Astro Pizza

A Super Bowl of Pizza!!!

*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:

Greetings Fellow Stargazer,
Sure there is a Super Bowl XXXIX that has all the attention, but how
about an Astronomy Super Bowl Championship. See how well you would
have done. Send me your score.
http://sciencebowl.mbhs.edu/97_astr.pdf
Did you find the question with the wrong answer?
Do you know the story about Orion and his pursuit of the Seven
Sisters (and one them, Electra just made a movie). Did you see it?
Come to the next Star Party and I will show you all Seven Sisters in
the sky and tell you all about them. No BULL... ok there is a bull
in the story (Taurus, THE Bull). As far as going to visit the
Seven Sisters, they are about 425 light years away, so we will put
that off for another time.

I also want, on behalf of all of us, who have attended one or more
of the Sky Tonight Programs THANK Sam Rhoads, who after doing this
since 1984 is going on sabbatical (I refuse to acknowledge his
retirement). On behalf of all of us Stargazers, THANK YOU SO MUCH
Sam! Keep Looking UP!

Well... at least you'll have a week to recover from Super Bowl XXXIX
before the next Star Party. Bring your Super Bowl leftovers and a
Bowl of Pizza. Speaking of Star Parties, you are invited to one!!!

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Star Party Invitation for February 12th,
Sponsored by the Hawaiian Astronomical Society
http://www.hawastsoc.org
Dillingham Airfield - before sunset 6:28 pm)
(Star Party Directions are at the end of this message)
Bring:
http://bishopmuseum.org/exhibits/pla...5/02/Feb05.pdf

Here is where I go to check the weather on a Star Party Night:
http://www.wunderground.com/radar/ra...&scale=1&noclu
tter=0&ID=HMO&type=N0R&lat=0&lon=0&label=you

If it is clear, you will be able to see many astronomical sights.
It's now that time of year to see Saturn (my first favorite object),
the M42 - Orion Nebula (my third favorite), the Great Square of
Pegasus with its Andromeda Galaxy as well as many other heavenly sights!
If you won't be in Hawaii, fear not. Check this link for a Star
Party near you!
http://SkyandTelescope.com/resources/organizations/

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If you miss this month's HAS Star Party then join us at the next:
***** 2005 *****
March 12th
April 9th
April 30th
May 28th
June 25th
August 6th
August 27th
September 24th
October 22nd
December 3rd
***** 2006 *****
January 21st
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Chinese New Year

In any given year, Chinese New Year is determined by the new moon
that occurs before February 20. This year that new moon falls on
February 8, 2005 at 12:29 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. In eastern
China, where the date is determined, it is on the other side of the
dateline, so the Chinese New Year falls on February 9.
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Orion and the Seven Sisters
According to Greek Mythology, the Sisters called upon Zeus for
assistance after they had been pursued for seven years through the
Boeotian countryside by Orion the Hunter, who had less than honorable
intentions. When the benevolent God heard the cries, he transformed
the seven into doves and placed them within the heavens. The Ancient
Greeks explained this apparent absence of a seventh star with several
varying fables, the most popular of which was that one of the
Pleiades (Merope) deserted her sisters because she was ashamed of
having taken a mortal husband. On a reasonably dark night, it should
be relatively easy to spot at least six of the stars which make up
the Pleiades with the naked eye. If conditions are favorable, it may
be possible to see as many as nine. Containing a total of more than
500 stars, the Pleiades is approximately 410 light years away and
covers an area which is four times the size of the full Moon. Alcyone
is the brightest star in the Pleiades cluster, being approximately
1000 times brighter than the Sun...and ten times larger. Among many
ancient civilizations, the Pleiades were associated with agriculture
because the stars appeared on the horizon around harvest time and
Greek superstition cautioned sailors to set sail only during the
months when the Pleiades were visible.
Back to the story... later, when Orion was killed, the Hunter was
placed in the sky behind the Pleiades to immortalize the legendary
chase. Zeus positioned Taurus between Orion and the Seven Sisters,
where the Hunter engages in perpetual combat with the Bull as they
journey through the night.
Now according to a Native American myth, the Pleides were seven
youngsters who, on a walk through the sky, lost their way and never
made it home. They remain in the heavens, staying close together. The
seventh of the Sisters is difficult to see because she truly wants to
return to Earth and her tears dim her luster.
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Name the Seven Sisters?

