The Celestial Observer

 

Newsletter of the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club

 

 

Summer, 2003

 

To Download This Months Newsletter Click Here 

 

 

From the President

 

We’re in the July doldrums, with no business meeting this month, but please make sure to read the notices about recent and proposed changes to our bylaws, printed elsewhere in this newsletter.

 

The Board is proposing that the club change the definition of a quorum from a hard target of fifteen regular members to a more flexible percentage of dues-paying members. The number of people that would constitute a quorum could thus float, changing with the number of actual members. We are proposing this change because we so often see fewer than fifteen members at business meetings, and this has made it increasingly difficult to carry on the normal operations of the club. Membership in general is holding fairly steady, but low attendance at business meetings can prevent us from holding a binding vote on matters as simple as accepting the minutes into the record or deciding what kind of hats to order.

 

I have given a lot of thought to the risks of allowing club business to be decided by a smaller group, but because any major change or expenditure of funds requires fair notice to the entire club to be given well in advance of the meeting, I do not believe that there is any danger here.  I recommend that we vote in favor of this change at the regular September 2003 meeting.

 

And please give some thought to the upcoming Moose Dodge trip – we had a terrific time last year, and it is observing with other members, after all, that is our top priority no matter what the season.  I look forward to seeing a lot of you at VMP or IRWS during the coming weeks, and at the Business meeting in August.

 

 

Mike Deneen

President

 

Below is the notification to be printed in the upcoming newsletter:

 

An amendment to Article I of the NSAAC Bylaws passed by the membership at the June Business meeting.

 

Article I, Section 1 Qualifications, which reads;

"Any person, of at least eighteen years of age, regardless of race, color, creed or gender who expresses an interest in astronomy may become a member of the Club". (emphasis added) is amended to read:

 

"Any person, of at least sixteen years of age, regardless of race, color, creed or gender who expresses an interest in astronomy may become a member of the Club". (emphasis added)

 

The following motion was also passed at the June Business Meeting.

 

The membership shall vote at the next General meeting where a quorum exists on whether to amend Article V, Section 1, paragraph 2 of the NSAAC Bylaws which currently reads:

 

"A quorum, consisting of fifteen general members, excluding the Board members, is required to conduct a vote on any and all items brought up during/entered into a Business Meeting. These fifteen members must have signed the attendance list prior to any vote. In the event that fifteen general members are not present the Business Meeting shall be conducted for informational purposes only".

 

Proposed amendment will change Article V, Section 1, paragraph 2 to read:

 

"A quorum, consisting of ten percent of the general membership is required to conduct a vote on any and all motions brought up at a Business Meeting. The members making up the quorum must have signed the attendance list prior to any vote. In the event that a quorum is not present, the Business Meeting shall be conducted for informational purposes only".

 

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends passage of the proposed amendment.

 

Business Meeting Minutes for the June, 2003 Meeting of the NSAAC

President Deneen called the May Business Meeting of the NSAAC to order at 8:10PM.  President Deneen called for introduction of new guests: Dave Annicelli, Meridth Golstein from the Globe, and Victor Barbu .  There were 16 members in attendance plus 5 board members. 

 

Committee Reports:

Secretary:   Minutes of the May meeting were approved as written in the newsletter.

 

Treasurer:  Kevin Ackert submitted a treasurer’s report for the period of May 2 to June 1.  Kevin also announced receipt of the $750.00 from Osram Sylvania.  Motion made to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion was approved.

 

Upcoming Events:  None

 

Membership:   Membership Chairman, Barrie Sawyer reported that there were three new members.

 

Merrimack College:  Rained out this month.

 

Salem State:  Observatory is closed for the summer; will reopen after Labor Day. 

 

Star Parties:  There was Star party at Parker River Wildlife Refuge for the Friends of the Parker River Wildlife Refuge on May 22.  There will be a Star party on July 12th at IRWS for campers.  Lew Grammer is giving a talk at Medford Public Library on June 17th.  All are welcome. 

 

Share System:  No report.

 Unfinished Business:  Dennis Gudzevich talked about hats and what the board has proposed.

Kevin Ackert reported on the cost of replacing the club laptop. The board has asked that the current ALCOR representative relinquish her position since she could not actively participate in the club business.  We are looking for a volunteer for this position. Motion made to allow the Board of Directors to spend up to $1500.00 for the purchase of a new laptop for the club.  Motion approved.  A motion was made to allow the Board of Directors to spend up to $1350.00 for the purchase of a gross of hats for the club.  Motion approved. Kevin Ackert made a motion to put $1000.00 into the clubs land fund.  Motion accepted.

 

New Business:  Club picnic was discussed.  Dennis Gudzevich discussed whether to have the picnic in August or September.  A show of hands indicated that September was the preferred month. Barrie Sawyer has invited any club member to Starport the end of June.  He is going to be at Starport there over the July 4th weekend.  There was a discussion of having an observing trip.  We need to find a volunteer to head a small committee to look into the logistics.  Andy Martin and Dennis Gudzevich will coordinate this.  Please sign the signup sheet if interested.

The board of directors made a proposal to change the definition of a quorum in the Constitution and By-laws from 15 active members to 10% of the active membership.  This will be placed in the next newsletter and voted on at the August business meeting. The proposal to change the age of membership was presented.  This was presented in the last month’s newsletter and discussed at the May business meeting.  A motion was made to lower the age of membership to 16.   Motion passed.

