June 2017 OBSERVER(150Ppi)

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 42, Number 6 June 2017

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – Virgo Cluster 2«President’s Log 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – June 2017 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/List/Forum 3«Subscribing to Our E-Mail List & Forum 4«Planets and Bright Stars in Evening Mid-Twilight 5«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 5«Local Sunrise and Sunset Times for June 6«Movement Toward New Observatory: Update #2 7«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 8«Minutes of Ad Hoc Board Meeting, May 25th 9«Minutes of the May 30th Board Meeting 10«Earliest and Latest Sunrises & Sunsets 11«Introduction to Amateur Astronomy News 11«Eclipse Stamp 2017 12«TCAA Photo Gallery 15«Star Trekking through Oklahoma and Texas 16«Education and Public Outreach for May 2017 17«June 24th Fourth PVS of 2017 17«Remaining PVS for 2017 18«Camp Ondessonk Reminder

18«TCAA on Facebook and Twitter EDITOR’S CHOICE: IMAGE OF THE MONTH – 18«HowTimeFlies « THE HEART OF VIRGO’S CLUSTER OF GALAXIES 19 Renewing Your TCAA Membership 19«Treasurer’s Report for May 2017 June’s Image of the Month is by Tim Stone. Tim described the image

as follows: This time of year, the only things to photograph in the evening sky are galaxies. There are literally millions of them within reach of the TCAA instruments, some of them bright enough to view visually, but most of them faint enough that photography is required to reveal them. They crowd the skies in clusters, and clusters of clusters, as far as anyone has been able to see. It’s no coincidence, then, that some of the most beautiful of them are in this sky, and of those, the Virgo Cluster reigns supreme. The Virgo Cluster stretches across a wide area of our sky, a patch some eight degrees in diameter. This image shows the bright inner core of the cluster, about five square degrees worth, where galaxies large and small crowd together, interacting with each other and giving us a The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League. For scene of both sublime beauty and galactic destruction. The string of more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit our galaxies curving upward from middle right to top center is called club website. Markarian’s Chain, named after the Armenian astrophysicist who

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Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

PRESIDENT’S LOG

The OBSERVER Earlier this year, we announced in this newsletter that we had is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin agreed to work with an anonymous donor to procure a large- City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a aperture, long-focal-length telescope, the mount, camera, and registered 501(c)3 non-profit educational other auxiliary equipment needed to operate this instrument. The organization of amateur astronomers interested in studying astronomy and objective was to be able to do high resolution astrophotography to sharing their hobby with the public. capture details in objects that are not well resolved in our current instruments. We are excited to let you know this equipment has TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS been ordered and is under construction at this time. President & Director/Property Manager Our original thoughts were to house this equipment in the Prairie Sky Observatory, in Tim Stone 309-531-2401 the position the 17” PlaneWave currently occupies. As the physical dimensions of the [email protected] telescope and mount system became known, it was clear to me that while the system would Vice President & Director/Publicist likely fit in that space, it would make the already crowded space in the PSO even more so – Darren Erickson 309-336-0103 with an increased risk of inadvertent collision with other equipment in the space. With this [email protected] information, the TCAA Board chose to pursue construction of another observatory building Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent suited for the new instrument. Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 Our first thought was to approach the Sugar Grove Nature Center about building the [email protected] new observatory on their grounds, near our existing facilities. We developed a proposal,

Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor including architectural drawings and tentative siting, and met with the Funks Grove Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 Cemetery Association (FGCA) Board last month to present our proposal. Two weeks after [email protected] that meeting, we were given the news that the FGCA Board had voted not to approve our

Director & Observing Programs Coord. proposal, citing concerns about the proliferation of buildings on the SGNC grounds as their Jim Gibbs 847-809-2232 primary concern. [email protected] While this was unexpected news, it is certainly understandable and we respect the

Astronomical League Correspondent FGCA Board’s decision. This left us with two options: house the new instrument in the PSO Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 as originally planned and deal with the associated risks, or find an alternative site. [email protected] Subsequently, I asked Bob Finnigan to join me in the search for alternative sites for this new

Webmaster observatory. Our anonymous donor agrees that this is likely the best option moving forward Lee Green 309-454-7349 We have looked at several sites which would be available to us to acquire. We have [email protected] developed several requirements to use as evaluation criteria. The new site must:

Lighting Education Coordinator 1. be at least as dark as the SGNC site, preferably darker, Lisa Wentzel unlisted number 2. not be so remote that it’s difficult for members to utilize, [email protected] 3. have available power and water (for placement of restroom facilities of some sort), Membership Coordinator 4. have a completely unobstructed southern horizon, and Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 5. allow for parking. [email protected]

Technology Coordinator We are really excited to let you know that we’ve found a site that meets our Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 requirements. It is just south of the McLean/DeWitt county line, about a mile east of [email protected] Waynesville, Illinois. The TCAA Board has authorized Bob Finnigan to pursue a fifty-year lease on this property. To that end, we have filed a request for Special Use designation on The OBSERVER that site with the DeWitt County Zoning Board. This will allow the site to be used for the Carl J. Wenning, Editor in Chief non-agricultural purpose of astronomy. With that designation in hand, we will conclude the Paul Pouliot, Assistant Editor lease agreement so that it binds any future owners of the land. Submission deadline end of each month. We anticipate this process to take a couple of months. The land currently has corn on it,

so our construction will wait until it has been harvested. Meanwhile, we will be working out MEMBERSHIP DUES the details of the site plan, which we will share as soon as we can. Individual Adult/Family $40 This is an exciting and important initiative for our club, guaranteeing we have a great Full-time Student/Senior $25 location to conduct our observing and photography activities for the foreseeable future. It (Senior status equals ages 60+) does not, however, mean that we are any less committed to our relationship with Sugar To join, send your name, contact info and Grove Nature Center and the use of our facilities there. We have a strong working dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA relationship at SGNC that greatly benefits both organizations, and we look forward to Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL continuing that partnership for the foreseeable future. 61761-1471. Clear and dark skies! Tim Stone, President

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

CALENDAR OF CELESTIAL EVENTS – JUNE 2017 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (6/15): Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Uranus, The following individuals have paid dues for new or and Neptune renewed memberships as of May 30th, 2017. (Others who paid after that date will appear in the July 2017 issue of EVENING PLANETS (6/15): Mars and Jupiter The OBSERVER.)

