in Newton Co.); Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 1-2: Cox THE Field observings (at dark); Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 8- 9: Cox Field observings (at dark); Fri., Feb. FLINT RIVER 15: FRAC meeting (7:30 p.m., UGa-Griffin campus, Stuckey Bldg.); Wed., Feb. 20: OBSERVER public eclipse observing (7:45-whenever, front lawn, UGa-Griffin campus). Newsletter of the FLINT RIVER ASTRONOMY CLUB * * * (an affiliate of the Astronomical League) President’s Message. Recently I read a book Vol. 11, No. 12 February, 2008 titled North to the Orient, by Anne Morrow Officers: President/Alcor, Curt Cole; Vice Lindbergh, that reminded me that we‟re all President/Newsletter Editor: Bill Warren; explorers to some degree. This book was Secretary-Treasurer: Irene Cole; Board of about an exploratory trip to China in the Directors: Larry Higgins,Tom Danei and summer of 1931 by Anne and her famous Felix Luciano. husband Charles in a plane that they named Webmasters, David Ward and Tom Sirius, after the Dog Star of Canis Major. Moore; FRACgroups moderators: Steve Flying at night was not a common practice Knight and Tom Moore; Ga. Sky in those early years, but the Lindberghs did it View/Astronomy Day Coordinator, Steve occasionally, undoubtedly admiring the stars Knight; Observing Chairman/Public as they flew or camped in the dark skies of Observing Coordinator, Larry Higgins; Canada, Alaska, Japan and China. Once, Program Co-Chairmen: Larry Higgins and when darkness overtook them far from their Bill Warren; Publicity: Curt Cole; NASA day‟s destination, they had to land on an contact: Felix Luciano; and Event isolated lake at night and sleep in their float- Photographer, Tom Danei. equipped plane. Anne didn‟t mention whether Club mailing address: 190 West James or not the sky was clear that night, but I like to Circle, Hampton, GA 30228. Web page: think it was, out in the vast darkness of www.flintriverastronomy.org; discussion group at Alaska. [email protected]. We amateur astronomers all explore the Please notify Curt Cole (770-946-3405), sky, searching ever deeper for interesting or [email protected], or Bill Warren challenging stars, galaxies & nebulae. When (770-229-6108), [email protected], Lindbergh needed to cover longer distances, if you have a change of home address, he got a bigger, more powerful plane. When telephone no. or e-mail address. astronomers need to cover longer distances, they get a bigger, more powerful telescope. * * * But let‟s not forget that if we just need to Club Calendar. Mon., Jan. 28: home- roam around in the neighborhood, say within schooling observing (6:00 p.m., Varner Field our solar system, we don‟t need the telescopic version of the Boeing 747. A small scope will Higgins, talking about “Astronomy On a often do just fine. The important thing is not Shoestring.” the size plane or scope you travel to exciting Larry showed us at least a dozen cost- and interesting places with. Remember the effective devices and techniques for saving goal. It‟s to travel. To explore. To be money on equipment, eyepieces and amazed at the new discoveries we make. I telescopes. At the end of Larry's talk, Tom hope you get to go to many interesting places Moore pointed out that, in comparing what this year, even if you never leave the ground. Larry put into his 'scopes, equipment, etc., and what Orion Telescopes charges for the same -Curt Cole things in its catalog, the savings amounted to a healthy $750.00. * * * Incidentally, Larry omitted at least three of his innovations in his talk: first, that his Last Month’s Meeting/Activities. We forgot “favorite tool,” the empty film canister, can to mention it in last month's newsletter, but also be used as a dust plug for your eyepiece four FRACsters – Curt, Tom Moore, Larry hole. Second, that a used “Little Debbie” box Higgins and yrs. truly – conducted a last- fits nicely over your Telrad for use as a cheap minute PTA observing for Beaverbrook dew shield. (In an emergency once upon a Elementary School on Dec. 11th. The sky was time, Larry simply folded and taped a piece of lukewarm and the weather cold, but our notebook paper over a Telrad.) And when yr. presenters were red hot. Thanks, guys, for editor’s telescope unexpectedly began doing your customary splendid job of showing overbalancing and tipping forward one off the wonders of the night sky. evening, Larry suggested attaching car keys to Four of us – Steve & Aimee Mann, Larry the back of our „scope with a rubber band. It H. and yr. editor – were at Cox Field on Fri., worked so well that we still do it that way. Jan. 4th. Aimee was lovely as always, the