Since next year is the IYA (International Year of Astronomy) celebrating
Galileo's first telescopic astronomical observations, it seems appropriate to
mention a play being done locally about Galileo:

Upstream Theater's "The Starry Messenger"

December 13th & 14th, 2008 at 4:00PM
December 20th, 2008 at 3:00PM

Presented at 305 S. Skinker (at Fauquier) across from Forest Park
Directed by Nicholas Tamarkin. Starring John Bratkowski and Pamela Reckamp

The Little Theater On The Park 305 S. Skinker Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63105

Info Line (314) 863-4999 / http://www.upstreamtheater.org/

Description

Rick Foster's The Starry Messenger, already a hit in California with audiences
of all ages, is the perfect family show from Upstream Theater.  A treat
especially during the holiday season, The Starry Messenger is a touching
relationship drama, a thrilling revelation of experiments and scientific
insights, and a very funny afternoon of strange characters and extraordinary
truths.  Featuring two professional Equity Actors and directed by Nicholas
Tamarkin, The Starry Messenger is a heart-warming and smart adventure for
families to enjoy together this December.

---------

If the weather cooperates, they'd like a telescope setup for this after the play
and possibly a talk. The play runs a little less than an hour. Theater is
located in an old church very close to Washington University off of Skinker. My
contact at the theater says he can see Jupiter & Venus easily from the theater
property. Astronomical conditions detailed below. A nearly full moon will be
visible on the 13, 14.

Here's the astronomical conditions in detail :

Dec. 13, 2008 (Sat):
Sunset: 16:40; Civil twilight ends: 17:09; Nautical twilight ends: 17:43
Astronomical twilight ends: 18:15

Lunar Data for 13 December, 2008
Illumination of disk:98%; Sets:08:24; Rises:17:47; Maximum altitude:
00:30(78.1°)

Jupiter(~16.75 deg EL) and Venus(~23.7 deg EL) low in the SW at 5:15 pm.

----------

Dec. 14, 2008 (Sun);

Sunset: 16:40; Civil twilight ends: 17:10; Nautical twilight ends: 17:43
Astronomical twilight ends: 18:15

Lunar Data for 14 December, 2008
Illumination of disk; 94%; Sets: 09:17; Rises: 19:05; Maximum altitude:
01:36(76.0°)

Jupiter(~16.4 deg EL) and Venus(~24 deg EL) low in the SW at 5:15 pm.

---------

Dec. 20, 2008 (Sat)
Sunset: 16:42; Civil twilight ends: 17:12; Nautical twilight ends: 17:45;
Astronomical twilight ends: 18:18

Lunar Data for Saturday, 20 December, 2008
Illumination of disk: 37%; Rises:00:54; Sets:12:15; Maximum altitude:
06:35(42.5°)

Jupiter(~14 deg EL) and Venus(~26.4 deg EL) low in the SW at 5:15 pm.

----------

Lunar Phases
Full moon: 10:37 Friday, 12 December
Last quarter: 04:29 Friday, 19 December
New moon: 06:22 Saturday, 27 December
First quarter: 05:56 Sunday, 04 January
Full moon: 21:27 Saturday, 10 January

+++++++++++++++

Michael Malolepszy
St. Louis Astronomical Society

As posted by someone else on a planetarium discussion group... Mike

-------------------------

From: Marc R

Here's something I found today, maybe some of you already heard about
it.  It's a satellite that will be launched in 2010 or 2011 with the
intent that it will "crash" back to Earth in 50,000 years, a length of
time which mirrors the time since the first recognized cave paintings.
Everyone in the world can participate by submitting up to four pages of
text (no pictures or videos).  Send your message to the future:
http://www.keo.org/uk/pages/default.html



Marc

Our 1st Annual Spring star party is April 23 to 26 2009 Barry
Illinois. web site www.freewebs.com/tworiverstarparty.

Dennis if you could put this in the calender for me I would be
grateful.  Thanks
Becky

Becky, that link should be:

http://www.freewebs.com/tworiversstarparty/

Mike in St. Louis

--- In gag_astro@yahoogroups.com, "earthwindandsky"
<earthwindandsky@...> wrote:
>
> Our 1st Annual Spring star party is April 23 to 26 2009 Barry
> Illinois. web site www.freewebs.com/tworiverstarparty.
>
> Dennis if you could put this in the calender for me I would be
> grateful.  Thanks
> Becky
>

Thanks, Mike.

I've corrected the URLs on the calendar.

