Volume 50, Number 11 – November 2003 Morrison Planetarium Farewell Show Wednesday, November 19, 7:00 p.m. Morrison Planetarium, California Academy of Sciences Golden Gate Park, San Francisco In conjunction with the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers Free Admission On November 8, 1952, Morrison Planetarium at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park opened its doors to visitors for the first planetarium show in San Francisco history. The Morrison Planetarium will be closing its doors forever at the end of this year, as the California Academy of Sciences builds new facilities in Golden Gate Park. The one‐of‐a‐kind, hand built Morrison Planetarium projector will be retired forever. Help the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers say farewell to this institution of Bay Area astronomy for the past 50 years, by attending a special show sponsored by the Planetarium and the SFAA. Admission is free. Steve Craig, the Planetarium director, will be on‐hand to present the show. We will see the sky show ʺStars Over San Francisco.ʺ Celebrate 50 years under the stars of Morrison Planetarium and find out how the Planetarium and our knowledge of the Universe itself have changed since the Planetarium opened its doors November 8, 1952. California Academy of Sciences rebuilding, directions and more http://www.calacademy.org/ San Francisco Amateur Astronomers events, directions and more: http://www.sfaa‐astronomy.org/sfaa/ 2003 Club Officers & Contacts CLUB TELESCOPES President MichaelPortuesi (415) 550-9366 Vice President Nancy Cox (415) 269-8259 The SFAA owns 4 club loaner telescopes, Dobsonian/Newtonian Secretary Morris Jones (415) 453-2885 reflectors: 6ʺ f/10, 8ʺ f/7, and 10ʺ f/8 and a Starblast. They are Treasurer Lorrie Boen available for extended periods (30 days or more) to SFAA Speaker Chair Linda Mahan members. These are generally very fine scopes, easy to use and City Star Party Randy Taylor (415) 255-8670 well suited for deep sky, planets, and star parties. The loaner Membership & Lorrie Boen custodians are Pete Goldie & Sarah Szczechowicz, located in San Subscriptions Francisco. If you are interested in borrowing a scope, or if you Bulletin Editor Phil Estrin (415) 703-4533 Telescope Loans Pete Goldie (415) 206-9867 have items you can donate for the loaner program (eyepieces, Honorary Director John Dobson star maps/books, collimator, etc.) please contact them via email Board Members Cheryl Schudel (mailto:[email protected]) or phone (415‐206‐9867). Email Bill Stepka communication is preferred and strongly recommended for a Randy Taylor quick and accurate reply. Dennis Tye Jim Webster ************************************ Dan Christian CLUB ASTRONOMY VIDEOS James Mace Alt.Board Members Bob Naeye (650) 756-0430 The SFAA owns a series of astronomy videotapes featuring Alex Webmaster Joe Amato Filippenko, a world‐renowned professor of astronomy at UC Berkeley. The videotapes provide an introduction to astronomy ************************************ and cover topics such as the Solar System, the lifecycles of stars, MEMBERSHIP DUES the nature of galaxies, and the birth of the Universe. The SFAA The mailing label on the back of this issue shows the month loans the tapes free to all members. If you are interested in and year through which your membership was paid. If the viewing these tapes, you may check them out at any of the SFAA date has passed, your membership has expired. Members General Meetings. These tapes were kindly donated to the SFAA may receive no more than one bulletin after the expiration by Bert Katzung. Our librarian is Dan Christian. of membership. For information on the course tapes themselves: Please renew soon if your membership is expiring. http://www.teach12.com/ttc/assets/coursedescriptions/180.asp Online services for SFAA members The SFAAʹs Secretaryʹs Web Site helps keep SFAA information together and accessible to members. The site URL is http://www.whiteoaks.com/sfaa/. At this site you can find such information as minutes from meetings of the Board of Directors, the SFAA official by‐laws, and other information. SFAA also offers email lists to supplement the bulletin board offered at the SFAAʹs official web site. At present there are two email lists ‐‐ an unmoderated list for use primarily for business and discussion by the Board of Directors (but open to all members), and a moderated announcement list for all SFAA members. If you would like to be added to the SFAA‐announce email list, please contact the secretary (secretary@sfaa‐ astronomy.org) and let him know. You can also sign up for the list yourself at this URL: http://www.whiteoaks.com/mailman/listinfo/sfaa‐announce ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Above the Fog is the official bulletin of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers. It is the forum in which club members may share their experiences, ideas, and observations. We encourage you to