May 2013 * Volume 335

Mel goes sunnyside up .........1Big rockets rock! ...................2 May sky ................................3Mick ‘n Don ..........................4

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ANNULAR ECLIPSE

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A recent trip to the USA made me keen to find out if they’ve fi-nally cracked the code to good coffee. Sorry folks, with few exceptions they still produce the same brown dishwater- but in even larger polystyrene con-tainers than ever. I have no idea how they can drink gallons of the stuff. Oh, for a Spanish ‘cafe solo doble’ in the morning as a heart-starting eye-opener!

With interest building in the comet that’s heading inwards in the solar system at the mo-ment (C/2012 S1 ISON) it won’t be long before the popular press and television starts to make noises about it. Be careful, it may be a real humdinger- it could also be a fizzer, but hope-fully it will perform well.

It’s the silly season for star parties- that time of the year when amateur astronomers get together in large numbers to check out who has the biggest telescope or the most eyepieces. IceInSpace’s party is over, the ASNSW’s South Pacific Star Party is next. Queensland Astro-fest will be in August- always a great show. Last one of the year will probably be the VicSouth in November. These star parties are always a great way to get to meet fellow amateur astrono-mers and to learn a lot.

The planetarium shows held at the Science Centre near Wol-longong are well worth the trip for school groups, parents with inquisitive kids and amateur as-tronomers. May, June and July shows are “Nanocam”, “Oasis in Space” and “Cosmic Jour-ney”. The laser shows are a very interesting experience! Check it out at ‘sciencecentre.uow.edu.au for times and dates. Highly recommended!

Recently I saw a massive eye-piece that had a three inch di-ameter barrel to fit the equally rare 3” focuser. When I asked, “Why?” I was given the answer, “Because.”. I was also advised that it was he-lium-filled to make it lighter. Seriously.

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10th May- visible Australia-wide mostly as a partial eclipse except in parts of Qld, NT & WA

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An annular solar eclipse will occur across Australia on the 10th May, 2013. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun. A little quirk of nature means that the diameter of the Sun is 400 times greater than that of the Moon’s, but the Sun is on average 400 times farther away from the Earth, so both appear to have the same angular di-ameter (0.5∞) in the sky. It’s this combination that allows us to see solar eclipses. When the Moon is directly between the Earth and the Sun, it casts a conical shadow on the Earth. The darkest part of the shadow is called the umbra and no part of the Sun can be observed at totality from Earth. The lighter part of the shadow is known as the penumbra and the Moon will only partially cover the Sun. What we see will depend on where we are in the Moon’s shadow.Standing at the point on the Earth where the umbra falls, results in observ-ers seeing the disk of the Moon completely covering the disk of the Sun. This is called a Total Solar Eclipse. Observers only slightly removed from the umbra shadow would be in the penumbral shadow and see only part of the Sun’s disk covered by the Moon. This is called a Partial Solar Eclipse. If the Moon’s orbit was exactly in the plane of the Earth’s orbit, then we would see an eclipse of the Sun every month. However, this is not the case with the Moon’s orbit inclined by 5∞. Thus, solar eclipses occur two to five times a year, with one particular locality seeing a total eclipse about once every 350 years. However this eclipse is an Annular Solar Eclipse, where the Sun forms a ring or annulus around the disc of the Moon. This occurs because the distance of the Moon from Earth varies due to the Moon’s elliptical orbit, which causes the apparent size of the Moon to change. When the Moon is close we get a total solar eclipse, like the one in November last year. However, this time as the Moon is near its furthest distance from the Earth, it appears smaller than the Sun and so the annulus or ‘ring of fire’ appears around the Moon. The umbra falls short of the Earth and so observers are in the part of the Moon’s shadow that extends beyond the umbra - the antumbra. If you are outside of the antumbra, in the penumbra, you will see a partial eclipse.

