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NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, INC., MIAMI, FLORIDA
BRINGING ASTRONOMY TO YOU SINCE 1922
SEPT./ OCT. / NOV. / DEC 2012
MARS/NASA PROGRAM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 8 p.m. SCAS welcomes our guest speakers, new members DR. JAMES &
BARBARA NATLAND in the FIU Physics Building, CP-145 lecture hall, Main Campus. JIM is Prof. of
Marine Geology, U. Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, Virginia Key. BARBARA
is a popular NASA educator with a extensive agenda of her presentations at schools, etc. JIM will
present his intriguing program: WAS THERE EVER AN OCEAN ON MARS? His geological research is
not restricted to our Earthly strata, but his knowledge extends to planetary geology. He received
his Bachelor of Science degree at M.I.T. and his Ph.D from the University of California at the Scripps
Institute of Oceanography where he was a research scientist in marine geology, petrology, mineralogy,
and volcanology. He has logged dozens of Ocean and Deep-Sea expeditions with focus on igneous
rocks from ocean basins, ocean islands, ridges and arcs around Tahiti, Samoa and the Galapagos. JIM
has co-authored hundreds of reports for publication in science journals and worked as co-chief scientist
on Deep Sea and Ocean Drilling projects. His charming wife BARBARA, a former resident of Kauai,
Hawaii will give an update of the NASA Rover Curiosity currently collecting soil samples of the martian
soil. They flew back to Hawaii for the Venus Transit the Sun, June 5th and enjoyed visiting with her
family, relatives and members of the KEASA Astronomy Club & Observatory.
Bring friends, faculty, science students to our exciting FREE SCAS program, MARS/NASA 8 p.m. Sept.
21st for prizes, lively discussions, refreshments and meet the Brightest Stars in Town from SCAS, FIU,
U.M. MDC. NASA Space Exploration depends upon geological research of planets in our solar system
and possibility of future employment of planetary geologists! Park in the campus Red garage, west side
of SW 109 Ave./SW 8 St. and follow the signs to CP-145.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Classified......................................... P.2
Members in the News....................... P.3
WSParty.......................................... P.4
FIU events ...................................... P.5
Space News .................................... P.6
Mars image
from Google
SCAS/NASA NEWS 24-HOUR HOTLINE (305) 661-1375 • HTTP://WWW.SCAS.ORG
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Coal Sack
SCAS PERSONNEL
THE COAL SACK
The Coal Sack is a monthly publication of the Southern Cross
Astronomical Society, Inc., Miami, Florida
Editor: Barb Yager
Telephone: 305-273-7291 • Barbyager@aol.com
Layout and Design by:
Amazon Printers • www.amazonprinters.com
Material for the Coal Sack must be submitted to the Editor
by the 25th of the month prior to publication.
Please use e-mail when possible.
Change of address: Please notify Managing Editor Barb Yager
with change of address or other membership information.
SOUTHERN CROSS STARGAZER
Check the larger SOUTHERN CROSS STARGAZER
in the Saturday Tropical Life section E.
28th year in the Miami Herald by Barb Yager.
HISTORIC
SPACE
EVENTS
President
Lester Shalloway, M.D.
