NEWSLETTER OF THE VANCOUVER CENTRE RASC

VOLUME 2002 ISSUE 1 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002

Leonid Meteor Storm 1 Leonid Meteor Storm by Doug Montgomery Astronomy and the Holidays2 It started on Friday President’s Message 3 the 16th when I got a Why? To Know... 6 phone call from Greg Price asking me if I was Upcoming Events 7 going to the Delta site Chasing the Leonids 8 on Saturday. I told him New Observing Group 9 I would be there about 10:30pm. Greg informed me he was Looking Ahead phoning everyone in Remember, you are always the area to see if they welcome to attend meetings of would show up for the Council, held on the first Tues- event. This kind of day of every month at 7:30pm in the G.S.O. participation was welcome, as we did not January: Chris Gainor: “Ar- do much promotion. rows to the Moon: How the demise of the Avro Arrow Saturday helped Apollo get to the Moon.” afternoon I loaded up my telescope and had a February: Ernie Pfannenschmidt: “Looking at nap in preparation for a telescopes differently,” on how late night. to choose the right telescope I arrived at the for your interest. 72nd street site March: TBA between 10:30 and 11:00 and there were 20 Next Issue Deadline people there already. Leonid smoke trail. Photo by Material for the January Nova Greg had been there for Marcellus Redmond. 28mm lens; 5 should submitted by Monday, a while and Mike minutes; piggyback tracked. Dec. 31, 2001. Please send Jensen and Wallace submissions to: Helter had their scopes set up on There were lots of people Gordon Farrell Saturn, Jupiter, and the Orion there by midnight, and at the peak ([email protected]) nebula. continued on page 4 Astronomy and the Holidays by Marc Verschueren will take place at all. If it does, it daily lives we have to look at the Many holidays and religious is a reason for celebration. details of this moment. Our lives feasts have an astronomical origin However, the earlier societies did occur on a totally different time or at least an astronomical know the timing of the scale. It is important for us that connection. We just have another astronomical phenomena very summer is coming. It is important holiday period behind us. The well. We only have to refer to the that the sun is climbing again. For religious feast in Christian society alignments in buildings like my life it is not very important that with the most detailed Stonehenge and similar structures the sun will one day be a red giant. astronomical connection is, of all over the world. But it must This is the time of the year we course, Easter, with the date of the always have looked like a fantastic are reminded of the star in the east event determined by the Spring fact when the sun actually stopped that the magi saw, very much part Equinox and the phases of the and started to climb again. And in of the Christmas lore. Again we moon. The traditional end of the the dark days of winter, when the could spoil the fun and the magic year festivities in our society are growing of crops is the only source a little bit here. It is difficult for a obviously linked to the Winter of supporting life, this was worth star to guide anybody. Polaris and solstice. The actual origin of the a celebration. stars close to it can point out a exact date of December 25 is We astronomers could of direction because they do not unknown to me. It probably goes course be spoilsports and think of move very much in their daily back to the long forgotten this time of the year as the motion. Other stars can be used traditions of earlier Christianity. shortening of the long dark nights, instead of a compass if one knows But the date is safely set just after so good for observing. We do not approximately where they set. the possible dates of the Winter really like all that light too much, That does indeed give a direction. solstice. For us, New Year’s is even if most of us missed the I am thinking here of the connected with this. But our New comet Linear WM2 and the astronomical methods used by the Year’s date is of much more recent occultation of Saturn, thanks to the Polynesians, but that assumes a origin. It was introduced in local climate. So much for the long great knowledge of the regular England and its empire only in dark nights of observing. One of motion of stars. It would have 1751. But now the two holidays the local newspapers had an nothing to do with a heavenly are closely linked to the editorial with an astronomical object that all of a sudden appears lengthening of the days; the connection, something that does out of nowhere. Stars guide you if returning of the light. not happen very often. It did put you have chronometers and It is very understandable that the events on earth in a more almanacs, but the star of the wise a society without any theoretical cosmic context. Of course, if one men is a good mystery. Something knowledge of astronomy, and thinks of the history of the solar to guide wise men looking for the heavily dependent on agriculture, system and its future development, truth. would celebrate the actual return then the events on earth look like For me, it would have been of the sun. The sun stops it puny and unimportant. And on a important if I had seen that downward motion and begins to cosmic scale they may very well occultation of Saturn, or the climb higher in the sky. We know be. The destruction in New York comet. ! the mechanics of this event quite does indeed not affect very much well so we expect it to happen. But the development of cosmic history, if all of this is mysterious it cannot but this is not exactly the relevant be taken for granted that the event way to look at things. For us in our

