________ ______ _ ______ ___ ____ __ _ /_ __/ / ___ __ / / __ \ | / / __/ / _ )__ __/ / /__ / /_(_)__ / / / _ \/ -_) / // / /_/ / |/ / _/ / _ / // / / / -_) __/ / _ \ /_/ /_//_/\__/ \___/\____/|___/___/ /____/\_,_/_/_/\__/\__/_/_//_/ -the newsletter* of NASA's Radio JOVE Project "Planetary Radio Astronomy for Schools" * This newsletter is best viewed using a fixed-width font such as Courier. This will allow the logo above and tables etc. to be aligned properly. OCTOBER 2001 ISSUE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Visit our Web Site: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov Email Radio JOVE at: rj_project@radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* CONTENTS 1. How Radio JOVE Spent Its Summer 2. Jupiter Observing Predictions 2001 3. Software Update - Radio-Sky Software Updates 4. Radio Observatory at Maipu, Chile Closes 5. In Memoriam: Alex G. Smith 6. UFRO Prepares for the 2001-2002 Jupiter Observing Season 7. WCCRO Jupiter Observing Season 2001 8. Solar Observing Teleconferences 9. Useful websites for Radio JOVE 10. Radio JOVE at a Glance 11. Acknowledgments 12. Subscription Information 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 How Radio JOVE Spent Its Summer by Jim Thieman I imagine many of our student readers may have gotten the typical back to school assignment from their teachers: "Write about how you spent your summer". It seems only fair that the Radio JOVE project should describe what happened over the summer as well. The most visible evidence of the Radio JOVE summer activities will be the seven new lesson plans that will appear on the Radio JOVE website very soon. This was a collaborative effort of many people, including our regular staff members Chuck Higgins, Len Garcia, Albie Davison, and Bill Pine. Paul Lombardo, a teacher at Laurel High School in Maryland joined us this summer and coordinated the work on the lesson plans. We think you will find these new lesson plans and their accompanying activities enlightening and thought-provoking. Chuck Higgins also developed a beautiful new brochure/mini-poster for the project that we intend to distribute widely. We hope you will find one of these in your area soon. Since Jupiter was too close to the Sun to be observed this summer we had a number of coordinated solar observing sessions instead (see article below). The Sun is still very active even after we have passed the peak of the solar cycle. We received a number of very impressive solar radio bursts, many of them seen at multiple sites simultaneously, such as Maryland and Hawaii. To view some of these events go to: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Thanks to all who participated in the solar observations and contributed their data. You will note that events observed simultaneously at many sites differ in interesting ways from each other. We need to study these types of events to understand what this means. It was our pleasure to again make a presentation about the Radio JOVE project to the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA) (http://www.bambi.net/sara.html) meeting in July at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia. The members of SARA have always been interested in and supportive of our activities and we value that support. We hope SARA members will continue to work with us to increase interest in radio astronomy among young and old alike. Several members of SARA have taken a much larger step in promoting radio astronomy. Don Cline, Charles Osborne, Michael Castelaz, and others from the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) in Roslyn, North Carolina organized a conference entitled "Small Radio Telescopes in Modern Astronomy" (http://www.pari.edu/srtma.edu) at their institute in August . PARI was once a NASA tracking station then was used by the Department of Defense for classified satellite communication for several years. Now it is a private institute promoting research and education in radio as well as optical astronomy. Two 26-meter radio telescopes, a 12.2 meter, and a 4.6 meter are all available on site for research or educational use. PARI has also worked with Dick Flagg and Jim Sky of the Radio JOVE project to install twin 17-30 MHz log periodic antennas that will be used in conjunction with the Radio JOVE project in the future. One optical telescope is in use and more are planned. As was clear from the many presentations and posters at the conference, small radio telescope astronomy activities are taking place at many colleges, both small and large, as well as with many dedicated individuals. We were happy to tell them about the hundreds of high schools and middle schools that are participating in Radio JOVE. To learn more about PARI visit their web site (http://www.pari.edu) or take the time to contact them and arrange a visit. It is an extremely interesting site and a very dedicated group of people. 