01 First Quarter Moon – The waxing, half-lit moon rises around midday and sets around midnight. Erica Aguirre

03 Venus at Greatest Western Elongation – The planet Venus reaches greatest elongation of 45.9° west of the Sun. This UES LUES is the best time to view Venus because it will be at its D B highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. If you have received a “your dues are due” statement

along with the email that brought you this issue of The 09 Full Moon – The Moon will rise at sunset and set at sunrise. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. Dave Osenga, as the Full Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761- year to gather ripening fruit. It also coincides with the peak 1471. Dues are currently $25 for seniors (60 years of age of the strawberry harvesting season. This moon has also and over) and $40 regular. been known as the Full Rose Moon and the Full Honey Moon. SUBSCRIBING TO OUR E-MAIL LIST & FORUM

15 Saturn at Opposition – The ringed planet will be at its By subscribing to a group’s mailing list you will receive closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully email messages from the group so you won’t have access illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other to the group’s web features (like photos, files, links, polls, time of the year and will be visible all night long. calendar, etc.) unless members activate it later. The club has an open email listserv. It is known as the TCAA 17 Last Quarter Moon – The waning, half-lit moon rises Yahoogroups listserv. It will be used to share around midnight and sets around midday. announcements and reminders about astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv, you must do the 20 Summer Solstice – The summer solstice occurs at 11:24 following: PM. The North Pole of Earth will be maximally tilted toward the Sun. The sun will have reached its northernmost 1. Subscribe: Send a blank email to TCAA- position in the midday sky, and will be directly over the [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a Tropic of Cancer at 23.44° north latitude. confirmation email from the group. Reply to the confirmation email to activate your subscription. 23 New Moon – Sets at sunset and rises at sunrise; not visible. 2. Unsubscribe: [email protected] 3. To post a message: [email protected] 30 First Quarter Moon – This is the second first-quarter moon of June. Because the moon’s period of phases is only about A new forum has been established that replaces the 29.5 days (length varies), it’s possible to have a second former yahoogroups.com imaging group. This new space first-quarter moon during a month when the first first- will give TCAAers more room to grow the forum as well as quarter moon phase falls on the first day of the month. the ability to customize the look and feel of the site. For now, Tony Cellini will be paying for the hosting service but, if somewhere down the line he should decide that he EVENING SKY MAP doesn’t want to take on that burden, the host he chose offers free hosting for 503c organizations. Click on the icon found here to access So, join the discussion at the new home of the TCAA a current evening sky map along with forums: https://tcaa.clubforums.net. Please note that a more detailed celestial events guests may view all the forums, but registration is required calendar. to post. It’s easy and secure.

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

PLANETS AND BRIGHT STARS IN EVENING MID-TWILIGHT FOR JUNE 2017

This sky chart by Robert D. MillerPlanets and is drawn for 40 Bright Stars° north latitude but may be used throughout the continental U.S. and in Evening Mid-Twilight southern Canada. It shows the positions of objects in the sky when the Sun’s center is 9° below the western horizon. This corresponds from 52 to 54 minutes after sunset this monthFor June,. The 2017spring stars are past the meridian, and the harbingers of summer dominate the eastern sky. Jupiter is now prominently shinning in the southern sky, and Saturn is shining prominently This sky chart is drawn for latitude 40 degrees north, in the southeast. Mars will be a difficult find but may be usedin the evening sky in continental as it is dim and very near the northwestern horizon at chart U.S. and southern Canada. time. N

Deneb Capella 8 1 Mars

Vega

Altair

Pollux

E W Procyon

Arcturus

Regulus

Jupiter 22 29 1 8 15

Spica Saturn 8 15 22 29

Antares

S Evening mid-twilight occurs Stereographic Projection when Sun is 9O below horizon. Map by Robert D. Miller June 1: 52 minutes after sunset. 15: 54 " " " 30: 52 " " "

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter New Moon Thursday, June 1; Friday, June 30 Friday, June 9 Saturday, June 17 Friday, June 23

All moon phase dates are Central Time. Additional moon phases for the 2017 calendar year can be found by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

LOCAL SUNRISE AND SUNSET TIMES FOR JUNE

From the December solstice to the June solstice, the duration of daylight increases. This occurs in general because sunrises occur earlier and sunsets occur later. The opposite is true from the June solstice to the December solstice. The table below gives times for the Bloomington-Normal area, and will help you plan observations. The times of dawn and dusk in the table below are the beginning and end of astronomical twilight when the sun’s center is 18° below the horizon and it is not contributing light to the night sky.

Event June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 June 29 Dawn 3:27 AM 3:22 AM 3:20 AM 3:20 AM 3:24 AM Sunrise 5:27 AM 5:25 AM 5:25 AM 5:26 AM 5:28 AM Sunset 8:20 PM 8:25 PM 8:28 PM 8:30 PM 8:30 PM Dusk 10:22 PM 10:29 PM 10:33 PM 10:36 PM 10:35 PM

IMAGE OF THE MONTH: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 proved by their common motions that these galaxies are all hole’s poles at nearly the speed of light through the galaxy neighbors, thus actually forming a remarkable chain of galaxies. and out into intergalactic space. An image of M87 taken with Three of these galaxies are gigantic ellipticals, growing the TCAA 16” shows this jet, and its typical blue color, ever larger by their interactions with the swarm of smaller synchrotron radiation caused by electrons spiraling in the galaxies in their vicinity. With a mass of 2.4 trillion solar incredibly intense magnetic field. masses, M87 is the famous elliptical at the lower left, also At the right side of the image, M84 (closest to the right) known as Virgo A because of it’s extremely energetic radio and M86 are elliptical galaxies physically larger but less emission. This emission is massive than M87. They the result of matter serve as the beginning of falling into the a visual tour of supermassive black hole Markarian’s chain. at its center (shown left). Moving eastward along Initially this matter the chain, the next two radiates copious galaxies are heavily amounts of radio energy distorted NGC 4435, and as it warms due to its neighbor NGC 4438 compression and friction (shown right). These two as it spirals inward. galaxies are called “The Eventually it is heated to Eyes” because through a millions of degrees by the same forces, which causes it to telescope they do have the appearance of two glowing eyes radiate enormous amounts of energy as x-rays. In the peering out of the darkness of the universe. process, it produces a jet of matter streaming from the black Copyright © 2017 TCAA 5 All rights reserved.

