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29° 39' N, 82° 21' W
FirstLight Newsletter of the
Alachua Astronomy Club November 1996
October Star Party — Randy Palmer October's Club Star Party was held in Chiefland FL, in
conjunction with the Annual Chief/and Star Party
Iwent a day early on October 10, just to check out the site and to make sure I could find it in the dark.
Right away, I was very impressed and ended up staying the entire night. AAC members Joe Larkin and Bud Cridlin were already there from the night before.
The weather was beautiful, perfectly clear until about 1:30 a.m. The site, equally beautiful, being a large open field with very low horizons in all directions, dark sky, private neighborhood (only astronomers!), private showers, bathrooms, polebarn, picnic tables, observatory with 14" S/C, electric outlets. I could go on and on.
There was astrophotography going on, astro imaging, varoius computer programs running and lots of telescopes, ranging in size from the most basic to the 16" Meade S/C and several 25" Dobsonians
Not having planned to stay the evening, I was not completely prepared so I just slept in my truck.
Saturday, October 11, was interesting. This was the fijrst time in my life I've left my telescope set up during the day while I wasn't there! It was like leaving my kids at Summer Camp for the first time.
The weather took a turn for the worse, late that afternoon, and it looked like a no-go. I had to return for my scope anyway so we packed a tent and some food and hoped for the best. The cloud cover remained until about 2 in the morning. Then, one by one, the crowd began star gazing. Looking up from our tent, we counted 12 meteors in only 20 minutes.
One final note...congratulations to my son David on finding the telescope he has been wanting for so long. A fellow from Orlando was selling his Astro Scan 2001. Now, we are a "two telescope" family. All in all, a great star party. See you on November 16 and December 14 at Bob's house.
FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 2
Updates for ACC Web Page — Howard Cohen
If you haven't been to the AAC home page on the Internet lately, you should surf by and check it out
1. Lunar eclipse photos by David Muir ~ great job Dave! David is also taking over the club's Web picture page.
2. Ordering info for the Observer's Handbook 1997. This will also appear in this newsletter, as an insert, but you can be sure of meeting the ordering deadline by going to the Web page.Pam Mydock will have a sample book at the November meeting.
3. Ordering info for the Astronomy & Space Desk Calendar. Chuck Broward will have a sample at the next meeting.
From the Sidewalk
It sure was cloudy for most of last month. And when it finally cleared up I got busy at work. I did, however, get to share some sidewalk astronomy with a few folks in Adel, GA. (You know, "King Frog" discount outlet shopping mall.)
I set up October 28, in the mall parking lot, right next to 1-75. Talk about light pollution...there were only 5 or 6 stars
4. Letter to Voice of the People about our "Missing Solar System." If you missed this in the October 17 Gainesville Sun, you can read it on our Web site.
5. A link to the Astroscopers Home Page has been added to astronomy clubs on our AAC Web page. The Astroscopers are the folks who run the Chiefland observing site. Check out their page ~ it's filled with neat pictures they have taken. #2
— Randy Palmer
visible to the naked eye. I had 12 customers that night and none were disappointed.
