2003

recorded by AANC Secretary Alan Gould

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 19, 2002

at LHS [next meeting Feb 24, 2002]

Dates of board meetings in 2003:

(Sundays) Jan 19, Mar 16, May 18, Jul 13, Sep 7, Nov 2.

Meeting called to order 10:23 a.m.

Present:

Jane Houston Jones, president

Lieda-Marie Haitsma, MDAS

Tom Harris, Vice President

Michel Lau, SF State, Project Astro

Morris Jones, SJAA, FPOA

Michael Portuesi, SFAA

Nancy Cox, SFAA

David Harris, Hercules Stargazers

MIA:

Carter Roberts is at WAA, Don Stone is excused for surgery.

Elona is out of town. Alan Gould.

Michael brought minutes from the previous meeting. Moved and seconded

that we accept the minutes as reported (Mojo, Michael). Approved

unanimously.

With Don absent, moved and seconded to waive the reading of the

treasurer's report for this month. Motion carries.

Club Reports:

San Francisco State University (Michel) -- Public observing and planetarium shows at SFSU will resume in Spring 2003. Details to follow.

ASP sponsors the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lecture Series. The next one is on "Failed Stars or Supergiant Planets: A Cosmic Identity Crisis" by Dr. Gibor Basri of UC Berkeley. Jan 29, 2003 (Wed) 7pm, at Smithwick Theater, Foothill College. Admissions is free, $2 for parking. Call (650)949-7888 for more info.

Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO (Michel) --

Bay Area Family ASTRO is looking for a few Spanish speaking/reading people to test out the Spanish version of the Night Sky Adventure kit, which introduces families to star gazing. Contact Kristin Nelson if interested, see below for her information.

Family ASTRO is also looking for groups that can host test sites for the new Family ASTRO kit - Cosmic Decoder, which is about messages (light) from space. Each test session should include about 3-4 families, and will last about 1 1/2 hour. Contact Kristin Nelson if interested.

Bay Area Project ASTRO is once again looking for astronomer partners. If you would like to share your love of astronomy with students, and can dedicate a couple hours each semester to visiting a 4th-9th grade classroom, then consider applying as an astronomer partner. Participation at the Teacher/Astronomer workshop on Aug 15-16, 2003 is mandatory. The applications will be available very soon, or keep an eye out for it at the ASP website: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/astro/bayarea/bay.html. Contact Kristin Nelson for more information.

New from Project ASTRO/Family ASTRO - 1) El Universo a sus pies, a new collection of hands-on astronomy activities in Spanish. Translated from The Universe at Your Fingertips, this collection includes 55 activities such as "The Reason for Seasons", "Galaxies Sorting" and many more. Available for purchase $29.95 through the ASP catalog and online at: http://www.astrosociety.org/online-store/scstore

2) Moon Mission, a cooperative Family Board Game from Family ASTRO. A test of strategy, race against time to retrieve damage instruments scattered across the lunar surface before lunar night falls. Designed for 2-4 players ages 8 to adult. Available for $15.95 through the ASP catalog and online at http://www.astrosociety.org/online-store/scstore.

Contacts:

Kristin Nelson, Bay Area Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO coordinator, (415)337-1100 ext. 101 or email knelson@astrosociety.org

Dan Zevin, National Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO coordinator, (415)337-1100 ext. 121 or email dzevin@astrosociety.org

Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 01:35:13 EST

From: DonM353259@aol.com

The way Starry Starry Nights is panning out for this year: I expect it will be much as last year, but on two weekends (Fri, Sat and Sunday): August 15, 16 and 17, and the following weekend: August 22, 23, 24. The six locations we're looking at, in order, are: Colfax, Big Bend, SugarPine Revisor, and then Nevada City, Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, and Dutch Flat. Time: 8:30 to 10:00, with Mars being our last object each night. Web site, same as before: http://us.geocities.com/donmachholz/index.html

--Don Machholz

SF Sidewalk Astronomers (Jane) -- Had three sidewalk astronomy outings

in January. 300-400 visitors at each outing. Notifications come from a

telephone hotline and an email list. SFSA remains mostly unorganized.

One 8-inch dob loaner scope is currently being used by a 9-year-old girl

and her family.

SFAA (Michael) -- has had a changing of the guard. New officers MP,

President, Nancy Cox, Vice President, Morris Jones, Secretary, Lorrie

Boen, Treasure. Our first board meeting two weeks ago. They got a

Sunspotter telescope as a gift for Kirsten Van Stone, our patron at the

Planetarium for several years. City Star Parties will be at Pt. Lobos,

first one February 8, speaker Jane and Mojo speaking on Saturn, "Lord of

the Rings". We're soliciting speakers for the remaining city star

parties. Lecture starts at 5:30 p.m. We had our awards dinner a week

ago. Service award went to Kirsten Van Stone. Observer Award to Cheryl

Shudel. Herman Fast award went to Bob Berta. Several Astronomical

League awards were presented to Jane and Cheryl. Astronomical Art award

to Linda Mahan. Astrophotography award went to Bert Katzung (North

America Nebula). At the board meeting we went through the list of club

volunteer positions, 18 positions, everything from cookies to webmaster.

Most positions are filled except for awards chair. The California

Academy of Sciences is closing at the end of the year. Michael is

meeting with Steve Craig from the Academy to discuss the future of

meeting places while the Academy is in transition.

SFSU and Project Astro reports have been sent in by Michel. One

addition -- there's an auction on Ebay now, auctioning a night at the

Keck telescope with Geoff Marcy. It will be continuing through Thursday

1/23. The opening bid was $12,000. The current bid is $13,500.

SJAA (Mojo) -- has monthly general meetings. Speaker last night was Dr.

Nick Kanas on his collection of historical stellar cartography.

Speaking in February are SJAA members Mike Koop, Jane Houston Jones, and

Morris Jones, on "SJAA flies through the Leonids." March is Robert

Naeye on "Solving the Universe's Mysteries Through Extra Dimensions".

City star parties are held twice a month on Friday evenings near 1st and

3rd quarter moon at Hogue Park. The club is hosting a Messier Marathon

night on March 29 at Henry Coe State Park. A new telescope maker's

class and workshop is starting up to meet twice a month, alternating

between Thursday evenings and Saturday evenings on the same weekends as

Houge Park star parties. The Andrah Foundation repeated their $600 gift

to SJAA to continue promoting education and public awareness. Astronomy

class is starting up to meet monthly along with Houge Park star parties.

February 21 features Jay Freeman on Binocular Observing.

FPOA -- (Report by Mojo) The area at the park around the observatory has

been renovated and landscaped to provide walkways, roadways,

low-intensity safety lighting, a multi-purpose area, and several

observing pads with power. The big news is that the state will be

issuing a "Request for Interest" for a new contract to provide astronomy

services at Fremont Peak. Several astronomy organizations will be

receiving the RFI, and it's unknown who will be operating FPO this time

next year. The FPOA will be bidding, but there are complications

related to the lease terms for the 30" telescope which is owned by Kevin

Medlock and leased to State Parks.

