Home | About the TAAA | Calendar | Grand Canyon Star Party
Info for Teachers | Sky Guide | Links
Desert Skies
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Volume XLVII, Number 11, November, 2001
Contents
Beginner's Lecture: Friday, Nov. 2, 6:30 pm at the Steward Observatory Auditorium - Room N210. This month's topic is Beginning Astrophotography Without a Telescope by Dean Salman.
General Meeting: Friday, Nov. 2, 7:30 pm at the Steward Observatory Auditorium - Room N210. This month's topic is "The Search for Supernovae: in the Sky and on the Web" by Wayne Johnson.
Board of Director's Meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 13, 7:00 pm at Steward Observatory Conference room N305.
Star Parties and Events:
Newsletter Schedule: Deadline for articles: Mon, Nov.19. Printing: Mon, Nov. 26. Folding Party: Tues, Nov. 27. Mailing: Wed, Nov. 28. The newsletter is mailed at least one week prior to the following month's General Meeting.
Office Name Phone Email
------ ---- ----- -----
President Andy Cooper 795-3585 acooper@pobox.com
Vice-President Thom Peck 327-7825 thomas.peck@optics.arizona.edu
Secretary Jane Tongate 623-4056 triton@dakotacom.net
Treasurer Terri Lappin 579-0185 tklappin@earthlink.net
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 586-2244 mrgalaxy@juno.com
Newsletter Editor George Barber 822-2392 barbergj@flash.net
Star Parties Maggie & Jeff Buzek 760-4578 jeffbuzek@aol.com
AL Correspondent Doug Smith 797-0663 dsmith71@ix.netcom.com
Astrophoto SIG Dean Ketelsen 293-2855 ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
Computers SIG Rodger Tanner 574-3876 rtanner@seds.lpl.arizona.edu
TAAA Mission Statement
We are a resource for anyone interested in astronomy. It is our mission to nurture a person's natural curiosity about the night sky. By giving people a knowledge and understanding of astronomy, we enhance their enjoyment of the sun, moon, and stars. Through our public activities and school evening observing sessions, we bring astronomy to persons of all ages. Our regular meetings and observing sessions offer members a forum to meet others with similar interests and experiences and to learn from one another.
Membership in the TAAA
Annual Dues
Family Membership includes two adults plus minor children. Persons under 18 may join at a special Reduced Family Membership rate ($15/yr) upon parental or guardian acknowledgement of participation in TAAA activities. Call the Treasurer to request the required form.
Options (add to above membership rates)
Donations are accepted for any of the TAAA funds: SA-IDA/Light Pollution, TIMPA, Education, 30" Telescope & Land, or General Fund.
Renewal Information
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
PO BOX 41254
Tucson, AZ 85717
Mailing Address or Email Changes
Send changes to the above address or email the treasurer.
Desert Skies Publishing Guidelines
All articles, announcements, news, etc. must be submitted by the newsletter deadline noted above. Materials received after that date will appear in the next issue. The editor retains all submissions unless prior arrangements are made. Partial page submissions should be submitted in Word compatible files via e-mail or on a floppy disk. Full-page articles, artwork, and photos can be submitted camera ready. We will not publish slanderous or libelous material! Send submissions to:
c/o George Barber
15940 W. Ridgemoor Ave.
Tucson, AZ 85736
or e-mail: barbergj@flash.net
Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, PO Box 41254, Tucson, Arizona 85717
The cool evenings of winter are again upon us, and jackets and gloves are again added to the required observing equipment checklist. But the turning of the season also brings Jupiter and Saturn back into the evening sky. Public star parties without a big bright planet can be tough, but they are back. As was recently pointed out to me, Jupiter and Saturn are drawing apart in the sky, and in a few years they will be placed so we will almost always have at least one of them available.
The heavy school star party schedule has put a bit of a strain on us, but we have managed eveything well. The high thin clouds that have plagued us the last few weeks hasn't helped. The Desert Museum event was quite a success with plenty of scopes and lots of satisfied eyeballs. More children than I expected as there were several small groups from area schools and a few boyscouts as well. The November schedule is pretty light so we can relax a bit. Let's try to give Sonoran Desert Home Schoolers on the 16th a good show, they got clouded out last time and they are a great group of kids.
This month's big event will be the Leonids on the 17th/18th (see the club news section). Here in Arizona we are very well located to watch this event. If you attend no other star party this year this is one you should not miss. Even if you don't join us at TIMPA you should make a point to get out in the early morning hours of Sunday the 18th of November and enjoy the meteors at your favorite dark site.