Rip

Thanks Dennis and sorry about the link I was tired when I put it in.
It looked right to me. I hope to see you guys there.

--- In gag_astro@yahoogroups.com, "Dennis Rippelmeyer" <ripps1@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Mike.
>
> I've corrected the URLs on the calendar.
>
> Rip
>

Hello all!

I just recently got a new MEAD DS2114 telescope and I've been fighting
with it ever since Christmas.  I spent probably 3 hours last trying to
get it to work.  Apparently the red dot finder battery was dead when I
got it, however I haven't been able to focus on anything in the night
sky.  I am using the larger 25mm lense now (though I've tried both),
and I'm really getting frustrated.

I was wondering if there is someone from the group who could help me
figure this out (in person)so we can determine if I am doing something
wrong, if it's not setup properly or if it's just faulty equipment
(aside from the bad red-dot finder battery).  It comes with autostar,
however (though I am guestimating at what is north [do I need a
compass?], I can't seem to find any of the two stars it's suppose to
align with.

I don't want to lose my interest in astronomy over possible faulty
equipment of setup.. so if there is anyone who can help me it would be
much appreciated.

Thanks,
Robert

Hi Robert,
I have had a Meade LX-90 for 4 1/2 years, with the Autostar
controller. I would also be happy to help you out. I live in south
St. Louis, so if you want to get together, post a message. Also, if
the weather permits, I will be at Francis Park on Jan. 7 with my LX-
90.

Clear Skies,
Bill B.


--- In gag_astro@yahoogroups.com, "stlbizguy" <stlbizguy@...> wrote:
>
> Hello all!
>
> I just recently got a new MEAD DS2114 telescope and I've been
fighting
> with it ever since Christmas.  I spent probably 3 hours last trying
to
> get it to work.  Apparently the red dot finder battery was dead
when I
> got it, however I haven't been able to focus on anything in the
night
> sky.  I am using the larger 25mm lense now (though I've tried both),
> and I'm really getting frustrated.
>
[snip]

I've posted a copy of the announcement of the SLAS IYA 2009 kickoff
meeting being held Friday January 16 at the St. Louis Science Center.
  It's located in the IYA2009 folder.

The featured speaker is Dr. Pamela Gay from SIU-E.  She is very
dynamic and entertaining.

Everyone is invited and admission is free.  There will also be
attendance prizes awarded.

We hope to see you there.

January 16, 2009
Scientists Pinpoint Source of Methane on Mars
By KENNETH CHANG

In early 2003, Mars let out a big belch of methane gas.

The big unanswered question: what belched?

One possible answer: bacteria.

A team of researchers reported Thursday that methane emissions on Mars appear to
come in large, brief bursts and that in 2003, they originated from three
specific regions in the northern hemisphere, where it was midsummer.

In the largest plume, the gas came out at a rate of 0.6 kilograms a second, the
scientists said, and, at its peak, contained 19,000 metric tons of methane.

“It’s a significant release,” said Michael J. Mumma, a senior scientist at
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., who led the research
team.

The findings appear in a paper published online on Thursday by the journal
Science. The scientists also announced the findings at a NASA news conference.
Dr. Mumma had previously reported some of his findings at scientific meetings,
but the Science paper is the first time they have appeared in a peer-reviewed
journal.

Methane, the simplest of hydrocarbon molecules, with one carbon atom and four
hydrogen atoms, is fragile in air. It falls apart when hit by ultraviolet
radiation in sunlight. That means any methane in the Martian air must have been
released recently.

When the 2003 methane emissions were reported in 2004 by three teams of
scientists, the findings generated surprise and skepticism, because only two
explanations appear plausible.

One is geothermal chemical reactions involving water and heat like those in the
hot springs of Yellowstone. But no signs of recent volcanism, or even any hot
spots, have been spotted on Mars.

The second is biological. On Earth, a class of bacteria known as methanogens
breathes out methane as a waste product.

Because of the difficulty in the measurements, many scientists wondered whether
methane was really there or whether all three teams had been misled by their
data.

Dr. Mumma’s group used telescopes in Hawaii to examine the light reflected off
Mars. Different molecules absorb different wavelengths of light, and the
scientists reported seeing black lines in the spectrum corresponding to methane
as well as water vapor.

The concentrations in 2003 were densest over three regions known as Terra Sabae,
Nii Fossae and Syrtis Major. The scientists said that mineralogy of the surface
bedrock suggested that the bedrock might be covering gas-rich materials.

The scientists also detected methane in 2006, but the global measurement was
half of what it had been in 2003, raising a second mystery. Ultraviolet light
would take more than a century to destroy that much methane.

