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Desert Skies
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Volume XLIX, Number 2, February, 2003
Contents
Main Meeting: Friday January 3, at the Steward Observatory Auditorium - Room N210
Beginner's Lecture: 6:30 pm
The TAAA for 2003
Andrew Cooper
Our club president will be giving a rundown of what our club is doing, what programs the club has to offer and what our plans are for the next year. This should include details on the TIMPA project, the land search committee looking for an even darker site, coming events we have planned, astronomical league programs and more.
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 in first-come, first-up order. Contact Andrew Cooper at taaa@seds.org to get your name on the list of presenters.
Board of Director's Meeting: Wednesday, Feb 12 7:00 pm at Steward Observatory Conference Room N305
Star Parties and Events:
Newsletter Schedule: Deadline for articles: Mon, Feb 17. Printing: Mon, Feb 24. Folding Party: Tues, Feb 25. Mailing: Wed, Feb 26. The newsletter is mailed at least one week prior to the following month's General Meeting.
Note: The board of directors meeting is the first Wednesday after the monthly meeting. The astrophoto SIG is the first Thursday after the monthly 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 Steve Marten 906-0049 steve1636@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
It may be winter, and there is supposed to be an El Nino event going on in the pacific, but we have had great skies lately. I hope you have had an opportunity to make use of them! I heard that the January TIMPA event was well attended, so there must be some of you that don't mind the cooler weather.
The rapid progress at TIMPA has not slacked off this month. We finished running the power to the observing pads and laid out the forms for two more pads. At the moment there are two pads available for use, with access and power all set up and going. Many thanks to those who came out and helped! It looks like one more work party will finish the immediate goals, set up the forms for a couple more observing pads and get concrete poured in.
We have a full schedule of school star parties again this month. I hope you can find a spare evening or two to help out with this program. Jupiter and Saturn grace the evening skies this month making these school events so enjoyable. Even in the city these planets let us bring a sight to remember to anyone, be it a virgin eyeball or one of us jaded veterans. Nothing like the ringed planet to create a smile, even if I get accused, usually jokingly, of putting a picture in the telescope at least once a star party.
See you out in the dark!
Andrew
Member News
We welcome the most recent members to join the TAAA: Thomas R Andrews, Mike and Grace Bross, Marvin Chapman, Edward Doran, Judy Drury, Jeff Hedspeth, Brian O'Connell, and Jim Shultz. Glad to have all of you join! New members should 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.)
Astro-Photo Special Interest Group
13 February 2003
China Rose, 7pm, NE corner Speedway/Rosemont
As normal, we'll again be meeting in the China Rose "Sky Room" on the Thursday after the regular TAAA meeting. It is a great relaxing venue to show off your recent astro-photos, or see what others have been up to over some great Chinese food. There have been a wide variety of images lately, from simple tripod shots to advanced CCD images, so no matter what your level of expertise or interest, there will likely be something for you to enjoy. Come join us!
Refreshments
Refreshments are in jeopardy. No body has volunteered to serve as Refreshments Host for two months. The signup sheet will once again be in the meeting room near the door for anyone to sign up. We are seeking Refreshments Host for the next few months, so please consider providing this valuable service to our members. Sign up for a single month if you prefer.
Refreshments Host brings cookies, soda, ice, and whatever other supplies are needed to the meeting. They set out the refreshments shortly before the main lecture ends and then cleans up after the feast is over. The TAAA reimburses expenses up to $25.
Flandrau Science Center Star Party
February 7-8
Jupiter Near Opposition: Public Viewing Event. Here are two chances to show the general public Jupiter, Saturn, the bright winter sky and a thick crescent Moon on the UofA mall with the folks at Flandrau Science Center. Jupiter is close to opposition, and the UA basketball team is not playing in Tucson, making this a good opportunity for public outreach. Join Flandrau Science Center on Friday, February 7 and Saturday February 8, 2003 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., weather permitting (set up recommended at 6-6:15 p.m., no later than 7 p.m.). Flandrau Science Center will need lots of volunteers for the two nights of celestial viewing to handle the expected large crowd on the grassy mall in front of Flandrau. Lights on the mall will be specially turned off for the event. Parking on the grassy portion of the mall near or at the observing area will be only allowed with permission, in advance. If you intend on helping out (or have special parking needs) please let Michael Terenzoni at Flandrau know via e-mail (miket@ns.arizona.edu) or phone (621-3646). A sign up sheet will be available at the February meeting.
