FOCUS Feb., 2013chester/das/focus/FocusApr...The DAS Amateur Telescope Making (ATM) Special Interest...
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Vol. 58, No. 4, APRIL, 2013 FROM THE PRESIDENT Bill Hanagan Spectrocopy for Amateur Astronomers - Speaker: Tom Field of Field Tested Systems and contributing editor of “Sky & Telescope Magazine” will speak to us VIA an over the Internet “Webinar” from Seatle, Washington, a DAS First in Our 55 Year History! Next Meeting – Tuesday, April 16 th, 2013 at 8:00 PM Each issue of FOCUS is full of useful hyperlinks. Just click on any graphic or telltale blue web address and your browser should take you to additional linked web resources. at the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory Don’t Miss the Annual DAS Dinner Meeting Tuesday, May 21 st Make Reservations NOW to Hear Our SPECIAL Guest Speaker, Dr. Noureddine Melikechi The full story on this great speaker, the variety of dinner selections, along with reservation form and directions to the Hilton Wilmington/ Christiana appear on pages 8 and 9. who is involved in the Curiosity Rover Mission exploration of Mars! May Elections for the Three “At Large” Board Positions See info on page 6. And There’s still time to throw YOUR hat into the ring! First off, thanks go out to Greg Lee for his presenta- tion of “What’s Up in the Sky”. Thanks also go out to Frank and Sandra Colosimo for driving 2+ hours to and from Mount Cuba so Frank could tell us about The Blue Mountain Vista Observatory (BMVO) at last month’s meeting. It was quite inspiring to hear the story of how Frank and Sandra created this dark sky haven for all amateur astronomers, including imagers as well as visual observers. As the weather warms up, our more avid observers will undoubtedly be looking for a chance to spend a couple of nights at the BMVO. Thanks also go to Mike Cimorosi for providing the refreshments for our March meeting. And, last but not least, I’d like to thank Jeff Lawrence and Bill McKibben for driving the tour vehicles on our April 3 tour of the Goddard Space Flight Center, which is described elsewhere in this issue of the FOCUS. Coming up at our April 16 meeting, Greg Lee will give us a run-down on What’s Up in the Sky. For our main presentation, Tom Field of Field Tested Systems will give us a talk titled Spectroscopy for Amateur Astronomers. An important aspect of Tom’s April presentation is that we’ll see it as a “Webinar” in the lecture hall at Mount Cuba, while Tom will be in Seattle, Washington! This is an historic first for both the DAS and MCAO, who have worked together to foster interest in astronomy in Delaware for over 50 years. More information on Tom Field and his presentation on Spectroscopy appear in a separate article elsewhere in this issue of the FOCUS. Our governing board underwent some changes in the last month that I should note. First, I have appointed Maria Lavalle and Sue Bebon to act as our Library “Chairs”. Glenn Bentley is vacating the position after many years of faithful service to the DAS and has been appointed to the position of Board Member at Large (continued on page 10)
Transcript of FOCUS Feb., 2013chester/das/focus/FocusApr...The DAS Amateur Telescope Making (ATM) Special Interest...
Vol. 58, No. 4, APRIL, 2013
FROM THE PRESIDENT Bill Hanagan
Spectrocopy for Amateur Astronomers - Speaker: Tom Fieldof Field Tested Systems and contributing editor of “Sky & Telescope Magazine”
will speak to us VIA an over the Internet “Webinar” from Seatle, Washington,a DAS First in Our 55 Year History!
Next Meeting – Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Each issue of FOCUS is full of useful hyperlinks. Just click onany graphic or telltale blue web address and your browser shouldtake you to additional linked web resources.
at the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory
Don’t Miss the AnnualDAS Dinner Meeting
Tuesday, May 21st
Make Reservations NOW to HearOur SPECIAL Guest Speaker,
Dr. Noureddine Melikechi
The full story on this great speaker, thevariety of dinner selections, along with reservationform and directions to the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana appear on pages 8 and 9.
who is involved in theCuriosity Rover Missionexploration of Mars!
May Elections for the Three“At Large” Board Positions
See info on page 6. And There’s stilltime to throw YOUR hat into the ring!
First off, thanks go out to Greg Lee for his presenta-tion of “What’s Up in the Sky”. Thanks also go out to Frankand Sandra Colosimo for driving 2+ hours to and from MountCuba so Frank could tell us about The Blue Mountain VistaObservatory (BMVO) at last month’s meeting. It was quiteinspiring to hear the story of how Frank and Sandra createdthis dark sky haven for all amateur astronomers, includingimagers as well as visual observers. As the weather warmsup, our more avid observers will undoubtedly be looking for achance to spend a couple of nights at the BMVO. Thanksalso go to Mike Cimorosi for providing the refreshments forour March meeting. And, last but not least, I’d like to thankJeff Lawrence and Bill McKibben for driving the tour vehicleson our April 3 tour of the Goddard Space Flight Center, whichis described elsewhere in this issue of the FOCUS.
Coming up at our April 16 meeting, Greg Lee willgive us a run-down on What’s Up in the Sky. For our mainpresentation, Tom Field of Field Tested Systems will give usa talk titled Spectroscopy for Amateur Astronomers. Animportant aspect of Tom’s April presentation is that we’ll seeit as a “Webinar” in the lecture hall at Mount Cuba, whileTom will be in Seattle, Washington! This is an historic firstfor both the DAS and MCAO, who have worked together tofoster interest in astronomy in Delaware for over 50 years. More information on Tom Field and his presentation onSpectroscopy appear in a separate article elsewhere in thisissue of the FOCUS.
Our governing board underwent some changes inthe last month that I should note. First, I have appointedMaria Lavalle and Sue Bebon to act as our Library “Chairs”.Glenn Bentley is vacating the position after many years offaithful service to the DAS and has been appointed to theposition of Board Member at Large (continued on page 10)
“PUBLIC NIGHTS” at the Mt. CUBA OBSERVATORY...MCAO PUBLIC NIGHTS Greg Weaver
the latest updated version off the website at: http://MountCuba.org. Programs are presented on Monday
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The Mt. CubaObservatory PublicNights continue yearround! In addition tolearning about manyaspects of the heavens,you’ll have a chance to
visit and view our all-digital full-dome planetarium. You canpick up a schedule when you next come to a meeting or get
nights at 8pm. Please check the website for full details andupdates on programs planned. Interested individuals or groupscan apply by letter or call 654-6407 (preferably between thehours of 9 and 11 am, Monday through Friday) to the Observa-tory to obtain reservations for these “Public Nights”.
