Do you, or does someone you know, have some interesting astronomy questions? Maybe something specific about a star, galaxy, or other celestial object? Have you always wondered about astronomical theorems or history? If you have a question like this, but no answer, come on over to our new Ask the Astronomer page at https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/ask-the-astronomer/ and enter your query to be answered on air during our next Looking Up event! Any and all questions will be taken by astronomers from the BAA, as well as our associates from the Buffalo Museum of Science, the Explore & More Children’s museum, Penn Dixie, and the Williamsville Space Lab Planetarium.
Feel free to pass this onto family or friends — especially younger astronomers — that could have questions too. A post with additional info about the January 23rd event will be up soon, but get in those questions ASAP, since we have a little over a week until the event itself. See you then!
This Friday, January 8th, at 7PM will be our general meeting, and our first of 2021! The invitation went out today, so please check your BAA email to get the details. If you didn’t get it, please reach out to club president Mike Humphrey.
This month we’re holding a virtual presentation from Mark Percy, director of the Williamsville Planetarium, to take the place of the club’s traditional, in-person visit. Mark will be speaking on “Big Astronomy” as it relates to Chile’s giant telescopes — more info can be found in today’s email. If this sounds interesting to you, be sure to join in.
Did you or someone in your family get a new telescope? Great welcome to a fantastic hobby! You’re all set, just open the box, point up and you’re good to go. Well, not really. Using a telescope is a learned skill. Sometimes it can be quite challenging, even frustrating. We’ve all been there. No one is born knowing all this stuff. Talk to most amateur astronomers and you’ll see that that had some help along the way. That’s why we are so eager to help out newcomers. That’s the way it is with this hobby. So here’s some friendly advice to help you get started with that new telescope.
1.) Find a local Astronomy Club
That would be us. If you’re reading this, you’ve come to the right place. Most clubs have programs accessible to the public, so you don’t have to join. Given the current circumstances with the Pandemic, we’re not certain when we will hold in-person public events again. In the meantime, we are holding virtual events live-streamed to our Facebook page. Check out our events page on this website to keep track of our events. You can ask questions, we try to answer all the questions in the comments. Like what you see/hear, consider joining. We offer more opportunities to interact and learn from other members.
2.)Set it up and Learn to Use it in the Daytime
Put your telescope together while it’s still light or inside in a well-lit space. Once your telescope is assembled, point it at any distant object(s) (a telephone pole, mailbox, distant tree, etc..). NOTE: NEVER POINT YOUR TELESCOPE AT THE SUN!!! Learn how to move the telescope from object to object, align the finder (more on that later), work the focuser, and switch eyepieces. Try practicing during the day, where it is easy to see instead of fumbling around in the dark.
3.) Learn how to Align the Finder
Most telescopes come with a finder. They can take a few different forms. Some may be Red Dot finders and others may look like a mini-telescope. Either way, their purpose is the same, to assist in pointing telescopes. In order for them to work, they must be aligned with the main telescope. This is best done in daylight. If you plan on observing for the night, set up your scope before dark and check/align your finder. Using your eyepiece with the widest field of view, this will be the eyepiece with the longest focal length (biggest number). Center a terrestrial object (mailbox, top of a telephone pole, tower, streetlight, etc.) in the field of view of the telescope. Look through the finder and see where it is pointing.
A typical Red Dot finder.A typical Finder Scope. This is a 6 x 30 Straight Through Finder Scope.
Most finders have some sort of a reticule (Red Dot, Circles, Cross-hairs, etc.). Is this reticule pointing at the same thing centered in the eyepiece? Most likely it isn’t. There should be some adjustment screws/knobs on the finder to move it (up/down and left/right). Make the necessary adjustments so that the finder is pointed on the same thing centered in the main telescope when you look through the eyepiece. Here’s the important part, keep checking the eyepiece of the main telescope to make sure the telescope has not been moved when making adjustments. Re-center the object and continue with adjustments if the telescope was moved. Now, wherever your finder is pointing the telescope should be pointing. Optional. If you want to refine the alignment, replace the long focal length eyepiece with a smaller focal length eyepiece, increasing the magnification and providing a narrower field of view. Repeat the alignment process with this eyepiece to really dial in the alignment.