Andrew
Beginners Lecture
Piggyback Beginning Astrophotography Without a Telescope
Speaker: Dean Salman
Have you ever wanted to take photographs of the night sky, but don't own a telescope capable of astrophotography? Dean will explain the basics of photographing the night sky using just a camera and basic equipment. Dean is a member of the TAAA and has a web site <www.galaxies.com> full of astronomic images.
Main Lecture
The Search for Supernovae: in the Sky and on the Web
Speaker: Wayne Johnson
Mr. Galaxy (aka Wayne Johnson!) will give basic information about how Supernovae (SNe) come to be, techniques for locating these elusive, ephemeral objects, and where to find information about them on the world wide web. Wayne is originally from Buffalo, NY. He began his college career majoring in astronomy at the University of Arizona thirty (gulp!) years ago, ending up majoring in electrical engineering and getting his BSEE from Northern Arizona University. He has been interested in astronomy since he was 5 years old when he watched for satellites with his dad on the front porch. At the age of 13 he built an 8-inch Newtonian reflector. The moniker "Mr. Galaxy" comes from his avid interest in observing galaxies, though his interests are wide-ranging. Searching for SNe comes as a side interest from wanting to see something change while observing apparently static galaxies and is considered "icing on the cake". Mr. G has been fortunate to find 6 of these exploding stars since 1991 and is currently building an automated backyard observatory with the intent of continuing the search on a more efficient basis. Wayne moved back to Tucson two years ago after a long hiatus in California, along with his wife, Mrs. Galaxy (aka Arlene). He works on algorithm development for Raytheon.
Member News
We welcome the most recent members who have joined the TAAA: Jason Bowman, Jeannie Cox, Debra L Davis, Herve A Dole and Caroline Barban, Gary Freiburger, David C Garza, Pete and Lori Gregoire, Elaina Hyde, Stephen Katz, Otto Kreipke, Nels Lindberg, Jay Mills, James O'Grady, Bill Owens, Dean and Michelle Salman, Larry H Scott, John and Sharon Seneca, Jay and Minna Shah, Kim and Geoff Shepard, David P Wierzba, Lance Wozniak. Glad to have you join! If you haven't already, be sure to pick up a new members pack at a meeting. Hope you'll make it to our star parties or meetings so we can all get to know you.
Calendars for 2002
We are now selling calendars for 2002. Kalmbach Publishing who publishes Astronomy Magazine produces these stunning calendars each year. Ann Scott will sell them at our meetings until our supply runs out. The cost is $10 each (~$2 off the regular selling price), or $9 each for more than one. They make great gifts. This calendar, which features a full-color astronomical photo, image, or painting each month, has daily information about astronomical events, both historical and observational...plus space for adding important events you need to remember. This year there are a number of European Southern Observatory images and a super Hubble image of the area near Eta Carina.
Proceeds from the sale of these calendars will be used appropriately as decided by the board. Thank you to all who support the TAAA through the purchase of the yearly calendars.
ALCOR Award
Doug Smith, our Astronomic League Correspondent, will be presenting a Herschal 400 award to Hazel Lawler at the November 2 meeting.
Astrophotography SIG Dinner
1 November, China Rose, 7pm
Come join us at the China Rose at the NE corner of Speedway and Rosemont for dinner and some pretty pictures. Bring some to share, or just see the ones on display. Lately we have even had a computer projector, so electronic images on CD or floppy are encouraged! See you there.
Dean Ketelsen, 293-2855
Leonid Watch!
TIMPA, Nov 17th
By: Andrew Cooper
By very happy coincidence our Leonid prospects couldn't be much better! 1) No moon to drown out the view. 2) The peak is scheduled to be on a Sunday morning. 3) We are in the second best place in the world to view this apparition of the Leonids with predictions of 400+ meteors/hour for the western US. (Eastern Asia has higher predicted rates)
http://leonids.hq.nasa.gov/leonids/
http://www.arm.ac.uk/leonid/
Now meteor predictions are more art than science, but they are getting better lately and all the best practitioners of this art mostly agree on their predictions this time around. The predictions so favor us that fellow amateurs from across the nation are planning to join us here in Tucson. I have been contacted by people from places from the Pacific Northwest to Holland who are traveling to our clear skies. Two teams from the Dutch Meteor Society are setting up special video gear at Vega Bray and Safford to triangulate meteors coming into the atmosphere and calculate what the orbits around the sun were.
