Beautiful Nighttime Atlas Launch Rockets Cygnus Supply Ship to ISS

Posted on April 17, 2016 by ST Editors

by Dr. Ken Kremer

ULA Atlas V rocket carrying Orbital ATK CRS-6 Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifts from Space Launch Complex 41 at 11:05 p.m. on Mar. 22, 2016 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com

ULA Atlas V rocket carrying Orbital ATK CRS-6 Cygnus cargo spacecraft lifts off from Space Launch Complex 41 at 11:05 p.m. on Mar. 22, 2016 . Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL –  A stunningly beautiful nighttime launch on March 22 mesmerized delighted spectators as the rocket roared off a Florida space coast, launch pad  stocked with over three tons of science and supplies for the multinational crews working aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocketed raced to orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station  carrying an enlarged Cygnus commercial resupply spacecraft on the Orbital ATK CRS-6 mission to the ISS, as I watched from the roof of the world-famous Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) where Saturn V moon rockets and Space Shuttles were assembled for launch.

The venerable Atlas V lifted off right on target at 11:05 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 41 into a picturesque moonlit sky. The moon magnificently illuminated the scattered, thin clouds hovering over the seaside launch pad for the hordes of excited folks and families lining the beaches. They were lucky to witness what may be the last launch of a Cygnus from Florida.

After a three-day orbital chase, the Cygnus spacecraft arrived as scheduled  at the station on March 26. Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra of NASA and Flight Engineer Tim Peake of ESA (European Space Agency) successfully grappled Cygnus with the space station’s robotic arm and berthed it at the Earth-facing port of the Unity module.

Cygnus was named the S.S. Rick Husband in honor of Col. Rick Husband, the late commander of Space Shuttle Columbia, which was tragically lost with its crew of seven NASA astronauts during re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003.  It was built by Orbital ATK based in Dulles, Virginia.

Inside Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility clean room at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched to ISS on Mar. 22, 2016. Credit: Ken Kremer

Inside Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility clean room at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida with Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched to ISS on Mar. 22, 2016. Credit: Ken Kremer

The Orbital ATK CRS-6 mission is the firm’s fifth contracted cargo delivery mission with NASA to the space station.  It was loaded with 3513 kg (7700 pounds) of science experiments and hardware, crew supplies, spare parts, gear and station hardware for the orbital laboratory in support over 250 research experiments being conducted on board by the Expedition 47 and 48 crews.  About a quarter of the cargo is devoted to science and research gear including 1713 pounds of science investigations.

Among the research highlights are experiments like Strata-1, which will evaluate how soil on airless bodies like asteroids moves about in microgravity. Gecko Gripper will test adhesives similar those found on geckos’ feet. Meteor will evaluate the chemical composition of meteors entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Safire will purposely set a large fire inside Cygnus after it unberths from the ISS to examine how fires spread in space, and a nanosat deployer mounted externally will deploy over two dozen nanosats also after unberthing.

Watch my Atlas/Cygnus launch video from a remote video camera set at the launch pad.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com

https://youtu.be/Flf6hNwZ_2I

Here a cool video prelaunch look at Cygnus and me in the NASA Kennedy Space Center clean room discussing the Meteor experiment by Thaddeus Cesari/VideoShampoo.com:

https://youtu.be/3BVjJE799vM

The next cargo launch to the ISS is set for April 8 with a SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon vehicle.  Learn all about these and more at my outreach lectures on April 9/10 and April 17 listed below.

