The Celestial Observer
Newsletter of the
Amateur Astronomy Club
March,
2007
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From the President
I understand
that the talk by Dr. John Briggs at the
February meeting was truly amazing, and a very entertaining event. I’m truly
sorry that I missed it. We will definitely have more talks in the future by Dr.
Briggs, and we’ll try to find and persuade more guest speakers to join us.
Our
entertainment at the March meeting will be “How to assemble, test, collimate,
and modify a Dobsonian mounted Newtonian telescope.” Members who own Newtonian
telescopes who would like to bring them and learn how to collimate them may do
so. Please contact me and let me know if you will be doing this so that we are
not overrun.
Jim Foy will
be doing an Astrophotography Workshop on a future date to be announced. The
workshop will not be done as entertainment on a meeting night. It will be held
at Veasey Memorial Park on a non-meeting night.
The March Meeting begins our new fiscal year and is also Election Day for the 2007 Board of Directors. Members should have their dues paid by the night of the March meeting. I am scrambling to complete the new on-line application form which will allow you to pay your dues on-line via our PayPal account. I also have to get the PayPal account onto the website. This may or may not be completed by the time you get this newsletter. Meanwhile, you can still pay your dues with the current form on the website; you just have to wait for the new form if you want to pay via PayPal. Those of you who receive the paper version of the newsletter will receive a renewal form in the mail. Those receiving the electronic version are asked to download the renewal form from our website at http://www.nsaac.org/renew.shtml. If you would like a paper renewal form mailed to you please contact me at president at nsaac.org or 978-663-5305. Remember, the new rule put in place last year allows for $5.00 late fee for late dues.
Astronomy Day is April 21. We will have the YAP program that day at Merrimack College. At least four to six people will be needed for that. We will host a public star party that evening either at VMP or IRWS; telescopes will be needed. And while I’m talking about April, get your taxes finished early because the New Moon falls on Tuesday, the 17th. I will be working with Barrie on having the first Starport party of the year on the nights of April 13th and 14th. Godzilla will be waking up from a long cold winter and will be very hungry for galaxies!
Kevin Ackert
President
Minutes of the NSAAC Business Meeting,
Rick Margolies called
the February Business Meeting of the NSAAC to order at
Secretary: The minutes of the January business meeting
were accepted by acclamation.
Treasurer:
No report.
Membership:
No new members.
Committee Reports:
Merrimack College:
New member Jeff Hayes is getting certified to run the observatory the
first Wednesday of each month. He will
run the first time Feb 7th with Kevin Ackert as the back-up. Fred Sammartino reported some problems with
the scope, but they have been corrected.
Salem State:
Weather has had the observatory closed most of January. Dick Collins and his son have indicated a
desire to help take over operation of the observatory, but have made no contact
with Dennis Gudzevich..
Entertainment Report:
The entertainment for this evenings meeting was a talk by John Briggs
of the Science Center of Dexter-Southfield School, Brookline, MA. The subject of the talk was Early American Telescopes and Their Makers. It was an excellent presentation enjoyed by
all and was extended about one-half hour at the members request. The group indicated that they would be
interested in continuing the topic at another meeting in the future. Mr. Briggs indicated his willingness to do
so. The entertainment of the March
meeting will be the set-up and collimation of the Dobs for the Young
Astronomers Program. Dave Fournier will
be doing a scope review in the spring.
Star Parties:
There was a star party this past Wednesday at Proctor School in
Topsfield with about 175 or more participants.
There were six scopes and clear skies and Kevin Ackert had the longest
lines with his 12.5“ DOB showing Saturn. The star
party at the Sanborn School, Andover MA, has been rescheduled for March 21 or
21 2007. There will be a star party at
IRWS Saturday Feb 3, 2007.
Young Astronomers Program:
The next program will be in on April 21, 2007 in conjunction with
Astronomy Day at Merrimack College. Ron
Sampson contacted Orion about the possibility of donating scopes or binoculars.
They did offer a discount on some older 8” DOB’s. The Board will take this issue up at the
board meeting. The letters announcing
the YAP will be ready for mailing shortly.
Upcoming Events:
Barrie Sawyer is looking for information on red dot and 1X finders for
an article he is doing.
Chris McCarthy fell down in his back yard and broke his hip. He has had
surgery to repair it and is recovering in Beverly Hospital.
Barrie and Danni had a car accident going down the icy road at
Starport. They are OK, but the car got a
little banged up.
Old Business:
We have 20 copies of Bob Crelin’s book “There Once Was A Sky Full of Stars” to donate to schools. We have given out a few books. Members are encouraged to take a book and donate it to their local library. See Kevin Ackert if you are interested in doing this.
Ron Sampson has drafted a letter to send to Long Hill 0rchard and farm in West Newbury as a possible observing venue. He will submit the letter to board for comments before sending.
