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IOURNAL of the ESCAMBA AMAT E U R AS T RO N O M E R',S,4S,SO C UTI O A{ IOURNAL of the ESCAMBA AMAT E U R AS T RO N O M E R',S,4S,SO C UTI O A{ YOLUME WYI Number 5-6 May-June 2001 **** l. *:t*{c* rc** dr***1.* *c.*.**d.**{.:t i(**1.** **1.{.*****:t !t{. *****d(**** Editor andALCOR: Dr. J. Wayne Wooteq Plrysical Sciernes, Room 9704, PeruacolaJ.C., Pensacola FL 32504. Phane (550) 451-1152 (voicemail), (E-mail) [email protected] Presidern - Ed Magowan (850) 458-0577; It-P - Bob Hill (850) 455-8801 secretary - Bert Black (850 a76-4105; Treasurer Jim Larduskey (850) 434-3638 Observing - Warren Jarvis (550) 623-5061 Librmian: Jacque Falzone (850) 438-2045 Please mail all dues to EA-ILA,1660 Shannon Circle, Pensacola, FL i2501. WEBSITE: http://www.meteor.dotstar.net Yebmaster: [email protected] ,1.**1.****{<****i.+*:t **+{.**:1.******:1.*i.******re**t *{.*****{<***:t{.*{.********tF************d.***:t** French Camp Star Party, April 18 to 22, 2001 lim Studebaker and I drove to the French Camp Star Party on Wednesday April 18, 2001. The French Camp Observatory is 80 miles northeast of Jacksoq Mississippi immediately off of the Natchez Traie. The Natchez Trace is a beautiful two lane historic highway devoid of billboards and trash on the highway shoulders. The only drawback is the speed limit is 50 mph, which allows you to view the flora and fauna. (the entire trip was 333 miles from my house in Pensacola, 7.5 hours driving time). On arriving at 3:00 p.m., we registered at the observatory and drove back to the sleeping quarters to set up. I had a bunk in a suflrmer camp bunkhouse that was clean, simple, but more than adequate. The toilet facilities were next to the sleeping quarters and included hot showers and flush toilets. The observatory location was a drive of about a mile from the bunkhouse. Dennis Hausch and Dave Halupowski arrived later and we hunted locally for a place to eat and ended up eating atalocalfilling statior/convenience store/ snack shop (the nearest eating place was about 20 miles away). Dewey Barker, Bob Hill, and Mike Davey had arrived when we ieturned to the observatory for a lecfure and some nigtrttime viewing. I left the field about midnight because my body heat was fogging up my binocular eyepieces as a result of the cold weather. The viewing up to that time was good. Thursday morning I made a skong pot of coffee and had cereal for breakfast. Some of the EAAA members joined me for coffqe and noted i may not need as much coffee grounds next time i made a pot. They really weren't complaining, much! Dave and I hiked around the lake. Some of us lunched at the Council House Caf6 and toured the restored historic facilities. We returned to the observatory where I met my son and granddaughtet who had arrived from Memphis. Frank Graham had arrived sometime and was at the observing field. We did some solar observing and returned to the lodge for supper. After supper we attended another lecture and then observed the planets, nighfiime stars, plus meteors, and satellites until midnight when the skies got murky. Friday morning the pot of coffee was better and my son cooked breakfast for my granddaughter and me. Several ofus hiked around the lake, and wrote up notes from the previous ,ights viewing. We rocked and snoozed on the lodge porch while waiting on lunch. After lunch *J tri"d to do sofne solar observing but the sky was overcast so we browsed around Rex's temporary store. I attended a lecture in the afternoon and refurned to the lodge for supper. THE METEOR VOLUME NffI Number 5-6 May-June 2001 Page 2 I attonded another lecture after supper and returned to the observatory as the nighttime skies cleared to allow some good viewing which included viewing deep sky objects with the 32" Newtonian telescope on a Dobsonian mount. The skies murked over around midnight therefore I returned to the bunkhouse to sleep. Saturday morning breakfast was a repeat with no complaints about the coffee. I wrote up some more notes, my son and I hiked around the lakg and then rocked on the lodge porch and listened to Dewey Barker brag about the clear skies from 01:30 a. m. to 04:00 a. m. He looked a little sleep deprived. After lunch I did some more solar observing and looked at some spectacular solar prominences through a hydrogen alpha filter mounted on a large SC telescope. I attended a lecture and ate supper and attended another lecture. On returning to the observatory the skies were not too good for observing but I attended a lecture about "Sky Lore" which was interesting; observing which was on and off because of wispy clouds. Sunday morning we had a repeat breakfast, again with no complaints about the coffee. My son and grand{aughter