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Desert Skies
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Volume XLVIII, Number 6, June, 2002
Contents
Main Meeting: Friday, June 7th at the Steward Observatory Auditorium - Room N210
Beginner's Lecture: 6:30 pm
What Kind of Star - Part II
George Barber
At the February beginner's lecture, stars that occupy the "main sequence" were discussed. In this lecture, the other types of stars will be investigated, including variable stars, red giants, neutron stars, and black holes.
General Meeting: 7:30 pm
Member's Night
Tonight, the floor is reserved for you, the club membership, to give short presentations on any subject that deals with the field of astronomy. Time slots are given out in first-come, first-up order. So swallow your stage fright, step right up, and share what you know with everyone! (We are a very forgiving and tolerant audience). Contact Andrew Cooper at taaa@seds.org to get your name on the list of presenters.
Board of Director's Meeting: Tuesday, June 11th, 7:00 pm at Steward Observatory Conference room N305.
Star Partied and Events:
Newsletter Schedule: Deadline for articles: Mon, June 17. Printing: Mon, June 24. Folding Party: Tues, June 25. Mailing: Wed, June 26. 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
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
All membership rates given above are for 1 year. Family Membership includes two adults plus minor children. Parents/guardians of minors interested in astronomy may request Family Membership at $15/yr. Contact the Treasurer at tklappin@earthlink.net for information.
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
A quick look at this month's star party schedule confirms that the crunch is behind us, the school year is over and we made it! I must extend my thanks to those may volunteers who made the school star party program the success that it is. I know these last months were busy, but how do you say no to a teacher and their students? We have to much too often, not easy. Now we get to settle back to a more sedate pace, and maybe just enjoy the sky. But I do miss the school star parties over the summer!
This month brings several items sure too keep the public's eye on the sky. As the encore to this spring's great planetary show the last and brightest two "stars" of the show, Jupiter and Venus will dance a last round in the sunset. Two objects sure to catch the attention.
Keep your eyes on the Sun for the Lunar eclipse this June 10th. It may not be a total here in Tucson but even a deep partial can make everyone look at the sky in wonderment. A reminder that we are connected to what goes on in the sky and that what goes on up there can have immediate effect. In this case a good percentage of our fellow citizens will be engaged in the evening commute when the Moon dims the Sun to a fraction of its usual brightness, sure to get noticed. Be ready for the usual questions from your friends and co-workers.
A number of members have volunteered to reconstitute the land search committee and this has been approved by the board. As a first action this committee has started to put together a list of requirements for any land that might meet the club's purposes. In this newsletter you will find more information and a request for your input.
So, with any hope we can look forward to at least two more new moons, maybe three before the monsoon comes and provides the year's usual two month break from all things astronomical. Make the best of it!
Andrew
Member News
We welcome the most recent members who have joined the TAAA: Guy Baty, David A Dickinson, Richard Dougall, David Gale, Steve Govostis, Michael Gusick, Yale and Blossom Joseph, Bob and Carrie Olson, Michael Talbot. We also welcome back former member William Walker. 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. (Updated membership lists are available at the regular meetings, so pick one up if you need it.)
Club Member Honored
The Las Cumbres Amateur Outreach Award was presented to Dean Ketelsen, Tucson, Arizona. This award honors outstanding outreach by an amateur astronomer to children and the public. Since 1991, Ketelsen has organized the Grand Canyon Star Party, which has allowed tens of thousands of Canyon visitors to better appreciate the night sky. Every year he organizes the "Star Party for 55,000" at a University of Arizona home football game. During this event, Ketelsen and Tucson area amateur astronomers set up telescopes outside the football stadium and give incoming fans views of astronomical objects. Among his many other astronomy activities, he has worked as a volunteer for the ASP's Project ASTRO, bringing the wonders of astronomy into Tucson classrooms. He is currently a Senior Research Specialist in the Steward Observatory's Mirror Lab in Tucson.
Astro Photo SIG Dinner
6 June, 7pm
China Rose, NE corner Speedway/Rosemont
As always, we meet the evening before the general meetings at the China Rose "Sky Room". Feel free to bring you prints, slides, or electronic images to show off. It is a great forum for advanced or beginners alike. The easiest way to learn the art of astrophotography is to learn from the folks who have already made all the mistakes. Join us for a great buffet dinner and relaxed image show.
