Top Ten ways to destroy the Planet Earth Roger Rigby Meeting location change by Ken Wilson

The December meeting will be in the IMAX Theater.

Last meeting by Gary Cowardin

Share table and member observing

Our December meeting will include our Christmas party - bring snacks/food/drinks. The SMV SkyWatch was rained out for October although Terry Barker did show up... Gary and Nancy Cowardin went up to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory open house in West Virginia on October 23, 2005. He suggested all should go when they have another open house. Terry reported the Chesterfield SkyWatch was well attended, (60-70). Stonewall Jackson school SkyWatch went well even though there was a lot of light from a nearby football game. It was for the science club. The November SMV Skywatch will have telescopes set up to allow visitors to shoot the moon with their hand held cameras. Ken was interviewed by the Times-Dispatch about this (Thursday, 11/17/05 paper). Joe Hetmanski noted that Venus and the crescent moon were beautiful a few weeks ago. Roger had his 2nd annual Holloween observing session with over 196 visitors! Another member witnessed the very bright meteor on 10/31/05 around 9 pm. Dave Credicott is working with a group of boy scouts at the RAS observatory Tuesday night, 11/15/05. Gary reported that the RAS observatory yard has been cleaned up with all recent growth trimmed back. Sue gave a library report explaining how to get books. She wants to know if anyone gets a kickback on any email to her. Jerry W. will give a book report next month. Roger introduced our guest, Cris Hartnet who gave us a little bio about his astronomy interests. He has a Meade 10 inch.

Terry held the RAS Board election with a unanimous election of the the following members: Terry Barker, John Barnett, Jim Blowers, Jim Browder, Gary Cowardin, David Credicott, Jack Fox, Joe Hetmanski, Jim Langley, Jim Petty, Roger Rigby, and Jerry Zaun.

The November short talks were given by:

John Barnett - Observatory picnic photos Gary Cowardin - moon and mars photos (taken through the Ragland telescope during the picnic) Sue Brubaker - Mars photos using her DSI camera (taken through the Ragland telescope during the picnic) Terry Barker - VAAS convention photos John Raymond - East Coast Star Party in NC

The regular (long) talk was given by Jerry Zaun "Building a Dob." Jerry's talk was very well done - like watching Mr. Wizard!

Skywatches and other events:

Dec. 2, Skywatch, Clover Hill, 6:00 pm Dec. 12, pre-meeting dinner, 6:00 pm, Pizza Hut Dec. 12, RAS meeting, 7:30 pm, SMV Dec. 16, SMV Skywatch Dec. 30-31, Malvern Hill Skywatch 2006 officers by Terry Barker

The board has selected our officers for 2006. They are:

President--Dave Credicott Vice President--Roger Rigby Secretary--Terry Barker Treasurer--Jim Blowers Observatory director--Gary Cowardin

And the appointed positions are:

Librarian--Sue Brubaker Dark sky coordinators--Gary Cowardin and Joe Hetmanski Education--Terry Barker Membership--Roger Rigby Historian--Ruth Petrov Registered Agent--Phil Roberts Webmaster--Jim Blowers Bill Dickinson gets Mars pictures posted on spaceweather.com site Terry Barker

Bill Dickinson has been capturing some outstanding pictures of Mars, and in October, two of his pictures were posted on the front page of spaceweather.com. You can still see them by going to the site, and in the upper right corner, enter the date October 19.

Dues are due by Jim Blowers

Your 2006 dues can be paid to our treasurer, Jim Blowers, at any of the meetings, via PayPal, or by mail. Please use the form enclosed in this newsletter.