The Observer of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers

THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 43, Number 8 August 2018

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1«Editor’s Choice: August Image – 2«President’s Note 3«Calendar of Celestial Events – August 2018 3«New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4«This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4«This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4«August 2018: Evening Planet Parade Begins to Split 8«Minutes of the July 24th TCAA Board Meeting 9«Quarterly Membership Meetings Coming! 10«AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 12«TCAA Photo Gallery 13«Profiles in Amateur Astronomy: Daniel Kates 13«Education & Public Outreach for July 2018 14«Remaining Public Viewing Sessions for 2018 14«TCAA Calendar of Events for 2018-2019

15«HowTimeFlies 15«TCAA on Facebook and Twitter EDITOR’S CHOICE: IMAGE OF THE MONTH – MARS 15«Renewing Your TCAA Membership This month’s editor’s Choice shows an image of Mars nearing 16«TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of July 30, 2018 opposition. The July 18th image was taken by Popular Astronomy 16«CUAS to Host Astronomy Summit Club President Alan Sheidler (Quad Cities) using the 10” Meade 17«Calling All Illinois Astronomy Clubs: Amateur telescope he acquired from the TCAA several years ago during our Astronomy Summit September Mini Conference. Alan writes, “At 12:30 or so, I used my Nikon D90 and 10" LX200 to shoot a 60-second video of Mars, which I then stacked using Autostakkert to provide the image shown. Some surface details are visible, but still somewhat obscured by a global dust storm.” When asked to further describe his system, Alan wrote, “The camera is a Nikon D90 digital SLR. This is the same camera I use for all my photography. It has the capability to shoot video which works great for bright objects like planets. I use eye-piece pro- jection with a 10mm eyepiece to get the image to be large

enough to see any The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League. For detail. So, the image more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit our shown is magnified club website. maybe 250x.”

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER Our nights are getting longer is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin again (thank goodness), and the City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational summer heat seems to have organization of amateur astronomers passed, so it’s time for TCAA interested in studying astronomy and members to get back into the sharing their hobby with the public. swing of things, astronomically

speaking. There’s no better time TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS than late summer and early autumn to be out under the stars President, Director, & Property Manager Tim Stone 309-531-2401 doing what we love. Perhaps [email protected] you’ve thought to yourself, “I really should get that scope out Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. and do some observing.” Well, Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 [email protected] there’s no time like the present. Here are some ideas for re- TCAA President Tim Stone Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent activating your astronomical passion: Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 [email protected] 1. Set a goal. Your goal doesn’t have to be anything grand, like “Observe the entire NGC.” You could decide to observe globular clusters, double stars, or any Secretary & Director/Historian/Editor Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 class of object that interests you. You could decide to finally finish (or start) the [email protected] Astronomical League Messier Observing Program. Perhaps you want to try taking a picture through a telescope. Whatever you decide, make it an Director/Technology Coordinator attainable goal, consult with your fellow TCAA members on how to achieve Justin Meyer 630-649-0611 [email protected] that goal, and commit to a certain date. There’s a LOT of motivation in goals!

Astronomical League Correspondent 2. You don’t have a telescope? No problem! Avail yourself of the great facilities at Robert Finnigan 309-846-9533 Sugar Grove Nature Center and Waynesville Observatory. SGNC has our SGO [email protected] and PSO observatories, outfitted with excellent telescopes for visual use. If you aren’t yet checked out on that equipment, we can help you with that, and then Webmaster Lee Green 309-454-7349 you can get your own key to one or both of those observatories. Of course, [email protected] Waynesville has a very open horizon and is considerably darker than SGNC. So, if you have your own telescope, bring it out. Lighting Educ. & AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number 3. Come to our Public Viewing Sessions. Bring your telescope, set it up, and enjoy [email protected] sharing the sights of the night sky with the public. People from all walks of life

Publicist and sometimes from some distance come to these events, and they’re always Rick Lasher 309-530-2678 so grateful for the opportunity to see the sky through our telescopes and to [email protected] learn from us about the things they’re seeing. It’s very energizing, and a surefire way to kick your astronomical activities into the next gear. The OBSERVER Carl J. Wenning, Editor in Chief 4. With Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars visible in our evening sky, people have

Submission deadline two days before an opportunity to see these planets on one night and compare what they see. the end of each month. Perhaps you can take your telescope outside your house and point it at one of the planets and see who stops by. You might be surprised at how much fun it MEMBERSHIP DUES can be to watch someone who has never looked at anything through a telescope, and to hear their exclamations of awe and delight. Individual Adult/Family $40 Full-time Student/Senior $25 We have the tools, passion, and ability to introduce people to astronomy in a (Senior status equals ages 60+) uniquely tangible way. Let’s invest in our own knowledge and understanding, and

To join, send your name, contact info and then use that to reach out to people, and to get involved in our own TCAA dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA community! I hope to see you soon! Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL Hope to see you soon. 61761-1471. Tim Stone, President

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

ALENDAR OF ELESTIAL VENTS UGUST EW ENEWING EMBERS C C E – A 2018 N & R M

The following individuals have paid dues for new or MORNING PLANETS (8/15): Mercury, Uranus & Neptune renewed memberships as of July 30, 2018. (Others who EVENING PLANETS (8/15): Venus, Mars, Jupiter & Saturn paid after that date will appear in the September 2018 issue of The OBSERVER.) The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of important astronomical events for this month. All times are Central Daylight Time. Roy Lawry, Michael Starasta, Paul Pouliot, Matthew Will

Day Time Event

DUES BLUES 04 12:18 LAST QUARTER MOON 06 12:35 Aldebaran 1.1°S of Moon If you have received a “your dues are due” statement along with the email that brought you this 08 20 Mercury at Inferior Conjunction issue of The OBSERVER, please remit your dues to Mr. 10 07:40 Moon at Ascending Node Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for 10 12:05 Moon at Perigee: 358083 km seniors (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 11 03:46 Partial Solar Eclipse; mag=0.737 11 03:58 NEW MOON SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LIST