Solar Telescopes Needed
By John Kalas
A little history... Back in November, a gal from Raytheon organized a highly successful one-day Math & Science FunFest at Ventana Vista Elementary School. It consisted of a wide variety of companies, government agencies and institutions (UofA and PCC) setting up demonstrations and exhibits around the school campus. The students circulated to as many exhibits as they could during the entire school day. I participated as a representative of the TAAA and set up a solar telescope and a display table with another gent from Raytheon.
The activity was such a huge success that the coordinator sought to develop the idea into an event that could reach many more students in southern Arizona. She has arranged that the Math & Science FunFest be held again, only this time in a much larger venue at the Tucson Convention Center in conjunction with the annual Southern Arizona Regional Science & Engineering Fair (S.A.R.S.E.F). The activity is scheduled for two days; Thursday and Friday, March 20th and 21st from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The coordinator would love to have the TAAA participate again in this larger format. Since there will be many more students involved in this big event, it would be difficult to solicit large numbers of solar telescopes, particularly on a weekday. It would be nice to have each student look through the eyepiece, but it may not be practical. Instead, a few telescopes equipped with video cameras could project the images onto large TV monitors and service a much larger audience. Video cameras, like the Meade Electronic Eyepiece ($89.), could be utilized to capture the images. We might even be able to get an electronics store to loan us some large screen TV's. It's just a thought.
I have offered to help coordinate the solar observing exhibit. Being that this is not a weekend activity, it may be difficult for some TAAA members to get the time off from work to support this event. If anyone would be interested in participating in this activity, please contact me at 620-6502 or via e-mail at jckalas@aol.com.
Science Fair 2003
The TAAA board will discuss our participation in the Southern Arizona Region Science and Engineering Fair 2003 at our next meeting. In the past we have awarded students who enter excellent projects in the field of astronomy or optics. We need at least two TAAA members to view the projects and select one project per age group (3 awards - Elementary, Middle, and High school grade levels) that is worthy of our recognition. The science fair judging takes place on Tuesday, Mar 18th. Usually a couple (or three) TAAA members look over the lower level projects in the morning and then interview the high school students (they are present from 1:00 to 3:30pm). This all takes place at the Tucson Convention Center. Few TAAA members would argue our dedication to young people considering the number of school kids we reach each year through our school star parties. This is a way we can encourage individual students who show promise in the field of astronomy or optics. I've always enjoyed reading over the projects and awarding those that stand out above the rest. If you can serve as a judge, or if you have questions (or need your arm twisted a bit), please contact Terri at 579-00185 or tklappin@earthlink.net. No formal science training is needed, just an interest in youth.
We Thank Our Members
Last year, when many non-profits suffered from decreased donations, our members came through for us. Many made generous donations of their time attending star parties for both school kids and convention groups. Those that supported the convention groups really helped our efforts at TIMPA. Funds received from the convention activities are earmarked for the TIMPA development. Lots of thanks to John Kalas for making sure our convention star parties are covered. (Already this January he has arranged star parties that will bring in over $900! If you can help him by bringing your telescope to one of these events, be sure to let him know you are available. Many of these events don't make the newsletter!) There are many TAAA members talking to kids in the classroom through their work with Project ASTRO. We also had the wonderful support of our elected and appointed officials who keep things going smoothly for our members. There are lots of other ways our members have offered donations of time and we greatly thank every one of you.
The only negative thing we've experienced this past year is a slight decrease in membership, which has dropped by 3% since January 2002. (Currently we have 373 members.) This is the first long term decrease in membership we've seen in years. A number of our winter visitors have decided they can't afford to spend the winter in Arizona and have chosen to not renew their membership. This accounts for some of this decline. Hopefully this decline will level off in the next few months.
