Astronomy Club Meeting, Minutes, and Problems of the Week

Meeting Minutes:

• Biosphere 2
• We went to B2 last Saturday for their Science Saturday events
• We had solar telescopes and showed off our local stars model and a star size comparison demonstration
• People donated $27
• Sabino Canyon
• Later last Saturday, we went to the Sabino Canyon recreation area for our monthly star party
• Some people came only to see us
• People donated $25
• University High School
• People are helping put telescopes together right now
• Star party this Friday from 5-10pm at University High School
• Projects
• Extrasolar Planet Project
• Talk to Jake (turner@email.arizona.edu)
• Meet 6:30pm Thursdays in computer lab
• Binocular Telescope Project
• Talk to Blythe (bguvenen@email.arizona.edu)
• Outreach Materials
• Talk to Katie (kljpyro@email.arizona.edu)
• Meet 3pm on Fridays in club office
• Club Office
• In trailer north of Steward
• There are office hours held weekly by key holders
• Schedule is located on the door
• Superb wi-fi!
• Astronomy Question of the Week
• Friday at 4pm
• See questions below
• Talks
• A talk at every Astronomy Club meeting
• If you are interested in presenting your research, talk to Tim (tmc1@email.arizona.edu)
• Membership
• Dues are $10 per semester to support projects and club events
• If you have not already, please fill out a membership form at http://astroclub.as.arizona.edu/membershipform.html

Astronomical Puzzle: February 11, 2011:

Three questions about gravity.

1. Almost everyone in the USA was astonished and concerned when the USSR won the first round of the space race by launching the first Earth-orbiting satellite (Sputnik) in 1957. One area of concern related to the potential mass of the payload. President Eisenhower asked his advisors: "All we know for certain about Sputnik is its altitude and orbital speed. From that information can you calculate Sputnik's mass?"

2. Kepler's Second Law states that the imaginary line between any planet and the Sun sweeps equal areas in equal times as the planet orbits the Sun. If the gravitational force between the Sun and planets were somehow switched off and the planets no longer followed elliptical orbits, would Kepler's Second Law still hold true?

3. As you move away from Earth, its gravity diminishes. Suppose it got stronger? If that fictitious law were so, would it be possible for objects, like the Moon, to orbit the Earth?