Electra: Sometimes also referred to as Eleckra, this Sister was the
wife of Corythus. She was seduced by Zeus and gave birth to
Dardanus, Founder of Troy. Electra may have also been the mother of
the Harpies...foul bird-women who lived in a Cretan cave and harried
criminals. However, it is possible that the Electra who gave birth to
the Harpies was an entirely different Ocean Nymph who simply bore the
same name. The name Electra means "amber" and/or "shining" and/or
"bright" and may be the origin of the modern term "electricity."
Alcyone: Sometimes referred to as Halcyone, this Sister was seduced
by Poseidon and gave birth to Hyrieus, the name of Orion's
father...but who may or may not be the same Hyrieus. Alcyone is also
known as the "Central One," the "Hen" and the "Queen Who Wards Off
Evil Storms."
Asterope: Sometimes referred to as Sterope, one legend tells that
this Sister was ravished by Ares and gave birth to Oenomaus, King of
Pisa. Other legends state that she was instead the wife of Oenomaus
and may have been the mother of the beautiful Hippodaima in addition
to bearing three sons, Leucippus, Hippodamus and Dysponteus, Founder
of Dyspontium. At one time, this Sister may have been known as
"Asterie of the Starry Sky," a title which has been linked to the
Creatrix of the Universe.
Celeno: Sometimes also referred to as Celaeno, this Sister was
seduced by Poseidon and is credited with being the mother of Lycus
(the "Wolf") and Chimaerus (the "He-Goat"), courtesy of a liaison
with Prometheus. Her name means "swarthy" and, according to some
sources, she is believed to have been struck by lightning.
Maia: The eldest and most beautiful of the Sisters, Maia was a
Mountain Nymph who resided in Arcadia. Seduced by Zeus, she gave
birth to the Messenger God, Hermes, and later became foster-mother to
Arcas, son of Zeus and Callisto, during the period Callisto was in
the guise of a bear. Maia is also sometimes referred to as "Mother,"
"Grandmother," "Nurse" and/or "The Great One."
Merope: Often referred to as "The Missing One" or "Lost Pleiades,"
Merope was the seventh of the Sisters and (according to one fable)
the wife of Sisyphus, grandson of Deucalion (the Greek Noah) and
great-grandson of Prometheus. Sisyphus founded the City of Ephyre,
also known as Corinth, but was later condemned by Zeus to eternally
roll a huge stone up a hill in Hades, only to have it roll back down
each time the task was almost completed. Legend tells that Merope
repents of this marital indiscretion and hides her face in shame at
being the only one of the Sisters who failed to cohabitate with a
God. Her name may have originally meant either "eloquent,"
"bee-eater" or "mortal."
Taygete: Sometimes referred to Taygeta, this Sister consecrated to
Artemis the Cerynitian Hind with the golden horns that Heracles
(during his Third Labor) had to fetch. Seduced by Zeus, she gave
birth to Lacedemon, the Founder of Sparta, to which City she was thus
an important Goddess. In some versions of this myth, Taygete was
unwilling to yield to Zeus and was changed by Artemis into a hind
(female red deer). Although Taygete attempted to elude the mighty God
in this guise, he eventually caught her and, upon the birth of
Lacedemon, she hanged herself. She may also have been the mother of
Tantalus, who was tormented in Hades with thirst and hunger for
offending the Gods...but there is a great deal of mythological
uncertainty surrounding the parentage of Tantalus. The name Taygete
possibly means "long-necked."
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The Wanderers (The Planets) this Month
Mercury and are hidden in the glare of the Sun.
Mars glows in the southeast in early dawn. Don't
confuse it with Mars-like Antares, which is
sparkling well off to its right and a little higher.
Jupiter rises in the east around 10:30 p.m. By
dawn Jupiter is the bright "star" shining high in
the south to southwest.
Saturn shines brightly very high in the east to
southeast during evening: to the lower right of
Pollux and Castor and farther to the upper left
of Procyon. It's now excellently placed for
telescopic viewing. Castor, Pollux, Saturn,
and Procyon form a ragged diagonal line in
the sky all this winter.
Uranus and Neptune are hidden in the glare of the Sun.
Pluto is low in the southeast before dawn.
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Annual Meteor Showers
Quadrantids: January
Virginids: March/April
Lyrids: April
Scorpiids: May
Delta Aquarids: July
Perseids August
Piscids: September
Orionids: October
Leonids: November
Geminids: December
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Find what is moving overhead after sunset:
http://www.bester.com/
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTim.../JTrack3d.html
Check out when the next Iridium Satellite is available for you to
see: http://www.heavens-above.com/Neighbo...PlaceID=593409
(for non Oahu Star Gazers...)
http://www.heavens-above.com/selectt...p?CountryID=US