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

Continuing eastward, we run into another pair of I started imaging this cluster three years ago, but for one galaxies, NGC 4461 (the brighter) and NGC 4458. Next is reason or another haven’t been able to create a high-quality solitary NGC 4473, then the brighter barred spiral NGC 4477, image of it until this year. I had almost despaired of getting with its smaller neighbor NGC 4479, also a barred spiral. A the image this year as well, due to the abysmally bad trio of galaxies punctuates the northern end of the chain, weather we’ve experienced. A break in the cloud cover in Bright NGC 4459 to the west, dimmer NGC 4474 to the east, mid-April afforded me the time to capture this data. It took a and even fainter NGC 4468 in between them. couple of very late nights to do it, but I was determined not In addition to these bright members, there are literally to let this one get away again. I’m so glad I did. The result is hundreds of smaller and fainter members, with virtually all lovely. This image was acquired at the TCAA Prairie Sky galactic morphologies represented, including dwarfs and Observatory with the Takahashi CCA250, with 16x900R and irregulars. In its full resolution, which unfortunately cannot 15x900BG exposures for a total of 11.5 hours of imaging. be presented in this newsletter, the magnificence of this cluster of galaxies is apparent.

MOVEMENT TOWARD NEW TCAA OBSERVATORY: UPDATE #2

As you now know by having read Tim Stone’s President’s Log for June, the possibility of the TCAA building a new observatory for the 24” telescope at SGNC has vaporized. Regardless, due to our investment in this project, we are moving ahead with a new observatory – just in a new location. The fact of the matter is that the refusal by the Funk’s Grove Cemetery Association to permit us to build at SGNC appears now to be a blessing. While the SGNC site is reasonably good for viewing/imaging and for public outreach, the sky is not as dark as we’d like. As the light pollution map to the right shows, SGNC is in a zone of increasing light pollution. The prospects are that the night sky conditions will continue degrade. As the surrounding population grows, the sky at SGNC will simply become more and more light polluted, and there is little we can do about it, including any developments along I-55. We are now negotiating for observatory property east of Waynesville, IL, where the sky is considerably darker than at SGNC – at least one magnitude greater limiting magnitude by a recent estimate. The source of funding for the land acquisition and construction will be a $50,000 incentive pledge made to SGNC should permission have been given for a new observatory to be built at that location. Turning down our request to build this third observatory at SGNC freed up that money which will be adequate to arrange for a location and construct most of the new observatory – a very considerable cost savings indeed! Below are two images recently provided by Jim Gibbs that indicate what the horizon looks like from the new Waynesville location. The first image shows a panoramic view from (left to right) the eastern, southern, and western horizons. The second image shows the western, northern, and eastern horizons. Bob Finnigan is standing roughly in the north-northeast in the second image. Stay tuned for details as they develop.

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó In a rush to publish the May issue of The OBSERVER due to the departure of the editor on a two-week business trip, the following information was left out. Club members Sharon MacDonald, Jeff Struve, and Carl Wenning attended the NCRAL 2017 meeting held at Lanesboro, MN, April 21-23. Also attending was Craig Cox who, though not a TCAA member, joined us at February’s Annual Meeting. ó CUAS President David Leake was named the recipient of this year’s NCRAL Award. This prestigious award is presented to recognize service to the community of amateur astronomers and the public. A very nice article about Dave appears on the NCRAL website at https://ncral.wordpress.com/awards/. ó Bob Finnigan and Jim Gibbs traveled to Bartlett, IL, on Wednesday, May 17th to examine a structure suitable for a new observatory. They examined the Tele-Station 6 made by Pier-Tech, Inc. (http://www.pier-tech.com/). Unlike other roll-off roof observatories, Tele-Station 6 can be totally disassembled and re-assembled if it must be relocated. Walls and roof bolt together using one (1) tool, a We will purchase the roof mechanism only. supplied Allen wrench! It also has a unique roof design. The aluminum roof comes in 5 sections, and has overlapping seams for a complete waterproof design. There are no permanent roller track supports; the observatory has extendable track supports that roll out with the roof making it more esthetically pleasing.

ó On Monday, May 22nd, the first step of renewing the SGO dome was accomplished. Having not been painted but once since 2000, it was sorely in need of treatment. The dome was been power washed by contractor Ed Burleson to remove flaking bits of paint. The adjacent image shows the state of the dome following stripping of flaking paint. The next step will be to cover the exterior with an Elastomeric coating, a relatively inexpensive treatment that will leave a thin rubberized “skin” rather than a thin paint veneer that is subject to pealing. Following the coating of the exterior, the dome’s interior will be painted a flat black to cover up the splotchy and unsightly light blue paint that does not help

The dome readied for painting. much to reduce the darkness of the setting for viewers. ó Bob and Ernie Finnigan and Carl Wenning visited the DeWitt County Zoning Commission in Clinton on May 25th to see what it will take to get a variance for building the club’s new observatory on Ernie’s property. Replete with information and forms, they returned in time for an Ad Hoc Board meeting that evening to consider how to continue the process. The application form having been completed by Carl, Tim Stone joined Bob & Ernie in submitting the paperwork the next day. We should now appear on the docket for the Zoning Board meeting on June 20th. If all goes well, and we receive approval at each of the follow-up meetings (there are 4 meetings total), we should be ready to begin construction sometime late this summer. ó Lisa Wentzel was recognized in the June issue of AL’s Reflector for earning Tim and Ernie at Zoning Commission the Herschel 400 observing program. Congratulations once again Lisa!

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

TH MINUTES OF AD HOC BOARD MEETING, MAY 25

Editor’s note: TCAA Board members, along with Bob Finnigan, held an “emergency meeting” on Thursday, May 25th, after being informed that if the Board wants to build a new observatory for the 24” telescope at Waynesville in a timely fashion, they must move quickly due to the meeting schedule of the DeWitt County Zoning Commission. This Commission must grant a non-agricultural Special Use exemption if we are to build in an area zoned agricultural. The application deadline for making the docket of the next Zoning Board meeting is June 3rd. There was great urgency in our request as the Zoning Board meets only once every 3 months. A delay now might cause as much as a one-year delay later due to the onset of cold weather when construction cannot progress. September is the earliest we can expect to get started on construction if the exemption can be obtained now. After that, work would have to wait unit next spring – nearly a one-year delay.