2 President’s 2002 Vancouver About RASC Message Centre Officers The Vancouver Centre, RASC Happy New Year Everyone! meets at 7:30 PM in the auditorium President of the H.R. MacMillan Space Cen- This year looks like it will be Craig Breckenridge 604-437-3103 tre at 1100 Chestnut St., Vancou- full of things to see and do. We are [email protected] ver, on the second Tuesday of every in the process of putting together Vice-Pres./Webmaster month. Guests are always wel- the planned events for the year— Bill Ronald 604-733-7036 come. In addition, the Centre has they may even make it into this [email protected] an observing site where star par- edition of NOVA. We have a Secretary ties are regularly scheduled. Marcellus Redmond604-533-1830 Membership is currently $51.00 number of things that we hope will per year ($26.00 for persons under get members out to participate in, Treasurer Marc Verschueren 604-986-1485 21 years of age) and can be ob- not the least of which is Astronomy [email protected] tained by writing to the Treasurer Day. We will also be attending the at the address below. Annual Librarian membership includes the invalu- Fraser River Festival and holding William Fearon 604-939-3184 able Observer’s Handbook, six is- another event with the GVRD at [email protected] sues of the RASC Journal, and, of Aldergrove Lake Park. National Representatives course, access to all of the club We are also launching the Pomponia Martinez 604-215-8844 events and projects. [email protected] For more information regarding “Explore the Universe” Certificate Bob Parry 604-215-8844 the Centre and its activities, please program this year. The program [email protected] contact our P.R. Director. has been developed by the Membership NOVA, the newsletter of the Observing Certificate Committee Sean Roddick 604-946-1137 Vancouver Centre, RASC, is pub- [email protected] lished on odd numbered months. at National office and Vancouver Opinions expressed herein are not Centre is one of the centres that Chair, CARO Committee Eric Fuller 604-540-2373 necessarily those of the Vancouver will be issuing certificates for [email protected] Centre. completed programs. I will be Material on any aspect of as- Director of Telescopes tronomy should be e-mailed to the giving a short introduction to the Phil Morris 604-734-8708 editor, mailed to the address on program at one of our upcoming Public Relations page 5, or uploaded to meetings and will always have Vacant SpaceBase™ at 604-473-9358, 59. copies of the program and sample Speakers log pages on hand. Barry Shanko 604-271-0615 Advertising We will continue to have an [email protected] Nova encourages free use of its excellent choice of speakers this Merchandising classified ads for members with Doug Montgomery 604-596-7058 items for sale or swap. Notify the year as Barry already has several [email protected] editor if you wish your ad to run in in the works who are sure to Nova Editor more than one issue. entertain us. Who knows, we might Gordon Farrell 604-734-0326 even learn something. I would [email protected] Commerical encourage any member who has a Councillors Rates particular speaker they would like Dan Collier 604-732-6046 Jason Rickerby 604-502-8158 1/2 Page: $25.00 per issue to hear to get in touch with Barry Norman Song 604-299-7924 Full Page: $40.00 per issue and let him know any particulars Rates are for camera-ready, or Trustees electronic files. Payment, by you may have. Please remember Sally Baker 604-324-3309 cheque, must accompany ad ma- that we are an astronomical club Lee Johnson 604-941-5364 terial. Make cheque payable to: so please keep your suggestions on RASC Vancouver Centre.

continued on page 7 3 Observing Sites

Dale McNabb Observatory in Aldergrove Lake Park (RASC Van- couver Centre's regular viewing site) Contact Mike Penndelton (604- 888-1505) or Howard Morgan (604-856-9186)

Site of the annual star party organ- ized by the RASC Vancouver Cen- tre

Site of the annual Mt. Kobau Star Party organized by the Mount Kobau Astronomical Society

