Документ взят из кэша поисковой машины. Адрес оригинального документа : http://www.atmob.org/newsletters/NL_Feb2011.pdf Дата изменения: Sat Mar 12 08:27:39 2011 Дата индексирования: Mon Oct 1 20:20:23 2012 Кодировка: Поисковые слова: spitzer space telescope

STAR F IE L D S
N e w s le tte r o f th e A m a te u r T e le s c o p e M a k e rs o f B o s to n In c lu d in g th e B o n d A s tro n o m ic a l C lu b E s ta b lis h e d in 1 9 3 4 In th e In te re s t o f T e le s c o p e M a k in g & U s in g Vol. 23, No. 2 February 2011

T h is M o n th 's M e e tin g ...

Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 8:00 PM Phillips Auditorium Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Parking at the CfA is allowed for the duration of the meeting. Member's Presentation Night and Swap
T h is m o n th 's m e e tin g w ill f e a tu re f o u r m e m b e rs s p e a k in g o n d if f e re n t a s tro n o m y - o r te le s c o p e - re la te d to p ic s . T h is is a g o o d c h a n c e to s e e w h a t y o u r c o lle a g u e s h a v e b e e n u p to . A ls o , b rin g y o u r o ld e q u ip m e n t a n d a c c e s s o rie s y o u m a y w a n t to o f f -lo a d a t th e m in i -s w a p m e e t. If y o u 're lo o k in g to b u y , th is is a g re a t p la c e tim e to g e t s o m e d e a ls !

O n h is w e b s ite , D r. A rb e s m a n n o te s th a t " U rb a n tra n s it m a p s a re w o n d e rf u l to o ls : th e y a re g u id e s to tra v e lin g , th e y s e rv e a s m e c h a n is m s f o r d is tillin g a n d a b s tra c tin g a c ity d o w n to a s e t o f lin k a g e s a n d in te rc o n n e c tio n s , a n d th e y a re b e a u tif u l." a n d th a t " th e s e m a p s h a v e b e e n u s e d to u n d e rs ta n d o th e r, m o re id e a b a s e d , in te r -re la tio n s h ip s ." H is s u b w a y m a p a tte m p ts to b e a c c u ra te , s h o w in g th e v a rio u s s p ira l b ra n c h e s o f th e M ilk y W a y a s w e u n d e rs ta n d th e m a n d putting actual places on these arms. Our Sun is the next-to-last s to p o n th e R e d O rio n lin e . T a k e a lo o k , a n d ju d g e f o r y o u rs e lf h o w w e ll D r . A rb e s m a n s u c c e e d e d . H e w o u ld w e lc o m e y o u r id e a s a n d c o m m e n ts - h is e m a il a d d re s s is o n h is w e b s ite w w w .a rb e s m a n .n e t/m ilk y w a y . T h is m o n th w e a re h a v in g o u r s e m i -a n n u a l M e m b e r's p re s e n ta tio n s - s h o rt ta lk s b y s o m e o f o u r m e m b e rs o n th e ir re c e n t a c tiv itie s . T h is g iv e s u s a w a y to s e e o u r c lu b a little d if f e re n tly th a n th e u s u a l p re s e n ta tio n s b y p ro f e s s io n a ls - m a y b e a little lik e th e S u b w a y M a p s h o w s o u r g a la x y in a d if f e re n t w a y . A lth o u g h a ll th e p re s e n ta ti o n s lo ts a re f ille d u p f o r th e F e b ru a ry m e e tin g , w e 'll h a v e o th e r M e m b e rs m e e tin g s in th e f u tu re . S o w h ile y o u a re lis te n in g to th e p re s e n ta tio n s th is m o n th , w h y n o t th in k a b o u t p o s s ib ly d o in g y o u r o w n p re s e n ta tio n a t s o m e f u tu re m e e tin g ? T h is is e n tire ly o p tio n a l o n y o u r p a rt, o f c o u rs e , b u t s o m e tim e s a g o a l lik e m a k in g a p re s e n ta tio n c a n a d d s o m e s tru c tu re a n d p u rp o s e to o u r a c tiv itie s - a n d it c a n b e f u n to d e s c rib e o u r w o rk to a s u p p o rtiv e g ro u p o f f e llo w m e m b e rs ! K e e p lo o k in g u p -

President's message...
N e x t S to p S o l... T h e re a re m a n y w a y s to lo o k a t a n d e n jo y th e c o s m o s . In o u r c lu b , s o m e m e m b e rs lik e to le a rn a b o u t c o s m o lo g ic a l th e o ry , s o m e lo v e o b s e rv in g u n d e r c o ld a n d c le a r s k ie s , w h ile s till o th e r m e m b e rs e n jo y th e c h a lle n g e o f d e s ig n in g a n d b u ild in g th e ir o w n in s tru m e n t . T h e re a re a ls o m e m b e rs w h o lik e th e o u tre a c h o f o u r c lu b s ta r p a rtie s , w h e n th e y c a n s h o w c h ild re n th e c e le s tia l s ig h ts a n d d e s c rib e th e m in te rm s th e c h ild re n c a n u n d e rs ta n d . In th is s p irit , S a m u e l A rb s e m a n , a H a rv a rd re s e a rc h e r in th e f ie ld s o f n e tw o rk s c ie n c e a n d a p p lie d m a th e m a tic s , h a s f o u n d a n e w a n d in te re s tin g w a y to d e s c rib e o u r g a la x y . D r. A rb s e m a n re c e n tly d re w a n o v e l m a p o f th e M ilk y W a y in te rm s o f th e f a m ilia r s u b w a y m a p lik e th o s e o n th e M B T A . L ik e a n o rm a l s u b w a y m a p , th e M ilk y W a y M a p is m e a n t to s h o w c o n n e c tio n s a n d in te rre la tio n s h ip s , a n d d is re g a rd s a c tu a l d is ta n c e .