Donations of money totaled $2117.60 in 2003, which is an increase of 16% over what we received last year from our members and friends! A large part of this total was donated through our "Automatic Donation" program. This is a method for members to make monthly donations to the TAAA without writing a check. It's easy on you and the TAAA gets a monthly donation in your name. (If you want information about this program talk to the Treasurer.) We will soon be mailing letters for tax purposes to those who gave in excess of $50 in donations. (Dues, magazines, and the TAL fee are not considered donations.) If you believe you donated and don't receive a letter, contact the Treasurer. The donations received last year are broken into the following funds.
General Fund $321.50
TIMPA Project 244.00 *
Education Fund 145.00
Light Pollution Fund 392.10
Land & 30" Telescope Fund 1007.00
Library 8.00
Donations by members/friends $ 2117.60
* Does not include money from convention star parties.
We surely overlooked someone in this article and we apologize. We thank everyone who contributed something to the TAAA. We look forward to a successful 2003!
"HEY BOYS AND GIRLS, WHAT TIME IS IT?"
by Rik Hill
Have you been out observing and seen that unusual event but not had accurate UT readily available? Have you tried to divine the secret code of the Julian Date? Do you know the Sidereal Time...right now? Well there are a number of tools available on the web to help you know these things at any given moment.
Universal Time is available at many sites. The ALPO has a direct link to the U.S. Naval Observatory and shows 20 seconds of UT on its main web page at:
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/alpo/
if you need more time just hit the "refresh" or "reload" button for another 20 seconds. This time is accurate to better than one second and thus good for most purposes. If you want to go to the source for this time you can go to:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/what1.html
This will be a bit more accurate as the route is usually more direct. National Institute of Standards and Time (NIST) has a website with a lot of time information, including a link to WWV, WWVH and WWVB at:
http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/service/its.htm
The current time with a nice world day/night map is linked at:
http://nist.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Mountain/s/-7/java
but you can't be behind a firewall for this to work. If you are computer savvy you can obtain more accurate time by downloading the Network Time Protocol software at:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/ntp.html
This will put your computer in direct communication with the USNO Master Clocks and will adjust your computer clock to better than 30 milliseconds. However, if you are behind a firewall you will have problems with this. Read the information on the page above.
In variable star observing they have abandoned the earth based Gregorian calendar and use Julian Date (JD) that is a count of time since January 1, 4713 B.C. This day begins at noon GMT or UT and if expressed as a Gregorian date is called Greenwich Mean Astronomical Time or GMAT. So Feb. 1 GMT will be half over when Feb. 1 GMAT begins and the Julian Day of 2,452,672 begins. There are two nice converters for JD at:
http://wwwmacho.mcmaster.ca/JAVA/JD.html
http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/JulianDate.html
Both work equally well. I use them when making variable star reports. Much better and faster than the 1960s and 1970s method of using a calendar and tables for fractions of a day!
Unix/Linux users can download a nice little widget that will compute
Julian Date on your machine at:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/jday/
For Linux/Unix users there's a nice bit of freeware at:
http://melhuish.info/simon/projects/download.html
called SClock. Once loaded into your system it creates a nice little widget digital clock that continually shows you the sidereal time. O.k., now what' s the star time, or Sidereal Time? One of the best websites for this is again at the USNO:
http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/sidereal.html
You don't even have to know your latitude or longitude as it has many cities in its database. If you want more localized control, at:
http://astronomy.physics.tamu.edu/download/
there is Astronomy Clock which will display on a PC, both Universal Time/Date and Local Sidereal Time.
Lastly, there is a page with every kind of time system you can imagine, available for use or download. There's 3-D clocks, Doomsday clocks, a Bill Gates Wealth Clock, World Clocks and a Zym Clock (whatever that is!) .
So now you have all the time in the world!
