2002

recorded by AANC Secretary Alan Gould

Minutes:

contacts@aanc-astronomy.org (larger list, includes AANC club editors)

editors@aanc-astronomy.org (AANC member club editors only)

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: Jan 27, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Feb 24, 2002]

Agenda

1. Call to Order: 10:20 am

2. Roll Call

Present:

Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...),

Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS),

Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS),

Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS),

David Harris (Hercules Stargazers) ,

Morris Jones (SJAA),

Carter Roberts (EAS),

Nancy Cox (SFAA),

Michel Lau (SF State, ASP),

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Nov. 2001)

Corrections: Paragraph break missing before Mt. Diablo Astronomical Soc.

Morris moved, Liede-Marie seconded that minutes be approved with those corrections. Motion passed.

4. AANC Treasurer's Report

Don presented 13 documents:

AANC 2002 Preliminary Budget
Interest Revenue report
Workshop Income/Expense Statement; Conference Budget (Revenue/Expenses)
Balance Sheet (31 Dec 2001)
Income (31 Dec 2001)
Expenses (2001)
Summary of Disbursements (1993-2001)
Income Statement (31 Oct 2001)
Graph of AANC Net Earnings 1987-2001
AANC Income - Disbursements Summary: 1987-2001
AANC 2002 Preliminary Budget
Pie Diagram of "Where AANC's Money Goes 1987-2001" [59% workshops, 13% awards, 7% donations, 3% equipment, 7% Star-B-Q, 3% Postage, 8% Pub, N-Letter & S/S -- total expenses $27,440]
Pie Diagram of Income 1987-2001 [80% workshops, 14% dues, 4% interest, 2% other -- total revenue $32,677]

From Balance Sheet Nov. 2001:

Washington Mutual Account Bank account balance: $6052.50

Franklin Money Fund Account balance: $1842.43

Total: $7970.32

Membership stands at 29. * = Paid

Morris moved, Carter seconded that we accept the Treasurer's Report. Motion passed.

5. Club Reports [at end of these minutes]

6. Current Business

Current Business 1. AANC Spring Conference, May 18 at College of San Mateo. Update from Ilona Magyary on her discussions with College of San Mateo, speaker aquisition, etc. There will be a full day of interesting talks, possibly a spaghetti feed/social hour and then a star party afterwards. Stay tuned, and let us know if you'd like to volunteer to help on the day of the event! See previous meeting minutes for the current status, activities underway, etc. New Business 1. WAA meeting and Bruce Blair Award 2. Astronomy Day is April 20 - may we publicize your club plans? 3. SJAA Auction is April 28 (Sunday), next AANC board meeting was changed to April 27th (Saturday) due to this. 4. Davis Star Show is July 19 ands 20 - Telescopes needed for Sat night star party! 5. FPOA Star-B-Cue scheduled August 10 6. Publicize $500 annual club fund (slide sets, accessories for clubs). Notify a board member or send us an email if you are interested in this program! Other agenda items and announcements Ajourn

-->AANC Awards

Nominees for 2002 awards:

Amateur

Jim Scala (nominated by Liede-Marie) for his website and deep passion for Mars and ability to talk to people and encourage interest in astronomy; writes for the MDAS newsletter.

Mike Rushford (nominated by David Anderson) runs Eyes on the Sky website--runs a solar telescope through the Internet. Video taped meetings and put up video or sound and slide show of club events. Machined mounts for club telescopes. Worked on Hidden Hill Observatory Telescope. Newsletter editor.

Don nominates Jane Houston-Jones. Liede-Marie also nominated Jane.

Commercial:

Bob Fies (Alcoat -- aluminum coating) for aluminizing mirrors for amateur telescopes

Professional:

Robert Naeye (nominated by Nancy) for devotion to serving the amateur astronomy community and forging links between professional and amateur astronomy worlds

Special:

Jane nominates Jim Van Nuland (SJAA) for school starpaties, Treasurer of SJAA, and MANY other services/benefits to amateur astronomy

Morris moved, Carter seconded that Commercial, Professional, and Special Awards be selected (by acclamation) since they are uncontested. Motion passed. Award winners are, therefore:

Commercial: Bob Fies (Alcoat -- aluminum coating) for aluminizing mirrors for amateur telescopes

Professional: Robert Naeye for devotion to serving the amateur astronomy community and forging links between professional and amateur astronomy worlds.

Special: Jim Van Nuland (SJAA) for school starpaties, Treasurer of SJAA, and MANY other services/benefits to amateur astronomy

Vote result for Amateur Award: Jane Houston-Jones

-->AANC Spring Conference May 18 at College of San Mateo. (43% moon)

Ilona Magyary's message to Jane:

The date : May 18th is confirmed.

We will be able to use the theater which holds 400 hundred people along with the lobby area, also several rooms adjacent to the theater; the planetarium and several science rooms will also be at our disposal ( though they are in a different area). The college would like to co-host the conference and is willing to participate in planning and publicity.

Although the final cost structure has not been finalized with the college administration department, it looks promising (it would not cost us any more than last year's program at Chabot even if the college did not co-sponsor and they charged us full fare, which is not likely). Right now I am trying to work out what we can charge; the college will help us with publicity (including the use of their radio station) and printing costs; they may also cover some mailing costs. These details should be worked out within the next couple of weeks.

Once we have the fee schedule worked out we can start with the mailing and the publicity.

Dr. Darryl Stanford who runs the planetarium at the college feels that he would be able to ask Dr. Jeff Marcy to speak at the conference. Dr. Dominic Tenorelli of NASA would like to come and speak about the new DART Telescope (Dragovan Anamorphic Reflecting Telescope) being developed by NASA. He even wants to bring a scale model. I believe I can get Dr. Claire Max to speak on Adaptive optics (she is not the one that failed to show) She has spoken at our club and is a very good speaker. We might try to get a speaker on the new moons of Jupiter. Is there still a possibility of getting someone from Coronado?

I would like to propose the following schedule:

8:00 to 9:00 check -in

9:00 to 9:15 introduction

9:15 to 10:15 speaker

10:15 to 10:30 break

10:30 to 11:30 speaker

11:30 to 1:30 lunch, exhibits, planetarium shows, workshops & viewing of the sun in the court yard (the college has several scopes with solar filters and will have college student volunteers to set up and man the scopes; Coronado can set up too, along with other AANC members who would like to set up)

1:30 to 2:30 speaker

2:30 to 2:45 awards

2:45 to 3:00 break (cookies & juice)

3:00 to 4:00 speaker

4:00 to 5:00 speaker

5:00 to 5:15 closing remarks

5:15 to 6:30 exhibits, club exchanges, planetarium shows, telescope demonstration

6:30 to 7:45 spaghetti feed put on by SMCAS or the AANC ( charge participants $2 or $3 for spaghetti garlic bread, salad & a soda served in the science lab close to the planetarium).

7:45 to ?? Star Party

I would like to see some special workshops set up for teachers to help them teach astronomy - workshops can go on during breaks or even during talks. we might have a session on what clubs are doing for out reach, or ask each club to provide an exhibit on what they are doing, plus contact names and numbers. Also we might want a workshop session on viewing for the amateur astronomer, or a workshop &/or panel discussion on comparing telescopes, their uses & merits to help amateurs decide on what type of scope they might want to buy or use.

We have room in the lobby area for exhibits and we can have a separate room for exhibitors if we have a good turn out.

Lockheed Martin might have some special software that we can use on the computers in the science room to do a program on the sun similar to the computer set up at the Chabot Science Center. I will follow through.

We can distribute posters Lockheed provides some nice ones. We can look into getting continuing ed credit for teachers who attend.

With the above schedule we have time for 5 speakers, or we can substitute a workshop or panel discussion for one of the speaking slots.

Since the college wants to co-sponsor the conference, they would like it to be appealing to the general public; the college is planning on upgrading its science facilities and emphasizing the astronomy department so they view this as a showcase opportunity.

I am sorry that I can not be at the meeting, but I am enthusiastic about working on the conference. I am sure that we will have no trouble getting some very good speakers on interesting topics. Dr. Tenorelli is confirmed and Dr. Stanford and Dr. Janipour at the college are anxious to assist us. It should be a great conference. Please let me know how the meeting goes. I will be anxious to get together with you and Morris and the other volunteers when I get back. If you need to reach me I am staying with friends .... I will be available Sunday morning until about 11:00.

--- Ilona Magyary <ilonamagyary@earthlink.net> Liede-Marie suggested AANC might donate something to the college for their hosting effort. Don suggests we stick with $20 reg fee and give something back to College of San mateo. Morris so moved and Carter seconded. Motion passed (Reg fee will be $20; $10 for students). Darryl would like to invite Geoff Marcy.

Alan: speaker from the NASA Kepler might be good (mission to discover Earth-sized planets around other stars using photometry to detect planet transits).

We still need helpers for all committees including the committee committee.

Committees needed

Site coordination before event (ooooooooo)

Site coordination during event (ooooooooo)

Awards--letters, ordering, getting (Nancy Cox)

Food--lunches, hospitality (Ilona, Liede-Marie)

Registration/badges (Don, oooooo, oooooo)

Speakers (Ilona, Ken)

Scheduling (Ilona)

Publicity--Club Communication--Newsletters (Jane)

Web info (Alan Gould, Mojo)

Produce Programs/fliers (Mojo, Nancy)

Door Prizes/Donations/Sponsors (ooooooooo) Present Awards (Dave Anderson?)

7. New Business

-- Sponsor Striking Sparks Telescope again, Sparks Day is March 23, 2002.

Carter moved, Morris seconded that AANC donate $175 for Striking Sparks telescope in 2002. Motion passed.

Santa Cruz Astronomical Society would like a slide set similar to what Hercules got David moved, Cater seconded that AANC give up to $100 to Santa Cruz Astronomical Society for slides set(s). Motion passed.

-- Publicize $500 annual club fund (slide sets, accessories for clubs)

-- ASP Amateur Astronomy Survey -- please fill out the survey at http://www.astrosociety.org/index.html about astronomy outreach programs

-- Discussed the Davis Star Show which will be July19-20--need more amateurs to bring telescopes in 2002.

Adjourned (Carter moved; Morris seconded) 12:53 pm.

Club Reports

Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP; Michel Lau)

New Exec Director: Mike Bennett. Need replacement for SOFIA EPO director. President of the Board: Alex Filippenko. Bay Area Project ASTRO is recruiting new astronomer partner soon. Look out for more information coming to a local astronomy club near you. ASP and AL partnered up to survey amateur astronomers about their current outreach efforts to help the ASP and AL make better decisions about what kind of materials or activities might help amateurs do more and better outreach. Survey available online: http://www.ilinet.org/asp_survey/ -- all amateur astronomers encouraged to visit that web page and fill out the survey.

