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The Atlanta Astronomv Club. Inc.

Vol. X No. 1 June, 1997

19 4 7-1 9 I 7 Celebrating Fifty of Astronomy in Atlanta

The June 20th Meeting at Emory $5,000thus far for 1997.Our membershiohas increased with 70| peoplejoining.Our budget haJmore funds to The First AAC Amateur"Symposium" work with. A shortsymposium will be conductedby 7 amateu$ofthe RichJakiel presented an awardto Art Russellfor AAC on a wide varietyoftopics: observingall theMessier objects. Art saidit takesabout I yearto completetheir Messier observations and highly . JoeSheppard: Completing a MessierProgram encouragesmembers to gettheir certificates by attendingthe AAC observingsessions. o Art Russell: Havingfun with the Herschel"400" The Yearin Review: o Rich Jakiel: MakingDeep-sky contributions to the WebbSociety Our Club'sAnnual Banquet hosted 56 members. . Steve'Smitty" Smith& Larry Higgins:Getting The AAC'Scurrent membership stands at 260 people.Our Involvedwith "Sidewalk"Astronomy largestmeeting in historywas with speakenAlan Haleand o LennyAbbey: The UpcomingVenus Transit Tom Boppwith 360 attendees.This pastyear we hosted o DavidHanon: CCD Imaging gggy obsewingsessions. AAC Elections This will be a seriesof shoittalks lasting no morethan 10 minuteseach. Thefollowing people -.vere nomirated ior.the 199?. 1998 AAC Board. * Art Russell- President The Atlant! Astronomy Club x JerryArmstrong - Vice President,Program Chairman May Meeting, May 16, 1997 x Phil Sacco- Vice President,Observing Chairman, Beginner'sInterest Group by Ginny Maudlin- K itmey x PatSammons - Treasurer,Subscriptions and Books The May meetingof the AtlantaAstronomy Club x TusharThrivikraman - NewsletterEditor washeld on May 16, 1997at EmoryUniversity's White * - Hall at 8:00p.m. with approximately55 memberspresent. Ginny Mauldin-Kinney RecordingSecretary, InformationLine After DougChesser called the meeting to order,the * - AAC conductedtheir business meeting. The various DavidHanon Boardof Directors committeesgaYe their reports. JamesMonroe - Boardof Dtecto6 Doug announcedthe upcomingobserving events * KemperSmith - Boardof Directors on behalfof Kim Novak. The AAC will join with the East * Tom Crowley- Boardof Directors CowetaHigh School and host a Spring Starry Night. kt * JoeSheppard - Board ofDirectors, ATM Special will be putting a messageover the web regardingthe date, lnterestGroup time,and location ofthis event. * Don Hall - Boardof Directors Phil Saccoannounced that on June7, the North Nominationswere closed. Motion was made to accept River CrossingSwim will andTennis Club hosta Wine currentnominees. The new boardofficers were confirmed Tasting and StarGaze. The wine tastingwill beginat 8:00 with the I's havingit. p.m.and the observingwill beginat 9:00p.m. (if seeingis still possible).This eventoccurs the sameevening as the GuestSpeaker DausetTrails deep sky observing. Our guest speakerwas Dr. Richard Schmudea Phil Bracken,our clubtreasurer, led in a roundof Chemistryand AstronomyProfessor for Gordon College. applausefor Ken Poshedly.We raised$2,800 during the Introducedby JerryArmstrong, Dr. Schmudediscussed his PeachState Gaze. We hadthe biggestmember tumout Mars research.He placedemphasis on his work done at our everwith 150people present. The PSSGis now the Villa Rica Observatory.In addition,he lecturedon the LARGESTstar party in Georgia.The AAC now has mapping,polar capshrinkage and photometryofMars. A $10,600to our name. Our net increasewasjust under questionand answer session followed the lecture. I to bring a stool of some sort to b€ a litde more comfortable for the class, If you bring binoculars, a blanket would be evenbetter. You will note that I said the Saturdav Greetingsto all my fellow nisht-0. membersof the Atlanta programsabove...... I specifiedthat because*"'*iii AsfonomyClub. I am writingyou rhis lenerto inlorm orrermgt-rrday night sessions (the night before, you ot.somechanges typicallvtas to the observingprogram and update ll. thrustof the Fridaynighr sessions you all on l"rl:. wiil be more some of the ideas I have'ha-clfor our irt.re ramrtlanzattonwith our progftrms. facility and -pleasegeneral viewine techniquesand_viewing programs. again. remem;; ro Drng a stootro sit on or a blanketto lie on if you brine I can't stess enoughto ofyou . - 4l! how important binoculars.we don't haveadequate seating at tie eachof youl suggestions siie a! and assistancewill be foi us to most ot us that cometo view will be brinqing havea rruly-awesome our own programthis . lt is impetative stools. Standingon onesfeet att nigt canie'sore*trai thos:of'you with. observing tiring plans :h11 skills and trainingideas for somefolks. are in the ivorks for benchesbui hetpout in theeducation of our newcomersand belimers weneed to findsome Elves first... alike. Thiswill not only foslertheL interestin butto help them feel welcome "",;;dr. andencourage all ofus to get S"cond: Pleasenote that with the great and welcome to know them. 91.n"* securiryand cal of our .q",p;";; anqlnlul T:rbers. lacrtrtywllt beshessed. The Locks will be changedin Likewiseit is imperative - - for our newcomersand July.afterthe beginnerssession on Saturdaynight. Ant .beginnersalike to offer their -please assistancewith our programs.I memberwho c-ufientlyhas the accessnumbers dl know-those ofyou new to our club or astronomy,niy tf,inL lree[o call me for thenew combos. Newcomers are requircd this a ratherabsurd request. .is thinking ttrai you have to cometo the Begimerssession to get a full exposureto nothtngto ofler you couldn.t be more wrong,-get By ourequipment. and leam rhe ropes to theskies so io speak. volunreeringto }elp out at the programs.you will firit yn,I.ul.r demonsraringa good working knowledge hand wo^rklng and -knowledgeof the tools of our trade. and ramltantyot oursite. instruments and basic knowledge will Denenrrom the assislance of those of us with some the.obs€rvatorycombos be givento a new member.This expenence.I won't ask anyoneto takeon a chorealone. wl hetp-toassure that nobody has any unforeseendimculty bveryonehas something to contribute.The futurepro$ams or rmpedlmenrcto theirenjoyment of the clubssite, I havein 'Flying ani mindwill not require by the seaioiyour thatour tacility will bethere for anyand all. pants'.The material will be printedout foryou to piesent, unlesstt ls. a progmmyou havesuggesred (for the most Third: Some of the programsI hope to promotethis part). Besides, our club wants usiful toc,li and useful c9r,lrng.year though the beginnersintroductory programs people,nor walltlowers anij'unused scopes. you joined the wr tnclude: club 'astronomical' for some reason....whynot lei us know . TheAstronomical Leagues Lunar Club program why andtake part. . The AstronomicalLeagues Binary Club pro-gam . TheAstronomical Leagues Binocular Messiel program canonly suggestprograms. I can.tand won.t handtelhem all. Your help is needed.Without enoush andfor you diehards...... ofcourse....., the everpresent: volunteers.many prognms will notbe presented. o MessierClub First:,. The Saturdaynight beginnersprogram will beginat andlastly the infamous HERSCIIEL LIST!!! please an earliertime in July. plan to be therereaiv to (hint-do it now before the League increases the take part at 7 p.m. I know, I know, the sun doiiF6 listli)ltemsand objecls for visual srudy wili be down till almost9 you're thinking... Exactly my poin-r! highlightedoffof theselists in rhesessions. This will allow the newcomersto takepan in the irogram Now before_itgets dark and we canget to know what theyioot comesthe crazy new ideas.These programs I will like-. Also, the Beginnersprograms on Saturdaynighis will needvolunteers for... . Star be directedtoward jump starting'our beginnerian-d will be Rally-Tandem teams will start at a known a regutarand repeatable program of theessentials toward thar astronomicallocation with their scope, no computers end. The program material for the basicswill be provided or setting circles allowed, and only a pre printei star chart gg4qsta$ to th€ individual(s) presenting it. The number cf showing will be allowed. After two or pafirclpantsat our sessionsbas grown remarkablyover the three star hops following a set of directions, the team pastfew months,and for thatreason l feelwe requireat least will be askedro makea descriptionor identifothe end two people(or teams)to handlethe classes.Tiis is where stop. Theirroles will thenswitch for the hop back. . the-beginne$ who volunteercome in... they will be told a Monte Carlo event- Similar to the aboveonly the beforehand exactly what to do, and believeme, every little hops will be typically aroundone . (A bit of help-willcount.__ After the regularpart of theprogram. great event for our newcomersto leam the sky). Laps viewingofrhe will begin. Stress*ill 5. on may be required, with differentrequirements on each helpingany newcomers with their equipmentif needed,and pass..., on the smaller variety of scopesand binocularsto aquatint . our new friendswith our old onesabove. Just a littl; hint The Cross-cormtry-Similar to the abovebut runnine for our newcomers...Membersand guestsare encourag€d horizonto horizon.... . The Enduro- For Zombiesonly! A gruesomeevent ru ring the coune of the sky.... and...... The Top Ten Reasonsjoining the Atlanta Night!! Astronomy Club May have . been a Bad Idea Niglt of the Living Dob- An altemateto a Halloween by Zach Davidson costumeparty....You (only can dressit up and eventake it club member permanently exiled to l/illa Rica) somewhere.....! . Descent on Chiefland 2- Good site and good 10.The m.embersfondly call lhemselvesthe -Midnight folks,...let'srenew last years new acquamtances. Lowbovs." o SuchesCabin crashand gaze- A few of us remember 9..lncludedas upcoming guest speakers are Galileo, Albert THERE'SSTARS IN THEM THAR' HILLS!!! hrnstein.and JeanDixon- . AND THE LtST tS STILLcROWINc...... 