Pac Newsletter Active July 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ReflectionsReflections Newsletter of the Popular Astronomy Club JULY 2018 President’s Corner July 2018 This hobby is definitely not solitary, nor boring. Well summer is officially here I really would like to encourage everyone to at- and the mercury in the ther- tend one of these club observing sessions. If mometer is rising right along you don’t have a scope, no problem, we will with our enthusiasm to get out provide you with one or you can just look and do some observing. Is it through the ones that have been brought by just me or have we had more others. It’s contagious, so be careful, you 90-degree days this year than might catch the astronomy bug! normal? Thank goodness we astronomers do most of our ob- Anyway, I have been on a campaign to visit serving when it’s cooler at night neighboring clubs and do some promotion for Alan Sheidler (unless you are viewing the sun next year’s NCRAL 2019 conference which, as of course). In any event, as you can see here in you know, PAC will be hosting. Last month, the newsletter, the weather has not damped our several of us visited Cedar Amateur Astrono- enthusiasm for astronomy in the slightest. In the mers and Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club. last month, we have had a number of public and I am always impressed by how welcoming and private observing sessions which can be very fun enthusiastic these clubs are. Sara and I also and informative. I really enjoy the club member made a trip to Springdale, Arkansas to attend observing sessions we have at the Paul Castle the Mid States Region of the Astronomical Memorial Observatory. Members bring their own League conference. We wanted to see how scopes, use the observatory’s refractor or borrow our neighbors to the southwest do their confer- one of the club scopes to set up and observe. It ences and of course to promote our own. We is actually kind of humorous to “observe” the be- were really impressed by the MSRAL confer- havior of the folks who participate in these ses- ence and with the warm welcome we received sions. Typically, there may be 4 or 5 scopes in there. It was really fun and well worth the trip use at the same time. Some of them (like Rusty to Arkansas. The host club, Sugar Creek As- Case, Terry Dufek and Mike Mack) will have as- tronomical Society, did a great job producing a tronomical video cameras attached to them. One very interesting and uplifting conference. Their person will successfully target an object which in- success gives me confidence that we too can variably induces a statement like “Wow, you gotta put on a great NCRAL 2019. come over here and see the Hamburger Galaxy” or “Cool! You have to come look at the Fox Head Be sure to attend our July 9th PAC meeting at Cluster” or “Oh wow, I can actually see Jupiter’s the Butterworth Center. Carl Wenning, NCRAL Red Spot, here take a look!” It is fun to hear the Chair, will be in attendance and will do a short excited exclamations and urgings to come look at talk about the benefits of the Astronomical whatever object might be in view at the various League. Also, Adam Beals will provide a pro- scopes. Sometimes, it seems like I am spending gram on the Fermi Paradox. Alex Holt is more time going over to a neighboring scope to scheduled to do the constellation report. We see what they have in the eyepiece or on the view have a great program in store. Don’t miss it! screen than I am looking through my own scope. Keep looking up! (Continued in next column) Alan Sheidler (Continued on next page) 1 (Continued from previous page) CONTENTS Page Topic 1 Presidents Corner 2 Index /Officers List 3-6 Announcements/ Info 7 The Southeastern Iowa Astronomy Club 8-9 Contributions 10 M5 The Rose Cluster 2018 PAC OFFICERS 11 Mars Approaches 12-15 PAC Outreach Events PRESIDENT - Alan Sheidler 3528 56th 16-17 Astronomy in Print Street Court, Moline, IL, 61265 Phone: 18 Upcoming Events (309) 797-3120 19 Astronomical Calendar of Events/ The Planets VICE PRESIDENT – Dino Milani 2317 20 Astronomy Software 29 1/2 Street, Rock Island, IA, 61201 21-22 NASA Space Place Phone: (309) 269-4735 23-24 News Links 25 Member Observations SECRETARY - Terry Dufek 2812 W. 26-29 Paul Castle Observing Sessions 65th Street, Davenport, IA, 52806 30-31 PAC Monthly Meeting Notes Phone: (563) 386-3509 32 Treasurers Report TREASURER – Dale Hachtel 1617 Elm Shore Drive, Port Byron Illinois, 61275 Phone: (614) 935-5748 ALCOR – Roy E. Gustafson 11 Deer Run Road, Orion, IL, 61273 Phone: (309)526-3592 DIRECTOR OF OBSERVATORIES - Rusty Case 2123 W. 16th Street, Dav- enport, IA, 52804 Phone: (563) 349- 2444 PAST PRESIDENT - Wayland Bauer 3256 Pleasant Drive, Bettendorf, IA., 52722 Phone: (563) 332-4032 NEWSLETTER EDITOR - Terry Dufek 2812 W. 65th Street, Davenport, IA, 