Beginners Lecture Presenters Needed
Have you ever considered giving the Beginner's lecture? 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, Andrew 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 Andrew Cooper a call at 795-3585, or e-mail at acooper@pobox.com.
Grand Canyon Star Party
8-15 June 2002
South and North Rims
You can smell it in the air - Grand Canyon Star Party time! I've yet to hear from our ranger since she returned from her spring leave. As a result, I've yet to receive fee waivers or other new info for this year's event. I'll start bugging her ASAP, so hopefully I'll have those mailings to send out so you get them by the first of June. If you do not, and you think you've confirmed with me - let me know to make sure you are on my list. If you would just like to "pop up" for the weekend and see what we are about, you are more than welcome to join us that way. The fee waiver saves you the $20 at the entry gate, and there are usually new rules for us to adhere to that you should know about. I suspect there will be fire restrictions enforced again this year, which means no open campfires or charcoal, but camp stoves should be allowed. In any event - check the mailing from me for those last minute updates.
I'm low on twilight speakers this year, so raise your hand and be counted! Needed are slide shows for the lay public (I aim my talks for 4th graders!) about 45 minutes in length to entertain the folks while it gets dark enough to observe. If you have a shorter talk, let me know, sometimes we can combine a couple. E-mail me if you would like to volunteer.
That's all for now - it is always a great time. Look to next month's newsletter for a recap and photos. See you there!
Flandrau/UA/TAAA to Host Eclipse Viewing at Tyndall Parking Garage
On the afternoon of Monday, June 10, 2002 the western United States will witness a rare, deep partial eclipse of the sun. For Tucson, Phoenix and many parts of the western United States the sun will set while still in eclipse. Because of Tucson's proximity to the central path of the eclipse, 74% of the sun's diameter will be covered by the new moon as seen from the Old Pueblo. The eclipse in southern Arizona will be best around 6:25 p.m., when the new moon will appear to turn the sun into a solar crescent.
Times of the eclipse from Tucson are as follows:
The TAAA is invited to join Flandrau Science Center, University of Arizona's Department of Parking Transportation and Coronado Instruments in their free eclipse-viewing event for the general public starting at 5 p.m., and lasting until sunset at 7:30 p.m. Telescopes with safe solar filters will be set up for public viewing free-of-charge at the top level (NW corner) of the Tyndall Ave. parking garage located between Tyndall and Euclid Avenues, just south of Speedway Blvd. Eclipse glasses will be on sale the day of the eclipse both at Flandrau, and at the Tyndall garage viewing area, while supplies last. TAAA members with safe solar telescopes and/or viewing equipment will be able to park at the top of Tyndall garage in a reserved area very close to the viewing area FREE of charge! To obtain the free parking, TAAA members must RSVP Michael Terenzoni at miket@ns.arizona.edu, phone: 621-3646 and are encouraged to arrive before 5 p.m. if they can.
Visitors for this eclipse can park for free on the UA campus only in Zone 1 parking lots close to the Tyndall garage during the afternoon of June 10. Effective at 5 p.m. visitors can park in the Tyndale Ave garage for a nominal fee. Parking will be free after 8 p.m. (you can park in Tyndall for free if you are willing to wait until 8 p.m. to leave).
Information about the eclipse will be available before the eclipse by calling Flandrau Science Center's free Astronomy Newsline at (520) 621-4310 or visiting its "Astronomy News" section on the Internet at http://www.flandrau.org/astronomy/news.htm and at http://www.flandrau.org (look for the Astronomy section).
TAAA and Interpreters Help Kids See Night Sky
May 16, 2002
By Steve Marten
Interpreters assisted a group of more than thirty deaf students, ages 5-19, see and "hear" about the night sky at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind in Tucson on May 16th. At the telescopes from TAAA were John Kalas, Chuck Schroll, Steve Marten and Ken Wheelock. Jupiter, Venus, Mars, double stars and clusters were among the sights many had observed for the first time. The most impressive for the group was Jupiter and it's attendant Galilean moons. The students were also amazed at the multitude of tiny stars seen in the Hercules cluster. TAAA members learned a bit of sign language too, in responding to students' questions while showing them around the night sky. No "signing" was needed, however, to know that the students were very enthusiastic and enjoyed a truly memorable evening.