12 19 Perseid Meteor Shower By subscribing to a group’s mailing list, you will 14 07:35 Venus 6.3°S of Moon receive email messages from the group though you won’t have access to the group’s web features (like 17 04:38 Jupiter 4.5°S of Moon photos, files, links, polls, calendar, etc.) unless members 17 10 Venus at Greatest Elong:45.9°E activate it later. The club has an open email listserv. It is known as the TCAA YahooGroups listserv. It will be used 18 01:49 FIRST QUARTER MOON to share announcements and reminders about 20 20:09 Mercury 4.8°S of Beehive astronomical and club events. To join this main listserv, you must do the following: 21 03:55 Saturn 2.1°S of Moon

23 05:23 Moon at Apogee: 405744 km 1. To subscribe: Send a blank email to TCAA- 23 22:51 Moon at Descending Node [email protected] Note: You’ll be sent a confirmation email from the group. Reply to the 26 05:56 FULL MOON confirmation email to activate your subscription. 26 14 Mercury at Greatest Elong:18.3°W 2. To post a message: [email protected] 3. To unsubscribe: [email protected] 31 22:45 Venus 1.0°S of Spica

http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2018cst.html

EVENING SKY MAP Click on the icon found here to access a current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Saturday, August 4 Saturday, August 11 Saturday, August 18 Monday, August 27

All moon phase dates are Central Daylight Time. Additional moon phases for the 2018 calendar year (Central Time) can be found by clicking here. Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

THIS MONTH’S SOLAR PHENOMENA

In the table below, you will find times of sunrise and sunset along with rising and setting azimuths, length of day including difference from previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, and the time of solar noon along with the elevation of the midday sun. These data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2018 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Aug Sunrise Sunset Length Difference Start End Time 1 5:53 AM (65°) 8:10 PM (294°) 14:17:24 -2:00 4:03 AM 10:00 PM 1:02 PM (67.4°)

11 6:02 AM (69°) 7:58 PM (291°) 13:55:50 -2:15 4:18 AM 9:43 PM 1:01 PM (64.6°) 21 6:12 AM (73°) 7:44 PM (286°) 13:32:309 -2:26 4:32 AM 9:24 PM 12:59 PM (61.5°)

AUGUST 2018: THE EVENING PLANET PARADE BEGINS TO SPLIT ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

August opens with bright Mars (m = −2.8) in the sky nearly a shorter and faster solar orbit. Venus is slowly catching all night, setting about 45 minutes before sunrise. It is just Earth in the same way Earth caught and passed Mars. (From past its perihelic opposition and closest approach. Watch Mars, Earth just passed what we call inferior conjunction for Mars dim in brightness and diminish in size as our planet Earth’s inner planets.) Jupiter (m = −2.1) is in the south- pulls away from its outer neighbor. Mars, the second southwest in Libra, near Zubenelgenubi. Saturn (m = 0.2), brightest planet, shines low in the southeast sky during early above the Teapot of Sagittarius, is in the south-southeast as evening twilight. The other three bright planets – Venus, the sky darkens. For the summer season the change of the Jupiter, and Saturn – are farther west. Mercury still has an length of daylight is noticeable during the month. At the eastern (evening) elongation, but it sets only 8 minutes after beginning of August, the sun is in the sky for 14 hours, 25 the sun. This speedy planet is headed for its inferior minutes. With twilight, the dawn to dusk time is 18 hours, 13 conjunction early in the month. At Nautical Twilight, 70 minutes. By month’s end daylight is reduced to 13 hours, 10 minutes after sunset, brilliant Venus (m = −4.3), approaching minutes and 16 hours, 38 minutes with the three phases of its greatest elongation, is in the west between Regulus and twilight. Here are the highlights for the beginning of the Spica, 29° to Spica’s lower right. Watch Venus close the gap month: with Spica during the month. Through a telescope, Venus • August 1: It’s Perseid Meteor Shower showtime! The shows an evening gibbous phase that is 57% illuminated and 20” across. During the month, watch Venus’ phase and shower’s peak display occurs during the moon’s New apparent diameter change noticeably, as its distance to phase this year. The meteors appear to emerge from a Earth decreases about 30% during this eighth month. It is on point in space (radiant), much like the effect of falling Copyright © 2018 TCAA 4 All rights reserved.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

snowflakes when you drive through a snowstorm. The radiant is at right ascension 03h 08m and declination +58°. This is about 2.9° northwest of Eta Persei (η Per, m = 3.8). (Check your star charts. In what constellation is the radiant?) During the shower period, Perseids can be seen anywhere in the sky, at any time of the night. Some meteors are flashes that catch your eye, while others are brighter, leaving a train that persists for a short time. Trace the path of the meteor backward toward Perseus to determine whether it’s a Perseid or a sporadic meteor (not associated with the shower). When reversing the track, the random meteor’s origin is in another part of the sky. The highest meteor counts occur as the radiant approaches the zenith after midnight and before the beginning of morning twilight, when we see the meteoroids’ orbits nearly head on. It is important to note that the predicted rates for all meteors visible are across

