The OBSERVER The Newsletter of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers, Inc.

April 2001 Volume 26, Number 4 The Inaugural Address News & Views —Sandy McNamara In This Issue: WOULD like to thank those who 2) Continue to develop the chartered pur- seem to feel I am qualified to direct pose of the TCAA to promote education ITCAA activities in the upcoming in astronomy and science education. year. I promise to do my best to not • News & Views ...... 1 abuse your trust! To help implement the first goal, I'd like New meetings, the SGO takes to reestablish the former TCAA tradition off, oh what a year it will be! There are two pri- of holding general mary goals I’d monthly meetings like to address in of the member- • TCAA Calendar...... 1 the upcoming ship. This is not Use our calendar to mark year: meant to replace your calendar. any of our current 1) Promote the observing ses- feelings of com- sions, public • The Fallen Astronomer...... 3 radeship and com- library presenta- What do you say to an errant munity which tions, or reading astronomer? have always been group gatherings. a prime reason for A general meeting joining and provides the • Spotlight...... 4 remaining a mem- The site of our new monthly meetings? opportunity for Here’s something to crow ber of the TCAA. You decide! about: all the great NGC continued on next page and Messiers in Celebrate the Science. Admire the Art. • SGO FAQ...... 6 Everything you wanted to Astronomy Day @ Eastland, April 28th. know about the SGO

• POS 2001 Schedule...... 7 TCAA Calendar Clip & save (and don’t Saturday, 28 April, 10 AM - 4 PM, Eastland Mall forget to attend, either!). Astronomy Day Exhibit

Saturday, 28 April, 8:30 - 10:30 PM, Sugar Grove Observatory • Farthest Supernova Ever...... 8 Public Observing Session. Coordinator: TBA

Monday, 6 May, 7:30 - 9:00 PM, Barnes and Noble Cafe • Treasurer’s Report ...... 10 TCAA Reading Group. Selection: Brother Astronomer

Saturday, 19 May, 2001, 7:00 - 8:00 PM, SGO • Observer Crossword...... 11 Pre-MOOS Clinic. Topic: Collimation Sharpen those wits, everyone Saturday, 19th May, 8:30 PM - ???, Sugar Grove Observatory • Astronomy Day...... 12 Members Only Observing Session. Join the festivities (please!) 2

The Observer The Newsletter of the TCAA, Inc. The Observer is a monthly publication of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a non- continued from p. 1 profit organization of amateur astronomers interested in studying astronomy and sharing short “edutainment” presentations on vari- Construction of the Sugar Grove Observa- their hobby with the public. ous topics of specific interest to our mem- tory is only the first step in implementing bers (as opposed to presentations prepared my second goal of the year. In addition to TCAA Officers for members of the general public). It providing a home for the 14-in SCT and also provides an opportunity for new access to a dark sky observing site, the members to meet others in our group as SGO provides a location to centralize the President Sandy McNamara 309-379-2751 well as providing a forum for all to input currently scattered resources of the [email protected] opinions, offer advice, and hopefully TCAA. It is planned to keep the TCAA Vice-president Brian Barling become more involved in TCAA activi- loaner telescopes at the SGO between 309-452-7507 ties. Although the TCAA has an active uses. Not only will these be available for [email protected] email discussion group, there are many use at the SGO, they will be more readily 3rd Director Jim Baker members who do not either do not have accessible for sign out by any authorized 309-829-1581 Internet access or who, for various rea- member of the board of directors (as [email protected] sons, prefer face-to-face discussions. opposed to trying to catch me at home to 4th Director Duane Yockey Additionally, a predetermined time and pick them up at my garage!). The TCAA 309-452-3936 [email protected] date for meeting, regardless of the weath- library will soon be relocated there and it 5th Director Dan Miller er, provides an opportunity for those new is hoped that those of you who have mate- 309-473-3465 to the community to get in contact with rials stored in your personal library that [email protected] the TCAA. The new director of the ISU you’ve used for various presentations will Treasurer Duane Yockey planetarium, Tom Willmitch, has gra- bring some of these items to also be made 309-452-3936 ciously offered use of the planetarium available for all members to access. [email protected] building as a convenient place in town to We’ve had one computer donated (and Secretary Michael Rogers hold our meetings. Dates/times for the hopefully will have more) on which we 309-828-8655 meeting are still under discussion; if you will soon be installing various astronomy [email protected] Property Manager Sandy McNamara wish to have a voice in when these will be programs for everyone to use when at the 309-379-2751 held, please contact any member of the site as well as printing out information [email protected] board of directors. and/or charts as needed. (HINT: we still need a printer!) In the meantime, everyone is invited to The Observer Staff come to the Sugar Grove Nature Center Dan Miller has offered to develop presen- Editors Michael Rogers on May 19 from 7 PM to 8 PM, prior to tation outlines in compliance with the new Jean Memken the Member Only Observing Session national education standards in science (MOOS) scheduled for that date. Topic and technology that incorporate various for the evening, to be held rain or shine, aspects of astronomy and space science. Editorial Correspondence: will be “telescope collimation”. Have The board of directors has recently autho- The OBSERVER Editors you ever wondered if your telescope is rized purchase of several prepared 2206 Case Drive adjusted for best performance? Do you slide/script and PowerPoint presentations Bloomington, IL 61701 even know what collimation IS? Would that members can utilize to give presenta- you like to know how easy it is to keep tions regardless of their level of astrono- Articles, ads, etc., are due by the 1st weekend your equipment in good shape by your- my expertise. New member Jim Swindler of each month. Items may be e-mailed to: self? Would you just like to hang around has heroically offered to serve as educa- [email protected], or quietly in the background and link a face tional liaison. He will serve as a contact [email protected] to some of the names you’ve seen in the person for area educators or other groups Dues newsletter? Once your telescope is colli- seeking our help, as well as a coordinator mated, you can stay and enjoy the MOOS to match willing TCAA members with $25.00 per household, per year (providing the skies are clear). Please specific requests for speakers. If you $15.00 for members over 60 $12.00 for newsletter only come even if you’re already an expert in would be willing to help with any of these $ 1.25 for a single newsletter copy this. Especially if you already know how projects, please contact Dan, Jim, myself, to collimate a telescope – we need your or any member of the board of directors help! (see contact info on this page). 3

