October 2014 Annual General Meeting Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 7:15pm at the Okanagan College Kelowna Campus, 1000 KLO Rd., Lab Building, Room C368. Come One, Come All! This is our once-a-year chance to have exactly the same meeting for all three groups, so please do make the most of it. In addition to the usual business meeting, we get an opportunity to add to the list of members found by the Nominating Committee. Being willing to take on administrative roles in the Centre is important for all of us, so do come along and maybe even consider challenging someone else for one of the roles you would be most interested in. To get us in the mood for our special speaker, John Carpenter will share photos taken at the Arecibo radio telescope, which he and Anita visited earlier this year. For decades Arecibo has been by far the largest astronomical parabolic electromagnetic collector, looking far into the past, and next door to radar-image asteroids and other Solar System objects The AGM includes a special speaker, to provide a stimulating counterpoint to the somewhat drier business of running the Centre. This year, Dr. Ben Tippett of UBCO will be talking about curved spacetime bubbles and time travel. Based on a paper Dr. Tippett co-authored with Dr. David Tsang entitled “Traversable Achronal Domains In Spacetime“, this presentation has already been enthusiastically received by the Thompson Rivers University undergraduate physics society and the UBC physics department to name but two. Ben received a Bachelor of Science, Honours Physics from UBC in 2003, he got his Master of Science in Physics from Queens University in 2006 and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of New Brunswick in 2011. He has published a number of papers on such topics as “Gravitational collapse of quantum matter,” “Closest Safe Approach to an Accreting Black Hole,” “Gravitational Lensing as a Mechanism For Effective Cloaking” and a host of others. He is a General Relativist with interests too numerous to list fully here but which include mathematics, public speaking, computer programming, Dr. Who, zombies, differential geometry, science outreach, Superman, teaching and podcasting to name but a few. In the field of pod-casting Ben Tippett produces “The Titanium Physicists Podcast”, a great physics podcast where physicists explain an interesting topic from advanced physics in ways understandable to the nonphysicist. Look for it at – titaniumphysicists.brachiolopemedia.com or just Google “Titanium Physicists” and find out how the inside of a neutron star is like a trailer park full of bag-pipers. Observing Reports Vernon September Observing Challenges These are the Sept Observing Challenges that were discussed at the Vernon meeting on Sept 24. Members are take the challenges this month and discuss them at the Oct 29 Vernon meeting. 1. Observe NGC7789 Caroline's Rose in Cassiopeia near Caph. 2. Observe trio of stars in M45 the Pleiades near Alcyone. Determine why these stars have descriptions like HD23629, SAO76192, BD+23536,STFA8, WDS03475+2406 and TYC1800-2201-1. Observe the two 8th magnitude stars here and find another 8th Magnitude star in another constellation. Compare them. For more information, contact: James Kanester, [email protected] Please send your observing notes and articles to me, any time of the month. I will include as many as possible in the next issue of the Focus. Your submissions are better if they give lots of personal details about your observing experience, more than you would normally send out to the astrookanagan emailing group, for example. The Focus does not attempt to duplicate the reporting done via astrookanagan, nor should it. This is the forum for, perhaps, a more in-depth look at what you did, happenings special to you, more information on how you did the observing. I will gladly work with you to polish up your submission, but you must provide the starting point. Hugh Pett, Editor, Okanagan Centre’s newsletter the Focus; [email protected] Fall 2014 Upcoming Outreach Opportunities in Kelowna At the Rotary Cancer Lodge, we offer a presentation and telescope viewing the second Tuesday of each month starting at 6:30 pm. Next event is Dec 9. Other fun ways to spend your fall: Partial solar Eclipse Oct 23, 1:30-4:30 pm, Stuart Park, Kelowna OC Career Fair Nov 2 Okanagan Observatory every clear Friday night Please let me know which events you will be attending. I have started an Outreach Calendar on our AstroOkanagan Google email discussion site. If you would like access to this, please let me know. 2015 RASC-OC Gala The 2015 Okanagan Centre Annual Dinner Gala is to be held in Kelowna on Saturday May 23, 2015. Our scheduled speaker is Bob MacDonald. Yes, the CBC Radio host for Quirks and Quarks. It will be an entertaining evening with a blend of social activity and interesting information. However, there is plenty of planning involved and we need volunteers to assist in the many aspects of hosting this event. This includes event promotion, ticket sales, acquiring items for the charity auction, etc. Several previous committee members are returning to assist in the planning. However, others are unable to do so due to other obligations. We need additional volunteers. This is where you come in. Please join us! Our first meeting is set for Sunday October 19, 2014. Please let me know if you will help out. Even if you are unable to come to the first meeting, please let me know if you still wish to participate in the future so that I can keep you up to date with the ongoing planning. We will meet at my home, 730 Royal Pine Dr, Kelowna, at 7pm. In 1961, a very famous person once said: “Ask not what your astronomy club can do for you - ask what you can do for your astronomy club”. (I may have slightly misquoted the speech). David Hawkins [email protected] Lead Chairperson Welcome Ken Tapping to Okanagan Centre After many years as a member of Ottawa Centre, where he had work- and hobby-related contacts, Ken has recently transferred his membership to the Okanagan Centre. Ken continues to work at D.R.A.O. south of Penticton, as a radio astronomer. His passion for this field began as a teenager in England, and his contributions to solar observing are many. He has on many occasions spoken to our meeting groups, and also at the inaugural May Observatory fundraiser in 2012. Ken has helped Hugh Pett a great deal, as Hugh works towards building a radio telescope at our Okanagan Observatory. We look forward to seeing Ken regularly in the future. Meetings Schedule Meetings held in Penticton on Thursdays (First Thursday of the month in 2014/15) Okanagan College – Penticton Campus, Sunoka building, Room C02. See map. *November 4, 2014 7:15 at OC Kelowna (Tuesday) December 4, 2014 7:15 at OC January 8, 2015 7:15 at OC February 5, 2015 7:15 at OC March 5, 2015 7:15 at OC April 2, 2015 7:15 at OC May 7, 2015 7:15 at OC May 23, 2015 Gala Dinner/Auction/Speaker; Kelowna 5:00pm Meetings held in Vernon on Wednesdays (Last Wednesday of the month) OSC - Okanagan Science Centre , 2704 Hwy 6, Vernon See map. October 29, 2014 7:15 at OSC *November 4, 2014 7:15 at OC Kelowna (Tuesday) December 17, 2014 7:15 at OSC January 28, 2015 7:15 at OSC February 25, 2015 7:15 at OSC March 25, 2015 7:15 at OSC April 29, 2015 7:15 at OSC May 23, 2015 Gala Dinner/Auction/Speaker; Kelowna 5:00pm June 24, 2015 7:15 at OSC Meetings held in Kelowna on Tuesdays (Second Tuesday of the month in 2013 /14) Okanagan College Science building at Okanagan College KLO Road, Kelowna. See map. *November 4, 2014 7:15 at OC Kelowna (Tuesday) December 2, 2014 7:30 at OC January 6, 2015 7:30 at OC February 3, 2015 7:30 at OC March 3, 2015 7:30 at OC April 7, 2015 7:30 at OC May 5, 2015 7:30 at OC May 23, 2015 Gala Dinner/Auction/Speaker; Kelowna 5:00pm * combined meeting between the Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon Chapters held at 7:15 at Okanagan College Kelowna Elected Officers President Colleen O’Hare 1st V.P.Jerry Thompson 2nd V.P. Dave Whalley 3rd V.P. Kelowna Olaf Lutz Treasurer Zoli Boda Secretary Dennis Krause Observatory Director Guy Mackie Librarian Colleen O’Hare National Representative Richard Christie Directors 1 Patricia Reid 2 Raffaele Scotto Sachianca 3 Chris Purton 4 Jim Failes 5 6 Past President Dave Gamble [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 250-763-3573 250-542-8603 250-485-0010 250-863-0187 250-769-5632 250-763-2677 250-469-3112 250-763-3573 250-762-5445 x4484 