the entire sky, not visible to an individual observer. To get August 6: a maximum meteor count, watch in a group of five observers, four looking above each cardinal point and one The waning crescent moon appears near the Hyades star cluster in the eastern sky before the looking toward the zenith. Cut the official estimates in half beginning of morning twilight. Use binoculars to explore if you’re observing in or near town, because many of the • Augustthe star clusters near the moon. 9: Start looking for Sirius about 45 minutes before meteors are dim; yet, others are bright and impressive to sunrise for its first appearance in your morning sky before see. Divide the predicted rate by 5, if you’re observing sunrise, its helical rising date. You’ll need a clear southeast alone. So, at prime times, lone observers may see 10 horizon as Sirius appears only about 4° above the horizon meteors per hour in a dark location, 5 per hour in town. at this first appearance. “Dog Days” may be associated This evening, Venus sets at Astronomical Twilight (sun’s with the helical rising of Sirius. It is coincidence this occurs altitude is −18°), 150 minutes after sunset. For the during the hot, humid days of August. remainder of the apparition, Venus sets during twilight. • August 10: While the moon is near its new phase, visit a • August 4: The moon is at its Last Quarter phase, 1:18 p.m. remote location, even for a short visit, to see the Milky CDT. Way arching across the sky from north to south. Look for • August 6: In the morning near the time of Astronomical the bright nebulae and star clusters in the southern region Twilight, about 2 hours before sunrise, the waning in Sagittarius and surrounding regions, the Sagittarius Star crescent moon (23.9 days old, 32% illumination) is 5.1° Cloud, and the Scutum Star Cloud. Be sure to check out from Aldebaran (α Tau, m = 0.8). The star is 28° up in the the dust clouds of the Great Rift, nearly overhead in eastern sky. The moon is 1.2° above Gamma Tauri (γ Tau, Cygnus and follow it southward as it breaks the glow of m = 3.6), in the Hyades star cluster. Take in the view of the the Milky Way into two parts. Some of my favorite August moon and star cluster with binoculars. In the evening sky, targets are the Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720, m = 8), Jupiter is 90° east of the sun. One hour after sunset, it’s Epsilon Lyrae (ε Lyr, m = 4.6), Albireo (β Cyg, m = 3.0), 23° up in the southwest, about 1° to the upper right of mainly because the double stars are celestial gems to Zubenelgenubi (α Lib, m = 2.8). show to new observers. Albireo’s contrasting star colors • August 7: Have you looked for Perseids? If you wait long always impress beginning sky watchers. With binoculars, enough, you’ll see a few. look for the “Double Cluster” h Persei and χ Persei. • August 8: At 2 hours before sunrise, the waning crescent • August 11: The moon is at its New phase at 4:58 a.m. CDT. moon (26 d, 13%) is 13° up in the east-northeast. While There is a partial solar eclipse visible from north and not in the best observing location, use binoculars to note eastern Europe, northern parts of North America, and that the moon is 4.6° to the lower left of the star cluster northern and western parts of Asia. Nothing for us in M35 (NGC 2168, m = 5.3). Mercury is at its inferior Illinois. conjunction, 9:06 p.m. CDT.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

• August 12: Look for Perseids after midnight and before next two weeks. Continue to look for Perseid meteors. morning twilight begins. Here’s what’s up during the second half of the month:

• August 13: This year’s peak Perseid rate might occur this • August 16: Jupiter, 18° up in the southwest at mid-twilight morning according to NASA’s meteor expert Bill Cooke, (50 minutes after sunset), passes 0.5° from Zubenelgenubi cited in a space.com article that can found at the following (α Lib, m = 2.8). This is the third conjunction with this star URL: https://tinyurl.com/yb7ww7lh. during Jupiter’s apparition. The waxing crescent moon (5.7 • August 14: At mid-twilight (75 minutes after sunset, sun’s d, 37%) is 7° to the right of Jupiter. altitude is -9°), Venus is 4° up in the west. The waxing crescent moon (3.7 d, 18%) is 6.6° to the upper left of Venus. Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = 3.4) is about 2° to the lower right of the moon, and nearly 5° to the upper left of Venus. Spica is 16° to the upper left of Venus.

August 16

: Jupiter passes Zubenelgenubi for the third conjunction during this appearance of the giant planet. • AugustThe waxing crescent moon 17: Venus (m = −4.5) is nearby. reaches its greatest elongation (45.9°), 70 days before its inferior conjunction. August 14 Through a telescope notice that its angular size (24.2”) is : The waxing crescent moon appears above slightly larger than Mars. At this solar elongation, Venus Venus and near the star Gamma Virginis in the early shows an evening half phase. The thick waxing crescent evening sky. Venus and Spica are 16° apart. • August 15: At mid-twilight (60 minutes after sunset), Spica moon (6.7 d, 48%) is 6.6° to the upper left of Jupiter. Slow- (α Vir, m = 1.0) is 9° up in the west-southwest, with the moving Jupiter remains close to Zubenelgenubi, 0.6° this waxing crescent moon (4.7 d, 27%) 6.5° above the star. evening. Watch the gap widen during the next several The Venus-Spica gap is 15°. weeks as Jupiter creeps eastward.

At mid-month at evening Nautical Twilight (75 minutes after • August 18: The moon is at its First Quarter phase, 2:49 a.m. sunset), the four bright planets span the sky from east to CDT. west, ranging from Mars (m = −2.5) in the southeast, Saturn • August 19: At mid-twilight, Antares stands 18° up in the (m = 0.3) in the south, Jupiter (m = −2.0) in the southwest, south-southwest with the waxing gibbous moon (8.7 d, and Venus (m = −4.5) low in the west. Venus is near its 67%) 10° to the upper left of the star and 16° to the right greatest elongation. Watch Venus close the gap with Spica of Saturn. for a widely-spaced conjunction at month’s end. Through a • August 20: The Venus-Spica gap is 10°. Venus is 32° to the telescope, it displays an evening half phase that is 50% lower right of Jupiter. This evening, the waxing gibbous illuminated and slightly over 23” in diameter, about the same angular size as Mars. In the morning Mercury (m = 2.9), moon (9.7 d, 76%) is 3.9° to the right of Saturn. (See image only 11° west of the sun, is moving toward a favorable next page.) morning greatest elongation at month’s end. Now, though, it is quite dim, but watch it brighten about 30 times during the

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

nearly mirroring the setting time of Spica. They disappear into bright twilight together, not setting more than about 15 minutes apart as they head toward their respective solar conjunctions. This evening Venus is 24° to the lower right of Jupiter.