8. The clubs favorite activity is observing Klingons around umnus. Last but not least...Therewill be a site cleanupscheduled 7. Everyonewears Nikes. within the next month. Somepreliminary workiasn't been 6. They think Baily,s beadsare the necklacesthose 60,s doneyet so expectthe detailsat the June Meetins. The looking Dudes wear. warm up shed needs a lot of work and somi more 5. The biggest discovery of rhe year by its memberswas rhe improvements.willbe coming as the sire is getringA LOT 24 noul quor store nearthe observatorv. ol use!! Derailswill fleshour afterour hrsi boardmeeting 4. The club.presidentgreels you by say'ing..Take when a tri_ the budgetis discussed. torqer readtngenstgn. then beam me uD!.. 3. fhey thinl an emissionnebula is from eatingtoo many A coupla'dates to remindyou of: beans at the star Dartv. =9 June7th- North river Crossingwine tasteand star 2, At the annualawards banquet the highest please honorswent to gaze. call me for details. the memberabducted the mosrtimes by Aliens. .e June10th- Sidewalk astronomyin Griffin. please 1. Two Words: '.Radio-Telescope', ,smitty' call smith for details. + Juneloth- Moon gazewith NaturesWonders at PerimeterMall. Detailsstill pendins. Callme ifyou areinterested. The Remoteplanets in 1997 = Junel4th- BeginnersOrientation. Villa Rica 7 o.m. + July lsth- CampIndependence Star Gaze. Call me or RichardW. Schmude,Jr. A.L.p.O. Remoteplanets CharlesHinley for info. Recorder,Gordon College, Bamesville, GA = August-Date pending on themeteor shower that month. Let,sgo to the oceanto catchthe TheA.L.P.O. Remote planets section is actively neteorsoffthe.3ast!!i I needa volunteer seekingpeople:c nc;ii:or the biighF,ess a,rd appearance oi for organizingthis one..... bothUranus and Neptunet since I9g9, the seciibn has securedover 700 photoelectric magnitude measurements Agam.PLEASE let me hear from you. tf I haveto call fcr andover 800 eyeball magnitude estimates ofUranus and help,the work load will bemuch greater and fewer programs Neptune.This shortnote will helpyou locateboth planets will befonh coming. ll wouldbe nice to call evervorieand andto makeuseful observations of them.The remoti poll our membership.bur we havegrown to largelor that so plzmetsrecorder is interestedin receivingany observations pleaseread rhe Focal point. This is our NE''SLETTER. andhe may bereached at: Watch for a polling suwey in here next month...... Then hangon to your hats!! Dr. RichardW. Schmude,Jr. GordonCollege T'd . like to than_kall of you for your support in 419College Dr. selectingme for thisposition. I hopeto makeit an-exciring Bamesville,GA 30204 year .gro*. E-mail: for all of us. andhave it in my mind to - u d [email protected] zombiesout of the wannabe's.....1.ileUKstt Both Uranus and Neptune are located in the constellationCapricom. Figure I is a finderchart for both planets.The numbersin parenthesesare star magnitudes thatcan be usedin makingeyeball magnitude estii.rates of Uranus and Neptune. For more precise photoelecfic Attention!! magnitudemeasurements, Members,please oneshould use the A. V. R and rememberthat your renewalto Sky I magnitudesshown in bracketsafter the and Telescope four selectedstan. and/orAstronomy Magazines must be Uranusand Neptune have several satellites that are sentto the Atlanta Astronomy Club and not to the between13.5 and 14.0magnitude; fiIthermore pluto hasa subscriptiondepartments of thesemagazines. Both l6th magnitudesatellite-Charon. Table I lists the seatest magazineswill returnany renewalsfrom membersto northem elongation's of Titania and Oberon-rhietwo the club treasurerfor verification, which mav delav brightestsatellites of Uranusand Charon-plutos moon your renewal. Also listed is the greatesteastem elongation of Triton+he biggestof Neptune'smoons. The elongationtimes for June are listed; other elongationtimes can be determinedbv adding the orbital period which is listed below each satellitein table I . Ilelp for a Needy Astronomer!!! Table 1: Elongationtimes for Titani4 Oberon,Charon and Atlanta Ginny Mauldin-Kinney will Triton. (Elongationsare from the be undergoing foot swgery on , July lst. Afterwfids,she will not b€ able to drive for a Nautical Almanac fcn the Year 1997, US Govt. periodof a coupleof months. She is looking for someone Printing Office, WashingtonD.C. willing to transporther back and forth to the AAC meetings during this time frarne so that she may perform her GreatestNorthern Elongations secretarialduties. If anyonewould like to help her in this Titania Oberon capacity,please e-mail h€r at kinneys@mindspring,comor (8d 17h) (l3d l l.lh) contacther at homein the eveningsat (770) 414-9383. Juneld 00.9h June7d 06.9h Jme 9d 17.9h June20d 18.0h Junel8d 10.9h We're all Beginners June27d 0.39h ' by Chrissie Mondell

