Contents
Events
Information

Cherry Springs Star Party

May 29 - June 1, 2008
Members Only

Astronomy Information:

News
Features
Resources
Earth Orbiting Satellites
The following links provide a current list of satellites visible from Naylor observatory as listed at heavens-above.com.
Q&A
  • Can someone name a Star?
    See the answer provided by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
  • What is the best type of telescope to buy?
    There is no short answer, but before you rush out and buy one, you are welcome to one of our public observing nights and talk with some experienced observers.
  • Is Pluto a Planet?
    Yes, Pluto still is a planet! See the notice issued by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) regarding this.
  • I saw a really bright fireball/meteorite, where should I report it?
    The American Meteor Society (AMS) collects reports and investigates them, submit a report by going here.
  • Are meteorites hot when they reach the ground?
    The American Meteor Society (AMS) states, "Probably not. The ablation process, which occurs over the majority of the meteorite's path, is a very efficient heat removal method, and was effectively copied for use during the early manned space flights for re-entry into the atmosphere. During the final free-fall portion of their flight, meteorites undergo very little frictional heating, and probably reach the ground at only slightly above ambient temperature."
  • Is it true you can see the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle, and other objects orbiting the Earth from your backyard?
    You sure can, in fact artificial satellite observing is something enjoyed by many amateur astronomers! Visit Heavens-Above for daily predictions of satellites that will pass over your backyard.
  • I saw a TV show that said we didn't go to the moon, did we?
    Mankind most certainly traversed the moon! Bad Astronomy counters the arguments you most likely saw in that show that said we didn't go to the moon.
  • What is a blue moon?
    Blue Moon is the name given to the second full moon in a month. Since a full moon occurs every 29 1/2 days, if there is a full moon on the 1st or 2nd day of a month, there is a good chance there will be a second full moon, or blue moon, that month.
  • What's the difference between visual astronomy and all of these other types of astronomy (Gamma Ray, X-Ray, Infrared, Radio, etc.) I hear about?
    Ahh, do you ever remember learning about something called the Electromagnetic Spectrum? Light has many different frequencies! The Electromagnetic Spectrum is the full range of frequencies, from radio waves to gamma rays, that characterizes light. There are several different types of radiation in the Electromagnetic Spectrum which include (from lowest frequency to highest) radio, microwaves, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and gamma rays. Goddard Space Flight Center has a nice page on learning about the Electromagnetic Spectrum and a nice page on the different observatories that observe these different types of radiation.
  • I'm interested in Astrophotography, How do you do it? Do you have any suggestions?
    We have a bunch of people in our club who do astrophotography, but we believe a great guide already exists online for getting involved in astrophotography. We highly recommend you visit Jerry Lodriguss' website. Jerry himself is one of the best astrophotographers on the planet, so there is a lot to learn on his website.
  • I heard there is a website you can go to each day and see a different astronomy picture, where is it?
    It's called Astronomy Picture of the Day, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center maintains the website.
Recent Astronomical Events in the Harrisburg Area

Comet Machholz - Credit Adam Block-
(NOAO), AURA, NSF.
A "celestial" visitor to the inner solar system is still observable from the Central Pennsylvania Area! Comet Machholz or C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) is visible in the night sky in the Constellation of Cassiopeia near the Double Cluster. The comet is currently shining around 4th magnitude and is easily spotted after dark through binoculars. If you can spot the Andromeda Galaxy from your location, you should see Machholz! The comet is moving northward in the sky and will become circumpolar. The comet will approach Polaris in early March. It is also easily spotted in binoculars if you know where to look in the backyards of those living near a city or town. A telescope will reveal a better view; an oblong coma blue in color, a stellar pseudonucleus and possibly the comets dust tail.

Comet Machholz was discovered by an amateur! Following nine comet discoveries during the period of 1978 through 1994, Donald E. Machholz, Jr., had spent 1,457 hours sweeping for comets without any luck; however, on August 27, 2004 his luck changed. Machholz was sweeping the morning sky with his 15-cm f/8 Criterion Dynascope that he purchased in 1968, when he found his 10th comet. He gave the magnitude at discovery as 11.2 and the coma diameter as 2 arc minutes. The comet now is up there for you to see! If you'd like to see the comet, a chart to assist you in finding the comet until the end of February, is available here.

If you're interested in the Comets Discoverer, Don Machholz, ASH is bringing him in to our Cherry Springs Star Party! Why not consider attending the event being held in June 2005?