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 778-479-4571 250-307-6196 250-490-8682 250-763-6962 [email protected] 250-494-8615 [email protected] 250-762-3858 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 250-768-2893 250-494-8615 250-763-4473 250 765-7502 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 250-307-6196 250-558-0845 250-763-3573 250-492-2572 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 250-762-5445 x4484 250 765-7502 250-494-8615 250-494-8615 Appointed Positions Focus Editor Hugh Pett Webmasters Andrew Bennett Dave Gamble Membership Secretary Jim Tisdale RASC merchandise Frank Stariha Outreach Coordinators Vernon Raffaele Scotto Sachianca James Kanester Kelowna Colleen O’Hare Penticton Al Fishler Picture of the Month Richard Christie Frank Stariha Zenfolio Manager Dave Gamble What's Up Contributor Dave Gamble Clothing, New Items, Styles and Colours! Check out the Zenfolio pictures of the Okanagan Observatory’s new line of clothes! T-shirts ($20), Polos ($40), Hats ($15) and anything else you like from the catalog. To find the pictures go to http://rascoc.zenfolio.com/p246016613. Let me know if you would like to order anything. ([email protected]) Things to Buy -RASC toques, good quality, one size fits all, with RASC logo. Perfect for those chilly viewing nights. $14. -RASC full-colour stickers, $2.50 each. -Welders glass, 2 ¼” by 4”, ideal for solar viewing. -White RASC tee-shirts, with logos. Available in medium, large, and extra-large. A perfect companion for your black Okanagan Observatory tee-shirt. $15. -Beginners Observers Handbooks, $15. -Planispheres, an invaluable item for charting the heavens, $15. -RASC key chains (everyone can use one), $3. -RASC Baseball caps, two white, one navy (if you really want to look like a police SWAT team member), $14 each. Also available are some miscellaneous items, including cloth crests, lapel pins, mugs, and one RASC golf shirt. All these items can be purchased at RASC meetings in Kelowna from Frank Stariha, purveyor of Fine Astronomical Merchandise, or by contacting Frank at [email protected]. Telescope Package for sale! contact Percy Crosthwaite, 250-594-5858, [email protected] asking $ 2300 for the package 11069 18774 04200 07722 93527 LC 15188 Nextstar 8 SE Celestron Power Tank 7 AH-12V FlexSheild Solar Filter Diagonal 2” XLT-SCT Laser Collimator w/sideview Scope Cloak $ 1349.95 $74.95 $39.95 $139.95 $169.95 $ 49.95 $ 79.95 1-EN5-20/0 1-EN4-12/0 PMt – 2200 2ND13 Eyepiece 20.0 mm Nagler Type 5 Eyepiece 12.0 mm Nagler Type 4 Powermate 2.0x Green Lazer Pointer 2” Density Filter $539.95 $429.95 $359.95 $99.95 $29.95 #7675 07227 FURB #7056 92110 #13756 94005 EZ Finder Red Dot Finder Observing chair ( Not used ) Celestron StarSense $69.95 $9.9 $ 129 95 $349.95 Accessory Package Contact: Roland Oliynyk (250-808-6800) or [email protected]. Prefer to sell as one package: $500. BinoViewer 8aK4 Burgess Optical Eyepiece( 2 units) for Binoviewer Edge-On 19mm Flat-Field Orion Eyepiece (2 units) for Binoviewer 20 mm Bino-Lites Burgess Optical Eyepiece (1 Unit) Super Plossl 26mm Multi-Coated Meade Eyepiece (1 unit) E-lux 25mm Plossl Celestron Eyepiece (1 unit) 8mm Radian Tele Vue Eyepiece (1 unit) 13mm Ethos 100deg Tele Vue Lens (1 unit) 2X Barlow Lens Lens (1 unit) Moon filter ND. 13 Antares Lens Case (1 unit) Orion Astronomer Chair For sale – 8” Celestron reflector telescope (CPCseries) Telescope comes with locking case holding 40mm, 25mm & 15mm eye pieces, 2x Barlow lens, black, orange, green & blue filters as well as red/white flashlight. There is a power connector to use with a nearby outlet as well as a rechargeable battery unit to use as an alternate power source. Also included is a manual and the original boxes the telescope was purchased in. Asking $1,250 (or best offer) (purchased in 2008 for $2,500) Contact Jim Gray at 250-768-1404 NOTE: Colleen O'Hare (President, RASC-OC) monthly sends out a report, containing some material not presented in the Focus. Do email her if you are not yet receiving her monthly report: ([email protected]) The Focus newsletter of the RASC Okanagan Centre is published on the 15th of each month, September to June. Deadline for submitting material to the Editor, Hugh Pett ([email protected]), is the 8th of the month.