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Desert Skies Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Volume LVIII, Number 8 August 2012 Earth’s Night Side from Space Project ASTRO Workshop Mars Lecture August 6 Page 12 Page 3 IDA Eyepiece Giveaway Fall Fundamentals of Astronomy Class Page 14 Page 2 General Meeting August 3rd Steward Observatory Lecture Hall, Room N210 6:30pm Seasonal Objects — Mary Turner, TAAA Chief Observer 7:30pm Light Pollution: Perspectives form Earth and Space — Scott Kardel, International Dark-sky Association Affiliates Desert Skies August 2012 2 Volume LVIII, Number 8 TAAA Meeting Friday, August 3 Steward Observatory Lecture Hall, Room N210, U of A campus 6:30pm Astronomy Essentials Lecture Title: Seasonal Objects Speaker: Dr Mary Turner Mary Turner, our Chief Observer, will highlight some objects to view this season. She always includes some mythology Construction Alert! which adds to the enchantment of the night sky. The construction project for Sun Link, Tucson’s modern streetcar, continues to 7:30pm Invited Lecture have an impact on the UA campus. To ease Title: Light Pollution: Perspectives form Earth and Space the issue, it is suggested that you park Speaker: Scott Kardel, International Dark-sky Association SOUTH of Steward Observatory. Use either the Cherry The Tucson-based International Dark-Sky Association has Avenue parking garage or the parking lot just north of been working to stop the spread of light pollution for nearly there. While much of 2nd Street is closed, the 2nd Street 25 years. Everyone in amateur astronomy knows that light parking garage is still accessible. The intersection of pollution is a serious problem, even in Southern Arizona Cherry and 2nd St is closed. First Street is temporarily a where lighting controls have been put into place. two-way street. If you park north of 2nd Street, there is no guarantee you’ll be able to easily walk across 2nd Street. Scott Kardel will present "Light Pollution: Perspectives form Construction crews will attempt to maintain pedestrian Earth and Space", an engaging visual look at the problems access across 2nd St but plan on a few extra minutes of light pollution. Included in the talk will be a simple needed to walk east or west an extra block to cross. demonstration of the problem of light pollution and Parking on campus after 5pm parking is free but observe dramatic still and time-lapse imagery captured from the 24-hour enforced restrictions. International Space Station that provide a new and revealing perspective on the glow and waste of city lights. Editor’s Message Fundamentals of Astronomy Class Desert Skies has been our monthly newsletter since the The Astronomy Fundamentals Special Interest Group 1980s. It has served us well over the years because as (AFSIG) is offering its popular Fundamentals of Astronomy we’ve grown, it has evolved. The most recent change class this September/October. This class is aimed at occurred a few years ago when we started emailing it to our giving the beginning amateur astronomer a good start in members. the hobby including the basics of the night sky, equipment used, and observing techniques. The class is given on The Board of Directors recently approved changes that will three successive Saturdays and usually runs from 9:00 AM assure Desert Skies remains the highly anticipated to 4:00 PM. After the last class, students and instructors newsletter of our vibrant astronomy club. You'll start to see will meet at TIMPA for a potluck supper and star party. some changes this fall. Some repetitious information found The proposed dates are September 22, October 6, and in Desert Skies will be moved to our website. In 2013 October 13. The class is open to all TAAA members. We Desert skies will change to a quarterly publication which will are currently making a class roster. If you are interested, contain more articles and fewer announcements. send an e-mail to fundamentals[at]tucsonastronomy.org Also in 2013, we will introduce a new monthly bulletin to or contact one of the AFSIG Committee members. keep you informed of TAAA activities as well as other astronomy events in the Tucson area. So, watch for these Visit the TAAA Website changes and improvements to occur over the next few months. If you have concerns, please contact me. www.tucsonastronomy.org Terri Lappin View all events on our online calendar TAAA Apparel RSVP to those you will attend Looking for a special gift or a way to Get directions from any starting point make that fashion statement? Try on something from our fine line of club apparel. We have hats, T-shirts, Cover denim shirts, and patches. We take A time lapse photo taken from the International Space cash and checks. Available at most Station. Seen from space, city lights (below) greatly