left for Memphis and Jim and I headed south. We saw a total of four wild turkeys at three different locations as we drove on the beautiful Natchez Trace. The Star Party was an excellent experience, restful in a way despite the late hours, and multiple the activities. Jim Hill, Rainwater Observatory Director, and his staffdid a fine job in organizing the ovent, which included 200+ observers. The lodge staffprepared and served tasty and adequate meals in a beautiful setting. ^-Bert Black, EAAA secretary ASTRONOMT DAY AT SEWLLE SQUARE While many EAAA members were in Mississippi, we did return to Earth Day activities for at least some sunspotting and handing out brochures for Askonomy Day on April2lst. We had 9 prospectiye members sign up, and requests for teachers packets from 10 teachers. Rick Little, Jim Larduskey, Margret Hildreth and Woody Soderlind assisted with handouts, scopes, and transportation. FERRY PASS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAR GAZE-April 5, 2(ru1 The telescopes were set up for the Ferry Pass Elementary School on April 5, 2001, in the field on the south side of the school. The students and their families rotated from the schools different events to the astronomy star gaze. A total of approximately 300 students and parents visited the astronomy exhibit &om 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The sky was clear and the outside temperature was comfortable. The Moon was not quite full and could be seen is the East before dark. Before darlL at about 7:00 Jupiter was visible and shortly afterwards Saturn was visible. The sky was dark by 7:30 p.m. and the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Orion Nebula were observed in the telescopes. Three of the parents had ccd cameras and they were instructed how to photograph the Moon through a telescope eyepiece. An Iridium Satellite was scheduled to pass overhead at 7:46 p.m. and while watching for the satellite a meteor burned out overhead. The Iridium Satellite flashed overhead as scheduled. At 8:18 p.nc- the ISS appeared in the southwest and traveled between Jupiter and Satmn was visible for several minutm before it faded &om view in the northeast. Many viewers had never seen the nighttime celestial sights, which appeared after darh and needless to say they were thrilled as were the EAAA members present. The following EAAA members assisted; Jim Larduskey, Rick Littlq Bert Black, Wayne Wooten, and John Ve Depo. *Bert Black, C oordinator Our fourth Ferry Pass Elementary Math-Science Magnet School Spotlig&t on Math and Science is over but not forgotten One of the reasons it was successful was because of the F.AuAr{'u continued partieipation. We believe that your gloup's participation helped reinforce to the students that science can be fun and intermting. The students are still talking about seeing the space station Alpha fly over. Thank you again for your support. -Wanda Hampton, FPES THE METEOR VOLUME )AffI Number 5-6 MayJune 2{N1 Page 3 CAMP KOLOMOKI STAR GAZEApril 2T, 2001 The Cluster 24 Dirwtor, Michelle Dean, asked the E&drA to conduct an asfronomy session and star gaze for the Gid Scouts at Camp Kolomoki. The camp is east of DeFuniak Springs, north of Highway 90 several miles on an unpaved road. The camp road to the Rainwatsr Hall is dirt, one lane-interesting road that leads to the lake darn As requested the EAAA telescopes were set up before dark on the Camp Kolomoki lake dam for the April 27,2001. The Moon was waxing to the first quarter and visible in the daytime sky. Sunspots were visible on the solar disk. Before dark" at 7 PM, Jupiter was visible and shortly afterwards Saturn was visible. The linked ISS and NASA Space Shuule made a pass from the southwest to the northmst from about 7;40 ta 7:44 p.m. The linked spacecraft made a long path which brightened and than dimmed and finally they were obscured in the trees on the horizon. The sky was dark by 8:00 p.m. The Moon, Jupiter, SaturrL the Orion Nebula, M44, M.42143, M104, and several other deep sky objects were observed in the telescopes. The most obvious constellations were pointed out to the scouts. Many viewers had never seen the nighfiime celestial sights, which appeared after &rh and needle*s to say they were thrilled. The girl scouts served avtry tasty "Worm Dessert" about 9:00 p.m. The following EAAA members assisted; Dave Halupowski, Jim Larduskey, Rick Little, Bert Blach Mike and Danny Davey, and Ed Magowan assisted in the star gaze. Shannon and Heather Janssen, parents of girl scouts Erica and Britany, set up their Meade ETX telescope and eqioyed the nighttime skies; they plan to join the EAAA, based on their experience with the Girl Scouts.
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