The Public Nights schedule for Spring, 2013 follows:
NEW
NEW
Date Speaker Topic22- Apr Hank Bouchelle Comets and Meteor showers6--May Jack Fisher How elements were created (we are starstuff!)20-May- James Dalessio To Be Announced 3-Jun- Don Wilson “ 17-Jun- Carolyn Stankiewicz “
Observing with the Delaware Astronomical Society...About this Month’s Meeting Speaker And an Historic
Event for DAS Meetings Past & Present! Bill Hanagan
At our April 16 meeting, Tom Field of Field Tested Systems will give us a talk on Spectroscopy for Amateur Astrono-mers. The talk will help you understand how spectroscopy is used in astronomical research and it will explain how amateurastronomers can use spectroscopy to add an extra dimension to their own activities.
Spectroscopy has been heavily used by professional astronomers to analyze the chemical makeup of astronomicalobjects and to measure redshift, but the equipment required has long been out of the reach of most amateurs. Today, though,new tools make spectroscopy much more accessible to amateur astronomers. Your current telescope, plus an astronomicalCCD camera, web cam or DSLR, can be used with some relatively low cost accessories to produce useful spectra. Youmight well analyze the atmosphere on Neptune or measure the red shift of a quasar right from your own backyard!
Unlike all previous talks that have been given at DAS meetings for the last 55+ years, Tom won't be there! He'll be inSeattle, Washington presenting his talk over the Internet as a "Webinar" to DAS members in the lecture hall at Mount Cuba! AWebinar uses bidirectional audio and video in a manner similar to Skype to give the speaker a “tele-presence” at the meetingsite. This allows the speaker to interact with the audience and to hear and respond to questions. More importantly, this allowsa speaker who lives far away to give us a talk without spending absurd amounts of time and money on travel. This is an historicfirst for both the DAS and MCAO, who have worked together to support amateur astronomy in Delaware for over 50 years.
Tom is a Contributing Editor of Sky & Telescope Magazine. If you would like to know more ahead of time, you canread his article on spectroscopy in the August 2011 issue of Sky and Telescope. Tom has spoken at many different venues,including NEAF, the NEAF Imaging Conference, PATS, the Winter Star Party, the Advanced Imaging Conference, SCAE, andothers. In addition, Tom has given "Webinar" based presentations to many Astronomy clubs around the country, so he's anexpert at this new form of presentation. Tom is also the author of RSpec software (www.rspec-astro.com) which received aSky and Telescope “Hot Product 2012” award last year.
THANKS to Bill Hanagan and Jeff Lawrence, software and hardware needs were assembled at this end from theirprivate stocks of equipment to make our end of presenting this first ever DAS Webinar possible. They spent hours setting uppractice runs and assuring that no glitches will occur, so keep your fingers crossed and DON’T MISS THIS HISTORIC DASMEETING EVENT AND HEAR A GREAT, INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AND RESPECTED SPEAKER IN THE FIELD OFAMATEUR ASTRONOMY!
Comet PanStarrs- Taken by DAS Member andmember At-Large Bill McKibben. Taken on March 14,2013 at 8:16pm with a Canon EOS 50D. Exposurewas for 10 seconds at an aperture of f/5.6 with a lensfocal length of 119mm at ISO Speed 200. Click thephoto to be taken to a full sized web located versionof this and other of Bill’s photo work.
The DAS Amateur Telescope Making (ATM) Special InterestGroup (SIG ) meets on evenings and weekends according to the availabilityof the members and the particular projects that are underway. Currently theATM SIG has a medium Dob building program under way. The generalrange of activities of the ATM SIG includes all manner of telescope making,mirror making, and the making of accessories for telescopes and observing.
Anyone interested in joining the ATM SIG should email theirname, address, and phone number to me at [email protected].
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DAS ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP Bill Hanagan
DAS AMATEUR TELESCOPE MAKING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP Bill Hanagan
The DAS also maintains a club observatory on the groundsof the Mt. Cuba Astronomical Observatory. The Sawin Observatoryhouses the club’s permanently mounted 12.5" reflecting telescopeand a 17.5" Coulter Odyssey 2 Dobsonian telescope. They are forthe use of club members once they are trained and checked-out ina simple operating procedure. Members who are interested inbecoming key holders of the Sawin Observatory should contact meat 302-239-1844 to arrange for training in the use of the facility.
One of the best advantages of being a member of theDelaware Astronomical Society is that all members have theprivilege of being trained to use and then borrow equipmentowned by the club for personal use. Currently, we have twoscopes available for loan: a Celestron 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain,and a 6" Orion Sky-Quest XT6 Dobsonian reflector. The loan isfor at least a month. If you’re interested in checking out eitherof these scopes, contact Tom Sidowski at 302-239-1844.
LOANER TELESCOPES and SAWIN OBSERVATORY REMINDER Tom Sidowski
As always, please consider submitting one or more ofyour favorite astrophotos for publication in the FOCUS. Arecent photo is not required. You can email your photo(s) as.jpg files to our FOCUS editor, Joe Neuberger at his address [email protected].
NEW
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The DAS astrophotography special interest group (DASAP SIG) meets on Friday nights at 7:30pm every other month at Mt.Cuba regardless of weather. The SIG also meets for photo shootsscheduled on 1-2 day notice to synchronize with the weather.
The monthly meetings are informal and typicallyinclude the presentation of astrophotos taken by the membersalong with an extended question and answer period. Objectscommonly photographed include constellations, auroras, lunareclipses, and planetary photos, as well as a wide variety of deep-sky objects such as nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, etc. Thetopics discussed cover the entire gamut of astrophotography,from how to get started with a minimum of equipment, to polaraligning your telescope, all of the way to the fine points of usingauto-guiders and post-processing digital images.
You can get started in astrophotography with justyour current camera mounted on a tripod or a motorizedtelescope by taking wide field photographs of meteor showers,conjunctions, constellations, and star trails. As you move toprogressively fainter and smaller subjects, you’ll need betterequipment. Joining the AP SIG is a great way to learn whatequipment you’ll need and what works well before you spendyour money. If you are interested in joining the AP SIG, justemail your name, address, and phone number to me [email protected].
.Our next AP-SIG meeting will be flex-scheduled forMay 24 or 25 at Mt. Cuba. There is no meeting scheduledfor April due to travel and other schedule conflicts.Even if you aren’t an AP-SIG member, you’re welcome toattend the AP-SIG meetings to learn more. Be sure to signup for the DAS Yahoo Group email in order to receive thedetailed meeting announcements.