August 20

: In the early evening sky, Venus and Spica are August 27 • August10° apart. Venus is 32° to 21: This evening, thethe lower right of Jupiter. waxing gibbous moon (10.7 d, 84%) is 8.1° to the left of Saturn, 25° up in the south : Mars’ retrograde ends near the asterism during mid- twilight. Dog’s Country, a kite-shape group in Sagittarius. Look with binoculars when the sky gets dark. • August 22: The moon (11.7 d, 90%) is 8.8° to the upper right of Mars (m = −2.3). • August 23: At 30 minutes before sunrise, Mercury (m = 0.5), 8° up in the east-northeast, 21° below Pollux (β Gem, m = 1.2) and 22° to the lower left of Procyon (α CMi, m = 0.4). During the next two weeks, look for Mercury far below Pollux. The gap between them grows about 0.5° each day. Have you looked for Sirius during morning twilight? In the evening sky, the moon (12.7 d, 95%) is 8° to the upper left of Mars. • August 24: What is the last date that you see a Perseid meteor? • August 26: Mercury (m = −0.2) is at its morning greatest elongation. The separation from the sun is only 18.3°, but the ecliptic has a 25-degree inclination, favorable for locating Mercury. Mercury rises 90 minutes before sunrise in the east-northeast. Look for it with binoculars 23° below Pollux. The moon is Full at 6:56 a.m. CDT. In the evening August 31 sky the Venus-Spica gap is 5°. : A Venus-Spica Conjunction. Venus appears • August 27: Mars’ (m = −2.2) retrograde ends this evening As 1.2° below Spica.the month ends, the summer planet parade begins to near the kite-shaped asterism Dog’s Country. The group lose its brightest planet. Now setting 85 minutes after made of Omega Sagittarii (ω Sag, m = 4.7), 59 Sagittarii (59 sunset, Venus is heading toward its phase of greatest Sag, m = 4.5), 60 Sagittarii (60 Sag, m = 4.8), and 62 brightness. Through a telescope, Venus displays a thick Sagittarii (62 Sag, m = 4.4). Tonight, Mars is 2.6° from evening crescent phase that is 29.5” across. With Venus near Omega Sagittarii. Spica, the pair begins to descend into evening twilight. • August 31: Venus (m = −4.6) passes 1.2° below Spica. After Speedy Mercury (m = −0.9), now fading from the morning this conjunction, Venus sets much earlier each evening, sky, is moving toward its superior conjunction late in Copyright © 2018 TCAA 7 All rights reserved.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

September. Jupiter (m = −1.9), visible in the southwest in nearly all night, starts the evening in the south-southeast. Libra east of Zubenelgenubi, appears to be heading toward The moon (20.7 d, 70%) rises in the east around 10:30 p.m. an evening conjunction with Venus. Watch what occurs next When did you first see Sirius in the pre-sunrise sky? How month. Saturn (m = 0.3), slowest moving among the other many Perseids did you see? Did you check your star charts to brighter planets in the planet parade, begins the evening in determine the Perseids’ radiant location? Did you observe the south. Spectacular Mars (m = −2.1), shining in the sky the Milky Way?

MINUTES OF THE JULY 24TH TCAA BOARD MEETING

President Tim Stone called the meeting to order at 6:37 the closet on the ground floor of SGO. Carl was authorized to PM. In attendance also were the following: Vice President give Rick a key for SGO. There were no reports from the Tom Willmitch, Secretary Carl Wenning, Chairs Rick Lasher, Technology Coordinator and the Webmaster as they were Bob Finnigan, and Lisa Wentzel, and members Cheryl not present at the meeting. Finnigan and Dick Wentzel. Unable to attend were Treasurer The following points were addressed under the topic of Dave Osenga, 5th Director Justin Meyer, and Webmaster Lee Old Business: Green. There were no additional agenda items brought up, • Carl asked how we should proceed with Jeff Hunt’s so the meeting commenced with reports of Officers and donated prints as we did nothing with them the past Chairs. two months. It was agreed that Carl should offer them President and Property Manager Tim Stone noted that to Angela Funk at SGNC on behalf of the TCAA so that the Paramount under the WO 16” telescope was earlier she might be able to auction them off as part of the moved into position under the PSO 17” telescope due to a September Hummingbird Festival and Pollination problem with an electrical wire and that a replacement wire Celebration and the October Autumn Festival to support has more recently arrived. The PSO 17” is now fully SGNC. He will contact her on behalf of the club. operational. The 16” still needs collimation and the • manufacturer has agreed to help. Tim further reported that The topic of a better communication system for the Ernie Finnigan recently placed gravel around the WO domes Board and Chairs was tabled because Justin could not and buildings and soil for backfill along the sidewalk. We make the meeting. • have yet to see a bill for this necessary and much- It was agreed to replace the Sidewalk Astronomy appreciated work. programs with new small-group activities starting later Tom had nothing to report as vice president and in the year after all planning has been concluded. At membership coordinator. Carl noted as Secretary that the Carl’s suggestion, the Sidewalk Astronomy programs for minutes of the last meeting appeared in June issue of the August and September will be canceled as they have newsletter which continues to be produced and distributed never been promoted and he has not sought approval on time. Treasurer Dave Osenga was unable to be present at for a location at which to hold them. the meeting, so Carl read into the record the following • Lisa provided a brief update about the October 3-7 trip information on his behalf: “Checking account balance is to Iceland to observe the Aurora Borealis and much $832.86; savings account balance is $3,017.35 (@ 0.02 %). I more. Thus far we have confirmed reservations for five, have received completed tax reporting forms as prepared by only two of whom are TCAA members – Lisa and Carl. the folks at Striegel Knobloch & Company. Tim needs to sign Others are friends of these two. one form, then all will have been mailed in. They did not • Rick, speaking for the ad hoc committee addressing charge us for this service, but we can pay them what we “water closet facilities” at WO, showed options for want; I recall being authorized to pay $100, but this needs to toilets at WO. Following a discussion, it was agreed to TM be confirmed as I didn’t see it, or just missed it, in the purchase Porta Potti 550p that stands 17” tall and has minutes.” Carl moved to accept the report and to authorize both flush capability and a small, removable waste the Treasurer to send a $100 honorarium to Striegel cartridge. A 2” high subfloor needs to be installed in part Knobloch & Company. The motion was seconded, discussed, of the WO storage shed to raise the height of the seat to and approved. 19” which is consistent with facilities for handicapped Bob indicated that as ALCor there was nothing to report. individuals and which will be helpful to our older The same was noted by Lisa Wentzel as AL Observing Clubs members. Interior lighting is already present in the shed. Coordinator. As Lighting Education Coordinator, Lisa noted With the approval of the Board, Lisa made an immediate that she continues to provide updated PowerPoint purchase of one Porta Potti unit for $117, but we will presentations for use before the start of public viewing need to further investigate water access, additional sessions at SGNC. Rick, as Publicist, noted that he needs replacement cartridges, and subflooring immediately some PVS brochures and was informed that they are kept in under the Porta Potti. What we chose to do in the Copyright © 2018 TCAA 8 All rights reserved.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