~ Bernie Kosicki, President ~


J a n u a r y M e e tin g M in u te s . . .
L ectu re:

" P r o b in g th e U n iv e r s e w ith G a la x y C lu s te r s : N e w W in d o w s fr o m N e w T e c h n o lo g ie s "
P h o to b y A l T a k e d a

Optical Credits: NASA/STScI X-Ray credits: NASA/CXC/MIT/E-H Peng et al

A b e ll 1 6 8 9 in v is ib le lig h t, x -r a y , a n d b o th v is ib le a n d x -r a y . X - r a y ­ l X ~ 1 n m = l v i s/ 1 0 0 0 I n s t r u m e n t s X -ra y o b s e rv a tio n s m u s t b e d o n e f ro m s p a c e b e c a u s e th e E a rth 's a tm o s p h e re is o p a q u e to X -ra y s . P h o to n -c o u n tin g im a g in g m e a s u re s e n e rg y o f e a c h p h o to n . X -ra y " s p e c tra l im a g e s " p ro v id e d e n s ity & te m p e ra tu re (a n d th e re f o re p re s s u re ) o f h o t (1 0 8 K ) p la s m a f illin g th e c lu s te r . T h e p la s m a is c o n f in e d b y g ra v ita tio n a l a ttra c tio n o f th e c lu s te r, s o c lu s te r m a s s c a n b e in f e rre d f ro m p re s s u re . N B : S o m e a s s u m p tio n s re q u ire d ! X -ra y C C D C h a ra c te ris tic s ­ X -ra y s e n s o rs c a n b u ild m u lti -c o lo r (d if f e re n t e n e rg y ) im a g e w h ile in te g ra tin g . A ls o , th e y a re re s p o n s iv e to v is ib le w a v e le n g th s s o a n a lu m in u m iz e d p la s tic f ilte r is u s e d . T h e y a re v e ry s im ila r to v is ib le -b a n d C C D s f o r a s tro n o m y . P ix e l s iz e : 1 0 -4 0 m ic ro n s . R e a d n o is e : 2 -5 e - R M S . S iz e : ~ 5 c m 2 , ~ f e w M p ix . T h ic k e r th a n v is ib le C C D s to a b s o rb e n e rg e tic X -ra y s . S p e c tra l b a n d : ~ 0 .1 ­ 1 0 k e V . C o s t: $ 1 0 0 k $1000k each C h a n d ra : 4 .5 T o n s, F = 1 0 m N A S A 1 9 9 9 . A C IS S e n so r 1 0 x 1 M p ix (M IT , P S U , M IT L L ) . B e s t X -ra y m irro r e v e r b u ilt . V e ry good angular resolution (.5 arc/sec) X M M -N e w to n , 3 .8 T , F = 7 .5 m E S A 1 9 9 9 . E P IC 2 x 7 x 0 .3 6 M p ix (M O S ) + 1 x .1 6 M p ix (P N ) (L e ic e s te r, M P E ,S R O N , E 2 V ). 15 arc/sec resolution. 3 Telescopes cover more area. S u z a k u , 1 .7 T F = 4 .5 m J a p a n 2 0 0 5 . X IS S e n s o r 4 x 1 M p ix (M IT , O s a k a ,M IT L L ). S m a lle r a n d c h e a p e r. S w ift: 1 M p ix (P S U , L e ic e s te r, E 2 V ) Millimeter ­ lmm ~ 1 mm = lvis x 1000 Instruments: M illim e te r w a v e o b s e rv a tio n s re q u ire a d ry h ig h a ltitu d e s ite (o r s p a c e ) b e c a u s e th e E a rth 's a tm o s p h e re o n ly p a rtia lly tra n s p a re n t d u e to w a te r a b s o rp tio n . " N e w " c ry o g e n ic b o lo m e te rs e n a b le n e w s u r v e y s . G a l a x y c l u s t e r s a r e s e e n a s t i n y d i s t o r t i o n s ( 1 p a r t 1 0 4) in th e a ll-p e rv a d in g C o s m ic M ic ro w a v e B a c k g ro u n d ( a t 3 K ) ("Sunyaev-Zeldovich" Effect). Surprisingly, the signal is nearly independent of the cluster's distance! It is ideal for finding very d is ta n t c lu s te rs . T h e s e in s tru m e n ts u s e a rra y s o f s u p e rc o n d u c tin g T ra n s itio n -E d g e S e n s o r B o lo m e te rs , w h ic h a re v e ry lo w n o is e bolometers. They also employ photolithographic & thin-film fab t e c h n o l o g y . C a n b e m u l t i p l e x e d i n l a r g e ( ~ 1 0 3- e l e m e n t ) a r r a y s . O p e ra te a t ~ 0 .2 5 K S o u th P o le T e le s c o p e , 1 0 m a t 3 0 0 0 m e le v a tio n A ta c a m a C o s m o lo g y T e le s c o p e 6 m a t 5 0 0 0 m e le v a tio n P l a n c k M i s s i o n 1 . 5 m a t 1 . 5 x 1 0 9m " e l e v a t i o n "

T h e J a n u a ry m e e tin g o f th e A m a te u r T e le s c o p e M a k e rs o f B o s to n f e a tu re d , D r. M a rk B a u tz , w h o d i s c u s s e d re c e n t o b s e rv a tio n s o f g a la x y c lu s te rs th a t a re b e g in n in g to p ro v id e n e w in f o rm a tio n a b o u t th e h is to ry o f th e c o s m o s . A k e y to th is p ro g re s s h a s b e e n th e s tu d y o f th e s e o b je c ts u s in g te le s c o p e s o p e ra tin g a t m illim e te r, v is ib le , in f ra re d a n d X -ra y w a v e le n g th s . D r. B a u tz o u tlin e d th e p o te n tia l im p a c t o f th e s e re s u lts o n o u r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f c o s m o lo g y , a n d re v ie w s o m e o f th e n e w te c h n o lo g ie s th a t h a v e m a d e th e m p o s s ib le , c o n c lu d in g w ith a s u m m a ry o f f u tu re p ro s p e c ts f o r th is lin e o f re s e a rc h . D r. M a rk B a u tz is a S e n io r R e s e a rc h S c ie n tis t a t th e M IT K a v li In s titu te f o r A s tro p h y s ic s a n d S p a c e R e s e a rc h , w h e re h e s e rv e s a s A s s o c ia te D ire c to r . H e h a s b e e n d e v e lo p in g in s tru m e n ta tio n f o r X -ra y a s tro n o m y f o r o v e r tw e n ty y e a rs , a n d h a s w o rk e d o n X -ra y c a m e ra s f o r a n u m b e r o f s p a c e o b s e rv a to rie s , in c lu d in g N A S A 's C h a n d ra X -ra y O b s e rv a to ry . H is c u rre n t re s e a rc h in te re s ts c o n c e rn n e w X -ra y im a g in g d e te c to r a n d o b s e rv a tio n a l s tu d ie s o f c lu s te rs o f g a la x ie s . G a la x y c lu s te r s in a n u ts h e ll - F r o m X -r a y s to C lu s te r M a s s X -ra y S p e c tra l Im a g e D e n s ity & T e m p e ra tu re v s R a d iu s C lu s te r M a s s v s R a d iu s W e can see, w h en w e o b s e rv e in v is ib le a n d g ra v ita tio n a lly b o u n d g a la x ie s . F o r e x a m p le lo o k a t th e d if f e re n c e b e tw w h a t w e o b s e rv e in x -ra y , g a la x ie s , m o s t o f th e m a s s A b e ll 1 6 8 9 (p ic tu re d n e x t een w hat w e can th a t in is n o t in th e column):