continuted from page 1 As the night progressed more planets in my scope. Judging by there were about 200 people members showed up, Bob Parry, the oohs! and aahs! there must cheering every time a bright Pomponia and Tara Martinez set have been lots. meteor appeared. It was a good site up sleeping bags in the back of The parking area was full to observe from because of the Bob’s truck and got comfortable. quite early but thanks to Hugh horizon. You could see all the way Later on I talked with Seamus Gregory it was no problem for us from the North Shore mountains Dunne and several other members, at the end of the road. Hugh spent to Mud Bay. The light pollution is present and past. most of the night turning cars not too bad at this site, but there is Myself, I did not get a chance around before there was a some. The advantages of this site to count the meteors, but was told problem. He later came to the end are that it is reasonably dark and there were about 600 per hour—I of the road to observe the meteors. close to town. was busy showing people the continued on page 5 4 continuted from page 4 At about 3:00am people ASTROCOMPUTING MEMBERSHIP started to leave; I left a little after SpaceBase™ (604-473-9358,59). HAS ITS 4:00am. Mike Jensen was last to Affiliated since 1992 with RASC PRIVILEGES! Vancouver, our link to RASC Net, leave some time after 5:00am. RASC Members only chat area. New members, did you know? The event was very successful Future data distribution hub for The Vancouver Centre has 6 tel- for us to show the public what we CARO Project. Features include escopes available for loan free of charge! We have telescopes rang- do. Several people showed interest latest HST images, current world space news and astronomy pro- ing from 3" to 10" diameter. For in our club and future events. For grams. Provides a file uploading more information call Phil Morris, me this was the best public event facility for submitting articles and Director of Telescopes at 604-734- 8708, or see him in the lobby of the since Hale Bopp. Finally, I would imagery to Nova. GSO after the members meeting. like to thank all the members that The loaner period is for one month helped here and all the different LIBRARY only. All telescopes are to be picked sites around the lower mainland The centre has a large library of up and returned after the members and Fraser Valley for all there help, books, magazines and old Nova’s meeting. No telescope will be al- for your enjoyment at the GSO. lowed to circulate outside of these with special thanks to Greg Price Please take advantage of this club meetings! for phoning and Hugh Gregory for service and visit often to check out Your greatest opportunity as a directing traffic. ! the new purchases. Suggestions member of the R.A.S.C. is to take for future library acquisitions are advantage of the company of other appreciated. enthusiasts to increase your knowl- edge, enjoyment and skill in as- RASCVC on the Internet tronomy. http://members.shaw.ca/rascvan/ The best thing you can do to or http://www.rasc.ca/vancouver gain the most from your member- ship is to get active! Take in the H.R. MACMILLAN club meetings; engage other mem- bers with questions; come out to ob- SPACE CENTRE serving sessions (also known as The Pacific Space Centre Society “star parties”), and, by all means, is a non-profit organization which volunteer to take part in our many operates the H.R. MacMillan Space public events. Centre and Gordon M. Southam Observing takes place at the Observatory. Annual Membership Dale McNabb Observatory in the ($30 Individual, $65 Family) in- Aldergrove Lake Park, located in cludes a newsletter, Discounts on Langley, on 8th Avenue, just east Space Camps, special programs of 272nd Street. We are there most and lectures, Vancouver Museum clear nights. Contact Mike Discounts, and free admission to Penndelton at 604-888-1505 or the Space Centre. Admission to the Howard Morgan at 604-856-9186. Space Centre includes: Astronomy shows, Motion Simulator rides, RASC multimedia shows in GroundStation 1100 Chestnut Street Canada, and access to the Cosmic Vancouver, B.C. Courtyard Exhibit Gallery. For Mem- V6J 3J9 bership information, call Mahi 604-738-2855 Jordao at 604-738-7827, local 237 for information. You can also reach them on the Internet at http:// www.hrmacmillanspacecentre.com/

