Greeting from West Palm Beach

This month's page will contain three items. First is a report of an observed occultation by Hans Heynau and me. Second is a short essay on why we should do occultations and other amateur astronomy activities. The third item will be my normal pick of the best occultation to do here in the Palm Beaches and or south east Florida.

Observation Report

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There is something very cool about actually seeing a star disappear as the asteroid blocks it's light and then reappear after the asteroid has passed. In order to help observers stay focused and attend to observing it is helpful for one member of the group to count down the seconds to the event as we watched for the star to disappear. We did this, but noted only the slightest flicker at the event time. Later as Hans analyzed his video record of the event using Tangra he noted the classic slight dip in light and then drop and recovery and then exit shoulder. The duration of his event appears to be the minimum, four frames. We are now looking hard at the other video recordings to see if we can confirm the event. Currently Hans has an unsure report. Additional stations north or south of us could have easily confirmed this event. We need more observers. Next I would like to share with you a short essay on why we should do scientific occultation observations.

Why: Why should amateur astronomers engage in occultation observations?

From time to time someone will ask the valid question, why should an amateur astronomer make the effort to make occultation observations? It takes time and a significant effort to analyze, plan and prepare to engage in a scientific occultation observation. So why do it? Is it important? Is it worth it? Does anyone care?

Humans are learning animals. It is one of our characteristics, if not the dominant characteristic that has allowed us to survive and indeed thrive on our home world. Decades ago as I learned of the importance of doing basic research I was told that often hundreds and even thousands of basic observations and research experiments go into unraveling the nature of things and then ultimately lead to a break through; Result in the design of a heart valve and a successful transplant. The use of silicon and the building of computers. How many times did man observe fire before learning to harness it instead of fear it?

Each breakthrough is tied to observation, increased understanding and then some level of mastery and increased skill. Ultimately our learning allows us to imagine new ways to affect the universe around us. We spent millions of years observing fire before we came to harness it. A similar length of times observing plants, growing seasons and the effect fire hard on new growth before we acquired the knowledge to do slash and burn agriculture. Still a similar length of time to observe the flow of water before we could control it and irrigate fields and build communities.

Similar endeavors occurred in the area of basic engine building resulting in improved transportation, construction and ultimately the machines of the modern industrial world. Still other efforts in the area of navigation, map making and astronomy had major impacts in the area of world commerce. We have lost track of who it was that did the foundational research, discovery and gained the understanding through observation and insight to lift us above the animals and allow us today to dream of going to the stars. But I can tell you that it has been just the briefest of time that we have been here, engaged in the process, gaining understanding and extending our knowledge, skills and mastery.

Life has existed for billions of years. We measure the life of successful creatures in the hundreds of millions of years. We humans in our present form have been here for just a brief time. Maybe 30,000 years in our present form, and our recorded history reaches back but a few thousand years. The modern textbook dates back to Sir William Gilbert, one of my heros of history, a gentleman (amateur) scientist who after a lifetime of research and learning publish in 1600 "Concerning Magnetism, Magnetic Bodies, and the Great Magnet Earth."

Today I know we are still standing on the edge of the shore barely aware of the vast sea of knowledge before us. I believe we still know literally nothing and are but scratching the surface of the vast fields of knowledge, undiscovered that stretch out before us that we are still unable to imagine. Yet, our work, measuring the precise time of astronomical events, mostly the occultation of stars by objects within our solar system, can serve to, small increment by small increment, reveal more fully the physical relationships of the universe. Our discoveries are important primarily to the point of improving what we know.

For the most part we are gentlemen and lady scientists funding our own research, paying our own way, acquiring the tools to travel and make precise measurements that continue to reveal the mechanics of the universe. We are also like those who built the pyramids, each of us carrying our small portion of the load extending the heights to which man's knowledge continues to rise.

Given the length of time other life forms have dominated our planet we can safely say we are literally at the very beginning of our journey. However, even though we are at the beginning, just 30,000 years out of the starting gate, maybe ten thousand years into building civilization, even less time recording our history and amassing knowledge, we know something no other species before us may have known. We know those most of those species that went before us are extinct.

Thus, as sure as we look up to the stars and plan and map the precise time of our events from our mobile observatories or backyard observatories we know we are in a race against extinction. We know we too are sure to face extinction level events. And so, stone by stone, bit by bit we seek to build on the knowledge of those who have passed this way before us. And we can each stand a little taller knowing we are engaged in the noble endeavor of extending man's knowledge of the universe. And we can be proud as we realize, may be more than many others, how important our work may be in understanding the future threats to our very existence that we may face and knowing that we have been engaged in something very meaningful indeed.

Science.

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The image below shows the predicted path of the asteroids shadow. Observers from Orlando to Miami should consider observing this event.

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Don't forget to try for a high precision time. Tape record WWV at 10 or 15 MHz while visually announcing the D dissapearance and the R return of the star.