Kitt Peak Star-B-Cue Review
Text and Photos by John Kalas
About 53 TAAA Members and families enjoyed another very successful outing on the mountain. The weather was terrific with pleasant temperatures. Several telescopes were set up for solar viewing. The potluck barbecue was well appreciated with a great selection of homemade dishes to share with the diners. With nice, clear skies many attendees rushed to the westward side of the picnic area after dinner to enjoy an impressive sunset. Robert Crawford and Ed Finney made it official by setting up their telescope on the large rock outcropping across the parking lot and planted a sign declaring it the "Crawford - Finney Rock Observatory". After dark, fifteen to twenty telescopes began probing the rich skies. The event was a resounding success and everyone headed down the mountain by midnight. Thanks to all who attended for leaving the site cleaner than we found it. If you were unable to go to this star-b-cue, don't worry. We have another scheduled for September 28th. Mark your calendars and watch the newsletter.
Items Left at Kitt Peak Star-B-Cue
During the final check of the picnic area before departing, John Kalas found two items left at the potluck table. There was a red-handled knife and a large towel used as a tablecloth found in the ramada. If either of these items sounds familiar to you, please call John at 620-6502 to claim them.
WOW!! What a Surprise.
By John Kalas
As announced in last month's newsletter, the TAAA was asked to supply six telescopes to a convention of the Association of Research Administrators hosted by NOAO at the El Conquistador Resort. Bryon Skinner, Harold Staves, Lou Faix, Steve Marten, Thom Peck and John Kalas volunteered for the assignment. Robert and Barb Callanan came down to see if their help was needed. The event was very well received by the guests as they marveled at the fantastic five-planet display in the clear western sky. The club offered to provide this astronomy service for free. We were told that a donation would be made to the club. Near the end of the activity, John Kalas was presented with a check for $500! What a pleasant surprise. Many thanks to our volunteers.
Library Books Reviewed
Text and Photos by John Kalas
On May 11th, fourteen TAAA Members visited Robert Crawford's residence for the daunting task of reviewing about 500 astronomy books that were donated to the club by a local Tucsonan nearly a year ago. It was obvious when we took the collection of books that not all of them could fit in our library. Robert was kind enough to allow the club to store the books at his house since the donation. The list of volunteers assembled to review the books were Robert Crawford, Ed & Ellen Finney, Sheila Conrad, Terri Lappin, Claude & Teresa Plymate, Luke and Ann Scott, Debra Davis, Andrew & Deborah Cooper and John & Liz Kalas. After about two hours, the books were segregated into three groups; "keepers" for the TAAA library, books to be disposed of and classic/vintage books. Claude & Teresa Plymate, the club's librarians, took the five cartons of keeper books back to their home to inventory, mark and prepare them for the TAAA library. Debra Davis took the large box of vintage books to attempt to assess their value. About five cartons of "unwanted" books plus two other cartons from our original library collection will be offered to club members at the June meeting (see the following article).
Book Sale at the June Meeting
By John Kalas
There will be a huge book sale in the lobby of the Steward Observatory Building during the June monthly meeting. These books were sorted out of the large library donation received by the club about a year ago and cannot fit in our current library. So bring your quarters and have a ball choosing some great additions to your astronomy library.
Help Needed
The club is looking for someone to take over the responsibilities of Newsletter Folding/Mailing Coordinator. The duties of this position include; obtain the newsletter copy from the editor, paste up the master copy, deliver the master copy to the copy person, schedule folding parties, secure mailing labels from the treasurer, attend folding parties, coordinate folding and labeling of newsletters, and take newsletters to post office. Although this sounds like a lot of activity, it is only a few hours of effort for two days a month. John Kalas has been performing this task for the last several years and would like to give it up. If you might be interested in supporting the club in this capacity, please call John at 620-6502 for more information.
TAAA Assists in La Paloma Marketing Effort
By Steve Marten
In the beautiful Fiesta area of the stylish La Paloma Hotel, TAAA provided an evening around the night sky for 25 guests from San Diego on Saturday, May 18th. The guests were involved in a weekend promotion to attract business clientele to La Paloma from the San Diego area. One of the typical features available for their evening events could be a fantastic look at the night sky while receiving attentive dinner service. The surrounding trees of the Fiesta area add to the natural beauty of the locale just east of the main building but it kept me calculating the upcoming locations of additional sky targets and moving the scope several times. All was well as the guests clearly enjoyed seeing Jupiter and Venus in the west, the quarter moon overhead and May's marvelous sky attractions in the east. They asked many questions and learned more about our closing five-in-a-row visible planet show that only occurs about every 58 years! At the end of the evening many of the guests indicated that they would prefer a spectacular look at the night sky with TAAA in their future Tucson La Paloma events.