The Board of Directors held a special meeting to address urgent matters in relation to the proposed new observatory. The meeting was called to order by Tim Stone at 6:04 PM at the home of Carl Wenning in Normal. Also in attendance were Jim Gibbs, Dave Osenga, Darren Erickson, and non-Board member Bob Finnigan. Tim asked Carl to read the formal motion specially prepared in advance for this meeting. Carl stated, “I move that the leadership of the TCAA – as directed by its president – be authorized to do the following:

ó to apply for a zoning variance from DeWitt County Zoning Commission for the placement of a new observatory on ½ acre of the property of Ernest & Patricia Finnigan located at 2114 Waynesville Road, Waynesville, Illinois; ó to pay the required zoning application fee; ó to seek and obtain a signed 50-year lease agreement with the site’s property owner; ó to issue contracts to move ahead with the construction of the new 10’ x 28’ roll-off-roof observatory to house the club’s equipment as well as an adjacent 10’ x 28’ slab (for use with portable telescopes); and ó to secure installation of utility services and other necessary items.

Further, I move that the Board agree to accept a donation in the amount of $10,000 for pre-payment of the lease, a $250 donation in payment for the zoning commission application fee, and all other charitable donations – major and minor – necessary to complete this project.” Jim Gibbs seconded the motion, and discussion ensued. The motion was reviewed pretty much line by line with questions being raised about liability insurance, stated purpose of the observatory, the need to make it clear to the membership that the TCAA “is not pulling out of SGNC” following the FGCA decision to prevent the TCAA to build a third observatory on that site; the intended lease agreement and how it will be drawn up and what it might include, and that the new observing site will be for all club members, not just users of the 24” telescope, etc. Following this discussion, Darren called for the vote. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion, and the motion carried. Tim immediately appointed Bob official liaison between the DeWitt County Zoning Commission and the TCAA. The meeting adjourned at 6:42 PM. 2017 TCAA Board Members (from left to right): It is pointed out here for completeness of the Dave Osenga, Jim Gibbs, Tim Stone, Darren Erickson, and Carl Wenning record that prior to the start of the meeting Dave showed an interesting way to pour concrete walls using a permanent Styrofoam form. This form provides parallel 3-inch backer boards that remain in place after the concrete is poured. These provide a moisture barrier, a high R-value insulation, and a surface upon which to hang both interior and exterior surface “treatments.” Respectfully submitted, Carl Wenning, Secretary

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

TH MINUTES OF THE MAY 30 BOARD MEETING

President Tim Stone called the meeting to order in the Wenning residence at 6:30 PM. Also in attendance were the following: Darren Erickson, Carl Wenning, Dave Osenga, Bob Finnigan, Lisa & Dick Wentzel, Tom Willmitch, Dave Meyer, and Tony Cellini. Absent from the meeting were Jim Gibbs, Justin Meyer, and Lee Green. The agenda was presented; there were no additional items added to the agenda. Reports of officers and committee chairs were then presented. Tim reported that the camera for the 17” has not yet been returned from repair; it has been six months. Darren noted that the public observing session schedule for 2017 had not been sent to the Pantagraph until recently; this will be his duty in the future as publicist. Carl noted that all continues well with the newsletter, and to expect the next issue of The OBSERVER on time. Dave noted the balances in the treasury which can be found elsewhere in this newsletter. Bob noted that the Astronomical League has invited us to vote for League Secretary, but that this will come up later in the agenda. Jim was not present to give his report. Lisa noted that we are awaiting word from IDOT about policy revisions on outdoor lighting along state route motorways; Tony added that Dixie Truck Stop in McLean has cut back their external lighting significantly recently, possibly because of high electric bills. Tom asked about hosting planetarium programs for the membership during the summer; he was advised to work with Darren to arrange such activities. There were no reports from either Justin or Lee as neither was present. The following topics of old business were then addressed:

• Tim summarized recent events in relation to the decision by the Funks Grove Cemetery Association not to allow the construction of a third observatory at SGNC. He went on to note that everything turned out most favorably as we now have a new location pending near Waynesville, IL, which is a superior site for astronomical viewing. We are planning to attend a June 20th DeWitt County Zoning Commission meeting to further our application for Special Use zoning. (Details can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.) • Bob noted that the glass blank for the 24” and its secondary mirror have arrived in the California optical shop where they will be ground to our specification. Once the yoke mount from Paramount arrives with Dave Tandy in Florida, he will begin building the optical tube assembly to fit. It is anticipated that the new yoke mount will be reading for shipping in about nine weeks. • Carl noted that a good number of books and magazines have been removed from the club library at SGO, and that another month of time will be given for members to take books. After June’s public observing session, what remains will be given to one of the public libraries for final disposal. • Tim noted that the storage cabinet he acquired earlier has been moved to SGO, and we are awaiting a key. It will be placed in the corner where the library now resides. • Bob noted that the SGO dome has been power washed and is awaiting a coating of elastomeric paint which has arrived. It will be applied shortly. (Details can be found elsewhere in this newsletter.) • Carl noted that he had not formalized the dates for the in-town observing activities at Tipton Park (north unit) due to recent long absences. It was agreed that he would arrange for events on two Saturdays, July 1 and August 5. Darren, Tom, and Dave agreed to assist Carl with these events. • Lisa noted we are waiting for information from IDOT about lighting corridor policies as they might apply to I-55. The goal is to keep the sky as dark as possible around SGNC, despite the encroaching light pollution from surrounding areas. • Darren has decided on 4-6 items to which the TCAA logo might be embroidered. He’ll be working with Donna at DK Designs in Downs to check on their availability and pricing. • Carl noted that there have been some recent “sales” of eclipse guidebooks, but that the club needs to consider more aggressively promoting exchange of the 24-page publication in exchange for a $10 donation to the TCAA. Dave noted that Lee Green recently has received several hundred eclipse glasses from Night Sky Network, and that these might be given away along with copies of the eclipse guidebook. • Darren indicated that he had nothing to report about handling large crowds at future SGNC events, but he is continuing to assemble ideas.

The following topics of new business were then addressed:

• Regarding the AL Secretary election, the consensus of the group was that we should vote for the only candidate running. Bob will cast the club’s vote on our behalf. • It was agreed that proxy voting could not be permitted at Board meetings under Illinois law. Lisa pointed out that the club’s Bylaws similarly prohibit proxy voting.