5 Why? To Know that There Exists a Domain Beyond Knowing by Dan Collier trailing edge, not a single star was period that followed, I pushed up (second in a series) to be seen—only the lights of a few the window shade and was stunned towns, and soon nothing at all. My by the spectacle of dawn breaking I am a traveller. A dark night wife nodded off, leaving me to over the ice deserts of Baffin is a wilderness, and my face a host of unresolved anxieties Island. It had beauty beyond the telescope a machine to alone. Petty concerns always power of words. As a youngster, I explore it. Finding a galaxy follow travellers onto planes, but often tried to imagine the harsh is a reward, for I move in a mine were much worse than usual. lives of the men and women who world so large one need never The noise and vibration invoked a lived there. A wave of emotions follow the same road twice. feeling that the horizon, already washed over me—awe, relief, limited by the starless darkness, thankfulness, belonging, Unknowable domains are a was shrinking around my body, loneliness. I was greatly moved, concept that Canadians of my squeezing it. I was in the grip of a then saddened with the realization generation can grasp physically. waking nightmare. Something that this experience could come We are, after all, the custodians of darker than I could imagine was only once in a lifetime. much of the world’s remaining waiting for me just beyond that Today, my favourite wilderness. My imagination has navigation light. observing site no longer seems often taken me to many wild places You see, my first career was remote. Civilization has like the American Southwest, the in its final stages of collapse. As encroached on it quite suddenly. Arctic, even the Moon, but an we winged into the night, hours Property development in British extraordinary experience during a from any airport, the stress finally Columbia’s dry valleys has flight to Europe may have forever caught up with me. A more brought light pollution, chain saws damaged my ability to connect embarrassing scene can hardly be and trail bikes, and the risk of with the wilderness. It happened imagined. Pain wracked my body. ruinous wildfires. as the airplane surfed the jet stream I writhed in my seat while the call But to my mind, the jets are along a polar route well north of went up among the passengers for the most intrusive of all. By day, “sixty,” giving me my first a doctor. The two doctors who and much of the night, a constant opportunity to see my country’s answered the call saw through my rumble is heard overhead as jets northlands. predicament and assured me that fly over the radio beacon on the Beforehand I looked up the there was nothing wrong. The next mountain. No doubt their constellations that would be panic slowly loosened its grip; the multi-layered plastic windows are visible from my window during the pain subsided. I tried to get some filled with the faces of people flight. But thanks to a bright sleep. admiring the country below. navigation light on the wing’s After the miserable, restless Sic transit, gloria mundi. !

6 Upcoming Events February June October TBD – Public opening of GSO’s 2 – Fraser River Festival 4 – Sidewalk Astronomy #2 (rain new telescope 7 – Sidewalk Astronomy #1 (rain day: Oct. 5) day: June 8) March 10 – Annular Solar Eclipse (45% November 9 – Idea fair at Anmore Elementary in Vancouver) 18 – Leonid meteor shower peaks School 15-17 – Messier Marathon at July December Boundary Bay 5-7 – Manning Park Star Party #1 10 – Annual General Meeting ! TBD – Artificial Star Party (may TBD – Manning Outreach be in April instead) August April 3-11 – Mt. Kobau Star Party 20 – Astronomy Day 12 – Perseid meteor shower peaks; 15-20 – Moon passes by all 5 observation at Aldergrove Park visible planets September May 6-7 – Manning Park Star Party #2 3 – Space Day 17-19 – 2002 GA in Montreal