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2013 In the Library at the Mt. Cuba Observatory
The PRESIDENT’S DAS BOARDMEETING AGENDA for APRIL
NEW 2) Upcoming outreach star parties at the WoodsideFarm Creamery and elsewhere;
3) The recent DAS Tour of Goddard Space FlightCenter;
4) Other topics to be determined.As always, DAS board meetings are open to all DAS mem-bers. We’ll be ending the board meeting 20 minutes ahead ofthe main meeting to allow time to set up the audio, video, andcomputer equipment needed to see and hear Tom Field speak
In addition to routine items of business, such asthe Treasurer’s report, we’ll discuss:1) Our replacement speaker for the dinner meeting,Dr. Noureddine Melikechi;
FOCUS uses plenty of photos in banners & elsewhere each issue, and
we want to use YOURS...not Hubble’s!!Please forward photos to the FOCUS editorJoe Neuberger at [email protected]
`Meeting dates are announced primarily by email, so if you areinterested in telescope making, be sure to let me know!
If mirror making isn’t for you, but you would like to build an 8”telescope, let me know. I have a couple of 8” mirrors and matchingtubes that could be turned into telescopes with some woodworking onyour part.
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Notes on the Member Star Parties (MSPs) Bill Hanagan
.
MSP cycles are timed for a minimum of intrusion by moonlight during the hours before midnight to maximizeopportunities for deep sky observing and imaging. For each MSP cycle there are usually four potential dates designated inadvance. These are usually the Friday and Saturday nights which immediately precede a new moon, and the Friday andSaturday nights that follow or include the new moon date. That means that we usually have 4 potential MSP dates associ-ated with each lunar cycle. Which of the four potential dates is used for an MSP is “flex-scheduled” according to the weatherusing the DAS Yahoo Group email system.
Please be sure to mark your calendars with the potential MSP dates that appear in the table! Obviously, you needto keep as many of these dates open as possible so when a GO announcement is made you’re in a position to attend theDAS Member Star Party regardless of which date the weather favors!
The DAS has a core group of dedicated visual observers and astro-imagers who travel to Tuckahoe, Cherry Springs,West Virginia, and other dark sky sites as opportunities and the weather allow. If you’re interested in going along or meetingup on any of the road trips mentioned in the MSP schedule, let me know and I’ll fill you in on the details and keep youapprised as plans develop.
Road trips to distant observing sites like Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania require that several DAS mem-bers commit to going in advance should the weather prove favorable for at least two nights. When the weather forecast onlylooks good for one night, the MSP will often be redirected to a closer site such as ChesLen, the Elk River site, or the Sawinobservatory.
While DAS members who go on road trips are often involved in both observing and imaging, these road trips areparticularly valuable for visual observers because they offer the best opportunity to see deep sky objects through largeaperture telescopes under dark skies.
Most of today’s big Dobs produce vastly superior visual images compared to older, large aperture observatorytelescopes with which you might be familiar, thanks in part to better optics, the use of a “thin” primary mirror which coolsfaster, and the use of fans to cool the primary mirror and to remove warm air from the optical path. If you are truly interestedin visual observing, you owe it to yourself to see first-hand what dark skies and a modern large aperture telescope will allowyou to see.
Finally, I’d like to remind you that you need to be signed up for the DAS Yahoo Group to receive the schedulingannouncements for the MSPs. A full description of the MSP program appears on the DAS website at http://delastro.org/and in the December 2009 issue of the FOCUS.
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Laser Collimator Now Available for Loan to Membersfor Aligning Your Newtonian & Dob Scopes!
If you would like to take advantage of this new tool, it is available for lending to the membership. Please contact theO&E Group by calling Tom Sidowski at 302-239-1844. It’s a quick and easy procedure and will improve your visual observingexperience GREATLY! EASY to USE & YOU’LL LOVE IT, GUARANTEED! It’s one of the handiest and most useful tools theclub has ever offered for loan to the membership! You owe it to yourself to CHECK IT OUT!
You’ll be AMAZED at the improvement in the performance of your scientific instrument! Correctly aligned yourinstrument can give you so much more than you’d ever imagined!
NEW
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Have you Paid YourDAS Annual Dues?
Check with our New TreasurerJeff Lawrence at
[email protected] Find Out.
Dues are what make the DAS Functionand drive our Plans for equipment
upgrades to Benefit ALL Members!
NGC 2841- Taken by last month’s speakerFrank Colosimo at the The Blue Mountain Vista Observatory.Photo taken March 2008 from New Ringgold, PAusing a Meade LX200R 12 inch at f/10. Mount was a ParamountME utilizing an SBIG ST-8XME / CFW-8 with Guiding usingST-8XME integral guiding chip controlled by Maxim CCD.Exposure: LRGB: Luminance: 14x6 minutes unbinned; RGB: 8 eachbinned 2x2 - 5 min for R,G, and 7 min for B.Processing: Image acquisition using CCD Autopilot. Initial processingwas done using Maxim DL with subsequent processing with Photoshop.See discussion at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKneSQFcd6w
LIBRARY NEWS
ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP Lynn King
DAS members have the opportunity to becomemembers in the Astronomical League at the discounted rateof $7.50 per year. Benefits include the Reflector (a quarterlynewsletter), observing programs, awards, discounts on booksand educational materials. For questions on joining theAstronomical League, contact Lynn King at meetings, call302-764-8816 or email [email protected].
MT. CUBA LENDING LIBRARY Paul StrattonSome of you may find two new additions to the
Lending Library of interest.The Amazing Story of Quantum Mechanics.by
James Kakalios. A math-free exploration of the science thatmade our world.
Also, 13 Things that don’t make sense by MichaelBrooks which includes such interesting topics as THE WOW SIGNAL - Has ET already been in touch? LIFE - Are we more than just a bag of chemicals? SEX - There are better ways to reproduce. Hummmmm.
DAS FORUM / E-MAIL SITE ON YAHOO Don Shedrick
This is a restricted e-mail service for use by DASmembers for DAS purposes. To use this site, go to http://groups.yahoo.com; search for Delaware AstronomicalSociety; and click on the link that comes up. To join, youmust have a Yahoo ID and password; if you don’t, you canregister at this time by following Yahoo’s instructions. Youwill then be allowed to “Join the group” upon clicking in thatbox. You must then register for the DAS group and add yourprofile by clicking on “add new profile” and completing the form.
When adding or editing your profile, you will need toenter your actual name in the “Real Name” box so you can beidentified as a DAS member so Don Shedrick can approve yourapplication to join the DAS group, and everyone will know towhom they are communicating.
Finally, specify your desired email address for deliveryof messages. Note: you may choose to not have your nameand email address displayed to anyone other than DASmembers who are members of the Yahoo DAS email group.
For more detailed instructions, go to the DASwebsite under DAS Resource Links.