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

• Tim created an ad hoc committee for drafting a 50-year lease agreement with the property owners of the location of the proposed observatory near Waynesville. Tim appointed Bob, Lisa, and Carl to the committee; Tim will serve as chairman. It was agreed that the committee would meeting one week hence – on June 6th. • Tim approved of Carl cleaning PSO’s 16” telescope mirror, but indicated that the 10” should be cleaned at a later date due to the complexity of the task. Bob indicated that the telescope should be returned to the manufacturer for cleaning as it is a delicate instrument. Others agreed. • Darren noted the recent successful completion of yet another Introduction to Amateur Astronomy course with a key to SGO given to Mike & Mindy Prescott, and that he had given his key to Tom Willmitch as he has a new master key as Board member. He further noted that he’ll be presenting a special course for several observers during July and that the course is now full. Yet another class will begin in August, with invitations given to both TCAA members and the public. • Carl brought up that the membership of Bryce & Mark Heiniger had not been updated on the web server after they renewed their dues last September 1. As a result, they have not been receiving The OBSERVER. This oversight has been corrected, but Carl has asked that their membership be extended one year from the current date. The Board approved. • It was agreed that POS (public observing session) name be changed to public viewing session (PVS) due to inappropriate inferences that people might draw from the POS acronym. It was agreed to do so in all future publications. • Dave indicated that he has the template and card stock for generating business cards for club members. If any members want, say, a dozen membership cards, they should contact Dave directly. • Darren suggested that we develop “Post-POS Season Interest Groups” to provide activities for members during the off season. It was agreed that this should be the case, and that some activities be tied into Tom’s two new 30-minute offerings at the planetarium. Carl agreed to host a summer picnic at his residence, “sometime in August or September, but after the total solar eclipse.”

In closing, it was announced that the editor will be traveling from June 25 through July 8, and that the deadline for the July issue of The OBSERVER will be June 23rd. The newsletter will be released as usual around July 1st. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 PM, at which time members socialized – taking advantage of the pleasant weather outdoors and sharing in treats and drinks provided by the Wentzel and the Wenning families. Respectfully submitted, Carl Wenning, Secretary

EARLIEST AND LATEST SUNRISES AND SUNSETS ~ by Carl J. Wenning ~

Last month I received a request from one of our members to address the question of why the earliest and latest sunrises and sunsets do not occur on the dates of the June and December solstices as might be expected. It would seem only reasonable as these are, respectively, the dates of the longest and shortest durations of daylight throughout the year. One normally would, for instance, expect the earliest sunrise and latest sunset to occur on the summer solstice when days are longest here in the northern hemisphere. Similarly, one would expect the latest sunrise and earliest sunset to occur on the winter solstice when days are shortest. An examination of a table of sunrise and sunset times shows that this not to be the case. For the sake of this discussion, let’s look at only the local summer solstice sunrises and sunsets for the current calendar year.

Phenomenon Date (2017) Sunrise Sunset Earliest Sunrise June 14 5:24 AM Summer Solstice June 20 5:25 AM 8:29 PM Latest Sunset June 26 8:30 PM

The summer solstice this year occurs on Tuesday, June 20th, at 11:24 PM in Bloomington. As the above table shows, the dates of earliest sunrise and latest sunsets occur 6 days before and 6 days after the summer solstice. The difference in sunrise and sunset times are about one minute from the events of the summer solstice. So, why is it that the earliest sunrise and latest sunset do not occur on the longest day of the year? It has to do with how we keep track of civil time. Our clocks are based on the existence of a something known as the fictitious mean sun that moves eastward along the celestial equator at a constant rate. It is called fictitious because there is no physical counterpart; the true sun does not move this way. The true sun’s motion is anything but regular in terms of its eastward motion among the background of stars caused by Earth’s orbital motion. The sun does not move with uniform eastward motion among the background of stars for two

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reasons: (1) the ecliptic (the apparent path of the sun’s motion among the background of stars) is inclined about 23.44 degrees relative to the celestial equator due to the tilt of Earth’s axis, and (2) the sun’s actual motion along the ecliptic is not uniform. Let’s deal with these phenomena separately. Because the ecliptic is inclined to the celestial equator by 23.44 degrees, the sun’s eastward motion among the stars would change over the course of the year even if its rate of motion along the ecliptic was perfectly constant. When the sun crosses over the celestial equator during the equinoxes, its motion has a significant northward or southward component. The sun’s mean motion along the ecliptic is 0.9856 degrees per day (360 degrees/365.242199 days). The resulting motion is not entirely eastward at the time of the equinox because its eastward motion goes with the cosine of the angle of the ecliptic relative to the celestial equator at that point. For instance, on the date of the equinoxes the sun moves 0.9175 degree east and either 0.4032 degrees north (spring) or south (autumn) on the day of the equinox. On the dates of the solstices, the sun’s eastward motion is very close to its average of 0.9856 degrees eastward because the path of ecliptic is roughly parallel to the celestial equator on these dates. The sun’s motion along the ecliptic is not regular; rather, it is variable due to the conservation of angular momentum. Amateur astronomers might be more familiar with this concept under the guise of Kepler’s third or “equal areas” law. When Earth approaches the sun, Earth speeds up in its orbit. When it draws away from the sun, Earth slows down. This has an identical effect on the sun’s apparent motion along the ecliptic. During early January when Earth is nearest the sun, the sun’s ecliptic motion is at a maximum. In early July, when Earth is farthest from the sun, the sun’s ecliptic motion is at a minimum. Both irregular motions of the sun contribute to the fact that the true sun and fictitious mean sun move at different rates. The difference between these rates is represented by the analemma or in the so-called equation of time. Because of these two motions, the true sun can run “early” or “late” relative to the fictitious mean sun. When we all up all these motions, we end up with earliest and latest sunrises and sunsets deviating from the solstice dates with their longest days as a result. What could be simpler?

INTRODUCTION TO AMATEUR ASTRONOMY NEWS ~ by Darren Erickson ~

Congratulations to Mike and Mindy Prescott, who completed the Introduction to Amateur Astronomy (IAA) course on May 27th! They also received their key to Sugar Grove Observatory. The IAA course is a general introduction to observing addressing the motions of the universe/galaxy/solar system, practical purchasing considerations, observing equipment and techniques, a short exploration of why and how we observe, and orientation to SGO and our 12” Cassegrain and use of the dome and mount. Our offering starting in mid-July is now full. Signup is now underway for the August session; dates TBA pending clearance from the Nature Center to meet there. Classes are held in the classroom of SGNC. The class costs $15 per family plus the cost of the course manual. The class is oriented to adults; however, children are welcome (with instructor permission). Adult club members who successfully complete the course and SGO orientation, and pay a $10 key holder fee, may receive a key for usage of SGO on a first come-first serve basis. If you’re interested in registering for the August course, please send an email to the instructor, Darren Erickson, at [email protected]. (You will receive a reply from Darren from a different email account.)