As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at:
Steward Observatory Public Evening Lecture
Since 1924 Steward Observatory has hosted public evening lectures in astronomy. The Steward Public Evening Lectures are held two Mondays each month when classes are in session. The Spring 2003 schedule is provided here and can also be found at http://viking.as.arizona.edu/~taf/pubeve/pub_lect.html. The lectures are held in the Steward Lecture Hall (N210), the same room we hold our meetings. Following each lecture, the 21-inch telescope will be available for viewing the night sky (weather permitting). The lectures and the use of the telescope are free of charge and open to the general public.
Date Speaker Topic
Jan 27 Dr. Peter Strittmatter - Steward Observatory: Past, Present,
& Future
Feb 10 Dr. Betsy Barton Gillespie - When Galaxies Collide
Feb 24 Dr. Robert Kennicutt - The Accelerating Universe: Problem
Solved or Problem Revealed?
Mar 10 Mr. David Levy - Reflections on Four Decades of Comet Searching
(Reception/book signing following lecture)
Mar 24 Dr. George Coyne - Galileo Still Haunts the Church
Apr 7 Dr. Joan Najita TBA
Apr 21 Dr. Xiaohui Fan - End of the Cosmic Dark Ages
New Vistas In Astronomy
Lectures in Astronomy Free to the Public In the Santa Cruz Valley
The Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory takes pleasure in presenting its 33rd year of public lectures on astronomy and astrophysics for the Southern Arizona community. The series presents recent discoveries in astronomy, local research projects, and modern methods used to explore the universe.
Thursday, February 13
7 p.m. (note evening time) Hectospec: 300 Eyes on the Sky
Szentgyorgyi, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Please note that the dates and times vary.
All lectures are held in the Green Valley Recreation Center West Auditorium, Green Valley, Ariz. Each 45-minute illustrated lecture is non-technical and intended for the interested layperson. A question-and-answer period follows each lecture. Admission is free and open to the public . For more information, call the Whipple Observatory Visitors Center at 670-5707.
Annual Spring Meeting of AAVSO
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is having its annual spring meeting in Tucson on April 22 thru 27, 2003. Details of the meeting items ,topics, and registration forms will be posted on their Web site >www.aavso.org< in the near future. David Levy and Dr. Tim Slater will be acting as co-hosts for this meeting.
Desert Sunset Star Party - May 1-4, 2003
Registration is now online for the Desert Sunset Star Party. Please check our website (http://chartmarker.tripod.com/sunset.htm) for details about this new star party and to get your registration forms. We have speakers who will talk on a variety of subjects such as identifying stars, supernovae, Mars and the weather in the Southwest. We will have vendors present and door prizes, and a contest for the best Simple Astronomy Tool (SAT). We also have lots to do during the day and have scheduled tours to Mt. Hopkins (Whipple Observatory), BioSphere 2, and the Univ of AZ Mirror Lab. Catered meals will also be available. If you do not have web access, please contact a club member to get the forms. We hope you will be able to join us.
Chart Markers and More
Pat and Arleen Heimann
http://chartmarker.tripod.com
LIGHT POLLUTION ACTION
Through the years, TAAA members have listened to seemingly endless discussions of light pollution, loss of the night sky, and the unceasing campaign to preserve the nighttime environment for all earthlings. Perhaps TAAA is the best-educated astronomy club in the country on the topic of outdoor lighting, because we have so much at stake in the astronomical community. How we use our awareness and express our concerns is one proof of our cosmic connections close to home.
International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), with deep roots in Tucson, via Tim Hunter and David Crawford, is the catalyst for worldwide action on quality outdoor lighting. Southern Arizona Section of IDA is the local base for education and action in Pima County and metropolitan Tucson. Several members of TAAA are very active in SA-IDA, including John Polacheck, Brian Skinner, Bob Callan, and Darryl Nye, among others. Ask these "front-line warriors" how education, linked with recent developments in lighting technology, can promote enforcement of local codes that protect our dark skies for all citizens.
