RAS News

Newsletter of RAS (Richmond Astronomical Society)
February, 2001

Visit our web site at www.richastro.org

Next meeting--Monday, Feb. 12

Last meeting ...
by Terry Barker

Dave Thomas brought in some 4 x 6 photos taken through his 4 inch reflector. He also saw about 70 Quadrantids on Jan. 3rd.

Gary Cowardin had some 8 x 10 pictures of the sun, taken at our observatory during the eclipse on Dec. 25. They were taken through Randy Tatum's 3 inch refractor with a hydrogen-alpha filter. Gary also reported on the SMV skywatch--there were 3-4 telescopes, but not a large crowd, probably due to the cold weather.

Joe Hetmanski had similar luck at Malvern Hill, plus it was probably too close to Christmas to draw many people.

Tim Brittain took down about 6 trees at the observatory, to help clear out the southwest view.

Terry Barker sent two lengthy letters to curriculum directors at Chesterfield and Henrico counties, in an effort to advertise our willingness to hold skywatches for schools. Terry got good feedback from both parties, so hopefully, we will be setting more of these up.

Ken Wilson told us about a rumor that someone is trying to overturn a light pollution ordinance that Hanover county has in place. Maybe we'll find out more about this later.

Jim Petty greeted four first time visitors, one of whom has a child doing a research paper on astronomy. Welcome to Roger Rigby, James Johnson, Rick Lupton, and LizAnn Parnell (and Britt)!

Cindy Bowers gave the main presentation, showing a video on the history of famous observatories. It largely told the story of how the Hale Telescope (on Mt. Palomar)  was built, under the direction of George Hale. It was built during World War II, and took 20 years to build. Its construction was interrupted because of the war, but was finished soon after the end of the war. The mirror's transportation to the top of Mt. Palomar was a huge event and captured the entire world's attention. Hale died before the completion of the project he started.

The rest of the video was on the construction of the Hubble Space Telescope, and the story of its malfunctioning mirror and the mission to correct it.

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Collection for Iranian teacher
by Terry Barker

This is in regard to the letter I published last month from an Iranian teacher

We have decided to send a box loaded with astronomical goodies to the teacher in Iran. Hey, wouldn't it be really cool if we loaded it with astrological stuff? Just kidding. So, if you have something suitable, I think we should probably lean towards beginner type books, that you'd like to donate, please bring it to the next meeting. Try to refrain from large, heavy books, as we will probably be restrained to some extent by the price of postage. We're also going to include a couple of pairs of cheap binoculars, so don't bring in any telescopes, unless they're tiny (like the $4.95 model Ken Wilson brought in last year!). Any posters, murals, etc. are also welcome.

Chiron: The Story of a Soul (What the???)
by Terry Barker

This appeared on a web page that I came across completely by accident (I promise!). I think it refers to Charon, Pluto's moon. And you wonder why astrology is ridiculed? Christy discovered Charon, but Kowal discovered one of the moons of Jupiter.

The Discovery of Chiron
On November 1, 1977, astronomer Charles Kowal peered at plates from
the powerful 48-inch telescope at the Hale Observatory in Pasadena,
California and was intrigued by what he saw. A faint point of light was gliding
across the star-sprinkled sky. Kowal was not sure what he had found: was it a
comet or perhaps even a minor planet? Since no planets had been discovered
since Pluto in 1930, Kowal did not expect much. But as time would tell,
Kowal's discovery of the tiny planet Chiron (pronounced Kiron) is one of the
most significant astrological events of this century. 
The sighting of a new planet is an important astrological event because it
activates whatever the planet "rules" on earth. For example, Uranus is the
planet of revolution, change, freedom and independence. When Uranus was
discovered in 1781, the tide turned in the American Revolution and the
colonists were on their way to freedom. Pluto, on the other hand, is the planet
of power, tyranny, the underworld and destruction. When Pluto was
discovered in 1930, there was devastating global economic upheaval. Power
became concentrated in the hands of a few, such as Hitler in Germany and
Stalin in Russia. Human suffering increased on the planet. 

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Update on proposed state budget cuts and SMV
from Ken Wilson

As you may know major cutbacks are looming in the state budget. I thought that some of the RAS members may be wondering how the proposed budget effects the Science Museum of Virginia. Below is the text of a memo prepared by our director, Walter Witschey, that concisely details the effects of the proposed budget on the Science Museum.

To: Trustees
    Foundation Directors
    Danville Science Center, Inc.
    Virginia Aeronautical Historical Society
    Liaison Committee members
    Staff
    Volunteers and friends
From: Walter R. T. Witschey, Director, Science Museum of Virginia
Date: January 11, 2001
RE: Science Museum Budget

Many of you have asked me directly about the impact on the Science Museum of Virginia of the proposed Governor's Budget, now under consideration by the General Assembly.

