Desert Skies


Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association

Volume XLVI, Number 6 June, 2000


Contents


Calendar of Events

BEGINNERS LECTURE: Friday, June 2, 6:30 pm at the Steward Observatory Auditorium - Room N210. This month's topic is "Inside the Astronomer's Toolbox" by Craig Kulesa.

GENERAL MEETING: Friday, June 2, 7:30 pm at the Steward Observatory Auditorium - Room N210. Topic is Member's Night by TAAA Members.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Thursday, June 8, 7:00 pm at Steward Observatory Conference room N305.

STAR PARTIES AND EVENTS:

Newsletter Schedule: Deadline for articles: Monday, May 15. Printing: Tuesday, May 23. Folding Party: Wednesday, May 24. Mailing: Thursday, May 25. The newsletter is scheduled to be in the mail at least one week prior to the following month's General Meeting.


General Information

             Office               Name                Phone        Email
             ------               ----                -----        -----
             President            John Kalas          620-6502     jckalas@aol.com
             Vice-President       Andy Cooper         795-3585     acooper@pobox.com
             Secretary            Jane Tongate        623-4056     triton@dakotanet.com
             Treasurer            Terri Lappin        579-0185     tlappin@as.arizona.edu
             Member-at-Large      Robert Callanan     818-1315     tucsonbac@aol.com
             Member-at-Large      Bill Lofquist       297-6653     wlofquist@aol.com
             Member-at-Large      Steve Peterson      326-5303     swpeterson@theriver.com
             Chief Observer       Wayne Johnson
             Newsletter Editor    George Barber       822-2392     barbergj@flash.net
             Star Parties         Maggie & Jeff Buzek 760-4578     jeffbuzek@aol.com
             AL Correspondent     Laurel Dunlap       544-7780     T4T@Jarnac.org
             Astrophoto SIG       Dean Ketelsen       293-2855     ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
             Computers SIG        Rodger Tanner       574-3876     rtanner@seds.lpl.arizona.edu
		
TAAA Mission Statement

Membership in the TAAA

             Regular membership                         $ 23
             Senior (over 60) membership                $ 21
             Student membership                         $ 15 
             Add for Family membership                  $ 5
             Add for Astronomical League (optional)     $ 3
             Add for contribution to Southern Arizona
                Section of I.D.A. (optional)            $ 3     (recommended minimum)
             Add for Sky & Telescope Magazine           $ 29.95
             Add for Astronomy Magazine                 $ 29
       
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
P.O. BOX 41254
Tucson, AZ 85717

4 Easy Steps to Membership Renewal

  1. Pay your dues 2-3 months early. Your month of membership expiration is listed on your newsletter mailing label.
  2. Find your membership class and its rate. Add the Family Membership rate to this, if applicable.
  3. If you desire membership in the Astronomical League or magazine subscription(s) or wish to make a donation, add the appropriate amounts to your membership rate. If a magazine subscription renewal is desired, include the magazine renewal notice, if possible. Be sure to identify which options you are paying for.
  4. Write one check, payable to TAAA, and send it to the address given above.

Desert Skies Publishing Guidelines

TAAA - Desert Skies
c/o John Kalas
3470 W. Red Bird Court
Tucson, AZ 85745

or e-mail: jckalas@aol.com

Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, PO Box 41254, Tucson, Arizona 85717


President's Message


Meeting Information

Beginner's Lecture
"Inside the Astronomer's Toolbox"
By Craig Kulesa

Main Meeting
"Members Night"


Club News

TAAA Bok Award
By Gary Rosenbaum

Beginners Lecture Speakers Needed

Member News

Telescopes For Telethon 2000 Recap
Laurel Dunlap

Grand Canyon Star Party
June 3-10
By Dean Ketelsen


Items of Interest

Websites: Trips on the Internet Super-Skyway
By Rik Hill

MMT Conversion Telescope Rededication

Astronomer volunteers and teachers needed for Project ASTRO - Year Five!

SOUTHERN ARIZONA SECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION (SA-IDA)


Star Parties & Events

TAAA Beginners Star Party at TIMPA
June 3 (Saturday)

Walker Elementary School Star Party North-Central
June 6 (Tuesday) No. of Scopes: 10

TAAA Annual Picnic
June 24 (Saturday)

Empire Ranch Star Party
July 1 (Saturday)


Dark Skies for February 2000

       DARK SKIES (no twilight, no moonlight) for Tucson in 24-hour MST: 18=6pm, 20=8pm, 22=10pm, 0=12am
       RISE, SET, VISIBILITY for sun and bright planets: rise for morning object, set for evening object