On the 10th May 2013 the annular eclipse will be only visible along the narrow track that’s between 171 and 225 kilometres across. This track crosses through Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Far North Queensland before heading into the Pacific Ocean. Across the rest of Aus-tralia, a partial solar eclipse will be seen. How much of the eclipse you will see, will depend on how close to the track you are - the closer you are, the larger the partial eclipse will be. This month’s eclipse starts early on the morning of the 10th, just after sunrise at 7:50am AEST (for Sydney and Melbourne). As the eclipse starts early a good view of the eastern horizon is essential. PARTIAL ECLIPSE VISIBILTYLocal times for major Australian citiesCITY START MAXIMUM FINISH % COVERAdelaide 7:09am 8:15am 9:29am 50%Brisbane 7:41am 8:58am 10:28am 52% Darwin 6:58am 8:07am 9:28am 76%Hobart 8:06am 8:59am 9:57am 23%Melbourne 7:50am 8:52am 10:02am 3 7%Perth 5:34am* 6:36am* 7:45am 79%Sydney 7:50am 8:57am 10:14am 39%* Sun is below the horizon. Sunrise for Perth is 6:55am.

I must emphasise CAUTION! It is dangerous to watch the eclipse while the Moon is moving across the Sun. You must use a special solar filter on your telescope or binoculars or for a few dollars you can purchase eclipse glasses which are just like a pair of sunglasses fitted with special film to protect your eyes. Even if you are under the narrow path that allows you to see the annular then there is a small part of Sun not covered by the Moon - the ‘ring of fire’ and you cannot look at this without proper solar filters and glasses, so observers must be extremely careful!.Solar eclipses are fascinating to watch, especially if there are a few sun-spots at the time. I still remember the first solar eclipse I saw, a partial in Sydney.So this May, do a little day-time astronomy and enjoy the wonders of a solar eclipse! Mel Hulbert

The Moon (as seen in Sydney) will cover just over a third of the Sun.

The phases of an annular eclipse. Note that the sky will not be very dark.

When you wish upon a star- Makes no difference who you are.... or does it? “Q: Who is legally responsible for naming objects in the sky?A: The IAU is the internationally recognized authority for naming celestial bodies and surface features on them. Names are not sold, but assigned ac-cording to internationally accepted rules.Q: What does this mean in practice?A: Names assigned by the IAU are recognized and used by scientists, space agencies, and authorities worldwide. When observing stars and planets or reporting about them in the news, everybody needs to know exactly which location a particular name refers to. The names assigned by the IAU are those that are used. These rules are firm where claims of property could theoretically be made.

Q: But if I want to, can I buy the name of a star anyway? A: Sure, there are people who will be more than happy to take your mon-ey....Q: Can you tell me who and where?A: Sorry, the IAU is a scientific organization, not a branch of the entertain-ment industry. We cannot distribute addresses of enterprises selling ficti-tious goods.Q: OK, I found a dealer myself; what will I get from them?A: An expensive piece of paper and a temporary feeling of happiness, like if you take a cup of tea...... “ Adapted from The International Astronomical Union website: www.iau.org/public/buying_star_names/

It depends on who you talk to....

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The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037. Tel: 02 9518 7255The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124. Tel: 03 9822 0033

Loupy de Loop

BACK TO THE FUTURE ?

On Saturday 18th May Macquarie University Association for Astronomy and the Department of Physics and Astronomy will proudly present the 25th Anniversary of Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night. Join us to celebrate astronomy and physics, including viewing the night sky through up to 30 telescopes operated by both Macquarie University astronomers and amateur astronomers. Location E7B Courtyard, Macquarie University. The Campus can be reached by car or by train (Macquarie University Station on the Northern Line).Cost and payment: Kids: $5. Adults: $15. Families: $35 Although tickets will be available at the door, purchase online and bring your ticket!

