This week, Kurtis Williams, Professor Astronomy, writes an awesome couple of blogs about what is and isn't science.
Part one, What is Science? and part two, Why Intelligent Design Isn't Science make the case without the negativity and snotty, put-down attitude Simostronomy readers know I disapprove of. I'm all for debunking pseudo science and nut-job religious fanatics, but most of the popular debunkers are just too nasty and negative for me to appreciate.
Professor Astronomy does an excellent job of this without taking the "I'm smarter than you, and if you don't think like I do, you're an idiot" attitude that just pisses me off. Even better, to make his point, the professor invents an element called "plumatardium" that is worth the price of admission alone. It struck the Simo-Funnybone just right.
Snowbirds
Many astronomers and star gazers also enjoy bird watching. The skills acquired in observing, photographing and taking notes in astronomy transfer quite readily to birdwatching. Both require patience, planning and skill, but the excitement of nabbing the elusive Horsehead nebula or the Blue-bellied Sapsucker for the first time is the same in both cases.
Here are two more extremely rare sightings we've added to the Simo-ornithology list this year.
This is a rare December sighting of 'Ihateus winterii'. Normally migrating south to Mexico for the winter, this bird is much more at home by the pool than on a snow mound. Notice the fancy plumage intended to entice the male of the species to do the shoveling.
Also seen:
This is a rare daytime sighting of the nocturnal 'Astronimus insanitis'. Undeterred by the fact that there has not been a clear night since October, he faithfully keeps the path to the observatory clear to impress the female, and... you never know, it might be clear tonight!
Here are two more extremely rare sightings we've added to the Simo-ornithology list this year.
This is a rare December sighting of 'Ihateus winterii'. Normally migrating south to Mexico for the winter, this bird is much more at home by the pool than on a snow mound. Notice the fancy plumage intended to entice the male of the species to do the shoveling.Also seen:
This is a rare daytime sighting of the nocturnal 'Astronimus insanitis'. Undeterred by the fact that there has not been a clear night since October, he faithfully keeps the path to the observatory clear to impress the female, and... you never know, it might be clear tonight!
Carnival of Space #84
The Carnival of Space has landed! This week's host 'Next Big Future' has summarized and organized another great collection of space blog articles for your holiday reading pleasure. So sit back by the fire with your favorite warm beverage, and soak in the knowledge. It's a good thing.
Citizen Science
Scanning the astro-ph archives I ran across a new paper written by some amateurs I know, Jeremy Shears, Ian Miller and Steve Brady. OBSERVATIONS OF THE CATACLYSMIC VARIABLE SDSS J081321.91+452809.4
Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it?
Well, it is.
The abstract reads:
"Our observations of the first reported outburst of SDSS J081321.91+452809.4 during 2008 April show that this cataclysmic variable is a dwarf nova. The outburst amplitude was at least 3.1 magnitudes and the outburst appears to have been rather short-lived at around 3 days with a rapid decline to quiescence of 0.73 mag/day."
Jeremy and Ian are members of the British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section (BAAVSS), and Steve is a member of the AAVSO, the American Association of Variable Star Observers.
SDSS J081321.91+452809.4 is a cataclysmic variable discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and its epoch 2000 coordinates are 081321.91+452809.4. Hence, the long name. We'll call it SDSS 0813 from here on.
Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are close binaries containing a white dwarf primary and a late-type secondary star. The secondary fills its Roche-lobe and transfers gas to the primary, so that an accretion disk is formed.
Most CVs are prone to outbursts, where the system brightens by several magnitudes at irregular intervals. No one can predict when a CV will go into outburst next, so monitoring them for these variations is not only scientifically interesting, its fun and exciting. Some CVs go off very couple weeks, others may take 20 or 30 years to build up enough material in the accretion disk to create the instability to trigger an outburst.
Since its discovery, SDSS 0813 had not been observed in outburst. The orbital period of the binary pair had been determined spectroscopically, and it is on the long side for CVs, above what is known as the period gap.
SDSS 0813 was detected in outburst for the first time on April 6, 2008 by Miller as part of a campaign by the authors to monitor this CV for possible outbursts. The comparison star sequence and chart used to observe this CV were published by me in 2002. So I actually had a small hand in assisting in the acquisition and calibration of the observations.
The CV was detected in outburst at magnitude 15.3, but the actual beginning and maximum brightness of the outburst may have been missed. The system faded quite rapidly, sinking back down to magnitude 17.3 after only three days. The short outburst time, lack of superhumps, which would have indicated it was a UGSU type CV, and the longish period, lead the authors to conclude that this a dwarf nova of the UGSS type.
