29° 39' N, 82° 21' W

FirstLight Newsletter of the

Alachua Astronomy Club October 1997

From the Sidewalk Friday. September 12, 1997, Cedar Key

We set up at the boat ramp in Cedar Key. I think this is my all-time favorite "sidewalk" observing site. Everyone is so relaxed and friendly, and the fishing's not bad either (Gwen caught a bucket-full while I did the telescope).

As usual, the crowd gathered before dark and kept me busy until after midnight; 83 customers in all! Some hazy overcast but steady seeing. Europa's eclipse recovery was fun and later on Callisto disappeared behind Jupiter. Some folks even set their watch alarms so they could return from dinner at the proper time to see these events. Lots of regular customers tonight. I call one group "three guys in a golf cart." They stopped by five times to check on things. Yes, they had been partying, but they showed a sincere interest in astronomy, yelling across the parking lot, "Hey telescope man, can you see Uranus'?"

Sunday, September 21, Gainesville

After shopping a Lowe's, I looked up on my way out and there they were, Venus and Jupiter, bright as ever. That's all it

— Randy Palmer took and fifteen minutes later I'm set up in the parking lot. A special treat, my first look, and I'm seeing a double shadow on Jupiter] I checked the Observer's Handbook and discovered that they were Ganymede and Callisto's shadows. I quickly set up to take some eyepiece-projection photographs. Unfortunately, I found out the next day that nothing worth keeping came out on the photos.

About 25 visitors tonight, several family groups with children. Kids LOVE to look through a telescope! 1 try not to tell them what they are going to see, but rather have them observe and describe what they see to me. It is amazing the detail the young ones see, and very funny the way they try to describe it.

Then, when I least expected it, someone yelled from across the parking lot, "Can you see Uranus'?" It was the Cedar Key golf cart trio on their way back from a Daytona fishing trip; they said they caught a 500 pound marlin. Small world — big universe — fun evening!

Wednesday. Sep 24, New Smyrna Bch.

I get to travel a lot with my job and as a

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result, get to set up my telescope al some neat places. New Smyrna Beach is one of these. At the Flagler Road beach access, there is a board walk (concrete walk, actually) along the beach. The adjacent parking lot lights are shielded, so it is quite dark lor a public place. It is Ihe local hang-out, with bars, restaurants, shops, etc. 1 set up two hours before dark. There was no moon this evening, but a group of teenage boys on skateboards quickly suggested that we turn the telescope on more earthly objects. (I think you get the picture.)

There was a very clear sky, for a city, that is. The Milky Way was easy; Little Dipper handle just visible; seven plus bands on Jupiter, with very heavy markings in the bands; Red Spot very easy, crossing (lie meridian al about 11 p.m.; live moons about Saturn, with cloud bands seen by most visitors; Cassini's Division steady; Andromeda Galaxy naked eye!

The Space Shuttle was scheduled to launch the next evening, so the place was buzzing with talk of space travel, the mission to Saturn, space station MIR, and the like. There were 57 visitors, witli the last one staying until 3:00 a.m.

Sunday, Sept 28. 199?', Gainesville

Although disappointed that the star party was rained out, I knew it would not be long until I set up again. My son David and I had consulted the Observer's Handbook and learned there

would be a "shadow transit shadow event" early this evening. That's good enough for me. Since it was already dark, we quickly set up in the Wal-Mart parking lot. When we looked, all that could be seen was a shadow in the middle of Jupiter — no moons in transit, or so we thought. After a little more checking of tables and times, we discovered that we were seeing Ganymede (the largest, but not the brightest of Jupiter's moons) in transit across the very bright central zone. I had always thought the transits were much harder to see.

David did most of the work tonight, talking with at least 30 customers while I sat on the tailgate relaxing. At 10:48, Ganymede's shadow began falling on Jupiter, this time unmistakable, like a bullet hole shot straight through the disk.

This was probably not the best night on record (lots of passing high clouds), but certainly worth the effort.

Final thoughts...