ECLIPSE STAMP 2017

Friend of the TCAA, Fr. Timothy Sauppé of Westville, IL, recently shared the following information with your editor: The Postal Service will soon release a first-of-its-kind stamp that changes when you touch it. The Total Eclipse of the Sun, Forever® stamp, which commemorates the August 21st eclipse, transforms into an image of the Moon from the heat of a finger. The First-Day-of-Issue ceremony will take place on the summer solstice, June 20th, at the Art Museum of the University of Wyoming (UW) in Laramie. Images were by well-known eclipse chaser Fred Espenak.

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TCAA PHOTO GALLERY

MOON STACK BY TIM STONE – (May 2, 2017) “Tony and I messed M13 BY TIM STONE – (May 2, 2017) “Stack of 30x10 on M13, processed around with the new cam on the moon, since the moon is fairly to approximate what we saw on the screen.” easy to find in a camera. It makes simple stacks, no real quality assessment based frame rejection. Even so, it does a decent job. This is a quick wavelet sharpening in Registax of a stack of 200x.005. It would be fairly easy to make a whole moon mosaic with this camera, and with this quality, it wouldn't look too bad.”

M108 BY TIM STONE – (May 2, 2017) “21x10, processed to M51 BY TIM STONE – (May 2, 2017) “Tony and I got the new cam approximately what we saw on the screen.” working on the 17". The software is a bit unintuitive, and we had a devil of a time finding stuff. We finally got M51 in the field. This is fairly close to what it looked like on the screen. It's a stack of 20x10.”

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

MOON BY TIM STONE – (May 3, 2017) “I'm impressed with this SUNRISE AT MAUROLYOUS AND GEMA FRISIUS BY JAMEY JENKINS – (April 11, camera's lunar imaging capability. This is three panels, easily 2017) “Happened to catch a break in the clouds around twilight on stitched together, but obviously unplanned.” the evening of May 2nd. Was able to capture several lunar videos with the 5-inch f/18 refractor from the backyard. Here are two of the obtained images. The Maurolyous and Gema Frisius image is at f/18 with a K2 yellow filter. The Lunar terminator is a two-frame composite at f/9 (.5X focal reducer) and K2... DMK41 video camera.

Maurolycus is one of the more prominent lunar craters in the southern highland region of the Moon that is covered in overlapping crater impacts. The outer walls of Maurolycus are tall, wide, and terraced. The floor is relatively level, with a complex of central peaks and a pair of craterlets. The small crater Maurolycus A is biting into the southern part of the rim. (Wiki)

Gema Frisius is a lunar crater that is located in the rugged southern highlands of the Moon. The crater Goodacre is attached to the northeast rim. (Wiki) The sunrise effect is accented at the southern rim by the little finger of ridge curling up and to the right.

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GIBBOUS MOON – (May 8, 2017) “Just a simple snap from last night, A SHOT OF JUPITER BY TIM STONE – (May 12, 2017) “With the Point Gray the 7th (the 8th at 03:37UT) of the beautiful gibbous Moon. Naked Chameleon on the 17" with a 2x barlow... That's Europa on the left.” eye it made a great triangle with Jupiter and the star, Spica. There is still a triangular shape going on tonight, Monday evening. This was taken with the Megrez 102mm f/7 and a 0.7X focal reducer through a Wratten #11 filter, DMK41 video camera.”

SUN BY JAMEY JENKINS – (May 22) “Here are a couple of pics from this morning of the area around ARs 2656/2658/2659 and of a couple prominences on the west limb of the Sun. Shot through thin clouds with 100mm @ f/14 and a Daystar Quark Chromosphere filter (<0.5Å). Slow days on the Sun recently but you never know when something interesting might ‘pop up’.”

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STAR TREKKING THROUGH OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS ~ by Jim Gibbs ~

Some friends and I have been planning a trek to the Southwest for observing for quite some time. We could make these plans a reality this last April when we decided to finally stop planning and just go. Going stargazing to the Southwest was more than finding a dark place but the adventure to go visiting small towns, learn a bit about the region as well as go away from home and experience something else. So, we drove to Black Mesa, OK; this is the site where the Okie-Tex Star Party is hosted in September every year. Black Mesa is the highest point in the state of Oklahoma with an elevation of 4,973 feet above sea level, located in the Oklahoma Panhandle near the border with Texas at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The area provides several attractions like Dinosaur Queries, a site that claims more than 18 tons of dinosaur bones since the 1930’s and it has some of the more beautiful and dramatic landscapes in OK having some interesting rock formations such as the “Old Maid” and the “Weeding Party”. These and other rock formations are the product of the ancient rivers and bodies of water that sculpted and eroded the plains leaving only the solid structures standing. Many Indians drawings and writing can also be found around the several trails and canyons, but we didn’t have time to explore those in this trip. The Black Mesa area also extends through Colorado and New Mexico offering many outdoor type activities. Although not a full desert, the dry air makes for pleasant weather in the spring (and fall) and provides a stable atmosphere for stargazing and astrophotography. We obtained a permit from the Black Mesa State Park to camp nearby the site of the famous Okie-Tex Star Party site. Indeed, we experience dark and starry skies. The first day was windy so we did mostly visual observation, the second and third days we were luckier and were able to do some imaging of galaxies and more galaxies… This location did not disappoint us. On the fourth day, we decided to drive south to Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailways near Quitaque, south of Amarillo, in the Texas Panhandle. This is one of the most recommended and according to some the best Texas Dark Sky Site with a naked-eye visual magnitude of 5 or 6. Just like Black Mesa State Park, the park offers many activities for camping, hiking, bird and other wildlife watching like Bison in a beautiful natural setting. The quality of skies was similar to Black Mesa with the exception that the forecast for clear skies did not hold and we were forced to abandon observing and imaging for two out of four nights. Even the best skies are not immune from unreliable forecasting and frustration. Despite these, we could enjoy the surroundings and capture a few good images. These are just a fraction of the sites we have as potential places to visit with several more in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado. Hopefully in a not so far future we would find ourselves discovering and making new adventures with astronomical-related activities in the Southwest. We certainly know that there are other areas in Illinois and the other Midwest states with dark sites; the fascination about traveling to the Southwest (at least for me) is partly a sense of adventure to discover another part of the country up close different from Illinois. It is also a desire to be in communion with nature just as much as we do it in our own backyard in Central Illinois. Our consensus is that even if we had not been able to take a single image of the starry sky the trip was very fulfilling in other ways.