Since this star is newly discovered and classified, there is still plenty to do. Further observations of SDSS 0813 are encouraged to investigate the outburst frequency, outburst amplitude and whether the dwarf nova undergoes frequent brief outbursts, like some other unusual CVs of this type.
Is this ground breaking astrophysics? No. But it is relevant, exciting and new, and most amazingly, done completely by amateur astronomers. Three cheers for three astronomers doing 'citizen science'.
Sounds pretty impressive doesn't it?
Well, it is.
The abstract reads:
"Our observations of the first reported outburst of SDSS J081321.91+452809.4 during 2008 April show that this cataclysmic variable is a dwarf nova. The outburst amplitude was at least 3.1 magnitudes and the outburst appears to have been rather short-lived at around 3 days with a rapid decline to quiescence of 0.73 mag/day."
Jeremy and Ian are members of the British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section (BAAVSS), and Steve is a member of the AAVSO, the American Association of Variable Star Observers.
SDSS J081321.91+452809.4 is a cataclysmic variable discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and its epoch 2000 coordinates are 081321.91+452809.4. Hence, the long name. We'll call it SDSS 0813 from here on.
Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are close binaries containing a white dwarf primary and a late-type secondary star. The secondary fills its Roche-lobe and transfers gas to the primary, so that an accretion disk is formed.
Image used with permission by Mark A. Garlick. Do not use without permission.
Most CVs are prone to outbursts, where the system brightens by several magnitudes at irregular intervals. No one can predict when a CV will go into outburst next, so monitoring them for these variations is not only scientifically interesting, its fun and exciting. Some CVs go off very couple weeks, others may take 20 or 30 years to build up enough material in the accretion disk to create the instability to trigger an outburst.
Since its discovery, SDSS 0813 had not been observed in outburst. The orbital period of the binary pair had been determined spectroscopically, and it is on the long side for CVs, above what is known as the period gap.
SDSS 0813 was detected in outburst for the first time on April 6, 2008 by Miller as part of a campaign by the authors to monitor this CV for possible outbursts. The comparison star sequence and chart used to observe this CV were published by me in 2002. So I actually had a small hand in assisting in the acquisition and calibration of the observations.
The CV was detected in outburst at magnitude 15.3, but the actual beginning and maximum brightness of the outburst may have been missed. The system faded quite rapidly, sinking back down to magnitude 17.3 after only three days. The short outburst time, lack of superhumps, which would have indicated it was a UGSU type CV, and the longish period, lead the authors to conclude that this a dwarf nova of the UGSS type.
Since this star is newly discovered and classified, there is still plenty to do. Further observations of SDSS 0813 are encouraged to investigate the outburst frequency, outburst amplitude and whether the dwarf nova undergoes frequent brief outbursts, like some other unusual CVs of this type.
Is this ground breaking astrophysics? No. But it is relevant, exciting and new, and most amazingly, done completely by amateur astronomers. Three cheers for three astronomers doing 'citizen science'.
Carnival of Space 83
This week's Carnival of Space, the 83rd edition, comes from a land down under. Ian Musgrave, a science professor, blogger, astronomer, bicycler and sometimes runner, has put together a carnival from the antipodean point of view. Its summer, Orion is standing on his head, and the water circling the drain goes counter-clockwise from where Ian sees things.
Mystery Star
I have a great mystery story for you, and what’s even better; you can help write the ending!
This story starts in the 1950’s with the discovery of the variable nature of the star EE Cephei (Cep). Astronomers noticed it fainter than normal in 1947 and again in 1952. At first it was suspected of being an R Coronae Borealis type star. These are giant Carbon-rich, Hydrogen-poor stars that exhibit unpredictable fading episodes, believed to be caused by dust forming episodes in the outer layers of these stars’ atmospheres. The dust blocks the visible light, so we see the star fade, sometimes dramatically, by up to 9 magnitudes. It can take a year or more for them to return to maximum light, where they will shine contentedly for another undetermined period before coughing up dust and fading again.
When EE Cep faded again in 1958, Italian astronomers Romano and Perissinnotto suggested it might actually be an eclipsing binary with a very long period.
Eclipsing binaries are stars that orbit around a common center of mass, and due to a line of sight effect we see them fade at regular intervals as one star passes in front of the other from our point of view. Sometimes, the alignment is so nearly edge on that we see a secondary eclipse as the smaller star of the binary pair disappears behind the primary.
Because the orbits of these binaries are usually quite stable and the eclipses occur at regular intervals, observing eclipsing binaries is extremely helpful to astronomers in determining stellar masses, sizes, temperatures, luminosities and orbital parameters. Most have periods measured in hours, days or weeks because they are compact systems, with the stars in close proximity to each other, if not actually in contact.