Our appropriation for the fiscal year we are in today has been cut $188,000. This is 8.5% of our state funding for January-June 2001.

Our appropriation for next year, July 2001 - June 2002 has been cut $554,000. This is 13% of our original state funding for next year.

Recent publicity about the state's budget has mentioned budget reductions of 3% - 6%. In fact, for the Science Museum of Virginia and many other agencies, the reductions are substantially higher. Your newspaper is a good source of information about the reasons for these cuts, especially in education programs, at a time when Virginia's economy is still growing, albeit somewhat slower than last year.

At the Science Museum of Virginia, the operational impact of these cuts is still being determined. At this early date, however, we expect that these cuts will force us to raise prices (a burden felt most heavily by low income citizens, and school groups). Our next Finance Committee meeting will consider staff recommendations.

The Science Museum of Virginia (like many museums and science centers) has a high level of fixed costs in its budget for facility operation and full-time staff. To reduce controllable costs therefore, we expect that a number of our jointly funded programs (public-private partnerships with strong Museum patrons such as GE Financial Assurance, Capital ONE, and AT&T) will of necessity be scaled back because we will be unable to meet the museum's share of program costs. This burden falls most heavily on the schools, especially in the City of Richmond (where, we believe, Science Museum efforts have resulted in substantial increases in Science SOL test scores), and on science teachers who have been taking full advantage of our teacher institutes for best instructional practices in the Science Standards of Learning. Lest you believe that this budget cut burden has not affected others, here are some further examples and comparisons for next year's budgets...

Organization Cut in dollars Cut as a percent of state support

State Agencies

(examples from selected non-state agencies)

Lastly, may I supply a reminder of a situation against which we have
struggled during most of the museum's history...the Science Museum of
Virginia operates with a lower proportion of state funding than do the other major state-agency museums. To use next year again as an example, the state budget proposes:

Agency Total budget for July 2001- June 2002 State support for July 2001 - June 2002 Proportion of budget supported by the state

As you can see, if the budget of the Science Museum before the proposed reductions) were 55% state supported on an equitable basis with our sister institutions, our appropriation would have to be $9,048,000 x 55% = $4,976,000 (more than $1,000,000 higher per year).

Please feel free to call me at the office (804) 367-6799, or at home (804) 270-5584, or send me an e-mail WWitschey@SMV.org if you would like further information. Kindly alert me if you intend to contact a legislator about the Museum.

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Light pollution bill
from Glendon Howell

Glendon is the founder of a new club in Tidewater, and he is a former member of BBAA (Back Bay Astronomical Assoc.)

Apparently Del. Bloxom decided to introduce a light pollution bill. We had thought that we may have to wait another year. Everyone should contact their representatives in the House and Senate to support this bill! We'll need the support, as I have heard from my own delegate that the bill is too broad as written.

Martha Mason Semmes, AICP
Town Planner/Zoning Administrator
Town of Middleburg

HB 2026 Regulation of exterior illumination.
Patron - Robert S. Bloxom (all patrons) ..... notes
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Summary as introduced:
Regulation of exterior illumination. Allows localities to provide for the regulation of exterior illumination levels of certain buildings and property. Exterior illumination shall be accomplished with standard engineering practices that will cause such illumination to be confined to the boundaries of the property. Any state project utilizing public funds shall use standard engineering practices that will cause such illumination to be confined to the boundaries of the property.

FULL TEXT:

HOUSE BILL NO. 2026
Offered January 10, 2001
Prefiled January 10, 2001
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-920.1, relating to regulation of exterior illumination.
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Patron-- Bloxom
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Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-920.1 as follows:

? 15.2-920.1. Regulation of exterior illumination on certain property.

Any locality may by ordinance provide for the regulation of exterior illumination levels of certain buildings and property. Exterior illumination shall be accomplished with standard engineering practices that will cause such illumination to be confined to the boundaries of the property. Any state project utilizing public funds shall use standard engineering practices that will cause such illumination to be confined to the boundaries of the property.

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Calendar

Calendar created by ImpactSoft

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Dues Renewal Form

Your RAS 2001 membership subscription is now overdue, if you haven't paid yours.

Please furnish the following information to the treasurer:

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________

________________________________________________

Phone: _______________ (h) _________________ (w)

Email: _____________________________________________

Amount:

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Contact information

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, 379-8175, or tbarker@i2020.net.

Board presentation months

The months that have been assigned for presentations by the board for 2001 are:

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