The largest `bound' structures in the Universe. Mass: 1014-15 Msun Luminosity: Visible: Lvis ~ 1011-12 Lsun X-ray: Lx ~ 0.1 Lvis Size: 1024.5 cm (~ 1 Mpc ~ 3 Mlt-yr) Composition (roughly): 85% ( n o n - b a r y o n i c ) d a r k m a t t e r 1 3 % p l a s m a a t 1 0 7 .5 - 8 K ( 3 - 1 0 k e V ) - > X - r a y e m i s s i o n 2 % s t a r s , m o s t l y i n 1 0 1 .5-3 g a l a x i e s . O t h e r g a la x y c lu s te rs u s e d a s e x a m p le s ­ A b e ll 2 2 1 8 s h o w in g le n s in g a n d A b e ll 3 7 0

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C lu s te r s a s p r o b e s o f c o s m o lo g y T h e U n iv e rs e is e x p a n d in g ! A b a s ic g o a l o f c o s m o lo g y is to m e a s u re th e ra te o f e x p a n s io n th ro u g h o u t c o s m ic h is to ry . T h e ra te d e p e n d s o n th e d e n s i ty o f m a tte r a n d e n e rg y (in c lu d in g " d a rk e n e rg y " ­ n e g a tiv e p re s s u re ) in th e c o s m o s . T h e ra te m a y b e th e o n ly c lu e w e h a v e a s to th e n a tu re o f d a rk e n e rg y . S o c o s m o lo g y is a to o l to p ro b e f u n d a m e n ta l p h y s ic s . T h e re a re m a n y w a y s to m e a s u re th e e x p a n s io n h i s to ry , a (t), e .g .: S u p e rn o v a e re d s h if t/d is ta n c e re la tio n a n d g a la x y d is trib u tio n o v e r c o s m ic tim e . A ll m e th o d s a re d if f ic u lt a n d f ra u g h t w ith a s s u m p tio n s s o w e n e e d to m e a s u re in d if f e re n t w a y s . G e ttin g th e s a m e a n s w e r f ro m d if f e re n t m e a s u re m e n ts c o n f irm s th e v a lu e s in d e p e n d e n t o f a s s u m p tio n s . G a la x y c lu s te rs c a n p ro v id e s e v e ra l in d e p e n d e n t c o n s tra in ts o n a (t). C lu s te rs T ra c e S tru c tu ra l F o rm a tio n : C o s m ic s tru c tu re g ro w s v ia g ra v ita tio n a l in s ta b ility (d riv e n b y d a rk m a tte r) a n d in itia te d b y q u a n tu m f lu c tu a t io n s d u rin g in f la tio n le a d in g to s m a ll d e n s ity d if f e re n c e s (s e e Y o u T u b e lin k b e lo w ). T h e ra te o f g ro w th is s e n s itiv e to th e c o s m ic e x p a n s io n h is to ry & th u s to th e c o s m o lo g ic a l m o d e l. T h e c lu s te r p o p u la tio n (c lu s te rs /v o lu m e ) d e p e n d s o n c o s m o lo g y o v e r tim e . N B : a = 1 /(1 + z ) K e y o b s e rv a tio n a l re q u ire m e n ts : C o u n t c lu s te rs a t o v e r c o s m ic h is to ry , M e a s u re c lu s te r m a s s e s T h e C lu s te r P o p u la tio n & C o s m o lo g y : T h e c lu s te r m a s s d is trib u tio n e v o lv e s ra p id ly s o c lu s te r c o u n ts a re s e n s itiv e to c o s m o lo g y (d a rk e n e rg y c h a ra c te ris tic s ). C lu s te r C o s m o lo g y P ro g re s s to D a te : 4 0 c lu s te rs . R O S A T d e te c tio n s & C h a n d ra f o llo w -u p , X -ra y c lu s te r d a ta (+ W M A P ) y ie ld d w ~ 0 .1 a t f ix e d W M. T o g e t a b e t t e r i d e a o f d a r k e n e r g y , w e n e e d t o i m p r o v e t h e m e a su re m e n t b y x 1 0 o r m o re . F u tu r e p r o sp e c ts: S o u th P o le T e le s c o p e p ro m is e s to o f f e r o b s e rv a tio n s o f m o re d is ta n t c lu s te rs a n d w id e r x -ra y s u rv e y s a s e a rly a s 2 0 1 3 T h e L a r g e S y n o p tic S u r v e y T e le s c o p e (8 .4 m ) w ill o f f e r b e tte r m e a s u re m e n ts o f c lu s te r m a s s e s , w ith a n a n tic ip a te d la u n c h d a te o f 2 0 1 4 . C o m b in e d w ith m a s s e s f ro m " le n s in g " a n d A s tr o -H , w ith 2 0 x b e tte r s p e c tra l re s o lu tio n . H o w e v e r : B e tte r to o ls d o n 't a lw a y s p ro v id e b e tte r a n s w e rs ; b u t th e y u s u a lly p ro v id e b e tte r q u e s tio n s . O n e a s s u m p tio n f re q u e n tly u s e d is th a t th e g a s is " a t re s t." H o w e v e r, o b s e rv a tio n s o f th e P e rs e u s C lu s te r in X -ra y s s e e n b y R O S A T (e a rly 1 9 9 0 s ) a t ~ 3 0 " re s o lu tio n is s m o o th b u t w h e n s e e n b y C h a n d ra (2 0 0 6 ) a t 0 .5 " re s o lu tio n is n o t u n if o rm a t a ll. Q & A R e s u lts : H o w " d is ru p tio n tim e f ra m e " W e k n o w a b s o lu te ly c lu s te rs is c o n tin u in g L in k s
M IT K a v li In s titu te P a g e http://space.mit.edu D r M . W . B a u tz P u b lic a tio n s http://en.scientificcommons.org/m_w_bautz http://pubget.com/profile/author/M Bautz?page=2&q=authors%3A"M+Bautz" S tru c tu re F o rm a tio n in th e U n iv e rs e http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8C_dnP2fvxk

A b e ll 1 6 8 9 http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2008/a1689 http://iopscience.iop.org/0004-637X/701/2/1283/fulltext M a g e lla n T e le s c o p e s http://www.lco.cl/telescopes-information/magellan H u b b le T e le s c o p e http://hubble.nasa.gov http://hubblesite.org http://www.stsci.edu/hst http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html S p itz e r S p a c e T e le s c o p e http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu C h a n d r a X- R a y O b s e r v a t o r y http://chandra.harvard.edu/about/specs.html XM M - N e w t o n XR T http://xmm.esac.esa.int/external/xmm_user_support/documentation/technical/Mirr ors/index.shtml S u z a k u XR T http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/astro_e2/topics_e.html http://heasarc.nasa.gov/docs/suzaku/astroegof.html S w i f t XR T http://www.swift.psu.edu/xrt S o u th P o le T e le s c o p e http://pole.uchicago.edu A ta c a m a C o s m o lo g y T e le s c o p e http://www.physics.princeton.edu/act/about.html P la n c k S a t. http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=Planck http://planck.caltech.edu e R o s ita http://www.mpe.mpg.de/heg/www/Projects/erosita/index.php L a rg e S y n o p tic S u rv e y T e le s c o p e http://www.lsst.org/lsst A s t r o - H XR T http://astro-h.isas.jaxa.jp