MDAS -- Tom Harris. (Tom told the story of his first telescope and

observing session at a November star party, when he drove all the way to

Yosemite to escape from cloud cover. The upshot is that we have

permission to set up at the Groveland Ranger Station, stay up all night

anywhere in Yosemite, and sleep all day anywhere in Yosemite.)

Dec. 7 they had another star party, the same night they lit the Mt.

Diablo beacon for Pearl Harbor Day. Jan. 4 had a lot of high cirrus

early in the evening and several people left early. Later in the

evening the sky cleared for a great observing session, including

Jupiter, Saturn, M42, Andromeda, before the fog came in.

MDAS, Liede-Marie -- We have 187 members and growing. We have two

alternative sites to Mt. Diablo, Del Valle and Briones park. Del Valle

is an hour drive. Briones is close by, and they're encouraging school

groups to visit. http://www.mdas.net. Speaker for Jan 28 is Dr.

Steven Stahler, "How stars are formed" Feb 25 Dr. Ed Thommes, "How

planets are formed." Mar 25, Dr. Eugene Chiang, "The Kuiper Belt". For

amateur astronomers, the AANC awards, Jim Scala would like to nominate

Ellis Myers for amateur astronomy. MDAS nominating Jane Houston Jones

for the G. Bruce Blair award. Jon Wilson, the representative to WAA, is

soliciting nominations for the Bruce Blair award by Feb. 8.

Liede-Marie received the Joe Diesch award for outstanding contribution

to the club.

Hercules Stargazers -- Dec. 7 stargaze cancelled for hazy sky. March 29

is the next one, taking a break until then. It may be in mid-April if

Dave is out of town. Dave and Esther will be in Florida and Israel

during the break and taking telescopes. Hercules is taking a break

while the weather is bad and people are discouraged to come out.

Election of officers for 2003: Nominated are Jane Houston Jones,

President, Tom Harris, Vice-President, Don Stone, Treasurer, Alan Gould,

Secretary. Moved and seconded to elect the unopposed slate of officers.

(Jones, Cox). Motion carries unanimously.

AANC Award nominations:

MDAS has nominated Ellis Myers for amateur astronomy.

Bob Naeye has nominated Debra Fisher for professional astronomy.

Additional nominations are expected, and awardees will be

decided at the March meeting.

2003 AANC events:

Spring Astronomy Day, May 10. Every club may or may not do astronomy

day activities. On the AANC website we'll have an astronomy day page

listing all the bay area activities.

Shingletown Star Party has joined AANC. It'll happen around June new

moon. AANC will be one of the sponsors. The star party is held at a

vacant airport. You can camp alongside the runway. More information

and fliers and such will be forthcoming.

We won't have a conference this year.

FPOA Star-B-Q, new moon weekend in August.

Don Machholz started an event last year called Starry Nights in the

Sierra. He'll be holding the event again this year over two weekends in

August 22-23 and 29-30.

ASP annual meeting will again be in Berkeley, Oct 11-12. Last year AANC

provided volunteers, and we'll do that again this year.

Fall Astronomy day, this year the Randall Museum wants to have an

all-day fall event at the Randall. September 6. This conflicts with

the SFAA City Star Party out at Land's End. It's proposed to hold the

City Star Party at the Randall instead that day. SFAA is coordinating

with the ranger at Land's End. SFAA will decide at its next board

meeting. Jane will make an effort to hold a Sunday event next year. As

the event is just a week past Mars opposition, a martian theme follows

naturally.

Meeting adjourned at 12:16 p.m.

SFAA club report by Nancy Cox:

New SFAA officers for 2003:

(Elected at Dec 2002 club mtg)

President: *Michael Portuesi

Vice President: Nancy Cox

Treasurer: *Lorrie Boen

Secretary: *Morris Jones

Board of Directors (7):

*Cheryl Schudel

*Bill Stepka

Randy Taylor

Dennis Tye

Jim Webster

Don Christian

*James Mace (Jim)

Alternates:

*Bob Naeye

Other positions (appointed):

Bulletin Editor: *Phil Estrin

Speaker Chair: *Bob Naeye, ASP

Webmaster: Joe Amato

*Means new to this position this year

Dates and times for SFAA Star Parties 2003:

City Star Party (at Land's End, SF)

Feb 8 5:30 p.m. Speaker: Jane & Morris Jones, "Saturn, Lord of the Rings"

March 8 6p

April 12 7:30 p

May 10 8p

June 7 8:30p Nancy Cox "Star Clusters"

July 5 8:30p

Aug 2 8p

Sept 6 7:30p

Oct 4 6:30p

Coordinator: Randy Taylor (for speakers)

Mt. Tamalpais (at Rock Springs)

April 5 7p

May 3 8:30p

May 31 8:30p

June 28 8:30p

July 26 8:30p

Aug 30 8p

Sept 27 7:30p

Coordinator: Nancy Cox, VP for Mt. Tam parking/gate volunteers - 2 per star party

Rest of speakers to be announced

Recent Events

Dec 2002 Mtg

Annual Member's Night

Nice selection of club speakers

Cheryl Schudel - an excellent powerpoint talk on the Geologic History of the Moon

Dennis Tye and Carl Trost - Slides on their trips to the SW, including Chaco Canyon

- Elections; Astrophotography and art contests

Jan 11 2003: Annual SFAA Dinner held at Basque Cultural Center, South SF

(3rd year there) - Delicious food!

- New officers and board installed

- Awards given:

Observer of the year: Cheryl Schudel

Service Award: Kirsten Van Stone

Herman Fast Award: Bob Berta

Astrophotography:

1st place (N. American Nebula)

Art:

1st place: Linda Mahan (Stargazing Sculpture)

SFAA Monthly Mtgs

Upcoming speakers for 2003:

Scheduled so far are:

Feb 19: Sarah Church, Stanford "Cosmic Background Radiation"

March 19: Jane and Morris Jones "Leonid MAC Mission"

April 16: Imke de Pater "Adaptive Optics and Planets"

May 21: Bill Cherrington, Lew Epstein, Magic Flute Ensemble

(A reprise of last year's SFAA 50th anniversary -- more stories

from Bill and Lew).

SFAA monthly meetings are still the 3rd Wed, 7p at Calif Acad of Sciences.

After Labor Day, Sept 1 this year, possible change in site when Morrison

Planetarium at acad closes for renovation - more later.

Short and sweet -- Nancy Cox

AANC meeting March 16, 2003

Meeting called to order 10:10 a.m.