continuted from page 3 couple of things: we are representing the Society at topic. When we as a Society attend all times, even when we are not There will be many changes any event, we are representing a performing some official task or this year on a number of fronts and respectable and recognized function. Thus we should always one of the most predominant will organization; this means we should be on our best behaviour when out be further refinements to our present ourselves in a responsible in public. This does not mean we NOVA. This issue should see the manner. The manner in which we need to be formal and tight laced new format in place and we behave can have an adverse affect at all times, casual will suffice. continue to improve our electronic upon the Society as a whole as well What we choose to do in our own delivery. We have sent a letter to as upon the individual that is homes is one thing, but the image the Computer Use Committee at representing us. People tend to that is given to the public must National with some suggestions to remember the unbecoming reflect well upon us. their database that will be of incidents before they think of the I look forward to meeting with benefit to all Centres. Hopefully well-mannered ones. Please act in members throughout the coming they will see the virtue in the a proper manner at all times when year and I hope that we will changes we have proposed. you are representing us, even to continue to forge ahead into new As this year gets off to a great your friends. areas of learning and enjoyment. start, I would like to take a couple The second thing that ! of lines to remind people of a members should be aware of is that 7 Chasing the Leonids by Gordon Farrell be briefed the following morning). clouds thicken overhead. Getting So this was to be the big year As I cart my equipment into discouraged, we turned the car for the Leonids, and I was going the backyard, ready for a good back towards the water, heading to be ready. I was determined to night’s viewing, my brother utters towards Parksville, then on back document the event. With this in two terrible words: “It’s cloudy.” to Qualicum. mind, I decided to forego the local I looked up and saw he was right. As we drove along the water events in favour of darker skies. Sometime in the last hour, a patchy north of Parksville, a miraculous Our regular readers will by now layer of either low cloud or high event occurred. As if by magic, the have guessed that this brought me fog had rolled in from the straight. clouds simply vanished. By this to my parents’ home in Qualicum On the bright side, there were time, it was about 1:50am, and the Beach. I had it all planned out. I many holes in this fast-moving show was well underway. Through would perch my camera atop my marine cloud cover, and we could the hatchback window, I could see equatorial mount tripod, click in periodically catch glimpses of meteor after meteor streaking the drive, and capture the Leonids various regions of the sky. Orion overhead. Since I was the only one as they streaked through trail-free here, Leo there, but each would with a really good view, my play- vistas of background stars. That come and go all too quickly. by-play reports were was going to be great! As luck During a period when Orion was unappreciated by my fellow would have it, this was the one obscured, half of the sky lit up with travellers. Panic ensued as we tried instance where I would have been a brilliant flash from that corner to find a place to get off the road better off with the light pollution. of the sky, as if lightning has so we could watch the show. Our Why? Well, let me tell you. struck. Oh, how I wish I had seen first candidate, a commercial As I pulled up to my parents’ the source! From what I’ve seen marina, proved unsuitable as the home and got out of the car, I from other people’s observations, parking lot was doing its best looked skyward, just to reassure I’m sure this flash would have left impression of daylight. All was not myself that there would be a show a “smoke trail,” a meteor trail that lost, as there was an incomplete to see. I was rewarded with a can hang in the sky for up to 30 housing complex just across the spectacular view; even the Milky minutes, twisting and swirling in highway from the marina. Sure, Way was visible through the glow the upper atmospheric winds. there were some streetlights, but of the street light at the end of the Given the conditions, we had we found a vacant lot, stopped the driveway. So far, so good. As the a dilemma. Should we stay at the car, and walked out into the waist- night wore on, I would house and hope for a solid break high grass to observe the peaking periodically poke my head out the in the clouds, or hop in the car and storm. window to check the skies. Ten drive around, hoping to find a clear The show was phenomenal. o’clock and all’s well. Eleven area. After some humming and Meteor after meteor streaked by, o’clock and all’s well. Midnight hawing, we decided to take to the most of them bright fireballs. The and all’s well (even an early streets. With my mother driving, best activity seemed to be in and Leonid to whet my appetite). One my brother riding shotgun, me in around Orion. Being about o’clock—time to go. My brother, the back seat with an overhead halfway across the sky from Leo, mother and I bundle up and head view through the hatchback, and this was the area of the sky with out the door (my father’s marginal the tripod in the trunk, we started the longest meteor trails; some of interest in things astronomical driving inland towards Coombs. them stretching halfway across the wasn’t exactly kindled by the hour We kept driving inland for about sky. One such meteor’s trail of the event, so he was content to 15 minutes, as I watched the continued on page 9 8 New Observing Group and Initial Targets by Craig Breckenridge nights starting about 8:30 to 9:00 to fully cover the program, I will As a new approach to PM, meeting at the foot of 72nd. not be printing out the complete encouraging observing in our We will hold these on every clear package. I can provide the Centre this year, we are going to Thursday throughout the year and program in Adobe PDF format if hold regular observing nights from will start with the first on you have a computer but no the Boundary Bay site at the south Thursday, January 10th, 2002 Internet access. end of 72nd (see the