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Last meeting
by Terry Barker
Share table:
- Ken Wilson brought in monthly sky charts, ISS timings, and Iridium flare timings. Ken
also brought in some materials he obtained from a visit to to Raleigh on
their Astronomy Day in January. They have a huge turnout, with lots of
activities for kids, and even TV coverage. We're going to try to make
contact with them and see if we can copy some of their techniques to
increase our attendance. National Astronomy Day is right around the
corner--April 24.
Reports and observing:
- Gary Cowardin reported that the last SMV skywatch had about a
hundred attendees.
- Susan Brubaker, our librarian, announced that we are going to
open up the library, which is there at the SMV, 15 minutes before the
meeting each month.
- Charlotte Talley greeted our visitors, Peter Zimmerman
and Scott Milstead. Welcome, and we hope you'll come back next
month!
Observatory:
- The next training session will be scheduled soon.
Skywatches and other events:
- The SMV skywatch will be Friday, Mar. 19.
- Chesterfield County's next monthly skwatch is also Mar. 19, at Clover
Hill Park, 7:30 pm.
- And, still another event on the 19th and 20th--the East Coast Star
Party. More details follow in the newsletter.
- And the Metro Richmond Science Fair, where RAS presents cash awards to
projects highlighting astronomy and space science, is on Mar.--guess
what--20th!
Jim Langley gave a book report, on Bernham's
Celestial Handbook. This is a three book series, that is a must-have for all
amateur astronomers. Bernham achieved fame by discovering a comet. This led
to a job at the Lowell Observatory, and he wrote the books from notes he
made during his work there. Jim thinks this is a great combination of
stories and data.
Gary Cowardin gave the "short
presentation", showing a nice video he downloaded from news.com.au. It
cycled through some amazing pictures that the Hubble Telescope has taken,
along with a music soundtrack.
Ted Bethune also gave a short
presentation, with a slide show of the previous Mars mission, circa 1997,
featuring the prototype robot, Sojourner.
Joe
Hetmanski furnished our
main presentation, by sending a video,
in absentia, "If We Had No Moon." Our moon was probably
formed by an impact with another large body, and the formation has not
stabilized yet. It is slowly moving away from us. It's a good thing it's a
slow process, because the moon acts as a stabilizer for the earth's
rotation. If it were not present, we would have wild climate fluctuations,
and all portions of the earth would be subject, eventually, to sub-zero and
plus 100 degree climates.
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2004
EAST COAST STAR PARTY
March 19 & 20, 2004
Hampton Lodge Camping Resort – Coinjock, NC (252-453-2732)
Approximately 45 miles south of Norfolk/Virginia Beach, VA area
Driving
north on US 158, take Waterlilly exit before crossing the Joseph Palmer Knapp
Bridge at Coinjock. Follow signs
Driving
south on US 158, cross the Joseph Palmer Knapp Bridge at Coinjock. Turn left at
foot of bridge. Waterlilly exit
Campground is approximately 7 miles down Waterlilly Road
Follow Star Party signs
OBSERVING
SITE: THE CEDAR TREES @100' TO THE LEFT AFTER CAMPGROUND ENTRANCE GATE
JUST FOLLOW THE SIGNS
PLEASE
OBEY CAMPGROUND 10 MPH SPEED LIMIT
I have been asked to remind everyone that no campfires are allowed anywhere in
the cedar trees area.
Showers
and restrooms located ¼ mile from observing area
You may camp near your telescope
RV owners will have to camp outside of observing field
AC is available at the regular camping areas only. The is no AC available in the
observing field
Though the sky provides 6th magnitude stars be aware the horizon is
approximately 20 degrees obstructed
The campground is officially closed at this time of the year, but the gate will
remain open all night for ECSP participants
ADMISSION
$10.00 PER PERSON
Please
register and pay Kent Blackwell at the telescopes site, not at the campground
store. Pay at the door, no need to pay in advance. Non-registered guests are
welcomed, but must leave before midnight. Only registered guests are eligible
for door prizes.
ITINERARY
FRIDAY:
REGISTRATION: BEGINS AT 2:00 PM
7:00 CASUAL STARGAZING BEGINS
Coffee & snacks served all night
SATURDAY:
REGISTRATION: BEGINS AT 10:00AM
4:30 PM COOKOUT AT OBSERVING SITE
KENT
WILL SUPPLY HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, SOFT DRINKS - YOU MAY BRING A DISH IF YOU WISH
5:30
PM DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS
OBSERVING BEGINS AFTER COOKOUT
Coffee & snacks served all night
Door Prizes
The Sky, Level III for Mac, donated by Kent
Ray-O-Vac 3-in 1 LED Headlight, donated by Kent
Aluminum Folding Camping Table, donated by Kent
Zero Power Finderscope, donated by Kent
(2pr.) 9x21mm Binoculars, donated by Kent
Laser Collimator, donated by Howie Glatter
(2) 7-Function Digital Voltmeter, donated by Kent
TeleVue Eyepiece, donated by TeleVue
Books from Sky Publishing
More door prizes to be announced
Kent
Blackwell
1169 Old Kempsville Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
757-495-4663 e-mail: kent@exis.net
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Powhatan report
by John
Raymond, 2/29
Observing the heavens, that's what its all about, right?
Friday night started cloudy, but was clear by 9pm. The moon was a
nuisance, but I was able to see some NCG and Dolidze clusters in
western Orion and eastern Taurus.
Collinder 463 in Cassiopeia was worth the trip out there. Its a
large and bright cluster. I will try it again on a moonless night.
It appears quite large and bright.
W Orionis is a bright carbon star in Orion, reaching 6th mag at
maximum. Its located between Delta and Pi-6 Ori.
I became intrigued by this star from looking at a wide field photo
of Orion in a 1992 Astronomy magazine. Its well worth looking at.
Dist 700ly, Spec C5
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Powhatan report #2
by Roger
Rigby, 2/23
I just had to go to Powhatan last night. It had been 3 months
since I had been able to get out there and work on my Messier List. Yes there
was hazy, wispy clouds, yes it was cold. But I was able to get some astronomy
done. I arrived at 6:40 and began observing 30 minutes later and I stayed until
9:30, when I grew tired of dodging the clouds and cold, (I had not adequately
prepared). I was
there alone and only saw one other car go by the entire time.
The road is in terrible condition, deep ruts, holes, and trenches. I couldn't
have been happier, as one of the "justifications" I used to purchase a
Jeep Liberty was transporting my scope to locations just like this. I just
dropped into 4 wheel drive and went, I would still be stuck out there in my old
car.<G>
I observed:
M34*
M42*
M43*
M76*
M78*
M79*
*Needed for my Messier List, Only 82 more to go!
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