Present:

Jane Houston Jones, president

Lieda-Marie Haitsma, MDAS

Tom Harris, Vice President

Don Stone, EAS, Treasurer

Carter Roberts, EAS

Alan Gould, LHS, Secretary

Morris Jones, SJAA, FPOA

Michael Portuesi, SFAA

David Harris, Hercules Stargazers

Minutes approved (Mojo moved, Tom seconded)

Treasurer's Report

$1628 income for previous year

Account balances

$4482 Franklin Money Fund

$2867 Washington Mutual

$6769 total assets

We have 13 paid members. Treasurer's report accepted by the Board (Mojo moved, ???seconded)

Club Reports

at end of minutes

Current Business

AANC Awards 2003

The following were selected:

Marshal Smith for Commercial Award

Kirsten Van Stone for Special Award

Steve Craig for Professional Award

Marnie Berendsen for Amateur Award

Spring Astronomy Day

May 10. Jane will compile events--send plans to her. Will also send info to newspapers.

Fall Astronomy Day

Sept 6. Randall Museum has already planned event. Morrison has conflict--they already sceduled another event. Fall Astronomy day, this year the Randall Museum wants to have an all-day fall event at the Randall. September 6. This conflicts with the SFAA City Star Party out at Land's End. It's proposed to hold the City Star Party at the Randall instead that day. SFAA is coordinating with the ranger at Land's End. SFAA will decide at its next board meeting. Jane will make an effort to hold a Sunday event next year. As the event is just a week past Mars opposition, a martian theme follows naturally.

Shingletown Star Party, now AANC member, has event at Shingletown airport. It'll happen June 25-30. AANC will be one of the sponsors. You can camp alongside the runway. More information and fliers and such will be forthcoming. Motion (Mojo, 2nd LiedeMarie): AANC sponsors Shingletown Star Party with $200 support. Motion passed.

AANC/FPOA Star-B-Q, July 26. Conflicts with various other events, but what the hey. Motion (Carter, 2nd Michael): We cover half the food costs for the StarBQ. Motion passed.

Starry Nights/ organized by Don Machholz, happens in the Sierra. This year it's August 22-23 and 29-30.

ASP annual meeting will again be in Berkeley, Oct 11-12. Last year AANC co-sponsored and provided volunteers, and we'll do that again this year. Sat is Board meeting and banquet with David Levy as speaker on "Comets Colliding into Planets". Sunday is main program with several speakers.

Joint Conference of AAVSO, ALPO, and Astronomical League in 2004. CSSC will invite AANC to cohost with EAS. July 20-24, 2004. Banquet possibly on USS Hornet. Will try to get Buzz Aldrin as speaker. Does AANC want to co-host? Consensus is "yes."

Meeting adjourned at 12:14 p.m.

Club Reports

Chabot Space and Science Center (CSSC) has new executive Director, Alexandra Barnett. Started full time this past Monday. Two weeks ago, John Glenn spoke at Chabot, with special reception afterward. EAS annual dinner tonight with Alex Barnett speaking on ideas for changes at Chabot. Harold Weaver is giving main talk. Two weeks from tonight will be members observing night at Chabot weather permitting.

EAS CLUB EVENTS March - May 2003 Sunday, March 16, 6-10pm -- EAS Annual Awards Dinner: Speakers Harold Weaver and Alexandra Barnett; Helen Pillans and Betty Neall Awards; dinner catered by Harry's Hofbrau; held in the Planetary Landscapes Hall at Chabot Space & Science Center starting at 6pm. (It is too late to sign up for at this point, but wanted to let folks know what we do for this yearly event.)

Saturday, March 22, 2-4pm -- Library Work Party: Run by Anne and Frank Creese; the Chabot Space & Science Center Library and the Eastbay Astronomical Society Library is being combined, reorganized, catalogued, and labeled. This is a large work-in-progress, and more volunteers are always welcome! Contact donsaito@pacbell.net for more info.

Sunday, March 30, (dusk until whenever) -- Members Only View Night at Chabot Observatory: EAS members and their guests have the 20" and 8" telescopes to themselves, to view whatever of interest is up. Friday and Saturday nights are for the public, and are often crowded with only one object per scope to look at the entire evening. One of the big incentives to be a member!

Thursday, April 10, 7:30-9:00pm -- EAS Board Meeting: Usually held the second Thursday of the month. We discuss upcoming events, plans for enhancing the membership experience, club finances, award nominees, etc. Open to whoever wants to come to bring up an issue or just listen in.

Saturday, April 19, 7:30-9:00pm -- EAS General Meeting: Speaker to be announced.

Thursday May 8, 7:30-9:00pm -- EAS Board Meeting (see description, above)

Fremont Peak Observatory Association (FPOA) The state issued an RFI for the "astronomy concession" at Fremont Peak State Park, and it was written in a way that may mean that FPOA will be the only respondent. Responses are due on March 18, and FPOA sent its response and application last week. If FPOA is awarded a concession contract, it will mean more control for FPOA over programs and volunteer training -- a good thing. The new observing pads and multi-use area built by State Parks around the observatory are really nifty. A full schedule of public programs is set for 2003. The observatory will be open to the public every Saturday evening from April 26 through October 25, except for the Saturday closest to the full moon. Solar programs are offered once a month. See the website for details. http://www.fpoa.net

Hercules Stargazers Binocular viewing in S. Florida. Next stargaze sessions: April 26, May 31. Tentative plans to have a table at Academy of Sciences May 10 Astronomy Day. Tentatively, Lunar Eclipse viewing Thur May 15. March 17 St Patrick's day -- also 13th anniversary of the beginning of Hercules Stargazers (Green Star Mitzvah)

Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Public shows every Sat and Sun 1pm Journey to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm [current show posted at http://lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium, 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.

Marin Observational Observers (MOO :-) No grass grows under the observing ladders of the MOOers. We are the amateur astronomers who live in Marin County and look through our telescopes alot. During March we held two sidewalk events near the Rafael Film Center (witht he Sidewalk Astronomers), three school star parties and a dozen driveway astronomy events in San Rafael and also some Dark Sky outings to Lake Sonoma to the north. Events coming up are a Messier Marathon at Lake Sonoma on March 29th. Driveway, School and Sidewalk events are communicated on the Sidewalk Astronomers email list here: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/pipermail/sfevents/. No meetings, no dues, no officers, just stargazing

Mt Diablo Astronomical Society (MDAS) March 8, MDAS had first pub prog for 2003. Clouded out quickly but 40-50 were there to view through 12 scopes, but over by 8:30. Next Public night will be clear April 5. Board meeting Mar 10. Ellis will get Helen Pillans award at EAS banquet tonight. Mar 25 Eugene Chiang will speak on Kuiper Belt. Apr 22 Dr Gibor Basri on Black Holes or the Science of Science Fiction. Eclipse viewing at Briones (Bear Creek) May 15. April 6 at Briones there will be viewing. April 9 at Los Paroles School, May 1st in Oakley.