------

New light on Mars methane mystery

Large quantities of methane gas have been detected on Mars, Nasa scientists have
announced in Science journal.

The gas could be produced either by geological activity or by life.

Methane was detected in the Martian atmosphere five years ago; scientists have
found it is more abundant over particular parts of the planet.

It should last for only a short time in the atmosphere until it is destroyed by
sunlight, and so its continued presence means it is being replenished.

This suggests the methane is made by an ongoing process.

But the ultimate origin of the methane could either be an ancient or a modern
one, say the researchers.

"The fact that we have found three discrete regions where Mars is releasing
methane at this time means we have a window into processes occurring under the
surface of the planet," said co-author Michael Mumma, a senior planetary
scientist at Nasa's Goddard Spaceflight Center in Maryland, US.

"The production (of methane) is likely due to only one of two possibilities. The
first is geochemistry, the second is biology. That raises much interest on which
one is the dominant production mechanism."

If the methane is produced by geological activity, it could either originate
from active Martian volcanoes or from a process called serpentinisation.

The latter process occurs at low temperatures and occurs when rocks rich in the
minerals olivine and pyroxene react chemically with water, releasing methane.

Seasonal release

"It could be occurring on Mars. In that case, we might expect the methane to be
released only under regions that are volcanic districts," said Dr Mumma.

"On the other hand, there could be biology that's going on either very near the
surface or deep below the permafrost layer. Then in order to release captured
gases to the atmosphere one needs to access those sub-permafrost regions."

Some scientists consider it possible that microbes could have survived for aeons
below the Martian permafrost layer, where water changes from ice into liquid.
In deep canyons, or the walls of yawning craters, ice might plug fissures or
pores connecting these sub-permafrost regions to the atmosphere.

But the ice could disappear during spring and summer, Dr Mumma speculated.

The team used a technique called infrared spectroscopy at three different
Earth-based telescopes to monitor about 90% of the planet's surface for seven
years (equivalent to three Martian years).

They identified "plumes" of methane on Mars during 2003; at one point in their
study, the primary plume of methane contained an estimated 19,000 tonnes of the
gas.

Future exploration

This implies the gas was released from discrete regions on the planet. However,
these regions do not move the researchers significantly towards one theory of
methane production more than another.

"We've demonstrated there are regions of active (methane) release," said Dr
Mumma.

"What we'd really like to do is map the entire planet identifying all such
regions of release and validating that some are reproducible from year to year.

"In addition, we'd like to map the gases being released to establish which of
those are more likely biological in origin versus others that may be geochemical
in origin.

"On this basis we could target several interesting sites for lander missions."

Andrew Coates, from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Surrey, UK, said:
"The observation of short-lived, seasonally varying clouds of methane from
specific regions on Mars is a tantalising result. It shows there must be an
underground source, past or present."

Dr Coates, who is not involved with the latest research, added: "Seasonal
effects may open up fissures to allow increased escape into the atmosphere. But
this could be a sign of either geology or biology.

"Both are exciting; we will not be sure which it is until we can analyse the
methane in-situ at the surface."

Nasa's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover, due to launch to the Red Planet in
2011, will carry instruments that have the potential to distinguish between
carbon in gases produced by biological activity and those with a geochemical
origin.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/7829315.stm

Published: 2009/01/15 19:01:21 GMT

Are we sure there are no cows on Mars ?


....sorry, I couldn't help it !

Illinois Dark Skies Star Party Oct. 15 – 18, 2009

Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area

--- In RBAC@yahoogroups.com, "Rich Halasey" <halac6@...> wrote:

I have an Orion 12" Sky Quest Intellescope for sale.  I'm asking $800.
It comes with the object locator and holster, a lasermate deluxe
collimator, a 10mm lens, and a Crayford style focuser (from Scope
City).  I want to get something more astrophotography friendly.  Thanks
Rich H   cell 618-971-8376

--- End forwarded message ---

I've recently finished restoring an early version Celestron 6"
StarHopper Dobsonian telescope. It was built in the mid to late 90's.
It has a single stalk secondary mount, no altitude tensioning knob and
two large solid aluminum altitude bearings on either side of the OTA
that slide on dovetail rails for adjusting tube balance.

I'll be donating this scope to the Humane Society of Monroe County for
their spring auction and I would like to include a manual.  I was able
to download a manual for their latest models off the Celestron website
but some features have changed. The correct manual would be less
confusing.