J a n u a r y A T M o B B u s in e s s M e e tin g : (9 :0 0 p m ) B ru c e T in k le r p ro v id e d th e S e c re ta ry 's R e p o rt. B e rn ie p ro v id e d th e T re a s u re r's R e p o rt f o rw a rd e d b y N a n e tte B e n o it. N o M e m b e rs h ip R e p o rt w a s a v a ila b le B ru c e B e rg e r p ro v id e d th e O b s e rv in g C o m m itte e R e p o rt . G le n n C h a p le a n d N e il F le m in g a re f le s h in g o u t th e O b s e rv in g A w a rd s P ro g ra m . C a te g o rie s to in c lu d e : C lu s te rs (g lo b u la r a n d o p e n ), M e s s ie r, D o u b le S ta rs , G a la x ie s . T h e re w ill a ls o lik e ly b e le v e ls s u c h a s B e g in n e r, In te rm e d ia te , a n d M a s te r/E x p e rt . E q u ip m e n t c rite ria to b e d e te rm in e d (t e le s c o p e s iz e /g o to ) . N o tim e lim its o n o b s e rv a tio n s . N e w E q u ip m e n t d o n a tio n s : a n e w e r C -1 4 w ith im p ro v e m e n ts a n d a C e le s tro n N e x ta r 5 " g o -to re f le c to r (to b e

s ta b le " is th e g a s ? W h a t m ig h t th e b e ? A t le a s t o n th e o rd e r o f 1 0 0 M y e a rs . n o th in g a b o u t d a rk e n e rg y ." T h e n u m b e r o f t o g ro w in th e c u rre n t u n iv e rs e .

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le n t o u t) . N e il F le m in g a ls o in d ic a te d th a t h e w o u ld p ro A s tro p h o to g ra p h y T ra in in g . T h e f irs t s e s s io n w o u ld b e b a s e d . T h e n th e re w ill b e a f o llo w u p s e s s io n o n -s ite a t c lu b h o u s e . D a te s to b e a n n o u n c e d . J o h n B o u d re a u w ill p ro v id e tra in in g o n p la n e ta ry im a g in g .

v id e in te rn e t th e a ls o

C lu b h o u s e R e p o r t . . .
C o o rd in a tin g s n o w re m o v a l h a s b e e n c lo s e to a f u ll tim e e f f o rt th is m o n th f o r J o h n B . w ith re p e titiv e s to rm s re q u irin g re m o v a l. O u r g o a l is to k e e p th e o b s e rv in g f ie ld c le a r f o r o u r in tre p id c o ld w e a th e r o b s e rv e rs . S n o w b lo w e r a n d s h o v e ls w e re re q u ire d f o r th e S a tu rd a y J a n u a ry 2 2 n d W o rk S e s s io n to c le a r p a th s to p a d s , o b s e rv a to rie s , a n d s to ra g e s h e d s . T h e ta s k w a s m a d e p o s s ib le b y th e s u p p o rt re c e iv e d e a rlie r f ro m o u r n e ig h b o rs in m o v in g s n o w a s it f e ll a llo w in g a c c e s s to th e c lu b h o u s e , p a rk in g lo t a n d o b s e rv in g f ie ld . P a u l C . c le a re d th e a re a n e e d e d f o r a c c e s s to th e s n o w b lo w e r a n d h is p a d f o r s o la r o b s e rv in g . T h e s u n w a s o b s e rv e d in v is ib le a n d h y d ro g e n a lp h a lig h t u n til f a d in g b e h in d a f te rn o o n h ig h c irru s c lo u d s . S te v e C . s h o v e le d th e c la m s h e ll o b s e rv a to ry c le a r a s s is te d b y J o h n B . a n d T o d d F .E f f o rts to c le a r th e E d K n ig h t o b s e rv a to ry w e re s ta lle d b y th e ic e a n d s n o w ro o f c o v e rin g . O n c e th e c la m s h e ll w a s o p e n e d , th e D a ll - K irk h a m m o u n t w a s te s te d w ith a to rq u e m e a s u rin g s y s te m b y S te v e C ., G le n n M ., A l T ., D a v e P ., J o h n M ., a n d T o d d F . T h e d is a s s e m b le d m o u n t h e a d w a s re m o v e d to th e m a c h in e s h o p w h e re G le n n M ., S te v e C ., a n d J o h n S . w e re o b s e rv e d c le a n in g a ll c o m p o n e n ts o f a c c u m u la te d g re a s e a n d g rim e . C o v e re d w ith a n e w c o a t o f lig h t w e ig h t o il th e h e a d w a s a s s e m b le d a n d re m o u n te d in th e c la m s h e ll a s s is te d b y P a u l C . T h e D a ll K irk h a m is b a c k o n lin e a llo w in g f u rth e r te s tin g a n d c o n tin u e d re f in in g o f th e b a la n c e s itu a tio n . T h e a tte m p t to o p e n th e b ig ro ll o f f ro o f p ro v e d th is s h o u ld w a it f o r e ith e r w a rm e r w e a th e r o r a n o n - d e s tru c tiv e ic e re m o v a l s y s te m ; it to o k m o re th a n tw o m e n to c lo s e th e ro o f a n d s e c u re th e o b s e rv a to ry . W ith a c c e s s to th e m e ta l s h e d , J o h n S . a n d S e rg io S . f in is h e d th e e le c tric a l c irc u it re n o v a tio n a n d te s te d th e n e w G F I s y s te m . T h e g a s s u p p ly w a s re p le n is h e d a n d is re a d y f o r th e n e x t s n o w s to rm . In s id e , E d B . c o n tin u e d to w o rk o n u p d a tin g th e a rc h iv e s o f A T M o B h is to ric a l in f o rm a tio n in th e u p s ta irs lib ra ry . M e a n w h ile th e re n te d ra n d o m o rb ita l s a n d e r w a s u s e d to c o m p le te th e f lo o r s a n d in g o f th e o ld m a c h in e s h o p w o o d f lo o r w ith 2 4 , 4 0 a n d 8 0 g rit d is c s b y D a v e P . T h e e d g e s h a d p re v io u s ly b e e n s a n d e d b y P a u l C . a n d J o h n R . T h e o ld s o u th e rn y e llo w p in e f lo o rin g n o w s p o rts th re e c o a ts o f w a te r b a s e d p o ly u re th a n e , in c lu d in g th e h e a t d u c t c o v e rin g s s a n d e d to b a re m e ta l b y E ile e n M . a n d N in a C . D a v e P . w a ite d f o r e a c h c o a t to d ry b e f o re a p p ly in g th e n e x t, a s p e r in s tru c tio n s ; h o w e v e r it w ill ta k e s e v e ra l w e e k s w ith N O T R A F F IC to c u re p ro p e rly . T h a t a re a is o f f lim its u n til D a v e te s ts th e f lo o r th e f irs t w e e k e n d o f F e b ru a ry . Lunch was again prepared/presented/cleaned up by our team of S a i V .,E ric J ., A rt S ., E ile e n M ., N in a C . w ith s u p p lie s c o lle c te d b y J o h n R . S a i 's s a l a d c o m p l i m e n t e d w i t h h i s t o a s t e d g a r l i c b r e a d , matched with the broiled/baked bbq'd chicken, went well with the aldenti whole wheat spaghetti/rotini covered in Bailey Hill sauce. B u t w e c o n tin u e to p u z z le o v e r th e re a s o n s o m a n y c o m m e n ts w e re re c e iv e d a b o u t th a t s a u c e ; w h a t m a d e th e im p ro v e m e n t o v e r th e p a s t c o n c o c tio n s . It m a y w e ll ta k e th e re s t o f th e m o n th to f ig u re th is o u t. S o c o m e o n o u t a n d jo in u s f o r th e F e b ru a ry f u ll m o o n W o rk P a rty o n S a tu rd a y , F e b ru a ry 1 9 th , a n d h e lp u s te s t w h e t h e r n e x t m o n t h 's s p a g h e t t i s a u c e m a t c h e s t h e o t h e r s . W e c o u ld u s e y o u r h e lp ! J o h n M . p ro b a b ly w ill h a v e s o m e p re tty good DVD's to share if the temperature is too low again, to stay o u t o b s e rv in g . C o n s id e r it.

