The Celestial Observer October, 1999

Happy equinox to all you pagans out there. Personally, I'm quite happy that you can now go observing at some time earlier than 9:30 at night.

Best of all, when October is over, we get an extra hour of observing as we revert to standard time. I never understood why all those farmers couldn't get up an hour earlier, rather than delay sunset for us astronomers.

A reminder for all those planning to observe during the first two weeks of October in the vicinity of the IRWS. This is Topsfield Fair time, and usually means traffic jams galore near the entrances to the Fairgrounds. Setup takes place on Friday, 1 October and is usually not a major problem. Starting the second, however, and running through Columbus Day, problems can be encountered. Even if you just travel Route 1 or 97 headed to Veasey, be forewarned about these problems.

We build guilt early: Birdseed Day will take place on November 6th at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Come along and share the experience of offloading an 18 wheeler full of thistle, sunflower seeds and other assorted foods for our feathered friends. And reloading it into various SUV's, trucks and small cars. We will bring this up again next month, in case you forget.

Also, Dave Fournier, erstwhile point of contact for our work with Veasey Memorial Park is organizing something for a Fall cleanup. Please standby for further word.

Greg Pearce advises that the Ipswich River Park (North Reading ) star party scheduled for 10/2 has been cancelled for the time being. This is not the star party at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, which will take place as scheduled on October 19th.

John Gall
President

Height of Land Star Party and Moose Dodge

Okay you photon starved maine-iacs! The Moose Dodge has been rescheduled for Columbus Day weekend in the Rangeley Lakes Region of Maine. We plan to leave on Friday, October 8, 1999 at 10:00 AM from the parking lot of VMP. Be sure to bring winter gear! I have taken tents down in snow storms up here this time of year.

THERE ARE CHANGES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

One, the State Park is closed. We have found an alternative site, The Stephen Phillips Memorial Preserve. This too is also actually closed but we have secured permission to use three sites walking distance from the locked gate. It will be $3/each/night. I will have new directions available for the Business Meeting and available by request online by Tuesday of that week. The road into the campground ends in a cull-du-sac which can park 8-10 cars. Therefore it is imperative that we try to double up in transportation in order limit the number of vehicles going.

I am assuming that those on the previous list will be going. If not please let me know. If this event gets cancelled, only those on the list will be called or emailed. To get on the list contact Rob Nelson.

As a final note, there is a chance that someone could beat us to one or more of these sites. It is first come first serve. There are several other options available to us in the area but the one above is the best. At worst, people going may end up at different locations in the general area. So it's a challenge!

Scope for Sale

Art Corbett's spectacular deal was snapped up already. But anyone in search of an orange tube Celestron 8" SC, much modified to be user friendly, with an array of attachments, including some photographic accessories, all for $600, please see John Gall.

SHARE

At last! Good news to report! On Wednesday September 22, 1999 Ric Shanahan met with the Lynn G.E. Employees Good Neighbor Fund Committee in order to make the formal presentation of our 1999 Proposal for money to purchase the Collins Electro Optics I3 Image Intensifier and Recursive Frame Averager. Our Request has been granted and we should have a check in hand in 2-3 weeks. As this is about equal to the anticipated delivery date the units have been ordered. This will expand the SHARE Program capabilities to include such diverse objects as planetary nebula, galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. A jump from a limiting magnitude of 6 with the present configuration to mag. 16 is anticipated!

Furthermore, Lucent Technologies, Inc, has informed us that they are sending a check in the next few weeks (for an undisclosed amount) and General Mills' Danon/Yoplait of Methuen, MA. has donated $100.00.

On Saturday night, September 18 Ric Shanahan and Rob Nelson took the Share system to Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Hospital in Greenfield, N.H. We had over 30 patients and staff members in attendance and they would like us to come back in October (probably Saturday, October 23 at 7:30 PM with the date to be definitively set at the October Business Meeting).

We have two scheduled SHARE Programs in October. The first is at Salem State College Monday, October 18 starting at 7:30 PM. The second is Tuesday, October 19 starting at 7:30 PM at the Children's Floating Hospital in Boston.

SHARE Programs typically only require 2-3 members to run smoothly and are separate from Star Party Programs that depend more heavily on large numbers of members to turn out at. If you are interested in helping out at a SHARE Program please contact Rob Nelson, but I ask that you give your priority to our Star Party Program obligations first.

Salem State College

The Observatory is opening this month, in conjunction with the return of students - and the lengthening night. The Observatory opens every clear Monday night at around dusk. See Ric Shanahan if you'd care to get involved in this interesting activity.

Business Meeting Minutes for the September, 1999 Meeting of the NSAAC

Guests Karen and Karl Joiner, Wes Barry and Jeff Gersvach were among the 23 members attending the meeting. John Gall opened the meeting while Barrie Sawyer made a valiant and successful effort to make coffee using parts from three different coffee makers.

Ric Shanahan reported that the Salem State Observatory was painted the main scope has been refurbished . About 18 people showed up at Merrimack collage for observing under clear skies while the clouds followed Ralph Pass to England. Thanks, Ralph!.

Rob Nelson reported that the SHARE system would be at Salem State on 9/20 and that he was working to set up an event at Children's Floating Hospital. An article on the SHARE system appeared in the 8/30 issue of the Lawrence Eagle Tribune. Rob is still actively hunting for corporate donations and may have some good news to report at the next meeting.