Here are a few pictures I took in this trip:

Messier 40 - Winnecke 4 Messier 3

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Messier 90 Messier 64

EDUCATION & PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR MAY 2017

Because last month’s issue of this newsletter was published earlier than normal, details about some of the E/PO activities were not reported. They are being reported now for completeness. Lee presented Outer Space Weather to 5th graders at East Bay Camp to the Metcalf Outdoor Education program on Wednesday, April 26th. Some 45 students and teachers were in attendance. Mark Cabaj was slated to present the “Wonders of Jupiter” program at the SGNC Public Observing Session on Saturday, April 29th. Unfortunately, this session was cancelled due to inclement weather. Three TCAA members worked with scouts on Friday, May 5th, at SGNC. Lee Green, Darren Erickson, and David Meyer set up telescopes for viewing. A total of 40 were in attendance. The next night, Saturday, May 6th, also had a Cub Scout event. Again, these same 3 TCAAer presented the night sky to some 30 in attendance. Tuesday, May 9th, saw yet another such event, but this time at Moraine View State Park. Some 25 were in attendance. The May PVS (by an act of the TCAA Board now referred to as Public Viewing Session or PVS to avoid using POS which might have a different connotation) was held on the 27th. Darren Erickson gave a well-received, 50-minute talk and demonstration about binocular observing. A group of 30 was in attendance. The event was clouded out but for a hazy view of Jupiter observed through the clouds with Carl Wenning’s CPC 11” telescope. In addition to Darren and Carl, the following members also were present: Mark & Nataya Boulware, Tim Stone, Paul Pouliot, Kevin Brown, Bob Finnigan, Tom Weiland, Brian Barling, Dave Osenga, Lee Green, Mark & Bryce Heiniger, Tony Cellini, and Mike Starasta & family (3). Four copies of The Great Eclipse 2017 guide were exchanged for $10 donations. It is noted for the record, that Darren sang two songs during his presentation; the lyrics of the latter song are presented here for posterity’s sake. This is sung to the tune of The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island.

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale When weather starts to get real cold While you take a binocular trip Your binoculars please don’t toss To the constellation Cassiopeia Just be real safe and be real bold. To see this tiny ship. To see this tiny ship. With the stars you won’t get lost. With the stars you won’t get lost.

Your guide is a crazy astronomy dude This is the end of my little song. He’ll show you where to go I hope you are amused. But if you start down the binocular path But keep looking up and you’ll never be There’s lots to see and know. There’s lots to see and know. Astro nom ic ally con fused!

At the invitation of TCAA friend Fr. Timothy Sauppé, leader of the Dark Vermillion Skies group based in Westville, IL, Jim Gibbs and Carl Wenning held a viewing session in Danville on the evening of May 31st. In attendance were 90 members of the public. The evening began with a 7 PM presentation by Dr. Jeff Cooke of Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia (Westville H.S. Class of 1979). His talk was titled From the Big Bang to the Big Mac: The science behind how we got here. In this talk, Dr. Cooke took us across cosmic time and broke down where everything came from after the Big Bang. After the talk, there was a short discussion about light pollution and its effect on the environment – including us humans. Dark Vermilion Skies, a local effort to educate the public on the effects of light pollution, in cooperation with the International Dark-sky Association, led the effort.

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

TH JUNE 24 FOURTH PVS OF 2017

The fourth public viewing session for 2017 will take place on Saturday, June 24th. The presentation is titled Wonders of Saturn, and will be delivered by Mark Cabaj. The event will run from 9:00 to 11:00 PM. The program has been described as follows, “Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System after Jupiter. It too is a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of Earth. It is surrounded by an amazing ring system.”

Each public observing session includes the following:

• Lecture about the featured object or topic. This 20- to 30-minute presentation, held in the Sugar Grove Nature Center picnic shelter, includes images of and details about the featured sky object or topic as well as information about other interesting objects that might be viewed that evening. • Sky tour using a laser pointer. We step out under the stars to point out the major constellations and planets, and to designate the location of the featured celestial object for the evening if appropriate. • Telescope observing session. We use a wide variety of telescopes at ground level to observe the wonders of the heavens. The Sugar Grove Observatory has an “open house”. Visit to see what’s happening there.

Here is a list of other things to know about our public observing programs:

• Programs will be held even in the event of an overcast sky; active rain, however, will cause a cancellation of the event. On cloudy evenings, the presentation will be given and tours of the Sugar Grove and/or Prairie Sky observatories will be available. Additionally, various images taken by TCAA astrophotographers will be shared via computer display in one of the observatories. • Please dress warmly during cooler months. These are outdoor events; none of the buildings we use are heated. • Please be very careful when driving into and out of the Sugar Grove Nature Center parking lot. At all times there are people, including small children, walking from place to place in the dark. Please park so that your headlights are aimed away from the picnic shelter and telescopes. • You may bring along a flashlight if you wish, but be certain to cover the lens with a red filter so that observers’ dark adaptation isn’t adversely affected. Please aim your flashlight at the ground only. • Please leave pets at home.

You may download an official version of the schedule of 2017 PVS events at www.carlwenning.net/POS_2017.pdf

REMAINING PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2017

Jul 29 The Total Solar Eclipse of August 21st (Carl Wenning) 9:00-11:00 PM A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon crosses over the face of the sun and the moon’s shadow strikes the Earth’s surface. This summer’s total solar eclipse will cause one of the most majestic natural wonders that most people

will see during their lifetimes, and Illinois is the place to be to see it.

Aug 26 Moon and Sun (Tom Weiland) 8:00-10:00 PM Our moon, the brightest object in the sky after the Sun, is the sole natural satellite of the Earth. Learn about the moon’s relationship to, and impact on, the Earth, including a review of the recent total solar eclipse. Some of the

interesting features on our nearest celestial neighbor will be presented also.

Sep 23 Emission Nebulae of the Milky Way (Tim Stone) 7:30-9:30 PM An emission nebula is a nebula formed of ionized gases that emit light of various colors. The most common source of this ionization is high-energy photons emitted from a nearby hot star.

Oct 14 The Andromeda Galaxy (Nataya & Mark Boulware) 7:00-9:00 PM The Andromeda Galaxy is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light years from Earth. It is the nearest major

galaxy to the Milky Way.