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 ##################################### ## Upcoming Jupiter Storm Events ## ##################################### Notes: 1. All dates given correspond to the Universal Time (UT) 2. The JOVE dual-dipole [Standard In-phase] system is sensitive from about -2.5 to +2.5 Hour Angle (two and a half hours before or after an object is directly overhead) 3. A ---- means that Jupiter is too far outside the Standard In-phase antenna beam for reception -- OCTOBER -- Date Time of Storm Storm Hour Angle from Transit 2001 UT EDT PDT Type East Coast West Coast ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oct 6 5:16- 9:05 1:16- 5:05 22:16- 2:05 Io-A,Io-C -6.4__-2.6 ----- Oct 7 8:01-10:27 4:01- 6:27 1:01- 3:27 Io-B -3.6__-1.1 ----- Oct 13 6:00-10:26 2:00- 6:26 23:00- 3:26 Io-A,Io-C -5.2__-0.7 ----- Oct 14 8:44-11:48 4:44- 7:48 1:44- 4:48 Io-B -2.4__+0.7 -4.6__-1.7 Oct 20 6:43-11:09 2:43- 7:09 23:43- 4:09 Io-A,C,Io-C -4.0__+0.2 -6.3__-2.0 Oct 21 10:31-12:31 6:31- 8:31 3:31- 5:31 Io-B -0.2__+1.8 -2.5__-0.5 Oct 27 8:06-11:52 4:06- 7:52 1:06- 4:52 Io-A,C,Io-C -2.3__+1.7 -4.6__-0.6 **** Daylight Savings Time ENDS **** Oct 29 9:03-10:54 4:03- 5:54 1:03- 2:54 Io-A -1.2__+0.8 -3.5__-1.5 -- NOVEMBER -- Date Time of Storm Storm Hour Angle from Transit 2001 UT EST PST Type East Coast West Coast ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nov 5 9:46-12:16 4:46- 7:16 1:46- 4:16 Io-A +0.1__+2.5 -2.2__+0.2 Nov 12 10:28-12:59 5:28- 7:59 2:28- 4:59 Io-A +1.2__+3.7 -1.5__+1.5 Nov 15 4:57- 7:58 23:57- 2:58 20:57-23:58 Io-B -4.1__-1.1 ----- Nov 19 11:10-14:35 6:10- 9:35 3:10- 6:45 Io-A,Io-C ----- +0.0__+3.4 Nov 22 6:44- 8:40 1:44- 3:40 22:44- 0:40 Io-B -1.8__+0.2 -4.1__-2.1 Nov 28 4:09- 8:00 23:09- 3:00 20:09- 0:00 Io-A,C,Io-C -4.2__-0.2 ----- Nov 30 5:11- 6:55 0:11- 1:55 21:11-22:55 Io-A -2.9__-1.0 ----- -- DECEMBER -- Date Time of Storm Storm Hour Angle from Transit 2001 UT EST PST Type East Coast West Coast ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dec 7 5:53- 8:23 0:53- 3:23 21:53- 0:23 Io-A -1.5__+0.8 -3.8__-1.5 Dec 14 6:34- 9:05 1:34- 4:05 22:34- 1:05 Io-A -0.5__+2.0 -2.8__-0.3 Dec 21 7:16-10:24 2:16- 5:24 23:16- 2:24 Io-A +0.7__+4.0 -1.5__+1.8 Dec 24 2:35- 4:46 21:35-23:46 18:35-20:46 Io-B -3.8__-1.5 ----- Dec 28 7:58-12:08 2:58- 7:08 23:58- 4:08 Io-A,Io-C ----- -0.2__+3.8 3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 Software Update - Radio-Sky Software Updates by Jim Sky Two new software updates may be of interest to you as a Jove Project participant. Radio-Jupiter Pro Jove Edition This is the Jupiter radio noise storm prediction software every Jove Project participant should be using. A fix has been made to this software which takes care of a problem experienced by users in the Southern Hemisphere. If you live south of the equator re-install the program from the update available at: http://radiosky.com/rjpro/rjpje.exe Radio-SkyPipe version 1.1.24 This new version has a large number of improvements and bug fixes for every user, especially Pro edition owners. There is a new look and smoother operation in the Standard Edition as well as new viewing features and connection options. Pro Edition users will love the new Find feature, Atomic Clock synchronization, automatic FTP of charts to your website, remote administration and much more. If you are not already using Radio-SkyPipe you really should give it a try. Coordinated solar observing sessions this summer proved to be great fun with many new SkyPipe users sending and receiving real-time strip charts over the internet. Jupiter season will bring more activity and you can join in for free (the Standard Edition is free to non-commercial users). The download page is: http://radiosky.com/skypipeishere.html Note: Radio-SkyPipe is not compatible with JoveChart software. Installing Radio-SkyPipe disables JoveChart, however, Radio-SkyPipe offers all of the same functionality of JoveChart and much more. 4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4 Radio Observatory at Maipu, Chile closes After 40 years of dedicated observations of Jupiter, the Sun, the Milky Way galaxy and other objects