Desert Skies Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Volume LVI, Number 3 March, 2010 M34 in Perseus ♦ March School star parties ♦ AF-SIG Solar Workshop ♦ Constellation of the month ♦ Globe At Night ♦ Tucson Festival of Books ♦ Astronomic League Convention ♦ Chiricahua Astronomy Complex Up- ♦ Asteroid Occultation Report dates Desert Skies: March, 2010 2 Volume LVI, Number 3 Cover Photo: M-34 in Perseus. Imaged by Dean Salman. 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 Teresa Plymate 883-9113 [email protected] Member-at-Large George Barber 822-2392 [email protected] Member-at-Large John Kalas 620-6502 [email protected] Member-at-Large John Croft 300-5885 [email protected] Chiricahua Astronomy Complex Director John Kalas 620-6502 [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 Robert Gilroy 743-0021 [email protected] Starry Messenger SIG Terri Lappin 977-1290 [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] Web Director Terri Lappin 977-1290 [email protected] Mary Lofquist Club Apparel Sales 297-6653 [email protected] Jeanne McCleery 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] Publicist Liz Kalas 620-6502 [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 LVI, Number 3 3 Desert Skies: March, 2010 President’s Message This past month after a great deal of hard work by many volunteer members and non-members, we were finally TAAA will need about 15 to 20 volunteers to help with the able to have first light at the new Chiricahua Astronomy registration desk sign-ins and the TAAA booth. These vol- Complex. I would like to congratulate and thank everyone unteers will be given free registration to the Expo but who had a part in making this happen. While we have had must commit to at least a 4-hour shift to receive the bene- first light and the plan is that we will continue to have our fit. If you are interested please see me or contact one of monthly dark night star party at the site, we will also plan the committee members on the web site to get on the an opening event at some point in time. The details will schedule. have to be worked out because the Special Use Permit does limit the site to no more than 30 vehicles and 60 Lastly, the club needs to fill one of our most important people at a time. We will make inquiries as to what we will positions, the Star Party Coordinator. I thank Paul Moss, need from Cochise County to stage a larger event but un- who has unselfishly contributed five years to the club in til that time I want to make sure everyone understands this position. I am sure he will tell you that while it does that we must take special precautions to ensure everyone take some work, there are many rewards. The club’s mis- has reservations when going to the site. Reservations can sion statement talks about sharing the sky, and astron- be made through the site manager, John Kalas. omy education. Our School Program is the main avenue in which we make that happen. Volunteers are the back- Plans are moving very rapidly now on the ALCon 2010 bone of any non-profit organization, and TAAA is blessed Expo we will be hosting in June. Speaker slots are filling with an abundance of individuals who continuously give up, vendors are making commitments for both coming to from their heart to both the club and the community. If Tucson and for providing sponsorships, and registrations you are looking for a way to give back to a very important are being taken. Plans are now taking shape for our event part of what the club is about, please see me or another partner IDA to conduct their Annual General Meeting on board member about becoming the Star Party Coordina- the same weekend. Also our latest sponsor, Lunt Solar tor. Systems, will have their annual Arizona Solar Conference on site. They will have telescopes to demo along with the Again, thank you to all the volunteers and clear skies, ALCON Friday Solar Luncheon where our own David Levy will speak. If you have not yet registered, that can now be Ken Shaver done online via PayPal at the Expo web site http:// TAAA President www.alcon2010.astroleague.org . Meeting Information and Calendar of Events TAAA MEETING DATE: Friday, March 5, at the Steward BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING : Wednesday, March Observatory Auditorium – Room N210 10, 6:30 pm. The meeting is held at Steward Observatory Conference Room N305. GENERAL MEETING: 6:30 pm Title: Backyard Observatories - Presentations and Tours STAR PARTIES AND EVENTS: 01 Mar – Astro-Imaging SIG at China Rose Amateur observatories are becoming very common. 05 Mar - Ft. Lowell ES Star Party There are books on how to build them, companies that 06 Mar - Camp Cooper Star Party sell plans, kits to be assembled, and companies that will 07 Mar - UofA Astronomy Students Star Party build a turnkey system for you. Designs include simple 09 Mar - Alice Vail MS Star Party roll-away buildings, roll-off roofs, and domes. An obser- 11 Mar – Astronomy Fundamentals SIG vatory allows amateurs to keep their gear ready-to-go, and 12 Mar - Marana High School Star Party can dramatically increase your observing time and the 13 Mar - TAAA and AF-SIG Star Party at TIMPA enjoyment you get out of it. 13 Mar - TAAA Star Party at Las Cienegas 13 – 14 Mar – Festival of Books With Tucson's excellent skies for astronomy, many of our 13 Mar – Messier Marathon at CAC own members have built observatories. No two are alike, 20 Mar – AF-SIG Solar Filter Workshop and each builder faced challenges and creatively solved 22 Mar - Immaculate Heart Academy Star Party issues with construction and use of their observatory.