We wish to thank Glenn Bently, who has been ourDAS librarian, for his many years of service in that post ashe now has taken a vacant At-Large Board seat and ispassing his library duties along. So we welcome and thankboth Sue Bebon and Maria Lavalle who have stepped up andoffered to take over the librarian duties. THANKS gals!
Announcing the DASSpring 2013 Election
This May, the DAS will hold an election for the three"Board Member At-Large" positions. Each of the electedmembers will then serve a term of two years starting July 1st.Any member of the DAS who is interested in running for anyof these offices should contact me, Rob Lancaster([email protected]), prior to the April DAS meeting.
Currently, three DAS members have already enteredthis election: Glenn Bentley, Terry Lisansky, and BillMcKibben. If you think that another person should run in theelection and that person has not submitted his or her nameby the April meeting, I will be opening the floor to suchnominations at that time.
Please contact me with any questions and pleaseconsider running for one of these offices. Also, please makesure your dues are up to date and your contact information iscorrect with the treasurer prior to April 30th, so that you havethe opportunity to vote in the election. Thank you very much! Robert Lancaster
2013 DAS Election Chair
NEW
Comet PanStarrs Through the Trees
Photo Credit:DAS Member Willis Greiner
Photo taken from Lower LosColonias, just west of Taos, NMon March 18, 2013 at 8:09 P.M.
Image data: 170mm at f2.8, 3-second exposure
on tripod, sensitivity at ISO
800.
Comments: Comet was onlyvisible through binoculars. Using
an ISO setting of 800 allowedme to acquire a good image in
only 3-seconds.
http://www.universedowntoearth.org/clubsportal/
WEBSITE of the
MONTH
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ASTRO-PHOTO of the
MONTH
International Astronomical UnionLaunches Astro Clubs Portal
The IAU Astro Clubs Portal will be much more thana list of clubs: it will be a global network to bringestablished and newly formed associations (par-ticularly those in developing countries) together.This is the start of an ambitious project, which wehope will grow into a valuable web community. Thisis a complementary network to the Night Sky Net-work, with the aim of building global links betweenastronomy clubs. The IAU encourages clubs aroundthe world to join this new initiative as it gets offthe ground. So go to the website and checkit out!!
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Join with the Delaware Astronomical Society for the Annual Dinner Meeting May 21st
and an Exciting Speaking Event
at the Hilton Wilmington/Christiana Hotel
Hear a presentation byDr. Noureddine Melikechi
Topic: Optics Developed for the Roveris Advancing Early Cancer Detection
NASA’s Curiosity Rover has landed on Mars.Now DSU’s Dr. Noureddine Melikechi will soon contribute his optics expertise as part of the Curiosity ChemCam
Team and assist the space agency in analyzing the data that comes back from Mars through the rover.Culminating a 367 million-mile and 36-week flight from earth, the Curiosity Rover was lowered gently by ropes from a
rocket backpack onto the Mars surface inside its Gale Crater at 1:32 a.m. EST on Monday, Aug. 6.Dr. Melikechi, who is also the dean of the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology as well as the
University’s vice president of research, showed his excitement during a morning press briefing with local media on Aug. 6.“Imagine, you build something that you can’t test, send it 570 million kilometers, and it works for the first time,” said
Dr. Melikechi, referring to the complex landing technique. “I am so proud to be a part of this mission, which includes about300 scientists – of which I am one – and thousands of engineers.”
Costs: $45 per personDinner will feature:Appetizer: a Tossed Field Greens Salad with Radishes, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Carrots and Ranch Dressing;Seasonal Vegetables with the Chef's Selection of Potato or Rice; Coffee or Tea; Triple Chocolate MousseCake for desert.There are three entree choices:1) Chicken Marsala with Kennett Square Mushrooms2) Poached Rockfish with Sweet Peas, Mushrooms, and a Lobster cream sauce3) Penne Pasta Primavera with Garlic and Olive Oil
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2012 May Dinner Meeting Entree Order & Reservation FormNAME: __________________________________________________________________________________
1. Chicken Marsala $45.00 x__________ (number) = Amount $____________
2. Rockfish Entree $45.00 x __________(number) = Amount $ ____________
3. Pasta Vegetarian Entree $45.00 x __________(number) = Amount $____________ Total $_____________
Mail along with your check made out to DAS to: Jeff Lawrence, 815 Leeds Lane, Newark, DE 19711
Make Reservations NOW for this Special Event Honoring theDAS Amateur Astronomer of the Year Awardee
To register for the event there are three options this year. You can go to http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~chester/das2/DAS_dinner_2013.html, make your choices and pay using PayPal; or please fill out the reservation formbelow with your dinner choice(s) and send it along with a check to the Club’s Treasurer at the address listed on the form.You may also give your form and check to Treasurer Jeff Lawrence at the April DAS meeting on April 16th..
from Delaware State University who was a par-ticipant in the recent NASA Mars Curiosity Mission
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Directions to the MayDinner Meeting at the Hilton Wilmington/
Christiana HotelFrom the North: Follow I-95South. Take Delaware exit #4B(Churchman’s Road/Route 58). Bearright at the top of the exit rampand proceed on Churchman’s Roadto the fourth traffic light. Make aleft onto Continental Drive. TheHotel will be the first driveway onthe left.
From the South: Follow I-95 North.Take Delaware exit #4B (Route 7North). Stay in the right-hand lane
and proceed to exit #166 (Churchman’s Road/Churchman’s Crossing/Route 58). Turn right at the bottom of theexit ramp, yielding onto Churchman’s Road. Follow to the second traffic light, and make a left onto ContinentalDrive. The Hotel is the first driveway on the left.
Dr. Melikechi is expected to talk about how the technology developed by NASA for the CuriosityRover is advancing the development of optical spectroscopy for early detection of various cancers. Be-cause of the late hour that Dr. Melikechi was recruited as our speaker due to the cancellation of our firstspeaker coming from Goddard due to the reductions in federal spending caused by the sequester andGoddard’s cut-back in outside speaking engagements, we will announce Dr. Melikechi’s talk title andabstract via the Yahoo email list as soon as it is received at the DAS. Thank you for your patience.
Abstract of Presentation:
.Recent Professional Biography for Dr. MelikechiDr. Noureddine Melikechi, a 15-year faculty member at Delaware State University, has been named as the dean of
the institution’s College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology.Dr. Melikechi had served as the interim dean of that College since October 2008.Dr. Melikechi is a native of Algeria where he graduated with a Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures in Physics from the
University of Sciences and Technology of Algiers. He then went on to the University of Sussex in England to pursue graduatework in the area of Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics and received a Master of Sciences in 1982 and a Doctorate ofPhilosophy (D.Phil.) in Physics in 1987.
