via the internet and before long TV newscasters were mentioned it along with how and where the aurora could be viewed.

    The convergence of any astronomical event and bad weather is a well known coincidence. In astronomy clubs a common joke is that by simply buying a new telescope or eye piece you will be bringing bad weather into your hometown. Astronomical events such as conjunctions, occultations and eclipses can bring on this phenomenon also. It was because of this that I reigned in my enthusiasm a bit!

    The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) had its monthly meeting on Friday night. Attendance was in person or via Zoom, I chose to attend by way of my computer. Sitting beside the window my attention drifted between the meeting, the NOAA Aurora Prediction page (it was looking good!) and the sky outside. I left when the meeting was half over; the chance that something might occur in the sky overrode the meeting’s presentation.

    The clouds in the sky were very dramatic looking, tinged with oranges and reds. I was hoping that the sky would clear as I drove towards the club’s observatory. As the sky darkened there seemed to be a brighter patch in the north and while I didn’t think it was an aurora, the thought did cross my mind more than once. My hopes were rising.

    Pulling up to the gate at the Wagman Observatory, I found that the small parking lot was filled and cars were parked alongside the narrow road. Someone had parked directly in front of the gates and I had to search them out in able to open them.  There were about 20 or more people scattered across the field. Once the gate was opened cars flooded into the field, coming and going for the rest of the evening.

    At 9 o’clock the sky was still rather bright. The crescent moon in the west was all that was visible. Slowly more and more stars appeared. A large cloud was situated in the north but still everyone there was hopeful and excited. People stood alone and in groups, all facing the north. A TV camera man had his camera set up, patiently waiting along with the rest of us. Cameras were set up on tripods and nearly everyone had phones in their hands, quietly talking among themselves. During the evening, at least 10 members of the AAAP arrived along with a crowd possibly numbering 100 or more.

    The first noticeable burst came right after 10. I heard someone say “I can see it!” and then, there was no doubt that we were seeing an aurora. A big one!

    Batches of colors, mainly red and pink (to my aging eyes) appeared in the sky. Fainter colors appeared, looking more like rays or curtains. They would appear and then fade off only to reappear elsewhere, different shapes and colors. Grays and whites along with yellows seemed more prominent behind the observatory while the blobs or larger batches of colors seemed to be mostly off to the left, in the NW. The aurora grew in size, eventually extending past the zenith and into the southern skies. It was spectacular!

    About 15 minutes into this show, the International Space Station made a pass almost directly overhead. Its pass made it appear to slice through both the Big Dipper and the aurora. We couldn’t have asked for more. Everyone in the field was excited.

    It was fun being in a group while experiencing this event. The feelings of happiness and wonder were contagious. I couldn’t help but compare it to last month’s total solar eclipse, both events showcased the wonders of our world and the beauty of the skies, presents that were given to us to enjoy.

    The show continued for about an hour before fading down after 11. The TV man provided footage for the Channel 2 news.  Thousands of pictures were taken. The glow of smart phones was seen everywhere I looked. The pictures taken by them were dramatic, providing more colors than what we saw by eye. I was envious; my camera exposures were in the 20-25 second range while theirs were just a second or two, but I still enjoyed the process of photographing the aurora. It’s interesting how different cameras and phones produced different colors in their pictures.

    The club members started packing up to go a bit after 11 and I was getting tired also. Before we could leave we had to get all of the cars out of the field. Thankfully there were only 6 or 7 left. We told the owners that they could stay on the hilltop; they just couldn’t leave their cars there. There was one driver we couldn’t locate, after a brief search, I finally found him over the hillside below the observatory.

    While locking the gate, a County Policeman arrived with lights flashing. There were cars lining both sides of the road, some had actually parked on the road rather than off to the side. I can only imagine that some tickets were issued after I left. People were still arriving as I drove away.

   The last time I had seen an aurora, the only other time I might add, was at the same place, Wagman Observatory, on June 13^th, 1991.

     I drove home through a thick fog and when I got home, nothing was visible in the sky at all. I was extremely happy to have taken the drive up to the observatory!

    During the event, I couldn’t help but think; last month we had a total solar eclipse and this month we were treated to a fantastic aurora. What in the world will June bring us?

What Will You Be Doing on April 8th?

    Have you decided what you are going to do on April 8^th, 2024? If you are anywhere close to where I live, you are within a couple hours drive to the path of totality for the solar eclipse! The eclipse will be visible across the entire continental US, though it will be a partial eclipse for most of states. For those living in or near a narrow path between Texas and Maine, they will be able to experience totality!