So pack up your lawn chairs and join the club at the TIMPA site. Suggested gear: Reclining lawn chairs, blankets or sleeping bags to keep warm, drinks and munchies. A camera and tripod are not a bad idea either (see http://www.63.134.241.238/aphotohints.html)
I am going to attempt to keep light at the site under control by instituting a zone system in the TIMPA parking lot. Those observers committing to an all night experience (the only way to do it right for a meteor shower) should park at the furthest end of the lot away from the access road. If you think you might leave during the night park near the access road in such a way that you will not need reverse gear to move your vehicle. And if you know you will be leaving please park a little way down the access road and walk in. Likewise if you are arriving after dark turn off your lights before you pass the barn and park along the access road and walk in, but try to arrive before dark. As you don't need much equipment to enjoy a meteor shower this should be easy to do.
Now just hope for clear skies!
Computers and Electronics in Astronomy Subgroup Meeting Notice.
2 December, 5:30 pm
I have setup another meeting to visit Roy Tuckers home observatory. Roy has been hunting for near earth asteroids for 3 years. Roy had designed and built his own CCD camera utilizing a back illuminated CCD. He made all his discoveries up till recently with a 14" Celestron telescope. His three-shooter asteroid hunting telescope is now done and operational. During September, the Minor Planet Center has listed him as providing 4800 asteroid positions. Most are known asteroids, but he has found a few odd ones. The new telescope uses 3 - 14" Newtonians, each on a separate mount. Each fitted with a back illuminated CCD camera of his design. He has them aimed so that each scans the same area of the sky about 1 hour apart. He has invited us out to see his stuff on December 2nd at 5:30 PM.
Roy lives at 5500 Nebraska, which is south west of Tucson. Go west on Ajo Way, until you are about 3/4 mile past Kinney road, then turn south onto Sunset Blvd. Go south for about a mile, then turn east, he is just down the road a short way. His phone is 578-8564 is case you need further instructions. You can see some of his stuff at his web page at http://www.azstarnet.com/~gpobs/gpobs.htm
So skip dinner to make up for Thanksgiving and join us.
Roger Tanner
TAAA Holiday Party
by Liz Kalas
This year's TAAA Holiday Party will be held in the Rillito Room at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club on Friday, December 14th, starting at 6 pm. The club is located at 4001 N. Country Club Rd. and the entrance to the club parking lot is at the end of Country Club Road where it deadends a few short blocks north of Fort Lowell Rd. There is parking to the left or right as you approach the club grounds. The entrance to the club is to the left and through an archway of tall hedges.
The menu has an Italian flare this year. The meal will start with an antipasto and fruit appetizer from 6 pm to 7 pm., then dinner at 7 pm. For a dinner entree you will have a choice of either Chicken Marsala or Chicken Picotta. The Marsala is wine and mushroom sauce and the Picotta is lemon and caper sauce. Please indicate your choice when signing up for the party. Included with the dinner will be a tossed salad with bread sticks, vegetarian lasagna, Italian vegetable saut, non-alcoholic beverage, and cookies. A cash bar will be available. The cost is $18.00 per person. Sign up for the party at the November or December monthly TAAA meetings or call me at 620-6502. Seating is limited to 75 people.
Speakers are needed for this event. If you are interested in giving a 15-minute talk or showing some slides, please contact John Kalas at 620-6502.
Thanks
by John Kalas
At the October monthly meeting, I was surprised and thrilled by Andrew Cooper's presentation to me of a card and gift in recognition of my three years as club president. I am very grateful for the generous demonstration of appreciation. I am also very grateful for the help and support of so many TAAA Members during those fun years. The TAAA is the third amateur astronomy organization that I have been privileged to guide and it is, by far, the best and most satisfying experience of them all.
With the $450. gift certificate to Starizona, I will pursue a new aspect of the hobby; video astronomy. As I write this thank-you note, I am awaiting the delivery of an Astrovid 2000 black and white video camera. I believe it will enhance my interest in recording the beauty of the Moon, the planets and the Sun. I look forward to sharing those images with the club in the near future.
Thanks again for the kindness and show of appreciation. I look forward to supporting the club as a very active member for many years to come.