Morrison Planetarium will have Dean Lecture Series in multi wavelength astronomy. SF State Univ will have public events TBD.

General Info: http://www.astrosociety.org/

Chabot Space and Science Center (CSSC; Carter).

Chabot was overwhelmed for Leonids. Stopped selling tickets at 600. Skyline Blvd got jammed. New planetarium show: Destiny of the Stars written and narrated vby Gibor Basri. Chabot hosted WAA Board meeting. They got tour of Challenger Center. Tim Hogle said it was well worth the trip. Construction is starting on 36" building. Rusty steal has been painted.

General Info: http://www.chabotspace.org; Fri and Sat night viewing from 7-10 pm.

Eastbay Astronomical Society (EAS; Carter). Carter: Next meeting Feb 9. Sunday Feb 17 will be club observing at Chabot (not public) for EAS members and friends. Carter saw Leonids in Australia. Showed photo.

General Info: EAS Newsletter Online: http://www.eastbayastro.org

Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA)

General info on website: http://www.fpoa.net

Hotline number: (831) 623-2465

Fremont Peak State Park office number: (831) 623-4255

Board meetings Sept 23, Oct 28, and Nov 18 (offsite).

Hercules Stargazers (David Harris)

Club Report for AANC since Nov. 4, 2001 - (Missed Dec. 8th meeting)

November 10, '01 - Stargaze cancelled, bad weather at site.

November 17, '01 - Only three volunteers with scopes made it for the stargaze, which went well with clear skies. However no one was available to stay until 3 a.m. for the Leonids as hoped, so when we left around 11 p.m. we put a note on the Foxboro Park Building door describing how best to view the meteor shower and where else to go. People began arriving around 10 p.m. but we had to turn them away and refer them to other sites. We regretted the missed opportunity for a great public event. Better luck next year. After a nap at home, Dave and Esther counted over 220 meteors in 75 minutes from our back yard in Richmond between 1:45 and 3 a.m.

December 8 and December 15, '01 - Both stargazes cancelled due to bad weather at the site, either haze or fog, w hich is unusual for Foxboro in winter.

January 12, 02 - Our first stargaze of the new year was met by an unusual fog pattern coming from the north off the Delta. There were enough clear patches for seeing until 9:30 p.m. when full overcast ended viewing. Three volunteers with one scope and two binoculars set up saw planets, open clusters in Auriga, the Orion Nebula, and Double Cluster. It was decided that in future meetings we will provide more indoor activities and slide shows regardless of weather.

Next Stargazes - February 9, March 9, April 13, 2002.

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS; Alan Gould)

Public shows now every Sat Sun 1pm Flying to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm African Skies (ages 6 and up), 3:30 pm Constellations Tonight (ages 6 & up).

General Info: For current programs see LHS website--http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu, specifically, the planetarium page at http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/Planetarium.html). Public Stargazing on LHS plaza every 1st and 3rd Saturday night, 8-10 pm.

Marin Observational Observers (formerly West Marin)

Dark Sky Star Parties in new dark locations in spring 2001. Public star parties at Book Passage Bookstore in CORTE MADERA (Sundays) near first quarter moon, when resources allow.

General Info: Contact: Jane Houston Jones (415) 453-2885 (email: Jane@whiteoaks.com ) No indoor meetings or dues, observational club only.

Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS; Liede-Marie Haitsma)

Ken Coswell, speaker at last meeting, drew 81 people. Public Nights will start in March.

General Info: STFRNCIS@IX.NETCOM.COM

Websites:

For images--http://members.home.net/mdasimages

Jim Scala's website-- http://members.home.net/jscala2

Mount Tamalpais Interpretive Association

General Info: Sales of the: Astronomical Diary benefit The Astronomy Program. Copies may be ordered by sending a check for $10.80 payable to MTIA to: Tinka Ross, 89 Dominican Drive, San Rafael, CA 94901-1337

The Night Sky Planisphere - 8" diameter for $11.00

The Night Sky Planisphere - 5" diameter for $6.50

Night Reader Red LED Keychain Light for $4.50

View these items at http://www.davidchandler.com/ . Prices quoted include postage. 50% of each purchase is donated to support the Astronomy Programs

Project Astro

Karen Avila, Bay Area Project Coordinator,Project ASTRO; 390 Ashton Ave.; San Francisco, CA 94112; (415) 337-1100 ext. 101; astro@aspsky.org

General Info: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/project_astro.html

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA; Nancy Cox)

. It's a changing of the guard at SFAA. Our annual elections were held as per usual at the Dec meeting (2001), and we have a new president! The following officers and board members for 2002 will be installed at our annual dinner on Sat Feb 2, 2002. President--Bill Stepka (new); Vice President--Nancy Cox (new); Secretary--Jason Burkhart; Treasurer--Chelle Owens. Board of Directors (seven): Lorrie Bowen; Dan Christian; Art Owens (new); Michael Portuesi (new); Al Stern (immediate past president); Dennis Tye; Jim Webster (new). Alternates (two): Randy Taylor; Rita Nossardi Stern (new) (new = new for this office this year). Other appointments include: (all continuing); Lorrie Bowen - Bulletin Editor; Dan Christian - New Member Liason; Nancy Cox - AANC Representative; Pete Goldie - Loaner Scopes; Joe Amato - Webmaster; SFAA Website is: www.sfaa-astronomy.org

The SFAA Annual Awards Dinner will be held Saturday Feb 2, 2002, at the Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Ave, South San Francisco (650) 583-8091 (2nd year there, the food is delicious). 6:30 p.m. No Host Bar / 7 p.m. Dinner. New officers will be installed, honors to outgoing officers, and the awards will be announced: Herman Fast award; Service award; Observer of the Year award. And our three contests: Astrophotography Contest (annual); Literary Award (2nd year, cosponsored by Orion Telescopes); Astronomical Art Contest (new this year)(Results in the next club report).

Our speaker chairman is Rita Nossardi Stern. This year for the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers 50th year anniversary (founded 1952) is having a special speakers series "Women in Astronomy." Already lined up are: Tinka Ross of MTIA fame: "Astronomy is Woman's Work" will be on the history of women in astronomy, as well as contributions of women scientists today, for our Feb meeting, Feb 20, 2002 (held as usual the 3rd Wed. of the month, 7:30 p.m., Calif. Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco) Includes refreshments! (begins 7 p.m.). Many other notable (and some famous) women astronomers will be booked as our meeting speakers in 2002 (there's a long list). Also scheduled will be some special events (SFAA in conjunction with the Academy of Sciences). In Sept. 2002 -- Timothy Ferris and a book signing of his newest book which is on Amateur Astronomers. (date to be announced)

Near to our actual anniversary (May 5, 1952) will be a special meeting including two of our SFAA founding members: Lew Epstein and Betty Neall. (date to be announced) Recent Meetings:Dec. 19, 2001 -- Annual Members' night included; Lew Epstein on "saving the Foucault pendulum at Morrison Planetarium"; Michael Portuesi on astronomy programs for your palm pilot; Carl Trost on rainbows; Jane Houston Jones and Morris Jones on Australia trip to observe the leonids Nov. 2001.

January 16, 2002 -- Special Insider's Planetarium Show for SFAA members by Kirsten Van Stone, astronomy assistant at Morrison Planetarium (and the acad. sciences liason to SFAA)

SFAA Board meetings continue on the 2nd Wed. of the month 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Western Addition Library, Scott & Geary Sts, S.F. All welcome!

2002 Events: SFAA Club trip to Mt. Wilson Observatory (in Pasadena) on Sat. January 19 was a lot of fun (a group can rent the historic 60-inch reflector for a night) - even though the seeing was the "unsharper image" (not the telescope's fault) - when you're observing nature, nature can interfere with the seeing conditions. But on this sparkly winter night we could practically feel the ghosts of Hubble and others - they gave us a nice tour of the 100-inch. And what a thrill to use the 60-inch! The Orion nebula was esp. nice - blue gas.

Star party dates for 2002: City Star Party (at Land's End SF at end Geary St.) Randy Taylor - city Star Party coordinator (speakers) (feb through oct) Feb 16 5:30 p.m.; Mar 16 6:00 p.m.; Apr 20 8:00 p.m.; May 18 8:30 p.m.; Jun 15 8:30 p.m.; Jul 20 8:30 p.m.; Aug 17 7:30 p.m.; Sep 14 7:30 p.m.; Oct 19 6:30 p.m.; Mt. Tam Star Party (at Rock Springs) Nancy Cox - Mt. Tam Star Party Coordinator (gate volunteers) (apr through oct) Apr 13 8:00 p.m.; May 11 8:30 p.m.; Jun 8 8:30 p.m.; Jul 13 8:30 p.m.; Aug 10 8:30 p.m.; Sep 7 8:00 p.m.; Oct 12 7:30 p.m. - Speakers to be announced (for both) - We at SFAA hope for another exciting astronomical year! 2002 Club Officers & Contacts President--Bill Stepka--415-928-2367; Vice-President--Nancy Cox--415-826-2217; Secretary--Jason Burkhart; Treasurer--Chelle Owens--415-479-5313; Honorary Director--John Dobson; City Star Party Coordinator--Randy Taylor; Membership & Subscriptions--415-479-5313; Bulletin Editor--415-921-1432; Telescope Loans--Pete Goldie--415-206-9867

General Info: http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org meetings 3rd Wed of each month at Cal Academy in Golden Gate Park with many excellent speakers. Refreshments (to die for) 7pm, speaker 7:30. Also many activities: star parties, field trips, etc. 300+ members; Dues $25/yr.

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA; Morris Jones)

Mike Bennett was latest speaker (on SOFIA), new exec dir. of ASP. Great speaker. Feb Director's election will be held. Telescope Making making class starts Feb 7. Tom Witimore. April 28 will be annual auction at Houge Park in Campbell.

For 2002, we continue our almost-biweekly public star parties at Houge (city) Park in San Jose. The general public is invited, and often, we host school classes, scout groups, etc.

General Info: For details of upcoming events, see SJAA web page: http://www.sjaa.net. See also Jim's web site at http://www.svpal.org/~jvn/ for the current schedule on school programs, and for advice for teachers and participating astronomers. SJAA Ephemeris (monthly newsletter) online: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net.