There are a few eclipsing binaries whose periods are measured in years. Epsilon Aurigae and VV Cephei are two, having periods of 27 and 20 years, respectively.
The eclipsing nature of EE Cep was confirmed after eclipses were observed again in 1964 and 1969. L. Meinunger published the first ephemeris for EE Cep, establishing a period of 2049 days (5.6 years). No secondary eclipse has ever been observed.
The mysteries about this star were far from being unraveled though. One of the striking characteristics of EE Cep is the different eclipse depths and durations. Unlike many eclipsers, whose periods can be measured to 8 significant digits, and whose range in magnitudes is very predictable, all of the observed eclipses of EE Cep have been different from each other in depth and duration. The 1969 eclipse lasted longer than any other and had a flat bottom shaped light curve. Below are the eclipse data from 1997 (left) and 2003 (right).
Light curves in V passband of two last minima: left - 1997 eclipse (Mikolajewski and Graczyk 1999, + Cook's CCD data (Halbach 1999)), right - 2003 eclipse (Mikolajewski et al., 2005a).
The most popular model to explain the secondary is that of a dark, opaque, relatively thick disk around a low-mass single star or a close binary. Differences in the shape of the particular eclipses could be explained by changes in both the inclination of the disc to the line of sight, and the tilt of its cross-section to the direction of motion.
The majority of the eclipses exhibit five repeatable phases that can be explained if the secondary is a disk shaped object with a gap in the center, like a giant cosmic donut. First, atmospheric and real ingress, where the dusty disk begins to obscure the light from the primary star, and then obscures it more fully as thicker, more opaque material blocks the light from the primary. Then a sloped-bottom transit, as the primary shines through the hole in the donut as it passes in front of the star. Then finally, real and atmospheric egress, as the disc moves away from in front of the primary star.
The unique, flat-bottomed eclipse observed in 1969, can be explained by a nearly edge-on, non-tilted eclipse of the primary by the disc.
The color filter observations from the last eclipse show two increases in blue light (blue maxima) about 9 days before and after mid-eclipse. These subtle increases can be explained by the primary being a rapidly rotating Be star. These stars are darker around the equator and bluer at the poles. The reason there are two blue maxima can be explained if the disc is divided into two parts by a transparent gap. Spectroscopic observations show that the eclipsed component is a rapidly rotating Be star.
Two models of the eclipse of the fast rotating Be star in EE Cep by a solid disc (left) and by a disc with a gap (right). A flat and circular disc with r^-2 density distribution has been assumed. Top: projection of the system in the sky plane. Polar (hot) and equatorial (cool) areas of the star are shown by dark (blue) and light (green) shades respectively. Inner (opaque) and exterior (semitransparent) areas of the disc are shown by dark and light shades (black and red colours) respectively. Middle: B light curve (points) from Mikolajewski et al. (2003) with corresponding synthetic curves (lines). Bottom: B-I_C colour index from the last 2003 eclipse (points) together with synthetic fits (lines).
The issue is far from settled. The light and color variations may have more to do with the different opacities in different parts of the disk. And here is where you can help write the story of this mysterious object.
The next eclipse of EE Cephei starts right now. Mid-eclipse is predicted for January 14-15, 2009. The critical time to catch the blue maximums will fall between January 2nd and 27th. The longest eclipse lasted 60 days, so early December is the time to start taking data on this star, and observations should continue through the end of February.
If you have a CCD equipped with one or more science filters (UBVRI), astronomers at AAVSO will be very anxious to have you submit your data. If you are a visual observer, you can submit data on this eclipse also. EE Cep is normally a 10.8 magnitude star, and fades to anywhere from 11.5 to 12.5V. Thus it is easily observed with a telescope of 4” or more.
Comparison charts for this star can be downloaded from the AAVSO’s Variable Star Plotter (VSP). There is a handy one page instruction for using VSP linked right from the top of that page.
Coincidentally, Epsilon Aurigae, which is a close cousin of EE Cep, experiences one of its rare eclipses (once every 27 years!) this year too. Epsilon Aurigae is a naked eye star, and the subject of AAVSO's main IYA 2009 project.
Both stars are of interest to astronomers, and you can help sort out the mysteries, but you have to get out there and DO some astronomy.
So go on, get out there.