The Fallen Astronomer — Michael P. Rogers

HAT do you say to an erst- scope construction (Mirror grinding, find yourself an astronomy buddy. To while astronomer, one who has Mount making), Observatory construction paraphrase another great Englishmen, Wlost interest in the hobby? My speaking through a rather stout stuffed reaction is the same as if I were to come Astrophotography (of any or all of the bear, “It’s so much friendlier with two or face-to-face with an alien hovering 5 items listed in observational astronomy): three, or, ...”. metres above ground, with no visible Star trails, Piggy-back, Prime-focus, CCD means of support: a combination of work, Schmidt Camera work annoyance - how dare you defy gravity like that? and incredulity - how can you Theoretical Astronomy: Cosmology, defy gravity like that? Planetary science, Stellar Evolution/Dynamics, Black Holes :-) True, my reaction to the alien is specula- Each can occupy a lifetime, and each can tive - sadly the opportunity simply has not Make a date with presented itself - but I know for certain stop time in its tracks. How many times how I would react to the astronomer, by have you sat transfixed at the eyepiece, paraphrasing Samuel Johnson:”When a gazing at some wonder? Or sat with your man is tired of Astronomy he is tired of nose in a book, lost in contemplation? If life; for there is in Astronomy all that life this hasn’t happened, then make it hap- can afford”. pen! StarDate Think for a moment about all that one can A chorus of “yes, but” just arose from the do in astronomy - the field is as vast as its pragmatic section of the choir (that’s next on subject matter. Consider this imperfect, to the altos, for those of you keeping incomplete, and track). I have to take WGLT, 89.1 FM entirely off-the-cuff kids to this, I have to taxonomy of the study for that, I’m many areas of the exhausted at the end of hobby and science: the day, it’s *dark* out there, it’s dark out Weekdays @ 6:58AM & 6:58PM Observational there and there’s prob- Astronomy: Solar, ably somebody scary Planetary, Lunar, lurking in the bushes Eclipses, Comets. out to steal my star Asteroids, Constella- charts. (Lest anybody tions, Deep sky think I’m singling Sponsored by the TCAA astronomy (Clusters, them out, I most , Variable emphatically *am ), Radio Astron- not*. These are *my* omy excuses, and if yours Partners in Astronomy Education happen to coincide, my with the ISU Planetarium Virtual Astronomy: sympathies). Desktop planetarium @ programs, Real plan- What is an interested 309-438-5007 etaria (e.g., the ISU but reluctant would-be Planetarium!), Grav- astronomer to do? A ity laboratory (e.g., time-tested solution, Newton’s Aquarium) one that will go a long way towards drowning Do-It-Yourself out your own “yes, Astronomy: Tele- Samuel Johnson, in the bronze, outside but” objections, is to St. Celement Danes Church, in London 4