TAAA Land Search Committee
The TAAA Board of Directors voted at their Tuesday, May 14th meeting to reactivate the Land Search Committee. Andrew Cooper will serve as the committee chair; JohnPaul Sosville, George Barber, Paul Olson, Steve Ratts, and Terri Lappin volunteered to serve on the committee.
Those of you who know some club history will recall that this committee has been active in the past, but has been dormant for some time now. In the past the committee searched extensively for a suitable site, and even found a few properties that bids were made on, but was otherwise unsuccessful in securing the goal. One of the key problems encountered was finding a suitable site within the club's budget. However, the primary reason the land search activity stopped when it did was that it was decided to concentrate more on finishing the mechanical aspects of the 30" telescope which we planned to locate at the site they were searching for rather than continue the search for land. Later, the development at TIMPA also put a damper on the long-term motive to locate a dark-sky site. Several things have happened since then to warrant a fresh look at this. First of all, the amount of money in the land and telescope fund has grown through continued donations made by our generous membership. Secondly, we now have direct access to MLS listings, digital cameras and the Internet. Third, and not least of all, one of the new committee members, Paul Olson, is a local realtor with decades of experience; we believe he will be a significant asset to the committee in it's search.
The first order of business charged to the committee by its chairman
and our club president, is to identify clearly what we are looking
for and what criteria will drive our search. There is no sense
in looking for something if you're not sure what you're looking
for! Laying out a plan which will include a reasonable timeline
of events, expected lifetime of the site, expected distance from
Tucson, lighting concerns, creature comforts, and acreage will
be our first duty. For example one possible plan might be: within
eighteen months purchase a dark sky site, minimum 40 acres, bounded
on at least one side by state or federal land. The land should
be within 90 minutes from the I10/I19 intersection, and have reasonable
accommodation for those of us who want to stay overnight. The
sky should be at least as dark and have no worse sky-glow than
the Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch) site. There should be a reasonable
expectation that the property not suffer light pollution for a
minimum ten years.
To help us make our recommendations to the Board, we ask you to
take a moment to help us by completing this brief survey so that
we will know what the club membership would prefer in a club observing
site. You may bring this survey with you to either the June or
July meeting, or, if you will not be able to attend one of those
meetings, feel free to mail it to TAAA, P.O. Box 41254, Tucson,
Arizona 85717. Copies of this survey will also be available at
the next two club meetings if you would like to fill one out then
and drop it off. Completed surveys may be dropped off with any
committee member.
<Survey form omitted from on-line version the newsletter>
WEBSITES: TRIPS ON THE INTERNET SUPER-SKYWAY
CELESTIAL DUPLICITY - Pt. II
By Rik Hill
In the April Desert Skies I talked about resources for double star observing. This month I want to tell you about equipment that you can build or buy to facilitate your observing. With simple equipment you can watch these celestial pairs swing around their common center of gravity (barycenter). In only a year or so there are many where you can actually detect the motion! I have been measuring these stars for over 15 years now and nearly all have shown motion and in some it's plainly obvious to the casual observer!
The simplest measuring device is the wire diffraction micrometer. It consists of a few bars (called "wires"), mounted parallel across the aperture of the telescope. Some details can be found at: http://www.astroscenes.freeserve.co.uk/diffmic.htm and a photo of a good device at the bottom of the page at: http://www.astroscenes.freeserve.co.uk/tele.htm
For those that are more adept at construction there's the Filar Micrometer. In this device you place cross hairs on the two stars. Traditionally these are made of spider web but recent models have used fine electronic wire and synthetic threads. An excellent design with some details is posted by the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa at:
http://www.skywatch.co.za/instruments/micrometer/index.htm
For more design ideas there are two antique micrometers and one modern one at: http://www.brayebrookobservatory.org/BrayObsWebSite/HOMEPAGE/frame504179.html
Some of you may not be handy with tools. For you there's an excellent filar micrometer made by Van Slyke Engineering and shown at: http://www.observatory.org/filarmic.htm
A review of this latter micrometer and another one is posted by the Webb Society at:
http://www.webbsociety.freeserve.co.uk/notes/dsretel.html
Armed with any one of these devices and a steady clear sky, you can now observe the stars as they go through their elliptical dances from year to year.