the Radio Observatory at Maipu, Chile closed this year. Several members of the Radio JOVE team at the University of Florida worked at Maipu at one time. Drs. Thomas D. Carr and Alex G. Smith of the University of Florida were greatly involved in the establishment of this observatory 40 years ago. To read more see the Physics Today July 2001 issue or go to http://www.physicstoday.org/pt/vol-54/iss-7/p14b.html 5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 In Memoriam: Alex G. Smith Alex G. Smith, Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Florida Department of Astronomy passed away Wednesday September 26, 2001. Dr. Smith was a professor, department chair, dean, mentor, dissertation advisor, dissertation review committee member, colleague, but above all a friend to many of us in the Radio JOVE project. Dr. Smith joined the faculty of the University of Florida in 1948 and completed 50 years of service to the university before retiring as a full-time professor in 1998. He was responsible for the establishment of the university's Rosemary Hill Observatory (optical) and, along with Dr. Thomas D. Carr, the University of Florida Radio Observatory. As mentioned in the previous article, Drs. Smith and Carr were also involved with the establishment of the Radio Observatory at Maipu, Chile. Radio JOVE participants and other amateur radio astronomers may be familiar with two books written by Dr. Smith, "Radio Exploration of the Sun" and "Radio Exploration of the Planetary System" which he co-authored with Dr. Carr. 6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6 UFRO Prepares for the 2001-2002 Jupiter Observing Season by the UFRO Radio Jove team (Matt Reyes, Wes Greenman, Francisco Reyes) Repairs are being made to the TP antenna in preparation for the coming Jupiter observing season. We will be replacing two of the supporting masts that were damaged by strong winds at the end of last season. We also found that several of the termination resistors (there are 6 in each TP) were open, probably the result of several bad lightning storms we had the past summer. We will be replacing all 96 resistors. The HP spectrum analyzer which is part of our 18-36 MHz spectrograph failed at the end of last season. The spectrum analyzer has been repaired and will be ready for the beginning of the season. An Osprey 200 multimedia card was purchased a few months ago. It has been installed and tested by Matt Reyes. This card will allow us to stream video and audio to the Radio Jove participants during predicted Io-related storms. The video will contain either the on-line data being plotted on the screen of the PC or the spectrum analyzer screen. We will be experimenting with the possibility of sending simultaneous video and the audio from one of the fixed frequency channels. Last summer was one of the worst lightning seasons we have had in years. The radio link connecting the UF campus and the radio observatory was hit hard during the summer. Three of the bridges and a power supply were damaged and need to be replaced. At the present the section of the link connecting the optical observatory and the radio observatory has been shut down. UF Campus network has kindly provided replacement bridges. The bridges are being configured and soon they will be reinstalled and tested. For the coordinated Radio Jove observations and during predicted Io-related storms, we expect to be able to provide live audio from one of the fixed frequency channels and video images of the data from three of the fixed frequency channels (both right hand and left hand polarization) being plotted on the PC screen. Using an Axis 2100 network camera donated by Kazumasa Imai we will be able to provide video containing the display of the spectrum analyzer covering the frequency range from 18-36 MHz. Other alternative plans which may involve the use of Sky-Pipe are also being considered. UFRO online is available at http://ufro1.astro.ufl.edu 7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7 WCCRO Jupiter Observing Season 2001 by Dick Flagg Windward Community College Radio Observatory located on Oahu, Hawaii is continuing to stream data and audio signals over the Internet. A schedule of predicted Jupiter noise storms that appear to be promising for Hawaii is available at http://jupiter.wcc.hawaii.edu/. The station is using a log-periodic antenna and tunable receiver operating in the frequency range of 17 to 30 MHz. Radio observations of early morning Jupiter radio storms from Hawaii would be available live via Radio-SkyPipe during the morning school hours for most schools on the US mainland. Check the URL given above for exact times. 