Images and captions from:
Galan, C.; Mikolajewski, M., et al. 2008, IBVS, No. 5866
References:
Galan, C.; Mikolajewski, M., et al. 2008, IBVS, No. 5866
Graczyk, D., Mikolajewski, M., Tomov, T., et al. 2003, A&A, 403, 1089, (2003A&A...403.1089G)
Halbach, E.A., 1999, JAAVSO, 27, 35, (1999JAVSO..27...35H)
Mikolajewski, M. & Graczyk, D., 1999, MNRAS, 303, 521, (1999MNRAS.303..521M)
Mikolajewski, M., Tomov, T., Graczyk, D., et al. 2003, IBVS, No. 5412, (IBVS N°.5412)
This story starts in the 1950’s with the discovery of the variable nature of the star EE Cephei (Cep). Astronomers noticed it fainter than normal in 1947 and again in 1952. At first it was suspected of being an R Coronae Borealis type star. These are giant Carbon-rich, Hydrogen-poor stars that exhibit unpredictable fading episodes, believed to be caused by dust forming episodes in the outer layers of these stars’ atmospheres. The dust blocks the visible light, so we see the star fade, sometimes dramatically, by up to 9 magnitudes. It can take a year or more for them to return to maximum light, where they will shine contentedly for another undetermined period before coughing up dust and fading again.
When EE Cep faded again in 1958, Italian astronomers Romano and Perissinnotto suggested it might actually be an eclipsing binary with a very long period.
Eclipsing binaries are stars that orbit around a common center of mass, and due to a line of sight effect we see them fade at regular intervals as one star passes in front of the other from our point of view. Sometimes, the alignment is so nearly edge on that we see a secondary eclipse as the smaller star of the binary pair disappears behind the primary.
Because the orbits of these binaries are usually quite stable and the eclipses occur at regular intervals, observing eclipsing binaries is extremely helpful to astronomers in determining stellar masses, sizes, temperatures, luminosities and orbital parameters. Most have periods measured in hours, days or weeks because they are compact systems, with the stars in close proximity to each other, if not actually in contact.There are a few eclipsing binaries whose periods are measured in years. Epsilon Aurigae and VV Cephei are two, having periods of 27 and 20 years, respectively.
The eclipsing nature of EE Cep was confirmed after eclipses were observed again in 1964 and 1969. L. Meinunger published the first ephemeris for EE Cep, establishing a period of 2049 days (5.6 years). No secondary eclipse has ever been observed.
The mysteries about this star were far from being unraveled though. One of the striking characteristics of EE Cep is the different eclipse depths and durations. Unlike many eclipsers, whose periods can be measured to 8 significant digits, and whose range in magnitudes is very predictable, all of the observed eclipses of EE Cep have been different from each other in depth and duration. The 1969 eclipse lasted longer than any other and had a flat bottom shaped light curve. Below are the eclipse data from 1997 (left) and 2003 (right).
Light curves in V passband of two last minima: left - 1997 eclipse (Mikolajewski and Graczyk 1999, + Cook's CCD data (Halbach 1999)), right - 2003 eclipse (Mikolajewski et al., 2005a).The most popular model to explain the secondary is that of a dark, opaque, relatively thick disk around a low-mass single star or a close binary. Differences in the shape of the particular eclipses could be explained by changes in both the inclination of the disc to the line of sight, and the tilt of its cross-section to the direction of motion.
The majority of the eclipses exhibit five repeatable phases that can be explained if the secondary is a disk shaped object with a gap in the center, like a giant cosmic donut. First, atmospheric and real ingress, where the dusty disk begins to obscure the light from the primary star, and then obscures it more fully as thicker, more opaque material blocks the light from the primary. Then a sloped-bottom transit, as the primary shines through the hole in the donut as it passes in front of the star. Then finally, real and atmospheric egress, as the disc moves away from in front of the primary star.
The unique, flat-bottomed eclipse observed in 1969, can be explained by a nearly edge-on, non-tilted eclipse of the primary by the disc.
The color filter observations from the last eclipse show two increases in blue light (blue maxima) about 9 days before and after mid-eclipse. These subtle increases can be explained by the primary being a rapidly rotating Be star. These stars are darker around the equator and bluer at the poles. The reason there are two blue maxima can be explained if the disc is divided into two parts by a transparent gap. Spectroscopic observations show that the eclipsed component is a rapidly rotating Be star.