Constellation Spotlight — Corvus — Sandy McNamara

PEN any current astronomy peri- ences in the four corner odical and you’ll find the premier stars of the Corvus trape- Oconstellations of spring highlight- zoid? Gamma (at the NW ed: usually Ursa Major and/or Virgo. corner) is a spectral type Unfortunately the Bear and the Lady have B star with a silver-blue waaaay too many nice objects to pick just color, epsilon (SW cor- a few this month so, TCAAers never ner) is an orange type K, being the type to follow the crowd any- and beta (SE corner) is a way, our spotlight this month is more in yellow type G. Delta (NE keeping with our corn country heritage. corner), a bluish type A, We’re going hunting for a big, black is also an attractive tele- crow! scopic double star; exam- ine it at around 100x to Ole! The Sombrero , aka M 104 Step outside around 8 PM toward the end spot the fainter secondary. with M68. A globular cluster actually of this month and look due south. Just claimed by the snake Corvus is sitting on, over 2 fist-widths above the horizon, 2 Located due west of Spica, in Virgo, M68 can be found 3 degrees south of beta fist-widths to the west of the bright star galaxy M104 actually is more easily Corvus (the lower left corner of the Spica, you will find a distinctive crooked located by starting in Corvus. Extend a Corvus square), just NE of a bright (mag square of 3rd magnitude stars. Although line connecting the SW corner of Corvus 5) star in the same field of view. In my 8- the constellation is not large, it stands out to the NE corner and keep going for the inch, it is a mod bright round glow, nicely and using a LOT of imagination, same distance again to locate it. An brighter to the center. The edges just fade this is our bird of the month. Corvus, the equally good method with binoculars or from view with no stars resolved. Crow, is one of the oldest finder scope is to position the bright pair and is a member of the 48 constellations delta and eta Corvus (at the top left corner From M68, drop south 2.5 degrees then originally drawn up by Ptolemy in the 2nd of the Corvus square) at the SW edge of sweep due east to find galaxy M83. Also century. Several legends are attached to your field of view and look for a nice Y- actually in Hydra, M83 appears in my 8- our bird, among them, that being sent by shaped asterism about 3 degrees north of in as a moderately large softly glowing Apollo with a cup to get water, he waited the pair; the base of the Y points to M104 irregular oval oriented E-W. It brightens under a fig tree for the fruit to ripen. He like an arrow. M104 is easily seen in gradually to a sl central condensation and then returned to the god carrying a water even the smallest telescopes; it appears in dim foreground stars are visible at the snake, alleging that this was the cause of my 8-in telescope as a bright spindle ori- middle and W end. his delay. In punishment for his lie, he ented E-W with round nuclear section. A was thrown into the sky with the Cup slightly larger telescope will show the Planetary NGC 4361 is easily (Crater, just to the west of Corvus) and dark lane that cuts off one side of this located with Telrad since it is equidistant Snake (Hydra, winding its way along galaxy and earned it the nickname of the from the two top stars of Corvus, 2 most of the southern horizon. “sombrero galaxy”. degrees from each, in the middle of the continued on next page Can you detect the subtle color differ- Corvus keeps being deprived of custody Object Type RA DEC Mag Size/Sep Notes NGC 4027 Gal 12h 00m -19d 16m 11.1 2.4’ X 2’ H NGC 4038/4039 Gal 12h 02m -18d 52m 10.7 1.7’x1.2’ H, H2 NGC 4361 PN 12h 24m -18d 48m 10.9 80” H Delta (7) Crv DS 12h 30m -16d 31m 3.0/9.2 24.2”@214 NGC 4594, M104 Gal 12h 40m -11d 37m 8.3 8.9’ x 4.1’ M NGC 4590, M68 GC 12h 40m -26d 45m 7.7 12’ M NGC 5236, M83 Gal 13h 37m -29d 52m 8.2 10.0’ x 8.0’ M

Note: For those of you working on various observing projects, “M” = Messier and Binocular Messier list, “H” = Herschel 400 list, “H2” = Herschel II list 5

continued from previous page

Corvus square. In the 8-inch, it appears as a circular hazy spot almost resembling a faint globular cluster; the central star, magnitude 12.9, is difficult to see unless using a larger telescope.