Dr. Melikechi joined Delaware State University in 1995 as an assistant professor of physics. He was promoted toassociate professor in 1997 and attained full professor status in 2002.
Since his arrival, he has been highly instrumental in the University’s development of optics curriculum and research.In 1998 Dr. Melikechi founded DSU’s Applied Optics Center, and later he was the principal investigator in research proposalsthrough which DSU received two separate $5 million grants – in 2006 and 2009 – for optics research.
As the result of those two grants, Dr. Melikechi founded the Center for Education and Research in Optics Sciencesand the Center for Applied Optics for Space Science. These two centers are focused on developing the next generation ofoptical scientists and on developing new technologies that can be used for the early detection of threats, including cancer,and for space application.
Dr. Melikechi’s impressive research track record will serve him well in his capacity as dean of the College of Math-ematics, Natural Sciences and Technology, as he will oversee other significant research initiatives that are ongoing in theareas of chemistry, neuroscience, biological sciences, computer science, physics and mathematics.
Dr. Melikechi is involved in the Curiosity Rover exploration of Mars. Curiosity is the most recently deployed “Rover”,the one that landed using parachutes and the rather complicated “sky crane”. Here’s the NASA link on Curiosity’s landingscheme. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/30jul_skycrane/
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FROM THE PRESIDENT (Con’t from pg. 1)
that was vacated when Bob Mentzer became DAS Secre-tary. Thanks to everyone involved for volunteering to serve,especially to Glenn Bentley who has served as Library Chairfor well over a decade. Please welcome these ladies andgentlemen to their new positions on the DAS Board.
DAS elections are held every spring, with our officerselected in even years and 3 “Members at Large” elected inodd years. If you would like to run for Board Member atLarge, convey your interest to Rob Lancaster, our electionChairperson, or announce your candidacy when Rob asks fornominations at the April meeting. More about the spring elections
appears elsewhere in this issue of the FOCUS.As always, I’d like to remind you to keep thinking
about how YOU can contribute to the DAS and how you canmake the DAS a better astronomy club. While we’ve hadsome volunteers step forward, and we’ve received a variety ofdonations, more volunteers and donations are needed.
A club works best when essentially all of its able-bodied members pitch-in and help out at our club functions inwhatever way they can. If you want to make the DAS abetter astronomy club, give me a call me at 302-239-0949.I’m sure we can come up with something that you can do tohelp the DAS that also suits your particular interests.
DAS Member Star Parties Bill Hanagan
Recently Held MSPsThe Comet Panstarrs (C/2011 L4) MSP of March14, 2013
In March, many observers waited eagerly for theskies to clear well enough to get a good view of CometPanstarrs (C/2011 L4). Potential dates for seeing this cometup to March 11 were clouded out, but there was scatteredclearing around sunset on March 12 and 13. My wife MaryAnn and I visited the New Garden township site on March 13to see if we might get lucky and spot the comet in spite ofthe haze and the remaining clouds. The first photo showsthe view I had that evening. While the sky had cleared almostcompletely overhead within an hour or so of sunset, the skyabove the western horizon where the comet would appear wasblocked by heavy clouds that didn’t appear to be moving.
As a consolation, the clouds made for a prettysunset. Terry Lisansky reported that he was able to spot thecomet that night from his front yard with binoculars.
A very positive change in the weather was forecastfor the next day (March 14), so I scheduled our specialPanstarrs MSP for the evening of March 14 at the NewGarden Township site.
The next photo shows the intrepid group of DASmembers who came out on the evening of March 14 andbraved 30 mph winds with temperatures in the high 30’s tosee comet Panstarrs. From left to right, they are: BillHanagan, Diana Metzger, Jim Chang, Greg Lee, TerryLisansky, and Rob Lancaster.
The sky overhead was clear, but there were severalvery obvious layers of thin clouds near the horizon whichcontributed to the red glow seen in the next photo. While Iwas concerned that the comet might not be bright enough tobe visible through the illuminated haze above the westernhorizon, we knew that the weather would be worse over thenext several days and the comet would be moving fartherfrom the sun, making this our best opportunity to see thecomet at its brightest.
About 45 minutes after sunset, Terry Lisansky wasthe first to spot the comet, again using binoculars. The restof the group quickly found it based on Terry’s direction. Thecomet had a very bright and tight nucleus, no visible coma,and a pronounced tail. While the nucleus was quite obviouswhen viewed through binoculars, no one present suggestedthat it was visible to the unaided eye. (Continued on next page)
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Call for DAS Astroimages forDisplay in Mt. Cuba Lobby Greg Weaver
placed as new images are submitted. Full credits to theimager will be included. Please include all technical informa-tion with the image (date, telescope and camera used,exposure time, image processing software, etc.). You mayemail digital images to the Mt. Cuba website. Photos may besent to the Observatory or brought to a DAS meeting. TheObservatory looks forward to displaying your beautiful images!Contact Greg at [email protected].
MCAO is asking for any DAS members to submittheir astroimages for display in the Observatory. It would liketo display the club member’s talents and update some of theimages currently on display in the lobbyof the Observatory.
Images will be displayed for up to a year and re-
DAS Member Star Parties (Continued from preceeding page)
None of us brought a telescope any larger than 10 x100 binoculars due to the wind and early predictions that thecomet might even be bright enough to see naked eye. Inretrospect, we would have been well served to be more skepti-cal and bring larger aperture optics out to observe the comet.
After observing the comet with 10x70 binoculars forawhile, I mounted my camera on my heaviest tripod andobtained a series of photos. One of my favorite shots fromthat series appears below. Even though we had winds inexcess of 30 mph, the wind was relatively constant for longperiods, making sharp images possible. If you look carefully,you can see a star directly below the nucleus of the cometand two more in the upper left corner. The warning light on atower is visible at the lower right edge.
For this photo, I used a Canon 50D DSLR equippedwith a 70-200L f/4 zoom lens set at a focal length of 200mm. This 0.5 second exposure was taken at f/4 with an ISOsetting of 800. While the weather was certainly cold, I thinkeveryone who attended went home pleased at having seenthe comet.
The Sawin MSP of April 5, 2013On Friday, April 5 we held an MSP at the Sawin
observatory, where Greg Lee and I met up with new memberJack Goodwin. Jack is an experienced observer who Irecently met at the 13th Mid-Atlantic Mirror Making Seminar,where he made a 10” f/7.5 Newtonian telescope mirror. Theair was cool and still and the sky was clear and had slightlybetter than average transparency from dusk until closing,though the seeing was average. Using the club’s 12.5”Newtonian reflector, we enjoyed some good views of severalof the brighter deep sky objects, like M81, M82, and M35-M38. We also observed Jupiter for awhile shortly afterastronomical twilight, but it was only 35 degrees above thehorizon and the long path through the atmosphere andaverage seeing obscured the fine details.