As a major tool in saving the stars, Pima County has adopted a new outdoor lighting code, and this code is now in effect. Of course, we need your help in calling for strict enforcement of the new code. If there is a problem light in Pima County that bothers you, relay the information to SA-IDA at the section's e-mail address (info@sa-ida.org) If you want to learn more about the activities of SA-IDA or participate in lighting tours of Tucson, check the internet at www.sa-ida.org. Usually the Southern Arizona Section meets on the second Wednesday of each month at IDA headquarters. This is your opportunity to meet with other activists and to have your opinions heard in making a difference where you live and observe.
You know what "glare" and "light trespass" are; now go forth with your knowledge and complaint forms to protect your back yard, TIMPA, and TAAA's future dark-sky site. And clear your calendar for IDA's Annual Meeting in Tucson March 20-23. And stay tuned for "dark-sky week", April 1-8 for more local events showcasing quality outdoor lighting. For more information refer to www.darksky.org, your international source for saving the stars.
Grand Canyon Star Party
21-28 June, 2003
North and South Rims
Greetings all! Now that the new year is upon us, it is again time to make plans for this year's Grand Canyon Star Party. Why the rush to start thinking about attending, you ask? It is because it is very difficult to find motel rooms if you put it off, so unless you are the hardy camping type, you should think about it early and make reservations while you can.
This year's event has been pushed back a little later than we've ever had it in June, and we risk some pre-monsoon clouds, but I've always heard complaints from folks when we have it early in the month because their kids are still in school, so we are pushing it back a bit. The Canyon will be crowded and the sky dark, so make those plans now. By the time you read this, the website should be updated with the latest information, including phone numbers of places you can make reservations. That website, of course, is www.63.134.241.238/gcsp.html. And you can always contact me for information as well. For those of you who've been camping with us the last few years, I do expect to receive a number of campsites again to distribute to those staying the full 8 days (Saturday thru Saturday) with us. Signup for those will again be in March, so check for further information in the March newsletter.
Dean Ketelsen 293-2855 ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
NOTE: These first star parties will take place before the February monthly meeting.
TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch)
Saturday, 2/1/03
Las Cienegas (formerly Empire Ranch) has been our normal dark-sky observing site for quite a number of years. Please 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. Expect very cold temperatures this time of year. 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. See the directions to Las Cienegas on the outside flap of this newsletter.
UofA Astronomy Students Star Party
Sunday, 2/2/03
This notice should have appeared in the January newsletter. The TAAA will support the first of two star parties for astronomy students from the UofA. The event will be held at the Saguaro National Park West in the parking lot at the Visitors Center. The activity runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Set-up will start at 6:00 pm and must be completed before 7:00 pm when the students arrive by vans. This is a fun event. The students are very interested and appreciative and will be asking lots of questions to complete their assignments for the evening. John Kalas is the coordinator. Several TAAA Members have already responded to an e-mail message sent out in January and have already volunteered. If you are interested but haven't volunteered yet, please give John a call at 620-6502.