San Mateo Astronomical Society (Ilona Magyary ilonamagyary@earthlink.net)

General Info:C lub meets at the planetarium at the College of San Mateo on the first Thursday of the month.ÊURLs: http://bugs_bunny_15.tripod.com/smcas/, http://home.att.net/~bob-black/smas.htm and http://www.homestead.com/smcas/smcas.html

Santa Cruz Astronomy Club (SCAC)

General Info: Gary Staas gstaas@pdfdream.com

http://a stro.santa-cruz.ca.us/

L-2 San Carlos Lane, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95065; Hotline number: (831)335-2423. Club meetings are second Thursdays at Villa San Carlos Apartments recreation room, 2500 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz. Business meeting starts at 7:00, and the general meeting gets underway at 7:30. Speakers begin by 8:00. Newsletter is "The Observer" and it's on their website (above) Editor is President Gary Staas.

Sidewalk Astronomers

(Jane Houston-Jones) Handed out New flier. Last week was great observing on streets of SF. Program a James Lick Elementary School in SF. 8 telescopes. Next 3 nights we were also doing sidewalk observing. Tech TV (cable--reaches 30,000,000) came across Sidewalk Astronomers and on Feb 15 there will be feature show on Sidewalk Astronomers. Also Bay Area Backroads called and will come to the Sidewalk Astronomers event Feb 5.

General Info on Website: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/ Hotline: (415) 289-2007.

Sonoma County AstronomicalSociety (SCAS)

Striking Sparks Day is March 23. Asking AANC if we will There is "kid's club" newsletter--Jane handed around.

General Info: Santa Cruz Astronomy Club; Gary Staas gstaas@pdfdream.com Web page at http://astro.santa-cruz.ca.us/ , L-2 San Carlos Lane, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95065; Hotline number: (831)335-2423 Club meetings are second Thursdays at Villa San Carlos Apartments recreation room, 2500 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz. Business meeting starts at 7:00, and the general meeting gets underway at 7:30. Speakers begin by 8:00. Newsletter is "The Observer" and it's on their website (above) Editor is President Gary Staas.

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: Feb 24, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Apr 27, 2002]

1. Call to Order: 10:15 am

2. Roll Call

Present:

Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS),

Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), David Harris (Hercules Stargazers), Morris Jones (SJAA), Carter Roberts (EAS), Nancy Cox (SFAA), Ilona Magyary (SMAS)

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Jan. 2001)

Corrections: none.

Morris moved, Don seconded that minutes be approved with those corrections. Motion passed.

4. AANC Treasurer's Report

From Balance Sheet Jan. 2001:
Washington Mutual Account Bank account balance: 2,839.99
Franklin Money Fund Account balance: $4,425.63
Total: $7,605.62

Membership stands at 18. * = Paid

ALPO; ASP*; COSC*; DAC*; EAS*; EAS-TMW*; EITU*; Explorit!*; FPOA; GlenEllen; Group 70; HSG*; LHS*; Lumicon; MDAS; MP; MTO=MTIA*; NCHALADA; Orion Tele.; PAS*; PSNCVN; SAS*; SCAS ; SCCAC*; Scope City; SFAA*; SFSWA*; SJAA*; SMCAS(SMAS); Stanford Astr Club*; SVAS; TVSG; VOMAS; VOMOA*; WMAS*

Morris moved, Carter seconded that we accept the Treasurer's Report. Motion passed.

5. Club Reports [at end of these minutes]

6. Current Business

-->AANC Spring Conference May 18 at College of San Mateo. (43% moon)

Ilona Magyary :

The college would like to co-host the conference and is willing to participate in planning and publicity. College normally takes a percentage of the gross income. However, arrangement was made that AANC can charge our usual fee and the College will chargeus $800 for auditorium, janitorial service, and 2 AV techs. Cafeteria is open bu there will be no food service--only vending machine. We could have caterer. There is deli not too far away in a shopping center. Tentative schedule:

8:00 to 9:00 check -in

9:00 to 9:15 introduction

9:15 to 10:15 Tenorelli

10:15 to 10:30 Break

10:30 to 11:30 Coronado Optics speaker

11:30 to 1:30 lunch, exhibits, 20-min planetarium shows, workshops & viewing of the sun in the court yard (the college has several scopes with solar filters and will have college student volunteers to set up and man the scopes; Coronado can set up too, along with other AANC members who would like to set up)

1:30 to 2:30 Bill Borucki

2:30 to 2:45 Awards Presentations

2:45 to 3:00 Break (cookies & juice)

3:00 to 4:00 speaker

4:00 to 5:00 speaker

5:00 to 5:15 closing remarks

5:15 to 6:30 exhibits, club exchanges, planetarium shows, telescope demonstration

6:30 to 7:45 spaghetti feed put on by SMCAS or the AANC ( charge participants $2 or $3 for spaghetti garlic bread, salad & a soda served in the science lab close to the planetarium).

7:45 to ?? Star Party

Jane: AANC could supply some funds for an event--spaghetti feed or what-not. Lunch--caterer (Ilona's friend Jackie) sent samples of chocolate truffles and Hawaiian Sun drinks. She would provide box lunches and help hand them out. We saw her menu. Alternatively, local deli can provide sanwiches, chips and soda. Consensus was to go with Jackie as caterer and have truffle, Hawaiian Sun beverages, 4 types of sandwiches (beef, turkey, tuna, and cheese), and 2 types of salads (felafel/hummos, caesar). Cost might be about $9-10.

Need volunteers to make/put up signs. Morris volunteered. Ilona will to check on parking situation.

Theme: Everything Under the Sun*

* Almost

Theater holds 400 hundred people. The lobby area, several rooms adjacent to the theater; the planetarium and several science rooms will also be at our disposal ( though they are in a different area). Computer Lab is available.

We still need helpers for all committees including the committee committee.

Committees/duties:

Site coordination before event (Ilona)

Site coordination during event (Ilona)

Awards--letters, ordering, getting (Nancy Cox)

Food--lunches, hospitality (Ilona, Liede-Marie)

Registration/badges (Don, oooooo, oooooo)

Speakers (Ilona, Ken)

Scheduling (Ilona)

Publicity--Club Communication--Newsletters (Jane)

Web info (Alan Gould, Mojo)

Produce Programs/fliers (Mojo, Nancy)

Door Prizes/Donations/Sponsors (not happening this year) Present Awards (Dave Anderson?)

[From previous minutes:] Liede-Marie suggested AANC might donate something to the college for their hosting effort. Don suggests we stick with $20 reg fee and give something back to College of San mateo. Morris so moved and Carter seconded. Motion passed (Reg fee will be $20; $10 for students).

7. New Business

WAA meeting and Bruce Blair Award--AANC voted to prioritize our vote for the WAA.
Astronomy Day is April 20 - may we publicize your club plans?
SJAA Auction is April 28 (Sunday), next AANC board meeting was changed to April 27th (Saturday) due to this.
Davis Star Show is July 19 ands 20 - Telescopes needed for Sat night star party!
FPOA Star-B-Cue scheduled August 10
Publicize $500 annual club fund (slide sets, accessories for clubs). Notify a board member or send us an email if you are interested in this program

Other agenda items and announcements

Ilona: If we make money on our conference maybe we can look into getting an umbrella insurance policy for little clubs to participate in. Carter: big clubs already have insurance and there might not be enough small clubs for a criticdasl mass. Jane: could have workshop at AANC conference on insurance.

Adjourned 12:53 pm.

Club Reports

Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP; Michel Lau)

ASP- Bay Area Project ASTRO is currently looking for astronomer partners who would like to work with students in 4-9th grade classrooms in sharing the wonders of the universe. Participants will be required to attend a free two-day workshop (Aug 16-17, 2002), and will receive a free copy of "The Universe At Your Fingertips", a 800-page resource book filled with astronomy activities. Deadline for application is May 10, 2002. Space is limited, so hurry to: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/bayarea/volunteer.html for more info and for the application form or contact Karin Avila, Bay Area Project ASTRO coordinator, at (415)337-1100 x101

Help the ASP and AL in making decision on what kinds of materials/ activities might help amateur astronomers do better outreach. If you haven't already completed the amateur astronomer survey, Survey available online: http://www.ilinet.org/asp_survey/ -- all amateur astronomers encouraged to visit that web page and fill out the survey.

General Info: http://www.astrosociety.org/

Chabot Space and Science Center (CSSC; Carter).

General Info: http://www.chabotspace.org; Fri and Sat night viewing from 7-10 pm.

Eastbay Astronomical Society (EAS; Carter).

This Sat Fred Viejo will talk with Mike rushford about spectroheliograaghps and related things. Will set up instruments about noon at Chabot. Apr 6 will be Annual Dinner. Charles Petit will speak: On the Edge: A Writer's Attempt to Keep Up With the Scientific Forntier. Helen Pillans Award goes to Dave Rodriguez this year. Chabot and EAD are heavily involved in getting Measure G passed. Facility rental at CSSC--governor Davis came and looked through Rachel--made a good impression. Next months public lecture: Gibor Basri will speak on Pluto. General Info: EAS Newsletter Online: http://www.eastbayastro.org

Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA)

General info on website: http://www.fpoa.net

Hotline number: (831) 623-2465

Fremont Peak State Park office number: (831) 623-4255

Hercules Stargazers (David Harris)

Since last meeting, we've had only one stargaze, on Feb. 9. We had three volunteers, two scopes and binoculars set up, and about 11 visitors from the neighborhood. This evening also happened to be Dave's birthday, so during the stargze Dave's wife Esther brought baked goods for a small surprise party. Sky was clear, with great viewing of planets, clusters, and the Orion Nebula. Our next Stargazes are March 9, April 13, probably C.A.S. for Astronomy Day April 20, and May 11.

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS; Alan Gould)

Public shows now every Sat Sun 1pm Journey to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm Target Earth (ages 6 and up), 3:30 pm Constellations Tonight (ages 6 & up).

Marin Observational Observers (formerly West Marin)

Dark Sky Star Parties in new dark locations in spring 2001. Public star parties at Book Passage Bookstore in CORTE MADERA (Sundays) near first quarter moon, when resources allow.

General Info: Contact: Jane Houston Jones (415) 453-2885 (email: Jane@whiteoaks.com ) No indoor meetings or dues, observational club only.

Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS; Liede-Marie Haitsma)

MDAS Stargazing Feb 9, 16 clouded out. Mar 9 society night Mar 16 is first public night Tue Feb 6 Dr. Will Van Breugel on Star Bursts May 28 Pres Apogee Instr. will speak. Ranger Dave Mathews Feb 22 said Navy Antenna has become a surplus site--meaning it will eventually go away. May be good observatory site. MDAS Star Party in Yosemite is Aug 3-4.

