★ June ★The SiderealSidereal TimesTimes 1999 ★THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ALBUQUERQUE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY P.O. BOX 50581, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 87181-0581 Astronomy Day 1999 by Michael Pendley Astronomy Day 1999 was as great as ever—with a two exceptions. The late date for Astronomy Day this year made it impossible for several traditional exhibitors to attend (The National Atomic Museum, Apache Point Observatory, and Chaco Canyon) and clouds spoiled the afternoon solar observing. How- ever, the wonderful help provided by 38 TAAS vol- unteers made for an easy and low stress setup, op- eration, and tear down. To those 38 (and two Coronado Mall people) I send a great big thank you. They say a picture is worth a thousand words so I think I will let pictures captured by Allan Green and me tell the rest of the Astronomy Day 1999 story. Astronomy Day Exhibitors Alamogordo Space Center Air Force Research laboratory DaVinci Society Explora Science Center Institute for Astrophysics / Lode Star Institute of Meteoritics (UNM) Nat. Radio Astronomy Observatory (VLA) National Solar Observatory NM Museum of Nat. History and Science New Mexico Space Society The Planetarium at SF Community College Rio Rancho Astronomical Society Young Astronaut Clubs and TAAS Departments Features ○ ○ ○ ○○○○○○○○○ President’s Update page 2 Ask the Experts - - - - - - June Meeting Preview page 2 Board Meeting page 3 Campus Observatory page 10 What’s Up for July page 4 Calendars page 4 The Kids’ Corner page 11 1999/Y2K Events page 5 Trivia Contest - - - - - - Chaco Canyon - - - - - - ATM Workshop page 8 Observer’s Page page 6 Docent News page 11 A Big Hug page 8 Constellation TAAS - - - - - - Classified Ads page 15 TAAS Picnic page 10 Star Myths - - - - - - Board Member Info page 15 May 29 Meeting Recap page 14 The Sidereal Times June 1999 The June Meeting PRESIDENTPRESIDENT’SS U UPDATEPDATE by David Nelson Blair Stars TAAS Members Early this month from the footpath Beyond that, I’m very anxious to by George Pellegrino along Tramway, I could see smoke find the people and enthusiasm to from wildfires in the vicinity of Mount maintain the many things that TAAS The regular meeting on Saturday, th Taylor more than sixty miles away. has been doing so well for so long. June 26 at 7:00 PM will be held in One large cloud rising from the east- I hope mine will not be the only Regener Hall on the campus of UNM ern slope almost obscured the peak. vision discussed. In calling this meet- (See back page for map). This meet- Other blazes to the northwest sent ing, I’ll be inviting other board mem- ing will be a presentation by TAAS more plumes into the air. From the bers to do the same. members for the TAAS members. south, a strong wind seized the col- And I invite input from all mem- Since this presentation is by and umns of smoke and stretched them bers of TAAS. The next few weeks will for members, you too can be a star. You into a band of haze stretching scores be a time to think about goals and val- are invited to present anything of in- of miles. Was it filling the sky above ues for the society. It’s the time to talk terest you may have that you wish to Chaco Canyon, I wondered? and petition. share regarding astronomy. It’s been an odd-weather spring, What do you want TAAS to be? Whether it’s a product review or one that reminds me of the opening something you invented or just put to- lines to an old song: “A-way out West, gether, we would be happy to include they’ve got a name / for wind and rain Random Acts of Kindness you in our agenda. If you want to be and fire . .” The local universe has sto- included in this program, contact me len attention away from the greater Thanks to Byron Matthews at my home at 821-8516 and leave a message including your name, phone one. for donating a couple hundred Even an astronomer realizes that number and subject on which you will the cosmos isn’t the only thing in the floppies, which we’ll use to store be speaking. The time allotted will be world. CCD images at GNTO. five to ten minutes and will be given on a first come, first served basis. Because 1999 is a good time to re- We’ll also have the usual social flect (and because summer is always a Meanwhile, hour that included cookies and other good time for relaxed contemplation), goodies. See you there. TAAS’s Board of Directors will be do- down at GNTO... ing just that during a special board by Carl Frisch meeting in