March 5th Messier Marathon ­ There was discussion about doing b o th a s p rin g a n d a f a ll M e s s ie r M a ra th o n th is y e a r, o r p o s s ib ly " h a lf M a ra th o n s " d e p e n d in g o n th e s ta m in a o f th o s e a tte n d in g . T h e re m a y b e a p re -m a ra th o n s e s s io n in F e b ru a ry . T h e s e a re g e n e ra lly s ta r h o p m a ra th o n s , n o t g o -to . S te v e C lo u g h e rty p ro v id e d th e C lu b h o u s e R e p o rt . H e in d ic a te d th e re p o rt in th e n e w s le tte r p ro v id e s a ll th e d e ta ils . T h e n e x t w o rk party will be January 22nd and be generally inside work in the n e w te le s c o p e ro o m a n d s o m e e le c tric a l w o rk . T h e D a ll­ K irk h a m te le s c o p e h a s b e e n ta k e n o f f lin e b e c a u s e o f b a d tra c k in g . C lu b E v e n ts a n d A n n o u n c e m e n ts w e re g iv e n b y B e rn ie K o s ic k i: Jan 1 7 E x e c u tiv e B o a rd M e e tin g , C lu b h o u s e , 7 :3 0 P M Feb 8 B u tle r M id d le S c h o o l S ta r P a rty , L o w e ll M A F e b 1 0 M o n th ly M e e tin g - M e m b e rs P re s e n ta tio n s in c lu d in g : H a ld u n M e n a li, E c lip s e T rip ; M ik e H ill, N e w S h o p f o r m e m b e rs ; B e rn ie V o lz , A u s tra lia E c lip s e P re v ie w ; a n d o th e rs . T h e re w ill a ls o b e a M e m b e rs h ip S w a p T a b le . F e b 1 4 V e rita s C h ris tia n A c c a d e m y S ta r P a rty , W a y la n d M A Feb 16 6th Annual Chenery Star Party, Belmont MA Jan 2 2 C lu b h o u s e W o rk P a rty , 1 0 A M Feb 28 9th Annual Acton Star Party Jan 7 Feb 11 F rid a y s 7 p m : V id e o C o u rs e : D a rk M a tte r, D a rk E n e rg y : T h e D a rk S id e o f th e U n iv e rs e , C lu b h o u s e h ttp ://w w w .te a c h 1 2 .c o m /tg c /c o u rs e s / c o u rs e _ d e ta il.a s p x ? c id = 1 2 7 2

M a rio M o tta in d ic a te d th a t th e D a rk S k y B ill (E n e rg y a n d L ig h t Polution Bill) was not passed again. This was the 9th try in 15 y e a rs . W e w ill try a g a in . T h e b ill h a s b e e n re -w ritte n a n d w i ll b e s u b m itte d w ith b i -p a rtis a n c o -s p o n s o rs . M e m b e rs w ill b e a s k e d to g e t lo c a l c o -s p o n s o rs . A n e m a il w ill b e s e n t in c lu d in g s a m p le s to enlist support. We will have until February 6th to get the initial co-sponsors. The bill name and number will be sent out once it is o f f ic ia l. M a rio a ls o c o m m e n te d th a t lo c a l e f f o rts a re s till n e e d e d s in c e w h e n o n e to w n in a n e le c tric c o m p a n y 's re g io n e n a c ts s u c h le g is la tio n , th e n g e n e ra lly th e c o m p a n y p u rc h a s e s a n d in s ta lls s tre e t lig h ts m a tc h in g th e le g is la tio n in s u rro u n d in g to w n s a s w e ll. R o s s B a rro s -S m ith a s k e d B ru c e T in k le r to a n n o u n c e th a t th e deadline for the February newsletter will be January 23rd. B e rn ie V o lz a n n o u n c e d th e s a le o f A s tro n o m y C a le n d a rs to b e n e f it th e c lu b . A d d itio n a l c o m m e n ts w e re m a d e b y J o h n B o u d re a u . H e p re s e n te d im a g e s o f J u p ite r a n d a n a n im a tio n o f a S a tu rn s to rm . R e f re s h m e n ts w e re p ro v id e d b y M ik e H ill. (9 :2 5 p m )

