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Desert Skies
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
Volume L, Number 8, August, 2004
TAAA MEETING DATE: Friday, August 6 at Steward Observatory Lecture Hall - Room N210
BEGINNERS LECTURE: 6:30 pm
Andrew Cooper will be presenting one of the TAAA Beginners Lecture Series about telescopes. Specifically, he will be talking about methods for collimating both Newtonian and Schmidt-Cassegrain designs. Collimation is making the adjustments necessary to bring the mirrors in an optical system into alignment. To get the best performance out of your telescope the optics must be aligned. Good collimation can often make the difference between two otherwise identical telescopes. Andrew has a video and may be able to show us a live demo of the procedure. If you own a Newtonian reflector (which includes Dobs), or a Schmidt-Cassegrain, then this lecture may be very important to you.
GENERAL MEETING: 7:30 pm
Title: The Scope of Astrobiology
Speaker: Dr. Nick Woolf; Steward Observatory
Science fields have previously been determined by the theoretical methods and techniques that they use. Astrobiology in contrast is a field whose scope is set by what we want to learn. The questions of Astrobiology are centered on the mysteries that surround the origin of the Solar System, the origin of the Earth and the origin of Life on Earth. The information needed to understand what happened spans the full range of the sciences, and brings scientists together from disciplines that started separating over 300 years ago. In addition to this gathering of scientists, there is a huge interest in the general public about these topics, and how the view of our existence derived from Astrobiology affects our view of what humanity is, and what is appropriate for humanity to do, both in the universe, and to itself. Thus Astrobiology spans not just science, but the issues of humanities and religion. This talk will combine the presentation of a few specific scientific issues with a discussion of how Astrobiology is attempting to initiate cross-disciplinary communication here in Tucson.
Our lecture will be presented by Dr Nick Woolf. Dr Woolf received his PhD in astrophysics from Manchester University in 1959. He is currently a professor and astronomer at Steward Observatory.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Wednesday, August 11, 6:30 pm at Steward Observatory Conference Room N305.
STAR PARTIES AND EVENTS:
07 Aug - TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
10 - 13 - Aug - Perseid Meteor Shower
12 Aug - Astro-photo SIG Meeting
14 Aug - TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas
21 Aug - Opt Sci Graduate Student Star Party
NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE: Deadline for articles: Sat, Aug 21. Printing:
Mon, Aug 23. Folding Party: Tues, Aug 24. Mailing: Wed, Aug 25. The newsletter
is mailed at least one week prior to the following month’s General Meeting.
Office Name Phone Email
------ ---- ----- -----
President Thom Peck 327-7825 thomas.peck@optics.arizona.edu
Vice-President Michael Turner 743-3437 Mrmgturner@earthlink.net
Secretary Steve Marten 906-0049 TAAAStarParty@aol.com
Treasurer Terri Lappin 579-0185 tklappin@earthlink.net
Member-at-Large Ed Finney 296-9266 eefinney@NetZero.com
Member-at-Large Bill Lofquist 297-6653 wlofquist@aol.com
Member-at-Large Ray Toscano 529-3074 ray_toscano@Earthlink.net
Other Officers for 2003
School S. Party Schedule Coordinator Steve Marten 906-0049 steve1636@aol.com
School S. Party Volunteer Coordinator Robert Wilson 744-0263 rasjwilson@aol.com
Desert Skies Editor George Barber 822-2392 barbergj@flash.net
AstroLeague Correspondent Nick de Mesa 797-6614 demesan@onsetbeach.com
Astrophotography SIG Dean Ketelsen 293-2855 ketelsen@as.arizona.edu
Astrocomputing SIG Roger Tanner 574-3876 rtanner@seds.lpl.arizona.edu
Chief Observer Wayne Johnson 586-2244 mrgalaxy@juno.com
Webmaster Dean Salman 250-0407 E-Mail
Equipment Loan Coordinator (ELC) Jerry Penegor 320-1872 penegor@dakotacom.net
Club Sales Ann Scott 749-4867 lbscott61@cox.net
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
Boy does it ever get tough trying to do astronomical viewing during the Monsoon season. It seems like we might get a good sky, and then the window of opportunity closes with a clap of thunder. Oh well, like we always say, “we need the rain”. And it gives us time to fix our scopes, clean equipment, catch up on old business, and do things that astronomy takes time away from.
