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From Hawaii ( On Topic even! )



 
 
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Old June 21st 05, 08:33 PM
Starlord
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Default From Hawaii ( On Topic even! )

In like a Lion and Out like a Pizza!
*:-.,_,.-:*'``'*:-.,_,.-:

Greetings Fellow Stargazer,

Don't miss this month's Star Party because Venus, Mercury, and Saturn
will fit within a circle 2° across just after the sun sets.

Also, for all you Leo's out there, this is another month to get a great
view Leo. One of the most enduring stories of western mythology is the
tale of Hercules, the half-mortal son of Zeus, the king of the gods of
Olympus. His divine heritage provided great strength and courage. But it
also brought great sorrow. Zeus's wife, Hera, caused Hercules to go mad
and kill his wife and children. As punishment, he was assigned 12 labors,
each of which would have been impossible for a normal man. Hercules and
his labors are commemorated in the stars. Hercules himself stands clear
of the eastern horizon by nightfall. The constellation is defined by a
lopsided square of fairly bright stars known as the Keystone. One of his
labors was to kill a ferocious lion, represented by the constellation
Leo. The lion stands high in the sky in the evening, nose diving toward
the western horizon as the night lingers on.

Several hundred years ago, astronomers drew a minor constellation next to
Hercules to represent his conquest of Cerberus, a three-headed dog that
guarded the entrance to Hades and who was in one of the Harry Potter
movies. Pluto, the god of the underworld, allowed Hercules to fight the
beast, but using only his bare hands. Hercules won the battle and brought
Cerberus to the surface, then had to return him because no one on Earth
wanted this most hungry critter around. The stars of Cerberus were few
and faint, so the constellation never caught on. Today, its stars are
incorporated into the outer regions of Hercules.

Hercules is home of one of my favorites... M-13, the Hercules Globular
Cluster. Speaking of Globs... you should find a glob of tomato paste, a
glob of some cheese and put it on some dough, cook it and bring it to a
Star Party. Speaking of Star Parties, you are invited to one on the 25th!

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Star Party Invitation for June 25th,
Sponsored by the Hawaiian Astronomical Society
http://www.hawastsoc.org
Dillingham Airfield - before sunset 7:17ish pm)
(Star Party Directions are at the end of this message)
Bring:
http://bishopmuseum.org/exhibits/pla.../06/june05.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 Jupiter, Omega Centauri, Leo
the Lion, Scorpius, Virgo and the Southern Cross.

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 *****
August 6th
August 27th
September 24th
October 22nd
December 3rd

***** 2006 *****
January 21st
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Hercules Globular Cluster
M13, is called the "Large Globular Cluster of Hercules", is one of the
most remarkable clusters and most known of the Northern celestial
hemisphere. Edmond Halley, who discovered it in 1714, when it was dark
enough to be visible with the naked eye when the sky was clear and the
Moon absent. Charles Messier cataloged it as Messier Object 13 on June
1, 1764. With the distance of 25 100 light-years, its angular diameter is
of 23', which corresponds to 165 light-years. It contains some 100 000
stars; Timothy Ferris, in its work Galaxies , even advances "more than
one million". In the central area, the density is approximately 500 times
higher than that of the stellar environment of the Sun. The age of M13
was evaluated by Sandage to 24 billion years and by Arp to 17 billion in
1960; later, in 1962, Arp brought back this figure to 14 billion (raised
in Kenneth Glyn Jones). According to Kenneth Glyn Jones, M13 has the
characteristic to contain a young blue star, Barnard No.29, of spectral
type B2. the membership of this star to the cluster was confirmed by the
measurement its radial speed, although this is surprising for a so old
cluster; it would be rather about a star captured in the stellar field.

The globular cluster M13 was selected in 1974 like target for one of the
first radio messages transmitted by the large radio operator telescope of
Arecibo and was addressed to possible extraterrestrial intelligent beings.
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Leo, the Lion

Leo is the fifth Sign of the Zodiac. A line extended southward from the
pointer stars of the Big Dipper passes into the midsection of Leo, the
Lion. Covering some 60 degrees in longitude in the sky, it is one of the
largest constellations. Leo assumed great significance during the Age of
Taurus, between 4000-2000 B. C. when many of the constellations were
named by people living in Mesopotamia and/or Egypt.