 

Member Chris McCarthy wants to become more involved in the club activities.  Chris has been very sick for many years and would like to hear from club members.  He has a new address and phone number:  5 Foley Farm Road, Wilmington, MA 01887, and phone 978-658-7784.

 

Program:

This evening’s program was in two parts.  The first part was a talk by Jason Voss on Starry Night Pro.  The second part of the program was an observing lunar session at the scopes led by Dan Smooty.

 

Next Board meeting was set for June 17th at Vesay.

Meeting adjourned at 8:42 PM

 

Respectively submitted,

John Hobbs, Secretary NSAAC

 

NSAAC Picnic News:

Come one, come all, to the annual North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club picnic. The picnic this year will be held on the grass, behind the main building, on the Veasey Memorial Park grounds in Groveland Massachusetts on September 13, 2003. Make a note that this is a tentative date, as I haven’t received a final okay back from the folks at Veasey yet. So it could possibly be changed to the following week. Members of the club and their families are cordially invited to attend. The festivities are scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM, and run on to whenever. This is a “bring your own food and drink event”. You are invited to bring an extra tidbit or two that you may wish to share with other folks however. Be advised that there are no alcoholic beverages allowed on the park premises. There may be a grill available at the event, or you can bring your own along. You are also invited to bring along any game items such as volleyball sets, badminton sets, Frisbees, etc., and don’t forget the mosquito repellent. This should be a fun event, but there is no rain date. If it rains, the picnic is cancelled.

As an added incentive, we invite members to bring along their telescopes and binoculars for daytime solar viewing and evening viewing if anyone wishes to stay and play.

 

This may be your best opportunity to converse with fellow members of the club in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Though it may be a frightening thought to actually see what we look like in the daytime.

 

Clear Skies to All,

NSAAC Picnic Committee

Annual Road Trip

 

This is a reminder that we are once again setting up our club’s annual road trip. We haven’t fixed the date or place as of this writing, but will very shortly. The most likely date is around the weekend of September 26, 2003. That date could change however. This will be a “clear weather only” trip, so keep that in mind. All members of NSAAC and their families are invited to attend. The final details of the trip will be published in the next issue of the club newsletter and emails will be sent to everyone on the list server.

 

Clear Skies to All

NSAAC Road Trip Committee

 

July Merrimack Report


My partner Fred Sammartino was in Europe, I was covering for the night of July 17. I almost forgot about it as I sat on the back deck with my wife enjoying a quiet evening. Remembering the public observing night I changed the message on the machine and rushed over to the observatory. It was the clearest night I’d ever seen for Merrimack night. Not a cloud in the sky and very transparent steady atmosphere. Only the gibbous moon could ruin this evening! The telescope was in perfect collimation and was producing better sights than any time I’ve used it! I observed star clusters, galaxies, nebulas, and after 11:00 the planet Mars. I stayed out till midnight enjoying the best Merrimack night I’d seen in the year and a half I’ve been doing it. Nobody showed up, I was alone all evening.

Kevin Ackert

 

GO-ON Volunteer

The NSAAC "Get Out and Observe Nights" Committee is looking for a volunteer for August! If you have an interest in learning how to track down the planets Uranus and Neptune, and you'd like to share your interest with other members of the Club after the August business meeting (or any other night of your choice), please contact us! Our email: go-on@nsaac.org, or call Lew Gramer at 781-396-7822.

 

Perseids

Bob Lunsford, General Secretary of the International Meteor Organization, writes this month:

Regarding the Perseids, despite the full moon, Wednesday morning August 13 will be the best time to view Perseid meteors this year. With the full moon occurring on August 12, the lunar conditions will not change much from August 12-14. The Perseids will be strong on those three mornings but will definitely peak on the morning of the 13th. As always, observers should view as late as possible but before the start of morning twilight. This will also help as the moon will be lower in the sky at this time of the morning. It would also be advisable this year to look toward the northeast with the moon at one's back. If an observer's sky is transparent then he/she can still see up to twenty Perseids per hour this year despite the unfavorable lunar conditions. This is still better rates than what is usually seen in all but four (Quadrantids, Orionids, Leonids and Geminids) other major annual showers.

 

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, contact Dave Thomas Membership Director at, email: membership@nsaac.org or contact Mike Deneen, President, e-mail at president@nsaac.org.  No email, call Richard Bickerton, Vice President at 978-887-8533.

Better yet, visit our Web Site at: http://www.nsaac.org..

 

E-Mail Listserve

If you have access to the Internet or other email system, you may want to subscribe to the email notification system that Lew Gramer established for the Club in 1996. This is a "members only" system that places you in contact with other members for late breaking news concerning spontaneous observing activities, outings, tech talk, etc. You can subscribe by emailing your request to the address below.  Your message should look like this:

 

To: majordomo@nsaac.org

Subject: Email list (you can put anything here)

Message: subscribe NSAAC Your Full Name <your-email-name@your-isp.com>

 

Subscribers will be verified as actual members in good standing before being granted access to the system.

 

NOTE: To remove yourself from the email list send the same message but replace subscribe with "unsubscribe" in the message body.

 

Please support those who support us. 

Star.net is our Internet service provider, please look them up if you need Internet service.  Additionally, the Phoenix Press in Groveland provides printing services for our monthly newsletter.  Please consider them for any printing needs you may have.