San Francisco Amateur Astronomers (SFAA) The SFAA City Star Parties for February and March were a great success, with lectures on Saturn and Jupiter, excellent attendance, and passable to superb skies.

SFAA has started a new program in conjunction with the SF Sidewalk Astronomers - a Telescope Clinic to help new telescope owners understand how to use their telescope. Future clinics will start one hour before the SFAA City Star Party and are open to the general public. For more details, see http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/clinic.html.

SFAA is still planning our calendar of events for the coming year. So far, we have the following events scheduled:

- Astronomy Day 2003, May 10. SFAA will have telescopes available for solar observing at the California Academy of Sciences from 10am to 2 pm. We will be hosting our Telescope Clinic at Land's End starting at 7 pm, and we will have our normal City Star Party at Land's End starting at 8 pm. For more details, see the SFAA Home Page: http://www.sfaa-astronomy.org/.

- Total Lunar Eclipse, May 15. SFAA members will have observation stations set up around the city, for the general public to view the lunar eclipse through the telescope.

- SFAA Night at Fremont Peak Observatory, May 30. SFAA has reserved the Fremont Peak 30" telescope for this night, and SFAA/FPOA member Morris Jones will be operating the telescope for club members.

- SFAA Visits Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, June 21. SFAA will be making a group tour of SLAC.

- SFAA Weekend at Yosemite National Park, August 15 and 16. Our weekend for Yosemite is August 15 and 16, close to the Mars opposition.

- Randall Museum/AANC Astronomy Event, September 6. We will be participating in this event, with daytime and nighttime observing for the public.

Respectfully submitted, Michael Portuesi

President, San Francisco Amateur Astronomers

San Francisco State University (SFSU) Observatory (aka SOEFA - Stonestown Observatory for Extreme Ultra-Foggy Astronomy) is open to the public 3 nights a week this semester. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7:30-9:00, plus solar observing. Please check schedule online for more information: http://www.physics.sfsu.edu/~letsch/observatory/. Also, it's advised to call the observatory to find out if its open, for weather conditions maybe uncertain. -Michel Lay SOEFA rep

Sidewalk Astronomers, founded in 1968 held, bring telescopes to the city streets of San Francisco and environs when weather and inclination permit.

Sidewalk events are communicated on our email list (450 members) http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/pipermail/sfevents/ and repeated on our hotline (415) 289-2007.

In March, we were listed in the March/April/May National Park Service "Park News", the Quarterly Magazine of the National Parks at the Golden Gate. Online here. All the pictures in the article feature sidewalk astronomers, at star parties, at solar eclipse parties and at outreach events. http://www.nps.gov.goga/parknews

Sidewalk Astronomers are co-sponsoring the SFAA/SWSA Telescope clinic held before each SFSU/Park SErvice City Star party. http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/clinic.html. Next three events are April 12 and May 10, June 7

The Sidewalk Astronomers will take telescopes to the Grand Canyon Star Party again this year. June 21-28

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) is holding their annual auction in April on SUNDAY April 13 at noon, to be followed by a special meeting at 7:00 p.m. with a lecture by Fulvio Melia, author of "The Black Hole at the Middle of the Galaxy." On May 17 Norm Sperling will speak on his new book, "What Your Astronomy Textbook Won't Tell You." Saturday March 29 is a special observing event, a hosted Messier Marathon at Henry Coe State Park. Observing lists will be available at the site, a novice list of bright easy to find objects, a half list for those who want to sleep, and the full list for marathoners. In addition, star parties are held in town at Houge Park on first quarter and third quarter Friday nights. ATM class continues to meet twice montly, and the observational astronomy class meets at Houge Park on third-quarter Fridays. http://www.sjaa.net. Full-year SJAA calendar at http://www.svpal.org/~jvn/year2003.htm. For Mar-May:

March

1 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 6:00 pm, 1% moon rises 6:49 am.

7 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30, Dave North on the Moon

7 -Fr- Houge Park star party. Sset 6:07 pm, 22% moon sets 10:40 pm. Star party hours: 7 to 10 pm.

8 -Sa- ATM Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm

15 -Sa- General Meeting at Houge Park. Robert Naeye, ASP: "Solving the Universe's Mysteries Through Extra Dimensions"

22 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 6:19 pm, 71% moon rise 11:50 pm.

27 -Th- ATM Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm

28 -Fr- Houge Park star party. Sset 6:27 pm, 12% moon rise 4:54 am. Star party hours: 7:30 to 10:30 pm.

29 -Sa- Deep-Sky Weekend, Sset 6:26 pm, 7% moon rises 5:20 am. Messier Marathon, Henry Coe Park

April

5 -Sa- ATM Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm (new date)

6 -Su- Darkness Squandering Time begins at 1 am --> 2 am.

11 -Fr- Houge Park star party. Sset 7:39 pm, 72% moon sets 4:33 am. Star party hours: 8:30 to 11:30 pm.

12 -Sa- Previously-announced meeting may be cancelled; the speaker is unavailable. Possible re-schedule Apr.13 evening.

13 -Su- Auction XXIII (SUNDAY) Noon to about 4 pm.

24 -Th- ATM Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm

25 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30, Akkana Peck discusses planetary observing.

25 -Fr- Houge Park star party. Sset 7:52 pm, 24% moon rises 4:26 am. Star party hours: 9:00 pm to midnight.

26 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 7:52 pm, 15% moon rises 4:52 am.

May

3 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 7:59 pm, 7% moon sets 10:23 pm.

9 -Fr- Houge Park star party. Sset 8:04 pm, 57% moon sets 3:06 am. Star party hours: 9:00 pm to midnight.

10 -Sa- ATM Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm

17 -Sa- General Meeting at Houge Park. Norm Sperling on his new book "What Your Astronomy Textbook Won't Tell You". 8 pm

22 -Th- ATM Class at Houge Park. 7:30 pm

23 -Fr- Astronomy Class at Houge Park. 7:30, subject TBA

23 -Fr- Houge Park star party. Sset 8:16 pm, 39% moon rises 2:56 am. Star party hours: 9:30 pm to midnight.

24 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 8:17 pm, 27% moon rises 3:21 am.

31 -Sa- Deep-Sky weekend. Sset 8:22 pm, 1% moon sets 9:15 pm.

CLUB CONTACTS: as before,

President: Mike Koop

Secretary: Jim Van Nuland Newsletter: Morris and Jane

Web site: http://www.sjaa.net/

ASTRONOMY DAY: we'll designate the star party at Houge on Friday May 9.

LUNAR ECLIPSE: We have not yet set up any specific plans for the May 15 eclipse. I will go out on a limb here, and guess that we'll have a public showing at Houge Park, which is also the site of our regular public star parties. We have a considerable presence there, with regular clientele. The local people will be looking for us to be there for the eclipse, so we must not disappoint them!