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Charon the (6d e.3h) Atlanta Astronomy Club for a woriderfirl fiist year as a June2d 19.0h member. June9d 04.3h Everyone made me feel very comfortable as a Junel5d 13.6h beginner. And I DO mean a BEGINNERI Like, " Am I June2ld 22.9h looking in the right place?" And I was talking about the June28d 08.2h eyepiece! No questionwas every a dunb one to anyone,and Greatest EasternElongation everyonewas very eagerto answerany questionI had. Triton Of coursethere was some prompting from Philip, (5h2r.lh) you know being a Zombie and all, and the hot houseat Juneld 08.9h Villa Rica felt like a cod sendof comfort at 3 AM. Hearing a dim shout outside,"WOW, did you see THAT!!?", I June7d 06.0h woulCrun out andask what did I miss...-thb June13d 03.1h Very soon I was gnibbing 10" Dob and Junel9d 00.2h wheelingit aroundlike a kid, oftentimes exclaiming "I can going June24d 21.3h find it myself...!". Grabbingthe star chartsand d into the,well I can't say 'Blue Yonder', in searchofsome June30d 18.5h yet to be discovercdwonder. I fornd myselfbecomingmore and more intrigued with the hobby. FlnderChart for Urarusand Neptunc during 1997 Now within a year, I am able to help set up and help Philip with his astrophotography. That is His forte'- 'Chrissie {8-6.39:Vd.l9Ja Of coursewe do have the Shots', that no exposuretime need be p (4,8)l!,.'r4v={,o9r.{.q.,r.tr4 recordedfor. I'd soon leamed.that a especially with the long exposue o r (5.3) shots not to trip over the power cord. oo (7.0) For to do so Satum becomes the -rc" o (5.3) E t-(3 a proverbialflying saucer...! E (7.3)..,., . (7.6) I enjoy the sidewalk Uraak astronomynow with Philip, manning the dob on many occasions.Many d N"pruau i these viewing sessions are with whom have never '(8.3) children, many of l6-a.tr:v-r.t?l * seenthrough a telescopebeforc. How L M75 wonderfulto be fortunateenough to see (6.0) thesechildren's eyes widen in wonder (6.2). (6 rg-6,93,v-c.rstt 4) and amazementafter looking through -23' the telescooesfor the first time. Some 2d 50. 2or26 2U 02 of them w'ercso intrigued that it does you RighrAscension make one feel that may have made a differencein someone'soutlook. It's enjoyableto think so anyway. Theseare only a few examplesof the many good expertiseto build ourown largeaperture telescopes for the timeswhich were enjoyed all year. newobservatory. Gi\en the talents ofthe manymembers of So all ofyou Beginnersout there,I know it may the club,one or two 25 to 36 inchclass telescones are seem a little overwhelning at first, but hang in there, defuritelywirhin our capabiliries and budget foi a new WE'RE ALL BEGINNERS! It's a big universeout there, observatory.Contact Joe ifyou areinterested in andI am gladthat the AtlantaAstronomy Club hastouched participatingin the ATM InterestGroup. I'll be there mlne,... grindingaway on my own minors aswell. Who will be the KeepLooking Up!!! first to buildtheir own 25 inch telescope? Manybeginning astronomen have joined the AAC duringits pasttwo yearsofunparalleled growth. Beginning at thattime, we instituteda Beginners'Obsening Session PRIME FOCUS: Which Way the Future? at Villa Ricaonce a monthin an effortto acquaintour Art Russell beginnerswith the nightsky. However,it hasbecome obviousthat we neededto do more.Beginning In this pastJanuary's Focal Point, I askedthe question: immediately,Philip Sacco,Vice Presidentfor Observing "Whichway the futureof theAtlanta AstronomyClub?" (404-296-6332)and his Observing Committee members I've giventhat question much thought in the intervening will beproviding a sru"ni,-iOioursEofGffiiiion available months,but mostparticularly upon my nominationand for all beginners.Philip is alsoadding formalized Friday subsequentelection as club president. I've initiatedseveral nighttraining sessions to meetthe specificneeds ofour effortswhich I hopewill benefitthe club andits activities membemdesiring