Get out while the weather is so nice and the planets are so well placed. Jupiter is almost as big in the telescope as it ever gets, and Saturn rises at mid-evening, with rings tilted nicely into view. Don't forget the Chiefland Star Party at the end of this month. I promise you will enjoy your visit there. Also, if anyone would like to join me for some "sidewalk" astronomy, just give me a call! ft

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Upcoming Club Meetings and Events

October Council Meeting

Date Tuesday, October 7th Time 6:00 p.m. Place Morrison's Restaurant, NW 13th Street. Gainesville FL

Club officers are expected lo attend; everyone else is welcome.

October Club Meeting

Date Tuesday, October 7th Time 6:00 p.m. Place Auditorium, Doyle Conner Building, 1911 SW 34th St., G'ville.

Club officers are expected to attend; everyone else is welcome.

AAC Club Star Parties — dates & locations

• September 27 (Saturday Night); rain date October 4th. At Bob Jacob's house south of Alachua.

Chiefland Star Party (Editor: a map to the site will be in next month 's newsletter) We are having our annual star party on October 30-November 2. There will be the standard picnic on Saturday the 1st in which we encourage side dishes to share with everyone. Unfortunately, I will not be there because I am on "sabbatical" with the US Navy aboard the USS HONOLULU (SSN 718). I hope everyone can make it. Billy Dodd will inform me of any changes but there may even been a Halloween costume contest but that is still being determined. We all know how Billy loves to dress up. No bikinis this year, Bill. I personally request that no Roswell aliens show up; eveiyone knows how much I loath this story. Don't worry, I have my government spies at all astroscoper events!

— Tim Plinty, Chiefland Astroscopers

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Minutes, September Council Meeting - It ml ( ritllin

September 2. 1997, at Morrison 's Cafeteria, Gainesville FL

Education Committee: Gary Liljegren reports thai Julie O'Brien wants to work with AAC on her mobile planetarium project. Gary will arrange for have Carol Hambriock (Alachua County Schools) on our mailing list for Firstlight. AAC will provide assistance to studendts doing astronomy-related Science Fair projects. John Brandorff will prepare a letter advising Carol Hanbrick.

Speakers: The October 14th meeting will feature Dr. Elizabeth Lada, speaking on a topic related to star formation. Randy Palmer, AAC Slar Party Coordinator, will do a ten minute short topic about care and maintenance of the club telescopes.

Moonlight Walk: The date for the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Autumn Moonlight event is scheduled for Salurday, October 11th.

Star Parties: Saturday, September 27th at Bob Jacob's (Ed..— rained out!) with a rain date of October 4th.

Upcoming Events: Don Loftus will be handling arrangements for the Community Fair at Oaks Mall on September 27th. The Chiefland Star Party is Thursday through Sunday, October 30th through November 2nd.

Other Business: There is a new security policy at the Doyle Conner Building where AAC holds monthly meetings. First arrivals at the meeting should wuse the phone on the south side of the building to call security to unlock the front doors.

New AAC Officers: AAC will solicit for 1998 club officers during the September 9th regular club meeting. ft

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Minutes, September AAC Meeting - Bud Cridlin

Regular meeting, September 9, 1997 lh

President John Brandorff conducted the meeting tonight.

There were five new visitors at the meeting were: Luther Davis, Mike Fasano, Marcus Brodeur, Julie O'Brien, and Patty Barnetl.

Treasurer's Report: Don Loftus gave the report — $874.

Randy Palmer reported on the September 6th Star Party at Bob Jacob's house — very good observing conditions that night. The next Star Party at Bob's is September 27th (rain date October 4th). The Chiefland Stary Parly is on Holloween weekend.

AAC will not participate in the Oaks Mall Community Fair; we applied too late this year.

The annual Kanapaha Autumn Moonlight Walk event is October

Doyle Conner Hhlg.. Gainesville FL

Nth. We need as many members (and friends) as possible to bring telescopes for the public viewing. Help!

Don Loftus gave the 10-minute talk. He discussed the meaning of interstellar vs. inlergalalic space and how they differ in characteristics, especially in regard to material content.