OTHER NEWS / SCHOOL STAR PARTIES: The school star party program continues, even busier than last year! We have already run (or attempted) 26 events in 2003, there are 13 ahead of us, and the requests are still coming in. There was a three-week period in which we had 5 events each week! I've personally been at all of them this year, including a few that were known cloud-outs but a few of us went out to show the scopes and talk about amateur astronomy. The running comprehensive schedule is on .

The above counts do not include the ongoing series of public star parties at Houge Park. At the latter, we often have scout and college groups.

Sonoma County Astronomical Society (SCAS) meets second Wednesday of the month at Proctor Terrace Elementary 4th Street and Bryden Lane, Santa Rosa Star parties are held first quarter moon Saturday at Youth Community Park, Fulton Road between Guerneville and Piner Roads. The club holds dark sky star parties (for members only) at the club's Palmieri location on new moon weekends.

Striking Sparks Day is March 29th. Solar Viewing from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., potluck dinner 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., Striking Sparks program 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and star party 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. The AANC sponsors a Striking Sparks telescope each year. This year, Krisandra Adams is the winner of the AANC sponsored telescope. Krisanda is in Grade 7 at Monte Rio Elementary. I'll share excerpts of her award winning essay on the AANC website later.

Upcoming events:

THE APRIL 9 MEETING WILL BE ON SOLAR OBSERVING & WILL BE PRESENTED BY ART & SHELLY OWENS OF THE SF AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

MAY 14, DR. MARC RAYMOND OF JPL WILL BE OUR GUEST SPEAKER

OUR PUBLIC 1/4 MOON STAR PARTY IN APRIL WILL BE AT THE SANTA ROSA YOUTH COMMUNITY PARK ON SATURDAY, APRIL 12TH.

ASTRONOMY DAY WILL BE OBSERVED BY THE SCAS IN PETALUMA AT LUCCHESI PARK & IN SANTA ROSA AT THE YOUTH COMMUNITY PARK ON SATURDAY, MAY 10TH

--Jane Houston Jones and Len Nelson, SCASites

[New coordinator at Cal Academy is Katy Berryhill]

AANC meeting July 13, 2003

Meeting called to order 10:10 a.m.

Present:

Jane Houston Jones, president

Lieda-Marie Haitsma, MDAS

Tom Harris, Vice President

Don Stone, EAS, Treasurer

Carter Roberts, EAS

Alan Gould, LHS, Secretary

Morris Jones, SJAA, FPOA

Michael Portuesi, SFAA

David Harris, Hercules Stargazers

Esther Fine-Harris HS

John Westfall EAS MDAS

Beth Westfall

Michelle SFSU, Proj Astro

Dennis LeClert SAS

Ilona Magyary SMAS

It was moved that reading of the minutes be waived. (Mojo moved, Tom seconded). Passed.

Treasurer's Report

$1628 income for previous year

Account balances

$4477 Franklin Money Fund

$2293 Washington Mutual

6418 total assets

Club Reports

at end of minutes Jane's Reports

Tom Harris--MDAS is going to Yosemite. We get to see Mars again. Last public had 15 scope 47 people. Liede Marie: next speaker in July is Tinka Ross. August--author of the book "The Big Splat".

Carter EAS and Chabot Space & Science Ctr next lecture is joint with Chabot: Chris McKay on Aug 9 speaking in the planetarium. Carter is rounding up volunteers to extend the viewing session Satruday night to view Mars--go later since Mars is best viewed later. Chabot opened new Mars exhibit on July 4. Has big relief Mars globe. Chabot's new 36" was dedicated. Telescope is named Nellie after one of the donors. There are a whole series of Mars talks this summer. SFAA members will be visiting Chabot in September 13 for Mars viewing after public viewing (11pm).

Michael Portuesi--SFAA Nancy Cox wrote detailed report.

Dennis LeClert--Stockton. [personal: New address: 8427 Melrose Dr. Also married Sep 1 last year. SAS Meets at the Clever Planetarium at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton on 2ndd Thursday at 7:30 PM. Next meeting August 14. No program announced at this time. Saturday, Aug 2, &:00 PM to ? - Midsummer Star Party and Social at the 4000' heliport on Hwy 88. A-G bring dessert, H-L bring salad, M-Z bring main dish. Questions? Contact Kay Gorman at 209/942-3349 or kaydkat@sbcglobal.net Star party dates: Hwy 4 - July 19, Aug. 23. Peddler Hill - July 26, Aug. 30. Next Sky Tours public star parties: Aug. 1, Sept. 5.

Ilona Magyary--SMAS outreach program in conjunction iwth college of San Mateo Fri July 11 public program. New president is Marion Weiler. 35 people attended banquet, honor 40 years service from Mike Ryan. 106 paid members. Lots of attendance at planetarium. Physics and astronomy studenst get extra credit for attending. (Darryl Stanford). In Sep there will be speaker on infrared objects visible in amateur telescopes.

John Westfall--ALPO Founded in 1947. After membership decline, we are back up to 470. Journal is avilable in hard copy and electronically. Mars observations current. There was dust storm in Hellas, but it's died down. There's still haze/dust. Meeting In Boardman Ohio Aug 7. Next year meeting will be joint with other groups, in Bay area. Strolling Astronomer newsletter (PDF) is free and online.

Morris Jones--SJAA--met last night, talk by Kirkbright on observatory with 16" Schmidt Cass. Bimonthly city star parties at Hoagie park. Meetings on full moon Saturday night. Telescope making class. Intro to Astronomy Class.

Alan Gould--Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Public shows every Sat and Sun 1pm Journey to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm Red Planet Mars [current show posted at http://lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium, 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. Rocks 'n' Stars: Night Above the Bay, At Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley, Friday, July 18, 5-11 p.m. (see http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/specialevents/specialevents.html#rocks). Catch the sunset at 8:30, enjoy a drink and a bite to eat. Experience Forces That Shape the Bay, our new outdoor science park, plus Stargaze with our astronomers, Watch a super-size sand sculpture take shape, Learn the secrets of yo-yo's, juggling sticks, and spinning tops with virtuoso Cliff Coleman. Standard admission prices apply: $8 adults, $6 youth, $4 children.Ê Cash Bar. Special offer for AANC:ÊÊ Print this email and take it with you to Rocks 'n' Stars to receive two for one admission on Friday, July 18.

David Harris--Hercules Star Gazers

Michelle SFSU at end of last semester there were 10 planetarium shows mostly from LHS PASS published shows. President of University stopped by exhibit on astronomy by SFSU students.

Len Nelson SCAS - Community Activities Director -- In May, we had a great speaker from JPL a Mark Raymond whose subject was "Rocketing to the Future". He discussed the trials and tribulations they had with Deep Space 1. In June we had a fantastic speaker by the names of Jane & Mojo Jones. They discussed the 2002 Leonid Mac Mission they went on. Most recently, in July, we had John Westfall who gave an interesting talk entitled "What to do with the Moon". I am not sure who our future speaker are at this stage. That needs to come from our VP Lucy McMahon who I will cc. In July on 16/20 the SCAS joined by a number of RFO docents will go to do public astronomy at Yosemite. We still have openings at the group campground at Bridalveil if any one else wishes to join us. Please have them contact me though in advance & they must bring an astronomical telescope. The SCAS does not have an August general meeting but rather has its annual Star-B-Que at the Robert Ferguson Observatory. The date is Saturday, 8/2. The SCAS Board meeting is on 7-15 at my house in Petaluma. We'll meet the new Young Astronomer Adult Advisor, Gary Jordan, and vote to accept him in that capacity after discussing the matter and his bio & plans with him. Then, we plan to discuss the YA and some possible changes to how we decide on who gets a scope and what the requirements may be for retaining their scope and expectations of the SCAS on these individuals to use it appropriately. Agenda on this matter is yet being developed. Coby Lafayette needs to participate in this discussion but curently cannot come to the meeting. Due to cost consideration, the cost for sponsoring a scope is increasing form $175 to $200. Membership info - Currently the SCAS has about 100 paid members. We need to discuss how we are going to 'encourage' those who have not yet rejoined a the Board meeting 7-15. It is not unusual though for a sizeable number to not renew immediately. Harry Linder is the Membership Director and by cc of this email to him...perhaps he can provide you with more details on membership ad of this time. The SCAS plans to consolidating the Young Astronomers newsletter into that of he SCAS's 'Sonoma Skies' beginning in September. In September I will give a talk to the YA on The Moon, then, in October & November, Jane Houston will discuss the Leonids and The Milky Way. She'll also talk about the Gas Giants...probably in January when they are again visible in the early evening. I and Merlin Combs are planning a talk on Aurora possibly in December.

Secretary, Alan Gould, give special thanks to everyone who sends their report via e-mail, and to Morris for transcribing the SFAA report.

Current Business

Joint Conference (Triple Conjunction) of AAVSO, ALPO, and Astronomical League Venue will be Mills College (instead of Chabot). There will StarBQ and observing night at Chabot. AANC can help. ASP may be involved also and hold ASP annual meeting around the same time. Jane read message from Mike Reynolds about discussion with AL. It said ASP is interested in helping with planning, publicity, teacher workshop, banquet. Banquet possibly on USS Hornet--35th anniversary of hrnet recoveiring Apollo 11. Will try to get Buzz Aldrin as speaker. Field trip candidates: 3-day post conference trip to Yosemite; Lick Obs. Vendors. At current AL meeting there are about 400 attendees. Next steps: find a chair, agree to do it. Jane showed a preliminary schedule for July 20-24, 2004 (Tue-Sat).

For planning, Carter can represent EAS. John W can represent ALPO. Ilona with SMAS. Alan Gould with LHS.

Don discussed preliminary budget of ALCON 2004. There is potential to MAKE money. If that happens, how does pie get divided? This can be subject of a consortium committee meeting. A lot of Convention Jobs are open to be filled: Chair/Coordinator, V-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer (Don Stone), Publicity/ Marketing (ASP+?), Papers, Website for planning (Jane&Mojo), Tours & Trans (Mike Reynolds), AV, Program coordinating (John W: each organization should organize their own paper sessions), Printed Program (Mojo does design, Carter does reproduction), Displays/Exhibits, Door Prizes, Proceedings, Photos/Gr Photo (Tom Harris), Reg Table, Tshirt (Debbie Dyke), Tour Guides, Insp Gadget (Carter), Lodging/Housing, Facilities, Volunteer Coordinator (for helping at the event).

Dennis moved that AANC formally be a participant in the Joint Conference (Triple Conjunction). Tom seconded. Motion passed.

Morris moved that AANC contribute $1000 in seed money for the conference. Carter seconded. Motion passed. John W said he could raise issue of seed money with ALPO Board.

AANC/FPOA Star-B-Q, July 26. Conflicts with various other events, but what the hey. From past meeeting, AANC will cover half the food costs for the StarBQ. Motion passed.

Fall Astronomy Day

Sept 6. Randall Museum has already planned Fall Astronomy day, an all-day fall event at the Randall. As the event is just a week past Mars opposition, a martian theme follows naturally. See http://www.whiteoaks.com/jane/Mars for Mars opposition info.

Starry Nights/ organized by Don Machholz, happens in the Sierra. This year it's August 22-23 and 29-30. Website is http://www.geocities.com/donmachholz

P>AANC Awards 2003

The following were selected:

Marshal Smith (Orion Telescopes) for Commercial Award

Kirsten Van Stone (California Academy of Sciences) for Special Award

Steve Craig (Morrison Planetarium) for Professional Award

Marnie Berendsen (MDAS) for Amateur Award

Jane gave the awards to each person at appropriate events.

Misc

Jane has sketch in August issue of Astronomy magazine, p. 85. Also has piece in the Reflector (AL). Also had link on an Astronomy Picture of the Day. Congratulations!!

Meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

AANC meeting Sep 7, 2003

Meeting called to order 10:25 a.m.

Present:

Jane Houston Jones, president

Lieda-Marie Haitsma, MDAS

Tom Harris, Vice President

Don Stone, EAS, Treasurer

Carter Roberts, EAS

Alan Gould, LHS, Secretary

Nancy Cox, SFAA

David Harris, Hercules Stargazers

It was moved that reading of the minutes be waived. (David moved, Tom seconded). Passed.

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer not present. From last meeting (July 2003):

$1628 income for previous year

Account balances

$4477 Franklin Money Fund

$2293 Washington Mutual

6418 total assets

Club Reports

Tom Harris--MDAS

Carter EAS and Chabot Space & Science Ctr -- Mars chaos lately. Carter had suggested extended Mars viewing (until 2am Saturdays). Then opened Fridays also. Lines got REALLY long--Chabot has been inundated with Mars fans. Mars exhibits (with big relief Mars globe) and gift store were open for admission charge--included planetarium show. Nick Cannis from SFAA is speaker for next meeting, on The Decline and Rebirth of Astronomy in Medieval and Rennaissance Europe--there are some issues with having Mars viewing for public same night. Chabot is doing restructuring--proposed being open certain days for public and other days mainly for school programs.

