NorthWest Florida Astronomy Association

The first 2017 public star gaze at Henderson Beach State Park featured one of the better skies we have experienced there. The previous day’s weather left the skies clean and a little more stable, promising a darker sky than usual.

Joining us was Boy Scout Ryan Wethington. He used the star gaze to complete the last requirement toward his Astronomy merit badge. He manned the scope used to train staff members at the facilities participating in our library telescope program.

Boy Scout Ryan Wethington sights in the library teaching telescope.

A thin crescent Moon shows up fine in the library scope.

As usual, we started off with solar telescopes to view the Sun but with the Sun heading toward minimum in its 11 year cycle, the lack of activity results in a rather mundane view. We had our full complement of solar equipment set up but the Sun insisted on displaying little activity. Little activity or not, several of our guests got their very first telescopic views of the Sun.

Frank Atchison shows one of our guest observers the star closest to the Earth; the Sun.

The solar viewing session starts to wrap up as the Sun gets very low in the sky.

As the Sun set we transitioned to nighttime equipment with one of the first objects visible being a thin crescent Moon. As the crowd gathered we handed out star charts and explained how to use them as well as a quick explanation how the star gaze would proceed. As the sky continued to darken Mars came into view along with a crescent Mercury very low on the western horizon.

Tom makes sure everyone gets an April sky map and knows how to use it.

One of our guest observers takes a look through Curt’s big refractor.

The Orion nebula was still high enough in the sky to view along with M-41,next door in Canis Major. Directly overhead M-44, the beehive cluster, completely filled our lowest power eyepieces. Eventually, Jupiter rose in the east with its attendant moons and was high enough to clear the atmospheric muck on the horizon well before the time we started wrapping up.

Thanks go to all the club volunteers who supported the first Henderson Beach star gaze of the year with additional thanks to Marietta Hausch and Dave Halupowski for their fine event photography:

• Frank Atchison
• James Dubben
• Curt Goff
• George & Renee Gollehon
• Dave Halupowski & Kennedy Odom
• Tom Haugh
• Dennis & Marietta Hausch
• Dick Hoey
• Ken Sharp

The NWFAA made its first visit to Walton Middle School to provide a daytime star gaze for the school’s 8th grade science classes. Unfortunately, early morning fog thwarted the first period classes but as the day wore on the fog lifted, the clouds thinned and the by early afternoon the skies were perfectly clear.

As is usual for our daytime star gazes, Tom Haugh gave the NWFAA’s short solar presentation to a pair of classes and then, for the rest of the period, the students adjourned outside to view the Sun through the telescopes. Since there was a gap in the 8th grade class schedule, the school was able to schedule a pair of 7th grade science classes as well. In total, we hosted 11 classes with about 200 students.

Frank Atchison provided a white light filtered scope; Dennis Hausch, a Hydrogen-alpha scope and Dave Halupowski brought his Unitron refractor and provided a projected image of the Sun. Tom brought his spectroscope to round out the group’s equipment.

Dennis’ H-alpha scope is just starting to see through the fog.

Students view the solar spectrum through Tom’s spectroscope.

Although the Sun had been clear of sunspots for over 20 previous days, a group formed over the weekend and another set rotated into view just in time for the middle school event. Luckily, there was also a couple of small prominences visible as well.

Dave demonstrates solar projection through his Unitron refractor.

Franks scope displays the newly formed sunspot group.

We were able to discuss the upcoming total solar eclipse with the teachers to make sure their plans were started well in advance of the August event. We also provided the teachers with an example of eclipse glasses that we purchased in anticipation of the event.

You had to look carefully, but a couple of small prominences were visible in Dennis’ H-alpha scope

Viewing sunspots through Frank’s white light filtered scope.

We would like to thank the faculty and staff of Walton Middle School for the invite and warm welcome. We look forward to supporting the school’s science night activities in the future.

Two members of the NWFAA supported Longwood Elementary School’s science night activities with a star gaze. Dennis Hausch set up his telescope and targeted the setting planet Saturn. Ken Leone provided his tripod mounted astronomical binoculars to give the students views of the evenings other planets, Venus and Mars.

The first half hour of observing Saturn was with very light skies and the planet was not visible naked eye. Many guests were amazed that it could be seen in the telescope with the skies that bright. The lines at each telescope were short but there was a continuous flow of guest observers. Once Saturn set behind the tree line, Dennis shifted to the colorful double star, Alberio.

We would like to thank Longwood Elementary School for the invitation and warm welcome. We look forward to supporting the school’s future science activities.

This year the attendees of the Explore The Outdoors Festival had a 50/50 chance of observing the Sun. The cloud cover was broken enough for us to setup the scopes but not clear enough for everyone to get to see our nearest star. Dave Halupowski setup his Unitron and projected a clear image of the Sun while Tom Haugh setup his H-alpha scope for a different view. We had plenty of people stop by and we handed out quite a few flyers and star charts as well as some photos of the recent transit of Mercury that were donated by a member of the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association (EAAA).

Hopefully, next year will be free of clouds so all the guests get a chance.

The E.O.Wilson Biophilia center’s first Biophilia @ Night event was a great success. The NWFAA supported the event with four observing stations; one at the entrance to the center, one at the beginning of the nighttime trail and two at the end of the trail.

First in line was Dave Halupowski and Kennedy Odom with Dave’s ever popular binocular chair. They also manned a parallelogram mounted pair of binoculars on a tripod. The two were setup on the decking spanning the pond leading up to the visitor center entrance. Needless to say, the younger guest observers enjoyed the rotational flexibility of Dave’s chair.

Next in line was Dennis and Marietta Hausch with Dennis’ 12″ Dobsonian mounted reflector. Since the Biophilia event coincided with International Observe the Moon Night, Dennis’ target was the waxing Moon. He was located at the head of the nighttime trail and at the same time, adjacent to the bonfire destined to heat many s’mores into delicious gooeyness later in the evening. Dennis also handed out numerous NWFAA star gaze schedules as well as October sky charts.

At the end of the trail Tom Haugh and Ken Sharp setup scopes amongst the trees. Early reconnaissance trips to the center were helpful finding locations that had open areas in the tree canopy allowing narrow views of the night sky. Careful positioning allowed Ken to start his scope on Saturn while Tom initially sighted in on Mars. As the evening progressed and each target became obstructed by branches other objects were selected. The hikers were treated to very clear dark skies and we answered a lot of questions about the universe and Astronomy in general.

We had a great time and look forward to supporting the Biophilia Center whenever they call.