~ Bruce Tinkler, Secretary ~ 4


W e th a n k s e v e n te e n m e m b e rs f o r m a k in g th is s e s s io n a s u c c e s s : J o h n B lo m q u is t, E d B o y n to n , P a u l C ic c h e tti, S te v e C lo u g h e rty , N in a C ra v e n , T o d d F ra s e , E ric J o h a n s s o n , J o h n M a h e r, M ik e M a tte i, G le n M a u re r, E ile e n M y e rs , D a v e P ro w te n , J o h n R e e d , S e rg io S im u n o v ic , A rt S w e d lo w , A l T a k e d a , a n d S a i V a lla b h a . J o in e d la te r b y B ru c e B e rg e r, B e rn K o s ic k i, P h il R o u n s e v ille , a n d D a v e S ie g ris t w h o s to p p e d b y to a s s is t; w ith S a tu rd a y n ig h t d u ty s t a f f e d b y B r i a n M a e r z a n d G l e n n M e u r e r . J o h n M a h e r 's D V D 's k e p t u s w a rm a s th e te m p e ra tu re s d ro p p e d la te r th a t e v e n in g , a f te r P h il s h o w e d v ie w s th ro u g h h is n e w s ix in c h R itc h e y - C h re tie n .

in s tru m e n t a n d a ll o f th e te le s c o p e s h o u s e d a t th e c lu b h o u s e a re a v a ila b le f o r u s e b y a ll m e m b e rs . P le a s e s e e k o u t a n d w e lc o m e o u r n e w m e m b e rs : John Lescher K e v in D o w lin g C ry s ta l A in g e J e f f re y A lle n N e il P e rlin K e n K a p la n N e w a n d n o t so n e w m e m b e rs, P le a s e f e e l f re e to c o n ta c t m e w ith a n y q u e s tio n s re a rd in g y o u r c lu b !

~ Clubhouse Committee Chairs ~ ~ John Reed, Steve Clougherty and Dave Prowten ~ Clubhouse Saturday Schedule
F e b ru a ry 5 F e b ru a ry 1 2 F e b ru a ry 1 9 F e b ru a ry 2 6 M a rc h 5 M a rc h 1 2 M a rc h 1 9 P a n a s w ic h S m a ll B e rg e r & H ill W in te r S ta r P a r ty L e a c u & R o u n s e v ille W o r k P a r ty # 2 M y e rs N ugent C lo u g h e rty & M o c k M e s s ie r M a r a th o n # 1 B u d re a u B u rrie r C LO SED

~ Tom McDonagh, Membership Secretary ~

N e w Y e a r 's T h a n k Y o u . . .
A g o o d tim e w a s h a d b y a ll a t th e 2 0 1 1 N e w Y e a r's E v e P a rty . T h a n k y o u to c o -h o s ts A l T a k e d a , A rt S w e d lo w , E ile e n M y e rs , E ric J o h a n s s o n , J o h n a n d M o n iq u e R e e d , a n d S a i V a lla b h a . T h a n k y o u to m u s ic ia n s E d L o s o n f id d le a n d C la u d e G a lin s k y o n m a n d o lin f o r th e liv e ly S c o ttis h m u s ic . T h a n k y o u to J u lie K a u f m a n n f o r a ll y o u r h e lp d u rin g th e e v e n in g . P a rty g o e rs b ro u g h t d e lic i o u s f o o d , p le n tif u l a n d v a rie d . T h e te m p e ra tu re o u td o o rs s ta y e d a b o v e f re e z in g , a n d th e re w a s s o m e f o g , s o tw o g ro u p s o f f o lk s to o k n ig h ttim e w a lk s " u p th e h ill." B in o c u la rs c a m e o u t in s te a d o f te le s c o p e s f o r a b it o f o b s e rv in g . It w a s a v e ry p le a s a n t w a y to w e lc o m e in th e N e w Y e a r.

T h o r e a u o n A s tr o n o m y . . .
[ H ig g in s o n ] th a t h e o n c e h o u s e in th a sh ad o w o f a him and the T o ld o f a p e rs o n in W e s t N e w b u ry , w h o to ld h im s a w th e m o o n ris in g o u t o f th e th e s e a f ro m h is t p la c e , a n d o n th e m o o n lig h t in h is ro o m th e d is tin c t v e s s e l w h ic h w a s s o m e w h e re o n th e s e a b e tw e e n m o o n !!

J o u rn a l, 1 4 F e b ru a ry 1 8 5 7
E d ito r 's n o te : Y e s , T h o r e a u a c tu a lly d id u s e tw o e x c la m a tio n m a r k s in th is e n tr y . T h is w a s c h e c k e d !!

~ Submitted by Tom Calderwood ~

M e m b e r s h ip R e p o r t . . .
Membership count as of 1/24/2011- 277 S a m e tim e la s t y e a r ­ 3 1 1 D o y o u h a v e q u e s tio n s a b o u t y o u r A s tro n o m y M a g a z in e o r S k y & T e le s c o p e s u b s c rip tio n s ? D ro p m e a lin e @ T o m _ M c D o n a g h @ y a h o o .c o m a n d I w ill b e h a p p y to lo o k in to y o u r s u b s c rip tio n s ta tu s . T h e A m a te u r T e le s c o p e M a k e rs o f B o s to n , In c . is a 5 0 1 ( c )3 o rg a n iz a tio n . D o n a tio n s a re g la d ly a c c e p te d a n d a re ta x d e d u c tib le to th e f u lle s t e x te n t a llo w e d b y la w . C o n s id e r m a k in g a ta x - d e d u c tib le c o n trib u tio n to th e c lu b to d a y . D o n a tio n s m a d e to th e C lu b h o u s e F u n d h e lp to d e f ra y th e c o s t o f s p e c ia l p ro je c t s s u c h a s th e b u ild in g o f a n e w d o m e to h o u s e o u r ro b o to s iz e d 1 4 - in c h S c h m id t - C a s s e g ra in T e le s c o p e . T h is
P h o to b y A l T a k e d a

L a s t r e v e le r s a t N e w Y e a r 's E v e p a r ty . C lo c k w is e fr o m b a c k le ft: V la d V u d le r , H o w a r d L e V a u x , K a r e n S w e d lo w , A r t S w e d lo w , S a i V a lla b h a , E lie e n M y e r s , M o n iq u e R e e d , J o h n R e e d a n d a S p o c k w ig (a to p J o h n 's h e a d ).

