Welcome to the WDAS monthly newsletter for August 2019: a digest of the month's latest contributions to our website. Below you'll find Society News; news aplenty past and coming events; a retirement; and, of course, your monthly Sky Notes.
Society News
Think back to July 2018, when during a long heat wave with the majority of evening’s fine, it was greatly frustrating to have apocalyptic weather for the total lunar eclipse on July 27th 2018.
Almost a year on (July 16th 2019) another lunar eclipse would grace our skies and again would already be underway as the moon rose. Not a total, but a partial eclipse. This time however prospects looked encouraging with clear skies forecast. Society members descended on the usual location – Cook’s headland well in time to set up the equipment, eventually deploying six scopes.
You got the feeling that it would be one of those evenings where public interest would be considerable, especially with conditions conducive for people to stay and by 21:30h many of the nearby seats were occupied.
Around 21:40h Jupiter was picked up in the twilight sky, becoming our first target. People queued eagerly to view our largest planet.
It wasn’t until 21:50h we had our first glimpse of the Moon. The initial stages of the eclipse, first and second contacts, had already occurred, before local moon rise, so it was already immersed in Earth’s umbral (deeper) shadow as it climbed over the SSE horizon. Resembling a reddish/orange quarter moon in appearance, anyone who wasn’t aware it was supposed to be a full moon would have assumed it was just that!
Mid eclipse occurred around 22:30pm, by which time approximately 56% of the moon was in umbral shadow. Shortly before this however we had our first fleeting glimpses of Saturn, playing hide and seek in the wispy broken cloud in that part of the sky low to the SE. People were bowled over see the ring system, even though the image was not at its best due to the low altitude. By 23:00h people began thinning out, so we as it was a week day we began packing up.
The moon would reach 4th contact around midnight, finally moving out of Earth’s Umbral shadow, with the penumbral phase ending shortly before 01:22h.
It had been an excellent evening, much enjoyed by all present. Unloading at Mark’s house, there was one final surprise when the ISS was spotted crossing over, becoming more brilliant than Jupiter, rounding off the night in style. Thanks to Elaine and Phil, Keith and John and especially Barbara and Mark for their assistance with equipment, loading and unloading.
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Photos by Keith. Click here to see more pictures in the Gallery.
No, not from the society, but from work (lucky so-and-so) Keith has worked for the last 41 years as a science technician at what was Whitby School, then Whitby College and finally Caedmon College. Most of us still refer to it as the former.
You can almost say Keith has worked there ‘man and boy’. Starting in 1978 he has witnessed many changes not only in technology, but also teachers. Mark remembers Keith back in 1979-81, when he would be bustling in and out of science labs, tinkering and coaxing many an item of equipment back into action, extending even to the School computer (remember those days when IT consisted of just that –one computer) I’m sure one or two more society members will also remember Keith from back whenever they were there.
After 41 years or servitude, we all wish Keith a long and happy retirement, pursuing his hobbies and interests, which of course include his involvement with the society. See you soon Keith - weather permitting!
06-Jul-2019 Star Party: Jupiter (left), The Moon (right). (Click images to see at full size.)
We finally manage to host a scheduled star party on July 6th. Conditions were not, shall we say ‘summery’ but at least there was enough clear sky to view the crescent Moon and fortuitously, Jupiter, in a slender gap.
It has to be said public were a little scarce on the ground, but those who did venture over were impressed with the lunar views, and really wowed by Jupiter and attendant Galilean moons.
At the very least the event served as the backdrop for a Sky at Night on-line article Mark had been asked to write. Just a pity the lunar eclipse event was after the deadline.
A really fine display of Noctilucent cloud was observed by Mark and other society members, including Elaine and Phil during the late evening of July 11th 2019.
Mark first noticed something developing low to the north shortly after 23:10h. Observing from his back bedroom window –which faces north, Mark followed the display until almost midnight, taking some images in the process. Visible only at this time of year, Noctilucent cloud forms almost exclusively between latitudes 50 and 60 degrees north, at altitudes in excess of 50 miles.
In appearance the cloud is filamentary in structure, having a characteristic silvery-blue colour. It forms when water vapour condenses at very low temperatures onto particles suspended in the air, perhaps pollutants. Do keep an eye out during the early part of August for any further displays, you just never know.
This year’s Regatta events will be similar in setup to previous ones with afternoon solar viewing, on Saturday (10th) and Sunday (11th), followed by evening star parties on both dates.
The location of the solar viewing event will be the grassy area adjacent to the small Go-carts track on the West Cliff and in proximity to the Grovers Optics stand. We shall be setting up from 13:00h for a 13:30h start, finishing around 16:15h.
The evening star parties will be held on the pitch and put area, above the archery green, as per last year. Parking is adjacent to this area - down the side of pitch and put, accessed over the parking area behind the bowling green. It is actually quite convenient. We shall be setting up from 20:30h. If conditions are fine and you can make it along, assistance would be most welcome.
As for the rest of August – we have Folk week and the bank holiday events to look forward to. August dates seem to be very susceptible to the weather, so I have put quite a few dates down. Expect half to be called off. Again if it is a fine night on a scheduled date and you can make it please do come along.
Our annual visit to Hook’s House Fm will be slightly earlier this year – Saturday 31st August 2019.
It will be a no-Moon period and if skies are clear it should be ideal for deep sky observations. We shall of course be observing both Jupiter and Saturn on show to the south and carrying out a sky tour. We anticipate the campsite will be busy, so if you make along with a scope all the better. We hope to be setting up equipment for shortly after 20:00h with a view to a 20:30h start.
If you already have a scope and know the location of Hook’s House Campsite (just off the B1447 down in to Robin Hood’s Bay) we shall see you there. If you have transport but no equipment, meet at Mark’s for 19:45h. If conditions are favourable it should be an excellent evening.
Our annual jaunt over to Westerdale will on the other hand be a little later this year. THe 27th September 2019 is the date for your diary, from 19:00–22:00h. More on this next month.
Events
Caedmon College Normanby Site (you may know it as Whitby College or Whitby School), Room H1.
In Members' monthly meetings we usually take a tour of the night sky for the coming month using the Planetarium program. Have talks and presentations on various topics of astronomy/space etc, and discuss future events etc. New members welcome.
A Public Star Party, weather permitting, near the Captain Cook monument on West Cliff (setting-up from 20:30hrs).
Solar & Lunar Observations.
Observe the night sky with us at the Bruce Observatory, Caedmaon College - Normanby campus (formally Whitby College).
Observing Nights are held weather permitting: check for a relatively clear sky before leaving home. If in doubt, Mark can be reached on tel 01947 605516.
Please note the college drive gate is now operated via a electronic key code - so anyone wishing to attend must be at the car park at the top of the drive by 19:00hrs, unless an arrival time has been arranged with Mark/Keith after 19:30hrs. Otherwise shout or bip car horn - we'll hear.
