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Harken Observatory
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Pewaukee Public Library
June 24, 2006
Pewaukee Public Library
Harken Observatory
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Tonight's Presentation
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Mission Statement
Observatory Equipment
Popular Night Objects
Come Visit Again!
Pewaukee Public Library
Harken Observatory
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Mission Statement
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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Goals
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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
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Harken Observatory
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Tonight's Presentation
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Mission Statement
Observatory Equipment
Popular Night Objects
Come Visit Again!
Pewaukee Public Library
Harken Observatory
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Library Rooftop
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Harken Observatory
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Scope
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Harken Observatory
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Equipment
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Meade LX200-GPS SchmidtCassegrain Reflector Telescope
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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
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Harken Observatory
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Scope
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Harken Observatory
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Scope &
LPI
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Harken Observatory
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Why red light at night?
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Harken Observatory
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Operate the scope
• in the dome
• on the platform
• downstairs
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Harken Observatory
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Tonight's Presentation
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Mission Statement
Observatory Equipment
Popular Night Objects
Come Visit Again!
Pewaukee Public Library
Harken Observatory
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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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
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Saturn
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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Saturn viewed with
Harken's LPI Camera
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Harken Observatory
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Jupiter - largest planet in our solar system!
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Harken Observatory
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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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)
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Harken Observatory
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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Planet Sizes
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Planets come in all sizes
The following slides show how they
compare
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Harken Observatory
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Earth's moon is midway (in size) between Pluto and Mercury, about a
quarter of Earth's size
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Harken Observatory
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Jupiter and Saturn are about 90% of the combined mass (weight) of the
nine planets.
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Harken Observatory
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The sun is about 99.9% of the combined mass (weight) of the sun and all
nine planets.
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Comet 73P or
Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
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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).
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Death of a Comet
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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
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Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
Harken Observatory
Photo
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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
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Messier Objects
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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M27 Dumbbell Nebula
Harken Observatory
Photo
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First Image From Telescope at Harken
Astronomical Observatory
Pewaukee Public Library
Harken Observatory
M57 – Ring Nebula
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M1 Supernova Remnant
in Taurus. Crab Nebula
Harken Observatory
Photo
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Orion Nebula
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M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy
Harken Observatory
Photo
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NGC7331
Harken Observatory
Photo
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Tonight's Presentation
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Mission Statement
Observatory Equipment
Popular Night Objects
Come Visit Again!
Pewaukee Public Library
Harken Observatory
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Instructors, Visitors and Students
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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.
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Access to Dome
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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.
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Harken Observatory
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Clear Skies!
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Harken Observatory
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