ASTRONOMY CLUB NEWSLETTER

CLUB NOTES:
As Mars grows brighter in the spring sky, the red planet is increasingly the object of the scientific world's attention. The red planet is the destination of several interplanetary probes, and is being more thoroughly mapped than ever, courtesy of NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. Was Mars the cradle of life? Does it have volcanic activity today? These questions and more will be addressed in our meeting "Close Up On Mars" at Explorit on Saturday March 13 at 7:30 p.m. If we are favored by clear skies, we will point out the constellations and other objects of interest in the night sky.

Approximately every 2 years Mars is close enough to Earth for us to glimpse its surface features. During March and April, Mars will be approaching us, and will be closest on May 1st. From a distance of 56 million miles it will shine brighter than it has at any time since 1990, rivaling Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Viewed through a telescope, the red planet will still appear smaller than Jupiter. For a spectacular view of Mars, we will have to wait until August 2003, when we will see it about 50 percent larger than on May 1, 1999.

In March, Mars will grow from approximately 10.5 seconds of arc to 14 seconds of arc. Generally, when Mars exceeds 10 seconds amateurs with good telescopes and good seeing can begin making out polar features (white ice), dark markings on the surface, and clouds. A red, orange or yellow filter helps identify surface markings, while bluish filters help show clouds. If you can't make out any details, don't become frustrated. Patience and persistence are necessary when viewing this small planet. Trying to draw what you see will help your observational skill at the eyepiece. If you are especially interested in observing Mars, consider contacting the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers; their web site is http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo/. The April issue of Sky and Telescope magazine has a helpful introduction to observing Mars by Daniel Troiani.

February Meeting: SRO. It was "standing room only" at the Astronomy Club meeting Saturday the 20th of February. Twenty five intrepid amateurs battled wind and heavy rain to see spectacular images of star formation and explosions captured by the Hubble Telescope. Many young children were in attendance. Though the program focused on slides, only one youngster complained ("When does the slides end? I'm getting tired of just sitting here in this chair."). He was assigned to operating the important "slide advance" button on the projector (which he enjoyed much more than watching the show).
After the slides, the 5 youngest members of the audience performed the roles of the Earth, Moon, Sun, and constellations Scorpius and Orion in a demonstration of how Orion and Scorpius can be seen on the same day in June, provided a total solar eclipse occurs on that day! Two door prizes were awarded to members who came the greatest distance to attend our meeting: one from Carmichael and one from Dixon. Congratulations to our lucky winners and thanks to all who attended the program!

Sights Worth Seeing in March at Sunset

1. First week of March: Dusk (around 6:15 p.m.): Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn above the western horizon.
2. Thursday, March 18th at Dusk: Moon near Jupiter in the West.
3. Friday March 19th at Dusk: The Moon joins Venus and Saturn above the western horizon. If you have a telescope compare Venus's gibbous shape to the crescent shape of the moon.
4. Saturday March 20th at Dusk: Venus near Saturn in the west.

   The Astronomy Club is hosted by Dennis Smith with the assistance of Tim Feldman and other eager astronomy buffs. The club is for everyone - adults, children, knowledgeable or ignorant. Come to listen, look and learn, or to share your expertise or experience.