rest The 22 members and guests at the Jan. of us stunningly handsome as usual, at least, meeting included: Curt & Irene Cole, Larry until her upcoming eye surgery, after which H., Felix Luciano, Joel & Eric Simmons, she‟ll find that we look more like Mr. Eds Alan & Sally Bolton, Ken Walburn, Steve than Mr. Universes). But the sky was Knight, Steve & Aimee Mann, Joe generally good that night. Auriemma (who rejoined the club at the Unfortunately, that wasn't the case the meeting), Charles, Erica & Jeffrey Anstey, following evening when Curt Cole met Dwight Harness, Tom Moore, Mike Stuart, visitors Mark & Amy Bird at Cox Field. yr. editor and visitors Jerry & Beverly Still, Curt must have been persuasive during Williams. (And No, he‟s not the same Jerry their hour at the field, since the Birds joined Williams who used to be in FRAC.) FRAC that same evening. We had seven at Cox Field on Jan. 11th, The 22 members and guests who attended including visitors Israel, Autumn, Amara & our Jan. meeting were treated to one of the Seneca Baryeshua, FRAC co- founder and finest programs we've ever had: Larry telescope maker par excellence Ken Walburn, his friend Raymond Hughes, and Eathon Bradley Porter was born at about yr. editor. The sky cooperated very nicely 11:30 p.m. He weighed 8 lbs., 5 oz., and was until around 8 p.m., at which time the clouds 19 in. long. They use some kind of scale to rolled in. describe the baby's condition at birth, and Attendance was better the following Eathon was 9.9 on a scale of 10. I hope that's evening: in addition to the Baryeshuas, who good. came back for more (and wound up joining “I haven't seen him yet, but Betty says that the club), we also had Mike Stuart, Larry he's pretty. It'll probably be a week before I Higgins, Curt Cole, Tom Moore, visitors get to see him, so all that matters now is going Jerry & Beverly Williams, and yrs. truly. to bed and getting some sleep.” The sky was as clear as a maiden's conscience, and everyone in attendance had a splendid *From David O'Keeffe: “Hello and happy time looking at things like Comet 8P/Tuttle new year. I was eager to see what Isaiah (the and Hubble's Variable Nebula (NGC 2261, youngster on David's bus route) had to say a nebula that looks like a smaller, fainter about his telescope from 'Santa'. He said he version of Comet Hale-Bopp). got a big telescope, and it's in safe keeping in In all, we had 25 members and guests at his Dad's closet. We will have to wait and see Cox Field in January. what transpires. When Dad received the 'scope, he was very grateful. And once again I * * * thank all who helped in this endeavor.” This 'n That. When told about the Jan. *We hasten to extend a hearty welcome to meeting that he'd missed due to bad weather in new members Mark & Amy Bird of his area, Steve Bentley replied, “I'm sure Sharpsburg. Ga.; Israel, Autumn, Amara & Larry put on a good show. He's a genius at Seneca Baryeshua of Williamson, Ga; stuff like that. Betty and I were gonna come, Charles Boils of Thomaston, Ga.; and but she couldn't get her mud pack off.” returnees Joe & Martha Auriemma of Since there wasn't a chance in ten thousand Senoia, Ga. that yr. editor was gonna let that comment Mark & Amy, Israel & Autumn, and slide by unnoticed, we replied, “Here's a Charles, please let us know what we can do to 'Household Hint From Heloise': Remind help make your membership worthwhile and Betty that, when applying her mud pack, she enjoyable. shouldn't use Super Glue to hold it in place.” Joe and Martha – well, welcome back to FRAC. We've missed you muchly, and it *Speaking of the Bentleys, we received the feels like old times seeing you at our meetings following message just before midnight on and observings. Mon., Jan. 14th: “Well, after our granddaughter was in labor for nearly 19 *On Jan. 12th, Israel Baryeshua became hours, they had to do a C-section, but Betty the first and only person ever to arrive at a and I are officially great-grandparents now. Cox Field observing by bicycle. (The Baryeshuas are the Coxses‟ next door Our Feb. Cox Field observing weekends neighbors, so it wasn‟t a very long ride.) will be Fri.-Sat., Feb. 1st-2nd and Fri.-Sat., Feb. 8th-9th. *Finally, we should note that, sometime during the next couple of months, Ken Please note the following carefully and “Twinkletoes” Walburn will have hip mark it on your calendar: Since our regular replacement surgery, after which it‟ll just be a club meeting date falls on Valentine's Day this matter of time before we expect to see him year, we're changing our February meeting performing on “Dancing With the Stars.” date to the following day, Fri., Feb.