Messier: Whole Notes and Half Notes Norm Guenther Last meeting by Terry Barker

Share table:

Ken Wilson had monthly star charts, satellite predictions, and a sky calendar for 2004. Norm Guenther has compiled a book of Messier list descriptions, collected from past meeting presentations. Kinko's estimates that they can make copies for about $26. Anyone interested in their own copy should talk with Norm.

Reports and observing:

Gary Cowardin held a recent cleanup day at the observatory, and he reports that he is caught up with those people who wanted training. Charlotte Talley greeted our visitors-Ramkumar, and Bill Sisco. This is the first meeting for both of them. We hope you'll come back next month! John Raymond attended a skywatch with the Back Bay club in Chesapeake. They had about 20 telescopes, and some public visitors.

Skywatches and other events:

Sept. 10, Black Forest Star Party (registration is closed). You can get more info at: http://www.bfsp.org/starparty Sept. 10, Big Meadows Star Gaze, Shenandoah National Park. More info at: http://www.raclub.org/BMSG/2004/BMSG.html. Sept. 17, SMV skywatch Sept. 17-18, Malvern Hill skywatch

Our main presentation was given by David Credicott, and he spoke on star clusters. There's a great variety of shapes in star clusters, and David explained the two main types--oen and globular. Open clusters are best seen with binoculars or rich field telescopes. Globulars usually require a higher magnification, but they can be quite spectacular. Globulars are more central to the center of our galaxy, so they tend to be centered around Sagittarius.

The one that draws the most interest for amateurs, is M13, in the constellation Hercules. David talked about several others also. So, while the summer skies are still available (and more globulars are visible), go grab a few!

Picnic, maybe by Terry Barker

The board is in the process of planning a fall picnic, but we're having some logistics problems on location. And we don't have a date, yet. But we'll get there, soon. Susan Brubaker has volunteered to head up the food committee, and she has set up a web page to track who's bringing what--http://www.pipeline.com/~aviatrix/RASpicnic.htm. However, note that the date on her web site reflects the original scheduled date, Sept. 18, and is NOT CORRECT. She'll correct it when we get the date set, and I'll send out an email.

VAAS update by Larry Eicher, CAS secretary tuzlu@att.net

This is the latest update on the VAAS Conference 2004 to be held in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday, October 16, 2004 starting at 9AM at St. Anne's-Belfield School, Upper Campus. As time goes on, we will further update you on additional updates as plans are finalized. Go to the Charlottesville Astronomical Society website (http://www.cvilleastro.org) to register, and pass this information on to other members of your club/society, especially the officers and your newsletter editor. We hope to have a great turnout. With great speakers and observing at Fan Mountain, this should be a memorable VAAS conference for all.

The 28th annual convention of the Virginia Association of Astronomical Societies (VAAS) will include fantastic speakers, door prizes, vendors, swap tables and solar observing during the day followed by a night of observing at the University of Virginia's Fan Mountain Observatory. This event is open to astronomy clubs, teachers, students and the interested public across Virginia.

This Year's Outstanding Group of Speakers

Steven J. Dick, Ph.D., Chief Historian for NASA. Dr. Dick is a well-known expert in the field of astrobiology and its cultural implications and he has served on the panel to examine the societal implications of possible life in the Mars rock. Zolt Levay, Imaging Resource Lead for the Hubble Space Telescope. Mr Levay processes digital images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) for presentation to a broad public audience via print and electronic news media and the Internet. Kathryn C. Thornton, UVa Professor and Three-Time Space-Shuttle Astronaut. For her space-walk on the Hubble telescope repair project and other missions, she was awarded NASA's Distinguished Service Medal. Dr. Thornton is interested in developing educational programs to improve the teaching of science and mathematics from kindergarten through high school and to encourage more women to enter these fields. Edward Murphy, Ph.D., University of Virginia Professor of Astronomy. Dr. Murphy coordinates the educational outreach and curriculum development program in the astronomy department and devotes much of his time to public outreach. Philip A. Ianna, University of Virginia Professor Emeritus. Dr. Ianna will lead the convention's round-table discussion on fighting light pollution in Virginia. Dr. Ianna's primary research interests have been in astrometry, in particular what may be learned from the accurate measurement of stellar positions and their changes with time. Dr. Ianna has been very active in the fight for dark skies and led the lobbying effort that eventually resulted in the Albemarle County Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.

Vendors, Door Prizes and Swap Table. So far door prizes have been generously donated by Celestron, Lumicon and many others. Each registration will include a door prize ticket and a limited number of extra tickets may also be purchased.

Catered Lunch-- Lunch will be provided so that astronomers and amateurs from around the Commonwealth will have more time to fellowship and exchange ideas. Those who stay for lunch will also have an extra opportunity to win a door prize!

Star Party. Daytime observing with solar hydrogen-alpha filters will be available during breaks. Nighttime observing from the University of Virginia's dark-sky site atop Fan Mountain, thirty minutes south of Charlottesville, will begin at S unset.BRBRCASmemberswillalso be providing a hamburgers and hot dogs at Fan beginning at 7 00pm.The cost of this meal is $2.00 per person.

Open to conference attendees only. Directions to Fan http://www.cvilleastro.org/casdirections.php.

Registration Registration form packets will be provided to VAAS member clubs soon. Shortly thereafter, an online form will be provided on this website. The basic registration fee is $15.00.

There is a $5.00 discount for early registration (received by October 9).

There is also a $5.00 discount for students and teachers with school photo id.

One door prize ticket is included with each registration.

Registration Fees

Early Registration - General $10.00 Early Registration - Students and Teachers $5.00 After October 9 - General $15.00 After October 9 - Students and Teachers $10.00

Lunch Tickets--Available to early registrants for $8.00. Includes an extra door prize ticket.

Additional Door Prize Tickets -- Available at the door for $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.

Contact-- The chief coordinator for this year's VAAS event is CAS Member Mark Klosinski. Please send comments and questions to Mark at klosinski@adelphia.net, or http://www.cvilleastro.org/vaas/klosinski@adelphia.net.

It's time to renew your Astronomy magazine subscriptions by Cindy Bowers

All renewals have to be submitted to Astronomy magazine by Sept. 30, 2004. One year's subscription is $29.00; two year subscriptions are $55.00. Please send a check made payable to RAS to Cindy Bowers, Treasurer, 9415 Laurel Grove Rd., Mechanicsville, VA 23116.

East Coast Star Party in November by Kent Blackwell

2004 EAST COAST STAR PARTY

November 12-13

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. No campfires allowed anywhere in the cedar trees area. Showers and restrooms located 1/4 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. No AC is 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

6:00 CASUAL STARGAZING BEGINS Coffee and snacks served all night.

SATURDAY: REGISTRATION: BEGINS AT 10:00AM. 4:00 PM COOKOUT AT OBSERVING SITE. KENT WILL SUPPLY HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS, SOFT DRINKS - YOU MAY BRING A DISH IF YOU WISH. 5:00 PM DOOR PRIZE DRAWINGS. OBSERVING BEGINS AFTER COOKOUT. Coffee and snacks served all night.

Door Prizes To Be Announced.

Kent Blackwell, Organizer. 1169 Old Kempsville Road. Virginia Beach, VA 23464. 757-495-4663 e-mail: kent@exis.net.