Cape Fear Astronomical Society October 6, 2002 Meeting Features Ron Hawes' slide presentation entitled "Life Among the Stars." He had originally given this presentation back in the mid-late 1980s and is bringing it back for all of us who were not members of the CFAS at that time. He explores the possibility of life in outer space and features slides of paintings done by our own Ron Hawes. Join us before the meeting for dinner at the Golden Corral restaurant on New Center Drive, at 5:15 pm. Meeting Minutes for September 8th, 2002 President Si Cantwell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Bryan Auditorium at UNCW. Twenty members and one guest were in attendance. Under Officer's reports, Treasurer Ben Steelman reported our checking balance at $1484.32. Several Astronomy magazine and Sky & Telescope magazine subscriptions have expired, he will be sending reminders to those people soon. Astronomy is offering their 2003 calendar, normally priced at $11.99, at a special 45% discounted rate (50% if over 12 are ordered) to our members. Contact him if you are interested. Under old business, Susan reported that the website is completed and she will be maintaining it. Tommy Puckett is our email contact for our address (info@capefearastro.org) and has already received several requests for information. Si explained that for security reasons, the gate combination on the new Yamacraw map can be found floating in the lower right corner of the map (as well as the back of this newsletter after "Group Viewing Sessions"). Alan Hilburn is coordinating our Society's 20th anniversary shirts with Ronnie Hawes, who is creating a special version of our logo for them. (Ron designed our cool current CFAS logo.) Ideas will be discussed next month for shirt options, so be thinking about it. A reminder was made that under the old prediction, the Leonid meteor shower peak will be around 5:30 a.m. on November 19th. We will be making plans for viewing closer to that date. Under new business, Alan also mentioned the possibility of offering corporate programs, where we would meet and present a viewing opportunity to a company in exchange for a donation. Nominations for 2003 Officers were opened this month, and will continue in October, with voting in November. Motions made for nominees who have accepted are: for president: Si Cantwell; for vice president: Rich Williams; for assoc. vice president: Ronnie Hawes; for treasurer: Ben Steelman. The county fair, which will coincide with the Mid-Atlantic Star Party for several days around Halloween, will be looking for volunteers to man the astronomy booth. Fair coordination Skip Watkins will provide more information for us at the next meeting. It will be held near the airport for 10 days. Meanwhile, MASP will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 4th near Robbins, NC; Tom Jacobs can fill you in on any questions you may have. Terry Herrin and John Canaday are viewing it up at New Mexico Skies, an astronomy ranch with a lot of big Dobs, in New Mexico. We're wishing you great weather, and expect a full report next month, guys! Ronnie Hawes received a request from the School of Inquiry to present a short program and outside observing to about 30 fourth graders. The school is located at the corner of Randall and Covil. It will take place on Monday, September 16th from 6:45-8:00 p.m., with a rain date of Oct. 16th. He really needs some volunteers! Please contact him if you can help out. Despite Ronnie's dislocated elbow, received while "viewing" trains with his buddies in Selma three weeks ago, he was still able to attend a viewing session September 7th with Becky Lewis and John McHarry. Through John's 8" Dob they viewed the Veil and Lagoon Nebulas, Trifids, M13 and 31, and more. Then they were treated to a rare surprise. The solar shock wave that swept the earth earlier that day gave them the last views of the aurora borealis before it ended it's nighttime show over the very edge of the eastern seaboard. Doug Green and his wife, Ann, had the chance to look through a group's 11" Meade reflector while vacationing in Harpers Ferry, VA. He helped align their finder scopes, and got good looks at the town and trains. The business portion of the meeting ended at 7:55 p.m., and after a short break, Rich Williams presented an excellent program on Basic Amateur CCD Astrophotography. He walked us through an explanation of the CCDs, what makes them special, and what's not so great. He explained the format for correcting errors and random noise, and the differences between CCD and conventional film astrophotography, and the basic process for taking a shot. He finished by wowing us with spectacular photos taken by himself and another photographer. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. 2002 Mid-Atlantic Star Party The Mid-Atlantic Star Party, in it's eighth year of operation, is bringing amateur astronomers to the dark skies of central North Carolina. Annual attendance has increased to over 400 participants during the event. This year MASP is being held from October 29 through November 4, 2002. MASP is hosted at Camp Reeves, a Boy Scout camp located just outside Robbins, NC. The skies at the site are around 6.5 visual magnitude with good seeing. The location affords views of many deep-sky objects including the Milky Way and some of the southern sky objects not viewable at events like Stellafane. With an event date late in the year MASP also affords good planetary views as well as great observing of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. MASP has been established through the hard work and dedication of John Dilday who saw the need and desire of amateurs in the area to gather together. Working only with volunteers, John has continued to improve the event each year. Seasoned attendees appreciate the thought and care that goes into MASP. Though young compared to the likes of Stellafane, the Winter Star Party, or the Texas Star Party, MASP has become one of THE events to attend in the East due to its central location, dark skies, quality speakers, and great door prizes. - Gayle Riggsbee will present a talk on "A Brief History of The Sun" - Eric Honeycutt will present on observing faint planetary nebulae. He has been published in Sky & Tele on this topic. - Elizabeth Warner will have a presentation on Deep Impact, project to collide a probe into a comet. - Joseph Mack will present on uses of planispheres and other astrolabes in observing. An International Darksky Association representative will present on recent municipal legislation leading to hope in preserving the night sky in the Raleigh area. Door prizes have included books, accessories, eyepieces, and T-shirts. Registration is $10 for a one-day pass, or $20 for the entire event. Camping is permitted and electricity is provided at no additional fee.Come to the Mid-Atlantic Star Party and share the experience!