The seeing was very steady and with Saturn high in the sky, it may have been the best views yet of theringed planet. I could easily see cloud bands and 5 of Saturn's moons. It was 2 days past the full Moon, so we enjoyed some good lunar viewing also. O
FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 3
Membership Roster Chuck Broward
AAC FirstLight Publisher, Chuck Broward (aka Mr. Meade-less), has provided us with an up to date roster. Hang on to this issue; this list
should be useful
Dexter Avery 339 W. Sugerberry Ln Beverly Hills Fl 34465 352-746-3778
Gilbert Bernardo Rt. 3 Box 98 Branford Fl 32008 904-935-0340
John Brandorff PRES 3838 NW 62nd PI. Gainesville Fl 32653 375-1043
Charles Broward PUB Rt.2 Box 2915 Melrose Fl 32666 475-1014 392-1051 [email protected] [email protected]
Howard L. Cohen VPRES 1501 NW 28th St. Gainesville Fl 32605 376-5833 392-7742 [email protected]
Mark Cowan 1944 SE 2nd Ave Gainesville Fl 32641 375-2564 [email protected]. us
Bud Cridlin 4226 NW 77 Terrr Gainesville Fl 32606 352-374-8599
Dan Del Rio Southern Cross Astro Soc 5601 SW 196th Lane Ft. Lauderdale Fl 33332
Ming Chang 4117 SW 20th Ave #103 Gainesville Fl 32607 338-7861
Marcus Ford 2404 NW 71st St Gainesville Fl 32606 377-0684
George Chappell 825 SE 2nd. Ave Gainesville Fl 32601 373-4024 392-1051
Dave Godman 2615 Charingcross Dr. SW Roanoke Va 24018 540-774-3337
FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 4
Joe Haldeman 5412 NW 14th Ave Gainesville Fl 32605 378-1841 [email protected]
Malcolm Heath Rt. 12BoxD401 Lake City Fl 32055 904-752-8596
Robert Jacobs HOST 9617 NW 143rd St Hurricane Harbor Alachua Fl 32615 462-4558
Richard H. Jarnagan 8008 NW 31st Ave Apt 505 Gainesville Fl 32606 375-6528 [email protected]
Joe Larkin 114NE7thSt #1 Gainesville Fl 32601 352-380-9707 [email protected]
Eddie Lichi 4415 NW 70th Ter Gainesville Fl 32606 378-7275
Gary Liljegren Box 99 Gainesville Fl 32602-0099 373-2636 372-6900fax [email protected]
Kristin Liljegren 2323 SW 355th PI., Apt 3E Gainesville Fl 32608 338-1274 [email protected]
Don Loftus TREAS & Ryan Loftus 14903 NW 29th St Gainesville Fl 32609 462-1227 392-1011 [email protected] [email protected]
Rowland Medler 1041 NE 20th Ave Gainesville Fl 32609 376-2900 [email protected]
Eli Meister 10314 SW County Rd 346 Archer Fl 32618 495-1672
Dragan Momcilobic 1402 SW 10th Terr #13 Gainesville Fl 32601
David Muir 7125 NW 47th Ct. Gainesville Fl 32606 371-6697 392-0312 [email protected]
Pamela Mydock CO-EDITOR PO BOX 42 Lochloosa Fl 32662 481-5238 392-9020 [email protected]
FirstLight: Newsletter of the
Peggy Nuttel 14203 SE 161st PI Hawthorne Fl 32640 352-466-4750
Randy Palmer STARPARTY PO Box 218 Gulf Hammock Fl 32639 352-486-3235
Bruno Pancorbo 3500 Horton St. #101 Raleigh NC 27607 919-782-5370
Doug Richards 10444 SW 41 st PI Gainesville Fl 32608 373-1086 392-2894
Duane Sandene CO-EDITOR PO BOX 42 Lochloosa Fl 32662 481-5238 395-0316
William R. Spencer PO Box 894 Branson, Fl 32621 352-486-6174
Mike Stringfellow 2331 NW 13th PI Gainesville FL 32605 376-4633 [email protected]
Astronomy Club Page 5
Jan Sugalski PO BOX 12148 Univ Station Gainesville Fl 32604 485-2847
Jim Swift 6310 SW 35th Way Gainesville Fi 32608 378-7023
Charlie Tarjan 3426 SW 75th St Gainesville Fl 32607 377-7403
Seth Turlington PO Box 342 Lacrosse Fl 32658 462-1443
Robert Wilt 4524 NW 23rd Ave AptE Gainesville Fl 32606 380-0561 [email protected]
Astronomy Dept Rm211 SSRB University of Florida Astronomy Dept Gainesville Fl 32601
FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 6
October Meeting Minutes — Pamela Mydock October 8, 1996, at Doyle Conner Building in Gainesville
Note from Editor: See this space next month for October's meeting minutes. Sorry for the delay...
Club Star Parties — tentative dates & locations
• November 16 (Saturday Night); rain date November 23.
• December 14 (Saturday Night); NO rain date. This get-together is a combination Star Party—Meeting—Annual Party. It will be a potluck dinner, like last year. There will be a sign up sheet at the November monthly meeting. Also, it is Tycho Brahe's birthday!
• January 11-?? (Saturday Night); rain date January 18--??.
Upcoming Club Meetings and Events
November Club Meeting
Date Tuesday, November 12th Time 7:30 p.m. Place Auditorium, Doyle Conner Building, 1911 SW 34th St. Speaker: Distinguished Service Professor, Dr. Alex Smith, UF Astronomy Department, will present a talk about global warming from an astronomical POV.