AR11726: Flare Loops and Surges Harry RobertsAt the Sun’s limb we see events ‘side on’ and silhouetted against the blackness of space. At the limb we can measure the relative heights of H-alpha features, on the assumption that they are ‘normal’ to our line of sight. When a large and complex spot group crosses the limb we may see ‘things’ erupt that are very hard to detect when the same group is viewed on the bright disc. In late April AR11726, a large and magnetically active spot group, passed behind the Sun’s western limb and at the same time hosted a moderate flare; the resulting fire-works were impressive. The figure shows the group on April 26 (UT, local 27th) when most of the spot group had gone behind the limb – only a large fol-lowing (f) spot remained. In white light it was conspicuous near the limb, when “Helio” freeware, © Peter Meadows, and transit timings gave the spot’s latitude and longi-tude: +13,320, in good agreement with earlier data. As well, “Helio” gave the coordinates for the adja-cent limb: +14,328, showing that the (f) spot was still some 8 degrees of longitude from the limb and that the preceding (p) spots at long. 331 were no longer visible. The first H-alpha session showed little activity at the limb near AR11726, some small surges only, and after logging other H-al-pha features on the disc, the ‘white’ or integrated light session began, to record spot groups in detail and their positional data. While this was happening the GOES flux logged a C5.7 flare at 22:25 that went unno-ticed! Fig: view 1: Resuming H-alpha at 23:03UT showed a small bright post flare loop, PFL, at the AR11726 site (23:07). Other types of H-alpha transient were also active, some flare-related. The post flare loops were 42Mm high, less than those of a great flare (~100Mm), but eye-catching nonetheless.

The loops are field transition arches (FTA) that emerge above sunspots and are usually invisible - but after a flare, coronal material ‘condenses’ along the arches and drains down to the solar disc – making the loops briefly visible. These small arches showed two brighter ‘droplets’ in-volved. Two tiny flare loops (FL) close to the remaining sunspot are most likely the flare itself, seen side-on – and are ~10Mm high. Also several bright surges of various shapes rose above the limb. In the south one surge seemed to be involved with the large PFL (view 1, below).View 2: Seven minutes later at 23:14 the large loop was fainter with bright knots and some gaps. The flare loops had evolved, but were still small and bright. Two large surges now dominated the view, a degree or so south of the (f) sunspot – one showed how surges can bend through a right angle.View 3: the PFL’s, now twinned, were slowly fading – and the flare loops have gone – the flare probably over. The surges however are still bright and active.View 4: The big surges had retract-ed, but a pair of small ones is erupt-ing close to the penumbra of the (p) sunspot – the usual site of surges. The two ‘counter’ curves cross-ing the original post flare loops are surge ejecta - temporarily ‘frozen’ and soon to recoil back into their ejection site.These dynamic transients are all typical of a complex spot group - and we may ask why they are not so often seen when the group is viewed while on the Sun’s disc? On reason is contrast – the transients, when viewed against the bright chromo-sphere, are faint or invisible. Another reason is Doppler shift: surges eject at ~50-100km/s and have a Doppler shift of 1-2 angstroms, making them invisible in most H-alpha filters.When a big spot group rounds either limb is the time to search for rare H-alpha transients – particularly if the group is hosting regular flares. And you need a little bit of luck too! Harry

25th OPEN NIGHTErrata- or is that Eratta?Whilst it is difficult to understand that Professor Shatterini could possibly make a mistake in his Quiz it seems that it has actually happened! The great Professor blames the error on his faithful observatory night assistant, Ms. Ma-ria Buzoma. It appears that she was in the middle of extrapolating some finer points in the preparation of linguini marinara at the same time she was preparing the Quiz for the great Professor. Her concentration was momentarily lost and she asked how many six-limbed creatures were in the sky. The original answer (in the email edition) was Sagittarius and Centaurus. Steven Hovell and Win Howard pointed out that Musca also has six apendages!

May 2013 * Volume 335 * Page 2

The Saturn 5 was built in the 1960’s. It’s still the most powerful rocket successfully launched.