Many thanks go to Terri Lappin for handling the newsletter this month while George frolics in the land (and sea) down-under.
I, myself, had the pleasure of going to Glasgow, Scotland last month. I took a short side trip to Edinburgh and got to tour the Royal Observatory. There are no working scopes, but they have an incredible library. One can actually touch and thumb through a first edition of Newton’s Principia Mathematica. Also, there were first and early editions of Copernicus, Galileo, Hevelius, Brahe, Halley, and many others. Maybe I’ll bring images to show after the main meeting.
As September nears, remember that our star party season comes with it. Be sure to volunteer at a school star party. We can use the help.
Thom Peck
September Newsletter Submissions
By George Barber
My thanks to Terri Lappin, who coordinated the August newsletter while I was away. You may now resume sending your newsletter contributions to me at barbergj@flash.net .
Basha’s Thanks A Million Program
We received approximately $75 from Basha’s Thanks-A-Million program. Thank you to all TAAA members who signed up at their local Basha’s in support of this program. Your purchases made this donation possible.
Astrophoto SIG: CCD Workshops
A series of seminars covering all aspects of CCD imaging and image processing is being developed. The seminars are free but attendance will be limited to TAAA members. The series will cover the basics of CCDs and CCD cameras; classroom instruction on image acquisition; beginner through advanced techniques for image processing using specific software applications (e.g., MaxIm DL, Photoshop, etc). Sessions will include hands-on image processing labs (images will be provided but you’ll need your own laptop with the appropriate software applications installed). Instructors for these sessions will include Andrew Cooper, Steve Peterson, Dean Salman, and Gil Jones.
Session details are being finalized with the first session expected in mid to late August. Session outlines, schedules, prerequisites, and sign-up information will be provided via the TAAA’s Yahoo Announcement forum (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tucsonastronomy/). If you are not already a member of this forum you are encouraged to join. Otherwise you can also receive further information by providing your contact information directly to Ray Toscano, 529-3074, ray_toscano@earthlink.net.
Beginners Lectures
We have had a good response to our request for speakers for the TAAA Beginner’s Lecture Series. Over the next few months we will hear from Luke Scott and Nick DeMesa. We’ll also hear from Dean Salman who will talk about Constellation Identification. Beginner’s Lectures are about 30-40 minutes long. A list of topics we’d like to cover over the next 6 months is given below. Please contact Terri Lappin if you are interested in making one of these presentations.
The “TAAA Beginner’s Lecture Series”
1. Moon & Planets (solar system)
2. Stars & Our Sun (stellar evolution)
3. Telescopes and Their Use (Andrew Cooper this month)
4. Imaginary Lines (coordinate systems)
5. Deep Sky Observing (Nick DeMesa in December)
6. Important People in Astronomy (Luke Scott in Sept)
7. Cosmology
Member News
We welcome the most recent members to join the TAAA: Dave Bilgray, Jerry Farrar, Steven Filoso, Gary Hall, Joyce & Joseph Hume, Douglas Isbell, JJ & MB Johnson, Jill Oldham, and Jennifer & Shawn Ricksecker. 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 to any member at most regular meetings, so pick one up if you need it.)
Sheila Conrad is moving to Hawaii. Members will remember Sheila for the fabulous job she did with our 50th Anniversary dinner last January. We wish the best to her as she embarks on a long time dream of hers. Sheila can be reached at PO Box 383042; Waikoloa, HI 96738;or by email at sheilaconradme@yahoo.com.
Dean Ketelsen received the 2004 Clifford W Holmes Award at the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference/Astronomy Expo. The award is given by the people of RTMC to someone in recognition of their efforts in the "advancement and promotion of amateur astronomy". The award is well earned by Dean who founded the current version of the Grand Canyon Star Party 14 years ago. (The original star party at the Canyon was organized by John Dobson many years ago - and Dean will tell you he’s just carried on that tradition.) Good work Dean! We all appreciate the hard work you put into the GCSP.
Express Renewals
A new membership renewal system called “Express Renewals” is in place at our meetings. Members paying with a pre-printed local check, and who don’t require a receipt, will qualify for Express Renewals. An envelope will be provided into which you will put your check and any magazine renewal notices you may have. Then, place the envelope into a basket marked for this purpose. If all goes well, you will not have to spend time standing in line and you shouldn’t need to talk to the treasurer. This will give our treasurer more time to spend with our new members or those paying cash.
