The Celestial Observer

 

Newsletter of the North Shore

 Amateur Astronomy Club

 

 

November, 2006

 

 

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From the President

Some months I know what I will write about days in advance. Some months I actually write the letters days in advance! And then there are the months in which I have no idea what I’m going to write about until my fingers are on the keys and it’s an hour before the editor’s deadline!

 

We just had the annual NSAAC picnic on September 30. How many of you knew that? It wasn’t announced until two weeks before the date, and we didn’t give it much fanfare. That’s because we almost didn’t have a picnic this year. It would have been the first year that happened since the club was founded in 1989. Ilane Walberg, one of the longest-standing members in the club, came forward as the picnic organizer at the last minute in order to save the tradition. I basically did not want to take on the burden of organizing the picnic this year and was prepared to let it pass by if nobody volunteered.

 

About ten people and one dog attended the picnic and we had fun! We would have had solar viewing if I had not forgotten the filter... I now understand why Ilane did not want the tradition of the picnic to die. The picnic really is a true club tradition. One has to attend and hear the stories of the picnics from the early years of the club to understand why it is such a tradition and should not die. In 2007 I’ll be hosting the club picnic at my home in Billerica. It will be on either the June or July full moon weekend, and we’ll be even more shocked than we are when we see each other in the daytime because it will be a pool party! More on this after we deal with 100 inches of  snow…

 

We are planning to observe the Mercury Transit on November 8 from the parking lot of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. The lower western horizon there will offer us a longer viewing time than Veasey Memorial Park. The transit begins around 2:00 pm. Be there early to be ready for first contact. Birders, bring your  binoculars, we’ll be in a bird sanctuary! It looks like a fair number of us are planning to attend this.

 

I received many positive comments on my Cygnus Constellation Conversation at the October meeting. It would be great for us to have more of these for our cloudy meeting nights. I’ll help anyone who wants to do one of these who does not know how to make a presentation with the PowerPoint program. I can also help with the astronomy software images. You can start working on your constellation without having a deadline, and then present it when it is ready. Talk to me if you would like to do one of these and have me help you with it.

 

Kevin Ackert

President

 

 

NSAAC Welcomes Our New Member:

Jeff Hayes of Reading, MA

 

Jim Koerth,

Membership Director

 

Minutes of the NSAAC Business Meeting,
October 13th, 2006

President Ackert called the October Business Meeting of the NSAAC to order at 8:20 PM. President Ackert called for introduction of new members: There were none. There was one guest; Jeff Hayes who became a paid member after the meeting.  There were 10 members present plus 2 Board members.  There was an official quorum. 

 

Secretary:  The president made a correction to the September Minutes to reflect that the PayPal link was not yet on the website.  The amended minutes of the September Business meeting were accepted by acclamation.

 

Treasurer: No report.

 

Membership:

There has been one new member since the last business meeting.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Merrimack College:

Kevin opened the observatory on Sept 28, but the last two Wednesdays have been closed.  The status page has been broken, but has been repaired.

 

Salem State:

Dennis Gudzevich repaired the motors on the drive system for the scope.  It is up and running again.  The observatory will be closed the week of Halloween on Wednesday, Nov 1.  Dennis was contacted by Mark Miller a Saugus High School teacher who wants to take students to the observatory.

 

Star Parties: No other star parties scheduled.     

 

Young Astronomers Program:

The next program will be in March or April of next year and we plan to approach schools directly for participation.  The club will be pursuing grants this fall to fund the program.

 

Telescope Clinic:

There have been no contacts for the clinic since the last meeting.  The Telescope Clinic page needs to be rewritten with clearer instructions for participants.

 

Upcoming Events:

IRWS has sent a list of black out dates for no observing on Saturday nights.  The last date is October 28th.

 

We did not win the Astronomy Magazine award, but we have a link on their website:

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=aid=4493

 

VMP work weekend was well attended and we are in good standing with our hours for the year; about 4 hours over.

 

Old Business:

Salem State observatory volunteers have been working for a number of years and are growing tired and are looking for someone to receive training and perhaps to take over the program.  See Dennis Gudzevich if interested.

 

The Comcast e-mail problems have almost been resolved. 

 

The PayPal account is open.  The website needs updating to allow the use of PayPal and therefore the Application/Renewal form also needs updating.

 

New Business:

There is some interest in observing the November 8th Mercury transit, but the trees at VMP may be a problem.  Kevin will try to see if we can use the IRWS site for this event.  Let Kevin know if you are interested in participating.

 

Birdseed day at IRWS is Nov 4th and we need about four or more volunteers for this event.  Please let Kevin Ackert know if you plan to be there.

 

Kevin will check with the Treasurer to find out the status of the calendars and RASC handbooks.

 

The entertainment for the evening was a Cygnus Constellation Conversation presentation by Kevin Ackert.  

 

Board Meeting will be Monday October 23rd at 8:00 PM at VMP.

 

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.

 

Respectively submitted,
John Hobbs, Secretary NSAAC (with thanks to Rick Margolies for note taking in my absence).

