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Observing the August 11Th a Miracle Near Munich by Ernie Piini, AAAA E W [email protected] Do You Believe in Miracles? I Do

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THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS Volume III, No. 4 September 1999 Observing the August 11th A Miracle Near Munich by Ernie Piini, AAAA E W [email protected] Do you believe in miracles? I do. After a cliff-hanger experience in Germany - it can happen. Early on the morning of August 11th in Einsbach, Germany, our home away from home for the eclipse, the sun rose against a beautifully clear blue sky. It was like India in 1995 and Australia in February 1999. Not a cloud in the entire sky. After breakfast I made a call to Beth Yule, the tour agent for Amateur Astronomers Inc. (AAI) from New Jersey, for instructions as to where to join her group. I've known Beth and members of AAI since the eclipse expedition to the African Sahara Desert in 1973 and I was pleased that she invited us along, and also had a chance to meet eclipse chasing friends of old. We met on a soccer field in the small Total Solar Eclipse, near 2nd Contact leaving the clouds, August 11, 1999. town of Altomunster, Germany, which liesTaken at Altomusnter, Germany, approx. 30 km (18 mi) NW of Munich, with a 3-way very close to the eclipse centerline about 30telescope, f/7, U2 Filter, on Kodak Royal Gold 400 film. 1-second exposure. km (18 miles) northwest of Munich (Latitude:Photo by Ernie Piini 48º, 23', 05" N; Longitude: 11º. 14', 50" E. toagonizing. We saw small blue sky openings be exact). When we arrived the sky wasfar to the West and much time was spent Dick Adduci and completely overcast with a threat of rain. Mystudying the distance, direction of travel, cousin, Mienrado Pifferini, a huge andand point of possible interception with the Jack Foster Earn strong Swiss and youngest of a family of 16,eclipsing sun. A couple of these clearings carried my telescope and mount to the site Observing Awards came too soon and moved past our site. as if they were toys. There we set up next to A big congratulations to Dick More rain and even a sound of thunder off in Joe and LaVonne Shrock, good friends of the distance made our chances even moreAdduciof Eagle, WI, for receiving the mine from Mt. View, California. gloomy. But one clearing had the necessaryArp Peculiar Galaxy Certificate. Dick The telescope at this point was only ingredients if all conditions held. And theyCCD imaged over 100 Arp Peculiar partially assembled, with another half-hour did! of set-up and alignment to go. For the first Galaxies using a 12-inch S/C telescope time in 21 eclipses, I was forced to set up At 12:36:31 p.m., second contactand an ST-7 CCD. Dick is only the sev- while it was raining. About this time, I beganoccurred with a show of Baily's Beads and aenth amateur in the country to image brilliant "Diamond Ring". I ran off 14 one- to wonder if this was all worth it, and did we 100 Arp Peculiar Galaxies. Nice job, second exposures using Kodak Royal-400 have a chance to see the eclipse? Totality Dick. We are proud of you. was still three hours away. print film with my 3-Way Telescope Jack Fosterof Rockford, IL, earned I waited about an hour before I couldequipped with my special U2 filter. This filter focus my two telescopes and the cam-is designed to eliminate much of the straythe Binocular Messier Club Certificate corder. By then, the sun was playing peek-corona around the eclipsed sun andfor observing and logging over 50 a-boo with the clouds, and such momentsenhance the beautiful coronal streamers.Messier objects using 7x50 binoculars. made it possible to focus with the filter off.Since this eclipse occurred during a maxi-Jack was very methodical as he planned First contact was reported at aroundmum sunspot period, the shape of the coro-out a program and then followed through 11:12 a.m. With totality scheduled to occurna was quite symmetrical but spiky. season after season. Way to go, Jack. around 12:36 p.m., the hour-plus wait was continued on page 4 Page 1 The American Astronomer September 1999 President’s Letter This past quarter has been a very busy time for your club, the AAAA, with lot’s of new things coming your way. But first, let’s talk about the great things that our club members are doing. A big congratulations to Dick Adduci of Eagle, Wi. for receiving the Arp Peculiar Galaxy Certificate. Dick CCD imaged over 100 Arp Peculiar Galaxies using a twelve inch S/C telescope and an ST-7 CCD. Dick is only the seventh amateur in the country to image 100 Arp Peculiar Galaxies. Nice job, Dick. We are proud