4.) Use Long Focal Length Eyepieces to Find Objects
Your telescope may have come with more than one eyepiece. The eyepiece with the longer focal length (bigger number) will provide less magnification and therefore a wider field of view.
This 25 mm focal length eyepiece is an example of a long focal length eyepiece, providing a generous field of view for finding objects and viewing objects with large angular size.
When looking for objects, use the longest focal length eyepiece you have. This will help increase the chances of the object you’re looking for will be in the field of view once you point the telescope using your finder. Once in the field of view, center the object and if desired, switch to a smaller focal length eyepiece to increase the magnification. Note, if the atmospheric conditions are poor, increasing the magnification may not always provide a favorable result.
This 10 mm eyepiece is an example of n eyepiece that will increase magnification once an object is found and centered in the field of view with a longer focal length eyepiece.
Hope these tips help you get started in a wonderful hobby that can inspire you and challenge you for many years to come. If you find yourself having difficulty and getting frustrated. Cut yourself some slack. As I said in the beginning, this is a learned skill. No one is born knowing how to do all this stuff. Seek out help. Most of us had a lot of help along the way and we’re glad to help others.
Over the past week, the BAA held two events showcasing the historic Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. Our first event last Friday (12/18) took place on a clear night, so several BAA members were able to take some great photos that evening.
These three images were taken by Dan M. and Mike P. at the club’s observatory at Beaver Meadow. The first two used our NP101 telescope and Mike’s ASI 1600 camera, and the last image used a Canon T3i DSLR. Click the pics to see them zoomed in:
We also have an image from Phil, taken on Friday, December 18th with his Questar 89mm telescope and ASI ZWO 174mm camera. I really love Jupiter in this — click on the picture to enlarge it, and try to pick out some of its famous features! Saturn is no slouch either.
Our event on Monday (12/21 – the night when Jupiter and Saturn were closest) was unfortunately clouded out in WNY, but our own webmaster Gene provided some stellar live views from his location in North Carolina. Tim from the Buffalo Museum of Science’s Kellogg Observatory showed off some photos taken from their Bistany telescope, as well as a shot of what the conjunction looked like over the Buffalo skyline. And alongside the live views, we featured member presentations relating to the conjunction and the science behind it.
We’re extremely grateful to the number of people who watched the streams live on Facebook and provided feedback, questions, and kind words. Sharing these special events is what the club is all about. Remember that even though we’ve passed the day when Jupiter and Saturn are closest, it’s not too late; they’ll still be quite close for a bit longer. If you find yourself out on a clear night, look up and check them out. That’s all I’ve got for now — hope to see everyone at the next Looking Up event in January! Healthy and happy holidays to all.
Other than the upcoming Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st, this month is also going to be a good time to observe another type of celestial object — shooting stars. The Geminids, one of the best annual meteor showers, is happening now and reaches its peak on December 14th (that’s next Monday) after midnight. From now until 12/14, you may be able to catch a meteor or two in the sky if you head out for a bit on a cloudless night. I’m hoping it clears up for at least a few hours at some point this week — if the weather is good where you are, consider heading out to a remote location for a while with a lawn chair and blankets. You don’t even need a telescope or a pair of binoculars, just patience.
In other meteor news, the Buffalo area had two major visible fireball (aka meteor-falling-to-Earth) events in a single week! On December 2nd around noon, people witnessed a bright streak in the sky in broad daylight. Some spectators closer to Rochester and Syracuse even heard an accompanying noise, which is pretty amazing. I was lucky enough to see it myself as a short streak of white light in the eastern sky, but only for a second.
