Next Astronomy Event
HE ZANESVILLE ASTRONOMY CLUB, an Affiliate of the NASA Night Sky Network, was founded by Irene Baron in 2013. The NSN reports we currently have over 400 participants.
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Our 11 May 2024 FREE night sky viewing EVENT begins at 8:45 PM at the Lewis Observatory on OUZ campus in Zanesville, OH. Join us with friends or family for a fun and educational adventure.
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MAY CELESTIAL EVENTS
A guide to find to find objects in our night sky
Eta Aquarlids Meteor Shower: April 19-May 28
This is an early dawn meteor shower in the Northern Hemisphere of up to 20 meteors per hour. Instead of fireballs, it produces long trails through the sky. They are from Comet 1P/Halley. The peak night is 4-5 May.
Constellation of Cepheus (the King) is beginning to rise higher. Nebulae to look for includes the Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) with a bright blue-purple flower like core surrounded by intense gas and dust. The Elephant's Trunk Nebula (IC 1396) is a star forming region of gas and dust. The “Garnet Star” in Cepheus, known as Mu Cephei, is a bright red supergiant seen without a telescope. It is about 5 billion miles in diameter. If it sat where our Sun is, it would extend beyond the orbit of Saturn.
Cassiopeia (the Queen) is sinking lower in the north. Cygnus (the Swan) is rising in the northeast. Lyra (the Lyre) is rising with its star Vega, the 5th brightest star in our sky. The mighty Hercules is high in the northeast where you can find two beautiful globular clusters, Messier 13 and Messier 92.
April is the month of the Lyrids meteor shower: April 16-30, 2024.
Maybe 10 meteors per hour, but they do produce fireballs. A nearly full Moon will interfere with all but the brightest ones. They originate from Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher).
PEAK NIGHT IS APRIL 21-22.
Mars & Saturn are beginning to rise in the morning sky to the east. By the end of the month they will be lost in the sunlight.
NIGHTLY EVENTS:
01 LAST QUARTER MOON
03 Saturn 0.8 degrees N of Moon
04 Peak night of Eta Aquarid meteor shower
04 Waning crescent Moon will lie between Mars & Saturn in the early hours before sunrise, low on eastern horizon
05 Mars 0.2 degrees N of Moon
05 Moon at perigee: 225,682 miles
06 Mercury 3.8 degrees S of Moon
08 NEW MOON
09 Mercury 26.4 degrees W of Sun
15 FIRST QUARTER MOON
17 Moon at apogee: 251,407 miles
23 FULL MOON
30 LAST QUARTER MOON
31 Saturn 0.4 degrees N of Moon & a conjunction of the Moon & Saturn will occur
Data from 2024 Night Sky Almanac by Nicolel Mortillaro
If you have been loaned a telescope by the astronomy club to use at our events, we would appreciate seeing you and the telescope to share with others on clear nights. lol
If you would like to borrow a telescope to bring and share with others during our events, please let Irene Baron know to be placed on the waiting list. Thanks to all who are bringing and sharing their own telescope! Please be aware you can check telescopes out of our local John McIntire Public Library as easy as checking out a book.
If you wish to receive the Zanesville Astronomy Club newsletter, send an email to: irenebaron@irenebaron.com. Enter the word ASTRONOMY as the subject matter. In the message include your full name, street address, city & state. Anyone may bring a telescope to learn how to use it and to share.
Please share this information and URL link with family and friends who may be interested in learning more about astronomy.
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THE CHRISTMAS STAR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED
Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery
by Irene Baron
The Zanesville Astronomy Club founder was sent 68 unannounced astronomy programs by NASA JPL. She used these programs to identify the Christmas star. Her book explains the research that took place daily over several years. Note the gold medal on the lower left of the cover. The historical nonfiction book was awarded the First Place Gold Medal as The Exemplary Christian Education Book in 2013 or the best Christian Education book the year. Http://cutt.ly/we5mqvt
Bring your book to any club event to have it autographed by the author.
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The Zanesville Astronomy Club is an affiliate member of the NASA Night Sky Network!
Visits from around the world.
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Coordinator John Bolen w/Lewis Telescope
Aligning telescope to nebula
John Bolen is a ZAC Coordinator who, with Chuck Bruckelmeyer, will be hosting your viewing through the Lewis Telescope. In this image, John is setting up the telescope for a distant object through the dome opening of the observatory. John brings his Dobsonian telescope to monthly events. For viewing the Sun anytime, solar eclipses, and sunspots, he has protective solar filters. It is astonishing to safely look at the sun through his telescope. John Bolen has volunteered at almost every meeting and workshop during the last ten years. Thank you John for all your work with our organization.
MIRROR GRINDING INSTRUCTION
One of numerous workshops
Coordinator Chuck Bruckelmeyer, former President of the Columbus Astronomical Society, presented a workshop at OUZ about making a telescope. He has constructed several by grinding his own concave mirror surfaces by hand. He is an expert at helping club members put together their new telescopes, helps in repairing them and using his laser calibration system to align the mirrors correctly. Discuss your needs with him at monthly events. In this photo, Chuck holds one of the mirrors on which he is currently working. We are very fortunate to have him as a member and active coordinator.