Rene Gedaly, Membership Co-chair

We amateur astronomers have it easier than most at being able to pursue our hobby during the pandemic. Ours is often a solitary endeavor. With access to the dark site, or with a dark enough backyard, we can keep on going when the weather allows. 

What of those new to the hobby though? If you’re one of them, welcome again. Quite a few of you are interested in astro-imaging, and more and more, this club is getting you covered—check out last month's novice talk. Also appreciated is all the good astro-info available “in person” at the monthly Zoom meetings: novice, general membership, and special interest group. You can also find the website library of recorded presentations to sample at leisure. 

But what about those of you who joined because you wanted to look up, wanted a guide to help you, and then got hit with the pandemic? 

The day after the state parks reopened, a new member and I took a trip to some of the darkest skies we have in Texas at Colorado Bend State Park, just 4.5 hours away. It’s a gorgeous park, and a good way to hedge your bets. If you come for the skies and get clouded out, you won’t be disappointed by the springs, falls and caves to explore by day. Social distancing is observed by all and masks are worn in line at the chemical toilet restrooms with sanitizer... click read more button

Field of View

By ESA - European Space Agency & Max-Planck Institute for Solar System Research for OSIRIS Team ESA/MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA -

Summer begins in earnest in July, with high daytime temps and matching levels of humidity. This might discourage some from outdoor activities, but July is one of the best months of the year for astronomy.

By Bill Pellerin

Originally Published in the July 2016 Guidestar

Object: Three double stars
Class: Stars
Constellation: Lyra, the Lyre (musical instrument)
Magnitude: See text
R.A.: 18 h, 50 m, 24 s (constellation)
Dec: 36° 49’ 12”
Size/Spectral: See text
Distance: 150 ly
Optics needed: Unaided eye, binoculars, and a small telescope

It’s now officially summer, as of June 20. The Sun has traveled as far north as it’s going to go this year and is beginning its long trek back south toward the winter solstice (December 21). It seems so far away now. While the hours of daylight are getting fewer now, it’ll take some time before we see significantly earlier sunsets.

Daylight saving time doesn’t help (don’t get me started on this topic). Amateur astronomers are obliged to wait later into the night (clock time) to view their favorite objects and the buzzing of the mosquitoes does not facilitate a relaxing observing session. Bug spray, anyone?

July Challenge Object

by Stephen Jones

NGC-6210 Planetary Neb in Hercules

Messier of The Month

July 2020

By: Jim King

This is a series of columns primarily revolving around observing the Messier Catalogue.  The intent is to provide the reader a small sampling of the Messier objects each month that are most visible in the time frame the column is published.  Hence, these deep sky objects should be easily identifiable in and around the month of July.  Some months may have a special treat in addition to the Messier Objects.  Check the trailer. 

Originally Published in the August 2017 Guidestar

by Steve Goldberg
Asterism: a grouping of stars that form a recognizable pattern.
Constellation: Sagittarius  
Right Ascension: 19 h, 04 m
Declination: -24º 44’
Magnitude:  Naked eye
Size: 8o x 4o

In the constellation Sagittarius, the Teapot, there are two asterisms that share common stars: The Lemon and The Spoon. These asterisms comprise the line of stars to the “upper left” of the Teapot, attached to the “handle” of the Teapot.

The “Lemon” is the lower 3 stars: Pi π, Omicron ο and Xi ξ. 
 

The “Spoon” includes the “Lemon” with 2 additional stars at the top. Starting with the “highest star”, they are: Rho ρ, 43 Sgr, Pi π, Omicron ο and Xi ξ.

Since the Teapot’s spout is spewing steam or hot water creating the Milky Way, you need a Teaspoon to put the Lemon in your tea.

This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network

The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more!

Mars’s Latest Visitor: NASA’s Perseverance Rover

David Prosper

NASA’s latest Mars rover, Perseverance, is launching later this month!  This amazing robot explorer will scout the surface of Mars for possible signs of ancient life and collect soil samples for return to Earth by future missions. It will even carry the first off-planet helicopter: Integrity. Not coincidentally, Perseverance will be on its way to the red planet just as Mars dramatically increases in brightness and visibility to eager stargazers as our planets race towards their closest approach in October of this year.  

by Bill Pellerin

Originally published in the July 2015 Guidestar

Object: 100 Her, SAO 85753, STF2280
Class: Double Star
Magnitude: 5.8, 5.8, combined 5.79
R.A.:  18 h, 07 m, 50 s
Dec:  26 degrees, 05 minutes, 51 seconds
Distance:  230 ly
Constellation:  Hercules
Spectral: Matching A3V stars
Optics needed: Small Telescope

Why this object is interesting:

One of the challenges of double stars is figuring out what catalog they’re in, what their catalog number is, and what catalog numbers are represented on my map (paper or computer). SkyTools lists eleven catalog designations for this star. TheSky recognizes 100 Her by at least three designations. You should be able to find it by one of the designations given here, and if that fails, you can find it by its RA and DEC.

Note: The August, 2007 GuideStar has another double star in Hercules, 95 Her.