Another fireball occurred on December 7th around 8:30PM when it was darker, with people from Delaware through Massachusetts reporting a sighting. Sadly I didn’t catch that one, but I feel like it would have been amazing, especially with the dark and moonless skies we’ve had lately. If any BAA members saw either meteor event, tell me about it in the forum as I would love to have some eyewitness reports to add to this post.
You can also read spectator reports of each event yourself and see videos and pictures on the American Meteor Society’s website – December 2December 7
Lastly, invitations to our December meeting on Friday (12/11) went out Monday in an email — please check your email to find it. If you don’t see it, please reach out to Mike Humphrey in the member forum. The two breakout room topics will be on astrophotography and Stellarium; anyone wishing to learn about either topic should stop by. That’s all I’ve got for now — see you around!
This Friday, December 11th, at 7PM will be the date of our next monthly general club meeting. Please keep an eye on your email over the next few days for the invite link. If you don’t get one, please reach out to club president Mike Humphrey.
We’re currently looking for suggestions for breakout rooms, since experimenting with them last month turned out to be pretty popular. If you have an idea for a breakout room or even for a topic of discussion during future meetings, please visit the member forum (login required) to suggest it:https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/community/main-forum/general-meeting-topics/#post-3308
Being a BAA member comes with many perks, and one of the better ones is being able to take advantage of our telescope loaner program. Over the years we have acquired a variety of scopes that have a permanent home at the observatory and can be temporarily loaned to members. Want to test a telescope of a similar type or brand before you buy? Maybe you’ve got a telescope already, but want to try something new? Members who have been active for a period of 3 months may borrow — all you need to do is get in touch and make a request! Initial loan periods are for two months. A valid government issued ID is required with up to date contact information.
Here are some pictures of the loaners, along with some info below about each. Click on any photo to enlarge it:
[UNAVAILABLE – CURRENTLY ON LOAN – earliest available date is Jan. 2021]
Celestron NexStar SE 6 – This is a computerized Schmidt-Cassegrain compound scope that was graciously donated to the club by the family of a former member. Its mirror diameter is 6 inches. What really makes this scope stand out as a loaner is that it is a “Go-To” scope — meaning that you can tell the telescope where to go in the sky using the number pad. A great choice for a beginning member.
Meade LX 200 – This is another Schmidt-Cassegrain Go-To scope, and is on a German equatorial mount. Its mirror diameter is 10 inches, which makes it a better option if you are looking to explore deep-sky objects. If you wanted to learn about equatorial mounts and had a bit of existing experience with telescopes, this would be a good one to borrow.
Homemade Custom BAA Dobsonian – This is a custom, handmade scope that was graciously donated to us and features a handsome wooden frame. Its mirror size is (estimated to be) 6 inches.
Celestron Starhopper Dobsonian – This is a Celestron Starhopper 10 inch reflector on a Dobsonian mount. This is a wonderful scope to use with deep-sky objects, but be warned, it’s big. You’ll need to take it home in a vehicle that can fit it. As with all telescopes, think about the time and effort it will take to transport the equipment when considering your decision to borrow or buy.
Konusuper 120 – This is a refractor telescope with a 120mm/4.7 inch mirror. Refractors, especially like this one, are great to use if you live in more of an urban area and would like to view planets, double stars, or the Moon. However, keep in mind that this scope is on a German equatorial (GEM) mount like the LX 200 above, and may be suited for members who have some existing experience or are willing to devote some time to learning/setup.
Meade 395 – This is a refractor telescope with a 90mm/3.5 inch mirror. Like the Konusuper and LX 200, this is on a GEM mount too.
Any scopes catch your eye? Reach out to Ernie Jacobs in the member forums and mention which one you’d like to borrow. We are actively loaning telescopes despite COVID-19. Any member wishing to borrow will need to meet social distance and mask wearing measures when meeting at the BAA observatory for equipment pickup. All borrowed telescopes are disinfected when returned, and left for a period of time before the next member may borrow.
There’s no better time to take advantage of our program and your membership!