January Club Meeting
Date Tuesday, January 14th Time 7:30 p.m. Place Auditorium, Doyle Conner Building, 1911 SW 34th St. Speaker: Dr. Humberto Campins, Associate Professor of Astronomy, UF, will present a talk about comets—in preparation for the arrival of Comet Hale-Bopp in early 1997.
FirstLight: Newsletter of the Alachua Astronomy Club Page 7
November Executive Council Pamela Mydock
November 5, at Morrisons Restaurant, Gainesville FL
Kanapaha Moonlight Walk Review: The Gardens awared AAC with a check for $ 100 for our treasury. Thanks to all who attended, including: Howard and Marion, Bob, Randy and retinue, Don and son, Pam and Duane, Bud, Charlie, Dale. We had 10 'scopes.
Solicitation of Club Members for Speakers for 1997: We need at least six AAC members to come forward with topics and speakers for the coming year's programs. There will be a sign-up sheet at the November meeting.
Officers for 1997: The current officers have volunteered to fill their current positions for 1997, except for the office of Secretary. The floor will be opened for nominations at the November meeting. Yours Truly, Pam Mydock (acting as editor AND secretary for far too long now), will be spending her "free time" in graduate school at FSU.
Orders for Observer's Handbook for 1997: An insert has been added tothis
edition of the newsletter for your convenience. This is a considerable savings over the list price.
Solar System Model: The President is looking for volunteers for a committee to work on ideas for a replacement for the vandalized signs.
Upgrading Club 'Scopes: The President is looking for a volunteer to evaluate the current state of the Club's two telescopes. He will be asking for some expert advice at the November meeting.
Education Activity: Gary said that he and Chuck have set up two daytime demos at Glenn Springs on 11/12 and 11/26. Sec Gary if you can help.
Holiday Party: Come celebrate Tycho Brahe's birthday with the Club on Saturday from 6 p.m. to whenever. We arc planning some games and pri7.es this year. Come early and stay late! <J
AAC meets every second Tuesday of each month, at 7:30 p.m., in the Doyle Conner Building, 1911 S.W. 34th Street, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, USA.
General public and beginning stargazers arc invited to all meetings, star parties and club events. No equipment needed. Call an officer (area code 352) for more info or e-mail [email protected]
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
John Brandorff Gainesville (375-1043)
Howard L. Cohen Gainesville (376-5833)
Ryan and Don Loftus Alachua (904-462-1227)
OPEN
Star Pnrtics
FirstLight Editors
Publisher
Randv Palmer Brons'on (528-9614)
Pamela Mydock and Duane Sandene Lochloosa (481-5238)
Chuck Broward
World Wide Web Home Page at URL http:/Av>v>v.astro.un.edii/~cohcn/aac
November 1996 Astro Calendar (Times EST)
Fri
Sat
Sun Tue Fri Sun Tue
Thu
Fri Sat Sun
Tue Wed
Sun
d 1
2
3 5 8
10 12
15
15 16 17
17 20
24
h m 07:00 Julian Date 2,450,389.0 (12:00 UT) 19 Mercury (mag. -1.4) at superior conjunction 14 S Taurid Meteor Shower
(1/4 peak duration = 30 days, ZHR = 15) 02:50 Last Quarter Moon 03 Mars (mag.+1.2) 5° N of Moon 05 Venus (mag.-4.0) 1.4° N of Moon 23:16 New Moon 13 N Taurid Meteor Shower
(1/4 peak duration = 30 days, ZHR = 15) Comet Hale-Bopp (~mag. +4%) in W sky at end of twilight about 8° S-SE of Beta Ophiuchi
00 Jupiter (mag. -2.0) 5° S of Moon 13 Venus (mag. -4..0) 4° N of Spica (mag. +1.0) 09 Leonid Meteor Shower
(1/4 peak duration = 4 days, ZHR = 12) 20:09 First Quarter Moon 10 Saturn (mag. +0.8) 3° S of Moon 12 Mercury (mag. ) 3° N of Antares (mag. +0.9) 19 Pluto (mag. +13.8) in conjunction with Sun 23:10 Full Moon
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