Cape Fear Skies The Cape Fear Astronomical Society Newsletter - Editor Ric Longren This Month's Meeting will be: Sunday, November 5, 2006 Meeting Minutes for October 1, 2006 - by CFAS Secretary Letisha McLaughlin This month's CFAS business meeting convened at 7:10 pm on Sunday October 1, 2006 in UNCW's Morton Hall Auditorium. There were 17 members in attendance and one guest, Thad Coin, who later asked to become a member. Welcome to the club, Thad! Officer's Report: President Ronnie Hawes announced that he had received a phone call from a woman named Kimberly from Oak Island who wished to join the club as well. He welcomed her attend our monthly meetings, but unfortunately she did not make it Sunday. Treasurer Ben Steelman stated the club's balance was around $1,700 and remains solvent. Vice President Terry Herrin visited Moore's Creek Battlefield recently and has discovered there is now excellent cell phone service in that area. In the past the Yamacraw site, which is near the battlefield, has been infamous for having hardly any or no digital signal at all. He is customer of Alltel and reports that nearly the entire time there he had all five service bars. Associate Vice President Alan Hilburn announced that Debbie Hayes has a Coulter Optics 13.1 inch telescope possibly for sale. He also suggested club members donate in order to buy the scope for the club. Secretary Letisha McLaughlin addressed the group concerning the decision regarding a CFAS star party that has been previously discussed. Recently the university's chapter of the Society of Physics Students has become active and is looking for events to attend as a group. The club responded that the decision is still up in the air. However, member Billy Kidney commented that the viewing at Les King's place is amazing and that he and King have considered a members only star party on the grounds. Near Holly Ridge, this land is reportedly some of the best viewing of the dark night sky, according to Kidney. One other option would be to have a somewhat larger star party, one that could include guests, at the Mooretown observing site. One advantage of this idea is that there are picnic tables and also electricity if members decide to have a cookout as well. President Hawes noted he would inquire about this to John Thomas. Billy Kidney pointed out that this site might possibly be flooded. New Business: This year there will be no "Cornucopia" at the Cape Fear Museum due to renovations. President Ronnie Hawes introduced the club's newest member - Thad Coin. Old Business: President Ronnie Hawes announced Becky Lewis' invitation for the club members to her annual "The Fall" bash in Castle Hayne. This year the celebration was for her son, Skye, who had returned from serving our country in Iraq. Welcome home! Observing Reports: Alan Hilburn reported viewing the 6-magnitude comet SWAN between the Big Dipper and the constellation Corona. Also, he informed the group that next year will be an exciting time for meteor showers- as much as 400 meteors per hour have been forecasted for some events. Officer Nominations: According to the CFAS constitution, the month of October initiates the first round of officer nominations. The nominees are below:       President - Ronnie Hawes       Vice President - Terry Herrin       Associate Vice President - Alan Hilburn       Secretary - Letisha McLaughlin       Treasurer - Ben Steelman       Newsletter Editor - No nominees presently After nominations the business portion of the Cape Fear Astronomical Society's October meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM News Cluster The next meeting of the Cape Fear Astronomical Society is November 5 starting at 7:00 pm. The Mid Atlantic Star Party was held from Oct 16 – 22 at its new location outside of Robbins NC. It got off to a wet start but finished with spectacular viewing Friday and Saturday nights. CFAS had a good turnout with a total of 12 members and family attending (see photos on Knowledge Page). Nominations of 2007 CFAS officers continues in November. The officer positions are: President, Vice President, Associate Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Editor. If you're interested or know someone who is, by all means come to the November meeting and nominate. This years Christmas party will be hosted again by Billy Kidney and Family. The date will be determined at the November meeting. Event Calendar for November Nov 3 - Moon at perigee (224,064 mi) 6:49 pm Nov 5 - CFAS May Meeting 7:00 pm Nov 5 - Full Moon, 7:58 am Nov 8 - Mercury is in inferior conjunction at 5 pm,           transits the Sun starting at 2:12 pm Nov 12 - Last quarter Moon, 12:45 pm Nov 15 - Moon at apogee (251,776 mi) 6:20 pm Nov 17 - Leonid meteor shower peaks after midnight Nov 17/18 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions Nov 20 - New Moon, 5:18 pm Nov 23 - Thanksgiving Day Nov 24/25 - CFAS Group Viewing Sessions Nov 28 - First Quarter Moon, 1:29 am All times are EST Astronomical History During the Month of November Date - Milestone Nov 4, 1572 - Tycho Brahe sees supernova brighter than Jupiter in Cassiopeia:           brightest supernova observed in past 900 years Nov 12, 1980 - Voyager 1 flies past Saturn Nov 13, 1971 - Mariner 1 becomes first spacecraft to orbit Mars Nov 16, 1970 - Luna 17, first wheeled vehicle on Moon What's Up Down Under? (News from our Sister Society in Albury-Wodonga, Australia) - David Thurley gave a short talk about an Observatory he recently visited in France while on holidays. He met the Director who wished to have contact with our Society and their approximately 40 astronomers. - Petra de Ruyter presented an excellent discussion about Carolyn Shoemaker and her comet discoveries. - David Thurley presented a talk, supported by computerized images, of the sundials he saw while recently in Sorbonne, France. - Bob Price presented images of the full Moon and conducted a test on how many of the 12 mares (seas) members could name. ____________________________________________________________ All content unless otherwise stated Copyright (c) 2002-2006 CAPE FEAR ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. All Rights Reserved.