Annual Picnic in the Fall – October 30
We have reserved a huge ramada at Reid Park for our Annual Picnic on Saturday, October 30th. Plan on bringing the entire family for fun events. Terri will make a comet – great fun if you haven’t seen it done before, and surely we’ll have at least a solar telescope set up. Evening observing is possible but since it’s in town it isn’t definite yet. If you want to help with the planning of this event let Terri Lappin know.
Refreshments at Meetings
We are looking for a refreshments volunteer. Expenses will be reimbursed. If you are interested let our president, Thom Peck, know.
Project Astro
You are among the best candidates to become astronomer partners in Project ASTRO. If you have a desire to share your enthusiasm for astronomy with the community at large, involvement in Project ASTRO is a way to give back to the community, get children curious about science and possibly develop their interest into future careers. Your contribution would also enhance the teacher's knowledge and confidence in teaching astronomy. Consider this opportunity to make an important contribution to community service without excessive commitment. You could be a part of fostering the future. Testimonials supporting the Project ASTRO program can be viewed at http://www.noao.edu/education/astro_testimonials.jpg.
Project ASTRO-Tucson is an educational outreach program hosted by NOAO, which forms partnerships between teachers (grades 3 - 9) and astronomers (professional, amateur, and students). We have had eight successful years of Project ASTRO. To date, Project ASTRO astronomers and teachers have reached over 24,000 students throughout Arizona. In addition, Project ASTRO-Tucson is one of thirteen Project ASTRO sites nationwide. Visit http://www.noao.edu/education/astro_poster.jpg for a composite of photos and key elements describing Project ASTRO-Tucson.
Our seventh training workshop will be held in Tucson October 11 and 12, 2002. During the workshop and throughout the year resources (including solar telescopes, an encyclopedia of proven hands-on activities, and supplies for the activities) are given out or lent out at no charge. A preliminary workshop agenda can be found at http://www.noao.edu/education/astro_agenda.pdf.
We need more astronomers to partner with teachers who are eager to learn about
astronomy and do hands-on activities with their students. A minimum of 4 classroom
visits per year is all that is required. (Attendance at our upcoming workshop
is strongly recommended.) Please consider applying as an astronomer partner
to get involved in this worthwhile science education program. Join the "A"
Team! A workshop brochure and application form can be found at http://www.noao.edu/education/astrogram/workshopflyer_051104.pdf
and
http://www.noao.edu/education/astronomerapp_2003.pdf,
respectively.
For more information about Project ASTRO, visit the web page: http://www.noao.edu/education/astrotucson.html
or contact Connie Walker by email at cwalker@noao.edu or phone 318-8535. Applications
will be accepted through September 23.
The Perseids are coming...just listen!
August is usually not our best month for observing. It rains, if we're lucky, and it's hot and muggy. This is the season when Tucson amateurs often work on the indoor projects to get ready for our spectacular fall season of clear dry skies. This climatic situation often keeps us from enjoying one of nature's most enjoyable spectacles, the Perseid Meteor Shower. But have you ever thought of listening to the meteor shower? How about on your car radio? A couple of enterprising amateur astronomers Ian Musgrave and Bruce Young have put together a webpage of instructions, very simple, easy-to-follow instructions on how you can do this very thing at:
http://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/radio.htm
Unfortunately, many of the links at the bottom of the page are broken, as are many of the links to the International Meteor Organization (IMO) that I've tried, but this should not prevent you from pursuing this project. If you need more explanation another nice website of information is on the RASC-Edmonton Center website at:
http://members.shaw.ca/weskyscan/meteor_radio_detection.htm
Armed with these two websites you should be able to hear something in the upcoming shower and add a new depth to your enjoyment of the skies.
If you find all this fascinating and want to delve deeper go to:
http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/forwardscatter.html
This highlights several amateurs and professionals that have made their own specialized equipment. The antennae are no more than the old TV antennae that used to adorn our homes, now available for a buck or two at a garage sale. The receivers need be little more than an off-the-shelf FM receiver. How much more simple can it get? Some specific details about listening to the Perseids are listed at:
http://spacescience.com/newhome/headlines/ast13aug99_1.htm
For those adept at electronics and have solder to burn, there's the hard core radio meteor observers web pages at the American Meteor Society (AMS) and the International Meteor Org. (IMO):
http://www.amsmeteors.org/radmet.html
http://www.imo.net/radio/
They go into the details of making and setting up equipment for taking data, displaying and analyzing the signals.