monthly meetings. Coordinated by outshine the stars (above). Note the top of the Earth’s Mae Smith. atmosphere cutting across the star trails. Credit: NASA Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, PO Box 41254, Tucson, AZ 85717. Volume LVIII, Number 8 3 Desert Skies August 2012 This Month in Brief Future Dates Event Date Time See Sep 7 TAAA General Meeting Contact Person Location Page Monthly Meeting Aug 03 (Fri) 6:30 PM Sept 8 TIMPA Star Party Keith Schlottman Steward Observatory Rm N210 2 933 N Cherry Ave Astro-Imaging SIG Meeting (2nd Mon due to Sept 10 Astro Imaging SIG Aug 06 (Mon) 6:30 PM Holiday) Meeting Coco's Restaurant (for dinner) 4 Larry Phillips 6095 E Broadway Sept 12 Board of Directors Meeting Public Lecture & Aug 06 (Mon) 7:30 PM Sept 13 Astronomy Fundamentals SIG Meeting Star Party Doubletree Inn 3, 7 Central 445 S Alvernon Way Sept 14 Friday Nite @ TIMPA Star Party Terri Lappin Board Meeting Aug 08 (Wed) 6:30 PM Sept 14-15 CAC Star Party Keith Schlottman Steward Observatory Rm N305 14 933 N Cherry Ave. Sept 17 Starry Messenger SIG Meeting AFSIG General Aug 09 (Thu) 6:30 PM Meeting USGS Building Room 253 5 Ben Bailey 520 N Park Ave Upcoming Lectures Star Party at TIMPA Aug 10 (Fri) 6:30 PM Astronomy OPEN Ben Bailey TIMPA Essentials 6 Sept 7 3250 N Reservation Rd Invited OPEN CAC Star Party Aug 17 (Fri) John Kalas Chiricahua Astronomy Complex 6 Astronomy Mary Turner Essentials Seasonal Objects CAC Star Party Aug 18 (Sat) Oct 5 Veronica Bray John Kalas Chiricahua Astronomy Complex 6 Invited Impact Craters Star Party at TIMPA Aug 18 (Sat) 6:30PM Ben Bailey TIMPA 6 Lectures are arranged by Terri Lappin. If you have 3250 N Reservation Rd speakers to suggest, send them to Terri (see page 15). While it looks like September lectures are open, several speakers have expressed interest in speaking to us and will be given priority over other speakers. The TAAA Board of Directors has decided to postpone the The Latest News from Mars previously scheduled September TAAA Meet Yourself meeting until next year. This will give our Special Interest Dr. Philip Christensen, Arizona State University Group leaders and others more time to plan for the event. Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Communicating Science Public Lecture Monday, August 6, 2012 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, contact information for individuals mentioned throughout this newsletter can be Free found on page 15—“How to Contact Us”. DoubleTree Inn Grand Ballroom 445 S Alvernon Way Dr. Christensen will describe the Mars Science Interested in a TAAA Book Club? Laboratory's landing site and the landing events, and any initial observations it makes about Gale Crater. He will Irene Kitzman is looking for a minimum of 5 members who also touch briefly on the situation and prospects for solar would like to discuss recently read astronomy books. The system planetary exploration. (This public talk will be held TAAA-sponsored Astronomy Book Club would look at the day after the Curiosity Mars Rover lands on the books aimed at non- surface of the red planet). professional but whose objective is to inform the Following the lecture, TAAA members will have telescopes general public about astronomy set up for public observing, weather permitting. Contact and astronomy-related topics. Terri Lappin if you can bring your telescope this evening. If you’re interested, contact her at ikitzman[at]yahoo.com Desert Skies August 2012 4 Volume LVIII, Number 8 Astro-Imaging Special Interest Group (AISIG) Solar Observing Group The Solar Observing group will not be meeting for group Meeting: Aug 6 (Mon) 7:00 PM solar observing until further notice. Please ignore the Coco’s Restaurant (Broadway between Wilmot & August 18th Solar Observing date that appears on the 2012 Craycroft) TAAA wall calendar. Solar observers are encouraged to use Contact: Larry Phillips the TAAA Forum to post their solar observations. The Astro-Imaging SIG meets at 7pm on the first Monday of the month. Come early, anytime after 6 PM and enjoy dinner before the meeting. We will meet in the banquet Unless otherwise noted, all contact information room which is to the far left after you enter the restaurant can be found in the section called “How to proper. Our program consists of members sharing their Contact Us”, found on page 15 of this issue of images, setups, problems, or suggestions. Meetings end no Desert Skies. later than 9 PM. Starry Messengers Special Interest Group (SMSIG) Meeting Next Month Sep 17 (Mon) 6:30 PM Beyond Bread (3026 N Campbell) Contact: Terri Lappin If you do much astronomy outreach, you may wonder if the TAAA for a few years and not yet bringing your scope to you’re doing a good enough job.
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