General Info: STFRNCIS@IX.NETCOM.COM

Websites:

For images--http://members.home.net/mdasimages

Jim Scala's website-- http://members.home.net/jscala2

Mount Tamalpais Interpretive Association

The Night Sky Planisphere - 8" diameter for $11.00

The Night Sky Planisphere - 5" diameter for $6.50

Night Reader Red LED Keychain Light for $4.50

View these items at http://www.davidchandler.com/ . Prices quoted include postage. 50% of each purchase is donated to support the Astronomy Programs

Project Astro

Karen Avila, Bay Area Project Coordinator,Project ASTRO; 390 Ashton Ave.; San Francisco, CA 94112; (415) 337-1100 ext. 101; astro@aspsky.org

General Info: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/project_astro.html

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA; Nancy Cox)

The new regime is in place. (President Bill Stepka, Vice President Nancy Cox), having been installed at our SFAA Annual Awards dinner on Sat Feb 2, 2002, at the Basque Cultural Center, South San Francisco. The food was delicious, and a good time was had by all.

Awards were given out as follows: (as well as certificates of appreciation for outgoing 2001 officers and board members)

SFAA 2001 Awards Winners:

Herman Fast Award: Al Stern (for four years of dedicated service as President of the SFAA)

Service Award: Joe Amato (our Webmaster)

Observer of the Year Award: Linda Mahan (outstanding observations of double stars, carbon stars, and many other interesting objects, and sharing these with the public at star parties, and putting together her own very useful star charts).

Astrophotography Awards:

First Place: Bob Berta - Rosette Nebula

Second Place: Jim Uber - Partial Solar Eclipse

Art Awards (new this year) (1st year this award given)

First Place: Linda Mahan - Galaxy Box

Second Place: Nancy Cox - Cartoons and moon craters sketch

Third Place: Dennis Tye - Solar System Christmas Tree

Honorary Mention: Jim Uber - Sunspots

Literary Awards (2nd Year - sponsored by Orion Telescopes, gift certificate given)

First Place: Jayson Wechter "Astronomy Essay"

Second Place: Lorrie Boen "Summer Storms"

Third Place: Jane Houston Jones "Birdwatching"

SFAA Lecture meetings continue on the 3rd Wed of the month at Calif Academy of Sciences, and Board Mtgs the 2nd Wed of the month, Scott St. Library (See previous club report - Jan 02 - for times, etc, and a complete list of the new officers and board, and the 2002 Star Parties)

Speakers--SFAA's special series in honor of the SFAA's 50th year - founded in 1952: Wome in Astronomy, and other special events. Scheduled so far are:

Feb 20 Tinka Ross of MTIA spoke on "Astronomy is Women's Work" -- Tinka gave a very fascinating talk on the many women in the history of astronomy (wnad the evolution of attitudes toward), with many historical slides.

March 20 2002 to be: Dr. Adrienne Cool, (7:30 p.m.) SFSU "Scrutinizing Star Clusters with Space Observatories" Re: the study of densely packed globular clusters (with probable stellar collisions), using the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X Ray Observatory.)

May 15 2002 - the usual 3rd Wed evening will be the date of the Celebration of the SFAA's 50th Anniversary - with founding members Lou Epstein and Betty Neal talking about their memories of the history of the SFAA. Also a special musical presentation (flute ensemble) playing space music to Hubble Telescope images. (mtgs are held in the Morrison Planetarium) - also special edible treats (think cake).

Star Parties 2002

City Star Parties, Land's End SF Sat Feb 16 was rained out

March 16 6 p.m. (Coordinator Randy Taylor has speakers lined up for the 1st few months) speakers/star party will be held unless actual rain --_

Mt. Tam Star Parties - Rock Springs

Begin Sat April 13 (Speaker 8 p.m.) (Speakers still to be announced).

San Francisco State University (SFSU; Michel Lau)

- The San Francisco State University observatory is open to the public on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. Can't come at night? check out the solar observing schedule! For more information, directions, and a complete schedule, check out: http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/observatory/observatory.html It is STRONGLY advised that you call the observatory hotline (415)338-7707 prior to visiting to make sure it's open, because observing conditions maybe unpredictable. The observatory is sometimes known as SOEFA (Stonestown Observatory for Extreme Ultra-Foggy Astronomy). :)

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA; Morris Jones)

Two new board members elected: David Smith, Stephen Nelson. General meeting was last night. April is Auction Sun Apr 28. Telescope making class is going well 2x per month.

From Jim Van Nuland -- SJAA has added a mirror-making class to it's busy schedule. Withworking meetings scattered across Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Tom Whittemore will assist ATMs on 10 evenings in February thru May. Our speaker schedule, thanks to Bob Havner: Feb.23: SJAA speaker--Tim Thompson, NASA, on stellar evolution

Mar.30: SJAA speaker--Chris Mauche, A "Pro-Am" Study of Dwarf Nova Outbursts Karin Avila, Project Astro Introduction

Apr.28: SJAA --Auction XXII, (SUNDAY)

May 18: SJAA speaker--Tim Castellano, Planet Transit Search Project

Jun.22: SJAA speaker--Robert Naeye, The Great Pluto Debate

Jul.27: SJAA speaker--Ken Lum, Bernhard V. Schmidt talk

The school star party program, co-ordinated by Jim Van Nuland, has it's heaviest schedule in the nearly 20 years that he's been leading them. From January to the present, we have had 8 events. February has another 2, and March has 11, with 4 in a row, then the following week, 5 in a row! Despite the later start times, April has 4 events scheduled, and more are likely. Jim gets more telescope time at schools than at dark-sky sites. The public city star parties continue at two- and occasionally 3-week intervals. These often have scout or school groups in attendance. General Info: For details of upcoming events, see SJAA web page: http://www.sjaa.net. See also Jim's web site at http://www.svpal.org/~jvn/ for the current schedule on school programs, and for advice for teachers and participating astronomers. SJAA Ephemeris (monthly newsletter) online: http://ephemeris.sjaa.net.

San Mateo Astronomical Society (Ilona Magyary ilonamagyary@earthlink.net)

Meeting on Fridays at College of San Mateo 1st Friday of the month. College is very receptive and encouraging. Club is classes as student activity, allowing acces to facilities. Voters have approved a bond measure that will allow the college to redo their science dept. There is a planetairum there. Darryl Stanford from SF State teaches. Dr. Jaon Tolomio will speak in March on Anamorphic Reflecting Telescope. In Apr Manford Bester from UCB will talk about HESSE project. General Info:C lub meets at the planetarium at the College of San Mateo on the first Thursday of the month.ÊURLs: http://bugs_bunny_15.tripod.com/smcas/, http://home.att.net/~bob-black/smas.htm and http://www.homestead.com/smcas/smcas.html

Santa Cruz Astronomy Club (SCAC)

General Info: Gary Staas gstaas@pdfdream.com

http://a stro.santa-cruz.ca.us/

Sidewalk Astronomers

(Jane Houston-Jones) General Info on Website: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/ Hotline: (415) 289-2007.

Sonoma County AstronomicalSociety (SCAS)

Striking Sparks Day is March 23.

Stockton Astronomical Society (SAS)

General Info: Web address -- http://astro.sci.uop.edu/~sas

TriValley Stargazers (TVSG; David Anderson) General Info: Star parties once a month at Sycamore Grove near Livermore. Meetings are now 2nd Fri of the month. URL http://www.trivalleystargazers.org

Valley of the Moon Observatory Association (VMOA)

General Info: Website: http://www.rfo.org/

VMOA core programs are education and public outreach, and The Robert Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in SonomaCounty has public observing

West Marin Astronomy Club

See Marin Observational Observers

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: Apr 27, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Jun 23, 2002]

1. Call to Order: 10:23 am

2. Roll Call

Present:

Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), David Harris (Hercules Stargazers), Morris Jones (SJAA), Carter Roberts (EAS), Nancy Cox (SFAA), Ilona Magyary (SMAS) Michel Lau (SF State, ASP) David Anderson (V.P.)

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Jan. 2001)

Corrections: none.

Carter moved, David seconded that minutes be approved with those corrections. Motion passed.

4. AANC Treasurer's Report

A Date W/ Universe Workshop: Total of f4 registrations: 2 Jones's, 1 Chun, 1 Fies, (Lunches selected: 1 Gobble, 2 birds, 1 tabby.) Anyone wishing to pay give $$ to Jan, and maybe she could mail me them???
Membership: Total of 20. (I have attached Dues & Dead) and reprised here if you can't open the file ASP, CssC, DAC, EAS, CTMW, EITU, Explorit!, HSG, LHS, MTIA, PAS, SAS, SCCAS, SCAS, SFAA, SFSWA, SJAA, SVAS, VOMOA, WMAS. Missing from last year are; FPOA, MDAS, MP, OrTel, NOVA, SCity. SMCAS, Stanford, TVS.
Financial accounts: WMB ($3,211.88) and FMF: ($4,335.47). The only deposit came from the Club dues ($382, which is included in the statement for March. The only check ( $27.20) was to Jane for postage for sending out membership dues notices...

That's all folks.

Don Stone , AANC Tre$urer

Morris moved, Carter seconded that we accept the Treasurer's Report. Motion passed.

5. Club Reports [at end of these minutes]

6. Current Business

-->AANC Spring Conference May 18 at College of San Mateo. (43% moon)

Nancy: produced awards letters, but cannot type them.

Consensus is that it's OK to send handwritten letters.

Jane: Publicity--Flier---made 500 copies and mailed to clubs along with map. Lunch choices are on the reg form with the flier. It's posted as PDF on AANC web site--linked from home page. It was announced on AANC e-mail list.

Agenda will be posted on website when it is finalized.

So far, there are 3 sign-ups.

Ilona Magyary ilonamagyary@earthlink.net: has map and directions to Conference Site. Tentative schedule: posted on web site.

College can handle power point presentations, and has very nice overhead projector.

Trying to get excellent speaker for late afternoon to encourage people to stay to the end.

There will be planetarium shows. We can have space for commercial exhibits. Ilona showed pictures of the site. Has posters from Lockheed for exhibit. Ben Burris will provbide CD for display on computer. Will have Sungazing. May invite Timothy Ferris and Ken Croswell for booksigning. Could invite project Astro. Jim Badura from Rainbow Optics. ASP would like 10-15min (Bob Naeyes and Mike Bennett). Michele: Ron Marzke from SFSU could be a good speaker (on infrared galaxies).

We need to know in advance how many clubs want exhibit space. Need some freebie tables.

San Mateo can provide some good publicity--radio broadcast.

Committees/duties [from previous minutes]:

Site coordination before event (Ilona)

Site coordination during event (Ilona)

Awards--letters, ordering, getting (Nancy Cox)

Food--lunches, hospitality (Ilona, Liede-Marie)

Registration/badges (Don, oooooo, oooooo)

Speakers (Ilona, Ken)

Scheduling (Ilona)

Publicity--Club Communication--Newsletters (Jane)

Web info (Alan Gould, Mojo)

Produce Programs/fliers (Mojo, Nancy)

Door Prizes/Donations/Sponsors (not happening this year) Present Awards (Dave Anderson?)

7. New Business

Davis Star Show is July 19 ands 20 - Telescopes needed for Sat night star party!
FPOA Star-B-Cue scheduled August 10
Publicize $500 annual club fund (slide sets, accessories for clubs). Notify a board member or send us an email if you are interested in this program!

There are still seats "for sale" (donation) at Chabot Space & Science Center.

ASP annual Conference. Alex Filippenko is putting it on at UC Berkeley. [See ASP website]

Adjourned 12:45 pm.

Club Reports

David Anderson. David's company Blue Planet software shut down -- job ended at end of March. Found new job (another software-game job) and moving to Seattle, starts May 13. AANC will be very sad--we'll miss David's contributions! TVS website has up-to-date information with star party info, meetings, Yosemite stargazing, speakers.

Michele. ASP still looking for Project Astro partners (teachers and astronomers--amateur and professional). SFSU's "Observatory for Extreme Foggy Astronomy"--observing is on Mon, Wed, and Thur.

Morris. FPOA Board is meeting on May 11. The park has put out for bid an improvement plan for observatory area (taking out certain trees, steps, paths, turnaround road (board doesn't like that one) MDAS has moved website to Morris' server (mdas.net) SJAA has auction tomorrow. Also observing parties and classes. Deep sky observing party at Houge Park was clouded out and rescheduled. Setting date for fall Lake San Antonio Party--possibly Sep 5-7, though could move to Oct.

Nancy. San Francisco Amateur Astronomers

Submitted by Nancy Cox (AANC Rep for SFAA)

Our interesting "Women in Astronomy" speakers' series continues for this year (in celebration of the SFAA's 50th anniversary)

Recent speakers have been:

March 20: Dr. Adrienne Cool, from SFSU (becoming a hot bed of astronomy research) -- a really cool lecture on new research on globular clusters and how occasional collisions may cause "blue straggler" stars.

April 17: Our very own Jane Houston Jones on observations by several women astronomers: Carolyn Herschel, who in addition to comets, discovered 14 deep sky objects, including M110 (companion galaxy to Andromeda M31), and NGC891, that spectacular edge on galaxy; the "women computers" of Harvard University who discovered many variable stars (and different classes of them) during their cataloging work of photographic plates; and Joycelyn Bell, who discovered the first pulsar in the Crab Nebula. A very nice PowerPoint presentation.

Future speakers scheduled are: (SFAA lecture meetings, as always, are held the 3rd Wed. of the month 7:30 p.m. (refreshments at 7 p.m.) at the Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California.

May 15: SFAA's 50th Anniversary Party -- featuring 2 of the founding members, Lew Epstein and Betty Neall, and long time member Bill Cherrington, sharing their early memories with the club. A special flute ensemble presentation, to spectacular space images from the HST on the Morrison Planetarium's Dome, and equally spectacular, special refreshments.

July 17: Dr. Helen Quinn of SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator), Subject: Elementary Particle Physics (she's a real expert!)

Also, our special Golden Jubilee 2002 Speaker's Series (presented by the SFAA and Morrison Planetarium, Academy of sciences, in honor of both their 50th anniversaries (at the acad of sciences SF):

Tues. June 25 7:30 p.m. Dr. Jill Tarter, chair SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)

Thurs. Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. Author Timothy Ferris, re his new book on amateur astronomers ("Backyard Stargazers") and a book signing.

These lectures are $3 each -- tickets can be obtained by sending a SASE to Morrison Planetarium (check payabout to), Calif. Acad. of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, SF CA 94118

The Star Party season has begin: City Star Parties (at Land's End, SF):

The City Star Party April 20 (the night of Astronomy Day) was fogged in, but fairly well attended, to hear a nice talk by SFAA member Art Ownes on the Sun (his favorite subject).

Aug 17 speaker -- Nancy Cox 8 p.m.

Other speakers to be announced

The City Star Parties are held Saturday the week after the Mt. Tam Star Party (so around the 1st quarter moon) -- see previous club reports for dates and times.

The Mt. Tam Star Parties' speakers have been announced (times given are for the start of each talk):

April 13 was EAS program chair Dave Rodrigues on the space art of Chesley Bonestall (a bit windy that night)

May 11 8:30 p.m. Michael Bennett, ASP (CEO) on the new SOFIA airborne observatory (Infrared)

June 8 8:30 p.m. Dr. Jeff Moore, NASA Ames - on the moons of Jupiter as revealed by the Galileo Spacecraft.

July 13 8:30 p.m. Dr. Philip Plait, Sonoma State University, on "Bad Astronomy" (in TV and other media)

August 10 8:30 p.m. Dr. Diane Wooden, NASA Ames - "Are we stardust?" (follow the trail of cosmic dust grains from the stars to the formation of solar systems.)

Sept 7 8 p.m. Dr. Gibor Basri UC Berkeley "What is a Planet?" Re redifining "planets," from Pluto to the newly discovered extrasolar "planets."

Oct 12 7:30 p.m. Tinka Ross (Calif Acad of Sciences and MTIA) "Astronomy is Women's Work," on historically notable women in astronomy, and changing societal attitudes towards.

Astronomy Day, Saturday April 20, 2002:

The San Francisco Amateur Astronomers had their table at the Academy of Sciences (to distribute membership info), with solar viewing with telescopes provided by the SFAA. Through H-alpha filters there were some nice prominences before the fog settled in permanently in the late afternoon.

Alan. Lawrence Hall of Science. Public shows now every Sat Sun 1pm Journey to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm Target Earth (ages 6 and up), 3:30 pm Constellations Tonight (ages 6 & up). Public Stargazing every 1st and 3rd Sat evening 9-11 April 15-Oct. 1 and 8-10 Oct. 2-April 14. Astronomy day clouded out in evening, but had good solar activities during day--5 Sunspotter scopes, determine which way is east/west/north/south using gnomon shadow, make sun dials, make sun prints.

Carter. EAS. Dave Roriguez and Carter tooks scopes to Oakland Zoo for sun gazing oin Astornomy Day. Carter spent 3 nights a Pepperwood property--very nice views of planets. EAS next meeting is May 4th Lumicon and the Amateur Revolution by Richard Campbell. Members nights at Chabot are May 13, Jun 16 and other nights, posted on website. Progress on 36" scope: roof on May 6. Completion date for telescope is unclear. May 18 Chabot has $250/place gala (date slightly conflicts w/ AANC conference). May 31-Jun 1 Chabot is co-hosting regional meeting of the Antique Telescope Soc meeting. May 24-26 RTMC--theme is Women in Astronomy. Keynote by Ed and Robin Krupp.

Jane. Sonoma County Astronomical Society holds their monthly meetings ont he second Wednesday of the month. The Young Astronomers hold their meeting on the first Friday of the month.

March YA meeting was training for the new telescope awardees and starshine mirror grinding, the Apil meeting featured the Big Bang Band which hails from the Robert Ferguson Observatory. The band sings astronomical-themed songs and limericks and sing-a-longs to flute, banjo, guitar and mandolin (and sometimes other instruments) and then follows up with outreach activities. They can be reached through BBB member Matt Gardner at (707) 939 8202 or by email at ggraphix@pacbell.net. At the meeting they demonstrated the phases of the moon, size and distance of planets, lunar cratering since it was cloudy. After the meetings, there is a star party in the Kenwood School lot, where it is very dark. May meeting features adult advisor Burney Baron giving a telescope use primer. June meeting features sometime-adult advisor :-) Jane Houston Jones on meteors and comets, featuring a dry-ice comet making activity.

The adult SCAS club meeting in March featured Art Owens on Propagation of Solar Activity and April featured astrophotographer Tony Hallas. Public Astronomy dates are April 20, May 18, and June 15. Dark sky star party dates at the private Palmieri site are April 13, May 11, June 8. Annual Yosemite date is August 16 and 17th.

March 23 was the 17th annual Striking Sparks Day. Jane Houston Jones and Merlin Combs provided solar viewing as people arrived for the potluck and awards. The AANC sponsored telescope was awarded to Kristina Lynne Haynes, an 11 year old 6th grader from Monte Rio School. Her teacher is Barbara Gegan, who wrote a glowing recommendation to accompany Kristina's essay. She was late to the awards because she was competing in an ice skating competetion that afternoon...and won first place! She arrived with an Olympic medallion-sized gold medal around her neck, tied with a red, white and blue ribbon. But she made it in time to have a look through her own telesocpe, point it to the moon, find the moon in the telrad finder, then show the moon, Juipter and Saturn to her family. Her star buddy is Lindsey Smith, another AANC Sparks awardee from 1999. Lindsey is also the YA newsletter editor. Sponsors, like AANC received a lovely framed certificate with our awardees name on it and also in the frame is a picture of Kristina, telescope and Jane, representing AANC.

Submmitted by SCAS member and YA advisor Jane Houston Jones

Sidewalk Astronomers (SW) and Marin Observational Astronomers (MOO) groups are small but public-spirited groups of amateur astronomers who live in Marin County. We are also all members of the SFAA. We meet at the Rafael Theatre on Fourth Street in San Rafael, 24th and Noe in Sf and 9th and Irving in SF for sidewalk astronomy, and go to schools when asked. In March and April we conducted school star parties at Clarendon in SF, Neil Cummins in Corte Madera, Marin Horizons in Mill Valley, another school of which I forgot the name in SF, and a scout overnight in Fairfax. During a vacation we provided public astronomy through our telescopes to 1500 people at McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis TX and the Sonora Arizona Desert museum in Tucson.

The Sidewalk Astronomers maintain an astronomy email list promoting free and public astonomy all over the bay area. It is primarily geared to the astronomy enthusiast who has just had their first look through a telescope out on the sidewalk and want more, now!

The events are archived here: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/ The website also features a 5 planet lineup star chart for every day through May 20, a event hotline (415) 289-2007,and a flyer that people can print for themselves. The flyer has information about current astronomically interesting facts.

Astronomy Day this year was a 7 hour sun and wind-fest at Jack London Square, which culminated in totally cloudy conditions at 7:30 p.m. Solar observing and day mooning was served to 200 people, tho'

Sidewalk Astronomers were featured on KRON'sBay Area Backroads and TechTV's "Call For help" show. The SF Chronicle carried a comprehensive Astronomy Day article in all Chron zones except the SF region on Friday April 19. :-( : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/04/19/MN210259.DTL&type=science

submitted by chief MOO Jane Houston Jones

The Davis Star Show will take place July 19 and 20 in Davis, CA at the Veterans Memorial Center 203 East 14th Street Davis, CA It is free to all, and last year over 4000 people attended the event. The website with information is here: http://www.davisstarshow.org/

The 2001 Davis Star Show Committee distributed a final report, and AANC received a copy. Many AANC clubs were well represented, in spite of the SFAA annual Yosemite trip which was unfortunately scheduled for the same weekend. The same thing has happened for 2002, as the Yosemite dates are a lottery-type arrangement. The first year SFAA had over 15 telescopes at the star party, but that number was cut down last year due to Yosemite.. Over 50 amateur astronomers brought telescopes last year and even more are needed for the 2002 event.

Information is being added to the website all the time, so check back for details. Contacts: Jane Houston Jones Jane@whiteoaks.com for star party info, other contacts, publicity, misc info Trina Walley, Davis Conference and Visitors Bureau trina@davisvisitor.com all else

Liede-Marie (via e-mail) Re: Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society. I will not be able to be at the meeting this Saturday so I'm sending you these notes:

The speaker at our club meeting on April 23rd was Geoff Marcy, and his topic was "Discovering New Planets". We had another record setting gathering of club members-total 91.
There is going to be another (possible) viewing site for MDAS in the near future besides Mt. Diablo. There is a site between Orinda and Moraga that both cities would like to be used for Astronomy. The schools are interested. It has been placed before the city board and we will hear fairly soon.
The MDAS club picnic will probably not go through-lack of interest-only 30-some members signed up with a total of 54 people saying that they would be there.
Public nights on March 16 was clouded out but April 13 was good, about seventy-five showed up; Society nights on March 9th was rained-out with April 6th being fine, about twenty-five showed up. Next Public nights will be May 18th and June 8.
I am presenting the MDAS when I'm advertising for the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. I'm passing out leaflets and telling people about the Public nights. Many people are interested and have gone to the Public nights.
There is an interest in the May 18th event in San Mateo but as to how many are going is unknown-there is a Public night on the same day. But I'll be at San Mateo (looking forward to it-both Tom and I).

Ilona. SMAS still dealing with new meeting date--last Friday of each month. Lost a few members, but got a lot of new members. Good volunteer activity. President is good at recruiting volunteers. Had volunteers up there on 3 occasions preparing for Astronomy Day. About 400 people turned out on Astronomy Day. Activities included solar viewing exhibits on sun, 6 planetarium shows in evening. Large exhibit on walls inside with NASA posters. Put up old Astronomy Calendar. Nice Spectroscopy exhibit--6 power sources from college and 3 from Ilona, with spectrum tubes in a dark room. Not as many things to give away this year. Lockheed gave spectroscope posters with Sun. gave away 45 diffraction gratings. NASA bookmarks. 4 new members. This year, every guest speaker invited has canceled. May 3 Dr. Michael Kelsey from SLC will talk on spectroscopy and search for extrasolar planets. June Dr. Manfred Bester, UC Berkeley, wil speak on HESSE (Hi Energy Solar satellite). Banquet in July.

Mike Ryan, President SMCAS, (650) 592-3192, MikLR@aol.com

[Report via e-mail] Some five hundred people attended the astronomical Skyshow offered last Saturday evening, April 20th, by the San Mateo County Astronomical Society and the College of San Mateo. Besides the current parade of planets, it featured a talk by Dr. Mike Reynolds, and Mr. Mike Martinez, respectively the Executive Director and Curator of Meteorites at Chabot Space and Science Center. Following their narrated slideshow, Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Martinez conducted a meteorite display and sale, and Dr. Reynolds both sold and autographed copies of his book ÒFalling StarsÓ.

Planetarium shows were run throughout the event, as were classes in making planispheres, the star wheels used to locate constellations. Cloudy skies between 6 and 8 p.m. cleared off in time to observe most of the featured targets. Telescopes were used to observe the Sun, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Orion Nebula. Computers displayed examples of astronomy software and websites. Visitors helped themselves to posters provided by Lockheed Martin, and to souvenirs from NASA-Ames Research Center.

The San Mateo County Astronomical Society will host a general meeting on Friday, May 7th, in the CSM planetarium, at 7 o'clock. It will feature Dr. Michael Kelsey of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, speaking on "Spectroscopy and Stellar Observation". The following evening, Saturday the 8th, there will be a star party at Crestview Park in San Carlos. The public is invited to look through telescopes, and the event begins at sunset.

Basic Club Info below (and see AANC Resource Guide)

Astronomical Society of the Pacific - Bay Area Project ASTRO is currently looking for astronomer partners http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/bayarea/volunteer.html General Info: http://www.astrosociety.org/

Chabot Space and Science Center (CSSC; Carter).

General Info: http://www.chabotspace.org; Fri and Sat night viewing from 7-10 pm.

Eastbay Astronomical Society (EAS; Carter).

General Info: EAS Newsletter Online: http://www.eastbayastro.org

Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA)

General info on website: http://www.fpoa.net

Hotline number: (831) 623-2465

Fremont Peak State Park office number: (831) 623-4255

Hercules Stargazers (David Harris)

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS; Alan Gould)

Marin Observational Observers (formerly West Marin)

General Info: Contact: Jane Houston Jones (415) 453-2885 (email: Jane@whiteoaks.com ) No indoor meetings or dues, observational club only.

Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS; Liede-Marie Haitsma)

General Info: STFRNCIS@IX.NETCOM.COM

Websites:

For images--http://members.home.net/mdasimages

Jim Scala's website-- http://members.home.net/jscala2

Mount Tamalpais Interpretive Association

The Night Sky Planisphere - 8" diameter for $11.00

The Night Sky Planisphere - 5" diameter for $6.50

Night Reader Red LED Keychain Light for $4.50

View these items at http://www.davidchandler.com/ . Prices quoted include postage. 50% of each purchase is donated to support the Astronomy Programs

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA; Nancy Cox)

San Francisco State University (SFSU; Michel Lau)

General Info:

For more information, directions, and a complete schedule, check out: http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/observatory/observatory.html It is STRONGLY advised that you call the observatory hotline (415)338-7707 prior to visiting to make sure it's open, because observing conditions maybe unpredictable. The observatory is sometimes known as SOEFA (Stonestown Observatory for Extreme Ultra-Foggy Astronomy). :)

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA; Morris Jones)

San Mateo Astronomical Society (Ilona Magyary ilonamagyary@earthlink.net)

Meeting on Fridays at College of San Mateo 1st Friday of the month. General Info:C lub meets at the planetarium at the College of San Mateo on the first Thursday of the month.ÊURLs: http://bugs_bunny_15.tripod.com/smcas/, http://home.att.net/~bob-black/smas.htm and http://www.homestead.com/smcas/smcas.html

Santa Cruz Astronomy Club (SCAC)

General Info: Gary Staas gstaas@pdfdream.com

http://a stro.santa-cruz.ca.us/

Sidewalk Astronomers

(Jane Houston-Jones) General Info on Website: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/ Hotline: (415) 289-2007.

Sonoma County AstronomicalSociety (SCAS)

Striking Sparks Day is March 23.

Stockton Astronomical Society (SAS)

General Info: Web address -- http://astro.sci.uop.edu/~sas

Valley of the Moon Observatory Association (VMOA)

General Info: Website: http://www.rfo.org/

VMOA core programs are education and public outreach, and The Robert Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in SonomaCounty has public observing

West Marin Astronomy Club

See Marin Observational Observers

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: Jun 23, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Aug 25, 2002]

1. Call to Order: 10:06 am

2. Roll Call

Present:

Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Nancy Cox (SFAA), Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS), Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS)

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Jan. 2001)

Corrections: Don: Between the e and $, there should be an "a". Morris moved, Liede-Marie seconded that minutes be approved with those corrections. Motion passed.

4. AANC Treasurer's Report

Membership: Total of 20. Current members: ASP, CssC, DAC, EAS, CTMW, EITU, Explorit!, HSG, LHS, MTIA, PAS, SAS, SCCAS, SCAS, SFAA, SFSWA, SJAA, SVAS, VOMOA, WMAS. Missing from last year are; FPOA, MDAS, MP, OrTel, NOVA, SCity. SMCAS, Stanford, TVS.
Financial accounts: WMB ($2923) and FMF: ($4445.95). Total assets $7369.
Conference is currently "underwater" by $18.20.

More details are in documents available on request by board members.

Don Stone , AANC Trea$urer

Morris moved, Liede-Marie seconded that we accept the Treasurer's Report. Motion passed.

5. Club Reports [at end of these minutes]

6. Current Business

(A) Davis Star Show is July 19 ands 20 - Telescopes needed for Sat night star party! Jane Ssmith sent an announcement out last week to all the AANC contacts. Here is the DSS website: http://www.davisstarshow.org/. Davis Star show had funders withdraw. Morris moved that AANC underwrite Davis Star Show $400 for the 2002 event. Liede-Marie seconded. Motion passed.

(B) FPOA Star-B-Cue scheduled August 10 Here is the information: http://www.aanc-astronomy.org/starbq.html

(C) ASP Annual Meeting is going to be held at UC Berkeley this year - on September 28 and 29. ASP Mercury Editor Bob Naeye sent out an announcement to all editors last week to include in the club newsletters this month. The AANC is co-sponsoring the Sunday lecture series, and the SFAA and MTIA is hosting the Star Party. http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html

(D) Starry Starry Nights in the Foothills - Seven Nites from Seven Sites--organized by Don Machholz is August 28 through September 3. Info here: http://www.geocities.com/donmachholz/index.html

(E) Remember the $500 annual club fund (slide sets, accessories for clubs). Notify a board member or send us an email if you are interested in this program!

Morris moved that AANC give, under the Club Assistance Program, to EAS to buy a $90 book for the purpose of helping organize the EAS book collection.

(F) New AANC VP needed. AANC Vice President Dave Anderson from the Tri Valley club has relocated to Seattle to take advantage of the great observing conditions up there. :-) Seriously, we are in need of a Vice President! It's not a time consuming job, we meet about 6 times a year for a couple hours on the full moon Sunday morning - we meet at Lawrence Hall of Science so our geographically diverse members can meet in one place.

Jane suggested that we look into the possibility of having teleconferences or Internet conference for Board meetings to make it easier for outlying club board members to attend.

(G) Thoughts on the May 18th conference. Financial results will be available at next meeting. Ilona is to be commended for her efforts in organizing the conference. There were GREAT speakers, but only about 35 people came. Reason may have been selection of date as 1st quarter moon to incorporate star party as part of the event. Could have resulted in other clubs having conflicts with their own star parties. Publicity for public attendance was not good enough, probably because noone could devote the energy needed for publicity. Mike Ryan sent ideas for future to Jane. Instead of conference, perhaps combine it with Astronomy Day. Another idea is to have a name speaker in evening to anchor the event. Maybe we can piggyback on Davis Star Show.

Other agenda items and announcements.

Don: Insurance arrangements have collapsed for Astronomical League members. This could affect some AANC clubs that have been taking part in AL insurance arrangement.

MDAS is featured in the May issue of Diablo Magazine.

Adjourned 11:37 am.

Club Reports

MDAS (Liede-Marie) had really great speakers. May 28 Wayne Brown on CCDs. April 23 Geoff Marcy; 91 people. This Tue will have Bob Naeyes (was Imke de Pater on Radio Telescopes?). Stargazings cancelled due to clouds. Yosemite Star Party Aug 2-3. Mojo is hosting new MDAS website. Membership is biggest ever: 165+

SJAA (Morris) is cruising along. Well attended meeting last night with 60 people. Bob Naeyes did talk on Pluto. Yosemite party is July 5-6.

FPOA. (Morris) Park is doing massive improvements to areas near ranger house. They're grading the area an putting in rock composite in roadways, walkways with low intensity lighting, observing pads, and taking out some large non-native trees that block observing views. Contract has expired as cooperative association. The park is looking at the observatory to be operated as a concessionaire. FPOA may have to bid for the concession contract (along with other organizations). [Don says "that's like stabbing FPOA in the back, after all the work they put into establishing the observatory"] If someone else really does try to nab the concession, the telescope will probably be removed--it belongs to FPOA. The main problem really is if the park expects to make money on this concession contract.

EAS. Don. EAS book collection (old EAS library, now at Chabot) needs organization. EAS would like to buy a book that will help classify the books.

SFAANancy Cox. Speakers/Mtgs -- Monthly club mtgs of SFAA continue as usual, 3rd wed 7 p.m., academy of sciences, San Francisco. Recent Mtgs: May 15 2002 Mtg was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of SFAA's founding (1952) - A very special meeting -- old members from all around came. Two founding members, Lew Epstein and Beatty Neall (of EAS) shared their memories, Bill Cherrington spoke about our venerable Herman Fast (also a founding member), with slides of Herman. A 15 member flute ensemble played wonderful music to a montage of spectacular space images, projected on Morrison Planetarium's dome. June 19 -- Speaker was jennifer Patience, of Lawrence Livermore Lab, a very interesting talk on her team's research on binary stars and their formation. Future speakers: Our program coordinator, Rita Nossardi Stern, has worked very hard, and has a nice line-up of speakers scheduled for the rest of the year 2002 all on our special 50th anniversay theme: "The 50th Anniversary Speakers Series, Women in Astronomy. Scheduled are July 17: Helen Quinn, SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator) "New Developments in Particle Physics, and their implications for the universe" August 21: Dr. Lynn Cominsky, Sonoma State University, re: High Energy Astrophysics. Setp 18: Dr. Virginia Gulick, NASA Ames (re: Space Science & Mars). October 16: Dr. Debra Fishers UC Berkeley - re: finding extra-solar planets. Nov 20: Dr. Claire E. Max Lawrence Livermore National Lab (re: adaptive optics, I think). Dec 18 Annual Members nite and Elections, annual contests, (Refreshments 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. announcements and speaker). Star parties on Mt. Tam and SFAA's City Star Parties continue as usual. Have you ever heard of a star party winded out? (vs. clouded out, rained out) that's what happened on Mt. Tam June 8, Star Party windws about 30 mph - so no telescopes set up. City Star Parties (Lands End) speaker for Aug 17: Nancy Cox on "Star Clusters -- open and globulars"

LHS. (Alan) Had great eclipse event at Lawrence Hall of Science. Cannel 5 weather was broadcast during the eclipse several times live from LHS . Public shows now every Sat Sun 1pm Journey to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm Target Earth (ages 6 and up), 3:30 pm Constellations Tonight (ages 6 & up). Public Stargazing every 1st and 3rd Sat evening 9-11 April 15-Oct. 1 and 8-10 Oct. 2-April 14.

Chabot Space and Science Center (CSSC; Carter).

General Info: http://www.chabotspace.org; Fri and Sat night viewing from 7-10 pm.

Eastbay Astronomical Society (EAS; Carter).

General Info: EAS Newsletter Online: http://www.eastbayastro.org

Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA)

General info on website: http://www.fpoa.net

Hotline number: (831) 623-2465

Fremont Peak State Park office number: (831) 623-4255

Hercules Stargazers (David Harris)

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS; Alan Gould)

Marin Observational Observers (formerly West Marin)

General Info: Contact: Jane Houston Jones (415) 453-2885 (email: Jane@whiteoaks.com ) No indoor meetings or dues, observational club only.

Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS; Liede-Marie Haitsma)

General Info: STFRNCIS@IX.NETCOM.COM

Website: http://www.mdas.net

Mount Tamalpais Interpretive Association

The Night Sky Planisphere - 8" diameter for $11.00

The Night Sky Planisphere - 5" diameter for $6.50

Night Reader Red LED Keychain Light for $4.50

View these items at http://www.davidchandler.com/ . Prices quoted include postage. 50% of each purchase is donated to support the Astronomy Programs

Website: http://www.mttam.net/index.html

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA; Nancy Cox)

San Francisco State University (SFSU; Michel Lau)

General Info:

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA; Morris Jones)

San Mateo Astronomical Society (Ilona Magyary ilonamagyary@earthlink.net)

Meeting on Fridays at College of San Mateo 1st Friday of the month. General Info:C lub meets at the planetarium at the College of San Mateo on the first Thursday of the month.Ê URLs: http://home.att.net/~bob-black/smas.htm; Newsletter: http://home.covad.net/~alcoat/smcas/smcas.htm; Group announcement and discussion site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SMCAS/

Santa Cruz Astronomy Club (SCAC)

General Info: Gary Staas gstaas@pdfdream.com

http://a stro.santa-cruz.ca.us/

Sidewalk Astronomers

(Jane Houston-Jones) General Info on Website: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/ Hotline: (415) 289-2007.

Sonoma County AstronomicalSociety (SCAS)

General Info: 707-585-7849 Burney Baron, President blbaron@worldnet.att.net; P.O. Box 183, Santa Rosa, CA 95402; Young Astronomers contact: 707-795-7829 Ed Megill cdmgem@msn.com MEETING PLACE: Proctor Terrace School, Bryden Lane near 4th Street, SANTA ROSA; 2nd Wed / month, 7:30 pm.

Stockton Astronomical Society (SAS)

General Info: Web address -- http://astro.sci.uop.edu/~sas

Valley of the Moon Observatory Association (VMOA)

General Info: Website: http://www.rfo.org/

VMOA core programs are education and public outreach, and The Robert Ferguson Observatory at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in SonomaCounty has public observing

West Marin Astronomy Club

See Marin Observational Observers

Other Club Reports -- see AANC Resource Guide

contacts@aanc-astronomy.org (larger list, includes AANC club editors)

editors@aanc-astronomy.org (AANC member club editors only)

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: Oct 23, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Nov 24, 2002]

1. Call to Order: 10:22 a.m.

(Morris Jones taking minutes in absence of secretary Alan Gould)

2. Roll Call

Present:

President Jane Houston Jones, SJAA Morris Jones, Treasurer Don Stone, EAS Carter Roberts, Michelle Low SFSU, Tom Harris MDAS, Lida-Marie MDAS, Esther Fine-Harris Hercules Stargazers, David Harris Hercules Stargazers, Nancy Cox SFAA.

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Aug. 2002)

0000

4. AANC Treasurer's Report

Don Stone: Net loss this year $204.88, final figures for the workshop not available yet. Revenue $1653, Expenses $1858. Net worth $7081 (checking and money market). Still missing invoices from the workshop. We have 32 members, the all time high is 34.

5. Club Reports [at end of these minutes]

6. Current Business

*** Moved by Carter to sponsor a telescope for Striking Sparks. Seconded by Mojo. Passed unanimously.

*** Moved to contribute $95 to the Betty Neale youth merit award for EAS by Mojo. Second by Michelle. Passed unanimously.

Motion by Don Stone to amend the AANC By-laws to elect officers in the month of November and skip meetings in December. Discussion centered around the difficulty of holding meetings this November and December as well. Suggested to postpone elections to January.

*** Motion amended to change election to January meeting. Seconded by Nancy. Motion carries unanimously. By-laws amended to show elections occuring in January.

Jane solicited appointees for Vice-president to fill the vacant office, and had no takers.

Jane notified the membership that nominations will be solicited for 2003 awards.

Reminder about the swap meets.

Reminder to the membership to please let Alan Gould or Jane know about programs in place for viewing the Leonids this year. We'll compile events on the web site.

Problems with December 15 meeting. Jane and Mojo won't be here. Meeting set for November 24: Agenda -- set dates for 2003, nominations for officers.

--break--

We got a thank you letter for last meeting's contribution of a book "people places and things" for the EAS library.

Don's article on Dorothea Clumke-Roberts will appear in the EAS newsletter, and as the first article in a section of the AANC website on notable AANC members.

Discussion on annual conference. Two club presidents sent suggestion letters for what to do next year.

Moved by Mojo, seconded by Dave Harris, to officially support a fall astronomy day event to be scheduled for first quarter moon weekend of either September or October, to be held in cooperation with the Randall Museum in San Francisco.

Motion to adjourn by Mojo, seconded by Tom Harris. Meeting adjourned at 12:41 p.m.

Club Reports

MDAS MDAS last meeting, looking for alternative sites for astronomy to Mt. Diablo. Del Valle is a possibility but only five cars can fit. Bear Creek staging area in Briones park is another. 180 members and growing. Swap meet on November 19 at 5:45 p.m. Tom is on the board now. Sept. 7 public star party fogged out. Private night Sept. 28, with a star party of one (only Tom showed up). (It was clouded out.) Public night of October 12 was fantastic. Lower summit parking lot has two lots, and the public lot was full very early -- 64 cars. 60 boy scouts were there, and a small group of girl scouts during the day. Jim Scala was there early showing venus and sunspots. At least 200 visitors.

SJAA

FPOA.