For complete details about ULA’s Orbital ATK Atlas/Cygnus launch see my recent articles and photos at Universe Today:

http://www.universetoday.com/128020/stunning-nighttime-cygnus-freighter-rockets-to-iss-stocked-with-science-mesmerizing-spectators/

http://www.universetoday.com/127970/full-moon-offers-spectacular-nighttime-launch-outlook-for-orbital-atk-cygnus-resupply-to-iss-on-ula-atlas-v-on-march-22-watch-live/

Astronomy Outreach by Dr. Ken Kremer

Apr 9/10: “NASA and the Road to Mars Human Spaceflight programs”  and “Curiosity explores Mars” at NEAF (NorthEast Astronomy and Space Forum), 9 AM to 5 PM, Suffern, NY, Rockland Community College and Rockland Astronomy Club – http://rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.html

Apr 17: “NASA and the Road to Mars Human Spaceflight programs”- 1:30 PM at Washington Crossing State Park, Nature Center, Titusville, NJ – http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html

Please contact Ken for more info, science outreach presentations and his space photos. Email: kremerken@yahoo.com   website:  www.kenkremer.com http://www.universetoday.com/author/ken-kremer/ https://www.facebook.com/kremerken1

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New Discoveries in the Outer Solar System: Ceres, Pluto and Planet X – April 12, 2016 Lecture

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

by Ira Polans, Program Chair

Dr. Jim Green

Dr. James Green, Director of Planetary Sciences, NASA

The April meeting of the AAAP will be held on the 12th at 7:30 PM in Peyton Hall on the Princeton University campus. The speaker will be Dr. James Green, NASA’s Director Planetary Science. Dr. Green will talk about “New Discoveries in the Outer Solar System: Ceres, Pluto, and Planet X”. The Program Committee would like to thank AAAP member Ken Kremer for arranging this talk.

Ceres was first discovered in 1801 and thought to be a planet. It was realized 50 years later that Ceres was a member of a huge number of objects in what we now know as the asteroid belt. The Dawn spacecraft was captured into orbit around the dwarf planet Ceres in March 2015. We knew almost nothing about Ceres, and the new images that are being sent back are showing a fascinating world from heavily cratered regions to large smooth plains, and a number of mysterious bright spots. Ceres has started to reveal its secrets.

Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh and was at first thought to be the size of the Earth. Over time, observations of Pluto determined that it is considerably smaller (~2,000 km in diameter). Pluto’s orbit is moderately inclined relative to the ecliptic by over 17° and moderately elliptical with a period of 248 Earth years. Before the flyby, we knew so very little about Pluto and its moons. Beginning in 1992, planetary astronomers began to find Pluto like objects beyond the orbit of Neptune showing us that Pluto was a member of an entirely new family of objects we now call the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is believed to have tens of thousands of similar bodies to Pluto that are left over from the formation of the Solar System. On July 14, 2015 the New Horizons spacecraft flew by the Pluto system revealing a fascinating new world and its five moons whose complexity surprised many of our planetary scientists.

Over the last several years, our ground-based telescopes have revealed a handful of Kuiper Belt Objects that have highly unusual orbits perhaps indicating they have been scattered by an unseen large planet that exists at a phenomenal distance from the sun. This is indeed a fascinating time for planetary science.

There will be a meet-the-speaker dinner at 5:45 PM at Winberie’s in Palmer Square. Since we’re hoping for a large turn-out if you’re planning to attend please contact program@princetonastrony.org on Monday, April 11 by 5PM. Please note that the dinner starts 15 minutes earlier than normal.

Members are encouraged to invite their friends and family to what is sure to be an interesting and informative talk! We look forward to seeing you at the April meeting.

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From the Assistant Director

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

by Larry Kane, Assistant Director

As a trustee of the Washington Crossing Park Association (WCPA), I want to urge members of the AAAP to consider joining the WCPA.  This organization is strategically placed to intercede with agencies of the State of New Jersey in issues involving the park in which our observatory is located.  In addition to hosting and facilitating the expected history related events and remembrances that make the park both famous and unique, the WCPA assists the AAAP in our outreach efforts at our observatory.   For example, over the weekend of April 29, we will be hosting 115 boy scouts and their adult scout leaders from the Northern New Jersey Scouts.  On both Friday and Saturday nights we can show them some of the wonders that the Spring skies offer for viewing.   We can during the day, set up solar telescopes to view the nearest star to us.   I hope that you will consider joining the WCPA.  Membership is $25.00 a year.  Please go to the website below for the application.