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S k y O b je c ts o f th e M o n th . . .
Sky Object of the Month ­ February 2011 beta () Monocerotis

U s in g th e S u n A s A M a g n ify in g G la s s

It's a n a n n u a l ritu a l. G o o u ts id e o n a c ris p , c le a r F e b ru a ry e v e n in g . A im te le s c o p e to w a rd s a m is ty p a tc h o f lig h t in O rio n 's S w o rd . G a z e in a w e a n d w o n d e r a t M 4 2 ­ th e O rio n N e b u la . I s u g g e s t th a t, a f te r y o u r p ilg rim a g e to th e O rio n N e b u la th is y e a r, y o u tra v e l 1 2 d e g re e s e a s tw a rd in to th e o b s c u re c o n s te lla tio n M o n o c e ro s . T h e re , y o u 'll f in d th e f in e s t trip le s ta r in th e n ig h t s k y ­ b e ta ( ) M o n o c e ro tis . D e s c rib e d b y its d is c o v e re r W illia m H e rs c h e l (1 7 8 1 ) a s " o n e o f th e m o s t b e a u tif u l s ig h ts in th e h e a v e n s ," b e ta M o n is a d a z z lin g trio of pure-white stars. What separates beta Mon from most trip le s ta rs is th e c lo s e n e s s o f its c o m p o n e n ts a n d th e ir s im ila rity in b rig h tn e s s . V ie w e d w ith lo w p o w e r, b e ta M o n a n a ttra c tiv e d o u b le s ta r w h o s e m a g n itu d e 4 .6 a n d 5 .0 c o m p o n e n ts a re s e p a ra te d b y 7 a rc s e c o n d s . R a m p u p th e m a g n if ic a tio n (1 0 0 X w ith a n o rd in a ry 6 0 m m re f ra c to r w ill d o th e jo b ), a n d y o u 'll s e e th e th ird s ta r (m a g n itu d e 5 .3 ) a m e re 3 a rc -s e c o n d s f ro m th e 5 .0 m a g n itu d e c o m p o n e n t. T h e th re e f o rm a c u rv e d ro w 1 0 a rc -s e c o n d s a c ro s s . I'v e a lw a y s w ri tte n th a t d o u b le s ta rs a re tw ic e th e f u n . A s f o r trip le s ta rs ­ w e ll, y o u g e t th e id e a ! T rip le y o u r o b s e rv in g f u n w ith a v is it to b e ta M o n o c e ro tis . Y o u r c o m m e n ts o n th is c o lu m n a re w e lc o m e . E -m a il m e a t g c h a p le @ h o tm a il.c o m

I n p r e v i o u s b l o g s I 'v e l a m e n t e d t h a t i t w o u l d t a k e i n c r e d i b l y l a r g e te le s c o p e a rra y s to try a n d s e e a n y d e ta ils o n p la n e ts o rb itin g nearby stars. Even space telescopes envisioned for the next 20-30 y e a rs f ro m n o w c o u ld o n ly te a s e o u t in f o rm a tio n a b o u t a p la n e t b y s tu d y in g h o w its lig h t f lu c tu a te s , a n d w h a t c o lo rs o f lig h t it re f le c ts o r a b s o rb s . B u t th e p la n e t w ill re m a in a d o t o f f a in t lig h t in th e la rg e s t im a g in a b le te le s c o p e s . H o w e v e r , a s t r o n o m e r s h a v e e x p l o i t e d " G o d 's z o o m l e n s " i n s p a c e t o s e e d e t a i l s i n s o m e a t h e f a r t h e s t g a l a x i e s e v e r y d e t e c t e d . I t 's c a lle d a g r a v ita tio n a l le n s . F irs t p re d ic te d b y E in s te in 's G e n e ra l R e la tiv ity , g ra v ity w a rp s s p a c e lik e a f u n h o u s e m irro r. T h is re s u lt is th a t th e g ra v ity o f a foreground galaxy will amplify -- and distort -- the light from a v e ry d is ta n t b a c k g ro u n d g a la x y . W h e n c h a n c e a lig n m e n ts d o h a p p e n , a s tro n o m e rs c a n p e ru s e th e d e ta ils o f v e ry d is ta n t g a la x ie s th a t w o u ld b e u n re a c h a b le w ith c o n v e n tio n a l la rg e te le s c o p e s . Y o u c a n s im u la te a g ra v ita tio n a l le n s b y lo o k in g a t H a lo g e n d e s k la m p th ro u g h th e b a s e o f a w in e g la s s . T h e c u rv e d g la s s is a n a n a lo g to th e w a rp in g o f s p a c e . ( It h e lp s th e e x p e rim e n t if y o u f ill th e g la s s w ith w in e f irs t, d rin k it, a n d p ro c e e d to m a k e th e o b s e rv a tio n .) T h e b u lb w ill s m e a r in to b rig h t a rc s a ro u n d th e g la s s b a s e .

~ Submitted by Glenn Chaple~

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F o r y e a rs a s tro n o m e rs h a v e to y e d w ith th e id e a o f u s in g th e s u n a s a g ra v ita tio n a l le n s f o r s p y in g o n n e a rb y s ta rs . T h e tric k is th a t th e s u n n e e d s to b e re d u c e d to a p in p o in t o n th e s k y ra th e r th a n a b lin d in g p h o to s p h e re . T h is m e a n s p la c in g a s p a c e te le s c o p e v e ry f a r f ro m th e s u n , a b o u t 5 0 b illio n m ile s . G e ttin g th e te le s c o p e th e re w o u ld ta k e a w h ile d e p e n d in g o n th e p ro p u ls io n s y s te m . 1 0 0 y e a rs m ig h t b e a s a f e b e t e x c e p t th e p ro je c t w o u ld s p a n a t le a s t tw o g e n e ra tio n s . E n g in e e rs w o u ld b e m o tiv a te d to b u ild s o m e th in g m o v in g f a s t e n o u g h to c o m p le te t h e trip w ith in a c a re e r lif e tim e . T h e b e a u ty is th a t th e te s ta y a t th a t lo c a tio n b u t ra d ia l tra je c to ry . U n lik e s ta y in f o c u s re g a rd le s s le s c o p e w o u ld n o t h a v e to d e c e le ra te to c o n tin u e ra c in g a w a y f ro m th e s u n a n d a a c o n v e n tio n a l le n s e v e ry th in g w o u ld o f d is ta n c e .