future will depend upon the use of the currently evening social activities in October, January, April, and planned facility. July for the next 12 months as an experiment. These • Rick spoke for a second ad hoc committee dealing with would feature food/meals and in-town, non-observing private small-group observing sessions. These special activities such as planetarium program, speakers (e.g., request, fee-based, 2-hour sessions would include a cell phone apps, observing skills, astronomical imaging, short talk, a tour of observatory facilities, and viewing of creating visuals for articles and social media, a representative group of celestial objects using the CPC spectroscopy of stars, and other topics in the TCAA 11” under the SGO dome. Rick explained questions and Guides), and possibly even laboratory activities. If there possible responses. In general, it was thought best if is a good turn out over the next year, these gatherings Carl would contact Angela Funk at SGNC to see if will be continued. If not, they will be discontinued. charging for such private observing sessions would be • Tim reported that Angela Funk has requested an open problematic or if SGNC would like to receive a house from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM at the August 11th percentage of the fee for park usage. Rick and Carl will Funk Family Reunion. Carl reported that the best we can continue to pursue answers to questions and prepare a offer (given the fact that we have a public viewing draft proposal for the project for further consideration session that evening) is that we can have an abbreviated and implementation. open house from, say, 1:30 to 2:30 PM. Carl will contact Angela to make arrangements. Under the heading of New Business, the following • Tuesday, September 25th, was set as the date of the next points were addressed: Board meeting. The meeting will start at 6:30 PM and • Bob gave a brief summary of the expected delivery will be held at the Wenning residence in Normal. dates of the 2nd 12-foot WO clamshell dome and the 24” There were no announcements other than the fact that AG Optical telescope. We are currently anticipating Dave Osenga will not be available for the August 11th PVS. If delivery of the dome sometime in August and the help is needed with setting up the speaker system, we telescope sometime in September. should contact Dave well in advance. The meeting was • Carl noted that the club needs to increase the number adjourned at 7:55 PM. of social events as a way to provide both camaraderie

and develop new memberships. It was agreed that as an Respectfully submitted, observing club these events are sorely lacking despite Carl J. Wenning, Secretary the fact that we have both a summer picnic and winter

annual meeting. Carl proposed that we have Saturday

TAKE NOTE: QUARTERLY MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS COMING! ~ by Carl J. Wenning ~

I came to the Twin Cities from Michigan State University of activity. All of this information is documented very well in 40 years ago this month. I attended my first TCAA meeting in the TCAA’s 50th Anniversary historical volume. September, taken there by departing ISU Planetarium During the intervening years, I have often been asked – Director Patrick McGee. We gathered at Mark Evans but especially by non-members, “When is the TCAA going to Observatory on the IWU campus. At that time, I found have its next club meeting?” I point out, much to their primarily a social club with just a bit of observing, most of disappointment that, “We are primarily an observing club, which was focused on finding and viewing Messier objects not really a social club. As a result, we really don’t hold and earning the Astronomical League’s Messier Award. Only membership meetings.” That’s unfortunate, because as we recently had Bob Finnigan begun observing and photography all know it is through social activities that clubs tend to with his C14 monster by existing standards. acquire new members. In recent years we have garnered Over the subsequent years, we held meetings regularly new members though our education and public outreach at Mark Evans Observatory as well as the ISU Planetarium. events, but far fewer than is needed to maintain a club such By the late 1990s, the attendance at club meetings had all as our own. but dried up despite the best efforts of our leaders to As the minutes from the July 24th Board meeting show, increase attendance. Meetings were finally eliminated due the leadership has agreed to initiate informal membership to “a lack of interest” and the TCAA formally became an meetings on a quarterly basis to serve the social needs of the observing club. By the year 2000, we had an observatory in club. Board members and Chairs all agreed that we enjoy place at Sugar Grove Observatory and that became the focus Board meetings because of the social aspects and that’s what keeps us coming back. This social aspect of the club is Copyright © 2018 TCAA 9 All rights reserved.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

something much – if not most – of the membership sorely 2018, and January, April, and July 2019. If these events are lack s. well attended by the club membership, they will continue. If We will now hold membership meetings on a quarterly they are not well attended, they will be discontinued. It’s as basis beginning in October. These will focus on a meal and simple as that. The future of these events rests in the hands an activity. No business will be conducted at these meetings; of the current TCAA members – you and me. that’s the work of the Board and each TCAA member is Please plan now to attend and participate in these welcome to attend those open meetings. events or they will once again disappear from our schedule. Membership meetings will be conducted as an experiment during the next 12 months – including October