http://www.washingtoncrossingparkassociation.com/join

Another activity I am working on is Communiversity Day in Princeton.  This year it will be held on Sunday, April 17, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  This will be the fourth time the AAAP has participated.   It is a rare opportunity to set up solar telescopes on Princeton’s campus and talk to literally hundreds of people of all ages.  We have lots of handouts, courtesy of Astronomy Magazine, for the event.  I am hoping that we get a good turnout from the AAAP membership to join us at our table and/or to enjoy the event.  Communiversity Day normally draws over thirty thousand people in one afternoon.  Please contact me if you can lend us a hand.  Hope to see you there.

We are still considering a group trip to view the Total Solar Eclipse in August of 2017.  From what I have been able to gather, the best place to be, and the one having the best chance of clear skies is in Oregon.  While there are closer venues, e.g. Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky or the Carolinas, these states may not offer the best chances for clear skies.  If you would be interested in joining in on this group “expedition,” or if you have any ideas of where we might be able to go as a group, please let me know.  Send your thoughts to me at this email address: assist.director@princetonastronomy.org

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Outreach Report

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

by David Letcher, Outreach Chair

SSSAAAP participated in a number of star parties held at local elementary schools this past academic year, which a few of our members made possible. Last November we visited the Newell school in Allentown, NJ, and the Stuart Country Day school in Princeton.  We were also invited to visit the Constable Elementary school in Kendall Park last October but that was cancelled on account of the inclement weather. We visited the Princeton Day school earlier this year too.

Communiversity happens on April 17th this year!  AAAP’s volunteers have brought their telescopes to the event the past few years and, hopefully, will do it again this spring.

Our next star party on April 29th is a big one!  A group of about 115 scouts and their adult leaders will visit the observatory on the evening of Friday, April 29th! Obviously the scheduled key holder team will need lots of help that night. We’ll need additional members to bring their telescopes to the observatory to supplement the club’s supply in the observatory.

We will also host a cub scout troop at our observatory on Saturday evening, June 11th of this year.  Volunteers are needed for this event.

We have been invited by the Boy Scouts of America’s Washington Crossing Council to help at ScoutFest 16 at the Hunterdon County Fairgrounds in Ringoes, NJ.  ScoutFest 16 runs from October 7 to October 9 and will offer fun and exciting exhibits and activities to 3000-4000 scouts, family and guests representing Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Venturing, Sea Scouts and Exploring.

ScoutFest’s main programs and activities will occur on Saturday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturday October 8. Imagine giving a star party to 3000 – 4000 scouts!  Lots of scopes and volunteers needed if we go.

AAAP continues to support local school teachers and PTA/PTO groups by our volunteer members setting up their telescopes out in the school yard so children and their parents and grandparents can view nighttime sky objects.

Our AAAP has a reliable group of six to ten volunteers who consistently attend these star parties year-after-year and for that we are thankful.

 

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What’s All The Flap About?

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

By Michael Mitrano, Treasurer (Photo credits: David Skitt)

unnamed-6On the weekend of March 19, 2016, Gene Allen, John Delaney, Dave Skitt and I rebuilt the south gable end of the Washington Crossing Observatory’s roof.  Where once there was the flap that we needed to haul up before opening the roof, you will now find a section of wall permanently fixed to the block structure of the observatory.  This season, all you need to do to open the roof is unlatch the four corner turnbuckles and turn the crank.

unnamed-16We undertook this project to create higher roof clearance over the south telescope pier, which now holds only our special Hastings refractor.  That south pier now has an excellent Paramount mount that it is capable of supporting two telescopes, just as we have two scopes mounted on the north mount.  However, the south pier is taller, leaving less than an inch of clearance between the top of the mount and the gable end opening when the old flap was raised.  This greatly limited the diameter of the scope
that could be mounted alongside the Hastings on the south mount.

unnamed-17Initially we considered replacing the flap with a larger flap, but realized that tree growth over the years has concealed the south horizon that was made visible by raising the flap.  Replacing the flap with a fixed wall simplified construction and lightens the weight of the movable roof, as well as making it easier for all of our members to operate the observatory.