to be taughtand certified to usethe club's overthe next few years. Villa Ricaobservatory facilities. Contact Philip for Sowhich way? Over the past year ['ve been approached additionalinformation and to sign up for his Friday and by a numberof members,all of whomwere interested in the Saturdayevening classes. I encourage our experienced statusofthe club'ssearch for a new Dark-SiteObseryatory. membento contactPhilip andhelp out on the@i!g Additionally,many members also have spoken to me about Committee.He canuse all the helphe canget andour new whatshape and form a new observatoryshould take. It memberswill beparticularly appreciative. strikesme asbeing pretty obvious that there is a recognized As an adjunctto the ObservingCommitt€e's needfor a new observatoryunder darker skies than those of activities,the AAC's SidewalkAstronomy Special Villa Rica.At the sametime, I alsothink that our Villa InterestGroup will alsobe busyconducting ad-hoc Ricaobservatory will continueto play a key role in the observingsessions around the metropolitanarea. Although club'sobserving events for sometime to come.Given its this is currentlybeing coordinated by Philip Sacco,I hope proximity to Atlanta,it is an ideallocation for infoducing thatone ofthe club'smembers will considertakins on this public begirutersand the to the night slg/as a teaching importantresponsibility. Also supponing Philip's duties as facility.However, the issueofa newobservatory remains VP for Obsening is JamesMonroe (770-972-5605)who (404-257-2766) unresolved.Mark Banks hasvolunteered to will be actingour SchoolsOutreach Coordinator in an steerour efforts to define andidentify the club's requirements effortto bringastronomy into the localschool distdcts. for a new dark siteobservatory. Please take the time to Pleasecontact James if you'dlike to assistin providing respondto themember which prepared survey Mark has and astronomyinstruction or conductschool oriented observing includedin this month'sFocal Point. Your participationin sessionsin the comingyear. this projectwill help us determinewhere and how to focus So,once again, I askthe question.Which way the our effortsin this importantproject. Additionally, andjust futule of the Atlanta AstronomyClub? I think the future is as importantly,if you havethe time andinterest, please bright.It promisesto bringthe AAC betterfacilities and a considerworking with Mark asa memberof his Dark-Site moreprominent presence in theAtlanta community. Observltory Committee.We needmembers to h?iTliie However,it is contingentupon one key factor...You.Ifyou selectionand evaluation, observatory design, telescope don'thelp in makingthese activities a success,they will design,and construction ofboth observatoryand telescope. fail. Uponthis pointyou canbe very clear.They will fail Selecting,building and operating a new Dark-Site without you to help out in our efforts to advancethe Atlanta Observatoryis a projectwhich will occupythe club for AstronomyClub's interests. We needyour help.Each ofthe severalyears to come.Moreover, it mustdraw on member variouscommittees needs your assistance.Please give their resourcesin order to make it a reality. Mark's efforts to leadersa call andhelp out. Clear Skies! - Art establisha new observatoryis only onepart ofthe puzzle. Obviously,an observatoryneeds a telescope.Preferably several.Better yet, severallarge telescopes which can be usedfor photographic,CCD, andvisual interests, with accuratetracking as well. As we all know,large telescopes areexpensiye. Add in optimizationfor varioustypes of asfonomyand the pricegoes up substantially.That is unlesswe build themourselves. Joe Sheppard(77G784- 7592)has volunteered to leadthe club'snew Amateur TelescoDeMakers Interest Group. The group'smembers will be sharingtheir experiencesand learning how to build qualitytelescopes. In that process,we'll be growingthe Beginners Star-Hop; June, 1997 By Art Russell