CHALLENGE FOR LARGER TELE- SCOPES: NGC 4038/4039, the “anten- nae” or “rattail” galaxy is actually two colliding galaxies appearing to be joined at right angles on one end. To locate it, move from delta to gamma Corvus and continue west for the same distance. While it takes a 16-in or larger telescope to discern the two components, an 8 or 10-in telescope should reveal that the galaxy seems to have an irregular shape with a notch missing in the SW area. I have seen this galaxy described as “cashew” or “kidney” shaped and either would describe how it appears in a 12-in or larger telescope. In my 12.5-inch tele- scope under typical dark Illinois skies, the galaxy is a faint comma shaped smudge of light, moderately large, covering about 1/8 of the field of view using an eyepiece with a 22’ FOV. If you successfully locate the antennae, look about 1/2 degree SW to find galaxy NGC 4027. It appears in my 12.5-in as a faint, irregularly round glow that gradually brightens a bit toward the center.

Skyline!

The Official Voice of the ISU Planetarium/TCAA 438-5007 6

SGO FAQ —Michael P. Rogers

: WHAT, pray tell, is an FAQ? can use the SGO provided they are super- vised by a designated TCAA member. Q: What if I want to use the SGO? Am I Q Q: What is a keyholder? limited to POS and MOOSs? A:A keyholder is a TCAA member who A: Absolutely not! If you are a keyhold- A: FAQ is an acronym for Frequently has gone through a rigorous training pro- er, you can go out anytime the spirit Asked Questions, and denotes a topic that gram, and after paying a maintenance fee, moves you. If not a keyholder, merely addresses commonly posed questions on a been granted a key to the SGO. contact a keyholder to arrange a private particular subject. (For some reason CPQ observing session. didn’t catch on.) Q: When is the SGO open? A: The SGO is open for public observing Q: I organize girl scouts/boy scouts/some The term, if it did not originate on the sessions (see the schedule on the next other civic organization. Can my mem- Internet, certainly became popular as a page), for members only observing ses- bers have their own observing session? result of the many FAQs that have made sions (during new moon weekends). A: Absolutely yes! Just contact any of their way there. The FAQ was real- the board members (see the ly an act of desperation on the inter- contact information on p. 2 net, to avoid gridlock as a result of of this newsletter) to arrange hundreds of thousands of people a session or sessions. asking the same questions over and over. Q: What should I bring to an observing session at the Q: What is the SGO? SGO? A: SGO is an acronym for the A: The eyepiece selection Sugar Grove Observatory, built by at the SGO is currently the blood, sweat and tears of many somewhat limited (although TCAAers and non-TCAAers alike. the board of directors has authorized the spending of Q: Where is the SGO? some $$$ to rectify this). A: The SGO is located at the Sugar So, to start you’ll want to Grove Nature Center, southwest of bring some eyepieces (either Funk’s Grove. The map at right 1.25 or 2 inch). Next, you’ll provides more detail. want to bring out some star charts. Many observers find Q: What is in the SGO? it a Very Good Idea to set A: At the heart of the SGO is a C- out an observing agenda, 14 schmidt cassegrain telescope, based on what will be visi- manufactured by Celestron. A ble when. library, desks, a computer, and some other paraphernalia are slowly making their way into the building, too.

Q: Who operates the SGO? A: The TCAA operates the obser- vatory. Our observatory manager is Dan Miller ([email protected] likin.edu, 309-473-3465).

Q: Who can use the SGO? A: Any TCAA member can use the SGO, and any member of the public 7

Directions

Note: If you haven't visited this site before, do so during the daytime, not only to enjoy the wonderful scenery, but to make sure you don't get lost!!