Eric Margolies announced the slate of nominees for the upcoming
election in March. The slate is :
President: Kevin Ackert
Vice President: Rick Margolies
Treasurer: Theresa Earle
Secretary: John Hobbs
Membership: Jim Koerth
Members at Large: Paul Roy and
tom Rauschenbach.
Barrie Sawyer has signed the scope loan and Kevin will give the copy to
the Secretary at the Board meeting.
New Business:
Jim Foy will host an Astro-Photography workshop to be held at VMP in March at a date to be determined.
The Club will hold a star party at VMP for the public on Astronomy Day. Kevin has contacted VMP for their permission.
Club dues are due at the March business meeting or suffer a late fee. Dues must be paid before one is eligible to vote at the election of officers.
Board Meeting will
be Tuesday February 13th at 8:00 PM at VMP.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 PM.
Respectively submitted,
John Hobbs, Secretary NSAAC
Dues are Due - Annual Elections for BoD
Our annual elections for the Board of
Directors will be held at the next General meeting, Friday, March 2 at 8 PM at
VMP. All members are encouraged to
participate actively in the club, and run for a board position if you are
interested. Contact Rick Margolies if
you are interested or just have questions.
Also, you can announce your intention to run at the meeting.
The current slate for the election is:
President - Kevin Ackert
Vice-President – Rick Margolies
Treasurer - Theresa Earle
Secretary - John Hobbs
Membership Director – Jim Koerth
Members at Large – Tom Rauschenbach and Paul Roy
Please note that in order to vote,
members should be present and “be of good standing” with their dues paid for
2007. Renew today! Membership renewals will also be accepted
before the meeting. [Editor’s note: printed renewal forms are being distributed
with the printed copies of this month’s newsletter. If you do not receive the
Observer in hard-copy form, please print out and submit the online version:
http://www.nsaac.org/renew.shtml
From the Treasurer
There will be a Late Charge Assessment of $5.00 added to any membership renewal which is received later than the date of the March business meeting. Late renewals that do not include the $5.00 penalty payment will be returned to the member and must be resubmitted with the correct payment. Lateness will be based on the postmark date of mailed renewals or the hand delivery date to the Treasurer or another NSAAC Officer.
There will be a grace period of one
month (through the April Business Meeting) for maintaining membership
privileges (voting, member discounts, etc.) and two months (through the May
Business Meeting) for List-Server inclusion for members who fail to renew their
membership on time.
A $5 voluntary contribution will be
requested from each renewing member who requests mailed hard copy of the
Celestial Observer but who has internet access to the online version. This contribution will be used to defray the
printing and mailing costs.
Entertainment for March
The March entertainment will be how to
assemble, test, collimate, and modify a Dobsonian mounted Newtonian telescope.
Jim Koerth and Alan Peters have
volunteered to do Constellation Conversations sometime in the future. Constellations and dates to be announced.
Dave Fournier will be doing a telescope
review sometime this Spring.
If you have a suggestion for an
entertainment idea please submit it to us with no
obligation to do it yourself.
Star Party News
The first star party is Friday
March 9, 2007 for the sixth annual PTA Science Fair. The star party is at
Directions to Cashman
Elementary School
From 495 heading north: take exit 54/route
150 toward Amesbury. Keep RIGHT at the
fork to go on MA-150 EXT (0.4 miles).
MA-150 EXT becomes MA-150 / HILLSIDE AVE (0.4 miles). Turn LEFT onto HIGHLAND ST (.4 miles). Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto LIONS MOUTH RD (0.2
miles. End at 193 Lions Mouth Rd
Amesbury.
The second star party is the first clear night either Wednesday March 21 or Thursday March 22 at Sanborn Elementary School, Lovejoy Road, Andover MA. Schedule:
Session 1:
6:30 -7:00 PM Lecture
7:00 - 7:30 PM Observation
7:30 - 8:00 PM Cocoa and refreshments
Session 2:
7:00 - 7:30 PM Lecture
7:30 - 8:00 PM Observation
8:00 - 8:30 PM Cocoa and refreshments
This is one of the largest star parties of the year. pically 200 -250 people attend. At least 7 telescopes are needed. Please help support this program.
Directions to Sanborn School
Lovejoy Rd, Andover, MA 01810. (978)
623-8860
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
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
Short Term
Positions:
Young
Astronomer Program: About six to eight volunteers will be needed to help with
the program on Saturday, April 21 at Merrimack College in North Andover.
Astronomy
Day: We will be
hosting a public star party at either IRWS or VMP or possibly both on Astronomy
Day, April 21. Please watch for future announcements and plan to help with a
telescope if you are able.
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.
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 Jim Koerth, Membership Director, email: membership at nsaac.org or contact Kevin Ackert, President, e-mail at president at nsaac.org. If you have no email access, you may phone Kevin Ackert 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.