The last cool eveningsof Spring are now but pleasantmemories as we start into the muggy days of summer(ofiicially 22 June,but we know otherwise!).Typically, Summer brings with it heat,haze and humidity;all ofwhich areguarafieed to makedeep sky observingless than enjoyable. However, its still not a total loss.With perservence,you canstill ferretout the soft DSG(deep sky gray) glow of faint (admittedly much more difficult underthe summer'shaze), but moreimportantly you'll now fild the SummerMilky Way makingits appearancewith openand globular clusters in abundance.

This month,our starhop combinesa bit ofthe bestofboth the Springand Summer skies; galaxiesfrom the Spring,and globularclusters from ttle Summer. Letsget started.We'll begin initially in the constellation$ggg andhdd M104,"the Sombrero ." Thenwe'll headsouth to the constellationllxbe to find M68 a globularcluster, and M83 a galaxy.We'll thenretum to and headeast to find the M5 a globular cluster in the constellationgerBens Caput. . Finally,we'll thenhead southeast to the constellationof $aceiug to trackdown the M4, a beautiful globularcluster near the starAntqres, "The Heart of the Scorpion",and the globularcluster M80 nearby.

As ever,hnd the darkestpossible skies to addto yourenjoyment ofthese sights and make finding thema bit easier.Enjoy!