John Lennerton brought pictures of the eclipse taken from Germany where he was supposedly sent by his company to work, much to the appreciation and envy of his fellow members.

The highlight of this year's club picnic was John Gall's cheeseburgers flambé. Wyn Palmer won the extreme croquet match.

The membership agreed to limit formal star parties to two a month. Dave Fournier mentioned he would be looking for speakers for the star parties coming up in the future.

John reminded everyone that Birdseed Day at IRWS would be held on Saturday November 6 this year. He stressed the importance of showing our appreciation to the Audubon society for their generosity in letting us observe at the Sanctuary on Saturday nights by helping them out.

Barrie Sawyer stated his strong support for having members only go to the Sanctuary on Saturdays instead of also having members show up at Veasey. He noted that potential new members and guests would be confused about where to go by having two observing site locations on the same night. He also pointed out that members would have less chance to socialize with each other if members went to different sites. No vote was taken on the issue.

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 a short distance down on the right

For more information about the club and its activities, call Dave Thomas, Membership Director at 978-388-2341 or contact John Gall, President, e-mail at M104@aol.com. Better yet, visit our Web Site at : http://www.nsaac.org.

Please support those who support us.

Star.net is our internet service provider, please look them up if you need internet service. Also, Brewster LaMacchia's company Jovian Systems is now hosting our internet e-mail service. We're not sure what Jovian system does, but Brewster says if you send him money, that's ok.

Additionally, the Phoenix Press in Groveland provides printing services for our monthly newsletter. Please consider them for any printing needs you may have.

Lastly, we'd like to make special note of those people who have made generous contributions in support of the SHARE program, including General Mills, Lucent Technologies and that inestimable gentleman, Harry Chase at F. C. Meichsner Co, in Boston. If you need to equip a telephone company see Lucent. If you need a telescope, see Harry.

Club Goods/Assets

The new blue Tee's are in sizes L, XL, and XXL @ $10.00 each. Quantity discounts are available for 2 or more purchased at the same time. See Dennis Gudzevich for them, as well as mugs and other items.

Members who subscribe to Astronomy or Sky and Telescope through the club should send their renewal notice, together with a check in the proper amount payable to the NSAAC to Treasurer Chris McCarthy. Chris then sends it on to the magazine.

To subscribe to our members-only listserver, send an email to majordomo@jovian.com, and include the words "subscribe nsaac" in the body of the text. This will connect you to all other NSAAC'ers who are on line, and will allow you to communicate at warp speed with your cohorts. Since it is members only, the owner of the website will process your request.

Events for October, courtesy of Astronomy Magazine

Day	Time (EDT)	
5	1 p.m.	The moon passes 5 degrees north of Venus
	6 p.m.	The moon passes 1.2 degrees north of Regulus
8	6 p.m.	Venus passes 3 degrees south of Regulus (morning)
10	11 p.m.	The moon passes 7 degrees north of Mercury
15	9 a.m.	The moon passes 5 degrees north of Mars
18	3 a.m.	The moon passes 0.5 degree north of Neptune
19	1 a.m.	The moon passes 0.4 degree north of Uranus
21	11 p.m.	Vesta is in conjunction with the sun
22		Orionid meteor shower peaks
23	3 p.m.	Jupiter is at opposition
24	1 p.m.	The moon passes 4 degrees south of Jupiter
	6 p.m.	Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation (24 degrees, evening)
25	2 p.m.	The moon passes 2 degrees south of Saturn
27	8 a.m.	The moon passes 1.2 degrees north of Aldebaran
30	8 p.m.	Venus is at greatest western elongation (46 degrees, morning)

Truth

Whilst looking through some back issues of the CO, I ran across some old laws of astronomy that bear repeating, if for no reason but a good chuckle. Of course, Ralph Pass and I - well, Ralph really, has established beyond doubt that the third law can be overcome by the investment of significant quantities of cash.

1st Law: The skies are never clear within 3 days of new moon, since there is not enough solar energy reflected off the moon to dissipate the clouds.

2nd Law: Rare astronomical events usually occur within 3 days of full moon and/or within 30 apparent degrees from the sun (gravitational interpretation of Murphy's law).

3rd Law: When observing, the object you want to see will always be below the horizon or less than 10 degrees from the horizon with the most light pollution (since frustration is related to entropy, it must always increase).

4th Law: Supernovae, comets, and asteroids are always discovered by someone else (because no matter where you are, the sun will always set earlier somewhere else, and therefore someone else will find it first).

5th Law: 90 percent of meteors occur behind you when everyone else is facing you (so they can all say, "ooh!... You missed a good one!)

And Thanks to You Bob Seibel, Wherever You Are!

Perhaps because of age, or an infusion of intelligence, Bob Seibel has modified the mount for his 10 " Meade scope, going from a German equatorial to a dobsonian mount. He has generously donated the older equatorial to the club for our use. This (massive) mount - in great shape - will likely serve as a stable platform for one or more of club scopes.

Finally, although we gave Wyn Palmer due verbal recognition at our last meeting, the newsletter editor doesn't think we've said thank you in writing. Wyn generously donated a new computer to the club for use at Merrimack College. This new, fast ( I'm green with envy here ) system significantly enhances the pleasure of CCD imaging with Merrimack's resources. Thanks, again Wyn!

Remember: the Leonids 1999 are coming !