Astronomical Society
of Long Island
WEEKLY PROGRAMS IN MAY
NOTICE: From now on, our meetings will begin at 8:00 PM.
May 2 - Book Night - by You, the Members - Bring and discuss any new books or books that you own that would be of interest or informative to our members. Any subjects about astronomy or observing, or bring a new star map or observing guide that is your favorite.
May 9 - “Venus Revealed” - by Frank Melillo. The Transit of Venus will occur on June 5th 2012. Frank will show photographs and discuss the last transit to occur in our lifetimes. The next transits will be in 2117 and 2125.
May 16 - Observing Night - Weather permitting. This is our regularly scheduled meeting for observing where we all bring telescopes and binoculars, and set up on the lawn north of the Vanderbilt Mansion to observe. This is a chance for new members and visitors to look through different telescopes that members have set up. If you have a new telescope bring it and perhaps we can help you learn to use it. This month we will be having two observing sessions..
May 23 - Observing Night - Weather permitting. This is second of two scheduled meetings for observing where we all bring telescopes and binoculars, and set up on the lawn north of the Vanderbilt Mansion to observe. This is a chance for new members and visitors to look through different telescopes that members have set up. If you have a new telescope bring it and perhaps we can help you learn to use it. New Moon is May 20.
May 30 - “Orbital Resonance” - by Dave Bush. It is curious that a transit of Venus across the face of the Sun occurs (sometimes in pairs) at regular intervals of 8, 121.5, 8, and 105.5 years. It turns out that two bodies orbiting a parent body exert a periodic gravitational attraction on one another; if their periods are related by two small integers, the result is a phenomenon called Orbital Resonance. Perhaps by happenstance, Earth and Venus are currently phase-locked in a 13:8 ratio, so that 13 Venus revolutions is equal to 8 Earth years. In this lecture, Dave will discuss various types of resonances that occur, how these resonances have shaped our solar system and how they have related to our human history.
NOTICE: All content on this site is Copyright ©2011 by Ken Spencer, The Astronomical Society of Long Island, and the respective photographers. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is forbidden without express written permission.
Well, as they say: “It depends.” In March of this year, the full Moon was as close to Earth as it has been in a long time, which is called the “Perigee” of its orbit. So I decided to photograph it. I then checked the ephemeris to see when the full Moon would be furthest from us, which is the “Apogee” of its orbit. That day was October 10, and I photographed the moon again, with the same equipment. I know the moon can be larger or smaller in the sky, but I had no idea exactly how much difference there could be. It is one thing to look up the sizes in an astronomy program, but for me, seeing the huge variation in size is an eye-opener. (Photographs copyright © 2011 Ken Spencer - All Rights Reserved)
How large is the moon?
Space Shuttle Enterprise Flyby
Photograph of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, piggy backed on a specially modified Boeing 747, as it passed over the Cradle of Aviation museum in Garden City, NY on April 27, 2012 Photographed with a Nikon D300 and a 300mm f/2.8 Nikkor telephoto lens. (Photograph Copyright © Ken Spencer, 2012 - All Rights Reserved)