Event: Holladay Magnet School Star Party South-Central
Wednesday, 2/5/03 No. of Scopes: 6
Holladay Magnet School, 1110 East 33rd St., will be holding their annual Star Party. From midtown Tucson take Campbell Rd. south. Campbell becomes Kino Pkwy after Broadway; continue over Aviation Parkway to 22nd St and turn right (west). Go about a half-mile to Park Ave and turn left (south). Continue on Park about one mile to 33rd St. just past Fremont. The viewing location will be southeast of the school buildings on the basketball court. Contact John Kalas at 620-6502. Jennifer Draper, Science Facilitator, can be reached at 225-1600 or email Jennifer.Draper@tusd.k12.az.us. Set-Up Time: 6:30pm Observing will be from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Sunset: 6:02pm, Dark Sky: 7:25pm Moon Phase: Crescent Moon
Event: White Elementary K-5 Star Party Southwest
Thursday, 2/6/03 No. of Scopes: 3
White Elementary will be holding a Star Party at 2315 W. Canada St. Get on I-10 TO I-19 south. Exit onto Irvington westbound (exit #89) to S. Mission Rd., turn left (south). Go 1/2 mile to W Canada St., turn right (west). School is on left side of street. The viewing area is on the south field near portable LRC 90B. Use the gate on Canada St. that is just east of the first parking lot; take the dirt road to the south field. Set-Up is 6:30pm, observing will be from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Contact person Anne Peralta can be reached at 623-2018 or email anne.peralta@tusd.k12.az.us. Sunset: 6:03pm, Dark Sky: 7:25pm Moon Phase: Crescent Moon
Event: Pueblo Gardens Elementary Star Party South-Central
Tuesday, 2/11/03 No. of Scopes: 5
Molly McKasson (w-225-2700) and Pueblo Gardens Elementary will be hosting Night With the Stars for students and parents. From Speedway and Campbell, take Campbell south (becomes Kino) to 36th St. and turn left. Continue east to Plumer, turn left, and proceed to 33rd St and turn right. You will see their parking lot on your right as soon as you turn right on 33rd. The viewing location is on the playground near the library (NE side of school). Set-up is at 6.30pm and observing time is 7 to 8.30pm. Contact Person: Molly McKasson 225-2700 (no email). Sunset: 6:06pm, Dark Sky: 7:29pm Moon Phase: Gibbous
Event: Wakefield Middle School Star Party South-Central
Thursday, 2/13/03 No. of Scopes: 4
The students and teachers at Wakefield will be hosting their special science event "Starry, Starry Night and the Arts" at 101 W. 44th St. Go south on 6th Ave., pass under I-10, and continue to 44th street; turn right (west) on 44th and go about one block to Wakefield (in back of Southgate Shopping Center). The observing area will be on the field adjacent to the school. Contact person Altagracia Carrillo can be reached at 225.3800 or email aazady@cs.com. Set-Up Time: 6:30pm Observing will be from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Sunset: 6:08pm, Dark Sky: 7:30pm Moon Phase: near Full Moon
Event: Ironwood Elementary School Star Party Northwest
Tuesday, 2/18/03 No. of Scopes: 7
Ironwood Elementary School Star Party will be holding their annual Third Grade Star Party at 3300 W. Freer Dr. Take Ina Rd. west to (or take the Ina exit from freeway) and proceed to Thornydale. Turn north on Thornydale to Overton (Walgreen's on northeast corner - 3rd stoplight north of Ina) and take a right (east) on Overton. Go 1/2 mile to Camino de la Tierra and make a left (community called Overton Heights) and follow the road to the end. School will be on your right. Drive through the gates to the left of the school to access the viewing area on the playground. Contact person Linda Penny can be reached at 579-5150 or email L.K.Penny@maranausd.org. Set-Up Time: 6:30pm Observing will be from 7:00pm to 8:00pm . Sunset: 6:08pm, Dark Sky: 7:30pm Moon Phase: near Full Moon.
TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
Saturday, 2/22/03
Come on out and enjoy the winter skies! TIMPA star parties are great for both beginners and experienced observers. Our novice members can get help with observing issues or equipment problems, as there are many experienced members there who would be happy to help. If you don't own a telescope, come anyways, because there are lots of telescopes set up and everyone is invited to look through them. This is a great way to check out different telescope designs before you make that all-important decision to buy. There is no scheduled talk for this activity, just come out and enjoy. We'll do our best to get you the answers you need. If you have friends or relatives who are curious about amateur astronomy, feel free to bring them along. The TIMPA site features a large parking area, and full restroom facilities. Be sure to dress warmly! Directions to the TIMPA site are located on the outside flap of this newsletter.
Event: Whipple Observatory Star Party
Saturday, 2/22/03
Once again, we have been invited to Whipple Observatory to help with their public star party. Telescopes provided by TAAA and the Sonora Astronomical Society will show visitors Saturn, Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and other deep-sky objects.
