1. The focal ratio of the 21" Ray White Reflector is not published on Steward's Web site. How could you measure it?

2. The 61" telescope has a focal-ratio of f/13.5 and the ratio for 90" telescope is f/9. How do their plate scales compare?

3. Both the 61" and 90" telescopes also can be used at f/45 but neither telescope was built with this capability. Can you think of any reasons for wanting that focal ratio?

Based on the following facts, which object's surface is rougher and why?

Diameter of the Earth is 7926 miles at its equator. The highest point on Earth (Mt. Everest) is 5.5 miles above sea level; the lowest point (Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean) is 6.8 miles below sea level.

Diameter of a basketball is ~25 centimeters (cm). The bumps on a basketball’s surface are ~1 millimeter (mm) high.

We finally have a logo! Share your thoughts by commenting on this post. Please let us know if you like, dislike, or would like to change anything on the logo.

Our first meeting of the semester will be held on Wednesday, January 27th at 5pm in Steward Observatory Room N305. For the most current information about events happening with the club, please visit the calendar.

We have successfully secured $2500 from ASUA for our Small Binocular Telescope project. Thank you to everyone who worked on the proposal. If you would like to help contribute to the project, please contact either Kevin (kevinkhu @ email . arizona . edu) or Blythe (bguvenen @ email . arizona . edu).

On a side note, the astronomy question of the week is:
An airplane makes a straight back and forth round trip always at the same airspeed. If it encounters a mild steady tailwind going, and the same mild steady headwind returning, will the round trip take more, less, or the same time versus no wind?"

(Hint: this question is not as simple as you think it is, Einstein.)

• Dr. Peter Strittmatter, Head of the Department of Astronomy, gave a presentation on the history of telescope projects that Steward Observatory has been involved with since its inception.
• We will be holding a star party on Friday, November 20th at Saguaro National Park West. Details will be worked out at the next meeting.
• There will not be an extrasolar planet project meeting this weekend due to SpaceVision 2009. We will pick back up on that on the 21st.
• If you want to catch up on the project, the instructions from the first few meetings are posted here.
• Next week, Dr. Don McCarthy will be meeting up with us to discuss astronomy questions from last week and the new one for this week:
• Which of the following stars is probably youngest?
         A. a 1 solar mass main sequence star
         B. a 1 solar mass white dwarf
         C. a 10 solar mass main sequence star
         D. a 10 solar mass red giant
         E. a 2 solar mass neutron star

• No extra solar planet project meeting this weekend due to Homecoming
  
• Conference call with the Ouida Springer Elementary Astronomy Club on Friday
• Meet at 1:40 pm in the lobby of Steward Observatory
• Sabino Canyon public star party event this Saturday, contact Kevin if you are interested
  
• Our next star party will be November 20th, location TBD
• Astronomy Club officers will hold office hours for club members, hours TBD
• Local Group project meeting Thanksgiving weekend
  
• Don McCarthy presented another question of the week and explained the Sabino Canyon project
  

Problems of the week:

1. Say that cucumbers are on sale, so you buy 100 pounds of them at
your market. The cucumbers are 99% water. Some days later, they dry
out to 98% water.  How much do they weigh now?

2. Nellie Knowital says that the gasoline in a automobile's gas tank
is only about one-fourth of the amount of fuel that runs the engine.
Is she correct? [HINT: Internal combustion engines normally run on one
part gasoline to 14 parts air by mass.]

October 27th 2009

• Astronomy question answered
• Nov 7th- Sabino Canyon star party program with Sky Center
• Telescope funding proposal committee. Talk to Kevin or Blythe.
  
• 4th graders teleconference looking successful. Meeting next week 12:50-1:45 pm.
  
• 10/31 extra solar planet project meeting at 10 am in Steward rm 208. Talk to Kevin if going for first time. Call to be let into Steward.