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8 Solar Observing Teleconferences Over the past few months we had several opportunities for Radio JOVE teams to get together and make simultaneous observations of the Sun. To enhance the experience we had several teams streaming data and chatting through Radio-SkyPipe. We also set up toll-free numbers so that participants could talk to each other while observing. We had people calling in from several parts of the U.S.A. and other countries. We want to thank all of those who helped make these telecons a great success. Look for announcements for coordinated Jupiter observations in the next few months. Our first one will probably be in mid-October. The following is a list of participants at each of our solar observing telecons. April 18, 2001 Jim Thieman, Albie Davison, Lance Binning (Greenbelt, Maryland) Dick Flagg, Jim Sky (Hawaii), Chuck Higgins (State College, PA), Wes Greenman (Alachua, FL), Tom Ashcraft (Lamy, New Mexico), Michael Daniel (Arlington, Texas), Jay Rhoads (Conyers, Georgia), Vivianne Hoette (Williams Bay, Wisconsin), Dean Knight (Sonoma, California), Bill Combs (Crawfordsville, Indiana) May 3, 2001 Jim Thieman, Albie Davison, Jim Sky, Dick Flagg, Francisco Reyes (Gainesville, FL), Tom Ashcraft, Michael Daniel, Bill Combs June 18, 2001 Jim Thieman, Albie Davison, Wes Greenman, Francisco Reyes, Chuck Higgins, John Samouce (Montana), Robert Markaer (Grosskrotzenburg, Germany) June 25, 2001 Jim Thieman, Albie Davison, Dick Flagg, Wes Greenman, Jim Sky, Carmen Pantoja (Puerto Rico), Michael Daniel, George (Germany), Dan Caron (New Hampshire) August 22, 2001 Jim Thieman, Albie Davison, Wes Greenman, Chuck Higgins, Dick Flagg, Jim Sky, Tom Ashcraft, Carmen Pantoja (Puerto Rico), Michael Daniel, Dusty Samouce (Montana) September 10, 2001 Jim Thieman, Albie Davison, Dick Flagg, Chuck Higgins, Jim Sky, Jim Brown (South Carolina), Bill Combs 9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9 Useful websites for Radio JOVE * Radio JOVE Homepage http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov * University of Florida Radio Observatory (UFRO) Online http://ufro1.astro.ufl.edu/ * Windward Community College Radio Observatory (WCCRO) http://jupiter.wcc.hawaii.edu/ * Radio-Sky Publishing http://radiosky.com * INSPIRE http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/inspire/ 10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10-10 Radio JOVE at a Glance (from the RJ Web Site) * Teaches planetary and solar radio astronomy, space physics, and the scientific method * Target audience - Teachers and students of high school / college science courses * Provides teachers and students with a hands-on radio astronomy experience * Gain experience in electronics construction and testing * Interact with other Radio JOVE schools to exchange data, ideas, and experiences * Radio JOVE kits available for $125, additional equipment is required, including antenna supports, a tape recorder, and a PC with a sound card 11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11-11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Radio JOVE project is an educational/public outreach program involving scientists and educators from NASA, Raytheon ITSS, the University of Florida, the Florida Space Grant Consortium, RF Associates and The INSPIRE Project, Inc. The Radio JOVE project wishes to acknowledge support from the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Director's Discretionary Fund, the Initiative to Develop Education through Astronomy and Space Science (IDEAS) grant program administered by the Space Telescope Science Institute and the American Astronomical Society - Small Research Grant Program. 12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12 THE JOVE BULLETIN SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION The JOVE Bulletin is published several times a year. It is a free service of the Radio JOVE Project. We hope you will find it of value. Back issues are available on the Radio JOVE Project Web site, http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ For assistance or information send inquiries to: Radio JOVE Project Code 633 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 USA or Email: rj_project@radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov FAX: 1-301-286-1771 =======================================================================