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

ó Bob Finnigan and Rick Lasher were at PSO on Monday, July 2nd and obtained this 4- frame, 40-second color image of M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, using the 17” PlaneWave telescope. They have moved along to such a point where the club leadership is now considering a basic course for members dealing with astrophotography. Watch this space for a future announcement. At the same time, Carl Wenning was introducing two 10- year-old boys – Dominick Prall and James Yeakel – to one another and the sky using SGO’s CPC 11.” Working on their own, they were able to view nearly two dozen Messier objects and planets. This looks to be the start of a lasting friendship. Both boys have a knowledge of astronomy. ó Based on recent observations and reflections, Carl Wenning had recently revised and updated TCAA Guide #8 – Optimizing Observations of Deep Sky Objects. This document has now reached 11 pages in length. Please download and review the guide at http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx ó Bob Finnigan, Rick Lasher, and Carl Wenning spent a fair amount of time during the first week of July observing at SGNC. Bob and Rick worked on perfecting their knowledge of the new camera one the 17” telescope, while Carl observed “just for fun” on several evenings. On Saturday, July 7th he recollimated the CPC 11” telescope for the first time since 2006. Only recently did it get mis-collimated, possibly due to its recent move to SGO. The telescope now provides much improved images. Carl also tried out his SkyFi wireless system with his iPad; it appears to be working properly. ó On July 9th, Dave Tandy of AG Optical Systems wrote, “I spoke with Terry on Friday and he said he is very close to completing the 24" iDK set. He needs to do some final quality control checks and then he will schedule the coating run for the primary mirror. I think the mirror will be coated next week. I have all of the parts ready to go. I started to assemble the Taurus fork mount but there is a piece that is missing. As soon as I get it, I will assemble the fork arm and confirm that the telescope mounts properly on the Taurus. I'll keep you posted on the primary mirror as well as what I hear back from Software Bisque.” (Part has been found.) ó On his way to Minnesota, on July 9th, Carl stopped by Knoxville, IL, where he quite by chance discovered an abandoned observatory (shown right). Later that evening, he gave a talk to the Popular Astronomy Club at the Butterworth Mansion in Moline, and stayed overnight in Orion, IL, with NCRAL Secretary-Treasurer Roy Gustafson and his wife Jan. Watch the Autumn 2018 issue of Northern Lights for a report about the A.L. national convention.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

ó On July 10th, the waning crescent moon nearly occulted the star Aldebaran in Taurus as seen locally. Sharon MacDonald observed the near occultation and reported, “I did enjoy the conjunction of the moon and Aldebaran… I didn't expect the moon to be so low, which was great. I hardly needed to raise my binoculars to get an easy, straight-on view, and the atmosphere was breaking up the light from Aldebaran to produce quite a show of colors. I especially enjoyed viewing such a close conjunction: being able to follow the relative movements of the moon and Aldebaran over time was at least as much fun as watching an occultation. ó On July 11th, NCRAL Chair and TCAA member Carl Wenning attended the A.L. Council meeting in Minneapolis. He was fortunate to run into MAS member Suresh Sreenivasan who used to visit the TCAA in the 1980s along with his friend and TCAA member Darren Drake. ó David Meyer returned to town briefly during mid-July. In January, he returned to his home town of Bellville, IL, to work but was temporarily on assignment in the Twin Cities by his new employer. He had dinner with Carl Wenning on the evening of July 16th. Unfortunately, David reported to Carl that his transfer to Bellville is permanent as he has family there. He will be missed. ó During mid- July, Ernie Finnigan placed gravel around the Waynesville Observatory buildings. He also backfilled all the areas around where the concrete sidewalks were laid. The Observatory is really taking shape. We anticipate that within the next few weeks the new clamshell dome will be installed on the foreground platform, and that the AG Optical 24” telescope with its yoke mount will be installed in that dome by the end of the summer. The WO construction project is nearly complete thanks to the hard work of many TCAAers and the goodness of our anonymous benefactor who paid for the entire project. When it is finished, WO will hold 10”, 16”, 20”, and 24” telescopes and have a separate climate-controlled observing room for viewing comfort. This facility, for those who do not know, is entirely for astronomical imaging. ó During a recent week, the TCAA Facebook page had 3,307 hits for an average of about 473 views per day. Carl Wenning has been posting sky events to look for with the unaided eye almost daily. There have also been some “historical moments” as well. If you are not subscribed to the Facebook page, consider doing so. See the brief article about Facebook further on in this issue of The OBSERVER. ó It is with sadness that we note the passing of Rebecca Ansher, wife of former TCAA member Jay Ansher. Rebecca passed away on July 9th while the editor of this newsletter was traveling to ALCon 2018. We regret the resulting late notice and extend our sincere condolences to Jay and their son Alex. Jay is slated to present the talk during the September Public Viewing Session. ó In the event that you are not subscribed to the TCAA’s email list or Facebook page, the nomogram to the left is an example of what you have been missing for the past few months – along with commentary. Posts are made almost daily. To learn about subscribing, see page 14 of this issue of The OBSERVER.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

ó Don’t forget that on Saturday, September 29th, the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society will host an Amateur Astronomy Summit in Champaign. They have graciously agreed to pick up this event as a follow-on for the three Central Illinois Mini Conferences that the TCAA hosted from 2014-2016. With the total solar eclipse of 2017, we decided against hosting again. By request, CUAS continues this year. There will be an evening and afternoon of activities, and they are counting on our presence. We will start at the William Stearkel Planetarium (near the I-74/I-57 interchange) where we will hear a number of talks presented mostly by amateur astronomers, including TCAAers. For instance, your editor is hoping to present a short talk about how to make astronomical nomograms such as the image shown above. Other TCAAers will also be welcome to give talks about topics of their own choosing. Afterward, we will head out to for a picnic dinner provided by CUAS at their observing site. We will be able to see their huge new roll-off-roof observatory and visit their old domed observatory. Observing will follow, clear sky prevailing, so bring your telescope along. This will prove to be a fun and memorable event. Everyone is encouraged now to make plans to attend this all afternoon and evening event.

TCAA PHOTO GALLERY

M27 BY TIM STONE ~ “July 10th, taken was taken with Tony Cellini's SUMMER TRIANGLE BY TIM STONE ~ “July 10th, taken using my DSLR on 300mm f/4 lens on my Canon T6i DSLR, mounted on my iOptron my iOptron ZEQ25 mount. 24mm lens, f/4, ISO 1600, two minutes ZEQ25, unguided for two minutes at ISO 1600.” unguided.”

