20120106ACAKBMin
The
Astronomy Club of Augusta held its January 9, 2012 meeting at ASU at 7PM.
Attendance totaled: 20.
Appropriately
enough for the first New Year meeting, we greeted old friends and welcomed new
members to the club.
The
President opened the meeting, promoted the sign-up sheets and asked for
volunteers. She re-affirmed what I believe we all believe, that Observing is
"the real deal". To that end
we are all looking forward to another great year of observing, beginning with
our monthly Star Gazes on Jan 21. We are also planning a road trip to Roper
Mountain on Apr. 13-15 to observe through the 23" Clark/retired US Naval
Observatory refractor. Those who are interested may read more about it and sign-up
below, and help make further decisions on agenda and means at our Star Gaze on Jan 21.
Our
program began with an enthusiastic Welcome to Astronomy Jeopardy (combined with
trivial pursuit)!. Our host was the
gracious Michelle Maurer, and the grand final orbitrator
of this universe was John White.
It
all went very well. There are people who cannot see the fascination with the
stars. We have met them. But it is not really trivial pursuit. It was all
relevant astronomy information. Those who did know the answers shared them with
those of us who did not. We both were enriched. If you were interested in
astronomy you had to have enjoyed the experience. Stan was congratulated and awarded a poster
for the most points. The President thanked us all for taking the challenge,
thanked our moderators with certificates of appreciation and some starry
posters, and thanked our sponsors: Snickers, Gold Coins, Inc., and Frank and
Debbie Space Foods.
Special
thanks also to Virginia Adams and Doug Neal for giving us an early assist at
the sign up tables.
Pre-meeting
sign-up sheets:
1.
Attendance
2.
new Membership & Dues
3.
ACA Polo shirts - 6 left
4.
Refreshments - volunteers needed for Mar 2,
May 4
5.
2-Minute talks - volunteers for May 4, Jun 1
6.
ACA Leadership and Officers: volunteers for 2012-13
7.
Roper Mountain trip - sign-up below
Before
our meeting, new members set up their Celestron c8
NGT reflector and garnered help from several members on assembly, collimation
and tracking. They will bring all parts
and set up again on Jan 21.
After
our program, ASU kindly turned off the lights at 9PM, just as we came out to
observe the moon and enjoy Frank & Debbie's tailgate refreshments in the
ASU parking lot. Thanks to Gary O. for
bringing his scope. Several were
interested to learn how to organize and record their lunar observing along with
Virtual Moon Atlas and the AL Lunar list.
Respectfully
submitted,
Kenneth
Beard
20120128ACAKBMin
The
Astronomy Club of Augusta held its January 28, 2012 Star Gaze at 6PM at Nine
Mile Range. Attendance totaled 17.
West
sky: Stan refreshed my memory about Venus. Tedda
coached me to find Theophilus on the western edge of
Mare Nectaris, identify, view with high power, and
record on my AL Lunar observing list.
North
sky: Pat showed us some interesting
sights in Auriga. Tedda
narrated the Perseus - Cassiopeia myth and pointed out
these constellations in the sky.
Suddenly
clouds covered the whole sky. We decided
this was the time for our break. We had
the usual great chili, veggie & chip snacks, coke, coffee, and hot chocolate.
Our President
quickly went over some club business. Tedda appointed
Michelle as our ALCOR, to receive copies of all related correspondence. Tedda called for
volunteers to serve on the By-Laws update committee, and Nominating committee. Two 2-minute
talks were confirmed. There are 6 ACA
logo Polo shirts left. We are promised authentic Hindu refreshments in the near
future. John's wife, Judy found that Publishers Clearing House 800-645-9242 is
offering Astronomy magazine for $12/yr for members. Jay Dunn will be our speaker
on Mar.2, Fri.7PM, at RPSEC.
Tedda asked Carol to
describe her plans for the ASU-ACA Astronomy Night on Mar.3, Sat. Carol said we would observe on the ASU campus
quadrangle. She is just in the process
of preparing advertising and time, and will provide Tedda
with details before Feb. 3 meeting. Several
people volunteered to help. We need
more, so please email if you want to help now.