1. Head southweest on I-55 towards Shirley 2. Take the Shirley exit 3. Turn right at the end of the off-ramp 4. Turn left at the T (with old route 66) 5. Proceed (several miles) along Route 66 until you reach Funk's Grove 6. Take the first left at Funk's Grove towards the Funk's Grove Church 7. Proceed along the road -- do not turn right at the Church, but proceed south on the "dead-end" fork 8

Farthest Supernova Ever Seen Sheds Light on Dark Universe — StScI

ASA's Hubble Space Telescope hundreds of images taken by Hubble in less pull of gravity. However, like many has seen a burst of light from an infrared and visible light to study how scientists of his time, he assumed the uni- Nexploding star located much far- galaxies formed. Fortuitously, one of verse to be static and unchanging. To ther from Earth than any previously seen - those galaxies contained a supernova pre- make his equations fit those observations, a supernova blast in the early universe viously discovered by astronomers Ron Einstein added something he called the that is casting light on a mystery of truly Gilliland, STScI, and Mark Phillips, "cosmological constant" whose gravity is cosmic scale. Carnegie Institutions of Washington. repulsive, though he had no idea if it was real. This stellar explosion is extraordinary not The record-breaking supernova appears only because of its tremendous distance, brighter than it should if the universe had Shortly afterwards, astronomer Edwin 10 billion light-years from Earth, but also been expanding at a steady rate. The rea- Hubble made the celebrated discovery because its discovery greatly bolsters the son is that a decelerating universe holds that the universe was expanding. He case for the existence of a mysterious galaxies relatively close together and assumed that the universe must be slow- form of "dark energy" pervading the uni- objects in them would have appeared ing down under gravity and might even verse. The concept of dark energy, which brighter because they would be closer. come to a halt, leading Einstein later to shoves galaxies away from each other at "Long ago, when the light left this distant say that his cosmological constant was the an ever-increasing speed, was first pro- supernova, the universe may have been biggest blunder of his career. Now it posed, and then discarded, by Albert Ein- slowing down due to the mutual tug of all appears Einstein was on the right track stein early in the last century. the mass in the universe," said Riess. after all. "Billions of years later, when the light left The Hubble discovery also reinforces the more recent supernovas, the universe had The source of the repulsive gravity may startling idea that the universe only begun accelerating, stretching the expanse be something akin to Einstein's cosmolog- recently began speeding up, a discovery between galaxies and making objects in ical constant, referred to as the energy of made about three years ago when the them appear dimmer." the "quantum vacuum," a subatomic unusually dim light of several distant netherworld pervading space that provides supernovas suggested the universe is "Hubble's ability to find titanic stellar a source of energy, or it may be some- expanding more quickly than in the past, explosions at these extreme distances is thing entirely new and unexpected. but there were alternate explanations. The what it takes to confirm this theory that "While we don't know what dark energy more distant supernova ( z=1.7) the universe must have been slowing is, we are certain that understanding it refutes these alternatives and offers the down before it switched into high gear,'" will provide crucial clues in the quest to first tantalizing observational evidence said Dr. Anne Kinney, director of unify the forces and particles in the uni- that gravity began slowing down the NASA's Origins program at NASA Head- verse, and that the route to this under- expansion of the universe after the big quarters, Washington, DC. "Later this standing involves telescopes, not acceler- bang. Only later did the repulsive force of year, astronauts will install a new camera ators," said astrophysicist Michael Turner dark energy win out over gravity's attrac- on Hubble that will give us 10 times bet- of the University of Chicago. tive grip. ter resolution than the current camera, which will give us an even better capabili- Riess’ collaborators include Peter Nugent "The supernova appears to be one of a ty to find answers to grand cosmic ques- (Lawrence Berkeley National Laborato- special class of explosions that allows tions like this." ry), Brian Schmidt (Mount Stromlo astronomers to understand how the uni- Observatory), and John Tonry (Institute verse's expansion has changed over time, Observations of several distant super- for Astronomy). NASA’s Hubble Space much as the way a parent follows a child's novas by two teams of astronomers in Telescope is a project of international growth spurts by marking a doorway," 1998 led to the prediction that the uni- cooperation between NASA and the Euro- said Adam Riess of the Space Telescope verse got the "green light" to accelerate pean Space Agency. Science Institute (STScI), Baltimore, MD. when it was half its present age. "This supernova shows us the universe is Astronomers say the new Hubble findings behaving like a driver who slows down rule out other explanations. approaching a red stoplight and then hits the accelerator when the light turns Nearly a century ago, Albert Einstein's green." The team of astronomers, led by Law of General Relativity concluded the Riess, made the discovery by analyzing universe must collapse under the relent- 9 10

Treasurer’s Report — March 2001 — Duane A. Yockey, Treasurer

------

OPERATING FUND BALANCE – February 28, 2001 - $1,556.89

Income Joe Kennedy (dues) - $ 25.00 Kim McRoberts-Wilson (dues) - $ 25.00 Roy & Diane Lawry (dues renewal) - $ 25.00 Orlyn Edge (dues renewal) - $ 25.00 Jim Swindler (dues) - $ 25.00