The rain can come and we can still observe!
As always, if you know of a particularly good website you would like mentioned here, drop me a line at: rhill@lpl.arizona.edu
Kitt Peak Picnic Area Available to TAAA Members
The Public Outreach Department is implementing new programs and events throughout the current fiscal year, including a two-day CCD workshop this summer. Another fund raising effort involves the picnic area. Public outreach has reserved the area for use by TAAA members only on September 11, 18; and October 9. The area will be available from sunset to midnight for a fee of $10.00 per member, limit 30 members per evening. Reservations are on a first-come-first-serve basis and may be made by calling or emailing Robert Wilson at 318-8440 or rwilson@noao.edu. Reservations and cancellations must be made at least two days prior to the desired evening for purposes of staff scheduling and logistics. Payment will be made upon arrival and refunds will not be granted for weather, so check the forecast before coming up. Ideally, if there appears to be a demand for the use of the picnic area, we can make it regularly available for less or perhaps for free. In the meantime, consider the fee a donation to the outreach efforts of the Kitt Peak Visitor Center.
MDA Telescopes For Telethon (T4T) Golf Tournament & Star Party
On Friday, September 17 UBS, formerly UBS Payne Webber, will be hosting a fundraising golf tournament for MDA. Scott Genzman, the event coordinator, and one of our T4T Super Nova Sponsors, is planning an informal star party after the dinner talk that evening. The tournament will begin about 12:30, followed by a 5:30 dinner, and a presentation by David Levy. Once that is over, star gazing will begin. Additional information will be provided at the August meeting for TAAA members who want to help with the star party.
Subscribing to TAAA List Servers
(for TAAA Members Only)
Announcements: email tucsonastronomy-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tucsonastronomy
Forum: email taaaforum-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or join at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taaaforum
You must belong to Yahoo to join via the Yahoo web site.
TAAA Star Party at TIMPA
Saturday, 7 August, 2004
Come on out and enjoy the summer 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 prepared for a possible shower, as we are in monsoon season. Directions to the TIMPA site are located on the outside flap of this newsletter.
Astro-photo SIG Meeting
Thursday, 12 August 2004 7 pm
China Rose Restaurant, NE Corner Speedway/Rosemont
We’ve had some great presentations lately, with CCD images, planetary webcams, and film. Come see state of the art imaging and enjoy some Chinese food.
TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas (Empire Ranch)
Saturday, 14 August, 2004
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. Also, be prepared for a possible shower, as we are in monsoon season. 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.
Optical Sciences Center Graduate Student Star Party (at Kitt Peak) Saturday, 21 August, 2004
We need nine additional volunteers with telescopes for the Optical Sciences Center Graduate students picnic and star party at the Kitt Peak picnic grounds on Saturday, August 21, starting at 5pm. Food and drink will be provided. This event is limited to 10 telescope operators and 10 spouses/guests. Thom Peck is the Leader for the event.
Perseids 2004
This year’s Perseids should be a better show than last year’s when we had to contend with interference from the moon. This year, the moon will not rise until the morning hours and then it will be a small crescent. This shower is caused by debris left by Comet 109/P Swift-Tuttle. That comet last passed through this part of the solar system in 1992. Perseid meteors can be seen starting in late July, when the rate isn’t much above the background rate, until around the end of August when the rate again drops to the background level. Higher rates occur between August 10th (20/hour) and August 13th (30/hour). The earth will pass through the center of the debris field on the night of August 12 at 11 hours UT (that’s 4AM the night of the Wednesday 11th/Thursday 12th, Tucson time). Rates could be as high as 60/hour that morning, depending on your observing conditions. The only thing that might make a significant dent in your observing the Perseid meteors would be that 6AM alarm urging you to start your workday! If you do attempt to observe the shower, do so early in the morning and look towards the darkest part of your sky and as high up as possible. The meteors will appear to come from the North east. On the peak night the radiant (the point where the meteors appear to come from) will be located just east of the Double Cluster in Perseus.
There is an in-depth article about the Perseids in the current issue of The Strolling Astronomer, published by the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observer’s. The JALPO is only available to members of ALPO, but membership rates are very reasonable. Additionally, Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines have articles about the Perseid Shower in their August issues.