    Here in Pittsburgh, the sun will almost be covered by the moon, only 3% will remain uncovered. While it will get dark, you will still need proper protection for your eyes when you are looking at the sun. I met a woman during the last partial solar eclipse who was afraid to look up into the sky because she was afraid she might get blinded. When I offered her my filtered glasses to look through, she politely declined. She decided to stay in the car rather than risk her eyesight. Sadly she missed something that she might have remembered for the rest of her life.

    By driving a couple hours to the north or the west you can enter the path of the eclipse, where the sun will be completely covered by the moon. If you have the opportunity, I’d take it! For most of us, this will be a once in a lifetime event.

      Depending on where you are located, the amount of totality will differ. The entire eclipse will last about 2 1/2 hours (+/-) while totality, the time when the sun is completely covered, will last about four minutes. Less if you’re sitting away from the center of the path. People in Erie will be treated to 3 minutes and 40 seconds of totality while people further south in Edinboro will be getting 3 minutes and 19 seconds. Those in Titusville will be getting about 51 seconds. Your location from the centerline determines how long totality lasts.

    Doing any internet search about the eclipse will stress the importance of proper protection of your eyes. Please don’t stare at the sun without proper shielding! Sunglasses or neutral density filters won’t do the trick; they will allow the infrared light through which can damage your retinas. Solar filters or glasses bought through a reputable company are worth the cost spent on them! If you have a welding filter, #12 or 13, sitting on a shelf, like I do, these can be used in a pinch but it is always worthwhile to do as much as you can to protect your eyesight! Make a projection box if you don’t have anything else. (Instructions can be found on-line)

    It is estimated that 31 million people will be within the narrow strip of totality, stretching from Texas to Maine. Many more will be traveling to get to this stretch of totality. That is a lot of people who will see this event. Municipalities near the bigger cities have been planning and preparing for this event for quite a while! Traffic jams after it happens are expected. If you go anywhere that is crowded, plan on this!

    Some of us have been looking forward to this and planning for it for years! Some are just learning about it in the past few weeks. Whatever you do, no matter where you are, if the weather permits it , go outside and take a look. Chances are, there will be clouds involved, especially if you’re anywhere near where I am. (I seem to have a cloud over my head during astronomical events!)

    Pay attention to your surroundings, listen to what is happening, enjoy the gasps and yelling and cheering of those around you. If possible, consider recording the sounds on your phone. It will help you relive the experience, possibly even bring back goose bumps and maybe even a tear to your eyes! Take some pictures if you’re equipped to do it but take time to enjoy the event, ignore the camera and soak in the experience! You will see lots of pictures of it later; don’t miss it while trying to get one of your own! Step back and enjoy the experience!

    As of today, the eclipse is just two weeks away…keep your fingers crossed for clear skies!

    Note: my public library was giving away free eclipse glasses, check around, they are out there if you haven’t gotten a pair yet!

    Also, star parties are starting next month! Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Park will be hosting them on April 13^th and 20^th! For more details and other dates, click the link below;

Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (3ap.org)

Out and About

It seems as if there is never a lack of things to do. At times, I have to look around a bit, but I never have any trouble finding something worth doing! Here are a few of the places and things that Ann Marie and I have done and gone to in the past couple weeks. I’ve tried to pass over the boring stuff…

    On a Wednesday afternoon, we took a ride up to Brady’s Bend to attend an excellent lecture about the iron furnaces and the local area. We stopped for dinner and then went to the talk. I had just happened to come across a notice about the presentation and put it on my calendar. It was well worth the drive!

    That Friday, the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, (AAAP) had their monthly meeting at the Alleghany Observatory. I try to never miss a meeting held at this magnificent building.

    Besides the meeting itself, which I always find interesting and informative, there is often a tour of the observatory afterwards. These tours never cease to amaze me with both the architecture and the instruments they use to study the skies above us. 

    The next day, on a rainy Saturday we spent a few hours in the Carnegie Library’s Pennsylvania Room. Ann Marie did some research on her family history while I looked up information on iron furnaces. This is another nice piece of architecture, and they have a great collection well worth visiting!

    I took a ride up to Wagman Observatory to get some pictures of the couple day old moon. I was hoping to try and catch the 14 hour old moon the day before but the clouds of Pittsburgh ruined that attempt. I had much better luck the next evening. Later I spent some time looking for a comet that is in the sky now but it was located in the murk near the horizon, so, no luck there. The sky above was nice and clear so I spent the rest of my time roaming around the stars overhead.