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Check out:
http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/12months/m-feb-i.html
and bring the above list...
As for the rest of the Messiers, check out
http://www.hawastsoc.org/deepsky/messier.html It also has a link to:
http://www.hawastsoc.org/messier/index.html
(all the Messier Objects as photographed by HAS's local Jay Wrathall)
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Star Party Directions
(http://www.hawastsoc.org/directions/dillingham.html)
To reach the Dillingham observing site, take the H2 to the end at
Schofield Barracks. Drive past Schofield and follow the signs to
Waialua. At the Y intersection at Waialua, bear left and pass under
the bridge. Drive out of town a few miles until you reach Dillingham
Airfield. Dillingham is several miles long. It has three gates. You
need to drive to the far end to the third gate (marked as Gate 1 on
the color map). When you enter the gate, the road will curve left
behind some hangars. It will then take you through a very sharp S
curve. 1/4 mile beyond that is a stop sign in the middle of nowhere.
Turn right at the stop sign, and you will be there. You can find me
by looking for the big red telescope in the corner with a table with
lots of pizza on it.
You will need to reach the site before sunset in order to find the
gate open!!!
A few words on light. We try to maintain dark conditions at the site.
Therefore we have certain rules about light. First, no white
flashlights. The only flashlights that you should use are not too
bright, red ones.
When entering and exiting the site, do not use headlights. Some cars
now can't turn off their headlights. If you have a car like that
please park nearer the windsock then the telescopes. Point it away
from the telescopes. Headlights make you lose your night vision for
up to 30 minutes. It immediately ruins any astro photography that
might be in progress.
Bring some warm clothes, something to sit on, some real powerful bug
spray, a dim or red covered flashlight and some munches to share with
your friends.
Remember there is an absolute need to remain clear of the runway, and
anyone attending the star party needs to remain in the immediate star
party area. Do not be wandering around in areas where we are not
permitted. Especially near any planes (parked or moving)!
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Bishop Museum Planetarium Happenings
Daily Planetarium schedule:
(808) 848-4136 for pre-recorded planetarium schedule.
11:30 a.m. Explorers of the International Space Station (45 Minutes)
12:20 p.m. Explorers of Polynesia (in Japanese , 30 Minutes)
1:00 p.m. The Sky Tonight (in English, 40 Minutes)
2:30-3:15p.m. Observatory is open for solar viewing
3:30 p.m. Explorers of Polynesia (in English, 45 Minutes)
Sam Rhoads will be truly missed at the Bishop Museum, yet change is
inevitable. Barry Peckham, will assume the monthly Sky Tonight
program. Another change of note regarding this program‹after the
February 7th presentation, the program will move to the first Friday
of each month, as opposed to the first Monday. As usual,
reservations are required as there is limited seating in the
planetarium. Call 848-4168 for information and reservations.
The Sky Tonight, an hour-long sky talk with Barry Peckham, occurs on
the first Friday, at 7:00 PM. Reservations are necessary, since Barry's
shows often fill. $4 for adults, $3 for kids, free to Bishop Museum
members and Hawaiian Astronomical Society members. Reservations for
The Sky Tonight: 848-4168.
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After Dark with Stars in the Park
Waikele Community Park
OR... Kahala Park
(Weather permitting)
***** 2005 *****
February 19th
March 19th
April 16th
May 14th
June 11th
July 9th
August 13th
September 10th
October 8th
November 5th
December 10th
***** 2006 *****
January 7th
FROM DUSK to 9:30 PM
Bring your children! Tell your friends!
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Visit the cosmos via:
The HAS HomePage: http://www.hawastsoc.org/ or go to
(or show up at meeting 7:30pm first Tue of month)
and check out the Bishop Museum Planetarium Home Page
http://bishopmuseum.org/exhibits/pla...anetarium.html
and the Institute for Astronomy Colloquia/Seminars
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/
http://apollo-society.org/launchpad39_A.html
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Keep Looking Sky Ward...Gary Ward
http://homepage.mac.com/macyoda/PhotoAlbum6.html
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"The computer is to the mind as the amplifier is to sound."
Paul Maurer
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Two antennas meet on a roof, fall in love and get married. The
ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent!
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SIAR
www.starlords.org
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord