1999

recorded by AANC Secretary, Alan Gould

To...List of AANC Board Members

Minutes:

Dates of board meetings in 1999:

March 7, May 2, June 27, August 29, October 24, December 19

AANC Board Meeting Minutes -- 1/31/99 -- Called to Order 10:22 am

Next meeting will be March 7, 1999 at LHS at 10am.

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...) (President), John Hewitt (V.P), Alan Gould (Secretary) , Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), Don Stone (EAS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Dennis LeClert (Stockton A.S,), Morris Jones (SJAA)

Minutes of previous meeting approved.

Treasurer's Report (Don Stone)

-- Balance Franklin Money Fund: $1,662.24 (12/31/98)

-- Washington Mutual Bank: $3505.58 (1/31/99)

-- Received from LHS for 98 workshop revenue (about $1,250)

Memberships

-- paid through '99: ASP, EAS, CTMW, EITU, HSG, LHS, Lumicon, MDAS, MTO, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, WM

-- Paid through '98: Glen Ellen, MDAS, SWSWA, VOM

Morris J. moved, Carter seconded we accept treasurers report. Passed.

Club Reports (see web pages for more details):

Morris Jones--San Jose Astronomical Association--Award was given Jay Freeman at last meeting. Calendar of star paties Henry Coe and Fremont Peak. Mirror making class has about a dozen students.

Carter--EAS meeting this Saturday--presentation on Analemmas of Earth and Mars. March 26 Annual dinner with Carolyn Shoemaker speaking. Helen Pillans Award will go to Denni Medlock this year. Construction at Chabot is moving along rapidly. TMW is going along great guns. Alan Gould--LHS has weekend planetarium shows, Saturday night stargazing every clear Saturday night, curriculum development--GEMS Teacher Guide on Seasons under the NASA Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum. In the month of Feb, every Sat and sun at 2:15, the planetarium show will be African Skies for Black History Month. 3:30 is Constellations Tonight and 1pm is Colors from Space. After Feb, both 1 and 2:15 shows will be Colors from Space.

David Harris--Hercules SG-- Next meeting 2/20

Liede-Marie Haitsma--MDAS--Drawing for Mt Diablo Obs is complete and up for bids now 2/27/99 there will be broadcast on KQED about this project. 14" refractor.

Jane Houston--VOM--------ALAN check email

Dennis LeClert--SAS--Newsletter editor received "above and beyond" award.

Don Stone Moved that AANC nominate Denni Medlock to receive WAA G. Bruce Blair Award. Dennis L. seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

AANC Award nominees

Amateur: Denni Frerichs (Medlock) (nom by Don Stone)

Professional: Peter Jenniskens (nom by Morris Jones)

Commercial: Crazy Ed Optical--Ed Erbeck (nom by Jane Houston)

Special: Mt. Tam Interpretive Association (nom by Dennis T.)

Alan moved that we select all four nominees. Dennis L seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Don moved that we present the Awards at the Symposium at Morrison. Morris seconded. Motion passed.

AANC Conference--

Don: we need to set up another meeting for planning the workshop. Dennis moved we call the event a Symposium. Morris seconded. Passed.

Brochure and flier have been created and disseminated to about 750 people. Jane sent flier to all AANC newsletter editors. Reg form should have affiliation of club on it. Don would like preregistyrants names to be able to make name badges.

Tinka wants to know what they should send out to preregistrants? Discussion reveals confirmation should include instructions for for how to get to Morrison, parking strategy, brochure, confirmation. Tinka also wants to know if an AANC person will handle refreshments or should Morrison do it? Consensus of AANC Board was to have Morrison make the arrangements and handle it.

John H: We need to know the exact times that the planetarium is available to us. At least one speaker will give talk in planetarium.

John H: Presentation of Awards and Door Prizes should not take much of the symposium time. Topics we want: Future of the Universe--Revolution in Cosmology--Scientific American article (Jan 1999) by Adam Riess et al--Universe is open, infinite and accelerating--may need cosmological constant after all (Dr. Alex Flilppenko); Planets Around Other Stars (Dr. Debra Fischer--SFSU--recently discovered 4 new planets--in charge of Lick Observatory extra-solar planet search--referred to us by Butler and Marcy); Mars and Beyond--Solar System Exploration--Comets, Asteroids, Pluto (Dr. Jeff Moore--NASA Ames); Our Future on the Moon--Ice on the Moon--Lunar Prospector (Dr. Alan Binder--Lunar Research Institute); Radio Astronomy and SETI--SETI at Home (Dr. Dan Wertheimer); Panel on Future of Amateur Astronomy with Jane Houston (chair). Other possibilities include Isabel Hawkins, Sanford. Don suggested a speaker from JPL on new modes of rocket propulsion. Still also considering having a section dealing with International Space Station.

DennisL: Award presentations should take about 15 minutes in all. We do not need to have door prizes.

Kiersten Van Stone, education person at the Academy, is coordinating the event for Cal Academy. Auditorium and Goethe room are reserved for us.

JohnH: There has been discussion about getting dynamic new speakers. It would be good to have a list of speakers, both well-known and not well-known, but up-and-coming. Don: we make the list available to member clubs.

Astronomy Day (May 22)

Carter: publicity needs to go out well in advance, which means info needs to be collected soon.

12:50 Meeting adjourned.

Next meeting will be March 7, 1999 at LHS at 10am.

AANC Board Meeting Minutes

3/7/99

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...) (President), John Hewitt (V.P), Alan Gould (Secretary) , Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), Don Stone (Treasurer; EAS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Dennis LeClert (Stockton A.S.), Morris Jones (SJAA), Carter Roberts (EAS)

[next meeting May 2]

Treasurer's report

Dennis made a motion to have AANC secretary and president create a board resolution to authorize Don Stone' address to be the official address for AANC treasury pruposes for AANC financial accounts.

Renewed memberships: SFAA, Chabot Obs & Sci Ctr.

Many clubs have not renewed AANC membership for 1999.

Don passed around a list of Messier Club Roll of Honor: "I've Seen 'em All".

Also list of AANC Award winners.

Club Reports

Dennis--SAS Spring Skies workshop. Clash of the Titans theme with relevant constellations Perseus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Pegasus,.. School star parties have been rained out lately. New lights installed near star parties are shielded well enough to not interfere with star party function.

Liede-Marie Haitsma--Mt Diablo Star parties start March 13 or 20. Pub Viewing 4/10 Board meeting Monday the 8th.

John H--Valley of the Moon--Thinking of plan to have RTMC-style event for N. Calif. Construction on classrooms is proceeding well.

SJAA elected a new board. Mirror making class is completed. Lot's of school programs scheduled. More on SJAA web site.

EAS Chabot did benefit last month. Carter handed around picture of new Chabot construction. There were about 100 people at Annual EAS banquet where featured speaker was Carolyn Shoemaker who spoke about her husband (first time in public lecture on this subject).

Janes reports here. She showe the mirror that she's grinding as the AANC donated telescope for the Striking Sparks. Will be awarded on April 17.

RTMC is Memorial Day Weekend

Astronomy Day 1999

Carter suggested sending e-mail to all clubs asking what events will be happening and asking for event notice to be sent to Alan. Jane will do that. She also said San Jose will be will be having a telescope making event at Tech Museum.

Messier Club

Newest member of AANC Messier family, Deborah Scherrer, made a web page on her Messier method. It would be good to beef up our Messier program, with form, what it is, list of all Messier objects online, etc. Currently Messier members must find all objects within 2 years. We discussed the idea of categories of members: 2 nights (Messier Marathon), 1 year, 2 years, and no time limit. Morris suggested creating a special AANC list of objects as catorgory of achievement, including objects other than Messier objects.

AANC Symposium at Morrison

John's Report

Tentative Schedule

Refreshments and display tables will be in Goethe Room all day.

Adjourned 12:38pm

AANC Board Meeting Minutes -- 5/2/99

[next meeting June 27]

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...) (President), John Hewitt (V.P), Alan Gould (Secretary) , Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), Don Stone (Treasurer; Eastbay A.S.), Morris Jones (SJAA), Dennis LeClert (Stockton A.S.), Carter Roberts (EAS), Lance Shaw (Hercules SG), Ilona Magyari (San Mateo, Lloyd Altamirano (Stockton A.S.), David Harris (Hercules SG)

Minutes of 3/7/99--Motion--Morris moved minutes be accepted (second by Lance). Minutes accepted (motion passed).

Treasurer's report

Gave out Income Statements, Balance sheets, AANC Dues and Deadline list.

AANC Treasurer's Report -- 06 March 1999

Balance -- Franklin Money Fund, 2/26/99 $1,673.53

Balance -- Washington Mutual Bank, 2/22/99 $2,805.58

AANC Memberships:

    • PAID-UP ( '99): ASP, EAS, CTMW, EITU, ,HSG, LHS LUMICON, MDAS, MTO, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, WM.
    • PAID-UP ( '98): ASP, EAS, CTMW, ETIU, Glen Ellen, HSG, LHS, LUMICON, MDAS, MTO, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, VOM.
    • DUE: ('99) ALPO, COSC, FPOA, Gr70,, MP. NCHLADA, PSNCVN, SCAS, SFAA, SMAS. SVAS, TVS,
    • Due ('98) ALPO, COSC, FPOA, Glen Ellen, Gr 70, MTO, NCHLADA, PSNCVN, SCAS, SFAA, SMAS, SVAS, TVS.
    • Not renewing: SNGS, [closed by COSC] STARS.
    • Clubs in area that havenĂ•t been a member in years: Halls Valley, PAS.

FPOA Treasurer Denni Medlock indicated that she would look into why FPOA hasn't billed AANC for its share of the 1998 SBQ food costs. FPOA Treasurer Denni Medlock will also contact fmr FPOA treasurer John Stewart o find out status of AANC's donation ($500), not cashed. Bank Stmt indicates that SCAS has cashed the AANC donation ($175) -- Ad Astra! -- Don Stone

Club reports

David Hercules no meetings since March; will be making up new schedule soon. May 22 will be next stargazing at Hercules. Will be working Cal Acaemy of Sciences on Astonomy Day. There is a problem with having all communication now via online means. [response from Jane: she tried to call David and Ilona.] David suggests that minutes and meeting dates be sent via regular mail. Need AANC phone list. We began list circulating

Liede-Marie (MDAS); Many people came to symposium. Observatory is not going well Jon Wilson. 60% of funds need are obtained for original estimate of $260,000. Current low bidder is asking $387,000. We must "use or lose" the $60,000 state funds by June 30.

John H (VOM/LHS) There will be eclipse trip--10 days; fairly expensive--to Greek islands etc. Contact Al Heppe for details. Planning for late summer event in Sonoma County--fliers were handed out at AANC Symposium. Stargazing continues at LHS Saturday nights.

Dennis L (SAS) next meeting 5/13--speaker will be Dick Vizell PhD in physics speaking on comets and what they may do for us. Astronomy day activities will be on May 21 for SAS.

Morris (SJAA) last weekend had Annual Auction #19 rasied several hundred dollars. Swap meet in afternoon. Event 5/22 for Astronomy at Tech Museum will demonstrate mirrors in various stages of completion. SJAA meeting will be that night.

Ilona M. (SMAS) SMAS is planning big bash for Astronomy Day with 4-5 planetarium shows, about 10 scopes, topic of the Sun will be freatured. Guest speaker from Lockheed Martin on Yokoh, SOHO. Meeting at usual site--Nathaniel Bowditch Middle School. Bulletin editor will be Jerry Yost soon. Next meeting is 1st Thur of the month--topic will be computers in astronomy, using the Internet. June 1 Jeff Willet from Stanford will speak on spiral galaxies. SMAS is having an insurance problem currently that they are trying to solve. Jane & Carter mentioned Astronomical League provides insurance for member clubs. SMAS could get insurance for about $600/yr, but that's a lot for members to support.

Alan G. (LHS): LHS programs are on weekends until June 20 then every day, with main title changing every two weeks (see LHS website) and 3:30 show always being Constellations Tonight on how to use a star map to find the currently visible constellations. Current show is Colors from Space which is about how we learn things about stars from the colors of light we receive from them. LHS is now home of HOU project. COSC is interested in making one of its telescopes part of the HOU network which allows students/classrooms to request images via Internet.

Carter R. (EAS) Next talk Sat 6/5 Saul Permutter on expansion of Universe. Astronomy day plans are tenuous--Dave Rodrigues will do his usual talk on How Big. They will start dismantling the 20" refractor in May--prep for move to new COSC site. Telescopes will be at Jack London Square on Astronomy. There was a suggestion to set up telescope at Star Wars lines. At RTMC, a speaker will be Harrison Schmitt on Last Man on the Moon; Don Parker w/ discussion group on Lunar and Planetary observing; ...Last night Norm Sperling spoke on Take a Nebula, Condense and Stir--Carter highly recommends this talk for other clubs.

Don S. (TMW) Working on move to new site. Don went to Striking Sparks (Sonoma) meeting which had a large block of time (1 hour) to Junior Astronomers. Don read a fantastic letter from a student about the joys of astronomy.

Don suggested AANC donate $175 to Striking Sparks next year (he made commitment to them already). Motion--Carter moved we approve the expenditure to donate $175 to Striking Sparks again this year. Morris seconded. Motion passed.

Jane H. (Fremont Peak)/AANC Star-B-Q will be July 10 this year--not August. We will update AANC website publicity for Star-B-Q. We could award remaining AANC awardee (Peter Jennison) at StarBQ. (SFAA) continues meetings the 3rd Wed of each month. Mt Tam Star Party Schedule is distributed on flier. The Mt Tam lecture series is under way each new moon Sat night. Adam Reese is one of the speakers. Sidewalk Astronomers & West Marin continue and are reachable by phone.

Symposium Post-mortem -- People (Ilona, John, Don) prepared written comments. Jane will compile them for us.

Ilona: volunteers were not well coordinated--didn't know what they should do. Kirsten did "everything."

Carter: need to send letters of thanks (to Kirsten & the Director--Steve Craig).

Jane: use of Morrision was great. They would love to have us back. Location was good. Drew a lot of people from Sonoma County and north Bay. Lot's from VOM and Sonoma. Free mailing lists were fantastic--Cal Acad, Mt Tam, ASP. Made a lot of money that ALL went to AANC. Netted about $3000. Good attendance -- 164 adults and 14 kids (total of 176). Excellent speakers.

Carter: We should put the proceeds to some really good uses. Also, there were some major space conflicts that had to be resolved in the last minute. We should have whole symposium in auditorium. John: Liked having some talks in the planetarium.

Don: The planetarium was not well utilized for the talks.

Jane: Kirsten said #1 suggestion is to not change rooms.

Ilona: Did not like the talk in the planetarium because she was in not a good position to view visuals.

Jane: Kirsten said have speakers send slides in ahead of time.

Ilona: Speakers coming in 15 minutes ahead of time and put stress on organizers.

Jane ended up doing a LOT of the work 2 months before the symposium.

Dennis: There's too much last minute stuff. Need to start planning earlier, like NOW for next year. Put out fliers in October, even if speakers are not committed.

Carter: early fliers could list the major speaker if known.

Liede-Marie: if we have it at LHS can we getting parking passes?

Alan: Yes. Day passes are $3.

Don: Motion that we seek to have next year's symposium at Morrison. Carter: seconded. Dennis amended motion to have the symposium on March 18 or 25. Carter/Don accepted the amendment. Motion passed unanimously.

Jane: any volunteers for duties? Dave Rodrigues and John will procure speakers. Alan can be WWW page "receiver/updater." Don will handle registration at ground zero.

Ilona: Liked the space to have question and answer sessions and should plan for that in the future. John: It would have been great to videotape the talks.

Carter: Tempted to abandon the light system because (a) they need to be set up in same place all day, and (b) speakers need the light meaning explained to them. How do we get back on schedule if we get off-schedule.

Jane: we need to send letters of appreciation to Morrison and send thank-you gifts to speakers.

Astronomy Day 1999

Jane will send Alan the updates that she has received via e-mail or otherwise for posting on AANC Astronomy Day website.

Ilona: suggests when the dues notice is sent out, to include e-mail address on the form.

Star-B-Q is July 10.

New Business

Project Astro -- Jane is now on Bay Area Project Astro Coalition (BAPAC). They will not be getting NSF funding anymore so they are seeking fund-raising ideas. AANC could donate something. Would any clubs be willing to sponsor Proj Astro? Contacts with foundations?

Also, Proj Astro is considering having an events calendar. Discussion ensued about the problems with AANC website. Universe at Your Fingertips is being updated.

Agenda for next meeting will include topics and planning for next AANC Symposium.

Ilona: we should get Planetary Society involved again.

Morris moved we adjourn--Lance seconded.

Adjourned 12:43pm

Board Members:

Carter Roberts, Dennis LeClert, John Hewitt, Dennis Tye, David Harris, Ilona Magyary, Alan Gould (taking minutes), Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...) (President), John Hewitt (V.P), Alan Gould (Secretary), Tinka Ross (Mt. Tam Observers; Morrison Planetarium), Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), , David Harris (Hercules Stargazers) , Don Stone (EAS), DennisTye (Messier Club), Morris Jones (SJAA), Dennis LeClert (Stockton A.S,), Morris Jones (SJAA)

AANC Board Meeting Minutes -- 6/27/99

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), John Hewitt (V.P), Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Dave Anderson (TVSG), Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), David Harris (Hercules Stargazers) , Dennis LeClert (SAS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Ilona Magyary (SMAS), A HREF="Brd-CR.html">Carter Roberts (EAS)

Minutes of 3/7/99--Motion--Minutes accepted (motion made and passed). David:Hercules Stargazers should be in parentheses.

Treasurer's report

Gave out Income Statements, Balance sheets, AANC Dues and Deadline list.

AANC Treasurer's Report -- 06 June 1999

Balance -- Franklin Money Fund, 5/28/99 $1,691.07

Balance -- Washington Mutual Bank, 6/27/99 $5323.30

Total Funds: 7020.17

AANC Memberships:

    • PAID-UP ( '99): ASP, COSC, EAS, EITU, CTMW, EITU, ,HSG, LHS LUMICON, MDAS, MTO, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, WM, TMW. TVS
    • DUE: ('99) FPOA, Gr70, Gloen Ellen, MP. ,NCHLADA, PSNCVN, SCAS, SFAA, SMAS. SVAS,

Ad Astra! -- Don Stone

Ilona suggested that we transfer more of the money into interest-earning account.

Club Reports

[at bottom of page--click "Club Reports" to go there]

Astronomy Day 1999

Comments of review are in Club Reports.

Jane: Should we have a Fall Astronomy Day?

Ilona: October would be best to get kids/teachers/schools involved.

Oct 16 is Sat nearest first quarter moon.

There was broad consensus to proceed with the idea of Fall 99 Astronomy Day

AANC Annual Symposium

Review of 1999 event and planning for 2000 event.

Jane compiled review comments. and distributed 1 page version to those present. People liked use of Morrison Planetarium. Good publicity. Made lots of money. New crop of attendees--lots from north bay.

Kirsten (Morrison) said only a few thing to do differently. Avoid moving rooms. Schedule of volunteeers. Have refreshments catered. Have speakers send in slides. Have schedule two weeks ahead of time. Don't start at 8:30. 9am or even 10 would be better. The only thing that did not go well was having to truncate afternoon talks. In future, Morrison would be sure to reserve Auditorium well in advance.

Two dates have been reserved at California Academy: March 18 and 25.

John H: We SHOULD use the planetarium. People like it.

Ilona: Planetarium arrangement makes slide viewing hard for half the audience.

Carter: If we can plan for certain talks to have duplicate sets of slides, that problem could be solved.

Ilona: 25th would be better in terms of when club bulletins come out.

Motion--Dennis L. moved that AANC have its Symposium 2000 on March 25, 2000 at California Academy in San Francisco with Morrison Planetarium as host. Morris seconded.

Jane: List of things to do (jobs).

Don Stone, Dave Rodrigues and John Hewitt will form a team for speaker procurement.

Ilona will query David Morrison at NASA Ames for what's up in the next 5 years, for topics to suggest.

Alan can be WWW page "receiver/updater."

Registration: Don and Kirsten

Name Badgers

Signage:

Information and Refreshments:

Flier:

Schedule:

Timing Police:

Volunteer Coordinator:

Themes:

John H: we should start now asking around about what theme and title should be--depends on what speakers may be available.

Ideas: perhaps we do not need a theme; use of computers in astronomy; have part be amateur observational astronomy--visual delights for observers; get someone clubs can't get; Don Parker (astrophotographer); The Sun; Near Earth Asteroids; Advanced Propulsion/rockets; Hands-On Universe for Everyone; Exploring what we'll be doing in the next 50 years; fruition of missions; teleconference with people from far away; Connections to the future; Your Date With the Universe;

Ilona: Before finalizing theme, we should think about who our audience is. Also, if we start late perhaps we can end at 6.

John H: liked the impropmtu club sharing at beginning. Star-B-Q is July 10.

Jane may judge for astronomical/gastronomical contest(s)

New Business

Carter: July 24 is 30 anniversary of Moon landing. The Hornet was recovery ship at both Apollos 11-12. It is at former Naval Airstation in Alameda. Amateurs are encouraged to bring telescopes. Check http://www.usshornetmuseum.org; Phone: 510-521-8448.

John Hewitt: Family events at Morrison Planetarium has 3 storytelling sessions "On the Moon" Ruth Stotter (June 29); "Story of the Universe" Mary Ellen Hill; "Envisioning the Solar System" Lanny Pinola.

Don asked question about Messier Awards. Dennis Tye will report eventually. Revisit the idea of an "AANC 100 (Century)" award. Morris had proposed that idea. List achievable by new observer and enjoyable for experienced observers as well.

Dennis moved we adjourn--Ilona seconded.

Adjourned 12:44 pm

Club reports

David H. (Hercules) May 8, 22, June 12. May 22 (Astronomy Day) HSG went to Calif Academy to help out. Well attended. HSG provided solar binoculars. The evening HSG held regular stargazing at Foxboro. 5 telescope & binoculars. Next unofficial meeting StarBQ July 10. Next Foxboro event July 17, Aug 14, Sep 4.

Liede-Marie (MDAS); Has public star parties in past months. Observatory is not going well Jon Wilson. 60% of funds need are obtained for original estimate of $260,000. Current low bidder is asking $387,000. We must "use or lose" the $60,000 state funds by June 30.

John H (VOM/LHS) Stargazing continues at LHS Saturday nights. Astronomy Day went VERY well. There wre spectacular sunspots!

Dennis L (SAS) Friday night Sacramento radio station commentator had said NASA had dropped a "disco ball" into space--a bright object that was supposed to be a satellite in the western sky. Dennis called in and explained that was Venus. If you're intersted in 24" reflector, Jeff Baldwin is selling one. He's building a 40" Check SAS website if interested.

Morris (SJAA) Astronomy Day was big event. Built telescope at Tech Museum. Had solar telescope out front. Everyone who did grinding on the mirror (public) got to sign the telescope. Arranging with Pinnacles National Monument to hold public stargazing. Three dates are planned so far planned. Regular Starparties at Houge Park on 1st quarter and 3rd qarter moons Friday nights. Doug Davis can no longer teaach observational astronomy class. Need new teacher. SJAA has been AL member for past 3 years for purpose of getting insurance $580/yr for insurance plus $3/head for membership (250 members) SJAA has identified an insurance company (Fireman's fund) that can insure non-profits for about $350. Dropping AL membership as of this year.

Ilona M. (SMAS) 15 Telescopes & 6+ planetarium shows at Bowditch middle school. Lockhed Martin gave out TRACE project posters. Other posters were available too. Had planisphere making activity (conducted by Paul Lee). Had a couple of computers with astronomjy software. Star party June 5 with full brownie troop and a class from parochial school (70 people total). Some of the SMAS group went to a Lick Observatory event. Next meeting July 17 banquet with Charles Lewis, Lockheed, on Ancient Greek, Egyption, and Mesopotamian Astronomy. August there will be trip to Stanford radio dish.

Dave Anderson (TVSG) Club has new website: http://www.trivalleystargazers.org 4 star parties including one July 10 at White Mountain, in conjunction with EAS. On Astronomy Day TVSG did a star party at a school in Fremont (Hopkins Jr. high--has a planetarium) The school, project Astro and TVSG are working together to revitalize that planetarium. There is also a club at Mission HS. 2nd telescope may be put at "Hidden Hill" Observatory. Jack Marling's 17.5" telescope is being refurbished. Club goes to Glacier Point on new moon weekend in August (8/13-15). Also considering getting a solar telescope for public events and as loaner scope. Discussing insurance issue--may join Astronomical League partly for that purpose.

Alan G. (LHS): LHS programs are on everyday throughbout the summer, with main title changing every two weeks (see LHS website) and 3:30 show always being Constellations Tonight on how to use a star map to find the currently visible constellations. Show cycle is COSC is interested in making one of its telescopes part of the HOU network which allows students/classrooms to request images via Internet.

Carter R. (EAS) Next Lecture: Leonid Meteors up close and person Peter Jenniskens. Astronomy Day was unusaul--began dismantling Rachel to do restoration (in Richmond) for ultimate installation at the new Chabot facility in October or November. Leah is still in operation through the summer. Chabot may be opened (partly) as early as end of December.

Jane's Reports:

SFAA

Fri, 25 Jun 1999 11:08:11 -0700

President Al Stern presided over May 19 and June 16 meetings. Chris McKay was the speaker in May and a videotape of a Stellafane talk on Perseid Meteor Showers was the June program. I don't remember who the July and August speakers will be but the meetings will be held July 21 and August 18. I know for a fact that Jane Houston will talk about Observing at Ayers Rock, Australia at the September meeting on September 15th, however.

Bob Levenson has begun as editor of the "Above the Fog" club newsletter, and the June issue was distributed. Toney Burkhart contributed a wonderful article about the club's May trip to Mount Wilson - a must read! Everyone who attended had a fantastic time, and were awed by the history of the place. The SFAA toured SLAC at Stanford on June 26. Many members attended RTMC in May. SFAA member Steve Overholt won one of the RTMC Merit awards for creative use of materials used in telescope making. The SFAA picnic will be in September. Details will be announced on the SFAA Website and in the newsletter as details are firmed up.

Al Stern and Kirsten Van Stone will represent ASP and SFAA at the ASP Universe 1999 in Toronto in July.

City Star Parties were held at Point Lobos in SF on Astronomy Day May 22, and on June 19. Next City Star party is on July 17th, and August 21. Dark Sky star parties were held on Mount Tam on May 15, and June 12. Next Mount Tam star parties dates are July 10 and August 14. Star parties are preceded by a talk in the Mountain Theatre sponsored by Mount Tam Interpretive Association. --Jane Houston, SFAA representative

West Marin Astronomy Club

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 11:14:23 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0

Steve Overholt and a few other Marin County amateur astronomers hold regularly scheduled star parties in sites throughout Marin County. First Quarter Moon Sunday Nights are the dates of the Corte Madera Book Passage store star party. New Moon Friday nights are reserved for Dark Sky Star parties in Lagunitas behind the Swing Cafe. Third Quarter Saturdays and other dates are also likely Lagunitas dates.

Check the West Marin club information here on the AANC website or call Steve at (415) 381-5340 or at work at Sunnyside Nursery at (415) 453-2701 - it's ok to call him at work. Star party information is posted at the Nursery in San Anselmo too. West Marin members are proud of Steve for being awarded a merit award at RTMC. Steve was the AANC Amateur of the year for 1998.

San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 11:46:15 -0700

The Sidewalk Astronomers hold regular public star parties at 24th and Noe on first quarter Saturday nights. Dark Sky star parties are also conducted, weather permitting in Marin and Sonoma counties, sometimes elsewhere. Call the hotline at (415) 289-2007 for the exact dates and locations.

The Sidewalk Astronomers just returned from the Grand Canyon Star Party, held in June where many members set up telescopes for the public. Barry Hirrel gave a sunset talk as he does nearly every year. Accompanied by a slide show, this is a favorite event for many attendees and public visiting the Grand Canyon.

John Dobson taught Telescope Making and Astronomy for Children under 80 in Fort Worth, Texas in May, High Sierras in June, Oregon in July, Connecticut in August. He will also be the Keynote Speaker at Stellafane 1999, held in August in Vermont. Visit the Sidewalk Astronomers web sites, listed in the AANC club listing for more information about the Sidewalk Astronomers

Jane Houston taught a mirror making class in conjunction with the SJAA in the springtime. John will be teaching two SF classes in the fall, as usual at the Randall Museum and at the California Academy of Sciences - October thru December 1999.

The Sonoma County Astronomical Society

has had some nifty speakers recently. In May at the meeting on the 12th, Eric Burgess talked about Mars. In June, on June 9th, Dan Werthimer talked about SETI@home. One month into SETI@home launch, there are 500,000 computers running and analyzing data. This makes SETI@home the largest supercomputer in the world. Adrian Cool will talk about Globular Clusters at the July 14 club meeting and Jane Houston will talk about Australia and play the didgeridoo at the August 11 club meeting.

The Striking Sparks program wound down for the year in April with the awarding of 10 telescopes to kids in Sonoma County. The AANC sponsored scope is in the hands of a 11 year old girl, who loves it! And the AANC has already sponsored a scope for next year too! Now the follow up begins as each child is assigned a star-buddy, an older Striking Sparks telescope awardee from a past year. All these kids are members of the SCAS Young Astronomers club, mentored by Ed Megill, and they have monthly star parties and club meetings in Kenwoood, Sonoma County.

The SCAS members are also active in the construction of the new wing of the Ferguson Observatory in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma county. June 19th was the grand opening of the new wing, housing a 16 inch telescope. Public star parties are held at Ferguson on Friday and Saturday nights once or twice a month, and solar viewing is also offered on these days. The schedule is on the VMOA (Valley of the Moon Observatory Association) website, and is handed out. Check the listing on the AANC club list for contact information. --Jane Houston SCAS representative

Jane Houston for Tinka Ross (MTIA)

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 12:42:44 -0700

The Mount Tamalpais Interpretive Association sponsors the public astronomy programs in the Mountain Theatre on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, before each SFAA star party at the Rock Springs Parking Lot on new moon Saturday nights April thru October. These popular lectures have been running now for 10 years. About 400 attendees learn something about the universe, and then descend on the telescopes set up by the SFAA afterwards in the Rock Springs parking lot.

A recent visitor to Mount Tam from another local astronomy club was amazed at the knowledge shown by the public attendees who stopped by their telescopes during the May Lecture and Star Party. The lecture series is promoting astronomy knowledge and encouraging future astronomers.

The June 12 program featured Dr. Garrett Jernigan, Space Sciences Lab "The Fast World of X-Ray Astronomy: Einstein's Laboratory"

Next on the schedule is:

July 10 at 8:30PM Dr. Millie Hughes-Fulford, UCSF/VAMC, NASA Astronaut "Living and Working in Space"

August 14 at 8:30PM Dr. Adam Riess, UC Berkeley "Supernovae Reveal an Accelerating Universe"

Jane Houston, reporting for MTIA Representative Tinka Ross

Jane Houston for FPOA

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 13:12:38 -0700

FPOA in conjunction with AANC will hold its annual Star B Que in July 10th this year. All the details are listed on the flyer, which is on the AANC website, and also in the FPOA website maintained by Bob Black.

Public Observing is in full swing every Saturday except the fiull Moon Saturday night at Fremont Peak. Volunteers start with a slide show or talk, and then open the 30 inch Challenger telecsope for public viewing, weather permitting.

The calendar of dates are listed on the FPOA site, but since this is a new club report I'll list them here too:

Membership forms and email questions can be obtained from membership chairman Bob Black at this website: http://home.att.net/~fpoa/fpoa.htm June 05 SOLAR Program Public Program

12 Public Program Board Meeting at the Peak, Work Party

19 Public Program

July 10 SOLAR Program Public Program FPOA / AANC Star-B-Que

Open Board Meeting, General Meeting 17 Public Program

24 Public Program

August 07 SOLAR Program Public Program

14 Public Program

21 Public Program

---Jane Houston, FPOA volunteer and member

Aimee Chang and Al Stern (ASP)

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 14:28:09 -0700

The ASP (Astronomical Society of the Pacific) 111th annual meeting will be held in Toronto July 1 through July 7. The meeting includes teacher / education workshops, Universe '99 (in conjunction with Astronomy Magazine), astronomical talks and exhibits, and this years Symposium is the Scientific / Educational Symposium on Amateur - Professional Partnerships in Astronomy Research and Education.

The annual meetings of the RASC (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada) and AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) will be held in conjunction with the ASP meeting.

Last year Project ASTRO created 30 new partnerships in San Jose, Fremont, Redwood City, Danville, Concord, Benicia, Castro Valley, San Francisco, Menlo Park, Watsonville, Mill Valley, Redwood City, Corte Madera, Los Gatos, Los Altos, Soquel, Alameda, Burlingame, Berkeley, San Lorenzo and Santa Cruz.

This year we will have 35 new partnerships attending the NASA Ames workshop August 7th and 8th and beginning their classroom partnerships in the Fall of 1999. They will be working in schools thoughout the Bay Area, including an all Girls' School in Mountain View. There will also be a partnership at Girls Inc. of Alameda, a community based non-profit organization serving girls in Alameda county.

This year's partnerships will be serving students in Half Moon Bay, Woodside, Redwood City, Mountain View, Mill Valley, Berkeley, Belmont Shores, Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Leandro, Concord, Palo Alto, Watsonville, Pinole, Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Hayward, Los Altos, and Newark.

Kirsten VanStone (Morrison Planetarium)

Dean Lectures with Academy Fellows in 1999 were a success. The Summer Series features storytelling, and is geared to families. July 13, David Malin is here. Tickets are $3.00 -- call 415-750-7141 for info.

Astronomy Day -- thanks to the Hercules Stargazers, the SFAA and the Palomares 4H Astronomy Project for their help. WE HAD CLEAR SKIES THIS YEAR. YAYAYAYAYAYAY! (you can quote me directly if you want) 700 people were counted at just one of many telescopes. Meade Instruments Corp. donated an ETX and sent up a rep. to show it off. That's all for now...

except that we have a really cool new show called "Tales of the Twilight" featuring sky-lore and mythology. ----Kirsten VanStone, Planetarium Staffer

AANC Board Meeting Minutes -- 8/29/99

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), John Hewitt (V.P.), Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Lloyd Altamirano (SAS), Dave Anderson (TVS), Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), David Harris (HS) , Dennis LeClert (SAS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Ilona Magyary (SMAS)

Minutes of 6/27/99--Motion--Minutes accepted (motion by Morris made -- seconded b y David A. -- and passed) with following corrections: David Anderson:TVS is abbreviation for Tri-Valley Stargazers. David H. HS is abbreviation for Hercules Stargazers

AANC Treasurer's Report

Jane: Peninsula Astronomical Society (PAS) -- William Phelps -- is renewing/rejoining.

Don's new phone # is 510-336-3680. New address is PMB 13; 2489 Grove Way; Castro Valley, CA 94546-7129.

Balance -- Franklin Money Fund, 8/29/99 $1,709.27

Balance -- Washington Mutual Bank, 8/29/99 $5350.88

Total Funds: $7060.15

NCHALADA renewed membership AANC Memberships:

    • PAID-UP ( '99): ASP, COSC, EAS, EITU, CTMW, EITU, ,HS, LHS LUMICON, MDAS, MTO, NCHLADA, PAS, SFAA, SCAS, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, SMAS, WM, TMW. TVS, VOM, WMAS
    • DUE: ('99) ALPO, FPOA, Gr70, Glen Ellen, MP. ,PSNCVN, SVAS

Morris moved, David A seconded we accept Treasurers Report.

Ad Astra! -- Don Stone

Club Reports

[at bottom of page--click "Club Reports" to go there]

Old Business

Star-B-Q was July 10.

See... StarBQue Page to find report from Jane on this year's event

Kids did invent-a-constellation contest. Jane showed some of the entries. Adults did invent-an-asterism contest.

Nominees for AANC Annual Awards (Jane)

Ilona wants to nominate Mike Ryan for AANC Amateur Award. Active in club. Founded the club and helped found AANC.

Please get the word out to clubs that AANC seeks nominees for its annual awards. We will be making more niminations at October board meeting and vote on awardees at December board meeting. We present awards both at Annual Symposium AND at Annual StarBQue. Peter Jennisken especially appreciated getting his at Fremont Peak where he does his Leonid work.

Century Award Progress (Morris)

Show list of candidate objects to be found by AANC "Century Award" winners. List will consist of 100 objects to be observed (not just Messier Objects). For beginning and intermediate observers. Includes specific lunar features (e.g. Clavius, straight wall, ...), Mercury, Uranus, Internation Space Stations, double stars, dark nebulae, galaxies, planetary nebulae, open clusters, Perseus Double Cluster.... Some items will lead people to observing other items in those categories. John H. suggested observing a meteor shower. Have observations of objects begin in January, 2000. There was brief discussion of what the award should be -- brass plaque, certificate, red observers light, star charts, ...?

New Business

Request from Sidewalk Astronomers to purchase a slide set from ASP to replace obsolete set currently used.

Motion: Don moved and David A. seconded that AANC allocate $29.99 plus tax and shipping to purchase a Galileo or Pathfinder slide set for use by Sidewalk Astronomers. Motion passed.

Ilona: Would ASP give discount to AANC for slide sets?

Motion: Don moved that we allocate $1000 annually for things to purchase for clubs. Morris asked who would administer it? Don: AANC board would approve or deny any request. John H. suggested that there be upper limit ($50 or so). David A./Morris: no need for this motion, since Board would need to approve any requsts anyway. David A.: lets just publicize to member clubs that AANC can buy such items. Morris amended (Don accepted; John H seconded) motion to be $500 rather $1000. Motion passed. [No dollar limit on individual requests under $500.]

AANC Annual Symposium

Planning for 2000 event -- March 25.

Jane will generate a list of things to do (jobs) with timeline for people to volunteer for.

[From last meeting:]

Don Stone, Dave Rodrigues and John Hewitt will form a team for speaker procurement; Alan can be WWW page "receiver/updater;" Registration: Don and Kirsten; Name Badges: Signage:

Information and Refreshments:

Publicity:

Flier:

Schedule:

Timing Police:

Volunteer Coordinator:

Dennis: For notice in Sky & Tel/Astronomy, there is 3-4 month lead time. So by Nov. we need to decide on theme, have key speaker(s), and contact info.

Ilona: Title suggested last time was "Your Date with the Universe." The Century Award theme could be a theme unto itself. Talks could be given related to specific objects on the list. John H: could we have talk via Internet? Alan G: Could be "New Century Astronomy" with special reference to launch of the new century list/award project. Dennis: "Your Date with the Universe and What Do Do On It." Ilona: have photos of objects be displayed.

New Idea:

Ilona suggests we list astronomy clubs and/or astronomy activities in booklet(s), brochure(s), or in newspaper(s) for tourists. Jane: We DO have AANC Resource Guide that is distributed.

Fall Astronomy Day -- October 16, 1999

Club events will be listed on AANC Astronomy Day Web Page. Please get info to Jane for compilation. The event is listed in Sky & Telescope calendar and Astronomy magazines's online calendar. Chronicle and Examiner can promote it.

Leonids Maximum Program with Dr. Peter Jenniskens -- November 17, 1999

He will be doing airborne observations over Pacific. There will be 3 locations in California where people will be doing observations. Anyone who is interested in doing Leonid Meteor Shower observing in November, please get in touch with Jane.

Mercury Transit -- 1:11-2:10 Nov. 15 ---David A.

Chico Starfest -- Sept 18

Adjourned 12:49 pm

Club reports

David H. (Hercules) Last event was unofficial meeting at FPOA StarBQue July 10. It went well with rHS members in attendance. We enjoyed a nice dark sky until early hours, tried out Canon 10x30 Image Stablizer Binoculars which was great for finding objects. July 17 we set up 5 telescopes at Foxboro Park under a fair sky. File box full of printed material was missing from storage place/building. Other things were missing--table for slide projector. Aug 14 meeting was cancelled because noone with key attended. Next events 9/4, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16 (ASTRO DAY). Second annual planning meeting in November. David was in Chorum Turkey to see eclipse Aug 11.

Liede-Marie (MDAS); no Society mtg in August. Board meetings Aug 9 (discussed Round Valley alternate site) and Sept 13. Society Star parties Sep 11 and Sep 18. Stargazers at Yosemite Aug 6-7 was mediocre. About 15 amateur astronomers with telescopes & 30 visitors. 7th was OK. 6th had lots of fog. There was article in Conta Costa Times about the work on Mt. Diablo astronmy education center/observatory. Work is delayed because nearly half of its $520,000 cost has yet to be raised. It's to be a 1400 sq ft observatory that they were hoping to open in fall. It will feature a lecture hall seating 50 people, computer room, and an outside deck for stargazing called "The Constellation."

John H (VOM/LHS) Valley of the Moon Astronomy Camp-- see Jane's report

Dennis L (SAS) Rather quiet in last few months. Trying to keep planetarium as the meeting place. In last weekend of Sept, SAS will have display/telescopes at Airshow at Stockton Airport--Bob Smith with NASA coordinates. Bob Smith will be speaking about Life Support in Space. In October, program will be on Astronomy Related music. Nov -- Show & Tell. Dec -- Winter Skies. Some school programs coming too. Lloyd Altamirano added that 500 children from Tracy will come to Stockton airshow

Morris (SJAA) Quiet in San jose. Sep will be Slide & Equipment night. expecting good eclipse shows from members in \Sep. Looking for speaker for Oct.

Ilona M. (SMAS) QuietGroup outking to Exploratorium on aug 18. Al Stern will speak on new things from Hubble Telescope --talk in September. More club star paratiew at Fremont Peak. Planning more programs with city park system. Meeting at San Carlos Crestview Park in exchange for being allowed to stay past 10pm curfew, will offer public stargazing. Star parties in fAll will feature Moon

Dave Anderson (TVSG) [Check EMAIl------ ----- ----- White Mountain. Camp Shelley--Lake Tahoe. Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore. New logo contest--winner Chuck Grant. See Tri-Valley website.

Alan G. (LHS): LHS programs are on everyday Saturday and Sunday (see LHS website). 1pm and 2:15 pm show will be Mystgeries of Missing Matter and 3:30 show always being Constellations Tonight on how to use a star map to find the currently visible constellations. Show cycle is COSC is interested in making one of its telescopes part of the HOU network which allows students/classrooms to request images via Internet. Solar Eclipse Girl Scout sleepover Aug 10-11.

Carter R. (EAS) Next Lecture: EAS lecturer in Aug did not show up (Dr.l Helen Quinn--Stanford Linear Accelerator) Carter stepped in with a .. Eclipse show will be in October (18?). EAS workparty on Rachel is proceeding at high speed. Have to replace some metal parts with stainless steel. Sandblasting is done. Paint will be dark blue; black trim. A plaque implied Board of Education owns the telescope--which is not true. New plaque will be prepared but old one will be kept for lhistorical reference. Has been at Old site for 80 years. Will go in new site in Oct (apprx). Work on Leah will start after Rachel is done.

Jane's Reports:

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers

27 Aug 1999; Website: http://zennla.com/sfaa/; President Al Stern presided over July 21 and August 18 meetings. Our own AANC VP John Hewitt gave an incredible talk, complete with Planetarium special effects in July. The August speaker was Dr. Lynn commisky of Sonoma State and SLAC, talking about...September 15 will bring member Jane Houston who will talk about Observing at Ayers Rock, Australia at the September meeting . Bob Levenson has begun as editor of the "Above the Fog" club newsletter, and the July and August newsletters were welcomed by all!

SFAA Yosemite trip (sold out!) will be over the Labor Day weekend, September 3, 4, 5. The SFAA picnic will on September 25th at Speedway Meadow - by the BBQ pits in Golden Gate Park.

City Star Parties were held at Point Lobos in SF on July 17th, and August 21. Dark Sky star parties were held on Mount Tam on July 10 and August 14. Last Mt. Tam parties (with MTIA lecture first) will be September 11 (Dr. Chris Chyba) and October 9th (Dr. Sarah Arnaud) Star parties are preceded by a talk in the Mountain Theatre sponsored by Mount Tam Interpretive Association. --Jane Houston, SFAA representative

San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers

Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999 July and August are foggy SF months, which fogged out some of the summertime first-quarter moon sidewalk sessions at 24th and Noe in SF and at 9th and Irving.

SF Weekly ran this article on the Sidewalk Astronomers in August. http://www.sfweekly.com/1998/081899/nightcrawler1.html

John Dobson was the Keynote Speaker at Stellafane, August 14 and 15, and recipient of the Russell Porter Plaque. He is teaching telescope making and cosmology in Connecticut in late August and Early September, rounding out a full spring and summer of classes nationwide, from LA to Vermont, Oregon to Texas.

Fall Telescope Making and cosmology classes will be held in San Francisco. The schedule can be found at: http://members.aol.com/raycash/sched.htm

California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Telescope making beginning Monday October 4th.

California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Cosmology for Children under 80 (and their Elders) beginning Tuesday October 5th.

Randall Museum, San Francisco Cosmology for Children under 80 (and their Elders) beginning Wednesday October 6th.

Randall Museum, San Francisco Telescope making beginning Thursday October 7th.

On the Solar Eclipse night (August 11), Jonathan Wilkendorf entertained the 2000+ all-night crowd at the Exploratorium with night views thru his telescope, while the crowd chased the shadows across the path of totality from Cornwall, to Germany to Paris and on to Eastern Europe and Turkey via live webcasts, accompanied by music and dance from the respective eclipse locale.

A Persied watch and slide show was held August 12 at Harbin Hot Springs in Sonoma County by Jonathan Wilkendorf. (perhaps the only clothing-optional meteor watch ever!)

Sidewalk Astronomer Barry Hirrell held a mirror polishing clinic at his SF home on August 22. Sidewalk Astronomer Jane Houston finally helped Mill Valley Middle School Science teacher Rilla Chaney FINISH figuring the last of three 4.25 inch telescope mirrors. Many thanks to the advisors at Chabot Telescope Making Workshop. These F-Long mirros were very difficult to finish! These mirrors were ground and polished by Rilla's after school Astronomy Club of 7th and 8th graders, and figured by Rilla and Jane. The first-light star party will be held in the fall.

SANTA ROSA--Sonoma County Astronomical Society; 707-795-7829 (Ed Megill); P.O. Box 183, Santa Rosa, CA 95402; MEETING PLACE: Proctor Terrace School, Bryden Lane near 4th Street, SANTA ROSA; 2nd Wed / month, 7:30 pm

The Sonoma County Astronomical Society Has had some nifty speakers recently. Member and retiring SRJC Planetarium manager Ron Orriti presented a farewell tour talkat the July 14 meeting. It was on life in the universe. A retirement cake with a large meteor impact in the middle was presented to Ron at the conclusion of his program. Jane Houston gave a talk about Australia and Mojo played the didgeridoo at the August 11 club meeting. Despite no electricity at the Proctor Terrace meeting place, the show went on. All members and guests hopped in their cars and drove to the recently finished Ferguson Observatory. Jane gave her talk in the classroom, and was accompanied by aboriginal tunes brought back from Australia. Afterward, everyone looked through the 40 inch Ferguson Telesscope, and wandered the new addition housing a 16 inch SCT, ready for CCD work. Outside, docents were giving park visitors a visual tough of the night sky.

No Sept. star party or Star-B-Que as Geysers/Palmieri site closed for deer season and Ferguson Observatory site is being used by VMOA Sept. 11 for 1st annual Sugarloaf Star Camp http://rfo.org/starcamp/index.html

Speaker at our Sept 8 general meeting to be Seth Shostak, Public Programs Scientist at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, author of the book "Sharing the Universe" (chosen as a Book of the Month Club science selection), etc., etc.

Speaker at our Oct. 13 general meeting to be SCAS member Dr. Ralph Mansfield, Professor Emeritus and former Chair, Dept. of Mathematics of the City College of Chicago, who will speak of his experiences while associated with the Chicago Adler Planetarium from 1930 through 1937.

Speaker at our Nov.10 meeting to be Ken Croswell, author of the book "Planet Quest, The Epic Discovery of Alien Solar Systems," who will speak about his soon to be published book "The Beautiful Universe."

Striking Sparks awards to be one month earlier in 2000, coordinators to present plans to board at board meeting in Sept.

George Loyer, Observatory Director, reported enthusiastic public response to CCD imager on 14" Fruth telescope in new wing of Robert Ferguson Observatory.

Big turnout at August 14 Star-B-Que at the Ferguson Observatory, held in conjunction with a public night at the observatory.

Ed Megill, former president of SCAS, to be interim director of planetarium at Santa Rosa Junior College after retirement of Ron Oriti.

Valley of the Moon Observatory Association Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999; Website:http://yorty.sonoma.edu/VMOA/

September 11 and 12 First Starcamp -- website and registration: http://www.rfo.org/starcamp/

Chance to use 40" telescope.

West Marin Astronomy Club Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999; This club has no website. here's the contact information: MARIN COUNTY--West Marin Astronomy Club contact: Steve Overholt (415) 453-2701 or Jane Houston (415) 453-2885 (email: Houston1@ix.netcom.com) Dark Sky Star Parties in LAGUNITAS near the new moon. Public astronomy at Cala Bell Market in FAIRFAX and Book Passage Bookstore in CORTE MADERA near first quarter moon. No indoor meeting, observational club only.

Steve Overholt and a few other Marin County amateur astronomers hold regularly scheduled star parties in sites throughout Marin County. First Quarter Moon Sunday Nights are the dates of the Corte Madera Book Passage store star party. New Moon Friday nights are reserved for Dark Sky Star parties in Lagunitas behind the Swing Cafe. Third Quarter Saturdays and other dates are also likely Lagunitas dates. West Marin members also join the SFAA at the city star party at Point Lobos on the First Quarter Saturday night.

Check the West Marin club information here on the AANC website or call Steve at (415) 381-5340 or at work at Sunnyside Nursery at (415) 453-2701 - it's ok to call him at work. Star party information is posted at the Nursery in San Anselmo too. West Marin members are proud of Steve for being awarded a merit award at RTMC in 1999. Steve was the AANC Amateur of the year for 1998.

Steve Overholt will be taking his 30 inch, 17 inch and 10 inch telescopes on a tour of Utah and Arizona National Parks in September. From Brice Canyon to the Grand Canyon, thousands will get to look through STeve's telescopes. He is training teachers and students - who will help him man the scopes at each stop.

ASP Report sans Project Astro Date: Fri, 27 Aug 1999; Bill Stepka and I attended the 111th Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Co-organized with The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) held at University of Toronto in Toronto Canada between July 1 and July 7, 1999. We attended the (three day) Technical Symposium on Amateur-Professional Partnerships in Astronomy Research and Education. There were some separate teacher education sessions and an all day History in Astronomy session as well.

Universe 99 (2 days) had interesting sessions. David Levy on Comets, Geoff Marcy on new planetary systems, Ivan Semeniuk on neutron astronomy, Harry Shipman on how stars end their lives, Jack Newton on CCD imaging, Sallie Baliunas on the Sun and climate change, Martin Duncan on the Keiper belt, Terrence Dickinson, Alex Filippenko, Andy Fraknoi and others.

The Technical Symposium on Amateur-Professional Partnerships in Astronomy Research and Education was very interesting. Presentations on a number of partnerships that exist today and a group of new ones that are in the works were given. I gave a presentation with two other people, Andreas Gada and Tom Williams, on what motivates the Amateur Astronomer. I had a poster paper about the same subject and Bill Stepka had a poster paper on Research for the Amateur Astronomer.

We met some really interesting people from all over the US and Canada. Some professional astronomers, astronomy educators, interesting amateurs, one from Australia, one from Switzerland, one from Peru, and one from Argentina, and some of the movers within amateur astronomy today. Frank Creese of EAS, Kirsten VanStone of the Morrison Planetarium, and maybe some others were there who don't come to mind at this instant.

It was a very interesting time including a tour of the David Dunlap Observatory, and the Ontario Science Center including an IMAX movie Cosmic Voyage. ---Al Stern, ASP Volunteer SFAA President

ASP - Project Astro

Welcome new Project Astro Bay Area Coordinator Eleanor (Ellie) Ely, who submitted this report.

On August 7th and 8th the conference room at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View was buzzing with astronomers and teachers getting to know each other, brainstorming classroom plans for the coming year, and participating in astronomy activities they will later take into school classrooms. It was the annual training workshop for new participants in Project ASTRO, now in its 7th year of partnering astronomers with teachers of 4th through 9th grade. Under the expert guidance of Dennis Schatz from the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, participants had the chance to try out some of ASTRO's most popular classroom-tested activities. For example, they were given a series of photos of the moon and asked to arrange them in sequential order - not based on their own knowledge, but as they thought the kids might do it. (This activity is called Planet Picking) Later they learned how to "Invent an Alien" and tried their hands at "Scaling the Solar System" by unrolling toilet paper rolls and counting the squares as they walked (each square represented one sun diameter).

The first day wound up with Andy Fraknoi's "Tourist Wonders of the Solar System," featuring breathtaking slides. Another highlight was the "veterans" panel in which experienced ASTRO participants Lauren Eason, Louis Haughney, Anita Pisciotta, and Jane Houston talked about "What I wished I had known about astronomer-teacher partnerships." The audience was attentive and spellbound watching the veterans, and asked plenty of questions. (Teacher) Anita stressed that it takes time to develop the Project Astro relationship. (Teacher) Lauren told the audience that Project Astro was what gave her the courage to get up each school day. Both astronomers told the group how thrilling and rewarding it was to go to the classroom.

The conference received high ratings from the 39 teachers and 29 astronomers who attended. (Note: The ranks of the astronomers somewhat thinned due to a certain celestial event in Europe! There are actually 40 new astronomer participants.) Participants were filled with plans and enthusiasm, and one astromoner commented as he left, "I can't wait to get into the classroom!"

Eleanor Ely Bay Area Project Coordinator Project ASTRO, 390 Ashton Ave., San Francisco, CA 94112; (415) 337-1100 ext. 101; home email ellieely@aol.com

Tri-Valley Stargazers

From: "David M. Anderson" <davidand@home.com> Sat, 28 Aug 1999; TVS has held star parties at White Mountain, July 8-12, Camp Shelly (Lake Tahoe), August 6-8, Glacier Point (Yosemite NP), August 13-15, and Sycamore Grove Park (Livermore), July 17 and August 21. All but the first were open to the public, and all but the first two had favorable weather. We have two more star parties planned, at Camp Shelly, September 3-6, and Sycamore Grove, September 11.

At our summer BBQ this month we announced the winner of our logo contest: Chuck Grant, whose winning design can be seen on our website, http://www.trivalleystargazers.org/ , and will be appearing soon on the Prime Focus newsletter, as well, no doubt, as nametags, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other memorabilia.

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: 10/24/99 -- [next meeting Dec 19]

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), John Hewitt (V.P.), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Carter Roberts (EAS),

Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), David Harris (HS) , Dennis LeClert (SAS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Ilona Magyary (SMAS)

AANC Board Meeting Minutes -- 10/24/99 -- Called to Order 10:22 am

Motion--Minutes accepted (motion by Morris made -- seconded b y John H. -- and passed) with following corrections: David H.: "rHS" should be "4 HS"; "corum" misspelled; LHS report "Mysteries" is mispelled.

AANC Treasurer's Report

Jane: We may be up to 25 members

    • PAID-UP ( '99): ASP, COSC, EAS, EITU, CTMW, EITU, ,HS, LHS LUMICON, MDAS, MTO, NCHLADA, PAS, SFAA, SCAS, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, SMAS, WM, TMW. TVS, VOM, WMAS
    • DUE: ('99) ALPO, FPOA, Gr70, Glen Ellen, MP. ,PSNCVN, SVAS

Club Reports

[at bottom of page--click "Club Reports" to go there]

AANC Annual Astronomy Symposium

Planning for 2000 event -- March 25.

We will be most of the time in the auditorium. Maybe a little in planetarium. Speaker ideas:

Ilona:

    • Made telephone call to Dr. David Morrison who indicated that he would be happy to speak on "Astrobiology" at our "Date with the Universe" Symposium. Also Garth Hull (NASA) suggested a title of "The Spirit of Exploration" and that we might want to get
    • JPL speaker on next generation space telescope. Jane: we might have enough funds to pay plane ticket. Carter will contact Steve Edberg. Garth Hull also suggested speakers on
    • a summary of Galileo mission stunning results;
    • SOFIA program. Ilona will still like to get
    • Dr. Eleanor Helin to speak on near Earth asteroids. Also
    • Dr. Keith Strong or someone else from Lockheed Martin to speak about the Sun projects.
    • Amateur astronomers and partnerships with professionals

Jane:

    • Speakers on observations of objects in the new AANC Century list of objects.
    • Morris added that we should introduce the Century list.

Ilona/Jane: perhaps we could put together a packet of freebies to hand out. Door prizes? [See previous minutes for more issues/ideas]

Fall Astronomy Day -- October 16, 1999

Many clubs had successful events (see club reports for some of the comments).

Century Award Progress (Morris)

Morris handed out proposed Century list. It is on the web in draft form at http://www.whiteoaks.com/AANC-Century/. It is not intended to have all objects seen in one night. Logbook is key to receiving award. All log entries must be make AFTER January 1, 2000. Some require dark sky viewing site, but some do not require telescope. Many are binocular objects and all should be able to be seen with 6" scope. Includes specific lunar features (e.g. Clavius, straight wall, ...), Mercury, Uranus, Internation Space Stations, double stars, dark nebulae, galaxies, planetary nebulae, open clusters, Perseus Double Cluster....

Morris will put together a slide show for the new program to be presented at AANC clubs. People will pay something to cover cost of the award document/plaque/patch or whatever it is. We might be able to present first awards at AANC Symposium 2000. Morris would like to finalize the Century object list by December 1, so get any feedback to him by then.

Leonids Maximum -- November 17, 1999

Jane will be updating the AANC Leonid page for this year's Leonids observing sites and info. Anyone who is interested in doing Leonid Meteor Shower observing in November, please get in touch with She will be doing airborne observations with Dr. Peter Jenniskens' Program over Pacific. There will be 3 associated locations in California where people will be doing observations.

Nominees for AANC Officers

Dennis proposes that current officers be renominated. There were no objections.

Nominees for AANC Annual Awards (Jane)

Amateur Award: Ilona nominates Mike Ryan. Active in club. Founded the club and helped found AANC. Professional Award: Jane nominates Alex Fillepenko. John H. seconds Commercial Award: Jane nominates Rainbow Optics (Jim Badura)

Please get the word out to clubs that AANC seeks nominees for its annual awards. We will be making more niminations at December board meeting and vote on awardees then. We present awards both at Annual Symposium AND at Annual StarBQue.

Mercury Transit -- 1:11-2:10 Nov. 15 ---David A.

Will be fairly difficult to see so most clubs are NOT publicizing.

Adjourned 12:45 pm

Club reports

David H. (Hercules) ---David Harris. Sep 4 regular meeting with 4 telescopes and binoculars. Several regulars with no scopes, but two new stargazers with telescopes and 20+ visitors. David gave 2 showings of his eclipse slide program (Slides from eclipse in Turkey). Since there were several "Daves" we called this "the night of many Daves." Oct 2 sparsely attended, just 2 scopes, 3 regulars but the viewing was great, until 11pm. Oct 16 full program with 7 scopes and 2 binoculars. A girl scout troup from El Sobrante, about 10 with parents and leader. [Telescope demonstration. Daves's slides of the eclipse was worked in with slide show sky tour (by Lance Shaw) and will be incorporated in the regular show] changte to: Program included a telescope demonstration, a sky tour by Lance Shaw, and slide show. Dave's slides of the 1999 solar eclipse were worked into the slide presentation and will be incorporated there in future shows.] ; Clear skies made for good telescope viewing of Moon Saturn, Jupiter, double strs and galaxies. Upcoming events Nov 13, Dec 11. Planning meeting date undetermined, probably end of October or early Nov.

Liede-Marie (MDAS); Mt. Diablo Leonid Meteor watching Wed Nov 17 sunset be at entrance no later than 4:30pm.

Society Star Party was held October 9th., and Public Star Party was on October 16th. Both had fairly clear skies but with hazy early evening skies.

Speaker at the October 26th club meeting will be Ken Croswell, speaking on "The Magnificent Universe", his newest book by the same title.

Speaker at the November 16th club meeting will be Jose Olivarez, and Observational Astronomer.

December 21st club meeting the members will discuss their observing activities. Also planned is a discussion on the "Christmas Star" given by one of our club members.

John H (VOM/LHS) Valley of the Moon Astronomy Camp-- see Jane's report

---Carter. Progress on Rachel. Article in Over 1100 hours of work have been done. Had to out of building by Oct 1. All big pieces were cleaned, sandblasted, primed, etc. There were a lot of brass pieces that had been painted--they will be cleaned up and left as brass with lacquer. Project will resume in Nov. Effort is headed up by Kevin Medlock. Ken Swaggerty is a contractor who has done a lot of work on it also--provided workspace too. EAD annual dinner will be on Sat May 13, 2000. Dome for 8" scope is supposed to be erected tomorrow--estimated 2.5 weeks to complete dome. Observadome.

Dennis L (SAS) Stockton had rash of star parties. Dennis attended two and there were 2 others First big one was Friday 24 Sep at Ron Nunn School, 200-300 people. Last Tue Brookside School, 100 pelple 3 telescopes, refractor, compund and Dennis' old reflector. Could only see summer triangle through fire-smoke/haze. Moon was orange/yellow. a few people could barely see Saturn. 24-26 Sept, club had nice display at Stockton air show. Hangar doors were open, but people could not see anything in there until a model shuttle was put out. A number of people showed up and new members were recruited.

Morris (SJAA) Mike Koop scheduled Michael Light, author of "Full Moon", a book with AMAZING Apollo photos to be the SJAA speaker on January 22. October speaker is Jane Houston, with guests mirror aluminizer Bob Feis - the hands-on talk was about mirror making. Many members brought mirrors and Foucoult Testers. November 20 Speaker will be Ken Croswell. Then the meeting will be Christmas Potluck party.on December 18.

Ilona M. (SMAS) Our club has been quite active in the past two months now that school is back in session. Al Stern gave us an update on the Hubble Telescope in September and Dr. Deborah Fischer filled us in on the latest in extra solar planetary exploration in October. We have had several club star parties and our members have again been active doing star parties for various schools and organizations.

Our club participated in a special star party given in conjunction with the San Pedro Park Ranger for the general public. Several of our club members brought their telescopes and we did a presentation on astronomy; the ranger provided dinner for our participating club members. This is becoming a tradition.

Again we had a great turnout for the October Astronomy Day. Our teacher sponsor at the Bowditch Middle School transfered out of the area, and we do not yet have a new sponser, but the school allowed us to use the facitlites with out a school representative present. We had over 150 people in the four planetarium shows; we had a spectroscopy exhibit & demonstration and we had a wonderful exhibit on the sun compliments of Lockheed Martin and the Stanford Solar observatory; Nasa, the ASP, and Stanford also provided some great posters and give away items. We had several telescopes set up for solar observing starting at 4:00, and one of our member brought his computer and demonstrated some of the astronomy software and programs. Some of our members were unable to attend so we had fewer telescopes than usual (only 8). The club provided a meal for all the "working" astronomers. Everyone had a good time!

We are again planning a star party to Fremont Peak to observe the Horse Head Nebula. We will be doing a "Moon Party" again soon. We will be participating in special star parties for schools, we have several already set up for November and several inquiries. We have had enquiries about the Mercury transit, but we have not decided if the club will have an activity. We are looking forward to talks by Dan Wertheimer and Ken Croswell in the near future; and we are planning some special talks on the sun and sunspots.

Finally, thanks to Jane and other AANC members our club has affordable insurance!

Alan G. (LHS): LHS programs are on everyday Saturday and Sunday (see LHS website). 1pm and 2:15 pm show will be Mysteries of Missing Matter and 3:30 show always being Constellations Tonight on how to use a star map to find the currently visible constellations. Alan attended Planetarium conference in Phoenix at which Bob Victor (Abrams planetarium) presented a paper on interesting configurations of planets in the next 3 years. alan will send this out via e-mail to AANC e-mail list.

John Hewitt (VOM; LHS) VOM annual Christmas potluck is planned. At LHS Astronomy Day 9/16, stunning viewing of sunspot groups. Seeing was VERY good. It was useful to teach people scale. Some spots separated by distance from Earth to Moon. Evening viewing was very well attended. Showed article by David Perlman about "A Close Encounter With Jupiter and Its Moons." Gives NASA wewbsite, but not AANC website. Some people came to stargazing hoping they had not missed the "swing by of Jupiter" one evening!

Jane's Reports:

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers

The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers celebrated Astronomy Day October 16th with a City Star Part at the USS San Francisco Memorial out near the Cliff House in San Francisco. It was a clear night and well attended. The last Mount Tam star Party was on October 9th. Both resume next spring.

Recent speakers at club meetings have included Dr. Lynn Cominsky in August on Neutron Star and Black Hole Binaries. Jane Houston in September, talking about Australia. Al Stern on Hubble slides in October. Dr. Halton Arp will speak to the club in December, since he will be giving a talk to the Dean Lecture Series the day before. Unlike his Dean talk, this one will be on observing.

The annual SFAA picnic was September 25th. the Annual Glacier Point trip was over the Labor Day weekend. New club newsletter Editor is Lorrie Boen, beginning with the next issue of the "Above the Fog". Dennis Tye has ideicated he is retiring from finding speakers, and President Al Stern is seeking volunteers.

SFAA members Al Stern will view the Leonids with David Levy in a cruise in the Meditteranean Sea. Member Jane Houston will view the Leonids from the air, as part of the NASA/SETI/USAF Leonid MAC Airborne Mission.

San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers

Telescope making classes have begun at the Randall Museum (10 students) and the Cal Academy of Sciences (20 students. Cosmology for Children under 80, John Dobson's introduction to Astronomy Class is also underway at both places plus at the SF Yoga Center. All classes run through early December. For Astronomy Day we presented a public program at Fremont Peak, with John Dobson giving the twilight talk and slide show. The Sidewalk Astronomers were at 24th and Noe on October 17th, with visiting member Barry Peckham, the coordinator from Hawaii.

We'll be there again on Halloween, with a film crew documenting our activities. Call the hotline at (415) 289-2007 to find out where we'll be next - we sponsor both in-city and dark sky observing nights! To arrange for John to talk to your club, call (818) 842-6484.

SANTA ROSA--Sonoma County Astronomical Society; 707-795-7829 (Ed Megill); P.O. Box 183, Santa Rosa, CA 95402; MEETING PLACE: Proctor Terrace School, Bryden Lane near 4th Street, SANTA ROSA; 2nd Wed / month, 7:30 pm

The SCAS will hold its annual Striking Sparks Day 2000 on March 25th. Darn it's the same day as our AANC Symposium. Recent speakers included SETI Seth Shostak in September and Dr. Ralph Mansfield in October. Dr. Mansfield related his memories of his first Solar Eclipse - in 1932!! He worked on the Adler Planetarium, when it opened, and was invited back last year when it was refurbised. The grandson of founder Adler was his host.

Member David Dorfman recommended to the club that they talk our their telescopes on Halloween and hand out Mars Bars, Milky Way Bars and Starburst Candies.

There were no official Astronomy day events with the SCAS. SRJC Planetarium shows are back in production, run by SCAS member Ed Megill. October 22 - November 28 is Observing sky wonders and December 3 thru December 19 is Christmas and the New Millennium. The Winter Solstice Pot Luck will be held in December. News will be in the "Sonoma Skies" club newsletter.

The Young Astronomers meet monthly. Recent programs have been, the Perseids, Review the winter sky, and coming up next month: Observing the Leonids.

School Star Parties continue. Three in October averaging 100 students.

West Marin Astronomy Club

The West Marin Astronomers (mostly a Marin set of the SFAA) have been active with public programs in Marin County. Project AStro star parties have been held at Bacich School in Greenbrae, and St. Anselms in San Anslemo. In addition regular scheduled events include Friday first quarter moon nights at Bell Market in Fairfax, Sunday first quarter moon nights at the Book Passage in Corte Madera, and dark sky observing at the Swing Cafe in Lagunitas on the Friday and Saturday nearest the new moon.

Steve Overholt has been bringing his large scopes to Chabot Observatory, Sacramento Valley and other places, and just completed making a scope for SFAA member Toney Burkhart.

Here's the Winter Schedule of events:

NOVEMBER

Saturday, November 6th Star Party in Lagunitas+

Friday, November 12th Moon/planet viewing in Fairfax++

Sunday, November 14th Moon/planet viewing at Book Passage+++

Saturday November 27th Star Party in Lagunitas+

DECEMBER

Saturday, 4th Star Party in Lagunitas+

Friday, December 10th Moon/planet viewing in Fairfax++

Sunday, December 12th Moon/planet viewing at Book Passage+++

JANUARY

Saturday, January 1st Star Party in Lagunitas (7 PM)+

Saturday, January 8th Star Party in Lagunitas+

Friday, January 14th Moon/planet viewing in Fairfax++

Saturday, January 15th Moon/planet viewing at Book Passage+++

Sunday, January 16th Moon/planet viewing at Book Passage+++

Saturday, January29th Star Party in Lagunitas+

FPOA

Astronomy Day was celebrated at Fremont Peak with none other than one of the founders of Astronomy Day, John Dobson! John provided a slide show peppered with wit, humor, charm and passion. The standing room only crowd spilled out both doors. There were at least 40 people in the classroom to hear the talk Afterward, the 60 or so guests which included a boy scout troop, members of the public, SJAA members and a few participants in John's telescope making classes in SF, one visitor from San Luis Obispo were treated to a beautiful first quarter moon night. Morris Jones manned the 30 inch Challenger, and about 6 scopes were set up outside the observatory for members of the public to share views through.. Sidewalk Astronomer Barry Peckham (and LITEBOX telescope maker) demonstrated his creations (owned by yours truly).

This was the last public program of the year at Fremont Peak using the FP Observatory. The scope will be winterized and other routine maintenance will be performed during the off season. Fremont Peak State Park is open for astronomy year 'round, however.

Morrison Planetarium

Planetarium shows: http://www.calacademy.org/planetarium/shows.htm

School shows: http://www.calacademy.org/planetarium/school.htm

Dean Lecture programs for the Fall 1999: Forum for emerging theories: http://www.calacademy.org/planetarium/special.htm#Fall 1999 Benjamin Dean Lecture Series December 14th features Dr. Halton Arp

Two Special Lectures coming up in November: Dava Sobel on Galileo's Daughter and Keay Davidson on Carl Sagan:A Life can be found at: http://www.calacademy.org/planetarium/special.htm#SPECIAL LECTURES

Mount Tamalpais Astronomy Programs

The 2000 Astronomical Pocket Diary is now available. This handy little book gives complete information on the moon daily, on the sun and planet weekly; lists meteor showers, occulations, eclipses, etc. The eclectic trivia for each day can add immeasurably to your conversation.

[ed note: you will become the life of the party, handsome men, attractive women and cute dogs will flock to your feet when you quote from your APD - it's true, I have one]

These date-books are great for planning your starparties and are wonderful gifts for your astronomically inclined friends. Check them out through the Mt. Tamalpais Interpretive Association site: www.mtia.net or directly at http://members.tripod.com/~apd2/apd.htm. Order your copy calculated for San Francisco by sending a check payable to MTIA for $10.75 per dairy to MTIA.Astronomy Programs, Tinka Ross, 89 Dominican Drive, San Rafael, CA 94901. Half of the price is a donation to the Mt. Tam Astronomy Programs.

The final lecture in the 1999 Astronomy Programs on Mt. Tamalpais will be held Sat. October 9. Dr. Sara Arnaud from the Life Sciences Division of NASA-Ames will tell us why "All is NOT Go for Human Exploration of Mars". The talk starts at 7:30 in the Mountain Theater and, weather permitting, will be followed by viewing in the Rock Springs area courtesy of the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers. The evening is free and open to the general public. Students and families are especially welcome. If the weather is questionable, call the MTIA hotline 455-5370 or the SFAA hotline 566-2357 after 4:00pm for last minute changes., and driving instructions. Lectures are usually held even if the observing is canceled due to clouds.

Programs will resume in April 2000.

VMOA - Ferguson Observatory club report

I haven't received a status report on the construction end of the Ferguson Observatory recently (hint hint, Larry), but have visited twice recently, in August and September. The new wing is beautiful and working restrooms are about to become working restrooms.

Public Night events (from 6:00 PM 'till midnight) coming up are: Nov 6, 13 and November 16th - November 16th will be the Leonid Meteor Shower program

Public Day events (noon 'till 3 PM) coming up are: Nov 7 and November 15th - November 15th will be the Transit of Mercury program

The first Star Camp was held in September. Unfortunately it fogged in about midnight. Until then we all had a great time, with veggie burgers hot dogs, hamburgers and hot links grilling on the grill. Timothy Ferris gave a talk from his upcoming Nova television special on the Universe. about 10 telescopes, including my two LITEBOXes were set up outside the observatory. Thanks to Al Heppe for a great way to see the Ferguson Observatory, and use the 40 inch Moore telescope. Soon the 14 inch Fruth CCD telescope will be open for business too. It was not up and running the night I was there in September.

Attractive Tee shirts and Sweatshirts depicting the Ferguson Observatory are now available. SCAS president Herb Larson contributed the artwork on the fronts of the shirts. Cost is $12.00 for tees, $10 for kids tees, and $18 for adult sweatshirts. Call June Ferguson at (707) 762-7064 for information, or buy at our SCAS or VMOA meetings. Or visit our website at: http://www.rfo.org/

PAS, SVAS, Explorit! UC Davis, and Chico clubs

I don't think they will be submitting reports yet, but I have persuaded the PAS to rejoin the AANC. I hope you have heard from FPOA, too.

Also I am after SVAS -(thru Jack Sales), and a new club in Chico (Kris Koenig) , the UC Davis club (Glen Erickson) and Explorit!( Dennis Smith) in Davis to join the AANC, or at least to send information so we can promote their activities.

From Sep 1999 meeting:

Motion: Don moved and David A. seconded that AANC allocate $29.99 plus tax and shipping to purchase a Galileo or Pathfinder slide set for use by Sidewalk Astronomers. Motion passed.

Motion: Don moved that we allocate $1000 annually for things to purchase for clubs. Morris asked who would administer it? Don: AANC board would approve or deny any request. John H. suggested that there be upper limit ($50 or so). David A./Morris: no need for this motion, since Board would need to approve any requsts anyway. David A.: lets just publicize to member clubs that AANC can buy such items. Morris amended (Don accepted; John H seconded) motion to be $500 rather $1000. Motion passed. [No dollar limit on individual requests under $500.]

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: 12/19/99 -- [next meeting 0000]

Present: Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS),

Carter Roberts (EAS),

Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS),

David Harris (HS) ,

Morris Jones (SJAA)

Motion--Minutes of 10/24/99 accepted (motion by Morris made -- seconded b y Carter -- and passed) with following corrections: after about 10 with parents and leader, change to: "Program included a telescope demonstration, a sky tour by Lance Shaw, and slide show. Dave's slides of the 1999 solar eclipse were worked into the slide presentation and will be incorporated there in future shows."

AANC Treasurer's Report

Jane: We may be up to 25 members

    • PAID-UP ( '99): ASP, COSC, EAS, EITU, CTMW, EITU, ,HS, LHS LUMICON, MDAS, MTO, NCHLADA, PAS, SFAA, SCAS, SAS, SJAA, SFSWA, SMAS, WM, TMW. TVS, VOM, WMAS
    • DUE: ('99) FPOA, Gr70, Morrison Planetarium , SVAS, Santa Cruz, ExplorIt, Chico, Sacramento Valley

Washington Mutual Account

Bank account balance as of 1/22/99: $5870.88

Money Fund Account $1732.373

$25 annual registration fee is now required by state to maintain charitable organization status. (Was $10)

Club Reports

[at bottom of page--click "Club Reports" to go there]

Old Business

AANC Annual Astronomy Symposium

Planning for 2000 event "A Date with the Universe" Symposium -- March 25.

Jobs needing volunteers:

Make flier--Alan and/or Carter could create flier

Copy flier

Do mailings

Get speakers Jane will contact Ilona, Don and Jane will contact Dave Rodriguez who offerred assistance .

If we can't get volunteers to help we may consider calling off the event. Speaker ideas:

From Oct meeting...Ilona:

    • Dr. David Morrison to speak on "Astrobiology" at our Also Garth Hull (NASA) suggested a title of "The Spirit of Exploration" and that we might want to get
    • JPL speaker on next generation space telescope -- last months EAS speaker spoke on next generation space telescope.
    • a summary of Galileo mission stunning results;
    • SOFIA program. Ilona will still like to get
    • Dr. Eleanor Helin to speak on near Earth asteroids. Also
    • Dr. Keith Strong or someone else from Lockheed Martin to speak about the Sun projects.
    • Amateur astronomers and partnerships with professionals

Jane:

    • Speakers on observations of objects in the new AANC Century list of objects.

Century Award

(Morris) Some feedback on the list Morris has gotten has been somewhat discouraging -- mostly negative. Carter and Alan offered postive encouragement. We need a patch and award design for AANC Century Awardees (Aces?) Don gave a whole bunch of detailed feedback and analysis of the list ranging from distribution physically in the sky to distribution of object types: nebulae, galaxies, etc.

[See previous minutes for more issues/ideas]

Leonids Maximum -- November 17, 1999

Jane showed lots of pictures from her NASA observing expedition.

There will be a link from the AANC Leonids page website.

Election of AANC Officers

Morris moved that current officers be elected for office to continue through the year 2000. Carter seconded. Motion passed.

AANC Officers for year 2000 :

Jane Houston, President

John Hewitt, Vice President

Don Stone, Treasurer

Alan Gould, Secretary

Nominees for AANC Annual Awards (Jane)

From Oct meeting: Amateur Award: Ilona nominates Mike Ryan. Active in club. Founded the club and helped found AANC. Professional Award: Jane nominates Alex Fillepenko. John H. seconds Commercial Award: Jane nominates Rainbow Optics (Jim Badura) -- makes star spectroscopes

Please get the word out to clubs that AANC seeks nominees for its annual awards. We will be making more nominations and vote on awardees at next AANC meeting. We present awards both at Annual Symposium AND at Annual StarBQue.

Astronomy Day 2000 is April 8

This is organizationally difficult since it is on the heels of the Symposium. WWW domain name -- Morris suggested we have a simpler web address. Carter moved that we allocate AANC funds to acquire a WWW domain name. Cost is $70 for 2 years. $35/year after that. Liede-Marie seconded. Motion passed. Morris will take care of it.

RTMC Awards -- Carter announnced that RTMC is seeking nominees for receiving the Clifford Holmes Award and the Clyde Tombough Award. Check RTMC website for details (www.rtmc-inc.org).

Adjourned 12:45 pm

Club reports

David H. (Hercules) ---David Harris. 11/13 clouded out, but since Walt Meadows, George Lowe and Dave Harris showed up, the second annual Hercules Stargazer Planning Meeting was discussed. 11/17 Leonids. No program. 11/21 Sunday eve -- the second annual HPSP Planning Meeting held at Amborsia Garden Restaurant in Albany. Eight Hercules regulars in attendance The Stargaze schedule for 2000 was the main result. 12/11 last Hercules Stargaze of 1999 and the Millenium. Five scopes and binoculars, including the long awaited debut of Lance Shaw's 18" Obsession. Other scopes ranged from 13" down to an 80mm equatorial brought by new stargazers. Excellent seeing. We had about 15 visitors. We also successfully negotiated the s\hutting off of a local resident's lights. Next Stargazes: Jan 29 and Feb 26 with the possibility of the lunar eclipse on Jan 20, a Thur eve.

Liede-Marie (MDAS) 12/21 will be club meeting--talk about Christmas Star. Jan 25 Paul Mortfield on astrophotography--the good, the bad, the fuzzy. Next Board meeting is Jan 10. Web page: http://members.aol.com/mdas101b/private/index.htm

East Bay Astronomical Society/COSC---Carter. Interesting Leonid program last night (12/18) Most interesting part was the video. Chabot is making progress on dome for 8" telescope. Articles in EAS bulletin Relector gives more details. Chabot's Christmas card shows Chabot's new Zeiss projector being prepared at the Zeiss lab in Germany. EAS annual dinner is Saturday May 13 at new Chabot BEFORE it opens for the public. Events tentatively include Mike Reynolds and Jose Olivarez speakers, tour of facility, demo of new Zeiss.

Morris (SJAA) Club is in winter mode. Pot luck party did not have a speaker. Michel Light will speak in January. Jeff Moore will come in Feb to talk about Mars Polar Lander.

Alan G. (LHS): LHS programs are on everyday Saturday and Sunday (see LHS website). 1pm and 2:15 pm show will be Mysteries of Missing Matter and 3:30 show always being Constellations Tonight on how to use a star map to find the currently visible constellations. Alan attended Planetarium conference in Phoenix at which Bob Victor (Abrams planetarium) presented a paper on interesting configurations of planets in the next 3 years. alan will send this out via e-mail to AANC e-mail list.

Jane's Reports:

From Sep 1999 meeting:

Motion: Don moved and David A. seconded that AANC allocate $29.99 plus tax and shipping to purchase a Galileo or Pathfinder slide set for use by Sidewalk Astronomers. Motion passed.

Motion: Don moved that we allocate $1000 annually for things to purchase for clubs. Morris asked who would administer it? Don: AANC board would approve or deny any request. John H. suggested that there be upper limit ($50 or so). David A./Morris: no need for this motion, since Board would need to approve any requsts anyway. David A.: lets just publicize to member clubs that AANC can buy such items. Morris amended (Don accepted; John H seconded) motion to be $500 rather $1000. Motion passed. [No dollar limit on individual requests under $500.]

Support for the AANC web pages provided by Lawrence Hall of Science,

University of California, Berkeley.