We
have a great plan for our trip to Roper Mountain on April 13-15. Michelle volunteered to find places to eat
for our group on Apr.13, Friday late afternoon, Apr.14, Saturday supper, and Apr.15,
Sunday breakfast/brunch. Please see
details below. We have 13 members signed
up to go so far. Please sign up below if
you want to participate.
We
have tentatively resumed a club tradition where if anyone has any form of media
of astronomical interest, we loan it to other club members to enjoy and then
return. Tedda loaned Hal Irwin's book, To Rule the
Night to Vinay, Kenneth has donated a DVD by Irwin's
Company, and Stan has the book, Packing
for Mars, ready to loan. Eddie,
Michelle, Stan and I received some help
from John on how to repair and complete Michelle‘s father's Dobsonian
telescope. He also showed us how to remount the club refractor. Break
over, clear skies again! We went back out to observe. I was all wrapped up but it
seemed chillier than I recall the whole winter. South
sky: John and Mark alerted us to a rare
treat – Canopus rising. Tedda pointed out Alphard, the
heart of the Hydra. East
sky: Vinay and
Lalit used the 8- inch and showed us Mars. Vinay, Lalit, Sarabjot
and Simarjot add another group of members who are
good at finding Messier objects. In particular I recall being shown globular
cluster M3, between Arcturus and Cor
Caroli in the late eastern sky. Stan helped us translate
our view from ipad to telescope, a challenge in which
we all got involved. Stan,
Tedda, Vinay, Lalit were still going strong at 1AM when I left.
They wrapped it up soon thereafter. Respectfully
submitted, Kenneth
Beard Roper Mountain Leave: Apr.13, Fri. 2PM
- Return: Apr.15, Sun. Meet at
1:30PM at Subway at SW corner of I-20 at Edgefield Hwy 19. Leave at 2:00PM. Map
directions: (Pat)
Motel Check-in We
can arrange to stay at nearby Days Inn. Days Inn, 60 Roper Mountain Rd., Greenville, SC 29607, 1-864-297-9996.
http://www.daysinn.com/hotels/south-carolina/greenville/days-inn-greenville/hotel-overview Two full beds: One rm: $50+5tx.
More than 2 adults, add $3 each. Age 17 & under: free with parent. Confirm ahead. Pay each room with individual credit card
on arrival. Continental breakfast. Supper together - TBA (Michelle) Apr. 13, Fri.5-10PM The
RM Science Center Clark/Former US Naval 23" Refractor will
be open to the public and for us to view through. Apr. 14, Sat.9-1 The
RM Science Center (62 acres) will have an Open House. Entry fee ~$4-5. Lunch
available there. (Michelle) Apr. 14. Sat. 1-5PM Clemson
U. Planetarium has invited our ACA for a show and tour of its workings.
CAAA has accepted our invitation to join us for this. Rain- come on home.
Otherwise: Apr. 14. Sat. 6PM - Sun. morn
Clemson Area Amateur Astronomers (CAAA) have invited us to a picnic supper and to star
gaze/camp with them at Walhalla, SC, "a
very handy location for most of our club, which is private property belonging
to friends of the club. Although not our darkest
location, it does have an available out building with some plumbed facilities which we think will best
accommodate your group’s “camping” requirements and potential weather refuse. If desired, it could also provide for a
“hamburger-hotdog” kind of picnic for the Saturday evening meal, get together,
and set up time."
April 15. Sun. Morning Brunch or picnic
breakfast (Michelle)
Drive Home
If this sounds like lots of fun to you,
please confirm with email below before Mar.17
so we know if we have enough people to pursue
this project further.
There
are lots of details and other people going out of their way for us,
so
we have to commit or cancel.
Print Name Email
Phone Will Drive /Can take Will pay motel rm
Have tent/air mat
Will ride with / need Ride Will
room with__ Need tent/air mat
Email if you want to go
now.