As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at rhill@lpl.arizona.edu
Events in the Sky for 2002
Compiled by Joe Orman
http://pages.prodigy.net/pam.orman/JoeGallery.html
Observations of Jupiter
Drawings and Text by Mark Daniels
TAAA member and long-time planetary observer Mark Daniels invites attention to two recent sketches of Jupiter.
The STB Oval BT is featured in both drawings and is in conjunction with the Red Spot. In addition, much detail is visible in Jupiter's NEB, SEB, and STB belts. Note the small white ovals in the STB directly above and left of the Red Spot in the March 23 Sketch. Also note a shadow transit on the preceeding limb.
Mark Daniels has been observing and drawing the moon and planets since the early 1980's, and his work has been featured in Sky and Telescope and Astronomy magazines.
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
Fr/Sa 31/ 1 21:04 - 0:18 Mo/Tu 10/11 21:10 - 3:37 Fr/Sa 21/22 3:23 - 3:37
Sa/Su 1/ 2 21:04 - 0:52 Tu/We 11/12 21:11 - 3:37 Sa/Su 22/23 - - -
We/Th 12/13 21:30 - 3:37
Su/Mo 2/ 3 21:05 - 1:22 Th/Fr 13/14 22:22 - 3:36 Su/Mo 23/24 - - -
Mo/Tu 3/ 4 21:06 - 1:50 Fr/Sa 14/15 23:09 - 3:36 Mo/Tu 24/25 FULL MOON
Tu/We 4/ 5 21:07 - 2:17 Sa/Su 15/16 23:50 - 3:36 Tu/We 25/26 - - -
We/Th 5/ 6 21:07 - 2:44 We/Th 26/27 21:15 - 21:32
Th/Fr 6/ 7 21:08 - 3:13 Su/Mo 16/17 0:26 - 3:37 Th/Fr 27/28 21:15 - 22:14
Fr/Sa 7/ 8 21:09 - 3:37 Mo/Tu 17/18 1:01 - 3:37 Fr/Sa 28/29 21:15 - 22:50
Sa/Su 8/ 9 21:09 - 3:37 Tu/We 18/19 1:34 - 3:37 Sa/Su 29/30 21:15 - 23:22
We/Th 19/20 2:08 - 3:37
Su/Mo 9/10 21:10 - 3:37 Th/Fr 20/21 2:43 - 3:37 Su/Mo 30/ 1 21:15 - 23:51
Weekend Sun Sun Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Sa/Su Set Rise Rise Vi Set Vi Set Vi Set Vi Set Vi Vi=Visibility
1/ 2 19:24 5:16 4:55 - 21:56 -3 21:03 5 21:57 -1 19:47 - -3 brilliant
8/ 9 19:27 5:15 4:26 9 22:01 -3 20:55 6 21:35 0 Rise 0 conspicuous
15/16 19:30 5:15 4:06 6 22:03 -3 20:47 7 21:13 1 4:57 - 3 moderate
22/23 19:32 5:16 3:57 5 22:03 -3 20:37 8 20:51 3 4:33 9 6 naked eye limit
29/30 19:33 5:19 4:00 4 22:01 -3 20:27 9 20:30 5 4:09 5 9 binoculars limit
By Erich Karkoschka
TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
June 1 (Saturday)
Come out and enjoy the early summer skies! What makes this event special is that our novice members can get help with observing issues or equipment problems. There will be experienced members present who would be more than happy to help. If you don't own a telescope, don't worry. There will be lots of scopes set up and everyone is invited to look through them. This is a great way to check out the different telescope designs before you make that all-important decision to buy. There is no scheduled talk for this activity. Just come out with lots of questions and we'll do our best to get you the answers you need. If you have friends who might be interest in amateur astronomy, bring them along. Directions to the TIMPA site are located on the outside flap of this newsletter.
TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch)
June 8 (Saturday)
Las Cienegas (formerly Empire Ranch) has been our normal dark-sky observing site for quite a number of years. Las Cienegas is about 4000 feet in elevation, so be prepared for cool 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 Las Cienegas on the outside flap of this newsletter
Flandrau/UA/TAAA to Host Eclipse Viewing at Tyndall Parking Garage
June 10 (Monday)
See article in CLUB NEWS section of newsletter.
Marana Parks & Rec. Solar Program
June 11 (Tuesday) No. of Scopes: 1
The Marana Parks & Rec. Dept. has requested a daytime activity for a group of summer program kids. There will be about 60 - 70 kids in this group. The program will be 1 to 1 1/2 hours long and will require a solar filter. The children will be "shuttled" out to the telescope in groups of about 20. This program will be held at the Coyote Trails E.S. on Silverbell Road in Continental Ranch. Please contact John Kalas at 620-6502 or via e-mail at jckalas@aol.com if you would be able to help out.
Pima County Natural Resources Star Party Northeast
June 14, Friday No. of Scopes: 5
This star party is being held at the Lew Sorenson Community Center and is located at 11100 E. Tanque Verde Road. From Houghton Road and Tanque Verde Road, go east on Tanque Verde for 1 mile. The center is just east of Tanque Verde Loop Road as it intersects Tanque Verde Road. There is a parking lot located on the east side of the school. Turn right into the parking lot. The set up area is on the grassy area on the north side of the school buildings. Set up is at 7:45 with viewing from 8:15 to around 10:00 or so. A Star Party leader is needed for this event and a sign up sheet will be available at the June meeting.
Mt. Lemmon Women's Club Star Party Mt. Lemmon/Summerhaven
June 15, Saturday No. of Scopes:2-3
This promises to be a VERY fun event for those members that sign up. The fun begins with a picnic (free to TAAA volunteers that sign up) at Olga and Fred Pace's cabin around 5:00 (directions to follow). At or just before 8:00 everyone will head up to the Iron Door parking lot near the ski area for set up. This area has a wonderful orientation across the San Pedro Valley for deep sky observing. To get to the Pace's cabin: Take the Mt. Lemmon Highway to the last bend before reaching the town of Summerhaven (bear left at the Ski Valley junction). Look for Tucson Ave. It is the last left before reaching the town. If you see the Post Office, you've gone too far. There is a "Pace" sign with an arrow on the tree at the right side of the entrance to Tucson Ave. Travel up Tucson Ave and bear left at each of the next two forks. The second fork is Pace's driveway. Their cabin is to the right. The cabin phone number is 576-1420. If you are coming from central Tucson, give yourself AT LEAST 1 hour, probably more to get to their cabin. Also, you will be at almost 9,000' elevation so be prepared for chilly weather. For those considering staying on the mountain for the evening, there are a number of places to camp. In addition, there are a number of cabins available for rent. For more information on rentals call Jeff Buzek at 760-4578, but don't wait until the last minute to make reservations. A star party leader is needed for this event and a sign up sheet will be available at the June meeting.
Tucson Children's Museum Star Party (Downtown)
June 22, (Saturday) No. of Scopes: 3
This is the second year we've been asked to support this event, and our support was greatly appreciated for last year's three star parties with this organization. The Children's Museum is located at 200 S. 6th Avenue. Take Broadway, west to downtown Tucson. Turn left (south) on Scott Avenue and proceed to 12th Street. Turn left (east) on 12th Street. The museum will be to your right side. The set up area is located on the southeast corner of the museum lawn and is at the intersection of 6th Avenue and 13th Street. Set up is at 7:45pm to 8:00pm with observing from 8:30pm to around 10:30pm. A Star Party leader is needed for this event, and a sign up sheet will be available at the June meeting. Please consider supporting this worthwhile event!
TAAA Board of Directors Meeting
TAAA Board Meeting
May 14. 2002
Board Members Present: Andrew Cooper, Terri Lappin, Thom Peck,
Steve Peterson, Robert Callanan, Bill Lofquist, Jane Tongate.
Other members present: John Kalas, George Barber, Steve Rjatts,
Paul Olson, JohnPaul Sosville.
Meeting opened at 7:07 pm.
Introductions of members present were made.
Before adjourning, results from the May election were recorded given to the Secretary.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Tongate
Secretary
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