Two models of the eclipse of the fast rotating Be star in EE Cep by a solid disc (left) and by a disc with a gap (right). A flat and circular disc with r^-2 density distribution has been assumed. Top: projection of the system in the sky plane. Polar (hot) and equatorial (cool) areas of the star are shown by dark (blue) and light (green) shades respectively. Inner (opaque) and exterior (semitransparent) areas of the disc are shown by dark and light shades (black and red colours) respectively. Middle: B light curve (points) from Mikolajewski et al. (2003) with corresponding synthetic curves (lines). Bottom: B-I_C colour index from the last 2003 eclipse (points) together with synthetic fits (lines).The issue is far from settled. The light and color variations may have more to do with the different opacities in different parts of the disk. And here is where you can help write the story of this mysterious object.
The next eclipse of EE Cephei starts right now. Mid-eclipse is predicted for January 14-15, 2009. The critical time to catch the blue maximums will fall between January 2nd and 27th. The longest eclipse lasted 60 days, so early December is the time to start taking data on this star, and observations should continue through the end of February.
If you have a CCD equipped with one or more science filters (UBVRI), astronomers at AAVSO will be very anxious to have you submit your data. If you are a visual observer, you can submit data on this eclipse also. EE Cep is normally a 10.8 magnitude star, and fades to anywhere from 11.5 to 12.5V. Thus it is easily observed with a telescope of 4” or more.
Comparison charts for this star can be downloaded from the AAVSO’s Variable Star Plotter (VSP). There is a handy one page instruction for using VSP linked right from the top of that page.
Coincidentally, Epsilon Aurigae, which is a close cousin of EE Cep, experiences one of its rare eclipses (once every 27 years!) this year too. Epsilon Aurigae is a naked eye star, and the subject of AAVSO's main IYA 2009 project.
Both stars are of interest to astronomers, and you can help sort out the mysteries, but you have to get out there and DO some astronomy.
So go on, get out there.
Images and captions from:
Galan, C.; Mikolajewski, M., et al. 2008, IBVS, No. 5866
References:
Galan, C.; Mikolajewski, M., et al. 2008, IBVS, No. 5866
Graczyk, D., Mikolajewski, M., Tomov, T., et al. 2003, A&A, 403, 1089, (2003A&A...403.1089G)
Halbach, E.A., 1999, JAAVSO, 27, 35, (1999JAVSO..27...35H)
Mikolajewski, M. & Graczyk, D., 1999, MNRAS, 303, 521, (1999MNRAS.303..521M)
Mikolajewski, M., Tomov, T., Graczyk, D., et al. 2003, IBVS, No. 5412, (IBVS N°.5412)
Carnival of Space #82 Video Extravaganza
Hi Carnivalers!
This week, Dave Mosher, producer for Discovery Space, has rocketed the Carnival of Space into a higher orbit with his video-tastic version of Carnival of Space #82.
For newcomers and first time friends, 'Carnival of Space' is a collection of blog articles from popular astronomy blogs, hosted each week by one of the contributing blog sites.
I'm happy and flattered to be included in a roll call of such fantabulous astronomy and physics writers. Enjoy the Carnival offerings for this week, and browse the other Simotopics here when you're done.
Hopefully, you'll enjoy your spin around the Simoverse enough to come back again.
Cheers,
Mike
This week, Dave Mosher, producer for Discovery Space, has rocketed the Carnival of Space into a higher orbit with his video-tastic version of Carnival of Space #82.
For newcomers and first time friends, 'Carnival of Space' is a collection of blog articles from popular astronomy blogs, hosted each week by one of the contributing blog sites.
I'm happy and flattered to be included in a roll call of such fantabulous astronomy and physics writers. Enjoy the Carnival offerings for this week, and browse the other Simotopics here when you're done.
Hopefully, you'll enjoy your spin around the Simoverse enough to come back again.
Cheers,
Mike
C'mon Man!
ESPN football coverage has a bit they call "C'mon Man!", where they explain their disgust or exasperation at stupid plays or calls in NFL games of the week.
I think we need to start one for astronomy journalism here.
My first entry was about a supernova in Puppis poorly reported in the press.
Well, here is the second, in what I hope will be a short list, of stupid science mistakes reported by NASA or other professional sources, blindly repeated by the press. Recently posted, and reproduced all over the web was this comment on a Hubble multi-broad-band image of the great globular cluster, M13 in Hercules.
"Like a whirl of shiny flakes sparkling in a snow globe, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope catches an instantaneous glimpse of many hundreds of thousands of stars moving about in the globular cluster M13, one of the brightest and best-known globular clusters in the northern sky. This glittering metropolis of stars is easily found in the winter sky in the constellation Hercules."
These space telescope people have got to get it together. Hercules is not easily visible in the winter sky. Any amateur astronomer who has observed ANY Messier objects can tell you winter is about the only time you can't see this globular cluster!
C'mon Man!
I think we need to start one for astronomy journalism here.