    My library and my favorite bookstore were a couple stops during the ensuing week. I always enjoy roaming through the bookshelves, hunting for those “special” books that are just waiting there for me to pass by, ready to jump out and say, “Here I am, take me home!”

    Pi day (3/14) was on Thursday and of course, we had to celebrate the day! I made a pi(e) and Jim and Ann Marie came over to help eat it. It was another nice warm day so we played some Scrabble out on the back patio. I won’t mention who it was that won that day.

    Yesterday, Saturday, we took a ride to Apollo. The great color of green that occurs only in the spring was popping out all over the hills. The Forsythia bushes were all in bloom, adding their splashes of yellow to the scenery. 

    We took a walk on the Rock Furnace Trail which parallels Roaring Run. The idea was to visit the remains of the Biddle (Rock) Furnace that sit below the trail. The hike was about ¾ of a mile in both directions and of course, it was uphill both ways! The stream added a nice soundtrack to our stroll. The sun came and went, keeping us warm in the cool valley.

    The furnace is now only a pile of stones sitting below the trail. Built in 1825, it produced iron for 30 years before it shut down permanently. Moss and leaves covered the rubble but pieces of the walls can still be found intact, 199 years after they were built.

    So, we are relaxing this Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day. Chances are another Scrabble game will be played or maybe a movie will be watched before dinner. Then, it will be back to my desk to figure out what is on next week’s schedule….

Catching the Sunset

 Tuesday, 9/5

 With the low percentage of clear nights in the Pittsburgh area sitting high in my mind, I am once again working on an upcoming astronomical event.

    What I am hoping to catch in this project, is a picture of the sun going down behind the Wagman Observatory. There is a house about 6 miles away with a clear view of the observatory. Using a variety of on-line programs and even more important, the expertise of John Holtz, we have narrowed down dates to within 3 or 4 days. On these days, the sun will disappear behind the Observatory as seen from this house.

     Every night the sun sets in a different spot on the horizon. If you were to put a mark on a picture window at the same time every day for a year marking the suns position, you would end up with a figure eight shape, an analamma. The trick is to determine when the sun will set where you want it to!

    Naturally for this project, there are variables. The times for sunsets are figured off of a flat horizon. The observatory sits on a high hill, this could change the time or position of the setting sun. Another variable, an even more important one, is the weather.  I have ranted about this too many times to count. If something is going to occur astronomically, chances are it will be clouded over. I can live with a slight cloud cover; it might lessen the brightness of the sun. The clouds will act as a filter and allow a slightly longer exposure, making the observatory visible in the picture.

    Between then and now, I will make a couple lists. One will consist of all the items I’ll need to bring along with me and the other will be a timeline. By using these I will be able to arrive early enough to allow set up, find the observatory and to taking a couple test exposures. All the necessary equipment will be in the car. Making these lists are part of the fun of events like these, at least to me they are!

    Now, for the next 4-5 days, I’ll try my best not to think about the weather!

Thursday, 9/7

    Waking up, the open window beside me providing a comfortable cool breeze, I am greeted by the low rumble of thunder. Rain can be heard falling through the leaves of the trees. I close my eyes and just listen…and relax. What a nice way to wake up in the morning.

    The only thing that takes away from my relaxation is knowing that rain clouds are working their way across the city. Hopefully they will be gone by Monday…but, I said I wasn’t going to think about that! OK, time to make some coffee and to get the day started!

Saturday 9/9

    I wake up again to the sound of rain. A space station pass is due in a few minutes but instead of dressing and searching the sky, I close my eyes and let the rain carry me back to sleep.

    Later in the day, Ann Marie and I drive up to Wagman to make a couple measurements. I want to get accurate vector angle with my compass so that I will be able to duplicate its opposite angle when we are at the house. (angle +/- 180 degrees) While we are there, we also pick up a few brochures to pass along to the owner of the house; the telescopes, the observatory, star parties and a few publications about light pollution. Then we return home, make a veggie pizza, play some Scrabble and DON’T think about Monday! As the weekend continues, the clouds remain.

Monday- 9/11  The Big Day!

    I wake up at 5 to watch the Chinese Space Station pass through Orion. The sky is clear and my hopes are raised. After watching the pass, I spent some time scanning the sky with my binoculars before going back in and returning to bed. I need to be rested today! There is still a lot to be done.