of you. Also, Jack Foster of Rockford, Il. earned the Binocular Messier Club Certificate for observing and logging over 50 Messier objects using 7x50 binoculars. Jack was very methodical as he planned out a program and then followed through season after season. Way to go, Jack. We are glad you are a member of the AAAA. And finally, our own Assistant Editor, Brenda Culbertson, was named Director of the Washburn University of Topeka Planetarium and Observatory. The observatory is Crane Observatory, where the 100-year-old Warner & Swasey refrac- tor is used as the main instrument. Not only that, but Brenda helped refurbish this classic instrument and was then asked to write an article for publication in the Journal of the Antique Telescope Society. Don’t you just hate it when someone gets paid for doing some- THE NEWSLETTER thing they love to do? I’m jealous. We wish you all the best in your new position, Brenda. OF THE AMERICAN And there is even more. The AAAA has arranged for its membership to get a discount ASSOCIATION OF subscription to The Practical Observer, a quarterly magazine with observing tips and AMATEUR observing articles that you usually don’t find in the major magazines. The regular sub- ASTRONOMERS scription rate is $14 per year, but AAAA members can get a subscription for only $12 per AAAA year. You can find a subscription form on our web page, or just send us a check for $12, 3131 Custer Road, Suite 175/175 and we will sign you up. Plano, TX 75075 And how would you like to get into amateur astronomy for under $100.00? Most peo- E-mail: [email protected] ple pay thousands of dollars to be an amateur astronomer, but the AAAA is putting togeth- Web Page http://www.corvus.com er a kit that will get you into the hobby, and give you the tools to start observing on your own, for less money than you would imagine. Our kit will include a nice pair of 10X50 Issued quarterly in December,binoculars, a one year membership in the AAAA, a planisphere, a star chart, a book on March, June and September by The American Association of Amateurbinocular observing, and a comet, lunar, and solar guide, all for under $100.00. What bet- Astronomers as a service to its mem-ter way to get a friend, relative, family member, or the student down the street into the bers. hobby without spending a fortune? Look for more information on this wonderful kit else- All members are encouraged to submit articles and photographs forwhere in the newsletter. publication. Send all materials for And if you haven’t visited the AAAA web site lately, you should give it a look. Our web- publication to the Editor at themaster, Ed Flaspoehler, has been busy as a beaver sprucing up the site, making it a little address below. The opinions expressed by con-easier to get around, and then updating some of the astronomical resources our site has tributors to the AMERICANbecome known for. He has added major information to the Planetary Home Page, and also ASTRONOMER do not necessarilyincreased the data in the Constellation Home Page. Check it out and tell us what you reflect the opinions of the AAAA orthink. the Editor. Articles representing sup- porting or opposing views will be Finally, we still want to hear from you. Tell us what you are doing and what you would published promptly after receipt. like to see the AAAA do. You don’t have to write a major article, just a letter or e-mail will be fine. And then we will share it with your fellow club members. As you can see, there EDITOR & LAYOUT are lots of exciting things going on in the AAAA, and there will be more to follow. Look for Edward P. Flaspoehler., Jr. a special little surprise in the mail from the AAAA in the near future. Best always, ASSISTANT EDITOR Brenda Culbertson John Wagoner—President [email protected] American Association of Amateur Astronomers PRESIDENT/TREASURER OBSERVING IS THE HEART John Wagoner 1409 Sequoia OF AMATEUR ASTRONOMY Plano, TX 75023 The American Association of Amateur Astronomers, as a member society of the (972) 422-3301 Astronomical League, is pleased to announce a new service from its Internet Web [email protected] Page, http://www.corvus.com. We are providing the AL’s FREE Observe Programs in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document File format at no charge as a service to members of VICE-PRESIDENT/SECRETARY the AAAA, the Astronomical League, and the astronomical community at large. The Edward P. Flaspoehler, Jr. Observing Programs which require a published manual must still be obtained from 5027 W. Stanford Astronomical League Sales, PO Box 572, West Burlington, IA 52655.
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