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FOAP Newsletter April 2025 |
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Dear Members - Happy Spring! The days grow longer, temperatures warm, and we are outside much more each day. The nighttime sky shifts too. Learn about the Spring stars and other phenomena in the newsletter’s feature “What’s in the Sky This Month?” and from our live sky talks during FOAP's public weekend shows at the end of the April.
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month (both in the US and celebrated globally). FOAP runs on volunteers - the Board of Directors, our Student Advisors, and the many members who ‘step in’ to help at events and special programs during the year. We are so very grateful for our volunteers’ dedication and belief in our mission. We recognize, promote and celebrate our volunteers ~ all true Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium!
April is also the month when we remember David M. Brown, for whom the Planetarium is named. Read more about David in Kathi Overton's article below and on our website. We invite our members to join us on our Sunday April 27 public show weekend when we will celebrate David’s birthday with cake, music, and appreciation of his life and many accomplishments.
I look forward to seeing you under the stars at the Planetarium. Be sure to say hello!
Theresa Carroll Schweser FOAP President |
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Calling Student Advisor Volunteers
COMING SOON!
The Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium will soon be looking for interested high school students to join the second cohort of Student Advisors in the 2025-26 School year. The goals of the Student Advisor Program are to:
- Provide opportunities to engage in science/space programming with the Arlington public, and
- Grow individual skills in public speaking, graphic design, technology and public engagement
Student Advisors provide valuable support by volunteering at planetarium shows, providing input to planetarium show selection, helping fellow students develop films for Domefest, writing articles for the newsletter, updating FOAP social media accounts, and participating in other activities throughout the year.
To apply: The program is open to all Arlington Public High School Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. The application announcement will be posted in the May edition of Arlington Public School's Peach Jar and in next month's FOAP Newsletter.
Funding to support this program is derived from public-event ticket sales, a portion of memberships, and donations. Every donation makes a difference to your community!
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David M Brown Public Planetarium Shows for April!
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The Friends of the Arlington Planetarium (FOAP) will be hosting full dome planetarium shows about Weather and Climate on Saturday, April 26 (6:30 and 8:00pm) and Sunday, April 27 (1:30 and 3:00pm).
Show details and an advance ticket sales notice will be released to members next week. |
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Weather and Climate By Kaya Sovereign
Weather and climate are two important things that affect our planet. Weather is what happens in the atmosphere on a daily basis. It includes things like sunshine, rain, snow, and wind. For example, one day it might be sunny and warm, while the next day could be rainy and cool. Weather changes all the time and can be different in different places. |
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Graphic: fuentesenglishcorner.blogspot.com On the other hand, climate is the average weather in a particular area over a long period of time, usually 30 years or more. For instance, some places have a warm climate, like Florida, where it’s sunny most of the year. Other places, like Alaska, have a cold climate with lots of snow. Understanding the difference between weather and climate helps us know how our environment works. |
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Graphic: studylib.net
Climate change is a global issue, which refers to the changes in our planet's climate, mainly caused by human activities. When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for energy, it releases gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth to get warmer. This is known as global warming.
As the planet warms, we see changes in weather patterns. Certain places might experience more storms, while others may face droughts or heat waves. This affects the animals and plants as they may struggle to survive in changing conditions. That’s why it is important for everyone to help take care of our planet by reducing waste, using less energy, and planting trees. By working together, we can help slow down climate change and protect our Earth for future generations.
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Jokes for Kids Only!
Q. What happens when it rains, cats and dogs?
A. You have to be careful not to step in a poodle Q. What did one hurricane say to the other? A. I have my eye on you. Q. What goes up when the rain comes down? A. An umbrella Q. What bow can’t be tied? A. A rainbow Q. What did the tornado say to the sports car? A. Want to go for a spin? Q. When does it rain money? A. When there’s a change in the weather |
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What's in the Sky this Month? By Mike Rhee |
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In April, we bid farewell to the brilliant winter constellations and their bright beacons of the night sky, and welcome the arrival of spring constellations that host many intriguing wonders of the universe.
Read More...
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What Can I See? By Jennifer Bartlett
Professional observational astronomers tend to grade the sky as photometric, astrometric, and “might as well get some sleep.” Photometric nights are cloudless, no cirrus to be detected anywhere; these nights are appropriate for measuring the precise brightnesses of individual stars. Astrometric nights have at least some patches of sky through which multiple stars are visible so that their relative positions can be measured.
At the most basic level, you can enjoy the night sky by popping outside and seeing what you can see. If you wish to plan your evening using a star chart, then you are likely to confront the magnitude system of star brightnesses. Hipparchus (c.190 – c.120 BCE) cataloged stars from the brightest stars visible as first magnitude to the faintest stars as sixth magnitude. Modern astronomers extend this system so that it applies to faint stars only visible with a telescope and to negative numbers to describe the Sun and planets.