Kitt Peak Star-B-Cue Review
by John Kalas
About fifty TAAA Members journeyed up the mountain on Saturday, 10/13, and enjoyed a fantastic evening of food, friendship and astronomy fun. The weather this year was about as perfect as you could ask for; crystal clear and cool. The pot-luck table overflowed with all kinds of great dishes and desserts. A great barbecue was followed by some serious observing. There were nearly as many new members as there were seasoned veterans at this event.
The attendees are to be congratulated for abiding by all of the rules and for leaving the picnic area spotless. This type of member cooperation demonstrates to the Kitt Peak administration that the TAAA is an organization worthy and appreciative of the special privilege of observing at this incredible national observatory complex.
I will begin the process of requesting two more dates for Kitt Peak Star-B-Cues for the spring and fall of next year.
Found
A very nice seat cushion was found at the Kitt Peak picnic area by John Kalas after the star-b-cue on 10/13. It is light green in color with two sets of ties used to attach the cushion to a chair. Whoever left it at the site, please contact John Kalas at 620-6502 to reclaim it.
Project ASTRO at NOAO Begins Year Six
By: Connie Walker
Led by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) and funded by NSF, Project ASTRO is an educational outreach program that partners professional and amateur astronomers with teachers in grades 3 through 9 to enhance astronomy education and increase students' interest in science. Project ASTRO Tucson hosted its sixth annual workshop September 28 and 29 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel and Kitt Peak Visitor Center.
A main goal of this year's workshop was to extend the concepts from the book Moon Journals: Art, Writing, and Inquiry through Focused Nature Study into the area of authentic scientific inquiry, and have teachers work in collaboration with trained astronomers to assist with student investigations of the Moon.
Thirty-two teachers were paired with twenty-eight astronomers to form partnerships and teams. Most participants were from the Tucson area, but some traveled from Safford, Phoenix, the Tohono O'odham Nation, and the Navajo and Hopi Nations in northern Arizona.
Workshop presenters included authors Joni Chancer and Gina Rester-Zodrow Moon Journals, Writing Art and Inquiry Through Focused Nature Study), Planetary Scientist, Space Artist and Author, William Hartmann, Comet Hunter, Author and Lecturer, David Levy, and local educators and astronomers, Larry Dunlap, John Kalas, Larry Lebofsky, Nancy Lebofsky and Debbie Melde. Activities from the Astronomy Society of the Pacific's publication, Universe at Your Fingertips, were conducted, exploring phases of the Moon using Styrofoam balls in the dark belly of the Mayall 4-meter telescope, to the surface of Venus (a stucco model) using radar (bamboo sticks) through cloud cover (a box top with holes), to a demonstrative walkout of a scaled down model of the solar system, to a cratering experiment with flour, cocoa and rocks of different sizes.
The Friday evening session at the Kitt Peak Visitor Center 16" telescope was hosted by Adam Block and Robert Wilson, staff members with NOAO Public Outreach involved with the Nightly Observing Program (NOP). Adam and Robert, along with Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association members and astronomer partners George Barber, Bill Lofquist, Paul Olson, Rich and David Watson dazzled participants with telescopic views of the nighttime sky. The Visitor Center NOP observers and Project ASTRO astronomers served as knowledgeable resources, and the exchange of astronomy facts was beneficial to all.
Plans are underway for the 2002 Project ASTRO workshop. For information visit the Project ASTRO Tucson web site:
http://www.noao.edu/education/astrotucson.html
For application materials, contact Connie Walker, cwalker@noao.edu, 318-8535.
Beginners Lecture Speakers Needed
Note: The phone number and e-mail for Ray Wallace was incorrect in last month's newsletter. The corrected information appears below:
Have you ever considered giving the Beginner's lecture? It's not as hard as you might think. The club is always looking for someone who is willing to share the benefit of their experience. And, if you can't come up with a topic, Ray has a number of topics, which would greatly benefit those who are new to astronomy, as well as the seasoned astronomer. This gives you a chance to learn something new, as well as help others. So, step up to the spotlight! Give Ray a call at 294-1197, or e-mail at raywallace@altavista.com.
Newsletter Cover Photos Needed
Perhaps you've noticed that every month, the cover of the newsletter prominently displays a photograph either documenting a club activity, or which ties in with the main lecture for the month. We have our usual contributors, but sometimes no one has an appropriate photo and we have to scramble. I would like to build a library of photos, which could be used in our newsletter whenever we needed a specific subject. If you would like to contribute, please send your photo to the newsletter editor. Be sure to include your name, so we can credit you, as well as details on how you obtained the photograph.