Star-Hop #1: M104, "The SomberoGalaxy," (NGC 4594).When you think aboutthe countless galaxiesand other deepsky objects,only a very few get named.In doing so, observenhave identified some uniquequality inherentin that object.So it is with "The SombreroGalaxy." As its namesuggests, it can be seenas appearinglike a sombrerowith the galaxy's core forming the crown and its disk forming the brim. Locating M104 is relatively easyat this time becausethe planet Mars providesan immediate orientationto the proper part ofthe sky; the constellationy!!gg. Presently,Mars is locatedin the eastem reachesof !i1gg. From Mars, the bright starSpica, Alpha (a) Virginis, is southeastabout 25 degrees,or the distancespanned between your little frnger and thumb outsEetchedat arm's length againstthe sky. Spicd is one ofour guide starsto M104. We'll needanother. Look due eastof at a distanceof about l0 degrees,or the distancespanned by the knucklesofyour fist held at arms length againstthe sky, to find the starKappa (r) Virginis. Startmgat Kappa Virginis, extendNt imaginary line to SPicd.Extend this line for approximatelythe samedistance as that betweenKappa Virginis and Spic4 or about I I degrees.If you searchthis areawith high power binocularsor a telescopeat low to moderatemagnifications, you should quickly find M104. It should appearas an edge-ongalaxy with a very apparentbisecting dust lane. Usehigher powers to gleanincreasing amounts of detailif possible.

Star-Hop #2: M5 (NGC 5904), Retuming to the heartoflfgq. Our next star-hoptakes us to the one ofthe more spectacularglobular clustersofthe Spring and Summerskies. From Splca, look northeast about 15 degreesor the distancespanned by your index and little fngers spreadagainst the sky at arms length.There you'll hnd the starTau (t) Virginis.From there, extend a line dueeast about I I degreesto the star 109 Virginis. Exter'd.the line eastand a little north for about 15 degreesto the star Epsilon (e) Serperr.M5 will be locatedabout half way alongand a little southofthe linebetween Epsilo n (e) Serpens and109 Virginisand can be successfullyfound with binoculanand smaller telescopes using low to moderatepowers. Here you'll find a beautifulglobular cluster with manywell resolvedstars. At higher powels you may noticewhat appearto be whispsof stalsdrifting away from the coreof the cluster.

Star-Hop #3: M68 (NGC 4590).We'll leave!j1gq for our remainingstar-hops. Starting at Sprca, look about15 degrees or thedistance spamed by your indexand little fl]rgers,east-southeast to fnd the slaf Gqmma(y) Corvi in the constellationQgrygE ("The Crow"). FromGamma Corv, extenda line southand a bit eastfor about6 degrees,or the distancespanned by 3 fingers,to find thestar Kraz,Beta (p)ConL Extendthe line for about3 degrees,or the distancespanned by about2 fngers, andyou should ftnd the glow of M68 in largebinoculars or smalltelescopes in low to moderatepowers. M68 appearsas a sparse,not well consolidatedglobular cluster at moderateto highermagnifications. You mayalso note many outlying starsstraggling away from cluster.

Star-Hop#4: M83 (NGC 5236). Startingat Kraz in ep!4q9, fllld the starGamma (T/ Hydrae locatedabout 10degrees due east in theconstellation llltgb. From GammaHydlae, locate the starPi (rc)Hydrae which is about

''3E-'b I I degreeseast-southeast of Gamma / t.--. Hydrae.To find M83, imaginethat it I t- is the apexof a triangleforrned with a\tM@-_ L-'r -/-, \ L,.z \ GammaarLd Pi Hydrae asthe other nrya8./ \e n sb.rop. . \o'rrs"rn"err\ apexes.The distancefrom both / Gammaand Pi Hydrae to M83 is !y!tr\---l about7 degreesin eachcase, or about the distancespanned by 4 frngen held ,+"againstthe sky.You shouldbe ableto find M83 in rnoderatesized telescopes usinglow to moderatemagnifications whenyou searchthat area. M83 will havea relativelylow surfacebrightness, so its importantto takeyour time. However, its nucleusis relativelybright compared to its haloat moderatemagnifications.

Star-Hop #5: M4 (NGC 6121).Starting at Pi Hydrae,lookeast about 30 degrees,or twicethe distancespanned by your index and little fingersto frnd the prominentred-yellow supergiantstar lntares, 'or Alpha (a) Scorpii("The Rival of Mars, "The Heart of the Scorpion'). FrcmAntares,M4 is locateda little morethan I degree,the width ofyour linle finger,to thewest. Binoculars and telescopes will haveno problemfnding the glow of M4, oneofthe moreprominent globular clusters, at this location. In binoculan,M4 will appearas a circularnebulous object with increasingbrightness towards its center.In moderatesized telescopes will resolvemany and suggest the possibility of lanesin the globular cluster.