What you can see on a particular night will depend on the weather and on the light pollution at your site. If you can make out all the stars in the Little Dipper (also known as the Little Bear or Ursa Minor), you will have a good night. Eta Ursa Minor (η UMi), the faintest star in the cup, is 5thmagnitude. Zeta Ursa Minor (ζ UMi), the star that connects the cup to the handle is 4th magnitude. If you can make out a very faint star halfway along the line of the cup connecting Eta and Zeta Ursa Minor, you are going to have an amazing evening. At sixth magnitude,
HD 145622 is only visible under the absolute best conditions. At the other extreme, Polaris, which is in the tip of the handle, and Kochab, on the rim of the cup opposite the handle, are 2nd magnitude. If these two are all you can see, you might not know you are looking at the Little Dipper; you will be limited to the brightest stars overall. Pherkad at the corner of the cup which is diagonally opposite Zeta Ursa Minor is 3rd magnitude. Regardless of what the Little Dipper may tell you about the star conditions, if you can see stars at all, take a few minutes to enjoy the beauty of the night sky. |
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Understanding Weather from Space By Jennifer Bartlett
In 1949, Joanne Simpson nee Gerould (1923-2010) was the first woman to earn a doctorate in meteorology. She investigated the vertical movement of heat and moisture in the atmosphere of the tropics at the University of Chicago. She had previously taught meteorology to new aviators during World War II. During post-graduate work at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, she outfitted and flew a plane for collecting detailed atmospheric data to understand cloud formation. Analyzing her observations without a modern computer, she proposed a mechanism to explain how hurricanes maintain their warm cores.
However, her theory could not be confirmed with the instruments available in the mid-twentieth century. In 1986, she began designing the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) for NASA. It measured precipitation in the tropics and subtropics from its launch in 1997 to its de-orbit in 2015. These data contributed to our understanding of the water cycle and how atmospheric circulation contributes to global weather. TRMM observations also confirmed Simpson’s hurricane theory. NASA continues to maintain a fleet of Earth observing satellites that contribute to our understanding of weather and the changing surface of our planet.
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Astronomy Day is May 3rd! By Kathi Overton
The Astronomical League promotes an Astronomy Day each Spring and Autumn, and clubs and organizations around the world organize science events and stargazing to celebrate. This year the Spring Astronomy Day will be Saturday, May 3rd, and Arlington Public Schools is planning to host events at the planetarium that weekend. Be sure to check the FOAP calendar web page for more information as the date gets closer! |
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Aurora Borealis, the Terrestrial Consequence of Space Weather By Jennifer Bartlett
Space weather is driven by the particles and radiation that stream off the Sun and out into the Solar System, where they can interact with planetary magnetic fields, including the Earth’s. While some level of so-called solar wind is always present, solar flare and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can produce more dramatic effects. A solar flare is an explosion on the Sun, whose energy traveling at the speed of light can reach us in about 8 minutes. CME are bursts of plasma, hot gas of positively charged particles and electrons, that can take a few days to reach us. Solar activity increased and decreases over an 11-year cycle. NASA monitors space weather to protect astronauts and satellites.
When charged particles from the solar wind become trapped in the Earth’s magnetic field, they travel along its field lines toward the North or South Pole until they encounter the atmosphere. Collisions between these particles and molecules or atoms in the atmosphere excite the atmospheric particles. Eventually, an excited particle will lose its energy, releasing light. When we see that light, we say we have seen the Aurora Borealis. In the Southern Hemisphere, they speak of the Aurora Australis.
Galileo first used the term Aurora Borealis in 1619 to describe what he perceived as a false northernly dawn. Aurora is the Greek goddess of dawn while Boreas is the Greek god of the cold north wind.
Because the charged particles are constrained to move towards the North or South poles, aurorae are most commonly seen at high latitudes, which are close to their respective pole. However, when the Sun is especially energetic, aurorae can be seen at the mid-latitudes. Under exception circumstances, we can see them in our region. NASA predicts that solar activity will reach its peak for its current cycle this year. Perhaps you will get lucky. |
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Live Music Under the Stars! By Kathi Overton
The March FOAP public weekend featured a special live concert in the dome! On Sunday, March 16, Dr. Jim and the Moondiggers performed a set of science themed songs for a full house of appreciative fans, while astronomical visuals played on the dome overhead.
Dr. Jim Thorne also shared his space expertise with a special talk about the history of Mars rovers on the evening of March 15. |
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Dr Jim & the Moondiggers outside the Arlington planetarium. Photo credit: Mary Thorne |
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Dr Jim & the Moondiggers performing live in the planetarium. Photo credit: Kathi Overton |
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Astronauts to Celebrate and Remember in April By Kathi Overton
There are two astronauts that the Friends of the Planetarium ask you to remember this month:
The first is cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. He became the first person to fly into space, on April 12, 1961, completing one orbit in his Soviet spacecraft, Vostok 1. Unfortunately, Gagarin never flew in space again, and died in March of 1968 when the fighter jet he was flying crashed. There are now “Yuri’s Night” celebrations around on the world on or close to April 12 to commemorate his achievement as the first person in space. |
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Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in 1961.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
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The second is David M. Brown, Arlington’s very own astronaut. Brown was born on April 16, 1956, attended Arlington Public Schools, and went on to become a pilot, flight surgeon, and astronaut. He died when the Space Shuttle Columbia broke apart during reentry On February 1, 2003. The Arlington planetarium was named in memory of Brown in 2008.
You can find more information about David M. Brown on the FOAP website. There is also a display case at the planetarium that highlights his life. |
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David M. Brown NASA portrait Photo Credit: NASA |
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Straight from the International Space Station |
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This month will be our last installment of this newsletter segment because our astronaut connection, Astronaut Suni Williams, is happily back on Earth. Hope you’ve enjoyed seeing what was happening on the ISS over the past several months. |
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Photo by NASA Astronaut on the ISS Three women Service Academy graduates joining up on the ISS as Crew 10 relieves Crew 9. |
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Recovery vessel approaching the Dragon spacecraft |
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Dragon spacecraft just prior to splash down |
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Dragon spacecraft aboard the recovery vessel. |
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This message has been sent to you from the Friends of Arlington's Planetarium.
Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium
P.O. Box 7029
Arlington, VA 22207 USA
Copyright (C) 2025 Friends of Arlington's David M. Brown Planetarium (FOAP). All rights reserved.
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