My first entry was about a supernova in Puppis poorly reported in the press.
Well, here is the second, in what I hope will be a short list, of stupid science mistakes reported by NASA or other professional sources, blindly repeated by the press. Recently posted, and reproduced all over the web was this comment on a Hubble multi-broad-band image of the great globular cluster, M13 in Hercules.
"Like a whirl of shiny flakes sparkling in a snow globe, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope catches an instantaneous glimpse of many hundreds of thousands of stars moving about in the globular cluster M13, one of the brightest and best-known globular clusters in the northern sky. This glittering metropolis of stars is easily found in the winter sky in the constellation Hercules."
These space telescope people have got to get it together. Hercules is not easily visible in the winter sky. Any amateur astronomer who has observed ANY Messier objects can tell you winter is about the only time you can't see this globular cluster!
C'mon Man!
Stars Are Like People
My wife, Irene, isn't all that interested in astronomy. She stopped objecting to my expensive hobby when I started to get travel grants to go to Hawaii, California and the UK to give talks on variable stars. But she doesn't like to be outside, cold at night, and she always finds something more interesting to do when we go on astronomy related excursions. We talk about it all the time, but it's mostly me doing the talking, so I wonder if she really gets it or not sometimes.
This weekend I was working on a talk I'm giving on stellar evolution for a general, non-technical audience, and I wanted some feedback. So I tried some of my analogies on Irene to see if they made sense to a 'non-astronomer'.
I ran a few PowerPoint slides past her about the formation of planetary nebulae and the white dwarf stellar remnants of evolved stars. Then I tested one of my humorous lines on her, where I explain that "stars are like people, and I am an example of a middle aged, red giant star, swollen at the waste as my interior changed".
She looked at me and smiled. "Does that mean one day I'll come home and there will be a burnt out, one inch remnant of you, sitting in your easy chair, surrounded by a cloud of gas?"
Yea, I'm pretty sure she gets it...
This weekend I was working on a talk I'm giving on stellar evolution for a general, non-technical audience, and I wanted some feedback. So I tried some of my analogies on Irene to see if they made sense to a 'non-astronomer'.
I ran a few PowerPoint slides past her about the formation of planetary nebulae and the white dwarf stellar remnants of evolved stars. Then I tested one of my humorous lines on her, where I explain that "stars are like people, and I am an example of a middle aged, red giant star, swollen at the waste as my interior changed".
She looked at me and smiled. "Does that mean one day I'll come home and there will be a burnt out, one inch remnant of you, sitting in your easy chair, surrounded by a cloud of gas?"
Yea, I'm pretty sure she gets it...
Restless Universe
One episode is in the can, eleven to go! Early this week, we recorded our first of twelve podcasts for 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast.
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast will publish one podcast per day, for all 365 days of the International Year of Astronomy, 2009. The podcast episodes are written, recorded and produced by people from around the world. Our show is called Restless Universe.
Our first episode will air January 7th, 2009. The cast is Travis Searle, Rebecca Turner and me. We'll be talking about variable stars and related topics mostly, since this is an AAVSO initiative. Restless Universe will air on the 7th of each month throughout 2009. If you miss the original airing, you can find us in the archives for the rest of the year. IYA 2009 is going to be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to working with Travis and Rebecca on this project!
You can subscribe to the 365 Day podcast and Blog. If you'd like to contribute your own podcast, check out the website for the 'rules' and start recording. If you just want to contribute to a worthy cause, you can sponsor a podcast for $25.00 a show.
365 Days of Astronomy, that's what IYA 2009 is all about. I'll see you there.
Astronomy: Hobby or Obsession?
I've often wondered if astronomy is still a hobby for me, or if it has evolved into something much more serious. Have I become obsessed?
To begin my quest for the truth, I looked up the definition of astronomy in several sources. The one that seems the most sensible is:
I was sure I was in trouble when I looked up the definitions of obsession. The first definition wasn't so bad:
How do we tell the difference between a nice, well-adjusted hobby and astronomy obsession?
What are the signs of astronomy obsession? Is there a cure?
Apparently, my search for the truth had just begun.
The evolutionary path that many amateur astronomers take seems benign at first glance. But as you will see, this path is fraught with danger at every step.
Stars
The imagination and curiosity of individuals is often sparked by their first experience seeing the stars overhead from a very dark sky. This can happen on a camping trip or a vacation to a remote part of the world, far away from city lights. Most city dwellers, about 60% of the world's population now, never see the Milky Way from their homes. In fact, so few stars can be seen with the unaided eye from the city that most people just don't bother to look up any more.