Expenses Dr. Jim Brown (Honorarium & Expenses) $ 84.00 VanGundy Insurance (Liability Insurance) $150.00

OPERATING FUND BALANCE – March 31, 2001 - $1,447.89

------

OBSERVATORY FUND BALANCE – February 28, 2001 - $ 309.54

Income Interest $ 1.77 Donation $ 30.00

Expenses None

OBSERVATORY FUND BALANCE – March 31, 2001 - $ 341.31

------

TOTAL TCAA FUNDS – March 31, 2001 - $1,789.20

------11

The Observer Crossword —Observer Staff

ACROSS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 Famous initials in CCD 4 Cosmological theory (3,4) 14 15 16 10 Metal 17 18 19 20 21 14 Even (poet.) 15 Luminous atmospheric phenomenon 22 23 24 25 16 Therefore 26 27 28 29 30 17 Dell 19 Mother of Isaac 31 32 33 34 35 20 A wet nebula? 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 22 Dropsy 24 Negative 43 44 45 46 25 Moon of Saturn discovered in 1789 47 48 49 26 Bloodsucking insect 29 Shining with light 50 51 52 53

32 Moon of Saturn discovered in 1672 54 55 56 57 58 59 34 Grasp 36 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet 60 61 62 63

38 Apiece 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 40 Alternative name for Pi Meson 41 Weep 71 72 73 74 75

43 From a distance 76 77 78 79 80 45 Joined 46 Brass wind instrument 81 82 83

47 Combining form meaning " strange " 84 85 86 49 Not closed 50 The physical unit for measuring power 51 Guarantee 53 Delicatessen 7 Boast 63 Ornamental fabric 54 7th Greek letter 8 Exclamation of surprise 65 Expert 55 Foretell 9 First to use a telescope in astronomy 66 Loud noise 57 Stated 10 Bequest 67 Horn-shaped bone 59 To free 11 Uneven 69 Radio location system 61 Flexible tube 12 Gone by 70 Allow to enter 62 False god 13 Spanish title 72 English court 64 11th Greek letter 18 Islamic chieftain 73 Capital of Shaanxi province, China 68 Person who lies 21 Atomic mass unit 75 Alley 71 Constellation : The ram 23 Continuous dull pain 76 Limb of a felled tree 72 Brine-cured salmon 27 English poet 77 Female sheep 74 Parboil 28 Second satellite of Saturn 78 Viper 76 Run away from a debt 30 Bloodsucking fly 79 Part of verb to be 78 Operatic feature/bright region on Mars 31 Vanquish 80 Yellow cheese coated with red wax 33 Very skilled person 81 Was indebted to 35 Young goat 82 Pertaining to the number six 36 Developer of theory of electromagnetism 83 Black bird 37 Devilfish 84 Basic unit of heredity 39 Full autumn moon 85 Eighth planet from the sun 41 The highest degree 86 Worry 42 Colonial marine hydrozoan DOWN 44 Decay 1 John Glenn's Number 46 Former weight for wool 2 Glass ornament 48 Vial 3 Bay 51 Anglo-Australian Observatory, for short 4 Passenger vehicle 52 Taxicab 5 Republic in SW Asia 56 Light four-wheeled carriage 6 Pierced with horns 58 Raised platform 60 Scrape off 12 Astronomy Day April 28, 2001 Eastland Mall, 10 AM - 4 PM ISU Planetarium, 2 PM SGO, 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM Celebrate the Science. Admire the Art.

Games & gabbing, telescopes to talk about, magnificent mirror grinding, super software... what’s missing? YOU!!!!! Join us anytime, or all the time, @ Eastland Mall on April 28th. Bring a telescope or just yourself. Wear TCAA Garb if you have it, to show the colors!

The OBSERVER The Newsletter of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers, Inc.

Michael Rogers & Jean Memken, Editors 2206 Case Drive Bloomington, IL 61701

Dues Due? The Dues Blues If you see a check in the box above, it means your dues are due. To retain membership -- and with a new observato- ry, why quit now??? -- please send $25 to our esteemed treasurer:

Duane Yockey 508 Normal Avenue Normal, IL, 61761

As always, thank you for your support!!