September Speaker: Professor John Oliver of the UF Astronomy Department gave tonight's talk, "Calendars and You. " I le discussed the astronomical origins of various calendars (the Earth's orbil around the Sun and/or the Moon's orbit around the Earth) and explained their origins and histories.

ft

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Astronomy and Space Calendars — Chuck Broward The 1998 edition of the Astronomy and Space Calendar is available for club purchase. The 1998 calendar is 128 pages long, and features 53 color photos. The spiral bound, 6 by 9 inch book is laid out by week and features a wealth of astronomical information. There is also a new section previewing 1998 NASA launch schedules, a summary of celestial events, and planetary missions.

Once every two years or so Ihe Coastal Engineering Department sends me to Duck. North Carolina, to play on the beach. (Editor: I hope Chuck does a little work sometimes...) This year I took a day and night and rode a night ferry boat to Ocracoke Island and camped.

The night ferry ride was spectacular. A macho army captain vacationing with his family was puzzled that the "North Star" seemed to be in the wrong direction. I explained that it was really Jupiter. He did not seem very convinced until I hauled out a pocket compass.

Price per: Cost

1 $13.95 2-4 $10.95 5-9 $ 9.95 10+ $ 7.95

A sample calendar will be on display at the meeting. They make excellent Christmas gifts.

ft

— Chuck Broward Later that night I set up my little backpack tent, without the rain fly, and lay there marveling at the brightness of the Milky Way through the no-see-um netting of the tent. My 10 X 70 binoculars performed surprisingly well looking through the net!

I later unzipped the tent and did some serious looking. It was magnificent. The next day, the clouds moved in for the rest of the week! I've learned over the years to always carrry the binoculars, a small star atlas, and a planisphere.

ft

Skyqazing on the Outer Banks

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For Sale... 13 inch Coulter Dob... $400 Call Chuck Broward, 352-392-1051, or home 352-475-1014.

AAC meets every second Tuesday of each month, 34th Street, Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida

at 7:30 p.m.. in the Do USA

yle Conner Building, 1911 S.W.

General public and beginning stargazers are invited to all meetings, star parties and club events No equip-ment needed. Call a club officer (most area codes 352) for more information or e-mail rclpam@nersp.nerdc.un.edu

President

Vice-President

Treasurer

Secretary

Wo

John Brandorff Gainesville (375-1043)

Howard L Cohen Gainesville (376-5833)

Ryan and Don Loftus Alachua (904-462-1227)

Bud Cridlin Gainesville (374-859°)

rid Wide Web Home Page al UKL

Star Parties

FirstLight Editors

Pubhshei

hitp://www.astro

Randy Palmer Williston (528-9614)

Pamela Mydock and Duane Sandene Lochloosa (481-5238)

Chuck Broward Melrose (475-1014)

un.edu/~cohen/aac

October 1997 Astro Calendar (Times EDT until Oct. 26)

Julian Date 2,450.723.0 (12:00 UT) New Moon Venus (mag. -4.2) 7° S of Moon Mars (mag.+1.1)6° S of Moon Jupiter (mag. -2.6) stationary Neptune (mag. +7 9) stationary First Quarter Moon Saturn (mag. +0.2) at opposition Neptune (mag. +7.9) 4° S of Moon Uranus (mag. +5.8) 4° S of Moon Jupiter (mag. -2.5) 4° S of Moon Mars (mag. +1.1)3° N of Antares (mag. +0.9) Mercury at superior conjunction Uranus (mag. +5.8) stationary Saturn (mag.+0.2) 0.4° S of Moon Full Moon (Hunters'Moon) Venus (mag. -4.2) 1.7° N of Antares (mag. +0.9) Vesta (mag. +6.9) at opposition Aldebaran (mag. +0.8) 0.3° S of Moon Orionid Meteor Shower (1/4 peak duration = 8 days, ZHR = 20) Last Quarter Moon Ceres (mag. +8.0) stationary Begin Eastern Standard Time All Following Times Are EST Venus (mag. -4.3) 2° S of Moon Full Moon

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Sun Mon Wed

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