Constellations
Once they can actually see stars, patterns in the sky become obvious and the curious newbie astronomer will learn the bright constellations like Orion, Ursa Major, Leo, Scorpio and others, until they know their way around the sky fairly well. In order to see fainter objects the amateur may purchase her first pair of binoculars and learn the sky to more depth.
First Telescope
The acquisition of the first telescope can be the first real dangerous step on the road to destruction. The first look at the Moon through a telescope is often all it takes to get a person hooked on astronomy.
Seeing Jupiter and the Galilean satellites for the first time stirs feelings in most people they didn't know existed. The first look at Saturn and its rings is nearly 100% fatal. I think there should be a warning label on every telescope box saying, "WARNING: Looking through this telescope may change your life forever!"
Messier Objects
It is the quest to observe all the Messier objects that is the event horizon for most amateur astronomers. Once this boundary is crossed, there is no escape for the unwary amateur. It begins simply enough with casual peeks at the Orion nebula or the Pleiades. Then many of the other bright Messiers become well known to them, and oft visited. Most of the passionate amateurs I know can literally kick their Dob and land it on M81 and M82, after years of showing these two fine galaxies to everyone they know.
This journey usually ends in frustration trying to eek out detail in M108 or the madness of trying to view all the Messiers in one night, an exercise in futility known as the 'Messier Marathon'.
Aperture Fever!
The frustration experienced by amateurs, trying to see faint, fuzzy objects with their first pair of binoculars or their first modest sized telescope, leads to the first obvious symptom of astronomy obsession- Aperture Fever.
This is the unquenchable thirst for larger and larger telescopes and binoculars with which to view fainter and fainter objects. The history of astronomy in the last 400 years is littered with the wreckage of amateur and professional astronomers investing their hearts, minds, souls and money into the quest for larger and larger telescopes!
(Note the telescopes shown here are actually called Obsession telescopes!)
This affliction is so serious I am devoting an entire blog to this subject alone.
NGC and other faint object catalogs
Once hopelessly obsessed with viewing fainter and fainter galaxies, clusters and nebulae, the amateur discovers the New General Catalog and other catalogs and observing lists from which to satiate their appetite for photons emanating from faint, distant sources. As if this weren't madness enough, many take the next step into astrophotography or photometry!
Deep sky photography and CCD imaging
It is with complete reckless abandon that the amateur dives head first into deep sky imaging and photometry. Once she has gone this far there is no stopping her until she hits rock bottom. Nothing else matters anymore, and there is little hope for intervention or salvation until the amateur is insane or bankrupt.
All of this can be graphically represented in what is now known as the Simonsen T-M Diagram.
Other sure signs of impending astronomy obsession for the concerned spouse, relative or friend to look for are:
AL- Astronomical League (relatively benign)
ASP- Astronomical Society of the Pacific (could be trouble)
ALPO- Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (time for concern)
AAVSO- American Association of Variable Star Observers ("Houston, we have a problem")
BAAVSS- British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section (it may be too late)
BAAVSSSSC-
British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section Supernovae Search Committee
(these people are completely mad, avoid any contact whatsoever!)
Where to go for help
If you or a loved one has succumbed to astronomy obsession or addiction there is help, Astronomy Addicts Anonymous (AAA).
The Seven Step Program of AAA is very similar to many twelve step programs for other addictions. Astronomy addiction is not nearly as serious as most addictions, people rarely die from it, so only seven steps are required for the recovering astronomer.
To begin my quest for the truth, I looked up the definition of astronomy in several sources. The one that seems the most sensible is:
"The scientific study of the universe and of objects which exist naturally in space, such as the moon, the sun, planets and stars."So, what then, is a hobby? Research yielded these results:
"A pursuit outside one's regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation."
"An activity which someone does for pleasure when they are not working."Adding them together I'm not sure what to think about this concept.
'The scientific study of the Universe for relaxation and pleasure'?Sounds kind of crazy, doesn't it?
I was sure I was in trouble when I looked up the definitions of obsession. The first definition wasn't so bad:
"A compelling motivation."Yes, I think I have been compelled and motivated by astronomy in many ways. But then I read:
"A persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling."Eeew, that's creepy.
"Something or someone that you think about all the time."Double eeew, that's really creepy. I may have a problem. I do think about it all the time. I'm thinking about it right now!
How do we tell the difference between a nice, well-adjusted hobby and astronomy obsession?
What are the signs of astronomy obsession? Is there a cure?
Apparently, my search for the truth had just begun.
The evolutionary path that many amateur astronomers take seems benign at first glance. But as you will see, this path is fraught with danger at every step.