Star-Hop#6: M80 (NGC 6093),The globular cluster M80 is locatedmidway andon-line between Antarcs autdGrufrag Beta (b) Scorpii. Medium sized telescopesat moderatemagnifications will show M80 to be a very compactglobular cluster in whichnot'many stars are well resolved.You maybe ableto do betterwith highermagnifications once you havethis globular in the field ofview. We'reherc to help! Here'show to reach us: Addressfor New Memberships, Renewals, Magazine Subscriptions, and Book Oders: AtlantaAstronomy Ctub 3595Canton Road,Suite A9305 - t'rarieta, cA 30066

AtlantaAstrqnomy Club Information Line: 770421-2661 Inbm€t HomePage: htF://stlspb.gtri.gatech.edu/asvobd/auastro.html

Officers, Board, atrd Committeesl An Russell Presidenr 404-t? t-4t t q arrrussell@ mindsDrins.com Jeny,Armstrong- VP. ProgramChairman ljO-gq1_qZqy jacomet@ mindsDiins:com Phil Sacco vP. Obs-ervingChairman llO-iS6_i1j2 [email protected] _ begtnners Interesturoup rar sarr,mons I reasurer 404-953-j4j9 [email protected] SubscriDrions& Books TusharThrivikraman NewslerrerEditor 'l7O-414-iiO-ZiO-0.142 [email protected] Ginnvl4aufdin-Kinney ' Recording Secretary gj ki nneys^@arl. fu i nd s pri n g. com DavidHanon BoardofDirecrors' io6-93i-359i onanonL@ mlnds otln g. com JamesMonroe Boardof Directors ll6_S-n-i6\i [email protected] SchoolsOutreach Coordinator KemperSmith Boardof Directors 710-974-5035 [email protected] Tom Crowlev Board '71 - of Directors '110-'70-233 6886 00020| 5032@ ncim--ail.com JoeSheppard Boardof Directors 84-'7592 [email protected] ATM SpecialInterest GrouD '7'7 Don Hall Boardof,Directors 0-938-8139 donhall@ mindspring.com Standins Committees Ken Poshedly PeachSrare Star Caze Chairman j'l\-9jg-9842 [email protected] lon 8u-chanan LighrPollution jj0-597_O114 pgLlg Chairman qhgs_s9r. Clib Craphics j't\-4,.j-5:'43- - [email protected] RichardJakiel Visual InipressionsProsram - Coordinaror' [email protected] Alex Langousis Publicirv j10-429_9384 aleko@ mindspring.com Ma:k Ban-ks Dark-SiraObservatory Chajrman +Oq-Z5i-1i6d . SidewalkAsrrojo-my.Special Interesr Group ChrissyMondell Hospitalityand Refreshmenrs [email protected] LyDrrCrowley Beginner'iContact and Socials 'tj0_924-6314 [email protected] SiephenBlalack AAt webmasrer [email protected] ItrmEF@qru P@ilNT', Newsletter of The Atlanta Astronomy Club, Inc.

FROM: Tushar Thrivikraman 3629Winbrooke lane Tucker',Georgia 30084 [email protected] First Class

;.Tbe Atianta Astlonomy Club Inc., the South,slafgest and oldest asllonomical Society,neetJ at 8:00 p.m. on the third Friday of each mond at Emory University's White Hall or occasionally at other lccations (check the hot line for details). MembershiDis open to all. Annucl dues are $25 (SlO for sludents). Discounted slbscriptions to Astronomy ($20), and Sky & Telescope ($22) magazinesare available. Send dues !o: Th€ Atlanta Astronomv Club, Inc.,3595 Cantoo Road, Suite 49-305, Marietta. G; 3m66.

Hot Line: Timely infcrfiration on the night sky and astronomyin the Atlanta area is available on a twenty-four hour basis on the Adanta Astronomy Club hotl:trjEt 770-621-26tr1.

Check out our ASTRO discussionlist on the Intemet: [email protected] visit our Inlemet home-Dase: http/stlspb.grri.gatech,edu/astmtxyade.stro.html

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