3:30 pm Visitors Center Opens
6:00 pm Informal lecture by observatory staff
7:00 pm Observing begins in parking area next to Visitor Center
Dress for cold evening temperatures. Small red flashlights and binoculars are useful to bring. Please cooperate with staff directing parking when you arrive. The parking spaces nearest the building are reserved for TAAA and SAS members and their telescopes. Visitors will be asked to vacate that area of the lot by 5:00 pm. For more information, call 670-5707. Follow the links on the TAAA website for location and background information.
Event: Desert View High Star Party Southeast
Tuesday, 2/25/03 No. of Scopes: 5
The students of Desert View High are preparing for another "Telescope Session" this semester at 4101 E. Valencia Road. From Speedway, proceed south on Alvernon and continue past I-10 and Benson Hwy. At Valencia turn left (east) and continue about 1/2mile to school on left (north) side of street (on Valencia between Alvernon and I-10). Set-up will be in the faculty parking lot's southeast corner. Contact person Jim Treat can be reached at 545.5210 or email jimt@sunnysideud.k12.az.us. Set-Up Time: 7pm Observing will be from 7:30pm to 9pm. Sunset: 6:18pm, Dark Sky: 7:40pm Moon Phase: near New Moon
Event: La Cima Middle School Star Party Northwest
Wednesday, 2/26/03 No. of Scopes: 4
La Cima Middle School is preparing for their "Starry Night" science
event at 5600 N. LaCanada. Take River Rd. west to LaCanada, turn
right (north). Go one mile north to the school (on right), use
the 2nd (north) entrance. The viewing area is on the north field
near the basketball court. Contact person Jeff Brydges can be
reached at 696.6795 or 6730 (no email). Set-Up Time: 7pm. Observing
will be from 7:30pm to 9pm . Sunset: 6:19pm, Dark Sky: 7:40pm
Moon Phase: (no moon during viewing session)
*** March Star Parties occurring before the next monthly meeting March 7th ***
TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch)
Saturday, 3/1/03
Here's another chance to enjoy the darks skies at Las Cienegas. See the article for Jan 4, above, for details.
Event: Cross Middle School Star Party Northwest
Wednesday, 3/5/03 No. of Scopes: 7
Cross Middle School will be preparing for their annual Star Party at 1000 W. Chapala. Take Oracle Rd. north and turn left (west) at Ina Rd. Turn right (north) at the first stoplight (Paseo del Norte). Continue to the stop sign and turn left (west) on Chapala. Cross is about one block down on the street on the right side. The observing location is behind the library/administration building. Contact person Toby Drakulich can be reached at or email tdrakuli@amphi.com. Set-Up Time: 6:30pm Observing will be from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Sunset: 6:24pm, Dark Sky: 7:46pm Moon Phase: Crescent
Event: Lulu Walker Elementary Star Party Northwest
Thursday, 3/6/03 No. of Scopes: 6
The student body of Lulu Walker Elementary will be holding a Star Party at 1750 W. Roller Coaster Rd. Take Oracle north to River Rd., and turn left (west) on River to La Canada (approx. 1 mile). Turn right (north) on La Canada to Roller Coaster Road. Left (west) on Roller Coaster to Lulu Walker Elementary School. The observing location will be on the northeast side of school yard/playground in a large, dark, grassy area. Contact person Laura Ward can be reached at 696.6510 or email ljcward@msn.com. Set-Up Time: 7pm Observing will be from 7:30pm to 9pm. Sunset: 6:25pm, Dark Sky: 7:46pm Moon Phase: Crescent
TIMPA Work Party
February 15
Our observing pads got a good initiation at the TIMPA star party last January. Work will continue on the observing pads. We will set up forms, pour concrete and finish any electrical work. We also need to cut down some large shrubs and expand the graveled turning and parking areas. So bring water, hats, shovels, rakes, and general hand tools. Work starts at 9:00 am and with the winter weather the morning will be cool and perfect for outdoor work. See you there!
TAAA Board Meeting
January 8, 2003
Board Members Present: Andrew Cooper, Terri Lappin, Jane Tongate,
Robert Callanan
Board Members Absent: Thom Peck, Bill Lofquist, Steve Peterson
Meeting opened at 7:07 pm.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Jane Tongate
Secretary
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