We will be adding ventilation to the gable and installing a brush-style sweep seal to keep light snow from blowing through the horizontal gap between the moving and fixed portions of the gable wall.

unnamed-4Thanks to the Board for supporting this and the construction team for making this happen.  We bid goodbye to the flap and hello to new telescope possibilities on the south mount.

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March 2016 AAAP Meeting Minutes

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

by James Poinsett, Secretary

  • Larry Kane called the meeting to order and introduced Prasad Ganti
  • Prasad then introduced the speaker for the evening, Dr. Neta Bahcall and her lecture “The Dark Side of the Universe”.
  • After the lecture Larry reminded the group that there will be a board meeting on Tuesday, March 29th at the West Windsor Library at 7:00 PM.
  • The club has reserved a table at Communiversity on April 17th. Volunteers are needed.
  • The last weekend of April, the 29th and 30th, there will be a Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington Crossing State Park. There will be 150+ scouts along with 30-40 adults. The observatory will be open both Friday and Saturday nights. Volunteers are requested for daytime solar observing.
  • A nominating committee is needed to set a slate of officers for election in May.
  • Observatory notes
    • Water has been turned on
    • The main gate to the park is broken. The club discussed the possibility of buying a chain and reflectors to assist the park. Gene will discuss the possibility of opening the gate for the season early giving the park several months to repair it. Another idea was brought up that it is not our problem, it is the park’s problem and we should have nothing to do with fixing or replacing it due to liability concerns.
    • The work on the new gable end should be finished by the time you read this.
  • The speaker next month is Jim Green from NASA.
  • April 1st and 2nd is the Stokes Star party. Be forewarned, it is a bare bones star party, there is not food available on site, you must bring your own.
  • There will not be a Super Science Saturday at the NJ Museum this year.
  • NEAF is the 9th and 10th of April.
  • The meeting was adjourned.
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Treasurer’s Report

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

By Michael Mitrano, Treasurer

Thus far in our fiscal year that ends in June, we have 88 members.  Our dues revenue at this point is close to what it was a year ago at the same date.

Total revenue for the fiscal year to date is about $7,600.  During the last month we’ve had additional spending for materials to rebuild the south gable and for wintertime electricity use. Our surplus for the fiscal year to date is about $3 thousand.

On a cumulative basis, the AAAP’s surplus is about $26 thousand.

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Star Distances

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

by John Church

At last November’s business meeting it was mentioned that on public nights at the observatory, team members are often asked how far away a particular star is. To help us answer these questions, I’ve generated a list for some of the better-known stars.  I’ve also added data for visual magnitudes, absolute magnitudes (i.e. how bright each star would appear if it were at the standard distance of 10 parsecs or 32.6 light-years), and its approximate brightness relative to our puny little Sun.  In the case of multiple stars, which many of these are, the values are for the primary.

If the Sun were at this standard distance, at magnitude + 4.8 it would be barely visible to the naked eye in a moonless central NJ clear night sky.  But note Deneb, which has an absolute magnitude of  – 8.4.  If it were at this distance it would be 4 magnitudes brighter than Venus at its best – about like a 5-day-old Moon – greatly interfering with our modest view of the summer Milky Way and easily visible by day. Rigel, if similarly placed, would not be far behind in the winter sky.  Monster stars like this have been called “galactic beacons.”