Stars
The imagination and curiosity of individuals is often sparked by their first experience seeing the stars overhead from a very dark sky. This can happen on a camping trip or a vacation to a remote part of the world, far away from city lights. Most city dwellers, about 60% of the world's population now, never see the Milky Way from their homes. In fact, so few stars can be seen with the unaided eye from the city that most people just don't bother to look up any more.
Constellations
Once they can actually see stars, patterns in the sky become obvious and the curious newbie astronomer will learn the bright constellations like Orion, Ursa Major, Leo, Scorpio and others, until they know their way around the sky fairly well. In order to see fainter objects the amateur may purchase her first pair of binoculars and learn the sky to more depth.First Telescope
The acquisition of the first telescope can be the first real dangerous step on the road to destruction. The first look at the Moon through a telescope is often all it takes to get a person hooked on astronomy.
Seeing Jupiter and the Galilean satellites for the first time stirs feelings in most people they didn't know existed. The first look at Saturn and its rings is nearly 100% fatal. I think there should be a warning label on every telescope box saying, "WARNING: Looking through this telescope may change your life forever!"Messier Objects
It is the quest to observe all the Messier objects that is the event horizon for most amateur astronomers. Once this boundary is crossed, there is no escape for the unwary amateur. It begins simply enough with casual peeks at the Orion nebula or the Pleiades. Then many of the other bright Messiers become well known to them, and oft visited. Most of the passionate amateurs I know can literally kick their Dob and land it on M81 and M82, after years of showing these two fine galaxies to everyone they know.
This journey usually ends in frustration trying to eek out detail in M108 or the madness of trying to view all the Messiers in one night, an exercise in futility known as the 'Messier Marathon'.
Aperture Fever!
The frustration experienced by amateurs, trying to see faint, fuzzy objects with their first pair of binoculars or their first modest sized telescope, leads to the first obvious symptom of astronomy obsession- Aperture Fever.
This is the unquenchable thirst for larger and larger telescopes and binoculars with which to view fainter and fainter objects. The history of astronomy in the last 400 years is littered with the wreckage of amateur and professional astronomers investing their hearts, minds, souls and money into the quest for larger and larger telescopes!
(Note the telescopes shown here are actually called Obsession telescopes!)
This affliction is so serious I am devoting an entire blog to this subject alone.
NGC and other faint object catalogs
Once hopelessly obsessed with viewing fainter and fainter galaxies, clusters and nebulae, the amateur discovers the New General Catalog and other catalogs and observing lists from which to satiate their appetite for photons emanating from faint, distant sources. As if this weren't madness enough, many take the next step into astrophotography or photometry!
Deep sky photography and CCD imaging
It is with complete reckless abandon that the amateur dives head first into deep sky imaging and photometry. Once she has gone this far there is no stopping her until she hits rock bottom. Nothing else matters anymore, and there is little hope for intervention or salvation until the amateur is insane or bankrupt.
All of this can be graphically represented in what is now known as the Simonsen T-M Diagram.
Other sure signs of impending astronomy obsession for the concerned spouse, relative or friend to look for are:
- Observing alone
- Making excuses, finding excuses to observe
- Daily or frequent astronomy fix needed to function
- Inability to reduce or stop astronomy activities
- Becoming angry when confronted about astronomy habit
- Poor eating habits, increased coffee intake
- Failure to care for physical appearance
- Inability to remember or function properly the next morning
AL- Astronomical League (relatively benign)
ASP- Astronomical Society of the Pacific (could be trouble)
ALPO- Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers (time for concern)
AAVSO- American Association of Variable Star Observers ("Houston, we have a problem")
BAAVSS- British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section (it may be too late)
BAAVSSSSC-
British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section Supernovae Search Committee
(these people are completely mad, avoid any contact whatsoever!)
Where to go for help
If you or a loved one has succumbed to astronomy obsession or addiction there is help, Astronomy Addicts Anonymous (AAA).
The Seven Step Program of AAA is very similar to many twelve step programs for other addictions. Astronomy addiction is not nearly as serious as most addictions, people rarely die from it, so only seven steps are required for the recovering astronomer.
- We admitted we were powerless over astronomy.
- Came to believe that only a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
- Made a decision to turn our will, our lives and our pocketbooks over to the study of the Universe, as we understand it.
- Made a list of all persons we had ignored or taken for granted, and became willing to make amends to them all.
- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would cause us to miss a clear night.
- Seek through prayer, meditation, observations and Internet connection to improve our conscious contact with the Universe, as we understand it, seeking only knowledge and good weather.
- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other obsessed astronomers, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
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