Desert Skies Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Volume LV, Number 7 July, 2009 Astro-imaging using a DSLR Public star parties Websites: Trips On The Internet Su- Constellation of the month per-Skyway TAAA Astronomy Complex Updates Desert Skies: July, 2009 2 Volume LV, Number 7 Cover Photo: Rik Hill created this image using a digital SLR camera. For more information, see the Websites: Trips On The Internet Super-Skyway article. TAAA Web Page: http://www.tucsonastronomy.org TAAA Phone Number: (520) 792-6414 Office/Position Name Phone E-mail Address President Ken Shaver 762-5094 [email protected] Vice President Keith Schlottman 290-5883 [email protected] Secretary Luke Scott 749-4867 [email protected] Treasurer Terri Lappin 977-1290 [email protected] Member-at-Large George Barber 822-2392 [email protected] Member-at-Large John Kalas 620-6502 [email protected] Member-at-Large Teresa Plymate 883-9113 [email protected] Past President Bill Lofquist 297-6653 [email protected] Chief Observer Dr. Mary Turner 743-3437 [email protected] AL Correspondent (ALCor) Nick de Mesa 797-6614 [email protected] Astro-Imaging SIG Steve Peterson 762-8211 [email protected] Astronomy Fundamentals SIG JD Metzger 760-8248 [email protected] Newsletter Editor George Barber 822-2392 [email protected] School Star Party Scheduling Coordinator Paul Moss 240-2084 [email protected] School Star Party Volunteer Coordinator Roger Schuelke 404-6724 [email protected] Webmaster Debra Malmos 495-5830 [email protected] Mary Lofquist 297-6653 Club Apparel Sales [email protected] Mary McMacken 743-2066 TIMPA Gate Card controller John Kalas 620-6502 [email protected] Equipment Loan Coordinator Richard Dougall 245-5441 [email protected] Claude Plymate Librarians 883-9113 [email protected] Teresa Plymate Grand Canyon Star Party Coordinator Jim O’Connor 546-2961 [email protected] General Information Terri Lappin 977-1290 [email protected] TAAA Board Of Directors All Board Members [email protected] Membership in the TAAA magazines. 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Do not send money directly to the Join our Email Lists on YahooGroups Announcements: http://tinyurl.com/e7o3y (TAAA news, no posting allowed, 15/month) TAAA Forum: http://tinyurl.com/hwoau (general astronomy discussion, posting allowed, 75/month) TAAA Dark Site: http://tinyurl.com/3d8ts9 (discussion of dark site issues, posting allowed) Desert Skies is published monthly by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, Post Office Box 41254, Tucson AZ 85717. Volume LV, Number 7 3 Desert Skies: July, 2009 President’s Message The end of June has been very active with astronomy gas site. In all, June was a very active viewing month. It events. It is clear that club members are not going to go was a fitting way to end the spring astronomy season. I into the rainy season quietly. The reports from the Grand hope if you did not get a chance to attend one of the Canyon Star party have indicated that while attendance events that everyone had a chance to catch some photons was down this year and the weather started out a bit before the clouds set in. poorly, the dark skies were rewarding. I know that July brings us the dreaded Monsoons for as- Closer to home members had several events to choose tronomers but there is still a great deal of work going on from in June. A great representation of our members from for the club. We have made good advances on the con- TAAA attended the Huachuca Astronomy Clubs C-Row struction of the dark site infrastructure. Permits have been Star Party. The first night was hampered by an early mon- obtained and contractors signed and paid. We also have soon storm but once that cleared the rest of the event several committee activities to conduct in order to begin went fantastic. We had beautiful skies, great food and the Phase 2 planning. There is a big task ahead of us to great company. In the process we were able to raise some raise the funds we will need to continue to keep our mo- funds for the club. I would like to thank the HAC for their mentum moving on the dark site. Please keep an eye open generosity of sharing the proceeds from this event with for future opportunities to help out on these projects. TAAA. I hope that we can look forward to future event participation with the HAC as we become neighbors in As always, Clear Skies (As clear as they can be in Tucson Cochise County. in July), The Fundamentals SIG met at Catalina State Park and the Ken Shaver Gorilla Astronomers enjoyed a fine night at the Las Ciene- TAAA President Meeting Information and Calendar of Events TAAA MEETING DATE: Friday, July 3, at the Steward to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009. It Observatory Auditorium – Room N210 was funded by the National Science Foundation and pro- duced by Interstellar Studios. Additional support was ASTRONOMY ESSENTIALS: 6:30 pm provided by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Title: Objects of the season through the Night Sky Network program. Speaker: Dr. Mary Turner Dr. Turner will give her quarterly update on the best ob- BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Wednesday, July 8, jects for observing during the summer season. 6:30 pm. The meeting is held at Steward Observatory Conference Room N305. GENERAL MEETING: 7:30 pm Title: 400 Years of the Telescope STAR PARTIES AND EVENTS: Speaker: PBS documentary presentation 02 July - Tucson Botanical Garden Star Party 06 July – Astro-Imaging SIG at China Rose This documentary tells the story of humanity’s view of the 09 July – Astronomy Fundamentals SIG Meeting universe and our place in it through the ever increasing 18 July - TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas telescope lens. Our perception of the universe began to 18 July – LPL Apollo Landing Celebration change with Galileo’s telescope – a scope of such poor 21 July - Biosphere 2 Teacher Conference Star Party quality that we’d toss into the garbage heap today. Tech- 25 July - TAAA Star Party at TIMPA nological advancements in telescope building and modern 26 July - Catalina Village Star Party day imaging have brought about an evolution in our un- derstanding of astronomy and physics. Innovative con- cepts such as the Large Binocular Telescope (in Arizona) and Keck’s dual 10m telescopes (in Hawaii), have contrib- NEWSLETTER SCHEDULE: Deadline for articles: Sat, uted to this changing view. The upcoming James Webb July 25. The newsletter