A s p e c if ic ta rg e t o n th e s k y th a n lin e s u p p re c is e ly o n th e o p p o s ite s id e o f th e s u n f ro m th e te le s c o p e 's p a th w o u ld h a v e to b e p ic k e d f o r th e f irs t e x p e rim e n t. M y b e t is o n th e A lp h a C e n ta u ri b in a ry s y s te m . T h is is th e c lo s e s t s ta r s y s te m to E a rth . W ith in a f e w y e a rs w e 'll k n o w if o n e o r b o th s u n lik e s ta rs h a v e a c c o m p a n y in g p la n e ts . B u ild in g a g ra v ity le n s te le s c o p e f o r s c ru tin iz in g A lp h a C e n ta u ri's p la n e ts w o u ld b e th e n e x t b ig s te p b e f o re try in g to tra v e l th e re . A n e v e n m o re a m b itio u s u s e o f th e s u n 's le n s in g a b ilitie s w o u ld b e to lo c a te a ra d io o r o p tic a l tra n s m itte r 5 0 b illio n m ile s o u t to s e n d a S E T I m e s s a g e , o r e a v e s d ro p o n th e c o m m u n ic a tio n s o f a n a lie n c iv iliz a tio n . T h e a d v a n ta g e is th a t th e tra n s m itte r w o u ld n o t n e e d m u c h p o w e r b e c a u s e o f th e s u n 's a m p lif ic a tio n . T h e d is a d v a n ta g e is th a t o n ly o n e n e a rb y s ta r s y s te m c o u ld b e ta rg e te d , a t le a s t f o r s ta rte rs .T h e a m p lif ic a ti o n b y th e s u n c o u ld y ie ld d e ta ile d im a g e s o f p la n e ta ry s u rf a c e s . L ik e a k id p e ru s in g a n a n t c o lo n y w ith a m a g n if y in g g la s s , th e s p a c e te le s c o p e w o u ld h a v e to s lig h tly s h if t it p o s itio n re la tiv e to th e s u n to s c a n th e A lp h a C e n ta u ri s y s te m . It m ig h t tra c e o u t a s e a rc h s p ira l p a tte rn th a t is p e rp e n d ic u la r to its d ire c tio n o f m o tio n . Transmitter/receiver probes could be mass-produced so that they a re s ta tio n e d a ll a ro u n d th e s u n to h a v e v a rio u s s ig h tlin e s to s p e c if ic s ta rs . T a k in g th is id e a a s te p f u rth e r, tw o n e ig h b o rin g s te lla r c iv iliz a tio n s m ig h t s e t u p p a irs o f a n te n n a s a t th e ir re s p e c tiv e g ra v ita tio n a l le n s in g p o in ts . Y o u m ig h t e v e n im a g in e a g a la c tic In te rn e t w h e re g ra v ity le n s a m p lif ie d tra n s m is s io n s a re a c o m m o n s tra te g y a m o n g c h it - c h a ttin g c iv iliz a tio n s .

A n e x tra te rre s tria l p ro b e v is itin g E a rth m ig h t d ro p o f f a n i n t e r s t e l l a r t r a n s m i t t e r t h a t e x p l o i t s t h e s u n 's g r a v i t a t i o n a l l e n s i n g . T h is w o u ld e f f ic ie n tly s e rv e a s a p o w e r - s a v in g tra n s p o n d e r f o r re la y in g in f o rm a tio n th e p ro b e c o lle c ts a b o u t u s to th e h o m e c iv iliz a tio n . E v e n e x tra te rre s tria ls m a y w o rry a b o u t b e in g e n e rg y f ru g a l. Im a g e C r e d its : N A S A , E S A , B r itis h In te r p la n e ta r y S o c ie ty

~ By Ray Villard, Discovery Space (http://news.discovery.com/contributors/ray-villard)~

F o r s a le . . .
1 0 " L X2 0 0 c la s s ic f o r s a le . H a s f ie ld trip o d a n d w o rk s g re a t. C o m e s w ith la p to p Call for details Mike Bova 781-643-4513 or mobile 617-2858 6 0 8 . $ 1 5 0 0 o r b est o ffer

************************************** February Star Fields DEADLINE Noon, Sunday, February 20 Email articles to the newsletter editor at newsletter@atmob.org Articles from members are always welcome. **************************************

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EXECUTIVE BOARD 2010-2011
P R E S ID E N T : p re s id e n t@ a tm o b .o rg V IC E P R E S : SECRETARY: M E M B E R S H IP : B e rn ie K o s ic k i M ik e H ill B ru c e T in k le r T om M cD onagh (978) 263-2812

H o w to F in d U s ... W e b P a g e w w w .a tm o b .o r g
M E E T I N G S : H e ld th e s e c o n d T h u rs d a y o f e a c h m o n th (S e p te m b e r to J u ly ) a t 8 : 0 0 P M i n t h e P h i l l i p s A u d i t o r i u m , H a r v a r d- S m i t h s o n i a n C e n t e r f o r A s t r o p h y s i c s , 6 0 G a rd e n S t., C a m b rid g e M A . F o r IN C L E M E N T W E A T H E R C A N C E L L A T IO N lis te n to W B Z (1 0 3 0 A M ) C L U B H O U S E : L a t i t u d e 4 2 ° 3 6 . 5 ' N L o n g i t u d e 7 1° 2 9 . 8 ' W The Tom Britton Clubhouse is open every Saturday from 7 p.m. to late evening. It i s t h e w h i t e f a r m h o u s e o n t h e g r o u n d s o f M I T 's H a y s t a c k O b s e r v a t o r y i n Westford, MA. Take Rt. 3 North from Rt. 128 or Rt. 495 to Exit 33 and proceed W e s t o n R t. 4 0 f o r f iv e m ile s. T u rn rig h t a t th e M IT L in c o ln L a b , H a y s ta c k O b s e rv a to ry a t th e G ro to n to w n lin e . P ro c e e d to th e f a rm h o u s e o n le f t s id e o f th e ro a d . C lu b h o u s e a tte n d a n c e v a rie s w ith th e w e a th e r. It is w is e to c a ll in a d v a n c e : (9 7 8 ) 6 9 2 -8 7 0 8 .

(781) 862-8040 (617) 966-5221 (978) 290-2802 (978) 649-7157

TREASURER: N a n e tte B e n o it M EM BERS AT LARGE: C huck E vans N e il F le m in g P A S T P R E S ID E N T S : 2008-10 2006-08 2005-06 C O M M IT T E E S CLUBHOUSE : S te v e B e c k w ith V irg in ia R e n e h a n B e rn ie V o lz John R eed S te v e C lo u g h e rty D a v id P ro w te n R o s s B a rro s -S m ith B ru c e B e rg e r

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NEW SLETTER: O B S E R V IN G :

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sk y F or F eb ru ary 2011 F e b 2 N e w M o o n a t 9 :3 1 p m , E S T F e b 6 a n d 7 J u p i t e r n e a r c r e s c e n t M o o n t h e s e n i g h ts Feb 11 First Quarter Moon at 2:18am, EST F e b 1 8 F u ll M o o n a t 3 :3 6 a m , E S T Feb 21 Saturn 8o N of Moon this morning Feb 24 Last Quarter Moon at 6:26pm, EST F e b 2 8 V e n u s p a irs w ith c re sc e n t M o o n th is m o rn in g P la n e ts in F e b r u a r y M e r c u r y slip s in to th e g la re o f th e risin g su n e a rly th is m o n th. V e n u s b rig h t in S E sk y b e fo re d a w n . M a r s is n o t v isib le th is m o n th (conjunction on 4th). J u p ite r se ts in m id -e v e n in g . Saturn rises in mid-evening.

----------O B S E R V IN G A N D P U B L IC O U T R E A C H S T A R P A R T Y C O O R D IN A T O R : V irg in ia R e n e h a n s ta rp a rty @ a tm o b .o rg