The movement of the Earth along its annual orbit ofthe Sun is rapidly shifting our view of Jupiter ever closer tothe Sun, but our view of Saturn is rapidly moving towardopposition, placing Saturn directly opposite the Sun later thismonth, on April 28. So, we should have several good monthsahead for observing Saturn to make up for the loss of Jupiter.
Upcoming MSPs of 2013The Spring Stargaze MSP
On the nights of April 11-13, we’ll be holding an MSPin conjunction with the Delmarva Stargaze at Tuckahoe StatePark in Maryland, assuming the weather allows. The Star-gaze begins officially on Thursday, April 11 and runs throughSunday, April 14. The DAS contingent will set up camp on theNORTH end of the observing field this time around.
If you don’t like camping, the Holiday Inn Express inEaston is about 20 minutes away and the Best Western inDenton is about 15 minutes away. If you’re interested indriving down and back in one night, send an email to theDAS Yahoo Group a few days ahead of the Stargaze and youmay find others willing to ride along or even do the driving.
DAS members and other amateur astronomers whodon’t stay overnight may attend at no charge. However, thisis not an outreach event—you and your guests are expectedto know and follow good star party etiquette. In particular,arrive well before dark and park near the exit with yourheadlights facing out so you won’t disturb observers on thefield when you leave later that night. Also, be sure to bring ared flashlight. If at all possible, disable the inside lights onyour car before attending the Stargaze or tape over thoselights with translucent red tape. Be sure to kick in a dona-tion at the concession stand if you have something to eat ordrink. Finally, don’t forget to look up the DAS contingent,who normally camp near the north end of the observing field. (Continued on next page)
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DAS Member Star Parties (Continued from preceeding page)
— DIRECTIONS TO TUCKAHOE STATE PARK —Stick with southbound 301 as DE896 and DE71 split
off. Follow US301 south and westbound into MD. About35.4 miles after DE71 splits off in Middletown, turn left ontoMD304 east and proceed 4.2 miles into Ruthsburg. InRuthsburg, turn right onto MD481 south and proceed for 2.1miles. Turn left onto Crouse Mill Road and go about 1 mile to atriangular roundabout. Take the next right and proceed south-bound for about 500 yards to the Tuckahoe Equestrian Centeron the right hand side of the road, where the event is held.
There are no tolls anywhere along this route. I live inthe Pike creek area and the drive time for me is about 90minutes each way. However, if you go down late in theafternoon, especially on Friday, expect extra traffic to addsome time to your drive.———————————————————————————The Opportunity for an MSP at a Primordially Dark SiteComes in May
The weekends of May 3, 4, 10, and 11 are thepotential MSP dates in May. This is an excellent time ofyear for a road trip to one of the darkest observing sites, likeCherry Springs, PA, the Blue Mountain Vista Observatorynear New Ringold, PA, or any of several observing sites inWest Virginia. Our core group of visual observers will belooking at the opportunity to run such a trip on these dates, ifthe weather forecast calls for two good nights in a row.Otherwise, we’ll schedule an MSP closer to home on theseweekends.
We normally plan long-distance road trips only whenwe expect at least two clear nights at the designatedobserving site. Most of the time, we don’t get that lucky withthe weather, so most MSPs are still held relatively close tohome at nearby dark sky sites like the ChesLen Preserveand Gus Swartout’s Elk River site, or at the Sawin Observa-tory at Mount Cuba.
While some of our past trips have involved motelstays, like the trip we took to Starquest V at Green Bank,WV, most of these trips are likely to require camping, likeour past visits to Cherry Springs State Park in PA.
Camping at a star party is always “luxury camping”.We camp only in the most pleasant of weather and we setup camp immediately next to our vehicles so there is noneed to backpack anything to or from anywhere. There arealways restroom facilities of some sort and there are oftenshower facilities. Sometimes there is even AC power on thefield. Participating members share responsibilities for foodand equipment so that not everyone who goes needs to bringa large aperture telescope, an awning for daytime shade, oreven lawn chairs. All you really need is to be willing to pitchin, lend a hand, and have a good time. Some of our coreobservers have spare tents if you need to borrow one. Leteither myself or Greg Lee know if you’re interested in goingalong on one of these road trips.
The final plans for all DAS member star parties(MSPs) are announced via the DAS Yahoo Group email. Themechanics of the MSP program are described separatelyunder “Notes on the Member Star Parties (MSPs)”.
18 DAS Members & Guests are given Tourof Goddard Space Flight Center April 3rd
Bill HanaganOn April 3, 2013, eighteen DAS members and their
guests toured the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) inGreenbelt, MD. The tour began with all but two of theparticipants meeting up in Newark at the home of our Trea-surer, Jeff Lawrence, where the group enjoyed coffee andbagels before making the drive down to Goddard.
Bob Mentzer, Shahid Hussain, Greg Lee, Keith Given, RussDolan, Sudler Dill, Joe Neuberger, Bill McKibben, RobLancaster, Jeff Lawrence, Jack Goodwin, Mike Cimorosi,Mary Ann Hanagan, Diana Metzger, Malcolm Judkins, andJim Chang. DAS President Bill Hanagan was behind thecamera and DAS member Leonard White joined up with usat Goddard.
We took one 15 passenger van, which was rentedand driven by Jeff Lawrence and one private vehicle, whichwas provided and driven by Board Member at Large BillMcKibben. The rental van was necessary because Goddardallows at most two vehicles into the secure area of thefacility for any one tour.
Our first stop on the tour was the Goddard VisitorCenter, where we started out by investigating the “rocketgarden” at the back of the building. Below, part of the groupstops in front of the exhaust nozzle of Delta-B rocket for agroup shot. From left to right are Bill Hanagan, JackGoodwin, Shahid Hussain, Jeff Lawrence, Russ Dolan, MikeCimorosi (up top), Bill McKibben, (Continued on next page)
The first photo shows all but two members of thegroup before leaving from Jeff’s home. From left to right are
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Rob Lancaster, Diana Metzger, Greg Lee (Up top), Mary AnnHanagan, and Sudler Dill.