More comparisons:  If the Sun were at the actual distance of brilliant Sirius, it would be of 2nd magnitude, i.e about the same as Castor or Polaris.  And, at the distance of Deneb, it would only be of magnitude 14.4, about as dim as Pluto appears from Earth.  Shrimp though the Sun is in the grand scheme, it’s still our favorite star.
Screen Shot 2016-04-02 at 10.31.39 AM

Perhaps this table could be posted on the observatory wall for convenient access.

Congratulations John for submitting the 500th article to Sidereal Times!

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Astronomers Livid About Green Laser Ban

Posted on April 2, 2016 by ST Editors

by Michael Wright

plane-laser-630-620x413Wilbur Dixon describes himself as a space enthusiast and a lifelong amateur astronomer who happens to own a green laser. Dixon of Princeton, NJ insists he’s not a “laser nut – just an astronomy nerd” who is tired of intrusions upon his personal freedoms. So, when he read about a ban on green lasers passed by the NJ State Legislature last month, the he lit up.

“I can’t believe they’re trying to do this in New Jersey,” Dixon said. “The worst light pollution in the country is taking away my God-given right to enjoy the night sky, but now I can’t even point out the few remaining objects we can see in NJ.”

Bill 760 has outraged green laser owners across the state because it would ban the sale and use of green lasers except by law-enforcement.

“It sounds like one of the more extreme pieces of gun control legislation,” said Dewey Cheatham, a professor at the Rutgers Law School.

The bill, if signed by Governor Christie, would require laser owners to pay a registration fee of $10 per laser per year, undergo a state police criminal background check and submit detailed personal information for a registry that would include fingerprints, Social Security numbers, birth dates and passport-sized photographs.

Applicants who are denied registration would be required to surrender their green lasers to the state police. Anyone who violates the law could face a fined or jail time.

Because no permit is needed to own a green laser, it is difficult to say how many New Jerseyans own one.

The District of Columbia and several states, including California, Hawaii, New York and Michigan, require some form of registration for green lasers, according to information compiled by the American Astronomical Union’s Committee for Legislative Action. A few states have imposed guidelines for laser owners in specific areas.

Critics of New Jersey’s proposal are vocal in their opposition. “People from Newark and Trenton support it, but people from the dark-sky areas like the Pine Barrens say I’m a Nazi,” said state Rep. Eileen Wright, who represents Essex County.

­­­Wright said she proposed the measure as a means to apprehend criminals responsible for flashing planes at Newark Liberty Airport.

“I’m not in favor of taking away people’s right to bear lasers,” she insisted. “They would just have to register them — like they register a vehicle every year. I want to make it safe for all people across the state.”

The United Astronomy Clubs of New Jersey immediately took a firm stance against the bill and urged its 35 members to contact lawmakers and oppose it. The organization contends that a green laser registry is a step down the slippery slope towards banning light buckets in NJ.

“The UACNJ is fundamentally opposed to any sort of green laser registry for law-abiding citizens,” spokeswoman Cassy O. Peia­­­­­ said, adding that lawmakers should focus on “dealing with the criminal element” rather than placing the burden on law-abiding laser owners.

In only a month, the issue has become so polarizing that one of the bill’s original sponsors, Mick Stupp, a Mercer County Republican, has withdrawn his support. “I have some concerns because this is more punitive than it needs to be,” Stupp said. “There are many law abiding astronomers who use green lasers at star parties to educate the public.”

Sparky Wyer, Professor of Electrical Engineering at NJIT advocates a technological solution to identify laser abusers. He says that lasers can be easily modified to produce a very fast, pulsed code similar to morse code, that would identify an abuser’s personal information. The code would be undetectable to the eye, but a sensor he developed would detect and read the code.  The detectors would be installed on all commercial and military aircraft. If the aircraft is flashed with a laser, the abuser’s personal information would be transmitted to local law enforcement authorities for apprehension. Wyer says “Astronomers are pretty handy so I have posted instructions to modify their lasers on my website: http://www.aprilfool.com.”

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