Nancy Cox - SFAA - City star party last night-no fog-lots of people, beginnners from the public. Nancy spoke on how to get started observing. It was beautiful. Red sun at sunset. About 20 people. Moon viewing was good--crater Gassendi was great. One more City Star party Oct 4. Sep 27 willb last Mt Tam Star Party for the year (with somebody from Hubble Heritage Team speaking). One change for next year: Mt Tam Star Parties will be on 1st quarter Moon now. Third Wed of Nov (Nov 19) there will be special planetarium show by Bing Quock--last time to see the Morrison vintage projector before it's retired. Aug 23 SFAA had observing on Boot Jack camp on Mt Tam--GREAT Mars viewing. Aug 30 at Mt Tam there were 40 telescopes and parking lots filled. Academy will be located at 4th and Howard. SFAA will meet at Randall Jr. Museum (199 Museum Way) in 2004. [also visit the slickenside cliff there]

Alan Gould--Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Public shows every Sat and Sun, 1pm Journey to the Moon (ages 4+), 2:15 pm Red Planet Mars [current show posted at http://lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium, 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.

David Harris--Hercules Star Gazers -- July 26 Stargaze, 3 new volunteers with telescope: 3-10" and one 13". Stopped a 11. Had first real police incident with new police officer who was alarmed by the person carrying the big white tube. David spoke with Park and Rec Director to contact police and make things right. Aug 23 stargaze featured Mars--2 telescopes out, 17 visitors. Newspaper article featured Hercules Stargaze events along with LHS and Chabot (the "big guys"). Also Sat Aug 30 stargaze 70 people attended--parents and kids from a couple of schools. Four telescopes-8"dob, 16" dob, 10" dob, & GPS LX200 Meade. Went 9pm-1am. Unlike Chabot and LHS, Hercules did not gert fogged out. Next Stargazes: Sep 20, Oct 25, Nov 22. Then break until April 2004.

Len Nelson SCAS - The SCAS did not have an August Board meeting since too many were to be away

on vacation.The RFO had 2 Mars events back-to-back on 8/18 & 8/23 & about 275 came to

each one.The SCAS had a Mars night at the Youth Community Park in Santa Rosa on 8/30

and about 150 or more attended. Even though a fog came in early, Mars & its polar cap were clearly visible

through my 130mm astro-physics refractor through the fog. A second Mars night is planned for this coming Saturday, 9/6 at the same location.The SCAS's monthly general meeting is this Wednesday, 9/10. My person best night for observing Mars was on Tuesday, 8/26, when I invited about 12 friends to Shollenberger Park near Petaluma. I fully expected poor viewing conditions but it was clear & the seeing the best for Mars this year event at an elevation of probably less than 50'

above sea level. The best image of Mars I witnessed being taken was with Bert Katsung's 12.5" Ritchey-Chrétien reflector and a web cam camera on 8/17 at his location in Windsor. See image below. Let me know if I missed anything.

Jane Houston Jones - Sidewalk Astronomers - The Sidewalk Astronomys have been busy this summer

All of our events are announced to members of our email list, where you can also read them. We have 550 members on the list, by the way. If you'd like to read about our events, free and open to the public go here: http://www.sfsidewalkastronomers.org/pipermail/sfevents/ We have a hotline (415) 289-2007 and during the Mars Mania weeks had hundreds of telephone calls to our hotline. The Mars webpage http://www.whiteoaks.com/jane/Mars/ had over 200,000 visits (hits to specific pages) in the last 2 weeks of August and probably 40,000 hits. It was listed in every major newspaper, on KQED and many other local and national networks. In July, August and September CBS Evening News filmed us and we were on the CBS Evening News August 26th. Lots of wonderful press coverage, and we probably showed over 2,000 in-depth (over a minute each) views of mars through our own two or three telescopes just on the sidewalks over the past 2 weeks. Some nights we had 500 people viewing through three telescopes. Sept 6th we co sponsored the Randall Museum Astronomy Day event featuring Mars. We had over 750 people attend yesterday. all day and night. Schedule here: http://www.whiteoaks.com/jane/sept6mars/

For people wanting help with telescope use, there is a telescope clinic at SF Amateur Astronomers stargazing nights an hour before dark. Call SFAA 415-289-6636 or Sidewalk Astronomers 415-289-2007. Next one is Oct 4.

Morris Jones -- SJAA had several very highly attended Mars events both at Houge park and Evergreen Valley College. The club has been participating with Jeff Kirkbride to provide telescopes and assistance for the grand opening of the new observatory at Evergreen. The September general meeting is the 13th, member's "slide and equipment" night. Dark sky parties are scheduled at Coyote Lake Park on the 20th, and October 18. No speaker yet scheduled for the October meeting. FPOA has also been dealing with hundreds of visitors and special traffic controls at the observatory. Contract talks with the state are nearing completion, a full status report is available from director Mark Brown on the web site, http://www.fpoa.net. Special language is being added to the contract to hold FPOA harmless for non-astronomy activities at the park, and the hunt is on for an insurer to cover everything else. FPOA is going to have to take over maintenance of the new outdoor observing pads and improvements and the bathrooms down the hill.

Michel Lau - SFSU - New semester just started. Had several Mars Observing nights in

the observatory, but all were clouded/fogged out. Observatory schedule

for regular open nights during Fall semester is TBD.

Current Business

Joint Conference (Astrocon 2004) of AAVSO, ALPO, and Astronomical League. July 20-24, 2004. Hosted by EAS and AANC. Venue will be Mills College (instead of Chabot). Will host website on web page www.astrocon2004. There is e-mail list of people working on the event. Mike Reynolds and Mike Bennet are Co-Chairs. Latest planning meeting was Aug 24. Next organization meeting will follow ASP meeting in Berkeley Oct 11-12. Next one after that is in Nov 9 (Sun). Don Stone is treasurer. We'll need lots of volunteers. By beginning or October, there will more info. ASP annual meeting around the same time. John Westfall is on planning committee. There will StarBQ and observing night at Chabot. Banquet on USS Hornet--35th anniversary of Hornet recoveiring Apollo 11.

Meeting adjourned at 12:19 p.m.

AANC meeting Nov 2, 2003

1. Call to order: 10:20 a.m.

2. Role Call and Introductions:

Jane Houston Jones, president

Morris Jones, SJAA

Tom Harris, Vice President

Don Stone, EAS, Treasurer

Carter Roberts, EAS

Alan Gould, LHS, Secretary

David and Esther Harris, Hercules Stargazers

Ilona Magyary, SMAS

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting

Tom Harris moved, David Harris seconded that minutes of the Sep 7, 2003 AANC Board of the minutes be approved. Motion passed.

4. Treasurer's Report

Account balances

$4497.393 Franklin Money Fund

$896 Washington Mutual

Total assets: $5393

As treasurer of AstroCon2004, Don is opening an account for AstroCon2004.

5. AANC 2004 Membership Drive

Jane will go ahead and create letter and mailing labels to prepare for mailing in November.

6. Nominations for 2004 officers, including new president

Alan Gould is willing to serve as Secretary still.

Don Stone can continue as Treasurer.

Need nominees for president, since Jane is moving to new job at JPL, Cassini Outreach Specialist.