305-439-6711
1st Vice President
Tim Khan
301-9946
2nd Vice President
Vickie Van Ryn
vvanryn@gmail.com
3rd Vice President
Nick Stingone
305-247-3054
Treasurer
Manny Castro
786-295-7300
Recording Sec’y
Judy Elkins
judyelkins@atlanticbb.net
Corresp. Sec’y/PR
Barb Yager
Barbyager@aol.com
Parliamentarian
Bob Torres
305-338-7392
Librarian
Ed O’Connell
305-661-1375
MembershipSCAS
305-661-1375
Education Outreach Andres Valencia
305-361-7998
Safe Solarviewing
Lester Shalloway
305-439-6711
Mike Smith
305-383-3021
Special Events
Barb Yager
305-273-7291
CLUB STAR PARTY DIRECTORS:
Tim Khan
tkhan@scas.org
Steve Van Ryn
Webmaster
Art Mullis
305-301-9946
305-338-5412
webmaster@scas.org
WINTER STAR PARTY:
Founder
Tippy D’Auria
mdauria-r@retiree.mdc.edu
Director
Tim Khan
tkhan@scas.org 305-301-9946
Registrars
Judy & Chuck Broward
1-352-373-7527
Registrars@scas.org
Host Coordinator
Charlie Perillo
cmperillo@bellsouth.net
Vendor Coordinator Chuck Pisa
cpisa@citcom.net
Artist
Judy Elkins
judyelkins@atlanticbb.net
SEPTEMBER -
OCTOBER -
01- Asteroid Juno discovered 1804
Pioneer-11 made first Saturn flyby 1979
04- Russian Sputnik-1 launched 1957
03- Viking-2 lands on Mars 1976
07- Lunar-3 probe photographs dark side of the Moon
1959
09- Amalthea, moon of Jupiter, discovered 1892
10- Triton, moon of Neptune, discovered 1846.
11- ICE probe flew past Comet G-Zinner 1985
22- First recorded solar eclipse from China 2136 B.C.
13- Luna-2 first craft to impact Moon 1959
24- Ariel & Umbriel, moons of Uranus discovered 1851.
19- Hyperion, moon of Saturn, discovered 1848
25- Iapetus, moon of Saturn, discovered 1671
23- Neptune discovered 1846
GREAT SALE - Like New!
Binoviewer by Astro Physics Baader Planetarium, Model BPBINOV. Original Owner.
Optics never touched! Replacement cost (Mark 5) $1700.00 Asking $900.00 OBO.
Email: Nickthehorse@comcast.net 305-232-6800.
SEPT / OCT / NOV 2012
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
A beautiful panoramic view of a huge brilliant rainbow, with Miami Beach skyline in the background, suddenly
appeared on CBS-4 TV news recently. It was captured by world-renowned planetary photographer DR. DON
PARKER, Coral Gables. A phone call from SERGIO FIGUERA at the Tucson, AZ airport awaiting his flight
home to Miami...spent the 9/20th weekend for celestial observing on the shore of Lake Quemado, 8500 ft. up
in the mountains of northern New Mexico. It was 4 miles to the nearest campground/facilities. He drove on a
spare tire 400 miles back to Tucson 9/21. His friend from Ft. Lauderdale brought his 22” Star Master. Wearing 3
jackets in 30 degree crystal clear night air, he claimed the night skies were awesome. Opening the superb SCAS
public MARS/NASA program at FIU Friday evening, 9/21st, BARB YAGER presented SCAS Scholarship winner
FIU student Aida Bermudez with a gift package of a royal blue SCAS polo shirt, magnetic SCAS star, and a 25-yr.
SCAS-FIU Anniversary key ring! Winter Star Party Registrars CHUCK & JUDY BROWARD recently returned
from a 2-week vacation in Oregon..... Past President SCOTT & LOU IRELAND recently returned home to
recuperate from their 16-day vacation on African Safari. They took daily trips to photograph wildlife in the bush
at Meru, Lake Nacuru, Sambura, and Masai Muru. SCOTT is a world-recognized astrophotographer and author
of Photoshop Astronomy. Below is a sample of his African photos.
BIG SKY STAR PARTY
- Sergio Figuera
About two months ago, a friend of mine, Jim Pickering, was telling me about a trip
that he and his friend Robert Dinse were planning. The details were that Robert
would drive out to Arizona with Jim’s 22 inch Starmaster telescope and then Jim
would meet up with him in Phoenix. They would then go to observe by Happy Jack,
Arizona (close to the Discovery Channel Telescope) with members of the Saguaro
Astronomy Club and then go to Lake Quemado in New Mexico. I told Jim that this
sounds like quite an interesting trip and he asked me if I would like to join them. I
thought about it for a minute and I told him that I would probably be able to make
it for the New Mexico leg but not the Arizona leg of the trip. I checked out my
work’s vacation schedule on the proposed dates and since I would not have to cover
anybody else that was on vacation that week, I went ahead and booked a flight.