There has never been anything quite like the Saturn V, the launch vehicle that powered the United States to a successful series of manned lunar landings in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Saturn V redefined “massive,” standing 110 metres in height and producing a staggering 34 meganewtons of thrust from the five monstrous, kerosene and oxygen Rock-etdyne F-1 rocket engines that made up its first stage.At the time, the F-1 was the largest and most powerful liquid-fuelled engine ever construct-ed; even today, its design remains unmatched. The power generated by five of these engines was very similar to the peak electricity demand of the whole of the United Kingdom!Despite the stunning success of the Saturn V, Nasa’s direction shifted after Project Apollo’s conclusion. The idea of a re-usable winged spacecraft that could land on a runway became the new idea and all attention was fixed on the new Space Shuttle that would be reliable, relatively inexpensive and re-usable.

The idea was so enticeing that the Russians pinched the design and copied it- calling theirs the Buran. They real-ized fairly soon that the shuttle type spacecraft had severe limitations and soon abandoned it after a single unmanned automated flight into space in 1988. The Shuttle was to fly weekly or monthly, bringing the cost of space travel down dramatically. Unfortunately this was never to be- the Shuttles required much more maintenance than originally envisaged and between 1984 and 2011 the Shuttles Colum-bia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour flew one hundred and thirty missions into space, an average of just under five flights a year. Nasa’s astronaut corps rode into orbit aboard Space Shuttles powered by RS-25 liquid hydrogen-powered engines and solid-propellant boosters. The older Saturn V rockets were powered by kerosene and liquid oxygen, easier to handle but not quite as efficient a fuel as hydrogen and oxygen.Scientists have now come to consider that it might be a good idea to re-examine the old kerosene burning engines like the F-1 used in the Saturn V. This engine was huge but a fairly simple design. It gulped gargantuan amounts of relatively simple but cheap fuel.

NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) is intended to be an enormous heavy-lift rocket that will rival the Saturn V in size and capabilities. In thinking about propulsion for the SLS, NASA for the first time in thirty years is con-sidering something other than solid rocket boosters.

Solid rocket boosters were chosen for the Space Shuttle instead of liquid-fuelled engines like the F-1. This was partly because solid boosters can be stored more easily after being loaded. They also pro-vide a very rapid shove to get a rocket into the air at launch time.Inter-continental missiles use solid fuel and there were a number of companies well-versed in their de-sign and use who could do with the work. There are drawbacks with solid fuel rockets- once lit the fire can’t be put out. Liquid fuel rockets, on the other hand can be throttled up or turned off at will, though they do have their own problems with storage.

Liquid oxygen will boil off if left to its own devices. Solid fuel rockets use fairly simple material as a fuel source The propellant mixture in each SRB motor consists of ammonium perchlorate, aluminium, iron oxide and a poly-mer such as Polybutadiene acrylonitrile copolymer which is normally cured with the addition of an epoxy resin, These words are all familiar to serious amateur rocket builders!NASA engineers are now looking at the old F-1 rocket motors. They have taken out the old technical drawings, dusted them off and are applying twenty-first century technology with the plan to rebuild them. It’s quite possible that the next generation of astronauts who will journey back to the Moon and on to Mars will be sitting on top of a new generation of even bigger Saturn V rocket engines with the smell of kerosene in their nostrils as they take off!

The upper half of an F-1 rocket motor with its turbines and fuel pumps.

The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037. Tel: 02 9518 7255 The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124. Tel: 03 9822 0033

Saturn is in the eastern sky early in the evening

in Libra. This is an excellent opportunity to observe the ringed planet all night, if you wish.

Neptune: Is still in Aquarius and rises after midnight in the eastern sky.

Uranus: is in now in the eastern sky after dawn.

2nd Last Quarter

10th New Moon and

10th Annular Eclipse

13th Moon at Apogee

18th First Quarter.

25th Full Moon

26st Moon at Perigee

Pluto: Had a look at some dog kennels on Manus Island. Wanted to

report the situation to the RSPCA. Was told that if dogs were living in them they could act, but as it’s only people the RSPCA can’t do anything. Sad, innit?

May 2013 * Volume 335 * Page 3

You can shop on-line at www.bintel.com.au for your astronomical needs.

Mercury: is at Superior Conjunction behind the Sun on the 12th and will then join Venus and

Jupiter in Taurus.

Mars is not visible in the Sun’s glare. at the

moment. You’ll have to be patient.