Since it is a weeknight, and the monsoons will likely interfere, the TAAA doesn’t
have a scheduled observing session for this celestial event. Those interested
in observing as a group might want to monitor the TAAA Forum List Server as
someone is bound to invite others out for a night/morning of meteor watching
with friends.
Object Of The Month
This month, the OTM is a member of the class of objects known as diffuse nebulae. In particular, it is classified as an emission and reflection nebula. Reflection and emission nebulae are often seen together and are both referred to as diffuse nebulae. There are many outstanding examples of diffuse nebulae in our Milky Way Galaxy like The Great Orion Nebula, M42; The Lagoon Nebula, M8; and this month’s object is another.
Emission nebulae are so named because their light is emitted from gas excited by energetic radiation ejected from nearby hot stars. The gas is rich in hydrogen and it glows with a distinctive red hue. The hydrogen is often mixed with oxygen, which provides green hues. The green and red light together also provide yellow hues. Reflection nebulae are clouds of dust which are simply reflecting the light of stars. They are also usually found in and around sites of new star formation. The interstellar dust scatters the light into the blue end of the spectrum producing a blue color. As a result, emission and reflection nebulae are some of the most colorful objects in the sky.
Without any further introduction, I present the August 2004 OTM: Messier 20 or as it is more commonly known, the Trifid Nebula. This nebula was first discovered by Charles Messier in 1764. John Herschel first coined the proper name for M20 as the Trifid (from the Latin word “trifidus” meaning to split) because during his observations the nebula appeared to be split into three lobes. This “split” is caused by the intersection of dark nebulae through the emission nebula itself. Incidentally, the dark nebula was designated by Barnard as B 85 in his catalogue of dark nebulae.
M20 is located in the constellation of Sagittarius. Distance estimates place
the nebula as close as 2,200 light-years and as far as 9,000 light-years. By
the way, the latter distance was made with the Hubble Space Telescope. Its apparent
dimension in the sky is about 28 arc minutes in diameter or just under the size
of the Full Moon in the sky.
Magnitude estimates place it at magnitudes 6.8 or 9.0. The brighter magnitude may be accounted for by M20’s central star which is a triple system of integrated magnitude 7.0. This central star is designated as ADS 10991 and consists of three components those being of 7.6, 10.7, and 8.7 magnitudes. All are extremely hot, young stars and account for the radiation that make M20 an emission nebula. In either case, the Trifid is an excellent object for all telescope sizes.
M20 is well placed for observation in the August time frame within the constellation of Sagittarius. From Tucson, if you go out at 9:00 PM on 15 August, you will find M20 at an altitude of about 35 degrees above the southern horizon. Since the Trifid is not visible to the unaided eye, you can star hop to it very easily. Start by first locating the constellation of Sagittarius. This constellation can easily be identified by looking for the asterism it contains known as “The Teapot”. Then locate Lambda Sagittarii, a 2.9 magnitude star that is the top part of the lid of “The Teapot”. Look about six degrees to the west of the star and there you will find, M8, the Lagoon Nebula, which is easily visible to the unaided eye. M20 can then be found by looking about 1.5 degrees to the northwest of the Lagoon Nebula (see Map, Figure I). If you have an automated Go-To telescope or setting circles, you will find M20 at Right Ascension: 18 hours 02.6 minutes and Declination: -23 degrees 02 minutes.
Though M20 is a very fine view in a telescope, it presents itself much better in an astrophotograph or CCD image. There are many fine images of M20 on the internet and I advise you to surf the net and find them. You can then really appreciate the beauty of the nebula as imaged through many telescopes by both professional and amateur astronomers. Even the venerable Hubble Space Telescope has taken images of M20 and you can find those at this HST link: http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/MSFC-0302064.html.
The smallest of telescopes with the right equipment can image M20 with very
impressive results. This author produced the 16 minute composite exposure shown
at Figure II, using a set-up (see Figure III) that consisted of a monochrome
Starlight X-Press SXV-H9 CCD camera and a 120mm f/5 Orion ShortTube Refractor
piggybacked on a 10” f/6.3. The image shows plenty of detail in the nebula
and you can clearly see dark nebula B 85, that divides M20 into three parts
and why it is called the Trifid Nebula. I would highly recommend this nebula
as a CCD imaging or astrophotography object. You will be rewarded with an image
you can proudly display. Good luck and have fun!!