Chabot - Got a photo in the mail from Alan Gortski, announcing his new twins. Chabot Halloween "once in a boo moon" event for kids. Nov 1-3 Science Fiction film series. "eyes to the skies" telescope buyers workshop Nov 9. Unsold stuff will show up at the two swap meets. Leonid viewing session. Bob Garfinkle Nov 22 distinguished lecture series. New planetarium show in november "by the light of the sun, new trek through the planets." Moon rock arrives Nov 29. Councilman Dick Spies is retiring from the city council, Nov 16, major event at Chabot for that.

EAS. November 9 they're participating in the telescope workshop providing viewing in the evening. December meeting is on Dec 28, Axel Mellinger speaking. EAS has set up a new award. Betty Neal has turned 95. The new award is $95 in honor of her 95th birthday, "for the further purpose of honoring the promise and enterprise of a young person in the east bay." To be presented at the annual dinner meeting. Nominations are solicited. Dinner meeting probably in March.

Don mentions that he's been doing research on Dorothea Clumke-Roberts.

SFAA SFAA changes in regime, elections in December for 2003 officers, likely nominees for president Michael Portuesi. VP nominee Nancy Cox, Lorrie Bowen has retired as bulletin editor, will run for treasurer; Shelley Owens stepping down. Secretary needed. Still pending are nominees for directors. New bulletin editor Phil Estrin, is producing the November bulletin. 50th anniversary lecture series for 2002 has been a great success, "women in science." Last month was Debra Fischer. November speaker Dr. Claire Max LLNL. December is member's night with astrophotography contest, art contest, and elections. The literary contest was cancelled for lack of entrants. Saturday January 11 is the annual dinner at the Basque Cultural center. Star party season ended for the year October 12. SFAA provided telescopes for the David Levy ASP talk on September 28. Yesterday october 19 was the last city star party. In 2003 city star parties begin in February and Mt. Tam in April. Lost Kirsten Van Stone who left Morrison to return home to Canada. The Academy of Sciences is going to be closing for rebuilding. We've produced a new membership brochure.

Hercules Stargazers, limping along since June. July 6 canceled, Aug 3 cancelled, Aug 10 cancelled for illness. Sept 28 had one stargazer (David) and a home school group. More students came having been assigned by their science teacher. Oct 5 had more volunteers, and about 10 visitors from the home schooling group and others from the neighborhood, went 'til midnight. Oct 12 cancelled. Next stargazes Nov 2, Nov 9, Dec 7, none in January and February, March 29. The main activity between July 8 and 25, Esther and David visited Israel. On July 11, they got into the Wise Observatory with a 1m astrocam. There were two volunteers with 12" dobs. Several other stargazes at different locations, and a solar gaze at the western wall, with moon viewing in the evening. About 60-70 visitors.

LHS

New member: Shingletown Star Party. SSP took the place of the Lassen star parties of past years, while Lassen Park was getting renovations.

Sonoma County (Jane), has a young astronomers club. The current adult advisor is moving, and they're looking for a new one. Striking Sparks program is starting up again.

Sidewalk astronomers -- JD is back in town, telescope making started Tuesday Oct 15, and two Cosmology classes on Thursday and Friday.

Minutes from AANC Board Meeting: Nov. 24, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Jan 19, 2003]

1. Call to Order: 10:40 a.m.

2. Roll Call

Present:

Jane Houston (President; rep for SFAA, ...), Don Stone (Treasurer, EAS), Alan Gould (taking minutes--Secretary; LHS), Lloyd Altamirano (SAS), Dave Anderson (TVSG), Nancy Cox (SFAA), Liede-Marie Haitsma (MDAS), David Harris (Hercules Stargazers), Michel Lau (SF State, ASP), Dennis LeClert (SAS), Morris Jones (SJAA), Ilona Magyary (SMAS), Carter Roberts (EAS), Ken Lum (Peninsula Astronomical Soc, SMAS, Fremont Peak), Tom Harris MDAS Esther Fein-Harris Hercules Stargazers

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting (Oct. 2002)

Correction: Hercules stagaze had 60-70 visitors at each stargaze at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Ken moved, Mojo seconded to approve minutes as corrected. Passed

4. AANC Treasurer's Report

Don Stone not present: Last month's report: Revenue $1653, Expenses $1858. Net worth $7081 (checking and money market). We have 32 members, the all time high is 34.

5. Club Reports [at end of these minutes]

6. Current Business

Mojo moved we accept 2003 meeting dates (Sundays): Jan 19, Mar 16, May 18, Jul 13, Sep 7, Nov 2. David H. seconded. Passed.
AANC award nominees. Mojo suggested we begin the nomination process with a general e-mail to AANC contacts, etc. We can make formal nominations in Jan and vote award winners in March.
All AANC swap meet. Tom Harris: at Chabot overflow lot. Consensus is that it might be best to just encourage local club swap meets, or joint swap meets with two or more clubs, and encourage that they be open to all AANC members and general public. There are two currently: SJAA, MDAS. Also Foothill electronic swap meet. Swap meet could even happen on Astronomy Day.
Fall Astronomy Day, Randall Museum, Sept--1st qrtr moon weekend.
Nomination of officers. We need AANC VP. Alan said he'd like to split the funtion of AANC web coordinator from the AANC secretary. Maintaining the website is the bigger job by far.

Motion to adjourn by Mojo, seconded by Liede-Marie seconded.

Meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

Club Reports

Antique Telescope Society (Ken Lum) has annual meeting and multi-day tour of an observatory. Founded in 1992. This year went to Ireland and visited the Lord Ross 72" telescope. Hosted by Earl of Ross. Next yhear will be Chamberlain observary 2004 could be Paris Observatoy 17th Century byt Cassini. USNO, Yerkes, Bath, Palomar, Mt Wilson.

ASP sponsored Silicon Valley Lecture Series. Last on was Dr. Arno Penzias (recipient of the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics) on: "A Personal View of the Big Bang" ASP hired Marni Berendsen (MDAS) to be coordinator for development of an Amateur Astronmer's Toolkit.

Hercules Stargazers -- Nov 2: one 10" scope, binoculars, and 3 stargazers until about 10:30 pm when the sky clouded up. Objects seen were Saturn, Albireo, the Double Cluster, M13. There was a futile 30-min search for Uranus. Nov 9: one 10" scope, binoculars, 3 stargazers, and one local visitor (Richie), a young basketball player who has been coming to the stargazes periodically for several years. We saw Saturn, Pleiades, the Ring Nebula, Double Cluster, and Uranus. We could not find Neptune. After the stargaze, a tango dance lesson was given by Sherry Gee. Tentative new name: "The Hercules Stargazers and Tango Society." Nov. 18/19, late between 2-3 am: No organized Leonid watch by the Hercules Stargazers, although some individuals went to locations on their own. Esther and I were able to do brief viewing from our backyard, which was interrupted and cut short after about 50 minutes by racoons. Before we quit we had counted 58 meteors between Big Dipper in the NE to Orion in the South in spite of the full moon, ranging from bright white and blue-green to dim white. Several bright, almost straight-on meteors were seen from the radiant in Leo, which appeared to "leak out" and disappear. Next Stargazes: Dec 7, 2002. No events until March 29, 2003.

FPOA (Jane) had very succesful leonid night--several hundred people. 400-600/hour at peak.

LHS -- Public shows Saturdays and Sundays 1:00 (Journey to the Moon--for children), 2:15 (Moons of the Solar System), and 3:30 (Constellations Tonight). http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/Planetarium.html. Public Stargazing on LHS plaza every 1st and 3rd Saturday night, 8-10 pm. http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium/SatNightStars.html

MDAS -- Auction on Tue Nov 8. Made $500-600. Lots of telescopes GREAT event. Tom Harris is appointed liaison for public and private nights on Mt Diablo. Ken Coates worked with East Bay Regional Parks and is made arrangements for use of site near Briones Park. Next Society night Nov 30. At last meeting MDAS Treasurer rasied issue of yearly dues to county or state that is some official recognition of the club.

Peninsula AS (Ken Lum) At last meeting, Dr Eric Asfog?? (Earth Science Dept at UC Santa Cruz.) gave talk on geophysics and geochemistry of asteroids and methods of mitigating possible asteroid Earth encounter. Observed Leonid meteor shower from Phelps park. Saw lots of meteors, unusually colorful.

San Francisco State University (Michelle) observatory open to public Mon, Wed and Thur.

SJAA -- From: Jim Van Nuland , Secretary, San Jose (California) Astronomical Association SJAA's web site. The San Jose Astronomical Association is busier than ever. // We have adopted our 2003 calendar. Auction XXIII will be held on Sunday, April 13. The Fall Swap will be November 9, also Sunday. The Cal-Star star party will be September 25-28.

Our mirror-making class will continue with about 2 meetings/month. The public star parties continue, every 2 or 3 weeks. The monthly beginner's astronomy class continues. And of course the speakers at the general meetings, monthly.

After a record year in 2001-2, the school star party program is looking at an even heavier schedule. In the 2002-3 school year, we have run 7 and lost 2, to date. There are 21 on the schedule and the e-mail is still coming in.

The bad news is that we've lost three of our most reliable people to job pressures, and have added just one new regular. Even just one or two a year is appreciated, but we really need for a few more regular or semi-regulars. SFAA (Jane) have finished the 50th anniv speaker series. Dec 18 is next meeting: Annual Astrophotography and Art contest; Also election. Jan 11 is annual awards banquet. Oberver of the Year. Service Award. Herman Fast Award. Sidewalk Astronomers (Jane) Telescope Making class has 12 students making telescopes. Ends Dec 15. John (age 87) will go off on other trips after that. SCAS (Jane) Young astronomers club is in need of an adult advisor. Nov meeting speaker was Wayne Brown from Apogee. Dec meeting Mike Carlowicz (Storms from the Sun).

TVS(Debbie Dyke) -- We just had our club elections for the year 2003. The winners are: President - Chuck Grant, Treasurer - Gary Steinhour, Secretary - Maggie Halberg; Board of Directors - Alane Alchorn, Jim Alves, Mike Anderson, Paul Caswell, Debbie Dyke, Gert Gottschalk, Signe McIntire, Frank Rogue, Mike Rushford, John Swenson.

We have two unfilled positions that we would love to have filled: Program Director and School Star Party Coordinator. We also could use a Vice-President and are currently twisting the arm of Frank Rogue. Due to ever increasing costs, we've had to increase our membership dues. We have three membership categories: Student $5, Basic $25 (receives newsletter in PDF format), and Regular $30 (receives paper newsletter in the mail). Our December 20 meeting is our annual Winter Solstice Potluck. This year, Axel Mellinger will be in the area for a visit and will treat us to an astrophoto slide show after dinner.