mid July. In a forum that —Next Month— isn’t bogged down with the pressing New Scope! Well, not really new, but TAAS Logo History details of the moment, I’ll be present- it is to us. A beautiful 6" f/8 Astrophys- ing my vision for TAAS in the years to ics refractor is now available to use at come. GNTO. If you haven’t been down I’d like to see TAAS develop its lately you should check it out; fresh research infrastructure. Good research paint and a little TLC can go a long is full of practical problems—from cen- way. tering that special spot up there into the narrow field of a CCD chip to in- The PV (electrical) system has been terpreting images to reporting find- performing perfectly and operating ings. Can we develop and support almost continuously for many months each other in these tasks? now. Total usage from the system is now around 110 KWh, a lot of juice. I think so, because we already do I’m at the observatory just about ev- in other a range of other activities from ery night, so come on out for viewing selecting eyepieces to organizing suc- or to get familiar with the systems we cessful Astronomy Days. have there. A guest trailer is available I’d also like to see improved chan- on a first come basis. As always call nels of communications both within Robert Ortega for updates, as I keep and beyond the society—a huge topic him abreast of my schedule. we need to address this year. Page 2 —The Official Newsletter of The Albuquerque Astronomical Society— June 1999 The Sidereal Times BOARD MEETING by Sam Lockwood The May 27, 1999 TAAS Board landscaping. Robert Ortega will pur- Assign a separate TAAS member to Meeting was called to order at 7:05 by chase 2 Telrads for GNTO on his own work with each exhibitor. President David Blair. Attending were authority, and Carl asked for board David explained that there are 9 Sam Lockwood, Gordon Pegue, Allan authority to purchase star diagonal for Astronomy Day Posters left over Green, Kevin McKeown, Bruce Levin, the Astrophysics Scope, explaining which several members have ex- Nancy Dodge, and Carl Frisch. Ob- that the scope is difficult to use with- pressed interest in. The board dis- servers included Mike Pendley, Tom out one. The Board approved an cussed several options on what to do Pannuti, and Barry Gordon. amount not to exceed $120 from the with the posters, but eventually passed GNTO fund for the star diagonal. Carl (5-2) a motion allowing David (the Opening Remarks is working with the Astrophysics com- poster’s designer) to decide their fate. David opened the meeting by an- pany to get the motor on the Astro- School Star Parties nouncing that John Sefick has resigned physics Scope repaired. Carl an- David noted that we had a great from the TAAS Board due to other nounced that the old lit tower north of year of school events, and thanked the commitments. David also announced GNTO is gone, but he hears a bigger docents that he has extended the officers invi- one is coming. There are now power tation to Beth Fernandez to participate outlets for member’s use near the Future events in board discussions as a nonvoting GNTO door. Bill Tondreau has a new Special Board Meeting Associate member. motor for the Isengard scope on order. David announced his intention to April 29th Meeting Grants Committee have a special board meeting to dis- Sam read the minutes from the Alan announced that a request cuss the future of TAAS. What are we April 29th board meeting, which were package for a large Intel Grant is ready doing right and wrong? Where are we accepted with two amendments: Carl to be submitted. Alan explained that heading? All agreed that as much Frisch is working on modifications to the Grant would be for a Dell Com- member input as possible is necessary. the Oak Flat gate, and Gordon Pegue puter, an ST-8 CDD Camera, Color The open meeting is tentatively sched- made the motion for the Educator Do- Wheel, adaptive optics, and a projec- uled for Sunday, July 18, 1999 at cent recognition money. There was tor, totaling near $15,000 George Pellegrino’s house. General Meeting also discussion as to the wording used Calendar to describe certain previous board dis- David said that he and George Carl proposed the following dates cussions. have several good leads on speakers for next year’s TAAS Regular meet- for the coming meetings. The June ings: Jan 22, Feb 19, Mar. 18, Treasurer’s Report TAAS general meeting will be reserved Apr. 15, May 13, Jun 17, Jul. 15, There was no treasurer’s report as for TAAS speakers.