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Newsletter of RAS (Richmond Astronomical Society)
June
Visit our web site at www.richastro.org
Next meeting--
7:30 PM June 9, 2008 (Monday)
Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad
| Topic: |
Eyepieces |
| Speaker: |
Chris McCann
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Last meeting
by Gary Cowardin
Greeting & Announcements:
- Attendance: 33
- The June meeting will be in the Eureka Theater, SMV, 7:30 pm.
- Jim Blowers reported on membership and dues with 65 paid members thus far for 2008.
- Astronomy Day: Jim Browder & Leslie Bochenski: Leslie reported the SMV staff thought the Astronomy Day 2008 was the best we ever had! Attendance was very good both public and club members.
- Terry introduced Tim Streagle from the Boy Scout Camp in Goochland. This is a location we can use for observing. Tim holds sky watches out there all year long. The best observing location is the Cub Scout camp on the right coming in off Maidens Road. Best nights are Sunday through Thursday, Friday and Saturday are usually scout nights. However, a call to Tim may get you in and you may have some scouting visitors. Web site: bradysaunders.net Tim Streagle: (804) 467-1897 streagle@earthlink.net
Observing and Events:
- The sky watch at the SMV on 4/18, had 100+ visitors. A good night.
Observatory Report (John Barnett):
- John reported that he and Gary Cowardin had topped the trees in front of the observatory. He also reminded those who are supposed to cut grass to check the email he sent out containing the schedule and let him know if you can't make it.
Visitor Welcome (Chris McCann):
- Tim Streagle, first visit.
Short Talk:
- John Barnett and Terry Barker presented slides from NEAF.
- Gary Cowardin, Terry Barker, and Jim Blowers presented slides and videos from Astronomy Day.
Presentation: Gary Cowardin:
"Astro-photography with the Stellacam 3." Gary demonstrated the sensitivity of this camera by showing us a live shot of the audience, with all the lights in the room turned off. The image was excellent--and Gary showed that he could even turn up the sensitivity, and overexpose the image. The camera has three controls--length of exposure, gain, and gamma (contrast). He also showed a video that he recorded in front of the museum, showing the moon occulting stars in the Pleiades.
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Skywatches and other events
by Calvin Pletcher
- June 3, New moon
- June 6, Moon near Pollux
- June 6-7, Malvern Hill skywatch
- June 8, Moon near Mars
- June 9, Moon near Regulus
- June 9, RAS pre-meeting dinner, Arby's
- June 9, RAS meeting, 7:30 PM, Science Museum
- June 10, First Quarter Moon
- June 13, Moon near Spica
- June 17, Moon near Antares
- June 18, Full moon
- June 18, Skywatch, Cub Scout Twilight Camp
- June 20, SMV Skywatch
- June 20, Moon near Jupiter
- June 20, Summer Solstice
- June 28, Skywatch, Ginter Park Baptist
- June 26, Last quarter moon
- June 27-28, Malvern Hill skywatch
- July 5, Green Bank Starquest
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Astronomy Day, 2008
by Jim Browder
On May 10, 2008 the Richmond Astronomical Society celebrated National Astronomy Day with the Science Museum of Virginia. This year's slate of activities was the largest in recent memory and included speakers and participants from UVA, Randolph Macon, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Exhibits and activities included, mirror-grinding, a dark-skies exhibit, sundial-making, a solar system workshop, CCD imaging, infrared imaging, solar telescope viewing, radio astronomy, a real meteorite, a space trailer exhibit, Starlab shows, a special planetarium show, our own roaming astronaut, a nighttime skywatch and the ever-popular water rocket launching.
The success of the day was a direct result of the support and enthusiasm of the Richmond Astronomical Society members and the Science Museum staff. Many thanks to Terry Barker, John Barnett, Jim Browder, Dick Ryan, Joanne Baker, Jim Blowers, Sue Brubaker, Gary Cowardin, Dave Credicott, Jack Fox, Laura Graham, George and Jane Hastings, Joe Hetmanski, Fran Hetmanski, Russ Hummel, Bill Jeffries, Mike Lewis, John Raymond, Prashant Reddy, Phil Roberts, Ansel Worley, Jerry Zaun and, with the Science Museum, Leslie Bochenski, Bob Oldham, Dave Olli and Eric Melenbrink. Congratulations to everyone - we did a great job.
