Mississauga Centre RASC

77th Meeting

Members’ Night

Day:                Friday January 26, 2007

Chair:                Randy Attwood

Speakers:          Randy Attwood, Roy Swanson ,Bob Anderson

Colin Jackson researched the cost of an astronomy journal from 1890. The 1890 cost was 50c. With inflation, calculated by teachers’ salaries, the equivalent today would be $25 for a journal with less pictures and text. In conclusion, an astronomy journal today is a good bargain. 

New Horizons Mission to Pluto, lunar eclipse, Air and Space Museum, the “Falling Star” set

Randy Attwood showed a video from the NASA channel on the New Horizons Mission to Pluto.  The closest approach to Jupiter will take place on February 28, 2007. In order to get the correct trajectory assist to Pluto, the spacecraft must hit a 500 km window at Jupiter. Measurements and observations will be carried out at the Jupiter system of the planet, moons, Io volcanoes when in Jupiter’s shadow, aurorae, rings, magnetosphere and plasma environment. The Great Red Spot region will be studied with particular attention to the NW turbulence, and the Little Red Spot.  New Horizons image the rings in 3-D as it crosses their plane, and will fly down the magnetotail for several months. 

On March 3, there will be a total eclipse of the Moon. As seen from Mississauga, the Moon will rise in total eclipse.

Randy was in Washington D.C. in September for a conference on the societal impact of spaceflight.  He took advantage of the trip to visit the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  Open since July 1976, the museum has more displays in addition to the previous ones. He showed images of spacecraft and modules, in particular the Sky Lab which didn’t fly and the engineering model of the Hubble Space Telescope. He described the Apollo mission displays. Also of note were the spacesuits worn by Yuri Gagarin and John Glenn on their flights in the early 60’s.

A documentary of the Columbia accident was aired on television the previous week. Randy was approached to be the technical consultant and was on the set for 4 days. Among the insights he gave, he noted that the shuttle cockpit was built in 3 weeks, and he was instrumental in showing the actors how to perform in simulated zero gravity.

The February Sky

Roy Swanson spoke about happenings in February such as the occultation of the Pleiades, Saturn at opposition, stars such as Sirius and the Orion stars, stellar magnitudes, and the speed of the Earth in January when it is closest to the Sun.

Narrowband Imaging

Bob Anderson described the electromagnetic spectrum, the effects of light pollution on the visible portion, deep sky and H-alpha bands, city lights and sky glow, and traditional RBG images.  Visual filters, OIII filters and polarizing filters allow one to see specific features on planets and other objects. The H beta filter specifically allows imaging and viewing of the Horse head Nebula and California Nebula.  Bob emphasized that visual and camera filters are different.  For DSLR cameras, narrowband requires more time for acquiring an image e.g. 30 minutes.  He showed images of the Moon, gamma Cygni region, the North America and pelican Nebulas, Sharpless 280 in H alpha, OIII and SII bands. In addition, various combinations of these can be used.

Submitted by Chris Malicki, Secretary  Chris Malicki, Secretary                               back to Miss Centre. meeting reports page
Mississauga Centre RASC