The Cape Fear Astronomical Society Newsletter - Editor Ric Longren
This Month's Meeting will be: Sunday, August 6, 2006
Gastronomy! Join us before the meeting for dinner at McAlister's Deli on College across from UNCW at 5:15pm!
Meeting Minutes for July 9, 2006 - by CFAS Treasurer and acting Secretary Ben Steelman
The July 9 meeting of the Cape Fear Astronomical Society convened at 7:25 p.m. (thanks to the UNCW policeman who unlocked Morton Hall for us), with President Ronnie Hawes presiding. In all 23 members and guests attended.
Debbi and Wayne Hayden served up a big batch of cookies in honor of an upcoming blessed event.
Treasurer Ben Steelman reported a $1,900 balance in the checking account. He noted that a $200 gift to Hospice of the Lower Cape Fear, in memory of lifetime member Sam Bissette, had been acknowledged both by Hospice and Mrs. Bissette.
Ben said he had received the bill for Astronomical League dues, which are figured by a formula of $10 per club plus $5 per member. We have currently have 36 members on the rolls. This year, AL offers the option that not every club member can join the League; however, there's a catch - if a club's AL participation is LESS than 95 percent, the per-member rate rises to $7.50 per member. Ben figured that, at 100 percent participation, our dues would be $10+(36x$5) = $190, or $20 less than last year. If half our members joined Astronomical League, the rate would be $10+(18x$7.50) = $145. Since the deadline to pay is Sept. 30, the club postponed action till a later meeting.
The main item of old business was whether to pay Clint North to continue renting the Yamacraw viewing site. That sparked a long discussion on the relative merits of our different viewing sites, including Holly Shelter (technically, we can't use the boat ramp site but only the old, abandoned airstrip across the highway) and the nearby Mooretown site (really bad drainage). Ultimately, Tom Jaocbs moved, and Terry Herrin seconded, to pay Mr. North $100 for one more year. The motion passed on voice vote.
President Ronnie said he needed volunteers to help out teaching Boy Scouts at Camp Bowers toward their Astronomy merit badges. The drive is about 90 minutes. For details, see Ronnie. The society was also asked to help out with a recreation program in stargazing at the town of Boiling Spring Lakes, July 24-28; Ronnie needed volunteers there, too.
New member Jonathan Guetta suggested we put together an information packet for new members. Debbi Hayden noted that new folks should be getting some back issues of "Cape Fear Skies" and maps to the viewing sites.
Alan Hilburn reported briefly on an effort to identify and reserve a new viewing site near Atkinson in Pender County, well away from city lights. The consensus urged him to continue with this project.
Tom Jacobs reported on attending the Green Bank Star Party in West Virginia. Rain fouled most of the proceedings, but there was one good night of seeing and one fair night, he said.
Ronnie reported that Bob Fetterman had suffered a mild heart attack, but was recovering after surgery.
Ben Steelman gave the program, "Constellations and How They Got That Way," a historical look at the evolution of star patterns in different cultures, and how these became the 88 constellations recognized today by the International Astronomical Union.
News Cluster
The next meeting of the Cape Fear Astronomical Society is August 6 starting at 7:00 pm. For this month's program, Tom Jacobs will present a series of video vignettes gleamed from NASA sources. Subjects covered include highlights from the just concluded Discovery mission (STS-121), Cassini at Saturn, Spitzer observations of stellar disks, and a look at Mars 30 years after the Viking landings.
Don't miss the September CFAS meeting. Letisha McLaughlin will present her summer research project. Be sure to leave September 10th open on your schedule.
For those of you who remember club member Paul Petty, he suffered a stroke last Sunday at home (July 23). Debbie, Paul's ex-wife, said that Paul is in the Cypress Point Nursing Home on 17th Street, room 5. His left side was affected by the stroke, he sees and hears ok but can't talk. He can walk around some. If you can, it might be nice to see Paul for a few minutes. Debbie said that he still enjoys Astronomy Magazine. Let's keep Paul in our thoughts and prayers. (from Ronnie Hawes)
Event Calendar
Aug 02 - First Quarter Moon, 4:46 am
Aug 06 - CFAS August Meeting 7:00 pm
Aug 09 - Full Moon, 6:54 am
Aug 10 - Moon at perigee, 2:26 pm (223,538 miles)
Aug 12 - Perseid meteor shower peaks
Aug 15 - Last quarter Moon, 9:51 pm
Aug 16 -31 - From 10:30 pm to 1:00 am best time this summer to see Milky Way
Aug 18/19 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions
Aug 21 - Moon passes 3 degrees north of Venus, 11 pm
Aug 23 - New Moon, 3:10 pm
Aug 25 - Moon at apogee, 9:22 pm (252,444 miles)
Aug 25/26 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions
Aug 26 - Venus passes 0.07 degrees north of Saturn, 7 pm
Aug 31 - First Quarter Moon, 6:57 pm
All times are EDT
Astronomical History During the Month of August
Date - Milestone
Aug 17, 1877 - Asaph Hall discovers Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars
Aug 24, 1989 - Voyager 2 flies by Neptune
What's Up Down Under? (News from our Sister Society in Albury-Wodonga, Australia)
Astronomer of the Month - Bob Price discussed the astronomical achievements of John Tebbett, an Australian Astronomer who died in 1924 at the age of 82. He discovered 2 comets, the first in 1861 and the second in 1881, with a marine telescope having a 1 and 5/8 inch (40mm) objective lens and was awarded Astronomical Medals from the Paris Observatory and the British Astronomical Society for his contribution to Astronomy. John Tebbett was the first Australian to be offered the Directorship of the Sydney Observatory, although he declined the offer and his facial image was on the first A$100.00 note.
Photo Gallery
Rich Williams took the following photograph of the sun using a Coronado PST and the Celestron NexImage solar system imager. This was his first attempt with the PST/NexImage combination. Excellent Job!
Meteor Month
August is the month you are most likely to see meteors. The Perseid meteor shower peaks the night of August 12/13 at 6:00 pm EDT. As many as 30 meteors per hour should be visible. The shower is the result of Earth passing through the motes of dust left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tutle along its orbital path through the solar system. The dust burns up from the friction with the upper atmosphere with entry speed as much as 37 miles per second. Meteor rates will be should be lower this year due to bright moonlight hiding the fainter streaks. But don't dismiss this year's display. Typically this shower features a high hourly count with lots of bright meteors many leaving luminous trails visible for several seconds. The Perseid meteor rate runs about half strength a night on either side of the peak. The shower will be active from about July 30 to August 25.
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