Cape Fear Skies The Cape Fear Astronomical Society Newsletter - Editor Ric Longren This Month's Meeting will be: Sunday, January 8, 2006 (Webmistress Notes: This month features a presentation by Ron Hawes titled: Why Haven't I've Seen Any UFOs? Also, there will be a screening of the 1933 classic movie King Kong after the meeting for those who would like to stay. The DVD includes a rare lost scene from the original film, referred to as the Spider Pit Sequence.) Gastronomy! Join us before the meeting for dinner at Szechuan 132, 419 S College Rd at 5:15 pm. Meeting Minutes for December 4, 2005 - by Ric Longren, CFAS Newsletter Editor The CFAS Holiday Social got underway at 6:00 PM with about 30 club members, spouses and significant others in attendance. After enjoying good company and partaking of delicious food, the Club President Ronnie Hawes opened the business meeting at 8:00 pm. Officers Report: Treasurer, Ben Steelman: Ben mentioned that the club is solvent and reminded everyone that membership dues are due in January. Old Business: None. New business: - A moment of silence was observed in memory of Sam Bissette. A sympathy card was signed by the members present. - Ronnie Hawes reported on his viewing session with the Boy Scouts at the Mooretown site (see News Cluster). Voting for the Club Officers was conducted. Also write in voting for the David Maness Award and the Society Service Award (see News Cluster for results). - Doug Green, the current Astronomy League liaison, announced his intention to turn the duties over to another club member. No volunteers came forward. Ben Steelman said he would handle the task for now. Any volunteers? The meeting was adjourned at 8:30. News Cluster he CFAS Holiday Social was held on Dec 4 at the Kidney home with about 30 club members, spouses and significant others in attendance. Good company and good food was enjoyed by all. A special thanks to Billy and Kristy Kidney and their daughters Shannon and Sami Jo for hosting the party for the second year in a row. The Club Officers for 2006 are:           President - Ronnie Hawes           Vice President - Terry Herrin           Assoc. Vice President - Alan Hilburn           Treasurer - Ben Steelman           Secretary - Letisha McLaughlin           Newsletter Editor - Ric Longren Congratulations! The recipient of both the 2005 David Maness Award (for outstanding work in the field of amateur astronomy) and 2005 Society Service Award (for outstanding service to the Society) is Ronnie Hawes. CONGRATULATIONS! Ronnie Hawes conducted a viewing session with the Boy Scouts on Dec 2 at the Mooretown site. Both Ronnie and Chris Babson had their scopes there for viewing which lasted until midnight. The viewing was good and all enjoyed the campfire and homemade stew. January's meeting will be followed by a presentation by either Ronnie Hawes entitled "Why Haven't I seen any UFOs?" or George Elliot. Membership dues are due in January From the Editor Please note the updated member address list enclosed with this newsletter. Look over your information and let me know if there are any changes to be made. In the future I would like to publish an Electronic version of this newsletter for email delivery to those members with email addresses. The proposed document format would be PDF for which a free reader can be downloaded. The advantages would be reduced cost for producing and mailing the newsletter, increased content, and color illustrations and graphs. I plan to discuss the introduction of an electronic newsletter in January's meeting. A special thanks to Debbi Hayden for her indispensable help setting up this transition issue of the CFAS Newsletter. Event Calendar Jan 1-31 - Saturn reaches peek of annual cycle in January,           rings tilted 20 degrees to line of site allowing lots of ring detail Jan 03 - Quadrantid meteor shower peaks before dawn,           great display for those with clear skies Jan 04 - Earth at perihelion (91.4 million miles from Sun), 10 am Jan 6/7 - CFAS Group Viewing Session Jan 08 - CFAS January Meeting Jan 11 - Jupiter passes 49’ north of a Librae Jan 13 - Venus in inferior conjunction, 7 pm Jan 14 - Full Moon, 4:48 am Jan 15 - Moon passes 4 degrees north of Saturn, 8 am Jan 21 - Moon passes 0.6 degrees north of Spica, 5 pm Jan 25 - Moon passes 0.02 degrees north of Antares, 7 am Jan 27 - Saturn is at Opposition (closest to Earth, 755 million miles)           Moon passes 12 degrees south of Venus, 7 pm Jan 27/28 - CFAS Group Viewing Session Jan 29 - New Moon, 9:15 am ____________________________________________________________ All content unless otherwise stated Copyright (c) 2002-2006 CAPE FEAR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. All Rights Reserved.