Cape Fear Skies The Cape Fear Astronomical Society Newsletter - Editor Debbi Hayden This Month's Meeting will be: Sunday, September 12, 2004 Featuring Tom Jacobs with his presentation of The Itinerate Amateur Astronomer. Also, Alan Hilburn plans to show some pictures of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey as a follow-up to his last month's talk. Gastronomy! Join us before the meeting for dinner at Oleander's restaurant (formally Annabelle's) on Oleander Drive at 5:00pm! Meeting Minutes for August 1th, 2004 - by CFAS Secretary Terry Herrin President Ronnie Hawes called the meeting to order at 7:07pm. Under officers' reports, Ben Steelman said a lot of the Sky & Telescope subscriptions are due this month. He said the cost is $32.95 if you want to subscribe. He reminded the club that the Peachtree Star Gaze is coming up, and the Moorehead Planetarium renovation will begin in early 2006. Under observing reports, Tom Jacobs attended the first annual Greenbank Star Quest in West Virginia. He said it was well organized for a first event. One night was clear, the rest were cloudy. A forty foot radio telescope was available for observing. There were 175 to 200 people in attendance. Tom will attend next year if he can. He said he will create a program later about this event. Also, Billy Kidney observed at 4,900 feet altitude in the Mt. Airy area. He said it was very clear and dark. If someone wants to go back up there, contact him and share the cost for gas. Under new business, the Perseid Meteor Shower peaks Wednesday night 8/11/04 and Thursday morning 8/12/04. The moon will rise around 5:00am at day break. The club plans to view this event at Ft. Fisher. Also under new business, Ronnie discussed the new lights being installed at Snipes Elementary School. These new lights could impact future public viewings being held there. Under old business, a club cookout was discussed. The current plan is to have one in October or early November. Also, if you ordered a club t-shirt or sweatshirt, they are done. See Joe or Shelley Callahan. The meeting broke for ten minutes at 7:55pm. Alan Hilburn then gave a presentation on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Alan plans to show some pictures of SDSS at the next meeting. After the presentation Ronnie asked if there were any other club business, and having none, adjourned the meeting at 8:40pm. News Cluster As you probably noticed from the front page of the newsletter, this month's meeting will be on the second Sunday of the month - September 12th - due to the Labor Day weekend. See you on the 12th! The club cookout will be at Becky Lewis' this Fall. We will set the date for the gathering soon. T-shirts and sweatshirts are still being ordered! If you would like one, please contact Joe and Shelley Callahan! A big Thank You to them for coordinating the purchasing and ordering of our club-wear! Please see Debbi Hayden if you would like to know more about the Peach State Star Gaze in Whitewater Express, Georgia. The dates are October 13th - 17th, and you must have your registration in by September 27th. Sky Calendar Sept 01 - Photo opportunity! Venus and Saturn are about 2 degrees apart           before dawn, looking east. Sept 06 - Last quarter Moon at 11:11am EDT Sept 10 - Photo opportunity! Mercury is only 1/4 degeree from bright Regulus           before dawn, looking East. Sept 10/11 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions Sept 12 - September meeting for the CFAS - speaker will be Tom Jacobs Sept 14 - New Moon at 10:29am EDT Sept 17/18 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions Sept 21 - First quarter Moon at 11:54am EDT Sept 22 - September equinox at 12:30pm EDT Sept 28 - Full Moon at 9:09am EDT - This full moon is known as the Harvest Moon,           as it is the closest full moon to the fall equinox. Sept 29 - Close approach of Asteroid Toutatis to Earth - Duck! Oct 03 - CFAS October Meeting Nov 07 - CFAS November Meeting ____________________________________________________________ All content unless otherwise stated Copyright (c) 2002-2004 CAPE FEAR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. All Rights Reserved.