If anyone has this manual I would be interested in obtaining a copy.
Please contact me either by email or by responding to this post.

Thank you,
Rip

--- In gag_astro@yahoogroups.com, "Dennis Rippelmeyer" <ripps1@...> wrote:
>
> If anyone has this manual I would be interested in obtaining a copy.

Rip,

I was able to find a StarHopper that was labeled "DISCONTINUED". It
seem to match your description, except that it describes a 4-vane
secondary assembly. Maybe this will be adequate.

http://www.celestron.com/c3/images/files/downloads/StarHopper_6,8,10,12.pdf

Hope this helps,

--
John Newcomer
president@...

Thanks, John,

I downloaded it and looked it over. Unfortunately, it's pretty much
like the manual I have.

If I have time later this morning I'll take  picture of the scope and
put it in the PHOTOS section.

Thanks again,
Rip

For all those waiting on pins & needles, I just uploaded a picture of
the refurbished StarHopper 6" dob in the PHOTOS section in the RIP'S
PIX folder.

Anyone know of a good dark sky location within 150 miles of St. Louis on public
land. I was looking for a good (safe, legal, quiet, etc..) place to set up a
small telescope and try some astrophotography. I was thinking Buford Mt CA in SE
Missouri but the hike, with the equipment I had, would be a no go. Not to
mention all the trees and hills in the way. Any ideas?

From Robert Wagner...

I wanted to send you links to the Bills to watch.  Please feel free to pass
these this along and contact your Senator and Representative for support.

Missouri Senate - SB281
http://www.senate.mo.gov/09info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=682674

Missouri House - HB457
http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/bills/HB457.htm

Kansas House - HB2064
http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/2064.pdf


Robert Wagner
Board Member
International Dark-Sky Association
http://www.darksky.org

Missouri Night Sky Protection Act Homepage:
http://missourinspa.googlepages.com/

Kansas Night Sky Protection Act
http://ksnspa.googlepages.com/

The mission of the Night Sky Protection Act is to provide areas in our state
that are protected for future generations where families can enjoy an unimpaired
starry night sky.  Our campaign will be based on truth and knowledge.

Galileo Cake & New Hubble Image Unveiling Event Friday at Public Telescope
Session

The St. Louis Science Center will celebrate Galileo's birthday (February 15,
1564) with cake starting around 5:45pm and run activities until 6:45pm during
its monthly Public Telescope Session at the McDonnell Planetarium in Forest
Park.  There will also be a short presentation about a new Hubble Space
Telescope image (of a galaxy popular with amateur astronomers) to be unveiled
for the first time that evening.  Following the image unveiling at 7pm the
McDonnell Planetarium will have its monthly "Sky Tonight" planetarium
presentation. That will be followed by the free public telescope viewing session
outside the planetarium building - weather permitting.

Parking is free in the Planetarium parking lot in Forest Park. Rain or
starshine, the "Sky Tonight" will start at 7pm in the McDonnell Planetarium.
Call the Night Sky Update, 314.289.4453, toll-free 800.456.SLSC, x4453 for more
information or go to

http://slsc.org/content.aspx?id=338

The St. Louis Astronomical Society can be found online at

http://www.slasonline.org

That evening:

Sunset: 17:36
Astronomical twilight ends: 19:06

Venus will be seen low in the west; Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Perseus, Gemini are
well placed for observing.

By 8 pm Saturn has cleared the eastern horizon (rises at 19:29/7:29pm CT)

Michael Malolepszy
St. Louis Astronomical Society

I should add that this event is Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.  Mike

--------

Galileo Cake & New Hubble Image Unveiling Event Friday at Public Telescope
Session

This Friday (Feb. 13, 2009) the St. Louis Science Center will celebrate
Galileo's birthday (February 15, 1564) with cake starting around 5:45pm and run
activities until 6:45pm during its monthly Public Telescope Session at the
McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park.  There will also be a short presentation
about a new Hubble Space Telescope image (of a galaxy popular with amateur
astronomers) to be unveiled for the first time that evening.  Following the
image unveiling at 7pm the McDonnell Planetarium will have its monthly "Sky
Tonight" planetarium presentation. That will be followed by the free public
telescope viewing session outside the planetarium building - weather permitting.

Parking is free in the Planetarium parking lot in Forest Park. Rain or
starshine, the "Sky Tonight" will start at 7pm in the McDonnell Planetarium.
Call the Night Sky Update, 314.289.4453, toll-free 800.456.SLSC, x4453 for more
information or go to

http://slsc.org/content.aspx?id=338

The St. Louis Astronomical Society can be found online at

http://www.slasonline.org

That evening (Friday, Feb. 13, 2009):

Sunset: 17:36
Astronomical twilight ends: 19:06

Venus will be seen low in the west; Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Perseus, Gemini are
well placed for observing.