       We/Th 31/ 1  21:04 -  3:40         Su/Mo  11/12   2:44 -  3:37        Th/Fr  22/23  21:15 - 23:43
       Th/Fr  1/ 2  21:05 -  3:39         Mo/Tu  12/13   3:18 -  3:36        Fr/Sa  23/24  21:15 -  0:16
       Fr/Sa  2/ 3  21:05 -  3:39         Tu/We  13/14    -   -   -          Sa/Su  24/25  21:15 -  0:49
       Sa/Su  3/ 4  21:06 -  3:38         We/Th  14/15    -   -   -                                     
                                          Th/Fr  15/16    -   -   -          Su/Mo  25/26  21:15 -  1:23
       Su/Mo  4/ 5  22:02 -  3:38         Fr/Sa  16/17    FULL MOON          Mo/Tu  26/27  21:15 -  1:58
       Mo/Tu  5/ 6  22:58 -  3:38         Sa/Su  17/18    -   -   -          Tu/We  27/28  21:15 -  2:38
       Tu/We  6/ 7  23:46 -  3:37                                            We/Th  28/29  21:15 -  3:22
       We/Th  7/ 8   0:27 -  3:37         Su/Mo  18/19    -   -   -          Th/Fr  29/30  21:15 -  3:41
       Th/Fr  8/ 9   1:05 -  3:37         Mo/Tu  19/20  21:14 - 21:51        Fr/Sa  30/ 1  21:15 -  3:41
       Fr/Sa  9/10   1:39 -  3:37         Tu/We  20/21  21:14 - 22:32        Sa/Su   1/ 2  21:15 -  3:42
       Sa/Su 10/11   2:12 -  3:37         We/Th  21/22  21:15 - 23:09                                   


       Weekend    Sun   Sun      Mercury     Venus      Mars     Jupiter    Saturn                       
       Sa/Su      Set   Rise     Set  Vi    Rise Vi   Set  Vi    Rise Vi   Rise Vi    Vi=Visibility      
                                                                                                  
        3/ 4     19:25  5:15    21:13  3    5:10  -   20:02 -    4:08  3   4:10  6    -3 brilliant       
       10/11     19:28  5:15    21:13  4    Set       19:56 -    3:46  2   3:45  4     0 conspicuous     
       17/18     19:31  5:15    20:58  5   19:39  -   19:49 -    3:23  0   3:20  2     3 moderate        
       24/25     19:32  5:17    20:27  9   19:49  9   19:42 -    3:01 -1   2:55  2     6 naked eye limit 
        1/ 2     19:33  5:20    19:44  -   19:57  8   19:34 -    2:39 -1   2:30  1     9 binoculars limit

       By Erich Karkoschka
				

TIMPA Site News

TIMPA Update

What is TIMPA, Anyway? See the TIMPA Page for more information

  1. Run electricity and telephone line to our observing area and on to TIMPA's ramada. Also, run a water line to our site. (Completed - 10/9/99)
  2. Construct a secure storage cage in the TIMPA Barn. (Completed - 12/11/99)
  3. Move the TAAA property from the mini-storage unit to the new security cage in the TIMPA Barn. (Completed 12/12/99)
  4. Construct permanent bathroom facilities. (Tentative schedule 2nd quarter 2000)
  5. Construct observatory to house club's 16" telescope. (Tentative schedule 2nd quarter 2000)
  6. Upgrade club's 16" telescope. (Tentative schedule 2nd quarter 2000)
  7. Construct additional site improvements. (Schedule to be determined)