    As the day progressed, the fog that showed up after I went back to bed slowly dissipated. I try my best not to look up! I made the call to the homeowner and told her we will be coming out and give her an approximate time of arrival. The car was loaded and the checklist was marked as each essential part was put in. Then I sat down and read a book. What better way to distract your mind than by reading?

    All was set and finally, it was time to get Ann Marie and Jim. We arrived at the house about 45 minutes before sunset, just as planned. The telescope was set up and some pictures were taken.

    It was very difficult to see the observatory with the bright light of the sun near-by. The observatory was in the shadows. Using the compass to point the telescope, I managed to find it on the first try! The problem would be, what is correct exposure? Digital photography really helps in situations such as these!

    The sun was getting closer to the horizon though it still hadn’t entered the camera frame. Once it did, I started clicking. Since the sun was so bright, I gave up hoping to see the observatory. The shapes of the trees were the only way I could tell where it was. I took the pictures and would fret over not being able to see the building later.

    Once the sun had set, the family who owned the house came out and we showed their grandson some of the sights around the area through the telescope. Before we tore the setup down, we were able to show him Saturn! He was very happy to see that. (It goes without saying!) After everyone had seen the ringed planet, the scope was taken apart and re-packed in to the car, and then we said our thanks and good-byes. We stopped for a celebratory dinner and then headed home.

You have to look closely to see the observatory in this picture!

It’s impossible to see in this one!

    My pictures weren’t quite what I had hoped for. The trees behind the observatory had foiled the silhouetted shot I had wanted to get, though early into this project, I knew it would never happen. I was happy to find the building from this far away and was happy to get the sunset shot. We were pleased that the weather cooperated with us. Though the picture wasn’t what I had hoped for, it was a learning experience. Maybe the next time with the moon instead of the sun…or maybe we could cut down the trees...the possibilities are endless. We shall see, we shall see!

Good Nights For Sharing Stars

The past weekend, the weather gods were smiling on us. The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh (AAAP) was able to hold four successful star parties, two at each of our observatories, Wagman and Mingo Creek. A few clouds drifted by, but the festivities went on, nevertheless.

    We had a thin sliver of a moon to look at on both nights. Since the moon was visible before the sun set, it was the first major attraction for the member's scopes. A couple members had solar filters and were able to show early visitors views of the sun's surface. At the present time the sun has lots of sunspots on it, making it an interesting view.

    The planet Venus was our next target. The planet Mercury was off to its right, a binocular view if you looked carefully. Since the planets were close to the horizon, we only had a short time to observe them before they dropped down into the trees.

    Mars was observed for a short while but we moved back to the moon since there was so much more to see on it.  As the sky darkened, we moved on to other objects such as Albereo in the constellation Cygnus and the double stars, Mizar and Alcor in the handle of the Big Dipper. A few Messier objects were shown and we watched a couple low passes of the International Space Station. A few guests were lucky enough to see some falling stars though we had nothing to do with that!

      We had a group of veterans visit along with families, students and daters. (I can only assume they were dating…) Everyone seemed happy to be there, some even coming over before they left to thank us for sharing the skies with them.

                                                                     

    My favorite moment was when a small girl took a look at the moon and told her Grampa, “WOW, look at all those craters!” I didn’t have to ask if she had seen it, we all knew it!

    At the Wagman Observatory, the crowds started thinning out after 11. A few waited long enough to see the ringed planet, Saturn, through the Manka reflector. In the Brashear room, we had to wait until the planet rose over the roofline before we could observe it.

    Let me tell you, as always, Saturn is worth the wait! The 11” refractor gave a nice, steady view of the planet along with 3 or 4 of it's moons. The rings are moving towards an “edge on” view, they aren’t as wide open as they were a few months ago but it is still spectacular!

    This is one of the fascinating things about astronomy, watching how the planets (and Moon) change. Saturn’s rings are moving towards a point where we won’t be able to see them.  Venus has phases that it goes through, just like our moon does. Both are currently thin crescents. Soon Jupiter will be visible again in the late evening skies along with it’s four brightest moons. It is always enjoyable to watch as the positions of these moons change over the course of an evening.

    Church was early the next morning, so after spending 15-20 minutes with Saturn, I closed up the Brashear room. A couple members were still out in the field, planning on spending the rest of the night. (I should say morning since it was after midnight.) I went home and crawled into bed for a couple hours before I had to get up again. I definitely had something to be thankful for in the morning. A couple more nights of good observing added onto all the other great things we have in life!

    Next star parties are in August…see ya there?