map on the web (weather permitting). Anyone who The first section of the site [Editor’s note: a map will is interested in attending is Explore the Universe Certificate is appear in NOVA in the next welcome to come out. The initial the section on Constellations and issue]). We will start by going over group of us who are planning to Bright Stars. The Committee has the new Beginning Observer’s attend are a rather eclectic bunch provided 24 target objectives of Certificate Program and will and the conversation will be which 12 are required for the graduate to the other certificate interesting and fun. certificate. The first page is the programs dependant on In order to get things off to a explanation to the program and the experience level. The first two good start, I will write a series of abbreviations used. I will list only certificates (The Explore the articles basically listing the the Constellations and the bright Universe Certificate and the Explore the Universe program. I stars within the constellation. Messier Certificate) should be would encourage anyone with Much greater information is fairly easy for most members to access to the Internet to visit the available in the Explore the obtain and there will be Certificate program site at the Universe Certificate package. experienced observers at the site National web page in order to get on most nights. We plan to hold the full program. Due to the large these regular sessions on Thursday volume of printed matter required continued on page 10 continuted from page 8 waves as they ionize the Funny thing about persisted in the sky for a good 30 atmosphere, and that field is photographing meteors. I would seconds—long, but not long converted into “electrophonic never have guessed they were so enough to be distorted. Even the sound” by suitable transducers on camera shy. It seemed that the best grouse in the nearby marsh seemed the ground like aluminum foil, way to get the meteors to stop impressed. pine needles, dry, frizzy hair, and, falling in a certain area of the sky I also noticed something when presumably, waist-high grass. was to point my camera at it. I tried one of these long meteors zipped We stayed out in the field until chasing them around the sky for a by, but didn’t pay it much attention around 2:15, by which point the while, and thought for sure I had at the time (assuming I imagined storm was dying down a bit and captured a couple of them, but it). As the meteor passed, I heard our miracle hole was filling in alas, all I photographed were stars. a faint hissing sound. It turns out again. Assuming the night was All I can offer as advice for that many people report hearing over, we piled back into the car prospective meteor photographers such sounds, but until recently, and headed for home. But the is to use a wide-angle lens instead there was no explanation for it— clouds had other plans. Back at the of the standard 50mm. whatever sound waves a meteor house, we found the magic hole All in all, I would still have might cause can’t travel that far, again! The show was picking up to call this a good Leonid and certainly not that fast. The again, so I grabbed the tripod and experience, but if it’s clear next current theory is that some meteors decided to try taking some pictures year, I’ll stick to the mainland. ! emit very low frequency radio after all. 9 continuted from page 9 Capricornus (The Sea Goat); As you can see from the list, Season: Spring Bright Stars: Al Giedi and these are all naked eye objects that Ursa Major (The Great Bear); Dabih. can be seen from almost anywhere Bright stars: Dubhe and Cygnus (The Swan); Bright Stars: in the Lower Mainland at some Merak. Deneb and Albireo. point in the year. We will have Leo (The Lion); Bright Stars: charts on hand and will confirm Regulus and Denebola. Season: Autumn you have found the listed objects Virgo (The Maiden); Bright Star: Pegusus (The Winged Horse); for you. This is a great way to learn Spica. Bright Star: Markab. the sky if you are a beginner and a Libra (The Scales); Bright Stars: Andromeda (Cassiopeia’s Child); good way to practice your teaching Zuben El Genubi and Zuben Bright Star: Alpheratz. skills if you are experienced. Eschamali. Cassiopeia (The Queen); Bright One of the things that is Bootes (The Herdsman); Bright Star: Schedar. strongly encouraged is to start a Star: Arcturus. Aries (The Ram); Bright Stars: log book to record your Ursa Minor (The Lesser Bear); Hamal and Sheratan. observations. These can be in Bright Stars: Polaris and Perseus (Rescuer of Andromeda); almost any form but the Observing Kochab. Bright Star: Mirfak. Committee has provided us with a sample that contains most section Season: Summer Season: Winter you would require to fully record Scorpius (The Scorpian); Bright Taurus (The Bull); Bright Star: your experience. I will bring Star: Antares. Aldebaran. copies of these sample forms to Hercules (Hero of Greek Myth); Auriga (The Charioteer); Bright meetings so you can pick one up Bright Star: Ras Algethi. Star: Capella. and reproduce it at your leisure. Sagittarius (The Archer); Bright Orion (The Hunter); Bright Stars: Again, I would encourage all Star: Nunki. Betelgeuse and Rigel. observers to get out and do some Lyra (the Lyre or Harp); Bright Canis Major (The Big Dog); looking up. We have a lot of fun Star: Vega. Bright Star: Sirius. trying new targets and as I said Aquila (The Eagle); Bright Star: Canis Minor (The Little Dog); above, the conversation can be Altair. Bright Stars: Procyon and quite interesting. ! Gomeisa. Gemini (The Twins); Bright Stars: Castor and Pollux.

10 Members’ Gallery

Marcellus Redmond Leonids emerging from the radiant (the 2 meteors are enhanced in the inset images).

28mm lens, piggyback mounted for tracking; 5 minute exposure.

Marcellus Redmond Leonid in Orion (the meteor is enhanced in the inset image).

28mm lens, piggyback mounted for tracking; 5 minute exposure.

11 RASC MERCHANDISE Available for purchase after Telescopes - Binoculars meetings: Microscopes & Accessories Calendars $12.00 Weather Instruments Beginners’ Guides $15.00 Observers’ Guides $20.00 Star Charts $10.00 DEALER FOR Cloth Crests $11.00 ZEISS • PENTAX • CELESTRON • Lapel Pins $ 6.00 BUSHNELL/BAUSCH & LOMB • SKYWATCHER • L.E.D. Flashlights $22.00 OLYMPUS • STEINER CD-ROM Astronomy Skymaps for PC’s “Like New” Consignment Equipment

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