October 12, 2014
Dear ACA Members,
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic support of SEED
this year. We had more ACA participants
this year (24) than ever before. I’m
sure that we talked with more than 400 kids this year at our many interactive displays. The lifelong inspiration rate is never 100%,
but I always hope that some of those kids found a spark of interest in science
and astronomy yesterday. Not all of them
were just trying to find the answers on a checklist. As each kid came by, I always looked for that
spark in the shine of their eyes and then tried to do my best to fan that spark
into a flame that could survive a lifetime.
Who knows, we may have talked with one of the first colonizers of Mars
yesterday or to the scientist who finally figures out dark energy! Every life has a pivotal moment, and our
interactive displays may have been the beginning of 100 years of scientific
interest for someone.
We had some wonderful displays this year. It looked like we had non-stop interaction
from before 10:00 until we started the
big cleanup effort near 3:00 pm. I’m
sure some of us talked ourselves blue in the face during the day. I suspect that the kids were not the only
ones to gain more insight in this enriching experience. I hope that each of you felt a glow of pride
and satisfaction in your effort to help push the interest of science just a
little deeper into the universe. We are
proud that the ACA was so well represented in this endeavor. Even before the last fence post finally came
out of the ground, I think we had the beginnings of new ideas for next year’s
presentations.
What else can I say?
You did a tremendous job for which I wish to thank each of you. Hopefully, we’ll have a video before long
that at least reflects the flavor of the spirit that was interactively displayed
to each kid yesterday. You each earned
at least one attaboy/attagirl
for your participation in SEED this year!
Stan Howard
2014 ACA Vice President of Observing
20141024ACAMin
The Astronomy Club of Augusta met on
October 24, 2014, Friday 5:00 PM at NMR-DSO.
Nineteen (19) attended.
People started arriving early so
they could set up telescopes before eating.
Everyone brought something for a table full of goodies in the Gallery of
the Solar System (breezeway): Halloween
punch, spooky napkins, John’s BBQ, buns, potato salad, plenty of beans,
multi-bean salad, Waldorf salad, veggie platter, pasta salad, Wisconsin
pickles, cranberry sauce, more potato salad, coleslaw, and desserts: cherry pie, rhubarb pie, blueberry cobbler,
blackberry swirl ice cream and bear claws - all so good.
There was lots of conversation about SEED success, the Astro Assoc. of Daves, and entries to the Bean Count Contest. Everyone had a chance to win 80% of the jackpot by entering a guesstimation of the number of big white jack beans in the bottle, $1.00 per guess. We had 14 guesses. Our guest, Dave Cotterell came closest to the correct number. He graciously donated his winnings to our club donation fund. Total = $14.00!
Although Stan and Dave C. had tested
the computer set up last week, it took some time to execute “Plan B” after Dave’s computer refused to cooperate
in running Powerpoint. Luckily, Stan just got his desktop computer
up and running after last week’s switching power supply total meltdown.in time
to use it as an emergency spare backup operating system through the TV. Tedda had elevated the TV so everyone would
be able to see clearly.
She brought the
group’s attention to a thank you note from Reese K, now in High School and Boy
Scout Eagle, (Stan attended his Eagle Scout graduation ceremony last spring)
for our part in his memorable experiences in a goat chasing/astronomy weekend
his troop enjoyed at NMR-DSO some years ago.
Stan introduced our speaker, Dave Cotterell, a personable guy from the North York
Astronomical Society, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
We first met him at the Winter Star Party last February. He was in our Tiki
Hut Circle. Stan won tickets to Star
Fest, NW Ontario, and he and Tedda went in August. Dave and his club were wonderful hosts! Dave spoke at Peach State Star Gaze this week. He was happy to present one of his favorite
topics, Double Stars, to us this evening.
Dave talked to us with pictures,
photos, diagrams and charts, even some music.
He reminded us that almost half of all the stars we can see are double
stars. Although some are optical
doubles, most are true doubles, gravitationally affecting each other. They range from almost equal in size, like
the “car headlights” in Ares, to those very unequal in size, such as Polaris A & B. They may
both be the same color, but we also enjoy very different colored stars, like
the blue and gold of Alberio and the Almaak pair.
Astronomers have charted the time of revolution of some doubles, and in
this way it has helped them determine the size of these stars. Dave was clear, to the point, and helpful to
our observing outside. We were all
anxious to get outside to find doubles.
Thanks, Dave.
Outside the weather finally cleared
after about an hour. Capella was in the
North, in the East Uranus was noted and mentioned with jokes only an astronomer
or adolescent could love. Vega was in the West and Fomalhaut in the South.
We had a great opportunity to view
with naked-eyes, binoculars, and with our best scopes: John brought a mount for the Televue Genesis, but it was used manually after the power
source was needed for troubleshooting for the LX200. Even so, Stan used the Genesis to show us
doubles: Alberio, Almaak,
the Car Headlights in Ares, and the Andromeda galaxy. Ervin, Mark and John set up the club 12”LX200
and John was able to focus on clearly separated Polaris A&B. Pat Noisworthy met
his list of items he wanted to observe.
Our guest from Canada treated us to
some stories of his Mongolian adventures. Suzanne Harris brought her husband,
Gary to view for the first time with us.
Ray had to leave early. Darrell from the martial arts club
Mike, Cathy, and Michael enjoyed it
all. Mary Glenn is becoming a regular
too. Little Eagle and Jean invited us to the November Pow-Wow. Mark took some astro
photos. Stan and Tedda were under the weather.
Tedda came out to see, but didn’t touch anything! We hope they feel
better soon.
And the stars moved on.
20141025
Kenneth, VP Programs, attended GRAM (Georgia
Regional Astronomical Meeting), and it was great: THEY GAVE US E-MAILS FOR ALL THE
PARTICIPANTS! Ken was allowed to stand up address the whole auditorium. Jay
Dunn voiced his approval of us. Prof. Jones seconded it. Ken promised if they came and fed the mind,
we would feed the body.
Kenneth deserves another
program-arranging kudo from the club!
Respectfully submitted,
Kenneth Beard and Tedda Howard