The Aurora Borealis made an appearance over the Harrisburg Area on the Night of November 7, 2004 and featured many periods of intense activity. The aurora had many periods of intense activity along with periods of little activity. The auroral activity continued into the early AM hours of November 8. What is an aurora? An Aurora is a beautiful natural phenomenon that often occurs in the polar regions of Earth. It appears as colorful clouds and rays of green and red (and sometimes blue) light that dance across the sky. The aurora borealis and aurora australis (Latin for "northern" and "southern" dawn, respectively) occur in symmetric ovals centered on the northern and southern magnetic poles of Earth. The aurora is formed when charged particles (electrons and protons) are guided by the Earth's magnetic field into the atmosphere near the poles. When these particles collide with atoms and molecules of the upper atmosphere, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, some of the energy in these collisions is transformed into the visible light that characterizes the aurora. If you missed this aurora, maybe we'll see one at some point in the future. The sun is currently near the minimum of its 11 year cycle, so this aurora was somewhat unusual at this point in the solar cycle down in these parts. We may see another one in the coming weeks, months, or year but the chance is less than if the sun was at the peak of its Solar Cycle. Some information courtesy of NOAA.


An Image of the Projected Sun with some passing clouds and with Sunspot Group 618. Also take note to the granulation near the limb. Projected by ASH's Jack Betz Memorial Solar Scope on May 28, 2004. Courtesy TANII.

The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg has a unique telescope at its Naylor Astronomical Center in Lewisberry, PA - a 6" f/32 Heliostat Telescope designed for observing the Sun! Want to see what our Solar Scope looks like? A picture of the outside setup for the Solar Scope is available here and a picture of the interior projector is available here. Recently, members have been actively using the Solar Scope during the daytime to observe our nearest star, the Sun! We've had fun watching Sun Spot Group 618 travel across the Solar Disk! ASH's Solar Telescope utilizes 2 mirrors, 1 of which is pointed towards the sun and then it reflects the Sun's light to another mirror which reflects the light through a series of lenses which project the Sun's image onto a screen in the Asper Administration Building. Imagine the comfort of sitting in an Air Conditioned Building viewing an image of the Hot Sun Projected on a Screen, relaxing and fun! You can stay up to date on the Sun and Sunspots by visiting SpaceWeather.Com.
Note - that looking at the sun without proper filtration is dangerous and can cause irreversible eye damage! Projection - like is done with our Solar Scope - is a safe method for observing the sun. More details on how to observe the Sun safely can be found here..


Saturn - With Major Features Noted - Taken (afocally) by Holding an Olympus Digital Camera up to the Eyepiece, 1/13 Second Exposure.
Saturn, the 6th planet from the Sun, is currently visible in the central sky early in the evening. Saturn is located near the foot of Castor in the constellation of Gemini. A small telescope will reveal the marvelous ring system. Saturn will remain visible in the evening sky until early June, when it will appear low in the western sky. Note from Ted - "For fun compare my above image to what NASA's 3.2 billion dollar Cassini Probe did 62 million miles from Saturn. (View the Cassini Image.) I don't think the comparisons that bad. My camera cost me 500 or so dollars, and I took my picture through all the muck of the Earth's atmosphere." We all know though, Cassini, will be able to do a lot of things at Saturn that we can't do here on Earth. Want to know more about Cassini? Visit the NASA Cassini Mission Website.


The Moon and Jupiter (the white speck beside the Moon) in close pairing over the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, PA. Taken by TANII using a Minolta DiMage A1 Digital Camera, .5 Sec Exposure.
On the Evening of April 29th and the Morning of April 30th Jupiter and the Moon appeared rather close together in the sky. No, it wasn't a star, the bright object near the Moon, was the largest planet in the Solar System, the Gas Giant, Jupiter. Jupiter was shining brighter than any star and paired up with the moon in the constellation Leo the Lion. Jupiter will populate the evening sky throughout the coming months remaining in sight until early September. So head out and look for Jupiter in the constellation Leo, and if you get a chance, point a small scope or binoculars that way and you should see the 4 Galilean Moons; Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The above image was shot over the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg, PA. A larger version of the above image is available here. Another shot from a different angle is available here.

On June 8th, 2004 a celestial event of historical scientific importance occured when the silhouette of the planet Venus once again crossed the face of the Sun as seen from the Earth. This event or transit of Venus last occurred in 1882, so no one alive today has ever witnessed the transit of Venus! The event started as the Sun was rising in the Harrisburg area (5:37 AM) on June 8 and ended at 7:25 AM on June 8. ASH's Naylor Observatory was open at 5 AM and members, the public, and the media attended.