 

Help Wanted

Below is a list of positions which need to be filled in our club. Please consider volunteering for one of these positions if you have the means. Please contact any Board member with questions about these positions

 

Long Term Positions:

 

Merrimack Observatory – N. Andover: One of our Merrimack staff people has resigned and we now have a position open. This new staff person will be responsible for opening the observatory one Wednesday per month if clear. Current staff can most likely alter which Wednesday they have to accommodate the new person. Full training on the operation of the observatory will be provided before the new person would go it alone. Also, a current staff person will attend the first public night with the new person. This is an excellent opportunity to learn a new skill and advance your astronomy hobby to a new level! Interested people please contact m_staff at nsaac.org

 

Collins Observatory -  Salem State: The same two people have been doing this job for years and are looking for someone to train to take over the observatory.

 

Short Term Positions:

 

Star Party Season is upon us. Please watch for announcements by Star Party coordinator Jim Foy for these events. This is a great way to support your club in a fun and easy way, and with a very short commitment! These star parties for local area schools are an important aspect of our club’s commitment to the public.

 

Birdseed Day, November 4

Bird seed day is when we show our appreciation to Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for allowing us to use their parking lot as an observing venue. We unload sacks of seed from a truck, then distribute it to people arriving in cars. Coffee, donuts, and homemade lunches are provided. We unload the truck from 8:00 to 9:00, then distribute the seed from 9 to 12 in the IRWS parking lot.

 

Star Party News

The next star party is the first good weather night, either November 29 or 30 2006, at Sanborn Elementary School, Lovejoy Road, Andover, MA.  The evening will be divided into three 30 minute programs: telescope observations, presentation and snacks.  Each group rotates to one area every 30 minutes, which will minimize lines at the telescope.  Telescope and program set-up time is 6:30 to 7:00PM.  The rotating program starts at 7:00PM.  About 150 to 200 people attend the event.  At least five telescopes are needed.

 

Directions to Sanborn School, Lovejoy Rd, Andover, MA:

 

From the North:

Take Rt 93 South and get off at exit 42, Dascomb Rd.

At the end of the exit ramp take a left onto Frontage Rd.

At the traffic light take a left on to Dascomb Rd. Travel 7/10 of a mile.

Take left at light onto Lovejoy Rd.

Sanborn is 8/10 of a mile on the left.

Visitor parking is the last entrance.

 

From the South:

Take Rt 93 North and get off at exit 42, Dascomb Rd.

At the end of the ramp make a right on to Dascomb Rd.

Travel 1/2 mile and make left at light onto Lovejoy Rd.

Sanborn School is 8/10 of a mile on the left.

Visitor parking is the last entrance.

 

Jim Foy

Star Party Coordinator

 

 

Astrotalk

 

by Barrie Sawyer

 

Survival Kit

 

Most of us bring along a container or two with extra stuff when we head out from home to the observing site. Here is a list of some of items I bring to insure a good night.  I keep it all in a single storage bin with a tray and a drawer that is sturdy enough to sit on.  The items are dedicated to the bin so I don’t have make sure I everything beforehand.  Be sure to replenish items you use up.  

  • Laminated telrad finder charts, a foldable chart, planesphere , Norton’s star atlas
  • A pair of pliers, a couple of screwdrivers, and a crescent wrench.
  • Spare batteries for everything that uses them.
  • Insect repellent, wool hat, gloves, disposable hand warmers.
  • A small pack of tissues, optical cleaner, lens brush.
  • Antacid tablets, migraine meds, and decongestants for my allergies.
  • My 7x50 binoculars, laser pointer and laser collimator.
  • The 2 to 11/4 eyepiece adapter and my helical fine focus adapter.
  • A combination red/white light flashlight and a regular flashlight for when I’m breaking down or looking for the expensive filter I dropped. 
  • A box containing a mini electric heat gun,  battery clips, extension cord.
  • A fishing vest though it has way more pockets than I need.
  • A folding magnifier and stand with a large lens for reading charts.

 

That’s about it.  If you any suggestions, send them along and I will include them in a future article.  

 

 

Entertainment for November

If we don’t come up with something else, we will be watching an hour long movie clip on the recreation of Galileo’s telescopes. Jim and Rhoda Morris have a combined total of 82 years experience in physics and chemistry, and they built recreations of both Galileo’s working and presentation telescopes. They did a live presentation for the ATMoB club a few months ago and this is a video of that event.


 

Getting to Veasey Memorial Park

From Interstate 95 north, take the Route 133 west (54B) exit, and follow it into Georgetown Center.  Go straight through the light, now on Route 97N.  Go about 1.5 miles and take a left onto Salem Street (Tea Garden Restaurant at this intersection).  Stay on Salem Street and turn left onto Washington Street. VMP is down a bit on the right.

 

Directions to all of the NSAAC observing sites are available on our web site's “About” page at:

        http://www.nsaac.org/about.htm

 

 

Contact Information

For more information about the club and its activities, contact Kevin Ackert, President, e-mail at president at nsaac.org.  If you have no email access, you may phone Kevin at (978) 663-5305

 

Our club web site is: http://www.nsaac.org.

 

The Celestial Observer is edited by Leor Zolman. Feedback, and member contributions are welcome. Contact: newsletter at nsaac.org.

 

New development on the NSAAC web site is currently being coordinated and implemented by Mike Deneen. Suggestions regarding the content of the NSAAC web site are always welcome; Please email webmaster at nsaac.org with your ideas.