During the summer dry season lions of the desert would come into the
valley of the Nile at the time it flooded, close to summer solstice,
hence the symbolic importance of the sun in Leo at summer solstice. The
face of a Lion was always carved in the gates that opened irrigation
canals of the Nile valley. Many found in Mediterranean cities had water
gushing out of the mouths of lions in their fountains. The Egyptian
Sphinx may also have the symbolism of a lion.

During the Age of Taurus, the solstices and equinoxes were marked by four
major stars, the so-called Royal Stars: Aldebaran; the brightest star of
Taurus, Regulus, the brightest star of Leo; Antares the "heart" of
Scorpius, and Fomalhaut near Aquarius. At certain latitudes, Fomalhaut
was too low to be easily seen, and Altair in Aquilla was used as the star
of winter solstice.

The resulting synthesis of animals became the Griffin, hind legs and
wings of an eagle (Aquilla) head and forelegs of a lion (Leo), and the
tail of a scorpion (Scorpio). The lion was the symbol of absolute
sovereignty power, and kingship. The sun in the lion carried out that
symbolism. At summer solstice near the tropic of Cancer, the solar lion
controlled the zenith of the heavens at noon.

Regulus, the Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo. A backward
question mark of stars curves up from Regulus to represent the Lion's
chest, majestic mane and head, this pattern is also called the Sickle.
Regulus being very close to the ecliptic can commonly be seen pairing
with the Moon or a bright planet.

In ancient cultures Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, has been
associated with the concept of royalty or kingly power. It is also known
as the Ruler, the Lawgiver. It has been said that Regulus focuses the
energy of Sirius toward the Earth. Regulus acts as a regulator for the
evolutionary energies of Sirius and the Christ consciousness. The Sickle
has the ability to cut through confusion; the Royal, Lion-Hearted
Lawgiver can then stimulate a response in humanity that expresses the
Christ consciousness, the quality we call Love. The Sirius/Leo Festival
that occurs each year during the Full Moon in the Sun sign of Leo, July
21 * August 20, aligns us with the Sirius/Leo energies.

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The Wanderers (The Planets) this Month


Mercury will reach its highest point of the month during the 3-planet
grouping on the 25th -27th, almost 20 degrees from the western horizon.

Venus moves into the evening sky after being hidden by the sun. This
brightest planet hangs low in the western sky. Venus is easily spotted in
the west at dusk and remains in the sky until almost 9:00 p.m.

Mars doesnąt rise until after midnight this month, and has been
temporarily overshadowed by the early evening planets.

Jupiter is very near zenith as darkness falls. The gas giant has enjoyed
the status as being the brightest planet in the sky for months, but now
Venus has come back to the night sky to take that title. This is a good
time, though, to compare the two planets since they are both in the sky
for a couple of hours.

By July Saturn will be even lower in the evening sky than both Mercury ad
Venus at sunset, but there is still time to see Saturn higher in the sky
in June. Next to the constellation Gemini, Saturn is relatively bright,
brighter than the brother stars Castor and Pollux that mark the heads of
the twins. Saturn sets around 10 p.m. in early June, and by 8:30 p.m.
June 30.

Uranus and Neptune (magnitudes 6 and 8, respectively, in Aquarius and
Capricornus) are well up in the southeast to south before dawn.

Pluto (magnitude 14, in Serpens Cauda) is well placed in the
south-southeast after dark. Use at least an 8-inch scope if you want to
try and find it.

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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-apr-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)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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)!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Bishop Museum Planetarium Happenings

Daily Planetarium schedule:
(808) 848-4136 for pre-recorded planetarium schedule.

11:30 a.m. The Stars Tonight (40 Minutes)
12:30 p.m. Explorers of Polynesia (in Japanese, (30 Minutes)
1:00 p.m. Deep Impact: Rendezvous With a Come, (30 Minutes)
2:30-3:15p.m. Observatory is open for solar viewing
3:30 p.m. Explorers of Polynesia (in English, 45 Minutes)

Barry Peckham will host the Sky Tonight program on the first Friday
of each month. Reservations are required as there is limited seating in
the planetarium. Call 848-4168 for information and reservations.
Tickets cost $4 for adults, $3 for kids, free to Bishop Museum
members and Hawaiian Astronomical Society members.
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After Dark with Stars in the Park
Waikele Community Park
OR... Kahala Park
(Weather permitting)
***** 2005 *****
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
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=


--

The Lone Sidewalk Astronomer of Rosamond
Telescope Buyers FAQ
http://home.inreach.com/starlord
About my Car
http://www.bishopcarfund.netfirms.com/





 




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