Have you ever contributed to The OBSERVER? Each month a

COPERNICUS BY TIM STONE – “Seeing was not great, (July 23rd) but I number of our generous members assemble short articles for captured this image with the Grey Point Flea (camera) and my reader edification. Please consider doing this yourself if you TeleVue 1.5x Barlow on the Meade 12 at PSO". Let's see what this have never done so or have not done so recently. We’d love combo will do on a really good night!” to hear from you.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

PROFILES IN AMATEUR ASTRONOMY: DANIEL KATES

Editor’s Note: From time to time I like to shine the limelight to the club’s. An 8-inch reflector on a Dobsonian mount is on one of our more accomplished members. This month, I easy to use, easily transportable, and the right size for me. want to spotlight Daniel Kates, son of Peter & Sharon Kates of Minier, IL. Peter & Sharon are winners of the 2017 Eugene & Donna Miller Family Award given by the TCAA to recognize parental involvement with youth – in this case their son Daniel. Daniel is now 14 years old and is enrolled in the 9th grade. What follows are Daniel’s own words in response to a series of the editor’s questions.

I have been an astronomer for about five, six years. Going outside and seeing the stars one night stimulated my interest. I had read over fifty books on astronomy from one of the local libraries, and then saw a TCAA flyer at Sugar Grove Nature Center. My dad took me to a TCAA public viewing session. I have been studying the skies ever since. As of right now, I don’t own a telescope; but the club is graciously lending me an eight-inch Dobsonian reflector. I have been a member of the TCAA for four or five years. I have completed Carl Wenning’s course Introduction to Amateur Astronomy and am (along with my dad) a key holder of Sugar Grove Observatory where from time to time we use the 11” telescope found there. Every time I observe for the Messier objects I am becoming more familiar with the constellations and the guide stars. I am currently involved in the Messier observing program. I use an old iPad, given to me by Mr. Wenning, to help me make sure I know where the objects are. I do this by using SkySafari app. SkySafari highlights the Messier objects; I click on the object I hope to find and use the sky map to get a general idea of where to look. Then I aim the scope using a Telrad mounted on the scope’s tube and sweep the area until I find the object. Then I make a notation of what I was Daniel Kates with Celestron CPC 11" telescope under the able to locate on SkySafari. I think astronomydome of Sugar Grove has comeObservatory a long way, due to My greatest satisfaction with astronomy is being able to computer control and using other observatories with the see other galaxies, planets, and nebulas with my own eyes. web. They make the hobby more interesting since one can My best memory is finding 21 Messier objects in two 2-hour find objects faster with the computer control making it observing sessions, even though the moon was in the waxing possible to observe more objects in a night. I have used crescent phase. My fondest memories in astronomy are computer control and would like to use other observatories seeing Saturn and Jupiter for the first time, and taking an sometime. hour-long color exposure of M57, the Ring Nebula. I really enjoy astronomy, and the TCAA just makes it My goals, as of now, are to see a meteor shower, finish better! The TCAA is friendly and I learn a lot from the the Messier program, see the 2024 total solar eclipse, and members. buy my own telescope. I would like to get a reflector similar Daniel Kates

EDUCATION/PUBLIC OUTREACH FOR JULY 2018

On Tuesday, July 3rd, Lee Green presented a program for the Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Public Library for kids (K-5th grade) for their summer reading program. Lee presented his Introduction to Astronomy talk which included taking a look at the calendar, and how the day, year and month were created from watching the movements in the sky. Participants looked at the Sun through solar binoculars. There were 37 in attendance at this program.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

On Monday, July 9th, Lee Green presented at the MDA Summer Camp. In attendance were some 45 campers and approximately 40 volunteers. Lee and his brother Lex provided a program for the campers. They had clear skies and Jupiter was the early star of the show. According to Lee, “It was rewarding to have so many of the campers position their wheelchairs and see the sight.” The public viewing session scheduled for July 14th was canceled due to the presence and threat of ongoing thunderstorms. Evidently four individuals still showed up according to information provided on the TCAA Events webpage. Dave Osenga hosted a private viewing during July. He reported, “A couple of our friends from our church, Phil and Carla, asked me to bring my telescope to their home near The Den at Fox Creek Golf course so we could view the planets. They then used this activity as a reason to host a neighborhood party. Several months earlier, we had gone to their house and spotted Venus and Mercury, both in the same field of view in 7X35 binoculars. I learned that they were both interested in astronomy but had never really pursued it. That led to the idea of a neighborhood planet viewing party. There were five other “senior” couples that joined us for an evening of snacks, conversation, and looking through the telescope. Several of the people had never looked through a telescope before, or at least didn’t remember if they did. Most had never seen the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter. We viewed Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and later Mars. A couple of people stayed to view M13, M57, then Phil and I viewed M81, and M82. The night was calm, the temperature nice, and the people were patient, very nice to talk with, and had a good time getting to know their neighbors even better.”

REMAINING PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2018

Aug 11 Perseid Meteor Shower (Carl Wenning) 8:30-10:30 PM Earth year during the mid-August, Earth passes through the tail of Comet Swift–Tuttle and this results in a meteor show. This year’s prospects for observing are good.

Sep 08 Mars – The Red Planet (Jay Ansher) 8:00-10:00 PM Every 25 months the Red Planet graces our evening sky. This year Mars will make its closest approach in many years and will appear it largest in decades.

Oct 13 Globular Clusters (Mark & Nataya Boulware) 7:00-9:00 PM These star clusters are among the very oldest star systems within the Milky Way galaxy. Today a swarm of

perhaps 150 tightly-packed clusters orbit the core of our home galaxy.

TCAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2018-2019

Date Event Coordinator(s) Location Times Aug 04 Member Viewing Session N/A WO Dusk Aug 11 PVS: Perseid Meteor Shower Carl Wenning SGNC 8:30-10:30 PM Sep 01 Member Viewing Session N/A WO Dusk Sep 08 PVS: Mars – The Red Planet Jay Ansher SGNC 8:00-10:00 PM Sep 29 Central Illinois Mini Conference CUAS Champaign, IL TBD Oct 03-07 Aurora Borealis Viewing Lisa Wentzel Reykjavik, Iceland All day Oct 04-06 Illinois Dark Skies Star Party Sangamon Astro Society Jim Edgar – Panther Creek All day Oct 06 Member Viewing Session N/A WO Dusk Oct 13 PVS: Globular Clusters Mark & Nataya Boulware SGNC 7:00-9:00 PM Oct 20 TCAA Membership Meeting C. Wenning & T. Willmitch ISU Planetarium 6:00 PM Nov 03 Member Viewing Session N/A WO Dusk Dec ?? Saturnalia Party Coordinator needed TBD 7:00-10:00 PM ------2019 ------Jan ?? TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD Apr ?? TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD May 3-4 NCRAL 2019 Popular Astronomy Club Moline, IL TBA Jul ?? TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD Jul 25-29 ALCon 2019 (tour & cruise) Astronomical League Kennedy Space Center All day Oct TCAA Membership Meeting Carl Wenning TBD TBD Copyright © 2018 TCAA 14 All rights reserved.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

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.

40 Years Ago: August 1978 – Carl Wenning moves to town from East Lansing, Michigan (Michigan State University) to start his career as planetarium director at Illinois State University on August 21st. He will not attend his first TCAA meeting until September. His job interview was on Tuesday the 8th, and his trip to town is overshadowed with a memorable conjunction of the moon and Venus on the evening of Monday the 7th.

25 Years Ago: August 1993 – Members attended a very successful “Astronomy Jamboree” hosted by DAAC on August 21st at Friends Creek Regional Park east of Maroa, IL. The club is planning a Community Astronomy Rendezvous for the general public to be held at Ash Park in September. A wide variety of activities and talks are being planning. TCAA President Mike Miller is taking the lead in the planning of this event. Tony Cellini and Sandy McNamara continue to write monthly viewing columns for The OBSERVER.

10 Years Ago: August 2008 – TCAAers put up a display at the 4-H County Fair and had the opportunity to speak with over 300 visitors. Education and public outreach continued with a picnic and public observing session, star gazing at Lincoln Community College, and a discussion series at Bloomington Public Library. Newsletter articles talk glowingly about the July MOOS (members-only observing session) held at Farm View Observatory near Pontiac, IL, that recently was constructed by member John Werner.

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.

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 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 three 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.

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF JULY 30, 2018

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 06/29/2018 783.23 Roy Lawry Dues Received 25.13 Paul Pouliot Dues Received 39.80 Anonymous Donation 3,000.00 Clamshell Dome Waynesville Observatory (3,000.00) Matthew Will Dues Received 40.00 Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (55.10) Mike Starasta Dues Received 39.80 Annual Report Filing Fee (15.00) Anonymous Donation 3,000.00 Clamshell Dome Waynesville Observatory (3,000.00) BALANCE 07/30/2018 857.86

Checking Account Balance – July 30, 2018 $857.86 Savings Account Balance – July 30, 2018 $3,017.35 - Includes $0.04 cents interest

Total TCAA Funds – July 30, 2018 $3,875.21

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date.

Respectfully submitted, Dave Osenga, Treasurer

CUAS TO HOST ASTRONOMY SUMMIT

For several years, the Twin City Amateur Astronomers have invited nearby astronomy clubs to join with them to “compare notes” during their Central Illinois Mini Conference. This year, the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society will pick up the baton and host an event on Saturday, September 29th. We will start just after lunch at the William Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College in northwest Champaign. Then we’ll head to our rural observatory complex southwest of Champaign for a picnic dinner and then observing at our site. We have a historic 15-foot, twin-shutter dome with a homemade 16-inch Classical Cassegrain inside and have just added a 24’x30’ roll- off-roof structure that we’re still finishing. The best part is . . . this is all free of charge to you! CUAS members will cover the evening meal. The only thing we ask is that every participant register (see the form on page 17) so we know who is coming and who is presenting. Feel free to submit a proposal to give a presentation. If you have questions, you may email me at [email protected].

Thanks!

Dave Leake President, CUAS www.cuas.org

Vol. 43, No. 8 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers August 2018

ALLING LL LLINOIS STRO LUBS C A I A C : AMATEUR ASTRONOMY SUMMIT September 29, 2018 Hosted by the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society Champaign, IL

Tentative Agenda:

1:30pm Set-up at the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College 2-2:30pm Flea market (bring your astro items for sale or trade) 2:30-4:30pm Presentation by participants in the planetarium dome 5pm Travel to the CUAS Prairie Winds Observatory (southwest of Champaign) 5:30-6:30pm Picnic dinner provided by CUAS (sunset is at 6:37) 6:30-7pm Tours of the domed observatory and the Prairie Winds Observatory 7-?pm Observing (weather permitting)(Astron. Twilight ends at 8:07pm)

First Name: Last Name:

Club Affiliation:

Email address:

Number in your party:

IF you plan to give a presentation:

Talk title:

Brief abstract:

Talk duration (choose one): r 10min r15min r20min r30min

A PC computer and projector will be provided.

Send your registrations to [email protected] or mail too “CUAS c/o Staerkel Planetarium, 2400 W. Bradley Avenue, Champaign, IL 6821 or you may register online at: http://bit.ly/CUAS-AAS2018 Deadline to register is September 25th!

Notes:

« This event is offered free of charge. « Meeting will still be held if it’s cloudy, but we may cancel the picnic in the event of rain. « Please bring a folding chair for each member of your party to the picnic. Tables will be provided. « The agenda will be adjusted depending on the number of proposed presentations. A final program will be distributed prior to the event. « If time permits, we will have roundtable discussions on club membership (recruitment & retention), fundraising, meeting programs, etc. Questions? Email [email protected]