Venus: is now in the evening sky in the West. Watch as it moves up

beside Jupiter and then Mercury makes three towards the end of the

month.

Jupiter is between the horns of Taurus the bull, low in the western

evening sky. Will begin jousting with Mercury and Venus.

Evening sky May 2013

Hubble Telescope imaged Comet (C/2012 S1) ISON on April 10, when the comet was slightly closer than Jupiter. The comet is surpris-ingly active as sunlight warms the surface and activates the dust coma surrounding the nucleus. A strong jet is blasting dust particles off the sunward-facing side of the comet’s nucleus. Already looking good!

Saturn

Jupiter

Low in the western sky towards the end of the month will be Mer-cury, Venus and Jupiter. Watch care-fully as they change positions from around the 24th to the 28th. Their movenment, relative to each other is very clear. Venus is bright-est, Jupiter next and Mercury is smaller and fainter. than its two larger companions.

Where did the astronauts find the lunar rover- it looks too big to fit into the landing module?The rover was a very clever piece of equipment. It was made of ex-tremely lightweight materials and was designed to fold like origami into a small space under the side of the lander. It was unfolded by handSee how here: http://youtu.be/QMMkvU-Uw3Q

Like

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Venus

Mercury

The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 84 Wentworth Park Road, Glebe NSW 2037. Tel: 02 9518 7255 The Binocular and Telescope Shop, 519 Burke Road, Camberwell Vic 3124. Tel: 03 9822 0033

COSMOS CENTRE IN QLDUPGRADES WITH BIGGER SCOPES

The Cosmos Centre near Charleville recently upgraded its array of telescopes by installing two 16inch Meade LX200 computer-controlled machines to complement its array of 12inch Meades.Don Whiteman travelled from Sydney’s Binocular and Telescope to train the Cosmos Centre staff and oversee the installation of the new scopes..The Cosmos Centre is 3km from the centre of Charleville along the Mitchell Highway, 750km from Brisbane.Opened in 2001, it has proved to be a very popular destination for schools in the area, local people and tourists, who visit the centre both in th day and in the night.Offering nighttime and daytime shows, the centre is well-equipped for its task. A giant roof rolls off the tele-scopes operated by well-trained operators who show visitors the amazing wonders of the southern constella-tions in the dark outback skies. Seven hands-on displays give visitors time to become acquainted with the ancient star gazers and their beliefs. Visitors are encouraged to observe the Sun during the daytime, find out the difference between astrology and astronomy and examine individual space rocks (meteorites) from the excellent collection.Visitors can sit and enjoy a short film “Journey to Infinity” in the only cinema in Charleville. Experience the Hands on Displays in the Information Zone. Hold meteorites in your hand when our guides do ‘show and tell’ with the fabulous collection of meteorites.

The usual suspects line up at the IISA Astrocamp in idyllic surroundings.

IceInSpace STAR PARTY

The 7th IceInSpace AstroCamp (IISAC2013) star party was held over 3 nights from the 11th-13th April, in the beautiful dark skies of Lostock in the Hunter Valley, about 3.5 hours north-west of Sydney.The star party was a great success, with 3 out of 3 beautiful clear nights with only some intermittent high cloud on the Friday night, but that added in a positive way to the timelapses and nightscapes . The days were warm, the nights were cool and clear and there was no wind or rain. I really couldn’t have asked for better weather.The build-up to each star party is a frenzy of activity (IISAC is a one-man show) and gets quite stressful. I was a young man when I started organising these, and each one ages me a little more! It’s always such a relief when it’s over – but then when I hear the positive feedback and see all the great images and hear what a fantastic time the guests had, it encourages me to continue doing it again year after year.We had about 120 attendees, with almost half of them first-timers! That’s a great sign of things to come and shows that our wonderful hobby continues to grow.I am so grateful to the volunteers who helped setup and cleanup, and thanks to the fantastic sponsors – Bintel, Wildcard Innovations and Knightware, who continue to support the amateur astronomy community. Thanks also to the three guest speakers who kept us entertained and enlightened with their knowledge and skill.The date for IISAC2014 isn’t 100% finalised yet, but hoping for late-April 2014. Keep an eye out on the IISAC page for more info as the year unfolds. Mike Salway

The Cosmos Centre’s roof rolls off to reveal the telescopes ready for a night of observing.