participate by submitting your articles, announcements, letters, photos and drawings. We would also like to hear from our new members. Tell us about yourself – what you have done in the past and what other clubs you have joined. The deadline for the next issue is the seventh day of the month. Send your articles to Phil Estrin at [email protected]. From Your President Our 2003 observing season is now winding down, Do you have something to say to your fellow club with the final installments of our Mount Tam and City members at the December general meeting? Any topic star parties having completed a few weeks ago. Itʹs thatʹs astronomically related is fair game, and talks can time to start reflecting on our accomplishments and be any length up to 20 minutes. Perhaps youʹve share them with fellow members. completed a particularly interesting observing project, have some photos from a trip, or have done some Is there a club member you feel should be honored in astronomical research. Whatever your topic, please some way, for their accomplishments, contributions, contact our Speaker Coordinator, Linda Mahan (email: and dedication to SFAA and to amateur astronomy in [email protected]) to book your spot on the general? We have three yearly awards ‐ the Observer December meeting agenda. of the Year Award, the Service Award, and the Herman Fast Award. If you are creative or artistic, the Astronomical Arts competition will also be held at the December Observer of the Year is awarded to the club member Meeting. Any type of astronomical artwork may be who has made the most accomplishments, or who has submitted for judging by club members present at the shown the most enthusiasm as an active observer meeting. Finally, the Astrophotography competition during 2003. will allow the imaging crowd to share their beautiful sky photos and win recognition from the membership. The Service Award is given to the club member who Check out the announcements in this issue for full has provided the most noteworthy support for SFAA, details. or for amateur astronomy in general. Regardless of whether you will be entering our year‐ The Herman Fast Award is given for exceptional long‐ end competitions, you will most certainly want to be term support of SFAA and amateur astronomy, both on hand to watch the winners receive their prizes at at and away from the telescope. the Annual Awards Dinner Saturday, January 24. Reservations are necessary, so get your confirmation Each December the Board selects the recipients for in to our Treasurer, Lorrie Boen, soon. The Awards these awards, and we are seeking nominations for Dinner takes the place of a general meeting in January, 2003. If you have a name or two in mind, please let us and itʹs a great time to socialize with the rest of SFAA. know! Hope to see you there. Michael Portuesi president@sfaa‐astronomy.org, 415‐550‐9366 ******************************************************************************************************************************** ELECTIONS – (No, not the government type) – But You Could Hold Office in the SFAA! We need a few good astronomers to put down their lovely toys and give a little time to the club as an officer or board member. The roles are: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Board Members. It is important to attend as many board meetings as possible. Board Members are required to attend at least nine meetings each year. The meetings are at 7:00 p.m., the second Wednesday each month at the Western Addition Library at Scott and Geary. Please consider running for one of these positions. A little time means a lot to the club, and it is a rewarding experience. Please contact any current officer or board member if you are interested! SFAA Annual Awards Dinner Saturday, January 24, 2004 6:00 p.m. - No-host Bar 7:00 p.m. - Dinner Basque Cultural Center . 599 Railroad Ave . South San Francisco . (650) 583-8091 Prime Rib with Scalloped Potatoes & Vegetables ($27.00) Breast of Chicken Chasseur with Vegetables & Rice ($22.00) Vegetarian Pasta ($18.50) Soup, salad, bread & butter, ice cream and coffee included. Tax and gratuity included. Please send a check or money order, along with your choice of entrée, to Lorrie Boen at 765 Geary Street #302, San Francisco, CA 94109 by January 9, 2004. Any requests received after this date cannot be guaranteed. Basque Cultural Center From Highway 280: Take Highway 280 North to the Avalon Drive Exit in South San Francisco. Continue on Junipero Serra Boulevard to Westborough Blvd. Turn right and proceed to El Camino Real. Turn right and proceed to Orange Blvd. Turn left., and proceed to Railroad Ave. Turn right. Continue to 599 and turn right into parking lot. From San Francisco, take Highway 280 South. From Highway 280, take the Westborough Exit, following the same directions as above after Westborough Blvd. Basque Cultural Center From Highway 101: Take Highway 101 North to South San Francisco Grand Avenue Exit, turn right.