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
Sa/Su 31/ 1 - - - Tu/We 10/11 20:42 - 1:33 Sa/Su 21/22 22:21 - 4:26
We/Th 11/12 20:41 - 2:23
Su/Mo 1/ 2 - - - Th/Fr 12/13 20:40 - 3:18 Su/Mo 22/23 22:59 - 4:27
Mo/Tu 2/ 3 20:52 - 21:09 Fr/Sa 13/14 20:38 - 4:16 Mo/Tu 23/24 23:45 - 4:28
Tu/We 3/ 4 20:51 - 21:39 Sa/Su 14/15 20:37 - 4:20 Tu/We 24/25 0:40 - 4:29
We/Th 4/ 5 20:50 - 22:08 We/Th 25/26 1:44 - 4:30
Th/Fr 5/ 6 20:48 - 22:35 Su/Mo 15/16 20:36 - 4:21 Th/Fr 26/27 2:54 - 4:31
Fr/Sa 6/ 7 20:47 - 23:04 Mo/Tu 16/17 20:34 - 4:22 Fr/Sa 27/28 4:07 - 4:31
Sa/Su 7/ 8 20:46 - 23:35 Tu/We 17/18 20:33 - 4:23 Sa/Su 28/29 - - -
We/Th 18/19 20:51 - 4:23
Su/Mo 8/ 9 20:45 - 0:09 Th/Fr 19/20 21:18 - 4:24 Su/Mo 29/30 Full Moon
Mo/Tu 9/10 20:44 - 0:48 Fr/Sa 20/21 21:48 - 4:25 Mo/Tu 30/31 - - -
Weekend Sun Sun Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Sa/Su Set Rise Set Vi Rise Vi Set Vi Set Vi Rise Vi Vi=Visibility
31/ 1 19:20 5:37 20:30 5 2:26 -4 20:10 9 21:18 0 4:05 4 -3 brilliant
7/ 8 19:14 5:42 20:05 8 2:22 -4 19:55 - 20:54 1 3:42 2 0 conspicuous
14/15 19:07 5:47 19:31 - 2:20 -4 19:40 - 20:30 2 3:18 1 3 moderate
21/22 18:59 5:51 18:50 - 2:22 -4 19:25 - 20:07 3 2:54 1 6 naked eye limit
28/29 18:51 5:56 18:10 - 2:25 -4 19:09 - 19:43 5 2:30 1 9 binoculars limit
By Erich Karkoschka
Attending: TAAA Board members Thom Peck, Michael Turner, Steve Marten, Terri Lappin, Bill Lofquist, Ed Finney, Ray Toscano. TAAA members Ken Wheelock, Nora Toscano. The board meeting was called to order at 6:35pm.
1. Publicity Director. Thom Peck appointed Ken Wheelock Publicity Director
for TAAA.
2. Treasurers Report. No unusual expenses for June. Each newsletter printing
cost is approximately $250. TAAA received $75 donation from Basha’s;
it was decided to post funds in the unrestricted donation fund. June Treasurer
Report approval motion seconded; unanimous. Terri requested that Board change
frequency of Treasurer Report to quarterly, motion seconded; unanimous.
3. Loan Agreement. Consideration of revising loan agreement regarding scope
operational failure. Agreement was tabled until next month’s meeting
to allow board members to review modifications.
4. TIMPA. TAAA TIMPA POC remains Andrew Cooper until further notice; Terri
assigned as alternate. Following reviewed by board: revised TIMPA Rules, revised
Key Keeper Instructions, TIMPA Access Card Temporary Usage Agreement, and
TIMPA Access Card Long Term Usage Agreement. Motion to approve all seconded;
unanimous. Board discussed dome damage in terms of cost of repair vs. potential
utility. The matter was tabled until further notice.
5. ASDM. Steve reported on planned meeting with board members and ASDM Marketing
Director Tim Vemmerstadt regarding security and publicity issues. Steve will
report on that meeting at August board meeting.
6. Nametags. Nametags will be ordered for frequent star party volunteers and
TAAA Officers.
7. Business Cards. New design under consideration. Terri will provide additional
information to board members; tabled until August meeting.
8. New TAAA Members Committee. Thom will present committee guidelines at August
board meeting. Board members are looking for chairperson for the committee
and experienced members to be resource for new members/greeters at monthly
meetings.
Adjourned 09:45 PM
Respectfully Submitted:
Steve Marten, Secretary
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