His Eminence Professor Dr Nervo Shatterini is very excited to be asked to a Royal somehing-or-other to answer some questions regarding the Retired Fan Dancers Home for Plucked Chorines- of which he’s Patron. Meanwhile........(1) Which bright star is called a ‘she-goat’ ?(2) In which constellation is our galaxy’s South Pole?(3) Where would you find Zuben-hakrabi?(4) From which constellation did Mr Spock originate?(5) Which star forms a neat trian-gle with Sirius and Betelgeuse?(6) Triangulum Australe is sepa-rated from Centaurus by which constellation?(7) Which constellation has the most stars brighter than 2.4Mag?(8) Where has the star 41 Lyn wandered to since the eighteenth century? (9) Which is the only first magni-tud star that’s a variable? (10) What is Shapley 1?(11) What is interesting about the Vela Pulsar?(12) When was the first photograph of a comet taken?(13) What is the length of the pre-cesional cycle?(14) Where is the Wild Duck clus-ter?(15) What sort of object is NGC1512?(16) Why do crows have a raspy croak?(17) Where will you find the Whirlpool Galaxy?(18) Which Australian guitar did Harry Vanda mostly use in the Easybeats?(19) In which constellation is the Solar Antapex?(20) The Large Magellanic Galaxy straddles the border between which constellations?

(1) Capella in Auriga(2) Sculptor.(3) In Libra or Scorpius.(4) Eridanus.(5) Procyon.(6) Circinus.(7) Orion has seven.(8) Into Ursa major.(9) Betelgeuse.(10) A symmetrical planetary nebula.(11) It can be seen visually flash-ing eleven times a second.(12) In 1858 a photograph was made of Donati’s comet.(13) About 25,800 years.(14) In Scutum.(15) It’s a barred spiral galaxy in Horologium.(16) Because Corvus can’t reach Hydra with Crater.(17) In Canes Venatici.(18) Maton Sapphire semi-acous-tic 12-string.(19) Columba.(20) Dorado and Mensa.