Goddard Space Flight Center(Continued from preceeding page)
The next (super wide angle) photo shows the entirerocket. The Delta rockets have been used for over 40 yearsto orbit a variety of satellites. Later versions were capable oflofting 10 times the mass of this early version. This particu-lar rocket was the centerpiece of a display at the 1963 NewYork World’s Fair
In the nextphoto, Bob Mentzer,Greg Lee, Sudler Dill,Joe Neuberger, andRob Lancaster can beseen inspecting a full-sized mock-up of anApollo commandcapsule.
The nextphoto shows theauthor in front of oneof the several sound-ing rockets on displayin the garden.
In the nextshot, Greg Lee (inshadow) views an illu-
minated film image of the Carina nebula on display in theVisitor Center Hallway, with other images visible left andright.
In the next photo, Bob Mentzer (in shadow), standsnext to an illuminated film image of Spiral Galaxy NGC2841.
Below, Rob Lancaster stops near a translucentmural of the moon on the east window of the Visitor Centerwhich was illuminated by the morning sun. This is a veryhigh resolution mosaic of the moon assembled by the LunarReconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).
(Continued on next page)
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Goddard Space Flight Center(Continued from preceeding page)Below, Joe Neuberger and Greg Lee discuss the
activities of astronauts in a Gemini capsule.
Jim Chang “feels the heat” in a demonstration of thevalue of heat-shielding for minimizing heat flow.
Below, DASTreasurer Jeff Lawrenceand Russ Dolan wait inthe Visitor CenterDisplay Area for thetour to move on to the“Science on a Sphere”auditorium.
Below, Greg Lee checks the bottom of the sphericalprojection screen used by the “Science on a Sphere”projector. Several digital projectors placed high around theroom illuminate the white sphere in the center, which acts asa 360 degree projection screen visible from anywhere in theroom. A computer controls the color and brightness of eachpixel coming out of each projector in order to produce asingle, wrap around image on the surface of the sphericalscreen. The computer can make the images rotate at anyspeed and in any direction required. Additional images canbe overlaid for illustration purposes.
At the top of the nextcolumn are some of my photos ofthe spherical screen showing justa few of the solar system objectsthat were displayed during ourtour. In the image of Mars,Olympus Mons can be seen nearthe upper left.
After visiting the “Science on a Sphere” auditorium,we met up with former DAS member Glenn Bock in theIntegration and Test Facility. In the photo below, Glenn canbe seen in the center holding the object encased in goldcolored foil. Glen gave us many interesting insights into themyriad ways that spacecraft can fail.
The next photo shows one of the many smaller“clean rooms” scattered throughout the facility. The photoimmediately following shows a NASA employee donning a“bunny suit” prior to entering a clean room. (Continued on next page)
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Goddard Space Flight Center(Continued from preceeding page)
The photo below shows two vacuum/thermal testchambers used to certify smaller equipment. Electronicsand other components can be tested in a vacuum of 10-6 torrat the very low temperatures produced by evaporating liquidhelium to simulate the conditions that they will be exposedto in space.
The following photo shows a two story tall vacuumchamber in which an entire spacecraft or satellite can bevacuum tested. An overhead crane that runs along the I-beams seen at the top of the photo can lift the entire top offand the load the spacecraft into the chamber. The chambercan be pumped down to 10-6 torr in about 12 hours. Part ofanother clean room (white) can be seen in the lower right.
We eventually saw the multi-story clean room usedfor the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), but we werenot allowed to take photos in that facility. If you check outthe web page at the hyperlink above, you can see severalviews of the JWST clean room.
Thanks go out to DAS Treasurer Jeff Lawrence forarranging the rental van, the bagels, and the coffee prior tothe trip and to both Jeff Lawrence and Bill McKibben fordriving down to Goddard and back.
It was an outstanding trip giving all who attended aninside look at America’s Space Program through a personal-ized tour of the 9500 employee Godedard Space Flightfacility and the many, many projects being developed on itshuge campus located between Baltimore and Washington,D.C.
James Webb Space Telescope
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A new ScienceCast video explains how SAGE III onboard the International SpaceStation will monitor the recovery of Earth’s fragile ozone layer. Click to Play it
Don’t Let This Happen to Your PlanetMarch 29, 2013: Ozonestinks. People whobreathe it gag as theirlungs burn. The EPAclassifies ground-levelozone as air pollution.
Yet without it, lifeon Earth would be impos-sible.
A fragile layer ofozone 25 km aboveEarth’s surface is all thatstands between us andsome of the harshest UVrays from the sun. The ozone molecule O3 blocks radiationwhich would otherwise burn skin and cause cancer. OnMars, which has no ozone layer to protect it, solar UV raysstrafe the surface with deadly effect, leaving the apparentlylifeless planet without the simplest of organic molecules inthe upper millimeters of exposed Martian soil.
To keep track of our planet’s ozone layer, NASA isabout to launch the most sophisticated space-based ozonesensor ever: SAGE III, slated for installation on the Interna-tional Space Station in 2014.
“The ISS is in the perfect orbit for SAGE III,” saysJoe Zawodny, Project Scientist for the instrument at theLangley Research Center. “It will be able to monitor ozone allaround the Earth during all seasons of the year.”
SAGE III works by using the Sun and Moon as lightsources. When either one rises or sets behind the edge ofthe Earth, SAGE III analyzes the light that passes throughEarth’s atmosphere. Ozone and other molecules absorbspecific wavelengths that reveal their density, temperatureand location.
“SAGE III is, essentially, analyzing the colors of thesunset to track ozone,” says Zawodny. “It sounds romantic,but this is hard science.”
Researchers began to worry about ozone in theearly 1970s when University of California chemists Frank“Sherry” Rowland and Mario Molina testified before Congressthat manmade CFCs, a key ingredient of common aerosolsprays, could destroy ozone in the stratosphere. Their fearswere soon realized. In 1985, researchers with the BritishAntarctic Survey announced abnormally low ozone concen-trations above Halley Bay near the South Pole. Our planethad an “ozone hole,” and it was rapidly growing.
In a remarkable display of international cooperation,an ozone treaty was negotiated only two years later. TheMontreal Protocol regulates the production of CFCs andother ozone-destroying chemicals. First signed in September1987, it has since been ratified by every member of theUnited Nations.
Because of this agreement, ozone is now on themend. Ozone holes still open every year above the SouthPole, but thanks to the treaty, ozone-destroying chemicals
have either leveled off ordecreased. At this rate, theozone layer could recoveralmost fully by 2050.
To insure thatozone really is recover-ing—and to alert the worldif it is not—NASA hasbeen flying ozone sensorsin Earth orbit for decades.
The first of theSAGE sensors rode tospace on Earth observingsatellites in the late-1970s
and early-80s. SAGE II data helped confirm the decline ofthe ozone layer and measured the effect of the Mt. Pinatuboeruption on the stratosphere. A SAGE III sensor onboard theRussian Meteor-3M satellite extended the ozone record intothe 2000s with higher precision than ever.