WEBSITES: TRIPS ON THE INTERNET SUPER-SKYWAY
By Rik Hill
There has been a lot of talk lately along the lines of "I can see a star of magnitude <so-and-so>" or "my camera can image stars of <such-and-so> a magnitude". But the sources for the magnitudes used by different observers vary as much as the observers themselves! Some use SAO (for brighter stars) which is not a good reference for brightness or spectral type. Others use the Guide Star Catalog magnitudes, also not a great reference though it is used in a lot of software. The AAVSO charts are internally consistent but often have some large discrepencies from field to field. So what to do?
For 30 years Dr. Arlo Lanold, of Louisiana State Univ., has worked
at improving the definition of photometric standard stars spending
thousands of hours at the telescope measuring stellar brightness
and colors. Using Selected Areas around the sky he has done meticulous
absolute photometry. The areas are the same ones established in
the Durchmusterung of Selected Areas in Harvard Annals Vol.101.
A good paper on this work was published by Landolt in the Astronomical
Journal, Vol.104, No.1, July, 1992.
Landolt's work has been landmark and forms a basis from which many other catalogs and systems have been developed. It covers much of the sky and now that it's on the web and instantly available to any and all, it can be use as a reference for visual observations, photometry, astrophotography and CCD observations.
But you need not go through a lot of librarial gymnastics to find copies of the fields, identifications of the stars and charts. They have been put on the web at several URLs:
http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/ObsInfo/Standards/Landolt/
http://www.ucolick.org/~jharris/landolt/
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~rjp0i/photometry/standards.html
My favorite site is the first one as it has a simple listing of the standard stars and then a direct link to a scanned image of the published plate. I use this often for work with asteroids and comets.
You can look up the full papers by Landolt that have appeared in print by going to the Astrophysics Data System at:
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/article_service.html
and putting in the journal name, volume and page number.
If you want to know a bit more about the professor himself, you can find short biographies at:
http://adsbit.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-journal_query
http://aaweb.lsu.edu/award98/Landolt.htm
http://www.phys.lsu.edu/faculty/landolt/landolt.html
He is frequently in Tucson observing and if you are lucky you may bump into him on campus near NOAO offices or some other selected area!
As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at rhill@lpl.arizona.edu
All Arizona Star Party
The date in last month's newsletter for the All AZ star party was incorrect! Sorry for the misinformation.
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, s=et for evening object
We/Th 31/ 1 FULL MOON Su/Mo 11/12 18:50 - 3:54 Th/Fr 22/23 0:10 - 5:35
Th/Fr 1/ 2 - - - Mo/Tu 12/13 18:50 - 5:00 Fr/Sa 23/24 1:05 - 5:35
Fr/Sa 2/ 3 - - - Tu/We 13/14 18:49 - 5:28 Sa/Su 24/25 1:59 - 5:36
Sa/Su 3/ 4 18:55 - 19:33 We/Th 14/15 18:49 - 5:28
Th/Fr 15/16 18:48 - 5:29 Su/Mo 25/26 2:54 - 5:37
Su/Mo 4/ 5 18:54 - 20:22 Fr/Sa 16/17 18:48 - 5:30 Mo/Tu 26/27 3:49 - 5:38
Mo/Tu 5/ 6 18:54 - 21:18 Sa/Su 17/18 19:35 - 5:31 Tu/We 27/28 4:47 - 5:38
Tu/We 6/ 7 18:53 - 22:20 We/Th 28/29 - - -
We/Th 7/ 8 18:52 - 23:25 Su/Mo 18/19 20:27 - 5:31 Th/Fr 29/30 - - -
Th/Fr 8/ 9 18:52 - 0:32 Mo/Tu 19/20 21:23 - 5:32 Fr/Sa 30/ 1 FULL MOON
Fr/Sa 9/10 18:51 - 1:40 Tu/We 20/21 22:19 - 5:33 Sa/Su 1/ 2 - - -
Sa/Su 10/11 18:51 - 2:47 We/Th 21/22 23:15 - 5:34
Weekend Sun Sun Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Sa/Su Set Rise Rise Vi Rise Vi Set Vi Rise Vi Rise Vi Vi=Visibility
3/ 4 17:30 6:42 5:20 3 5:20 0 23:07 0 21:33 -2 19:21 0 -3 brilliant
10/11 17:25 6:48 5:43 5 5:34 1 23:04 0 21:05 -3 18:52 0 0 conspicuous
17/18 17:21 6:54 6:09 7 5:48 2 23:01 0 20:36 -3 18:22 0 3 moderate
24/25 17:18 7:00 6:36 - 6:02 3 22:58 1 20:06 -3 17:53 0 6 naked eye limit
1/ 2 17:17 7:06 7:03 - 6:17 4 22:55 1 19:36 -3 17:23 0 9 binoculars limit
By Erich Karkoschka
Whipple Observatory Visitors Center Star Party
November 10 (Saturday)
Observing will begin after 6:15 p.m. courtesy of telescopes provided by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and Sonora Astronomical Society.
