Newsletter of RAS (Richmond Astronomical Society)
September, 2003

Visit our web site at www.richastro.org

Next meeting--Monday, Sept. 8

Last meeting
by Terry Barker

• Ken Wilson provided copies of star maps and Iridium flare timings. Ken showed a binocular holder bracket that he bought at a recent star party. It was made out of wood, as opposed to the usual metal construction, but the price was more reasonable--$30.
• Susan Brubaker brought in several library books for checkout, and a listing of the current club library contents.
• Jim Blowers brought in a book with the unusual title of SPLAT. It was the story of how the moon was possibly formed by a collision with another planet.

Reports and observing:

• Grace Suttle made a recent trip to Montana, and enjoyed phenomenal dark skies.
• Tom Horne got a chance to observe Mars for two hours in the last week. A good trick with all the clouds we've been having lately.
• The SMV skywatch was clouded out, but Malvern Hill was clear, although hazy. 4-6 people showed up at Malvern Hill on Saturday.
• Jerry Zaun went to the Powhatan site last weekend, and got some good views of Mars, even though it was partly cloudy.
• Ray Moody made the trip to Stellafane a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, they only had clear skies one night--the Wednesday before the weekend. 
• Susan Brubaker and David Credicott finished the inventory of the club library. We have 17 books missing.
• Charlotte Talley greeted four visitors--Paul Whitmer, Chris O'Brian, Scott Robinson, and Bill Robinson.

Observatory:

• Randy Tatum and John Barnett got in some viewing of Mars, and Randy made a good drawing. John will post his next visit to the observatory on the mail server so others can join him.

Skywatches and other events:

• Pocahontas State Park, Sept. 12, 7:30 pm. Contact Keith Johnson (kjohnson19054@tds.net)
• Wyndam skywatch, Sept. 13, 7:30 pm
• The SMV skywatch will be Friday, Sept. 19
• Sayler's Creek skywatch, Sept. 19, 7:30. Contact Keith Johnson.
• James River State Park, Sept. 20. Contact Keith Johnson.
• Malvern Hill is scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27.
• The Big Meadows Star Gaze is also Sept. 26 and 27. http://www.raclub.org/gmsg/2003/bmsg.html
• Sayler's Creek, Sept. 27, 7:30 pm. This is a special event for Boy Scouts. About 300-500 scouts are expected to attend. They really need some extra scopes. Contact Keith Johnson (email above).
• The RAS picnic will be held on Sat., Oct. 4 at Crump Park. We're replacing the annual observatory picnic with a bigger occasion that we think will get more people and their families involved. We'll also do star gazing there.
  

Chris McCann gave the main topic, showing a video about the planets in the solar system.

Mars skywatch at the Science Museum
by Ken Wilson

I got this e-mail from our deputy director.  Since it mentions the RAS,
I thought I'd share it with you.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jack Parry
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 1:34 PM
To: Broad Street Station
Subject: Mars Event


We had a huge response to the Mars lecture and viewing last evening.
Tonight will be the alternative date due to the poor visibility weather
last evening and the overwhelming response to last evening's lecture's
appeal.

Well done to all who were here, all who responded to the call for
additional assistance.

Ken Wilson, great program
Astronomical Society, great support
David Hagan, great effort to coordinate
To the staff that I saw:
    Pat
    Barry
    Lynn
    Eric
    Fran
    Bernice
    David Ollie
and to many whom I may not have seen or have overlooked to mention =
THANKS

A particular note of thanks to Officer Kidd who assisted in the crowd
control and made the great suggestion to release some of the Forum crowd
out to the IMAXDome plaza.

I hope the response tonight is equally strong.

SMV Mars skywatch
by Eric Shelton

If it is anything like last night (and many people asked me if we would be there again tonight), it wouldn't hurt to be there by 7 or 7:30, but certainly no later than 8:00.  By 9:00 the place was absolutely mobbed.  I think the parking lot was full by the time I arrived around 8:00.

Ken, thanks for letting security know to expect vehicles to be stopped at the front of the museum to unload telescopes.  I was approached by a guard and expected the worst when he said, "I've been looking for you!"  He then politely directed me to park in the "no parking" zone on the circle after I was finished unloading.  Very nice.

I'll agree with Gary that setting up right next to the kugel was a mistake.  The crowd was gradually closing in on me and I had visions of being pushed down the steps onto the lawn, scope and all.

Actually, I saw the clouds coming in but decided to come anyway to show the public what a big scope looks like.  I think they really enjoyed seeing all of the telescopes.  I wound up driving home through a rain shower, but since I never stopped moving the scope stayed dry in the back of my pickup. 

Hoping for clear skies,

Mars observing
by Roger Rigby

Astronomy Magazine subscriptions due
by Cindy Bowers

Astronomy Magazine subscribers, if you have your subscription through the club--payment is due ($29.00 for one year, $55.00 for two) to Cindy Bowers by Sept. 30. Please bring a check to the next meeting. Also, Cindy will have 2004 Astronomy Magazine calendars for sale at $6.00 each (1/2 price).

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