On September 18th I flew into Tucson, rented a car and headed to Lake Quemado,
New Mexico. It was about a 5 1/2 hour drive and I made it in time to setup my tent,
have dinner and get ready for observing. Lake Quemado is one of the most remote
regions of the country and from our campsite there were no light domes to be seen anywhere on the horizon once the
sun set. These were definitely the darkest skies that I have ever witnessed and the Milky Way was super bright way
down to the horizon. But on this particular night the seeing conditions were not playing nice and the views through
the eyepiece were mushy. One highlight of the evening though was the we were able to see the see the elusive
Geigenshine. This is the trail of dust and small particles that extend behind the Earth as it travels through space and
it is notoriously difficult to see. On the second night the seeing was much better and we were able to observe many
faint and distant galaxies which we had never observed before and usual friends like M31 exhibited greater detail than
ever before. Although this observing session was one of my personal best, the highlight of the night came at about
5am while I was comfy in my sleeping bag when a wolf decided to pay our campsite a visit. He did not go through
the trash or anything like that but he did snarl, bark and made that signature wolf howl quite a few times as to say,
“hey, what’cha doing on my turf?” I would say that he was about 50 feet away, he sounded really close. On my third
and final night, the seeing was way better than the other two nights. The moon was shinning quite a bit so we did not
start our deep sky observations until after 10pm. This was far and above my best astronomical outing ever. Stars were
sharp and pinpoint, the amount of details on objects was overwhelming, the sheer number of stars in the Milky Way
star fields were mind blowing, the elk were making all kinds of calls throughout the night, just amazing. Overall this
trip was a great adventure. The cold, cloudless nights made for some great observing from our campsite at 8800 feet
above sea level, seeing the Geigenshine on all three nights, my personal best observing session ever, the wildlife and
the food. Jim Pickering is one heck of a cook and we enjoyed excellent meals every night. If you ever get a chance to
go to Lake Quemado in New Mexico to do some observing I totally recommend it. Far from everything? Yes, but the
overall experience was well worth it in my opinion. Clear skies my friends.
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SCAS UPCOMING EVENTS
SCAS AUTUMN STAR PARTY
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7th, at dusk SCAS Astros have scheduled a free public Autumn Star Party. SCAS
members, families and public are welcome to arrive at the SCAS Redlands Observatory site at dusk prior
to the national Monday 10/08 Holiday. Weather permitting, under dark skies hi-tech equipment will
focus on planets and deep sky objects. You are welcome to bring yours! The SCAS Redlands location:
(Silver Palm Dr.) 23325 SW 217 Avenue (Loveland Road). For weather & details: 305-283-3771.
AEROMODELERS EVENTS
Some SCAS members are also members of the AMPS Club that schedule special events in competitive
radio-controlled and vintage model airplanes with 6 ft. wingspan. Fun for the entire family!
SATURDAY, OCT. 6th, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. SWAP MEET--great opportunity to clean out your hobby closet
and acquire new parts! Parking $2.00.
SUNDAY, OCT. 28th, ANNUAL AERO FEST, 9- 5 competitive flying. $3. parking fee. Raffles/
refreshments all day. Silver Field 20044 SW 168 St. 2.4 miles west of Krome Ave. Juan Almeida
305-807-2882 www.amps-rc.com
MUSEO de GALILEOFRIDAY, OCTOBER 19th SCAS member Dr. Jose Orta, Professor of Physics/Astronomy, MDC-Kendall campus,
will take us on a fascinating tour of the Galileo Museum, where he was invited to present a 1-hour program
about Galileo in Rome, Italy He directed the class of his students on a 10-day tour of Italy last Spring. Bring
friends, colleagues and students for this free “grand tour” and the creative research he developed that launched
future inventions, discoveries and research into the awesome realm of astronomy. Free SCAS programs begin 8
p.m., FIU Physics Building, CP-145 lecture hall, Modesto Maidique Campus. “Learning is fun” at our astronomy
programs that include prizes, food and lively discussions with our distinguished guest speakers. Park in the FIU
Red campus garage, west side of SW 109 Ave./SW 8 St.Follow the signs past the Biology greenhouses, to the
ramp and main corridor. Turn left and eventually arrive at CP-145 lecture hall. 305-661-1375.
