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Harken Observatory at the Pewaukee Public Library June 24, 2006 Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 1 Tonight's Presentation Mission Statement Observatory Equipment Popular Night Objects Come Visit Again! Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 2 1 Mission Statement The Harken Astronomical Observatory provides education and brings the wonders of our incredible universe to families of our community in the friendly and casual environment of our new library. It is a hands on experience with rare access to powerful, high quality equipment. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 3 Goals Provide the public with rare access to powerful equipment for star gazing A unique community amenity A fun place for learning An inspiration for everyone Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 4 2 Tonight's Presentation Mission Statement Observatory Equipment Popular Night Objects Come Visit Again! Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 5 Library Rooftop Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 6 3 Scope Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 7 Equipment Meade LX200-GPS SchmidtCassegrain Reflector Telescope Aperture: 12 inches (305 mm) Focal Length: 120 inches (3048 mm) Focal Ratio: f/10 Digital Cameras (StarLight Express SXV-H9C, Meade LPI, DSI-2) Computerized Control Station w/ remote Station Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 8 4 Scope Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 9 Scope & LPI Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 10 5 Why red light at night? Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 11 Operate the scope • in the dome • on the platform • downstairs Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 12 6 Tonight's Presentation Mission Statement Observatory Equipment Popular Night Objects Come Visit Again! Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 13 The Harken Observatory can easily see all the planets as well as many other objects. Jupiter 43 light-minutes away Saturn 79 light-minutes away Comet SW-3 32 light-seconds or about 6 million miles closest pass M57 (not in solar system 4100 l-y distant) Careful observing techniques are required to image planetary details but multiple moons are easily observed. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 14 7 We can observe many objects within our galaxy M8 Lagoon Nebula (giant interstellar gas cloud) 6,500 l-y M13 Hercules Globular Cluster M27 Dumbell Nebula (star cluster - 22,200 l-y) (planetary nebula - 1,250 l-y) … and many others, as well. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 15 Saturn Around 800 million miles from us, it is small in a telescope but beautiful. The most popular of all the planets to view. It is large with a diameter close to 10 times that of Earth. The famous rings are easily visible and there multiple moons including Titan, the largest moon in the solar system. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 16 8 Saturn viewed with Harken's LPI Camera Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 17 Jupiter - largest planet in our solar system! Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 18 9 Jupiter has a number of belts and bands that are visible with the telescope. The details are subject to atmospheric turbulence (“the seeing” through earth’s atmosphere) Jupiter's "day" is about 10 hours. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 19 Jupiter’s most famous feature is its “Great Red Spot” It is a large swirling storm cloud in Jupiter’s atmosphere (note Earth size comparison) Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 20 10 Current news! Jupiter appears to have developed a second “Great Red Spot” Christopher Go of the Philippines photographed it on February 27th, 2006 using an 11-inch telescope and a CCD camera. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 21 Planet Sizes Planets come in all sizes The following slides show how they compare Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 22 11 Earth's moon is midway (in size) between Pluto and Mercury, about a quarter of Earth's size Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 23 Jupiter and Saturn are about 90% of the combined mass (weight) of the nine planets. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 24 12 The sun is about 99.9% of the combined mass (weight) of the sun and all nine planets. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 25 Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 26 13 Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 27 Comet 73P or Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 Discovered by Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wachmann on May 2, 1930. SW3 has an orbital period of slightly less than 5 1/3 years. It comes nearest to the Earth every 16 years. On May 12, 2006 is was at its closest to Earth with a distance of about 11.9 million km (7.4 million miles). Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 28 14 Death of a Comet In 1995, 73P began to disintegrate. As of March 2006, at least eight fragments were known: B, C, G, H, J, L, M & N. On April 18, 2006, the Hubble Space Telescope recorded dozens of pieces of fragments B and G Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 29 Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 Harken Observatory Photo Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 30 15 Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 Credit & Copyright: Thad V'Soske (Cosmotions.com) This 8 second video is a time lapse of 67 minutes Taken 16 May 2006 in Colorado http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060523.html Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 31 Messier Objects M27 – Dumbbell Nebula- The second brightest planetary nebula is about 3 light years across. M57 – Ring Nebula- An exploding star called a planetary nebula. Our first picture in color. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 32 16 M27 Dumbbell Nebula Harken Observatory Photo Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 33 First Image From Telescope at Harken Astronomical Observatory Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory M57 – Ring Nebula 34 17 M1 Supernova Remnant in Taurus. Crab Nebula Harken Observatory Photo Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory Harken Observatory Photo 35 Orion Nebula Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 36 18 M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy Harken Observatory Photo Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 37 NGC7331 Harken Observatory Photo Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 38 19 Tonight's Presentation Mission Statement Observatory Equipment Popular Night Objects Come Visit Again! Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 39 Instructors, Visitors and Students Instructors – Access to building and Observatory, trained in all aspects of use, general knowledge of astronomy. Usually will work in pairs General Public – Invited to attend seminars, special events and hands on operation of the telescope through remote station in the Community Room. Students- those interested in serious study with computer skills may have special times for limited access to the Observatory. They may become instructors after training. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 40 20 Access to Dome Since we do not have access for the handicapped to go up into the dome, we are, by law, prohibited from letting the general public up there. Only the operators and those persons who would join the team of volunteers are allowed up the stairs. Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 41 Clear Skies! Pewaukee Public Library Harken Observatory 42 21