3 p.m. Visitors Center opens.
5 p.m. Informal lecture on astronomy by Whipple Observatory staff.
6:15 p.m. Observing begins (next to Visitors Center)
Binoculars and small flashlights are useful to bring. Please cooperate with staff directing parking when you arrive. The parking spaces nearest the building are reserved for TAAA/SAS members and their telescopes. Visitors should park along the driveway or in the parking area outside the gate or along the road as directed. (Please note: Visitors will be allowed to park cars next to the building in the space usually reserved for telescopes until 4 p.m. At that time, visitors will have to move their cars to other parking spaces so that telescopes may be set up.) For more information call 670-5707. In case of threatening weather, call 670-5707 after 3 p.m. on the 10th for information about star party cancellation. Se habla Espanol. See website http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/cfa/ep/starparty.html for location and background information.
TAAA Star Party at Empire Ranch
November 10 (Saturday)
The Empire Ranch has been our normal dark-sky observing site for quite a number of years. Empire Ranch is about 4000 feet in elevation, so be prepared for rapidly cooling temperatures, and try to arrive before sunset. Stay as long as you like, but let everyone know when you are ready to leave; someone may be taking astrophotos. Bring a telescope if you have one, but you don't need one to attend. Any member would be glad to let you look through their telescope. There are no restroom facilities at the site, so be prepared. Attendees should park their vehicles either perpendicular to the airstrip facing toward the center of the strip or parallel to the airstrip along either side facing west. That way, when you are ready to leave, you will not have to back up and turn on your bright white backup lights. One nice advantage to belonging to the TAAA is the opportunity to observe among friends. Help in finding an object or the sharing of equipment always goes on at our star parties. If you haven't attended a star party yet, you're missing the best part of belonging to the TAAA. See the directions to Empire Ranch on the outside flap of this newsletter.
Sonoran Desert Home Schoolers Southwest
November 16 (Friday) No. of Scopes: 5
This star party is being held at the home of Wendy Barnett. The home is located at 5400 N. Old West Road. Go west on Gates Pass, turn right on Kinney Road to Mile Wide Road. Go left on Mile Wide to Sandario Road. Turn right and proceed for about 2 miles to Manville Road. Go left and proceed for about 1 mile to Old West Road (dirt road). Turn right. After the stop sign, the house is on the right. If you have any difficulty finding it please call Wendy at 616-7221. Set-up is at 6:00pm with observing from 6:30pm to about 8:30pm. A star party leader will be needed for this event. A sign up sheet will be available at the November meeting.
TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
November 17 (Saturday)
See article in Club News.
Hendricks Elementary School Northwest
December 6 (Thursday) No. of Scopes: 8
Henry Emery, teacher at Hendricks Elementary School, his fellow teachers and I have scheduled a star party for Thursday, December 6. This is connected with Project Astro at the school.
Bill Lofquist will serve as the leader. Hendricks Elementary is located at 3400 West Orange Grove Road. The time is 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Three classes are doing it together, and they have about 80 students. In addition, some other classes will also be invited. It is estimated that as many as 100 people could attend.
Sign up will be at the November meeting.
TAAA Board of Directors Meeting - September 11th, 2001
TAAA Board of Directors Meeting - October 9, 2001
Location: Steward Observatory Conference Room N305 University
of Arizona
Call to Order: 7:10 pm
Board Members Present: Andrew Cooper, Thom Peck, Terri Lappin,
Jane Tongate, Steve Peterson, Robert Callanan.
Board Members Absent: Bill Lofquist.
Other Members Present: Past President John Kalas.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Tongate, Secretary
Home | About the TAAA | Calendar | Grand Canyon Star Party
Info for Teachers | Sky Guide | Links