HUNTERS MOON STAR PARTYFRIDAY, OCTOBER 26th, SCAS Astros will arrange hi-tech equipment 7-10 p.m. at the Hunters Moon Star
Party, Miami-Dade Fruit & Spice Park, 24801 SW 187 Avenue, Homestead. Dim Mars lies low in the southwest
above ruddy Antares in Scorpius. Bring binoculars to compare their red tones. Mercury will reach its highest
altitude 24 degrees above the horizon. Jupiter may be visible rising low in the east. The Family Fun Night
includes a campfire, music, an Arctic Wolf for kids to pet, refreshments and moonlit tram rides in the Park. Free
admission. Information: 305-247-5727.
ASTRONOMY DAYSATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. SCAS Astros will participate in the special event at the Museum
of Science, 3280 S. Miami Ave. Safe solarviewing in the front courtyard, astronomy information in the Lobby
and programs in the auditorium. 305-661-1375
SEPT / OCT / NOV 2012
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FREE FIU LECTURE SERIES
Fall 2012
FRIDAY, SEPT. 14th, FIU astronomer Dr. James R. Webb will discuss TURBULENCE IN BLAZAR TESTS, based
on his research.
FRIDAY, OCT. 12th, HIGGS-BOSON What is it and do we need it? A debate re: the God particle will be
explored by a panel of FIU physicists: Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, Dr. Pete Markowicz and Dr. James R. Webb.
FRIDAY, NOV. 9th, CROSSING THE GALACTIC PLANE instructor Francisco Mueller will explain the Sun’s orbit
around our Milky Way Galaxy and its passage through the Galactic Plane. Bring friends, colleagues and science
students to the intriguing FIU programs in CP-145, enjoy refreshments and lively discussions. If weather
permits, a Star Party will be held on the observing deck! Park in the FIU campus Red Garage, west side of
SW 109 Avenue /SW 8 Street. Follow the signs to CP-145, Physics Building, Main campus. For details call FIU:
305-348-3964 http://astroscience@fiu.edu
FRIDAY, NOV. 30th- END OF THE SEMESTER STAR PARTY for students, faculty and public Physics Building.
Prizes, brief astronomy update, refreshments in CP-145 lecture hall. Music under the stars at the observing
deck behind the Physics Building. Enjoy views of Jupiter, Orion, Andromeda and more in FIU telescopes.
FIU: 305-348-3964 http://astroscience.fiu.edu
WINTER STAR PARTY REGISTRARS 2013
Congratulations to Judy & Chuck Broward of Gainesville, Florida, who are the new Registrars of the
Annual Winter Star Party. They take the reins from Fred & Lucille Heinrich, Live Oak, who were the
incredible WSP registrars for many years and kept the visitors and members on record and registration
mailed to hundreds of attendees. The current registration for the 29th Winter Star Party, February
4-10th, 2013 will be mailed in September. Information: registrars@scas.org - Phone: 1.325.373.7527
www.scas.org
FLORIDA KEYS ASTRONOMY CLUB
SCAS members living in the Florida Keys also belong to FKAC. All year the members hold public Star
Parties Saturday evenings at New & Last Qtr. Moon phases, on the beach at Bahia Honda State Park,
Lower Keys, to enjoy the stunning night skies in southern latitudes. Information: Tony Casserley
1-305-294-6024 Key West; Ron Poller 1-305-872-3616 Ramrod Key
Venus Transit Sun image
(June 2012) by SCAS member Len Espinosa
on shores of Lake Michigan
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SPACE NEWS
ISS - Miami Track
Wednesday, 10/03
6:15 a.m.
N-NE
17 degrees up
3 minutes
Friday,
10/05
6:13 a.m.
NW-SE 61 degrees up
6 minutes
Future schedules for the Int’l Space Station http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities
Series of ANNULAR
SOLAR ECLIPSE by
SCAS member Len
Espinosa, Roswell,
NM (May 2012).