May

May 2013 * Volume 335 * Page 4

Macarthur Astronomical Society Inc: NSW ☎ 0402 479 776 Trevor Rhoades www.macastro.org.auSutherland Astronomical Society Inc: NSW☎ (02)9832 4082 Brett McMillan.www.sasi.net.auNorthern Sydney Astronomical Society Inc: ☎ Bob Fuller 0423 971374 www.nsas.org.auSydney City Skywatchers (BAA) (NSW) ☎ 9398 9705 www.sydneycityskywatchers.asn.auThe Astronomical Society of NSW. ☎ 0428 965 249 John O’Brien www.asnsw.comThe Western Sydney Amateur Astro Group Inc ☎ Gerry Aarts 0416 292 020 www.wsaag.orgSydney Northwest Astronomical Society☎ (02) 9634 1736 Ken Petersen The Wollongong Astronomy Club. NSW☎ (02) 4261 9369 Paul BrownThe Illawarra Astronomical Society: NSW ☎ (02) 4276 3199 Peter McKinnonwww.illawarraastronomicalsociety.hostoi.com Shoalhaven Astronomers: South Coast NSW ☎ (02) 4423 2255 Jack Apfelbaumwww.shoalhavenastronomers.asn.auThe Astronomical Society of the Hunter: NSW (02) 4937 4664 Col Maybury colmay@kooee.com.auNewcastle Astronomical Society: NSW ☎ (02) 4950 0725 Allan Meehan www.nas.org.auCoffs Harbour Astronomical Society: NSW ☎ (02) 6653 2742 Win Howard Coonabarabran Astronomical Society, NSW☎ secretary@coona-astro.org.au Central West Astronomical Society, NSWJohn Sarkissian: john.sarkissian@csiro.au. Port Macquarie Astronomical Association NSW☎ 0403 683 394 Rodney Neasbey www.pmobs.org.auGrafton Astronomical Society, NSW☎ (02) 6646 2195 Mick Austin, President Pro tem.Bombala Astronomy Group, NSWUNE & Northern Tablelands Astronomical Society ☎ 0438 518 483 Michael WilliamsClarence Valley Astronomical Society☎ (02) 6643 3288 Steve FletcherBallaarat Astronomical Society: Vic ☎ (03) 5332 7526 bas@cbl.com.au http://observatory.ballarat.netBendigo District Astronomical SocietyPO Box 164 Bendigo Vic 3552 . Kate McMillanAstronomical Society of Victoria Inc ☎ (03) 9888 7130. Linda Mockridge www.asv.org.au Latrobe Valley Astronomical Society Vic☎ (03) 5122 3014 home.vicnet.net.au/~lvas Astronomical Society of Geelong, Vic☎ 0407 345 070 Frank Baker for details.http://vicnet.net.au~asogMornington Peninsula Astronomical Society, ☎ 0419 253 252 Peter Skilton for details.http://www.mpas.asn.au Astronomy Benalla 03 5762 1523 Rupe Cheethamwww.astronomybenalla.org.auAstronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga☎Petra De Ruyter 0431 535 417 www.asaw.org.au Mount Burnett Observatory. mtburnettobservatory.org ☎ 0419 516 560 Ray Schmidt. Snake Valley Astronomical Association (Vic)☎ 0418 425 207 Me Ken James.Canberra Astronomical Society: ACT☎ (02)6248 0552 J. Howard www.mso.anu.edu.au/casBrisbane Astronomical Society: Qld ☎ (07) 3321 8511 Darryl Mitchellwww.bas.asn.auSouthern Astronomical Society:Qld☎ 0421 866 376 Joe Zerafa.www.sas.org.auAstronomical Association of Queensland, Qld☎ Peter Hall (07) 3378 1173 www.aaq.org.auSouth East Queensland Astronomical Society, ☎ (07) 3239 0032. www.seqas.orgIngham Amateur Astronomers Club☎ (07) 4776 5773 Tracey Castles.Bundaberg Astronomical Soc. Qld☎ (07) 4159 7232 www.interwox.com.auRedlands Astronomical Society Qld☎ (07) 3207 2818 Chris Tacke www.ras.org.auAstronomical Society of South Australia, SA ☎ (08) 8338 1231 Tony Beresford. www.assa.org.auAstronomical Society of Tasmania, Tas ☎ 0419 305 722 Bob Coghlan. www.ast.n3.netAstronomical Society of Alice Springs N.T. ☎ (08) 8953 1903 Richard Williamsonrichard@comspec.com.auDarwin Astronomy Group NT☎ (0420 238 663 Matt Bartonwww.darwinastronomy.comGove Amateur Astronomers, NT ☎ 0417 601 490 Ian Maclean for information.Astronomical Society of Western Australia, WAhttp://www.aswa.info ☎ (08) 9364 9603Astronomical Society of The South-West, W.A. ☎ (08) 9721 1586 Phil Smith.Astronomical Group of West Australia, ☎ (08) 9249 6825 Keith Williams BTOW.

Your club not listed? Wrong contact? Tell Mike Smith!

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Any errors, mis-spellings, dropped apostrophes and lost words are the fault of Mike Smith. Whinges or comments should be send to-

mike@bintel.com.auPrinted in a small back lane at Artarmon

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Hey Don,what’s the bettin’ on

this comet ISON

puttin’ on a good show?

Dunno, Mick. It could maybe...

That’s as maybe... but

when will it look good?

There’s no crime in

hoping, is there?

You know the old story. Comets are like cats. They do what they please.

Well, it’s already lookin good out near Jupiter. So, by November it could really be great. Some people reckon it will be so bright we’ll

even be able to see it in daylight.

DARK SKIES IN CENTRALQUEENSLAND