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RAS Loaner telescopes for Members Only
by John Barnett
Presently, any of our 3 loaner telescopes are available for any RAS member to borrow at no cost. Some of these scopes have been borrowed for months and years in the past, only needing to be returned when another RAS member wants to borrow or when overhauling by the observatory staff is needed. First come, first served. All that is needed is a few of your own eyepieces and a secure and dry place to store it.
For photos of the scopes see:
http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/richastro/photos/browse/7c1c
We have a huge 13.1", f/4.5 dobsonian reflector that excels in dark skies searching for the dim fuzzies like nebulae, comets and globular clusters. This is about 30 yrs old, mirrors aluminized several yrs ago. The design is close to the original John Dobson type, with a breech-loaded thin mirror and requires careful assembly and recollimation. It comes with a glide platform that can be used to roll the heavy scope ( about 130 lbs altogether) out of a garage or shed on flat surfaces.
Much smaller but much more portable is our Meade DS 2000, Newtonian. Aperture: 130 mm, Focal ratio: f/7.9, Mount: altitude - azimuth (collapsible tripod), Meade Autostar Go-To System. Eyepieces: (4) 0.965-inch eyepieces. Condition: Clean, Go-To is functional.
Our newest donation is an 8" Meade Schmidt/Cass (LX - 10) with sidereal drive and N-S-E-W slow motions. Not Go-To. It has a very stable and portable "isostatic" mount. It would probably not suit a newbie as it is a relatively complicated affair to assemble and setup, but great for the intermediate or advanced stargazer/astrophotographer. This is currently being tested optically and mechanically and has been spoken for by an RAS member, so it will be unavailable for awhile. Remember, it's 1st come, 1st served!
Call or email me and I'll arrange for demonstration, delivery, and a little paperwork. I'm on the RAS members directory page on our website.
Good seeing! John Barnett, RAS Observatory Director
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Dues Renewal Form
Your RAS 2008 membership subscription is now due.
Please furnish the following information to the treasurer. You can also pay via PayPal on our web site. If paying by check, make it out
to RAS, and send to:
Jim Blowers
4514 Foxwood Rd.
Chester, VA 23831-8011
Name: ________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________
________________________________________________
Phone: _______________ (h) _________________ (w)
Email: _____________________________________________
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Regular membership
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($30.00) |
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Observatory membership
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($10.00) |
_____________ |
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Astronomy renewal
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($34.00) |
_____________ |
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Sky & Tel renewal
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($32.95) |
_____________ |
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Total: |
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Contact information
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All meetings are the second Monday of the month, at the Science
Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St. For more information, contact Terry Barker
tbarker@i2020.net or Jim Browder
pbandj4@comcast.net.
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Master calendar
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Annual events and monthly presentation slots.
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Jan: |
Program: Terry Barker
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Jul: |
Program: Jim Langley
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Feb: |
Board meeting, Feb. 18, 2008
Appoint Astronomy Day committee
Appoint VAAS committee (when it's our year)
Program: John Barnett
Short Talk: Ted Bethune, "The Chinese Space Program"
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Aug: |
Board meeting
Appoint nominating committee
Appoint picnic committee
Announce picnic date
Program: Jim Browder
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Mar: |
Metro Richmond Science Fair, Godwin High, Mar. 15, 2008
Send out announcement on Astronomy Day Essay Contest
Program: Ken Wilson
Short talk: John Raymond
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Sep. |
Announce nominating committee members
Program: Joe Hetmanski
Short Talk: Ken Wilson, A Shoestring Spectroscope
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Apr: |
Program: Jim Blowers
Short talk: John Barnett
Meeting w/SMV Astronomy Day Team
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Oct: |
Announce board nominees
Program: Preston Kirby
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May: |
Astronomy Day, May 10, 2008
Board mtg, May 19, 2008
Program: Gary Cowardin
Report on NEAF and ECSP: John Raymond
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Nov: |
Board meeting (elect officers)
Elect board
Program: Bill Jeffries
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Jun: |
Program: Chris McCann
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Dec: |
Announce new officers
VA Corp. Comm. renewal due
Program: Christmas Party
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