TAAA Board of Directors Meeting - April 12, 2000

  1. Treasurer's Report - Terri Lappin distributed copies of the monthly financial statement for review. Under "Telescopes" on the Balance Sheet, $744. had been added for the value of the Meade ETX Telescope that was donated to the club by the Telescopes for Telethon committee. Newsletter expense jumped because LPL had failed to bill us for a previous monthly copying charge. Terri advised that she had received the new version of QuickBooks, the computer financial program used to record the club's treasury activities.
  2. Nominating Committee - John Kalas announced that he had failed to advise the committee of Jane Tongate's interest in the position of Secretary after she had mentioned it at the March newsletter folding party. John requested that he be given several days to contact Jane and Laurel Dunlap, who's offer to serve as Secretary at the April general meeting was accepted but Jane's interest was not acknowledged. Andrew Cooper mentioned that he still had the election ballot format from last year's election on his computer and that he would print up about 150 ballots for the May meeting elections.
  3. TAAA Website E-Mail Listing - Andrew Cooper reported that he had installed the club members' e-mail address listing on the website. He configured access to the listing through a password shown at the index to prevent access to the listing by robotic internet scanners. There is a notice that states the listing is not to be used for commercial purposes.
  4. TAAA E-Mail Exploder - Andrew Cooper reported that the SEDS computer, which supports the TAAA Website, has the necessary software to handle a listserver function but the system has not been set up yet. The e-mail exploder would be restricted for use by board members only.
  5. Telescopes for Telethon Star Party - John Kalas mentioned that bad weather, including heavy clouds and haze, restricted the viewing to only the moon. The unofficial total of donations collected at the event was $700. Approximately a dozen telescopes were set up. The Biosphere supplied a pair of giant binoculars. Stellar Vision had its mobile dome operating and Sky Works had several telescopes set up. John reported that a wrap-up meeting was planned for May 23rd, at which time a full report would be issued.
  6. TIMPA Site Review - John Kalas mentioned that he should be able to compose a letter to Kitt Peak requesting consideration for the high quotation issued by Kitt Peak for the transfer of the dome and support structure from the storage area up to the parking lot. Terri Lappin recommended quarterly payments to TIMPA to cover our obligation for the $100. per month maintenance fee. The maintenance fee payments will be drawn from general funds and not from the TIMPA Site Fund, as the payment for our previous mini-storage unit had been paid for through general funds. John reported that the club's 14" Telescope had been successfully transferred back into the TIMPA storage cage from Robert Callanan's garage.
  7. S.A.R.S.E.F. Participation - Ingrid Saber reported that the event went well. TAAA Members John Polacheck and herself, with the help of two other individuals, Ken Morse and Erin Ryan, selected the three science projects for awards. The award certificates were presented to the winners at the awards ceremony. The winners were; Elias Mechaber for "Eclipse", Rhiannon Scott for "Sunspots", and the team of Carrie Biegling and Daniel Murphy for "Astrochemistry: the Origin of Elements". John Kalas requested that an article be prepared for the next newsletter reporting the club's participation and the award winners.
  8. Electronic Newsletter - John Kalas requested discussion of the possibility of distributing some newsletters via electronic means. John reported that many astronomy organizations around the country are successfully transmitting their newsletters via e-mail or by posting them on websites. John mentioned that the club's newsletter costs are significant and that this may be a good way to reduce those costs. He also pointed out that the implementation of this change would have to be on a volunteer basis and that we may have to restrict the extent of the use of electronic newsletters to protect the club's bulk rate mail cost advantage. If the club's regular Post Office mailings fall below 200, the club would lose the bulk rate. John will place a brief article in the May newsletter to solicit members' comments.
  9. TAAA Annual Picnic 2001 - John Kalas mentioned that there would be a benefit to our hosts, Ed and Pat Vega, if the club could schedule the 2001 TAAA Annual Picnic now. Ed Vega had sent John an e-mail message suggesting several dates. Saturday, April 21, 2001 was selected as the first choice with the previous Saturday, April 14, 2001 as a fallback. John will confirm the date with the Vegas. The board discussed the desire to reimburse the Vegas for the expenses related to the non-alcoholic beverages that they provide to the club members who attend. John will contact the Vegas with the proposal.
  10. Club Phone Yellow Pages Listing - John Kalas was contacted by the US West Dex company, compilers of the local Yellow Pages Telephone books. The club is entitled to a free Yellow Pages listing because of the club's phone service. The board must decide under which category the club should be listed. The board decided that the club should be listed under the heading "Clubs - Special Interest". John requested that US West Dex consider a new heading of "Astronomy" in the future. The US West Dex representative said that he would submit an application for that new heading. If it were accepted, it would be next year before the heading would be available.
  11. 2000 Star Party Calendar Change - John Kalas received an e-mail message from TIMPA President Mike Cummins which stated that the TIMPA organization had a large event planned for September 2nd and would conflict with the TAAA's scheduled TIMPA Star Party for the same date. John suggested that the two star parties scheduled for September, 8/26 at Empire Ranch and 9/2 at TIMPA, be switched. John will place a revised copy of the 2000 Calendar in the May newsletter highlighting the changes. He will also contact Mike Cummins to advise him of the switch.
  12. Tucson Space Society's Int'l Space Development Conference - Ingrid Saber distributed I.S.D.C. sponsorship forms for review by the board members. The function is scheduled for the Memorial Day Weekend. Ingrid proposed that the club become one of the sponsors of the event, at no cost to the club. Club members interested in attending the conference could take advantage of a reduced admission fee. Ingrid offered to have flyers available at the May meeting. The board unanimously voted to be a sponsor of the event.
  13. Reach for the Stars - Bill Lofquist reported that progress continues with star parties at various organizations and agencies scheduled. TAAA Members Kevin Bays, Sam & Phyllis Turner, Ed Piggott, and himself are actively involved in the project. Bill mentioned that club members will be requested to consider being "mentors". John Kalas suggested that Bill develop an article for the newsletter explaining the purpose of the project. Bill will write the article for a future newsletter. A star party at Catalina High School scheduled for April 14th is a result of the project.
  14. Desert Museum Public Star Party - John Kalas reported that the Desert Museum had publicized the event in their newsletter. He suggested that the TAAA expand the advertising by sending out a public service announcement of its own. Terri Lappin agreed to compose and mail out the PSA.


Desert Skies Classified


Directions to TIMPA


Directions to Empire Ranch


Home | About the TAAA | Calendar | Grand Canyon Star Party

Info for Teachers | Sky Guide | Links