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Camp Ondessonk Reminder

TCAA leaders continue to communicate with Camp Ondessonk Activities Coordinator Alissa Hollmann to formulate the final schedule. Nothing has changed since our updates last month, so this is just a reminder. Here is where the schedule of events stands right now…

Titles or Topics Day/Time Location

SATURDAY

Meet-and-Greet – CUAS and TCAA volunteers will be 4:30 PM St. Noel Basement available to meet those with the “plus” package. Supper 6:00 PM Dining Hall The Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017 – 60-minute 7:00 PM Dining Hall talk by Carl using PowerPoint (time includes 15 minutes for Q&A) Sky lecture and telescope viewing session – 15-minute 8:15 PM start for “plus” package and Club Viewing Field sky lecture plus 1.75-hour telescope session 9:15 PM start for others running until near Dining Hall or 10:15 PM approximately. St. Noel

SUNDAY

Moon’s motion and phases – 40-minute workshop by 9:15 AM, 10:15 AM, and 11:15 AM St. Noel Basement Dave Leake and CUAS (time includes a 30-minute presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A) Lunch 12:30 PM Dining Hall Illumination, Shadows, and Eclipses – 40-minute 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM St. Noel Basement workshop present by Carl Wenning and TCAA (time includes a 30-minute presentation and 10 minutes for Q&A) How to Observe the Eclipse Safely – 60-minute talk 4:30 PM Dining Hall organized by Carl and presented by Carl & Dave (time includes 15 minute for Q&A) Supper 6:00 PM Dining Hall Catholic Mass 7:30 PM Chapel Sky lecture and telescope viewing sessions – 15-minute 8:15 PM start for “plus” package and Club Viewing Field sky lecture plus 1.75-hour telescope session 9:15 PM start for others running until near Dining Hall or 10:15 PM approximately. St. Noel

TCAA ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER

Did you know that the TCAA is on both Facebook and Twitter? We encourage users of both social networks to follow the TCAA to see what the club is doing. If you have not yet joined us on Facebook, you are missing important reminders about astronomical events posted several times weekly. You can find us on Facebook by searching either TCAA or Twin City Amateur Astronomers. We can be found on Twitter at @TC_Astro.

HOWTIMEFLIES

The Twin City Amateur Astronomers was founded in 1960 through the efforts of John & Bertha Kieviet. Over the years, newsletter editors David B. Williams, G. Weldon Schuette, Garry Skinner, Jim Moncher, Mike Rogers & Jean Memken, Rebecca Wenning, and Erin Estabrook (as well as other contributors) documented the efforts of the club. Now, TCAA Editor and Historian Carl Wenning continues that effort and provides monthly updates about the history of the club going back in intervals of 40, 25, and 10 years. Details about all mentioned events will be found in either the publication Twin City Amateur Astronomers: 1960-2010 or in The OBSERVER archive found on the TCAA website. Copyright © 2017 TCAA 18 All rights reserved.

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40 Years Ago: June 1977 – After much discussion, the TCAA decided to “disband” it original Praesepe roll-off-roof observatory located on the grounds of the Fred Fissel farm north of Normal. Few were using it due to growing light pollution, and no one wanted to cut the grass as required by the agreement with Mr. Fissel. The name of John Kieviet’s “Vital Statistics” was changed to “Celestial Forecast” to assuage the concerns of the disinterested.

25 Years Ago: June 1992 – Gene Sutton donated much of his personal astronomy library to the TCAA. Tony Cellini continues to write “Deep Sky Notebook” and “Shallow Sky Notebook” for The OBSERVER.

10 Years Ago: June 2007 – A lot of miscellanea was reported in the newsletter for this month. Dan Miller and John Werner traveled to New Mexico for observing, we had a great summer picnic, Claudio Perez visited from Santiago, Chile, and Rebecca Wenning got married.

RENEWING YOUR TCAA MEMBERSHIP

The TCAA works to promote in every way among its members and the public an interest in and knowledge of astronomy and its allied sciences, to advance amateur astronomy and observational techniques, to render assistance to other individuals or organizations working in the same or related fields, and to do everything necessary and proper to further such on a formal or informal basis. The TCAA is a Federally recognized non-profit entity organized exclusively for education and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service code. The TCAA currently supports family friendly public observing sessions at SGNC, public outreach events such as the recent May 9, 2016 transit of Mercury and the upcoming August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse field trip, hosting of NCRAL meetings (2010 and 2016), September mini conferences, and education courses for our membership and the public. The TCAA maintains two observatories including payment of insurance, and publishes an award-winning club newsletter. We support Sugar Grove Nature Center through their membership program, maintain a loaner telescope program, and provide many other benefits as outlined in TCAA Guide #2 – Membership and Benefits. Your TCAA membership supports education and public outreach in Central Illinois and regions beyond. Membership dues and the generosity of its members are the club’s primary means of financial support. We receive no grants or public funds. We have unmet needs. By renewing your membership when it comes due, you can help to ensure our continuing efforts.

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT FOR MAY 2017

Checking Account Information

Description Memo Category Amount

BALANCE 04/27/2017 4,068.52 Postage Reimbursement (19.60) Astronomical League Dues and Subscriptions (260.00) Annual Report - State of IL Filing Fee (15.00) Erica Aguirre Dues Received 25.13 Power Washing the Dome PSO Improvements (245.00) Zoning Observatory at Waynesville (250.00) Anonymous Donation 30,000.00 Anonymous 2 Donation 250.00 Roll Off Roof Payment Observatory at Waynesville (15,000.00) BALANCE 05/30/2017 18,554.05

Vol. 42, No. 6 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers June 2017

TOTAL INFLOWS 30,275.13

TOTAL OUTFLOWS (15,789.60)

MONTHLY NET TOTAL 14,485.53

Checking Account Balance – May 30, 2017 $18,554.05 Savings Account Balance – May 30, 2017 $10,016.03 - Includes $0.16 interest

Total TCAA Funds – May 30, 2017 $28,570.08

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date. Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer

AL-AFFILIATED CLUBS MAY NOW DIRECTLY UPDATE INFORMATION ON AL WEBSITE!

Did you know that the president, treasurer, or ALCor of our club may update information about our club by requesting an account at URL https://members.astroleague.org/request_account and entering their email address and then pressing the "Request account information" button near the bottom of the page? An email with instructions and a link to create a new account will then be sent within a few minutes. Once logged in, there are instructions at https://members.astroleague.org/content/club-officer-tutorial on how to update your club’s info.