Have you been watching Jupiter and Saturn? If you have, you probably noticed they appear to be getting closer to one another. From our vantage point here on Earth, they are. Both planets are heading towards the Great Conjunction on December 21st, when they will appear closest to each other. Many of our members are genuinely excited about this special and rare event. BAA member Patrick Crants discussed the Great Conjunction during the November 21st “Looking UP!” virtual star gazing event (click here to view the video on our Facebook page: https://fb.watch/22lkkJo-rW/ ). The following was assembled from his presentation.
The Jovian and Saturnian Systems as they will appear during the Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020. Image created using Sky Safari 6 Pro for Mac.
What is a Conjunction?
A conjunction is simply an optical alignment of two celestial bodies (normally solar system objects – planets, moon, comet, asteroids, etc.) as seen from our perspective on Earth.
Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions are called “Great Conjunctions” by astronomers.
A conjunction is only an optical alignment. It does not imply any proximity between the two bodies. (See Figure 1)
During the great conjunction of December 21, Jupiter will be 5.927 AU’s from Earth (555 Million miles) while Saturn will be 10.829 AU’s (1 Billion miles), meaning Saturn will still be in excess of 400 million miles from Jupiter.
Figure 1 – From our view here on Earth, both planets will appear to be very close to one another even though they will be hundreds of millions of miles apart.
How often do Great Conjunctions Occur?
A conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn occurs once every 19.6 years on average.
Due to the nuances of planetary orbits, not every conjunction reaches the same degree of separation. The conjunction of 12/21/2020 will be the closest great conjunction witnessed in the last 400 years (1623).
Oddly enough, this degree of separation will be repeated in just another 60 years (in 2080)
How close will they appear to be?
At its closest conjunction (appulse), Jupiter and Saturn will be separated by an angle of just over 6 arc-minutes. An arc-minute is one 60th of a degree.
For comparison, the full moon has an angular size of 30 arc-minutes, 5 times greater than the separation we will see between Jupiter and Saturn.
This means that both planets and many of their respective moons will be visible (see figure 2) within the eyepiece of a medium length telescope at a medium magnification (1-150x). To the naked eye, the two planets may be difficult to “split”. Note: Magnification may be limited by atmospheric conditions as both planets will be very close to the horizon.
Figure 2 – A simulation of the view through a telescope on December 21st. Image created with Stellarium.
When and how can this be viewed?
Jupiter and Saturn will be closely spaced for several days before and after minimum conjunction of 12/21.
They will be low in the Southwest at dusk.
They will set within 90 minutes of sunset.
The conjunction can be viewed naked eye, using binoculars, or with a telescope.
Weather permitting, the BAA will be providing a “Looking Up!” live stream of the conjunction on at least one evening between 12/18 and 12/23. For more details, check out out our website and Facebook Page as the date approaches.
We’re having another virtual stargazing event with Penn Dixie, the Explore & More Children’s museum, and the Williamsville Space Lab Planetarium this Saturday, November 21st, at 8:00PM. Members from these organizations will be there showing telescopic views and discussing fun astronomical topics. Everything will be livestreamed on our Facebook at this link, and will also be posted on our Youtube channel if you’d prefer to watch there. This is a great way to enjoy astronomy without having to be outside getting cold! Hope to see some fellow viewers there.
This Friday, November 13th at 7:00PM will be the date of our next monthly general club meeting. The invitation has already been sent out, so please check your email for it (was sent on 11/10.)
This month, we’ll be having fellow member Larry Carlino speak regarding his collection of telescopes. Larry has over 40 telescopes, so he should have quite a bit to say on them all! We will also be experimenting with two breakout rooms — one room will be for introductory astronomical topics, and the other will be for astrophotography. If you’re interested in either topic, please join and try out the rooms.
Also, if you didn’t get the invitation email, please reach out to Mike Humphrey to get the invite. If you need them, instructions on joining a Zoom meeting can be found at this link: https://www.buffaloastronomy.com/may-2020-online-general-meeting/See you there!