By 8 pm Saturn has cleared the eastern horizon (rises at 19:29/7:29pm CT)

Michael Malolepszy
St. Louis Astronomical Society

THE SIMPLEST ATOM OFFERS EVIDENCE FOR THE BIG BANG
SCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES: Science on the Front Lines

Presented by the Academy of Science - St. Louis and the Saint Louis Zoo

The Simplest Atom Offers Evidence for the Big Bang

Featured Speaker: John S. Rigden, Ph.D., 2008 Outstanding Scientist Educator
Award recipient, Academy of Science - St. Louis; Fellow, American Association
for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society; Honorary
Professor of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis

Wednesday, February 18; 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Saint Louis Zoo Living World Auditorium
One Government Drive in Forest Park

FREE and OPEN to ALL. Middle and high school students welcome. (Parking free in
the Zoo's North Lot.)

It is currently thought that the universe began around 14˝ billion years ago
with a bang - a Big Bang. This belief, of course, raises tantalizing questions;
but it's also supported by persuasive evidence. One piece of evidence comes with
the water we drink and the simplest of all atoms, heavy hydrogen, also known as
deuterium. With a salute to human ingenuity and a tip of the hat to lady luck,
author and nationally know physicist, Dr. John Rigden, discusses how physicists
have discovered a way to use deuterium as a check on the validity of the Big
Bang hypothesis. We shall see how this happened in this fascinating peek at how
the simple informs the complex.

St. Louis Science Center Public Telescope Viewings Date Change

Please note that the free public telescope viewings at the St. Louis Science
Center Planetarium have been moved to the FIRST Friday of the month starting in
April 3, 2009. Next month (Fri., March 13, 2009) will be the last one to be held
on the SECOND Friday of the month. Also note that there will not be a "Sky
Tonight" planetarium presentation during the May 1, September 4, and October 2
public telescope sessions. This is due to the Science Center changing it's hours
of operation - they will be open only on the 1st Friday evening of the month
instead of all Friday evenings.

The Science Center will also continue it's practice of not having Public
Telescope Friday events in November and December.

All public telescope session events will remain free of charge.

See http://www.slsc.org/content.aspx?id=338 where it says:

" The St. Louis Astronomical Society hosts public Star Parties at the Science
Center on the First Friday of each month from January-October. (NOTE:  March
program will be on the second Friday; March 13th). Weather permitting, the St.
Louis Astronomical Society and the Science Center will set up a number of
telescopes and be on hand to answer visitor questions. Regardless of the weather
outside, indoor events are scheduled for each Star Party and held inside the
Planetarium's Orthwein Starbay. These events feature our popular program "The
Sky Tonight" now in its 10th year and periodic special guest lectures on a
variety of astronomical topics.

Please be aware that on May 1, September 4, and October 2, special events in the
planetarium will not allow for our presentation of "The Sky Tonight". All
activities on these evenings will be outside with telescopes, weather
permitting.

Night Sky Update, 314.289.4453, toll-free 800.456.SLSC, x4453 for more
information. "

Michael Malolepszy
St. Louis Astronomical Society

I had a look at Comet Lulin with my 10X50 binocs last night from my backyard
here in the city (mag 4 skies at best) - and Lulin was quite easy to find, even
without a map. I had a rough idea of where it was supposed to be from my
recollections of a map I had printed but lost. Despite the glare from city
lights, just pointing my binoculars at the part of the sky between Saturn
(located in Leo) & Spica (the brightest star in Virgo) and scanning slowly near
Saturn enabled me to find it in less than 15-20 seconds. Looks like your typical
cotton ball shaped comet under those conditions. You'll have to wait until
fairly late in the evening to get a good look at it - it doesn't transit until
roughly 1:00am right now.

For the next couple of days it will be especially easy to find since it'll be at
it's brightest and very close in the sky to Saturn. On Monday night February 23
Comet Lulin passes 2° south-southwest of the planet Saturn as seen from earth.

Maps of Comet Lulin's track across the sky can be found at

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/35992534.html

http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/

info about the comet at

http://cometography.com/lcomets/2007n3.html

Picture gallery at

http://spaceweather.com/comets/gallery_lulin_page8.htm

Michael Malolepszy
St. Louis Astronomical Society