Cape Fear Astronomical Society Newsletter - Editor Debbi Hayden August 3, 2003 Meeting Featuring Alan Hilburn with a very timely presentation on the planet Mars, which will be making its long-anticipated close approach to Earth this month. Join us before the meeting for dinner at McAllister's restaurant on South College Road, at 5:15 pm. Meeting Minutes for July 6th, 2003 by CFAS Secretary Terry Herrin Associate Vice President Ronnie Hawes called the meeting to order at 7:07pm. Under officer's reports, Ben Steelman reported that the subscription to Sky & Telescope magazine has increased from $29.95 to $32.95 club price. Under old business, 20th anniversary t-shirts are still on sale. Please see Joe or Shelley Callahan if you have ordered a t-shirt, or would like to order one. A club banner was discussed. This will be discussed further at the next meeting. Terry Herrin said he and Tom Jacobs went to the Yamacraw site, and the old lockbox was nowhere to be found. Tom installed a new lockbox, and Mr. North has placed a new key in the lockbox. Ronnie thanked Tom, and Joe and Shelley Callahan, for their help with the presentation at Plantation Village on 6/9/03. It was fairly clear, with observing until 9:30pm. Approximately 25 people were in attendance. The organizers have asked for a viewing at the Holly Shelter site in the fall. Under new business, new permits for the Holly Shelter site need to be obtained. Terry Herrin said he would take care of this. Les King announced a 10" LX-200 was for sale with a club price of $1500. Alan Hilburn donated two books to the club library. Public viewing sessions for the Mars opposition are scheduled for 8/23/03, 8/27/03 and 8/30/03. Locations will be decided at next month's meeting. Under observing reports, Ronnie related three sessions, all at the Holly Shelter site. The first was on 6/12/03 with Becky Lewis and Ronnie. The second was on 6/19/03 with Becky, Buist Langley, Debbi and Wayne Hayden, and Ronnie. The third was on 7/4/03 with Becky, David Barefoot, Rick Jennings, and Ronnie. The meeting broke for ten minutes at 7:45pm. Terry Herrin then gave a presentation on the Astronomy Picture of the Day web site titled "May 2003: A Month in the Life of APOD". After Terry's presentation Ronnie asked if there was any other business, and having none, adjourned the meeting at 8:35pm. News Cluster With the close approach of Mars later this month, we will be deciding upon dates and times of proposed public viewing sessions. On August 21st and 22nd you can "tune in" to live webcasts of lectures by robotic geologists about the Mars Exploration Rovers. The link is found at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory website (www.jpl.nasa.gov) and the lectures start at 7:00pm PDT. We may be discussing a group viewing session for the Perseid meteor shower this month. It peaks on August 13th, which will have a full Moon drowning out the fainter meteors.