52806 Phone: (563) 386-3509 Contact for Information or questions here: [email protected] 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS / INFO EIS 2019 Event date: ALCON 2018 Fri Sept 7, 2019 thru Sun Sept 9, 2019 Event date: Location of event: Wed Jul 11, 2018 thru Sat Jul 14, 2018 St Ambrose University Menke Observatory LocationMEMBERS of event: Dixon, IA HILTON MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL AIRPORT MALL OFRENEWING AMERICA Eastern Iowa Star Part presented by the 3800 American Bldd. E Quad Cities Astronomical Society (QCAS) BloomingtonFOR , MN 55425 2018 Davenport, Iowa CONTACT: Jeff Struve (for information Annual Convention of the Astronomical and registration) League (more information on page 5) LINK: https://alcon2018.astroleague.org/ THANK YOU! 2018 PAC Picnic Indiana Family Star Party The Annual PAC Picnic will be held Saturday, and Greatcon 2018 August 11th at the Paul Castle Observatory. Event date:YES! We have It will start at 6:00 p.m. and will feature obser- Tues July 10, 2018 thru Sun July 15, 2018 openings for….. vations of the Perseid meteor shower and ob- Location of event: jects viewed through telescopes. Bring a dish Camp Cullom, 50 miles northwest of Indian- to pass. A grill and charcoal will be provided apolis, NEWSPAPERIndiana ARTICLES for those that wish to grill. It is rumored that June, August, infamous “musical spatula” will be reappear- LINK: http://www.indianastars.us/starparty/September, October, ing after a year’s absence. index.htmlNovember, December 2018 Registration(If you have form need on lastsome page ideas, of May we canissue This night will have a one-day old Moon so help– It isn‘t as hard as it looks) Perseid viewing should be great. Plan now to NCRAL 2019 be in attendance! Please contact Dino Milani Event date: if Interested Wayland & Anne Bauer Fri May 3, 2019 thru Sat May 4, 2019 Location of event: Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center 101 18th St, SUBMISSIONS Facebook Fact Moline,If ILyou 61265 have an article or photos to We got 150+ likes & numerous shares from submit or items of interest, their post last week (Jun. 25th) Northwe Central encourage Region you of tothe send Astronomical them in Sara Sheidler Leaguesby theannual 25th convention of the month. being Links presented to by the Popularstories Astronomy are welcome Club, also. Moline Illinois NEW LINK: TBD Thank you! BirdiesMEMBERS for Charities Forms are available from Al Sheidler and at monthly PAC meeting. Deadline is July 13th. The Birdies office has requested Member List groups WELCOME!mail their forms in all together so Al If you are a member and want a current Sheidler will collect the forms and submit member list , please contact Terry Dufek them in one envelope. 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS / INFO NCRAL LOGO CONTEST GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA The North Central Region of the Astronomical League (NCRAL) seeks to develop a Regional logo. The member- ship at the NCRAL 2018 conference in Sturgeon Bay, WI, heard and approved a motion for the NCRAL Regional Council to create a “one-time allocation of a suitable amount of money for the creation of several draft NCRAL logos, one of which will be amended as necessary and approved in concept by the general membership at the NCRAL 2019 regional meeting. The approved draft will be finalized shortly thereafter.” To this end, the leadership is now soliciting suggestions for logos. A set of guidelines and criteria have been ap- proved by the Regional Committee consisting of NCRAL-affiliated society presidents and ALCors as well as the Ex- ecutive Officers (chair, vice chair, secretary/treasurer, and regional representative to the National Council). The guidelines and criteria for preparing and selecting a draft logo are as follows: Guidelines: 1. We are not currently seeking finished products, merely draft logos. 2. The draft logos need not be design by a member of a NCRAL-affiliated society; anyone is eligible to enter the competition. 3. More than one submission by the same person is permissible. 4. Drawings must be the original work of the competitor; no use of preexisting logos will be permitted; no copycatting of existing logos will be permitted. 5. Both astronomically accurate and stylized logos are acceptable. 6. Draft logos may be submitted at any stage of development as long as they adhere to these guidelines. 7. Drafts may be submitted in either color and/or black & white. 8. Drawings must be submitted as high-resolution files (e.g., 250 kB). 9. All logo drafts must be electronically submitted via email to the Regional Chair at [email protected]. Submissions must include name of author, contact information, club affiliation (if any), statement indicating that the draft logo the original work of the submitter.