Cape Fear Skies The Cape Fear Astronomical Society Newsletter - Editor Debbi Hayden This Month's Meeting will be: Sunday, June 5, 2005 Featuring Ben Steelman with a program on Pluto and Charon. Gastronomy! Join us before the meeting for dinner at Szechuan 132 on College Road in University Landing at 5:15pm! Meeting Minutes for May 1st, 2005 - by CFAS Member Ric Longren Club President Ronnie Hawes opened the meeting at 7:09 pm. Officers Report: Vice President, Terry Herrin 1. Verified that the keeper of the active membership list is the Treasurer. Requested that the Treasurer compare active membership list against membership dues list and remove those that have not paid dues from active membership. 2. Reported that Dr. Davis of UNCW has time on Sept 4 for a presentation to the club. Concern was raised over attendance due to Labor Day weekend. Issue tabled until June meeting. Two action items agreed upon: 1) find out about Morton Hall availability during Labor Day weekend, and 2) check with Dr. Davis about possible alternate dates. Treasurer, Ben Steelman 1. The club has approx. $1100 in the bank. 2. If anyone that has a S & T subscription due please see Ben. Old Business: 1. Reviewed changes to Constitution voted in during April Meeting. 2. Ronnie Hawes reviewed the revised electronic meeting proposal. The new proposal is designed to alleviate concerns raised at the April meeting. It provides 1) control over the meeting subject and 2) procedures governing the voting process and duration. The change to the club's constitution allowing electronic meetings will be available for a vote during the June meeting. It was the consensus of those present that the revised e-meeting proposal be accepted. 3. The club membership in the Astronomical League was reviewed and discussed. This issue was originally brought up in response to discussions on how the club spends its money. It was discussed in the last meeting but tabled until more information was available. Doug Green, who coordinates the CFAS membership in the Astronomical League, gave a presentation regarding the cost and benefits of membership. The current cost is approx. $200/yr and the benefits include: the Reflector magazine, connectivity with other clubs, supporting the promotion of astronomy on a national scale, subordinate club memberships (not used much by CFAS), an awards program to motivate interest in astronomy, program materials and publishing guides. Tabled until the June meeting. 4. Those present were reminded that the club was holding a public viewing session on Sat May 7 at the Carolina Beach State Park Visitor's Center from 8:00 – 10:00 pm. Rain date May 14. New business: 1. Ronnie Hawes reported on his presentations given at the Boy Scout Camp. The presentations were made over a series of four weekends. He said it was a very enjoyable experience, which was greatly appreciated by the Scouts. He was presented with a plaque and several nice gifts. 2. Arrangements are being made to visit John Horne's observatory. 3. Ronnie Hawes mentioned that Dr. Phillip Morison passed away April 22nd at age 89. He was one of the 20th century's most innovative physicists and science communicators. (See S & T article). 4. Ernie Mayo has purchased a new 18" Obsession and wishes to sell his 12" Dobsonian reflector. He also has the club's 10" Newtonian and needs to find it a new foster home. 5. Ronnie, Rick and Ernie checked out the new Mooretown viewing site in April. Very good viewing. The site will be called the Mooretown Site. The meeting was adjourned at 7:59, followed by "Failure Is Not An Option" shown in its entirety. News Cluster A big thank you to everyone who helped out at the public viewing session at Carolina Beach! It was a great success! Mr. Russ Noll has a 10" Meade LX200 telescope he wants to sell – he is down-sizing to an 8". If anyone is interested, please give him a call at 256-5416. Congratulations to Ernie Mayo on his purchase of an 18" Obsession telescope! Can't wait to look through that one! Welcome back, Joe Callahan! We were all very happy to see you at the meeting last month! Sky Calendar June 3/4 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions June 05 - CFAS June Meeting June 06 - New Moon at 5:55pm EDT June 10/11 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions June 14 - First quarter Moon at 9:22pm. Earliest sunrise of the year at latitude           40 degrees North June 16 - Moon passes 0.4 degrees south of Jupiter June 21 - Summer solstice at 2:46am EDT June 22 - Full Moon at 12:14am EDT June 24 - Photo Opportunity! Close grouping of Saturn, Venus, and Mercury           looking WSW 45 minutes after sunset. June 28 - Last quarter Moon at 2:23pm EDT What's Up Down Under? (News from our Sister Society in Albury-Wodonga, Australia) ASAW will be taking steps to become incorporated. The members of ASAW are actively pursuing changes to local lighting design – meeting with senior management of local industry and providing articles to their regional paper regarding recent installation of light switches on street lights. They are discussing obtaining Public Liability Insurance. Carl Rainer is researching the new Meade Imager and evaluating it for Society use. Polaris Has Not Always Been the North Star (and other fun facts) Did you know that Polaris has not always been the 'North Star', and won't be, in the future? The Earth spins on its axis just like a gyroscope, and 'precesses' as it spins. The rotational axis slowly changes direction, in a circle, over thousands of years. Currently it points within one degree of Polaris. During the past 5000 years the axis has pointed at the star Thuban (Alpha Draconis); in the year 7500 the North Star will be Alpha Cephei; in the year 15,000 it will be the star Vega. About 9000 years after that, Polaris will again become the North Star. Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly overhead. An Astronaut can be up to 2 inches taller returning from space. The cartilage disks in the spine expand in the absence of gravity. The planet Saturn has a density lower than water. So, if placed in water it would float. And one not related to space or astronomy, but interesting nonetheless... A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no one knows why. ____________________________________________________________ All content unless otherwise stated Copyright (c) 2002-2005 CAPE FEAR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. All Rights Reserved.