7. Solicit AANC award participants - to be awarded at Astrocon2004

Previously nominated:

Ellis Myers (MDAS) for amateur astronomy.

Jim Scala (MDAS)

Debra Fisher for professional astronomy.

Also suggested: Big Bang Band

Scope City

8. Club Reports

Tom Harris--MDAS -- 190 members. President Jim Scala is stepping down. Richard Ozer is becoming president. Last society night was closed due to high fire danger in Mt Diablo. Swap Meet is going to be Nov 18 top of Ivila Rd, Concord 7pm. Nov 8 star party at Mt Diablo for lunar eclipse.

Carter EAS and Chabot Space & Science Ctr -- Mars mania has continued. Sep 13 was scheduled stargazing for SFAA and EAS with Rachel. It was best Mars viewing of whole season. EAS meetings will be 1st Sat of each month for most of the year, except for banquet. We lost another long-time member, Anne Creese (died at age 80), the EAS librarian. She is survived by husband Frank Creese. Carter is involved in Project Astro with 5th grade class (largely minority) in Oakland. Will do lunar eclipse event. Telescope Making workshop continues.

Alan Gould--Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) Public shows every Sat and Sun, 1pm Flying High(ages 4+), 2:15 pm Stonehenge [current show posted at http://lhs.berkeley.edu/planetarium, 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.

David Harris--Hercules Star Gazers --September 20, 2003 --Start 8p.m., end 1:15 a.m. Volunteers - Mark Sharretts, Dave Harris. Scopes - Dave's 10" Dob, and Mark's 20" home-built Dob, the latter for the first time at a Hercules Stargaze and the largest scope to date. Visitors - Four adults, plus approx. 9 teenagers and children. Objects viewed: Mars (details on surface and S. Polar Cap), M13, The Veil Nebula, the Double Cluster, the Dumbell Nebula, Albireo, the Andromeda Galaxy (and companion), the Ring Nebula. Comments -- One of the children, a first-grader named Ryan, made his third appearance at the stargaze with his father. Dave gave Ryan a planisphere, showed him how to use it, and suggested that he try to find some of the constellations.

October 25, 2003 -- Start 7:45 p.m., end approx. 12 Midnight. Volunteers - Walt Meadows, Mark Sharretts, Dave Harris and Esther Fein-Harris. Scopes: Walt's home-built 10" Dob, Dave's 10" Dob, and Mark's 20" home-built Dob. Previously, Mark has brought two other home-built scopes, a 10" and a 16". He is currently considering making a 30". Aperture Fever has set in! Visitors - Three adults, two children. Objects Viewed: Andromeda Galaxy, M13, the Dumbell, the Veil, Mars (Polar Cap just barely visible), Ring Nebula, Pleiades, Albireo, the Double Cluster. Comments -- One potential new Stargaze regular with an 8" Dob. Mark also brought a home-built laser collimator, which was used to collimate all three telescopes. There was another long session with our favorite local boy genius Ryan and his dad who live in the neighborhood. Ryan was able to use the planesphere to find Polaris, the Great Square of Pegasus and the Pleiades. Also, Walt brought his granddaughter Hannah, who enjoyed the views through the scopes.

Next Stargaze: November 22, 2003. Afterwards, no monthly Stargazes until March or April 2004.

Submitted on 10-30-03 by Dave Harris.

Jane Houston Jones - Sidewalk Astronomers -

Morrison Planetarium is shutting down in Dec. SFAA and Morrison are inviting all amateur astronomers Nov 19 7:30 pm Star Over SF (history of Morrison) special farewell to the planetarium.

Morris Jones -- SJAA -- Meeting on eclipse night next Sat, with two speakers: Bob Garfinkle on eclipses and Jane Houston-Jones on observing with women astronomers. Star Party at Houge Parke with Bar-B-Q followed by general meeting. Sun, Nov 9 is Annual Swap Meet. New editor and webmaster: Paul Kohlmiller.

FPOA is on verge of getting contract with the state to be concessionaire.

Michel Lau - SFSU -- SFSU observatory (for extreme ultra foggy astronomy) located on the roof of Thornton Hall of SFSU, and is open to students and the public for observing Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:00-9:30. There will, unfortuanatly, be no lunar eclipse observing, for the moon is too low at the time. Please call (415)338-7707 to check the observing conditions before coming to the observatory. SFSU Planetarium will be hosting a series of lunch time and winter shows later this month.

Ilona Magyary -- SMAS -- Continuing, activity with college of San Mateo. Active with the college Planetarium. SMAS has embarked on new program:

Dec speaker is Chris McKay.

9 Current and new business

AANC-sponsored Striking Sparks Telescope. Carter moved, Morris seconded, that AANC give $200 to SCAS for an AANC-sponsored Striking Sparks Telescope for 2004. Motion passed.

Astronomy Day is April 24, 2004.

Astrocon 2004, joint conference of AAVSO, ALPO, ASP and Astronomical League. July 20-24, 2004. Hosted by EAS and AANC. AANC put in $1000 seed money for AstroCon. Venue will be Mills College. Alan Gould and Mike Reynolds are going to Mills to make site arrangements on Nov. 6. AstroCon web page: http://www.astrocon2004. There is e-mail list of people working on the event. Mike Reynolds and Mike Bennett are Co-Chairs. Latest planning meeting was Aug 24. Next organization meeting will be Nov 9 (Sun) 7-9pm at Chabot. Don Stone is treasurer. We'll need lots of volunteers. We expect 200-400 attendees at AstroCon. There will StarBQ and observing night at Chabot. Banquet on USS Hornet--35th anniversary of Hornet recovering Apollo 11. Mike Koop volunteered to coordinate tours. Tour to Lick Observatory planned.Jane, Mojo, and Beth Westfall are communications/publicity committee.

ASP annual meeting was in Berkeley, Oct 12 (Sun). Theme was cosmic explosions, with talks on the Sun, supernovae. Alex Filippenko arranged site at UC Berkeley. Kevin Zonly did talk on Asteroid Impacts. Sat night before was Board meeting and banquet with David Levy as speaker on "Comets Colliding into Planets". Event was well attended and made money for ASP. Next year ASP meeting will tie in with AL.

Venus Transit June 8, 2004. Visible from East Coast of US and S. America. Webcast from Spain. Centered over Iraq/Iran. Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum is coordination public outreach events and has Venus Transit 2004 website. They will have John Philip Sousa's "Transit of Venus March" on the website.

Jane and Morris are leaving Bay Area. Jane has new job at JPL, Cassini Outreach Specialist. AANC Board presented parting gifts: Mojo Clif Bars, Bouquet of Cosmos, Bouquet of Stargazer Lilies, and Sharffenberger chocolates.

Next AANC meeting: Sun Jan 11, 10:30 am, LHS.

Meeting adjourned at 12:49 p.m