It is not unusual for researchers to refer to SAGE as“the gold standard” in ozone monitoring. “The SAGE ozoneproduct has a high accuracy, better than 1% in the mid-to-lower stratosphere, and a very high vertical resolution of 1kmor better,” says Zawodny.
When SAGE III reaches the space station, it willmeasure ozone deeper into the atmosphere than ever before,reaching all the way down into the troposphere where planesfly and people live.
“From ISS, SAGE III will get a global picture oftropospheric ozone,” says Zawodny. “I suspect there will bea few surprises in those measurements.”Zawodny is eager to learn what SAGE III finds in the lowerstratosphere over the tropics. “The recovery of ozone there istied to changes in greenhouse gases like CO2. Given whatwe know about recent increases in greenhouse emissions, itis possible that ozone in the tropics will never return to1980s levels.”
SAGE III probes Arctic regions, too. Using the Moonas a light source, SAGE III can to detect ozone during thedarkness of polar winter where other satellites have troubleseeing.
It’s enough to make a hard-nosed researcher waxeloquent: “Images of the moon and sun rising and setting aredramatic and spectacular,” says Zawodny. “The interplaybetween the source of light and the environment delights thesenses and stirs the imagination. The ability for SAGE III toturn those perceptions into something meaningful is a greatpleasure.”
In other words, stay tuned for some beautiful ozone data.
Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Production Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
For More information:
Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment — SAGE home page
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INFORMATION ON DAS MEMBERSHIPS AND MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS
DAS MEMBERSHIP· DAS membership dues are $30.00 per year and due on November 1 for all members.· New members joining at various times of the year may be eligible for a prorated dues amount.
- New members joining March-May pay $20 for membership through November 1 of the current year.- New members joining June-August pay $10 for membership through November 1 of the current year.- New members joining September-October pay $30 for membership through November 1 of the following year.
ASTRONOMICAL LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP· The DAS offers an optional membership in the Astronomical League (AL) at a discounted rate.· AL membership dues are $7.50 per year and are due on June 1 for all members.· The AL does not offer any prorated discounts for new memberships starting mid-year.
SKY & TELESCOPE MAGAZINE· The DAS offers subscriptions to Sky & Telescope at a discounted rate of $32.95 per year.· Subscriptions to S&T will be processed by the club for the first subscription year only.· The publisher should then send renewal notices directly to the subscriber at the club rate of $32.95.· You may receive renewal offers for amounts other than $32.95. If so, check to see if they are special offers and how
close you are to your renewal date.· Your subscription expiration date should be displayed on the mailing label on your magazine.· If you are within 3 months of your renewal date and still have not received the correct renewal notice, please contact the
publisher and tell them you should receive the member rate.· If all else fails, send a check to the treasurer and request to have it renewed by the club.
ASTRONOMY MAGAZINE· The DAS offers subscriptions to Astronomy magazine at a discounted rate of $34.00 per year.· Subscriptions to Astronomy will be processed by the club for new and renewal subscriptions.· Your subscription expiration date should be displayed on the mailing label on your magazine.· For renewals, please send a check for $34.00 payable to “Astronomy” to the treasurer to have it renewed by the club.
MEMBERSHIP FORM· Please review the membership and magazine information above carefully.· New members are requested to fill out the membership form completely.· Renewal members do not need to fill out any information we already have but, be sure to include any corrections.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
MEMBERSHIP or RENEWAL FORMPlease be sure to review the membership and magazine information above carefully
Please make checks payable to DAS and forward to:Jeff Lawrence, Treasurer, 815 Leeds Lane, Newark, DE 19711
New Member Senior / Family Membership $30.00Renewal Junior Membership (16 or under) $10.00
Astronomical League $ 7.50Sky & Telescope Magazine $32.95Astronomy Magazine $34.00Total
Name___________________________________Email Address_____________________________
Street Address__________________________________Phone Number_______________________
City_____________________________________State______Zip___________________________
Notes___________________________________________________________________________For questions or concerns, contact Jerf Lawrence, DAS Treasurer at (302) 668-8277 or [email protected]
Jeff Lawrence, DAS Treasurer
Board members:Officers:President: Bill Hanagan -- 302-239-0949 or [email protected], also, Amateur Telescope Making and Astronomical
Photography Special Interest Group, By-Laws, Programs & Star Parties
Vice-President: John Case -- 302-838-1568 or [email protected]
Secretary: Bob Mentzer, temporary Secretary [email protected]
Treasurer: Jeff Lawrence [email protected]; (302) 668-8277also Sky & Telescope & Astronomy magazine issues
Board Members at Large:Terry Lisansky [email protected]
Bill McKibben [email protected]
Glenn Bentley -- 610-869-0706 or [email protected]
Standing Chairs:Publications: Joe Neuberger -- 410-398-7394 or [email protected], also, FOCUS Newsletter contributions /
submission of Articles and Astro-Photos for publication.
Awards: Gus Swartout - [email protected]
Education: Mike Cimorosi
Observing: Greg Lee -- 762-5358 or [email protected], also, What’s Up in the Night Sky? segment at eachmonthly meeting.
Observatory: Tom Sidowski -- 302-239-1884 or [email protected]
Library Maria Lavalle and Sue Bebon
Elections Rob Lancaster -- [email protected]
Other Chairs and Important People:Sheila Vincent --302-322-4739, Ad-hoc star parties Daniel Chester-- [email protected], DAS’ Web presence
The LastWord. . .
FOCUS editor Joe Neuberger
SEE PRECEEDING PAGE FOR MEMBERSHIP or RENEWAL FORMIf you have questions, call any of the member representatives listed. Otherwise, just check
the appropriate boxes and complete the form on the preceeding page. Print it or cut it off and send itwith your check to Bill McKibben at his address on the form. The magazine prices are group rates to DAS members.
If you’re just joining us for the first time,THANK YOU VERY MUCH, and WELCOME to the DAS! It’s
GREAT to have you with us!
DAS CONTACTS Please call any of us with your concerns!
MCAO Web Page: www.MountCuba.org
DAS Web Page: www.DelAstro.org
What an incredible experience our recent tour of theGoddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland was. Hundredsand hundreds of acres of buildings filled with 9500 Space Scien-tists of all persuasions working on making the dreams of the futurecome true. We got a real insiders look by being led around byGlenn Bock, a former DAS member. It was something really spe-cial, especially the look at the past by being able to sit in realGemini Space Capsules and get close to Delta Rockets and otherhardware of the past, present and future. It was a great day!