VISIBLE/INFRARED IMAGES
Alert your youngsters to these amazing contrasting images of planets & deep sky objects by visible and infrared
space cameras sent by SCAS astronomer Andres Valencia: http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/science
on_the_edge/beyond_the_visible His superb website http://www.orval.org is posted in English and Spanish.
Follow incredible images of the Sun, by the Soho and SDO cameras and Auroras daily: Spaceweather.com
NIKE MISSILE ARRIVES AT ENP
A 40-ft. Nike deactivated 5-ton Hercules missile found in an Alabama Army Depot is being restored by 600
students at George T. Baker Aviation School, Le Jeune Rd. before it is transported to the Nike Missile Base,
Everglades Nat’l Park. Charles D. Carter, now 66, lives in Palm Desert,California, a former student at Miami
H.S.who quit his senior year to enlist in the U.S. Army when he heard Pres. Kennedy speak to the nation
about the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962. After visiting the ENP Missile site, he had the 40-acre Army site, which
includes 22 buildings, listed on the U.S. Dept. of Interior’s National Register of Historic Places in 2004. It took
11 years before he found the correct missile. The $10,000. for transporting and restoration is covered by the
S. Florida National Parks Trust. In October the missile will be hauled to ENP and parked in launch position at
the Missile site where Park Ranger Ryan Meyer is in charge. Last year the site attracted 3500 visitors. That
could increase dramatically with the addition of the Nike missile attracting veterans (then 18-19 yr. old Army
recruits) who sat in the “middle of nowhere” awaiting DEFCON-2 orders, the final step to launch missiles toward
Cuba preceding a possible nuclear war October 1962. Free public daily tours December- April with $10. Park
entrance. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary ENP is hosting an exhibit of photos and memorabilia donated
by Nike Missile veterans and others involved in defending S. Florida on display at the Ernest F. Coe Visitors
Center Gallery through October 30th. -Miami Herald 8/23-24/2012
SEPT / OCT / NOV 2012
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SPACE NEWS (Cont’d)
CURIOSITY ROVER LANDS ON MARS
NASA’S Curiosity Rover finally touched down onto the martian surface in the early a.m. hours Monday,
August 6. We watched on TV the JPL Team of `crack scientists’ , Pasadena, California explode into
cheers and hugs after its “nail-biting” descent and picture-perfect landing near the Gale Crater. The
descent and touchdown was recorded by the Mars Odyssey orbiter which allowed the Curiosity to
send black & white wide-angle “fish-eye” images within minutes of the Rover’s wheels touching the
ground. Since then a constant flow of martian landscape images, by sophisticated hi-tech instruments
designed by NASA scientists, may reveal how Mars changed from a wet, warm environment into a
desolate, cold, dry planet. Quite unfriendly to human inhabitants.
-Miami Herald 8/07/2012
MOONWALKER
Recently a 2-hour public memorial service was held at the Washington National Cathedral for an
American hero--NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong, 82, passed away in August. He was the first American
to walk on the Moon. July 20, 1969 he planted the American flag on the lunar surface as he spoke
“One small step for Man--one giant leap for mankind”. Neil dreamed of flying during his youth growing
up in Ohio and later qualified as a Navy pilot. A quiet, humble, guy who did not care for a lifestyle
in the spotlight. He supported bold ideas to promote continuing space exploration and reported
at a congressional committee last year, that the nation’s leading role in space “once lost, is nearly
impossible to regain”, and worried that the United States was
losing interest in space exploration. The former director of
the Johnson Space Center, Houston stated Neil represented
the vision, curiosity, expertise and determination that carried
our American astronaut team to the Moon. NASA astronauts
of the Apollo missions: Michael Collins (operated the lunar
module), Buzz Aldrin, Eugene Cernan and John Glenn attended
the service. Neil was later buried at sea.
In memory of Neil’s magnificent space accomplishment, on
dangerously low fuel, it has been suggested to wink at the
Moon Saturday 9/22nd--or whenever the Moon is visible--to
commemorate his awesome space adventure with his NASA
team and recall his footprints, made 40 years ago, remain on
the lunar surface.
Excerpts from the Miami Herald September 2012