WHERE:   AT EXPLORIT Science Center, 3141 5th Street, Davis.
(530) 756-0191

News from the Davis Astronomy Club at Explorit Science Center
September 2007

==============================================
In this issue:
1. September meeting focuses on dying stars
2. Finding Your Way Through The Summer Sky

==============================================

1. September meeting focuses on dying stars

The Davis Astronomy Club at Explorit will meet at 7 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 22) for a program about the end of a star's life cycle. Particular emphasis will be placed on planetary nebulae, several of which are visible in the evening sky at this time, and which will ultimately be the fate of our own sun. Club meetings are free and open to everyone; they’re held at Explorit Science Center’s Mace Park Branch, 3141 Fifth St. in Davis.

Club members and guests will also talk about the latest news from NASA and what to look for in the night sky for the next several months. Telescope and binocular viewing will be available afterward the indoor program, weather permitting.

The following is some interesting info that Ed wrote up that can also be included in the email sent to the DAC members.

2. Finding Your Way Through The Summer Sky

Club member Ed Oberholtzer put together the following information for local astronomy enthusiasts:

To begin your journey through the summer sky, find the Big Dipper. It's easy to see to the north. Draw an imaginary line through the last two stars that make up the cup of the Dipper and they will lead you to the North Star, Polaris. No matter the time of year, this star always remains in the same place in the sky. Now go back to the Big Dipper and draw a line through the other two lines in the cup. Following this path will help you find the bright stars of the Summer Triangle. Finally, go back to the last two stars of the Big Dipper's handle. Trace a line here to the first bright star you see. That is the star Arcturus in the constellation Bootes the Herdsman

Easy Targets (easy to find with the naked eye or binoculars)

a.) Jupiter
Look low to the south to spot Jupiter in the constellation Scorpio. Even a small telescope will allow one to see the four major moons around the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter will be very bright and hard to miss as it travels through the constellation Scorpio.

b.) The Summer Triangle
Throughout the summer, three fairly bright stars are seen traveling the night sky forming a large triangle. Vega, in the constellation Lyra the Harp, will appear first. It is the fifth largest star in the sky and fairly close at 25 light years. Altair, in the constellation Aquila the Eagle, is the17th brightest star in our sky, but is even closer than Vega – only 16 light years away. Deneb, by comparison, is extremely far away, more than 1,500 light years. Find this distant star in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan.

c.) Coathanger (Brocchi's Cluster)
While not a true cluster, this interesting assortment of stars looks just like its name. Look for it to the right of the small constellation of Sagitta the arrow.

d.) Double Double in Lyra
Look for the bright star Vega through your binoculars and you'll notice two other stars that make up a small triangle. Actually, you’ll notice four. That's because both of the stars are actually a double stars. Look again with just your eyes. That's not all; with a telescope you'll discover that one of the double stars is actually four stars – a double double.

More of a Challenge (requires binoculars or a telescope)

e.) Hercules Star Cluster (M13)
This bright globular clusters can be found high overhead in the center of the constellation Hercules. This packed concentration of thousands of stars is 23,000 light years away. While visible in binoculars as a small cotton ball, it is easily seen with any telescope.

f.) & g.) Ring and Dumbell Nebulas (M57 and M27)
A telescope is necessary to view these two planetary nebulas, both located near the constellation Cygnus. The circular ring of material that you see is the debris thrown off by dying stars. They are located 1,500 and 900 light years away, respectively.

To Receive These Bulletins via E-mail You can sign up for the Astronomy Club News

The Astronomy Club is for everyone - adults, children, knowledgeable or ignorant. Come to listen, look and learn, or to share your expertise or experience.